tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224016582024-03-07T09:44:14.557+02:00Resident TravelerRamblings of an English-Speaking Native-Born Israeli GuyResident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-46992936198636793702011-02-13T15:50:00.000+02:002011-02-13T15:50:49.302+02:00I've migrated to factpinions.wordpress.comHi all!
Yep, I'm alive and well. This is just to update that as I've gotten married, it seems my thoughts have shifted from those of the perplexed single (gone, but not forgotten), to that of human-rationality arbiter. If you're interested, I've picked this up on my new(ish) blog:
http://factpinions.wordpress.com
Same guy, different focus. Hope you enjoy both!
RTResident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-33586814243434031232010-01-17T00:12:00.003+02:002010-01-17T00:27:03.852+02:0031 1/2 update: Relationship! (Not a typo...)Well, I've been away for a while. A loong while - I'd previously managed at least one passing thought worthy of comitting to silicon every month or two but poof, it's a half year gone by. Yes, this can only mean one thing: I'm in a relationship.Avid reader(s) may read enough between the lines of the previous 2-3 years to figure this hadn't really happened. And as my last post showed, I'd faced Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-40121130451966029632009-07-09T01:51:00.008+03:002009-07-23T16:47:52.802+03:00Thoughts @ 31Turned 31 a couple hours ago. Some nice plans for the b-day: a show - one of 4 in a week(!), a planned "craaaazy" afterparty.. rehearsals, friends, music. stuff I like.Had written a post on my 30th which I'd evidently forgot to publish (a little late now, so.. never mind), but in it I tried to describe major changes from the previous year, or just stuff that was on my mind at the time. Let's haveResident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-44562737889612325262009-03-25T02:47:00.005+02:002009-07-23T16:49:06.010+03:0050 Years of True RAWk(literally)Can't really give a context for why this came up, nor claim there's any desperate need for this in the universe, but - I've just always felt there's been a line of true Rawkers; bands that, for their period, represent the true spirit of r'n'r, and that any given point in time, just frickin' ruled.This isn't easy to pin down. Remember, rawk isn't the same as "good". In fact, even just "Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-18921706996206432322009-03-21T02:06:00.011+02:002009-03-21T14:26:50.380+02:00Dreams Vs. Reality, Round 9Welcome to the boxing match inside my head: On this corner, weighing in at 300 pounds, pummeling anything in its path - it's Reality! And on this corner, weighing it at [intentionally left blank], looking like the most incredible woman I've ever laid eyes on, it's Dreams! And what a sweet talker she is.. sometimes she can bring reality to it's knees with a few suggestive promises...I've had this Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-65929043475542366312008-12-09T00:33:00.004+02:002008-12-09T00:41:05.319+02:00Talk About Pointless..Unveiled earlier this year, the latest generation of atomic clocks have an accuracy of +/-1 second every 200 million years - as opposed to the previous, 80 million years. Now there's a relief!Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-83427900617012038422008-11-11T13:27:00.007+02:002009-07-23T16:50:19.910+03:00Jerusalem Elections - A Test of Rationality (please vote!)Resident Traveler's definition of campaigning: the process of a party or candidate disseminating the lies they think will get them the most votes.While this is true of all political campaigns, none have exemplified this more than the Porush campaign. His numerous lame attempts to buy votes through hollow verbiage is a test of basic rationality I pray we don't fail.The Porush campaign has been Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-35073610471905771332008-10-28T03:41:00.007+02:002009-07-23T16:34:25.279+03:00House, M.E.2-3 years after the rest of the world, I've finally caught up with the series "House, M.D." The bits and pieces I had seen of it before led me to severe bias against the show, what with the rapid-fire, "too cool to be real" dialog and the beautiful people on screen. "Blech," I thought, "more American non-realistic drivel." But now that I've finally been watching it - and this only applies throughResident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-91140802642561669792008-08-20T23:51:00.005+03:002008-08-21T00:03:26.404+03:00Palm Desert"Oh, that's not good..""What, what happened?""Your palms.. it's not a good sign." She'd read my palms a long time ago. Got quite a bit right, as well. Blind luck...Just that moment, someone walked in the room, and she turned to engage them in some mundane conversation. I hesitated for a moment, but decided to let it go. A few minutes later, she got ready to leave."That's it? You're just going to Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-82538569741639324302008-07-15T11:45:00.004+03:002008-11-09T18:17:24.280+02:00About me #3: Romance Is in the Mundane["About me" posts, despite their name, are meant to have some relevancy to the reader as well. you can see my introduction to them here, though this now reads to me as somewhat out of date and borderline naive. But hey, tradition is tradition, right?]A few days ago, I was sitting at a cafe1 and suddenly found myself in the throws of the aforementioned existential angst (just the angst, though - Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-69094756042614143682008-07-09T20:01:00.011+03:002008-07-10T01:35:28.392+03:00The Existential Swamp MonsterSometimes the simplest things bring you down to earth.It's my birthday today - 30th. These past few days have had me thinking quite intently on where I am, where I'm going, what will be, what won't be. Existentialist pondering alongside existential angst. Coincidentally, I'd also thrown together a whole long post on where I stand in my romantic view, somewhat altered from where I stood a year agoResident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-88778467425262479292008-06-19T00:09:00.012+03:002008-06-20T02:13:20.285+03:00Midnight, on a Bench, ____ StreetIt feels pointless at moments, like I'm on display. But then again - so is everyone else. We're even on that score.On select moments within the daily humdrum, when I free my mind enough to think, I feel a vague sensation of trying to unravel this big riddle. Except it's too difficult. Requires too much sustained concentration. So like a Rubik's Cube wasted on the impatient, I toss the riddle Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-78267629730927755702008-06-02T17:39:00.003+03:002008-06-02T18:23:27.660+03:00Eureka!Rarely will I simply link to an article without, at least, some sort of (long-winded?) comment. But this one pretty much sums it up.Nice to know I'm not alone!Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-79284070108869758112008-05-19T00:18:00.002+03:002008-05-19T00:26:09.773+03:00It's So Easy to Forget...Each and every person in front of you is a person, not the sum result of all your generalized theories.You're looking for that special someone, not that special cross-section of society.Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-24427552894042326622008-03-23T01:32:00.000+02:002008-03-23T01:34:03.928+02:00Nahlaot Purim Street PartySo much girl, so little woman.Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-65491634709701957412008-03-12T16:08:00.012+02:002008-06-20T02:09:20.546+03:00Things I'd Never Ever Say"Look, you and I - we're businessmen..""All this violence. Why can't we just get along?""I hear Brangelina..""Wow, you guys were great! Very Pink Floyd-meets-Madonna...""It's not what you say, it's how you say it. Seriously.""Don't worry. I'm sure the government will take care of it."Things I may (sadly) never say:"I do.""Funny, we've been asked that a lot lately - but I'm afraid you'll just haveResident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-7464097937705750572008-02-26T17:38:00.027+02:002008-02-28T01:20:24.045+02:00"Considered Selling Your Apartment?" Asked the Devil..I rent an apartment in Jerusalem. Came home today to find this letter (in Hebrew) on my door handle:"Dear bla bla,have you considered selling your apartment? We [are thieving bastards who want to make a killing off your already overpriced apartment, and] would be happy to help you. After years on the rise, real estate prices have reached an unprecedented peak [allowing your greed to far outstrip Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-72922356038067251952008-02-25T17:27:00.039+02:002008-12-07T23:10:03.752+02:00"Every Man a Matchmaker." And?(I'll start by pointing out that I'm not religious. Just FYI... Still, I come from a traditional home, haven't an ounce of "anti", and get by just fine with my religious friends. Put another way, I'm not particularly gagging to move to Tel Aviv. :) )Rabbi Shmuley Boteach has been named "the most famous rabbi in America" by Newsweek. I first ran into his name through reviews of his bestseller Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-51156553856995993472008-02-03T22:08:00.000+02:002008-02-06T01:51:46.579+02:00In Praise of (Single) WomankindThis isn't going to be some feminist manifesto, nor some teenage-y "grrrls do it better" populist blather. It won't be in praise of any "innate" multitasking abilities at child-rearing or home keeping (it's not anyway), emotional depth, ability for compassion, "fairer sex" theories etc. The fact of the matter is, I haven't lived with you, nor been in a long-term relationship with you. I'm going Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-35954850473301822942008-02-01T03:43:00.000+02:002008-02-01T03:48:25.947+02:00Recovering Romantic?I'm either a recovering romantic or a realist with a romanticism problem.Scratch that - cliched as it may be, I think it's both.Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-77148017883512378592008-01-15T02:48:00.000+02:002008-01-15T02:59:22.359+02:00"Swing Swing" Goes the PendulumAfter the last, gloomy post, hope for the future has been somewhat restored... It doesn't take much to put a smile back on my face after all. :)Apologies for the cry wolf...Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-43576254016786771302008-01-10T18:04:00.001+02:002008-02-03T20:06:14.883+02:00"I Was Wasting My Time...""I was wasting my time trying to fall in lovedisappointment came to me and booted me and bruised and hurt me""I was wasting my time praying for love /For the love that never comes from someone who does not exist."- Morrissey, "That's How People Grow Up"Many years ago, when I was a kid, I remember discovering what I thought was the most ingenious time-saving technique: when looking to cross a Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-16674327164932792272007-12-07T03:45:00.001+02:002008-02-03T20:11:41.442+02:00Sira, Thursday Night, 2AM"Hi! Uhh.. cheers!" Man, am I rusty! Awkward glance. "cheers.."They're two ladies, one mid 20's, the other early 30's, dressed in a suspicious black-on-black - black tops beneath black vests, black stockings, (white-patterned belt), both in skirts."So.. I've got to ask you... out of curiosity.. are you two religious? or maybe ex-religious?"Younger one nods, older one says, "wait. Do I look Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-56333693243883800772007-11-20T01:50:00.000+02:002007-12-09T17:00:45.760+02:00Why I Support the Anti-Smoking Law with Every Fiber of My BeingThe new, tougher smoking law that has gone into effect recently is completely justified. Not everyone seems to agree on this, though*.The naysayers generally fall into two groups:a) wishful thinkers, i.e. those that see the problem with exposing non-smokers to smoke in public, but oppose the law on the grounds of harm to personal property rights, andb) idiots, i.e. those that see no problem with Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22401658.post-22725022386290026342007-08-16T01:44:00.000+03:002007-12-09T10:42:36.103+02:00The TGF (Two-Girl Fortress) Has Fallen!In a previous post, I introduced the TGF - Two Girl Fortress - as the impregnable wall, the unsolvable riddle, the nemesis of Nice Guys the world over. No longer. Today, I've officially cracked it. Hurray, the king is dead!Quick recap: Often occurring at a night spot, a TGF is a situation where 1) two (or more) ladies are engaged in conversation, 2) you're interested in one of them, and 3) Resident Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046550610396778829noreply@blogger.com5