Gaza Update 4.5

Here is Jack's Gaza Update 4.5. If you have any links to posts he might be able to include in the next update (if he has the time), e-mail him at talktojacknow@sbcglobal.net.

More Good Writing on Israel

Sultan Knish says that "the terrorists are always the victim". And the Belfast Telegraph's Lindy McDowell states:

"Israel — the only country in the world not permitted to defend its own civilian population against attack. Not without the usual, predictable international outcry anyway. If, for the last six months the south coast of England had been daily bombarded with rockets fired by a terrorist outfit in control of, say, Germany? if people in the region had been forced daily to flee to bomb shelters? if men, women and children were being killed on a regular basis ... you’d imagine it would have made widespread global headlines. That there would be considerable sympathy for the civilians involved. And if British forces were to retaliate against the terror group by launching air strikes against its bases — not primarily as a “revenge” operation but in a direct attempt to neuter those rocket attacks ... Would there be quite the same backlash in the British media against this as there has been this week against the Israeli response? What else were the Israelis expected to do in this situation? Sit back and take it? And hope that the plight of its civilians might galvanise the rest of the world into putting pressure on the terrorist Hamas? Some chance."

Gaza Update #4

Jack has Gaza Update 4 ready already, and I suspect there will be many more updates to come.

LSSU's List of Banished Words

Lake Superior State University has their annual list of banished words, but the link seems to work only sporadically on Internet Explorer and not at all on Firefox. The Detroit Free Press has this enjoyable article on this year's list. Among other things, the writer says:

"Among well-worn cliches, "at the end of the day" is getting to me, as is the synonymous "when all is said and done." These expressions are usually followed by a declaration of what we have to do. Just do it, by the end of tomorrow.
In recent years, people have said so often that they are going after the "low hanging fruit" that I can't believe there is any left anywhere. And we've had so many "stakeholders" on this or that issue that it's no wonder you can never find a vampire when you need one.
I have grown weary, too, of "perfect storm" being used to describe everything from our financial crisis to a political problem to a slew of sports injuries. Some weather person coined the term to describe a rare confluence of factors creating extreme conditions. Now it seems as if we have a "perfect storm" somewhere, some way, every day. It's supposed to be rare, remember? And too much today is described as "extreme" -- sports, diets, poverty, the right wing, the left wing, weather, illness. "I had this like, extreme, flu ..."
Can we stop talking about "meltdowns" in this industry or that business? The term describes what happens in the overheated core of a nuclear reactor, but it's a little hyperbolic for everything else to which it is applied, including emotional collapses. Financial houses fail, but their demise does not spread lethal radiation, just extreme misery.
I commiserate with a fellow scribe who hates hearing "it is what it is." Just tell us what it is and then we'll all know.
And beware of someone who starts addressing you by saying, "with all due respect ..." which is another way of saying you don't deserve any and I'm about to expose your idiocy."

Gaza Roundup

Jack's Gaza Roundup 3.5 is now up. He and Soccer Dad have done some invaluable blogging lately, so don't miss it.

Another "Truce"?

Little Green Footballs asks a question that perfectly describes the way many of us feel regarding the never-ending cycle of terror attacks and "ceasefires" in Israel:

"Ever feel like you’re on a surreal merry-go-round, watching the same events play out over and over as you circle endlessly past, to no discernible purpose or end?"

Grand Rounds 5.15

Grand Rounds 5.15 is available at Moneduloides, which is "the blog of an interested wonderer."

Gaza Roundup, Part 3

Here is Jack's Gaza Roundup, Part 3, including many well-written and totally infuriating posts. If only the mainstream media would report on stories such as this one and this!

My friend Edna's cousin Marion has been sending e-mail reports from Israel, and she writes,

"Zelda and Isaac were here this morning. Isaac's sister lives near the centre of Ashdod, where the 39 year old woman was killed by a rocket yesterday.Isaac has nephews living on a moshav in the south, where the rockets fall. One of them missed a rocket by one minute a few months ago. David, their son-in-law was called into the air force (he doesn't fly), and sent a message to say he wont be able to be in contact with his family. Their daughter, Ariella, is pregnant with 2 small children and works all hours as a doctor. Since the male doctors were called up, she'll have to work even more hours. So Z and I are having to fill in more to look after the kids. This is how one family living north of Tel Aviv has been affected."

Peters' Position

Ralph Peters is right on target when he says,

"Damned if they do, but Israel's dead if they don't. Dead Jews aren't news, but killing terrorists outrages global activists. On Saturday, Israel struck back powerfully against its tormentors. Now Israel's the villain. Again. How long will it be until the UN General Assembly passes a resolution creating an international Holocaust Appreciation Day?"

Read it all.

Facebook Supports the IDF

Facebook, which I joined only because my sister uses it, has started this group "to express support for the men and women of the Israel Defense Forces in their fight to counter terrorism against innocent civilians in Israel from Gaza." The Facebook group is located at this site.

Jack's Gaza Roundup, Part 2

Here is part 2 of Jack's Gaza roundup. Forward this link to your friends and relatives and have them pass it on in support of Israel. The blogosphere always comes through in times of crisis.

Haveil Havalim Time!

Check out Haveil Havalim #198 at Material Maidel.

Carnival of The Retaliatory Strikes

Jack has put together a roundup of blog posts about Israel's strikes against Hamas.
And Bill Levinson at Israpundit writes about the usual hypocrisy:

"The United Kingdom has called for an 'immediate halt' to violence in Gaza, while the Pope called upon 'all sides' to end the violence. We do not recall either Britain or the Vatican speaking up when Hamas was pouring rockets and mortar shells into Israel. We therefore do not see why Israel should even listen to anything that either entity has to say now that Hamas is reaping what it has sown."

Finally!

Finally Israel has retaliated against Hamas in what Haaretz describes as Israel's version of shock and awe. Blackfive is more blunt:

"They have never accepted the existence of Israel. They teach hateful, racist propaganda to school kids ensuring the next generation keeps up the slaughter. They have launched hundreds of rockets during a "cease fire" which now has lapsed. The Israelis kept weapons tight until the official "cease fire" ended. Now they are making piles of dead tangos and I say Bravo! The Palestinians are an artificial creation of the hard liners who decided they didn't want the Jooos in their neighborhood. There is no question both groups have historical claims to the area but when the UN made a compromise, the Israelis were attacked multiple times by their Arab neighbors. They kicked the crap out of these vaunted Arab armies. They have created a stable, liberal democracy and even allow Israeli Arabs to serve in Parliament. The Palestinians have murdered innocents wholesale and threatened to push all the Israelis into the sea and claim all the land. They have spent countless billions of other peoples dollars to train terrorists and let their own people starve. they are reprehensible and only marginally civilized. They can learn to live like decent human beings or they can die and be stacked like cord wood."

And Treppenwitz says:

"An open letter to...
... the Vatican which is now calling for an end to middle east violence...
... the U.N. Secretary General who is suddenly "deeply alarmed by the bloodshed..."
... the U.S. Secretary of State who is demanding an immediate cease fire...
... the European Union that is calling for "an immediate end to hostilities..."
... the Russians who are asking for all sides to return to the negotiating table.
I have just one question for all of you:
Where was your concern for human life when it was Israeli civilians being targeted all these year?!"

Let's see how long it takes for the U.N. to condemn Israel this time.

School Daze

I've read about this politically correct idiocy before, but obviously it's still going on, to the detriment of today's students: "Hundreds of schools have barred teachers from marking in red in case it upsets the children." Barking Moonbat comments:

"What the heck is happening to this place? They are stark raving mad. How did generation after generation manage the stress of red ink and still achieve what they did? This is BIZARRE beyond any way for me to describe it. This is what is happening right now, right here in this country on this date. Dec.26,2008. Where are the grown ups?"

Obamamedia-mania

After seeing more media-drooling about Obama's physique yesterday on TV, I wondered how I were going to last through 4 years of this nauseating adulation. Later, I came across two similar articles on the same subject, by Michelle Malkin and by Robert Stacy McCain. A reader at
Lucianne.com echoed my own sentiments: "Is it possible to throw up for 4 years? I might be a test case."

Bush-Bashing Bonanza

Wesley Pruden says there are only a few Bush-bashing days left: "With only 26 days left to harangue, mock and bash President Bush, some of our colleagues in the media aren't wasting a day. Bashing ex-presidents, except for the ex-presidents with shrill prominent wives, isn't nearly as much fun as bashing while he's still the real thing."

Grand Rounds 5.14

Visit Highlight Health for Grand Rounds 5.14 Holiday Edition.

Simply Soccer Dad

Between watching "Ben Hur" and "A Christmas Story", I am reading Soccer Dad, who is juggling carnivals and who is also reporting the lastest Watcher's Council entries.

MERRY HOCHMAS!

Mental Floss lists 9 other things that happened on Christmas Day. Unfortunately, this list does NOT include the birth of my grandfather, Louis Hoch, on December 25, 1900. (Via Interesting Pile)

A Politically Correct Christmas Message from the Religion of Peace

Little Green Footballs wonders: "Who better to deliver the 'alternative' Christmas message on Britain’s Channel 4 than a virulently antisemitic Islamic fanatic who wants to wipe out Israel? 'Iran’s Ahmadinejad to give alternative Christmas message.' Unbelievable. What the hell is wrong with Channel 4?"

Con Men Quips

Here are some comments on the news by Argus Hamilton, including these:

"Wall Street swindler Bernie Madoff was placed under house arrest Thursday. His crimes left a lot of people embarrassed. We have cameras at street corners, cameras at the banks, cameras at the ATMs and nobody saw a guy stealing fifty billion dollars."

"U.S. Congressman William Jefferson will be replaced by a Republican next month after he was arrested for having ninety thousand dollars in cash in his freezer. Today he looks like the smartest money manager in America. Just think of all the Jewish charities that would still be solvent today if they'd invested with William Jefferson."

Songs for Soldiers

Do something nice for our troops. If you go to this Billboard website and fill out a short form, two free music downloads will be sent to one of our soldiers.

An Assortment from The Anchoress

Here are some quick links from The Anchoress. I particularly enjoyed the line "Happy Hannukah! Or Oy, Come all ye Faithful!"

One Potato, Two Potato...

A co-worker sent me this latke-eating contest story.

Haveil Havalim Time!

Visit Jewlicious for Haveil Havalim #197: Bring in the light (and the doughnuts) Edition!

A Grave Matter

Here's a story about the latest idiotic fad: being buried with your cell phone. I couldn't believe what I was seeing on Fox News this morning when they showed a man's grave (complete with his cell phone number etched on the stone!), and they had their female guest, possibly his widow, dialing his number!

What the Meaning of "If" Is!

Betsy's Page links to a great spoof of the Rod Blagojevich version of Rudyard Kipling's poem "If".

HAPPY HANUKAH!

Story of a Con Man

I am currently reading this Vanity Fair article about a con man who pretended to be a Rockefeller. It's amazing how many people were taken in by him for so long.

That's No Baloney!

Fark links to this story about an edible menorah.

Notes and Quotes

Bailout news: Mark Steyn says, "We're in the fast lane to Bailoutistan." And John Hawkins writes that "'Mama Government' Treats Americans Like Small Children."
Regarding Caroline Kennedy's qualifications, Andrew Sullivan makes this comparison: "In fact, Sarah Palin was more qualified to be vice-president than Caroline Kennedy is to be a Senator. Both are celebrities, but Palin made her own way herself, winning election as mayor and governor without the kind of raw nepotism now on display in New York State."

Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds Vol. 5 No. 13: The Best of 2008 is up at A Chronic Dose: A Chronic Illness Blog.

On President Bush and the Jews

Ron Radosh has a nice article about Bush and the Jews. He ends by saying,

"A few years ago, I heard former Mayor Ed Koch of New York accept an award at a dinner honoring Jewish leaders in Washington, DC. President Bush was present, and Koch saluted him, telling his largely liberal audience that in his eyes- and Ed Koch is anything but a conservative- that George W. Bush was as a President the best friend that Israel ever had and the President most sympathetic to Jewish concerns. Perhaps, like Rabbi Yoffe, more Jews in America will come to understand that."

More Tom Lehrer

To end the week, here's a colorful presentation of Tom Lehrer's"The Elements".

"Hanukkah in Santa Monica"

I love Tom Lehrer, and this is one of my favorite tunes.

Watcher's Council

Soccer Dad showcases the latest Watcher's Council entries.

Let's Face It!

I like this item from Shoebox Blog: "A near-total face transplant has been completed at a hospital in Cleveland. They got the face from a politician, who had two."

Blogging Blagojevich

Here are some entries in Slate's Blagojevich scandal-naming contest. I like "Coiffuror".

Shoe-Throwing & The Three Stooges

As a fan of The Three Stooges, I really got a kick out of this graphic from Eye On The World.

100 Popular Blogs

Interesting Pile links to a list of the 100 most popular blogs.
(Above image from Shoebox Blog.)

Shake, Rattle & Whine

Barking Moonbat reports on a case of Christmas Derangement Syndrome from the U.K.: "After 130 years of fundraising, Salvation Army told to stop rattling collecting tins because it might ‘offend other religions’"

Happy Birthday, Dear Adolf

These are definitely winners in the
"incredibly moronic baby names" competition. The supermarket should be applauded.

"JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell, Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell and Adolf Hitler Campbell. Good names for a trio of toddlers? Heath and Deborah Campbell think so. The Holland Township couple has picked those names and the oldest child, Adolf Hitler Campbell, turns 3 today. This has given rise to a problem, because the ShopRite supermarket in Greenwich Township has refused to make a cake for young Adolf's birthday."

(hat tip, Diane)

Legally Stupid

Overlawyered links to the weirdest legal cases of 2008.

Shoe Business

We shouldn't be surprised that that so-called journalist threw his shoes at President Bush. The Iraqis' gratitude has been underwhelming. You can bet the mainstream media will be gleefully playing this clip over and over again to show their own contempt for this President. What amazed me was that the Secret Service didn't leap to protect Bush; what if, instead of shoes, bombs had been thrown?

Haveil Havalim Time!

Haveil Havalim #196, The My Kids Wish it Were Chanukah edition is up at Jack's Shack.

Good For The Jews

Some of the best-known Christmas songs have been written by Jews, (including the dreaded "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer".)

Senator J.Lo?

Here's Rep. Gary Ackerman on the thought of having Caroline Kennedy run for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat:

'I don't know what Caroline Kennedy's qualifications are.' 'Except that she has name recognition, but so does J.Lo,' Ackerman continued on Steve Malzberg's radio show on WOR. 'I wouldn't make J.Lo the senator unless she proved she had great qualifications, but we haven't seen them yet.'"

Deck The Halls With Boughs of Bailouts

In an amusing "Wonder Land" column, Daniel Henninger says that the United States will bail out Christmas:

"Government officials are said to be concerned at the risk that the collapse of Santa Claus could pose to the nation's intricately related system of holiday happiness. Though a failure by Santa Claus poses the largest systemic risk, the government is also prepared to step in to bail out Christmas trees, caroling parties and mistletoe producers".

Jupiter

I never get tired of hearing Holst's "Jupiter". The whole piece is stunning, but the section from about 3:07 through 5:18 is particularly breathtaking.

He's Not The President Yet!

From the AP: "President-elect Barack Obama has asked if his family can move into Blair House near the White House a little early, but the Bush administration has said, 'Sorry.'" Abe Greenwald feels the way I do:

"We just endured an election in which every gesture was aggravated into a scandal and, going forward, we’re best off not reading too much into each iota of non-policy news. But this strikes me as remarkably obnoxious on Obama’s part. The Left-wing media has actually been throwing around the idea of an early start to Obama’s presidency for a few weeks now. But as bad as it is to hear Chris Matthews suggest Obama preempt George W. Bush, it’s easily dismissed as the ravings of an unseriousness sycophant. That the President-elect himself couldn’t quite bear to respect the process of the transition is bizarre."

Farbissener Antisemites!

Will we ever stop reading about antisemitic incidents like this one?

"The Church of England approved an anti-Israel carol that was sung as part of an 'alternative' event called ‘Bethlehem Now: Nine Alternative Lessons and Carols’ that took place at the end of November in the Wren church of St James’s in Central London, and was organized by anti-Israel campaigners, including one liberal Jewish group"

Remember: in America, a woman protested the lyrics of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". I wonder what she would think of the lyrics of this anti-Israel carol!

Quips on Blagojevich

Argus Hamilton comments on the news: "Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was taped trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat in exchange for a union job. Times are tough. Now that Wall Street jobs no longer pay bonuses, corrupt politicians are giving away Senate seats in exchange for free donuts"; and "Chicago's U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said Tuesday Governor Blagojevich was on a crime spree. The spree had style. Last Valentine's Day every state contractor got a box of candy from Governor Blagojevich along with a card inscribed, Be My Crony."

The Murder of a Child

The body of murdered child Caylee Anthony has been found at last. Geraldo reports

"I can report exclusively after several conversations with lead defense attorney Jose Baez that his client Casey Anthony reacted 'very badly' to today’s news of the child’s body being discovered. 'She was crying and sobbing,' according to Baez. Furthermore, she had to be given a sedative to calm her.

Naturally! This monster was crying and sobbing because she has finally been caught!

Chicago Scandal

Oy-jevich!
Blogojevich!
That he's a Democrat
Is a joy-jevich!

Catching Up With Soccer Dad

I haven't been able to read my favorite blogs as often as I've liked to in the past couple of days and am just catching up. Take a look at Soccer Dad's Shiny happy dhimmi - #4, and check out the winners of the Watcher's Council.

Rudolph the Politically Incorrect Reindeer

Here we go again! How is it that one person can make such a mountain out of a molehill, and over a reindeer?

"There was a strange turn of events at a local school Friday, and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is at the center of it.
Children at Murrayville Elementary were told they couldn't sing that song, but later in the day they received word they can.
Rudolph is a cheerful song, loved by many like some kids in Bladen County. Children at the elementary school had practiced the song for their holiday program next week.
Then, abruptly, Rudolph was dropped from the program because of the words, "Christmas Eve."
It all began with one parent who didn't want her child to sing any song with direct Christmas connotations.
The parent who wants to remain anonymous does not celebrate Christmas and told us, "there needs to be a comfortable environment for all students, not just some."
The words Christmas Eve and Santa make her uncomfortable, so the Murrayville's principal dropped the song."

My sister and I were the only Jewish kids in our entire elementary school. We sang all the Christmas songs but chose on our own not to sing the name "Jesus". (A few years ago I read that other bloggers had done the same thing!) But to try to ban a cheerful children's song just because of the inoffensive words "Christmas Eve" and "Santa" is ludicrous. What will the next anti-Christmas protest be, I wonder?

More Anti-Christmas Lunacy

I just saw this story on Bill O'Reilly's show. It's just unbelievable that people always feel the need to protest and ruin Christmas, the birth of Christ. If Christmas were solely a commercial holiday whose only reason was frenzied gift-giving and Wal-Mart stampedes, THEN I could understand protests like this!

An Impatient Patient

My mother came home from the hospital today. Thanks, everyone, for your love and support during this very trying week.

Haveil Havalim Time!

Haveil Havalim #194 is up at Shiloh Musings. It'll soon be time for HH #200!

The Real Killers and the Real Victims

I always associate Dominick Dunne with the O.J.Simpson and Claus Von Bulow trials, both of which I avidly followed. And now, in the last few days, that brutal murderer Simpson has finally been convicted of something; and the tragic, beautiful, comatose Sonny on Bulow has died. (I must say I was very happy for the Goldman family, and very angry that they were called "gold diggers" by delusional, protesting O.J. fans at the courthouse.)

Therapeutic Blogging

I don't know about anyone else, but I find blogging to be a good way of relieving stress.

Hiatus

My mother is in the hospital, so blogging will be sporadic. Please think good thoughts.

Not Wild About Harry

I wasn't at all surprised to hear these comments by that sour-faced Harry Reid, and I'm amused by the response.

A Giant Thug

Here's the scoop on the latest NFL criminal, Plaxico Burress. ("Plaxico" is definitely a contender in the category of weird names!) It's very depressing how common it's become for sports teams to be so tainted.

Mumbai and the Media

The New York Post has an article about Mumbai and the continuing aversion by the media to telling the truth about Islamic terrorism:

"The international media have already morphed the horrific slaughter in Mumbai into the murky realm of euphemism and apologetics."

Thankfully you can count on talk radio and the bloggers to tell the truth.

Busy Soccer Dad

Soccer Dad is juggling Carnivals and also showcasing the winning Watcher's Council entries.

Gun Control Works!

Bill Levinson at Israpundit says that "Gun Control Works–for Terrorists".