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Over The Hill
F
or those of you who jumped to the
conclusion this article would be
another of my rants about senior
citizens — WRONG!
The title refers to a rising configuration as
opposed to what I am going to discuss: the
word flat.
The word does have some positive con-
notations; but, for the most part, the associa-
tions with the word are negative ones.
Those who are dieting or just looking for
a nice taste treat, try flatbread. It comes in
various flavorings and can be a nice change
from everyday crackers.
At one time, many of us lived in a flat
— an apartment. It could be one of four (a
four-flat was a common construction around
the city) or one of any other configurations of
living-area divisions.
The proliferation of exercise studios today
attests to the fact that so many yearn to
achieve a flat stomach or to sharply define
those six-pack abs (some of us look as if
we have a 12-pack or have been working on
them).
The new plasma TVs contribute to
the flat look so that this entertain-
ment unit can be as close to the wall
as possible. (Remember the olden
days when the TV was a rather large
piece of furniture — not the screen,
but the whole machine.)
Many women today prefer flat
shoes (they used to be called sensi-
ble shoes in our mother's day). These,
at one time, were just "ballerina slip-
pers" and were a "hot" fashion item
in the 1950s.
What could be more pleasing than to
choose and plant a flat of flowers?
Then we come to the reverse of the coin
and realize that "flat" can have some draw-
backs. For example, recall the last time you
had to fix a flat (tire). It was usually raining
or in the middle of a heavily trafficked street
or on a busy highway far from home and you
without a spare.
We eschew flat food; and yet, I do not
believe that food should be painful. That does
not mean I'm for bland, but jalapenos are
definitely out.
If you've been riding the
roller coaster of the stock
market lately, maybe you'd
prefer a flat market for a
while. However, that won't
make you any dough. It may
cause you to whistle a flat
note or just quit flat out
before you are flat broke
and find that you fall flat on
your financial face.
If you insult someone, you could be struck
with the flat of the hand, signifying an
imminent duel. If you really please someone
and perform well and live in a monarchy, you
could be knighted with the flat of a sword.
Returning to the "hill" of my title, let me
leave with this riddle: Why is a blotter like a
lazy dog? A blotter is an ink-lined plane; an
inclined plane is a slope up; a slow pup is
a lazy dog. (Such effervescent humor could
never be described as flat!) E
Central Galilee Hit
No damage to Federation's Partnership 2000 region.
'especially those kids from youth
Mayor Barda said of the 100 public
absorption
centers who don't have
shelters
available
in
the
city,
50
are
with-
Staff Writer
families:'
out electricity or water and are useless.
Partnership 2000 steering com-
He said city leaders are discussing
he rockets shouldn't be reaching
mittee
member Kenneth Korotkin
their
emergency
needs
with
the
Detroit
that far.
of
Bloomfield
Hills has been in
Federation.
On July 16, Hezbollah missiles
contact
with
two
children in the
Robert
Aronson,
Federation
chief
reached the edges of Israel's Central Galilee
region.
He
will
be
their American
executive
officer,
spoke
to
them
Tuesday
region. The missiles did no harm to citizens
father
for
10
months
beginning
from
New
York
City
while
he
was
wait-
or buildings, but the explosions sent people
in
the
fall
as
part
of
the
Sin Shin
rda
Eli
Ba
ing
to
escort
Federation's
Teen
Mission
into bomb shelters in the Jewish Federation
program,
which
allows
Israeli
to
Israel
goers
on
the
last
leg
of
their
of Metropolitan Detroit's Partnership 2000
high school graduates to defer army service
journey home.
region. The partnership embraces educa-
for one year to do community service.
The
mood
in
the
region
is
strong,
he
said.
tional, economic and social ties.
One of the children lives in the area that
"They
have
resolution,
strength,
determina-
"Everything is OK," said Mayor Eli Barda
got
hit, Korotkin said.
tion
and
concern
mainly
for
their
children
of Migdal Ha'Emek."A missile landed 100
"They're
just hoping that the Americans
who
are
serving
in
the
army,
many
of
them
meters away from the city, but there has been
will
give
them
all the support and think
serving'in
the
north."
no damage."
positively
about
the Israelis and what they're
As
a
friend
from
the
region
told
Migdal HaEmek is one of three
doing
and
how
they're
handling things:' he
him,
"We
are
very
sad
and
concerned
municipalities in the region
said.
"And
they're
just
trying
to live life as
about
the
developments,
but
we
are
of 120,000 — many of whose
normal!'
a
strong
people
we
will
get
through
citizens are immigrants — that
Aronson provided words of encourage-
this and we are not leaving."
includes the district capital
ment."They are precious to us, they are
Aronson is looking to raise $1
Nazareth 111it and the Jezreel
our family," he said. "We will do every-
million for the municipalities "right
Valley.
thing We can to respond as family would.
now" for two immediate needs:
"This is the first time we hear
Unfortunately, all we can send now is money,
improving the public shelters and
this noise,' Barda said. "The resi-
but they know that we love them and care for
getting the children of the region
dents see the television and all
them, and we are very nervous for them, and
to safety in summer camps in the
the damage from the other cities,
we stand by them." E
south of Israel for at least a week,
Robert Ar onson
and they're very scared."
Harry Kirsbaum
T
8
July 20 2006
This Week
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Teen Mission '06
Keep up with the 214 Detroit
teens plus counselors and
staff on Federation's Teen
Mission 2006 as they come
home from embattled Israel
and settle back in at home.
Look for new stories and
photos regularly.
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click on the Teen Mission
(TM06) button on the left.
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