Blog/September 2008/Sep 12th

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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