Winter (1984)

December 3, 1984

Israel ís being hit by a massive storm. Were all hunkered down against the torrential rains ...and what appears to be oncoming snow in our mountainous regions like the Golan, the Galilee, Safed, and, of course Jerusalem. It sort of feels like the old days, nostalgia for back when we heated our homes with kerosene ("neft", in the Hebrew-influenced English we locals speak) ...so I'm running this Oldie today from 1984.

Setting Election Dates (1984)

April 22 1984

Today's Golden Oldie is from back in 1984. In America, elections are boringly on schedule. Here in Israel, picking the right date is part of the political process, and as I write this, we're at it again!

According to Ynet News:

Likud seeks September 4 elections
Coalition chair submits official motion for Knesset's dissolution; Opposition prefers September 16

"Coalition Chairman MK Zeev Elkin (Likud) filed an official motion for the dissolution of the 18th Knesset on Wednesday.
Likud officials told Ynet that the part will now push for elections on Tuesday, September 4.
Opposition Chairman Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) however, is pushing for Sunday, September 16 and election day.
Accordingly, the Knesset is likely to end its term next week.
Earlier, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said that bills proposing to dissolve the Knesset will be put to a vote on Monday." -more

Outstretched Hand

Obama has projected an image of a weak America to the world.

He, the 44th President would be wise to heed the the words of the 40th President.

Back in 1984, when accepting the Presidential nomination of his party, Ronald Reagan said:

"None of the four wars in my lifetime came about because we were too strong. It's weakness that invites adventurous adversaries to make mistaken judgments. America is the most peaceful, least warlike nation in modern history. We are not the cause of all the ills of the world. We're a patient and generous people. But for the sake of our freedom and that of others, we cannot permit our reserve to be confused with a lack of resolve."

Your thoughts?

Money (1984)

Today's Golden Oldie is a Dry Bones cartoon done 25 years ago this month in 1984.

It was a time of economic pressure. Folks didn't know how they'd make it to the end of the month. Which is why this cartoon resonated so well with local fans at the time.

Happy Hanukka!

Ode to Summer (1984)

Today's Golden Oldie is from May 25, 1984.

On a warm day in May, twenty five years ago this month, my thoughts drifted to the Israeli summer that lay ahead ...and my pen turned out a piece of minimalist "poetry" that was fun to illustrate. I used Mr. Shuldig, my alter ego, to deliver my message.

The Search

Today's Golden Oldie is from 1984.

I did the cartoon back then because 30 days had passed since the Knesset Elections of 1984 and we still did not have a government. 35 days have now passed since the Knesset Elections of 2009, and still no government.

* * * In the cartoon I dressed Mr. Shuldig as the Greek philosopher Diogenes, who, so the story goes, carried a lantern as he searched in vain for an honest man.

Diogenes

Bezeq (1984)

Today's Golden Oldie is from February 1984
Twenty Five years ago this month!

The cartoon marked the Israeli government's setting up a telephone company to handle what previously had been handled by the government. In the cartoon, the innovation was observed by two angels watching the Holy Land from a cloud. The new company, however, was totally owned by the government. It was called Bezeq (from the Hebrew word for lightning).

Twenty-one years later, in 2005, Bezeq was "privatized" when 30% of its shares were sold to a private group for $972 Million.

* * * The Knesset has still not been "fixed".