Difference between revisions of "Blog/January 2009/Jan 23rd"

Latest revision as of 11:24, 10 July 2009

January 23rd (See this week's devar torah)
Send Ron feedback on this blog

Hi again!

In a stroke of true idiocy , our feckless leaders unilaterally declared a cease-fire. Of course, the immediate response was all too predictable. Hizbullah's bizarre rantings about war casualties make me wonder how much hashish they've been smoking.

For some reason, we seem to misunderstand our enemies' concepts of mercy. It is incredible to me that we could possibly misunderstand them, when they make it explicitly clear what they think. Are we really so stupid? Given that the Israeli courts are allowing the Arab parties (banned last week by the Central Election Committee) to run after all, I think the answer is "yes"...

Since the Arab media thinks "human shield" is something humorous, it's good to see an eye for an eye has literal meaning. As does divine justice! Doubtless they'll blame the Mossad.

A cowboy, an Indian, and an Ay-rab were sitting in a bar.

The Indian said: "Once upon a time, my people were very many; today we are very few".

The Ay-rab said: "Walla, once my beoble were very few, today we are very many".

The cowboy said: "Yup, that's 'cos we ain't played cowboys and Ay-rabs yet".

The USA got a new president this week, but I didn't see any miracles from Saint Obama just yet. Maybe I'm naive, but I find it difficult to understand how he intends to fund his programs. Oh, and if you were working for the evil Microsoft (which despite many years of record-breaking profits, just let 5,000 employees go) you might consider the pink-slip special. "Boo, hiss!" to Microsoft.

In job-search news: I had an interview in Tel Aviv this week, which was ok... but I don't really want to drive to T"A every day (it would be about an hour and a half commute from Maaleh Adummim each way, by car -- more, by bus). What was interesting was just how different T"A is from Jerusalem. I don't get out much ... and I never did like Tel Aviv much, but seeing it "up close" is an eye-opener. It's almost as if it's a different country altogether (which I suppose it is, in a way). However, most of the jobs in "high tech" are in the coastal-plain, where T"A is (or north of there). Our CEO is still struggling to find investors who are willing to sign on the dotted-line, before the end of February. However, I think most of us "line personnel" are not holding out great hopes of success. Sad but true.

True story: going to check out at the supermarket. I look for the "express line", which has a sign posted over it: "Fast lane - 10 or fewer items only". I see there are only two people in line there, so I get in line. Ask the lady in front of me if the lane actually is fast, and she replies, yes, if you have ten or less items. She had a lot more than 10 items ... I assume she was being a smart-ass. So I went to the next lane over, which was a "normal" one, and got out before her.

I love hummus, I really do. I use it instead of mayonnaise or other spreads. Paired with zchug, it's a real meal. In the US I used to make my own, but when we made aliyah, I preferred to be lazy and buy it. Nevertheless, it's not hard to make, and my family actually likes my recipe... so without further ado, here's the hummus I made today lichvod shabbat.

Until next week,
Shabbat shalom!

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-{{bheader|January 16th|Devar/5769/Shemot}}
+{{bheader|January 23rd|Devar/5769/Va'era}}
 Hi again!
-This week I had some interesting questions and discussions, revolving around "[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZjkwNjVlNmE5MWUyOTVhMWIyODkzNWNlZGM1YjU2Zjc= anti-Semitism]" and "[http://zombietime.com/gaza_war_protest/ anti-Zionism]".  One question was that it has been said that Israel suffers the equivalent of a "9/11" every few years, and do I have any source for that?  You can read my answer [[Answers/Israel-911|here]].  Another question was [[Answers/Anti-Semitism|Why do they hate us?]].  I was accused of being a fascist Israeli, tacitly supporting [[Answers/Israel unjust war|Israel's unjust war]] in Gaza.  I was accused of [[Answers/Palestinians|stealing land]] from the Fakestinians.  Overall, a most enlightening week.
-As you know, the war is still going on.  Fortunately, it hasn't yet [http://www.whatwarzone.com/2009/01/breaking-news-gaza-war-turns-nuclear.html gone nuclear].  The foreign press continues to lie as is their wont, but the important thing is to [http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2009/01/video-al-beebs-coverage-of-gaza.html keep a sense of humor] about it.  Along those lines, [http://uk.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/idUKN14457228 Bolivia has cut diplomatic relations] with Israel.  So now, will tacky wool ponchos and illicit drugs cost more?  At least [http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/32311_Death_to_All_Juice I know how to spell].
-More seriously, the fact that "the press" doesn't understand [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231950850527&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull that people take religion seriously], is one explanation for the ludicrous coverage given by the foreign press (particularly [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-lewis/stop-this-vicious-slaught_b_155039.html the Europeans]).  If they were to look a bit they might understand why people are saying this is a [http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2009/01/war-of-miracles.html war of miracles], and [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231774434152&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull even more] miracles.  There is a fascinating [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231866577142&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull resurgence of religion] among soldiers.  I guess that's not surprising, but it is interesting and encouraging, and should give [http://www.treppenwitz.com/2009/01/okay-now-that-everyone-has-checked-in.html our wonderful neighbors] pause.
+In a stroke of true idiocy , our feckless leaders unilaterally [http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSLI52680720090118 declared a cease-fire].  Of course, the [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232100172625&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull immediate response] was all too predictable.  Hizbullah's bizarre rantings [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/159557 about war casualties] make me wonder how much hashish they've been smoking.
-In even more encouraging news, the Knesset Elections Committee actually approved the [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231760644913&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull banning of two Arab parties] from running for the Knesset.  These are parties which not only actively advocate the overthrow of Israel, but whose leaders give advice to our (active) enemies on how to accomplish that.  In any sane country they would have been outlawed long ago and their leaders tried for treason, but not in ''our'' little democracy.  Try that kind of crap in Syria or Egypt and see how long your career is...
+For some reason, we seem to misunderstand our enemies' [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232292907998&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull concepts of mercy].  It is incredible to me that we could possibly misunderstand them, when they [http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=19070&only make it explicitly clear] what they think.  Are we really so stupid?  Given that the Israeli courts are allowing the Arab parties (banned last week by the Central Election Committee) [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129551 to run after all], I think the answer is "yes"...
-I [http://www.whatwarzone.com/search/label/I%20Love%20This%20Place love this place!]  Truly, I do.  What other country lets you [http://www.zap.co.il/Special/models_special.aspx?sog=G-PrimeMinisters comparison shop] for Prime Ministers?  One day this week, an [http://www.whatwarzone.com/2009/01/who-heard-that.html air-raid siren] went off in Jerusalem (as well as Beit Shemesh and Maale Adummim).  I don't know the last time one went off, but to judge by the puzzled expressions on people's faces it had been a long time.  Everyone was next to the windows, trying to "hear if it was real or not".  Guess what, guys! If it were real, standing next to a window would have been a really bad idea.  Turns out it was a "mistake", thank God -- but at the exact same time there was a ''real'' alert happening in the south (six missiles fired into Israel from Gaza).
+Since the Arab media thinks "human shield" is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY50cktUKbA something humorous], it's good to see an [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129468 eye for an eye] has literal meaning.  As does [http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/01/19/Report_Plague_killing_al-Qaida_terrorists/UPI-88691232390982/ divine justice]!  Doubtless they'll blame the Mossad.
-Here in the sleepy town of Maale Adummim, we had a real row break out -- a "pissing contest" between the mayor of our town, and the police official responsible for the checkpoint leading from M"A to Jerusalem.  For some reason which is not clear, the police official decided to be an a@@@@@e and lock down the checkpoint.  Not because of security reasons (which would be legitimate), but because of the aforementioned contest.  So traffic to J"M in the morning was unbelievable.  One morning it took me an hour and forty minutes to get to work, instead of twenty minutes.  So I moved my "start time" later, and got around the problem.  But the local paper had essentially an entire issue devoted to this {{dict|imbroglio}}.
+::A cowboy, an Indian, and an Ay-rab were sitting in a bar.
+::The Indian said: "Once upon a time, my people were very many; today we are very few".
+::The Ay-rab said: "Walla, once my beoble were very few, today we are very many".
+::The cowboy said: "Yup, that's 'cos we ain't played cowboys and Ay-rabs yet".
-In the job situation, we got informed this week that unless the company gets funding by the end of February, we'll be out of work.  So sadly, I am looking for work now because as our Sages tell us we must not "rely on miracles".  So if you know of anyone who needs a top-notch programmer and team leader, send them [http://ronware.org/resume.pdf my resumé].  Particularly if they're in the Jerusalem area.
+The USA got a new president this week, but I didn't see any miracles from [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Mzg2N2E5YTRhNmNjMTlmZTc4YjdmMGE4MWQ0MjU0NGQ= Saint Obama] just yet.  Maybe I'm naive, but I find it difficult to understand how he intends to [http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2008/11/07/will-obamas-stimulus-plan-work.aspx fund his programs].  Oh, and if you were working for the evil Microsoft (which despite ''many'' years of record-breaking profits, just let 5,000 employees go) you [http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/brierdudley/2009/01/22/the_pink_slip_special_deals_fo.html might consider the pink-slip special].  "Boo, hiss!" to Microsoft.
-Esther took part in a project to bake ''challot'' for the troops.  It turned into a family project, each of us contributing in our way -- but the actual baking of delicious shabbat bread for the soldiers was done by my lovely wife.
+In job-search news: I had an interview in Tel Aviv this week, which was ok... but I don't really want to drive to T"A every day (it would be about an hour and a half commute from Maaleh Adummim each way, by car -- more, by bus).  What was interesting was just how different T"A is from Jerusalem.  I don't get out much ... and I never did like Tel Aviv much, but seeing it "up close" is an eye-opener.  It's almost as if it's a different country altogether (which I suppose it is, in a way).  However,  most of the jobs in "high tech" are in the coastal-plain, where T"A is (or north of there).  Our CEO is still struggling to find investors who are willing to sign on the dotted-line, before the end of February.  However, I think most of us "line personnel" are not holding out great hopes of success.  Sad but true.
-Daniela is "hosting" her grandpa this week, in NYC.  Of course she can't really host him, since she's in an all-girls school.  But she's between semesters, and grandpa is having his usual good time visiting and what-not.
+True story: going to check out at the supermarket.  I look for the "express line", which has a sign posted over it: "Fast lane - 10 or fewer items only".  I see there are only two people in line there, so I get in line.  Ask the lady in front of me if the lane actually ''is'' fast, and she replies, ''yes, if you have ten or less items''.  She had a lot more than 10 items ... I assume she was being a smart-ass.  So I went to the next lane over, which was a "normal" one, and got out before her.
+I love {{wiki|hummus}}, I really do.  I use it instead of mayonnaise or other spreads.  Paired with {{wiki|zchug}}, it's a real meal.  In the US I used to make my own, but when we made [[aliyah]], I preferred to be lazy and buy it.  Nevertheless, it's not hard to make, and my family actually likes my recipe... so without further ado, [[Recipes/Hummus|here's the hummus]] I made today ''lichvod shabbat''.
-Sarah got some really good scores on tests this week, so she was happy as were we.  Unfortunately, she got pulled over by a cop for running a stop-sign.  Well, she got pulled over by a ''simulated'' cop for running a ''simulated'' stop-sign.  She seems to enjoy the driving class in school.  Too bad we may not have a car any more...
-She asked me an interesting question today: when ''mashiach'' comes and the holy Temple is rebuilt, will we be able to put in orders for the kinds of sacrifices we need to make, "online"?  I couldn't think of any particular reason why not, and then I thought -- hey! I'll bet no-one has written any software for running the Temple!  Maybe I should take that on as a project while I'm out of work.
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 Shabbat shalom!
-{{nav|Blog|Blog|Blog/January 2009/Jan 9th|Jan 9th||}}
+{{nav|Blog|Blog|Blog/January 2009/Jan 16th|Jan 16th|Blog/January 2009/Jan 30th|Jan 30th}}

Difference between revisions of "Blog/January 2009/Jan 23rd"

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Latest revision as of 11:24, 10 July 2009