Spot on. Diamond is a hard stone. It lasts a long time. But what about financially? Is it equally durable? Are they likely to hold or gain value over time? It's a Catch-22 situation. Yes and No.
Useful links:
www.diamonds.net
www.debeersgroup.com
Saturday, February 13, 2010
IBM Report
Saul Berman/Ragna Bell/Eric Riddleberger's viewpoints in Forbes about the application of alignment, adaptability and analytics in business models was educational and insightful. Many thanks.
Useful link:
www.ibm.com
Useful link:
www.ibm.com
Art Market Update
Souren Melikian's opinion piece in the New York Times about the auction week at Sotheby's was interesting.
Bidders were prepared to go for anything, as long as the artists had achieved a degree of prominence. Buyers seemed eager to spend their money and obtain something tangible in exchange, however flimsy the aura surrounding the works might appear to be. Never before has contemporary art received such an unreserved financial accolade.
- Souren Melikian
Useful link:
www.sothebys.com
Bidders were prepared to go for anything, as long as the artists had achieved a degree of prominence. Buyers seemed eager to spend their money and obtain something tangible in exchange, however flimsy the aura surrounding the works might appear to be. Never before has contemporary art received such an unreserved financial accolade.
- Souren Melikian
Useful link:
www.sothebys.com
Random Thoughts
From batteries to cars, BYD engineers have found that successful product manufacturing begins by copying others.
- Liang Dongmei/Yang Binbin/Fu Yanyan/Wang Duan
http://english.caing.com
I am amazed that Caixin has published the truth about the culture of copying in China online. Very brave indeed.
- Liang Dongmei/Yang Binbin/Fu Yanyan/Wang Duan
http://english.caing.com
I am amazed that Caixin has published the truth about the culture of copying in China online. Very brave indeed.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Karl Rabeder's Story
Truly amazing story. Karl Rabeder, a millionaire from Austria, has sold (nearly) everything to start a real/simple life. Very brave indeed. I hope he is doing the right thing. All the best. Many thanks to Henry Samuel for sharing the info.
It was the biggest shock in my life, when I realised how horrible, soulless and without feeling the five star lifestyle is. In those three weeks, we spent all the money you could possibly spend. But in all that time, we had the feeling we hadn't met a single real person – that we were all just actors. The staff played the role of being friendly and the guests played the role of being important and nobody was real.
- Karl Rabeder
It was the biggest shock in my life, when I realised how horrible, soulless and without feeling the five star lifestyle is. In those three weeks, we spent all the money you could possibly spend. But in all that time, we had the feeling we hadn't met a single real person – that we were all just actors. The staff played the role of being friendly and the guests played the role of being important and nobody was real.
- Karl Rabeder
Best App Ever Award
Philip Elmer-DeWitt's story in Fortune about Dave Castelnuovo + Allan Dye, and their best-selling programs on the App Store was interesting.
Useful links:
www.boltcreative.com
http://bestappever.com
http://148apps.biz
Useful links:
www.boltcreative.com
http://bestappever.com
http://148apps.biz
Tainted Love
Diamonds mined illegally in conflict zones will always find their way onto the international markets because of its portability. According to Global Witness report, the continued existence of blood diamonds poses a serious problem for consumers looking to demonstrate their love with a diamond ring this Valentine’s Day, February 14, so do the right thing. Questions consumers can ask:
- Do you know where the diamonds you sell come from?
- Can I see a copy of your company’s policy on conflict diamonds?
- Can you show me a written guarantee from your suppliers that your diamonds are conflict-free?
- How is the supply chain audited?
Useful links:
www.globalwitness.org
www.kimberleyprocess.com
Good intentions, but I think most retail jewelers are not properly trained to answer the questions. It's not easy. They will go autistic, really.
- Do you know where the diamonds you sell come from?
- Can I see a copy of your company’s policy on conflict diamonds?
- Can you show me a written guarantee from your suppliers that your diamonds are conflict-free?
- How is the supply chain audited?
Useful links:
www.globalwitness.org
www.kimberleyprocess.com
Good intentions, but I think most retail jewelers are not properly trained to answer the questions. It's not easy. They will go autistic, really.
Diamond Engagement Rings Report
Ken Gassman's diamond engagement rings report was a brilliant piece. Many thanks.
Most diamond engagement rings are F to I color, VVS2 to I1 in clarity, and 0.75 to 1.00 (or perhaps a few as large as 1.50) in carat size. About half of all diamonds in engagement rings are round; the balance are various fancy cuts.
- Ken Gassman
Useful links:
www.kennethgassman.com
www.americangemsociety.org
www.bluenile.com
www.idexonline.com
Most diamond engagement rings are F to I color, VVS2 to I1 in clarity, and 0.75 to 1.00 (or perhaps a few as large as 1.50) in carat size. About half of all diamonds in engagement rings are round; the balance are various fancy cuts.
- Ken Gassman
Useful links:
www.kennethgassman.com
www.americangemsociety.org
www.bluenile.com
www.idexonline.com
Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint
Zimbabwe isn’t the problem – the Kimberley System itself has become dysfunctional and meaningless. Sad, really. Chaim was spot on.
Useful links:
www.kimberleyprocess.com
www.diamondintelligence.com
Useful links:
www.kimberleyprocess.com
www.diamondintelligence.com
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Solar Dynamics Observatory
If all goes well, the Solar Dynamics Observatory should provide an unprecedented amount of data about the workings of the sun. Stay tuned.
Useful link:
http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov
Useful link:
http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov
Random Thoughts
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Anything you put in that book, any little change you make, has huge implications not only for psychiatry but for pharmaceutical marketing, research, for the legal system, for who’s considered to be normal or not, for who’s considered disabled. And it has huge implications for stigma, because the more disorders you put in, the more people get labels, and the higher the risk that some get inappropriate treatment.
- Dr. Michael First
www.columbiapsychiatry.org
www.dsmivtr.org
http://dsm5.org
Spot on.
- Dr. Michael First
www.columbiapsychiatry.org
www.dsmivtr.org
http://dsm5.org
Spot on.
Bob Dylan Art Exhibition
The Halcyon Gallery is hosting an exhibition of Bob Dylan's first paintings on canvas, based on drawings and sketches made while on the road between 1989 and 1992. Don't miss.
Useful links:
www.halcyongallery.com
www.royalacademy.org.uk
Useful links:
www.halcyongallery.com
www.royalacademy.org.uk
Living Climate Change Video Competition
Fresh thinking. Share provocative ideas about the future. Go forth. Just do it.
Useful links:
http://livingclimatechange.com
www.ideo.com
www.design21sdn.com
Useful links:
http://livingclimatechange.com
www.ideo.com
www.design21sdn.com
Waterstone's Children's Book Prize
Katie Davies has won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize for her tale The Great Hamster Massacre. Congratulations!
Useful link:
www.waterstones.com
Useful link:
www.waterstones.com
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Global Business BBC
Peter Day's Global Business programme on the social/economic implications of an ageing world was brilliant. I learned something new today. Many thanks Peter.
Useful links:
www.chli.com
http://inmyprime.co.uk
www.maryfurlong.com
www.newamerica.net
Useful links:
www.chli.com
http://inmyprime.co.uk
www.maryfurlong.com
www.newamerica.net
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