Sunday snarks

Really? An Austrian has the nerve to criticize a Jew? Really? The Austrian defense minister is criticizing Avigdor Lieberman’s place in Israel’s cabinet. This would be a man from the nation that in response to the revelation of Kurt Waldeim’s Nazi past elected him president as a middle finger to the world for thinking that perhaps Austria, the birthplace of Hitler and the place where he learned to hate Jews, might not want an ex-Nazi in its government. So eff you, Norbert Darabos, and eff your effing country, that bred the biggest mass murderer of Jews in all of history. You know, I hope the Israelis keep Leiberman in just to piss off this moron.

Gee, there’s a surprise: Some of the Palestinian terrorists freed in the Shalit deal are looking to kidnap more Israeli soldiers to free more terrorists. Who could have predicted that? And gee, lookie, lookie: The Shin Bet has found a kidnapping squad in Ramallah. Go figure.

Ron Ben-Yishai on the sudden Hamas quiet: In one word–Hudna.

Posted in Anti-Semitism, Hamas, Israel, World | Comments Off on Sunday snarks

An Arabic Talmud?

A team of 90 Jordanian translators labored for six long years to translate the Talmud into Arabic. Of course, they missed a few spots.

The Talmud translation has not maintained the classic look of the Gemara page, and commentary, such as Rashi, is missing. However, it features a glossary and discussion of terms that pose a translation quandary. The translators say they hope that the work will enable new research into Judaism, as well as allowing comparison between Jewish, Muslim, and Christian law.

Look for the Talmud to be misquoted more frequently by Arab anti-Semites now that they have what they will claim is the source material.

In the meantime, you have to get a kick out of this bit. It took a team of ninety people to do the work of–one rabbi.

A group of some 90 Jordanian researchers has spent six long years translating the entire Talmud into Arabic – an echo of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, who labored 45 years translating the Babylonian Talmud from Aramaic into Hebrew.

And that rabbi is an absolute mensch.

In a radio interview Monday, Steinsaltz said his motto is “Let my people know.”

“I did it because it is necessary,” he told the IDF Radio. “The Talmud is the spine of our culture… I wanted to restore to the Jewish people their heritage.”

In addition to the full Hebrew translation, Steinsaltz has rendered parts of the Talmud into English, Spanish, French, and Russian.

Well, now I know where to go if I want to start reading the Talmud. But I suspect I should probably take a class. It isn’t a novel, after all.

Posted in Jews, Religion | 2 Comments

Israel Derangement Syndrome, in all of its glory

Really, can people be any more ridiculous on Israel?

Why yes, yes they can.

I often wonder why so many of its readers find the Morning Star so exasperating. Despite its condemnation of zionists (sic) it yet finds space to include an item in its daily quiz about Israel’s national bird.

Is the Star not aware there’s a cultural boycott going on?And then, despite it’s (sic) condemnation of the Bahrain Grand Prix and rightly so, it then goes on to tell us who won. For goodness sake comrades, get your act together.”

Really, you can’t make this stuff up. The Israel-haters are simply obsessed and deranged with all things Israel.

We’re living in your heads. Rent-free.

I do believe that means we win.

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Friday they just want peace briefs

Sure, the Palestinians want to live in peace with Israel: That’s why they attacked the paramedics who arrived to help their women who got into an accident. Take note: The attackers were Arab Israelis who live in East Jerusalem.

News you don’t hear in the MSM: Say, did you know that the head of Egypt’s Military Council effectively threatened Israel? Of course you didn’t. Because that’s not in the narrative. It is only Israeli threats that are reported. And those are the ones made by politicians with no real backing. Because the narrative says that Israel wants war, and its neighbors want peace, no matter how many times they attack Israel.

Today’s winner of the Keen Grasp of the Obvious Award: The UN. For this:

UN: Monitors alone cannot end Syria bloodshed

Ya think? UN monitors can’t stop Hezbollah from turning southern Lebanon into a war staging zone. Nor could they stop a genocide in Rwanda. Hell, the Boy Scouts would be more effective than the UN.

Boy, am I glad I got my 401K out of the European markets: Get ready, world. Greece already voted in the neo-Nazis, France thinks going back to socialism is going to work, and Europe is filled with immigrants (a.k.a. Muslims from various Arab nations) who are going to feel the brunt of Europe’s bloodthirstiness. There are almost no Jews left, thanks to the last time Europe got bloodthirsty. I have been saying for years that Mark Steyn is wrong about the Islamicization of Europe. What I think will happen is that Europeans will turn nasty again, and Muslims will be their target this time, not Jews. Well, Jews too, the few that are left. When the Euro Zone falls apart, you’ll see who’s right, me or him. I hope we’re both wrong, because people are going to die either way.

Another defamatory cover story about Israel in Time: Yeah, I know, I repeat myself. But now they’re going with the “King Bibi” meme. And while they play lip service to whether this can be a good thing, you know what their conclusion will be without even looking. Just remember: This is the magazine that brought you Menachem Begin (rhymes with Fagin) in an article titled “The World: KIND…HONEST…DANGEROUS’ “. Time magazine: Slanting the news against Israel for more than 35 years.

Just in case you thought Hamas was moderating: Read this interview of Mahmoud al-Zahar and you’ll see that they are not.

euronews: “Let’s be clear. If Iran was attacked, would Hamas remain silent or take military action.”

Mahmoud al-Zahar: “I will not answer that question.”

Yeah, and the MSM pretends that Hamas said it won’t attack Israel on Iran’s orders.

Posted in Hamas, Israel, Media Bias, palestinian politics, United Nations, World | 1 Comment

The Starling Wars

Long-time readers will remember The Woodpecker Wars, wherein a woodpecker decided that my furnace vent was the most awesome tool in the world to hammer out a tune to attract a mate, and affected my sleeping patterns for quite some time.

Well, a pair of starlings is building a nest in my dryer vent. And since I don’t anticipate having anyone come out to put a cage over the vent before next week, and I am quite tired of being awakened at 5 in the freaking morning, I went out there myself, pulled out a bunch of the next, then covered the vent with a cut-up pair of nylons (Sarah’s suggestion–it lets air out and still keeps the birds from getting in).

Classy, I know. But so far, it’s working. There’s a pair of homeless starlings looking for a new place to live right now. Good riddance.

Posted in Life | 5 Comments

Thursday morning briefs

(Let’s hope this time I remember to hit the publish button.)

Yeah, but there are still no new elections, are there: The Palestinians are shuffling cabinet members around, and yet, their elections are what, more than two years overdue? But that’s the Middle East way: One man, one vote, one time. Except for–say it with me folks: Israel. And what is so interesting about this AP article? Why, it doesn’t mention how the democratically-elected government of the West Bank and Gaza have not held elections to see who gets to run the pseudo-statelets next. Here’s the most information you get:

According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Abbas told the new Cabinet that its priority should be to conduct municipal elections that have been delayed repeatedly. Such elections would likely be held only in the West Bank, another sign that implementation of the unity agreement does not seem close.

Mahmoud Abbas is currently serving the eighth year of his four-year term.

Sure, Israel should be pals with Turkey: Because friends scramble military jets on their friends who supposedly are violating the airspace of a country that Turkey invaded illegally, is occupying illegally, and that the world ignores even though Turkey is doing to Cyprus exactly what the world says Israel is doing to the Palestinians. Go figure.

Probably a work accident: Palestinians are claiming Israel fired a tank shell, wounding seven. Israel says there was no tank fire. Gee, I wonder who the media is going to believe?

Posted in Israel, Media Bias, palestinian politics, Turkey | 1 Comment

Writing update

The novel continues apace. I’m past 57,000 words and coming into the home stretch. I’m at the point now where it isn’t word count so much as filling in the spots that I leaped over while writing earlier. I finally figured out that I don’t have to write in a linear fashion, so when I got stuck after chapter four, I wrote scenes in the middle, at the end, somewhere in between the two, and managed to keep the regular writing habit that way. Now, I’ve begun to go back and rewrite some of the beginning chapters to make them match with the new scenes I’m writing. I do believe I’ve really begun to understand how continuity errors occur.

I have a copy editor and cover artist lined up, as well as a proofreader in mind. I’ve picked an IP attorney, one whose firm specializes in the arts (Broadway posters all over his office). And I’ve begun reworking my old writing network ties, which I abandoned after I stopped writing and started JBlogging.

I’ve also gotten more work done on the short stories that will go up before the novel hits, and have a few more marketing/publicity ideas. Oh, and I’ve chosen a new theme for the website. I like it a lot, but we won’t be changing things until June, most likely.

Things are on track. My life is pretty good right now. Stick with me, people. You won’t be disappointed. Especially if you liked the Harry Potter books. Mine are in that genre.

Posted in Writing | Comments Off on Writing update

Tuesday, briefly

Those wily Jews are using migratory birds to spy on their enemies: Yeah, Israel Derangement Syndrome is in full swing. The Turks report they’ve found the Mossad’s latest secret weapon: A bird with big nostrils. Because it was banded in Israel. Yes, really. Go read the article. And then laugh at the paranoia that is the Israel-hating world.

Celebrating with riots: Palestinians are celebrating “Nakba” day with riots.

Dozens of Palestinians clashed with IDF soldiers at the Qalandiya checkpoint in the West Bank. The rioters stoned the troops, who employed crowd-control measures in return. No injuries were reported.

Dozens of Palestinians rioted and torched tires at a checkpoint near the Cave of the Patriarch, as well. IDF troops used crowd-control measures there as well.

Typical.

Air strikes for me, but not for thee: Remember this when Catherine Ashton freaks out over an Israeli hit on a Hamas or PIJ terror cell. The EU is conducting air strikes on Somali pirate bases. No word on whether they hit any civilians that may live there.

Posted in Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome, Israeli Double Standard Time, palestinian politics, World | Comments Off on Tuesday, briefly

Monday back home briefs

But the refusal of Palestinians to negotiate does not: The EU says settlements hinder peace. Meryl says: FU EU.

World’s largest open-air prison now exports clothing: See title.

Faster, please: They stopped drilling in Leviathan. Another year Israel has to rely on Egypt’s gas supply? Faster! Dammit!

A typical Palestinian agreement, which means they don’t keep their promises: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Another news article about the hunger strikers that neglects to note their participation in terrorism.

More than 4,500 Palestinian prisoners are in Israeli prisons for a variety of offenses, ranging from rock-throwing to murder. Of these, about 300 are in administrative detention, according to rights groups.

Right. That’s it, rock-throwing. And you know, it seems to me that if you’re in prison for murder, you don’t get to bitch about the conditions. But that’s just me.

Posted in Israel, Media Bias, palestinian politics, Terrorism | Comments Off on Monday back home briefs

Always, the anti-Israel bias

Just in case you thought the AP might be reforming: Of course not. Look what it reports as the Palestinian preconditions to peace talks with Israel:

Israeli media reported that Israel had called for renewed peace talks without preconditions. Palestinians are demanding that Israel cease settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas they claim as part of their future state, before talks can begin.

Israel has frequently called for peace talks to resume. Israel says settlements should be resolved along with other core issues through negotiations.

The communication by letter demonstrates how thoroughly negotiations to create an independent Palestinian state have fallen apart. The last effort was four months ago, but preliminary meetings between Israeli and Palestinian officials in the Jordanian capital Amman stalled.

Really? A settlement freeze? That’s it?

No.

The letter says Israel must freeze all settlement construction and accept its pre-1967 war boundaries as the basis for the borders of a future Palestine, with mutually agreed upon modifications, according to drafts of the document obtained by The Associated Press.

Please note that the AP cannot so much as dig into its own files to prevent the passing of misinformation. But then, that would ruin the narrative. The narrative says that the Palestinians want to talk peace, but the stubborn Israelis do not. The narrative says that the Palestinians want reasonable preconditions, but the stubborn Israelis won’t agree to even stop building on “Palestinian land”.

Of course the AP can’t report the truth. Because the truth goes against the narrative.

Posted in Israel, Media Bias, palestinian politics | Comments Off on Always, the anti-Israel bias

Travel day

It’s open thread time. Discuss the pros and cons of having an eleven-year-old Jeep with 171,000 miles on it and taking it regularly on trips from Virginia to NJ.

All I can say is, if your engine light is going to start flashing on a 350-mile trip, it is simply the best possible outcome to have it start flashing before you’ve gone two miles and while you haven’t even passed your mechanic.

Got to Mom’s today instead of yesterday, and now have a new ignition coil for my Jeep.

Posted in Life | Comments Off on Travel day

What the AP leaves out of its news on Israel

Once again, the whitewashing of Israel’s enemies is front and center in the AP narrative. While Reuters managed to at least mention, deeply buried that it is, that both Egyptian presidential candidates want to “review” the peace treaty with Israel, the AP doesn’t mention it at all.

Here’s what Reuters buried far down in the article:

Both pledged to review Egypt’s 1979 peace treaty with Israel, a country Abol Fotouh described as an enemy and Moussa called an adversary.

And here’s the AP description of the debate:

The two touched on their economic platforms, the role of the military — which is due to hand over power to whoever wins the presidency — women’s role in politics and even on their own health and what salary they would take if they won.

It is extremely important to know that both candidates consider Israel at least an adversary. So much for the cold peace. Does anyone out there doubt that Egypt is going to trash the peace treaty the first chance it gets, once the Brotherhood has taken over the government? And does anyone out there doubt that the AP will spin it anti-Israel, and Reuters will bury the lede?

Posted in Israel, Media Bias, Middle East | 4 Comments

Echoes of 1967

Charles Krauthammer sees echoes of 1967 in this week’s surprise joining of Likud and Kadima.

The Six-Day War is legend, but less remembered is that on June 1, the nationalist opposition (Menachem Begin’s Likud precursor) was for the first time ever brought into the government, creating an emergency national-unity coalition.

Everyone understood why. You do not undertake a supremely risky preemptive war without the full participation of a broad coalition representing a national consensus.

Forty-five years later, in the middle of the night of May 7–8, 2012, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shocked his country by bringing the main opposition party, Kadima, into a national-unity government — shocking because just hours earlier, the Knesset was expediting a bill to call early elections in September.

Why did the high-flying Netanyahu call off elections he was sure to win?

Because for Israelis today, it is May ’67. The dread is not quite as acute: The mood is not despair, just foreboding. Time is running out, but not quite as fast. War is not four days away, but it looms. Israelis today face the greatest threat to their existence — apocalyptic mullahs publicly pledged to Israel’s annihilation acquiring nuclear weapons — since May ’67. The world is again telling Israelis to do nothing as it looks for a way out. But if such a way is not found — as in ’67 — Israelis know they will once again have to defend themselves, by themselves.

An interesting point of view on the coalition. Read it all.

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Thursday roundup

Yes, I know, I’m shocked, too: Iran is supplying funds for arms smuggling into Sinai. But not to worry, the Egyptian army is about to have a come-to-Muhammed moment with the arms smugglers in the Sinai. (Sarcasm aside, they will, since their people are being killed.)

Canada rocks: Canada is fast becoming Israel’s greatest friend in the West as far as policy matters and standing with Israel are concerned–at least, from the head of the government, that is. Compared to Obama–well, let’s not even bother to finish that statement. And this is another reason why: A non-Jew is developing an academic institute to study anti-Semitism, even as Canadian anti-Semitism rages on.

Vidal Sassoon, Haganah fighter? I didn’t know that. The only thing I knew about him is how much I hated the Sassoon haircut my mother made me get in fifth grade. But Vidal Sassoon was a member of Haganah, just like Dr. Ruth (and she was a sharpshooter!).

Posted in Anti-Semitism, Iran, Israel, Middle East | Comments Off on Thursday roundup

This is why the Holocaust is unique

Time and again, I see in message threads and emails and statements from Jew-haters this theme: What’s so special about the Holocaust? Why is it any different from any other genocide?

Because it is the only one in which one nation got so many others to collude in the destruction of a single people, with the stated purpose being the elimination of every Jew on the face of the earth.

This is why.

Even after decades of in-depth Holocaust research, excruciating details are only now emerging about more than 1,100 German-run ghettos in Eastern Europe where the Nazis murdered hundreds of thousands of Jews.

And there were about 200 more ghettos than previously believed, said Martin Dean, editor of the recently published “Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, 1933-1945, Volume II.” It’s part of a long-term effort to document every site of organized Nazi persecution, beyond the well-known extermination camps like Auschwitz.

[…] More Jews died during World War II in Poland and the western Soviet Union — today’s Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania — than the estimated 1 million gassed in Auschwitz, Langer said.

“The people are dead, but at least we have the memory of the place where they lived and some knowledge of who killed them,” said Langer, an 83-year-old professor of English emeritus at Boston’s Simmons College.

Researchers at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington painstakingly collected details for the encyclopedia’s more than 2,000 pages from the communities where Germans herded Jews and killed them if they tried to escape.

Researchers and writers scoured the world to find new witnesses, study archives opened after the fall of communism and survivors’ texts and testimonies in many languages.

For town after town, village after village, and even just spots in the countryside, Dean and his team assembled pieces of a grisly puzzle, which he said “shows that the Nazis made a concerted effort to find every last Jew in every last place” and eliminate each one.

When you see an anti-Israel idiot saying that the Palestinians are undergoing a genocide, you know that person is an uneducated moron, a liar, and a bigot.

This is what genocide looks like.

Helen Segall, now 81, was 12 when she witnessed SS troops torch her town of about 2,000 residents, with hundreds of hidden Jews burned to death before they could escape. Others were killed outside the town.

“People had to undress and walk in small groups into the trench and lie facedown, where they were shot by an SS man helped by a Ukrainian Schutzmann,” she wrote, using a German word for local policeman.

In two days — Oct. 13 and 14, 1942 — the 300-year-old town “ceased to exist,” wrote Segall, who is now writing her own memoir.

Posted in Anti-Semitism, Holocaust | 4 Comments