Typo, I'm not saying that boycott is all bad.

But once Israel will feel it's completely on its own, without anyone to report to? There will be bloodshed, in biblical terms.

As for Bishop Tutu: I'm certain that he knows the South-African apartheid, but I'm not sure just how much he is familiar with the Israeli/Palestinian system: you really need to be here to see it in person. The news are distorted, both for bad and good (because that's the narrative the news use: very black and white).

As for the support of the U.S. to Israel: I kindda wondered why you keep up with that too. But it's not just the U.S., and we're not talking just about the military budget. I'm talking about the moment where Israel will be left on its own, the moment where the (unjust) fears of so many Israelis would come true, that the world doesn't want a Jewish state. It's the Middle East. We have a strong "kill or be killed" tradition here.

Last night a friend (who supports in ending the siege as well) told me the next anecdote: that there seems to be a logical fallacy in the demand of Israel to stop the siege of Gaza Strip, or to be condemn to a siege by the world. That it's OK if the UN decides so, but not if a country (though, again, Israel is so much more an experiment than a country) use that force.

In plate-of-shrimp news, the Kojo Nnamdi show on our local NPR was about Hollaback DC today: [link]

Shir, good luck with your schoolwork!

My own pet peeve about bicyclists is when they are going THE WRONG WAY in the bike lane! Nobody knows to look for you there, dude! So stupid and dangerous and totally unnecessary.

Happy birthday, Cass!

Will miss you, Shir. Definitely keep us posted on how things go with the Hollaback site. (The Girl is ridiculously busy with UK Feminista and other things at the moment, but I'll remind her that she was going to talk to someone in Israel who she thought might be interested in your project.)

That's horrible, Connie. I hope you're as OK as possible.

Toast.

Forgot to say - thought it would make you guys laugh. I've been accepted to present something at a mini academic conference (y'know, for mini academics). I e-mailed to check that the place is wheelchair-accessible. Yesterday they got back to me - yes, it's accessible, but I can only attend if I bring a dedicated "buddy".

I stared at this e-mail for a full ten minutes, with no idea whether to laugh, cry, or sue the organizers. (Maybe I'll do all of that, while at the conference, and really worry some people.) Mostly, I'm finding it bloody hilarious.

So it's accessible, as long as you have someone to carry you up the stairs? The fuck?

So it's accessible, as long as you have someone to carry you up the stairs?

They said it was for "emergencies." They did not, of course, bother to ask what my access/evacuation needs are, or give me any information about what exactly the "buddy" (*ahem*) has to do in an emergency. Anyone would think they were just illegally covering their backs...

Seska, that is just ridiculous. I say laugh and sue.

Aims, tons of ~ma for your sister and the baby.

The house elves did not come and finish the clean up job while I slept last night. I guess that means I should finish it.

I'm still very seriously rattled, but I don't think "witnessed someone get run down" would be considered a viable reason to go home. The work ethic around here is "unless the CDC has declared you a plague vector or you're actively oozing bodily fluids that can't be contained, we'd really prefer you stay, but if you feel you have to, well, I guess that's all right, but are you sure you can't stay?" I console myself with knowing today is my Friday.

I say laugh and sue.

I really want to go to the conference! Maybe I'll sue afterwards. Cake and eat it, and all that.