His and Hers

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)
 

His and Hers

Cap'N Crunch Chicken Schnitzel

Sweet, crunchy, soft, and moist.

Now that's good chicken!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Cap'N Crunch Chicken Schnitzel

Who Says This Water Isn't Polluted?

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

Who Says This Water Isn't Polluted?

Big Wheels

How the heck do you get on/off?  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Big Wheels

Two Ways to Make Someone Feel Worthless

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Two Ways to Make Someone Feel Worthless."

Actions may be bad, but most people aren't inherently bad, and no one deserves to be verbally, emotionally, or physically abused or treated by society with abject indifference. This is especially the case when it comes to helpless children, no one—whether parents, teachers, bullies, etc.—should be abusive to them. Children need safe, nurturing, and loving people and the environment around them that enable them to learn and grow to be the best people that they can be without being put down for mistakes they make, limitations they may have, or just being flawed human beings as we all are. Similarly, adults and workers should not be mistreated just because they are on your dime and can be. They have an inherent right to equality and to be treated with respect and dignity. There are no dumb questions or stupid mistakes when a person is trying their best.

 
(Credit Photo: RDNE Stock project via https://www.pexels.com/photo/scared-man-on-the-wooden-floor-6003316/)

Two Ways to Make Someone Feel Worthless

Shabbat Shalom Flower

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Shabbat Shalom Flower

Back Side Up Fire Engine

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Back Side Up Fire Engine

In The Quiet Hours

I put this quote away in my files probably more than 30 years ago.

Maybe one of the most important sayings ever.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

In The Quiet Hours

Organized Oil

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Organized Oil

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