Apart from their unparalleled success in protecting an artificially scarce market for so many years, did you know that De Beers were the early geniuses in product placement? Diamonds didn't use to be such a big deal. The romantic association of diamonds with love and commitment (primarily for women) was a marketing invention of De Beers. One way they did it was by paying to insert scenes involving diamonds into Hollywood movies (in the 1940s, IIRC), such as the heroine's friends telling her: "He gave you a ring without a diamond? The cad!" Diamonds started popping up in climactic scenes of reconciliation and inevitable marriage proposals.
I can't remember how I know this... it might have been in an old episode of This American Life. The other thing that surprised me was that they were a British company, not a South African one.
I'd recommend everyone read up on "blood diamonds" or "conflict diamonds" as well as the diamond market in general before ever purchasing a diamond for jewelry.
I'm guessing most hackers aren't diamond buyers. I recommend everyone read this before buying any computers or electronic gadgets: http://www.johannhari.com/archive/article.php?id=863
http://www.survival-international.org/news/4783
check them out - probably my favourite charity of all time
A nag-free copy of the same information: http://www.livemint.com/2009/07/24122026/De-Beers-H1-net-pro...
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/89c46692-782e-11de-bb06-00144feabd...
Clever little hack to get by the registration!
(I know you're picky about houmorous comments here, but please don't vote me down to -8)
There is something about programmers and DIY foods and beverages. A good friend of mine also became an "urban farmer".
