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M OIN
ver.0
"
As*

for openers

C U in 2016!

ell, ifs hard to believe another
actually way ahead of their time. If they
year is winding down. If I had
had only had Stone Age smartphones, they
to pick one word to describe
could've saved countless hours of painting
2015 it would be ... wait, I just remem-
on walls and simply texted a picture of a
bered; I actually don't have to pick a word
guy spearing an antelope. That, of course,
anymore! I mean why would I use some-
would've been followed by a "thumbs-up"
thing as archaic as a "word" to express
icon from their fellow hunters.
myself when I can pick an "emoji!" (insert
How apropos that the same year we
smiley face).
mark the 30th anniversary of
An emoji, for the uninformed,
the movie Back to the Future,
or old-fashioned who still prefer to
an emoji is chosen as the "Word
communicate through a combina-
of the Year" because, let's face it,
tion of words known as complete
we are going backwards when
sentences, is, according to the
it comes to communication. By
Oxford Dictionary, "a small digital
way of emojis, modern man is
image or icon used to express an
going back to the use of hiero-
idea, emotion, etc., in electronic
glyphics and we really shouldn't
communication."
Alan Muskovitz be surprised.
And the Oxford Dictionary
The Oxford Dictionary has
should know because every year
been preparing us for this day.
they pick the "Word of the Year:' Except
In 2012, their "Word of the Year" was "gif,"
this year. They didn't pick the "word"
which, by definition, is a "compressed
emoji, they actually picked an emoji!
file format for images that can be used to
That's right, the "face with tears of joy"
create simple, looping animations." The
emoji was recently announced as the 2015
operative word is "compressed:' essentially
meaning less is more.
"Word of the Year" even though ifs a pic-
ture (insert face screaming in fear).
In 2013, the "Word of the Year" was
When you think about it, cavemen were
"selfie," which, according to Oxford's web-

site is a "picture (that) can paint a thousand
words;" but you don't need a 1,000 words,
you just need one picture!
Even when we make an earnest effort
involving real human communication
today we're doing so in an abbreviated
fashion: U just have 2 look at r texting style
2 c that And you've got to love Snapchat,
with the ability to send a photo or video
by phone that can only be viewed for 1-10
seconds before the image disappears.
But, really, who has got that kind of time
on their hands? And forget voicemail. You
might as well be sending a carrier pigeon;
no one listens to them. "I saw that you
called so I didn't bother listening to your
message" is the return call I get. I h8 that!
OK, whoa, hold on. This is not the spirit
I intended to leave you with for my last col-
umn of the year. Please, I hope you accept
my sincerest apologies. (Breath in/breath
out) Whew. OK, that's much better ... On
that note, here's wishing u a happy and
selfie New Year and c u in 2016. XOXO.

Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/acting talent,

emcee and a regular guest host on the Mitch Albom

Show on WJR AM 760. Visit laughwithbigaLcom

Yiddish Limerick

letters

A Family Bridge Of
Caring For Others

Thank you, Detroit Jewish News, for writ-
ing about the recently established D. Dan
and Betty Kahn Older Adult Care Fund
at Hebrew Free Loan ("Bridging the Gap:'
Nov. 19, page 62). The fund will help so
many members of our community contin-
ue to live independently and with dignity.
I love that picture of my parents, Betty
and D. Dan Kahn — and seeing it again
brought back a flood of memories. As
children, my sister, Andi, brother, Mark,
and I watched our parents generously take
care of others — extended family, friends,
neighbors, community — usually without
fanfare or accolade.
They did it because it was simply the
right thing to do, not because they needed
to be admired.
There were no lectures (OK, maybe a
few) about our obligation to care for those
most vulnerable among us.
Not mentioned in this article, but
something that would give my parents
the most "naches" — knowing that all of
their children, grandchildren and great-
grandchildren are (or will be) inspired to
emulate their generosity — hopefully with

the same humility and grace.
Dear Mom and "D.Dad": Your physical
presence is sorely missed but your legacy
of caring is strong and continuing.

Patti Kahn Aaron

Ann Arbor

Radical Terrorists
Must Be Stopped

CHANUKAH

The massacre in Paris on Nov. 13 should
be a wake-up call for Western civilization.
Just like Nazism and Communism, radi-
cal Islam desires world domination. They
want to destroy all religions other than
their perverted version of Islam.
They will kill every Christian, Hindu,
Buddhist, Jew, Confucianist, atheist, non-
radical Muslim and different sect Muslim
they can get their bloodthirsty hands on in
order to frighten the rest into submission.
We must defeat these terrorist extrem-
ists before they destroy civilization and
force us all to convert or die. Fortunately,
the vast majority of people on our planet
are good and want life to continue.
Hopefully, we will rise up and defeat the
evil radical Islamic monsters.

Douglas Miller

Franklin

We add ein lichtl yeder nacht*
It's eM un tzvay** until it's acht.***
Mir zingen di brokhes**** in
every night
Di menora in der fenster***** is
shining bright.
Now kum ess a por****** latkes ich hob
gemacht.*******

* eM lichtl yeder nacht — one little
candle every night
** un tzvay — and two
*** acht — eight
**** Mir zingen di broches — we sing
the blessings
***** der fenster — the window
****** kum ess a por — come eat a
couple of
******* ich hob gemacht — I made.

— Rachel Kapen

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December 3.2015

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