I saw an interesting story on VIN about Madonna visiting the tomb of a famous Kabbalist in Safed.
I'm really curious what everyone thinks about this? Does this new spotlight help or hurt Judaism on the whole?
I'm kind of on the fence about this. On one hand, it 'legitimizes' Judaism in the minds of non-Jews, on some level. On the other, I don't think the Arizal wanted someone like Madonna dabbling in what is really a very holy subject matter (and should be kept that way).
Comments?
Friday, September 4, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Oh, the horror!!
I have something to confide in you. It's... well, it's... it's really just... just really embarrassing. Traumatic even. You see, well... oh boy this is hard... you see, well, um, uh, well... I'm scheduled to be raped in a couple of months.
It's OK, don't gasp like that! Really, I'll get through it. I'll be OK, shaken and shocked, but I'll pull through. I know I will because the perpetrator has struck hundreds of thousands of other people, if not millions, and they seem to have come through their ordeal just fine, maybe a little shaken, but OK. So I know I will.
But you see what's galling is that none of the perpetrator's victims really were ever able to seek justice. See, there was nothing that could be done, no recourse. So while I know I'll pull through, I have to resign myself to the facts of the situation. Wait - what's that? You say you know a good lawyer that could help me, break new ground in bringing this despicable rapist to justice? I'd have to disagree, see, because the perp here is a real baddie, remorseless and cruel, and he's got lawyers on his side up the wazoo to kingdom come. See, his name is NEW YORK STATE.
Yes, I see your face blanching at the mere mention of his despicable name. But it's true. He's going to get me, I know it.
See, Mr. NY State will be forcibly relieving me of some thousands upon thousands of our hard earned, blood sweat and tears dollars, for absolutely no real reason I can discern. Maybe deep down, in his brooding, loathsome heart he fancies himself a modern day, perverse Robin Hood. But I really can't tell, his very thoughts and actions are constantly shrouded in a veil of secrecy and mystery. He calls this despicable act of rape - oh, the horror of its name! - New York State mortgage tax. Can you even comprehend the heinousness of the crime!? He even lends his name to this despicable act, as if it's his signature, his calling card move! It's not enough for him that he violates me year after year after year after year after year, like clockwork, on April 15. Now he wants more with this disgusting crime, the bloodthirsty savage that he is. I guess I should take some kind of perverse satisfaction that I draw so much of his attention, no? Then again, hundreds of thousands of innocents have fallen victim to this dastardly crime. But still. Each time leaves its scar and pain. There is no justice that can be served. One day, maybe, sometime in the future, I'll run and hide somewhere, into the nurturing arms of one of the other State family brothers or cousins, of which my perp is a member, where he can never touch me again, the dirty b**tard. May he be smitten one thousand times!
It's OK, don't gasp like that! Really, I'll get through it. I'll be OK, shaken and shocked, but I'll pull through. I know I will because the perpetrator has struck hundreds of thousands of other people, if not millions, and they seem to have come through their ordeal just fine, maybe a little shaken, but OK. So I know I will.
But you see what's galling is that none of the perpetrator's victims really were ever able to seek justice. See, there was nothing that could be done, no recourse. So while I know I'll pull through, I have to resign myself to the facts of the situation. Wait - what's that? You say you know a good lawyer that could help me, break new ground in bringing this despicable rapist to justice? I'd have to disagree, see, because the perp here is a real baddie, remorseless and cruel, and he's got lawyers on his side up the wazoo to kingdom come. See, his name is NEW YORK STATE.
Yes, I see your face blanching at the mere mention of his despicable name. But it's true. He's going to get me, I know it.
See, Mr. NY State will be forcibly relieving me of some thousands upon thousands of our hard earned, blood sweat and tears dollars, for absolutely no real reason I can discern. Maybe deep down, in his brooding, loathsome heart he fancies himself a modern day, perverse Robin Hood. But I really can't tell, his very thoughts and actions are constantly shrouded in a veil of secrecy and mystery. He calls this despicable act of rape - oh, the horror of its name! - New York State mortgage tax. Can you even comprehend the heinousness of the crime!? He even lends his name to this despicable act, as if it's his signature, his calling card move! It's not enough for him that he violates me year after year after year after year after year, like clockwork, on April 15. Now he wants more with this disgusting crime, the bloodthirsty savage that he is. I guess I should take some kind of perverse satisfaction that I draw so much of his attention, no? Then again, hundreds of thousands of innocents have fallen victim to this dastardly crime. But still. Each time leaves its scar and pain. There is no justice that can be served. One day, maybe, sometime in the future, I'll run and hide somewhere, into the nurturing arms of one of the other State family brothers or cousins, of which my perp is a member, where he can never touch me again, the dirty b**tard. May he be smitten one thousand times!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Those crazy French!!
I was reading Ikea's 2010 catalog last night on the train home, trying to find some Scandinavian inspiration for home decor, and I noticed a woman and her daughter pointing at my catalog.
Turns out they were French tourists, from Paris, on a 5 day visit to NYC as part of a 3 week North American tour.
So they took 5 whole days out of their 21 to see this stinkhole!!??? They were staying in Queens, even better!!! So they couldn't afford a pricey Manhattan hotel, the city even prices those crazy enough to want to visit out of it's touristy areas! I asked them how they liked Queens - they said it was a nice hotel, but the area was loud and dirty. Um, YEAH, that pretty much describes all of NYC!
I couldn't get over why someone who lived in freakin PARIS, FRANCE of all places would want to shlep all the way across the Atlantic to visit this hellhole??!!!!
I guess it's just those crazy French.
Turns out they were French tourists, from Paris, on a 5 day visit to NYC as part of a 3 week North American tour.
So they took 5 whole days out of their 21 to see this stinkhole!!??? They were staying in Queens, even better!!! So they couldn't afford a pricey Manhattan hotel, the city even prices those crazy enough to want to visit out of it's touristy areas! I asked them how they liked Queens - they said it was a nice hotel, but the area was loud and dirty. Um, YEAH, that pretty much describes all of NYC!
I couldn't get over why someone who lived in freakin PARIS, FRANCE of all places would want to shlep all the way across the Atlantic to visit this hellhole??!!!!
I guess it's just those crazy French.
A little housekeeping
Got a request.
Can everyone just post comments to the blog itself? Just click on 'comments' under each post or, if you click on the title of each post, look for a window that says 'post your comment' or something like that.
Please do this vs responding to the blog email. Makes for better management of the whole thing + encourages & facilitates discussion.
Thanks!
Can everyone just post comments to the blog itself? Just click on 'comments' under each post or, if you click on the title of each post, look for a window that says 'post your comment' or something like that.
Please do this vs responding to the blog email. Makes for better management of the whole thing + encourages & facilitates discussion.
Thanks!
Watch out
Watch out, makeup artists! If this spreads around, it'll eat a chunk out of your revenue!! Somthing tells me this won't be very popular though. Girls don't like to look like hell on their wedding day and I for one don't blame them.
I don't think the funding for this is really big $$$ at this point, but if it gets larger, wouldn't you think of 1,001 better uses for this tzedakah money?
Arggghhhh..... The (potential) waste of $$$ continues.
Postscript - it looks like there's already a lively discussion on YWN about this. Wow, news travels fast in the Jewish world! Viva la Internet!! Viva la blogosphere!
I don't think the funding for this is really big $$$ at this point, but if it gets larger, wouldn't you think of 1,001 better uses for this tzedakah money?
Arggghhhh..... The (potential) waste of $$$ continues.
Postscript - it looks like there's already a lively discussion on YWN about this. Wow, news travels fast in the Jewish world! Viva la Internet!! Viva la blogosphere!
Monday, August 31, 2009
The happiest day of my life!
Today's our anniversary. I just wanted to publicly thank my wife for making August 31, 2008 the happiest day of my life, and every subsequent day even happier.
And... I also want to thank her for putting up with me and all my... shall we say misheggassim. Including this blog.
THANKS DEAR!!!
And... I also want to thank her for putting up with me and all my... shall we say misheggassim. Including this blog.
THANKS DEAR!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
