Stirling Prize 2009

Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners has won the 2009 Stirling Prize, Britain's most prestigious architectural honors, for their design of a cancer center in London. Congratulations!

Useful links:
www.richardrogers.co.uk
www.architecture.com

Random Thoughts

The mutual fund industry is a $10 trillion industry that has seen no innovation for 25 years. The Internet has had no impact.

- Andy Rachleff
www.kaching.com

The concept is great — the ability to tap into not just the wisdom of the crowd, but to be able to identify and invest with the particular geniuses in the crowd that stand out.
- Marc Andreessen

So true!

Optical Data Storage

The scientists at the University of Edinburgh believe tiny crystals could hold the key to creating computers with massive storage capacity. Great news, really.

Useful link:
www.chem.ed.ac.uk/staff/academic/alexander.html

Wine Odyssey Australia

Check out Wine Odyssey's walk-through crash course in Australian wine. Brilliant concept, really.

Useful link:
http://wineodyssey.com.au

China Design Now 2009

The Portland Art Museum has a great China Design Now exhibition now. China is definitely moving from imitation to innovation in design + many sectors. Check it out.

Useful links:
http://portlandartmuseum.org
www.cdnpdx.org

Niassa (Mozambique) Ruby

Cheryl Kremkow's report on Niassa (Mozambique) rubies was edcuational and insightful. I have seen the rubies (treated/untreated) in Bangkok. The top quality ones can be easily confused with Burmese/Thai/Tanzania (Winza). I think the prices are also fair to a certain degree. I hope the mines are productive/sustainable in the long run.

Useful link:
www.diamonds.net

Art & Copy

I thought Doug Pray's documentary about the advertising industry was superb. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.artandcopyfilm.com

David Hockney

Carol Kino's opinion piece in the NYT on David Hockney, Britain’s most famous living artist was interesting.

Useful link:
www.hockneypictures.com