I've added a new set of photos to my photo galleries called "Israeli food". I know I've been lazy with this, and I realise that it is possible that not everybody is as fascinated by food as I am. But well, tough luck.
The best thing in the world of blogs these days (*mandatory reading* for any blog addict) are the series Lisa is currently writing called "How Lisa came to Israel". They are long, but what a sheer delight (although depressing at times) reading about the experiences of this talented writer. She has finished 4 parts now, and I am anxiously waiting for part 5.
I don't have a life anymore (not that I did before), thanks to my teachers.
I am taking 18 credits at university (fulltime studies is 15), along with having a part time job. But the reading pressure is ridiculous. I read from the time I wake up until midnight, every day. I take breaks to go online and have something quick to eat, or make coffee. If I will ever become a university teacher I will bear in mind that in ONE 5 credit course (that's the standard), it is too much to read 4 books, 20 articles and write 3 essays! Not to mention the fact that all the reading material is in a foreign language (English), making everything harder, slower and more demanding, since I read at least 5 times slower in English than I do in my native language (Icelandic), along with having to take dictionary breaks. (During my first year at university I took "dictionary breaks" every 5-10 minutes. I mean, how was I supposed to understand words like "dichotomy"? I remember this one time we got to read a book in Icelandic. It was so nice and easy.. And to think that for the native English speaker it's like that all the time! One of my courses is even taught in English, and I think we need special permission to get to do our assignments in Icelandic. This doesn't bother me as much as it might bother many of the other students, since my English is far better than the average. However, I am unable to produce proper, academic text in English. That I can only do in Icelandic. But I suppose I must learn to do so sooner or later.
I wish to point out this article in The Jerusalem Post: Today's Jewish anti-Semites
Here are some bits from it, but I recommend reading the whole article.
In a recent poll, 62 percent of Germans said they were "sick of all the harping on about German crimes against the Jews." Two thirds of Germans said they believe Israel is waging "a war of extermination" against the Palestinians.
Jews often focus their attention on Holocaust sentiment among non-Jews to gauge anti-Semitic feelings. But while feelings about the Holocaust serve as an indicator of general sentiment about Jews, there are other indicators no less important or revealing.
Sensitivity about the Holocaust may tell us what a person feels about Jews, but it may also simply tell us what that person feels about dead Jews.
Today the vast majority of anti-Semites are not calling for Jews to be deported to death camps. They are calling for the destruction of the Jewish state and, as was the case in previous generations, they are seeking out and finding Jews like Karl Marx who share their hatred for the Jewish people and willingly advance their evil agenda.
Such a Jew was found by the British conservative magazine The Spectator in one Anthony Lippman. Lippman is actually an Anglican, not a Jew, but as the child of Jewish Holocaust survivors, he will do.
In a recent article, Lippman writes hypnotically about his mother's sufferings in Auschwitz only to explain that the job of Holocaust survivors and their children is to speak out against... Israel.
ANOTHER such Jew is Tony Judt. Since the start of the Palestinian terror war, Judt, a historian at New York University, has been outspoken in his rejection of Israel's right to exist.
In a series of articles in The New York Review of Books, The Nation and The New Republic, Judt has led the charge in claiming that "the depressing truth is that Israel today is bad for the Jews," and that for Jews to feel good about themselves again Israel must cease to be a Jewish state – that is, Israel must cease to exist.
This perverse line of reasoning, whereby the only way for Jews to be happy is for us to again be powerless, has brought Judt under attack by prominent Jews who have exposed the anti-Semitism inherent in his argumentation.
Judt allows that there has been a rise in anti-Semitism in Europe in recent years, but he blames this on "the policies of Israeli government."
The Russian nationalist lawmakers who had signed a letter calling for an investigation into all Jewish organizations in the country – accusing Jews of inciting ethnic hatred and provoking anti-Semitism – have retracted their support for the letter, sources in Russia said.
In a letter dated January 13, nineteen members of the State Duma – the lower parliament house - asked Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov to investigate their claims and, if they are confirmed, to launch proceedings "on the prohibition in our country of all religious and ethnic Jewish organizations as extremist." Well helloooo Middle Ages! Ahh no sowwy, this is Russia (needs no further clarification).
Arguing that Jews were to blame for anti-Semitism, the authors of the letter want Jewish groups outlawed based on legislation against extremism and fomenting ethnic discord. Ehrm, I wonder how logically they're able to back that up?
The stunning call to ban all Jewish groups comes amid concerns of persistent anti-Semitism that continues to plague Russia. Jewish leaders have praised President Vladimir Putin's government for encouraging religious tolerance, but rights groups accuse the authorities of failing to adequately prosecute the perpetrators of anti-Semitic and racial violence.
Russia's chief rabbi, Berel Lazar, said the lawmakers were either insane or "quite sane but limitlessly cynical" and were hoping to win support "by playing the anti-Semitic card."
According to the rabbi, "The timing was not coincidental and was made on the same day in which the UN commemorated 60 years since the liberation of Nazi death camps. President Putin is slated to visit Auschwitz in the near future and they probably wanted to express their objection to the upcoming visit by sending this letter." That is what I call having no shame, no respect, and a cold heart.
Along with outlawing Jewish organizations, the lawmakers call for the prosecution of "individuals responsible for providing these groups with state and municipal property, privileges and state financing."
OMG. I think there's a big word for this. I just can't come up with it at this moment.
I am feeling a little lame about the fact that I don't know how to create an icon to the Jewish and Israeli Weblog Awards. But then I thought to myself that Lisa probably doesn't know how to do it either. I checked, and I appear to be right, and that made me feel better.
But anyways, go there and vote vote vote! (Not for me or anything...).
Other newsworthy tales would be that Imshin shamelessly confesses to having voted for herself! What a shame I didn't know you could do that, lol!
Why do people consider blogging "a waste of time"? People often ask me: "How much time do you spend doing this?" I have a friend who is a gardener in addition to his day job; he divides the universe into two categories – stuff he planted or will be planting and everything else. I don't think anyone ever asked him how much time he spends in his garden. It’s the same with people who have a hobby; they are immune from the charge. But blogging is associated with internet hence it’s wasteful. Somehow even the big bloggers who have left the traditional journalism in the dust are also wasting their time by virtue of the medium.
OK, let's agree that my blog is indeed "a waste of time" but what are your thoughts on this in general?
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I wrote a very lengthy answer to his post:
It is time consuming, sure. Unless a person wants to write only about what he/she did yesterday, etc. But a quality blog requires doing your share of reading.
I think I am speaking for MANY bloggers when I say that the reason why I blog is because I think it is worth it. I won't deny the fact that I have spent *countless* hours on tasks related to my website, but I have learned so much from it, and especially from the people I have gotten to know in the "world of blogs". I have even met two bloggers in real life, who both turned out to be amazing individuals, and I am truly grateful for having gotten to know them.
Some people might find spending time in their garden, and watching their plants grow to be a fulfilling hobby. I personally would have to say (although I certainly have nothing against gardening) that I would much rather spend my time taking atvantage of this wonderful opportunity the internet has given us to learn from a group of truly spectacular people. Learning interesting things, and getting to know new people is worth more to me than.. planting a tree in my backyard.
Also I would like to add that I believe that the reason why people have problems understanding blogging is because there are so many people who aren't "into" it, and because there is still a certain amount of prejudice towards all things virtual. The internet is a massively powerful phenomena, so this is something only time and experience can change.
"Many practices which are considered traditional are in fact quite recent inventions, often deliberately constructed to serve particular ideological ends."
I challenge readers to give me solid evidence proving a "palestinian heritage". Historical facts will prevent it.
