About Kesher Talk


NPJrecipe-sidead.jpg

Recent Comments

  • Mossback on Baruch dayan emet : "Look, this case simply raised the same question that Karen Ann Quindlen rai...."
  • Anonymous on In your face 24/7 : "Compromise and recognition of others' positions is the sine qua non of the ...."
  • Tom Freeman on Human rights watch, cont. : "Judith:I am a fan both of your web site and the Dennis Prager show. I am a...."

« February 2005 | Main | April 2005 »

March 31, 2005

Academic Integrity and the Middle East: the report

Previous entries on the Columbia U Conference on Academic Integrity and the Middle East here, here, here, here, and here.

Video clips of all the speakers are now online!

Continue reading "Academic Integrity and the Middle East: the report"

Judith | 03/31/05 at 06:06 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Israel vs. the world

Liberal Hawks are doing it for themselves

A few members of the "new silent majority" of Portland, OR got together last week for some conviviality. (More background here.)

What's happening in your town?

Judith | 03/31/05 at 03:54 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Liberal hawks and friends

In your face 24/7

Jeff links to an article about how the most fundamentalist leaders of the three "Abrahamic faiths" are coming together to protest a gay pride march in Jerusalem.

I fully support the rights of gays to civil marriage (and religious marriage in whatever faith community accepts it) and to equal protection under the law. Furthermore I am not offended by "queer" flamboyance or the type of street theater typical at gay pride marches. Let a thousand lifestyles bloom!

But there is already a huge yearly gay pride fest in Tel Aviv, which is only a few hours away by bus and superhighway, and which has a reputation as a secular, even hedonistic, city. There is no city in the world more identified with more traditional religions and ancient sipiritual paths than Jerusalem. So leave Jerusalem alone. Gays who live there can get to Tel Aviv very easily.

Judith | 03/31/05 at 03:23 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Baruch dayan emet

All Terri Schiavo entries are here.

Terri Sciavo refused to die for a very long time, long enough to enable protestors to work up an enormous amount of outrage, but unfortunately not long enough for one more legal appeal to save her.

So where do we go from here?

"Right to life" activists will use this case as an example of the "slippery slope" that results when we attempt to justify aborting babies-in-the-making. Unfortunately, most of the "pro-choice"/feminist movement cast the Schiavo case as a simple "right to die" case, ignoring all the evidence which didn't support that interpretation, and ignoring the long liberal tradition of supporting women's and minorities' civil rights. They did this because countering the "right to life" movement - whatever the issue - trumps everything else, because to them there is a slippery slope from upholding a severely disabled woman's civil rights to claiming that fetuses have such rights. Thus they fulfilled the fears of the "right to life" movement and weakened their credibility.

Continue reading "Baruch dayan emet"

Judith | 03/31/05 at 02:13 PM | 8 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

Human rights watch, cont

All Terri Schiavo entries are here.

The monk you see on live broadcasts from the Woodside Hospice is a Franciscan Brother of Peace from St Paul, MN:

The legal and moral question of whether she should be kept alive with a feeding tube hit close to home for O'Donnell. He spent more than 12 years caring for Brother Michael Gaworski, the founder of his order, who suffered severe brain damage after being stricken with bacterial pneumonia. Gaworski was "slightly above a vegetative state" and was kept alive with a feeding tube until his death two years ago at the friary, O'Donnell said. Through it all, O'Donnell became what he calls "a self-taught medical advocate for brain-injured persons," speaking on the subject around the country.

O'Donnell met Terri Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler, at a national Right to Life event where both were scheduled to speak. Bobby showed the now much-aired video snippet of his disabled sister apparently reacting to her mother. Neurologists say those actions were involuntary, but O'Donnell _ who saw many parallels to his experience with Gaworski _ doesn't believe it. "I saw the videotape of Terri, and I was compelled to get involved and more than just in an ordinary supportive way," he said. "We wanted to be on the forefront of this effort to save her life."

Continue reading "Human rights watch, cont"

Judith | 03/31/05 at 12:05 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 30, 2005

Human rights watch, cont.

All Terri Schiavo entries are here.

First I said this case would make a great PD James novel. After finding out more about the New Age Hollywood sleaziness of the Felos couple, I was thinking Raymond Chandler. After hearing Terri's nurses on various TV shows, maybe one of those "true crime" books. Too bad Truman Capote isn't around any more. But if you want to get started on what is sure to be a blockbuster, here's a master list of the cast of characters.

Gerard has been posted more frequently and certainly more eloquently about this than I have. His latest is a must-read.

Andrea Harris on everything you think has something to do with Terri Schiavo and doesn't.

Continue reading "Human rights watch, cont."

Judith | 03/30/05 at 01:27 AM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 29, 2005

Blog roundup

Not quite the Thousand Styles of Donald Rumsfeld, but close: Ten Ways Dick Cheney Can Kill You.

Terry Teachout: "what music do you listen to when the world is way, way too much with you?" (If I am sick in bed with that really unpleasant kind of achy flu, I listen to the Bach Partitas and Sonatas for Violin, and the solo cello works too. )

An appreciation of SF great Cordwainer Smith, one of my favorites.

Josh Chefetz rates single malt scotches.

Judith | 03/29/05 at 11:10 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

Democracy watch, the next round

Previous entry here and click back from there for the others.

A panoramic view of demonstrators in Taiwan.

More rumbles on Russia's borders. (I remember some grumbling when Condi was being considered for State, to the effect that she was a Russia expert and didn't have background in the Middle East. Hmmmm. . . . it doesn't seem like such a bad idea to have a Russia expert running the State Department.)

Bhutan wants some democracy too.

Enough of these protest babes - Beefcake Democracy!

UPDATE: Willisms is tracking all the democracy movements, with vivid photos from Zimbabwe and Kyrgyzstan.

Judith | 03/29/05 at 10:45 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Nation-building

Human rights watch, cont.

All Terri Schiavo posts are here.

Unlike David Klinghoffer, I applaud the Seattle Jewish Federation's outreach to gay and lesbian Jews. But I share his impatience with the liberal Jewish community's reaction to the Schiavo case.

Jewish Democrats in Congress and the Florida legislature led the rushed struggle to fend off efforts to save the brain-damaged woman. Meanwhile, I had a chance to personally gauge Jewish sentiment when Seattle's largest Conservative synagogue graciously invited me to speak on an unrelated subject - my new book, Why the Jews Rejected Jesus, which acknowledges the cultural contributions of Christianity.

In the Q&A period, the synagogue's rabbi asked what contributions I had in mind. When I mentioned the campaign by Christians to rescue Terri Schiavo from being killed by her husband Michael, who claimed she'd want it this way, the crowd reacted with a sharp intake of breath, shocked murmurs as if I'd said a kind word about the Spanish Inquisition.

Continue reading "Human rights watch, cont."

Judith | 03/29/05 at 07:38 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

Becki Snow explains it all to you

All Terri Schiavo posts are here.

Via one of my NYC Liberal Hawk homies, we bring you live-blogging from the street in front of Woodside Hospice, which seems to have a Woodstock vibe.

Continue reading "Becki Snow explains it all to you"

Judith | 03/29/05 at 07:03 AM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 28, 2005

Human rights watch: More fishy details

All Terri Schiavo posts are here.

Yet one more disability activist chimes in.

For those of us in the organized disability rights movement, it looks like Terri Schiavo is being put to death for the crime of being disabled. Disability makes many people uncomfortable. How many times have you said, or heard someone say, "I would never want to live like that." Or,"I would rather be dead than be like that."

Continue reading "Human rights watch: More fishy details"

Judith | 03/28/05 at 09:19 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

I was saving this post for a time when this blog needs some levity

Tim Blair presents Texaco Tracey-Lou and her Toeless Tennessee Tappers:

MoonSEAL Daughter My momma was a moonbat
Daddy was a Navy SEAL
So I grew up conflicted
The way a moonSEAL daughter will
Momma went to demonstrations
But Daddy liked to hunt
Ma was always readin� Pilger
Daddy said he was a largely discredited commentator on Middle Eastern issues

(chorus) Dear Lord, have mercy on a moonSEAL girl!
Bipolar creation of different worlds
She don�t know if her enemy�s a Muslim or a Jew
She wants to read The Guardian and kill Osama too (end chorus)

I voted Bush AND Kerry
And drink wheatgrass on the rocks
I bought my solar SUV With Halliburton stocks
I support Kyoto But I�d nuke Hiroshima
If you don�t like my attitude Then blame my Ma and Pa

(chorus) Dear Lord, have mercy on a moonSEAL girl!
Bipolar creation of different worlds
Half of her is communist and half of her is right
Checkin� Instapundit every day and Daily Kos at night (fade)


That could almost have been written by Kinky Friedman. . . .

Judith | 03/28/05 at 09:06 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Sensual pleasures

A final bit of Purim

This week's Havel Havelim Jewish blog roundup is all about Purim. Many many Jewish blogs on the topic, and a nice way to get acquainted with more of the Jewish blogosphere if you haven't already.

Gideon's Blog on Purim, Good Friday, and Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure."

Purim in Tel Aviv, with Imshin and family.

UPDATE: Purim musings from costuming maven Naomi.

UPDATE: A showbiz Purim from My Urban Kvetch.

Judith | 03/28/05 at 12:18 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Holy Days

March 27, 2005

Poskening

All Terri Schiavo posts are here.

I linked to this article in the Jewish Week on halachic opinions on removing Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. Commenter "alcibiades" fisks the article:

Continue reading "Poskening"

Judith | 03/27/05 at 09:25 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

One feminist point of view

All Terri Schiavo posts are here.

More from Catherine Johnson (Watch it, Catherine! Frequent guest postings are a reliable warning sign of starting one's own blog!). Previous guest entries from Catherine here and here and here:

Continue reading "One feminist point of view"

Judith | 03/27/05 at 07:12 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 27, 2005

It was fahbulous, dahling!

Oh, the frenetic social swirl of NYC bloggers! The glamour! The celebrity sightings! The flirting! The scintillating conversation! the drinking! The pulsating way-too-loud music! Oh, and Happy Easter from Ace. UPDATE: What Ken, Eric, and Kim were doing instead. . . . more »

Judith | 03/27/05 at 06:51 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

March 26, 2005

Letter to the editor, cont.

Last week I sent this letter to the Jewish Week criticizing their coverage of the Columbia U Conference on Academic Integrity and the Middle East. They didn't print my letter but they did print these: . . . more »

Judith | 03/26/05 at 08:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Israel vs. the world

March 25, 2005

They tried to kill us, they failed, let's eat hamentaschen

Meryl Yourish:Purim is the holiday where the Jews kicked the crap out of the Persians. And that was using only swords. A lesson for Iran to think about today.The story. And more on Purim and its customs here. . . . more »

Judith | 03/25/05 at 05:49 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Holy Days

There are no good answers

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. This comment at Ace of Spades deserves its own entry, because it sums up the dilemma:The intellectual libertarian in me demands logical consistency. I've raged at the court's and the left's poorly veiled . . . more »

Judith | 03/25/05 at 04:45 PM | 3 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

Human rights watch, cont.

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. Disability rights lawyer Harriet Johnson expands on her Slate article on NPR and CNN. She is so clear and sensible. Give a listen. . . . more »

Judith | 03/25/05 at 03:25 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

The murky realm of motives

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. I previously gave some guest blog space to Catherine Johnson, co-author with autistic industrial engineer Temple Grandin of Animals in Translation, and the mother of two autistic children. Now Catherine says something just . . . more »

Judith | 03/25/05 at 01:54 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 23, 2005

I have a life

I have another Schiavo post coming, with more from Catherine Johnson (her first guest post is here), but I have to do some real life first. Meanwhile, it's snowing here in Manhattan, and Tim Blair has some scathing comments. . . . more »

Judith | 03/23/05 at 03:21 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 22, 2005

Party animals

If you're in the NYC area, check it out. . . . more »

Judith | 03/22/05 at 11:37 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

Guest post

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. Two days ago Catherine Johnson - a writer and regular commenter on Roger Simon's blog - wrote an essay about the Terri Schiavo case. Catherine and I are on an email list together . . . more »

Judith | 03/22/05 at 05:43 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

Pikuach nefesh

All Terri Schiavo posts are here. One of the most important principles of Jewish law is "pikuach nefesh" - saving life. Almost all other laws and all ritual are subordinate to it. At the same time, Jews are sensible . . . more »

Judith | 03/22/05 at 10:12 AM | 17 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

Human rights watch, cont.

All Terri Schiavo posts here. Here is a technical discussion of her CAT scan, by a radiologist with 15 years experience: . . . more »

Judith | 03/22/05 at 08:01 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 21, 2005

Antisemitism watch, yet again.

Previous entry on this topic here. Gerard on the ancient virus. Check out this Israeli version of CampusWatch. Gaze with awe upon the full moonbattean glory of Israeli universities, and contemplate the self-hatred of their Jewish Israeli professors, who . . . more »

Judith | 03/21/05 at 11:22 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Antisemitism watch

Human rights watch, cont.

My previous post on Terri Schiavo attempted to scrape away some of the ideological artifacts of culture-war and bring to the surface the human rights dilemma involved. Ross Douthat makes a similar point, that this isn't about Democrats or . . . more »

Judith | 03/21/05 at 10:24 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

March 20, 2005

Purim carnival

Soccer Dad is hosting a special Purim edition of Havel Havelim, the weekly Jewish blog showcase. If Purim inspires your creative funnybone, send him your entries. A handy guide to creating Purim schpiels. . . . more »

Judith | 03/20/05 at 08:01 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Holy Days

Human rights watch

All Terri Schiavo posts here. Via the Corner, this historian speaks for me:No, I am not a right to lifer. I am a pro choice absolutist. Moreover, my daughter is so sick of hearing me tell her I do . . . more »

Judith | 03/20/05 at 07:26 PM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Terri Schiavo

Dueling splinter groups

Yesterday after shul, and after the interesting study session after shul, I schlepped in my nice clothes over to the East Side to meet up with the NYC Protest Warriors, who had been confronting the A.N.S.W.E.R. moonbat brigade since . . . more »

Judith | 03/20/05 at 07:25 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Useful idiots

Blog roundup

Full moon over Manhattan from Lesley. The Unexpected Return of the Husband from Gerard. Bunny suicides from Michele. Yet more Friday Bluebird Blogging from Fletch. Bush-Putin hanky panky from Ivan. From the mouths of babes, from Ayelet. . . . more »

Judith | 03/20/05 at 05:25 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

March 18, 2005

Paul Wolfowitz: mensch

Paul Wolfowitz, whose nomination as World Bank president has stirred controversy, discussed poverty and development issues with Irish rock star Bono in two phone conversations on Thursday, an adviser said. Wolfowitz adviser Kevin Kellems told Reuters the deputy U.S. . . . more »

Judith | 03/18/05 at 09:17 PM | 5 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

Hostage negotiation, cont.

I said last week:In 2004 we watched the Left hold the Democratic Party hostage to antiwar and identity group politics. Now that the Republicans are in the driver's seat and floating candidates for 2008, you can watch their Right . . . more »

Judith | 03/18/05 at 08:52 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea

Dept. of "Why do they hate us?"

Via Ann Althouse, a review of The American Enemy: The History of French Anti-Americanism by Philippe Roger, who shows that . . . more »

Judith | 03/18/05 at 08:05 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Useful idiots

March 17, 2005

Antisemitism watch - Canadian edition

Previous Antisemitism Watch here and here. More erasing of Jewish history: Canada is carefully removing "Israel" from the passports of all citizens born in Jerusalem. Canada also has hate crime laws that somehow don't get applied to threats against . . . more »

Judith | 03/17/05 at 11:07 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Antisemitism watch

When I was a boy, part II

Part I here. Also here and here. First of all, Howard Kurtz has weighed in on the female political blogger kerfluffle. After quoting a few high-profile female bloggers and columnists, he says:As for this column, I encourage female bloggers . . . more »

Judith | 03/17/05 at 10:53 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: Competing narratives

Alternate reality Dept., cont.

I reported here about some upcoming protests in NYC this weekend. Our local Protest Warrior macher forwarded to the troops a very interesting correspondence within the antiwar movement. Apparently, the New York contingent of United for Peace and Justice . . . more »

Judith | 03/17/05 at 10:39 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Useful idiots

For St Paddy's Day

Some old Irish poetry from Oxblog. (If I were home much tomorrow and not having to somewhat unexpectedly prep for leading shacharit this Saturday, I would haul out my old Bothy Band and Planxty tapes.) Since this is a . . . more »

Judith | 03/17/05 at 08:05 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

Maybe I should start reading Alterman's blog

People like Major Robert Bateman are willing to email him:A few days ago an Italian journalist, recently freed by a ransom paid (to people who are, not to be too delicate about it, trying to kill Mrs. Bateman�s son), . . . more »

Judith | 03/17/05 at 01:09 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq

18 months later, Eric Alterman is still an ass

I found this via Fred Kaplan at Slate (i.e. I don't read Eric Alterman voluntarily). Alterman chats up Wolfowitz at a ritzy NYC media cocktail party. (Links embedded in the quote are mine) : . . . more »

Judith | 03/17/05 at 12:26 AM | 4 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Useful idiots

March 16, 2005

The conscience of the blogosphere

I provoked Eric's screed about the intellectually lazy political blogosphere, and then urged him to post it, so go read it. Eric lands some accurate blows, although I am not as exercised about this stuff as he is, being . . . more »

Judith | 03/16/05 at 11:12 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

Blog roundup

An appreciation of Iowahawk, aka David Burge. I have met Dave and can vouch for Lifson's description. Canadian lefty journalist Antonia Zerbesias braves a bar full of conservative Canadian bloggers and lives to tell the tale. Ilyka teaches us . . . more »

Judith | 03/16/05 at 09:59 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

Democracy watch

Previous entry in this series here and click back for the others. More photographic evidence of the shall we say different organizational cultures of the pro-Lebanese and pro-Syrian demonstrators. Babe Power is a significant element but not the only . . . more »

Judith | 03/16/05 at 09:53 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Tikkun olam

Antisemitism watch update

Several weeks ago I posted about a Wahabi attempt to infiltrate a public school system in Arizona with distorted history about Islam and Judaism. A friend of mine exchanged letters with the relevant authorities and gave me permission to . . . more »

Judith | 03/16/05 at 09:26 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Antisemitism watch

People will blog about anything Dept

Glenn links to I Love Colonoscopies. (However, for some reason the blogger explains his unusual passion somewhere else.) Coincidentally, my second colonoscopy is next week. (Several of my relatives died of colon cancer, although I'm healthy so far.) They've . . . more »

Judith | 03/16/05 at 09:04 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

March 15, 2005

Blogger commercial

If you are in the vicinity of New York City, you must remember to go see Ivan Lenin perform tomorrow night. (And check out his all-blogger band the Wifebeaters too.) PS Julia Gorin is also on the bill. . . . more »

Judith | 03/15/05 at 02:46 PM | 3 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: NYC

Alternate reality Dept.

Since the antiwar movement can't allow itself to celebrate the spread of democracy, the overthrow of tyrants, and the recovery of the economy, all it can do is mourn. . . . more »

Judith | 03/15/05 at 12:31 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Useful idiots

Academic Integrity and the Middle East: Letter to the Editor

The Jewish Week published this report on the Columbia conference on Academic Integrity and the Middle East. I just sent them this letter: . . . more »

Judith | 03/15/05 at 12:14 AM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Israel vs. the world

March 14, 2005

Small vanities

Instructions for contributing to next week's Jewish blog carnival, Havel Havelim (also links to previous roundups). . . . more »

Judith | 03/14/05 at 09:53 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

Academic Integrity and the Middle East, cont.

Previous entries in this series here and here. The Forward puts a lot of spin on its report of the Columbia conference, showcasing the students' complaints that their nuanced positions about Columbia in particular are being swamped by a . . . more »

Judith | 03/14/05 at 08:01 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Israel vs. the world

Subliminal in NYC

I didn't go see Zionist Israeli rapper Subliminal last night, although I publicized his upcoming show. I'm not into rap in general and tickets were $40. But Yaron has a review. . . . more »

Judith | 03/14/05 at 06:09 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: NYC

Democracy watch

Previous entry in this series here. Once again the naysayers are confounded as the Lebanese rally to let the world know how much support Boy Assad and Friends really (don't) have. (Check out the Lebanese flag made out of . . . more »

Judith | 03/14/05 at 05:09 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Nation-building

March 13, 2005

Hostage negotiation

In 2004 we watched the Left hold the Democratic Party hostage to antiwar and identity group politics. Now that the Republicans are in the driver's seat and floating candidates for 2008, you can watch their Right hold them hostage . . . more »

Judith | 03/13/05 at 11:45 PM | 5 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea

Another gender kerfluffle

Previous gender kerfluffle posts here, here, and here. The usual suspects grabbed the opportunity to cluck about "women doing a man's job" when the Atlanta murderer got away from a single guard (who happens to be female). However, if . . . more »

Judith | 03/13/05 at 11:07 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

Latest spam innovation

It had to happen:Dear Sir, My humble compliments. My name is Capt. David Spins I am an American soldier, I am serving in the military of the 1st Armored Division in Iraq, we have just been re-assigned to Germany. . . . more »

Judith | 03/13/05 at 09:42 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

Random notes

Comments on stuff I couldn't shove into any pre-existing categories. I like this idea, but I would make it 10 years. Not supervision all that time, just stay clean and free for 10 years and you get to vote . . . more »

Judith | 03/13/05 at 09:21 AM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

Yet more antisemitism watch

Found on a footpath in Sydney, Australia. An Israeli interpreter at the latest anti-globalization fest describes more of the usual lefty antisemitism, but because she's writing for the Village Voice, she avoids condemning it or even naming it. (Or . . . more »

Judith | 03/13/05 at 12:09 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Antisemitism watch

March 12, 2005

I love the blogosphere Dept.

In a comment thread at Baraita, Will offered to check into Daf Yomi classes in Manhattan that might accept women. He and I exchanged a few emails on Thursday and Friday. We had never met or corresponded previously. So . . . more »

Judith | 03/12/05 at 11:51 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

A vanity post

The latest edition of Havel Havelim, the weekly Jewish "best of the blogs," is up at Israpundit. If you are a Jewish blog, consider offering to host. It's not that much work and can get you lots of exposure . . . more »

Judith | 03/12/05 at 11:26 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 11, 2005

Why I like living in Manhattan

One reason is all the smart fun political bloggers I have met, most of whom I got to hang with last night at a bar a few blocks from the UN. The most complete reports are from Karol and . . . more »

Judith | 03/11/05 at 04:06 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Life and how to live it

When Asher met Michael, or, Sleepless in Portland

It's kind of like looking through the Hubble telescope to see the formation of new stars, except this is happening right now, at Asher's blog. It's the formation of another chapter of the Liberal Hawks movement. PS Michael's account . . . more »

Judith | 03/11/05 at 03:18 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Liberal hawks and friends

March 10, 2005

Kevin Drum, the gift that keeps on giving

It's been over two weeks since the slightly-to-the-right-of-Howard-Dean blogosphere tap-danced on Kevin Drum's head, and we were starting to get pudgy and uncoordinated from lack of exercise. So Kevin came to the rescue with more "du'oh!" comments. Michelle has . . . more »

Judith | 03/10/05 at 04:04 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

March 09, 2005

The New Silent Majority, cont.

Previous entry on this topic here. Now that the election is over, the social conservatives are trying to ignore the fact that the liberal hawks gave Bush the edge he needed, and attempting to consolidate their power in Congress. . . . more »

Judith | 03/09/05 at 08:43 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Liberal hawks and friends

Academic Integrity and the Middle East - the students

Previous entry in this series here. Mary has posted her report, with pix. She has details of Phyllis Chesler's speech (including the unimaginative and boorish heckling and canned "protest" at nonexistant "censorship"), and Charles Jacob's speech (which he shared . . . more »

Judith | 03/09/05 at 07:29 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Israel vs. the world

March 08, 2005

By the rivers of Babylon

Via Dreams into Lightning, two incredible essays by Rabbi David Zaslow, a major player in the Jewish Renewal movement. These are significant because Jewish Renewal, or neo-hasidism, is at the far left of your radio dial, and Rabbi Zaslow's . . . more »

Judith | 03/08/05 at 10:38 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

More antisemitism watch, unfortunately

Melanie Phillips points us to this article in Commentary about former CIA honcho Michael "Congress is an Israeli puppet" Sheuer (whose conspiracy ravings I noted previously) which asks how the CIA could have degenerated to such a point as . . . more »

Judith | 03/08/05 at 09:03 PM | Categories: - Antisemitism watch

Way Cool Science Stuff

I haven't posted a Cool Stuff link roundup in quite a while. Enough politics! Bring on the 10 ugliest animals in the world! Some bacteria live a very long time. The web was made for sites like this: an . . . more »

Judith | 03/08/05 at 08:31 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Amazing things

March 07, 2005

Academic Integrity and the Middle East - the speakers

Last Sunday, several of us NYC Liberal Hawks attended a free all-day conference at Columbia University on Academic Integrity and the Middle East, sponsored by Scholars for Peace in the Middle East. The events that precipitated the conference were . . . more »

Judith | 03/07/05 at 11:59 PM | 0 Comments | 1 TrackBacks | Categories: - Israel vs. the world

March 04, 2005

Gunner Palace

The much heralded documentary about a troop of soldiers in Baghdad just after the end of the war opened today here in NYC and other major markets, to be followed next week by many other cities. Gunner Palace also . . . more »

Judith | 03/04/05 at 11:32 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Iraq

Antisemitism watch, cont.

Jihadism is taking a page from the leftist academic establishment and trying to establish its ideas in our culture by infiltrating schools, in this case grade schools. Solomon has a link to a chilling report on the effort, and . . . more »

Judith | 03/04/05 at 04:50 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Antisemitism watch

Biladi

Subliminal is going to be in NYC March 13, at BBKing's.Israeli rapper Subliminal makes his U.S. debut tonight in Los Angeles, but his presence has already been felt around the world. Known as a right-wing Zionist, the hip-hop star . . . more »

Judith | 03/04/05 at 12:01 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Eretz Yisrael

March 03, 2005

More Berachot

Previous Daf Yomi posts here and here. I haven't read my Daf Yomi for today yet, but Soccer Dad pointed me to Parshablog, who like me is chronicling his Talmud study. (But he is much more learned than I . . . more »

Judith | 03/03/05 at 05:44 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

March 02, 2005

More Condi buzz

I was telling someone at the Protest Warrior meeting/excuse to drink beer last week that it's a shame Condi isn't Jewish. Then it would be perfect. News Anchor #1 (with furrowed brow) to News Anchor #2: "Bill, do you . . . more »

Judith | 03/02/05 at 11:35 PM | 1 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea

Daf Yomi, Berachot 2a

Introductory Daf Yomi post here, which explains the whole thing for those of you who didn't read KT before. Naomi Chana - who along with articles in the Forward and Jewish Week inspired me to do this - says . . . more »

Judith | 03/02/05 at 08:54 PM | 2 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: Doing Jewish

Silly little placeholder blog roundup

Best. Gates blog post. Ever. An exhaustive taxonomy of flamers and trolls and other dysfunctional online personalities, with cute illustrations. Which one are you? Dentistry up close. Free computer screen cleaner. Really. UPDATE: The Gates added more than $250 . . . more »

Judith | 03/02/05 at 08:24 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - Around the blogosphere

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the park . . .

I thought I was done with Gates blogging, but I must note this valiant attempt to keep the meme going. . . . more »

Judith | 03/02/05 at 12:22 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: NYC

. . . and your new name shall be "Dances with Dictators"

I just sent an email to Michael Ledeen, about an unfortunate phrase in an otherwise excellent article:then the reactionary Clinton years, featuring a female secretary of state who danced with dictators.Michael, I agree with you about all this stuff, . . . more »

Judith | 03/02/05 at 12:17 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks | Categories: - From Sea to Shining Sea

March 01, 2005

Congratulations to all Daf Yomi participants!

Today thousands of