Penny Stock

Things that make you go hmmm...

While I was just making lunches I was thinking about how Greg and I both love peanut butter and jelly- together, the way they were meant to be eaten. Yet we have one kid who won't go near peanut butter (we are talking full gag mode) and one who can't stand jelly.

Is that like a weird cosmic occurance or what?

Ken Jennings Spoiler

WARNING: This post contains information about the demise of Ken Jenning's winning status on Jeopardy. If you do not want to know any information stop reading. If you want to know, read the extended entry.

So, Ken Jenning's last day on Jeopardy is tommorow, Tuesday, November 30. Here is a soundclip of his ultimate demise.

Ken, great job. It has been a pleasure watching you. Thanks for the entertainment.

Basted In Blood

I would be remiss after yesterday's holiday if I didn't pay tribute to one of my favorite SNL sketch's ever: The Weekend Update with Anna Gastyer playing standup comedian Cinder Calhoun (" I'm still not really comfortable with the term standup comic, I uh really consider myself more of a weaver of satiric truths in the tradition of the great Appalachain humorists.") and Sarah McLachlan playing herself. They sang their song "Basted in Blood" to "use this platform to address the issue" of "the ritual torture and senseless slaughters of turkeys in the name of the (forceful) gluttonous, nationalistic, patriarchal holiday that we call Thanksgiving. "

Here is a link to the video. Enjoy!! My favorite part is Norm McDonald eating a turkey leg at the end of the song. Priceless!!

Survivor

We've finally got a game!!!!

Longest Night

I hope no one out there needs to shower at my house this morning because we have NO clean towels left. That is right, NONE.

Why? You ask. Well, because my 2 older children were up throwing up the entire night (At last count, Gila was beating Ezra 5-4) and we went through all the towels, not to mention a few sheets, pillow cases, bath mats and Gila's winter jacket (she started in the car). Also, FYI- it was gross.

Oh, and in the middle of this all, I went down to the dryer and realized that Greg's very nice pen had been put in the wash. I haven't had the strength to look at the damage yet. This wasn't with the towels but with OUR clothes.

The worst part of this, besides the fact that the kids felt totally awful and were completely helpless and pathetic, is that there is a pretty good chance Greg and I will get this virus. Now its like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop...

UPDATE: Well, the load that was actually in the dryer with the pen didn't get the ink. For some reason, the next load (some of the sheets and towels) got stained. I can handle that. To add insult to injury, the utility sink next to the washing machine overflowed during one of the loads of laundry- luckily I am good with a plunger, and now our thermostat is not working and the heat is not on- the guy is supposed to come before evening. He better or he will have to deal with me and I am not feeling very rational right now...

What's your number?

Amazing Race

Alrighty then, so last night even as I was watching I was cringing that the team I had planned on rooting for (Avi and Joe) made such a stupid stupid error. Anyone who knows anything about Amazing Race knows that you should never choose a detour that requires you to search for something. And come on- seven square miles happens to be a lot of space to search!!! The other couple I was planning on rooting for, just because they seemed like sentimental favorites was Don and Mary Jean. Forget about the fact that they were slow, they didn't give me anything to like about them last night.

Within the first 15 minutes, I decided that I sort of like Hayden and Aaron. Lucky for me, they came in first last night. I like/hate "Hellboy" and his parter so we will see what happens with them. I already can't stand the wrestlers and the entrepenours (if I am spelling that wrong too bad- just call your self "business people").

I personally think this game gets more interesting when about 1/3 of the teams are eliminated. Right now there are just too many people to keep track of. Greg was depressed and missing Colin and Christie last night. To quote Greg, "who is going to wear a flashlight on his hat this season?". It was cute.

In any event, glad we are at a new season. Just a shame it will be up against 24. That might be a problem...

Arafat's Legacy

Thanks to Chikkimunkee for this video honestly reporting on Arafat's life and legacy. Do yourself a favor and everytime you watch a "mainstream" news source report about Arafat the peacemaker or freedom fighter, watch this video right afterwards.

O.A.R. comes home!

For those interested in O.A.R., they are coming home in December. Here is the e-mail I got today:

We are about to say so long to another incredibly fun year and we hope you will all join us in DC for our final shows of 2004. Where better than at the legendary 9:30 Club? We want to celebrate the holidays back at home and we hope you will be there. Not you! You over there....yeah you.

SHOW INFORMATION
The guys will be returning home to Washington, DC to perform at the 9:30 Club on December 29th and 30th.

Pre-sale tickets will be available at O.A.R.Tickets.com beginning on Friday, November 5th at 10 AM ET.

Tickets can also be purchased at Tickets.com as of Saturday, November 20th at 10 AM ET.

For a complete list of O.A.R. Tour Dates, click HERE.

Tickets will go fast, trust me.

New Incentive for Shidduchim

This is really interesting (recieved via Sara-thanks Sara!):

Striking Matches: Star-K Partnering with Shadchanim

The newest member of the Star-K “family” will not bear the familiar Star-K logo - not on a label, not on a plumba. In fact, this reflects the uniqueness of our non-profit lay organization, and, perhaps, explains our essence. Yes, milk and meat matters are only a part of Star-K’s commitment in serving the kosher consumer the world over. However, research and education of all “non-edible” mitzvos, from shatnes to Sabbath mode appliances, is a priority at Star-K, as well.

The mitzvah of marriage, sparking a “kosher match”, and providing an incentive for shadchanim, is the newest focus of Star-K. Attempting to do its part to alleviate the universal singles “crisis” the American Orthodox community is experiencing, Star-K is offering a $2,000 cash “gift” for the successful shidduchim of women in Baltimore’s Orthodox community - Star-K’s hometown. This is an additional incentive, on top of the customary shadchanus from the parents of the choson and kallah. According to Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, Rabbinic Administrator of the Star-K, “The concept of offering monetary incentives to promote shidduchim is sanctioned by Chazal” (See Rosh, Kedushin 30b, paragraph 43).

The Problem

If you are a single woman, or the parents of daughters, chances are you, better than anyone, understand the problem. The eligible bachelor seems to have a long list of potential marriage partners. The eligible bachelorette sits patiently by the telephone, hoping that it will ring with a suggestion of a possible suitor. As the telltale saying goes in shadchanus: “A boy needs a secretary, a girl needs an agent.”

There are various theories as to why this problem exists. Whatever the reasons, the fact remains that the singles population is getting larger and older. Thousands of single Jewish women, of all ages, who are shomrei Torah and mitzvos, are finding it difficult to find a suitable match. There are many single observant Jewish women in Baltimore, whose numbers are on the increase. A significant number of divorcees and widows, contribute to these statistics, as well.

National organizations, such as the Agudath Israel of America and the National Council of Young Israel, have long recognized the worsening problem, which is contributing to the emotional pain of our singles. Agudath Israel of America, together with N’Shei Agudath Israel, addressed this issue at the annual National Agudah Convention, in establishing the New York based shidduch agency, Invei Hagefen. Similarly, since 2001, the National Council of Young Israel initiated an annual Shidduchim conference for singles, marrieds, parents, and, matchmakers to help tackle the challenge. Other Orthodox organizations have recognized the crisis and are doing their part by introducing programs that facilitate the matchmaking process.

Star-K’s Contribution

The Star-K is attempting to help remedy the Baltimore singles situation, which is typical of that in Orthodox communities throughout the United States. It is offering the $2,000 cash incentive for a period of one year, to anyone who successfully arranges a shidduch for a woman in Baltimore’s Orthodox community. Star-K hopes that b’ezras Hashem, its gift will act as a dual incentive: for professional shadchanim, worldwide, to put Baltimore women on the top of their singles lists, and for “would-be shadchanim” and acquaintances to keep Baltimore women in mind.

According to Dr. Avrom Pollak, President of Star-K, “What we are hoping to accomplish is to get anyone--living in any community--who knows a Baltimore single woman, to make that extra effort in arranging an introduction with a suitable eligible man.”

For the shadchan of a successful shidduch to qualify for this gift, the following conditions apply:

The single woman must be at least 22-years and 2-months old at the time the engagement is announced. There is no upper age limit.

Widows and divorcees are included.

The couple must be committed to observing the laws of kashrus, Shabbos, and taharas hamishpacha.

Parents, grandparents, children, siblings, sibling-in-laws, and aunts and uncles of the single women are not eligible for the gift. Cousins and other relatives who arrange a shidduch are eligible.

A Baltimore woman is defined as:
Her parents must have lived in Baltimore for one year and have purchased a house there, or have rented a dwelling there for two years. If she lives in Baltimore alone, without family, she must have lived in Baltimore for two years (student years do not count).

A Baltimorean living in New York or elsewhere, for less than two years, whose parents are presently living in Baltimore, is eligible.

Requests for payment of the Star-K gift must be made, in writing, by the shadchan to Star-K (122 Slade Avenue, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21208), within 30 days of the engagement. Both sets of parents, or both the choson and kallah, must confirm who the shadchan or shadchanim are.

If more than one person was involved in the introduction of the couple, the $2,000 award will be divided amongst the parties according to traditional guidelines. For example, if one person thought of the idea and asked a professional to arrange it, the one who thought of it gets 1/3 of the shadchanus and the professional gets 2/3 of the shadchanus.

If the shidduch breaks up, chas v’shalom, before the wedding, Star-K is exempt from paying the gift.

Payment of the gift will be made by Star-K within 30 days after the chasana.

The initial introduction of the couple (i.e., the first meeting of the couple) must not have been made prior to the starting date of this program, the first night of Chanukah, 5765 (December 7, 2004).

All disputes, e.g., who is the shadchan, questions regarding eligibility, etc., will be settled by Star-K Rabbinic Administrator, Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, shlita, whose decision will be final.

“Although Star-K is initially funding this program for a one year period, we hope that it will be successful and that we will have the funding to continue,” says Dr. Pollak. “We also hope that Star-K will serve as an inspiration for organizations or individuals in other “out-of-town” communities to launch similar programs.”

Thoughts on voting

I was in Cleveland this morning and came home to Baltimore and voted this afternoon. Here are a few of my voter observations.

The "I voted" stickers in Ohio are much cooler than the Maryland ones. And bigger too. Also, how cool was it that people's votes in Ohio actually mattered. What a feeling of empowerment the people there must have.

I voted at Pikesville Senior Highschool. The majority of the people there were over 65 years old. The voting was done on a touch screen computer. I thought it was quite easy. However, the majority of the people voting seemed to have difficulty with this. My cousins' grandparents were at the stall next to me and they must have called over the voting official at least 5 times while I was standing there. I can't believe that this new voting system will be any more efficient or less scandalous than the infamous punch cards of the 2000 election.

Finally, I will be shocked if there is a winner announced tonight. This should be an interesting month or so.