Israeli to Green Auto Industry

This is a great story about a young Israeli Silicon Valley hot-shot who, according to the Wall Street Journal, has started a company that hopes to create peace in the Middle East and fight climate change at the same time by making electric cars easy to use and easy to buy; therefore eliminating carbon emissions from cars and our dependency on fossil fuels from regimes not interested in peace. Pretty bold I think.

From the NYT:

Reimagining the Automobile Industry by Selling the Electricity
By JOHN MARKOFF
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 28 — Shai Agassi, a Silicon Valley technologist who was in competition to become chief executive of SAP, one of the world’s largest software companies, has re-emerged with a grand plan to reinvent the world’s automobile industry around battery-powered all-electric cars.

Others are developing green cars, like the Tesla and Chevrolet Volt. However, Mr. Agassi is not planning to make cars, but instead wants to deploy an infrastructure of battery-charging stations in the United States, Europe and the developing world.

The new system will sell electric fuel on a subscription basis and will subsidize vehicle costs through leases and credits.

“We’re basically saying this is just like the cellular phone model,” he said. “If you think of Tesla as the iPhone, we’re AT&T.”

Continue reading Israeli to Green Auto Industry…

Sarah Silverman for the Arava Institute

I actually attended the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies for a year down at Kibbutz Ketura. Probably the greatest year of my life. It is by far one of the coolest schools in the world. We studied Desert Ecology by tracking animals and identifying plants, Archaeology by excavating ancient sites, Marine Ecology by diving on the reefs in Eilat every Tuesday for 9 months, and being the ultimate Kibbutnik by just hanging out on the Kibbutz. Definitely glad Silverman’s helping to raise the awareness.

From the JPOST:

Comic Sarah Silverman is serious about the Arava

——————————————————————————–
nathan burstein , THE JERUSALEM POST Oct. 25, 2007

——————————————————————————–

Talk to God and her brother-in-law, and you’ll hear very different appraisals of the kind of person Sarah Silverman is.

“You,” the Almighty says in the first episode of Silverman’s hit TV show, “are the most selfish, racist, manipulative, pompous human being alive today.”

Her brother-in-law, meanwhile, calls her a “mensch.”

The evidence appears to be on the side of her brother-in-law this fall, with the star of Comedy Central’s The Sarah Silverman Program set to headline a fund-raiser next month for the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, the ecological and coexistence center located at Kibbutz Ketura, near Eilat.

Continue reading Sarah Silverman for the Arava Institute…

What a Dump?

This is awesome. Israel’s so green we chill out in the garbage dump. In fact, Israel’s largest dump is being converted into a recycled park. Hey we’re just doing our part to keep it cool.

From the NYT:

October 24, 2007
Hiriya Journal
Recycling in Israel, Not Just Trash, but the Whole Dump
By ISABEL KERSHNER

HIRIYA, Israel — It is rare in Israel for leaders to have a site named for them while they are still alive. It is more bizarre for the object of dedication to be a colossal garbage dump, for decades the country’s most conspicuous — and smelliest — eyesore.

But on Oct. 28, in the hazy light of afternoon, Israel’s president, prime minister, senior politicians, mayors and business leaders plan to gather on this flat-topped brown mound, known as Hiriya, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, just by Ben-Gurion International Airport, and name it the Ariel Sharon Park.

This is an unusual yet fitting honor for Mr. Sharon, the iconoclastic soldier and statesman, farmer and former prime minister who suffered a crippling stroke in January 2006. Mr. Sharon, known familiarly as the Bulldozer, still lies in a coma in a hospital just visible from the top of the dump.

Ensuring that Hiriya and the flat flood lands around it would be reclaimed as open green space for the residents of southern Tel Aviv, rather than falling into the hands of eager real estate developers, was one of the last and lesser known battles fought by Mr. Sharon. “It was very important to him that they wouldn’t build there,” said Omri Sharon, his older son. “It was very close to his heart.”

Continue reading What a Dump?…

Vote for Ehud Segev in NBC’s “Phenomenon”

Israeli talent Ehud Segev is one of 10 carefully selected mentalists who will compete live against one another in NBC’s new TV series, Phenomenon.

The show, hosted by world-renowned mystifier Criss Angel (Criss Angel Mindfreak) and famed mentalist Uri Geller, is based on a successful Israeli version that achieved record-breaking audiences.

Segev has been chosen as the opening act, where he’ll compete against world-class mentalists in a show of spellbinding illusions. Plus, catch your favorite celebrities being called to stage as volunteers in the acts.

Will Segev be the next Phenomenon? You decide. Tune in to NBC on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at 8 p.m. (ET) and cast your vote online.

A Must See Video

Here’s a story many of you, our distinguished followers, may not be familiar with, but should be.

Enjoy!

Best Ebay Bid of the Week

From Ebay:

The INSA - NOMAD Mission Challenge

You are bidding on the opportunity to become a Stellar Corporate Sponsor for a real orbital space mission. The first phase of the INSA – NOMAD mission is the 2009 launch of the technology demonstration satellite. A reservation has already been made for a launch on a Russian DNEPR rocket. INSA - NOMAD will comply with the CubeSat Standard and will weigh 5 kilos. Your corporate logo can be up to 20 x 10 cm. This Mission will be limited to two Stellar Corporate Sponsors. Stellar Corporate Sponsorship provides for mission co-branding and strategic logo placement, as well as media and press publicity opportunities for your company. $50,000 has been raised and has already been utilized for purchasing the Nanosatellite bus components. Funding of $200,000 will be raised through securing of the two Stellar Corporate Sponsorships and additional funding will be raised through minor sponsorships. Young professionals and technical students space pioneers need your help, and in return they will help bring positive attention and publicity for your company!

This project is a joint venture between the International Space University (ISU) and the Israeli Nano-Satellite Association (INSA). This is your Company’s opportunity to participate with a group of super talented young professional and students who are making a tremendous impact on space activities. All proceeds from the asking price of this auction will be invested directly into mission and launch cost. Any proceeds above the asking cost will be applied toward ISU scholarship funds.

Unless otherwise noted, proceeds from the auction, held in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the dawn of the space age, will be used to create a scholarship fund in the U.S. to support deserving students seeking to attend the International Space University (ISU). ISU is registered in the U.S. as a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization; therefore, a portion of the purchase price may be tax-deductible for U.S. tax filers. Successful bidders should consult with their tax advisors.

Teapacks in NYC

Good news all, our fav not so controversial but caused lots of controversy rock/punk band from embattled Israeli city Sderot is in NYC to rock the house. Details below:

Kobi Oz/Teapacks & Izabo

Oct 21, 8pm @ Highline Ballroom

Details Part of the 2007 Oyhoo Festival
Two great Israeli bands on one bill: Kobi Oz & Teapacks with their song “Push the Button” was Israel’s entry for the Eurovision contest. It raised a Brou-Ha-Ha by the European organizers, as it referred indirectly to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The YouTube video featuring the hit song instantly was viewed by over a million people.

Izabo’s music has been described as a “Brilliant, action packed combination of Psychedelic Rock, Disco, Punk and Arabic spices”, or, if we are to name-drop, like an unlikely cross between Led Zeppelin, the Talking Heads, and Om Koltom.

$30.00. Highline Ballroom - 431 W 16th St, (btwn 9th and 10th Ave.). For more information please call:212-414-5994
visit:www.oyhoo.com
www.highlineballroom.com

And the Winner IS!!!!

Congrats Haggai, you’re flying to New York courtesy of the America Israel Friendship League!

We’d like to thank everyone who participated in our little contest by submitting videos, viewing them on the blog and voting at Madison Square Garden. And to the other 4 finalists who did not win this time, we’d like you to know that the voting was close, and of course we’ll be having more competitions with even bigger and better prizes.

So until next time, shalom peoples…

MySpace in Israeli Space

In an effort to shamelessly self-promote, we’d like to point out a story in the Israeli press (see below) about MySpace making a play for the Israeli market. Yes, we were the first country to have our own MySpace page, and You Tube channel, and blogs, and street interviews, and a You Tube Video Contest, and featured in a men’s mag of questionable morals, and loads of other cool stuff we’re not even going to tell you about (all of which we here at the Consulate created of course), so it’s about time one of these internets giants comes to play in our house.

So until our next totally cool new media branding stunt, here’s the MySpace piece:

From Yedioth:

MySpace, the most popular online networking site, is taking its first steps in Israel. A help wanted ad published by the company read: “MySpace is expanding and will include content suitable for Israelis, such as language and site content.”

MySpace therefore seeking a general manager and content manager for an Israeli branch. Since there are many Israeli users on MySpace and since it’s possible to type in Hebrew on the site, these users have been able to cope with the fact that MySpace is designed for the English language. Now it looks like MySpace intends to directly address its Israeli audience.

Continue reading MySpace in Israeli Space…

Maccabi Knicks Israel Festival

Here’s a video of the Israel Festival at Madison Square Garden before the NY Knicks crushed our beloved Maccabi. The 5 contest finalists were screened during the festival and we received thousands of votes, which we’re still counting. We should be able to announce the winner soon!