Beryl Cook

(via Wiki) Beryl Cook who was best known for comical paintings of people has died aged 81.

Useful links:
www.berylcook.org
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7424366.stm

Her paintings were unique for one reason: ordinariness.

Rapaport Diamond Report Update

According to Rapaport, the significantly higher prices in this week's Rapaport Price List do not reflect any sudden change in diamond prices but rather adjustments made to reflect the level of premiums in the trading markets. The trade is cautioned that current high price levels for top quality diamonds reflect volatile external economic forces and may not be sustainable. There is also significant risk that prices for commercial quality diamonds may decline due to unfavorable conditions in the U.S. and other consumer markets. At their current high levels diamond prices are subject to significantly greater volatility and downside risk exposure.

Useful links:
www.diamonds.net
www.rapaportdiamondreport.com

The problem is there are various interpretations on the new prices on the list + I think the markets are confused worldwide and no one knows what will happen next because traders may hold on to their goods in anticipation of another price increase.

Romanov Emeralds

According to Christies, a pair of Romanov emeralds was sold to an Asian private collector for $2,409,241 setting a price-per-carat record for emeralds sold at auction.

Useful links:
www.christies.com
www.royal-magazin.de

Chinese Jewelry Update

According to Research and Markets, world's largest and most respected market research resource, Chinese jewelry industry sales have increased by approximately CNY20 billion ($2.88 billion) since 2005 + they have reached CNY180 billion ($25.92 billion) in 2007 + the jewelry industry has so far become the third largest in the country, preceded only by real estate and automobiles.
Source: Gems & Jewelry Trade Association of China + China Gold Association + Shanghai Diamond Exchange + Ministry of Commerce + National Bureaus of Statistics and statistics bureaus at provincial or municipal level + financial statements of some key jewelry enterprises.

Useful link:
www.researchandmarkets.com

New Ways Of Tackling Climate Change

According to Kurt Volker, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, there is a huge second wave of investment in green technology. The first one was in the 1980s, which produced a certain level of technology development. That wave ebbed after some time. Now a second wave of massive investment into newer, cleaner technologies. And this wave is proving larger and more immediately profitable than the first one........
View Video (courtesy of ACUS)

Useful links:
www.grestech.com
http://cms.iucn.org
www.climos.com
www.atmocean.com
www.planktos.com

I think the new startup companies who are embarking on clean technology projects may have a huge impact on our world.

American Nerd

American Nerd: The Story of My People by Benjamin Nugent is a fascinating book. I liked it.

Useful link:
www.americannerdbook.com

Sustainable Designs

I have been always intrigued by our limited understanding of where our materials come from or where they go + I believe most people will do the right thing if they were given accurate information, proper training and simple tools + I also think the fashion industry have played a unique role via creativity, innovation and connections to promote green initiatives worldwide.

Useful links:
www.permacouture.org
www.trustforconservationinnovation.org
www.earthpledge.org

Age + Business

The article What's Age Got to Do with It? @ http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_22/b4086098742993.htm was really inspiring.

Age also needs to be accompanied by a willingness, and even eagerness, to change. We recently heard Andrea Jung, the CEO of Avon, suggest that leaders (informally) fire and rehire themselves from time to time in order to freshen their mind-sets. Now, at 48, Andrea is still plenty young, but her approach to reinvention is actually the hallmark of the most effective 'older' folks we know. Case in point is K.P. Singh, the Indian real estate developer who, at age 76, has just expanded his business into, of all things, an international cricket league—because, he says, it will teach him 'all sorts of new things.' Or take Rupert Murdoch. At 77, his passion for traditional media opportunities remains unabated, so too his interest in what's next. Chris DeWolfe, CEO of social-networking site MySpace, recently told us that Murdoch has his sleeves rolled up at his new purchase, always asking questions, always pushing to learn more.
- Jack & Suzy Welch

How true! Thanks, Jack.

Useful link:
www.welchway.com