This year brought three new items, outside lights, a Chanukah wreath and a Chanukah Bush.  I know most Jews would tsk-tsk at the Chanukah Bush, but I believe I have done it is such a way that it is distinctly Jewish.  And next year it will be even more Chanukah as I am able to purchase more items for it.  Please enjoy the pictures in the gallery.

P.S.  Tommarow is the community Chaunkah lighting, I will be posting pictures of that sometime this week.

Nor will consumers think that Monster Mini-Golf and Monster Cables are related.  However Monster Cables has filed a trademark lawsuit against the former.  More than likely Monster Mini-Golf will prevail in this suit.  However the greater harm is that Monster Cable seems to have not learned their lessons from prior suits and continues to cost more companies money in legal fees and time, and tie up the courts from more important things.

Therefore, effective immediately I will not be purchasing any product made by Monster Cable (not that I did much before, as I said they are overpriced), and I encourage others to do the same.  I will happily retract this boycott should Monster Cable drop their current suit and publicly state that they will discontinue this inane course of action.

I also encourage everyone to write respectful letters to the ceo of Monster Cable.

Update:  Monster droped the lawsuit but is still demanding licensing fees.  When will they learn?

Update 2: Monster Cable has apologized sort of.  But I suppose it is the best we will get.  Thefore I am calling og the boycott.

The problem with leaving it up to a judge and jury is that they really can not be impartial. Their own ideas and beliefs will be involved. And whether you agree with this particular form of speech (I personally am repulsed  it) you must still defend it.  What would happen if a community decided the temple sacrifices where obscene and therefore owning a bible or prayer book was illegal?

Anyways, I read a really good article by Neil Gaiman about this issue in particular, but that really lays out the importance of fighting for free speech, even when we do not agree with that speech.

Freedom to write, freedom to read, freedom to own material that you believe is worth defending means you’re going to have to stand up for stuff you don’t believe is worth defending, even stuff you find actively distasteful, because laws are big blunt instruments that do not differentiate between what you like and what you don’t, because prosecutors are humans and bear grudges and fight for re-election, because one person’s obscenity is another person’s art.

Because if you don’t stand up for the stuff you don’t like, when they come for the stuff you do like, you’ve already lost.

It is a very long article, but definitely worth reading. Why defend freedom of icky speech?

5-Day Forecast as of 8-29 2pm EDT

As you all know this blog is my primary method of communication when in these situations for keeping family and friends informed.  Please check by for updates.  More than likely I will just update this post with any new information, so make sure to check here.

I will be evacuating with Matthew and the cats to the Hospital where I work, as I am a member of the emergency team.  At this time we plan on moving to the hospital on Monday morning.  After this you will need to contact me via email or cell phone.

My favorite site for hurricane info: Weather Underground

Further updates to come.

8/30 5:15pm - Wow how much changes in a day.  This storm has become an awful lot bigger and stonger, and is a bit more worying.  It is still early to tell a lot, so we will see where it goes.

8/31 6:34pm - I have reported to work and settled in as part of the emregency team at work.  Here we go.

9/1 9:20am - We are starting to see the outerbands come over.  We have lost power as has most of the area. (However River Ridge is reported as still having power).  The West Bank is apparently getting smashed, and reports are that West Jefferson Medical Center is literaly “blowing apart”.  In addition the industrial canal is about half a foot below levis and will overtop at any time.  The worst of this is yet to come, probably in a few hours.

Here a couple of pictures:

9/1 12:05pm - As expected the industrial canal is over topping the levees.

In addition it appears AT&T is having some issues as our cell phones are completely out.  Other companies work just not AT&T.

9/1 7:37pm - The worst has passed us by and this area made out pretty well.  However southern areas where severely impacted, and continue to be as the outer bands pass.  My house has electricity, however I have not been able to confirm anything else at this time.  We still have not heard any new on reentry.

9/2 12:45am - Still some rain bands, but mostly calm now.  Power is returning.  Our cell phones have started working again.  Jefferson Parish is scheduled to announce reentry plans sometime tommarow, however we have been told to expect to stay here until Friday, so we expect reentry will be over the weekend.

9/2 3:09pm - Yipee, we get to go home tonight, in about an hour and a half.  Reentry plans are starting with a staggered system, everyone should be back by weeks end.  Will post when I get home about conditions on the outside, and status of the house.

9/2 6:50pm - We are back home, the house is fine, no damage I can see.  Still some nasty storms moving through, the north shore is getting hammered and parts are flooding.  Looks like they are letting people come back tomarrow morning.  This will likley be the last update unless there is something major. However I will be posting pics in the gallery soon.

Via: Simply Jews