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Hug it out, kids. In case you were wondering, "is that guy just thinking real hard, or is he actually nonverbally requesting a hug?" now you can read people's body language and determine if the person in question wants a hug.
Who's the Hug Instructor? (You know that's a real title somewhere...) Yoni Stadlin, from Eden Village Camp.
What's the occasion? The UN-sanctioned International Day of Peace, which falls every September 21. Which happens to be tomorrow.
Israel's always had a little more than its share of hippie tendencies - from communal living arrangements (kibbutzim, moshavim, the army) to sandals and other footwear (Naot that look like Birkenstocks, hello!). Plus, unkempt beards, long hair, songs about peace...welcome to Nahlaot.
But leave it to YouTube to show me how Woodstock (celebrating a big birthday this week, in case the publication you happen to read happens to have not done an article about it) has had an impact on the Israeli advertising industry.
I bring you...Israeli-accented hippies in a van advertising insurance. And I need to ask...would Don Draper have signed off on this ad?
Thanks to Wired for this information about the Crocs car, which is not made OF Crocs (which would be insane) but is instead inspired by Crocs (which is also kind of insane, actually). The car is, however, made of foam and gets 100 mpg, and ensures that you'll look as dumb driving around in Crocs as we all do when we're wearing them.
Special apologies to Leah Jones and her yellow Crocs for that comment. The Urban Kvetch still loves you. And also, even after much deliberation, caved and now owns a pair in black.
Israelis love Crocs. And Israelis love electric cars. Can you say, "merger with Better Place"?..
If you've ever wondered what driving a hybrid might mean to your personal safety and carbon footprint, well...that's not exactly what this video's about. But if you're interested in learning more about NY's cabbies through the literal lens of the creator of "The Hebrew Hammer," then you'll want to click "play" immediately.
This short film is part of a new web series from "Hammer" creator Jonathan Kesselman and the Mother Nature Network (helmed by Benyamin Cohen, formerly of the now defunct American Jewish Life).
Earth Day? Feh! Tel Aviv's a busy city. Just ask the voice of the city:
"Mah...hishtagatem?? We can't be expected to take a whole day off in honor of the environment!"
"What's that? An hour at night? Will there be music? And will the amps be powered by TA-City's best spinning classes? OK, then."
This conversation never took place. At least, we have no documentation thereof. But we do have a video post from Tel Aviv Man-on-the-Rehov Benji Lovitt, of WhatWarZone.com, who captured some of the magic of Earth Hour for those of us who couldn't make it there in person.
Random trivia note that I think is interesting: the band playing is Knesiat Hasechel which translates to "Church of the Mind." Of course, this brings to mind "Church of the Poisoned Mind," by Boy-George-fronted 80s band Culture Club. Which of course, reminds us of the song "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me," in which Boy George famously wore a shirt with what Hebrew non-phrase on it??
That's right people, I never waste an educational opportunity. First one to correctly guess gets...their name in lights on this blog. And by lights, I mean boldface. I do not mess around with the incentives...
A person who eats no meat, uses no animal-derived goods and prefers not to have sex with non-vegans.
Only a few moments into the new year and we're already aware that eco-sensitivity is going to leap out at us with the frequency of bad 3-D movies in the 80s
(Jaws 3-D, anyone?).
In case we thought that Natalie Portman's avowed vegetarianism was merely an attempt to get around kashrut issues when dining out, Miss P takes her devotion to live animals one step further by having created a line of $200 vegan shoes.
According to the online report, "The Natalie Portman Collection arrives February 2008 online and at the NYC boutique located at 382 West Broadway. The shoes are available for pre-order on January 15. 5% of all vegan shoe profits will be going to charity."
Now you can pamper your inner Amidala without harming any animals, and still walk a mile in Natalie's shoes. I don't know if she's a vegansexual...that's personal, and you'll have to ask her yourself.
Tonight's the first candle of Hanukkah. In honor of that and in tribute to the valiant environmental efforts of Danielle Venokur, CEO of dvGreen, a sustainable events company, I'd pass along an environmental tip for a greener Hanukkah. Paraffin candles emit greenhouse gases. (I didn't know that either.) But soy or beeswax candles are an environmentally safer option, Venokur says.
For tips on throwing a greener party, or to read my profile of her as one of American Jewish Life Magazine's Six Who Matter, click here. And to read more about Venokur and her company, check out the dvGreen website.
