What did I do while sick with the flu?
11.30.04 (5:34 pm) [edit]
Why, I took net quizzes of course! What else could I do rather than playing Majong online? I'm feeling somewhat better now. Just a little weak from the lack of food. I should be right as rain tomorrow. I think I'll go to sleep now. Either that or play Mojong. Enjoy my quiz results in the meantime. I should really write something one of these days!
You are among a few people who know what true love
is. THATS GREAT. Your relationships should be
going well but only if you really found someone
who shares your views and feelings. You will
treat the person you care about even better
than yourself and will always be there for
them. :)
How good at love are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Independent: You're not really romantic. You like
being independent and free. You don't make
friends easily, you first have to be totally
sure he/she fits you. You think falling in love
is nothing but trouble, above all you're afraid
to be let down. It'snot a crime to go a little
crazy sometimes!
How romantic are you? (for boys and girls)
brought to you by Quizilla
You are about as level-headed as it gets. You have
fun, you have awesome friends, and you seem
nice..being sane rocks,eh?
What Level of Insanity are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
You are Redmond Gore.
Name of Deceased:
Redmond Gore .
Date of Death:
1/5/72 .
Last Words:
"Trust me, it won't hurt."
Favorite Place:
In the shadows.
Favorite Color:
Blood red .
Past Occupation:
School bus driver.
Hobbies:
Sharpening his axe and splicing wires.
Cause of Death:
It doesn't matter that any of this happened. There
was no remorse for his death.
Last week, Redmond's body was found lying near a
dumpster with an axe by his side. No one is
really sure how he died. Some say the cause of
death was murder; murder of the mind.
Which Morbid&Sick Teddy bear are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
You are Jasmine from Aladdin!
What Disney Princess are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
E:
Your Beauty lies
in Mystery. Captivating, mysterious and alone. You
are the girl in the little
black number that no one seems to know, the eternal
mystery girl. You make it a
point to never let anyone know more about you than
you want them to and do a
very good job of it. You're there one minute and
gone the next leaving them in
wonder of who you really are. A mature and normally
calm individual, quiet and
enjoy spending many hours of the day on your own,
most likely preferring night
to day . You love the dark and some may find you a
bit strange. You seem to be
rather distant and cold making hard for people to
get close to you, though you
probably like the distance they usually keep. You
probably wear make-up, but
concentrate more around your eyes than anything.
You know the effect you have
and enjoy keeping people in wonder.
Some Things
That Represent You:
Element:
Dark, Water Animal: Panther Color:
Black, Maroon, Dark
Tones Song: In The Shadows by The Rasmus
Expression:
Sly Smile
Gemstone:
Black Diamond Mythological Creature: Demon,
Vampire Planet: Venus
Hair Color: Black Eye Color:
Garnet
Quote:
"In the shadows for all time."
Where Does Your Beauty Lie? ..::Original Pictures Are Back! Detailed Results::..
brought to you by Quizilla
I'm sure it's no big surprise to you that your
romance is The Princess Bride. A heartwarming
tale of "Twue Wuve" that has giants,
Spainards and swashbuckling. You really do
think that love can overcome anything. You may
be a touch naive but your heart is certainly in
the right place. You've probably got one of
those relationships where proper nouns have
been replaced with "Snookums" and
"Pookie Pie". Eww. Beware a cuteness
overload.
What Romance Movie Best Represents Your Love Life?
brought to you by Quizilla
You are a Random cat! Also known as an alley cat
or a mutt. You aren't given to high-falutin'
ways, but you're accessible and popular.
People love you for who you are, not what you
are.
What breed of cat are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
You are Dha-shi-zhi!
A female bodhisattva of Chinese Buddhism, whose
name means the Strongest. Through the power of
her love she managed to break the circle of
rebirth for everyone. In the heavenly paradise
the souls appear before her in the shape of
flowers.
loop=100
Which Chinese Mythological Being Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
You are Sir Bedevere! Wise and creative, you are
able to counsel others as well as come up with
some really ingenious plans of attack...sort
of.
Which Monty Python & the Holy Grail Character are you REALLY?
brought to you by Quizilla
You have the Rossetti girl look. You are the kind
of girl pre-Raphaelite painters admired; tall,
slender, and fair as a lily flower. The
pre-Raphaelite girl had dramatic beauty; long
neck, large soulful eyes, full shapely mouth
and masses of wavy hair. The pre-Raphaelites
painted girls like this, they showed them in
dramatic situations dressed as famous
characters in legends, plays and poetry. The
favourite colours of the artists were russet,
green and gold. The following artists would
have loved to paint you; Holman Hunt, John
Everett Millais, Edward Burne-Jones, William
Morris and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
'Pretty As A Picture' - Which Artist Would Paint You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Send Chanukah Donuts with your Festival greetings to our soldiers!
11.30.04 (4:21 pm) [edit]
I got this in an email. Seriously check this out! It's tax deductable too! Email reads as follows. . .
[line]
Shalom from Yerushalayim.
You've got to hand it to them -- the soldiers of the IDF are terrific!
The protection they afford us against terror is second to none. Along
with the US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, they provide the main buffer
against worldwide Islamic terror.
As we unfortunately saw yesterday in Gaza, the soldiers' lives are
fraught daily with danger. The terrorists continue to increase in
sophistication and the vigilance and preparedness of the troops must stay ahead.
They are under a lot of stress and pressure.
We have had the privilege for a couple years now of sending Pizza, Hot
Soup, Burgers and other special food items from you to our serving
soldiers all around Israel, including very difficult areas such as Gaza and
Shechem. We wish to thank you once again on their behalf for all of
your support.
Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Light, starts next week and now you
can also treat the soldiers with traditional Jelly Donuts (sufganiot) to
give them at least a brief holiday break from their arduous tasks. The
soldiers always appreciate your gifts and especially your greetings,
letting them know that they have support from all around the world and
that people understand and appreciate their daily trials and tribulations
at the forefront of the fight against terror.
You can participate in our Donut Project by going to our website,
www.PizzaIDF.org. Also read some of the encouraging messages people like you
have sent with their gifts as well as letters and photographs of the
soldiers.
We can send your relatives and friends a certificate indicating that,
in lieu of Chanukah presents this year, you have sent a gift in their
name to our soldiers.
We wish you and your families a Happy Chanukah -- and once again thank
you for all your support until now.
Shimon Aharon
http://www.PizzaIDF.org" title="http://www.PizzaIDF.org" target="_blank"http://www.PizzaIDF.org
PS Your gifts of over $250 are eligible for a US IRS tax deduction.
Please tell your friends about this way to help our soldiers:
www.PizzaIDF.org/SendToFriend.htm
BLOGBURST: Anniversary of UN Resolution 181
11.29.04 (6:31 am) [edit]
This BlogBurst piece is cross-posted by participating websites, to commemorate a milestone in Israel's history. The list of the participating sites is appended at the end of this post.
Anniversary of the UN vote on Resolution 181
Today is the anniversary of the UN vote on resolution 181, which approved the partition of the western part Palestine into a predominately Jewish state and a predominately Arab state. (It is vital to recall that the UN partition plan referred to western Palestine, to underscore that in 1921 the eastern part was ripped off the Jewish National Home by the British Government and handed over to the then Emir Abdullah.)
The partition plan was approved by 33 to 13, with 10 abstentions.
The 33 countries that cast the “Yes” vote were: Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Byelorussia, Canada, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, Liberia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, Union of South Africa, USSR, USA, Uruguay, Venezuela. (Among other countries, the list includes the US, the three British Dominions, all the European countries except for Greece and the UK, but including all the Soviet-block countries.)
The 13 countries that chose the Hall of Shame and voted “No” were: Afghanistan, Cuba, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen. (Ten of these are Moslem countries; Greece has the special distinction of being the only European country to have joined the Hall of Shame.)
The ten countries that abstained are: Argentina, Chile, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Mexico, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia.
On November 30, 1947, the day following the vote, the Palestinian Arabs murdered six Jews in a bus making its way to Jerusalem, and proceeded to murder another Jew in the Tel-Aviv - Jaffa area. This was a prelude to a war that claimed the lives of 6,000 Jews, or 1% of the total Jewish population in 1948. This toll is the per capita equivalent of today’s Canada losing 300,000 lives, or the US losing 3,000,000.
The object of the war, launched by the Arabs in the former Palestine and the armies of Egypt, Transjordan, Syria and Lebanon (with help from other Arab countries), was to "throw the Jews into the sea". As the partition map indicates, however, rather than annihilate the Jewish population, the Arabs ended up with less territory than they would have gained by peaceful means.
In addition to the bloodshed in nascent Israel, immediately after the UN vote, Arabs attacks their Jewish neighbours in a number of Arab countries, the murders in Syria’s Aleppo being the best known.
Bruised and bleeding, Israel prevailed nonetheless. May our sister-democracy thrive and flourish.
List of participating sites, in alphabetical order of site name
Anti Idiotarian Rottweiler
Arkansas Bushwacker
Armies Of Liberation
Bama Pachyderm
Biurchametz
Blimpish
Blithered
Blog Willy
Blue Rev
Canadian Comment
Cao's Blog
Catholic Friends of Israel
Christian Patriot
Christian Action for Israel
Clarity and Resolve
Crusader War College
Cuanas
Danegerus
Daniel Davis
Flig
God Pigeon
Harald Tribune
Hatshepsut
Heretics Almanac
Hidden Nook
History Nerd
IceViking
I Love America
Instant Knowledge News
Israpundit
Israel Commentary
JPundit
Jersusalem Posts
Leaning Right News
LindaSOG
Live Journal
MCNS
Martinipundit
Mererhetoric
Motnews
Mugged By Reality
Mystery Achievement
Mystical Paths
Naebunny
NetWMD
Nice Jewish Boy
Peaktalk
Protect Our Heritage
Reaganesque
Red Tigress
Riteturnonly
Shimshon9
Solomonia
Spitball Defense
Supernatural
Tampa Bay Primer
Techie Vampire
Texasbug
Tex The Pontificator
The Autism Homepage
The Conservative
The Homeland
The Seal Club
Wackingday
Who's Your Rabbi
Voxfelisi
Yoan Hermida
Weblog of a Wondering Jew
Beheading vs Shooting in the head
11.19.04 (9:07 am) [edit]
Came to me by way of email . . .
[line]
Is there a difference? Why did these cowards not behead Margaret Hassan? The beheadings are supposed to be a statement, is there a different statement with just shooting someone in the head?
Are we getting the message? Is the world getting the message? What is the message? Are they testing the world like Hitler ym"s did, to see what reaction there will be?
Is there a difference between suicide bombings, beheadings, and shooting in the head?
They seem to be trying to tell us that there is. We will kill you all, but we have to be careful and watch how the world reacts to the way we kill. If we shoot you in the head, it's not so bad for us. We just killed you, and we didn't torture you. In fact you should be very grateful for that.
The shooting (in the head)in Antwerp of Moshe Yitzhak Na'eh (Jerusalem post, Maariv), is this another test?
"If this turns out to be a racist act, a new boundary will have been crossed that will shake Belgian Jewry to its foundation", Commented Louis Davids, Editor-in-Chief of the Belgian Jewish News. What happens after the "shake"?
Is there anything positive to see here?
What about the untimely deaths of other young fathers, mothers and children r"l, that we hear on a daily basis? Is there any editor in chief speculating a "shake"?
Is there any Rebbe, leaders, Dayan, etc. out there who is willing to do anything about this? Are they speculating a "shake" ?
Are WE simple folk capable of anything?
If we united and all said XX kepitlech of Thillim every day to Hashem, or spoke one less Loshen Hora a day, respected our spouses and children once a day, will it make a difference?
Or is a comment by an editor in chief and our reading and crechzting enough?
Is Hashem also sending a message?
11.17.04 (1:00 pm) [edit]
Should we hold our breath?
[line]
1 hour, 21 minutes ago World - Reuters
[i][b]By Wafa Amr [/b][/i]
GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday vowed a crackdown on armed groups operating in Palestinian areas in order to smooth the way to a Jan. 9 presidential election for a successor to Yasser Arafat.
Abbas also urged Israel to halt "aggressive" military action in the West Bank and Gaza to help him restore order before the vote in his first media interview since taking over as head of the Palestine Liberation Organization after the death of Arafat.
"Steps will be taken to end the public display or show of arms," Abbas told Reuters, saying action would be taken before the election. "We have to move on to a new era.
"We will act firmly against anyone who violates the law so that we can make the citizens feel secure."
But in promising to tackle factional lawlessness, Abbas left unclear whether security forces would curb militants preparing attacks on Israelis -- a key demand of a U.S.-backed peace plan envisaging a Palestinian state.
U.S. diplomats set to meet Abbas next week hope the election will install a moderate president mandated to talk peace with Israel. But without a crackdown on militants, Israel will be loath to ease army blockades or halt raids disruptive to a vote.
Abbas said on Wednesday that Palestinians faced a crucial test in preventing an internal slide into chaos after Arafat, as rival factions jockey for power.
"This period is a test for the Palestinian leadership and the Palestinian people to show they are capable of establishing the independent Palestinian state," he said.
Talks between Abbas and militant factions have so far produced no agreement for suspending suicide bombings and other attacks on Israelis in a four-year-old Palestinian uprising.
"Abu Mazen (Abbas's nom de guerre) warned faction leaders that if there is no calm, Israel might use this as a pretext to hinder elections with military action," one official said. "They all signaled opposition to a truce unless Israel reciprocates."
ABBAS CAUTIOUS WITH MILITANTS
But Abbas, who narrowly escaped injury in a gunfight on Sunday between his bodyguards and militants, won a verbal pledge at talks with leaders of Fatah armed groups as well as Hamas and Islamic Jihad earlier on Wednesday to work to restore internal order, political sources said.
"I did not ask for a truce (toward Israel) directly. We call for calm within the framework of reorganizing the internal situation," said Abbas, an opponent of violence who has been denounced by some militants as a stooge of Israel.
Abbas is likely to be the main Fatah movement's candidate to succeed Arafat as president on a platform of renewed talks.
Under U.S. pressure to help the temporary collective leadership that has replaced Arafat gain control on the ground, Israel has indicated it is now limiting military strikes to targeting "ticking bombs" -- militants on the way to an attack.
But Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rules out any cease-fire or renewal of peace moves unless Palestinian leaders bottle up the militants. Militants agreed to suspend attacks when Abbas was prime minister in 2003. But the truce crumbled in weeks. A U.S.-backed "road map" toward Palestinian statehood has been stalled since.
Faction sources said Hamas and Islamic Jihad also told Abbas they would probably not field candidates for president, sticking to a policy of boycotting Palestinian self-rule institutions that might deal with Israel, which both groups want to destroy.
Outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell is due to visit Israel and the West Bank on Monday, lending weight to President Bush's vow to help create a Palestinian state in Israel-occupied areas during his second four-year term.
[i](Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza) [/i]
Should we hold our breath?
[line]
1 hour, 21 minutes ago World - Reuters
[i][b]By Wafa Amr [/b][/i]
GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday vowed a crackdown on armed groups operating in Palestinian areas in order to smooth the way to a Jan. 9 presidential election for a successor to Yasser Arafat.
Abbas also urged Israel to halt "aggressive" military action in the West Bank and Gaza to help him restore order before the vote in his first media interview since taking over as head of the Palestine Liberation Organization after the death of Arafat.
"Steps will be taken to end the public display or show of arms," Abbas told Reuters, saying action would be taken before the election. "We have to move on to a new era.
"We will act firmly against anyone who violates the law so that we can make the citizens feel secure."
But in promising to tackle factional lawlessness, Abbas left unclear whether security forces would curb militants preparing attacks on Israelis -- a key demand of a U.S.-backed peace plan envisaging a Palestinian state.
U.S. diplomats set to meet Abbas next week hope the election will install a moderate president mandated to talk peace with Israel. But without a crackdown on militants, Israel will be loath to ease army blockades or halt raids disruptive to a vote.
Abbas said on Wednesday that Palestinians faced a crucial test in preventing an internal slide into chaos after Arafat, as rival factions jockey for power.
"This period is a test for the Palestinian leadership and the Palestinian people to show they are capable of establishing the independent Palestinian state," he said.
Talks between Abbas and militant factions have so far produced no agreement for suspending suicide bombings and other attacks on Israelis in a four-year-old Palestinian uprising.
"Abu Mazen (Abbas's nom de guerre) warned faction leaders that if there is no calm, Israel might use this as a pretext to hinder elections with military action," one official said. "They all signaled opposition to a truce unless Israel reciprocates."
ABBAS CAUTIOUS WITH MILITANTS
But Abbas, who narrowly escaped injury in a gunfight on Sunday between his bodyguards and militants, won a verbal pledge at talks with leaders of Fatah armed groups as well as Hamas and Islamic Jihad earlier on Wednesday to work to restore internal order, political sources said.
"I did not ask for a truce (toward Israel) directly. We call for calm within the framework of reorganizing the internal situation," said Abbas, an opponent of violence who has been denounced by some militants as a stooge of Israel.
Abbas is likely to be the main Fatah movement's candidate to succeed Arafat as president on a platform of renewed talks.
Under U.S. pressure to help the temporary collective leadership that has replaced Arafat gain control on the ground, Israel has indicated it is now limiting military strikes to targeting "ticking bombs" -- militants on the way to an attack.
But Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rules out any cease-fire or renewal of peace moves unless Palestinian leaders bottle up the militants. Militants agreed to suspend attacks when Abbas was prime minister in 2003. But the truce crumbled in weeks. A U.S.-backed "road map" toward Palestinian statehood has been stalled since.
Faction sources said Hamas and Islamic Jihad also told Abbas they would probably not field candidates for president, sticking to a policy of boycotting Palestinian self-rule institutions that might deal with Israel, which both groups want to destroy.
Outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell is due to visit Israel and the West Bank on Monday, lending weight to President Bush's vow to help create a Palestinian state in Israel-occupied areas during his second four-year term.
[i](Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza) [/i]
New Arafat Memorial Highway
11.15.04 (12:06 pm) [edit]
I found this on the net and I had to share. This is both sad and funny because it is true most of all.
The Foodie Strikes Again
11.14.04 (8:50 am) [edit]
So I'm kind of babysitting right now for a girls' dormatory where girls from out of town that attend a high school here are living. The dorm counciler has gone on vacation for the weekend. Naturally, for Shabbos, I was asked to make Friday night dinner. There was the usual faire, chicken, veggies, potatoes, kugel. But ah desert! I took this picture before Shabbos came in with my new camera phone...
This was a red velvet cake (with chocolate chips) and I made a chocolate cinnimon frosting that was to die for. By the end of desert, there was nothing left. Unfortunately, I didn't get a peice. But that very fact right there tells me they enjoyed it.
I can always make more.
Do you love eggs?
11.14.04 (8:36 am) [edit]
Heehee I just found this on the net and if you really love eggs, you should take a look!
http://www.hugi.is/hahradi/bigboxes.php?box_id=51208&f_id=115 7" title="http://www.hugi.is/hahradi/bigboxes.php?box_id=51208&f_id=115 7" target="_blank"http://www.hugi.is/hahradi/bi...
Oddly enough, dancing eggs will still make me hungry. :lol:
Tonight, another wedding not to be
11.14.04 (8:18 am) [edit]
This came in an email. I found it interesting so I'm sharing it.
[line]
Just got word about another "wedding" that was to be tonight and was called off yesterday, one day before. Not everybody could be notified, so there will be someone at the hall to take care of those that do arrive.
This is becoming more frequent than the horrible news of bus bombings and killings of innocent civilians in Israel, R"L. The question in my mind and heart is how am I supposed to think and feel about this? I am numb and paralyzed to do anything about it, so now what?
I will not get into whether the Choson or Kallah stopped it, or whether they were chasidish, litvish, or orthodox. What I will get into, is that IMHO it was the parents fault, and it is a universal issue.
Here is what was considered by the parents the BIG issues that were matching and OK. Nice families, nice friends, status, money, and beauty. Both parents liked the new additions.
Here are what was considered by the parents the SMALL issues, compatibility between boy and girl.
What it seems more and more is that parents are choosing for themselves and not for the kid’s benefits. I am not talking about when the kids do not know what they are looking for. I am talking about when the kids outright do know and tell the parents very clearly and the parents choose to ignore it. It is all about image and not about true happiness.
Is it because the parents themselves were never a happy couple and they figure it was always this way and therefore why not continue the "tradition"? On the other hand, are they outright ignorant and/or selfish?
I have personally gotten messages from Chassidim of the Belz, New Square and Monsey Viznitz chasidus where the rebbes have said to do shiduchim for the children’s benefits. As usual, when it comes to these issues the Chasidim seem to be smarter.
So, when are the parents going to "get it"? Am I supposed to feel sorry for them?
Or maybe the kids today do not get it. You see "tradition" has it that the purpose and the primary reason of marriage is procreation, and happiness is an issue that if there is happiness it is a gift.
Or do we have "tradtion" all wrong?
Arafat's Dark Legacy
11.11.04 (10:47 am) [edit]
Snooping around in the aftermath of the death of Yaser Arafat (may he suffer eternal punishment), I found a very interesting and educational flash movie. Many people are unaware of the atrocities that Arafat comitted. Many people are unaware of the billions of dollars in aid money he stole that was meant for his ailing and destitute people. Many people are unaware that he was a murderer, a terrorist, and a theif.
Yaser Arafat not only killed thousands of Israelis, he managed to kill tens of thousands of Palestinians all for his lust of blood and personal gain.
He was an evil charleton and no one should miss him.
Those who praise him as a champion of peace and a hero are either ignorant or outright in praise of his evil and nasty deeds. Don't let anyone spin his character to be that of a praise worthy person.
Please watch this =http://www.honestreporting.co...flash movie from Honest Reporting and then go look up the facts on this now rotting, disgusting killer.
Shame on all who loved him.
Thanksgiving Day Rehearsals
11.09.04 (11:02 am) [edit]
If you know me well enough, or you follow my blog somewhat regularly, you'd know I'm a "foodie." What's a foodie? Foodies are people who really enjoy food. They are the ones that tend to go on to become great chefs. They like premium products and they use premium recipes. Foodies are talented and creative when it comes to the kitchen. They enjoy the cooking and/or baking process just as much as they enjoy eating what they've created. Many foodies are the reason that the [i]=http://www.foodtb.comFood Network[/i] even exists. I have spent entire Sundays glued to that TV station. Yes, I admit it. I'm a foodie.
What day could possibly be on all the minds of myself and my fellow foodies? Why, Thanksgiving, of course! I can't speak for everyone but, to me, Thanksgiving and the preparations thereof are serious business. Every year I almost go into a Zen-like trance as I spend hours in the kitchen making sure everything is just right. As always, I like to try new things. Last year I made a pomegranate/sage sauce for the Turkey that included a little walnut oil. Phenomenal! This year, I decided that I'm going to go for a new technique that I've not attempted before. I've begun practice and my test subject looked a 'lil something like this:
Though this is a chicken and much smaller than the turkey I intend to work with on D-day, I was quite pleased with the turn out. This chicken was perfect on my first try. What's the secret?
Margarine!
I took herbs, scallions, and dry spices (both hot and smokey), not to mention tons of freshly minced garlic and applied it to one cup of cold margarine to create a sort of herbed, spiced paste. Then I took that paste and inserted it under the bird's skin. I massaged it all over to make sure that the paste was well dispersed. I took the remainder of the paste and just applied it to the outside of the skin in order to get a nice crackle finish on the bird's breast. The result was the above photograph and the most tender chicken I had ever had the privilege of eating, not to mention that the taste was incredible. Such a simple recipe with so much dimension of flavor. As you can tell, I'm quite proud of myself.
But a family cannot survive of poultry alone!
As always, I will be creating my famous homemade cranberry sauce. Garlic bread will make an appearance. Salad is something I see in the future. Mushed herb potatoes, asparagus, and the crowning moment (besides the turkey) desert!
I hope to make an Italian Raspberry Crustata this year and break with the traditional pumpkin pie. The desert should be complicated, but I'm up for the challenge. More to come on the development of that dish (I hope to post pictures of my progress too).
With this salivation fest, of course we cannot forget the wine!
Personally, my favorite is a Bartanura Malvasia from Italy. But I'm easily convinced otherwise so I'm still trolling around looking for a heads up on a delicate wine I've not tried before.
I found a website called =http://www.kosherwine.comKosherWine.com so I'm a little excited now.
Any other ideas anyone might have? Let me know! I'm still looking for more inspiration!
Post US Election, France's Terror Alert Elevated...
11.08.04 (11:51 am) [edit]
My sources are reporting that they're at a level "hide."
More later as the story develops...
:lol:
DING DONG THE &%$@#'s DEAD!
11.07.04 (3:12 pm) [edit]
Perhaps now that one of the greatest obstacles to peace is dead, we can try to move on. Much work still must be done to stop Palestinian terrorism. Arafat's death will truly help curb the lust for blood these people outcry for.
Arafat has only been the tip of the iceberg in the problem with this conflict, of course. I, for one, am glad to see he wasn't awarded the martyrdom he so wished for.
May God have no mercy upon his wretched and evil soul!
Yes, I rejoice in his death. I rejoice in Arafat's death just as I would have rejoiced in Hitler's or Haman's or anyone who would seek to destroy the Jewish nation.
There is definitely a lesser amount of evil in the world, no matter how minute.
[line]
[b]Destructive Legacy
[i]The Jerusalem Post[/b][/i]
When Joseph Stalin died, millions of Russians mourned the man who had murdered millions of their countrymen. Even today, there are those who mourn Stalin, though history regards his reign as his nation's darkest hour.
Such is the legacy of Yasser Arafat. He is responsible for the deaths of countless more Palestinians than Israelis, many on the long, brutal road to becoming the "sole legitimate representative" of the Palestinian people, not to mention the many who died in the current unnecessary war. Yet he will be mourned, sincerely, by millions of Palestinians as not just a charismatic leader but a nation-builder, the man who created Palestinian nationalism out of whole cloth and put that nation's statelessness on the agenda of the world.
This same "nation-builder," however, was anything but. By defining Palestinian nationalism in terms of one goal – Israel's destruction – he, more than any leader, denied his people a state.
Arafat was a destroyer, not a builder, because in addition to being the father of Palestinian nationalism, he was the father of something broader: modern terrorism. Arafat proved that terrorism could be used to gain legitimacy rather than lose it. If he had not been a terrorist, he would not have made it to the UN podium, pistol on his belt, in 1973, or to the White House lawn in 1993, or to Gaza from Tunis 10 years ago.
The last two stops, of course, were achieved by a promise to end and combat terrorism, a promise Arafat never kept. Even during Oslo's heyday, Palestinian officials would from time to time state frankly that terror had simply been put on hold until they could no longer squeeze anything more from Israel at the negotiating table. That time came at the 2000 Camp David summit when Arafat had a simple choice: start building the state he claimed he was fighting for, or return to terror and the struggle for the whole pie, for Israel itself.
Now Arafat's successors may ask that he be buried in Jerusalem. The irony is, if Arafat had accepted Ehud Barak's offer, he would likely have been buried in the Palestinian half of a divided Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine. Now he will not, symbolizing the statelessness that he perpetuated.
Arafat leaves another legacy: the first society in history to have glorified suicide-murders on a national scale, starting from grade-school children. It remains to be seen how that society – brought up on the fantasy of "return," on the notion that every Israeli city is a "settlement," and on the idea that Israel exists entirely on "stolen Palestinian land" – will inculcate a nationalism that is not based on Israel's destruction.
It is difficult to imagine that Arafat's immediate successors will be able to do anything more than begin to set their people on such a path. In this context, it is already being widely alleged that Israel missed an opportunity with Arafat, since he was the only leader who could have permanently shut down the Palestinian war against Israel. The opposite is the case: it was only Arafat's charisma, status, and Herculean efforts that were able to keep the war with Israel alive.
Still, if Arafat was increasingly failing to preside over a coalition of terror and, simultaneously, saddle Israel with the charge of blocking peace, then his successors will be even less able to pull the trigger of terror and point the finger of blame at the same time.
Nor will Arafat's successors be able to sustain another of his tragic legacies: one-man rule. Only Arafat was able to take a people that, in principle, was one of the best educated, worldly, and democracy-oriented in the Arab world and, with the approval of Israel and the international community, impose upon it a ruthless police state.
The temptation of the moment will be to judge the new Palestinian leadership solely by its degree of control. If such control is to be used in the service of peace, however, it must be grounded in a foundation of democratic legitimacy. In the long-term, truly representative government is more important than one that is superficially quiescent to the international community, because corrupt dictatorships inevitably rely upon external conflict to sustain themselves.
11.03.04 (1:19 pm) [edit]
Votes Electoral
Bush: 279
Kerry: 252
Votes Popular
Bush: 51%
Kerry: 48%
[line]
2 hours, 13 minutes ago Mideast - AFP
CAIRO (AFP) - The prospect of George W. Bush spending four more years in the White House drew mixed reactions and a dose of caution in the troubled Middle East.
While Israel and the US-backed leaders of Iraq were confident a second term for Bush would signal more of the same policies, the Palestinian leadership, out of favour with Washington, was cautiously hopeful things might change for it.
Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said in an interview with Italy's La Repubblica newspaper published before Kerry conceded the election that "whoever is the winner will be our friend. The United States has liberated us from a dictator and a very long period of war and agony."
The re-election of the man who decided to invade Iraq in March 2003 comes as US-Iraqi forces are braced for a military assault on the rebel bastion of Fallujah.
Predictably, the election prompted contrasting reactions from the main protagonists in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Top Israeli foreign policy adviser Zalman Shoval congratulated Bush, saying "Israel and the free world has every reason to rejoice over this result.
"That's not to say that (Democratic challenger John) Kerry would have been a bad president but (Bush's) victory has been seen by some as a victory over terrorism," added the former ambassador to the United States.
"This victory proves that Americans' main concern is security and the war on terrorism," he added.
Bush's re-election would also allow ties to strengthen further between the two countries and would facilitate Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip by the end of 2005, Shoval said.
For his part, a Palestinian minister expressed hope that Bush would soften what the Palestinians consider to be a systematically pro-Israeli policy.
"Perhaps this election will offer a chance to the Bush administration to draw a lesson from the experience of the past year, given that it will be freed from the pressure of elections and lobbies," said labor minister Ghassan al-Khatib.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's spokeswoman said in Paris before Bush's victory was confirmed that Palestinians were "worried" about that.
Arafat "hopes the second mandate will be different" if Bush wins, Leila Shahid told AFP earlier in the day.
The Palestinian radical movement Hamas took a hard line.
"It does not really matter that much to us who is president of the United States," said spokesman Mashir al-Masri, "but we ask that Bush stop his support for the Zionist enemy.
"If America persists in its negative position vis-a-vis the Palestinians, we will consider it and its president as enemies."
Buoyed by unequivocal pre-election messages of support from both candidates, Israel was confident it would preserve its special relationship with Washington regardless of the vote's final outcome.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he did not expect Israel to come under any heightened US pressure over the dormant peace process.
"So far we have cooperated with all American administrations and we will continue to do so. I don't think pressure will be necessary. Israel wants to advance on the road to peace," he said.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a close ally of the United States, said he hoped Bush would exert more effort to bring about "a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East by establishing a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel".
He also expressed hope that "security, stability and sovereignty would be restored in Iraq" and that Bush would do more to "rid the Middle East of all weapons of mass destruction".
Mubarak also urged Bush to continue combating terrorism and violence, but by "dealing actively with its root causes" and helping "to overcome the political, economic and social problems facing people" around the world.
Saudi King Fahd sent Bush a telegram wishing him success in his second term and assuring him of a "continuation of (the country's) fruitful cooperation with him" to "reinforce and consolidate" bilateral relations, the official SPA news agency said.
US-Saudi relations, long very close, came under severe strain after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States, in which 15 of the 19 authors were Saudis.
In Iran, where hatred of the "Great Satan" is deeply entrenched, thousands of demonstrators chanting "Death to America" marked the 25th anniversary of the US hostage crisis at the former American embassy in Tehran.
"If Bush is re-elected or not ... we will continue to resist with determination and foil the US plots," said a headscarved woman member of an Islamic volunteer militia.
Votes Electoral
Bush: 279
Kerry: 252
Votes Popular
Bush: 51%
Kerry: 48%
[line]
2 hours, 13 minutes ago Mideast - AFP
CAIRO (AFP) - The prospect of George W. Bush spending four more years in the White House drew mixed reactions and a dose of caution in the troubled Middle East.
While Israel and the US-backed leaders of Iraq were confident a second term for Bush would signal more of the same policies, the Palestinian leadership, out of favour with Washington, was cautiously hopeful things might change for it.
Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said in an interview with Italy's La Repubblica newspaper published before Kerry conceded the election that "whoever is the winner will be our friend. The United States has liberated us from a dictator and a very long period of war and agony."
The re-election of the man who decided to invade Iraq in March 2003 comes as US-Iraqi forces are braced for a military assault on the rebel bastion of Fallujah.
Predictably, the election prompted contrasting reactions from the main protagonists in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Top Israeli foreign policy adviser Zalman Shoval congratulated Bush, saying "Israel and the free world has every reason to rejoice over this result.
"That's not to say that (Democratic challenger John) Kerry would have been a bad president but (Bush's) victory has been seen by some as a victory over terrorism," added the former ambassador to the United States.
"This victory proves that Americans' main concern is security and the war on terrorism," he added.
Bush's re-election would also allow ties to strengthen further between the two countries and would facilitate Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip by the end of 2005, Shoval said.
For his part, a Palestinian minister expressed hope that Bush would soften what the Palestinians consider to be a systematically pro-Israeli policy.
"Perhaps this election will offer a chance to the Bush administration to draw a lesson from the experience of the past year, given that it will be freed from the pressure of elections and lobbies," said labor minister Ghassan al-Khatib.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's spokeswoman said in Paris before Bush's victory was confirmed that Palestinians were "worried" about that.
Arafat "hopes the second mandate will be different" if Bush wins, Leila Shahid told AFP earlier in the day.
The Palestinian radical movement Hamas took a hard line.
"It does not really matter that much to us who is president of the United States," said spokesman Mashir al-Masri, "but we ask that Bush stop his support for the Zionist enemy.
"If America persists in its negative position vis-a-vis the Palestinians, we will consider it and its president as enemies."
Buoyed by unequivocal pre-election messages of support from both candidates, Israel was confident it would preserve its special relationship with Washington regardless of the vote's final outcome.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he did not expect Israel to come under any heightened US pressure over the dormant peace process.
"So far we have cooperated with all American administrations and we will continue to do so. I don't think pressure will be necessary. Israel wants to advance on the road to peace," he said.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a close ally of the United States, said he hoped Bush would exert more effort to bring about "a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East by establishing a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel".
He also expressed hope that "security, stability and sovereignty would be restored in Iraq" and that Bush would do more to "rid the Middle East of all weapons of mass destruction".
Mubarak also urged Bush to continue combating terrorism and violence, but by "dealing actively with its root causes" and helping "to overcome the political, economic and social problems facing people" around the world.
Saudi King Fahd sent Bush a telegram wishing him success in his second term and assuring him of a "continuation of (the country's) fruitful cooperation with him" to "reinforce and consolidate" bilateral relations, the official SPA news agency said.
US-Saudi relations, long very close, came under severe strain after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States, in which 15 of the 19 authors were Saudis.
In Iran, where hatred of the "Great Satan" is deeply entrenched, thousands of demonstrators chanting "Death to America" marked the 25th anniversary of the US hostage crisis at the former American embassy in Tehran.
"If Bush is re-elected or not ... we will continue to resist with determination and foil the US plots," said a headscarved woman member of an Islamic volunteer militia.
Weddings Weddings Weddings...
11.01.04 (1:17 pm) [edit]
Went to another wedding last night. Got some great pictures. The food was great. I had an awesome time.
It was pretty funny because all of our single friends at the table during the reception were doing the "hook up" thing and getting people's numbers for dates. I felt like we were Paul and Jamie Buchman from [i]Mad About You[/i] with all of our single friends. I had forgotten what it was like to be at a wedding and be single since I've been with my boyfriend for so long. Needless to say, since we had brought a pen to sign the card with, people kept asking us for the use of it for their number writing. That's why I think they have place cards at weddings, by the way: something for the single people to write down digits on. Hehe. We should have charged for the use of our pen! Just kidding.
It was a truly elegant gathering. I saw people that I hadn't seen in a while and I missed very much. Met some new people also. It was truly a beautiful ceremony.
At the end, we recieved blessings from the bride and groom that we should be as happy and forfilled. Very sweet. Very kind. I only hope I could be as happy as they are now.
I'll post pictures as soon as I load them up to my computer. :)
