I really love to see the power of the Internet. Thanks to our postings on Ali Baba and here, we managed to get this UK business man out of Guilin and the hands of Guilin Youlianshiye Co.…Too bad he had to fly out there but at least they never got the “loot” (never actually had a chance to use that word..)

Hi, I am one of those suckers who have just visited Guilin Youlianshiye Co. We received an order of over US$500,000 for chandeliers manufactured in the UK and received the letter of invitation and a draft contract. I was asked to visit Guilin to sign the contract “because it was their tradition”. I booked my own flight and hotel. They picked me up in the morning and took me to their premises. Their young female interpreter explained that their Financial Director had to visit our premises in London to make sure he was confident we could produce the work. If he was happy he would authorise the payment of the deposit. She said the FD would expect to be looked after well in London and would want special benfits. When I asked what type of benefits, she said he collected art of up and coming young Chinese artists. She said she could take me to a gallery where I could purchase a piece which I could take back to London to give him when he came over to see me. She suggested some art was available for around 20,000 yuan (about 1,400 stirling). I was due to return the next day to sign the contract. I emailed my wife in the UK and told her I thought it was a scam and she searched through the internet and found your subject on Alibaba, I just wish I had found it before I jumped on a plane! Obviously, I did not return to sign the contract. Does anyone know who I should report this to? Everyone I spoke to out there suggested there is very little in the way of business in Guilin other than tourism. Got off the plane this morning a bit wiser!

In a cabinet meeting yesterday Olmert decided to stop the “turn the other cheek” policy that’s been taken in Sderot. The rockets continue and with Arkadi Gaidamak starting his latest “Evacuation for Popularity” Campaign, it just “looks” bad. It seems that’s Arkadi is really pissing off Olmert, “Hamas likes to see town’s getting evacuated as a result of its attacks”, he said. Olmert did emphasize that the ministry of defense needs to use its resources to help the people in Sderot (good luck there…).

This makes me think about Arkadi again. I suspect that Arkadi is missing the whole “fighting for survival”, “Israel Independence” idea. I can understand that if you’re rich and things get “uncomfortable” you just leave and go on vacation. But, is this something that we can all afford?

I wonder where we would have been if Arkadi Gaidamak was in Israel during the early days of Israel’s existence. I mean if we evacuated every time we were under attack, well. I would be probably writing this from London, as one of her Majesty’s loyal subjects….

I am amazed, over and over again, at the mysterious ways in which the universe works. We have been so busy ignoring the endless signs around us, that finally the universe chooses to whack us on the head and spell it out for us. Amazing!

But before we give up hope, and we have all been to that place of despair and frustration at one point, we need to come to the important understanding that the timing of all this ISN’T by chance. Every past historical reference, from the Mayan Calendar to the Jewish Calendar, from past prophets to the Bible itself, has foreseen these stirring of cosmic events at exactly these times. There is a shift taking place and we have all noticed it. This is our wake up call. We have come to a crossroad and we need to make a choice. Not later. Not someday. Now.

Throughout the month of May, millions of people from all around the world will be gathering together through endless events, communities and mass meditations to make the RIGHT choice collectively. And I am proud to say that our holy ciity of Jerusalem is doing her part in this unfathomable transition on Monday, May 21, 2007:

5,000 people from around the country and abroad are needed holding hands to surround the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem in a unified embrace.

We call upon lovers of Jerusalem of all walks of life, of all religions, from all areas of the world and of course all of Israel, Palestine and Jerusalem.

The purpose of this event is to unite diverse people though our common denominator, our Love for the holy city Jerusalem. This act is both simple and meaningful, offering the potential to redefine our relationship with each other and create new realities.

So why May 21st? Why Jerusalem? Well, you can click here to learn more about the structure and significance of this special event. The bottom line is, if you are part of the rapidly growing population that senses this shift happening all around us, it is our responsibility to do something about it. May we all make the right choice.

This was sent in by someone who shell remain nameless. If you knew the person, which we do, this would seem the oddest thing to get. This is a peace loving, religious, kind to the world sort of person. Must have been a strange day for her.

We couldn’t help putting this on…

A Mexican, an Iraqi, and a redneck girl are in the same bar.

When the Mexican finishes his beer, he throws his glass in the air, pulls out his pistol, and shoots the glass to pieces. He says, “In Mexico our glasses are so cheap we don’t need to drink with the same one twice.”

The Iraqi, obviously impressed by this, drinks his beer, throws into the air, pulls out his AK-47, and shoots the glass to pieces. He says, “In Iraq we have so much sand to make glasses that we don’t need to drink with the same one twice either.”

The redneck girl, cool as a cucumber, picks up her beer, downs it in one gulp, throws the glass into the air, whips out her .45 and shoots the Mexican and the Iraqi. Catching her glass, setting it on the bar, and calling for a refill, she says, “In America we have so many illegal Mexicans and Arabs that we don’t have to drink with the same ones twice.”

God Bless America !

Three Labrador Retrievers — one Chocolate, one yellow and one black were sitting in the waiting room at the vet’s when they struck up a conversation.
The black Lab turned to the chocolate Lab and said, “So why are you here?”
The brown Lab replied, “I’m a pisser. I piss on everything….the sofa, the curtains, the cat, the kids. But the final straw was last night when I pissed in the middle of my Owner’s’ bed.”
The black Lab said, “So what is the vet going to do?”
“Gonna cut my nuts off,” came the reply from the chocolate Lab. “They reckon it’ll calm me down.”
The black Lab then turned to the yellow Lab and asked, “Why are you here?”
The yellow Lab said, “I’m a digger. I dig Under fences, dig up flowers and trees, I dig just for the hell of it. When I’m inside, I dig up the carpets. But I went over the line last night when I dug a great big hole in my owner’s couch.”
“So what are they going to do to you?” the black Lab inquired.
“Looks like I’m losing my nuts too”. The dejected yellow Lab said
The yellow Lab then turned to the black Lab and asked, “Why are you here?”
“I’m a humper,” the black Lab said. “I’ll hump anything. I’ll hump the cat, a pillow, the table, fence posts, whatever. I want to hump everything I see.” Yesterday, my owner had just got out of the shower, and as she was bending down to dry her toes I just couldn’t help myself. I hopped on her back and started humping away”.
The yellow and chocolate Labs exchanged a sad glance and said, “So, nuts off for you too, huh?”
The black Lab said! . “No , I’m here to get my nails clipped.”

I know this week has been all video, so here’s one more. Sarit Hadad’s version of Sh’ma Israel.

I was looking for Israel at YouTube and I came across a different kind of Israel. Worth a listen!
Have a Great Day