The New Paris

The French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, has grand designs for Paris, and he will decide which of the 10 plans will be followed up once an exhibition of the initial designs goes on display in the Cite de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine. Check out the link www.citechaillot.fr

The (Im) Perfect Crime

The (Im) Perfect Crime
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/storysupplement/flyp_Madoff/index.htm

Brilliant story format. I liked it.

The Maiden Heist

Planning a Romantic Getaway
http://www.artnewsonline.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2674
http://www.yarifilmgroup.com/films/themaidenheist

.... at the core of the film is that intangible attraction people have to art of all shapes and sizes. And not necessarily people who have a profound art education, but those who know very little about it and still have that visceral reaction.
- Peter Hewitt

Useful link:
www.yarifilmgroup.com

Should be an interesting movie.

Freetailing

'Freetailing': US jeweller sets new trend in silver
http://www.commodityonline.com/goldnews/Freetailing-US-jeweller-sets-new-trend-in-silver-2009-04-30-17357-3-1.html

Useful links:
http://silverjewelry.com
http://www.thelongtail.com

An interesting free business model online.

Sharing The Wealth

Sharing the Wealth: Leonard Abess and the $60 Million Gift to His Employees
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2228

Useful link:
www.citynationalcm.com

Inspiring story, really. He decided to share the wealth as a way to reward the people who had helped make the bank successful.

The National Design Awards 2009

Scorecard / The National Design Awards
http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/scorecard-the-national-design-awards/?hpw

Useful link:
www.nationaldesignawards.org

Truly the winners represent an interesting cross-section of the design world.

Martin Rapaport Viewpoint

The 'W' Effect
http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=26174

Older people are scared and scarred. They are moving into saving survival mode and cannot be relied upon to fuel consumer spending. Most young and middle-aged Americans have also reached their credit limits. The era of excessive “spend-what-you-don’t-have” consumerism has ended. America can no longer fuel economic expansion through consumerism based on artificial wealth. That bubble has burst.

Useful link:
www.diamonds.net

How true! Today money is scarcer than diamonds.

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Justice in the Antwerp Diamond District
http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp

Useful link:
www.diamondintelligence.com

Spot on.