The Desert Capitalists @ BBC

Mukhul Devichands's documentary on Marwaris, a powerful global economic and political force, from Bombay to Paris to London @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2008/09/080905_desert_capitalists_one.shtml was insightful.

Useful link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marwaris

Khaled Samawi

Khaled Samawi is a Swiss born financier + art collector of Syrian descent + Ayyaam Gallery, his first major commercial gallery in Damascus (Dubai + Beirut) dealing in contemporary Syrian art is a must visit. Ayyam gallery's artists are of Arab, Kurd, Armenian, Circassian, Christian, Muslim, Druze origin. I hope Syria will be more open-minded in the near future so that artists are able to experiment new concepts via art. But first, Hats off to Khaled!

Useful link:
www.ayyamgallery.com

Gianni Schicchi

Woody Allen's directorial debut of Puccini’s 'Gianni Schicchi' for the Los Angeles Opera was brilliant.

Go to www.losangelesopera.com for further information.

Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum

Gold jewelry items found in archeological digs in Israel are on display @ Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver exhibition at the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum, a subsidiary of the Israel Diamond Institute, in Ramat Gan, Israel.

Go to www.israelidiamond.co.il for further information.

Palladium Update

Palladium Alliance International (PAI) has revamped its multimedia trade web site with fresh content + new product galleries + community forums + personalized communication platforms. PAI membership is free. Don't miss it.

Useful links:
www.luxurypalladium.com
http://www.luxurypalladium.blogspot.com

World Of Good

I found the new eBaymarketplace for green and fair-trade products called World of Good @ http://worldofgood.ebay.com interesting. I liked it.

Useful link:
www.worldofgoodinc.com

Cuprite

Cuprite is one of the rarest of all gemstones, and comes from one known source -- Onganja, Namibia. It usually occurs in association with native copper, azurite, chrysocolla, malachite, tenorite and a variety of iron oxide minerals (Arizona, New Mexico, USA; Mexico, Bolivia, Chile, France, Russia, DR Congo). The metallic appearance + intense deep red garnet-like color + brilliance are collector's delight. Most crystal/facet-quality specimens are either in museums or with private collectors.

Random Thoughts

Be a voracious reader. When I first came to America, I was blown away and blessed the day the founding fathers gave us free libraries. It was the first time since the Gutenberg Bible that all information became available to all levels of society. Everyone has the same access to information, which is access to power.

- Gene Simmons
www.genesimmons.com