Signs Of The Time

I reread David Owen's article 'My Airline' (Shouts & Murmurs column in the New Yorker). For a unique airplane experience go to http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2008/07/07/080707sh_shouts_owen to read the full text. Funny + Sad.

Endeavor

Endeavor, a non-profit group based in New York, is dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship in emerging economies. I think Endeavor is changing/redefining the concept of entrepreneurship in emerging economies of the world.

Useful link:
www.endeavor.org

David Galenson

Patricia Cohen's article on David Galenson + the quantitative methodology/valuation in the art field + other viewpoints @ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/04/arts/design/04pica.html?_r=1&oref=slogin was brilliant.

Useful link:
www.davidgalenson.com

In my view ranking artworks is a good idea. If the experts are able to simplify the valuation methodology, then I think it might work. Many in the industry believe that art markets are speculative/manipulative. You have got to be an insider or knowledgeable to understand the whole business.

Synchrotron Light

Synchrotron light is used in cutting-edge research in physics, chemistry and materials sciences + many new areas of research in fields such as medicine, geological and environmental studies, structural genomics and archaeology. The experts are now in the process of developing the so-called fourth generation light sources.

Useful links:
www.desy.de
www.xfel.eu
www.scitech.ac.uk
www.cockcroft.ac.uk
www.srs.ac.uk
www.isis.rl.ac.uk

Baalbeck International Festival

(via Wiki) The Baalbeck International Festival is the oldest and most known cultural event in the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean. Since 1955, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have flocked to the city of Baalbeck in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon to attend the annual festival. Classical music, dance, theater, opera, and jazz as well as modern world music are performed each July and August in the ancient Roman Acropolis, one of the largest and well preserved Roman temples ever built.

Useful link:
www.baalbeck.org.lb

A must visit. I think the festival is a sign of hope.

Vestas

Denmark is a world leader in wind energy, and produces more than 10% of its power from turbines. The story of Vestas, a homegrown wind company, is impressive.

Go to www.vestas.com for further information.

Clear air + Green living.

Pearl Harvesting In UAE

I found the video on pearl harvesting in the UAE + the pearl trade @ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/07/080731-pearls-video-ap.html interesting.

Colored Stone Market Update

Gem quality emeralds has been found near the town of Lages, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, in Brazil. Gem dealers believe it's a new source. The most frequently seen imitations are glass or assembled stones in the gem market. If in doubt, consult a reputed gem testing laboratory.