Well. I had to force myself down into writing something here. I need to get back in the habit. I know.

Well, reading my last post I felt a bit awkward, to say the truth. I was way to excited (and forgot to spell this right on the last post) to post. Here goes the bunch of it.

Well, I'm still a vegetarian and that doesn't seem to be going to change for a long while. It started off as a spontaneous project, to help myself get a bit of hang on things and so on, self reliance and cleaning my body. Well, I was a bit repelled by meat too. I mean, after eating meat on "a bit above" average I could not stand the thought of it for a week. This feeling has developed and now I feel sick by the thought of eating meat again some day. I still eat fish, and that too is becoming sickening. C'mon, fish is tasty and all but it has the texture of snake meat. And no, don't ask how I know. I wish I could erase that picture from my mind.

So, on that area it is going pretty well. I try to balance myself on B12 and iron from time to time. If I haven't got a lot of resources on iron and B12, I take a pill of both every few days. Just to keep the oxygen where it should be.

What else?
Well. The biggest of all misfortunes happened a week and half ago. I actually started writing. I got all these ideas flowing into my mind and great weeks of inspiration. I updated and changed and upgraded ideas and I just felt it was the big boom of flowing infinite intelligence I was imploring to arrive. I was half-way on a script, two more already started. A book in Hebrew started as a base to one of my scripts. All my ideas written down and my plans on paper. Now, here comes this friend one day. He asks me if he could use the laptop to charge his iPod. I agreed and was back asleep. He used the laptop and put it back in place afterward. Now. At some point in the middle of these adventures of him through the iTunes library a message popped out asking him to download the latest version of iTunes. He must have thought that it would make things better. This was a heavily hacked version of Mac OS X to fit this non- Apple laptop, so it doesn't make things better. The computer won't boot.

All, and I repeat - ALL my work lost. I couldn't retrieve a single file. Mac OS X is so damn secure that it doesn't allow me to move my files around if I boot the laptop through Ubuntu. Thanks for the security Apple! It cost me potentially hundreds of thousand of dollars if not millions. You're lucky that it's only a potential.

Yes. I was mad. And felt so desperate and miserable and helpless. So I went and bought two more flash drives. And I'll learn to backup all my material from now on. Lesson learned? Absolutely.

So I'm back to Windows and my adventures with Mac OS X are done, until this laptop dies and I get (hopefully) a full Mac. Hope to write again before that happens.

Good night.

There were hints that this was coming. Believe it or not I, an Argentinean, am a vegetarian. It's only day five, but the need for meat has just disappeared like nothing. I feel fine, a little over exited by this change, but the overall feel makes me want this.

I happened to start it spontaneously, but it soon became a challenge and later on a resolution. There is a way of living without the need for meat. And yes, the ethics of such a change make you feel better mentally, even if you don't really do it out of pity for the poor animals. I'm not sure where I'm at the moment with the ethics and stuff, but it sure wasn't that that forced me into taking this step. I just felt sick of eating meat and forcing my mind to believe it's a need. It is not, and that I'm sure I'll be able to prove.

What took some days to decide was what were my policies with fish (or any other maritime beast). I'm not sure if eating fish allows you to bear the title of "veggie", but considering that I'm in the army and in two weeks back to full combat/physical service I thought it would be safe to keep that aspect of carnal lust. In other words, I'll still be eating fish as a complementary for meat (as it contains most of the positive stuff that can be found on meat) until I find some other way. My health means a lot to me. I have no plans of becoming anemic.

Another major change this week was the looks of my netbook. A friend of mine from my current course installed Mac Os X and got rid of Windows XP. So I said goodbye to Gates and welcomed Jobs. Very happy with that change too.

I also started learning some HTML and got hooked on trading options on Forex, which will become my next big project. Apart from other 3 or 4 projects that I'm trying to focus on, to be honest.

That is for now. Good Night.

There's a lot going on lately.

For some reason, I haven't been paying too much attention to things I should have payed attention to.

It starts with the Nativ course, a course in Judaism and zionistic identity designed for those who serve in the IDF but haven't been born in Israel, or those who are not recognized as Jewish - both of which are my cases. So I started this course, the people are awesome, the acommodations more than fair and the food a dream - in the IDF's standards, of course. There has been a change in my thinking towards the possibility of going through conversion. From my point of view, conversion was never an issue that I saw as needed - since I felt like a Jew. Over the last couple of weeks, I got interested in Judaism and attracted to the idea of conversion. It's not the feeling I'm pursuing, as I said, I feel just like any other Jew. I'm not pursuing the idea of getting married through orthodox Judaism, therefore the only option is civil marriage somewhere in Europe - fine for me. But what I found is that I do want to learn to keep certain traditions, fufill certain Jewish commandments and have something to pass on to my family in the future. I was never raised as a Jew, nor was my father, however it is important for me now that I live in this country. So that's a little bit of what's going on with this course. There are many lessons I will be posting soon that gave me another perspective on Judaism.

There has been another forgotten matter. A big project I should be working on with my stepfather which will soon be uncovered. All I can say is that it has to do with Israel and spreading Zionism. Ideas keep filtering in but it seems impossible. But I do enjoy the challenge.

More - although I think about it every day, writting. I keep getting ideas and more scenes into my mind but I really don't know where to start. I keep hesitating about getting a laptop for this task, but something really pushes me to try and write. We'll see.

Apocalypse Now...

I know, it's been a year since I last posted a few lines on this thing. A year. It's been ages, really, because there are so many things that changed for me since. On my last post I was saying good bye to my civil life and about to enter the army. Now, a year after that, I am already a soldier. A true soldier who is just about to finish his course. A week from now, just like I was a week from recruitment on my last post. Such a good way to connect both posts.

I wonder, why did it take me so long to get to write a thing. I think I will count all the different factors that helped with that: First, I was a recruit. I wasn't allowed that much spare time. Not that I had in mind to write on paper anything. Most of the time that I had was spent in rest, even at home. Not that much stuff to think about, after all. I was a plain soldier with basic training experiences and not much of my own thinking really. I did all I was told, not a question. "You obey the orders, you do not question them" as the Nazi way would tell really. The last four months have given me more freedom and time to arise a few questions, destroy some dreams, kill some thoughts and build new plans. Nothing of that came to paper, ever. I may have written my name and personal number on many forms in the past year, but other than that my hand has gone numb. I thought I lost it.

What has happened since? A lot, a whole damn lot. I found myself in a total new life in the army. Different to any structure I've lived ever, where everything a commander says, as stupid as it may be is obeyed with no questioning. At least if you plan to become a good soldier. I didn't get to be in the unit I wanted so bad. It's good, not a big loss after all. I became obsessed with the idea of being a sniper. I woke up in the morning with a mark on my sight and went sleeping while dreaming of me cleaning the M82. That, is gone too. Eight months of constant active dreaming and effort gone as nothing. I was an excellent soldier until the day I was told I wasn't even considered for sniping exams. I became a lot more careless and bold.

During the time of my training my mom got married. A decent man, who I love as a father. I will definitely dedicate a post to that alone. My family grew from four to five. The stress on me as the man of the family is gone and I am left now to try and live the teenage life I was supposed to. But, I'm in the army now. The time is gone and I've grown up way faster. I feel that in the way I see people in my company. I just don't fit. I feel I don't fit in the army, the combat soldier life, the whole system, the mentality. I quit thinking of becoming a commander and later on an officer. I just lost the soul of the army. I just want to finish this two years I got left and find myself in another place. I'm already making plans for studying. I'm already thinking of learning. Guess I just miss school. But I'm thinking of starting over.

The IDF, and I got a right to judge, is such a stupid army. It recruits people with no desire to be in it. People who feel they are forced to be in it. People who don't believe in it. So you start thinking if all your effort to keep a true meaning is worth the pain, physical and emotional. I did. I don't. For me, it became nothing more than a transitory three years with no true meaning. I know I should protect this land. But all I thought I would get from the army is nothing more than an ilusion. Even if I could, I wouldn't start over in the IDF. Because it would get me nowhere. Same thing.

So right now I'm thinking of joining the military academy in the UK. A new start. A different experience. I'll be able to do the things I wanted to do here, but in a different way. And of course, I'll get to learn a lot more. Challenging, I must say.

This post is not that well arranged and tidy, but it'll do for now. Until I get an laptop and start posting from my base. Get back in shape. The best therapy.

Good night.

Two things, 'cuz it's late.

First, I got less than a week left until I have to leave it all and go learn the basics of Zionism. Army, yes.

Second, and more or less a bad thing I must learn to live with, my height is final. No doctor in these days will recommend the use of massive doses of hormones to stretch me a few more centimeters. Disappointment in general as I heard it from the doctor, but in some way a relief. I wasn't so easy about the hormone thing. Having studied biology, I can say that I wouldn't recommend that myself. I did my best and checked. However, one lesson one must learn in order to keep straight and succeeding. Never give up.

So, I happened to hear that a flight to space usually releases some space between our vertebras, space that gravity prevents us from using during our growing stage on earth, making up to 3 more centimeters in space between them, if the flight is for more than 10 days. There is another option less connected to earth but possible. According to GATTACA, a science fiction movie on genetics in which a guy pretends to be someone else in order to be an astronaut. For that goal he must have another man's height. Theoretically speaking, there was an ancient operation invented by a Chinese doctor in which one's legs are cut and stretched a bit, so the bone will regenerate and make a few more centimeters in the end, the movie shows such operation and as I read, it was done in some cases in ancient China.

I will say that the first option sounds better. I will do my best, three centimeters are three centimeters and as long as it is an option, I'm looking forward for it! :)

Good night my friend,

P.S. Did you hear that tall people die younger? The heart can barely stand the stress caused by height and collapses, in most cases, earlier than in short people. Being short got its advantages.

Hey there. I actually got some news for you.
Well, life in general is hard, for some pessimistic (rather say, ultra-pessimistic) ones and also for those who tend to invent the good parts of it as a hobby. Yes, just about a lot of things are, how to say it, a "not-very-nice-thing". But there is many times the support of others around us. People like us, those who know God.

As my recruitment date was approaching, back in July this year, I knew very well that God was in charge of everything. Even though I felt totally lost and didn't like quite much the Israeli Combat Engineering Corps back then, I knew that there was someone bigger preparing everything for me. I knew that I wouldn't go to a place where he knew it will be too difficult for me, or too boring. Maybe too tempting. He knew it all and all I could do was throw myself in a free fall to his will. I missed one thing.

Yesterday a friend of mine came to check my place for the pre-recruitment party with the youth from my congregation. We sat by the view of Jerusalem's sun sliding into the mountains, with the assistance of a fresh (or cold) breeze to enable it's 3D effect. He started asking about things I would like to share as part of my testimony, a legacy for those who are about to start all this thing of exams and more exams and interviews to all different units and parts of the IDF. I said I would love to share about my experience with the hard system of the army and bureaucracy in different fields - my recruitment date change included. He asked if I would like to share about anything that God lead me to during this time, that will help others. I said that I would love everyone to free themselves a week in the summer to go to a course I took last summer that helped me a lot. It is a great 5 day course for Jewish believers entering the IDF. All my questions were answered there. He concluded asking about anything I might want to pray about. All I could think of was that I really wanted some other believer to be with me in the Combat Engineering Corps. It was 4:40 PM. I added someone to Facebook the same day who also will be recruited in November. At around 6 I left a message, asking if he was joining the Combat Engineering Corps. At 8:30 PM, four hours after I prayed about it I got a message from him. He was.

I wasn't serious. I asked that mostly joking. I knew this guy was about to join another brigade. His second option was the Engineers and apparently the Kfir Brigade was full - so for the IDF that means the second option.

Lesson learned - ask, and you shall be given.

Want another one?
I knew that I needed to buy a lot of equipment that is not given by the IDF. I calculated that it won't be that expensive, but it turned out to be. I really felt that I should ask from my congregation to help me with that. I didn't want to, because I thought that was not right in some way. I did, some days ago.

Today I saw my pastor on my way to meet his wife and two youth leaders to prepare things for the party. He said, "You know, we decided to give you the money", "We decided, and my son (who is a commander in the Armoured Corps) said its a nice sum, to give you 1500 shekels (equ. 380 dollars) because you need to buy a lot of stuff". It was more than I thought they could give me and all I could say was: "Thanks a lot". I am the only one in my congregation who is being recruited this year for combat service, therefore they saw the need to support me while I'm preparing for it. He even asked, after seeing some wires in my hands: "Tell me, have you got already an MP3 player?" and I showed him the one that was in my hands. Dunno what he meant, but it sounded as if I just blew a gift the congregation wanted to give me in addition to the monetary help. Again, ask and you shall be given.

I really feel that I must start taking seriously all things I want in the army. To pray for them is the active thing that God requires, for he to give us abundantly. A gift given requires an action - receiving, and that is our prayer and the thanks we give for it before hand. If we do not show our hands, how could he know we trully need/desire something?

Good night.

I happened to have enough time today to take our laptop to the repair lab in Tel Aviv. For me and my mom it was a bit hard to get to Tel Aviv thinking of the time it takes (about 40 minutes). We finally did, and it was a mess.

First of all, the computer had arrived a month after we ordered it instead of the 10 days they promised. The computer, because it was refurbished, came with no manual or basic information. They said that a refurbished item doesn't have to bring such stuff, but I bought some refurbished items that did come with manuals and information sheets. We ordered a Centrino 1.6 gHz and got a Pentium M 1.5 gHz. It's the same thing basically and I won't make noise for a hundred megahertz. They promised a WiFi card bundled inside the computer. Apparently, as I heard today, that was only an option so I got no WiFi card. They sent a crappy mouse with the computer that didn't work on any computer I tried it on. And no, no apologies letter from the store because it was sent late. I will add that they did not contact me to tell me about the delay they had. I was sure they stole my money and disappeared.

So after two weeks problems started and all just came to a crash. Probably because I did something wrong, and probably because their IBM firmware was just crappy. Or so I was told by a friend who happened to work with IBM laptops for 14 years or so as he checked the computer. So I came in and found a secretary that was willing to accept the computer to take it for repairing but wouldn't hear anything else. I almost screamed that I needed it done for the day as I came from Jerusalem just for that. She said they didn't fix stuff for the day. It would take 10 to 15 days. My mom sarcastically said she hoped it wasn't the same 10 days they promised when we ordered it and became a month. The sarcasm was waved by another "I won't argue about that" from the secretary. I said I would accept another laptop as this one was undoubtelly broken from day one. She said it would be repaired and given to me. Of course, I will have to come and pick it up or pay 12 bucks for it to be sent to my home. She even offered to bring it to a place close to Jerusalem where she lived so we can pick it up. I started barking the problems I found and was handed a paper with space in it to write down my inquiries. I did, every single problem I found. She asked about my order number and I handed her the ticket they gave me. She checked and found my name in their computer. I became upset and said that some guy I spoke to promised a gift for the delay time. She said it was the crappy mouse I got with the computer and I said that the same guy said the mouse will be replaced by a new one and a gift will be talked about for the delay time. She fixed her eyes on mine and slowly said: "Now I understand. I know which David you are. You're the one that wrote that comment about us on the website". Her stare of disappointment nearly killed me. It was me, so I said: "I wrote that based on my experience with your store", but my words were sucked by the deep pain she felt. Her eyes watered and my brain was about to explode.

These are the words which I wrote on the site that sold their product to me. It works like eBay so my comment was a black star in their rating:
"There are no information manuals of any kind. The computer arrived after a month. I do not recommend this store to any person that believes in fair treat and service. A pity to get yourself into this kind of spiritual depression after buying at Orin Computers. Oh, there is no apologies letter - as they don't believe in mistakes from their part. Good luck to anyone who deliberately will endanger himself in nights without sleep and no answers on the phone".

She didn't listen and called another man to attend me. The man came and he stared blankly at the computer and asked what was wrong with it. He checked what my order was in the computer and the secretary pointed: "You better check this comment he wrote". He knew about it. I spoke to him too, after the website called them to try and understand how could a customer be so disappointed. He just showed me I didn't buy the computer with a WiFi card, though I just checked and found I did, and tried to stay calm. The secretary was wiping her "almost" tears and told him that I was told I would be given something as a bonus for the delay time. She found a new mouse and handed it to me. I repeated what I was told and he apparently remembered that he was the one who spoke to me. Without thinking he took a laptop case and gave it to me, asking if it was a fair gift. I said it was more than fair. I was about to ask for something cheaper, but he gave me this beautiful case. I sent the computer to repair but felt so bad about my comment and how it affected them. I believe a comment needs to be to the point and reflect my true experience with the store, but I think I regret it. A bit. Even though I'm not the only one. I've seen they got many other comments like mine. Tomorrow I will speak to them about the WiFi thing, because I was supposed to receive one. After that I will call the site and cancel my comment. After all is done with the repair and that I will post a new one stating what happened in the end. They did their best. Maybe I was wrong. The case was worth 30 dollars and I was about to ask for something worth 10. That impressed me, and I think I owe them one. Nevertheless I think that I won't be able to buy any more items from them. They got awesome prices, but my comment marked it all for me and I don't think I will have the guts to ever buy from them.

Honesty has its price.
Good night.