Little Girl Having a Tantrum

My father-in-law had a great insight into how Hillary is now acting. She's acting like a little girl having a huge temper-tantrum because she is not getting her way. First, she loses state after state. Then, on the rare occasion she wins, she "shows" the world how electable she is and how UNelectable Obama is. She is behind in all ways, votes, delegates, and "super" delegates. Yet, she keeps crying foul. Keeps insisting SHE'S the one, not Obama. Then, by not following DNC rules, she insists she should get the Michigan and Florida delegates according to vote, never mind Obama was never even ON the ballot in Michigan and never campaigned, FOLLOWING DNC RULES, in either state (neither did Hillary, but she insists on getting "her" delegates). She insists on changing, bending, and breaking reality to fit her own needs, never mind the needs of the nation for a president like Barack Obama. She will continue throwing her tantrum, which is really sad. The problem is, if she takes this to the convention (and she'd BETTER not), she will basically ruin any chance of the Democrats finally taking back the White House and cleaning up The Idiot's eight year messy disaster.

Hillary is like Princes Ida:

The narrow-minded pedant still believes
That two and two make four! Why, we can prove,
We women – household drudges as we are –
That two and two make five – or three – or seven;
Or five-and-twenty, if the case demands!

Thankfully, it seems the rest of the party officials will decide the nominee next week if the three party leaders, Harry Reid (Senate Majority Leader), Nancy Pelosi (Speaker of the House of Representatives), and Howard Dean (Chairman of the Democratic National Committee), have their way. They stated today they want, once the final primary on June 3 is over, to have the rest of the undecided "super" delegates make their decision and be done with it.

Here's hoping that by this time next week, Barack Obama will be the official nominee and can finally begin his campaign in earnest against John McBush. I mean McCain...

Hey! The Economy's Doing JUST FINE, Right?

GM says 19,000 U.S. factory workers take buyouts. Hm. Maybe not so much. This buyout thing is to cut costs, save money, and hire new workers at about half the wage rate they pay to current workers. And all this was worked out with the United Auto Worker's Union.

Great, ain't it? :(

A Page (Sorry for the Pun) Right Out of Our Lives...

This happens to us ALL the time!

Stupid Quote of the Day...

And the award goes to Jolaine Tracy of South Dakota:

"People don't like [Hillary] because she's a woman. Period. And that's ridiculous because there are women in power around the world," said Jolaine Tracy, a former South Dakota teacher.

No, Jolaine. People don't like her because she's Hillary. People NEVER liked her. She's a liar, a fake, and is completely incapable of telling the truth. Stop living in pre-1960s America. Voting for Hillary is not feminism. It's no longer about feminism. It's about what's best for this country, and frankly, Hillary just ain't it. If anything in this election, as my wife says, Barack Obama has been the more effeminate (in his demeanor), kinder, gentler voice of reason during this campaign, while Hillary has been the negative, more masculine, hit 'em with everything you've got no matter the cost, irrational, and aggressive manly candidate in the race.

In truth, had a woman candidate BEEN the better candidate, SHE'D be winning this contest. I'D have CERTAINLY voted for her, whoever she might have been, had she been the better candidate.

John Hagee and the Jews...

Well, what little respect I had for Yitzchok Adlerstein of Cross-Loving Currents is all but gone. Why? Because he, like the other fools at Cross-Loving Currents (you know, Toby Katz, Yaakov Menken, Avi Shafran, etc.) has jumped on the "John Hagee Is a Great Friend of the Jews and Israel" bandwagon. And so, he works VERY hard to try and excuse Hagee's Holocaust remarks:

John Hagee doesn't have an anti-Semitic bone in his body, despite what he said about the Holocaust. It is a shame that John McCain saw fit to distance himself from him.

Reverend John Hagee may just be the single most important non-Jewish friend of Israel in the United States today. His reach is huge. He backs up his love for Israel with action. He is the founder and chairman of Christians United For Israel (CUFI), which runs large rallies for Israel across the length and breadth of America. Any legislator who might even think of voting against Israel's interests can receive literally millions of irate emails from concerned Christians.

John Hagee does not have to demonstrate his love for Jews and Israel. He's done that, many times over. His comments about the Holocaust are indeed problematic, but they must be seen in the context of his firm belief in history as the unfolding of G-d's Will.

Hagee spoke about a favorite topic of his: the creation of the State of Israel as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. G-d wanted so much for Jews to lay claim to their land by leaving Europe for the Middle East, that he unleashed the Holocaust, which left them no option but to establish their state.

"Then G-d sent a hunter. A hunter is someone with a gun and he forces you. Hitler was a hunter. And the Bible says — Jeremiah writing — 'They shall hunt them from every mountain and from every hill and from the holes of the rocks,' meaning there's no place to hide. And that might be offensive to some people but don't let your heart be offended. I didn't write it, Jeremiah wrote it. It was the truth and it is the truth. How did it happen? Because G-d allowed it to happen. Why did it happen? Because G-d said my top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel."

Hagee was accused of calling Jews sub-human (only animals are hunted), and exonerating Hitler (since he was sent by G-d.) Hagee, of course, meant no such thing, any more than Pharoah was exonerated by G-d when He foretold the Egyptian oppression to Abraham.

Of course, Adlerstein DOES say Hagee is wrong. He is wrong in believing he understands WHY the Holocaust took place:

Living with questions is exasperating, but better than inventing answers that do not work (limiting G-d) or that cannot be demonstrated (finding patterns in history and insisting that we have discovered Divine truth). This is where we must part company with our good friend Reverend Hagee. We share his certainty concerning G-d's role in history; we cannot share his certainty about understanding the whys and wherefores of that role — and the awful toll Rev. Hagee's understanding would take on our conception of His mercy.

But, of course, not in his "love" for the Jewish people. Of that, Adlerstein has NO doubt, as he stated at the beginning of the article:

Reverend John Hagee may just be the single most important non-Jewish friend of Israel in the United States today. His reach is huge. He backs up his love for Israel with action. He is the founder and chairman of Christians United For Israel (CUFI), which runs large rallies for Israel across the length and breadth of America. Any legislator who might even think of voting against Israel's interests can receive literally millions of irate emails from concerned Christians.

John Hagee does not have to demonstrate his love for Jews and Israel. He's done that, many times over.

Hm. RIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGHHHHHHTTTTTTT...

Never mind the ideology behind his "love" for the Jewish people, the one that states that for the Apocalypse to take place and for "good" (read - "true Christians") to triumph over "evil" (read - "everyone else"), the Holy Land must be in the hands of non-Infidels, a category into which Jews neatly fall...

It never, ever ceases to amaze me how these RWNJs (Right Wing Nut Jobs) find a seemingly inexhaustible supply of defense for a bunch of anti-Semitic bigots and pigs, even when they are troubled by remarks made by those same anti-Semitic bigots and pigs. Just fascinating. Really!
Read the full article, if you can stomach it...

A Bit More on McClellan...

The White House had THIS to say:

The White House responded angrily Wednesday to McClellan's memoir, calling it self-serving sour grapes.

"Scott, we now know, is disgruntled about his experience at the White House," said current White House press secretary Dana Perino, a former deputy to McClellan. "We are puzzled. It is sad. This is not the Scott we knew."

Well, sorry, Idiot in the White and House and all your dumb lackeys, but could it be he simply got tired of the lies and being used as a pawn and fall guy for your shenanigans, lies, and warmongering?

Say, Didn't We Go Through This With Bob Dole?

Still gonna enjoy it, though... :)

I Often Feel This Way...

About Bush leaving office!!!

More on McClellan from Politico.com

Exclusive: McClellan whacks Bush, White House.

Bush Was Not "Forthright" About Iraq War

Well, no SHIT, Sherlock! Scott McClellan, who took over for Ari Fleischer in 2003 (IIRC, Fleischer quit because there was too much BS going on), wrote a memoir on his time as the The Idiot's press secretary. Click for full article.

A couple of pertinent quotes, not just about Iraq, but about Hurrican Katrina as well, another disaster Bush, I mean The Idiot, COMPLETELY F****D up.

Iraq:

Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan says in a new book that President George W. Bush "veered terribly off course" and was not "open and forthright on Iraq," Politico.com reported on Tuesday.

In the memoir due out next week, McClellan also says Bush relied on "propaganda" to sell the war and says the Washington press corps was too easy on the administration during the run-up to it, according to the Web site.

Katrina:

McClellan also takes the administration to task for its performance after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, saying the White House "spent most of the first week in a state of denial," Politico reported.

McClellan blames former Bush senior adviser Karl Rove for the photo of the president seen observing the disaster during an Air Force One flyover.

"One of the worst disasters in our nation's history became one of the biggest disasters in Bush's presidency. Katrina and the botched federal response to it would largely come to define Bush's second term," Politico quoted the book as saying.

General:

McClellan's 341-page book, titled "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," takes a much harsher tone than White House officials had expected from the president's former aide, Politico reported.

In the memoir, McClellan is said to claim that Rove and Lewis "Scooter" Libby, a former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, misled him about their role in the CIA leak case. Libby was convicted last year on charges related to the investigation into who blew the cover of former CIA analyst Valerie Plame, whose husband was an outspoken Iraq war critic.

And finally:

The White House declined comment.

Yeah. Duh! What the hell are they gonna say when this guy was told to lie to the public despite the proof in front of him.

I don't normally read non-fiction, but I think I'll read this one. And remember, this guy is a "long-time Bush loyalist and fellow Texan" who says he still "admires the president," who was "ill-served by top advisors."

And one more quote from an AP article: 

McClellan said Bush's unwillingness to admit mistakes and belief in his own spin contributed to turning the president into "not quite the leader I once imagined him to be." He faults Bush for a "lack of inquisitiveness" and "a degree of self-deception that may be psychologically necessary to justify the tactics needed to win the political game."

Bush "convinces himself to believe what suits his needs at the moment," McClellan writes.

Hm. Yes. It's called being a pathological liar...

Low Carb Crepes for Blintzes for Shavous!

These came out great and took very little experimentation...

Makes: 12 Crepes
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 45 Minutes
Ready In: 0
Servings: 4
Ingredients
4 Eggs
1/2 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Water
2/3 Cup Vital Wheat Gluten
4 or 5 Packets of Splenda
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Salt

Directions
In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk and water and mix well.
Add vital wheat gluten, Splenda, vanilla extract, and salt.
Beat well until there are no lumps in the batter.
Lightly spray small pan with cooking spray and heat over medium flame. When hot (but not smoking) ladle about 1/3 cup into pan, swish around, and pour out most of the excess so it's just covering the pan with a bit of a layer on top.
Fry on one side until just dry (bottom will be a light golden color). With a spoon or fork, loosen the edge where you poured out the excess and lift carefully out of pan (try not to tear it!). Repeat until you've finished all the batter.
When filling, fill golden side up. Place filling, roll over filling once, fold sides and roll up.
Fry in pan in cooking spray or butter until golden brown (personally, I like them a bit crispy).
Filling can be anything you like: Mashed potatoes (flavor with salt, garlic, and fried onions and a bit of pareve chicken soup mix), any hard or soft cheese, cherries, blueberries, or anything you like (although I don't think canned corn will work...)!
ENJOY!

Oh, if you want regular carb crepes, use 1/2 cup sugar and a packet of vanilla sugar, or 3/4 cup sugar and a teaspoon and a half vanilla extract, and one cup flour instead of the vital wheat gluten.

Hypocritical Statement of the Day

This from the Idiot in the White House: "Bush calls on Americans to remember war dead."

Oh, wait, Mr. Idiot. I mean President. Did you mean the over four thousand YOU caused to die, whom YOU murdered as surely as if you yourself had triggered all those bombs and shot those guns? THOSE dead?

You bastard. Go to hell. You're a hypocrite of the highest order. YOUR warmongering has killed these kids, nothing else.

Say Good Night, Dick... :(

Dick Martin, co-creator of the ever famous, never tiring Laugh-In variety show of the late 60s-early 70s died today. He, and his longtime partner, Don Martin (died in 1987) were truly comic greats. This is the end of a comedy era. Read an article about Dick Martin here. :(

Indiana Jones - Pissing Off the Commies...

Article from E! Entertainment. Did you know there was still a Communist Party in Russia? I had NO idea!

In a case of life immitating art, Indiana Jones really has pissed off the Russians.

Communist Party members in Russia want to ban Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull from local theaters, calling it anti-Soviet propaganda that distorts history.

The action-adventure blockbuster is set in 1957 and finds everyone's favorite aging archaeologist (Harrison Ford) racing against an evil Russian KGB agent (Cate Blanchett) to track down a legendary skull with otherworldly powers.

"It's rubbish," said Sergei Malinkovich, a leader for the St. Peterburg Communist Party. "In 1957 the Communists did not run with crystal skulls throughout the U.S. Why should we agree to that sort of lie and let the West trick our youth?"
Another angered Soviet even wants to ban the movie's stars from entering Russia.

"Harrison Ford and Cate Blanchett [are] second-rate actors, serving as the running dogs of the CIA," the communist member wrote on a blog. "We need to deprive these people of the right of entering the country."

We'd laugh...but, seriously, we don't want Communists coming after us, too.

Didja get that part in red (oops! Commie pun!). This just hilarious! "Running dogs of the CIA?!" I thought all that idiotic jargon disappeared with the '80s! Click for original article.

The UNITED States of America

Unfortunately, Republicans/Conservatives/the Right Wing just DON'T feel this way and this is why, ultimately, the MUST lose, if only to allow this country to heal and reunify.

DovBear: Abominations

DovBear posted this very important, and VERY to the point essay: DovBear: Abominations I've been thinking a lot about this subject recently, and since DB put it so eloquently, I've decided to just link to his post. At some point later, I may say more about it or add to it here. In the meantime, enjoy the post.

Check Out This STRONG Supporter of Hillary's...

Just follow Jay's instructions. And don't pick your nose in public. You never know who's going to see...

Hagee, Our "Friend..."

So, McCain finally rejected Hagee's endorsement of him today. Why? Well, apparently, it seems, Hagee an anti-Semite! "WHAT?!" all the RWNJs (Right Wing Nut Jobs - read Yaakov Menken, Toby Katz, and their ilk) exclaim. "That's just NOT possible! There MUST be some way we can spin this. After all, Pastor Hagee is a GREAT friend of the Jews!!"

What was SO bad that McCain finally refected Hagee's endorsement (side point: Hagee, in response, revoked his endorsement of McCain to "not cause a stir," political speak for "I still support this guy for president because he's a damn sight better than the alternative, so I'm NOT gonna make waves and just shut my sewer hole until this is all over...")? Well, it seems Hagee said, as did the "great" "gedolim" "Rabbis" Ovadia Yosef and Mordechai Eliyahu, that the victims of the Holocaust deserved to die, and he even beat them to the punch, saying these reprehensible things back in the 1990s:

"Then god sent a hunter. A hunter is someone with a gun and he forces you. Hitler was a hunter. And the Bible says -- Jeremiah writing -- 'They shall hunt them from every mountain and from every hill and from the holes of the rocks,' meaning there's no place to hide. And that might be offensive to some people but don't let your heart be offended. I didn't write it, Jeremiah wrote it. It was the truth and it is the truth. How did it happen? Because God allowed it to happen. Why did it happen? Because God said my top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel." (Click to read full article and audio at end of article)

Isn't he just LOVELY? Us Jews died, six million of us, because we didn't all go to Israel.

It'll be interesting to see the spin because everything he says goes directly AGAINST chareidi/Yeshivish beliefs. After all, going to Israel, forcing a state, was the "breaking" of the ridiculous, and probably false, vows quoted in the gemara about the Jews not forcing the geulah. On the OTHER hand, Hagee is a RWNJ hero, so how can he do something, say something, so disgusting. And on the OTHER, OTHER hand, how can McCain reject the this hero of the RWNJ camp? Does this make McCain TOO LIBERAL for the RWNJs? It should, because, as we all know (and please read this with dripping sarcasm), Israel and the Jews have no better friend than Hagee, do we? And just so it's clear, I've even watched Republican pundits on the news channels label Hagee a bigot. If they can do so, why can't the Jewish RWNJs?

Read full MSNBC article of McCain's rejection of Hagee here. And, while I'll NEVER vote for McCain, or any other Republican, for that matter, I have to concede: Point one for McCain. Good job.

Of course, that point kind of gets cancelled out by his acceptance of Hagee's endorsement, now, doesn't it?

Never mind, then. I'm taking the point back. Sorry, John McCain. Too little, too late, buddy.

And this is in COMPLETE contrast to Barack Obama, who IMMEDIATELY rejected Lou Farrakhan's endorsement of Obama back in late February.

And finally, how is McCain holding on to Hagee's endorsement for three months, knowing what a bigot and all around piece of trash Hagee is, any different than Obama having a controversial pastor? How is it different, as I mentioned before, than ANYONE who remains with a "rabbi" who regularly says hateful things not only about non-Jews, but about fellow ORTHODOX Jews as well?

The answer? Here's a hint: There is NO difference. So now, everyone just needs to shut the hell up about Obama and Wright, or condemn McCain just as strongly as they've condemned Obama.

What's Wrong With This Statement?

Democratic officials say Barack Obama has begun a top-secret search for a running mate.

If it's "top-secret," why do we know about it? :)

Manipulative Quote of the Day

The subject: The Idiot in the White House campaigning for Republicans. The problem: VERY low approval rating - 80% of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. The quote:

[Spokesman Scott] Stanzel shrugged off Bush's record-low approval ratings, and polls showing that four out of five Americans think the country is on the wrong track, saying: "It would be interesting to note the approval rating of Congress, as well, which is lower than all of those numbers that you cite."

Except for one problem, Mr. Stanzel. The Democrats still do NOT have enough of a majority, especially in the Senate, where you need a 2/3 (that's TWO THIRDS) majority to get anything done, in Congress. I suspect this problem will be resolved come November and the Democrats will not only hold an overwhelming majority in Congress (House AND Senate), but the White House as well, God willing...

Can't Win the Election?!

75,000 people at ONE rally in OREGON!!

Obama on Israel

Typical Jewish Store "Sale"

Our realtor, as a thank you gift, gave us a gift certificate when we closed on our last week. The gift certificate was to a local Jewish book store. The store is moving, so they are having a "moving sale." Big posters in the windows. A poster showing what stickers meant on the products (red=half off, blue=buy one, get one half off, etc). So, I went in to spend my gift certificate, hoping to get a good bargain. Except that NOTHING had stickers on it. And, not surprisingly, each product I about which I inquired wasn't "on sale." And I really could find NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING, that had ANY kind of sticker on it except the price tag.

Some sale.

This is the same store where, a year and a half ago, I had an altercation with the proprietor's wife. She was running the Lulav and Esrog sale. I three out of four minim from a friend in New York (Lulav, Esrog, Hadassim), but the fourth, the Aravos, which dry out VERY quickly, I get wherever I happen to live. So, I walked into the store and asked for Aravos. She gives a packet. I asked how much they cost. Her answer? EIGHT DOLLARS (yes, that's $8)!! I said, "I beg your pardon?" and she repeated the price. I said, "Eight dollars for a couple of willow branches?!" She said, "If you don't like it, you can go them yourself!" I informed her it was a ridiculous price, and she insisted they were eight dollars. During the argument, the proprietor, her husband, came in and asked what was going on, growing concerned that there was an argument going on with a customer. At first, she ignored him. He then took her by the arm and loudly insisted on knowing what was going on, at which point she informed him I was refusing to pay eight dollars for the Aravos.

His answer? He yelled, "THEY'RE THREE DOLLARS, NOT EIGHT!!!"

Now that was very nice of him to be honest. As I walked out, having paid THREE dollars instead of eight, I turned to the woman (her husband was no longer in the room), and told her that if anyone bought just Aravos, or didn't buy an Esrog from them and she sold the other three minim individually, that she needs to refund five dollars to EACH of those people. She gave me a dirty look, and as a rule, unless I'm given a gift certificate, I NEVER walk into this store anymore.

What bothered me, though, wasn't the mistake in price. I can see that. What bothered me was that it was about thirty hours before the start of Succos, when most everyone had already bought their Daled Minim, and I was the ONLY one who made noise about the price. I guess everyone else just thought that it's the "cost of being frum" and never really thought to ask about the price.

MEH...

Least Surprising Headline of the Decade

Bush fails to win Saudi help on gas prices:

Bush got a red-carpet welcome to this desert kingdom, home to the world's largest oil reserves, and promised to ask King Abdullah to increase production to reduce pressure on prices, which soared past $127 for the first time Friday. But Saudi officials said they already were meeting the needs of their customers worldwide and there was no need to pump more.

Hm. In the words of Iago from Aladdin, "I think I'm gonna have a heart attack and die from NOT surprise!" Never mind these people are basically COMPLETELY destroying world economy and the daily lives of people who depend on their cars for their livelihood.

Looking to Relocate Within the United States?

Relocate-America's 2008 Top 100 Places to Live

Cool Article About Moon Energy

Howstuffworks: How Can the Moon Generate electricity?

Reopening NAFTA Too Risky: Ex-Mexican President

Well, DUH! Of course the MEXICANS, and the Canadians are going to say "it's too risky." For them. At this point, though, it's too risky for the US to NOT reopen it...

More About "Mesorah" That's Been Bothering Me

See this is part of what I had in mind yesterday in the post about no commentary on Chamisha Chumshei Torah and Mesorah. Maybe I didn't say this part clearly, but this is part of the issue. Someone decided to say something, so it MUST have been true.
DovBear had an interesting post about Birchas Hachama, an event that comes around once every twenty-eight years. Next year will be that year, and, even more rare, it will happen on Erev Pesach. DovBear links to a post that links to a scan of a statement by some Rebbe or another that an Erev Pesach Birchas Hachama has only happened twice in history, the year of the Exodus from Egypt and the year Haman was hanged. The entire statement is false, by the way. There was no Birchas Hachama the year of the Exodus, let alone one ON Erev Pesach. Further, it's happened at least twelve times in history. Click for Little Foxling's post, and click "click" to see this Rebbele's statement.

This is one of the things that bothers me as well. Some guy comes along, he's a rabbi, so he has authority, and decides "such and such" is the reality. And it's completely accepted for hundreds of years. And this person presents NO evidence to back his claim. And it's wrong.

When a one writes a scientific or scholarly paper, we expect that person to provide sources, research, and proof, or at least evidence, to back up that person's thesis. In many Jewish writings, we don't get that.

Example: The SEMAK, in the 13th century, stated the minhag of kitniyos had been in effect from the days of Chazal. However, he brings no evidence for this. He just makes a blanket statement and we are expected to simply take it at face value and believe it. See this article about Kitniyos. Another example is the one about Birchas Hachama that Little Foxling presents in his post. Because some Rebbele said it, it MUST be true (clarification - Little Foxling proved this to NOT be true - in fact the phrase he chose was that is was "complete and utter crap").

Another is an example from Rashi. Rashi makes a statement that women do not become pregnant from one "encounter." He says this regarding the daughters of Lot, and states while usually women do NOT become pregnant from the just one encounter, the daughters of Lot had mastery over their bodies and were able to ovulate on command and become pregnant from just one "encounter" with their father.

And that's just PURE rubbish. Of COURSE a woman can become pregnant after just one time. All it takes is ONE sperm at the right time. Just ONE.

So why do we expect less from our scholars than the world does from theirs? Why do our scholars NOT need to provide evidence to back up their statements? Why are supposed to just trust them? How iss this NOT a form of mind control, especially when so many of their statements have been proven false?

Edwards' Endorsement of Barack Obama

Personally, I think he'd make a GREAT running mate. His problem four years ago wasn't him. It was lackluster, boring John Kerry, another "old politics" politician who wasn't really going to bring about any change.

But put Edwards together with Obama? Holy CRAP! They'll win a HUGE landslide!!

Here's hoping. In the meantime, here's Edwards' endorsement of Barack Obama, May 14, 2008. Hillary must be SEETHING...

Bush: I Stopped Playing Golf in Honor of Our Soldiers...

Liar.

Baseless Statement of the Day

From the man who wants to keep a US presence in Iraq for the next hundred years:

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Thursday he believes the Iraq war can be "won" within four years, leaving a functioning democracy there and allowing most U.S. troops to come home.

Based on WHAT? What has changed, or improved there recently, to make him think anything but a withdrawal would force the Iraqi "government" to take responsibility for itself?

Another News Flash...

Democrat John Edwards has given his long-awaited endorsement to Barack Obama. It's a major boost from a former presidential rival as Obama tries to shrug off Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is determined to press ahead.

It's about time.

Something About Mesorah (Among MANY) Has Been Bothering Me

Before Ezra and Nechemia and the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah Came along, there was virtually NO commentary of any kind on the Chamisha Chumshei Torah. None. Not Midrashic. Not Halachic. Nothing. From Yehoshua bin Nun UNTIL the early Tanaic period (starting with the Knesses HaGedolah), no commentary. No recorded Halachic decisions. No pretty Midrashim about what Avraham, or Yaakov, or Yosef, or Moshe did in some unrecorded-in-the-Torah account to show us how great they were.

Certainly, there were some allusions to Torah concepts. Certainly, even some future Halacha was discussed, as in Yechezkel, which Chaza"l wanted to put into geniza (read: made apocryphal) because Yechezkel discusses halachas that might have been read as contrary to what the Torah says. But NO actual commentary. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero. It all magically started showing up with the building the second Bais HaMikdash.

I find it COMPLETELY inconceivable that there is simply NOTHING but what may be historic, prophetic accounts left over from the times between the death of Moshe through the end of the Babylonian golus.

How is it possible that for nearly ONE THOUSAND (yes, that's 1,000) years, there was simply NO commentary on Torah?

This has been bothering more and more lately. DID Torah exist before Ezra and Nechemia came along?

With the plethora of literature JUST about Torah itself available from the time of the Knesses HaGedola, one would think SOMETHING had been written before the destruction of the first Bais HaMikdash, wouldn't one? I find it completely inconceivable that NOTHING survived. It just doesn't make sense. After all, many writings by ancient civilizations that existed parallel to the Israelites' civilization have been found over the centuries. Why not Torah commentaries?

News Flash!

Hamas launched a rocket bomb at Ashkelon WHILE BUSH WAS IN ISRAEL!

Think that'll get his attention? As talks wrapped in Jerusalem, Israeli PM Olmert said Israel would not tolerate these attacks from Gaza.

And still, he's doing close to nothing about them.

What, exactly, is Olmert's definition of "will not tolerate?"

Those Elitist Former SEC Commissioners...

But I think the Republicans AND Hillary just got bit in the butt... Specifically, three former SEC commissioners have endorsed Obama:

Former SEC head William Donaldson, who was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, joined Arthur Levitt and David Ruder in backing Obama, who leads rival Hillary Clinton in the number of delegates necessary to become the Democratic White House nominee.

Levitt was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, while Ruder was appointed by former President Ronald Reagan, a Republican.

"Each of us has been committed to prudent economic policy and effective financial regulation for many years," the men said in a joint statement along with former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, also an Obama supporter.

"We believe Senator Obama can provide the positive leadership and judgment needed to take us to a stronger and more secure economic future."

In the statement they praised Obama's "reasoned approach" in analyzing "the current financial crisis and the need for balanced regulatory reform."

"We believe that such a constructive approach can be extended broadly in the economic area as well as elsewhere," they said.

These guys were appointed by the Idiot in the White House, his predecessor, Billary Clinton, and by Do-No-Wrong Reagan. And these guys just turned around and basically told these presidents Obama's a better choice than either Bill's husband, um, wife, that is, and by the Republican nominee, John McBush, I mean, McCain.

I guess that means these SEC guys are elitist...

Ah. The Life of Parents... :)

Stupid Quote of the Day...

Presenting today's stupid quote of the day award, which goes to Howard Wolfson, Hillary Clinton's most rabid spokesman who can reconcile with reality even less than Hillary herself:

"I think Democrats across the country tomorrow will be asking themselves why Senator Obama — with all of his money, with all of the great press, with voters being told he was the inevitable nominee — why did Senator Obama lose West Virginia by 15 points or so? What does it say about his candidacy at this date that he can't beat Senator Clinton in a key swing state?" Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson told NBC's "Today" Tuesday.

Um, no offense, but can it be because it's WEST VIRGINIA? Did it occur to ol' Howie that Obama didn't even need to bother in a state that offer very few delegates (only 28) that was ALWAYS heavily slanted TOWARD Hillary anyway?

The question he SHOULD be asking is why DIDN'T Hillary win NC? Why did she lose by such a HUGE margin (and there, it was a VERY significant 125 delegates, nearly FIVE TIMES the amount West Virginia has to offer)? Why did she just BARELY squeak through in Indiana, where they basically split the delegates down the middle?

In any case, this guy can't seem to do the math. Obama only needs 151 delegates left, with "super" delegates jumping in droves off the fence to back him, while Hillary needs about 330 delegates and is LOSING "super" delegates...

Like I said, reality is a bit different in the Howard Wolfson/Hillary Clinton universe.

Stargate:Buck Rogers?!

Stargate. Pretty good movie. Great sound track. Phenomenal TV series, greatly missed by its fans (including yours truly). It's spinoff, Stargate: Atlantis, is pretty good as well and going into its fifth season come July. They're even contemplating another spinoff, Stargate: Universe. They've made two direct-to=DVD movies based on the original Stargate series, Stargate: SG-1, which, in turn, is based on, and uses two major characters of, the original 1994 Stargate movie.

The premise: In the early twentieth century, archaeologists discover the Stargate in ancient Egypt. In the mid-1990s, Dr. Daniel Jackson discovers it is a gateway to other planets that also have Stargates on them. The Stargate is used by "dialing" the gate, the outer ring of the giant circle, to different symbols on the Stargate, thereby "dialing" any given planet.

Back in the late 1970s, Glen A. Larson (of original Battlestar Galactica, Magnum, and Knight Rider fame) created a show based on an old comic strip called Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (not to be confused with Duck Dodgers in the 24th and a half century...). I've been gradually, time permitting, watching this old series on this new site called Hulu. It's a free, perfectly 100% legal site on which one may watch many TV series.

Well, as I was watching the third episode of Buck Rogers, they introduced the concept of a "Stargate," using THAT specific term, to instantly travel between points in space! It's been so long since I've seen this series I'd forgotten all about that!

Did the creators of Stargate rip off the concept from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century? I don't know, but it is certainly possible. They probably banked on no one remembering the old series (which only lasted 37 episodes) and it's space travel concepts.

Well, I just thought that was pretty cool

In the meantime, the Sci Fi channel has remade some old series: Battlestar Galactica (now in its fourth and final season - by design, not because of poor ratings - they simply had a four year story-line in mind, much like Babylon 5) and Flash Gordon (I have no idea if they're bringing that back - it started slow, but got better as the season progressed). It must only be a matter of time before they bring back an old classic like Buck Rogers...

Hypocritical Jews... This One Is a BEAUTY!!!

My wife came across the following letter written to the Jewish Week (a Long Island weekly we get when friends from New York come to visit): 

Obama’s Pastor

by Reba Shimansky

Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld writes that Sen. Barack Obama should not be judged by the incendiary remarks made by his former minister and spiritual adviser Rev. Jeremiah Wright (Opinion, April 4). 

However the problem Obama has is not just with his minister, but also with the church that he attends, The Trinity United Church of Christ: it says on its Web site that it is “unashamedly black”; it recently gave Louis Farrakhan a lifetime achievement award; it believes in a black values system, encouraging blacks to group together and separate from the larger American society by pooling their money, patronizing black-only businesses and backing black leaders. 

Such racial separatism is strangely at odds with the media’s portrayal of Obama as a uniter who reaches across races.  

Also, in 2007, the church newsletter reprinted an op-ed by a Hamas leader.

The fact is that Obama has fellow-traveled with a hate-filled, anti-American black nationalism all his adult life, failing to stand and challenge an ideology that would have no place for his own mother. 

Shall we disseminate? Great!

The Trinity United Church of Christ: it says on its Web site that it is “unashamedly black.”

Is this any better than Jews who are "unashamedly" Jews? Thousands upon thousands of Jewish people walking around today are "unashamedly" Jewish and are quite unmistakably Jewish, from the Chassidishe diamond dealer in Manhattan to the to the Lubavitchers and Litvaks running around around Los Angeles. They ALL wear the uniform, regardless of what other think and are QUITE "unashamedly" Jewish. In fact, I was brought up to wear my Jewishness with pride!

It recently gave Louis Farrakhan a lifetime achievement award

I'm going to agree here. Lou Farrakhan, from a JEWISH perspective, is a bad, bad man. But that's subjective. There are plenty of very distasteful "Gedolim" out there as well upon whom many people heap quite a bit of respect.

it believes in a black values system, encouraging blacks to group together and separate from the larger American society by pooling their money, patronizing black-only businesses and backing black leaders.

Ooh. This is a FUN ONE!! Ok, point by point, here.

1. It believes in a black values system. And Jews believe in a Jewish "values" system. How is this ANY different? Just because many Jews perceive Judaism to be the ONLY possible EMES? How is this any different than any other ethnic or religious group that holds its morals/religion/values above any other group's morals/religion/values?!
2. Encouraging blacks to group together and separate from the larger American society by pooling their money, patronizing black-only businesses and backing black leaders. And do 99% of Jews live? Hmm. Let's see. We live in largely JEWISH areas and communities. We tend to separate ourselves from the larger American society by patronizing JEWISH establishments. In fact, rabbonim in MOST communities greatly emphasize the need to patronize JEWISH establishment and tell people they MUST patronize those establishments. The only difference? Black establishments probably don't rip their customers off by charging far more than they should for goods. JEWISH establishments do so UNASHAMEDLY!! Further, Jews tend to pool their money, or at least some of it, by donating to JEWISH organizations, such as synagogues and schools. Finally, in heavily Jewish neighborhoods, Jews CERTAINLY back JEWISH leaders. It would be UNNATURAL NOT to do so!!
   

Next:

Such racial separatism is strangely at odds with the media’s portrayal of Obama as a uniter who reaches across races [this should read "racial lines," but whatever...]

Don't you get it? This is the POINT with Obama. He IS reaching across racial lines; he IS trying to unite people of all walks, rather than just talking to African Americans, for African Americans. And, obviously, he HAS been successful. Otherwise he would NOT be on the brink of winning the Democratic presidential nomination.

Also, in 2007, the church newsletter reprinted an op-ed by a Hamas leader.

And how many JEWISH publications have printed unsavory opinions about other groups? I've lost count of the number of speeches I've heard by prominent "Rabbonim" about this group and that, and how evil and horrible and non-emes they are. Big deal. Further, many mainstream newspapers REGULARLY publish crap written by distasteful people.

The fact is that Obama has fellow-traveled with a hate-filled, anti-American black nationalism all his adult life, failing to stand and challenge an ideology that would have no place for his own mother.

Ok, first of all, he was not involved with the church his ENTIRE adult life. Second, again, he is trying to change these things, perhaps even from within. He is, above all, and AMERICAN, color and religion aside, and his desire is to see AMERICANS getting along, color, ethnicity, and religion aside. Is this not something for which to strive? Is this not something to admire?

Done!

So, finally, any direct, or even indirect, contact with my former Schmuck landlord is all DONE! He mailed a check for the full amount of the security deposit he owed us to his realtor (because, apparently, God forbid the schmuck should just mail it to me - it's not like he DIDN'T know the address...), who was nice enough to drop it off to us today!

All that's left is the Point of Sale violation repairs, which will pretty much all be taken care of by the end of this week!

I love it when a plan comes together... :)

Guess Who's Finished?

Hillary is DONE. It's pretty much official. Oh, she may go one to campaign until June 3 to cause as much damage to her opponent as possible, but she is DONE. Obama not only has the lead in the popular vote AND in pledged delegates. He has now taken the lead in "super" delegates as well.

AWESOME!!

Is It Racist to Say Al Sharpton Owes Back-Taxes?

Government records obtained by The Associated Press indicate that Sharpton and his business entities owe nearly $1.5 million in overdue taxes and associated penalties.

Remember not too long ago when anything said against ol' Al was racist? Is this? :)

Did Somebody Get The Number On That Mac Truck?

Because I think Hillary "Roadkill" Clinton just got run over by one. Have you seen the news today? Not only did she have a VERY bad day on Tuesday, she continued having a VERY bad WEEK as "super" delegate after "super" delegate either jumped off the fence to back Obama or even switched from her camp to Obama's. I don't even need to link to any articles. Just go ahead and check out Yahoo! news or AP or Reuters...

It's a GOOD day for Obama, and therefore for the United States... :)

And COMPLETELY off topic, this will be our FIRST Shabbos as HOMEOWNERS!!! :)

How Hillary Changes Reality

From the AFP:

Clinton insisted that the race might well change on May 31 if, at a meeting of the Democratic National Committee's rules committee, she regains the delegates she lost when primary results in Florida and Michigan were voided.

"And this is really about fundamental fairness in recognizing the legitimate votes of two important states that Democrats have to try to win in November," she said, after the two states were punished for holding their votes early.

Sorry, Hillary, but those votes were NOT legitimate. They voted out of turn, AGAINST the rules of the DNC, and doing so voided their votes. End of story.

Further, unlike the other two candidates who took their names OFF the ballot in Michigan (it was too late to do so in Florida), Hillary kept hers ON the ballot, again AGAINST DNC rules. Just for that, Hillary should be disqualified. She simply thinks she is ABOVE the rules and regulations of her party because she's HILLARY.

Refugees

From the AFP:

Israel on Thursday celebrated its 60th anniversary with displays of military might and parties as Palestinians marked the plight of hundreds of thousands who lost their land to the Jewish state.

Funny how no one ever reports about the millions upon millions of Jews displaced and/or murdered over the centuries. Funny how no one reports on how Jews flocked to Eretz Yisrael to find some refuge from the anti-Semitic world they left.

Dear AFP,

Here's something to think about:



In other words, AFP and world, F**K OFF! Your double standard is sickening. It's so horrible when bad things happen to those poor "Palestinians" (who were, by the way, offered to be integrated in Israeli society and be normal Israeli citizens, conditions that would ABSOLUTELY have been BETTER than those under the Egyptians or the Jordanians, the so-called "brethren" of the "Palestinians"), but the fact the Jews have been persecuted and chased out of country after country and killed by the millions is perfectly OK with you...

Nakba

Interesting article about what the term "Nakba" really means. Certainly, the word DOES mean catastrophe, but not because of Israel's independence sixty years ago.

Did you know the "Palestinians," before the Six Day War or the creation of the State of Israel, actually considered themselves to be SYRIANS?

And, Oooooooo, HERE"S a SURPRISE...

Hillary's staying in the race...

I really think she's trying her best to completely destroy the Democratic Party and any hopes of the Democrats taking back the White House, because the more she campaigns in her negative campaign, the more she damages Barack Obama's reputation, and the more she does that, the more she damages his chances of soundly beating John McCain. She really just doesn't care what kind of damage she causes this country as long as Hillary gets what Hillary wants. It's really quite disturbing to see a sixty-year-old woman acting like a six-year-old (or, really, a three-year-old) child...

I wonder how much she paid Rev Wright over the last few weeks?

Should make all you Republicans out there VERY happy!

Tax Rebates

A few days ago, I mentioned where our oh, so wonderful tax rebates are coming from to fulfill The Idiot's (Bush) colossally STUPID "economic stimulus" package wet dream. A reader asked for a link.

Here's one: Where’s the Tax Rebate coming from?

HOWEVER: According to the latest IRS publication, the tax rebate is NOT taxable. This is a NEW development, so my source wasn't actually wrong. The government changed its mind, probably knowing there would be a HUGE outcry next year when people realized their "rebate" was just going to put them further into debt.

See? I can admit when I've been wrong or when new info comes out.

Doesn't make the Idiot in the White House any less of an idiot...

TITLE TRANSFER!!!

The seller's realtor was just here to drop off the rest of the keys and to let me know TITLE HAS TRANSFERRED!!! MY WIFE AND I ARE HOMEOWNERS!!!

Seller also told her he put a check for $1,170 (the security deposit for when he WAS - PAST TENSE - my landlord) in the mail to her. She should receive it tomorrow or Friday and she promised to bring it to me as soon as she got it!

PHEW!!

Thanks to all you well-wishers out there.

Selena, you and Daniel and the kiddies have GOT to come visit!! :)

Curious, and a Bit Disturbed

I don't get it. The states of Florida and Michigan have been disqualified from the Primary election process because they had their primaries earlier than they were supposed to have them. Now, and for quite a while, actually, Hillary wants those votes counted, for the obvious reason that they will give her a much needed boost.

Here's the problem. Obama wasn't even ON the ballot in Michigan! He chose not to be on the ballot because he followed DNC rules (as did John Edwards) about the "rogue" elections, rules Hillary actually ignored. Now, she is clamoring to have those votes counted, even though both she and these two states ignored the rules of the game.

How, exactly, would this be fair? I know the world's not fair, and all that, but wouldn't doing so to get the Democratic Presidential nomination actually be STEALING the election, the same crime for which The Idiot in the White House is guilty, certain from the 2000 elections, and quite likely from the 2004 election (remember Ohio) as well? How, then, does this make her any different from the Republicans? (And Obama and Edwards WERE on the Florida ballot because it was too late for any of the candidates to remove their names.)

The fair thing to do would be to split down the middle, giving no one an advantage, or to have new elections in those states. But, as we all know, Hillary doesn't even know HOW to play fair, so she's going to scream and shout about it until she's either told to shut the hell up by the powers that be or until she gets her way. Let's hope it's the former...

Closing on House TODAY!!!

So, all the paperwork is in! The seller actually FedExed the paperwork he needed to FedEx yesterday and the title company has it. They are just waiting for the final go-ahead from the bank to spend its money (by paying the seller). That means, if all goes according to schedule, as of 4 PM today, May 7, 2008, we will no longer have a landlord! Better yet, we will be PROPERTY OWNERS!!!

I got plumber and electrician coming today to start work on the Point of Sale (POS) violations that the seller is paying for!

The last thing we're going to need is our security deposit back from the seller, which we should get, hopefully, within the next week or so.

Finally!!

Quick Delegate Count

According to MSNBC, Obama now has 1876 Delegates (this number includes the so-called "Super" Delegates who have endorsed him), leaving him needing only 149 Delegates to secure the Democratic nomination and go on to trounce John McBush, I mean McCain, in November.

Hillary, on the other hand, only has 1729 Delegates (also including the "Super" Delegates who have endorsed her), leaving 296 Delegates short, pretty much DOUBLE the number Obama needs.

And, while Obama IS behind in both West Virginia (for all the 28 Delegates it has to offer...) and Kentucky (with its more respectable 60 Delegates), he is WAY ahead in Oregon (with its 65 Delegates), and winning Oregon will CLINCH his nomination with PLEDGED Delegates, putting him over the top with the 1627 Pledged Delegates he needs to win the popular vote.

So there.

Obama's North Carolina Rally Speech

Less than 200 delegates to change for the better, folks!

Somebody's SINKING!!!

Hillary lent herself 6.4 MILLION DOLLARS over the last month to continue campaigning...

Last night a complete rout. She REALLY needs to just drop the hell out of the race at this point and let the better candidate campaign against McCain and in order to beat him in November rather than campaigning against her.

Also, shouldn't the fact that she CAN'T raise enough money to campaign be SOME sort of indication she is simply NOT liked?

And here's a good one:

Clinton vowed to compete tenaciously for West Virginia next week and Kentucky and Oregon after that, and to press "full speed on to the White House."

Yeah. Hillary, W. Virginia only offers 28 delegates. Even if you won the ENTIRE state, it won't do you much good... And even winning Kentucky won't help.

The Fantasy:

"She did this in order to remain competitive with Senator Obama on television," Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said. "The loans are a sign of Senator Clinton's commitment to the race, commitment to continuing the process and a commitment to being competitive with Senator Obama."

The Reality: She's NOT getting the funds she needs, she's desperate to keep fighting a dead battle, she won't give up, and she simply, as usual, CANNOT face reality. This is the same syndrome she's shown in the past with her inability to tell the truth. I don't think it's not knowing what the truth is. I think it's an inability to acknowledge the truth, face it, and deal with it...

Poll: Obama Ahead of McCain Among Jewish Voters!

At least according to this Gallup Poll! Of course, this is among sensible Jews, not Frummies...

Purple States of America...

This is just AWESOME! Based on the Mac/PC commercials. Very well done.

New Hatreds

And old ones. To the side is a recent Candorville comic strip. So, what IS this speech MLK Jr was working on when he was assassinated? It was a speech about the direction this country was headed. By 1968, MLK Jr had become depressed by the economic status quo in the US and he'd begun working for the poor, trying to empower them. And, quite likely, he was assassinated for it.

Well, I came across a blog that had the title: "Why America May Go To Hell." The blog entry was: 

Those were the words of Rev. Wright, perhaps? No. Rev. King. From a draft of the speech he would have given 40 years ago today if not for the assassin’s bullet.

That was all. The ENTIRE entry. Basically, what this fool is saying is that it's a good thing King was assassinated because he, like Rev. Wright, hated America, Americans, and White Folk in particular.

Except NOTHING could have been further from the truth! So I commented:

And? So? He didn't curse the US. He was saying how the country may go to hell in a handbasket if things continued as they were. And you know what? They did. And it did. And it continues to do so. Know why? Pretty much because Republicans have run the country the vast majority of the time SINCE MLK's assassination. King was concerned over the country's direction. "To his family, King was murdered because he was no longer the King of the March on Washington, simply asking for the whites only signs to come down. He had grown radical: the King of 1968 was trying to build an interracial coalition to end the war in Vietnam and force major economic reforms--starting with guaranteed annual incomes for all. " Click for Washington Post article. He was concerned with the social well-being of ALL Americans, not just Blacks. You shouldn't make cryptic statements like this that will just cause more hatred.

The result? This person, whoever he is, made a very hateful statement against a man who had done nothing but good for the US, especially the minorities, including Jews, living here. And, as the comic strip above depicts, it's amazing how things can be taken completely out of context to serve a twisted purpose.

Now, I don't know where the cartoonist is going with this. Will he claim Wright is really an OK person? I doubt it. Wright, unlike MLK, is a crazy nut case. Even Obama finally COMPLETELY DENOUNCED him and was very angry at the remarks Wright has publicly made recently (and you can find them, and Obama's responses, all over YouTube, so I'm not linking here).

Getting Close!

We signed papers last night!!! The title company rep came over last night, and we spent about an hour signing and initialing papers. We celebrated with Chocolate Mousse Pie! OK, the rep and my wife did, while I drank some seltzer. As for me, well, I'm attempting, with the help of a good friend, the South Beach Diet. So far, I'm on day three, and all is well. Please pray for me it continues to go well and that I lose a deal of weight...

ANYway, we signed papers and handed over a $21,000 down-payment. We thought the down-payment was going to be more, but will the credits and everything, it came out to about $2,400 less than we had anticipated.

Final status on the house. List price: $119,900. Buy price: $116,950. The title company is withholding $2,000 toward roof repair and $200 to pay any final water and sewage bills for which the seller is responsible. The city is withholding $3,500 toward Point of Sale (POS) violations. The seller is paying up to $4,000 in closing costs and points. That means he actually sold the house for $107,450 (is there is anything left from the $200 the title company is withholding to pay leftover water and sewer bills, it goes back to the seller, so those $200 does not get included here). THEN, the seller STILL has to pay the realtors, a total of 7% for the first $100,000 and 5% of anything over that of the actual sale price of $116,950, totaling $7847.50. And yet still more, the title company is withholding $3,712.50 for taxes. On top of that, the seller still had to pay his own closing costs of about $2,500, bringing his total take home to just about $93,400.

Yes, I know MY mortgage is still based on the $116,950 price and that everything came out of there, but the seller DID have to pay all those for all those repairs and fees OUT of HIS OWN proceeds. And there is a good possibility he actually still owes about $108,000 or so on the two mortgages he took out on the house several years ago (one in 1999, one in 2000).

We are scheduled to actually close tomorrow, Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 4:00 PM. There may be a one day delay because the seller was out of town until today and has one more document to sign and FedEx back to the title company. If he gets it done today and it goes out overnight today, we close tomorrow. Otherwise, we close on Thursday, May 8, 2008. At that point, NO MORE LANDLORD!!! NO MORE FEELING LIKE SOMEONE'S LOWEST OF THE LOW SERF AND SUCKER!!! I can't wait!!

Bottom line: Our mortgage payment is going to be $553.44 per month in mortgage principle and interest, and $364.08 in property taxes, as well as about $70 per month for water and sewer, bringing our total payments to just under $990 per month, which is $180 less than we were paying in rent ($1,170) every month. Further, come December 1, 2008, the county is going to get a request from me to lower the property taxes because what we're currently going to be paying will based on a market value of $145,400. All we have to do is show them what we paid and three comps (comparable houses that sold in the area) for around the same or less. The county, according to the title company rep and a bunch of other people, is usually VERY good about reducing the taxes to reflect on the price paid for the house. This will lower our monthly payments by about another $100 or so per month, hopefully, bringing our monthly payments to less than $900 per month! This is less than we paid for our first apartment in NY ($950 monthly), less than our apartment in LA ($1,250 monthly), less than for the duplex in which we first lived in our current city of residence ($1,000), and less than the rent we paid here ($1,170 monthly). And of all of them, this house is WAY bigger than any of the previous residences (800 sq feet, 850 sq feet, 1410 sq feet for the previous places, respectively, compared to just about 1800 sq feet here WITH room to expand if we decide to stay long term and if we ever have the money to build a master bedroom and bathroom over the family room).

Here's the kicker. We don't live in a slum. We don't live in a crappy neighborhood. Crime here is just about unknown. We live a in really beautiful, VERY QUIET suburb. Unlike NY and LA, where the neighborhoods were nasty, slummy, dirty, crime-ridden, and loud, this is actually a GREAT place to live.

Go find THIS deal in LA!! :) From what I've heard, seen, and read, you MIGHT be able to buy a broken down, really nasty, two bedroom, one bathroom fixer-upper in WATTS for about $200,000. Fixed up? About $375,000. Sad. And yet, people FLOCK to live LALA Land...

New Indy Trailer!!!

New Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull trailer!!! Looks like fun!! :)

Open Letter to Senator John McCain

Dear Senator McCain:

You promised the American people to pursue a presidential campaign that is more like a respectful argument among friends than a bitter clash of enemies. You have suggested that your conduct during this contest will demonstrate that you are the candidate best able to build a bipartisan consensus to address our nation’s challenges: “I intend to wage this campaign and to govern this country in a way that [Americans] would be proud of me. You said: “I’m going to raise the level of political dialog in America, and I’m going to treat my opponents with respect and demand that they treat me with respect.”

You promised straight talk.

Despite these vows, you have joined those attempting to tar and feather Senator Obama with the outrageous remarks of Rev. Wright, which have been roundly rejected by Sen. Obama as “divisive,” “destructive,” and “appalling.” Even after being attacked yourself for miscegenation by Karl Rove in 2000, you have “not tried hard enough to stop a race-baiting commercial that is being run against Mr. Obama in North Carolina.”

Your campaign has now tried to paint Sen. Obama as the favorite candidate of the Israel-hating terrorists of Hamas. Yet you know Sen. Obama’s clearly stated position is the same as yours, that the US and Israel must refuse to talk with Hamas until it recognizes Israel, renounces violence and accepts past agreements. What’s more, the Hamas official referred to Obama while praising President Carter for negotiating peace between Egypt and Israel, and expressing hope that the former president could broker peace between Israel and Hamas.

Senator McCain, such character assassination has no place in civil and respectful political debate in America. We call upon you for Straight Talk.

You sought out and have continued to welcome the endorsement of Rev. John Hagee, a bigot whose views are no less offensive than those of Rev. Wright, who has written that Jews are responsible for their own persecution:

“It was the disobedience and rebellion of the Jews, God’s chosen people, to their covenantal responsibility to serve only the one true God, Jehovah, that gave rise to the opposition and persecution that they experienced beginning in Canaan and continuing to this very day….

“How utterly repulsive, insulting, and heartbreaking to God for His chosen people to credit idols with bringing blessings He had showered upon the chosen people. Their own rebellion had birthed the seed of anti-Semitism that would arise and bring destruction to them for centuries to come…”

Pastor John Hagee, Jerusalem Countdown, pp. 92-93

Your campaign has even appointed as national finance co-chair Fred Malek, whose dubious background includes counting and demoting Jews at the Bureau of Labor Statistics during the Nixon Administration.

We call upon you to keep your promise to conduct a civil, truthful campaign, free from lies and smears, renounce the endorsement of extremists like Pastor Hagee, repudiate his hateful anti-Jewish remarks, and dismiss anti-Semites like Fred Malek from your campaign.

Senator McCain: Its time for straight talk on Jewish issues!

Click to sign this petition at Jews for Obama...

WHO'S ELITIST?!

Why is it that extremely wealthy politicians who've never known economic hardship try to pretend they're JUST like the common fold (the other 90% of Americans)?

Here's Hillary. Super wealthy. Former First Lady. Got all the breaks. Grew up at least upper middle class and went up from there. She's proposing this idiotic "Gas Tax Holiday" to "ease" the problem of rising gasoline prices. This is a tax holiday that MIGHT save Americans, over the entire summer, twenty-five to forty dollars TOTAL per person. Big deal. That's a tank of gas for most cars, at best. She's throwing us all a bone, a rotted one at that, and is claiming she's all for easing the economic plight of the American people. A plight of which she has NO concept as she's NEVER wondered where her next meal is coming from, has never wondered how she's going to pay her electric bill or heat her home in the winter.

Yet, she calls Barack Obama "Elitist." She calls the economists who are saying her "Gas Tax Holiday" is nothing but political bunk elitist as well.

Barack Obama grew up pretty poor. He lived in Chicago's worst neighborhoods. He LIVED the economic plight. And he put himself through law school to HELP OTHERS, NOT HIMSELF. He felt, as a lawyer, he could run for political office and help more constituents. He succeeded in the Illinois State Legislature and he has been successful in the US Senate (despite his "lack of experience"). And he will succeed as president of the United States.

Obama could have had a Wall Street job right out of college. He turned it down to help the downtrodden. He could have had a successful law practice out of Harvard, and would certainly have been in demand. He refused that route so he could help others. His life has been dedicated to helping.

Hillary's has not. Her life has been dedicated to helping herself try to become the first female president of the United States. She's never been about TRULY helping others. She's been about helping herself, even when she WAS helping others. It was all she could advance herself politically.

So. Who IS the elitist one here? The person who made a remark about people turning to guns and religion when things are bad (and, in fact, was this ACTUALLY a FALSE statement? Most people do turn to religion more when times are bad than when they are good and many people, when times are bad, do take up arms to protect what they have left...)? Or the person who has NO IDEA what it's like to have lean times?

Fight the Dark Side!

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BARACK!!! This is TOTALLY AWESOME! :)

"Economic Stimulus" Alert

For those of you who don't know (and I just found this out yesterday), the economic "stimulus" the Idiot in the White House is giving everyone is nothing but a load of crap. Every penny you get as a rebate in the coming weeks YOU are going to pay for in 2009. Basically, whatever refund you MIGHT have received in 2009 for your 2008 taxes will be reduced by whatever "rebate" amount you receive thanks to the Idiot's "Stimulus" package.

Now, isn't THAT great?

Oh, and mine's going to pay for part of THIS year's taxes. So you know what this gets me? BOPKES!!

Feh.

So don't for a second believe you're receiving free money from the government. You're not.

And will the Idiot care? No. He won't. The complaints are going to be his successor's problem, not his.

Once again, the Idiot in the White House has bamboozled the American people.

Thank God he's gone come January 20, 2009. I just pray McCain isn't the successor.

The Shining Truth

McCain Says About Iraq

Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Thursday he would be reluctant to ever declare "mission accomplished" in Iraq, but suggested rosy predictions of success there by President George W. Bush and other officials fueled public frustration with the war.

Well, DUH! Considering the mission when going in was to find "Weapons of Mass Destruction," AKA WMDs, of course he could NEVER say "mission accomplished." THERE WERE NO WMDs IN IRAQ!!!

Well, at least he's being honest, in his own, twisted, Washington politics kind of way...

Click for full article.

The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story of Hiding Jews IN WARSAW!

Here another story of Jews being hid in a zoo, this one in WARSAW, of all places!

Ackerman (A Natural History of the Senses) tells the remarkable WWII story of Jan Zabinski, the director of the Warsaw Zoo, and his wife, Antonina, who, with courage and coolheaded ingenuity, sheltered 300 Jews as well as Polish resisters in their villa and in animal cages and sheds. Using Antonina's diaries, other contemporary sources and her own research in Poland, Ackerman takes us into the Warsaw ghetto and the 1943 Jewish uprising and also describes the Poles' revolt against the Nazi occupiers in 1944. She introduces us to such varied figures as Lutz Heck, the duplicitous head of the Berlin zoo; Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, spiritual head of the ghetto; and the leaders of Zegota, the Polish organization that rescued Jews. Ackerman reveals other rescuers, like Dr. Mada Walter, who helped many Jews pass, giving lessons on how to appear Aryan and not attract notice. Ackerman's writing is viscerally evocative, as in her description of the effects of the German bombing of the zoo area: ...the sky broke open and whistling fire hurtled down, cages exploded, moats rained upward, iron bars squealed as they wrenched apart. This suspenseful beautifully crafted story deserves a wide readership. 8 pages of illus. (Sept.)
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As Yom HaShoah Approaches...

Zoo refuge: Amsterdam menagerie hid Jews from the Nazis. This is truly amazing. The Artis Zoo in Amsterdam his many Jews during WWII.