My New Hero

Michael Bloomberg's assault on democracy and the free will of people just came to a halt. If this were a movie there would be a record scratch sound on the soundtrack, as someone with a brain, and realizing the Pandora's Box, can of worms, and any other cliche you can think of that the Soda Ban would ignite for the moment put a halt to the law.

For those not in the know, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the man who subverted democracy by allowing the city council to overturn a law that was enacted by popular vote, through the Health Department enacted a law that banned sugary drinks of 16 ounces or more. This includes 2 liter sodas with pizza deliveries, regardless of the fact that most people share two pies and a bottle of soda. This also doesn't include certain places that sell these drinks depending on how they are defined as an establishment.

This being the good old U.S. of A., a place that Bloomberg does not yet fully control, there is a lawsuit. So for now there is a freeze on the fizz!

Yay Judge Milton Tingling!

"The portion cap rule, if upheld, would create an administrative Leviathan and violate the separation of powers doctrine," by straying into territory that should belong to the elected City Council, not the board appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Tingling wrote. 
That, he wrote, "has the potential to be more troubling than sweetened beverages.

How Do You Like That?

According to a report on The Yeshiva World (I admit, I read it sometimes) Rav Shteinman has put out a call for women to assist in doing something spiritual to beseech Heaven to stop yeshiva bochurim from being drafted.

The men have been asked to organize a schedule so that there is round the clock limud Torah (don't tell the Kollel Chatzos people, they charge for that you know) for 5 consecutive days. One of the men considered to be one of the gedolei hador has asked women to join the effort.

And it's not what you think.

Unlike others, who equate a woman's service to G-d and role in Judaism as it relates to men, the Rav requested women say tehillim, strengthen their shmiras shabbos, and be careful with lashon harah and motzie shem ra.

No mention of baking cookies for the men who are learning, and no mention of skirt lengths or what side of the sidewalk to be on.  Nothing but a focus on a way for them to strengthen their own avodas Hashem, and adherence to mitzvos/halacha.

It gives me hope.