Monthly Archives: July 2008

Homebuying jitters

Posted on 07/31/2008 by Meryl Yourish

Wow, buyer’s remorse hit me big-time last night, and I haven’t even had the home inspection yet. (Next Thursday.) I was making a budget and, well, I don’t think I plugged the numbers in exactly right, because I scared the … Continue reading →

Posted in Life | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Olmert odds and ends

Posted on 07/31/2008 by Soccerdad

With the end of his political career at hand (or perhaps in a half year) it’s hard to remember that there was a time when Ehud Olmert was considered an up and comer in the Likud party. (He did rise … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

American reaction to Olmert’s announcement

Posted on 07/31/2008 by Soccerdad

Not surprisingly the Washington Post’s coverage of Olmert’s announcement that he would step down after the Kadima primaries, focuses on the peace process. Palestinian officials reacted cautiously, with Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki saying that Olmert’s decision would not change much, … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Politics | Tagged | Comments Off

AP on anti-fence protest: What rocks? What violence?

Posted on 07/31/2008 by Meryl Yourish

The AP covered the Palestinian protests against the security barrier in an in-depth story. But there’s something pretty huge missing from this story. In fact, it’s missing from the lead, and from any real description of the protests, until way, … Continue reading →

Posted in AP Media Bias, Israel | Tagged | Comments Off

Don’t let the door hit you, OK?

Posted on 07/31/2008 by Soccerdad

Judging from many of the reactions to PM Olmert’s announcement that he would not run again to lead his party, Kadima, it would possible to say that he’d envy President Bush’s level of popularity. Yossi Klein Halevi writes (h/t Shalem … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel | Tagged | Comments Off

Syria and Iran, BFF

Posted on 07/31/2008 by Meryl Yourish

Yeah, they’re going so well, those indirect talks, that Ahmadinejad has the Syrian Foreign Minister in town and is talking about being BFF. Like, omigawd! Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met on Tuesday evening with visiting Syrian Foreign Affairs Minister, Walid … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Syria | Tagged | 1 Comment

Gas money

Posted on 07/30/2008 by Meryl Yourish

Well, that’s depressing. I used a single credit card to pay for all my gas expenses from June 30 to July 28. The total, counting tolls: $376.64.

Posted in Life | Tagged | 5 Comments

Chico

Posted on 07/30/2008 by Meryl Yourish

Herschel is one of my longtime regulars. Chico was his. Chico Jan. 8, 1988-July 30, 2008

Posted in Cats | Tagged | 7 Comments

Breaking: Israel will have a new leader

Posted on 07/30/2008 by Meryl Yourish

Olmert is resigning. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held a special press conference on Wednesday at 8 p.m. where he announced he will not run in the Kadima primary scheduled to take place in September. Olmert said he would resign from … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel | Tagged | 3 Comments

Values of classical journalism

Posted on 07/30/2008 by Soccerdad

via memeorandum I wanted to believe the worst of the Obama campaign. I wanted to believe that they had released the note that the candidate had place in the Kotel (Western Wall) to two newspapers. There was some indication that … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

A passive aggressive national ethos

Posted on 07/30/2008 by Soccerdad

The other day I commented on a story from the Washington Post that Arab states were failing to fulfill their commitments to fund the Palestinian Authority. Since then a few other bloggers have written about the story as well as … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, palestinian politics | Tagged | 2 Comments

AP – stoking the fire of anti-Israeli sentiment

Posted on 07/30/2008 by SnoopyTheGoon

The AP falsely reported that Israel is building a new settlement on the West Bank and linked this to a wrong-headed spin on an important national leader visiting Israel. No, not Obama! He’s still just a candidate. I’m referring to … Continue reading →

Posted in AP Media Bias | Comments Off

I miss Ilyka

Posted on 07/29/2008 by Meryl Yourish

Come back, Ilyka. Come back. I have no one else to hang with while tweaking the boys on feminist issues.

Posted in Bloggers, Feminism | 3 Comments

Ready for a rumble

Posted on 07/29/2008 by Soccerdad

Yesterday I expressed skepticism that Fatah and Hamas were headed for a civil war. Maybe I was too quick. There are indications that things have indeed heated up. Whether they’ve reached a plateau or will continue to escalate remains to … Continue reading →

Posted in palestinian politics | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Gaza economics 101

Posted on 07/29/2008 by Meryl Yourish

The UN is really, really worried about the economy of the Gaza Strip. UNRWA workers claim poverty is at “unprecedented” highs. The number of households in the Gaza Strip below the poverty line has reached an unprecedented high of nearly … Continue reading →

Posted in Gaza, World | Tagged | 1 Comment

Fragrance

Posted on 07/28/2008 by Meryl Yourish

When last we mentioned Tig’s particular, ah, ailment, it was under control. The antibiotic ear goop that the vet prescribed had cleared up his gastrointestinal upsets, and the kitty flatulence was conquered. Or so we thought. Tig started getting more … Continue reading →

Posted in Cats | Tagged | 10 Comments

The shallow Egypt-Israel peace

Posted on 07/28/2008 by Meryl Yourish

One of the shining examples of peacemaking in the Middle East always comes back to the 1978 Camp David Accords. Peace between Israel and Egypt is held up as the prize package, even though no other Arab country has waged … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel Derangement Syndrome, World | Tagged | 1 Comment

Israeli columnist: Hamastan is a good thing!

Posted on 07/28/2008 by Soccerdad

When I saw the following link at Ha’aretz – Aluf Benn: ‘Hamastan’ is prototyope for future Palestinian state, I was surprised. Benn is a committed leftist, and I was surprised that he was acknowledging the danger of strengthening Hamas. Then … Continue reading →

Posted in Gaza, Hamas, Israel Derangement Syndrome | Comments Off

Arab states don’t fulfill their commitments to the Palestinians

Posted on 07/28/2008 by Soccerdad

The Washington Post reports Arab Aid to Palestinians Often Doesn’t Fulfill Pledges. In 2002, when oil prices were hovering around $21 a barrel, nearly two dozen Arab nations joined to pledge yearly contributions of $660 million to support the Palestinian … Continue reading →

Posted in Hamas, Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome | Tagged | 1 Comment

Is there a civil war brewing?

Posted on 07/28/2008 by Soccerdad

Elder of Ziyon was likely one of the first bloggers to note Friday’s bombing in Gaza, which brought the death toll of Palestinians killed by Palestinians this year up to 122. Israel Matzav wondered if there’s a harbinger of civil … Continue reading →

Posted in Gaza, Hamas | 2 Comments