Jeanne-Claude

Artist Jeanne-Claude has died (November 18, 2009). May her soul rest in peace.

Useful link:
www.christojeanneclaude.net

Diamond Investing

Tara Loader Wilkinson's viewpoint in the Wall Street Journal about diamond investing was interesting.

Like art, we would not advise someone to buy diamonds for investment purposes. People should buy diamonds for the joy of wearing them.
- David Bennett, Sothebys

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.idexonline.com
www.kprcapital.com
http://english.alfacapital.ru
http://dazzlingcapital.com
www.juliusbaer.com
www.dodaq.com

David Bennett was spot on.

Polly van der Glas Jewelry

Australian silversmith Polly van der Glas's jewelry creation is different. I have never seen anything like this before. See for yourself.

Useful link:
http://vanderglas.com.au

Beware Of The Doghouse

J.C. Penney Co. Inc.'s Beware of the Doghouse viral marketing campaign is back. Check it out. www.bewareofthedoghouse.com

The Brixton Pound

Tim Nichols's The Brixton Pound Project is interestingly a brilliant idea. It encourages local consumption and help shrink carbon footprints. I liked it.

Useful links:
http://brixtonpound.org
http://www.site.transitiontownbrixton.org

Dieter Rams

Discover the work of one of the most influential industrial designers of the late 20th century alongside the science of everyday life. Dieter Rams' Ten Principles of good design:

- Good design is innovative.
- Good design makes a product useful.
- Good design is aesthetic.
- Good design makes a product understandable.
- Good design is unobtrusive.
- Good design is honest.
- Good design is long-lasting.
- Good design is thorough down to the last detail.
- Good design is environmentally friendly.
- Good design is as little design as possible.

I loved it.

Useful link:
http://designmuseum.org

Proud Gallery

Check out Helena Christensen's brilliant exhibition at London's Proud Gallery. Don't miss.

Useful links:
www.helena-christensen.com
www.proud.co.uk

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Chaim's viewpoint on Freddy Hanard. CEO, AWDC, was interesting. He may be the right person at the right time. I wish him all the best.

Useful links:
www.antwerpdiamondsymposium.com
www.awdc.be
www.diamondintelligence.com

Albie Hecht

Check out Albie Hecht's Bigby game that allows users to watch, explore, play, connect, collect, and create. Don't miss.

Useful links:
http://wwbiggies.com
www.addictinggames.com

Green Business Update

Ken Belson's story in the New York Times about urban farming was interesting and insightful. Maybe I should try these ideas in India.

Useful links:
www.utc.com
www.valcent.net
www.skyvegetables.com
www.verticalfarm.com
www.agreenroof.com
www.greenroofs.com
http://myplantconnection.com
www.gaiainstituteny.org

Cathy McClure

Check out how Cathy McClure turns disposable items into precious objects.

Useful links:
www.cathymcclure.com
www.mossonline.com

Cleantech Open 2009

EcoFactor has won this year's Cleantech Open 2009 prize for developing a unique but efficient personal residential energy management system. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.cleantechopen.com
www.ecofactor.com
www.alphabetenergy.com
www.micromidas.com

Expert Labs

I thought Anil Dash's new non-profit, Expert Labs, was a brilliant idea. I wish him all the best.

Useful links:
www.expertlabs.org
http://dashes.com
www.web2expo.com

Random Thoughts

Some people like the art, some people like being shocked by it. Everyone's happy.

- Charles Saatchi
www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk

Spot on.

European Quality Circle

European Quality Circle is a new consumer-oriented organization that provides jewelers/ jewelry retailers educational and professional services. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.europeanqualitycircle.com

Global Gold Frenzy

Gold's appeal has really broadened. Suki Cooper (Barclays Capital) was spot on. It’s not that gold has changed, but gold buyers have changed. It’s a structural shift we’re seeing on the investing side, from Asian central banks right down to individual investors buying ingots and coins. Can anything stop it? If there was ever a time to find out about gold as an asset class and gold as money, it's now. There will be a time when the market corrects, the question is when. Yep, let's keep our fingers crossed.

Useful links:
www.argor.com
www.barcap.com
www.harrods.com
www.jimrogers.com
www.rgemonitor.com
www.gold.org

Bio-Diversity

Christoph Niemann's illustrations were brilliant. I loved it.

Useful links:
www.christophniemann.com
www.aiga.org

Platinum Update

I found Johnson Matthey's comments about the state of the platinum market interesting. I hope the industry is adapting to rapidly changing consumer needs + who knows we may see price corrections in the precious metals market pretty soon. Stay tuned.

Useful link:
www.matthey.com

Spiral Jetty

The Spiral Jetty story was fascinating. I think Dia officials should create a buffer zone around the sculpture that would help protect it while still allowing the lake area to be used for other purposes.

Useful links:
www.robertsmithson.com
www.spiraljetty.org
www.diacenter.org
www.getty.edu/conservation

Random Thoughts

It is in the nature of our species to connect and exchange. And the result is a common culture in which we all have a stake. It is not, and can never be, the property of one modern nation or another.

- Dr. James Cuno
www.artic.edu
www.eternalegypt.org
www.britishmuseum.org
www.louvre.fr
www.metmuseum.org

Interesting perspective.