Difference between revisions of "Blog/September 2008/Sep 12th"

Latest revision as of 12:28, 19 September 2008

September 12th (See this week's devar torah)
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Hi again!

It's been a bit stressful this week. Daniela found out her computer got infected with a virus ... and she started panicking. We spend many hours this week trying to get rid of the problem -- it wasn't just one virus, but many -- and we still haven't completely restored her machine to proper shape. I could rant about how insecure Windows is... but I won't. Ah, what the hell? Windows is a blight upon the computing world. Never mind; you're not interested in hearing me rant yet again about Windows insecurity.

I've been banging my head against the wall at work, trying to get a technical specification written for a project we are doing with an Indian company. The problem I'm having is that the Indian company doesn't seem to have the slightest idea what a "specification" is, and the process is taking much longer than it should. So I'm going ahead with what I think they mean, but I know -- and this is based on lots of experience -- that whatever I do will not be what they actually want. Oh well, that's life ...

I know I've mentioned it before, but the medical care here is refreshingly good. This week I had to have an x-ray and an ultrasound taken. In the past, when I've had to do these (in the States), I would have to make a special appointment, pay a co-pay, and after the event would have to go back to my doctor for the results. Here, I walked in (I did have to make an appointment for the ultrasound), got my pictures taken. Immediately afterward I was given CDs with the results - and I didn't have to pay anything. Well, maybe my kupah will bill me, I don't know yet. The next day I went and got a written report from the supervising doctor, enumerating the findings. Similarly, when I went to get periodic blood tests, the results appeared on-line and I could check them from home. I like the idea that here, your medical information is really yours, and you have access to it... something I don't remember encountering in the US.

Aliyah advice: get to know people. Everything here -- from dealing with the government, to getting a job -- works more smoothly if you 'know someone'. So social networking is important, especially for people who didn't grow up here. Use your friends to make new contacts. Use your synagogue, your ulpan, even the local market. Don't be afraid to talk to people you don't know -- after all, as the saying goes, a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet.

And in Israeli news this week: former Shas politician Aryeh Deri is trying to run for mayor of Jerusalem, even though he was convicted of fraud, betrayal of the public trust and moral turpitude (the latter bans him from politics until next year sometime). Now it is true that Olmert was also mayor of Jerusalem, and that the police intend to bring (multiple) charges of fraud and bribery against him... so perhaps it's not so bad to have Deri -- at least we know up front that he's a gangster? He was born in Morocco, and a little known fact is he changed his name when he made aliyah. It used to be Derrière. Hopefully he'll be left behind this time.

Until next week,
Shabbat shalom!

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-{{bheader|September 5th|Devar/5768/Shoftim}}
+{{bheader|September 12th|Devar/5768/Ki Tetse}}
 Hi again!
-Sarah started school this week; she's got a very tough schedule ("horrific", in her words).  To her credit, the only thing she's really complained about was having P.E. (and a PE teacher who takes it seriously).  Apparently there's a ''bagrut'' for PE as well.  Somehow, I don't see the kids at her school taking that all too seriously.  We don't know what sort of tutoring she's going to need, if any -- we'll probably find out in the next few weeks.
+It's been a bit stressful this week.  Daniela found out her computer got infected with a virus ... and she started panicking.  We spend many hours this week trying to get rid of the problem -- it wasn't just one virus, but many -- and we still haven't completely restored her machine to proper shape.  I could rant about how insecure Windows is... but I won't.  Ah, what the hell?  Windows is a blight upon the computing world.  Never mind; you're not interested in hearing me rant yet again about Windows insecurity.
-We're trying to figure out exactly where we're going to put our {{wiki|sukkah}} this year.  The place with the most room has a fig-tree overhanging it, so that tree would have to be cut-back considerably.  The front area isn't the right shape or big enough.  So it's going to be an interesting challenge this year.  We'll keep you informed.  In the meantime, the weather here in the Judean Desert is hot and somewhat humid, making it pretty uncomfortable.  I hope the humidity is a sign that winter isn't too far away.
+I've been banging my head against the wall at work, trying to get a technical specification written for a project we are doing with an Indian company.  The problem I'm having is that the Indian company doesn't seem to have the slightest idea what a "specification" is, and the process is taking much longer than it should.  So I'm going ahead with what I ''think'' they mean, but I know -- and this is based on lots of experience -- that whatever I do will ''not'' be what they actually want.  Oh well, that's life ...
-I want to mention two "sickies" this week.  My mother, Chanah Rachel bat Flora -- who is not "sick" right now but recovering from an infection which put her in the hospital for a few days; and my friend Michael Shelomo Bar-Ron who was injured while working on his [http://www.abirwarriorarts.com/ Abir] technique. May they both have a speedy and complete recovery!  ''Update:'' I just found out my friend Dov Ber ben Eliyahu is also in need of refu'a!  What is this?  Every time I think of someone, they end up in pain?!?
+I know I've mentioned it before, but the medical care here is refreshingly good.  This week I had to have an x-ray and an ultrasound taken.  In the past, when I've had to do these (in the States), I would have to make a special appointment, pay a co-pay, and after the event would have to go back to my doctor for the results.  Here, I walked in (I did have to make an appointment for the ultrasound), got my pictures taken.  Immediately afterward I was given CDs with the results - and I didn't have to pay anything.  Well, maybe my ''kupah'' will bill me, I don't know yet. The next day I went and got a written report from the supervising doctor, enumerating the findings.  Similarly, when I went to get periodic blood tests, the results appeared on-line and I could check them from home.  I like the idea that here, your medical information is really yours, and you have access to it... something I don't remember encountering in the US.
-In aliyah news, the [http://www.nbn.org.il/index.php Nefesh b'Nefesh] organization is [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/127419 taking over responsibility] for American aliyah.  Now you won't have to deal with the Jewish Agency as well as NBN, you can do everything through one agency, which is a huge win for new-olim.  However...
+Aliyah advice: get to know people.  Everything here -- from dealing with the government, to getting a job -- works more smoothly if you 'know someone'.  So social networking is important, especially for people who didn't grow up here.  Use your friends to make new contacts.  Use your synagogue, your ''ulpan'', even the local market.  Don't be afraid to talk to people you don't know -- after all, as the saying goes, a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet.
-Aliyah advice: NBN is ''not'' the only solution.  They are excellent at what they do, but they are not helpful when your needs are outside their expertise.  That is, if you have never lived in Israel they're great.  But if you have, you really need to do research on your own.  That is the theme of the 'advice' for this week: make sure you research as much as possible, before you come.  That way you will have fewer unpleasant experiences.
+And in Israeli news this week: former {{wiki|Shas}} politician [http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3591436,00.html Aryeh Deri] is trying to run for mayor of Jerusalem, even though he was convicted of fraud, betrayal of the public trust and moral turpitude (the latter bans him from politics until next year sometime).  Now it is true that {{wiki|Olmert}} was also mayor of Jerusalem, and that the police intend to bring (multiple) charges of fraud and bribery against him... so perhaps it's not so bad to have Deri -- at least we know ''up front'' that he's a gangster?  He was born in Morocco, and a little known fact is he changed his name when he made ''aliyah''.  It used to be ''Derrière''.  Hopefully he'll be left behind this time.
-One of the things you will notice when you come here is the tension between the "secular" and the "religious".  For example, the far-left secular paper "Haaretz" opined that the fact there are a record number of young men entering the yeshivas this year is [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1017428.html a disaster] that will cost the state 30 billion shekels.  I'm not sure how that works out, as there are only 63,000 entering yeshivas.  That works out to almost 500 thousand shekels per student... which is more than four years average Israeli salary.  The State is not paying for their studies, so what gives?  In the Israeli far-left view, one's worth is strictly dependent on one's income.  Ironic, given the Stalinist-socialist basis of their ideology...
-Speaking of the far-left, The Jerusalem Post's resident idiot Derfner wrote [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1220444321712&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull one of the most offensively anti-female] pieces I've ever read.  Of course, he was denigrating Sarah Palin - of whom I had not even heard until this past Saturday night.  It's all right for a woman to be successful and assertive, if she is ''liberal'', but not if she's ''conservative''.  At least, that's what I get from his diatribe.
-You might think I am "right-wing", based on many of my comments.  The truth is that I am independent but have no patience for liberal (or conservative) gas-bags .  This upcoming US election had me underwhelmed -- neither of the primary candidates really "did it" for me.  That is, until this week.  I applaud McCain's appointment of Palin as a brilliant strategic move, which may very well propel his ticket to the Oval Office.  Read [http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/transcripts/20080903_PALIN_SPEECH.html Palin's speech] at the RNC, and tell me you aren't impressed...  Then look her up on YouTube! and hear her talk.  And [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=2&cid=1220526712963&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull read this analysis].  I tell you, this might be a turn-around for America.  Now, if we could only get someone similar here in Israel...
-In the interest of fair disclosure: if you are one of those (primarily left-wing so-called 'liberals') who wishes to boycott Israel, please [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU221GA5-u8 watch this video first].  Don't say you weren't warned.
 Until next week,<br>
 Shabbat shalom!
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Difference between revisions of "Blog/September 2008/Sep 12th"

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Latest revision as of 12:28, 19 September 2008