Blogging quiet due to back injury
Yeah, well my back is all messed up again. I reached for the remote control to change the channel and felt a horrible surge through my lower back. Spent Saturday afternoon in the emergency room (yay for morphine!) and have pretty much been in bed ever since. While I am feeling a little better, I’m not up for sitting at the computer for more than thirty seconds at a time. Hope to be back in a few days. I solely blame Celebrity Fit Club. If that god forsaken show wasn’t on, I wouldn’t have had to change the channel. Oh, and if anyone has any suggestions for dealing with chronic lower back pain I’m open to all suggestions. Except joining a cult. I’m not open to that.
"B" reports about Israel rally in Kiryat Malachi (Los Angeles)
Taking some time out from his busy acting schedule, the LA-based “B,” formerly of Not Another Israel Blog brings us this report about his experience at Sunday’s rally in Los Angeles.
“I wish these people put their damn signs and flags down so I can get some good photos for Harry,” I said to myself. I was among the reported 10,000 people sweating on Wilshire Blvd. on Sunday for a pro-Israel rally organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. I don’t know if 10,000 people were really there – police reported the crowd at 6,500 - but it was an impressive turnout nonetheless considering the current heat wave.I photographed Governor Schwartzenegger on his way to the dais and during his speech. He was introduced by Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Weisenthal Center. The rabbi spoke of Arnold being a longtime friend of the Jewish people and having visited Israel during the intifada when no one else was. Arnold then took the podium, and early in his speech said “I went to Israel as the terminator.” He later said, “I’ll be back.”
The crowed cheered. I felt embarrassed for my people.
Other speakers included Mayor Villaraigosa, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles President John Fishel, and an Israeli girl working here as a camp counselor who starts Hebrew University studies in the fall.
It is important for the American Jewish community to come together when Israel is in crisis, but I find these rallies always to be a bit weird. They always attract some odd characters. At one point, a guy standing in front of me shouted “Kill the Arabs!” several times. That evinced some strange looks from people standing nearby.
There was the young father with the American flag bandanna on his head and a large Israeli flag in his hand.
There were the Harley riders from the Evangelical Christian network wearing black jeans and black leather vests.
There’s always singing too. And that freaks me out.
A cantor, who I guess is well-known in the community because people seemed to recognize him, led a rendition of “Am Yisrael Chai.” He urged us to sing loud so that our brothers and sisters in Israel could hear it too.
That weirded me out.
Nothing particularly newsworthy really happened at the event, but it was important for the American Jewish community to come together and rally behind Israel. I think Jews in the U.S. need such events more than Israelis do.
Follow up interview:
Did you cheer at all?
No. It was weird.
Was anyone selling falafel?
No. Lol.
T-shirts?
No.
You mean to tell me no one was trying to make a buck there?
Lots of flags.
For sale?
Free.
If I was there I would have totally sold falafel.
I can’t believe arnold is still using that “i’ll be back” line. So pathetic. Hizbullah is a tumor!
It’s not a tumor!
Arab indie rock - Khalas!
While Keren Ann, Aviv Gefen, Ninette and a myriad of musicians are in the midst of entertaining Israeli Jews holed up in their bomb shelters in the north, Khalas, a rocking Arab-Israeli band have been entertaining Israeli Arabs and Druze who might not be able to connect with Gefen’s mope rock or Ninette’s over the top balladry. Then again, they might not connect with an Arab band who finds more influence fromAmerican rock than they do from more local sounds.
Two years ago they released their first album “Ma Adesh Feha” (”We’ve Had Enough”) consisting of many protest songs. In contrast to what one may think, Khalas is not using their songs to criticize Israelis or Jews. Their criticism is directed toward Arab society.“We think that we have to fix our own house and criticize the Arab sector before we complain about the state and the government”, said Beromi. “In the song ‘The King Is Naked’ we are protesting the behavior of Arab leaders who do not listen to their people.
“This song is relevant today, because Nasrallah is a naked king who is dragging an entire nation into war, and the ones who pay the price are innocent civilians. Nasrallah is not using his head. He is an Arab and so am I, but I can not identify with someone who hits my city. On the other hand, it pains me that people are being killed on both sides.”
Khalas - Biladi (MP3)
Coming Soon: An Inside look at the rally in LA
My old friend, co-tanker and enemy of Ha’aretz English edition, the mysterious “B” of Not Another Israel Blog, has left his humble abode in Tel Aviv and is currently in Los Angeles pursuing an acting career. Between shoots on the set of the Gilmore Girls where he’ll be playing Star’s Hollow newest mailman (and new love interest for Sukie), “B” took some time off and immersed himself in Sunday’s pro-Israel rally. In a matter of minutes (hours perhaps?) I’ll be posting his exclusive report.
Israeli hackers strike back
You didn’t think they were going to let them get away scotch free, did you?
Israeli hackers removed content from several Iranian and Arabic websites, majority of which have absolutely nothing to do with the conflict and left the following message. Huh.
IDF getting intel via the web?
This website has been popping up in the comments sections of Lebanese blogs. It calls for any information regarding Hezballah leaders as well as facilities hidden among civilian populations. An email address and satellite phone number are all provided. What’s next, a myspace profile?
UN hypocrisy
Ariel over at Blogs of Zion is echoing something I’ve been saying all day. Kofi Annan and his UN clowns are a bunch of measley hypocrites.
But I have repeatedly stressed what is most urgently needed is an immediate cessation of hostilities for three vital reasons: first, to prevent further loss of innocent life and the infliction of further suffering; second, to allow full humanitarian access to those in need; and third, to give diplomacy a chance to work out a practical package of actions that would provide a lasting solution to the current crisis.
I think the above statement by Annan would be more suitable in addressing what is going on in Sudan. How dare they criticize Israel for their response while they continuously sit on their hands over the genocide occurring in Darfur. They don’t even acknowledge it as a genocide for goodness sakes.
And I’m calling bullshit on a ceasefire. Nations don’t have ceasefires with terrorist organizations.
God bless Keren Ann
Singer-songwriter Keren Ann will bring her Leonard Cohen-esque neo-folk, jazz and dream pop sounds to bomb shelters across Israel in an effort to boost morale among the folks who have spent the last week in bomb shelters reports Ynet. You would think she is a French singer-songwriter by the way Ynet writers about her. Keren Ann (Zeiger!) was born in Israel and raised in the Netherlands and later moved to France. She’s always maintained her connection here (her brother lives here) and performed here last year as well. Keren Ann has spent the last few years in NY and has garnered quite a following in the past few years.
Keren Ann - Roses and Hips (MP3)
Seen in Jerusalem
Marley in, Smackdown out
Ziggy Marley will be performing next week despite the fighting in the north and despite the marijuana and hash draught. Bet he has a good hook up in Tel Aviv. His original venue was Achziv beach just south of Nahariya, so they ended up moving it to Ra’anana. Major respect for him coming. All eyes are now on Depeche Mode.
I didn’t have tickets to Ziggy. I’m more into Cedella Marley. And she’s not coming anytime soon. However, I was planning on going to the WWE Smackdown scheduled later this month. I thought it would be awesome to experience a live wrestling event where the only mullet in the place would be my own. I had a “Leaping Lenny” Poffo sign ready and everything. Oh well. I guess I can wait until September for them to return.
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