Difference between revisions of "Blog/February 2009/Feb 13th"
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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, may I point 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. America's remaining 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. | 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, may I point 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. America's remaining 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. | ||
| − | 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], 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 emplace [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/160544 their own monitor] in a Jewish town. "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". | + | 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 emplace [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/160544 their own monitor] in a Jewish town. "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". |
Even [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304705842&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull UNRWA] has given up, after Hamas stole supplies from them again. And guess what they use [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304770155&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull medical supplies for]? There are some [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 enough, and too late. | Even [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304705842&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull UNRWA] has given up, after Hamas stole supplies from them again. And guess what they use [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304770155&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull medical supplies for]? There are some [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 enough, and too late. | ||
| − | + | 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's 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... | |
| − | |||
| − | + | Since I complained about Microsoft last time, I figured I should give [http://xkcd.com/456/ equal time to Linux] -- although 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 this 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 sorts of backgrounds and educational levels, living together in a pressure-cooker -- it's really pretty amazing. First, amazing that it works at all, let alone as well as it does. But more amazing is that it feels like home even though so much is different from wherever we came from. | ||
| − | |||
Until next week,<br> | Until next week,<br> | ||
Revision as of 13:46, 13 February 2009
February 13th (See this week's devar torah)
Send Ron feedback on this blog
Hi again!
Help feed the hungry in Israel!
As you're all aware by now, the Israeli elections came and went. The weather was very windy and rainy that day -- I thought 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.
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, may I point 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. America's remaining 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. "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 again. And guess what they use medical supplies for? There are some who understand just how much they have contributed to the "radicalization" of Israeli society. But not enough, and too late.
On the work front, there was a time when I thought this was funny. Now that it's 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 -- although 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 this 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 sorts of backgrounds and educational levels, living together in a pressure-cooker -- it's really pretty amazing. First, amazing that it works at all, let alone as well as it does. But more amazing is that it feels like home even though so much is different from wherever we came from.
Until next week,
Shabbat shalom!
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