But we were on a break!

I guess you've all realized by now that I'm on something of a break. I hadn't planned it, but my mind has been feeling rather dry and empty lately, and I can't seem to summon up the energy to blog the way I'd like to. Hopefully, things will return to normal shortly. In the meantime, you can find me over at Israelity today and Thursday, so please feel free to pop on over and check it out.

Back to the Future...

Greetings and salutations, my trusted readers. As many of you know, I've begun writing for the Diplomatic Post which, unfortunately, is not online at this stage. Since a few of you have been clamoring to see my columns, I received the approval of my editor to post them here. The column below appeared in the second issue of the magazine, which was distributed on August 31st (to Jerusalem Post subscribers only). The column is known as "Page Before Last".

BACK TO THE FUTURE...

When it comes to dealing with the future of Israel and the Middle East, it seems that there are primarily two kinds of people – those who like to talk about it and those who try to do something about it (and then, there's a fringe third group – those who like to talk about the fact that they're doing something about it, a group comprised almost solely of politicians. But I digress...). Seminars and conferences focusing on the subject of Israel and the Middle East abound, and indeed, the complexities of this region provide a never-ending supply of fodder for think tanks and institutes around the world.

What is it about this region that causes the ears of otherwise apathetic individuals to perk up at its mention? The lad who probably can't tell you where the Middle East is located fancies himself an expert, and the local English professor goes apoplectic whenever the subject comes up in conversation. The quest for knowledge is seemingly insatiable, and academics and politicians hot on the lecture circuit make the rounds, recycling nuggets of information to wide-eyed audiences hungry for information. After all, the future of the Middle East has been a hot topic for thousands of years, and while the names and faces change, one fact remains constant – nothing ever changes.

Okay. Maybe that's not completely accurate. On the plus side, Israel (whose creation itself was certainly one of the bigger changes the region has seen during the past 100 years) has garnered peace agreements with two of its neighbors and maintains low-level ties with several other countries in the region. Changes for the worse are too numerous to mention. They're also too repetitive to mention; when it comes down to it, the changes don't really change. You'd think that given all the time spent discussing the future of this region, we'd have been treated to far more success.

Which brings us (albeit rather circuitously) back to our main topic – the proliferation of conferences purporting to shed light on the future. One can't help but be amazed, not only by the diversity of sub-topics, but also by the diversity of approaches to each sub-topic. Who knew? Who knew that there were so many ways to discuss the intricacies of the Arab world? Who knew that there were so many perspectives for analyzing Israel's prospects for peace? Who knew that these same subjects would be dissected ad nauseum for generations without resolution, with each speaker trying to put a unique spin on things, attempting to sound original?

The past few months in Israel have seen at least two events on this subject, one entitled, "Israel and the Middle East at a Crossroad", and the other creatively named "The Future of the Middle East", a symposium that included a staggering number of panels on a wide variety of topics. These affairs were organized by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies and the Israel Council on Foreign Relations – organizations that might not catch your attention were it not for their voracious ability to organize conferences and produce a dizzying array of publications.

It's starting to become a bit too predictable, these conferences. "The Future of the Middle East"? "The Middle East at a Crossroad"? The names say it all. Or perhaps they don't say anything. I suppose these names allow for a certain amount of latitude with regard to subject matter, but seriously. We need a new angle, something to get us into the proper frame of mind given the grand scheme of things.

First on the agenda is a unique line-up: We’d need someone like Jimmy Carter, Shimon Peres or Bill Clinton telling us how great the future can be, and someone from the World Bank to extol the virtues of how lucrative it will be. Then, we need a few historians to explain whose fault it is that we’re still in this mess (without alienating anyone, of course). This would, of course, be followed by the resident Arab-basher (probably from the Foreign Office or some such, in order to lend a degree of credibility) explaining how dangerous Iran is becoming and – just to make it even – your token Arab (preferably a poet). For a change, maybe the venue should be a Bedouin tent or perhaps a casino… in New Jersey (or possibly a Bedouin-themed casino in Vegas...). Oh, and we need a catchy title. Something that broadcasts a new trend in thought.

I was thinking along the lines of "The Future of the Middle East: Rehashing it all yet again", or perhaps "Israel and the Middle East: Past, Present and Future – It's all the same, really". Or maybe, someone should just make a movie.

Back to the Future, anyone?

Toot toot toot - there goes my horn

On July 31st, those of you who acquired the print version of the Jerusalem Post may have received a copy of a brand new magazine – The Diplomatic Post. As a writer, I happen to think it's rather interesting when something new hits the newsstands, and indeed, I enjoy hearing about all of the wildly different publications that are out there, allowing me to muse over the various (and often unusual) target audiences, as well as the potential writing opportunities available.

Even more exciting than hearing about the birth of a new publication is actually taking an active role in the process, and no one was happier (not to mention more surprised) than I to receive a phone call in early May from the editor of a certain, yet-to-be-named-at-the-time magazine, several months after I'd sent in my initial writing sample (and promptly forgot having done so). One planning meeting later, and I suddenly found myself responsible for two monthly columns in the newly branded Diplomatic Post, both involving commentary on current events and political issues, which must come as a huge shock, given how infrequently I tackle such topics here...

Since becoming a writer for this mag, I've managed to get myself on all sorts of fascinating mailing lists, and have even started receiving telephone calls from local embassies asking to confirm my contact information. I've discovered that saying "my editor" takes the same amount of getting used to as saying "my husband", and I haven't decided whether or not I can actually call myself a journalist, or if I'm simply a writer, or maybe a columnist. I feel rather silly referring to myself as a journalist when spending time with my friends who really are journalists and have been for years, but on the other hand, it sounds infinitely more exciting than telling people that I'm a technical writer (though, in all honesty, most things do sound more exciting than that...). Telling people that I'm "a writer" allows them to think that I'm far more interesting than I actually am, and hey – we all want to be perceived as being interesting, don't we?

But I digress... The magazine. Unfortunately, The Diplomatic Post isn't available online at this point, though I'm hoping that will change so that I won't have to grab another six copies at the next editorial meeting (to be fair, only one is for us – one copy goes to my parents, another one goes to NRG, and three went to another friend on-staff who wasn't able to make the last meeting). The next edition should hit local newsstands on the 31st of August, and I can be found writing Headliners and the Page Before Last.

So all in all, it hasn't been a bad summer as far as freelance writing goes. I'm finally getting paid for my efforts, and the added pocket change (which is really all that it amounts to) from this gig and another gig have allowed me to upgrade to the 16-shekel grande-sized latte. Toot toot toot – there goes my horn again!

The Anglo-Israeli Blogosphere, part 2...

For those of you who read Hebrew (and especially for those of you who can read it AND understand it), the post that I wrote here has been edited, rewritten, and translated, and can now be found here on the Nana website. I'll put up the final English version soon...

Oh my God, it's been two whole years!

It all began two years ago today with this post, after my former blogging partner convinced me that I needed to start blogging again, following an approximately year-long hiatus brought on by my general inability to get my shit together multi-task on a grand level after the Little One was born. He even agreed to be my partner in crime, figuring that between the two of us, we would certainly be able to maintain a decent blogging schedule. We all know how that worked out. Despite our little "break-up", we've remained good friends, and he even helped me out with a minor blog emergency yesterday, when I suddenly realized that I needed to make an urgent change to yesterday's post but was nowhere near a computer. Two text messages and a phone call later, and I can safely say that my reputation has been preserved. It's amazing how the lack of a simple strike-through can send a writer into a tailspin...

Two years full of rants, politics, humor, and burn-out combined with more or less equal parts of cynicism, sarcasm and merriment (not to mention copious amounts of caffeine), and I'm astonished by how much this one little website has changed my life. It's given me many wonderful new friends, including several who I hope to meet face-to-face one day (and for those of you who feel left out, this is just a short list. Obviously, I'd love to meet most of you, and I didn't include those I knew before I began blogging, or those regular commenters who don't have their own blogs).

Not only has this blog provided me with some pretty amazing people in my life, but it has also been a platform for getting my writing noticed, something I have always wanted to do, but prior to blogging, was never quite sure how to go about it. This blog has been mentioned in a variety of publications and other websites, and excerpts have been reprinted in a variety of venues. I have been interviewed for different websites, and thanks to posts I've written about bringing the Little One into the world, I've been asked to share my experiences for a book that is currently being written. I'm often in awe of all the places where links to this blog have turned up, and am honored to be included in the blogrolls of several well-connected, well-respected bloggers. This blog has led to various writing gigs, and I'd be lying if I didn't say I was both proud of and pleased with what I've managed to create. I'm also proud of the community that has developed (for the most part) and the exchanges that have taken place in the comment sections, despite differences of opinion. Even some of my regular commenters have managed to connect with one another, as evidenced by a recent meeting in Oslo between nrg and Rami (I have photo proof), who was in the city for a conference last week.

It hasn't always been easy, and there have definitely been times when I've considered quitting, times when I've wondered what I'd gotten myself into. Then I take an overall look at what I've accomplished both personally and professionally, and I think of the joy I've taken in writing many of the posts (peruse the "Favorite Posts" section in the sidebar to see those entries of which I'm most proud), and I know that at this stage, quitting is just not an option. Besides, it seems that I've got a few incredibly supportive, amazing friends who can be even more stubborn than me (imagine that!), and they always push me to continue and cheer me on from the sidelines (thanks, guys! you're the best!). So yeah, if I had to lay a wager, I'd say that you're definitely going to be stuck with me for the time being, for better or for worse.

A Brief Display of Shameless Self-Promotion...

I've been busy busy busy these days, and it looks like I'm finally taking the freelance writing plunge, without actually giving up the dreary but lucrative technical writing.

First, check out the post I've uploaded to my newest play area - Israelity. Be sure to let the powers that be know what you think. Feel free to leave comments here and there. I'll be popping up there from time to time, and you can expect to see quite a few posts from me over there in the future.

Second, while I can't go into the finer details, I'm going to have two columns in a new monthly publication, which is being produced by one of Israel's daily newspapers. Once column involves political/current events commentary, while the other deals with domestic news and commentary. Pretty exciting stuff, if I do say so myself. And, if that weren't exciting enough, you'll never guess who the magazine's photographer is going to be...

Oh, and in case you haven't noticed the new links on my sidebar, I've joined both Facebook and MySpace, ostensibly for networking purposes, but I must admit, I've been enjoying the opportunity to find old friends as well. Serious time suck...

A note from the present...

The latest edition of "Here - Notes from the Present" is out in print and online (in both English and Italian!). This journal was "launched in Italy in Italian in 1999 to gather testimonies, descriptions and observations of and reflections on the private-public times we live in". A number of something something blog entries were reprinted in the last edition, as well as in this one. The journal is a fascinating read, and in addition to the online version, subscriptions for the print edition are available at 30 euros/36 dollars for three issues. Check out the exact details regarding subscription rates here.

How well do you really know me?

Wow. Not only have I been tagged again, but I've been double-tagged for the same meme – once by Tololy and once by Stefanella (and I hope she's enjoyed doing this meme more than the last one that I tagged her with). Before I get to the meme, though, I just want to toot my own horn a bit and point you towards an interview that I was asked to do for the website ExpatInterviews, which also includes among its many pages interviews with Rami, Beth and Lisa. My interview can be found here, and for any of you expats out there who might be reading this and feel that you have something to offer to other expats or prospective expats, you can either download the interview questionnaire here, or drop an email to Lizza, one of the site owners, and she'll get you started.

And now for the meme. Since one of the tags asked for five things that you probably don't know about me (Tololy's) and the other asked for ten (Stefanella's), I've decided to go with seven, if I can come up with that many. Not that my life is an open book, but there are some things that you will never know about me, if I can help it...

1. I was born on the day that Robert F. Kennedy was shot.
2. I was born with several rare birth defects, all of which were surgically corrected.
3. I used to shoot archery. I had several different types of bows (compound, recurve) and my own set of high-quality arrows. When I was in fifth grade, I beat a sixth-grade girl in a competition and won a 20 pound turkey (it was just before Thanksgiving). I also participated in the 1980 Empire State Games for archery. I was the youngest competitor (I was 12), and came in dead last.
4. When I was six years old, I wanted to be a boy. I was always being picked last for kickball teams at recess. That stopped when I became better than the boys. I remained a tomboy throughout my youth, though, and have never been a girly girl.
5. If I get really excited while arguing, I sometimes start to cry and can't control it. On the other hand, at times when it is "acceptable" to cry, I usually can't do it if there are other people around.
6. I don't do public displays of grief, and can't stand having people feel bad for me. I don't like people to see me when I'm vulnerable, and I've rarely let anyone get close enough to see that.
7. I've had 12 permanent teeth removed due to spacing issues.

It seems like most people have already been tagged for this one. Hmmm... I'll tag Anglosaxy, Jessica, Life Out East, and Benji.

They like me! They really like me!

Even though I don't always mean for it to happen, I seem to have a great talent for pissing people off. Of course, there are definitely times when I do mean it, but for the most part, it's not like I purposely write to annoy (though I do realize that certain subjects are just going to rub some people the wrong way no matter what I say, and to you all, I say, pthpthpth).

In any event, I've grown to expect the displeasure (not to mention the indifference), so I'm always very pleasantly surprised to discover that not only do I have readers who don't know me or otherwise have a vested interested in me, but that some of these readers even like me. And, even more surprising, they admit it publicly (clearly not realizing the debilitating effect this will have on their own credibility). I mean, imagine my surprise when I discovered that I'd received the following compliment over at Simply Jews:

"Liza of Something Something is a new discovery for me, but definitely something something. I have found her blog while rummaging for info on that Herzliya bash on Hasbara (a separate post on a related subject is brewing... oh well, for almost half an year now). This post gives you an idea of the capabilities. Wow."

The full article can be found here, and while I'm obviously biased, I'd say it's a terrific round-up of the female Jewish sector of the blogosphere. Very inclusive, and rather cheeky to boot. We like cheeky. Go on then. Check it out. I'll wait...

Have a bloggy day

Hey everyone. Nominations are open for the Seventh Annual Weblog Awards. The 2007 Bloggies is your opportunity to recognize your favorite blogs, whether they be in any of the geographical categories, technical categories, or any one of a slew of other categories. Nominations for all categories are being accepted until 10:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5) on Wednesday, January 10th.

Read the rules and give it a go. I've gone and nominated all my faves. Some of my nominations more popular than others, but all very deserving of recognition. Note that you can also nominate the same blog for multiple categories, for example, you can nominate this blog for "Best African or Middle Eastern Weblog", "Best Weblog About Politics", and "Best Writing of a Weblog", just to name a few...

She and He ARE something something...

He's got an attitude and a penchant for drink. She's sleep-deprived and caffeine-dependent. Together, they're something something – a translation of the Israeli term "mashehu-mashehu" (say it with us – we know you can), which is used to describe something pretty damned impressive (like this blog, for instance). This brand new blog to hit the blogosphere will make you laugh. It will make you mad. Most of all, it will make you think.

Welcome to something something, a blog about life in Israel – day-to-day trials and tribulations, joy, sorrow, politics (for what is Israel without politics? Actually, it would be a damn sight better than it is now, we imagine). As two "Anglos" living somewhere in Israel (two separate somewheres, to be exact), we aim to entertain, to provoke, to educate. Let's make one thing clear, though. We do not aim to please. If you're looking for some rah-rah rose-colored glasses view of Israel, well, we're sorry, but you've come to the wrong place. Not to say that life in Israel can't be great, because it certainly can be, at times. However, we're here to tell it like we see it, which is not necessarily how you'd like it to be. We invite you to share in our lives, "meet" our growing families, hear about our days, our nights (think babies!), and our opinions (and shit, do we have plenty of those).

Stick with us, and we promise to show you a good time. It's gonna be something something…