Revolution In A Bottle

Revolution in a Bottle: How TerraCycle Is Redefining Green Business by Tom Szaky is an inspiring book by an eco-celebrity who knows how to extract value from waste. A must read.

Useful link:

www.terracycle.net

The Art Market

The art market: Skinny sales and demoted billionaires
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/d3a78d50-35dc-11de-a997-00144feabdc0.html

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

The market is still there for the right works of art at the right price.

Creative Cafes

The write bank
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/may/02/paris-literary-festival-culture

Useful links:
www.lautrecafe.com
www.maisondelapoesieparis.com
www.labellevilloise.com
www.mangacafe.fr
www.teaandtatteredpages.com
www.cafeine.com
www.culturerapide.com
www.lefumoir.com
www.vie-romantique.paris.fr
www.petitpalais.paris.fr
www.paris.fr

Great review.

Free Comic Book Day

Free culture has become popular for fans or publishers of North American comic books small and large.

Check out the link www.freecomicbookday.com

I think it's a great idea.

Random Thoughts

A traditional recipe for business success: reduce the price of a product and thereby generate much greater demand and higher profits.

- Steve Ellison

Spot on.

Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian

Night of the Living Koons
http://www.artnewsonline.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2675

Useful link:
www.nightatthemuseummovie.com

Animated artworks via computer graphics were great.

Swat Valley Emeralds

Boycott Swat's ‘blood emeralds'
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/rosemary_righter/article6175411.ece

Estimates differ as to the quality of Swat emeralds. Some Pakistanis claim they are magnificent. Jean Claude Michelou, the emerald dealer who advises the World Bank on developing Pakistan's gemstone sector, says that most are tiny and used mostly for what jewellers call 'baguette accents' to ornament rings or watches. The smaller they are, the harder it is to trace their origin.

Useful links:
www.responsiblejewellery.com
www.kimberleyprocess.com

Precious stones are portable and compact forms of wealth. This has made gemstones popular during times of political unrest, for they provide a perfect means of moving wealth across the borders. Gem trade has a long history of secrecy and intrigue with much business throughout the world conducted off the books. Business will be as usual in Swat Valley, Pakistan.

Diamond Prices

Diamonds Are a Man’s Best Friend as Rings Get Cheaper (Update1)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aV5_PN0ku2p4&refer=uk

Diamond prices are low for now + people are still buying diamonds for special events, which is good news for the industry. It wouldn't be a bad idea to buy better quality diamonds of larger sizes for greater discounts, if available.

Interesting Traditions

Five Beloved Traditions Invented to Make You Buy Stuff
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124087484310261345.html

Diamonds are intrinsically worthless, except for the deep psychological need they fill.
- Nicky Oppenheimer

Old traditions die hard.

CIBJO Diamond Commission Report

CIBJO Diamond Commission Report 2009
http://download.cibjo.org/CIBJO_Special_Rep_Diamond_Com_Apr_09.pdf

Useful links:
www.cibjo.org
www.internationaldiamondcouncil.org
www.wfdb.com
www.idma.net

Tribeca Film Festival Update

Tribeca Film Festival Names Prizewinners
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/movies/01trib.html?_r=1&hpw

Useful link:
www.tribecafilm.com

The 2009 Time 100

The 2009 Time 100
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894410_1893847_1894200,00.html

Great review.

New Business Startups

Grads from B-schools abroad look homewards, launch firms
http://www.livemint.com/2009/04/29211056/Grads-from-Bschools-abroad-lo.html?h=E

Useful link:
www.verdure.in

Interesting story. There are opportunities in India.

The New Paris

The French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, has grand designs for Paris, and he will decide which of the 10 plans will be followed up once an exhibition of the initial designs goes on display in the Cite de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine. Check out the link www.citechaillot.fr

The (Im) Perfect Crime

The (Im) Perfect Crime
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/storysupplement/flyp_Madoff/index.htm

Brilliant story format. I liked it.

The Maiden Heist

Planning a Romantic Getaway
http://www.artnewsonline.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2674
http://www.yarifilmgroup.com/films/themaidenheist

.... at the core of the film is that intangible attraction people have to art of all shapes and sizes. And not necessarily people who have a profound art education, but those who know very little about it and still have that visceral reaction.
- Peter Hewitt

Useful link:
www.yarifilmgroup.com

Should be an interesting movie.

Freetailing

'Freetailing': US jeweller sets new trend in silver
http://www.commodityonline.com/goldnews/Freetailing-US-jeweller-sets-new-trend-in-silver-2009-04-30-17357-3-1.html

Useful links:
http://silverjewelry.com
http://www.thelongtail.com

An interesting free business model online.

Sharing The Wealth

Sharing the Wealth: Leonard Abess and the $60 Million Gift to His Employees
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2228

Useful link:
www.citynationalcm.com

Inspiring story, really. He decided to share the wealth as a way to reward the people who had helped make the bank successful.

The National Design Awards 2009

Scorecard / The National Design Awards
http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/scorecard-the-national-design-awards/?hpw

Useful link:
www.nationaldesignawards.org

Truly the winners represent an interesting cross-section of the design world.

Martin Rapaport Viewpoint

The 'W' Effect
http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=26174

Older people are scared and scarred. They are moving into saving survival mode and cannot be relied upon to fuel consumer spending. Most young and middle-aged Americans have also reached their credit limits. The era of excessive “spend-what-you-don’t-have” consumerism has ended. America can no longer fuel economic expansion through consumerism based on artificial wealth. That bubble has burst.

Useful link:
www.diamonds.net

How true! Today money is scarcer than diamonds.

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Justice in the Antwerp Diamond District
http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp

Useful link:
www.diamondintelligence.com

Spot on.

Museo Archeologico Virtuale

The interactive Museo Archeologico Virtuale has 70-plus multimedia installations that recreate nearby Pompeii and Herculaneum in their heyday, before Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. Check out the link www.museomav.com

The Wall Street Experience

A Wall Street Trader (Andrew Luan) bring its past and present alive via www.thewallstreetexperience.com

Personalised Birthstone Jewelry

Luna & Stella
Personalised birthstone jewelry
www.lunaandstella.com

Flanimals

Ricky Gervais's Flanimals heads for big screen
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/apr/29/ricky-gervais-flanimals

Useful links:
www.flanimals.com
www.rickygervais.com

Ricky Gervais, obviously. Should be an interesting series.

Discovery-driven Growth

Discovery-driven Growth: The Only Plan Is to Learn as You Go
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2227
http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/faculty/macmilli.html

Spot on. Downturns always create a lot of discipline.

Shobana Jeyasingh

A taster of Shobana Jeyasingh's new dance piece, Just Add Water?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/video/2009/apr/29/shobana-jeyasingh-dance-just-add-water

Useful links:
www.shobanajeyasingh.co.uk
www.roh.org.uk

Heard On The Street

There's two kinds of people in this world, those who pay interest and those who collect interest.

Work Of Art

I Want To Be A Work Of Art
http://moreintelligentlife.com/story/one-another

Useful links:
www.oneandother.co.uk
www.antonygormley.com

Simple + great idea, really. Hats off to Antony!

Music vs Art

Music vs art
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8024000/8024205.stm

There is something inherently distressing about dissonant music which people find hard to assimilate; (but)...abstract or minimalist art sometimes makes good decoration.
- David Stubbs

How true!

CIBJO Update

The program for the upcoming 2009 CIBJO Congress is now available on the dedicated Congress web site.

Check out the link http://congress2009.cibjo.org

Zultanite Update

Zultanite
http://www.gemguide.com/news/AGTAMAY2009Zultanite.htm

Useful links:
www.gemguide.com
www.zultanite.com

Interesting review. Colored stone dealers should make note of this unusual gemstone.

Education Building Of The Year

Here is a round-up of the six finalists for the Education Building of the year award via World Architecture News.
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=11481

Useful links:
www.spowers.com.au
www.arup.com
www.murraydunloparchitects.com
www.adrg.com.hk
www.henninglarsen.com
www.anna-heringer.com

Impressive, really.

Luke Johnson Viewpoint

Stop making excuses and get started
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a2741750-3409-11de-9eea-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

Our greatest glory lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.
- Confucius

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

Spot on. Thank you Luke.

Anish Kapoor's New Art Work

Anish Kapoor's journey into blood, guts and controversy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/apr/29/anish-kapoor-artist-brighton

Useful links:
www.anishkapoor.com
www.brightonfestival.org

A must visit. Should be interesting.

Der Freischütz

Der Freischütz is an opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber to a libretto by Friedrich Kind. It is considered the first important German Romantic opera, especially in its national identity and stark emotionality. Its plot was taken from German folk legend and many of its tunes were inspired by German folk music. Its unearthly portrayal of the supernatural is especially poignant in the famous Wolf's Glen scene. Despite its daring innovations (and some scathing attacks by critics) it quickly became an international success, with some fifty performances in the first 18 months after its June 18, 1821 premiere at the Konzerthaus Berlin. Among the many artists influenced by Der Freischütz was a young Richard Wagner, who would come to be seen by many as Weber's successor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Freisch%C3%BCtz

High Note / Viktor and Rolf at the Opera
http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/high-note-viktor-and-rolf-at-the-opera/?hpw

Useful links:
www.viktor-rolf.com
www.robertwilson.com
www.festspielhaus.de

Great interview.

Turner Prize 2009

Crystal cave up for Turner Prize
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8022296.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8022602.stm

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

Random Thoughts

One lesson borne of experience is that the best course in investing is often to do nothing. That’s a hard lesson to apply in practice, given the propensity most of us have for tinkering.

- Edward Studzinski
www.oakmark.com

Spot on.

Renewable Energy Information

Reegle = Renewable Energy and Efficiency Partnership + Renewable Energy Network for the 21st Century. Check out the link www.reegle.info

MotoArt

Fancy an ejection seat? Meet the men turning old planes into art
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/04/07/plane.art.furniture/index.html

Useful link:
www.motoart.com

Motoart = High-end furniture + functional art. Truly amazing!

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2009

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2009
www.nojazzfest.com

Don't miss the great New Orleans jazz, blues, funk, rock, zydeco, gospel and everything between.

The Green House

The Green House of the Future
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124050414436548553.html

Useful links:
www.cookplusfox.com
www.mcdonoughpartners.com
www.rios.com
www.mouzon.com

Spot on. The smaller thing you can create, the more sustainable it is.

Ethiopian Opal

Ethiopian Opal
http://www.modernjeweler.com/print/Modern-Jeweler/Ethiopian-Opal/1$931

Useful link:
www.jendayicollection.com

Great review. Thank you Dave.

Entrepreneurship Update

Entrepreneurship
http://www.economist.com/business/management/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13565718&source=hptextfeature

The selling of the Post-It note (see article) by Spence Silver, an employee of 3M, is one of the classic and most quoted examples of intrapreneurship. 3M has been particularly successful at encouraging intrapreneurs. It maintains that the first thing you have to do is to create a corporate culture which permits ideas to blossom. 'You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find the prince,' the company told The Economist. 'But remember, one prince can pay for a lot of frogs.'

Spot on. The main constraint on entrepreneurs today is a shortage of finance, not of ideas.

Orientalism

Emirates art lovers welcome Orientalism
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8020421.stm
http://www.britishcouncil.org/uk/arts-lure-of-the-east.htm

Useful link:
www.sharjahmuseums.ae

Building Businesses In Turbulent Times

Building Businesses in Turbulent Times
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6159.html

The rallying cry for turbulent times is, 'Let's not just survive—let's thrive.' Thank you Lynda.

David Attenborough

David Attenborough won his eighth Bafta award, the Specialist Factual award for Life In Cold Blood, his study of the evolution of amphibians and reptiles screened on BBC Two last year. Check out the link http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/lifeincoldblood

Useful links:
www.bafta.org
www.davidattenborough.co.uk

Hats off to David. I am a huge fan. He is one of our heroes of our time.

Global Business BBC

The Edge of Europe
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/business/2009/04/090422_peter_day_comment_apr_21.shtml

Useful links:
http://markleonard.net
www.ecfr.eu

Peter Day's comments were interesting.

DSi

Nintendo's Portable Console Adds Services
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/apr2009/gb2009049_950720.htm?chan=innovation_game+room_top+stories

Useful links:
www.nintendo.com
www.miyamotoshrine.com
www.enterbrain.co.jp

Great review.

Bill Cunningham Viewpoint

On the Street / In the Air
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/04/24/fashion/20090426-street-feature/index.html#

Definitely a serious fashion statement. Thank you Bill.

Biofeuls Initiative

10 Biofuels Companies You Need to Know About
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/francine-hardaway/world-startups-outside-silicon-valley/ten-companies-you-need-know-about

Useful links:
www.americanbiofuelscouncil.com
www.desertbiofuels.org
www.amerecobiofuels.com
www.nacet.org
www.xldairygroup.com
www.energyderived.com
www.diversified-energy.com
www.petrosun.com
www.desertsweetbiofuels.com
www.verdebiotrailers.com

Great review.

J.G. Ballard

The cosmic clock with Ballard at its core
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/apr/27/tacita-dean-jg-ballard-art

Useful links:
www.ballardian.com
www.robertsmithson.com

Heard On The Street

It is important to have a good base of operations in whatever you do. Always prepare in advance.

A Rare Blue Diamond

Rare blue diamond goes on display
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8019249.stm

Useful links:
www.petradiamonds.com
www.sothebys.com

Rare indeed. I wish the person who buys it all the best of luck.

Prada Transformer

Art Transplant / Prada on the Move
http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/24/art-transplant-prada-on-the-move/?hpw

Useful links:
www.prada-transformer.com
www.oma.nl

Brilliant! I liked it.

Art Market Update

Tubular belles
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13562828

Useful links:
www.tamara-de-lempicka.org
www.sothebys.com
www.christies.com

SCVNGR

SCVNGR's games are used for a range of team-building, orientation and enhanced interactivity. Check out the link www.scvngr.com

Richard Goldman

Saluting the unsung local heroes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8004152.stm

Useful links:
www.goldmanprize.org
www.goldmanfund.org

Hats off to Richard!

Gem Learning 2009

The Future of Learning
http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullMazalUbracha.asp?id=32165

Useful links:
www.americangemsociety.org
www.diamondcouncil.org
www.gia.edu
www.igiworldwide.com
www.jewelers.org
www.jewelersmutual.com

I think hands-on + see-it-yourself methodologies work best in gemology.

Dan & Chip Heath Viewpoint

Three Secrets to Make a Message Go Viral
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/135/made-to-stick-getting-your-ideas-to-fly.html

Useful links:
www.madetostick.com
www.fastcompany.com/madetostick

The rules do in fact work.

Monastic Hotels

Monasteries: The latest Boutique Hotels
http://moreintelligentlife.com/story/quarters-quarters-holy-bookings

Useful links:
www.abbaye-dela-bussiere.com
www.certosadimaggiano.com
www.theaugustine.com
www.monasterio.orient-express.com

You should give it a try. They are inspiring places to stay.

Mike Tyson

Violence Embodied in a Boxer’s Rise and Fall
http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/04/24/movies/24tyso.html?8dpc

Useful links:
www.tysonmovie.co.uk
www.revolvergroup.com

Toback’s film offers a rare/interesting study in the complexity of Mike Tyson, the man in the mirror + it's worth seeing.

The Geomagnetic Apocalypse

The Geomagnetic Apocalypse — And How to Stop It
http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/04/2012storms.html

Useful link:
www.metatechcorp.com

Chilling report, really. What's plan B?

Datanomic

De Beers Group has selected Datanomic’s award winning dn:Director Sanctions & PEP (Politically Exposed People) Screening software for systematic Sanctions screening of its supply chain to help the group take proactive steps to maintain the integrity of diamonds.

Check out the link www.datanomic.com

A Portrait By Picasso

Picasso child work up for auction
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8014218.stm

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.picasso.fr

Roxy Paine

Even High Atop a Roof It Reaches for the Sky
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/24/arts/design/24roof.html?_r=1&hp

Useful links:
www.jamescohan.com/artists/roxy-paine
www.metmuseum.org

Visually fantastic, really.

Margaret Olley

Margaret Olley
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124045863685446891.html

Useful link:
www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/margaretolley
www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
http://nga.gov.au

Margaret Olley is a living treasure. Do what you love. Money will follow.

The Webber Rules

The Webber Rules: 52 Truths for Winning at Business
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/linda-tischler/design-times/webber-rules-52-truths-winning-business

Useful link:
www.rulesofthumbbook.com

OODA principle = Observe, Orient, Decide + Act. Thank you Alan. You were spot on.

LetterMatics

Going Postal
http://www.colored-stone.com/stories/mar09/lettermatics-for-jewelers.cfm

Useful link:
www.lettermatics.com

Brilliant idea, really.

Innovation

How to innovate in turbulent times
http://postcards.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/04/23/how-to-innovate-in-turbulent-times

Useful link:
www.frogdesign.com

The best advice: listen to your own people. Sometimes the best ideas are right in front of you — and maybe priceless. Thank you Doreen.

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

No Money for Nothing
http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp

Useful links:
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.dtc.com

Spot on.

Luke Johnson Viewpoint

Independents will always have their day
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b64a5aee-2e84-11de-b7d3-00144feabdc0,dwp_uuid=782015c4-f2e3-11dd-abe6-0000779fd2ac.html

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

Spot on. Thank you Luke.

Earth

Earth, a Disney movie about animals and their dramatic journeys, hits theaters (April 22, 2009) on Earth Day.

Check out the link http://disney.go.com/disneynature/earth

Useful links:
www.earthday.net
www.earthday.gov

Storytellers

The Tale of a Yarn-Spinner
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124043978013345219.html

...... the Moth is a completely original phenomenon: It's the only organization dedicated to real raconteuring, which is a great art but a totally neglected one. It's never been properly celebrated. You can't compare it to monologuists such as the late Spalding Grey because those are very formal, memorized occasions. It's not stand-up comedy because you're telling true stories at the Moth, often very funny ones, with a lot of elaboration of course -- we expect that. It's not the Arabian Nights because those are fossilized folk tales. We're talking about what I call 'kitchen tales': There has to be a feeling of spontaneity, of seeing the process happen, as if friends are talking, with a really intimate bond between audience and narrator. That's the reason, for example, why we usually don't do the Moth in big theaters.
- George Dawes Green

Useful link:
www.themoth.org

Spot on. As a Moth storyteller, all your flaws and fakeries, awkwardness or slickness, are instantly visible on stage. Great idea. I liked it.

Wabi Sabi

An Ancient Japanese Aesthetic, Revived in Milan
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/cliff-kuang/design-innovation/ancient-japanese-aesthetic-revived-milan

Useful links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi
www.tjep.com
www.freshwest.co.uk
www.gittagschwendtner.com
www.nachocarbonell.com
www.petermarigold.com

Wabi Sabi = Impermanent, imperfect, and incomplete. I am a huge fan of asymmetric designs.

Heard On The Street

If you miss one deal there is usually another around the corner somewhere.

Fraenkel Gallery

In Focus ‘Edward Hopper & Company’
http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/in-focus-edward-hopper-company/?hpw

Useful link:
www.fraenkelgallery.com

A must visit.

Dream Sculpture

Mine 'Dream' art project unveiled
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/8009000.stm

Useful links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaume_Plensa
www.artscouncil.org.uk
www.artfund.org

A unique + truly global piece of art.

Understanding The Burma Embargo

Understanding the Burma Embargo
http://www.gemguide.com/news/AGTAAPR2009Jadeite.htm

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

Great review.

Neurotypicals

Genius locus
http://www.economist.com/science/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13489714

Useful link:
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/site/2009/talent-autism.xhtml

Educational/insightful, really.

Kazanjian Red Diamond On Display At The Natural History Museum

Kazanjian Red Diamond Returns to the LA Natural History Museum
http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=26001

Useful links:
www.kazanjianbros.com
www.nhm.org

Roger Ebert's Film Festival

Ebertfest: Roger Ebert's Very Own Film Festival
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1892939,00.html

Useful link:
http://ebertfest.com

World Innovation Forum 2009

World Innovation Forum 2009
May 5-6, 2009 / Nokia Theatre, New York
http://us.hsmglobal.com/contenidos/wifhome.html

Random Thoughts

If you stop learning, the world rushes right by you. It's very hard to do this by merely hearing someone else talk. That's why most teaching is vivid. For example, when they trained soldiers for World War II, they shot real bullets above them, which really taught them to hug the ground.

- Charlie Munger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Munger

Spot on.

Green Architecture

Taking a stand
http://www.livemint.com/2009/04/21204804/Taking-a-stand.html?h=C

Useful links:
www.inspire-india.com
www.bamboocompetition.com
www.bambootech.org

Inspiration = Strength + functionality + aesthetics + cost. It's really amazing what can be done with bamboo.

Frank Gehry's Newest Chair

A Building? A Plane? Nope. It's Frank Gehry's Newest Chair
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/cliff-kuang/design-innovation/building-plane-nope-its-frank-gehrys-newest-chair

Useful links:
www.foga.com
www.cosmit.it

Stunningly beautiful. A technical marvel. I liked it.

BP Portrait Award 2009

In pictures: BP Portrait Award shortlist
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8008800.stm

Useful link:
www.npg.org.uk

Energy Efficiency Center

UC Davis's Energy Efficiency Center Makes Conservation Sexy
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/135/the-green-lantern.html

Useful links:
http://eec.ucdavis.edu
http://andrewhargadon.com

A great business model.

Luke Johnson Viewpoint

A sense of dread ails the opinion-makers
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/de92a25a-2906-11de-bc5e-00144feabdc0,dwp_uuid=782015c4-f2e3-11dd-abe6-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1

Useful links:
www.lukejohnson.org
www.riskcapitalpartners.co.uk

Spot on. There will always be new opportunities, whatever our temporary difficulties. Thanks Luke.

China Entrepreneur

China Entrepreneur: Voices of Experience from 40 Business Pioneers by Juan Antonio Fernandez + Laurie Underwood is a brilliant book on China's remarkable transformation + I think it's an excellent operational handbook for the newcomer to China. A must read.

Useful link:

www.ceibs.edu

Tanzanite Update

True Blues: Chris Smith’s Amazing Adventures with Tanzanite
http://www.colored-stone.com/stories/mar09/tanzanite-blues.cfm

Useful links:
www.aglgemlab.com
www.agta-gtc.org
www.tanzanitefoundation.com
www.tanzaniteone.com

Interesting development. I don't know if the trade and consumers are willing to pay a premium for natural-color, as opposed to heated tanzanite—similar to that for sapphire. We will know more as events unfold in the coming months.

Beautiful Designs

The Decorative and Beyond
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124026971684436835.html

Useful link:
www.imamuseum.org

A must visit.

Randall Munroe

When Pixels Find New Life on Real Paper
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/business/media/20link.html

Useful links:
http://xkcd.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xkcd

I loved it.

Che's Afterlife

Che's Afterlife: The Legacy of an Image by Michael Casey is a fascinating book on the famous 1960 picture of the guerrilla leader taken by the Cuban photographer Alberto Díaz Gutiérrez, known as Korda. A must read.

Maria Thun's Theory On Wine

Can lunar cycles affect the taste of wine?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8008167.stm
http://www.biodynamics.com/node/346

Useful links:
www.wineanorak.com
www.thewineryuk.com
www.christopherpiperwines.co.uk
www.vinopolis.co.uk

Interesting story.

Illegal Diamond Diggers Of Zimbabwe

Illegal diamond diggers 'hunted down'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8009375.stm

Shocking/sad, really.

Random Thoughts

The greatest evil is not done in those sordid dens of evil Dickens loved to paint but ..... in clear, carpeted, warmed, well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices.

- C. S. Lewis

How true!

Bill Cunningham Viewpoint

On the Street / A Throwback
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/04/18/fashion/20090418-street-feature/index.html#

Beautiful, really. Thank you Bill.

Ramakrishna Karuturi

Coming Up Roses
http://www.forbes.com/global/2009/0427/018-business-karuturi-global-coming-up-roses.html

Useful links:
www.karuturi.com
www.floraholland.com

Inspiring story.

The Curious Case Of A Graphic Novel

'Watchmen': The Curious Case Of A Graphic Novel
http://moreintelligentlife.com/story/watchmen-graphic-novel

I’m called the father of the modern graphic novel. If that’s true, I want a blood test ... 'Graphic novel' sounds more respectable, but I prefer "comics" because it credits the medium. ['Comics'] is a dumb word, but that’s what they are.
- Art Spiegelman

Useful links:
www.alanmoorefansite.com
http://rss.warnerbros.com/watchmen
www.davegibbonsfansite.com