Matt Simmons

Brian O'Keefe's article on Matt Simmons, his bold predictions on crude oil prices and how to act soon to solve the crisis + lack of transparent information about oil production and reserves + the potential power of ocean energy + other viewpoints @ http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/15/news/economy/500dollaroil_okeefe.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008092216 was insightful.

Useful links:
www.simmonsco-intl.com
www.eia.doe.gov
www.iea.org
www.cera.com
www.peakoil.net

We should basically be going back to creating a village economy, so that we really reduce the energy intensity of how we live. We need bigtime conservation, not feel-good conservation. Make things where they're used. You'll end long-distance commuting, and we have the tools to do that now with webcams. Grow food locally. Grow food in your backyard. If they're not commuting, people will have time to do that.
- Matt Simmons

Matt Simmons was spot on.

SoftImage

For an in-depth/technical case-study of how designers created the innovative visuals, go to www.softimage.com for more information.

Useful link:
www.avid.com

The New School

The New School is a center of academic excellence where intellectual and artistic freedoms thrive with new programs, learning experiences, and research projects.

Go to www.newschool.edu for further information.

Heard On The Street

Boomerang theory - what goes around, comes around. You can never beat Mr Market.

Random Thoughts

Just about all Americans came to believe that house prices would forever rise. That conviction made a borrower’s income and cash equity seem unimportant to lenders, who shoveled out money, confident that H.P.A. — house price appreciation — would cure all problems. Today, our country is experiencing widespread pain because of that erroneous belief. As house prices fall, a huge amount of financial folly is being exposed. You only learn who has been swimming naked when the tide goes out — and what we are witnessing at some of our largest financial institutions is an ugly sight.

- Warren E. Buffett

A classic quote + how true!

Zeira

To learn more about Sami Zeira's stunning contemporary line of jewelry, a fusion of past + present, go to www.zeira.com for further information. I liked it.

Royal Jewels

Royal Jewels: From Charlemagne to the Romanovs by Diana Scarisbrick + Christophe Vachaudez + Jan Walgrave is a fascinating book that explores 800 years of jewelry owned by European monarchs.

Useful link:

www.vendomepress.com

European Climate Exchange Update

According to analysts, there has been a 150% increase in the volumes of carbon trading on the European Climate Exchange in the first six months of the year and its predicted there would be further growth despite a global economic slowdown.

Go to www.europeanclimateexchange.com for further information.