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January 31, 2005
One more reason to be aggressive with terrorists
. One of the rationales for deposing Saddam was that WMDs and their delivery systems are getting to be so portable that the world can't afford to let nation-states build them unless they are vigilant about keeping terrorists from getting hold of them.Because of the internet, information is now just as portable. Read this, about a radical Islamis website that posts photos of people the sect believes should be killed. Robert Spencer of Jihadwatch says:
Continue reading "One more reason to be aggressive with terrorists"
Judith | 01/31/05 at 09:12 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: WWIV
More afterglow
Still basking in the afterglow of the Iraqi election. Previous Afterglow post here.Europe is cautiously optimistic, and almost sorta maybe willing to admit it might have been a little wrong, maybe.
If you want a sneak preview of all the different kinds of spin that will be attempted to delegitimize these elections, check in on Jeff Jarvis' comments. They're all there. And Mark Steyn fisks most of them in one column. Christopher Hitchens handles one of the others.
Michael Ledeen and Jonah Goldberg fisk Juan Cole.
Continue reading "More afterglow"
Judith | 01/31/05 at 08:21 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Nation-building
January 30, 2005
To inscribe on the foreheads of the "reality-based" community
Hidden in a Roger Simon comment thread:Continue reading "To inscribe on the foreheads of the "reality-based" community"
Judith | 01/30/05 at 11:22 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Nation-building
Bush interview on C-SPAN
Transcript here. Link to video from that page. He talks with Brian Lamb about his inaugural speech, how inspired he was by Reagan, books he's read recently, how he came to read Natan Sharansky's book and meet him, Oswald Chambers, idealism and realism, censorship, plans for his library, and more.Judith | 01/30/05 at 07:58 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea
Afterglow
Iraqi election link roundup here.Mary and I met at Susan's apartment this afternoon to watch the Spirit of America coverage on C-SPAN. The whole set-up had that endearing Wayne's World Public Access TV feel, but it also had Michael Totten, Christopher Hitchens, and numerous Iraqis talking happily about this election. Hitchens in particular seemed to burn with smoldering glee about the wrongheadedness of the MSM predictions. Michael was smooth and telegenic behind his "blogger desk"; I predict news anchordom in his future.
Judith | 01/30/05 at 06:26 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq
January 29, 2005
Browsing the blogs on the Iraqi election
Previous entries on this topic here and here.Voting began at 7 AM Iraq time.
Remember to check in at Friends of Democracy for on-the-ground reporting and election maps and explanations of the various parties, etc. And be sure to tune in C-SPAN at 2 PM EST (or watch the streaming video online) for live coverage from Spirit of America, with various Iraqi commenters as well as Christopher Hitchens. You can post a question or comment for the pundits here, and they may use it on the show.
Continue reading "Browsing the blogs on the Iraqi election"
Judith | 01/29/05 at 11:43 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq
January 28, 2005
Never again
Paul Wolfowitz at the UN Special Session on the Shoah:Continue reading "Never again"
Judith | 01/28/05 at 03:20 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Antisemitism watch
Iraqi election update
Check in with the Friends of Democracy blog: scores of reports from Iraqis all over the country on preparations for the elections. In coordination with Friends of Democracy, Spirit of America will be hosting an event in DC this Sunday, with pundits and live coverage on C-SPAN.Continue reading "Iraqi election update"
Judith | 01/28/05 at 10:41 AM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq
Homework
I have to give a d'var next Shabbat. The parshah, Mishpatim, is one of those so chock full of incidents and topics and provocative images that it's hard to choose what to talk about. I've got the Etz Chayyim. I've got Rashi and contemporary commentaries. I've got a concordance.I really want to talk about the Iraqi elections without giving an overtly political d'var, which would be considered heavy-handed. (And at this point I'm considered the lone "conservative" in the minyan - never mind that four of us voted for Bush and that I'm a liberal - and therefore any partisan opinions are sure to be dismissed.)
Suggestions are welcome.
Judith | 01/28/05 at 09:15 AM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish
January 27, 2005
Blog roundup - The JOOOOOOS
On the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz - celebrating the fact that the Nazis are gone, but we're still here, and in honor of the Isreallycool Jewish Blog Awards,this blog roundup is about the Tribe.It turns out another blogger is doing a Jewish blog roundup on a regular basis, modeled on the Carnival of the Vanities weekly collection of blog posts. Here's Haveil Havalim #5.
Wandering Jew shares my appreciation of poet Sharon Olds and Natan Sharansky's 3-D test. (via Meryl)
I hear this sentiment occasionally from the frum world: "In the liberal Jewish congregations there are 10 women to every man, because when women leyn Torah and lead services, men feel emasculated and leave." Now, none of these pontificators have ever set foot in a liberal shul, so they wouldn't know firsthand. My personal experience is that the numbers are about even. And now I can point them to the sweet tale of Naomi Chana's shul-inspired engagement to a nice Jewish boy.
On the Fringe (which should have been nominated for an award) confronts the wordiness of Jewish liturgy. Do you speed-daven, or leave stuff out, or spend most of the day davening? (My solution - with the daily Amidah also - is to pick and choose, concentrating on psalms and prayers relevant to the day or to issues in my life, or on ones I haven't davened recently. It's also nice to contemplate a particular pasuk.)
Imshin on Hannah Senesh.
UPDATE: Quotes from the Shoah: start here and click back.
Judith | 01/27/05 at 07:08 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere
The Best of Kesher Talk - 2002
I haven't been posting as much specifically Jewish stuff in the past few week as I have in the past. So if you're stopping by from the Israellycool Jewish Blog Awards, and you haven't been a regular KT reader, let me show off a bit for you.2004 highlights here.
2003 highlights here.
2002 highlights:
Blogburst on the 30th anniversary of the Munich Massacre.
Suggestions for memorializing 9-11, from the Jewish tradition.
What part of no don't you understand? A series on Christian proselytizing, here, here, here, here.
Muslim comedy night and toying with scripture.
Gays in Judaism series (previous posts linked from there)
NYC LGF readers paint the town. A personal post.
Judith | 01/27/05 at 07:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere
January 26, 2005
The Best of Kesher Talk - 2003
I haven't been posting as much specifically Jewish stuff in the past few week as I have in the past. So if you're stopping by from the Israellycool Jewish Blog Awards, and you haven't been a regular KT reader, let me show off a bit for you.2003 highlights:
Pintele Yid: A Jewish culture series. More here. Probably my best series of posts.
Nusach. A pet peeve of mine.
Jews blamed for the Iraq War: an extended fisking here, here, and here.
A narrow bridge: Zionist Jews on the Left. Here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
A trio of isms:
Who's afraid of feminism?
A defense of tribalism.
The tarnished ideal of Marxism.
Tisha B'Av.
Yom Kippur Tshuvah countdown.
Simchat Torah series. (Start here and look for previous posts with similar titles in the righthand sidebar.)
Pesach series. (Start here and look for previous posts with similar titles in the righthand sidebar.)
Counting the Omer. The first one is here. The last one is here. The others are inbetween. My longest series.
Intellectual masturbation on the Upper West Side. (Also here.)
Hanukkah series. (Start here and look for previous posts with similar titles in the righthand sidebar.)
Judith | 01/26/05 at 10:59 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere
More great Jewish blogs
The Isreallycool Jewish Blog Awards of 2004 have introduced me to a whole new world of Jewish blogs: the younger generation, if I can say that without sounding pompous. (And I am sure some of them have been around longer than that and will let me know about it.)First of all - I know I'm going to get into trouble for saying this - I would really like to see some of the more mature reflective personal blogs get more votes than the 20-something jejune trifles. So please go over there and vote for the grownu -- er, the recommendations below.
I have beein reading Seraphic Secret since it began, pointed to it by Luke Ford at Protocols (which makes up for all the other crap Luke writes). It is the diary of a father who lost his son to pulmonary fibrosis. It is the personal reflections of a wise older man who writes for a living. It is the record of a loving marriage. It is the biography of an extraordinary young man who I have come to miss even though I never met him. It is the marketing site for a new young adult novel for frum Jews and any other teen or adult. Please vote this blog into first place.
Jews in Green is a milblog for Jews. Sorely needed and a long time coming. There's a story on Marine Chaplain Rabbi Irv Elson, whom I had the pleasure to meet a few months ago. Polls on how being in the military has affected soldiers' Judaism and what religion is on their dogtags. A kosher MRE taste test. And lots more. Please vote this blog into first place.
Cross-currents is a serious group blog holding down the frum fort. It has gotten a certain amount of publicity, even comments from machers like Rodger Kamenetz. Articles include Do We Want the Conservative Movement to Die?, Why is my daughter having a bas mitzva? Blogging and Loshon Hora, and Would Vilna have voted Kerry?
Friends of Micronesia is an Israel advocacy blog. Yes, they''re a dime a dozen these heady days, but this one is well-designed and comprehensive.
Ha-Mikdash is kind of a Jewish potpourri, like Kesher Talk, but with links I don't see anywhere else.
Dov Bear is pretty funny. He is also following a controversy about a haredi rabbi being banned. (On the Fringe - which should have been nominated for something - has a bibliography on the Rabbi Slifkin controversy.)
On the Face is a personal blog about one woman's aliyah, just as the 2000 Intifada was beginning.
My sister Adina suggested the name for this blog. It's a literal translation of a popular idiomatic expression in Hebrew, "al hapanim." It makes no sense in English, but in Hebrew it means, loosely, "it sucks" , "the pits", or "terrible." Example: I went to hear my favorite singer perform last night, but could hardly hear a thing because the sound system was "al hapanim."I like the name because it says a lot about the way I perceive life and its experiences. Like the expression (which has a meaning that is very different from what one would think, based on the literal translation) most of the time things are not as they seem on the surface; if you take the time and effort to look more deeply, you'll discover - often - that the reality is very different from the way it appears "on the face of things."
Judith | 01/26/05 at 09:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere
January 25, 2005
Tu B'Shvat
Tu B'Shvat is over, although there's one more seder tonight at the JCC, which I won't be attending as it is a very crunchy environmentalist event, and there will be much hand-wringing over the election, which I don't want to sit through for 4 hours. (I don't think Bush's environmental record is that great, but it isn't as bad as the professional non-profit types make out, and my experience with that crowd is that the handwringing will extend to all policies of the administration.)Judith | 01/25/05 at 06:53 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Holy Days
The Best of Kesher Talk - 2004
I haven't been posting as much specifically Jewish stuff in the past few week as I have in the past. So if you're stopping by from the Israellycool Jewish Blog Awards, and you haven't been a regular KT reader, let me show off a bit for you.2004 highlights:
Israel divestment initiatives. A series, that entry has links to the others.
I know you're a racist aparthied state, but what am I? Beating Tony Judt about the head and shoulders.
Fisking Leon Wieseltier. Twice.
Report from a rally against genocide in Darfur.
The annual fall migration of the ISM.
Simchat Torah, after Taba. A personal post.
Lots of posts on the liberal Jewish vote for Bush: Here (and lots of links back), here, here, here, here, and here.
The recovering progressives support group. Another series.
Fence hypocrisy, annotated.
Gazillion links about Mel Gibson's "Passion."
Anitsemitism watch. Here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
2003 and 2002 highlights coming.
Judith | 01/25/05 at 06:44 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere
January 25, 2005
From Berkeley to LA
The suicide bomb exhibit with Jerusalem Bus #19 will be in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 30, at 2:00 p.m. at the Museum of Tolerance. Its last location was Berkeley, where its presence exposed the extremism of anti-Israel, pro-terrorism . . . more »Judith | 01/25/05 at 06:26 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Antisemitism watch
January 24, 2005
Divestment update
Someone nominated Kesher Talk for Best Series by a Jewish Blogger, but the series (Jews in Odd Places) hasn't had an entry for some months, and the entries don't link to each other. So think about judging me - . . . more »Judith | 01/24/05 at 11:23 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Divestment watch
A much less important election
Isreallycool is hosting an election for Best Jewish Blog, with a number of categories. It won't have quite the effect on geo-political reality as the Iraqi elections, or even on blogo-political reality, but hey - it's fun and maybe . . . more »Judith | 01/24/05 at 10:23 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish
Iraqi election coverage
Plan to be at your computer or TV this Sunday afternoon (it's cold and yucky, so you weren't planning to go out anyway, right?) This Sunday, January 30, Spirit of America will be providing coverage of Iraq�s elections at . . . more »Judith | 01/24/05 at 02:29 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq
January 22, 2005
Inaugural dispatches
Pamela (aka Atlasshrugs on LGF) emails:Blew in from DC...............I must tell you that the "protesters" were the dirtiest, looniest, dreadlocked, smelliest lunatics I ever laid eyes on............... they were so without cred, an embarassment to whomever they thought they . . . more »Judith | 01/22/05 at 10:25 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea
Antisemitism watch
These young people need to meet these old people. Meryl has many links to video and pix of the latest pro- and anti-Israel demonstrations in Berzerkley, including in-depth on-the-spot reporting from Berkeley moonbat chronicler Zombie. Mary highlights this from . . . more »Judith | 01/22/05 at 09:37 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Antisemitism watch
Saturday Snowblogging
Pix of Manhattan streets from Scott. Ditto from Jessica. Jackson Heights. On the Hoboken waterfront with Mary. UPDATE: Michele is blizzard-blogging up a storm. As it were. Start here and click forward. I don't mind the falling snow, since . . . more »Judith | 01/22/05 at 08:25 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere
January 21, 2005
America sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country
A commenter at Michael Totten's linked to this Iraqi election ad. It's a specific demonstration of the themes of Bush's inaugural speech. It made me cry. Notice how the expression on the old guy's face changes after the others . . . more »Judith | 01/21/05 at 04:45 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq
Streaming inaugural impressions
Last night I went to a fun inaugural party in a chic apartment near Wall St. C-SPAN was on with the sound turned down and everyone was more interested in talking than watching. Great food courtesy of a Laotian . . . more »Judith | 01/21/05 at 11:00 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea
Blog roundup
Gerard van der Leun is your go-to guy for all your Numa Numa needs. For example, the Lego version. And now . . . in Japanese! . . . Also this gif animation which is hilarious if you're in . . . more »Judith | 01/21/05 at 08:40 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere
January 19, 2005
The fourth annual War Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Winning Writers. Prizes of $1,500, $500, $250 and 10 honorable mentions of $75 each will be awarded. Submit 1-3 original, unpublished poems on the theme of war, up to 500 lines in all. $12 entry fee, payable . . . more »Judith | 01/19/05 at 09:58 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: WWIV
March of Dimes
If you were planning some big-ticket purchases, tomorrow (Thursday January 20th) might be a good day to make them. Are you planning to attend or host an inauguration party tomorrow night? Be sure to spend a lot on food . . . more »Judith | 01/19/05 at 09:37 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea
The UN lives down to every cliche
Mary has already posted a wonderfully detailed report (with pix!) of our encounter with the UN yesterday, and here is what little I have to add: We found out about this conference from Karol's Right Events calendar blog. It was . . . more »Judith | 01/19/05 at 08:11 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Our NGO Masters
January 17, 2005
Blog socializing fabulosity
The best way to get together with out of town bloggers is to notice when they post about going to NYC and then ask them if they want to meet. That's how I met "Tom Paine", Roger Simon, Iowahawk, . . . more »Judith | 01/17/05 at 11:27 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it
Latest tempest in a teapot
I am probably the only pro-Rathergate blogger who has no problem with CBS putting up a file that can't be doctored. It seems obvious why that's a good idea. But they should also put up one which can be . . . more »Judith | 01/17/05 at 03:40 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - The Fourth Estate
In honor of MLK Day: Speaking truth to power
What I wrote last year on Martin Luther King Day. The DoD spanks Seymour Hersh. (via Roger Simon commenter) From another Simon commenter: some evidence of resistance to the North Korean regime. . . . more »Judith | 01/17/05 at 02:31 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Power to the People
January 13, 2005
It's the JOOOOOOSSSS . . .
A profile of new Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff. Chertoff has strong ties to the Jewish community. Born and raised in Elizabeth, N.J., Chertoff is the son of a rabbi, his two children have attended Jewish day schools and . . . more »Judith | 01/13/05 at 08:34 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish
January 11, 2005
More ageing irrelevant cool stuff: anthropology
Still cleaning out my "cool stuff" bookmarks, so some of this is old news. (Apologies if you saw it already or if I got the link from you and don't remember.) Subway systems of the world, presented on the same . . . more »Judith | 01/11/05 at 11:37 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Amazing things
Chukim and mishpatim
Glen Wishard proves the existence of God: Circumcision proves the existence of God. It beats all of the other proofs hollow - forget all of that Ontological and Teleological stuff. Get the hell out of here with your Thomas . . . more »Judith | 01/11/05 at 09:53 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish
January 10, 2005
The imperfectability of knowledge
I don't cite Wikipedia if I can help it, because I am all too aware that an ad hoc group can be as biased as an individual in filtering facts. These days no one has any illusions that news . . . more »Judith | 01/10/05 at 11:54 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Useful idiots
Nature is fun
After two weeks of horrifying tsunami videos, let's break for some natural events that won't cause human death. Remember the giant iceberg that was blocking the supply route to McMurdo Station? Well, next week it's going to collide with . . . more »Judith | 01/10/05 at 05:22 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Amazing things
A blog award I can care about
I know I ignored both Whizbang's awards and the pleas of my co-bloggers to vote for them. The intense politicking just turned me off. So Israellycool is promoting a Jewish blog award. Why is this blog award different from . . . more »Judith | 01/10/05 at 11:52 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish
What Bruce said in synagogue this morning
Read the whole thing. I await news of the reaction from the congregation. . . . more »Judith | 01/10/05 at 07:24 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Liberal hawks and friends
January 07, 2005
A side-effect of outsourcing
I get into these arguments about outsourcing and I keep saying that in the long run there can be no harm in other nations reducing their level of poverty, even if it temporarily hurts a few segments of our population. . . . more »Judith | 01/07/05 at 04:21 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Pacific Rim
January 06, 2005
The candidacy that wouldn't die
What. An. Asshole. Just when you think Kerry has hit bottom, he gets out the shovel. Looks like he's been taking lessons from Jimmeh Carter in how to be an Elder Statesman. God I am so relieved that bombastic . . . more »Judith | 01/06/05 at 01:38 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea
