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Jacob Shwirtz.

Native of Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, NY, USA, Earth. Now living in Israel.

Graduate of the Yeshivah of Flatbush elementary and high school. Returned to teach an independent study class on entrepreneurship for two semesters (spring '02 and fall/winter '03).

Degreed (yes, that is a word) in Film Production, with honors, from the City University of New York at Brooklyn College. Honors thesis written on the use of metaphors in the language of technology.

Started Y3K.com in 1997 as a source for forward thinking and revolt against the opium of the masses, short-sightedness. Sold the domain for a pleasant amount of money at the end of 2005 (to fund the purchase of a new car, a 2006 Fiat Punto).

Founded GAZM.org in 1998 as a source for Constant Intellectual Stimulation - a company devoted to supporting thoughtful, creative and savvy thinkers, humorists, philosophers and artists of all kinds. Great press coverage earned can be found here, including a live interview on CNNfn. Officially closed the company in March 2003.

Created world's first "Living Music Chart" with HMV Record Stores whereby users decided the position of all CDs on the chart and every 2 weeks the top 5 vote-getters went on sale in all HMV stores nationwide (in special GAZM.org displays in each store).

Worked on marketing campaigns for Absolut Vodka, 20th Century Fox, New Line Cinema and others.

Attended five straight years of the Cannes Film Festival (1999-2003).

Organized the "GAZM.org Creative Showcase" - a screening of 11 short films at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. One film sold for distribution (a major accomplishment).

Got an amazing tan (possibly the first one of my life) at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.

Went on once-in-a-lifetime journey through Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia and France between July 16 and August 3, 2002.

Completed all available classes in improvisation comedy at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater. Wrote some thoughts on my Level 1 class and on my first performance. Also took an Improv Maga class at the People's Improv Theater.

Flew through the air of the lower west side of Manhattan for close to two years at the Trapeze School New York. Read about the experience and see pictures of me flying. Most fun of my life. Register for classes on the site I helped to relaunch for them here.

Consulted for The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation on various Internet and telephony strategies for about 14 months. Focused on the area of online community and networking.

Participated in amazing, life-changing, free, 12 day trip through Israel.

Took pottery classes at The Painted Pot in Brooklyn, NY.

Studied Arabic in an intensive class at New York University.

Served on planning committee for the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation. A great honor!

Made huge decision to move to Israel after living in New York my whole life. Official date of immigration: December 22nd, 2003. Beginning to blog again after a nearly 7 month hiatus. Read the first new entry.

Worked as a research assistant at the Institute for Counter Terrorism.

Considered taking up golf as a new hobby in Israel.

Founded, and continue to run, the official Israel chapter of the Taglit-birthright israel Alumni Association. Helping people get to Israel and settled into new lives here.

Served as a private in the Israel Defense forces (the IDF), in the Homefront Command (March '05 - June '05). Now remain a soldier in the reserves.

Worked for two years as the Director of Projects and Strategy a major Tel Aviv Internet development company.

Completed an International MBA degree at Bar Ilan University.

Taking up wine appreciation as a new and serious hobby.

Worked for 11 months as a Product Manager at Answers.com with the specific focus of Web 2.0, social networking and user-generated content issues. While there, was a part of launching blufr, an addictive trivia game (now offline), among other cool projects.

Working for MTV Networks on crafting and implementing an Internet strategy based on user-centric, Web 2.0, social networking concepts. Hope to do some revolutionary stuff!

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movie writings
Pi
Brazil

Marathon Man
A Clockwork Orange
Vanilla Sky
Minority Report
Men in Black II
Andromeda Strain
Dr. Strangelove
Platoon

Time Code
On the Waterfront
Day of the Jackal
Farenheit 451
American Graffiti
Comedian
Deterrence
The China Syndrome
Three Days o.t. Condor

Late Great Planet Earth
A.t. President's Men, 2
Black and White
Catch 22
Star Trek: Nemesis
Adaptation
Gangs of New York
Y Tu Mama
Matrix Reloaded
Bruce Almighty

Kill Bill 2
Eternal Sunshine
War of the Worlds
Mission: Impossible III

blogsploitation
jewish encyclopedia
online dictionary
israeli bloggers
view from here
punks of zion
joho the blog
urban kvetch
rambo's blog
hanan cohen

Zabaj: the junk in Israel's trunk


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