Mid-Missouri Energy

Julia Hanna's opinion piece in HBS Working Knowledge on ethanol business @ http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6070.html was educational and insightful.

Useful link:
www.midmissourienergy.com

I think the Mid-Missouri Energy venture is a fascinating entrepreneurial story.

Color Green

Life in Color: Green, and its dramatic hues in nature @ http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/life-color-green.html was brilliant. Thanks NG!

Seven Days In The Art World

Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton is an insightful book on the world of art and the perceived value created/traded by a rare, elite few, really. A must read.

Useful link:

http://sarah-thornton.com

Forevermark

I found Forevermark, a new consumer website by the De Beers group interesting. Go to www.forevermark.com for an immersive experience.

Alternative Energy

Basic facts on biofuels, solar power, wind power, fuel cells +++ @ http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/alternative-energy Great info. Thanks NG!

The Vision Of St. Bruno

I found the CNN story of a lost painting (The Vision of St. Bruno) by Italian master Sebastiano Ricci, and the old-fashioned detective work of tracking the painting's journey from Italy to Texas @ http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/11/03/us.art.ap/index.html very interesting.

Useful links:
www.ha.com
www.kimbellart.org

Middle East-China Diamond and Jewellery Summit

The first Middle East-China Diamond and Jewellery Summit will be hosted by Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) on November 8 - 9, 2008, in Dubai.

Useful links:
www.dmcc.ae
www.dde.ae

The Axis of Growth. The spotlight is on China, India and the Middle East, home to a vibrant and fast-growing jewelry industry.

Malcolm Gladwell Viewpoints

Malcolm Gladwell's opinion piece in New Yorker on Sidney Weinberg, nicknamed 'Mr. Wall Street', and his social skills @ http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/10/081110fa_fact_gladwell was brilliant.

Useful links:
www.gladwell.com

The story of Sidney Weinberg, the rags-to-riches story, is inspiring. As Gladwell rightly put it Wall Street needs a few more Sidney Weinbergs, really.

Gold Smuggling In India

The CommodityOnline opinion piece on gold business/smuggling in India @ http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Why-Gold-smuggling-is-big-business-in-India-12511-3-1.html was interesting. Despite the economic liberalization of gold imports, smuggling still occurs in India, really.

The RAID Report

I am an avid listener of the BBC Radio. The BBC interview with a RAID spokesperson on illegal exploitation of DR Congo's mineral wealth caught my attention. It's really disturbing. I found the RAID report on companies alleged to be involved in the illegal export of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo @ http://www.raid-uk.org/work/corp_acct.htm insightful.

Useful links:
www.raid-uk.org
www.escr-net.org
www.oecdwatch.org

Art Update

The Economist article on Greek art + other viewpoints @ http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/artview/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12538492 was interesting.

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.bonhams.com

A Two-Way Street

Carolina A. Miranda's article on street art and their undeniable impact into mainstream galleries and museums + other viewpoints @ http://www.artnewsonline.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2570 was insightful.

Argyle Pink Diamond Tender

According to Argyle Pink Diamonds spokesperson, the 24th annual Argyle Pink Diamond Tender was a success. Australia's Argyle mine, the source of these pink stones, is set to close in 2018. I think the consumers for these diamonds are likely to be collectors, celebrities, and the real rich. Given the rarity, it's a worthwhile investment till a new mine is discovered somewhere in the world. Right now, natural, untreated pink is the real king of diamond.

Useful links:
www.argylepinktender.com
www.riotintodiamonds.com

Pressmart

Pressmart = Digital simulation of print publications. Go to www.pressmart.net for further info. Brilliant!

Kumon

I am really amazed by Kumon's skill and consistent worldwide growth in education via word-of-mouth advertising and patience. Go to www.kumon.com for further info.

Boom/Bust

Raaphy Persitz's opinion piece in Haaretz on deceptive natures of the stock and commodities markets + modern examples of market crash @ http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1032990.html was educational and insightful.

The Letters of Menakhem-Mendl and Sheyne-Sheyndl: AND Motl, Peysi the Cantor's Son by Aleichem is a brilliant book on stock-market exploits. A must read.

Economist Innovation Awards 2008

Innovation = Creative individuals who dream up new ideas and turn them into reality.

Go to http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10676339 to learn more about the creative individuals, their ideas and the impact. Congratulations! + Thanks to Economist!

Breakfast At Tiffany's

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote is a great little story. I've re-read this book many times and I still love it.

Useful links:
www.capotebio.com
www.imdb.com/title/tt0054698

New Urbanism

Carlo Petrini founded the slow food movement in Italy to preserve cultural cuisines from fast food culture. The movement has since expanded globally with positive impact. In India, Vandana Shiva's Navdanya movement via Slow Food Cafes are growing steadily spreading the gospel of slow-mo (slow movement), raising the quality of life. It's an immersive experience, really. Give it a try!

Useful links:
www.slowfood.com
www.navdanya.org
www.newurbanism.org

Architecture Film Festival, Rotterdam

Rotterdam's Architecture Film Festival lists 450 movies. The fifth edition begins October 29 - 1 November, 2009.

Go to www.affr.nl for further info. A must visit.

Synthetic Diamond Update

Researchers at the Carnegie Institution have developed a new technique (CVD) for improving the properties of diamonds – not only adding sparkle to gemstones, but also simplifying the process of making high-quality diamond for scalpel blades, electronic components, even quantum computers. http://www.gl.ciw.edu/news/campus_news/new_process_promises_bigger_better_diamond_crystals

Useful links:
www.gl.ciw.edu
www.pnas.org

I am sure the new process will have a wide variety of applications.

Social Innovation Camp

Do you want to change the world? Go to www.sicamp.org for an immersive experience. I think you will like it.

Heard On The Street

90% of all the traders are speculators. Everyone is either greedy or afraid.

Art Update

Souren Melikian's opinion piece in IHT on Antoon Van Dyck @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/01/arts/melik1.php was educational and insightful. A must read.

Useful link:
www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com

Golden Joystick Awards 2008

The Golden Joystick Awards are the world's oldest gaming award ceremony for the best computer + video games of the year, voted by the general public. Go to www.goldenjoystick.com for further info.

BioRegional 2008

Real lifedevelopments + businesses = BioRegional, the event forum is now live click here

Useful links:
www.oneplanetoneday.co.uk
www.bioregional.com

Mobile Solar Power

I really liked Innergy's mobile solar power products because they are efficient, convenient and pollution-free. What's really amazing is that with inexhaustible source of energy from sun, which is free, we are able to create opportunities for many businesses. I think India definitely needs this technology.

Useful links:
www.innergypower.com
www.ecotality.com
www.etecevs.com

Derrick Morton

I think Morton's FlowPlay is an interesting concept + playing games together in a community-like environment provides feel-good experience, really.

Useful links:
www.flowplay.com
www.ourworld.com

Michael E. Porter Viewpoints

Michael E. Porter's opinion piece in BusinessWeek @ http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_45/b4107038217112.htm was educational and insightful.

Useful link:
www.isc.hbs.edu

He was spot on.

Silver + The Rural Indian Market

CommodityOnline's opinion piece on India's booming silver market @ http://www.commodityonline.com/news/In-rural-India-Silver-is-a-hedge-against-inflation-12475-3-1.html was insightful.

Useful link:
www.silverinstitute.org

Diamond Market Update

Chaim Even Zohar writes about diamond producers, traders, and manufacturers' crisis in the current global financial and economic situation, and solutions + other viewpoints @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp

A must read.

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is a Mexican-Canadian electronic artist who morphs architecture + technological theater + performance to create a masterpiece. Visit Raphael's Pulse Park in Madison Square Park @ www.madisonsquarepark.org for a truly interactive experience.

Useful link:
www.lozano-hemmer.com

Prix Pictet 2008

BBC News Audio slideshow: Prix Pictet - The world’s premier photographic award in sustainability + other viewpoints @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7701187.stm was brilliant. I liked it.

Useful links:
www.prixpictet.com
www.benoitaquin.com

Joe Brainard

I liked The Nancy Book, a collection of work by visual artist Joe Brainard. Go to http://www.sigliopress.com/books/nancy.htm for further info.

Useful link:
www.joebrainard.org

Language Of Color

Visit Harvard Museum of Natural History's new exhibition, The Language of Color @ http://harvardmagazine.com/web/extras/a-look-at-the-language-of-color

Useful link:
www.hmnh.harvard.edu

A must-visit. I have always been intrigued by color in nature and the seemingly endless changes that occur when you learn more about the hows and whys. Amazing, really.

Heard On The Street

Gemstone trader know thyself.

Indian Wine Market Update

Sreekumar Raghavan's opinion piece in CommodityOnline @ http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Good-times-ahead-for-wineries-12463-3-1.html was interesting. I think the domestic wine market will grow considerably because of the rising disposable incomes among the younger generation + attitude shift + change in lifestyle + innovative marketing.

Useful link:
www.assocham.org

Erica Courtney

Erica Courtney's designs are eye-catching + one-of-a-kind + original. Go to www.ericacourtney.com for further info.

Chicago Innovation Awards

I think India need Chicago-style innovation award contests to generate creativity and economic growth. The Chicago Innovation Awards was created by the Chicago Sun-Times and Kuczmarski & Associates in 2002, to develop the year’s most innovative new products and services. Brilliant idea, really. The only good news that I see coming out of this economic mess is innovation.

Useful links:
www.chicagoinnovationawards.com
www.suntimes.com
www.kuczmarski.com

Garfield Minus Garfield

I liked Garfield Minus Garfield, a web-based comic strip created by Dan Walsh. At times it's total internal reflection, really. Go to http://garfieldminusgarfield.net for further info.

Useful link:
http://travors.com

Frederic Sage

Frederic Sage Designs = Beauty + Durability + Innovativity. Go to www.fredericsage.com for further info.

Currier Museum Of Art

Andy Warhol: Pop Politics @ www.currier.org

Useful link:
www.warholfoundation.org

Scorsese By Ebert

Scorsese by Ebert by Roger Ebert is a wonderful book + I am a Scorsese fan.

Useful link:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com

Seth MacFarlane

Seth MacFarlane = Emmy award-winning American comedian + Animator + Screenwriter + Producer + Actor + Voice actor + Composer = Massive multi-platform success + Connects amazingly well with next-gens.

Useful links:
www.sethmacfarlane.planetricki.com
www.sethcomedy.com
www.familyguy.com

Very innovative!

PAS 2050

Mark Kinver's opinion piece in BBC News on new CO2 footprint standard @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7694212.stm was interesting. I hope other goverments do the same to reduce carbon emissions in a better way.

Useful links:
www.bsi-global.com
www.carbontrust.co.uk

World Economic Forum

The inaugural summit on the global agenda, the world's foremost intelligence and knowledge network, will be held in partnership with the Government of Dubai on 7-9 November, 2008.

Useful links:
www.weforum.org
www.moca.gov.ae

Random Thoughts

We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.

- Peter Drucker
www.druckerinstitute.com

How true!

Global Business @ BBC

Peter Day's report on whistleblowers in companies + the impact @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/global_business.shtml was interesting.

Useful links:
www.sherronwatkins.com
www.whistleblower.org
www.pcaw.co.uk
www.opendemocracy.org.za

How come the world’s leading banks/companies have got engaged in an orgy of destruction as we have seen in the past several years? Look at the mess we are in. What's really surprising is to me is that why nobody blew the whistle on it.

Ivory Update

Richard Black's opinion piece in BBC News on ivory auction + other viewpoints @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7693816.stm was educational. Thanks Richard.

Useful links:
www.cites.org
www.bornfree.org.uk

RealNose Project

I was intrigued by the discovery of an artificial nose by the biological engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T) with numerous applications in the future. They suggest that their RealNose could replace drug-sniffing/explosive-sniffing dogs that are used by law enforcement officials + help doctors detect diseases that have specific smells within the human body, like diabetes/bladder/lung/skin cancers.

Useful links:
http://web.mit.edu/lms/www
www.pnas.org
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/smell-0929.html

Smell is perhaps one of the oldest and most primitive senses, but nobody really understands how it works. It still remains a tantalizing enigma.
- Shuguang Zhang

Could it be possible for the MIT team create an artificial eye that can identify (treated vs untreated) gemstones + grade diamonds/colored stones? Just curious.

Canton Fair

Canton Fair is the largest trade fair in the world, where thousands of manufacturers and businessmen gather to conduct business. Go to www.cantonfair.org.cn for further info. A must visit.

Useful links:
http://english.mofcom.gov.cn
www.cftc.org.cn

Mahidarpura Diamond Market

Binu Alex's article on Surat’s (India) diamond market + other viewpoints @ http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Sparkling-diamond-market-down-but-not-out-12411-2-1.html was brilliant.

Right now many diamond dealers worldwide are in a Parvadega nahi saab-like (we sell the polished diamonds at a loss now) situation, really.

Jewelry Update

The World Gold Council has published an interesting report on demand for gold jewelry via Gold Investment Digest (www.research.gold.org). Low demand + High inflation + Constricted disposable incomes + Slow economic growth + Decline in mine production

Useful link:
www.gold.org

Byzantium Exhibit

Visit the Byzantium exhibit in London, a collaboration between the Royal Academy of Arts + the Benaki Museum in Athens, starting on 25 October 2008—22 March 2009.

Useful links:
www.royalacademy.org.uk
www.benaki.gr

CMJ Music Marathon 2008

Go to CMJ Music Marathon 2008, a showcase of mostly new + independent music @ www.cmj.com/marathon

Useful link:
www.cmj.com

I liked it.

Diamond Market Update

According to the Reserve Bank governor, Dr Gideon Gono, Zimbabwe’s economy could be turned around in the next few years if the country does not continue to lose revenue (US$1.2 billion/month) from illegal diamond dealing in the mining industry. Hard to believe!

Useful links:
www.rbz.co.zw
www.talkzimbabwe.com

Gorongosa National Park

Visit Mozambique's famous Gorongosa National Park. A great experience.

Hats off to Gregory C. Carr (entrepreneur + philanthropist)!

Useful links:
www.gorongosa.net
www.carrfoundation.org

Heard On The Street

Entrepreneurs = Tireless optimists, but now life will be hard for many start-ups.

Art Market Update

The Economist opinion piece on art auctions + other viewpoints @ http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/artview/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12496107 was interesting.

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.christies.com
www.phillipsdepury.com

What is surprising is the mood in the market + the rare and the beautiful are still selling.

Governor Schwarzenegger + Warren Buffett

Governor Schwarzenegger's discussion on the economy with Warren Buffett at the 2008 Women's Conference + other viewpoints @ http://gov.ca.gov/speech/10871 was insightful.

Useful link:
www.californiawomen.org

Warren was spot on.

Random Thoughts

Man is extremely uncomfortable with uncertainty. To deal with his discomfort, man tends to create a false sense of security by substituting certainty for uncertainty. It becomes the herd instinct.

- Bennett W. Goodspeed
The Tao Jones Averages
http://inferentialfocus.com

He was spot on.

The Ruby Story

The character in the UK TV series, Dad's Army @ http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nTr6oLFHnK0 was interesting. Watch it!

Ernst Haeckel

I found Ernst Haeckel's artworks of animals and sea creatures interesting and insightful. They are beautiful. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Haeckel for further info.

Doctor Who

Doctor Who: The Forgotten is back! I love the story-telling style.

Useful links:
www.tonylee.co.uk
www.idwpublishing.com
www.hellkitty.com

Art Market Update

Souren Melikian's article on contemporary art sales held in the auction market since the start of the financial crisis/viewpoints @
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/25/arts/melik25.php was rather interesting.

Useful link:
www.sothebys.com

The ups and downs in the art market always amazes me.

DODAQ

DODAQ has launched the first ever online diamond exchange, enabling professional traders to buy, sell and hold certified polished diamonds like stocks. Go to www.dodaq.com for further info.

Diamond Market Update

Eric Onstad's article in the Guardian on diamond markets + other viewpoints @ http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7902391 was interesting.

Useful links:
www.worldfed.com
www.debeersgroup.com

Diamond dealers/banks/consumers are nervous + I think liquidity crisis will bankrupt many diamond businesses worldwide + to quote Neil Dougall of Dresdner Kleinwort, London, the economic tsunami has only just reached the shores.

India Post Gold Coins

India Post has launched sale of gold coins in low-end denominations like 0.5 gm + 1 gm + 5 gm + and 8 gm making them more accessible. Go to www.indiapost.gov.in for further info.

Useful links:
www.gold.org
www.reliancemoney.com

Random Thoughts

What are you doing outside your comfort zone?

- Arianna Huffington
www.huffingtonpost.com

She was spot on.

Pop!Tech

Capture the energy of Pop!Tech 2008 @ www.poptech.org

Memento Mori

I found mystery adventure game Memento Mori featuring 3D environments + hints + puzzles @ www.mementomori-game.com very interesting.

Codiam Fund

Codiam, a new fund focused on the acquisition of rare coloured diamonds for the rich investors in Asia, Europe, Russia and the Middle East is rather interesting. The founders of the fund believe colored diamonds to be both a highly attractive investment and also a hedge against market turbulence and political crises. I wish the founders and investors good luck. I hope they know how to differentiate natural colored diamonds (treated from untreated) from synthetic colored diamonds.

Useful links:
www.codiamfund.com
www.ammainvest.com

Diamond And Human Security

I found Partnership Africa Canada's (PAC) annual review entitled 'Diamonds and Human Security' interesting. According the report, the Kimberley Process is becoming less effective + trade in illicit rough diamonds are growing in different levels in countries like Angola, the DR Congo, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire, the Central African Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela.

Useful links:
www.pacweb.org
www.kimberleyprocess.com
www.globalwitness.org

Nassim Nicholas Taleb Viewpoints

Tim Morrison's Q&A with Nassim Nicholas Taleb + his viewpoints @ http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1853531,00.html was brilliant. I really do admire Nassim for his books and his insights into business and finance.

Useful link:
www.fooledbyrandomness.com

Random Thoughts

It took 20 years for us to get into this situation — leveraged to the hilt — and it will take more than a couple of years to unwind it. And even when we get back to normal, that normal is not going to be the same. We won't have this sort of freely available credit that we had before for households and businesses. It's going to be a different reality — a more austere one — when we come out on the other end of this.

- Paul Ashworth
www.capitaleconomics.com
(via http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1853129,00.html)

How true!

Security Analysis

Security Analysis: The Classic 1934 Edition by Benjamin Graham + David Dodd is an insightful book on investing ever written + the author points out repeatedly, the difference between investment and speculation. A must read.

The stock market is a voting machine rather than weighing machine.

- Benjamin Graham

How true! It's an important lesson to remember these days.

RecycleBank

I think with better information people will make better decisions + lessons learned will last forever. I was really impressed with a smart green-tech company, RecycleBank, and their innovative recycling rewards. I thought it was a brilliant idea. In fact I liked it. Go to www.recyclebank.com for further info.

Prospect 1

Prospect 1, the largest biennial of international contemporary art ever organized in America, will debut in New Orleans on November 1, 2008. Go to www.prospectneworleans.org for further info.

Anado McLauchlin + Richard Schultz

Joyce Wadlers's article in the New York Times on artworks of Anado McLauchlin/Richard Schultz + other viewpoints @ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/garden/23mexico.html?_r=1&oref=slogin was brilliant. Stunningly beautiful rich colors, really.

Useful links:
www.madebyanado.com
www.richardschultz.com

CIBJO + De Beers

Chaim Even Zohar writes about CIBJO's new initiative on synthetics (diamond) nomenclature + CIBJO vs non-CIBJO standard labs + CEN Workshop ideas + other viewpoints @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp

A must read.

Useful links:
www.cibjo.org
www.ftc.gov
www.iso.org
www.accc.gov.au
www.worlddiamondcouncil.com
www.debeersgroup.com

Mark Lipsky

For must-see independent feature films, go to Mark Lipsky's www.giganticreleasing.com + www.giganticdigital.com

Heard On The Street

The next great industrial revolution = Energy Technology

Wall Street Versus America

Wall Street Versus America: A Muckraking Look at the Thieves, Fakers, and Charlatans Who Are Ripping You Off by Gary Weiss is an insightful book on greed-driven Wall Street. A must read. It's chilling.

Useful link:

http://garyweiss.blogspot.com

The Drops Of The Gods

Norimitsu Onishi's opinion piece in IHT + other viewpoints @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/22/asia/comic.php was interesting. I am a fan of anime + manga.

Useful links:
www.mangafox.com
www.e-1day.jp
www.animenewsnetwork.com

Algal Biofuel Project

Alok Jha's opinion piece in the Guardian on the world's biggest publicly funded algal biofuel project + other viewpoints @ http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/oct/23/biofuels-energy was educational and insightful.

Useful links:
www.carbontrust.co.uk
www.dft.gov.uk/rfa
www.ukerc.ac.uk
www.energy.gov
www.iea.org

Chanel Mobile Art

Chanel Mobile Art by Coco Chanel opens in Central Park, New York. Go to www.chanel-mobileart.com for further info. A must visit.

International Council of Shopping Centers

Get the latest research findings on holiday season spending + retails news + other viewpoints from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) @ www.icsc.org

I think consumers will be extremely cautious with spending this time of the year due to economic crisis.

Chinese Democracy

Guns N’ Roses's album 'Chinese Democracy,' will go on sale on November 23, 2008.

Go to www.gunsnroses.com + http://mygnrforum.com for further info.

Boucheron

Boucheron (jewelry + timepieces + perfume) = A Great Website Experience. Go to www.boucheron.com for further info.

Random Thoughts

Whatever failures I have known, whatever errors I have committed, whatever follies I have witnessed in private and public life have been the consequence of action without thought.

- Bernard Baruch

Simply brilliant!

Global Business @ BBC

Peter Day's world of business report on branding (old + new) + the experts who breathe new life into them + other viewpoints @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/global_business.shtml was insightful.

Useful links:
www.interbrand.com
www.arborstrategy.com
www.riverwestbrands.com
www.charteredbrands.com
www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk

Heard On The Street

Recession is coming. Do not panic. Do what is wise. This is not a rumor.

Carbon Sciences

CO2 = Fuel via biocatalysis. Go to www.carbonsciences.com for further info.

Useful link:
www.sandia.gov

Ivory Update

EBay has announced a worldwide ban on the sale of ivory products on its auction websites from 2009.

Useful links:
www.ebay.com
www.ifaw.org
www.hsus.org
www.cites.org

EBay's decision is commendable.

African Economies + Credit Crisis

Martin Plaut's opinion piece in the BBC News + other viewpoints @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7682724.stm was insightful.

Useful links:
www.aureos.com
www.imf.org

Better economic management/regulations? Good luck, Africa!

Random Thoughts

Good judgment is usually the result of experience, and experience frequently the result of bad judgment.

- Robert Lovett

How true!

Latin America's First Diamond Exchange

The Panama Diamond Exchange will mark its official launch on October 24, 2008. Go to www.pde.com.pa for further info.

Europe's Monastery And Convent Guesthouses

Europe's Monastery and Convent Guesthouses by Kevin J. Wright is an interesting guide book geared to the Christian traveler.

Useful links:
www.religioustravelassociation.com
www.go-to-italy.com
www.monasterystays.com
www.guiasmonasterios.com
www.valamo.fi
www.santasusanna.org
www.slowtrav.com
www.orden.de
www.brigidine.org

Nikon Small World 2008

Michael Stringer from the United Kingdom took first place with a photo of Pleurosigma (marine diatoms), in the 2008 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition. It was beautiful. Congratulations Michael!

Useful link:
www.nikonsmallworld.com

Designers Accord

Valerie Casey's project Designers Accord, also known as the Kyoto Treaty of Design, is an innovative approach to greening where designers from all disciplines collaborate with one another. Simply brilliant!

Useful links:
www.designersaccord.org
www.valcasey.com