Gemfields Update

Gemfields has announced the results of its first 2010 rough emerald/beryl auction, which was held March 11-15, in Jaipur, India. Check out the Jaipur auction results at http://www.gemfields.co.uk/images/stories/reports/62.pdf

Useful link:
www.gemfields.co.uk

Elise Skalwold

Elise Skalwold. Gemological curator at Cornell University. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.nordskip.com

Art Market Update

The Economist report on Maastricht art fair was insightful. Maastricht is the sort of fair where clever dealers bring their discoveries. What's really amazing is that there is no shortage of money to spend. Indeed a great place to spend time, really.

Useful links:
www.tefaf.com
www.pelhamgalleries.com

Diego Rodriguez Viewpoint

A conversation with Michael Mauer was a brilliant piece. Many thanks.

Useful link:
http://metacool.typepad.com/metacool
www.porsche.com

Gary Hamel Viewpoint

Gary Hamel's opinion piece in Wall Street Journal about Gore’s management practices was educational and insightful. I really liked the concept where associates, who are all owners in the company, self-commit to what they want to work on. This creates a sense of belonging, which is what is lacking in many companies worldwide.

If you call a meeting, and no one shows up, you’re probably not a leader, because no one is willing to follow you.
- Terri Kelly

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

AFOL A Blocumentary

Jess Gibson's blocumentary was simply brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Many thanks.

Useful links:
http://vimeo.com/9581676
http://jessgibson.com

Socially Resposible Design

Citizen Architect = a brilliant documentary. The idea = teach architecture by doing architecture. Check it out.

Useful link:
http://citizenarchitectfilm.com

Startup Updates

Don Clark's viewpoints in Wall Street Journal on two silicon valley startups (Tier Logic + Tabula) was interesting. At the end of the day it's all about customer needs and connecting the dots.

Useful links:
www.tierlogic.com
www.tabula.com

Ivory Update

The Economist report on ivory sales was interesting. Those in favour of such sales (most notably, the countries which seek to make them) say they allow countries to benefit from having elephants, and help to finance elephant conservation and protection. Those against them (some conservation charities and some academics in the field) argue that any sale of ivory will lead to an increase in poaching by stimulating demand, and that little of the money raised actually goes to elephants. I think both sides are right in this.

Useful links:
www.cites.org
www.iied.org
www.bornfree.org.uk

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Update

(via JCK) The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers about the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using the products immediately.

Name of Product: Children's Metal Charm Bracelets
Units: Unknown
Importer: Buy-Rite Designs, of Freehold, N.J. (The firm is no longer in business.)
Hazard: The bracelets contain high levels of cadmium. Laboratory analysis determined that following a 24-hour incubation in simulated stomach acid, over 20,000 micrograms of cadmium were released from the snowman alone. Cadmium can be toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This warning involves Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer brand children's Christmas and winter-themed bracelets. The two styles involved in this notice are the Bumble Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The bracelets were sold with winter and Christmas-themed charms including a snowman, Christmas tree, candy cane and snowflake.
Sold at: Discount and dollar-type stores nationwide between 2006 and March 2009 for about $1.Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these charm bracelets away from children and dispose of the jewelry.

Useful link:
www.cpsc.gov

Global Business BBC

Peter Day's report on Rwanda's ambition to become the information technology and business hub for central and eastern Africa was insightful. I wish Rwanda all the best.

Useful links:
www.rwandaworks.com
www.rwandaworks.com
www.minaffet.gov.rw
www.bnr.rw
www.dfid.gov.uk
www.rwandaworks.com
www.hrw.org

Art Market Update

Souren Melikian's viewpoints in New York Times about the 23rd European Fine Art Fair was insightful. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.tefaf.com
www.ottonaumannltd.com

Innovation Uncensored Conference

Applied creativity. Practical advice. Inspiration. Don't miss.

Useful link:
http://innovationuncensored.com

Pearl Market Update

Rosario Autore was spot on. A global grading system is needed to identify pearls of the highest quality, wherever they come from. A good pearl is rarer than a diamond. Sadly consumers today are grading pearls with their pocketbooks.

Useful link:
www.pearlautore.com.au

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

ChaimEven Zohar's viewpoints on India's diamond market was interesting. At the end of the day it is the presence of a strong government/banking support that makes the Indian diamond sector survive/thrive in the dog-eat-dog world.

Useful link:
www.diamondintelligence.com

New York Art World

The Economist report was educational and insightful. Many thanks.

Useful link:
www.artdealers.org

Random Thoughts

Managers thinking about accounting issues should never forget one of Abraham Lincoln’s favorite riddles: “How many legs does a dog have if you call his tail a leg?” The answer: “Four, because calling a tail a leg does not make it a leg.” It behooves managers to remember that Abe’s right even if an auditor is willing to certify that the tail is a leg.

- Warren Buffett
www.berkshirehathaway.com

Spot on.

Gary Hamel Viewpoint

Gary Hamel was spot on. Be passionate. Lead, don’t follow. Aim to surprise. Be unreasonable. Innovate incessantly and pervasively. Sweat the details. Think like an engineer, feel like an artist. It does makes sense, really.

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

Gurcharan Das Viewpoint

Gurcharan Das's opinion piece in Wall Street Journal about India's overweening regulators and the marketplace was educational and insightful. TII (This is India).

Useful links:
http://gurcharandas.blogspot.com
http://gurcharandas.org

Zumtobel Group Award 2010

Architecture. Engineering. Designs. Sustainability. Quality of life. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.zumtobel-group-award.com

Tim Fishlock

The Art of Tim Fishlock. www.timfishlock.com

BBC SuperPower

A visualization of the growth of the internet via BBC was brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Many thanks.

Russian Culture And Art

Souren Melikian's opinion piece in New York Times about Russian culture/art was fascinating. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.louvre.fr
www.shm.ru

Random Thoughts

This year we saw the emergence of a new generation of actors who have embraced their individuality. They are using the red carpet to express their personal styles, whether vintage inspired or very modern, we are seeing diamonds used in an exciting variety of ways.

- Jamie Cadwell
www.dps.org

Spot on.

Thailand's Blue Diamond Affair

Christopher Shay's report in Times about Thailand's blue diamond heist was interesting. The two-decade old whodunit reads like a paperback thriller, really, but this is Thailand (TIT). Thailand will continue to investigate the case with new twists/turns complicating the mystery behind the blue diamond affair. In Thailand everything takes time so stay tuned.

Nandos

I really liked the creativity/innovation behind Nando's website. It was brilliant. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.nandos.com

Art Market Update

Georgina Adam's viewpoints in Financial Times about the state of the art market was educational and insightful. Many thanks.

Those driving the art market right now are citizens of the world, they have homes in five, six, 10 different places. A perfect example is the billionaire “Gilded” Lily Safra, revealed by Bloomberg to be the buyer of the £65m Giacometti, who has homes in London, Geneva, Monaco, the Côte d’Azur and New York.
- Bill Ruprecht
www.sothebys.com

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.artparis.fr
www.tefaf.com
www.christies.com
www.theartnewspaper.com

Random Thoughts

I love that Gossip Girl uses my jewelry to help tell the stories of each of the characters. It's exactly the reason why I designed the collections--whether it's a favorite number, or a lucky elephant, each icon represents something special and meaningful to the wearer. It's all about telling your own story and making it personal.

- Alex Woo
www.alexwoo.com

Spot on.

New Line Learning Academy

Business. Enterprise. Vocational studies. www.newlinelearning.com

Oscar 2010 Winners

Oscars 2010: As It Happens. http://oscar.go.com

Worldchanging

World changing observations. Innovative solutions. Improving quality of life. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.worldchanging.com
www.pecha-kucha.org

No One Would Listen

No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller by Harry Markopolos is a fascinating/enlightening book about his investigation into Bernie Madoff's $65 billion fraud. A must read.

Useful link:
http://lp.wileypub.com/markopolos

Random Thoughts

A business adviser told me, Take a leap of faith, and you’ll see you’re more knowledgeable than you think. I think other people can do it, too.

- Cinde J. Dolphin
www.marketingformavericks.com
www.zin.com

Inspiring note, really.

Takeshi Kitano

A selection of Kitano's paintings is on display at Paris' Fondation Cartier. Don't miss.

Useful links:
www.kitanotakeshi.com
http://fondation.cartier.com

Tech Know

Interactive creativity. I really liked the idea. It is all about curiosity, creativity and innovation.

That's what makes science great, and technology great and art great. It's about playing with ideas. You try a few things out and see what happens, then try more and more and you come up with something that is genius.
- Dr Mick Grierson

Useful links:
http://doc.gold.ac.uk/~mus02mg
www.erase.net
http://sites.google.com/site/skediomata
http://fredericfolleymarie.com
www.aikon-gold.com

You 2.0

You can always reinvent yourself. I enjoyed the article. Many thanks to Michael Noer and Nicole Perlroth for sharing brilliant stories.

Solar

A satiral novel on climate change by Ian McEwan. www.ianmcewan.com

Open Forum

Idea hub. Check it out. www.openforum.com

iF Design Awards 2010

Check out the winners of most prestigious design award (Europe) at www.ifdesign.de

The South by Southwest 2010

The South by Southwest = Conferences & Festivals + unique convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. SXSWeek 2010: March 12-21. Don't miss.

Useful link:
http://sxsw.com

Lists: To-dos

Lists: To-dos, Illustrated Inventories, Collected Thoughts and Other Artists' Enumerations from the Archives of American Art runs until September 2010, at the Lawrence A Fleischman Gallery, part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. A must visit.

This very mundane and ubiquitous form of documentation can tell you a great deal about somebody's personal biography, where they've been and where they're going. People can relate to this form of documentation because so many people are list keepers and organise their lives this way.
- Liza Kirwin

Useful link:
www.aaa.si.edu/exhibits

The GIA Gem Project

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has launched a project comprised of data collected from gemstones in the Edward J. Gübelin collection, which the institute acquired in 2005. The GIA Gem Project is free to the trade and available online for the general public. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.gia.edu/research-resources/gia-gem-database
www.gubelinlab.com

Mid-August Lunch

A film by Gianni Di Gregorio. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.zeitgeistfilms.com/midaugustlunch
www.filmforum.org

Random Thoughts

The job of CEO's is now to regain America's trust-and for the country's sake it's important that they do so. They will not succeed in this endeavor, however, by way of fatuous ads, meaningless policy statements, structural changes of boards and committees. Instead, CEO's must embrace stewardship as a way of life and treat owners as partners, not patsies. It's time for CEO's to walk the walk.

- Warren Buffett
www.berkshirehathaway.com

Spot on.

Rodrigo Almeida

Rodrigo Almeida's design is different. www.rodrigoalmeidadesign.com

Macoto Murayama

Macoto Murayama's botanical illustrations were brilliant. I really liked it. Many thanks to Sonia Zjawinski for sharing the info.

There’s an overwhelming charm in the detailed drawings of both plants and machines. Machines have an organic side, while plants have a mechanical side.
- Macoto Murayama

Useful link:
http://macotomurayama.blog62.fc2.com

So true.

Edgar Degas Controversy

William D. Cohan's viewpoints in ARTnews about the authenticity of 74 recently discovered plaster casts of Degas sculptures and the actors/experts in the intriguing drama was interesting. Many thanks.

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

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Chaim Even Zohar was spot on. Diamonds are easily removable and hard to recover product. Many thanks for sharing the info about Roman Rozzen from Rikko Company. Diamonds don't cheat; it's the people who cheat all the time, period.

Identity theft is a far greater problem. In the United States, the second-largest group of filings of Suspicious Activities Reports has to do with identity theft. According to research data, there were 10 million victims of identity theft in 2008 in the U.S. alone. Actually, one out of every 10 U.S. consumers has already been victimized. Some 1.6 million households have seen their bank accounts, credit or debit cards being compromised. Half of the victims discover within three months that someone else is using their name or identity. In 20 percent of the cases, the victims don’t’ learn that their identity has been stolen for four or more years – and the damage can be awesome. But the scariest part of this whole identity-theft problem, according to a 2004 study, is that “it can take up to 5,840 hours (which is the equivalent of working a full-time job for two years) to correct the damage from identity theft depending on the severity of the case. The average victim spends 330 hours repairing the damage.”
- Chaim Even Zohar

Useful links:
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.dmia.net

Jaume Plensa

Hilarie M. Sheets's viewpoints in ARTnews about Jaume Plensa was educational and insightful. I enjoyed it. Many thanks.

On the day of the opening, the people put on a parade, with an orchestra playing, that ended up at the head like it was a divinity. I'm from the Mediterranean and I can understand that in my culture, but I never expected that in England—or in Chicago. People get crazy. For me it's nice, because you see that humanity needs very similar things. You have to offer possibilities and then they react.
- Jaume Plensa

Useful links:
www.jaumeplensa.com
www.millenniumpark.org
www.artic.edu
www.galerielelong.com
www.richardgraygallery.com
www.nashersculpturecenter.org

Luke Johnson Viewpoint

Luke Johnson was spot on. Experience will teach each of us when to follow our innate judgment, and when to call for more technical back-up. Period.

When I have been considering whether to buy a company and what price to offer, I have been blinded too often by reams of due diligence from the accountants and lawyers. Usually it pays to stand back from such mountains of grey data and weigh up the really important issues – and decide how you feel about the opportunity. It can be fatal to let small negative matters put you off an acquisition that you know in your heart is a wonderful deal. It might mean you spend your life dreaming about the brilliant chances you missed because you let overcautious advisers frighten you. Never allow quantitative drawbacks to defeat overwhelming qualitative arguments.
- Luke Johnson

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

Joris Laarman Lab

Check out Joris Laarman's latest work at www.jorislaarman.com

Magic Show

Magic Show explores the relationship between art and magic. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.southbankcentre.co.uk
www.grundyartgallery.com
www.tulliehouse.co.uk
www.chapter.org
www.pumphousegallery.org.uk

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