Tag Archives: video

How Etgar Keret began his writing career [VIDEO]

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As I’m not shy to have already said a few times, I’m a huge fan of Etgar Keret.

His use of slang, the length of his stories, and the depths he goes to make you feel at once like your heart has been stepped on while giving you a good laugh…

Here’s the video from the Israel Presidents Conference where Keret talks about his introduction to writing. I really enjoyed this panel on what makes Israeli artists tick, possibly the most out of any other I went to at the conference last week.

It’s not the first time I heard Keret’s story but it puts the same smile on my face every time I hear it. Especially in his lovable accented English.

Where Maurice Sendak’s Wild Things Are.

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Loved this interview with Maurice Sendak, author/illustrator galore. Dude’s got attitude, like little Max.

“Herman Melville said that artists have to take a dive… and either you hit your head on a rock and you split your skull and you die, OR, that blow to the head was so inspiring you come back up and do the greatest work you ever did. BUT you have to take the dive.”

Best line:

“People say, why didn’t you do Wild Things II? Wild Things I was such a success… Go to hell. Go to hell. I’m not a whore. I don’t do those things.”

You got it, Maurice.

H/t Ahoova

A look at photojournalism, in meta.

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This is really interesting. It’s a photojournalist examining other photojournalists examining their target, which is the Palestinian-Israeli story (which isn’t really the point).

The reality behind the zoomed-in reality.

By the way, whoever posted the video is not the creator himself so the YouTube title takes it in a more political direction than I think it’s meant to be.

What it’s like to get a mortgage in Israel.

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…or anything at all from an Israeli government branch, bank, organization, supermarket, public toilet… I could go on.

Doesn’t it feel good to know that this level of bureaucracy exists all over the world, and not just here?

I do plan to post advice and checklist for navigating the home-buying and mortgage-obtaining process here in Israeli banks and government offices. Just a couple more steps for our own deal and then I’ll feel comfortable saying we actually did it… Tfu, tfu tfu.

Israel medical aid in Japan. Also, please let go.

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Here’s a feel-good video from the IDF blog featuring the IDF medical team in Japan right now, helping in the damage zones. Apparently Israel’s medical team was the first foreign aid to set up a mobile hospital in Japan after the earthquake and tsunami.

It’s really nice to see IDF footage shared in a positive light, even if it’s from their own blog. When it comes to foreign aid in crisis, Israel has really proven itself in past years (Haiti, anyone?).

But one thing I can’t – ahem – shake off: Why is Dr. Ofir Cohen-Marom, the commander of the medical force in Japan, holding the Japanese Foreign Minister’s hand for that long?! So full of good will and emotion, as you can see. But if I was that woman I’d be like, uh, you let go now.

 

It Gets Better, Jew.0 (have to share, and keep sharing).

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The It Gets Better Project, a series of videos by famous and non-famous people coming out on being hopeful for LGBT teens, has been catching attention around the social media corners I hang out in.

But I wonder if, aside from the teens who need the support, the misguided/hateful/ignorant people at the core of the problem are watching the videos?

Well, either way, visual expression of the optimism that it gets better – by those who have been there – is definitely crucial.

The following is an ‘it gets better’ video done by a group of gay Orthodox Jewish guys. I have to admit a couple of their faces and names are extremely familiar from my New York life. But the Jewish world is so small and connected that even if you don’t know them, chances are you know someone who they remind you of.

I can’t imagine the kind of strength and courage it took for them to do this. I think we owe it to their courage to watch the video and pass it along – to the ones we know who need it, and to the ones we know who aren’t understanding or accepting it, but hopefully one day will.

Tel Aviv might be hi-tech, but Jerusalem is Online.

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Last night I spent a lovely evening at a hi-tech geek party, otherwise known as MashBash. I love it when my hi-tech self and my Israel self combine into one crazy combustication of awesomeness.

There are so many reasons I love these gatherings:

  • They are parties with a premise, so the drinking is casual, the conversation is lively and everyone is just about on the same level of awesomegeek; there’s pretty much one wavelength.
  • It’s a chance to network for business but also to meet Israelis and other immigrants.
  • And usually, the drinks are free.

Of course, the center of hi-tech in Israel – or at least, hi-tech parties – is Tel Aviv. Jerusalem does have a fair effort (like my company, among others) and it’s blogosphere can stand on its own. Bloggers usually meet at each other at parties or events and it’s always fun to see the face behind the URL.

So last night I met the owner of Jerusalem Online, which is

“the first video news update from Israel in English sent directly to your e-mail on a daily basis. This short, to-the-point, balanced update is brought to you by Israel’s leading television news source, Channel 2 News.”

It’s a great way for Jerusalem bloggers to keep Israeli news on their sites and a convenient tool for people outside of Israel to get direct news in English. You can get the video code by pressing “Get this” under the video and embed straight into your blog.

Like so many others, I’ve fallen deeply in love with the Israeli hi-tech scene, whether Jerusalem or Tel Aviv style. Next time I’m at one of these events, I’ll raise a glass (of free alcohol) to hi-tech, to the Israeli brain and to the wealth of the new-age Middle Eastern oil machine.