Category: General

News, news, news.

To start off with, we finished the run of the cursed Scottish play a few weeks ago, and I’m glad it’s finally over. It was somewhat a harrowing experience for me, as I have never particularly held any fondness for the works of the Bard, coupled with the fact that it is, in fact cursed. Our Macduff got slashed and bashed multiple times in dangerous places by our own lead man. “Lay on, Macduff!” Fortunately, he’s a tough man and managed to continue immediately to the end, bleeding and gushing on the stage, costumes, props and all.

It turns out that I get a nice break from theater now, as I auditioned and got turned down. I don’t mind, although it would have been a great part. I think it’s because I don’t exactly fit the physical image of the young romantic – they are usually a lot slimmer. I’m perfectly happy to continue with the funny, sarcastic, pompous and overbearing characters I like.
Instead, I am thinking of directing a play later this/early next year – a collection of short skits, all with a central theme and quite funny. Watch this space for further news updates on this subject.

I pretty much finished the editing work on the DVD for “She Stoops” and am now in the post-production phase, working on the DVD structure, extra content, etc. It’s quite nice, if I say so myself. You’re welcome to bring a couple of DVD-R’s and make a copy.

At work, I finally got my end of year review, and it had positive results, even though I’m working harder than ever – installing a couple of new systems, all simultaneously and each more important the next. No rest for the wicked, say I.

This past week a I met up with some of the other Israeli podcasters downtown Jerusalem – and I was a late arrival, so I missed the bulk of the good conversation and a few of the folks. I hope that I’ll find time to listen to these folks and their hard work, and who knows? Maybe one day we can cross-guest and some more chatter going? Incidentally, if you’ve never heard my show, check out http://feeds.feedburner.com/miketheman.

On the podnews, I’ll be looking for someone to assist me in setting up a site, typically to include (embed) my LJ, my podfeed, an image gallery, and some form of connecting a Blogging package, such as Moveable type or something else to connect and post to my LJ. I know did this – any assistance would be great.

Finally, I want to let everyone know that there is a great offer on the table, and not for long. My brother-in-law works for the Yatir Forest winery, and they have surplus bottles from their development process that taste absolutely wonderful. These bottles of Shiraz, Cabarnet Merlot blend and the fantastic Pinot Noir were made with specific tasstes in mind, and after aging properly, the experts use some to blend and make the best and award winning ones. The rest are left out to be purchased by those in the know (such as me). You can read more about Yatir Winery or some more general details in English here.
Anyways, these bottles are going like hotcakes for only 25 sheks a bottle. I’m taking orders for the next week or so, so email me with any requests – you can get individuals or a case of 12 (mixed or otherwise), all the same price. I figure that the price and the winery’s reputation speak for itself, but if you have any questions, let me know.

That’s it for now. Signing off.

So it’s been another while since I wrote.

In my interview post, a lot of people asked me to interview them, and I will do so when I get around to it. You have not been forgotten, only delayed.

Tonight is the penultimate performance of CST’s Macbeth, which I am in. It’s one of the last chances you’ll get to see it. Ever. The final is Saturday night, and after that, you will be stuck, weeping with the crowds and begging for an autograph, a recited line, or anything else you can get out of these wonderful actors.

Sunday marks the final audition night for another show, “Proof”, which I have read and seen, and figure I’ll audition for it, who knows what I’ll do after that.

In other news, I’m tired.
Oh so tired.
Ciao for now.

You may laugh now.

Soooo my company is looking. Pass it around to whomever, and when sending in a CV, tell ’em “Mikey sent me”.

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MobiMate Ltd. is a world leading mobile software developer, providing software products to the world’s major mobile industry players, such as: Nokia, HP, Palm, Mitac, Sony Ericsson and others – at the cutting edge of mobile technology and smart devices.
We invite the best team players to join the best mobile team around, in a dynamic environment, and enjoy the newest and most thrilling cellular and PDA technologies.

Requirements:
– Highly skilled, experienced developers (C++ or Java ) that want to be part of our elite development team, over coming technology boundaries and challenges.
– Good knowledge of OOP/OOD.
– B.Sc. in Computer Science (or Engineering)

Advantages:
– Experience with Win32 API / Windows Mobile / Symbian
– Development of UI for mobile applications.
– Inclination for rich client side development.

I’d like to send out a hearty welcome to a good friend who has joined LJ to be safe from harm. Props go to . w00t w00t.

Yoss and I recorded a show last week, and I didn’t get a chance to post about it. Check the feed and subscribe.

Opening night was last night for CST’s “Macbeth” and it was a hit. I only screwed up ….. Well, since I NEVER screw up, because I’m perfect, that sentence can go unfinished. Come see the show, it’s really good.
After that, we went out for drinks and such at a place on Emek called “Coolinary” – what a terrible pun. It’s big on the wine, and only have one type of beer, so I don’t think I’ll be frequenting there very often. The service was great, though, and they had about as much fun as we did.

See you at the theater!

Last night, Dan and I installed a nice little electronic switch in the theater’s intercom.
The intercom has been located under a curtained off corner, that usually contains lots of set parts, walls, etc in a large mess, and lucky for all of us, the intercom is in the farthest corner from civilization.
With the use of some CAT-5 STP cable, two screwdrivers, a razor, a cutter, soldering iron and solder, and a little electric tape, the intercom has been relocated closer to reality, and has had a small switch added to the top of it.
Through rigorous testing (and using another intercom as reference), we managed to pipe the only circuit that causes the loud buzzer to ring when someone at the gate presses the button through a simple on/off switch. This is primarily to prevent the buzzer being sounded during a performance (which has happened quite a few times before) and driving everyone mad. The intercom retains all of its other functions even when the kill switch is off. Just the buzzer is gone.
Fun and rejoicement resound through the hills of Avalon.

So me being a stupid idiot, I fell for the temptation of the stupid interview meme.
I saw that had posted one here, and added that I am up for it, but she should be careful wuth the questions.
Seeing as she wasn’t, I guess I’ll answer her anyways.

1. Leave me a comment saying, ‘Interview me.’
2. I will respond by asking you five questions of a very intimate and creepily personal nature. Or not so creepy/personal. Or downright silly, taking into account how I think. Or not, depending on how I feel.
3. You will update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

1. Name three things that make you believe your mind is dirtier than mine. (Heh heh.)
A. I have the capability of taking whatever you have and taking it one step further.
B. Whenever presented with the possibility of sexuall innuendo/situation, I manage to find the lowest possible comment
C. I’m a dirty old man, whereas you can’t ever be that.

2. What major changes/surprises do you expect to happen in your life in the upcoming year? (This is after your “one year” post).
That’s kind of hard. Prediciton has never been my strongest trait, but some developments have started in different fields, and who knows where the wind will take me? Life is constantly evolving into something more complex than I ever thought it could be the moment before, so the revelations continue to be surprising as ever.

3. Is there any particular subject that will make you friends-lock an entry?
Simply put, no. I don’t believe in censorship in any shape or form. If it’s not going to be reveled to the world, it’s not going online. The whole friends-lock is kind of complicated, as I have many non-LJ-user blog friends, and I like the open-ness of the online journal/blogging. I know that my folks and some co-workers read my LJ, and it’s fairly easy to find me just by Googling me. So I won’t conceal anything, as it defeats my personal views. If you want something private, write it in a diary – on paper. 🙂

4. If you weren’t texan, what WOULD you be? (Not necessarily geographic affiliation. Identity in general.)
That’s kind of hard to answer. I am not a “full-blooded” Texan – I was actually born in California, but spent most of my developing years in Texas. I think I’ve kept a lot of mannerisms from that time of my life, but I’ve included a lot that I was exposed to since, having spent a lot of time in Israel throughout the terrible teenager time of my life.
In short, if I wasn’t a Texan, I’d probably be a cross between a nasty New Yorker and a relaxed Californian.

5. Name three famous women you’d have sex with if ever given theopportunity. And I mean with no reservations, whether married, busy,ill – you’d do them anyway.
A. Angelina Jolie (from her Lara Croft or Fast and Furious looks, not the Hackers one).
B. Christina Applegate – but only from her Kelly Bundy years, even though she did develop into a older hottie, I still lvoe the dumb blonde look.
C. Natalie Portman – a nice Jewish girl (as long as she still has her hair – no shaved heads for me, thank you).
D. (I know you said three, but….) Lucy Liu – not as if I could ever get that, but a man can dream, right?

So there it is.
I hope you had fun reading this, and please send all cashier’s checks to my POB in the Cayman Islands.

So a friend invited me to her first “blogversary” – a whole year since she started to blog.
This made me look at some things.
It’s been a year since I started working at my current job.
It’s been almost a year since I started driving Stella.
It’s been almost a year since Shannon.

It’s been almost a year since a lot of things – but most importantly, I have survived all that, and much much more.
It just makes me wonder if I actually have the capability of surviving longer than I ever thought I would, and that thought makes me shiver with fear.

What if I survive a nuclear holocaust? What if I survive the remaining wars amongst the few people left? After that, what is there to survive for?

I know, I know, kudos to me for the optimism, right?
Just weird thoughts flitting through at late hours.

So here I am at the mechanic’s and in keeping up with the technological world, they have a wireless network running.
Now I have a lovely new smart phone with built in wireless, so naturally I felt the need to avail myself of the free service.
So there.

There’s nothing like it.
Driving the highways, dodging the maniacs that are trying to actively kill me, as if they could no longer distinguish reality from GTA:Vice City, and doing all of this to different kinds of music.
This morning’s random playlist consisted of some Irish tunes and German death metal.
The evening ride, during which I almost nearly got killed by more stupid people had a large country selection of Alabama and Brooks & Dunn.

It’s very (sur?)real, but so much fun I don’t know how some bikers don’t.

Thank you, iPod Shuffle! Thank you, xTremeMac for making the armband! (no longer sold on their website. boo hoo!)