The bulk of the fall out from the Chernobyl disaster fell on Belarus. A giant percentage of the arable land was ruined by radiation.
Life goes on in Belarus, people live, die, fall in love, have children, and proably even sometimes forget about this disaster for a few minutes, hours, or days.
Life is good in Belarus. People there are cash poor, brave, honest, and kindhearted.
Life is good in spite of the problems that will be discussed in the following videos.
Celebrate and love the people of Belarus, for they are a surpreme example of what excellent mankind has to offer!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HXt0yyc4izc
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cae1u2XQmrI
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LOt038oxJFQ
Mike Miller,
Indiana,
2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
BELARUS AND CHERNOBYL
Here is a video taken in the ghost town of Pripyat. This was the industrial city created in the Ukraine to house workers attached to the Chernobyl nuclear plant.
This was a model Soviet industrial city. It is hauntingly interesting to see the skeleton of a modern city that has been evacuated in a hurry.
Mikes Vacation has extreme sympathy for those that lost their lives and their homes during this disaster.
However, there is something more than grim sadness that can be gleaned from the following video. There is a small amount of hope, and some happiness that can be seen here.
Pripyat was a very credible attempt by the Soviet Union to build a HAPPY, FUNCTIONAL , MODERN industrial city for its citizens. This city was not designed as a "showplace". There was no propaganda value to this city. It was simply a good place to live.
The people that lived there had GOOD lives. They were obviously happy. The Chernobyl disaster occurred because of innocent human error, and a nuclear powerplant design that was inherently flawed. This was not the fault of communism.
As all of you remember we had a little problem called 3-mile island that could very easily have been a giant disaster on American soil. We have been very lucky in America.
When you look at the following video, please be reverent for the lives that were destroyed, and lost. But it is also ok to have some happy feelings for the sweetness of the same lives before they were lost.
The ending for Pripyat was sad and tragic, that isn't all of the story. People lived and loved here. They raised kids there, fell in love, had dreams and adventures. And the city that all of these lives unfolded in was engeneered to help them have good lives. The Soviets were obviously attempting to spend some of their wealth and resources towards giving some of their workers a great opportunity for health and happiness.
Please view this video with revernce, sadness, but also some respectful happiness, for obviously life was good in Pripyat before the disaster.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gpoVzAArUN0&feature=related
Michael Miller
Indiana,
2007
Dear Readers, please see the attached page for photo artistic work done by our new friend markr. His comments can be seen below also.
http://www.nikongear.com/Chernobyl/Chernobyl_1.php
This was a model Soviet industrial city. It is hauntingly interesting to see the skeleton of a modern city that has been evacuated in a hurry.
Mikes Vacation has extreme sympathy for those that lost their lives and their homes during this disaster.
However, there is something more than grim sadness that can be gleaned from the following video. There is a small amount of hope, and some happiness that can be seen here.
Pripyat was a very credible attempt by the Soviet Union to build a HAPPY, FUNCTIONAL , MODERN industrial city for its citizens. This city was not designed as a "showplace". There was no propaganda value to this city. It was simply a good place to live.
The people that lived there had GOOD lives. They were obviously happy. The Chernobyl disaster occurred because of innocent human error, and a nuclear powerplant design that was inherently flawed. This was not the fault of communism.
As all of you remember we had a little problem called 3-mile island that could very easily have been a giant disaster on American soil. We have been very lucky in America.
When you look at the following video, please be reverent for the lives that were destroyed, and lost. But it is also ok to have some happy feelings for the sweetness of the same lives before they were lost.
The ending for Pripyat was sad and tragic, that isn't all of the story. People lived and loved here. They raised kids there, fell in love, had dreams and adventures. And the city that all of these lives unfolded in was engeneered to help them have good lives. The Soviets were obviously attempting to spend some of their wealth and resources towards giving some of their workers a great opportunity for health and happiness.
Please view this video with revernce, sadness, but also some respectful happiness, for obviously life was good in Pripyat before the disaster.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gpoVzAArUN0&feature=related
Michael Miller
Indiana,
2007
Dear Readers, please see the attached page for photo artistic work done by our new friend markr. His comments can be seen below also.
http://www.nikongear.com/Chernobyl/Chernobyl_1.php
IT IS A SHAME WHEN THE WORLD NEEDS TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST AMERICA
There was once a time when the United States was considered the "good guy". Even when we were wrong, there were elements of our foreign policy that seemed to "make sense".
There was once a counterbalance to absolute global domination, this was the Soviet Union.
There is an INVERSE RELATIONSHIP between the level of U.S. global influence, and our level of constitutional rights and freedoms today. It seems that the more power Washington has, the lower the level of our citizens rights will be.
It is the opinion of Mikes Vacation that we were never as free in America as we were in the early to mid 70's when the Soviet Union was at the peak of her power. It is almost as if the U.S. government needed the competition to remain honest to her people.
Mikes Vacation hopes for the safe return of all our service men in Iraq, we support no malice to our soldiers and marines abroad.
However, it is obvious to Mike Vacation that if we "WIN" in Iraq, then we "LOSE" here at home.
The global conscious should understand that a state of "broken democracy" exists here in America. There is no effective mechanism for the people to control the war criminals in our government and from the special interests (war profiteers) that control and support them.
It is a sad day at Mikes Vacation when the freer peoples of the world should be advised to "arm themselves" if they do not wish to become our victims. It is a terrible state of affairs when the smaller and weaker countries should be wise to purchase "Russian weapons" if they do not want to become our "next victim".
Perhaps if the people of Iraq had owned a sufficient quantity of the Pansir-1 weapons system, some of their deaths could have been avoided. The United States will not attack any country that has a potential of defending itself.
A criminal war such as what was perpetrated upon Iraq cannot survive public opinion if there are enough America losses that the "broken democracy" that exists here in America is fixed by the grieving families of our soldiers and our country as a whole demanding sensible consequences to our leaders for their crimes.
However, small losses that aren't severe enough to jolt public opinion to action are deemed just a risk of doing business for the George Bush's and the Haliburtons of the country.
So, sadly, I must state that if a country does not want to become our next victim, they should arm themselves .
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5EErUMjjA7c&feature=user
Mike Miller
Indiana,
2007
There was once a counterbalance to absolute global domination, this was the Soviet Union.
There is an INVERSE RELATIONSHIP between the level of U.S. global influence, and our level of constitutional rights and freedoms today. It seems that the more power Washington has, the lower the level of our citizens rights will be.
It is the opinion of Mikes Vacation that we were never as free in America as we were in the early to mid 70's when the Soviet Union was at the peak of her power. It is almost as if the U.S. government needed the competition to remain honest to her people.
Mikes Vacation hopes for the safe return of all our service men in Iraq, we support no malice to our soldiers and marines abroad.
However, it is obvious to Mike Vacation that if we "WIN" in Iraq, then we "LOSE" here at home.
The global conscious should understand that a state of "broken democracy" exists here in America. There is no effective mechanism for the people to control the war criminals in our government and from the special interests (war profiteers) that control and support them.
It is a sad day at Mikes Vacation when the freer peoples of the world should be advised to "arm themselves" if they do not wish to become our victims. It is a terrible state of affairs when the smaller and weaker countries should be wise to purchase "Russian weapons" if they do not want to become our "next victim".
Perhaps if the people of Iraq had owned a sufficient quantity of the Pansir-1 weapons system, some of their deaths could have been avoided. The United States will not attack any country that has a potential of defending itself.
A criminal war such as what was perpetrated upon Iraq cannot survive public opinion if there are enough America losses that the "broken democracy" that exists here in America is fixed by the grieving families of our soldiers and our country as a whole demanding sensible consequences to our leaders for their crimes.
However, small losses that aren't severe enough to jolt public opinion to action are deemed just a risk of doing business for the George Bush's and the Haliburtons of the country.
So, sadly, I must state that if a country does not want to become our next victim, they should arm themselves .
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5EErUMjjA7c&feature=user
Mike Miller
Indiana,
2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
HOW ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE, AND HOPE, AND HAPPINESS!
Dear Readers/(reader or whatever),
It is obvious that my current situation is pretty dismal. That much we can all surely agree with. However, Mikes Vacation is not about quitting, giving up, knuckling under, or whinning ALL THE TIME.
Sometimes we celebrate the LOVELY, WONDERFUL, AND THE BRILLIANT. You see, here at Mikes Vacation, we know that sometimes life sucks, but we endeavor to never forget that things can get better, we also want you the reader, to never forget this as well. :) :) :)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5PHH6erYCBQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Iu5OTGb7UI0&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4xBhbDgJtAE
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7fQh38yKkJI&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ErrzjGCi3gY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4g7Q04hRIXY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ftiIPJky_Vs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wKkBEOOzIjk&feature=related
May all of you have a happy and wonderful evening, and wonderful lives!!
G_d Bless each and every one of you!!
Mike Miller
Indiana,
2007
It is obvious that my current situation is pretty dismal. That much we can all surely agree with. However, Mikes Vacation is not about quitting, giving up, knuckling under, or whinning ALL THE TIME.
Sometimes we celebrate the LOVELY, WONDERFUL, AND THE BRILLIANT. You see, here at Mikes Vacation, we know that sometimes life sucks, but we endeavor to never forget that things can get better, we also want you the reader, to never forget this as well. :) :) :)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5PHH6erYCBQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Iu5OTGb7UI0&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4xBhbDgJtAE
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7fQh38yKkJI&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ErrzjGCi3gY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4g7Q04hRIXY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ftiIPJky_Vs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wKkBEOOzIjk&feature=related
May all of you have a happy and wonderful evening, and wonderful lives!!
G_d Bless each and every one of you!!
Mike Miller
Indiana,
2007
DEAR READERS/(reader), THIS IS MY JOB
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-yf54p1UwQ8
http://youtube.com/watch?v=W_YnaHNcISw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bH-TSSQg7WY
Yes, that about summarizes my job satisfaction. While I am not actually (not yet anyway) a Brittish alkie , or a librarian in a petroleum jelly factory, or in a Chinese stamping plant. The British lady, Tom Hanks, and the stamping Chinese very closely describe how I often feel.
Mike Vs The Volcano,
Indiana,
2007
Lets end with a little Charlie Chaplain. :)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qDnDaDYZ2AQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=W_YnaHNcISw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bH-TSSQg7WY
Yes, that about summarizes my job satisfaction. While I am not actually (not yet anyway) a Brittish alkie , or a librarian in a petroleum jelly factory, or in a Chinese stamping plant. The British lady, Tom Hanks, and the stamping Chinese very closely describe how I often feel.
Mike Vs The Volcano,
Indiana,
2007
Lets end with a little Charlie Chaplain. :)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qDnDaDYZ2AQ
MY LIFE ON THE TRAIN
http://youtube.com/watch?v=d058fO_hg8U
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-hu21NmpPfE
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZehTjlO4a1U&feature=related
Yup, thats my life on the train.
lol.
M, Indy, 2007
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-hu21NmpPfE
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZehTjlO4a1U&feature=related
Yup, thats my life on the train.
lol.
M, Indy, 2007
THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF MIKES VACATION ON RELIGION AND HUMANITY
Dear Readers/(reader) ,
The following 3 links can be literally interpreted as the Mikes Vacation "manifesto" on religion, politics, and the state of the human condition.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2Pt8Nk95Yfk
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BYRsH3hogXw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3kBFOsHpyWQ&feature=related
Mike Miller
L'chaim!
Indianapolis,
2007
The following 3 links can be literally interpreted as the Mikes Vacation "manifesto" on religion, politics, and the state of the human condition.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2Pt8Nk95Yfk
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BYRsH3hogXw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3kBFOsHpyWQ&feature=related
Mike Miller
L'chaim!
Indianapolis,
2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
MIRIAM AND SHOSHANA
I was discussing the Miriam and Shoshanna video with my Jewish friend who attended an all girls school/yeshiva in Queens, NY.
It seems there are a few things that I have overlooked when I endorsed this video in an earlier article.
My friend explained to me that the kids who attend orthodox private schools are leading very sheltered lives and that they aren't plagued with the type of social ills that other kids currently deal with.
She also reminded me that it is against Jewish law for women to sing in groups of less than 4.
I believe this video is very funny and clever, however I think it is important to try to represent all points of view when possible, and according to my friend, this particular music video is offensive to orthodox Jews for multiple reasons.
People have rights to be creative, and to make their own statements as they see fit. And I still do think this is a clever video, and I still think it is funny.
When I was watching and analyzing this video, I felt that there was a credible statement being made that orthodox Jewish girls are undergoing the same type of social ills that the rest of society suffers from. Apparently according to my friend, this is simply not the case.
According to my friend, orthodox Jews are currently expending great efforts to protect their children from the problems that are endemic to modern teenagers.
This being the case, this video is not as socially relevant as I once believed.
When I endorsed the video, I perceived it as the story of two mischievous teenage girls who are immersed in the sleaze and filth of modern LA teenage society. I believed this video was a sweet story of two high spirited teenage girls who thumb their nose at the drugs, and petty rivalries, and the social ills they are forced to face every day at school, and on their way to and from school.
The final ending of this story is that the two sisters, who are each others best and possibly only friends, finally quit playing pirate/rap stars and go home to their decent family sabbath.
I asked myself how I would feel if I had two teenage daughters who acted and behaved the way that Miriam and Shoshana did. With the exception of locking a rival girl into the trunk of a car, and the mild profanity, I would not be ashamed to have 2 daughters that dealt with modern pressures the way these two characters did.
There lies the conflict. According to my friend, orthodox Jewish girls don't have to deal with the pressures of drugs, bulimia, or most other social ills that mainstream teenagers do.
This makes the Miriam and Shoshana video a harmless, albeit greatly exaggerated portrayal of modern teenage orthodox social condition.
As this video portrays orthodox teenage girls as having a small drug culture, and a moderate amount of social ills, I believe this video is moderately slanderous to the image of orthodox Jews.
As this video portrays its "protagonists" as orthodox Jewish girls who while high spirited, end up shunning drugs, shunning bulimia, and going home to their functional nuclear family sabbath, I feel this video flatters orthodox Jewry.
So this video is a clever and funny video, it is entertaining, however some of its entertainment value comes at the expense of breaking Jewish laws, and unfairly lampooning Orthodox teenage female Jewry.
I must somewhat decrease the level of my endorsement for this video, although I do feel it is still highly creative and funny.
I searched youtube.com for some clips of modern orthodox teens going about their lives and activities, but I didn't find any.
I wanted to post something very positive about orthodox Jewish teens that might offset the exaggerated portrayal of this cohort group by Miriam and Shoshana.
I didn't find anything to fit this description. However I did find a very positive video about the Maccabi Teen Olympic games that gives a very realistic view of young Jewish Athletes from America and the Globe. This video doesn't state their individual branch of Judaism. I believe the reader can make those judgements for himself if they are important at all.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BwITd5-qy4E
Michael Miller
Indianapolis,
2007
A friend of mine has been reading the Miriam and Shoshana articles, and she is the lady who is mentioned above. Here is what she said in a recent email:
Okay so I read the article and here is what I think. First off let me explain that women cant sing in groups of I cant remember not four I think its more like ten to be honest and secondly I'm not sure where bulimia comes in to play. Jewish women I'm sure suffer from that as religion has nothing to do with body image or wanting to be thin so bad to attract the opposite sex. What I meant by Jews not singing or participating in activities like rap songs on the web is because orthodox Jews are supposed to separate themselves as to not give the outside world reason to criticize them. We are not supposed to give the "goyim" ammunition to use us as a scapegoat. "Oh look at those Jews, they make fun of women with bulimia and they make fun of people on drugs and the language they use is atrocious. We should all hate them." Judaism is about modesty and when you sing and use profanity it is not modest. This is not my opinion of the video though this is just what I think orthodox jews are thinking about it and that's why they have voiced an opinion of disapproval.
As this is an evolving essay, I thought I might also post an interesting article from The JewishJournal.com. You can see what they had to say about Miriam and Shoshana by clicking the next link.
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/searchview.php?id=18479
The final position of Mikes Vacation on the Miriam and Shoshana music video is that while this video has elements that border on bad taste, and aren't appropriate for children, it ultimately does more good than harm in that it make people feel good by laughing and smiling.
It seems there are a few things that I have overlooked when I endorsed this video in an earlier article.
My friend explained to me that the kids who attend orthodox private schools are leading very sheltered lives and that they aren't plagued with the type of social ills that other kids currently deal with.
She also reminded me that it is against Jewish law for women to sing in groups of less than 4.
I believe this video is very funny and clever, however I think it is important to try to represent all points of view when possible, and according to my friend, this particular music video is offensive to orthodox Jews for multiple reasons.
People have rights to be creative, and to make their own statements as they see fit. And I still do think this is a clever video, and I still think it is funny.
When I was watching and analyzing this video, I felt that there was a credible statement being made that orthodox Jewish girls are undergoing the same type of social ills that the rest of society suffers from. Apparently according to my friend, this is simply not the case.
According to my friend, orthodox Jews are currently expending great efforts to protect their children from the problems that are endemic to modern teenagers.
This being the case, this video is not as socially relevant as I once believed.
When I endorsed the video, I perceived it as the story of two mischievous teenage girls who are immersed in the sleaze and filth of modern LA teenage society. I believed this video was a sweet story of two high spirited teenage girls who thumb their nose at the drugs, and petty rivalries, and the social ills they are forced to face every day at school, and on their way to and from school.
The final ending of this story is that the two sisters, who are each others best and possibly only friends, finally quit playing pirate/rap stars and go home to their decent family sabbath.
I asked myself how I would feel if I had two teenage daughters who acted and behaved the way that Miriam and Shoshana did. With the exception of locking a rival girl into the trunk of a car, and the mild profanity, I would not be ashamed to have 2 daughters that dealt with modern pressures the way these two characters did.
There lies the conflict. According to my friend, orthodox Jewish girls don't have to deal with the pressures of drugs, bulimia, or most other social ills that mainstream teenagers do.
This makes the Miriam and Shoshana video a harmless, albeit greatly exaggerated portrayal of modern teenage orthodox social condition.
As this video portrays orthodox teenage girls as having a small drug culture, and a moderate amount of social ills, I believe this video is moderately slanderous to the image of orthodox Jews.
As this video portrays its "protagonists" as orthodox Jewish girls who while high spirited, end up shunning drugs, shunning bulimia, and going home to their functional nuclear family sabbath, I feel this video flatters orthodox Jewry.
So this video is a clever and funny video, it is entertaining, however some of its entertainment value comes at the expense of breaking Jewish laws, and unfairly lampooning Orthodox teenage female Jewry.
I must somewhat decrease the level of my endorsement for this video, although I do feel it is still highly creative and funny.
I searched youtube.com for some clips of modern orthodox teens going about their lives and activities, but I didn't find any.
I wanted to post something very positive about orthodox Jewish teens that might offset the exaggerated portrayal of this cohort group by Miriam and Shoshana.
I didn't find anything to fit this description. However I did find a very positive video about the Maccabi Teen Olympic games that gives a very realistic view of young Jewish Athletes from America and the Globe. This video doesn't state their individual branch of Judaism. I believe the reader can make those judgements for himself if they are important at all.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BwITd5-qy4E
Michael Miller
Indianapolis,
2007
A friend of mine has been reading the Miriam and Shoshana articles, and she is the lady who is mentioned above. Here is what she said in a recent email:
Okay so I read the article and here is what I think. First off let me explain that women cant sing in groups of I cant remember not four I think its more like ten to be honest and secondly I'm not sure where bulimia comes in to play. Jewish women I'm sure suffer from that as religion has nothing to do with body image or wanting to be thin so bad to attract the opposite sex. What I meant by Jews not singing or participating in activities like rap songs on the web is because orthodox Jews are supposed to separate themselves as to not give the outside world reason to criticize them. We are not supposed to give the "goyim" ammunition to use us as a scapegoat. "Oh look at those Jews, they make fun of women with bulimia and they make fun of people on drugs and the language they use is atrocious. We should all hate them." Judaism is about modesty and when you sing and use profanity it is not modest. This is not my opinion of the video though this is just what I think orthodox jews are thinking about it and that's why they have voiced an opinion of disapproval.
As this is an evolving essay, I thought I might also post an interesting article from The JewishJournal.com. You can see what they had to say about Miriam and Shoshana by clicking the next link.
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/searchview.php?id=18479
The final position of Mikes Vacation on the Miriam and Shoshana music video is that while this video has elements that border on bad taste, and aren't appropriate for children, it ultimately does more good than harm in that it make people feel good by laughing and smiling.
Most American humor draws its punchline from "taboo" elements of our society. There is usually something abraisive, abusive, or sexual behind most jokes in America. The question is whether or not these "off color" jokes are motivated by hatred, or simple ribald style poor taste.
In the case of Miriam and Shoshana, the orthodox Jews are taking their turn in being the "butt" of the Joke, but on the same hand they are not hatefully portrayed, and their collective reputations are not being so damaged that intelligent person will not understand that this video is only intended to give a few laughs, not document the actual real world condition of an entire people.
This video makes people laugh and feel good, and that is solid gold these days, we as Americans need a few laughs, and as long as no one is credibly damaged, or hurt, then why not let the Orthdox take their turns every once in a while?
The rest of America and the world is all essentially accessible and agreeable to being made fun of once in a while, so why not the Orthodox Jews?
Sunday, November 18, 2007
DEAR READERS /(reader)
The thrust of my blog has turned from grinding out editorials on the subject of Belorussian politics to simply documenting my own personal life.
Every once in a while, I may elect to publish something related to world events, but basically I am tired of assailing everyone else's articles, (mostly crap that they were) and I am interested in telling my own story.
My attraction to studying Judaism was generated from an unlikely path. If you are a reader of the blog, you will see multiple references to Nazi/Communist/Socialist related topics.
I always wrote my objections to the holocaust from the point of view that the Jewish victims of the Third Reich were Soviet Citizens who happened to be Jewish.
My heart pained over the torment done to Soviets who were Jewish, rather than over Jews who lived in Eastern Europe. Maybe I was wrong to feel this way, but that is what I felt.
Maybe my essays are crap, and maybe some of them have a value, but for every one of them, I spent several/many hours of Internet surfing and reading and sub-collegiate researching.
During all of the above preparation for my Nazi/Soviet/Jewish essays I began to learn the basic tenets of the Jewish religion.
I had also worked in a Jewish health center a while back, and I have had some friends that were Jews also. But I never really had any desire to formally learn and study this religion until about 4-6 months ago.
I am a long way from being finally converted, and I probably make a lot of mistakes along the way, and there are people who are likely offended that I would desire to make this change in my life.
If I ever publish anything which is LEGITIMATELY INJURIOUS to Judaism, and I am aware of it, I would unpublish it and apologize for the same.
However, as I am entering a religion where there are many different groups who often criticize and scrutinize each other, I believe it is likely that I also will receive this same scrutiny.
There will be at any one moment between 1- millions of Jews who disapprove of what I do and say. I endeavor to listen to their complaints and adjust my actions and words if their arguments and complaints seem valid.
However I can't become ruffled and get my feelings hurt every time someone who happens to be Jewish criticizes me or my decision to convert.
Life is too short to let people splatter you with their mud. You have got to move forward and be the best man you can be and keep trying to open your heart to those decent to you and to your G_d.
As Mikes Vacation is not about censorship, those who wish to either compliment or criticize me are free to do so.
Its a little early to be promoting Hanukkah per se, but it is never too early to liven the mood up with Adam Sandler and his Hanukkah song!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5Hmr5YOewww
I wish everyone Peace.
Mike Miller
Indianapolis,
2007
Every once in a while, I may elect to publish something related to world events, but basically I am tired of assailing everyone else's articles, (mostly crap that they were) and I am interested in telling my own story.
My attraction to studying Judaism was generated from an unlikely path. If you are a reader of the blog, you will see multiple references to Nazi/Communist/Socialist related topics.
I always wrote my objections to the holocaust from the point of view that the Jewish victims of the Third Reich were Soviet Citizens who happened to be Jewish.
My heart pained over the torment done to Soviets who were Jewish, rather than over Jews who lived in Eastern Europe. Maybe I was wrong to feel this way, but that is what I felt.
Maybe my essays are crap, and maybe some of them have a value, but for every one of them, I spent several/many hours of Internet surfing and reading and sub-collegiate researching.
During all of the above preparation for my Nazi/Soviet/Jewish essays I began to learn the basic tenets of the Jewish religion.
I had also worked in a Jewish health center a while back, and I have had some friends that were Jews also. But I never really had any desire to formally learn and study this religion until about 4-6 months ago.
I am a long way from being finally converted, and I probably make a lot of mistakes along the way, and there are people who are likely offended that I would desire to make this change in my life.
If I ever publish anything which is LEGITIMATELY INJURIOUS to Judaism, and I am aware of it, I would unpublish it and apologize for the same.
However, as I am entering a religion where there are many different groups who often criticize and scrutinize each other, I believe it is likely that I also will receive this same scrutiny.
There will be at any one moment between 1- millions of Jews who disapprove of what I do and say. I endeavor to listen to their complaints and adjust my actions and words if their arguments and complaints seem valid.
However I can't become ruffled and get my feelings hurt every time someone who happens to be Jewish criticizes me or my decision to convert.
Life is too short to let people splatter you with their mud. You have got to move forward and be the best man you can be and keep trying to open your heart to those decent to you and to your G_d.
As Mikes Vacation is not about censorship, those who wish to either compliment or criticize me are free to do so.
Its a little early to be promoting Hanukkah per se, but it is never too early to liven the mood up with Adam Sandler and his Hanukkah song!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5Hmr5YOewww
I wish everyone Peace.
Mike Miller
Indianapolis,
2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
THE REAL MISTAKES IN IN LOVE
A friend was reminding me of some of my poor choices in love and life that I have made in the past 20 or so years, not maliciously, but out of genuine curiosity.
I was a bit taken aback by the questions, and a little bit depressed by them, but rallied when I remembered my hard won maxim:
THE REAL MISTAKES IN LOVE THAT A MAN MAKES ARE NOT THE WOMEN HE MARRIES, BUT THE WOMEN HE DOESN'T.
MARRIAGES SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED DISPOSABLE, PEOPLE ARE NOT REPLACEABLE, HOWEVER IF A MARRIAGE DOESN'T WORK OUT IT CAN BE FIXED BY THROWING MONEY AT IT IN THE FORM OF A DIVORCE.
BUT IF YOU FAIL TO LOVE OR MARRY A WOMAN OF QUALITY, YOU CAN'T FIX THIS MISTAKE BY THROWING MONEY AT IT. YOU CAN'T TURN BACK THE CLOCK WITH CASH.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=x1X7hfx9BT0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xlKpXFnwOSA&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N_9QxAQLY6g&feature=related
Dear Readers, Mikes Vacation believes in love and in happy endings, however things just didn't turn out that way for our friend Emmet Ray, he finally lost Hatty for good, and when he tried to retreive her, she was happily married to another man, with a baby on the way. Emmet finally did become the greatest guitar player of all time, he finally played with real emotion, but he was never the same, and never loved again.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9E6RPkM8Hg4&feature=related
May G-d forgive you Emett, you poor stupid bastard. (:
Mike Miller
Indy,
2007
I was a bit taken aback by the questions, and a little bit depressed by them, but rallied when I remembered my hard won maxim:
THE REAL MISTAKES IN LOVE THAT A MAN MAKES ARE NOT THE WOMEN HE MARRIES, BUT THE WOMEN HE DOESN'T.
MARRIAGES SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED DISPOSABLE, PEOPLE ARE NOT REPLACEABLE, HOWEVER IF A MARRIAGE DOESN'T WORK OUT IT CAN BE FIXED BY THROWING MONEY AT IT IN THE FORM OF A DIVORCE.
BUT IF YOU FAIL TO LOVE OR MARRY A WOMAN OF QUALITY, YOU CAN'T FIX THIS MISTAKE BY THROWING MONEY AT IT. YOU CAN'T TURN BACK THE CLOCK WITH CASH.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=x1X7hfx9BT0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xlKpXFnwOSA&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N_9QxAQLY6g&feature=related
Dear Readers, Mikes Vacation believes in love and in happy endings, however things just didn't turn out that way for our friend Emmet Ray, he finally lost Hatty for good, and when he tried to retreive her, she was happily married to another man, with a baby on the way. Emmet finally did become the greatest guitar player of all time, he finally played with real emotion, but he was never the same, and never loved again.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9E6RPkM8Hg4&feature=related
May G-d forgive you Emett, you poor stupid bastard. (:
Mike Miller
Indy,
2007
Friday, November 9, 2007
ID LIKE TO DEFINE MYSELF A LITTLE BIT
AS I AM ON THE CONVERSION ROAD, I FREQUENTLY SURF YOUTUBE FOR JEWISH CULTURE ITEMS.
WELL, I FOUND ONE.
I AM NOT SURE HOW I FOUND THIS, BUT I FOUND IT ALL RIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS, AND MIRIAM AND SHOSHANA ARE SUPER COOL, AND ULTRA CLEVER, AND THEY ARE A CREDIT TO MODERN JEWISH HUMOR.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8RJ-2FUz7xo
PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LAUGH AT THEMSELVES A LITTLE BIT, AND THESE GIRLS HAVE CERTAINLY DONE THAT.
G_d bless Miriam and Shoshana for their wonderful sense of humor.
I personally adore this video, but my sentiments are not shared by this gentleman, you may agree with me, or him, or neither.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=scsihtJlZo4
Here is another attacker of this video, and again, perhaps you will find his arguments compelling against the video, I do not.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OYXeF9uihvw
Like all religions, Judaism has many different points of conflict and agreement. The following two videos are not connected in any way with Miriam and Shoshana, however they represent methods of expression and conflict resolution not bonna fide by Mikes Vacation. Perhaps all the parties in the below two videos have good ideas, and maybe they all have something valid that should be listened to by the other party.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7xBu3RpwIR0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_KxsMad9eHM
Mikes Miller
Indianapolis,
2007
WELL, I FOUND ONE.
I AM NOT SURE HOW I FOUND THIS, BUT I FOUND IT ALL RIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS, AND MIRIAM AND SHOSHANA ARE SUPER COOL, AND ULTRA CLEVER, AND THEY ARE A CREDIT TO MODERN JEWISH HUMOR.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8RJ-2FUz7xo
PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LAUGH AT THEMSELVES A LITTLE BIT, AND THESE GIRLS HAVE CERTAINLY DONE THAT.
G_d bless Miriam and Shoshana for their wonderful sense of humor.
I personally adore this video, but my sentiments are not shared by this gentleman, you may agree with me, or him, or neither.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=scsihtJlZo4
Here is another attacker of this video, and again, perhaps you will find his arguments compelling against the video, I do not.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OYXeF9uihvw
Like all religions, Judaism has many different points of conflict and agreement. The following two videos are not connected in any way with Miriam and Shoshana, however they represent methods of expression and conflict resolution not bonna fide by Mikes Vacation. Perhaps all the parties in the below two videos have good ideas, and maybe they all have something valid that should be listened to by the other party.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7xBu3RpwIR0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_KxsMad9eHM
Mikes Miller
Indianapolis,
2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
MY LIFE AS A JEW
I have undertaken a life changing challenge and opportunity to convert to Judaism. I am happy with my life, and am pleased and at peace with the place my heart has gone.
I have made some nice Jewish friends, and have begun to follow weekly Pasha readings and am studying Talmud on my own. I would like to be in a Talmud study group, but so far I am not.
I haven't evolved to what kind of Jew I will be. Sometimes I think I will be Conservative, and sometimes I think I will be some kind of hybrid California Jew like Neil Diamond.
My sense of humor has improved, as I am often in many awkward and humorous positions relating to my conversion process.
Today I told the cook where I work that I would like to decline his offer of pork chops smothered in some kind of pecan glaze. He was disappointed until I explained that I was in conversion, and that while I am not living a completely Kosher life just yet, I am at least laying off the Treif animals.
Its funny,, I have yet until this moment neglected to thank even in my own mind the Rabbi who helped me in my fragile earliest days. His name is Arnold Bienstock. I talked with him several times, and when I asked him whether or not I was actually in conversion, or just in a curious stage, he told me that I was in fact, in conversion.
That was a very pivotal moment in my life and to have an actual Rabbi declare that I was in conversion somehow gave me the support that pushed me forward through a time that I could have lost energy and momentum.
I guess you are either in conversion or you are not, however there are people you meet who either hinder you or help you, and Rabbi Bienstock really gave me some energy when he declared that I was not just window shopping, but actually in the process of a conversion!
I feel good, and I am proud of the fact that I made this decision entirely of my own volition. There were no third parties pressuring, or manipulating me, or in any way altering my sense of direction.
I am at a cultural impasse regarding how to celebrate Christmas. I have had several friends tell me that as a Jew the Christmas holiday should be forever forgotten and put out of my life.
I have explained to them, that as I have never been any sort of Christian, I always have understood the holiday as a winter time yule holiday with absolutely no religious meaning to me whatsoever, so why then should I reject a perfectly good holiday just because I was converting to Judaism.
I have gotten several answers ranging from the mildly fanatical " Christmas celebrates the birthday of a man for whose death our people have been persecuted for 2 thousand years." To the more reasonable " when you convert to Judaism you promise to raise your future children as Jews, and exposing them to a full blown Christmas in your home will likely confuse them religiously about who they are."
I tend to agree with the second explanation of how Christmas should be viewed. I do plan to have children, and I will raise them as Jews, and I certainly don't want them confused. So while a little yule time cheer, and few catchy songs, and some lights and a few presents and a tree wouldn't confuse or injure me per se, at the point when I have children, I need to cut out all the Christmas propaganda, and keep a Jewish home uncomplicated religiously for the sake of the kids. This I understand.
I always felt the myth of Jesus was less credible than Santa Clause himself, and I have NEVER had any belief or emotional tie to Christianity, but I don't have a heart made of coal, so I always enjoyed our American Santa oriented winter holiday, and frankly, I really like this holiday.
So, I have cut out the Treif animals, I still look forward to Christmas, and I am eagerly studying Talmud. Life is strange and wonderful.
By the way, in my quest for many things Jewish, I ran across a most elegant version of Hava Nagila sung by Harry Belafonte! This song is decorated by someones family slides of their kids and thier wedding, and their lives are most festive! :)
Please click on the link below and enjoy!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tvDQZH2VWhc
On my private road to conversion,
Mike Miller
Indiana, 2007
I have made some nice Jewish friends, and have begun to follow weekly Pasha readings and am studying Talmud on my own. I would like to be in a Talmud study group, but so far I am not.
I haven't evolved to what kind of Jew I will be. Sometimes I think I will be Conservative, and sometimes I think I will be some kind of hybrid California Jew like Neil Diamond.
My sense of humor has improved, as I am often in many awkward and humorous positions relating to my conversion process.
Today I told the cook where I work that I would like to decline his offer of pork chops smothered in some kind of pecan glaze. He was disappointed until I explained that I was in conversion, and that while I am not living a completely Kosher life just yet, I am at least laying off the Treif animals.
Its funny,, I have yet until this moment neglected to thank even in my own mind the Rabbi who helped me in my fragile earliest days. His name is Arnold Bienstock. I talked with him several times, and when I asked him whether or not I was actually in conversion, or just in a curious stage, he told me that I was in fact, in conversion.
That was a very pivotal moment in my life and to have an actual Rabbi declare that I was in conversion somehow gave me the support that pushed me forward through a time that I could have lost energy and momentum.
I guess you are either in conversion or you are not, however there are people you meet who either hinder you or help you, and Rabbi Bienstock really gave me some energy when he declared that I was not just window shopping, but actually in the process of a conversion!
I feel good, and I am proud of the fact that I made this decision entirely of my own volition. There were no third parties pressuring, or manipulating me, or in any way altering my sense of direction.
I am at a cultural impasse regarding how to celebrate Christmas. I have had several friends tell me that as a Jew the Christmas holiday should be forever forgotten and put out of my life.
I have explained to them, that as I have never been any sort of Christian, I always have understood the holiday as a winter time yule holiday with absolutely no religious meaning to me whatsoever, so why then should I reject a perfectly good holiday just because I was converting to Judaism.
I have gotten several answers ranging from the mildly fanatical " Christmas celebrates the birthday of a man for whose death our people have been persecuted for 2 thousand years." To the more reasonable " when you convert to Judaism you promise to raise your future children as Jews, and exposing them to a full blown Christmas in your home will likely confuse them religiously about who they are."
I tend to agree with the second explanation of how Christmas should be viewed. I do plan to have children, and I will raise them as Jews, and I certainly don't want them confused. So while a little yule time cheer, and few catchy songs, and some lights and a few presents and a tree wouldn't confuse or injure me per se, at the point when I have children, I need to cut out all the Christmas propaganda, and keep a Jewish home uncomplicated religiously for the sake of the kids. This I understand.
I always felt the myth of Jesus was less credible than Santa Clause himself, and I have NEVER had any belief or emotional tie to Christianity, but I don't have a heart made of coal, so I always enjoyed our American Santa oriented winter holiday, and frankly, I really like this holiday.
So, I have cut out the Treif animals, I still look forward to Christmas, and I am eagerly studying Talmud. Life is strange and wonderful.
By the way, in my quest for many things Jewish, I ran across a most elegant version of Hava Nagila sung by Harry Belafonte! This song is decorated by someones family slides of their kids and thier wedding, and their lives are most festive! :)
Please click on the link below and enjoy!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tvDQZH2VWhc
On my private road to conversion,
Mike Miller
Indiana, 2007
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