A Reason To Smile

A jewelry store's idea of spreading holiday cheer by planting boxes of jewelry at local landmarks was brilliant. www.wickershamjewelry.com

Eco, Ethical And Fair Trade Gemstones: An Open Forum

The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) session will focus on eco, ethical and fair trade gemstones in an open town hall format and will be held on February 5, 2010 from 2:00-4:00 pm at the Tucson Convention Center. www.agta.org

Journey To Zero

Towards a non-carbon future. Check it out. www.journey-to-zero.com

Travel Photographer 2009

The winners of the 2009 international Travel Photographer of the Year awards have been announced. www.tpoty.com

Net-Zero Homes

Jim Carlton's report in the Wall Street Journal about net-zero homes was interesting. I would like to see more projects like this in India.

Useful links:
www.nrel.gov
www.ruraldevelopmentinc.org
www.zetacommunities.com
www.pepperviner.com

A Room With A Gallery In Paris

Seth Sherwoods's viewpoint in the New York Times about the new Paris was a brilliant piece. Paris has morphed remarkably. A great place for creativity and hospitality. Period.

Useful links:
http://hotel-particulier-montmartre.com
www.hotel-le-six.com
www.derbyhotels.com
www.hotel-des-academies.com
www.apostrophe-hotel.com
www.thefivehotel.com
www.onebythefive.com

Global Business BBC

Peter Day's report on the pros and cons of micro lending in Bangladesh was interesting. Now the question is whether micro lending will experience the same problems like the rest of the banking sector. Only time will tell.

Useful links:
www.grameen.com
www.safesave.org
www.brac.net

Random Thoughts

It’s really hard to teach out of a textbook when you consider the world we live in. The zero-gravity flight gives you a new tool for Newton’s laws.

- Geoffrey Bergen
www.brookfield.k12.ct.us
www.gozerog.com
www.northropgrumman.com
www.nsta.org
http://ies.ed.gov

I guess it helps educators to connect with students.

Zaha Hadid + MAXXI

Audio slide show. John Seabrook profiles the architect Zaha Hadid's concept for MAXXI, in Rome, which opened in November, 2009. I am a huge fan of Zaha's work.

Useful links:
www.zaha-hadid.com
www.maxxi.beniculturali.it
http://us.macmillan.com/flashofgenius

Heatherwick Studio

Check out Heatherwick's experimental techniques / projects. Simply brilliant designs.

Useful link:
www.heatherwick.com

The Fancy Color Diamond Book

A unique book titled, The Fancy Color Diamond Book, has been launched by Eden Rachminov, the managing owner of Rachminov Diamonds 1891. The book contains a substantial amount of information about the range of fancy colors of diamonds, as well as about grading, clarity, the challenges of cutting fancy color diamonds and the role of fluorescence in determining the value of fancy color diamonds. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.fancycolor.net
www.rachminovdiamonds.com

Jewelry Market Update

Ken Gassman's viewpoint in IdexOnline about self-purchasing women was spot on. She will make the buying decision, and will often pay for the jewelry herself. Thanks Ken.

Useful link:
www.kennethgassman.com

Wireless Health

A group of experts and innovators at UCLA are designing healthy cities to promote health and wellness across the country. I wish India had the same technology, skills and attitude to connect the dots.

Useful link:
www.wirelesshealth.ucla.edu

Unusual Destinations

(via LaTimes) Bizarre and unusual destinations around the world. Simply brilliant.

Random Thoughts

In Silicon Valley we have a saying: launch early, launch often. It’s an acknowledgment that successful, innovative companies are the ones that rapidly try new ideas, see what works, improve their products and repeat. Businesses that launch frequently are also able to take advantage of economies of scale to make launchings faster and easier. In many ways, the key to innovation is speed of execution.

- Edward Lu
www.google.org
www.edlu.com

So true!

Pleased, But Not Satisfied

Pleased But Not Satisfied by David Sokol is an insightful book about managing business. Many business pundits believe that David Sokol may be on the short list to eventually succeed Warren Buffett as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. A must read.

Useful links:
www.midamericanenergy.com
www.berkshirehathaway.com

Jancis Robinson Viewpoint

This seems like a great wine list. Something for everyone. Thanks Jancis.

Useful links:
www.ft.com/arts/columnists/robinson
www.jancisrobinson.com
www.wine-searcher.com

BenCab Museum

Alexandra Seno's opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal about Benedicto Cabrera's prized collection of contemporary Filipino artworks/tribal art was interesting.

With collecting you learn.
- Benedicto Cabrera

Useful links:
http://bencabmuseum.org
www.singart.com
www.andrewshiregallery.com
www.stpi.com.sg

LabGem, Portugal

Check out the digital periodical from LabGem. It's educational and insightful.

Useful link:
www.labgem.org

Green Funiture

I really liked Ronen Kadushin's green designs. Recently I came across readily cleanable / recylable armchair, which I thought was a brilliant idea. Keep up the good work.

Useful links:
www.ronen-kadushin.com
www.movisi.com