Melissa's Meanderings

2009-11-11T08:52:00.003-05:00

Although I'm involved now with science and pre-med, I still love the NY Times magazine, and all its politics and culture.

2 Sundays ago...a great article on Obama and Kennedy. This photo is from the article

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/magazine/01fob-wwln-t.html?ref=magazine

Some worthwhile exceprts:

"But Obama has also demonstrated, not for the first time, two things about his emerging governing style that contrast sharply with that of his predecessor...The second is that he doesn’t seem especially bothered by the perception that he’s dithering. Bush often seemed to measure leadership by the number of seconds it took to make a decision. Obama displays a different kind of spine — the capacity to take his time, even when allies and critics are pounding at the door."

"...Obama is a leader who instinctively seeks the center lane of American politics. And in this way, more than any other, Obama is very much like the John Kennedy who emerges in historical accounts today, a self-confident president who governed at a time of heightened insecurity and proved himself insufficiently doctrinaire for both bellicose cold warriors and the new generation of liberals who considered him their own..."

2009-11-01T14:12:00.006-05:00

I just happened to look up at a bookshelf at cabot science library last week, and saw a book called "imagined worlds," by Freeman Dyson, and for some reason it caught my eye. and i actually checked it out!

in the introduction, this strikes me as fascinating: "Two voices speak for the future, the voice of science and the voice of religion. Science and religion are two great human enterprises that endure through centuries and link us with our descendants...I do not claim that the voice of science speaks with unique authority. Religion has at least an equal claim to authority in defining human destiny. Religion lies closer to the heart of human nature and has a wider currency than science. Like the human nature it reflects, religion is often cruel and perverted. When science achieved the power of religion, science often became cruel and perverted, too." (page 7)

And here are some nice Fall photos--I'm a bit late and lots of leaves have already fallen off the trees!

2009-10-25T10:11:00.003-04:00

Last week, in Biology, we started the half of the semester devoted to genetics! We're doing a lab tomorrow on plant cells in different stages of mitosis and meiosis.

The terminology is a bit confusing between chromosome, chromatin, chromatid, hapolid, diploid, etc! I was looking online for some clear definitions, and I like this image.

1-Chromatid, 2-Centromere, 3-short arm, 4-long arm.

In Chem we have a test this week on gas laws, thermochemistry, and the quantum nature of electrons (acting as both particles and waves). It's kind of cool because atoms required a new understanding of physics--neither classic Newtonian physics nor Einstein's relativity could work here: "Quantum physics deals with situations where the usual picture of reality breaks down. Photons (discrete units of light) and other very small things have some behaviors that resemble classical particles like billiard balls and other behaviors that resemble classical waves like water waves." (From Wikipedia)

And in Physics, still struggling but it's getting better. We just finished a chapter on angular momentum and torque. Don't ask!

I volunteer on a mobile health van

2009-10-10T00:02:00.003-04:00

I started volunteering a few weeks ago on Harvard Medical School's Family Van. Since 1992, the van has provided health education, screening, and prevention services, as well as referrals to medical and social service agencies to an estimated 50,000 of Boston's most vulnerable and underserved residents.

http://www.familyvan.org/

It's a really amazing experience, and I get to do a lot of real medical stuff--take blood pressure, check blood sugar (with a lancet finger prick), glacuoma screenings, and more. It's a lot of hands on work, and interacting with real live patients.

Yesterday during my 3 hour shift, I discussed with various patients all the different medications they're on. Here's my list of what I managed to write down.

1. Simvastatin: used to treat high cholestorol. Used to be called Zocor.

2. Diovan: used to treat hypertension.

3. Hydrochlorothiazide (hctz): hypertension drug; one of the longest on the market.

4. Atenolol: to treat hypertension, a beta-blocker.

5. Lisinopril: another medication to treat hypertension.

6. Norvasc: another anti-hypertensive.

7. Lipitor: to lower cholesterol.

8. Crestor: to treat high cholesterol.

9. Metformin: to treat diabetes

10. Lavoxyl: treats thyroid problems.

And in other news: Mom is acquitted finally! Read about it in the Maui News.

Update

2009-09-20T10:21:00.004-04:00

I'm starting my 4th week of class tomorrow. Things are going well, studying all the time. Physics is hard.

In bigger news: my mom's indictment on medical assistance fraud is now going to trial. It starts tomorrow. Here's a short article from the indictment 2 years ago.

http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/34792.html

Let's hope and pray for her, and that justice will prevail.

Couch Surfing

2009-08-12T04:24:00.006-04:00

We had out first (and last) couch-surfer about 1.5 months ago. Gustavo. He was great. From Brazil, animator, and currently lives in Barcelona.

He drew these awesome drawings of Oded and me.

Here I come

2009-07-16T13:41:00.003-04:00

I've finally decided to do it. Medical School.

I will be moving to Boston in about 6 weeks to do the Health Careers Program at Harvard, to fulfill my pre-med requirements, and then apply to medical school!

I thought about it long and hard, and was confused for a long time, but now I feel purpose, direction, much excitement, and as if I'm perched on the edge of a big adventure.

One step at a time, one day at a time, and I will get there.

A friend just moved to Sydney, and started a blog, titled

"We go there where nothing is waiting

and find everything waiting there."

-Pablo Neruda

I like that.

Offense to our ears

2009-06-28T02:24:00.003-04:00

"Revenge by Being Louder"
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/nyregion/28complaint.html?_r=1&hp

I thought this article was going to be about people (mostly teenagers) playing music in public places, on their cell phones, and other devices.

It turns out it's about "iPod leak...headphone leak. You know, that treble-drenched drone emanating from iPods halfway down the subway car."

While this is bothersome in Manhattan, this writer has NO IDEA what luxury he has there, compared to the far more irritating situation on intra-city buses here in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and even the looong ride from Eilat to center Israel (3+ hours).

Kids here simply put their music on and play it loudly for all to hear through their cellphone speakers, no headphones, nothing! They dont even try to keep it quiet. And it's often horribly irritating music...rap or something else discordant.

And of course, unlike the writer of the NY Times article, I am not shy to say something, as this is clearly rude and bothers many. Usually the offender looks at me, turns it down a bit, but continues to listen to his music outloud, for all to hear.

If this was the Manhattan subway, this offender would get more than mean, dissapproving stares.

But it's not the Manhattan subway, and for some reason, many people tolerate this horribly rude, irritating offense to our ears.

GET SOME -->

"The victim is shown a wall on which a staircase is drawn, and at the top is a drawing of a bicycle..."

2009-06-05T05:55:00.003-04:00

Lots to update on, which I will do in my next post. Now, I'd like to mention some worthwhile reading.

First is Daniel Levy's commentary on Obama's speech in Cairo.

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/06/04/10_comments_on_obama_in_cairo_-_still_accumulating/

Second, my high school friend Reid, who is an artist/graphic novelist, mentioned to me in an email that he did a drawing for the New Yorker about a playwrite/performer, David Hare. I found a fascinating article by him in the NY Times Book Review, about a month old. He apparently performs a monologue, comparing the Israeli "Separation Wall" to the Berlin Wall. Below is the drawing he did for the New Yorker.

Now, some particularly interesting tidbits from Hare's article, link above:

"Professor Sari Nusseibeh of Al-Quds University puts it most pithily:

It's like sticking someone in a cage and then when he starts screaming, as any normal person would, using his violent temper as justification for putting him in the cage in the first place. The wall is the perfect crime because it creates the violence it was ostensibly built to prevent"

"The evening before, in a suburb of Jerusalem, I've been taking tea with an Israeli intellectual who outlines what he regards as the defining paradox of Israel: to the world it seems powerful and aggressive, yet to itself it seems weak and frail."

Quoting that intellectual: "We feel our being is not guaranteed. You might say we have imported from the Diaspora the Jewish disease—a sense of rootlessness, an ability to adapt and make do, but not to settle. After sixty years, Israel is not yet a home."

"The socialist idealism in which Israel was founded is long gone. In its place, a hardheaded practicality. But if it's hardheaded practicality you want, if it's beaches and machine guns, you can find those anywhere in the world. What will make the young choose to live in Israel?"

"One evening not long ago we'd been at a party in Ramallah. A guest told me about a Hamas torture technique against citizens of Gaza suspected of being informants:

The victim is shown a wall on which a staircase is drawn, and at the top is a drawing of a bicycle. The victim is told to go and get the bicycle. He says he can't get the bicycle because it's a drawing. He is then told if he doesn't bring the bicycle downstairs he will be beaten. "I can't get it. It's a drawing."

"Am I just a decadent Westerner who can't help thinking spirituality must have something to do with beauty? Jerusalem used to be beautiful. Now it isn't. As far as I'm concerned, Jerusalem is spoiled—How can it not be spoiled? It has a great concrete wall beside it—but then Jerusalem was never intended for me. It was intended for believers."

"Coming into Ramallah now. Raja Shehadeh, a lawyer who lives here, says that it is Ramallah's greatest good fortune not to be mentioned in the Bible. For that reason Ramallah is left alone, of no interest to fanatics, because its religious significance is precisely nothing. Nothing divine happened in Ramallah. What a stroke of luck for any town that wants to survive! Not to be named in any Holy Book"

"What is so shocking about Israel is that these days it doesn't even have a protest movement. In the old days, there were peaceniks on the streets and long-haired students. Now they have almost no peace movement at all. What can you say? A country which loses its hippies is in deep trouble."

"This [Nablus] could be Marrakech: row upon row of raw meat, and fresh fruit, and flies and umbrellas and clothes and perfumes and spices, and dogs wandering, and children, and bubbling pans of kanafeh, of which the locals are famously proud: layers of Nabulsi cheese boiled with sugar, dyed dayglo-orange and scattered with crushed pistachios. Too rich for my blood. Even the smell sticks my tongue to the roof of my mouth. Up to 80 percent of the citizens of this town are unemployed. So there are few customers, and the prices are half what they are in Jerusalem. In the corner, a biblical hammam, up a short alley, nothing but steam and stones."

House Demolitions

2009-03-27T11:10:00.003-04:00

I dont think the recently released orders for house demolitions in East Jerusalem have gotten much attention in the international media. Basically, orders are issued to demolish houses in E. Jerusalem for all sorts of administrative reasons-from building without a permit, to not paying an outrageous fee. There are also punitive house demolitions, as is carried out against terrorists' families, but that's a different issue.

"The planning policy in East Jerusalem since its annexation in 1967 is affected by political considerations and infected by systematic discrimination against the Palestinians living there. While extensive building and enormous budget allocations have been the rule in Jewish neighborhoods, the Israeli government has choked development and building for the Palestinian population." --read more on B'Tselem's website.

House's demolished, from B'Tselem's website.

Neighborhood

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Total

'Issawiya

Old City

Beit Hanina

Abu Tor

Jabel Mukhaber

Ras al-'Amud

A-Tur

Shu'afat

Sheikh Jarakh

Silwan

Zur Baher

Total Palestinian buildings demolished

157

Total Jewish buildings demolished

It's an important issue, so here are some articles:

How archaeology is used to justify demolishing Palestinian houses:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1074321.html

Ir Amim provides a lot of documents on this issue:
http://www.ir-amim.org.il/eng/?CategoryID=254

War crimes: Moshe "Boogi" Ya'alon & Khmer Rouge

2009-02-19T13:10:00.008-05:00

First up on the international front: the first trial for Khmer Rouge war criminals has just started, 30 years after the end of the brutal regime. Many young Cambodians are apathetic and not interested, reports the NYTimes.

Now for local news: the Israeli national elections were over a week ago, and there is no Prime Minister or government, or anything clear. Recently released--if Bibi Netanyahu becomes the next Prime Minister, he will most likely appoint Boogi Ya'alon to be the Defense Minister.

This is the worst news I've heard in a LONG time.

Ya'alon is accused of war crimes. Wikipedia reports, "An Auckland District Court judge issued a warrant for his arrest for alleged war crimes arising from his role in the 2002 assassination of Hamas leader Salah Shahade in Gaza City, in which at least 14 Palestinian civilians were killed, saying that New Zealand had an obligation to uphold the Geneva Convention." Eventually the warrant was dropped.

Targeted killings is a complicated issue all based in the 4th Geneva Convention. "Israel's policy of targeted killings raises serious questions of international law, but the answers are not obvious. Although many observers view the policy as contravening international law, there is a substantial amount of uncertainty regarding the application of the relevant law to the situation at hand. Thus, good faith analysis could lead to starkly different conclusions on the legality of any such policy."

Also shocking, tragic, and unreal-a comment that Ya'alon has been rumored to have made: "The Palestinians must be made to understand in the deepest recesses of their consciousness that they are a defeated people."

This man should never be in a position of power.

The NY times later said this quote is unverifiable, although many Israelis who heard the original interview are familiar with it. Commentary magazine provides another interpretation, acknowledging that Ya'alon said something similar. (And we all know where Commentary's loyalties lie).

AND just for good measure-Ya'alon doesn't travel to the UK for fear of arrest, as would have happened to Almog, had Israeli diplomats not warned him. Reported here.

My first Israeli National Elections--Does it make any sense?

2009-02-10T12:46:00.003-05:00

today i voted in the israeli national elections--my first time. it's a really intense, crazy situation here. here's a few of my observations and comments, but it's VERY difficult to sum up.

i voted for meretz. More on them, here. Notable--they are pushing a bill to give settlers compensation if they leave the Occupied Territories.

the voting places were nearly empty. i didn't wait at all. i came with the card i received in the mail + my ID card, and i was handed an envelope. you then go behind a big blue piece of cardboard, where there are 30+ different little pieces of paper with the initials of the party, plus the name written out smaller. then, you choose the piece of paper you want, put in envelope, seal, and then place in a big, locked cardboard box. and that's it. has anything changed in 60 years here? at least-no hanging chads!

there are 33 parties running, from:
- the arab party balad that was disqualified one month ago.
-yisrael beytenu with its #1 on the list a russian immigrant-avigdor liberman- calling for arabs to sign loyalty oaths
- meretz, a party pushing for ending the occupation and social justice
- the traditional big parties, including likud with bibi (who will probably win)
- kadimah which was started by sharon in late 2005, who is now in a coma, and led by tzipi livni, who says we need to remove all settlements,
- ehud barak who just was defense minister and led the useless, atrocious war in Gaza.

many Israelis didn't know who they were voting for up until they arrived to the booth.

many Israelis say--it doesnt really matter what party you choose, it's all the same hara (shit).

is there really a left? great article:
http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1062798.html

baruch marzel, extreme right wing settler, wanted to surpervise elections in Uhm al-Faham, Arab-Israeli city in the North. there was an attempt by Israeli's Attorney General not to allow him to enter the city, then the Supreme Court said he should be allowed, and then the head of the Police removed someone else from his far-right party from entering city. There were riots and other unpleasant experieces.

i can go on and on with the various stories and experiences of the eleections. it will be intersting to wake up tomorrow to a new reality.

Cool movie my brother made

2009-01-19T05:07:00.001-05:00

BAWT Move From SF from Aaron Schwab on Vimeo.

Not my normal post, but I like the music!

His blog is http://a-schwab.blogspot.com/

Images from Gaza

2009-01-13T08:02:00.003-05:00

tp://www.flickr.com/photos/30837739@N04/

This link takes you to see Sharif Sarhan's photos of the current Gaza tragedies (this is his photo). He is a Palestinian artists who works and lives in Gaza.

With the virtual closure to most reporters and media, not much news or images manage to get out. Sarhan is one of the few.

For further visual understanding, here's another look into the Gaza-Southern Israel attacks. This is a Arte France project, showing short clips from both sides. Done beautifully and professionally. The last movies were made a couple weeks ago, but thanks to money from B'Tselem (where I work), there will be more movies soon.

"Talkback"

2009-01-05T05:19:00.002-05:00

I really try to avoid reading the "talkback" section at the bottom of online articles--the people that feel compelled to write in this space are usually the most extreme, reactionary, and ignorant.*

I was just reading this article, "Report: 7 family members killed in IDF shelling," and then went down to the bottom, to read the awful, incendiary comments, because sometimes I can't help myself. This is one of the comments:

9. Time has come

I want to say we must vote some new laws to deal with traitors.

First, this concerns arabs and leftists who demonstrate against our State during war.
Second, we have to deal against journalists who work for the ennemy's propaganda.
I feel very painful to see journalists as Charles Enderlin, and even Ali Waked saying whatever they want, without contradiction from our side.

יואל ,

רעננה

(01.05.09)

Recommend this talkback click here

Add talkback

I am amazed and shocked at this. Is he basically calling for an end to Free Speech?? Specifically, the line where he writes "this concerns arabs and leftists who demonstrate against our State during war."

Without people demonstrating against war or other kind of government policy, where would we all be today? The great tradition of protest got the US out of Vietnam and has brought some sanity to the situation in Guantanamo Bay , just to mention a few.

I more and more come to realize that, perhaps, Israel has a long way to go in terms of understanding the importance and necessity of criticism and analysis of its own government's decisions and actions.

If we don't ask why and demand answers, then what's the use in thinking?

*(If you're someone who does this, and happens to read my blog, you're probably not like that!)

More on Gaza

2008-12-30T09:50:00.004-05:00

Fascinating article by Robert Fisk in the Independent. Here is an interesting excerpt from it:

"Quite a lot of the dead this weekend appear to have been Hamas members, but what is it supposed to solve? Is Hamas going to say: "Wow, this blitz is awesome – we'd better recognise the state of Israel, fall in line with the Palestinian Authority, lay down our weapons and pray we are taken prisoner and locked up indefinitely and support a new American 'peace process' in the Middle East!" Is that what the Israelis and the Americans and Gordon Brown think Hamas is going to do?

Yes, let's remember Hamas's cynicism, the cynicism of all armed Islamist groups. Their need for Muslim martyrs is as crucial to them as Israel's need to create them. The lesson Israel thinks it is teaching – come to heel or we will crush you – is not the lesson Hamas is learning. Hamas needs violence to emphasise the oppression of the Palestinians – and relies on Israel to provide it. A few rockets into Israel and Israel obliges."

(I pray for peace).

Irony: Of the 3 or 4 Israelis killed by Gazan rockets, 2 are Arabs.

Sergeant Major Lutafi Nasraladin, 38, was from Daliat al-Karmel, a Druze town near Haifa. He was killed Monday evening by mortar fire on a military base in the Negev.

Also, Hani al Mahdi, a 27-year-old construction worker from the Bedouin village of Aroer, was killed while working at a building site in Ashkelon. He was fatally wounded by shrapnel from a Grad rocket when he was caught in the open en route to a protected area.

Gaza

2008-12-29T11:11:00.004-05:00

While Israel's attacks on Gaza are legal, are they moral?

I understand that many Israelis feel we had no other choice but to attack and kill, and that may be reality, but

...so many human beings are dying...

Hebron Evacuation

2008-12-06T03:03:00.003-05:00

This past Thursday, the Israeli Army and Police evacuated Jewish settlers from Hebron, in the West Bank. It was all over the Israeli media--tv, print, and more. It was an extremely tense time (albeit quick), and resulted in settlers rioting, setting olive trees on fire, and vandalism. From my sense, many Israelis (who live within internationally recognized borders) were embarrassed and ashamed at the behavior of other Jews in Hebron.

A settler even shot 2 Palestinians. B'Tselem (where I work) field workers, captured this on.
It can be downloaded: http://rcpt.yousendit.com/631443484/697192997f170707c66c1790caefec62

Hopefully from all this, something peaceful will come. This photo, which is beautiful and seems hopeful, is from a NY Times article, "From an Israeli Settlement, a Rabbi’s Unorthodox Plan for Peace"

Here is an interesting article, presenting some alternative thoughts on what's going on in Hebron.
"Hebron like you've never imagined it"

SMSing in Palestine

2008-12-03T08:27:00.003-05:00

It's been almost a month since last posting--busy busy! I was in Southern California for Thanksgiving with family. Lots of fun! Will post pics soon.

I got back in at 3 am this morning, and am back at work. I dont have much motivation to write now, but here's a link to an amazing project!

Text Messaging in Palestine for jobs and aid.
http://souktel.org/

Translation: Souk means market, tel refers to phone: phone market?

2008-11-04T13:40:00.003-05:00

This is amazing.

I can't wait for tomorrow.

Better version: http://www.patrickmoberg.com/november-4-2008.jpg

Obama.

2008-10-22T05:31:00.003-04:00

This website is amazing and very worth checking out.

http://www.30reasons.org/

Look back at some of the older posters.

So many reasons. But the one I feel in my gut is this: When I look at Barack Obama's life story, I see America.

Artist

Brett Yasko
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
www.BrettYasko.com

Israeli HipHop--Ha'dag Nahash

2008-10-21T07:52:00.004-04:00

The Israeli band, Ha'dag Nahash (Fish Snake) has always been one of my favorites, especially because of their willingness to sing about political issues.

I've seen them in concert 3 times-- the third time was this last Friday, at an afternoon show in Tel Aviv. One song that was particularly popular, and continues to be, is "Shirat Ha'Sticker," "The Sticker Song." It's based on various bumper stickers, and other random stickers, that one can see displayed throughout Israel. It's written by Israeli novelist, David Grossman.

In a NY Times article from 2004, the song is described: "'Shirat Ha'Sticker'' (''The Sticker Song'') is no mere novelty, however. It offers a kind of aural collage of the fractious and volatile political environment here. Over a Jamaican dub beat, the singer Sha'anan Streett chants slogans as irreconcilable as ''A strong people makes peace,'' ''No Arabs, no terror'' and ''Long live the king Messiah.''

Here are some pictures from the show, including when they sang "Shirat Ha'sticker."

Here's the English translation, with the Hebrew following it, taken from another excellent blog.

[Bumper] Sticker Song
Lyrics: David Grossman

A whole generation demands peace
Let the IDF win
A strong people makes peace
Let the IDF take them down
No peace with Arabs
Don’t give them guns
There is no service like combat service, bro’
Draft for all [or] exemption for all
There is no despair in the world
Judea, Samaria and Gaza are here! [within the Green Line]
Na, Nah, Nahman, the faithful
No Fear, the Messiah’s in town
No Arabs, no terror attacks
The Supreme Court endangers Jews
The people are with the Golan
The people are for [population] transfer
Test in Yarka [sticker of a vehicle inspection garage in the village of Yarka]
Friend, you are missed
The Holy One, blessed be He, we vote for [choose] You
Direct elections [for prime minister] are bad
The Holy One, blessed be He, we are your zealots
Death to zealots [or "death to the jealous" in cases where the sticker appears on very old cars]

CHORUS:
How much evil can you swallow?
Father have mercy, Father have mercy
They call me Nachman and I stammer
How much evil can you swallow?
Father have mercy, Father have mercy
Thank God I’m breathing

A State based on halacha is no State at all
He who is born wins
Long live the Messiah
I trust the peace of Sharon
Hebron – from time immemorial and forever
He who is not born loses
Hebron, city of the Fathers
Peace through Transfer
Kahane was right
CNN lies
We need a strong leader
Peace please, thank you for security
We have no children for needless wars
The Left helps the Arabs
Bibi is good for the Jews
Oslo criminals [should be brought] to justice
We here, they [the Arabs] there
You do not forsake brothers [on the battle field, or by implication settlers in the Territories]
Uprooting the settlements divides the people
Death to traitors
Let the animals live
Death to values

CHORUS

Liquidate, kill, expel, mislead
No Fear, subdue, quarantine, punishment of death
Lay waste, destroy, rout, eradicate
It’s all your fault, Haver [Friend]

–translation: Richard Silverstein

שירת הסטיקר
מאת דויד גרוסמן

דור שלם דורש שלום
תנו לצה”ל לנצח
עם חזק עושה שלום
תנו לצה”ל לכסח
אין שלום עם ערבים
אל תתנו להם רובים
קרבי זה הכי אחי
גיוס לכולם, פטור לכולם
אין שום ייאוש בעולם
יש”ע זה כאן
נ נח נחמן מאומן
No Fear, משיח בעיר
אין ערבים אין פיגועים
בג”ץ מסכן יהודים
העם עם הגולן
העם עם הטרנספר
טסט בירכא
חבר, אתה חסר
הקדוש ברוך הוא אנחנו בוחרים בך
בחירה ישירה זה רע
הקדוש ברוך הוא אנחנו קנאים לך
ימותו הקנאים

כמה רוע אפשר לבלוע
אבא תרחם אבא תרחם
קוראים לי נחמן ואני מגמגם
כמה רוע אפשר לבלוע
אבא תרחם אבא תרחם
ברוך השם אני נושם

מדינת הלכה - הלכה המדינה
מי שנולד הרוויח
יחי המלך המשיח
יש לי בטחון בשלום של שרון
חברון מאז ולתמיד
ומי שלא נולד הפסיד
חברון עיר האבות
שלום טרנספר
כהנא צדק
CNN משקר
צריך מנהיג חזק
סחתין על השלום תודה על הבטחון
אין לנו ילדים למלחמות מיותרות
השמאל עוזר לערבים
ביבי טוב ליהודים
פושעי אוסלו לדין
אנחנו כאן הם שם
אחים לא מפקירים
עקירת ישובים מפלגת את העם
מוות לבוגדים
תנו לחיות לחיות
מוות לערכים

כמה רוע אפשר…

לחסל, להרוג, לגרש, להטעות
להדביר, להסגיר, עונש מוות, NO FEAR
להשמיד, להכחיד, למגר, לבער
הכל בגללך, חבר

–lyrics from Shiron.net

What is Zionism?

2008-10-07T05:26:00.002-04:00

I often ask myself, "What is Zionism?" Is this a relevant question in 2008? Where do I find the answers? What is post-Zionism? Creative Zionism (I interviewed recently for a position at PresenTense)?

Is Zionism meaning being pro-Israel? Is not being Zionist mean being anti-Israel? Can I say I'm not a Zionist, but support Israel? Why do many people equate Israel with Zionism? Why is "supporting Israel" such a big deal?

I am American, and criticize America, but am not anti-America. Why does this same logic not seem to apply in Israel?

I was reading a document released a few years ago by the Van Leer Institute. When I am confused about an idea, I find it's often useful to go back to the very beginning. Here are some of the basics:

The Zionist Vision and the National Interests
“The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.

“. . . This right is the natural right of the Jewish people to be masters of their own fate, like all other nations, in their own sovereign State.

“The State of Israel will be open for Jewish immigration and for an Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete
equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants, irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

…

“We appeal – in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months – to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and
permanent institutions.”
(Excepts from the Declaration of Independence)

(continued from report) Today, too, it is necessary to ensure the existence of a Jewish and democratic State of Israel. Four founding principles have been accepted by the vast majority of the Zionist movement since its founding until the present day:

1. Concentrating a majority of the Jewish People in its homeland, the Land of Israel.
2. Preserving a Jewish state with an absolute Jewish majority in the Land of Israel.
3. Reviving Hebrew culture (language, literature, history, plastic arts) as the spiritual foundation of the Jewish State in the Land of Israel.
4. Aspiring to make the Jewish people a nation like all other nations, living freely in its own State and maintaining a high-quality life of abundance, progress and
culture.

Dubai and Israel

2008-09-22T09:31:00.003-04:00

Just reading this article today in the NY Times, "Young and Arab in Land of Mosques and Bars."

One Dubai-resident, originally from Jordan, describes the ambiance:

"In this way, Dubai offers another prescription for promoting moderation. It offers a chance to lead a modern life in an Arab Islamic country. Mr. Abu Zanad raised his beer high, almost in a toast, and said he liked being able to walk through a mall and still hear the call to prayer.

“We like that it’s free and it still has Arab heritage,” he said “It’s not religion, it’s the culture, the Middle Eastern culture.”

This description sounds oddly familiar--it sounds like things many young Jews have said about Israel, including myself! Part of the reason I like living in Israel is what I'll call the "Jewish backdrop." Hebrew is spoken, holidays are celebrated, human rights are advocated for based on Jewish values. In Jerusalem (my new city), it's a bit more difficult to live the secular, "Jewish backdrop" lifestyle, but I am finding my way.

This picture is in the article, and I made it my computer's desktop. I love the colors.

Articles

2008-09-08T16:14:00.003-04:00

Two articles. First one by me (posted here recently), "A Day in Bethlehem" was posted on the Palestine-Israel Journal blog and the second one, "In Israel, era of mass immigration ends" about new immigrants and me.

These two articles are an interesting dichotomy: both relating my experience of life in Israel, yet one discussing aliyah and the other discussing the consequences of Israel's Occupation.

This dilemma is one I consider every day.

Life Update

2008-08-23T16:59:00.003-04:00

Here's a quick life update.

Spent the first half of August in the states. Will post pictures soon from Maui, LA, and San Diego. Also managed to visit the Colliseum in Rome, on my layover, on the flight back to Tel Aviv!

Oded and I are looking for an apartment in Jerusalem. If anyone knows of anything...we'd love to know!

I am starting a new job on September 1 at B'tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. It should be really interesting, although I am not sure yet exactly what I"ll be doing!

Oded is starting in November to study photography at Musrara.

I am looking forward to a new city and all its new adventures!

Being Critical, but Always Hoping

2008-07-31T08:03:00.003-04:00

There's an excellent blog posting by Daniel Pipes, titled "May An American Comment on Israel." A short excerpt: "Schweitzer [an Israeli counter-terrorism expert] does not spell out the logic behind his resentment, but it rings familiar: Unless a person lives in Israel, the argument goes, pays its taxes, puts himself at risk in its streets, and has children in its armed forces, he should not second-guess Israeli decision making. This approach, broadly speaking, stands behind the positions taken by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and other prominent Jewish institutions."

Pipes logically points out that his job, as a foreign policy analyst, is to do exactly this. That he, and this Israeli counter-terrorism expert comment on multiple countries' policies all the time.

What about the rest of us who aren't foreign policy analysts and counter-terrorism experts, who live outside of Israel? Pipes state: "On a more profound level, I protest the whole concept of privileged information – that one's location, age, ethnicity, academic degrees, experience, or some other quality validates one's views."

I agree. While I do now live in Israel, I am very frequently told that because I didn't serve in the army, and don't have friends that died in terror attacks, that my opinion is not valid. While this holds some weight, I would suggest that for this very reason my opinion is extremely valid--I am often able to see things in Israel and the Middle East without the jaded eyes of many Israelis; I often say that because I haven't lived there all my life, perhaps I will have a new suggestion for peace, or see things in a slightly different light that is obviously needed for the current, seemingly hopeless situation.

On the flip side of being critical, there is maintaining optimism and hope. In many conversations on Middle East politics and the Situation (ha'matzav), I am told I don't know what I am talking about, as I said above. When the conversation gets to this point, I return to my refrain: how can we live without hope? We must have hope--after all, the Israeli national anthem is called "Ha'Tikva," or "The Hope." And then the conversation takes on a new tone; I'm often told, "I used to have hope, but since x or y happened, I don't anymore."

Maybe I'm naive. But the only way to live is with hope and a fresh vision.

Bethlehem

2008-07-23T02:37:00.003-04:00

I had said I was going to write something about my day trip to Bethlehem, in April. I finally got around to it--mostly because I had to submit it to the Middle East Studies Dept for a newsletter they're doing. Here it is, at last!

*********************************************************************************************

We asked him many questions—in English, Hebrew, and broken Arabic. But he asked only one, as he glanced over his shoulder at me: "Do you believe in God?" After a long day of historical and political sightseeing in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, I was awake, but in a dream-like state. Brian, my travel companion, was fast asleep in the back of the taxi next to me.

Why was I being asked this question? Was there a correct answer? The man who had asked me this question was Ashraff, our taxi driver for the day. It was through his eyes that I saw Bethlehem. Ashraff in Arabic means "nobler" or "more distinguished." He took Brian and me all around Bethlehem and its sites on a clear, sunny April day. While I saw the Church of the Nativity and other famous sites, it was this soft-spoken, noble taxi driver that left the strongest memories of the day.

After some reflection, I think Ashraff asked me this question because he saw the commonality in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—he was a Muslim who believed in God and I was a Jew who believed in God. This shared belief should be one that brings us together.

Ashraff was a kind man, whose family had fled/been expelled from the Negev prior to the 1948 Independence War/Nakba. His family moved to a refugee camp outside of Bethlehem 60 years ago and has been there ever since. Throughout this day of sightseeing, I learned about Ashraff's opinions and stories, each one of them reflected a longing for a better future and disenchantment with the current state of affairs, but never with any feelings of vengeance or hatred. Ashraff said that tourism was important for the economy and wished there were more tourists, especially Jews.

There are so many memorable conversations and moments with Ashraff, and a few stand out. We started off at the Shepherd's Field. This is a lesser-known tourist attraction, where there are several different sites said to be related to the announcement of Jesus' birth. Ashraff didn't know how to explain what this site was. Somehow, Brian and I had indicated that we were Jewish, and that I was Israeli, so he began speaking to me in Hebrew. Soon enough, we were carrying on a fluent, sophisticated conversation. Brian was very frightened to hear us speaking Hebrew, loudly, in Bethlehem. Ashraff said he'd tell us when it was okay to speak Hebrew and when to revert back to English.

Ashraff told us that, before the Second Intifada started, he had worked in Eilat and Beer Sheva for many years, so his Hebrew was excellent. It was clear that Ashraff wanted to tell us as much as he could about Bethlehem, the city he had grown up in. He was excited for Jews to be in his city, learning about the West Bank, its cities and what was going on in them. All he wanted was to tell stories and have us listen and learn.

Later, Ashraff was very intent on showing us the Separation Wall. All the times I had seen it from the Israeli side, it was very sterile, unemotional, simply a big, gray wall. It was usually in the middle of a relatively open expanse of dirt. Ashraff took us to the area in Bethlehem where the Wall encircles Rachel's Tomb. I was amazed to feel its foreboding, physical, dark presence. There was a watchtower at one of the corners: from below I looked up and I felt the gaze of the Israeli soldier's eyes. The power of this huge structure could not be seen in any other way—Israel controlled this space.

Despite the Wall's domination and oppression, the artwork managed to express resistance. One mural depicted a lone, live tree, surrounded by a tall wall. Outside of the wall, all the other trees were dead, and just the stumps were left. Ashraff and his people were being choked by this wall, but they would not let it kill them.

From the Israeli perspective, this wall, this sterile, gray object maintains one purpose: to prevent terrorism. From what Ashraff showed and expressed to us, this was a place where daily existence was challenged, and passionate voices cried out in expressions of desire and an unwillingness to acquiesce.

It was almost time to eat. Ashraff promised us a good meal at his home. Should we have been scared to go to his home, in a refugee camp, outside of Bethlehem? We weighed our options, and decided that it was more important to see all that we could, to learn and understand about what Ashraff's life is like. Ashraff lives in a 4-story house, with each generation having added on a floor. Before eating, we sat in the living room with Ashraff and his friend. They were so happy we were there. Ashraff saw that I was looking at a lithograph of the 99 names of Allah. He started to translate each name to Hebrew. Again, I felt that he wanted so badly for me to understand that his religion was just like mine—Allah's names are merciful, ever-forgiving, all-knowing, and so much more. I was slowly coming to realize what Ashraff wanted was no different than anything each Israeli—all humans in fact—speak about and fight all their lives for.

We went into the living room and sat on the floor, devouring chicken, rice, salad, all with our hands. Ashraff insisted we keep eating, and offered more food. He wanted us to feel comfortable and welcome. His young daughter crawled over, stared at us curiously and made her way to her mother's lap. We continued tearing chicken meat from its bone, balling yellow rice together, sharing one meal, together, occasionally glancing at each other, rejoicing in sitting together, simply as humans.

Oil...

2008-06-26T01:00:00.003-04:00

I was listening to an npr radioshow that I often listen to--"left, right and center"--and they were talking about offshore drilling. One commentator asked the other about if he supports offshore drilling, then what will happen to the coastline off of santa barbara.

This reminded me of when we used to visit california from hawaii, when I was young, and I'd see the "oil horses" along the sides of the highway. When I just google'd "oil horses," apparently that's not what others call them. The are referred to as "nodding donkeys." How bizarre. But very evocative.

I remember that those black machines seemed almost alive. They were so foreign to me, having always seen the landscape of sugar cane fields, ocean, and volcanoes growing up on Maui. I loved seeing those oil horses; it was like getting to see aliens, for me. The slow-moving horse, actually a machine, against the backdrop of the ocean or the green fields, along the highway.

Today, in the nytimes, there's an article on offshore drilling, with an amazing photograph. In the same way that the oil horses (or apparently nodding donkeys) made me see some perverted beauty, I see it here too: the horror of our greed for oil, and the beauty of what we must destroy for it.

More Banksy, from Grandma

2008-06-14T04:38:00.003-04:00

My grandma, who my brother says should get the "Senior Computer Literacy Award" is awesome at using the Internet, and finding articles.

(This is my grandma and me before my graduation from Berkeley in 2004).

Here's a link to a fascinating (long) New Yorker article on Banksy, from my Grandma!!:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/05/14/070514fa_fact_collins

Tel Aviv Grafitti

2008-06-10T00:57:00.004-04:00

A while back, I posted grafitti from Neve Tzedek. Throughout Tel Aviv, there are a number of graffiti art drawings of people, babies, and dogs with gas masks on, in a very unique style.

I never knew that they were Banksy copies. Banksy is an anonymous British artist, but apparently these aren't his. But they're fascinating and insightful.

There is also an unofficial website that has more fascinating photos of Banksy's art--worth checking out. Here's just one of them.

Goat Cheese. Give me more!

2008-05-10T12:25:00.004-04:00

I know I said my next posting would be on Bethlehem, but I'm too inspired by something else--goat cheese! (this picture isn't mine...but gives the cheese's accurate texture and sensation).
Goat cheese, the 23% fat type, is AMAZING. I had eaten goat cheese before living in Israel, but my roommate turned me on to this certain brand that is so good. It's sort of like cream cheese in its consistency, a little bit firmer, and has a distinct flavor...I am not sure how to describe it. But it goes with everything!

Normally, I don't cook or make anything that takes more than 3 minutes of preparation time (ie, I usually spoon the tuna out of a can onto toasted bread, cereal with milk, PB and J, sometimes pasta if I'm really inspired).

But this goat cheese has been taking me to new places! I somehow followed a recipe I found online and made a tomato and goat cheese quiche! It was really easy, and turned out really well. Right now, I just made some sort of cucumber and goat cheese salad. Also excellent.

Passover Seder and Backpacking Trip.

2008-04-28T13:34:00.006-04:00

Seder Plate. Saturday night.

The hagadah. I read outloud when it was my turn. I sounded like a 12 year old with my level of Hebrew.

We started our hike the morning after the seder. This is where we put on sunblock and got ready

The second morning. Bright and cheery-eyed!

That afternoon. In a gas station. A bit less bright and cheery eyed.

Awesome 200+ year old Olive trees above the Arab village of Deir Hanna.

Beautiful purple flowers in a field.

A turtle. With cute, stubby legs.

Next post, soon to come: Day trip to Bethlehem.

04.06.08...06.04.08

2008-04-06T00:26:00.006-04:00

7:26 am on Sunday morning. The week starts. again. But I say again in a way that I'm looking forward to it! A few thoughts to share.

The second semester is about a third of the way through. 2 more months. And that's it! Wow.

I have a midterm in Arabic tomorrow. Lots of vocabulary and grammar. But it's fun. I like learning new languages.

Oded was here in Beer Sheva last week. We had fun together. After my bike got stolen (boo), we went and got a new one together, went food shopping, sat in a cafe. It felt like a normal life.

A friend from Otzma is visiting here for the weekend. We went on a bike ride yesterday up to the Negev Brigade Memorial. Here's a picture that he took from the interesting and beautiful sculpture.

On Thursday, my Conflict Resolution Class goes to Jerusalem to the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, to meet with someone from the Israeli Negotiation Team, and some others. Should be really fascinating. And a chance to see how this conflict is playing out immediately, on a higher level.

This same friend and I are also considering going to Bethlehem and Ramallah during my Passover Break. We would go for one day to each city. Only a week and a half more of class til break. I am looking forward to it!

The new living situation (since Mar 1) is great. It's so much better. The weather is usually sunny and I love sitting outside on our porch, on the couch. My room-mate also somehow got a sheep, who is supposed to be trimming the overgrown weeds. She's a funny sheep, she scratches her nose on the side of the house, and often wildly gallops around the yard. Occasionally eating grass too. Here's a picture of the porch with the sheep in the background.

More Pics.

2008-03-04T01:17:00.001-05:00

For more pics of Hebron, go here.

I have intentionally tried not to write too much about this city. The rights and wrongs abound on both sides, and in general I have been trying to listen more to what people say, and opine less. Please feel free to tell me what you think and share your impressions.

Hebron

2008-03-03T14:01:00.004-05:00

I was on a tour in the West Bank city of Hebron, last Friday. Shovrim Shtika (Breaking the Silence) guided the tour. Hebron is a very complicated place. I can't even begin to explain in this blog posting. For a detailed article and history, read this Ha'aretz piece. Here are a few pictures, with a brief explanation. I am well aware that these photos and what I saw only reveal a small part of what is going on there. To really understand, or to start to at least, one must go to the city.

A sign displayed for visitors. Also appears in Hebrew.

Jewish graffiti: נקמה, revenge. A lot is covered up because it was bad for the Jewish settlers' PR.

The few Palestinian families who still live in the IDF-controlled area caged themselves in. Their front doors are bolted shut, by the IDF. They are only allowed out their roof or their back door.

The tomb of Abraham, in the Tomb of Patriarchs, a holy site.

A beautiful almond tree, amidst all the difficult, horrible, confusing things going on.

Is there any way out?

2008-02-05T09:10:00.000-05:00

I was at a bike store in Beer Sheva with some friends yesterday. An older man named Jacques started talking with me. Jacques is probably 60ish, born in Fez, Morocco, and lived there until his family made aliyah at the age of 16. He started asking me if I love Israel too (my friend who was at the store had made aliyah and was saying how much she does). I said I love the place and the people, but not what the state does. And then I said, let's not get into this, as soon as I saw him gearing up for a fight. (I have slowly and painfully been learning that most Israelis are not open-minded in regards to Israel's military actions and support the state almost blindly, no matter what).

I tried to stop the conversation, but it was too late. Jacques is telling me that he knows Arabs because he grew up with them, and he served in the army. He provided me with an anecdote: if you say hello and good morning to an Arab, he'll kill you. If you say hello, while at the same time hitting him to keep him in his place, then he'll treat you ok. Jacques continued to tell me that the way for Israel to proceed is to kill as many Arabs as possible—the more the better.

Of course, no Israeli thinks my opinion is worthwhile, because I didn't know grow up here or serve in the IDF. I understand this, but I also know that many of these people I talk to have not even considered the alternatives; they have not read any of the important, academic articles that the intellectuals (both Israeli and Arab) have produced, showing that there is a very different side to the whole argument. But no one will listen; no one can see beyond his own fears.

Jacques went on to ask me what I think of Blacks in the US. I said, I can't answer, this shouldn't even be a question. And he asked if I'm going to vote for that "black guy running for President?" I said that'd be the best thing to happen to the US if Obama wins. He told me that Obama is a Muslim and how could I do that. At this point, I started to understand that Jacques didn't have all his facts straight.

Despite his lack of accurate information, Jacques represents a portion of the Israeli population; he is a bit more extreme in his call to kill all Arabs, but he knows only one narrative, and there is no discussion.

The way I see it, there will never be peace and understanding if one cannot open his mind to different ideas.

Then, a few minutes later, we heard there was a suicide bombing in Dimona. Jacques is from Dimona and his wife works in the exact area where the explosion was.

What can I say to that? The conflict here (sich-sooch in Hebrew; סכסוך) cannot be explained or described. I cannot help but understand what Jacques says. I cannot help but understand the Gazan plight for food, gas, and water. Is there any way out?

Sore Elbows

2008-02-04T01:34:00.000-05:00

Classes ends about 2 weeks ago. We have 6 weeks off until the Spring semester starts, and during this break we must write our term papers. I have to write three 15+ page papers. So far, I've gotten 2 more or less done. I am working on the third one now. I have only had a few moments of panic, and I still have another 8 days to finish this last one. The topics include:

-the situation of foreign workers' children in Israel, who identify as Israeli, but are not considered "real Israelis"
-Mizrachi music and its role as producing counter-hegemonic resistance to the Ashkenazi hegemony; examinzation of Tipex and Zohar Argov (2 Israeli Mizrachi musicians/groups)
-(this one I'm still working on): the ways that Istanbul's urban fabric changed post-Tanzimat (1839) in an attempt to westernize; close examination of "westernization" in the Ottoman empire.

What's the point here? My elbows are killing me! I spend so much time at my computer reading and typing, resting on my elbows, that they really hurt! I'd never thought this would happen...but it's pretty serious.

Here's a picture of an elbow to enjoy.

I try sitting in different ways, resting on my hands, not putting my arms on the desk when I'm just reading, anything!

Being Ethiopian in Israel.

2008-01-12T03:59:00.000-05:00

I was just reading an article for a paper I'm writing about the identity of foreign workers' children in Israel. While this article is about Ethiopians and not foreign workers, it's related because identity is both elusive and strictly guarded in the Jewish state of Israel where the Orthodox Rabbinate has a monopoly on deciding "Who is a Jew" and therefore who is a "real Israeli."

This article is about the identity of the Ethiopians who came to Israel in the last 20 years. It argues that a new kind of racism developed in Israeli society. But that Ethiopians have been able to create an unique identity. "In fact, they have developed a hybrid identity that meshes Israeliness, Jewishness, and blackness. Have they succeeded in escaping their marginalised status and in establishing their hybrid conception within Israeli
society?"

A paragraph I read in the article recalls the post I wrote a while back about the term "kushi." Before I speculated. Now, the author spoke to some Ethiopian youth: "Some Ethiopian youngsters aged 16 to 18 seemed to suggest that they were rebelling against the image that had been foisted onto them. Asked how they reacted to being called kushi (black), a term that connotes a slave in their traditional culture, they replied unequivocally that whereas in the past they had been offended and backed off, now they would lash out at anyone who used the term and ‘let him have it’, in the words of one interviewee."

Ben-eliezer, Uri (2004) 'Becoming a black Jew: cultural racism and anti-racism in contemporary Israel', Social Identities, 10:2, 245 - 266

שוקו בשקית--Chocolate in a Bag

2008-01-08T14:07:00.000-05:00

I was just craving Shoko B'sakit (שוקו בשקית)! And then it occured to me that it's a worthwhile topic for a post.

This concept at first seemed really gross to me--sucking chocolate milk out of a plastic bag after ripping off the corner with your mouth--but then I realized how great of a satisfying snack it is!

Here's an excellent short "How to" video:

Post Modernity

2008-01-07T13:17:00.000-05:00

As the semester comes to an end, all my classes seem to be converging on an interesting and important subject: Modernity and Post Modernity. While it seems that these are terms we throw around all the time, I don't often have a chance to really think about them...Here are some thoughts (albeit just a few) that have been discussed, interspersed with some photos I took from the net.

Modernity can be traced to the 17th century: the scientific revolution, new technology, and transportation (railroad and steamship) which all provided for totally new possibilities. The origins of modernity are located in Europe. Progress is big! There is a whole change in the way people understand their world, in every way.

Of course, besides there being this new forward-moving direction that history was thought to be moving in, there is a dark side: Colonialism (an ideology while acceptable at the time was about racism and imposing ideas on people), WWI and its unfathomable amount of death and suffering, WWII and the Holocaust, the invention of the atomic bomb.

In contrast to modernity and post-modernity, modernism and post-modernism are aesthetic styles, referring to literature, art, architecture, music. This style is clean and simple. One example is Bauhaus architecture.

The post modern era started in the 1970s, among French intellectuals. Existentialism and questioning of what really is truth. This new outlook can be termed a"paradigm shift," where there are no more certainties in life, and the concept of progress is dead. The post modern turn can be seen in subaltern studies, cultural studies, and social history. In the post modern era, there is also a resurgence of religion (since there is nothing else to believe in!). Nietzsche is confused.

Anthony Giddens writes in The Consequences of Modernity: "living in the modern world is more like being aboard a careering juggernaut rather than being in a carefully controlled and well-driven motor car."

In my class, "Muslim Mediterranean Cities," the professor challenged us with these questions: "Is post modernity just another stage of modernity? Is it an imploding of modernism?" I don't know the answers.

In a different class ("Production of Resistance in Arab Countries"), the professor posited that there are different concepts of modernity in the West and East. Western modernity can be seen as a total break from the past. In the East, modernity has some connection to tradition as well. They are not mutually exclusive. For example, Eastern music cannot be understood without looking at traditional music styles to understand the contemporary.

New Year's.

2008-01-01T14:52:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting (read: crappy camera phone) series of a few photos from Oded and my fun and low-key New Year's in Tel Aviv.

(Card from the bar we were at: "One who doesn't drink doesn't pee.")

Birthday memories

2007-12-17T10:40:00.000-05:00

Out at a pub in Beer Sheva, Manga, for my bday. Cailin, me and Oded.

Oded enlarged a photo he took on Maui for me. Hanging on my wall.

My roomates filled my room with balloons!

Oded and I on the way to Sinai to celebrate my bday--in a taxi from the Israeli-Egyptian border.

The view from our bungalow: Two Bedouins on camels.

Another view from our bungalow: Sunrise.

What's new in the Negev.

2007-12-05T14:51:00.000-05:00

What's been going on lately?

I am sick. Second time in 1 month--everyone around me is sick too! Hanukkah started last night; I lit candles with the family that I work with, where I teach English, and had an excellent sufganya (jelly donut). My birthday is approaching--one week away! I can't believe I'll be 26. I turned in my first paper as a graduate student today! It was on defining a few different concepts (nationalism, ethnicity, homeland, and diaspora) for my Israel-Palestine class.

Aaron's girlfriend made latkes for Hankkah. She is Japanese, and not Jewish, but likes to know about Jewish stuff. Aaron, on the other hand, avoids getting involved with Jewish stuff. You can't blame him though, all he's been exposed to is Hillel at USC and crazy Jews on Maui. Hopefully he'll come to Israel soon and see what it's really like--and not get scared off!

Check out this great pic!

Sunset from my window

2007-11-24T14:42:00.000-05:00

Very busy in school, reading about different theories on the decline of the Ottoman empire, preparing a book review about the 1956 Suez Crisis, studying for a quiz in Arabic (we've finally learned all the letters!), and preparing for a class on Mizrachim in Israel (which is distinct from Sepharadim--if you're interested, write me an email after Wednesday's class and we can discuss).

Here's a picture of the sunset on Friday evening from my room, on the 13th floor in Beer Sheva.

Shavua tov.

Colonialism? Miluim! Hummers.

2007-11-12T00:29:00.000-05:00

We still don't have internet at our apartment, so it makes it difficult to blog as often as I want. But I try!

Classes are going great. Really interesting so far. Besides Arabic which I really like, I find the class on "Israel/Palestine: Politics of Land and Identity" to be the most interesting. Recently, we have read and discussed about the development of nationalism and colonialism. We will then go on to examine its impact in different countries, specifically Israel/Palestine.

From having a better understanding of Colonialism, this has led me to think: Am I an colonialist for having made aliyah? For supporting Zionism which "evicted" (this word is debatable) and exploited Arabs, from the Balfour Declaration of 1917 until today with Jewish settlements past the Green Line, in occupied territory?

Oded is now doing Miluim; his military reserve duty. I went to go visit him this weekend. He and his fellow platoon are located in Alei Zahav, a Jewish settlement, past the Green Line, and thus technically in the Occupied Territories. He and his fellow soldiers guard this settlement from the surrounding Arab villages. They drive around in Hummers and sit in pillboxes and basically do lots of guarding and (unfortunately) cigarette-smoking.

Or can I see things more simply--I am just a person who likes this country and wanted to be a part of it, and it's not quite as complicated, since I did not come in 1948? There are a lot of angles here, and this is very complicated.

I am not sure what the answer is. I am not some super left-winger that says Zionism is apartheid, but one must recognize, as I realized a few months ago: Jews came to Palestine in the late 1880s and Arabs were definitely here. It was not an empty land.

The hard part is: what is the solution now?

School started last week.

2007-10-27T13:48:00.000-04:00

School started last Sunday. Tomorrow is the start of the 2nd week of classes. I have found a job teaching/tutoring English in a private English center. The job pays really well--double minimum wage. It's fun, challenging, and frustrating all at the same time.

As for school: all my classes meet once a week, for 4 hours at a time. This is not necessarily the way the program is designed, but these are the courses I've chosen.

Sunday: Beginning Arabic, taught by an amazing professor. She has her doctorate from Harvard in Semitic languages. She is originally American, made aliyah 4 years ago, knows English, Hebrew, Modern Standard Arabic, Biblical Hebrew, Egyptian Arabic, and is working on her Jerusalem Arabic. (More later on the different "dialects" of Arabic). We learned the beginning of the alphabet: alif, bet, teh, th, wow, and yeh. It seemed really hard at first, but now it's starting to come together.

Monday: The Production of Resistance in Arab Societies and Beyond. This class reminds me of the Mass Communications classes I took when I was a Mass Comm major at Berkeley. In our first meeting, we talked about Foucault (who I absolutely despise from my experience reading him in the worst class I ever took at Cal--Indian History) and listened to an Egyptian resistance song. Half of the classes will be taught by a Palestinian professor, who recently published a book entitled "Palestinian Political Prisoners: Identity and Community." First reading this weekend was about hegemony.

Tuesday: Ottoman State and Society: Themes in History and Historiography. This class is a little dry, but it seems to be important for understanding the Middle East. Reading so far has included Hourani and some methodological texts. Like I said, not the most thrilling, but important.

Wednesday: Israel/Palestine: Politics of Land and Identity. This is what I've been looking forward to. Last week, our class met on the 12th anniversary of Yitzak Rabin's assassination. This topic was the lead in to our discussion. From Rabin's assassination, one sees so many of the problems going on here: religious vs secular, arabs vs israelis, ashkenazim vs sepharadim, and so on. We then went on to talk about the history of how Israel got to be in its current state, since the Second Diaspora.

I listed 3 classes and Arabic. I will be taking a fourth class, a mini course on the Muslim Mediterranean City (3 weeks of 12 hrs per week) at the end of the semester. It's taught by a Harvard professor.

Am leaving soon to take the bus back to Beer Sheva after the weekend in Tel Aviv.

Orientation, Good Vegetables, and Teachers Striking

2007-10-20T02:42:00.000-04:00

There were lots of topics that I thought about including here, since my last posting:

-the entrenched, unbearable bureaucracy of every government (and often non-government) office/going to 6 different offices to get one thing done

-my experience signing up for national health insurance in Beer Sheva (more bureaucracy, ladies screaming at each other, people standing too close to me)

-Sunday morning bus ride down to Beer Sheva is a wrestling competition/who can push harder/who has fewer bags and a bigger fun (Sunday is Monday here an all the soldiers return to their bases, mentioned in last post with soldier under luggage rack on train) where I let 2 buses pass me by before a man in a cowboy hat directed all the civilians to a separate bus for priority boarding.

-eating Israeli salad almost every day, always adding bulgarit cheese (a kind of feta I think). So far, my favorite is from Aroma Cafe.

-buying paint to paint my room from Ace in Beer Sheva. I foolishly thought because it's Ace, it will be like an Ace in the US. I was sorely mistaken! 3 hours after entering, I managed to leave with 2 liters of "Sea Calm" and 750 ml of an aubergine color, but not without the cash registers not being able to process international credit cards, lots of screaming between Russian ladies (same as at the clinic where I signed up for health insurance), other customers yelling about whose fault it was that the cash registers had a "communication problem," and so on.

Asides from all these things, most a bit stressful, I am having fun!

We had orientation for the MAPMES (Masters of Arts Program in Middle East Studies) on Wednesday. It was mostly underwhelming. But I think that's a good thing. There are 27 students in the program, although I don't really know anything about any of them since we didn't do any sort of introductions. The professors seemed impressive--PhDs from Harvard, Princeton, etc. We had an hour lesson on how to use electronic journals at the library--most of us were rolling our eyes, as we all learned this as undergrads. There was also a one hour lecture/discussion by an anthro professor on life in Beer Sheva. This was interesting, although nothing new: she mentioned the Israeli concept of personal space (or lack there of), how your neighbors and everyone really care about you and aren't fake like Americans (אכפתיות= consideration/caring), and how fruits and vegetables are amazing here. I laughed a lot. The evening ended with a reception. We mingled, had Ramat Ha'Golan (Golan Heights) wine, some good ravioli, more good vegetables, and that was it. Class starts Sunday, with Arabic at 10 am.

Most University professors are striking and not starting the academic year on Sunday. There is a small chance the strike may not take place. Either way, we were informed that the professors (the same ones who are striking) will be teaching our classes. The logic: because the MA program I am doing is not subsidized by the Ministry of Education (as most students' tuitions are), the tuition we pay goes straight to the University.

Also, most middle and high school teachers are on strike. I found out recently though that religious subjects are continuing to be taught. The explanation: "Rabbi Chaim Druckman, director of the Bnei Akiva state educational network, including dozens of yeshivas and ulpanas, said, 'We are not opposed to the strike, but we have a religious duty to teach Torah.'" Interesting stuff.

Last night I was flipping through Yediot Achronot (the equivalent of USA Today) and I found this article. It's about 5 different women trying to build 5 different tables. It says only one of the was successful. I am not sure if I am more aware of gender relations here (or am I just more aware in general, of all that is new to me?), but this struck me as a bit sexist!

Would this get published in an American paper?

Even better--the writer is a woman.

Lastly, here is the Melissa plant. Oded's mom, Tali, got it for me. I was talking to her about how I had been thinking of changing my name to an Israeli name, and we were discussing the name/word Melissa in Hebrew. And I am lucky that most people are familiar with this herb/spice, and thus my name is not too foreign to most Israelis. I believe it's somewhat similar to mint, although I don't know what it's called exactly in English.

Melissa, pictured below, needs to be in the sun and stay moist at all times.

This last week.

2007-10-10T03:24:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos from this last week.

This scene is taking place at the intersection of Shuk Ha'Carmel (an outdoor market where produce, cheap clothing, trinkets, and more are sold), Shenkin St (hip area to live and shop), King George St (similar to Shenkin, more shopping), and Nachalat Binyamin (an outdoor artists fair). People are gathered around watching, as this woman is dancing (a combination of belly dancing and something else that is not clear). Off to the left, not in photo, is a woman singing with some Mizrachi music playing. She was first dancing alone, with a cigarette in hand, and then enticed this gentleman to dance with her. It was quite a scene!

"Sholsha Kushim." Once inside the artists fair, there are all sorts of fun gifts and things to look at. Here is a magnet made of a vintage Israeli chocolate package. The word kush (or kushim in plural) refers to an area in modern-day Sudan. When Israelis use this word, it is in a somewhat derogatory way, although they often say it's not.

"The term Cushite or Cushi (כושי) for black-skinned people was not derogatory or insulting in the Bible, but is so considered in contemporary Israel. In spoken Hebrew it is now usually avoided in favor of "Shahor" (שחור) (Black), in conscious emulation of the American replacement of "Negro" with "Black" after the 1960s. Since most Blacks who are Israeli citizens originate from Ethiopia, often "Ethiopian" (אתיופי) is used." Wikipedia.

From my understanding (and what Wikipedia supports), it's the equivalent of "nigger" in English, but because Israel lacks the history of slavery that the US has, it doesn't stir up quite the same emotion among Israelis as it does among Americans. It seems that referring to Black people as "kushim" is totally acceptable; many adults I've met do it without thinking twice.

A bit hard to decipher: a soldier on a train ride South to Beer Sheva, sleeping on the floor, under a luggage rack. Sunday is the start of the work week in Israel, and thus the morning train rides on Sundays are almost always extremely crowded, with soldiers returning to their bases, students to campus, and others getting back to work after the weekend.

"Why Drink and Drive? When you can smoke and fly?" To end on a light note--another absurd Israeli t-shirt. If you want your own: http://www.tnt@realife.co.il (this link of course makes no sense!)

Photos from this last week...

2007-10-03T17:40:00.000-04:00

"Shalom chaver" or "Goodbye Friend." From the Yitzak Rabin Memorial. This is part of a wall of graffiti that is part of the memorial. This phrase was spoken by President Bill Clinton, saying good bye after Rabin's assassination. This phrase is found on many bumper stickers, as well as other variations of it.

Sign outside McDonalds in Tel Aviv. "Vegetable Salad [Israeli salad] finely chopped with olive oil and lemon." I find it so great and funny that McDonalds serves Israeli salad, and that it's noted it's "finely chopped." McDonalds was always good at adjusting its menu to the local population's taste.

Absurd Israeli t-shirts, with English text, that everyone wears. They're sort of funny, but at the same time--what?!

Oded and me right after I got my cellphone that has a great camera in it, which I have used to take all these pictures!

Welcome to Israel.

2007-09-28T13:57:00.000-04:00

I am here! Oded's mom, Tali, put this up on their front door for me. Very sweet of her.

I've been getting all sorts of welcomes. From "why did you come?" to "mazal tov" to "do you want to do this in english?"

I am not sure what to think. Still getting over jet lag. Still getting used to people standing one inch away from me. Still getting used to hearing Hebrew all around me.

This is what I came for. The challenge. The meaningful life. The israeli air and people.

Leaving!

2007-09-23T18:23:00.000-04:00

I leave in 49 hours. I am getting excited, and less scared.

What is a WASP?

2007-09-16T15:27:00.000-04:00

In the US: White/Anglo-Saxon/Protestant
Source: Wikipedia (Reliability and credibility of wikipedia to be discussed in a later post)

In Israel: Well-born/Ashkenazi/Secular/Paratrooper
Source: NY Times Article

Big White Cross Photos.

2007-09-12T14:29:00.001-04:00

Here's a nice montage of this big white cross (and me) that we hiked up to yesterday, above Wailuku Heights. Sort of weird. Sort of cool.

Shanah tovah again.

Time for Sacrifice

2007-09-11T15:27:00.000-04:00

**Before I start this post, I want to make a small disclaimer. It's about Israeli politics and the current conflict. I am very interested in this subject, and am generally well-informed, but I am by no means an expert on any of this stuff. I find it fascinating and that's why I am going to study Middle East Studies at Ben Gurion (starting in a little over a month), but please don't attack me too harshly if something isn't perfect. Please do share your thoughts and feel free to correct/add anything that I've left out. **

This following quotation is from a book I'm reading called "The Never-Ending Conflict: An Israeli Military History" by Mordechai Bar-On. I normally don't think about Israel and its establishment this way, but I guess this really is the simplest breakdown of what happened.

"The simple historic fact should be recognized that the entire conflict was initially caused by the uninvited arrival of masses of Jews in a land already inhabited by the Palestinians. But the Zionist project had arisen two generations before the Palestinians began to develop their own separate national consciousness and was conceived in a different world in which European colonialism was not considered a sin. By 1948, three years after the Holocaust in which six million Jews were exterminated, the 650,000 Jews already living in Palestine, of who many, like myself, were born in the country, faced no alternative other than to fight for their personal survival and collective right of self determination."

This makes me sort of sad about Israel. Is it our fault that this current conflict exists? Maybe so. But then again, there are approximately 7 million Jews on a tiny piece of land versus 325 million Arabs in 23 Arab countries, over 2 continents. And also relevant--the obvious--Holocaust and general persecution of Jews, thus providing evidence of the need for a Jewish state.

So, that was how the original basis for the creation of the state of Israel.

Now to the present. Recently, it was leaked that the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (aka Abu Mazen) set down some initial points of agreement in preparation for the November Peace Conference. You can read about it here.

So what's going on here? Israel is at a cross roads. It's probably better to say, at yet another cross roads. I keep thinking--this is it! This is the chance for peace. Or at least some sort of progress.

That's what I thought when Yasir Arafat died in November 2004.

That's what I thought in August 2005 when I lived in a city 10 km north of the Gaza Strip, as the disengagement was just being completed.

That's what I thought when Ariel Sharon created the Kadima party and it seemed there was a new future for Israel, filled with compromise and progress. (Kadima means "forward" in Hebrew).

And now, here we are again. Hamas has taken over the Gaza Strip and has been isolated by the international community. Abbas and Olmert are meeting in a couple months (as well as on a weekly basis) to hopefully make some progress on 2 state solution.

But then, I read articles like this that state that Shas and Yisrael Beytenu (2 parties in the Knesset) have problems with conceding territory, this being one among various disagreements. What's going on here?! It's commonly said in public opinion surveys that a majority of both Israelis and Palestinians are ready for a two-state solution, with a shared capital of Jerusalem

So what do we have here?

Israel "started" the conflict as we saw above. Over the last 60 years (I haven't mentioned more historical stuff here, rather mostly recent events) there have been so many chances for progress, it's tragic. Once again we're at a crossroads and a chance for something truly remarkable and fundamental to occur; some change that can alter the fabric of the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians. And, not only is the opportunity present, the people themselves are ready for change. But then there are, what seem to be, ridiculous politicians who are reluctant to move forward, who want to fight Olmert all the way to the end.

My naive, optimistic thoughts are: this precious moment cannot be missed once again. These politicians--from Avi Dichter to Avigdor Liberman to whoever else might be out there--must see the greater good and sacrifice territory, or principles, or whatever it is that will accomplish peace at last.

As rosh ha'shanah (the Jewish new year) starts tomorrow evening, I hope that this next year will be filled with the necessary sacrifices to move forward.

שנה טובה ומתוקה לכולם
A good and sweet year to all

Maui.

2007-09-11T02:49:00.001-04:00

Here are some nice photos from Maui. Here til Sept 18th.

Latke Lady

2007-09-09T15:48:00.000-04:00

This yellow sticky is a funny little piece of art. Let me explain. I found this on our refrigerator this morning. It's been up there for a while, apparently. Here's the evolution. First, my brother drew this woman; it's his rendering of his girlfriend's aunt. My mom then wrote latkes at the top of the sticky.

I found it like this, and thought it was a "latke lady" rather than 2 separate pieces that happened to be on the same sticky. I thought it was a funny coincidence.

(If you don't know what a latke is, or you don't get how I arrived at my conclusion: a latke is a "potato pancake" that Jews eat during Chanukah. It's also similar to the hash brown that you can get at McDonalds. If one eats a lot of these, one looks like this.)

Those Ipod Headphone & Those Roller Shoes

2007-08-17T17:57:00.000-04:00

These two objects made me think this morning.

First. Those white ipod headphones that EVERYONE wears. The are the young hipsters in tight jeans and all stars. Business men on the subway who get off at Times Square. Even religious people who listen to the TorahPod.

It's amazing how universal ipods and there white, signature headphones are. There isn't any product quite as universal that I can think of. Yes, there are cell phones, but those are "essential" in a way, and often replace land lines entirely. What else does almost everyone own, that's so non-essential?

Ok. So everyone has an ipod. What gets me though is when people have in the headphones when they are in a social situation. This morning, I walked by a diner and saw a little kid (probably 10 years old) who was sitting with him mom at the diner counter, having breakfast. He had in his obligatory ipod headphones. Isn't he interacting with his mother? Aren't they in a social setting?!

Seeing this kid reminded me of when I coached rowing this past school year at NYU. So one morning, we were at the boathouse early and it was very dark. On this one morning (among the many), one team member (a very unpleasant one who eventually quit) and I were standing out on the dock. I was talking to him about what that morning's practice was going to be. In the dark, I didn't see much; his white apple headphones DID stand out and catch my attention.

So, I'm speaking to this kid, or at least trying. And he has his headphones in. Is the ipod on pause? Is the volume down? Is there even an ipod in his pocket or is this all some absurd allusion? So I said, "Hey, Bob, do you mind taking out your headphones?" Of course, he is insolent, saying it's on pause. Right. Do I believe him? Or is he lying to me? What is going on here?!

I know. I sound a little paranoid.

The point here: what have we come to that people sit together, with their headphones in and ipods on, (or on their phones) and no one is talking to each other? Do we really want to be that anti-social?

******Roller Shoes
On a lighter note, I saw the first adult I've seen wearing roller shoes this morning. He would run and then pop out the wheels. I am not sure how they work--my main question is how did he run with them like regular shoes, and then the wheels came out? But the guy looked like he was having an awesome time. He was going much faster than me, and it looked fun. As I said, I haven't seen too many adults wearing these shoes. I wonder why not?

Another question: How do people not fall? Like with roller blades or roller skates? How is it just smooth gliding?

A Few Photos

2007-08-16T07:44:00.001-04:00

אהבה. Love. I dont remember where this was taken.

A puddle at Kibbutz Mordechai; where you can buy Naots.

In San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Tristan took this photo. That's me standing outside.

Here are a few photos. Not new. But nice to look at still. Enjoy.

SoHo in the morning

2007-08-14T10:14:00.000-04:00

Walking to the subway, to work this am...here are some sights, sounds, thoughts from along the way:

Older women walking little dogs.
Construction workers with blue bandanas.
Gray haired man with white button down shirt flying by on a bicycle.
Window washing at Bloomingdales.
Man in a tshirt: Elevator Technician.
Long line at Dean and Deluca for coffee.
Avoiding puddles at corners.
Yellow taxis zooming by.
Big trucks on their way to jobs, jostling back and forth over the cobble stone of Wooster St.
A man returns from walking his dog, takes keys out, unlocks door.
Silver and gold strappy sandals.

Overwhelmed and Excited and !

2007-08-12T07:37:00.000-04:00

Last night, I helped Jeff (a friend from Otzma) with his birthright trip. This entailed my going to the airport with him, handing out tickets, name tags, helping logistically with all the kids, since his co-leader (another Otzma kid) is already in Israel. I happily obliged (plus the $100 I will receive helped!).

I have to say, this 5 hours at the airport was totally overwhelming. For many reasons.

First of all, birthright is for kids who have never been on a peer trip to Israel. A majority of these kids had never been AT ALL. And were generally ignorant of Israel and Jewish-related issues. They didn't know the word aliyah, for the most part. So here's this group of 40 kids, going for the first time to Israel, the place that I have decided I will make my home.

Birthright was where it all started for me. My first tastes of the distinct Israeli hummus (much better than the too smooth, industrial stuff we have here), first exposure to the amazing, unique character of the Israeli sabra, and my first experience in the sands of the Negev desert (where I will be making my life soon). Just to name a few firsts.

These 40 individuals are embarking on the beginning of a (potential) journey that started for me nearly 7 years ago. That thought gives me pause.

Second-the location that we met the birthright kids was the same location in Terminal 4 of JFK that we all met for Otzma, just a little over 2 years ago. It evoked a feeling of deja vu. And a feeling of sadness. But mostly, I was filled with so much excitement, thinking back to that year that I really had no idea what it would be filled with, that turned out to transform my life and its path.

This combination of seeing these birthright-ers at the beginning of their journey and returning to this same location that started the year-long Otzma trip all made me very overwhelmed and excited at my future.

I then returned home (a long, dreadful subway ride--this theme is recurrent, as the subway is a daily, or more, part of a new yorkers life) to have fitful, bizarre dreams about this birthright's trip arrival to Israel, about people from different parts of my life somehow getting in contact with each other, and more.

Last night made my decision to make aliyah much more real. It reminded me how I got to this decision. It showed me that I, too, will soon be at the airport, filled with nervous energy and excitement to start the next segment of my journey.

Not 17 inches

2007-08-09T07:56:00.000-04:00

I wrote 17 inches of rain fell in Central Park. I read another article this morning. It says 1.7 inches.

So either the NY Times made a typo, or I misread.

I stand corrected.

On another, but related note, I was talking to someone who just moved back to Israel from NYC. I was telling him he was lucky not to be here yesterday with the horrible subways, etc etc.

His response: "At least you have a subway!"

I will remember to be apprecative!

Subways in New York City

2007-08-08T13:41:00.000-04:00

It's amazing and it's horrible. I will miss the new york city subways. But I will also be SO glad to not ride in them again for a long time.

This morning is an example of why the subway system can be a total nightmare. This morning, between 6 and 7 am, it was reported there were 17 inches of rain that fell in Central Park. And there were tornado warnings!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/08/nyregion/08cnd-weather.html?ex=1344225600&en=90f54cfc096051b2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

I woke up late this morning, and (little did I know luckily!) was late to the subway station. When I walked down into the Prince St NRQW line, the station was FULL. Usually this is a good sign, and means a train will arrive momentarily. However, this morning, it was because people had been waiting 30+ minutes. During rush hour, you never wait more than 3-4 minutes. Maybe 7 on a bad day.

But today was different. The subway system cannot handle when there is extreme weather. Yes I know that the subway system is over 100 years old, and normally it runs smoothly, blah blah.

So back to the Prince St station. People are dripping sweat. Backs of shirts and soaking, sweat is beading on noses, everyone is fanning madly. We have been told that the trains ARE running. Just delayed.

I all of a sudden had a brilliant thought--I will take a different train that doesn't get as close to my office, but close enough. I ask the attendant through those ridiculous bullet proof window-microphone system where no one hears anything. He kindly informs me that no 6 train is running at all.

Basically, the whole subway system has practically shut down because of flooding. And there is a heat advisory today, temperatures reaching into the high 90s, high humidity, and the subways are not running as they should.

New York is amazing!

Although I may sound negative about this morning's commute, I love the subway too. Sometime's it's a refreshing experience. You walk through the turnstile, the train immediately arrives, it's air conditioned and not crowded. You speedily arrive at your destination, which can be anywhere--the Bronx Zoo (in the Bronx, off the 123 line) or Coney Island (at the end of Brooklyn, off the F line).

I guess I will miss it.