Damien Hirst @ Sothebys

Damien Hirst, one of the world's richest artists, will auction his new works via Sotheby's on September 15 - 16, 2008. Go to http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1838365_1759996,00.html for further information.

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.damienhirst.com

Random Thoughts

I like to stick with fairly basic, understandable, boring businesses and avoid sexy, change-the-world stories.

- Francois Parenteau
Defiance Capital LLC/Defiance Fund Ltd

Scheelite

Natural scheelite is often found in greyish white, yellow or brown colors + well-formed crystals are sought by collectors and occasionally fashioned into gemstones when free of flaws + under ultraviolet light the gem material fluoresces strong blue/the presence of molybdenum may produce a green glow.

Scheelite has been synthesized by the Czochralski/flux/vapor processes to imitate diamond, or as a scintillator/solid state lasing medium + synthetic scheelites are produced in many colors with rare earth dopants including purple, red brown, light green, yellow, yellow brown, deep red, dark yellow green, and colorless (pure) + natural scheelite can be identified from synthetic material by microscope (Natural =internal growth features/inclusions; Synthetic = clean or curved striae + clouds of minute gas bubbles) + spectroscope = absorption spectrum (rare earth =praseodymium and neodymium).

Collectors often confuse between natural and synthetic scheelites + end up paying high prices thinking they were buying genuine stones. If in doubt, always consult a reputed gem testing laboratory.

For Better Or For Worse

(via Wiki) For Better or For Worse is a comic strip by Lynn Johnston that began in September 1979, and ended the main story on August 30, 2008, with a postscript epilogue the following day. As of September 2008, the strip is re-telling its original story by means of a combination of newly drawn strips and reruns. The strip is set in the fictitious Toronto-area suburban town of Milborough, Ontario; it chronicles the lives of a Canadian family, The Pattersons, and their friends. It is seen in over 2,000 newspapers throughout Canada, the United States and about 20 other countries, and is translated into eight languages from its native English. The title is a reference to the marriage service in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer: ...to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health...

Useful links:
www.fborfw.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUzkOxgmmc4

She has got a huge fan base and I hope she carries on with the wit she's capable of.

Barter Community

During an economic downturn, like-minded people are becoming financially creative by willing to trade everything under the sun to get their everyday tasks done. People have started bartering for many reasons than before and there are no limits to it. Signs of the times, really.

Useful links:
www.swapthing.com
www.craigslist.org
www.greenapplebarter.com

The Future Of Energy

Fareed Zakaria + James E. Rogers conversations on the future of energy @ http://www.newsweek.com/id/32253 was really educational.

Useful links:
http://fareedzakaria.com
www.duke-energy.com

American Wines

Joel Stein's viewpoints on 50 American wines + the methodology @ http://www.time.com/time/2008/50_american_wines was brilliant.

Useful links:
http://garyvaynerchuk.com
www.thejoelstein.com

Biennale des Antiquaires

The Economist article on Biennale des Antiquaires, the most opulent antique fair in the world + other viewpoints @ http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/artview/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12075782 was insightful.

Useful links:
www.bdafrance.eu
www.antiquaires-sna.com