Hala Faisal

Hala Faisal
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7774177.stm

Useful link:
www.halafaisal.com

Hala is definitely a multi-talented artist + she is different and experimental.

Classical-Music 2008

The Ten Best Classical-Music Performances of 2008
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/tny/2008/12/alex-rosss-ten-best-performanc.html

Useful link:
www.therestisnoise.com

I loved it. Thanks Alex.

Diamond-Studded Swiss Army Knife

Diamond-Studded Swiss Army Knife
www.bonfort.ch

Great design. It's Swiss.

Being An Entrepreneur In Africa

To Be a Successful Entrepreneur in Africa, 'Wake up Every Day Ready for Change'
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/2108.cfm

Useful links:
www.sokoachaircentre.com
www.globalenvironmentfund.com
www.shoreline-group.com
www.theafricareport.com

I found the report/advice to be mind-expanding.

Surat’s Diamond Hub

The textiles & diamonds combustion: Binu Alex's opinion piece in CommodityOnline @ http://www.commodityonline.com/news/The-textiles--diamonds-combustion-13291-3-1.html was interesting. There is no doubt in my mind that Gujaratis will always remain kingmakers of diamond business, really.

Karl Lagerfield + The Silent Movie

The Short Film Chanel Paris - Moscou by Karl Lagerfield
http://www.chanel.com/fashion/8-fashion-trends#8-fashion-trends-the-2009-spring-summer-guitar-0,31
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/09/style/fchanel.php

Different. Creative. Fascinating. I liked it.

The Way We Experience Films

The Way We'll Watch: Sarah Mcbride's opinion piece in WSJ @ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122833913230576869.html was interesting. Thanks Sarah. I’m a big movie fan + any new technology with immersive, interactive experiences are always intriguing, really.

Useful links:
http://ict.usc.edu
www.modsystems.com
www.polarfrogdigital.com
www.paramount.com
www.dreamworksanimation.com
www.etcenter.org

Bribe Payers Index 2008

According to Transparency International, not one of the world’s most influential economies can be seen as being exempt from exporting international corruption.

Go to www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/2008/bpi_2008 for further info. Shocking, really.

Useful link:
www.transparency.org

History's Most Daring Heists

The Time magazine story on history's most daring heists @ http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1865132_1865133,00.html was interesting.

Breakdowns

Breakdowns: Portrait of the Artist as a Young %@&*! by Art Spiegelman is a brilliant book about the art of Art. I am a huge fan of Art Spiegelman.

Useful link:

www.barclayagency.com/spiegelman.html

Silver Marketing Initiative

Learn more about Silver Institute's campaign to promote silver jewelry as a fashionable and affordable choice @ www.silverinstitute.org

The Reader

The Reader 2008
Ralph Fiennes + Kate Winslet + David Kross
Directed by: Stephen Daldry
The film is based on the 1995 German novel The Reader by Bernhard Schlink. Great performances.

Useful links:
http://thereader-movie.com
www.imdb.com/title/tt0976051

Global Business @ BBC

Peter Day's world of business discusses about innovative bandwith revolution via high speed data transmission @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/global_business.shtml

Useful links:
www.calit2.net
www.tapsns.com
www.saffo.com
www.w3.org

Christian Dior + Chinese Artists

Christian Dior and Chinese Artists exhibition runs till January 15, 2009 at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, in Beijing, China. A must visit.

Useful links:
www.ucca.org.cn
www.dior.com

New Crystal Hunters

New Crystal Hunters, Pala. Watch a preview of their upcoming film @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1FwxTUNB_k&fmt=18

Useful link:
www.bluecapproductions.com

Wine Politics

Wine Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters, and Critics Influence the Wines We Drink by Tyler Colman is a required reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of wine.

Useful link:

www.drvino.com

Jewelry + Fashion

Meet Stephen Webster of Garrard's and the historical brand.

Useful links:
www.stephenwebster.com
www.garrard.com

Jubilee Church, Rome

Jubilee Church, in Rome, by American architect Richard Meier = Innovative design + the white concrete contains titanium dioxide, which keeps the concrete clean and at the same time destroys ambient pollutants.

Go to http://www.richardmeier.com/PROJECTS/Jubilee.html for further info.

Useful link:
www.richardmeier.com

The Clean Energy Project

The Clean Energy Project: A joint project between IBM and Harvard University = Benefit humanity

Useful links:
www.worldcommunitygrid.org
http://cleanenergy.harvard.edu/go

Jiri Kovanda

Jiri Kovanda is a Czech performance artist who brushes past people in the street as an attempt to make contact. Go to www.kontakt-collection.net/artists/Kovanda+Jiri for further info.

Useful link:
www.kontakt-collection.net

Louis Palmer

Meet Louis Palmer + the Solar Taxi (ecological, economical, reliable)

Useful link:
www.solartaxi.com

Hats off to Louis!

Reversal Of Fortune

Reversal of Fortune
The Case of Claus Von Bulow
Glenn Close + Jeremy Irons
Director: Barbet Schroeder

Useful links:
www.imdb.com/title/tt0100486
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3660291/Sunny-von-Blow.html

A delightful movie. I liked it.

Platinum Tribute

Platinum: Beyond fine jewelry. Go to www.platinumguild.com for further info.

Angadias

The Commodity Online story on Angadias, a unique phenomenon in Gujarat’s diamond trade, and their impact on business @ http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Diamonds-lose-sparkle-Angadis-lose-jobs-13203-3-1.html was interesting. I have always been fascinated with Angadia's operating system; secrecy, safety and trust. Amazing, really.

Art Update

The Economist viewpoint of a British master linocutter @ http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12749326 was interesting.

Useful links:
www.osbornesamuel.com
www.metmuseum.org
www.wolfsonian.org

Malcolm Gladwell Viewpoint

How do we hire when we can’t tell who’s right for the job?
Malcolm Gladwell's opinion piece in New Yorker on education @ http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/12/15/081215fa_fact_gladwell was insightful. Great article.

Useful link:
www.gladwell.com

Visualization

New tools to help with information overload
Alice Rawsthorn's opinion piece in IHT of the design process known as visualization + the impact + other viewpoints @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/08/arts/design8.php was educational and insightful. Thanks Alice.

Useful links:
www.softhook.com
www.moma.org
http://fondation.cartier.com
www.dillerscofidio.com
www.processing.org

Al Sabah Art & Design Collection

Meet Sheik Majed Al-Sabah
Modern design + Middle Eastern crafts + Innovation
www.alsabahcollection.com

Random Thoughts

The best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can't ask his patients what is the matter - he's got to just know.

- Will Rogers
www.willrogers.org

Videogames As A Training Tool

The military establishments are known for a lot of qualities and we can learn a lot from them. The U.S Army Training and Doctrine Command has an office for gaming. They are constantly
developing new videogames that will help prepare troops for combat. I think we can absorb/learn/adapt the important stuff that helps the forces to stay in practice with the help of technology. I think they are excellent training tools for business and education, really.

Useful links:
www.tradoc.army.mil
www.cretecinc.com
http://ict.usc.edu

Bill Cunningham Viewpoint

On the Street - Imagination by Bill Cunningham
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/11/29/fashion/20081130-street-feature/index.html#

On the Street - Riding High by Bill Cunningham
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/12/06/fashion/20081206-street-feature/index.html#

Imaginative. Artistic. Colorful. Classic. Brilliant. Perfectly honest. I liked it. Thanks Bill.

Just Great Advice

Luke Johnson's advice to the brave young entrepreneur @ http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7a451324-bb0f-11dd-bc6c-0000779fd18c.html was brilliant. You were spot on. Thanks Luke.

Useful links:
www.riskcapitalpartners.co.uk
www.channel4.com

Youth has the resilience to absorb disaster and weave it into the pattern of its life, no matter how anguishing the thorn that penetrates its flesh.
- Sholem Asch

Lean Transformations Group

Real world experience + Extraordinary insights + Common language = Lean Transformations Group

Useful links:
www.lean-transform.com
www.lean.org

Frost/Nixon

Frost/Nixon 2008
Directed by: Ron Howard

Useful link:
www.frostnixon.net

Retelling of the post-Watergate television interviews = David Frost + Richard Nixon. Not to be missed.

Hypergreen

Jacques Ferrier + The Hypergreen Tower Project www.youtube.com/watch?v=AifoFnBgixg

Useful link:
www.jacques-ferrier.com

Brilliant! I liked it.

Geothermal Power

Geothermal Power: Krista Mahr's opinion piece in Time magazine @ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1864299,00.html was insightful. Let's be optimistic.

Useful links:
www.gge.is
www.geo-energy.org
www.or.is
www.rei.is

Happiness

I found the research findings of Dr. Nicholas Christakis + James Fowler on happiness = happy friends + other viewpoints @ http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/dec04_2/a2338 educational and insightful. Happiness is truly contagious, really.

Useful links:
www.bmj.com
http://christakis.med.harvard.edu
http://jhfowler.ucsd.edu

Entrepreneur Journeys Volume 1

Entrepreneur Journeys Volume 1 by Sramana Mitra is a fascinating book about the minds of some of the leaders within the technology sector. Great read.

Useful link:

www.sramanamitra.com

Jewelry + Economy

Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan's story on jewelry shopper's mood during a recession @ http://blogs.wsj.com/runway/2008/12/04/lunchtime-snap-the-new-bling-in-this-economy was interesting. You were spot on. To the best of my knowledge fine jewelry shoppers are extremely cautious and spending less, really.

Useful links:
www.ivankatrumpcollection.com
www.kohls.com

The Council For Responsible Jewellery Practices

The Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices has released its extensive list of ethical, social, and environmental practices for its members. Go to www.responsiblejewellery.com for further info.

Useful link:
http://responsiblejewellery.com

Art Today

Andy Gallacher's report on the state of the art business @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/7768714.stm was interesting.

Useful links:
www.artbaselmiamibeach.com
www.artbasel.com

Random Thoughts

Fish see the bait, but not the hook; men see the profit, but not the peril.

- Chinese Proverb

Luxury:Considered

I found Luxury: Considered, a global report launched by De Beers Group @ www.debeersgroup.com/en/Media-centre/Press-releases/2008/Luxury-Considered interesting.

Useful link:
www.ledburyresearch.com

Luxury consumers are an interesting breed. They usually go for brand and quality.

Robert Brunner

Robert Brunner = Design + Imagination

Useful link:
www.ammunitiongroup.com

Economist: The Best Books Of 2008

Economist: The best books of 2008
http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12719711

Taryn Simon

Cryopreservation Unit. http://www.tarynsimon.com

Jewel Thieves

Doreen Carvajal's story of a band of jewel thieves who robbed a posh Harry Winston boutique in Paris and their spectacular escape @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/05/europe/paris.php was interesting. Signs of the time, I guess.

Arbitration In Absentia

Chaim Even Zohar's viewpoints into the issue of lack of uniformity in arbitration proceedings among diamond bourses (diamond bourses require all members worldwide to resolve all controversies against each other by arbitration pursuant to the by-laws and rules of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses) in different countries/the impact @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp was educational and insightful. A must read.

Street Art Awards 2008

Street Art Awards 2008 London
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7764725.stm

Useful link:
www.streetartawards.com

Imagining India

Imagining India: Ideas for the New Century by Nandan Nilekani is an insightful book on India’s past, present and future. A must read.

Useful link:
http://imaginingindia.com

Zimbabwe: Diamond Mines

David Farira's report on diamonds in the arid and impoverished part of Manicaland Province of Zimbabwe/impact + other viewpoints @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7761268.stm was interesting.

Diamonds and death. Shocking, really.

Heard On The Street

This is our pattern. We go from shock to trance and vice versa. It is in our collective economic interest to tackle this problem.

Waltz With Bashir

Waltz with Bashir by Ari Folman is an animated documentary about the horrors of the 1982 Lebanon war. A must see movie.

Useful links:
http://waltzwithbashir.com
www.artificial-eye.com
www.sonyclassics.com/waltzwithbashir

Coffee Drawings

Christoph Niemann's coffee illustrations was brilliant. I loved it.
http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com

Useful link:
www.christophniemann.com

Stuff Of Life

The Stuff of Life: A Graphic Guide to Genetics and DNA by Mark Schultz is an insightful book on the science of genetics + a brilliant educational medium. A must read.

Useful link:
http://us.macmillan.com/thestuffoflife

National Museum Of The American Indian

Meet talented artists at The National Museum of the American Indian art event @ www.nmai.si.edu

Don't miss it.

Random Thoughts

Knowing how to be wrong ... it's not because the best investors are always right, because they ain't. It's just that they know how to be wrong. Mistakes are good things - if we learn from them and improve.

- Ray Dalio
www.bwater.com

Ray was spot on.

Carlo Van de Roer

Carlo Van de Roer's portraits of people’s auras are stunningly beautiful. Check out the link at www.vanderoer.com for an immersive experience, really.

Global Business @ BBC

Peter Day's World of Business discussion with experts on the extraordinary development in bandwidth innovation/impact @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/global_business.shtml was insightful.

Useful links:
www.calit2.net
www.gildertech.com
www.nextnewnetworks.com
www.tapsns.com
www.bt.com
www.cisco.com
www.saffo.com

Open Air Laboratories

A new project in Britain called Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) is rather interesting. Become engaged with nature = Next generation of nature lovers, explorers and naturalists. I liked it.

Useful link:
www.opalexplorenature.org

Salvador Dalí Issues

Thane Peterson's story on Salvador Dalí's complex issues/impact + other viewpoints @ http://www.artnewsonline.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2586 was interesting. Famous artists are a unique breed. In fact they are endlessly complicated.

Light of Letšeng

Light of Letšeng, a 478 carat white diamond mined in the Kingdom of Lesotho, has been sold on tender in Antwerp for US$18.4 million, to SAFDICO, the manufacturing arm of Graff Diamonds.

Useful links:
www.gemdiamonds.com
www.safdico.com
www.graffdiamonds.com

Predicting Future World/Economic Events

Gerald Celente, the CEO of Trends Research Institute, is renowned for his accuracy in predicting future world and economic events. Mark 2012 on your calendar. Revolutions, food riots in the US by 2012! Middle class = Revolutionary class. Shocking news, really. Go to www.trendsresearch.com for further info.

The Kabakovs

Andre Kovalev's report on the Kabakov retrospective in Moscow + other viewpoints @ http://www.artnewsonline.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2587 was interesting.

Useful links:
www.winzavod.com
www.museum.ru

Entrepreneurs

(via businessweek) I found Vivek Wadhwa's research report of business start-ups by immigrants in the U.S very interesting. Check out Robert W. Fairlie's study for further info. Thanks Vivek.
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/nov2008/sb20081125_711355.htm

Useful links:
www.globalizationresearch.com
www.sba.gov

Random Thoughts

The appeal in all booms is always frankly to the gambling instinct aroused by cupidity and spurred by pervasive prosperity. People who look for easy money invariably pay for the priviledge of proving conclusively that it cannot be found on this sordid earth.

- Edwin Lef่vre
http://books.google.com/books?id=HT5c4rPK59EC&dq=Reminiscences+of+a+Stock+Operator&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=FXNFbx8DBg&sig=ZbquhqvW_KaWlEQ8-fXS

He was spot on.

Mark Leckey

Artist Mark Leckey has won the 2008 Turner Prize, the UK’s top contemporary-art award for his work which includes sculpture, film, sound + performance. Congratulations!

Useful link:
www.tate.org.uk/britain/turnerprize

Early Earth

Kenneth Chang's story in NYT on early earth + analysis of crystals in rocks in Australia + the Hadean period + other viewpoints @ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/02/science/02eart.html?hp was educational and insightful.

Diamonds 24/7

Carl Hoffman's story of diamonds 24/7 under frozen Snap Lake, in Canada @ http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/magazine/16-12/ff_diamonds_sb was educational and interesting.

Useful link:
www.debeerscanada.com

The Snap Lake project is definitely a mind-boggling undertaking. Seeing is believing, really.

Projekt Goldfisch

I was really impressed by energy giant BKW-FMB's Projekt Goldfisch, a great idea + emission free mobility. Check out the links for an immersive experience.

Useful links:
www.projekt-goldfisch.ch
www.bkw-fmb.ch

Welcome To Macintosh Documentary

Welcome to Macintosh is a documentary on all things Apple: successes, failures and the cultural impact. Go to www.welcometomacintosh.com for further info. The documentary is out on DVD. Buy it!

Kunskapsskolan!

I really liked the Swedish-style education (personalised education), also known as, Kunskapsskolan! Go to www.kunskapsskolan.se for further info. I would love to see this concept work in India.

Amancio Ortega

Amancio Ortega = Capital Energy = Global alternative energy network

Useful links:
www.capitalenergy.es
www.inditex.com

Diamond Trader

The CommodityOnline report about the beginnings and rise of Sanghavi Exports International Pvt Ltd + other viewpoints @ http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Rise--rise-of-a-diamond-trader-13018-3-1.html was insightful.

Useful link:
www.sanghaviexports.com

Trust + Luck = Diamond business. Inspiring story, really.

Landscape Rocks

Patterns in Nature: Rocks
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/patterns-rocks.html

Stunningly beautiful, really.

Lost Masterpiece

The Economist story on lost masterpiece (s) and the excitement among art historians/dealers + other viewpoints @ http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12711601 was interesting.

Useful links:
www.colnaghi.co.uk
www.christies.com
www.bernheimer.com
www.hypo-kunsthalle.de

Tyler Rollins

Tyler Rollins's specialty is in contemporary art from Southeast Asia. Go to www.trfineart.com for further info.

Iranian Art

Nazila Fathi's opinion piece in NYT on Iranian art + the impact @ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/world/middleeast/30dubai.html?_r=1 was interesting. Thanks Nazila.

Useful links:
www.xerxesfinearts.com
www.christies.com

Real + Virtual World

Real + Virtual world = Virtual tourism + Social environment

Useful links:
www.twinity.com
www.metaversum.com
www.nearglobal.com
www.secondlife.com

The One Foundation

Meet Li Lianjie, also known as Jet Li, A-list celebrity + his passion = Philanthropy @ www.onefoundation.cn

Hats off to Jet Li.

Russian Art Update

Marina Denysenko's viewpoints on the state of the Russian art market @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7754681.stm was insightful.

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.christies.com
www.macdougallauction.com
www.bonhams.com
www.ravenscourtgalleries.com

Russian art collectors are a unique breed + proud of their culture, and they always go the extra mile to build up good collections.

Wine: Fake/Real

Rami Tzabar's report on the application of gamma ray detector + ion beam analyses to test the authenticity of wine @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7755014.stm was interesting.

Useful links:
www.cnrs.fr
www.cenbg.in2p3.fr
www.antique-wine.com
www.lafite.com
www.chateau-margaux.fr

Gamma ray + ion beam analyses are widely used to test the authenticity of fine art and gemstones; and now wine. What a spin!

Money Well Spent

Money Well Spent: A Strategic Guide to Smart Philanthropy by Paul Brest + Hal Harvey provides practical advice to aspiring philanthropists + how to influence the world. Great read.

Useful link:

www.smartphilanthropy.org

The Good Hotel

A green hotel with a view @ www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/good A must visit.

Useful links:
www.jdvhotels.com
www.onebrick.org

Educator

Meet Andrew Coté, traveler, beekeeper, collector and educator @ http://beeswithoutborders.org

Honey = Miracle, really. Inspiring story. Hats off to Andrew.

Personalized Medicine

David Ewing Duncan's report on diagnosing cancer at affordable cost @ http://www.portfolio.com/views/columns/natural-selection/2008/11/26/Inexpensive-Cancer-Screening was educational and insightful. Thanks David.

Useful links:
www.systemsbiology.org
www.caltech.edu

New technologies that are cheap, specific and informative are going to change medicine.

William Eggleston

William Eggleston = Fine-art color photography + Documentary-like scenes = I love it.

Useful link:
www.egglestontrust.com

Cont Mhlanga

Veteran Zimbabwean playwright, Cont Mhlanga, has become the first recipient of ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize for his satirical play, 'The Good President'.

Useful link:
www.freedomtocreateprize.com

Hats off to Cont Mhlanga for his brave story and spirit.

Grown Up Digital

Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World HC by Don Tapscott is an insightful book on next (greatest!) generation and the impact. A must read.

Useful links:

http://grownupdigital.com

www.ngenera.com

Claude Lévi-Strauss

Steven Erlanger's report on Claude Lévi-Strauss, one of France's icons @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/28/europe/france.php was educational and insightful. Thanks Steven.

Useful link:
www.quaibranly.fr

Random Thoughts

When stock prices are rising, it’s called 'momentum investing'; when they are falling, it’s called 'panic'.

- Paul Krugman
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com

He was spot on.

Street Art

The BBC Friday documentary, Street Art, Episode 1 + 2 @ http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/publicaffairs/mediareleases/2006/mr-06-049.html + http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p001gzjq/The_Friday_Documentary_Street_Art_Episode_2/ was brilliant. I liked it.

The Chuck Fipke Story

Carl Hoffman's story on Canadian geologist, Chuck Fipke, who discovered a diamond trove in the Canadian Arctic @ http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/magazine/16-12/ff_diamonds was interesting.

Useful links:
www.cfminerals.com
http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/publicaffairs/mediareleases/2006/mr-06-049.html

Chuck is definitely one-of-a-kind diamond prospector. He finds diamonds.

The Vegetable Museum

Ju Duoqi's exhibition, 'The Vegetable Museum', has just opened at the Paris-Beijing Photo Gallery at the 798 art district in Beijing. A must visit.

Useful links:
www.parisbeijingphotogallery.com
www.798space.com

Imitation Turquoise

(via Wikipedia) The Egyptians were the first to produce an artificial imitation of turquoise, in the glazed earthenware product faience. Later glass and enamel were also used, and in modern times more sophisticated ceramics, porcelain, plastics, and various assembled, pressed, bonded, and sintered products (composed of various copper and aluminium compounds) have been developed: examples of the latter include "Viennese turquoise", made from precipitated aluminium phosphate coloured by copper oleate; and "neolith", a mixture of bayerite and copper phosphate. Most of these products differ markedly from natural turquoise in both physical and chemical properties, but in 1972 Pierre Gilson introduced one fairly close to a true synthetic (it does differ in chemical composition owing to a binder used, meaning it is best described as a simulant rather than a synthetic). Gilson turquoise is made in both a uniform colour and with black "spiderweb matrix" veining not unlike the natural Nevada material.

The most common imitation of turquoise encountered today is dyed howlite and magnesite, both white in their natural states, and the former also having natural (and convincing) black veining similar to that of turquoise. Dyed chalcedony, jasper, and marble is less common, and much less convincing. Other natural materials occasionally confused with or used in lieu of turquoise include: variscite and faustite; chrysocolla (especially when impregnating quartz); lazulite; smithsonite; hemimorphite; wardite; and a fossil bone or tooth called odontolite or "bone turquoise", coloured blue naturally by the mineral vivianite. While rarely encountered today, odontolite was once mined in large quantities—specifically for its use as a substitute for turquoise—in southern France.

These fakes are detected by gemmologists using a number of tests, relying primarily on non-destructive, close examination of surface structure under magnification; a featureless, pale blue background peppered by flecks or spots of whitish material is the typical surface appearance of natural turquoise, while manufactured imitations will appear radically different in both colour (usually a uniform dark blue) and texture (usually granular or sugary). Glass and plastic will have a much greater translucency, with bubbles or flow lines often visible just below the surface. Staining between grain boundaries may be visible in dyed imitations.

Some destructive tests may, however, be necessary; for example, the application of diluted hydrochloric acid will cause the carbonates odontolite and magnesite to effervesce and howlite to turn green, while a heated probe may give rise to the pungent smell so indicative of plastic. Differences in specific gravity, refractive index, light absorption (as evident in a material's absorption spectrum), and other physical and optical properties are also considered as means of separation. Imitation turquoise is so prevalent that it likely outnumbers real turquoise by a wide margin. Even material used in authentic Native American and Tibetan jewellery is often fake or, at best, heavily treated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turquoise

Today China has become an important source for imitation turquoise. The opaque bead materials are mass produced, inexpensive, and found in gem markets worldwide. If in doubt, always consult a reputed gem testing laboratory.

Herding Behavior

(via dailyspeculations) Vinh Tu writes:
Virtual birds form flocks, when each bird individually follows three rules:
1. Separation: steer to avoid crowding local flockmates.
2. Alignment: steer towards the average heading of local flockmates.
3. Cohesion: steer to move toward the average position of local flockmates

Demo @ http://www.red3d.com/cwr/boids

I liked it. Thanks Vinh Tu.

Diamonds: Best Case Scenario Forecast

Chaim Even Zohar's viewpoints on best case scenario forecast for diamond jewelry @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp was insightful. A must read.

Bringit

Challenge + Play + Earn = http://bringit.com
An interesting site for die-hards to test their skills. I think.

Best Business Books Of 2008

Fast Company: The Best Business Books of 2008
http://www.fastcompany.com/multimedia/slideshows/content/books-2008.html?page=1

Notable Books Of 2008

New York Times: The Book Review - 100 Notable Books of 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/books/review/100Notable-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1