The Arabs (well, some of them) are arguing among themselves over the question, "Is Jewish blood equal to Palestinian blood?"
A Palestinian politician, Mahmoud al-Habbash, accidentally let it slip that Jewish blood was equal to Arab blood. He is being roundly criticized and there are threats of, pardon the expression, bloodshed.
Israeli hospitals will transfuse blood from one to another whenever needed, and nobody complains about it. So I guess equality wins out.
How much extra-tribal blood do you have to receive before you're considered a convert?
The issue has generated some bad blood.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Science is a Scam. Again. (Androphobia Version)
A study has proved that studies are worthless.
This reminds me of the logic puzzle: "This sentence is false". If it's false, it's true, but if it's true, it's false.
Anyway, remember all those "Studies" that used mice or rats to prove some point or other about medicine or behavior? Well, it turns out that mice and rats are scared of men, but not women. So if the mouse was dosed or poked by a man, the measured reaction was different depending on the gender of the lab tech.
Now, whether the gender of the mouse matters in responding to the gender of the human, it does not say.
Here's a more scientific version of the report in Nature.
The fear of men is called Androphobia.
Perhaps planning should be left to the women.
Déjà vu is the phenomenon of having the strong sensation that an event or experience currently being experienced has been experienced before: Science is a Scam.
This reminds me of the logic puzzle: "This sentence is false". If it's false, it's true, but if it's true, it's false.
Anyway, remember all those "Studies" that used mice or rats to prove some point or other about medicine or behavior? Well, it turns out that mice and rats are scared of men, but not women. So if the mouse was dosed or poked by a man, the measured reaction was different depending on the gender of the lab tech.
Now, whether the gender of the mouse matters in responding to the gender of the human, it does not say.
Here's a more scientific version of the report in Nature.
The fear of men is called Androphobia.
"The best-laid plans of mice and men — Often go awry"
Robert Burns (more or less)
Perhaps planning should be left to the women.
Déjà vu is the phenomenon of having the strong sensation that an event or experience currently being experienced has been experienced before: Science is a Scam.
Green Snakes in My House
I'd made dinner, cleaned up and gone to bed. My mistake.
I got thirsty or something and went to the sink. And jumped. A green snake!
On reflection, maybe a small snake, or a green worm...
So I knocked it about and turned on the light. One lone string bean had escaped the pot, and lay there, ready to pounce.
String beans are not only a good diet food, but it gives you jumping exercise, too.
I got thirsty or something and went to the sink. And jumped. A green snake!
On reflection, maybe a small snake, or a green worm...
So I knocked it about and turned on the light. One lone string bean had escaped the pot, and lay there, ready to pounce.
String beans are not only a good diet food, but it gives you jumping exercise, too.
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| Not Green Snakes |
Free Assault Rifles
You too can be the master of the streets! Sign up for a free Israeli Tavor assault rifle now! Today is the last day!
I don't think it will actually fire NATO 5.56 rounds, and not on full automatic, but your opponents will be scared to death!
Ain't America Great!
I don't think it will actually fire NATO 5.56 rounds, and not on full automatic, but your opponents will be scared to death!
Ain't America Great!
Friday, April 25, 2014
The War on Women
The War on Women is going swimmingly. In the western world, women are being denied reproductive medical care such as birth control and access to abortion. Even in workplace medical coverage.
But Nigeria does it better than anybody. 230 schoolgirls were abducted over a week ago, by the Boko Haram Islamists as punishment for getting a western education. The article says nobody knows where the missing girls are. But hold that thought.
The Telegraph, on the other hand, says that the girls were tracked down by their parents. The parents were forced to turn back after direct threats. And when the parents gave the location data to the police, the police ignored it.
Now that's a war on Women!
The name Boko Haram actually means "Western education is sin" in the local Hausa language. The group is a bunch of radical Islamists.
But don't fear for the lives of the girls, they are used as slaves and sexual servants, so they're kept alive. "The girls who are kidnapped are raped, forced into servitude -- but rarely killed", said CNN.
I think if you drop by the local grammar school, you might find some kids who will testify that "Western education is a sin". So everything is normal and the world will continue turning. Carry on.
But Nigeria does it better than anybody. 230 schoolgirls were abducted over a week ago, by the Boko Haram Islamists as punishment for getting a western education. The article says nobody knows where the missing girls are. But hold that thought.
The Telegraph, on the other hand, says that the girls were tracked down by their parents. The parents were forced to turn back after direct threats. And when the parents gave the location data to the police, the police ignored it.
Now that's a war on Women!
The name Boko Haram actually means "Western education is sin" in the local Hausa language. The group is a bunch of radical Islamists.
But don't fear for the lives of the girls, they are used as slaves and sexual servants, so they're kept alive. "The girls who are kidnapped are raped, forced into servitude -- but rarely killed", said CNN.
I think if you drop by the local grammar school, you might find some kids who will testify that "Western education is a sin". So everything is normal and the world will continue turning. Carry on.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Morning Coffee
I'm going to tell you how to save the earth and still wake up in the morning.
Now that spring has arrived in the northern hemisphere, it's warmer, even in the morning. To make the morning coffee (or even tea), you have to boil water and steam up the kitchen, or maybe your whole house.
In the warmer climes, this means that you also turn on the air conditioner in the morning, and you may even accidentally leave it running all day in an empty house.
Perish the thought!
In the warm morning, it's actually nicer to have cold coffee than hot. I'm not talking about iced coffee, American style. That is a weak brew made by pouring perfectly good coffee over a half-dozen ice cubes, diluting away all the flavor.
My suggestion is to brew the hot coffee late at night. The night air is cool and opening a window will be enough to keep things pleasant. Then let the pot cool, and after 20 minutes or so put it in the fridge.
Next morning, pour a nice cold cup of strong coffee, add the usual stuff to taste, and enjoy. It simplifies the morning rush and saves electricity.
Now that spring has arrived in the northern hemisphere, it's warmer, even in the morning. To make the morning coffee (or even tea), you have to boil water and steam up the kitchen, or maybe your whole house.
In the warmer climes, this means that you also turn on the air conditioner in the morning, and you may even accidentally leave it running all day in an empty house.
Perish the thought!
In the warm morning, it's actually nicer to have cold coffee than hot. I'm not talking about iced coffee, American style. That is a weak brew made by pouring perfectly good coffee over a half-dozen ice cubes, diluting away all the flavor.
My suggestion is to brew the hot coffee late at night. The night air is cool and opening a window will be enough to keep things pleasant. Then let the pot cool, and after 20 minutes or so put it in the fridge.
Next morning, pour a nice cold cup of strong coffee, add the usual stuff to taste, and enjoy. It simplifies the morning rush and saves electricity.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
85,000 Videos Released. Some of the Best. Must See.
British Pathé released 85,000 old newsreels to YouTube. Bloggers and researchers have gone through the list as best they can and here are some about Israel/Palestine in the 20th century on the ElderOfZiyon blog. Truly great stuff.
If you go through the few selected videos, you'll notice the tiny size of the prayer area in front of the Western Wall (called "Wailing Wall" in the newsreel). It's since been fixed.
Perhaps the most significant (so far) is this video, "Arabs Declare Holy War":
"Two states are being born", the narrator intones. If only he knew.
At the opposite end of the importance scale, the filmmakers realize the only thing that shows up clearly on film are the various hats:
I watched a bunch of the films. The silent films taught me something: You can't tell which side is which without either a narrator or clearly marked hats. You can't even tell which war, which continent, or which year. There is no way to tell aggressor from defender, winner from loser. You can tell forest from desert.
For talking films, the strongest effect of the visual is to make the sound of the narrator authentic and believable. You think you're seeing what is being said. Sometimes you are, sometimes you aren't.
American Dr. Ralph Bunch, UN mediator, tells us "The war is over in Palestine", proving the effectiveness of the United Nations. A lot of wisdom in 19 seconds:
A lot of wisdom, that is, if you can read between the lines.
If you go through the few selected videos, you'll notice the tiny size of the prayer area in front of the Western Wall (called "Wailing Wall" in the newsreel). It's since been fixed.
Perhaps the most significant (so far) is this video, "Arabs Declare Holy War":
"Two states are being born", the narrator intones. If only he knew.
At the opposite end of the importance scale, the filmmakers realize the only thing that shows up clearly on film are the various hats:
I watched a bunch of the films. The silent films taught me something: You can't tell which side is which without either a narrator or clearly marked hats. You can't even tell which war, which continent, or which year. There is no way to tell aggressor from defender, winner from loser. You can tell forest from desert.
For talking films, the strongest effect of the visual is to make the sound of the narrator authentic and believable. You think you're seeing what is being said. Sometimes you are, sometimes you aren't.
American Dr. Ralph Bunch, UN mediator, tells us "The war is over in Palestine", proving the effectiveness of the United Nations. A lot of wisdom in 19 seconds:
A lot of wisdom, that is, if you can read between the lines.
50 Years Ago — A Scandal?
There was a sort of scandal 50 years ago in which Israel was accused of stealing uranium from the US. If there was a final resolution, it is still classified.
This month, the US government is applying pressure to Israel on the Middle East Peace Process negotiations, and purely by coincidence, out pops an article in the Bulletin of The Atomic Scientists rehashing that old controversy.
I have no idea myself, of course, of what happened to the uranium. I doubt it would still be in condition to explode a bomb. Uranium decays, that's part of the point.
If you have the uranium, or know where it is, please leave a comment, below.
This month, the US government is applying pressure to Israel on the Middle East Peace Process negotiations, and purely by coincidence, out pops an article in the Bulletin of The Atomic Scientists rehashing that old controversy.
I have no idea myself, of course, of what happened to the uranium. I doubt it would still be in condition to explode a bomb. Uranium decays, that's part of the point.
If you have the uranium, or know where it is, please leave a comment, below.
Chocolate: Good for You, Good for Your Country
I've written about correlation, and about chocolate. Here I'm writing about the correlation of chocolate with...
Noble Prizes.
The New England Journal of Medicine (pdf) avers that chocolate consumption correlates with the number of Noble Prizes a country gets.
So feed your kids even more chocolate. Srsly.
Noble Prizes.
The New England Journal of Medicine (pdf) avers that chocolate consumption correlates with the number of Noble Prizes a country gets.
So feed your kids even more chocolate. Srsly.
 | |
| Dark Chocolate |
Probably Bad News
Human creativity never ceases to amaze me. Also, human decadence. Somebody has invented a powdered alcohol you can carry with you. So if you're out in the woods on a hike, you can add the powdered booze to your canteen, and when the bear shows up, you'll be too drunk to react.
When it eventually comes to market, it will be available in several flavors.
When it eventually comes to market, it will be available in several flavors.
GoPro Has a New Movie
There's a series of movie cameras designed for on-the-go wide-angle selfies. When you're parachuting off a cliff, you attach this to yourself and later on you can show your friends what an idiot, a daredevil you are.
So here's a collection of snippets they've put together to drop your jaw. Warning: Nearly safe for work. It depends on where you work. Brief bikini shots. I guess that's redundant. All bikinis are brief.
Jaw-dropping is a recommended exercise by the National Health Council.
So here's a collection of snippets they've put together to drop your jaw. Warning: Nearly safe for work. It depends on where you work. Brief bikini shots. I guess that's redundant. All bikinis are brief.
Jaw-dropping is a recommended exercise by the National Health Council.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Egyptian Educations Are Entertained by Palestine Government
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a self-explanatory Report from 1926.
From the Report:
Anyway, it's good to see the Egyptians and the Palestinians getting along so well.
From the Report:
He expressed the hope that mutual visits between Hebrew and Egyptian educators will take place annually and that a periodical conference between the two countries will be arranged for the purpose of discussing the educational problems of Palestine and Egypt.Perhaps the conferences can resume someday...
Anyway, it's good to see the Egyptians and the Palestinians getting along so well.
Not Only Transnistria, but Moldova is in Danger
The conflict in Transnistria is not settled, and Moldova may be on the chopping block. Of course, you knew that Russia has 2,000 troops in Transnistria.
What will Putin do next to Moldova?
I for one am fed up, and I say: Transistria for the Transnistrians!
What will Obama do about Transnistria? And can he spell it?
We must all study this issue seriously, lest we be embarrassed and speechless when someone next asks us: "What is your position on the Moldova/Transnistria situation?".
I was once told that some of my ancestors came from the region of Bessarabia, which is neither Arabia, nor Bess. And is now incorporated into parts of Moldova and the Ukraine. So I have a dog in this fight. A small dog, but a dog nevertheless.
What will Putin do next to Moldova?
I for one am fed up, and I say: Transistria for the Transnistrians!
What will Obama do about Transnistria? And can he spell it?
We must all study this issue seriously, lest we be embarrassed and speechless when someone next asks us: "What is your position on the Moldova/Transnistria situation?".
I was once told that some of my ancestors came from the region of Bessarabia, which is neither Arabia, nor Bess. And is now incorporated into parts of Moldova and the Ukraine. So I have a dog in this fight. A small dog, but a dog nevertheless.
Two Heart Attacks and A Tumor
Friend J had 2 more heart attacks. He's home now and complaining about the crowding in the mall. Friend Y has a benign brain tumor, requiring surgery. And in the hall outside my place I found a couple of dead insects.
Could it be dangerous to be near me? Here's hoping not.
Update: I just spoke to J, and he's bragging about how many heart attacks he's had. He's trying to talk his way up to three full heart attacks. Guinness doesn't have a record for the most heart attacks. But a fellow in Gloucester, England, survived 32 of them. That's 29 more to go.
Could it be dangerous to be near me? Here's hoping not.
Update: I just spoke to J, and he's bragging about how many heart attacks he's had. He's trying to talk his way up to three full heart attacks. Guinness doesn't have a record for the most heart attacks. But a fellow in Gloucester, England, survived 32 of them. That's 29 more to go.
Butter Better — Rice Worse
Also courtesy of the NY Times, butter is better for you than we had been led to believe, and rice a little worse. A little arsenic, so why worry? Science is a scam. I mean really, this is just too much.
Deep fat is getting nearer, and tobacco can't be too far behind.
Update: Dark Chocolate is good for you again. And no, it doesn't usually cause pimples. Or does it?
Deep fat is getting nearer, and tobacco can't be too far behind.
Update: Dark Chocolate is good for you again. And no, it doesn't usually cause pimples. Or does it?
Sewage Warfare
I missed this New York Times article over a year ago. The Egyptians under Morsi were flooding the smuggling tunnels with sewage. Islamist versus Islamist.
At this point I should give you a pithy analysis. I have none. It just boggles my mind.
At this point I should give you a pithy analysis. I have none. It just boggles my mind.
Hawaiian Policing Now Tougher
No doubt contributing to a massive decline in applications to the Police Academy, Hawaiian police will no longer be allowed to bed prostitutes as part of their work.
While the impact on employment figures will be deleterious, exact numbers are not available.
While the impact on employment figures will be deleterious, exact numbers are not available.
Passover
Passover started in 2014 on Monday night, April 14th. And it ends Tuesday evening, April 22nd, (Earth Day).
UPDATE: In Israel it ends a day earlier, on the evening of Monday, April 21st.
I've been making Matzo Brie. It's a fried mixture of eggs, milk and crumbled matzo. Discovery: It is possible to get it wrong. Hint: Using a blender to crumble the matzo is not a good idea. It needs a little texture.
The Seder was pretty multi-culti for an Orthodox Seder. Dutch, Serbians, and Israelis.
UPDATE: In Israel it ends a day earlier, on the evening of Monday, April 21st.
I've been making Matzo Brie. It's a fried mixture of eggs, milk and crumbled matzo. Discovery: It is possible to get it wrong. Hint: Using a blender to crumble the matzo is not a good idea. It needs a little texture.
The Seder was pretty multi-culti for an Orthodox Seder. Dutch, Serbians, and Israelis.
Earth Day
Earth Day is April 22nd. Every year, somebody makes the point this is also the birthday of the communist V.I. Lenin, back in 1870. The old man turns 144 this year.
I remember the first Earth Day in 1970. I walked out of a lecture thinking that all industry would have to be abolished. Perhaps I jumped the gun. I was young.
Some cities celebrate the same idea by turning off all the lights for an hour in the evening. It's called Earth Hour. But Earth Hour was on March 29. Of course, in North Korea, every night is Earth Hour.
In July, we will have Mars Day.
There is no Venus Day, probably because the day is longer than the year, on that planet. Would Venus Day be a feminist holiday? Or Doris Day's sister?
I remember the first Earth Day in 1970. I walked out of a lecture thinking that all industry would have to be abolished. Perhaps I jumped the gun. I was young.
Some cities celebrate the same idea by turning off all the lights for an hour in the evening. It's called Earth Hour. But Earth Hour was on March 29. Of course, in North Korea, every night is Earth Hour.
In July, we will have Mars Day.
There is no Venus Day, probably because the day is longer than the year, on that planet. Would Venus Day be a feminist holiday? Or Doris Day's sister?
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Where I Live
People ask me where I live. I'll give you a very precise answer:
This answer is correct to one part in 3 × 1068.
That number is approximately 300000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.
How do I figure this? The radius of the earth is about 6378.1 kilometers.
The radius of the known universe is about 46 billion light years. This is larger than the radius of the observed universe for technical reasons.
The volume of a sphere is proportional to the cube of the radius. The cube of 6378 kilometers divided into the cube of 46 billion light years is that 3 × 1068.
46 billion light years is 4.351843 × 1026 meters. Cubed, that is a volume of 8.24175458×1079 cubic meters.
8.24175458×1079 / 2.605498×1011 = 3.1632×1068.
This last is a very interesting number. It has nearly the same digits as the square root of ten: 3.162277. These two numbers match to 3 digits, which is more accurate than our measurements. So they could be equal.
Which proves the universe is full of coincidences.
Okay, maybe it's not a proof.
Anyway, that's where I live. So now you know.
 |
| Earth |
This answer is correct to one part in 3 × 1068.
That number is approximately 300000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.
How do I figure this? The radius of the earth is about 6378.1 kilometers.
The radius of the known universe is about 46 billion light years. This is larger than the radius of the observed universe for technical reasons.
The volume of a sphere is proportional to the cube of the radius. The cube of 6378 kilometers divided into the cube of 46 billion light years is that 3 × 1068.
For your inner nerd:
6378.1 meters, cubed, equals: 2.605498×1011cubic meters.46 billion light years is 4.351843 × 1026 meters. Cubed, that is a volume of 8.24175458×1079 cubic meters.
8.24175458×1079 / 2.605498×1011 = 3.1632×1068.
This last is a very interesting number. It has nearly the same digits as the square root of ten: 3.162277. These two numbers match to 3 digits, which is more accurate than our measurements. So they could be equal.
Which proves the universe is full of coincidences.
Okay, maybe it's not a proof.
Anyway, that's where I live. So now you know.
The Seder
If I only had three cups of wine — it would have been enough...
If I only had two pieces of matzo — it would have been enough...
If I had stayed up only until 1 AM — it would have been enough...
But not really. Escaping slavery is more important than that.
By the way, just Google for '21st Century Slavery' and you'll get an eyeful.
Here's some info from that radical group, National Geographic.
There's a lesson in here, somewhere.
If I only had two pieces of matzo — it would have been enough...
If I had stayed up only until 1 AM — it would have been enough...
But not really. Escaping slavery is more important than that.
By the way, just Google for '21st Century Slavery' and you'll get an eyeful.
Here's some info from that radical group, National Geographic.
There's a lesson in here, somewhere.
Space Aliens cause Global Warming
Causation usually causes Correlation.
But not the other way around.
It has been statistically proven that space aliens cause global warming. The correlation is absolutely devastating and persuasive. In fact, as Dr. Spencer points out: "...the relationship is so strong, if this was an epidemiological study it would be time to regulate UFOs".
The proof comes from a Ph.d space scientist and it's on the internet.
For further proof, consider this syllogism:
I had to think about this cartoon before the light bulb went on.
If I had the skills of Randall Munroe I'd be rich too. Although I don't know if he's actually wealthy. He ought to be wealthy, though. Mr. Munroe invented the above cartoon. So, if I had his skills, I ought to be rich. Therefore, I ought to have his skills. Q.E.D.
But not the other way around.
It has been statistically proven that space aliens cause global warming. The correlation is absolutely devastating and persuasive. In fact, as Dr. Spencer points out: "...the relationship is so strong, if this was an epidemiological study it would be time to regulate UFOs".
The proof comes from a Ph.d space scientist and it's on the internet.
For further proof, consider this syllogism:
 |
| Correlation |
I had to think about this cartoon before the light bulb went on.
If I had the skills of Randall Munroe I'd be rich too. Although I don't know if he's actually wealthy. He ought to be wealthy, though. Mr. Munroe invented the above cartoon. So, if I had his skills, I ought to be rich. Therefore, I ought to have his skills. Q.E.D.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Lovers and Haters
Both cat lovers and cat haters will adore this video: Black Cat Jump. Free, on YouTube.
I admire the high energy level. But it looks dangerous.
I admire the high energy level. But it looks dangerous.
New York Times Confuses Israel and Iran.
They both start with the letter 'I', so I guess that's enough for the illiterates to get confused. In a silly opinion piece, a joint effort by an Iranian and an Israeli writer quotes Israeli politician Moshe Yaalon when he said that Secretary Kerry was “obsessive and messianic”. Harsh words, to be sure. But just compare that to Iran's "Death to America!" and "Death to Israel!". I can catch the nuance of difference. Can you? Why can't the New York Times?
More deeply, I think these public intellectuals knew they needed to say something so outrageous that even the New York Times would carry it. So they did.
I for one am insulted at being likened to the Ayatollahs. Wouldn't you?
Another small nuance: The Ayatollahs Islam requires world conquest. Judaism, even it's most radical form, does not. Can you see the implications for US foreign policy? For Israeli policy? Is it too hard to see the difference?
More deeply, I think these public intellectuals knew they needed to say something so outrageous that even the New York Times would carry it. So they did.
I for one am insulted at being likened to the Ayatollahs. Wouldn't you?
Another small nuance: The Ayatollahs Islam requires world conquest. Judaism, even it's most radical form, does not. Can you see the implications for US foreign policy? For Israeli policy? Is it too hard to see the difference?
Thursday, April 10, 2014
That Cute Baby Face in North Korea
That cute baby faced leader has a heart of gold. I think the heart is on a pedestal on his desk, near the platinum heart. Or maybe it's in a jar.
To prove what a good guy he is, he killed one of his dead uncles friends with a flamethrower.
The Washington Post takes a more skeptical view. Nobody sane would do that, of course.
I've looked around for an image of the victim, O Sang-hon, but haven't found any yet.
Maybe Anonymous will raise a campaign against murder by flamethrower.
Anonymous vs Israel
The hackers at Anonymous decided to hack into a bunch of Israeli websites, in support of terrorism as a general principle. One problem with this news story is that I can't find any mention of it on the Anonymous Facebook page. Other sites have the same story too, such as Russia Today. Russia Today, the World's Foremost Authority.
The website of the attack seems to have been counter-hacked by Israel, and has stayed that way for several days.
On the other hand, this OpIsrael web site is up and running, and lists websites it says it has hacked. I checked a few of their claimed victim sites and they were up and running fine.
Part of the Anonymous group is called AnonGhost, and they have an anti-Israel movie on YouTube. It has good sound effects but doesn't say much. Sad flute music. Funny, they leave out the scenes where the Arabs launch rockets, and only include shots where Gaza people are running from artillery or rocket hits.
After the weapon strikes, the locals all run towards the site. They must know that there isn't any likely follow-on strike.
This really isn't guerrilla war. I call it slow war.
The website of the attack seems to have been counter-hacked by Israel, and has stayed that way for several days.
On the other hand, this OpIsrael web site is up and running, and lists websites it says it has hacked. I checked a few of their claimed victim sites and they were up and running fine.
Part of the Anonymous group is called AnonGhost, and they have an anti-Israel movie on YouTube. It has good sound effects but doesn't say much. Sad flute music. Funny, they leave out the scenes where the Arabs launch rockets, and only include shots where Gaza people are running from artillery or rocket hits.
After the weapon strikes, the locals all run towards the site. They must know that there isn't any likely follow-on strike.
This really isn't guerrilla war. I call it slow war.
Heartbleed
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| A Bug with a logo! |
Second, change the passwords on all your money-related websites if they are NOT vulnerable. If they still are, then you'll have to change it again after they fix it. But fixing it twice, once now and again later, is recommended.
These sites are suspected of being victims, so if you're a user, change your passwords here too: gizmodo.com, kotaku.com, lifehacker.com, stratfor.com, inspire.nbn.org.il.
That lifehacker site is pretty useful in normal times.
For more background, you can start with an easy intro by James Fallows. Get practical advice from Brian Krebs. This is the first big bug in my memory where it not only has its own Logo but its own website.
For a deeper look, the experts all turn to Bruce Schneir, who recommends this insight.
Remember, if the head of the CIA can get hacked and lose his job, then anything can happen to the rest of us.
Cheers
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Peace Talks Circling the Drain — Flushed?
To the surprise of nobody, the Peace Process is lost at sea, somewhere near that Malaysian airliner.
There was a plot twist at the end, though. Netanyahu the Likudnik was putting pressure on Mahmoud Abbas to extend the peace talks. I don't know anybody who predicted this. So maybe the Arabs do have the upper hand at this point. We'll have to watch and see.
Abbas himself just turned 79 last week. How many more years will he be running the PA? And who's next?
The PA itself is apparently gone, though. They've replaced it with a new Arab "State of Palestine". The current agreements, are only between Israel and the PLO. Abbas is also head of the PLO. Will the PLO be dissolved too?
Abbas and the new fake Palestine will get all kinds of lovely paperwork from the UN, and they'll display it proudly and have high-level announcements, and meetings. And then... What? A big strawberry from the Israelis.
The rubber hits the road when Abbas starts importing weapons 'Legally', probably into Gaza. Israel will stop it. Then what? War? More likely, Abbas will set up mutual defense treaties with a number of states that are already at war with Israel. This could include Iran, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria (ha!), and probably Iraq. I foresee longer speeches.
They're also threatening to tie up Israel in the ICC. At worst they can prevent some Israeli leaders from travelling to some parts of the world where they don't want to go anyway. Britain and the US aren't likely to go along.
Maybe somebody will disband the UNRWA and make the new Palestine take in all the descendents of the refugees. A fine kettle of fish for Abbas then. He'll probably retire the next day.
Maybe that's it! Netanyahu could have been planning this from the beginning. Once there is a state of "Palestine", there's no excuse for having all those refugees. Heck, Lebanon could just get rid of their problem by demanding the people in the UN camps be repatriated. Let's keep this idea our secret for a while, until after Abbas has joined those 15 UN organizations.
If the new Palestine announces its intent to liberate the rest of Israel for the Arabs, I think it would be a declaration of war. That plus a few rockets coming from Gaza might be enough to start the real thing. But even the Big War in Europe started with a phony war for nearly a year.
On the other hand, Israel could ask for a do-over. Israeli diplomats have just ended a strike and Israel hasn't been playing with a full team.
This whole thing could spiral out of control. Or just be intercontinental flatulence.
There was a plot twist at the end, though. Netanyahu the Likudnik was putting pressure on Mahmoud Abbas to extend the peace talks. I don't know anybody who predicted this. So maybe the Arabs do have the upper hand at this point. We'll have to watch and see.
Abbas himself just turned 79 last week. How many more years will he be running the PA? And who's next?
The PA itself is apparently gone, though. They've replaced it with a new Arab "State of Palestine". The current agreements, are only between Israel and the PLO. Abbas is also head of the PLO. Will the PLO be dissolved too?
Abbas and the new fake Palestine will get all kinds of lovely paperwork from the UN, and they'll display it proudly and have high-level announcements, and meetings. And then... What? A big strawberry from the Israelis.
The rubber hits the road when Abbas starts importing weapons 'Legally', probably into Gaza. Israel will stop it. Then what? War? More likely, Abbas will set up mutual defense treaties with a number of states that are already at war with Israel. This could include Iran, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria (ha!), and probably Iraq. I foresee longer speeches.
They're also threatening to tie up Israel in the ICC. At worst they can prevent some Israeli leaders from travelling to some parts of the world where they don't want to go anyway. Britain and the US aren't likely to go along.
Maybe somebody will disband the UNRWA and make the new Palestine take in all the descendents of the refugees. A fine kettle of fish for Abbas then. He'll probably retire the next day.
Maybe that's it! Netanyahu could have been planning this from the beginning. Once there is a state of "Palestine", there's no excuse for having all those refugees. Heck, Lebanon could just get rid of their problem by demanding the people in the UN camps be repatriated. Let's keep this idea our secret for a while, until after Abbas has joined those 15 UN organizations.
If the new Palestine announces its intent to liberate the rest of Israel for the Arabs, I think it would be a declaration of war. That plus a few rockets coming from Gaza might be enough to start the real thing. But even the Big War in Europe started with a phony war for nearly a year.
On the other hand, Israel could ask for a do-over. Israeli diplomats have just ended a strike and Israel hasn't been playing with a full team.
This whole thing could spiral out of control. Or just be intercontinental flatulence.
Blowup at Vassar
The previously all-female upper crust colleges Vassar and Swarthmore have converted their branches of the Jewish student organization to a new form, the "Open Hillel". Which means Arab and American anti-Zionists, and worse, are invited to speak. And which also means big controversy.
The last meeting was so vicious that the other Israel-haters washed their hands of the Vasserites. Vassarinos?
The last meeting was so vicious that the other Israel-haters washed their hands of the Vasserites. Vassarinos?
There Blows the Neighborhood!
I live near the Arab neighborhood of Jebl Mukaber. A guy from Jebl Mukaber came into my (Jewish) neighborhood to blow us all up. They caught him before he killed anybody, and he confessed. This terrorism thing is real. I'm not fond of it. There had been a gas leak explosion, by accident, down in Gilo, and it was in all the papers. This guy read about it and decided it was a great idea.
Still, I think the murder rate in Chicago is higher than Jerusalem.
There are a bunch of educational channels on YouTube, some of them are individual efforts, and both charming and informative. One episode in the "Smarter Every Day" series is this investigation into Poop Splash Elimination. Practical science. Yes, he said "Elimination". I just got the joke. Anyway, it's dead-on serious, and exactly what you think.
Back From the Future
I'm adding several backlogged items all on one day. It kinda looks funny, I know.
A bizarre and wonderful bit of music from the Leningrad Cowboys. An old tune in a new wrapping. Sweet and absurd at the same time.
Wait for the dancers at the one minute mark...
UPDATE1: The video isn't available anymore.
UPDATE2: I had completely ignored the fact that Leningrad is now called St. Petersburg.
If you can remember back to last Passover, or the last time you read the Bible, or even went to the movies, you might remember the 10 Plagues that Moses helped bring to Egypt. Well, the Egyptians are still mad, and they're suing us! We should tell them to collect from Allah. Or maybe Cecil B. DeMille.
Apparently, saturated fats, and eggs, are now good for you. Margarine is bad for you. We're now told to eat more red meat and butter. Just not together. Eventually Woody Allen will be proved right: Tobacco and deep fat are the best.
A bizarre and wonderful bit of music from the
Wait for the dancers at the one minute mark...
UPDATE1: The video isn't available anymore.
UPDATE2: I had completely ignored the fact that Leningrad is now called St. Petersburg.
If you can remember back to last Passover, or the last time you read the Bible, or even went to the movies, you might remember the 10 Plagues that Moses helped bring to Egypt. Well, the Egyptians are still mad, and they're suing us! We should tell them to collect from Allah. Or maybe Cecil B. DeMille.
Apparently, saturated fats, and eggs, are now good for you. Margarine is bad for you. We're now told to eat more red meat and butter. Just not together. Eventually Woody Allen will be proved right: Tobacco and deep fat are the best.
Friday, April 4, 2014
The CIA is protecting us from Congress?
Or protecting themselves.
Senator Dianne Feinstein is really angry. The CIA was caught hacking into the computer system that her Senate Intelligence Committee was using to investigate the CIA itself. See the Washington Post on this. Or if it's not available for free, see this Mother Jones explanation. This is about as paranoid as it gets. I am rarely surprised by the news. But this time I am blown away.
This is nearly a coup. Senator Feinstein is of the same party as Obama. Talk about spying on your allies!
Senator Dianne Feinstein is really angry. The CIA was caught hacking into the computer system that her Senate Intelligence Committee was using to investigate the CIA itself. See the Washington Post on this. Or if it's not available for free, see this Mother Jones explanation. This is about as paranoid as it gets. I am rarely surprised by the news. But this time I am blown away.
This is nearly a coup. Senator Feinstein is of the same party as Obama. Talk about spying on your allies!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Lost and Found
And "Found" is scarier than lost!
I had a little calendar book. I lost it a couple of weeks ago. I looked everywhere. It didn't turn up, and my notes were overflowing out of my index cards. So I bought another calendar book. Then this morning I spotted the old one here on my desk, just under the computer screen. This was very shocking. I sit here almost every day. There is no way I could have missed it. So who put it back on my desk?
Confess!
I had a little calendar book. I lost it a couple of weeks ago. I looked everywhere. It didn't turn up, and my notes were overflowing out of my index cards. So I bought another calendar book. Then this morning I spotted the old one here on my desk, just under the computer screen. This was very shocking. I sit here almost every day. There is no way I could have missed it. So who put it back on my desk?
Confess!
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