Rebuilding Jewish Life

My friend Diane sent me this great story. Personally, I wouldn't want to have a thing to do with Poland, but these men are to be admired. "They spent their childhoods in the rich, layered Jewish life of prewar Poland, then survived Hitler's mission to wipe out European Jewry in the ghettos and gas chambers of occupied Europe. Now, men such as Tad Taube, Sigmund Rolat and Severyn Ashkenazy have returned to Poland as philanthropists - after making fortunes in the United States - to nurture a grass-roots revival of Jewish life in their homeland."

2 Items Worth Reading

John Hawkins talks about Hurricane Katrina victimhood: "...people lose their homes in this country every day of the year. If it isn't a hurricane, it's an earthquake. If it isn't an earthquake, it's a tornado. If it isn't a tornado, it's a fire. If it isn't a fire, it's a flood. Yet nobody sits and frets about John Doe, age 58, who lost his house in a flash flood two years ago or Jane Doe, age 60, who had her house blown away by a twister back in 2005."
A reader of Lucianne.com responds to a NY Times article on the sleazy Sen Larry Craig (R) by listing some of the scandal-ridden Democrats who didn't resign: "Maybe its because Republicans actually hold their members to account for their actions? The Swimmer (D-Chevas Regal) kills a girl, lies about it STILL IN CONGRESS. KKK Byrd, a Grand Kleagle of the KKK STILL IN CONGRESS. Gerry Studds has sex with an underage House Page and gets a STANDING OVATION from the Democrat caucus upon his return to congress. William Jefferson, caught with $90,000 in marked bribe cash STILL IN CONGRESS. Alcee Hastings, impeached Federal Judge IS A DEMOCRAT CONGRESSMAN...."

"If...You Must" for August 30

The prolific Soccer Dad is on a roll. Go here for his latest roundup of good reading from around the Web: "If...You Must".

Jewish History

Smooth Stone continues reporting on the day in Jewish history.

Watcher of Weasels, and a Weasel to Watch

Soccer Dad has the latest Watcher's Council entries. And Neal Boortz points out another reason not to vote for the Democrats: "More from the soon to be Tango Uniform Fidel ... he thinks that Clinton-Obama is the winning ticket for America! Let's remember that fine endorsement."

A Rare Admission

Wow! Can this actually be an admission of personal responsibility? "Taking the witness stand Tuesday in the St. Rita's nursing home trial, Gov. Kathleen Blanco said she did everything she could to sound the alarm as Hurricane Katrina bore down on southeast Louisiana two years ago today, but that the government must ultimately rely on the 'individual responsibility' of its residents to heed those warnings." New Orleans has always been corrupt and crime-ridden. These things, and one's personal choices, are things for which Hurricane Katrina cannot be blamed.

A Question

If what Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) is accused of doing is true, he should resign. Shouldn't Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) also resign?

The Scourge of P.C.

Cal Thomas writes that England is vanishing. Just change some of the names, and he could be describing the United States as well. Are we just going to let this happen?

Crime Time

Mike Straka reports that "Vick Finds Jesus in Record Time"

A Resigned Resignation

Well, Alberto Gonzales has resigned. Here is a typical and predictable reaction: 'Alberto Gonzales was never the right man for this job. He lacked independence, he lacked judgment, and he lacked the spine to say no to Karl Rove. This resignation is not the end of the story. Congress must get to the bottom of this mess and follow the facts where they lead, into the White House'. - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev."

Project 2,996: Where We Remember Their Lives

If you'd like to do a good deed in memory of the victims of September 11 go here to Project 2996. As last year, D.C. Roe is asking bloggers to adopt "one of the fallen" , for whom you will write a tribute. Last year, bloggers were assigned names. This year, you can either pay tribute again to that same person, or you can choose someone else. I will be writing about Edward F. Beyea as I did last September. As D.C. says, "Pick a name, start your research and spread the word."

Haveil Havalim #131 is Up!

Haveil Havalim #131 is up, at Soccer Dad! I never fail to be impressed by all the time and effort that goes into every edition of his wonderful Jewish carnival.

Laughable Liberals

American Thinker has a great article titled, "Libs Say the Darndest Things". Author James Jewis says, "Here's a fun exercise for conservatives: Spend some time just listening to your liberal friends. Don't bother to say anything at all. You'll be amazed. I've certainly been wowed every time I've tried it." Well, I've tried it, too, but mainly because I am surrounded by liberals in the workplace and am forced to listen. Believe me, it's extremely difficult to listen to bleeding-heart liberal talk without rolling your eyes or blurting out a rebuttal! Just read the list of liberal themes, and see how many you've heard recently!

"If...You Must" for 8/24/07

End your work week with more interesting reading from Soccer Dad.

Unsurprising Poll Results

Blogs For Bush reports on this unsurprising survey: "Fascinating survey from Rasmussen: 'Republicans, by a 58% to 19% margin, believe the U.S. and its allies are winning. Democrats, by a 43% to 24% margin, believe the terrorists are winning. Among unaffiliated voters, 38% believe the U.S. team is winning while 32% say the opposite.' What is truly amazing is that for Democrats, hatred of President Bush has become so intense that they have convinced themselves not just that the terrorists can win (that is a correct view) but that the terrorists already have won. Of course, the Democrats blame President Bush 100% for this state of affairs, but that still begs the question: how can an American so lack any faith in his own nation?...."

Just 4 More Things...

(1) Why on earth should responsible taxpayers have to bail out homeowners who now can't afford to make their mortgage payments? On Fox News the other night, they reported that only 1% of homeowners default on their loans, while 99% of homeowners make their payments. Yet the mainstream media is reporting this story as if it's a national crisis.

(2) Why should responsible people be forced to change their own eating habits just because some gluttons won't stop stuffing their faces? I am tired of hearing about the "obesity epidemic" and its excuses, as if you become grossly obese through no fault of your own. This isn't just plump, or even fat -- it's hugely, dangerously, obese. Wouldn't you think the shame alone would make you do something about it???

(3) Neal Boortz comments on that celebrity alien: "BREAK THE LAW, BLAME THE U.S.! Now we know this woman would vote Democrat ... if she could vote. What woman? Elvira Arellano .. the illegal alien and convicted criminal who hid in some storefront "church" in Chicago to avoid deportation. Well ... she wandered outside of the church to do a little protesting for illegal aliens .. and the next thing you know she was arrested and deported. Now she's in Mexico and – no surprise – blaming the United States for her troubles. Yes .... She said that it's all the fault of the U.S. government. And why would that be? Well, because the U.S. government broke the law by 'allowing' illegal aliens to pay taxes."

(4) Finally, I saw this story today and thought, "Don't tempt me!" This is too good to be true! The photoshoppers must be hard at work already. "The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has announced a campaign to find the "bumper sticker slogan" that will carry it through the 2008 elections. The slogan also will appear on the DSCC Web site and campaign literature. 'We need a turn of phrase that really jumps out and tells you right off the bat what this election is all about,' said James Carville in a message to Democrats." How about "Vote Republican"?

Soccer Dad's Been Busy

If you need something good to read, Soccer Dad's your man. He's been juggling carnivals, and he has a new edition of
If...You Must.

Teach Your Children Well

Rubicon3 reports on the by-now-unsurprising news that Palestinian children are being used to retrieve rocket launchers that fire missiles into Israel. As Little Green Footballs would say, this is "Palestinian child abuse" and shows their constant disregard for all human life.

Illegal Alienation

This is a good piece on that celebrity illegal alien, Elvira Arellano. There should be no hesitation in deporting these lawbreakers. Maybe the news that people may sue the "sanctuary city" of Newark will be a wakeup call on the immigration front.

It's a Real Crime

Nealz Nuze asks some good questions about Michael Vick and other criminal athletes: "Do you think that Michael Vick thought that even if he was caught red-handed in his dog-fighting activities, that he would escape any punishment because he was a jock? Has the highest-paid player in any professional sport ever been held responsible for a felony committed at the height of their career? Is it legitimate to feel sorry for Arthur Blank and the Falcons team, or did they get what was coming to them from their enabling and protection of Vick?". What always gets me is that people seem more worried about how the team will make out without the criminal player, than about the nature of the crime itself.

Surging Ahead

The military blog Blackfive talks about the fact that in Iraq, the surge seems to be working -- but the Democrats don't want it to work. "Americans do not cotton to losers and that is exactly what the leadership of the Democratic Party represents. The public has begun to hear about progress and the polls are actually switching, the problem for the Dems is they can't retreat from their calls for defeat." The Democrats are defeatists not only in war time but in peace time. They like it when things go wrong so they can blame everyone else.

No Difference

Yid With Lid writes about courageous activist Wafa Sultan, "Dr Sultan says that the west better not be lulled into a false sense of security--there is little difference between moderate Islam and Extreme Islam."

Viva Elvis!

I've been watching many of the Elvis movies, concerts, and documentaries on TV on this 30th anniversary of his death at too young an age. Here is a description of the fans who stood in line for hours in the heat to pay tribute at his grave.

Haveil Havalim #130 is Up!

Thanks to Soccer Dad, there's a lot of excellent reading at Haveil Havalim #130.

Today's Outrage

Smooth Stone reports this outrage: "On September 9, 2007, a pre-9/11 celebration of sorts will be taking place in New York City, as Islamists from across the Tri-State area will congregate there for the 22nd Annual Muslim Day Parade."

Lost in Space

Here's a good question about the space program: "When is NASA going to come down to Earth?" While I love the idea of space exploration, is it still necessary to send up shuttles so frequently, to spend so many billions of dollars, to risk lives so often, to take so many chances? Steve Dunleavy says, "Imagine the $110 billion going to research on heart disease, cancer or AIDS rather than looking around in space to confirm what you knew anyway - there is nothing there."

"If...You Must" for August 17

It's time for another installment of Soccer Dad's terrific series "If...You Must".

Vow Now

Smooth Stone reports that "Giuliani vows to stop illegal immigrants". That's my candidate, and I hope he gets the opportunity to fulfill that pledge.

Some Interesting Reading

Soccer Dad is juggling carnivals and schmoozing; Atlas Shrugs discusses Arafat's donation of tainted blood(http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2007/08/hiv-arafatbasta.html) and here is a new excuse for not learning to speak English.

Jewish Surnames

You may enjoy this article about the origins of Jewish surnames. Some of it is pretty technical, but it gets more interesting towards the end. For example, "Some names allude to professions that are exclusive to Jews. One such name appears in various forms: Kister, Klausner, Templer, Schuldiner, and Shamash, all of them meaning shamash, a synagogue sexton. Likewise, we have names such as Kantor, Singer, Schulsinger (which may have morphed into Schlesinger), Chazanov, Chazantzik, Chazanovski, Chazanian, Chazanski, all of them meaning chazan, a cantor."

Vital News

Here is a terrific Ben Stein piece about what makes news today: "Okay. This country has now gone completely insane. It is Saturday night August 11, 2007. I am in the most wonderful place on this earth, Sandpoint, Idaho, looking out at the moonlit (slightly) Lake Pend Oreille, listening to the BNSF freight trains rolling by, and what do I see and hear as the lead item on CNN Headline News at midnight? Nancy Grace urgently telling us that Britney Spears is endangering her children's lives..."

The Name Game

I saw this silly Washington Post article linked on Free Republic and wondered just how many Americans actually base their vote on the candidate's name! (For some reason, you get an error message when you click the link. Here is the URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/11/AR2007081101204.html)

Haveil Havalim #129 is Up!

Haveil Havalim #129, "The Once & Future Edition", is up at Jack's Shack!

Righteous Romanian

I like stories like this about Righteous Gentiles: "Theodor Criveanu, as a reserves officer in the Romanian army, gave out work permits to numerous Jews in the ghetto, beyond the assigned limit and including those who were not fit to work, in order to prevent them from being sent to the camps. Criveanu ended up marrying the daughter of one of the people he saved. "

"To Save America..."

Lately there has been a lot of buzz about this article titled "To save America, we need another 9/11". The author is not calling for, or wishing for, another attack. He is merely saying that only another national tragedy would finally unite this country. I think this kind of unity is no longer possible, thanks to political correctness and the nasty climate in this country. After Pearl Harbor, unity was easier because everyone knew the difference between right and wrong, they knew who the enemies were, and they were willing to sacrifice in order to defeat that enemy. After 9/11, there was a brief spate of patriotism that has already fallen by the wayside. The flags and pins that were out of stock in the days following 9/11 are now selling for 75% off in the stores. Today, unfortunately, Americans are too selfish, apathetic, and self-absorbed to make any sacrifices in the effort to defeat our enemy. While I think another attack will come, it will only result in more finger-pointing, Bush-bashing, and appeasement.

Watcher of Weasels

Unfortunately, I often forget to look at the Watcher of Weasels website, but luckily Soccer Dad always keeps track of the interesting submissions to the Watcher's Council. There's some good reading there, and never a shortage of weasels to watch.

Media Madness

Smooth Stone makes a good point in his comments on the continuing, unfathomable media bias in favor of Muslims: "Leave it to the NY Times to focus on only the Muslim victims of the tragic Minnesota bridge collapse, in a creative attempt to make sure that you, the reader, is properly indoctrinated in the false belief system that Muslims are always the victims, never the predators."

Bugs Bunny Is Jewish!

Here's an interesting question: "If Michael Landon and Kirk Douglas are Jews, why can’t we claim Bugs Bunny as well?"

"Exaggerations and Falsehoods"

This proves again how low the media will stoop in its hatred of this President and our troops. Not only do they fabricate stories, but people actually believe them. Yet, they can't or won't believe true stories, such as the level of Middle Eastern hatred against Israel and the United States -- even after September 11.

Good Reading

Soccer Dad is once again juggling Carnivals; Smooth Stone talks about the passing of a Holocaust survivor; and Little Green Footballs reports on another charming guest at the Yearly Kos convention.

756*

Well, as everyone knows by now, Barry Bonds has broken Aaron's record, but it's tainted, and I find I can't care much at all. I just wish the record could have been broken by someone more likeable and with more integrity: my old hero Carl Yastrzemski, or Frank Robinson, or Cal Ripken, or Ken Griffey, Jr., those genuinely admired and even loved. This article asks, "Where have all the heroes gone?"

PC in NYC

If Americans stopped caving in to political correctness, we wouldn't have to put up with this garbage. Andrea Peyser writes, "The school hasn't even opened yet. But the hijab-wearing principal of a taxpayer-funded school founded especially for Arab students has issued a fatwa against the kids of New York. She said there is nothing wrong with intifada. I can only conclude that political correctness trumps self-preservation when it comes to education." Neal Boortz agrees: "Haven't we gone just a bit far with this politically correct crap by now?"

That's Entertainment?

Isn't this hilarious. "A musical featuring OSAMA BIN LADEN has premiered at a Scottish comedy festival. Jihad: The Musical has amused audiences at this month's Edinburgh Fringe Festival with its comedic portrayal of the Al Qaeda terrorist. Inspired by Mel Brooks' musical-within-a-musical Springtime For Hitler (from The Producers), the play features the lyrics, 'I wanna be like Osama/Wear designer clothes beneath a robe/I want to kill people round the globe,' among others."

The Dumbing Down of Terror

The dumbing down of terror continues. "Two men detained and expected to be charged for carrying explosives in the trunk of a car Saturday are not suspected of orchestrating a terrorist plot, authorities said Sunday.Meanwhile, an Islamic community leader from Tampa, Fla., whose been in touch with the families of the two detained college students told The Post and Courier that the men are not troublemakers and that they a were simply on a weekend trip to North Carolina.The ordeal began Saturday night when police seized at least one explosive device and computer equipment from a sedan during a routine traffic stop on U.S. Highway 176, officials said. Berkeley County sheriff's Lt. Vince Lombard said the vehicle had been stopped for speeding and the men were being held pending a charge of unlawful possession of an explosive device." Simply on a weekend trip? Who goes on a weekend trip with explosives? And note the use of the word "ordeal" to describe the stop by police. What a PC article! It sounds a bit like the Driving Imams to me.

Haveil Havalim #128 is Up!

Haveil Havalim #128 (The Sex Edition) is up at Yehuda Berlinger. No, I'm not making this up!

Imminent Attack?

Here is a warning from Israpundit. "Israeli Counterterrorism expert, Juval Aviv, met recently with reporters at Fox News and revealed information, which he believes is accurate, concerning an imminent Al Qaeda attack on five to seven American cities simultaneously." Even if this doesn't happen, isn't it better to be prepared than continue to be self-destructively apathetic and politically correct? It reminds me of the story of the boy who cried wolf.

How Can Jews Remain Democrats?

Smooth Stone blogs about that awful Daily Kos
and wonders: "How Jews can still remain Democrats, when DailyKos' main goal is to support Democrats in order to help them get elected while simultaneously blaming Jews for all the problems in the world, is simply bewildering."

Benefits for Illegals

I was listening to the Michael Savage radio show last night when a caller asked why our representatives are more concerned about giving benefits to illegal aliens than they are concerned about arming, funding, and supporting our troops. I have often wondered about that myself. What is this obsession with helping illegal aliens? I simply don't get it. Read Rep. Eric Cantor's account of the disgrace on the House floor as Republicans tried to stop government health benefits from going to illegals. I had seen some of the melee on C-Span and was appalled at the hisses and the booing that was going on. We have to hope the Democrats don't win the White House in 2008, or things will get even uglier.

Solidarity with Sderot

Connections Israel wants you to express your Jewish solidarity with the people of Sderot.

"When Celebrities Weren't Train Wrecks"

If, like me, you remember the good old days of Hollywood, when celebrities weren't train wrecks, then you'll appreciate this.

Blame Bush!

Now they are actually blaming the President and the Republicans for the MN bridge collapse!

The Last Jews of Baghdad

Here's an interesting story about the last Jews of Baghdad

Dealing with Jihad

Here's a good article on pathological denial in Britain
from The American Thinker via Political Correctness Watch: "Some in Britain have come up with an ingenuous way of countering the threat of jihad: They pretend it does not exist." Unfortunately, many Americans do the same thing.

"Mommy Meanest"

I have always loved the New York Post, and one thing I like is their ability to get right to the point and not mince words. So their coverage of that adoptive "mother" with her obscene abuse of children and her years of defrauding the government has rightfully netted her the title "Mommy Meanest". It's incredible that animals like this can somehow take advantage of children for so long. Let's see how much national attention and public outcry this story gets.