Driss-A-Blog

True Martyrs

Shira — 2008-05-06T00:53:41-05:00

What is a "martyr"? Plainly stated, it's a person who dies for G-d. Judaism does not ask for martyrs. We're generally told (except for three specific instances) to live for G-d and keep the commandments and not to die for G-d. But sometimes we're not given a choice, and the choice is made for us.

The Holocaust was an awesome event. Six million Jews were murdered. One and a half million of them were children - the next generation gone. We were singled out and destroyed.

These martyrs - who were they? They were ordinary people, who in normal times were mothers and fathers, businesspeople, lawyers, students and children. Not unlike us today.

These martyrs did extraordinary things even living within the hellholes called the Camps. Mothers performed brit milah/circumcisions on their sons knowing that at least their baby would die as a Jew. Shabbat candles lit. Shofars blown. Assimilated Jews saying the Shema on their way into the showers - professing in the one and only G-d. Those being carried to the cremetorium singing their own Kaddish, praising G-d.

These are martyrs. These are people to aspire to be.

We are the living. But what are we living for? For ourselves? For immediate gratification? The physical or the spiritual?

Do we take advantage of everything at our fingertips? Kosher food? Shabbat? The Jewish holidays? Do we appreciate any of it? We have it all. Our martyrs only dreamed of it.

As we approach Shavuot, the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, we need to look back at Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and see not only destruction - but also life. These people lived for something bigger than themselves. They saw the big picture.

The Nazis were bent on destroying the Jewish People. But they can move to the back of the line. There were others as well interested in the same goal. As we say in the Passover Haggada, "in every generation" there are those who came to destroy us. However, G-d in His mercy didn't let that happen. We are an Eternal People when we hang onto Eternity.

To paraphrase Mark Twain. The Jews have seen the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Crusaders, and the Nazis all rise to great heights. We have also seen them all crumble into the dustbins of history. Who are we? We are the Jews. We have Eternity. We have the Torah.

--Shira

Never Again - The Empty Mantra

Shira — 2008-05-01T15:37:37-05:00

Here we are, commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day a week before celebrating Israel's 60th birthday. This is the day where we bring out the Holocaust survivors to listen to their stories of survival and victimhood. This is the day we sit around wondering what went wrong in Europe and mumbling to ourselves "Never Again".

"Never Again"? What shouldn't happen AGAIN?

That there shouldn't be anti-semitism in Europe?

That the world should love the Jews and find somewhere for us to go to live in safety?

It would be funny if there weren't lives at stake. Anti-semitism isn't dead. In fact it's alive and kicking in Europe. Jews are still scared to be outwardly identifiable as Jews. Talking to an English friend she was surprised to find that it isn't normal to be yelled at on the way to synagogue.

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights has published a report on anti-semitism in Europe. Here's a shocker: Anti-semitism isn't dead in Europe. Jews are being attacked. Do we hear a peep from anyone Jewish or not? No. Should we be surprised? No.

Israel is the country that the world gave us as payment for our destruction. The same world that couldn't manage to find a place for the Jews awaiting the fires of Aushwitz. The same United Nations whose Human Rights Council last month voted 40 out of 47 to elect

Jean Ziegler, the co-founder of the "Muammar Khaddafi Human Rights Prize", as an expert advisor representing the Western world. And for its new Palestine expert, the council chose Richard Falk, who, like Ziegler, accuses the U.S. of being responsible for many of the world's ills and describes Israel in Nazi terminology.

Yes, today it is a safer world for Jews. But wait. There are plenty of people who say that if Israel would have existed during World War II, that the Holocaust would never have happened. Such optimists. I too am an optimist, but I temper that by being a realist.

A couple summers ago Israel engaged in a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon after the kidnappings of her soldiers. Israel ended the war with absolutely nothing to show for her efforts. Our soldiers are still being held. Hezbollah is currently re-arming itself with the "see no evil" attitude of the UN blue helmeted soldiers nearby.

Israel gave away the Gaza strip with the assumption that somebody cared. Instead, rockets are landing in Ashkelon. (Never mind Sderot, they're old news but still receiving rockets.) And since Iran is such a good friend to the Arabs living there - it is a matter of time before those rockets land in Tel Aviv.

Israel is weak. Jews are weak. Why? Jews are afraid to show strength. We'd rather be victims than "aggressors". We're uncomfortable with power. We apologize every time we defend ourselves against people who hate us.

"Never Again" is an empty mantra mumbled by people who feel the need to do something but are impotent. We need to stop apologizing for offenses real and imagined. We need to stand up and say "I am Jewish!" and not apologize quickly afterward for being proud.

The Holocaust was not singular event in Jewish history. Our history is replete with horror. We are targets because we are Jewish. We focus on the Holocaust because it is the most recent destruction in our history of 4000 years.

The question is not "Why did this happen to me?" That is a voice of a victim. We must no longer be Jews with a ghetto mentality. How can I make the gestapo love me? What can I do to make the world love me? How can I assimilate myself into the culture around me enough so that I don't look too Jewish?

We Jews are the makers of history. We have seen it all, done it all. The question that must be asked is "Why am I afraid to say that I am Jewish?" The follow up question for all Jews then becomes "What does it mean to be Jewish?"

We are G-d's People. G-d gave us the Torah as a guidebook and the Land of Israel as a place to live as Jews. No apologies are ever needed.

Take a look at "Never Again."

--Shira

The writers' strike and copyright

Avi — 2008-04-27T23:55:45-05:00

Lessig posts about the writers' strike. A writer claims it wasn't about royalties at all, but about copyright issues. (PDF, but worth it.)

--Avi

Tell me how you really feel

Avi — 2008-04-16T12:02:54-05:00

I'm writing a little app using Core Data for storage (no, not NSPersistentDocument-based). Trying to write the store out, but when I call -[NSManagedObjectContext save:] I get an error. Great! What is it?

Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=134030 UserInfo=0x16a0fce0 “An error occurred while saving.”

Oh, that's so helpful. Thanks, Cocoa.

Edit: Yes, there is userInfo:

<CFDictionary 0x16923db0 [0xa03f61a0]>{type = immutable, count = 1, capacity = 3, pairs = (
2 : <CFString 0xa04222b8 [0xa03f61a0]>{contents = “NSUnderlyingException”} = An error occurred while converting metadata to a property list: Property list invalid for format
)}

That actually is helpful. Thanks, Cocoa.

--Avi

Facebook and iCal: BFF

Avi — 2008-04-09T22:24:31-05:00

Go to your Facebook Events page. Click “Export Events” at the top of the page. Copy that URL and subscribe to it in iCal.

Yay for open standards!

[Edit:

Oh. So if you want to move an event to your calendar, you have to cut/paste. At which point iCal will insist on sending email to the “invitees” which is just the planner of the event. And then when you remove the event from the calendar it insists on emailing the planner that the event is cancelled.

Er. -1 for emails unexpectedly sent in your name.

]

--Avi

Google Awesome strikes again

Avi — 2008-04-07T23:11:57-05:00

App Engine shipped.

Write your web app in Python, store data in BigTable, authenticate against Google Accounts. We handle the scaling and storage.

I love shipping.

(No, this isn't my project. Just sharing the joy of a service, long hidden behind the scenes, getting its moment of glory. Don't worry, mine'll come when it's ready.)

--Avi

Cars and Gas Mileage

Talya — 2008-04-04T10:51:44-05:00

Ok, I'm slightly aggravated so I have to vent. I have to return my Jeep Liberty very soon, and have many choices for my next car. I have done a LOT of research on all the different cars, and have looked into numerous makes and models, from the Volvo to Mercury to Ford to Honda.

First off, I had to suffer people's comments about gas mileage when I got my Jeep three years ago. I happen to love my Jeep. I don't love the mileage, but darn it, I live in Michigan, and I've never been so happy with my Jeep than when I could 4WD my way through piles of snow and ice and laugh at others who got stuck.

Anyway, as gas prices rose and my lease approached its end, I thought about what was important in a car for me...

One. I'm an attorney, so I'd like a car that is classy and presentable but fresh and funky. Kinda like me.

Two. I have worked damn hard these last five years, and I deserve something nicer than what I've usually gotten for myself, and I want to be happy with my sporty, stylish, classy car.

Three. Gas mileage was important.

Though please note. Gas mileage came in as NUMBER THREE. That means I took it into account but it didn't rule my decisions.

I am about 85% sure that I am going to get a Ford Fusion (fully loaded SEL model with the V6. YES. The V6). I have chosen this car for several reasons, and the only thing holding me back is the test drive, which will happen this weekend or so.

When I told some of my friends about my choice, I got two different responses. One was congratulatory and supportive. The other was basically, "you know the gas mileage isn't great, right?" or "Have you looked into hybrids?" The "other" then continued, making suggestions.

Let me make this VERY clear. For six to eight weeks, I have done enormous amounts of research to pick out this car, including consumer opinions and industry opinions. I have test driven different vehicles. I have looked into gas mileage, street and highway, as well as the yearly cost of gas, what type of gas the car uses, and how big the tanks are. I have looked into warranties, costs, etc., and I am rather pleased with my choice.

I do NOT need people to remind me how awful I'm being (granted, they don't use that word) because the car I am choosing is not "good enough" in the gas mileage department. If I cared that much, I'd be driving a Prius or some tin can like that.

What I am trying to do is make a balance. I'm not looking for a Hummer or another SUV or some gas-guzzler. I am trying to be reasonable, and I am pretty sure that I have been successful. If I can't be congratulated for doing a thorough job in researching vehicles and making a good choice, then at least be supportive with the choice I have made.

You're not the one paying for it; I am. And you're not the one driving it, I am.

--Talya

Trying out IPv6

Avi — 2008-03-31T23:07:21-05:00

IPv6 came up in conversation the other day when Google announced its IPv6-only site http://ipv6.google.com/. How hard is it to get up on IPv6?

Step 0: Get good firmware on your router. I'd moved to DD-WRT a long, long while ago on my WRT, so that was done.
Step 1: Google “ipv6 dd-wrt” and get a tutorial page written by the DD-WRT guys. Eyeball it and decide that 6to4 seems the simplest.
Step 2: Click two radio buttons, paste two chunks of text into the appropriate boxes, and click two buttons.
Step 3: Try accessing Google's IPv6 site with Camino, only to have it fail. Try Safari and smile at how simple it was.
Step 4: Use ping6. Attach screenshot to blog.

--Avi

Yes, You are Judged by the Company You Keep

Shira — 2008-03-30T19:13:11-05:00

When we elect a leader, we not only look at the individual – we also look at the people and advisors that they surround themselves with.

Barack Obama has an interesting list of advisors and friends: Samantha Power, Zbigniew Brezinski, Robert Malley, Merrill McPeak and of course the Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr. Let’s take a look at these people.

Samantha Power is a Harvard University professor and is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the book A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide. She was the unpaid foreign policy advisor for Obama until early March 2008 when she quit over calling Hillary Clinton a “monster”.

What is most interesting about Professor Power is not her opinion on Obama’s opponent, but rather her perspective on Israel and the Arab population within the borders. In fact, we find her thoughts clearly articulated in an interview with the Institute of International Studies at UC Berkeley in April 2002. The interview focuses on how to prevent genocides around the world. This would generally be a commendable idea except that the interviewer asks Power about the Israel-“Palestine” problem within this context of how to prevent genocides. Which leads us to ask the question – is Israel committing genocide? Obviously not. Power might not be so sure.

Power: I don't think that in any of the cases, a shortage of information is the problem. I actually think in the Palestine - Israel situation, there's an abundance of information. What we don't need is some kind of early warning mechanism there, what we need is a willingness to put something on the line in helping the situation. Putting something on the line might mean alienating a domestic constituency of tremendous political and financial import; it may more crucially mean sacrificing -- or investing, I think, more than sacrificing -- billions of dollars, not in servicing Israel's military, but actually investing in the new state of Palestine, in investing the billions of dollars it would probably take, also, to support what will have to be a mammoth protection force, not of the old Rwanda kind, but a meaningful military presence. Because it seems to me at this stage (and this is true of actual genocides as well, and not just major human rights abuses, which were seen there), you have to go in as if you're serious, you have to put something on the line.
Unfortunately, imposition of a solution on unwilling parties is dreadful. It's a terrible thing to do, it's fundamentally undemocratic …. And, unfortunately, it does require external intervention, which, very much like the Rwanda scenario, that thought experiment, if we had intervened early.... Any intervention is going to come under fierce criticism. But we have to think about lesser evils, especially when the human stakes are becoming ever more pronounced. [emphasis added]

Power actually has the nerve to draw a comparison between Israel and Rwanda. An unbelievable and amazing statement. While Israel is far from perfect – we must remember that it is a democracy. Arabs have more rights in Israel than they do anywhere else in the Arab world. Arabs who convert away from Islam run to Israel to protect them from their intolerant brothers. Arabs who are homosexual run to Israel to protect them from their intolerant brothers. Arabs who are suspected of giving Israel information on possible attacks are routinely murdered. Polls taken find that majority of Arabs living in Israel support suicide bombers. To suggest that Israel is on the verge of committing genocide is completely unacceptable.

Power left the Obama campaign because of her “monster” comment. What we must wonder is why she was on his campaign to begin with. Her views are completely out of line with American foreign policy over the last 50 years. Israel has been the only friend of the United States in the Middle East. To even suggest in passing that Israel has genocidal tendencies is beyond rational thought. Does Obama support her views? If not, why was she his foreign policy advisor?

Another advisor to Obama is a fellow named Zbigniew Brzezinski. When looking over his impressive resume one would imagine that he might be a good guy to have on your team, but it seems that he should have retired long before now. Brzezinski was the national security advisor to President Jimmy Carter (the same Carter whose book compares Israel to an apartheid state) and has recently written in the journal Foreign Policy that throws his support behind the book “The Israel Lobby” which accuses the lack of peace in the MidEast on the Israel lobby here in the United States for putting undo pressure on the U.S. government.

“It is a tremendous mistake for Barack Obama to select as a foreign policy adviser the one person in public life who has chosen to support a bigoted book,” said Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz. In fact, Obama himself is trying to distance himself from his own foreign policy advisor, but hasn’t asked him to leave the campaign.

It must be understood that many countries around the world have lobbies here in the United States, not just Israel. In fact, millions of Americans across the country are members of lobbies in Washington DC – everything from the AARP to the automobile unions. To accuse Israel of having a “strong-arm” lobby like AIPAC is ridiculous and underscores the gross ignorance of the situation that Israel finds itself in. No one should forget that Israel is surrounded by enemies that are still looking to drive the Jewish state into the sea. Every day there are rocket attacks that come from Gaza to Sderot and on occasion to Ashkelon. There are reports that any day now Ashdod will be within range of Gaza.

Robert Malley, Obama’s Middle East expert is another one to watch. (The American Thinker does an amazing job exploring Malley ) In fact, he places the failure of the peace talks at Camp David between Barak and Arafat at the feet of the Israelis notwithstanding Barak’s offer of 90% of Judea/Samaria (West Bank) and half of Jerusalem. President Clinton himself puts the blame squarely on Arafat.

So a couple of days before I leave office, Arafat says, calls to tell me what a great man I am. And I just said, "No, I'm not. On this I'm a failure, and you made me a failure.

What is more important to note about Malley is what he would do in the Middle East to end tensions between Israel and her neighbors. He believes in direct negotiations with Syria and the return of the Golan Heights in exchange for peace. Never mind the connections that Syria has with Iran and Iranian proxies Hezbollah and Hamas. The same Iran that has repeatedly called for Israel’s destruction.

What’s even scarier is the fact is what Malley said to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in February 2004.

In that appearance he called for the Road Map to be cast aside because incremental measures intended to build trust were unworkable. He advocated that a comprehensive settlement plan be imposed on the parties with the backing of the international community, including Arab and Moslem states. He anticipated that Israel would object with "cries of unfair treatment" but counseled the plan be put in place regardless of such objections; he also suggested that waiting for a "reliable Palestinian partner' was unnecessary.

In other words, the United States should be able to force Israel to do what is best for the “Palestinians” and not what in Israel’s best interest. Again, we see the same attitude that Samantha Power had when commenting on Israel – the assumption that the United States can impose it’s will on another democratic country.

General Merrill McPeak has had a very distinguished career in the United States military but should keep his mouth closed. In an interview with The Oregonian he reveals some interesting ideas.

McPeak: … I don't think we have anything like a strategy for the Middle East....You know, for instance, obviously, a part of that long-term strategy would be getting the Israelis and the Palestinians together at . . . something other than a peace process. Process is not a substitute for achievement or settlement. And even so the process has gone off the tracks, but the process isn't enough. . . . We need to get it fixed and only we have the authority with both sides to move them towards that. Everybody knows that.
So where's the problem? State? White House?

McPeak: New York City. Miami. We have a large vote - vote, here in favor of Israel. And no politician wants to run against it.

Do you think . . . there's an element within Hamas, Hezbollah, that doesn't want Israel to exist at all and always will be there?

McPeak: Absolutely.

Yeah. So this is - this is multilateral.

McPeak: . . . . So there's craziness all over the place. I think there is enough good will on the Israeli side - I've spent a lot of time in Israel, worked at one time very closely with the Israeli air force as a junior officer, and so - but that's maybe the more cosmopolitan, liberal version of the Israeli population - I think there's enough good will there - I don't know if there is still on the Palestinian side, because they've been radicalized pretty well. But there's enough good will, I would hope, on both sides that you can get the majority into some kind of a big tent, and make something better than what you've got now. If you do that, you'll still have radicals on both sides doing stupid things… You can handle it with police. But if you don't do that, I don't see any way to put together a strategy for the Middle East. I mean it's just kind of a linchpin . . .

So not only is the United States the only one (again) who can move Israel and the Arabs to a peace agreement, but it’s only because of the Jews in New York City and Miami that are stopping us from a settlement. Liberal Israelis are good and there are radicals on both sides “doing stupid things”. And don’t forget – Israel is the linchpin to peace anywhere in the Middle East. Always a pleasant thought.

Last but not least is the Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr. We’ve all heard the racially destructive statements he’s made about damning America and KKK of A. But let’s look at his perspective on Israel. United Trinity Church’s June 2007 bulletin included a "Letter to Oprah" by Ali Baghdadi a an Arab-American activist. (Oprah had enough sense to leave this church.) This “Letter” has serious problems. It begins with the accusation of genocide.

I am so glad that you will be visiting my country, Palestine. I wish I could be there to greet you. Certainly, despite the genocide and ethnic cleansing they face every hour of the day, my people will be there.

Baghdadi has an amazingly skewed perspective on reality.

…Jews can stay and share our land, if they wish to live in a free and democratic Palestine that respects the rights of all, regardless of their religion, race, or ethnicity. Those who refuse and insist to live in an apartheid state will inevitably pack up and return to their native lands.

Yes, we have seen a “democratic” Palestine. “Palestinians” freely elected a Hamas led government – one with the platform of murdering Jews and destroying Israel. Arabs are free to live in Israel but Jews are unable to live in Gaza or Judea/Samaria without fear for their lives. How can we explain why Jews were required to relocate out of Gaza in the name of peace? How can we explain why Jews were forced out of their homes and businesses if Palestine is a “country” that welcomes all religions, races and ethnicities?

Don’t miss the opportunity to drive five miles south to Bethlehem. Feel the ecstasy of entering the most dramatic cave in which the Virgin Mary delivered her beautiful Palestinian baby.

Yup, Jesus was a Palestinian. Never mind the fact that Christians are being forced out of Bethlehem by the Muslims living there. Never mind there won’t be Christians living there that much longer thanks to their tolerant Muslim brothers.

Arabs have always supported the dismantling of this racist government [S. Africa]. In 1962, African-Arab Sudan granted Mandela a passport to travel with to gain international support in his struggle to free his people. Libya, among other Arab states, provided Mandela and other African liberation movements, political as well as material support. As a result, Libya was designated by the White House as a terrorist rogue state. What a great honor!

We all know that the Muslims are at the forefront of Human Rights. In Muslim countries around the world, women are still stoned and murdered for associating with men. Slavery still abounds in Muslim countries. In fact, we saw teenagers murdered at the Yeshivat HaRav Kook in Jerusalem a few weeks ago. And did someone say Darfur? Where's that? Oh yes, Sudan, the leader in Human Rights. Let's not forget Libya, a known terrorist entity with ties around the world.

There are many more problems with the letter that was included in Reverand Wright’s bulletin that are not included here. This is nothing compared to what was in the July issue. The bulletin included an article written by Mousa Abu Marzook, a Hamas terrorist, wanted by the FBI. It defends Hamas’s platform denying Israel’s right to exist as well as supporting the attacks on her citizens.

Obama again denies knowing anything about this, “I certainly wasn't in church when that outrageously wrong piece was reprinted in the bulletin.”

What’s funny about his denial is that he claims he wasn’t in church but not that he didn’t know about the article in the bulletin.

Obama keeps denying his knowledge about Wright and his connections to the anti-semite Louis Farrakhan even though the church honored the Nation of Islam founder with a “lifetime achievement award”. Wright and Farrakhan also traveled to Libya together to meet with Muammar Qaddafi.

When we look at with whom Obama chooses to associate himself we must ask ourselves – why? Why does he choose to surround himself with advisors who believe that Israel needs to be forced to capitulate to the terrorists in their midst? Why does he have a twenty year association with an anti-American, pro-Hamas, pro-Libya, anti-semite? Why did he allow his children to listen to such hate-mongering if he doesn’t believe it?

Barack Obama continues to issue denials. Truth be told, it’s getting old. Words don’t mean anything. Actions are much more important. If we are to believe anything that comes out of his mouth it must alongside actions. If he is truly above politics and divisiveness like he claims – he must rid himself of his advisors, friends and mentors who are steering him in the wrong direction. If in fact his advisors and friends are only a reflection of Barack Obama and not “just” advisors… I wouldn’t be surprised either.

Click here to see more on Obama and the Jews.

--Shira

Obama - where do you really stand?

Talya — 2008-03-24T16:25:45-05:00

I thought I would share some excerpts from an article - feel free to read the whole thing (link is in the extended entry):

"I first met Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama almost ten years ago when, as my representative in the Illinois state senate, he came to speak at the University of Chicago. He impressed me as progressive, intelligent and charismatic. I distinctly remember thinking 'if only a man of this calibre could become president one day.'

...

On Friday Obama gave a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Chicago. It had been much anticipated in American Jewish political circles which buzzed about his intensive efforts to woo wealthy pro-Israel campaign donors who up to now have generally leaned towards his main rival Senator Hillary Clinton.

...

Obama offered not a single word of criticism of Israel, of its relentless settlement and wall construction, of the closures that make life unlivable for millions of Palestinians.

...

As he [Obama] came in from the cold and took off his coat, I [a pro-Hamas editorial writer] went up to greet him. He responded warmly, and volunteered, 'Hey, I'm sorry I haven't said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race. I'm hoping when things calm down I can be more up front.' He referred to my activism, including columns I was contributing to the The Chicago Tribune critical of Israeli and US policy, 'Keep up the good work!'

...

If disappointing, given his historically close relations to Palestinian-Americans, Obama's about-face is not surprising. He is merely doing what he thinks is necessary to get elected and he will continue doing it as long as it keeps him in power. Palestinian-Americans are in the same position as civil libertarians who watched with dismay as Obama voted to reauthorize the USA Patriot Act, or immigrant rights advocates who were horrified as he voted in favor of a Republican bill to authorize the construction of a 700-mile fence on the border with Mexico" (Emphasis has been added).

Author: Ali Abunimah is the co-founder of The Electronic Intifada and author of One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse.

This article was written by a pro-Hamas editorial writer on March 7, 2007 - not that long ago... It makes you wonder - whose side is Obama truly on? And if you truly think he's pro-Israel, just how fast of an about-face is considered to be a little too shady for you?

Here's the link to the full article, How Barack Obama learned to love Israel.

--Talya

Lesson of the day

Avi — 2008-03-21T02:29:24-05:00

Got back from a Havalight party.

Lesson learned:

When a girl says (very unexpectedly) “so, do you want my number?” apparently the correct reply is not an instinctual snappy comeback, “should I?”

--Avi

The story of the ribbon

Avi — 2008-03-19T11:07:55-05:00

One of the biggest changes in the latest Microsoft Office for Windows is the ribbon rather than menus. Jensen Harris gave a talk about it, and video is up.

It's absolutely fascinating. A must see.

--Avi

WWDC 2008

Avi — 2008-03-14T09:55:05-05:00

WWDC: June 9–13.
Shavuot: June 9–10.

Guess that's not happening.

--Avi

There are No Innocents Here

Shira — 2008-03-06T22:02:34-05:00

In response to the massacre at the Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav Kook in Jerusalem, Ehud Barak, former prime minister of Israel and current minister of defense suggested that the innocents of Gaza should be moved out of harms way so that the Israel Defense Forces can operate freely and kill terrorists operating out of Gaza, never mind that the perpetrator of this attack was an Arab Israeli citizen.

I like that he thinks that there are "innocents" in Gaza because as far as I'm concerned... there are none.

Lest someone forget...
...The "innocent Palestinians" of Gaza and Judea/Samaria (aka West Bank) celebrated when the Twin Towers were destroyed.
...The "innocent Palestinians" of Gaza and Judea/Samaria celebrate and hand out flowers and candy on the street when there are bombings and murder of Jewish civilians.
...The "innocent Palestinians" of Gaza elected the Hamas government they currently live under. Let's not delude ourselves, the "moderate" Abbas is also a Holocaust-denying terrorist in his own right.
...The "innocent Palestinians" of Gaza and Judea/Samaria continue to have hate-filled children's television programming commemorating those who murder Jews and sing wonderful songs about Jewish blood flowing in the streets.
...The "innocent Palestinians" of Gaza and Judea/Samaria have yet to recognize the right of Israel to exist.

The "innocent Palestinians" are fashioning themselves in the image of Amalek of the Torah. They have a thirst for Jewish blood - from the children who are indoctrinated with hate from the moment they're born to those who revere the murderers who spill Jewish blood to the murderers themselves.

There is one answer and one answer only. David's answer to Goliath:
"You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin - but I come to you with the Name of G-d, Master of Legions, the G-d of the battalions of Israel that you have ridiculed. On this day G-d will deliver you into my hand. I shall smite you and I will remove your head from upon you... Then the whole earth will know that there is a G-d in Israel..." (Samuel I 17:45-47)

I cry for those who are truly innocents. I cry for those who have perished on their way to work on the buses. I cry for those who have perished at pizza parlors and coffee shops. I cry for those who have perished studying Torah this evening at the Jerusalem yeshiva. These new Jewish martyrs take their place among millions of other Jewish martyrs who have given their lives in order to sanctify the name of G-d.

I certainly will not waste a tear on those who spill the blood of my brothers and sisters in the Land of Israel and neither should anyone else.

--Shira

Meeting the right one

Avi — 2008-03-03T15:14:02-05:00

There's a huge amount of fuss over Cosmo's article about where to meet guys. Everyone is noting it for its suggestion to go to Apple Stores. However, it also mentions tech companies, though it doesn't bring Google as an example.

Shame. Digging through my IRC comments (originally posted on June 27, 2006 to my internal Google blog):

avi: Something from Seventeen magazine: How would you fit in at Google? 15 questions to find out if it's your dream job
markd2: “question 1: David Hasselhoff. Is he a) great b) greater c) completely dreamy”
pinkerton: c!
markd2: pinkerton wins a job on the Google Mac Team! wooO!
avi: When a cute guy comes into a party, do you a) look at him and smile, b) look away, c) ask about his former girlfriends and do a regression analysis about their psychological characteristics to see if you have a chance?

--Avi