Selfie with the View!

I couldn't resist to take this picture, This is from a high-rise in Central Jerusalem I liked the view and the "mirror" effect!   It is still cold at night, not quite spring in Jerusalem yet.

Rachael Alice Orbach - roving cellphone photographer! 

A Porch with a view - Jerusalem

This is the dream of many people, To be able to look out on Jerusalem from their window! If the City Planners have their way, however, this view will disappear and become high rise office buildings. . .
What do you prefer?

Rachael Alice Orbach - Roving Photographer 

New "upgrage" from Microsoft gets a thumbs down!

I have had a very bad experience with the new upgrade from Microsoft Windows 8.1. The program upgraded last Thursday, and since then my computer takes about 1.5 hours to really boot up and become usable.  This is unacceptable!  I bought a Dell computer, ok not the most advanced one, an Insprion 15, but it has a Core i3 processor, so I've been told that it is a good machine. 

On some Dells the upgrade didn't affect the performance, but if so, why can't I just roll back my system to the way it was before?  No, with Windows 8 you cannot refuse an upgrade, and you have to live with it until the next one comes out. 

I am going to call Dell in Jerusalem tomorrow, because this laptop is my workhorse and I can't afford to wait an hour or so until the computer becomes usable.  

Another problem, is that if I even touch the "Chrome" button the whole system freezes.  Google documents also works very slowly, for example after I put in a number and then the systems waits for about 5 minutes before you can put in the next one.  This really eats up time!

 I like Chrome better than IE because IE now has this advertisement, and istartsurf always opens up first.  I hate the ad that they put there.  It makes me MAD!  Can we choose whether to display ads?  NOOOOO!

Why can't we go back to Windows XP when the user had more control over the machine and where to save documents, recover from an upgrade like this?  NO, Microsoft wants control over our computers and they don't really care that my productivity for today was reduced because of their "upgrade" which is more like a "downgrade."   Please Microsoft, retract this "upgrade" and SOON!

Rachael Alice Orbach
www.lifecoachjerusalem.weebly.com

 

Israeli Teachers agree to go on trips, High School students go back to school

Last week Israeli Teachers and Students both were under a lot of stress.  The teachers called off the Annual School trip, which usually is for at least two days.  The reason?  A boy, about two years ago, died while  swimming while on an overnight trip, and the teacher is being held responsible.  The teacher was not a life guard, so the students should not have been swimming without a trained lifeguard.  The teachers refused to let themselves be criminally charged while on trips, but most students really look forward to the overnight trip and it is the highlight of the year, even if the trip occurs early rather than at the end of the year.

The teachers should not be the ones who are responsible for the safety of students while on outside trips, there should be  trained emergency personnel on each trip.  A teacher is hired because of the expertise in teaching the academic subject matter, not if the person is a lifeguard or other professional.

The parents should think carefully whether to send children and teenagers on overnight trips.  There should be safety guidelines for the students to abide by, and I would demand that if the teacher make sure that the students know what is allowed and what is not allowed.  The final responsibility of the students is the school where we parents entrust our children.  If there is not the proper amount of "hadarah"  then I would not let my child go on any trip.

And I write my name: Rachael Alice Orbach

The last snowman of the season

Snow on a Jerusalem Street

Olav - from the Movie Frozen says hello to you.

Friday was the best snow of the week, and we even were able to make a small snowman.  Here he is guarding the porch!  A week to remember.  We were waiting for the Mother of all Storms to hit, and all we got was a dribble of snow.  It took all Friday afternoon to stick, so we enjoyed the best we could.  At least it made up for the lack of vacation that didn't happen on Chanukah!

Keep Warm and Dry!

Rachael Alice Orbach - roving cellphone photographer!

Jerusalem Schools open today at 10:00am!

Because of the lack of snow in Jerusalem, as compared with last year, the municipality has ordered schools to open today.

 The major problem, however is the "hasaot." It seems that they are not running so in effect if you want to drive your child to school, be prepared to pick up as well. 

I also called my child's teacher, at 8:30am, to find out if the school will open, and now an hour later, she hasn't called back.  So, I'm not send my child to school today.   

What about you?  Are you sending your child to school?  I remember a while back in 

2006 that the schools were open, but only 12 of 600 students in the school showed up, and none from my 9th grade English class.  I had to get my husband to come and pick me up as I don't know how to drive in the snow.  

Now it is hailing.  Better to stay home and dry.  I think that the markets are probably open, so no worries about food this time around! 

It might snow again tonight, so make sure you have enough food, and if you need medications, get them today! 

Rachael Alice Orbach

www.lifecoachjerusalem.weebly.com

How to get ready for the possible Snow this weekend

If you have been following the news, then you know that Jerusalem might be blessed with snow this coming weekend.  Last year we were woefully unprepared, both personally and the city as well.
How to get yourself ready?   These are my personal recommendations that I am starting to do to get ready.  If they help you, then I will be very happy.

Well, first, make sure that your roof and outside porches don't have any blockages with leaves and dirt blocking up the drains.

Secondly, check that the places that leaked before, have been fixed, but if you haven't been able to do that, like me, then do a cleaning  session under the leak and put a bucket under where you think the water will come in.

Thirdly, Make sure that you have enough food in the house.  If there will be a big snowstorm, you know that the local stores will not be able to open.  I will stock up on bread, buying three this week, and put the other two in the fridge.  Look at your pantry, and make sure that you have food that can be cooked that doesn't take too much time.  Get food for Shabbat that can be frozen now and thawed on Friday morning.

Fourthly, Do you have snow boots? Or waterproof boots for the family?  Forget about umbrellas, if it will be very windy, then they won't help anyway. Boots and waterproof coats are what will help you.  I recently bought waterproof spray at the Gali Shoe store on Kanfei Nesharim, 25 NIS a can, a reasonable price,  I waterproofed the boots and a few coats and it really does keep the water from seeping into the coat.  The coat may not be warm after an hour in the rain, but at least I was dry a few weeks ago.

Fifthly, Make sure that you have heat in your apartment.  Call in the tech now if it needs to be fixed.  Make sure that you have a backup system, if the gas goes out, use the electricity, or use the electricity if the gas goes out.

I hope that these tips will help you to weather the coming storm!
Rachael Alice Orbach  - www.lifecoachjerusalem.weebly.com