Anniversary Fruit Plate

Anniversary fruit plate and artisan and sparkling water.

There was also a tray of chocolates and nuts. 

Nice complimentary gesture and classy surprise to come back to.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Anniversary Fruit Plate

Simply Marvelous!

White Sand.

Blue Surf.

Sun and Sky. 

Palm Trees. 

Boardwalk. 

Relaxing!  ;-)

(Credit The Beautiful Creation: G-d Almighty)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Simply Marvelous!

Cool To Be Square

Thought this was a cool sculpture. 

Squares and then some. 

It's abstract. 

Get it? ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Cool To Be Square

Food Child Abuse

There are many ways that children get abused. 

This one was by food! 

The parent was feeding their child a HUGE bag of Cheetos for breakfast. 

The bag was fully ripped open down the middle, so it couldn't really be closed and nothing would be left anyway. 

If that wasn't enough, on the airplane, the parent then gave the child 2 more bags of PopCorners.

Honestly, I felt bad for the kid(s), who seemed like good, sweet kids. 

But this is not the way to teach them to eat without getting them sick. 

Trying to judge people for the positive: maybe the parent thought they were doing something nice for the kid by letting them eat all these snacks--like a treat. 

But honestly, this wasn't doing the child any favors, no matter what the flavors!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Food Child Abuse

Jude in America

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Jude in America."

What was shocking was that despite the professional environment, this was a climate where they actually felt “safe” expressing their Antisemitism and hate. In this case, these high-level, powerful, “educated” people working in the heart of our nation’s capital should know better, much better than to harass someone because she is a Jew, an Israeli, a woman or all three.

It is unfortunate that there still are individuals that hate out there: that lash out questioning our faith, our people, and our intentions. Good people see the common humanity and good in others, and bad people are infatuated with imaginary intolerable differences, especially of minorities, and enjoy scapegoating them, goading others to join their hate, and even violently preying on them.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Jude in America

Comfy In The Airport

  

Sure, make yourself comfortable,

Take your shoes off. 

Put your feet up. 

Wrap your legs around some luggage. 

Recline and put your head back into the pillow.

Put in your ear buds and listen to some music.

Have something to drink.

Take a few extra seats.

Relax and enjoy.

Flying the friendly skies.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Comfy In The Airport

Stairs With Stripes

All strips lead to the same place. 

It's just an illusion of choice. 

Your fate is in G-d's hands.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Stairs With Stripes

Space Boy Is Dead Meat

Debate in the Wall Street Journal about sending radio communications billions of light years away to communicate with aliens. 

Given man's destructive nature to man, why would we want to entice aliens to come here and do to the world what Russia is currently doing to Ukraine. 

Moreover, why would we court disaster and give them a celestial roadmap to get to earth?

Our scientists may know science, but they are nuts to want to bring ET destruction to us.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Space Boy Is Dead Meat

Making Off With The Passover Buffet

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Making Off With The Passover Buffet."

I see Chabad not only performing genuine good deeds, but also always b’simcha (in happiness) with a big smile, even generously letting others take the Passover buffet home with them. To me, this is truly a taste not just of a festive and kosher Passover, but of the times of Mashiach where rather than fighting over the scraps of food, there is so much plenty and caring that we can’t even give it all away.

(Credit Photo: Dossy Blumenthal)

Making Off With The Passover Buffet

Take A Smile

Take a smile. 

Give a smile. 

Make the world a better place.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

Take A Smile

For My Beautiful Wife and Daughters

They are truly wonder women!  

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

For My Beautiful Wife and Daughters

That's Precious

Huge royal blue sapphire and lots and lots of diamonds. 

This thing just reeks of wealth and extravagance.

"Simply gorgeous darling!" ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

That's Precious

Terror In Israel: Time To Take Out The Trash

 

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Terror in Israel: Time To Take Out The Trash."

Passover, which is the holiday of liberation and freedom, is also when we must acknowledge that hate and terror is inconsistent with faith and holiness. The terrorists impinge on our freedom to live as a free people in our own land. On Passover, we must renew ourselves with the strength, determination, and perseverance to rid ourselves of the chametz, not only as represented by food but metaphysically by those filled with haughtiness, intolerance, hate, and violence towards us.

(Source Photo: Zoriah; https://www.flickr.com/photos/zoriah/3170393154/)

Terror In Israel: Time To Take Out The Trash

Ice Cold Lemonade

Water

Lemons

Sugar

Ice

How can anything so simple be so good!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
 

Ice Cold Lemonade

Feel My Fabric

This clothing store is being maybe a little too raunchy here. 

Get your hands off me. 

Hey cut that out. 

How utterly rude. 

Wise guys! ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Feel My Fabric

Putin Is A Mega Thief

Great explanation in the Wall Street Journal today for why Putin is focused in grabbing the east and south of Ukraine.

That's where Ukraine's energy reserves are!

To the tune of:

- $1 trillion of natural gas

- $400 billion of oil and condensate

- The worlds 6th-largest reserve of coal

And don't forget the strategic ports of both the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.

Russia will control the energy supply chain for decades to come! 

The West's nonsense sanctions against Putin don't even make a dent compared to what Putin is getting out of this deal! 

Lesson from Putin is you can get away with massive theft and murder, and no one in this lawless world will stop you. 

What do you think China is going to do with Taiwan next?

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Putin Is A Mega Thief

Sickened By Russian Atrocities!

 

How can this be allowed to happen in the 21st century?

Has this world learned nothing about stopping brutal tyrants and genocide?

• Where is the United Nations?

• Where is the UN Human Rights Council?

• Where is the International Criminal Court?

• Where is NATO?

• Where is Human Rights Watch?

• Where is Amnesty International?

Are they all completely impotent and worthless!  ;-)

(Credit Photos: https://twitter.com/MFA_Ukraine)

Sickened By Russian Atrocities!

Teaching Our Children To Be Good Jews

 

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Teaching Our Children To Be Good Jews."

What happened to genuine faith in G-d, belief in the holy Torah, our duty to abide by the 613 commandments, and generally doing right in this world by our fellow man and before G-d Almighty? Maybe I’m being too literal here but being a “good Jew” has got to mean something important. We are keeping alive the tradition of our parents, grandparents and great grandparents, spanning back thousands of years to our Forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to G-d delivering us from Egyptian servitude, and His giving to us the Torah on Mount Sinai, and to His bringing us to Israel, the Land of Milk and Honey, and keeping us from being wiped away by one great empire after another. Being a Jew means being part of an important important and yes, “chosen” for a special mission of being a “light unto the nations” and that means action on our part: thinking, saying, and doing what’s right all the time!

We are tested daily to do what’s right, even when it’s not convenient, easy, enjoyable, or popular. What is a Jew? We need to really ask ourselves that question. It’s not trivial and neither should the answer be. Our lives in this world and the next are depending on how we live up to the high bar that is set for us each and every day of our lives that Hashem mercifully grants to us.

(Photo: My dear parents Fred and Gerda Blumenthal at my Bar Mitzvah)

Teaching Our Children To Be Good Jews

Stairs Without Legs

I don't think you can easily walk up stairs without legs. 

Maybe these ladies should take the escalator!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Stairs Without Legs

Puff The Magic Dragon

Puff the magic dragon.

He looks like he had too many puffs.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Puff The Magic Dragon

Shalom Aleichem

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Shalom Aleichem

Wheels of Fortune

These wheels are so beautiful.

Especially together as a series. 

Blue, green, Red. 

Cycle of life. 

To everything: Turn, turn, turn.  ;-)

Wheels of Fortune

Ready for Takeoff

 

Lego Airplane. 

Flying the friendly skies!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Ready for Takeoff

Putin’s Ukrainian Hogwash

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Putin's Ukrainian Hogwash."

“Talk less and do more.” Unfortunately, Putin apparently didn’t learn this lesson as a child and is now, as they say, having to learn it the hard way later in life. He and his henchmen signaled to the world how they would bring Ukraine to its knees, surround and capture the capital, Kyiv, overthrow the leadership and install a pro-Kremlin puppet, and demilitarize the country. However, Putin spoke very big, but after a whole month of fighting now, things haven’t turned out the way Putin had counted on. With Russian casualties, wounded, captured, and missing now estimated at up to 40,000, and with the Russian forces on the retreat, no one in their right minds could’ve imagined such a modern David and Goliath scenario playing out with Ukraine as the David. 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Putin’s Ukrainian Hogwash

Nice Wheels and Rims

Not an overly impressive car.

But the oversize wheels and good-looking rims are quite fine!

What's more important the car or the tires?  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Nice Wheels and Rims

Tie Dye Rainbow Bags

So this is the inside of the suitcase.

It's filled with rainbow tie dye bags.

The outside of the suitcase is also rainbow tie dye pattern. 

So the inside and the outside matches. 

Someone loves colorful tie dye everything.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Tie Dye Rainbow Bags

Presenting Chicken Schnitzel

Wow, look at that chicken schnitzel. 

Right out of the frying pan. 

That is hot and so oh good to eat!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Presenting Chicken Schnitzel

Boy in Tree

Boy in tree. 

Parents looking on. 

"Come down please before you get hurt!"  

Every parent worries. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Michelle Blumenthal)

Boy in Tree

This Is The Way We Make Our Hummus

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

This Is The Way We Make Our Hummus

Russia’s Aggression Proves Iran Must Be Stopped

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Russia's Aggression Proves Iran Must Be Stopped."
 
As countries, responsible and rogue, pursue ever increasing and deadlier nuclear weapons (as well as deadly biological and chemical weapons), the chances grow for a unilateral bilateral, or multilateral exchange to take place. Whether from a brutal tyrant wanting to grow their base of corrupt power to a rampaging megalomaniac bent of world domination, a paranoid schizophrenic leader who feels that his “back is up against the wall,” or a radical theocratic crackhead convinced that G-d is on their side and wants them to kill all the infidels, we are inching ever closer to the day when nukes or other weapons of mass destruction will be out of the silo, port container, or suitcase. 

It is time to finally and fully acknowledge the growing threat especially from Iran and take the necessary preemptive action to stop them before they follow Russia’s dangerous playbook to even greater global malice and consequence. 

(Credit Photo: blueforce4116, https://www.flickr.com/photos/blueforce4116/1393622639/in/photolist-389)

Russia’s Aggression Proves Iran Must Be Stopped

Delicious Purim Seudah

Purim Seudah last evening. 

Because I don't eat gluten, my son-in-law made me eggs as the bun for the burgers!

Healthy, good-looking, and delicious eating. 

Also, had some tasty spicy mayo to top it off. 

Thank you for the beautiful, festive holiday meal.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Delicious Purim Seudah

Megillah Time @Aish

 

(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

Megillah Time @Aish

Beautiful Purim Butterfly

Butterfly.

Spreading its wings. 

Flying gently.

Colorful. 

Healing. 

Happy. 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Beautiful Purim Butterfly

Fashion 2022

No hair. (I'd like to keep mine if possible, thank you!)

Lots of beads. 

Bright colors. 

An end to Covid blues. ;-)

(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

Fashion 2022

Read, Read, Read

The joys of learning.

Sitting and reading.

Mental calisthenics.

It takes discipline. 

Got to work those neurons!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Michelle Blumenthal)

Read, Read, Read

Is This The Coming of Gog and Magog?

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Is This The Coming of Gog and Magog?"

When it comes to Russia's real world military fighting doctrine, no one and nothing is safe until their objectives are met, even if that means World War III, as Russia's foreign minister has stated. Russia is already formidable and the largest country in the world with 11% of the world's landmass, and that is almost double that of the next largest country. Further, with a solidifying partnership of superpower countries Russia-China, coupled with alliances with authoritarian regimes of Iran and North Korea, an extremely dangerous Axis of Evil is developing that may soon threaten global stability and peace. Many are starting to question whether we are now entering the times of Gog and Magog, the devastating "end of times" war as prophesied in Ezekiel (38-39) before the coming of the Messiah and the Third Temple. Indeed, the term "Rosh" as in Gog's Chief Prince has been compared to "Rus" for Russia or I would say to "Rasha" (wicked, evil one). Further, Russia is coming directly from "the far north" of Israel, and Iran is compared to "Persia" in the war of Gog and Magog. Strangely enough, the timing is coming now, the week of Purim, with the U.S. desiring to finalize the end of sanctions on Iran and rejoin the grossly ineffective Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) paving the way for Iran and their radical mullahs to go nuclear in the future.

(Source Photo: MFA of Ukraine, https://twitter.com/MFA_Ukraine/status/1501810212755451905/photo/2)

Is This The Coming of Gog and Magog?

Who Wants to Clean That Pot

This is just one of the reasons I don't like cooking. 

Who wants to clean that pot?  :-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Who Wants to Clean That Pot

Stand Up!

Wow, I thought this speaks volumes. 

All the greedy and corrupt power players at the table with their fancy suits, money, gold, and properties around the globe.  

And their game is sustained up on the bent backs of the simple people with nothing (not even clothing). 

But a Seeing Eye (and a Hearing Ear) in Heaven is watching the evil perpetrated. 

Eventually, faith tells us that the game will be over and the simple hard-working people will be fully restored and the corrupt will suffer their just desserts.  ;-)

(Source Photo: Facebook)

Stand Up!

Ukraine Effectiveness

Ukraine is effective on the battlefield.

As well as with their communications management. 

Together with western civilization, hopefully Russia will pay a heavy price for their aggression. ;-)

(Credit Twitter Post: Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Ukraine Effectiveness

A Dream and An Honor

 

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "A Dream And An Honor."

The soldiers of the IDF are so motivated and effective, because they are generally at peace with themselves as a moral Jewish Democracy who stand for what’s right in the region and in the world. Especially after the extermination of 6,000,000 Jews in the Holocaust, the IDF are truly holy warriors that defend the Promised Land of Israel and the Jewish people globally. I think FIDF is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the soldiers as they dutifully serve to protect all of us.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

A Dream and An Honor

Car Wash by Andy Blumenthal

Car Wash by Andy Blumenthal

There's Got To Be A Morning After

 (Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

There's Got To Be A Morning After

Putin's In A Pickle

With the UN General Assembly condemning Putin 141-5, countries, companies, and leaders are sanctioning and turning their backs on Putin and Russia. 

Putin has gotten himself in quite a pickle!

By ruthlessly attacking Ukraine, unprovoked, and unleashing h*ll against a sovereign nation including its core infrastructure and civilization population and even threatening nuclear war, Putin has made himself into the world's enemy #1. 

Will dictator Putin take Russia down the pickle hole with him or will the Russian people finally toss out this rotten pickle and act like respectable and civilized nation again? ;-)

(Source Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/man-muscle-fitness-workout-641691/)

Putin's In A Pickle