May it end soon.

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Yes, this. And not only cause I won't be going to Zooms about it anymore(Which I know is a minimal sacrifice, much like reading the occasional whacked-a-vist quitting on us at work for seeking peaceful solutions. They are lucky I am fairly unmotivated because on Daily Kos the pointing and laughing used to be intense at times like that.)

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I don't think there's a peaceful solution until at least one government is replaced and can steer this thing in some direction that won't gurentee a destruction of at least one group of people. Sinwar is truly a genius and found a way to bring back many intergenerational traumas in a single day, and both sides react to them accordingly. If he weren't a murderous psychopath I'd wish he'd be on the Israeli side. It's like watching a national suicide bomb explodes in slow motion (pogroms for the Israelis, Nakba for the Palestinians, 1947-1949 in the middle, and just when Netanyehu secured enough horcruxes to last at least for a while).

Adding something extra because I think the context is lost in geography: this situation will change. It's the Middle East. I don't know how and in which direction, but things change here quite fast. Though in this case, not fast enough.

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The professor that spoke to us today(he teaches about the Holocaust at Brown now after studying in Israel and Europe) outlined his thoughts and then said "It's probably a pipe dream. But that doesn't mean pipe dreams are wrong. Without them, it's all just blood and soil." It sucks though that there is enough to do for a "Holocaust and Genocide studies Department" but he is probably a good instructor.

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Sinwar is truly a genius and found a way to bring back many intergenerational traumas in a single day, and both sides react to them accordingly. If he weren't a murderous psychopath I'd wish he'd be on the Israeli side.

He is brilliant but also truly a psychopath. I was reading more about him today and, ugh, I wish he were on a better side.

Adding something extra because I think the context is lost in geography: this situation will change. It's the Middle East. I don't know how and in which direction, but things change here quite fast. Though in this case, not fast enough.

Do you think there is a real solution? Things will absolutely change but I wonder if there is any common ground where everyone gets a chance at a semi-peaceful life?

In drudgery, I cleaned the fridge out from an unexpectedly post-Thanksgiving largess. Should have frozen more carcass soup. It was very good but too much.

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It's the Middle East. I don't know how and in which direction, but things change here quite fast. Though in this case, not fast enough.

Yes, and it almost seems like change has to be for the better as it is at a point where the people have surely had enough of the status quo.

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Laura, ~ma for your brother.

Nilly and Shir, I hold you in my heart. I wish for peace and safety for civilians on all sides. I wish for an end to antisemitism, and other forms of racism and hatred. I wish for an increase in justice and a way to offer shelter, healing, nourishment to all who do not have it.

I'm weeping for this world.

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Do you think there is a real solution? Things will absolutely change but I wonder if there is any common ground where everyone gets a chance at a semi-peaceful life?

Yes, but again, not until at least one government is replaced. There are several suggestions and all require true leadership and courage, that we currently lack. Do you know the solution to the prisoner's dilemma in which every side loses something, but they're gaining cooperation/freedom? That's the main road that won't involve more crimes against humanity, and in which we have fair chance of living together/side by side, semi peacefully.

Peace with Egypt happened after a terrible war and with two courageous leaders. Peace with Jordan happened when I was a kid, after an intifada. There is no reason to believe that we can't reach an agreement with PA over Gaza (with tons of international aid), once we have a leadership that cares more about the people and their lives and not it's own power and survival. Especially when we know what the price is.

(editing to add that one of the jokes here is that if the Israeli government truly wants to eliminate Hamas it should consider sending some ministers there to govern over Gaza, for they're doing an outstanding job weakening Israel).

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Have they learned to make the pancakes themselves, yet?

Yes! Both of them can already read a recipe on their own, gather the ingredients, mix in order, know how to break eggs properly (and even seperate the yolk from the - um, is there another word for the "white" part of the egg? Other than "white when cooked and kind of goo-y when not yet cooked"?), and even how to gently fold (is that how you say this in English as well?) flour and the like and not just mix them.

PiGirl is still only allowed to turn the oven or the stove with a grownup present, but PiBoy is already allowed to do it on his own, so we were treated once or twice to a pleasant surprise of "I decided to make these out of a recipe I found online, wanna taste them?"

Oh, and we're still working on the "cleaning afterwards is part of the baking process" part (I take pity on them and wash the - um, OK, here's where my English is failing me again, it's like I need a special cooking-and-baking dictionary - the part of the electric mixer that is shaped like a ball, made of curving wires, which you use in order to make cream into whipped cream and the-eggs-whites-and-sugar into a white (really white, this time) foam? Well, it's difficult to clean that part, so I take pity on them and always wash it for them, even after I ask them to do it themselves.

Is that what you put on pancakes? Can't imagine you've got maple trees.

We defenitely don't have maple trees here, but there is imported maple syrup that can be bought, despite that, don't worry!

And not only cause I won't be going to Zooms about it anymore

erika, forgive my skipping, if you've written about it before, but what are these zooms that you have to attend?

Do you think there is a real solution? Things will absolutely change but I wonder if there is any common ground where everyone gets a chance at a semi-peaceful life?

Sadly enough, I have to admit I'm less optimistic than Shir.

(I've had a long rant about Israeli politicians, but I've deleted it, because, oh, well, what's the point. Sigh.)

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Happy Monday! Why do I say such a thing you may ask? Because today we celebrate the birth of amych! Wishes sent for the happiest of days and the best year ever to come.

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