I recently heard an interview with Maz Jobrani (Terry Gross Show, NPR). Jobrani, an Iranian living in the US, makes jokes about Jews, Arabs, Asianns, Americans, and everybody else who is stereotyped by the society. I greatly admire his wit and courage for being so outspoken, and breaking so many stereotypes that still prevail. A part of me wishes he ran out of material, but this is only dream. As soon as some stereotypes are broken, the new ones are already born.

I recently heard a report on NPR (can't remember which program) about Hamas's victory in Gaza. The leaders of the movement recorded a victory speech which was played over the loud speakers. Not only did they fail to show up in Gaza to deliver the speech in person, but they recorded the horrific sounds of gun shots in the background. Was this a sign of their victory over Israel, their way of showing resilience? If so, I think they're fighting their own war, not one in which they truly care for Gaza's residents.

I am sitting in a cozy room where books reign. There are so many of them that they could make a soundproof shield against the noise of the outside world. The soft, yellow light shines on my glass of cassis. How sweet it tastes! I listen to the radio and Dore Stein, a host of Tangents at KALW, recommends a blog written by Sameh A.