What The Nose Knows

What the Nose Knows: The Science of Scent in Everyday Life by Avery Gilbert is a fascinating and enlightening book on sense of smell. A definite nose-opener. A must-read.

Useful links:
www.whatthenoseknows.com
www.monell.org

Woody Guthrie

Woody Guthrie was an American songwriter and folk musician. Guthrie's musical legacy consists of hundreds of songs, perhaps the best known are 'This Land Is Your Land,' 'If I Had a Hammer,' 'Turn, Turn, Turn.' They are timeless and his spirit lives on.

Useful link:
www.woodyguthrie.org

Heard On The Street

Get away from the crowd. All business is global.

Random Thoughts

I'd like to see technology give everyone on earth clean water, electricity and a cell phone.

- Philip Rosedale
Chairman, Linden Lab

Harley-Davidson Museum

You will find the opening of the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, USA, interesting. The museum will have a large gallery that showcases the evolution of its cruiser-class bikes. They are definitely unique piece of art + innovation. Don't miss it!

Useful link:
www.harley-davidson.com

Marketplace For Ideas

Andrew Bast's interview with Edward Jung on marketplace of ideas + other viewpoints @ http://www.newsweek.com/id/145772 was brilliant and insightful.

Useful link:
www.intellectualventures.com

We think of an idea as an action that causes a reaction, and that reaction creates products of value.
- Edward Jung

The Fence

The Fence by Andrew Gray is a political thriller set in Johannesburg at the turn of the millennium. Jan Klein is hired by Brano, the world’s biggest diamond company, to investigate the transgressions of their best trader — José Perreira (aka The Fence). Ten years as a legal advisor to the government have hardly prepared Klein for this mission, but his old mentor, the enigmatic general, now head of internal security at Brano, is sure he’s the right man for the job. So Klein sets out for Rundu in Angola with only his Marmite sandwiches for comfort. But this is not the simple mission it, at first, appears to be and Klein is drawn into a world of high politics where outcomes are all that matter. The Fence is an intricate political thriller that offers a chilling portrayal of corporate corruption. Go to www.loot.co.za for further information.

Weather Business

Weather forecast are getting better with refined satellite technology + powerful supercomputers. For businesses, and for individuals, getting better information on weather is very important, especially travel, agriculture and energy firms. The advent of trading of weather derivatives is rather interesting + most weather-derivatives contracts are based on the temperature. WeatherBill and Priceline have launched online ventures tapping into this new market. Caveat! Watch out for weather speculators!

Useful links:
www.weatherbill.com
www.weather.com
www.wmo.int
www.priceline.com