ut in realistic pro-Israeli opinion (because well, I'm kind of fond of living in this country) - right now, this has to go on. Because if it'll stop right now, we're back on where we were 2 weeks ago, just with a lot more dead and wounded and distraction.

I don't get this. If it is the wrong thing, why is "finishing" it better than doing nothing? I mean why is better for Israel to stop and say "we were wrong" then to "finsih" by killing more people and then start talking? Are you afraid Israel would look weak? Because I guarantee you there is not one Palestian who thinks Israel is wimpy or easy to push around. I understand that when your country does a terrible thing there is a wish that it not have been done in vain. Same excuse a lot of people support the U.S. staying in Iraq and continuing to kill Iraqi children. Don't think it is a good idea in either case. I gather that at least a quarter of Palestinians killed so far in Gaza are civilians. So at least 70 civilians dead. Say Israel finished the job,kills 300 Palestinian civilians and stops the missile attacks for six months, at the end of which a new way is found to kill Israelis with a lot more support for doing so in Palestine than before. This is a good result? Better than stopping now? You have lost more Israeli's during the attack than the previous few years. I'm not a 100% sure your country will be able to stop the rocket attacks for six months, but probably if the IDF kills enough Palestinian civilians it will be able to temporarily put a stop to rocket attacks as a side effect. Until the fighters you don't catch dig out the hidden caches you don't find, and find new places to launch them from. Or until some other way is found, with the help of all the Palestinians who were not actively involved in fighting Israel who will now turn to violent means. Does not seem "finishing" gains you or your country much over stopping.

And again you are on the sharp end of this. I'm not. So if disagreeing with you makes you even mildly uncomfortable I'll stop.

This time yesterday, I was sitting in a hot tub with an adorable 23 year old college football player while Dimitry, my pool waiter, handed me an ice cold pina colada.

Today it is grey, rainy, and cold and I am at work. This sucks.

Got it, thanks so much. I'll run it tonight or tomorrow. And bless your name.

I want to be in Vortex's yesterday.

Okay, I have a five-hour very intense written test on Saturday. Should I schedule a massage sometime this week to calm me down beforehand, or next week as a reward for getting it done? I'd do both, but it's stretching finances just to have this one, so that's not an option.

Do you expect to ace this test, or are small advantages important? If the latter, is nervous energy a plus or a minus for you in test taking?

I want to be in Vortex's yesterday.

Pssh. Awesomeness is overrated.

It could be worse, Vortex. The original forecast for today was an ice storm.

Um, I'm not helping, am I?

oh noes! (actually, not much of a threat ... but honestly!)

Hey all.

First, healing ~ma for Daniel's mom.

And now, politics.

A bad policy is a bad policy, and walking away from it can't make things worse, even if it means walking away from a ground invasion that is already underway. Asking someone to be the last one to die for a mistake is horrible, but it is just as horrible a month from now as it would be today.

Sure, fighting is a bad policy. But then again, what we had since Palestinians refugees ran off to Gaza Strip and the West Bank ain't any better, and cost a lot more in human life, freedom and occupation currency. Not to mention, humanity. So yes, there's a part of me, maybe too-much-optimistic part of me, who thinks that if it'll be bad enough/will make enough noise this time, things will change. Because I'm talking about long term change, not "quiet for 6 months while Gaza Strip is still occupied" quiet.

I understand that when your country does a terrible thing there is a wish that it not have been done in vain.

And yes, also because of this. It doesn't matter who does a terrible thing, as long as something is learned from it and we step ahead into the general direction of good.

I really wonder about the timing of it all. Right before the Israeli elections. And more importantly, right before Bush leaves office. I agree that one can not sit idly by and watch missiles come in on a regular basis. I can understand having surgical strikes against the launchers. But when you get into blowing up Mosques and schools because they "store missiles there"? You need to be showing proof. And if you have proof, why not show them and the world, and say "look, we don't want to blow this shit up, but we need to defend ourselves. Clean up so we don't have to".

Yep. Elections is the magic word. Also Olmert, who wanted so bad to be remembered as the PM who brought peace with Syria and quiet to the south. Pffft.
As for sitting idly: dude. They practically didn't care for 8 years, and probably still wouldn't care unless Hamas would have not start shooting to further locations. Viva la very insignificant periphery.
As for blowing up Mosques and schools: yes. They do store and launch rockets from there, according to my sister. One of the most popular launching sites (top 3)? The roof of the girls elementary school in the north of the Strip, while they have a break or a minute before it, because they knew until the op that IDF will do nothing, in fear of hurting civilian population. I need to ask the sis if the school still exist when I'll see her this weekend.

Typo Boy, I hope the first part of my answer also answered you. omnis, stop falling. I'll send you some bubble wrapping, ok?

Also, how fucked up am I if visiting my late Grandfather's brother family during the Shiva'h makes me feel better?