JDate woes

JDate has some issues when it comes to photos. Here's a copy of the email I sent them upon there refusal to post the pictures I tried to upload. I figure that if my profile continues to live on even after I stopped being a full member, it should at least have some recent pictures of me (not like those people who have photos of themselves from long ago and no longer resemble said pictures).

The email:
Why does it seem that I've been having so many problems with JDate and photos? First, you delete a bunch of my original pictures. Then you change one that I submitted last week (by rotating it 90 degrees counterclockwise and lightening my skin). I'm frustrated by the lack of control that I have over my own pictures. I've never had this problem with Friendster or etc.... only with JDate.

Tags: jdate, jews, jewish, dating, mating

An exercise in self reflection.

Whom can I accuse, of whom revenge demand,
When I have borne deep suffering at my own hand?

Other hearts have held hatred for me,
But my own heart hates me more than anyone knows.

My body bears the wounds of relentless foes,
But none can match my self-inflicted wounds.

I have been seduced for my destruction
But none have lured me than my own eyes.

I have been burned by countless fires,
But none compare to the heat of my desires.

In traps I've been ensnared by old and young,
But none have trapped me better than my tongue.

Bandits have pursued me, fast and fleet,
But none pursue me faster than my feet.

Pain overwhelms me, but no pain more than my rebellion.
Anguish increases, but never faster than transgression.

Whom can I blame, how can I function,
When I am the source of my own destruction?

I seek shelter for my soul, which you alone did fashion,
For You, our God and King, are enthroned upon compassion.

(thanks for putting this online rabbi)

"Al Chet"- some thoughts

To begin I feel I should mention that I try to think about what I feel bad about daily. Not in a Jewish guilt way, but in a more Zen way- what went wrong with my actions today and how can I change my behaviors to reflect what I believe is a right way of living?

I found an interesting meditation online. When I sit alone in shul I don't know if I spend enough time thinking about the meaning behind the prayers. Especially on a day like Yom Kippur where I am supposed to be meditating upon my past year and the events that have occurred and how I can be a better person this year. I am confused by the fact that I am feel that I am more fruitfully reflecting on my misgivings about the past year while blogging this. I grew up in a traditional family, went to temple, went to day school and yeshiva. Why have I grown so alienated from that life?*

#29 intrigues me- For the mistakes we committed before You with eye movements.
Now this is something that does not necessarily come to mind when I think about the concept of sinning.

#38 or the mistakes we committed before You by being stiff-necked
\Guilty as charged. I can be stubborn and usually know when I am being like that...not that it stops me. This is something I am trying to change about myself. However, stubborn can also equal determined. I am trying to learn how to balance the two.

#44 For the mistakes we committed before You through confusion of the heart
My heart certainly has been confused lately. New job, new place to move into...it's scary leaving my old life behind, even if I am only moving an hour away. I hope, within my heart, that the choices I am making (and have made) regarding this transition in my life are the correct ones for me.





*But I suppose that's a much longer, philosophical question for another time.

Jewish podcasts, fascination

While browsing iTunes today I notice that there are some Jewish-themed podcasts. Some of my finds:

It seems that among the more Othodox communities there is a debate about the appropriateness of various technologies, especially the internet. Chabad seems to have jumped on the technology bandwagon and has a daily ten minutes of Torah study that can be easily downloaded. For those interested there is also the Daf Yomi podcast by the Orthodox Union.

The other podcasts seem to range from an AZA chapter in Pennsylvania somewhere to various Rabbinical lectures to one from a temple in Baltimore. And of course there is the Kabbalah-themed podcast.

interestingly there is a podcast on the topic of (or produced by, the intro didn't make it too clear) a community of about 600 Jews in Uganda.
And who could forget the Catskill-style titled OyPod- the American teen Jewish podcast.

Breaking away

I hate myself so much so much somedays. I hate the way things turn out. The way I don't always evolve that way that I wish I should or could.
I am confused about who I am some days and totally sure of who I am others.

Words to describe how I'm feeling

horrible
sad
broken
shitty
sorry
stubborn
lonely
scared
unsure
terrrible
jealous
hopeful
hating
frustrated
sorrow
aching

Fleeing the Strip

We gave them Gaza and now they want to leave? I do not understand these people.

And I find it interesting that the Egyptians don't seem to want them either.

UrbanTraditional

I had to create a profile on this site to search for a friend's profile. To be honest I didn't give too much thought to what answers I chose, as they ask you silly things, like Pick Your Dominant Trait. So I just chose the basics that describe me. Didn't even put a picture up.
Some guy from Canada(!) an Icebreaker (of which there are precocious few options-"I like your profile", "I like your picture", "I'd like to see your picture", "Interesting personal descriptions") saying that he liked my profile. So I check out his. Cute picture, I'll admit, but then in the Polls section of his profile he answered "no" to the question "Would you message someone without a picture?".

I don't have a picture up on this site.

Hooking Up

I just watched part 5 of the ABC News Special Hooking Up about finding Mr. or Ms. Right online. Is it ironic or soemthing that the Executive Producer's name is Terrance Wrong?

Your Linguistic Profile:

55% General American English

35% Yankee

10% Dixie

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

(via crystalline)

A Silly Poem

I've had 2 interesting messages sent to me in the past week from my profile on Nerve.com.

One is a guy who sounds pretty cool and even lives in a nearby metro area. I'm exploring that without much serious intent, but you never know what makes friendship blossom. I wouldn't have met some of my good friends if not for JDate.

The other is someone in his 40's. He sent me a weird poem.


You're on the onion, I'm on the onion.
You're sarcastic... Well, you get the idea.
What do you do in TV, or is your career in watching TV? [Good attempt at being funny]
I'm attracted to the concept of you! [Sweet, but impersonal somehow....]

I have no idea what he means by that "onion" reference. My roommate says that sometimes I am too hard on men who are trying to get to know me or something, but the "onion" thing is really odd. Plus he's in his 40's. If you're old enough to be my dad, please don't bother. I don't have a Daddy complex. Try Craigslist.

On a related note, a friend of mine has had a few good dates with someone she met on UrbanTraditional.com Since the JDate phenom seems to have jumped the shark I wonder what will be the new JDate...?...Or if online dating is over in general....?