I don’t know what to say about The Anti-Griddle except that I’m fascinated with its existence. It also may come in handy if you accidentally produce superheated gas that’s hotter than the Sun!

So Sharon Stone is over in Israel and says she “would kiss just about anybody” to end the Israel-Arab conflict. She also goes on in this My Way article,

Noting it was International Women’s Day, Stone suggested that more women become involved in the male-dominated world of Mideast peace talks. Women consider thoughts and feelings more than men, she said.

“I think (men and women) need to be a team. We were meant to be a team,” she said.

You should read the whole article and read it aloud, like a blond;). NerdDad couldn’t help but laugh.

So on to a point. Has she heard of Golda Meir? Women have been involved and that doesn’t magically fix anything. I mean I am pro-estrogen but really. It was just so ridiculous that I had to mention it.

(HT: K-Lo over at the Corner)

In the spirit of Jewish rap we now move to a dance mix…NerdDad found this for me and it just tickled my soul. There is no true description of this video from a wedding. I am not one for making a fool out of myself but these guys are funny. Now I have to say that I appreciated the short under the kilts(scarves?). I have to also say that I really like this song and it led me to do some research. There are some great download sites for Jewish music but, aye that is a post for another time.

Yes, you read that correctly. I was reading the Sunday Paper(ok, just the front pages of the sections, after all it is only the Fresno Bee) and I saw an article called Rental Chic. So the theory is that you either pay a rental fee for a specific purse or pay a subscription fee. The reasoning is that this way you can have those outrageously priced bags and you aren’t tied to just one. To give you some figures to rent a $475 Gucci bag you can pay $79.90 a month. Now let me in my boring logic point out that you could own that bag in less than 6 months if you just saved the money up. Now the other point is so you are not tied to a specific expensive bag. I would suppose this would be especially useful for those wild trendy bags. Bag, Borrow or Steal was one of the places that offer a subscription service. Their base starts at $19.95 a month and that is Cynthia Rowley and Moshino level bags. The highest level(appropriately called Diva) is $99.95 a month and you can get Hermes and Burberry. The Diva even has an option to pay an additional fee to rent a bag from the Couture Collection. I know that this is appropriate for certain trendsetters but is this just reaffirmation of trying to keep up with the Jones? I do have one friend who I can see contemplating, and perhaps even doing this(I will confirm or deny if you are she if you ask) but I think on the whole this is dangerous. We in society seem to feel this need to get things that are out of our budgets to pretend we are something we are not. Yes, I don’t just get my purses at Target, but often on clearance. What statement am I hoping to make…While I would like to look cute it isn’t my priority. I also am saying that this is how I carry my junk and my kids junk. I am just happy it isn’t a diaper bag. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with having nice things that you pay full price for but…Why is it what defines us? Why is it how we judge one another. How about I never wonder how much your purse is and you don’t judge me for mine?

The NerdFamily is just beginning it homeschool journey. I believe abstractly that homeschooling is the best choice you can make for your children. I also abstractly believe that moms should all stay home. That does not mean I believe that these are the right choices for everyone. I also believe that these choices look different for everyone. I stay home full time but also sell Pampered Chef and am starting a business with NerdDad doing a couple websites. I do not feel that I am abandoning my children. In the same vain, I was in public school and I turned out fine(ok, at least I am not completely nuts;). If my mom would have homeschooled me one of us might not have lived to tell the tale. I say all this to let you know where I am coming from.

This year we are doing preschool with the NerdBug in sorts. I say in sorts because we are not keeping attendance records or anything that formal. FYI, you legally don’t have to begin schooling your child(or have them schooled by others) until they are 6. So as we go through this adventure I will try to journal(or blog) on it. Part of the fun of homeschooling is that you do not really do it alone. I have a few friends at church that also home school their kids. I have also joined a couple Yahoo groups just to keep myself informed and to get recommendations.

In these groups I was alerted to 2 articles, one on CNN and one on BusinessWeek. I guess that we are cooler than we thought. According to the CNN article, homeschooling is the fastest growing sector in the US education system. In Business Week they talk about this movement growing among the intellectual elite and the white collar sector. Homeschooling is no longer seen as a compound living, back woods, extremist Christian way of life. People of all walks of faith and politics now(or at least willing to declare in public) homeschooling. The most conservative estimates put this population at 1.1 million but some say almost 2 million. Even if homeschooling is not your thing, I recommend reading these articles.

I took the Simpson’s personality test. I admit it, I am a Simpson’s fan(old ones, not new ones).

You Are Lisa Simpson

A total child prodigy and super genius, you have the mind for world domination. But you prefer world peace, Buddhism, and tofu dogs. You will be remembered for: all your academic accomplishments Your life philosophy: “I refuse to believe that everybody refuses to believe the truth”

Now I admit if I answer just a little more sarcastically I am Burns. Kind of scary. Thanks Sara over at Reckless Abandon for the site!

OK, I admit it I love ballroom. That is even though NerdDad won’t go take lessons with me. I have always loved this kind of stuff. I even watch the competitions on PBS. So you would think that I would be glued to Dancing with the Stars. Well.. you would be partially right. I don’t watch the first few weeks(at least not religiously). I get embarassed for the really bad dancers(can you say Master P). So I started watching pieces a few weeks ago. I am not sure how Jerry Rice beat out Lisa Rinna to begin with. Then we get to the final 3 and Stacy is eliminated? I couldn’t believe it. She is amazing and quite literally “legs up to here” (42 inches according to Parade). I do feel that Drew was a logical choice, so I guess in the end it all worked out;).

Between this, Ballroom Bootcamp(on TLC) and the new movie, Take the Lead, is Ballroom going to resurface. I propose that it has never died. There is an under 13 competition and it goes up from there(though I don’t believe in little kids dancing like that). I think tv is just catching up!

In the light of the cartoons depicting Mohammed and all the hubbub, I have done some thinking. The Indonesian government spokesman said: “Freedom of expression cannot justify indignity toward a religion” (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 4). I have also heard the phrase that the freedom of speech should be tempered with responsibility. I believe this but in a totally different way. You are responsible for your sppech and expression. Let me expound further.If I had been the author of the cartoons, I would have been responsible for the fact that doing the cartoons communicated my lack of respect for Islam. Christian musicians realize that they are saying that they belive in Christ and the message behind their music. Unfortunately, Hollywood doesn’t appear to always believe in standing behind their own expression. While Michael Moore believed in the message of Farenheit 911 his actions don’t show it. If I believe the nation I lived in was so lacking in morals, traitorous to its own people I would have to leave. Why live in a nation led by people you hate(and a populous who supports them) and not leave when you have that choice.
Now there is a Turkish movie called Valley of the Wolves(trans)with some American actors parttaking in this anti-American propaganda. Here is an abrisged description from the Telegraph.

Valley of the Wolves, by the Turkish director Serdan Akar, shows crazed American GIs massacring innocent guests at a wedding party and scenes in which a Jewish surgeon removes organs from Iraqi prisoners in a style reminiscent of the Nazi death camp doctor Joseph Mengele.

Now I do not have a problem with propaganda that I don’t agree with(sticks and stones make break my bones but cartoons and movies will never hurt me) but I don’t want those actors who participated to come home. Taken from GOP Vixen:

In addition to Billy Zane, who played the dissed boyfriend in “Titanic,” the film stars former star Gary Busey as that evil doctor, frequent TV and bit actor Spencer Garrett as the journalist, and Huntington Beach native and “ultimate fighter” Tito Ortiz as a lieutenant. Makeup and hair was done by Lynda Armstrong, who has worked on many films including “Troy” and “Die Another Day.” Special effects coordinator was Mark Meddings, a Brit who also did “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Beyond Borders.”

If they believe in the message of this film, why do they wish to live in the US? Say what ever you want but you must live up to what you say. Now we all say things that we don’t mean but them you need to apologize and admit it. If not, live in Turkey.

I have seen information on Jewish artist Matisyahu on 2 different blogs that I read and I had to finally check it out. I first saw this on Yonah Wolf’s Confessions of an Orothodox Dad and I became curious. I didn’t actually do anything until I saw it on Ethos. So I cruised over to Matisyahu’s homepage and I have to say that I liked what I heard. I watched the new Youth video and it was positive and of good musical quality.
And here is the cd

Now you must remember I am a conservative that likes good wholesome rap and that is in small quantity. I also will be on the lookout for this and other artists being put out by JDub Records. I love this description of the type of artists they are looking to sign:

JDub is always looking for new artists and new music. Whether you are religious or secular, Jewish or non, if you consider your music to be Jewish or Jewishly influenced, we want to hear it!

I am sure that I have confused some of the readers who are out there and don’t know me personally. I will explain my Jewish fascination in a later post. But, I do believe the Church on whole might want to get behind music like this. It isn’t Christian but it is based on our core values(that is where we got them;). This music overall promotes a positive message and movement.

My last word…It isn’t TobyMac but it is pretty good.

PS. For more good rap/hiphop check out , it is a favorite in the NerdFamily!

Here is the ultimate touch for a female Tech Geek. It is an earring for your earphone. The beauty of this is that your earring won’t get tangled in the earphone cord. This is being produced by a company in Japan so I figure it won’t be that long before we see them here in the States.See them here but the site isn’t in english.
(via BoingBoing)