Doing Business Report

World Bank's annual Doing Business Report has some interesting interpretations on 181 countries + government rules that affect setting up, running and closing a business. A must read.

Useful links:
www.doingbusiness.org
www.worldbank.org

Gemstone Treatment Update

I found the latest update via GemLab + other viewpoints @ http://www.gemlab.net/website/gemlab/fileadmin/user_upload/Research/GEMLAB-Research-Newsletter-09-2008.pdf educational and insightful.

Useful link:
www.gemlab.net

Good Guide

GoodGuide provides free and easy access to the world’s largest and most reliable source of information on the health, environmental and social impacts of products and companies.

Go to www.goodguide.com for further information.

Useful links:
http://nature.berkeley.edu/infolab/welcome
www.greentechmedia.com

The Best Slogan

A Diamond is Forever.

Created by N.W. Ayer & Sons, Inc. for De Beers, this slogan has been in use since 1948, ever since Frances Gerety, a young copywriter, dreamed up the famous line in her sleep + the 1971 James Bond movie starring Sean Connery added adamantine luster to it.

The Whole Experience @ Chateau de Versailles

Elaine Sciolino's article on Jeff Koons exhibition at Château de Versailles @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/10/europe/koons.php was brilliant. A must read.

Useful links:
www.chateauversailles.fr
www.jeffkoons.com

Chicago World Music Festival 2008

Chicago's annual World Music Festival will take place from September 19 - 25, 2008. For more information, including showtimes, venues and a complete artist lineup, go to http://egov.cityofchicago.org/WorldMusic

Heard On The Street

In markets there is a lot of luck.

Innovation Contests

The Economist article on a whole series of prizes designed to catalyse clean, renewable and cost-effective energy @ http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/greenview/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12077182 was educational and insightful.

Useful links:
www.xprize.org
www.virginearth.com
www.freedomprize.org

Prizes lead people to compete ferociously and cunningly. They tap a primitive urge to win, and to be seen winning, even when the prize itself is trivial compared with the effort required to attain it.
- Economist

How true!