Pretty Brilliant Accessibility

Wow, that’s pretty brilliant. 

Stairs and ramp in one.

Love thinking of those with disabilities as part of what we do!  😉

(Source Photo: Facebook) 

Dancing on the Head of a Pin

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called “Dancing on the Head of a Pin.”

We’re all different, and we all have something to say and contribute to solve life’s challenges. While some of us may think that they are better than others, the reality is that we are all human, fallible, and subject to life’s circumstance and G-d’s mighty hand. However, too often, we let ego get in the way, and instead of taking on the huge, almost insurmountable challenges that we face, we end up fighting about who’s in charge and who gets the credit.

As we face the daunting challenges confronting America, Israel, and the world, we need effective “servant-leaders,” who are guided by a genuine moral compass and faith in G-d to take well-reasoned actions and not to punt the problems down the political road. Real leadership means leaving your ego at the door; it means self-sacrifice, compassion, creative thinking, and bold problem-solving. Big challenges can be dealt with, but we’ve got to have the right measure of ourselves, strength of character, and unity of purpose to finally overcome them.

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

A Practical Approach to Peace in the Middle East

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called “A Practical Approach to Peace in the Middle East.”

The question then is why? What is so intractable about the Israel-Palestinian conflict that no one seems to be able to solve it and that it has become virtually the Holy Grail of world issues on which if only we could solve it then everything else would-be nirvana. The conflict has been blamed for everything from the endless Palestinian refugee situation to Soviet aggression and expansion during the Cold War, the oil embargo of 1973, the rise and proliferation of Islamic terrorism, and countless other of the world’s ills. Anyone who even contributes to Middle East Peace like Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat and Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat win the Noble Peace Prize, and that’s without there being a full and final solution!

I am certain that Israel’s willingness to negotiate and even to make painful compromises for peace has been far more prevalent, far-reaching, and consistent over time—whether in Oslo, Camp David, or Taba. In the meantime, Israel and the Palestinians continue to “take the risks” and remain in a perpetual state of sometimes active and more often passive war that is fought by Israel through military control and incremental settlement expansion and by the Palestinians through terrorism and their pursuit of the demographic population time bomb. When it comes to achieving peace, perhaps the wisdom of the ages applies here: “the short road is long”—there are no shortcuts to serious negotiation and compromise—and “the long road is short”—eventually, a solution for peace will be found even if for now it tragically and painfully evades us all.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Ship in a Bottle

How do they get that ship in a bottle?

Build the ship inside the bottle or blow the glass and shape it around the ship.

Sort of like the chicken and the egg dilemma.

What came first? I dunno! 

Someone get me out of these circular, mind-numbing Catch-22s!  😉

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal) 

Flintstones Car(-Like)

Why do all the mechanic shops seem to have a car, like in this photo, lying around. 

Sort of reminds me of The Flintstones Car (from the TV Show originally aired in 60s).

No motor or anything; you would just stick your feet out the bottom and you would run while in the car. 

Stone Age answer to the need for an automobile. 

Hey whatever works and no need to recreate the wheel either.  😉

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)