An Untrampled High Place

Was the day the earthquake struck in China

Just an observation; I don't wish the Chinese any harm. But karma is karma

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I had a blast celebrating Israel's 60th independence day, down at Kikar Rabin in Tel Aviv.

Sadly, the rest of the world didn't seem to care. The global mainstream media chose to focus instead on how after 60 years the Israeli arabs still don't have equality (not true*) and about how the palestinaians suffered when Israel was born - while not a single one of the articles ever places the arab "catastrophe" (nakba) in context - on the day Israel announced her independence and asked her neighbours to live in peace with her, the answer she received from the surrounding Arab states was a declaration of war with the stated aim of killing every Jew in Israel and destroying the fledgling state.

The reason it was a catastrophe for the arabs is because they didn't succeed.

This video on CNBC covers Israel's many wars & economic success.

* Among other things, Israeli arabs receive grants from the government that pay up top 80% of their university education; their healthcare and civil services are among the best in the Middle East; they have the vote, serve in parliament and even the army. Just like everyone else.

... you will wake up with fleas.

The Lebanese army has defied the country's government and bowed to demands by pro-Iranian Hizbollah militants who brought the country to the brink of civil war.

The government's plan provoked Hizbollah into sending its gunmen on to the streets of Beirut, sparking three days of intensive fighting that left half the capital in the militia's control. Hizbollah's move was denounced yesterday by Mr Siniora as a "coup", and the prime minister went on television to declare that he refused to back down.

And to think, it was the same Siniora who went on TV, blubbing his eyes out at "Israeli aggression", when we went into Lebanon (for the 2nd time) to eradicate the Syrian/Iranian-sponsored cancer that is hizbullah.

Siniora said Israel should remain Lebanon's real enemy.

Siniora, you wanker, Israel is your friend. Sadly, your hatred of the Jew blinds you from seeing the evil in your own house.

More here

Just thought I'd share a recent experience I had while walking through the old city of Jerusalem while wearing a "Barack Obama for President" T-shirt. A gift from a friend, I am probably the only person in Israel who has such a shirt. I'm not American and I hold Israeli citizenship, but I'd support the candidate who would be "good for Israel". So I decided to wear it and see what reaction I would get...

In the Jewish areas I was met by indifference and light criticism; but in the arab quarter I was suddenly overwhelmingly welcome. Thumbs ups everywhere for Obama; smiles of welcome in restaurants, and top notch service.

The comments tended to go along these lines:

"Barack Obama! Barack Obama! Cool man!"
"Obama! Barack Obama! You vote him? He's good!"
"Obama - I love him, man!"

All this stood in sharp contrast to the times when my Israeli girlfriend and I walked through the same streets and ate at the same restaurants: we were met with surly, simmering, indifference. Service was grudgingly given and while we may have been smiled at in welcome, a sudden about-face showed those same waiters glaring at us with hatred.

Makes ya think, doesn't it?

Myanmar's generals, known for their paranoia about foreign influence in Burma, issued an appeal for international assistance after a deadly storm struck last Saturday. But they have since dragged their feet on accepting aid, and even impounded aid and refused to issue visas to relief workers even as survivors are dying of hunger, disease and flooding.

At stake? A referendum on Saturday that is designed to ensure the generals remain in power; and they are determined to go ahead with it even over the 100 000 dead bodies of their countrymen.

It's sad to read how the Burmese are suffering but in a way this disaster may set them free form the bad karma of the generals.

More here

"Say goodbye to Hollywood; say goodbye my bay-beh..." yeah, that ole Billy Joel song comes to mind whenever I contemplate the growing global energy crisis and the resultant decline of Western industrial society.

Being a former South African I was interested to read how the price of fertiliser in South Africa have gone up 100% to 150%, those of feed went up 80% and fuel prices had risen 60%, whereas food prices had "only" risen 40% over the same period.

As a result, farmers are fighting shrinking profit margins, and many had given up farming. This, according to Etienne Terre'Blanche, MD of the Milk Producers Organisation.

Terre'Blanche said the (South African) government should invest in (the) agricultural sector to secure national food supplies for the future.

"If any country would totally rely on food imports, it would be in deep, deep trouble," he said. "Import prices of maize to feed cows and of fuel would keep going up. Something would go wrong, somewhere down the line."

Food prices in countries outside South Africa were "sky-high" and "soaring".

"It is unprecedented, they are a lot higher than in South Africa."

The head of the UN nuclear monitoring agency on Friday criticized the US for not giving his organization intelligence information sooner on what Washington says was a nuclear reactor in Syria being built secretly by North Korea.

Under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, America is obliged to disclose any suspicious information to his agency without delay.

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei also chastised Israel for bombing the site seven months ago.

"The Director General views the unilateral use of force by Israel as undermining the due process of verification that is at the heart of the nonproliferation regime,'' said the office of Mohamed ElBaradei, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency. ElBaradei slammed the US for not providing his organization with intelligence information in its possession at a previous date.

He did not criticize North Korea or Syria in his statement.

I think it's very telling how Mo has angry words for the US and Israel, yet has nothing bad to say to Syria or North Korea, even though Syria signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty and the latter has promised to come clean on, and stop, its own nuclear weapons programme. Mo behaves more like a supporter of Islamic nuclear terrorism, instead of somebody who hired to prevent it.

Perhaps it's because his wife is... Persian... and his name is Mo?

More here

I started going to therapy again last week. After the session I felt so relaxed - the most I have been in years.

An I Ching reading prompted this - the Oracle noted I had become like a "Dry Well"; that blessings had been bestowed on me (the new job, my Tel Aviv apt, etc) and that I was being foolish not to accept them.

Methinks it's time to work on my body as well. A couple of weeks ago I was at work, walking towards my desk and I looked up to see my reflection in the window in front of me. Bouncing along as I approached my desk and I suddenly asked myself why I was bouncing? I know it’s because my feet are flat but hey, why not do something about it? So I have begun noticing my self. My body. How I walk. How I talk. How I breathe. How I look at things. And there’s a lot to work on. So now I am concentrating on walking and breathing correctly. It’s strange to see the effect it has - all of a sudden I walk slower and pay attention more, step step breathe, step step breathe.

I’m also trying not to use my specs as much. I make a point of taking them off and suddenly I noticed that my eyes are trying to observe the world around the frame of the specs. Years ago I read that one can exercise one’s eyes so that they become less dependent on specs - glasses are a crutch, yes.

Work-wise I am greatful to have a decent job with a real salary. The +2 years I spent at my last job took a tremendous toll on my creative and personal life. Never again.