The Olive Branch

Happy Birthday Iva!

After we meet in Tel-Aviv, let's meet again in Italy.

I'd prefer a job that actually pays what I'm worth, we'll see!

No harm done, but the toast is appreciated.



Today was a good day. I just had some odds and ends to take care of, getting papers signed and whatnot. It was fun, everytime I'd stop at someone's office, we'd end up talking for at least 30 minutes.

It's a nice feeling.

:lol: As accurate a statemen as the one that God either gave women beauty or brains, but never both. Which means, if it is true, that Dr. Lynn you will soon be a Professor. :twisted: Hmm... First housework, then tea, then sports, then driving capabilities, and now outward appearance. Do you really ...

Jacob nothing to worry about. Dr. Lynn is a woman, therefore her aim is like her reverse parking Bloody Awful!! :twisted: Tsk, tsk Gerald. Do you live in an area where women don't play sports? If so, you don't need to worry about being shown up by the fairer sex. Therefore, I hardly see the need fo...

Actually Lynn, I think Gerald appears more interested in the behavioral sciences, ie, who's going to make the cup of tea, iron the shirts, hand the remote over. Be careful what you wish for Gerald, that hot tea could come flying at you leaving a nasty bump on the head and some modest scalding (phys...

Well, you've got two central principles of chemical engineering right there Gerald.

Ironing: heat transfer

making tea: heat transfer and mass transfer

Mr. Lynn is the electrical engineer so I'll leave him to the innards of the remote. I'll deal with the plastic encasing it (polymer science again).

Thanks everyone. I'm just doing a bit of editing from my committee and then I can submit the thesis for publication. Here's a bit of humor about finishing: http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1358 http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1359 http://www.phdcomics.com/comic...

They make a good point in that the "exit ramp" just might not be enough of an incentive, even if sanctions are applied across the board. Officials in Arab countries have already said they'll align themselves with Iran if they get a bomb, and that would affect the relations of other countri...

I just defended yesterday, it went well. PhD is over and done with! Baby is coming soon...

I always thought it to be rather simple. People sympathize with victims, underdogs. The Palestinians are seen as the underdogs. Therefore, what they do can be excused, what Israel does can't. Hence, the double standard. And of course, since the Palestinians are victims, they have to be dealt with de...

Looks like that have a different definition of the word "boycott."

Anyone think the border incident was staged to take the pressure off of Hizbullah regarding the Hariri investigation?

Margie, you need to warn us when you post something like that.

Snarfing hot liquids out the nose isn't particularly fun.

And now I have to clean my computer screen.

weird.

pissing contests.

One AK mayor has suggested that Turkish men take Kurdish women as second wives. Cough! Cough! <gasping for breath!> What? Is polygamy legal in Turkey? Actually, never mind, I just asked my labmate, she said that it's not legal but some people do it. Just like in Utah! What do the Kurdish area...

Thanks for that JB.

You have to wonder why they bother.

And here's PhD comics representation at Comicon

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php

Do any of you see a situation in which Israel re-occupies Gaza or do you think that extensive violence from the Palestinian end will just be met with another Cast Lead?

There is no "requirement" to wear the veil. This issue has come up here in Quebec as well, interestingly enough the leaders of opposition are the Muslim women's groups, that are being assailed by the over-all Muslim community , understandingly I would think despite my disagreement with th...

Hi Jacob can you tell me where in Islam it states that women have to wear a veil? Which if, as I believe, it doesn't then surely your First Amendment does not apply. US lawmakers don't have the background to enter into that debate, and would have to take the word of those who are representatives of...

Because if the majority can do whatever it wants, then you have the Greek definition of a democracy: a tyranny of the majority. You need a body to protect the minority from being abused.

I fully understand the Arab states being worried about Iran, they've got more to lose than Israel.

But why Russia? Why would they care all of a sudden? Or are they just paying lip service? Is it really due to Obama's diplomatic efforts? (I can't help but be skeptical about that)

In some states I'm sure it would. There would be a huge uproar and the Supreme Court would call the legislation unconstitutional, but it could definetely get a majority in support in some states. This case shows why there needs to be checks and balances on democracy. The people can't be allowed to ...

According to the article, this would be illegal:

http://www.popartuk.com/people/audrey-h ... poster.asp

http://images.quickblogcast.com/114709- ... carf_1.jpg

It's a sad day for the fashion designers in Paris.

French MPs have voted overwhelmingly to ban the 'veil' by 335 to 1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10611398?print=true I support the right of the French people and their elected representatives to pass this legislation. Would I support, or encourage, MPs to pass similar legislation in the UK? Yes, altho...

Well, a war with the Kurds is one way to occupy the secular army.

odp1 wrote:The problem is that just like how Lebanon's independence is somewhat important to the West, letting Iran control Iraq would be devastating to the world.

That's what I was thinking.

Gerald wrote:Whereas I can understand why you would prefer that Lynn.
Why would Jacob Blues prefer to see a team of sweaty men take their shirts off after 90 minutes of Football rather than a group of leggy East European blondes?

Hmm.
Either his real name is Jacobina Blues, or he bats for both teams.

Gerald wrote:13th seed Peer stunned by Kerber

Thanks for posting the updates Gerald, thesis editing has been taking up my time and I haven't gotten to watch anything.

She's made a great comeback after her fall in rank over the past, what, 2 years?

Shame she couldn't keep it together at Wimbledon.

Gerald wrote:Longest ever match finishes after 11 hours and 5 minutes

I didn't get to watch any of Wimbledon unfortunately. But I did hear about this marathon match. Unbelievable.

Poor guy had to to play the next day and got ousted in 3 sets.

I'm rooting for Cameroon, Hey Jacob, Cameroon are in the Football World Cup which is different to Wimbledon. Wimbledon is where you have a lot of leggy-blondes from Eastern Europe with suntanned thighs and short skirts prancing about :D :D :D Yeah, but at least in World Cup soccer they take their s...

The odd part in all of this is that the West sees this as an example of ITS failure, or more to the point of US failure. The US should just pull the hell out instead of sobbing about the power vacuum. If as a country it is unable to develop or have its own leadership structure, whatever it may be, ...

odp1 wrote:
Let me rephrase that, I've seen a lot of people become more extremist over the last ten years or so.

Ah, yes. Me too.

odp1 wrote:

Lynn wrote:Harumph. Obviously, that's not case. I would argue most and few based on what I've seen.

I've been seeing a lot more of few and few lately.

Well, if I lived in Cochav V'Shahar, I'm sure I'd see more than a few. If I lived in Tel-Aviv, I wouldn't see as many. It's relative, isn't it?

So I started off by saying, “How many of you identify yourselves as pro-Israel,” hands went up. “How many would identify yourselves as pro-Palestine,” hands went up. “I want to ask the pro-Israel people, how many of you accept a Palestinian state, a non-terrorist state, a demilitarized state living...

I don't understand what the polls are trying to prove. That the idea of every pro-Israel supporter is willing to accept a Palestinian State(i.e is a moderate) isn't true. Most of the Pro-Israel people that I've recently listened to in real life have been very much against the idea of a Palestinian ...

Happy Birthday Gerald!

(say it loud, he's getting old)

odp1 wrote:
Hmmmph, serves me right.

Nyah nyah nyah.

Next time I stick with polls when arguing something like this. It's probably more accurate.

http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=48307

http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=43912

I don't understand what the polls are trying to prove.

I wish it wasn't. It could be that I haven't been talking with the right people. Or that those full of hate just talk the loudest and the most often. Interesting. I wonder what they think about us? Actually, I think I know the answer to that question and can assure you that it's nothing very good. ...

Really? So, Yisrael Beitanyu supports a Palestinian State? Of course. Even the extreme right wing supports a Palestinian State. Meanwhile, moderates on the pro-Pal side are still choking over recognition of the Jewish state. I agree with Derskowitz on this one. It's not propaganda. http://en.wikipe...