This 70's stepper has somewhat of a Stevie meets Bobby Caldwell thing, & in a pretty good way. His version of "Time After Time" on the lp is worth checking as well.
John Valenti - Anything You Want
John Valenti - Anything You Want
Africom Commander In Congo
Africom commander General William E. "Kip" Ward said this week that the U.S. plans to provide training, advice, and capacity building to the Congolese army. He made the remarks during a visit to Kinshasa, the last leg of a three-nation tour that stopped in Kenya and Rwanda as well.
This isn't the first training program conducted for the Congolese army by U.S. personnel. In January, a team of military investigators and lawyers held a collaborative training project on the investigation and prosecution of sex crimes that take place under military jurisdiction. The four-day workshop was organized by MONUC in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Defense Institute of International Legal Studies in Newport, Rhode Island. Forty-two military investigators, prosecutors, and magistrates from the province of Orientale attended. The goal was to better enable the military to stop crimes of sexual violence--many of which are committed by soldiers in the FARDC, the Congolese army itself. Another series of workshops are scheduled for other provinces in May.
Plans are also being made for a major medical exercise, MEDFLAG, to be held with the DRC military next summer, according to Colonel (Doctor) Schuyler Geller, U.S. Africom's command surgeon who was on the trip with Ward. MEDFLAG will concentrate on medical training and skill-building for DRC military medical personnel.
Such capacity-building missions are a major acitivty of Africom, the U.S. military command established last fall to oversee American military relations with 53 nations in Africa. In recent testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Ward said the U.S. currently has partnerships with 35 of the 53 nations covered by the command on the continent. Among them are U.S. military/training/aid operations in Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Tunisia, and Uganda. It might be noted that these operations are only those publicly acknowledged by Africom—others are undoubtedly below the radar at the moment.
Africom has been particularly active in Rwanda and Uganda. The organization earned a large black eye earlier this year by providing advice and technical support for the Ugandan attack on Joseph Kony's Lords Resistance Army. That operation turned into a general debacle, resulting in the deaths of about 1000 Congolese civilians and displacement of tens of thousands more.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
"To restore the peace and stability that the Congolese people deserve talks to the reason for my being here," Ward said at the press conference during his visit. "It is how we can conduct our military activities to support the training and to support the increased professionalization of the Congolese armed forces as best we can as they work to bring security and stability here in the Congo."Ward met with Congolese Minister of Defense Charles Mwando Nsimba and Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Didier Etumba Longila. He also toured Centre Superieur Militaire, a military school. Under a U.S. State Department program, a seven-man Mobile Training Team instructs Congolese officers in military leadership, preparing plans and orders, military decision-making, and staff functions. The students range in rank from captain to colonel.
This isn't the first training program conducted for the Congolese army by U.S. personnel. In January, a team of military investigators and lawyers held a collaborative training project on the investigation and prosecution of sex crimes that take place under military jurisdiction. The four-day workshop was organized by MONUC in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Defense Institute of International Legal Studies in Newport, Rhode Island. Forty-two military investigators, prosecutors, and magistrates from the province of Orientale attended. The goal was to better enable the military to stop crimes of sexual violence--many of which are committed by soldiers in the FARDC, the Congolese army itself. Another series of workshops are scheduled for other provinces in May.
Plans are also being made for a major medical exercise, MEDFLAG, to be held with the DRC military next summer, according to Colonel (Doctor) Schuyler Geller, U.S. Africom's command surgeon who was on the trip with Ward. MEDFLAG will concentrate on medical training and skill-building for DRC military medical personnel.
Such capacity-building missions are a major acitivty of Africom, the U.S. military command established last fall to oversee American military relations with 53 nations in Africa. In recent testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Ward said the U.S. currently has partnerships with 35 of the 53 nations covered by the command on the continent. Among them are U.S. military/training/aid operations in Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Tunisia, and Uganda. It might be noted that these operations are only those publicly acknowledged by Africom—others are undoubtedly below the radar at the moment.
Africom has been particularly active in Rwanda and Uganda. The organization earned a large black eye earlier this year by providing advice and technical support for the Ugandan attack on Joseph Kony's Lords Resistance Army. That operation turned into a general debacle, resulting in the deaths of about 1000 Congolese civilians and displacement of tens of thousands more.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
Garden Warblers
Came across three singing this morning, this showy one at Ferry Meadows.
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
Digiscoped with Canon A640 and Leica APO77 x20
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
Digiscoped with Canon A640 and Leica APO77 x20
Best alternative to diamond I : Getting to know diamond
Would you agree that "Diamonds are a girls best friend"?
As for me, it's my all-time favorite stone! May and I have been working with numerous types of gemstones and we still get excited everytime we work with real diamonds.
However, with the current economy, diamond jewelry may not be the first choice for many. And for some people, wearing diamonds everyday or on a trip makes them feel 'unsafe'. There are alternatives to diamonds and I will attempt to exposed some new ideas for you.
2 types of diamond-like stones
1. Synthetic stones e.g. Cubic Zirconia, or the so-called CZ, Synthetic Moissanite, etc
2. Natural stones e.g. White Sapphires, White Topaz, etc
Apart from the above examples, there are many more stones that are similar to diamonds. I will focus on the most popular ones in my blog.
3 unique "practical values" of diamond
1. Diamonds are natural. All diamonds are at least 3.3 billion years old. The age of a diamond is more than two thirds the age of the earth itself. And that's why it's so expensive.
For people who truly love jewelry, the natural property is one of the most important criterias because natural stones are a better investment and have an emotional value.
2. Highest hardness of all stone. Stones are measured by their hardness in a 1-10 scale ("mohs scale"). The hardness of a diamond is 10, which means it can scratch glass and all stones that have the hardness level from 1-9. In general, the harder the stone, the higher the price. Diamonds are used in glass industry for cutting. The window in your house is probably cut by synthetic diamonds! In this picture below from www.allaboutgemstones.com, you will see that softer stone can be scratched easily by knife, glass, coin, or even nail.
Hardness is important feature for practical reasons. Hard stone will not scratch easily so its beauty is long-lasting. If you love to wear jewelry everyday, hard stones like diamonds or sapphires or rubies are a more practical option for you as they won't be wear out easily.
3) High brilliance and luster. Of all gems, diamonds have the highest refraction index and the highest dispersion, emitting pretty glittering "rainbow" or "fire" that you always see.
This is one of the most important aesthetic values of diamonds and gemstones!
Stay tuned for more...
To view our Art Ring & Jewelry Designs, please click here
Ring Ouzel
A great find by Mike this morning after the one at King's Dyke failed to show yesterday.
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus
Digiscoped with Canon A640 and Leica APO77 x20
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus
Digiscoped with Canon A640 and Leica APO77 x20
An Earth Day Reason Why Congo Matters
While the eyes of most journalists and activists are focused on the mineral riches of the Democratic Republic of Congo, another of the country's assets is being exploited with consequences that will be felt far beyond the center of Africa. It's the forest that covers 45% of the nation--the second largest tropical rainforest in the world. Properly managed and developed, the Congo's timber could be a perpetually-renewable resource that provides jobs, fuel, and food for millions of Congolese while it continues to give the rest of the world cleaner air and combats the effects of global warming. At the rate it's being exploited today, though, the Congo's rainforest will shrink to nearly half its size in the next fifty years.
The forests in DRC are amazingly diverse. As one of the few forest areas on the continent to have survived the ice age, they provide refuge for several large mammal species driven to extinction in other countries. Congo is known to have more than 11,000 species of plants, 450 mammals, 1,150 birds, 300 reptiles, and 200 amphibians, most of them protected by the rainforest.
In 2002, the government imposed a ban on new logging concessions. That ban was widely ignored as local officials often turned their heads in exchange for a few dollars while the timber companies cut as they pleased. The growing network of logging roads also opened up access to previously-ignored sections of the forest to local woodcutters, charcoal producers, and hunters. Today, according to Greenpeace, an area the size of Spain is under control of logging companies, some 30% of which was grabbed after the 2002 moratorium.
Last year, the World Bank, which has encouraged development of timber operations in the DRC, finally woke up to the results of their efforts and funded a six-month review of existing concessions to see if they conformed to basic standards. Of 156 deals examined, only 65 made the grade. The review found that most of the concessions adhere to no basic environmental standards and pay little or no tax to the central government.
In January, DRC's Environment Minister Jose Endundo told Reuters that those who had failed to make the grade would have to stop logging within 48 hours. "Upon notification of the cancellation decision, the operator must immediately stop cutting timber," he said. Considering the government's record in enforcing the original ban, I'm sure the chainsaws immediately fell silent.
Why should we care about a forest that's half a world away? Those forests are part of the cooling band of tropical forests around the equator that has been compared to a thermostat to moderate the earth's temperature. It's believed that deforestation is the second largest source of global emissions of CO2, the culprit behind global warming. Economist Sir Nicholas Stern says halting deforestation is the single most cost-effective way to fight climate change.
Halting deforestation doesn't mean letting people starve so trees can grow. Modern forest management techniques allow for harvesting of timber and use of the land for economically-advantageous activities while ensuring that the forest has a chance to rejuvenate itself. Millions of jobs can be created from not just logging operations but downstream processing and value-adding manufacturing of wood products. That approach to forestry management is possible only when timber companies are monitored and laws are enforced.
Any encouragement we can give Congo to protect and manage its tropical rainforest will pay off for the entire world.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
The forests in DRC are amazingly diverse. As one of the few forest areas on the continent to have survived the ice age, they provide refuge for several large mammal species driven to extinction in other countries. Congo is known to have more than 11,000 species of plants, 450 mammals, 1,150 birds, 300 reptiles, and 200 amphibians, most of them protected by the rainforest.
In 2002, the government imposed a ban on new logging concessions. That ban was widely ignored as local officials often turned their heads in exchange for a few dollars while the timber companies cut as they pleased. The growing network of logging roads also opened up access to previously-ignored sections of the forest to local woodcutters, charcoal producers, and hunters. Today, according to Greenpeace, an area the size of Spain is under control of logging companies, some 30% of which was grabbed after the 2002 moratorium.
Last year, the World Bank, which has encouraged development of timber operations in the DRC, finally woke up to the results of their efforts and funded a six-month review of existing concessions to see if they conformed to basic standards. Of 156 deals examined, only 65 made the grade. The review found that most of the concessions adhere to no basic environmental standards and pay little or no tax to the central government.
In January, DRC's Environment Minister Jose Endundo told Reuters that those who had failed to make the grade would have to stop logging within 48 hours. "Upon notification of the cancellation decision, the operator must immediately stop cutting timber," he said. Considering the government's record in enforcing the original ban, I'm sure the chainsaws immediately fell silent.
Why should we care about a forest that's half a world away? Those forests are part of the cooling band of tropical forests around the equator that has been compared to a thermostat to moderate the earth's temperature. It's believed that deforestation is the second largest source of global emissions of CO2, the culprit behind global warming. Economist Sir Nicholas Stern says halting deforestation is the single most cost-effective way to fight climate change.
Halting deforestation doesn't mean letting people starve so trees can grow. Modern forest management techniques allow for harvesting of timber and use of the land for economically-advantageous activities while ensuring that the forest has a chance to rejuvenate itself. Millions of jobs can be created from not just logging operations but downstream processing and value-adding manufacturing of wood products. That approach to forestry management is possible only when timber companies are monitored and laws are enforced.
Any encouragement we can give Congo to protect and manage its tropical rainforest will pay off for the entire world.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
Ain't No Valley Low
New ditty! A lil' Marvin, Tammi and B.O.B. harmonic re-arrangement.
I'll Be In the Sky (premium blend)
I'll Be In the Sky (premium blend)
"Africa's World War" For Serious Congo Watchers
As a more-than-interested observer of events in the Democratic Republic of Congo, I found Gerard Prunier's Africa's World War a worthwhile if dense expression of one man's opinions about an incredibly complex chapter in the continent's history. Is it rife with supposition, self-serving sources, and subjective interpretation of events? Certainly. But that's the nature of the conflict, so readers expecting a black-hat-white-hat cast of good guys and bad guys are going to be dismissive of the work if not outraged at the author's audacity to present it as history. I suspect this is as close to an actual history of this period as we're ever going to see.What I found particularly useful was Prunier's run down of the multitude of nations involved in the two wars. The roles played by everyone from Libya to South Africa are examined in sometimes mind-numbing detail. The whys and wherefores of each player's participation are by necessity speculative; the Angolan military doesn't have much in the way of neat regimental histories posted on the Web to use as sources and neither Yoweri Museveni or Paul Kagame are known for giving lengthy confessional interviews. Still, if you approach the material with patience and several grains of salt, you can come away with a better understanding of how the conflict in Congo was shaped by numerous outside forces.
It should be noted that this isn't light, recreational reading. I studied the DRC for five years as I was researching my novel Heart of Diamonds and I still found it essential to refer to Prunier's list of abbreviations and glossary time and time again. The sheer number of acronyms is enough to slow comprehension to a crawl, but again, this is no more than an accurate portrait of a 15-year conflict where six men with an RPG can declare themselves a rebel militia, take over a village, and eventually sit down at the negotiating table with representatives from several sovereign countries and the United Nations before splitting up to join opposing armies where they start the process all over again. Any account of alliances in Congo reads like alphabet soup in a blender.
Prunier could have provided a little more specficity and clarity about two big topics. One was the role the United States played (and plays) in the Congo wars. With his somewhat fragmented organizational approach, it was difficult to piece together what we did to whom and who did what to us. America's hands have come away soiled every time we lay them on Congo (dating to our rush to be the first country in the world to endorse King Leopold's bold claim to own the nation), and I would have liked a more detailed account of what happened and when we did it during the period covered by the book.
The other is Rwanda's major involvement in the game. Prunier certainly provides an exhaustive account of the genocide's aftermath and how it played out in the eastern provinces of the DRC, but the big picture seemed to have been obscured by the details. Maybe my mind was dulled by slogging through account after account of what was happening to the refugees and which ones were the good Tutsis and which ones where the bad Tutsis, but I have to say I didn't come away from the book with a clear understanding of what Prunier thinks Kagame really hopes to accomplish.
Those looking for a simple definitive account of war in Congo had best look elsewhere, but readers who are sophisticated enough to take one man's observations and opinions and weigh them accordingly will find Africa's World War a useful addition to the shelf.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
Trackademicks & F.A.M.E. + Roger Tribute @ ELBO Saturday
This Saturday will be BIG at the 4onefunktion...we got Trackademicks performing LIVE with Tap 10 and 10a.k. of Honor Roll, Spank Pops mastering the ceremonies, F.A.M.E. with an ill beat/controller one/vocoder/keys set, DJ's Mista B & Aron party bomb droppin', and I will be taking part with a Roger Troutman/Zapp tribute set for the anniversary of his passing. Now more than ever it seems dude was way ahead of his time.
R.I.P. ROGER.
Flashback Edit: White Gurl - Cressy Funk
One from a few years back, utilizing the heavy rhythm and drums of Cookin' On 3 Burners' - "Cressy St. Breakdown". Check out and support the Australian organ trio here.
E-40, Bun B, Pimp C, Juelz Santana - White Gurl (b.cause cressy funk blendit)
E-40, Bun B, Pimp C, Juelz Santana - White Gurl (b.cause cressy funk blendit)
Why Congo Matters
With the rising howl of protest over the conflicts causing the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it's easy for us to forget that there are other, very important reasons we should all be concerned about what happens in Congo. I briefly spoke about "Why Congo Matters" at the 18th Annual Westchester Library System Book & Author Luncheon.
You can hear my remarks in an mp3 file at www.heartofdiamonds.com.
As you can tell by the stillness of the room while I spoke and the applause following, the response was very gratifying. Many of the more than 200 audience members approached me afterward to express surprise, not just at the atrocities that have gone unchecked for fifteen years but at the potential impact the DRC could have on Africa and the world if it were a peaceful, stable nation.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
You can hear my remarks in an mp3 file at www.heartofdiamonds.com.
As you can tell by the stillness of the room while I spoke and the applause following, the response was very gratifying. Many of the more than 200 audience members approached me afterward to express surprise, not just at the atrocities that have gone unchecked for fifteen years but at the potential impact the DRC could have on Africa and the world if it were a peaceful, stable nation.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
Welcome!
- Oprah Winfrey said that "The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams." In this blog, we are sharing the biggest adventure we take. We've been dreaming about designing and creating our own jewelry following our passion. Discover the dream we're living here!
 Below is our Articles Archive by category. You can also browse from the right-hand menu bar.The art of Jewelry Makings: 1.How rings are handmade? Popular! 3.Our exclusive cufflink base design New Post! Inspirations behind our designs: 4.{Inspired by}Cindy Lin 5.{Inspired by}Vlad's Love 6.{Inspired by}Feng Shui |
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 ABOUT US 360Jewels is an artisan jewelry brand founded by us. We create jewelry that looks like art from 360 degrees angles. View >> |
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Articles Archive
 The art of Jewelry Makings: 1.How rings are handmade? Popular! 3.Our exclusive cufflink base design New Post! Inspirations behind our designs: 4.{Inspired by}Cindy Lin 5.{Inspired by}Vlad's Love 6.{Inspired by}Feng Shui 7.Tribute to Michael Jackson New Post! Tips & Info! 8.What is Sterling Silver? 9.5Way to keep silver tarnish-free 10.Best Alternative to Diamond I: Diamond |
5 ways to keep your silver tarnish-free
Anyway, there are ways, simple ways, to slowdown the tarnishing process and help keep your silver in a lasting good condition. Minor tarnish can be easily buffed off with silver cloth. Heavy tarnish has to be scrubbed off and may also remove some silver substance from your jewelry. That's why proper maintenance is so important!
1.STORAGE:  An example of air-tight jewelry box |
| 2.BEFORE USE: Apply your hair spray before wearing silver and make sure your lotion or perfume is well absorbed to your skin or clothes. Your hands must be free from lotion or other chemicals before touching silver jewelry. |
| 3.DURING USE: Avoid exposing your jewelry with chemicals and grease e.g. perfume, hair spray, food etc. Just keep it as clean and dry as you can. |
| 4.AFTER USE: Simply wipe off any possible residues on your silver jewelry with soft cloth before storage. If you see sign of tarnishing, simply wipe it off gently with a silver cloth like this one.  We have tested effectiveness of this cloth. click here to find info However, please note that if your silver piece is plated, you don't need to use this jewelry cloth that often (as your piece won't tarnish easily anyway). Excessive use of the cloth can also wipe off your coating layer. |
5.PLATE IT!: 18K Gold Plating, a long-lasting way to prevent tarnishingAt 360Jewels, we use high quality & thick layer 18K gold plating in Yellow Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, and Black Gold. Follow this link to read more about 18K black gold plated jewelry. |
Visit our Art Rings Gallery at www.360Jewels.com
What is sterling silver?
Have you ever wondered what "sterling silver" exactly is? And what is the difference between "silver" and "sterling silver"? In this post, I'll try to explain terms relating "sterling silver" and "silver" in the most human-friendly way.
What is Sterling Silver?
Sterling Silver is made from "92.5% fine silver" + "7.5% alloy". That's why sometimes people interchangeably call Sterling Silver as :
- 92.5% Silver
- 925 silver
- 925 Sterling Silver.
Actually they all refer to the same thing. So,What is Alloy?
Alloy is basically one or a mixture of metals. Alloy is usually mixed with other element (like silver) to create strength.
What is Fine Silver?
Fine silver is a 99.9% silver. So it's the purest form of silver. 99.9% silver is usually used in a form of pure silver wire. They are usually sold by foot as silversmithing supplies.
So why is "Sterling Silver" more popular than "Fine Silver"?
Fine Silver is not popular simply because it's not practical to use for making jewelry. Like fine gold, fine silver is just too soft for producing large functional objects. That's why people usually alloy fine silver with metals like copper, etc to give it strength (and that becomes sterling silver). Sterling Silver is more popular due to its strength and a long history of its usage as money.
Becoming a smart silver jewelry buyer
You will be a well-educated customer if you recognize the following definitions:
Sterling Silver
(or 92.5% Silver or 925 Silver or 925 Sterling Silver)
Now you know what it is! Congratulations! :-)
Fine Silver Jewelry
Normally, Fine Silver Jewelry simply refers to 'high quality' jewelry and not 99.9% silver jewelry. Fine silver (99.9%) is just too soft to make jewelry.
Silver Plated Jewelry
This means the base of the jewelry is made of metal, not silver. In this case, the metal is surface-covered with silver. That's why the price can be significantly lower for this kind of jewelry.
Rhodium Plated Silver
This means the base of jewelry is made of silver, and coated with "rhodium". Sometimes, platinum or silver jewelry is rhodium plated.
In the case of platinum, it is because rhodium is a bit brighter than platinum, so it is used to enhance the shine. For silver, the reason is different as silver is actually shinier than rhodium. But silver is a much softer metal, and can be scratched very easily. So people are willing to trade a small bit of shine for a better scratch protection.
If you are shopping for a new piece of jewelry in white gold, platinum, or silver, be sure and ask the jeweler if the item has been rhodium plated. Often, customers buy rhodium-plated pieces without realizing it–knowing how your new jewelry was made will help you maintain it properly and enjoy its beauty for years.
What is Sterling Silver?
Sterling Silver is made from "92.5% fine silver" + "7.5% alloy". That's why sometimes people interchangeably call Sterling Silver as :
- 92.5% Silver
- 925 silver
- 925 Sterling Silver.
Actually they all refer to the same thing. So,What is Alloy?
Alloy is basically one or a mixture of metals. Alloy is usually mixed with other element (like silver) to create strength.
What is Fine Silver?
Fine silver is a 99.9% silver. So it's the purest form of silver. 99.9% silver is usually used in a form of pure silver wire. They are usually sold by foot as silversmithing supplies.
So why is "Sterling Silver" more popular than "Fine Silver"?
Fine Silver is not popular simply because it's not practical to use for making jewelry. Like fine gold, fine silver is just too soft for producing large functional objects. That's why people usually alloy fine silver with metals like copper, etc to give it strength (and that becomes sterling silver). Sterling Silver is more popular due to its strength and a long history of its usage as money.
Becoming a smart silver jewelry buyer
You will be a well-educated customer if you recognize the following definitions:
Sterling Silver
(or 92.5% Silver or 925 Silver or 925 Sterling Silver)
Now you know what it is! Congratulations! :-)
Fine Silver Jewelry
Normally, Fine Silver Jewelry simply refers to 'high quality' jewelry and not 99.9% silver jewelry. Fine silver (99.9%) is just too soft to make jewelry.
Silver Plated Jewelry
This means the base of the jewelry is made of metal, not silver. In this case, the metal is surface-covered with silver. That's why the price can be significantly lower for this kind of jewelry.
Rhodium Plated Silver
This means the base of jewelry is made of silver, and coated with "rhodium". Sometimes, platinum or silver jewelry is rhodium plated.
In the case of platinum, it is because rhodium is a bit brighter than platinum, so it is used to enhance the shine. For silver, the reason is different as silver is actually shinier than rhodium. But silver is a much softer metal, and can be scratched very easily. So people are willing to trade a small bit of shine for a better scratch protection.
If you are shopping for a new piece of jewelry in white gold, platinum, or silver, be sure and ask the jeweler if the item has been rhodium plated. Often, customers buy rhodium-plated pieces without realizing it–knowing how your new jewelry was made will help you maintain it properly and enjoy its beauty for years.
To view our Art Ring & Jewelry Designs made of 925 sterling silver, please click here
Related Articles:
______________________________________________________________
In case you love history:
Where did the term "sterling" come from?
Here's the info for you.This term "sterling" and "pound sterling" emerged in England during the 1200s. The word "sterling silver" may have been known first as "easterling silver" which is believed to come from:
-> The Old Norman French, Esterlin (meaning little star) AND
-> The Old English, Stiere (meaning strong, firm, immovable)
Easterling Silver was used to refer to the grade of silver that had originally been used as the local currency in an area of Germany. In payment for English cattle and grain, the German used their local currency which was in the form of 92.5% silver coins. England soon learned that these coins, which they referred to as "the coins of the easterlings", were of a reliably high quality and hardness.
Resources:
www.wikipidia.com
www.essortment.com
and more!
Related Articles:
______________________________________________________________
In case you love history:
Where did the term "sterling" come from?
Here's the info for you.This term "sterling" and "pound sterling" emerged in England during the 1200s. The word "sterling silver" may have been known first as "easterling silver" which is believed to come from:
-> The Old Norman French, Esterlin (meaning little star) AND
-> The Old English, Stiere (meaning strong, firm, immovable)
Easterling Silver was used to refer to the grade of silver that had originally been used as the local currency in an area of Germany. In payment for English cattle and grain, the German used their local currency which was in the form of 92.5% silver coins. England soon learned that these coins, which they referred to as "the coins of the easterlings", were of a reliably high quality and hardness.
Resources:
www.wikipidia.com
www.essortment.com
and more!
"Dead Aid" Review Draws Comments
My review of Dead Aid, Dambisa Moyo's provocative book about the failures of aid in Africa, has drawn comments from several places. One of the more interesting exchanges was with "An American in Kathmandu" that occurred on my blog on Daily Kos. The exchange began with a quote from my review:
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to Africa's economic problems. As you know, every country is different, every situation unique. In general, though, I rather admire the Chinese approach similar to the deal being negotiated now in the DRC: we'll build you a railroad; you give us rights to develop these mines. Ignoring the way they treat their workers (for the sake of this argument), such a deal pretty much gives everybody what they want without a layer of ideology. Local companies and/or labor do much of the work on both the project and the mines, the government gets revenue from the mines in the form of royalties and taxes, and the Chinese get a source of minerals for their industries. Such deals don't have to be for extractive industries, either; they can cover manufacturing, agricultural, or even service industries where direct foreign investment (not government-to-government aid) makes sense. Of course, there are several miles of hurdles to be jumped to get to these deals and make them fair, etc., but they are doable. They are also only one of a number of ways to approach the development dilemma.
Which brought this reply from "American in Kathmandu"...
What public-private partnerships need in Africa is the element that's sorely missing in opaque societies like the kleptocracies that are the norm: rule of law. If there is a fair commercial code and other body of law, an independent judiciary to enforce it, and a transparent process for awarding of contracts for development, the rights of the people of the nations involved can be protected along with their interests in the land and other resources being developed. Every party, be they the governments of China and the DRC, multinationals like Freeport McMoRan, or the World Bank, operates in its own self-interest; the rule of law makes sure the people don't get trampled in the process. Private developers aren't evil, they just need to be controlled for the interests of the nation, not the kleptocrats. A company that provides capital to develop a resource that builds jobs for the country and spawns ancillary supporting industries and infrastructure can also pay substantial taxes and royalties, which is a good thing as long as they go into the public coffers and not into Swiss bank accounts. The rule of law is necessary to make that happen.
"American in Kathmandu" replied "I agree the rule of law is critically important."
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
I also fail to see how corrupt leaders and their minions will be any less likely to steal funds from private lenders than they are from the World Bank. Perhaps my most significant objection, though is when Moyo says the developing nations will be better served paying ten percent interest (the rate she quotes for emerging market debt in 2007) than the 0.75% they are charged by the World Bank. How does that work to anyone's advantage other than the investment bankers?"American in Kathmandu" wrote:
Exactly. So what to do? Just walk away? That's hard to do in the face of the kinds of human suffering that you see. And there are some successes. Sometimes two steps forward and one back. Sometimes the other way around, depressingly. Sometimes it's in one sector, or one district, or simply for a few thousand people before the good policies are reversed.My response:
I don't think there are easy solutions, but I do want to grapple for what the harder answers might be.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to Africa's economic problems. As you know, every country is different, every situation unique. In general, though, I rather admire the Chinese approach similar to the deal being negotiated now in the DRC: we'll build you a railroad; you give us rights to develop these mines. Ignoring the way they treat their workers (for the sake of this argument), such a deal pretty much gives everybody what they want without a layer of ideology. Local companies and/or labor do much of the work on both the project and the mines, the government gets revenue from the mines in the form of royalties and taxes, and the Chinese get a source of minerals for their industries. Such deals don't have to be for extractive industries, either; they can cover manufacturing, agricultural, or even service industries where direct foreign investment (not government-to-government aid) makes sense. Of course, there are several miles of hurdles to be jumped to get to these deals and make them fair, etc., but they are doable. They are also only one of a number of ways to approach the development dilemma.
Which brought this reply from "American in Kathmandu"...
China's doing a lot of this in Africa now, the downside though, is that as you say, with the ideology removed, it really becomes about pure self-interest for China. Thus very little concern with environmental sustainability and social impact - e.g., the way everyone didn't like that institutions like the World Bank used to behave time 100. There's quite a lot of emphasis being put on public-private partnerships these days, including on models like what China is doing on such a massive scale now across Africa, but it also raises issues about who owns things - water resources, the best agricultural land, etc., being big concerns.My response was:
It's an approach that should be considered - but at the same time, fraught with difficulties about how you avoid the same "colonialistic" seizing of things of value in the global South by outsiders with very little concern for the sustainability and impact on the average citizen in those countries, with the deals being approved by an often corrupt and undemocratic ruling elite.
What public-private partnerships need in Africa is the element that's sorely missing in opaque societies like the kleptocracies that are the norm: rule of law. If there is a fair commercial code and other body of law, an independent judiciary to enforce it, and a transparent process for awarding of contracts for development, the rights of the people of the nations involved can be protected along with their interests in the land and other resources being developed. Every party, be they the governments of China and the DRC, multinationals like Freeport McMoRan, or the World Bank, operates in its own self-interest; the rule of law makes sure the people don't get trampled in the process. Private developers aren't evil, they just need to be controlled for the interests of the nation, not the kleptocrats. A company that provides capital to develop a resource that builds jobs for the country and spawns ancillary supporting industries and infrastructure can also pay substantial taxes and royalties, which is a good thing as long as they go into the public coffers and not into Swiss bank accounts. The rule of law is necessary to make that happen.
"American in Kathmandu" replied "I agree the rule of law is critically important."
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
Gallery Preview & Online Store
Please browse our "Signature Collection" below.
Gallery Preview: Signature Collection
"Signature Collection" is pretty from 360 degrees views, making it an extremely unique jewelry. 360Jewels is a handmade jewelry brand which design is in contemporary style, and sometimes being referred as Renaissance Art. Visit our online stores above for a more detail description.
We started off by creating gold jewelry and diamond jewelry. Now we expand to make more fashion jewelry utilizing silver. Our silver jewelry in 'Signature Collection' includes rings, earrings, and pendants. We also have inspirations and creative juices to design and make cufflinks, bracelets, engagement rings, and wedding rings. Please stay tuned to see more of our new arrivals!
| Our online store: Currently, we are a member of an online marketplaces for handmade goods in USA, Etsy We're also selected to be showcased by many reputable websites.
Save 15% on our Signature Collection by following our blog. |
| Press and Recognitions to our designs: We're young in jewelry world but proud to receive many praises & recognitions in such a short period of time. We're chosen by the website of Martha Stewart as official vendor! |
Gallery Preview: Signature Collection
"Signature Collection" is pretty from 360 degrees views, making it an extremely unique jewelry. 360Jewels is a handmade jewelry brand which design is in contemporary style, and sometimes being referred as Renaissance Art. Visit our online stores above for a more detail description.
 Spinner Ring |  Amethyst Pyramid Treasure |
 Polka Dots:Original Version |  Azure Pyramid Treasure |
 Renaissance Pole Amethyst |  Polka Dots:2nd Edition |
 Peridot Princess Earrings |  "Love Shields" Pendant |
 Amethyst Princess Earrings |  Princess Earrings: Assorted |
 The Perfect Blue Duo |  Pyramid Treasure Duo |
We started off by creating gold jewelry and diamond jewelry. Now we expand to make more fashion jewelry utilizing silver. Our silver jewelry in 'Signature Collection' includes rings, earrings, and pendants. We also have inspirations and creative juices to design and make cufflinks, bracelets, engagement rings, and wedding rings. Please stay tuned to see more of our new arrivals!
About Us
Welcome! 360Jewels is an artisan jewelry brand founded by us, the two best friends, May Vat and Belle Chen in California in 2008.
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| Quick Facts: 360Jewels is based in California. We design & handmade our jewelry based on love & passion. We create this blog to share our inspirations, tips, and secrets about our jewelry. Hope you enjoy our blog! Official Gallery www.360jewels.com Press & Recognitions www.360jewels.com/Press.aspx Contact Us mailto360jewels@gmail.com Our Online Stores etsy, 1000markets |
360 Degrees Authentic Beauty
We are called "360Jewels" because we stand for creating jewelry that looks like art from 360 degrees angles as we describe in this link. Every piece of our creation is excitedly pretty in every angle: front, side, back, edge, and sometimes even the inner ring! All-angle design reflects enthusiasm to induce creativity to the world and to satisfy personal pleasure of seeing beauty all around.
360Jewels stands for 360 degrees beauty
We stand for inner beauty, confidence, modesty, and passion. We hope that each person who comes into contact with us, will leave with a little bit of us in them.
We create our jewelry with love and passion.
We Value Genuineness and Creativity
We only use real natural gemstones although, by nature, all natural stones contain certain flaws. Synthetic stones maybe flawless but we think it is less charming and doesn't contain authentic value.
360Jewels only uses "genuine" natural stones in all creations.
May designs all our signature collection. She has a strong talent in sketching the design that will best bring out the beauty of the gemstone as well as turn its natural imperfection into a "charming flaws"!
Do you "Hide or Display" your natural CHARMING FLAWS?
"The absence of flaw in beauty is itself a flaw."-Havelock Ellis (1859-1939)
Our Craftsmanship
360Jewel's "Signature Collection" requires high precision and attention to detail from start to finish. Our pieces are beautiful in 360 degrees angle. If you are interested to see and learn how 360Jewels' ring is handmade, please follow this link.
This picture shows Silver Melting process.
360Jewels is still in its startup in this big big industry. We are grounded by our passion for what we do. Instead of being secretive about how we create our treasures, we are proud and excited about the opportunity to share our story and so that you can get to know us as "creators" and not just as another jewelry store.
We'd like you to know us as a 'creator', not just another jeweler.
Enjoy!
UN Talks While Congo Civilians Suffer
The UN Security Council meets today to discuss the situation in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the civilian population bears the brunt of the fighting between rebel groups including the FDLR, various Mai Mai militia, and the LRA and the Congolese army (FARDC) operating with the Rwandan and Ugandan armies. While joint operations were declared successful by the governments involved and the UN hailed the strides toward peace, the people of the region continue to suffer at the hands of all the combatants.
Human Rights Watch reports that the FLDR killed, raped, and kidnapped hundreds of civilians during and after the joint Congo-Rwanda military campaign in North Kivu earlier this year. Among the atrocities reported, the HRW report cites:
The aid agency Oxfam, quotes UN figures that say that since mid-January, when Congolese and Rwandan troops attacked the FDLR, another 250,000 civilians have been newly displaced in the provinces of North and South Kivu. Rwandan troops withdrew from the DRC at the end of February, but the Congolese army continues to pursue the FDLR in South Kivu. Meanwhile, FDLR units have reoccupied the territories they fled during the joint campaign.
The situation in the north is no better, according to Oxfam. In Haut Uélé, the Ugandan rebel group known as the Lord's Resistance Army, has displaced nearly 200,000 people since December, in part out of retaliation for a Ugandan military offensive against the group. Ugandan troops withdrew last month, having accomplished little except to destroy the lives of thousands of Congolese.
Marcel Stoessel, Head of Oxfam in the DRC said:
No one expects much from the additional troops anyway. The original Security Council mandate called for UN troops to protect UN relief operations and Congolese civilians, but their record has been dismal. Civilian casualties in the eastern provinces continue to mount and the epidemic of terror rape continues to destroy the lives of hundreds of women and their families.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
Human Rights Watch reports that the FLDR killed, raped, and kidnapped hundreds of civilians during and after the joint Congo-Rwanda military campaign in North Kivu earlier this year. Among the atrocities reported, the HRW report cites:
As Rwandan and Congolese coalition forces advanced toward the FDLR's former headquarters at Kibua, in Ufamandu, North Kivu, the FDLR abducted scores of local residents from neighboring villages and took them to their camp, apparently intending to use them as human shields against the impending attack. Witnesses said that when coalition forces attacked Kibua on January 27, the trapped civilians tried to flee. The FDLR hacked many civilians to death and others died in the crossfire.The FDLR warned in a letter to the governor of South Kivu that civilians who supported the government forces would be considered combatants and slaughtered. The Congolese army announced after the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from North Kivu that the campaign would now turn to South Kivu.
One witness at Kibua saw FDLR combatants kill at least seven people, including a pregnant woman, whose womb was slit open. Another saw an FDLR combatant batter a 10-year-old girl to death against a brick wall.
"The FDLR have a very ugly past, but we haven't seen this level of violence in years," said Anneke Van Woudenberg, senior researcher in the Africa division at Human Rights Watch. "We've documented many abuses by FDLR forces, but these are killings of ghastly proportions."But the FDLR isn't the only group to commit atrocities. HRW said many rapes and assaults on civilians by Rwandan troops were reported by civilians fleeing the fighting as well.
The aid agency Oxfam, quotes UN figures that say that since mid-January, when Congolese and Rwandan troops attacked the FDLR, another 250,000 civilians have been newly displaced in the provinces of North and South Kivu. Rwandan troops withdrew from the DRC at the end of February, but the Congolese army continues to pursue the FDLR in South Kivu. Meanwhile, FDLR units have reoccupied the territories they fled during the joint campaign.
The situation in the north is no better, according to Oxfam. In Haut Uélé, the Ugandan rebel group known as the Lord's Resistance Army, has displaced nearly 200,000 people since December, in part out of retaliation for a Ugandan military offensive against the group. Ugandan troops withdrew last month, having accomplished little except to destroy the lives of thousands of Congolese.
Marcel Stoessel, Head of Oxfam in the DRC said:
"The war is far from over for ordinary Congolese. These terrible human tragedies are happening in remote areas far away from television cameras, but this does not make the suffering less real for those concerned.Meanwhile, the UN Security Council meets today to talk about the situation. Last year, they promised an additional 3,000 troops to aid the 17,000 blue helmets already in the Congo protect the civilian population. Not only have none of those additional troops arrived, there have been no reports that they are even en route.
“Homes and shops are being looted and ransacked, women and girls are being raped, and civilians are being forced to flee, many for the third or fourth time. We are helping them pick up the pieces by increasing our emergency work. It is tragic to see Congo’s civilians caught up in this awful violence yet again.”
No one expects much from the additional troops anyway. The original Security Council mandate called for UN troops to protect UN relief operations and Congolese civilians, but their record has been dismal. Civilian casualties in the eastern provinces continue to mount and the epidemic of terror rape continues to destroy the lives of hundreds of women and their families.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
Fighting Illicit Congo Mineral Industry
Journalist Rima Abdelkader wrote a well-informed piece about the role of illicit minerals in fueling the conflict in Congo. I added these comments to her article on the Huffington Post:
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
While demanding that electronics manufacturers take responsibility for their supply chain is a commendable approach, there are other culprits whose actions contribute more directly to the atrocities in eastern Congo. One is Rwanda, which exports coltan even though it has no known mines within its borders. Paul Kagame's government says it is working on source accreditation that will show where it gets the mineral and provide the type of supply chain audit demanded by the Enough Project and others (as is the DRC), but so far the promises are mere words.As attorney and activist Joseph Mbangu pointed out, the fight against violence in the DRC is one that must be fought on many fronts.
Another pressure point are business interests within the DRC itself. Not every villain in this story is a western multinational conglomerate--much of the illicit revenue from cassiterite, gold, and coltan flows right to Congolese individuals who back the rogue militias (and even units of the FARDC) who control many of the mines.
Then there are the leaders of the FDLR, the remnants of the Hutu Interahamwe vilified for their role in ongoing conflict in the Kivus. Those criminals live a life of ease in Germany, France, and Belgium enjoying the profits from the mines their troops control in the Congo.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds a romantic thriller about blood diamonds in the Congo.
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