Ever wish that you could say what you really feel about something going on in Klal? Ever wonder just why Klal acts/thinks the way it does? Here members of Klal can have the conversations they should be having but that aren't happening elsewhere, except, perhaps, in whispered conversations in dark corners. Say what you mean here, and let us hope that some conversation now will lead to changes later, some changes that are long overdue in Klal.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Elevens Anyone?
Friday, June 3, 2011
If You're a Fan
Friday, January 28, 2011
What's on the Calendar
Data Privacy Day
Fun at Work Day
Daisy Day
Rattlesnake Round-Up Day
National Blueberry Pancake Day
Serendipity Day
Live Your Fantasies Day
U.S. Coast Guard Birthday--1915
Ski Tow Birthday--1938 in Woodstock, Vermont
PopArt Day--Birthday of Jackson Pollack 1912
Christa McAuliffe Day--in memoriam; Challenger exploded in 1986
A Happy Birthday to Ernie of Sesame Street
Thursday, January 27, 2011
When the Profound Gets Politicized
"January 27 marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated this day as International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD), an annual day of commemoration to honor the victims of the Nazi era. Every member nation of the U.N. has an obligation to honor the memory of Holocaust victims and develop educational programs as part of an international resolve to help prevent future acts of genocide. The U.N. resolution that created IHRD rejects denial of the Holocaust, and condemns discrimination and violence based on religion or ethnicity."
In addition
"The United States officially commemorates the Holocaust during Days of Remembrance, which is held each April, marking the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. The Museum is mandated by the U.S. Congress to lead the nation in commemorating this day."
Certainly some impressive words in that UN resolution, but as Hamlet said, " it is a custom more honour'd in the breach than the observance," or perhaps we should look at Gertrude in the same play, when she says "More matter with less art."
Noticed any heartfelt observances in a whole lot of those UN member countries? Are you imagining Iran or Iraq condemning discrimination and violence based on religion or ethnicity and including Jews?
Whoever else in the world will take today to reflect on the atrocities of the Holocaust, well they are doing the right thing. But for those of us most affected by those past events, what excuse do we have for not observing this admittedly secular day of remembrance? As we proceed further and further from those hellish days, as we add generation after generation, what transpired during the Holocaust becomes murkier and murkier. For our children and grandchildren the Holocaust is history rather than definitive moment.
Perhaps it's time to pay attention to that old saying: "Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it." And then there is this: How do we expect others to remember what transpired during the Holocaust, to use this day to reflect on the horrors of history, when we, ourselves, ignore the day?
It's sad really, that the world needs one day to remember what was truly a defining event of the last century and that will have impact on the centuries to come. Sadder yet that the day will pass for many Jews without even a nod of acceptance or remembrance.
What's on the Calendar
Auschwitz Liberation Day
Holocaust Memorial Day
International Commemoration Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
National Toilet Day/Thomas Crapper Day
Vietnam Peace Day
Chocolate Cake Day
Punch the Clock Day
A happy belated birthday to: Mozart-1756, Lewis Carroll-1832
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
What's on the Calendar
Cockroach race day
National Peanut Brittle Day
Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement
National Peanut Brittle Day
Television's Birthday--1926
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Yes, Computers need Cleaning too
You know all those files that you've been keeping because you never know just when you might need them? Time to be truthful--what are the chances that you might need to know how to cure thrips on a sword plant, especially since you no longer own the plant in question or never owned it? Yup, you hosted a meeting for a group of teens who were looking to start a chesed project in the neighborhood--12 years ago. Do you really need to know now who was invited and what you served as refreshments? You took a vacation in 2003 and there are the packing lists still in their own file. You downloaded a program or gizmo from the Internet and haven't used it in years.
A whole lot of information gets put on our computers, and a whole lot of it needs to be taken off the computer at some point. It's not just the long term storage that needs to be cleaned out however. Are you on the Internet a lot? Do you play games online? Are there sites you visit regularly? All those places you go to are going to be held in your Temporary Internet Files. Keep too much in those files and you can affect the run-time and functioning of your computer. It's a good idea to get into the daily habit of cleaning out these types of files. Just click on Tools, and then on Internet Options. Next click on Browsing History. Here's where you might want to take a breath before continuing. Among the things you can delete are Temporary Files, Saved Passwords, History, Cookies and Web Form Information. Some of these files are used by sites that you visit regularly to log you in to the site. Before you erase any of these files you might want to ask yourself if you remember your user name/log in name and password for the site. You might not want to erase these types of files. However, the Temporary files should surely be erased.
And then there is the physical cleaning of the computer. Lots of people who like to eat while at their computers--steaming cups of coffee or tea and lots of crumb-producing foods right there by your monitor and keyboard. It's just amazing what type of things can find their way between the keys on your keyboard. And all that steam is going to go somewhere, and that somewhere may be your monitor screen. To get the most out of your monitor and keyboard, set a time in your mind to do some maintenance, and then remember to do it. [Note: check your computer manual for recommended methods of cleaning the computer parts. It is not recommended by most manufacturers to just spray window cleaner on the monitor screen.] And just a word about your mouse--cold and flu season is with us, and frequently the germs are passed on hand to hand, or in this case, hand to mouse to hand. Clean your mouse regularly.
My resident computer expert pointed out to me that when run-time slows down or storage becomes tight or a whole slew of other annoyances occur, most people's first thought is that there is a physical problem with the computer. His recommendation is to do some housekeeping first--cleaning cache can eliminate a whole slew of these annoyances.
What's on the Calendar
Better Business Communication Day
A Room of One's Own Day
Macintosh Computer Day
National Speak Up and Succeed Day
Flouride Day
Fun at Work Day
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
Monday, January 24, 2011
What's on the Calendar
Belly Laugh Day
Beer Can Day
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
National Compliment Day
"Just Do It" Day
Women's Healthy Weight Day
Sunday, January 23, 2011
What's on the Calendar
Spouses Day
Measure Your Feet Day
Find Your Roots Day
National Handwriting Day
Pie Day
Cold, Cold, Cold Day--lowest temperature ever recorded in the US was on this day in 1971:-79.8 degrees F
Compliment Day
Friday, January 21, 2011
What's on the Calendar
1. International Fetish Day
2. National Hug Day
3. Squirrel Appreciation Day
4. Granola Bar Day
Thursday, January 20, 2011
What's on the Calendar
1. Camcorder Day
2. Get to Know Your Customer Day
3. Inauguration Day
4. National Disc Jockey Appreciation Day
5. Women's Healthy Weight Day
6. Women in Blue Jeans Days--20-22
7. National Cheese Day
8. National Buttercrunch Day
9. Take a Walk Outdoors Day
10. Roller Coaster Patent Day--1885
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
What's on the Calendar
1. Tin Can Day--patented in 1825
2. A Good Friend Raises Your Spirits Day
3. Good Memory Day
4. Popcorn Day
5. National Penguin Awareness Day
6. International Sing-Out Day
7. New Friends Day
8. Brew a Potion Day
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
What's on the Calendar
1. Do Dah Parade Day
2. Thesaurus Day--Peter Roget's birthday in 1779
3. Winnie the Pooh Day--birthday of author A.A. Milne
4. National Sanctity of Life Day (Pro Life Day)
5. Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day
6. Maintenance Day
7. Get to Know Your Customers Day
8. Polygraph Day
Monday, January 17, 2011
What's on the Calendar
1. National Cable Car Day--patented on this date in 1871
2. National Customer Service Day
3. National Judgement Day
4. National Kid Inventors Day
5. Hot Heads Chili Days--17-18
6. National Martin Luther King Day
7. Ditch Your New Years Resolutions Day
8. Professional Boxers Day
9. Elementary School Teachers Day--Third Monday of the month
10. Junk Food News Alert Day--Third Monday of the month
11Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday--Third Monday of the month
Happy Birthday to Benjamin Franklin, born in 1706, and Popeye, "born" in 1929
Oh yes, and happiest of birthdays to our son
Thursday, January 13, 2011
What's on the Calendar
Week-long Celebrations:
Celebration of Life Week-Week One
Lose Weight, Feel Great Week - Week One
Diet Resolution Week - Week One
New Year's Resolutions Week - Week One
Women's Self Empowerment Week - Week One
Celebrate the Circus Week - Week Two
Home Office Safety and Security Week - Week Two
Law Enforcement Training Week (Always the first full week of the year)- Week Two
Universal Letter Writing Week- Week Two
National Thank-Your-Customers Week- Week Two
School Crossing Guard Week- Week Two
Special Education Week- Week Three
Cuckoo Dancing Week- Week Three
International Printing Week - Week Three
National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week- Week Three
National Skating Week - Week Three
Healthy Weight Week- Week Four
Hunt For Happiness Week - Week Four
National Glaucoma Week- Week Four
National Creative Frugality Week - Week Four
National Meat Week- Week Four
National Handwriting Analysis Week - Week Four
National Nurse Anesthetists Week - Week Four
Kiss A Shark Week -Week Four (Please don't really kiss a shark.)
Hot Air Balloon Week - Week Four
National Medical Group Practice Week - Week Four
Catholic Schools Week - 25 thru 31 (So how come yeshivas don't have their own week?)
Month-long celebrations:
Autism Awareness Month
Bald Eagle Watch Month
Bath Safety Month
Blended Family Month
Bread Machine Baking Month
Celebrate the Past Month
Celebration of Life Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
Clean Up Your Computer Month
Clinical Trial Awareness Month
Coffee Gourmet International Month
Crime Stoppers Month
Everything's Possible Month
Family Fit Lifestyle Month
Fat Free Living Month
Financial Wellness Month
Fireside Warmth Month
Heavyweight Boxers Month
Home Fire Safety Month
Human Resource Month
Independent Bookstore Month
International Creativity Month
International Get Over It Month
International Life Balance Month
International Quality of Life Month
International Printing Month
It's OK to be Different Month
Jump Out of Bed Month
Learn Spanish Month
Love Yourself Month
Mail Order Gardening Month
March of Dimes Birth Defects Prevention Month
Market Ability Month
National Be On-Purpose Month
National Book Blitz Month
National Book Month
National Candy Month
National Careers in Cosmetology Month
National Credit Awareness Month
National Eye Health Care Month
National Facial Tissues Month
National Get Organized Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National High-Tech Month
National Hobby Month
National Hot Tea Month
National Letter Writing Month
National Lose Weight, Feel Great Month
National Mentoring Month
National Polka Month
National Radio Month
National Radon Action Month
National Retail Bakers Month
National Returns Month
National Save Your Money Month
National Skating Month
National Soup Month
National Stamp Collectors Month
National Staying Healthy Month
National Thank You Month
National Transformation Thinking Month
Oatmeal Month
Personal Self-Defense Month
Poverty in America Month
Prunes for Breakfast Month Month
Reaching Your Potential Month
Volunteer Blood Donor Month
Yours, Mine & Ours Month
Thursday, November 11, 2010
On Veterans Day
For those who came home after serving, thanks go to God for watching over them and returning them back to their loved ones. For those who gave their lives as the ultimate sacrifice for others, no words can say how much what they did resonates with us.
It would be altogether fitting and proper to take a moment and "salute" our veterans in recognition that we can take that moment freely and with no coercion because they did what was needed.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Today's the Day
There are so many people who spend a lot of time complaining about the condition of our country, about the condition of our government, about the people in Congress. You can't complain about what goes on here if you are part of the problem rather than part of the solution.
Well, now's the chance to actually do something instead of just talking about it. Go out and vote!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Surely of Importance Now
Did a little checking and there is no "Hug a Non-Vegetarian Day." I'm truly miffed. My civil rights are being violated. Time for a complaint to the Equal Opportunity Commission. How dare someone establish a day I can't participate in.
Friday, June 4, 2010
A Dozen Holes Please
Just a wry observance--Memorial Day and National Doughnut Day both fall in the same week. Which one do you suppose more people will have observed?