Con Artists Of The First Order

The Impressionable Elites Get Snookered
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122945597762611281.html

For Denmark's Entrepreneur of Year, Something Was Rotten
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122945517473311217.html

Shocking, really. It's hard to understand why they knowingly screw-up, become idiots and pineapple-faced, for the rest of their lives. Perhaps an MRI scan of the brain may reveal something we don't know.

Random Thoughts

(Bipolar Affective Disorder) is… characterized by repeated… episodes in which… mood and activity levels are significantly disturbed, this disturbance consisting on some occasions of an elevation of mood and increased energy and activity (mania…), and on others of a lowering of mood and decreased energy and activity (depression). Characteristically, recovery is usually complete between episodes…

- Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders, World Health Organization
www.who.int

Rightfully true.

Swimming Naked Awards

The Economist opinion piece of the 2008 'naked shorts' awards @ http://www.economist.com/business/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12796770 was brilliant. You were spot on, really.

You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.
- Warren Buffett

Color Diamonds Guide

The Jewelers Vigilance Committee + Natural Color Diamond Association have released a consumer-friendly, easy-to-use/understand guide entitled, 'The Essential Guide to the U.S. Trade in Color Diamonds,' for the industry.

Useful links:
www.ncdia.com
www.jvclegal.org

Global Business @ BBC

Peter Day's World of Business interview with Andy Xie on China @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/global_business.shtml was interesting. This time it's different. Thanks Peter.

Ponzi's Scheme

Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend by Mitchell Zuckoff is a fascinating book about the colorful character, using money of new investors to pay old investors ........... a tragedy of Shakesperean proportions. Definitely a must read in these troubled times, really.

Useful link:

www.zuckoff.com

Craig Venter

Synthetic organisms = A new industrial revolution. Meet Craig Venter @ www.jcvi.org for an immersive experience.

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas (commonly known as A Christmas Carol) is what Charles Dickens described as his 'little Christmas Book' and was first published on December 19, 1843 with illustrations by John Leech. The first of the author's five 'Christmas books', the story was instantly successful, selling over six thousand copies in one week. Although originally written under financial duress to help Dickens to pay off a debt, the tale has become one of the most popular and enduring Christmas stories of all time. Contemporaries noted that the story's popularity played a critical role in redefining the importance of Christmas and the major sentiments associated with the holiday. A Christmas Carol was written during a time of decline in the old Christmas traditions. 'If Christmas, with its ancient and hospitable customs, its social and charitable observances, were in danger of decay, this is the book that would give them a new lease', said English poet Thomas Hood.

A Christmas Carol is a Victorian morality tale of an old and bitter miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who undergoes a profound experience of redemption over the course of one night, which if it doesn't change his ways he will end up like his friend Jacob Marley, walking the Earth forever, being nothing but invisible and lonely. Mr. Scrooge is a financier/money-changer who has devoted his life to the accumulation of wealth. He holds anything other than money in contempt, including friendship, love and the Christmas season.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol

Ironically, I just watched the video @ http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8817517652455175582 couple of days ago. A Christmas Carol was published in 1843, and yet it is still relevant today, as Wall Street/Main Street events proves, really.

The Art Of Participation

The S.F. Museum of Modern Art exhibit The Art of Participation: 1950 to Now run through February 08, 2009.

Go to www.sfmoma.org/exhibitions/306 for an immersive experience.

Useful link:
www.sfmoma.org

Britglyph

Net politics is all rock and role: Bill Thompson's opinion piece in BBC News @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7783918.stm was interesting. Thanks Bill. A fascinating concept. I really liked it.

Useful link:
http://map.britglyph.com

Shrek The Musical

The Belching Green Ogre Has a Song in His Heart. A brilliant music adaptation. http://www.shrekthemusical.com

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia = a massive Roman Catholic church originally designed by Antoni Gaudí, under construction since 1882 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The building works are expected to be completed around 2026. A must visit. Stunningly beautiful, really.

Useful link:

www.sagradafamilia.org

The Earth After Us

The Earth After Us: What Legacy Will Humans Leave in the Rocks? by Jan Zalasiewicz is an exciting new book on earth sciences + the geological mechanisms that shape our planet. A must read.

Useful link:

http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/geology/extranet/staff/academic-and-research-staff/jaz1

Random Thoughts

The US diamonds consumer have deferred purchase of new homes and new cars in the current downturn, and it many well be that when conditions improve, these will be the priority purchases and that spending on luxury items like diamonds is relegated to the back of the queue.

- Dr Keith Jefferis

Rightfully true.

Stats

Stats = Statistics simplified. Check out the link @ www.stats.org

Luxury Business Is Not Immune

When the Lavish Cut Back: Nelson D Schwartz's opinion piece in NYT @ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/business/08luxury.html?_r=2&ref=business was interesting. Thanks Nelson.

Useful links:
www.bulgari.com
www.bain.com

We won’t change the game of life, thank God. It’s part of the joy of life to wear jewelry, for the man and his ego. It is a world of fantasy and folly. Men will always be in love with women and want to make them happy.
- Nicola Bulgari

Nicola was spot on.

Heard On The Street

Why do the already wealthy need more wealth? I don't get it.

Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative

Harvard starts program for late-career professionals: Steve Lohr's story in IHT of Harvard's new experimental project @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/14/america/next.php was educational and insightful. Thanks Steve. I think it's a great idea to pick up new knowledge and skills in a new realm.

Useful link:
http://advancedleadership.harvard.edu

Mark Anderson's Predictions

Mark Anderson is CEO/founder of the Strategic News Service + founding chair of the Future in Review Conference. Predictions for 2009! Go to www.tapsns.com for further info.

Useful links:
www.stratnews.com
www.futureinreview.com

Computer Virus Art

Artist Alex Dragulescu's visualisations of computer viruses were stunningly beautiful. Go to www.sq.ro for an immersive experience.

Russians + Jewelry

Russian jewelers revive the spirit of Fabergé: Victoria Gomelsky's story on the fundamental truth about Russians and jewelry + the revival of Fabergé legacy + other viewpoints @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/13/style/acawjruss.php was interesting. Thanks Victoria.

Useful links:
www.archetypediscoveriesworldwide.com
www.faberge.de
www.rusdiamonds.com
www.jt.ru
www.lobortas.com
www.marchak.fr

Robert 'Bob' Wittman

The invisible man rescuing art: Simon Worrall's opinion piece in BBC News of Special Agent Robert 'Bob' Wittman/his operations @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7780059.stm was interesting. Thanks Simon. To run undercover sting operations in the crooked art world requires special skills and Bob Wittman has done an excellent job and still alive. As they say in the art world a remarkable story lives on.

Useful link:
www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/arttheft/artcrimeteam.htm

Frank O. Gehry: Design Process And The Lewis House

Frank O. Gehry: Design Process and the Lewis House is at the Philadelphia Museum of Art until April 5, 2009. A must visit.

Useful links:
www.philamuseum.org
www.aconstructivemadness.com
www.foga.com

Elliott Carter

Meet Elliott Carter, one of America's most distinguished creative artists in any field @ www.carter100.com

Elliott Carter reached his 100th birthday on December 11, 2008. He is very much alive and productive as he has ever been. Hats off to Carter.

Tales From Outer Suburbia

Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan is an intriguingly illustrated and beautiful graphic novel. It's different.

Useful link:

www.shauntan.net

A Diamond In The Rough

A Diamond In The Rough: John Breeden's opinion piece in GiN @ http://www.gameindustry.com/review/item.asp?id=1031 was interesting. Great graphics + good story line.

Useful link:
www.farcry2.com

Engagement Ring Buying Tips

10 things to know before buying an engagement ring
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/12/12/is.engagement.ring.guide

Insightful. Thanks Instyle/CNN

Return Of The Pink Panthers

Pink Panthers' global trail glitters with jewels
Doreen Carvajal's opinion piece in IHT + other viewpoints @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/12/europe/jewels.php was interesting. What's intriguing to me is their unique operating system: painstaking surveillance, boldness and speed. Expect more copycats in the coming months.

Paris: The Chocolate Tour

The City of Light and Dark Chocolate
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/12/14/travel/20081214_PARIS_CHOCOLATE.html

The French have elevated many things to high art: fashion, flirting, foie gras. Chocolate is no exception.
- Amy Thomas
http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/travel/14journeys.html?8dpc

Thanks Amy. You were spot on.

Marlene Dumas

Marlene Dumas: Measuring Your Own Grave is at the Museum of Modern Art http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/exhibitions.php?id=3994

The Body Politic: Gorgeous and Grotesque/Roberta Smith's opinion piece in NYT + upcoming exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art @ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/arts/design/12duma.html?_r=1 was interesting.

A Day At elBulli

A Day at elBulli by Ferran Adria + Juli Soler + Albert Adria is a fascinating book about the innovative world of Ferran Adria at elBulli. A must read.

Useful links:
www.elbulli.com
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1866040,00.html

Indian Highway

Indian Highway: Serpentine gallery in London will be exhibiting some of India's pioneering contemporary art works from December 10, 2008 – February 22, 2009. A must visit.

Useful link:
www.serpentinegallery.org

Zimbabwe’s Blood Diamonds

Crying for Zimbabwe: Chaim Even Zohar's opinion piece in IdexOnline @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp was interesting. I think the key players have all got a vested interest in chaos. Disgusting, really. The diamond industry ought to start thinking about tomorrow and help Zimbabweans.

Random Thoughts

Power doesn't corrupt. Power amplifies. It accentuates. It reveals your truest tendencies.

- Adam Galinsky
http://galinsky.socialpsychology.org

The Wittelsbach Diamond

The Wittelsbach Diamond (35.56 carat, deep grayish-blue) has been sold to Laurence Graff (Graff Diamonds) for $24.3 million at Christie's London auction setting a new world record price for a diamond sold at auction. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=a5z_1QLCVudQ&refer=muse

Useful links:
www.christies.com
www.graffdiamonds.com

Business In Second Life

Doing business in Second Life
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7777485.stm

It's fantastic news for the concept. I liked it.

Random Thoughts

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

- Confucius

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.