Power Chocolates

Chocolate for every occasion.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Power Chocolates

Unlucky Car

Driver Okay.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Unlucky Car

We're Not Prepared

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "We're Not Prepared."

Whether it is our inability to imagine what can happen, our disbelief in it actually occurring, or our ineffectiveness or corruption to really prepare, we may be in serious peril from future threats that invariably await us. When that earthquake that we know is overdue hits the west coast hard, or a nuclear ICBM from North Korea or Iran hits somewhere in our mainland, or the next bio-weapon from China strikes our masses, or Russia cripples our satellites and Internet with one of their hidden Trojans or a zero-day cyber-attack, we can all shake our heads in utter disbelief again at how unprepared we are for the "next one."

Certainly, no one is invulnerable to tragedy, no preparation will ever be perfect, and we can never get everything right in responding to and recovering when disaster strikes, but if we don't stop the endless denial and infighting, allocate our limited resources with foresight and good cause, and make a determined and continued effort to get ready for what we know with virtual certainty looms large and threatens us, then we are unfortunately complicit in the tragic downfall that awaits.

(Credit Photo: Hitesh Choudhary via https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-pouring-water-from-dipper-on-blue-and-grey-house-1739855/)

We're Not Prepared

Orange Monster

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Orange Monster

Tisha B'Av: Remembering The Fallen Temple

Please G-d, the 3rd Temple soon and in our times!  

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Tisha B'Av: Remembering The Fallen Temple

Shopping Carts Reversal

 (Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Shopping Carts Reversal

Candle Holders

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Candle Holders

Bottled Ice Water

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Bottled Ice Water

Teaching Cartwheels

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Teaching Cartwheels

They Died So We May Speak

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "They Died So We May Speak."

Israelis are a people who are not afraid to speak their minds, and they are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. Regardless of the outcome of the current controversies, I am proud to be a part of the Jewish people, and I am confident that the citizens of the Holy Land will continue to be a beacon of hope for the world.

(Photo adapted from Israel Defense Forces via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1997_Israeli_helicopter_disaster_funeral.jpg)

They Died So We May Speak

Green Guitars

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

Green Guitars

Wet Floor Rocket Ship Cone

(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Wet Floor Rocket Ship Cone

Warehouse + Garbage Compactor

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Warehouse + Garbage Compactor

Awesome Kids Ice Cream Truck

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Awesome Kids Ice Cream Truck

Nordstrom's Happy Dance

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Nordstrom's Happy Dance

No More Burning Holy Books

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "No More Burning Holy Books."

At the very least, even if the Swedes were granting permission for the demonstration, they should have had the moral decency to condemn the actions of burning the holy books and then work to change the legal system to prevent this from happening in the future. But the truth is that they just don't seem to care.

(Credit Photo: Phuket@photographer.net via https://flic.kr/p/o4PgjN)

No More Burning Holy Books

Chug-a-Lug

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Chug-a-Lug

Target Escalator

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Target Escalator

Staging Area

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Staging Area

Hmm, Kid's Doll With Scary Razor Sharp Teeth

 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Hmm, Kid's Doll With Scary Razor Sharp Teeth

Whirly Pop

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Whirly Pop

A Tale of Love, Food, and AI

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A Tale of Love, Food, and AI."

So what do love, food, and artificial intelligence (AI) have to do with each other? Well, in this case, I have a number of special anecdotes from this week about getting some behind-the-scenes insight from others on all three topics.

(Credit Photo: Artem Podrez via https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-eating-unhealthy-food-4728849/) 

A Tale of Love, Food, and AI

Sit Here Next to Geoffrey

(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

Sit Here Next to Geoffrey

Water Bottles Rainbow

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Water Bottles Rainbow

Dog on Chair in Park

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Dog on Chair in Park

Happy Bearly 4th

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Happy Bearly 4th

Smokes, Pick Your Poison

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Smokes, Pick Your Poison

Maximum Plump

You can't make this stuff up. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Maximum Plump

Leaning Tower 7-Eleven Cups

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Leaning Tower 7-Eleven Cups

When Politics Gets Personal

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "When Politics Gets Personal."

Not unlike the deep political divide in Israel over Judicial Reform, this week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down college affirmative action following their prior ruling overturning Roe v. Wade has once again brought to the forefront the huge political divide in this country. Further, the polarization and bitterness between the right and left from the 2020 election are still simmering as we approach the next presidential election in 2024. Underneath all the day-to-day niceties, there seems to be a latent powder keg in our electorate, especially if the next election is a repeat between Trump and Biden.

In this context, I must admit that I had a run-in with someone this week who sits on the other side of the political spectrum from me. And maybe, as they say, it's best not to talk too much about religion or politics, just for the reasons I am about to convey.

(Credit Photo: John Hain via https://pixabay.com/illustrations/fingerprinting-blaming-division-2203448/)

When Politics Gets Personal

Mr. and Mrs. Cat

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Mr. and Mrs. Cat

Traditional Roller Skates

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Traditional Roller Skates

All Steel

Matching benches and garbage can.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

All Steel

Salad Dressing or Poison?

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Salad Dressing or Poison?

Boardwalk Ocean Blue

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Boardwalk Ocean Blue

Bumblebee Cake Pop

Too cute to eat! ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Bumblebee Cake Pop

Putin: Will He Stay or Go?

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Putin: Will He Stay or Go?"

Perhaps Putin dodged a bullet today, but we'll see over time if he continues to be so lucky and who is ultimately right about Vladimir Putin's future: will he be whisked away to some Siberian gulag or will he continue his absolute reign over Russia and its people and continue his war for Soviet-era power and dominance?

(Credit Photo: Florian Lisi via https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-a-painting-12249238/)

Putin: Will He Stay or Go?

Utterly Useless Gnomes

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Utterly Useless Gnomes

Should We Put Her Back Together?

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Should We Put Her Back Together?

Don't Forget to Wash Your Hands

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Don't Forget to Wash Your Hands

Japanese Man and Snoopy Gang

 (Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Japanese Man and Snoopy Gang

Tennis Balls Galore

Worth their weight in tennis balls. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Tennis Balls Galore

Colorful Paper Lanterns

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Colorful Paper Lanterns

Looking Beyond the Superficial

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Looking Beyond the Superficial."

We are all much more than our physical manifestations in this world, and looks can definitely be deceiving. The most important thing in dealing with ourselves and others is to look beyond the superficial and see each person for who they really are, and G-d’s holy spirit has an outsized role in realizing the potential of who we can be.

(Credit Photo: Activedia via https://pixabay.com/photos/spiritualism-awakening-meditation-4552237/)

Looking Beyond the Superficial

Got Cable

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Got Cable

Awesome Father's Day Card and Early too!

Thank you to my wonderful children and to Hashem for all his mercy. 

(Credit Photo: Minna Blumenthal)

Awesome Father's Day Card and Early too!

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Half alien, half man!

Will they get you next? ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Octopus Ooze

Four eyes and eight legs!

Plenty of ooze!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Octopus Ooze

They Must've Enjoyed Those Cheddar Goldfish

Whoever ate these actually left a smiley next to the empty bag. 

Now that is someone who loves Cheddar Goldfish!  ;-)

Note: Not kosher as far as I am aware.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

They Must've Enjoyed Those Cheddar Goldfish

On Line For 1 Potato

Wow, this guy waited on line at the supermarket to buy one single potato. 

That's right, nothing else.

He wasn't a poor guy or anything, just a regular Joe. 

I couldn't help myself and said: "what do you do with just one potato?"  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

On Line For 1 Potato

What's in the Cholent?

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "What's in the Cholent?"

Anyway, for all of you who have had the experience, I am sure that you will agree that it's truly not a Shabbat meal without a big pot of cholent (or, should I say, dafina, as my Sephardic friends say). And it's not a bowl of cholent that you want to eat unless you've hand-picked every single scoop of it yourself, even if you don't quite know what it is you're looking for to begin with.

(Credit photo: Becky via https://www.flickr.com/photos/35694730@N00/2738330081/in/photolist-5aYE8B-5LdtsL-5YkAgM)

What's in the Cholent?

Beautiful Seared Tuna on Chef's Salad

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Beautiful Seared Tuna on Chef's Salad