January 31, 2022

Nike Polka Dots

Standout Nike polka dot sneakers. 

Can't help thinking that you just need a large round red nose with this. 

And you're all set for the circus.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 30, 2022

People of Ukraine

It hit me today — with all the news about Russia preparing to invade Ukraine and devastate its people, unprovoked, there is nobody talking about the people of Ukraine.

Our leaders and news media are so misguided and focused on the geopolitics of the thing, all they talk about is what the U.S. and EU will do in terms of some measly sanctions.

But they have completely forgotten the innocent people there — 44 million of them — who face death and occupation.

Where is our leadership????

Where are the speeches about the innocent people? About freedom? About democracy? About human rights?

Where is the United Nations????

They are supposed to safeguard and maintain peace and security around the globe.

Where are the outspoken liberals who call out occupation, apartheid, and human rights abuses????

Not a word from anyone.

It’s incredible how prejudiced, biased, discriminatory and corrupt all these people can be. They can be brainwashed, bribed, and bought to speak out for those when it will somehow fit their agenda or benefit them!

But when the Russian or Chinese powerful aggressors are at the doorstep of Ukraine or Hong Kong/Taiwan — where is anybody to speak out?

Last night, I imagined the people of Ukraine sitting in fear, in worry about what will happen to them, their families, their homes.

Do the world leaders care anything about the lives of real people — men, women, and children — or only about how any conflict makes them look, and how they are polling, and the next election?

Morality and conscience — is it on life support or dead in this narcissist world of the powerful and elite. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 29, 2022

Goading The Bull In Ukraine

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Goading The Bull In Ukraine."

A few years ago, Israel’s former Foreign Minister, Avigdor Liberman (Soviet-born) cautioned about Israel’s indecision on handling the existential Iranian nuclear threat:
We need decisiveness, determination, not whining…no agreement will stop them. If you want to shoot, shoot, don’t talk.

These days, there is a similar situation with Russia and the U.S.’s threats over Ukraine: too much senseless political bantering and ultimatums that is only ratcheting up tension in the world. The result is that Russia’s ominous military machine including 100,000 troops have surrounded Ukraine (the 2nd largest country in Europe) on three sides and are poised to attack, yet there is a ridiculous song and dance being played out on the world stage In the end, the question is whose strategy will prove to be the winning one: Russia’s daunting finger on the trigger or even an actual devastating invasion of resource-rich Ukraine to try and safeguard their flank on Eastern Europe or the U.S. gambling that Russia will get mired in a no-win Afghan-like military foray that will bankrupt them financially and morally. As we await the answer to this, the world is learning to disregard and disrespect those that talk bull and goad the bull rather than decisively confronting the threat. We can’t afford the consequences to world peace and stability.

(Source Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/trimmers-torero-bullfighters-sales-2314770/)
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January 28, 2022

Shabbat Shalom Roses!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 27, 2022

Fashion Hot and Cold

Fashion in Washington, D.C. in January winter low temperatures. 

Perhaps trying for "hot" (-like) fashion on a cold day.

I don't think it would go over all that well in an office-setting, especially in this often stodgy town. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal) 


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January 26, 2022

Mini Noah's Ark

I'm not sure this is quite the mini Noah's ark, but it's definitely a boatload of animals this guys is rowing along with. 

The question is who is going to be the dinner for whom? 

Sure, I'll go along for the ride said the cheetah.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 25, 2022

iPhone Generation

It's a beautiful day. 

Friends are all sitting on the boat together. 

One is even getting married, a bride-to-be. 

Sky is clear and water is blue.

Yet not one person is looking up from their screen. 

Apparently the virtual world is so much more intriguing. 

Soon everyone will be lost in the Metaverse.

The real world left to become a cesspool that perhaps no one cares much about anymore. 

Is this really what we call progress? 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 24, 2022

Artist Expression x5

Sometimes one has to interpret art. 

I'm having a little bit of a hard time with this one. 

But I still like it!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal) 


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January 23, 2022

Not Terror But Hugs

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Not Terror But Hugs."

While standing up for the Torah to be brought back to the ark, a little boy comes up to me and just gives me a big hug. I learned afterwards that the boy “makes the rounds” in shul giving everyone a beautiful Shabbat embrace. This simple symbolic act of caring and loving others, mainly many older people in synagogue, by this innocent child gave people an uncommon sense of happiness and even hope in our future despite the anti-Semitism and hate of too many others outside.
The love of G-d is our secret for life and for our perseverance throughout history. G-d loves us as His children, but also punishes us as His children. As children, we are always learning and growing, but as adults we have to act in a way of righteousness and holiness, so that we will merit the former, and not the latter. With G-d's mercy and blessings, hopefully, we will have peace in our synagogues and our lives, wherever we reside in the world, to worship and live as Jewish people free of bigotry, hate, and terror, once and for all.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal, Adapted from L. Krestin)
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January 21, 2022

March For Life






 (Credit Photos: Dannielle Blumenthal) 


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January 20, 2022

Cut Off The Legs And Call Him Shorty

Who knew, it's actually a song by Louis Armstrong.

It comes after:

"Shave off my hair and call me baldy."

They don't make them like they used to.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 19, 2022

Models on The Shelf

This was interesting display of female models. 

You can pick the cards with the models you are interested in. 

Seems a little obsolete in the time of the Internet when it could all be online.

Also, seems more than a little degrading to line them up on a shelf like any  commodity in a store. 

People are not things for peddling (or Human Trafficking!), and this seems like it sends the wrong message especially about women.  

At least if you threw in some male models here too, it wouldn't come across so grossly misogynistic. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 18, 2022

Stylish Bowl

Nice green bowl with yellow tactile border 

Simple yet artsy and inviting. 

Is it too nice to eat out of?  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 17, 2022

Fossil Fish

A petrified fish. 

So cool. 

Preserved better than with preservatives!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 16, 2022

A Trust Beyond Faith

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A Trust Beyond Faith."

When we have faith in G-d, it generally means that we believe that He created us and that He is the Master of the Universe. However, faith does not necessarily imply trust. Trust in G-d means that we believe that He not only created us, but that He sustains us and that there is Divine Providence in this world. When we trust in G-d, we believe that G-d is close to us and has a personal relationship with each and every one of us, and actually to everything in the world.
We all need to leave our egos at the door! No matter how strong or smart that we think we are, even the little grass above us (or above our graves) is greater than us. Certainly, G-d Almighty who is our creator and our sustainer, all-knowing and all-powerful, He is over us and watches over us in better times as well as those that are perhaps more challenging, but always we trust, for the good!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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January 14, 2022

All American Eisenhower EOB

Beautifully decorated Eisenhower Executive Office Building. 

All American: red, white, and blue. 

Standing tall and proud.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 13, 2022

Sunflower and Heart Day

Nice to have a coffee next to a sunflower and heart. 

Sitting and relaxing under a blue umbrella. 

Great way to start off a day!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 12, 2022

Lego Peace Love VW Van


Great Lego Peace, Love VW Van with surfboard and tanning chairs! 

Ready to jump in and enjoy the hipster life!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 11, 2022

Happy Place Sweat Jacket

Nice sweat jacket:

In My Happy Place

With some yellow and pink sunflowers underneath and on the arms. 

I'm feeling happy just looking at it!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 10, 2022

Fabric Fabric Everywhere

Beautiful rolls of fabric!

Red, and pink, and blue, and green, and white, and black, and...

I'm outa breath. 

Can you imagine having to make these on a loom like in the olden days? 

Ah, not fun for sure. 

Maybe that's why some people "go commando."

Better to just kill a bear or something!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)


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January 8, 2022

Discerning The Truth Amid Iran’s Lies

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Discerning The Truth Amid Iran's Lies."
While people can easily utter falsehoods, like Iran saying that their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, the documents and computer drives that Israel captured in 2016 when they courageously raided Iran’s nuclear archive shows that Iran has been pursuing a dangerous nuclear weapons program for decades.

The world has tried to contain Iran for decades: From monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities through the IAEA, to sanctions and covert actions to deter and set back Iran’s pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, and the JCPOA deal to try to contain Iran’s march to nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, nothing has worked, and Iran is intent on getting the bomb.

Moreover, while the costs of a preemptive attack on Iran could be great, the doctrine from former Prime Minister, Menachem Begin that Israel cannot and will not allow countries that threaten Israel’s existence to get the means to carry it out is as true today as in 1981 when Israel took out Iraq’s nuclear reactor in Osirak.
The Jewish people learned from 2,000 years in exile and persecution ending in the Holocaust that killed six million Jews that we must take verbal threats of annihilation supported by facts on the ground against us most seriously. As children of the Holocaust survivors, we must be true to our words of “Never again” and act with courage and determination to confront the enemy covertly and if necessary, with overt action to stop their genocidal pursuit from ever getting off the ground.

(Credit Photo: via https://www.flickr.com/photos/aeneastudio/3657735814 by aeneastudio and adapted by Andy Blumenthal)

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January 7, 2022

Flowers In Trunk

Flowers look beautiful even in the trunk of car. 

Shabbat Shalom!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 6, 2022

Tacky Bird in Window

Tacky window treatment. 

The shade has an amazing blue bird on it. 

Whether the shade is up or down, you maintain a view to the outside world and nature. 

This may actually be good in a bunker to ease the minds of those confined and cooped up. 

Bird fly, fly away to a place of peace and a time of serenity.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 5, 2022

Anyone Missing A Leg?

That's some museum exhibit!

Wonder if the owner of the leg is on the other side of that wall? 

What was this artist thinking?  

Hopefully just to sensitize us to people's health, disabilities, and plights, so we can be more compassionate and caring people!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 4, 2022

Meat and Potatoes Guy

Meat and potatoes guy!

Skip the carbs, and just eat the meat. 

Not as satisfying, but healthier indeed.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 3, 2022

Beautiful Amethyst Crystal

Wow, amazing beautiful purple crystal inside this stone.

Almost growing and alive inside like the rings of a tree.

Miracles of Mother Earth and nature.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 2, 2022

U.S. Misses The Boat on Hypersonic Missiles

It's great to be able to fight the old conventional ways. 

But the U.S. spends more than the next top 11 countries combined on defense. 

Yet, we have failed miserably at the next BIG thing in defense: hypersonic weapons!

Both China and Russia have hypersonic weapons ready to use on us.

China even claims they can use they can use their hypersonic missiles with heat seeking technology to destroy our most advanced fighter aircraft the F-35 and F-22.  

Yet as recently as November, the 3rd of the U.S. Air Force's hypersonic missile tests failed!  

Now at best, the U.S. Navy is hoping to be able to perhaps deploy hypersonic weapons by 2025-2028.

In the meantime, the U.S. is vulnerable to its adversaries at a time when Russia and China are rearing their militaries for confrontations in Ukraine and Taiwan, respectively.

And that could be only the beginning, if we don't get our military R&D together and fast. 

How could this happen with all the money we spend on defense?

Eyes wide shut like Pearl Harbor and 9/11 all over again!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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January 1, 2022

A 2022 New Year of Eggs

New Years 2022. 

Congratulations!

But I wouldn't call it "eggcellent," because there is a lot of world instability and fear looming on the horizon.

Are we looking at competition, conflict, and even possible areas of collapse or a much rosier outcome in the order of things?

  • From Russia to China and Iran to North Korea. 
  • From Al-Qaeda to ISIS and Hamas to Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad
  • From WMD to Cyber 9/11 and EMPs to Hypersonic ICBMs
  • From Covid to the Economy and Inflation to National Insolvency

Like a bunch of eggs. 

Will it be a year of Broken, Scrambled and Mashed or Sunny Side Up and Eggs Over Easy? 

Either way, we had better hope and pray that we don't get fried and burned.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)


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