Seconds before they release their new and extremely anticipated album, Lucille’s crew got together on a sunny Tel Aviv afternoon to give Balcony TV a lil’ taste from what’s coming up.

Lucille will celebrate their new album on the road, touring from TLV to NYC.

For upcoming dates, music and videos, stay tuned @https://www.facebook.com/Lucille.Smok…

Frame, a popular chef and sushie bar in Israel, is celebrating 10 years with a party and fashion weekend in Eilat.

An aging population, deep pockets of poverty, environmental hazards – some of Asia’s most pressing worries – present a wealth of business opportunities for innovative Israeli companies.

An aging population, deep pockets of poverty, environmental hazards – some of Asia’s most pressing worries – present a wealth of business opportunities for innovative Israeli companies. That, at least, was the message from the first annual Israel-Asia Summit in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

“Asia is rarely discussed at the major conferences in Israel” said Rebecca Zeffert, the founder and executive director of the Israel-Asia Center, which sponsored the conference.

“If they do, they ask, ‘Why Asia?’ But it doesn’t reflect the issues that are being discussed in Asia. I wanted to discuss major trends in Asia that nobody is talking about in Israel.”

Foremost among those trends are the demographic changes occurring in many of Asia’s most important economies.

A “silver tsunami” in Korea, the fastest-aging population in the world, means that more than 20 percent of its population will be elderly by 2026, according to Korea Economic Research Institute president Choi Byung-il. In China, the proportion of elderly is set to triple by 2050. Japan’s graying population, said TMT Strategic Advising partner Levi Shapiro, “is a great opportunity for investment.”

With a lower proportion of young people to care for the increasingly old population, technology can play an important part in not only care, but recreation as well.

“Is anyone thinking about the over-60 market for iPhone apps?” Zeffert asked. Whether building technological toys for the elderly, robotic dogs or age-friendly cars, she said, Israeli technology could fill a major gap. “We have the technology, we just don’t fully understand the market,” she said.

Israel’s clean technology also gives it an edge when it comes to the immense environmental challenges facing fast developing Asian countries.

The lack of energy alternatives contributes to overwhelming air pollution, both an environmental hazard and a health one, as a result of smoke inhalation, said Janet Pau of the Asia Business Council.

“Green innovation is a constant problem,” she said. “Israel has lots to offer on that front.”

In India, there are two distinct markets for Israeli business, said Arvind Gupta, an adviser on business and technology to India’s opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

While on the one hand, there is a Western-style quality-of-life market in search of ways to make the good life even better, “there is also a world that is bottom of the pyramid, that live on less than $2 a day,” he said. “How can we change their lives? Do we have innovations, and what kind of platforms can we build?” Health, energy and education are the most important fields for that market, he said. For example, an iPhone or tablet in a semirural area offers relatively staggering computing power and could be used as a microbank or a diagnostic device.

“It’s two different markets, but it’s not a matter of choosing between them,” Gupta said.

A similar dynamic exists in China, said Ron Waldman, a partner at the Asia Business Gateway. “The nicest mall will be right next to a slum where people are living on $2 a day,” he said. While the slum residents don’t have much consumer power, their local government has access to capital and is hungry for technological ways to solve their problems, he said.

Why would Israel, of all places, hold possible solutions to this sea of problems? The recurring conclusion at the summit was that Israel has a comparative advantage in its culture of innovation.

In many Asian education systems “the common theme that comes across is that there’s a culture of performance and conformity,” Pau said.

A student from Singapore on a fellowship in Israel said in his home country, known for its world-class education in math and sciences, the focus on rote learning stymies innovative thinking.

“The education system we are moving toward is conformity and standardization,” he said.

A Korean colleague agreed, saying the hours of repetitive studying was, perhaps, “not efficient.”

Such educational and cultural differences make a big difference in the kind of output nations produce, said Gang Lu, who runs the Chinese technology blog Technode/.

“We also see many start-ups in China,” he said. “The young generation want to be entrepreneurs. The weakness is the innovation, and that’s the strength here.”

China’s start-ups depend more on copying pre-existing models, Gang said, while Israelis “are concerned about the innovation, the creative chaos.”

Source: Jpost.com

Google and other companies approached Waze after its talks with Facebook became public, Bloomberg news reported.

Google is considering buying Israeli mobile satellite navigation startup Waze, which may lead to a bidding war with Facebook, Bloomberg news reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Waze is seeking more than $1 billion and is fielding expressions of interest from multiple parties, said Bloomberg, citing a source.

Other media have reported that Facebook has held talks to buy Waze for as much as $1 billion.

Google and other parties approached Waze after the Facebook talks became public but none of the bidders are close to clinching a deal, Bloomberg said, adding that the startup might decide to remain independent.

Waze could not immediately be reached for comment. Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Waze uses satellite signals from members’ smartphones to generate maps and traffic data, which it then shares with other users, offering real-time traffic info.

Source: Haaretz.com

Gal Gadot is arguably Israel’s second hottest export at the moment. The former Miss Israel 2004 and Miss Universe contestant has a starring role in the most recent film from the Fast and the Furious Franchise and is one of the faces of Israel’s largest clothing brands, Castro. Now she’s teaming up with Vine Vera skin care products,which incorporates the breakthrough ingredient Resveratrol, which she tells The Algemeiner is “a new innovative discovery which helps slow down the aging process by 20 years.”

The Algemeiner spoke to Gadot via email.

The Algemeiner: How does it feel to represent Israel in Hollywood?

Gal Gadot: I often get asked this question; I have much love for Israel. It is a place that warms my heart, it is my home. However, I don’t feel like I represent Israel in Hollywood, I represent myself. I am not an Israeli ambassador yet.

A: Do you feel any added pressure, considering Israel’s reputation in the world, to represent it in a certain light?

GG: When it comes to Israel there is a lot of misconception. Some people still think that the Israelis ride around on camels. It is important for me to show Israel on its true side as a positive, pluralistic country. Israel is full of interesting culture and liberal people. Israel is a beautiful place with lots of heart and meaning. I am proud to call it my home.

A: Any projects in the works?

GG: Yes, I have many projects on the table. I will decide very soon which ones I want to focus my time and energy on.

A: Do you plan to focus on American films or Israeli?

GG: Both. Although Israeli films do not have a big budget like American, their artistic creation is much deeper. In American films, the budget is grand and you can have more “action.” I enjoy making both types of films.

A: What’s been the biggest thrill working on the Fast and Furious films? Biggest surprise or letdown?

GG: When you read an action script it is really hard to imagine how the film is going to look like. Words like “car racing” and “boom” are often described in the script and not even in your wildest imagination can you visualize the end result. When I saw the movie put together for the first time at the London premiere I was blown away. It was truly exceptional.

A: What advice would you give to a young Israeli girl who wants to follow in your footsteps?

GG: There is no right way. The process is very individual and personal for every person. My only advice would be is to be persistent and never give up.

A: What does Jewish identity mean to you?

GG: To me the Jewish identity means family, the holidays, the traditions, and home.

A: What would be your dream film to act in?

GG: My dream film to act in would have 3 great things: script, director, and an awesome cast.

A: Have you ever experienced hostility or prejudice because of your roots?

GG: No, not while working, I have been always treated with respect and welcomed.

A: Why are you and Vine Vera a good fit?

GG: I am a firm believer of having beautiful skin the natural way. That’s why Vine Vera and I are a good fit. Vine Vera is all about enhancing the natural beauty of your skin without using any needles, surgery, or harsh chemicals. I could see the benefits Vine Vera products had to offer almost immediately. The way my skin looks and feels is very important to me. Vine Vera helps me achieve a radiant glow.

Source: Algemeiner.com

more via Insideout.ca

FILM: ADAM

Indonesia, Israel, USA

Adam is a sensitive 17-year-old who is secretly in love with Jonathan, the most popular guy at school. One day, Adam decides to make his true feelings known but the result is not what Adam was hoping for.

Wednesday, May 29th @ 5:15

@TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX

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FILM: LITTLE MAN

Israel, UK

Elliot is unable to form a long-lasting relationship but he never gives up, moving on to the next available man. One particular weekend, Elliot becomes obsessed with a very odd neighbour who is making too many loud noises. Reaching his limit, Elliot is out to kill whatever is eating him up.

Wednesday, May 29th @ 9:30

@TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX

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FILM: Out in the Dark

Israel, USA, Palestinian Territories

The romance between Nimr, a Palestinian grad student, and Roy, an Israeli lawyer, must withstand the forces that are trying to drive them apart, in this sensual and gripping drama.

When Nimr and Roy first meet, their attraction is mutual and they begin falling for each other. But complications soon arise. Roy’s family tries to sow seeds of doubt about Nimr’s intentions, while Nimr must struggle with the fear of rejection or, worse, of having his family find out that he’s gay. Meanwhile, Israeli Security Forces threaten to revoke Nimr’s permit to study in Tel Aviv if he doesn’t provide information about his older brother’s increasingly violent activism. Faced with these obstacles, can Nimr and Roy’s relationship survive?

Sparked by electric chemistry between its handsome leading men and imbued with assured cinematography that conveys the film’s intimacy and urgency, Out in the Dark is a sensitive, compellingstory about love, family and loyalty, set in a politically charged reality.

Thursday, May 30th @ 7:15

@TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX

The Lod mosaic (photo courtesy of Lod Municipality)

Hundreds of thousands of tourists expected to view spectacular Lod mosaic at world’s most visited museum this summer

History is being made at the Louvre Museum in Paris: For the first time an official Israeli exhibition will be displayed in the world’s most visited museum.

The spectacular Lod mosaic that was uncovered in an archaeological excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority will be on display in the Cour du Sphinx (Sphinx Courtyard) in the Roman wing of the museum between May 23 and August 19.

So far, the mosaic has been shown at five museums in the United States, first and foremost among them a successful presentation held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and a total of some 700,000 visitors have attended the exhibitions in America.

Until today, only a number of private Israeli artists have been exhibited in the Louvre, and now, for the very first time, an official Israeli exhibition will be displayed in the French museum.

According to the director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Shuka Dorfman, “This is a great honor and achievement for the Israel Antiquities Authority and a wonderful opportunity for the millions of visitors to the museum to see the masterpiece from Lod and learn about the archaeology and history of the Land of Israel.”

The 1,700-year-old mosaic, one of the most magnificent and largest ever revealed in Israel, was uncovered in the city of Lod in 1996 and covered over again in order to protect it.

In 2009, after obtaining the necessary funding to expose it, the Israel Antiquities Authority renewed the archaeological excavation there and removed the mosaic from the site in order to conserve it.

The mosaic constitutes a rare archaeological gem that is extraordinarily well-preserved. It measures approximately 180 square meters and is composed of colorful carpets that depict in detail mammals, birds, fish, flora and the sailing and merchant vessels that were used at that time. It is thought the mosaic floor was part of a villa that belonged to a wealthy person in the Roman period.

The Shelby White and Leon Levy Lod Mosaic Archaeological Center, which will be constructed in the city of Lod where the mosaic was discovered, is presently in the advance stages of planning. The center is scheduled to be opened in the autumn of 2014.

Click here for the Lod mosaic exhibition announcement on the Louvre Museum website

Source: Ynetnews.com

AWESOME PLACES TO WORK: These Startups Have Better Perks Than Free Food Or Beers On Tap

The difference between a job you love and a job you hate is usually one thing: the company’s culture.

These days, lots of tech startups have adopted cultural perks like free food, pool table/games, and beers on tap.

But others have come up with new ways to make their companies great places to work. They’ve “hacked” their culture, according to this discussion thread on Quora.

For full list, Read more via http://www.businessinsider.com/10-awesome-ways-startups-have-hacked-their-company-culture-2013-5?op=1#ixzz2U7cWLMWV

A prototype of the Oxitone device, heading to market in about 18 months.

GE is banking on Oxitone wrist monitor to provide a heads-up for someone to get medical assistance before it’s too late.

About half of all people at risk of death from heart attacks could gain the chance to live, once Israeli entrepreneur Leon Eisen’s new Oxitone device goes to market in about 18 months.

Using two optical sensors, and another special high-tech tool, he’s developed the world’s first “watch” that can just about tell when your time may be up.

It’s no joke: Oxitone was developed to cheat fate.

Eisen tells ISRAEL21c that about half of the people who die from cardiac or pulmonary arrest would be alive if someone had been there to get them to the hospital in time. Oxitone is made to be worn on the wrist to provide a heads-up for someone to get medical assistance on their own, before it’s too late.

With all the technology out there — personal monitoring devices, crocodile clips for your finger, even those panic buttons — nothing helps if the user is not able to mobilize these devices in time. And many patients may not be able to read the signs that cardiac arrest is imminent.

That’s why Eisen developed a wearable watch-like mobile device –– synched with Bluetooth, Android or iPhone devices –– that takes minute-by-minute readings of heart rate and oxygen levels in the blood.

So potentially “disruptive” is this advance that Oxitone recently was chosen from 400 applicants to be among 13 companies – and the only Israeli one — in GE Healthcare’s Start-Up Health Academy Entrepreneurship Program. The three-year program provides healthcare entrepreneurs the tools to propel their product into the healthcare market.

Continue reading via Israel21c

While usage of the social network is on the decline in the United States, Israelis won’t be defriending it anytime soon.

Check your news feed: Facebook is getting significantly fewer likes these days – but not in Israel.

If you have a second window open in your Web browser while reading this story, chances are, it’s open to Facebook. But while the world’s most famous social network is undoubtedly popular, a recent survey by the Pew Research Center proves that more and more Americans are saying that their relationship with Mark Zuckerberg’s brainchild is complicated.

According to the survey, which was published in February, 62% of American users have taken a “break” from Facebook for at least a few weeks. And according to an article from Reuters last month, investors in the cutting-edge tech hub of Silicon Valley have been flocking to a handful of newer, fresher social networks preferred by young people.

Israelis, however, are in a happy and committed relationship with the network, according the recent comScore survey, which shows them spending more time per month on the site than users from any other nation.

Elad Brindt Shavit, Facebook account manager for the Israeli market, says that on average, Israelis spend 11 hours a month a Facebook, a figure that has held steady for the past two years.

Brindt Shavit says that Israel has 4 million Facebook users, and they log on several times a month. The number of “likes” handed out by Israelis has more than doubled in the past year, climbing from 300 million in 2012 to 764 million in 2013 to date.

And of course, let’s not forget the young couple from Tel Aviv who named their baby “Like” in 2011, in perhaps the greatest act of solidarity with the network to date.

There has also been growth in the number of replies to posts, which now stands at 120 million per month. Israelis update their statuses 13 million times a month.
Sixty percent of Israeli Facebook members log onto the social network on a daily basis. Male users edge out female users 52% to 48%.

According to Brindt Shavit, older Israelis are also using the network more. Currently, 9 percent of Israeli Facebook users are 55 or older and 8 percent are between 45 and 55.

But most Israeli Facebookers are young. 13 percent of them are between 13 and 17 years old; 28 percent are between 18 and 24; 27 percent are between 25 and 34; and 15 percent are ages 35 to 44.

Source: Haaretz.com