For the past few decades the scientific and global community have been hard at work trying to figure out ways to deal with global warming and hopefully preserve the earth’s ecosystem. Late last night, I was watching E.O.Wilson, the eminent Harvard socio-biologist, on Charlie Rose expressing his concern of the consequences of global warming and ways to deal with it (a real exciting Wednesday night in the city, I know). And today, as I was quickly glancing at the scientific section of Haaretz, hoping to squeeze in another few minutes of morning blare, an article on an environmental conference taking place at Tel Aviv University’s Porter School of Environmental Studies caught my eye.

It wasn’t the conference that got my attention, but the idea of Professor Paul J.Krutzen, holder of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Krutzen believes that he has an idea that might save the world from global warming. He suggests building gargantuan cannons that would shoot enormous quantities of sulfur into the stratosphere, thereby blocking solar radiation, and that is so frickin’ cool! Although his idea has made a buzz in the scientific world when first published in an article, a long series of potentially odiferous experiments and research will be required to examine Krutzen’s suggestions.

Scientists believe we are sitting on a ticking eco-bomb, so why not bombard the stratosphere with a gigantic cloud of noxious fumes? It seems to have worked for New Jersey. Those perpetual pink skies are not only eerily beautiful, but I have on good word, also act as a thick layer of solar insulation.

That’s cool. We love these guys. They had two performances in Israel, both in 99′. One was in Tel Aviv and the other in Beer Sheva. I think they’re still on hiatus, but when they come back we’d love to have you again. Rock on… check their website for the latest here.

Forget the movie ipod, forget watching films on your tiny cell phone screens, let’s take it up a notch people and get to the ultimate in portable movie watching, just like it is in the movies/your childhood imagination. Imagine feeling like you are watching a 60 inch tv from ten feet away, wherever you are, without shlepping a laptop or straining your eyes over a tiny ipod screen. Well thanks to Lumus-Optical, the stuff of the future is here; glasses with a little ear piece that are set to revolutionize the way we entertain and inform ourselves on the go… Check here for the full story…

In a video conference with Israel’s best in business, Trump gave his usual invaluable advice, “focus, focus, focus”. Hey, I guess when the guy is constructing the biggest building in the country we’d better listen up. Kinda kidding aside, twenty minutes with the Donald is always priceless. Check out the globes story below and here’s a link to the page with the video– you have to click the video link below the story on Trump.

Trump: Israel is one of my favorite countries

Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump: We see investment potential in Israel; it has a lot to offer.

By: Amir Keidan and Ran Rimon

US property developer Donald Trump told the “Globes” Israel business conference last night that Israel was one of his favorite countries. “I know that you’ve been through a lot recently, we’ve been following it from the US,” he said in a video conference interview together with his son and daughter from New York. “I believe Israel is a great country. You’re doing it right,” he added.

This video really speaks for itself. And if it required any preface it would be simply to think about this: how would you try and improve escape procedures from tall buildings?

No ideas?

Check this out!

“Israel is a land of contradictions…”

I wish I had a dollar (or a hundred!) for every time I heard someone begin their description of an Israel experience like that.

I mean, yes, it is true that most clichés exist because they bear a lot of truth. Yet, they are also hackneyed, over-used phrases, that most writers worth their salt will try to avoid.

But back to Israel, why is it a land of contradiction? Well, it is home to some of the world’s most ancient holy sites, and yet it is fiercely modern: responsible for inventing the latest cell phone technology, IM chats and so very much more.

It’s also a place where the locals are famed for their bluntness and sometimes “prickly” exterior. Yet it is probably the only country in the world where fellow bus passengers will take a vested interest in both your ability to descend at the right stop, but also that all the other affairs in your life are going smoothly.

For me, one of the biggest contradictions occurred when I was ordering Chinese food with my (then) boyfriend’s family in Tel Aviv. We were discussing what to order and they were keen to request a favorite dish, “white” meat.

When I realized this meant pork, I found myself in a bizarre situation, I would never have expected in the Jewish homeland: having to explain that I didn’t eat pig, because of religious beliefs. In Australia, sure. But, in Israel?

Patricia Field , undoubtedly a hidden gem in the success of Sex and the City as well as in the latest box office hit “The Devil Wears Prada”, visited Israel as the guest of Ruthie Leviev- Eliazrov, general manager of the Ramat Aviv Mall to the launch of the Treasure Trove of Brand Names.

A day before the press conference, she walked around the mall and picked up clothes from the different stores reflective of her style. According to Haaretz, she dressed the models with the same philosophy reflected in the Sex and the City wardrobe. Whether wearing a black jacket over a strapless gold-sequined top, diminutive shorts and a gigantic bag emblazoned with images of dogs; or green sweat pants, a tailored yellow coat-jacket, a black-and-white wool bag, low, gray boots and sparkling gypsy earrings, models showcased Field’s quirky combinations and emphasized the significance she attaches to both opulent and bargain-basement accessories.

1. Name: Irit Koren
2. Born in Jerusalem
3. Moved to New York on June 15th, 2006, because I married an American guy.
4. I live in the Upper West Side. Lots of energy, lots of options, colors, movement. It’s like being in the beating heart of a person.
5. For a living … I have just finished my PhD in Gender Studies at Bar Ilan University and I am currently the director of Alma NY, a branch of the well known Alma College in Israel. It is a place that aims at providing an alternative Jewish space and voice for those who have not yet found a way to express or celebrate being Jewish and Israelis, as well as for those who seek to deepen their sense of connection with their roots.

The Israeli owned internet video sharing site Metacafe is rumored to be on the auction block. They’re not getting Youtube money, but 300 million ain’t half bad…

JERUSALEM, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Online video sharing site Metacafe, a rival to Google Inc.’s YouTube site, is close to being acquired by a foreign company for as much as $300 million, Israeli financial news site Globes said on Thursday.

Globes did not name the potential acquirer but said a deal could fetch $200 million to $300 million.

The report said that founder Eyal Herzog had failed to show up for a speaking appearance at a Globes event on Monday night and that he “suddenly left for the United States last night, apparently to close the sale.” The story appeared on Thursday.

In the Jewish tradition, the anniversary of the death of a loved one is a special day, an occasion to recall the individual, to mourn their passing and to cherish the memories they left behind. We are approaching a particularly important first anniversary of death, so I wanted to post something a little more serious, a little more somber, to honor the memory of a loved one, whose passing affected so many.

Just over a year ago, after a life of more than seventy years, Fink’s Bar and Restaurant finally closed its doors. Open since before the State of Israel was born, Fink’s was the oldest bar in Jerusalem, and easily the most popular. It saw the likes of visitors like Marc Chagall, Kirk Douglas, Leonard Bernstein, Paul Newman, Henry Kissinger, and others. Everyone who was anyone ate and drank there, whether political leaders, cultural icons, or other figures of fame. Foreign correspondents from around the world came to Fink’s whenever they were based in Jerusalem, and the bar’s fame spread until Newsweek called it “one of the best bars in the world.” The bar was also featured by Time Magazine and Reader’s Digest.

According to legend, CNN’s team in Baghdad made a reservation via satellite when the first Gulf War ended – they wanted to celebrate properly.