Difference between revisions of "Blog/February 2009/Feb 13th"

Latest revision as of 13:24, 20 February 2009

February 13th (See this week's devar torah)
Send Ron feedback on this blog

Hi again!

As you're all aware by now, the Israeli elections came and went. The weather was very windy and rainy that day -- perhaps symbolic of the "winds of change" -- but it remains unclear what, if anything, changed. Just so you know, the terms "left" and "right" wing mean something completely different here in Israel than they do in the US (or other places). As generally used here, "right-wing" means "less willing to compromise with the Arabs", and the opposite for the left-wing. Some of the "right-wing" parties would be considered "left-wing" in the US, based on economic policies... so just be aware of what I mean by "right" and "left" here. Also, when I say "considered" here, I mean what most Israelis consider, not what I personally think.

The Likud (considered center-right) went from 12 to 27 seats - an impressive gain, though not nearly as impressive as the 36 or so it would have got had Netanyahu not played fast and loose with his "list" (forcing the actual right-wing down to unrealistic slots on the list). Kadima (considered center-left) went from 29 to 28 seats - also impressive, considering how many people were really dissatisfied with the policies (or lack thereof) of the Olmert government. The real winner was Yisrael Beiteinu (considered right-wing), which went from 11 to 15 seats and became the third largest party, displacing the Labor (left-wing) which went from 19 to 13.

The real issue is whether Israel can refrain from being a banana republic and caving in to every "request" of Uncle Sam. I'm not confident any of the "leaders" can resist the temptation to do anything possible to please the rich uncle from America. Already the signs of betrayal by the so-called "right" have begun, though it's still too early to know how things will play out. Of course, the current crop of leaders is only interested in the public good. Yeah. Nevertheless, it was exhilarating to take part in the wild-West democratic process here.

You in the US have your own problems, and I sincerely wish you well. However, forgive me for pointing out that those of you who like to complain about the Israeli system from afar, would be taken much more seriously if you would put your money where your mouth is, and move back home to Israel. The time when America was a safe-haven for Jews is coming to an end, and the choice in front of you is rather clear.

In the meantime, those peace-loving, law-abiding neighbors of ours have decided to embark upon unprovoked knife attacks, and anti-democratic rioting against a Jewish elections monitor. However, they were willing to emplace their own monitor in a Jewish town (without a corresponding Jewish riot). "Democracy -- you keep using that word; I don't think it means what you think it means".

Even UNRWA has given up, after Hamas stole supplies from them yet again. And guess what they use medical supplies for? There are some Arabs who understand just how much they have contributed to the "radicalization" of Israeli society. But not many, and too late.

On the work front, there was a time when I thought this was funny. Now that it reflects my reality (almost), it's lost its charm. I spent quite a bit of effort researching the possibility of opening my own business. It turns out that if I am self-employed, I have to pay the US Soc. Sec. administration 15.3% of my income, even though none of it was earned in the US. That sucks, so I looked into becoming a corporation; but that is quite expensive here, and not worthwhile unless you have contracts already. The best alternative for independent work is becoming an employee of Yeul Sachir, which takes a cut of your gross receipts but handles all the necessary government paperwork. Of course, the best possible outcome for me would be for my current company to get funding very soon...

Since I complained about Microsoft last time, I figured I should give equal time to Linux (but Microsoft is still evil). If you're familiar with the long-standing editor wars, you'll appreciate this bit of geek humor.

Sarah is fine. She got her report cards. Next week she's going on her school trip around the Land -- hopefully she'll agree to report on the experience in these pages. Daniela's fine. She's looking for work so she doesn't starve.

One of the things that fascinates me about living in the Land, is how different things can be. Often that causes frustration or irritation, because you think to yourself, it shouldn't be that way. But when you consider how we basically have people from 60 different countries, of all backgrounds and educational levels, living together in a pressure-cooker -- it's really pretty amazing. Amazing that it works at all, let alone as well as it does. But even more amazing is that it feels like home even though so much is different from wherever we came from. Most amazing of all is that despite it all, I love it here. You would too, if you gave it a try.

Until next week,
Shabbat shalom!

Top: Blog

Prev: Feb 6th

Next: Feb 20th

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 -->
 {{blog}}
-{{bheader|February 6th|Devar/5769/Beshalach}}
+{{bheader|February 13th|Devar/5769/Yitro}}
 Hi again!
@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 Help [[tsedaka|feed the hungry]] in Israel!
-We are just a few days away from the national elections here.  Political propaganda is blasted our way from the radio, newspapers, buses (and TV, for those who have one).  Even email is not exempt from the onslaught.  The funniest ad was something we just got today, in the newspaper [http://www.makor1.co.il/makor/HomePage.faces Makor Rishon] -- which is geared towards the "national religious" public.  The ad was "There is a place for the National Religious with Kadima".  I nearly fell off my chair with laughter -- the anti-Jewish, secular Livni "has a place" for religious Jews (but not ''hareidim'' of course, they're too ''primitive'').  What a toad!  Not that the other main parties [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE1h6tHDjbU are any better], having gotten us into the mess in Gaza, allowing the situation to fester for years and now wanting to take credit for the pitifully inadequate action they finally took.
+As you're all aware by now, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_legislative_election,_2009 Israeli elections] came and went.  The weather was very windy and rainy that day -- perhaps symbolic of the "winds of change" -- but it remains unclear what, if anything, changed.  Just so you know, the terms "left" and "right" wing mean something completely different here in Israel than they do in the US (or other places).  As generally used here, "right-wing" means "less willing to compromise with the Arabs", and the opposite for the left-wing.  Some of the "right-wing" parties would be considered "left-wing" in the US, based on economic policies... so just be aware of what I mean by "right" and "left" here.  Also, when I say "considered" here, I mean what most Israelis consider, not what I personally think.
-In the aftermath of the Gaza war, we are shocked (shocked!) to find out that [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304687916&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull the UN's claim] that the IDF shelled a [http://www.un.org/unrwa/ UNRWA] school is false (according to the UN itself).  Arab sources give proof of [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233050211254&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Hamas intimidation] and [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304700804&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull brainwashing of children].  And [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304687620&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull useful idiots] continue their imbecilic pontificating.  Venal "rights groups" say the [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304639870&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull government is "implicated"] for having the temerity to build in its own country.  I'm telling you, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_qgVn-Op7Q&feature=related I'm mad as hell!].  Time for ''real'' change, not "musical chairs".  Unfortunately, we will undoubtedly get the same cynical anti-Jewish government as before, only the titles on the chairs will be different.
+The Likud (considered center-right) went from 12 to 27 seats - an impressive gain, though not nearly as impressive as the 36 or so it would have got had Netanyahu not played fast and loose with his "list" (forcing the actual right-wing down to unrealistic slots on the list).  Kadima (considered center-left) went from 29 to 28 seats - also impressive, considering how many people were really dissatisfied with the policies (or lack thereof) of the Olmert government.  The real winner was Yisrael Beiteinu (considered right-wing), which went from 11 to 15 seats and became the third largest party, displacing the Labor (left-wing) which went from 19 to 13.
-For those of you who feel that we would have peace with the Arabs were we simply to give them their own country (because that's all they want, just to live in peace), I suggest you view [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfbYtpviai0 how to make a Hamas hero].  If you think no-one could possibly believe there are [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X352qdm5X4 72 virgins] waiting as a reward for becoming a "martyr", think again.
+The real issue is whether Israel can refrain from being a [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3668203,00.html banana republic] and caving in to every "request" of Uncle Sam.  I'm not confident any of the "leaders" can resist the temptation to do anything possible to please the rich uncle from America.  Already the [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129910 signs of betrayal] by the so-called "right" have begun, though it's still too early to know how things will play out.  Of course, the current crop of leaders is only interested [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129896 in the public good].  Yeah.  Nevertheless, it was [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304754409&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull exhilarating] to take part in the wild-West democratic process here.
-Today we went to pick up some supplies for shabbat, and in the market I hear a woman saying with exasperation, "where ''is'' Muhammad?".   Don't worry, soon you'll probably hear it where you live too.  Speaking of Muhammad, there was an interesting article in our local paper, which mentioned that 200 very expensive [http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/alpines/ alpine goats] (worth a total of $200,000) were stolen from moshav [http://ein-camonim.co.il/ Ein Camonim] in the Galilee.  Ein Camonim makes an excellent goat-cheese which I like very much, so Esther gave me the article to read.  Apparently, some Arabs from the village next-door to us (Azariyah ''aka'' Bethany) went out in the middle of the night sometime last week, breached the security system at the moshav, and stole 200 goats.  The special investigator from Maale Adummim got involved and they recovered only 120 of the 200 goats.  Just thought you'd find it interesting.
+You in the US have [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304719892&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull your own problems], and I sincerely wish you well.  However, forgive me for pointing out that those of you who like to [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304770168&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull complain about the Israeli system] from afar, would be taken much more seriously if you would put your money where your mouth is, and move back home to Israel.  The time when America was a safe-haven for Jews is [http://samsonblinded.org/blog/on-anti-semitism-in-america.htm coming to an end], and the choice in front of you is rather clear.
-Daniela complained that I haven't mentioned her recently.  So, I'm mentioning that she is fine, B"H, and doing well.  We hope to see her very soon (May).  She's performing with a chamber music group at her school; I'm waiting for recordings.  To give equal time, Sarah is also doing fine, and is looking forward to her "alternate school trip".  They'll be traveling around Israel (instead of going to Poland as some schools do) for four days.  Although she does get tired of explaining that she was born in [http://www.whatwarzone.com/2009/01/take-left-at-beersheva-and-walk-ten.html Washington State], not Washington D.C.  Noone here knows the difference...
+In the meantime, those peace-loving, law-abiding neighbors of ours have decided to embark upon [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304715382&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull unprovoked knife attacks], and anti-democratic [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304734201&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull rioting against a Jewish elections monitor].  However, they were willing to [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/160544 emplace their own monitor] in a Jewish town (without a corresponding Jewish riot). "Democracy -- [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2y8Sx4B2Sk&feature=related you keep using that word]; I don't think it means what you think it means".
-The work situation is still very much up in the air.  I thought it might be a good idea to form a company and work as an independent.  I mentioned the idea to a couple other guys in Maale Adummim, and they indicated their interest in the idea.  So it may be that I'll be independent again, pretty soon.  Of course "freedom" in that regard also entails "freedom to starve", so we will need to have someone whose job it is to get us work.  Probably I should not [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123370744577745715.html?mod=article-outset-box dress like this] if I want to get hired, though.
+Even [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304705842&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull UNRWA] has given up, after Hamas stole supplies from them yet again.  And guess what they use [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304770155&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull medical supplies for]?  There are some Arabs [http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3668921,00.html who understand] just how much they have contributed to the "radicalization" of Israeli society.  But not many, and too late.
-I've long been a strong proponent of [[privacy|encryption for privacy]], but I'll admit that there are [http://xkcd.com/538/ ways around it] -- especially when the police feel no restraint.  This week I read a long, considered article entitled [http://www.vanwensveen.nl/rants/microsoft/IhateMS.html Why I hate Microsoft].   You know of course that I am not exactly impartial.  However, I'll leave you with a quote from the article, which is as succinct a summary of my feelings as I could come up with: ''Mr. Gates, Mr. Ballmer, I've upped my standards... so up yours.''
+On the work front, there was a time when I thought this [http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20090203&mode=classic was funny].  Now that it reflects my reality (almost), it's lost its charm.  I spent quite a bit of effort researching the possibility of opening my own business.  It turns out that if I am ''self-employed'', I have to pay the US Soc. Sec. administration 15.3% of my income, even though none of it was earned in the US.  That sucks, so I looked into becoming a corporation; but that is quite expensive here, and not worthwhile unless you have contracts already.  The best alternative for independent work is becoming an employee of [http://www.yeuls.co.il/english/ Yeul Sachir], which takes a cut of your gross receipts but handles all the necessary government paperwork.  Of course, the best possible outcome for me would be for my current company to get funding very soon...
-<small>(This blog is hosted on a Linux server, content written by me on a Linux machine...)</small>
+Since I complained about Microsoft last time, I figured I should give [http://xkcd.com/456/ equal time to Linux] (but Microsoft is [http://xkcd.com/528/ still evil]).  If you're familiar with the long-standing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editor_war editor wars], you'll appreciate this bit of [http://xkcd.com/378/ geek humor].
+Sarah is fine.  She got her report cards.  Next week she's going on her school trip around the Land -- hopefully she'll agree to report on the experience in these pages.  Daniela's fine.  She's looking for work so she doesn't starve.
+One of the things that fascinates me about living in the Land, is how ''different'' things can be.  Often that causes frustration or irritation, because you think to yourself, ''it shouldn't be that way''.  But when you consider how we basically have people from 60 different countries, of all backgrounds and educational levels, living together in a pressure-cooker -- it's really pretty amazing.  Amazing that it works at all, let alone as well as it does.  But even more amazing is that it feels like home even though so much is different from wherever we came from.  Most amazing of all is that despite it all, I love it here.  You would too, if you gave it a try.
 Until next week,<br>
 Shabbat shalom!
-{{nav|Blog|Blog|Blog/January 2009/Jan 30th|Jan 30th||}}
+{{nav|Blog|Blog|Blog/February 2009/Feb 6th|Feb 6th|Blog/February 2009/Feb 20th|Feb 20th}}

Difference between revisions of "Blog/February 2009/Feb 13th"

From RonWareWiki

< Blog‎ | February 2009

Latest revision as of 13:24, 20 February 2009