ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Max Lobovsky

Speculation: Sounds like the 14 spots are for the 14 Israeli teams and FIRST didn't want any other teams get the idea that they could sign up for it.

*bing*bing*bing*

We have a winner. Would you like the yellow, blue, or green colored bear? <- Sarcasm and speculation

I have a feeling we won't hear much about this regional until Kick-Off, then even those living under a rock in the FIRST Universe will hear about it. <- Speculation

[dez250]

Originally Posted by dlavery

Wow. After reading through several of these messages, I think that a new HTML tag needs to be developed that has the effect of clearly marking text with flashing colors that correspond to the two tag values "Pure speculation" and "I actually know what I am talking about, and have facts to back it up." Then it needs to be retroactively applied to this whole thread. I am sorry if this comes across as a harsh negative statement, but a few of the posts really have me grinding my teeth right now.

-dave

OK Once again i think what Dave said before should be brought back up, i think theres only a hand full of people here with true facts about this event so please don't post stuff saying that the event is dead or isn't going to happen or anything else like that if you really have no clue. It just isn't the right way to go around, so please just wait for an update about this from a true source like FIRST or Dave.

Just a thought to chew on...
~Mike

[coreyjon]

I think speculation is fun. Besides, there no damage being done by it, at least that I can see. I think after Dave said what he had to, to clear up the misconceptions and the such, he got his point across, and released more information than any of us could have expected. I think any speculation after that is purely in good fun. I also think a regional even in Israel is great. On a personal note, I would be kinda afraid to travel to Israel, but thats just me. I think thats probably because of the large amount of News filler I'm fed each day, and how they only show the negative things. I am very interested in watching this as it progresses. Just my $.02. I don't think anyone has to bite anyone else's head off. Its one thing to preach Gracious Professionalism, and another thing to be a gracious professional.

[Koko Ed]

There's now ten teams in Isreal.

[811SmallFry]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

There's now ten teams in Isreal.

Where did you get this? Is it on the usfirst web site?

[Ricky Q.]

http://www.usfirst.org/frc/map/FMPro?-db=team%20events.fp5&-lay=web&-format=team_list.htm&event=IS&event%20year=2005&st atus=registered&-sortfield=team%20id&-max=all&-find

Hey we have an Israeli sister team, hello 1001269!!

[Andy Baker]

This is amazing and impressive. Curiosity is killing me - how did this come about? Who got this done? Wow.

Andy B.

[Billfred]

I find it kinda odd that FIRST gave the Israeli teams seven-digit team numbers, especially when the last four digits (which I presume would be entered on their OI) correspond with currently active teams. (According to this post, all but one of the four-digitified numbers are registered for 2005.)

This has me wondering about the longevity of the Israel program, since these numbers are drastically different than the current numbering scheme. (I figure that FIRST has quite a few seasons until they will have to do anything drastic on the technical side for team numbers. The current IFI gear will handle up to 4096.)

Or will Israeli teams perhaps be renumbered before the season begins in earnest?

This might be a non-issue that'll sort itself out, but I'm just curious like that.

[Beth Sweet]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I find it kinda odd that FIRST gave the Israeli teams seven-digit team numbers,

Billfred,
If I remember correctly, rookies have 7 digit numbers until they actually register for a regional. Maybe FIRST just hasn't updated yet?

[Matt Leese]

Something I just noticed is that the regional has Pilot at the end of it. So perhaps the Israeli Regional is just a test to see if starting up a complete FIRST program on another continent works. We don't even know at this point if they're competing with the same challenge the rest of us are.

Matt

[Jessica Boucher]

This is wicked awesome. To be honest, I was expecting Singapore to be a more palatable country for FIRST to go into (with it's recent push to create a center of bio-technology in the country paired with a govt that's hugely influential in the school systems)...but just like fundraising, you never know where that gold mine will hit.

Looks like Israel is the place. I can't wait!

[Gabe Salas Jr.]

Truely inspiring. Since I already know I will not be able to go, they could at least have a live webcast of the event.

[Allison K]

All the Israeli Rookies got their four digit numbers.
1573 - 1582

[Cory]

Dean spoke today at the Robonexus convention in Santa Clara. While I didn't hear it (I can't stand most of his speeches), my mother did, and this is what she told me:

While Dean was waiting to give his speech at Nationals this year, Ariel Sharon (yes, that's the PM of Israel) called him and told him that he wanted to discuss bringing FIRST to the Middle East.

Dean and Sharon met sometime after this, and Sharon told him that teaching children about history had obviously not worked--fighting still continues, the same mistakes are made, and that he wants students to learn about science and technology, the ways of the future.

Apparently Dean suggested something about a regional in Tel Aviv, but Sharon said he wanted it to be a Middle East regional, not an Israeli regional (ie: Palestinians and Israeli's)

I believe she also said that all 14 teams were from Israel, and no US teams would be able to attend, but I may just have heard that from someone else.

I think it's extremely awesome that they want to make this a truly Middle East regional, and try to break down some of the barriers between the Israeli's and the Palestinians. I also heard (elsewhere, this is 100% unconfirmed) talk of a Palestinian team.

I didn't hear this with my own ears, so if my mother turns out to be a massive liar, it isn't my fault

Cory

[Jack Jones]

Originally Posted by Ricky Q.

http://www.usfirst.org/frc/map/FMPro?-db=team%20events.fp5&-lay=web&-format=team_list.htm&event=IS&event%20year=2005&st atus=registered&-sortfield=team%20id&-max=all&-find

Hey we have an Israeli sister team, hello 1001269!!

Look again - they've been given real numbers.