I suspect Israel and the U.S. have a lot in common in terms of poisonous atmospheres of public opinion.

Oh man. So much this. Even I forget to question data I'm fed by media every once in a while, because there's so much data out there to observe and comment on, and hey, this is not Academia where I can check the sources of the paper. In the bottom line, Goebbels was right - if you'll repeat a lie enough times, it'll become truth (which is why I sometime wonder if it's that wise to teach basic semiotics to all).

The Israeli version, so far, is that most passengers on the ship were Al-Qaeda activists who tried to lynch our beloved troops. No, really. That's really, really what they're saying. Allow me to weep in the corner, silently.

One of my older relatives seemed almost horrified that I wouldn't just accept the IDF version of things as truth without hearing from other sources. Like I was a traitor to the Zionist cause or something by daring to question anything that an Israeli official said. Apparently I am an example of how young American Jews don't care about Israel. (My argument that of COURSE I care about Israel, if I didn't care then I wouldn't be upset, if I didn't care then I wouldn't want them to handle things better, didn't seem to penetrate. Neither did my, "Hi, have you met me? I don't believe anything that anybody says. It would be completely weird for me to suddenly take the IDF at their word.")

One of my older relatives seemed almost horrified that I wouldn't just accept the IDF version of things as truth without hearing from other sources

IDF lies. Take it from someone who served there and wrote some lies herself (I served as a reporter of the IAF journal. There's more truth and relation to reality in fan-fiction than to the articles I wrote there). It's the bloody (lack of consistent) leadership, not the mostly-great troops who are enlisted.

Of course, until now these were lies that didn't concern the international community so much.

And oh, yes, I'm a self hating back stabber Israeli Jew myself. Hi-five!

Hey, how'd that vanilla solid perfume turn out? I've been wondering.

Oh, I love it! It smells great, and it being a solid I can't accidentally get too much on (not that I've ever done that, of course. no). Thank you for all of it; Lush is great!

My Secret Santa Erin gave me a treasure trove of Lush goodies, y'all. That stuff is addictive.

I'm about to say something I've never said before - I totally love that Hanson song/video!

Neither of my cats has any interest in human food. Bella loves to chew on plastic, though, to the extent of balancing on the curved edge of my clawfoot tub to chomp on the shower curtain.

Harvey seems to think that anything he sees mommy (or daddy) eating, he needs to try. He loves mushrooms, green beans, carrots, and I have seen him eat asparagus. Also, bread. As in, when we go grocery shopping, we have to put the bread away first, because if we put the meat away first, he'll tear open the bread and start eating it. As in, I can't leave a ziplock bag of "Amish Friendship Bread" starter on the counter to grow, because he will eat it. Sammie, OTH, is only interested in meat. She loves chicken.

Gracie is a fiend for asparagus. She likes cauliflower and all kinds of greens too. Weirdo.

I had a cat a long time ago who was crazy for honeydew melon. And peas.

Cats is weird.

Both my cats scorn all human food, even meat. Leo will eat rubber bands and styrofoam, though, if he gets the chance. Which he doesn't, anymore, ever. Idiot cat. Percy will stalk french fries and bread crust pieces, but he only gnaws on them when he catches them and then wanders away. Then I have to kill the poor things.

Oh yeah, rubber bands.I haven't been able to have those in the house for years. Both the dog and current cat could sniff them out like crazy.

Amarna used to shun all human food, except that she loves to lick the lid of any macaroni or potato salad containers, as well as Ben & Jerry pints. Then, I decided to give her a little pinch of Brown's fried chicken (the chicken part, not the fried coating), and that was it--whenever I bring it home now, she thinks the entire piece is hers.