I need to join in with Andi in thanking all Buffistae for the support the last few days, even though I don't post as much as I'd like, I do consider all of you as "our community" where we belong.

That being said, I came across an item today for sale with no explanation: "Electric Thumb Warmer."

I Googled it of course, and the answer was practical, but my first reaction was WTH?

A bit of the Hollaback Israel goodness of the past weeks:

First, we had our meeting with Tel Aviv Municipality. I can't tell much other than it lasted two hours, been awesome and much change is gonna come. We hope.

Second, a story which is about 3-4 weeks old:

Have you heard of the PUA (pick-up artist) phenomenon? The scums who claim that "no" doesn't mean "no" (at least, in Israel), and that women are only saying "no" because they are being taught to be ashamed of their sexuality and wanting sex, so you shouldn't listen to them? After a story on our site, a link to a forum where a guy bragged about raping a woman was exposed. One post later at Hila's blog (one of our mods), and the Israeli blogsphere got on fire. From here to there, two lawsuits were served (one against the guy, the other against the "school of seduction"), few groups of feminist activists gathered information and screen shots of bragging on rape and various assaults (with their guides, of course, cheering and encouraging them - which is important, since their line of defense was "this isn't normal, that's not what we're teaching") to sue their asses, and the cherry on top - Tel Aviv city council member sent a complaint to the Attorney General of Israel, asks him to investigate these schools of seduction. As a side dish, there was graduate meetup of the specific school three days after the story was published. A spontaneous demo of 150 women and men marched there, stopped their gathering, and lectured them about feminism.

And last, I just sent an email to the Awesome Manal Shalabi. The reason is that I want to start a Hollaback of War (password: 5553), so to speak - leaving "regular" politics aside, and collecting testimonies of both sides of conflict, on it's affect on us - mostly the lack of personal security - from soldiers and cops in checkpoints and demonstrations to the random man of the "other side" who will harass or threaten you because you're the "enemy's property".

So, Hollaback Israel. We're truly changing shit. So much that numerous times per day I get all stuttery and apologetic with "you know I had no idea I'll get all that response, right?". So much that after 3 months, serious people have suggested me to stop seeing this as volunteering, and start seeing this as work - including salary and all. Umm, yay?

Edit: oh, and also, I finished the papers I had from the second year a week ago. Also a yay. I hope one of them will be good enough to be rewritten as an article.

Oh, Shir! That is so completely, thoroughly amazingly awesome!

Shir, that all sounds amazing.

I just made my New Year's meal a little late -- black eyed peas with red kale, and mashed sweet potatoes and apples with ginger. Yum.

Yeah. A part of me still don't get this. Like, a very large part of me. I wonder daily when did I cross that invisible line and became an activist. The last time I checked, all I did was using my keyboard to bitch. I never went to a demonstration (oh, I saw yesterday Women in Black, and they have so much goddamn courage I don't have - they stand next to the PM's house in Jlm, on a busy traffic circle in a circle, faces the traffic and the people, in silence, holding "stop the occupation" signs. I could never put myself, physically, like that. Never).

I'm just a girl with a keyboard and a weird sense of justice. That's all. Apparently that's all you need. Weird, huh?

Shir, I am so damn proud of you, and so excited for everything that's going on. How fantastic!!!

DCJ, it's good to see your pixels, whenever you can be here.

I was doing searches for goth nail art, and found this: [link]

Dang, Shir, that is seriously, world-changingly impressive! Glad to hear that Good Steps are being taken and Good Things are being done. Amazing what a little awareness can do. Bravo.

And Bravo to sleep! Makes all the difference.

Shir, that is awesome! And the PUA stuff makes me physically sick. I'm so thrilled by what you've put into motion!

Shir I am so in awe of you. I did a little looking into this PUA stuff online and it is gross. I am mildy amused that Pua is the Hawaiian word for flower and I know the cutest little dog with that name.

How is is Saturday? I spent all day yesterday thinking it was Thursday.

The black-eyed peas I made have smoked paprika. It is amazing. Just a little sprinkle of it, and everything tastes all smokey and yum.