Author: lux

Auto Update & Odds & Ends

For those who’ve been wondering, the car situation is still – almost 2 weeks later – in limbo. Allstate has gotten a firm estimate from the body shop – $5,600. They’re supposed to finally send a human being out to take a look at my car and assess the estimate sometime this week, as well as check to see if it’s too close to their “threshold” for writing the car off. I’m getting a bit tired of waiting but there hasn’t been much I’ve been able to do to speed the process along, other than call Allstate every other day to check on the progress of the claim.

I’ve also been having problems with my web host – the site has not been accessable much the past few days. If it keeps up I’ll have to start looking for a new hosting company.

I’ve got a few blog posts in my head that I have to make time to type out – my “Lord Of The Rings” review, the long-overdue review of my iPod, and a couple others. With the holiday season almost over, my work schedule will shortly lighten up and I’ll be able to post more regularly. Or so goes the plan. We’ll see what reality brings.

More bad news for Jews

A distressing article in today’s SF Chronicle: more on the growing anti-semetism in Europe. Given that I have close members of my family currently living in Austria and Italy, reading these sorts of articles is deeply upsetting. I don’t want to see my family become targets because they’re not just Americans but also Jews.

I also don’t want to sound like the worrywart who sees danger around every corner while comfortably ensconced in her safe zone. I drive over the Golden Gate Bridge 5 or 6 times a week; that’s about as “risky” as my behavior gets.

But getting back to anti-Semetism, there’s a longstanding debate as to whether cricitism of Israel is in and of itself anti-Semetic. I for one definitely believe that such is not the case. Some of the most vocal critics of Israeli policies are, after all, Jews. However, I also think that people who hate Jews can and do find a socially acceptable outlet for their bigotry in the criticism of Israel.

The hard part is trying to tell the difference between legitimate criticism of Israel and criticism of Israel based on anti-Semetism. William F Buckeley Jr took a whole book to come to the conclusion that Pat Buchanan was anti-Semetic.

Here’s Norman Podhoretz on the subject: “In our own day Israel has become the touchstone of attitudes towards the Jewish people, and anti-Zionism has become the main and most relevant form of anti-Semetism”.

Sounds about right to me.

The Veil Descends

Found a long, highly informative article in US News & World Report today about the level of secrecy in the Bush administration. Yet more reasons to be disgusted by what this administration has done to our country. It’s quite long but worth a read.

As far as personal veils of secrecy go, I haven’t heard back from Allstate yet about my car, so I’m still in limbo. I just hope it’s all done with soon so I can get out of that dirty, smelly loaner car.