Hay Festival

Hay Festival is running a variety of green events from May 22 - June 1, 2008. Don't miss it!

Useful link:
www.hayfestival.com

Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art

(via Wiki) The Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, or mima, is a contemporary art gallery based in the centre of Middlesbrough, in the North East of England. The gallery was formally launched on Sunday 27th January 2007, although it was originally planned to open in late Summer 2006. It is one of three institutions run by the Middlesbrough Museums & Galleries Service, along with the Dorman Museum and Captain Cook Birthplace Museum.

Useful link:
www.visitmima.com

A must-visit. Jeffrey + Ruth Sherwin's art collections will be part of the three-month show @ mima (http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/news/story/0,,2280883,00.html)

Cellscope

CellScope = cell phone microscope
(via Wired) The cell phone microscope, called a CellScope, is designed to uncouple the need for a physician to be in the same place as a patient, allowing those who lack the benefits of health care to be properly diagnosed. A diagnosis is performed by putting a slide containing a blood or tissue sample on the Cell Scope. A ring of bright LEDs illuminates the sample, and if faint blue dots appear, the patient is positive for malaria. The image can then be transmitted to medical experts for analysis and recommendations.

Useful links:
http://fletchlab.berkeley.edu/research_cellscope.htm
http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11367989
http://blumcenter.berkeley.edu/telemicroscopy-disease-diagnosis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_44YIAGpf4

Brilliant! I think the technology is going to help millions, save lives. I am also thinking if cellscope could be modifed for gemological applications/precious metals testing.

The Richest Of The Rich

The rest of the world may be feeling an economic pinch, but for the richest of the rich, the luxury spending spree goes. I found the article, Shining In The Gloom @ www.newsweek.com/id/137480 interesting.

I've been waiting for prices to come down ever since the financial crisis started, but it's not happening. It's bizarre. Logically it should all come falling down, but it isn't.
- Nicholas Berggruen, Berggruen Holdings

How true!

Business Of Creativity

I found the article, Getting Down to the Business of Creativity @ http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/5902.html
educational and informative. At the end of the day innovation is a team sport.

An Earth Friendly Home

Impact analysis @ www.time.com/time/2007/green_home

It was a real eye-opener. Try it!

Chandler Burr

Chandler Burr is an American journalist and author + he is the perfume critic for the New York Times. Look at this interview with Chandler Burr for the website parfumessence.

Useful link:
www.chandlerburr.com

The aesthetics of perfume have always intrigued me. A good perfume is a work of art.

The CEO Sheik

I found the article titled, The CEO Sheik @ http://www.newsweek.com/id/32716/page/1 interesting and insightful.

Useful link:
www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae

If the cart is politics and the horse is the economy, then we have to put the horse before the cart and not the other way around.
- Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktum, the ruler of Dubai + the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates
What's good for the merchants is good for Dubai.
- The late Sheik Rashid

Brilliant! I think the story of Dubai is the story of good governance.

Chester Beatty Library

(via Wiki) The Chester Beatty Library was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1950, to house the collections of mining magnate, Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. The present library, on the grounds of Dublin Castle, opened on February 7, 2000, the 125th anniversary of Sir Alfred's birth and was named European Museum of the Year in 2002. The Library's collections are displayed in two collections: "Sacred Traditions" and "Artistic Traditions". Both displays exhibit sacred texts, manuscripts, miniature paintings and art on paper from the world's great oriental and western religions as well as secular items. The Library is one of the premier sources for scholarship in both the Old and New Testaments and is home to one of the most significant collections of Islamic and Far Eastern artefacts. It includes the Gospel of Mani believed to be the last remaining artefact from Manichaeism.

Useful link:
www.cbl.ie

Chester Beatty Library in Dublin has probably the most beautiful collection of rhinoceros-horn carvings in the world. A must-visit!

Neurobotics

I found Yoky Matsuoka's presentation on Neurobotics @ http://www.newyorker.com/online/video/conference/2008/matsuoka educational and insightful.

Useful links:
http://neurobotics.cs.washington.edu
http://www.cs.washington.edu/homes/yoky

Van Gogh Update

I found the article, Experts fall out over Van Gogh's 'last painting' @ http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/news/story/0,,2280882,00.html interesting because anyone who claims to be holding Van Gogh painting (s) will be a target by the media/auction houses/collectors + the provenance issue (s) will have to be sorted out by the experts to weed out fakes + the price!

Useful link:
www.vangoghmuseum.nl

Diamond-encrusted Helmets

Here is what Mclaren's site says about the design:
Woking, United Kingdom, Friday 16th May 2008: In the build up to the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Steinmetz, creators of the world’s finest diamonds, are proud to announce the continuation of their long-running partnership. This year Steinmetz has worked closely with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen, in creating their own personalised race helmets, which both drivers will use throughout the Monaco Grand Prix weekend. Lewis and Heikki’s helmets have been custom-made to their tastes after working closely with Steinmetz’s in-house designers. Each helmet has the signature of the driver pavéd with a line of hundreds of Steinmetz’s handcrafted diamonds. This also marks the first time that the Steinmetz logo - or any other sponsor’s logo in Formula 1 history - has been incorporated into the design of the helmets through the application of diamonds. In celebrating Steinmetz’s unprecedented attributes of master craftsmanship and integrity, the Steinmetz logo has been pavéd using Forevermark diamonds. Forevermark diamonds are the world’s most preciously selected diamonds. "I really like what Steinmetz has done this year and am looking forward to the Monaco Grand Prix weekend," said Lewis. "As some people might know I am very particular about my helmet but it looks great and will add some extra sparkle to the event." "I’m always really excited about the Monaco Grand Prix - it really is the one that all drivers want to win," said Heikki. "To be able to race at this prestigious event with Steinmetz diamonds on my helmet will bring something special to the occasion." Lewis was presented with his helmet at the McLaren Technology Centre earlier this week whilst Heikki will receive his on Wednesday in Monaco. Steinmetz is renowned for cutting and polishing some of the most important diamonds throughout history. Amongst these are the De Beers Millennium Star, the Steinmetz Pink and The Blue Empress. Steinmetz has a deep-rooted presence in the African sub-continent with four modern factories in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. Through the Forevermark initiative Steinmetz has raised the standard of diamond cutting and polishing to world-class levels, trained and created new talent, whilst embracing the latest technology, as well as providing jobs in these countries. Forevermark diamonds only come from mines, which, attain the highest standards; are beautifully crafted by a select group of diamantaires; and are exclusively available in only a few jewellers worldwide. With less than 1% of the world’s diamonds being eligible for Forevermark status, these diamonds really are precious.

Useful links:
www.mclaren.com
www.steinmetz-group.com

Brilliant! I liked it.

Globality

Globality: Competing with Everyone from Everywhere for Everything by Hal Sirkin + Jim Hemerling + Arindam Bhattacharya is a fascinating book on new emerging market economies and the new rules of competition. The world of business is suddenly different/has changed. A must-read.

Useful link:
www.bcg.com

Sketching User Experiences

Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design Right and the Right Design by Bill Buxton is a great book on design + design thinking.

Useful link:
www.billbuxton.com

Like any secret society, the design community has its strange rituals and initiation procedures. Bill opens up the mysteries of the magical process of design, taking us through a land in which story telling, orange squeezers, the Wizard of oOz, I-pods, avalanche avoidance, bicycle suspension sketching, and faking it are all points on the design pilgrims journey. There are lots of ideas and techniques in this book to feed good design and transform the way we think about creating useful stuff.
- Peter Gabriel

Shwedagon Pagoda

(via Wiki) The Shwedagon Pagoda, officially titled Shwedagon Zedi Daw, also known as the Golden Pagoda, is a 98-metre (approx. 321.5 feet) gilded stupa located in Yangon, Burma. The pagoda lies to the west of Kandawgyi Lake, on Singuttara Hill, thus dominating the skyline of the city. It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda for the Burmese with relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined within, namely the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Konagamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight hairs of Gautama, the historical Buddha.

May, 2008. According to Reuters, the Shwedagon Pagoda was also hit by the cyclone's 120 mile-an-hour (190 kilometer-an-hour) winds, stripping gold leaves from the temple's giant 320-foot (98-meter) domed shrine + dislodging thousands of precious stones, including rubies, emeralds, and sapphires from the surface of the structure. I believe the complex is undergoing renovation.

Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening is a Tony Award-winning rock musical with music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. I think it's great! It makes you think and feel!

Useful links:
www.springawakening.com
www.duncansheik.com
www.newyorker.com/online/video/conference/2008/sheik

Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum's Jewelry Gallery

The Victoria & Albert Museum announces the opening of the William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery on May 24, 2008. Don't miss it!

Useful link:
www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/jewel_archive/index.html

The Powers To Lead

The Powers to Lead by Joseph S. Nye is an interesting book on the theory of leadership + the concept of hard + soft power = smart power. A must-read.

Useful links:
www.hks.harvard.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/joseph-nye
www.project-syndicate.org/contributor/422

The Transforming Travel Industry

According to the UNWTO, international tourist arrivals grew by 6% last year, to 900m. The total has gone up by almost 100m in two years. Last year the Middle East welcomed 13% more international tourists, or 46m in all. Arrivals in Asia and the Pacific were up by 10%, to 185m—with much of the extra travel coming from elsewhere in the region. Africa saw an increase of 8%, to 44m. This year, the UNWTO predicts, growth of international tourism will be fastest in Asia and the Pacific.
http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?source=hptextfeature&story_id=11374574

Negative effects: political violence + environment.
Positive effects: emerging economies with more spending power will be unwilling to give up flying or driving.

The amazing thing is many in the emerging economies are more interested in growth than environmental issues. A few companies on the other hand with green conscience are trying to be proactive and I hope to see more companies joining hands to save the environment.

Useful links:
www.world-tourism.org
www.wttc.travel
www.travelport.com/CarbonTracker
www.carlson.com
www.thomascook.com
www.marriott.com
www.mckinsey.com
www.amadeus.com

Climate Solutions

Climate Solutions: A Citizen's Guide by Peter Barnes is an interesting book on global warming + the impact + solutions.

Useful link:
www.capanddividend.org

I think it's a great reference book.