Twice The Size of the Statue of Liberty

From the New York Times: "India Unveils Statue of Unity, World’s Tallest Statue and Twice the Size of Lady Liberty. The bronze Statue of Unity pays tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a leader of the Indian independence movement who helped wrest the country from British control."

Impressive, but I do like ours much better.

"Anti-Semitism is exterminationist"

To my relief, Dennis Prager's column finally explains the difference between a hate crime and the slaughter of Jews: "...while there is no difference between the murder of Christians at a church and the murder of Jews in a synagogue with regard to the loss of life and the suffering of loved ones, there is something unique about the murder of Jews for being Jews: Anti-Semitism is exterminationist. Anti-Semites don’t just want to persecute, enslave, or expel Jews; they want to kill them all."

Lots 'o Links

Here's the usual excellent reading roundup courtesy of Larwyn's Linx, Maggie's Farm, and Betsy's Page!

Antisemitic Terrorism Attack in Pittsburgh Synagogue

Here we go again: "At least six people are dead and several more are wounded — including four police officers — after a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood Saturday morning."

This is not "mental illness", it's the oldest hatred. Put armed guards at all synagogues right now before copycats and other publicity-seekers decide to get into the news as well.  Stop the political correctness, get rid of the ridiculous gun-free zones, and get much tougher now!

Andy Blumenthal writes: "On this Shabbat there is not life in that holy house of worship, but another familiar Jewish massacre from a gunman screaming,  'All the Jews need to die!'
But why the Jews, what have we done to anyone?
This bloody raving lunatic thought we, the Jews, are in control of President, the country, and of course, are to blame for all its problems–as usual, the Jews are the ever-convenient and all-purpose scapegoat.
But who are we–men, women, and children that just want to live our lives with respect and dignity, to worship the L-rd in freedom, to take care of our dear families and communities, to contribute in every way to the good of society.
Why do they keep coming to hate on us and to kill us?"

Daniella Levy in Israel says, "Yes, of course I’m afraid.I’m afraid in Gush Etzion. I’m afraid in New York. I’m afraid in Jerusalem. I’m afraid in Barcelona. I’m afraid everywhere. Nowhere is safe.

I just can’t let that fear be the deciding factor when choosing where and how to live my life.
Jews have had reason to live in fear for thousands of years, in every place we’ve been. That hasn’t stopped us from becoming the most successful and influential minority in the history of humankind.
If I’m going to die for the crime of being Jewish, I’d rather it be in my historic homeland, where the national holidays are my holidays, where the national flag bears my symbol, where every hill and valley has a story from the Bible attached to it."

Political Mail Bombers

I hope the terrorist(s) responsible for the recent spate of pipe bombs is caught soon and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and before any of the bombs actually explode and kill the recipients.

We can see the targets are obviously people and politicians that Trump dislikes. But can CNN stop showing pictures of Trump whenever they talk about the case? He's not the bomber. Whoever it is, it's timed to affect the midterms; and it's either a deranged Republican, or else a Democrat making it look like a Republican. Just find this maniac and use the seriousness of the crimes to force a return to civility and unification before it's too late.

What a Difference Two Years Makes

Or, politics makes strange bedfellows.

Watching Ted Cruz endorse Trump at the rally tonight brought back the specter of Cruz refusing to endorse Trump at the convention -- and getting booed off the stage. But he's in the fight of his political life now against that Beto O'Rourke, and if he gets re-elected, he may have Trump to thank for it. He's an excellent speaker, and that's some one-two punch!

Hello, Fellow Termites!

That contemptible old anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan continues to be obsessed with us Jews! In his latest diatribe, he called us "stupid" and "termites".  

Someone ought to reply by saying that he and his laughing, clapping followers are mindless and animals. 

He's 85 years old, and I bet even his last words will be anti-Jewish. 

Lots 'o Links

Here's some good reading to end the week: Maggie's Farm; Larwyn's Linx; and Betsy's Page.  And today I saw the above cartoon by Rick McKee at Jewish World Review.

Stop Illegal Immigration and Politically Correct Media Coverage

If we know in advance that a group of 1,500+ illegal immigrants from Honduras is determined to cross into the United States, why don't we put more ICE agents and police at the border to stop them? Why don't we drop or post leaflets now telling them that they and their children are not permitted to enter, and that the rights they claim to have don't exist? Why don't we have buses to bring them back there or to Mexico?  I thought we make the laws for our country, not them, so what's the problem (besides political correctness and the midterm elections)?

World's Oldest Barber

Here's a terrific story about Anthony Mancinelli and the work ethic that should put much younger people to shame: "Mr. Mancinelli is 107 and still working full time, cutting hair five days a week from noon to 8 p.m. He has been working in barbershops since he was 11. Warren Harding was in the White House."

I love people like this!

Argus Hamilton Quips

Here are two comments on the news from humorist Hamilton:

"Netflix announced that employees may not stare at each other for more than five seconds or it's sexual harassment. They have a five-second rule. I think it's fantastic that women have made so much progress, they now have the same rights as a sandwich you accidentally dropped on the floor."

"The Russian News Agency reports that the nuclear plant site Chernobyl has been successfully converted into a solar energy plant thirty-two years after the scary nuclear leak. They also built a Disneyland-like amusement park at the site. The difference is, the six-foot mouse at Chernobyl is real."

Lots 'o Links

Celebrate the end of the work week by catching up on all the news at Betsy's Page, Larwyn's Linx, and Maggie's Farm!

Free advice: never try to take your "emotional support squirrel" on a plane.

Filling Nikki Haley's Shoes

Having a pro-Israel U.N. Ambassador like Nikki Haley has been a blessing, so the news of her resignation was a blow.  Let's just hope Trump can manage to find a new Ambassador who is as gifted and as respected.

The Times of Israel says, "At the United Nations, Haley didn’t simply defend Israel and its government, she led a game change: On her watch, support for Israel became a with or against us proposition."

Apologizing for Admiring Churchill

Scott Kelley may have been an astronaut, but he's not half the man Winston Churchill was! It was definitely not his finest hour.

A Star is Born: Judy Garland

Forget Lady Gaga. If you want a truly great performance, see the 1954 version of "A Star is Born" and watch Judy Garland's performance of "The Man That Got Away." With lyrics by Ira Gershwin and music by Harold Arlen, it's just electrifying no matter how many times you see it.

Beautiful Music

When the world has gone mad, you can always feel better by listening to some nice music. I heard this piece for the first time today and thought it was either Ralph Vaughan Williams or Holst.  Instead, it's Hymn and Fuguing tune #10", for oboe and strings, by Henry Cowell.

Lots 'o Links

Visit these blogs for great posts every day: Betsy's Page, Larwyn's Linx, and Maggie's Farm!

Bonus: here's Ann Coulter's sarcastic take on the entire anti-Kavanaugh campaign.

Can you just imagine the rioting that will ensue when the judge's confirmation is announced? It'll be a repeat of the lawlessness & window-smashing that took place after Hillary Clinton's defeat. Also, I predict that the lying accuser will write a book, and that there's probably a made-for-TV movie in the works.

An Opportunity for the Enemy

While our entire country seems to be focused solely on the disgracefully-maligned Judge Kavanaugh in a manner more suitable for the Jerry Springer or Maury Povich sleaze shows, what's to stop our enemies from taking advantage of our laxness and committing terrorist attacks against us?

Sound Familiar?

"Charges against four California dentists -- including three brothers -- accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman at a Las Vegas Strip resort were dropped after cellphone video showed the allegations were 'completely fabricated,' one of the men's attorney said."

Yes, but the damage to their reputations has already been done.

If You Believe in Idiocy, Clap Your Hands!

Unbelievable:  "A student union has ditched clapping, whooping and cheering in favour of 'jazz hands'. Reps at the University of Manchester voted to replace noisy appreciation with the British Sign Language (BSL) equivalent - a wave of both hands. Union officer Sara Khan said traditional clapping can cause issues for students with autism, sensory issues or deafness. But the move was criticised by some who accused students of being 'pampered'.

You wonder how today's perpetually offended adults ever manage in the workplace, if they work at all.