israeli politics
  1.  the turbaned woman treating the nail of the patient next to me explains to him why she doesn’t want him to play the music of Shlomo Artzi on his cell.  “Do you remember that Rabbi who didn’t want to hear a woman’s voice at that concert?  What’s his name?  The guy who cancelled his concert in protest?”   “You mean the best-known singer in Israel? Shlomo Arzi?” “No! Not him!  The Rabbi!  He’s the one I love!  That singer should have obeyed the Rabbi! I won’t listen to his music ever again.”
  2.   on the street.  A guy sauntering down the street listening on his earphones to something obviously very musical trips a bit on the sidewalk and his phone falls from his pocket.  He stops, picks it up, kisses it, returns it to his pocket, and continues his happy walk.

october 25, 2021 – 2 tel aviv portraits Read Post »

israeli politics

web woes

In 1982 or so, my father-in-law bought an apple 2E, and really played around with it, making all kinds of drawings, playing all kinds of obscene games, and I don’t know what.  But he really wanted to see me write on the computer.  So he taught me html.  It took a while – I was impatient and wanted to get back to my typewriter but he persisted.  So in 2002 or so, when I wanted to communicate to my friends that I was okay, I started a free blog.  For 19 years I wrote in html on my little blog that gradually became expensive and I thought to switch over to something more modest.  But now I wish I had my father-in-law here to help me figure out why this ‘simplicity’ is so complicated.  

Never mind.  It will soon be all settled properly and these pages will become a pleasure to read.

october 25, 2021 Read Post »

israeli politics

so much to learn from Miri regev

Let’s say the cup is the world championship – she’s GOT to be my coach.  First, her ability to feint:  a jab to the right (say, the law isn’t legal because it doesn’t have an overwhelming majority) – and while the opponent is busy deflecting this jab  (say by asking for proof that there needs to be an overwhelming majority)- there’s a more powerful one to the left (this government is illegal) and it’s followed by a left-right pounding hinting each member of that government is corrupt.  The opponent drops back to organize a comprehensive response.  Miri starts to stutter and it looks like she won’t be able to counter, but that just gives her time to attack violently – nails and all, declare herself a winner and leave the ring.  

The only thing I don’t get is how the win gets calculated.

october 24, 2021 – so much to learn from Miri regev Read Post »

israeli politics

fresh paint

We have been planning all week to go to the arts fair.  Tel Aviv has been holding an annual fair for years and we always have friends exhibiting.  Fresh Paint has a great website – even in English and it is really impressive.  But the first thing that comes up when you go to the website is that they warn you to park at least a kilometer away.  So we parked there and walked.  And the velodrome is really an impressive sight in itself – it is enormous and beautiful.  And full of people.  Once we got past the crowd at the entrance we thought it would be a cinch, but it turned out that there were so many people Ezi got spooked and we barely managed to see a few exhibits when he bolted.  I have not seen him in such a self-protective mode for 14 years.    And that was when I took him to an acupuncturist when he first discovered he was stage 4 and at the entrance to the ‘clinic’ he decided this place was a scam.

So, Fresh Paint.  There were some amazing exhibits  = politics:  Yoni Zohar – paintings of the demonstrations against Bibi.  Farid Abu Shakra – old people from the village, sabras.  Plus Ethiopian crochet, abstract versions of Buddha, and a great deal more that seemed wonderfully absorbing.  But I was focusing on a woman whose nose peeked out of her mask, a guy who kept moving his mask down, and the back of my husband as he ran through the exhibit to the exit.

 

october 23, 2021 – fresh paint Read Post »

israeli politics

I’m asking you for advice.  Although none of our doctors brought up the subject, I’ve been grilling every doctor I know about the shingles vaccine.  Finally, I got one doctor to recommend one for me, and then I started trying to see if it’s a good idea to get one for Ezi.  And yesterday the hematologist agreed.  Then I got more information from the pharmacist at the hospital Superpharm.  Mustafa said that one is better but they’re out of it.  The health fund pays for the live vaccine Zostravax but not the more recent and more effective Shingrex which would probably be safer for Ezi.   So far I’ve asked 2 gps, 1 hematologist, and one pharmacist.  Who should I ask next?  Google?  I always thought our medical system was so up-to-date and available.  What has gone wrong?

 

october 22, 2021 – shingles vaccine Read Post »

israeli politics

To make sure we get to the doctor at 5 we left at 4.  It should be a 12-minute ride, but traffic has become impossible lately.  We’re usually last-minute people, but I’ve been planning to get to Tel Aviv an hour earlier and if the traffic is okay we wind up sitting in a cafe and relaxing.  I like this way better, but I really don’t appreciate the motorcycles, bicycles, and other moving vehicles with 2 wheels moving in and out of the lanes.  I’m sure if you have driven in Tel Aviv you know what I mean.  No one escapes this fear.  Even pedestrians…  my friends have been run over – even my grandson was hit.

HERE ARE MY CYCLE TRAFFIC RULES:

  1. Licensing of every 2 wheeled vehicle
  2. traffic infractions enforced with tickets like automobiles
  3. Extra fines for hit and run
  4. mandatory insurance on all vehicles.
  5. enforcement of helmets 

october 21, 2021 – traffic Read Post »

israeli politics

It has been becoming clear to me why so many Arabs here know Hebrew as well.  Arabic is so much more complex than Hebrew – more letters, more sounds.  It must be a cinch to simplify…  I don’t know yet if there are more words – but it has taken me months to learn letters, and as far as sounds are concerned = well, remember, I’m tongue-tied and can barely pronounce words in English.  If it weren’t so important for me to learn Arabic, I’d have found a simpler hobby.   And with our isolation, I never get a chance to speak Arabic with anyone.  Hell, I barely get a chance to speak English….   

october 20, 2021 – Arabic Read Post »

israeli politics

You probably have heard this elsewhere, but in case you haven’t, the Energy Ministry put out these rules in case of an earthquake:

 

1. Go outside

 
Those inside buildings should go outside. If this is impossible, head to a bomb shelter with the door and windows opened, or head to the stairwell to go down to the exit. If this is still not possible, hide under heavy furniture. 

2. Stay away from dangerous structures

 
People who are outdoors should avoid standing close to buildings, bridges and electricity pylons. 

3. Leave the beach

 
Some earthquakes could cause a tsunami, so it is advised that one stay away from the beach.

4. Stop driving

Drivers should pull their vehicles over, turn off the engine and get out into the open but it is important to keep clear of bridges or interchanges.

october 19, 2021 – earthquake rules Read Post »