Good Afternoon:
The weather looks summery, and it should continue this way for another week or so. True, the temperatures should trend downwards a bit towards the end of next week, but they should pop back up just in time for the New Year -- as summer low pressure to our east reasserts itself .
In case you'll be flying to Teheran, Iran in the next 10 days, the weather looks great. By the way, two missiles from Gaza followed the weak westerly winds over the border fence and into Ashkelon. Although technically these missiles came from Gaza, they were quite possibly manufactured in Iran. The city of Ashkelon is thinking of creating a third beach type to go with the secular and religious beaches, a beach for missiles from Gaza.
Barry Lynn
Friday, September 7, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Weather It Is (Is That A Nip?)
Good evening:
Well there certainly is a nip in the air as nightfall falls upon us. In fact, with the window open and a stiff breeze from the West, one might begin to wonder if fall is indeed upon us. Alas, it isn't so. A quick glance at the weather pages and maps shows that summer will return as early as Tuesday, and that nip will only be a fond memory.
Of course we are headed into fall, so a few more nips or naps at a moments notice are to be expected. Even so, one can easily remember that the weather at this time of year can turn from favoring a nap to something resembling a sauna where one wishes that one had not just drained the pool (whether your neighbor gave you permission or not to build it).
I have to mention that there has been quite a bit of nipping and napping at the feet of our Prime Minister and Defense Minister, who seem to be full of hot air when it comes to saying anything about Iran. Of course, a nuclear explosion is no laughing matter, and I can completely appreciate that our two top-leaders are quite worried about a potential Iranian nuclear attack. Of course, one does wonder why they do speak so much, and our Defense Minister's (DM) proclamation that just shy of 500 Israelis (Jews, Arabs) would die in the retaliatory attack is very comforting -- so long as someone you know (or yourself) is not one of the 499. One wonders how DM Barak figured this number out. Did he count the number of missiles fired from Gaza that he views as only a nuisance, no worse than the bolts of lightning we remember from our youth -- and equate the two?
This is a very serious matter and I would hope that our two leaders really appreciate that any Israeli attack will put our feet in the frying pan (or worse) and we better be ready for any contingency -- even a possible late (or never) resupply of arms from our "friend," the United States. Just remember, there are no friends in international relations, just common interests. These interests can change like the wind.
Barry Lynn
Well there certainly is a nip in the air as nightfall falls upon us. In fact, with the window open and a stiff breeze from the West, one might begin to wonder if fall is indeed upon us. Alas, it isn't so. A quick glance at the weather pages and maps shows that summer will return as early as Tuesday, and that nip will only be a fond memory.
Of course we are headed into fall, so a few more nips or naps at a moments notice are to be expected. Even so, one can easily remember that the weather at this time of year can turn from favoring a nap to something resembling a sauna where one wishes that one had not just drained the pool (whether your neighbor gave you permission or not to build it).
I have to mention that there has been quite a bit of nipping and napping at the feet of our Prime Minister and Defense Minister, who seem to be full of hot air when it comes to saying anything about Iran. Of course, a nuclear explosion is no laughing matter, and I can completely appreciate that our two top-leaders are quite worried about a potential Iranian nuclear attack. Of course, one does wonder why they do speak so much, and our Defense Minister's (DM) proclamation that just shy of 500 Israelis (Jews, Arabs) would die in the retaliatory attack is very comforting -- so long as someone you know (or yourself) is not one of the 499. One wonders how DM Barak figured this number out. Did he count the number of missiles fired from Gaza that he views as only a nuisance, no worse than the bolts of lightning we remember from our youth -- and equate the two?
This is a very serious matter and I would hope that our two leaders really appreciate that any Israeli attack will put our feet in the frying pan (or worse) and we better be ready for any contingency -- even a possible late (or never) resupply of arms from our "friend," the United States. Just remember, there are no friends in international relations, just common interests. These interests can change like the wind.
Barry Lynn
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Weather It Is (A Slippery, Wet Slope)
We're fortunate that there's no rain predicted anytime soon, but first...
I clearly remember when the European Commission (EC) decided to treat the areas outside of the Green-Line as non-Israel for custom-duty purposes. Mr. Olmert, Prime minister at that time, agreed rather meekly to acquiesce in this decision. Now, the J. Post is reporting that even some areas inside the old Green-Line will now be treated like those areas without. One can imagine that the Palestinian representatives will now move to have any areas beyond the 1947 UN partition line relabed "non-Israeli" as well.
This is a major problem as we head into the winter season. Apparently, an addendum added at the last moment to EC custom duties updates stipulates the following: "Any rain-producing weather system that originates over EC territory and then moves southeastward towards Israeli will be subject to the Israel-EC trade agreement. This means that any rain that falls east of the 1949 armistice line will be subject to tax -- per millimeter of rainfall. Any failure to remit payment within one week of due such passage will result in the suspension of further deliveries of rain both the 'occupied' territories and Israel proper."
The EC is really playing hardball.
I think, though, that we need to view this as a tennis match, where the Palestinians are the judges. We've got return serve, break serve, and basically make the Palestinians lose interest in the game.
I'd like to suggest the following steps to fight this: i) Israel should identify areas within the EC that were at one point under dispute and set-them outside the EU Israel trade agreement. ii) We should annex area C, which will (to say the least) put any Palestinian businesses under the EU-Israel (non) agreement. ii) We unilaterally amend the recent Israel-Palestinian agreement such that Palestinian businesses exporting to Europe will now have to pay a commensurate customs tax as Israeli businesses in the West Bank pay now.
While it is true that the West Bank Palestinians have largely abandoned their terrorist war, their negative diplomacy is simply a war by other means and we need to respond. If we don't act now, even our beautiful summer days -- which still have a couple of weeks to go -- will be subject to an EC duty tax!
Barry Lynn
Monday, August 13, 2012
Weather It Is (He said, She Said)
Good Morning:
There are those who say that July was really hot -- hence, the winter will be warm and dry. However, there are those who say that The Ninth Of Av (a fast day for redemption) was windy and cool, and hence the winter will be cool and wet. On the other hand, the "Climate-Forecast-Systems" model predicts that the winter is going to be wet and on the cool side!
Of course, we are all wondering if our Prime Minister and Defense Minister will order our air-force to attack the Iranian nuclear sites. You see, we have a choice: we can try to stop the Iranian nuclear menace ourselves or rely on the United States. However, I seem to remember the current administration (Obama) repudiating the letter the previous president (George Bush) sent previous Prime Minister Sharon concerning Israel towns and villages in the West Bank. Yet, even under the best of circumstances it seems strange for a country to put its actual existence in the hands of others.
So, where does that leave us? It leaves us with a hot day today, and then about two weeks of nice weather. In fact, the temperatures will soon trend down a bit, and one might even have the feeling that fall is approaching. Of course, this past Shabbat was the absolute best weather (at least in Gush Etzion): the temperatures were perfect in the early morning, the air smelled fresh all day, and it never got too hot.
The only thing I can predict with certainty, by the way, is that the Gazans will send more missiles and our government will continue to treat each attack like an inconvenience, but nothing more.
Barry Lynn
There are those who say that July was really hot -- hence, the winter will be warm and dry. However, there are those who say that The Ninth Of Av (a fast day for redemption) was windy and cool, and hence the winter will be cool and wet. On the other hand, the "Climate-Forecast-Systems" model predicts that the winter is going to be wet and on the cool side!
Of course, we are all wondering if our Prime Minister and Defense Minister will order our air-force to attack the Iranian nuclear sites. You see, we have a choice: we can try to stop the Iranian nuclear menace ourselves or rely on the United States. However, I seem to remember the current administration (Obama) repudiating the letter the previous president (George Bush) sent previous Prime Minister Sharon concerning Israel towns and villages in the West Bank. Yet, even under the best of circumstances it seems strange for a country to put its actual existence in the hands of others.
So, where does that leave us? It leaves us with a hot day today, and then about two weeks of nice weather. In fact, the temperatures will soon trend down a bit, and one might even have the feeling that fall is approaching. Of course, this past Shabbat was the absolute best weather (at least in Gush Etzion): the temperatures were perfect in the early morning, the air smelled fresh all day, and it never got too hot.
The only thing I can predict with certainty, by the way, is that the Gazans will send more missiles and our government will continue to treat each attack like an inconvenience, but nothing more.
Barry Lynn
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Weather It Is (Up and Down?)
Good morning:
This summer's summertime weather continues summerly along. However, it's really not too "bad," as the temperature are hot, but not too hot. In fact, the nights have turned quite pleasant again, at least in the mountainous areas like in Jerusalem. And there doesn't seem to be any real change in sight.
The reason for our fairly stable is weather is low pressure situated to our east, with high pressure situated over the northern part of the African continent. Between them, we have a fairly steady flow of air from our east (so it's hot), which mixes with a more cool westerly flow of air from the sea (so it's not too hot).
Of course, some of us might be feeling hot around the collar, as the government announces one tax increase after another. I guess our ministers don't feel that our overdrafts our high enough, so now we'll be able to use our overdraft (which the banks really encourage) to pay higher taxes. On the other hand, didn't quite a large number of Israeli citizens spend the previous summer campaigning for government sponsored (i.e, "free) education for kindergarten, etc? One can't blame the government for giving with one hand, while taking with the other (which then passes behind the back to the giving hand). The alternative would just give the banks a reason to charge higher interest rates.
Barry Lynn
This summer's summertime weather continues summerly along. However, it's really not too "bad," as the temperature are hot, but not too hot. In fact, the nights have turned quite pleasant again, at least in the mountainous areas like in Jerusalem. And there doesn't seem to be any real change in sight.
The reason for our fairly stable is weather is low pressure situated to our east, with high pressure situated over the northern part of the African continent. Between them, we have a fairly steady flow of air from our east (so it's hot), which mixes with a more cool westerly flow of air from the sea (so it's not too hot).
Of course, some of us might be feeling hot around the collar, as the government announces one tax increase after another. I guess our ministers don't feel that our overdrafts our high enough, so now we'll be able to use our overdraft (which the banks really encourage) to pay higher taxes. On the other hand, didn't quite a large number of Israeli citizens spend the previous summer campaigning for government sponsored (i.e, "free) education for kindergarten, etc? One can't blame the government for giving with one hand, while taking with the other (which then passes behind the back to the giving hand). The alternative would just give the banks a reason to charge higher interest rates.
Barry Lynn
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Weather It Is (More Summer Weather)
Good morning:
It makes sense that the continuation of summer would bring more summer weather, especially in Israel where the only constants seem to be more hot weather and an occasional (or not so occasional) missile launched from Gaza.
Of course, the weather could turn extremely hot, which would make for more summer weather than we desire. However, looking ahead shows a fairly constant weather pattern with the hottest temperatures situated well to our east. We'll continue to have light to moderate westerly winds, which will bring warm and humid temperatures along the coast and very-warm and dry temperatures further inland. Hot weather will be the rule in the Jordan Valley and south to Eilat.
Having returned from a trip abroad, I can tell you that the good news is that missile attacks take longer to occur than a lightning "attack." We hardly ever have any lightning here in Israel during the summer -- so I guess there are those who like to make their own interesting weather for us to take care from. Or, is it just our government that treats these attacks like an attack of nature?
Barry Lynn
It makes sense that the continuation of summer would bring more summer weather, especially in Israel where the only constants seem to be more hot weather and an occasional (or not so occasional) missile launched from Gaza.
Of course, the weather could turn extremely hot, which would make for more summer weather than we desire. However, looking ahead shows a fairly constant weather pattern with the hottest temperatures situated well to our east. We'll continue to have light to moderate westerly winds, which will bring warm and humid temperatures along the coast and very-warm and dry temperatures further inland. Hot weather will be the rule in the Jordan Valley and south to Eilat.
Having returned from a trip abroad, I can tell you that the good news is that missile attacks take longer to occur than a lightning "attack." We hardly ever have any lightning here in Israel during the summer -- so I guess there are those who like to make their own interesting weather for us to take care from. Or, is it just our government that treats these attacks like an attack of nature?
Barry Lynn
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Weather It Is (H-Cow Batman: those were flying "Kipot.")
Summer just doesn't want to come. After a brief warm-up today, winds gusted strongly out of the west, ushering in much cooler air. In an amazing feat of flying, kippot (Yarmulkes) became air born in Neve Daniel and landed on the heads of the unsuspecting in Efrat, just to the east (but across a rather large valley). Of course, these heads were already empty, as Kippot were seen flying eastward (hopefully) from Efrat to Tekoa on strong winds.
The winds were so strong that those who were fortunate to have covered pools were soon to find out that their pools were uncovered. This is much worse than having a kippa fly off and reveal a bald head, instead of a Toupe.
In any case, the winds should subside a bit, but looking ahead another storm should approach on Friday and then winds will pick up again in its wake.
In summary, the weather will not be too cool or too warm, and unless there is a concerted effort by towns located through Israel to return all the Kippot to their rightful owners, Kippot stores are going to be doing a brisk and very good business for the next week or two. By the way, I lost my favorite Kippa right before our winter's only real snow. If you've seen that, please return -- thank you.
I also have an hub cap that someone lost, and I saw another one on David Ha Melech Street near the bench up on the way to the Efrat Matnas. These would make good Kippot, except they're a bit large.
Barry Lynn
The winds were so strong that those who were fortunate to have covered pools were soon to find out that their pools were uncovered. This is much worse than having a kippa fly off and reveal a bald head, instead of a Toupe.
In any case, the winds should subside a bit, but looking ahead another storm should approach on Friday and then winds will pick up again in its wake.
In summary, the weather will not be too cool or too warm, and unless there is a concerted effort by towns located through Israel to return all the Kippot to their rightful owners, Kippot stores are going to be doing a brisk and very good business for the next week or two. By the way, I lost my favorite Kippa right before our winter's only real snow. If you've seen that, please return -- thank you.
I also have an hub cap that someone lost, and I saw another one on David Ha Melech Street near the bench up on the way to the Efrat Matnas. These would make good Kippot, except they're a bit large.
Barry Lynn
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