Art Market Update

The Economist report on global art market + China’s art market was educational and insightful. I think China’s auction market is likely to grow considerably despite the short lifespan of many Chinese auction houses/fakes and forgeries + the dubious auction laws in China. Stay tuned.

Useful links:
www.artseconomics.com
www.tefaf.com
www.christies.com
www.forever-christies.com
www.sothebys.com
www.polypm.com.cn
www.cguardian.com

Gen BuY

One-of-a-kind book on Tweens, Teens, and Twenty-Somethings. A must read.

Useful link:
www.genbuy.net

Barton Perriera

Jeweled Collections. One-of-a-kind. Check it out. www.bartonperreira.com

Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913–1917

Hilarie M. Sheets's viewpoints in ARTnews about the greatest pictures of Henri Matisse was educational and insightful. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.artic.edu
www.moma.org
www.musee-matisse-nice.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Matisse

Luxury Industry + Art

Check out the FT report on luxury + art at www.howtospendit.com

Jewelry In 2010 And Beyond

Check out IdexOnline's global report for jewelry in 2010 and beyond.

The U.S. economy is showing vitality, after significant weakness over the past year. Three key factors are having a positive impact on the U.S. economic recovery:
- The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve threw all of their defenses and stimuli at the recession early in the economic decline, long before other nations implemented recovery plans.
- The U.S. economy is far more resilient than most people understand. History confirms that U.S. recessions over the past 50 years are less frequent and not as volatile as in the prior periods since economists began tracking the economy in the late 1700s.
- The Federal Reserve has engineered the stimuli to put the U.S. economy back on track. If there is one thing to be learned from history, it is this: don’t bet against the Fed. The Fed may not be perfect, but overall its success record is enviable.

Useful links:
www.idexonline.com
www.commerce.gov

Spot on. Many thanks.

Sarin's Galaxy™ 1000

Sarin's new Galaxy™ 1000 accurately, quickly, and automatically detects and maps inclusions regardless of their type, size, and location within the rough diamond, using a unique patent-pending technology. It revolutionizes not only diamond manufacturing, but also diamond trading. Even frosted rough diamonds, are now fully revealed. No windows need to be polished to view the inclusions within. Check it out. What about colored stones?

Useful link:
www.sarin.com

The Secret Of Kells

Check out Irish filmmaker Tomm Moore's animation The Secret of Kells. It has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

Useful links:
www.thesecretofkells.com
http://theblogofkells.blogspot.com

Global Business BBC

Peter Day has a great post on his site about his interview with Richard Tait. Many thanks Peter. I thorougly enjoyed it.

Useful link:
www.boomboombrands.com

Brian Rea

Check out Brian Rea's exhibition Murals that opened at the Joan Miró Foundation in Barcelona. One-of-a-kind, really. Don't miss.

Useful links:
www.brian-rea.org
www.fundaciomiro-bcn.org

Gem Notes

GemLab Notes. Vol 1. No.1. Feb 2010. www.gemlab.net

Louvre Stories

Sasha Watson's viewpoints in ARTnews about Musée du Louvre Édition's graphic novel project was interesting. Hats off to Fabrice Douar, deputy director of the Louvre's publishing division (Musée du Louvre Éditions).

Useful links:
http://musee.louvre.fr
www.louvre.fr
www.futuropolis.fr
www.flb.be

Vietnamese Art

Souren Melikian's viewpoints in the New York Times about the arts of ancient Viet Nam was interesting. Many thanks.

Useful link:
www.asiasociety.org

Spencer Tunick Update

Lie down. Heads up. Stop smiling. www.spencertunick.com

IM Pei

The timeless architecture of IM Pei. www.pcf-p.com

Celeste Boursier-Mougenot

Celeste Boursier-Mougenot's latest installation in The Curve, Barbican, in London was brilliant. It's amazing to see the birds create a unique and changing soundscape. It's a visual experience, really. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.barbican.org.uk

Cesar Awards 2010

French equivalent of the Oscars. www.lescesarducinema.com

Platinum Guild International Update

Advice. Information. Design inspiration about platinum jewelry. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.preciousplatinum.com
www.platinumguild.com

Random Thoughts

Its high and even saturation of brilliant sky-blue color, internally flawless clarity and classic pear shape will undoubtedly spur intense bidding amongst discerning collectors from around the world. It is an unprecedented opportunity to acquire at auction a gem with this unique historical proven.

- Quek Chin Yeow
Deputy chairman/Head, Jewelry department
Sotheby’s Asia
www.sothebys.com

Spot on.

Most Traveled People Update

Read the best travellers' tales at http://mosttraveledpeople.com

Flaunt

Interesting case studies. www.underconsideration.com

Architectural Wake-Up Call

Megacities today, Rubble tomorrow. Shocking news, really. Most of the buildings in the world's fastest-growing cities are rubble in waiting. So true. When will the next big earthquake strike? Could it be Istanbul, Tehran, Mexico City, New Delhi, Kathmandu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dhaka, Jakarta, Karachi, Manila, Cairo, Osaka, Lima or Bogota? Many thanks to Wired.

Useful links:
http://openarchitecturenetwork.org
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/science/earth/25quake.html
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7283/full/463878a.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/22/AR2010022204828.html?hpid=topnews
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cameron-sinclair/haiti-quake-a-plan-for-re_b_426413.html

Philanthropy Report

Ben Wright + Yasmine Chinwala's report in the Wall Street Journal about philanthropy and their long-lasting impact on the world's problems was educational and insightful. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.gatesfoundation.org
www.hihseed.org
www.moibrahimfoundation.org
www.coolnrg.com
www.msfaccess.org
www.rockefellerfoundation.org
www.apax.com
www.bridgesventures.com
www.arkonline.org
www.oxfam.org.uk

The Koons Collection

Randy Kennedy's viewpoints in the New York Times about Jeff Koon artworks was interesting. He is different.

Art has this ability to allow you to connect back through history in the same way that biology does. I’m always looking for source material.
- Jeff Koon

Useful links:
www.jeffkoons.com
www.newmuseum.org

Cutting Energy Costs

A lazy man’s guide to cutting energy costs was brilliant. Many thanks to Economist.

Useful links:
www.passivsystems.com
www.parksassociates.com

Art Fraud

Willie Jones's viewpoints in IEEE Spectrum about sparse-coding technique to spot fakes was a brilliant piece. As James Coddington, chief conservator at the Museum of Modern Art, in New York City, rightly put it computers can be helpful, but the software won't replace human connoisseurship, historical knowledge, chemistry, and other tools.

Useful links:
http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~hughes
www.moma.org

Olafur Eliasson

Colored lights + Basic principles of optics = Olafur Eliasson magic. Simply brilliant. Don't miss.

Useful links:
www.tanyabonakdargallery.com
www.olafureliasson.net

Art Dealer

Ernst Beyeler was regarded as one of the greatest art dealer and by trusting his eye for under-appreciated works now regarded as masterpieces, he assembled one of the world's most impressive collections of 20th-century paintings. He passed away on February 25, 2010 aged 88. May his soul rest in peace.

Useful links:
www.beyeler.com
www.artbasel.com

Mobile World Congress 2010

Check out Strand Consult's review at http://www.strandreports.dk/sw4121.asp

Useful links:
www.mobileworldcongress.com
www.strandconsult.dk

Charles Munger Viewpoint

Charles Munger's opinion piece in Slate was insightful. A parable about how one nation came to financial ruin is wake up call for all.

Useful links:
www.poorcharliesalmanack.com
www.berkshirehathaway.com

Brilliant Marketing Ideas

Inspiration can strike from any corner (and in every flashback). And beware: Even the greatest ideas are fleeting. So true.

Useful link:
www.entrepreneur.com

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

The story about GIA India diamond certificates was educational and insightful. I hope it's not round two. The fact of the matter is GIA'same adds tangible value to the diamond. I hope the problems will be resolved soon for the better.

Useful links:
www.giaindia.in
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.wfdb.com

Cullinan Heritage Diamond Update

Petra Diamonds Limited has announced that the 507 carat Cullinan Heritage has been sold for US$35.3 million, the highest sale price on record ever achieved for a rough diamond. The diamond was sold on tender in South Africa and was purchased by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Company Limited, Hong Kong.

Useful links:
www.petradiamonds.com
www.chowtaifook.com

Random Thoughts

When we sold the pink diamond, the buyer was Chinese, the under-bidder was Chinese, the under-under-bidder was Chinese.

- François Curiel
www.christies.com

Spot on.

Most Valuable Comic Books

The ten most valuable comic books in the world. www.nostomania.com

A-typical Van Gogh Painting

A painting of a windmill recently identified as a Van Gogh has gone on display at Museum de Fundatie, in Zwolle. Check it out.

The painting is a little a-typical for Van Gogh because of the many people appearing on it but also very typical because of the prominent role for the mill.
- Ralph Keuning
Director, Fundatie museum

Useful links:
www.museumdefundatie.nl
www.vangoghmuseum.nl

The Poisoner's Handbook

The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum is a fascinating book about forensic medicine and poisons. I had no idea how it all started. A terrific book. A must read.

Useful link:
www.deborahblum.com

Random Thoughts

Everywhere you look, the quantity of information in the world is soaring. According to one estimate, mankind created 150 exabytes (billion gigabytes) of data in 2005. This year, it will create 1,200 exabytes. Merely keeping up with this flood, and storing the bits that might be useful, is difficult enough. Analysing it, to spot patterns and extract useful information, is harder still. Even so, the data deluge is already starting to transform business, government, science and everyday life. It has great potential for good—as long as consumers, companies and governments make the right choices about when to restrict the flow of data, and when to encourage it.

- Economist
www.economist.com

So true.

Online Retailing vs. Store Retailing

Ken Gassman's viewpoints in IDEXOnline about online retailing vs. store retailing was insightful. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.kennethgassman.com
www.idexonline.com

James Balog Photography

Extreme Ice Survey documents the melting of arctic glaciers. It was brilliant.

Useful link:
www.jamesbalog.com

Shepard Fairey Update

Portrait sitting with Shepard Fairey. Sitting will take place during the months of July-August, 2010 at both parties' convenience. All the best.

Useful links:
http://obeygiant.com
www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/11310

Nathan Myhrvold

A market in invention capital. www.intellectualventures.com

Art Market Update

The Economist art review about museum-quality modern Middle Eastern art was interesting. Many thanks.

Useful link:
www.christies.com

The Diamond Decade: New Opportunities

Martin Rapaport Presentation at Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair 2010. Don't miss. www.diamonds.net

Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair 2010

The 45th Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair will be held from February 26, 2010 through March 2, 2010. Don't miss. www.bangkokgemsfair.com

All Economics Is Local

So true. Many thanks to Behavior Research Center + Knowledge@W.P. Carey.

Useful link:
www.brc-research.com

Etienne Perret

Etienne's Gem Ceramic collection. www.etienneperret.com

Disclosure Codes For Colored Gemstones

CIBJO has announced that it had adopted the disclosure codes for colored gemstones as formulated by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) and the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA). The decision to harmonize the disclosure codes for colored gemstones makes sense. I hope it works.

Useful links:
www.cibjo.org
www.agta.org
www.gemstone.org

Games + Learning

Gus Mastrapa's viewpoints in Wired about video games and their useful role in education and testing skills was insightful. James Paul Gee was spot on. Videogames is all about learning.

Useful links:
www.gameslearningsociety.org
http://jamespaulgee.cgpublisher.com

Brilliant Earth

Certified conflict free diamonds. www.brilliantearth.com

Global Business BBC

Peter Day's Global Business programme on the clothing industry in Bangladesh was insightful. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.itglwf.org
www.inditex.com
http://bgmea.com.bd

Action Comics # 1

It has been reported that Comic Connect has just sold Action Comics #1, an extremely rare, top-condition copy for exactly $1,000,000. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.comicconnect.com

Random Thoughts

In the next five years, the mantra of providing the best...for the least is going to become ever-present. In other words, if you go into an extended-stay two-star hotel, you are going to get wireless, better thread-counts on your sheets and other things that five-star hotels typically had. And on a high-luxury end, people are also going to want more value for their dollar, and so it's up to the different hoteliers to figure out what that is going to be.

- Dianna Wong
www.diannawong.com

Spot on.

Gary Hamel Viewpoint

Interesting insights. Many thanks Gary. I think Apple knows how to connect the dots, and that's why they are successful. Period.

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

Cantor Exchange

Cantor Fitzgerald is expected to launch an electronic futures exchange in April 2010 that would allow investors to bet on box office returns for movies. A different way to get into the game, really.

Useful links:
www.cantorexchange.com
www.hsx.com

Bloom Energy Update

Michael Kanellos's viewpoints in Wired about yttria stabilized zirconia, the secret ingredient in Bloom Energy’s Bloom boxes was interesting. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.bloomenergy.com
www.uspto.gov
www.greentechmedia.com

RayWOx

Hirschmann Laborgeräte GmbH from Eberstadt and KACO new energy GmbH from Neckarsulm has developed an industrially useful and reliable design for the waste water cleaning system. The systems will be sold by KACO new energy under the RayWOx product name. Brilliant!

Useful links:
www.kaco-newenergy.com
www.dlr.de
www.hirschmann-laborgeraete.de

World of Gems Conference 2010

Gemworld International, Inc., publisher of the GemGuide has announced the second international gem conference to be held in Rosemont, Illinois at Chicago's O’Hare. Mark your calendar.

Useful links:
www.worldofgemsconference.com
http://gemguide.com

6,225ct Zambian Emerald

Gemfields has announced the discovery of 6,225-carat rough emerald at its Kagem mine in Zambia. The emerald has been named Insofu, which means elephant in the vernacular of the region's indigenous Bemba people, in honor of the World Land Trust's Elephant Corridor Project and in consideration of the stone's unusually large size. Check it out. It is really a big piece. http://gemfields.co.uk/image_gallery11.asp

Useful link:
www.gemfields.co.uk

Jade Collector

Dao Trong Cuong must be a true jade lover. He not only sold his villa in Hanoi, but also borrowed money from the bank to buy the jade at $1.45 million to make the world’s largest jade Buddha statue. Amazing story. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/201001/Largest-gemstone-Buddha-statue-on-the-work-890298

Chrysoprase + Prase Opal, Haneti, Central Tanzania

James E. Shigley/Brendan M. Laurs/Nathan D. Renfro (GIA) has written a brilliant piece on chrysoprase and green prase opal (nickel-bearing chalcedony and common opal) recovered from altered serpentinite deposits near Haneti, Tanzania. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.gia.edu

Titanium-Diffused Sapphire Update

Every new gem treatment needs systematic identification. What was new to the researchers was that the evidence of treatment was reduced or even eliminated in faceted blue sapphires, which is scary. Many wouldn't even recognize the stones when they are mixed in a parcel. Buyer beware, really.

Useful link:
www.git.or.th

CIBJO Congress 2010 Update

The 2010 Congress of CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, has opened at the International Congress Centre (ICM) in Munich Germany. Check out the hightlights of the conference at http://congress2010.cibjo.org

Django Reinhardt

Django Reinhardt was one of the greatest jazz guitarist. Woody Allen lovingly mythologized Reinhardt in his 1999 film, Sweet and Lowdown. That's how I fell in love with Reinhardt's beautiful music. Many thanks to Will Frieldwald.

Useful link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Django_Reinhardt

War Horse

War Horse is based on a children's book by Michael Morpurgo. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/warhorse

Startup Weekend

Upcoming events and business competition resources. Check it out.

Useful links:
http://startupweekend.org
www.microsoftstartupzone.com
www.microsoft.com/BizSpark
http://sxsw.com

Staying Alive In Avalanche Terrain

Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper is a fascinating book about avalanche safety. A must read.

Useful links:

http://brucetremper.com

www.avalanche.org

Art Market Update

Souren Melikian's viewpoints in the New York Times about Bronzino's portraits was insightful. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.metmuseum.org
www.nga.gov

Henry Moore

Mark Hudson's viewpoints in the Telegraph about Henry Moore's sculptors was very interesting. He was a genius.

Useful links:
www.henry-moore-fdn.co.uk
www.tate.org.uk

Thomas Endlein Photo

Dr Thomas Endlein's (University of Cambridge) amazing photo, an Asian weaver ant hanging upside down on a glass-like surface and holding a 500mg (0.02oz) weight in its jaws was stunningly beautiful. Congratulations!

Useful links:
www.endlein.org
www.bbsrc.ac.uk

Franz Ackermann

New ideas. Impressions. www.whitecube.com

A Stop Doing List

This is one of the best post I have read in a long time. It was all about time management. Many thanks, Jim.

Useful link:
www.jimcollins.com

The Bloom Box Story

How green/sustainable is the Bloom Box? Will it change the world? Only time will tell.

Useful links:
www.bloomenergy.com
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/18/60minutes/main6221135.shtml

Random Thoughts

Dominance of De Beers and the other big companies is not going to change so quickly. What will continue to change, however, are the rough diamond marketing structures. We will probably see the end of the Diamond Trading Company within a few years. We will also most likely see that the governments of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa will control their own marketing mechanisms, just as the governments of Angola and Russia are doing today. Rough diamond marketing may ostensibly be in the hands of private companies, but it will definitely be more government-controlled.

- Chaim Even-Zohar
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.mine2mistress.com
www.idexonline.com

Spot on.

CRASH, Homage To JG Ballard

CRASH, Homage to JG Ballard, Gagosian Gallery, London, until April 1, 2010. Don't miss.

Useful links:
www.gagosian.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._G._Ballard

Craig Ward

A hairy alphabet, by Craig Ward was brilliant. I liked it.

Useful link:
www.wordsarepictures.co.uk

Shaun Rein Viewpoint

Shaun Rein was spot on. What does it take to get rich? Luck and timing. Never being afraid to fail. Creative. Having a good spouse. Family and health. Plus that Otherness. Sometimes money isn't everything. That's what the rich usually say, really.

Useful link:
www.cmrconsulting.com.cn

FrontlineSMS:Medic

Social innovation. Simple. Affordable imaging technology (LUCAS = Lensless Ultra-wide-field Cell monitoring Array platform based on Shadow imaging).

Useful links:
http://medic.frontlinesms.com
http://innovate.ee.ucla.edu

Random Thoughts

We consider this an important step and enabling technology towards more practical optical systems based on this exciting material platform. Starting with these synthetic, nanostructured diamond samples, we can start dreaming about the diamond-based devices and systems that could one day lead to applications in quantum science and technology as well as in sensing and imaging.

- Marko Loncar
http://nano-optics.seas.harvard.edu

Interesting news.

Chambord By Donald Edge

I think Chambord by Donald Edge is the world's most expensive spirits container. According to Donald Edge, the Chambord orb bottle is decorated with more than 60 carats worth of diamonds including 1,100 round brilliant cut diamonds, pear cut diamonds, a square cut emerald diamond, the finest round pearls and hand-wrought eighteen-carat yellow gold. Check it out. It's for sale.

Useful links:
www.chambordbydonaldedge.com
www.donaldedge.com
www.mbfashionweek.com

Blue Tongue Films Story

Blue Tongue Films is a unique phenomena in the unpredictable world of independent film. Many thanks to Michael Cieply for sharing the story. I wish them all the best.

Useful link:
www.bluetonguefilms.com

The Flip Story

The Flip story = Simplicity = Forget the technology + Enjoy the experience = Approachable + Fun. Many thanks to Carmine Gallo. I loved it.

Useful links:
www.theflip.com
www.carminegallo.com

Pantone Fall 2010 Fashion Color Report

The Must-Have Color Trends For Fall 2010.

Useful links:
www.pantone.com
www.colorexpert.com
http://morealivewithcolor.com

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

We are entering a new era. Revenue optimization is more than a buzz word. No one really knows the fate of the diamond industry in 2010. Many thanks to Chaim for sharing his thoughts.

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

Phantom Of The Opera II: Love Never Dies

Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical—Phantom of the Opera II: Love Never Dies—has arrived. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.loveneverdies.com
www.andrewlloydwebber.com
www.adelphitheatre.co.uk

Everest: The Death Zone

Everest: The Death Zone. This documentary captures the essence of a climb better than any other I have seen. For every six successful summits on Everest, one person will die. With more people climbing into the Death Zone, above 26,000 feet, one critical question is how oxygen deprivation affects the brain. I think this documentary holds some universal applications to life and business.

Transcripts: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/2506everest.html

Even with the best technology, the best training, you can still end up frozen to death at 27,500 feet. That's what makes Everest Everest.
- David Breashears
http://davidbreashears.com

Rolex Learning Center

Laboratory. Library. International cultural hub. Brilliant design/architecture. Innovative. Practical. It's awesome. I liked it.

Useful links:
www.rolexlearningcenter.ch
www.sanaa.co.jp

Borderless Innovation

Brilliant insights. Many thanks to Knowledge @ Wharton.

The network really changes everything.
- Mohan Sawhney, Director
Center for Research in Technology and Innovation
Kellogg School

Innovating is where the customer is. Because if they live the problem, they'll (understand) the solution.
- Paul Davey, Head, R&D
Vodafone

About 80% of them are not what we're looking for. But about 20% are substantial things that we need to look into. Every business unit is looking into one opportunity -- some of them are things that we didn't even know we needed to figure out.
- Chris Thoen, Director, Innovation and Knowledge Management
Procter & Gamble (P&G)

Useful links:
www.pgconnectdevelop.com
www.ge.com/innovation/healthymagination

Wine Scam

Pick and mix. According to Lizzy Davies (Guardian), the executives from the Languedoc-Roussillon region were found to have made a €7m (£6.1m) profit through a fraud which lasted from January 2006 until March 2008. Overall, 13.5m litres of fake wine were shipped to the US to be drunk by unsuspecting US consumers. Wine drinkers: Caveat Emptor!

Useful links:
http://gallo.com
www.foxsearchlight.com/sideways

Martin Rietze

Martin Rietze has photographed some of the planet's spectacular terrains. They are stunningly beautiful. All I can say is, see for yourself.

Useful link:
http://mrietze.com

Nasser Azam's Antarctica Project

I think the Antarctic landscape will be the best place on earth to connect and communicate the beauty, strangeness, rarity, and durability on a big canvas. All the best Nasser.

Useful link:
www.azam.com

Network Theory

The network theory visualized by Steven Strogatz (Cornell University), Peter Dodds (University of Vermont), and Marcelo Magnasco/Francis Corson (Rockefeller University) was interesting. I thought the tree/leaf analogy was brilliant.

Useful links:
http://tam.cornell.edu/faculty-bio.cfm?NetID=shs7
http://www.uvm.edu/~pdodds
http://sur.rockefeller.edu/Plone

Art Market Update

The Economist report was insightful.

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

Global Business BBC

Peter Day's Global Business programme about the grey-haired world/pros and cons/the big business opportunity was insightful. I am always learning something new. Many thanks Peter.

Useful links:
www.bitecic.com
www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk
www.gehealthcare.com
www.upmc.fr
www.robosoft.fr
www.tissueregenix.com
www.georgemagnus.com

Gallery 27

Paintings by Sir Anthony Hopkins have gone on display at Compton Cassey Gallery/Gallery 27. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.gallery27.com
www.jonathanpoole.co.uk

Random Thoughts

I found it remarkable that at a recent Barron’s roundtable discussion in New York where a number of prominent strategists and portfolio managers had gathered, India—the world’s second-most populous country, with more than a billion people and an economy that is growing at around 8% per annum—wasn’t mentioned once. In the year to March 2009, India added 125 million mobile phone subscribers! And whereas Indian auto sales are tiny compared to China’s vehicle sales (running currently at an annual rate of over 12 million units and up over 90% year on year), they are nevertheless up 39% year on year, with an annual rate of 1.6 million sales.
India’s middle class is estimated at 170 million (half the population of the US), and the country has one of the lowest vehicle-penetration rates in the world. Given that India also has one of the youngest populations—half of its 1.1 billion-plus people are less than 25 years old, compared to 42% in Brazil, 36% in China, and less than 30% in the developed nations—car sales will undoubtedly continue to soar in the next few years. In this respect, we should also take into account that India’s population will continue to grow rapidly and will exceed China’s population before 2030.

- Dr. Marc Faber
www.gloomboomdoom.com
http://online.barrons.com

Spot on.

BRITs 2010

It's the real show. The 30th anniversary event. www.brits.co.uk

A Good Talk

Meet Daniel Menaker to learn the art of conversation/sociability and the science. You won't get bored. http://danielmenaker.com

Old Master Drawings

More than 90 drawings of Frederik 'Frits' Lugt, from the 18th and 19th centuries, have been put on show at the Institut Néerlandais in Paris. It's a collection that’s well worth a visit. Many thanks to Economist.

Useful links:
www.fondationcustodia.fr
www.institutneerlandais.com

Flawless: Inside The Largest Diamond Heist In History

Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History by Scott Andrew Selby + Greg Campbell is an exciting book about a real-life diamond theft. A must read.

Useful links:

www.scottandrewselby.com

www.bygregcampbell.com