Donating blood

I just had the best blood donation experience, ever.

It's been sort of a pain to donate here, so this was only the second time since I made aliyah that I've donated.

It's a pain partly because I only know two places to go to donate. One is not close to anything I would normally be near. The other is right in downtown Jerusalem, but I don't know what hours they're actually there.

Plus, there always seems to be something that makes it not a good idea for me to donate at that time... even when Magen David comes to my workplace to accept blood donations.

I have to have eaten.

I have to be feeling well.

I have to not have an open house at work that day.

I have to not have gym day that day.

I have to not smell bad, which is usually my problem on Friday mornings when I go out practically in my pajamas to do my shopping.

I have to have time, which I often don't anyway on Friday mornings.

So I did most of my shopping last night, because I wasn't sure if I'd be going to breakfast with a friend today. We didn't, so I had some extra time on my hands.

I put on a clean shirt and deodorant and body spray, and walked slowly downtown.

(The other awesome reason for me to go there is that due to the number of tourists who want to donate blood, there's usually someone there who speaks English.)

Anyway, the people were super nice. The only reprimand I got was for going so long without donating (a bit more than two years). There was an American nurse, and her assistant also spoke awesome English.

For anyone who might not know, before a person is allowed to donate a whole pint or whatever it is of blood, his or her iron level is usually checked. In the States, I used to ask them to take the blood from my ear, because I HATE having blood taken from my fingertip. It always hurts, and for a long time, too.

Today, I was tag-teamed, so while I was looking at the nurse and answering questions. the assistant had my hand and poked my finger for blood. It didn't hurt! Not even a little bit! No giant torture device, no ache, and no bruisy feeling, even now.

The Israeli nurse who actually took my blood was amazing. Seriously. I barely felt the needle go into my arm. I didn't feel it come out almost at all.

The people were super friendly, and nothing hurt at all!

I don't mind a little hurt when I donate, really. Whomever's gonna get my blood is going to be in a lot worse shape than having an achey finger and a bruisy arm.

But it was really awesome to do it and NOT have an ache or a bruise.

Anyway, wherever you live, if you're eligible to donate -- don't forget how much you could help other people by taking a half hour, or whatever it is, to donate blood.

Just do it.

How ironic...

Here's a headline from Ha'aretz newspaper today:

"Abbas: No dialogue with 'murderous terrorists' in Hamas"

(full article: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/873266.html)

Heh.

There's also a typical Ha'aretz editorial that basically says "Even though it's true that Gazan 'refugees' might actually come to blow us up in Israel, we should give them refuge here."

That's why I hate Ha'aretz.

See, it makes total sense, if you look at it.

1. Gazans elected a Hamas government.
2. Hamas took over the country, just as they'd voted for.
3. Some people don't like Hamas. Hence, Hamas does not like them.
4. No one in Gaza likes Israel. I don't think I'm exaggerating here.
5. The people who don't like Hamas, who aren't liked by Hamas, don't like Israel. (See, it's a combination of 3 & 4.)
6. Let's let the people of #5 come to Israel, since their lives are in danger.
7. Now, Hamas has a much less crowded strip of land to rule, with fewer enemies within.
8. Israel, in its generosity, is rewarded with a stronger Hamas in Gaza, and even more people within our own borders who don't like us.

Yes, it makes total sense. If you're Ha'aretz. Stupid Ha'aretz.

I don't understand how almost NO ONE ON THE PLANET thinks that the people in Gaza don't have to take any responsibility for anything that befalls them.

The people in America are stupid, because they voted Bush in a second time, after he stole the election the first time.

The people in Israel are stupid, because even after Sharon was in a coma, and the entire "Kadima" party was under investigation for financial and/or sexual crimes, we still allowed that party to win.

Hamas did not steal the election. They were elected fair & square, by people who wanted them to rule over their people.

And now that their chosen party is ruling over them, I'm supposed to feel bad for them?

I guess maybe if I had a television, so I would *see* the images of those people, I would be more sympathetic.

But at the moment, I sorta feel like this: If those people are truly refugees, then let some Muslim country take them in and help them. I don't want them here.

Can there be war crimes, if it isn't a war between nations?

I just read that the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee is accusing Israel of having committed war crimes against Lebanese civilians last year during the war.

The report charges, "The often-repeated theme that Israeli officials articulated during the war -- that Lebanese civilians had to 'pay a price' for the military activities and political strength of (Hezbollah) -- is clear evidence that Israel's use of force in asserted 'self-defense' was in fact a pretext for wide-ranging retaliation aimed at Lebanese civilians. The principle of distinction (between soldiers and civilians) is an essential element of customary international law and international humanitarian law." (Detroit News, 6/10/07)

Right.

Because Israel wants to just waste millions of shekels and more than 100 lives of our soldiers just to hurt civilians.

I like the way "self-defense" is in quotes. Like, "sure... it's 'self-defense,' even though you have a big, strong military and all we have is our little militia who doesn't do anything but intimidate us and rule our government, so how could we possibly be doing anything to you for which you would need to defend yourselves?"

I also like the way they get self-righteous about the level of distinction between soldiers and civilians.

Because of course, allowing Hezbollah to shoot rockets at completely unaware and unarmed farmers and children is distinguishing between soldiers and civilians.

Once again, "they" believe Israel should be held to a higher standard than themselves.

The funny thing is, we do hold ourselves to a higher standard.

I have friends who are, or who have been, soldiers in Gaza, Judea and/or Samaria. They tell me stories of having children thrown at them, as shields between rock/bottle throwers and the soldiers.

They tell me stories of Israeli soldiers being shot while entering homes looking for terrorists, because instead of just bombing the house and being done with it, they go in one-by-one in order to protect the lives of the "civilians" harboring the terrorists.

Israel constantly puts the lives of our soldiers on the line in order to protect the lives of civilians, even though the line between "civilian" and "terrorist/harborer of terrorist/soldier" is much more blurred on their side than on ours.

The report's sort of right about one thing, for sure -- there were serious crimes committed during the war, by the Israeli military.

Unfortunately, the crimes I'm referring to were committed against our own soldiers.

The way our soldiers were treated by the stupid leaders of this country and of the military was disgusting. They were sent into battle without proper equipment. In preparing for the war, it was literally every man for himself when it came to scamming arms out of the armories. People were bringing equipment from home.

The soldiers were sent into battle in the heat of the summer without food or water, and expected to fight for their lives and the lives of all Israeli citizens.

Reservists who'd gotten soft during the previous years because their reserve duty was chopped to save money, were told to run 30 or 40 miles with full packs as "training," and then sent into battle.

I don't know what I think anymore. I have friends who want all Arabs within Israel, Gaza, Judea and Samaria shipped out to Jordan or any other Muslim country.

I'm not at that point yet... but I see why they believe the way they do.

What a crazy world...

A bunch of British academics are planning to boycott Israeli academics and academic institutions. Why? Because they say Israel denies Palestinians the right to education. Huh?

And it always amuses me when it's academics vs. academics. They're all so stereotypically left wing that it's like saying "I like your politics. I like what you're trying to say and publish. I like the fact that you don't like what your country is doing. But since you're from that country, it's all your fault."

Stupid.

***

I wonder how much news coverage the female Palestinian news anchors in Gaza will get. They've been threatened with being beheaded for appearing on camera without their heads covered.

"Because I don't like seeing your hair, I'm going to chop off your head."

Stupid.

***

A bunch of idiotic protestors at the G8 conference have ruined the fun for everyone. They took what was supposed to be a peaceful protest and turned it into a pavement-chopping, rock-throwing, dangerous free-for-all. Now there won't be protestors allowed.

Stupid.

***

Really, I could find so many more examples of why the world is crazy... but wasting my time and energy doing it would be... wait for it...

Stupid.

***

Now it's time for me to call and see if my landlord is home yet, so I can take him the renewed contract to sign, and the checks for the next year. Once that's done, then in the next few days I'm going to try to call an insurance agent someone recommended and get rental insurance.

That's about all the news from here...