Contemporary Jewelry

Golden globes
http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13606326

Our clients don’t come to find what they already know, they come to be excited about things they don’t know.
- Paul Derrez

Useful links:
www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk
www.droog.com
www.galerierobkoudijs.nl
www.louisesmit.nl
www.marzee.nl
www.galerie-ra.nl

The Netherlands boasts the largest concentration of serious contemporary-jewelry galleries in the world. Amazing, really.

A Whole New Mind

A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age by Daniel H. Pink is a fascinating book that explores different form of thinking and a new approach to life. A must read.

Useful link:
www.danpink.com

Heard On The Street

Shortcuts usually grease the rails to disappointing outcomes. Easy come, easy go.

Jean Van Hamme

Meanwhile, in Brussels, Our Hero Fights a Comic-Book Crisis
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124173342051198053.html

Useful links:
www.comicscenter.net
www.fine-arts-museum.be

Jean Van Hamme = A great storyteller.

Turner And The Masters

In pictures: Turner and the Masters
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8036756.stm

Useful link:
www.tate.org.uk

Fair Trade Jewelry

Does Fair Trade Jewelry Exist?
http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=26247

Useful links:
www.fairtradefederation.org
www.wfto.com
www.fairtrade.net
www.communitymining.org
www.transfairusa.org
www.ddiglobal.org
www.greengold-oroverde.org
www.vukani.co.za
www.fairjewelry.org
www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org

Spot on.

Champagne Diamond Design Competition

Rio Tinto Diamonds launches its Champagne Diamond design competition
http://www.riotintodiamonds.com/ENG/media/media_releases_1149.asp

Useful links:
www.riotintodiamonds.com
www.ncdia.com
www.argylediamonds.com.au

Philippe Tournaire

Meet Philippe Tournaire, who crafts miniatures of actual buildings into 18-karat gold and platinum rings.

Check out the link www.philippetournaire.com

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Swiss Cheese with One Hole Too Many: Supplier Debt Forgiveness
http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp

Useful link:
www.diamondintelligence.com

These are not normal days.

Agates And Jaspers

Agates and Jaspers
www.theimagebooks.com/gemmail
www.theimage.com

A must see.

Experimental Geography

Experimental geography as art
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0505/p17s01-alar.html

Useful links:
www.jeremydeller.org
www.creativetime.org
www.newmuseum.org
www.ici-exhibitions.org
www.paglen.com

Experimental geography = Cartography + art + political activism + geography + theater. Interesting medium, really. I liked it.

Anaconda Wave Power Generator

Anaconda Wave Power Generator
www.checkmateuk.com/seaenergy

I hope Anaconda will provide electricity at a much lower price than other wave power devices.

Contemporary Art Daily

Contemporary Art Daily
http://www.contemporaryartdaily.com/2009/03/david-hockney-at-la-louver

Useful link:
www.davidhockney.com

Luke Johnson Viewpoint

Poor children of the rich and successful
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0eb8e182-3989-11de-b82d-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

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

Spot on. Thank you Luke for the insightful essay.

Research: The Traveler’s Best Friend

Research: The Traveler’s Best Friend
http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com

How true!

Pink Sapphire Price Volatility

Pink Sapphire PriceVolatility
http://www.gemguide.com/news/AGTAMAY2009PinkSapp.htm

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

I think the colored stone industry have a lot to learn from the diamond sector. Prices for colored stones are simply too high.

Eric Braunwart Viewpoint

Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability in the Jewelry Industry
http://www.colored-stone.com/stories/may09/fair-trade.cfm

Useful links:
www.columbiagemhouse.com
www.fairtradegems.com

Just try it. It works. Thanks Eric.

Futuresonic Festival 2009

Futuresonic 2009 and the Social Technologies Summit will take place 13-16 May 2009, featuring world premieres of astonishing artworks, an explosive city-wide music programme, and visionary thinkers from around the world. Check out the link www.futuresonic.com

The Ultimate Trophy

The Ultimate Trophy: How the Impressionist Painting Conquered the World by Philip Hook analyses public's change of heart toward Impressionism. Impressionist works have become a currency in their own right, being bought and sold like blue-chip stock - coveted as much for their monetary worth as for their intrinsic beauty. A must read. Philip Hook is a senior director of Sotheby's and appears regularly as picture expert on BBC1's hugely popular The Antiques Roadshow. www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow

Angels & Demons

Angels & Demons
www.angelsanddemons.com
www.danbrown.com

Should be an interesting religious conspiracy movie. Despite all the supposed controversies, remember that it's just a film.

Global Business BBC

Peter Day's Comment / Car Crash
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/business/2009/05/090505_peter_day_comment_may_05.shtml

Useful link:
www.lean.org

Only the paranoid survive in business.

The Retailers' Reference Guide

The CIBJO 2009 Congress in Istanbul has launched 'The Retailers' Reference Guide: Diamonds, Gemstones, Pearls and Precious Metals' to help the global jewelry sector compete against other luxury products. It covers diamonds, gemstones, pearls and precious metals in a clear and concise manner that is accessible to jewelry retail staff at all levels. Check out the link www.cibjo.org

Natural History Auction

Natural History Auctions
http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=USA&screen=NaturalHistory

Since collector interest in colored stones has grown exponentially in the past several years, it would be interesting to see real time results from the auctions.

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

2008 Diamond Pipeline: From Market Buoyancy to Global Credit Crisis, Deflation and Recession
http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullNews.asp?SID=&id=32309
http://www.idexonline.com/pdf_files/IDEX_Online-2008_Diamond_Pipeline.pdf

Useful links:
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.debeersgroup.com

Great review. It was educational and insightful. Thank you Chaim.

Malcolm Gladwell Viewpoint

How David Beats Goliath
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/05/11/090511fa_fact_gladwell?currentPage=all

Useful link:
www.gladwell.com

A very thoughtful story. A must read.

Buckminster Fuller Challenge 2009

The Buckminster Fuller Challenge
http://challenge.bfi.org

MIT's Sustainable Personal Mobility and Mobility-on-Demand Systems concepts won this year's $100,000 Buckminster Fuller Challenge, an annual contest that asks entrants to create designs with maximum social impact.
http://cities.media.mit.edu/projects/citycar.html
http://cities.media.mit.edu/projects/scooter.html

Brilliant + bold + visionary + beautiful!

World's Most Popular Museums

Taking in some culture
http://www.economist.com/daily/chartgallery/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13565756

Useful link:
www.theartnewspaper.com

Great story.

Random Thoughts

The best advice is to learn from mistakes and move on. If every shot you hit in golf was a hole-in-one, you’d lose interest. You gotta hit a few in the woods.

- Warren Buffett
www.berkshirehathaway.com

Spot on.

Clayton's i-House

Clayton's I-House: Prefab Green Homes Get Affordable
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/how_your_house_works/4299495.html

Useful link:
www.claytonhomes.com

I loved it. It's energy-efficient than traditional homes + the most affordable option for a low-carbon lifestyle.

Sustainable Energy

Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air by David J.C. MacKay is a fascinating book about energy options in a human-accessible form. A must read.

Useful links:

www.withouthotair.com

www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/mackay

Botanical Paradise

Kew Gardens: 250 years of the botanical paradise
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/may/04/kew-gardens-queen-visit?picture=346843397

Useful link:
www.kew.org

The Gardner Heist

Inside the Gardner Case
http://www.artnewsonline.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2677

More than 19 years after the largest art theft in history—the works are now valued at between $500 million and $600 million—no one has been arrested.

Useful links:
www.gardnermuseum.org
www.boser.org

Great story.

Marshall Plan Revisited

Selling the Marshall Plan on celluloid
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8032492.stm

Useful links:
www.sellingdemocracy.org
www.barbican.org.uk

Interesting historic film.

Katherine Jetter

Meet Katherine Jetter + explore her fine jewelry collection, especially her opal designs.
http://blogs.modernjeweler.com/blog//2009/05/01/show-preview-katherine-jetter

Useful link:
http://katherinejetter.com

Social Entrepreneurs

The Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/may2009/sb2009051_730988.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_small+business

Useful links:
www.betterworldbooks.com
www.impactmakers.org
www.stonyfield.com
http://academicearth.org
www.cleanfish.com
www.bigbellysolar.com
www.craftnetwork.com
www.pharmajet.com

Impressive nominations.

Francis Alÿs

A gem of a one-woman show
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/may/03/francis-alys-saint-fabiola

Useful links:
www.npg.org.uk
www.davidzwirner.com

Tellingly different, really. Thank you Laura.

The Art Market

Art prices likely to be hammered at NY auctions
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bf0912c0-3829-11de-9211-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

We have cut our valuations 40-50 per cent since the start of the year. We have seen some absolute forced borrowing but everyone, rich and poor, is facing liquidity problems.
- Ian Peck

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

Interesting review. We shall wait and see.

Afghanistan's Emerald Miners

Afghanistan's emerald miners
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/may/01/afghanistan-emerald-miners

Great commentary.

Random Thoughts

The best protection against inflation is your own earning power. If you are the best at what you do, you will get your share of the national pie no matter what inflation does. The second best protection is owning a wonderful business that does not need capital. With these guidelines, I'd say invest in yourself. It's always been the best investment you could make.

- Warren Buffett
www.berkshirehathaway.com

Spot on. The best advice.

The Green Effect

National Geographic + SunChips = The Green Effect
http://greeneffect.nationalgeographic.com
www.sunchips.com

Apostolos Doxiadis

Bertrand Russell's mathematical quest adds up to unlikely graphic novel hit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/apr/27/graphic-novel-logicomix-bertrand-russell

Useful links:
www.apostolosdoxiadis.com
www.logicomix.com

A unique intellectual adventure, really.

Antique Jewelry & Art Conference 2009

The 31st annual Antique Jewelry & Art Conference (Jewelry Camp) will be held July 17 - 19, 2009 at Long Island’s Hostra University.

Useful links:
www.jewelrycamp.org
www.newarkmuseum.org
www.center4jewelrystudies.org
www.macklowegallery.com

Random Thoughts

Sadly, there's no twelve-step process for eradicating envy from your life. The best advice for investors is probably Sir John Templeton's admonition: 'It is impossible to produce superior performance unless you do something different from the majority.' On a more personal level, we'll leave the last word to Charlie Munger: 'Learn how to ignore the examples from others when they are wrong, because few skills are more worth having.'

- Value Investor Insight
www.valueinvestorinsight.com

Spot on.

Turner Classic Movies

Turner Classic Movies will change your life. Check out the link www.tcm.com

Peter Greenaway

Diagnosis Murder
http://www.artnewsonline.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2676

Useful links:
www.petergreenaway.info
www.rembrandtresearchproject.org

Interesting dramatization.

Baroque Art

Step Into the Age of Excess at the Victoria & Albert Museum
http://www.time.com/time/travel/article/0,31542,1894842,00.html

Useful link:
www.vam.ac.uk

I love baroque art. It's natural and spontaneous.

Bill Cunningham Viewpoint

On the Street / Premature Summer
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/05/02/fashion/20090503-street-feature/index.html#

Great commentary. Thank you Bill.

Art Market Update

The smallest, most personal of jewels
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13601243

Useful links:
www.wartski.com
www.christies.com

Brilliant collection, really.

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