DISQUS

As alluded to by Chris, the diamond engagement ring is one of the slickest marketing tricks ever pulled off. De Beers effectively inserted the idea into our culture (and cultures the world over). Now everyone believes it's the way it has always been. Kind of like how people conceive of Santa Claus as a fat, white bearded man in a red suit. That image was actually created by Coca Cola.

Diamonds are an artificially scarce product with a much smaller intrisic value than the price they command. That is why De Beers is running scared now that synthetic diamonds are getting so good. New vapour deposition created diamonds are perfectly flawless, completely indistinguishable from natural diamonds (even at the molecular level), and can be produced for as little as $5 a a carat. They can currently grow them as large as 3 carats and they can create coloured diamonds (which are much scarcer than colourless diamonds). See the "New Diamond Age" article in Wired 11.09 (http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/diamon...)

Moissanite seems like an intreguing option ...

I assume this is for Hoski's wedding Kev? Knew the guy was going to pop the question. He was spouting crazy ideas like "settling down" the last time I talked to him ;)

No imagining involved, Coke does taste better in glass bottles. I think you are right on the money about glass being inert Ben. That's why it's used in chemistry labs.

Pepsi on the other hand tastes like drek no matter what container it comes in. Pepsi Twist is drinkable though. The lemon cuts through the nasty sweetness. Strange that T&T; (Vancouver area Chinese supermarket) always prominently features Pepsi Twist ... must be big with the Asian crowd.