FTC writes:
23.23 Misuse of the words "ruby," "sapphire," "emerald," "topaz," "stone," "birthstone,"
"gemstone," etc.
(a) It is unfair or deceptive to use the unqualified words ruby, sapphire, emerald, topaz, or the name of any other precious or semi-precious stone to describe any product that is not in fact a natural stone of the type described.
(b) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word ruby, sapphire, emerald, topaz, or the name of any otherprecious or semi-precious stone, or the word stone, birthstone, gemstone,' or similar term to describe a laboratory grown, laboratory-created, [manufacturer name]-created, synthetic, imitation, or simulated stone, unless such word or name is immediately preceded with equal conspicuousness by the word laboratory-grown, laboratory-created, [manufacturer name]-created, synthetic, or by the word imitation or simulated, so as to disclose clearly the nature of the product and the fact it is not a natural gemstone.
Note to paragraph (b): The use of the word "faux" to describe a laboratory-created or imitation stone is not an adequate disclosure that the stone is not natural.
(c) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word "laboratory-grown," "laboratory-created," "[manufacturer name]-created," or "synthetic" with the name of any natural stone to describe any industry product unless such industry product has essentially the same optical, physical, and chemical properties as the stone named.
More info @ http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/jewel-gd.htm
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Doing Business In Eastern Europe
World Bank/IFC writes:
Doing business became easier in Eastern European countries in 2005-2006, according to a new report by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Thirty-eight reforms in 16 economies in the region reduced the time, cost, and hassle for businesses to comply with legal and administrative requirements.
Spurred by recent or prospective accession to the European Union, Eastern Europe reformed more than any other region, including Western Europe and other OECD countries.Romania is top reformer in the regionDoing Business 2007: How to Reform finds that Romania was the second most active reformer on the ease of doing business across 175 economies, implementing reforms to simplify business licensing and trading, easing access to credit, increasing labor market flexibility, and strengthening investor protection. Croatia was ranked seventh. The top 10 reformers are, in order, Georgia, Romania, Mexico, China, Peru, France, Croatia, Guatemala, Ghana, and Tanzania.
Doing Business 2007 also ranks 175 economies on the ease of doing business-covering 20 more economies than last year's report. The top-ranked countries in Eastern Europe are Lithuania (16), Estonia (17), and Latvia (24), followed by Slovakia (36) and Romania (47).
The 30 economies that score the highest on the ease of doing business are, in order, Singapore, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Hong Kong (China), the United Kingdom, Denmark, Australia, Norway, Ireland, Japan, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Lithuania, Estonia, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Israel, St. Lucia, Chile, South Africa, and Austria.
The rankings track indicators of the time and cost to meet government requirements in business start-up, operation, trade, taxation, and closure. They do not track variables such as market size, macroeconomic policy, quality of infrastructure, currency volatility, investor perceptions, or crime rates.
Romania -- the top reformer in the region and second-ranked globally -- simplified procedures for obtaining building permits and set up a single office for processing applications. This reduced the time for obtaining construction licenses by 49 days. Reforms to labor laws allowed term contracts to extend to six years, encouraging businesses to hire first-time workers. New customs procedures cut the time to satisfy regulatory requirements for trading in half, to 14 days. Romania also broadened the scope of information available for potential borrowers and sped bankruptcy proceedings.
More info @ http://web.worldbank.org
Doing business became easier in Eastern European countries in 2005-2006, according to a new report by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Thirty-eight reforms in 16 economies in the region reduced the time, cost, and hassle for businesses to comply with legal and administrative requirements.
Spurred by recent or prospective accession to the European Union, Eastern Europe reformed more than any other region, including Western Europe and other OECD countries.Romania is top reformer in the regionDoing Business 2007: How to Reform finds that Romania was the second most active reformer on the ease of doing business across 175 economies, implementing reforms to simplify business licensing and trading, easing access to credit, increasing labor market flexibility, and strengthening investor protection. Croatia was ranked seventh. The top 10 reformers are, in order, Georgia, Romania, Mexico, China, Peru, France, Croatia, Guatemala, Ghana, and Tanzania.
Doing Business 2007 also ranks 175 economies on the ease of doing business-covering 20 more economies than last year's report. The top-ranked countries in Eastern Europe are Lithuania (16), Estonia (17), and Latvia (24), followed by Slovakia (36) and Romania (47).
The 30 economies that score the highest on the ease of doing business are, in order, Singapore, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Hong Kong (China), the United Kingdom, Denmark, Australia, Norway, Ireland, Japan, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Lithuania, Estonia, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Israel, St. Lucia, Chile, South Africa, and Austria.
The rankings track indicators of the time and cost to meet government requirements in business start-up, operation, trade, taxation, and closure. They do not track variables such as market size, macroeconomic policy, quality of infrastructure, currency volatility, investor perceptions, or crime rates.
Romania -- the top reformer in the region and second-ranked globally -- simplified procedures for obtaining building permits and set up a single office for processing applications. This reduced the time for obtaining construction licenses by 49 days. Reforms to labor laws allowed term contracts to extend to six years, encouraging businesses to hire first-time workers. New customs procedures cut the time to satisfy regulatory requirements for trading in half, to 14 days. Romania also broadened the scope of information available for potential borrowers and sped bankruptcy proceedings.
More info @ http://web.worldbank.org
Intarsia
What Is Intarsia?
(via Gem Cutting: A Lapidary’s Manual) John Sinkankas writes:
The ancient art of imbedding small bits of colored material in cement to cover and decorate walls, floors, and other surfaces is called mosaic. Mosaic work using gemstones is popular among amateur gem cutters since it is both decorative and utilitarian. Surplus gem material can be used to advantage in ordinary mosaics, while exceptionally fine mosaic projects can absorb better material that is too small or not quite good enough for cabochons or faceted gems.
A variation of classic mosaic work is called intarsia, or sometimes pietre dure, or Florentine mosaic work. In this style of mosaic, flat pieces of stone are fitted together as closely as possible to make designs and pictures, much as pieces of glass are joined to make stained glass windows. However, intarsia is never transparent; pieces are always cemented to a base of stone, wood or other hard material. Some kinds of intarsia are inlaid into stone panels, which are then flattened to a common level and polished.
The beauty and effectiveness of intarsia depend on the skill used in making designs and selecting various kinds of stone to cover areas of different color and textures. The Italian method of inlaying intarsia is to carve out flat-bottomed recesses in soft slate to receive thin slabs of gem material (cut based on a paper pattern). The edges of the recesses are carefully trimmed to make them square and to avoid unsightly chipping. Since black slate is used, it is not necessary to try for a very exact fit because any slight gaps will be filled with an asphaltic mastic cement that matches the slate color. A truly perfect polish is not practical with this method because the heat generated will make the mastic flow and allow sections of stone to shift. However, a well-moistened pitch lap should overcome these difficulties and allow application of an excellent natural polish.
(via Gem Cutting: A Lapidary’s Manual) John Sinkankas writes:
The ancient art of imbedding small bits of colored material in cement to cover and decorate walls, floors, and other surfaces is called mosaic. Mosaic work using gemstones is popular among amateur gem cutters since it is both decorative and utilitarian. Surplus gem material can be used to advantage in ordinary mosaics, while exceptionally fine mosaic projects can absorb better material that is too small or not quite good enough for cabochons or faceted gems.
A variation of classic mosaic work is called intarsia, or sometimes pietre dure, or Florentine mosaic work. In this style of mosaic, flat pieces of stone are fitted together as closely as possible to make designs and pictures, much as pieces of glass are joined to make stained glass windows. However, intarsia is never transparent; pieces are always cemented to a base of stone, wood or other hard material. Some kinds of intarsia are inlaid into stone panels, which are then flattened to a common level and polished.
The beauty and effectiveness of intarsia depend on the skill used in making designs and selecting various kinds of stone to cover areas of different color and textures. The Italian method of inlaying intarsia is to carve out flat-bottomed recesses in soft slate to receive thin slabs of gem material (cut based on a paper pattern). The edges of the recesses are carefully trimmed to make them square and to avoid unsightly chipping. Since black slate is used, it is not necessary to try for a very exact fit because any slight gaps will be filled with an asphaltic mastic cement that matches the slate color. A truly perfect polish is not practical with this method because the heat generated will make the mastic flow and allow sections of stone to shift. However, a well-moistened pitch lap should overcome these difficulties and allow application of an excellent natural polish.
Art Nouveau Jewelry
By Vivienne Becker
Thames and Hudson Ltd
E P Dutton New York
1985 ISBN 0-525-24345-3
Thames and Hudson writes:
Jewelry was one of the purest, and most successful, expressions of the Art Nouveau movement. It captured the atmosphere and the passions of the fin de siecle, and the moral and artistic freedom which characterized the period. Fresh designs and motifs were created with intense excitement shared by artists all over the world. Sensuous and organic plant forms surged with new life; the female form struggled towards a new freedom, suggesting a long hidden eroticism; dragonflies and insects became creatures of beauty and fantasy; sunsets and changing seasons reflected the symbolic view of art in nature, borrowed from the Japanese. The artists and goldsmiths who created this jewelry were trained in the nineteenth century disciplines; their technical mastery allowed them to experiment with new materials and enamelling processes to indulge their fantasies. This combination—an atmosphere of ideas for a new art and the unrivalled technical skill of the makers—produced some of the most evocative jewelling art of modern times.
The book deals with major makers in France, and then follows the parallel modern movement that spread through Europe and the United States, acquiring different decorative characteristics, from England, Germany and Austria to Belgium, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. For the collector, comprehensive biographies are included, drawing together for the first time full information on over 300 designers. The Guide to Identification, including over 200 maker’s marks and signatures, forms an invaluable aid to identifying and appreciating the jewelry. Each part of the book is illustrated by a series of dramatic color and black and white plates: the striking variety of the pieces shown, from the organic beauty of the work of Lalique to the simpler, more geometric Liberty designs, is clear evidence of the international scope and appeal of Art Nouveau jewelry.
Thames and Hudson Ltd
E P Dutton New York
1985 ISBN 0-525-24345-3
Thames and Hudson writes:
Jewelry was one of the purest, and most successful, expressions of the Art Nouveau movement. It captured the atmosphere and the passions of the fin de siecle, and the moral and artistic freedom which characterized the period. Fresh designs and motifs were created with intense excitement shared by artists all over the world. Sensuous and organic plant forms surged with new life; the female form struggled towards a new freedom, suggesting a long hidden eroticism; dragonflies and insects became creatures of beauty and fantasy; sunsets and changing seasons reflected the symbolic view of art in nature, borrowed from the Japanese. The artists and goldsmiths who created this jewelry were trained in the nineteenth century disciplines; their technical mastery allowed them to experiment with new materials and enamelling processes to indulge their fantasies. This combination—an atmosphere of ideas for a new art and the unrivalled technical skill of the makers—produced some of the most evocative jewelling art of modern times.
The book deals with major makers in France, and then follows the parallel modern movement that spread through Europe and the United States, acquiring different decorative characteristics, from England, Germany and Austria to Belgium, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. For the collector, comprehensive biographies are included, drawing together for the first time full information on over 300 designers. The Guide to Identification, including over 200 maker’s marks and signatures, forms an invaluable aid to identifying and appreciating the jewelry. Each part of the book is illustrated by a series of dramatic color and black and white plates: the striking variety of the pieces shown, from the organic beauty of the work of Lalique to the simpler, more geometric Liberty designs, is clear evidence of the international scope and appeal of Art Nouveau jewelry.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Indicator Minerals
What are the indicator minerals for prospecting diamond?
Well-trained geologists look for garnet, chromite, chromian diopside, ilmenite, clinopyroxene, olivine, zircon, and diamond as indicator minerals. The minerals may also be found as inclusions in a diamond.
Well-trained geologists look for garnet, chromite, chromian diopside, ilmenite, clinopyroxene, olivine, zircon, and diamond as indicator minerals. The minerals may also be found as inclusions in a diamond.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Doing Business In South Asia
World Bank / IFC writes:
This is the third report in the series of South Asia regional reports based on the methodology of the annual global Doing Business report. The South Asia report covers 8 countries. The top ranked countries in the region are the Maldives (53) and Pakistan (74), followed by Bangladesh (88), Sri Lanka (89), Nepal (100), India (134), Bhutan (138), and Afghanistan (162). As a region, South Asia performs comparatively well in business start-up and protecting investors. It lags far behind, however, on the ease of employing workers, enforcing contracts, and trading across borders. In-depth examination of indicators in key cities provides helpful details that can be seen in the tables below. Hyderabad has the most business-friendly regulations in India, Karachi in Pakistan, and Dhaka ranks best in Bangladesh.
More info @ http://www.doingbusiness.org/southasia
This is the third report in the series of South Asia regional reports based on the methodology of the annual global Doing Business report. The South Asia report covers 8 countries. The top ranked countries in the region are the Maldives (53) and Pakistan (74), followed by Bangladesh (88), Sri Lanka (89), Nepal (100), India (134), Bhutan (138), and Afghanistan (162). As a region, South Asia performs comparatively well in business start-up and protecting investors. It lags far behind, however, on the ease of employing workers, enforcing contracts, and trading across borders. In-depth examination of indicators in key cities provides helpful details that can be seen in the tables below. Hyderabad has the most business-friendly regulations in India, Karachi in Pakistan, and Dhaka ranks best in Bangladesh.
More info @ http://www.doingbusiness.org/southasia
Quartzsite
Quartzsite is the annual host of one of the largest gem, mineral and fossil shows in the United States. Since the 1960s rockhounds have been moving to Quartzsite, in Western Arizona each year in large numbers to display their merchandise. During the month of January and February over a million plus visitors may descend on this town to sell their merchandise. In January, Quartzsite becomes the fourth largest city in Arizona because of the show. Most of the shows are outdoors, with dealers setting up booths outside or in tents right next to their trailers. Quartzsite is more casual than Tucson and the dealers enjoy it because of the relatively low set up costs. This enables them to sell goods at fair prices to buyers. During the show vendors come from all over the world to display all kinds of gem and jewelry crafts. There are daily field trips for those who are interested in rockhounding. The show also has special demonstrations on lapidary techniques sponsored by the Quartzsite Roadrunner Gem and Mineral Club. The show is a big event for cutters so that they are able to display diverse assortment of cut gems, minerals and fossils. At the same a lot of Quartzsite goods may get resold at the Tucson Gem and Mineral show.
Quartzsite show schedule:
- Desert Gardens International Gem & Mineral Show: January 2 – February 28
- Tyson Wells, Rock-Gem-Mineral Show: January 7 – 16
- Tyson Wells “Sell-A-Rama” Rocks, Gem-Arts-Crafts Show (January 21 – 30)
- PowWow Gem & Mineral Show: January 26 - 30
More info @ www.desertusa.com/Cities/az/quartzite.html
Quartzsite show schedule:
- Desert Gardens International Gem & Mineral Show: January 2 – February 28
- Tyson Wells, Rock-Gem-Mineral Show: January 7 – 16
- Tyson Wells “Sell-A-Rama” Rocks, Gem-Arts-Crafts Show (January 21 – 30)
- PowWow Gem & Mineral Show: January 26 - 30
More info @ www.desertusa.com/Cities/az/quartzite.html
Wall Street Movie
Memorable quote (s) from the movie:
Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas): Hiya, Buddy.
Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen): Gordon.
Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas): Sand bagged me on Bluestar huh? I guess you think you taught the teacher a lesson that the tail can wag the dog huh? Well let me clue you in, pal. The ice is melting right underneath your feet. Did you think you could've gotten this far this fast with anyone else, huh? That you'd be out there dicking someone like Darien? Naw... you'd still be cold calling widows and dentists tryin' to sell 'em 20 shares of some dog shit stock. I took you in... a NOBODY! I opened the doors for you... showed you how the system works... the value of information... how to *get it*! Fulham oil, Brant resources, geodynamics and this is how you fucking pay me back you COCKROACH! I GAVE you Darien! I GAVE you your manhood I gave you EVERYTHING! You could've been one of the great ones Buddy. I look at you and see myself... WHY?
Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen): I don't know. I guest I realized that I'm just Bud Fox... and as much as I wanted to be Gordon Gekko, I'll always be Bud Fox.
Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas): Hiya, Buddy.
Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen): Gordon.
Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas): Sand bagged me on Bluestar huh? I guess you think you taught the teacher a lesson that the tail can wag the dog huh? Well let me clue you in, pal. The ice is melting right underneath your feet. Did you think you could've gotten this far this fast with anyone else, huh? That you'd be out there dicking someone like Darien? Naw... you'd still be cold calling widows and dentists tryin' to sell 'em 20 shares of some dog shit stock. I took you in... a NOBODY! I opened the doors for you... showed you how the system works... the value of information... how to *get it*! Fulham oil, Brant resources, geodynamics and this is how you fucking pay me back you COCKROACH! I GAVE you Darien! I GAVE you your manhood I gave you EVERYTHING! You could've been one of the great ones Buddy. I look at you and see myself... WHY?
Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen): I don't know. I guest I realized that I'm just Bud Fox... and as much as I wanted to be Gordon Gekko, I'll always be Bud Fox.
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