Discover P.J. Joseph's blog, your guide to colored gemstones, diamonds, watches, jewelry, art, design, luxury hotels, food, travel, and more. Based in South Asia, P.J. is a gemstone analyst, writer, and responsible foodie featured on Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, and CNBC. Disclosure: All images are digitally created for educational and illustrative purposes. Portions of the blog were human-written and refined with AI to support educational goals.
Translate
Monday, January 18, 2010
Basic Human Pleasures
Nicholas Kristoff's opinion piece in the New York Times about happiness was a brilliant piece. I think being helpful, being focused on helping others is a state of mind, it's an attitude. If you do it right, it's a good one, really.
Useful links:
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com
www.happinesshypothesis.com
www.smiletrain.org
Useful links:
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com
www.happinesshypothesis.com
www.smiletrain.org
World Economic Forum 2010
Improve the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild. World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2010, Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. January 27 - 31, 2010. www.weforum.org
Barack Obama Musical
A tribute to Barack Obama. A musical that charts his meteoric journey from community worker to the White House. Check it out. http://hope-musical.com
JBT CreditShare
The Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT) has introduced a new, free online platform called JBT CreditShare, a unique platform to confidentially share/retrieve customer data. I wish the gem business had a similar platform. www.jewelersboard.com
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Philanthropy 2010
Philanthropy—corporate and individual—2010. The BusinessWeek special report was educational and insightful. Thanks.
Useful links:
www.corporatephilanthropy.org
http://rockpa.org
www.gatesfoundation.org
www.redcross.org
www.philanthropyaction.com
Useful links:
www.corporatephilanthropy.org
http://rockpa.org
www.gatesfoundation.org
www.redcross.org
www.philanthropyaction.com
Jancis Robinson Viewpoint
A great wine review. Thanks Jancis.
Useful links:
www.jancisrobinson.com
www.ft.com/arts/columnists/robinson
www.de-villaine.com
Useful links:
www.jancisrobinson.com
www.ft.com/arts/columnists/robinson
www.de-villaine.com
Ivory Update
Robin McKie's viewpoints in the Guardian about illegal ivory trading was interesting and insightful. Killing for tusks is a particularly gruesome trade. Elephants are intelligent animals whose sophisticated social ties are exploited by poachers. They will often shoot young elephants to draw in a grieving parent, which is then killed for its ivory. So true.
Useful links:
www.cites.org
www.traffic.org
www.wwf.org
Useful links:
www.cites.org
www.traffic.org
www.wwf.org
Random Thoughts
Film-making is very similar to entrepreneurship. The role of a film producer is analogous to that of a venture capitalist. Good producers, like smart venture capitalists, know that it's not just about writing a check and it's not just about big stars and quality music. In the same way, simply providing venture funding or throwing money at a start-up cannot ensure success, and it's not necessarily a great thing for entrepreneurs to have lots of work experience and domain expertise in their industry. The actors and the director, like entrepreneurs, work to bring the script and business plan to life. More than anything else, making a good film and building a business from scratch both require oodles of creativity.
- Rajeev Mantri
www.navamcapital.com
Spot on.
- Rajeev Mantri
www.navamcapital.com
Spot on.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Pecha Kucha
I really liked the Pecha Kucha format: 20 images x 20 seconds. Think visually. Refine. Go. Amazingly it works. Thanks Scott Berkun for sharing the info.
Useful links:
www.pecha-kucha.org
www.klein-dytham.com
http://ignite.oreilly.com
Useful links:
www.pecha-kucha.org
www.klein-dytham.com
http://ignite.oreilly.com
Jewelry Market Update
Rob Reuteman's viewpoints in Fox Business about the state of the U.S jewelry business was interesting. Thanks Rob.
In many cases of independently-owned jewelry stores, the owners simply reached a point where they'd had enough. They either didn't have heirs to take over as they neared retirement, or they were tired of working 10-hour days and struggling against rising metals prices and a tanking economy.
- Hedda Schupak
Useful links:
www.foxbusiness.com
www.sageworksinc.com
So true!
In many cases of independently-owned jewelry stores, the owners simply reached a point where they'd had enough. They either didn't have heirs to take over as they neared retirement, or they were tired of working 10-hour days and struggling against rising metals prices and a tanking economy.
- Hedda Schupak
Useful links:
www.foxbusiness.com
www.sageworksinc.com
So true!
The Rules Of Winning Chess
The Rules of Winning Chess by Nigel Davies is an insightful book to enjoy and savor, and has lesssons for all of us. A must read.
Useful links:
http://tigerchess.wordpress.com
http://ndavies.myzen.co.uk
Useful links:
http://tigerchess.wordpress.com
http://ndavies.myzen.co.uk
globalDESIGN
The globalDESIGN tradeshow opens on February 12, 2010, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Check it out. http://jewelersresource.com
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Intelligent Hand
Simply brilliant designs. Thinking differently. www.designboom.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)