WordPress Transition Update

Okay, so after some "minor" server issues, I think I figured out why my blog refused to "port over" to my server. I have to contact my host to resolve this, but give me a few hours and the WP site will be up (at least for this blog).

Switching To WordPress

After months of debate I have decided to switch two of my blogs (IsraGood and Colony Worlds) from Blogger to WordPress.

Now I'm not making this decision based on "WordPress is better than Blogger" because IMHO they both have strenghths where the other has weaknesses.

Anyways both IsraGood & Colony Worlds will be down throughout the day, as I import comments, posts and attempt to maintain permalinks on the site.

I will also be sporting new premium themes for each site so stay tuned!!

--Posted via iPhone

Update (6/9/9): After being slightly concerned about WordPress 2.8, I can now say that the process to transfer it over has now officially begun. Stay tunned!

Is PineApp The Israeli Version Of Gmail?

If there is one thing Gmail (an email service by Google) is known for it is its archiving and anti spam features. While gmail is great and dandy (note: this author loves Gmail) some companies may want something similar to handle mail on their own servers instead of Google's.

PineApp, which is located in Nesher (which is right underneath Haifa) has created some interesting hardware/software combo to help companies "defend the gates" against the ever annoying spammers (who need to be destroyed).

(Israel 21st Century) Protecting and archiving e-mail is PineApp's business. What firewalls have done for computer networks, PineApp aims to do for e-mail. The company's first appliance, Mail-SeCure, is a separate piece of hardwire that isolates bad messages in a safe zone and prevents them from contaminating the rest of the system, ensuring maximum security for organizations and users.

PineApp's ArchiveSeCure keeps a record of corporate e-mail activity, allowing managers to reproduce records when required to by government or courts. And SurfSeCure protects organizations from the hazards of web-based e-mail, as well as other online web threats. [...]

"The PineApp appliance is attached to the mail server, and evaluates each message that comes in," Michaeli explains. "Messages are scanned for suspect attachments, and are 'killed' before they make it onto the mail server or into a user's inbox. And any messages that don't have a valid destination are also eliminated before making it onto the server," thus preventing hackers from performing a DOS attack.

The appliances, which are designed for small and medium sized companies, are built on a custom Linux platform that is encrypted on several levels and cannot be easily compromised. This makes it hard for hackers to write viruses or Trojans.

PineApp seems to be gaining ground around the globe, as they already have offices in New York, Florida, England, Russia and Germany--not to mention Israel as well (which they dominate with a 40% market share according to Israel 21st Century).

Time will only tell whether PineApp will be able to challenge the tech giants in the US of A, although if their technology is as good as a lot of people are saying, we may find their company assimilated by Microsoft (who  is currently in talks to purchase yet another Israeli company).

IsraGeek: Microsoft May Assimilate 3DV Systems (Potential 3D Gaming For Xbox?)

While this is not the first time Microsoft has courted the Jewish state (as they previously purchased Secured Dimensions and YaData), this latest move could hint at what the Redmond giant is planning for their gaming console Xbox.

(Globes Online) Software giant Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) is negotiating to acquire 3DV Systems Ltd. for $30-$40 million.

IVC reports that 3DV Systems has raised $38 million in investment funds to date. [...]

3DV has targeted the video gaming market. It has developed video camera technology capable of capturing the depth dimension of objects in real time, enabling it to sense motion and recognize shape within a dynamically defined three-dimensional space.

While no word has yet emerged what Microsoft plans on doing with 3DV Systems (as they are still negotiating), although if they did find some way of integrating 3DV Systems 3D technology into a future Xbox, they could dethrone Nintendo's Wii as the king of gaming consoles (at least internationally).

Should Israel Join OPEC? (Alternate Title: Haifa Gas Larger Than Life)

Not too long ago there was news that Israel discovered a large amount of natural gas off the coast of Haifa.

While discovering large reserves of natural gas is not really "breaking news" (as it is discovered all over the world very frequently) this one treasure trove may help Israel become energy independent (at least from foreign gas).

(Israel National News) A massive natural gas find off the coast of Haifa which was lauded as capable of fueling all of Israel for 15 years is actually more than 60 percent larger than originally estimated, according to the American partner in the drill, Noble Energy Inc.

Israeli companies Isramco Negev 2, Delek Drilling, Avner Oil Exploration, and Dor Gas Exploration had the majority of the stake on the dig – named Tamar-1 – which is estimated at a potential of 5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. That estimate is up from January, at which time the partners believed the well contained 3 trillion cubic feet of gas.

Even though Israel already receives gas from Egypt, having a large secondary source should greatly benefit Israel (as they have not made too many friends abroad ever since defending their borders in Gaza).

Avoiding Future Disaster (Blog Maintenance)

In order to avoid future problems down the road, this weblog is going under the DNS knife (so it may appear choppy for 48 hours).

I'll update this post as soon as it is back up. :-)


-- Post From My iPhone

Video: Israel Saves A Palestian Baby

Although the conflict in Gaza that has been raging for quite some time, Israel continues to demonstrate its generosity towards the Palestinian population despite the fact that the Gaza government continues to lobby rockets against Israeli citizens.

Even though Hamas has been less than affectionate when it comes to Palestinian children, the Israeli's are doing everything in their power to not only avoid civilian causalities, but provide medical attention to the children as well.

(Note: Video from Israel 21st Century)

This is just one of many examples of how Israel is willing to treat citizens from hostile nations, despite the fact that such actions will win them few political points with their enemies.

More Jews Make Aliyah (Images Now On Facebook)

It looks as if Jacob Richman (author of the My Hebrew Name on Facebook) has uploaded almost 150 images of Israel's latest immigrants to his Facebook album.

Facebook users can access the images by clicking here, although if you prefer to remain outside of "all things social," you can view the images upon Jacob's website.

Israel: Save A Tree By Burning Olive Rolls?

With the global recession upon us, many families are trying to find inexpensive ways to heat their home.

While many people choose wood stove furnaces (mainly because the expense is cheaper than oil and gas--especially if you get the wood for free), Israel may have a greener solution that does not require chopping down a tree.

(Israel 21st Century) In the shadow of Herodion, a group of youngsters -- many of whom were homeless until they were gathered together by a man named Yossi Sadeh, first in Beit Shemesh, then at the Sde Bar farm, a kibbutz-like framework that's turned their lives around -- are changing the face of energy production. Their work is to help create Olivebar's rolls to heat homes in wood-burning stoves which general manager Eli Karniel describes as "ecologically perfect."

The rolls are made from the waste produced after olives are pressed at Israeli olive presses, known in Hebrew as gefet. The material is rich in oil and superb for heating, but if left behind at the presses to seep into the soil, will destroy ground water and render the soil infertile. The simple act of collecting it is the product's first ecological benefit. [...]

Chief among them is the energy component, with a cube of the Olivebar rolls producing almost 2.5 times energy as a cube of wood. No mice or worms come with the rolls, which are aesthetically wrapped in paper that is recyclable and can be used to light the oven. The smoke released has no negative impact on neighbors or the environment, and the ash left in the stove can be used for fertilizing gardens and plants. Using the rolls will also fit into recent moves both here and abroad to avoid cutting down trees for energy use. "It's a totally green product, all natural, without any glues or chemicals," Karniel tells ISRAEL21c.

While this is not the first time Israel has used olives as an energy source, this may be one of the most innovative uses thus far.

Although Sde Bar Farm's green approach to heat may help out Israeli families, their olive rolls could impact the world to a much greater extent as it could help out rural areas where wood and electricity are scarce (especially in the colder climates).

(Image via Olives 101.com)

Israeli Doctors Assisting Chinese Residents

(Image: Dr. Alona Raucher-Sternfeld (a volunteer with SACH from Israel) helping out a Chinese baby. Credit: Jewish Exponent).

Israel's Save A Child's Heart (SACH), which has been very active in helping people from around the world has recently made another stop within the Asian giant to help out citizens in need of medical attention.

(Jewish Exponent) Where is Yang's heart?" Dr. Alona Raucher-Sternfeld cooed in Hebrew to 5-year-old Yang Bin as she prepared him for surgery aimed at repairing his tiny heart.

As she danced her fingers on his belly, the language barrier disappeared, and the boy's previously defiant exterior melted into giggles.

Yang Bin was one of about 80 children who traveled, some hundreds of miles, to see the visiting medical staff from Israel, all of whom are volunteers with Save a Child's Heart, a charity based at the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon.

The team of 15 doctors, nurses and medical technicians set up shop at Hebei Children's Hospital in Shijiazhuang, some 170 miles southwest of Beijing, continuing a partnership that began 10 years ago.

This on-going partnership may be one of the reasons why the Chinese and Israeli's are close friends (instead of rivals--aka "frenemies"--like the US).

While Save A Child's Heart is probably one of the better known examples of Israel displaying hospitality outside of its borders, the Jewish state has been known to show charity towards many other nations--even ones that are hostile to its existence.

IsraGood Will Return (Plus: A Potential Cure For Diabetes?)

After taking a "short" break from blogging on IsraGood, I will be providing regular posts to this site starting this Thursday.

By now you probably have all heard about Israel incursion into Gaza in an attempt to stop terrorists from launching rockets against their cities.

For those seeking the latest updates, I would encourage you to subscribe (or visit) these resources below:

• IDF Spokesman (Twitter: @IDFspokesman, YouTube: IDFnadesk)
  
• IsraelPolitick (Twitter: @IsraelConsulate, YouTube: IsraelConsulate)
  
• Help Us Win (Twitter: @HelpUsWin)
  

To end it all on a "kosher note," feel free to enjoy this video from Israel 21st Century about a potential cure for diabetes (that looks very promising).

Happy Holidays (Plus A Mini Update)

As some of you may have noticed, I have been publishing very few articles across several of my blogs.

Due to the busy season I have been scaling back writing online, although I should be back to posting regularly after the holiday season comes to a close.

Until then, I would like to wish all of my readers a Merry Christmas, a Happy Channukah or a solemn Festivus (for you Seinfeld fans), and feel free to email/Tweet/scrap me--and above all stay safe!

--Darnell

-- Post From My iPhone

Video: Israel's MagShoe May Make Shoe Bombers Nervous

If there is anything people probably hate about flying, it's probably the long security lines.

While many people do not mind security agents scanning their bodies (or requiring that they walk through a metal detector), taking off one's shoe can be rather irritating (especially if you are running late for a flight).

In order to help speed up the process for most travelers, one company called IDO Security has developed a device that not only thoroughly scans the various sneakers, boots and shoes of travelers, but allows passengers to keep their beloved foot wear on their lower ten digits.

While MagShoe probably should have launched "yesteryear," its presence should help prevent another terrorist attempt at smuggling weapons via their sneakers.

MagShoe is not yet available at every airport (at least not in the US), but this device has the potential of helping airlines remove yet another excuse for people deciding not to fly out for the holidays (or even for business).

Belated: IsraTech Fountain Of Youth? (Video)

(via Israel 21^st Century)

It looks like a new piece of technology may have the potential of taking years of ones face.

While the product may not appeal to guys like me (as the most we care about is how hairy our faces our), this device may become a big hit among the ladies (as it may be cheaper than having various surgeries--not to mention less painful).

Readers can find more information regarding this device over at STOP-AGE.com (who seems to be having a discount during this Christmas season).

Finally! European Union To Fully Embrace Israel

Despite some resistance from some regional neighbors, it looks as if the European Union will upgrade its ties with the Jewish state, potentially creating more allies across the Mediterranean "pond."

(Haaretz.com) The European Union's 27 foreign ministers unanimously approved upgrading relations with Israel on Monday, despite vigorous efforts by the Palestinian Authority and Egypt to thwart the move. [...]

As a result of the upgrade in relations, Israel's foreign minister will start meeting three times a year with all 27 EU foreign ministers. Other ministers will meet once a year with their European counterparts. Israel and the EU will also conduct a strategic dialogue on issues such as the peace process, the Iranian threat, counterterrorism and organized crime. In addition, the EU pledged to help Israel integrate into UN agencies and to include Israeli experts in EU peacekeeping forces.

Since Israel already has strong economic ties with Europe, I am not too surprised to see the EU reaching out to the Jewish state (who has, ironically been seeking to upgrade its status for quite some time).

Even though Israel already has great relations with several nations on the continent (like France, Germany, and the people of Norway), this new agreement should help expose the rest of Europe to Israel's true side (and hopefully dispel any rumors and myths about the Jewish state from the media).

iKosher App: Menorah For My iPhone

After creating a free iPhone app called Shofar, it looks as if RustyBrick has developed another iPhone app called Menorah which helps those who are a little behind on their Hebrew say the appropriate Chanukah prayer (as well as enlighten you as to which candles to light).

For those of you who prefer English, their is a screen for that as well.

Note: Readers can download the app free of charge by clicking on this link (which will redirect you and open up iTunes).

Belated: Vietnam To (Finally) Build An Embassy In Israel

Despite the fact that Israel already has established economic ties with Vietnam, the Asian nation has been extremely cautious about establishing an embassy within the Jewish state--even after Israel built an embassy in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.

Now, after decades of waiting, it looks as if Vietnam is going to return the favor.

(Ynet News) During his visit, Abramovich met with his Vietnamese counterpart, as well as the chairperson of the local parliament's foreign affairs committee and senior committee members.

Abramovich later visited Tokyo and Bangkok, where he attended a conference of Israeli ambassadors in eastern Asia and announced Vietnam's plan to open an embassy in Tel Aviv after being wooed by Israel for nearly a decade.

Even though it would be nice if they built the embassy in Jerusalem (as it is Israel's official capital), its good to see Vietnam finally reaching back to the Israeli state after so many years of "playing it safe."

Image Credit: Israel Diplomatic Network

IsraMedTech: Carbon Lasers Sealing New Wounds

Often seen as a force of destruction in Hollywood, lasers are often used by the medical community in a range of fields from correcting eyesight to fixing teeth to even cosmetic plastic surgery.

Its no surprise then that doctors have even turned to using lasers (with "a dash" of carbon dioxide) to help seal up wounds as they could help minimize scarring around tissue.

Unfortunately for them, these CO₂ lasers were a bit too wild as they either put out too much power (burning the victim) or too little (leaving the wound open for infection).

Fortunately for us, it looks as if Israeli researchers from the Tel Aviv University found a way to control the CO2 lasers, making this technology not only practical but potentially safe as well.

(Israel 21^st Century) The scientists, from Tel Aviv University (TAU), have developed a new technique that maintains the heat of the laser at exactly the right temperature for optimal wound healing, allowing surgeons to seal cuts both on our skin and inside our bodies with less scarring, and less exposure to infection.

The new technique, developed by Prof. Abraham Katzir and a team from TAU's Applied Physics Group, is called laser-welding. When the laser begins to overheat and risks burning the tissue, the device reduces laser power, and if the temperature is too low to complete a closure, laser power in increased appropriately. [...]

Katzir is the first researcher to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibers, for wound closure under a tight temperature control. His innovation is in the use of unique optical fibers made from silver halide developed at the university. The fibers deliver the laser's energy to heat the bonded cut and are used for controlling the temperature. They also make it possible to bond tissues inside the body.

Katzir's "little" invention could have a gigantic impact in the medical field, as Katzir's carbon lasers in a clinical trial proved to be better than the traditional suture as they not only left less scarring, but healed much more quickly.

According to the article the carbon laser is still awaiting approval from the US (via the FDA), although it may unfortunately be a few years before this innovative technology reaches America (not to mention Europe as well).

Image: Carbon laser. Credit: Wikipedia

Israelis Team Up With Palestinians Over Nanotech And Schistosomiasis?

Despite the on going violence between the two neighbors, it looks as if there are a few Israeli's and Palestinians who are willing to cooperate together in order to enhance each others lives--not to mention science as well.

(Globes Online) Two new projects have brought together scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Al-Quds University. Researchers from the two universities have succeeded in developing a method for checking the level of risk in bilharzia, which has been adopted by the World Health Organization and will soon be applied in Nigeria. At the same time, in the field of nanotechnology in which the two universities have been collaborating for a long time, an Israeli-Palestinian-Hungarian joint project has been established, sponsored and funded by the Hungarian Embassy in Israel. [...]

Laszlo Korani, the Economic Attache at the Hungarian Embassy in Tel Aviv, conceived the idea of bringing Hungary into the story. "One of the roles of the embassy is to encourage joint Hungarian-Israeli research. I read the autobiography of Sari Nusseibeh, president of Al-Quds University, and I then knew that I also wanted to strengthen the connection to his university. It was only natural to build on cooperation that already existed and to add our sponsorship to it."

Bilharzia (also known as Schistosomiasis) is a parasitic disease that can not only damage internal organs but also cause bladder cancer.

The Israeli and Palestinian teams hope to come up with a simple way to test for the presence of this pest in the soil that goes beyond the current use of surveys and questionnaires (which may overlook areas still infected by the parasite).

Hopefully this trend of cooperation between Israel and Palestine continues, as it may help both sides see each other in a more favorable light.

Green Energy: Kenya Goes Geothermal (Thanks To Israel's Ormat)

(Hat Tip: Cleantech Investing in Israel, Image: Ormat Olkaria III geothermal power plant in Kenya)

After being in the news due to past political riots (and family ties to the President Elect), it looks like the nation of Kenya has yet another reason for being in the spotlight--this time for embracing green technology.

(Ormat Press Release) Ormat Technologies, Inc. [...] announced today at an American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) event the completion of phase two construction at the Olkaria III geothermal power plant in Kenya. The power plant has been synchronized to the grid, adding 35 MW of base load capacity to the existing 13 MW plant that has been in continuous operation since 2001 with availability between 97% and 99%.

The expanded power plant will save 120,000 tons of imported oil, mitigate approximately 200,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year and reduce the average production cost of electricity in Kenya while reducing its dependence on imports.

"Ormat is proud to have built up the plant capacity to the original target of 48 MW," said Lucien Bronicki, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Ormat. "This accomplishment was made possible by Ormat's belief in Kenya's economy combined with the hard work and dedication of our Kenyan employees and colleagues."

This is great news for Kenya, as the African nation already imports about half a million barrels of oil from Sudan a month (which is probably not a good thing due to the genocide happening in the region).

Hopefully Israel (through Ormat) can help build more of these geothermal power plants, as it could help spur the African continent to not only become more energy independent, but set an example for the rest of the continent (if not the world as well).