This kind of thing really ticks me off:
In Chicago, people like Robert Perry are subjected to exhaustive security checks. He was patted down, his wheel chair was examined and his hands were swabbed, all in public view in a see-through room at the security checkpoint. Perry, 71, is not alone
“It’s humiliation,” Perry said.
Perry was also taken to a see-through room by a TSA agent when his artificial knee set off the metal detector.
“He yelled at me to get the belt off. ‘I told you to get the belt off.’ So I took the belt off. He ran his hands down over and pulled the pants down, they went down around my ankle,” Perry said.
At that point, Perry was standing in his underwear in public view. He asked to see a supervisor. That made things worse.
“She was yelling ‘I have power, I have power, I have power,” Perry said. The power to stop him from flying to Florida with his wife that day to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
I fly a lot and I think the TSA has taken this security thing a little too far (compounded by the fact that they are idiots).
100% of all airline terrorism is perpetrated by one group of people – Muslim men between the ages of 16 and 45 (100% – no other group has ever hijacked a plane).
Like hello you brainless ninnies – identify the bad guys and go after them. Old men in wheelchairs, hipsters with body piercings, children – and any other demographic you can think of – do not hijack planes. It is has never happened – ever.
Stop being politically correct and actually do your job and protect us. Don’t torture obviously innocent people. Don’t waste our time. Let us bring liquids on airplanes – and leave us alone!
July 23rd, 2008
There is another site on the web making the world a better place with shwarma! Shwarma will bring us together.
In other news, Obama is in Israel right now – the true test of his worth as a candidate will be whether or not he gets a shwarma. My guess is he won’t. Friends of Israel should note this lapse and vote accordingly.
July 22nd, 2008
An old friend of mine coined the phrase “cylindrical tubes of coolness” to describe cigarettes. He was right, they are cylindrical, and smokers are cool, but the obvious health risks should be enough to discourage anyone with a brain from smoking.
What shocks me is how prevalent smoking is in Charedi circles. As far as I know, Charedim are not immersed in American pop culture, or are a part of the chic Euro-disco crowd. So like, if you don’t like the Doors and you never saw a poster of James Dean – why start?
It seems now the Charedi establishment (at least one group) is taking a definitive stand against smoking:
Jews are not allowed to smoke, and they are required to observe a healthful way of life, said Rabbi Moshe Shaul Klein, rabbi of Bnei Brak’s Ma’ayanei Hayeshuva Medical Center and representative of the halacha committee of one of the city’s leading rabbinical arbiters, Rabbi Shmuel Wosner.
Although I do have a lot of sympathy for the plight of today’s smokers (kicked out of bars, offices, and in some states their cars!), I think that ultimately this statement is a good thing. Hopefully it is a first step to bringing a healthier lifestyle and health awareness to the whole of the Jewish community.
July 10th, 2008
I typed “Jewish” into the Google blog search and this awesome site about Jewish music popped up. (I don’t know how Google knows I am a music geek and that I love this stuff – I guess I should give more kudos to the power of Google). The site, Teruah – Jewish Music, is eclectic, open, and a veritable smorgasbord of Jewish music in all genres. I am particularly impressed with its great attitude and positive vibes.
I contacted the blogger (Jack) to tell him I dig his site and he ended up writing this very nice review about my CD, Jewish Roots Music. Check him out and give mad props to a brother.
July 9th, 2008
I admit it. I am not one of those people giddy about the fact that Starbucks is closing 600 stores. I know that some people get their kicks watching the big guys crumble, and yes I agree that it is nice to get a strong cup of Joe at a mom & pop place (with hip tattooed barristers and blaring techno earth tones), but come on – Starbucks made the world a better place for coffee drinkers by making good coffee accessible and hip.
Don’t you remember the old days? You either got a cup of weak brown slop at the diner, or something at Dunkin Donuts (I was never much of a fan – sorry), or hoped for the best with the coffee at work. True – there were always the mom & pop places, but unless you were in a trendy urban center (like the Village, or in San Fran, or somewhere like that), the chances were slim-to-none that you were going to find a decent, local shop brewing the hard stuff.
Along came Starbucks and changed everything.
Now great coffee is everywhere (and thanks to the me-too copycats it is really everywhere). And what do coffee drinkers do? They laugh at Starbucks, hurl insults and relish at their misfortune. I am sorry but it is indicative of bad character and bad taste.
Give Starbucks the credit they deserve and buy coffee from them – we cannot go back to a world of bad coffee.
July 6th, 2008
This is not cool. The city of Boston announced today that they are doubling fines for parking related infractions. Excuse me but I think this is abusive and wrong. Contrary to the smug comments of butt-head Boston Transportation Commissioner Thomas J. Tinlin:
“Let me emphasize that if you don’t park illegally in Boston you will not be affected by this action.”
– Everyone knows that parking tickets are a part of everyday life when living in the city. The increase will not serve as a deterrent in any way; rather, it is just another cheap attempt by the city of Boston to generate more revenue on the backs of the people.
Similar to the completely out-of-touch comments by the mayor last year vis-à-vis reserving spots shoveled out during snow emergencies, this increase is easy to be in favor of when you have your special reserved spot in the city lot. Park in the streets with the rest of us, be victimized by the over zealous traffic cops stressing to meet quotas, and then pass this type of parasitic, abusive increase - punks!
July 1st, 2008
Chananel turned me on to this article about the “Bro Mitzvah” – a type of coming of age ritual for black teenagers loosely inspired by the Bar Mitzvah.
At first I thought it was hysterical, because the name is so ridiculous, and then I was miffed – because why is it ok to make a mockery of Jewish tradition?
Then I actually read the article.
The Bro Mitzvah is indeed a sincere attempt by one boy’s well-meaning family and friends to help usher him into manhood. And this is a fine and noble thing, though I would suggest changing the name – people will get the wrong idea.
If the black community is searching for a more authentic right of passage ritual, I once read about the Xhosa ceremony described by Nelson Mandela in his amazing book “Long Walk To Freedom” (think teenage circumcision), and I am sure there are others (and probably a few that aren’t as painful).
June 30th, 2008
Esther and Guy call it quits and apparently it was Kabbalah that ruined their marriage.
GUY RITCHIE and MADONNA’s marriage has been thrown deeper into meltdown after he told her he’s quitting Kabbalah. Madge has become increasingly involved with the mystical Jewish religion, but her film director husband is a step closer to hitting the road after losing his faith.
The real news to me is that I didn’t know there was a “Jewish mystical religion.” I always thought Kabbalah was just a deeper aspect of traditional Judaism – you know, the stuff you study after you have mastered the basics.
But what do I know? Far be it from me to question the faith of my mystical sister Esther. I just hope she can get it together and find a new guy more sensitive to her spiritual needs.
June 27th, 2008
My good friend Rav Yehuda, over at the Jawbone Valley blog, posted this unbelievable video. Gang signs at a whole new level – far out Na Nach Nachman style.
June 25th, 2008
The planet has been through a lot worse than us. Been through all kinds of things worse than us. Been through earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics, continental drift, solar flares, sun spots, magnetic storms, the magnetic reversal of the poles…hundreds of thousands of years of bombardment by comets and asteroids and meteors, worldwide floods, tidal waves, worldwide fires, erosion, cosmic rays, recurring ice ages…And we think some plastic bags… and some aluminum cans… are going to make a difference? The planet…the planet…the planet isn’t going anywhere. WE ARE!
This is the link to see the whole routine.
June 25th, 2008
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