July 23, 2008
New York Times Sinking
Graphic courtesy of Wolf Howling
When New York Times editor David Shipley rejected Senator McCain's Op-Ed piece on Iraq, the blogosphere reacted with outrage.
How dare the New York Times publish Barack Obama's essay on Iraq and not give equal time to presidential opponent John McCain?
Duh.
I mean, come on, in what universe is The New York Times considered an objective newspaper?
In what universe is the New York Times not considered a hard left journal?
The New York Times does not hesitate to publish propaganda from Hamas on their Op-Ed page for crying out loud.
Personally, I'm delighted that Shipley, a former speechwriter for President Clinton, and the New York Times so flagrantly tipped their hand.
This outrageously biased and truly foolish action has handed McCain far more attention than any Op-Ed he would have published.
The NYT has disgraced itself, acting with all the dopey immaturity of a high school newspaper.
No wonder management recently laid off two-hundred NYT employees.
No wonder publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. refuses to give interviews to the media, unless questions are vetted in advance.
The dinosaur media is dying, through shrinking advertising revenues and subscriptions ebbing away at an astonishing rate. Editors and writers only compound the problem with coverage so biased, so irresponsible that, excepting true liberal believers, most consumers understand that half of what they read is not true and the other half is lies.
It's a fascinating and entertaining spectacle: deliberate corporate suicide.
And the breathless, uncritical coverage of Barack Obama only punctuates the dinosaur media's herd mentality and hard left bias.
It's funny, Seraphic Secret is a tiny blog in a huge blogosphere, but our readership grows day by day. I believe It's got something to do with honesty. When you drop in on Seraphic Secret you know what you're getting. We are observant Jews, religious Zionists, loyal American citizens who vote Republican, gun-owners, movie-lovers, devoted parents and grandparents, and we proudly proclaim our various biases.
For instance: The Seven Samurai is the greatest movie—evuh!
We do not pretend to be impartial journalists, as if such a thing is even possible. We don't even pretend to be journalists.
In contrast, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, all claim to be staffed by objective journalists who serve and inform the public.
And so, it's not a shock that those papers are dying.
No one trusts a clumsy liar.
New York Times Co. says its second-quarter earnings fell 82 percent from the year-ago quarter boosted by a one-time gain. Meanwhile, print advertising revenue continued to shrink. The New York-based newspaper publisher says its quarterly net income dropped to $21.1 million, or 15 cents per share, which included 11 cents per share in buyout costs.
Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected income of 22 cents per share in the latest quarter. Analyst estimates typically exclude special items.
Revenue dropped 6 percent to $741.9 million, missing the average Wall Street estimate for $754 million. Ad revenue slipped down 11 percent, hurt mostly by fewer classified ads.
Chief Executive Janet Robinson says business was hurt by the “U.S. economic slowdown and secular forces playing out across the media.”
Original story here.
And for an hilarious comment on the dinosaur media's love affair with Obama let's go to the video.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:59 AM in Seraphic Media | Comments (10)
July 22, 2008
Copycat Terror Attack in Jerusalem
What a stunner, another bulldozer attack. Who could have foreseen such an unusual turn of events? I mean, the last terrorist who murdered Jews in Jerusalem was, thank G-d, shot down like the dog he was. But his family is now getting generous welfare and death benefits from the Jewish State.
And Israel just swapped another dog of a terrorist for two corpses.
The message to the terrorists is clear: it pays to kill Jews.
Hey, I have an idea, how about dividing Jerusalem and handing sovereignty to the peace loving terrorists?
Also: how about hiring Jews on construction sites?
I know, that's , ahem, discriminatory.
In fact, when you're at war with a terrorist society, so-called Palestinians, it's just common sense.
Eleven people were wounded, one of them moderately, as a bulldozer driver went on a rampage in central Jerusalem Tuesday afternoon in an apparent attempt to recreate the terror attack in the capital a few weeks ago.
The vehicle reportedly left a construction site near Yemin Moshe neighborhood and set off towards Liberty Bell Park (Gan Hapa'amon), near the corner of Keren Hayesod and King David streets. It attempted to overturn a bus and then crashed into several vehicles, flipping one of them over.
The wounded were evacuated to hospitals in the capital.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police sealed off possible escape routes into east Jerusalem and were searching for two suspects who fled the scene.
The attack took place in a busy part of downtown Jerusalem, several hundred meters from the luxury hotel where US presidential candidate Barack Obama is supposed to stay Tuesday night as he kicks off a visit to Israel.
For the complete story, please click here.
Killing the terrorist
The bulldozer used in the Jerusalem terror attack. Notice the bullet holes in the glass.
Fine shooting by an armed Israeli civilian and border guard killed the Arab-Muslim terrorist.
A car in Jerusalem street overturned by terrorist in bulldozer
All photos: Ariel Jerozolimski
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:10 AM in Seraphic Israel | Comments (6)
July 21, 2008
Nefesh B'Nefesh International Blogger Conference
Mary Carlisle spreads the word about the
Nefesh B'Nefesh JBlogger Convention
“You have to come with me,” I tell Karen.
“Why?”
“Gosh, there's no telling what kind of trouble I'll get into without you.”
Karen gives me a long, penetrating stare. When she does this I immediately become ten years old—a helpless dork.
“What kind of trouble?” Karen asks reasonably.
I'm stumped.
Here's the thing: Nefesh B'Nefesh is sponsoring the First International Jewish Bloggers Convention in Jerusalem on August 20th and they have invited yours truly, Seraphic Secret, to attend.
Bloggers from every corner of the known universe will be attending. There will be panel discussions: The Power of the JBlogosphere: Taking JBlogging to the next level, and Building Israel One Post at a Time.
All these superstar bloggers will explain how to build traffic, increase readership, how to be, I presume, a JBlogger superstar.
I'm sooo aboard.
The convention will be up and live on a webcast and you must register to attend. Coolness factor is high as you can attend in person—or via cyberspace.
Need I mention food, lots of food—this is after all a Jewish convention—all strictly mehadrin.
Here's the link to register.
Nefesh B'Nefesh are picking up the tab for my flights. They have asked me to travel to Israel on a NBN flight, hook up with a family making aliyah and report their story on this blog.
How can I say no?
“No,” I told Stephen Leavitt, President of the WebAds, LLC, who is NBN's extremely organized and endlessly patient point man on this venture.
My excuse?
I'm in the middle of writing and producing a TV pilot. Rewrites loom. Deals have to be closed. My people have to talk to their people. Hollywood is all about seizing the moment, gaining traction, making sure momentum is not lost.
I mention the trip to my agent:
“Don't get blown up by some lunatic terrorist. I have too much invested in you.”
I'm deeply touched.
Also:
1. I hate traveling.
2. I miss my bed.
3. My pillows arranged just so.
4. The special coffee Karen brews for me.
5. I'll be away from my desk.
6. Still have no idea how to pack.
7. I'll have to deal with, er, new people.
8. Major mystery: how does the plane stay up in the air?
9. And I have to be away from Karen for more than six hours.
10. Sigh.
Offspring #2 scolds: “How can you not go!?”
So, I contact poor Stephen Leavitt—I've been driving him crazy with my maybe-yes, maybe-no e mails—and finally give a definite yes.
But I cannot do this without Karen. I mean, I'm more than useless without the love of my life.
Which brings us back to:
“What kind of trouble?” Karen says.
“Um, let's see... Oh, I know—the Notorious Blogger Groupies who are bound to converge on the convention and zero-in on Seraphic Secret.”
The attack of the Notorious Blogger Groupies!
Karen looks at me like I'm the biggest moron in the world. She knows darn well that I'm making this up as I go along.
“Please,” I plead, “I really need you.”
Karen says: “I'm flattered you want me to come along.”
Really?
Anyhoo.
Karen and I look forward to this trip, to the NBN J Blogger Convention, and most of all we look forward to meeting cyber friends old and new.
Karen and I are leaving on August 18 and will be staying in Israel through Shabbat.
Thanks so much to Nefesh B'Nefesh and WebAds for making this special experience possible.
Stay tuned for my reports on the NBN flight, the family I profile, the convention—and my endless kvetching about the rigors of travel.
Once again, don't forget to register for the JBlogger International Convention.
Oh, yeah, at this very moment, Karen's sister and husband are on a NBN flight to Israel. Talk about coincidence.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:27 AM in Seraphic Israel | Comments (32)
July 20, 2008
Best of the Jewish Blogosphere # 174
Screenwriters Ben Hecht & Charles MacArthur urge
you to read Haveil Havalim
Today is The Fast of the 17th of Tammuz, in which we remember the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem which led to the the destruction of the First Temple. Appropriately, Esser Agaroth starts out the carnival with a fine D'var Torah and a list of some of the calamities that befell the Jewish people on this terrible date.
We'd like to thank Esser Agaroth for including Seraphic Secret's white-hot-with-anger-and-frustration post: Swap Teaches Us to Kidnap More.
For those of you who are fasting today, we wish you a meaningful experience. As for me, I'm getting ready for a meaningful migraine.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:55 AM in Best of the Jewish Blogosphere | Comments (4)
July 18, 2008
Change in Iraq Obama Style
Watch Obama switch positions on Iraq, endlessly, for about eight minutes. It would be funny but for the fact that he aspires to be Commander-in-Chief.
Wolf Howling, one of the most perceptive bloggers in the known universe, masterfully Critiques Obama's New York Times Manifesto on Iraq. Bu-rutal.
And from my friend Dirty Harry, breaking news on a new film and an interview with Hollywood good guy D.B. Sweeney. What a relief for a Hollywood actor, writer, director to say the following:
There’s nothing on this planet like the feeling of watching 500 combat ready Marines come to attention for the playing of the Star Spangled banner before they screen your movie.
Nothing.
I can only dream of such a feeling and honor.
Karen and I wish all our friends a lovely Shabbos, and a meaningful fast on Sunday the 17th of Tammuz.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:27 PM in Seraphic Politics | Comments (2)
July 17, 2008
Notable Hollywood Eyebrows Part II
Marsha Hunt applies her own make-up
As a model, I had always applied my own make-up. For my screen test at Paramount I was sent to the Make-Up Department, inwardly thrilled to be in the hands of the very experts who prepared so many famous faces for work each day. But when they finished, what I saw in the mirror left me stunned. I had never seen her before and wasn't sure I wanted to see her ever again.
My eyebrows had been plucked away and reshaped into narrow arcs, changing my whole expression; my lashes were overlaid with strips of long, false fake ones, making me feel droopy-lidded; eye shadow applied immediately above the eyes, white liner was drawn between eyes and lower lashes; my nose had a lightening line down its center to make it look chiseled and narrower, and my lipstick rounded the cupid's bow, extending above the natural line.
They simply had given me all the make-up touches that were then in vogue. With no delusions of being a beauty, I just felt altered, rather than enhanced. I comforted myself that surely it would photograph better than that. But when I finally saw my screen test, there was that strange girl again looking very odd, at least to me. I'll never know why they signed me, looking like that. I vowed then, always to do my own make-up thereafter, and with the exception of old-age roles, always did.
Thus writes Marsha Hunt in her invaluable The Way We Wore, Styles of the 1930's and '40's. Hunt, an actress of exceptional range, was signed by Paramount in 1935 when she was just 17-years old. The ex-model was cast in twelve films during her three year contract and then signed by MGM.
Marsha Hunt's book is a fascinating and informative study of Hollywood's Golden Age through the prism of style. A ferociously intelligent beauty, Hunt observes and comments on the harshness of studio make-up, changing hair styles, hats, shoes, fur muffs, cuffs and collars, handbags and pocket books. She even finds time to illustrate the high style of automobiles .
Cecile B. DeMille and Marsha Hunt in the director's magnificent Cord phaeton, parked in front of The DeMille Bungalow on Paramount's lot, 1936
There are hundreds of photos—all of Hunt—modeling various outfits for the studio publicity mill. A touching memoir and an encyclopedia of fashion, Hunt's volume is an invaluable reference to Hollywood's role in defining style and fashion.
Hunt's startled reflection on her heavy make-up and screen test is revealing. The clash between the reality of her true self with the manufactured Hollywood image was deeply alienating for the unusually self-aware young actress. No wonder Lana Turner wryly commented on her seven disastrous marriages: “The problem is that men marry Lana Turner—and wake up next to me.” Turner, unlike Marsh, was incapable of bridging the gap between who she was and her larger-than-life screen image.
Last week, in Notable Hollywood Eyebrows, Part I, I pointed out that the Flappers of the 20's were in the vanguard of pitiless eyebrow plucking. One of Seraphic Secret's readers, a brilliant cultural observer, wrote to me with this fascinating bit of cultural information:
Flappers were the first group of women outside of prostitutes to shave their legs and armpits. They changed the world, depilation-wise.
Okay, let's go to the visuals:
Hedy Lamarr
Gloria Swanson
And here, caught in a rare, candid moment, our two reigning champs of mercilessly plucked eyebrows: Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:08 AM in Seraphic Hollywood
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The Second Lebanon war ended in a disgraceful cease-fire. In truth, it was Israel's surrender to Hizbullah. Ehud Olmert declared that Israel went to war to recover kidnapped IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. As we all know this goal was not met. During the war, Hizbullah succeeded in consigning a million Israelis to bomb shelters. The Jewish state was helpless in the face of rocket attacks throughout the war. Hence, Iran through her proxy army Hizbullah projected her power and influence not only across the region, but into the Israeli homeland. Olmert ignored the well-laid plans for a ground invasion and relied on an ill-conceived war from the air. And when the ground invasion finally did take place, it was a disaster, with ill-equipped units wandering around the battlefield with no tactical or strategic plan. At war's end, the Israeli Lebanese border became an international zone with UNIFIL troops dug in and presumably there to make sure that Hizbullah does not rearm. Tzipi Livni declared that with the UNIFIL troops Israel was more secure than ever before. Of course, the UNIFIL troops are useless. Hizbullah have more rockets and more sophisticated weaponry than they had before the Second Lebanon War. The terrorists use the Keystone Cop UNIFIL troops as a security screen. Thus, Hizbullah are more secure and better armed than ever before. This is the legacy of the Olmert-Livni leadership. Livni's rhetoric reminds us of George Orwell's 1984 where Big Brother declared war as peace and peace as war. Hizbullah kidnapped Goldwasser and Regev in order to secure the release of child-murderer Samir Kuntar. And so, today, Hizbullah's victory over Israel is complete. There is joy in the Arab world for Israel has been brought to her knees not by an Arab state, but by Hizbullah, Islamic terrorists financed and supported by Iran. There is joy in the Arab world because Israel—through this swap of a Jew-murderer for the bodies of murdered Jews—has declared that there is no difference between a dead Jew and a breathing Jew. There is joy in the Arab world because they know that when Jews are kidnapped there will be no rescue attempts, just capitulation to terror. There is joy in the Arab world because the strategy of destroying Israel's will to exist is succeeding beyond their wildest expectations. There is joy in the Arab world because Gilad Schalit is still held in cruel captivity in Gaza and the Arabs know that Israel will continue to supply this genocidal state with the fuel, power and money to continue their war against the Jews. The state of Israel has become a Kapo state, giving direct aid to those who murder Jews and would wipe Israel off the face of the earth. If Israel wants Schalit back she should mount a daring rescue operation. If Israel wants Schalit back she must—as Seraphic Secret has been urging for years—cut off all power, fuel and supplies to Gaza. But Israel, under the current traitorous government, will not take this necessary step. Instead, Olmert and his gang will continue to appease the jihadists and declare appeasement a “moral victory.” I have a question: if today's swap was such a victory, why is no one in Israel celebrating? Original story here. And we are honored that veteran journalist David Paulin comments and quotes at length on this post at the fine political journal American Thinker. A fine blog by Dave Bender, Israel at Level Ground, covers the coverage on the Israeli side and on the side of the barbarians. Numerous screen captures. And I Saw Satan Laughing with Delight. Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:09 AM in Seraphic Israel
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As in the old Soviet Union where history was constantly revised to suit the political ends of the Communist rulers, Barak Obama is trying to rewrite history in regard to his dead-wrong predictions about the surge in Iraq. Not surprising when you consider that this is the candidate who spent over 20-years as an active member of a Jew-hating, black separatist church and then has the chutzpah to campaign as a "uniter." Not surprising when you consider that this is a candidate who has learned a great deal from the Communist playbook. Orwellian thought and language have reached new heights with Barack Obama and his politburo. To read the complete story, please click here. And here's John McCain on Iraq and Afghanistan. An excerpt: It's worth noting that John McCain spent more time being tortured in a North Vietnamese POW camp than Obama has spent in the Senate. To say that Obama's resume is thin is something of an understatement. Oh, but I forgot, Obama served in the trenches as a, ahem, community organizer. Tough gig. Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 12:39 PM in Seraphic Politics
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The Lebanese government is preparing official celebrations in honor of the evil and of brutal terrorist who will be swapped tomorrow for the corpses of IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasset and Eldad Regev. The swap is a victory for Hizbullah, and a statement by the present Israeli government that there is no difference between a Jew who is alive and a Jewish corpse. This course of action does not sanctify, but degrades life. By yielding to this exchange, every Jew in Israel and the diaspora is rendered an inviting target. To read the entire story, please click here. Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:53 AM in Seraphic Jihad Watch
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From Wolf Howling: To read the complete article, please click here. Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:45 AM in Seraphic Politics
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Vivien Leigh
Joan Marsh
Claudette Colbert
Eleanor Boardman
Dorothy Lamour
Irene Dunne
Louise Brooks
Jean Harlow and Marlene DietrichJuly 16, 2008
“Swap Teaches Us to Kidnap More”
The murdered Haran family: Danny, Einat and Yael.
May Their Blood be AvengedAs Gaza children throw candy in the street and massive rallies gear up in Lebanon and Israel to celebrate the release of murderer Samir Kuntar and other terrorists, Arab leaders and terrorist groups around the Middle East are expressing their joy over what to them is a resounding victory over Israel and a lesson that kidnapping IDF soldiers works.
Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas praised the family of Kuntar, Hamas terrorist leader Ismail Haniyeh encouraged more kidnappings, and another Gaza terrorist openly expressed what many in Israel already fear: Kidnapping IDF soldiers has become the most effective way to release terrorists with blood on their hands.
Abbas congratulated the family of Samir Kuntar on his release Wednesday, and sent his condolences to the Lebanese families receiving their loved ones' bodies as part of the prisoner exchange with Hizbullah. He also sent his regards to the families of the other four terrorists released by Israel.
In Gaza, Hamas terrorist leader and PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh congratulated Samir Kuntar on his impending release from Israeli prison and his triumphant return to Lebanon. Haniyeh praised "the great victory the resistance has had, which proved the righteousness of our ways," and said his own terrorist organization would likewise remain loyal to its operatives jailed in Israel as well, suggesting that Hamas has been encouraged by the release to kidnap more IDF soldiers.
He promised that Hamas would not abandon the Palestinian Authority prisoners jailed in Israel.
Shortly before the conclusion of Wednesday's prisoner exchange,Haniyeh visited Gaza's al-Bureij neighborhood and spoke at a news conference at the home of the Arab family who adopted Kuntar.
"Today we stress again that we won't give up our prisoners," said Haniyeh. "We won't be able to waive these heroes without an honorable deal for our prisoners in Israel. The Israelis must pay a price. They must know that they will pay a price in return for an exchange deal. We cannot accept having these prisoners remain in jail."
Referring to the ongoing talks between Hamas and Israel to release captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, he announced that "there is a captive Israeli solder and thousands of prisoners on our side. We are interested in finalizing this issue as soon as possible, but they must accept the Palestinian demands. They must accept the demands of the Palestinian resistance sentenced to long jail terms, parliament members, sick people, women, etc."
"Second, from [al-Bureij], the camp of strong standing, I once against congratulate Lebanon. We tell them that this operation is the best lesson that can be achieved — a victory over the occupation, liberating lands and liberating prisoners."
The Hamas leader said that the deal with Hizbullah, which included the return of the dead bodies of kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, gave him hope. "This is a precedent," he said.
Inspired by the results of the kidnappings and the subsequent prisoner release, Haniyeh decided Wednesday to postpone the talks on the release of Shalit.
Haniyeh is not the only major terrorist leader to express his delight at the proof that kidnapping Israelis is an effective weapon strategic weapon against Israel. Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the umbrella terror group Popular Resistance Committees, told a Ynet reporter on Wednesday that the completion of the deal "even after the images of the Israeli soldiers' coffins, proves that kidnapping soldiers will continue to be the most efficient, favored and ideal way to release Palestinian prisoners, particularly those defined by the enemy as having blood on their hands."
According to Abu Mujehad, the Lebanese and PA terror infrastructure "will continue to work to kidnap soldiers in order to release prisoners "and in order to retrieve our rights, after it has been proved beyond any doubt that no diplomatic negotiations can release prisoners or return rights."
July 15, 2008
Comrade Obama Purges Website
Barack Obama's campaign scrubbed his presidential Web site over the weekend to remove criticism of the U.S. troop "surge" in Iraq, the Daily News has learned.
The presumed Democratic nominee replaced his Iraq issue Web page, which had described the surge as a "problem" that had barely reduced violence. .
"The surge is not working," Obama's old plan stated, citing a lack of Iraqi political cooperation but crediting Sunni sheiks - not U.S. military muscle - for quelling violence in Anbar Province. .
The News reported Sunday that insurgent attacks have fallen to the fewest since March 2004. .
Over the last year, Senator Obama and I were part of a great debate about the war in Iraq. Both of us agreed the Bush administration had pursued a failed strategy there and that we had to change course. Where Senator Obama and I disagreed, fundamentally, was what course we should take. I called for a comprehensive new strategy -- a surge of troops and counterinsurgency to win the war. Senator Obama disagreed. He opposed the surge, predicted it would increase sectarian violence, and called for our troops to retreat as quickly as possible.
Today we know Senator Obama was wrong. The surge has succeeded. And because of its success, the next President will inherit a situation in Iraq in which America's enemies are on the run, and our soldiers are beginning to come home.
Lebanon Celebrates Evil
Lebanese with posters of their hero,
a child-murdererKuntar, a Lebanese Druse, was 16 when he led "Operation Nasser." On April 22, 1979, he and three other members of Abu Abbas's Palestine Liberation Front sailed on a rubber motor boat under the cover of darkness from Tyre to Nahariya.
Arriving at about midnight on Shabbat, they first encountered policeman Eliyahu Shahar and shot him.
They then entered an apartment building on Rehov Jabotinsky 61, where they took Danny Haran, 28, and his four-year-old daughter, Einat, hostage. Haran's wife, Smadar, hiding in a crawl space above the bedroom, muffled the cries of her two-year-old daughter Yael, accidentally smothering her. As police arrived on the scene, the terrorists pulled Danny and Einat down to the beach, where Kuntar shot him in the back at close range and threw his body into the sea, and crushed her head on the rocks with the butt of his rifle.
July 14, 2008
Obama AWOL
Obama is refusing to appear in a Town Hall debate with McCain before a crowd of military service members and their families. The debate was organized by Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network, among others. This man is devoid of substance and character.
