Passover Is Passing Over And Not A Moment Too Soon

Clearly, FIL had cheese.

Every year, there is one blog episode for Passover. Every year I decide about five days before publication what I'm going to write about. And every year, when  I actually sit down to write, I toss whatever thoughts I had. This year is no different. But before I write about anything at all, I must tell you, gentle readers, I lost my best assistant editor last week, right before the holiday began. Bialy was 15 1/2 years young which is seriously old in German Short-Haired Pointer years. I am forever thankful that the week before, while the kiddos were in Chicago, I had her all to myself. I stayed with Miss B at her house and wrote about Charles Ponzi with her head in my lap. She was the best snuggler you could ever wish for. Beloved by FIL and Peri, my very timid Canaani, Bialy had a great puppyhood running amok with them in my old kitchen. These last few years, however, as age and kidney disease caught up with her, she never really slowed down until right at the very end. She may have officially belonged to the Junior Son's family, but she was my buddy, too. I'll never be able to look at a baby carrot again without thinking of my favorite carrot addict.

Being that it's still Passover and all, let's talk about the holiday that's all about freedom. The story of Passover is the story of the departure from slavery in Egypt on our way to freedom in our own land. In every exile, we have continued to pray facing Jerusalem. Psalm 137, the one with "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither...." was written during the 6th Century BCE. That's a whole lotta years before Christianity and add another 600 years before Islam. The existence of spiritual ties to Jerusalem is not open to debate, yet, there is a whole lotta world that claims we are colonizers.

Now the government wants to screen social media for what they consider anti-semitic rhetoric should scare the shit outta everyone. Oh, you think this is a good thing? Disabuse yourself of that notion. Neither President Felon nor Vice President Bedbug gives a tinker's damn about the Jews. We are a convenience for them. We're necessary for the second coming, but beyond that, we're fodder for under the bus. The tariffs are failing? He can blame the Jew Lutnick. Social media is being manipulated to search out anti-semitism? Or is it really consolidating identifiable pockets of support? 

At the same time, President Felon's loyal podcasters are upping the ante on Jewish conspiracy theories. In March, Zachary Basu wrote a piece for AXIOS on influencers, detailing some of this:

Driving the news: Conspiracy theories about Israel, Jeffrey Epstein and Jewish elites dominated four MAGA-friendly podcasts last week that had previously hosted Trump. All came out within the same 48-hour period.

• Candace Owens, a pro-Trump lightning rod who left The Daily Wire last year over her embrace of antisemitic rhetoric, was a guest on "This Past Weekend with Theo Von."
• Andrew Tate, the misogynist influencer accused of sex trafficking and rape in Romania, appeared on the Nelk Boys' "Full Send" podcast and Patrick Bet David's "PBD Podcast." He also attended UFC 313 in Las Vegas, where he was welcomed by UFC president and Trump ally Dana White.
• Ian Carroll, an independent researcher who has suggested Israel was involved in 9/11, spent nearly three hours on the biggest platform of all — "The Joe Rogan Experience."

The divide is concerning. When the only news you're getting is from within your own particular bubble, this stuff doesn't come across as theories... it sounds like fact. Listeners are manipulated into believing these are real threats coming from a specific group that should not simply be heard, but action needs to be taken. What action remains to be seen, but do not believe for one New York minute that there isn't a plan already in the works. 

Jewish hate has not abated recently. In fact, it has intensified. The firebombing of Governor Josh Shapiro's home on the first night of Passover, and the assailant's admission that he wanted to beat the governor with his hammer is a pretty big clue that this isn't going away. The Shapiro family and another family who was staying overnight after the seder could have been burned to death. Between Hamas and the local crazies, burning Jews seems to be back in vogue. 

Funny thing about that: there's not been much of an outcry. Some people are insisting it was because of state politics. Nonsense. As the author Dara Horn has compiled in her collection of essays: People Love Dead Jews. 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch: President Felon was on tape bragging how his tariffs were making his friends billions. It's only 15 seconds you will never unsee. 

But that was not enough; he went so far as to post on social media encouraging people to buy stock when the market was depressed, only to lift the tariffs long enough for his pocket heavy donors to benefit. According to the Washington Post:

Less than four hours before President Donald Trump’s announcement that he was pausing his tariffs on most countries sent markets soaring, he told his 9.4 million followers on his social media platform that it was a good time to buy. 

“THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT” he posted on Truth Social at 9:37 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday. Shortly after 1 p.m., he announced on the same site that he would pause most of his new tariffs, causing the cratering stock markets to sharply rise.

This isn't exactly the first time he's pulled this.  And yes, inquiries have been made and lawsuits are being prepped. Not that a congress of clowns has the balls between them to do anything about it. I mean...it would probably interfere with their own profiteering. 

The Wifely Person's Tip o'the Week

Snuggling with your dog is a good thing. Remember to do it often

The Last Word for 2021: Dog Snuggles

Baby Bialy & Grandpa

Now that I'm retired and clearly have no life whatsoever, I have spent the best, most relaxing week puppy-sitting my grand-puppy Bialy. She was the world's cutest puppy 12 years ago, and liked nothing more than being in Great-Grandpa's arms. He, of course, always had cheese in his pocket which might  have accounted  for some of  the attraction. 

Despite her insistence she is still puppy-sized, she's really a 12-year old German Shorthaired Pointer who likes nothing better than waiting for Savta (that's me) to fall asleep so she can stealthily creep up and lay her 55-pound body flat-out on top of my back. And if I push her off, she just slides down and lays across my butt.

She's the most stimulating, exciting company imaginable and to prove it, here are some exciting scenes from My Week With Bialy.    

In truth, it's kinda nice. She's very snuggly and I miss dog snuggles....even when she decides  it's time to slide on top of me. I don't mind all that much. Nothin' says lovin' like slurping dog-tongue in one's ear at 3:20 a.m. 

The kiddos are someplace sunny and warm...but  no ocean which is just weird to me. Nope, they're in the desert which is a distinct improvement over the frigid temperatures here. I don't blame them one bit. Bialy and I will just hunker down to binge watch GET BACK on  Disney+.

On the upside, they don't do broadcast TV, so I'm streaming news on my computer. Which limits what I can watch and when. Honestly, I've been keeping up with SCOTUS and the local trial of Kim Potter, but that's about it. Amazingly enough, the jury convicted her on both manslaughter counts charged in the death of  Daunte Wright. Since the ridiculous acquittal of Officer Jeronimo Yanez in the shooting of Philando Castile, Minnesota courts have successfully prosecuted three other officers in unwarranted shooting deaths. One might want to believe this is a corner turned, that going forward, at least in Minnesota, there is accountability. Progress? Perhaps. One can do little more than hope. 

But the year is finally about to end. It's not been the best year, or even much better than 2020, and it certainly dashed more hopes than it raised. This COVID thing continues in new and unusual waves with no real end  in sight. There is an emergence of two classes of people in the world: those who are or want to be vaccinated, and those who refuse. Those who refuse will ultimately become the new untouchables in society. Those who are vaccinated will certainly feel their own hearts break as the unvaccinated are barred, rightfully so, from socializing with those who are. As I have often said, this is a matter of choice; those who choose not to be vaccinated are choosing ostracism. 

A mind made up is a mind made up. Until one is lying in hospital alone, gasping for  breath, unable to be comforted, that mind will stay made up. It is a choice one must respect. Not enable. Respect. There's  a difference. I am tired of writing about this. 

One last picture to share, one of my favorites. Shy, timid Peri avoided other dogs at all costs, but loved Baby Bialy. She put up with so much jumpy stuff from that puppy that we could not believe it was our Peri. But this picture, taken in 2010, demonstrates the power of cheese. Hold up a single slice, and the Ben Hur races around the kitchen island ceased immediately as butts slid across the floor. 

Baby Bialy and her Aunty Peri.
Cheese was involved.

The Wifely Person's Tip o'the Week

As you bid 2021 a less-than-fond  farewell,

do not give up hope.

It doesn't cost a thing to believe the world will improve.