Blue Bells

Photo by GazzaP (Who has other amazing flower photos)

Blue bells were my favorite flowers since childhood. I used to pick from the never ending field near our datcha, when I was kid. I kind of think they are magical flowers. Or at least they remind me of when I was little and very happy and content.

P.S. The color of this flower is probably my favorite at the moment. I really like orange.

Another Chubby Lip-Synching

This time it's the Gnarls Barkley's new song Crazy. At first I really liked the song, but lately it's been grating on me.

via K_Sara

Crappy

So a year ago we renovated our bathrooms, including installing new toilets. All was nice, good, and pretty - until we used the toilets. The results were, to use a made up word, craptacular.
I remember reading a few years ago about Americans buying Canadian toilets because they could no longer purchase the more powerful ones due to new regulations by congress. See Dave Barry's funny assessment of the situation. I couldn't believe that someone would actually drive to Canada to purchase a TOILET?! How bad can they be I thought.
Well now I know.
Here's the thing, the explanation that the toilets are better for the environment is bs. Because you have to flush the damn thing like ten times! Okay I'm exaggerating but instead of saving water people end up using more water then if we had toilets that actually worked.
Maybe it's time to head north...Montreal is nice this time of year.

It Was Nice While It Lasted

Ghana loses to Brazil 3-0

Projection

There's an interesting video posted by MEMRI TV, a project which watches Middle Eastern television for shocking, disturbing, and distorted information. Here the former PLO ambassador to Vienna, Ghazi Hussein, reveals the true meaning of the Holocaust and its ramification.

Besides many tasty nuggets of BS, Mr. Hussein goes on to explain the connection between Hitler and Zionists. Peas in a pod those two. It's very simple, Hitler wanted Jews out of Germany and Zionists provided a place for them to go to. Never mind that Hitler had ties to the Arab world, meeting with the mufti of Jerusalem in November of 1941 and discussing the shared anti-Jewish sentiment. (S. Bernard Lewis Semites and Anti_Semites p.152) And that Germany saw the formation of a Jewish Homeland as a threat, because it would create "an additional position of power," (143).

At the end of his delusional rant Mr. Hussein concludes that:

Judaism divides the world into Jews and non-Jews. Judaism is hostile towards Christianity and Islam. In accordance with the resolution of the Zionist Congress conventions, including the secret resolutions of the first Zionist Congress, which some call "the Protocols of the Elders of Zion," they want to spread internal strife in all countries, and to generate disorder and unrest, so that ultimately, they will rule the world.

This is what I would call projection. Hmmm, I wonder what other religion divides its practitioners into believers and non-believers? Also, I seem to recall this "other religion" being hostile to Christianity and Judaism or lets say for an easy example, Buddhism where in the name of this "other religion" a 2,000 old statue of Buddha was destroyed. The last sentence really kills me, see all this time people thought it was Muslim extremists were blowing shit up and killing innocent civilians, calling for all to convert to Islam or face the wrath of the "true believers," proclaiming jihad at every opportunity....it was really the JEWS!

Dude, I'm so honored to get mentioned so much for the stuff my people never did or attempted to do.

A Time Out

I've been meaning to write about all sorts of stuff this week, but never got to it. There are so many things I want to say and yet at the same time there is complete lack of desire to share them at the moment. Hopefully, this strange mood of mine will soon pass. I'm in the process of tying up loose ends and (attempting) at starting some new things. (It usually helps when I write that I won't blog for a while because right after that I seem to pick pace on the blogging.
As a filler I thought I'd share a few more photos from my sister's wedding.

This is probably my favorite shot of my mother, sister, and me. This is right before the huppah, unofficial moment during "official" photos.

Mother and son.

"Heya baby, can I buy you a drink?"

The calm before the [emotional] storm. My sister with our "niece" Nava.

My grandma, with her great-grandson. Another favorite shot.

A different point of view.

The actual ceremony under the huppah was really special. People read prayers in three languages (Russian, English, and Hebrew.)

The wedding was pretty high in energy.

My butt kept some how appearing in a lot photographs.

The Old-New Family.

M. and B.

Whoosh!

I got dizzy from looking at it.

I know you were dying tro know what Paris Hilton Sounds Like.

It's not half bad. Modern technology has gone a long way. If you're rich enough it seems you can buy talent.

Weird: People Getting Excited About A Rat

Because I Feel Like A Complete Loser Today

I'll post a link to Bud Light Real American Heroes, Real Men of Genius. Yes, it's silly and stupid, but it makes me smile.

Modern Photography

This is crazy. The power of photography and photoshop...

via Englishman in New York

It's All Israel's Fault...Except It Isn't

I know at this point it's a bit of old news but I thought I'd link a few posts I thought covered the "shelling" of Palestinian family on the beach. When I first heard the news I was extremely sad. Of course I jumped to blaming Israel, how could Israel make such a blunder? (I wonder if Arabs who are pro-palestinian feel the same way when a palestinian suicide bomber blows up an Israeli restaurant?

Later, reports started to come out that the facts don't quite fit the story of "it's all Israel's fault." So like the Jenin "Massacre" this will be another media black eye for Israel. Check out ck's little photo gallery of media's distortion when it comes to Israel.

LGF has good coverage of the reactions to Israel's claim of innocence. I especially enjoyed Kofi Annan's response. When are they replacing him again?

In other palestinian news, I know it makes a lot of people worry that because of Israel's harsh policies - palestinian children aren't getting the medicine they need. (Even though Israel offered to buy medicine with the palestinian tax money Israel is withholding, but the principled Hamas said no (it's better for our PR anyway to let babies die and blame it on Israel).) One bright note in this sad scenario is that their dad's will get to watch the World Cup! It's nice to find the silver lining in every situation.
Hat tip: LGF

On a lighter note a cartoon about Israel and it's neighbors! via Israellycool

Summer Preview

Some new films I'm looking forward to seeing:

Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man - To say that I adore Leonard Cohen's music would be an understatement. His lyrics and persona arrest me every time. The only thing I don't understand is why does Bono get to comment on Leonard Cohen. You leave my Leo alone!

A Scanner Darkly - A Philip K. Dick story adapted by Linklater in the style of Waking Life (another Linkalater film). Might be the first time Keanu Reeves has more than one expression on his face. I tend to like Linklater, although a lot of his philosophizing in films reeks of freshmen philosophy major ramblings. Nonetheless it has Robert Downey Jr. one of my favorite actors. I can sit and watch him eat an apple and be fascinated.

Sketches of Frank Gehry - I can't stop looking at his creations. I don't know how entertaining the film will be, but I still want to see and hear how he creates his magical structures. I might save it for a DVD.

Devil Wears Prada - I think I'm going to chalk this movie to my love of Meryl Streep and guilty pleasure. The only thing I hate about the trailer is when Anne Hathaway mentions she's not skinny. I hate when skinny girls make that statement, especially in films.

I went to see the Prairie Home Companion and saw a preview for the new Woody Allen movie - Scoop it seems cute and funny and good like the old Woody Allen films I love, or at least it has the potential to be as good as Everyone Says I Love You.


There are more films,but this is a boring post already.

Reason 3,700 Why I Love The Internet

While watching the trailer to Peaceful Warrior (i don't know why) - I heard a song i knew i heard before but couldn't place it. Twenty minutes of internet research and I have my answer - the song "Breath Me" by Sia appeared on the final episode of Six Feet Under. It's weird because I was obsessing about the song today but not so much when i first heard it. Anyway, I like it.

I Love Much Ado About Nothing

"Ha. 'Against my will I am sent to bid you come into dinner.' There's a double meaning in that."

How You Know You've Been Blogging Too Much...

When while watching Fox News you ask,"who is Brit Hume and does he have a blog."

Neat

Yesterday, while showing the new family DeCordova Musuem and Sculpture Park, I came across Two Cans from the Island of Taiwan. A playful art piece that made me smile. It had two things i love: wind up toys and an element of surprise. One wind up toy mimicked a bird pecking, while the other chirpered.

There were lots of other fun art pieces in the musuem including a huge baby and woman without her head. If you're in the Boston area anytime soon, I highly recomend the place for outdoor/indoor fun. (Also, good for picnics.)




Yesterday, while showing the new family DeCordova Musuem and Sculpture Park, I came across Two Cans from the Island of Taiwan

The Calm After The Storm

If anyone was wondering why blogging has almost been none existent I offer an explanation in a photo:



or in words: Betya(my sister) and Max tied the knot!

The wedding was beautiful, Betka was gorgeous and glowing, I cried, Betka cried, the food was yummy, the music was fun, my table partners we entertaining, i walked down the aisle without tripping, my mother made a sweet and touching toast, i gave a lame toast and forgot to tell Max - that when Alex asked what I first thought of him - I thought that he reminded me of my father, my (sort of) niece and nephews were the most scrumptious children ever,


my hair-do fell apart right after the cocktail hour,I got to dance with my boyfriend, my cousin, (3!)Ilyas, and Areg (who is a super fantastic dance partner), i missed the couple's first dance which I was bummed about, i techno danced with my two year old nephew, roses were put in mouths (ala tango), feet properly hurt at the end of the night,



vodka, champagne, g&t - was consumed...a whole lot!

The wedding was incredibly sweet and went by way too fast. The only thing that made it bittersweet is the absence of my father who was greatly missed. But whose presence was felt nonetheless.
I got to spend a whole day with people I love and who love my sister and her husband! Hip hip hooray! Mazel Tov!

Random Observation

Typically I find the most gorgeous men the most boring.

Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Finally, psychiatrists have given all of us premission to act like ass-holes and blame it on "Intermittent Explosive Disorder." Shockingly they found the condition to be much more prevalent than before. I know, I too was stunned to learn that a lot of people are real bastards.

Science: where being an ass-hole is just the product of a mental disorders.*



*I probably shouldn't make fun of the study because some of these people might be my brother-in-law's colleagues.