Panama Canal

4% of world trade passes through the Canal, and thanks to its widening. We will be in optimal condition, starting from 2015, to deal with what could be a possible increase of up to 6% of world trade through the Isthmus of Panama. Vielka Vasquez de Avila, University of Panama.

Useful link:
www.pancanal.com

I hope the environmental impact would be minimal.

Cathédrale d'Images

Fifty years ago, Picasso acted in Jean Cocteau's Testament of Orpheus, filmed in a limestone quarry in Les Baux-de-Provence. The quarry, now a cave-like gallery, is home to a Picasso exhibit in which his paintings are projected onto the irregular stone walls, which reach up to 40 feet high, accompanied by music from Miles Davis and Vivaldi. It's an immersive experience. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.cathedrale-images.com

Earth's Oceans

I have always wondered whether the impactors were icy comets or rocky asteroids. Maybe it's both. Perhaps it was an happy accident. Every time I drink a glass of water I think about it.

Useful links:
www.nbi.ku.dk
www.astrobiology.cf.ac.uk
http://geosci.uchicago.edu/~dauphas

Beautiful Losers

The new film explores underground subcultures in 1990s New York. www.beautifullosers.com

Jim Rogers News

Jim is well respected for good reason. He is usually spot on, and he isn't afraid to speak his mind.

Useful links:
http://jimrogers.tk
www.youtube.com/user/JimRogersChannel

Gem Mining In The Kaluganga River, Sri Lanka

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has filed a case in the Court of Appeal challenging licenses issued by Hasitha Thilakaratne, Gem & Jewellery Authority chairman, to mine gems in the Kaluganga River bed at Kahangama, where mining has allegedly damaged the environment. I hope they do the right thing. Check out the link www.ejustice.lk

Random Thoughts

Thousands perhaps are in the backwaters of life because of the debacles in 1997 and 1998. These stories should be a lesson to those trading today, with the same systems enlivened with better kinds of flashing lights. It was some kind of miracle that I took $25,000 and turned it into $115,000 back in the heydays. The market just went up and up and I could not pick a bad stock. I would make $10,000 in a few days. Then the market turned and I did not recognize it, played the same game, did not change my style, kept reading web pages from the bulls. But the bears had taken over. Then by the time I recognized my error the bulls had taken charge again and by that time I was listening to the bears. I lost both ways.

- Ken Smith

Spot on.

Japanese Akoya Pearls

Mikimoto's new akoya pearl culturing project in Ainoshima was interesting. If they are able to harvest akoya pearls with good color and luster, then it's good news for the pearl industry.

Useful link:
www.mikimoto.com