Front Lines
NOTEBOOK
Who Was That Masked Man?
Steeler To The End
M
asquerade. Painted faces on parade."
• Cellphonegirl — Symbol: a cell phone with a big
(from Phantom of the Opera)
red line across it. She would be able to fly over the
What fun it is to play dress up, to pre-
streets and expressways, automatically cutting off cell
tend, to assume powers beyond those of
• phone use from those who are talking
"ordinary mortals." . •
while driving.
I recall many costumes that our chil-
• Pencilperson — Symbol: writing
dren employed throughout their grow-
implements on a pad of paper. This
ing years; many had some real creativi-
individual would guarantee that you
ty involved. In particular, I can recall a
had a pen or pencil always at hand
walking hamantash at Purim. (Hey, it
when you need to take a message and
beats the usual Mordechai, Haman,
are on the phone. (She would also zap
Esther, Vashti bit.) There was also the
individuals who take pens and pencils
spectacular mermaid costume our
from your desk or phone stand at home
daughter made and wore to an artists'
and do not bring them back.)
dance at college.
•Meterperson — Bearing an emblem
Now the young minds are occupied
of a parking meter on a curbside, this
with the superheroes, and emulating
Sy M anello •
person would swoop down to provide
them has become a passion with many. Editorial Assistant you with the correct change for parking
There is something about a mask, a
and would surround your meter with a
cape and a spiffy emblem. (Of course being able to
force field to prevent anyone from causing the time
leap tall buildings at a single bound would not be
to expire before your return.
all bad, but that's yet to come.) Here are my votes
• Sockman — Emblem is a laundry basket. He
for super-people I'd like to see.
would arrive each laundry day to assure that socks
• Sandwichman — His symbol would be an
coming out of the dryer are in matched pairs.
overflowing corned beef sandwich on a field of
• Snackgirl — Crest: A bag of chips and pop bottle
fries. He'd be able to get you service quickly at any
superimposed in a large coin. She'd see to it that vend-
eating establishment.
ing machines would accept your bills the first time
• Technoman — The symbol would be a comput- and that the purchased item would come forward,
er screen with snaking arms and wires. His main
drop down cleanly into the bin and be easily retrieved.
ability would be to get the DVD clock to stop blink-
Yes,. I know that I have used the suffix of "man" or
ing 12 and be able .to play and record.
"girl" and that many of you consider this un-PC.
• Fastlinegirl — her symb61: a cash register on a
Well, too bad. I am aware, so save your letters of
bed of money. She could always get you to the
complaint..
shortest, fastest line in any bank or post office.
Up, up and awaaaaay!
❑
Military Pipeline
Oakland County has unveiled a high-tech method
for local families to converse in real time with loved
ones serving in the U.S. military in Iraq or
Afghanistan, or stationed elsewhere.
"Teleconferencing is free to all military families
and culminates a two-year joint partnership
between Oakland County and the Michigan
National Guard:' said County-Commissioner Marcia
Gershenson, D-Beverly Hills.
The equipment is based at the Pontiac Armory. It
is available to all Michigan families. Call Diane
Epps at the Army National Guard, (517) 481-8004.
I
"This progressive•and innovative program will
allow a father to see his new-born, a mother to wish
her child happy birthday and families to connect on
a level never possible before Gershenson said.
The Oak Video Project began in 2001. It is prima-
rily a videoconferencing system using a fiber optic
network to link police agencies and district courts
to speed arraignments. The county's information
technology staff has adapted the system for use by
military families.
-Robert A. Sklar, editor
TILEFIET ' cha Don't Know
What is the international Anusim movement?
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10 February 16 • 2006
Congregation B'nai Moshe past president Leonard Wanetik bled
gold and black for his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.
A native of Pittsburgh, Wanetik lost a two-year battle with can-
cer just two days before the Super Bowl in Detroit. His body was
flown immediately to Israel for burial, which occurred just hours
after the Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks.
Ezra Wanetik told the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle that his dad
would have been very happy with the results of the garrie. He was
buried with his tallit and his Pittsburgh Steelers cap. A memorial
service was held at B'nai Moshe in West
Bloomfield Monday night, Feb. 13.
Although Ezra and sister Devra were
both raised in Detroit and now live in
Israel, Ezra says Pittsburgh is part of
his heritage. "I face Jerusalem when I
pray:' Ezra told the Chronicle, "but when
I talk about sports my heart faces
Pittsburgh."
- Alan Hitsky, associate editor
The Future King?
Alan Borman is putting his Michigan State University economics
degree to work as he tries to become the "King of Vegas."
The 26-yeg-old Birmingham resident and television commer-
cial producer is vying for the title
— and a cool $1 million — on the
Spike TV reality series shown at 10
p.m. on Tuesdays.
The taped cable TV series began
with 12 professional and amateur
gamblers playing casino games
like craps, poker and blackjack.
Each week, one contestant is elimi-
nated.
"How you win is not just betting
against the house; it's a game
show, and there's strategy and bet-
ting what other people will do:'
Borman said. "There's a lot of tour-
nament strategy involved in all the Alan Borman on the set.
games.
Borman made it through last week's round by winning a big
hand in a Texas Hold'em tournament, then high-fiving the crowd
and flashing his lucky green-and-white Michigan State T-shirt.
Borman said he's more serious while playing at a real table in a
casino, and the theatrics he shows after winning a big hand is
done solely for the camera.
Borman came to the reality show through an online application
form that asked for background information, including gambling
history.
"They called me for an in-person interview in Chicago:' he said.
"I gambled in front of them to show my gambling personality
because it is a TV show, after all. Not only did I know what I was
doing but I add a little spice to the experience, and they took to
that."
Borman said he gets great support from his wife, Melissa.
He makes about five trips to Vegas annually. He's been doing
this legally since he was 21, but Borman won't say how long he's
really been going. And he won't say if he becomes the King.
You'll just have to watch.
- Harry Kirsbain, staff writer