Year: 2005

Caveat Emptor!
The final line-up for Thursday’s THHGTTG viewing at the Rav Chen theater, 7:30pm is:
, , & , myself & Shannon.
Have cash ready ASAP. Bring a towel, this is required!
I understand that everyone except myself and Shannon will probably be at the / BBQ until the show, so please all show up at the same time.
I am still working on the logistics of making it there on time with Shannon, as a previous engagement end at 7pm. 🙁
Looking forward to sharing the experience!

Hello everyone, and welcome to the Net Shoppers Network.
We currently have (in stock!) a few devices and comparative prices for you, and will be glad to provide the service of supplying them to you for cash.
The wonderful devices are: iPod photo (2 each of both 30GB and 60GB) and iPod Shuffle (3 each of both 1GB and 512MB).

Here’s a comparison table:

	Israel List Price (NIS)	My Price (NIS)	My Price (USD)
iPod Shuffle – 512 MB	820	600	140
iPod Shuffle – 1GB	1150	850	200
iPod Photo – 30GB	2500	1800	410
iPod Photo – 60GB	3000	2300	520

A link to Apple’s web site comparison is here.

These are all brand new, slightly higher than list in the USA, and a fully guaranteed by Apple worldwide.

All comments to this post are screened, so you can safely respond to me here, and we can work out how to get you your new iPod device.

Hiya everyone!
The Guide is opening this Thursday, and I am opening the floor for discussion – who wants to come to the 19:30 PM showing? Remember, it’s also Independence day here, so take that into account when timing your schedule.
I can pre-order tickets, and select their locations, but only for a little while longer.
Price of a ticket is 35 NIS, if ordered thru me, payable in cash upon arrival at the theater. Better if paid before, of course. If ordered, and you didn’t make it, payment is still required!
This obviously guarantees you a seat, esp. with the rest of the gang, in around the 7th or 8th row (this is a bit behind mid-theater, and is a good location).
The floor is open, ladies and gents, for the next day or so, so any questions, ideas, comments, fire away!

So….
It’s been a while since I updated this damn thing, and here I am, sitting at work, not doing much, and decided to have at it.
Event #1 – I passed my 3rd driving exam. I am now the proud holder of a motorcycle license. By all rights, I shouldn’t have, as I screwed up for a split second on the figure eights, but the examiner was looking elsewhere and didn’t see. Thursday was an angst-filled day for me, until I heard the results.
Event #2 – The con was one hell of a drag. It turned out ok, but only because I dragged every last little detail into order at the last minute. I have made my intentions clear to the new Icon manager, and he will feel the brunt of my wrath if he screws up.
Event #3 – Shannon’s Birthday was Friday, and I took her out to a nice restaurant on Thursday night, and then called her at midnight to sing happy birthday to her. Her present hasn’t arrived from the USA, which worries me.
Event #4 – I’m tying up loose ends at work, looking forward to the end of this week, when I get to prank my office, in which I inflate a ridiculous amount of balloons and stuff my office full of them, to commemorate how deflated they will be when I’m gone.

In fact, #4 reminds me how this place used to look before i arrived. What a boring environment. I hope they don’t all commit mass suicide. That’d be a damn shame.

Event #5 – As of the 15th, I will be working as a SysAdmin for a software company in Lod, and will be commuting daily. I hope I can get funding for a bike by then. Bank manager’s being an asshole, and might not play nice this time.
Event #6 – Had a last-minute guest this weekend, and we ended up going to a beach party in Herzliya, after which I got some decent sleep, and spent the day relaxing. I did not show up at & ‘s place, in case anyone was confused about that.

So that’s all for now, hope you feel informed.
I’ve got to run, going home to cook dinner for Shannon & myself!

From a lot of friends:
Seven Deadly Sins
ANGER
Who did you last get angry with?
Corporate customers
What is your weapon of choice?
Short blades
Would you hit a member of the opposite sex?
Only if severely provoked
How about of the same sex?
Sure, and have bloodied and broken on more than one occasion.
Who was the last person who got really angry at you?
Definitely Mom
What is your pet peeve?
Acquired stupidity in intelligent people
Do you keep grudges, or can you let things go?
Don’t think I’ve ever had a grudge for more than 30 minutes

SLOTH
What is one thing you’re supposed to do daily that you have not done in a long time?
Brush my teeth. I know, that’s gross…. I’m LAZY
What is the latest you’ve ever woken up?
Dunno the hour – but I slept 30 hours straight after the Con
Name a person you’ve been meaning to contact, but haven’t.
Grandma
What is the last lame excuse you made?
I was too busy.
Have you ever watched an infomercial all the way through?
Yup. I’ve had some BORING late nights
How many times did you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock today?
Never hit snooze. It’s far away, and requires me to actually get up to shut it off.

GLUTTONY
What is your overpriced yuppie beverage of choice?
Cafe Aroma’s House Special
Do you eat the skin of off chicken?
No, vegetarian
Have you ever used a professional diet company?
Tried Herbalife – Is that a diet company? It sucked!
Are you anorexic?
Don’t I wish
Do you prefer sweets, salty foods, or spicy foods?
Spicy, with a touch of salt
Have you ever looked at a small house pet or child and thought, lunch?
Not really. The whole vegetarian thing works, trust me

LUST
How many people have you seen naked?
In person, over 30
How many people have seen YOU naked?
Have absolutely no idea. A lot, I’m sure. More than would have liked to…
Have you ever caught yourself staring at the chest/crotch of the opposite sex during a normal conversation?
Staring? Glancing, the occasional look…
What is your favorite body part on the opposite sex?
Trick question! TNA, of course, legs, arms…. hell, I like the whole package, and I do NOT have body parts in my freezer!
Have you ever been propositioned by a prostitute?
Yup. Both sides of the fence, too. Not entirely pleasant
Have you ever had to get tested for an STD or pregnancy?
Not yet, but I give blood, and they do routine tests and will inform you if there is something wrong.

GREED
How many credit cards do you own?
2
What’s your guilty pleasure store?
eBay? olSale?
If you had $1 million, what would you do with it?
Pay off debts, buy a few things, invest a buttload in real estate
Would you rather be rich, or famous?
Famous. With fame, come riches, but I just LOVE the spotlight.
Would you accept a boring job if it meant you would make megabucks?
Still working on that….
Have you ever stolen anything?
Yep. Don’t ask
How many MP3s are on your hard drive?
Over 100GB. Lost count after a while. At least 80GB are in solid albums, tagged to the extreme

PRIDE
What one thing have you done that you’re most proud of?
Managing to get this far on the cards I’ve been dealt
What one thing have you done that your parents are most proud of?
Dunno. Potty training? Growing up?
What thing would you like to accomplish in your life?
Teaching
Have you ever entered a contest of skill, knowing you were of much higher skill?
Yup. The odds are better that way.
Have you ever cheated on something to get a higher score?
Yup
What did you do today that you’re proud of?
I picked up my interim license and paid for the real one

ENVY
What item (or person) of your friends would you most want to have for your own?
Nobody’s specific – powerful laptop (my definition of powerful is a bit different than yours, I’m sure)
Who would you want to go on “Trading Spaces” with?
Bill Gates
If you could be anyone else in the world, who would you be?
God
Have you ever been cheated on?
Not to my knowledge
Have you ever wished you had a physical feature different?
Smaller waistline
What inborn trait do you see in others that you wish you had for yourself?
Emotional response
Do you wish you’d come up with this survey?
Now that question is just annoying.

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Because I thought the list was crappy anyways –

Your Taste in Music:

90’s Pop: Highest Influence

Classic Rock: Highest Influence

80’s Rock: High Influence

90’s Alternative: High Influence

80’s Alternative: Medium Influence

80’s Pop: Medium Influence

80’s R&B: Medium Influence

Adult Alternative: Medium Influence

Gangsta Rap: Medium Influence

Hair Bands: Medium Influence

Old School Hip Hop: Medium Influence

Progressive Rock: Medium Influence

90’s Hip Hop: Low Influence

90’s R&B: Low Influence

90’s Rock: Low Influence

Alternative Rock: Low Influence

Country: Low Influence

Punk: Low Influence

Wonder if THAT means anything….

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This is by the way of , and the results are long….

Braggart You are 85% Rational, 100% Extroverted, 42% Brutal, and 85% Arrogant.

You are the Braggart! Like Muhammad Ali, you would surely tell everyone that you are “The Greatest” whilst bragging incessantly about your intelligence, your skills, and your abilities. You tend to be a thinker rather than a feeler, and combined with your extroversion and arrogance, this makes you someone who probably just LOVES to brag about his accomplishments. Despite this, however, you are a very gentle, tender person and truly care about others’ feelings. You just happen to care more about yourself. Unlike Ali, of course, you are rather rational as opposed to emotional, and you are also much more gentle. But his arrogance and extroversion best reflect the most visible aspects of your personality. Your personality defect is the fact that you are extremely overconfident, extroverted, and perhaps rather lacking in emotions. YOU ARE THE GREATEST! Or so you keep telling yourself every night, in hopes that eventually everyone else on the planet will agree. Well, sorry, we probably won’t. To put it less negatively: 1. You are more RATIONAL than intuitive. 2. You are more EXTROVERTED than introverted. 3. You are more GENTLE than brutal. 4. You are more ARROGANT than humble. Compatibility: Your exact opposite is the Bitch-Slap. Other personalities you would probably get along with are the Hand-Raiser, the Haughty Intellectual, and the Capitalist Pig. * * If you scored near fifty percent for a certain trait (42%-58%), you could very well go either way. For example, someone with 42% Extroversion is slightly leaning towards being an introvert, but is close enough to being an extrovert to be classified that way as well. Below is a list of the other personality types so that you can determine which other possible categories you may fill if you scored near fifty percent for certain traits. The other personality types: The Emo Kid: Intuitive, Introverted, Gentle, Humble. The Starving Artist: Intuitive, Introverted, Gentle, Arrogant. The Bitch-Slap: Intuitive, Introverted, Brutal, Humble. The Brute: Intuitive, Introverted, Brutal, Arrogant. The Hippie: Intuitive, Extroverted, Gentle, Humble. The Televangelist: Intuitive, Extroverted, Gentle, Arrogant. The Schoolyard Bully: Intuitive, Extroverted, Brutal, Humble. The Class Clown: Intuitive, Extroverted, Brutal, Arrogant. The Robot: Rational, Introverted, Gentle, Humble. The Haughty Intellectual: Rational, Introverted, Gentle, Arrogant. The Spiteful Loner: Rational, Introverted, Brutal, Humble. The Sociopath: Rational, Introverted, Brutal, Arrogant. The Hand-Raiser: Rational, Extroverted, Gentle, Humble. The Braggart: Rational, Extroverted, Gentle, Arrogant. The Capitalist Pig: Rational, Extroverted, Brutal, Humble. The Smartass: Rational, Extroverted, Brutal, Arrogant.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 74% on Rationality You scored higher than 96% on Extroversion You scored higher than 45% on Brutality You scored higher than 91% on Arrogance

Link: The Personality Defect Test written by saint_gasoline on OkCupid Free Online Dating

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Here’s one weird one that took entirely too long to do:

Jerklet Jerking purity = 65%

While you may be more experienced than the average masturbator, there’s no denying that you don’t really have your heart set on this whole beating-off project. Did you really have to renew your subscription to Playboy for another ten years? Please just make whatever purchase you’ve decided on so I can help the next customer.

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 58% on purity

Link: The Thinking Man’s Masturbation Test written by mimsably on Ok Cupid

From this list, choose whatever fit me, and answer in the comments. Then post
the list in your own LJ and see what people think of you.
1. Dominant or submissive
2. Logical or intuitive
3. Social or loner
4. Kinky or vanilla
5. Cute or sophisticated
6. Kitten or puppy
7. Warm flannel sheets or sleek satin
8. Leader or follower
9. Quiet or talkative
10. Spontaneous or planned
11. Teddy bear or porcelain doll
12. Hiking or window shopping
13. Tequila or vodka
14. Top or bottom
15. Bare foot or shoes
16. Jeans or slacks
17. Tender or rough
18. Aware or dreamy
19. Nerd or geek
is a meme going around that you probably have seen. Feel free to answer it.

So I’ve been sorely neglecting any updates here for a while…
Where to start?

1. I failed my second motorcycle driving test. This in and of itself is very annoying. I am determined to pass next time, as it is now becoming a matter of principle.

2. My lady didn’t get into the overseas school, but she says that she was expecting that to happen.

3. I don’t remember if I mentioned this, but I got a new job at a software company in Lod as their one and only SysAdmin/Content Manager. Ask me what that means in a few months.

5. I am currently on a train to TLV, for the customary bi-annual sci-fi/fantasy con. Joy.

Other than that, everything’s as usual, I guess.

Well, “As You like It” is over, and with it came tonight’s cast party.
The cast asked me to take part in writing something on a booklet artistically designed for Shannon, and as luck would have it, I have the very last page.
I wrote and I wrote, letting the words pour out of me, and at the very end, I wrote that I love her.
Take into consideration that I haven’t said this to her, and my heart was pounding so damn hard, and I knew it would be a bit until she got to read it.
We left the cast party at 3:30am, and she dropped me off, and we parted, and I knew she’d go home and read the “card”.
She did. 🙂
And then she called me, where I got to find my voice and say it myself. I am bolder in the written word when it comes to the matters of the heart, I guess.
But she responded in kind, and clarified that I am not insane, as I thought myself to be a bit back. (, remember? She DID tell me so! Claims it slipped out then. I don’t care. I wasn’t hallucinating)
So that’s that. For now, at least.

In other news:

1. I failed my motorcycle test last Thursday. I don’t know, I guess I got a bit too excited, and screwed up my figure eights. I was doing well, and he failed me. Ah well…. Wish me luck for this upcoming Thursday. Trying again. Will pass this time dammit. Gotta get a bike!
2. I’m probably going to need to write a formal resignation letter tomorrow at work. I got a job proposal from a nice software company that will improve my terms and also require m to travel to Lod daily. Hence the urgent need of a bike.

I guess the real reason I hadn’t said the special three words to Shannon yet is because we both aren’t really sure of what’s happening this upcoming year. I’m moving to another company, she might be moving to the USA.
It’s a problem.

In any case, I do have to get some sleep tonight, if I’m going to be worth anything tomorrow at all.
Wish me luck!

Ladies and gentlemen, please lend me your ears so I might regale you with the events and occurrences of Opening Night of W. Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”, directed by Shannon Kisch.

First off, let me say that I will try to be unbiased about this as I can, but that’s just a little difficult. You know how it is.

I arrived at the Merkaz nice and early so as to get a good seat. I ended up sitting with a friend who has interned at the Merkaz in the theater during some productions, so it was a nice break for both of us to be completely uninvolved and to sit back and enjoy the show. We took two seats in the front row center, right at the foot of the stage stairs which provided a beautiful view that filled my entire field of view.

The set:
Where to start? Wow. The entire set seems fairly spare to start out with, however considering the size of the cast and that in days of old the sets themselves were pretty empty, it was both appropriate and not cluttered with superfluous items.
Using the ceiling for a sky-blue puffy look, and a black background with innocuous hooks hanging down as hangers with various props on them, set the scene for everything else.
Stage right hosts a couple of low platforms, with some tree trunks extending from the base to the ceiling, with a beautiful hanging sign of “As You Like It”, cut out and in deep brown colors. Stage left has an impressive padded bench, and more trees behind it. And in the center, a small stool, as you would find in a garden surrounded by gnomes. The center stage exit is surrounded by golden leaves, lending a certain “archway” quality to it.
These pieces never really move, however as the show proceeds, parts of it change just a bit and suddenly make all the difference. Added to these are what look like four brown umbrellas in wooden stands, that look a lot like small bushes or trees, also brushed brown and golden.
I don’t want to give away anything that might spoil your own enjoyment of the show, but suffice it to say that all colors of autumn are utilized, and put to use at that. The creative use of uncommon items to add to the atmosphere, and the actors themselves “unfolding” the set is quite breathtaking.

The costumes:
Surprisingly refreshing! The men are all basically garbed in dark slacks and a tan-shade short. The women are in reverse, wearing black tops and tan skirts. As they enter, they all look like a solid performance group, and roam around the stage to their own music, as they find their apparel on the stage and robe themselves in the various accoutrements that are hanging around on stage. The look is full of color, flashy yet not too gaudy. Changing the placement of a cape will give an actor a new look, and they use that to emphasize a different character being portrayed. Some characters are simple and unadorned, some only need a hanky or a flaring skirt to hold your focus. Others have more elaborate costuming, but nothing beyond what is on stage to begin with. All in all, beautiful with a casual look.

The characters and the actors who play them:
The cast is comprised of 14 actors, and about 21 characters. It’s quite fun to see the actors you just saw appear as new characters. Those that make the change, do so with such alarming accuracy, that it is sometimes easy to forget another character is being played by the same actor. There is one character change done completely visible to the audience in dimmed lights, as if to show us, “Yes, we know that this is the same actor. He’s someone else now. Deal with it.” The amazing versatility of each and every one of them at showing us something they may or may not have in their inherent personality, but making us believe that they are who they say they are.

Finally, the show:
Needless to say, I liked it. This show started on a high note, literally. Singing! Music! Dancing elephants! Well, no dancing elephants, but the opening was powerful, and it only proceeded on a wild fantastical journey from that moment on. Instead of a single person “stealing the show”, it felt like about six of the characters were stealing the show when they had the chance, and then somebody else would come along and steal it right back.
The court jester, the banished duke’s daughter, the young lovers, and everyone else – they all have their spot and moment, and they do make the most of it.
The show has its twists and turns, quips and quibbles, and takes you on a journey somewhere where the trees are covered in red and yellow, somewhere that love is ever-abounding, although not always returned or recognized as such, somewhere utterly wonderful to visit, and to want to return to again someday soon.

In conclusion:
Shakespeare’s humor, which has not always been translated to modern age theater that well, combined with the guidance and production skills of a brilliant director makes this far beyond a dusty, old manuscript written in a time that is no longer. If he were alive today, I really do wonder what W.S’s response would be, and if it would be along the lines of this writer’s.

Actually, I am sure it would be. How could it be otherwise?

For those that missed it first time around:

This part was blown up for ease on the eyes.

If being madly attracted to women makes someone a lesbian, then I’m definitely one of the biggest ones out there.
Random line from an email I wrote.

My last post was intended to be the first part of a multi-part-post, but due to Purim madness, it never got around to being completed.
I was pretty bombed.

Here’s a link to the Baron Munchausen game (Purim.Con at the Booj’s): Outside link to Baron Game pix (comments in Hebrew)

Last Friday:
My lady had her actors working late (as usual) on Thursday night, and set them loose at around 11:30pm.
Next morning schedule, 8:00am sharp, everyone!
So little ol’ me, who’s been up working on setting a good friend up with the graphic software she needs, as opposed to the graphic software she had, on her laptop, ill about 2:00am, AND then the clock switched one hour ahead…..
So these poor actors only get a few hors of sleep at best.
So I figure I’d get up nice and early, collect some previously laid-out provisions, and head to a bakery near the theater. Purchase a ton of goodies, and go to the theater, set up a coffee, tea and pastry corner right outside the theater, and then the actors come a’running.
I am told that they were immeasurably pleased, and come on, most of them are friends of mine, and I figured it’d be easier on Shannon if her actors were awake and in good spirits.
So I left the theater, went downtown for some shopping and crap, got a nice haircut on the way, headed back when rehearsals were almost over, and made a stop along the way to get her a nice little bouquet of purple Kalaniyot.
So I arrive at the theater, listen to a few lines and clean up the coffee station (the pastries had mysteriously been all munched away) and await her exit.
The look on her face is so precious, that makes me feel. I’m a seriously feeling-repressed kind of person and she makes me feel. Or maybe it’s not her making me feel, just myself feeling good doing something for someone else.

I sell myself far too short, and by far my own biggest critic. I have trouble accepting gratitude for something I’ve done, but my oversized screwed-up ego will gladly take credit for something that I had nothing to do with, i.e. the rising of the sun.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
See below for the most awesome of awesome shows!
Come in droves, bring your friends!
Seriously. If you don’t…..

This part was blown up for ease on the eyes.
For any details, please feel free to contact me, or call the Theater directly at 02-561-9165 x202