Sorrows of Zionism
March 24, 2007
With the future of reflexive American support growing more and more uncertain in the wake of Mearsheimer & Walt, Baker-Hamilton, Carter — and a growing number of critics within the ranks of American Jews — Israel is resorting to desperate means.
First, there is the report that Israel seeks to make friends through its own MySpace page:
Officials hope that running a MySpace page dedicated to Israel will help improve relations with people from other countries, and increase awareness and communication with those under 35…research had shown Israel’s image among the young was not good, and that by reaching out through one of the internet’s most popular sites he could repair some of the damage…
The page is particularly targeted at young Americans, who make up a large proportion of MySpace users. Since Mr Saranga set up the page, “Israel” has gained 963 friends from around the world, including fictional characters such as TV secret agent Jack Bauer and Star Wars heroine Princess Leia, as well as, it is claimed, the Hollywood actors George Clooney and Leonardo Di Caprio.
Then there is the story about Israel trying to court the “men’s magazine” Maxim to lure its readership to its shores through photoshoots of attractive Israeli women:
The Israeli Consulate in New York has come up with an ingenious idea to promote tourism to Israel in the United States: officials there have managed to twist the arms of the most popular US men’s magazine, Maxim, to write a feature about stunning Israeli models…[and] encourage American tourists to come to Israel cashing in on the country’s reputation for being home to some of the world’s most beautiful women.
Maxim editors initially rejected a proposal by the Israeli Consulate to cover the personal stories of famous Israeli models, but when the Consulate sent pictures of 12 carefully selected beauty queens, Maxim was quick to acquiesce…
The magazine is sending a team of three top photographers to Israel for a photo shoot of the models at several locations in the center of Israel…The project includes the production of a video featuring the models which the consulate plans to send to American television broadcasters.
So what is it that Israel is so keen to cover up with such elaborate PR campaigns? YNet reports:
Thirty-nine percent of Israeli Jews do not want Arab neighbors, revealed a poll conducted by the Israel Religious Action Center for Anti-Racism Day… a significant percent of 38 would not be willing to work for an Arab employer…
In response to the question, “Is the State of Israel more racist now that it was one decade ago?” 37 percent of the respondents said yes.
Seventy-two percent of the respondents blamed the situation on the education system which does not do enough to eradicate racist prejudices.
Apple’s New Line of Products
March 24, 2007
The iRaq
The iRack & iRan
Barfbag for a Windbag
March 18, 2007
You will need a barfbag handy in order to sit through the following.
Here is John Hagee, Windbag-in-Chief of the Evangelical pro-Isarel lobby group Christians United for Israel, delivering a speech at the AIPAC conference. More interesting than speech, however, are the reactions of the woman who is recording this – Hilarious!
So why are the putatively progressive Jews being whipped into such frenzy by what Chris Hedges calls an American Fascist?
Several Aipac members told the Forward that they believed the Jewish community must be open to forging unconventional alliances in the face of the threat posed by Iran.
Californian Ruth Brandt, who spoke with the Forward…said, “Anyone who is worried about abortion, school and whatever, civil rights — we won’t have to worry about it, because the Muslims will have all killed us off first.”
Kind words from our Jewish friends, whose antennae are otherwise so sensitive to detecting bigotry around them.
Barfbag time!
As the charming woman who recorded this put so eloquently, “WoohoohooHoooooo!”
The PNAC Anthem
March 13, 2007
My Shit’s Fucked Up — by Warren Zevon
The Case Against Democracy
March 3, 2007
These are just the people I’d want to entrust the most important decisions affecting the globe with.
Blast From the Past: Colbert and Bush
March 2, 2007
Last year, Stephen Colbert ruined the occasion for American liberal and conservative media, cozy in the lap of George W. Bush at the White House correspondent’s dinner, by referring to all their major failures in this 24 minute performance. This remains one of the finest performances in comedy truthtelling. I came across it againt today, and found it just as funny — and relevant — as I did the first time I saw it.
Enjoy!
The Trial of Tony Blair
February 6, 2007
Little Mosque on the Prairie
January 15, 2007
Disclaimer: In the second episode of this program, I notice that it has already descended into sexual innuendo and anatomical commentary — a staple of sitcoms vying for audience attention on the cheap. The posting of the first episode, therefore, should not be construed as an endorsement of the show.
From CBC’s website:
Little Mosque On The Prairie is an unabashedly comedic look at a small Muslim community interacting with the denizens of a little prairie town. The sitcom reveals that although different, we are all surprisingly similar when it comes to family, love, the generation gaps and our attempts to balance our secular and religious lives while trying to understand those of others in the community.
Starring Zaib Shaikh as Amaar, a young big-city lawyer who finds his true calling as an Imam and moves west to become the spiritual leader of the small Muslim community. Carlo Rota is Yasir, a contractor married to Sarah (Sheila McCarthy), a Muslim convert. Sitara Hewitt is Rayyan, their smart, outspoken devout daughter. Manoj Sood ss Baber the former Imam who harbours as many fears about western society as they do about his; Arlene Duncan is Fatima, who runs a diner; Derek McGrath is Reverend Magee; Debra McGrath as Mayor Popowicz; and Neil Crone as the inciting host of a local radio program.
