It Needs to Make Sense

In the wake of the Boston Bombing, we are left once again with a ridiculous need to react incorrectly  to events. This weekend there will be a marathon on Long Island, and security is going to be tight. The London Marathon, which took place less then a week after the Boston race, and before there was a clear picture of exactly who and why the bombings took place, rightfully stepped up security.

The question becomes: why are the organizers of this marathon beefing up security? Is it because they are afraid of copycats, or is it because they assume that all terrorists will always follow what the one before did?

If we really feel that the nation is under attack we need heightened security and metal detectors, guards, dogs, and real anti-terror personnel (as opposed to TSA people who are merely trained to tell people to remove their shoes-for the same reason-someone once put something in his shoe) at every mall, stadium, bus station and public event.

Feel good security doesn't really make us safer, wastes resources better used to train law enforcement and TSA agents in real security (looking people in the eye, asking questions, watching), and generally causes a malaise in the populace, a populace who could be a great partner in the anti-terror effort. Band-aid solutions that only serve to make people think they are safer, can really just make them complacent.

A lot of anti-terror success is luck. But a lot of it could be well thought out, designed plans, follow ups to watch lists and wiretaps, and sharing information.

I am still grateful that people can fly with their underwear.

Revisiting

Again, we would like to thank all those who participated in Blog B'omer.  Some of the posts that I put up were a little quick, and I would like to expound on one of them, and reserve the right to do the same to others in the future.

In one of the earlier posts of the day, I lamented the verbal treatment of an unknown (to the offender)girl by the mother of a boy.

I think it's important to note that I understand the deluge that the families of boys find themselves in, in terms of papers and stuffed in boxes, the dreaded pile of which we spoke.

However, as important as it is, (as I was chided)not to be cynical, there is room for outrage. And not outrage in a vent your spleen kind of way, outrage in the sense that if as a society we do not accept or sit idly by while mothers' of boys are callous and dismissive of our girls, then two things MAY happen.

One, the mothers of boys may think twice about this attitude. They may treat the girls as more then just a name on a paper. As impossible as that is to believe, I am hopeful it could happen. Also, if these women were more comfortable saying no, it would also make things easier, but even with name upon name, people are running scared so it's a hedge. It's the fault of the girl for not reading the "no" in what is being said.

Second, by being outraged, perhaps we can change the culture for those who are just coming in to this part of their life. If people would stop and think, and set a standard for themselves of how they would LIKE to comport themselves, there is a better chance they may actually live up to it. Everyone is human, and I don't expect perfection at all times, but if one is striving for something whether through their own desire to be better, or because the societal pendulum has swung in that direction, then things would be more civil all around.

The system may favor one sex over the other, in terms of who has the "upper hand," in the proceedings, but the system does not dictate individual behaviors.

And can't be blamed for it.

That's a choice.

Blog B'Omer:This is Thirty Fourth Post

I know we said thirty three, but since we went past nacht, we figured we should have one more.

Thanks again to contributors, commentators, and readers.

If a blog exists and no one reads it, does it exist at all?

BlogB'Omer: This is the Thirty Third Post

Submitted by: SLiM

Looking at t-shirts can teach you a lot.

Is there such thing as Young Navy? Yes. It's called Gap.

Does Aeropostale mean anything? Yes. It means 87, or it's a shortening of "Airy-prust'l."

Does Abercrombie mean anything? Yes. It means "Fat Moose."

Why is it that your mother-in-law went to Nebraska and only got you this stupid t-shirt? Now there's a question we can't answer.

Blog B'Omer: This is the Thirty Second Post

For the first time in probably ten or twelve years, I am no longer "omering" with a bracha.  This makes me sad, because it was something I found very easy to do, but this year I got away from my own personal rules.

I use to be very careful, and the  minute I thought about needing to Omer, no matter what I was doing I would stop, make the bracha and count the sefira. Even in the middle of a conversation, so much so, I told this to one of my nephews and he called me a few times just to talk and in the middle yell"Omer" so I would stop and do it.

I also, in sort of obsessive way would say it a number of times during the day.

Somehow I got away from that, and here I am blogging instead of counting.

I will still have cheesecake, but hopefully go back to full counting with a bracha, iyh next year.

Blog B'Omer: This is the Thirty First Post

There's a discussion out there about the whole Rabba thing. That's where women train to be halachic authorities and take leadership positions.

Why can't a woman gain the knowledge she wants without subverting what has been centuries of tradition. You want to know more? Know more. You want to share it with others, share it.

If a woman feels she needs to know more, she should know more, why does so much of what we do have to be broadcast to everyone?

It sounds funny coming from a blogger, especially one who in an endeavor to post 33 posts in one day was reduced to just sort posting a lot of what popped in her head.

That being said, in the twitter/facebook, etc universe there is overlap in the real world.  Years ago it was just bumper stickers, and an occasional sign on your lawn. Today if something is happening to you everyone needs to know.

A new take on if a tree falls in the forest....

If you do something and don't post it on facebook, does it count?

Blog B'Omer: This is the Thirtieth Post

Submitted by:  Doobie

So for those that don't already know... I have been diagnosed with an ear infection.  Yes  I know I am no longer a toddler and it is definitely less common in adults, though not as uncommon as you might think considering how many people I spoke to tonight mentioned it.

There are two things i have learned from this unfortunate situation, well maybe more but we don't have time for that now.

The most obvious thing is how we so easily take for granted all the things in our wondrous bodies that have so much potential to disfunction and how rarely they actually do. But once something bothers you it's amazing how you learn to appreciate what we do have.  I once had a dentist tell me "you are not supposed to feel your teeth! if you are aware of them something is wrong!"  Turns out this is true for many of our systems that are always doing their jobs and we can so easily take that for granted!!!

The other thing I have learned, since my ears are filled with fluid and I feel as if there is something stuffed in there so i am hearing everything as if it is through water.

WE PLAY MUSIC WAY TOO LOUD AT WEDDINGS

Didn't really need an ear infection to tell me that :)

Blog B'Omer: This is the Twenty Ninth Post

One of my girls got upset at me and asked why I am always "bashing" only Jews.

Sometimes I am at a loss for words when my kids confront me with something, but not this time.  I was sad that she saw it as bashing, but it was very simple to me.

It matters.

I don't care what non-Jews do, as far as it does not effect the society I live in.  But when fellow memebrs of my tribe act in a way that does not make them a "light unto the nations," I care.

My very smart sister made the observation that too many people who share our path, do not act in the appropriate manner because they make a simple mistake.  They think they are better then everyone.  In reality, she contends:

"You are not born better, you're born chosen, you need to make yourself better."

Blog B'Omer: This is the Twenty Eighth Post

Alright, the tie is off, the top button open, and now I'm sweating, sitting on the stage and just waiting for the credits to roll.

Thanks for all those who contributed, and to all those who read everything.

We will limp our way to the finish line....

Blog B'omer: This is the Twenty Seventh Post

Submitted by SLiM

            Probably the first thing I notice on the announcement is that you have heard complaints about news posts not being common enough. To that end, I have an important thing to inform you of: You are not carrying most of the major news stories of today. This is a disappointment indeed, as I expect to see the news of the world when I go to your blog.

            Aside from the prestigious Iceberg Carwash, my main source of news is probably ABC’s hotline, TELL-me. Yeshiva guys everywhere find it a fulfillment of their days to call and try new games, such as getting the Main Menu woman to hang up on you in less than 60 seconds or beating Sean Connery at a game of blackjack. Now, I only call for news, mind you, when there is no update on this site. This brings me to my main kvetch.

            I called just now to find out what is going on in the world. I believe this was the first time since the bombing that there was nothing about it, its victims, or its perpetrators. But the news today was more important yet, and I am shocked and perhaps even enraged that you did not carry it.

            First of all, a bunch of unimportant people in New York are trying to change the law for purchasing cigarettes, and deny me my right to proceed with destroying my lungs for yet another three years. Not only do those non-progressives refuse to recognize my right to grass, they also want to hinder me from smoking? Shame on them, and shame on you for not telling me.

            Possibly even more important, Sylvester Stallone is trying to make a Broadway version of Rocky in the U.S., since it was so well received in Germany. And this you don’t tell me? Blog B’Omer or not, you had better shape up in cranking out those news posts, or your days of competition with ABC may soon come to a close.

            The number, if I may do a little advertising for the enemy, is 1888-247-2425. TELL-me, spewing “Top Stories” 24/7, or Iceberg Carwash, posting quality on those rare, treasured occasions? This is a decision that must, and will, be made.

Blog B'Omer: This is the Twenty Sixth Post

I'm not great at math, but I figured out an equation.

MBB and I went out this evening (that's why we needed the midnight extension, we weren't bringing the laptop with us!), and looking around I managed to compute the following:

The height of the heels are inversely proportionally to the length of the skirt.

Blog B'Omer: This is the Twenty Fifth Post

Submitted by: FCG

You don't appreciate things until you don't have them anymore.

And I didn't appreciate having my family close by until I moved away.

I used to be able to run over to my mother to pick up supper, or drop in by Uncle Lawyer for free legal advice (btw my six point ticket got dismissed because the cop didn't show, yay me!) or pop in by Aunt Blogger for a cup of coffee (does anyone come visit you on Fridays anymore?) or even stop in for a bite of tuna by my grandparents. And I never even thought of myself as attached to my family.

But then I packed up and moved to the Rocks Far Away and now I don't have that option.

And I miss everyone.

Of course I'm not as far as the Far Away Cousins, but I still miss the closeness. So it was a great treat when FirstPobMoo came for a visit and brought Uncle Lawyer with her. So come visit me! My door is always open-figuratively of course. I don't want anyone sneaking in to steal my iPad-and I love seeing my family.

Blog B'Omer: This is the Twenty Fourth Post

Submitted by: Rashak

As editor of a school newsletter, I've been reading through submitted articles and selecting which ones to include in the newsletter. It's been quite a tedious chore, as the majority of the articles seem like they were written by people who speak English as a second language. Here are some of the worst sentences, some of which I had to read 2,3, or 4 times until I understood them.

 "Most believe that failure is undesirable to a road in which you attempted to succeed, but in reality your failure may actually be one of your greatest successes." 

"Twitter updates have a very different feel from them in comparison to a Facebook or Linkedin in structural terms."

"Facebook is great for businesses because it exposes the business beyond the scope that an individual could do personally."