Jeffrey Smith
@jeffreybsmith.bsky.social
Currently on the 26th degree of latitude
Banner: Gouzy Zola Before The Mob
PFP art by Guilherme Nunes
Banner: Gouzy Zola Before The Mob
PFP art by Guilherme Nunes
Now that I think of it, my mother used to hang a raw onion around my neck when I was sick. She never explained how it was supposed to work (I don't know if she knew) and she stopped doing it when I was about six or seven.
November 12, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Now that I think of it, my mother used to hang a raw onion around my neck when I was sick. She never explained how it was supposed to work (I don't know if she knew) and she stopped doing it when I was about six or seven.
The opening chapter of Potok's The Chosen is beeping in my head at the moment.
"See, look how American we are! Look at how we make sure we're physically fit like all potential soldiers should be!"
"See, look how American we are! Look at how we make sure we're physically fit like all potential soldiers should be!"
October 30, 2025 at 3:46 AM
The opening chapter of Potok's The Chosen is beeping in my head at the moment.
"See, look how American we are! Look at how we make sure we're physically fit like all potential soldiers should be!"
"See, look how American we are! Look at how we make sure we're physically fit like all potential soldiers should be!"
He's there. I just clinked the link in your first post and it brought up an active account.
October 29, 2025 at 2:47 AM
He's there. I just clinked the link in your first post and it brought up an active account.
You never will.
My mother gets snail mail appeals from charities I've never heard of.
She passed away in 2012.
My mother gets snail mail appeals from charities I've never heard of.
She passed away in 2012.
October 29, 2025 at 2:43 AM
You never will.
My mother gets snail mail appeals from charities I've never heard of.
She passed away in 2012.
My mother gets snail mail appeals from charities I've never heard of.
She passed away in 2012.
That world exists. Just remember that having as little as possible contact with other cultures is a vital element of some white cultures.
October 28, 2025 at 9:47 PM
That world exists. Just remember that having as little as possible contact with other cultures is a vital element of some white cultures.
Wikipedia says his uncle Eliezer Zev also lives in Borough Park.
Of course, the same family tree chart can't decide if it's Borough Park or Boro Park...
Of course, the same family tree chart can't decide if it's Borough Park or Boro Park...
October 28, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Wikipedia says his uncle Eliezer Zev also lives in Borough Park.
Of course, the same family tree chart can't decide if it's Borough Park or Boro Park...
Of course, the same family tree chart can't decide if it's Borough Park or Boro Park...
There is a real theory that a lot of early Muslim law and practice was originated by Jews who converted but still kept a lot of halacha. Tom Holland pushed it in his book about Islam.
October 9, 2025 at 2:56 AM
There is a real theory that a lot of early Muslim law and practice was originated by Jews who converted but still kept a lot of halacha. Tom Holland pushed it in his book about Islam.
Combine this with the "Jews doing Talmudic rituals", and you get "Jews and Muslims doing Talmudic rituals" and Christians must feel left out.
October 9, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Combine this with the "Jews doing Talmudic rituals", and you get "Jews and Muslims doing Talmudic rituals" and Christians must feel left out.
But if there was intentional act by some entity, then that happened unintentionally: by random chance; our universe's apparent order is just a fluke, no real order or system underlying it. There might be a creator creating unintentionally, but not an ordered system with no orderer.
October 4, 2025 at 8:20 PM
But if there was intentional act by some entity, then that happened unintentionally: by random chance; our universe's apparent order is just a fluke, no real order or system underlying it. There might be a creator creating unintentionally, but not an ordered system with no orderer.
Thank you. But would you mind having a little chat with those Irish (there seems to be a whole bunch of them) who actively cheer for Hamas?
October 4, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Thank you. But would you mind having a little chat with those Irish (there seems to be a whole bunch of them) who actively cheer for Hamas?
If you don't accept what I called the central premise, you have to accept the possibility of God's existence.
That randomness is the only possible alternative to Creation should be obvious.
That randomness is the only possible alternative to Creation should be obvious.
October 4, 2025 at 2:12 AM
If you don't accept what I called the central premise, you have to accept the possibility of God's existence.
That randomness is the only possible alternative to Creation should be obvious.
That randomness is the only possible alternative to Creation should be obvious.
The central premise of atheism is an unprovable assumption: that nothing exists which can not be experienced directly or indirectly by the human senses.
It also renders science meaningless. No creation=everything is utterly random, our local order being a random bubble in universal randomness.
It also renders science meaningless. No creation=everything is utterly random, our local order being a random bubble in universal randomness.
October 4, 2025 at 1:44 AM
The central premise of atheism is an unprovable assumption: that nothing exists which can not be experienced directly or indirectly by the human senses.
It also renders science meaningless. No creation=everything is utterly random, our local order being a random bubble in universal randomness.
It also renders science meaningless. No creation=everything is utterly random, our local order being a random bubble in universal randomness.
Atheism is a faith based religion.
October 4, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Atheism is a faith based religion.
You need to learn economic history.
For instance, the Roman state was not the only source of currency back then.
And since banks did not exist then, it was impossible to rely on bank loans.
For instance, the Roman state was not the only source of currency back then.
And since banks did not exist then, it was impossible to rely on bank loans.
October 1, 2025 at 7:58 PM
You need to learn economic history.
For instance, the Roman state was not the only source of currency back then.
And since banks did not exist then, it was impossible to rely on bank loans.
For instance, the Roman state was not the only source of currency back then.
And since banks did not exist then, it was impossible to rely on bank loans.
I'm always astonished at posters obstensibly addressed to non-English audiences that prioritize English--as here, where the Italian is only the bottom part and doesn't include the 2 main slogans, and the signs in the background photo are in English.
September 26, 2025 at 2:36 AM
I'm always astonished at posters obstensibly addressed to non-English audiences that prioritize English--as here, where the Italian is only the bottom part and doesn't include the 2 main slogans, and the signs in the background photo are in English.
I don't know if you can call it abusive...but Puccini had a really lousy marriage.
Haydn hated his wife. There's not enough evidence to say he abused her however.
And what Strauss did to his wife with Intermezzo probably deserves its own category.
Haydn hated his wife. There's not enough evidence to say he abused her however.
And what Strauss did to his wife with Intermezzo probably deserves its own category.
September 25, 2025 at 3:29 AM
I don't know if you can call it abusive...but Puccini had a really lousy marriage.
Haydn hated his wife. There's not enough evidence to say he abused her however.
And what Strauss did to his wife with Intermezzo probably deserves its own category.
Haydn hated his wife. There's not enough evidence to say he abused her however.
And what Strauss did to his wife with Intermezzo probably deserves its own category.
For the Global South not to be subordinate would require some part of the Global South be able to balance/challenge any would be hegemon, whether that hegemon be China or the US or another country. But who could do that? India?Brazil? Any other candidates?
September 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM
For the Global South not to be subordinate would require some part of the Global South be able to balance/challenge any would be hegemon, whether that hegemon be China or the US or another country. But who could do that? India?Brazil? Any other candidates?
The lead-up is bonkers too. "Why are tax collections down?"
"This rabbi is giving lectures and all the Jewish farmers go listen to him instead of working on their farms."
"That's a problem! Arrest him!"
"This rabbi is giving lectures and all the Jewish farmers go listen to him instead of working on their farms."
"That's a problem! Arrest him!"
September 22, 2025 at 3:19 AM
The lead-up is bonkers too. "Why are tax collections down?"
"This rabbi is giving lectures and all the Jewish farmers go listen to him instead of working on their farms."
"That's a problem! Arrest him!"
"This rabbi is giving lectures and all the Jewish farmers go listen to him instead of working on their farms."
"That's a problem! Arrest him!"
In all seriousness, Ramban is the commentator I'll be studying for the weekly parshah this coming year (in the Chavel translation--I want the juicy stuff). First time with him. (It's been a rotation of Rashi/Sforno/Steinsaltz up until now.)
September 17, 2025 at 3:45 AM
In all seriousness, Ramban is the commentator I'll be studying for the weekly parshah this coming year (in the Chavel translation--I want the juicy stuff). First time with him. (It's been a rotation of Rashi/Sforno/Steinsaltz up until now.)
Or the Amoraim R. Ezra HaLevi and R. Ezra HaKatan.
September 17, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Or the Amoraim R. Ezra HaLevi and R. Ezra HaKatan.