Shana Tova (Happy New Year)
Tzofia, her baby, legwarmers, hat and fur vest wishes you a happy and healthy new year.
Google maps for Israel have arrived
Ouriel reports that after months of anticipation Google are finally offering maps for Israel. For now though they are just in Hebrew, the English maps show the streets, but the names remain blank. I guess we are in the really early stages of development since their doesn’t seem to be any official announcement from the Google itself.
Oddly though, the 1949 Armistice Agreement line appears!
Though as it was pointed out in the comments on Ouriel’s blog, the English maps are just a matter of time. If you type in an address in English in the Hebrew map section, it will take you to the proper address. Safe to say it is just a matter of time.
Now, if they only got that damn API working so we can really maximize the usage of the maps. Again, just a matter of time I suppose.
Hagigit turns you into art
Hagigit, a group dedicated to creating and encouraging public art in Jerusalem has brought much joy to many Jerusalem residents with their outdoor photo studios on Ben Yehuda Street and Gan Sacher. Last week they once again set up an outdoor photography studio - this time at the end of the summer party at the Jerusalem theater. I really enjoy looking at their public photo studio shots. I feel that they really exude pure unadulterated joy. The subjects get to enjoy it in two stages - once when they are initially shot and secondly when they see themselves in the work online.
Like all good art collectives these days they have a nice presence on flickr, YouTube and the Facebook.
We interviewed Guy Yitzhaki, a member of hagigit a few months ago for Jerusalemite.
Back from the USA
We have returned from another trip from the USA. Jet lag has been a bitch and the cabin pressure does not do my arthritic body any good. My entire body was swollen for about three days. Feeling much better now thanks. And thank you disease altering drugs. You complete me.
The weather was absolutely beautiful in New York and the thing I enjoyed the most was the plethora of trees. Shade is a novelty here in Israel. We can’t take our daughter to the park unless its before 9:00 am or after 6:00 pm during the summer months. The sun is just too damn strong. It was a real pleasure to be able to hop out of MIL’s apartment and walk to either Central or Riverside park.
I took Tzofia to the Museum of Natural History for the first time. I hadn’t been there myself since 5th grade so it was a trip. She seemed to have enjoyed it but I think she was a bit confused as to why all the animals weren’t moving and why all the people were behind glass. Tzofia spent most of the time asking me what everything was and saying hello to people. And saying hello to the the indigenous people behind the glass. Just spreading the joy. She really blossomed while we were there. I’m not sure if it was just a stage of development she hit or the massive exposure to English set something off but she suddenly became more verbal than ever before. And she also became all about me. I used to have to ask for hugs but now I get them without asking.
Things only I care about…
HBO kills Preacher. Irish vampires everywhere mourn.
I saw Dinosaur Jr. a few months back in Tel Aviv. Loudest show I have EVER attended - and I have been to hundreds of shows. The Onion has a good interview with Lou Barlow. He listens to a lot of Turkish 60 psychedelia. Who knew that even existed.
Beard Papa creme puffs complete me.
A decade of the dude. I saw Lebowski premiere at the Jerusalem Film Festival. One of my best movie experiences ever.
Firefly’s Nathan Fillion returns to television on a new ABC crime procedural comedy.
Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age will be producing the new Arctic Monkey’s album.
Well hello there…
Yes, I am actually posting here. I’ve been real busy lately with my business, Jerusalemite, blogging daily at Israelity, family etc.
I miss blogging here and am going to make a real effort to get things moving here again.
Over at Jerusalemite….
I’ve been spending most of my interweb time blogging over at Jerusalemite these days.
What you’ve missed if you haven’t been reading…
Jerusalem receives a new fountain from Paris.
British artist Stephen Wiltshire visits Jerusalem to draw one of his famous landscape drawings.
An investigation into whether Jerusalem’s bagel shops boil their bagels before baking. You’ll be shocked by our findings!
The Israel Antiquities Authority discover a Second Temple-era quarry in Jerusalem that might have been used to build the Western Wall.
An interview with Avi Sabag, director of the Musrara Mix festival, Jerusalem’s number one alternative arts, non-commercial festival.
We’ve also got Jerusalem events, Jerusalem restaurants, Jerusalem nightlife and much, much more! We’ll be uploading extensive listings for Jerusalem Day in a few days. Tell your friends! Spread the word! The Jerusalemite team thanks you!
Yo Blair!
May is Arthritis Awareness Month! Yay!
When most people hear “Arthritis” they think of old people with creaky and swollen joints. This is called Osteoarthritis, which is most likely caused by general wear and tear and of course, aging. However the vast majority of arthritis cases affect people far younger. These are Rheumatic diseases which causes the body’s immune system to attack the joints. It is most common for symptoms to show up in your mid twenties.
I first showed symptoms when I was 22 but my disease wasn’t full blown until I was 26 or so. It started with foot pain when I was in the army. I saw my first orthopedist towards the end of basic training. I was told that the pain is due to my flat feet and stress fractures. Throughout my army service I saw numerous orthopedists and was misdiagnosed each and every time. My pain continued, grew worse, yet I persevered. Once I got discharged, I took it easy physically, yet the pain persisted and worsened. It wasn’t until I saw a foot and ankle specialist that I was finally pointed in the right direction. After examining my numerous x-rays and bone scans as well as a physical examination he concluded that there is no evidence of stress fractures, that I don’t have flat feet and there is nothing mechanically wrong with my foot. He recommended that I see a Rheumatologist. I had other symptoms as well but never made the connection with my foot pain. The minor pain I was experiencing in my hand wasn’t due to my daily guitar playing. I didn’t even notice the red spots on my head. I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. And that was the day my life changed forever.
I was put on anti-inflammatories and a disease altering medication. Neither helped and my condition deteriorated. My foot got so swollen and sensitive that I couldn’t even put on a sock without experiencing excruciating pain. Driving was out of the question. I couldn’t apply pressure on the pedals. My left foot started to hurt as well. Then my spine, my neck, and eventually every joint in my hips. Before I knew it I could barely walk without the assistance of crutches. I received a few steroid injections in my feet that enabled me to walk. Yet life continued to become a challenge. Sure I complained a lot, but I’m not sure my friends realized exactly how much pain I was in - physically and emotionally. Being diagnosed with a life altering, painful chronic disease that has no cure is a lot to deal with. It didn’t help whenever I mentioned arthritis I was the butt of all too many jokes. I know my friends just didn’t really understand what I was going through, but it was hard not to ignore them…
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