Nadiv's Blog

New York City here I come?

2006-09-04T09:58:00.000+03:00

For a very long time now, I have been debating with myself, with my family and with my friends, whether I should study at a college in Israel or in the states. I have still not come up with a conclusive answer as to what I should do.
Therefore I have decided to confide my dilemmas and considerations in this blog.

Reasons to go:
1) I have always wanted to study in the U.S. and work there after college, and make $!
2) My best friends are going to study in the U.S. (yes Katz I consider you a best friend).
3) The education in the U.S. offers me the kind of education freedom that I am looking for; where as Israeli colleges do not. I would like to study many different subjects before deciding which major I want to commit myself to, and in Israel you must declare your Major upon admission, and if you decide that you want to change a major, after you've already declared your major upon admission, it puts you back a few semesters.
4) Since I want to work in the U.S., it is easier to get a job with an American degree then with an Israeli degree.
5) I want to study there because of the college life. In Israel college life is no different then high school: you go, you come home and you do your homework and assignments, no fun no college life, nothing and I would like more then that. I know it's not like in the movies (Animal house ect.), but I would like to have some fun.
6) I would like to move out of my parent's home, and frankly get as far away as possible, be independent and I feel that staying in Israel (which is a very small country) I won't be able to have that independence.

Reasons to stay:
1) U.S. colleges are very expensive and about 5 times more expensive then in Israel (and to be honest I don't have that kind of money).
2) 6 months ago my sister gave birth to a gorgeous baby boy, my nephew, and it won't be easy for me not to see him grow up or for him not to know me, or for any of his future brothers or sisters or cousins not to know me.
3) My whole life is here, my family, my friends, my contacts, my history, everything is here, except for a dream of a great and happy future for me and except for a few friends in the stats I don't have anything in the U.S..
4) Not to mention, the fact that only half my friends and a few members of my family support my going to the U.S. but everybody else opposes it and tries to tell me that Israel is my place, (That might be true but I really want to study in U.S.).

These are my dilemmas, I don't know what to do, I don't really have answers for any of these problems, whether to go or to stay?

I could really use your help, so, please give me advise, as to what I should do and why I should do it.

Snooker, why bother?

2006-08-18T13:48:00.000+03:00

I am sure like myself and my friends you and your friends go every once in a while to shoot some pool. Now, if you are anything like me and my friends you suck at pool, but I mean really suck. You say to yourself, how hard could it be to hit a ball with a long stick, make it hit another ball and get it go into a hole, apparently it isn't as easy as it sounds or looks. Last time I went to play, I looked around and was pleasantly comforted by the fact that almost everybody in the place sucked. I saw many guys and gals setting up their shot, they get all serious sometimes they will even say something like "O.K. now let's play seriously", ya that never works. Everyone there aspires to be better at pool but we got to face it, it's impossible, God didn’t intend this game to be played by man.

So what is it that drives us all to go play this impossible game, I mean we aren’t good at it, we feel bad that we can't get anything in (except for the ones that go in by chance or the ones that are close and then we claim we have talent), the place is usually filled with smoke and it's not cheep. So, what is it that keeps driving us back to play? Do we like loosing? If we got better and better at it every time we went, then sure, it makes sense to go, but it seems like every time we go we get worse! Some even think that by buying there own Cue-stick or buying books they will look and become professionals, but let's face it that will never happen, sorry!

However, surprisingly enough we seem to have fun every time we go, whether it's because we change the rules, create new ones so that we stand a better chance of not sucking or decide that the point of the game was to get the black ball in before any of the other ones.
Whatever it is that drives us back there, I just wish that next time it will drive us to something that we stand a chance of being good at, like Curling!

Is life all ha ha hee hee

2006-08-18T12:33:00.000+03:00

ESPECIALY the last one!

2006-07-04T23:53:00.000+03:00

BL and I started watching the movie Seven Swords, and we noticed a couple of weird and funny things during the movie.

We saw the trailer for Seven Swords when we went to see another movie at the theater, and it look like an awesome Chinese fighting movie. The scenes from the trailer looked cool, so, we rented it and started watching it, the fighting scenes really are amazing, but the movie is in Mandarin Chinese, now since my Mandarin isn't that good, I had to rely on the subtitles and on BL's knowledge in Mandarin which isn't much better then mine. Due to my poor knowledge in Mandarin, I am pretty sure that all the characters have the same name (Han). Anyway, we watched the movie and paused every few seconds in order to be able to read the subtitles, because 3 words in Chinese are like two sentences in English, for example: "Hanto Sally Kymac" - "so I went to the store and picked up some milk, and at the store I saw Sally, who is doing great...." But, you also have the translations where 2 sentences in Chinese mean one word in English: "tanko wantan lee han su knee my too wan tee"- "Hey". One of the most mind boggling translations though was when the general asked his messenger about a fight, he asked:
G: How many worriers were they?
M: Seven!
G: what weapons did they use?
M: Swords!
G: Seven Swords???
M: Yes, they ALL used swords, ESPECIALY the last one!

What does that mean especially the last one? If they all used swords then of course the last one also used a sword, I guess, it must be a Chinese thing.

I recommend the movie to any one who is looking for some good old fashioned, state of the art graphics, Chinese fighting. Another cool mindless action movie that is recommended for all ages except for the really tiny kids, is, Transporter 2, awesome movie, funny, witty and packed with action.

I Am Back!!!!!

2006-06-27T19:14:00.000+03:00

Hello one and all,

It has been a very long time since I got a chance to post, and I really missed writing here. Surprisingly I got a lot of e-mails from many anonymous people, asking why I haven't posted since April well I am here to announce: That I am back!

Post by post I will slowly tell you what has gone on in my life over the past two months,

Yours truly,
Silas Dogood, I mean, Nadiv

There is fun outside the Army!

2006-04-16T00:22:00.000+03:00

Well it’s been another two weeks since I have posted, I have less and less new stuff to share and even less time to write about it.

The longer I am in the army I feel as if I don’t get to see my friends any more and I really miss them (Yes, that means you guys and galls!). I am looking forward to the point when I will be coming home on a daily basis and not only on the weekends, then hopefully I will see more of them.

I was by my parent’s friends for the Seder (Passover), which turned out to be quite nice. I was sure it was going to be a huge disaster, I mean holidays are supposed to be spent with your family, but I was pleasantly surprised to try something new. Although my hosts weren’t my age nor were the hosts parents I still had a great time and found a lot of mutual topics to talk about.

All my Sib’s came to us for Shabbat including the new addition, my sisters baby. I had a great time for a few reasons, A) I don’t get a lot of time to see my sib’s anymore, B) I got to play with my nephew (even though he doesn’t do anything, as he is only a month old, he still cute). For all of you who don’t have nieces or nephews yet, you should just know that they are a lot of fun and the great thing is that after you had your fun you could just give them back to their parents and you don’t have to take any responsibilities.

After Shabbat I went out with my brother and sister in-law to see the movie Ice-Age 2: THE MELDOWN. I thought the movie was wildly entertaining, I was laughing throughout the entire movie. I recommend the movie to all ages and to anyone who has seen the first movie and liked it.
The last two lines of Ice-Age 1 were:
" Sid: You know? This whole ice age thing is getting old. You know what I could go for? Global warming.
Diego: Keep dreaming. “

In the second movie we start off with the fact the all the Ice is melting and it is the end of the Ice-age (global warming). So all the animals start to migrate away from the Ice so that when it melts they don't drown.
A few great quotes from the movie include:

During the migration you see a dung beetle family migrating and the father dung beetle is pushing a huge dung ball:
Dung Beetle Dad: Do we have to bring this crap along? I'm sure there's a bunch of other crap where we're going!
Diatryma Mom: Hey! This was a gift from my mother!

While migrating a hungry vulture pass overhead and announces:
Traffic Vulture: Parents: Please do not leave your children unattended. All unattended children will be eaten.

And last, there is a scene when Manny (The Mammoth) find out that he might be the mammoth on the planet, so Sid starts to sing a few classics:
SID: (singing to Manny) Someday when you've gone extinct, when you make a stink....
MANNY: Shut up Sid.
SID: Stop, hey, look around, all the mammoths are in the ground....
MANNY: Stop singing Sid.
SID: If your species will continue clap your hands (CLAP CLAP). If your speci....
MANNY: SID, I'm gonna fall on you again, and this time I will kill you.
SID: Someone doesn't like the classics.

Ice-Age 2: The Meltdown trailers:http://www.ifilm.com/player/?ifilmId=2686937&pg=&skin=movieweb&refsite=6801&launchVal=1&mediaSize=default

Once again Pixar succeeded with another hit.

Recommended!!!

Two weeks

2006-04-02T08:21:00.000+03:00

It’s been a while since I have last posted, I really don’t have any time I get home on Friday’s noon’ish get ready for Shabbat and Saturday nights I am out late with my friends, so that I barley have any time to post.

In the past two weeks I have given blood but unlike most soldiers who get treated by the army Doc’ I see my Family Doc’. Every one else who donated blood, got the rest of the day off, I, had to go on like a regular day.

I also got to get out one week on a Thursday night, which was awesome, I got to go out with my friends on a Thursday which is something I haven’t done in a while.
Read about it: http://bludman.blogspot.com/2006/03/irish-chocolate-anyone.html

Two weeks ago I had a night that I was able to get 9 hours sleep and last week I had a night that I slept 12 hours.

My Nephew had his Brit, A really painful and bloody Jewish tradition, I don’t want to get in to it, bottom line is, he didn’t cry at all. The Mohel cut he squeaked and that was it, he wasn’t even drunk! I have a very brave nephew.

I saw the sun eclipse through protective glass: I took 5 sun glasses and put one on top of the other, great Shiftzur.

Last night R and I went out to celebrate BL’s 20th B-day at Max Brenner's and I overdosed (on sugar) I had a Bafleh and a Mexican, great combo but not if you have sugar problems.
On line at Max’s they were calling people on the load-speaker since it was hard to hear due to all the rain. Every time they used the load-speaker it sounded as if G’d was talking to us. BL even answered once thinking G’d was talking to him. The funniest was when from the load-speaker came the name Noah, we were all waiting to here the command “Build me an ark, Noah!”, it was also fitting do to all the rain, which hasn’t stopped yet.
Before we left BL asked if he should take an umbrella and I told him it was hardly raining so he didn’t little did I know that later it would be raining hardly (we got soaked but were saved for a while thanks to the fact that BL brought a Jacket. It was hilarious all three of us were running hiding under his Jacket while he was still wearing it. Of course when we got home he noticed there was an umbrella in the car.

I am adding part of my birthday wish to BL, which applies to all ages (especially the one’s over 20):

“Take a minute to look around you and see all your friends that have come tonight to celebrate with you (O.K. don't look cause it's pathetic [we were three people]), but you do have a lot of friends, and that is what you need to remember on your B-days, it's not your age that matters, it's the number of friend you've made in those years that is the important thing.
Just think about what you have achieved in 20 years, and you will be amazed how talented and lucky you are!”

Have a good week every one.

Nadiv out!

P.S. Sorry for any spelling or grammatical error I wrote this a minute before I left the house.

4th week + I am an uncle

2006-03-19T01:02:00.000+02:00

Well nothing eventful happened this week. Still enjoying myself nothing new to report in the army department.

I am officially unclified, that is I am an uncle. Friday morning my sister gave birth to a healthy baby boy. My nephew weighed at time of birth 3.25 kilo. Below are pictures of him.

Week Three

2006-03-12T03:29:00.000+02:00

Not much to tell I am learning tons of new stuff about the army every day. I am really loving what I do, I spoke to a few people from my unit and they told me the my job just keeps getting better and better, they also told me that it never stops getting interesting.

Tonight I went to see the movie Syriana with a few friends, I thought it was a very good movie; it gave a glimpse in to the lives of 4 people and their relationship to a natural gas company. The movie is a very relevant movie for it deals with the complexities of the gas industry, corruption, terrorism and Iran.
I recommend anyone who has any interest in any of these topics or likes political movies to see the movie at once.

Well that’s all for now, I am back off to the army tomorrow.

My New Army Life! + Shabbat With a New Insight on Life + Tip.

2006-03-05T00:40:00.000+02:00

As many of you have noticed (or at least those of you who read my blog [that is if anyone reads my blog]) I have been writing less frequently lately and that is because I am now on a new base where I come home once a week on Friday and need to report back every Sunday. This however will not last forever only for the next 4 months, then I will be home every day and be able to post more often. I have a ton of stories to tell you all but my time is short. I plan to write down my tales and post them when I am home.

In the mean time I'll say I am having a great time in the army. I really love what I am doing but according to some of my friends that will change soon (I hope not).

This Shabbat (Saturday) I was in Jerusalem for my grandparents (from my fathers side) 60th anniversary, it was a lot of fun. I saw all my cousins and got a chance to catch up with them on life the universe and everything (P.S. the answer is 42). It was amazing to see everyone and know that we were all there thanks to the marriage of my grandparents, 60 years ago. It really put things in perspective knowing that we were all there thanks to them. A month in a half ago my grandmother from my mothers side passed away, I just want to say to those of you who have grandparents, spend time with them, hear the stories they have to tell, for they are our link to past years and they are the reason that we are all here. and you should be with them as much as you can before it’s too late. After loosing a grandparent and seeing the happiness after 60 years of the other pair really makes you cherish the moments you have with them! Yes, I know this may have been a bit mushy, but seriously, this Shabbat was really amazing not only did I get to see almost my entire family (37 people) but it was truly amazing to get to spend time with my grandparents and to see the love between them that lasted 60 years and hopefully many years to come.

Honor thy one week Jobnick' Tironut party

2006-02-25T23:14:00.000+02:00

Thursday night the member's of the Tironut (me included) had a party celebrating the end of our one week Tironut at a club in Tel-Aviv called "The Fashion Bar" in Tel Aviv. It was a great place, decent music, lights, lasers, disco balls, loud music (my ears are still ringing), resting couches all around the room and a big dance floor in the center. The members of the Tironut got in for 40 Shekels in stead of 70 and got free drinks all night, I convinced the bouncer that the 4 friends I brought with me also just finished Tironut even though 3 finished Tironut over a year ago (there army ID cards look old) and one who isn't even in the army, so we all got in for 40.

We had a blast.

Below is a pic' of my arm, when you go into a club they stamp your arm to show that you paid, in case you need to go outside and then want to get back in. the stamp said in Hebrew Cabed Et Avicha Ve'et Imecha translation: Honor thy father and thy mother. I wonder why they would have that as their stamp? Maybe cause they want to remind you not to do anything foolish.

The club is worth checking out!

Tironut Is Over

2006-02-25T20:01:00.000+02:00

Thursday I finished Kaytana (summer camp) a.k.a. Tironut, my Tironut was really a joke I attended "Jobnik Tironut". It was a five-day Tironut were I learned how to get along in the army life. I learned what my responsibilities are as a soldier and what are my privileges (yay I get privileges). During the Tironut I made a lot of new friends whom I hope to keep in-touch with (to all my friends who are reading this, it doesn’t mean I will be replacing you guys right away). During the Tironut I was Hantar (I was in charge of mediating between the commanders and the troops) and a damm good one too, at the end of Tironut the commanders did something unfair to me and it was really amazing to see my entire Team (the solders who I was in charge of) come to me surprised to see that it happened and some even went up to our commanders and stood up for me. My commanders were also amazing people the unfair thing they did to me will not be mentioned here I will just say that they did it in order to kiss up to higher ranks (welcome to the army). Sunday I transfer to a new base, this base is the base that I was waiting to go to for months, so, be happy for me.

That's it here are a couple of pic's from Tironut and my Tekes Hashbaa (swearing in ceremony)

Tironut

2006-02-20T21:34:00.000+02:00

Today was my second day of Tironut (boot camp), and so far it is a real joke. My day starts when I wake up at 5:30 AM, get dressed in my army uniform, shave (although within a week or so I should have a Ptor), take my dog for a walk, eat breakfast and walk to the bus. I get to the bus stop at around 6:20 AM and take two buss to my base.

I usually arrive at my base 30 min. early so I have time to relax or talk to a good friend of mine who serves on the base. At 8:oo AM we need to stand at attention for our commanders, after a short morning briefing we go to the classroom where we sit and learn all day. In this Tironut we have no running, no marching none of that, it's a real joke. What's even worse is that I know all the materiel that they are teaching, and I am one of the only participants. In class the Commander sounds something like this: yes Nadiv, very good! (Then he'll ask something else) dose anyone else know the answer? Yes Nadiv, Very good! It's really sad, all my commanders know my name because I know everything they teach and am one of the only ones who raises my hand, I mean it's cool being the smartest in the class but it's getting boring. I have a course that started on Sunday that I am joining after Tironut, I would much rather be there right now, cause I am wasting my time at Tironut.
(oy yoi yoi, my Tironut is too easy, I want something more challenging, boo hoo hoo, well I had to complain a bit I mean it is the army after all)

The good thing about Tironut is that I made a ton of friends and I get to go home everyday.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh so far the army is going great, loving every minute of it.

Hello Army Life!!!

2006-02-16T19:10:00.000+02:00

Well today I got drafted to the IDF, boy was this a hard day!

I started my day needing to get to the Bakum (induction center) at 7:30. I left the house at 6:30 in order to beat traffic; well I beat it all right, I got there at 7:00. I waited around for half an hour not doing much, till they called my name; I said good-bye to my parents and got on a mini-bus that drove me 200 meters to the actual Bakum.

In the Bakum me and about 10 other people who were getting drafted today met the old people form Aguda Lemaan Haahaial (it’s an organization of old people that Volunteer to help soldiers, give them food and stuff), they got a bit annoying, my conversation with one of them went something as follows: "Do you want some tea?", No thanks, "Are you sure?", Yes!, "But it's cold outside, why don't you have some tea?", No thanks (please leave me alone!), and so on and so on. After that we went into a huge hall where one of the old volunteers welcomed us and told us his life's story, that he is there for about 12 years… and reminded us of how important it is that we are going in to the army.... An hour and a half later I started the actual drafting procedure.

First I went to get a hair-cut because my hair was too long (as you can see in the first picture) and got my picture taken for my Hoger (army ID card) then went through the rest of the regular procedure of: finger-prints, teeth scans, DNA sampling, injections, getting my uniform and Hoger and then as a special treat I went back home o my first day, I was finished with the Bakum by 12:00.

So, as you can see, my day was "very hard". Kidding, it was very easy and a lot of fun, I met a few new friends whom I will see again on Sunday. If the rest of my army service will be as easy as today was (Ya' right) then I am not worried. Anyway below I posted a Chong, Tzair (Israeli nicknames for army newbie’s) Picture of myself when I got home.

Good-bye Civil Life!

2006-02-15T21:18:00.001+02:00

That's it! Tomorrow I go to the Bakum and get drafted, it has been a long journey up to this point, and it was worth it.

Tomorrow I officially become government property I join the IDF.

Thanks to everyone who helped me along the way, and a special thanks to my amazing friend who really made me feel great before going in to the army.

I feel confident knowing that I have great friend that support me and will always be there for me. So, thanks.

I don't quite know how to describe the way I feel right now. I am less then 10 hours away from my draft date & time, I am excited and a bit nervous. I am not scared for this was my choice that I made to get drafted. So, tomorrow is the big day, getting my uniform (free bus rides, wooohoooo!!!), boots and everything else. Tomorrow I become a Tzair, Chong, Piston... Wow tomorrow will be very hard I go in at 7:30 and get out in the afternoon (really hard!!) and lets not forget my “very hard” two-day Tironur.

Today I tried thinking of what I should do the day before I go in to the army. What I should do on my last civil day, my friends told me to sleep late, but you guys know me, I can't do that, so I slept 4 hours last night. There wasn't anything that I anted to do on my last day. I think my friends gave me what I needed, they made me an amazing Power Point presentation for my giyus of a short history of my last few months which was amazing so thank you very much, it was just what I needed.

Below are 5 pic's from my party Saturday night, and below them are some nostalgic pic's from the presentation.

See you later, guys!

aaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!

Beer!!!

Ninja!

Toga! Toga! Toga! Look how much hair!

Wet Willy!aaahhhh Job'nikim

The girlsand the guys

P.S. If anyone is offended by a pic here tell me and I will remove it!

Junk phone mail

2006-02-09T19:36:00.000+02:00

Beware people, it has attacked us in our mailboxes, it has attacked us in our e-mails and now it’s attacking us in our phones. Yesterday I was with my brother when his phone rang indicating he got an SMS when he checked he had discovered that it wasn’t a regular SMS but rather an MMS (Multimedia Message). He got a video clip from Cellcom advertising something. So, it’s official now, junk mail has reached our cell phones.
Beware, you might be next!!!

One week left

2006-02-09T19:28:00.000+02:00

In one week I become government property (I go into the army), well better enjoy my last week as a civilian.

Need to relax, get a massage!

2006-02-09T19:05:00.000+02:00

For the past few weeks I have been trying to find some way of relaxing before the army. I tried to plan trips abroad, I tried to plan trips to Eilat, I tried to plan almost every kind vacation trip, but no one could go with me due to the army or work. I even tried convincing them that I would go on my own, to try and make them feel obligated that if they don’t come with me I will be alone. Although that didn’t work either, finally, I decided to go and get a massage. The massage was great, I went this morning to Beit Levenstien to the Department of Alternative Medicine where they give massages for discounted prices, I got a half hour massage for 39 Shekels. I walked in to a small room were their was a bed, incense and calming music playing in the background. The room had a very relaxing atmosphere; it was a perfect mix of music, shading, and smell. The massage was great and relaxing, I was afraid that as soon as I walked out of the room I would be all tense again but I wasn’t, it was so relaxing. I advise anyone who needs to relax to schedule a massage and just relax.

The Future Is Available Today!

2006-02-06T13:37:00.000+02:00

OK, so generating electrical power from water might not require quantum math, but it is pretty darn interesting. And it's nice to see science and engineering play nice together to bring folks like you an attractive desktop clock that is powered solely on water (or really any electrolytic fluid like soda, coffee, BAWLS or even Beer). We would be civilized to only call you moronic if you bought this clock and used BAWLS to power it, but in the end you are the music maker, you are the dreamer of dreams and I suppose we would just have to respect that decision.

The water clock will display the time and date in clear easy to read numbers just moments after you fill the liquid reservoirs in the back with the liquid of your choice. We've had ours running for weeks so far and the water levels have barely descended and we haven't had to refill it at all.

How does it work? Magic mostly. And a little bit of science too. The internal converter simply extracts electrons from water (or other liquid) molecules and provides a steady stream of electrical current acting as a fuel cell to generate power to the clock.

Attractively packaged with translucent blue siding and a mirrored front. You can even use the water reservoirs on the back to hold flowers! But guess what? Flowers aren't included! Neither are batteries! Neither is the water! Sad? Here, giving you the dimensions should make you happier: 6" x 4" x 2 1/2". Now buy one.

(This was not written by me, it was taken from: http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/lights/757e/)

Did You Hear? Well, iPod Users Can't!

2006-02-05T01:41:00.000+02:00

After the smoking lawsuit, after the fast-food lawsuit, get ready for the iPod lawsuit.

John Kiel Patterson is suing Apple Co. because he bought an iPod and developed hearing problems. His hearing problems are not necessarily related to the iPod but hey, why not sue and possibly make some money. The basis for the lawsuit is that iPod did not put adequate warnings on their product, that if you listen to the iPod lauder then X dB, you can damage your hearing.

An iPod can produce more than 115 decibels of sound, that volume can damage your hearing if your exposed to the volume for more than 28 seconds a day (so, crank down the volume people).

Everyday Decibels (dB)

Near total silence - 0 dB
A whisper - 15 dB
Normal conversation - 60 dB
A lawnmower - 90 dB
A car horn - 110 dB
A rock concert or a jet engine - 120 dB
A gunshot or firecracker - 140 dB

(Your Ipod volume should not exceed the point indicated in the photo)

You know from your own experience that distance affects the intensity of sound -- if you are far away, the power is greatly diminished. All of the ratings above are taken while standing near the sound.

Say What?

Any sound above 85 dB can cause hearing loss, and the loss is related both to the power of the sound as well as the length of exposure. You know that you are listening to an 85-dB sound if you have to raise your voice to be heard by somebody else. Eight hours of 90-dB sound can cause damage to your ears; any exposure to 140-dB sound causes immediate damage (and causes actual pain).

Apple was forced to remove iPods from store shelves in France and upgrade software on the device to limit sound to 100 decibels, but didn’t do anything in the U.S., this according to the complaint. The headphones known as ear-buds that are given with the Ipod help don’t help solve the problem either, the ear-buds sit in the ear right up against the ear canal and emit sound directly into the ear causing damage to the eardrums.

"We have numerous products in the marketplace that have the potential to damage hearing," said Deanna Meinke, an audiology professor at the University of Northern Colorado. "The risk is there, but the risk lies with the user and where they set the volume."

We are hear to learn

What people must learn, is that buying something, using it in an unsafe way and then suing the manufacturing company because “I didn’t know it could be dangerous” is stupid. What, you didn’t know that if you eat too much you’ll get fat or get a heart attack, what, you didn’t know that if you smoked you would get long cancer, what you didn’t know that if you use you cell-phone too much you can get brain cancer. These side affects aren’t news they have been known for decades, and yes if you listen to laud music you will have hearing problems.

Now if you’ll excuse me I’m off to sue gun manufacturers because apparently they can kill people!

For more info: http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=4846

I am no. 60 on onethousandblogger.com

2006-02-04T18:56:00.000+02:00

There is a site called One Thousand Bloggers, who search around the different blogs, find cool ones, and try to get the bloggers to join them.

They sent me an email a few days ago (attached below), I checked it out and said, hell, why not! So I filled out the requirements and here I am. For all other blogers who weren't cool enough to get an e-mail, you can sign up at http://www.onethousandbloggers.com/buy.php#gettingablogspot. Remember only the first 1000 are free, so, sigh up quickly!

Anyway here I am down below:

So people, I hope to see you neighboring me soon!

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Hi,

We came across your blog, and was wondering if you'd be interested in signing upfor a free link from our blog index site. We are looking for a wide variety of bloggers, and thought you might be interested. All we need is a small image of something you can use to represent yourself on the site, and a brief message for the alt-hover text. A full list of what we need is here:

http://onethousandbloggers.com/buy.php#gettingablogspot

Let me know what you think. Thanks!

Regards,

Damon

Webmaster

http://www.onethousandbloggers.com/

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Parking Trouble, Be SMART

2006-02-03T11:35:00.000+02:00

Smart cars are brilliant!

The other day I was walking down Ahuza street in Raa'nana and I saw a Smart car parked. Seeing the Smart I thought it was parked brilliantly and had to take a couple of pictures. We have all seen the Smart cars zipping down the road, driving near us and thought, wow, that is a cool car.

Well for those of you who ever had parking problems, the Smart car is the car for you! You could fit it anywhere.

And here is a little Smart car history taken from the Wikipedia site:

SMART (short for Swatch Mercedes ART, sometimes called the MCC smart) is a brand of microcar based in Boblingen (Germany).

The smart fortwo is manufactured at Smartville, a purpose-built factory complex in Hambach, Lorraine, France, established in 1994 as a joint-venture of Daimler-Benz and the Swiss watch manufacturer Swatch.The project was originally supported by Swatch, and was nicknamed the "Swatchmobile". The car was supposed to use innovative features (such as a hybrid engine) and to be an affordable car for young people. Its purpose was to "transport two people and a case of beer" (later replaced by a case of water).Being inexperienced in automobiles, Swatch CEO Nicolas Hayek sought an established car maker to produce his Swatch car, and found a partner in Volkswagen. Plans never reached a final stage so Swatch teamed up with Daimler-Benz. The car proved to be far from expectations: technology was conventional and it was more expensive than most small 4-seater cars sold in Europe. The joint venture experienced heavy losses and Swatch pulled out.In 2005, DaimlerChrysler decided against purchasing a 50% share in the NedCar plant used to manufacture the forfour. DC also halted development on the formore and decided to discontinue production of the smart Roadster.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_(automobile)

Today you could purchase a Smart car for under 7,000 Euro = 35,000 Shekel.

So remember, Drive Smart!!!

I Passed My Theory!

2006-02-01T23:53:00.000+02:00

Hey people,

Just wanted to let you all know, that I have finally passed my theory (written driving) exam. For the passed two years I have been trying to finish my driving lessons, but Misrad Harishui (License Bueru) has been giving me problems. Recently all the problems have been solved and I am well on my way to finishing and getting my license!

So hopefully I will finish my lessons and start driving legally.

Look out world here I come!

P.S. Aaron you didn’t ruined the post, just gave people a heads up.

I want to take a minute to say thank you!!!

2006-01-31T22:35:00.000+02:00

1) Due to many complaints about the length of my posts I will attempt to write shorter posts in the future. No promises cause frankly I like writing a lot. What I might do is write a few short ones instead of one long one.

2) I got to say, I really enjoy writing on the blog, Ben you were right Bloging is fun.
I would also like to take a moment to thank all the loyal commenters on the blog. Thank you Whitee, Anonymous, Ben, Talli and our newest member Shoshana for your comments, it makes all the bloging worth while.

Thank you all.

Nadiv

P.S. O.K., I'll cut the crap now and go back to studying, because I am doing the written driving exam (Teoria) tomorrow. So hopefully I will write my next post after the exam.

Cell Phones / Cell Damage

2006-01-30T00:03:00.000+02:00

We have all heard of the dangers and risks of having cell phones, but does it actually make a difference to anyone? Is there anyone who doesn't use a cell phone because of these risks? Or are cell phone risks like cigarette risks, we all know about them and we all know we should quite but not just yet.

Some people don't keep their cell phones in their pockets because of the risks and others use hands-free-ear-pieces, but no one really quits using cell phones, they are too important to us! Where would we be today without cell phones? Well, I remember the days when cell phones didn't exist (yes kiddies, there were days when cell phones, DVD’s, laptops and other cool modern necessities didn't exist), I mentioned to a friend today that I remember days when I would forget to take my keys to school and I would come home and be locked outside for hours. Usually my sister would have forgotten her keys as well, and we would both sit on the porch waiting for one of our parents to come home with a set of keys. Of course it would be easy to call them up, tell them we forgot our key and then they would come, but cell phones weren't around, and so we would wait until we were rescued.

Today’s cell phone isn't just a telephone, no way, if it were just a telephone that would make sense, and why would you want a cell phone that makes sense, when it would be so much cooler if it didn’t make any sense and have a lot of cool stuff no one really needs. Modern cell phones are much more then just a mobile wireless phone they are: MP3 players/ game centers/ cameras/ video cameras/ voice recorders/ calendars, calculators/ web browsers/ phonebooks and they can even make phone calls.

Cell phones in today’s world are a practical necessity and are very useful to anyone who needs to reach anybody from anywhere. You don't need to wait for people to come home in order for you to call them up and talk, now you can bug them wherever they are (at work, while they are sleeping, during lunch and unfortunately even in the bathroom)! So we have proven that cell phones can be useful (as can cigarettes, by the way), but are they really dangerous? The danger the cell phones pose, is that it aments radiation (heat) which slowly but surely fries your brain (F.Y.I. That is not a good thing). So why would I want this thing anywhere near me? Although cell phones have been proven to cause hearing problems, cancers, infertility, impotence and other defects you still need a pretty heavy dosage of radiation in order to cause any serious damage. Wherever you are in a city you are surrounded by radiation: antennas, power lines, computer screens, televisions, microwaves where ever you go there is radiation. How can I live without these things? All these things are necessary to us and we need them in our lives, just remember, as long as we use them wisely and with caution we should be able to minimize the damage.

A friend of mine told me about an employee of a British cell phone company whose job was to go around to different parts of England and check the cell phone’s reception. He would talk on his cell phone with a company representative and they would monitor the reception in that area, something like 8 straight hours a day (which means he had a cell phone emitting radiation to his brain 8 hours a day without a break [think about it this way, what would happen if you put a head of cauliflower in the microwave for 8 hours?])! Six months after he started his job he died of brain cancer. I have looked for this story on-line but couldn't find it, so I don't know how true it is.

There have been many studies done trying to prove the safety and dangers of using cell phones. A British study announced last week that cell phones are not the cause of the common brain cancer that people are claiming the cell phones are causing (oh great, cell phones cause the uncommon brain cancers). Cell phones as most other technological devices can help us a lot in life, but we must learn to use them with caution.

So, unless the conversation can’t wait until you get home try talking instead of ten minuets or longer on the cell phone telling somebody something cool or making plans for the next day, tell then briefly and wait till you get home and use the house phone it is both safer and much cheaper!

{For those who have heard that it is dangerous to live or stand near cellular antennas, well you are right it is very dangerous. I am posting here a link that shows you the different locations of antennas throughout Israel. http://net.nana.co.il/Cellular/?CategoryId=2420}

Terror Works!!!!

2006-01-29T03:26:00.000+02:00

It is amazing that in today’s world a known terrorist organization could run for government and win.

In the past few years Palestine has tried to prove to the world that they are victims of oppression, that they are under Israeli occupation, that they are defenseless and that they are completely unassociated with any terrorist groups.

Since Arafat’s day the Palestinian government tried to convince the world that the Palestinian terrorist groups have nothing to do with the government, that the terrorists act on their own and that the government can’t control them. That answer might have fooled some until Hamas (a world known terrorist organization who is in charge of most of the attacks on Israel from the Gaza strip) won the Palestinian election on Wednesday. No one in the Israeli, American or even the Palestinian governments saw this coming, everybody knew that the PLO is going to win. The head of the PLO had even intended to invite some members of Hamas to join the government as ministers, since it was obvious to everybody that the PLO would win. All polls showed that the PLO would win, that most of the people would vote for them and very few would vote Hamas. Why should anyone vote Hamas? I mean seriously, they are a terrorist organization, have they done anything for the Palestinian people? Well the sad truth is that they were the only one’s.

Ever since the PLO “gave up” their terrorist ways the Hamas have been the only ones actually doing anything in order to try and establish a Palestinian state. Everybody knows that Arafat was corrupt, stole the contribution money that was collected for the Palestinian cause and did nothing but tell Israel that he will try to stop the terror attacks while telling the Palestinian people to continue terror attacks because they work. Then Abu-Mazen came into office and although he did not tell Palestinians to go and blow themselves up he didn’t do anything to stop them or do anything to establish a Palestinian state. All Abu-Mazen did do, is constantly say that he needs more time or that he doesn’t have enough power. Hamas on the other hand has the power.

Hamas have been fighting to get a Palestinian state and while doing do also help the Palestinian people any way they can. Hamas give money to the poor, they give money to build schools and kinder gardens, they train teachers to teach, they pay for the university fees for those who can’t afford them (in condition that the come and work for Hamas when they finish learning), they give money to suicide bomber families, and of course they also train and send the suicide bombers to their death on Israeli land calming that that is what is what allah wants and that it is going to help their cause. They are the ones who are actually out their living within the common people and showing them that they are fighting for them. It is the dream of many Palestinian children that one day they will grow up to be a part of Hamas. When Israel disengaged form the Gaza strip the Hamas announced “Look we are wining the war, we bombed them and sent rockets at them and it is paying off, they are finally starting to retreat. Terror works, it does pay off.” And what did we do when they started firing rockets at us after we pulled out, we did nothing! The Palestinians support them, believe in their way and vote for them because they don’t know any other way and they see that Hamas’s way apparently works. So I ask again why would anyone vote Hamas? Hell if I were Palestinian I would vote Hamas!

So you would figure that based on all this known information, Israel, America, the UN, somebody would have said before the elections that Hamas is forbidden to run for government as they are a world known terrorist group, told the Palestinians that we would at least not allow for Hamas to run in our regions (Jerusalem for example), warned the Palestinians that if Hamas would win we would cease all negotiations with them. But no, not one person could have thought to say lets not risk Hamas being elected. So of course everybody is surprised that they one. Everybody had their own excuse for why they couldn’t have guessed that they would win but it’s too late now! So half the Israeli government is freaking out and trying to figure out what to do next, the other half is saying that it is good that they one cause finally we could end our occupation (for all those who think we are occupying Palestinian land you are welcome to leave, and for all those who just want to give back what the Palestinians claim is theirs are also welcome to leave because the Palestinians claim it all of Israel! So thank you for claiming to be Israeli and goodbye.)

Seeing these recent events and noticing how beautifully Democracy works when your two choices are A) a party who does nothing but cares for itself in a legitimate way, or B) a terrorist organization who is actually doing something for me in an illegitimate way, I can certainly see why B might be the better choice. Therefore I think we should learn a valuable lesson from our “friendly” Arab neighbors, and that is that terror pays off, terror works.

The First post!!! (Dum, Dum, Dum!!)

2006-01-27T22:47:00.000+02:00

Wow I can't believe I opened a blog. A year ago I was thinking of opening a blog called the "The anti-Blog", I used to hate blogs, yes yes I know.

But I am over that, I have found a whole new purpose in life and that is to waste time until the army. O.K. that is not entirely true it is not my new found purpose all my friends know that I am not one who can easily waste time. I normally sleep 3-6 hour a night during vacation and less when I am working or in school. All my friend tell me I am mad, but they don't know that I am just simply a work-a-holic! O.K., I'm ready, Hi my name is Nadiv and I'm, I'm, I'm a WORK-A-Holic! Yes it is true I can't stop working I am always doing something whether it is community service, where I volunteered so much in the Civil Guard that they promoted me to be Commander of the Ra'anana Youth division in the Civil Guard (in charge of all youth related activities in the entire region, and for those that don't know Ra'anana, Ra'anana is a huge city easily the size of New York VE-LE-ELE SHEKEN MAKIRIM ET RAANANA SSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!) or whether it was It was volunteering to teach children a foreign language on my spare time, or working as a counselor or privet tutor or translator, painter, contract builder, electrician, computer technician, pluming, cleaning, office work (Male secretary), TV and Video repairman, cook, caterer, dog trainer, dog walker-sitter, babysitter, party planner and lots more. Basically I have found a few ways of keeping myself busy. The only thing I regret about most of the above is that I didn't charge any a dime for most of those things! Not one single dime can you believe it I didn't take any money, I did start a billing list a while ago and I discovered that if I would have charged minimum wage for all the work I volunteered for I would have made over 50,000 shekel close to 11,000$ (IDIOT!!!!!!!).

Yup it is pretty hard for me to do nothing, but seriously did any of you ever try to do nothing? O.K. people I want you all to try something, I want you to sit in your seats close your eyes, think of nothing, don't look at your watch and simply do nothing for one minute. Try it! See told you it couldn't be done. So instead of trying my whole life to aspire to a state of doing nothing I am doing allot, way more then any 20 year old should need to do or go trough what I am and went trough!! (and Katz, I am loving it!!!) other then that I think I will leave this to be my first post (hopefully first of many) and just finish saying.

It is said that a true leader is one who tells the truth no matter how tough the situation is. As Churchill once told the British House of Commons after he was elected Prime Minister: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." So shall I tell the truth of the nature of this blog. "It will be my best attempt to share with everyone with thing I am going through and thinking. It will attempt to be amusing but I promise nothing!

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nucleotheism – Understanding the Iranians by Mordechai Kedar

2006-01-27T15:16:00.000+02:00

There is currently great concern regarding Iran's activities in the nuclear sphere and, at the same time, the calls of the country's president for the destruction of Israel and "transfer of Israel to Europe."
For the Western observer, these pose several difficult questions: How is it that the Iranians fail to hear the powerful voices demanding the termination of their nuclear program? How can they fail to see the progression of steps being taken against them? How can they fail to fear a fate similar to t hat of Saddam Hussein? And if they do see and understand all these developments, what is it that motivates them to persist in following this path which, day by day, becomes more problematic?
The answers to all these questions are rather simple once we thoroughly understand the thinking of the ayatollahs who have ruled Iran ever since Khomeinis's revolution in 1979. To do this, we must first grasp the Arabic concept Wilayat al-Faqih, meaning "Rule by the Man of the [true] Faith" and implying that the Man of Faith must dominate all areas of the life of the nation.
According to the principle of Wilayat al-Faqih, all these matters must be under the control of the Man of Faith in view of the fact that he enjoys divine inspiration, whereby God illuminates hi s path and guides his footsteps and his decisions.
Thus, all decisions of the Man of Faith are correct; he is infallible, being endowed with 'Isma (infallibility) which protects him from being in error and turns him into the perfect human being. It follows that all men, not only Muslims, must obey him and carry out his commands.
The idea of Wilayat al-Faqih became established in Iran with the Khomeini revolution of 1979. All policies, internally as well externally, were shaped by this principle.
With regard to the nuclear question, the Iranian logic is as follows: "If Allah gave us the ability to develop nuclear weapons, and if we decided that we must carry out this development, then this decision cannot be wrong, for Allah illuminates our path and guides us to the correct decision. The decision to proceed with the nuclear development is not our decision but a divine decision, our part being merely to carry it out. Were we to terminate the development of our nuclear capability, we wouldbe guilty of violating a divine command."
THE AYATOLLAHS' attitude toward the European and American pressure exerted against them is negative indeed. The Iranian constantly asks himself: "Who appointed these infidels to tell us what to do and what not to do? Since w he n have these defiled individuals the right to demand that we defy Allah's decisions which we have accepted?
Inasmuch as the diplomatic pressure exerted against the mullahs is not legitimate in their eyes, they believe they have every right to deceive Europe and the US by whatever steps are necessary to conceal their nuclear program. This deception is not regarded as sinful, because the foreign pressure is directed against Allah and His decisions; thus Iran possesses a divine power of attorney to oppose their pressure in every way.
It is this utter disregard for the West, and in particular for Western demands directed against Iran, that prompted Ahmadinejad to make pronouncements which, as he well realizes, are in complete defiance of Western ethos. His latest declarations are directed against Israel which he regards as a European colony, an infidel implant in the heart of the Islamic world.
Iran's president sees no difference between the establishment of Israel in violation of Allah's decision and the anti-Iranian dictates which likewise oppose Allah's commands. As a Shi'ite Muslim, he is obligated to do all in his power to eliminate the infidel Judeo-Christian presence in Palestine, just as it is his duty to do all that is necessary to build up the country's power, seeing that Allah, in his grace and mercy, has endowed the Iranian Shi'ite Muslims with the ability to develop nuclear weapons.
In the Ayatollahs' view, an Iran armed with nuclear weapons will be an instrument in Allah's hand to impose Is lam upon the entire world. And they, the Ayatollahs, have been chosen by Allah to carry out His mission.
To the Western mind, this Islamic logic is hard to comprehend, inasmuch as it brings Allah's wishes into the realm of political planning and into the very core of its nuclear program. The Ayatollahs cannot understand how correct decisions can be arrived at unless, at the helm of the pyramid of decision makers, Allah Himself is placed, speaking through the Koran and the oral tradition - the Hadith, as these sources are interpreted by the Faqih, the Man of Faith.
It should be borne in mind that there are indeed Shi'ite religious scholars who do not accept the doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih, but the mullah's regime disregards their opinion.
This is the Iranian logic and this is what motivates the regime presently. No negotiations, no pressure can change Allah's decision as executed by the Ayatollahs. Unless the Western world succeeds in driving them to the brink of the abyss and threatens to pus h them beyond, Allah will not authorize them to change their thinking.
Every day that goes by during which they succeed in pursuing their nuclear program is proof for them that Allah is still leading them on the correct path. How, otherwise, could it happen that they are progressing in their divine program?
The writer is a research associate at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, and lecturer in the department of Arabic Studies, at Bar-Ilan University.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1134309575129&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull