enwhysea's New Writeups

March 2, 2005 (thing)

2005-03-04T07:42:25Z

Ok, so, I'm in Laos. It's my second time now, but that is not what this is about.

About a month ago in Bangkok I got myself a dandy new shiny Belta laptop computer. 512 MB RAM, 40 Giga Hard Disk and a 12 inch screen. I bought it at the Pantip Plaza and got lots of cheap software for it. It's amazing what you can do with 100 Baht sometimes.

I got Encyclopedia Britannica on 3 CDs.

I got Chinese (Mandarin) learning Software

Microsoft Office. A couple games. Skype.

I even installed Home Designer, Adobe Acrobat Writer and some PC DJ thingie.

So the point is.... like... where can I buy an e2 DVD in Thailand?

Sepak Takraw (thing)

2005-01-13T09:30:01Z

Sepak Takraw is a variation of Takraw and is sometimes known simply as Takraw causing confusion between it and its predecessor "Takraw Wong" or "Circle Takraw" which is a game more like Kemari or Hacky Sack while modern "Sepak Takraw" is what many people know as "Thai Volleyball" and is very similar to volleyball with the main difference being it is played with every part of the body except the "hands" (Arm from shoulder down). Other differences are:

The same player my touch 3 times consecutively unlike volleyball where the ball is passed from player to player.
When the ball hits the net but passes to the other side it is legal and the ball is still "live" including during service.
Finally the last major difference from regular volleyball is that the defense is not rotated.

Sepak Takraw is said to have originated in Malaysia about 500 years ago supposedly invented by the royal family but versions of virtually the same game have been…

Seven-Seventy (place)

2004-12-05T22:14:28Z

A red brick house with a gothic style pointed roof at 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York. Built by a wealthy physician in the 1930's in the predominantly Jewish (Until the 1960s), Crown Heights neighborhood.

Today "Seven-Seventy" is the world headquarters of Chabad Lubavitch. Where telephones ring non-stop (excluding Saturdays and Holidays) the mail is stacked to the ceilings, visitors crowd the reception and even radio and some television broadcasts are made to the world.

There is a small synagogue, a larger one, apartments and offices of Rabbis who run the Chabad organization, including the Rebbe before last Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak and his Son-In-Law (Not the previous Rebbe). Annexed are several buildings housing a yeshiva, a kollel and a publishing house.

"Seven-Seventy" is basicly chabadnik slang for "The people who decide" and important questions, requests and pleas are made to the red-brick house in Brooklyn.

Taki (thing)

2004-12-02T03:47:47Z

Israeli card game introduced in 1981. The rules are very similar to Uno with some minor differences.

Anyone who grew up in Israel in the 80s has played Taki and has a special place for it in his heart. Children of the 80s have later played Taki in the IDF and there is usually a good stock in Israeli Backpacker hangouts like Bet Chabad, Kathmandu and Ha Machbesa in Costa Rica

The game was invented by Haim Shafir of Shafir Games who has since invented other games but none as popular as Taki.

The object of Taki is to get rid of all your cards by matching either the number or color of the card in the pile. If you have no matching card, you draw one from the deck.

One of the most important rules of Taki is that when a player has only one card she or he MUST announce "LAST CARD!" upon failing to do so, cards are drawn (1 or 4 according to variations)

The Taki deck consists of:

…

Glatt Kosher (thing)

2004-12-02T02:47:47Z

Glatt is the Yiddish word for smooth.

Meaning that the lungs of the slaughtered animal were inspected for holes, tears or adhesions which would make it treyf

Glatt applies only to mammals and not to fish or fowl.

Not all Jews keep Glatt Kosher and food which is certified kosher is not necessarily Glatt Kosher (Especially important regarding airline food)

Bet Chabad, Kathmandu (place)

2004-12-02T02:09:36Z

The following write-up was written originally as a TravelPod travelogue entry.

The taxi drivers outside Kathmandu airport know all the Israelis ask for 2 things, either Swissa or Bet Chabad (Chabad House). They always explain, "Bet Chabad not guesthouse", "Swissa not guesthouse"! But the Israelis insist..,

There are many Bet Chabads around the world, each different, everything from the actual "mission" of the place to the feeling inside it, many times I've heard people mention that Bet Chabad Kathmandu has the best vibe. The feeling of being home, the absence of any religious "pressure" to do or take part in prayers and the openness of Rabbi Chezki, Chani his wife and the rest of the Chabadniks that visit is what makes it such a great place.

At first you notice the small sign pointing to the stairs, then the painted walls on the way to the second floor "Glatmandu Resturant" "Bet Chabad" etc. the door has a big "Welcome"…