Obama Rally

Went to the 2012 kickoff Obama rally down the street at OSU. Historic event some say.

Although it was a more than a 1/3 empty (they moved people down to the empty floor seats so it would look good for TV), for security reasons they locked the doors hours before the president spoke (I didn't get the memo), so all I got was a close look at the very cool but empty presidential limo and to hear the speech from muffled loudspeakers outside with a surprising small handful of others.

It seemed, at least from my perspective of the frustration of being outside listening in, a bit sad and dull and officious and of course like all well planned political events anywhere in the world from the left or the right, completely prefabricated and contrived with no surprises or spontaneity. Like at a losing Columbus Blue Jackets game, the crowd started leaving early to beat the traffic.

I was disappointed by the lack of content and spectacle and emotion.

What actually made the biggest impression was the overwhelming well oiled security team.

I am sure my review would have been different if I had been in the arena and I own that. Next time, perhaps.

Like Kennedy, this president does best when he came seen and not just heard.

Left in time to hear, for me, a much more helpful and pertinent lesson taught by a local rabbi on the wisdom of the sages from two millennia ago: He quoted: "A person's character can be judged by the way he handles three things, his drink, his money, and his anger. And some say: by the way he jokes." J Talmud.

Guess I am in big trouble.

Talmudic Comments

After almost a year and a half of blogging, and nearly 100,000 page loads, I finally realized I could comment on your comments.

Duh!

There are some great commentaries on my last post and also my humble replies. Take a look, please. You will be rewarded. Just click on comment at the bottom of the post.

This is actually very Talmudic. As Rabbi Hillel, would say while standing on one leg in a very different context two thousand years ago: The rest is commentary. Now go study. Wouldn't it be great if I could set up a blog where the comments and references wrapped around the page in the fashion of the Babylonian rabbis? I am sure someone expert in HTML could make it happen, but I will spend my energy elsewhere.

Still if you want a personal response, please email at bkoffmanMD@gmail. com. That also is the only way I can get your contact info, as the blog does not capture emails. And you might want early notification of my book- still a work in progress, a labor of love and angst, and positive transformation- and that would be my only way to reach you.

But for now my simple goal is to make the comment section more lively and informative when the subject is appropriate, and occasionally even when it is just for fun.

Waiting for my bone marrow biopsy report

Is there any meaning in the lack of  results? Surely he would rush the good news to me.

I can easily get lost in this crazy thinking. The Talmud teaches that prophecy has been taken from prophets and given to fools and children. However, it does later adds, with typical twisted Talmudic logic, the wise to the prophetic group.

I just emailed Dr. Forman to ask if there any results back yet from my bone marrow biopsy.

In case you are new to my blog, I have a a freight train of trouble waiting for news.

Still I say it is an act of courage and optimism to push for my results.

Would you do the same? Live with the not knowing, or move up the time that the envelope gets torn open?

Of course, as in the rest of life, despite what the devotees of THE SECRET  believe, my writing the email will certainly have no effect on what the reply contains and in all likelihood on when it will arrive.

Yet I know that what I did was brave, but I was so nervous about doing it.