tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118503302008-08-20T08:31:00.333-04:00Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comBlogger445125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-52551188640132690732008-08-20T01:09:00.001-04:002008-08-20T01:11:37.730-04:00

I am taking a break from packing for Israel to tell you to read this. It doesn't surprise me. I only hope that colleges are starting to deal with this problem in a responsible way, through providing adequate (or better!) medical and mental health care, rather than trying to immediately kick anyone out who might have any mental health problems due to liability concerns. During my five years in

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-60247104465481537382008-08-18T23:34:00.000-04:002008-08-18T23:35:07.777-04:00

This brought back memories. Mostly of watching TV, not of going to school! If you've got a kid on your hands who somehow already hates school (shame!), try this. (The "Teeny Little Super Guy" animator, Paul Fierlinger, animated this as well.) And for those of you looking for a full-on nostalgia experience, this. I don't recognize most of the stuff after 1987 or so, which is understandable. I

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-3146103997782066422008-08-16T23:11:00.004-04:002008-08-16T23:18:48.426-04:00

I hope to get married and be able to use this Alternative Gift Registry. I truly enjoyed buying something or giving a donation off of this registry, since the celebrants wrote up a little bit about why it was meaningful or important to them. I am perfectly happy to donate a pizza stone and cutter to you in honor of your wedding, but it's so much more fun when you tell me why you want it! (Did

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-39023770201329099242008-08-16T23:07:00.003-04:002008-08-16T23:11:20.461-04:00

why the Mechon Mamre parallel Hebrew-English Tanakh website looks like this (see below, click to enlarge) on my Mac in Firefox now? I don't think I changed any settings. What happened and how can I fix it? This is how it looks in Safari, but I use Firefox almost exclusively, so all that helps me know is that it's a Firefox issue, not a computer-wide issue. Other Hebrew looks normal in Firefox,

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-91694904785609659582008-08-10T23:19:00.000-04:002008-08-10T23:19:46.294-04:00

Does anyone know where I can find the full text of the kinah that starts with "אָז בַּהֲלוֹךְ יִרְמְיָהוּ אֶל קִבְרֵי אָבוֹת"? (It's a daytime kinah, listed as 27 or 28, depending on the book.) I thought that הזמנה לפיוט would have it, but they don't. I have it in print, but that seems so...useless. Thanks!

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-78158560894407019362008-08-10T18:06:00.018-04:002008-08-11T00:18:27.269-04:00

I was going to post, at one point over the past three weeks, about how I wasn't really in the "Tisha B'Av mood" this year, and how hard it wasn't particularly difficult to feel sad, but it was difficult to feel sad for this. It is all too easy for me to read Eicha or kinot and feel sad for the losses that I have experienced personally. Experiencing communal losses, especially losses that took

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-32686447321401649242008-08-05T10:08:00.005-04:002008-08-05T10:24:51.486-04:00

This appeared at the top of my gmail today: Film canisters can be reused to store nails, screws, buttons and pins. I remember using film canisters for all kinds of great things1, but how many people use film these days? I feel like film, if used, mostly takes the form of disposable cameras left for the use of guests at weddings or purchased when one's digital camera was left at home. I just got

Abacaxi Mamaonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-65971601341516696062008-08-01T14:02:00.005-04:002008-08-01T14:11:01.548-04:00

I've added a new section on the right sidebar, called "Online Torah resources." I've known about some for years (Mechon Mamre, E-daf.com), but others I learned about at yeshiva this summer (Talmud manuscripts from the Jewish National University Library). One more thing to add to the extensive list of things I got from yeshiva this summer! Let me know if you have things for me to add to the list

Abacaxi Mamaonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-65500959527237174042008-07-30T19:31:00.003-04:002008-07-30T19:37:14.071-04:00

Brief update: Life is exceedingly good. Yeshiva was amazing and life-changing, I have secured two writing-Jewish stuff (a.k.a. Torah)-for-money gigs for the coming year (both of which will require a lot of work, but I like to work hard at things that I love), and I will be speaking at a shul in Manhattan this coming Shabbat. (E-mail me for details if you want 'em. I would love to see friendly

Abacaxi Mamaonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-74944739855893918432008-07-14T18:57:00.003-04:002008-07-14T19:00:34.648-04:00

Here. Online siddur. The only problem (thus far) is that it doesn't properly copy and paste into Word. At least not on a Mac. If anyone has a solution, please do share! (It pastes into TextEdit just fine, but all the words are in the wrong order in Word.)

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-89190661610506820722008-07-09T00:45:00.000-04:002008-07-09T00:43:14.046-04:00

The second text that I shared in fulfillment of this assignment was much shorter. It was this: יט הַעִדֹתִי בָכֶם הַיּוֹם, אֶת-הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת-הָאָרֶץ--הַחַיִּים וְהַמָּוֶת נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ, הַבְּרָכָה וְהַקְּלָלָה; וּבָחַרְתָּ, בַּחַיִּים--לְמַעַן תִּחְיֶה, אַתָּה וְזַרְעֶךָ. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-18026709259122688122008-07-08T23:36:00.003-04:002008-07-09T11:57:35.816-04:00

One of the more interesting assignments I've had here at the yeshiva was to present two moments, two snapshots from time, from my life, and to talk about how they relate to the story I tell about my Jewish identity. I presented three weeks ago (or is it four weeks ago, now? I'm losing track of time). The two moments that I chose are really two texts,1 and I will discuss the first here. If you

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-20408331271484495332008-06-27T00:28:00.000-04:002008-06-27T00:27:27.874-04:00

Just really busy with yeshiva. I'd like to write about all kinds of interesting things like: group dynamics, the way that Ivy League culture carries over into the beit midrash (at least this beit midrash), the differences I've noticed in learning in all-women's vs. co-ed batei midrash, introversion vs. extroversion, Torah min hashamayim, what being observant is or isn't all about, having or not

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-32282125667324098872008-06-12T19:49:00.008-04:002008-06-27T00:16:57.627-04:00

As of June 1, I have started my break from the rat-race in order to study Talmud and halacha (and maybe midrash and parshanut and whatever else catches my attention) for about a year. This is why I have not posted since May 27, which is a very long break for me. When I share these plans with people, and include the information that these studies are not towards a degree or even a certificate,

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-58918698110161026632008-05-27T08:40:00.006-04:002008-05-27T09:04:37.872-04:00

I'm sure that, by now, you've all heard about the AgriProcessors/Rubashkin's meat packing plant scandals. Here is a letter from Uri L'Tzedek. You can sign on to the petition and agree not to patronize any establishments that use Rubashkin's meat by sending an e-mail to uri.ltzedek@gmail.com. Emphasis in the letter below is mine. Lag b’Omer 5768 May 23, 2008 Mr. Sholom Rubashkin 220 N West St

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-530441470234723552008-05-21T09:32:00.001-04:002008-05-21T09:34:16.931-04:00

Two words: "discontinued bra." Fellow women, I accept your empathy. I know you've been there.

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-58306111156527117312008-05-16T12:52:00.005-04:002008-05-16T13:09:39.153-04:00

As a follow-up to this post from last November, read this. The short story is: A Missouri mom was indicted Thursday for her alleged role in the death of a teen who killed herself over a failed Internet romance that turned out to be a hoax.This 49-year-old woman set up a fake MySpace page, pretending to be a teenage boy, so she could make a thirteen-year-old girl feel loved, with the intention of

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-88973644439347089952008-05-16T01:20:00.000-04:002008-05-16T01:20:31.896-04:00

I am just a font of useful information these days! Check this out. (I saw this while reading this other Lifehacker post, also interesting but less useful on a daily basis, at least for me.)

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-12783352664542528352008-05-12T14:55:00.006-04:002008-05-13T20:54:51.729-04:00

If you aren't going to read this whole post, the take-home message is: You should see this film. It's playing at the Quad Cinema in Manhattan this week and elsewhere soon. * * * * * My earliest political memory is of the 1984 election season. I remember being driven home from school by another mom (remember carpooling?), and asking her why there were signs in everyone's lawns. She explained

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-84937572737094674492008-05-07T16:55:00.000-04:002008-05-16T01:20:43.953-04:00

I saw this on a comment from Laura K. on Linda of "Indigo Girl" fame's blog, and thought it was worthwhile enough to share: I just saw a newscast about the CFLs on the news here the other week. They were saying how miniscule the amount of mercury is in it compared to the amount in the old-fashioned thermometers. I can't remember what they said, but it was a low, low amt. They

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-69070760287121255432008-05-01T18:46:00.000-04:002008-05-01T18:44:12.618-04:00

I took DC2NY from Manhattan to Washington, DC and I took Bolt Bus from Washington, DC to Manhattan for the first days of chag. Here is my review of the experience. Qualifications: I am a veteran bus-taker. That's what happens when you have no car and no money and friends up and down the Northeast corridor! I have previous experience (since 2003-ish) taking Vamoose ("More Bang for Your Buck - No

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-2253842629221507362008-04-29T17:17:00.001-04:002008-04-29T17:15:40.449-04:00

I really have not been keeping up with chocolate-related news on the blog lately. I apologize. Here is a Reuters piece on a British study looking into the benefits of flavonoids on post-menopausal women with Type 2 diabetes. Note that not all chocolate, not even all dark chocolate, contains these compounds. I think alkaline processing destroys them, so look for chocolate with unprocessed cocoa

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-81918965525537419312008-04-25T10:42:00.009-04:002008-05-27T12:28:13.700-04:00

I was somewhat frustrated that, for the first time this year, I didn't have time to prepare Torah for the seder.1 This was my third year (in a row) leading the seder, and I like to find at least two interesting and new (to me, at least) things to share over the course of the seder. I love leading the seder, and one of the things that I love about it is that it forces me to find interesting things

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-19607162885258869812008-04-24T22:15:00.009-04:002008-04-29T18:45:40.276-04:00

I was in Washington, DC for the first few days of Pesach, as well as the Thursday night, Friday, and Shabbat preceding Pesach. I was there visiting my sister, who lives there, as well as my aunt, who was in town from the West Coast. On Friday, I went to Safeway twice, CVS twice, and the hardware store once, and then made tsimmes and asparagus and broccoli. Oh, and I also snuck in a haircut, which

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11850330.post-75651164992368869432008-04-17T23:57:00.001-04:002008-04-29T18:45:40.277-04:00

This is still the best thing that I've ever written about Pesach/Passover, so I will, once again, start off by linking to it. Also, I am hoping to find time over the holiday to start an additional blog called "Out of Egypt," about the intersection between Judaism and mental health. This has been a long-standing interest of mine, and sometimes when I am too busy thinking about Important Things to

Abacaxi Mamaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604184268628243496noreply@blogger.com