Rosh Ha'shana - Jewish New Year!

The Jewish New Year is upon us. A time to greet in a new year, take stock of what was and wish and pray for a better (or even better) year to come.

Jews take the happy with the sad, and so, soon after the new year holiday - comes

Yom Kippur, which is the day when the temple for god was destroyed, followed by the need of the jews to seek atonement for their (our) sins - on Yom Kippur.

But back to the new year, it's a time for celebrations, eating sweet foods to promote sweetness in the year to come, and other customs that cleanses the soul and body and help us welcome the new year with a smile and happyness in our hearts.

As in most holidays it's also a time to bond stronger with family and friends. Not just through eating together, but also through companionship and forgiveness for past sins.

May this year be sweet and happy and full of joy to all!

Mandarin Chinese

Over the past months (on and off) I've been picking up a some chinese. Some from my girlfriend, and some from Computer Programs.

However, my hardship in learning and retaining information made it difficult for me to stick to learning and remembering the words.

If I am anything - it's stuborn. As such, I don't intend to let it be. I aim to learn as much chinese as I can until the end of the year.

For that I'm trying Rosetta Stone. It's a program that uses immersion in the language as a part of it's technique to bind you with the language. Once you start the program, all you see and hear is the language you chose, plus photos and such. No english to piggyback you along.

I hope this method will make things easier for me.

As I said, if anything, I am stuborn!

Home Alone

I took G. to the airport last night, and went back to our empty home.

8 months into our life together and she became a big part of my life. It made me sometimes feel like I'm losing myself, and in need of some self defining actions of freedom.

But I am glad she's in my life. And I miss her.

The house is so quiet without her here, and even two weeks seems like a long time to wait till we see each other again.

Life together have their ups and their downs. It takes a lot of compromising and a lot of patience on both sides. I keep working on it, and so does G.

I love and miss you baby.

Farewells

Don't you just hate'em?

It stretches and lingers and you become miserable.

Cats can leave you and not look back. For them you're a servant with food and comforts. Other than that - they don't really need you.

People mostly are not like cats. When we say "goodbye", "see you again", or "farewell" to someone we care about, we hate to see them leave and it's hard to let go - because we (most of us anyways) develop an emotional connection to our friends and loved ones.

On some level I think it's a feeling of loss. You see someone go, and you feel like they're lost to you - even if you know it's only a matter of time until you see them again.

So would I want to be like a cat, or am I happy being a caring human?

I think that the answer to that changes according to occasion. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Emotions can be a burden when they're too dark and/or too hard to handle.

Refrigerators & Black Holes

Looking at the possible end of the world from the "before" side while searching for a new fridge can be a rather philosophical excercise.

On the one hand, we really do need a new fridge. On the other, why buy a new one when it won't arrive on time to enjoy it, and the all search effort might be in vain?

Anyways, I've ordered a new fridge and hopefully it will arrive tommorow or friday!

I now know much more about refrigerators than I cared or thought I would ever know..

Anyone wants a crash course about fridges? :)

Things the world throws on you

It seems that when your life goes into accelerated activity, the universe tends to throw some more activity your way, and it's not always the good kind.

E.g.: You prepare to go on a vacation which will cost you some, so the universe/god/murphy thinks this is a great time to throw some overdue bills your way, break down the fridge (which will make you buy a new one), and have just a few more bits of expenditure - just to make things more interesting.

Is that what they call "The law of attraction"? go into action, and action shall come upon you..

Someone told me once that it's always better to be in motion rather than stand still. Even if you encounter bad luck or other misfortunes, the momentum would always keep you moving and finding new things, meeting new people and living your life to the fullest.

I'm an optimistic fellow, or so I like to think most of the time, so I simply put my trust in the powers that be, and continue with my plans while making the necessary monetary arrangements, because the world will keep on moving to the same place its going no matter if I get pissed and frustrated or happy and content. I choose happy (even if not always content)

:-)

State of Despair

Every day I go to work, as I pull into parking and get out of my car, a wave of despair washes over me.

It matters not what work there is to do, or how long is the day in front of me.

A cloud of depression comes over me and makes the beginning of my day pretty dreary.

So I try to fight it, using caffeine, sugar, forced smiles, but sometimes I think to myself that maybe I'm just not a morning person - on top of not liking my job.

The not liking my job part stems a lot from the wearing out of doing the same kind of work (of the people service and support kind) day in and day out for some years now.

It's taking me nowhere, and until recently I've been feeling like there's no real escape.

Now, since I got myself diagnosed for ADD, there's a little ray of hope - I can actually better my position, I can actually make an attempt at learning something new and not lose interest before a day passes.

So, it this state of despair, there is hope. :)

Focus

I have always found it hard to focus, whether it's at work, studying, or even reading a book to its end - mostly non-fiction books or school material.

Most projects and ideas I had, I didnt finish or gave up on before even starting.

Lack of focus, no concentration, inability to stay "on the ball". My life has been rulled by these issues.

It went on like this for years. Try as I did, with academics, I didnt have the stamina, or patience to study for long, and things I did understand in the classroom didn't hold from day to day.

Never had the patience to sit and do homework for too long. And that is a real dumper when it comes to university studies.. (or any studies, come to think of it)

Last friday, I went and did a test for ADD/ADHD called T.O.V.A

As the test had shown, and as I already figured, it seems I have some form of ADD.

It's good in my eyes, this diagnostic, since it explains my history, as well as offers several routes for treatment and addressing of the problems I had and still have.

It opens a whole range of possibilities to me, leaving me with the decision - what and if I should do something with this knowledge.

This time I can no longer chalk it all down to lazyness, or lack of interest, or anything else. It all comes down to me.

Olympics

Beijing Olympics just ended. It was an impressive demonstration of power and money and human physical abilities.

I never actually followed the games, aside from being happy or sad for my countrymen when they succeeded or failed.

The games this year put a spotlight on china - good thing or a bad thing - depends on how you look at it. It showed the strengths of this giant nation and also its shortcomings in some other areas - such as human rights.

A lot of animosity came about - from alligations as to possible drug abuse by the jamaican runner to loser discontent and lack of sportsmanship from the american teams as well as others.

It was a spectacular and difficult (if not impossible) to top effort. For that china deserves hats off.

Now London 2012 is the next place of events - and everyone wonders how they will pull it off.

How will things be? only time will tell.

Fighting WindMills

After fifteen years at the same bank, I decided to take initiative and fight at least one of the wrongs.

One thing among the many that this bank (and since it's the largest one in Israel, most of the rest as well) is inflicting on its customers, or money cows..

The thing I'm fighting is the fact that once you have money in your checking account, you get no interest for it. When you have a debt to the bank, you'll pay a handsome interest, but when the bank enjoys your balance, you see not even a penny (or agora, as the case may be).

I already contacted my bank - their response was that this is how things are. Naturally this is not a viable answer.

So, I'm using other channels. Bank of Israel, and various other institutions and offices that may have the power to change this wrong doing.

I am hopefull, but I also know this is a long howl run. It won't be over in a couple of months. But the banks should re-grasp the notion that they are here to serve US and not vice versa.

As soon as I gather enough paper/email trail, I'll start publishing it online and try to get the media to delve and follow this. The more noise I generate, the more chance I have to be heard and supported.

The amounts involved in this are staggering. estimations run upto 100 billion shekels a year (about 27 billion USD) from the interest they (all the israeli banks) gather from our money.

Wish me luck! :)

Nostalgy: The X-Files Returns

10 Years ago, X-Files ended with the screening of the movie "Fight the Future"

After 9 seasons ,the acclaimed tv series went off the screen and slowly off the minds of countless fans to tv oblivion. Or so we thought.

When the motion picture came out, there were intentions (as I recall) to produce a series of movies that will stretch and thicken the plot further. These intentions did not hold for long, as the movie did not do too well in the theatres, and after the termination of the tv series, there seemed to be no point in producing any other movies.

However, now came the second movie of "The X-Files". I read that David Duchovny himself pushed for the production of this installment, even though the show has been dead for so long, and the first movie was not a big success.

So I went to see it last night with my girlfriend. We were 4-5 people in a small movie hall (the smallest one in the multiplex).

Personally I enjoyed this movie. It was different than what I remembered of the show as well as the previous movie. But since the plot takes place 10 years after the last movie, it makes sense. People change, and mulder & scully changed a lot.

This movie, as a deviation from the main x-files theme, was not about Aliens in any way. It still managed to convey a interesting suspense-filled plot and an emotional ending.

There were too many emotional, drama dialogues between mulder & scully to my preference, but all in all, I liked the development that took place over the years.

I guess I missed The X-files just as much as Mulder did :)

Money Money Money

Every once in a while, me, and now my girlfriend too, like to imagine what it would be like when we get rich.

What kind of things we would buy, which places we would visit, how we'll act upon becoming rich and how else it would affect our lives.

I realised This "what if" game is pretty common after asking around.

People always like to go on dreaming about things they wish to attain.

How many of these people actually take the dream from the mind and turn it into a reality?

Not many it seems.. and why not?

Is it really that difficult to become rich? or is it the risk taking that most people rather avoid?

Maybe the reason is that the easiest thing is to dream, and on the other hand, elbow grease and running around and doing hard work and sometimes going on a limb without being sure of the actual consequences is what keeps most people away from that pot of gold at the foot of the rainbow..

You read everyday about rich people. They buy this, they go there, they seem so distant when in reality they're quite regular folks. Most of them anyways.

Another thing is that people don't really like rich people. Or maybe it's just in my country. Being rich here seems to be a good reason to be apologetic and to be looked at with suspicion and distrust.

If they donate - it's probably for tax benefits or to push something to do with their hidden agenda. If they don't donate - they're evil scrooges that do not deserve a second pittying glance.

However, if you ask any average Joe or Jane on the street (Alon or Noa in Israel) if they rather be poor, average or rich in income, the answer is always clear. They (and us) all want to be rich.

How do you want to spend your life? rich or poor? does poorness makes for a better person? does money instantly makes for a less moral one?

Food for thought.

Stomach Aches

I don't know about you, but my stomach aches quite often.
Things I try to soothe it include tea, milk, rubbing, toilet, and avoiding constipation inducing foods.
Still, sometimes it just remains as it is, and I'm left with the simple task of riding it over.
Another way to allow the stomach to function better (ingestion-wise) is to practice sports. I suspect that my lack of sport-practicing contributes to my ill-feeling.
I keep telling myself I'll do something about it, and of course I keep postponing it again and again.
My self-discipline needs boosting in the way of a coach/trainer. My last trainer closed shop for lack of students (Krav-Maga) and difficulties finding a venue to practice at.
Instead of finding alternative sports, I just let things stay as they are. Bad choice of course.
How does one develop self-discipline if one has lost it so many years ago?
Food for thought.

Back to Istanbul - on a different note

After being on vacation at Istanbul, I woke up today to read that a double bombing took place in the city, taking 16 lives, and injuring more than a 100.
I feel both relieved that we were spared the mayhem, and at a loss for the citizens of this noisy, busy, lively city.
My country has its share of death and mayhem, but even though you become somewhat toughskinned, it's the places you go to vacation at that you really do not want nor expect to be in danger.
I wish to send some comforting words to the families of the deceased and wishes of fast recovery to the families of the injured.

Death in a Dream

(This photo is for visualization purposes only)

I had a dream last night, and in my dream I saw a homeless guy.

He was a black guy with lots of hair on his head, with a wisp a moustache and a shadow of a beard.

I saw him twice in the dream. I think the first time he was outside or around my apartment building. The second time, he was trying to break into my apartment from the one next door.

He climbed on the edge of the wall from the adjacent apartment, and came into my veranda which made a racket that got my and my girlfriend attention. So I went to investigate, and there he was. For some reason he was smiling.. maybe to look less of a threat, I don't know.

Then I shouted at him. and he tried going back the way he came. He fell from the ledge to the ground - two stories below. I heard the thud. I didn't see anything, as the dream ended at that point.

It's a disturbing dream. I even remember seeing the same guy previously. Whether it was in another dream, the street, on the television or at the cinema, I don't remember.

Nightmares suck. I say that even though I heard that dreaming about death means good things in real life.

Hope you all have good dreams!

A Bit Of Fry & Laurie

Once upon a time there was an old BBC Comedy show by the name of "A Bit Of Fry & Laurie".

It featured two young and coming british comedians and included silly and nonsensical skeets.

I came upon it just a couple of days ago and found it almost at a monty python level.
So, here's a link to streaming of a few episodes of each of the four seasons of the show: Here

Enjoy yourself! I did :D

Cool Stuff!

I found this cool and cheap gadget website!

It has lots of Cool gadgets and electronic devices. I love this stuff :)

Enjoy it! btw, they deliver free to Israel!

Return from Istanbul!

Coming back from Istanbul, I can say it was a pleasant weekend - even if hot and humid.

But then again, so is Israel.

We basically covered the tourist hot spots as all we had were 3 days, but I think we did pretty good considering the time restraints :)

Among the places we visited were:

The Blue Mosque

Hagia (Santa) Sofia

Sulimaniye Mosque (which sadly is in renovations over 2007-2008)

Taxim Square

The Grand Bazzar (which is pretty grand)

The Spice Bazzar, and a couple of other places.

Basilica Cistern

Istanbul, Here we Come!

Photo borrowed from Exposedplanet.com

Tommorow we go for a long weekend visit to Istanbul!

We'll sample the flavors, odors and sights of this cosmopolitan city and come back refreshed and ready to tackle the new month of July with renewed energy and Zest.

After G. got her Work visa at last (5 months to the day after beginning of this Sisyphean process), her Hebrew lessons begin now as well, so things are definitely picking up.

The time is right to hop on a plane and see new things, walk more than sit, and have new experiences in a land other than mine :)

Neither of us ever been to Turkey (other than passing through their international airport on the way to or from somewhere else), and it certainly seems like a colorful and interesting country with lots to see.

As oil prices continue to soar, and alternative fuels and motors are still not widely available, it seems to me that air ticket prices will continue to go up even to a point at which flights will become rich people affair. That would be a sad day indeed for travel lovers everywhere.

There are of course advantages to the world becoming less global in the way that exploitation of the environment might lessen considerably. But in my little world, it won't be a good thing for air ticket prices to go up..

So we hope, and wait, and see.

Have a Good weekend!,

I know I will! :)

Ice Cream

I drove by an ice cream parlor a few days ago and it started a craving for ice cream.

Yet, I don't look to satiate this craving, just nurture it along and indulge in it :)

My craving outdoes my stomach capacity so I rather just crave for now.

Cravings..

What do people want most? happyness (I think)

How do you attain happyness? by doing things that make you happy

How are you able to do those things? many ways. mostly though, with money.

So, again, what is it that people want the most...?