Mr Bagel: 21 October 2007

Saturday, 27 October 2007

Syria: The blame game continues

Majdal Shams village

Syria complains about Israel felling cherry trees on the Golan Heights

DAMASCUS, Syria: Syria filed a complaint Friday with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon protesting Israel's chopping down of trees in the occupied Golan Heights to harass farmers, the state-run news agency SANA said.

The felling of cherry trees in Majdal Shams village was "a flagrant violation of international law and humanitarian law," said Syrian officials quoted by the report. It did not say when the incident happened.

The SANA article said the cutting of trees aimed to put pressure on Syrian villagers in order to force them to leave their land and it called the United Nations to pressure Israel to stop "these illegitimate and inhuman practices."

Israel has been occupying the strategic Golan Heights since the 1967 Mideast war and Syria been demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from the plateau.

Peace talks between Israel and Syria have been stalled since 2000, and last week Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was reported to be considering renewed contacts.

Israeli defense officials said the army has decided to move an upcoming military exercise off the disputed Golan Heights to avoid further heightening tensions with Syria.

The situation between the two neighbors has been tense since Israeli warplanes on Sept. 6 struck a target in Syria, which Western news media have described as some sort of nuclear facility linked to North Korea.

Syria strongly denied the target was a nuclear facility saying that only an unused military building was hit.

Mr Bagel: Please, if this isn't the most pathetic and obvious attempt at diverting attention from Syria's recent 'bad publicity'. Why is it Israel changes plans for practice military maneuvers so as to not make situations any more tense? Which Arab country practices such restraint?.. None

Is there any coincidence between the fact that the clan that live at Majdal Shams are very pro Syrian, I think not.

References:
International Herald Tribune: Syria complains about Israel felling cherry trees on the Golan Heights

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Friday, 26 October 2007

There's been a short break in Transmission...

We shall continue with our normal programming...

Whats the last thing you expect after 2 days of unexpected Power outage, one day of a planned outage and a half day delay in repairing another power outage?

Finally 2 am this morning the power came back on and Mr Bagel who had decided sleeping was the most productive behavior to be achieved in an environment with no power, no water and no functioning WC decided to finally log onto his computer and type a few thoughts for a post.

After four power interruptions in two weeks, whats the last thing you imagine might happen after not having power for half a day? Thats right the power went of again.. Arrggh!!

Any way the electricity company seems to have made a mistake and the power is back on, so hopefully we shall be able to return to normal programming..

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Wednesday, 24 October 2007

Your IQ: You are suitably qualified to replace Ehud Olmert or an earth worm

Looking at the posts at SimplyJews, I came across this little IQ test. Apparently Mr Bagel isn't such a slow poke in the neuron division after all

The good thing is, if you get a bad result you can always say it was a Zionist conspiracy, being that Snoopy the Goon found it

References:
Simplyjews: Ain't I clever?
IQ Test by Flash by Night: Here

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Halle Berry does a Mel
But gets saved by Leno

“Here’s where I look like my Jewish cousin!”

Halle Sorry for Jewish Joke

When it comes to becoming the next Mel Gibson, Halle Berry may have missed it by a nose.

The Oscar-winning actress has issued a public mea culpa for a quip made on The Tonight Show Friday, in which she joked that a photograph making her nose look unusually large could pass for a picture of "my Jewish cousin."

While making the requisite small talk with host Jay Leno, Berry pulled out pictures she had taken of herself on her computer through Apple's Photo Booth software.

"The machine morphs your face to look like all these silly other people," she said. "Whenever I'm feeling really bad about the world I do this to crack myself up."

In introducing the first picture from the batch, in which her nose was vastly distorted, Berry said, "This one, I don't know, this is like my Jewish cousin."

If the video doesn't play click here:
Halle Berry on The Tonight Show (10-19-07)

The full remark never made it on air, however. The audience's silence at the attempted joke was covered with a laugh track and the word Jewish was muted out.

Leno's reaction, though, was not.

"I'm glad you said it and not me," he said.

Berry, however, appeared to realize her gaffe immediately.

"Oh, my God, have I just, like, ruined my whole career?" she asked, before going through the rest of her photo presentation.

The pregnant 41-year-old said Tuesday that the comment was not intended to be anti-Semitic and that she requested Leno have it removed from the show.

"I so didn't mean to offend anybody—and after the show I realized it could be seen as offensive, so I asked Jay to take it out, and he did," she said.

Berry also said one of her assistants, who happens to be Jewish, actually made the joke just before the actress went on.

"What happened was I was backstage before the show, and I have three girls who are Jewish who work for me. We were going through pictures to see which ones looked silly, and one of my Jewish friends said, 'That could be your Jewish cousin!' And I guess it was fresh in my mind, and it just came out of my mouth. But I didn't mean to offend anybody. I didn't mean any harm.

"It was just supposed to be a silly segment. I am so sorry, and I apologize."

Mr Bagel: A Lot of people are trying to play this down, but one of the things about stereotypes is they are 'loaded' and the use of them conveys more than just a sense of 'fun'.

I also think her comments after the gaffe were just as telling and loaded.

after her 'gaffe' she stated;

"Oh, my G_d, have I just, like, ruined my whole career?"

Now call me paranoid, but I don't just think this was just a innocent reference to the 'Mel Gibson affair' I also think it was a calculated loaded comment about the Jewish presence in the entertainment industry.

You might think why is what Halle Berry said racist?
Well I wonder what the reaction would be if some one was to make a Halle Berry morphed photo like say:

extra long gorilla like arms and said 'Here’s where I look like my African cousin'?

or if Halle Berry had morphed her eyes to squint and said 'Here’s where I look like my Asian cousin'?

Or possibly pasted a tea towel on her head and said 'Here’s where I look like my arabic cousin'.

Or possibly dropped a background photo of a trailer park and said 'Here’s where I look like my white second cousin'

I think you might get an idea just how inappropriate her joke on a high ranking National TV show was.

The use of the above examples were to show the use of negatively loaded stereotypes.

Mr Bagel in no way condones the use of such racist language.I have tried to be offensive equally to as many groups as possible, if you feel I have discriminated against you by including your racial group or not including your racial group I apologise. I apologise to any one who feels in any way slighted and I assure you that I will not use a cop out tag line like the words of Halley Berry who said "It was just supposed to be a silly segment".

Or Putting it more succinctly, 'I was making fun of people in a racist way at their expense.'

See Halle even you could say that.

There's a lot of good posts and discussion on the blogosphere check out:

Michelle Malkin: Jay Leno whitewashes Halle Berry
Debbie Schlussel: Halle Berry & Her "Jewish Cousin's" Nose: Where Are All The Ann Coulter Critics?
Hotair: Video: Halle Berry’s censored anti-semitic joke

References:
E Online: Halle Sorry for Jewish Joke

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A simple mistranslation...

No - Clear Purpose

See more Mr Bagel Cartoons

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Sunday, 21 October 2007

Kelly Slater detained by Israeli police

Leonardo DiCaprio - Bar Rafaeli - Kelly Slater

Israeli police detained eight-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater after a scuffle with photographers who were trying to take pictures of him with Israeli supermodel Bar Rafaeli, police said.

Israeli photographers were waiting outside as Rafaeli and the American surfer left a hotel in the Tel Aviv suburb of Herzliya before dawn, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. In an effort to prevent the cameramen from taking pictures, Slater pushed them, a photographer at the scene told Channel Two TV.

"A brawl broke out and Slater was taken for questioning and later released," Rosenfeld said.

It was not the first time foreign guests of Rafaeli have scuffled with journalists. Earlier this year Rafaeli and her then-boyfriend, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, created a media storm when he visited her in Israel. After eluding journalists for days, the pair was met by a group of waiting photographers when they toured Jerusalem.

Their bodyguards scuffled with photographers, punching some and damaging equipment. Rafaeli later told an Israeli newspaper she wouldn't bring anyone famous to Israel "because there is a chutzpah here that you won't see anywhere else".

Israeli media has reported the two have broken up recently.

Refaeli is reportedly in Israel for a photo shoot to appear in next year's Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.

Slater, who is of Syrian descent, was visiting Israel for the first time as part of efforts by the group, Surfing for Peace, to promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians through the sport.

Slater decided to extend his trip to Israel by one day Channel Two TV reported.

Mr Bagel: Yawn, and then theres actually things that matter....

Seems Bar Rafaeli's promise to avoid visiting Israel with any of her celebrity friends didn't last long... like her ex boyfriend. Wouldn't it just be simpler to get a good publicist?

References:
SMH: Kelly Slater detained by Israeli police

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Haveil Havalim #137 is up!

If I forget you, O Jerusalem

Haveil Havalim #137:

Yaaqoov from EsserAgaroth is behind the wrap up of Haveil Havalim #137 and he has done a wonderful job, it is a very large edition with some very relevant reading.

Welcome to the
137 edition of Haveil Havalim.

Well done to Yaaqov for such a worthy edition.

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Bodgey Bagels Week 37 is up!

Bodgey Bagels Caption Contest Week 37

The 'Almost Famous'
Bodgey Bagels Caption Contest

Number 37

Entries in by 23rd Oct

Bodgey Bagels Caption Contest

will now always be available from:
http://bodgeybagels.blogspot.com/

Or see the caption link in the Mr Bagel Menu.

Skip over to Bodgey Bagels to do the caption contest!

Mr Bagel

Islam vs Islamist

FOX To Air Controversial Documentary on Islam

A controversial film that PBS axed from its documentary series about the post-Sept. 11 world will be broadcast for the first time nationwide this week by the FOX News Channel.

The documentary, originally titled "Islam vs. Islamists," was produced by ABG Films with $675,000 in public funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was originally slated to run earlier this year as part of PBS' "America at a Crossroads" series.

The film follows moderate Muslims who have challenged the "Islamists" who espouse a more radical view of their religion. The film shows the Islamists advocating, among other things, the imposition of Sharia law on Muslims in the West, the stoning of women who commit adultery, and even violence and terrorism.

"Islam vs. Islamists" will be seen in its entirety as part of an all-new FOX News Channel special. The 90-minute FOX program, called "Inside Islam: Faith vs. Fanatics," includes interviews with "Islam vs. Islamists" director and producer Martyn Burke and executive producer Frank Gaffney. It will be broadcast at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 20.

Burke and Gaffney told FOX News they didn't set out to make a conservative documentary, but rather one that portrays the plights of some moderate Muslims since Sept. 11.

The film, also produced by Islamism expert Alex Alexiev, follows the stories of moderates at the flashpoints of jihadism: politician Naser Khader in Denmark, filmmaker Mohammed Sifaoui in France, talk-show host Tarek Fatah in Canada, former Nation of Islam member Edmond Abdul Hafeez in Chicago and Sheikh Kabbani, a Flint, Mich., imam who warned State Department officials of Usama bin Laden's terrorism influence three years before the Sept. 11 attacks.

"The cancer that is within our community is I don't believe the majority," said Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, a Wisconsin-born Muslim who lives in Arizona, in the film. "I think it's a minority, it's a minor, minor, minor, minority that are radicalized or violent but the majority I believe look at the lens of politics through an Islamist lens.

"If we give them and let them handle the mantle of religion that they seek to exploit for their own geo-political issues all over the globe, then we are really going to lose this war."

After viewing the film PBS executives in charge of the "America at a Crossroads" series told the filmmakers that it was "alarmist" and "overreaching" and that PBS would not run it.

Burke and Gaffney, a former Reagan administration official, said that they made a series of changes to accommodate PBS. Ultimately, however, they concluded the problem wasn't their film, but liberal bias at PBS.

In an interview with FOX News, Burke makes explosives charges about the PBS executives he dealt with, Jeff Bieber and Leo Eaton.

"In the first meeting, they said to me, 'Fire your partners.'" Burke said. "And I said 'Why?' They said, 'Because they are conservatives.'"

Burke said the PBS executives most forcefully objected to Gaffney's involvement, asking, "'Don't you check into the politics of the people you work with?' I said 'No. I never have and I never will.'

"I had done a film on the Hollywood 10 on blacklisting in Hollywood where the leftwing was blacklisted and now it was the left trying to blacklist the right," he added. "I thought I was living in an Alice in Wonderland mirror image."

Gaffney believes the main thrust of PBS's objections was that the Islamists portrayed in the film were not really radicals, but part of the Islamic mainstream. He said PBS tried "to change the story, to bring more of an Islamist flavor to it."

PBS executives declined FOX News' offers to appear in the program.

The dispute between ABG Films and PBS initially became public last winter, was amplified by talk radio, debated in blogs and on newspaper editorial pages, and sparked calls for a congressional investigation, which, Gaffney tells FOX News, is ongoing.

ABG Films demanded that PBS either run "Islam vs. Islamists" as part of its "America at a Crossroads" series, or allow it to be broadcast on another network.

Last spring ABG Films and PBS reached a compromise. The PBS network would not run "Islam vs. Islamists" in the "America at a Crossroads" series, but Oregon Public Television would make the film available to individual public TV stations to run when those stations wished.

According to figures provided FOX News by ABG Films, "Islam v. Islamist" has run on more than 70 public TV stations, but not in at least 15 of the top 40 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or Washington, D.C.

After PBS and ABG reached their compromise last spring, ABG made available to FOX News a companion film to "Islam vs. Islamists." It aired on the FOX News Channel this summer in a separate special called "Banned by PBS: Muslims Against Jihad."

Mr Bagel: Unfortunately although I would dearly love to see this documentary, where I live in Australia and I don't have access to Fox Programing. It seems that if you judge by the proliferation of comments coming from LGF in the thread name Islam vs Islamist, Open Thread there seems to be a lot of appreciation and some shock for the boldness of the director in portraying the subject matter. With LGF generating over 540 comments and still counting it would seem this documentary is going to spark a fair bit of controversy.

Unfortunately for those that haven't seen it, patience will have to prevail or if you want to you could buy the newly released complete DVD.