Clerics of 3 Faiths Protest Gay Festival Planned for Jerusalem

So finally, Muslims, Jews and Christians can all unite in:









A strong dislike of gays.

Sokwanele - Zvakwana - Enough is Enough: Civic Action Support Group, Zimbabwe

Spare a thought for Zimbabwe as they go to the polls. Now there's a regime change I could really warm to. Mugabe does have a fixation with our Tony doesn't he. Still, they both have one thing in common. No email address and wouldn't know a url from a gurl.

The ghost of Whitehouse past: BBC rejects Springer complaints

The Beeb does like to report on itself, especially when it successfully sees off US-style campaigning by US-style fundamentalist Christian groups. The only gratuitous thing about Jerry Springer The Opera seen on TV was the boredom. The show is well past its shock-factor sell-by date and, having achieved the West End Hit Experience thang, the show is now touring the UK.

Blogger eats my posts

No car, no internet connection that lasts for more than 20 minutes. Sorry about the lack of posts. Normal service will resume when Bezeq stop blaming my router.

D&D

I never reposted from ahbou before. Try it and see. This follows on from recent info that the IDF do not like D&D players.

[Submitter's note: IDF = Israel Defense Forces]

Subject: Re: Israeli Army: Dungeons and Dragons Players Are Losers
From: "Michael Grosberg" 
Newsgroups: alt.fan.noam-chomsky, rec.games.frp.dnd, rec.arts.sf.written,
soc.culture.jewish, soc.culture.russian

Clangador wrote:

> Michael Grosberg wrote:

>> Zot ! wrote:

>>> Interesting. Does anyone knows what is policy of the others side
>>> - could a D&D player become a suicide bomber?
>>>
>>> http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3052074,00.html
>>>
>>> Army frowns on Dungeons and Dragons

>>
>> Actually, the article is a bit misleading. It's Rd&d, not normal
>> d&d, that the IDF has a problem with.

>
> And what's the diff?

Rd&d is the version where you play outside, in costume, using foam
covered weapons.

So these are people who are into strategy and decision making, like to
spend time outside, and enjoy physical efort that includes running
around in rugged terrain while lugging weapons.

Why on earth would the IDF want such people? They are clearly unfit for
the military lifestyle.

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U.S. unveils plans to help India become a "major world power" - Wikinews

Interesting. So India will get a fixed wing carrier. Even more interestingly , Russia will provide the naval aviation component. I wonder what that will be.

Being late can be cured

This piece really struck a chord with me. I hate being late and I hate people who are late, especially those who are persistently late. Aside from the two categories she mentions below, there are also the addicts. Addicted to powerplays, addicted to lateness. They like being late because they think that shows they are more powerful or more busy than those they keep waiting. But what they are mainly demonstrating is that they are incompetent at managing time effectively themselves and unable to delegate to others.

“I am always 10 minutes early…so if you're 10 minutes late, I've been foot-tapping for 20 minutes. I know it's not fair to hold the first 10 against you, but I just can't help myself.”

“Public transport malfunctions, lost contact lenses, last-minute clothing catastrophes…all conspire to keep us from our destinations. But if it were merely a question of quotidian mishap, we would all be late with equal frequency, so how come the chronically tardy are always late and the fastidiously prompt are always on time? If I can manage to be punctual, why can't you?”

“Because you faffed and fiddled and I didn't. And don't even think about blaming the traffic. How do you think I got here? By flying carpet? Late trains or slow tractors just won't wash: only ineptitude or arrogance can explain persistent lateness."

“Let's tackle the lesser sin first. Scatty, dizzy people are always late because they're incapable of making realistic calculations about how long it takes to do things. You've got too much on your plate, love. There are 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour; just deal with it."

“Much worse, though, are the shoddy timekeepers with inflated egos. Fashionably late? How can it be chic to make a balls-up of something as straightforward as time management? Swanning in late is not proof of an anarchic, carefree or artistic temperament, either - it's just rude. Deliberate lateness is nothing short of an expression of contempt.”

The Doctor is back....

I didn't get to see it! Whine of self pity plus other noises. I did watch the football match last night with the children and I cheered for Israel. Wonderful match and I normally dislike football.

Planes and policy

Let me see if I can get this right.

1. Pakistan gave material support to the Taliban and indirectly Al-Queada
2. Pakistan spread nuclear technology to enemies of the USA including Libya, North Korea and possibly Saudi Arabia.
3. Pakistan has a miltary dictatorship that overthrown a 'democratically' elected government by force. The USA just asks for elections at some point.
4. Pakistan has a human rights record that is worse than China's.

Irag , on the other hand:

1. Did not have WMDS like Pakistan.
2. Terrorism support was minor compared to Pakistan's
3. Was not a threat to the West

So Pakistan get rewarded by getting F16s which have only one possible target. That of course, is India, the largest democracy in the region. I will not defend the many attacks I hear daily on Americans any more. White men speak with forked tongues.

Post blog change.

Was: Did not support terrorism
Now: Terrorism support was minor

Lemon tree and chimes. 

JC exclusive: Israel plans major re-brand to promote ‘less harsh’ image

As seen today’s dead-tree Jewish Chronic:

“Plan for softer look to Israel flag, by Ron Poll.

“Israel is almost certain to change its flag within the next year, the JC learned this week. According to sources close to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, senior cabinet members have long been unhappy that the present flag is seen as the symbol of an aggressive, uncompromising Israel and have asked the country’s top design agencies to come up with alternatives as the first step in a complete re-branding of the state ….a committee has been examining entries in secret for several months…the decision will be rubber-stamped by Mr Sharon at a cabinet meeting today…

“The design features seven Magen Davids in pastel shades on a pale blue background…the winning designer, noted Tel Aviv Graphic artist Mordecai Silver…

“…Among those narrowly rejected was a design which incorporated the Palestinian flag in the corner in the same way the Union flag is displayed on the Australian flag….among wackier entries was a flag featuring five interlinking bagels modelled on the Olympic flag.

“Mr Sharon is also thought to be very keen to replace the current national anthem “Hatikvah” which he and many other Israelis find lugubrious and depressing…thought to favour a Eurovision-style competition in which Israelis would vote for their favourite new anthem."

Happy Purim! Purim sameach!

France Asking U.N. to Refer Darfur to International Court

So will the US dislike of the ICC be outweighed by the need to punish those resposible for war crimes? We shall see.

More Help Wanted: Older Workers Please Apply

Wrinklies rock.

It's spring at last. This is the second shed jammed full with stuff that won't fit into the house. Call me "Two Sheds Egghead" then. 

Referendum anyone?

So it looks like there will be a referendum after all on the disengagement plan. An expensive way of finding out what is obvious. A large majority of Israelis want out of Gaza and most of the West bank. Supporters of the referendum see it mainly as a delaying tactic. After all, who gets to write the question? Who pays for campaigning on either side? Will this be a one off or a regular feature of Israeli politics? It could go on for years.

Half the family like the colour. I like it and I painted it. 

Not my account I hasten to add. 

Haaretz - Israel News

Building more houses in the West bank is not going to happen. In the meantime, settlers are getting used to the idea. In Gaza, they've given the names of some Kach style activists to the security services.
The settlement near Jenin, called ganim is debating terms rather than the idea. Lastly, Sa-Nur say they won't be going. Oh yes they will.

Using a mobile in a petrol station will not cause an explosion…

.. but wearing polyester could.



I am very relieved to know this most reassuring news that mobiles will not after all explode if used in petrol stations. Research has confirmed it was all a sexed-up urban myth. None of the petrol station fires attributed to mobile use were actually caused by mobiles – a more likely cause was discharge of static electricity from the body. So now what, wear only clothing made out of natural fibres when filling up? Ban non-leather seats in cars?

See the report here (scroll down to Burgess). Thanks to the VA fire departments for the image (an excellent website for armchair pyros and fire engine spotters).

Israel not a good place to do business

What amazes me is not that israel is ranked worse than Vietnam but that Israelis have a worse view of Israel that the rest of the world does. The blog is my other one. Perhaps I should have posted it here first.

Demo

A very subdued demo last night. No heavy hitters speaking and a silent march. It was also held in the Dizengorf centre which made it hard to see the stage. Around 10,000 there acording to Ha'Aretz but it seemed more. Football attracted more Israelis then the demo did of course.

Here comes the sun

A glorious sunny warm spring day in London today – tops down (the cars!), flesh exposed, people out and about, parks were packed. It was over 20 degrees – and to think that two weeks ago it was snowing here.

Blogging news and views from Harvard

Yes some bloggers are journalists. Confirming that the term ‘blogging’ has evolved to mean only writing and publishing using a particular kind of technology, last week the first blogger was granted White House credentials. The editor of the blog FishbowlDC which reports on media affairs was granted a daily pass to the White House press briefing.

It has also been noticed that although anyone can write a blog, the top rung of the blogosphere seems to be dominated by white males (real or avatar). One theory is the usual PLU (people like us) factor transferred into the blogosphere, where white guys link to other white guys. One solution (do'h) is more promo and cross-linking of and between interesting blogs and bloggers.

Weekend

I shall be away with 'She Who Must be Pampered' this weekend. It involves a tent so blogging will be light. On Saturday night we shall be in Tel Aviv for the big demo so watch for traffic jams. I'll try and take pictures.

Holy grail Batman, it's another own goal

What is it with the Catholic Church, heads and sand?

Christine has an interesting post about the head of the UK outfit wanting “full abandonment” of abortion thus turning the clock back to illegal unsafe abortions or very expensive Harley Street Specials for those in funds.

Then we have some bird (cardinal?!) in Head Office in Italy giving Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code an extra publicity boost after more than a year in the best-seller lists by actually trying to refute the book and hosting a seminar to rebut the claims. This is of course even more helpful for the franchise as a film is underway.

At least they can no longer carry out inquisitions or burn people they disagree with at the stake.

Government to sacrifice ID card bill

Oh goodie. No ID cards for the UK. EDS will be unhappy.

U.S.: Israel broke promise to set settlement boundaries

It seems there's some foot dragging going on here. Bush and Condi will not be happy.

Israel has still not kept a promise that it made the United States last April to demarcate the built-up areas of every West Bank settlement, for the purpose of setting limits on the settlements' growth. As a result, the U.S. has halted the work of the Israeli-American task force that was supposed to deal with this issue.

President Bush also prefers people to do what they say they will.

Israel Security Fence

The Israeli MOD have an updated map of the security fence on their web site. Getting better I see.

New terror act hit by 'teething troubles'

I am not impressed with the new anti terror legislation now in force in the UK. To have some placed under house arrest just because the Home Secretary says so does not seem to be consistent with the evolution of civil rights in the UK. If it wasn't necessary during the local struggle with the IRA why have it now? I remember the debacle that internment caused and the various other failed ideas from Governments from the left and the right.

I suspect that it will fall in a years time when it comes around for review. In the meantime, perhaps someone could tell me what danger Brits are in from a man with no hands. Let him preach what he wants in public. I'll be there to throw tomatoes.

Speed cameras cause traffic jams

It’s about time someone in an official government capacity (or nearly as he is not going to start for another few weeks) admitted what we drivers know all too well. Speed cameras on main roads and motorways cause traffic congestion and contribute to unsafe driving. That’s the view of Derek Turner, formerly head of street management for Tansport for London (and architect of the congestion charge), the new director of traffic operations for motorways and trunk roads in England with a special brief to deal with congestion.

I don’t much like his trial-balloon alternative of speed governors in cars (unless of course they are set at 132 107 mph). The National Audit Office alternatives are much better: variable speed limits, reversible traffic lanes and better use of motorway hard shoulders.

Cabinet affirms it will dismantle 24 outposts

Does that mean that there won't be any more?

Looting at Iraqi Weapons Plants Was Systematic, Official Says

Let's recap the reasons for the Iraq war yet again.

• Iraq under Saddam was a threat
• There were a number of weapon sites that are or could be used to produce WMDs
• Sanctions and inspections teams having failed, force is the only option left.

In the weeks after Baghdad fell in April 2003, looters systematically dismantled and removed tons of machinery from Saddam Hussein's most important weapons installations, including some with high-precision equipment capable of making parts for nuclear arms, a senior Iraqi official said this week in the government's first extensive comments on the looting.

So now we find that in the aftermath of the war, organised looting teams removed whole factories of equipment that could be used to make WMDs and that this equipment is in places unknown, controlled by organisations unknown. Coalition troops ignored these well know sites.
I still refuse to believe that Tony and Bush went to war because Saddam was a tyrant. I suppose I'll have to wait 50 years until the relevant papers are declassified.

UN body may have a more balanced view on Israel shock

Yes it’s that time of the year again. The UN Commission on Human Rights aka DIIEATMDG (Democratic Israel Is Evil And Tolitarian Muslim Dictatorships Are Good) annual hate-fest begins next Monday in Geneva.

Natan Sharanksy, fresh from upbraiding London’s Political Cartoon society for contributing to the increase in UK anti-semitism by continuing to condone anti-semitic cartoons (following giving an award to a cartoon showing an evil-looking Ariel Sharon biting the head off a Palestinian child), laid into the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour in Geneva.

“Sharansky told Arbour that it was unacceptable that the Human Rights Commission had a double standard concerning Israel. He reminded her that Israel was the only country in the world that "merited" a special report, separate from the body's annual human rights report. Saying that Israel is attentive to both internal and external criticism, Sharansky asked "how it can be that a democratic country, which has many tools to fight against these types of [human rights] violations, receives a special status at the UN, as if its human rights violations exceed those of all other countries, at a time when there are UN member states that are totalitarian, and where rights for their citizens don't exit at all.

In her conversation with Sharansky, Arbour did not seem to hold out that there would be much change in the anti-Israeli positions that are expected to come out of the upcoming meeting. She said that this body, made up of 53 countries, was a political one."

Now here’s the interesting bit.

“Arbour…hopes that in the framework of the new reforms being discussed in the UN, Israel will receive more balanced treatment inside the world body, especially in forums that deal with human rights…Arbour did promise to speak out forcefully against anti-Semitism, which she said she planed to deal with "without hesitation."

Even though the upcoming meeting is expected once again to blast Israel for alleged human rights abuses in the territories, diplomatic officials in Jerusalem said that unlike years past, the committee's special rapporteur's report on Israel is also expected to include harsh – and for this body, rare – language against terrorism aimed at Israelis."

Boffin honoured for necrophile gay duck paper

The first recorded case of homosexual necrophilia in the mallard anas platyrhynchos. Just what the world has been waiting for. Yes, folks, it's the Ignoble UK tour this week.

John Bolton

So John Bolton has the job he always wanted. This Guardian article does not show him up in a good light at all. So Jesse Helms liked him because:

"John Bolton," Helms said, "is the kind of man with whom I would want to stand at Armageddon, or what the Bible describes as the final battle between good and evil."

I shall watch his stint at the UN with interest.

A death in the family

My cousin Peter Roy died this weekend. I remember the childhood holidays we spent together even though he did beat me up. He's best remembered for winning the Queens's Gallantry Medal for helping to rescue Princess Anne from IRA terrorists. Scroll down a bit from the link.

U.S. warns Israel to evacuate outposts or harm relations

Perhaps this is the US getting tough over the 'illegal outposts'. The article makes for sad reading.

Israelis strap on militant-busting wristwatches

A nice Israeli invention here mentioned in Vulture Central. Wrist watch LCD screens connected to drones for real time target identification. Would the register and other 'journalists' please make a note. The term 'unmanned drone ' is a tautology. There is no such thing as a manned drone.

While I remember, I saw a cartoon in the IHT yesterday which had the phrase 'dinosaur blog' and apparently referred to a newspaper. Is this new?

Global warming: 21st century eugenics

I am amazed at some of the arguments put forward to refute climat change being caused by humanity. Here's a good one.

Eugenics gave rise to the Ku Klux Klan, to the white supremacy movement and to Adolf Hitler's gas chambers. Despite these horrors, it was not until 1967 that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Virginia's "Racial Integrity Act" and similar laws in 15 other states. Government-mandated sterilizations continued until the mid 1970s. Interestingly, the American Eugenics Society changed its name in 1973, to the Society for the Study of Social Biology.

and

Scientists who dare to question the global warming "consensus" are ridiculed and branded as contrarians, as were the skeptics of eugenics. Government and foundations withhold grants from researchers whose work product fails to advance the global warming consensus, in much the same way skeptics of eugenics were denied research grants. Universities and education associations teach the global warming theory as fact, just as they taught the theory of eugenics as fact. Even churches are pressured to take up the global warming cause – just as they were pressured to preach eugenics. Politicians who fail to toe the global-warming line are targeted for replacement – as were the politicians who opposed segregation and forced sterilization.

and finally

If it takes a century for the global warming theory to collapse, the bodies of people who were denied electricity – and the heat, clean water and refrigeration it can provide – will weigh more heavily than the Holocaust upon a society that should have learned from its mistaken belief in eugenics.

Another small minded twit misusing the Shoah. Damn his eyes.

At a Suit's Core: Are Bloggers Reporters, Too?

If the question is:

Are bloggers journalists?

then the answer is no. We are not journalists.

This is where I walk to go for lunch. 

This is where I work. 

Is superman Jewish? or Supermensch: the man of shtetl

Of course he is, according to Howard Jacobson in today’s radio 4 programme (you can listen to it for the next 7 days) and Tomes article. Jacobson gives us ample evidence of the Jewishness of Superman:

• Superman was created by two nice Jewish boys Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster in 1930s post-depression middle America. The comic book industry was dominated by Jews.
  
• Superman’s arrival and subsequent success is the story of Jewish immigration and achievements into the US. He is taken in by a kind couple in a strange land and given a chance to make good.
  
• His story is also the Moses story. Moses is rescued from the waters in a basket. Superman is rescued from a field in a basket-like spacecraft.
  
• He never forgets who he is: he is being a stranger and being at home simultaneously. This is the heart of Jewish tradition, where every Jew is a boundary crosser and Jews remember the stranger and themselves as strangers.
  
• The Jewish answer to Nietzsche’s superman who was above moral issues; Superman in contrast is immersed in moral issues.
  
• Jewish spiritual and mystic dimensions to Superman’s superpowers, such as the Golem, the creature formed out of clay who would throw himself off buildings and similar feats to protect the Jews of Prague; and the rabbis who were granted supernatural powers by virtue of their holiness.
  
• His being in the diaspora, his need for an alter ego and to fit in and be useful without being noticed is an allegory of Jewish assimilation (especially in the 1930s when anti-semitism in the US was rife.)
  
• Kal-El is Superman’s original, Hebrew-like name which was changed to Anglo-sounding Clark Kent as soon as he arrived in the US.
  
• Superman visits the bottled city of Kandor (the only remaining city of his home planet Krypton, shrunk and inside a bottle) just like diaspora Jews visit Israel.

Some more overtly Jewish superheros include MatzaWoman:

“After unknowingly eating an atomic matzah that was accidentally baked in a microwave oven with radioactive water, she was surprised to learn that she could fly, could turn invisible and had microwave vision and Hyperstrength. And best of all, NOTHING could hurt her…except being under water for more than 18 minutes!”

Not a good time to be anywhere in Iraq

It seems a bit hard to be a captured journalist, released then shot by the USA on the way home. Blue on blue it may be. As Northern Ireland proved, there are better ways of stopping vehicles at checkpoints than by firing at them. In Israel, we have puncture strips which means the car stops; then you can sort out who is inside at your leisure.

kens sounds off again

He does court trouble does our Ken.

Throughout the 1970s, I worked happily with the Board of Deputies in campaigns against the National Front. Problems began when, as leader of the Greater London Council, I rejected the board's request that I should fund only Jewish organisations that it approved of. The Board of Deputies was unhappy that I funded Jewish organisations campaigning for gay rights and others that disagreed with policies of the Israeli governmen.(sic)

there more and worse...

Israel's expansion has included ethnic cleansing. Palestinians who had lived in that land for centuries were driven out by systematic violence and terror aimed at ethnically cleansing what became a large part of the Israeli state. The methods of groups like the Irgun and the Stern gang were the same as those of the Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic: to drive out people by terror.

he does mention...

To avoid manufactured misunderstandings, the policies of Israeli governments are not analogous to Nazism. They do not aim at the systematic extermination of the Palestinian people, in the way Nazism sought the annihilation of the Jews.

Having just about annoyed everyone at this point he goes on.

Today the Israeli government continues seizures of Palestinian land for settlements, military incursions into surrounding countries and denial of the right of Palestinians expelled by terror to return. Ariel Sharon, Israel's prime minister, is a war criminal who should be in prison, not in office. Israel's own Kahan commission found that Sharon shared responsibility for the Sabra and Shatila massacres.

Sharon continues to organise terror. More than three times as many Palestinians as Israelis have been killed in the present conflict. There are more than 7,000 Palestinians in Israel's jails.

Nice of him not to mention Israeli casualties. I'm sure Cathy will tell us the local reaction. I must find the site of the Jewish Chronicle.

Europe risks US sanctions over China arms sales

Sanctions anyone. Don't make me laugh. Europe buys far more from the US than the other way around and all US Governments like it that way. I prefer the alternative explanation.

Philip Gordon, an expert on transatlantic relations at the Brookings Institution in Washington, outlined a possible compromise involving strict controls and links between the lifting of the embargo and China's human rights performance. "Whether we get there is not sure," he said. "There are a lot of people in the House [of Representatives] who want to whack Europe anyway."

Personally I find the left pondian fixation on Taiwan somewhat quaint. I can't imagine why the USA would ever think that 'someone lost China' when the communists took over. Whatever China is now, it is surely not communist whatever the colour of the flag.

A railway coming to a spot near you.

It's good to see a railway being rebuilt after so may years. Near where we live you can still see some of the old railbed that went to Tiberius and the North. Now Israel is planning to rebuild the historic rail line through the Jezreel Valley, from Haifa to Beit She'an.
There will be objections of course. It is a fairly crowded place. On balance it should be welcomed but I do feel that shutting it down over Shabbat is wrong. Around half of the inhabitants of this area are not Jewish.

Books bookshops and bookfairs

I love it when my favourite London bookshop - Daunt Books - gets a glowing mention in the media, especially by another bookseller. Speaking of books, it's that time of the year again -- Jewish Book Week starts this Saturday evening. Always kindles fond memories of my first job in London - working in the Woburn House Jewish bookshop and on Jewish Book Week with She Who.

Foreign & Commonwealth Office Conclusions of the London Meeting

I don't know what Deputy Prime Minister (how many are there) Ehud Olmert wants from the London Meeting. It's right there on page one. It's also mentioned further in.

...terrorism should be brought to an end...

Microsoft King gets British Knighthood

Arise Sir Bill.

U.S. Cites Array of Rights Abuses by the Iraqi Government in 2004

Hang on a minute. I thought that as the WMDs had conveniently faded from the Neocon collective hive mind, the latest rationale for taking over Iraq was that Saddam and friends were nasty people doing dreadful things to Iraqis. So now the new regimes are just carrying on as before.

Oh... yes... they're aware of the problem and making corrections. I see. Well, I think I see.

Guardian Unlimited

I was going to blog about the conference , sorry meeting being held today in London centered on the Palestinian administration. I note though, that there is no mention of it in the Guardian and very little in Google news. I conclude that with the absence of the Palestinian p.m. and any Israeli involvement at all , that this is just a photo op for Tony and unlikely to bring any good to anyone.

From e-bay to e-skip

I was really excited when someone told me that there is a non-shuk antidote to ebay. The Freecycle hype sez you can advertise all your unwanted stuff and find what you want - - for free. No money changes hands. Sounds wonderful, just like putting stuff in a skip or taking stuff out of same. There are local groups worldwide. The London group has over 2500 members and there are two groups in Israel, in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Seems to be a yawning gap for a Haifa group…

Sadly however the London group uses Yahoo Groups as their list server. I just spent a very frustrating half hour going around in circles trying to register and log in. Unlike the last time I joined a Yahoo group which involved exchanging a few emails and took a few seconds, Yahoo now requires you to set up a master account, input lots of personal information and accept their marketing and tracking mechanisms. That is just too intrusive for my liking so I will not be registering. Shame. An excellent concept spoiled by the wrong provider. So London skips remain my free stuff drop-off and pick-up point of choice. BTW my business partner has a magic bench near his home in Hampstead where locals leave unwanted stuff and take what they want.