Difference between revisions of "Blog/February 2009/Feb 6th"

Latest revision as of 14:07, 13 February 2009

February 6th (See this week's devar torah)
Send Ron feedback on this blog

Hi again!

We are just a few days away from the national elections here. Political propaganda is blasted our way from the radio, newspapers, buses (and TV, for those who have one). Even email is not exempt from the onslaught. The funniest ad was something we just got today, in the newspaper Makor Rishon -- which is geared towards the "national religious" public. The ad was "There is a place for the National Religious with Kadima". I nearly fell off my chair with laughter -- the anti-Jewish, secular Livni "has a place" for religious Jews (but not hareidim of course, they're too primitive). What a toad! Not that the other main parties are any better, having gotten us into the mess in Gaza, allowing the situation to fester for years and now wanting to take credit for the pitifully inadequate action they finally took.

In the aftermath of the Gaza war, we are shocked (shocked!) to find out that the UN's claim that the IDF shelled a UNRWA school is false (according to the UN itself). Arab sources give proof of Hamas intimidation and brainwashing of children. And useful idiots continue their imbecilic pontificating. Venal "rights groups" say the government is "implicated" for having the temerity to build in its own country. I'm telling you, I'm mad as hell!. Time for real change, not "musical chairs". Unfortunately, we will undoubtedly get the same cynical anti-Jewish government as before, only the titles on the chairs will be different.

For those of you who feel that we would have peace with the Arabs were we simply to give them their own country (because that's all they want, just to live in peace), I suggest you view how to make a Hamas hero. If you think no-one could possibly believe there are 72 virgins waiting as a reward for becoming a "martyr", think again.

Today we went to pick up some supplies for shabbat, and in the market I hear a woman saying with exasperation, "where is Muhammad?". Don't worry, soon you'll probably hear it where you live too. Speaking of Muhammad, there was an interesting article in our local paper, which mentioned that 200 very expensive alpine goats (worth a total of $200,000) were stolen from moshav Ein Camonim in the Galilee. Ein Camonim makes an excellent goat-cheese which I like very much, so Esther gave me the article to read. Apparently, some Arabs from the village next-door to us (Azariyah aka Bethany) went out in the middle of the night sometime last week, breached the security system at the moshav, and stole 200 goats. The special investigator from Maale Adummim got involved and they recovered only 120 of the 200 goats. Just thought you'd find it interesting.

Daniela complained that I haven't mentioned her recently. So, I'm mentioning that she is fine, B"H, and doing well. We hope to see her very soon (May). She's performing with a chamber music group at her school; I'm waiting for recordings. To give equal time, Sarah is also doing fine, and is looking forward to her "alternate school trip". They'll be traveling around Israel (instead of going to Poland as some schools do) for four days. Although she does get tired of explaining that she was born in Washington State, not Washington D.C. Noone here knows the difference...

The work situation is still very much up in the air. I thought it might be a good idea to form a company and work as an independent. I mentioned the idea to a couple other guys in Maale Adummim, and they indicated their interest in the idea. So it may be that I'll be independent again, pretty soon. Of course "freedom" in that regard also entails "freedom to starve", so we will need to have someone whose job it is to get us work. Probably I should not dress like this if I want to get hired, though.

I've long been a strong proponent of encryption for privacy, but I'll admit that there are ways around it -- especially when the police feel no restraint. This week I read a long, considered article entitled Why I hate Microsoft. You know of course that I am not exactly impartial. However, I'll leave you with a quote from the article, which is as succinct a summary of my feelings as I could come up with: Mr. Gates, Mr. Ballmer, I've upped my standards... so up yours.

(This blog is hosted on a Linux server, content written by me on a Linux machine...)

Until next week,
Shabbat shalom!

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 {{blog}}
-{{bheader|January 30th|Devar/5769/Bo}}
+{{bheader|February 6th|Devar/5769/Beshalach}}
 Hi again!
-For those of you who are still unaware, the Israeli elections for the {{wiki|Knesset}} are coming up on Feb 10th -- just under two weeks from now.  Because there are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_legislative_election,_2009 34 parties] running, it can be difficult to figure out which one is the "best match" for one's positions.  Therefore, one of the biggest papers in Israel, [http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3083,00.html Yediot Acharonot], in collaboration with the [http://www.idi.org.il/sites/english/Pages/homepage.aspx Israel Democracy Institute], came up with an "[http://israel.kieskompas.nl electoral compass]" to help you figure out which party is closest to your particular way of thinking.  Try it, it's free and very informative.
+Help [[tsedaka|feed the hungry]] in Israel!
-Israel has some really ''odd'' parties.  The adage that [http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com/2009/01/holocaust-survivors-with-green-leaf.html politics makes strange bedfellows] is ''really'' true.  Here you can take a look at some of the [http://info.jpost.com/C008/Supplements/IsraelElections2009/stickers1.html election posters], along with a short translation of the message.
+We are just a few days away from the national elections here.  Political propaganda is blasted our way from the radio, newspapers, buses (and TV, for those who have one).  Even email is not exempt from the onslaught.  The funniest ad was something we just got today, in the newspaper [http://www.makor1.co.il/makor/HomePage.faces Makor Rishon] -- which is geared towards the "national religious" public.  The ad was "There is a place for the National Religious with Kadima".  I nearly fell off my chair with laughter -- the anti-Jewish, secular Livni "has a place" for religious Jews (but not ''hareidim'' of course, they're too ''primitive'').  What a toad!  Not that the other main parties [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE1h6tHDjbU are any better], having gotten us into the mess in Gaza, allowing the situation to fester for years and now wanting to take credit for the pitifully inadequate action they finally took.
-As for me, I'm voting [http://www.leumi.org.il/english/ National Union].  For the first time in my life, I feel the need to [[media:nu.jpeg|become an activist]], because so much is at stake in this election.  The current leadership has already announced their "plan" of giving most of the heartland of Israel to the Arab enemy.  They should perhaps read about [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/our-neighbor-and-why-we-have-to-kill-him/ our neighbor and why we have to kill him].  I find it absolutely incomprehensible how any person with two brain cells left can believe that if we "just give them land", then "they will stop attacking us".  [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232643757420&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Dhimmy Carter] believes that, but then, that supports my point I think.  The only party which has come out unequivocally and stated it will ''not under any circumstances'' surrender our Land to the Arab invaders, is the National Union.  So they get my vote.
+In the aftermath of the Gaza war, we are shocked (shocked!) to find out that [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304687916&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull the UN's claim] that the IDF shelled a [http://www.un.org/unrwa/ UNRWA] school is false (according to the UN itself).  Arab sources give proof of [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233050211254&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Hamas intimidation] and [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304700804&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull brainwashing of children].  And [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304687620&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull useful idiots] continue their imbecilic pontificating.  Venal "rights groups" say the [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304639870&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull government is "implicated"] for having the temerity to build in its own country.  I'm telling you, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_qgVn-Op7Q&feature=related I'm mad as hell!].  Time for ''real'' change, not "musical chairs".  Unfortunately, we will undoubtedly get the same cynical anti-Jewish government as before, only the titles on the chairs will be different.
-Why is it a problem?  After all, those parts the various politicians want to give the Arabs are "far away".  Yeah.  [[media:enemy.jpeg|The Arabs here]] are within bow-and-arrow range of my house, let alone Qassam range.  If we allow Hamas to take over there, how long do you think it will be before "Gazan rain" starts inundating my town, and Jerusalem next-door?  No bloody way am I going to keep still while that happens.
+For those of you who feel that we would have peace with the Arabs were we simply to give them their own country (because that's all they want, just to live in peace), I suggest you view [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfbYtpviai0 how to make a Hamas hero].  If you think no-one could possibly believe there are [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X352qdm5X4 72 virgins] waiting as a reward for becoming a "martyr", think again.
-So why don't I vote for [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/8538 Feiglin]?  He's in the Likud, and will "keep them honest".  According to his reasoning, we need to have people in the position to exert pressure on Netanyahu when he's tempted to bend over for the Americans.  I don't think so.  First of all, Feiglin has been relegated -- by Netanyahu himself -- to a "non-realistic" position on the list.  That means unless the Likud has unprecedented and unexpected success at the polls, Feiglin will remain out of the Knesset, a mere irritation to Netanyahu.  And given that's the case, the four years coming up will allow the corrupt politicians (Netanyahu, Liberman, Barak to name just a few) to do their worst -- literally -- and there will be nothing Feiglin can do about it.  On the other hand, the National Union will get a few seats -- and they will be "inside" the Knesset and able to ''at the least'' make their position heard, and possibly forestall disaster.  It's the only thing we can do just now.
+Today we went to pick up some supplies for shabbat, and in the market I hear a woman saying with exasperation, "where ''is'' Muhammad?".   Don't worry, soon you'll probably hear it where you live too.  Speaking of Muhammad, there was an interesting article in our local paper, which mentioned that 200 very expensive [http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/alpines/ alpine goats] (worth a total of $200,000) were stolen from moshav [http://ein-camonim.co.il/ Ein Camonim] in the Galilee.  Ein Camonim makes an excellent goat-cheese which I like very much, so Esther gave me the article to read.  Apparently, some Arabs from the village next-door to us (Azariyah ''aka'' Bethany) went out in the middle of the night sometime last week, breached the security system at the moshav, and stole 200 goats.  The special investigator from Maale Adummim got involved and they recovered only 120 of the 200 goats.  Just thought you'd find it interesting.
-As for the Arab enemy, they refused the 18-month cease-fire proposed by Israel (who knows why we offered them a cease-fire?) and insisted on a [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232643746219&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull 12 month cease-fire] instead.  Of course, because they have [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233050211857&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull only the best interests] of the Gazans at heart, they want one-year to [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/160048 rearm] and retrain and attack again.  But they couldn't even [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129672 wait that long].
+Daniela complained that I haven't mentioned her recently.  So, I'm mentioning that she is fine, B"H, and doing well.  We hope to see her very soon (May).  She's performing with a chamber music group at her school; I'm waiting for recordings.  To give equal time, Sarah is also doing fine, and is looking forward to her "alternate school trip".  They'll be traveling around Israel (instead of going to Poland as some schools do) for four days.  Although she does get tired of explaining that she was born in [http://www.whatwarzone.com/2009/01/take-left-at-beersheva-and-walk-ten.html Washington State], not Washington D.C.  Noone here knows the difference...
-And in the meantime, Gazans suffer [http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2008/19-2009.html destruction] and [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/159854 casualties] because their leaders are blind with hatred towards Jews.  Of course our leaders are also blind with hatred towards Jews... at least that's what one must conclude from their actions and words.  Even the EU is [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232643751651&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull tired of the Arab instigation] and waste of every penny invested in them by the world community (billions of dollars, in case you missed it).
+The work situation is still very much up in the air.  I thought it might be a good idea to form a company and work as an independent.  I mentioned the idea to a couple other guys in Maale Adummim, and they indicated their interest in the idea.  So it may be that I'll be independent again, pretty soon.  Of course "freedom" in that regard also entails "freedom to starve", so we will need to have someone whose job it is to get us work.  Probably I should not [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123370744577745715.html?mod=article-outset-box dress like this] if I want to get hired, though.
-OK.  Enough politics.  This is for my dear friend and teacher Rabbi Farkash: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o3tQxvYDhM rachem!] (bet you never saw one like that before).  I'm in luck I don't [http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1983 know how to fish].  Likewise, a good thing I didn't continue [http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/28/uk.cello.scrotum.hoax/index.html cello lessons]!
+I've long been a strong proponent of [[privacy|encryption for privacy]], but I'll admit that there are [http://xkcd.com/538/ ways around it] -- especially when the police feel no restraint.  This week I read a long, considered article entitled [http://www.vanwensveen.nl/rants/microsoft/IhateMS.html Why I hate Microsoft].   You know of course that I am not exactly impartial.  However, I'll leave you with a quote from the article, which is as succinct a summary of my feelings as I could come up with: ''Mr. Gates, Mr. Ballmer, I've upped my standards... so up yours.''
-Last week I gave you a recipe for "hummus".  This week you get one recipe for "zchug", the Yemenite hot-pepper condiment which goes well with hummus.  It should be noted that everyone has their own recipe, but the common ingredients seem to be hot peppers and garlic.  My recipe for "red zchug":
-Take a bunch (half a cup or so, depending on how much you want to make) of dried red pepper flakes and put it in your food processor.  Add a teaspoon more or less of salt; same with cumin.  Add a couple cloves of garlic, and a few tablespoons of olive oil, then grind it up.  You'll need to push the mixture back down into the blades as you work, since the blades will fling the (spicy!) mixture against the walls of the processor.  Be careful you don't get it in your eyes -- it'll burn like hell.  As you work, note the texture.  I like mine kind of on the dry side but still spreadable.  Some like theirs wet and runny.  Just add some lemon juice, water or oil as you prefer to adjust the moistness and spreadability.
-In work news, I was co-opted into making [http://classifeye.com/ViewDemos/tabid/82/Default.aspx three short demo movies].  Hopefully they'll help us raise cash.  Soon.  I got my first paycheck at "minimum wage" (my first ever in my life, actually).  It wasn't pretty -- it's actually less than I can collect from unemployment insurance, so I'm anxious for us to get re-funded.   If you want to offset my financial losses (sure you do, don't you?) you can just [https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=2875940 PayPal me some funds]... (that's a joke, friends).  But this isn't a joke: there are thousands of Jews in Israel who haven't got enough to eat.  If you  [https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=2876433 send me tsedaka funds] I will contribute the funds on your behalf to organizations which feed the hungry here.  I will donate 100% of what I receive (after PayPal takes its share and the banks theirs) ; and I will try to get a tax-receipt for you as well, though I'm not sure you'll be able to use an Israeli tax receipt outside of Israel.
+<small>(This blog is hosted on a Linux server, content written by me on a Linux machine...)</small>
 Until next week,<br>
 Shabbat shalom!
-{{nav|Blog|Blog|Blog/January 2009/Jan 23rd|Jan 23rd||}}
+{{nav|Blog|Blog|Blog/January 2009/Jan 30th|Jan 30th|Blog/February 2009/Feb 13th|Feb 13th}}

Difference between revisions of "Blog/February 2009/Feb 6th"

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Latest revision as of 14:07, 13 February 2009