January 31, 2021

GameStop Is What I Call A Sh*t Store

For those of you who have been in GameStop, you know what I mean. 

Let's face it, it's a sh*t store!

They have videogames (some that I like) that you can buy online for half the price and crappy toys and collectables (i.e. "made in China" trinkets)!

Hey, I think you can get some action hero socks on sale for $5. 

The company makes nothing!

Their intellectual property is virtually nill!

Their assets are some leases in strip malls and shopping centers that have less and less traffic due to e-Commerce and Covid!

For those who drove the stock up from a year-low of $2.57 to a high this week of $483.98, congrats on showing that the market can be completely irrational and manipulated by the social media masses. 

Like right before the dot.com bubble of 2000, showoff your brokerage statements and brag about your beefy balances, I remember the local yocals from the barber shop doing the same back then--when everyone was a stock maven and becoming a multimillion from the likes of Pets.com.

But GameStop and AMC (another almost dead company unable to face Netflix, Amazon Prime movies, and all the other streaming plus Covid) are probably worth in concept less than good 'ol Pets.com or the Tulip Mania of the 17th century (at least flowers are beautiful). 

This will end in tears for the ever "greater fool" who's following the herd.  

Let's hope they and the spiraling, out of control national debt don't take down all of us with them!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

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January 30, 2021

Faith and Fight in Defense of Israel


 Please see my new article in The Times of Israel, called "Faith and Fight in Defense of Israel."

From Amalek to Iran, Israel can never be caught off-guard again and this means both operationally as well as from mistaken assumptions and thinking. Operationally, we need to always have the best technology, intelligence, planning, and training, as well as continually test those with Red Teaming to simulate enemy attacks and our readiness to counter with winning defensive and offensive operations. Moreover, we need to be on our guard in our thinking, as former Prime Minister Ehud Barak says in his book, My Country, My Life, that when he became head of Aman (Defense Intelligence), he sought to address the problem of misperceptions, overconfidence, and groupthink by strengthening “a unit whose sole function was to play devil’s advocate.” They would begin “with the opposite conclusion, and through a competing analysis of data and logical argument, try to prove it.”

Just as when we left Egyptian servitude, we defeated Amalek through a combination of our faith and fight, so too we will be successful in defeating those that threaten the modern State of Israel. Like Moses we all must turn to Hashem, and like Joshua, the Israel Defense Forces must stand ready to defeat all our enemies, as many times as it takes, to achieve a secure and lasting peace.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 29, 2021

Shabbat Shalom - Starbucks Style!

 (Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 28, 2021

Missing My Dear Mom

I had the Yartzeit (memorial anniversary) for my mom this last week. 

Can't believe it's been 7 years already!

Came across this picture where I'm sneaking up behind her at the veggie restaurant. 

My mom was always so full of life!

And while she went regularly to work, she also made sure to took care of us and the home. 

Whatever time I found myself coming home from school or work, there was a wonderful home-cooked meal waiting for me, and the salad always came first!

After I met my wife, Dossy, my mom and dad welcomed her to the family with open arms and hearts, and then together with our own children (their grandchildren), we were one (extended) family. 

Mom, hope you and Dad are doing well and G-d bless you both in Heaven!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)


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January 27, 2021

Oodles of Noodles

Big cooking wok!

Fry it up in the pan. 

Oodles of noodles. 

Sautéed with soy sauce.

Wrapped around the large spoons. 

Looks filling, gut-busting perhaps.

But ooh so satisfying.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 26, 2021

Flintstones Car(-Like)


Why do all the mechanic shops seem to have a car, like in this photo, lying around. 

Sort of reminds me of The Flintstones Car (from the TV Show originally aired in 60s).

No motor or anything; you would just stick your feet out the bottom and you would run while in the car. 

Stone Age answer to the need for an automobile. 

Hey whatever works and no need to recreate the wheel either.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 25, 2021

An Amazing Piano of the Arts


Wow, what a piano this is!

It combines beautiful music with incredible art, including woman dancing in a circle.  

Music + Art + Dance!

It is a great instrument bar none. 

To look at, to listen to, to feel alive with. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 24, 2021

Evils of Sex Trafficking


 USA Today article on Sex Trafficking:

- 4.8 million people: 3.8 Million adults + 1 million children! (and another 20 million people trafficked for slave labor)

- 99% female

- 70% Asia and Pacific, 4% in America

- $99 Billion in profits 

National Human Trafficking Hotline

- Call: 1-888-373-7888

-Text: “BeFree” (233733)

- Chat: humantraffickinghotline.org

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

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January 22, 2021

Let Go of the Ego and Follow G-d


Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "Let Go of the Ego and Follow G-d."

As we know, Pharaoh refused to let the Jews go from Egypt, whether because G-d hardened his heart for some of the plagues or he just couldn’t bear to see his Jewish slaves free through the final knock-out rounds. Through ten plagues that destroyed Egypt and much of their people, including their first born males in the tenth plague, Pharaoh is intransigent and suffers the terrible consequences....Aside from Pharaoh, perhaps the second most stubborn individual in the Torah is Bilam, who was asked by Balak, the king of Moav, to curse the Jews....even though each and every time, G-d instead blessed them.

In both cases, it is clear that no individual, whether a king or a prophet, can go against that which G-d has decreed!

The lesson is clear: it is best to try to see what direction G-d is leading us forward in and to follow Him all the way, not only because that is the path of least resistance, but because that is what we are meant to do and where we are meant to go in our lives.

(Credit Photo: Minna Meles)


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January 21, 2021

Going In Circles


One administration comes and another goes. 

The new executive orders and legislations reverse the old ones. 

- Keystone Pipeline

- Travel Ban from potential Terrorist Countries

- Paris Climate Accord

- Membership in World Health Organization

- Deregulation 

- Taxes

As a country, we are (borderline) bipolar!

And like a pendulum, we swing back and forth getting nowhere and driving the rest of the world crazy.

Can't we actually move forward without the perennial one step forward, one step back nauseating dance we keep doing. 

Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran are moving forward and they are not waiting for us to figure out what we actually want and get our national act together to move decisively and definitively forward.  ;-)

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 20, 2021

Walking Dead: Can't Wait

A lot of us can't wait for Walking Dead Season 11 coming in 2021!

24 more episodes of killing the crazy zombies. 

Everyone's got to hold on and survive in a world that is in full apocalypse mode. 

It doesn't take much for society to revert to biblical Sodom and Gomorrah where the wheels come completely off the proverbial bus. 

We should know because aside from advances in technology and medicine, a lot of the world is well on the way there!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 19, 2021

Ah, German Chocolate Cake


Ah, that's not a bad looking German Chocolate Cake. 

Pecan, coconut, and chocolate frosting. 

Wouldn't mind some gooey fudge filing on the inside, a little more icing all around the outside, and some cherries on top.

 How can this be bad? ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 18, 2021

@Lake Frank
















(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 17, 2021

Privacy Is Dead


I though this was a fascinating ad for the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

The little girl hanging onto to the UAV drone.  

Reminds me of the wonderful classic film, The Red Balloon, where after the balloon follows the little boy everywhere, in the end, off he flews with it into the wild blue yonder. 

As much as we all wish privacy wasn't dead, for the most part, it really is!

Between ubiquitous and persistent satellites, drones, and video cameras, audio and video surveillance, call intercepts and eavesdropping, computer monitoring tools, smartphone location tracking, facial recognition, body implants, and more, let's just say you are never truly alone. 

For those who continue to dream the impossible dream of privacy, it is a noble endeavor but quite fruitless without either going deep underground or significant legislative and policy changes that can actually be enforced. 

My grandmother used to say that G-d sees everything and she was right. 

These days, others are watching as well!  ;-)


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January 15, 2021

Orange Flowers 4 Shabbat Shalom


Beautiful vase filled and overflowing with orange flowers. 

It says Shabbat Shalom in a big wonderful way!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 14, 2021

High Kicks Not City Riots


This is when on the Washington D.C. Mall there were high kicks and not riots. 

It was a carefree spot and not a war zone. 

The city wasn't filled with anger but with hope. 

Politicians weren't giving each other a kick in the ass every day, but rather reaching across the aisle to try and get something done. 

The country was trying to go forward, but now it's having trouble keeping up with the problems caused by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. 

Then we stood tall and wore our colors proud, today we wonder about the crisis of the day and what tomorrow will bring.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 13, 2021

Beautiful Flowers 4 A Beautiful Day!

Beautiful flowers for a beautiful day!

In this painting, art does a wonderful job imitating life. 

I love the flower pot as well as the flowers. 

Nature, in real and artistic ways, fills us with renewed life.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 12, 2021

A Birdhouse For Every Bird


It feels like there are almost more choices here for a birdhouse then variations in dwellings you can buy.

Even if it just a little paint; sometimes that can make all the difference. 

Frankly, it's not even that important how big or small, just as long as you have a decent roof over your head. 

In our crazy world, we can have a birdhouse for every bird, but still we don't have homes for every person. 

Homelessness and poverty, whatever your race, color, or identity is still a big problem. 

Birds live in birdhouses, but many people still live on the streets.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 11, 2021

We're Leaving


This was funny. 

Store closing. 

50% off all the store fixtures. 

We're leaving. 

This joint just ain't cool anymore. 

Not one sells us short. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 10, 2021

What's With This Crazy World?


I don't recognize this world. 

This world has gone to sleep. 

It's not the world of life I used to know. 

Now fear and isolation pervade about. 

Things aren't even what they seem or they seem to be what they aren't. 

Everything is glossed over and black and white are easily substituted. 

There used to be a moral ground and a forward path. 

Now you have to have a stronger faith and inner conviction than ever before. 

To see the light at the end of the tunnel and hope it's the light we all yearn for.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 8, 2021

The Rise of Anti-Semitism In America

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "The Rise of Anti-Semitism in America."

From Antifa on the alt-left burning our cities this past summer to the storming of the Capitol this week by a mixed group, including those on the extreme right, a friend sent me this photo of the protester with a shirt that says “6MWE”.  Unbelievably, it means: Six Million Wasn’t Enough! I can only imagine our martyred men, women, and children from the Holocaust just over 75 years ago, rolling over in the graves at this disgusting, anti-Semitic and genocidal insignia.

To those evil haters who dare say 6MWE, I say: Am Yisrael Chai and absolutely Never Again!

(Source Photo: Twitter)


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January 7, 2021

Prescription Coffee, A Washington Necessity


A regular coffee just won't do it, especially with what's going on in Washington, D.C. after the most recent chaotic events of yesterday. 

Thus, this prescription coffee is a great idea to wake the masses out of their disbelieving stupor of what's going down in this insane town. 

Of course, the supposed Russian way of dealing with their opponents is said to involve perhaps more of a poison approach to handle affairs (reference Navalny), which is way scary!

And with talk of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove the President from office or of impeachment (again) less than 2 weeks from the inauguration, I'll definitely take me some prescription coffee by the barrel.  ;-)

(Source Photo: Minna)


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January 6, 2021

Breaching The Capitol


Like so many I am outraged that the Capitol got trashed today. 

There are really no words to describe the depressing and sickening feeling seeing what happened with the rampaging mobs.

Moreover, one lady actually was killed over this!

Aside from the lawlessness, disrespect, and abandon of our great democracy, it was shocking that the security forces let it all unfold. 

Doors barricaded and guns drawn, yet the mobs freely storming the building, hanging from the rafters in the chambers and making a farce at the podium. 

Moreover, the offices of the legislators breached with computers unlocked and emails on the screen!

If ever we were afraid of what the Russians or Chinese could do to us, do you think any of their agents could possibly have found their way to blend into the rampaging crowd and chaos today and then do literally whatever they wanted anywhere in legislative branch of our government?

They wouldn't have had to be James Bond or hid in a SolarWinds application update to do us severe damage. 

It seems like we just keep giving away the keys to the kingdom until eventually there is no kingdom of democracy anymore!  ;-)


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January 5, 2021

Animals Bags


Cute animals bags.

Turtle bag front and center. 

Others are elephant, cat, and maybe a panda.

Peaceful and happy. 

(Photo Credit: Minna)


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January 4, 2021

Bike Rack: Form and Function


Wow, what a brilliant idea for a bike rack!

Form and function match perfectly. 

Put your bike on this bike. 

This one is a classic!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 3, 2021

It's 9/11 Every Day in The U.S.


For the last 4 weeks now, we've had about 3,000 deaths a day from Coronavirus in the U.S., this number is eerily similar to the number of fatalities in the horrific terrorist attack on this country on 9/11.

Moreover, we have reached over 350,000 dead in less than a year, with the projection by April 1 to be 567,000 dead or another 217,000 gone in just the next 3 months!

Despite numerous pharmaceutical companies coming up with a Covid vaccine, the distribution here is being botched every day. 

In December, we vaccinated less than 1% of the U.S. population with a first dose, despite having been promised that 20 million people would be vaccinated, while another country like Israel has vaccinated 12% of their population.

So while we are experiencing the equivalent in terms of deaths of another 9/11 just about every day now, our government and their partners are pathetically slow in reacting to save lives!

  • The Federal government is punting to the state governments.
  • The State governments are punting to the local governments.
  • And the local governments are not sure what they are doing and there is inconsistency and conflicting, confusing guidelines in the system currently.

Recently, I contacted my local authorities and received a form email back that basically told me they still know virtually nothing:

"We are currently focused on the registration of vaccination sites, the distribution and administration of vaccines in Phase 1, storage and handling, and overall communications, including ensuring patient follow-up and second dose reminders. We expect additional updates on increased vaccine production in early 2021 from our federal partners. As we learn more from the federal government, we will adjust..."

I am appalled to see so many sick people and families and friends affected and people needlessly dying every minute of every day. 

I am wondering why there is not more of an uproar and outrage from the people (even as a new more contagious variant is spreading) or is a 9/11 every day now an acceptable casualty count?

I can virtually guarantee you that if/when this is done, there are going to be how many lawsuits, investigations, and commissions looking into how this got so mishandled and resulted in so much suffering and loss of life. 

(Credit Photo: Pixabay)


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January 2, 2021

Covid May Be Over When Pigs Can Fly


Don't be fooled by the Covid vaccines. 

Aside from the very disappointing and dysfunctional rollout so far (less than 3 millions first doses in the time that they promised 20 million), the virus is mutating!

Hence the new yet more contagious Covid virus now going around. 

I wouldn't get my hopes up too high on the results of the vaccine quite yet. 

Hype is the opioid of the masses. 

Like the flu, Covid may be over when pigs can fly.  ;-)

(Credit Photo:  Andy Blumenthal) 


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January 1, 2021

Horrors in U.S. Healthcare

 

So I have been sick the last 9 days, and don't really know what it is (bad cold, flu, or Covid). 

But I am hearing that Covid is spiraling around just about every family that I know now. 

The new most contagious Covid variant is in at least 3 states, but I would suspect it's in all of them by now.  We'll find that out way after the fact. 

G-d only knows whether the Covid vaccines will work on the mutated Coronavirus and how this will impact the runaway pandemic.  Will it be back to the Vaccine drawing board?

While many healthcare workers have been extraordinary during these difficult times, I've been appalled at some recent cases of horrible care. 

Example 1:

Went to CVS Minute Clinic, they gave me some antibiotics, but said go this afternoon for a Covid test, which I had already booked prior at another CVS location that does the tests.  

I drive 10 miles sick to go there, and when I arrive they tell me, they don't have my appointment anymore even though I show them "black and white" my confirmation!  "The system must've kicked you out because you were at another CVS earlier in the day." I said, I need to be tested, and they were adamant that there was nothing they could do.  Their completely incompetent store manager told me to call and make another appointment for another day.  I said, I waited two days for this appointment, drove ten miles, and waited a long time on line.  He said, that's too bad and I should call the 800 number if I wasn't happy. I said, it's your mistake, so you call the 800 number.  I told him I wasn't leaving the line until they resolved this. The manager was a rude SOB, but finally one of the pharmacists said the nurse can put me back in the system and they would in fact see me. 

Well, lo and behold, a day passes, and I get a call the test didn't work.  Make another appointment.  Ok, now I really have no choice.  I go to another CVS, this one was actually much better and gave comprehensive instructions on how to take the Covid test. So much for good CVS and bad CVS!  

Example 2:

Someone else in my family was sick and also goes to the CVS Minute Clinic.  They give her not much more than Tylenol.  But tell her to make another appointment to take care of her ear.  She makes an appointment, and I take her to yet another CVS location the next day.  Well guess what, the Physician's Assistant refuses to treat her ear.  He sits us down and tells us that he has a wife and kids at home and doesn't want to possibly get Covid since she was at the Minute Clinic the day before.  I explain that all they gave her was Tylenol.  He says, "Anything can be Covid!  And I'm not going to go in the room to clean out the ear for maybe 20 to 30 minutes."  Well then why in the hell did this guy go into the medical profession?

Example 3:

I contact another pharmaceutical outlook (not CVS) for a prescription.  They quote me $2,500 dollars.  I say "That's 10 tens what they usually charge me so there must be a typo."  Oh no, that's the price for the branded drug.  Maybe you meant the generic which is only $250!  Same drug but ten times the price!

I'm sorry folks our healthcare system in the U.S. is very broken indeed.  By calling attention to these things, I hope to bring positive change for all our sakes.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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