Sunday, July 26, 2020

RIP Dante - My Most Unique Friend. Good News Israel. Some Interesting Links.


Lamentably:

Another dear friend and fellow memo reader has passed away.  

Dante Stephensen had a unique history.  His mother brought
The Montessori method of schooling to America.  

Dante was a Navy Seal and arranged for the Monument to The Seals to be erected in Florida where it stands to this day.  

Dante was best known for being the proprietor of one of America's unique and classiest Jazz Clubs.

I came to know him when I first moved to Atlanta and he asked me to begin a pension plan for him employees.  Something unheard of at the time and he also was one of the first to install measured liquor dispensers in his bar at "Down The Hatch" where one of the great jazz pianists, Paul Mitchell, played with his group. 

Paul never got the national reputation he deserved because he always wanted to sleep in the same bed and play the same Steinway Piano each night.

Dante also was an antique car collector, was generous to a fault and served great Fondue's on his focused menu.  

Down The Hatch moved from Underground Atlanta as business faded to Buckhead where it continued successfully until real estate taxes exploded and he could no longer justify staying open.  

Dante lived in a converted classic rail car and traveled all over America in it and hosted other train buffs who reciprocated when he went to Europe.

I took two Landings  couples several years ago and gave them a tour of Atlanta from my perspective as a former resident and we dined at Dante's Jazz  Club which was housed in a reconstructed old sailing ship. When you came aboard to the left was a pond of alligators. The ambiance was great, the jazz music superb, fondue was delicious, drinks generous and Dante was one of the most gracious of hosts.

RIP you most unique man.
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Ormand's Good News Israel (Edited.:)

In this week's positive Israel newsletter, Israeli innovators continue to provide solutions to global problems. These are as diverse as Covid-19, cancer, gastro surgery, access to computers for disabled children, the effects of isolation, electric vehicle batteries, noise pollution, animal cruelty, road accidents, public transportation, local economy, on-line security, foreign travel and emergency medical treatment.Best regards




MichaelIn the 26th July 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
 
  • Three anti-cancer breakthroughs.
  • French & UK hospitals use Israeli cancer screening technology.
  • A one-second Israeli test for Covid-19.
  • An Israeli app has boosted local businesses during the pandemic.
  • See Israel’s future chess champions.
  • 1st Temple period storehouse found near US Embassy in Jerusalem.
  • Aliya applications in June 2020 were six times more than June 2019.
   ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

The 3rd most Covid-19 solutions. Cross-border investment specialists Cukierman & Co state that Israel has the most Covid-19 solutions, after the USA and China. Some 180 of Israel’s 1,600 life sciences companies are either fully or partially dedicated to coronavirus. Israel is also a top global pioneer in personalized medicine.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840111,00.html

Latest Covid-19 research at HUJ. This video shows some of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s latest medical research into the novel coronavirus. They include the overactive immune response; locating the virus during the incubation period; analysis of virus receptors; and boosting the oxygen needed by immunity T-cells,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JEOhlCUKEI

Positive report on “second wave”. (TY Pamela). Contrary to several media reports, the current Covid-19 situation in Israel is not “out of control”. Listen to this 45-min presentation by Professor Yonatan HaLevy of Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center. The elderly are protected and treatments are working.
https://soundcloud.com/user-699337879/covid-19-israel-and-the-world-where-weve-been-and-where-were-headed

A sense for detecting respiratory problems. Israel’s NanoVation (reported here previously) has been awarded a €2.5 million EU Horizon 2020 grant to develop SenseGuard. The device’s nano-sensor technology detects respiratory problems (e.g. COPD). Professor Hossam Haick (Sniff phone inventor) is Chief Scientific Officer.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israeli-startup-secures-25-grant-from-eu-to-develop-respiratory-monitor-635793  https://www.nanovation-gs.com/team  https://www.nanovation-gs.com/

Bubbles plus ultrasound kills cancer. Tel Aviv University researchers have developed an innovative cancer treatment. They shoot microbubbles at cancer cells and then blow them up using ultrasound. This destroys 80% of the cancer cells and a simultaneous “trojan horse” immune system gene therapy kills the remaining 20%.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israelis-turn-ultrasound-into-powerful-cancer-fighting-weapon/

Filter out cancer-causing proteins. (TY Hazel) Scientists at Israel’s Sheba Medical Centre are trialing a new cancer treatment called immunopheresis. It involves filtering a patient’s blood to remove proteins produced by malignant cells from the bloodstream. These proteins suppress the immune system’s cancer-killing T-cells.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/283420

Did we remove all the cancer? (TY UWI) Currently after cancer surgery biopsies are taken, but testing takes weeks. Now a new experimental tool developed by Tel Aviv University researchers tests a sample taken during surgery. An hour later and the surgeon knows if an immediate return to the operating theater is needed.
https://www.israel21c.org/breakthrough-finds-leftover-cancer-cells-in-real-time-during-surgery/

Reduce stress before cancer surgery. Tel Aviv University researchers have found that the weeks before and after cancer surgery are critical for the prevention of metastases development. Patients require immune-therapeutic treatment as well as treatment to reduce inflammation and physical and psychological stress.
https://ecancer.org/en/news/18246-immune-system-treatment-to-reduce-stress-prevents-cancer-metastases
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41571-019-0319-9?proof=true
https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cncr.32950

Warning of post-gastro surgery problems. Israel’s Exero Medical has developed a bio-degradable wireless sensor for the early detection of leaks following gastrointestinal surgery procedures. Doctors at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center have just completed the first human implantation of the device as part of a clinical trial.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-clinical-trial-sensor-implanted-to-detect-dangerous-gastrointestinal-leaks/
https://www.exeromedical.com/

Triage system for Mayo Clinic. Israel’s Diagnostic Robotics is to implement its triage system (reported here previously) at the Mayo Clinic’s headquarters in Rochester, Minnesota (see here also).  The system cuts down emergency room wait times (currently 2.5 hours on average in the US) and reduces the burden on physicians.
https://nocamels.com/2020/07/mayo-clinic-diagnostic-robotics-ai-system/

Safe analysis of dangerous viruses. To safely develop vaccines against deadly viruses, scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have developed a method for producing artificial cells that can assemble just part of the virus. Researchers can then test their vaccines on a safe section of the virus.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/chemistry/artificial-cells-produce-parts-viruses-safe-studies


ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL

Redesigning the Xbox for disabled children. Microsoft Israel developed the Xbox Adaptive Controller to make Microsoft’s gaming console accessible for gamers with limited mobility. The head of R&D at Microsoft Israel personally delivered six specially adapted Xboxes to Alyn children’s rehab hospital in Jerusalem.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/microsoft-israels-alyn-adapt-xbox-to-help-kids-with-disabilities-get-treatment/

Entertaining the elderly. (TY UWI & Marsha) Israeli singer Bat Ella and her band have been performing before and during the pandemic, at homes for the elderly all over Israel. Much of her music is Hebrew prayer set to popular music - especially uplifting at these times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAIY2hxzQCk

Cancer screening for France. Just 3 weeks after deploying its cancer diagnostics for the UK’s National Health Service (reported here previously), Israel’s Ibex Medical has partnered Medipath (France’s largest pathology lab network). They will implement France’s first AI-powered pathology solution for cancer detection.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840790,00.html


SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

One-second virus test. Israel’s Newsight (reported here previously) has developed a spectral signature virus test that it says identifies Covid-19 in a blood or saliva sample in less than a second. A pilot trial of the test is to be performed at Israel’s Sheba Medical Center where Newsight has been working in the tropical diseases dept.
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/sheba-to-test-less-than-one-second-coronavirus-detection-technology-635834

Six years of tech incubation. Israel’s Elbit Systems launched its Incubit Technology Ventures accelerator at the Beersheva High-Tech Park in 2014. It has since invested in 17 startups including NewRocket, FlyWorks (hybrid drones), EchoCare, and Sealartec. 10 of the startups have signed big commercial agreements.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840586,00.html  https://www.fly-works.com/

Apple Design Awards winner. (TY Sharon) One of the winners of this year’s Apple Design Awards was the animation app LOOOM, co-founded by Eran Hilleli, graduate of Israel’s Bezalel Academy of Art and Design. A LOOOM user as young as four can "weave" colorful animations on an iPad using a finger or an Apple pencil.
https://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=1&ARTICLE_ID=133339
https://nocamels.com/2020/07/israel-animation-app-apple-design-awards-2020/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v97JbRgnNr4

Smarter batteries. Israeli companies are at the forefront of next generation battery development (see here). Israeli startup Addionics says it has set a new standard for Electric Vehicle (EV) rechargeable batteries. Its aim is to improve performance, mileage, lifetime, safety and charging time for any type of battery.
https://nocamels.com/2020/07/israeli-uk-startup-sets-a-new-standard-for-ev-rechargeable-batteries/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq0L0Av5m0Q    https://www.addionics.com/

 Prevents killing of male chicks. 7.5 billion unwanted male chicks are hatched each year. Four Israeli companies (see here) have developed technology to prevent this – the latest, Soos, has been selected as one of 11 startup finalists in Future Food Asia 2020. https://futurefoodasia.com/ffa2020/  http://www.soos.org.il/

GPS warning - camels in the road. Israel’s SMBIT (part of Startup Negev) has developed a solar-powered collar for every Bedouin-owned camel. If a camel comes within 100 meters of a road or rail track, GPS users will receive an automatic notification, e.g. via Waze, alerting drivers to slow down and avoid an accident.
https://secure.calcalist.co.il/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839496,00.html


ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Strong trade links with Czech Republic. Since renewing diplomatic relations between Israel and the Czech Republic 30 years ago, mutual trade has boomed. Israel imports over $1 billion of Czech goods annually. The Czech Republic meanwhile seeks Israeli cybersecurity, digital health and Industry 4.0 innovations.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840431,00.html

Japanese investment increases. Despite Covid-19, Japanese investment in Israeli tech is on the rise. The total volume of Japanese investments in the first half of this year amounted to $472.3 million, up 15% from $412 million in the first half of 2019. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840822,00.html

Accelerating public transportation. A non-profit accelerator, Israeli Association of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) has been launched to promote tech to streamline transportation systems, raise safety levels, and reduce pollution during the Covid-19 crisis. Its startups are Spool, Opticity Israel, Safe-on, JesTap and Afik.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840836,00.html
https://opticity.co.il/  https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/company_page/safe-on

New profession – Medical Data Analyst. In these days of a global pandemic, Medical big data analysts have become one of the most sought-after professions. In Israel, there are currently about 500 people who know how to derive insights from medical data, and the demand for them is increasing.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3841080,00.html

Ford partners Mobileye for sensors. Israel-based Mobileye is to provide its EyeQ family of devices plus vision-processing software to the Ford Motor Company. EyeQ includes Lane-keeping and Pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking. Ford will display Mobileye’s name on SYNC driver-assist displays.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840611,00.html

Remote working increases Check Point profits. Israeli cybersecurity giant Check Point reported increased quarterly net profit, beating market expectations. Check Point’s revenue was boosted by increased demand for network security as more people work remotely during the coronavirus outbreak.
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/check-point-profit-tops-estimates-on-rising-demand-for-remote-network-access-2020-07-22

Electronic visas for Botswana. The government of Botswana has selected Israel’s Pangea (reported here previously) to integrate its eVisa solution as part of Botswana’s efforts to expand its digital and online services. The online visa will enable visitors to Botswana have a seamless entry into the country.
https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/44269

Investing in Israeli startups. Hippo raised $150 millionGett raised $76 millionTaranis raised $30 million; GoTo Global (formerly Car2Go) raised $19 millionXM Cyber raised $17 millionBelkin Laser raised $12.2 millionRealView Imaging raised $10 millionEpsagon raised $10 million; CIM Group invested $40 million in Ecoppia;


CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`

International cuisine comes to your home. Israeli on-line platform Delicious Experiences connects foodies in one-on-one virtual food tours to Michelin-starred restaurateurs, James Beard Award winners, bestselling cookbook authors, and other acclaimed culinary professionals.
https://nocamels.com/2020/07/delicious-experiences-platform-foodies-cuisine/

Israeli singer is a hit in Africa singing in French. (TY UWI) Israeli singer-songwriter Noy Meirson was born and raised in Israel, but she has found success in Africa singing heartfelt ballads in the French language.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRm5JovtZ1o

The next generation of chess champions. The UN proclaimed 20th July as International Chess Day to mark the date of the establishment of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Paris in 1924. Select Youtube’s captions feature to read what these budding young Israeli chess champions think about the game of chess.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8o98bBzEn8

iPhone photo award winner. Israeli photographer Avishai Futerman won second place in the Nature category of the 2020 iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS). With an iPhone XR, he took a photo of a kea - the world’s only species of alpine parrot - as it swooped down over the summit of Mt. Luxmore in New Zealand.
https://nocamels.com/2020/07/israel-photographer-iphone-awards/


THE JEWISH STATE

Kingdom of Judah site next to US Embassy. Israeli archaeologists have discovered a trove of artifacts from 2,700 years ago in Jerusalem. The 120+ jar handles with seal impressions, inscribed “to the King” in ancient Hebrew, indicate a key administrative site of the 1st Temple Kings of Judah - close to today’s US Embassy.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/first-temple-era-discovery-near-us-embassy-reveals-one-of-most-important-sites-in-kingdom-of-judah/


Free electric scooters to help save lives. Bird Rides Inc. is providing free access to its fleet of scooters to volunteer paramedics of Israeli non-profit United Hatzalah. The paramedic locates the closest available scooter, opens the Bird app, enters the code they received from United Hatzalah and rushes to the scene in seconds.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840807,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGZTHGiCEUE

A first for two paramedics. Two paramedics from Israel’s Magen David Adom delivered their first babies during their recent shifts. One paramedic was nervous with his first delivery in 3 years but was more confident delivering the second one 4 hours later. The baby delivered by the second paramedic was his wife’s!
https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-medic-worried-about-missing-daughters-birth-ends-up-delivering-her/

Israel is the safest place. (TY WIN) Many Jews and former Israeli residents have decided that if they have to deal with Covid-19, they will be better off doing so in Israel. This June, 3,000 North Americans opened Aliya files versus 480 in June 2019. Demand for new apartments is at an all time high.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-covid-19-prompts-jews-abroad-to-seek-homes-in-israel-1001336691

I am Israel. The film "I Am Israel" is a soaring journey through the Land of the Bible. It introduces Jewish men and women whose very lives are a testimony to divine promises. "I Am Israel" is narrated by award winning actor John Rhys-Davies, best known for his roles in the Indiana Jones and Lord of the Rings series.
www.IamIsraelfilm.com  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq0CZUvuSDs (inspiring trailer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsHgeERZajg (film clip – City of David)

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I just post 'em! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VMKF3lRoqw&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop

And:















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