For breakfast I tried the thing where you make a hole in a slice of bread and fry an egg in it but the toast cooked faster than the egg. D says he's done the same thing with the same results. Has anybody pulled this off? What's the secret?

Cut most of the soft part of the bread, and slow-fry it.

I just can't see Israel as a thin wedge protecting the Jews of the world

I'd hate to see Israel as such, and most of all: I don't want to see Israel as such. I want to go anywhere on this world on my own, with my own identity, without bias.

As for the rest of your post... yeah. I try to ignore the current government, since I think hate would be such a shame to use on these guys. I feel that only 2 of the 120 MPs that were elected are representing me (my thoughts of representation, however, changed a lot during the past year, giving my academic work on the use of photography as proof). And just few days ago, I realized that I no longer identify as left or right: I identify as a feminist, politically speaking.

As for being called a "Jew": I confess I find this whole thing strange. For me, being called a "Jew" as as much as being called "human being" or "woman". I am, and don't understand what's the big deal about it.

While I know there's antisemitism, I hardly feel it's real.

The reason I have a slightly different view from you on Israel, Shir (although not all that different), is that I know how real anti-Semitism is in this country. My Girl is faced with it on a regular basis. Synagogues are burnt down here regularly - they have to post security on their doors (security - they're places of worship, for pity's sake). I've known people who've been beaten up in the streets. Just one country over, hundreds of Jews are leaving France because of the levels of violent anti-Semitism there. I was happy to change my name to my family's original Jewish one, but I know that given how Jewish-sounding my full name now is, there's every chance I'll meet mistaken anti-Semitism in the future. I sometimes worry for my future children. It is very, very real.

I'm not saying ANY of that justifies what's going on Palestine. But I do feel that there's some dismissing of anti-Semitism as 'can't possibly be real' stuff, and that's distressing. It very much is.

As for being called a "Jew": I confess I find this whole thing strange. For me, being called a "Jew" as as much as being called "human being" or "woman". I am, and don't understand what's the big deal about it.

I don't object to being called 'disabled' for the same reason, but if it's clearly a prelude to being kicked out of my wheelchair, I'll be able to hear the difference.

ETA: The Girl and I often talk about how anti-Semitism includes Muslim people (of Arabic descent and so on) these days. There are big threats to their safety here, too.

FTR: I have no doubt that anti-Semitism is real. I just have doubts how my country reports it over the news.

I think anti-semitism is real. In the U.S. I don't think it is as big as many places. I get the feeling it is much much worse in the UK. Again never been in the UK, so I don't insist on this and could be wrong. It just that when I talk to Brits I occasionally get shocked by things I know I would never hear in the U.S.

Oh and as to the term including Muslims. Not historically. It was originally invented to refer specifically to prejudice against Jews by a Rabbi, and then proudly picked up by people who hated Jews. The root word (which after all refers to a language group) is not the same as the meaning. There is some argument that maybe it should be extended to Muslims, and that argument goes back very far, but it was not the original meaning and still is not the usual meaning.

As for being called a "Jew": I confess I find this whole thing strange. For me, being called a "Jew" as as much as being called "human being" or "woman". I am, and don't understand what's the big deal about it.

It's not about the value of the word, it's about the intent of the person using it. Nobody says "Get out of my store, Jew" if they think being Jewish is a value-neutral quality.

The Girl and I often talk about how anti-Semitism includes Muslim people (of Arabic descent and so on) these days

Technically, "anti-semitic" only refers to Jews - it was invented in Germany specifically to allow people to identify as Jew haters without sounding crass about it. (To be fair, the Nazis were none too keen on Muslim Arabs either, but they probably had a separate word for it.) [ heh - etymology xpost!]

Oh and as to the term including Muslims. Not historically.

True, but there's a very similar quality of anti-Islam type hatred going on at the moment. There's a related sense of 'the other among us', with a similar rhetoric of conspiracy and cultural invasion.

It's not about the value of the word, it's about the intent of the person using it. Nobody says "Get out of my store, Jew" if they think being Jewish is a value-neutral quality.

I'm not sure I'm really qualified to contribute here, but I had a very similar conversation recently with a woman about the word "queer".

And in other totally stress-inducing news, Joe's actual, birth mother is coming to visit us in May and I just bought her plane ticket. I've met her once and it was simultaneously weird and very uncomfortable.

Joe already said that we won't be forcing the kids to spend time with her unless they are comfortable (which I can't imagine they will be), but I'm not looking forward to those moments. And she smokes. Which is fine when she's in her world, but I'm not really looking forward to. (Again, Joe says he has no problem with this, but normally, where he's from, you don't ask your mom to go smoke outside. Oh, and what do I say when Ellie asks what she's doing?)

Er. It's awkward breaking into this very serious and important conversation with a trivial makeup question...please forgive.

I need some advice, given it is my big 5-0 tomorrow and I'm planning on going to Macy's to pick up an Eye Bright pencil, based on recommendations here.

I feel I need to spruce up my look, but have only ever worn foundation, blush or shadow on the stage due to sensitive skin and a tendency to unconsciously rake my fingers through any well-meaning makeup.

When I do wear embellishment, it is as follows:

• Maybelline, express makeup 3in1, ivory01 to cover the circles under my eyes
• A dark brown eyeliner, smudged
• L'Oreal, Double Extend mascara, black
• Origins, Matte stick, berry 01
• Maybellene, shiny.licious lip gloss, sugar plum

The gloss I like is currently out of print. A tragedy, considering that most lip treatments burn my lips something awful.

At the risk of frightening the children and horses, here is a photo of me, makeup-less, in my new favorite jaunty hat. (stand back, it's an enormous image)

Notice the extreme pale-itude, the lineslineslines and the freckles. So much in need of repair. My eyes are paleish olive with some yellow.

If I were going for a 'natural' look and had little to spend on such an indulgence, what would the hivemind recommendations be?