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Monday, January 03, 2011

Random Thoughts

Look at Silicon Valley. It is a place where smart people from all nations, all languages and all ethnic groups come together. It's the capital of of innovation assembly.

- John Kao
http://www.johnkao.com

Spot on.

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Tim Flach Photography

Visually striking photographs. Take a look. http://www.timflach.com

2011 Around The Globe

Ringing in 2011 worldwide. Great many thanks to New York Times.

Happy New Year 2011

Happy New Year to all my blog followers. Great many thanks for your friendship.

Snowflakes Under An Electron Microscope

Simply beautiful. Many thanks. http://emu.arsusda.gov/snowsite/default.html

GutCheck

DIY market research. Give it a try. http://gutcheckit.com

Best Design Books 2010

13 of the best design books of 2010. Many thanks to Fast Company.

1. FORM+CODE In Design, Art and Architecture
2. Obsessive Consumption: What Did You Buy Today? (Princeton Architectural Press, $19.95)
3. Victore or, Who Died and Made You Boss?
4. Tree of Codes
5. Less is More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams 
6. Predictable Magic
7. I Wonder 
8. Graphic: Inside the Sketchbooks of the World's Great Graphic Designers 
9. Designing Media 
10. Handcrafted Modern: At Home With Mid-Century Designers 
11. Muji
12. The Third Teacher: 79 Ways You Can Use Design to Transform Teaching & Learning
13.  Data Flow 2 

Area/Code

Truly a real-world gaming company. http://areacodeinc.com

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Gem Lab Notes

Gem Notes, Vol.1, No.4, December 2010. http://www.gemlab.net

Pawn Stars

A peculiar business indeed. As Thomas Miller rightly put it, this show is a great example of the ageless advice, 'never try to bullshit a bullshitter, you will never win'. http://www.history.com/shows/pawn-stars

Monday, December 27, 2010

Art Worth Seeing

Simply beautiful. Don't miss. Many thanks to CNN.

Useful links:
http://flydenver.com/artatdia
http://www.miami-airport.com/art_and_exhibitions.asp
http://www.atlanta-airport.com/passenger/art%20program/frmPassengerInformation_ArtProgram.aspx
http://www.dupreestudiosinc.com/Gallery.html

The Year In Pictures 2010

A selection of the best photographs of 2010. Many thanks to NYT.

Salvador Dali Fakes

An insightful piece that discusses the forgery methods, markets, and players. Take a look. http://www.salvadordalifakes.com

CIBJO Update

Mark your calendar. CIBJO Congress will be held in March 14 -16, 2011 in Porto, Portugal. http://www.cibjo.org

Worldstock

Fairtrade story. http://www.overstock.com

Sumit Dagar

Meet Sumit Dagar, TED fellow 2011. http://sumitdagar.tumblr.com

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Platinum Guide

The FTC has issued two new publications regarding platinum, one for the consumers and the second for the business community. Check it out. http://www.ftc.gov

Hubble: A Journey Through Space And Time

Brilliant photography from NASA. http://www.abramsbooks.com

Luxury Jewelry Market Update

Henri Barguirdjian (President/CEO of GRAFF) was spot on. Whatever is fine/rare in jewelry fetches unbelievable prices.

Useful link:
http://www.graffdiamonds.com

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Structural Geology

This discipline is interesting because it reconstructs the time sequence of various stresses and strains placed on rocks in 3 dimensions. Many thanks to Filipe for sharing. http://lisbonstructuralgeologist.blogspot.com

No Labels

India definitely need a No Label movement. Politicians should put aside their differences and do what's best for India. http://nolabels.org

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Giacometti Fakes

An interesting art forgery case.

Useful links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberto_Giacometti
http://www.kunsthaus.ch
http://www.artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=3151

The Hard Nut

Fresh. Beautiful. http://markmorrisdancegroup.org/hardnut

Fiona Tan

Video art of Fiona Tan. Take a look. http://www.fionatan.nl

Art Market Update

The Economist report on Gustav von Klemperer collection was interesting. http://www.meissen.com + http://www.buymeissen.com

Grant Achatz

Grant Achatz's dishes are not only delicious but also beautiful to look at. http://www.alinearestaurant.com

Oldman's Guide To Outsmarting Wine

Concise. Fun. Practical. http://www.markoldman.com

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Taipei International Flora Exposition 2010

The Flora Expo you don't want to miss. http://www.2010taipeiexpo.tw

Diamond Smugglers Of Séguéla

Monica Mark's story in the Africa Report about the diamond smugglers of Seguela was interesting. http://www.theafricareport.com

Random Thoughts

Diamonds are purchased for emotions. We don't think that diamonds being treated as an investment in the same way as gold is, is the answer.

- Varda Shine
http://www.debeersgroup.com

Spot on.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Lisa Kereszi

Here is a selection of Lisa's work. I liked it. http://lisakereszi.com

The Desert Laboratory Repeat Photography Collection

The US Geological Survey has the largest collection of repeat photography in the world. Take a look.

Startup Stories

The Banyan Tree story. http://www.banyantree.com

Doonesbury Cartoons

Garry Trudeau is the creator of the Doonesbury series. He shares with BBC chronicling some of the defining moments in American history. I loved it. http://www.doonesbury.com

Art Barter

Free thinking. Inspiring. The contract is legally binding. Don't promise something you can't deliver. http://www.artbarter.co.uk

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Global Business BBC

Peter Day talks to experts to compare the two countries vying for the position of number one in the world economy: Indian and China. Interesting viewpoints.

Useful links:
http://www.network18online.com
http://www.facebook.com/superpowerthebook
http://www.naisbitt.com

John Lennon

To mark the passing of three decades since John Lennon's death on December 8, 1980 - take a look back at his life with The Beatles, his solo career and his campaign for world peace. Many thanks to BBC for sharing the audio slideshow. http://www.johnlennon.com

Fourteen Actors Acting

A video gallery of classic screen types. I loved it. Many thanks to New York Times.

Diamond Exoplanet

The discovery has been described as astonishing astonomical tour de force. According to experts a large traction of the rock mass could be made of diamonds and lots of land masses rich in diamonds much more than we see on earth.

Useful links:
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
http://www.nmm.ac.uk

Monday, December 13, 2010

John James Audubon's Birds Of America

The world's most expensive book, a copy of John James Audubon's Birds of America has been sold at the Sothebys for just over £7.3m.

Useful link:
http://www.sothebys.com

Art And Artistry

Take a look at the spectacular puzzles created by John S Stokes and Mark G Cappitella.

Map of the world: http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/Evolve/puzzle823.html
Hieronymus Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights: http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com/Evolve/puzzle836.html

Useful links:
http://www.custompuzzlecraft.com
http://www.mgcpuzzles.com

Boris Kudlička

The abstract visualization of Frederic Chopin's creative process was brilliant. I loved it. http://www.wwaa.pl

The For A Day Foundation

The story of Jenna Edwards. http://www.qfad.org

Saturday, December 11, 2010

The Bed Of Procrustes

The book makes the reader think, really. Great many thanks to Nassim Nicholas Taleb. http://www.fooledbyrandomness.com

Art Market Research

AMR Index List. http://www.artmarketresearch.com

America The Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins

The U.S Mint has released the 2010 America the Beautiful five-ounce silver bullion coins. Take a look. http://www.usmint.gov

Turner Prize 2010

Susan Philipsz has won the 2010 Turner Prize for a sound installation that features her singing three versions of a Scottish lament. Congratulations.

Useful links:
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/turnerprize
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp1IjBycbdI
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11928557

The Joy Of Stats

Hans Rosling's simplified presentation was brilliant. Keep up the good work Hans.

Useful links:
http://www.flixxy.com/200-countries-200-years-4-minutes.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wgq0l
http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen.html
http://www.gapminder.org

Friday, December 10, 2010

Richard Huganir

Olga Kharif's story in Businessweek about Richard Huganir's research on a drug that helps people forget painful experiences was interesting. Many thanks Olga. http://neuroscience.jhu.edu/RichardHuganir.php

Le Carnet de Bal Collection

One-of-a-kind jewelry from Faberge. http://www.faberge.com

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Jehad Nga

Immensely beautiful. Jehad's work is amazing. http://www.jehadnga.com

Art Market Update

The Economist report was interesting. Auctions are always unpredictable. I guess that's what makes them exciting.

Startup Stories

Michael Lazerow was spot on. The entrepreneurs guide too was useful. http://www.buddymedia.com

The Ghost Writer

The Roman Polanski's thriller The Ghost Writer has won the European Film Awards for best film/director. Congratulations.

Useful links:
http://theghost-romanpolanski.com
http://www.europeanfilmacademy.org