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Sunday, May 31, 2009

The Black Stone Of Kaaba

According to Grant Pearson (Australia), meteoritic materials have been of interest since antiquity for ornamentation or amulets, or as objects of fear, curiosity, worship or veneration. For example, the black stone of Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia to which pilgrims have long paid homage is thought to be meteoritic with its ancient mystical allusions probably arising from its having fallen from the heavens. For a different viewpoint, check out the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba

Startup2Startup

Startup2Startup: Different viewpoints
http://startup2startup.com

Bill Cunningham Viewpoint

On the Street / Bridal Path
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/05/30/fashion/20090531-street-feature/index.html#

Weddings + Sweet 16 parties were brilliant. I loved it. Thanks Bill.

Art Market Update

Snuff said
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13762914

Useful link:
www.christies.com

In the current market, when only rare objects of excellent quality are selling well, such a provenance can only enhance value. Spot on.

Food, Inc Movie

How much do we really know about the food we buy at our local supermarkets and serve to our families? Listen to the leaders in the food movement. Check out the link www.foodincmovie.com

About Sierra Leone Diamonds

Digging in the dumps
http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13745774

Useful links:
www.koiduholdings.com
www.pacweb.org
www.awdc.be

I hope the collapse of world diamond prices will not drive frustrated, disenfranchised youth to violence/unrest. Many artisanal miners have gone back to farming. As the Economist rightly put it, in the longer run, a bit of diversity may be healthy.

The Architecture Of Happiness

The Architecture of Happiness by Alain De Botton is in fact a meditation on beauty, durability, proportions, symmetry + the role that architecture plays connecting one's environment/psychological factors. A must read.

Useful link:

Random Thoughts

People should paint their roofs white and drive cool cars on pale-colored roads to avoid devastating climate change. Yes, make people paint their roofs white. I think white is pretty. If all vehicles used cool colors then they could cut down the air conditioning and we would have a great reduction in energy.

- Steven Chu
US Energy Secretary
www.energy.gov
www.nobelcause.org