Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts

Monday, July 16, 2012

Not the Shortest Way


A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware - beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

Friday, March 30, 2012

The Wonderbag: All Day Cholent, No Power Costs


Forget the blech and the slow-cooker, all you need is this Wonderbag:

Squashy, shapeless and stuffed with recycled polystyrene beads, it's an unlikely contender for the year's must-have accessory.  The Wonderbag, you see, is no mere style accessory. It might look like a Seventies beanbag, but it's actually a non-electric slow cooker. Tuck a pan of hot ingredients into its cosy folds, and it will keep them stewing slowly for hours.

Its inventor, Sarah Collins, 42, admits: 'It's the oldest technology in the world. I don't understand how someone else hasn't made it already.' Our ancestors buried hot stew pots in the ground to keep them cooking without fuel.

The principle is simple: heat your food to boiling point for a few minutes on the stove in a normal saucepan, pop on its lid, then transfer it to the bag. It doesn't even matter how long you leave it there, because, says Sarah, it's all but impossible to overcook anything. 'I'm not a good cook,' she says. 'I don't want to worry about timings. I'm one of those people who just chucks everything in and goes away. But the Wonderbag has turned me into a good cook, because everything comes out so tasty.'

You can even leave rice in to cook overnight without it turning into sludge, she claims. It sounds too good to be true. I'm feeling sceptical as, after breakfast, I brown onions and beef in a pan with a tin of tomatoes and a bag of mixed veg. Normally, I'd simmer such a stew in the oven for hours. This time, I heat it for just 30 minutes before transferring the lidded pot to the bag.

A South African eco-entrepreneur, she came up with the idea four years ago during a power cut, when she managed to keep her dinner cooking by surrounding the pan with cushions. The comical-looking prototype she later developed with a friend is already having a significant impact on the developing world.

Read more: Daily Mail

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Rembrandt's painting ''The Old Rabbi'' authenticated

Left high on a library wall for more than half a century, the portrait of a rheumy-eyed old man initially seemed no different from the misattributed old masters hanging beside it.

But after more than half a century of being overlooked, it has been authenticated as a genuine and outstanding work by Rembrandt.

And the identification – by the world's leading expert on the 17th century Dutch master – will make a multimillion pound difference to its price tag.

The painting, known as The Old Rabbi, has rarely been seen by the public since it was last exhibited in 1950. Since then it has hung in the private apartments of Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire, family home of the dukes of Bedford.

Source and more: Guardian

Thursday, February 23, 2012

A Few Interesting Links

Last night ex-PM of Australia and current Foreign Minister - Kevin Rudd - dramatically resigned at a 1am Press Conference in Washington: and is now in the process of trying to reclaim his former position as Prime Minister: see Rudd, Gillard in leadership showdown

My latest obsession: the Vilna Gaon: a letter he wrote while travelling to Eretz Yisrael Iggeres HaGra - The Vilna Gaon's Letter

Parsha Blog responds to yet another call for all Jews to make Aliyah: Why Not Make Aliyah [an opportunity to voice your own thoughts in the comments]

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Kotzer Rebbe: It's Late, But Not Too Late



By Maariv in the Bracha of Hashkiveinu we ask Hashem, "V'Haser Satan Milfaneinu U'Mei Achoreinu", to remove the Yetzer Hara from in front of us and from behind us. What does this mean?

The seforim answer that when we want to do something good the Satan tells us there is no rush, start "tomorrow". Yet tomorrow never comes because there is always another tomorrow. But if we are ready, anxious, and willing to start immediately, the Satan employs a different strategy. He tells us it is too late. Had we done it yesterday it would have been great, but not anymore.

We ask Hashem to remove both these obstacles to our good deeds and self improvement. We ask Hashem to remove the Satan standing before us blocking us from taking action today. We also ask Hashem to remove the Satan from our rear-view mirror telling us to look back and see we missed our chance. This is the Kotzker saying, "It is always late but never too late".

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Patience: Eventually All Will Be Revealed


If the world did not need you and you did not need this world, you would never have come here. G-d does not cast His precious child into the pain of this journey without purpose.

You say you cannot see a reason. Why should it surprise you that a creature cannot fathom the plan of its Creator? Nevertheless, eventually the fruits of your labor will blossom for all to see.
[Tzvi Freeman Bringing Heaven Down to Earth]

Spiritual Darkness


"And there was a thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt... No man could see his brother nor could any man rise from his place" [Bo 10:22-23]

This verse, said R' Chanoch of Alexander, teaches us a valuable lesson in Divine service.

''And there was a thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt'' - when it is a period of spiritual darkness - and ''No man could see his brother'' - when somebody only cares about himself and ignores the plight of others - then ''nor could any man rise from his place'' - he will not be able to rise from his low spiritual state.

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

Friday, January 20, 2012

The Trapped Soul of the Autistic Child

HT: Moriah

Carly Fleischmann has severe autism and is unable to speak a word. But thanks to years of expensive and intensive therapy, this 13-year-old has made a remarkable breakthrough.

Two years ago, working with pictures and symbols on a computer keyboard, she started typing and spelling out words. The computer became her voice.

"All of a sudden these words started to pour out of her, and it was an exciting moment because we didn't realize she had all these words," said speech pathologist Barbara Nash. "It was one of those moments in my career that I'll never forget." [More at ABC News]

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Some Interesting Links

1.   Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's new book Kosher Jesus has received a great deal of negative attention, notably from Chabad who are trying to dissociate themselves from it and him.... here's a few examples:
Letter from Rabbi Chaim Rapoport #2 : "and this is one of the biggest issues with the author of this book ....On one hand they want to break every boundary which is accepted in Judaism, and on the other hand they are interested in being the main speakers and ideologists of the same movement they break."

and here you can find Shmuley's Response

2.  Soul Mazal talks about the Venus Transit: is this the Star mentioned in the Zohar which will hang for 60 days? Real War with Gog and Magog: Computers and Money

3.  Bat Aliyah has a beautiful post about everyday life in Israel: Tandoori Salmon Photo Blog

4.  Geula Update from Rav Fish [there's a few of these, search Yaak's blog to find the rest of them, they're fascinating]

Friday, December 23, 2011

Happy whatever-you're-[not]-celebrating

Half asleep when I read the title of the blog post below [Titanic Victory and A Small Cruse of Oil], and I thought I had the perfect photo to go with it....  and then  I was really disappointed that obviously the essay contained nothing about The Titanic, so I didn't give it a picture at all...

Here's the photo I wanted to put - it's perfect for now when everyone's gone away and the internet has slowed down to a slow trickle.... I'll be here over the holidays, finishing some work I should have done during the year but could never really focus on, and now there's only a week left to complete it, I have finally motivated myself.

Enjoy the holidays wherever you are!  I'll have a Gin and Ti-tonic thanks....


and then there's this one.....  


Monday, November 21, 2011

Perfect Timing

COUSINS Maya Gray and Isaac Bushell timed their grand entry into this world perfectly, right down to the minute.

Both were born at 7.55am on Saturday, in Peninsula Private Hospital, weighing almost exactly the same.

Mums Stacey Bushell, 32, and Kylie Liddicoat, 27, who are sisters-in-law, were amazed by the coincidences.

Both were second children for the women, and both came early, with Maya weighing in at 3.52kg, while Isaac was close behind at 3.49kg.

Midwife Judith Lane said she had been running between their neighbouring rooms during the births.

"As soon as Maya was born I raced into the other room and Isaac was just being placed on his mother's chest," Mrs Lane said.

"Occasionally babies are born at the same time, but for it to happen with cousins is amazing, it blew us away, it's a bit freaky."

Source: Herald Sun