Could the World become a Better Place?

Shai Agassi is a person who doesn't have to prove himself - he's done it 400,000,000 ($) times and much more. I had the chance of working for him at TopTier, though at the time he was mostly in the US and I don't think he'll remember me.

He's now investing all his power in the Project Better Place, with the goal of transforming our fuel-based cars into electric-cars, by providing the necessary infrastructure and business plan.

Will he succeed? I sincerely hope so. I am also willing to be one of his first customers for a pilot plan in Israel. If anyone is to succeed in such a project - it's him.

Some say his real goal is to own the software that will handle the whole system. Well, I think that if he succeeds in this project, it makes complete sense and there's no harm about it. If making this world a Better Place means Agassi will own the most important software in history - so be it!

In any case, I admire him for being ready to risk his most valuable asset - his reputation - for this huge and very risky project.

If you want to keep track of what's going on, I suggest you read his blog.

Good luck Shai!

Leasing

If you live in Israel, and especially if you're a high-tech professional, you are probably aware of the big noise around the expected change in taxes for leasing cars.

Globes just published a great read - an article that compares this issue to some other, more understandable yet completely virtual scenario. Even if you don't subscribe to the point of view that the taxes should indeed be increased, it's still fun to read.

Another interesting read on this subject is a site by the same author (and others), which explains why the taxes should indeed be increased.

If, like many others, you're trying to figure out the actual monetary value of using a leased car, check this calculator out.

Lastly, although I understand all the reasons why the taxes should indeed be increased, I'm still a big fan of leasing cars. I'm a complete car-dummy, and the feeling that whatever the problem, there is someone who will come within a couple of hours to fix it, is worth a lot more than money. So IMHO, if indeed there is a glitsh in the current tax calculation, then justice must be done and the taxes should be updated. I still, however, want to keep the option of using a leased car (as an employee), without being pointed at as if I were a danger to society.