How Big Is Bling? Try 628 Carats On For Size

This is a 628 carat Mystic Topaz gemstone set in a 14k yellow gold basket mounting. It will take up a lot of skin as a pendant on the chest of your wife/mistress/girlfriend. Somehow it got left over from the Christmas selling season. Actually, the vendor shopped it around town and nobody else seemed to know what "Mystic Topaz" is and how it is produced. I guess they don't watch "Jewelry T.V." on cable at 3:00 A.M. in the morning. Being a Graduate Gemologist always gives me an edge over the sorry pawnshop guys here. Good news today regarding this masterpiece of the lapidary art. I have a qualified buyer for it. They were regretful that they didn't get a chance to purchase it for a Christmas gift. I never expected this item to sell AFTER Christmas but like I have said in an earlier entry here, expect the unexpected when in Las Vegas!

Who Says Las Vegas Doesn't Have Cultural Attractions?

The Titanic artifact exhibition has been held over at the nearby Tropicana Resort and Casino. There are over 300 items on display and their authenticity is beyond doubt. We should have known that when Ballard first located the wreck in 1985 there would be a salvaging operation. There are some who say that this was a desecration of the dead who are still entombed below deck. I will leave it to you to decide on the ethicality of marine archeology. Incidentally, while there is a NO PHOTOGRAPHY sign prominently displayed at the entrance, I noticed a slew of people trying to take close-up pictures with their cellphone cameras, striving to be discreet. I pointed this out to one of the docents and they played dumb with me. What people? What cameras? This is going on obviously all the time and they care little about enforcing the rule. Of course, when you pay $24 to enter, you can figure that people think that they have a RIGHT (?) to do as they please. I had brought along my digital camera and played by the rule. HOORAY for me!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year?

Some people in Las Vegas tried to provide a Merry Christmas for the homeless population and abused children. Nobody should have gone hungry unless they wanted to as there were very nice dinners provided at the shelters.
Credit is due the USMCR for their annual "Toys for Tots." They worked without rest to fulfill their mission of making sure that deprived children got toys that their parent/s could not provide.
I witnessed other acts of kindness which should be the order of the day, every day, and everywhere. How soon the true message of Christmas is lost on us as we resume our daily routines. Just think of how great the world would be if everyone JUST TRIED to live by the Golden Rule! Simple but not easy.