How Far Is Too Far?

Phoebe Hoban writes about contemporary artists who go the extra mile to express their views in the name of art + other viewpoints @ http://www.artnewsonline.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2522

Sudeley Castle

Let's go to Sudeley Castle, Cheltenham, England, where works by renowned artists and architects are displayed until Oct 31, 2008 + it's fun.

Useful link:
www.sudeleycastle.co.uk

Better

Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance by Atul Gawande is a great book about performance in the medical profession, but which applies to all professions. A must-read.

Useful link:
www.gawande.com

Yes!

Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive by Noah J. Goldstein + Steve J. Martin + Robert B. Cialdini is a great book with loads of wisdom. Easy to read and digest.

Useful links:
http://cialdini.socialpsychology.org
www.influenceatwork.com

St. Petersburg: A Revolution In The Making

Chaim Even Zohar writes about the outcome of the St. Petersburg conference (organized by Alrosa’s president, Sergei Vybornov) + the main issues facing the diamond industry + other viewpoints @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp

Paintings In Hospitals

Paintings in Hospitals holds a unique place in the history of the arts in health sector in the UK and is still the only organisation of its kind operating at a national level. Founded in 1959 and registered as a charity in 1972, its objectives are to improve the environment of hospitals and other healthcare establishments by providing original works of art on loan.

Useful link:
www.paintingsinhospitals.org.uk

I liked the idea. If art can't make you better, what is it for? I think art can bring joy to a sick room.

Heard On The Street

I’m not a gambler, except in business. I’ve seen it all. Things you can imagine and things you couldn’t imagine.

Charles + Colvard Update

Charles and Colvard is launching a new, interactive web site http://whatismoissanite.com to educate consumers and jewelry retailers understand their unique jewel. A must-visit.

Useful links:
www.moissanite.com
www.brillianceofme.com

Renewable-energy Island

I found Elizabeth Kolbert's article on the Danish island of Samsø (renewable-energy island) and their innovative way of life @ http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_kolbert?currentPage=all educational and insightful. I would like to visit the island of Samsø one day to see for myself what they have done to save energy and environment.

Useful links:
www.energiakademiet.dk
www.eawag.ch
www.uvek.admin.ch
www.arch.ethz.ch

Peter Greenaway

On the occasion of Saloni 2008, Peter Greenaway gives new life to the world’s most celebrated masterpiece, merging an extraordinary wealth of languages including visual arts, cinema, poetry, music and some of the most cutting-edge new technologies. Leonardo’s masterpiece 'The Last Supper' has survived both the fast natural ageing process caused by experimental painting techniques conceived by the artist and the many attempts to restore its initial aspect, as well as having outlasted bombings during World War II. The Biblical scene will come to new life under the spectator’s eyes thanks to live projections of images and light bouncing on the very painted surface, accompanied by a soundscape of voices, music and noises. The performance will take place in the Refectory of the Dominican Friary in Santa Maria delle Grazie Church: on the very wall of the refectory, Leonardo portrayed the moment when Christ announces one of the apostle will betray him, causing disruption and dismay among them.

Go to www.petergreenaway.info for further information.

Brilliant!

Sothebys Update

Souren Melikian writes about Sotheby's contemporary art sales @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/03/arts/melik3.php What's amazing to me is the mood; the art market keeps bouncing from strength to strength. The money is flowing even more easily.

Useful link:
www.sothebys.com

The New Diamond Story

I found the new diamond story @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7483451.stm intriguing. The rare gems found inside zircon crystals is amazing.

Useful links:
www.nrm.se
www.nature.com

Measuring The Crowd Within

(via Economist) Edward Vul @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology + Harold Pashler @ University of California, San Diego, have revealed in a study just published in Psychological Science that the average of first and second guesses is indeed better than either guess on its own. Dr Vul and Dr Pashler’s article, 'Measuring the Crowd Within: Probabilistic Representations Within Individuals', is published in Psychological Science, which also hosts a blog on the subject.

Useful link:
www.psychologicalscience.org

Insightful + educational.

Art Update

Souren Melikian has an interesting update @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/02/arts/melik2.php on works of contemporary art. The art market's endless boom = mystery unexplained.

Useful link:
www.christies.com

Mama Mia!

Mamma Mia! is a British & American film adaptation of the West End musical of the same name based on the songs of pop group ABBA. The title of the film comes from the group's 1975 chart-topper 'Mamma Mia'. A must-see movie.

Useful links:
www.mammamiamovie.com
www.mamma-mia.com
www.imdb.com/title/tt0795421

Pipilotti Rist

Elisabeth Charlotte Rist is a well-known video artist based in Zurich + Los Angeles + I think her colorful and musical works convey a sense of happiness and simplicity. Her art = visual pleasure.

Useful link:
www.pipilottirist.net

Green Investing

Richard Shaffer writes about Vinod Khosla, the world’s foremost investor in environmental startups + other viewpoints @ http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/127/a-devilish-green-angel.

Useful link:
www.khoslaventures.com

Gems + ROI

Andrew Wood writes:

Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but they do not always offer sparkling returns for an investor. Although smaller and more portable as a hard asset than gold ingots, they cannot be acquired via tax-efficient portfolio bonds alongside other precious assets. Works of art, property, vintage wines and collectibles, such as books, toys and comics are examples on which investors may wish to speculate. Trading in these markets can be problematic, expensive and pose security problems. Trading in bullion or precious artifacts is risky and cumbersome for the returns achieved.

In a bear market is it possible or prudent to invest in precious metals and stones, or should one stick to bonds and gilt-edged securities? If you recently acquired diamonds, thank your financial adviser for his foresight. A recent Asian mining takeover meant that share allocations nearly doubled for a junior mining organisation in the Madagascar market. Remaining assets in South Africa were hence rolled over into new corporate entities that rewarded investors with bonus share allocations in addition. Junior mining companies offer high potential in global commodity markets largely because of the China syndrome, which cannot be ignored.

Many investors tend to think of South Africa, Australia and possibly Amsterdam when considering gold, diamonds, or coal. But institutional asset traders deal in the commodity facts of the real world. China is actually the world's largest producer of gold and the largest holder of US dollars. It has hundreds of small gold mines that remain unexploited because of lack of expert mining methodologies and bureaucracy and natural resources mismanagement.

China's thirst for water, coal, copper and other resources is unstoppable. Australia has trouble meeting coal production requirements to sustain demand from Asian powers, which need these commodities to feed their vast but inefficient blast-furnace economies. China could exploit for maximum gain its vast gold deposits if it chooses to utilise western expertise. Would this propel China to world power status and also lead to substantial dividends via bond investments? For risk-averse investors wishing to diversify, a prudent allocation can be made in Global Emerging Markets (Gems) through collective fund vehicles specialising in such diversified precious assets. Smart investors worried about risk can easily have the best of both worlds by investing in such markets via a variety of individually structured offshore personal portfolio bonds.

Sparkling gems shining out in the junior mining sectors. Global emerging markets and the resurgent Asian economies of China, India, Indonesia and Thailand continue to be the prime movers for cautious investors with a sense of adventure. Investment in this market optimises one's position as a direct consequence of gaining access to the hundreds of gold mines in China that are underexplored and undeveloped.

Mitigating Gem investment risks. Although bond returns tend to be safe and steady but relatively low, Gem and global commodity market (GCM) asset investments are not guaranteed. Conversely, Gems aren't as risky as, say, corporate junk bonds, venture-capital projects and unlisted dot-com startups. To mitigate risks while optimising portfolio gains, investors should seek international independent advice from qualified specialists who are best positioned to structure the correct portfolio bond offshore according to your individual circumstances. These issues are of particular importance:

- Taxation and inheritance: regardless of performance of any asset, interests should be protected to the fullest extent possible.
- Dedicated local asset management teams: having your portfolio actively managed.
- Expense ratios and market level adjustment concerns: Gems not only sparkle more safely when acquired via tax-exempt trading bonds, but also save each way because trading or bid/offer spread differentials are substantially reduced.
- Gems' Diversity: bond investors can strategically acquire allocations in all these emerging market sectors and trade them profitably on a daily or monthly basis.

Diversity in mining companies, commodities, precious metals, or the exchange-traded funds that invest in Gem markets are the simplest, safest and smartest way of adding precious Gems to one's portfolio without undue concern that they will lose their sparkle. Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but Gems are potentially more profitable in both the long and short-term term.

Useful link:
www.barclayspencer.com

How true!

Kit Kittredge

(via Wiki) Kit Kittredge: An American Girl is a 2008 comedy-drama film based on the American Girl character, Kit Kittredge, who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio during the Great Depression. It is scheduled to be released on July 2, 2008. The film is the first in the American Girl film series to have a theatrical release; the first three received television releases.

Useful links:
http://www.americangirl.com/movie
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0846308

The Arab Rich List

I found the The Arab Rich List @ http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20080408034338 intriguing.

- Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al-Saud
- Nasser Al-Kharafi
- MAK
- The Sawiris family
- Mohammed Al-Amoudi
- Abdelaziz Al-Ghurair
- Maan Al-Sanea
- Suleiman Al-Rajhi
- Mohammed Bin Issa Al-Jaber
- Saleh Kamel
- Saad Hariri
- Majid Al-Futtaim
- Suleiman Al-Gosaibi
- Bassem Al-Ghanim