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Hey, Steve, 'War of the Worlds' is NOT the movie with the Palestinians
Photo: Reuters
Photo: Shmuel Haari
Rapper Subliminal (L) not known for his subtlety, trashes Arabs in U.S. interview
Photo: Shmuel Haari
Natalie makes nice: Portman apologizes for kissing Aki Avni. We're sure Sandy's happy
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Segway, Single women, Spielberg, Subliminal, Portman, salaries

In which we wonder about whether the director can do two things at once, single women in Israel, what the hot-headed rapper is saying, why Natalie apologized and what high-tech workers earn

7 March 2005

 

The Segway debate

 

Many Tel Aviv residents were probably excited to hear that the “Segway”, a self-balancing electric-powered “human transporter”, has been approved for use on city streets on an experimental basis.

 

The transporter could indeed make life in the traffic-clogged city more bearable, although its price tag is somewhat hefty. However, an even more fundamental problem could prevent the Segway from becoming the next big thing here.

 

The devices are already used at the airport here, and a quick glance has revealed that riding one of those babies is not exactly a “cool sight.” Indeed, an approaching Segway makes it appear as if the person on top is engaged in some sort of weird gliding ritual as he or she float away to their next destination.

 

This may seem as a trifle matter, but Israelis are known to be very concerned with their “image” and “coolness.” For now at least, the jury’s still out.

 

Bachelor heaven?

 

Attention all you aging bachelors out there: Israel is home to more single women than men in every age group above 30, figures released ahead of International Women's Day reveal.

 

In fact, in the above-50 age group there are two single women for every single man. In short, if you couldn't come up with a good reason to visit Israel, now you have one - do it for love.

 

If it's Tuesday, it must be Munich

 

A-list director Steven Spielberg is working on two major films simultaneously, and they are as different as the last time he worked on two together. And again, one of them has a major Jewish theme. The first time, in 1993, was when he was working on “Jurassic Park” and “Schindler’s List” at the same time, editing one while filming the other. You do remember which one got the Best Picture Oscar, right?

 

This time, Spielberg is filming a remake of “War of the Worlds,” the 1953 sci-fi classic that starred Gene Barry (Tom Cruise this time), and an as-yet-untitled film - previously known as “Vengeance,” and “Mossad” about the 1972 Munich massacre of Israeli athletes. The Olympic film has (yet another) new writer, Tony Kushner (“Angels in America”), and is set for release at the end of the year. “WOW” is due out in June. Guess which one is aimed at the Oscars?

 

Muscles in the Holy Land

 

The Power Team - a Christian evangelical group comprising body builders and immense physical specimens - is set to bring a tour group to Israel this week. Power Team’s members break baseball bats, bricks and walls for Christ.

 

Dry mouth

 

Yes, it’s a serious problem, and yes, a lot of people suffer from it, so why did I giggle when I saw this story about dry mouth syndrome?

 

Ice hockey in the Holy Land

 

Yes, there is a team. No, it's not a joke - they're not bad. We have an ice hockey team that is competing in international events. Hat tip to Israel Campus Beat.

 

Peace dividend for investors?

 

Maybe. Invest wisely. 

 

Tech paycheck survey

 

Every year, the email newsletter Computer Jobs in Israel surveys high-tech workers in Israel on their salaries and benefits. Results are somewhat skewed to English and Russian speakers - the main readers of the newsletter, which usually prints job openings. But the results have some interest:

 

  • Technical writer: monthly salary (average) NIS 13,500 (USD 3,082)
  • Document manager: NIS 20,000 (USD 4,566)

  • Marketing manager: NIS 16,000 (USD 3,653)

  • Have company car: 44%

  • Discounted lunch or lunch coupons: 70%

  • 14 or more vacation days: 83%

  • 21-25 days: 25%

  • Yearly bonus: 29%

  • Salary went up last year: 50%

  • Native Russian speaker: 44%

  • English: 28%

  • Hebrew: 18%


Not all, I guess, will be able to invest in the peace dividend....Full results here.

 

Subtle Subliminal 

 

Rapper Subliminal, now on tour in the U.S., let loose in an interview with Rolling Stone: "When we talk politics with Arabs in Israel, they say, 'My grandfather used to live in Tel Aviv, and now it's owned by Jewish people - we want to come back,'" he says. "I respond, 'My parents came from Iran and Tunisia, but nobody is going to give our property back to us. It's all been confiscated . . . We have this little sandbox we call Israel. We give our hearts and lives to make it a proud country. Every one serves in the Israeli Defense Force in order for Israel to survive. You have half of the globe. What the (bleep) do you want from us? Go live in Saudi Arabia.'" Hat tip: The View From Here.

 

Natalie apologizes

 

Actress Natalie Portman, infamously chased from the Western Wall recently during a kissing scene in a film she is acting in, has apologized: "I really don't want to offend anyone's beliefs or impose anything on anyone and it was mistaken to do it. As soon as it offended people, we moved. We had a very hectic work schedule, so we weren't thinking. We shouldn't have done it." Isn't she a nice girl? 

 

Yblog is written collectively by Ynetnews editors. Don't expect agreement or consistency

פרסום ראשון: 03.06.05, 20:00