Painting Found In Trash

Ula Ilnytzky writes about Elizabeth Gibson who spotted the brightly colored abstract work (now worth US$ 1 million +/- according to Sothebys) on her morning walk four years ago, lying in trash along a street, on Manhattan's Upper West Side + other viewpoints @ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071023/ap_on_re_us/trash_treasure

Crater Of Diamonds State Park

Here is an interesting diamond update from the Crater of Diamonds Park, Murfreesboro, Arkansas. The Crater of Diamonds park is the world's only diamond-producing site open to the public and visitors can keep the stones they dig up.

It has been reported that Eric Blake, 32, of Appleton, Wis., spotted a 3.92-carat white stone along a trail at the Crater of Diamonds State Park when he set down a 70-pound bucket of mud that he was carrying to a wash basin. Good luck!

Useful link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071023/ap_on_fe_st/odd_diamond_found

Utz Certified

According to (www.utzcertified.org) Lucas Simons, director of new programmes at Utz Certified, 'The cocoa sector is facing challenges in terms of social responsibility and the environment. Independent certification and transparency are important instruments for sustainable production, rural development and poverty reduction.' The group is currently working on a code of conduct and a traceability system for all cocoa providers in the Ivory Coast, one of the biggest suppliers of cocoa to the US and Europe. With 90 per cent of Ivorian cocoa being exported to Europe and North America, for example, food companies can hardly forget the massive role they play in helping give suppliers a decent standard of life. About 60.1 per cent of exports went to the EU in the growing season 2005-2006.

I think it's time that the gem and jewelry sector learn from the Cocoa sector. I think discussions on The Role of Diamond and Colored Stones in Developed and Developing Countries wouldn't be a bad idea. The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) supports the smallholder cocoa farmers who usually live below the United Nations (UN) poverty line.

According to the World Food Day website, a mind-boggling 854 million people live below this poverty line and go to sleep every night with an empty belly, while 25,000 people die of starvation every day.

What about the diamond and colored stones industry? What about the gemstone miners in South America, Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia? Who actually cares for them? In fact very few. I think sustainibility is important in the diamond and colored stone industry, and its in the best interests of the miners, dealers, jewelers and consumers. What do you think?

The Collector

Vince Aletti writes about Robert Mapplethorpe + Sam Wagstaff, Robert Mapplethrope's mentor + the current boom market for photography.

Rediscovering Latin America

Roger Atwood writes about the new trend in Mexican colonial portraiture to Chilean Surrealism + other viewpoints @ http://artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=1336

Henry Carstens

(via Dailyspeculations/Brett Steenbarger) Henry Carstens's latest article, Introduction To Testing Trading Ideas, is a gem. It walks traders through the process of historical testing, significance testing, and portfolio allocation.

Brilliant!

Danny DeVitto

Other People’ s Money (1991) speech by Danny DeVitto @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfL7STmWZ1c

I liked it.

About Jewelers

(via Forbes) The number of jewelers in the U.S. is expected to decline, but by less than 1% by 2014, the Department of Labor says. Nonetheless, the industry isn't growing, largely due to the influx of mass-produced jewelry in recent years. Would-be necklace and ring makers shouldn't be entirely discouraged--the government says prospects for highly skilled jewelers, particularly those who make custom or luxury jewelry--are 'excellent.' You might want to work on your entrepreneurial skills if you plan on going into this field though. About 40% of all jewelers are self-employed, according to the Labor Department.

Working conditions: Many jewelers work alone, requires vocational training, local retailers rely heavily on word-of-mouth advertising.

Median salary: About $28,000 per year.

Not very impressive, in fact depressing. How can you recommend anyone to try the jewelry industry. The fact of the matter is many have no clue as to how jewelers make their living. The perception is jewelry industry is glamorous and there is a lot of money in it. Yes and No. At least the American government have a tradition of publicising periodic reports on the state of the jewelry industry. What about other governments? Look at the developing countries in Asia, like China, India and Southeast Asian countries. Why can't they go the extramile and disclose? You have got to be an insider to know what goes on behind the scene.