The Dark Side of the Editor: Strange Clipart Images Revealed!

Ok. Truth be known, we don’t know who uploaded these images to our Clip Art gallery but there’s a studio-wide manhunt to find the suspects and bring them to justice. Meanwhile, we thought we should bring these findings to the public’s attention as our Editor apparently requires more and stronger regulation.

If any of you are using these images, we’d like to know about it! Send us the URL for your website and we’ll send you a neat gift – it’s the least we can do for you, buddy.

Exhibit no. 1 – A very pink pig standing on two legs.

Is this the version of ‘Babe’ that was never released? I mean, this fella looks kind of, eh, disoriented?

Potential uses: Pig flu awareness websites.

Exhibit no. 2 – Pig theme again. A piggy van.

Interesting. What we have here is a large pink van with a tail, wearing a pig’s mask. There’s a non smoking sign on the door and some sort of a tagline in a South East Asian language. Is this a convoluted metaphor for an anti-smoking campaign? Does smoking turn you into a pig? Give your pigs cancer? What?

Potential uses: Wedding car-hire service websites. Your guests will never forget it, nor will you.

Exhibit no. 3 – Rubber ducks wrapped in shrink-film.

Ok, am I the only one feeling uncomfortable here? Or does it seem like this picture was taken out of some hardcore fetish DVD? Did you notice the chilling ‘send help’ note on close-up? This is not right.

Potential uses: Moving companies websites. “We’ll wrap anything, your ducks and all”.

Exhibit no. 4 – A pill.

The Pharmaceutical industry is booming all over the globe and every Joe Shmoe is selling fake Viagra from his grandmother’s garage. This pill looks quite mysterious though – will it turn you invisible? Grow hair on your palm? Wanna try and find out?

Potential uses: Scientology websites warning against prescription drugs.

Exhibit no. 5 – Sushi.

I love Sushi. I truly do. Is this tamago in the middle? With some salmon roe on top? And a pickled daikon radish? We can’t be too sure.

Potential uses: DIY websites for the legally blind.

More Than Words: Blogging for The Biz

When hearing the word “blog”, many people think about teenage girls dissing whatever, web wizards philosophizing or hipsters trying out new clothes. It is true that most blogs contain some kind of commentary, interpretation, ranting or other styles of writing that are considered personal. Why, then, would a company, a small business or an online service require a blog? Certainly not only to display the price list. Yet major companies will not even consider excluding a blog from their websites, and small businesses are catching up more and more.

So what are the advantages for adding a blog to your business site?

First of all, to keep your visitors updated on new developments, new products, new versions, special offerings, etc. The blog platform allows the business to introduce these novelties in detail, accompanied by images or technical stuff that you just can’t fit into a twitter feed.

But a blog that offers nothing more than news is not only boring to read, it’s boring to write. In order to generate real interest in your company’s blog you need to create a dialogue with the readers. That’s another great advantage of keeping a company blog. It allows you to connect with your clients on a more personal level. You can use the company blog to share the “backstage” working process, to ask for your clients’ advice on certain issues, to post answers to recurring questions and so forth. If you do that successfully, the readers will react through the comments and you will have a valuable communication channel with them. Super!

Another great thing about company blogs is that they are good for SEO. Most business sites don’t have enough text to enjoy SEO benefits, but blogs always do. Playing it smart with a blog can increase the number of quality visitors substantially.

One more important reason to manage a company blog is that it adds character to the site and to the business in general. The blog is the place to loosen the tie a little and have some fun. Clients tend to appreciate a business run by humans with humor and personalities rather than corporate clerks. You don’t need to completely lose your head. It will not be a good idea to joke about your work if you sell cremation urns- You just need to find the right tune that fits your business and play it.

And in the spirit of good will, here are a few cool business blogs that were designed by Wix users:

Sparrow Memories

RK Organics

Pure Palette

Recessionomics 101: How to Make Extra Money

This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit

Jennifer Winslow wanted to earn some extra cash without giving up the flexibility of working part time.

An avid cook, she and a friend initially planned to cater meals for busy families. When that turned out to be too time consuming, she tried baking. More than five years later, she has a thriving bakery business in Winslow, Maine (her husband's family has been in town a long time).

Now on her own, she supplies four restaurants with cakes and other sweets and makes desserts for individuals and weddings.

A growing number of Americans would like to follow Mrs. Winslow's example. Job loss, tighter credit and a renewed appreciation for savings is persuading more people to cut expenses.

But you can cut only so far. Two full years of recession have not left many unexamined family expenses. Meanwhile, prices -- from gasoline to utilities to food -- haven't fallen. And incomes, if you still have one, aren't exactly shooting through the roof. It's time to make some money.

Fortunately, there also are many ways to earn extra cash even when full-time jobs and extra shifts aren't an option. They include taking in boarders, starting a small business and getting paid for your opinion. Some of this work provides only a free meal and $10 fee but others, such as tutoring or selling Grandma's diamond broach, could be quite lucrative.

The key, according to Gail Cunningham, a spokeswoman for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, is to "find your skill or what you think would be fun to do." She says, for example, someone with computer skills may want to teach a class, install computers or create Web sites.

"Think about what are people willing to pay for," says Ms. Cunningham. "Who do you know and how can you leverage existing relationships." For example, does your dentist need someone to clean the office or does your accountant need someone to cater the Christmas party?

1. Sell It: One of the fastest and easiest ways to get extra cash is to sell unwanted and unused stuff. And it's never been easier to make hundreds or even thousands of dollars. You could post a few signs in the neighborhood and sell everything at a Saturday garage sale or you could try the online route with services such as eBay or Craigslist.

Linda Lightman first tried eBay more than 10 years ago because she wanted to help her sons get more for their old videogames. It was so easy that the former lawyer started selling her old suits. Then, friends asked her to sell theirs.

Today, shoplindasstuff.com has 50 employees and expects to reach $7 million in sales this year on eBay. "The economy has been the perfect storm for my business," Ms. Lightman says. "More people need cash, and more people are looking for bargains."

Auction houses also are a popular place to sell potentially valuable items. Alexander Eblen, head of the jewelry and fine timepieces department at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago, says people often don't realize the value of an old watch or grandmother's Art Deco jewelry. For example, a Tiffany broach recently sold for about $68,000.

Don't overlook some of the more mundane items, such as books and sports equipment. Many bookstores provide cash or store credits for "gently" used books. Similarly, stores like Play It Again Sports provide cash and store credits for gently used sports equipment. Check with local stores but they often need golf clubs, ice skates, lacrosse equipment and other gear.

2. Rent It: Your home, probably your biggest asset, is a potential source of extra cash. A growing number of people are renting out a room or grabbing a roommate for extra income. It's less difficult for residents in "destination" locations near colleges, resorts or cities to rent a room or even the house for a few weeks, months or long term.

Some homeowners prefer using a real-estate agent, others like finding renters themselves, online or through friends. Either way, it's crucial to vet the potential tenant and spell out expectations. Rents vary from a few hundred dollars to thousands in large cities.

Another option that's a longtime favorite of students and young adults is earning extra cash for house and pet sitting.

3. Say It: Many businesses are willing to reward individuals for taking opinion polls, testing products or being a secret shopper. The compensation varies, and it's crucial to avoid scams. Work only with reputable companies and avoid anything that requires a membership fee. One place to start is OpinionPlace.com, which lets poll participants choose Amazon.com gift cards, PayPal credits or American Airlines AAdvantage miles. There also are stores such as CVS, whose Advisor program provides consumers who complete surveys with ExtraBucks coupons.

People won't make much but they might have fun working in a focus group or evaluating products or services as a mystery shopper. Once again, watch out for scams. Don't pay any fees or respond to unsolicited emails. A good place to start is Volition.com or Mysteryshop.org, the Web site for the Mystery Shopping Providers Association.

4. Do It: One of the best ways to earn extra cash is by creating a business using existing skills and interests. An artist may teach a class, a photographer may do weddings and a sports enthusiast may referee or caddy.

"What are you volunteering for that you could get paid for?" asks Ms. Cunningham. She says it could be as simple as getting paid for office work or watching your child's classmate after school.

One of the most popular and lucrative part-time jobs is to tutor, either for a college-prep class or a specific subject. Typical pay ranges from $30 to more than $100 an hour, depending on where you live.

Mrs. Winslow always loved to cook. "People would always ask me if I could bring the dessert if I was going somewhere for dinner," she says.

A master at multitasking, she works about 20 hours a week for Jennifer's Edibles. Her advice: "Start small and do things that are manageable. Don't get so overwhelmed that you want to quit."

Glen 'Big Baby' Davis wants a new nickname

By J.E. Skeets

After getting fined for the second time this season — the latest for cursing out at a fan heckling him — Celtics forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis admits it's time to grow up. His plan: Retire the sippy cup, graduate to a "big boy bed," and drop the immature nickname.

"I've been called 'Big Baby' all through my life," said Davis before Monday night's wet and wild Celtics-Clippers game. "But I'm going through changes. I'm in a cocoon and I'm coming out a different player, a different person. Basically, the new person is growth. I'm shedding that 'Big Baby' and you can see something else, not the past."

Glen "Big Butterfly" Davis?

No?

Just a thought.

Davis requested that fans should give him new nickname suggestions via his Twitter page (@GlenDavisNBA). But when The Boston Metro's Jeff Howe suggested "Uno Uno" — Spanish for Davis' No. 11 jersey and in the spirit of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochicinco — the 24-year-old erupted in delight.

"I like that," he said. "I'll be 'Uno Uno.' That's my new name. Don't call me 'Big Baby' any more. 'Uno Uno.' I'm serious. If somebody calls me ('Big Baby'), I'll be really mad. I'm going to blast that out on Twitter and Facebook."

"Uno Uno." Seriously, Glen? Try "Um, no ... Um, no." That is horrible.

I'm positive that the BDL readers can come up with something better. Leave your suggestions below.

One off-the-top-of-my-head suggestion: "Costanza."

Moonstone Ring in Sterling Silver on Sale

By Jessica - Hard to believe this is on sale. Moonstone Ring in Sterling Silver on Sale

Moonstone rings are popular thanks to the TV show True Blood and the movie New Moon (Twilight Saga). But we don’t care if you like those shows and movies or not, moonstone is very pretty anyway. This ring has 14k gold in it with the sterling silver, and a pear-shaped moonstone gem. Regular price: $169.95 Sale price: $139.95 Moonstone Ring on Sale at Moonstone-Jewelry.com

Hope Pink Sapphire Ring

Hope Pink Sapphire Ring

Standard Delivery 4-5 working days from £6

Price: £580.00

A curvaceous nugget of Sterling Silver set with pink sapphire pavé adds a hint of glamour and sparkle.
A total of 162 pink sapphire stones set in black rhodium, creates an impressive ring that is sure to stand out from the crowd.
As hope is eternal this ring is timelessly modern with subtle vintage undertones.The inside is as beautiful as the outer with its fossilised look.
The fashion must have of the season, this delectable ring is the right statement for cocktail hour or every other hour.
This ring is available in sizes L, N,P and S. See ring sizer for sizing advice. / www.linksoflondon.com

Palagems.com Tourmaline Buying Guide

A stunning bi-color tourmaline acorn, cut by Pala International’s Meg Berry. This stone won an AGTA Cutting Edge award in 1995. Photo: Wimon Manorotkul

Introduction/Name. Tourmaline is the name for a group of related mineral species. In gemological practice, individual species names are not used. Instead all are simply termed “tourmaline.” The name is derived from the Sinhalese word “tourmali,” which means “mixed parcel.”

Color. Color is king for Tourmaline, which is found in more hues, shades and nuances than any other gem. Indeed, not only does tourmaline come in every possible color, but some tourmalines have more than one color in the same stone. Here are a few of the more important varieties:

• Rubellite – red
• Indicolite – blue
• Chrome– intense green colored by chromium/vanadium
• Bi-Color – tourmalines which display two or more colors in the same stone
• Watermelon – Bi-color tourmalines which show a green skin and a red core; these are often cut as slices
• Canary – bright yellow tourmaline from Malawi
• Paraíba– intense blue to green from Paraíba, Brazil, colored by copper
• Cat's Eye – chatoyant tourmaline in a variety of colors
• Color-Change – changes from green in daylight to red in incandescent light

Other varieties are sold simply with a color prefix, as in “pink tourmaline.” As with most gems, the color should be as intense as possible, not too dark or too light.
One of the more distinctive features of tourmaline is its strong pleochroism, with the ordinary ray color (the color seen parallel to the c-axis) being deeper than that of the extraordinary ray. In some varieties, this can easily be seen in the face-up position.

The effects of pleochroism can clearly be seen in this oval green tourmaline. Along the vertical axis, a bluish green color is seen, while along the horizontal axis, the color is yellowish green. This is a product of the doubly refractive nature of tourmaline. Photo: Wimon Manorotkul

Lighting. The proper lighting conditions for tourmaline will depend on the color variety. Reds, oranges and yellows generally look best under incandescent light, while greens, blues and violets appear prettier under daylight. When buying any gem, it is always a good idea to examine it under a variety of light sources, to eliminate future surprises.

Clarity. Different varieties of tourmaline tend to have different clarities. Thus while large clean tourmalines in the blue and blue-green colors are available, almost all red and pink tourmalines will show eye-visible inclusions. The most common inclusions in tourmaline are fractures and liquid-filled healed fractures. Needle inclusions are also common.

This suite of electric Paraíba tourmalines shows just why the stone has set the gem world afire. Stones such as this typically sell for tens of thousands of dollars per carat. Photo: Wimon Manorotkul

Cut. The cuts used on tourmaline are as varied as the color. Due to its strong pleochroism, darker tourmalines are cut to display the lighter of the two pleochroic colors. This means orienting the c-axis of the crystal parallel to the table facet. Gems cut with this orientation are often rectangles and rectangular emerald cuts because of the elongated nature of tourmaline crystals.
Tourmalines of lighter color are typically oriented with the table facet perpendicular to the c-axis, to display the richest color possible. Thus they are often cut as rounds, triangles, trillions and ovals. A quick glance at the tourmaline suite shows this.
In addition to faceted stones, cabochon-cut tourmalines are often seen.

A suite of tourmalines from Pala International illustrates the tremendous variety within this gem family. Photo: Wimon Manorotkul

Prices. The prices of tourmaline vary tremendously, depending on the variety and quality. Most expensive are the Paraíba tourmalines, which may reach tens of thousands of dollars per carat. Chrome tourmalines, rubellites and fine indicolites and bi-colors may sell for as much as $1000/ct. or more. Other varieties are available for prices between $50–750/ct., depending on the richness of the color.

Stone Sizes. Paraíba tourmalines are extremely rare in faceted stones above 2 cts. Fine Paraíba above 5 carats can be considered world-class pieces. Most stones tend to be less than 1 ct. Chrome tourmalines of quality are rare in sizes above 10 cts., as are rubellites.

Sources. Tourmaline is a pegmatite mineral and so is mined from the world’s great pegmatite districts. Foremost is Brazil, but fine tourmalines are also found in San Diego County, including the famous Pala pegmatite district, and Maine. The East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar have also produced fine tourmaline in the past. Beautiful yellow “canary” tourmalines come from Malawi, while extremely fine rubellites and blue-green tourmalines are found in Nigeria. Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Burma also produce gem tourmalines on occasion.

This watermelon tourmaline pendant from California’s Himalaya Mine is a wonderful example of the variety. Jewelry: The Collector; Photo: Wimon Manorotkul

Enhancements. Like the color itself, the enhancement possibilities for tourmaline are wide in variety. The resulting stones are stable under normal wearing conditions and completely safe. Heat treatments are used in some instances, while irradiation is used in others. Occasionally tourmaline is oiled to hide the visibility of fractures and other surface-reaching fissures.

Imitations. Tourmaline has never been synthesized, but a number of imitations exist, including natural stones and man-made imitations such as glass.

Chrome tourmaline from Tanzania features an intense, almost emerald green color. Photo: Wimon Manorotkul

The wide variety of colors possible in tourmaline is illustrated by this stunning crystal from California’s Himalaya Mine.

Properties of Tourmaline

	Tourmaline (a mineral group)
Composition	Tourmaline is one of the most complex of all mineral groups, and includes the following species: Buergerite: NaFe3+3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(O)3(OH) Chromdravite NaMg3[Cr,Fe3+]6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 Dravite: NaMg3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 Elbaite: Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 Feruvite: CaFe2+3[Al5Mg](BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 Foitite: [Fe2+2(Al,Fe3+)]Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 Liddicoatite: Ca(Li2Al)Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 Magnesiofoitite: [Mg2+2(Al3+)]Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 Olenite: NaAl3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(O)3(OH) Povondraite: NaFe3+3Fe3+6(BO3)3Si6O18(O)3(OH) Rossmanite: (LiAl2)Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 Schorl: NaFe2+3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 Uvite: CaMg3[Al5Mg](BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 In summary, tourmaline is a complex aluminum boro-silicate, with heavy emphasis on the “complex.” One pundit likened it more to a medieval alchemist’s brew than a respectable mineral species. And a glance at the above formulae would bear that out.
Hardness (Mohs)	7 to 7.5
Specific Gravity	3.06 (+ 0.20; - 0.06)
Refractive Index	1.624–1.644 (0.18–0.40; usually 0.20, may be greater in dark stones); doubly refractive, uniaxial negative
Crystal System	Hexagonal-trigonal
Colors	Any and all. Tourmaline occurs in more colors than any other gem. Some colors have specific variety names, including: Bi-color: More than one color in the same stone Chrome: Intense green, colored by chromium and/or vanadium Indicolite: Blue Paraíba: Electric blue to green, colored by copper Rubellite: Red Watermelon: Pink in the center, green at the edge
Pleochroism	Strongly dichroic with the ordinary ray having a darker color
Dispersion	0.017
Phenomena	Cat's eye tourmalines are common. Color-change chrome tourmalines, which change from green to red, are occasionally found.
Handling	Ultrasonic: generally safe, but risky if the gem contains liquid inclusions Steamer: not safe The best way to care for tourmaline is to clean it with warm, soapy water. Avoid exposing it to heat or acids.
Enhancements	A variety of enhancements are regularly applied to tourmaline, depending on the source and variety. These include heat, irradiation, and oiling.
Synthetic available?	No

Further reading
For more on tourmaline, see:

• California Gem Mining: Chronicle of a comeback
• Mining at Pala
• The Queen Reigns Again
• www.palagems.com/tourmaline_buyers_guide.htm

By Richard W. Hughes

Pink Flower Sterling Silver Fashion Ring

Delicate and lovely, with a pink natural stone at the center, this ring fits the fingers of a lady so young, sassy and sleek. It’s design and style is great for everyday use. It can be matched with almost any clothes or outfit.
Ring Information
• Metal Sterling Silver
• Finish Polished
• Width 1.18″ | 3 cm
• Weight gr 15.5
• Color Silver
Stone Information
• Shape Round
• Color Pink
• Dimensions 0.4″|1 cm W
• Setting Prongs
Via Forzieri / Ringoblog

Explore the World of Diamonds

Learn about different types of diamonds and their shapes.

The word “Diamond” according to Greek language is “Unconquerable” or “Invincible” and there is no doubt that Diamonds have been a matter of attraction among men and women since many centuries. While students learn the structure property of diamonds there have been movies produced showing the plight of poor labors working in Diamond mines and undertaking hardships.

But when it comes to Diamond there are different types of Diamonds with different shapes and colors.

The Millennium Star Diamond as shown in the picture below weighs 203 carats and is one of the biggest Diamonds of the world with perfection.

Image source

Diamond is the hardest material among natural resources found and the hardest of diamonds are found in Australia, New South Wales.

Today there are world-renowned companies who offers diamond and jewelleries embedded with diamonds of all types and they are not short of buyers. Let it be celebrities of royal families they all have fancied Diamonds since ages.

image source

visit source http://scienceray.com

Bentley Gets More Luxurious With $150,000 Diamond-Studded Knob

We have earlier told you about diamond-covered Mercedes, Gold-Plated Porsche and Chrome BMW, so what’s next in the luxury chariots of the rich & the famous! This time, the ever-luxurious Bentley adorns the jeweled look with this $150,000 Bentley Knob! This royal masterpiece is handcrafted with 30 carats of real diamonds and 10 ounces of 18 carat white gold. This world’s most expensive Bentley shift knob almost equals the price tag of the roadster itself, for $150,000 and it took 100 hours of labor to complete. The opulent diamond gear is currently on display at the company’s headquarters in Las Vegas. Source www.bornrich.org

Diamond Rings, Understanding Key Elements Before You Buy

Diamond rings are of course the most traditional way for a man to propose marriage to a woman; however diamond rings can and are given as gifts for many reasons. Diamond rings are very popular as anniversary gifts, bithday gifts and more. It should be noted that in many countries, a man should not give a diamond ring to a woman unless he plans on asking her to marry him, yes right then, or if they are already married. If not, the woman may get the wrong idea! Anyone who is thinking of purchasing a diamond ring should understand the key elements of diamonds.

We all know diamond rings to clearly be the most beautiful. Elegant and classy way to show your love. The famous saying of “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” may not neccesarily be true, but it reminds us all of just how important diamonds are to most females. It is tradtion and custom that teach women that diamond rings symbolize love and caring, no woman should be afraid to admit how much she loves the idea of a diamond ring. Before purchasing diamond rings, customers should get aquainted with the main facts regarding diamonds and then dwelve a bit into the various cuts that are available.

The name of diamond comes from the ancient Greek word that means invincible. This certainly was a perfect fit. The diamond is, by all scientist and geologist’s agreement, the hardest natural material found on Earth. The only thing that can scratch a diamond is another diamond.

Each year, over one million karats of diamond are minded; this adds up to over nine billion dollars. The diamond may be rare, but there are definitely enough to go around! Diamond rings have been around for many centuries. The use of diamonds in jewelry dates all the way back to the beginning of modern man.

You may wonder where diamond rings come from; the diamonds themselves are mined all over the world however almost half come from Africa. Other countires with major diamond mines are Canada, Brazil, Australia and Russia. Diamonds form very deep in the Earth and the diamonds are brought to the surface via volcanic pipes. It is deep within our Earth that the diamonds are subjected to intense pressure and hot temperature that allow them to form.

Choosing diamond rings can be a big task, howver it helps to understand the cut. Most diamonds are cut with an ideal cut; this means that a crafter will look closely at an individual diamond and decide which cut will best suit the diamond. The cut that is chosen will be the one that makes the diamond stand out, sparkle and look best.

Round diamond rings are very popular, they come in at number one. Diamond rings with a round diamond are classic and elegant. Many feel that the round cuts shows exactly what the diamond looks like and it is easy to see the clarity and quality of the diamond with this elegant, straight forward cut.

Diamond rings can also be found with square or rectangle cut diamonds. An emerald cut diamond will be a square or rectangular one that has clipped corners so that the gem can be set perfectly in the ring. A diamond cut this way will really stand out and is a bit trendier than other cuts.

Oval diamonds are another type of diamond rings and many times an oval cut diamond will be accompanied with other gems, such as emeralds or rubies. Pear shaped diamonds are very classy; some women love this cut and find it unique. Although, one of the most unique cuts will be the marquise diamonds, a very fancy cut usually giving higher prices. With all cuts, one should be careful to avoid areas in the middle of the diamond that look shaded, this can happen if the cutting was done poorly. Source www.shopsland.org

14k White Gold Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring

14k White Gold Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring

Description

Let her know how special she is. An amazing natural blue sapphire is set between stunning diamonds on this three stone ring representing your past, present, and future. From engagement to anniversary, this extraordinary ring will look good forever.

Price: $990.00
(Price subjects to change)

vipjewelers

THE CENTENARY The Centenary, was discovered at the Premier Mine of South Africa on the 17th of July 1986 and joined the ranks of the worlds largest d

The Centenary, was discovered at the Premier Mine of South Africa on the 17th of July 1986 and joined the ranks of the worlds largest diamonds, it weighed in at 599.10 carats in rough form. Master-cutter Gabi Tolkowsky took almost three years to complete its transformation into the world's largest, modern-cut flawless diamond. The Centenary has 75 facets on top, 89 on the bottom and 83 on the girdle, for a total of 247 facets. It weighs 273.85 carats and now forms part of the British Crown Jewels. www.valuablestones.com

THE EXCELSIOR

The Excelsior which means "higher" is not only one of the worlds largest diamonds it is the second largest diamond ever found. It originally weighed 995.2 carats. The diamond was cut into ten pieces, the three largest weighing 158, 147 and 130 carats. These pieces were then cut into 21 gems ranging from 70 carats to less than 1 carat. An African mine worker found the diamond as he was loading his truck, he kept the find secret until he could safely turn it over to the mine manager who rewarded him with some money, a horse and a saddle. www.valuablestones.com

Amazing Collection Of Daimond Rings

Do you have a craze of diamond rings would you like to get elegant design rings? If yes then here Master Swiss jeweler and watchmaker Piaget presenting the stylish quite solid these rings are technical masterpieces of playful movement.

These are such a great designs and attractive looks of diamond ring all the rings are looking so nice and beautiful the designer has really presents stylish form of beautiful designs diamond rings for all the beautiful girls I have seen that girls have big craze of diamond rings there are lots of stylish diamonds rings which looks so much attractive and gorgeous.

I have a big craze of rings if your friends or your husband gives you a beautiful diamond ring surprisingly then what will be you do I think this is a great chance for decorating your fingered with beautiful design gorgeous ring I really like diamond rings these rings has amazing shine it looks fabulous.
These rings are also best for engagement or wedding I have seen lots of beautiful diamond rings but these are also looking nice you can also easily wear it for any special occasion these rings are white or rose gold set with diamonds in two district styles. http://weblogsurf.com

Stylish Design Of “Fiona ” Diamond Jewelry

Do you like to wear stylish design of Diamond jewelry mostly women has a big craze of diamond and they are always ready for latest pattern of stylish diamond jewelry. The glint that a diamond can fetch in a woman’s eye is matched by no other! And the good news is that diamonds are regarding to lose their pricy tags, with ‘Fiona’-India first branded moissanite jewelry, which would be accessible at Durga Jewels. For the uninitiated, moissanite is a innovative category of jewels with fire, sheen and brightness which is seldom establish in any other stone.

“Fiona aims at quenching the thirst of a women for wearing solitaires, which otherwise is considered a luxury. This is such a great and pretty diamond jewelry with amazing design with latest pattern it looks gorgeous with Fiaona it will now become an affordable luxury. This amazing design of Fiona jewelry has includes men’s rings, ladies rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and bangles.
The designs are solely crafted and handpicked to highest stipulation. This is the one of the excellent quality of unique diamond jewelry and the price of this jewelry is starting from Rs 10,000 to Rs 10 Lakh. So what you think about this diamond jewelry get ready to buy. By Sumangla in Luxury, Link: http://weblogsurf.com

MYSTERY GEM: What colorless gem has recently found a second career as a diamond substitute?

When it comes to gems, all that glitters isn’t diamond. The need for low price-point diamond substitutes has led designers to leave no colorless stone unturned in their exhaustive search for diamond essence at clear quartz prices. Obviously, our mystery stone is not quartz. Neither is it zircon, which we have pitched for more than a year as an inexpensive natural diamond look-alike. So what is it? Well, here’s a generous, if not giveaway, clue. This gem was once found in the United States and may be found there again some day. Indeed, it owes its name to its American place of discovery.Colored Stone GemMail

Mission Possible: Slashing Prices with No Loss in Markup or Margins

By Lisa Brooks-Pike - Pity the traditional jeweler who must discount his traditional jewelry to stay alive.

Adventures in penny pinching. Lisa Brooks-Pike uses this popular, classic three-stone style from Stuller’s voluminous catalog to show bargain-hungry customers every cost-cutting option open to them with regards to metals and gems so that they can save up to thousands of dollars—with no loss in quality and beauty.

I don't discount to survive. I give affordable alternatives. I am the bargain hunter's dream come true. How? I have learned how to be a non-traditional jeweler who can sell traditional jewelry by re-inventing it. Others give the old for less. I give the new for less. It's easy to do. Let me show you my method:
Let's take a three-stone ring (mounting #4797) from Stuller that I frequently offer customers.
Why am I using Stuller? Stuller's catalog is a great place to introduce shoppers to the incredible diversity of choices available to them. I use the catalog to explain alternative gems and metals that save money without sacrificing quality or beauty. But be forewarned: the catalog is useless if the jeweler doesn't have knowledge and appreciation of the cost-savings detours they are offering.

This 5.97-carat white zircon has everything a diamond has--except the price. Photo courtesy of Color First, Tampa, FL.

Remember: Sell only what you love or respect. I honestly believe white zircon is as beautiful as diamonds. And I think palladium is infinitely preferable to white gold. At every stage in the alternatives process, you must be able to talk knowledgeably about the options you are proposing. And you must believe in these options. So if you don't know about the alternatives, bone up on them. I find Colored Stone gives me constant tutoring in new gems and metals. Okay, let's get started. I've prepared a table that will take you from high to low prices for a three-stone ring that is an object of great desire for many women. You won't need your calculators. I've done the computations for you. Get ready to be amazed at how much you can save your customers.

For those who want the fine blue of sapphire for far less money, may we suggest this 6.83-carat tanzanite. Photo courtesy of Color First, Tampa, FL.

[Note: I’ve used Stuller’s catalog as a main frame of reference so that you can double-check my prices. However, I source some gems such as white zircon from other dealers. All prices are double keystone.] Here’s how this exercise in price-slashing works. I start at the top of expense chain and work down, substituting lower-price metals and gems as I go along. See for yourself how easy it is to play price-hero to consumers without sacrificing margins and profitability.

For bottom fishing consumers, there are stones like this 1.51 crystal quartz that give the colorlessness of diamonds at a tiny fraction of the cost. Photo courtesy of Color First, Tampa, FL.

Mounting #4749 with diamonds (5.8mm center; 4.88 mm side stones):
Set in platinum: $7,378.64
Set in 18k white gold: $6,826.00
Set in 14k white gold: $6,624.50
Set in 10k yellow gold: $6,495.00
Mounting #4749 with white sapphires:
Set in palladium: $697.00

Mounting #4749 with white zircon:
Set in palladium: $500.00
Set in sterling silver: $250.00
Mounting #4749 with colorless quartz or topaz:
Set in sterling silver: $100.00

This 2.70-carat iolite is a viable sapphire alternate and an answer to every penny pincher's prayer. Photo courtesy of Color First, Tampa, FL.

Now, let’s price the piece with alternate center stones:
Mounting #4749 with tanzanite center stone:
Set in 14k white gold: $3,123.00
Mounting $4749 with iolite center stone and white sapphire side stones:
Set in palladium: $466.00
Set in sterling silver: $260.00
By offering traditional settings with alternative gems and metals, jewelers can weather the current recession—saving customers bundles of money and, in the process, saving their businesses.

Cambodia's Minority Languages Face Bleak Future

(Image is sample only)

21 January 2010

VOA News

Robert Carmichael | Phnom Penh

More than 20 languages are spoken in Cambodia, but most are minority languages and face extinction in the coming decades.

Jean-Michel Filippi is in a race. As the foremost scholar of S'aoch, the language of one of Cambodia's minority tribes, he has only a few years to record the language before it may be lost forever. To date he has recorded 4,000 words in S'aoch. His next step is to write a grammar book on the language.

Filippi says just 10 people are fluent in S'aoch and none uses the language in their daily life. That makes S'aoch the most endangered language in Cambodia. In a decade it will likely be extinct.

For him, recording the language is one way to preserve a cultural view of the world.

"Culturally speaking a language is a unique vision of the world," Filippi said. "You can take two languages which may appear to be - if not similar then very close to each other, like French for instance and English - in fact the vision of the world which implies in French language and English language are totally, totally different. If a language disappears, a whole vision of the world disappears as well at the same time."

Cambodia's dominant language is Khmer but small ethnic groups have other languages.

The United Nations' cultural agency UNESCO warns that 19 Cambodian languages are at risk of extinction. It is not a rare problem: half of the world's 6,700 languages will likely die out by the end of the century. Most are spoken by small ethnic communities in developing nations or by groups such as Native American tribes in North America.

Blaise Kilian is UNESCO's joint program coordinator in Phnom Penh. He says there are many reasons languages die.

"When you have only a very few people speaking a language of course it is in danger of being extinct," Kilian said. "But besides this you have the environment. You have the way people, themselves, and especially the new generation, react to the changing environment. How much they are interested themselves in preserving and transmitting their own languages. So I would say it is a number of internal and external factors which play an important role besides the number of speakers."

Filippi says the S'aoch people have rejected their own language because they are extremely poor. They have decided their best bet is to adopt the Khmer language.

"In the case of the S'aoch they apparently want to get rid of their language and their cultural institution because it is linked to their poverty, to I would say their economic situation, which compared to the Khmers is a very poor one, and so on and so on," Filippi said.

The imminent extinction of S'aoch raises the question of what can be done about Cambodia's other endangered languages. With S'aoch, the only option is to write down and record as much as possible while the speakers are alive.

The situation is less dire for some languages spoken in other parts of the country. In the northeastern provinces of Ratanakkiri, Mondolkiri and Stung Treng a number of organizations are involved with youth and adult education for minority people.

One of those is Care International, which for seven years has worked with the Ministry of Education on a program teaching schoolchildren in two languages.

Care's education adviser, Ron Watt, says almost 2,000 primary school children in the three provinces last year received instruction both in their ethnic community's language and in Khmer. The program is now in 25 schools.

"Bilingual education is really spreading - people are very enthusiastic about it," Watt said.

Watt says that before the program started, the government and aid organizations had misconceptions about education for minority people. One of those misconceptions was that minority groups did not want to send their children to school.

"What we have found that that is just not the case at all - that the moment you start providing relevant education that kids can access and that kids can learn, parents are more than enthusiastic to send their kids, and kids are enthusiastic to go," Watt said.

The positive response from minority communities toward language learning programs highlights something Jean-Michel Filippi insists is essential to keeping languages alive.

"If a community wants its language to be saved and is strong enough to express the will to have its language saved, it may very well work. But you will never save a language if the community doesn't want to," Filippi said.

Cambodia's poverty does not augur well for the language survival chances of its minority peoples, many of whom are struggling to keep hold of their community land.

Language and development experts say that unless Cambodia's economic situation improves, it seems likely that it will lose far more than the S'aoch language by the end of this century.

Amazing Holes

These holes are not only amazing, but some are really terrifying! The sheer scale of these holes reminds you of just how tiny we are.

Kimberley Big Hole - South Africa

Apparently the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world, this mine is 1,097 meters deep and yielded over 3 tons of diamonds before being closed


Glory Hole - Monticello Dam, California

A glory hole is used when a dam is at full capacityand water needs to be drained from the reservoir.
It is the largest spillway of this type in the world.
It consumes 14,400 cubic feet of water every second.


Great Blue Hole , Belize

This incredible geographical phenomenon known as a blue hole, is situated 60 miles off the mainland of Belize. There are numerous blue holes around the world, but none as stunning as this one.

Sinkhole in Guatemala

These photos are of a sinkhole that occurred early this year in Guatemala . The hole swallowed 2 dozen homes and killed at least 3 people.