Features
Marcus Spiegel’s writing career continuing to blossom
Last June we had a story about Marcus Spiegel, a young writer originally from Winnipeg whose parents are Esther and Jeff Spiegel, and whose in-laws are Neta and Yair Bourlas. At the time Marcus had just had one of his short stories published in the very prestigious “Pushcart Book of Short Stories.”
The story, which is titled “A Tale of Two Trolls” was first published in the Santa Monica Review, which is a national literary journal sponsored by Santa Monica College.
As we noted in that June article, Marcus’s story tells the story of two misfits named Yuri and Winch, who are both college dropouts. They have a YouTube show and podcast, and they purport to be “alt-right” activists, but their primary ambition in the story is to exact retribution on a former professor of Yuri’s by the name of Baendorf. It’s all quite mindless – and hilarious, especially when Winch dresses up as a frog wielding a samurai sword as he prepares to attack Professor Baendorf.
After talking recently with Marcus’s mother Esther, we asked her whether Marcus has published anything of interest since we wrote that article in June? We asked specifically whether Marcus had finished writing a piece about wrestling which, when we spoke with him last year, he said he was working on. Esther said that Marcus has indeed been busy and suggested we get in touch with him to find out what he’s been up to.
Here’s what Marcus wrote back after we asked him how his writing career has been going:
Hi Bernie,
Hope you’re doing well. Thanks for your interest again. So, yes, I have continued making some progress since we last talked. I’ll just clarify that I don’t have a full book out yet, but my wrestling piece, which is published in a book or journal alongside work from other writers appeared a couple months ago, and that is the piece from Boulevard, which publishes out of St. Louis, Missouri. The piece is called “The Inferno on Prime Time: Reflections on Vince McMahon and the WWE” and is available for print or online (though you need a digital subscription). Anyway, if you’d like to check it out a link can be found on my website (marcusspiegel.com), which will also give you a summary of my forthcoming publications. There are three others upcoming that I’ll mention here.
The first is a nonfiction piece that is set to come out in March at Sycamore Review from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. This piece is called “The Inglorious Beatitude of the Mall Cop.” I think of it as a kind of suburban picaresque. It recounts my misadventures as a mall security guard while I lived in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Mostly, as you will see in the piece, if you read it, I spent little time reprimanding troublemakers in the mall and more time trying to sneak off and pursue my literary education. But I also became addicted to Scratch and Win lotto cards for a period.
The second is also a nonfiction piece, entitled “Portrait of a Flat Earther,” that is supposed to come out in the late spring from Pembroke Magazine out of the University of North Carolina. This piece recounts how an old friend of mine, a Winnipegger who I’d become estranged from, reemerged into my life in recent years, as a dialogue sparring partner on the telephone. Even though we shared many of the same ideas as youths, I discovered that my old friend had deviated drastically since I’d last spoken with him. He’d become Far Right, and had become absorbed in various conspiracy theories, the most absurd of these being Flat Earthism. This little piece of comic and psychological memoir concerns my attempts to reason him out of Flat Earthism and when that plan fails, to try to figure what could be attracting him to his strange beliefs in the first place.
Lastly, Santa Monica Review, where my Pushcart Prize winning story, “A Tale of Two Trolls” first appeared, will be publishing a new piece of fiction called “The Corporate Jester” though not until the fall, or perhaps in spring of 2024. This short story involves the Californian television mogul Wayne Vortman’s attempt to keep producing a reality game show during the pandemic. In order to do this, he enlists his three sons and daughter, as well as servants into the cast. His daughter, though, not exactly pleased about her father’s dedication to creating lurid forms of spectacle, disobeys, prompting a weird family initiative to draft her into the Vortman army, as it were. All of this leads up to a surreal dialogue at four a.m. at one of the Vortman mansion’s jacuzzis between daughter and Dad.
On the writing side, I’m continuing to split my time between short fiction and nonfiction. Some of my nonfiction has involved me traveling to Pennsylvania and Arizona for research. Recent themes of my writing have dealt with the metaverse, country music, internet dating apps, historical anachronism societies, scuba diving, and an organization that seeks to prepare its members for the afterlife.
Thanks again for your interest at the Jewish Post.
Best wishes to you and your family,
Marcus Spiegel
Features
The Popularity of Simpler Slot Games in 2026: Review From Casino Online CrazyTower Experts
Online casinos now fill their libraries with numerous video slots that have dozens of functions, long bonus rounds, complex mechanics, and so on. Interestingly, despite this huge range of modern options, many Canadian visitors at sites like Casino Online CrazyTower here https://crazytower.com/ca/ no longer want complicated gameplay that requires constant attention and long explanations.
Simpler slots now attract a wider audience because they save time and create faster sessions. So, let’s figure out why this change happened and reasons for the popularity of simpler machines.
Why Many Players Are Returning to Basic Gameplay
Modern websites like Casino Online CrazyTower pushed complex video slots for years, but many people now prefer classic formats again. Simple gameplay has fewer interruptions and is simpler in terms of budgeting, which is important when you gamble for fun.
These are a few potential reasons explain why simpler slots became popular again in 2026:
- Faster rounds. Symbols appear quickly, and rounds continue without long animations or extended bonus sequences.
- Easier controls. Most classic slots have simple menus and familiar layouts that don’t confuse new visitors.
- Smaller feature lists. Simple slots usually have standard wilds, scatters, and multipliers instead of dozens of random mechanics.
- Better session flow. People spend more time on gameplay instead of reading explanations about symbols and special functions.
- Lower visual pressure. Simpler slots use calmer designs and shorter effects that don’t overload attention.
Classic gameplay also suits mobile devices better because shorter rounds work well on smaller screens. Plus, many visitors now prefer games that start instantly and explain their mechanics within seconds.
Features That Make Simpler Slots Appealing
Simple machines at Casino Online CrazyTower and similar websites continue to attract attention because they have a high gameplay speed. Many classic titles also replicate older casino machines that people already know from physical casinos.
However, these aren’t the only factors that attract gamblers. So, check out this list:
- Short bonus rounds. Free spins and multipliers finish quickly instead of interrupting gameplay for several minutes.
- Common and standard paylines. Traditional layouts help people understand payouts without long explanations.
- Faster loading times. Simpler graphics reduce waiting time on phones, tablets, and older computers.
- Stable gameplay pace. Long cutscenes and constant pop-up notifications don’t interrupt the session.
- Traditional themes. Fruit symbols, bars, sevens, and classic casino designs still attract large audiences.
- Smaller menus. Important information appears immediately without complicated tabs or hidden sections.
Modern video slots often contain too many mechanics in a single game. Developers now combine expanding reels, random modifiers, mission systems, tournaments, and multiple bonus levels in one title. Many visitors lose interest because gameplay turns repetitive and overloaded with constant interruptions.
Compare this to a session when you get results immediately and aren’t interrupted. These still have free spins and even mini risk games, but not as loaded as innovative titles.
Conclusion
Simple slots usually create better replay value because people understand the mechanics immediately. Common and standard gameplay doesn’t cause frustration and allows faster decisions during casino sessions.
Many classic slots also function better during short breaks because rounds finish quickly without long bonus interruptions. That’s why simpler slots became popular again at many casinos, including Casino Online CrazyTower and such.
Features
Football: Which team from Israel could we see in the European Cup next year?
With Europe’s club competitions heading into another summer of drama, Israeli football is on the table. The domestic season is done, trophies picked up and now a new batch of clubs can now try their luck against continental competition.
What are the prospects of these teams in Europe next year and who are they? It all starts with Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s title, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s cup win and the competition of the best Israel football teams against each other, as fans look to Champions League on Wincomparator to see what teams are in contention.
How Israel’s clubs qualify for Europe: The 2026-2027 spots
Qualification to join the European elite hinges on the 2025-26 Israeli Premier League table and the Israel State Cup. Israel will have one Champions League spot, one Europa League spot, and two Europa Conference League spots in 2026-27.
That means the league winner gets into the Champions League, the State Cup winner goes on to Europa League qualifying. The next eligible league’s finishers take the Conference League slots. It’s a good model as it provides a tangible reward for consistency at home, while at the same time demonstrating the importance of each playoff game. A top three finish can help a club’s summer, bring in better players and provide fans with a European tour before the next season’s start.
The Champion’s quest: Israel’s hope for the Champions League
Meet the 2025-26 Premier League winner: Hapoel Be’er Sheva
Hapoel Be’er Sheva have qualified for Israel’s Champions League after their Israeli Premier League title win with 79 points scored in 36 games. Ran Kozuch’s side closed the gap on the three-point lead but also showed significant strength in the attacking phase to secure a win in a crucial championship round with Beitar Jerusalem.
Their challenge also comes as their reward. Hapoel Be’er Sheva are only expected to begin in the second round of the Champions League, not the league round. To get to the main competition they need to pass through the first round of the other national champions in two-legged ties, and their seeding, fitness and sharpness in early-season competition could be a game breaker.
While the club has experience in Europe and a rabid Turner Stadium following, the path is tough. It takes one bad outing to wipe out a year’s worth of work. However, as long as the bedrock remains the same and they are able to put some depth into the team, the champions have the balance to fight.
Battling in the Conference League: Israel’s other European contenders
The State Cup winner and league runners-up
Maccabi Tel Aviv go to Europe after the Israel State Cup final 2-1 win against Hapoel Be’er Sheva at Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem. That win denied Be’er Sheva a home double, and also meant that Maccabi got into the Europa League qualifying, where they were put in the second qualifying round thanks to access-list rebalancing.
The Conference League qualifiers are Beitar Jerusalem who finished second in the league with 76 points, and Hapoel Tel Aviv who finished fourth with 60 points. The importance of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s cup victory lies in the fact that it unlocked the rest of the way in the league. Beitar’s season was particularly impressive as they scored 78 goals and lost just four matches. On the other hand, Hapoel Tel Aviv managed to remain above Maccabi Haifa in the final table standing, earning them a well-deserved European berth.
The Europa Conference League is no consolation prize for these clubs. It’s a realistic platform. Although there are still a few hurdles to navigate, Israeli sides consider this competition to be the most realistic one for European football in the autumn.
A look at past successes and future hopes
This group has reason for belief, based on recent history. Israeli teams can make significant nights in Europe, and Maccabi Haifa did just that, when they made it into the Champions League group stage in 2022-23, and then impressively took out Juventus 2-0 in Haifa.
There is significant monetary and sporting worth in qualification. A UEFA cup can make a difference to a club, as can better attendance, TV coverage and recruitment opportunities. The early storylines will be the draw for Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Champions League, as well as Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa league and the two Conference League routes — Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv. They all have tricky paths to follow, but all four provide Israeli football with a realistic European presence next summer.
Features
At one time one entire block of McAdam Ave. was almost totally Jewish
This story originally appeared in a November 2014 issue of The Jewish Post & News:
1994 McAdam Ave. reunion (names inside story)By GERRY POSNER (This story first appeared in November 2014.)
Once upon a time when life was simpler and gentler, there was a street in the north end of Winnipeg which was like all other streets in the city except in one significant way. Everyone, but for one family, living on McAdam east of Main Street was Jewish.
