The Wandering Mind of A USC Senior: February 2016

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Stick Shift for Dummies

In the days of new electronic cars, fuel efficiency, and faster transmissions, manual cars are dying every year in the United States. With that being said, it is still a very nifty skill to have. Manual cars are significantly cheaper to buy or rent. Manual cars are still hugely being used in other countries around the world because of the cheaper price. It takes some practice and lots of mistakes but the concept of driving manual is actually very simple.

Step 1: Know the new material

With a manual car, there are a few new things in the car that you need to be familiar with.

A. There is no PRND

In a manual car, there is no PARK, DRIVE, or NEUTRAL option rather there are anywhere from 4-7 gears (depending on the car) to move the car forward. The gears are capped at a speed. The lowest gear is the smallest and makes the car work harder (increased RPM's) as you speed up. This is why you switch to 2nd gear to decrease the RPM's and have the car work less. This is a general rule of when to switch gears....

1st: 0-15 MPH
2nd: 15-20 MPH
3rd: 20-30 MPH
4th: 30-40 MPH
5th: 40-55 MPH
6th: 55-65 MPH
7th: 65+

When the stick shift is in place in the middle and you're able to wiggle it right and left it means the car is in neutral.

B: There is a 3rd pedal

The 3rd pedal is to be used with your left foot. The gas and the brake are used normally with your right foot

Step 2: Taking Off

Taking off with a stick shift car is always the hardest part. Make sure to practice on a flat surface so the car will not roll as you try to start from 0 MPH.

First thing to do is to learn the friction point on your clutch. As you press in the clutch and release it, there is a point on the release that the clutch begins to touch the gears. Get familiar with this point. Now for the take off! Press the clutch in, move the stick shift into first gear, give gas at around 2000-3000 RPM's and slowly release the clutch. At the friction point you will feel the car starts to move. DONT BE NERVOUS! Maintain the slowness and take off!

Step 3: Changing Gears

You're in first gear! Congrats! As you speed up you see the RPM's start to increase. What to do now? Slowly release your foot off the gas, press in the clutch, move the stick lever down to 2nd gear, and release the clutch. The clutch doesnt need to be released as slow, but still not too fast. This is the same process in upshifting and downshifting.

Step 4: Coming to a stop.

If you want to come to a stop you would normally brake in a automatic car but a stick shift is slightly different. As you are braking to come to the stop, press in the clutch and move the lever to neutral. In neutral you can release the clutch as fast as you want and you will be at a complete stop.

Good luck and dont be nervous!

Sunday, February 21, 2016

The Farmer 2nd Post

The rest of the novel Growing A Farmer has showed me the value of our American farming system in our world today. They work so hard and yet there are so many factors that need to be considered while doing their job. Kurt portrayed the value of being efficient in the book. He has proved time after time that in order to run a successful farm you need to put all your heart and soul into the business. When you truly feel love and passion for what you do, it is only then you will work your heart out to run and improve the business the best way you possible can.

The novel implemented the theme of always improving. The farm, even though runs well from any fruit like raspberries to onions, seems like it can always be improved. This is somewhat of the greed that comes from our corporate world but adjusted into the farm. As well and efficient the farm can run there is always room for improvement just like the greed of money from business owners and politicians.

Timmermeister's story really left an impression on me. As someone who enjoys pushing himself to the limits in every aspect of my life, I admire the determination from Kurt and to keep his harvest going. It made me realize that the sky is the limit and I can go above and beyond in every aspect of my life. Coming from someone who wishes to get into Real Estate, the most important thing is persistence. Being able to have the will power to constantly call brokers and not give up is essential. Even after a good deal goes through, the motivation to keep the business expanding and take more risks is the epitome of successful expansion. I came into this book with an empty mind, and leaving with sheer determination to keep improving myself.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Drafting into the Israeli Army as a Lone Soldier

Brandon Halavi

Professor Clark Hansen

WRIT 340, Section 66781

Assignment #1 IDF Expert Article

You did it. You made the most difficult decision of your life. Leaving home, friends, and family to fight in a foreign army is not easy but you decided to become a part of something much bigger than yourself. All the respect! But you're probably thinking, what now? I remember exactly how you are feeling. All the adrenaline but you have no idea where to begin. You may not even speak one word of Hebrew. The purpose of this article is to guide you through the various options you have to enlist into the Israeli Defense Forces. There is no "best" option, just different options for different kinds of people.

Deciding to make Aliyah?

Aliyah is the process of obtaining Israeli Citizenship. It provides benefits ONLY if you wish to live in Israel following your service. The benefits include:

A stipend for 18,412 NIS( New Israeli Shekel)
Free Hebrew Ulpan Course for non-speakers
Assistance in cost of University after service
Reduced car tax rate
Reduced mortgage rate
Income Tax Break
Foreign Tax Break

**IMPORTANT** If you make Aliyah and decide to return to your home country after your service, you lose these benefits if you again wish to return to Israel. Make sure to decide if living in Israel is something you feel confident you want to do after your service.

Option 1: Machal

Machal is a program set up by the Israeli Army to help diaspora Jews enlist for a shorter period of time. You receive Lone Soldier status which will give you more benefits than a regular soldier and does not require you to make Aliyah.

Advantages:

Shorter length of service: 18 months (14.5 months for native speakers) compared to 3 years for native male soldiers, and 2 years for native female soldiers
Paid 2137 NIS/month (500 NIS more than regular soldiers)
Subsidized housing up to 300 NIS/month
Monthly stipend of 120 NIS in participating grocery markets
Not required to make Aliyah
Entitled to 30 days/year of service to return home

**Note: 1 New Israeli Shekel=0.27 US Dollar

Disadvantages:

Flight to Israel and back home is NOT subsidized
Must visit various Agencies and Ministries before recieving a draft date
Must arrive in Israel 3 months before the next draft date
Must find an apartment yourself (3 months before draft date is NOT subsidized)
Usually alone during your service on the weekends
Must take care of your own errands throughout your service

I've heard many horror stories of close friends who were waiting up to even A YEAR to receive a draft date. The process includes going through several government offices, waiting in various lines, and arguing with many people. The government takes time with these sort of things so don't expect to get there and enlist right away. Keep in mind that the life of a Lone Soldier is incredibly difficult. You'll be lacking sleep, energy, and time to take care of basic necessities. Coming home on the weekends to an empty apartment that you have to clean and do laundry after a tough week is the last thing you will want to do. I recommend this path to those who are EXTREMELY independent.

Option 2: Making Aliyah

This option is for those who made the choice to move to Israel permanently to start a new life. Once you make Aliyah you automatically receive a draft date and your length of service is determined by your age the time you land in Israel.

Aliyah Length of Service

Age of Arrival	Single Men	Married Men	Women*
18-19	32 months	24 months	24 months
20-21	24 months	18 months	12 months
22-27	Exempt/Eligible to volunteer for a minimum of 18 months		Exempt/Eligible to volunteer for a minimum of 12 months
28 and over	Exempt/Not eligible to volunteer

Advantages:

Receive all the Aliyah benefits listed above in the first paragraph^
Become a part of Israeli society
Best way to start a new life in a new country

Disadvantages:

Once you arrive to Israel, you are bound by law to the country/the army (Basically no turning back)

If you truly wish to make Aliyah, think long and hard on the decision. Once you arrive in Israel, it will be extremely difficult to return to your home country and avoid your army service. It needs to be something you feel 100% confident in doing.

Option 3: Garin Tzabar (Recommended!)

As someone who has done this program, it is an option I HIGHLY recommend. Garin Tzabar takes individuals around the world who wish to enlist in the Israeli Army and sets them in a group environment. You have 4 seminars to get to know the "garin" before you all fly to Israel together. You are then set up on a kibbutz (community housing) where you will all have bedrooms together and spend the weekends as a group.

Advantages:

Free housing and food with the group you flew to Israel with
The program fills out all the paperwork and enlistment becomes very simple
Housing provides basic services such as laundry and errands for free
3.5 month absorption period before enlisting in the army (Hebrew classes, tours around the country, etc...)
Connections to get higher positions in the army
Garin considered support group during tough times in the army

Disadvantages:

Required to make Aliyah
Regardless of age, must serve two years minimum
Must live on the kibbutz for one year (after that it's your choice of housing)

Garin Tzabar is a program that never makes a Lone Soldier feel "alone." Its a support group, as well as a group to have a great time with. It makes the army transition process much simpler than doing it yourself through Machal. Being an infantry soldier in the army, my life was incredibly difficult. I would be running on 3-4 hours of sleep a night while barely eating any food. By the way, when I say "food" I mean canned tuna and stale bread. But what was getting me through the week is knowing that Friday morning I would be taking the bus back to my Garin to tell them all about it. To share the stories, the laughters, and even the cries. Garin Tzabar Video

Like I said at the beginning, each option suits different people. It all comes down to what you are truly looking for in the army. In my experience in the army, I've learned that every position is honorable. Just the fact that you are leaving everything to give to a land that has given you so much is admirable. Take some time, clear your mind, and envision yourself in each one of these options. Pick the one is right for your current situation. If you feel confident then DO IT and don't look back. Behatzlakha!

Sunday, February 7, 2016

The Life of A Farmer

The book struck me as surprising. Never would I have thought that a farmer's life would be that difficult. As a child, we are learned that farmers have a simple life on their field. I mean really how hard could it be? You have a few animals and some plantations, it's not rocket science! Boy was I wrong. Growing a Farmer has seriously opened my eyes to our fellow human beings who allow us to eat the way we do everywhere in the world. I found it poetic that the cover of Kurt Timmermeister's book portrayed two forks. One for the viscous work on the farmland, the other to eat dinner. It bridges the connection between the two worlds and how they come together.

I was particularly interested in the Bee Keeper section of the chapter. As someone who is scared of bee's I completely felt what the farmer was going through when he had to extract the honey. It really engrained into my head that this is not an easy task whatsoever and the life of a farmer is extremely hard. They have so much responsibility and on top of that there is also very hard physical labor involved. It makes me realize where I am going on my own path. I know the road will be hard, but i need to ensure it will be satisfying. The life of a farmer is hard with not much return, but seems very gratifying and thats what keeps them going. I want to be able to share that feeling in my life and be truly happy with what I will become.