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Archive for January, 2008

Hungry on Doomsday

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on January 31, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Should a major catastrophe hit the planet, a doomsday seed vault deep in the Arctic ice will ensure that survivors never go hungry.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, built by the Norwegian government for the benefit of mankind, is named after the archipelago where it is located. The Rome-based non-governmental organisation, Global Crop Diversity Trust, will [...]

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Decisions, decisions

Posted in Ehud Olmert, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Winograd, tagged , , , , on January 30, 2008 | 1 Comment »

The fact that a permanent successor to outgoing National Security Council chief Ilan Mizrahi has not been chosen reflects poorly on the prime minister’s contention that much has been learned and fixed since the Winograd Committee issued its interim report in April.
In its final report issued on Wednesday, the committee found “serious failings and shortcomings [...]

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Snow at the ‘Post

Posted in Uncategorized on January 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

Nice pic sent by our internet VP Amir Orni of snow at the Jerusalem Post building today.

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Lights [off]. Camera. Action

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on January 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

As the clock struck 8 p.m. this past Sunday night, prime time in the Middle East and Europe for TV news broadcasts, the Al Jazeera satellite TV network opened its top-of-the-hour news bulletin with a live scene from Gaza City. The footage was powerful and unforgettable: thousands of people gathered to light candles in a [...]

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Yediot vs Ma’ariv

Posted in Ehud Olmert, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Winograd on January 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

If it wasn’t so sad it would be funny.

Today’s front page banner headline in Yediot Aharonot read:
“Sources close to Olmert: This is anarchy! The company commanders have crossed a red line”

The subheadline was: “In a normal country they would be dismissed. If the company commanders had fought as hard during the war as [...]

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Now I’m worried

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on January 22, 2008 | 1 Comment »

You know, I’ve been following the story of Iran’s march towards nuclear capabilities for years, but tonight, more than in the past, I feel in my bones what I think I’ve known all along: that this story is not going to have a happy ending, and that Israel and Iran may go to war over [...]

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China’s netizen challenge

Posted in China, Internet, Israel, Science and Technology, tagged , , on January 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

Today I met with the chief editors of China’s top news and information websites and government information offices who are here on a fact-finding mission to learn about Israel, its media, and political situation.
 
As the discussion went on, I realized the delegation was asking me more and more questions about how we, at the [...]

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Fit to drive? Fit to serve!

Posted in Israel, Israel Defense Forces, driving on January 13, 2008 | 2 Comments »

The Transportation Ministry will from Monday pass on to the IDF information on youngsters who have been found fit to apply for driving licenses and who were released from army service due to psychological reasons. The data will also encompass soldiers who were discharged in the past few years, and will include the names of [...]

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Smoking ban in Turkey?

Posted in Smoking, Turkey on January 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

I’m reading Bernard Lewis’ History of the Middle East, and in it, he writes that in 1637 Sultan Murad 4th prohibited both coffee and tobacco, and ordered the execution of a number of smokers and coffee drinkers. I was in Turkey a few months ago and I can tell you that Murad’s reforms certainly did not [...]

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