Sagra dell'Uva

Sagra dell'Uva or the grape festival commemorates the return of Admiral Marcantonio Colonna to his home in Marino after his victory over the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in October 1571. Each year, they hand out 150 tonnes of grapes and provide 3,000 litres of the local white wine during the four-day festival. Go to www.comune.marino.rm.it for further information. A must visit.

William McDonough

To learn more about energy efficiency in architecture + the future of environmental designs + elimination of industrial wastes, go to www.mcdonough.com

Useful link:
www.worldfutureenergysummit.com

Heard On The Street

I'm really starting to get worried now. Everything is bad news. I don't know what's happening.

Random Thoughts

If you are a little innovative or a little bit of a gambler, and you make a product which is either ahead of its time or has an evolutionary design, or has features that work into a person's perception, then you have an acceptable product.

- Ratan Tata
www.tata.com

Synthetic Diamond Update

The Gemmological Association of All Japan’s Zenhokyo Laboratory reports identification of yellow melee synthetic diamonds mixed with natural stones in jewelry during routine inspection via Micro -FTIR (Fourier-Transform Infared Micro-Spectroscopy). I hope other labs are using this technology.

To learn more, go to www.gaaj-zenhokyo.co.jp

As always, if you are doubtful, consult a reputed gem testing laboratory.

Global Business Update @ BBC

Peter Day reports on Israel's Silicon Wadi + the extraordinary growth of small high technology businesses + other viewpoints @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/global_business.shtml

Useful links:
www.technionseed.co.il
www.ngtnazareth.com
www.incubators.org.il
www.carticure.com
www.renopharm.com
www.adva.org
www.matrix.co.il
http://g.ho.st

Inspiring success stories!

Art Exhibits In China

Duncan Hewitt's article on contemporary art shows in China + the big business of Chinese art + risks and rewards + other viewpoints @ http://www.newsweek.com/id/162302/page/1 was interesting and insightful. A must read.

Random Thoughts

The US national debt was $5 trillion; but within a week the government doubled the national debt to the $10 trillion mark. The bailout is simply absurd and unimaginable. It is going to be very bad for the US government, economy, dollar and inflation.

- Jim Rogers
www.jimrogers.com