tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13016390381398257402024-03-14T02:25:16.738-05:00Without a DoubtB''HSebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-71432200802762072912010-09-01T23:24:00.005-05:002010-09-02T00:12:21.988-05:00Teaching and Peace Talks<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BH</span><br /><br /> My day teaching began with myself walking into a blazing hot room (air conditioner is broken) full of tired, uninterested nine and ten year <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">olds</span>. Nevertheless, we hit the ground running and got them engaged and motivated through some humor, and an introduction to the book that we are going to be reading for the first part of the year "James and the Giant Peach". My major error today was planning on today being <i>only</i> an introduction to the course and its materials without any sort of backup lesson should the intro and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">discussion</span> on class procedures not fill the whole class time today (which of course it did not) . I would have begun a short ways into our novel for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">English</span> (math didn't end up being such an issue time wise) but With the holidays being what they are this month Class days are so disjointed, i just worried that the students might have a hard time keeping up with the book. Looking forward to tomorrow!<br /><br /><div> Middle east peace talks have begun this week between President Obama, Israeli Prime Minister <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Netanyahu</span>, and PA President Abbas. for what ever reason , everyone seems very disenfranchised with the whole process, I couldn't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">imagine</span> why....</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:15.6px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/TH8x778lH5I/AAAAAAAAAKw/1UsLLH_iabQ/s1600/images+(1).jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/TH8x778lH5I/AAAAAAAAAKw/1UsLLH_iabQ/s400/images+(1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512179374698602386" style="cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 124px; " /></a></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/TH8w4O_yfvI/AAAAAAAAAKo/SI4GcBTyado/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 156px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/TH8w4O_yfvI/AAAAAAAAAKo/SI4GcBTyado/s400/images.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512178211581230834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/TH8w3bqKg4I/AAAAAAAAAKg/UIcR_Y1WIno/s1600/clinton.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 171px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/TH8w3bqKg4I/AAAAAAAAAKg/UIcR_Y1WIno/s400/clinton.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512178197800321922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/TH8w2zlnMOI/AAAAAAAAAKY/cGn0u-ggotg/s1600/carter.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 154px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/TH8w2zlnMOI/AAAAAAAAAKY/cGn0u-ggotg/s400/carter.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512178187043811554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/TH8w2sCqQ7I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/zBDa4uRI8gE/s1600/bushjr.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 232px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/TH8w2sCqQ7I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/zBDa4uRI8gE/s400/bushjr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512178185018164146" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-51776416146955728312010-08-30T23:06:00.007-05:002010-08-31T22:38:11.301-05:00New YorkBH<br /><br /> New York Is so interesting. One of the pieces of this blanket statement that has been somewhere on my mind recently is the way people view and interact with other from different groups (races, religions). It seems that one of the byproducts of a city of a zillion people going a zillion miles a minute is the "necessity" stereotypes. It has become wildly apparent that most people here run completely off of stereotypes. In fact, it appears to be the only thing that has transcended the racial/cultural divide.this is not my big gripe about New york, nor is it something that is "the problem with this place", It just seems that while most people (all?) are aware of stereotypes, everyone flagrantly and deliberately runs all interactions and notions of others through stereotypes. It's like some impenetrable force field that insures nobody ever has to waste their time actually looking at someone because they already know who they are and where they came from. The best part is, because everyone works from this set of preconceived notions about one another, no one seems to mind at all. in fact it saves them the time from having to make a friend or an enemy, or neither.Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-51163104878719066522010-08-30T00:59:00.003-05:002010-08-30T01:11:29.659-05:00La HaineBH <br /><br /> Long, Long day of school meetings and curriculum writing hoopla. Once I finally got home I watched La Haine. great French movie from the mid nineties set during the riots in Paris. two days till school starts. on the bright side, it looks like we'll be taking a vacation to Nashville to visit family later in the month! It'll be mice to be out of Brooklyn for a while. Speaking of which, Murfreesboro made it in the news all the way up here! Of course, it was for someone trying to stop the mosque construction in town by setting the equipment on fire, but I can still be excited. Whats bets it turns out the owners did it just for the money, that would have been as good a time as any. It would be nice if i was correct.Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-16764346345555503952010-08-29T05:45:00.000-05:002010-08-29T05:46:05.002-05:00Not to overdo it but...BH<br /> <br /> So I'm not sure if anyone here has ever taken a gander at Chinese Universities at all, but none of their websites are functional in almost anyway, especially the English versions (not exactly translated well either). Just thought I would share as I was perusing Beijing schools. however i will say that both Japan and China have surprisingly well developed philosophy and religious studies departments, as far as a cursory glance would tell anyway.<br /><br />http://www.blcu.edu.cn/english/index.asp<br />http://ev.buaa.edu.cn/index.php<br />http://english.ruc.edu.cn/<br />http://www.ouc.edu.cn/E_ouqd.html<br /><br />Heres where to find them all:<br />http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/highschool/66744.htmSebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-31798511087119310552010-08-29T04:44:00.002-05:002010-08-29T05:09:48.660-05:00Times, they are a changin'BH<br /><br /><br /> Up all night working on the curriculum for math, science, Rosh Hashanna, and Shlach(in a loose definition of the word work). Had a Farbrenging for Chai Elul which turned out to be much more productive that I had thought it would have been (or at least I hope it will be ;) ) One thing I'm noticing as far as this curriculum I am working on is that almost no one has asked to see it prior to two days before school starts. Its nice to feel as though my administration trusts me but somehow my intuition tells me that it has more to do with oversight and apathy than my extrodanaire ability as an brand new educator, but that might just be me. In any case I am looking forward to the coming year teaching and finishing smicha (BH) because I need to start Grad school soon! I'm going to be here's some photos of things until school actually starts!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/THou4iCZg6I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/TSJLcqiCGK4/s1600/DSC_0360.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/THou4iCZg6I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/TSJLcqiCGK4/s400/DSC_0360.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510768642785641378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/THowzcTcwuI/AAAAAAAAAJg/uewcjG3eoVI/s1600/DSC_0377.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/THowzcTcwuI/AAAAAAAAAJg/uewcjG3eoVI/s400/DSC_0377.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510770754370454242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/THowy6ucaeI/AAAAAAAAAJY/jFwEm1eJaXQ/s1600/DSC_0385.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/THowy6ucaeI/AAAAAAAAAJY/jFwEm1eJaXQ/s400/DSC_0385.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510770745356872162" /></a>Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-68282595971882086282010-03-04T18:44:00.000-06:002010-03-04T18:44:52.983-06:00The colour blue and a new Kurdish voice<a href="http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2010/03/04/colour-blue-and-new-kurdish-voice?sms_ss=blogger">The colour blue and a new Kurdish voice</a>: "Al Jazeera Blogs"Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-79527392233291000082010-02-27T21:10:00.003-06:002010-02-28T02:23:02.791-06:00Purim in Spokane!BH<br /><br /> So here I am in spokane, washington for purim. How did i get here? Well, I was chosen as one of Dovid Luna's friends to go and represent everyone at the yeshiva who were friends with Dovid. There was, unfotunatly, only enough money for one ticket. anyway, due to this tragedy, I am making frelich in Spokane. I'm glad I could be here for Dovid even though I wish it was under much differant curcimstances, and I also wish I could be with my Kallah and all my friends (including Dovid) in Crown Heights, but this is were I am and am supposed to be right now. So frelichen Purim to everyone and I can't wait to get back and see everyone!!Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-24488918496506434172010-02-24T00:49:00.002-06:002010-02-24T01:04:17.066-06:00Heres a thoughtBH <br /><br /> If the whole idea of individuals not alerting the beis din of the mockery being made in they're name is because we're afraid they'll agree with these schutzim and force us to close down, why is the response instead to just close down...? I'm having a hard time seeing the logic. If they were to G-d forbid attack you, would your defense be, instead of calling the police, to punch yourself in the face? how about doing a little standing up for ourselves, and showing that not only can we write good, but we stand up to bullies good too.Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-76743071942171623982010-02-22T21:14:00.005-06:002010-02-22T21:23:10.349-06:00BDE Dovid LunaBH<br /><br /> A friend of mine, Dovid Luna just passed away in a car accident. I didn't get a chance to see him very much recently except for at my L'chaim when we danced togather for a few seconds, but i did get to learn with him for a while and gain some great advice about all kinds of things. He was a amazing Jew, chossid, and all around good guy. He is really going to be missed. Your Neshama should get an Aliyah Dovid ben Avraham. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/S4NJwKVLY3I/AAAAAAAAAI4/LsYXEKyXnFE/s1600-h/19736_721449427579_17827455_39666047_2557103_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/S4NJwKVLY3I/AAAAAAAAAI4/LsYXEKyXnFE/s400/19736_721449427579_17827455_39666047_2557103_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441273866549420914" /></a>Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-70940833691071713102010-02-22T20:45:00.004-06:002010-02-22T21:06:24.220-06:00What are they thinking?BH<br /><br /> I'm really interested in what these peoples thought process is. Do they think that everyone will stop blogging? do they think that everyone is going to take them seriously? Do they actually believe that the way they are doing things is correct? What is going going through there heads when they are deciding how to hurt another Jew ad desecrating the the mission of the Rebbe? Do they feel justified or self-righteous? here's something more important, do they think that they even have a chance at succeeding in their "mission/chillul H-shem"? Do they imagine the Rebbe smiling and nodding his head that this misdeed? cowering behind a idiotic email address may keep any consequences from befalling them now, but do they think that blackmailing another Jew and impersonating a Beis Din doesn't have its spiritual consequences? When you see something you believe is wrong, I was taught (by my parents and the Rebbe's teachings) You stand up face to face with it and say I think you should stop, or change what your doing, then you help in the change. My Name is Yisroel and you should stop what you are doing, the people you have offend are good Jews and I'm sure would forgive the awful things you said and did. this is Lubavitch, we go on shliuchus, we love Jews. Try that angle instead.Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-9324539073415962982009-10-28T17:47:00.002-05:002009-10-28T17:58:27.158-05:00Baruch Dayan emesBSD<br /><br /> Today, Rabbi Chanan Feld (chanan velvel simcha ben eliyahu) of berkley, california passed away. Rabbi Feld had been sick with throat cancer. So everyone try to learn at least a little something in his schuss if you can. Also this person was a very close family friend of a fellow blogger we know who needs lots of friends today. I hope the felds, and everyone close to them are given the strength they need to get through this hard time, and that his memory should being a blessing for everyone.Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-54193713532667876762009-08-16T01:02:00.001-05:002009-08-16T01:02:51.552-05:00WritingBSD Back again! so here i am sitting in an airport at like 1 or 2 waiting to board my 6 am flight thinking about this whole past year and the whole year ahead and the only summation in my mind is thank G-d! happy almost Elul dear friends, ill be back with something more interesting soon!Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-85155079105222074852009-06-19T16:12:00.003-05:002009-06-19T16:56:40.708-05:00Library!<div id="ms__id18">B''H</div><div id="ms__id15"> </div><div id="ms__id16"> </div><div id="ms__id17"> I am now a member of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Morristown</span> Public Library!! For some magical reason the guy behind the desk decided that I was believable enough that I lived in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Morristown</span> to give me a card! I spent like 3 or more hours there! I ended up checking out a book <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">recommended</span> by someone whose opinion hold great sway with myself, "The Blue Sword", A memoir of a Persian boy sent to study abroad during the Islamic Revolution, and a History of the Medici family in Florence. Of course <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">I'm</span> not going to be doing a huge amount of reading of secular stuff <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">whilst</span> I am in yeshiva, but to engross yourself in something without occasionally coming up for air is to drown yourself. I look forward to the day when I can breathe underwater. I hope everyone has a Good <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">shabbos</span>, and I will <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">definitely</span> be wishing I was attending the coolest poetry reading in town!</div>Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-9888459908643817322009-06-18T22:21:00.000-05:002009-06-18T22:22:22.709-05:00Ger<div id="ms__id19">BS''D<br /><br /> Why? Almost every person I have met since has asked me this question when they find out I am converting. Though an understandable question, It always seems to be asked as sort of a reflex. It doesn't matter when or where we are, it just immediately erupts out like an "what happened" When someone passes. Both of these questions seem normal to the person asking, and (in my view point) are the opposite for the person being inquired upon. "How could you just ask in passing about an event in my life that has so altered it that it has become unrecognizable?" This is sometimes what goes through my head as it must for someone in the other scenario. now the difference between the two is obvious, one is a tragedy with only the healing of the wound to look forward to. whereas, In my case, The former is also experience that is painful and tragic but at the same time somehow beyond words. and this is the trouble, it is beyond words.<br /> I always try to answer as best I can. It tell them about Torah <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mitzvos</span>, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Avodas</span> ''. I also try to give them a rundown of the last 5 years or so that I've been moving in this direction. AS true as these answers are, none of them ever seem to encompass why. Why I want, Have, need to be Jewish. All I want to shout is "IT IS NOT A LOGICAL DECISION!" I did not choose to want to be Jewish. Any proof I could ever need of this comes from the hardest person to answer this question to, my Mother. Telling your crying mother why you just have to do something that, to her, means you won't be in heaven with her, that means you can never eat her cooking from her kitchen, and that she is going to have to spend all the holidays with the family without her oldest son is not something that is logical or easy. This is part of the story I do not usually share because it is not easy to explain. What there could be that would cause me to make this decision. I love my family very much, and we still have a good relationship, but there will always be a wedge between us. My family will always be the most important thing in the world to me, but this will always be there.<br /> Despite all of this, It is the issue itself that comforts me. Thoughts of being able to wrap <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">tefillin</span>, getting an Aliyah, having my purpose in this world being making it truly better through Torah and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mitzvos</span>. The thought that one day I get to (G-d <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Willing</span>!) Have my own family, my own <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">children</span>! I will be able to give them something I never had, a Jewish home! I can Serve G-d in everything I do, and try to live my life as the best <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">frum</span> Jew, the best <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">chossid</span> I can be. I expect to fall sort of this goal as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Chossid</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">unfortunately</span> more frequently than I would like, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">becoming</span> a Ger means that now you are a Jew that makes mistakes, instead of just a person that makes mistakes. but nonetheless, I would rather fail 100 times at being a good Jew, than face life as a perfect non-Jew. I want all of these things and I can't really tell you why because I don't really know. But I do know that whatever it takes to become this, I will do.<br /> There is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">a lot</span> more I would like to say about this but I'm tired and about out of time. I hope that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">no one</span> thinks that I don't want to be asked this question "why?" I do! <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Its</span> just that when I hear it, I am flooded with all of this and more and just can't seem to find the words, if there are any, that can really convey what is in my head and heart.<br />sorry about the long and random post, I just <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">have</span> been asked <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">a lot</span> recently and been found wanting for an answer, so I just needed to say this. and so everyone knows, I wouldn't trade my life for anything. I hope every has a great <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">shabbos</span>! and I will be wishing I was spending it with my favorite people. take care!</div>Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-71759902554779381722009-06-14T13:34:00.002-05:002009-06-14T13:42:17.586-05:00Riots in Iran!<div id="ms__id27"><br /></div><div id="ms__id14">BH</div><div id="ms__id28"><br /></div><div id="ms__id15"></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347255285711760050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/SjVEWfQt6rI/AAAAAAAAAIY/a7H-vkWxEg4/s400/20096141582954734_3.jpg" border="0" /></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009614135353845916.html">http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009614135353845916.html</a><br /></p><div id="ms__id26">'No document'<br /></div><br /><div id="ms__id23">At about the same time, a statement on Mousavi's website announced that he had formally appealed against the election result to the legislative body, the Guardian Council.<br />"Today, I have submitted my official formal request to the council to cancel the election result," the moderate politician was quoted as saying.<br />In depth<br />"I urge you Iranian nation to continue your nationwide protests in a peaceful and legal way."<br />Ahmadinejad was declared the winner by a wide margin, with figures from the interior ministry showing he had taken 62.63 per cent of the vote, while Mousavi garnered only 33.75 per cent.<br />Ahmadinejad defended the conduct of the election at a news conference at the presidential office in Tehran earlier on Sunday.<br />He also questioned Mousavi's claims that the vote was "rigged".<br />"It is not clear how they are questioning the participation of 40 million people in these elections," he said.<br />"I have still not been shown any documents by anybody, they are just saying the outcome is unexpected."It is like football, everybody expects their team to win."<br /></div><br />No concessions<br /><br /><br /><div id="ms__id22">Al Jazeera's Teymoor Nabili, reporting from Tehran, said that Ahmadinejad was not giving too much credence to the idea of a reformist movement taking root.<br />Noting that Ahmadinejad's analogy was of a football ground, he said: "There may be plenty of people within your field of vision but that doesn't mean that they are the majority of people in the country.<br />"So he doesn't really seem to think that there is any question that the majority of people within the country are behind his position and his political policies and this election has proved it to him.<br />"So he doesn't seem to need to reach out or make concessions with anybody who doesn't agree with that."<br />Robert Fisk, a journalist with the UK's Independent newspaper, told Al Jazeera that Ahmadinejad was repeating the point that the high turnout proved that he was in the majority.<br />"But many of the people that did vote believe that the vote was switched," he said.<br />"So it was not the turnout that proved that Ahmadinejad is a popular president. It is what the figures actually were. And that of course is what is still being disputed.<br />Fisk said one Mousavi supporter had pointed out to him that "if the figures were being counted properly on Friday night, five million votes would have had to have been counted in two hours".<br />Continued protests<br />On the ground, thousands of Iranians took to the streets in a second day of violence, fighting running battles with riot police in protest against the election results.<br />Ahmad Reza Radan, Tehran's deputy police chief, told the official IRNA news agency that at least 60 people had been detained over the rioting and more arrests would be made soon.In Tehran police confronted about 200 stone-throwing protesters.<br />"Forces used tear gas in some areas to stop the unrest. The situation is under control," Radan said.<br />Al Jazeera's Alireza Ronaghi, reporting from Tehran, said that IRNA was reporting that a committee led by two senior supporters of Mousavi was organising the riots against the election result.<br />"Whether this is really an honest outburst of anger against the outcome of the election we don't know yet, but what we see is a major crackdown on reformists and their leaders," he said.<br />Mohammad Reza Khatami, the brother of Mohammad Khatami, a former president, was among the members of the Islamic Iran Participation Front, which won more than 100 seats in the 290-member parliament in 2000, who were arrested.<br />"They were taken from their homes last night," Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a former Iranian vice-president, said.<br />Spontaneous responses<br />Sadegh Zibakalam, head of the Iranian studies department at Tehran University, told Al Jazeera that the demonstrations were largely "spontaneous" responses to the election result.<br />"No one is giving them commands, no one is ordering them, no one is leading them," he said.<br />"Nevertheless, the government has started a crackdown on the leading reformist figures ... The government reaction is too harsh, but it is understandable."</div>Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-29982749776098429482009-06-14T10:01:00.001-05:002009-06-14T10:02:22.469-05:00Outcry<div id="ms__id61">BSD</div><div id="ms__id62"> </div><div id="ms__id63">Due to an outcry against private blogs I have deprivatized mine. I try and have a real post up sometime Today or tomorrow!!!</div>Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-25007923650797496372009-06-08T22:10:00.006-05:002009-06-09T10:02:36.639-05:00Scheita<div id="ms__id21"><div id="ms__id20"><div id="ms__id22"><div id="ms__id16"><br /><div id="ms__id17">BSD<br /><br />Here are the pictures from the Scheita today!! exciting eh?<br /><br /><div id="ms__id16"><div id="ms__id13"><div id="ms__id14"><div id="ms__id17"><div id="ms__id15"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345162998144925858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si3VbUr9gKI/AAAAAAAAAHo/MuyNSs4x_cE/s400/Slaughter+fest+2009+015.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div id="ms__id19"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si3VbOpRl6I/AAAAAAAAAHg/QmZiKreKEJ4/s1600-h/Slaughter+fest+2009+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345162996523046818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si3VbOpRl6I/AAAAAAAAAHg/QmZiKreKEJ4/s400/Slaughter+fest+2009+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si515rrBhlI/AAAAAAAAAH4/r7M1eRYGebs/s1600-h/Slaughter+fest+2009+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345339441571530322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si515rrBhlI/AAAAAAAAAH4/r7M1eRYGebs/s400/Slaughter+fest+2009+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div id="ms__id17"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si515cK77RI/AAAAAAAAAHw/5r7McfAbpSc/s1600-h/Slaughter+fest+2009+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345339437410413842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si515cK77RI/AAAAAAAAAHw/5r7McfAbpSc/s400/Slaughter+fest+2009+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div id="ms__id18"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si3VawsUUYI/AAAAAAAAAHY/lp_IKBAJ1zs/s1600-h/Slaughter+fest+2009+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345162988482744706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si3VawsUUYI/AAAAAAAAAHY/lp_IKBAJ1zs/s400/Slaughter+fest+2009+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div id="ms__id17"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si3VaK0fRnI/AAAAAAAAAHI/3_sR79zG3J8/s1600-h/Slaughter+fest+2009+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345162978316469874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si3VaK0fRnI/AAAAAAAAAHI/3_sR79zG3J8/s400/Slaughter+fest+2009+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>And here are some pictures of the kids I taught before I left nashville!</p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si55HHa6RDI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/oka3AQT961M/s1600-h/Slaughter+fest+2009+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345342970893321266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si55HHa6RDI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/oka3AQT961M/s400/Slaughter+fest+2009+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div id="ms__id20"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si55GtxTHiI/AAAAAAAAAII/mXUu2O34i7g/s1600-h/Slaughter+fest+2009+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345342964007902754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si55GtxTHiI/AAAAAAAAAII/mXUu2O34i7g/s400/Slaughter+fest+2009+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div id="ms__id22"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si55GRbTN0I/AAAAAAAAAIA/Ijj9SEOXXX4/s1600-h/Slaughter+fest+2009+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345342956399441730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lYKfy9xtH_U/Si55GRbTN0I/AAAAAAAAAIA/Ijj9SEOXXX4/s400/Slaughter+fest+2009+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div><p>Sorry about the lack of posts. yeshiva is a all consuming experiance. though i did have an interesting eveing spent with the tomchi bochurs, Very interesting conversations they have. oh and There will also be a video of the scheita when i can get the computer to work!</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p></div></div></div></div></div>Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-80107707790900240292009-06-05T10:03:00.002-05:002009-06-05T10:11:15.494-05:00got one again!BH<br /><br />I managed to grab another computer for a second! I hope everyone that is traveling has a safe flight and a great time out west. :)and Iwill post again when i can. take care!Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-60537526847181258852009-06-03T18:42:00.002-05:002009-06-03T18:50:01.161-05:0030 seconds!BH<br /><br />Thats about how much time i have on the computer. anyway yeshiva is wonderful and i have a fabulous chassidus chavrusah. aside from that im just studying (24 hours a day) halachos (of everything) and learning to translate gemara and sichos (i can already read them!) I did get to go to a lovely lchaim that had the best of people attending while listening to a great shiur. oh and it was great meeting certain people last week and thanks for your...paitence. congradulations to the new chazzen and kallal! I wish you guys all blessings in life one can have. hope everyone has a good week! Oh and i saw a picture of a wedding that I absolutly loved :) I'll post when i can! (I don't know why I posted like you people don't know who im talking about)Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-3942296214085728902009-05-24T12:51:00.002-05:002009-05-24T12:54:28.546-05:00whoops!BH<br /><br />Sorry its been so long since i posted! craziness with subbing and getting ready to leave tomorrow! yay! I will be in CH by 3 pm or so. Ill post more as soon as i can but i dont know how frequent with yeshiva and all. well I hope everyone is doing well and ill post more later!Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-5607082706594654772009-05-13T17:33:00.002-05:002009-05-13T17:39:25.052-05:00grrr<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BH</span><div><br /></div><div>So subbing has been great. the kids are all pretty good considering their age, though i have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">definitely</span> decided as easy as it is i do not desire to be an elementary school teacher. in other news, i accidentally left my phone at home on Monday, the following day, i returned home to get it and checked missed calls only to find that it wasn't anyway i thought i had left it. this unfortunately leaves me with only one conclusion. being as there are only two places it could be (the house, and Allen's car [he offered to give me a ride that day]) the only other option is that Allen, though meaning well, for some asinine reason decided to take it with him to give to me. where he thought that was going to happen other than home is beyond me. so day three and no phone. hope no one important tried to call. sorry i shouldn't be as upset about this as i am, its just kind of frustrating. </div>Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-59654645149695733662009-05-09T21:56:00.003-05:002009-05-09T21:59:40.379-05:00I am the best P.E. teacher ever!BH <div>being a P.E. teacher is possibly the easiest job ever. Im subbing all next week too. and I get to go with the kids on a field trip to a baseball game wednesday! It's pretty much free money. Ill post more and maybe take some pictures later. oh and the school is in one of the worst parts of the city where i used to boot cars! half of the kids are hispanic of some kind and the other from arabic speaking countries. everyone thought i was either a leprechaun or an elf. weird.</div>Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-26862794597272235702009-05-07T17:10:00.001-05:002009-05-07T17:11:59.038-05:00Employed!BH<br /><br />I just accepted a job subing as a P.E. teacher at a elementary school starting tomorrow til next friday! and i get out early enough for Shabbos! (as a side not its very hard to find continuous jobs as a sub, its kind of luck of the draw) woot!Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-36682503898817632142009-05-01T15:45:00.002-05:002009-05-01T15:51:14.281-05:00Iraqi poetryBH<br /><br />Modern iraqi poetry i read for class<br /><br />The Prisoner by Dunya Mikhail<br />Translated by Salaam Yousif and Liz Winslow<br />She doesn't understand<br /> what it means to be "guilty"<br />She waits at the prison's door<br />until she sees him<br />to tell him "Take care"<br />as she used to remind him<br />when he was going to school<br />when he was going to work<br />when he was coming on vacation<br />She doesn't understand<br />what they are uttering now<br />those who are behind the bar<br />with their uniform<br />as they decided that<br />he should be put there<br />with strangers of gloomy days<br />It never came to her mind<br />when she was saying lullabies<br />upon his bed<br />during those faraway nights<br />that he would be put<br />in this cold place<br />without moons or windows<br />She doesn't understand<br />The mother of the prisoner<br />doesn't understand<br />why should she leave him<br />just because "the visit has finished"!<br /><br />The Last Iraq by Fadhil al-Azzawi<br />Translated by Salaam Yousif<br />Every night I place this creature on my table<br />And pull its ears,<br />Till tears of joy come to its eyes.<br />Another cold winter, penetrated by airplanes<br />And soldiers sitting on the edge of a hillock,<br />Waiting for history<br />To rise up from the darkness of the marshes<br />With a gun in its hand,<br />To shoot angels<br />Training for the revolution.<br />Every night<br />I put my hand on this country,<br />It slips away from my fingers,<br />Like a soldier running from the front.<br />[1987]Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1301639038139825740.post-61129046070361905992009-05-01T15:39:00.001-05:002009-05-01T15:40:49.446-05:00phone :/BH<br /><br />So my phone broke, and i dropped my ipod in a puddle :( i will take til after shabbos til i know if i can salvage either. but it does mean that i think i lost everyones numbers. blech day. I hope everyone has a great shabbos!Sebastionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02304057842176596761noreply@blogger.com2