"Did you know? All renegade marriages have taken place outside of Israel"
(The Renegades, 2010, p. 4)
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
On the roof again
So here I am on yet another roof. Haven't posted in a while due to the general craziness of things - moving out, moving in, the loss of a family member, stress at work, etc. It's been a tough month but hopefully things will settle down a little bit now.
The Internet dude was just here to connect our apartment to the information highway so regular posting will resume shortly!
Shana Tova to all renegades!
The Internet dude was just here to connect our apartment to the information highway so regular posting will resume shortly!
Shana Tova to all renegades!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Cool down
To help you overcome the "40 degrees in the shade" hell you're living in, I decided to share with you the nice photos Maria and I recently took in the park next to our home. In the first photo I prepare Maria a "present" in front of our apartment building. Regarding the airplane, all passengers are safe ;-)
Friday, May 21, 2010
Maria & Oren's Wedding Celebration
Everybody has been there, so there is not much to tell. Enjoy the photos:
 |
| Maria & Oren's Wedding Celebration |
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Number 7 baby!
I've just found out an amazing thing...
I don't know if you noticed but I've been publishing my "public" posts (i.e. not the ones that have anything to do with our little group) also on www.rakanikan.com. I've been doing it just for fun, as I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with that site just yet.
Now - i just found out that if you Google "docks socks" I'm on the first page of the results. You may be wandering, as Vladi did when I told him about this, "why on earth would you Google 'dock socks'?". I don't really have an answer to this question but I don't really care - I'm on the first page of Google results!
What's even stranger is that I'm not the first result (I only made it to the seventh place) - there are apparently more relevant results to the query "docks socks".
This brought Vlad an interesting idea - he's sure that if you post in your blog some other esoteric word combination, say "smuggling packer's pants", you'll hit the first page of Google's results too.
And so I proudly announce the first round of our new game - googlottery - everyone who'd like to participate needs to come up with two words. We'll place them in the blog and after a month or two we'll check who got the highest place on Google's results.
May the best geek win!
I don't know if you noticed but I've been publishing my "public" posts (i.e. not the ones that have anything to do with our little group) also on www.rakanikan.com. I've been doing it just for fun, as I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with that site just yet.
Now - i just found out that if you Google "docks socks" I'm on the first page of the results. You may be wandering, as Vladi did when I told him about this, "why on earth would you Google 'dock socks'?". I don't really have an answer to this question but I don't really care - I'm on the first page of Google results!
What's even stranger is that I'm not the first result (I only made it to the seventh place) - there are apparently more relevant results to the query "docks socks".
This brought Vlad an interesting idea - he's sure that if you post in your blog some other esoteric word combination, say "smuggling packer's pants", you'll hit the first page of Google's results too.
And so I proudly announce the first round of our new game - googlottery - everyone who'd like to participate needs to come up with two words. We'll place them in the blog and after a month or two we'll check who got the highest place on Google's results.
May the best geek win!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Wonders
Continuing Ofer's interesting post I'd like to share the list of wonders I've seen (from the list). As I was starting to look at the list I thought that I didn't see that much. Turns out I was wrong, I do have a pretty impressive record, and I intend to continue expanding it. So here it is:
7. Machu Picchu, Peru
True wonder, wouldn't trade it for any other!
11. Amazon Rain Forest, Brazil & Peru et. al.
Almost unreal experience
13. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Not only have we been "down under", but also under water. The photographer made me do the ridiculous hand sign, because every one's supposed to do that. Sorry :(
24. Jerusalem Old City, Israel
31. Colosseum of Rome, Italy
33. St Peter's Basilica, Vatican
38. Sistine Chapel, Vatican
No pictures allowed inside, but the entrance is right here.
42. Canals of Venice, Italy
53. Prague Old Town, Czech Republic
61. Uffizi Gallery, Italy
No pictures inside, but this is right around the corner.
65. St. Basils Cathedral, Russia
Been there long time ago, no pictures. At least no digital pictures :)
68. Florence Cityscape, Italy
69. Kremlin, Russia
Been there a long time ago, no pictures left.
74. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
79. Stonehenge, UK
Been there before the era of digital photography. I need a scanner :)
86. Eiffel Tower, France
Same goes here.
89. British Museum, UK
Been there, no pictures :(
94. Hermitage Museum, Russia
Been there even more than once, long long time ago, no pictures.
I must say that not all of those places deserve to be called wonders in my opinion. Some places were left out. But it's still a nice check list and there is a lot to do!
7. Machu Picchu, Peru
True wonder, wouldn't trade it for any other!11. Amazon Rain Forest, Brazil & Peru et. al.
Almost unreal experience13. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Not only have we been "down under", but also under water. The photographer made me do the ridiculous hand sign, because every one's supposed to do that. Sorry :(24. Jerusalem Old City, Israel
31. Colosseum of Rome, Italy
33. St Peter's Basilica, Vatican
38. Sistine Chapel, Vatican
No pictures allowed inside, but the entrance is right here.42. Canals of Venice, Italy
53. Prague Old Town, Czech Republic
61. Uffizi Gallery, Italy
No pictures inside, but this is right around the corner.65. St. Basils Cathedral, Russia
Been there long time ago, no pictures. At least no digital pictures :)
68. Florence Cityscape, Italy
69. Kremlin, RussiaBeen there a long time ago, no pictures left.
74. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
79. Stonehenge, UK
Been there before the era of digital photography. I need a scanner :)
86. Eiffel Tower, France
Same goes here.
89. British Museum, UK
Been there, no pictures :(
94. Hermitage Museum, Russia
Been there even more than once, long long time ago, no pictures.
I must say that not all of those places deserve to be called wonders in my opinion. Some places were left out. But it's still a nice check list and there is a lot to do!
When in Wome
It's been a while since this actually happened, but we've been so busy that I've had very little time to actually sit down and write about our latest vacation to Rome. But here it finally is...
On the flight over to Rome we met Valentina, a lovely Italian girl. She gave us a list of things to do, places to go, and shops to visit and also promised us that it never snows in Rome - and she should know, having lived there her whole life. Rome itself would indeed provide us with things to do, places to go, and shops to visit but decided to greet us with a white blanket of snow over the busy streets and the Vatican's monuments.
The Romans were going crazy over the snow, and we decided that since we were in Rome we needed to do as the Romans do. This basically meant that every now and then I would either break into a flurry of fluent Italian ramblings ("Tutti frutti rigattone tortellini!") or would imagine myself in Monty Python's Life of Brian and start speaking with an appropriate speech impediment ("When in Wome do as the Womans").
We took a guided tour through the Vatican during which our guide, Christiano (or should I say Biggus Duffus), never failed to remind us of just how knowledgeable and superior he was.
We walked through the treasure filled rooms of the Vatican museums and wondered just what wonders they have hidden in their basements and storerooms. Our visit there also made me think again about why people question the right of a Jewish state to exist but not the right of a Catholic state to exist.
The following day we were back to the business of being tourists and as such we went to visit Rome's premier tourist attraction - the Colosseum. This would, at first sight, seem to be easier said than done: the lines that were waiting for us outside the monument were ridiculous.
We had just purchased our Roma PASS which "offers you Transport and 2 Museums free of charge as well as Reductions for all other museums and major events" so we figured we'd at least try to figure out how this "free of charge" thing worked. We walked up to the head of the line (which was looooong) and discovered that while most people were standing in line to buy tickets we could just go over to the left, flash our Roma PASS cards, and just walk inside. Score!
We explored the Colosseum, the Palatino, and the surrounding area, and eventually found ourselves outside the Capitoline museums, where our way was blocked by the Roman riot police.
As luck would have it the Romans decided this was a good time for a carnival () and again we joined the crowds and had some fun.
We kept walking the streets of Rome and ended up in the Torre Argentina area where archaeologists are excavating a series of ancient temples, in the very center of urban Rome. We walked around the ruins and spotted a cat. Then we saw another. And then another, and another... It was quite the meowsoleum. Further exploration revealed that some cat ladies had taken over a cave near the ruins and over the years had turned it into a cat shelter for many of Rome's injured and abandoned cats.
We had several other adventures there - Rome has many things to offer (we already miss the gelato...) - I guess you'll just have to talk to us to find out about the rest...
On the flight over to Rome we met Valentina, a lovely Italian girl. She gave us a list of things to do, places to go, and shops to visit and also promised us that it never snows in Rome - and she should know, having lived there her whole life. Rome itself would indeed provide us with things to do, places to go, and shops to visit but decided to greet us with a white blanket of snow over the busy streets and the Vatican's monuments.
The Romans were going crazy over the snow, and we decided that since we were in Rome we needed to do as the Romans do. This basically meant that every now and then I would either break into a flurry of fluent Italian ramblings ("Tutti frutti rigattone tortellini!") or would imagine myself in Monty Python's Life of Brian and start speaking with an appropriate speech impediment ("When in Wome do as the Womans").We took a guided tour through the Vatican during which our guide, Christiano (or should I say Biggus Duffus), never failed to remind us of just how knowledgeable and superior he was.
We walked through the treasure filled rooms of the Vatican museums and wondered just what wonders they have hidden in their basements and storerooms. Our visit there also made me think again about why people question the right of a Jewish state to exist but not the right of a Catholic state to exist.
The following day we were back to the business of being tourists and as such we went to visit Rome's premier tourist attraction - the Colosseum. This would, at first sight, seem to be easier said than done: the lines that were waiting for us outside the monument were ridiculous.
We had just purchased our Roma PASS which "offers you Transport and 2 Museums free of charge as well as Reductions for all other museums and major events" so we figured we'd at least try to figure out how this "free of charge" thing worked. We walked up to the head of the line (which was looooong) and discovered that while most people were standing in line to buy tickets we could just go over to the left, flash our Roma PASS cards, and just walk inside. Score!
We explored the Colosseum, the Palatino, and the surrounding area, and eventually found ourselves outside the Capitoline museums, where our way was blocked by the Roman riot police.
As luck would have it the Romans decided this was a good time for a carnival () and again we joined the crowds and had some fun. 
We kept walking the streets of Rome and ended up in the Torre Argentina area where archaeologists are excavating a series of ancient temples, in the very center of urban Rome. We walked around the ruins and spotted a cat. Then we saw another. And then another, and another... It was quite the meowsoleum. Further exploration revealed that some cat ladies had taken over a cave near the ruins and over the years had turned it into a cat shelter for many of Rome's injured and abandoned cats.
We had several other adventures there - Rome has many things to offer (we already miss the gelato...) - I guess you'll just have to talk to us to find out about the rest...
Thursday, January 28, 2010
One wanders
[Updated: 20-Feb-2010]
Some time ago I came across the following web-site:
http://www.hillmanwonders.com/
It's a list of 100 wonders of the world, as compiled by Howard Hillman - "the world's leading wonder authority". I'm not sure who exactly issues such authorization but the list is still interesting as is the idea behind it - "See the World's Top 100 Wonders before you die".
I'm usually against check-listing such things - I think one should go with the flow instead of trying to tick check-boxes but I also like the "do XX things before you die" approach. I think it can help us to remember that life is not just about working and paying bills - every now and then we need to look up from our desks and see what's around us.
So here's my checklist as per Hillman's original list. I am currently on 28% - I'll try to keep it updated as I travel (hopefully :) )
Maybe you can pick your own list of things to do or places to go - or better yet, make a list of your own!
1. Pyramids of Egypt
2. Great Wall of China
- Working on it
3. Taj Mahal, India
- Working on it
4. Serengeti Migration, Tanzania and Kenya
- Working on it
5. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
- Working on it
6. Grand Canyon, AZ, USA
7. Machu Picchu, Peru
8. Antarctica Cruise
- Working on it
9. Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil
- Working on it
10. Bali, Indonesia
- Working on it
11. Amazon Rain Forest, Brazil & Peru et. al.
- Working on it
12. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
- Working on it
13. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
- Working on it
14. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
- Working on it
15. Victoria Falls, Zambia & Zimbabwe
- Working on it
16. Forbidden City, China
- Working on it
17. Bagan, Myanmar
- Working on it
18. Karnak, Egypt
19. Teotihuacan, Mexico
20. Banaue Rice Terrace, Philippines
- Working on it
21. Bora Bora, Polynesia
- Working on it
22. Acropolis, Greece
23. Potala Palace, China
- Working on it
24. Jerusalem Old City, Israel
25. TerraCotta Warriors, China
- Working on it
26. Chichen Itza, Mexico
27. Petra, Jordan
- Working on it
28. Nile River Cruise, Egypt
29. Easter Island
30. Cappadocia, Turkey
- Working on it
31. Colosseum of Rome, Italy
32. Fjords of Norway
- Working on it
33. St Peter's Basilica, Vatican
34. Egyptian Museum, Egypt
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
35. Borobudur, Indonesia
- Working on it
36. Valley of the Kings, Egypt
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
37. Hong Kong, China
- Working on it
38. Sistine Chapel, Vatican
(ok, so this is a couple of rooms before the Sistine Chapel, but they wouldn't let me take a picture inside :) )
39. Burj Khalifa, Dubai
- Working on it
40. Alhambra, Spain
- Working on it
41. Louvre Museum, France
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
42. Canals of Venice, Italy
- Working on it
43. Versailles, France
- Working on it
44. Carlsbad Caverns, NM, USA
- Working on it
45. Mecca, Saudi Arabia
- Unlikely ;)
46. Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
- Working on it
47. Metropolitan Mus, NY, USA
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
48. Mt Everest, Nepal & China
- Working on it
49. Temple Em. Buddha, Thailand
50. Hagia Sofia, Turkey
- Working on it
51. Pompeii, Italy
- Working on it
52. Kashmir Valley, India
- Working on it
53. Prague Old Town, Czech Republic
- Working on it
54. Golden Temple, India
- Working on it
55. Amalfi Drive, Italy
- Working on it
56. Meenakshi, India
- Working on it
57. Chartres Cathedral, France
- Working on it
58. Mezquita Cordoba, Spain
- Working on it
59. Damascus Old City, Syria
- Unlikely
60. Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Working on it
61. Uffizi Gallery, Italy
- Working on it
62. Rio Panoramic View, Brazil
63. Golden Pavilion, Japan
- Working on it
64. Delphi, Greece
- Working on it
65. St. Basils Cathedral, Russia
66. Abu Simbel, Egypt
67. St Mark's Basilica, Italy
- Working on it
68. Florence Cityscape, Italy
- Working on it
69. Kremlin, Russia
70. Varanasi/Ganges, India
- Working on it
71. Li River Cruise, China
- Working on it
72. Shwedagon Stupa, Myanmar
- Working on it
73. Sahara Desert, Africa
- Working on it
74. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
- Working on it
75. Baalbek, Lebanon
- Unlikely
76. Mont St Michel, France
- Working on it
77. Topkapi Palace, Turkey
- Working on it
78. Carnival in Rio, Brazil
79. Stonehenge, UK
80. Angel Falls, Venezeula
- Working on it
81. Yellowstone NP, USA
- Working on it
82. Santorini, Greece
- Working on it
83. Matterhorn, Switzerland
- Working on it
84. New York Skyline, NY, USA
85. Marrakesh, Morocco
- Working on it
86. Eiffel Tower, France
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
87. Ladakh, India
- Working on it
88. Niagara Falls, US & Canada
89. British Museum, UK
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
90. Burj al Arab, Dubai
- Working on it
91. Yangtze Riv. Cruise, China
- Working on it
92. Yosemite NP, USA
- Working on it
93. Ayers Rock, Australia
- Working on it
94. Hermitage Museum, Russia
- Working on it
95. Chambord Chateau, France
- Working on it
96. Lijiang/Shangri La, China
- Working on it
97. Neuschwanstein, Germany
- Working on it
98. Banff NP, Canada
99. San Francisco, USA
- Working on it
100. Portofino, Italy
- Working on it
Some time ago I came across the following web-site:
http://www.hillmanwonders.com/
It's a list of 100 wonders of the world, as compiled by Howard Hillman - "the world's leading wonder authority". I'm not sure who exactly issues such authorization but the list is still interesting as is the idea behind it - "See the World's Top 100 Wonders before you die".
I'm usually against check-listing such things - I think one should go with the flow instead of trying to tick check-boxes but I also like the "do XX things before you die" approach. I think it can help us to remember that life is not just about working and paying bills - every now and then we need to look up from our desks and see what's around us.
So here's my checklist as per Hillman's original list. I am currently on 28% - I'll try to keep it updated as I travel (hopefully :) )
Maybe you can pick your own list of things to do or places to go - or better yet, make a list of your own!
1. Pyramids of Egypt
2. Great Wall of China
- Working on it
3. Taj Mahal, India
- Working on it
4. Serengeti Migration, Tanzania and Kenya
- Working on it
5. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
- Working on it
6. Grand Canyon, AZ, USA
7. Machu Picchu, Peru
8. Antarctica Cruise
- Working on it
9. Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil
- Working on it
10. Bali, Indonesia
- Working on it
11. Amazon Rain Forest, Brazil & Peru et. al.
- Working on it
12. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
- Working on it
13. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
- Working on it
14. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
- Working on it
15. Victoria Falls, Zambia & Zimbabwe
- Working on it
16. Forbidden City, China
- Working on it
17. Bagan, Myanmar
- Working on it
18. Karnak, Egypt
19. Teotihuacan, Mexico
20. Banaue Rice Terrace, Philippines
- Working on it
21. Bora Bora, Polynesia
- Working on it
22. Acropolis, Greece
23. Potala Palace, China
- Working on it
24. Jerusalem Old City, Israel
25. TerraCotta Warriors, China
- Working on it
26. Chichen Itza, Mexico
27. Petra, Jordan
- Working on it
28. Nile River Cruise, Egypt
29. Easter Island
30. Cappadocia, Turkey
- Working on it
31. Colosseum of Rome, Italy
32. Fjords of Norway
- Working on it
33. St Peter's Basilica, Vatican
34. Egyptian Museum, Egypt
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
35. Borobudur, Indonesia
- Working on it
36. Valley of the Kings, Egypt
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
37. Hong Kong, China
- Working on it
38. Sistine Chapel, Vatican
(ok, so this is a couple of rooms before the Sistine Chapel, but they wouldn't let me take a picture inside :) )
39. Burj Khalifa, Dubai
- Working on it
40. Alhambra, Spain
- Working on it
41. Louvre Museum, France
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
42. Canals of Venice, Italy
- Working on it
43. Versailles, France
- Working on it
44. Carlsbad Caverns, NM, USA
- Working on it
45. Mecca, Saudi Arabia
- Unlikely ;)
46. Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
- Working on it
47. Metropolitan Mus, NY, USA
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
48. Mt Everest, Nepal & China
- Working on it
49. Temple Em. Buddha, Thailand
50. Hagia Sofia, Turkey
- Working on it
51. Pompeii, Italy
- Working on it
52. Kashmir Valley, India
- Working on it
53. Prague Old Town, Czech Republic
- Working on it
54. Golden Temple, India
- Working on it
55. Amalfi Drive, Italy
- Working on it
56. Meenakshi, India
- Working on it
57. Chartres Cathedral, France
- Working on it
58. Mezquita Cordoba, Spain
- Working on it
59. Damascus Old City, Syria
- Unlikely
60. Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Working on it
61. Uffizi Gallery, Italy
- Working on it
62. Rio Panoramic View, Brazil
63. Golden Pavilion, Japan
- Working on it
64. Delphi, Greece
- Working on it
65. St. Basils Cathedral, Russia
66. Abu Simbel, Egypt
67. St Mark's Basilica, Italy
- Working on it
68. Florence Cityscape, Italy
- Working on it
69. Kremlin, Russia
70. Varanasi/Ganges, India
- Working on it
71. Li River Cruise, China
- Working on it
72. Shwedagon Stupa, Myanmar
- Working on it
73. Sahara Desert, Africa
- Working on it
74. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
- Working on it
75. Baalbek, Lebanon
- Unlikely
76. Mont St Michel, France
- Working on it
77. Topkapi Palace, Turkey
- Working on it
78. Carnival in Rio, Brazil
79. Stonehenge, UK
80. Angel Falls, Venezeula
- Working on it
81. Yellowstone NP, USA
- Working on it
82. Santorini, Greece
- Working on it
83. Matterhorn, Switzerland
- Working on it
84. New York Skyline, NY, USA
85. Marrakesh, Morocco
- Working on it
86. Eiffel Tower, France
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
87. Ladakh, India
- Working on it
88. Niagara Falls, US & Canada
89. British Museum, UK
+ Been there, done that, don't have a decent pic to prove it.
90. Burj al Arab, Dubai
- Working on it
91. Yangtze Riv. Cruise, China
- Working on it
92. Yosemite NP, USA
- Working on it
93. Ayers Rock, Australia
- Working on it
94. Hermitage Museum, Russia
- Working on it
95. Chambord Chateau, France
- Working on it
96. Lijiang/Shangri La, China
- Working on it
97. Neuschwanstein, Germany
- Working on it
98. Banff NP, Canada
99. San Francisco, USA
- Working on it
100. Portofino, Italy
- Working on it
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