So, how many of my readers are well-versed in the art of home buying?

There’s a townhouse development going up near me that I’m very interested in, and I’d like to do a lot of research about mortgages and buying a home and that sort of thing.

It comes with a garage. Wow. HUGE selling point for me. I’d be able to keep my Jeep topless most of the year.

The slightly-delayed version of SNN is now up. Yours truly discusses the death of Kurt Waldheim, the former head of the UN and Nazi officer. Hogan’s Heroes are invoked.

I may post the essay. No, wait. Can’t post the ones with audio clips in them. They won’t work. Sorry, you’ll have to go listen.

SNN is now 5 away from our 100th episode. Any suggestions on what you’d like me to discuss for that one?

Baseball comes to Israel, and the sportscasters are wondering how to translate the game lingo into Hebrew.

Puzzled broadcasters calling the first professional baseball game in Israeli history struggled with rendering baseball lingo into the holy tongue of Hebrew.

After a valiant effort at translating some of the terms, they gave up — lacing their broadcast with Hebrew-accented versions of ball, strike, out, majors, pitcher and base hit.

And of course, the AP gets it wrong.

There were no peanuts, no Cracker Jack, no “Star-Spangled Banner.” Three thousand fans cheered Sunday as the Modi’in Miracles beat the Petah Tikva Pioneers, 9-1.

Really?

When fans stood for the ‘National Anthem’, they didn’t take off their hats, as they do in the US, because this was Hatikva, not the Star Spangled Banner. But no matter the song, fans are always hungry. They bellied up to the concession stands to buy food, and there was plenty: chicken wings, onion rings, French fries, salads, chicken nuggets and of course hot dogs and hamburgers. There was potato chips and caramel pop corn too, as well as Israeli favorites like Bamba, a peanut-flavored snack.

This is my favorite quote:

To develop local talent, Baras hired Dan Duquette, the former general manager of the Boston Red Sox, to be the league’s director of player development.

“It’s a proud day for Israel because this is the first professional game in 5,000 years,” Duquette said before the game.

Yeah, after forty years of wandering in the desert, the ancient Hebrews just weren’t in the mood for a nice little pick-up game once they found the Promised Land. But hey, with the many thousands of American expats, it’s time.

Most of the fans, over 90 percent, were either Americans who moved to Israel and became Israeli, or were children of American-Israelis. Many have lived here a long time, but have never given up their love of the sport.

“It’s great to see baseball in Israel, something I was waiting for for a long time - 15 years,” said Paul Stark, who came from Ma’aleh Adumim, east of Jerusalem, to take in the game. “You used to have to listen to short wave radios, now we can see it live. It’s probably around class A level, maybe a little below it - but it’s better than nothing!”

Stark said the game has evolved beyond the borders of America, and will help Israelis learn about that broader world.

Actually, it would help Israelis learn more about Americans. Most of the rest of the world doesn’t care about baseball. Except Japan and Cuba.

And here’s my second favorite quote:

“How do you say ‘Go Modi’in’ in Hebrew?” one Israeli teenage girl asked her friend.

“Go Modi’in,” was the reply.

Yep. Lots to learn.

Update 2: Bastard voted for cloture. See? That’s why I ran against him. I would have voted against.

Update: Finally got through, and his staffer said that Senator Webb has not declared how he intends to vote.

I just got off the phone from trying to call one my senators to tell him to vote no on the amnesty bill. Senator Webb’s Washington voicemail is full. The line is busy. The Richmond number is free, and staff members are answering. 804-771-2221 if you’d like to talk to a person and tell them to tell Senator Webb to vote NO on the Amnesty bill.

My grandparents and great-grandparents all entered this country legally. So should the 12 million illegals currently breaking the laws in our nation. Amnesty? No. Legal immigration? Yes.

Here are all of Webb’s contact numbers. Call him to make sure he votes no on the amnesty bill.

Hampton Roads
222 Central Park Ave.
Suite 120
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Phone: 757-518-1674
Fax: 757-518-1679

Richmond Office
507 East Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-771-2221
Fax: 804-771-8313

Roanoke Office
3140 Chaparral Drive
Building C, Suite 101
Roanoke, VA 24018
Phone: 540-772-4236
Fax: 540-772-6870

Washington, D.C.
144 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4024
Fax: 202-228-6363

I should just rerun my previous posts.

Abbas is making many demands of Israel, and once again is not promising anything of substance in return. Is he going to stop Al Aqsa from trying to murder Israelis at every opportunity (including sending kassams from Gaza)? Is he going to give up Zacharia Zubedei, one of the most-wanted terrorists in the West Bank, and the man who hoisted Abbas on his shoulders when Abbas ran for president? Is he going to shut down the bomb shops in the West Bank?

No. But here are his demands:

Al-Hayat, the London based newspaper, reported that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas demanded of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to release, inter alia, Marwan Barghouti, former Secretary-General of Fatah in the West Bank.

According to these sources, Abbas hoped that Barghouti’s release would restore Fatah’s popularity among the Palestinian public and give the movement a boost in the West Bank.

Abbas had other demands for Olmert at the summit. Sources said that he asked Olmert to drastically reduce IDF presence in West Bank cities, remove major roadblocks near cities and start lifting limitations on Palestinians’ movement in the West Bank.

He also demanded that the Israeli government transfer the tax money it was holding, as agreed.

And with all of this, does he at least have an idea on how to shut down Hamas in Gaza? Does he concur with Israel on denying aid to Gaza?

No.

Mahmoud Abbas told al-Hayat reporters that he did not agree to the financial boycott on the Gaza Strip. This differs from the opinion, commonly held in Jerusalem, that Fatah wanted Israel to crack down even further on the Strip, thereby damaging Hamas.

In other words, nothing has changed. Abbas, the weakling, is going to hold onto his power at all costs, and is also—as he has always been—part of the group that wants to destroy Israel and put a Palestinian state in her place.

Yaakov Kirschen has what I think is the perfect analysis of the current leadership of Israel:

In assessing our situation we need to remember that our main enemy at this point in history is Iran (Persia). Let’s not forget that the Persians invented the game of chess. They now control Gaza on our south and they’ve got another piece (Hizbullah) on our north.This deadly game requires our best and our brightest.

And that is just not Ehud Olmert.

Who are Israel’s best and brightest? Because she needs them, and fast.

Read this one in full: Noam Shalit is interviewed by Hamas, and shoves their propaganda right down their throats.

In response to the host’s claim that the demand made by the groups holding Gilad that Israel release long-time male prisoners, female prisoners and prisoners who are still minors is a legitimate demand, Shalit said: “These organizations have not yet decided their position on which prisoners they want released and the list was submitted to Egypt only last month.”

Shalit said that no negotiations were made regarding the list of the prisoners despite Israel’s demand to receive an updated manifest. Israel, said Shalit, has no objection to freeing sick and elderly prisoners, but Hamas is not interested in these prisoners, only those still tied up with the organization and those serving lengthy sentences.

Read the lede: Hamas spokesliar says the release of the Gilad Shalit tape is an act of “goodwill,” like they’re supposed to get a reward for finally showing some evidence that Shalit may still be alive. No quotes. Can’t stomach them on my blog.

Make up your own mind: Olmert says the tape is just another example of Hamas’ cruelty. As an example of “In your face, Hamas!” Olmert promises to release 250 Palestinian prisoners, none of whom will have “blood on their hands” (e.g., have been charged with killing or trying to kill Israelis). But they’re going to sign a document saying they won’t hurt Israelis, so that’s all right, then. [insert eye roll here]

Read-in-full: Hamas is planning more terror attacks. Well, yeah.

Last-but-not-least: Al Qaeda calls on Muslims to support Hamas. Well, gee. Let’s get that Islamic caliphate started already, boys! We lost Afghanistan, but we picked up Gaza! At least, for now.