(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
September 8, 2019
September 6, 2019
What If Israel Lost?
What if, G-d forbid, Israel was attacked by its Arab neighbors and lost? It’s an almost unthinkable thought, yet it is actually a complete miracle that Israel, surrounded and vastly outnumbered by its enemies, actually wins and survives in a very tough neighborhood.
Despite these miracles that we have been blessed to witness, we can’t let down our guard militarily or spiritually. We must do good deeds, act with kindness and charity to our fellow man, and worship Hashem to continue to merit the success over our enemies and our settlement of the land of Israel.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 5, 2019
Favorite Chocolate Pastries
They are liked over-sized or really supersized Rugelach.
When these come out of the oven, the soft, hot pastry dough interspersed with overflowing, dripping layers of chocolate are unbelievable!
This mound of chocolate pastries is from Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem.
OMG, I can't wait to visit again and have one (or more) of these--totally lose all self control! LOL ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 4, 2019
G-d Is Good
When you are lying back in the chair, look what you see on the ceiling:
G-d Is Good.
The other day we went out to eat with some folks.
And the question came up whether you think most people are good or bad.
Interestingly, most of the people at the table thought either they are predominantly good or at least that they have the potential for good.
Really, it is G-d that is the ultimate good.
And to the extent that we are created in His image and have the opportunity to choose good from evil, then we too can be good.
G-d is inherently good, but man is a toss up based on which direction he goes. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 3, 2019
Cheesecake Heaven
This was an awesome display of the varieties of it at the Cheesecake Factory.
I remember my mom used to make a pretty darn great cheesecake (and a lot of other good food)!
I still can see the graham cracker crust with the sweet hot creamy cheese filling coming out of the oven.
Unfortunately one of the conundrum of life is that all the good tasting things are so darn fattening and bad for us.
I think though if they can make fake burgers like Beyond that taste like the real thing, then surely at some point they will figure out how to make a skinny cheesecake that tastes good.
There are still some mysteries left in this universe for us to unravel. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 2, 2019
September 1, 2019
Is That An Olive Branch Or A Gun
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "Is That An Olive Branch Or A Gun."
Our adversaries have become adept at terrorizing with one hand and painting themselves as victims with the other....The subterfuge of calling for peace, but seeking to murder has been going on for decades. The PLO charter that calls for the “liberation of Palestine” and the destruction of Israel was supposedly changed in the Oslo Accords, but it was never ratified. And the terrorist tactic of gaining ground (Gaza, West Bank, etc.) to further their strategic aim to attack and destroy Israel is well understood. Arafat became a master of this chicanery already decades ago when he came to the United Nations in 1974 with a “freedom fighters gun” on his hip and an “olive branch” in his offering. Today, the run of the mill terrorist continues this duplicity having become proficient at holding human shields (women and children) in one hand, and a gun or bomb to attack in the other. Similarly, organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah have cunningly split their missions of terrorism and murder of Israelis on one hand with social welfare and political cause for Palestinians on the other. They raise sympathy and seek to gain immunity at the same time as they continue to delegitimize Israel and conduct economic warfare and rampaging killing sprees.
In this regard, I wanted to share two sayings about not letting down our guard when it comes to the safety and security of Israel and our people. One, from the Romans, “If you wish for peace, prepare for war” also known as “peace through strength.” The second saying from former President Ronald Reagan, “Trust but verify” also know as “respect them but suspect them.”
August 30, 2019
Breakthrough Hybrid Car Technology
Thought this was just too excellent.
Yes, a new hybrid car.
- The chassis goes one way.
- The passenger compartment goes the other way.
Was the engineer on hallucinogenics?
Or perhaps, this is some super secret new technology for easy parallel parking.
Think about it, if the car is driverless than what difference does it make anyway? ;-)
(Source Photo: Facebook)
August 29, 2019
Go Years of Retirement
There are three phases:
1) Go-Go: You retire and are eager to enjoy your newfound freedom, and you spend the time and money to really do the pursuits and travel that you always wanted.
2) Slow-Go: After the initial adventurism and spending, you settle in some more and spend your time on quiet activities, socializing, and relaxing.
3) No-Go: This is the wind down phase, where you spend most of your time at home and at a certain point, may need some assistance to do everyday activities.
Obviously, the last phase is sort of depressing, but it too is a part of life.
Like a bell-shaped curve, we are born, grow, mature, and then decline.
This is the cycle of life for every living thing.
It takes maturity and courage to face it and to make the most out of every single moment that we are blessed with. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 28, 2019
Revolting Bug Food
It says:
"Eat Bugs"
Bugs are a source of high protein.
Crunchy too.
The ones above were Cheddar Cheese Crickets!
There was also Chile-Lime Crickets (with Pumpkin Seeds) and Dark Chocolate Crickets (with Amaranth Seeds).
Then came the BBQ and Honey Mustard Crickets
And to top it all of some Salt and Pepper Mealworms.
OMG folks, we have gone back to the Stone Ages eating this crap.
Or maybe this is all that will be left when Armageddon finally comes. ;-)
(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
August 27, 2019
Selling By Customer Stereotypes
It categorizes their female shoppers into 4 types:
1. Candy (hearts): Sweet, girly, flirty, whimsy, and femme
2. Ginger (cherries): Sexy, confident, edgy, attitude, and mysterious
3. Lou (baseball): Cool, tomboy, laid back, tough, minimal
4. Meadow (sunshine): Flowy, bohemian, embellished, pattern, worldly
So this is how they stereotype their customers "to be helpful"?
Interesting also that they don't see that people can be complex with: multiple traits that cross categories or even in no category at all.
Moreover, people can have different sides to themselves and reflect these in different situations.
Perhaps in an effort to market and sell more, what they've done is reduce people to these lowest common denominator of idiot categories.
And what makes this worse yet is that it seems to be based just on snap judgment of how someone looks coming into the store and all the biases that entails.
How about we look at people a little more sophisticated than this and treat them as individuals, with real personalities, and not just as another empty label? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 26, 2019
Gucci Sneakers
Thick, thick soles and built up sides.
A strap adorning the sneaker with colored-stones (faux gems).
Very heavy with a durable kick-a*s feel.
All for $1,590 at Bloomingdale's.
As we joke as kids with a eastern European "old country" droll, "It's a bargain!" ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 25, 2019
Tyson's Corner Wall Art
Create your own wall art.
People passing by in the mall, just pull over and start drawing with their fingers in these cool colorful shiny sequin tiles.
One way moves the sequins to one color and the other direction to an alternate color.
Some people went up to draw and then took a picture of themselves next to their artwork.
Everyone loves a little creativity (even in between shopping). ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 23, 2019
The Coming Annexation
There has been much talk about Annexation of the Area C settlements in the West Bank (i.e. Yehuda and Shomron), and I believe that we are definitely moving in that direction. According to the 1993 Oslo Accords. Area C is where Israel maintains both security and civilian control. It represents about 60% of the West Bank and is of vital importance to the State of Israel and its future, and therefore is soon likely to be annexed.
Israel is the Promised Land and the one nation state for the Jewish people. Israel has absorbed millions of Jewish refugees from around the world. It is surrounded by hundreds of millions of Arabs in twenty-two countries. Israel captured the West Bank in a war of self-defense and should be prepared to annex it for the peace and security of its people and the region. If Israel has faith, remains strong, recognizes the military, geographical, and sociological realities on the ground and provides for the depth and settlement of its people, while at the same time being compassionate to the Palestinians, then it will continue to survive and thrive as a State, a democracy, and as light unto the nations.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 22, 2019
A Mosquito Into A Mule
Making a mountain out of a molehill
That's when you make a big deal out of nothing.
So yesterday, I heard the European version of this as:
Making a mosquito into a mule
Honestly, I like that version a lot better.
A mosquito bites and is annoying.
But a mule resists and is a very stubborn animal that can drive you crazy.
You definitely don't want to make a mosquito into a mule! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 21, 2019
The Apollo 11 Mission: 50 Year Anniversary
Thought this model (scale 1:48) of the command ship and lunar lander in the NASA store was perfect.
It truly is miraculous that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldin made this journey.
In just 8 days, they made the round trip between the earth and the moon, traveling about 240,000 miles each way.
And they walked on the moon for about 3 hours--I want to try that!
Even until today, the U.S. remains the only country to have actually put men on the moon (total of 12).
"One small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind."
Now it's high time that we get ourselves to Mars already and colonize it! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 20, 2019
Shopping Vs Psychiatrist
"Shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist."
Plus it's more fun and you get to take the junk home that you buy.
For many, shopping truly is a form of mental/stress relief--almost like medicine.
Unfortunately, if you think about it, things don't really make a person happy...rather people do and doing good does.
But industry wants you to think a lot more superficially and materialistically than that.
Hence the notion that if you take your daily dose of shopping, maybe you can skip the shrink! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 19, 2019
That's How You Make A Green Deal
August 18, 2019
In Sderot: Bombs and Birthday Cake
Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and gave it to the Palestinians in a unilateral effort towards peace, but soon after terrorist group, Hamas, took control and has since been raining down missiles on the Israeli civilian population centers around it...Last night, as the missiles came towards Sderot and the Israeli sirens wailed for the people to seek shelter–they have only 15 seconds–the beautiful youth in Noaa’s birthday party ran towards the safe room. What was incredible with these youth, was that rather than stop the celebration and hide in fear and suffering from the missile attacks, instead they courageously continued the party and sang with great strength in Hebrew, Happy Birthday to Noaa!
Let us all learn from these amazing young people of Sderot to have birthday cake in the face of bombs and to celebrate life in the face of death, and let Mashiach soon come and bring us peace in the Promised Land.
(Credit Photo: Miriam Sasy)
August 17, 2019
Copy Any Key
A automated key copy machine.
You insert your key.
And out pops a duplicate for you.
Home, car, business, whatever.
What is happening to that guy who used to work the key copy machine at the local locksmith?
Who says automation and robotics isn't taking and going to take away jobs.
I still remember that key machine--where the locksmith would put the key on one side and a blank on the other, and the machine would copy the surface grooves of one unto the other.
Now even that is gone.
I guess we're lucky still to have keys (for now). ;-)
(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
August 16, 2019
Boycott The Boycotters
Israel did the absolutely right thing in barring Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from their controversial trip to what they would deem as Palestine. Omar and Tlaib’s trip was not only anti-Israel, but pro-terrorist....Certainly, if someone comes to boycott you, boycott them first. This is what Israel did, and rightfully so: The boycotters should be boycotted! It is only common sense that Israel should not give a platform to and help the anti-Semites who actively seek to harm them. And this is precisely what the Israel law to deny entry to supporters of BDS is for. Make no mistake, no other sane country would permit entry to those who seek to hurt them.
We are no longer “like sheep to the slaughter.” Thank G-d, those days are over! We must have faith in G-d; Israel must fight those that seek to harm them whether from military to economic warfare and more.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 15, 2019
Best Chicken Lo Mein (Kosher)
At China Bistro and Sushi in Hollywood, Florida.
Order the extra chicken for a couple of bucks.
Well worth it!
Steaming hot from the wok.
And don't forget to make it extra spicy! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 14, 2019
Goals Vs. Tactics
Be "flexible in tactics, but stay fixed on the goals!"
There are many ways to accomplish the same thing.
And different people have their own approaches.
As in the lyrics: "You take the high road and I'll take the low road."
That's absolutely okay.
In fact, that's one of the strengths and benefits of diversity.
We bring different ways of looking at the world to the table.
Hence, we can bounce fresh ideas off each other and come to a great way forward.
The main thing is that we focus on our goals and progress to achieve them.
Be rigid on goals and flexible in tactics. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 13, 2019
Born With The Music
Alma Deutscher is a British-born (of Israeli-descent) musical whiz kid who was playing piano and violin at age 3.
And she composed a whole opera by the time she was 10.
They call her the Second Mozart, although she prefers to just be the First Alma!
She literally hears music playing in her head all the time, and she says that there are different expert musical composers in her head that she calls on to solve whatever musical challenge she is facing or sound out the emotion she is trying to get to.
In her interview, she did not seem like a 12-year old, but rather an old soul who has come back perhaps many, many times.
Listening and watching Alma is sort of like watching a walking miracle--as there is no way she learned these skills at such a young age and has "comprehensive mastery" over all the music and instruments.
If there was ever a question about where knowledge, skills, and abilities come from, with a child prodigy like Alma, there should be no lingering doubts about G-d's complete role in everything.
With Alma, G-d graciously let's us in to the mysteries of creation by showing us the source of all is Him.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 12, 2019
Bookmarks From Israeli Stamps
So this guy in my Ulpan class brought in these bookmarks for us that he makes.
He takes these Israeli stamps like the one for Judges of Israel and Social Welfare for the people, laminates them, punches a hole and strings it.
And voila, these cool bookmarks from Israel.
We had just learned the Hebrew word for bookmark and he thought to bring these in for the class.
He was so nice that even though he couldn't make the last classes before the Summer recess, he dropped these off with the teacher for us
Some people are real mensches, and these are the people I personally appreciate. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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