Stromata

Funny poster for
patient husbands

With my failing memory, I went to school yesterday afternoon only to find out there was no class because exams have started. My memory is appalling. Anyway that gave me the chance to go to the bank ... another branch 1km away ... that I was directed by the head office earlier that morning. Waited my turn for almost an hour, then was told I had to go to another department. Luckily that department had no one and the kind american lady helped me through the whole process. She was very patient as there were lots of papers to check. In all some 40 mins was required.

On the way home I passed by a Judaica shop in the Mall. it had a very funny poster on its window: free wifi for patient husbands while their wives shopped. That really helped lighten the mood.

The ultra-orthodox have continued their protests in the streets, blocking major traffic ways. They still demand no compulsory military service for their male followers.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4944689,00.html

The ultra-orthodox hatred for military service was expressed in their neighborhood several days ago when a soldier went into one of their shops. He was surrounded and attacked by the ultra-orthodox and had to be saved by police.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.780989

The leftwing newspaper carried an article on the jewish settlement program inside Palestine ... "occupation" as they call it ... It offers a different viewpoint.  http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.781093

Extremist jews have been carrying out the slaughter of a lamb near the Temple Mount (Al Aqsa Mosque) for the past several years as a practice run for the day when they build the 3rd Temple (after destroying the Mosque of course). This year the police have banned them as it has become too provocative.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/court-blocks-activists-from-sacrificing-sheep-near-temple-mount/

Warm nights

The weather is warming up ... and it feels nice like summer. I noticed many of the Spring vegetables are no longer on sale in the markets ... like chives and mint. Now the herbs of summer are on sale especially zatar (oregano) and artichokes. We're expecting a very hot and dry summer ... and the drought will be bad. And we're also expecting trouble from Lebanon and Gaza. Well militarily the country is prepared for the latter. But the drought ... that is beyond anyone's control. We'll just have to save on water and use less electricity. But that's difficult because the hotter it gets, the more people want to use air-conditioners ... and that uses up a lot of electricity and produces more heat in the atmosphere. What a disaster.