In other BDS News: SodaStream shares skyrocket on 'most successful quarter' ever

Doug Henwood, writing for Mondoweiss (no, I don't link to hate-sites) once asked the question  SodaStream: is BDS hitting where it hurts?

The answer is a resounding NO.

The Israel-based company, the subject to BDS ire for daring to promote peaceful co-existence and engagement said sales of sparkling water makers increased 22 percent, to over 1 million during the quarter.   Sales of gas refill units grew 17 percent, to a record 9.7 million.

This week, SodaStream stock rose 26 % after its successful earnings report.

  

According to Investors Business Daily:

Profit spiked 78% to $1.14 a share on 31% revenue growth to $171 million, according to Zacks Investment Research. SodaStream earnings and sales crushed consensus for 71 cents a share and $149 million. It was the fourth straight quarter of accelerating sales growth.

The stock had its best day in over two years.

Empirical Evidence of BDS fail

In a note to investors SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum wrote  "We are extremely pleased to be reporting the most successful quarter in our Company's history" 

Code Pink apologists attempt to spin Medea Benjamins' Caterpillar investments

As the co-founder of Global Exchange and Code Pink , Medea Benjamin is at the forefront of the BDS movement except apparently, when it interferes with her own opportunities for financial gain.  As  Medea Benjamin is confronted by her peers regarding her foundations' investments in Caterpillar the explanation  spin has taken some curious routes.

Via Twitter:
In this discussion, Benjamin Doherty 's (@bangpound)  protected tweets seem to imply that this was  a strategy to allow Medea to vote at Caterpillar shareholder conferences, but that assertion is challenged by  Daniel Shunra, who asserts that the $120,000 investment is beyond what is needed to vote.

Alli McCraken, one of Medea's employees at Code Pink claimed that the investment was a holdover from the days when Medea's father ran the Foundation

Financial disclosure forms indicate that Susan Medea Benjamin was in control of the Benjamin foundation from at least 2009, so no, Alli.  Nice try, though.

Liars and hypocrites clearly need to spend more time fine-tuning their back-stories.  

Incidentally, the 2012 990s  for the Benjamin  Foundation no longer list Caterpillar as an asset, but  holdings in Intel and General Electric, also touted as "complicit in the occupation"  remain.

The take-home lesson from this episode?   For at least some  "progressive" ideologues,  profit trumps politics.  Medea Benjamin is a true 1 per-center

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu Visits the Bay Area

Members of the pro-Israel community gathered in front of the Mountain View Computer History Museum today in support of a strong friendship between Israel and America. Inside the museum, California Governor Jerry Brown met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and together they signed a historic  agreement that expands California's partnership with Israel. The agreement will boost economic, cultural and academic cooperation between California and Israel with an emphasis on water conservation, alternative energy, cyber-security, biotechnology, and agricultural technology. Attending the event were local tech entrepreneurs and innovators - there are over 150 Israeli start-ups based in Silicon Valley

Demonstrators on all sides of the issue began arriving at  7:00 am with signs, flags and banners.  “Career” activists including a Wallach sister, Paul Larudee, Henry Norr, Rusty and Sparrow carried Palestinian flags and signs with the typical anti-Israel slurs. The outnumbered supporters of Israel carried Israeli flags.

Security was tight at the museum. A red helicopter circled overhead, and men in dark suits walked back and forth. Demonstrators on both sides were relocated several times by police and secret service personnel.

What really mattered however, was what went on inside the Hahn auditorium.

"There's a lot we can do, there's a lot we can learn, a lot we can share,"  Governor Brown said. "Israel is dynamic. California is dynamic." 

From Yahoo News:

During a meeting at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, the two emphasized their joint interests in cybersecurity, energy sources and water conservation, and suggested Israel -- an arid country with a growing population -- might be able to help California cope with its ongoing drought.

"California doesn't need to have a water problem,'' Netanyahu said. "Israel has no water problems because we are the number one recyclers of waste water, we stop water leaks, we use drip irrigation and desalination.''

Brown said he would welcome their ideas.

"Israel has demonstrated how efficient a country can be, and there is a great opportunity for collaboration,'' Brown said.

Netanyahu's whirlwind tour will include a visit to Stanford University and to  Apple Inc  He is also meeting with WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum, a Jewish Ukrainian immigrant who recently sold his company to Facebook  for $19 billion.

The innovation and creative energy of the Bay Area is mirrored by the innovation and creative energy of Israel. Opportunities abound for all.

Photos of the historic meeting can be found at the SF Chronicle website

Israeli Wine that gladdens human hearts. An East Bay BDS fail

It was standing room only in the East Bay , as community members gathered to try the fruit of the vine, Israeli style.  The Israeli wine and chocolate pairing featured  Israeli wineries including Tishbi, Bravdo, Kadesh Barnea, Odem and Gush Etzion.

One thing was clear- It was not your Bubbe's Manischewitz.

Israeli Wine has a long tradition. It was made in Israel throughout Biblical times, up until the Muslim conquest in the 8th century. Vineyards thrive in poor soil- the stress brings out complexities of flavor. Today, there are over 300 wineries in Israel.

Israel has five designated grape growing regions

Galilee (or Galil) - the northern region with volcanic soils ideal for grape growing
Judean Hills-  Israeli wine critic Daniel Rogov awarded four of the first six spots to Judean Hills wineries in a recent Israeli winery ranking
Shimshon (or Samson) - is the most widely planted region of Israel with almost 40% of the nations grapes grown here. Heavy, limey soils 
Negev - the arid, desert region of Israel. New watering technologies have made it possible to grow grapes here  
Shomron (or Samaria) - a coastal Mediterranean climate with hot, humid summers and warm, mild winters and  limestone, alluvial clay and loam soil.

Thanks to Harken Spirits for your contribution to a delicious and educational evening, and for introducing many to yet another reason to celebrate Israel.

Perspective 2013 The Cultural BDS Year in Review

The cultural BDS cheerleader and spokesmodel Tali Shapiro recently posted her latest "BDS is triumphant. BDS is on a roll. BDS is unstoppable." claim. Judge it for yourself

After countless hours spent spamming Facebook timelines and twitter feeds,  Tali crows over Richard Bona ( who?) and Sonia Montez (huh?).
And the BDS fails? Among  those visiting Israel in 2013 were

Tom Jones
Rihanna
Amar’e Stoudemire
Eric Burdon
Anthrax
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Alicia Keys
Pet Shop Boys
Ky-Mani Marley
John Malkovich
Joe Louis Walker
Tiesto
Barbra Striesand
King Lizard
Ashton Kutcher
Mila Kunis

Dozens more showed up to literary events, film and music festivals, and plenty came to just see the sights.  For more celebrity sightings in Israel, visit the Creative Community for Peace 

Next year (thanks for the reminder, Tali) Justin Timberlake, Cyndi Lauper and many others have committed to play in Israel.

Join me in wishing Tali and the BDS cru more of that very same special sort of "success" in 2014.