Guest post written by my sister:
I was watching tv the other day and on comes a commercial. After my initial reaction, extreme laughter, i said something like "wow that's seriously retarted".
The product is called "Snuggie". It's a fleece sweater-blanket or fleece blanket with sleeves.
Seriously? Who in the world would buy that??
Other than being a total waste of money (you can use a sweater you already have with a blanket you already have), contrary to what the commercial says I view it as very inconvenient.
Imagine you're sitting on the couch sipping your hot cocoa and watching a movie on a cold winter day. Suddenly the door-bell rings. You put your cocoa down and pause the movie, and then realize you're stuck. Rather than being able to just fling off your blanket and run to answer the door, you now have an oversized probably longer than floor length sweater blanket attatched to you. Considering you refuse to answer the door dressed in a giant blue, green or red sack, by the time you get out of the sweater blanket the person at the door probably already left causing you to possibly miss your million dollar check from Ed McMahon.
Again Seriously? who in the world would buy that????
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
So I got the video from a friend
And I got this from bangitout.com:
Top Ten Changes if the Pilgrims were Jewish:
10. Indians' "How" greeting would have been answered with "I've been on a vashtinkina boat for 2 months, How do you think?"
9. The Mayflower Compact would have been brokered by Goldman Sachs and would have included Mexico and Canada
8. Breakaway minyans immediately open in Rhode Island and New Hampshire
7. Holiday of Succot would be renamed Teepees
6. Thanksgiving dinner was suppose to be veal, but there were Turkey shabbos leftovers.
5. Plymouth Rock suddenly claimed as the Musilims third holiest site
4. Thanksgiving Dinner was arranged by the Ladies Auxiliary and is still looking for a sponsor
3. Jewish geography would be used as the great ice-breaker, "Which Pocahantas? From Queens?"
2. Rubashkins' immediately hires all Indians
1. Pilgrims become automatic Members of the Tribe
Thanksgiving is coming!!
Thanksgiving is this Thursday!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
One would think I'm a huge fan of thanksgiving, but really, I'm not. I just love the fact that my company is super awesome, and not only do I have Thursday off, but I have Friday off as well!
My family isn't really big on Thanksgiving, mostly because we don't particularly like turkey (too dry). We buy it if its on sale, and make turkey soup (tastes exactly like chicken soup) and turkey meatballs and stuff, but we don't make it for thanksgiving, because we just don't like it as a whole turkey. So well...what does my family do on thanksgiving? We make Russian style ravioli, which is absolutely awesome. We make enough to last us until Pesach cleaning (so well...purim time). It's meat (we mix turkey and beef) stuffed in dough. Kinda look like won tons, but smaller.
After they're made, you cook them in a pot of water, with bay leaves, peppercorns and salt.
And we freeze ALOT of them! The freezer becomes stuffed with them, and then we have awesome meals for the cold, and exhausting days in which neither one of us wants to cook!
And so, if you guys don't like turkey... there is still an option for you! You don't have to do what my family does, but start your own tradition...after all, that is what thanksgiving is all about! :-)
:-)
One would think I'm a huge fan of thanksgiving, but really, I'm not. I just love the fact that my company is super awesome, and not only do I have Thursday off, but I have Friday off as well!
My family isn't really big on Thanksgiving, mostly because we don't particularly like turkey (too dry). We buy it if its on sale, and make turkey soup (tastes exactly like chicken soup) and turkey meatballs and stuff, but we don't make it for thanksgiving, because we just don't like it as a whole turkey. So well...what does my family do on thanksgiving? We make Russian style ravioli, which is absolutely awesome. We make enough to last us until Pesach cleaning (so well...purim time). It's meat (we mix turkey and beef) stuffed in dough. Kinda look like won tons, but smaller.
After they're made, you cook them in a pot of water, with bay leaves, peppercorns and salt.
And we freeze ALOT of them! The freezer becomes stuffed with them, and then we have awesome meals for the cold, and exhausting days in which neither one of us wants to cook!
And so, if you guys don't like turkey... there is still an option for you! You don't have to do what my family does, but start your own tradition...after all, that is what thanksgiving is all about! :-)
:-)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
just cool
(: ¡sɹǝpɐǝɹ noʎ ɥʇıʍ ʇı ƃuıɹɐɥs ɯ,ı os ¡¡looɔ ɹǝdns sı ɥɔıɥʍ www.fliptitle.com ǝʇıs sıɥʇ punoɟ ı 'uısnoɔ ʎɯ 0ʇ sʞuɐɥʇ
(: ¡¡ǝɯıʇ ƃuıʇsɐʍ puɐ punoɹɐ ƃuıʇʇıs ɯ,ı os 'ʇnoqɐ ƃolq oʇ ƃuıɥʇou ǝʌɐɥ puɐ 'pǝɹoq ʎlǝɯǝɹʇxǝ ɯɐ ı
(: ¡¡ǝɯıʇ ƃuıʇsɐʍ puɐ punoɹɐ ƃuıʇʇıs ɯ,ı os 'ʇnoqɐ ƃolq oʇ ƃuıɥʇou ǝʌɐɥ puɐ 'pǝɹoq ʎlǝɯǝɹʇxǝ ɯɐ ı
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Present for grandma
I was just telling someone these stories the other day, so I figured I'd type them up and share them with my readers.
My grandma (on my fathers side) is absolutely awesome. I love her dearly, but she can definitely be quite annoying. She is constantly annoyed with my sister and me for talking too quickly, not wearing makeup, and generally talking too much. She also hates that we're very much "know-it-alls". She hates that we are like that, and she wants nothing more than to turn us into typical girlies who only care about hair, make up, and brand name clothes.
A few years ago, my sister and I are in the car with my grandma and our male cousin. My cousin was the driver, grandma was in the passenger seat, and sis and I in the back. My sister and I were talking to our cousin. Apparently we were talking VERY quickly (something we don't even notice). My grandma got ticked, and she began to do her typical comparison of us vs. some girl in her building (my cousin's 2nd cousin). And she says "You know, you talk so fast, like blah blah blah blah, its just not lady like. Daniella (the girl in building) talks so nice and slowly, and softly, and that is because she thinks before she speaks."
So my sister and I, at the exact same time were like "That's cuz we think quicker"
Oh boy ... my cousin was cracking up behind the wheel, and my grandma (already used to our quick comebacks) couldn't say anything, so she just smiled and shook her head and was like "Oh you guys and your mouth"
***
My grandma has this crazy obsession with fresh air. She hates the city, and thinks that its the worst thing in the world that we live in such a polluted environment. Every year my family used to go upstate to the Adirondack Mountains, and vacationed for a few weeks each summer. One year being the typical teenager, I would sleep-in crazy hours. I would wake up at about 11-12 (only if someone woke me). So before going upstate, my grandma called me up and started lecturing me about how I should wake up early, and stay outside in the fresh air. She kept telling me that my parents aren't paying for the lake, or the vacation, or the cabin (with those cabins, I believed that), but were paying solely for the fresh air. She told me if I stay in, and sleep crazy hours, I would be wasting their money. And she really got under my skin with that, she kept calling like everyday before we left to tell me about how I shouldn't sleep in.
Finally we go upstate, and of course we have to go and get grandma a present for when we come back home. We were thinking about what to get her, and then (I forgot who thought about it) we decided that we should bring her air.
So the last day we were upstate as we were packing the car for the drive back home, we took two of the kitchen garbage bags, and filled them with air from the outside. When we were heading close to home, we called grandma and were like "we're about an hour away, we've got something for you"
As we got even closer, we called her to come down so that we can just give the present and go.
Finally we arrive, she opens the door to the car, we exchange hugs and kisses...
We hand her the huge bags, and she goes "what is this?"
we: WE brought you fresh-upstate air! You can release it, and breath it in your apartment.
grandma- WHAT? This is what you got me? I thought you got me something real!
we: Oh, come on, just take the bags!
grandma- Are you kidding, what will I tell people? My son's family goes upstate and they bring back air for their grandma? I'd rather not be seen with bags.
That was when we started cracking up. :)
Later on I told my cousin about it, and he was rolling on the floor from laughter. He was like "brilliant". :-)
We did buy her something that was packed, like a mug or a magnet. But the air- priceless. :)
And puh-leeze, she loved it. :) She has a nice sense of humor.
My grandma (on my fathers side) is absolutely awesome. I love her dearly, but she can definitely be quite annoying. She is constantly annoyed with my sister and me for talking too quickly, not wearing makeup, and generally talking too much. She also hates that we're very much "know-it-alls". She hates that we are like that, and she wants nothing more than to turn us into typical girlies who only care about hair, make up, and brand name clothes.
A few years ago, my sister and I are in the car with my grandma and our male cousin. My cousin was the driver, grandma was in the passenger seat, and sis and I in the back. My sister and I were talking to our cousin. Apparently we were talking VERY quickly (something we don't even notice). My grandma got ticked, and she began to do her typical comparison of us vs. some girl in her building (my cousin's 2nd cousin). And she says "You know, you talk so fast, like blah blah blah blah, its just not lady like. Daniella (the girl in building) talks so nice and slowly, and softly, and that is because she thinks before she speaks."
So my sister and I, at the exact same time were like "That's cuz we think quicker"
Oh boy ... my cousin was cracking up behind the wheel, and my grandma (already used to our quick comebacks) couldn't say anything, so she just smiled and shook her head and was like "Oh you guys and your mouth"
***
My grandma has this crazy obsession with fresh air. She hates the city, and thinks that its the worst thing in the world that we live in such a polluted environment. Every year my family used to go upstate to the Adirondack Mountains, and vacationed for a few weeks each summer. One year being the typical teenager, I would sleep-in crazy hours. I would wake up at about 11-12 (only if someone woke me). So before going upstate, my grandma called me up and started lecturing me about how I should wake up early, and stay outside in the fresh air. She kept telling me that my parents aren't paying for the lake, or the vacation, or the cabin (with those cabins, I believed that), but were paying solely for the fresh air. She told me if I stay in, and sleep crazy hours, I would be wasting their money. And she really got under my skin with that, she kept calling like everyday before we left to tell me about how I shouldn't sleep in.
Finally we go upstate, and of course we have to go and get grandma a present for when we come back home. We were thinking about what to get her, and then (I forgot who thought about it) we decided that we should bring her air.
So the last day we were upstate as we were packing the car for the drive back home, we took two of the kitchen garbage bags, and filled them with air from the outside. When we were heading close to home, we called grandma and were like "we're about an hour away, we've got something for you"
As we got even closer, we called her to come down so that we can just give the present and go.
Finally we arrive, she opens the door to the car, we exchange hugs and kisses...
We hand her the huge bags, and she goes "what is this?"
we: WE brought you fresh-upstate air! You can release it, and breath it in your apartment.
grandma- WHAT? This is what you got me? I thought you got me something real!
we: Oh, come on, just take the bags!
grandma- Are you kidding, what will I tell people? My son's family goes upstate and they bring back air for their grandma? I'd rather not be seen with bags.
That was when we started cracking up. :)
Later on I told my cousin about it, and he was rolling on the floor from laughter. He was like "brilliant". :-)
We did buy her something that was packed, like a mug or a magnet. But the air- priceless. :)
And puh-leeze, she loved it. :) She has a nice sense of humor.
Friday, November 21, 2008
"Threat" for lawsuit
Woke up this morning, started on my cranky morning routine. Then I receive a text message from my father "call me as soon as you wake up." And so I call him and he tells me to check my e-mail. A lawyer from shul has decided to warn my father, that I can get sued for "libel and slander" for what I wrote in two posts entitled "Such" and "Writing A Speech"
He wrote the following:
"As Matt Drudge recently found out, one can be sued for libel and slander for a blog's postings. There is no absolute First Amendment Protection against Libel and Slander suits for comments made on a blog. "
I honestly never looked at the Blog "Laws" and interesting clauses on what is or what is not protected by the First Amendment. The thing is, is that both posts were ridiculously vague. The only reason this guy (and the others at shul) understood what I was talking about, was specifically because, they already KNEW what was going on.
SO, no, I don't think I will see any legal "consequences" to those posts except for some nasty looks and comments my way in shul. Which I am absolutely carefree about. I didn't mention any names, and I didn't put a gun against anyone's heads to read my blog. My opinion IS protected by the first amendment.
2- The meeting at shul was an absolute disgrace. I understand the votes were "fair and square" , but what the people in shul don't understand is that the premise of the voting was faulty.
My father's speech was SUPER diplomatic. He started off saying how much he appreciates the program and how much effort he put into building it. He NEVER asked to end the program. -if you're from the shul and reading this, I can e-mail a copy of it-
So my fathers side, neutral. and ALL facts are verifiable.
However, the other side, used under handed tactics.
One couple that spoke (at separate times, purposely sat separately from one another) my family knows very well. They were frum for over 20 years. The lady came up and said how for 20 years she had NO shul she wanted to ever attend in Brooklyn.
Well...ummm...how did you manage not to go to shul for 20 years? Did your frummy husband NEVER show up for minyan before? ON shabbos?
Plus, this lady is one of the main families that started another kiruv shul. Her and her hubby were like the 3rd couple to start that shuls program. She bragged about it at that other shul's melevah malka (which both my mom and I attended right before Purim). No shul to go to, huh?
PLUS PLUS...I've been to her shul multiple times. I've seen her at a shuir which was hosted there once (and she knew all the ladies) and I've seen her when I went, on a regular shabbos, for shalosh suedos. No shul, huh?
So really...for her to imply that she had no shul to go to for 20 years...is well...a load of crap.
I can go on and on about the other people I knew at the meeting who claimed to have turned frum due to the program, but were in actuality frum from before.
He wrote the following:
"As Matt Drudge recently found out, one can be sued for libel and slander for a blog's postings. There is no absolute First Amendment Protection against Libel and Slander suits for comments made on a blog. "
I honestly never looked at the Blog "Laws" and interesting clauses on what is or what is not protected by the First Amendment. The thing is, is that both posts were ridiculously vague. The only reason this guy (and the others at shul) understood what I was talking about, was specifically because, they already KNEW what was going on.
SO, no, I don't think I will see any legal "consequences" to those posts except for some nasty looks and comments my way in shul. Which I am absolutely carefree about. I didn't mention any names, and I didn't put a gun against anyone's heads to read my blog. My opinion IS protected by the first amendment.
2- The meeting at shul was an absolute disgrace. I understand the votes were "fair and square" , but what the people in shul don't understand is that the premise of the voting was faulty.
My father's speech was SUPER diplomatic. He started off saying how much he appreciates the program and how much effort he put into building it. He NEVER asked to end the program. -if you're from the shul and reading this, I can e-mail a copy of it-
So my fathers side, neutral. and ALL facts are verifiable.
However, the other side, used under handed tactics.
One couple that spoke (at separate times, purposely sat separately from one another) my family knows very well. They were frum for over 20 years. The lady came up and said how for 20 years she had NO shul she wanted to ever attend in Brooklyn.
Well...ummm...how did you manage not to go to shul for 20 years? Did your frummy husband NEVER show up for minyan before? ON shabbos?
Plus, this lady is one of the main families that started another kiruv shul. Her and her hubby were like the 3rd couple to start that shuls program. She bragged about it at that other shul's melevah malka (which both my mom and I attended right before Purim). No shul to go to, huh?
PLUS PLUS...I've been to her shul multiple times. I've seen her at a shuir which was hosted there once (and she knew all the ladies) and I've seen her when I went, on a regular shabbos, for shalosh suedos. No shul, huh?
So really...for her to imply that she had no shul to go to for 20 years...is well...a load of crap.
I can go on and on about the other people I knew at the meeting who claimed to have turned frum due to the program, but were in actuality frum from before.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
This made me smile :)
Stickers
Little kids make me happy. :)
I like making little kids happy.
My parents and I receive a ton of address labels from different charity organizations. We receive so many, that it would take multiple lifetimes for us to ever be able to use them all up. The thing is, the address labels are just so cute sometimes, that we just cannot bring ourselves to throw them out. So over the years, we've been keeping them, and using them to label meat packages (lamb and beef look the same when frozen).
Problem is, even with us using the labels for meat, we still don't use nearly as much as we get (never mind the ones we've saved up over the years). So mom and I decided to cut out the address parts of each label, keep the cute part, and save them for when little kids come over. Having a million stickers would be an awesome way to occupy little kids time.
So, well, we started with the stickers.
Then a few weeks later one of the guys I work with told me how his daughter started crying one day because she didn't get any mail, when everyone else in the family did.
So I decided, that I'll start mailing letters to little kids with stickers in them.
So I did just that for the little girl (and to this other kid I used to babysit for), and both of them were soooo happy. The girl's mother was very happy. :).
So I'm going to send mail for Chanukah (Gd willingly I'll remember- I forgot on the girl's birthday :'( ). And I think it would be great if everyone thought of making little kids happy. So I shared the way I do it :).
I can't help it, they're just soooo cute!
I like making little kids happy.
My parents and I receive a ton of address labels from different charity organizations. We receive so many, that it would take multiple lifetimes for us to ever be able to use them all up. The thing is, the address labels are just so cute sometimes, that we just cannot bring ourselves to throw them out. So over the years, we've been keeping them, and using them to label meat packages (lamb and beef look the same when frozen).
Problem is, even with us using the labels for meat, we still don't use nearly as much as we get (never mind the ones we've saved up over the years). So mom and I decided to cut out the address parts of each label, keep the cute part, and save them for when little kids come over. Having a million stickers would be an awesome way to occupy little kids time.
So, well, we started with the stickers.
Then a few weeks later one of the guys I work with told me how his daughter started crying one day because she didn't get any mail, when everyone else in the family did.
So I decided, that I'll start mailing letters to little kids with stickers in them.
So I did just that for the little girl (and to this other kid I used to babysit for), and both of them were soooo happy. The girl's mother was very happy. :).
So I'm going to send mail for Chanukah (Gd willingly I'll remember- I forgot on the girl's birthday :'( ). And I think it would be great if everyone thought of making little kids happy. So I shared the way I do it :).
I can't help it, they're just soooo cute!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Such
I consider myself a pretty good writer. I don't know if I'm a great one, but I think I can definitly say "pretty good" without hesistation. Being a good writer is useless if you're not doing anything about it. Over the years, I feel I put it into good use. I used to write "A" stories in JHS. My research papers were well written and organized. I took it upon myself to edit my friends papers, and eventually one of my friends got me into the business of writing papers for this one guy, who owes me $200 now. Bleh...
One of the hardest forms of writing, in my opinion, is creative writing. Mostly because I feel that one needs talent to write a work of fiction, not so much in writing, but in creativity. If you have no creativity, no amount of proper grammer will help you in writing fiction.
Earlier this night, I heard the most marvelous work of fiction, but not in writing, in a speech form. A creative speech is also hard work. The time, the preparation, the lie (why they call it fiction).
The story goes something like this:
Last week a guy entered our wonderful shul for a Friday night. He came in by accident. He had long hair, and was completely irreligious. Our program invited him to stay and eat a meal. While we spoke to him, we realized that his mother was a Jew 4 Jesus, and she tried to turn him into a Christain with her. And he wasn't sure what he wanted, so he walked into a church, and he didn't like it. Then he thought about many things, and eventually found himself in our shul. By the end of shabbos, he chose to become frum. All it took- one shabbos-.
***
I thought that story was marvelous. Absolutely the greatest work of fiction. If only I would've thought to prepare some of my writing works into speeches, I might've inspired a few souls too. I'm tearing up at that story. Really, truly am.
***
One of the hardest forms of writing, in my opinion, is creative writing. Mostly because I feel that one needs talent to write a work of fiction, not so much in writing, but in creativity. If you have no creativity, no amount of proper grammer will help you in writing fiction.
Earlier this night, I heard the most marvelous work of fiction, but not in writing, in a speech form. A creative speech is also hard work. The time, the preparation, the lie (why they call it fiction).
The story goes something like this:
Last week a guy entered our wonderful shul for a Friday night. He came in by accident. He had long hair, and was completely irreligious. Our program invited him to stay and eat a meal. While we spoke to him, we realized that his mother was a Jew 4 Jesus, and she tried to turn him into a Christain with her. And he wasn't sure what he wanted, so he walked into a church, and he didn't like it. Then he thought about many things, and eventually found himself in our shul. By the end of shabbos, he chose to become frum. All it took- one shabbos-.
***
I thought that story was marvelous. Absolutely the greatest work of fiction. If only I would've thought to prepare some of my writing works into speeches, I might've inspired a few souls too. I'm tearing up at that story. Really, truly am.
***
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Quotes
~Since light travels faster than sound, isn't that why some people appear bright until you hear them speak?
~Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.
Elbert Hubbard
~Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.
Elbert Hubbard
~We learn something every day, and lots of times it's that what we learned the day before was wrong.
Bill Vaughan
If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.
-- Rene Descartes
If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you.
-- Don Marquis
I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?
- Jean Kerr
The nice part about being a pessimist is that you are constantly being either proven right or pleasantly surprised.
- George F. Will
Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.
-Ronald Reagan in his first inaugral address
Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.
-- Jules Renard
I write down everything I want to remember. That way, instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember what it is I wrote down, I spend the time looking for the paper I wrote it down on.-
- Beryl Pfizer
Monday, November 17, 2008
Facebook Message
I just received the following from a friend of mine on facebook. It's a plea for money to help pay for a wedding for a couple in kolel:
Getting straight to the point:
I am trying to raise money. I have a friend who is getting married in a few short weeks. The bills keep piling up and they can not afford to make ends meet. Her parents and his parents are unable to help with any of the financial issues. My friend is working two jobs to pay for her wedding. She has to put down money out of her own pocket to pay for a down payment on their apartment and hall.
Her husband is sitting and learning in kollel and does not get paid. I know that many people feel that if they can not afford to live this lifestyle they should not. But this is both of their DREAMS. Both of them have struggled to become the people they are today against great odds. They are not living the kollel life because it is the thing to do they are doing it because they truly want it.
Please help them to fulfill their dream together.
I understand that people can not give a lot. Even if you can just give $10 it will add up.
I ask also if you can try to get other friends/family members to contribute as well it would be much appreciated.
Thank You
***
Ok, So i've done posts on this type of topic before, but I couldn't resist writing another, because this really irked me.
Why would this girl work 2 jobs to pay for a wedding? Shouldn't she just pass on the wedding part? If its a "Dream" you can sacrifice on flowers, a gown, a hall, a band, and everything else a wedding entails.
Any decent Rav would marry them for "free" (a suggested donation would not cost much). Having a buffet style dinner cooked by herself and a few of her friends would cost way less as well, and would allow for her and her husband to live their "dream."
The frum community has more important things to invest their money into than two young brainwashed yeshivishe idiots who think the world owes them a living.
I'm not donating anything, and I hope this economic/credit crisis the world is currently in, shows these people that learning full time is a dumb move.
I feel like what this couple needs is a huge smack, because sometimes a little childlike disciplining works wonders.
I mean seriously... I have dreams I cannot afford as well, how come no tzedakeh organization is out there to help me?
Getting straight to the point:
I am trying to raise money. I have a friend who is getting married in a few short weeks. The bills keep piling up and they can not afford to make ends meet. Her parents and his parents are unable to help with any of the financial issues. My friend is working two jobs to pay for her wedding. She has to put down money out of her own pocket to pay for a down payment on their apartment and hall.
Her husband is sitting and learning in kollel and does not get paid. I know that many people feel that if they can not afford to live this lifestyle they should not. But this is both of their DREAMS. Both of them have struggled to become the people they are today against great odds. They are not living the kollel life because it is the thing to do they are doing it because they truly want it.
Please help them to fulfill their dream together.
I understand that people can not give a lot. Even if you can just give $10 it will add up.
I ask also if you can try to get other friends/family members to contribute as well it would be much appreciated.
Thank You
***
Ok, So i've done posts on this type of topic before, but I couldn't resist writing another, because this really irked me.
Why would this girl work 2 jobs to pay for a wedding? Shouldn't she just pass on the wedding part? If its a "Dream" you can sacrifice on flowers, a gown, a hall, a band, and everything else a wedding entails.
Any decent Rav would marry them for "free" (a suggested donation would not cost much). Having a buffet style dinner cooked by herself and a few of her friends would cost way less as well, and would allow for her and her husband to live their "dream."
The frum community has more important things to invest their money into than two young brainwashed yeshivishe idiots who think the world owes them a living.
I'm not donating anything, and I hope this economic/credit crisis the world is currently in, shows these people that learning full time is a dumb move.
I feel like what this couple needs is a huge smack, because sometimes a little childlike disciplining works wonders.
I mean seriously... I have dreams I cannot afford as well, how come no tzedakeh organization is out there to help me?
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Writing a Speech
This week there will be a meeting at our shul. One of the subjects that will be discussed is very much relevant to my family. Its about a certain program that is at our shul, that my family helped build. We've been at the "ground breaking"/the inception. On top of that, we've spent tons of hours helping to develop it.
My sister and I volunteered to stuff envelopes. We would sit for a few hours with papers all over the place, stuffing the envelopes. My father and cousin spent like 30 hours putting up fliers around the neighborhood, in the cold. My mother and I used to help cook and set up foods. Before each event that was for the program, my family would come in, and decorate. Before the first pesach seder, my father donated cases of chicken (we didn't even show up to the sederim).
Whatever, I can go on and on about what my family did, but that wouldn't matter, because that is not the point. The point here is, is that the program is just not serving the purpose. Its not working. Period. The money that goes into it, is a complete waste. The brilliant Rabbi and shul presidium have their stupid pride to worry about, so instead of kicking out the leadership of the program (a moron "rabbi") they decided to give him something of his own, so that he can screw it up even more. Brilliant, huh?
So about an hour ago I sat myself down to write a speech for my father. The point of the speech was to show the people of the shul that this new something should never have been given, because the new something was not only a dumb move (the leader of the program destroyed the program, why would he not destroy this), but is also a move which is completely counterproductive to the entire point of why the program was started to begin with.
The fact that I'm a pretty good writer has gotten me the "position" of speech writing in the family. The problem is, is that my parents are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too diplomatic to get anything done, and I have no desire whatsoever to write a speech for them. I feel that if my father goes up and uses the approach he wants to use, he'll never get anything.
There's a time and a place for diplomacy, and then there's recognizing you're dealing with a lying and manipulative Rabbi and brown nose-presidents.
I have no desire to write this speech. And I'm flipping out right now, because even if I were to write a speech for myself, my father would flip out if I were to present it.
Bleh kivud av v'eim.
Bleh.
My sister and I volunteered to stuff envelopes. We would sit for a few hours with papers all over the place, stuffing the envelopes. My father and cousin spent like 30 hours putting up fliers around the neighborhood, in the cold. My mother and I used to help cook and set up foods. Before each event that was for the program, my family would come in, and decorate. Before the first pesach seder, my father donated cases of chicken (we didn't even show up to the sederim).
Whatever, I can go on and on about what my family did, but that wouldn't matter, because that is not the point. The point here is, is that the program is just not serving the purpose. Its not working. Period. The money that goes into it, is a complete waste. The brilliant Rabbi and shul presidium have their stupid pride to worry about, so instead of kicking out the leadership of the program (a moron "rabbi") they decided to give him something of his own, so that he can screw it up even more. Brilliant, huh?
So about an hour ago I sat myself down to write a speech for my father. The point of the speech was to show the people of the shul that this new something should never have been given, because the new something was not only a dumb move (the leader of the program destroyed the program, why would he not destroy this), but is also a move which is completely counterproductive to the entire point of why the program was started to begin with.
The fact that I'm a pretty good writer has gotten me the "position" of speech writing in the family. The problem is, is that my parents are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too diplomatic to get anything done, and I have no desire whatsoever to write a speech for them. I feel that if my father goes up and uses the approach he wants to use, he'll never get anything.
There's a time and a place for diplomacy, and then there's recognizing you're dealing with a lying and manipulative Rabbi and brown nose-presidents.
I have no desire to write this speech. And I'm flipping out right now, because even if I were to write a speech for myself, my father would flip out if I were to present it.
Bleh kivud av v'eim.
Bleh.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
ONE YEAR!!
YAY!!
It's been a year since I started blogging. Well, November 5th has been a year since I put up my first post, but since I completely forgot to check the exact date, I'm a bit late with the celebration post.
Ever since I heard about the concept of blogging, I wanted to start a blog of my very own. The problem was, I had nothing at all to write about, so I didn't start a blog. I did however check out other blogs (mostly frumsatire ). I also checked out blogger, and filled out a bunch of stuff to start the blog, but I kept the account closed.
A few years later, I was sitting bored in front of a computer at the Brooklyn College Library (I had a 3 hour gap between classes) and I started reading the news, then I flipped out, and well...I wrote a post, opened up my blogger, and posted it!! I had no readers. I had no idea what I should name the blog or anything, so at first I just called it "Just Ranting", which I knew was really lame, but I figured it was ok for the time being.
Later, that day at one of my philosophy classes I decided "Hey, I like writing about this stuff, I love my major, why not make a blog about how I'm skeptical of frum people's ways, and compare some of their ideas and philosophy with the type of things I'm learning about in class?"
And so I decided on the name One Frum Skeptic.
I tried very hard to write about philosophical issues ALL the time. It didn't work out at all. Even from the beginning I was mostly ranting. Definitely not as much as now, but still.
Basically, I wanted more posts like Judaism and Existentialism and the Game of Life.
I also wanted to have alot of cute/funny posts such as If I rule the world and What if they genetically engineered a pig ?
Well...this blog has a life of its own, or should I say my brain has a little part of it dedicated solely to my blogging, and it has developed my being a crazy and outrageous ranter?
:-)
I'm all ok with that. Blowing off some steam here is good for me, and well, you readers seem to like it. :)
And well...Happy anniversary to my blog! YAY :)
and Thank you all for reading. I do love the comments. :)
It's been a year since I started blogging. Well, November 5th has been a year since I put up my first post, but since I completely forgot to check the exact date, I'm a bit late with the celebration post.
Ever since I heard about the concept of blogging, I wanted to start a blog of my very own. The problem was, I had nothing at all to write about, so I didn't start a blog. I did however check out other blogs (mostly frumsatire ). I also checked out blogger, and filled out a bunch of stuff to start the blog, but I kept the account closed.
A few years later, I was sitting bored in front of a computer at the Brooklyn College Library (I had a 3 hour gap between classes) and I started reading the news, then I flipped out, and well...I wrote a post, opened up my blogger, and posted it!! I had no readers. I had no idea what I should name the blog or anything, so at first I just called it "Just Ranting", which I knew was really lame, but I figured it was ok for the time being.
Later, that day at one of my philosophy classes I decided "Hey, I like writing about this stuff, I love my major, why not make a blog about how I'm skeptical of frum people's ways, and compare some of their ideas and philosophy with the type of things I'm learning about in class?"
And so I decided on the name One Frum Skeptic.
I tried very hard to write about philosophical issues ALL the time. It didn't work out at all. Even from the beginning I was mostly ranting. Definitely not as much as now, but still.
Basically, I wanted more posts like Judaism and Existentialism and the Game of Life.
I also wanted to have alot of cute/funny posts such as If I rule the world and What if they genetically engineered a pig ?
Well...this blog has a life of its own, or should I say my brain has a little part of it dedicated solely to my blogging, and it has developed my being a crazy and outrageous ranter?
:-)
I'm all ok with that. Blowing off some steam here is good for me, and well, you readers seem to like it. :)
And well...Happy anniversary to my blog! YAY :)
and Thank you all for reading. I do love the comments. :)
Monday, November 10, 2008
Antisemitism is geared too...
Many times when learning about the holocaust or about pogroms or some sort of other massive turn out against Jews, the discussion always leads to WHY people hate Jews.
The teacher/speaker always begins by explaining how the secular Jew is looked down upon just as much as the frummy Jew (of course I never went to such a shuir given by non-frummies). They continue by explaining how the frummy looking Jew doesn't hide their Jewishness, but flaunts it in a way, while the secular Jew hides it, in hopes of not being hated.
The speakers always say how the goy looks down on both types of Jew, and that we shouldn't be embarrassed by what we are, and live up to it.
I was even at a shuir once in which the speaker said that if you say something about a black guy, the black guy would be like "Black Pride" and go away, but if you say something about a Jew, the Jew would be like "really? I didn't realize, how should I change?"
And so the speaker continued on and said how we as Jews should just remain Jewish, and persue frummy persuits.
And basically that is the main opinion amongst shuirim/classes I've attended. If Jews only remained secluded to ghettos, no one would bother them or hate them.
I feel like this, if someone is going to hate me, why can't I persue whatever I want, and not worry about them hating me? If they're going to bother me, it won't be legal in today's day, so why bother, unless I have evidence of some war breaking out?
But I never argued with my teachers/lecturers, because I never really had evidence to think otherwise.
The other day at my office, I was sitting at my desk and a coworker walked over and started asking me questions. She asked me about marriage and kosher foods and such stuff. Then she was like "you're not one of those crazy Jews, are you?"
I was like "what do you mean?"
she said "Well you know, you don't want one of those bearded fella's that wear suits everyday, and I see you don't dress so warmly in the middle of the summer like S (frummy in my office) does."
I started cracking up, and said "I'm nothing like that."
And she asked me a bunch more questions, and she was like "well, thats good, I'm glad you're not crazy like her [S]"
I just laughed.
A few weeks after that, I started chatting with the same lady, and I told her how one of my friends was miserable because she already hit her 21st birthday and was not engaged yet. I told her I thought she was a complete nut for driving herself so crazy, big whoop, 21. Mazel tov if you find him, goodluck for the next year, right? Why worry?
My coworker was like "Yea, S ONLY talks about marraige. First it was her kids, now its about grandkids and nieces and nephews and other friends. Thats ALL that is in her head."
I was like "yup, its terribly annoying"
And well...My point here is, is that those who hate Jews will hate Jews. Some will hate the Jews that are crazy like S, but not mind Jews who are seemingly not-crazy like myself. Others will hate us all. and others will ONLY hate the type like me.
This isn't about fingerpointing, or anything.
It just is what it is.
People who want to hate you will, no matter how much you remain out of the spotlight.
Do I recommend a Jew run for President? HELL NO! But a Jew shouldn't feel that the only place to live is Boro Park for fear that he'll be hated outside of this modern-day shtetl.
The teacher/speaker always begins by explaining how the secular Jew is looked down upon just as much as the frummy Jew (of course I never went to such a shuir given by non-frummies). They continue by explaining how the frummy looking Jew doesn't hide their Jewishness, but flaunts it in a way, while the secular Jew hides it, in hopes of not being hated.
The speakers always say how the goy looks down on both types of Jew, and that we shouldn't be embarrassed by what we are, and live up to it.
I was even at a shuir once in which the speaker said that if you say something about a black guy, the black guy would be like "Black Pride" and go away, but if you say something about a Jew, the Jew would be like "really? I didn't realize, how should I change?"
And so the speaker continued on and said how we as Jews should just remain Jewish, and persue frummy persuits.
And basically that is the main opinion amongst shuirim/classes I've attended. If Jews only remained secluded to ghettos, no one would bother them or hate them.
I feel like this, if someone is going to hate me, why can't I persue whatever I want, and not worry about them hating me? If they're going to bother me, it won't be legal in today's day, so why bother, unless I have evidence of some war breaking out?
But I never argued with my teachers/lecturers, because I never really had evidence to think otherwise.
The other day at my office, I was sitting at my desk and a coworker walked over and started asking me questions. She asked me about marriage and kosher foods and such stuff. Then she was like "you're not one of those crazy Jews, are you?"
I was like "what do you mean?"
she said "Well you know, you don't want one of those bearded fella's that wear suits everyday, and I see you don't dress so warmly in the middle of the summer like S (frummy in my office) does."
I started cracking up, and said "I'm nothing like that."
And she asked me a bunch more questions, and she was like "well, thats good, I'm glad you're not crazy like her [S]"
I just laughed.
A few weeks after that, I started chatting with the same lady, and I told her how one of my friends was miserable because she already hit her 21st birthday and was not engaged yet. I told her I thought she was a complete nut for driving herself so crazy, big whoop, 21. Mazel tov if you find him, goodluck for the next year, right? Why worry?
My coworker was like "Yea, S ONLY talks about marraige. First it was her kids, now its about grandkids and nieces and nephews and other friends. Thats ALL that is in her head."
I was like "yup, its terribly annoying"
And well...My point here is, is that those who hate Jews will hate Jews. Some will hate the Jews that are crazy like S, but not mind Jews who are seemingly not-crazy like myself. Others will hate us all. and others will ONLY hate the type like me.
This isn't about fingerpointing, or anything.
It just is what it is.
People who want to hate you will, no matter how much you remain out of the spotlight.
Do I recommend a Jew run for President? HELL NO! But a Jew shouldn't feel that the only place to live is Boro Park for fear that he'll be hated outside of this modern-day shtetl.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
And Hitler Wins
Everytime someone tries to explain why frummies have a lot of children the explanations given are always one or both of the following:
a) It is a mitzvah to reproduce by Jewish law
b) To get back at Hitler/repopulate the Jewish nation to "make up" for the 6million killed
-The first answer (a) seems decent, but definitely dumb. No reason to go on and have too many kids for a normal sane person to handle! I mean, even halacha doesn't say one has to have a crazy load of kids. Just one boy and one girl. But whatever, having a large family is nice and all. But I don't believe even-half the people in charedi-ville are capable of handling all those children. The commonness of the huge (15+) family phenomena gets me wondering about how much attention each kid receives from the parents and such. But anyway, that's not my point...
- The second (b) reason is just beyond ridiculous and I've heard it more than once. Its like "Lets have 10 kids, so if they have 10 kids and they'll have 10 kids and within a few generations we'll make up the numbers" (I've actually heard this from someone I know who is 1 of 9).
So anyway, all this "Lets get back at Hitler" stuff has got me thinking, especially since a few weeks ago at a speech on shabbos, the rabbi said how one-third (1/3, 33%) of the frummies are going of the derech.
1/3!! That's enormous. And I probably wouldn't have believed the number if it weren't for blogging, but I fully believe it.
Anyway, 1/3 is alot of people, and in the end what happens. Hitler wins anyway. Why, because the reason 1/3 of the people are going off the derech is because the rules (mostly crazy chumras) and all the social pressures really end up getting to people, and they just lose it and therefore change their religious affiliations.
- the "at risk" people I've spoken to (the ones that went from frummy to modern- not exactly "off the derech") all had issues with girl/guy taboo, and hated the pressure to conform to every little thing.
- 3 girls from my HS that I know of, I kinda keep in touch with one, and she is best friends with another, and the third is a friend of my best friend. They all hated the pressure of HS. Hated how they were expected to only achieve at being "mothers" (which is fine for some women but not all).
Now, what happens when 1/3 of the people are "off the derech"? You have Rabbi's ban more things, and you have more people question why their neighbor/friend/family member chose NOT to be Jewish. But instead of answering the questions, you have Rebbeim make outright ridiculous claims, and HS principals make wack job remarks.
Where does this lead us? This leads us into labeling ourselves even more (isn't Litvish/chassidish, ashkenaz/sephard enough? atleast those have basis!), and then leads to more questioning amongst kids (why do they do that, or not do that) which only leads to dumb responses by Rebbeim (ie, immodesty leads to Israeli terrorism- "awearness") or something of the sort.
And then the Rebbeim go on and flaunt how many people they put ON the derech. "Look, Oorah made x amount of people frum" or "that particular kiruv HS has so many girls becoming frum each year, it must be working!"
Dude...its NOT working. if a 1/3 of the ALREADY frum people are going off the derech, that only shows that the system is NOT working.
Think of it as a business, when you try to expand on your customer base, you ADD things to the menu, you don't rid them (unless they're not profitable), you want to ensure that your current customers continue on coming as well. So why would you do anything to hurt them?
But Rebbeim don't get that. Rebbeim are so used to not thinking about consequences that they can't help but focus on the high "BT" rate.
Worry about whats in your own community before you worry about others. Raise your own kids, and educate your own community before you reach out to others. Or else you'll end up with a 1/3 off the derech rate, and a BT rate that doesn't nearly come close to making up those numbers.
In the end. 9 kids ain't gonna matter if you don't raise them to want to remain frum. it won't matter if you have 15 kids or 25 kids, because at the end of the day, the percentages speak louder. Rabbi's should teach parents to raise kids as opposed to teach parents how to invite their non-frummy neighbor for shabbos.
It shouldn't be about Hitler winning. Its all quality over quantity. If you've got crappy quality, Hitler wins anyway.
a) It is a mitzvah to reproduce by Jewish law
b) To get back at Hitler/repopulate the Jewish nation to "make up" for the 6million killed
-The first answer (a) seems decent, but definitely dumb. No reason to go on and have too many kids for a normal sane person to handle! I mean, even halacha doesn't say one has to have a crazy load of kids. Just one boy and one girl. But whatever, having a large family is nice and all. But I don't believe even-half the people in charedi-ville are capable of handling all those children. The commonness of the huge (15+) family phenomena gets me wondering about how much attention each kid receives from the parents and such. But anyway, that's not my point...
- The second (b) reason is just beyond ridiculous and I've heard it more than once. Its like "Lets have 10 kids, so if they have 10 kids and they'll have 10 kids and within a few generations we'll make up the numbers" (I've actually heard this from someone I know who is 1 of 9).
So anyway, all this "Lets get back at Hitler" stuff has got me thinking, especially since a few weeks ago at a speech on shabbos, the rabbi said how one-third (1/3, 33%) of the frummies are going of the derech.
1/3!! That's enormous. And I probably wouldn't have believed the number if it weren't for blogging, but I fully believe it.
Anyway, 1/3 is alot of people, and in the end what happens. Hitler wins anyway. Why, because the reason 1/3 of the people are going off the derech is because the rules (mostly crazy chumras) and all the social pressures really end up getting to people, and they just lose it and therefore change their religious affiliations.
- the "at risk" people I've spoken to (the ones that went from frummy to modern- not exactly "off the derech") all had issues with girl/guy taboo, and hated the pressure to conform to every little thing.
- 3 girls from my HS that I know of, I kinda keep in touch with one, and she is best friends with another, and the third is a friend of my best friend. They all hated the pressure of HS. Hated how they were expected to only achieve at being "mothers" (which is fine for some women but not all).
Now, what happens when 1/3 of the people are "off the derech"? You have Rabbi's ban more things, and you have more people question why their neighbor/friend/family member chose NOT to be Jewish. But instead of answering the questions, you have Rebbeim make outright ridiculous claims, and HS principals make wack job remarks.
Where does this lead us? This leads us into labeling ourselves even more (isn't Litvish/chassidish, ashkenaz/sephard enough? atleast those have basis!), and then leads to more questioning amongst kids (why do they do that, or not do that) which only leads to dumb responses by Rebbeim (ie, immodesty leads to Israeli terrorism- "awearness") or something of the sort.
And then the Rebbeim go on and flaunt how many people they put ON the derech. "Look, Oorah made x amount of people frum" or "that particular kiruv HS has so many girls becoming frum each year, it must be working!"
Dude...its NOT working. if a 1/3 of the ALREADY frum people are going off the derech, that only shows that the system is NOT working.
Think of it as a business, when you try to expand on your customer base, you ADD things to the menu, you don't rid them (unless they're not profitable), you want to ensure that your current customers continue on coming as well. So why would you do anything to hurt them?
But Rebbeim don't get that. Rebbeim are so used to not thinking about consequences that they can't help but focus on the high "BT" rate.
Worry about whats in your own community before you worry about others. Raise your own kids, and educate your own community before you reach out to others. Or else you'll end up with a 1/3 off the derech rate, and a BT rate that doesn't nearly come close to making up those numbers.
In the end. 9 kids ain't gonna matter if you don't raise them to want to remain frum. it won't matter if you have 15 kids or 25 kids, because at the end of the day, the percentages speak louder. Rabbi's should teach parents to raise kids as opposed to teach parents how to invite their non-frummy neighbor for shabbos.
It shouldn't be about Hitler winning. Its all quality over quantity. If you've got crappy quality, Hitler wins anyway.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Moving to Canada
Throughout the day I've read and heard republicans say they plan on moving to Canada because of the Obama victory.
I don't understand that.; Why would someone who is a republican move to Canada? It just makes no sense whatsoever. You end up losing. Canada already has the high taxes and the socialist systems.
Going there would be like WILLINGLY choosing to move to the country that ALREADY adapted the very system you voted against when you chose McCain.
In '04 when the Democrats promised to move to Canada, they made sense. Canada welcomes jackasses. I was even hoping promises would be kept and many of them would move there after Bush won! But no, shoulda figured. Democrats and their empty promises.
Back to Republicans: What's wrong with you people? Do you even know about Canada's economy? or high sales tax?
Oh well
I don't understand that.; Why would someone who is a republican move to Canada? It just makes no sense whatsoever. You end up losing. Canada already has the high taxes and the socialist systems.
Going there would be like WILLINGLY choosing to move to the country that ALREADY adapted the very system you voted against when you chose McCain.
In '04 when the Democrats promised to move to Canada, they made sense. Canada welcomes jackasses. I was even hoping promises would be kept and many of them would move there after Bush won! But no, shoulda figured. Democrats and their empty promises.
Back to Republicans: What's wrong with you people? Do you even know about Canada's economy? or high sales tax?
Oh well
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Bible codes
Sometime last month I wrote a post about my Stupid Friend who said that if Obama wins, moshiach will come.
The post had many comments, and one of them was from non-other than Anonymous. And he defended my friend, and said that he believed moshiach will come if Obama wins as well. He said that it's written in bible codes somewhere, and stood firmly by his decision, even though, I did argue with him a bit. Good for him for standing firm on his beliefs.
Anyway, one of the things that was said to be in bible codes (according to Anonymous- I did NOT look this up, I happen to trust this, why else would someone argue something being in bible codes?) was that and I quote:
actually it says obama in the Torah, not a description of him. They found a passage that spells out his name acrostically, and before that it says nasi, which mean president, and afterwards it says mashiach.
***
I'm not here to argue the validity of bible codes. Not at all the point of this post. Say the bible codes are truly accurate, and are truly the determining factors of the world, wouldn't there be major problems with this case?
Firstly, one of the things it says in some gemara somewhere is how we're not supposed to visit the fortune teller, or take our horoscopes seriously. The reason, is because of the concept of Jews being above mazal. Like, we supposedly have free will, and if we seek the services of the fortune teller, and we learn our future, there would be no way for hashem to change it.
My question is, wouldn't bible codes, at least in this case qualify as the same thing? I mean, Obama, would HAVE to win for this bible code to come true. If Obama didn't win, then there would be no way of it coming true, which would then be used as a source to discredit the concept of the Torah.
OR...there really is no free-will, and we all vote, but it doesn't matter, because hashem has some sort of ultimate plan, and we live in an illusion thinking we have free-will, even though we don't.
At the end of the day, should we really be dissecting the bible for codes? We're either going to fall into sticky grounds with knowing about our future, or we're going to find out we have no free will. Either way, are we mature enough to handle that?
The post had many comments, and one of them was from non-other than Anonymous. And he defended my friend, and said that he believed moshiach will come if Obama wins as well. He said that it's written in bible codes somewhere, and stood firmly by his decision, even though, I did argue with him a bit. Good for him for standing firm on his beliefs.
Anyway, one of the things that was said to be in bible codes (according to Anonymous- I did NOT look this up, I happen to trust this, why else would someone argue something being in bible codes?) was that and I quote:
actually it says obama in the Torah, not a description of him. They found a passage that spells out his name acrostically, and before that it says nasi, which mean president, and afterwards it says mashiach.
***
I'm not here to argue the validity of bible codes. Not at all the point of this post. Say the bible codes are truly accurate, and are truly the determining factors of the world, wouldn't there be major problems with this case?
Firstly, one of the things it says in some gemara somewhere is how we're not supposed to visit the fortune teller, or take our horoscopes seriously. The reason, is because of the concept of Jews being above mazal. Like, we supposedly have free will, and if we seek the services of the fortune teller, and we learn our future, there would be no way for hashem to change it.
My question is, wouldn't bible codes, at least in this case qualify as the same thing? I mean, Obama, would HAVE to win for this bible code to come true. If Obama didn't win, then there would be no way of it coming true, which would then be used as a source to discredit the concept of the Torah.
OR...there really is no free-will, and we all vote, but it doesn't matter, because hashem has some sort of ultimate plan, and we live in an illusion thinking we have free-will, even though we don't.
At the end of the day, should we really be dissecting the bible for codes? We're either going to fall into sticky grounds with knowing about our future, or we're going to find out we have no free will. Either way, are we mature enough to handle that?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Pennsylvania
So it's pretty much "official" that Obama and Murtha won Pennsylvania.
Am I missing something or being called a gun totting, religion clinging Republican is meant as an insult?
Am I missing something when I think that voting for guys that insult you is just a dumb move?
I mean, if you really like being beat and insulted, hire a dominatrix, why screw the country?
Am I missing something or being called a gun totting, religion clinging Republican is meant as an insult?
Am I missing something when I think that voting for guys that insult you is just a dumb move?
I mean, if you really like being beat and insulted, hire a dominatrix, why screw the country?
Monday, November 3, 2008
Suspension
A few girls at my sisters school were suspended.
Why?
Because they were caught cutting a weekly speech given by the principal herself.
My sister thinks the school is nuts. I think the school is nuts.
I generally think that cutting a class shows a sign of normalcy amongst students. Who wants to sit an entire year and NEVER cut a class? Especially if its boring?
I mean, my sister supposedly claims to have never cut class. And I beleive her cuz she's a super geek. But me? I woulda been suspended about 100 times. Especially in 10th grade when I just couldn't stand my english teacher.
And then in 11/12th grade when I knew I was already accepted into college and just couldn't care less about my grades anymore because I knew I'd pass the regents.
Seriously...suspension?
WTH?
Isn't that like child labor to make them sit through such boredom ALL the time and expect them NOT to cut?
Why?
Because they were caught cutting a weekly speech given by the principal herself.
My sister thinks the school is nuts. I think the school is nuts.
I generally think that cutting a class shows a sign of normalcy amongst students. Who wants to sit an entire year and NEVER cut a class? Especially if its boring?
I mean, my sister supposedly claims to have never cut class. And I beleive her cuz she's a super geek. But me? I woulda been suspended about 100 times. Especially in 10th grade when I just couldn't stand my english teacher.
And then in 11/12th grade when I knew I was already accepted into college and just couldn't care less about my grades anymore because I knew I'd pass the regents.
Seriously...suspension?
WTH?
Isn't that like child labor to make them sit through such boredom ALL the time and expect them NOT to cut?
Sunday, November 2, 2008
It's the parents!
Choosing a school based on the middos reputation of its students is a very common occurrence amongst frum people. Like with most things frum people do, this specific occurrence irks me as well.
For example, this shabbos the rabbi of my shul said he will probably send his daughter to a certain school because he doesn't want to worry about her going on drugs, being in the streets, and possibly going off the derech. He said that he's capable of supplementing her education so its not going to be a problem.
Here goes my rant:
WTH is wrong with people these days? We are currently experiencing the highest OTD rate in as long as anyone can remember, as well as the highest BT/conversion rates in history.
So lets take schooling for example:
Many of the OTD people went to typical BY/Yeshivish type schools. They had terrible education, no outside world influences, they didn't speak to people of the opposite gender, and yet, at a certain age, they began to realize there must be more to the world than just blindly following a penguin wannabe. Some people find answers to their own questions, some never ask and just follow the status quo as hard as it may be, while others just decide they want nothing to do with the people who make clarity so difficult to find, and eventually choose a different lifestyle.
Lets take the average BT. The average BT went to a public school or a kiruv type school with VERY lenient rules. Meaning, the BT came from a background that allowed for ALOT Of socialization amongst all different types of people. These people socialized (assuming they're from a city where the trends are high) with Muslims, Christians, atheists, hindus, Buddhists; they've also socialized with many different types of people in reference to race and culture. They've probably been to people's houses and tried a variety of ethnic foods.
These people somehow find a way to become frum. They give up their free-lifestyle. They commit to doing NOTHING one day a week, they commit to not eating certain foods, basically, they generally commit to an entirely different lifestyle than they are used to.
Now...why would someone who has alot of freedom choose to become frum, while someone who is raised with the restrictions and is used to the lifestyle, go off the derech?
Clearly its not IN THE SCHOOL. CLEARLY!! Or else no PS kid would ever in their lives become frum, and neither would a nice BY/yeshivish person go OTD.
It's the parents. Sadly, I feel the parents in frum homes have no say whatsoever in their child's life anymore. They send their kids to schools. These schools decide for the parents what the kid can/cannot do. What the kid can/not see. The school chooses who the kid can or cannot be friends with, and which music the kid can/cannot listen to. They also declare which locations are appropriate for the kid to socialize in, and which ones are innappropriate.
Where are the parents? Oh, that's right, the parents are busy reproducing, so that 5 yrs later they can complain about how they cannot afford tuition to send their kids to schools they cannot afford that doesn't teach anything anyway...
Really...in the PS system, the parents are FORCED to parent, because if they don't, children will end up totally messed up. And if the parents don't parent? The kid learns to make their own decisions. Some kids make mistakes, while some don't. It's all relative to the personalities and the INDIVIDUALITY that develops when you're in a school with a DIVERSE group of people.
When you're in a school with people who are not like you, you tend to question why you do what you do. You question why you're different, and often, people have a specific preference to their own culture, and they form an identity with people who are similar to themselves. They come up with cliques, in which the students find themselves as part of a community of people who are LIKE them! Even if a student forms a clique of people based on things other than ethnicity, there would still be an ultimate binding factor that the student feels is essential to their personal identity.
A student, in such an environment, learns to take care of itself, based on the guidelines their parents set for them in the home.
If a student has bad parents, they wouldn't survive the PS system, because they are likely to find themselves with a group of people who are clueless.
Being a part of the frummy yeshiva system requires bad parents. If parents were decent, they wouldn't feel compelled to leaving their kids in schools for crazy hours. They'd want their kids at home, reading a book, or possibly hanging out with a friend, watching a movie or doing HW or playing a game.
IN the frum world, its no wonder they fear sending their kid to decent education schools, and not focus on middos. They fear the inevitable- their bad parenting would cause their kids to go OTD.
For example, this shabbos the rabbi of my shul said he will probably send his daughter to a certain school because he doesn't want to worry about her going on drugs, being in the streets, and possibly going off the derech. He said that he's capable of supplementing her education so its not going to be a problem.
Here goes my rant:
WTH is wrong with people these days? We are currently experiencing the highest OTD rate in as long as anyone can remember, as well as the highest BT/conversion rates in history.
So lets take schooling for example:
Many of the OTD people went to typical BY/Yeshivish type schools. They had terrible education, no outside world influences, they didn't speak to people of the opposite gender, and yet, at a certain age, they began to realize there must be more to the world than just blindly following a penguin wannabe. Some people find answers to their own questions, some never ask and just follow the status quo as hard as it may be, while others just decide they want nothing to do with the people who make clarity so difficult to find, and eventually choose a different lifestyle.
Lets take the average BT. The average BT went to a public school or a kiruv type school with VERY lenient rules. Meaning, the BT came from a background that allowed for ALOT Of socialization amongst all different types of people. These people socialized (assuming they're from a city where the trends are high) with Muslims, Christians, atheists, hindus, Buddhists; they've also socialized with many different types of people in reference to race and culture. They've probably been to people's houses and tried a variety of ethnic foods.
These people somehow find a way to become frum. They give up their free-lifestyle. They commit to doing NOTHING one day a week, they commit to not eating certain foods, basically, they generally commit to an entirely different lifestyle than they are used to.
Now...why would someone who has alot of freedom choose to become frum, while someone who is raised with the restrictions and is used to the lifestyle, go off the derech?
Clearly its not IN THE SCHOOL. CLEARLY!! Or else no PS kid would ever in their lives become frum, and neither would a nice BY/yeshivish person go OTD.
It's the parents. Sadly, I feel the parents in frum homes have no say whatsoever in their child's life anymore. They send their kids to schools. These schools decide for the parents what the kid can/cannot do. What the kid can/not see. The school chooses who the kid can or cannot be friends with, and which music the kid can/cannot listen to. They also declare which locations are appropriate for the kid to socialize in, and which ones are innappropriate.
Where are the parents? Oh, that's right, the parents are busy reproducing, so that 5 yrs later they can complain about how they cannot afford tuition to send their kids to schools they cannot afford that doesn't teach anything anyway...
Really...in the PS system, the parents are FORCED to parent, because if they don't, children will end up totally messed up. And if the parents don't parent? The kid learns to make their own decisions. Some kids make mistakes, while some don't. It's all relative to the personalities and the INDIVIDUALITY that develops when you're in a school with a DIVERSE group of people.
When you're in a school with people who are not like you, you tend to question why you do what you do. You question why you're different, and often, people have a specific preference to their own culture, and they form an identity with people who are similar to themselves. They come up with cliques, in which the students find themselves as part of a community of people who are LIKE them! Even if a student forms a clique of people based on things other than ethnicity, there would still be an ultimate binding factor that the student feels is essential to their personal identity.
A student, in such an environment, learns to take care of itself, based on the guidelines their parents set for them in the home.
If a student has bad parents, they wouldn't survive the PS system, because they are likely to find themselves with a group of people who are clueless.
Being a part of the frummy yeshiva system requires bad parents. If parents were decent, they wouldn't feel compelled to leaving their kids in schools for crazy hours. They'd want their kids at home, reading a book, or possibly hanging out with a friend, watching a movie or doing HW or playing a game.
IN the frum world, its no wonder they fear sending their kid to decent education schools, and not focus on middos. They fear the inevitable- their bad parenting would cause their kids to go OTD.
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