Bauchrednung

Hmmmm. Just found this online - and wondering what to think about it. You see, when Jim Henson died, and his son started mimicking Kermit's voice, I knew it was a fake. Kermit is dead, but he has left a great legacy on tv and in movies.

I never knew Lamb Chop very well. Apparently Shari Lewis is no longer with us, and her daughter Mallory is now working with Lamb Chop. I rather enjoyed this portion of their night club show, and Lamb Chop seems to enjoy working with the daughter ... so I suppose it's ok in the end.

The Fourth Plinth

And the winner is ... NOT the sculpture of the Battenberg cake (which was, as you should know, my favourite option), but this blue cockerel, preceded by a boy of gold on a rocking horse of gold. The blue is most blue, and should stand out against the grey upon grey of Trafalgar Square. But come on, people! What's not to love about a giant piece of teacake? Grrrrr.

First Class Stamps!

Hurrah! New English stamps out today, which made the front page of the Times! The mother of ravaj was not so excited (if she had not been so yekke she would have said "Feh!") but I was happy indeed I exulted. Which is as it should be for one who spent many years collecting the complete Captain Scarlet adventures on VHS, and who has a metal model of Thunderbird 2 on her office desk (when she has an office). Thank you very much Stamp-Choosing Committee. You made my day.

Deborah Lynn Friedman z"l

Early this morning, in a California hospital, Debbie Friedman breathed her last. For most of us, she is as alive as ever she was through the music she wrote that we listen to and sing. We shall always have that. To the people who really knew her - her family, and her friends; they mourn a grievous loss. May they be consoled with the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. And, as my friend Halima said: "inna lillah wa inna ilayhi raji'un" (we belong to God, and to God is our return).

Many of my friends are currently sharing their memories of Debbie. Although I met her a couple of times, and attended many of her concerts, I do not have a eulogising anecdote. What comes to mind is that she attended the Limmud Conference at the University of Warwick last month. I was there for a day, and in a spare moment considered going to one of her workshops. I was, however, exhausted, and decided to catch her next time. No next time now. So, in the words of Horace,"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero – Seize the Day, putting as little trust as possible in the future."

Some links:





The Washington Post

Union for Reform Judaism

The Jerusalem Post

Seize the Day by DLF on Amazon

Memories of Debbie Friedman by Ben Dreyfus

David Levy on Jewschool

New York Times obituary

Los Angeles Times obituary

A recording of the synagogue portion of Debbie's funeral


Debbie Friedman Journey of Spirit


possibly one of Debbie's last jam sessions, late one night at Limmud:


And then there is Cantor Wally and the Ess-Bees. Love this one:

A Twist of Fate

It may not look too bad, but the chap standing in the middle of the photograph has just had his tibia & fibia broken by a tackle, and will probably miss the rest of the season. One kick, and everything can change. Scary.

Get well soon Jamie!