Wednesday, December 30, 2009

TGL and his descendants

First thing's first, a big Mazal Tov to Reuven Kasten and his wife Tzipora (read about their wedding here) on the birth of a baby daughter. Mazal Tov also to Shmuelie and Hindy Bortunk (read about their wedding here) on the birth of their firstborn daughter. A fun time round for all, eh?

Meanwhile, in other news, it has come to my attention that today's Torah portion deals with that most noble of creatures, the lion. As you may well know, the lion, otherwise known as Panthera leo, is best known for having perfected what is known as the "male dominance" lifestyle, wherein the male sleeps all day and the female does all the hunting. Females may dispute this, and claim that responsibility equals power, but real lions know the truth.

49 comments:

e said...

lions invented the kollel lifestyle!

e said...

The Jewish innovation was to get the government to help the females.

Leo de Toot said...

Dear Mr. R.S.
As someone who shares the name, I feel a particularly affinity with this week's parsha. (Unfortunately, unlike my namesake, I have not managed to achieve the true "lion" lifestyle ... but that "kollel" concept might be an option ... something to ponder while I stretch out in the African sun and contemplate the meaning of dinner ... oops sorry I meant life, the meaning of life is what I will be thinking on.) With a mighty roar, LEO dt.

Just like a guy said...

e: No wonder we put lions on our Sifrei Torah and Parochei- to give us an example to follow!

e2: How does the government help the females? By paying for them to be special ed teachers?

LdT: To a true lion, dinner=life.

Anarchist Chossid said...

TRS, would you say that sea horse is the most imperfect of all animals?

Just like a guy said...

Is "most imperfect" the opposite of "perfect"? And why the seahorse?

Anarchist Chossid said...

Probably. No?

I think it's the only instance when the male is pregnant. Or something like that... too lazy to look up.

Anarchist Chossid said...

Look here.

"When two parties discover a mutual interest at the beginning of breeding season, they court for several days, even while others try to interfere." — Ah, just like with humans.

Just like a guy said...

Or is imperfect the opposite perfect?

Ha, I was just getting that link for myself. Evidently, the male carries the eggs, but does that mean that he's pregnant?

e said...

trs: The government gives foodstamps, section 8, and all sorts of other stuff which lions don't get. I said "help the females," because it's the females' job to make sure there's food on the table and the rent gets paid etc.

Just like a guy said...

Ahh. Quite.

Anarchist Chossid said...

Usually "being in a state of carrying a fertilized egg and resulting embryo" is deemed being pregnant.

In general, the whole section on reproduction is very interesting. I like this section the most:

"A study conducted by Amanda Vincent of Project Seahorse demonstrates the importance of the daily greetings ritual in establishing monogamous relationships between seahorses.

"Vincent kept a female seahorse in a tank with two males; after the female filled one male’s pouch with eggs he was then taken away and she was left with the unimpregnated male. During the weeks of her mate’s pregnancy, the female and her tankmate greeted each other daily, clinging to the same bit of grass and changing color, but did not display signs of serious courtship.

After the original mate gave birth he was returned to the tank, and the female was again given the choice between the two males to carry her eggs. While both males expressed enthusiasm for her attention, even tail wrestling with each other, in all six tests the female rejected her original mate and presented the next clutch of eggs to the tankmate she had greeted each day."

So many lessons for humans to draw.

Anarchist Chossid said...

And they say learning chochmas chitzoinius is useless. Ha!

Just like a guy said...

Interesting, very interesting.

Yitzchak said...

I bet some people *hem women* would rather we put seahorses on our parochei. Come to think of it some of the uglier ones I've seen have made the lions come out like seahorses.

Just like a guy said...

Modeh: Would be put the male or the female seahorse up?

bonne said...

Just thought I'd bring this up...
http://articles.sfgate.com/2004-02-07/news/17414549_1_bruce-bagemihl-homosexual-gay-penguins

Just like a guy said...

And you thought you'd bring this up because...?

You may be the prophet of TRG, but I'm the prophet of Sarabonne! said...

once on the topic of blurry gender distinctions in the animal kingdom...

Just like a guy said...

Oh, um thanks for exposing me to that.

bonne said...

I have to admit, I didn't finish reading the article...

Cheerio said...

so basically women shouldn't say hello to the men around them or they will be unfaithful?
(ok, ok, i know that was the most horrible lesson i could have derived from that story. someone should tell it to a rabbi who can then use it somewhere in one of his classes.)

Just like a guy said...

Cheerio: What are you talking about? What story?

Anarchist Chossid said...

Well, as my rabbi's father used to say, the only platonic relationship possible is that between husband and wife. You may think attaching to the same leaf, changing colors together, having innocent conversations (while your husband is sitting in a different tank with kids) is nothing serious...

Anarchist Chossid said...

Read the study I copied above.

Anarchist Chossid said...

All I know is what it says on this poster.

Just like a guy said...

OK, now I get what Cheerio was talking about, but what's with the "leaf, colors, and tank" thing?

And what does that poster have to do with anything?

Cheerio said...

huh?

Just like a guy said...

Now what?

Anarchist Chossid said...

Dude, read the thing about Ms. Vincent meddling into sea horse sholom bayis carefully.

Just like a guy said...

Ahh, understand I understand.

Cheerio said...

i still dont get the poster

Just like a guy said...

Ahh, well that makes two of us.

Anarchist Chossid said...

That makes three of us. There was a point I was trying to make, but alas, it might be lost forever, unless I reproduce the same order of drinks I had last night.

Unfortunate it is.

Just like a guy said...

It doesn't have to be unfortunate. Just reproduce the order of drinks, and it's a win-win!

Anarchist Chossid said...

Well, three more days.

Anarchist Chossid said...

(Actually, four.)

Just like a guy said...

Oh my, major deja vu right there- I distinctly remember you writing those same two comments at some time in the past. Regardless, what's happening this Monday?

Anarchist Chossid said...

My contract with the Lord is re-affirmed.

Anarchist Chossid said...

Re: deja vu. I am a very predictable person. Straight like an arrow.

Just like a guy said...

You're getting circumcised again?

Anarchist Chossid said...

Chv"sh. I was talking about my neshama's contract. And it's Tuesday. (Right?)

Just like a guy said...

How would I know if it's right or not? I'm not even sure that I know for sure certainly what you're talking about!

Anarchist Chossid said...

My b/d.

Rambam's yortzeit is on Wed., right?

Just like a guy said...

Ahh, we should make you a party! Any chance of coming in a night early?

Correct.

Anarchist Chossid said...

Probably not. But I'll keep you posted. Thanks anyway.

Cheerio said...

happy early birthday!
that was a very confusing sequence of comments. i feel like i'm missing a few connecting sentences in there.

Just like a guy said...

Sometimes there's more being said than what's written.

Anarchist Chossid said...

Thanks, Cheerio.

Sometimes there is more being written than what's said.