Kat, both of those look fascinating.

Don Quixote

I've recently read an article about the first Hebrew translation of this book, and how the translator used the language in order to completely change the way the book is being read and the characters are perceived. The new translation (from a couple of years ago) doesn't diverge so much from the original.

maybe it's a fuzzyheaded humanities thing?

It certainly makes more sense in light of that (also, "fuzzyheaded" is a very cute word).

My brother, who is in the army, takes "open university" courses in philosophy. It means that he has to do lots of reading on his own, there are very few actual classes during the semester (4 or so - that's why they let soldiers take classes there, since they don't have to be sent home for them on a regular basis), and he mails (or e-mails) the papers. They offer more scientific courses too, so it can't be just a fuzzyheaded humanities thing in this case.

And even now? All of our laundry? Washed and folded, and put away. It's a modern day miracle.

Oh, that's lovely. I guess it makes her feel more comfortable about staying with you, too.

Did you end up enjoying that course

I had a wonderful time, learned so much, and even got enough courage to tackle other texts on my own, because the class gave me the confidence that I can understand them. I mean, a couple of weeks ago I was sutting with a friend who is in law school, she was reading something for a paper, in English, and it was difficult for her. I read it with her, even though I have absolutely no idea in law, definitely not in English, and I had the confidence I can understand those pages thanks to that class. If I had more time this year, I'd take classes of that (wonderful) professor in another university (I already took everything he teaches here). Maybe next year. I've finished all the classes I have to take for my degree, so this year I'm classes-free. Geekily enough, I miss having them.

Oddly TDS was unwatchable for me too.

Weird. I know it wasn't entirely Comedy Central's fault on mine though, because I've been having cable/internet reception issues since Friday. Last night was the worst yet.

Thanks, Laura.

our news dominated with the illness of Prime Minister Sharon

Oh, it dominates your news, as well?

Around a couple of weeks ago he had a minor stroke - did that get into the news cycle there? He was supposed to undergo surgery today, when he suddenly collapsed last night, and, well, you know the rest.

Anyone know why TDS came back mid-week but Colbert isn't new until Monday? Tuesday I could see, but Weds. just seems odd to me.

Not that he didn't have a lot to talk about. Maybe he just couldn't wait what with wire-tapping and Abrahamoff on deck.

Oh, it dominates your news, as well?

Yeah, we'd heard about the minor stroke but there was a lull here between it and the recent one. It sounds like you had no lull.

It's the best of all the holidays.

Ooh! Chaunukka question! What are Sephardic goodies for the holiday I am not going to attempt to spell again? I think the foods I consider traditional (latkes, those donut thingys) are Ashkenazic.

The Audobon Aquarium of the Americas is re-stocking.

I'm finally beginning to understand the power of the food journal. It shames you into not eating things you'd be embarrassed to admit eating. Things like funyons.

Around a couple of weeks ago he had a minor stroke - did that get into the news cycle there?

I think I remember hearing something (or at least, I wasn't surprised to hear it when I was reminded of it by yesterday's news), but it wasn't really news like this is. Sharon's split with Likud and the formation of the new party have been talked about a lot, but the impression I got was that any big changes were going to come from the political shift and not due to his health.

Timelies!

Remember the argan oil ita posted about? Here's a picture of goats climbing an argan tree. I've never seen goats in trees before. [link]

I stayed home sick yesterday. The good news is that I'm not appreciably sicker. The bad news is that I'm going to have to go to work. Man, I need a new job. Or, preferably, to win the lottery.

It sounds like you had no lull.

We're never in a news lull. It contradicts the definition or something.

It's especially crazy because he recently retired from his party, formed a new one, got plenty of politicians from both sides of the "political map" to join him. The new party ("Kadima", which translates to something like a combination between "onward" or "forward" and "let's go") still doesn't have any platform, other than being Sharon's party, for better (people who supported the disengagement in August) or worse. [Edit: x-post with amych]

Sharon's split with Likud and the formation of the new party have been talked about a lot, but the impression I got was that any big changes were going to come from the political shift and not due to his health.

Oh, that was huge. It totally re-wrote the political map, and nobody expected that.

Also, his oldest son is about to go to jail (for some elections-money fraud. The son claims his father hadn't known anything. Nobody velieves him, and lots of people were angry at Sharon for letting his son take the blame and pay for something he was a part of, for his own political strenght), and that's been a really big issue, as well.

What are Sephardic goodies for the holiday I am not going to attempt to spell again?

Nothing in particular, frankly. The jelly-daughnuts are universal, for everybody, and latkes are considered more Ashmenazi (even though now everybody makes them because, well, they're yummy), but there's nothing specifically Hanukkah-Sepharadi dish.

The holiday that has lots of special cookies is Purim (at least for some, if not all, Sepharadim).