http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ With something like a 10-60 record as coach of my children's soccer teams why do I do it? Because I'm Soccer Dad! en-us daledamos@gmail.com 2009-07-03T13:49:43-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/03/on_the_10th_anniversary_of_the_yahrzeit_of_rabbi_yaakov_weinberg_ztl.html THE ESSENCE OF GREATNESSRabbi Avi ShafranThe unaffiliated Jewish woman attended three of the rabbi's lectures in the 1950s, visibly intrigued by the ideas he put forth, about the historicity of the Jewish religious tradition. Then she abruptly stopped coming.Another woman who had also attended the lecture series tracked her down and asked why she was no longer showing up. The first woman answered straightforwardly: "He was convincing me. If I continue to listen to this man, I will have to change my life."What a remarkably honest person. (I like to imagine that she came, in time, to pursue what she... 30976@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ 2009-07-03T13:49:43-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/03/how_is_netanyahus_approval_rating_obama_eat_your_heart_out.html Obama, eat your heart out.From Rasmussen Reports:Netanyahu's numbers may not compare with Obama's in terms of personal ratings, and no one is making fancy graphics about how Netanyahu is doing--yet unlike Obama, a poll shows that Bibi's approval ratings are going up:A public-opinion survey commissioned by Haaretz to gauge Netanyahu's popularity as he approaches 100 days shows favorable results, despite the criticism since April for his gauche handling of the national budget and the diplomatic crisis with the U.S. His two key appointments, Avigdor Lieberman as foreign minister and Yuval Steinitz as finance minister, also drew fire. The survey by... 30970@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ 2009-07-03T11:41:55-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/03/from_turkey_a_game_show_featuring_a_rabbi_a_muslim_imam_a_greek_orthodox_priest_and_a_buddhist_monk.html Just look at what Simon Cowell has inspired--The name of the show is Penitents Compete:Contestants will ponder whether to believe or not to believe when they pit their godless convictions against the possibilities of a new relationship with the almighty on Penitents Compete (Tovbekarlar Yarisiyor in Turkish), to be broadcast by the Kanal T station. Four spiritual guides from the different religions will seek to convert at least one of the 10 atheists in each programme to their faith.Those persuaded will be rewarded with a pilgrimage to the spiritual home of their newly chosen creed - Mecca for Muslims, Jerusalem... 30969@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ 2009-07-03T11:37:28-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/03/extra_extra_get_your_paper.html Yesterday the Politico reported that the Washington Post was offering its services to industry groups who wished access to the movers and shakers in Washington. Needless to say,as soon as word got out the event was canceled. Jennifer Rubin writes: There is simply no explanation for the appalling judgment that led the newspaper to leap from journalism to pimping access, like some low-rent lobbyist that lacks even the proper disclosure for its actions. In a perfect world, those responsible should resign. Powerline adds (via Instapundit) : Given that their publisher was the program's host and the paper's "news executives" were... 30963@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ media bias 2009-07-03T07:10:29-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/03/just_like_us.html Barry Rubin recently wrote about the problems experts, diplomats and politicians have in dealing with other countries: Compare this with the Western propensity for admitting error--or having independent institutions which, rightly or wrongly, are eager to point out the mistakes of others. In the Obama era, it would seem as if the main job of the politician is to make apologies. Naturally, the apologies are usually not so much an admission of one's own mistakes as they are throwing dirt on one's country and predecessors. Of course, admitting mistakes is an important element in democratic and Enlightenment intellectual life. It... 30962@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ Foreign Policy 2009-07-03T06:46:07-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/03/submitted_070309.html Watcher council nominations are up. The Libertarians Downfall: Conspiracy Theories - In this excellent essay, The Provocateur investigates the connection between libertarians and conspiracy theories. LIFE - Right Truth contemplates the intersection between life, religion and politics. Settlement - The Razor reflects on the lives of his in-laws and concludes along the way that beggars certainly can be choosers and are - as well as the implications of that observation. How A Real President Responds - Rhymes With Right has advice for President Obama on how to respond to a crisis. Masquerade In iran - Joshuapundit makes a strong case... 30961@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ Watcher's Council 2009-07-03T06:11:15-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/02/fathers_day_has_come_and_gone--now_they_release_volume_81_of_the_complete_works_of_kim_il_sung.html Some folks will probably sell you the whole set for a few potatoes:Among them are works "New Year Address", "On Some Measures for Solving the Problem of Electricity",The measures must not have been too effective: electricity is still with us. "Let Us Take Effective Measures to Increase the Steel Production", "On Some Problems Arising in the Improvement of Economic Work" and "On Some Measures for Putting on a Normal Basis the Production at Industrial Establishments and Improving the Standard of People's Living" which clarify in detail the tasks facing different fields to push ahead with the socialist economic construction... 30954@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ 2009-07-02T21:38:48-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/02/mpak-uk_exposes_peoples_cube.html I imagine they'll appreciate the exposure. This is so geshmak:In the 21st century it is astonishing to note the double standards that one thing can be worthy of condemnation, yet, at the same time be defended by the freedom of press. There is nothing wrong with slandering the core principles of Islam, there is nothing wrong with calling our Prophet a terrorist because it's just freedom of expression. However, anti-Semitism and offending any other religions is absolutely wrong. That is why we see websites such as www.thepeoplescube.com freely mocking Islam, our holy books and holy places. The site has a... 30949@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ 2009-07-02T20:51:48-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/02/shame_on_dershowitz.html Yesterday, Jennifer Rubin asked: Where is the outrage in the U.S. -- especially among the 78% of Jews who voted for Obama? Where are the major Jewish institutions that in the past offered rhetorical and political support for a vibrant pro-Israel policy? In answering the question, she, of course, credits Martin Peretz for speaking out against President Obama's anti-Israel policies. But, I've wondered, where's Alan Dershowitz been? Why doesn't he speak out. Well now he has, and I wish that he'd remained silent. He answers "Has Obama turned on Israel?" with an emphatic "no." First there are the settlements. The... 30911@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ Israel 2009-07-02T06:13:05-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/02/human_wrongs_watch.html Yesterday the New York Times reported on a recent Human Rights Watch report that claimed that during its campaign in Gaza Israel killed 29 civilians in six separate attacks. Twenty-nine civilians, including eight children, were killed in what appeared to be six missile strikes by Israeli drones in Gaza in December and January, according to a report released Tuesday by Human Rights Watch. The group questioned whether Israeli forces had taken "all feasible precautions" to avoid civilian casualties. Israel's military has never acknowledged using the remotely piloted planes to fire missiles. In a statement released Tuesday, it said that it... 30910@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ Israel 2009-07-02T01:41:25-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/01/what_are_the_chances_for_peace_if_abbas_cannot_recall--let_alone_accept--what_he_is_offered.html Yossi Alpher, co-editor at bitterlemons.org, writes about the chances of any Israeli leader being able to negotiate a real peace with "moderate" Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas--based on Abbas's re-interpretation of the offers Olmert made to him during negotiations. He refers to an interview Abbas did in the Washington Post on May 29 and one that Olmert did on June 13 in Newsweek--and compares what the two leaders said about an Arab right of return.Jackson Diehl recounts:In our meeting Wednesday, Abbas acknowledged that Olmert had shown him a map proposing a Palestinian state on 97 percent of the West Bank --... 30869@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ 2009-07-01T11:48:27-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/01/krauthammer_on_the_president_and_honduras.html Krauthammer at the Corner about President Obama's stance on Honduras: Look, a rule of thumb here is whenever you find yourself on the side of Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega, and the Castro twins, you ought to reexamine your assumptions. For the latest on Honduras, check with Fausta. (via memeorandum)... 30773@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ Foreign Policy 2009-07-01T06:31:30-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/01/barak_meets_mitchell.html At the end of an article about Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak's meeting with American Middle East envoy, George Mitchell the Washington Post's Glenn Kessler writes: There are more than 120 settlements in the occupied West Bank that are legal under Israeli law but not internationally. The Fourth Geneva Convention, which Israel ratified in 1951, forbids an occupying power to transfer "parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies," but Israel disputes that this provision applies to settlements. Israel seized the West Bank and other territories in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Why the difference between Israeli law... 30851@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ Israel 2009-07-01T06:24:17-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/01/drawing_down.html Ralph Peters sees it as a good thing. (via Instapundit): As our troops leave Iraq's cities today, their commanders know that still more bloody trials lie ahead. Now and then, the Iraqis will "shoot the red star cluster," calling for our help. But today isn't just a day for Iraqis to celebrate -- it's a good day for us, too. And it's a day of vindication for a former president who saw clearly, but spoke poorly (to the delighted mortification of the media). Now we have a president who expresses himself beautifully, but seems blind to international reality. And it's... 30850@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ Iraq 2009-07-01T06:19:42-05:00 http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/archives/2009/07/01/omer_and_omer.html Dion Nissenbuam (Twice in one day? Yes.) highlights a friend's efforts to expose an Israeli conspiracy. Ashraf, a friend who was one of the many talented reporters to be laid off as a result of the economic implosion of the newspaper industry, has written a journalistic exploration of the challenges facing reporters covering the Arab-Israeli conflict. Calling it a "sobering glimpse" of Jerusalem journalism, Ashraf focuses on his frustrating attempts to report on an incident last year at the Israel-Jordan border where Palestinian journalist Mohammed Omer said he was assaulted by Israeli security.Ashraf "In the end," Ashraf writes, "the truth... 30849@http://soccerdad.baltiblogs.com/ media bias 2009-07-01T05:49:13-05:00