Israel Must Leave No Stone Unturned

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, “Israel Must Leave No Stone Unturned.”

Over the last decades since 1973, Israel has taken strong actions again to beef up their defenses and leave no stone unturned including taking the bold steps in destroying the menacing nuclear reactors of Iraq in 1981 and the Syrian reactor in 2007. Now Israel is facing a similar decision on action with Iran and their weapons of mass destruction. Israel and the United States need to leave no stone unturned in trying to find a path towards a peaceful resolution with Iran, but if that stone threatens potential annihilation of Israel and other western allies, then there should be no doubt whatever that Israel and other civilized nations must act once more to remove the threat and turn that stone into harmless dust again.

Whether towards peace or G-d forbid to war, Israel must be courageous to act and leave no stone unturned to secure its peace and security, or the ultimate defeat of its unrelenting enemies. Israel must be like Joseph, and be able to interpret the dreams and events unfolding before them, and like Pharaoh to make the decision to act and restore the meticulous butler, hang the negligent and dangerous baker, and save the nation from otherwise assured destruction. May G-d give us the wisdom, courage, and strength to do what we must eventually do and let it be for the good.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Sometimes You Just Want To Say…

It funny, sometimes you just want to say…

Exactly what this ladies shirt says. 

My father used to say when certain people were nasty to him, he would just be nice to them.

And when they would still be really nasty to him then imperceptibly, quietly under his breath, he would say “F*** You.”

Ah, maybe not always so imperceptibly. LOL

Sure, we can’t always just come out and say it like this lady does boldly on her shirt.

Maybe it doesn’t help to use expletives, but sometimes some people can be such jerks that just saying it quietly is cathartic and truth-telling. 

Perhaps more important, saying it let’s you know that you still have  a moral compass and personal integrity, even if others around you have seriously compromised on theirs. :-)

(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Does Color Make The Man?

Thought these were some mighty bold and colorful Men’s shoes. 

I personally like color and making a little bit of a a statement.

In a sense, color makes the man happy, exciting, alive, and uplifting. 

With these shoes, I suppose if your going dancing or a splendid night out on the town these may work.

So there is a time and place for everything. 

Day-to-day, these shoes are a little out there, and more than a little scary, and too much for my sense of tasteful design.  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Trendy – Shoes and Bag In One

I thought this was a very creative ladies bag.

It combines two things that many love–shoes and bags!

No, you’re not putting your shoes in the bag.

And you’re definitely not wearing your bag on your feet (that’s another blog on innovation).

In this case, the shoes (and legs) are the design on the bag itself and make up the shoulder straps to carry it. 

Creative and fun thinking, right?

Also, I like the design of bold colors of the red and white sneakers and the blue jeans on the black bag. 

This is both functional and cool, and I like the trend of “mixing it up.”

The straps are the legs and shoes–pretty smart! 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

These Pants Are In Vogue

I just thought these women’s pants were so cool (yet gaudy).

Another standout you think. 

A fashion magazine making up fashionable ladies pants. 

The covers are bright, colorful, and feature a array of many women and looks up and down each pant’s leg. 

The pants are a collage of these all.

These pants are probably not for the faint of heart–you’ve got to have courage to wear these. 

Some might say, you’d be crazy…

A ladies next dilemma–what shoes do you wear with these?  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Style From Head To Toe

So I took these photos of two young fashionable men. 

The first had a very cool “Death” cap on.

And the second had the reddest pair of sneakers, I’ve ever seen. 

Both were stylish standouts!

To me, the hat confronted the scariness of death head-on (excuse the pun) or that the person is themselves, in a sense, death to anyone that starts with them or gets in their way–it is not only bold in terms of the big white letters, but in terms of the courage to face the harshest of all our realities. 

Then to the shoes, going red and untied, spoke to me in terms of looseness, comfort, and ease with yourself–you are who you are and the world be darned!

Both the cap and the shoes are in your face and make a statement of cool nonchalance and the daringness to confront “whatever.” 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Hate Ties, But Love These

I hate neck ties in general, but love these specifically.  

If you have to wear a tie, these strong gorgeous silk ones called Quindici by Ermenegildo Zegna are absolutely beautiful. 

At a retail price of $285 each at Nordstrom’s, they are not cheap, but what a powerful and confident accent for any formal outfit. 

These are all for me! 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Strange Leggings

Took this photo in the mall of this very strange looking pair of leggings. 

Sort of an ancient Egyptian style complete with princess, gold, and a cast of phony “G-ds”–sun, falcon, tiger, and more.  

Not sure who would actually wear these, but all the power to them. 

They are made so you “Walk like An Egyptian“–Go Bangles!

Can you hear me sing it?  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Where Did I Put That Action Memo?

Lots of people desks seem to look like this.

(Not me though…compulsive neat freak and learned from IBM’s “clean desk policy” early on in my career.)

In analyzing our fight against Islamic jihadists and terrorists, Daniel Henninger in the Wall Street Journal writes:

“In all the photos published of al Qaeda, Islamic State or any other terror groups, have you ever seen them sitting at desks?”

Henninger points out the root of “Bureaucracy” is the French word “Bureau,” which mean desk.

Hence, we in the West are stuck behind desks, while the terrorists are actively working to destroy our freedom and way of life–smashing down doors and wielding AK47s and suicide vests!

We’ve got to stop hiding behind our piled-high desks, analysis-paralysis position papers, endless meetings, and political bickering, and actually do something concrete, meaningful, and strong–to not only deter, but destroy the enemy!

Fear of making a decision or nonsense claims that your still searching for that action memo is something that should get you uprooted from your messy desk with a boot up your a*s!

Wake up, wake up, wake up–enough ho hum, we need some leadership that is bold, patriotic, and heroic to protect what we value so dear.

Don’t you think it’s time to win this war for real?

(Source Photo: here with attribution to Shawn de Raaf)

Cool Pants

Outside of Hollywood and the entertainment industry, these are the coolest pants I have ever seen.

 

Honestly, I’ve never quite seen any pants like these.

 

Probably the picture from a smartphone doesn’t due these pants justice–and hey, don’t forget my bad photography skills. 😉

 

But first impression–the 70’s look is coming back in 2012.

 

And while I am certainly no fashion guru, these pants were noticeably overflowing, had a wild circular pattern, a variety of colors and textures, and some heavy duty bell-bottoms.

 

Most of all, what I think really struck me was how bold these pants were in what’s traditionally a pretty conservative city, here in D.C.

 

While I don’t know this lady in the cool pants, I admired her ability to live loudly and capture the moment, unafraid of being who she is or wants to be.