Luke Johnson Viewpoint

Luke Johnson's opinion piece in the Financial Times about the dos and don'ts of business partnerships was interesting. I look forward to reading more of your posts.

Useful links:
www.lukejohnson.org
www.riskcapitalpartners.co.uk
www.channel4.com
www.pentagram.com

Galaxy Game

I thought the web-based project Galaxy Zoo was a brilliant simulation exercise. The simulated images not only show the different aspects of galaxy formation, but also generate data that will help astronomers' understanding of these collisions.

Useful links:
http://mergers.galaxyzoo.org
www.galaxyzoo.org

World's Most Powerful Person

Forbes magazine has named U.S. President Barack Obama as the world's most powerful person. I hope he does the right thing for the world, and wish him the best in his future and all of his endeavors.

Useful link:
www.barackobama.com

Open-Source Approach

Justin Lahart's story on Arduino in the Wall Street Journal was interesting. I think allowing duplication is a better way to spur innovation than keeping designs under lock and key.

Useful links:
www.arduino.cc
http://interactionivrea.org
http://web.media.mit.edu/~leah
http://thehighlowtech.com
www.sparkfun.com

Dance With Chance

Dance with Chance: Making Luck Work for You by Spyros Makridakis + Robin Hogarth + Anil Gaba is an insightful about how luck plays an important role in a person's wealth, health and happiness. A must read.

Useful link:

http://dancewithchance.com

Random Thoughts

The global financial crisis had its origins in short-term, unsustainable strategies and actions. Before the crisis and since, we (and others) have called for a more long-term and responsible form of capitalism – what we call “sustainable capitalism”. Yet despite our collective best efforts, one year on, the capital markets seem to be reverting to business as usual.

- Al Gore/David Blood
www.generationim.com
www.algore.com

Spot on.

Art Market Update

The Economist special report on the art market was interesting. The best that can be said about the market at the moment is that it is holding its breath, and there are still buyers in the market. Stay tuned.

Useful links:
http://sarah-thornton.com
www.artseconomics.com
www.us.capgemini.com/worldwealthreport08
www.christies.com
www.sothebys.com
www.drouot.com
www.bonhams.com

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Chaim made a very interesting point. I love your posts and looking forward to read more from you. Thanks Chaim.

Useful links:
www.antwerpdiamondbank.com
www.diamondintelligence.com
http://ec.europa.eu

Diamonds Are A Jeweler’s Best Friend

Ken Gassman's survey about the diamond retail jewelry sector was interesting. Diamonds and diamond jewelry are the largest selling category in a specialty jeweler’s store everywhere. Period. Thanks Ken.

Useful links:
www.kennethgassman.com
www.jewelers.org
www.americangemsociety.org
www.instoremag.com
www.tiffany.com
www.bluenile.com

Courtauld Gallery

Check out Frank Auerbach’s paintings of the rebuilding of London, from the 1950s and early ’60s at the Courtauld Gallery. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.courtauld.ac.uk

World Design Capital 2012

The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design has named the city of Helsinki (Finland) the World Design Capital for 2012. Congratulations!

Useful links:
www.icsid.org
www.wdc2012helsinki.fi

Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol

A handwritten manuscript of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol has gone on display at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York. Don't miss. Charles Dickens exhibition - The Morgan Library and Museum

Conflict Gold

Check out a 60 Minutes piece on the role gold plays in fueling conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo this Sunday, November 29, 2009.

1-1-1 Model

I really liked Marc Benioff’s (Salesforce.com) 1-1-1 Model + his new book Behind the Cloud

Thanks to the falling cost of hardware, overseas coders, and on-demand services, start-ups need less capital to get off the ground.
- Marc Benioff

Commute Greener

Check out Commute Greener application via Volvo Group. The technology helps reduce global and personal CO2 footprints by greener commuting. Give it a try.

Useful links:
www.commutegreener.com
www.volvo.com

Getting Real

Getting Real is a collection of essays from the founders of 37signals. The concept of Getting Real is about doing it. Brilliant.

Useful links:
http://37signals.com
http://productblog.37signals.com

Statkraft's Osmotic Power Plant

Seeing is believing. Statkraft's osmotic plant located in Tofte, Norway, is the first pilot plant to use the power produced when salt water and fresh water combine in a polymer membrane. The company believes it could be viable anywhere that a river meets or comes close to the ocean.

Useful link:
www.statkraft.com

Brazil's Ethanol Industry

Peter Day's viewpoint on Brazil's ethanol industry was insightful.

Useful links:
www.eesp.fgv.br
www.iconebrasil.org.br
http://english.unica.com.br

KiBiSi

Jens Martin Skibsted + Bjarke Ingels + Lars Holme Larsen = KiBiSi

Useful links:
www.kibisi.com
http://biomega.dk
www.big.dk
www.kilodesign.dk

Paul Delaroche's Artwork

A painting by Paul Delaroche is going back on display after being damaged in a World war II air raid and hidden away for decades. The painting will be shown in London's National Gallery from 24 February, 2010. Mark your calendar.

Useful link:
www.nationalgallery.org.uk