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Your hair looks awesome!!

So it's just a giant shady scheme of the Israeli government and wealthy american supporters to brainwash the next generation of American Jews into supporting Israel. They are expecting you to go into it trying to be critical and so their propaganda tactics are way more subtle and manipulative than you would expect them to be and even took me by surprise. Like they physically and emotionally exhaust you by having you do these hikes and go to the holocaust museum and then try to convey political ideas to you in a way that makes it seem like they are arising naturally in a reflection with your peers. And then there's more overtly shady shit like they take you to a gift shop and encourage you to spend a bunch of money and don't tell you it's in a settlement. I would read the Birthright Revisited series on the Jewcy website and the graphic novel How to Understand Israel in 60 Days.

I am still glad I went. I made some good friends and the whole experience of getting wrapped up in the propaganda and then learning about how calculated everything was actually inspired me to get way more informed and interested in it all than I would have been otherwise. And even though I know this is part of what they are going for, it was a new and pretty cool experience for me to be in a group of Jewish people my age. If I take that for what it was and not let it influence my politics, it was meaningful for me and a neat way to feel connected to my heritage.

and as for it being fucked up to go, I disagree. There are a certain number of spots on these trips and they have tons of people trying to go. Somebody is going to...I think it is better for it to be people who will think critically about it.

To answer your question, I did the Israel Outdoors program, but I've heard that they don't differ all that much except the super religious ones. They all have to cover the same landmarks in the 10 days.

Yeah, I can respond to this more later.

What did you all think of the hotel bar scene? I thought it was still pretty male gaze-y even though it is from aomama's perspective.

Oh! And I thought it was funny he mentioned a bald census. Is it in the Windup Bird Chronicle where she is counting bald men?

Are we aiming for 200 by April 17?

Yeah!! I'm excited to see how they come together too!

Yes!!

anyone still with me? haha

[do not read past here until finishing pages 1-100!]

do not read past here until finishing pages 1-100!

What did you all think?? What a cliff hanger to leave us on.
I'm not sure if I like Aomame or not yet but am definitely intrigued by time getting fuzzy for her. I like tengo and fuka-eri a lot and am excited to see who this professor is. I think it is awesome that it gets a little self referential near the end of this section...talking about reading long books and it taking time and stuff.

How many pages are you all reading tonight? I have 18 left!

The Vietnamese character is way more offensive/problematic than the native American storyline

Yeah, I don't think the points in that article are great either. Like Jer said...it is absurdist..of course it is disturbing. The idea of mole women is disturbing, as are lots of other parts of the show if taken "at face value." And I understand the point about non native folks playing native Americans, but honestly I think that is part of the joke...that she is this insanely white person. And especially if they are making jokes about that representation, I think they are trying to make it clear that that's what the joke is. I dunno...maybe it gets more offensive but I think that article is kind of a stretch.

along those same lines, i hate when people leave "to be" out of descriptions of things that needs to be done, like when they say "this needs folded" instead of "this needs to be folded". what IS that??

That is one of my mom's pet peeves so now it bothers me too!

Nice!!

To be fair, those phrases are awful. The bot is right.

Yeah, the first few episodes of the unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt are pretty amusing

do it!!

I'm on page 26

That's why I checked in!

How's everyone doing?

I'm on page 18! Haha

Awesome!! This will definitely keep me on track

Wendell Berry is so great.
But yeah, you should read it with us!

We had some of our closer out of town family and friends over for homemade pizza 2 nights before the wedding and then the rehearsal dinner was the night before. I think we did some little print out directions for people to get from the venue to our house. But yeah, let them figure most of it out!

We blocked off a block of hotel rooms (didn't pay for them, just blocked them off) and sent them that info along with info on other local hotels and the closest airports. I let them figure it out from there. I figured they are adults and can make travel plans and if they have specific questions, could ask!

Yes! Check in here March 17 on the first 100 pages for me, Whitney, and whoever else is in!