Maayan

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

March 2, 2018 by Robert J. Avrech 4 Comments

“Out here in California, I knew as much as the rest of the girls in movies, which was nothing. The difference was I would take any part. I never sought to be a star. I didn’t mind being typed. I wanted to be typed. One of the greatest thrills of my life was hearing a director say he wanted a Lucille Ball-type for a picture. Of course, later it was different when they said they wanted a young Lucille Ball-type.”
—Lucille Ball

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

February 16, 2018 by Robert J. Avrech 6 Comments

“Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it’s not an art. The main thing about directing is: photograph the people’s eyes.”
—John Ford

Succos: 2016

October 16, 2016 by Robert J. Avrech 5 Comments

A Yemenite Jew named Yehia holding a lulav and etrog—the four species— in a succah, Jerusalem, 1939. — A Yemenite Jew named Yehia holding a lulav and etrog—the four species—in a Sukkah, Jerusalem, 1939.

You will dwell in booths for seven days; all natives of Israel shall dwell in booths.

—Leviticus 23:42

On the first day, you will take for yourselves a fruit of a beautiful tree, palm branches, twigs of a braided tree and brook willows, and you will rejoice before the L-RD your G-d for seven days.

—Leviticus 23:40

All over the world Jews are preparing—decorating the Sukkah, cooking, and more cooking—for the holiday of Sukkot.

Here are some eye-catching photos pictures of Jews celebrating this joyous holiday in Israel, Samarkand, and America, a reminder that Torah Judaism is universal and eternal.

In observance of the holiday and because of a hectic schedule Seraphic Secret will be offline until Friday.

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Friday Photos: ObamaNet Edition

February 27, 2015 by Robert J. Avrech 8 Comments

The other day Karen and I were walking along La Cienaga Boulevard when we spotted this giant sculptor of Lenin. We could not believe our eyes. Naturally, whoever is responsible for this hunk of junk will claim that this is deconstruction, an ironic comment on postmodern art and politics, yadda, eider. As far as karen and I are concerned, it's an insult to the millions of victims of Communist genocide that was a central foundation of Lenin's pitiless political program. — The other day Karen and I were walking along La Brea Boulevard when we came upon this giant sculpture of Lenin outside a building owned by Ace Gallery. “Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenin’s Head” is by the Chinese artist brothers Gao Zhen and Gao Qiang. I have no doubt the brothers will claim that this is an ironic comment on postmodern art and politics — yadda, yadda. As far as Karen and I are concerned, it’s an insult to the millions of victims of Communist genocide that was engineered by Lenin.

Few noticed that a significant erosion of liberty took place this week in a room in Washington where three Democrat party commissars voted to classify the internet as a public utility.

This means that over the next few years, slowly, almost imperceptibly, the federal government will levy increasingly heavy taxes on the internet. In ways both subtle and flagrant, internet content will be heavily influenced by Washington bureaucrats. Keep in mind that the internet is becoming indistinguishable from TV or even the movie screen. Thus, the greatest tool of propaganda—American movies—will, over the next few years, fall under the shadow of federal regulations.

The internet has been one of the greatest engines of innovation and free market capitalism since the invention of the printing press. The truth is, if the government had controlled the internet from the outset we’d still be using dial-up to get a slow-poke connection.

Of course, the Democrats understand that to control the internet is to control the message, which is what’s needed in order to centralize power. And the postmodern Democrat party is all about the exercise of raw power in order to establish a soft tyranny of the very highly paid whose mission is to redistribute every one else’s wealth and foster the illusion of liberty and equality.

We have gone from ObamaCare to ObamaNet.

And on that cheery note, let’s look at some moments in time that will, hopefully, brighten your weekend.

New York Times Predicts The End of Snow and Other Progressive Delusions

January 27, 2015 by Robert J. Avrech 4 Comments

All the News That's Fit to Forget — All the News That’s Fit to Forget

The one defining characteristic of the left is their refusal to recognize evil, much less fight it.

It views genuine threats to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — such as communism — as ignorant, xenophobic preoccupations, and lectures us that the true dangers lie elsewhere: in capitalism, colonialism, racism, gender discrimination… the usual suspects.

As Iran threatens hegemony over the Middle East’s oil fields under the protection of a nuclear umbrella, as the nation states created according to the Westphalian model fall like dominoes in the Muslim world and Islamist warlords and their paymasters in Tehran gain control over vast tracts of territory, America’s progressives (who are actually regressive) assure us that Islam has nothing to do with Islamic terrorism. Which means that neither Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iran, nor the fifty-odd repressive hellholes that define themselves as Islamic states are actually Islamic.