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Hybrid Thoughts

8/27/2006

Which Action Hero Would You Be?

You scored as Batman, the Dark Knight. As the Dark Knight of Gotham, Batman is a vigilante who deals out his own brand of justice to the criminals and corrupt of the city. He follows his own code and is often misunderstood. He has few friends or allies, but finds comfort in his cause.

Batman, the Dark Knight

79%

Maximus

71%

Indiana Jones

71%

The Amazing Spider-Man

67%

Neo, the "One"

58%

William Wallace

54%

The Terminator

50%

Captain Jack Sparrow

46%

Lara Croft

46%

El Zorro

38%

James Bond, Agent 007

38%


Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0
created with QuizFarm.com

8/26/2006

Brothers in Arms

I'm having no luck embedding the video to the blog, so click on this link to view it. And the even stranger thing is that even clicking on the link doesn't work. So I guess it's Blogger's fault this time for messing up.

Maybe cutting and pasting this would work better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wahd2piIr4Q

8/24/2006

HOLY COW!

They've been milking this story for two days on the news, so I thought I'd share it with you.

I just want to know whose money was spent on this research and why this was an important research for humanity.

8/23/2006

Oh Deer!

8/22/2006

Haifa, Israel

Click here to view photos and descriptions of my hometown, Haifa, Israel. It's a Power Point presentation, so click your mouse to move from one slide to the next.

8/19/2006

I miss the Israeli humour

One of the biggest things I miss about Israel is the Israeli humour. There's something very special and unique about it, and I have not come across this type of humour anywhere else in the world. I'm going to post something that had me laughing out loud at work the other day. It may not make anyone else laugh, but I thought I'd share with you some insight into the world of Israelis.

So on Google News (The Israeli version) there was a link to this news item:

On September 11, 2005, British newspaper The Guardian underwent a redesign
which included a new look for its front page.
On May 30, 2006, Israeli newspaper
Hazofe redesigned its front page. Now it looks like The Guardian’s:

This was posted on someone's blog, and somehow it had gotten into the news item on Google Israel. So you look at it, make your own judgement on it, and move on. Right? Not, if you're Israeli. If you're Israeli this is a chance in a lifetime to shine and bring out the best in you.

I bring to you the translation to a variety of Hebrew comments posted in response to the above "revelation."

  • What are you talking about? How can you even compare? In The Guardian everything is written left to right, and in Hatsofe it's right to left.
  • Fucking cool! Did you notice this yourself?
  • I wonder what The Observer looks like?
  • Are the contents similar, too?
  • Very funny, soon you're going to tell us that HaAretz is copying The Herald Tribune...
  • How did The Guardian know what they'll write in Hatsofe eight months later? Prophecy I tell ya.

8/14/2006

A Prayer

FEMALE PRAYER

Before I lay me down to sleep,
I pray for a man, who's not a creep,
One who's handsome, smart and strong
One who loves to listen long,
One who thinks before he speaks,
One who'll call, not wait for weeks.
I pray he's gainfully employed,
When I spend his cash, won't be annoyed.
Pulls out my chair and opens my door,
Massages my back and begs to do more.
Oh! Send me a man who'll make love to my mind,
Knows what to answer to "how big is my behind?"
I pray that this man will love me to no end,
And always be my very best friend.
Amen.


MALE PRAYER

I pray for a deaf-mute nymphomaniac with huge boobs
who owns a liquor store and a fishing boat. This
doesn't rhyme and I don't give a shit.
Amen.

8/13/2006

Crazy

Listen to the words. Watch the video. Enjoy the music.

By Gnarls Barkley

8/12/2006

BBC Radio - Comic Relief from "The Now Show"

After clicking on this link, click on "Listen Now."

Thanks, 3mr@n!

8/11/2006

UN Resolution 1701 - Cease Fire Agreement

I'm satisfied with the wording since it achieves what Israel has been asking to begin with. But the biggest question is whether Hezbollah would adhere to the terms of the Resolution, which was accepted unanimously by the Security Council of the UN.

Israelis don't have a tremendous amount of faith in the UN and its lack of power, so we're skeptic that this would actually resolve the problems. But we're hopeful it will. At least it sets the record straight as to whom needs to make the first step of concession - the aggressor.

The resolution calls for unconditional release of our Israeli soldiers kidnapped four weeks ago by the Hezbollah.

Resolution 1701 calls for increasing the number of U.N. troops in the area from 2,000 to 15,000. They would be joined by 15,000 Lebanese troops and charged with ensuring Hezbollah could not operate anywhere between the Israel-Lebanon border and the Litani River.

In the words of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, ""With this resolution, a new, stronger Lebanon can emerge, with the world's help. Hezbollah now faces a clear choice between war and peace."

It's unfortunate that the senseless deaths of so many innocent people is what it takes for the countries to get involved and help Lebanon get rid of a terrorist organization in its midst.

Clarification

[8/11/06: 1:10pm EST New post posted below this one]

Before you continue reading this blog, please be aware that I am an Israeli.

This blog is where I write as an Israeli. I write my thoughts, my feelings, my emotions and my reactions.

Past four weeks I've been "bombarded" by my family and friends with emails related to the war. The posts you see here are a result of these emails and phone calls. The war has been constantly on my mind 24/7.

But it's not just this war, but rather years and decades of things I've been through. No one can truly understand these emotions unless they've been through it. My brother lost his best friend (whose parents are my parents' best friends) in the first Lebanon war. My two best friends in school lost their brothers when we were 12 years old. My best friend's father was injured in Lebanon (the same one whose house is depicted in a photo in a previous post). I know families who've lost kids to terrorist attacks. I knew an entire family wiped from a terrorist attack. I was hospitalized during the first Lebanese war at the hospital in Haifa that received all the bodies and wounded soldiers from Lebanon. I saw the wounded. I saw their wounds. I saw the body bags. I was only 10 years old.

The memories of what I saw, the screaming of the wounded in their beds next to mine, the cries of loved ones - these flashes are now coming back. This ongoing loss and fear of losing my loved ones back in Israel is what prompts me to write in my blog about this war. I don't think anyone can truly understand an Israeli who's been through all this, so I don't expect others to sympathize with my posts.

If you do not believe in my right to express my thoughts, please don't continue reading.

I have not sent a link to this blog to anyone. If you don't know who I am and you've found my blog, it's not because I sent it to you. Be aware that it is your own choice to read it. As it is my own choice to write it.

Appeasement

I bring you excerpts from an email I received last week from my father.

It's fascinating that this should come out of Europe . Matthias Dapfner, Chief Executive of the huge German publisher Axel Springer AG, has written a blistering attack in DIE WELT, Germany's largest daily paper, against the timid reaction of Europe in the face of the Islamic threat.

EUROPE - THY NAME IS COWARDICE

(Commentary by Mathias Dapfner CEO, Axel Springer , AG)


A few days ago Henry Broder wrote in Welt am Sonntag, "Europe - your family name is appeasement." It's a phrase you can't get out of your head because it's so terribly true.

Appeasement cost millions of Jews and non-Jews their lives as England and France, allies at the time, negotiated and hesitated too long before they noticed that Hitler had to be fought, not bound to toothless agreements.

Appeasement legitimized and stabilized Communism in the Soviet Union, then East Germany, then all the rest of Eastern Europe where for decades, inhuman suppressive, murderous governments were glorified as the ideologically correct alternative to all other possibilities.

Appeasement crippled Europe when genocide ran rampant in Kosovo, and even though we had absolute proof of ongoing mass-murder, we Europeans debated and debated and debated, and were still debating when finally the Americans had to come from halfway around the world, into Europe yet again, and do our work for us.

Rather than protecting democracy in the Middle East , European appeasement, camouflaged behind the fuzzy word "equidistance" now countenances suicide bombings in Israel by fundamentalist Palestinians.

Appeasement generates a mentality that allows Europe to ignore nearly 300,000 victims of Saddam's torture and murder machinery and, motivated by the self-righteousness of the peace-movement, has the gall to issue bad grades to George Bush ... Even as it is uncovered that the loudest critics of the American action in Iraq made illicit billions, no, TENS of billions, in the corrupt U.N. Oil-for-Food program.

And now we are faced with a particularly grotesque form of appeasement. How is Germany reacting to the escalating violence by Islamic fundamentalists in Holland and elsewhere? By suggesting that we really should have a "Muslim Holiday" in Germany?

I wish I were joking, but I am not. A substantial fraction of our (German) Government, and if the polls are to be believed, the German people, actually believe that creating an Official State "Muslim Holiday" will somehow spare us from the wrath of the fanatical Islamists. One cannot help but recall Britain 's Neville Chamberlain waving the laughable treaty signed by Adolph Hitler , and declaring European "Peace in our time".

What else has to happen before the European public and its political leadership get it? There is a sort of crusade underway, an especially perfidious crusade consisting of systematic attacks by fanatic Muslims, focused on civilians, directed against our free, open Western societies, and intent upon Western Civilization's utter destruction.

It is a conflict that will most likely last longer than any of the great military conflicts of the last century - a conflict conducted by an enemy that cannot be tamed by "tolerance" and "accommodation" but is actually spurred on by such gestures, which have proven to be, and will always be taken by the Islamists for signs of weakness.
.
.
In the meantime, Europe sits back with charismatic self-confidence in the multicultural corner, instead of defending liberal society's values and being an attractive center of power on the same playing field as the true great powers, America and China.
.

Appeasement? Europe , thy name is Cowardice.

8/10/2006

Humans or Animals?

A very short video of a "Freedom Fighter" taking cover. You be the judge.


Fake news photos - cont.

To watch a video showing how the events in the media are orchestrated, click here. Judge for yourself whether Mickey Mouse was implanted or really came out unscathed from the wreckage.

If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed,

if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.

Mark Twain.

Proof that men are born that way

Why this is a one-sided blog

It's not that I don't understand the pain of loss on the other side. It's just that I don't feel that someone who only sees the other side can understand that we don't AIM to kill civilians. We aim to shoot at the sources of rocket launches. We're not after killing people. We've bombarded infrastructure and weapons caches. We're not after the Lebanese people. The fact that so many innocent civlians died ON BOTH SIDES is a reality of war.

The other thing I'm trying to get across in my blog - the media is filled with the images of deaths from Lebanon. For every ten photos of destruction and death in Lebanon, they show two photos from Israel (though not of death or destruction). My point in this blog is to show OUR side to this conflict, since the media is already filled with images from the other side.

I find it strange that someone would want me to show the pain of the Lebanese when I have so much pain among my own people that I want to share. When you're hurting and in pain, when your people are hurt - you talk of their pain only.

While I completely agree that Lebanese are suffering from the results of this war, it angers me that some people only see their suffering as if ours is negligible.

Israel is out there defending its right to exist without the continuous terrorism aimed at its civilians. It's a right of every country to defend itself. We've tried peaceful negotiations. We've tried giving up land. We've tried staying quiet and taking in all those rocket launches at us from Lebanon. Now we're trying a full out war to disarm the Hizbullah.

No Israeli wants to stay in Lebanon. No Israeli wants to occupy Lebanon. We're all against it.

But we're all for disarming the Hizbullah forcefully, since no one else in the Lebanese government has done it, in spite of them promising they would. We're all for disarming terrorists, before an Israeli 9/11 happens.

A Lebanese Point of View

To understand what Israelis feel about Lebanese, watch this interview with a Lebanese woman who experienced it first hand.

Our war is NOT with Lebanese people. Period. I personally love the Lebanese people because they are truly wonderful peace loving people. But as you will watch this video you will understand the difference between the native born Lebanese who have been there for centuries and the terrorists implanted by terrorist organizations. A world of difference.

From the mouth of a Lebanese:

http://www.phyllis-chesler.com/db_video.html


Remarks of Brigitte Gabriel, delivered at the Duke University Counter Terrorism Speak-Out

I'm proud and honoured to stand here today, as a Lebanese speaking for Israel , the only democracy in the Middle East . As someone who was raised in an Arabic country, I want to give you a glimpse into the heart of the Arabic world.

I was raised in Lebanon , where I was taught that the Jews were evil, Israel was the devil, and the only time we will have peace in the Middle East is when we kill all the Jews and drive them into the sea.

When the Moslems and Palestinians declared Jihad on the Christians in 1975, they started massacring the Christians, city after city. I ended up living in a bomb shelter underground from age 10 to 17, without electricity, eating grass to live, and c rawling under sniper bullets to a spring to get water.

It was Israel who came to help the Christians in Lebanon . My mother was wounded by a Moslem's shell, and was taken into an Israeli hospital for treatment. When we entered the emergency room, I was shocked at what I saw. There were hundreds of people wounded, Moslems, Palestinians, Christians, Lebanese, and Israeli soldiers lying on the floor. The doctors treated everyone according to their injury. They treated my mother before they treated the Israeli soldier lying next to her. They didn't see religion, they didn't see political affiliation, they saw people in need and they helped.

For the first time in my life I experienced a human quality that I know my culture would not have shown to their enemy. I experienced the values of the Israelis, who were able to love their enemy in their most trying moments. I spent 22 days at that hospital. Those days changed my life and the way I believe information, the way I listen to the radio or to television. I realized I was sold a fabricated lie by my government, about the Jews and Israel , that was so far from reality. I knew for fact that, if I was a Jew standing in an Arab hospital, I would be lynched and thrown over to the grounds, as shouts of joy of Allah Akbar, God is great, would echo through the hospital and the surrounding streets.

I became friends with the families of the Israeli wounded soldiers: one in particular Rina, her only child was wounded in his eyes.

One day I was visiting with her, and the Israeli army band came to play national songs to lift the spirits of the wounded soldiers. As they surrounded his bed playing a song about Jerusalem , Rina and I started crying. I felt out of place and started waking out of the room, and this Mother holds my hand and pulls me back in without even looking at me. She holds me crying and says: "it is not your fault". We just stood there crying, holding each other's hands.

What a contrast between her, a mother looking at her deformed 19 year old only child, and still able to love me the enemy, and between a Moslem mother who sends her son to blow himself up to smithereens just to kill a few Jews or Christians.

The difference between the Arabic world and Israel is a difference in values and character. It's barbarism verses civilization. It's democracy verses dictatorship. It's goodness verses evil.

Once upon a time, there was a special place in the lowest depths of hell for anyone who would intentionally murder a child. Now, the intentional murder of Israeli children is legitimized as Palestinian "armed struggle".

However, once such behaviour is legitimized against Israel, it is legitimized every where in the world, constrained by nothing more than the subjective belief of people who would wrap themselves in dynamite and nails for the purpose of killing children in the name of god.

Because the Palestinians have been encouraged to believe that murdering innocent Israeli civilians is a legitimate tactic for advancing their cause, the whole world now suffers from a plague of terrorism, from Nairobi to New York , from Moscow to Madrid , from Bali to Beslan.

They blame suicide bombing on "desperation of occupation". Let me tell you the truth. The first major terror bombing committed by Arabs against the Jewish state occurred ten weeks before Israel even became independent.

On Sunday morning, February 22, 1948 , in anticipation of Israel 's independence, a triple truck bomb was detonated by Arab terrorists on Ben Yehuda Street , in what was then the Jewish section of Jerusalem . Fifty-four people were killed, and hundreds were wounded. Thus, it is obvious that Arab terrorism is caused not by the "desperation" of "occupation", but by the VERY THOUGHT of a Jewish state.

So many times in history in the last 100 years, citizens have stood by and done nothing, allowing evil to prevail. As America stood up against and defeated communism, now it is time to stand up against the terror of religious bigotry and intolerance. It's time to all stand up, and support and defend the state of Israel , which is the front line of the war against terrorism.

8/09/2006

An Arab opinion

You have to watch this video 'til the end. This is worth every second of watching!

Arab-American Psychiatrist Wafa Sultan:

There is No Clash of Civilizations but a Clash between the Mentality of the Middle Ages and That of the 21st Century

Following are excerpts from an interview with Arab-American psychiatrist Wafa Sultan. The interview was aired on Al-Jazeera TV on February 21, 2006

.
Wafa Sultan: The clash we are witnessing around the world is not a clash of religions, or a clash of civilizations. It is a clash between two opposites, between two eras. It is a clash between a mentality that belongs to the Middle Ages and another mentality that belongs to the 21st century. It is a clash between civilization and backwardness, between the civilized and the primitive, between barbarity and rationality. It is a clash between freedom and oppression, between democracy and dictatorship. It is a clash between human rights, on the one hand, and the violation of these rights, on other hand. It is a clash between those who treat women like beasts, and those who treat them like human beings. What we see today is not a clash of civilizations. Civilizations do not clash, but compete.

[...]

Host: I understand from your words that what is happening today is a clash between the culture of the West, and the backwardness and ignorance of the Muslims?

Wafa Sultan: Yes, that is what I mean.

[...]

Host: Who came up with the concept of a clash of civilizations? Was it not Samuel Huntington? It was not Bin Laden. I would like to discuss this issue, if you don't mind...

Wafa Sultan: The Muslims are the ones who began using this expression. The Muslims are the ones who began the clash of civilizations. The Prophet of Islam said: "I was ordered to fight the people until they believe in Allah and His Messenger." When the Muslims divided the people into Muslims and non-Muslims, and called to fight the others until they believe in what they themselves believe, they started this clash, and began this war. In order to stop this war, they must reexamine their Islamic books and curricula, which are full of calls for takfir and fighting the infidels.

My colleague has said that he never offends other people's beliefs. What civilization on the face of this earth allows him to call other people by names that they did not choose for themselves? Once, he calls them Ahl Al-Dhimma, another time he calls them the "People of the Book," and yet another time he compares them to apes and pigs, or he calls the Christians "those who incur Allah's wrath." Who told you that they are "People of the Book"? They are not the People of the Book, they are people of many books. All the useful scientific books that you have today are theirs, the fruit of their free and creative thinking. What gives you the right to call them "those who incur Allah's wrath," or "those who have gone astray," and then come here and say that your religion commands you to refrain from offending the beliefs of others?

I am not a Christian, a Muslim, or a Jew. I am a secular human being. I do not believe in the supernatural, but I respect others' right to believe in it.

Dr. Ibrahim Al-Khouli: Are you a heretic?

Wafa Sultan: You can say whatever you like. I am a secular human being who does not believe in the supernatural...

Dr. Ibrahim Al-Khouli: If you are a heretic, there is no point in rebuking you, since you have blasphemed against Islam, the Prophet, and the Koran...

Wafa Sultan: These are personal matters that do not concern you.

[...]

Wafa Sultan: Brother, you can believe in stones, as long as you don't throw them at me. You are free to worship whoever you want, but other people's beliefs are not your concern, whether they believe that the Messiah is God, son of Mary, or that Satan is God, son of Mary. Let people have their beliefs.

[...]

Wafa Sultan: The Jews have come from the tragedy (of the Holocaust), and forced the world to respect them, with their knowledge, not with their terror, with their work, not their crying and yelling. Humanity owes most of the discoveries and science of the 19th and 20th centuries to Jewish scientists. 15 million people, scattered throughout the world, united and won their rights through work and knowledge. We have not seen a single Jew blow himself up in a German restaurant. We have not seen a single Jew destroy a church. We have not seen a single Jew protest by killing people. The Muslims have turned three Buddha statues into rubble. We have not seen a single Buddhist burn down a Mosque, kill a Muslim, or burn down an embassy. Only the Muslims defend their beliefs by burning down churches, killing people, and destroying embassies. This path will not yield any results. The Muslims must ask themselves what they can do for humankind, before they demand that humankind respect them.

More lies exposed

Either this woman is the unluckiest multiple home owner in Beirut, or something isn't quite right.

Blatant evidence of manipulation of photos from Lebanon.

More doctored photos that made it to the headlines of newspaper and media you may have followed in the past month.

For the record, and to keep the facts out there - it wasn't 60 civilians killed at Kanna, but 28. So if you hear anyone else mention 60, please direct them to the facts. And those 28 were killed because after they weren't allowed to leave the building, eventhough they had SEVEN hours between the IDF attack and before the building collapsed.

Okay, so Rueters withdrew all 920 photos by the faking photographer, but will they republish all the real photos next to the doctored ones to change what damage in public opinion they've done so far? Nah, I doubt it.

Those of you who believe Israel aims at civilians, read about these warnings that Israel has given to the civilians prior to attacking the sources of rocket launchers.

For those who think the Hizbullah has done nothing to provoke us since we left Lebanon in 2000, besides entering Israel and abducting 2 soldiers and killing 8 last month, here's a list of what's happened since we left Lebanon.

And you still wonder why Israel has had ENOUGH???

8/06/2006

I hold you in my hands (KEANE)




I hold you in my hands
A little animal
And only some dumb idiot
Would let you go
But if I'm one thing
Then that's the one thing
I should know
Can anybody find their home
Out of everyone
Can anybody find their home

I hold you in cupped hands
And shield you from a storm
Where only some dumb idiot
Would let you go

But if I'm one thing
Then that's the one thing
I should know
Can anybody find their home
Out of everyone
Can anybody find their home
Lost in the sun
Can anybody find their home
Come on, come on, come on
Can anybody find their home

Oh oh-oh-oh-oh
Can anybody find their home
Out of everyone
Can anybody find their home
Lost in the sun
Can anybody find their home
Come on, come on, come on
Can anybody find their home

Oooooh
Can anybody find their home
...

You've been watching photos of sunsets taken mostly in Israel, by Mybrid.

8/04/2006

Evidence Mounts that "Massacre" was a fake

I wish these articles made it to international media, but unfortunately, they never do.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=109072

http://www.israelnetdaily.com/redir.php?headline=94488

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=108783


Instead you all get to hear the biased reports of western media in Lebanon which are controlled by the Hizbullah!

http://newsbusters.org/node/6574

http://newsbusters.org/node/6552

So before you turn on to CNN or any other western media reporting from Lebanon, be aware of WHO is controlling these reports!!! And to make it very clear - Israelis do NOT control any foreign media in our country other than we do not allow photography of military bases or reporting of WHERE the rockets fell immediately after (since that provides ammunition to our enemy). Oh, and Israelis do not confiscate reporters' passports and control their moves, causing them to be afraid for their lives if they do anything critical of our own country. It's not like you've never heard critical reports of Israel coming FROM Israel - we're a democratic country, it's allowed.

Sure, you can turn to multiple sources of news to get the different point of views of this war, but why would you want to trust a source that outright admits to have been limited and controlled by the propoganda machine of a terrorist organization?!

8/02/2006

An Israeli rant about the war

Just because I haven't been writing very often in my blog doesn't mean the war has stopped or that I stopped following it. But there comes a point where I know it bores people to read posts with a political slant.

So this one is more about the impact on the daily lives of my family and friends.

My nephews and niece were sent to Jerusalem after spending two weeks in the safe room and not being able to enjoy the summer like they're used to (swimming pool, playing sport, and more swimming pool).

My mother can no longer stay at home and has made outside excursions for a cup of coffee at the local cafe, which was packed with people who could no longer tolerate being closed inside the safe rooms. Then she decided to get her hair coloured at the local hairdresser. That place was also packed with women chatting about the war, and everyone was in agreement - might as well look good if a rocket hits us!

My best friend is undergoing post-traumatic syndrome as a result of this happening right next to them:


The large tall white building in the center of the photo is where she lives. She and her boyfriend were in the house when this rocket fell. She immediately packed all her belongings and drove to Tel Aviv. Problem is that the trauma goes with you everywhere. I spoke to her this morning. I just wanted to chat about anything to give her some distraction. But she spoke for an hour about the war. She couldn't stop talking about it. She went shopping in Tel Aviv and every loud sound of a chair being moved, or a door slamming sent her into tears. She's been crying without reason at odd times and when there's no reason. The stress has gotten to her.

Another story of a miracle - that building you see above... The woman living there has had enough of the sirens and the running to the safe room, she decided to put on her bathing suit and suntan on the balcony (yes, the one you see destroyed). When the siren went off, her husband DRAGGED her from the balcony to the safe room. He would not have her continue to suntan there. That's when the rocket fell there. Yet another marriage saved by the bell. Literally.

My father sends me regular email updates on the situation. Yesterday he was happy that they opened the post office for one day, enough for him to pick up the package I mailed for everyone. A couple of DVD's for them to watch while they're sitting bored at home between sirens. I just sent eight more DVD's with a friend of mine who flew to Israel yesterday.

My brother no longer drives to work through that road you saw in the photo he sent me. It's not safe. No one drives there. He's taken an alternate route through the forests of Mt. Carmel. A risky drive because the road is narrow and winding down a hill and he's not the only smart person in Haifa, but at least he's safe from rockets.

My other best friend has had to close down his business for several days due to the unsafe conditions (the majority of the rockets are hitting the industrial area in Haifa). I'm very worried about him because he relies financially on this business and so do all his employees.

Another best friend - I can't get a hold of for three weeks. I suspect he's moved his family down south since his wife just had a baby a couple of months ago.

I realise some of you are going to think quietly - Israelis are not the only ones suffering, so are the Lebanese. Thing is - all you hear on the news is about the Lebanese dying, yet you hardly hear about the impact of the constant barrage of rockets fired at Israelis FROM Lebanon! And until that barrage stops, the killing of terrorists will continue. And yes, they are freaking terrorists and NOT humans! They have only one goal - to eradicate Israel. They can be considered nothing more than mere terrorists.

Has anyone heard today that Hizbullah has fired rockets on Jenin, a Palestinian town under Palestinian rule? Does anyone understand the logic of firing rockets from Hizbullah in Lebanon at Palestinians in the Palestinian Authority? When you figure out the logic, you'll finally begin to understand what Hizbullah is all about. Terrorism!

It's unfortunate that my country engages in what we consider investigations rather than outright telling the world what everyone in Israel has already read, heard and seen in the Hebrew speaking media.

The building that collapsed - there are videos showing the rockets fired from WITHIN that building! Our air force attacked the source of the rockets fired, at midnight. At 7am (!!!) the building collapsed. Can anyone account for how this could have happened? No one. The Israelis are investigating. But the Lebanese have an opportunity to show the world that this was supposedly a result of our bombing (NOT PROVEN!). Never mind the fact that Israel has notified all inhabitants of that building that it will be bombarded at night, never mind that rockets were shot from that building, or that the building collapsed SEVEN HOURS after we targeted the rocket launchers. Oh, and never mind the fact that the poor Lebanese civilians are not being allowed to move from the buildings and are being forced by the Hizbullah fighters to remain there. After all, human lives mean nothing to them, and the more who get killed the more it serves their goal. Yup, no one hears all these facts, because my country SUCKS at public relations in English.

Has anyone heard the stories of our soldiers? Like the soldier who told his officer that he saw a terrorist holding an RPG in one hand and a child in the other. The officer asked him why he didn't shoot the terrorist to kill him, and the soldier answered that he couldn't do it when he saw the child. The hizbullah are relying on this reaction from our Israeli soldiers. They know how we feel. But do they care about the child they're risking? Does the mother care??? Does this come across as human behaviour to you?!!! Freedom fighters, my ass! They're terrorists, not worth of anyone's pity. Terrorists who are willing to risk their own children's lives for their cause.

But I'm fighting windmills. Whoever is on the side of terrorists cannot be dissuaded. They will continue to believe what they see on the media which is fed with images directed by the terrorists. Yes, believe it or not, but they actually instruct women to go out in front of the cameras and act bereaved and cry and scream. Don't you ever find it strange that they're in front of cameras crying and shouting instead of with their loved ones, hugging them and finding counsel in relatives and friends who have known the deceased? (I could never understand that mentality. Israelis mourn at home quietly, while the Lebanese mourn in front of cameras? Nah. Unlikely. Those who truly mourn do it at home. Those in front of the cameras - are actors. More likely, huh?)

Just an opinion, and I'm cutting off comments. I don't care to hear criticism of Israel any longer. This blog is written by an Israeli about Israel. Deal with it!

You want to hear the Lebanese point of view, then visit their blogs. This isn't it.

8/01/2006

A Visit to a German Restaurant

A couple of weekends ago my husband and I decided to try out a German restaurant we've never been to. It was half hour drive from our home, but well worth the drive. It's a family business, started by the parents and now run by their children. The atmosphere in this bar-restaurant was very reminiscent of Germany. We decided to sit outside in the garden when this woman comes out dressed as a German and playing an accordion, singing in German. I was trying so hard to keep a straight face, but then she started encouraging everyone to join her in German and raise their beer mugs - that's when I just had to laugh. It was just wierd! Americans are just not Germans! But everyone seemed to enjoy it and have a good time.

My husband had a bit too much alcohol (German) that day and I ended up driving. I don't recall ever seeing my husband THAT drunk! Even when I met him and he'd drink 15 beer cans one after the other, he was never this crazy. But he's a cute drunk. The type that giggles, is always happy, and goes into momentary lapses of serious thinking about metaphysical matters. And then he just falls asleep. Til the next day.
He had a great time drinking, I loved the Wiener Schnitzel (my favourite meat!).
Here's an audio sample from the restaurant to give you an idea...
this is an audio post - click to play