Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Missile / Rocket Hits Ashkelon Shopping Mall
| A Grad Missile (Katyusha Rocket) just hit the an Ashkelon Shopping Mall. The missile directly hit the Medical Clinic located on the top floor. Conflicting reports regarding number of injured and damage. All updates will be on the Muqata. |
Invitation: laying cornerstone for A NEW JEWISH TOWN IN SHDEMA
| Invitation: laying cornerstone for A NEW JEWISH TOWN IN SHDEMA BETWEEN HAR CHOMA AND EASTERN GUSH ETZION tomorrow -- THURSDAY MAY 15th, 2008 You -- and also of course President Bush and his entire entourage -- are cordially invited to the laying of the cornerstone to a new Jewish city "Shdema". Shdema will be built on the exact location where the IDF army base "Shdema" used to be. The Shdema army camp was abandoned by the IDF and by the Israeli government as part of Olmert-Livni's plan to build an Arab city there. Shdema is located south of Har Choma, on the new Eastern Gush Etzion- Jerusalem road. Only an insane government that has no qualms abandoning its citizens to Arab terror can come up with such an outrageous idea as building the enemy new cities in strategical locations, thus endangering the lives of Jews in Jerusalem and Gush Etzion. Even if you cannot come, please help by faxing this invitation STRAIGHT to President Bush's hotel. Fax number is below. PROGRAM for THURSDAY MAY 15th, 2008 (details: 0505-500834 – 0505-777254- 02-9961292- 0505246770) * Leaving from Kiryat Arba-Hebron at 8:30 am, Efrat southern gate at 8:45 am, Tekoa main gate at 9:00 am, Har Choma (from police station) at 9:00am. * Laying of Cornerstone by MK Prof. Arieh Eldad and the Rabbi of Nokdim. Tour of Shdema. Painting and cleaning of abandoned buildings. Lectures by Rabbi Sharbaf from Hevron and Attn Elyakim Haetzni. * Approximate return: 1:00pm FRIDAY MAY 16th: TOURING SHDEMA AND SURROUNDINGS 8:30 am bus will leave Kiryat Arba. 9:00 am bus will leave Efrat Thanks: to Women in Green and other groups -- for organizing this appropriate and moving event! Please fax this invitation directly to President Bush at his hotel. He needs to feel that many people are inviting him -- the whole Israeli public, in fact. FAX NUMBER OF US PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH'S HOTEL IN ISRAEL - 2 numbers: 02-6208880 02-6208882 -- IF BUSY, TRY AGAIN, hotel desk operates 24 hours a day so perhaps try late at night IF FAX LINE SEEMS NOT TO BE WORKING, CALL THE KING DAVID HOTEL 972-2-6208888 AND REQUEST THAT THE FAX-LINE BE CHECKED. YOUR FAX'S FIRST LINE SHOULD READ: "PLEASE DELIVER THIS FAX TO YOUR GUEST, US PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH" |
When Jameel and Lurker Irk JoeSettler
| I wrote a post that could be considered contraversial by some. I asked Jameel and Lurker if they think I should post it or not. Jameel said absolutely not on his blog, and both said the subject doesn't interest them. They then went on and on, in over 10 emails about the subject (and derivative subjects). And they then both finished the thread with the statement that the subject matter doesn't interest them so they have no opinion on whether I should post it or not. Aarghhh. That's doesn't help at all. |
From our Rumor Department
| I have no supporting documentation for this, so I will leave out the names, though the original story is quite explicit in its details. This story has been making the rounds in the Chareidi circles, but I haven't seen it in the mainstream media, so for the moment we'll file it under Chareidi Urban Legends. Apparently a boy (obviously in Israel) was recently taken into the emergency room in bad shape. He had a seriously bad allergic reaction to something he ate. The only thing he had eaten that day were frankfurters. I know you health nuts will say what you will about frankfurters, but they really are a staple food whether you like it or not. (Unfortunately you can't find real ones in Israel, just watery chicken mash). The only problem is that the boy isn't allergic to any of the ingredients in the hot dogs. He had an allergy to milk (allergy, not intolerance - different symptoms). An investigation was run, and it was discovered that this major kosher hot dog factory in Israel had added... a powdered milk derivative into their formula. Believe it or not. |
Sunday, May 11, 2008
FFT: Can Bribery Be Ethical?
| A Food For Thought Question. Let's say you lived in a third world country, where the only way to get anything done was to pay a bribe to government officials. Imagine that this was known to be the only way for permits to be granted, business deals to be closed, roads or schools built, or even to prevent the tax authorities from paying you unfair and disproportionate attention. Perhaps no different than the formal system of institutionalized bribes and payoffs that the Ottoman empire was built around. We can even call it Baksheesh, if you want. So, if you wanted to live your life normally, and you pay off the required officials, did you, as an average citizen, actually do something unethical? And if this has become the accepted mode of behavior, is the politician or bureaucrat actually guilty of unethical behavior too? |
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Who's Greener than Me?
| Here is an interesting tidbit I just found out. The Oilam is always saying we must be more green, ecologically aware, and take positive action against global warming. But there is only one country in the entire world that began 2008 with more trees than it had in 2007 (and 2006...). Yup, that is Israel. How cool is that? And you can thank the KKL-JNF for that. (and that's even with moving the donor plaques from tree to tree!) (Trees help prevent global warming - if global warming really exists). |
More Cool Things to Do in Israel
| -- Advertisement -- For some reason I am being inundated with visitors (not complaining) from sites like "The High Road", "Small Dead Animals" and "Because No One Asked" to name a few. Welcome. I talk local politics here too. Apparently you are all looking for cool things to do in Israel, and the idea of learning to shoot with Israeli special forces soldiers at Caliber-3 is on top of your list. You have very good taste. But while you're at it, just to let you know, in Israel we have more than just shooting. We have jeeping, canyoning, mountain biking, and other adventures. Here is a video of the "IDF Experience" with the "Israel Challenge" guys. You see! We have more than just shooting here. |
Friday, May 09, 2008
Is Lebanon Lost?
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Learn To Shoot
| -- Advertisement -- Like most of the Rapid Response Teams in the Judea region (not to mention other special security forces), I’ve done part of my training at the Caliber 3 shooting range in Gush Etzion. Let me tell you, compared to most IDF training bases, this place is heaven. Soda machines, bathrooms, running water, concrete floors, air conditioned classrooms, and ceiling netting (for shade on the range). You couldn’t ask for a nicer outdoor range. (And if you’ve only ever shot in an indoor range, you’re in for a surprise, it’s a completely different experience). Anyway, the owners of the Caliber 3 Shooting Range have opened a new introductory training program for the general public.
Why do you think half the people on the RRTs sign up in the first place?
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Monday, May 05, 2008
How Much Would You Pay for Art?
Ha’aretz claims that their probe indicates that the current Olmert investigation revolves around Olmert using his position to help promote his wife’s artwork and art career. I’m not much of a modern art critic, but how much would you pay for these, and would you really want them in your house?   (Gads, I don't even want to see it on the blog!)My wife has another theory. Forget million dollar discounts on Cremioux. This involves a much better way of And seriously, after looking at those two samples of her work, can there be any doubt in anyone’s mind what the buyers were really buying for all that money? You read it here (JoeSettler) first. |
New Flag...New Stamp in honor of the 60
From the SOS-Israel Site, in honor of the 60 years of the State of Israel: The picture is of the Neve Dekalim Shul and Hesder Yeshiva that was destroyed by the Expulsion. The orange text says "Destruction of 35 years of Settlements in Gush Katif". The text below lists all the Jewish towns that were destroyed. |
Sunday, May 04, 2008
What are you doing for Yom Ha'atzmaut?
| What are you doing for Yom Ha'atzmaut? We want to know (actually we don't have plans yet, and are simply out of ideas). So far, Jameel invited us to go to Chomesh with him. But let's hear what else may be on the table. If anyone is going (or went) on an Israel Challenge adventure (jeeping, canyoning, hiking, rappelling, shooting, etc.) let me know also. I'd like to hear how that went, and maybe even give you a guest post. |
More Destructions on the Way?
Saturday, May 03, 2008
More Fun for Free
| Every now and then when I have free time, I drive the kids all the way over to Elazar to the zoo. It’s a great zoo, but unfortunately, the only time they seem to be open is when I am busy (and you have to make reservations to get in anyway). So we drive there, and stand outside looking at the ostriches and the peacock (occasionally the ducks if we can see them). While driving around with the family this Friday I had a great idea. Bat Ayin is full of Granolies and Hippies (half of them doctors, lawyers and programmers in the real world). I bet they have animals. So we drove in and asked the country boy driving a tractor, and found out that someone there actually does run a farm. And lo and behold, chickens, roosters, peacocks, goats, ducks, geese, (quails?) and puppies galore. We asked permission to go in and got it. (Always important.) The kids were in heaven, they could pet all the animals, and all the animals wanted to be petted (especially the puppies, and especially the puppy who wanted to go home with my son, and my son wanted to take the puppy home). I’m not telling you all to go down there, as this is someone’s private home and business and really not a petting zoo, and they shouldn’t be pestered by the crowds, but what a bunch of nice people they are in Bat Ayin, and what a great time my kids had. |
Friday, May 02, 2008
Jerusalem United
| The Left loves to claim that Jerusalem isn’t united because Jews don’t live in “Arab” neighborhoods. Of course when Jews move into “Arab” neighborhoods, the Leftists howl and scream (what a strange definition of Leftist we have in Israel, how far from liberal they really are). The Jerusalem Post has an article about a new upper-class neighborhood/project called Nof Zion which is being built in Jebl Mukaber. The Leftists are fuming. And the Jews are moving in. The other day we were driving through Ras el-Amud (spelled something like that) – it is on/near Har HaZaitim. You should go if you get the chance. It has the most amazing view of Jerusalem and the Old City from another vantage point. One of the local Arabs even invited us to take a look at his house. Normally I would have gone in, but due to a severe lack of time we had to decline.   Anyway, as we were driving through we were surprised to see a new project there being built called Ma’aleh haZaitim. A fitting name due to its proximity to Har HaZaitim. Where else but Israel would the biggest selling point be the proximity of the neighborhood to a cemetery.  They are now beginning to build phase 2 of the project. It’s very nice.  Jerusalem United – as it should be. |