The state is defined as an "entity which has a monopoly over the legitimate use of violence." via Wikipedia.
How succinct and perfect a definition. It makes everything so much more clear. Especially when thinking about this along with terrorism.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
My Urban Farming Dream (Links)
So this is it. I should read more, but I would invest in this. EcoGeek outlines an awesome project from a Columbia professor, The Vertical Farm. Amazing to me. Would be fun to be a part of it.
Update: Very cool project in SF, Victory Gardens. Thanks Dad.
Update: Very cool project in SF, Victory Gardens. Thanks Dad.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
The Conflict (Links)
One of my unofficial goals while I'm in Israel is to bring some clarity to the conflict happening here. I just read a fantastic article written by Haim Harari that has started me on the right track.
Who is Haim Harari? I didn't know until I stumbled upon this piece. Take a look at his wikipedia article. He's got smart credentials.
A good start. Now, to dig deeper.
Who is Haim Harari? I didn't know until I stumbled upon this piece. Take a look at his wikipedia article. He's got smart credentials.
A good start. Now, to dig deeper.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Trends (Links)
-Awesome what Radiohead is doing. Finally we're starting to get it.
-Kanye West is continuing to hold my attention with his new video. He's a master of association, though it tires quickly. What will he do next? is the game he's playing.
-Kanye West is continuing to hold my attention with his new video. He's a master of association, though it tires quickly. What will he do next? is the game he's playing.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
EMERGENCY! Mass Extinction Currently Occurring
We are currently witnessing a terrible human tragedy. A recent NY Times article brought attention to the frighteningly rapid speed at which human languages all over the world are going extinct. A rate "that exceeds that of birds, mammals, fish and plants."
Yes there are many terrible things going on in the world (Darfur, Iraq, Jena 6, Global Warming) and how can we prioritize them? For me, this is now NUMBER ONE. I'm not going to begin to talk about what a loss a human language is to the world, it's a huge loss and I'll leave it at that. What's even more tragic is that this doesn't have to happen. We can preserve these languages easily. And yes again, it would be better if they remained living, but there will be no way to keep them alive or (more likely) revive them if we don't know them.
The article reports on work being done by researchers to preserve these languages. There aren't enough people working on this! They've already reported langauges extinct before they had a chance to be preserved.
How can we help? I'm not sure yet. My immediate thought is how collaborative technologies like the internet could be used to more efficiently aid in the recording of theses languages. Something like Wikipedia provides a good example to get the ideas flowing.
And of course I'm sure money is an issue. This is work I want to be a part of. I can feel the urgency. I am going to do more research and will report ways individuals can get involved to stop this from happening!
Yes there are many terrible things going on in the world (Darfur, Iraq, Jena 6, Global Warming) and how can we prioritize them? For me, this is now NUMBER ONE. I'm not going to begin to talk about what a loss a human language is to the world, it's a huge loss and I'll leave it at that. What's even more tragic is that this doesn't have to happen. We can preserve these languages easily. And yes again, it would be better if they remained living, but there will be no way to keep them alive or (more likely) revive them if we don't know them.
The article reports on work being done by researchers to preserve these languages. There aren't enough people working on this! They've already reported langauges extinct before they had a chance to be preserved.
How can we help? I'm not sure yet. My immediate thought is how collaborative technologies like the internet could be used to more efficiently aid in the recording of theses languages. Something like Wikipedia provides a good example to get the ideas flowing.
And of course I'm sure money is an issue. This is work I want to be a part of. I can feel the urgency. I am going to do more research and will report ways individuals can get involved to stop this from happening!
Brand New Funk 2k7 (Video)
mom, i'm not giving up on my dreams...i will have an ice cream truck someday!
Friday, September 21, 2007
A Fork, But No Pork
Here I sit on the eve of Yom Kippur and I feel great. So here's what's happening, I started this blog initially as a way to let people from back home know how I'm doing.
I found out that I enjoy writing just for its own sake and began wanting to write about whatever I felt. I rationalized to myself that with my distinctive categories for posts this would be ok, readers could pick and choose what topics they wanted to follow.
Ehhhh, lo. If I really am going to make an effort to give my people the goods, like actually report and not just make a mess, I need to take it seriously.
So I am! Starting today I will be maintaining a weekly blog reporting on my experience here from a more straight journalism style perspective. Introducing The Blue and White Report. Details will be provided there with my introductory post.
And what will become of Yala Balagan? I will continue to post here as I feel, but now guilt free because it can be my personal sandbox, unaccountable to anyone else. So if you want to know what's up with me in Israel, go on and get your news fix.
I found out that I enjoy writing just for its own sake and began wanting to write about whatever I felt. I rationalized to myself that with my distinctive categories for posts this would be ok, readers could pick and choose what topics they wanted to follow.
Ehhhh, lo. If I really am going to make an effort to give my people the goods, like actually report and not just make a mess, I need to take it seriously.
So I am! Starting today I will be maintaining a weekly blog reporting on my experience here from a more straight journalism style perspective. Introducing The Blue and White Report. Details will be provided there with my introductory post.
And what will become of Yala Balagan? I will continue to post here as I feel, but now guilt free because it can be my personal sandbox, unaccountable to anyone else. So if you want to know what's up with me in Israel, go on and get your news fix.
Made In Israel (Video)
I'm not big into drugs, but the music, lyrics, combined with the nicely edited archival footage makes this one a keeper.
Facebook App Ideas
The recently announced funding for facebook application development has got me thinking. There's a lot of money at stake. It's not so much about money as it is about being something exciting and ground breaking.
Here are a couple ideas:
1) Wikipedia History - this is kind of just for fun. i browse wikipedia often. when i do i end up getting lost in its hyperlinks, it really is a trip. when i feel satisfied or get tired (one or the other) i wake up and wonder, where have i been? this would somehow represent my wikipedia browsing, this is where you could get creative. somehow communicating the time spent on certain topics could be interesting.
so on its own is one thing. but combined with the socialness of facebook you get the immediate satisfaction of knowing that you're sharing this information with your friends. you could even take it a step further so that algorithms find similarities amongst friends research interests.
a model for this type of application already exists in the work happening at the Attention Trust. This would essentially be an Attention Trust recorder made specifically for wikipedia and accessible via facebook.
2) Project Management Tools - here's where you could make some big bucks. why not build project management right into facebook? "pm" services are where a lot of the best innovation and use of the web has been coming from (Basecamp, Zoho, etc.). combine that with another key player in internet innovation (fb) and how could you go wrong?
think of it as fb groups with extra features (document posting, etc.) fb groups may already have enough functionality that it could compete with existing pm services. a feature comparison could be warranted.
most of the already existing services cost money. building their features (assuming they're missing from fb right now) into a facebook app would leverage the infrastructure of facebook while also providing a free option for project management (altruistic, but hey, it's the internet!).
a quick search of the facebook app business directory showed no signs of anything that anywhere near resembles pm tools. this could be great.
Here are a couple ideas:
1) Wikipedia History - this is kind of just for fun. i browse wikipedia often. when i do i end up getting lost in its hyperlinks, it really is a trip. when i feel satisfied or get tired (one or the other) i wake up and wonder, where have i been? this would somehow represent my wikipedia browsing, this is where you could get creative. somehow communicating the time spent on certain topics could be interesting.
so on its own is one thing. but combined with the socialness of facebook you get the immediate satisfaction of knowing that you're sharing this information with your friends. you could even take it a step further so that algorithms find similarities amongst friends research interests.
a model for this type of application already exists in the work happening at the Attention Trust. This would essentially be an Attention Trust recorder made specifically for wikipedia and accessible via facebook.
2) Project Management Tools - here's where you could make some big bucks. why not build project management right into facebook? "pm" services are where a lot of the best innovation and use of the web has been coming from (Basecamp, Zoho, etc.). combine that with another key player in internet innovation (fb) and how could you go wrong?
think of it as fb groups with extra features (document posting, etc.) fb groups may already have enough functionality that it could compete with existing pm services. a feature comparison could be warranted.
most of the already existing services cost money. building their features (assuming they're missing from fb right now) into a facebook app would leverage the infrastructure of facebook while also providing a free option for project management (altruistic, but hey, it's the internet!).
a quick search of the facebook app business directory showed no signs of anything that anywhere near resembles pm tools. this could be great.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
archive
felt inspired one day and put this on my facebook profile, got tired of it, but don't want to forget it:
midwest is the crest that i wear on my chest/
sure as hell is the best / place to be from /
cause folks think i'm llikely to be dumb / witted but then i switch hit it - out the park /
swim faster than a shark and like hanging out in the park
midwest is the crest that i wear on my chest/
sure as hell is the best / place to be from /
cause folks think i'm llikely to be dumb / witted but then i switch hit it - out the park /
swim faster than a shark and like hanging out in the park
Monday, September 17, 2007
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Moving Day!
Yes I'm moving out of the hostel, fantastic! I've got a small furnished room off of Ben Yehuda and Nordau in the north. It's a cute area and I'm looking forward to getting familiar with it. + I'm living with my good friend Steven, I'm excited! I'll take some pictures. Happy Day!
Public Designer
1) Designing public spaces like squares. Places to promote interesting social interactions.
2) Designing children's playgrounds. The challenge of making a fun space while taking into account safety concerns would be great.
Then seeing your work used, come to life, what a thrill and sense of accomplishment.
2) Designing children's playgrounds. The challenge of making a fun space while taking into account safety concerns would be great.
Then seeing your work used, come to life, what a thrill and sense of accomplishment.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Loving
Is great. And even better that you don't need people to do it. I can love anything. I can love this song, this sight, this food, this day, everything. And it's when I love things that I am happy happy. The love keeps going and growing. To find new love everyday is incredible and it's possible. I do it all the time. There are some prerequisites, like the hard work and responsibility that makes up happiness, but once you've gotten that out of the way there's so much room for love. That's what I want to make room for. That's what I'm making room for.
I really love music. I feel love music. Nothing like it. Freedom and comfort and bliss.
I really love music. I feel love music. Nothing like it. Freedom and comfort and bliss.
Providence Also Moves Me
Fantastic response to an article he read in the NY Times. Rich JC uses a journalistic style, leading in with a couple lines before he reveals his subject.
Then in an exaggerated romantic tone he tells the beginning of his mock-infatuation.
And then for the real gem, he drops mad knowledge when explaining why a seemingly meaningless lyric means so much to him (so he says tongue in cheek) with this sentence: "Language related arts draw their creativity from their receivers. All that they need to do is make you receptive. ...all it does is make you relax and open up to the infinity of possible meanings conveyed by the words. Similarly, poetry needs only to convince you of its success, its creativity, for you to indeed find it creativity. It is all about mood."
And finally as he concludes his piece his tone continues strong especially with his final image. Getting somewhere with this.
Check it out.
Then in an exaggerated romantic tone he tells the beginning of his mock-infatuation.
And then for the real gem, he drops mad knowledge when explaining why a seemingly meaningless lyric means so much to him (so he says tongue in cheek) with this sentence: "Language related arts draw their creativity from their receivers. All that they need to do is make you receptive. ...all it does is make you relax and open up to the infinity of possible meanings conveyed by the words. Similarly, poetry needs only to convince you of its success, its creativity, for you to indeed find it creativity. It is all about mood."
And finally as he concludes his piece his tone continues strong especially with his final image. Getting somewhere with this.
Check it out.
Happiness Compositional Breakdown By Percentage (Working Version)*
35--Hard Work
11--Responsibility
10--Expression
09--Physical Action
08--Excitement
07--Fun
06--Funny Stuff
05--TLC
04--Pleasure
02--New Things
01--Spontanaeity
01--Deep Thought
01--Cogent Observation
35+11+10+9+8+7+6+5+4+2+1+1
This will change.
11--Responsibility
10--Expression
09--Physical Action
08--Excitement
07--Fun
06--Funny Stuff
05--TLC
04--Pleasure
02--New Things
01--Spontanaeity
01--Deep Thought
01--Cogent Observation
35+11+10+9+8+7+6+5+4+2+1+1
This will change.
Limited
Starting to feel the limitations of Blogger. Text formatting, video embedding limited. Doesn't merit a switch at this point.
Necro
May in fact be brilliant for several reasons, or at least some things of his. Hate to tease, but I haven't the time. In the meantime there's wikipedia and youtube. Videos, music, lyrics, it's a full package. Extreme warning: his work contains adult content and in several cases is disturbing, at your own risk.
Found It
The missing link on the MTV playlist was "Baby Baby" by Sunblock. I came in at the end of the video and what I took for camp was in fact schlock. Sickly sweet candy. Sunblock is Swedish, they know how to remix. Look up the videos yourself, I warn that it closely resembles if not borders on pornography.
2 other videos worth note, the new one from Enrique Iglesias (forgot the name) + the Nelly Furtado video "Do It" (I think that's the name). Both for similar reasons, to be explained in another post.
1-800-Translate
So is there a market for this:
Hotline for translation...short bits or maybe longer summaries of published information (via the internet). Charge per call or minute with guaranteed customer satisfaction. Subscription model also available. Distributed workforce (i.e. chacha.com guides) easy to assess via automated testing (language test with verbal and written comprehension, etc. - easy to deploy multimedia via the internet).
SMS text messaging also available for single words or short phrases. Could easily exist via Google Translate and Google Mobile.
Meets consumer demand/taste/desire for instant/on-demand information either as a one time use or on a regular basis.
Hotline for translation...short bits or maybe longer summaries of published information (via the internet). Charge per call or minute with guaranteed customer satisfaction. Subscription model also available. Distributed workforce (i.e. chacha.com guides) easy to assess via automated testing (language test with verbal and written comprehension, etc. - easy to deploy multimedia via the internet).
SMS text messaging also available for single words or short phrases. Could easily exist via Google Translate and Google Mobile.
Meets consumer demand/taste/desire for instant/on-demand information either as a one time use or on a regular basis.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Always On
Is what the internet is. And that's sticky icky tricky because it's hypnotic like sirens. Nice not having it in my residence. I have to go out for it. Seek it out, with purpose. It's like a Pandora's box. Mighty powerful. One screen of light in a dark room...a gateway to the entire world. But it isn't the world. It's virtual. It's useful. It helps communication. It helps sharing. Only with purpose, anything really. Otherwise I'm just on vacation.
New Jack Swing
I mean I'm not trying to be that guy. I'm not gonna be that guy. I know what's happening, I'm not gonna be caught looking like a chump, being a chump. That's just not where I'm at. It's about precision, speed, all that. Timing. Gotta know the right time, gotta know when to start when to quit. No fooling. No fooling around. All I'm trying to say is know the drill. Know the drill and do the drill. What else am I gonna be doing? Not much of nothing. Just do it, Knight was right. See what it is and then make that happen. Simple like two dimples.
I Love My MTV
MTV just had the most phenomenal (blatant exaggeration) run:
1) A dance music video I was loving, but missed the info for. (Will find out)
2) Chemical Brothers - Do It Again
3) Daft Punk - Something About Us
4) Hilary Duff - Stranger
They're all worth note (a couple-few were great) for different reasons, to come later.
1) A dance music video I was loving, but missed the info for. (Will find out)
2) Chemical Brothers - Do It Again
3) Daft Punk - Something About Us
4) Hilary Duff - Stranger
They're all worth note (a couple-few were great) for different reasons, to come later.
Sleep in the Muslim World
Addendum to "Energy Regulation:"
A lot of the Egyptians I spoke to said they slept only 5 hours over the course of a few days. They were also working in tourism a lot.
How do they do it? Perhaps when you have to survive your psyche can go from slowing you down to speeding you up. I have experience that would support that. Example: applying to the TAU OSP program.
A lot of the Egyptians I spoke to said they slept only 5 hours over the course of a few days. They were also working in tourism a lot.
How do they do it? Perhaps when you have to survive your psyche can go from slowing you down to speeding you up. I have experience that would support that. Example: applying to the TAU OSP program.
Energy Regulation
"I never sleep cuz sleep is the cousin of death." I have to sleep to live, but when I sleep I'm not living.
Being tired is tricky too. I can be tired but if I get excited about something energy pours forth from somewhere. But there is an absolute point of exhaustion where I know that I must go to sleep.
The tiredness that haunts me is what I feel when I think about a seemingly arduous task that I need to complete. Something I may not want to do, but has to get done. Immediately after the thought of it my psyche feels downward pressure, weakens, and says go to sleep.
But if I power through it, by the strength of the reasoning portion of my mind (this must get done or else there will be worse consequences, etc.) I have a burst of energy and then I can attack the next task.
I have to frame it in terms of a sword fight. I have to constantly fight off the oncoming tasks or else I will be overwhelmed.
The trickiest part is distinguishing the physical tiredness from the psychological tiredness. Which is which? The best thing I can think to do is to eliminate one of them and the only one I can effect is the physical. What happens if after a regimen of regular sleeping (7-8 hours) + regular exercise the tiredness remains? What then? Can't say for sure until I try it.
+ in the meantime, how to reconcile this potential personal experiment with young adulthood, Tel Aviv night life, and a desire to keep up with what's happening in music.
Being tired is tricky too. I can be tired but if I get excited about something energy pours forth from somewhere. But there is an absolute point of exhaustion where I know that I must go to sleep.
The tiredness that haunts me is what I feel when I think about a seemingly arduous task that I need to complete. Something I may not want to do, but has to get done. Immediately after the thought of it my psyche feels downward pressure, weakens, and says go to sleep.
But if I power through it, by the strength of the reasoning portion of my mind (this must get done or else there will be worse consequences, etc.) I have a burst of energy and then I can attack the next task.
I have to frame it in terms of a sword fight. I have to constantly fight off the oncoming tasks or else I will be overwhelmed.
The trickiest part is distinguishing the physical tiredness from the psychological tiredness. Which is which? The best thing I can think to do is to eliminate one of them and the only one I can effect is the physical. What happens if after a regimen of regular sleeping (7-8 hours) + regular exercise the tiredness remains? What then? Can't say for sure until I try it.
+ in the meantime, how to reconcile this potential personal experiment with young adulthood, Tel Aviv night life, and a desire to keep up with what's happening in music.
Friday, August 24, 2007
What Happened?
I just love that post title (used it b4b4) and I just love that question. It's funny to me.
So really...uh...Hebrew? I speak English ok. I. Speak. English. Do you understand me?
Well I'm really committed to mastering Hebrew while I'm here. Just for kicks yes, but also because I want to attain true fluency in a second language. Linguistics major aside, how cool would it be to be bilingual? Beyond that, tri-lingual. Don't stop there how about quad-lingual? Point is, it's cool and fun to know other languages. Plus I think it probably sets me apart from other equally qualified job applicants...let's be real gotta make some cash at some point.
The idea of fluency does captivate me. What does it mean to be fluent? But I'll save that for a linguistic-ish post.
In the meantime, I never thought I would use it again, but I'm going metablog once more. When will it end?? Hopefully right here. No more עברית on this blog starting now. From now on if you need your Hebrew fix you'll need to go somewhere else. Just around the corner in fact to my new Hebrew blog Rak Rak Ivrit (Only Only Hebrew).
Consider this announcement official and over.
So really...uh...Hebrew? I speak English ok. I. Speak. English. Do you understand me?
Well I'm really committed to mastering Hebrew while I'm here. Just for kicks yes, but also because I want to attain true fluency in a second language. Linguistics major aside, how cool would it be to be bilingual? Beyond that, tri-lingual. Don't stop there how about quad-lingual? Point is, it's cool and fun to know other languages. Plus I think it probably sets me apart from other equally qualified job applicants...let's be real gotta make some cash at some point.
The idea of fluency does captivate me. What does it mean to be fluent? But I'll save that for a linguistic-ish post.
In the meantime, I never thought I would use it again, but I'm going metablog once more. When will it end?? Hopefully right here. No more עברית on this blog starting now. From now on if you need your Hebrew fix you'll need to go somewhere else. Just around the corner in fact to my new Hebrew blog Rak Rak Ivrit (Only Only Hebrew).
Consider this announcement official and over.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
הקיץ בא
מילים משיר חדש של רונית רסטה:
כבר נמאס לי ממעיל ונמאס ממטריה,
היום אני מראה את הטוסיק בבריכה.
יש לי ביקיני, חוטיני, נלילה לובשת מיני,
איזה חום אני צריכה חמצן לצבוע לבלונדיייייי!!!!
כל לילה שיכורה כי כל לילה מסיבה.
משתוולת ורודקדת כבר כולי מזיעה.
תעשה לי פוווו אני צריכה אוויר.
נו בוא לשירותימ תיתן אחד מהיר
שיאו איזה כיף הקיץ בא, בא בא, בא בא
שיאו איזה כיף הקיץ בא, בא בא, בא בא
שיאו איזה כיף הקיץ בא, בא בא, בא בא
אני כל כך שמחה שהקיץ בא
(קייייייץ בא בא בא בא בא
יייייץ בא בא בא בא בא בא)
כל יום אני בים למה מה קרה.
השמש כבר עשתה אותי ארנבת שחומה.
אני צריכה לשתות המון אסור להיבש.
תזמין אותי לבירה נו אל תתבישהרבה דגים בים
ואני על החוף, הכרישים הכי גדולים מנסים אותי
לטרוףף
רוצה בנות? אז תהיה זמין
מותק איתי תילא צריך יותר את יד ימין
--פזמון--
עדין הצהרה אחר
באמת אני אוהב ללמוד עברית. זה כרגע קיף.
אז מה התכנית? אני מארגן את החיים שלי. איך אני הולך לעשות את זה? קל, אני הולך להיות גבר של המילים שלי. מה המשמעות של זה? אני צריך לאסות רק מה שאני צריך לעשות. אז מה אני צריך לעשות? אני צריך לעשות צה שחשוב בשביל החיים שלי וגם מה שחשוב. מה חשוב לחיים שלי הכי חשוב. אבל מה ההבדיל? למה הדברימ האלה צריך להיות בסיכסוך?
המ לא צריך. אז היני אנחנו. כמו האנישים מאנגליא אומרימ "חוץ אותו כבר!"
דבר ריאשון אני רוצה להיות הכי טוב בבית ספר. אני יודע שאני יכול לעשות זה. כל מה שאני צריך לעשות ללכת כל הכיתות בזמן,לעשות הערות, לעשות שיעורי בית שלי כל יום, וללמוד בשביל מבחנים. זהו!
אוקיי, מה עוד? גם אני רוצה להיות התאמה. כל שאני צריך לעשות רץ חמשה ימים בשבוע.
קל מספיק, נכון? יש רק דבר עוד אחם בחיים שלי, הם צריכים להיהות סים במכברת הירוק הקתן שלי. מה שאני יכול לעשות אמ הדברים האלא בשדר כי הדברימ האלא לא משנה מחשוב ההופעה שלי בבית ספר וגם הכשר גופני פיזי שלי.
אני נרגש לראות את מה יקרה.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
רק קצת שיעורי בית
אפוה היתי? אוקיי אני זוכר.
אז מי אני?
קורים לי מנשה בעברית ובאנגלית אנשים קורים לי גיי.
אני מלארצות הברית ואני אוהב עברית. אוהב לדבר, לכתוב ולקוא.
רק רעיון אחד לפני שאני הולך. אני חושב ששפה זה דבר מיוחד. זה משהו באמת. רבר רישון זה משהו קפ, זה חשוב בתך. אבל לא רק זה. לדבר, לדבר בעמת, בשפה אחר בשום אפן בקל העולם. זה גם קשה מפני שהשכל שלי הולך יותר מהר מהיכלת שלי לתקשר. בגלל זה, אני צריך להיות חזק ואני צריך סבלנות.
אז אוקיי, אני איף עכשוב. אני צריך לעושה משהו יוטר קל.
להית!
אז מי אני?
קורים לי מנשה בעברית ובאנגלית אנשים קורים לי גיי.
אני מלארצות הברית ואני אוהב עברית. אוהב לדבר, לכתוב ולקוא.
רק רעיון אחד לפני שאני הולך. אני חושב ששפה זה דבר מיוחד. זה משהו באמת. רבר רישון זה משהו קפ, זה חשוב בתך. אבל לא רק זה. לדבר, לדבר בעמת, בשפה אחר בשום אפן בקל העולם. זה גם קשה מפני שהשכל שלי הולך יותר מהר מהיכלת שלי לתקשר. בגלל זה, אני צריך להיות חזק ואני צריך סבלנות.
אז אוקיי, אני איף עכשוב. אני צריך לעושה משהו יוטר קל.
להית!
עכשיו זמן בשביל משהו בעברית
כן, זה נכון. בארץ ישראל, זה אני, האחד, היחד, המנשה (זה אני).
אני רוצה להציג את עצמי אבל דבר רישון יש משהו יותר חשוב בשביל המטלה שלי. יש מילון טוב עבדית ואנגלית באינטרנת.
אז אוקיי. זה בסדר בשביל עכשיו. אני אאמר עוד אחרכך.
אחר אחר.
אני רוצה להציג את עצמי אבל דבר רישון יש משהו יותר חשוב בשביל המטלה שלי. יש מילון טוב עבדית ואנגלית באינטרנת.
אז אוקיי. זה בסדר בשביל עכשיו. אני אאמר עוד אחרכך.
אחר אחר.
Monday, August 20, 2007
2sk8izgr8
my body was so tired and weak today from yesterday's hustle.
nonetheless, i intentionally missed the bus home today because i couldn't resist the funspot near my hebrew class {hebrew insert: ulpan / oool-pahn}.
though my performance was low due to my lack of energy, i was still enraptured. "I've found the most precious love..." (Blaze presents Barbara Tucker)
there's got to be a better and faster way to regain strength than old time rest.
tail is already cracking, losing pop, will break soon.
nonetheless, i intentionally missed the bus home today because i couldn't resist the funspot near my hebrew class {hebrew insert: ulpan / oool-pahn}.
though my performance was low due to my lack of energy, i was still enraptured. "I've found the most precious love..." (Blaze presents Barbara Tucker)
there's got to be a better and faster way to regain strength than old time rest.
tail is already cracking, losing pop, will break soon.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
linguistic-ish
so i'm a linguistics major, right?
so assuming we cracked the code of languages or invented a device that would make it possible for anyone to speak to another person as if they were a fluent speaker of their native language, what would we say to one another?
the thrill of attempting to communicate despite language deficiencies is no longer present. would we pursue relationships with our newly communicatable (i make up words) comrades? would society equalize or at least exhibit a higher degree of equalization?
that +
what's up with language politics? english/spanish in the US, hebrew/arabic in Israel. I guess it would be kind of weird if suddenly the dominant language in the US was french or vietnamese or something other than english. it wouldn't really be america anymore. yet the slow adoption of bilingual spanish education is somehow more palatable. it's the creation of a new american identity perhaps.
so assuming we cracked the code of languages or invented a device that would make it possible for anyone to speak to another person as if they were a fluent speaker of their native language, what would we say to one another?
the thrill of attempting to communicate despite language deficiencies is no longer present. would we pursue relationships with our newly communicatable (i make up words) comrades? would society equalize or at least exhibit a higher degree of equalization?
that +
what's up with language politics? english/spanish in the US, hebrew/arabic in Israel. I guess it would be kind of weird if suddenly the dominant language in the US was french or vietnamese or something other than english. it wouldn't really be america anymore. yet the slow adoption of bilingual spanish education is somehow more palatable. it's the creation of a new american identity perhaps.
skating
so in lieu of a bike, for the moment, i got a skateboard.
in santa cruz i was skating an old vintage caballero fish board, almost only for transportation since i didn't want to bang it up too much. what was keeping me from buying a trick board? i fogot how much fun it is!
i'm better than i've ever been. consistent ollies, almost (really) hitting kickflips, pop shuvits, 180 ollies, boardslides. i'm seeing progress everyday and it feels great. i'm trying to balance the skating with my running, my body needs to get used to the exertion.
today, while skating a favorite spot near the university of tel-aviv campus, a security guard on a moped pulled up right in front of the box i was trying to grind. immediately i was ready for a confrontation, per experience in the states.
the quick surprise: he skates! david the security guard took right to popping ollies, trying some flip tricks and some grinds all while wearing his uniform. almost was worth the picture.
loving the slick stones on certain sidewalks, not loving the cobblestone-esque stones on certain sidewalks. loving my ipod nano.
in santa cruz i was skating an old vintage caballero fish board, almost only for transportation since i didn't want to bang it up too much. what was keeping me from buying a trick board? i fogot how much fun it is!
i'm better than i've ever been. consistent ollies, almost (really) hitting kickflips, pop shuvits, 180 ollies, boardslides. i'm seeing progress everyday and it feels great. i'm trying to balance the skating with my running, my body needs to get used to the exertion.
today, while skating a favorite spot near the university of tel-aviv campus, a security guard on a moped pulled up right in front of the box i was trying to grind. immediately i was ready for a confrontation, per experience in the states.
the quick surprise: he skates! david the security guard took right to popping ollies, trying some flip tricks and some grinds all while wearing his uniform. almost was worth the picture.
loving the slick stones on certain sidewalks, not loving the cobblestone-esque stones on certain sidewalks. loving my ipod nano.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
TimmyTime
Talk about flaking out. What happened to this travelogue?
I have made a goal for myself to write at least once everyday. So the purpose of this blog is changing from a record of my travels to a place for me to publish my writing.
And what about my audience? I have an audience? Whether or not anyone is reading this is not the most important thing here, though it is/would be cool. This endeavor is one I am undertaking for myself to give me some headspace.
But if someone were to find something of value in what I post here, I would be flattered and happy to have provided something positive. So in the interests of a potential real audience I will be labeling my posts.
Readers may not be interested in reading about the funny thing that happened to me waiting on line at the falafel spot, but may be interested in reading about the fantastic new song I just listened to. So I will label things according to their subject: "funny anecdote" or "great new song." Thus, readers interested in following certain subjects will have the option to do so.
This post is labeled "metablog." Something "meta" is "something on an abstraction level higher than the current." Since my subject in this post is the blog itself, I have in a way stepped outside of it. I've gone meta for the moment.
Enough of all this formality. On to writing about something that stirs my passion, something that compels me.
Tally ho.
I have made a goal for myself to write at least once everyday. So the purpose of this blog is changing from a record of my travels to a place for me to publish my writing.
And what about my audience? I have an audience? Whether or not anyone is reading this is not the most important thing here, though it is/would be cool. This endeavor is one I am undertaking for myself to give me some headspace.
But if someone were to find something of value in what I post here, I would be flattered and happy to have provided something positive. So in the interests of a potential real audience I will be labeling my posts.
Readers may not be interested in reading about the funny thing that happened to me waiting on line at the falafel spot, but may be interested in reading about the fantastic new song I just listened to. So I will label things according to their subject: "funny anecdote" or "great new song." Thus, readers interested in following certain subjects will have the option to do so.
This post is labeled "metablog." Something "meta" is "something on an abstraction level higher than the current." Since my subject in this post is the blog itself, I have in a way stepped outside of it. I've gone meta for the moment.
Enough of all this formality. On to writing about something that stirs my passion, something that compels me.
Tally ho.
Friday, July 20, 2007
kefiyada last day
yes today was the end. this week was great working with a new camp called kayetzet (although i've heard that using this name isn't too cool). today was yom japan (japan day). saying goodbye to the kids was sad, i will miss them. after camp we had a farewell/recap/feedback session at the jewish agency office. then i crashed, woke up about 8pm, falafel for dinner, back to the hotel, then back out for 800ml of hoegarden at a place called lola about 20 minutes from t'veria. fun on youtube with somefriends when we got back and now i'm crashing till i have to get up for a 530 taxi to tel aviv where i'll spend tomorrow and the night celebrating my friend elissa's birthday. she got a room at the carlton so i know i've got a floor to sleep on. after that my tentative plans are to head to eilat and then sinai in egypt.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
back on the train
quick run-through of today: up early for breakfast, for me that means 7am. we went to a waterpark called Luna Gal with the kids, it's on the otherside of the kinneret from t'veria. it was a great day...throwing kids around in the pool, etc. after all the physical exertion i was exhausted, napped at the hotel, then headed downtown. met up with other members of the program and had a wonderful dinner at a lebanese restuarant on the tayelet (boardwalk) called "sahara." then we all headed to beit gabriel, a cultural center here in t'veria where the peace treaty between israel and jordan was signed in a room, appropriately enough called the peace room. it sits next to the jordan valley college. we saw die hard 4 at the only movie theater in the area (beit gabriel). ice cream at a great spot after and now back at the malon (hotel). quick and dirty.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
whathappened?
i fell off on posting. i need to retrace what i did after i left off. in broad strokes: between the balagan in haifa and now i spent a wonderful weekend in tel aviv (sometimes affectionately abbreviated to t.a.) and began working with a new camp this week. i'll do some detective work and get back in the habit again tomorrow. still having a great time.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
not sure what today is
so what's up...don't know what today is...want to say wednesday. have to get my days down in hebrew. today we did the thing that gave me the name for this blog. we went to the balagan...balagan in hebrew is "mess" and that was an apt description.
it was essentially a chuck e cheese on steroids and without as faithful adult supervision. there were simply too many kids...it was great! laughter and yelling everywhere. i had a wonderful time playing basketball, catching up with some of my fellow madrichim, bouncing around in inflatable jungle gyms, you get the picture.
balagan is apparently russian in origin, or at least that's what my jeep tour driver told me yesterday. the phrase yala balagan takes mess and puts it together with the arabic word yala which means something like "let's go." together it means literally "let's go mess." it's a fun one.
so we did the balagan it was near haifa, about a 45 minute bus ride from t'veria (tiberias). got back and went and helped some of the israelis who work with the jewish agency preparing for their "youth futures" camp program which starts this week and which we will be assisting them with next week. i made a giant falafel and a giant pizza out of paper...i mean big, i'll post pictures...with a great guy named avner.
after that it was back the ha astoria hotel. i went for a great run on the outskirts of town and made my way to a high point where i could see most of the city. i wanted to get out in the rural parts but couldn't find my way, next time. t'veria is situated on a hill so running is all hill training.
now i'm back at the hotel, one of the members of my group, avital, was really kind and brought be back some pizza while i caught up with the internet. we're going to head to a kibbutz in a little bit and meet some of the locals. ok...no editing, just getting this all down. l'hitraot.
it was essentially a chuck e cheese on steroids and without as faithful adult supervision. there were simply too many kids...it was great! laughter and yelling everywhere. i had a wonderful time playing basketball, catching up with some of my fellow madrichim, bouncing around in inflatable jungle gyms, you get the picture.
balagan is apparently russian in origin, or at least that's what my jeep tour driver told me yesterday. the phrase yala balagan takes mess and puts it together with the arabic word yala which means something like "let's go." together it means literally "let's go mess." it's a fun one.
so we did the balagan it was near haifa, about a 45 minute bus ride from t'veria (tiberias). got back and went and helped some of the israelis who work with the jewish agency preparing for their "youth futures" camp program which starts this week and which we will be assisting them with next week. i made a giant falafel and a giant pizza out of paper...i mean big, i'll post pictures...with a great guy named avner.
after that it was back the ha astoria hotel. i went for a great run on the outskirts of town and made my way to a high point where i could see most of the city. i wanted to get out in the rural parts but couldn't find my way, next time. t'veria is situated on a hill so running is all hill training.
now i'm back at the hotel, one of the members of my group, avital, was really kind and brought be back some pizza while i caught up with the internet. we're going to head to a kibbutz in a little bit and meet some of the locals. ok...no editing, just getting this all down. l'hitraot.
Monday, July 9, 2007
The First 2 Days
So here it is a blog...I'm more tired than I'd like to be but I guess that's a good thing. All I can ask of myself is a quick recap of the past 2 days events.
I arrived early in the morning on Sunday straight from Tel Aviv. A quick shower and I was on my way to meet the kids. As soon as I entered the room they were talking to me, it was great. The best way to learn a language in my mind now is to go to a foreign country and work with children. They never stop talking!
We played a game of soccer (football here) and made cars that propelled themselves using a balloon expelling its air. At first I thought the camp was a school that was in session. The kids were wild and fighting more than I expect American children in the same situation to do. I later found out that it's a actually a summer daycamp program, so that explained the rowdy behavior.
After my time at the school we went to the Jewish Agency offices for a lovely lunch and some formal introductions, very much appreciated. After that it was back to the hotel, exhausted. I managed to make it down to the pool and finish reading Siddhartha by Herman Hesse (just ok). Then it was straight to bed to try and regain my voice which I lost in Tel Aviv.
Today I was up and enjoyed an Israeli style breakfast. Off to the camp where we were quick to get on a bus and spend the day at the pool on a nearby kibbutz. After that it was a gratis Chinese lunch on the Kinneret and then a wonderful jeep tour of the area. I'll write the details later. Then I got dropped off downtown and spent time looking for things I need. A walk up the hill back to the hotel..long and hot even in the dark...then rest...then shwarma and a Carlsberg...then back to the hotel...sometime on the internet (now)...and maybe a quick visit with the Birthright kids who are screaming and partying on my front porch...or maybe bed. Until later.
I arrived early in the morning on Sunday straight from Tel Aviv. A quick shower and I was on my way to meet the kids. As soon as I entered the room they were talking to me, it was great. The best way to learn a language in my mind now is to go to a foreign country and work with children. They never stop talking!
We played a game of soccer (football here) and made cars that propelled themselves using a balloon expelling its air. At first I thought the camp was a school that was in session. The kids were wild and fighting more than I expect American children in the same situation to do. I later found out that it's a actually a summer daycamp program, so that explained the rowdy behavior.
After my time at the school we went to the Jewish Agency offices for a lovely lunch and some formal introductions, very much appreciated. After that it was back to the hotel, exhausted. I managed to make it down to the pool and finish reading Siddhartha by Herman Hesse (just ok). Then it was straight to bed to try and regain my voice which I lost in Tel Aviv.
Today I was up and enjoyed an Israeli style breakfast. Off to the camp where we were quick to get on a bus and spend the day at the pool on a nearby kibbutz. After that it was a gratis Chinese lunch on the Kinneret and then a wonderful jeep tour of the area. I'll write the details later. Then I got dropped off downtown and spent time looking for things I need. A walk up the hill back to the hotel..long and hot even in the dark...then rest...then shwarma and a Carlsberg...then back to the hotel...sometime on the internet (now)...and maybe a quick visit with the Birthright kids who are screaming and partying on my front porch...or maybe bed. Until later.
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