Billion Dollar Home

As I was reading the last issue of Conde Nast Portfolio, I came upon a modern tale of feudalism and one of the worst example of nouveau riche attitude.

Mr Ambani, India richest man, ordered an insanely extravagant house to be built on one of Mumbai (formerly Bombay) most expensive street.

Designed by Chicago Perkins and Will and estimated at $1 Billion, the 60 stories, 173m (570 ft) tower will boast a 168 cars garage, an entertainment center with a 50 seats cinema, several floors of greeneries, terraces and balconies, a health center with a swimming pool, gym, and 3 helipads on the roof.

As you've probably guessed by now, his employees do not exactly enjoy the same kind of lifestyle, not even close, and that's exactly how revolutions start...

Read the full article on Conde Nast Portfolio Web site: Rich Man, Poor Country

Why Spammers Spam

If, like me, you dream of strangling spammers wit your bare hands, here's some info about the ennemy.

Montreal based Vircom is on the forefront of the Spam War with their award winning Modus spam filter. I have been personnaly using their filter so I can testify to its efficiency. It filters over 90% of junk mail and blocks very few legitimate e-mails.

They wrote a very interresting white paper: Why Spammers Spam that will give you an insight into the spammers' life and motivation.

To download the document, go to this page

Plain Jane

Plain Jane Couture is probably Montreal's most original clothing company. Founders Zoum and Hardip Manku unusal duo have come up with audacious and provocative designs and an unmistakably sexy logo.

Check out their collection: http://www.plainjanecouture.com/

Something like a phenomenon in Time Square

Jessie Hollywood turning heads in NYC

Ben Z cruising his Riva on Lake Leman in Switzerland

The New Demotivators

The new demotivators are out on http://www.despair.com/! Go and check it out.

P.S.: Even if running in front of killer bulls is not the fast track to a Nobel Prize, I have been to the fiesta of the San Firmin in Pampelona (the 3rd largest party after Rio's Carnaval and Munich's Oktoberfest) and I must admit that no people on Earth know how to party like the Spaniards!

Let My People Go Surfing

I am in the middle of Yvon Chouinard's amazing book Let My People Go Surfing and I couldn't wait to finish it before urging you to dive in it.

As founder of outdoor equipment and clothing manufacturer giant Patagonia, Chouinard is a well seasoned businessman. But that's the less interresting part.

What is fascinating is the story of this crafstman who became a reluctant businessman through a series of successes and failures.

And, more than anything else is how he uses his company and its ressources to make the world a better place. First by creating an inviting environment for his staff (and leaving them time to go surfing), then by investing millions of dollars of his profits to finance grassroots environmental organisations and inciting other companies to do the same through the 1% for the planet progam.

Finally, his vision and commitment turned his company into an example to follow for all of us business people who strive to change the World for the better.

Growing Fast Food

In 1970, Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food; in 2001, they spent more than $110 billion. Americans now spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computers software, or new cars. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music – combined.

- Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation (excellent book, BTW)