Interesting Posts and Articles #110

1. One frum skeptic about a surprise under the chuppah -- despite a previous agreement, the chassan now tells the kallah he will be growing a beard! And in another post, should a maamar Chazal which makes reference to the kidneys as the seat of intuition be explained figuratively? I would disagree, in that based on ancient science it is quite possible this was intended literally. It may be better to take it literally, and then say we disagree with it, on the basis of modern science.
   
   
2. Water-based eyeglasses for the masses
   
   
3. At Chaptzem -- Mishpacha magazine prints a clarification of why the Photoshopped Laura Bush out of a picture. With some silly comments in the comment section. Though as noted at Mystical Paths: fine, do not print photos of women (even though we may not agree to this chumra and it can have bad social repercussions). But to Photoshop, or more specifically, Photoshop to create a false impression, and not note that you have done so, but rather edit the caption, is another thing entirely.
   
   
4. Textbook piracy. Though of course the book publishers have a hand in this, with textbooks for exceptionally high prices and "new" editions every year or so to kill the secondhand book market.
   
   
5. A link between mouthwash and cancer?
   
   
6. Life in Israel on mehadrin flights. As he notes, a problem exists in which catering to a chumra leads to the standardization of that chumra as practice, and in turn criticism of those who don't subscribe to the chumra.
   
   
7. What do you think about this story, of chaplains accompanying soldiers, on Shabbos?
   
   
8. At DovBear, a post by Lurker -- the righteous men of Gaza.