I love these, Billiamo. We get Pakn Treger, and the feature about Yiddish words and phrases (and sayings) at the end is always my favorite. (Missing, though, in this past issue; strange.)
Re:
"'The harder the undertaking, the easier God's help.'
"I much prefer this to the oft-heard 'God never gives us more than we can bear,' which has always struck me as glib."
Thanks. I agree. Glib it is, although I never could put it so well.
"God never gives us more than we can bear" does seem questionable! I suspect it's more about God wanting to teach the afflicted person something important.
I've always thought of it as a motivator of sorts. Like a mantra to chant that will give one the strength to carry on, that God knows you can make it through.
Truth never dies but it lives a wretched life touched me deeply. I asked a younger family member who supports Palestine (to my horror) "Which river? Which sea?" He became unhinged and shouted "Yes, what happened in Israel was terrible" and could not go on. Yes, I am firmly a Zionist (although the immature people using that word are using it incorrectly). I'm saving this. Thanks for sharing.
What's amazing to me is how screaming liberals know very little about whatever it is that they are screaming about. Truth and facts are aways irrelevant. The irony of "no kings" completely misses the fact that 250 years ago Geo. Washington led the first Continental Army against the tyranny of a King. Are they attempting to conflate themselves, wittingly or unwittingly, to being patriots (a despised word) fighting against the "tyranny" of immigration law? But "democracy is in danger!" they scream. And yet, their arguments and efforts dismiss the democratic process by which Trump was elected. I will never get around how ironically the Party of Love manages to undermine and pervert everything they touch, 1984 style, because truth for them truly "lives a wretched life".
The libs' wilful ignorance is staggering. I find it amazing that while they're screaming about democracy, it never occurs to them that a king would never allow protests, and they are just fine with not knowing who was actually running the country for the past 4 years. Meanwhile, their "protests" help no one. It's just another sore-loser tantrum. It's very disturbing that they are all in favor of letting anyone and everyone into the country. It's very tempting to ask them why they haven't taken the doors off their homes and given all their money to illegals. They'd never see the analogy, though.
I think this nationwide protest was a carefully thought and paid for failure. I do not think they will stop attempting anarchy until we all look like Portland. What is fueling them is fear, not truth. Oh, and Qatari money.
All in all a dud. In blue cities that's all the losers have to do on a weekend. Here in Florida, they were relegated to sidewalks in some remote part of St. Pete. Not sure about Tampa as it was underwhelming. This effort is boring. And no matter what they attempt it will be a loser because because they are committed to losing. Mostly sad and lonely Boomers attempting a come back that most people don't care about.
Trump was hilariously on point when he observed that kings always get their way so he can't be much of a king. To the same effect, if Trump were really a dictator, his critics would all be strung up on piano wire in secret police headquarters. But that hasn't happened, either. Silly liberals shrieking to the contrary just show how unhinged they all really are.
Dems count on non-thinkers. The idiots always try a new and improved version of "lipstick on a pig". Dictator, authoritarian, Hitler, tyrant, king...blah, blah, blah. How about spend less time on predictable spin and gimmicky catchphrases and more time on things like coherent policies.
Why can't they figure out that normal people don't want that? Normal people want to be able to do what they want without interference from assholes. Why is that difficult?
A big part of this is massive DELUSION. There are a small few who truly believe, and are directing the entire power base in the party to 'believe' in their idiocy. The PR pukes have successfully convinced them that this is their way forward. They got away with so much under biden and obama, and with the help of the media they truly believe they they can do it again. They'll be taught an even bigger lesson in the next election. And when the corporate media starts losing BIG money, they will change their tune.
True so many times on the face of things, yet resistance always has some effect imo, even if only planting some seeds for the future. Besides, I think old folks learn to get sneakier, smarter and more determined in our resistance......
And I don’t see any of these legislators introducing bills to change immigration law. Wouldn’t that be the way to affect the change they seem to want in “our democracy “? They just want to ignore the duly enacted laws rather and stage ridiculous confrontations. Sen. Padilla for example could write a bill and try to get it passed rather than disrupt a press conference.
Absolutely!! My thoughts exactly. They don't actually care about immigration. They only care about immigration as a tool to promote their divisive agenda.
I asked that very question, advocating change in immigration law 30 years ago. 15 years ago I started to get mad at "activists" who said illegals should be entitled to tax payer benefits like Medicare and Social Security. Now, IDK why, but this IS what they wanted all along.
And Padilla is one of, if not the dumbest Senators in Congress. He couldn't get elected as a dog catcher, anywhere. There are simply NO consequences for the democrat morons from CA.
I suspect truth lives such a wretched life because it's so much easier to do the wrong thing vs the pain and challenge of doing the right thing. I've had THAT conversation with my kids many times.
I was horrified to find a post in my email yesterday from a member of my online health forum celebrating the end of Israel! First time I have seen that kind of thing there. Folks do get political in that group but we mostly try to stay on health topics. I decided not to engage yesterday and no one else did either, but if it happens again I may have to challenge it.
I had to disengage with my long-time realtor after he posted some anti-Israel stuff on FB. We have made him a lot of money over the years with our buying/renovating/selling and I was very unnerved by his conduct. Now we are selling our home - with a new realtor!
I have tried gently engaging. I haven't been successful. I have left local groups, art galleries, etc. I even had an interesting back and forth with my activist nephew, but, in the end, they believe Elon Musk is a Nazi, President Trump is a Dictator and Trans lives are all that matters. I'm not saying I give up.
I asked three anti-Zionists today, if Zionism is ethnocentric and fascist and would purge non-Jews from Israel (I don't know whether many Zionists have this objective; certainly the people currently in Israel are doing a terrible job of this), is this more or less objectionable (or fascist, using whatever their definition is) than Islamism (noting that Zionists seek to occupy a tiny sliver of land in the Levant, and Islamists seek to take over and purge the world)?
I agree with what has been commented on so far. I also like the proverb about “when a fool is silent…”. Mark Twain knew what he was talking about. Lots of those types on social media. Thank you for this essay, Billiamo.
How appropriate. The emptiness and vacuousness of "leaders" who don't lead speaks to the emptiness and thoughtlessness of their followers. Fools who follow fools are, indeed, dangerous.
Reminds of the line in the original Star Wars. Han Solo called Ben Kenobi a fool, and Ben replied, "Who is more foolish: the fool or the fool who follows him?"
“Whatever happens to Israel will happen to Mr. Israel.” My father always reminded me “that no matter where I am, I should always help Israel”. I totally agree that the country of Israel must exist for Jews in the Diaspora to exist. For me, help meant volunteering and donating money that help Israel and Mr. Israel.
From what I've read, the guy was focused on abortion. He had a list of targets who seem to have been lower-level politicians in three states who were advocates of abortion.
Ms Celia has one aspect. The sense I received is that the victims were, to borrow a meme from another problem, "apostates," and that the shooter was a True Democrat. One hopes that the Party doesn't advertise 72 virgins or some other such inducements.
They got rid of their king, and ended up with an emperor who thought he was a god. If a baseball team made that kind of trade, they’d be last in their league.
Weren’t the protests supposed to be focused on the “unfair” deportation of illegal immigrants from this country? Remind me again how NO KINGS, the founding principal which our founding fathers aimed to prevent happening here, has anything to do with sending illegals back home?
It’s just another reason for lefties to express vitriolic hatred for Trump. Every day is an antiTrump protest in leftworld.
Thank you for your thought-provoking essay this morning, Billiamo. The proverbs easily describe what is happening in our world today, which I think speaks to the fact that humankind is innately wired a certain way. People never change (or learn from history), only the times do. Same problems, different century. Sigh.
That said, it's good to celebrate the ties that bind humanity and families together--celebrated in proverbs, of course. And on Fathers' Day.
Oh heck, I forgot it was Father's Day coming up! 😳 It fell unusually early in the month--as early as it CAN fall. Still dreadful of me! My apologies to all who are fathers!
My best friend is here, so I've been away from my computer more than usual, and I was rushing to get everything set up for the weekend.
To alter the subject just a bit but it is about persistence --
Starmer has ordered a national inquiry into grooming gangs. (Not past time). Casey's quick review comes out tomorrow (apparently) and is expected to say that it is mainly Pakistani men who have behaved in this fashion and recommends an statutory inquiry into the cover up culture. Bradford is reputed to be worse than Rochdale. On Friday 7 men (mainly Pakistani), certainly all with Asian sounding names, were convicted of raping 2 girls (2001 - 2006) in Rochdale. Even Starmer could no longer ignore. The Tories and Reform 'won' on this one. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/06/14/starmer-launches-national-grooming-gang-inquiry/ or https://archive.ph/yWo55
The UK has told its nationals not to travel to Israel. It is going to get worse before it gets better, but given the little bits which are coming out about Iran testing components, I think the world owes Israel a debt of gratitude (which will hopefully be paid by leaving Israel in peace) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/15/israel-iran-stikes-middle-east/
And if the US Army is going to start parading, they need to get units which are used to ceremonial duties so they can march in time. It just looked sloppy. The US Army needs to look sharp on parade. There are reasons why it is just the Guards who do the Trooping of the Colour (their uniforms are also prettier).
If the UK is waiting for Starmer to do a complete about face, I wouldn't hold my breath. Yes, the world owes a debt of gratitude to Israel. Sorry, but I disagree with your assessment of US Military. If their marching was perfect they would have been accused of goose stepping like, you know. Lethality is not parading. Celebrating the 250th Army that kicked A** and continue to do so.
I concur. I first thought it looked a bit sloppy, then I realized that marching in lock step was NOT what they are trained to do,..... destroy the enemy is often a bit sloppy!
I was wondering about the marching. Uniformed soldiers/officers were marching in step but those in casual fatigues were not. Perhaps different requirements?
I suspect the size and scale of the parade was rapidly increased and it does take months to get the thing right. I also suspect that US soldiers don't do much marching beyond basic training.
Practice marching or practice being an effective soldier. I vote for the latter--and I'm a military brat from a decorated father, married a military officer, have grandsons and a granddaughter in the military. And I'm thrilled that we had a celebration about and for our military--a celebration that was planned during Biden's administration two years ago and that was never about Trump's birthday.
The point is that marching in time makes an effective soldier as it is about operating as a unit.
The real trouble is that it was originally 300 in a low key ceremony which was upscaled to 6.7k in a matter of weeks. They should have put the practice in but I suspect there were time constraints. The rehearsals for the Trooping of the Colour are massive and go on for weeks. It is why specific units are there and know about it a year in advance. If there are to be more parades (and there should be), the US should properly plan for this. There is lots to celebrate and 31 years between parades is just too long.
It speaks to something Hegseth and Trump have repeatedly claimed -- the military have been allowed to get sloppy around the edges. It is why Hegseth has put the warrior, the person who will go on deployment at the heart of what he is trying to do. It is about ensuring everything works like clockwork. Nobody wants the helicopters crashing in desert as they did under Carter.
I hope that the parade which kicks off the 250 celebrations will help restore pride in America's achievements, something which seems to be lacking amongst a certain sector.
Wrong on every count. I don't know where you get the propaganda you are spreading. Do you know those boys? Possibly new recruits as recruiting has been off the charts successful since Secretary of Defense Hegseth said of the previous incompetence "we are done with that shit". This is not the Queens Guard, madam. These are the faces of men and women that will keep you from being beheaded. No one wants killing, except that you want British troops to defend a losing Dictator against a Nuclear powered military might. A little bashing might be acceptable, but you're double downing on a losing hand, You have claimed before that the US Military was not as well informed as you. Now you call them sloppy and ill trained. Prove it, or STHU.
It's an interesting observation. I've always been conflicted about whether marching with precision is a worthwhile example of excellent morale, discipline and training, or of time spent on what amounts to irrelevancies in modern warfare.
They practice killing the enemy and keeping their company safe. Just like they did 250 years ago when they defeated the largest and most successful Army in the world. Yours.
Yes. Didn't see it, but very surprised at anyone in "casual fatigues" being in a parade. But it's a different world than it was when I was in the service -- appearing in public in fatigue-level clothing (blue jeans for the Navy) was Not Done.
Awesome offering this morning, Billiamo - and thanks, Celia. So much wisdom and wit from the same people who gave us the Old Testament. As I've said here before, if this crazy, creative brilliant and sometimes maddening tribe didn't exist, we'd have to invent them. For all the ways they entertain, enliven and elevate our lives. And to those Jew hating savages who roam our streets and campuses - How dare you threaten our Jewish brothers and sisters in America? Just as America stands with Israel on the world stage, so, too, must we stand with American Jews at home.
I recently sent along to a left leaning friend a video of Bill Maher explaining how angry young liberals might take up the cause of the genocide of women in Fanatical Islamic regime controlled countries; a feminist and human rights cause where I was sure we would have common ground. I know her to be an ardent feminist and thought she would like it. Her reply was that she hated Bill Maher because he is a misogynist. I then asked her why she said that and what had he done to deserve the doxxing. She became angry, told me she hadn’t watched the video and then asked me why I was baiting her. It seems that when asked for concrete reasons for their hatred and refusal to communicate, cooperate on a divisive issue or address something which they might deem threatening to their dogma, the liberal crowd simply doubles down on their childlike behavior. How can anyone ever communicate and fine common ground with these folks? Perhaps I need to lay down to then stand up again?
It's a very sad and frustrating hallmark of the "progressive:" "If I don't know a thing, it cannot possibly be true. And if it wasn't in The Times, I don't know it." It isn't you. But that doesn't make it any less painful.
I think these people know at their core that what they're committing to is hypocrisy. This is a very difficult truth to accept when the entirety of their political identity, defined by women's rights, is in conflict with their support of misogyny. The super feminists have no way to explain why they and their party support the denigrating treatment of women by fundamentalist Islam. Their cult like inculcation is beyond reason or logic...and they don't care.
The response you describe is almost exactly the same as the one I got during Covid when I sent very credible science backed info to a local high school science teacher 'friend'. She is no longer a friend as she accused me of putting the community at risk by spreading misinformation just by sharing such science backed info from well credentialed researchers. I asked her why she was so angry and she really couldn't tell me.
It's seems quite likely the jab causes inflammation in the Hippocampus--critical thinking part of the brain. Although the whole crazy angry FLoyd/BLM thing started before the vax was widely available. I think folks were already on the edge and the lockdowns and fear mongering pushed them over- then the vax just sealed the deal. Right now the chaos is unrelenting and folks are losing it. Just my opinion.
Like any abuse- the gift that keeps on giving long after the traumatic event is over....except it isn't even over yet as they are still pushing the vax on lots of people, still fearmongering, etc.
Yes the toxic spike protein can breach the brain/blood barrier. But you are also right that the rage goes further back--though I do think that all the meds people take are a factor in some of this degenerative problem--along with the loss of community. It's a big issue, for sure. Something has to be done about the cesspool the MSMedia projects every day that fuels all this hate. Some days, I despair, especially when it shows up in my own family, which it does.
I’m a victim of it myself, meaning I’m more and more reluctant to go out if I don’t have to. It’s just much easier to stay home and have everything shipped to me.
We for sure have not recovered as a society from COVID and maybe we never will. I no longer trust my former community which puts a serious damper on my socializing. I find I am far more wary when engaging with new people also now because it seems there is just so much shit to step in everywhere, all the way around these days.
When the emotion level in the brain is high the rational and thinking parts of the brain shut down. The problem is far too many run on emotion during most of their waking hours.
It’s because the left is a dogmatic, authoritarian “religion” that does not tolerate apostasy. A recent study found that there is more diversity of thought on the political right then on the political left.
I assume Islamists are by definition radical. I could be wrong. But do you mean the majority of Muslims? I suspect the majority are not so radical, but passive, with a tendency to be submissive(!) to the radical elements.
Agreed. But I would argue that the majority of Muslims are Islamists. Their religion is, by definition, submissive to Allah and/or their religious leaders. On that we definitely agree.
Thank you for sharing these Billiamo. I love proverbs. The wisdom and experience of those who came before us distilled to a single sentence. Anyone can babble, but it takes real thought to express truths so concisely.
I first began hearing "Yiddish Proverbs" in 1966, when I was hired by a Hollywood talent agency. The bookkeeper was old Bea Punsly, and she and I always were the first to arrive at the office each morning. I'll never forget hearing her sing out, in gravelly voice, "Coffee's up, Mike," and she used all of your proverbs the rest of the day. Bea was the mother of Bernard Punsly, of the "Dead End Kids," if you go back that far. In adult life, Bernard was a doctor, of course.
I see that Bernard was the last surviving member of the Dead End Kids.
What a great time for you to be in Hollywood. Until recently, several of Roddy McDowell's home movies were available on YouTube. They consisted of parties at a Malibu beach house (tiny by today's standards) in 1965 and featured every major star you can imagine from that time. Natalie Wood was at her most beautiful in many of them. In one, a bikini-clad Julie Andrews is seen driving away in a small station wagon (Ford Falcon?) with her little girl. People seemed to just drop by.
Unfortunately, all the movies were pulled from YouTube due to a copyright claim. It's a shame because they were such a treat to watch. That they were silent was part of their charm.
I'd love to see those. I wasn't in that crowd, but close. "Roddy" (there was only one) was mentioned in many stories and events. Natalie Wood was my all time favorite "movie star," she's the only person I was ever a fan, besides Bob Dylan. Her end still bothers me.
Wonderful encouragement and wisdom to wake up too! Thank you. Reminds me of the essence of so many old time Cherokee sayings. I think folks who live through seriously hard times have to dig deep to carry on.......
You're welcome. It's interesting how common a lot of these proverbs are to various cultures, and how they make their way through the centuries. The Nigerian "When you dine with the devil, you must use a very long spoon" derives from Shakespeare, who in turn got it from Chaucer.
Thank you for sharing this Billiamo. I’m so impressed that you actually saw the Babylonian Talmud, pretty cool. I have read some of the Talmud, excerpts written by my cousin, who is a Rabbi. The Proverbs you provided are excellent.
Tough to get my head around this with much deep thought this morning due to the insanity going on in Israel and Iran. Iranian leadership has back channeled for help. The Iranian people are rising up. Great news, I can’t begin to put words to it.
So I’ll save this post and read it later.
Can you still read Yiddish and interpret ? I have a note in Yiddish that was written by my grandmother to her sister back in Ukraine in the 1970’s. Her son came to the US and tracked me down and gave me the note. But I can’t read it. Not many people can still read this language.
If Billiamo can't, you can try to contact the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA. They might have a department that does such things, and they also have interns galore who might help.
You can start with Google Translate. It takes photographs.
I went through this exercise trying to translate text on the back of an old photograph of my father's distant family, who left Belarus and ended up in Argentina during WWI. They still carry my last name. It led to my attempt to connect with them and share stories that became a part of my book. (A reference is on my Substack.)
You're welcome, Brian. I could probably do it if the letters were clear, but if they're in a very stylistic, cursive alef-bet it would probably be beyond me. But if you're out of ideas I'm happy to give it my best at iverwill at gmail dot com.
I find reading Yiddish (better yet, sounding it out) so much easier than Hebrew, thanks to the vowels and dipthongs helpfully included.
Check out this beautiful poster, from World War I. The heading reads Shfeyz vet gevinen di krieg ("Food will win the war"):
I was pleasantly surprised to both recognize many words in some of the sayings, based on their similarity to English, and recognize none at all in others!
Just now remembered that I bought a poster called The Yiddish Lesson somewhere in Greenwich Village, probably at Azuma, back in the early 1970s. I hung it in our basement. It disappeared eventually, like other things of mine -- Mom, probably. I hold no grudge: She was a cleaner-outer par excellence. Me, I save string and rubber bands.
I especially liked “The outer dress hides the inner distress” - so true of so many of us; and “He [who] lies down cannot fall” - a life lived without risk is missing a great deal.
As for the No Kings rallies: I live in a fairly affluent suburb, a “purple” legislative district. I was surprised by the number of people holding virtue-signaling signs on the sidewalks at our main intersection a little past noon. The people were mostly middle-aged and older females, though some were teenagers, and others were little kids brought by parents. It’s important to model civil engagement, don’tcha know. Anyhoo … I was surprised by the number - perhaps 250? - and was shaking my head at their gullible foolishness.
Those people (presumably) live around me. They’re the ones who had Black Lives Matter yard signs up the fastest. They should remain silent and be thought foolish, instead of … you know the rest. But within their own tribe, they are sanctimonious heroes!
There is an interesting trope in literature that pictures "collectors" (outward dress of the proverb) who are trying to fill a vacant hole in their psyches by filling it with...stuff...they purchase, hoard, etc. I suspect there is an actual theory about this type of behavior in psychiatry...somewhere.
Your comment brought to my mind the obsession so many women have about not looking their age. I think of the "outward" attire worn by Halle Berry (58) and and Jennifer Lopez (55). Something is definitely wrong with women who dress indecntly, no matter what their age or profession. Those two are just examples of entertainers, but these women are everywhere. I see plenty of them in south Florida. They look like desperate idiots.
Mary, oh my gosh, just a day or two ago, I was thinking of writing a substack on this very topic. The saying “wow she looks good, for her age”. Why do we always have to add ‘for her age’ at the end? Why are we so obsessed with youth culture?
Well JLo’s wealth is built on her sexed up looks. And Berry likely wouldn’t get parts without the sex because she’s not that good of an actress.
But ordinary women doing this are sad. So much time and money goes into their looks and sadly it doesn't matter. After a certain age we are invisible. We could rob banks and even with video we wouldn’t be caught.
Yesterday, Wilfred Reilly (a political scientist I like) observed that the crowds at the various No Kings demonstrations were an "insanely old, white, female, middle-middle class (not upper or lower or working), neurotic/masked crowd", and that the spectators at the US Army parade "looked like America".
I love these, Billiamo. We get Pakn Treger, and the feature about Yiddish words and phrases (and sayings) at the end is always my favorite. (Missing, though, in this past issue; strange.)
Re:
"'The harder the undertaking, the easier God's help.'
"I much prefer this to the oft-heard 'God never gives us more than we can bear,' which has always struck me as glib."
Thanks. I agree. Glib it is, although I never could put it so well.
"God never gives us more than we can bear" does seem questionable! I suspect it's more about God wanting to teach the afflicted person something important.
I've always thought of it as a motivator of sorts. Like a mantra to chant that will give one the strength to carry on, that God knows you can make it through.
I reread Job a couple month ago.
Funny, isn't it, that Satan tweaks God about Job's faithfulness ("but put forth thine hand --"), and so God in essence replies Okay, the bet's on!
I love Job. I love it when the "comforters" get theirs.
Job is a hard read.
If it were true in the literal sense, no one would ever commit suicide.
Truth never dies but it lives a wretched life touched me deeply. I asked a younger family member who supports Palestine (to my horror) "Which river? Which sea?" He became unhinged and shouted "Yes, what happened in Israel was terrible" and could not go on. Yes, I am firmly a Zionist (although the immature people using that word are using it incorrectly). I'm saving this. Thanks for sharing.
What's amazing to me is how screaming liberals know very little about whatever it is that they are screaming about. Truth and facts are aways irrelevant. The irony of "no kings" completely misses the fact that 250 years ago Geo. Washington led the first Continental Army against the tyranny of a King. Are they attempting to conflate themselves, wittingly or unwittingly, to being patriots (a despised word) fighting against the "tyranny" of immigration law? But "democracy is in danger!" they scream. And yet, their arguments and efforts dismiss the democratic process by which Trump was elected. I will never get around how ironically the Party of Love manages to undermine and pervert everything they touch, 1984 style, because truth for them truly "lives a wretched life".
Beautifully put.
The libs' wilful ignorance is staggering. I find it amazing that while they're screaming about democracy, it never occurs to them that a king would never allow protests, and they are just fine with not knowing who was actually running the country for the past 4 years. Meanwhile, their "protests" help no one. It's just another sore-loser tantrum. It's very disturbing that they are all in favor of letting anyone and everyone into the country. It's very tempting to ask them why they haven't taken the doors off their homes and given all their money to illegals. They'd never see the analogy, though.
Aaaarrrrrghh! Wtf!!!!!
Just like they never see the hypocrisy of forcing vax mandates, all the while screaming 'Hands of My Body' when it comes to reproductive issues.
I think this nationwide protest was a carefully thought and paid for failure. I do not think they will stop attempting anarchy until we all look like Portland. What is fueling them is fear, not truth. Oh, and Qatari money.
All in all a dud. In blue cities that's all the losers have to do on a weekend. Here in Florida, they were relegated to sidewalks in some remote part of St. Pete. Not sure about Tampa as it was underwhelming. This effort is boring. And no matter what they attempt it will be a loser because because they are committed to losing. Mostly sad and lonely Boomers attempting a come back that most people don't care about.
Trump was hilariously on point when he observed that kings always get their way so he can't be much of a king. To the same effect, if Trump were really a dictator, his critics would all be strung up on piano wire in secret police headquarters. But that hasn't happened, either. Silly liberals shrieking to the contrary just show how unhinged they all really are.
Dems count on non-thinkers. The idiots always try a new and improved version of "lipstick on a pig". Dictator, authoritarian, Hitler, tyrant, king...blah, blah, blah. How about spend less time on predictable spin and gimmicky catchphrases and more time on things like coherent policies.
Can’t have coherent policy when you’re simply the party of destroy and tear things down.
Why can't they figure out that normal people don't want that? Normal people want to be able to do what they want without interference from assholes. Why is that difficult?
A big part of this is massive DELUSION. There are a small few who truly believe, and are directing the entire power base in the party to 'believe' in their idiocy. The PR pukes have successfully convinced them that this is their way forward. They got away with so much under biden and obama, and with the help of the media they truly believe they they can do it again. They'll be taught an even bigger lesson in the next election. And when the corporate media starts losing BIG money, they will change their tune.
"Permanent revolution" is exhausting, and so are its advocates.
They spent years in college and University being taught how to make your argument fit the pre chosen outcome, not the facts.
Scott Adams (of Dilbert) who turned me on to Cialdini and Persuasion, reminded that most of us hear “Kings” rather than “No Kings”. Trump wins 😂
Cognitive dissonance on “rinse, repeat” cycle.
Resistance. Is. Futile.
True so many times on the face of things, yet resistance always has some effect imo, even if only planting some seeds for the future. Besides, I think old folks learn to get sneakier, smarter and more determined in our resistance......
And less worried about being censured by people they don't respect.
Well said !
What do you expect from people spoon-fed Howard Zinn's version of American history at Che Guevara High School?
And I don’t see any of these legislators introducing bills to change immigration law. Wouldn’t that be the way to affect the change they seem to want in “our democracy “? They just want to ignore the duly enacted laws rather and stage ridiculous confrontations. Sen. Padilla for example could write a bill and try to get it passed rather than disrupt a press conference.
Absolutely!! My thoughts exactly. They don't actually care about immigration. They only care about immigration as a tool to promote their divisive agenda.
I asked that very question, advocating change in immigration law 30 years ago. 15 years ago I started to get mad at "activists" who said illegals should be entitled to tax payer benefits like Medicare and Social Security. Now, IDK why, but this IS what they wanted all along.
And Padilla is one of, if not the dumbest Senators in Congress. He couldn't get elected as a dog catcher, anywhere. There are simply NO consequences for the democrat morons from CA.
Love this reaction Jen Todd.
Well said!
That's what Harmeet Dhillon tweeted yesterday: July 4 is the real No Kings Day.
I suspect truth lives such a wretched life because it's so much easier to do the wrong thing vs the pain and challenge of doing the right thing. I've had THAT conversation with my kids many times.
Great point!
I was horrified to find a post in my email yesterday from a member of my online health forum celebrating the end of Israel! First time I have seen that kind of thing there. Folks do get political in that group but we mostly try to stay on health topics. I decided not to engage yesterday and no one else did either, but if it happens again I may have to challenge it.
I had to disengage with my long-time realtor after he posted some anti-Israel stuff on FB. We have made him a lot of money over the years with our buying/renovating/selling and I was very unnerved by his conduct. Now we are selling our home - with a new realtor!
I hope you told him why.
I absolutely did ... publicly !
Karma is a you know what.
I have tried gently engaging. I haven't been successful. I have left local groups, art galleries, etc. I even had an interesting back and forth with my activist nephew, but, in the end, they believe Elon Musk is a Nazi, President Trump is a Dictator and Trans lives are all that matters. I'm not saying I give up.
Hoo boy.
I asked three anti-Zionists today, if Zionism is ethnocentric and fascist and would purge non-Jews from Israel (I don't know whether many Zionists have this objective; certainly the people currently in Israel are doing a terrible job of this), is this more or less objectionable (or fascist, using whatever their definition is) than Islamism (noting that Zionists seek to occupy a tiny sliver of land in the Levant, and Islamists seek to take over and purge the world)?
I've yet to receive a rational response.
I think you're in for a long wait, James.
I agree with what has been commented on so far. I also like the proverb about “when a fool is silent…”. Mark Twain knew what he was talking about. Lots of those types on social media. Thank you for this essay, Billiamo.
Primary fools aren’t the problem. Fools who believe them are.
How appropriate. The emptiness and vacuousness of "leaders" who don't lead speaks to the emptiness and thoughtlessness of their followers. Fools who follow fools are, indeed, dangerous.
Yep. Too many of them.
Reminds of the line in the original Star Wars. Han Solo called Ben Kenobi a fool, and Ben replied, "Who is more foolish: the fool or the fool who follows him?"
There ya go. Exactly the same idea. I didn't remember that line, but it probably influenced my thinking. Thanks for the reminder.
You're welcome!
Very time-appropriate.
“Whatever happens to Israel will happen to Mr. Israel.” My father always reminded me “that no matter where I am, I should always help Israel”. I totally agree that the country of Israel must exist for Jews in the Diaspora to exist. For me, help meant volunteering and donating money that help Israel and Mr. Israel.
Thank you Billiamo and Celia.
You're welcome!
A whole heck of a lotta foolishness on the streets yesterday. What king? What does democracy mean to them? I don’t get it.
The baaaaaa baaaaaa baaaa heard round the world.
My metric is what shows up on the Apple "news" feed. By that metric, nothing to see here...
No reporting on the two congresspersons and spouses that were shot/murdered?
I took the antecedent to be the No Kings hijinks. The shooting to which you refer is in the memory hole -- the shooter's motivation was wrong.
Has a motivation been found? I've been offline most of the day.
From what I've read, the guy was focused on abortion. He had a list of targets who seem to have been lower-level politicians in three states who were advocates of abortion.
Ms Celia has one aspect. The sense I received is that the victims were, to borrow a meme from another problem, "apostates," and that the shooter was a True Democrat. One hopes that the Party doesn't advertise 72 virgins or some other such inducements.
The baaaaa baaaaa baaa heard around the world! Could not be more true! I saw there would be "no kings protests" in Europe today. 🙄
It's about time the Brits (and others) ousted their King.
Didn’t France already have one of those on July 14, 1789?
LOL
Yes...and what did they get? Napoleon. Who ran away like a little child while thousands and thousands of his troops died in the snow.
They got rid of their king, and ended up with an emperor who thought he was a god. If a baseball team made that kind of trade, they’d be last in their league.
You got it.
Weren’t the protests supposed to be focused on the “unfair” deportation of illegal immigrants from this country? Remind me again how NO KINGS, the founding principal which our founding fathers aimed to prevent happening here, has anything to do with sending illegals back home?
It’s just another reason for lefties to express vitriolic hatred for Trump. Every day is an antiTrump protest in leftworld.
HAPPY FATHERS' DAY, EVERYONE!
Thank you for your thought-provoking essay this morning, Billiamo. The proverbs easily describe what is happening in our world today, which I think speaks to the fact that humankind is innately wired a certain way. People never change (or learn from history), only the times do. Same problems, different century. Sigh.
That said, it's good to celebrate the ties that bind humanity and families together--celebrated in proverbs, of course. And on Fathers' Day.
“It’s Father’s Day and everybody’s wounded” Leonard Cohen
You're welcome!
Oh heck, I forgot it was Father's Day coming up! 😳 It fell unusually early in the month--as early as it CAN fall. Still dreadful of me! My apologies to all who are fathers!
My best friend is here, so I've been away from my computer more than usual, and I was rushing to get everything set up for the weekend.
Thank you. These are very good.
To alter the subject just a bit but it is about persistence --
Starmer has ordered a national inquiry into grooming gangs. (Not past time). Casey's quick review comes out tomorrow (apparently) and is expected to say that it is mainly Pakistani men who have behaved in this fashion and recommends an statutory inquiry into the cover up culture. Bradford is reputed to be worse than Rochdale. On Friday 7 men (mainly Pakistani), certainly all with Asian sounding names, were convicted of raping 2 girls (2001 - 2006) in Rochdale. Even Starmer could no longer ignore. The Tories and Reform 'won' on this one. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/06/14/starmer-launches-national-grooming-gang-inquiry/ or https://archive.ph/yWo55
The UK has told its nationals not to travel to Israel. It is going to get worse before it gets better, but given the little bits which are coming out about Iran testing components, I think the world owes Israel a debt of gratitude (which will hopefully be paid by leaving Israel in peace) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/15/israel-iran-stikes-middle-east/
And if the US Army is going to start parading, they need to get units which are used to ceremonial duties so they can march in time. It just looked sloppy. The US Army needs to look sharp on parade. There are reasons why it is just the Guards who do the Trooping of the Colour (their uniforms are also prettier).
If the UK is waiting for Starmer to do a complete about face, I wouldn't hold my breath. Yes, the world owes a debt of gratitude to Israel. Sorry, but I disagree with your assessment of US Military. If their marching was perfect they would have been accused of goose stepping like, you know. Lethality is not parading. Celebrating the 250th Army that kicked A** and continue to do so.
I concur. I first thought it looked a bit sloppy, then I realized that marching in lock step was NOT what they are trained to do,..... destroy the enemy is often a bit sloppy!
That what defines America. We don’t march like other countries robots. We get it done!
Yes, I'm GLAD they didn't goose step like nazis, soviets, or Chinese communists.
So agree!
That's a great point. And nobody goose-steps like the Nazis -- or, more currently, the "Norkies".
I was wondering about the marching. Uniformed soldiers/officers were marching in step but those in casual fatigues were not. Perhaps different requirements?
I suspect the size and scale of the parade was rapidly increased and it does take months to get the thing right. I also suspect that US soldiers don't do much marching beyond basic training.
Not enough practice is the simple answer.
Practice marching or practice being an effective soldier. I vote for the latter--and I'm a military brat from a decorated father, married a military officer, have grandsons and a granddaughter in the military. And I'm thrilled that we had a celebration about and for our military--a celebration that was planned during Biden's administration two years ago and that was never about Trump's birthday.
The point is that marching in time makes an effective soldier as it is about operating as a unit.
The real trouble is that it was originally 300 in a low key ceremony which was upscaled to 6.7k in a matter of weeks. They should have put the practice in but I suspect there were time constraints. The rehearsals for the Trooping of the Colour are massive and go on for weeks. It is why specific units are there and know about it a year in advance. If there are to be more parades (and there should be), the US should properly plan for this. There is lots to celebrate and 31 years between parades is just too long.
It speaks to something Hegseth and Trump have repeatedly claimed -- the military have been allowed to get sloppy around the edges. It is why Hegseth has put the warrior, the person who will go on deployment at the heart of what he is trying to do. It is about ensuring everything works like clockwork. Nobody wants the helicopters crashing in desert as they did under Carter.
I hope that the parade which kicks off the 250 celebrations will help restore pride in America's achievements, something which seems to be lacking amongst a certain sector.
Fair points Michelle.
Wrong on every count. I don't know where you get the propaganda you are spreading. Do you know those boys? Possibly new recruits as recruiting has been off the charts successful since Secretary of Defense Hegseth said of the previous incompetence "we are done with that shit". This is not the Queens Guard, madam. These are the faces of men and women that will keep you from being beheaded. No one wants killing, except that you want British troops to defend a losing Dictator against a Nuclear powered military might. A little bashing might be acceptable, but you're double downing on a losing hand, You have claimed before that the US Military was not as well informed as you. Now you call them sloppy and ill trained. Prove it, or STHU.
It's an interesting observation. I've always been conflicted about whether marching with precision is a worthwhile example of excellent morale, discipline and training, or of time spent on what amounts to irrelevancies in modern warfare.
Obviously you are not a Brit. Those Goose Stepping Germans certainly showed that Rag tag RAF a thing or too. Oh, wait, no, that's not how it went.
A bit of a tangent: I believe the 1972 Munich Olympics were the last time the athletes marched in time at the Opening Ceremonies:
https://youtu.be/y2Epwrlx-Qg?t=4386
They practice killing the enemy and keeping their company safe. Just like they did 250 years ago when they defeated the largest and most successful Army in the world. Yours.
Yes. Didn't see it, but very surprised at anyone in "casual fatigues" being in a parade. But it's a different world than it was when I was in the service -- appearing in public in fatigue-level clothing (blue jeans for the Navy) was Not Done.
The UK was the one entity NOT warned about Israel bombing Iran. and they say no one trusts Trump.
This is an excellent reprise.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/06/peering_through_the_fog_of_war.html
I watched that video of the U.K. activist too. Weird.
Vince Carter NBA BBaller was called half man, half amazing. I’d call that poor thing, not even half a man more than half a sniveling wimp
Thanks. That made me feel better.
Awesome offering this morning, Billiamo - and thanks, Celia. So much wisdom and wit from the same people who gave us the Old Testament. As I've said here before, if this crazy, creative brilliant and sometimes maddening tribe didn't exist, we'd have to invent them. For all the ways they entertain, enliven and elevate our lives. And to those Jew hating savages who roam our streets and campuses - How dare you threaten our Jewish brothers and sisters in America? Just as America stands with Israel on the world stage, so, too, must we stand with American Jews at home.
Amen.
Thank you Bruce.
Jones, J Concurs
I could not agree more. And they are saving the world's ass.
Thank you, Bruce.
I recently sent along to a left leaning friend a video of Bill Maher explaining how angry young liberals might take up the cause of the genocide of women in Fanatical Islamic regime controlled countries; a feminist and human rights cause where I was sure we would have common ground. I know her to be an ardent feminist and thought she would like it. Her reply was that she hated Bill Maher because he is a misogynist. I then asked her why she said that and what had he done to deserve the doxxing. She became angry, told me she hadn’t watched the video and then asked me why I was baiting her. It seems that when asked for concrete reasons for their hatred and refusal to communicate, cooperate on a divisive issue or address something which they might deem threatening to their dogma, the liberal crowd simply doubles down on their childlike behavior. How can anyone ever communicate and fine common ground with these folks? Perhaps I need to lay down to then stand up again?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJna8FKp0cT/?igsh=MXkwOWUzeWhxOHBhYw==
Well said.
It's a very sad and frustrating hallmark of the "progressive:" "If I don't know a thing, it cannot possibly be true. And if it wasn't in The Times, I don't know it." It isn't you. But that doesn't make it any less painful.
I think these people know at their core that what they're committing to is hypocrisy. This is a very difficult truth to accept when the entirety of their political identity, defined by women's rights, is in conflict with their support of misogyny. The super feminists have no way to explain why they and their party support the denigrating treatment of women by fundamentalist Islam. Their cult like inculcation is beyond reason or logic...and they don't care.
Agree Jenn Todd--And that doesn't even get to the misogyny of the trans movement that erases women as a category.
I will never understand how this illogical psychology operates. It's a perversion.
As I wrote somewhere else today, I quesiton whether their brains have literally been harmed by some combo of meds, jabs, etc.
The response you describe is almost exactly the same as the one I got during Covid when I sent very credible science backed info to a local high school science teacher 'friend'. She is no longer a friend as she accused me of putting the community at risk by spreading misinformation just by sharing such science backed info from well credentialed researchers. I asked her why she was so angry and she really couldn't tell me.
I wonder how much damage that whole Covid event did to everyone’s psyche. People don’t seem the same anymore: more angry, insular, dull…
BC/AC. Before covid and after covid. AC has revealed many things to me that I never considered before...all if mostly bad and disappointing.
Poet, I wonder often if that covid jab did more damage to brains than realized before. There is just so much rage these days...
It's seems quite likely the jab causes inflammation in the Hippocampus--critical thinking part of the brain. Although the whole crazy angry FLoyd/BLM thing started before the vax was widely available. I think folks were already on the edge and the lockdowns and fear mongering pushed them over- then the vax just sealed the deal. Right now the chaos is unrelenting and folks are losing it. Just my opinion.
2020 really was an annus horribilis.
Like any abuse- the gift that keeps on giving long after the traumatic event is over....except it isn't even over yet as they are still pushing the vax on lots of people, still fearmongering, etc.
Yes the toxic spike protein can breach the brain/blood barrier. But you are also right that the rage goes further back--though I do think that all the meds people take are a factor in some of this degenerative problem--along with the loss of community. It's a big issue, for sure. Something has to be done about the cesspool the MSMedia projects every day that fuels all this hate. Some days, I despair, especially when it shows up in my own family, which it does.
Agree!
I’m a victim of it myself, meaning I’m more and more reluctant to go out if I don’t have to. It’s just much easier to stay home and have everything shipped to me.
We for sure have not recovered as a society from COVID and maybe we never will. I no longer trust my former community which puts a serious damper on my socializing. I find I am far more wary when engaging with new people also now because it seems there is just so much shit to step in everywhere, all the way around these days.
When the emotion level in the brain is high the rational and thinking parts of the brain shut down. The problem is far too many run on emotion during most of their waking hours.
The social media machine seeks to trigger the emotions, not reason.
+100
Yes indeed. And also so many in MSM and Congress
It’s because the left is a dogmatic, authoritarian “religion” that does not tolerate apostasy. A recent study found that there is more diversity of thought on the political right then on the political left.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Asmongold/comments/1l9bk7c/study_finds_that_there_is_more_diversity_of/
Very similar to radical Islam. The left and Islam are in bed together. And when I say radical Islam, I mean the majority of Islamists.
I assume Islamists are by definition radical. I could be wrong. But do you mean the majority of Muslims? I suspect the majority are not so radical, but passive, with a tendency to be submissive(!) to the radical elements.
Agreed. But I would argue that the majority of Muslims are Islamists. Their religion is, by definition, submissive to Allah and/or their religious leaders. On that we definitely agree.
Thank you for sharing these Billiamo. I love proverbs. The wisdom and experience of those who came before us distilled to a single sentence. Anyone can babble, but it takes real thought to express truths so concisely.
You're welcome! It would be nice to see proverbial wisdom promoted in the schools. All the kids seem to get these days are memes and lousy lyrics.
Thanks Billiamo, for these nuggets of wisdom.
You're welcome!
Everyone's already said everything, so, thank you, Billiamo.
You're welcome, Michael.
I first began hearing "Yiddish Proverbs" in 1966, when I was hired by a Hollywood talent agency. The bookkeeper was old Bea Punsly, and she and I always were the first to arrive at the office each morning. I'll never forget hearing her sing out, in gravelly voice, "Coffee's up, Mike," and she used all of your proverbs the rest of the day. Bea was the mother of Bernard Punsly, of the "Dead End Kids," if you go back that far. In adult life, Bernard was a doctor, of course.
I see that Bernard was the last surviving member of the Dead End Kids.
What a great time for you to be in Hollywood. Until recently, several of Roddy McDowell's home movies were available on YouTube. They consisted of parties at a Malibu beach house (tiny by today's standards) in 1965 and featured every major star you can imagine from that time. Natalie Wood was at her most beautiful in many of them. In one, a bikini-clad Julie Andrews is seen driving away in a small station wagon (Ford Falcon?) with her little girl. People seemed to just drop by.
Unfortunately, all the movies were pulled from YouTube due to a copyright claim. It's a shame because they were such a treat to watch. That they were silent was part of their charm.
I'd love to see those. I wasn't in that crowd, but close. "Roddy" (there was only one) was mentioned in many stories and events. Natalie Wood was my all time favorite "movie star," she's the only person I was ever a fan, besides Bob Dylan. Her end still bothers me.
Wonderful encouragement and wisdom to wake up too! Thank you. Reminds me of the essence of so many old time Cherokee sayings. I think folks who live through seriously hard times have to dig deep to carry on.......
You're welcome. It's interesting how common a lot of these proverbs are to various cultures, and how they make their way through the centuries. The Nigerian "When you dine with the devil, you must use a very long spoon" derives from Shakespeare, who in turn got it from Chaucer.
Thank you for sharing this Billiamo. I’m so impressed that you actually saw the Babylonian Talmud, pretty cool. I have read some of the Talmud, excerpts written by my cousin, who is a Rabbi. The Proverbs you provided are excellent.
Tough to get my head around this with much deep thought this morning due to the insanity going on in Israel and Iran. Iranian leadership has back channeled for help. The Iranian people are rising up. Great news, I can’t begin to put words to it.
So I’ll save this post and read it later.
Can you still read Yiddish and interpret ? I have a note in Yiddish that was written by my grandmother to her sister back in Ukraine in the 1970’s. Her son came to the US and tracked me down and gave me the note. But I can’t read it. Not many people can still read this language.
Thank you for writing this morning in JIP.
If Billiamo can't, you can try to contact the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA. They might have a department that does such things, and they also have interns galore who might help.
Thank you so much, I found it on the web.
Thank you, B!
My husband can read Yiddish and interpret.
That’s great.
I’m learning a lot here on JIP.
Thank you.
Thank you!
You can start with Google Translate. It takes photographs.
I went through this exercise trying to translate text on the back of an old photograph of my father's distant family, who left Belarus and ended up in Argentina during WWI. They still carry my last name. It led to my attempt to connect with them and share stories that became a part of my book. (A reference is on my Substack.)
Cool, thank you so much.
I’ll give it a try.
Thank you!
You're welcome, Brian. I could probably do it if the letters were clear, but if they're in a very stylistic, cursive alef-bet it would probably be beyond me. But if you're out of ideas I'm happy to give it my best at iverwill at gmail dot com.
I find reading Yiddish (better yet, sounding it out) so much easier than Hebrew, thanks to the vowels and dipthongs helpfully included.
Check out this beautiful poster, from World War I. The heading reads Shfeyz vet gevinen di krieg ("Food will win the war"):
https://tinyurl.com/3bztykcb
I was pleasantly surprised to both recognize many words in some of the sayings, based on their similarity to English, and recognize none at all in others!
Just now remembered that I bought a poster called The Yiddish Lesson somewhere in Greenwich Village, probably at Azuma, back in the early 1970s. I hung it in our basement. It disappeared eventually, like other things of mine -- Mom, probably. I hold no grudge: She was a cleaner-outer par excellence. Me, I save string and rubber bands.
Purging possessions is very healthy, you should try it some time.
Oh, I do. But string and rubber bands I use.
👍👍
Cool, looks like Hebrew without the vowels.
I’m going to try the sources provided about for translation.
That Yiddish center in Massachusetts looks perfect.
Thank you.
Thank you!
I especially liked “The outer dress hides the inner distress” - so true of so many of us; and “He [who] lies down cannot fall” - a life lived without risk is missing a great deal.
As for the No Kings rallies: I live in a fairly affluent suburb, a “purple” legislative district. I was surprised by the number of people holding virtue-signaling signs on the sidewalks at our main intersection a little past noon. The people were mostly middle-aged and older females, though some were teenagers, and others were little kids brought by parents. It’s important to model civil engagement, don’tcha know. Anyhoo … I was surprised by the number - perhaps 250? - and was shaking my head at their gullible foolishness.
Those people (presumably) live around me. They’re the ones who had Black Lives Matter yard signs up the fastest. They should remain silent and be thought foolish, instead of … you know the rest. But within their own tribe, they are sanctimonious heroes!
There is an interesting trope in literature that pictures "collectors" (outward dress of the proverb) who are trying to fill a vacant hole in their psyches by filling it with...stuff...they purchase, hoard, etc. I suspect there is an actual theory about this type of behavior in psychiatry...somewhere.
Your comment brought to my mind the obsession so many women have about not looking their age. I think of the "outward" attire worn by Halle Berry (58) and and Jennifer Lopez (55). Something is definitely wrong with women who dress indecntly, no matter what their age or profession. Those two are just examples of entertainers, but these women are everywhere. I see plenty of them in south Florida. They look like desperate idiots.
I agree. It all speaks to how women are treated in our culture, does't it?
Mary, oh my gosh, just a day or two ago, I was thinking of writing a substack on this very topic. The saying “wow she looks good, for her age”. Why do we always have to add ‘for her age’ at the end? Why are we so obsessed with youth culture?
Well JLo’s wealth is built on her sexed up looks. And Berry likely wouldn’t get parts without the sex because she’s not that good of an actress.
But ordinary women doing this are sad. So much time and money goes into their looks and sadly it doesn't matter. After a certain age we are invisible. We could rob banks and even with video we wouldn’t be caught.
Well, that’s a depressing thought.
They keep the plastic surgeons busy.
Yesterday, Wilfred Reilly (a political scientist I like) observed that the crowds at the various No Kings demonstrations were an "insanely old, white, female, middle-middle class (not upper or lower or working), neurotic/masked crowd", and that the spectators at the US Army parade "looked like America".
My favorite saying, which is so true:
"Mann tracht, un Gott lacht"
Man plans, God laughs.
Oh, yes. "Man proposes, God disposes."