Todd Stein Weblog

How much money does it take to live in Israel comfortably?

toddstein — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:10:57 +0000

Wow baby! What interesting estimates!
It clearly depends on what you consider comfortable, whether you want to live by yourself or with roommates, mode of transportation, and whether you plan on eating out a lot or not.
Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are the most expensive cities, but they have
Rent in a shared apartment or private studio in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv is between $200- $450. Though of course you can always find someone who will help you spend more. . . In addition to rent, utilities, arnona (municipal taxes), phone, internet, and a vonage phone can add up to $80-$100
Cars in Israel are very expensive, so are gas and insurance. Jerusalem has great public transportation, with a monthly bus past costing a bit more than 200 shekels, or about $50. Most cab fares are about 20-30 shekels per ride, so taking cabs occasionally doesn’t add that much to transportation costs.
Food, entertainment, and other personal costs can vary tremendously. Permanent residents and citizens enjoy the national health care system, which basically costs nothing.
Cell phone bills seem to be at around 200 to 250 shekels.

Botton line - I know people who live on $400 a month, but I wouldn’t call that comfortable. (But I like to shop). Most people I know seem to spend between $500-$1000, and that includes a variety of personal indulgences, like lots of lattes, gym membership, shop-therapy, concerts and shows and eating out, but no unlimited spending.
Some things are cheaper in Israel, some more expensive, and most people learn where to save and where to spulrge.
Hope that helps!

Confirmation of answers, please. I don’t really understand this.?

toddstein — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:23:54 +0000

You’re correct about problem 1. Meiosis does consist of 2 nuclear divisions, so A and B are synonymous. You could also argue that C is correct, since the second division of meiosis is essentially a mitotic division, but that’s splitting hairs (and nuclei!), so I’m pretty sure you’re meant to choose D as the correct answer.

The answer for number 2 is B. 10 chromosomes. That’s because meiosis reduces the chromosome count by one-half.

You didn’t wager a guess about number 3, but the I feel that the best answer is A. This is something of a tricky question, but here’s why I would say A: After telophase, the nucleus has divided, but the cell itself has not yet (that happens during cytokinesis). Granted, cytokinesis happens right after telophase, and in fact it may begin while telophase is still completing, but that’s not what the question asked. So at the end of telophase, but before cytokinesis, you still have one cell with two nuclei. Since mitochondria divide independently of the cell in which they live, I would think you’d still have 1500 mitochondria. I am really just guessing on that one, though…I’ve never truly considered how the mitochondria are distributed during cell division.

I hope that helps, and good luck!

How much work is involved in refinishing a deck?

toddstein — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:19:24 +0000

In my work a large part of what I do is deck work. Certainly the most economical thing to do is rent a pressure washer and use it to bring back the deck to as close to orig. as possible. If in fact the wood was treated and isn’t in bad shape, you might remove all the SILVER and find the deck looks pretty decent. Then seal it after it drys.

I choose NOT to use nails, and when replacing any popped up, I PULL them and use galvanized Deck screws.

Raised edges: Crazing/cupping/ cracking/crowning/warping in general, are usually things I replace. At the very least you might attempt removal of a piece and turn it over, judging the side that was down, and possibly OK in that any cup or crown might be acceptable on the flip side. I still suggest replace.

The balance of your list is fine, and it may be you don’t need the bleach solution with a decent pressure wash. I choose NO chemicals, most especially because of safety issues and the damage to plant life. A nicely cleaned bleached deck might be great but the grass and other foliage on the surrounding property, might suffer.

Steven Wolf
AKA “The Deck Doc”

There was a young stray dog around my neighborhood so I took her in, and quickly realized she is pregnant…?

toddstein — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:21:14 +0000

what a lucky girl she is to have found you. The pups would have to be at least 12 weeks old to be desexed. They can leave their mum no less than 6 weeks but I think closer to 8 weeks is better. Bigger dogs unfortunatley have more pups than small ones so around 8 - 10 could be a possibility. Sounds like you have some great ideas you could pre-pay their vet bill for the desexing and give them a voucher along with a puppy. I would add the cost of this to your puppies as well and this will show that they are prepared and can afford to care for a dog and any unexpected vet expenses and routine needles, worming, flea control etc. make sure you get their details though and have the vet let you know if the voucher goes unused so you can follow them up. What a kind person you must be! a new pregnant mum couldnt be luckier- have fun with your new dog and the puppies and best of luck!

what is the best acme treatment for a guy with really bad acme? (please people who have tried it)?

toddstein — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:23:23 +0000

he products you are using, are they Salsylic Acid or Benzoyl peroxide? BP can be VERY drying. I personally like SA better. Salsylic acid it really good. It is in almost all acne washes. Benzoyl Peroxide is too drying for me! Try finding a face lotion with SA in it. Clean and Clear has a good moisturizer with SA and it helps keep pimples at bay. It is only about $5 a bottle and lasts about 2 months and you can get it at your local store. I have used this in the past and it works well. Personally, I use Biore products (which you get over the counter. Their products range from $5-$10). They are harsh on pimples, but not on your face.
Personally, Proactive didn’t work for me. I have been using Biore products for over a year and I hardly ever break out! Occasionally I will get one or two, but nothing bad. I use Biore Ice Cleanser and warming facial scrub every morning. And then 3-4 day s a week I use Biore purging pore cream scrub. For body acne I use Neutrogena acne body wash I never break out on my body. It gets 110 in summer so sweat in inevitably, yet I never break out. Give it a try. All of it is cheap too. About $5-10 depending on what you buy! Salsylic acid it really good. It is in almost all acne washes. Benzoyl Peroxide is too drying for me! I think you will just need to experiment with products until you find what works for you. Remember, it can take 1 month for products to fully begin working! Good Luck!

South Africa’s sinks even further into the mire under the ANC?

toddstein — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:26:21 +0000

Maybe we should request an approved list of sources from Zim$ before we post any future facts or opinions validating the ANC’s existence as a terrorist organisation and terrorist sympathiser, considering that I have yet to come accross any source criticising the ANC that is not either racist, jewish based or nazi funded according to our resident ANC spokesperson.
Regardless of the source of your posted information, which in my mind and reality, is highly credible, why does the ANC mouthpiece never argue based on his political parties coalitions with and support for known human rights violators and oppressors such as Gadaffi and Libya, Castro and Cuba, Iran, China, Zimbabwe, Russia, the Palestinians and the disgraceful Burmese military junta?
Is it not blatantly obvious from their mere chosen associations with human rights violators that the ANC government deserves their rating of -16?
I thought it was.

Moloi - You truly are a master of obfuscation, when are you actually going to answer the question at hand and cease posting counter statements regarding the U.S. and various other observations that have absolutely nothing to do with this discussion?
When are you going to comment on the associates of your government as mentioned by us and other on numerous occassions yet never once addressed by yourself or your ANC parrots?

Cheap Mexican Riviera cruise (Cabo, etc.) for February-need recommendations for cruise line and deals?

toddstein — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:23:23 +0000

NCL cruise lines has one in February to the Mexican Riviera for $549 a person. It is an eight day cruise. I can personally vouch for NCL lines they are great. We use them all the time and as a matter of fact we just may be taking that very same cruise ourselves in February. It leaves from Los Angeles. NCL treats it’s passengers like royalty and is also freestyle cruising, unlike the other cruise lines. Freestyle, meaning that you have the option to dress up for formal dinners or not, and you are not grouped with the same set of people at a set time for dinner every night. They do have two formal nights each week, but again that is an option and is entirely up to the individual if they want to dress up. So in other words you can still dine in the fancier restaurants on the ship and eat the good food they provide, but you can dress casual if you want. We prefer to be casual on a vacation, so we really enjoy that aspect of NCL. I hope whatever you wind up choosing you have a great time. I am pretty sure you will. Cruises are so much fun!

If I want to trim my waist and work on my abs..?

toddstein — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:22:55 +0000

ab exercises arent the only ones that will improve your abs, so im gonna give you extra excercise advice anyway

do some of the biggest muscle strengthening exercises you can do to increase your metabolism, like squats, deadlifts, push ups, chin ups, stomach crunches, and eat spicy food.
all this will increase the rate at which your body breaks down fat to use for fuel. higher metabolism = more fat burned

step 2
dont eat fatty junky crap foods that come out of a box.
no KD, mcdonald, chips, chocolate bars, none of that poison. thats what it is, poison. those fats get stuck in your intestines and never come out. some people have 10 pounds of built up crud from eating chips stuck in their colon
take psyllium husk with water daily.
get it at a healthfood store, its godly
eat lots of fruit

pushups actually work your abs. abs back and sides are like one big muscle that get worked whenever you do anything that requires you keep your balance. the metabolism boost is really important, so you have to work more than just abs

Need a new adapter?

toddstein — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:20:19 +0000

If you can’t find one online, you can get a power supply for it at Radio Shack or similar consumer electronics store. You’ll need a supply that puts out 7.4 volts DC, and you’ll have to check your unit to see which connector is positive and which is negative. (The player will probably have a diagram embossed on the case near the power supply jack showing you whether the center pin and outer connector are positive or negative.)

You’ll have to look at how many amperes or milliamperes, (abbreviated A or mA) the power supply has to be capable of. Finally, you’ll have to find a power supply that has the same kind of plug as your unit.

Places like Radio Shack often sell “universal” DC power supplies that you can set to many different voltages, usually from 3 volts to 13.6 volts. They come with a group of plugs of different shapes, and the plugs are reversable so that either pin can be either positive or negative.

The important things are that the voltage is close (7 or 8 volts should work fine), the current (amps or milliamps) available from the power supply is at least as much as the player needs, and that you get the positive and negative leads correct.

arthritis- how do you cope? Is there anything that helps improve pain & movement?

toddstein — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:19:43 +0000

You can go to your G.P and ask to be referred to a Pain Management Clinic who should be able to help.

I find swimming a useful exercise as it’s non weight bearing and completely supportive whilst allowing you to get some exercise done.

As well as these things you could try taking some glucosamine and or chondroitin supplements, Cod Liver Oil is good too. Also, magnet therapy (bioflow etc) can be useful to some people.

Moving further on, you could try Acupuncture/pressure, reiki and other alternative methods for pain relief without drugs.

As well as these things, book an appointment at your docs to get them to review your pain medications.

Hope this helps. If it makes you feel a bit better, I’m 31 and have arthritis so completely empathise with you. It’s all about doing what you can on your good days and taking a rest on your bad days.

Good luck