It was medieval Islam that first labeled the Jews a People of the Book, along with Christians and others. But the Jewish book was never singular and Jewish engagement with Jewish text was always as much about the links as the words. From covenant and community to commentary to conversation, the most basic acts of Jewish life are all forms of linking. Inspired by 15 years on the parallel frontlines of social technology and Jewish community building, Estee Solomon Gray invites us to reconsider how the experience and language of todays social network technologies are impacting Jewish identity and education and vice versa. Since moving to Silicon Valley in 1980, Estee Solomon Gray has inhabited dozens of identities, among them tech strategist, marketing guru, Jewish community leader, mom, CEO and social entrepreneur. In the 1980s, working with Regis McKenna, Estee helped bring the idea of “communities of practice” from the world of research into the business world just in time for the explosion of the knowledge economy. With Interwise, Estee helped pioneer the e-learning platform. Her innovations at the juncture between social technology and health took flight with B!, focusing on women over 35, and Within3, serving networks of physicians. Estee has also been very active in the Jewish community, having served as president of the Hausner Jewish Day School; a catalyst for the Koret Taube Campus for Jewish Life; a key advocate for the integration of local Israelis into Bay Area …

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To say we were a tad flabbergasted that Modern Warfare 2’s 5 map pack DLC costs $15 is about right. We weren’t exactly outraged. It’s just a video game after all and really doesn’t matter that much. But $15 is a bit much for five maps with two of the recycled from previous Call of Duty games. Infinity Ward’s Creative Strategist Rob Bowling disagrees. He calls it an investment. Well, Creative Strategist is just code for Public Relations so he kind of has to say that.

NowGamer

A lot of people think they should be getting the old maps for free. Don’t you think 1200 MSP is a little bit expensive for what is essentially three new maps?

Rob,

I have no doubt that anyone who downloads this map pack is going to get their money’s worth. They’re going to feel their investment is worthwhile. Because if you’re playing Modern Warfare 2 like myself or many other people do every night, that’s actually going to give you a bunch of new mileage and a bunch of extra gameplay – to really explore and discover them and to really, you know, come up with new tactics and experience them in a whole new way. Regardless of what the price is you’re going to feel your money’s well-spent.

Two things: One, the PC release of Modern Warfare 2 has been delayed by a couple of weeks until November 24, 2009. The console versions are still on track of a November 10, 2009 release.

Second, Hollywood is apparently in need of an all-American, shoot-’em-up, special effects nightmare of a movie because Activision has trademarked Call of Duty for movie use.

There have been a few rumors about a Call of Duty movie in the past but this is the first bit of credible evidence. Apparently Activision filed for a trademark that covers the Call of Duty name “Pre-recorded movies featuring comedy, drama, action, adventure, music, theatrical performances and/or animation.” Not only that, Gamasutra points out that the creative strategist behind Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, Robert Bowling, recently twittered that he was in Paris “Talking game films” with the drector of the Hitman film aduptation, Xavier Gens.

You have to imagine that Activision would want to tap the Call of Duty cash cow. The franchise has been responsible for some of the very best FPS games of the decade. It’s too bad that Hollywood will likely out a G.I. Joe-ish, PG-13 movie aimed at 16- to 24-year old boys and slap the Call of Duty name on it.