Category: Videos
Saudis protest ad showing them cursing Nissan by…cursing Nissan
Posted on August 13, 2008 | View Comments
When we first came to Israel in the early 1990s, Israeli television was a pathetic affair. There were two channels, and the only semblance of competition between them was who could broadcast the oldest, most boring reruns possible. Commercials were worse: static screens with white text on a blue background telling us to buy something.
As television became more sophisticated, real commercials were introduced. In the beginning, they were horrific concoctions of bad humor and naked women (How do we get people to buy this toothpaste? Naked women! How should we get kids to buy Milky? Naked women!)
But like so many things with Israelis, it was just a matter of time before they got the hang of it, and now Israeli commercials are really fun to watch.
One theme that’s appeared in Israeli commercials lately is what our Arab neighbors are thinking. Take this ad created by the Israeli branch of McCann Erickson, where Iranians celebrate Ahmadinejad’s declaration that he will destroy Israel, until they realize this means they’ll miss the last episode of the Israeli show Danny Hollywood:
The latest installment in the Israeli-commercials-with-Arabs series didn’t go over as smoothly as the one above. A new commercial for the gas-efficient Nissan Tiida depicts some Arab oil magnates cursing the car for its efficiency. In response, Arab oil magnates protested this commercial which they saw as racist by…cursing Nissan. It reminds me of that time when the pope hinted that the Moslem world might be a bit too violent, and to protest that generalization Moslem world burned down a few churches and other things.
Anyways, here’s the ad:
I don’t know about you, but this ad doesn’t seem to be racist. The guys are dressed in the typical garb, they’re not ugly, and they look pretty normal. The idea that the oil magnates might feel animosity towards cars that sip gas is actually a…what’s that word…a joke.
So here’s an idea: everybody has an initiative for peace. I’ve seen Go-Karting for Peace, Playgrounds for Peace, Surfing for Peace. Maybe if people in this region had a sense of humor, things would be better. So who wants to join me in my new initiative: Sense of Humor for Middle East Peace?
101 Ways to Divest and Boycott Israel
Posted on July 30, 2008 | View Comments
So most of the world is sure that Israel is the root of all evil, and that everything would be perfect if we’d just conveniently disappear, thank you very much.
A great way to work towards the goal of disappearing those darn Jews is to divest from Israel, and/or boycott the country. By putting economic strain on Israel, the hope is that we’ll all just give up and jump into the nearest body of water, which in our case would be the Mediterranean Sea (since the Kinneret is really just a puddle by this point).
But where does a budding boycotter begin? The endless options can be overwhelming for a person starting out in a career of Israel divestment. Well, someone has helpfully put together a short video detailing exact steps that can be taken to boycott the Little Satan, such as not wearing any seamless underwear, or in cases of heart attacks don’t use stents. If I wanted to boycott Israel, I know that this video would be my starting point. (Or ending point, depending on how you look at it.)
Update: I just got a really nasty comment, so in case it’s not clear, the above is entirely sarcastic, and the video is a parody on divestors by showing them that they’d basically have to forego technology and their health to properly boycott Israel.
Israel’s national anthem circa 2008
Posted on June 1, 2008 | View Comments
I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I actually tear up every time I’m at a ceremony or event where Hatikva, Israel’s national anthem, is played. You’d think I’d get over it already, but the ideas in the song are just so…profound, and you get the feeling that when everybody’s singing it, they really mean it.
“We still haven’t lost our hope, the hope of 2000 years…to be a free nation in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem.”
(sniff)
Anyways, apparently I’m not the only one who gets emotional. Treppenwitz says he does too, and he has posted a video of a new version of Hatikva created by a French singer called Francky Perez, a wedding singer (one of my favorite movies), and a backup band called Broadway. It combines soul, rap, and more to create a truly moving and exciting version of our decades old anthem.
So bring out the tissues (or just laugh and point at me), and click play:
Canadian Prime Minister Harper strongly supports Israel on 60th birthday
Posted on May 26, 2008 | View Comments
I was born and raised in Canada. From what I remember, Canada’s leaders tended to not be very remarkable, and their attitude towards Israel ranged from uncaring, to hostile.
Well, apparently Canada’s now got a Prime Minister with guts. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is not afraid to laud Israel’s achievements, and provide unconditional support for Israel’s security and right to exist – a move that he admits is unpopular, but he stands behind nonetheless.
And he can even speak French. Although it’s Canadian French, so I’m not sure if it counts.
Here’s his speech at an event in honor of Israel’s 60th anniversary:
Spock (Leonard Nimoy) explains the Jewishness of Star Trek
Posted on January 31, 2008 | View Comments
Leonard Nimoy, the legendary actor who played Spock on Star Trek, gives a great speech on the Jewish elements in Star Trek, and how he based the Vulcan hand greeting on the Kohanim he saw in his synagogue in his youth.
And you thought milk was boring [funny video]
Posted on November 7, 2007 | View Comments
A funny take on the web2.0 culture. In Israel. In a supermarket. In English.
[Hat tip: Viral blog]
Second Israel Web Tour, February 2008
Posted on October 29, 2007 | View Comments
The second Israel Web Tour is scheduled for February 4-7, 2008 in Silicon Valley and will bring 15 of Israel’s hottest startups to present, mingle, and find investment. The event is organized by the CICC – California Israel Chamber of Commerce in an effort to “advance Israeli companies and Israeli technology”. Last year’s Israel Web Tour was hosted by Michael Arrington of TechCrunch and featured startups Yedda, beinsync, SkyLow, Gizmoz, Fixya, FoxyTunes, RadarSync, ILCU, SpearCast, TrustedOpinion, Interating, Kasamba, ViewScore , MyHeritage. Looking forward to finding out who’ll be there this year.
Here’s a little taste of last year’s event:
CNBC Breaking News: Kosher Ka-ching
Posted on October 18, 2007 | View Comments
24/6 Kosher vending machines that sell hot dogs, mozarella sticks, knishes and other kosher goodies are making headlines across America. Hot Nosh founders Doron Fetman and Alan Cohnen are planning to roll out 2000 kosher vending machines over the next two years. This is a dream come true for many observant American Jews drooling over their company’s cafeteria food but know they should just wait till they get home. As if the idea weren’t cool enough, these Brooklyn boys got Ruby Azrak, founder of Phat Farm and friends with Beyoncé, to fund their initiative. I wonder if these guys were inspired by the French Fry vending machine that I spotted 5 years ago on Rehov Hillel in downtown Jerusalem? Watch the video to learn more… and help me make the connection to Fiddler on the Roof?!
The beat of the metal detector
Posted on October 8, 2007 | View Comments
Security is a regular part of Israeli life. This video pays “homage” to the urban soundtrack of our lives, post-terrorism – by Edan Alterman.
Stephen Colbert takes on Mearsheimer and his book
Posted on October 7, 2007 | View Comments
Stephen Colbert interviews John Mearsheimer about his new book, “The Israel Lobby,” which claims that
“the United States has been willing to set aside its own security in order to advance the interests of another state [Israel]“, and further that U.S. Middle East policy is driven primarily by the “Israel Lobby,” defined as a “loose coalition of individuals and organizations who actively work to steer U.S. foreign policy in a pro-Israel direction.”[2]” (Wikipedia)
While he doesn’t come right out and accuse him of having an exaggerated obsession with the Israel lobby, he does make him look kind of ridiculous with some choice rhetorical questions like: “How does the Israel lobby influence United States policy to make the United States the largest single supplier of arms to Saudi Arabia?” or “In the LA Times, you said the Israel Lobby is not pernicious in any way. If so, would you describe this book as something of a valentine to the Israel Lobby?”
About israelplug
Upcoming Events
You may have missed
Tidbits
Search
Subscribe to israelplug
Categories
Sponsors