And under it, is says:
Lip Bar
What's a lip bar?
Uh, Chapstick and lip gloss!
Just give your customers a kiss and don't charge them a copay today. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 22, 2021
March 21, 2021
Sheep No More
In thinking about sacrifices as animal substitution for consequences to man, we can also reverse this logic to explore what sacrifices can teach us about consequences to man in their relationship to the Jewish people. In this particular case, I am thinking about Jewish responses to those who desire to be our friends and want to build kind and productive relationships with us or the opposite, to our enemies, who seek to persecute, attack us, and make the Jews their korban, victims.In short, traditional korbanot in the Temple can teach us not only about how animals can substitute for people in our sacrifices to G-d for thanksgiving, communion, and acknowledging of consequences and teshuva (repentance) for our wrongdoing, but also how the Jewish people can relate to the nations of the world in everything from full peace, positive engagement, acts of guilt and sin against us, and even full-fledged war. Sacrifices teach us that while peace is always the desired state and fiery war a last resort in our self-defense and preservation, we know that after thousands of years of anti-Semitism, persecution, and Holocaust, we are no longer the sacrificial lamb on anyone’s Temple altar.
March 19, 2021
Graffiti Over Urban Blight
It's a city in gross decay and it needs help.
"This land is your land. This land is my land."
This land needs a serious helping hand.
A wealthy country where "the roads are paved in gold."
But the inner cities are crying out in poverty, crime, and neglect. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 18, 2021
Appreciate Who You Have In Your Life
Thought this was a brilliant depiction of appreciating the invaluable people in our lives.
You don't know what you have until you don't have it anymore.
Often, people become lazy in their relationships or they stop appreciating what/who they have--we end up taking them for granted, not paying them our loving attention or worse mistreating them.
But one day, those people won't necessarily be there for us anymore.
That's when our eyes are opened to what we've done, but then it's too late to go back and undo the mistakes we made.
One good friend told me that marriage is not like Hollywood; it's not all loving all the time:
"There are good days and bad, but it's better to have 5 even really bad days a month with your partner than 30 bad days a month by yourself, alone."
Don't wait until it's too late to love and care for your spouse, children, grandchildren, etc.
Eventually, the clock runs out and regret won't bring anyone back.
(Source Photo: Millionaire Tutor via Facebook)
March 17, 2021
Fiery Star of David
Saw it on Facebook and thought it's really dazzling!
Man, we're on fire and in a good way--rebirth after the horrors of the Holocaust, redemption to and flourishing of the Promised Land of Israel, and what looks like many more incredible things to come.
Hence, my reading of the three stars: our past, present, and future.
G-d's plan for the world is happening, and it's hopefully very bright indeed. ;-)
March 16, 2021
@Lake Needwood
March 15, 2021
Vibrant Fashion Colors
Wow, what a vibrant fashion display of color at Macy's!
This is bold.
This is fun.
This is exciting.
This is alive.
We're coming from the Covid dead back to the pre-pandemic life!
Take out your stimulus checks and get ready to spend.
There is still hope for humankind. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 14, 2021
Preparing for The Third Temple
In essence, the Jewish Temples have been not only physically buried over, but also the site has been historically Islamicized despite the Temple Mount’s intrinsic holiness to all three major religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism). In short, this is a very sensitive issue that is likely anchored in facets of intolerance and religious rivalry, as well as pretenses of superiority and dominance, rather than ultimately on the shared connection we have through both our genetic and spiritual lineage as Abraham’s decedents.We absolutely want to have a peaceful and productive coexistence with all people, but just as Israel has risen from the Valley of Dry Bones, so too the day is coming soon when the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt in shinning glory and we can worship G-d just as we did in times before. What will be special about the 3rd Temple is that it will not only be for the Jewish people, but for all the world’s people to come together harmoniously to recognize and worship the one true and faithful G-d of us all. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 11, 2021
Where Have All The Heroes Gone?
When we had heroes in the real world there were also superheroes on television, movies, video games, toys, and more.
But alas leadership in our times has seriously fallen short.
Who is there to really look up to as a model for us to respect and follow?
It seems like everywhere these days we are confronted by:
- Failing leadership
- Poor decision-making
- Party politics
- Obstructionism
- Finger-pointing
- Fraud, waste, and abuse
- Bullying and sexual harassment
- Bribery and kleptocracy
- Big time narcissism
There are few if any heroes these days!
It's sad for us as well as for our children.
I hope we see Batman and Superman and other superheroes again: strong in the physical sense but primarily a symbol for strength of character/integrity and for the fight of good over evil in this world.
The void is painful for our times and is going to impact our near term future as well. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 10, 2021
Fashion Masks
March 9, 2021
Purple Octopus
March 8, 2021
This Fish Can Swim
March 7, 2021
The Beauty of Women
Simple yet elegant.
Mysterious yet familiar.
Intense yet tender and caring.
Thoughtful yet expressive.
Dark yet full of light.
Natural yet sensual.
Fantasy yet reality.
A best friend, a partner, a lover.
Together a home. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 6, 2021
Royalty On An Elephant
This princess in a beautiful overflowing pink gown.
Riding on a golden throne on the back of an huge elephant.
The elephant with white tusks is covered in royal red robes with a blue, green, and orange emblem of a serpent.
Fairy tale maybe, but this seems so real to me.
I want to wave and jump up and down and say, "your majesty!" ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 5, 2021
The ICC: Latest Salvo In The War Against Israel
From Palestinian riots to revolts, from Palestinians engaging in a civil war against Jews to the Arab League nation-states waging an all-out war against Israel, from Palestinian organized terrorism to raging intifadas, from the Palestinians driving United Nations resolutions to International Criminal Court investigations of Israel, the Palestinians are waging an endless war against Israel, rejecting numerous offers of peace for their people’s autonomy and self-determination.Through never-ending Palestinian rejection of one peace proposal after another, and instead choosing to have “all or nothing” of Palestine, the Palestinians have embraced armed and violent struggle as well as economic, political, and judicial warfare against Israel. Unfortunately, the Jewish people will need to continue in their ultimate struggle for survival. After 2,000 years of Jewish exile, and suffering under incessant persecution, inquisitions, expulsions, pogroms, the Holocaust, even now with the State of Israel, the one Jewish homeland and our refuge, the attacks continue against us from Palestinians choosing to wage an endless, bitter war instead of looking to make a lasting, beautiful peace.
(Credit Photo: Pixabay Free Images)
March 3, 2021
Artful Window
March 2, 2021
Cycling In Multicolor
Something about this drawing at a local kosher restaurant really stood out.
The weird cycle with the exaggerated extra big wheel in front.
The crazy looking skinny bodied person with long arms and legs and wild hair sitting on top.
The bright green, blue, orange, and yellow colors.
It just made me laugh at the whole thing.
It's not exactly art, but it sort of is. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 1, 2021
Lots of Lenses
So many prescription strengths.
Trial and error to figure out what is the right one.
Hold it up to your eye or flip it into the machine.
How's things looking now?
A little stronger, no a little weaker.
Wait, stronger.
No, weaker.
Ah this is nuts.
How can I even see what the heck I am choosing.
Seeing is believing. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 28, 2021
Incredible Horses and Wagon
Wow, thought this was an incredible horses and wagon.
I love how the artist raised the path, so you could see the difficulty of traveling like this.
And the sculpture is so intricate and detailed.
Truly lifelike and makes you feel the times.
In the Wild West, like in the "Old Country" people kept chugging along, even when life was difficult and often miserable.
Not sure how they did it. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 26, 2021
It’s Never About Luck
Today is Purim, when we celebrate the Jewish victory over the evil Haman and his conspiracy to annihilate the Jews in the Persian Empire. Haman drew a lottery to determine what he thought was a fortuitous day, the 13th of Adar, to murder the Jewish people and pursued this plot through a decree by King Achashverosh. But as we know, G-d made miracles through Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai, and Haman and his ten sons ended hanging by the noose that he built for Mordechai.
This has been my personal experience as well, as I can see both now and in 20/20 hindsight that there is a definite Divine method and not just a world of random chance and madness.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 25, 2021
Teach Me To Fish
February 24, 2021
Silly Pink Rabbit
Maybe it's good luck for procreating, since rabbits are known to be specialists at it.
Also people like to carry a rabbit's foot for good luck--where did that practice come from?
If the rabbit lost his foot and it's in your pocket then it doesn't seem like it was very good luck to the rabbit to begin with!
Who knows maybe it's the Easter Bunny?
Honestly, aside from Bugs Bunny
What's up Doc?
And the cereal commercial about:
Silly Rabbit, Trix are for Kids!
I'm not sure who needs a six foot pink rabbit anyway. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 23, 2021
Meatballs Piled High
Probably goes well with some nice long spaghetti and saucy sauce.
Mix it up and serve it steamy hot.
Around the table, everyone dig in.
Oops, don't spill the sauce on your shirt.
Keep some Tums around for any after effects.
It's hearty meatball and spaghetti night. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 22, 2021
Happy Living Room
February 21, 2021
Better Covid Mask
February 20, 2021
The Power of Love
When we act up and fight with each other, then in the end, we will really only end up hurting ourselves.Tomorrow can be better than today and yesterday, if we learn to live in peace and brotherhood with each other, and understand that hurting another is really only hurting ourselves in the end. G-d’s holiness dwells among us only when we stop the silly bickering and infighting, and love each other, and Him, with all our heart and soul.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 19, 2021
Trashy Advertising
February 18, 2021
Stretching Cat
February 16, 2021
Amazing Honey Chicken
Crispy noodles underneath the delicious, sweet, succulent, and crispy chicken.
This was, as they say, "to die for" - so, so delicious.
As my father used to say, "It tastes like more!" :-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 15, 2021
Hanging Out with Jefe Dinero and Sweetkayy
Awesome photo in Fort Lauderdale today with rapper, Jefe Dinero and model, Sweetkayy
Great meeting these cool folks in hot Florida!
We're rocking the day away. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)
February 14, 2021
Give A Bear A Ride
(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
February 13, 2021
A Reason For Everything
Reincarnation actually makes so much sense, especially when you see that G-d can and does bring people back to the world when they still have life lessons to learn and growth to be achieved. It’s part of our preparation and our soul’s purification process to go back to Hashem.Obviously, we are not G-d, and don’t have the time and event perspective of Hashem who was, is, and will be. However, if we understand that G-d has a plan, everything is connected, and there is a reason for everything, then we can go through life inspired to do the right thing ourselves even when we are challenged by our circumstances.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 12, 2021
February 11, 2021
Hmm, Different Is Necessary
One of these is that it's okay for us to be different; in fact, it's necessary!
We each have our own personality, experiences, and journey in life.
What works or is right for me in my life, may not work for you or be right in yours, and vice versa.
Celebrate the differences, because we are all here to learn and grow.
Let us each follow his/her own path as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.
Now that makes a lot more sense then everyone do it my way! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 10, 2021
Without a Brain or Soul
A real skull, all hollowed out.
Sockets for the eyes, and a big hole where the nose goes.
The ears are gone too.
The skull is sawed open at the top, where the brain goes.
Not much left of the rotting teeth.
The soul is departed and is somewhere in the afterlife.
This should go a long way to humbling any human being.
What's outside really doesn't count for much, and what's inside is everything. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 9, 2021
Heart Over Head
While many people may occasionally feel head over heels for something or someone, I liked this saying by Miska Ben-David:
The head will make its plans, but the heart will choose its own path.
In other words, we are often driven by our hearts over our heads!
Passion is a powerful motivator, indeed.
When passion calls, do you go running too?
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 8, 2021
Eye-Catching Slippers
February 7, 2021
Did You Sell Your GameStop?
Well, I couldn't resist.
Around midday today, I peaked my head into the local GameStop.
There wasn't 1 single customer in the store.
Not 1!
There were two workers.
When I asked if they had any GameStop stock.
The manager said he had been offered some when he got promoted, but unfortunately turned it down.
Well the stock was a manic bubble for a short time these last few weeks, and it could've made him a bundle.
Based on what you see today, do you think you should own GameStop? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 5, 2021
Success, Israeli Cuisine Style
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, Success, "Israeli Cuisine Style."
This notion of success and failure in life makes you think about not only the imperative to be successful in our lives, but also to question what does that success even mean and look like? Is success really the goal or is the journey with its growing pains and lesson learned the real goal towards purifying our souls?
When we read the Ten Commandments, we are reminded of what the foundational elements of success in life actually are all about: How did we treat others (were we compassionate and giving)? Did we behave as Mensch’s in our lives? Did we try our best to do the “right thing” by our fellow man and by G-d? If you can answer in the positive to these latter questions then maybe you have achieved real success, regardless of what any culinary chef or life maven would tell you!
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 4, 2021
Children (and Fruit) of G-d
Interesting quote I heard on diversity:
It might be apples and oranges, but it's all fruit!
The way towards mutual respect, teamwork, brotherhood, and peace:
- Recognize that our similarities are much greater than our differences.
And ultimately, we are all children (and fruit) of G-d. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 3, 2021
The Sniffer Isn't Working
Someone really had a premonition posting this sign before Covid!
The sign says simply:
Smell Me!!
The response to this now-a-days would be the person with Covid yelling back:
I can't smell (or taste) anything!
Now frustrated, the other person replies:
But please, please smell me.
Second person, tries and tries again:
Sniff, sniff--darn, the sniffer just isn't working.
Get out the smelling salts!
Six months later, I still can't smell a skunk in the same room.
What type of crazy pandemic is this! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 2, 2021
Little Stinker
February 1, 2021
Ship in a Bottle
January 31, 2021
GameStop Is What I Call A Sh*t Store
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)
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)
January 29, 2021
January 28, 2021
Missing My Dear Mom
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)
January 27, 2021
Oodles of Noodles
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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