Afghan Memories: Part II

Some more incredible photos of Afghanistan circa 1967-1968. Ten years before the Soviet Invasion.

Kabul, Afghanistan, 1967. Dr. William Podlich.

Afghanistan, 1967. Dr. William Podlich.

Afghanistan, 1967. Dr. William Podlich.

Zero Motivation

While Profile 64 was restricted to a late night slot on channel 10 here and went generally unnoticed outside of Israel, now a new film on the same subject is making waves in New York City at the Tribeca Film Festival this year. It happens to be very easy to romanticize the idea of military service, especially in the IDF. However, the actual reality of that experience is often quite different, particularly if you're a woman completing your mandatory two years of service.

Zero Motivation "אפס ביחסי אנוש" takes a comical look into the lives of young servicewomen of the IDF, and their time spent as secretarial staff, as many of their real life counterparts do, engaging in the most mundane of tasks throughout their service and experiencing all sorts of blunders. Of course, as you'd expect, the absurd and the hilarious fall perfectly together.

אפס ביחסי אנוש

The 15h International Indian Film Academy Awards

This is what happens when Bollywood comes to Tampa, Florida, of all places and collides with John Travolta. I suppose it's what you'd expect to see after all. In all seriousness though, who wouldn't be completely taken by Priyanka Chopra?

The Guardian

The Guardian

The Guardian.

Our neighbors to the north

Hezbollah sign in southern Lebanon in Arabic and Hebrew. Translation: "We're coming"

My answer, be careful what you wish for.

Hezbollah presence near Shebaa Farms. Times of Israel

Post-Moyes

Just a few more. That being said, I honestly wouldn't have a problem at all if Moyes were to get the job at Spurs and end up at The Lane.

The Guardian

Rallying to the cause. The Guardian

I believe, I guess

I'm just as patriotic as the next guy, but seriously, this is too much. Let's just call this Obama level optimism. Clearly a first for US soccer.

The Legion

Way before The Jewish Brigade in World War II, the seminal fighting unit of Jewish soldiers from Palestine under the British Army, there was The Jewish Legion. The unit where none other than Vladimir Jabotinsky, Joseph Trumpeldor and David Ben-Gurion all broke into the ranks. The photos and historical material associated with The Legion are some of my favorites.

WW1 Jewish Legion Recruitment Poster

The Choir of the Jewish Legion. Wikipedia.

The Flag of the First Judeans. 1919- 1921.

The Dreaming

I'll admit, Kate Bush's music can be somewhat of an acquired taste. However, this is all you really need to appreciate her.

EMI

Now Playing

If you ask me though, Moyes was never even given a chance. Inheriting an aging, injury plagued squad will make it hard for anyone to succeed, especially at United of all places.

The Guardian

88th for the Queen

The traditional gun salute on the Thames.

Royal Artillery. BBC

Benfiquistas

Congrats to Benfica on winning the Primeira Liga in Portugal. Here was the scene last night in Lisbon.

Lison, Portugal. The Punter's Page.

'סיום קורס מ"כים מגל אפריל 14

Ceremony for the completion of Commander's Course April '14.

Latrun, Israel.

זרוע היבשה

זרוע היבשה

זרוע היבשה

Baseball Season

I know it's Bartolo Colon and there are a myriad of punchlines surrounding him, but still, I don't understand how the official Mets Twitter account can post these types of photos in a serious way. Then again, this is the Mets we're talking about.

Bartolo Colon. New York Mets Twitter.

The Empire

British soldiers posing by the beach near Yafo after capturing the city from the Turks during World War I.

British forces in Yafo. 1918. VTLV

Chick Magnet

Meanwhile, somewhere in south eastern Ukraine.

Novo Russia

From the banks of the Seine

Paris with the Île de la Cité. 1763.

Raguenet from the J. Paul Getty Museum's collection.

Hala Bale!

Once a Spur, always a Spur.

Meanwhile in Greece

PAOK at home to Olympiakos today.

Thessaliniki, Greece. A Football Report.

The French Army on the move in Mali

Of the many small wars taking place around the world right now, the French mission in Mali is one of the more under looked and equally under reported. With the French military taking an aggressive, pro-active stance in its interventions in not just Mali, but also in Libya in 2011 and currently in Central African Republic as well, it's clear that while the US and many of its European allies are scaling back their forces in the Middle East and elsewhere around the world, France is proving to be one nation that is willing to do the opposite. While Southern Libya increasingly becomes a "viper's nest" for Islamist militants, it will be interesting to see what steps the French government will take.

Afghan Memories

Afghanistan in the 1960's was a far different place than it is today. Dr. William Podlich, then an amateur photographer spent two years working for UNESCO teaching at the Higher Teachers College in Kabul. These are some of the stunning photographs he captured of the country at the time.

Afghanistan 1967. Dr. William Podlich. 

Afghanistan 1967. Dr. William Podlich. 

Kabul, 1968. Dr. William Podlich. 

Polite People

For a friend

It seems like it's always the best and the brightest. You're going to be greatly missed.

Vintage TLV

Morning exercises at the Gymnasia Herliya in Tel Aviv.

התעמלות בוקר בגימנסיה הרצליה. VTLV.

White Hart Salute

You can say what you want about Sherwood, but the man knows how to give a proper salute. I have a strong feeling also that no matter what happens, this will go down as the most memorable and defining image of Sherwood's tenure at the helm for Spurs.

The Guardian

Like that

Tough day for the Gooners. I really wish it could've been us doing this, but still, I'll take it any which way we can. If anyone also, I'm glad it was Everton putting it on.

Retro Spurs

A few historical gems for all Spurs fans from Paine Proffit.

Paine Proffitt

Paine Proffitt

Los Padres

While I certainly would not recommend Anchorman 2 if you're looking for some good laughs. Let's not let it tarnish the name of the original or "The greatest city in the history of the world", discovered by the Germans of course in 1904.

PETCO Park, San Diego, California. SB Nation. 

Red, White and Blue

I feel the pain of England fans for not wanting to shell out £90 for their new Nike national team shirts. That being said, at least they won't be getting confused for the French with their away kit this World Cup.

SB Nation. Nike.

Dempsey, still a Yid in red, white and blue. SB Nation. Nike.

PC Police

"Why no women in 'Saving Private Ryan?'" (A: there were no women in the WWII-era 101st ABN and 2nd Rangers?) http://t.co/9yXLmgnkyi
— Andrew Exum (@abumuqawama) April 1, 2014

Dima Sadek

Lebanese news anchor and defender of Hezbollah and its leader Hasan Nasrallah.

Dima Sadek FB.

Dima Sadek LBC