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{{bheader|June 12th|Devar/5769/Shelach}}  
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{{bheader|June 19th|Devar/5769/Korach}}  
  
You can help [[tsedaka|feed the hungry]] in Israel!
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Hi again!
  
Hi again!
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Another jam-packed edition of the Aaron family follies for your perusal!
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One night this week we went to see the [http://www.lightinjerusalem.org.il/ Jerusalem light festival].  Click on that link -- that's right:  a tourist-oriented event whose web page is only in Hebrew.  Their web-site isn't all that wasn't brilliant, unfortunately.  The most interesting part of that outing was seeing our next-door neighbors there (who expressed surprise at seeing us "so far from home").
  
I know it's an ongoing refrain, but this week was ''crazy'' at work! I spent all week basically trying to get a new install CD released, but we kept encountering issues with languages other than English. It's lots of fun writing software that has to work on several different operating-systems, in a dozen languagesIt's more fun relying on other software to make that possible, and finding out that other software has not been adequately tested...
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Another night, we attended the first "Maale Adummim Anglo Forum".  I want to avoid offending anyone from our "Anglo" community who reads this blog (I know of several), but in my opinion it was a terrible waste of two hours of my life. There was no explanation of what the "forum" expected to accomplish (goals, that is); so there were seemingly random presentations (children from the local music conservatory playing some pieces; the mayor giving a speech which seemed somewhat like a fund-raiser, and a comic).  The comic -- someone I've seen around fairly often, but didn't know he was a comic -- was so depressing, by the end of his routine I was ready to slice my throatThis was more of a waste of my time than the light festival -- since at least before that we had a pleasant dinner with a friend of ours.
  
The summer heat started this week in earnestNot that it's oppressively hot, but the temperature has "hit its stride" and is staying consistently in the 30s (85-95F)In the evening it cools off, though; and sitting next to an open window when the cooler air is blowing is a treat.
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Yet another night, we went to the Jerusalem Book FairThat was promising (we all like books), but I didn't see anything I was particularly interested in.  However, Esther did get some cookbooks.  It's impressive just how many people come to these fairs.  While we were there, a couple thousand people were milling about the stalls looking for something new or interesting.  
  
Esther took me out on a date this week -- our first in so long, neither of us could recall the last time we went out aloneWe went to dinner and then to a [http://kobymandell.org/comedy/ comedy benefit show] (benefiting the [http://kobymandell.org/about.htm Koby Mandell Foundation], which helps families who are victims of terrorism).  The show was completely sold-out, and we had a good timeWe decided we would have to have another date, soon enough that we don't forget the last time we went on one.
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Though we replaced all the pipes in the house before moving in, we discovered a spreading leak in the ceiling in Daniela's room.  Since she's on the second storey and there are no pipes above her room (and the roof is bone-dry), we were mystified as to what the problem could be.  So I stayed home one day and we called in a plumber; who told us he was stumped, and that in order to figure out the problem we would have to open a hole in the roof's insulation and dig into the roof -- and that it would end up being expensiveSo he suggested we contact our homeowners' insurance company and see what they cover. I hadn't even considered calling the insurance company; but we did. They in turn sent their own plumber out, and after a bit he discovered that one of the electrical conduits leading into the house was saturated with water (not a good thing!).  So he blew into that conduit, and expelled a lot of water into our house, just where the hot-water "boiler" switch isAnyway, he sealed off that conduit -- but we still don't know why there was water in it, or whether or not the actual problem was been fixed (my suspicion is 'no').  Just so you know, the plumber charged less than our insurance deductible of 500 NIS (roughly $120 for you USA'ans) so it didn't matter we called them.  But if the leak continues to spread, we'll call them back and then it will probably get expensive.
  
Last shabbat I tried out the new synagogue down the street, for ''ma`ariv'' (evening services). As I mentioned last week, it's a "sephardi" place -- actually, it seems more Moroccan than anything elseAnyway, it was nice; but in the morning I decided I would rather walk twenty minutes and have air-conditioning and a shorter service, than walk only one minute and have no air-conditioning and a longer serviceAs we came home, the people in the local synagogue were still in the middle of services - so that's at least 40 minutes longer than the place I normally goNot that I mind so much, but the Temanim finish even earlier than either -- although they also start earlier.
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Having to work from home while waiting for the plumber(s) was excruciating, since I have to transfer large files back and forth -- and my internet connection has always been pretty slowSo I upgraded from (ostensibly) 2.5Mbps to 5Mbps.  The difference is most impressive -- and the price difference was minimalI say "ostensibly", because when I actually measured my connection speed it was 1.2Mbps (whereas now it really is 5 or thereabouts)No, that doesn't mean you can email me large files...
  
This week I attended the first in a series of "diabetes workshops" held by my ''kupat cholim''Even though I don't have diabetes, I have two parents who had it (my father z"l had it, and my mother is treating it). So I'm at high risk for developing it, and need to try to hold it off as long as possible.  I've been on anti-diabetes medications for about ten years already, as a preventative measure. Anyway, this time they called from the "kupah" and invited me to join their workshop. Interesting group of people. One fellow came in already complaining about everything; he didn't even stay for the opening of the class.  Among the words of wisdom I culled from the presenters is that ''Hilbe'' {{hebs|חילבה}} ({{wiki|fenugreek}}) is a natural anti-diabetic (and anti-triglyceride etc).  So even though I don't really like the taste, I'm going to start incorporating it in my meals on a regular basis and see if that helps control my blood chemistry moreIt can't hurt, anyway.
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That man in the White House is trying to cozy up to the Muslim worldOf course, he is doing that by simply [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OTAyNzFjMmMwOWJjYmFmMTA2ODdjODZmZmQ0MWE1Mzg=&w=MA== making stuff up] -- such as that Hindu, Chinese and European discoveries were due to Muslim influence, or that Israel's justification for existence is [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124476334397008215.html the Holocaust] (as if we weren't here thousands of years before that Austrian vegetarian psychopath started on his killing spree).  If you don't think I'm correct, you may want to read a [http://www.hudsonny.org/2009/06/who-should-we-believe.php Muslim woman's take on Obama's Cairo speech]You should also view [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RlIuywN5WQ this honest response to Obama] from Moshe Feiglin.
  
For this shabbat I got whole ''[http://www.dagim.org.il/Index.asp?ArticleID=78&CategoryID=93 buri]'' ({{wiki2|Mullet_(fish)|mullet}}), which I seasoned lightly with salt, pepper, olive oil and ''{{wiki|za'atar}}''Baked at 200C for 30 minutes and let cool, then de-boned and sprinkled with lemon juice. I also made some caper mayonnaise to go with it, should anyone feel like it (I like {{wiki|capers}}!).
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So it is important that our Prime Minister Netanyahu [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/131833 not give in]. And in fact, the [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1244371095741&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull speech he gave] was a pretty good oneAnd the [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1244371107342&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull fakestinian reaction] was not only predictable, but good for us in the long term.
  
Well, it's time to clean the house for shabbat, so...
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To end on an upbeat note: tomorrow is Esther's (secular) birthday.  We (Sarah, Daniela and I) have prepared the shabbat meals from A to Z (or from א to ת).  OK, we didn't bake challah -- but the girls took care of all the ''salatim'' and dessert, while I concentrated on the entrees.  We'll let you know next week how they came out.  Or perhaps Esther should let you know how they came out... or maybe not.
  
 
Until next week,<br>
 
Until next week,<br>
 
Shabbat shalom!
 
Shabbat shalom!
  
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Latest revision as of 15:53, 26 June 2009

June 19th (See this week's devar torah)
Send Ron feedback on this blog

Hi again!

Another jam-packed edition of the Aaron family follies for your perusal!

One night this week we went to see the Jerusalem light festival. Click on that link -- that's right: a tourist-oriented event whose web page is only in Hebrew. Their web-site isn't all that wasn't brilliant, unfortunately. The most interesting part of that outing was seeing our next-door neighbors there (who expressed surprise at seeing us "so far from home").

Another night, we attended the first "Maale Adummim Anglo Forum". I want to avoid offending anyone from our "Anglo" community who reads this blog (I know of several), but in my opinion it was a terrible waste of two hours of my life. There was no explanation of what the "forum" expected to accomplish (goals, that is); so there were seemingly random presentations (children from the local music conservatory playing some pieces; the mayor giving a speech which seemed somewhat like a fund-raiser, and a comic). The comic -- someone I've seen around fairly often, but didn't know he was a comic -- was so depressing, by the end of his routine I was ready to slice my throat. This was more of a waste of my time than the light festival -- since at least before that we had a pleasant dinner with a friend of ours.

Yet another night, we went to the Jerusalem Book Fair. That was promising (we all like books), but I didn't see anything I was particularly interested in. However, Esther did get some cookbooks. It's impressive just how many people come to these fairs. While we were there, a couple thousand people were milling about the stalls looking for something new or interesting.

Though we replaced all the pipes in the house before moving in, we discovered a spreading leak in the ceiling in Daniela's room. Since she's on the second storey and there are no pipes above her room (and the roof is bone-dry), we were mystified as to what the problem could be. So I stayed home one day and we called in a plumber; who told us he was stumped, and that in order to figure out the problem we would have to open a hole in the roof's insulation and dig into the roof -- and that it would end up being expensive. So he suggested we contact our homeowners' insurance company and see what they cover. I hadn't even considered calling the insurance company; but we did. They in turn sent their own plumber out, and after a bit he discovered that one of the electrical conduits leading into the house was saturated with water (not a good thing!). So he blew into that conduit, and expelled a lot of water into our house, just where the hot-water "boiler" switch is. Anyway, he sealed off that conduit -- but we still don't know why there was water in it, or whether or not the actual problem was been fixed (my suspicion is 'no'). Just so you know, the plumber charged less than our insurance deductible of 500 NIS (roughly $120 for you USA'ans) so it didn't matter we called them. But if the leak continues to spread, we'll call them back and then it will probably get expensive.

Having to work from home while waiting for the plumber(s) was excruciating, since I have to transfer large files back and forth -- and my internet connection has always been pretty slow. So I upgraded from (ostensibly) 2.5Mbps to 5Mbps. The difference is most impressive -- and the price difference was minimal. I say "ostensibly", because when I actually measured my connection speed it was 1.2Mbps (whereas now it really is 5 or thereabouts). No, that doesn't mean you can email me large files...

That man in the White House is trying to cozy up to the Muslim world. Of course, he is doing that by simply making stuff up -- such as that Hindu, Chinese and European discoveries were due to Muslim influence, or that Israel's justification for existence is the Holocaust (as if we weren't here thousands of years before that Austrian vegetarian psychopath started on his killing spree). If you don't think I'm correct, you may want to read a Muslim woman's take on Obama's Cairo speech. You should also view this honest response to Obama from Moshe Feiglin.

So it is important that our Prime Minister Netanyahu not give in. And in fact, the speech he gave was a pretty good one. And the fakestinian reaction was not only predictable, but good for us in the long term.

To end on an upbeat note: tomorrow is Esther's (secular) birthday. We (Sarah, Daniela and I) have prepared the shabbat meals from A to Z (or from א to ת). OK, we didn't bake challah -- but the girls took care of all the salatim and dessert, while I concentrated on the entrees. We'll let you know next week how they came out. Or perhaps Esther should let you know how they came out... or maybe not.

Until next week,
Shabbat shalom!



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