Israel Winter 2012-13

Two falafels and a sabich.

The first falafel was at The Levi Brothers in Mahane Yehudah. Actually, there's only one brother left, but the falafel is still awesome.

The second falafel was in Binyamina. Solid operation there. The guy has a tiny place on the road from Pardes Hana to Binyamina with one of those machines that drops newly formed falafel balls into oil. Salad, tehina, pickles and cabbage are the only topping options. Hot sauce is self-serve. The line moved quickly and the falafel was crisp.

The sabich came from Oved in Givataiim.  He's known around the world.

We stayed with Tamar's grandparents who were awesome. Their home is like a living museum with phones, radios, kitchen jars and shaving cream from the British Mandate Era. The artwork was painted by Sabba Mordechai, or "Motke" as I call him. There are also all kinds of plaques and awards from his long career in the aircraft industry. Fine touches of the home include swinging doors and a collection of fine china, curated over decades of international travel and displayed at a convenient toddler height.

I visited with one sixth of my cousins.
Saw three army buddies.
Saw no concerts, but visited Doni Kosluk at the studios of Kol Hacampus to do my annual cameo on The Groove Box.

Spent some time in a cafe called Lool where there is a rock and roll pantheon painted into the wooden bar and they infuse their arak with genuine Israeli Bazooka Gum.

Our six month old daughter was awesome, even in transit except for some complaining in the car. She handled the flights well and made friends with all the stewardesses. The flight staff at US Airways offered us a cardboard box for her to sleep in for that international hobo baby look.

It's nice to back in Philadelphia, but I miss Israel already and can't wait to go back.

Election Night Party

Whether you're watching the results with friends, or at home, you can still participate in the Election Night Drinking game.  No matter what network you're watching, drink anytime you hear:

• Hanging Chad
• Voter suppression in Alabama
• Hillary Clinton
• Speaker of the House John Boehner
• Gangnam Style
• Bubbie or Zaydie
• Orthodox Jewish vote
• Values Voters
• Springsteen
• Honey Boo Boo
• Panhandle
• Soccer moms
• Jessie Jackson
• Ross Perot
• Dewey Defeats Truman

Here's something to listen to on the way to and from the polls, or during your election night party.


Have fun from your hosts:
Keep us up to date on Twitter!

Daniel Brenner

Adam Oded

Sandy Downed a Tree in Jenkintown

Sandy Downed a Tree in Jenkintown, a set on Flickr.

I saw this on my way to work.
Hurricane Sandy ripped a huge tree out of the ground and it broke a pole holding power lines as if it were a twig. Seriously.
Snapped it in two.
Take a look.

Later The Same Day
A crew was dismantling the tree. Only one guy had a chainsaw. Gas Powered, of course.

Terry Callier: May 24, 1945 – October 28, 2012

Terry Callier passed away this week. I was first exposed to his music by one of my favorite mp3 bloggers and sometime radio host Aquarium Drunkard. I put his song "You Goin' Miss Your Candyman" on Advanced Listening, a part of Summer Series '07. Here's a recording of Terry performing this song live in London in 2000.

Hurricane Sandy

To help pass the time during the storm check out my hurricane playlist:


 Or this guy's hurricane playlist. (It's better)

Or look at pictures of dogs in raincoats.

Presidential Debate Drinking Game: Foreign Policy

Drink if you hear:
Thanking "our men and women in uniform"
Multilateral
Aleppo
Unmanned drone
The brink
Yearning for freedom
Enriched uranium
Our friends the Saudis
Safe haven
Bibi
Trucks
Undivided
2020 (the year)
Unfair advantage
Offshore
iPad
Navy SEALs
Pacific Rim
Side by side
We won't negotiate with terrorists
Give me a chance!

Round Trip Radio - Flight 001