Downloads I have accumulated, interesting to learn for Shavuot
Tomer Devorah
Aish 48 Ways to Wisdom
Planners and Calendars. Getting organized 2018
Cross posted from https://allthebeth.blogspot.com/2017/12/planners-and-calendars-getting.html
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017
Planners and Calendars. Getting organized 2018
A few great resources, and a few downloads.
PASSION PLANNER. Terrific and widely-loved format. Free downloads if you sign up for their mailing list.
PLANNER PADS. Not a free download, but I really like this vertical format and the workflow. I'm modeling my own (below) on a hybrid of this and the above example.
HEBCAL. A terrific site for generating your own custom calendar with Jewish dates and events. I can't say enough good about this site, they've thought of everything. Generate a printable calendar or generate a custom calendar to import into your electronic calendar. Import yartzeits and other personal dates.
Here's the Hebcal I generated for my locale, to download.
Here's the same thing without times.
2018 month calendar no timesAll these characteristics and more are fully customizable (ex: add omer, remove Hebrew dates) in the Settings.
For myself, I'm experimenting with a combination of these for my own custom planner.
I'll use the Hebcal with my local lighting times as my month view and I'm experimenting with this 2 page wide vertical template for my weekly planner.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1icWWiM5muHcYIrg-YL4JOs5mafQSgeGX I'll list goal/s or other headlines in the space at the top. I'll list my schedule in the upper box, todo in the middle box and dinner plan in the tiny bottom box. Not the Planner Pad technique, but this is how I have been doing it all these years, so it sticks.
How to bring your own food to Thanksgiving
Bringing your own food to Thanksgiving solves a lot of problems for people with dietary restrictions.
Gluten free... food allergies... paleo... vegan...
I would never want to miss our big family get together, so we bring our own food. It's the perfect solution except for the problem of reheating.
Here's how to reheat your food without getting underfoot in the kitchen:
Wrap the food and use the barbecue as an oven.
Bring your own hot plate.
Or do what we do and bring a crockpot. This recipe is simple and delicious:
https://www.shugarysweets.com/2011/11/crockpot-turkey-breasts-and-stuffing
Happy food-friendly Thanksgiving.
cross posted: https://allthebeth.blogspot.com/
Gluten free... food allergies... paleo... vegan...
I would never want to miss our big family get together, so we bring our own food. It's the perfect solution except for the problem of reheating.
Here's how to reheat your food without getting underfoot in the kitchen:
Wrap the food and use the barbecue as an oven.
Bring your own hot plate.
Or do what we do and bring a crockpot. This recipe is simple and delicious:
https://www.shugarysweets.com/2011/11/crockpot-turkey-breasts-and-stuffing
Happy food-friendly Thanksgiving.
cross posted: https://allthebeth.blogspot.com/
Seminary/Yeshiva Gap Year Tips and Ideas
2017. This post is meant to be a resource, from experience, of some things that worked or didn't work for us during our daughter's gap year in Israel. Things to think about:
1. Banking. Find a US bank and debit card that has zero foreign transaction fees, zero ATM fees, and no minimum balance. We did a Schwab Checking account. I think Capital One also has an account.
Addition from AM: Barclay's credit card also has NO foreign transaction fees and is safer to use than cash. My kids put their ravkav [bus pass / smartcard] on that card and it counts for their travel points so you can deduct the rewards from your bill (if transaction is over $25), so bus travel is actually free.
2. Spending Money. Ya, they need even more money. We give $200/month, but other parents are giving $250 or even $300. We want her to use her own savings if she needs more money.
3. Cell Phone. We got together with a friend and did the Golan Telecom plan that was 28NIS/month and at the time was 10 for an additional line, and we split it in half. Then we realized 6GB wasn't enough so we upgraded to 15GB. Go for the 15GB plan from the start. When we share it, it's like $9/month each of us (compare with your USA plan!!). And I don't want my daughter to tell me she can't video call me because she's out of data. Speaking of which...
4. Communication. Whatsapp. That's all you need. Texting, voice and video calls. Quality is excellent. The only time we don't use Whatsapp is for group video calls (Facebook Messenger), or when we use our call forwarding number from misparchinam.com. It is a local Israeli landline number starting with 072. When she calls, it forwards to my cell phone. Incoming calls are totally free. Seriously, no advertising or anything. Outgoing calls require a paid calling plan but you can do just the incoming side alone. And still... all you need is Whatsapp.
5. The Group Flight. For the outbound side, the group flight has a lot going for it. The sendoff is a whole thing with all the parents and the kids. They get to travel together and socialize. Don't underestimate the benefit of 2 checked bags. You will use it and you will max out the weight (Tip: if your carry on is overweight, parents hold onto the heaviest stuff while they weigh it, then repack it after check in). The prospect of them being met in Israel and getting ground transportation when they are tired and drained is a comfort. The open ticket has some convenience. However, I am currently booking the return and I'm finding a few snags: She has to fly back to a New York airport. We want her to fly all the way to DC. We will have to book that leg separately, with 2 heavy bags to check with fees. Amtrak may be the way to go. Outcome TBD.
Another idea is to independently book them (maybe one way ticket?) on the group flight. They'll be with the others, and probably same access to group ground transportation, but you'll have your own flexibility with the return.
6. Luggage. Two suitcases, a roller carry on and a backpack is nothing. If at all possible, try to borrow bedding and towels from friends/family in Israel. If you are planning an Israel trip between now and fall, bring a suitcase or two to store there with linens and/or winter clothes and supplies. If you visit Israel next spring, bring winter stuff back with you.
7. Medicine. Credit to my friend (D) who taught me to send her with a medical kit: basic first aid supplies and any medicines one might need for various colds, headaches, common ailments. Maybe even a course of antibiotics to have on hand.
8. Making Friends. I found this among many of my friends' kids, for some reason (many reasons) it takes a while to get adjusted. I'm not even talking about homesickness, which many of them don't have. I'm talking about living relatively independently, finding good-fitting friends, the first time you get sick away from home, etc. I wish someone would have told us not to worry if it takes even the first 2 months until they have nice good solid friendships forming. Hang in there.
Other tips? Send it to me and I might add it.
First addition (anonymized)
Money Saving Reminders (Lisa)
Suspend your child's USA cell phone account for the year and take them off your car insurance. Huge savings.
From NDW
I have more tips for your after high school blog
Rain: it rains and they need rain boots- can be bought online /Amazon for 30$
Cold: ugg boots or similar really kept my daughters feet warm. It gets cold.
Nugo/kind/granola: daughter really ended up eating them - it takes time to get used to the food.
Mousse- she didn't pack any and couldn't find any to buy. We ended up sending her in a package.
All other toiletries - she was able to find
I second the Charles Schwab account and card-
It's free and they have access to Israeli money at all times. You can add money to the card as needed.
1. Banking. Find a US bank and debit card that has zero foreign transaction fees, zero ATM fees, and no minimum balance. We did a Schwab Checking account. I think Capital One also has an account.
Addition from AM: Barclay's credit card also has NO foreign transaction fees and is safer to use than cash. My kids put their ravkav [bus pass / smartcard] on that card and it counts for their travel points so you can deduct the rewards from your bill (if transaction is over $25), so bus travel is actually free.
2. Spending Money. Ya, they need even more money. We give $200/month, but other parents are giving $250 or even $300. We want her to use her own savings if she needs more money.
3. Cell Phone. We got together with a friend and did the Golan Telecom plan that was 28NIS/month and at the time was 10 for an additional line, and we split it in half. Then we realized 6GB wasn't enough so we upgraded to 15GB. Go for the 15GB plan from the start. When we share it, it's like $9/month each of us (compare with your USA plan!!). And I don't want my daughter to tell me she can't video call me because she's out of data. Speaking of which...
4. Communication. Whatsapp. That's all you need. Texting, voice and video calls. Quality is excellent. The only time we don't use Whatsapp is for group video calls (Facebook Messenger), or when we use our call forwarding number from misparchinam.com. It is a local Israeli landline number starting with 072. When she calls, it forwards to my cell phone. Incoming calls are totally free. Seriously, no advertising or anything. Outgoing calls require a paid calling plan but you can do just the incoming side alone. And still... all you need is Whatsapp.
5. The Group Flight. For the outbound side, the group flight has a lot going for it. The sendoff is a whole thing with all the parents and the kids. They get to travel together and socialize. Don't underestimate the benefit of 2 checked bags. You will use it and you will max out the weight (Tip: if your carry on is overweight, parents hold onto the heaviest stuff while they weigh it, then repack it after check in). The prospect of them being met in Israel and getting ground transportation when they are tired and drained is a comfort. The open ticket has some convenience. However, I am currently booking the return and I'm finding a few snags: She has to fly back to a New York airport. We want her to fly all the way to DC. We will have to book that leg separately, with 2 heavy bags to check with fees. Amtrak may be the way to go. Outcome TBD.
Another idea is to independently book them (maybe one way ticket?) on the group flight. They'll be with the others, and probably same access to group ground transportation, but you'll have your own flexibility with the return.
6. Luggage. Two suitcases, a roller carry on and a backpack is nothing. If at all possible, try to borrow bedding and towels from friends/family in Israel. If you are planning an Israel trip between now and fall, bring a suitcase or two to store there with linens and/or winter clothes and supplies. If you visit Israel next spring, bring winter stuff back with you.
7. Medicine. Credit to my friend (D) who taught me to send her with a medical kit: basic first aid supplies and any medicines one might need for various colds, headaches, common ailments. Maybe even a course of antibiotics to have on hand.
8. Making Friends. I found this among many of my friends' kids, for some reason (many reasons) it takes a while to get adjusted. I'm not even talking about homesickness, which many of them don't have. I'm talking about living relatively independently, finding good-fitting friends, the first time you get sick away from home, etc. I wish someone would have told us not to worry if it takes even the first 2 months until they have nice good solid friendships forming. Hang in there.
Other tips? Send it to me and I might add it.
First addition (anonymized)
The biggest one we had was that {daughter} bought so much stuff form girls at {seminary} from the previous year and I didn't worry about the money because she will just sell it to the next class. They have a big machsan, everything was labelled and she was able to get it when she got there. (Easier than leaving it with family or friends and then have to get it). She did this with all linens plus a rolling set of drawers, refrigerator, kitchen utensils etc.
Last year there was a big {seminary} marketplace where the class put things for sale online to the girls coming in. First she bought stuff from {local friend} and I know she plans to sell to the next {local school} girl but then the marketplace was open and people bought from everyone. The head of the program said she never saw it so organized but I think that's the wave of the future.
Part of me thinks its a shame not to save it for {younger daughter} in a few years, but I figure we will just do it again!
The other hint is one I am trying now: {daughter} is eligible to bring two bags home (we have given up and will just pick her up at 5:40 am in New York) a third bag is expensive-- its a little cheaper to find someone coming home for Pesach and add a second bag to their trip. And I have no doubt she will have three bags worth of stuff. Pesach is a good time to send home the winter stuff (once she comes bag form Poland, she should be able to send that stuff back)
The last thing is not to send books or sefarim-- cheaper to buy them in Israel than pay for their weight, unless its a special book. Lots of used bookstores for novels etc. and definitely seforim stores there. Unless you want English-Hebrew books- those are hard to find. Especally English -Hebrew machzorim. {Daughter} brought hers and sent them back with someone after Sukot.
Money Saving Reminders (Lisa)
Suspend your child's USA cell phone account for the year and take them off your car insurance. Huge savings.
From NDW
I have more tips for your after high school blog
Rain: it rains and they need rain boots- can be bought online /Amazon for 30$
Cold: ugg boots or similar really kept my daughters feet warm. It gets cold.
Nugo/kind/granola: daughter really ended up eating them - it takes time to get used to the food.
Mousse- she didn't pack any and couldn't find any to buy. We ended up sending her in a package.
All other toiletries - she was able to find
I second the Charles Schwab account and card-
It's free and they have access to Israeli money at all times. You can add money to the card as needed.
x
ANNOYED with wix and/or adsense
UPDATE: I'm not sure what the problem was, but after contacting Google, it got fixed.
I'm trying to make a go of a few "web properties" where I hope to generate revenue with Google AdSense and Amazon Affiliate ads.
I'm trying to make a go of a few "web properties" where I hope to generate revenue with Google AdSense and Amazon Affiliate ads.
So far, I have a few dollars (not nothing!) of "estimated earnings" but none of it, not one cent has been added to my "actual earnings".
I can see that some of the views and clicks are attributed to my site under it's old name, before I purchased a domain. I wonder if this is the root of the problem, and if so I will be ANGRY, not just annoyed, that I paid for the domain name and site upgrade to connect the domain.
To make things really fun, neither Wix--where my site is built and hosted--nor Google Adsense seem to give access to a real human being for actual tech support.
You might say, "So what?" that I haven't been credited any of the piddly $3.13 of my estimated earnings. But I would like to get this ironed out before the stakes get higher.
I hope I will be able to update you with some resolution, but for now I have had completely unsatisfactory service from Wix and absolutely zero response from AdSense.
What about my AdSense revenues from this blog? I think I'm seeing a similar problem, which makes it seem like a Google problem. But the problems only started when I added the Wix stuff into my account, so I can't completely discount some factor from that side.
Smart watch must have
Before I get too far into the must-haves, I'll let you know my dream: it's something like a cuff, where the whole thing is a screen wrapped around my wrist. Maximum possible screen space. I don't even mind if it's two or three inches wide.
But these are the must haves, meaning without all of these requirements I won't even consider it:
Waterproof
Notifications from all apps (customizable)
Multi-day battery life
Steps
Also really nice to have, and would be heavily weighted in a decision:
Heart rate
Apps
And back to dreaming about the cuff:
Utterly unbreakable
Phone-free independent operation
Tether other devices (ex: tablet or laptop) to cuff, so cuff is communication hub.
The cuff replaces the phone. On wrist it sleeps with watch/jewelery face. If you take it off, it uncurves into a flat screen.
But these are the must haves, meaning without all of these requirements I won't even consider it:
Waterproof
Notifications from all apps (customizable)
Multi-day battery life
Steps
Also really nice to have, and would be heavily weighted in a decision:
Heart rate
Apps
And back to dreaming about the cuff:
Utterly unbreakable
Phone-free independent operation
Tether other devices (ex: tablet or laptop) to cuff, so cuff is communication hub.
The cuff replaces the phone. On wrist it sleeps with watch/jewelery face. If you take it off, it uncurves into a flat screen.
Why won't my iPhone backup?
Your iPhone won't backup probably because of photos, I'm guessing.
You have a phone that's 16, 32 or more GB, and a lot of that is filled with photos and videos, but Apple only gives you 5 GB of free backup space. No wonder you can't back up.
To see what's filling up your iCloud storage:
Settings - General - Storage & iCloud Usage - Manage storage (of iCloud, below, not internal phone "Storage" above). You might see other backups there, apps, etc.
My cheap solution? Google Photos. Download the app. Backup all your photos (free!!) to Google. It might take literally a day or two (or more, depending how much access you have to wifi) to back up everything.
Once you've verified every photo/video is backed up to Google, you have accomplished 2 things:
1. Your photos and videos are finally all backed up, which they weren't before because you ran out of space.
2. Now you can turn off the option to back up photos to iCloud, and then the rest of the items on your phone can backup properly. Turn it off in Settings - iCloud, and then turn the Photos toggle to Off.
Or you could just lay out the cash to upgrade your storage on iCloud.
You have a phone that's 16, 32 or more GB, and a lot of that is filled with photos and videos, but Apple only gives you 5 GB of free backup space. No wonder you can't back up.
To see what's filling up your iCloud storage:
Settings - General - Storage & iCloud Usage - Manage storage (of iCloud, below, not internal phone "Storage" above). You might see other backups there, apps, etc.
My cheap solution? Google Photos. Download the app. Backup all your photos (free!!) to Google. It might take literally a day or two (or more, depending how much access you have to wifi) to back up everything.
Once you've verified every photo/video is backed up to Google, you have accomplished 2 things:
1. Your photos and videos are finally all backed up, which they weren't before because you ran out of space.
2. Now you can turn off the option to back up photos to iCloud, and then the rest of the items on your phone can backup properly. Turn it off in Settings - iCloud, and then turn the Photos toggle to Off.
Or you could just lay out the cash to upgrade your storage on iCloud.
Peloton screen won't turn on
Peloton monitor won't turn on. Here's how to fix it. (note: I am not a Peloton agent)
Disconnect the 2 cables from the back of the monitor by first hinging open the cover. The left cable is the Peleton cable that uploads your data. The right cable is power. Disconnect them both.
Then, remove the power cable from the back of the bike, and plug it directly into power socket on the monitor (on right, marked with line and 3 dots).
Now push the power button on the monitor. It should come on. This procedure bypasses the Peloton power and data cable and shows there may be a problem with that cable or its connection beside the flywheel. Call Peloton for more support.
Disconnect the 2 cables from the back of the monitor by first hinging open the cover. The left cable is the Peleton cable that uploads your data. The right cable is power. Disconnect them both.
Then, remove the power cable from the back of the bike, and plug it directly into power socket on the monitor (on right, marked with line and 3 dots).
Now push the power button on the monitor. It should come on. This procedure bypasses the Peloton power and data cable and shows there may be a problem with that cable or its connection beside the flywheel. Call Peloton for more support.
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