Going Postal

The Washington Post has a nice slideshow of commemorative postage stamps issued in 2011. The stamps I definitely have to get include #10 (industrial designers),  #11 (Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch), and #13 (Ronald Reagan). I have a feeling the Reagan stamp will be extremely popular with collectors and non-collectors alike.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Anchoress links to this Peggy Noonan article on the origins of "Auld Lang Syne". I never hear it without thinking of Guy Lombardo  and his Royal Canadians, shown on TV every New Year's Eve when I was a kid.

Remembering Rosie the Riveter

Her real name was Geraldine Hoff Doyle .

Enough Already!

From England, an article about Christmas shopping frenzies that also sums up conditions here. Again, today, there was a huge traffic tie-up of people heading to the mall. Just how much shopping can you do, anyway?  What I can't wait to see is the number of people who actually pay their credit card bills when they come due -- or will we have to hear more sob stories about financial hardships?

The author says, "Once upon a time, the Christmas break was supposed to be a time to relax, a few precious days off work to spend with ­family and friends, a moment of quiet reflection and Christian contemplation by the fireside. Not to mention the ingestion of industrial quantities of roast ­poultry and fine wines before exploding in a quiet corner like a forgotten cracker. Now it’s all about the shops. Shop, shop, shop. Shop till you drop, or expire in the effort."

The Art of Chocolate

Doesn't this look wonderful?  I'll take "The Scream" to go.

Words of the Year

Here is a list of the Wall Street Journal's words of 2010 (Via Interesting Pile).  You just can't help loving Eyjafjallajokull!

Rally Against the Mosque

A protest against the Ground Zero mosque will be held in New York on January 12.  As the great Mayor Bloomberg once said, "You should be ashamed."

Annoying Year in Review

Jim Mullen lists some of the more annoying things that happened in 2010.

My Word!

Here's an interesting column on word origins.

Movie Magic

Roger Ebert says this 3-1/2 minute long film by Jamie Stuart should win an Oscar.  Well, it's certainly better than the garbage at the box office, plus the music is awfully catchy.

Most Ridiculous Lawsuit of 2010

Vote here!

"Unemployed Because They Want to Be"

No surprise here.  This is what happens when they've removed all the stigma as not to hurt people's feeeeeeelings!

16 and Lowlife

They ought to have a show called "16 and Sterilized" instead.

Cruising With Betsy

Check out Betsy's latest roundup of interesting links.  The story about the recent cracking of a coded Civil War message is quite fascinating.

Norman Rockwell Exhibit

Here's a nice video about the Norman Rockwell exhibit in England.

Our Anything-Goes Society

I've read about this creature before, but her Christmas gorge-a-thon takes the cake: "She makes a living from being fat, getting paid to make public appearances and keeping a website where people can pay to watch her eat."  Who's more shameless, this woman, or the people who actually visit her website?

Good Reading on a Snowy Afternoon

Doug Ross @ Journal announces the winners of the 2010 Fabulous 50 Blog Awards.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOCHMAS!

From Mental Floss, a list of 8 famous Christmas babies. Unfortunately, they forgot #9: my grandfather Louis Hoch, born December 25, 1900.

A Tree Grows In New York

Make sure you see the video clip about the "Survivor Tree": "A modest-looking tree that survived the collapse of the twin towers during the 9/11 attacks was replanted at the Sept. 11 Memorial plaza Wednesday."

The Slaughter of the Jews

Last night I watched Hitler's Hidden Holocaust on the National Geographic Channel, and I wanted nothing more than to jump through the TV screen and kill the Nazis myself. It was more than you could bear to see home movies and souvenir photographs taken by conscienceless murderers that show children and even a family's pet dog among the bystanders who viewed these mass shootings of Jews (which were known more benignly as "actions".)  This program, which airs again on December 30 at 4 pm, should be required viewing for Holocaust-deniers.

Jews & Chinese Food

Jews and Chinese Food from Jewish Forward on Vimeo.

Free Internet & Self-Esteem

Here we go again, that "the Internet is a basic right" argument, as also seen here back in January.  I swear this sounds like a joke:

“'Broadband is becoming a basic necessity,' civil rights activist [and former Executive Director of the NAACP] Benjamin Hooks added. And earlier this month, fellow FCC panelist Mignon Clyburn, daughter of Congressional Black Caucus leader and Number Three House Democrat James Clyburn of South Carolina, declared that free (read: taxpayer-subsidized) access to the Internet is not only a civil right for every 'nappy-headed child' in America, but is essential to their self-esteem. Every minority child, she said, 'deserves to be not only connected, but to be proud of who he or she is.'

Please, spare me!

Bush Derangement Syndrome: A New Low

Even for CBS News -- which, as we all know, has faked documents before -- this is really disgraceful:

"Whether or not it was intentional, CBS News made a poor 'desision' on Sunday when it broadcast a fake cover of former President George W. Bush’s new memoir, 'Decision Points,' during a book special. CBS aired a grammatically incorrect book cover that read, 'Desision Points: How I managed to go on eight years without making one good decision.'

"Whether or not it was intentional"?  Oh, it was intentional, all right!

Christmas Greetings from the Religion of Peace

Merry Christmas!: "'Christmas is evil': Muslim group launches poster campaign against festive period".  One of this Telegraph article's commenters writes,  "If you put up a poster pointing out the evils of Islam (which are legion) you'd be arrested for inciting religious hatred, breech of the peace , hate speech or what ever else pops into their 'one rule for you' and no rules for them mindset."

I Hope He's Right!

From the UK Telegraph: "Barack Obama is firmly on course to become a one-term president."

Anti-Antisemitism

Here's a great ad used in response to antisemitic ads in Seattle. Isn't it a shame we even have to do this in our own country?

"Unbroken": An Amazing Story

After reading the wonderful "Seabiscuit" three times, I knew I would read Laura Hillenbrand's next book. That book is "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption", and it's so well-written I don't want it to end.  For those who still think America was evil for dropping the bombs on Japan, this book will make them see it was not only necessary, but a shame we didn't do it sooner. The Japanese were sadistic barbarians, and the fact that anyone like Louie Zamperini survived the torture and inhumanity of captivity in the POW camps is a tribute to their incredible courage and sacrifice. I highly recommend this book.

Politically Correct Insanity

If you want to do a double-take, check out this headline: "Muslim Student Files Complaint Against Teacher … for Talking About Ham."  What next, "Muslim Files Complaint Against Congress for Discussions on Pork"?

Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds Vol. 7, No. 13 is underway at ChronicBabe.

"You'll Shoot Your Eye Out"

Here's a lovely story about one of my favorite movies, "A Christmas Story", and about its creator, Jean Shepherd.

Jewish Museum

Visit the website of the National Museum of American Jewish History, as seen in this article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Argus Hamilton Quips

You'll enjoy Argus Hamilton's take on the news, including this item: "GOP senators forced an oral reading of Harry Reid's spending bill on Friday which was two thousand pages long. It took two days to print. The Democrats brought in Mike Tyson at the last minute to make sure the bill set the record for most number of earmarks."

Haveil Havalim Time!

Haveil Havalim 296: The Cold of Tevet Edition is now up at Letters of Thought. Mottel is a "Rabbi by education, Journalist by profession, Blogger by choice." (Per Jack)

Santa Was Jewish!

Here's an amusing reminiscence by Daniel Berman at the Forward.  (I knew this would be a good one, because I had a great-uncle with the same name.)

Difference Between Hanukah and Christmas

"100 Years Ago in the Forward":  "There’s nothing sadder than a Jewish kid at Christmas. It’s even more difficult in America, where the barriers between Jews and others are not as big. But there is a cure for what ails the Jewish child. It’s Hanukkah! Does this holiday not fall around the same time as Christmas? And is this holiday not better than Christmas? When you get slapped, you turn the other cheek — that’s Christmas. If you’re willing to fight for it, you can win your freedom — that’s Hanukkah."

Antisemites of the Year

I've seen many year-ending top ten lists before, but this list of  the Top 10 Anti-Semitic Slurs is one I would rather not ever see again. It proves how much more brazen people have become in their hatred toward Jews. And you won't be surprised to find that Helen Thomas is #1 on this list.

The Lark Ascending

Exquisite.

Parental Irresponsibility

FINALLY,  people are putting the blame not on McDonald's, but on the parents, where it belongs.  As this editorial puts it, "be a parent":  "If Monet Parham, the mother of two who filed the lawsuit, is genuinely concerned about her children's health, then it's about time she take some responsibility upon herself and eliminate McDonald's food from her children's diet. Oh, but the children might whine, cry, stomp their feet and throw a hissy fit! Then what's a parent to do but succumb to the whining and take the children to McDonald's to get a nutritionally challenged Happy Meal, complete with toy. It's apparently futile for parents to resist the marketing force that is McDonald's."

Best Conservative Bloggers

Right Wing News has selected the 25 Best Conservative Columnists Of 2010 (Version 4.0).

Most Ridiculous Lawsuits

Make sure you vote for November's most ridiculous lawsuit. (You'll be happy to know that the Case of the Exploding Snails was thrown out of court, so at least there's one decent judge out there.)

Misplaced Sympathy

Looks like it's time to use the old sympathy ploy: "Bradley Manning's health deteriorating in jail, supporters say".  I was immediately reminded of this recent news: "Lockerbie bomber's recent health deterioration 'unfounded rumours'"  (Via The Scotsman)

Foolishly Fluish

What is so terrible about having to get a flu shot? If I were in a hospital or a nursing home, I certainly wouldn't want to get the flu from the people supposedly taking care of me. That's a betrayal.

Going to the Dogs

Why on earth would Michael Vick suddenly state that he wants a dog, thus sabotaging all the good will and accolades he's otherwise received this football season?

How Annoying!

"According to The Marist Poll, 'whatever' remains the most annoying word or phrase in conversation today."  For me, "cool" and "awesome" are still the most annoying words, and I now have to add the workplace expression "going forward" to the list.

Richard Holbrooke

I had absolutely no idea that Richard Holbrooke was Jewish until I read this story today: "Holbrooke, a Son of Jewish Refugees, Was a Champion for Holocaust Survivors."

Mona Mystery

Isn't it amazing that they can still find new revelations about the Mona Lisa after 500 years?

Grand Rounds

I prescribe a good dose of Grand Rounds, brought to you by Dr. John M.

Chinese Food on Christmas

Here's another enjoyable article about the relationship between Jews and Chinese food.

Gall of the Day

Adding insult to injury: "The family of the Stockholm suicide bomber last night blamed Britain for his transformation from an 'ordinary teenager' to an al-Qaeda fanatic."

"Unacceptable"

I checked "The Local", a Swedish newspaper in English, to see how they're covering the Stockholm terrorist attack. Apparently,  Sweden suffers from political correctness, too, because I didn't see the word "Muslim" mentioned on the page.  Terrorists there must be quaking from fear after hearing the Prime Minister's strong denunciation: "Stockholm terror blast 'unacceptable': Reinfeldt".

"O Sole Mio" - as You've Rarely Seen It

.
(As seen at Instapundit)

Bubbamania!

There are some great analysis on the Internet regarding yesterday's Bill Clinton deja vu.  For instance, read the comments that follow this Bryan Preston article. It's just mindboggling, not just the sight of Clinton reprising his role as President, but also Obama's rudeness in leaving while he was speaking. But then again, didn't he do something similar to Netanyahu?

Terror in the News

Michelle Malkin writes: "Americans show more emotion over Dancing with the Stars than they do over troops’ deaths."  Speaking of terrorism, did you hear about that 100,000 planes are missing?

Co-Presidents

When I saw Bill Clinton's press conference today, all I could think was, "co-presidents".  Obama must be more desperate than we thought.  Maybe he thought Clinton could miraculously fix the economy for him, since blaming Bush no longer works.

Curses!

My first thought when I heard this story was "It must've been Joe Biden!" - Which Democrat Said: 'F**k the President?' (And yet President Bush is still called "polarizing"??)

Rally Against the Ground Zero Mosque

Read Atlas Shrugs to see some ideas about posters for the December 14 protest against the Ground Zero mosque.

Drs. Sowell and Williams

Here are two men I admire: Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams.

It's a Book!

This is "something wonderful" indeed at American Digest.  In this world of overstimulation from electronic gadgets, it's a pleasure to still find people who love a good, plain, old-fashioned book! Who needs a Kindle when you have a book with pages to turn!

You're Going To Need a Bigger Boatload of Nonsense

I read about this insane theory yesterday, but the accompanying poster at Atlas Shrugs makes it even more laughable.

Why We Love America

William J. Bennett  and John T. E. Cribb list Twelve Great Reasons to Love a Great Country .

Infamy: December 7, 1941

Sixty-nine years ago today.

Lessons of Pearl Harbor

David M. Shribman has an interesting column on the subject of Pearl Harbor:

"Never again will we present so easy a target to potential adversaries. But now we need to revise our perspective, and consider that for all of the great change we are experiencing now, the greatest change in our history may have begun when 354 Japanese planes arced toward Hawaii, destroying 188 American aircraft and sinking or damaging 18 American warships in a great American tragedy and military defeat. 'Pearl Harbor continues to haunt its survivors, as well as their descendants,' Thurston Clarke wrote in the evocative volume 'Pearl Harbor Ghosts.' But as we consider what happened here, let us remember, too, how almost every ship — though not the USS Utah, USS Arizona or USS Oklahoma — was put back into service, and that America recovered, and then some.Remember Pearl Harbor, but remember its other lessons, as well."

Obama Cartoon

I spotted this Ramirez cartoon at Lucianne.com today.  It's a shame Obama doesn't go after the WikiLeaker and terrorists with the same zeal with which he goes after the rich and the successful in our country.

Cutting Off Her Nose to Spite Her Face

Again, you have to wonder what is possessing Helen Thomas to continue with her rabid antisemitic attacks at her age, when she could have been remembered instead for opening doors to other female journalists.

Blackmail

There's another word for trading tax cuts for further unemployment benefits: blackmail.  I am sick and tired of the Democrats constantly trying to make the Republicans look heartless and evil.  They in turn should not cave in and should emphasize the importance of sacrifice and making do during tough times. And parents: instead of expecting others to donate a Wii or iPod to your child for Christmas, go buy them coloring books and crayons -- it doesn't cost a million dollars.

Entitlements and Demand

They "demand" a bigger house? If I lived in England, I'd demand that my taxes stop going to support leeches like this! Make sure you see the reader comments that follow the story.

Norman Rockwell

I've always loved Norman Rockwell's paintings and don't consider them at all "kitschy", as this article claims. (Perhaps this is more to the Telegraph's liking.)

Jewish at Christmastime

Greg Crosby's latest column is a good read, as always. Compared to years ago, when Christmas was all about the birth of Christ, these days I personally find Christmas to be extremely obnoxious, exhausting, and greedy, and I'm always glad when it's over.

From Cradle to Grave

If you hate the entitlement mentality as much as I do, you simply must read this column by Jerry Della Femina. You can get the general idea from the title alone: "What The Hell Is Wrong With Us?"

Hanukah in Santa Monica

I've never heard this in an a cappella version until now!

Before and After

I can't stand Obama, so I really enjoyed this!

Very Tired

Neal Boortz read this article on the air the other night. Among other things, the writer says, and I agree, that:

"I'm tired of being told that I have to spread the wealth' to people who don't have my work ethic.  I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it...I'm real tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions.  I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems."

I'm also tired of people assuming that welfare and unemployment benefits should be endless. Aren't they both supposed to be temporary measures?  Here's a good post by Michelle Malkin on the subject of jobless benefits. How about a little more gumption and self-reliance for a change?

The Right Way

Jennifer Rubin has left Commentary magazine and is now writing a conservative column at the Washington Post. Take a look.

HAPPY HANUKAH!

Here's a replay of Orrin Hatch's Hanukah song from last year. Enjoy!

Crime and Punishment

Anyone who hurts or kills children and the elderly should get the harshest punishment possible. Here are two cases: This story is not only inexcusable for its crime, but also remarkable for the fact that the victim is still working at the age of 100! Her presence at the evil Wal-Mart should put to shame all young, able-bodied people who are not working!   In this particular case, I'm all for an eye for an eye: this so-called "grandmother" should be thrown off a 5th floor walkway. There are too many instances these days of "parents" and other relatives murdering children, and they deserve no mercy.

Grand Rounds

Grab your charts and join Grand Rounds Vol. 7 No. 10, now underway at Colorado Health Insurance Insider.

For God's Sake!

Will someone please tell today's spoiled, self-absorbed athletes that it's only a game?  It's not as if they are striving to eradicate disease, and yet sports seems more important. (This goes for the fans, too, especially the ones who loot and riot even if their team wins!)  I guess the old saying that "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game" has become extinct in today's society.

Oh Brother!

And speaking of the media, just read about this Obamamania, via thetaxprof:

"Want to know what a sycophantic, suck-up, state-run media looks like? Look no further than the taxpayer funded NPR which tries its best to spin hay into gold for our community organizer-in-chief. From Weasel Zippers via memeorandum: NPR: Obama's Fat Lip Gives Him “Street Cred,” Scar Will Help Him Stare Down Ahmadinejad and Kim Jong Il. My first reaction was something like 'you've got to be kidding me.'"

I bet more people cared about Obama's lip than they did about the release of classified documents.

Traitors

Read Max Boot's excellent analysis of the latest WikiLeaks publication:

"There was a time when editors and reporters thought of themselves as citizens first and journalists second. There were damaging leaks even during World War II, but when they occurred they were generally denounced by the rest of the press. We now seem to have reached a moment when the West’s major news organizations, working hand in glove with a sleazy website, feel free to throw spitballs at those who make policy and those who execute it. This is journalism as pure vandalism. If I were responsible, I would feel shame and embarrassment. But apparently, those healthy emotions are in short supply these days."

Unfortunately, he is absolutely right.

"Father" of the Year

I'm surprised this lowlife isn't starring in his own reality TV show yet! Why should taxpayers have to support all of these irresponsible people?

"The Arab-Israel Conflict in a Nutshell", by Dennis Prager

Pass this on: Dennis Prager's "The Arab-Israel Conflict in a Nutshell". "This preoccupation with a little democratic humane state is absolutely irrational...One side wants the other dead, and if they didn't, there would be peace....Why can't a little state the size of El Salvador that calls itself Israel be allowed to exist?"

WikiLouse

Why is our government powerless to stop this guy?

Haveil Havalim Time

Per Jack, Haveil Havalim #293 - The it was just Thanksgiving and now it's almost Hanukkah Edition is now available at Homeshuling, a Jewish parenting blog by Amy Meltzer.

Musn't Call Him a M-----

Let's not jump to conclusions -- I'm sure
he's just another hapless youth.

Wild Animals

I'm talking about the two-legged variety, not the four-legged ones. Just look at this video, which I saw at theblogprof. This is one "tradition" they ought to do away with, and the "crazed shoppers" ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Black Friday Thuggery

Don't you just love these stories about the Christmas spirit?  And we still have a whole month of it to endure.

I Could Kvell!

Here's an enjoyable article about a Yiddish camp in the Catskills: "Words tossed about during the week included not just those like kvetch and kibitz, which have entered American idiom, but also fresher candidates like shreklekh (terrible or frightening), naches (prideful joy), farblondget (mixed up) and luftmensch (an impractical person with no apparent income)."

Triumphant Reunion

Stories like this are always so touching: "A Holocaust survivor was reunited in Queens Tuesday with the man who helped rescue her 65 years ago."

Commercial Success

What a great commercial, and a catchy tune, too! My favorite part of this is in the doctor's waiting room.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I'm thankful that I live in America, the greatest country in the world.  And the late gentleman in this article definitely knew what Thanksgiving meant: “If anyone would like to know more of what Thanksgiving really means," he said, "ask a Holocaust survivor."

We're On The Money!

Isn't this fascinating? I had never heard of this before until I read about it just now in the May/June 2010 Saturday Evening Post: "G.I. Bills. Most coin and currency enthusiasts build collections based on rarity and value, but some prize the history behind the hard cash, as in the case of a “short snorter.” During World War II and the Korean War, short snorters were typically $1 bills that servicemen carried as good luck charms. When soldiers gathered, they sought out other short snorters and signed each other’s bills, often including dates and locations. High-ranking officers and even celebrities signed them, too. For more about these unique pieces of history, visit the Web site shortsnorter.org."

Remembering the Victims

This is quite an achievement: "Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial announced Monday it was close to identifying the names of some two-thirds of the six million Jews killed by the Nazis and their collaborators during World War II."

O-Bummer

This perfect Dry Bones cartoon describes all that the mainstream media would never admit about Obama.

Movie Madness

There's nothing quite like a Rex Reed review of a bad movie. Check out  what he says about "Burlesque": "Trash comes in all forms, but rarely in a sequined G-string. That's all there is to a brain-dead, cliché-riddled pastiche of old Betty Grable movies called Burlesque. This one is strictly for Cher fans who like their campy shtick loud, lewd and ludicrous. But the biggest problem among many is that it's not her movie. She's hardly in it. Instead of an excuse to breathe oxygen into the twilight of Cher's career, it turns out to be a slutty pasteup constructed out of spit and chewing gum to showcase the movie debut of the caterwauling Christina Aguilera. They should have all stayed in bed. This movie is so bad that it makes you realize how much you miss Showgirls....At the press screening I attended, the audience was laughing so hard I had trouble hearing the actors."

Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds Vol. 7, No. 9 - the Thanksgiving Edition is up at the Facebook page of Amanda Brown, DVM.

Entitlements Gone Wild

Not only do I detest the entitlement mentality, I get infuriated by the brazen shamelessness of the people receiving those entitlements: "Pregnant again, the mother with five children in care who vows to keep having babies until she gets a council house... Last night a spokesman for the TaxPayers' Alliance said the case 'shows why our welfare system needs so desperately to be reformed'. He added: 'This woman has little incentive to go and find work, to get on in life, or to pay for her own housing, because the state is providing all of this for her. The real losers in this sorry tale are the children...but it is unfair for taxpayers to be asked to support people who have large numbers of children, and no intention of providing for them.'"

Mosque Moxie

How is THIS for sheer gall?  "Developers of a planned mosque at New York’s Ground Zero have applied for a $5million grant from a fund set up to rebuild the city after 9/11." Let's hope their application is denied.

A Tragic Anniversary

I didn't hear one person mention today that it's the anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy. To me, November 22 means only one thing, the way September 11 and December 7 mean only one thing.  This article asks people where they were when they heard the terrible news. I was 8 years old and just remember being sent home from school, and watching the coverage on TV.

The Name Game

I liked this Wall Street Journal article about the names of characters in novels.  I just finished the story "1922" in Stephen King's book "Full Dark, No Stars", and it included a character named Rhoda Penmark.  I understood the reference immediately and wondered how many other readers knew that it was the name of the title character in the film "The Bad Seed"!

Political Correctness: It Just Kills Me

The NY Post's Phil Mushnick asks a question many of us have asked:  "What do you think the reaction is to these satellite-delivered American TV racial profiling debates as heard by Islamic terrorists, operating anywhere from Tehran to Toronto? They must laugh their heads off, wonder if we’re all nuts. Surely, they ask: 'How, at this point in history, can there be any such debate among our sworn enemies? How much more mayhem can we inflict on them before they realize that we’ve declared war?'" The answer is simple: our old nemesis, political correctness. When will it end?

Firehouse Memorial

Some of the beams from the World Trade Center have ended up in a perfect location.

Haveil Havalim Time

Soccer Dad's legacy continues, with Haveil Havalim #292, hosted by To Kiss A Mezuzah.

Having a Bad Reaction

theblogprof wonders, "If Bill Nye The Science Guy Falls And Nobody's There To See It, Does He Make A Sound?" :  "Or, as writer Brett Michael Dykes put it: 'If the Science Guy passes out and nobody tweets it, did it happen?' Turns out that Bill Nye passed out right on stage at an event, and no one came to help. Not one person. Instead, the crowd was busy tweeting that he collapsed."  This sort of thing has happened before, including this case, and it's always disturbing to see the reaction.

"Quote" "Unquote"

As a stickler for good writing and grammar, I find that things like this drive me crazy!  It was on the Last "Laugh" page of my November Reader's Digest. You can find more examples here, at The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks, so obviously I'm not alone!

G.B.F.

Read Victory Davis Hanson's anaylsis of The George W. Bush Fixation. It's like Bush Derangement Syndrome, but this one lasts even longer. "Barack Obama remains fixated by George W. Bush. For nearly two years, President Obama and his team have prefaced their explanations for the tough economy, tough finances and tough situation abroad with a 'Bush did it' chorus. Apparently, they believed that most of our problems, here and abroad, either started with George W. Bush, or at least would not transcend him....So here is a polite suggestion for President Obama: After nearly two years of governance, free up your own policies to either succeed or fail on their own merits without chaining them to the Bush past. In a word: Let go of a now-smiling and relatively rehabilitated Bush -- before such a fixation consumes you and your presidency."

Best Blogs of 2010

First Thoughts has a list of the best blogs of 2010.  Discover some new blogs, and appreciate the ones you already visit.

Sholom Aleichem

I read "Up the Down Staircase" many times as a kid and loved it, but I had no idea that Bel Kaufman's grandfather was Sholom Aleichem until I read this article at The Forward.

The Retirement of Soccer Dad

I got the news today that Soccer Dad -- aka David Gerstman -- has retired from blogging.  Soccer Dad was one of my longtime favorite blogs, and I learned so much.  Among other things, he created the popular Haveil Havalim carnival of Jewish blogs.  Good luck, David -- we'll all miss you!

Israeli vs. US Airports

Yid With Lid sums up the difference between Israeli and American security: "Many of the issues in front of our

policymakers have previously been faced by Israel, a country that has been under the threat terrorist attack since its inception in 1948. And we keep hearing why can't we run our airport security the same way they do in Israel? The real answer to that question is here in the US personal dignity and security take a back seat to political correctness.

Voting for Selfishness

This is what our selfish, reality-TV culture has wrought: "A married couple has sparked fury by setting up a website to let the public vote on whether or not they should have an abortion." I've got a better idea -- let's vote to sterilize them!

Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds - Doctor Who edition is up at Emergiblog.

Hog Wild

Remember this , from 2007? Well, here we go yet again! From today's Nealz Nuze: "A toy shop has been branded 'ridiculous' by mothers after it removed a pig from a children's farm set - in case it offended Muslim and Jewish parents."  Read the swinish details here.

No Palestinian State!

Make sure you read this column by Irwin Graulich:

"For 2000 years, the Jewish people were persecuted, murdered, forced to convert, crucified, shot, buried alive, tortured and most recently gassed and burned. We became accustomed to suffering and dying–to being defeated. Today, because of Israel, we are winners–big winners on the world stage. And people hate winners, especially strong winners. The UN, the EU, much of the world including Obama, Hillary, George Mitchell, J Street, Peace Now and of course the Israeli and American Left have great sympathy for losers–even evil losers. And losers who have excellent pr are especially loved by these groups. For the sake of the Jewish people, it is better to have an Israel that is hated by most of the world, than an Auschwitz that is loved with gorgeous obituaries. Read My Lips–No Palestinian State!"

No Comparison

Monica Crowley explains the difference between Presidents Bush and Obama. Among other things:

"Bush believes in America’s greatness, and not only did he never apologize for it, but he did what he thought best to enhance it.
Obama doesn’t believe in America’s greatness; in fact, he believes the opposite: that we’ve been a force for ill in the world, for which he should profusely apologize and attempt to make 'amends.'"

Jewish Blogging

Soccer Dad encourages you to read these Jewish blogs .

Argus Hamilton Quips

Click here for Argus Hamilton's take on the news, including this item: "Senator Harry Reid made plans Thursday to try to pass an illegal alien amnesty bill during the lame duck session. He owes them his job. Just for Harry Reid to get re-elected last week, his name had to be printed on the Nevada state ballot as Anglo Salvador."  And speaking of illegal aliens,  PoliPundit has an amusing solution to the airport body scan problem.

Long May It Wave!

Good!  I was hoping this would be the response to the story of the boy forbidden fly an American flag on his bike.  It's very encouraging when the silent majority speaks up.

That'll Teach 'Em!

I'm sure the terrorists are even more scared of us now,
after this!

Outrageous Chutzpah

What kind of garbage is this?: "A driver who's serving a manslaughter sentence for striking and killing a 14-year-old boy is suing the victim's parents, blaming them for their son's death because they allowed him to ride his bike in the street without a helmet." All I could think of was the line from "All About Eve": "This beats all world's records for running, standing or jumping gall!"

Vindication Victory

Per Power Line, it's nice to see that President Bush has been vindicated yet again. (The Bush-bashing never ends.  Look at this.)

Haveil Havalim Time

Haveil Havalim #291 - The Tribute to Stephen Harper Editionis up at The Rebbetzin's Husband.  (Stephen Harper happens to be the Prime Minister of Canada, and he is pro-Israel.)

Remembering Leon Klinghoffer

I remember  this heartless murder as if it were yesterday. This shows how long we've been excusing brutal terrorist acts.

PC Lunacy of the Day

These ignoramuses obviously have too much time on their hands, and nothing more important to think about: "Council bureaucrats have stripped gingerbread men of their gender and renamed them gingerbread ‘persons’ on menus for 400 primary schools." Make sure you vote in the poll, the results of which are, thankfully, very politically incorrect.

The Meaning of Patriotism

Cindy Adams is proud to be an American, as we all should be.

Winston Churchill

This is a nice article about Winston Churchill. I wonder what he'd make of Britain's and America's spinelessness in the face of terrorism.

Politically Incorrect American Pride

Please explain to me why middle school students would protest the American flag.  And why would school officials kowtow to them instead of ignoring them? What has happened to this country?

Book News

I can't wait to get Laura Hillenbrand's new book; she's a wonderful writer. With my luck, the library will have this one, the Frank Sinatra biography, and Stephen King's latest book of short stories all at the same time.

Happy Veterans Day

Instapundit links to this heartfelt Veterans Day tribute. Check out this photo gallery to see some of the ways the day was commemorated.

The Result of Bending Over Backwards

Take a look at these charming news stories. And here's a must-read from Pamela Geller about the continual concessions to Muslims at our own peril, despite September 11:

"While we are constantly being schooled in how insensitive we are to Muslims and how we should be bowing to the idea of a Ground Zero mega-mosque, or are being admonished for not embracing the Sharia, the state of wartime siege continues unabated. The Muslim world is under no such mandate to reach out or reciprocate. They only have to demand, and the West apologizes. The war that no one will talk about for fear of reprisals blazes on. And when the brave actually do talk about it, they are relegated to the pile of racist-islamophobic-antimuslim-bigots. This schema defies reason."

  Do you sense a pattern here?

Honoring The Heroes

Metafilter has a touching post about honoring our war dead. What a contrast these dedicated women make to those lowlives from Westboro Baptist Church!

How About a Senior Tea Party?

Compare and contrast. Here's how our money is redistributed:  waste more money to help Mass. low-income people stop smoking; but reduce Social Security cost-of-living increases. There is something extremely wrong with the priorities in this country. Why work and pay taxes at all?

Politically Correct Yearbooks

I enjoyed these comments from NY Times readers (!) on the subject of making yearbooks "more inclusive".  Where will this self-esteem garbage end?  What next, giving raises to all workers so that the shirkers don't get their feelings hurt? Giving the Cy Young Award to a winless pitcher?

Apologizing for Greatness

I nearly threw up reading about  how our State Department groveled at the United Nations. You can't make this stuff up!  Between the thought of the U.S. having to answer "human rights" allegations from the likes of Iran, North Korea,  & Libya;  and hearing Obama as he continues to denigrate our country,  it's just too much.

Today I Am a 91 Year-Old Man

Here's a wonderful story: "A 91-year-old Dutch Jew who fought the Nazis in World War II has marked his bar mitzvah, the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony - decades after the traditional date."

The Punishment Fits the Crime

Leave it to the New York Post to cut to the chase on its home page today:  "Connecticut Fiend Gets Death".  I'm relieved the jury did the right thing at last.

What a Trip!

Instapundit and the UK Daily Mail discuss the Obamas' extravagant travels.  Says Insty, "If he were a Republican, we’d be hearing about the “'Imperial Presidency' in the American press. Instead, such criticism is left to the British." I said the same thing yesterday when remarking on the lack of media coverage; can you just imagine if this were George W. Bush? This is why I read the British press.

Everyday Life

This is a very good look at what daily life in Israel is like.

Work Shyness

"Work-shy"?  That's a new name for it!  They ought to try this radical concept in our country next, especially with all young, able-bodied males.

Watcher's Council Winners

The latest Watcher's Council winners are listed over at Soccer Dad.

Execute Him

Why is it taking so long to reach a decision in this case? 91% of respondents, including myself, think Steven Hayes deserves to be executed for what he did.  I was also outraged to learn that one of the jurors actually sent a note to the bailiff - asking for a date! So you have to wonder what kind of people these jurors are.

Haveil Havalim Time

HH #290 — Falling Back Edition is up at Frume Sarah's World.

The Lampshade

We grew up hearing these stories, which Holocaust-deniers have always dismissed.  That you could buy and sell such an item at what amounts to a flea market makes the total disregard for human life even more degrading.

An Amazing Woman

This Holocaust survivor considers herself one of the luckiest people alive.

Utter Shamelessless on Display

At Soccer Dad, news that the usyal suspects are blaming Israel for the Democrats' defeat on Election Day.

In Connecticut, the jury is actually having trouble deciding if the brutal murderer of the Petit family should be executed -- according to the sadistic killer's lawyer, "This is a human being. You may not like him..but he is not a rabid dog."  This is an insult to dogs and to human beings.

If it weren't for the bloggers, would you even know that today is the first anniversary of the Ft Hood massacre?

Just a Lot of Bull(horn)

While the Messiah is off to India to be worshipped and adored, Bush Derangement Syndrome continues here at home.  Perhaps SMU would prefer a mosque rather than a bullhorn on its grounds.

"Hyper-Communication"

Andrea Peyser described our out-of-control "age of hyper-communication": "Whether in the bedroom, the bathroom or even while on a date, folks today are never out of touch with someone potentially better. But despite all that communicating, people never connect." I've never seen anything like it; it looks like cell phones are now a part of people's hands -- they are either on the phone or text-messaging at all hours, even at work. What's incredibly obnoxious is when you're talking to someone face-to-face and they stop to take a call or respond to a text message. At the rate things are going, constant cell phone use will eventually be excused as the latest "disability".

Post-Election Analysis

"A prez in denial" is the name of a good editorial at the New York Post.  Obviously, it's all still Bush's fault. Over at Soccer Dad, you can read about how important the Republican victory was for Israel.

Ship Shape

I never get tired of reading about the Titanic.

The Lower East Side

At the library today, I grabbed "97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement".  From the introduction, "Though separated by time and national background, the Glockners, the Moores, the Gumpertzes, the Rogarshevskys, and the Baldizzis, were all players in the Age of Migration...97 Orchard chronicles what became of those immigrants, but from a special vantage point: it retells the immigrant story from the elemental perspective of the foods they ate."  Doesn't that sound interesting?

Proud to be a Republican

And proud of the Republicans, who conducted themselves splendidly while the Democrats self-destructed  without their help. (It would have been even nicer if Harry Reid, Barney Frank, and Jerry Brown had lost, but you can't have everything!) At least the embarassing Alan Grayson was defeated, and John Kasich won in Ohio. And in the e-newsletter today from the Media Research Center, I was delighted to read about Michelle Bachman's retort to Chris Matthews. The liberal media must be foaming at the mouth. There's a lot of great coverage all over the Internet, so have a happy read!

Happy Election Day!

Make sure you check out this video at Instapundit titled "Vote: It's Your To Speak Out". I just spoke out by voting. Paper ballots aren't quite so satisfying as using the levers and pulling the curtain open, but today's vote was more important than ever. The media will try to spin the results, but they can't hide the fact that this will be a decisive Republican victory -- and an emphatic vote against Obamacare.

Grand Rounds

I prescribe Grand Rounds Vol 7, No.6: The 2010 Politically (in)Correct Mid-Term Election Edition,  now underway at Dr. Wes.

What a Tweetheart

Doug Ross @ Journal asks, "What has this country become under Barack Obama? Sending birthday wishes to dictators in the hope they'll release their hostages?"

Haveil Havalim Time

Haveil Havalim #289 - the good name edition is up at Soccer Dad, who founded HH in the first place!

Sunday Links and Sad News

Via Jack, here are Six Links - Inspired by Haveil Havalim.  And condolences to the family of RivkA bat Yishaya, whose blog Coffee and Chemo I discovered only last week after reading Haveil Havalim #288.

Happy Halloween!

Here's a treat from Instapundit.

Watcher's Council Winners

For a list of the latest Watcher's Council winners, visit Soccer Dad.

"Wiped Out of Existence"

From Haaretz comes yet another example of love and tolerance from the religion of peace: "Islamic Jihad leader: Israel must be wiped out of existence. Organizers say up to 100,000 people attend largest Islamic Jihad rally in Gaza in several years; Hamas leader calls for unity against Israel." 

Also, I was amazed to see that the front page of today's local paper displayed no headlines on yesterday's terrorist plots; the story was relegated to page A3. 

Breeder of the Week

I'm sure you've already heard about this Florida creature who shook her infant to death because the baby's crying dared to distract her from her important game of Farmville.  Of course, it's much easier to blame computer games than to admit that a so-called "mother" could be so callous.  Just read some of the reader comments.

Cut the PC Crap!

After today, kindly spare me the lectures on our Islamophobia. Stop telling me I should be ashamed for opposing the Ground Zero mosque.  Enough with the insistence than Islam is the religion of peace. Goodbye to the kowtowing, apologizing, and excuse-making. Just. Shut. Up.

Pretty Sad

When I heard about the suspicious packages on cargo planes this morning, my first cynical thought was, "Is this the 'October Surprise'?"  But if Bush were still President, my first natural thought would have been, "Those filthy terrorists!"  See what Obama has accomplished?

The Times They Are a-Changin'

This proves the Dems are in big trouble: "Democrat Gets Booed for Blaming Bush-- In Massachusetts!" Who ever would have believed this sort of reaction a year ago? (Via Instapundit)

Israeli Tea Party

Oh, I like this!:  "Sunday’s rally in Tel Aviv is headlined 'Say no to Obama,' signaling the view held by many Israeli conservatives that the president is placing undue pressure on Netanyahu to make concessions in negotiations that are not in Israel’s national interest."

Yet Another Reason to Despise Obamacare

 Neal Boortz read this on the air today. Had enough yet?

*Sigh*

Read this piece at Soccer Dad, with the unsurprising headline,  "Wanting peace more than the palestinians".  Seems we've been reading the same news forever. People are deluding themselves if they still think the Palestinians truly want peace.

A Microcosm

This is a microcosm of America's entitlement mentality, by Bottom Liners at Jewish World Review,

Obamacare: Hazardous to Your Health

Well, isn't this special?  Here are some sickening details at Nealz Nuze:

"The headline of this story is 'Employers looking at health insurance options.' The lead paragraph reads as follows:

'The new health care law wasn't supposed to undercut employer plans that have provided most people in the US with coverage for decades.'

The hell it wasn't."

Employer benefits like health insurance are one of the main reasons many of us continue to go to work each day. If they take that away from us, we'll have to work even harder to pay for our own health care AND support the "moochers" who don't work!  Yet another reason to vote Republican on Election Day.

Grand Rounds

Grab your charts and hurry to join Grand Rounds-Volume 7 No.5: Lessons Learned, underway at Notes from Spice Island.

Definition of Islamophobia

I always like the Dry Bones comic strip,  including this very sensible one.

A Big Dummy

Alan Caruba describes Obama in a way I hadn't heard before.

Watcher's Council Winners

Check out Soccer Dad for a list of the latest Watcher's Council winners.

Haveil Havalim #288

Haveil Havalim #288 - Please Pray for RivkA is up at Isramom. You can read more about RivkA here. She is in the hospital and needs everyone's prayers.

Father of the Month

I believe in an eye for an eye, and this piece of garbage should be executed in the same way.  Note how this so-called "father" is saying it was an accident. How many 15 month-old babies take scalding hot baths by themselves at 2:30 in the morning?

Gubernatorial Freak Show

I greatly enjoyed this John Podhoretz "apology" to one of New York's sorry candidates for Governor.

Yiddish Parody

In this parody of "The Joys of Yiddish", the "Cheh! Cheh cheh! Cheh cheh cheh!" entry gave me the biggest laugh, because I can still remember Rosten's entry for "Oy!"

Most Politically Correct Muslim Story of the Month

Okay. I give up. Unfortunately,  this is NOT an April Fools joke.
From England:  "Cafe owner ordered to remove extractor fan because neighbour claimed 'smell of frying bacon offends Muslims'". By all means, keep on pandering!

Simon Says

The Internet was full of good writing about the firing of Juan Williams . What outrages me is that a man can be fired by phone after ten years -- and then have it implied he needs psychiatric help! All because of political correctness!  It's incredible McCarthyism, and I'm glad NPR is suffering a backlash.  Here's one of the posts I enjoyed last night, by Roger L. Simon: 

 

"Nevertheless, I would like to see Williams go ahead with legal action. It would be like putting political correctness on trial.  This would be a great service to our nation, which has lived under the totalitarian PC yoke for too long.  We cannot rely on South Park alone to oppose it. Indeed, the Williams firing would be perfect grist for an episode of South Park with an NPR exec forced to ride next to a Richard Reid-type on a plane, the exec still desperately trying to be politically correct while Reid loaded up his shoe bomb with myriad forms of explosives. ('Do you have athlete’s foot, sir?  Would you like some powder?')"

Don't Blame Us For September 11

Blackfive has a great post on the firing of Juan Williams. I feel exactly the same way when he writes the following:
"Please, DO NOT expect us all to act like nothing happened on 9/11 or to act like muslim theocratic governments don't actively support the killing of Americans.  The truth of the matter is that no one gets nervous about flying in the presence of an Irish Catholic man in a kilt...well, unless he's the pilot (heh).  That's because the catholic church and the Irish government don't collude to kill thousands of our citizens. It would be nice to not get nervous on an airplane just because someone appears to be muslim.  It would really be nice to live like it was 9/10. But we can't because there are an awful lot of muslims who want to kill us, and IT. IS. NOT. OUR. FAULT."

Generosity in New York

How's this for a wonderful gift?  "Mystery donor leaves $10,000 in gift box at 9/11 memorial site."

Nauseating Moral Equivalency

Phyllis Chesler and Clemens Heni refute the ridiculous notion that anti-Muslim feeling is the new antisemitism.  This comparison always makes me ill. Excuse me, but when was the last time that Jews flew passenger jets into buildings?  And how many Muslims are being exterminated in concentration camps?

Political Correctness Rages On

Instapundit has some excellent links on the firing of Juan Williams. He only said what most Americans feel, and I sure hope he isn't forced to apologize for speaking the truth.

Murderous Outrage

This piece of garbage should be beaten to death in prison, or his tongue should be cut out. Anyone who's against the death penalty for this despicable excuse for a human being should have his head examined.

Frivolous Lawsuit of the Month

Cast your vote for the most ridiculous lawsuit of the month -- so far.

Dead Man's Bluff

Do you like history? This is a book I just can't put down: "Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory".   I had already heard about the ruse involving the dead man, but I never knew the details until now.  Such remarkable people there were back then who helped to win the war!

San Francisco

Here's something wonderful from American Digest: film footage of 1905 San Francisco as it looked before the Great Earthquake.  I've seen some of this on TV documentaries about the SF earthquake and was always impressed with how quickly the people were able to rebuild and get on with their lives -- without welfare, food stamps, and today's entitlements.

Still More Plane Idiocy

Not again! Where are people's brains??  (Remember these incidents?)

National Review

I was skimming National Review at lunch; they often have excellent articles, and today was no exception. Daniel Pipes writes about Israel and the difference between Democrats and Republicans.  Dennis Prager is  proud to be a Republican -- and so am I.

Watcher's Council Winners

Visit Soccer Dad for a roundup of the latest Watcher's Council winners.  (There are more weasels than ever that need watching!)

Grand Rounds

Join the group for Grand Rounds, Volume 7, Number 4: Uplifting Moments in Medicine, hosted by A Medical Resident's Journey.

Old News

Betsy's Page discusses Obama bribing the elderly with $250 checks . I was enraged to hear about this over the weekend and was going to blog about it myself.  What senior citizens lack is an advocate, someone like the late Claude Pepper, to fight on their behalf.  I say give seniors their COLA increase, and cut welfare payments to young, able-bodied men instead.

Haveil Havalim Time

Want something interesting to read? Haveil Havalim #287 - the "There's a First Time for Everybody" Edition is up at Cosmic X in Jerusalem.  Also, if you'd like to host a future edition of Haveil Havalim, contact Jack at talktojacknow@sbcglobal.net.

The M-Word

Neal Boortz reported yesterday that "intelligence sources strongly believe that the Taliban has a Muslim operative in this country ready to carry out a terrorist attack.". Oh well!  No need to worry -- just continue to put on your politically-correct blinders and ignore the warnings.  

Americans for Israel

William Kristol identifies the real Israel lobby: "Now we know who constitutes the real Israel lobby: the American public. Especially the Republican-leaning part of it."

Grace Under Pressure

Here's a lovely description of the miners by Theodore Dalrymple at the Wall Street Journal: "That they behaved with great fortitude, courage, faith and dignity will hardly be denied by anyone; the efforts to save them were inspiring. There was no major violence between them (beyond a few reported early scuffles), and no cannibalism either. None of them attempted to save himself at the expense of  others, and their leader showed the quality of his leadership by being the last to leave the mine. For once, we humans could feel good about ourselves as a
species. Angels could hardly have done better. "

Right Angle

I greatly enjoyed Michelle Malkin's description of the Angle-Reid debate.  Mrs. Reid should be very, very afraid.

A Nasty View

Maybe Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg should have had this fellow as a guest on "The View" -- he's more up their alley: 

"An American citizen has written about his pride at leaving the U.S. and joining Al Qaeda in Yemen. In Inspire - an English-language magazine produced by Al Qaeda supporters on the Arabian Peninsula - Samir Khan mocks the U.S. intelligence agencies and pledges his support to the terrorist group. U.S. officials believe the 24-year-old from from North Carolina is the driving force behind the magazine, which includes articles on conducting attacks and features messages from terrorist leaders."

Fred Flintscohen

I had no idea that Alan Reed was Jewish !

Acting Nuts

I see that John Cusack has joined the ranks of such Republican-bashers as Sean Penn, Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte, and Rosanne Barr. I guess he needs the publicity. "Actor John Cusack went on a caustic Twitter rampage Sunday evening, attacking former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Fox News."

Piano Man

If you like P.D.Q.Bach, Tom Lehrer, and other clever people, you will love Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries"  -- in the style of a Tango! 

(via Metafilter)

Chamber of Horrors

Ben Stein was on with Glenn Beck tonight on Fox, and I laughed at the truthfulness of his statement that for Obama, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce is like being a member of Al Qaeda.  And Rich Lowry compares Obama's smear campaign to McCarthyism.

Grand Rounds

Participatory Medicine Grand Rounds is in session at ePatient.net.

There She Goes Again!

That old hag Helen Thomas is at it again! Wouldn't you think she'd know enough to keep her 90 year old mouth shut? But no:
"In response to a question from a journalist in May, Thomas said that the Jews should get 'the hell out of Palestine' and that Israeli Jews should go 'home' to places like 'Poland, Germany and America.'  In the Tuesday interview, Thomas said  that 'they' (presumably Jewish individuals) had twisted her statements. 'They distorted my remarks, which they obviously have to do for their own propaganda purposes, otherwise people might wonder why they continue to take Palestinian land,' said Thomas, a daughter of Lebanese immigrants who over the years did little to hide her pro-Arab views."

The Drapes of Roth

I never get tired of reading about Allan Sherman.

Argus Hamilton Quips

Enjoy Argus Hamilton's take on the news, including this item: "The Gallup Poll revealed Friday that George W. Bush has pulled into a tie with Barack Obama over who was the better president. Bush must be sad. Just two years ago he held the title of the worst president in history and only Mark McGwire's record was broken faster." Believe me, history will be kinder to Bush after realizing what Obama has done to destroy this country these past 2 years alone!

Remembering the U.S.S.Cole

Remembering the victims of the deadly terrorist attack on the U.S.S. Cole, ten years ago today.

Happy Evil Columbus Day!

Here's an article about Christopher Columbus, who we all admired when we were kids -- and still do.

On Hallowed Ground

I came across this great article at Lucianne.com.  It's all about what it takes to be a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington Cemetery.

Human Garbage

Every day you come across stories of people doing inexcusable things, but this one is one of the worst.  What kind of vile subhumans are these? I hope their lives become a living hell.

Haveil Havalim Time

Haveil Havalim #286: Return to "Normal" Blogging is ready and waiting at Ima on (and off) the Bima.  (Per Jack)

Watcher's Council

The latest Watcher's Council winners are listed at Soccer Dad.

Wanted: Dead, Not Alive!

How dare brutal murderers like this give ultimatums? And how do defense lawyers live with themselves?  I wouldn't mind injecting the needle or pulling the switch myself!

Time to Condemn Israel!

This headline shows the twisted thought process of the Muslims:  "IDF Kills Terrorist who Murdered 4; PA Condemns Israel."
All our kowtowing and concession-making will not change this.

Compare and Contrast

Barking Moonbat invites you to  find the moron and asks, "And we’re supposed to let Him run our healthcare?"

Political Correctness of the Day

Why should you feel you should apologize just because one person is "offended"? Also, doesn't the police chief have anything better to do?

Your Tax Dollars at Work

I mostly agree with Newt Gingrich here and think all Republicans should stress the difference between responsibility and irresponsibility as well as encourage hard work over not working. The Democrats should be called "the party of entitlements."  And speaking of getting something for nothing,  how do you like this?

There's No Fool Like An Old Fool

Especially when they're antisemites: In Germany, an "eldery" 82-year-old woman and a 91-year-old man were fined for Holocaust denial.

Making a Clean Breast of Things

This brazen statement sums up today's entitlement mentality: "'I don't care that it is at the taxpayers' cost,' she told Closer magazine. 'I am just proud of my looks and family - and it's my decision what the money is spent on.'" Unfortunately, lady, we taxpayers DO care that you are wasting our hard-earned money, and we resent it!

We're Jewish, We're Not Stupid!

It's very insulting to assume that all Jews automatically vote for other Jews. I've never voted that way in my life, and I think if anything, rather than mindlessly defending them, we tend to be more critical of Jews who happen to be criminals (like Madoff) or who happen to be just plain wrong.

Fat Chance!

I get so sick of these stories of people turning bad behavior into a "disability". The comments at Overlawyered are very entertaining.

Watcher's Council

Soccer Dad lists the most recent Watcher's Council winners.

Grand Rounds

Make an appointment to visit Grand Rounds: 22 Health and Medicine Questions and Answers at SharpBrains.

Islamic Thughuggery

The kowtowing and pandering continue. I guess you could call this a case of Islamic thughuggery.

Thughuggery on Display

Nealz Nuze links to this article about "thug huggers". That's a perfect phrase to describe bleeding heart liberals who have more compassion for vicious killers than for their victims. I have nothing but disgust for that mentality.
(By the way, if anyone ever deserved to be executed, it's these animals!)

Nostalgia

Here's a great nostalgic post from Metafilter. I hadn't thought about the paint-with-water books in years; and I still remember buying the paperback "Karen",  by Marie Killilea, from the Scholastic Book Club, for something like 50 cents.

Survivors

Take a look at this photo essay about "the last shtetl Jews of Belarus."  What these people have endured!

Ho-Hum

Finally! I was wondering why they were taking so long, but maybe it's because it's not terrorism, just another boring, potential man-caused disaster. (Notice that neither the words "Islamic" nor "Muslim" is mentioned in this NYT article.)

Haveil Havalim Time

Haveil Havalim #285 — Back to the Beginning is up and beautifully illustrated at Frume Sarah's World.  (As per Jack.)

Advances in Obamacare!

Isn't this wonderful?

Offended Offices

Just look at the state of political correctness in Britain:
"One critic suggested employers could have to outlaw office banter to prevent offending anyone."

"Mother" of the Week

Yet another one of these terrible, and increasingly more common, stories. What a horrible thing to do to a child! Whatever the punishment is, it won't be enough.

Free Overpayments

I heard about this story last night. Some people received extra money by mistake. Why shouldn't they have to pay it back? This is the entitlement mentality gone wild. If I were entitled a tax refund of $500, and I was mistakenly sent $5,000, you can be sure I'd have to pay the extra $4,500 back!

Hooray for Sullywood!

I don't know why we need a movie version when we saw the real thing, but anything involving Captain Sullenberger is okay by me!

The Lucky Classmates of Anne Frank

Take a look at some of Anne Frank's classmates.

Politically Incorrect Terrorism

Why hasn't the the news of this thwarted terror attack made more headlines here?

Crusing the Web With Betsy

I always enjoy this regular series at Betsy's Page.

Random Thoughts From Thomas Sowell

Here are some random thoughts by Dr. Thomas Sowell, including these: 

• "I know people who are blind or retarded who nevertheless have jobs. So you can imagine how much sympathy I have for able-bodied men who are begging on the streets."

•  "Franklin D. Roosevelt called December 7, 1941-- when Pearl Harbor was bombed-- "a date that will live in infamy." What should also live in infamy is the time when too many Americans forgot about Pearl Harbor and started wringing their hands with guilt about Hiroshima."

Anti-Israel Sentiment: Nothing Ever Changes

This 40 year old column was sent to me by my aunt. As you can see, nothing has changed in all these years. 

=====================================

You probably don't remember the name Eric Hoffer. He was a longshoreman who turned into a philosopher, wrote columns for newspapers and some books. He was a non-Jewish American social philosopher.He was born in 1902 and died in 1983, after writing nine books and winning the Presidential Medal of Freedom.His first book, The True Believer, published in 1951, was widely recognized as a classic. 

ISRAEL'S PECULIAR POSITION...by Eric Hoffer

Los Angeles Times, May 26,1968.

The Jews are a peculiar people: things permitted to other nations are forbidden to the Jews.

Other nations drive out thousands, even millions of people and there is no refugee problem. Russia did it, Poland and Czechoslovakia did it.

Turkey threw out a million Greeks and Algeria a million Frenchman.

Indonesia threw out heaven knows how many Chinese and no one says a word about refugees.

But in the case of Israel , the displaced Arabs have become eternal refugees.

Everyone insists that Israel must take back every single one.

Arnold Toynbee calls the displacement of the Arabs an atrocity greater than any committed by the Nazis.

Other nations when victorious on the battlefield dictate peace terms.

But when Israel is victorious, it must sue for peace.

Everyone expects the Jews to be the only real Christians in this world.

Other nations, when they are defeated, survive and recover but should Israel be defeated it would be destroyed.

Had Nasser triumphed last June [1967], he would have wiped Israel off the map, and no one would have lifted a finger to save the Jews.

No commitment to the Jews by any government, including our own, is worth the paper it is written on.

There is a cry of outrage all over the world when people die in Vietnam or when two Blacks are executed in Rhodesia .

But, when Hitler slaughtered Jews no one demonstrated against him.

The Swedes, who were ready to break off diplomatic relations with America because of what we did in Vietnam , did not let out a peep when Hitler was slaughtering Jews.

They sent Hitler choice iron ore, and ball bearings, and serviced his troops in Norway .

The Jews are alone in the world.

If Israel survives, it will be solely because of Jewish efforts. And Jewish resources.

Yet at this moment, Israel is our only reliable and unconditional ally.

We can rely more on Israel than Israel can rely on us.

And one has only to imagine what would have happened last summer [1967] had the Arabs and their Russian backers won the war, to realize how vital the survival of Israel is to America and the West in general.

I have a premonition that will not leave me; as it goes with Israel so will it go with all of us.

Should Israel perish, the Holocaust will be upon us all.