Foto Friday – Creepy Crawlies

February 18, 2010 by · 5 Comments
Filed under: Environment, Foto Friday, General 

Last month, scientists at the University of Haifa announced that they had discovered a new and previously unknown species of spider. I don’t know about you, but I greet news like that with mixed emotions: pride in our local research institutions, curiosity at seeing the bug and — now having seen the photos (like this one by researcher Yael Olek) — a dash of alarm. This thing is a big as a Mack Truck.

The researchers say that this spider’s leg-span can reach up to 14 cm., which makes it the largest spider of its type in the Middle East. The species was discovered in the dune of the Sands of Samar in the southern Arava region. It is a member of the genus Cerbalus and was named Cerbalus aravensis for its native habitat, if you like knowing that sort of thing.

Unfortunately, however, the poor critter’s habitat is endangered by — you guessed it — humans and their boundless capacity to screw things up. According to head of research Dr. Uri Shanas, mining projects in the area will endanger the existence of the spider as well as possibly other unknown animal species living in the sands. Hopefully, efforts will be made to preserve this unique region in the Arava, as well as the lifeforms crawling in, out and round about.

Photographer Marco Jona has a particular fascination for such creepy crawlies. Waiting patiently for the right moment, he manages to get in close and catch almost human-like expressions. A few of his photos are presented here with more on display at his website.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Karolina on my mind

February 18, 2010 by · 3 Comments
Filed under: A New Reality, General, Israeliness, Music, Pop Culture, Profiles 

When you think of Israel’s musical diversity and who the most fitting artist may be to exemplify it, Idan Raichel will likely come mind – with his multi-cultural band and his inspiring pastiche of Middle Eastern, new age, gospel and contemporary pop.

But a worthy contender is the Israeli ‘Earth mother’ – MC Karolina.
With her flowing rainbow clothes, distinctive hair, swaying motions, and evoceasily flow from Hebrew to English to Hebrew, she lays down a good-time groove and never lets go of it.

Audiences may already be familiar with Karolina without even knowing it – because she’s also the anchor of the acoustic jazz-folk vocal trio Habanot Nechama. The group, featuring singers Yael Deckelbaum and Dana Adini, recently returned from a triumphant tour of US and Canadian colleges and clubs, wowing the crowds with their bi-lingual vocal versatility.

Now Karolina – whose last name is Avratz and who was raised in Eilat – is back in Israel, enjoying solo success with her new album What Do I Do Now?, featuring the hit single “Happiness.”

Karolina’s musical diversity dates back to well before she founded her first band, Funset, in 2000 and began making inroads in Tel Aviv’s underground club and lounge scene.

Falling in with like-minded musicians in Tel Aviv, Karolina founded the Funset Sound System and created something she called a “Ragga Pumpkin” sound – a lively blend of reggae, soul and trip hop – which also featured in the name of the band’s 2005 debut album, Live Ragga Pumpkin.

The album resulted in an ACUM award (similar to an Israeli Grammy) for Karolina – for composition – with the prize citing her “original style, fresh and lively, and her diverse ability to write and to excite with a unique sound.” Another ACUM award – for Best New Song of 2007 – went her way for “So Far,” a track from the Habanot album of that year.

“I was a solo artist for many years before Habanot, so I have a strong identity coming in, as we all did,” she told me last week.

For her solo album, Karolina worked with collaborators Kutiman, who gained worldwide notoriety last year for his inventive YouTube musical mashup “Thru-You,” and Ronen Sabbo, one of the hottest DJs in Tel Aviv and one-fourth of the DJ crew Soulico.

For an authentic taste of contemporary music, Karolina will get you there… Here’s one of her songs, followed by the Habanot Nechama classic “So Far.”

YouTube Preview Image YouTube Preview Image

Tags: , , ,

Double identity

February 16, 2010 by · 5 Comments
Filed under: A New Reality, Crime, General, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Politics, Travel, War 

Not the Melvyn Mildiner that we know...

Was the Mossad behind the murder last month of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a Dubai hotel last month?

We may never know, but for Melvyn Adam Mildiner the international espionage high stakes game hit a little too close to home, when the Dubai police released photos and names Monday night of the 11 people with European passports who allegedly took part in the plot to kill Mabhouh.

Mildiner, who made aliya from London nine years ago and lives near Jerusalem, went to bed suffering from what he said is pneumonia. He told The Jerusalem Post that when he awoke this morning, he was stunned to discover that one of the members of the alleged hit squad, went under an alias which was identical to his name.

“I went to bed with pneumonia and woke up a ‘murderer. I have no idea how to clear my name. Interpol has a warrant out for my arrest. I don’t know how I will travel,” Mildiner told The Post.

While the photo that the Dubai police of the hit man Mildiner doesn’t look like the real Mildiner and the date of birth is wrong, Mildiner is up in arms that he may now be a revenge target for Hamas.

Mildiner doesn’t even know who to get angry at – “We don’t know for sure who did this, despite what everyone’s saying. I’m angry with whoever has done it. My identity should be a bit more sacrosanct than that,” he told The Post.

There have been previous cases of Israeli nationals’ identities or passports being used by special agents for missions abroad. I remember urban legends around the time I made aliyah of American or Canadian new immigrants being approached by people and being invited for interviews for ‘special government projects.’

It turned out that it was the Mossad asking if they could ‘borrow’ their IDs for service for the country. I have no idea if these stories were true, but if so, in the case of Mildiner, it seems like they’ve stopped asking permission.

Tags: , , , ,

Vacationing with the amcha

February 16, 2010 by · 2 Comments
Filed under: coexistence, Food, General, History and Culture, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Life, Travel 

Part of the crowd, in matching t-shirts, on a hike in the region

Went to the Dead Sea this weekend en famille — yes, with all the siblings and nieces and nephews — for my mother’s birthday, a significant one. We spent two days at the Fattal Golden Tulip, and as it had been some time since I’d spent the weekend at an Israeli hotel, was vastly amused by the variety of activities that make up Shabbat when you’re spending it with fellow Israelis.

First, there was just the sheer mix of people, or amcha, loosely translated as ‘your fellow citizens.’ There was the gamut of religious and secular types, lots of Russian Israelis — who I feel are very skilled at doing the rounds of the whole Dead Sea dipping-sauna-steam room-Jacuzzi thing — many Druze families and, of course, German tourists (they get significant discounts from the German government to spend time at the mineral-rich Dead Sea and take care of their psoriasis).

In that situation, Shabbat takes on a slightly different cast, as you can’t help but be affected by what’s going on around you. My feeling is you need to just go with it, while attempting to create your own atmosphere.

So, we enjoyed doing our own Shabbat services as a family, but poked our heads into the ‘Ritch Ratch’ lounge, where two singers performed Shabbat medleys, a la kindergarden favorites, on Friday night after dinner. And then there was the optional Shabbat lunch by the pool, where, accompanied by INCREDIBLY LOUD music, one could be served a menu of cholent, kishka and ptitim. For those of us who are more accustomed to eating our cholent in a Shabbat-like setting at home after shul, it’s an ironic turn of events.

I’m sure our fellow hotel guests were also amused by us, a group of 22 ‘Anglos’, wearing matching turquoise tee-shirts that said “Dorothy’s 80th birthday weekend” (and on the back, “I’m not 80, I’m 29 with 51 years of experience.”)

But we all got along fine, because, hey, who’s not happy to be hanging out by the pool and being fed at regular intervals? Happy birthday, Mom.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Meditations on being alone

February 15, 2010 by · 1 Comment
Filed under: Food, Life 

My wife left me this week. Don’t worry – it’s nothing serious. Jody is participating in a week long meditation retreat at Kibbutz Hanaton in the Galilee. That means I’m home alone with the kids (not a problem) but also alone in the kitchen (bigger problem).

I have never been much of a whiz as a cook. I can stick a sandwich in the “toast” machine and I’ve been known to whip up an omelet under distress. My saving grace is my Shabbat cholent, which is reputed to be the best in Baka.

So Jody had lovingly bought exactly the right ingredients for the list of meals she’d prepared in advance before she left. Nice wife, huh?

But for our first meal alone, when I opened up the fridge, it was nearly bare. Jody believes in the Japanese model of “just in time” delivery. If she’d specified one salad for the week, then there was only enough lettuce, cucumber and tomato for that. This model is great for saving cash – why stock your pantry to the brim like some kind of second supermarket when you could leave that money in the bank where it can keep working for you.

But the kids wanted more than one day’s salad. And we were already out of bananas.

I decided to call Jody on her cell phone. She could advise me on where to find the freshest vegetables that wouldn’t take too substantial a bite out of my wallet. But it was to no avail. You see, she was on a silent meditation retreat. Seven days of no talking. She had showed me the schedule. The wake up gong sounds at 5:30 AM. First sitting is at 6:00 AM followed by morning prayers and a meal eaten in complete silence – you’re not even supposed to look your dining partner in the eye.

Then more meditation, more meals, more prayer until 9:30 PM when it’s lights out and the whole process starts over again.

The silent part also applies to cell phones. Fine, I could always SMS, right? Wrong. The retreat leader had advised participants to turn of their phones completely for the duration of their time away.

That seemed a bit obsessive to me. Even when Jody and I have gone away to far-flung places like India and Egypt, our cell phones have always been on for emergencies. This was like going back to the 1970s when using a payphone was considered a extreme sport.

But I suppose it will be a good experience. Kind of like one of those wilderness challenges where you hike for a month and have to fend on your own, eating berries and hunting bunnies. The kids and I will tough it out. Learn how to cook soup. Even follow recipes.

Or we could forget about the missing cucumbers and order a week’s worth of falafel and pizza. You know, that actually sounds pretty good…just don’t tell Jody!

Tags: , , ,

Page 5 of 9« First...34567...Last »

 

© 2012 ISRAELITY | Site by illuminea | Sitemap