Hey you, you're a big Fat Cow!!

My chevruta and I were studying Perek Meruba in Tractate Bava Kamma (Babylonian Talmud). The issue was how to determine the "kefel" (The obligatory double payment of the value of the stolen object) where a thief stole a cow that he "fattened". Fattening the cow makes the cow worth more (better). Therefore, the question was whether we obligate the thief for kefel according to the original value of the cow or its value once the thief is taken to beis din. For some reason I said in english, "the big fat cow", instead of the hebrew and my chevruta (study partner) began to laugh. Then he pondered aloud why and if it would be bad to call a woman a big fat cow. After all, we have proof from the Gemara that a big fat cow is worth more than a skinny.

He thought that the logical conclusion is that a woman should take it as a compliment to be called a big fat cow. I then told my chevruta to try it out with his girlfriend and he refused. So women or men too I guess, how would you feel about being called a big fat cow. Why wouldn't u want to be one? It is strange that the current ideal is to be a rediculous shape consisting of mountains and canyons. U've all seen those classical paintings and statues where one can see that the ideal for beauty was a big plump woman. If u are a woman reading this and take the time to read these silly blogs instead of exercising then I'm guessing that u are not sleek and trim. I say, "Hey u, my readers, u are big fat cows!!!!!!". How did that feel?

The Urban Angler

First Testimony from an Urban Angler. Sunday night I fished Battery Park for the first time in a long time. It was a nice night--AAhhh release. You can find solitude in this urban jungle, just be creative, and find your niche.

I fished the area where the locals fish away from all of the tourists for the first time. Was suppose to meet my roommate there, but he didn't show up. Initially I thought that I would have to cut the night short b/c at least by the Jewish Museum late at night (where I normally fish) it probably isn't safe. But then I made friends with all of the locals.... Even the bums and it was all good.

Finally met the famous BPDave (Battery Park Dave). He's famous among NYC urban anglers. He knows everything about fishing BP and everyone who fishes it. Dave fishes Battery Park literally 24 hours a day 365 days a week....always has a rod in the water. ...Even when sleeping in his lawn chair. He somehow manages to keep himself up better than the other BP residents. It is probably not good that he literally lives off of downtown NYC fish. I'm not sure how but he owns a 249 dollar reel--fancier than anything I've got. The one thing that annoyed me about him was the hissing sounds that he often made at women passing by. Sometimes he would continue having a conversation with a woman for over 10 minutes after a woman who he had made strange noises towards had passed by-- "We really should meet at the party tonight etc......"

Part of the adventure of fishing in NYC is the ride there and back on the subway. A crazy looking guy with rods, a big ole hiking pack, and cooler isn't exactly a normal site to see so I always attract attention and it is usually good attention. Suddenly Washington heights become the friendliest neighborhood in the world.....People say hi and wish me good luck. Same thing on the subway. I get into conversations with every type of person and about very different subjects. And I am not the kind of guy who usually gets into conversations with strangers on the subway etc. People feel the right or comfortable talking to me about everything. Everything from a cute old lady talking about fishing with the old man in Montauk to a 40 year old man explaining to me the key to world peace.

Also, I always manage to meet interesting characters while fishing. 4 trips ago I met an Israeli Chabadnic fisherman hahaha. His name is Meir. I identified myself by talking to him in hebrew and then I got the "oh you're Jewish"...Then I proceeded to pull out my cereal bar (don't tell him that it's OU D) and said a bracha. Then his eyes really beamed and said "Oy, tzaddik Atah" (Oh you're righteous)!!

I managed to catch 3 striped bass; unfortunately I did not take many pictures. You'll have to excuse the quality. Getting use to the new camera. The picture on the left is Meir. I caught the striper that he is holding and gave it to him. He said that it was excellent.

In the beginning.....

In the beginning when G-d created the heavens and the Earth, the Earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while the spirit of G-d swept over the face of the Earth. And then there was Gatoshombre's blog......No more confusion. Read or ask and thou shalt learn.

No more gutless equivocations and paradoxes blah, blah, blah!! Say what you mean, it's OK. No matter what you do there will be those who disagree with you or don't like you for your opinions, but that's OK.

Oh yeah, u will have to excuse my dyslexic typing.