Egyptian Media & Anti-Zionism... Tucked away in a mildly-interesting piece about Arab musical culture is the claim that Egypt bans anti-Israel rhetoric:

Marcel Khalife, a Lebanese musician, is the contemporary leader of the engaged school. His albums are officially unavailable in Egypt; many of his songs are powerful and subtle odes on the Palestinian issue, which the government fears will further flame resentment against Israel. Khalife's very beautiful "Ana Yussef Ya Abi" ("Oh Father, I Am Joseph"), from a poem by the Palestinian writer Mahmoud Darwish, takes the biblical—and Quranic—story of Joseph's treatment at the hands of his brothers as a metaphor for Palestinian suffering.

From the Its All a Matter of Perspective Department
Exhibit I: Ohio State Cheerleader Tara Zinslen on kicking a 20 yard field goal at halftime during the National Championship game last Friday night:

It brought at least a moment of respect for both [women and cheerleaders]...
We (the women) had a lot of pressure on us, especially being cheerleaders and girls," Zinslen said. "But that kick kind of sealed it: We are athletes, too

Did any of you see the halftime promotion at the Fiesta Bowl? It featured cheerleaders from Miami and Ohio State, trying to kick field goals. So this little bird from Columbus gets up there, in her cute little Ohio State cheerleading outfit, with a cute red ribbon in her cute little co-ed hair, and just flat pures it! She knifed that thing home like she was Annette Vinatieri.
I seriously had to apply a cold compress to the forehead. It might have been one of the Five Hottest Things I've ever seen.
Forget late-night Cinemax. Forget the NFL cheerleaders in Santa suits. A Midwestern co-ed, a Big Ten betty, in a cheerleading outfit, with her red ribbon bouncing in her hair ... slicing home a field goal to win the big money for her school. Like her name was really Jan Stenerud, and like she was ready to wonder why a guy was named Jan in the first place, Euro-names or no Euro-names.
We'd better move on to the next item, before she puts in a restraining order on me

While there's still time, Happy 90th birthday, Richard Nixon (speaking about somebody who worked with one of the leading Elders of Zion)

From the Look, We're Progressive Department
In perhaps the greatest blow struck for women's rights since Afghan women were allowed to walk outside, a single Iranian team, Tehran's Paykan club, has begun to allow women to attend their games.
According to the article:

Iranian authorities have long banned women from soccer stadiums because most fans direct distasteful language at opposing teams.

the decision was made because [Paykan] fans don't use obscene chants and the presence of women improves his players' morale.

The Iranian Soccer Federation let them in the stadium, concluding that the Irish women "will not understand the bad language that most Iranian men use during the matches.

Finally (for the next few hours, at least), it appears, once again, as though Einstein was right all along.
Well blow me down! Whoda thunk it?
Maybe this guy was smart, after all....

In happier news, Bill Maher is back. Maybe the cowards in the advertising firms and ABC will fire bombs into his studio from 2000 miles away instead of admitting that they were somewhat guilty of censorship...

Well, Avishai Margalit had nothing new to say on the topic of suicide bombings in this week's New York Review of Books. Pity, really, since he's usually so good.

From the Well, We Had Our Chance Department:

Now that YU has arrived on Richard Joel as its new President, all the rejected candidates are back in the talent pool. Oxford, leaping into the fray, has idenitified Bill Clinton as a leading candidate for their own chancellorship.

Could you imagine a better person to lead YU? Can you imagine him hitting up the rich upper-East-siders? Can you imagine Barbara Streisand at the Channuka dinner? Welcoming Israeli dignitaries (on the bright side, it'd mean Bibi Netanyahu would have to stop coming)? Relying on Rav Shachter instead of Jesse Jackson for spiritual support? The possibilities are/were endless.

The only downside is that he's not a Rabbi (which, as we've seen, causes problems), or, come to think of it, Jewish. The answer, clearly, would have been combining him with his friend and Court Rabbi Menachem Genack.
Oh well.

From the It Could Be Worse Department
For all the heat Bush has taken for his intelligence (or lack thereof - and hence the heat), let me tell you, it could be worse. Apparantly a bunch of Miami radio hosts proved that Venezuelian President Hugo Chavez is vulnerable to the Prank Call From The Radio Host Impersonating Fidel Castro. Here's some choice dialog, courtesy of the Miami Herald:

''Yes, brother, how's it going?'' Chávez asks.

''I'll do what you're asking me to,'' Castro replies.

''I don't understand,'' a bewildered Chávez says.

''But I'm going to be harmed, I confess to you,'' Castro says.

Silence from Chávez. Castro goes on: ``Everything's set for Tuesday.''

''Everything's set for Tuesday,'' Chávez repeats, obviously befuddled. ``I don't understand.''

Santos then breaks in and announces they were calling from Miami. Complete silence from Chávez. Santos launches into a tirade: ''Terrorist! Animal! Murderer!'' plus a few choice four-letter nouns. ``You're finishing off the Venezuelan people!''

Santos then hangs up.

More from the Apocalypse Watch Department:
On the calm side, onlysimchas is back up and running. That was a close one, let me tell you.
On the not so calm side, check out the welcome back message from the site's operators:

This morning as we were finalizing the necessary code and graphics in order to bring OnlySimchas back to the web, we were shocked to hear reports from Israel about the bombing in Tel Aviv which left 20 dead and over a 100 injured. While one usually feels powerless in the face of such a tragedy, today at OnlySimchas we felt empowered. OnlySimchas.com represents everything the terrorists are trying to take away from us. The thousands of simchas on the site and our supporters around the globe are testimony to the persistence and continuity of the Jewish people, our sense of unity, and our ability to grow and prosper despite all odds.

While perpetuating the Jewish people through Simcha is one way to fight those who try to destroy us, we must also support and visit our brethren in Israel to show them and the world that we are not afraid and that we will persist and thrive. For this reason, we are marking the return of OnlySimchas to the web with a one week giveaway sponsored by TotallyJewishTravel.com at The Hilton Queen of Sheba Hotel in Eilat, Israel.

In the Elders of anti-Zion department...
Just in case you haven't heard the bruhaha over the book The Making of a Gadol, here's a quick recap (thus far, I haven't found any good links, since most Jews of that ilk don't have very much to do with the internet...).

A few months ago, Rabbi Nathan Kaminetsky published a book of short biographical sketches of rabbinic figures of the previous few generations.

Despite initial positive reviews (again, not on the web), it quickly ran into trouble with the Rabbinic Establishment, who felt that a book that focused on the struggles that the figures in the book faced (and, for the most part, overcame) on their paths to preeminence would dilute the awe that the common folk would hold for the figures in question. Their style is more hagiography that frequently conflates respect with worship.

Their reaction is translated here. Its well worth your shaking your head over.