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February 28, 2005

The New Silent Majority

Vodkapundit has another anecdote from a liberal hawk friend in the closet, and asks, "Could folks like us be the new Silent Majority?"

Yes. Yes. And yes. I formed an entire social circle in NYC out of people who are hawkish neo-con liberals, who have to be in the closet around their lefty friends (which is 75% of Manhattan, especially in the arts and social services, like most of these people). We have a listserv, and go to events, and socialize together and everything. A lot of us met through campaigning for Bush. Others met through LGF comment threads. There are 50 people on this list.

Continue reading "The New Silent Majority"

Judith | 02/28/05 at 07:12 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Liberal hawks and friends

When I was a boy

The last word on the latest gender kerfluffle belongs to songwriter Dar Williams. (I was a boy too, I still am sometimes, and I bet most of you girls can say the same. If this song raises a small lump of grief in your throat, I don't need to say more.)

Continue reading "When I was a boy"

Judith | 02/28/05 at 04:18 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

February 27, 2005

Havel Havelim

Welcome to Edition #11 of Havel Havelim, the weekly roundup of the best of the Jewish blogosphere.

Edition #10 is here. If you want to know who's hosting next week, or you want to volunteer in the future, email Soccer Dad at dhgerstman at hotmail dot com (put "VoV" or "Vanity of Vanities" in your subject line so he can tell it's not spam). (When I get the word on next week's host, I'll add it at the end of this post.)

Continue reading "Havel Havelim"

Judith | 02/27/05 at 07:15 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 26, 2005

We won

Gunner Palace - the new documentary about a troop bivouacking in one of Uday's palaces right after the Iraq War - was initially given an R rating, presumably for rough language. A petition was circulated, the rating was reviewed, and the decision was overturned.

(This is the only instance I know of where an internet petition actually accomplished its purpose.)

PS. Read the blog.

Judith | 02/26/05 at 10:38 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq

I don't know what to think

You notice I have not been blogging about Israel much lately, even though momentous things have been happening. I know what to think about facile "cycle of violence" opinionating and the promulgation of lies and double standards. But Israel is at a crossroads right now and I can see a little bit down both diverging paths, and they both hold promises and dangers.

Continue reading "I don't know what to think"

Judith | 02/26/05 at 08:55 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Eretz Yisrael

Internet Celebrity Watch

Gary Brolsma - otherwise known as the Numa Numa Dance Guy - is not taking his sudden fame in stride.

He has now sought refuge from his fame in his family's small house on a gritty street in Saddle Brook. He has stopped taking phone calls from the news media, including The New York Times. He canceled an appearance on NBC's "Today." According to his relatives, he mopes around the house.

. . . These days, Mr. Brolsma shuttles between the house and his job at Staples, his family said. He is distraught, embarrassed. His grandmother, Margaret Telkes, quoted him as saying, just the other day, "I want this to end."

So what does the NYTimes do? It directs yet more fame in his direction, for the benefit of the few poor souls who had not yet been exposed to the peculiar charm of Numa Numa Dancing (albiet 2 weeks late, as is the wont of the NYTimes and its fellow dead tree dinosaurs). Thanks, NYTimes!

Judith | 02/26/05 at 07:54 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

Democracy Watch, cont.

Previous entry in this series here, and follow the links there to the others.

Jay Nordlinger:

I wish to direct your attention to an intriguing editorial in the New York Sun, which deals with Ahmad Chalabi's future. When I read it, a little light flashed: I was reminded of an interview I did with Condi Rice, in the summer of 2002. Anyway, a passage from the editorial:

Continue reading "Democracy Watch, cont."

Judith | 02/26/05 at 11:50 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq

February 25, 2005

More popular science

The post was getting long, so I started a new one. Speaking of actual scientific studies, and science reporting that actually reports the results, Ilyka notes this NYTimes article (and even VRWC Death Beasts tend to agree that the Times' science reporting is pretty good, even if they take issue with its foreign policy biases):

Continue reading "More popular science"

Judith | 02/25/05 at 05:57 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

The imperfectibility of knowledge, cont.

I am collecting examples of bias in editing and maintaining Wikipedia. Via Glenn, another example. More here, and follow the links back to earlier entries on this topic. If you have any further examples, please leave a comment or email me.

Continue reading "The imperfectibility of knowledge, cont."

Judith | 02/25/05 at 05:15 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Competing narratives

Popular science

I remember studies like this being on the front page of Time in the 1980s. Women, men, math, maps, different areas of the brain. Same stuff. But look at the percentages. You still got millions of men and women who don't fit into the categories. We are all a lot more variable than these studies suggest. (Actually, the studies themselves are usually rigorous, but the popular science reporting isn't. Remember, this is the same MSM that reports on the war in Iraq and the 2004 election. Scientists are not happy when their findings are generalized out of all recognition.)

Continue reading "Popular science"

Judith | 02/25/05 at 02:04 PM | 8 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

Havel Havelim update

This Sunday, Kesher Talk is hosting the new Jewish blog roundup Havel Havelim. HH is the Jewish version of the well-established weekly blog roundup Carnival of the Vanities, wherein bloggers submit one of their entries from the previous couple of weeks they they want to showcase for a wider audience. HH was started by SoccerDad, and every 2 weeks is hosted by a different Jewish blog.

Last week I combed through the blogrolls of umpteen Jewish blogs and sent out a group email asking for entries. Response has been excellent - thank you all for participating!

Check back here on Sunday to see the best of the Jewish blogosphere in action.

And please shoot me an email or comment volunteering to host the next one!

Judith | 02/25/05 at 08:04 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Weather report

More snow here in NYC and I have to schlep to NYU Dental School all the way over on the East Side this afternoon. (I like to get my dental work done at dental schools when I don't have good dental insurance, like now. The work is always very good and fairly cheap, just sloooowwwww.)

Washington Post snowcam, via Crossing the Rubicon 2.

RELATED: Mary took her parents to Central Park to walk through the Gates. More Gatesblogging here, and follow the links back.

Judith | 02/25/05 at 07:37 AM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

Groundhog Day at Washington Monthly

Girls, not only is this the 87th time a male blogger has rehashed the tired old "where are all the female political bloggers?" meme, this is at least the 2nd time within a year that Mr. Kevin "there's no there there" Drum himself has rehashed this particular meme.

Continue reading "Groundhog Day at Washington Monthly"

Judith | 02/25/05 at 07:37 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

The Condi buzz

The slideshow.

From Tim Blair's comments:

Fantastic photo. In many ways she's a Republican dream candidate. Casting by racial healing, upbringing by Christianity, wardrobe & atmo by Ayn Rand.

Continue reading "The Condi buzz"

Judith | 02/25/05 at 07:07 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea

February 24, 2005

Gossip

Via Kaus:

Tongues are wagging about the recent intimate dinners between actor and frequent "Hardball" guest Ron Silver and leggy, blond, right-wing pundit Ann Coulter. The two were spotted dining together twice in recent weeks. The other night they were at Elio's, and a Lowdown spy said, "They looked like they were on a date." Silver threw cold water on any romantic speculation. "I'm deeply interested in slander and I needed to know how to talk to a liberal," Silver quipped, having fun with the titles of two of Coulter's best-selling books. Coulter, meanwhile, E-mailed: "Ron Silver is a great American, but Matt Drudge is my only true love!" I hear elsewhere that Silver and Coulter have been talking about co-hosting a television show.

That would almost be worth getting a TV for.

Via Done With Mirrors: Barcepundit reports that Spain's Mr. Bean-lookalike PM Zapatero - the most antiwar and anti-American leader in Europe - is now a Bush fanboy. If the White House sends him an autographed 8x10 glossy, will he send some troops back to Iraq?

Judith | 02/24/05 at 11:54 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

February 24, 2005

Antisemitism watch

There have been some concerns about an upswing in bigoted anti-Israel activity at Carnegie-Mellon U in Pittsburgh. A student writes to Jonah Goldberg that things are better than they seem. Meryl has been keeping track of the plus side . . . more »

Judith | 02/24/05 at 02:28 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Antisemitism watch

Democracy Watch, cont.

Previous entries on this topic here (Syria) and here (Central Asia). Last night I went to another VRWC social event. Some of the Communists for Kerry folk happened to be there and we giddily hoisted toasts to the spread . . . more »

Judith | 02/24/05 at 02:07 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

February 23, 2005

Moral equivalency run amok

I posted earlier in the week about the Committee to Protect Bloggers, which is picking up the flag that organizations like Amnesty International have let fall from their hands as they have lost their credibility as non-partisan truth-telling forces. . . . more »

Judith | 02/23/05 at 11:55 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

Blog roundup - the virtual neighborhood

David is parent-blogging. I am enjoying this because I am an acquaintance of David's parents (although I have not yet met David) and I can clearly picture them in my mind's eye as I read about the Adesnik Elder . . . more »

Judith | 02/23/05 at 05:50 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Democracy watch

Previous Democracy Watch entry here. Walid Jumblatt - Lebanese Druse leader in opposition to Syria's occupation - last year:Mr. Jumblatt gave an interview to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat on February 12, 2004, in which he said: "We are all happy when . . . more »

Judith | 02/23/05 at 04:51 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

February 22, 2005

Ringside seat

Watching Horowitz and Hitchens argue about Israel would be worth the price of this trip. . . . more »

Judith | 02/22/05 at 11:28 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Competing narratives

. . . and the rocket's red gleaming

Gunner Palace is opening next month, and has already had a few sneak previews. Master of the milblogs Blackfive got to attend one and hoist a few with the director.Getting ready to go to the theater, my wife asked . . . more »

Judith | 02/22/05 at 11:19 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq

You're so vain . . .

You probably think this bleg is about you. Well, if you write on Jewish topics, it is. You might not know that in addition to the er, ecumenical Carnival of the Vanities, there is now a weekly Jewish "Best . . . more »

Judith | 02/22/05 at 12:00 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 21, 2005

All together now, let's tapdance on Kevin Drum's head

I find it ironic that Kevin Drum is rehearsing Round 27 of the "why aren't there many political women bloggers" meme. Not only because - as some female political bloggers pointed out, he doesn't link to any himself - . . . more »

Judith | 02/21/05 at 11:25 PM | 3 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

Quote of the Day

From Roger Simon's comments:I am been saying for a long time that the Baathists are secularists who enjoy aged whiskey, young women, and fast cars. They are not even slightly interested in dying for Allah. It is absurd to . . . more »

Judith | 02/21/05 at 10:24 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq

Visibility for European Bush supporters

If you are going to be in Germany on Wednesday February 23, join David Kaspar and friends for a pro-Bush rally at the Mainz S�dbahnhof. The demonstration will go from 10 AM to 4 PM. The blog has downloadable . . . more »

Judith | 02/21/05 at 10:11 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: WWIV

Call for blogburst

The Committee to Protect Bloggers is calling for tomorrow - February 22 - to be designated "Free Mojtaba and Arash Day" throughout the blogosphere. Mojtaba Saminejad and Arash Sigarchi are two Iranian bloggers who have been imprisoned by the . . . more »

Judith | 02/21/05 at 07:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iran

Sha'arey gan Orange, cont.

Rabbi Michael Strassfeld - former rabbi of the shul I sauntered forth from on Saturday and current rabbi of one even closer to Central Park - took his kahal to the Park the previous Shabbat and gave a drash . . . more »

Judith | 02/21/05 at 04:56 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: NYC

February 20, 2005

Liberal hawk watch

Austin Bay points out that Hillary Clinton is emerging as a vocal hawk on the Joe Lieberman/Ed Koch/Peter Beinert wing of the Democratic Party. Some of the commenters scoff. I think Hillary is a genuine hawk. I'm sure she . . . more »

Judith | 02/20/05 at 09:44 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea

One more blog kerfluffle I ignored

I knew the Gannon/Guckert story was a non-story and you knew it was a non-story, but does the press corp think it's a non-story? Yes. . . . more »

Judith | 02/20/05 at 09:12 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea

Democracy watch

Krgyzstan is inspired by the Ukrainian orange revolution. Meanwhile, an iron curtain descends across Nepal (but the blogosphere is on the case). . . . more »

Judith | 02/20/05 at 09:04 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Nation-building

Flagrante Delicto

I am checking into the blog coverage of the CPAC conference as I happen upon it among the blogs I read. I'm not a conservative activist so many of of these political stars are either not people I agree . . . more »

Judith | 02/20/05 at 07:47 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea

Sha'arey Gan Orange, cont.

I guess I should keep posting Christo Gates items as long as they are installed (about a week left now). Yesterday I finally got my Gates walk, as about 12 people from one of my minyans left the shul . . . more »

Judith | 02/20/05 at 07:03 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Sensual pleasures

Quote of the day

Jeff Jarvis on trolls in his comment threads:The key is cognitive dissonance. I just ignore some people. It's like riding the subway with friends: you listen to them and ignore the guy wearing four coats and three pairs of . . . more »

Judith | 02/20/05 at 07:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

February 18, 2005

Terrorist fighters, cont.

Last week I wrote about and linked to reports on a talk by Bat Ye'or at Columbia U. This week, Paul Mirengoff got to meet her in DC. . . . more »

Judith | 02/18/05 at 04:14 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Antisemitism watch

Buy this CD

The hazzan of my shul back in Austin just released a recording, and one of the most influential Jewish music critics thinks he likes it:Neil Blumofe: �Moses� Muses� (Horeb) Well, it�s not often I get to say this but . . . more »

Judith | 02/18/05 at 09:37 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

Nutty professors

As the Ward Churchill scandal wore on and more information came to light, it became clear that Churchill was not only an eccentric person with reprehensible views and questionable behavior - which alone would not necessarily deny him the . . . more »

Judith | 02/18/05 at 09:34 AM | 1 Comments | 2 TrackBacks | Categories: - Useful idiots

A couple of excellent causes

If you are looking for small offbeat tzedakah projects to donate money to, check these out: Puppies Behind Bars teaches prison inmates how to raise puppies which will then go on to become guide dogs for the blind. (via . . . more »

Judith | 02/18/05 at 07:56 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

Geopolitical landscape watch

Last week I reported on a panel discussion about Iran's nukes, which included some speculation on whether Europe could be relied upon to present a united front with the US in confronting Iran. (Scroll down to the paragraph after . . . more »

Judith | 02/18/05 at 12:36 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iran

Gates to hyperbole

I quoted a few people who were grinches on the subject of the Christo gates in Central Park here. Well, Myron Magnet is the biggest grinch of all:The art project�7,500 steel gates, 16 feet high, hung with orange nylon . . . more »

Judith | 02/18/05 at 12:28 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: NYC

February 16, 2005

You're so vain . . .

You probably think this bleg is about you. Well, if you write on Jewish topics, it is. You might not know that in addition to the er, ecumenical Carnival of the Vanities, there is now a weekly Jewish "Best . . . more »

Judith | 02/16/05 at 11:33 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

A salient anniversary

Michelle points out that today is the anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1989. . . . more »

Judith | 02/16/05 at 08:59 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: WWIV

Domino theory

"Tom Paine" is all excited about what is presumed to be a spectacular case of Syria shooting itself in the foot. . . . more »

Judith | 02/16/05 at 02:59 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: WWIV

Blog roundup

Atlantic Blog is back after a hiatus of a few months. David Adesnik is diligently reading the Left Behind series. Start here and scroll down. Over at Simon's the ex-child prodigies are comparing notes. Yet more Friday bluebird blogging. . . . more »

Judith | 02/16/05 at 08:17 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

Your tax dollars at work

Did you know that Lyndon LaRouche got a million and a half dollars in matching funds from the US Govt. for his presidential campaign? . . . more »

Judith | 02/16/05 at 07:49 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Antisemitism watch

What kind of geek am I?

The kind who watches the British House of Commons live. On C-SPAN. In a little window on my computer. For fun. While filing away the accumulation in my email inbox. While recovering from the flu. UPDATE: The plague continues . . . more »

Judith | 02/16/05 at 07:38 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

The imperfectability of knowledge, cont.

Previous posts here and here about the biases of Wikipedia. Kevin was wondering about this back in November: Has Wikipedia jumped the shark? One of his comments is from someone else who tried to contribute to a political entry: . . . more »

Judith | 02/16/05 at 07:09 AM | 13 Comments | Categories: Competing narratives

February 15, 2005

Meeting halfway

Best. Mark Steyn. Column. Ever. UPDATE: I was going to also add this David Brooks column that everyone is citing, as the best column I've ever read of his, but it works best embedded in this appreciation by a . . . more »

Judith | 02/15/05 at 03:17 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq

The Iraqi election returns, cont.

Previous entry on the Iraqi election results here. Cliff May has the same take on the Wapo article that I do. . . . more »

Judith | 02/15/05 at 07:31 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq

February 14, 2005

How the other half lives

I keep an eye on eBay auctions of Wolford pantyhose - the Rolls Royce of pantyhose - so I can occasionally acquire a few pair on the cheap. This brings me into glancing contact with a rarified world which . . . more »

Judith | 02/14/05 at 03:41 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Sensual pleasures

NOT a Jewish holiday

But as Reconstructionists like to say, we have one foot in Jewish civilization and the other in American civilization, so Happy Valentine's Day. Ken has a comprehensive rundown on the emotional perils involved in figuring out how to observe . . . more »

Judith | 02/14/05 at 01:29 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

February 13, 2005

The plague, cont.

The worst is over. I think the massive amounts of zinc lozenges made a big difference. Today is the "feeling normal for a few hours at a stretch" day. Tomorrow is the "almost normal but get tired easily" day. . . . more »

Judith | 02/13/05 at 11:18 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

Current events

An excellent outcome for the Iraqi elections: A very respectable 60% turnout, with none of the three major groups getting enough of a majority to rule without making deals with the other two, which will give this new democracy . . . more »

Judith | 02/13/05 at 09:44 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Nation-building

Iran's nukes, cont.

In the debate about nukes in Iran I attended Tuesday, there was some discussion about whether economic sanctions would have any leverage with the mullahs. Ken Pollack said yes, their economy is in the toilet and they need European . . . more »

Judith | 02/13/05 at 01:56 PM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iran

Jewish news on campus

Steven I. Weiss - Jewish blogging journalist entrepreneur extraordinaire - has started a new project, Campus J, . . . more »

Judith | 02/13/05 at 01:50 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

February 12, 2005

Random cool stuff

If you have an opinion on who is the greatest American of all time, head over here and nominate someone before Feb 14th. Grancrete is a sprayable ceramic you can build buildings out of. It is stronger than concrete, . . . more »

Judith | 02/12/05 at 07:50 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Amazing things

Open the gates!

While I'm in bed with the post-nasal crud, the latest Christo environmental extravaganza is being unveiled 3 blocks from my apartment. Last week I walked through parts of the preparations on my way home from a doctor's appointment. I . . . more »

Judith | 02/12/05 at 10:45 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Sensual pleasures

February 11, 2005

Antisemitism watch - special Kapo-watch edition

Eric Alterman - yes, that Eric Alterman - plays the race card on Cathy Young, who is smart enough not to take the bait. Yet one more official acknowledgement of the increase in attacks against Jews in the UK. . . . more »

Judith | 02/11/05 at 10:17 AM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Antisemitism watch

The Plague

In spite of massive amounts of zinc, echinacea, astragalus, vitamin C, and frequent hand-washing - I got it. Now I just hope it won't last too long. I think the final straw was the juxtaposition of not getting enough . . . more »

Judith | 02/11/05 at 09:58 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

February 10, 2005

The imperfectibility of knowledge, cont.

Jeff Jarvis springs to the defense of Wikinews against the supposed dinosaurs of dead-tree media like the (boo! hiss!) Encyclopedia Brittanica. I thought Robert McHenry's remarks were realistic. I have collected several examples of bias and inaccuracy at Wikipedia, . . . more »

Judith | 02/10/05 at 07:47 PM | 0 Comments | Categories: Competing narratives

Customer service, cont.

I previously posted about Verizon Wireless' curious map. Well, looks like Verizon listened to its customers. That's a good thing, because my latest contract with them has another 18 months left. . . . more »

Judith | 02/10/05 at 01:28 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tedious details

February 09, 2005

Support the troops?

Best of the Web quotes the ideologically predictable Guardian on the Anheuser-Busch ad: . . . more »

Judith | 02/09/05 at 11:05 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - The Fourth Estate

Snapshots from anti-terrorist New York

As Condi Rice barnstorms through Europe making the case for political change in the Middle East, the issue of Europe's ideological romance with Islamism comes into sharp relief. The always perceptive Nelson Ascher lays out a gloomy but realistic . . . more »

Judith | 02/09/05 at 11:00 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: WWIV

Ride 'em, Jewboy!

My former summer camp counselor (and radical country music star, raconteur, mystery novel author, and all-around gadfly) Kinky Friedman, is planning to run for governor of Texas. If I were still living in TX, I'd vote for him, not . . . more »

Judith | 02/09/05 at 02:56 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

February 08, 2005

More ageing irrelevant cool stuff: Tech and science

Another attempt to clean out my "cool stuff" bookmark folder, so some of this is old news. (Apologies if you provided the original link and I can't remember who you are.) Bar Code Clock. (Also everything you might wonder . . . more »

Judith | 02/08/05 at 02:35 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Amazing things

February 07, 2005

Weather report

Sunny, in the 50s, great weather for a NYC February. A wonderful birthday present. And here's some belated NYC photosnowblogging, with a twist: The Circle Line tour. UPDATE: Today is also the birthday (fourth) of LGF. UPDATE: Mary - . . . more »

Judith | 02/07/05 at 05:18 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

Meetings with remarkable men

Hell yeah, I'm jealous. Just don't tell me if anyone said anything about Israel or religion - two subjects about which Hitchens's views are unforgivably one-dimensionably cartoonish, considering how sophisticated he is about everything else. But I agree that Wine. . . . more »

Judith | 02/07/05 at 05:12 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Liberal hawks and friends

Final voting in the Jewish

Final voting in the Jewish Blog Awards. In this round you can only vote once, and the polling software will keep track of you, so make your vote count. You can vote any time this week until Saturday night. Kesher . . . more »

Judith | 02/07/05 at 07:13 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories:

February 06, 2005

Our State Department

While Condi Rice is winning hearts and minds across Europe, below is a reminder of what she's up against at home. Although the award was given in 2002, this email was just sent to me just last week, perhaps . . . more »

Judith | 02/06/05 at 09:21 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea

Blog roundup

Did you know Bill Clinton has a blog? Prolegomena to a Future Blogger Ethic. Some online music by Communists for Kerry founder Ivan Lenin and the Wifebeaters. Friday bluebird blogging. . . . more »

Judith | 02/06/05 at 03:24 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

My $0.02 on gay marriage

In response to this: My parents were married for almost 50 years, it was their first marriage (my father remarried after my mom died). They got married in a synagogue. My mom stayed home, my dad worked, they raised . . . more »

Judith | 02/06/05 at 02:52 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea

Speaking of Oil for Food. . . .

Mark Steyn has the latest on the bottomless pit of corruption that is the UN Oil for Food Program, specifically the latest revelation about the oily functionary Benon Sevan. Coincidentally, a few days ago I was googling for info . . . more »

Judith | 02/06/05 at 11:17 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq

Bitch bitch bitch - or not?

A survey of opinion on how things are going in Iraq - a bit unorganized. According to the NYTimes, the concept of personal initiative and responsibility is still a bit unclear in Iraq, but it is gratifying that the . . . more »

Judith | 02/06/05 at 10:33 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq

February 03, 2005

Ethnic identity wars

Everyone has been covering this latest example of anachronistic academic malevolence, but Scott has an angle no one else has picked up on: Ward Churchill's Native American identity is in question. Lileks has more. UPDATE: Yet more. UPDATE: Separated . . . more »

Judith | 02/03/05 at 06:01 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Useful idiots

Ritual murders in our backyard

Mary, a New Jersey resident, is following the reporting on the grisly murders of the Coptic Armanious family in Jersey City, much evidence pointing to local Islamic extremists as the perpetrators. Start here and click forward. . . . more »

Judith | 02/03/05 at 05:21 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: NYC

Journalistic narcissism Dept.

Via The Corner, Telling comment on the media in Iraq from Tina Brown: . . . more »

Judith | 02/03/05 at 04:34 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - The Fourth Estate

February 02, 2005

How big a blogger are you?

Today your bloggish clout is measured by whether Eason Jordan thought you enough of a threat that you were worth spinning with this email. . . . more »

Judith | 02/02/05 at 08:59 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - The Fourth Estate

A statement from the International Action Center

Just in case you were wondering how the extreme antiwar left was going to spin the elections: . . . more »

Judith | 02/02/05 at 03:01 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq

Iraqi bloggers redux

Jeff Jarvis responds to the long-awaited NYTimes response to criticisms of reporter Sarah Boxer's snarky smear of the Fadhil Bros. Jeff is rightfully pissed. As I said in his comments, I have not been impressed with Dan Okrent's ombudsmanship; . . . more »

Judith | 02/02/05 at 01:09 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - The Fourth Estate

Assymetrical warfare

A dangerous escalation in the latest round of hostage taking. The comments pleading for her life are heartbreaking. UPDATE: Related. UPDATE: Your mainstream media at work. UPDATE: Our brave captive manages to get a message to the outside world: . . . more »

Judith | 02/02/05 at 11:43 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: WWIV

Moments of illumination

So now some pundits and politicians are looking at 8 million purple forefingers and asking themselves if maybe Bush was right. So . . . if successful Iraqi elections mean that Bush was right, and they have previously not . . . more »

Judith | 02/02/05 at 09:50 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Useful idiots

Great moments in trolling

Isn't it called the Michael Moore Award, which Andrew Sullivan designates for those statements which manage to pack huge amounts of extremist political cliche into one grand oration? Well, I got the troll to end all trolls last night, . . . more »

Judith | 02/02/05 at 09:07 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Useful idiots

Small favors

Gaddafi the Younger at Davos, as related by Jay Nordlinger.. . . Then he says something utterly fascinating: We Arabs have lost all our wars against Israel because Israel is democratic, and we are undemocratic. In other words (Gaddafi . . . more »

Judith | 02/02/05 at 08:40 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Israel vs. the world

February 01, 2005

May the circle be unbroken

Here's a juicy tidbit from the Dinocrat: Guess where Ted Kennedy got his recent quotes about the insurgency growing the more we fight them? Al Lorentz, former chairman of the Constitution Party of Texas. Here's the Constitution Party National . . . more »

Judith | 02/01/05 at 08:22 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Useful idiots