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Posts Tagged ‘jewish’

Beau and Arrow – How do you say Google in Chinese?

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Answer: You don’t.

In perhaps one of the most outstanding media affronts I have seen in my lifetime, Google (aka The UnBing, The Godly One, He Who Must Be Named) has decided to declare war on Chinese censorship. They have already begun rerouting content through Hong Kong. The Chinese have already begun mourning the loss by placing flowers at their Beijing headquarters (not kidding). Of course, no media power can claim similarities to the almighty Google, but it’s important that we clarify what is going on here. A website has decided that its unalienable rights as a search engine supersede the declarations of one of the most powerful countries on Earth. And I, in all my blog glory feel the interminable need to burst out in applause. This is so freakin’ cool! The internet vs. a country – we’re talking 21st century technological warfare. This is Freedom of Speech in a whole new light, one which I’m sure our forefathers would be proud of. Whether Sergey Brin has the chutzpah (he’s Jewish) and bravado to carry this through to the end will definitely be something to keep an eye out for.
Other matters: The woman who helps me pick out clothes at one my favorite Jersey boutiques turns out to be Ashley Tisdale’s grandmother. My niece just informed me of this colossal addition to my A-list list. (In the words of Ashley herself – “I want it all!”)
I started reading Dave Eggers’ A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, which I read a portion of in college and it’s totally amazing all over again. Of course, I only read the introductory pages, but if you pick up this book you’ll understand that that’s no slim feat.
My sister created her own heartbreaking work of staggering genius this past Wednesday at an event for Women in the Arts at the 92nd Street Y in Tribeca. Check it out HERE. Also, in another shameless sibling plug, that same sister also has her very own book blog. Check it out HERE.

Happy Passover! I can’t wait…

Rachel Lily

Beau and Arrow – The Year of Living Biblically

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Last Wednesday I participated in a book club on AJ Jacobs’ The Year of Living Biblically. If you’ve never read it, I highly recommend it, as it had me laughing out loud periodically. Jacobs is an experimental journalist who writes for Esquire, and in this book he goes on a year-long journey attempting to follow the Bible as literally as possible. Through his hilarious adventures, he learns about fundamentalism (both Jewish and Christian), his own religious heritage, and his spiritual life. Also, he dresses up in all white, grows a full beard, blows the shofar on street corners at the first day of every month and throws pebbles at adulterers. Entertainment!
Like all book clubs, tangents are always the most exciting part, because tangents form an opportunity for discussion beyond the scope of the novel, and into the participants’ basic  intellectual yearning to discuss personal opinions and issues. You have just gotten a small insight into my senior thesis, of which a substantial rough draft is due tomorrow morning. Thanks for letting me practice. Yes I do want to cry now.
Back to our tangents, they were really  great, and what was supposed to be an hour-long book club, became a too-good-to-stop, 3 hour book club. As a group of modern Orthodox Jews, we discussed the ritual life inherent in being an observant Jew, and what it all might amount to. We also tapped into spirituality, cherry-picking religion, oh, and our basic ideas about what type of life we think people should lead and why. Sound heavy? It is!
One important reason why I mention all this is because AJ Jacobs admits to constantly Googling himself and references thereof, and I think it would be pretty damn cool if he saw this post. It would most definitely rank high on my “famous connections” list. So AJ if you’re listening in, hi, I think you’re funny (very).
Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing! In an attempt to come as close as possible to having a slave, Jacobs picks up a non-paying intern who does all his dirty work for free. Turns out, since the book’s publication, that very intern wrote a book of his own (about Jerry Falwell), and it actually did pretty well. An intern turned famous? Clap clap clap.

Rachel Lily