Random Thoughts

My joke is that it’s a business for the great-grandchildren. If you break through and create a brand, you can make it. But you have to be a serious player.

-Craig Hall
www.hallwines.com
www.robertmondaviwinery.com
www.wineamerica.org
www.newyorkwines.org

Spot on.

Art Market Update

The Economist art review was interesting. Who would have thought a few years ago that China would overtake France for the first time to become the third-biggest art market in the world? Amazing, really. China has got the momentum now. I hope they don't screw up.

Useful links:
www.the-saleroom.com
www.sothebys.com
www.christies.com
http://huachenauctions.com
www.chongyuan.cn
www.polypm.com.cn
www.cguardian.com
www.artseconomics.com

Artballing

I thought Michael Vaughan's artballing technique was interesting. I have never seen anything like this before. Brilliant, really.

It is a very rare thing to be able to follow a career path that you love and the opportunity to combine my two greatest passions - art and cricket - has been a sublime moment in an extraordinary life of highs and low, dreams and sometimes nightmares. Artballing captures the drama, speed and excitement of cricket in one precious, dynamic visual moment that, unlike the perfect six, lasts a lifetime.
- Michael Vaughan

Useful links:
www.michaelvaughan.net
www.castlegalleries.com

StoryCorps

StoryCorps = the art of natural storytelling / priceless moments via raw emotion. I believe these sort of projects help us keep in touch with our roots and history. It's real, it's what life is all about. I loved it.

Useful links:
www.storycorps.org
http://soundportraits.org

Best Business Books 2009

Best Business Books of 2009 by Strategy + Business.

DeRose Vineyards

Tamara Audi's story in the Wall Street Journal about DeRose Vineyards was interesting. Someday I would like to visit this winery to see the fault zone.

Useful links:
www.derosewine.com
www.es.ucsc.edu/personnel/Brodsky
www.usgs.gov

Maria Kalman Viewpoint

The way you interpreted special events like Thanksgiving was simply brilliant and inspiring. Thanks Maira. I look forward to reading more of your posts.

Useful links:
www.mairakalman.com
http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com

The Modern Jade Story

Alexandra Seno's viewpoint in the Wall Street Journal about jade was interesting and insightful. Today, a string of plain, polished round beads in the much-desired shade of green (imperial jade) can command US$1 million. Spot on. The best colors are rare/old.

Useful links:
http://teufi.com
www.life-of-circle.com
www.qeelin.com

Costume Jewelry Update

Victoria Gomelsky's opinion piece in the New York Times was interesting. Costume jewelry = price diversity. Amazingly fine jewelry and costume jewelry coexist fantastically. Sign of the times, really.

Useful links:
www.gomelsky.net
www.chanel.com

Zimbabwe’s Diamond Mines

Joshua Hammer's report on Zimbabwean diamonds in Fast Company was educational and insightful. Sadly many companies/gem dealers will continue to do business in Zimbabwe.

Useful link:
www.joshuahammer.com

Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell: The Photographs Behind the Art was brilliant.

Useful link:
www.nrm.org

Japan's Micro-Homes

Small is beautiful. It takes a lot to bring about change. It's a state of mind. Living small isn't easy, but people are starting to take notice of the trend. It may not be for everyone, but I love it.

Random Thoughts

They get one letter from me every couple of years. And basically it says, run this business like it's the only business that your family can own for the next 100 years. You can't sell it. But every year don't measure it by the earnings in the quarter that year. Measure it by whether the moat around that business, what gives it competitive advantage over time has widened or narrowed. If you keep doing that for 100 years, it's going to work out very well. Then I tell them basically if the reason for doing something is everybody else is doing it, it's not good enough. If you have to use that as a reason, forget it.

- Warren Buffett
www.berkshirehathaway.com

Spot on. I loved it.

Luke Johnson Viewpoint

Luke Johnson's opinion piece in the Financial Times about the dos and don'ts of business partnerships was interesting. I look forward to reading more of your posts.

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

Galaxy Game

I thought the web-based project Galaxy Zoo was a brilliant simulation exercise. The simulated images not only show the different aspects of galaxy formation, but also generate data that will help astronomers' understanding of these collisions.

Useful links:
http://mergers.galaxyzoo.org
www.galaxyzoo.org

World's Most Powerful Person

Forbes magazine has named U.S. President Barack Obama as the world's most powerful person. I hope he does the right thing for the world, and wish him the best in his future and all of his endeavors.

Useful link:
www.barackobama.com

Open-Source Approach

Justin Lahart's story on Arduino in the Wall Street Journal was interesting. I think allowing duplication is a better way to spur innovation than keeping designs under lock and key.

Useful links:
www.arduino.cc
http://interactionivrea.org
http://web.media.mit.edu/~leah
http://thehighlowtech.com
www.sparkfun.com

Dance With Chance

Dance with Chance: Making Luck Work for You by Spyros Makridakis + Robin Hogarth + Anil Gaba is an insightful about how luck plays an important role in a person's wealth, health and happiness. A must read.

Useful link:

http://dancewithchance.com

Random Thoughts

The global financial crisis had its origins in short-term, unsustainable strategies and actions. Before the crisis and since, we (and others) have called for a more long-term and responsible form of capitalism – what we call “sustainable capitalism”. Yet despite our collective best efforts, one year on, the capital markets seem to be reverting to business as usual.

- Al Gore/David Blood
www.generationim.com
www.algore.com

Spot on.

Art Market Update

The Economist special report on the art market was interesting. The best that can be said about the market at the moment is that it is holding its breath, and there are still buyers in the market. Stay tuned.

Useful links:
http://sarah-thornton.com
www.artseconomics.com
www.us.capgemini.com/worldwealthreport08
www.christies.com
www.sothebys.com
www.drouot.com
www.bonhams.com

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Chaim made a very interesting point. I love your posts and looking forward to read more from you. Thanks Chaim.

Useful links:
www.antwerpdiamondbank.com
www.diamondintelligence.com
http://ec.europa.eu

Diamonds Are A Jeweler’s Best Friend

Ken Gassman's survey about the diamond retail jewelry sector was interesting. Diamonds and diamond jewelry are the largest selling category in a specialty jeweler’s store everywhere. Period. Thanks Ken.

Useful links:
www.kennethgassman.com
www.jewelers.org
www.americangemsociety.org
www.instoremag.com
www.tiffany.com
www.bluenile.com

Courtauld Gallery

Check out Frank Auerbach’s paintings of the rebuilding of London, from the 1950s and early ’60s at the Courtauld Gallery. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.courtauld.ac.uk

World Design Capital 2012

The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design has named the city of Helsinki (Finland) the World Design Capital for 2012. Congratulations!

Useful links:
www.icsid.org
www.wdc2012helsinki.fi

Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol

A handwritten manuscript of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol has gone on display at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York. Don't miss. Charles Dickens exhibition - The Morgan Library and Museum

Conflict Gold

Check out a 60 Minutes piece on the role gold plays in fueling conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo this Sunday, November 29, 2009.

1-1-1 Model

I really liked Marc Benioff’s (Salesforce.com) 1-1-1 Model + his new book Behind the Cloud

Thanks to the falling cost of hardware, overseas coders, and on-demand services, start-ups need less capital to get off the ground.
- Marc Benioff

Commute Greener

Check out Commute Greener application via Volvo Group. The technology helps reduce global and personal CO2 footprints by greener commuting. Give it a try.

Useful links:
www.commutegreener.com
www.volvo.com

Getting Real

Getting Real is a collection of essays from the founders of 37signals. The concept of Getting Real is about doing it. Brilliant.

Useful links:
http://37signals.com
http://productblog.37signals.com

Statkraft's Osmotic Power Plant

Seeing is believing. Statkraft's osmotic plant located in Tofte, Norway, is the first pilot plant to use the power produced when salt water and fresh water combine in a polymer membrane. The company believes it could be viable anywhere that a river meets or comes close to the ocean.

Useful link:
www.statkraft.com

Brazil's Ethanol Industry

Peter Day's viewpoint on Brazil's ethanol industry was insightful.

Useful links:
www.eesp.fgv.br
www.iconebrasil.org.br
http://english.unica.com.br

KiBiSi

Jens Martin Skibsted + Bjarke Ingels + Lars Holme Larsen = KiBiSi

Useful links:
www.kibisi.com
http://biomega.dk
www.big.dk
www.kilodesign.dk

Paul Delaroche's Artwork

A painting by Paul Delaroche is going back on display after being damaged in a World war II air raid and hidden away for decades. The painting will be shown in London's National Gallery from 24 February, 2010. Mark your calendar.

Useful link:
www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Identity: Eight Rooms, Nine Lives

Check out Wellcome Collection's new exhibition on Identity. http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8375000/8375695.stm

The Lovely Bones

Peter Jackson's latest film, The Lovely Bones, is based on Alice Sebold's best-selling novel, a brilliant story told from the perspective of a murdered teenage girl who reaches out to her family from the afterlife + he says Tintin film is finished. I am a huge fan of Peter Jackson, and I can hardly wait to see this movie!

Useful links:
www.lovelybones.com
www.tintin.com

Marange Diamonds

The Rapaport Group/RapNet Diamond Trading Network have implemented an immediate trading ban on all diamonds from Zimbabwe's Marange diamond fields due to severe human rights violations. I think that this was the right thing to do and the ethical thing to do.

Useful links:
www.diamonds.net/Zimbabwe
www.kimberleyprocess.com
www.wfdb.com

The Design Museum Holon

I thought Ron Arad's architecture was stunningly beautiful. The building looks very similar to Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim New York. I liked it.

Useful links:
www.dmh.org.il
www.ronarad.com

Luke Johnson Veiwpoint

Luke Johnson was spot on. How to murder your company in 10 easy steps.

- Take on too much debt
- Choose the wrong business partner
- Become overdependent on one customer
- Get ill
- Make a mess of a major IT project
- Get into a price war
- Sign a burdensome property lease
- Forget your customers
- Never evolve
- Don’t bother investing

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

Training And Research

Check out the educational programmes designed for CIBJO by AIFOMD.

Useful links:
www.sustainablejewellery.org
www.aifomd.org
www.cibjo.org
www.unitar.org
www.un.org/millenniumgoals
www.antwerpdiamondsymposium.com

Random Thoughts

I should charge 600 euros (for a meal at elBulli), but I do not cook for millionaires. I cook for sensitive people. Creativity comes first; then comes the customer.

- Chef Ferran Adrià
www.elbulli.com

Interesting thoughts, really.

Coral Update

Megan Gambino's story in the Smithsonian about coral spawning was educational and insightful.

To me, coral spawning is like a total eclipse of the sun. You should see it once in your life.
- Nancy Knowlton

Useful links:
http://sio.ucsd.edu/Profile/nknowlton
http://cmbc.ucsd.edu

International Council Of Societies Of Industrial Design Congress 2009

Efficiency to creativity. A call to develop design propositions for a 2050 scenario.

Useful links:
www.icsidcongress09.com
www.icsid.org
www.thedesign2050challenge.com

Reinventing Yourself

Bob Buford's opinion piece in BusinessWeek about halftime impact was brilliant. Thanks Bob.

Useful links:
www.halftime.org
www.activeenergy.net
www.bobbuford.com

Fela!

Jon Pareles's viewpoint in the New York Times about Fela was interesting.

Useful links:
www.felaonbroadway.com
www.felaproject.net

The Farming Game

The Farming Game by Bryan L. Jones is a fascinating book about farm economics and commonsense with wit and insight. A must read.

Random Thoughts

Diamonds are terrifically difficult to value or to audit the value. The only time the value is certain is when it crystallises in a sale.

- Ian Henderson
JPMorgan, London
www.jpmorgan.com

Spot on.

Bill Cunningham Viewpoint

On the Street / Colors. Stylish women are wearing many points of view -- so long as it's black with a touch of white. It was brilliant. Thanks Bill.

India's Richest

Naazneen Karmali's special report in Forbes Asia about India's 100 Richest was interesting.

Centquatre

Check out Le 104 or the Centquatre, a multidisciplinary arts center in Paris. A must visit.

Useful link:
www.104.fr

Diamond Market Update

The Economist story about colored diamonds was interesting. Laurence Graff was right. If you have money to invest, there is no safer haven than something rare. Rarity is the greatest single factor influencing today’s auction prices for superb colored diamonds.

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

Art Review

Souren Melikian's viewpoint in the New York Times about Fal-Nameh/Book of Omens was interesting.

Useful links:
www.asia.si.edu
www.ee.bilkent.edu.tr

Random Thoughts

Japanese companies reinvented the process of making cars. That's what we're doing in health care. What health care needs is process innovation, not product innovation.

- Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty
www.narayanahospitals.com

Spot on.

The G20 In 2050

By 2050, the United States and Europe will be joined in economic size by emerging markets in Asia and Latin America. China will become the world’s largest economy in 2032, and grow to be 20 percent larger than the United States by 2050. Over the next forty years, nearly 60 percent of G20 economic growth will come from Brazil, China, India, Russia, and Mexico alone. Read the full report.

Useful link:
www.carnegieendowment.org

Jeanne-Claude

Artist Jeanne-Claude has died (November 18, 2009). May her soul rest in peace.

Useful link:
www.christojeanneclaude.net

Diamond Investing

Tara Loader Wilkinson's viewpoint in the Wall Street Journal about diamond investing was interesting.

Like art, we would not advise someone to buy diamonds for investment purposes. People should buy diamonds for the joy of wearing them.
- David Bennett, Sothebys

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.idexonline.com
www.kprcapital.com
http://english.alfacapital.ru
http://dazzlingcapital.com
www.juliusbaer.com
www.dodaq.com

David Bennett was spot on.

Polly van der Glas Jewelry

Australian silversmith Polly van der Glas's jewelry creation is different. I have never seen anything like this before. See for yourself.

Useful link:
http://vanderglas.com.au

Beware Of The Doghouse

J.C. Penney Co. Inc.'s Beware of the Doghouse viral marketing campaign is back. Check it out. www.bewareofthedoghouse.com

The Brixton Pound

Tim Nichols's The Brixton Pound Project is interestingly a brilliant idea. It encourages local consumption and help shrink carbon footprints. I liked it.

Useful links:
http://brixtonpound.org
http://www.site.transitiontownbrixton.org

Dieter Rams

Discover the work of one of the most influential industrial designers of the late 20th century alongside the science of everyday life. Dieter Rams' Ten Principles of good design:

- Good design is innovative.
- Good design makes a product useful.
- Good design is aesthetic.
- Good design makes a product understandable.
- Good design is unobtrusive.
- Good design is honest.
- Good design is long-lasting.
- Good design is thorough down to the last detail.
- Good design is environmentally friendly.
- Good design is as little design as possible.

I loved it.

Useful link:
http://designmuseum.org

Proud Gallery

Check out Helena Christensen's brilliant exhibition at London's Proud Gallery. Don't miss.

Useful links:
www.helena-christensen.com
www.proud.co.uk

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Chaim's viewpoint on Freddy Hanard. CEO, AWDC, was interesting. He may be the right person at the right time. I wish him all the best.

Useful links:
www.antwerpdiamondsymposium.com
www.awdc.be
www.diamondintelligence.com

Albie Hecht

Check out Albie Hecht's Bigby game that allows users to watch, explore, play, connect, collect, and create. Don't miss.

Useful links:
http://wwbiggies.com
www.addictinggames.com

Green Business Update

Ken Belson's story in the New York Times about urban farming was interesting and insightful. Maybe I should try these ideas in India.

Useful links:
www.utc.com
www.valcent.net
www.skyvegetables.com
www.verticalfarm.com
www.agreenroof.com
www.greenroofs.com
http://myplantconnection.com
www.gaiainstituteny.org

Cathy McClure

Check out how Cathy McClure turns disposable items into precious objects.

Useful links:
www.cathymcclure.com
www.mossonline.com

Cleantech Open 2009

EcoFactor has won this year's Cleantech Open 2009 prize for developing a unique but efficient personal residential energy management system. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.cleantechopen.com
www.ecofactor.com
www.alphabetenergy.com
www.micromidas.com

Expert Labs

I thought Anil Dash's new non-profit, Expert Labs, was a brilliant idea. I wish him all the best.

Useful links:
www.expertlabs.org
http://dashes.com
www.web2expo.com

Random Thoughts

Some people like the art, some people like being shocked by it. Everyone's happy.

- Charles Saatchi
www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk

Spot on.

European Quality Circle

European Quality Circle is a new consumer-oriented organization that provides jewelers/ jewelry retailers educational and professional services. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.europeanqualitycircle.com

Global Gold Frenzy

Gold's appeal has really broadened. Suki Cooper (Barclays Capital) was spot on. It’s not that gold has changed, but gold buyers have changed. It’s a structural shift we’re seeing on the investing side, from Asian central banks right down to individual investors buying ingots and coins. Can anything stop it? If there was ever a time to find out about gold as an asset class and gold as money, it's now. There will be a time when the market corrects, the question is when. Yep, let's keep our fingers crossed.

Useful links:
www.argor.com
www.barcap.com
www.harrods.com
www.jimrogers.com
www.rgemonitor.com
www.gold.org

Bio-Diversity

Christoph Niemann's illustrations were brilliant. I loved it.

Useful links:
www.christophniemann.com
www.aiga.org

Platinum Update

I found Johnson Matthey's comments about the state of the platinum market interesting. I hope the industry is adapting to rapidly changing consumer needs + who knows we may see price corrections in the precious metals market pretty soon. Stay tuned.

Useful link:
www.matthey.com

Spiral Jetty

The Spiral Jetty story was fascinating. I think Dia officials should create a buffer zone around the sculpture that would help protect it while still allowing the lake area to be used for other purposes.

Useful links:
www.robertsmithson.com
www.spiraljetty.org
www.diacenter.org
www.getty.edu/conservation

Random Thoughts

It is in the nature of our species to connect and exchange. And the result is a common culture in which we all have a stake. It is not, and can never be, the property of one modern nation or another.

- Dr. James Cuno
www.artic.edu
www.eternalegypt.org
www.britishmuseum.org
www.louvre.fr
www.metmuseum.org

Interesting perspective.

Heading For 6C

Based on our knowledge of recent trends and the time it takes to change energy infrastructure, I think that the Copenhagen conference next month is our last chance to stabilise at 2C in a smooth and organised way. If the agreement is too weak or if the commitments are not respected, it's not two and a half or three degrees that we will get, it's five or six - that's the path that we are on right now.

- Corinne Le Quere

Useful links:
www.globalcarbonproject.org
www.metoffice.gov.uk
www.csiro.au
Nature Geoscience

I think it's too late. We are heading for 6C. Politicians are spineless and inert. We are staring at mountain goats. Sad, really.

Global Business BBC

Peter Day's interview with Russell Ackoff, Professor Emeritus of the Wharton School in Operations Research and Systems Theory was brilliant. Thanks Peter.

Useful links:
http://ackoffcenter.blogs.com
How to avoid the fatal F-Laws

YouTube Direct

Check out the winning film via YouTube Project: Direct.

Useful links:
www.youtube.com/projectdirect
www.whatisproject.org
http://festival.sundance.org/2010

Joe Kubert

Joe Kubert's original artworks is up for sale (live/online) via Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.kubertsworld.com
www.ha.com

Green Startups

Check out the green startups and their products/services. Thanks Ariel.

Useful links:
www.altarockenergy.com
www.hara.com
www.imaracorp.com
www.integrityblock.com
www.industrialorigami.com
www.microgreenfilter.com
www.tendrilinc.com
www.oree-inc.com
http://calstarproducts.com
www.calera.biz

Knome

Human genome, sequenced and decoded. Check it out. Cheap? Not really.

Useful links:
www.knome.com
www.usb.org

Michelin Guide

John Colapinto's opinion piece in the New Yorker about Michelin guide, one of the best-selling restaurant guides in the world, was interesting and insightful. They operate on the principle that only reviews by anonymous, professionally trained experts can be trusted for accurate assessments of a restaurant’s food and service. It's amazing, really.

Useful link:
www.famouslyanonymous.com

The Story Of American Business

The Story of American Business: From the Pages of The New York Times: compelling and provocative articles from the 1850s to today.

Ragtime

A great musical genre.

Useful links:
www.ragtimebroadway.com
www.neilsimontheatre.com

Ghost Forest

I thought Ghost Forest, by Angela Palmer was a brilliant metaphor for climate change. I liked it.

Useful links:
www.angelaspalmer.com
www.ghostforest.org

WFDB Price List For Polished Diamonds

It has been reported that the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) will be introducing a WFDB price list for polished diamonds to support the entire supply chain of polished diamonds, from manufacturers to retailers + the consumers. We shall wait and see.

Useful links:
www.wfdb.com
www.presidentsmeeting2009.com

Warren Buffett And Bill Gates: Keeping America Great

The CNBC Town Hall Event Warren Buffett and Bill Gates: Keeping America Great, hosted by Becky Quic was brilliant. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Check out the transcript at http://www.cnbc.com/id/33901003

Nature Conservancy

Damian Kahya's viewpoint in the BBC News about nature conservancy, corporate social responsibility, and rewarding nations for not cutting down their forests was interesting and insightful. I think preventing deforestation is a cheap way of cutting emissions than converting power stations to capture their carbon dioxide. It costs less.

Useful links:
www.nature.org
www.bp.com
www.rainforestcoalition.org
http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/gheal
www.occ.gov.uk/activities/eliasch.htm
www.globalcanopy.org
http://canopycapital.co.uk
www.fan-bo.org
www.climatechangecapital.com

Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009

Global Entrepreneurship Week takes place from 16 – 22 November 2009. Details of this year’s activities can be found at www.gew.org.uk

Useful links:
www.unleashingideas.org
www.enterpriseuk.org

Gary Hamel Viewpoint

Great post. Thanks for the insights. Some people like change. Some people do not like change.

Useful links:
www.garyhamel.com
http://blogs.wsj.com/management

Design Thinking Symposium 2009

Design Thinking Symposium 2009 in Singapore. http://designthinking.sg

Startups In Retirement

Lauren Young's opinion piece in the BusinessWeek about launching businesses in retirement was interesting.

Useful links:
www.fromwhereisit.net
www.ageinplacetech.com
www.aarp.org/research/ppi
www.maryfurlong.com
www.acunetx.com

The 50 Best Inventions 2009

Check out Time's The 50 Best Inventions of 2009

Shreyas Doshi Viewpoint

Anil Mascarenhas's interview with Shreyas Doshi/Shrenuj & Company Limited was interesting and insightful. His viewpoint on the retail diamond jewelry trend in India was also interesting.

Useful link:
http://ho.shrenuj.com

Bill Cunningham Viewpoint

On the Street: Vested. Thanks Bill. I enjoyed it.

The Prize: The Epic Quest For Oil, Money & Power

The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power by Daniel Yergin is a brilliant book about the impact of oil upon our global economy and way of life. A fascinating story indeed. A must read.

Useful link:
www.cera.com
The Oil Era

Beauty In Art

Matt Collings viewpoints were interesting.

Useful link:
www.emmabiggsandmatthewcollings.net

Art Market Update

(via Economist) The most talked about work of the week was Warhol's “200 One Dollar Bills”, an historically important, hand-drawn silkscreen painting from 1962. Until the day before the sale, the identity of the consignor, described in the catalogue as having a “distinguished private collection”, had been a well-kept secret. Then word slipped out that it had belonged to Pauline Karpidas, a London-based collector. Back in 1986 Mr and Mrs Karpidas had paid $385,000 for the picture, the highest price ever paid for a Warhol at auction during the artist's lifetime. Tobias Meyer, Sotheby's chief auctioneer, opened the bidding at $6m whereupon Alex Rotter, a Sotheby's specialist on the phone with a client, immediately doubled the bid. The price escalated in million-dollar increments so quickly that it was hard to tell where the bids were coming from. Philippe Ségalot, an art advisor, Jose Mugrabi, a dealer who owns some 800 Warhols, Abdallah Chatila, a Lebanese collector, and two other Sotheby's staff members, Loic Gouzer and Bruno Vinciguerra, together nodded and waved the lot all the way up to its $39m hammer price. In the end, Mr Vinciguerra won the picture for his anonymous buyer for $43.7m with fees. It was the second-highest price ever paid for a Warhol at auction, exceeded only by “Green Car Crash”, which sold in May 2007 to Philippe Niarchos for $71.7m. The price proves the adage that real masterpieces retain their value in almost any economic climate. As Mr Ségalot affirmed, “The date, subject matter, composition and condition are all fantastic. The painting probably sold for the same price as it would have two years ago.” A typical auction house drama with a happy ending, really.

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

Random Thoughts

Getting to know the management of a company is like getting married. You never really know the girl until you live with her. Until you’ve lived with a management you don’t really know them.

- Philip A. Fisher
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Arthur_Fisher

So true!

Man Ray

Check out Man Ray's stunning art collection at The Jewish Museum in New York City. His art is natural and provocative. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.thejewishmuseum.org

Charter For Compassion

I thought Karen Armstrong's Charter of Compassion was a brilliant idea. We live in a world of conflict and aggression. I hope her ideas will bring peace and self-control.

Useful links:
www.tedprize.org/karen-armstrong
http://charterforcompassion.org

Hype And Illusion

Leonard Mlodinow's opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal about wine rating system was interesting, educational and insightful. I think humans are not as good as we say we are when it comes to wine tasting/rating. It's a state of mind.

Useful links:
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~len
www.fieldbrookwinery.com
www.bigfun.org
www.apa.org/journals/xge
www.thewinenews.com
www.winespectator.com
www.wine.com
www.erobertparker.com
www.calgrapevine.com