JVC’s Anti-Money Laundering Kit

JVC’s PACK – USA PATRIOT Act Compliance Kit. For more information, visit www.jvclegal.org

Nick Gentry

Floppy disk drives into art. www.nickgentry.co.uk

Chris Jordan

Portraits of American Mass Consumption. www.chrisjordan.com

Inside Art

Inside Art: Creative responses to the collection by young offenders. 8 February – 25 April, 2010. www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Build Your Bling Contest

eBay has unveiled its Build Your Bling contest, where registered eBay members can win a diamond ring worth up to $25,000. Learn more @ www.diamonds.ebay.com

Bakelite

Bakelite, the 20th century’s first plastic, is an amazing product. Most people associate Bakelite with jewelry, but today the material is used to create an array of 20th century objects—ash trays, toilet seats, door handles, blocks, bracelets, clocks, dinnerware, flashlights, toasters, kitchen mixers, and toy cars—to name a few. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.hrm.org
www.amsterdambakelitecollection.com

Random Thoughts

That’s the auction phenomenon. When wealthy people compete against each other they don’t want to lose.

- Christophe Van de Weghe
www.vdwny.com

Spot on.

Size DOES Matter

Size DOES Matter opens at the FLAG Art Foundation in New York on February 19, 2010. Don't miss. www.flagartfoundation.org

Soichi Noguchi, International Space Station

Check out his Twitter pictures from space. They are stunningly beautiful. http://twitpic.com/photos/Astro_Soichi

The Cultured Pearl Association Of America

CPAA Educational Tools. www.cpaa.org

Arthur Groom

Arthur Groom, a New Jersey retailer/developer of an emerald treatment (ExCel Process), has become the latest victim of the financial crisis, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Groom sells clarity-enhanced stones through Eternity Natural Emeralds, a division of Arthur Groom and Co. Many thanks to Michelle Graff for the info.

Useful link:
www.arthurgroom.com

Open Doors

Open Doors Survey. http://opendoors.iienetwork.org

Luke Johnson Viewpoint

Luke Johnson was spot on. Entrepreneurs build real companies that employ people and generate value for an economy. They do not amass riches through the misery of others; they create wealth and jobs, and make the capitalist system work.

We remember the winners but forget the hundreds of losers – they all appeared to be “sure things” at the time. That is why venture capital investing is hard to do well. Genuine innovation is a perilous game.
- Luke Johnson

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

Random Thoughts

Retiring is like the end of the world, especially in this business. You need self-fulfilment. Why retire? An athlete retires at 35, 40 at the most; an actor doesn't have to retire till he's 80 or whatever. A lot of people, when they retire, it's over, they're gone – men quicker than women.

- Robert Duvall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Duvall

Spot on.

Dave McClure Viewpoint

Interesting thoughts.

Useful links:
http://davemcclure.com
http://500hats.typepad.com

Global Coffee BBC

The BBC World Service/ABC Radio National programme on Vietnam’s meteoric rise in the global coffee business was interesting and insightful. I didn't know that Vietnam’s coffee farmers were responsible for a quarter of all the instant coffee drunk around the world. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.highlandscoffee.com.vn
www.trungnguyen.com.vn
www.dakmancoffee.com
www.coffeehabitat.com

Gomp/Arts BBC

What makes an artwork worth £65m? I have been asking the same question since the life-size bronze sculpture by Alberto Giacometti was sold at auction in the UK for the world-record price of £65,001,250. I guess, at the end of the day, art is obviously in the eye of the beholder, and people who can afford to do so can spend their money as they please. But Melanie Clore's, (Deputy Chairman, Sothebys) answer (condition, rarity, reputation of the artist, competition, and confidence) was also interesting. Art business is a peculiar business, but it's a business. Many thank to Will Gompertz for sharing your thoughts.

Useful link:
www.sothebys.com

The Last Airbender

M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender is based on the wildly popular anime/manga series. I hope he does a good job with this movie. Stay tuned.

Useful links:
www.thelastairbendermovie.com
www.mnightshyamalan.com

Knowing The Value Of The Diamond Ring

The AP story on knowing the value of the diamond/ring was a brilliant piece. Many thanks.

I have a box of 10 diamonds from D through M. When they're sitting face up, nine out of 10 people can't see the difference.
- Antoinette Matlins
www.antoinettematlins.com

Useful links:
www.tiffany.com
www.gia.edu
www.bluenile.com
www.diamonds.com
www.ice.com
www.theweddingreport.com

Random Thoughts

People are bored with Impressionists and want to see new things. Most of the pop culture of the young Westerners is rooted outside of Western culture. Bjork, for example, will talk about African, Inuit, Arabic music, not about Mozart or the Rolling Stones. The interest of the young generation is in manga, African textiles, Polynesian tattooing, Japanese food.

- Stéphane Martin
www.quaibranly.fr

So true!

The Most Precious Metals

Analysts believe prices could go higher in 2010. Stay tuned. Many thanks to Steve Levine.

Useful links:
www.world-bureau.com
www.matthey.com
www.gold.org

Kinetica Art Fair 2010

Kinetica Art Fair takes place from 4 - 7 February 2010 at the Ambika P3 space in London. www.kinetica-artfair.com

PSFK

Good ideas report. www.psfk.com

The Orphans' Home Cycle

The Orphans' Home Cycle is about us. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.signaturetheatre.org

The Topia Inn

Definitely an artsy place. I would like to visit Topia Inn someday. Many thanks to Sara Rimer.

Useful link:
http://topiainn.com

Opera + Artists

Barbara Pollack's viewpoints in the ARTnews about the role of visual artists in opera was interesting. Many thanks to Barbara.

Useful links:
www.metoperafamily.org
www.moma.org
www.glyndebourne.com
www.teatrwielki.pl
www.handspringpuppet.co.za
www.lamonnaie.be
www.kunstenfestivaldesarts.be
www.operadeparis.fr
www.teatrosancarlo.it
www.teatro-real.es
www.teatrosanmartin.com.ar

Van Doesburg + The International Avant-Garde

Van Doesburg and the International Avant-Garde. Tate Modern, 4 February–16 May, 2010. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.tate.org.uk

Top Wedding Trends 2010

The Knot Report. www.theknot.com

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

I think Chaim Even Zohar has a valid point here. The WDC isn’t perfect. The Kimberley Process (KP) has major flaws. Martin Rapaport should have been more considerate. I think the Zimbabwe situation is a serious matter. I hope the industry will come up with a meaningful and effective solution.

Useful links:
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.diamonds.net
www.kimberleyprocess.com
www.worlddiamondcouncil.com

Olaf Breuning

Kelly Devine Thomas's viewpoints in ARTnews about Olaf Breuning and his multimedia works was interesting. He has a great sense of humor. His artworks are wild and interesting. Many thanks Kelly.

Useful links:
www.olafbreuning.com
www.binz39.ch
www.whitneybiennial.com
www.armoryonpark.org
www.newartdealers.org

To Bead True Blue 2010

To Bead True Blue + The Tucson Bead Show workshops and demos will be held daily January 31 – February 8, 2010. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.tobeadtrueblue.com
www.thetucsonbeadshow.com

Random Thoughts

Indian entrepreneurs, however, are like Indian housewives. Whether it is the price of one onion or the price of a company, they are going to hold out for the best possible deal, even if to the outsider it seems like a waste of time.

- Eric Bellman

Sometimes I think it's true.

BMW Art Car Collection

It has been reported that Jeff Koons will be designing the next installment in BMW's long-running Art Car series. Brilliant choice. Stay tuned.

Useful links:
www.jeffkoons.com
www.bmw.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Art_Car

Eye On Earth

Eye on Earth is a unique communication platform on the environment which brings together scientific information with feedback/observations of millions of ordinary people. Check it out. http://eyeonearth.cloudapp.net

Donna Distefano

Donna Distefano's original jewelry collections. www.donnadistefanoltd.com

Alberto Giacometti Sculpture

A life-size bronze sculpture of a man by Alberto Giacometti has been sold at auction in London for the world record price of £65,001,250. Check it out.

There's a market which is sort of exceptional for exceptional things. If something is a one in a lifetime opportunity, people will really step up to the plate and they will spend enormous amounts of money because it was a now or never opportunity.
- Georgina Adam, The Art Newspaper

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

Don McCullin

To mark his 75th year, Imperial War Museum North in Greater Manchester is showcasing his work. http://north.iwm.org.uk

Art Market Update

Amazing drawings. Many thanks to Economist.

There are very few buyers for drawings of purely scholarly interest. A drawing today has to have something else; beauty or surprise.
- Jean-Luc Baroni

Useful links:
www.christies.com
www.sothebys.com
www.palazzostrozzi.org
www.metmuseum.org
www.tefaf.com
www.uffizi.com

Responsible Diamonds

Jewelers of America has released a position statement on responsible diamonds. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.jewelers.org
www.responsiblejewellery.com
www.worlddiamondcouncil.com
www.ddiglobal.org
www.kimberleyprocess.com

The Bihar Story

India Knowledge @ Wharton's report card on Bihar's new dynamism in economic and social development front was insightful. I think good governance and responsible leadership can make a difference. Amazingly Bihar is undergoing a great transformation, possibly a miracle in the making. Stay tuned.

Useful links:
http://asiadevelopment.org
www.ifc.org

Art News

William Cohan's viewpoints in ARTnews about the controversy/authenticity of Degas sculptures and the key players in the art business was interesting. Art business is a very peculiar business, but it is a business.

Useful links:
www.hirschlandadler.com
http://degassculptureproject.com
www.metmuseum.org
www.clarkart.edu
www.nga.gov
www.mfa.org
www.appraisersassoc.org
www.collegeart.org
www.herakleidon-art.gr
www.tamuseum.com

Inspirational Jewelry

Suzy Menkes's viewpoints in the New York Times about the high jewelers of Paris/inspirational jewelry was fascinating. Many thanks to Suzy.

Useful links:
www.cirquedusoleil.com
www.boucheron.com
www.vancleef-arpels.com
www.chaumet.com

The Cullinan Heritage

Petra Diamonds has announced that the 507-carat white diamond recovered at its Cullinan mine in South Africa will be named The Cullinan Heritage. www.petradiamonds.com

The Cullinan Heritage is not only exquisitely beautiful, but also of true historical importance. Since we announced the recovery of the diamond in September 2009, we have experienced a high level of interest from the trade and we look forward to announcing the results of the sale before the end of the month.
- Johan Dippenaar
CEO, Petra Diamonds

Stay tuned.

Influential Designers

Helen Walters/Venessa Wong's story in BusinessWeek about world's influential designers was brilliant. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.moma.org
www.biomimicry.net
http://designthinking.ideo.com
www.billbuxton.com
http://valcasey.com
www.cgstudionyc.com
www.hilarycottam.com
www.samsung.com
www.fiskercb.com
www.naotofukasawa.com
www.rga.com
www.zaha-hadid.com
www.apple.com
www.doblin.com
www.oma.eu
www.madaspam.com
www.rim.com
www.miyamotoshrine.com
www.designinginteractions.com
www.useit.com
www.jnd.org
www.scaled.com
http://architectureforhumanity.org
http://d-lab.mit.edu
www.starck.com

Art Market Update

Souren Melikian's viewpoints in the New York Times about Old Master paintings at Christies/Sothebys auction was interesting. Even in these times of artistic drought, there is hope left for those who use their eyes. Spot on.

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

Oscars 2010

Oscar nominees have been announced. Check it out. www.oscars.org

Toy Jewelry

US lawmakers have introduced the Safe Kids’ Jewelry Act to ban cadmium, barium and antimony from jewelry marketed to children ages 12 and under. It's the right thing to do.

Useful links:
www.cpsc.gov
http://schumer.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=321481

Start-Up Stories

I found Shopify’s Build a Business competition interesting. Their objective: to incentivize people to start companies. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.shopify.com
http://storecontest.com
http://blog.leetsoft.com
http://fourhourworkweek.com

Global Business BBC

The Peter Day / David H Murdock interview on BBC's Global Business was very interesting. I enjoyed it. Many thanks to Peter.

Useful links:
www.chli.com
www.dole.com
http://dev.dhmri.org

Bottlenose Dolphins + The Market

There are good market analogies here in this wonderful, brief video narrated by David Attenborough showing the feeding strategies of Bottlenose Dolphins. Amazing, really. Many thanks to Alston Mabry for sharing the info. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ50PYMXDCQ&feature=player_embedded

Useful link:
www.davidattenborough.co.uk

Just One Bottle

Tyson Benton photo diary. Simply brilliant. http://justonebottle.tumblr.com

How Money Changes People

Does money change everything? I think so. The viewpoints of Roy Y. J. Chua (Harvard Business School) + Xi Zou (London Business School) in HBS Working Knowledge was very interesting.

Socially-conscious Business

A great post. Many thanks to Anya Kamenetz. Social capitalists are thinking different. They are changing the world and opening new markets.

Useful links:
http://agsquared.com
www.smsone.in
www.aidg.org
http://olerwanda.org
www.biodiesel.com
www.vittana.org

How Art Made The World

How Art Made the World by Dr Nigel Spivey. The story of how humans made art and art made us human. A must watch.

Useful link:
www.pbs.org/howartmadetheworld

The Best Natural Art

Anyone who has ever pointed a telescope at the night sky knows that it is an adventure of the eye and mind. Check out the best natural work of art via the Hubble space telescope http://hubblesite.org

Random Thoughts

Real innovation in technology involves a leap ahead, anticipating needs that no one really knew they had and then delivering capabilities that redefine product categories. That’s what Steve Jobs has done.

- David B. Yoffie
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/faculty/dyoffie.html

Spot on.

Mark Pincus Viewpoint

Marc Pincus was spot on. Reliability. Emotional intelligence. Objectives + Key Results (OKR). Many thanks to Adam Bryant.

Useful links:
http://markpincus.typepad.com
www.zynga.com

Going Green + Growing Vertical

William Yardley's report in the New York Times about GSA's green initiative, a vertical garden that changes with the seasons and nurtures plants that yield energy savings was brilliant. All the best.

Useful links:
www.cutler-anderson.com
www.serapdx.com

Grammy Awards 2010

Track the winners. www.grammy.com

Liberian Diamonds

Scott Stearns's report in VOA News about Liberian diamonds and the Sierra Leone connection was interesting. I think poor law enforcement in the diamond-mining areas will make it difficult to stop the cross-border trade in illegal diamonds. TIA (This is Africa).

Useful link:
www.kimberleyprocess.com

Simplify

Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.

- Henry David Thoreau
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau
www.thoreausociety.org

Videogame Wizards

Oliver Chiang's viewpoints in Forbes about the next generation of game masters was brilliant. Thanks Oliver.

Competition and social interaction are at the heart of human nature. No matter what you do, you want to know where you stand compared to others, talk about it if you've done well, and improve your skills.
- Matthew Bromberg

Useful links:
www.theesa.com
http://everquest2.station.sony.com
www.playfish.com
www.mlgpro.com

Gaurav Jain Viewpoint

Gaurav Jain was spot on. A great post. Imagination is priceless. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Useful link:
www.illusion-i.com

Random Thoughts

When I saw this stone, I knew it was a stone we had to have. I had the opportunity to examine and value it in my own offices, and I came to the conclusion it was one of the rarest stones I'd ever seen. The true rarity of the diamond, whatever its history, is the diamond itself. The history will continue. Every diamond that was ever mined, every diamond that was ever polished and cut, is still with us. Who knows the story that this stone will tell in a thousand years time. I'm sure it will gather very romantic stories, mysterious stories, intriguing stories, but at the end of the day the true beauty of the stone will remain. That will always be the best story.

- Laurence Graff
www.graffdiamonds.com
www.mnh.si.edu

Spot on.

The Laurence Graff Story

Emma Jacobs's viewpoints in the Financial Times about Laurence Graff a.k.a The Diamond King was interesting. A very luck person indeed. Thanks Emma.

When you have nothing, the first £10 is a fortune. You can't imagine £1bn.
- Laurence Graff

Useful link:
www.graffdiamonds.com

The Canadian Diamond Code

Benefits: The Code establishes a minimum standard based on records and a chain of warranties required to validate a Canadian diamond claim. Retailers who abide by the Code demonstrate to consumers their commitment to ensure the authenticity of Canadian diamond claims. The Code allows Canadian diamonds to be traced from the Canadian mine to the diamond jewelry retailer, providing consumers with a method to authenticate Canadian diamonds sold by a Code member. The Code is endorsed by the Competition Bureau of Canada and the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO). Check it out.

Useful links:
www.canadiandiamondcodeofconduct.ca
www.competitionbureau.gc.ca
www.cibjo.org

Ed Sim Viewpoint

A great post. Thanks Ed. I thought Cody Swan was spot on. It's time to replace the think big mantra with think niche.

Useful link:
www.beyondvc.com

Random Thoughts

Money isn’t automatically freedom. You need to look carefully at what you’re doing to earn the money before you can conclude that you are, in practice, free. This is a cost-benefit analysis we should all perform on our own lives. Don’t listen to what people say about freedom and security and money but, instead, look at the specific, actual bargains they are making with their lives. Dad’s example made me feel that, if I wanted to write for a living, I had an obligation to try and do it, and I’ve been writing full-time since 1996, when my first novel did well enough to let me quit my day job as an editor at the London Review of Books.

- John Lanchester

Spot on.

The Fitzwilliam Museum

Ancient treasures are going on display in Cambridge, in a newly refurbished Gallery of Greek and Roman antiquities at The Fitzwilliam Museum. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

Ahmad Zakii Anwar

John Krich's viewpoints in the Wall Street Journal about Zakii's artworks was interesting. Thanks John for sharing the info.

Useful link:
www.ahmadzakiianwar.com

Martin Rapaport Viewpoint

Martin Rapaport was spot on. Sadly KP/WDC has lost its moral compass. What will it take to get the diamond trade to stop buying and selling blood diamonds? Hard to tell. So ask before you buy diamonds.

Useful links:
www.kimberleyprocess.com
www.worlddiamondcouncil.com
www.diamonds.net/zimbabwe

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

A show that all will love. It's about us. www.loveperfectchange.com

Art Accidents

Check out the TIME report about smashed and accidentally discarded works of art. Shocking, really.

Useful link:
www.metmuseum.org

Anthony Cortese Viewpoint

Anthony Cortese's opinion piece in Fast Company about the need for a new kind of higher education (Healthy + Just + Sustainable) was interesting and insightful. I think it makes sense to integrate climate and sustainability into education/research because students of the 21st century will learn how to value world's natural resources and act responsibly. Period.

Useful links:
www.secondnature.org
www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org
www.campusgreenbuilder.org

The Lady Gaga Story

Lady Gaga's music style is a unique case study. She is a new kind of an artist. Her visual theatrics and fashion is different. As they say in the industry, the business needs more Lady Gagas. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.ladygaga.com

Adrian David Cheok Viewpoint

Interesting thoughts. I think AR (augmented reality) can make really new kinds of learning immersive and inspiring. Thanks Steve Mollman for sharing the info.

Useful links:
www.adriancheok.info
www.mixedreality.nus.edu.sg

Michael Landy

In the name of art. Over the next six weeks, hundreds of works by artists both famous and unknown will be dumped in the Art Bin at the South London Gallery. I wish I was/were there.

Some of this stuff is worth a lot in the outside world, but in the bin then it has no value, it has no worth. In the outside world there is a certain hierarchy. In the bin there is no hierarchy, so everything is treated the same.
- Michael Landy

Useful links:
www.art-bin.co.uk
www.southlondongallery.org

A World Of Connections

The Economist was spot on. I think this is just the beginning of an exciting new era of global interconnectedness that will spread ideas and innovations around the world faster than ever before. Thanks Economist for the insightful report.

Useful links:
www.facebook.com
http://home.live.com
www.myspace.com
www.baidu.com
http://twitter.com
www.orkut.com
http://hi5.com
www.qq.com
www.linkedin.com
www.deviantart.com

BioBlu™ 27

BioBlu27 = the world's most superior contemporary metal used for the first time in jewelry. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.scottkay.com/skcobalt
www.cartech.com

Random Thoughts

TheEngagementClub.com is a place to laugh, learn and start your journey. I created the site because I know getting engaged is an entire process; it can be stressful and sometimes overwhelming. So, check it out, have some fun, a laugh or two, share your thoughts with others, and learn from industry experts. I hope to see you there.

- Josh Kaufman
www.theengagementclub.com

Brilliant!

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Chaim Even Zohar was spot on. Good governance/corruption within diamond-producing companies is a relative phenomena. The Debswana story was interesting. Thanks Chaim.

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

Millennium Village Project

Innovative model. Simple solutions. Improved technology. Sustainable growth. Check it out. www.millenniumvillages.org

Random Thoughts

Three-fourths of the mistakes a man makes are made because he does not really know the things he thinks he knows.

- James Bryce

So true!

Jim Drain

Jim Drain's bright + pixellated patterns/colors + combination of low-tech and high-tech / old tech + new tech were simply brilliant. I really liked them. Check it out. http://greenenaftaligallery.com/artist/Jim-Drain

iPad Tablet

It's phenomenal to hold the Internet in your hands.

- Steve Jobs

Useful link:
www.apple.com/ipad

See for yourself.

Chris Ofili

Chris Ofili at Tate Britain. Check it out. www.tate.org.uk

Art Market Update

Check out the fine treasures that make up New York’s Winter Antiques Show.

Useful links:
www.winterantiquesshow.com
www.historicnewengland.org
www.eastsidehouse.org
www.christies.com
www.sothebys.com
www.bonhams.com

Central Africa’s Diamond Miners

Sad, really. http://ec.europa.eu/echo

Edelman Trust Barometer 2010

Annual Global Report. www.edelman.com/trust/2010

Small Business Competitions

Business-plan competitions are brilliant venues to test the waters. It gives the contestants a real world experience that's priceless. Thanks Maureen Farrell for sharing the info.

Useful links:
www.mit100k.org
www.mitcep.org
www.mootcorp.org
http://bplan.berkeley.edu
www.oregonnvc.com
www.kauffman.org
www.alliance.rice.edu/alliance/RBPC.asp
http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/berkley/bpc.cfm?doc_id=6306

Random Thoughts

No meals will be served in El Bulli in 2012 and 2013. It is clear that when we return things won't be the same. But listen, these are not going to be years of sabbatical. With a format like the current one it is impossible to keep creating. In 2014, we will serve food somehow. I don't know if it will be for one guest or 1,000.

- Ferran Adria
www.elbulli.com

Time for total internal reflection, really. I think that's the right thing to do.

Luke Johnson Viewpoint

Luke Johnson was spot on. After all, no role is for life; even while you are at the wheel, be mindful that the journey is temporary. So true! Thanks Luke for your insightful essay.

In the 21st century, it helps to be multi-skilled and multi-faceted in your occupation. We shall mostly have to keep earning until we are 70 or more, so traditional working patterns have become outdated. And anyway, who wants to do the same sort of thing for 50 years or longer? Better to try new fields, acquire new knowledge and keep stimulated, than slump into a semi-comatose state of boredom, stuck in the same position through fear of the unknown.
- Luke Johnson

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

New Diamond Research

I thought the report in ScienceDaily about the strength of diamond at extreme conditions was educational/insightful. Thanks for sharing the info.

Most natural diamonds are formed at high-pressure, high-temperature conditions existing at depths of 87 to 120 miles in the Earth's mantle. Carbon-containing minerals provide the carbon source, and the growth occurs over periods from 1 billion to 3.3 billion years (25 percent to 75 percent of the age of the Earth).

Useful links:
www.llnl.gov
https://lasers.llnl.gov

Costa Book Award

Christopher Reid has won the 2009 Costa Book of the Year for his collection of poems A Scattering. Congratulations!

Useful link:
www.costabookawards.com

Global Business BBC

Peter Day's (Global Business) interview with Clare Lockhart, Co-founder / Chief Executive of the Institute for State Effectiveness was brilliant. I learned a lot. Thanks Peter.

Useful link:
www.effectivestates.org

Reading Room

Reading Room = A special corner of Los Angeles County Museum of Art dedicated to catalogues of exhibitions past. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.lacma.org

Super Recognisers

Pam Rutherford's viewpoints in the BBC News about super recognisers was really interesting. Some people are truly amazing. I know a few super recognisers. I believe face recognition skill is a gift from the gods.

One of the most exciting implications of this work is that while we assume we all see the same things, this work suggests that at least in terms of looking at faces we don't see the same things. Super recognisers are looking at the world in a different way than other people and it could be that this isn't limited to looking at faces but other aspects of seeing the world. And we think it's going to be a very helpful tool in helping understanding of how the mind and the brain work.
- Prof Richard Russell
http://public.gettysburg.edu/~rrussell/index.html

Useful links:
www.faceblind.org
www.icn.ucl.ac.uk
http://illusioncontest.neuralcorrelate.com

Best Reflection Photos

I thought the photos of reflections were gorgeous - each and every one of them. Thanks Kate Appleton for sharing the info. www.budgettravel.com

GreenXchange (GX) Project

Sharing / promoting industry best practices towards sustainability. Check it out.

Useful links:
http://greenxchange.force.com
http://dontapscott.com
http://sciencecommons.org
www.weforum.org

Art Market Update

Souren Melikian's opinion piece in the New York Times about the auctions at Drouot was interesting. Thanks Souren.

Useful link:
www.drouot.com