https://youtu.be/1t8-x3uOSqY
And:
https://nyti.ms/2GpDTBt
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Is noise abatement more important than protecting our borders? Democrats think so.
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The free market produces $2 /gallon gas. (See 1 below.)
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A comment with which I totally agree from a wise friend and fellow memo reader:
"Acknowledged and understood. I didn’t tie Trump’s firing of Mattis to Obama’s actions for any other reason than to point out the utter hypocrisy of the progressive left and the mainstream media, both of whom who were notably deaf mutes when Obama did the same thing for essentially the same reason five short years ago.
In my view, Mattis had no other choice. You either wholeheartedly support your superior officers or you resign. You don’t whine about how that superior doesn’t know what he’s doing or moan about what terrible decisions he makes, or secretly try to undermine that superior’s authority and job performance. Indeed, that’s what the deep state is all about; way, way too many Obama holdovers who are undermining daily the President’s ability to do his promised job. The FBI, CIA, NSA, and the Obama State Department are just a small fraction of the cowards who resent Trump’s election but don’t have the courage to resign and instead will do anything to destroy his ability to get things done. Why Trump didn’t demand everyone in the previous administration hand in his/her resignation on January 4, 2017 I don’t know. He’s reaping the consequence of not doing so. Should be a lesson to all future incumbents but probably won’t be. E." (See 2 below.)
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From Daniel Krauthammer.
He will be appearing at The Savannah Book Festival. (See 3 below.)
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More Ordman good news from Israel . (See 4 below.)
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Dick
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1)
IBD Editorial
Economics: What seemed like an impossibility just a few years ago is now a reality for many across the country: gasoline that costs less than $2 a gallon. It's amazing for many reasons.
USA Today reports that almost one in five gas stations in the country are charging less than $2 a gallon. As many as eight states could soon have an average price of under $2, the paper said, citing data from GasBuddy.
The national average for gasoline last week was under $2.40, according to the Department of Energy. In the Midwest and the Gulf Coast, it's barely above $2.
$2 a Gallon in Context
Let's put that in some context. First, there was a time not too long ago when President Obama insisted that $2-a-gallon gas was a thing of the past. "We can't just drill our way to lower gas prices," was his constant refrain.
Earlier this year, Democrats made hay when gas prices neared $3 a gallon. Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer blamed "President Trump's reckless decision to pull out of the Iran deal." He said it caused "soaring gas prices, something we know disproportionately hurts middle- and lower-income people."
Last we checked, Schumer wasn't crediting Trump for today's low prices.
And gas prices are low. Almost unbelievably so. At $2 a gallon, they are as low as they were back in 1986, after adjusting for inflation.
Today's low prices look even more remarkable when you compare them to other common liquid commodities.
A Bargain At Twice the Price
The nationwide average price for a gallon of milk, for example, is $2.61, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Walmart sells a 24-pack of bottled water at the equivalent of $3.14 a gallon. A generic gallon of orange juice costs $3.44 a gallon. A gallon of eggnog is $7. A gallon of honey, $20.
Printer ink is roughly $3,000 a gallon. And if you had to fill your tank with Chanel No. 5, it would cost around $10,000 a gallon.
Now consider what it takes to bring gasoline to the pump and sell it for $2 a gallon. (And, keep in mind that federal and state taxes account for 30 cents of that price, on average.)
First, there's the problem of finding it, which requires laborious and costly exploration. Then there's the challenge of getting it out from under miles of earth and rock using high-tech drilling technology. That's to say nothing of the added challenges of recovering offshore oil.
Next, the oil has to be shipped — often thousands of miles — to refineries located in three areas of the country. And from there, distributed by pipeline and truck to gas stations across the country.
The fact that this product ever sells for less than $2 a gallon is one of the best — and least appreciated — examples of the benefits of a free market there is.
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2)
Mattis Was Always on Borrowed Time
Editorial of The New York Sun
The idea that the resignation of General Mattis as secretary of defense is a startling development that comes out of the blue strikes us as wishful thinking on the part of critics of President Trump. The general may have been irked by Mr. Trump’s plan to pull our GIs out of Syria. The record suggests, though, Mr. Mattis’ tenure as defense secretary has long been on borrowed time.
For in respect of policy, General Mattis has always struck us as crosswise with the president. This was foreshadowed before the 2016 election, when the general, at the time the former commander of CentCom, was interviewed by Wolf Blitzer at an Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. That’s the appearance where the Jar Head blamed our troubles in the Middle East on Israel.
After praising our “valiant” secretary of state, John Kerry, the general complained at Aspen: “I paid a military security price every day as the commander of CentCom because the Americans were seen as biased in support of Israel, and that moderates all the moderate Arabs who want to be with us, because they can’t come out publicly in support of people who don’t show respect for the Arab Palestinians.”
So why the new president put General Mattis at the top of the Pentagon is a mystery. Mr. Trump, after all, had just won the presidency in a campaign focused against precisely the foreign policy of President Obama and Secretaries Kerry and Hillary Clinton. Mr. Trump took to the voters their support for the Paris climate accord and the Iran appeasement and hostility to the Jerusalem Embassy.
In winning the election, the President gained a mandate on every one of those issues (the Jerusalem embassy had been sought for 20 years by an almost unanimous Congress). None of the President’s promises could have been a surprise to General Mattis when he took the Pentagon job. Yet he groused about them constantly. It’s amazing to us that Mr. Trump didn’t dismiss General Mattis earlier.
This is a context in which the general’s letter of resignation is, to our ear, all too arch. The general writes that he has “strongly held” views on “treating allies with respect” and “being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors.” He also writes that we must “advance an international order that is most conducive to our security, prosperity and values.”
Well, Jim Mattis Dandy, but what exactly is he suggesting? Is it that Mr. Trump is not “clear-eyed” about, say, the Iranians? Mr. Trump is the only one who rejects appeasement. Is he saying that it’s Mr. Trump’s fault that the North Atlantic Treaty is under strain? We’ve been paying our part. It’s the Europeans who have lagged, and only Mr. Trump who’s looking out for American taxpayers.
As for “treating allies with respect,” moreover, Mr. Trump’s precipitous announcement of his plan to withdraw from Syria was supposedly made after a phone conversation with, in Recep Erdogan, the president of a country that, in Turkey, is our formal treaty ally. If it was Mr. Erdogan who talked Mr. Trump into pulling out of Syria, maybe it’s a reminder that alliances have their albatrosses as well as their eagles.
We recognize that there are serious figures who warn that Mr. Trump will regret losing General Mattis. One of them, Bloomberg’s foreign policy columnist Eli Lake (a veteran of the Sun),
articulated that view back in October. That was after Mr. Trump told Columbia Broadcasting System’s “60 Minutes” that Secretary Mattis “is sort of a Democrat” — a “kiss of death,” Mr. Lake quips.
Our own view is that having a “sort of” — or even an actual — Democrat in a Republican cabinet isn’t the worst thing. It could even be a virtue, particularly in foreign policy, where our differences are supposed to stop at the water’s edge. It requires, though, the figure from the out-of-power party to have a tough enough hide to be in the minority and to understand that our constitutional structure makes any president the adult in the room.
________
This editorial was expanded from the first edition with a paragraph in respect of Turkey.
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3)
Dear Dick
My name is Daniel Krauthammer. I am Charles Krauthammer’s son. I'm writing to you because you sent an email to letters@charleskrauthammer.com this past summer, either when you learned from my father’s final column that he did not have long to live, or just weeks later when you learned that he had passed away.
I want you to know that your emails were received. And they meant a great deal to me and to my whole family. We have been profoundly moved by what you wrote, the thoughts and prayers and praise you expressed for my father, and the feelings of personal connection to him that you described. As I'm sure you can imagine, these last months have been an extraordinarily difficult time for my family. But your words and your kindness have brought us great comfort. I hope you can know our deep and profound gratitude to you — for following my father and his work for so many years, and for caring enough to write to him and to us when it mattered most.
It is of the utmost importance to my family and to my father's friends and colleagues to preserve and honor his memory. And it is to that end that I wish to let you know about several efforts that have been undertaken to maintain and advance his legacy:
A book: The Point of It All: A Lifetime of Great Loves and Endeavors. When my father fell ill, he was in the advanced stages of work on a new book, which he entrusted to me to complete for him. That book—a collection from four decades of my father's columns, essays, speeches and many never-before-published writings — was released two weeks ago and debuted at #2 on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list. It is available wherever books are sold.
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A TV special: Charles Krauthammer: Making His Point. This Sunday, December 23, at 10pm ET (with several re-broadcasts to follow) Fox News Channel will air a new 1-hour documentary special that will explore my father's life and his legacy.
Opportunities for young people: several scholarships, fellowships and educational seminars and courses have already been established in my father's memory. For any young people interested to apply, they offer a variety of opportunities to advance their education and to do work in the fields that my father influenced most throughout his career.
The book, the website, the special and all the other memorial projects will all serve to preserve my father's memory and to keep his words and thoughts alive for future generations. In case you might wish to receive update emails from time to time about progress on these projects, as well as new projects that are currently being planned, you can sign up on my father's website by entering your email address on this page:
My entire family and I wish to extend you all our deepest thanks. Your compassion and prayer and thoughtfulness has been a great comfort to us throughout this most difficult of times.
With my sincere and lasting gratitude,
Daniel Krauthammer
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4) Pathways to the future - Israel's Good News Newsletter
In this week's positive Israel newsletter, Israelis have found new ways to benefit humanity and also to keep it safe in times of crisis..
I will be in the UK for the next 3 weeks, for two family celebrations. I might not have time to publish a newsletters every week, but will try my best.
In the 23rd Dec 18 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
- Israeli scientists can detect the moment the first blood cell becomes cancerous.
- Israel helps Christians in Israel and Gaza celebrate their holiday.
- An Israeli anti-drone system resolved the chaos at London’s Gatwick airport.
- Israeli security protects critical power suppliers in the US, Europe and Asia.
- Four Israeli startups make the final ten of UN tourism competition.
- If disaster strikes Japan, an Israeli system will maintain communications.
- Quentin Tarantino’s bride wore Israeli dresses at her wedding.
- Archaeologists have discovered the remains of Sodom.
- ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Stem cell treatment for MS. Israel’s BrainStorm has received FDA approval to use its Nurown stem cells in a Phase 2 trial for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS affects approximately 1 million individuals in the U.S. and 2.5 million individuals worldwide. Nurown is already in a Phase 3 trial for ALS (see here).
https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/12/17/1667840/0/en/FDA-Accepts-BrainStorm-s-NurOwn-IND-Application-for-Progressive-Multiple-Sclerosis.html
Revealing the secrets of multiple myeloma. Scientists from Israel’s Weizmann Institute together with other Israeli blood cancer experts, have captured the specific gene program active in each individual cell. They can now identify pre-cancer cells, for early diagnosis and treatment of the deadly multiple myeloma disease.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/profiling-killer-warm-blood
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-018-0269-2
Targeting bone marrow to destroy tumors. Israeli researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered that breast cancer tumors boost their growth by recruiting stromal cells that originate in bone marrow. Targeting these cells with new therapies could be an effective way of treating the deadly disease.
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/health-and-medicine/breast-cancer-grows-by-recruiting-cells-from-bone-marrow/2018/12/11/ http://jem.rupress.org/content/215/12/3075
New pathway may alleviate anxiety. Anxiety disorders can affect billions of people. Scientists at Israel’s Weiizmann Institute have discovered a new neural mechanism underlying anxiety. It involves protein importin alpha-5, gene MeCP2 and signal molecule S1P. Targeting this biochemical pathway may lead to new therapies.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/importins-anxiety
http://jem.rupress.org/content/215/12/3075
Groundbreaking CT-Scanning. The Radiology department at Israel’s Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem has been conducting joint research with Philips Medical Systems. It has resulted in a laboratory to study dual energy CT techniques using an experimental IQon Spectral CT scanner that is the first of its kind in the world.
http://www.spectralctlearningcenter.philips.com/
http://www.israel-radiology.org.il/images/ISRA2017Abstracts.pdf
The watch that watches you. I reported previously (Jun 2017) on Israel’s Cardiacsense and its watch that watches over your heart. Its sensors monitor heart activity and blood pressure. For those at risk of stroke or cardiac arrest it can detect arrythmia, arterial fibrillation and alert doctors. Watch COO Liat Shemesh on ILTV.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dORVCXW_jxc https://club.tgt.co.il/en/project-35/cardiacsense/
Engineering meets medicine for maximum impact. Engineers, researchers and physicians at Israel’s Technion literally work “hand in glove”. They developed artificial skin so burns victims can feel again. A robotic system to perform brain and spine surgery. Ingestible chemotherapy nano-delivery tubes and more.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/engineering-meets-medicine-for-maximum-impact/
New Israeli faculty for Medicinal Chemistry. Thanks to a major donation, Israel’s Weizmann Institute is establishing the Dr. Barry Sherman Institute for Medicinal Chemistry. Scientists will research compounds that can become therapies for autoimmune diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and infectious diseases.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/weizmann-institute-science-establishes-dr-barry-sherman-institute-medicinal-chemistry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Sherman
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Reaching the remote. (TY JobKatif) Two Israeli charities are changing the lives of two hard-to-reach groups. SAHI (Sayeret Hessed Yihudit - Special Grace Unit) encourages at-risk teens to volunteer to distribute food to the poor. Yad Tamar (Tamar Fund International) helps cancer patients get economic and social entitlements.
https://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Reaching-the-remote-573663
http://www.sahi-israel.org/#/home https://vimeo.com/182269764 (terrific video)
http://www.yadtamar.org.il/The%2DHUG%2DModel.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UdoeYwD88k
On your bike. (TY JobKatif) 700 Israeli high schools in 12 cities participate in Rochvim Rachok (riding far) programs. Currently, 160 at-risk teens have changed their ways and joined Rochvim Rachok’s monthly bike trips. They also learn bicycle maintenance at Netanya’s Wingate Institute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSLOrFE9aY0https://vimeo.com/270537231
Russian-Israeli meets Yeshiva student who saved his life. When Russian-born Alex contracted leukemia, he contacted Ezer Mizion who found a 10-out-of-10 match on their bone-marrow database. Shlomo (like many Haredi students at Jerusalem’s Meir Yeshiva) had registered his DNA. 9 years later, they met - brothers in arms.
http://www.ezermizion.org/blog/youll-always-be-my-hero/
The most diverse sports center. NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo inaugurated Jerusalem’s 9,290 sqm Sylvan Adams sports complex (the largest in the Middle East). It will be the venue for the 30 teams of Jewish, Muslim and Christian 11-to 13-year-olds playing in the Junior NBA Jerusalem International YMCA League.
https://www.israel21c.org/israels-largest-new-sports-center-opens-its-doors-wide-to-diversity/
Festive support for Israeli Christians. (TY Hazel) As every year, the Jerusalem municipality distributed free Christmas trees to Jerusalem’s Christian residents. Israel’s KKL-JNF distributed trees to residents in Northern Israel. Israel also authorized hundreds of Gaza’s Christians to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth.
http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=73423
http://www.kkl-jnf.org/about-kkl-jnf/green-israel-news/december-2018/christmas-tree-distribution/
https://www.tv7israelnews.com/israel-issues-650-entry-permits-for-gazan-christians-ahead-of-christmas/
Co-existence project to clean up Judea. Hundreds of journalists and social media personalities attended the recent 3-day Jewish Media Summit in Jerusalem. On day 2, 40 of them chose one of four options – a trek to Judea to hear about the project where Jews and Palestinian Arabs pick up trash together to “clean the hate”.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/cleaning-trash-for-peace-in-israels-heartland/
http://www.jewishagency.org/blog/1/article/16861
The Israeli ambulance driver. (TY Ted Belman) Brigitte Gabriel was born Hanan Qahwaji, to Lebanese Maronite Christian parents. She relates her first encounter with an Israeli - who drove her and her wounded mother to Israel for treatment. I try to avoid politics, so don’t watch beyond 4 minutes if you do too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn-yq6By82E
10 years of Innovation: Africa. An unmissable video. Over the last 10 years, the Israeli NGO Innovation: Africa has used Israeli technology to pump water and provide electricity to schools and medical centers in African villages. The NGO has saved thousands of lives and benefited over a million Africans in 10 countries.
https://vimeo.com/306635168
The 22nd person was alive. IsraAID co-CEO Yotam Polizer describes some of the amazing work of the Israeli NGO. In one example he personally helped rescue the last survivor of the Nepal earthquake. She had been buried for six days and was found only after pulling out 21 bodies. She is now back with her children.
https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/israaid-the-ngo-providing-help-in-some-of-the-world-s-hardest-hit-crisis-zones-1.473599
Arab and Muslim skies are opening to Israel. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Oman’s leader Qaboos bin Said al Said has given El Al permission to fly over Oman’s airspace. He said Israel can also now overfly Egypt, Sudan and Chad and cut flight times to South America by at least 2 hours.
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Netanyahu-announces-Oman-allowed-El-Al-to-utilize-its-airspace-573942
Israeli anti-drone system helps re-open Gatwick. All flights at London’s Gatwick airport were suspended for 3 days at its busiest time due to unauthorized drones. The UK army eventually deployed the Drone Dome defense system that they bought from Israel’s Rafael Systems in August. (Not good news for the BBC though)
https://www.jpost.com/International/Israeli-anti-drone-technology-brings-an-end-to-Gatwick-Airport-chaos-575054 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6519211/The-2-6m-Israeli-Drone-Dome-Army-used-defeat-Gatwick-UAV.html https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-46658868
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
An Israel-Africa Agriculture Innovation Center. A team of leading scientists from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as senior representatives of the Syngenta Foundation visited Israel to agree the goals for a new Israel-Africa Agriculture Innovation Center.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/startupnationcentral/2018/12/17/africa-israel-exploring-joint-agriculture-innovation-center/#108d32104e9f
Out of sight! I reported previously (July 2017) on Israel’s Airobotics when Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority authorized it to fly the first fully-automated commercial drones in Israel. Now, it is the first to receive the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificate of waiver to initiate Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations.
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israeli-drone-start-up-awarded-unique-US-operations-waiver-573806
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3751618,00.html
Surveying with multiple drones. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s vHive uses Artificial Intelligence to control fleets of sensor-loaded autonomous drones. vHive provides industries such as civil engineering, construction, telecoms, rail and infrastructure to quickly inspect large sites and projects. http://www.vhive.ai/solution-overview/
Mind the data. Calcalist’s annual Mind the Data conference at the Tel Aviv Convention Center, brought together entrepreneurs and executives from Israeli companies and multinationals. They discussed how big data and artificial intelligence can be used to tackle the challenges faced by industry and society.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3752004,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3751480,00.html
Israeli software for Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year”. Time Magazine has partnered with Israeli content creation startup Apester to conduct Time’s annual “Person of the Year” survey. It is the third consecutive year that Time has employed Apester for the survey.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3751518,00.html
Soybeans resistant to roundworms. Nematode (roundworm) infestation costs US farmers $1.3 billion a year. Israeli biotech Evogene has partnered with Brazilian plant breeder TMG, to develop non-GMO nematode resistant soybeans. Evogene will utilize genome editing technologies on TMG’s commercial soybean lines.
http://www.evogene.com/press_release/evogene-and-tmg-announce-collaboration-to-develop-nematode-resistant-soybean-through-genome-editing/
Securing critical industry. (TY OurCrowd) Israeli-led cybersecurity specialist CyberX focuses on defending critical national infrastructure including top US, European and Asia-Pacific energy companies. It just joined the GE Digital Alliance - to help grow industry’s digital ecosystem while securing its use of the Internet of Things.
https://cyberx-labs.com/press-releases/cyberx-announces-participation-in-ge-digital-alliance-program/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyxTMNn9lsw
Israel’s largest wind tunnel. The Environmental Wind Tunnel Laboratory at Israel’s Institute for Biological Research spans three floors in Ness Ziona. The tunnel is used for environmental research, (e.g. pollution dispersion) safety and urban planning and as a platform for developing new research fields in Israel and abroad.
https://www.jpost.com/Magazine/An-exclusive-look-into-Israels-largest-wind-tunnel-573661
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Boot camp for entrepreneurs in the South. Nefesh B’Nefesh has launched its inaugural Entrepreneur Boot Camp” to foster growth across Israel's South. The 6-week program for Olim (immigrant) innovators is in partnership with KKL Israel, JNF - USA, the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration.
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Nefesh-BNefesh-launches-initiative-for-entrepreneurs-to-support-South-573857
Jerusalem is rebuilding. I’ve reported previously (see here) (and here) on some of the huge business construction projects being planned for Jerusalem. This new article contains some more details on both the 300,000 square meters City Entrance project and Mobileye’s new 135,000 square meters campus.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3751530,00.html
Israel joins international financial task force. Israel has joined the prestigious Financial Action Task Force (FATF) an inter-governmental body committed to fighting the increased global terror financing and money-laundering problem. Israel can now help FATF in its work putting pressure on international sponsors of terror.
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-picked-to-join-task-force-combating-global-terror-financing-573938
El Al launches direct route to Las Vegas. El Al Israel Airlines has announced its sixth direct route to the United States – Las Vegas. The new (initially once-a-week) service will start in June. El Al already flies direct to New York, Boston, Miami, and Los Angeles. A new direct route to San Francisco begins in May.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3751721,00.html
Four Israeli finalists in UN tourism competition. (TY Calcalistech and Israel21c) 2771 startups from 132 countries entered the UN’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) competition. The 10 finalists include 4 Israeli startups. They are Pruvo Net, SeeVoov (GoBeenThere), Howazit (see here) and Refundit (see here)..
https://www.timesofisrael.com/four-israeli-startups-reach-final-stage-of-un-travel-tech-competition/
https://www.pruvo.net/en-US https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI9W0nkoj4U
https://www.seevoov.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e4ijgcYXH0https://vimeo.com/275994844
Skoda unveils new car in Israel. (TY Calcalistech) Czech automaker Škoda unveiled its new Škoda Scala compact family car to 300 reporters from 22 countries in Petah Tikva. It is the first time a global automaker has globally debuted a car in Israel. The car features a constant internet connection and a new infotainment system.
https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/press-releases/the-skoda-scala-world-premiere-in-tel-aviv-in-pictures/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTqXrrZ9rlU (watch from 23 mins 30)
Securing the car. (TY Calcalistech) I reported previously (see here) on Israel’s Karanba and its innovative vehicle security. Multinational car parts manufacturer Ficosa is to integrate Karamba’s cyber protection technologies into its telematic control units – mandatory for accident emergency calls in Europe.
https://karambasecurity.com/press/2018-12-05-karamba-security-collaborates-with-ficosa-to-secure-the-future-of-smart-mobility https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlNdA7VXV0c
https://www.ficosa.com/products/advanced-communication-systems/communication-modules-tcu/
Educational games startup exits. I reported previously (Mar 2015) on Israeli computer games startup Codemonkey, that helps children learn how to write computer code by playing and solving puzzles. Codemonkey has just been acquired by China's giant TAL Education Group for an estimated $20 million.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-chinas-tal-buys-israeli-education-games-co-codemonkey-1001263692
Medical start-ups compete for $1 million investment. I reported previously (Apr 2017) on Israeli medical incubator Sanara, jointly setup by Israel’s Teva and Philips Healthcare. Sanara has launched a competition where two winning Israeli medical start-ups will each receive a $1 million seed investment, plus office space.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3747657,00.html
Another take-over for Israeli company. (TY Calcalistech) I reported previously (July 2017) that Israeli cybersecurity specialists Checkmarx had bought a UK software company. It has now bought Custodela, an Ontario-based software security company. Israel continues to improve its global position in cybersecurity.
https://www.checkmarx.com/press-releases/Checkmarx-Custodela-Automation-DevSecOps/
Empowering the commercial property market. (TY Arutz Sheva) I reported previously (Jan 2016) on Israeli start-up Credifi which collects data about commercial property, for fund managers, brokers. lenders etc. to make decisions. Senior MD Jason Rausman explains more about the system and company culture on ILTV.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97EIPb3e9F4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNoRxs1wWJQ
https://www.credifi.com/why-credifi/
Disaster response service for Japan. I’ve reported previously (many times)on Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks. Gilat has just won a multi-million-dollar contract from Japanese government agency LASCOM, for its SkyEdge II-c platform, to maintain government communications to its people in any disaster event.
https://www.gilat.com/pressreleases/lascom-awards-gilat-multi-million-dollar-project-for-japans-next-generation-disaster-response-platform/
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Beautifying urban centers. I reported previously (see here) on the Israel Innovation Fund (TIIF) and its social and cultural projects. TIIF has launched its first crowdfunding campaign, The Hebrew Wallpaper Project to transform Israel’s urban centers through the stunning street designs of Solomon Souza, and other street artists.
https://chuffed.org/project/HebrewWallpaperProject
Israeli dresses for Quentin Tarantino’s bride. Director Quentin Tarantino married 35-year-old singer and model Daniella Pick in Los Angeles recently. Daniella chose two gowns (for the ceremony and reception) made by Tel Aviv-based designer Dana Harel, accented with headpieces by Tel Aviv-based designer Keren Wolf.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-model-weds-tarantino-in-israeli-gown-and-headdress/
Pink Floyd in Israel. (TY Hazel) No, not BDS-supporter Roger Walters - this is the UK cover band Pink Floyd Experience. They earlier cancelled their scheduled Israel tour (due to death threats from BDS supporters) but thanks to Israeli promoter Ziv Rubinstein, they’ve re-instated Beersheba, Tel Aviv and Haifa (Jan 4-6) concerts.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/defying-roger-waters-pink-floyd-tribute-band-reinstates-israel-tour/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilt7emDA9qE
Excavating for a (King Solomon’s) mine. During Hanukkah, the Israeli public were invited to join an excavation in Timna Park in the southern Arava. Families sifted through excavated material to find copper slag, painted pottery, beads, animal bones and an amulet. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Timna-Park-opens-doors-for-to-public-excavations-during-Hanukkah-573420
THE JEWISH STATE
Jobs during and after IDF service. Israeli charity Ta’suChayil (Tasohil) provides an employment-based program for impoverished IDF soldiers. It finds paid jobs that they can do during IDF vacations. After being discharged, ongoing counseling and mentoring helps them to remap their future and enjoy professional growth.
https://www.jobkatif.org/taasuchayil/?lang=en https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSJXj8Chhm4
The play that helped create Israel. Saul Singer, co-author of the amazing book “Startup Nation”, has just written this article about the 1946 Broadway play “A Flag is Born” starring Marlon Brando. It galvanized American support for the Jewish State. http://www.jewishpress.com/sections/features/features-on-jewish-world/marlon-brando-and-the-play-that-helped-create-israel/2018/12/05/
Archeologists discover remains of Sodom. Archaeologists excavating Tall el-Hammam (now in Jordan) say it was the Biblical city of Sodom, destroyed some 3,700 years ago. Its 100-foot-thick, 50-feet-high walls were shattered by an immensely strong directional shock wave from a mid-air explosion followed by intense fires.
https://worldisraelnews.com/archaeologists-say-they-located-biblical-city-of-sodom/
Wick from a 1500-year-old candle. New research by the Israel Antiquities Authority has identified a unique linen (from flax) wick, of the type used for Sabbath lamps in Mishnaic times, 1,500 years ago. It was originally found in excavations conducted in the 1930s by the American Colt expedition to the Negev site of Shivta.
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/one-of-oldest-wicks-in-the-world-uncovered/2018/12/10/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tiny-1500-year-old-flax-lamp-wick-illuminates-ancient-jewish-law/
From Hanukkah to Diversity and more. (TY Sharon) As memories of Hanukkah flicker away, here are 24 photos of in Jerusalem to dispel the darkness of winter. Then Jerusalem streets see Christmas decorations, a band for special needs, Art of Jazz, Crossroads/Janglo night run, ArtBnB, Hullegub (Ethiopian arts) and more.
http://rjstreets.com/2018/12/12/jerusalem-hanukkah-new-favorites-in-24-photos/
http://rjstreets.com/2018/12/19/jerusalem-diversity-disability-culture-and-coexistence/
Saved from the storm. Recent heavy rains may be good news to Israel’s farmers and water company but to one female turtle it was nearly fatal. Washed up and nearly dead on Ashkelon beach, she was rescued by Eddy Israel, an alert citizen who called the Nature and Parks Authority. Israelis leave no stone (or turtle) unturned.
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