Outliers

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell is an insightful book on successful people (whys/hows), some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky. I am a big fan of Gladwell and his books are fascinating and inspiring. A must read.

Useful link:
www.gladwell.com

Under The Radar Conference

Under the Radar Conference was interesting. If you are not in California, you're not left out. Go to www.undertheradarblog.com and watch today's pitches live.

Participle

Alice Rawsthorn's story on Hilary Cottam, founding director of Participle + the interdisciplinary crew behind the social business network @ http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/130/mission-critical.html was interesting and inspiring. I think it's a great idea, and India needs Hilary Cottam-like social evangelists, giving people a sense of hope and strength. Thanks Alice for the info.

Useful link:
www.participle.net

Blood Minerals

The BBC News story on illegal mining operations + the impact @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7723988.stm was insightful. I think the final end-users have no idea where the products are coming from and a total ban on illegal products won't work because of the amorphous business-friendly open market. Sad, really.

Useful link:
www.globalwitness.org

Super Obama World

A new online video game titled Super Obama World has been developed by Zensoft in honour of US President-elect, Barack Obama. Play online @ http://superobamaworld.com

Useful link:
www.zensoft.com

Art Jewelry

I came across Object Fetish, an art jewel website @ www.objectfetish.com Check out the link. I liked it.

More Information Than You Require

More Information Than You Require by John Hodgman is a great read. Simply brilliant.

Useful links:
www.areasofmyexpertise.com
http://areasofmyexpertise.blogspot.com

My Own Art Collection

I thought Art Council's new initiative to get more people interested in modern art via My Own Art Collection was a brilliant idea. In fact I liked it.

Go to www.myownartcollection.org.uk for further info.

Alfred Brendel

Alfred Brendel is retiring. He'll be remembered for beautiful interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Liszt, Haydn and Brahms. I think his music will live on, really.

Useful link:
www.alfredbrendel.com

GemePro

According to Gemewizard, a modified version of GemPro (for colored gemstones + fancy colored diamonds + jewelry appraisers) with advanced features is out. Go to www.gemewizard.com for further info.

Pantone Viewpoints

Pantone provides standardized palettes for a number of industries, mainly graphics, fashion textiles and interior design. The color of 2008 was Blue Iris. Go to www.pantone.com to find out the color for 2009.

Useful link:
www.colorassociation.com

Global Arts Guide

Global Arts Guide compiled by Elisabeth Hopkins @ http://www.iht.com/artsguide/index.php was brilliant. I religiously read art events in IHT + I am also excited with the new interactive 2009 calendar. Thanks Elisabeth.

Global Business @ BBC

Peter Day's World of Business talk with Carl Schramm on entrepreneurial ideas and innovation in schools to encourage children to turn big ideas in to reality + worldwide initiative to encourage young people to think about starting businesses @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/global_business.shtml was insightful.

Useful links:
www.kauffman.org
www.unleashingideas.org

Inspiring. Thanks Peter.

Glass As An Art Form

If you love glass as an art form, go to www.contempglass.org for further info.

Giorgio Morandi

James Gardner's opinion piece in Wall Street Journal on Giorgio Morandi @ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122635879493815429.html was interesting. A must read.

Useful link:
www.guggenheim.org
www.metmuseum.org

Lebônê

Cate Doty's report on Lebônê, a start-up company looking at sustainable lighting technologies for Africa + other viewpoints @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/11/news/11africa.php was interesting and insightful.

Useful link:
www.lebone.org

Hats off to the founders of the Lebone team.

Lessons From Goalkeepers

Elli Malki's opinion piece in Seeking Alpha on soccer goalkeepers @ http://seekingalpha.com/article/105168-what-investors-can-learn-from-goalkeepers was insightful. I think this behavioral phenomenon is not only seen in the stock market but also in gem business and art markets.

Useful link:
www.inbest.co.il

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa 2008, the sequel to the 2005 film Madagascar follows the former occupants of a New York City zoo in the African savannah. An enjoyable movie, really.

Useful links:
www.madagascar-themovie.com
www.dreamworksanimation.com

Leseli La Letseng

A 478-carat rough diamond recovered from Letseng Mine in the African kingdom of Lesotho earlier this year has been named 'Leseli la Letseng,' which means, 'she is the light of Letseng'. Go to www.gemdiamonds.com for further info. Expect more breaking news from Gem Diamonds.

Indian Gold Economy

The CommodityOnline report on India's booming gold economy @ http://www.commodityonline.com/news/13000-tons-of-Gold-rest-in-India-12633-3-1.html was interesting. I had no idea 13,000 tons of gold were circulating within the system. Amazing, really.

Useful link:
www.gold.org

Telepresence

I was really impressed with the new form of teleconferencing when John Chambers, Chairman of Cisco Systems, summoned to the stage Marthin De Beer, head of Cisco's emerging technologies at a conference in Banglore, India. To me De Beer's full-size, 3-D hologram-like figure, looked similar to what CNN used in its 2008 US presidential election night coverage. Brilliant! I think it's great business tool if it's affordable and used in moderation. Go to http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/hd_102306b.html for further info.

Watch it @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcfNC_x0VvE

Useful links:
www.cisco.com
www.telepresencing.com

Terry Riley

Terry Riley is an American composer associated with the minimalist school. Go to www.terryriley.com + www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVKzpkueTIQ for an immersive experience.

Nothing To Fear

Nothing to Fear: FDR's Inner Circle and the Hundred Days That Created Modern America by Adam Cohen is a great book on FDR's bold and persistent experimentation that gave birth to modern America. A must read.

We are living in interesting times, really.

Heard On The Street

Financial Crisis 2008 - : The US dollar will still be the global currency of exchange, and it is the currency of choice. There is no substitute for the US dollar as of now.

The Greatest Thief Club

The Greatest Thief Club In The World
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/209730

Watch it. I liked it.

Useful link:
www.southparkstudios.com

Thanks Rob Bates.

Marcel Wanders

Marcel Wanders is a Dutch industrial designer + go to www.marcelwanders.com for an immersive experience.

Living Traditions

Living Traditions, an exhibition of contemporary art from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan will run until November 20, 2008 at Queen's Palace, Bagh-e-Babur, Kabul, Afghanistan. A must visit.

Useful link:
www.turquoisemountain.org

Heard On The Street

Every gemstone transaction in the markets has a buyer and seller, and one of them is right and other is wrong, because the price goes either up or down.

Richard Serra

The Economist opinion piece on Richard Serra, an American minimalist sculptor + the state of the art market/viewpoints @ http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/artview/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12583336 was interesting.

Useful link:
www.sothebys.com

Maya Lin

Carol Kino's story on Maya Lin, an artist/architect + her new earthwork project at the Storm King Art Center @ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/arts/design/09kino.html was interesting. Thanks Carol.

Useful link:
www.stormking.org

The designs are natural, organic and simply beautiful.

Barack Obama's Remarkable Journey

Barack Obama: the road to the White House
by Jonathan Freedland
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2008/nov/05/obama-road-to-white-house1

Inspiring. Brilliant. Thank you Jonathan.

Rock-Eating Bacteria

Tim Hornyak's opinion piece in NG News on mineral-crunching micro-organisms and the impact + other viewpoints @ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/11/081105-bacteria-mining.html was educational and insightful.

Useful links:
www.iab.keio.ac.jp
www.biosigma.cl

Amazing discovery, really.

The Optimist's/Pessimist's Handbook

The Optimist's/Pessimist's Handbook: A Companion to Hope and Despair by Niall Edworthy + Petra Cramsie is an inspirational guidebook + an indispensable companion. I liked it.

Russian Jewelry Market

There is no country which is immune to the global crisis, but jewelry business is brisk in Russia. The Russian consumers are turning to gold bullion/coins, jewelry and gemstones as safe investment options. My Russian friends in the gem and jewelry sector are doing very well. For obvious reasons the consumers aren't very happy with the Russian currency (ruble), instead believes gemstones and jewelry are going to appreciate in value. Hard to believe, really. Signs of the times. I wish them good luck.

An Interesting Rough Ruby

The Associated Press story on an uncut ruby known as the 'Prince of Burma' worth 3.2 million euros ($4.1 million) @ http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jpmQf37LWoD_u7AuPbv8K2z5OFdQD949ET9G0 was interesting. In my view, only an idiot would pay 3.2 million euros for the rough. The people who think they are investing in a so-called rough ruby because of its size and story are speculating. And the people who think they are speculating are gambling, really. It's like two blind walking the streets. Wake up!

Flux Synthetic Spinels

Flux synthetic spinels (there are many in the market worldwide) when clean/gem quality are difficult to separate from natural inclusion-free spinels. They have nearly the same optical and physical properties. Even rough flux crystal specimens look like natural: octahedral in shape. So rapid sight identification is a real challenge not only for gemologists but also for gem traders, jewelers and consumers. I think when you are confronted with clean gemmy specimens, when traditional gem testing methodologies are not conclusive, you have no choice but to rely on analytical gem testing equipments like Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (EDXRF), Infra-red Spectrophotometer, and Raman Micro Spectroscopy for true identification. If you are doubtful, always consult a reputed gem testing laboratory.

Art Market Update

Souren Melikian writes about major auctions at Sothebys/Christies and the desire by the key players to acquire coveted pictures despite economic difficulties + insights + other viewpoints @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/08/arts/melik8.php

A must read.

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

It's A Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American film produced and directed by Frank Capra starring James Stewart and Donna Reed. The film is regarded as a classic and inspirational + one of my favorites.

Watch the feature film @ http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4867975537967299162

Useful link:
www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650

Change.Gov

Barack Obama was effective and innovative with social networking and mobile phones to communicate with his supporters during his campaign, and I am getting a sense of that with Change.gov. It's encouraging to see the President-elect has moved swiftly to connect/engage with his supporters after victory with his digital network. Brilliant! Go to http://change.gov for further info.

Art20

Art20 = 20th-century art. Go to www.sanfordsmith.com for further info.

New Wines From India

Go to Nashik. The whole experience is immersive: taste + smell + sound.

Useful link:
www.sulawines.com

Heard On The Street

What I would like to say about gemstone traders is that they learn nothing, and they forget everything, really.

Crisis Mitigation At De Beers

Chaim Even Zohar writes about planned media blitz by De Beers to boost diamond value messages + DTC Sights + the state of the diamond industry @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp A must read. I think it would interesting to see how the value-conscious and cash-tight consumers are going to respond to diamond ads.

Andesine Treatment Update

David Federman's article on andesine treatments + John Emmett's viewpoints @ http://www.colored-stone.com/stories/nov08/andesine-copper-diffusion.cfm was educational and insightful. I think Dave was spot on. Instead of relying on traditional gemological methodologies, replication in a lab should be the way to learn more about treatments.

Diamond Market

Dilip Kumar Jha's opinion piece in Rediff News on India's diamond industry @ http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/nov/07bcrisis-global-crisis-has-hit-50000-jobs-in-surat-alone.htm was interesting. More pain ahead for the industry, really.

Edward Vogel + Trafton Drew Viewpoints

Edward K. Vogel + Trafton Drew's insightful opinion piece in Scientific American on memory @ http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-we-forget-things was brilliant.

Useful link:
http://psychweb.uoregon.edu/~pk_lab/vogel.htm

Paintings In Proust

Paintings in Proust: A Visual Companion to In Search of Lost Time by Eric Karpeles is a magnificent book. I liked it.

Art Market

Ula Ilnytzky's views on financial crisis/the state of the art market @ http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1857160,00.html was interesting.

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

Where have all the hedge fund traders gone?

Heard On The Street

People can be judged by the company they choose to keep.

Cool Earth Solar

Cool Earth Solar's high-low tech approach of generating electricity from a balloon embedded with photovoltaic cell = Solar balloon, is intriguing. Go to www.coolearthsolar.com for further info. I liked the idea because when air + sun is free, price of solar electricity has to be low + affordable.

Art Tel Aviv

Robert Goff's opinion piece in New York Times on Tel Aviv's new art world @ http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/travel/02next.html was interesting.

Useful links:
www.arttlv.com
www.sommercontemporaryart.com
www.nogagallery.com
www.dvirgallery.com
www.herzliyamuseum.co.il
www.tamuseum.com

Antwerp Diamond Symposium

The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) is holding an international symposium entitled 'Confidence in Challenging times,' at the Antwerp Province House on November 17, 2008. Go to www.awdc.be for further info.

Useful link:
www.hrd.be

Kallari Chocolates

Jill Santopietro's story on chocolate entrepreneurs in Ecuador’s Amazonian rain forest and the tremendous market growth + other viewpoints @ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/dining/05choc.html?_r=1&oref=slogin was interesting.

Useful link:
www.kallari.com

Commodity Tourism

Sreekumar Raghavan's opinion piece in CommodityOnline @ http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Commodity-tourism-wine--dine-in-the-farm!-12561-3-1.html was brilliant. I liked the idea. Dine + wine + sleep + feel/learn the color/texture of the environment.

Useful links:
www.cghearth.com
www.tatacoffee.com
www.tatatea.com
www.lochantea.com

Bart Curren Viewpoints

Bart Curren's article on green diopside (Tashmarine) from China @ http://www.colored-stone.com/stories/nov08/tashmarine.cfm was educational and insightful. A must read.

Useful link:
www.columbiagemhouse.com

Random Thoughts

Age is only a number, a cipher for the records. A man can't retire his experience. He must use it. Experience achieves more with less energy and time.

- Bernard Baruch

He was spot on.

Art Update

Souren Melikian's opinion piece in IHT on Russian avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich + the state of the market in current recession @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/06/arts/melik5.php was insightful. A must read.

Useful link:
www.sothebys.com

Global Business @ BBC

Peter Day's world of business talk to two brothers – William and Kenneth Hopper – about Puritan ethic that moulded not just America but American business as well + other viewpoints @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/global_business.shtml

Useful link:
www.puritangift.com

Inspiring. Thanks Peter.

Remix

Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy by Lawrence Lessig is an interesting book on creativity and business + the concept of sharing economy where everyone benefits. Great read.

Useful link:

www.lessig.org

President-Elect Barack Obama

Democrat Barack Obama has won the 2008 U.S. presidential election to become the 44th president of the United States and the first African-American to hold the nation's highest office.

Useful link:
www.barackobama.com

I am so happy. Signed - Sealed - Delivered. A new moment. God bless you. Congratulations!

Change has come to America
November 4, 2008: In his acceptance speech in Chicago's Grant Park, Sen. Barack Obama challenged the crowd of more than 160,000 people, saying, 'if there's anybody out there who still questions ... the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.'
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27546437#27546437

The Candidate

The Candidate is an American film released in 1972, starring Robert Redford, and directed by Michael Ritchie. I am a huge Redford fan. I love this movie because it's one of the many great movies about the world of politics. Fast forward 2008. It holds up as well today as it did in 1972. Watch it!

Useful link:

www.imdb.com/title/tt0068334

Diamond Light Source

The Economist article on synchrotron—a particle accelerator that produces exceptionally bright X-rays which illuminate unseen worlds of atoms, molecules and fibres + other viewpoints @ http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/greenview/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12541097 was educational and insightful.

Useful links:
www.diamond.ac.uk
http://homepages.see.leeds.ac.uk/~earssh
www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/staff-directory/mineralogy/cv-5615.html
www.reading.ac.uk/soilscience/Aboutus/Staff/m-e-hodson.asp

I think deploying new and powerful technologies such as Diamond will clean up messes created by previous technological advancement.

Rare Fancy Colored Diamonds

Human beings appreciate what is rare. Active traders and collectors believe rare fancy colored diamonds are so rare they will continue to appreciate in value due to scarcity. According to The Guardian newspaper, Moussaieff, the London-based fine jewelers, purchased a rare 39.19 ct fine rough blue diamond for US$8.8 million from Petra Diamonds Ltd, which had placed the diamond on tender in Johannesburg. Expect more breaking news from Moussaieff!

Useful links:
http://petradiamonds.com
www.moussaieff.co.uk

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