parsha bit: Ki Tavo

This week's parsha instructs us to bring the first fruits of the harvest to the temple. A man once brought to Rabbi Anan a bale of fish, and then asked him to judge a lawsuit. Rabbi Anan disqualified himself because of the gift, and the man said "I won't ask you to try the case now, but please accept the gift so that I am not prevented from offering first fruits". From this the gemara concludes that if one brings a gift to a scholar, it is as if he had offered first fruits. (Ketuvot 105b)

(Of course, the gemara was redacted by scholars... :-) I wonder if this is the talmud's last word on this subject. I assume there's an implicit "so long as we can't offer the fruits at the temple anyway" in there, and that if the temple stood no one would say that gifts to scholars suffice.)

a front for...?

There are two gas stations in Squirrel Hill. Until the last few months their prices usually differed by a few cents (with the BP consistently lower) -- but it was usually a small-enough difference that it might not be worth going out of your way. More recently the difference has climbed to 10 cents or more, which I assume is enough to make most consumers change their plans if they're aware of the difference (which, if you live there, you probably are).

The difference has been climbing, and this morning it was 23 cents. It makes me wonder if the one station is really in the business of selling gas.

high-school reunion

It's not my imagination; I really am from a different planet than those folks.

Today's mail brought a pitch for a high-school reunion (round-number year, so presumably special). Now even if I wanted to go this one starts out with two fatal flaws (a Friday night, and Thanksgiving weekend), but... no, let me just share the list of highlights for the weekend:

Friday:
- WPIAL high-school football finals
- dinner with cash bar

Saturday:
- family get-together at "FunFest" (whatever that is)
- flag football game (playing, not watching)
- Pitt football game
- "hanging out for the evening at a local establishment...suggestions welcome"

Sunday:
- Steeler party

No, I really don't think so!