Château EURO

Booked

2012-02-15T14:38:00.000Z

The next trip abroad has been booked:
22 Mar 2012 : 51st ACI Financial Markets World Congress 2012,
United Arab Emirates, Dubai

I am scheduled to be in Dubai March 21-24

EUROZONE: A Continental Divide

2012-02-15T13:40:00.000Z

THE EUROZONE CRISIS &

A CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

Supposedly, if one ventures far enough to accept Germanic manifestations of the past 20 years, the project "euro" was designed to bring to the glum and until then irrelevant continent everlasting peace and wealth at home, and unprecedented greatness and potency outside. However, ten years after the introduction of the common currency, the ageing continent is rocked by huge tectonic rifts. The continent is profoundly divided by the gap between North and South, the rich and the have-not, between creditors and debtors.

Increasingly the EU evolves into a catalyst for deeply rooted conflicts, political skirmish, stupor and further economical inequalities that threaten to plunge the region into even armed conflict. Greece and Portugal appear to provide the fuse that might spark the fiery implosion of the eurozone: German and EU flags are already being burned in Athens and other Greek cities, foreign-owned or affiliated banks and enterprises looted and set ablaze. From hereupon, even graver attacks on foreigners and tourists are entirely thinkable; in fact it seems only a matter of time when foreigners become victims of violence which the EU architects can only blame themselves for.

For the EU commission, in its mad rush to jostle for world dominance 15 years ago, when it publicly declared its scheme to become the world's Number One economic powerhouse - escorted by a 150,000 men army designed to represent the EU interests globally - made cardinal mistakes from the start over the objections of warning voices from abroad.

In the case of Greece, but far from only there, the EU commission invited (for a moderated word of 'pushed') Greece to join the eurozone, despite well documented misgivings from individual governments (for instance, Switzerland decided to scrap plans for a EU referendum and eventual ascension to the EU for good, after its objections on economic grounds against the watered-down criteria adopted by the EU). Flawed and manipulated data from Athens were readily accepted, and Greece declared fit for membership, to gloss over already disastrous state of finances back in 1998. There has been a deliberate plan in Brussels to welcome ostensibly unfit nations into the eurozone, linked with the vague hope that viable, albeit clandestine, economic concoctions could be put in place that would subsequently make new members at least on the surface appear qualified. Based on fraud and extortion, the EU exposed Greece, Italy, Portugal and Ireland to a perverted carrot-and-stick treatment, a policy of offering a combination of rewards and punishment to induce behavior according to its own intentions and purposes.

The "stick" part was the introduction of the Maastricht criteria, the "carrot" part its lack of enforcement. With each passing fiscal year, the situation in the southern tier nations of the eurozone became more and more desperate, and the path to financial ruin irreversible. Who sounded the alarm eventually? Credit agencies, based in the US, were the first to raise concern to investors that their purchases of government bonds from the region have become an untenable enterprise, a losing proposition. Their plots uncovered, the EU singles out nowadays the credit agencies as the "anti-European enemy that destroys our markets." Yet, as the global markets prove to be a formidable foe that cannot be defeated by the means at its disposal, the EU and its tentacles pushed the panic button and embarked on a crusade against the countries it had courted until the credit agencies confronted Brussels with the reality check.

After years of encouragement to accumulate an ever burgeoning pile of suffocating debt, the EU has started to pull the rug under the biggest debtor nations. Germany, bolstered by robust growth and a limited sense of moral restraint, is the vanguard of vicious measures now taken against Greece, that will throw citizens into a state of disrepair and despair for years to come. The eurozone and its chief forces are responsible today for the humiliation and the dire consequences of default. Morally, the EU and the eurozone owe it to Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy to rescue, bring back from the brink and bail out these countries, at whatever cost it may take, especially if it means the termination of the eurozone as we know it.

Otherwise, the continent will be dragged into battles of nationalism and sectarian provincialism once again.

Emily

2012-02-14T06:35:00.000Z

Emily is back in the recording studio these days (today is the eighth day of scheduled eleven days of recording the new CD). It's her fourth album and much anticipated as you can imagine.

The strains are visible (and audible), and we try to keep it quiet at home. We also look forward to visit her sister in 10 days, down in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

2012-02-10T14:38:00.003Z

Leaving Saturday, 11 February at noon, returning Monday, 13 February at midnight.
Saturday in Reims, Sunday and Monday in Luxembourg

Emily

2012-02-09T16:35:00.004Z

Unearthing the ghost of the past

2012-02-08T08:27:00.002Z

Invoking the Nazi past with relevant diatribes is not limited to Austrian parliamentarians. A French Socialist MP caused an uproar in the French parliament yesterday, and an exodus of the ruling party UMP and the cabinet of Premier Fillon.

Video:
http://www.france24.com/en/20120207-ruling-ump-party-deputies-storm-out-parliament-over-nazi-remark-guent-fillon-france

On Saturday Interior Minister Claude Guent made this indisputably factual statement:"Contrary to what the left's relativist ideology says, for us all civilizations are not of equal value: Those which defend liberty, equality and fraternity seem to us superior to those which accept tyranny, the subservience of women, social and ethnic hatred."

The statement, which accurately depicts the image of most Arab nations, provoked the socialist MP Serge Letchimy to this irrational tirade: ""You, Mr. Gueant... you bring us back day after day to those European ideologies which gave birth to the concentration camps. Mr. Gueant, the Nazi regime, which was so worried about purity, was that a civilization?"

Peculiar that a defender of the pervert ideologies of Arab countries would sink so low and become paranoid over Nazi ideologies that Arab nations are mostly sympathizers of!

Austrian Sovereign Debt Update

2012-01-30T20:37:00.003Z

In Search of the right religion? A guide

2012-01-25T08:12:00.001Z

US Vote 2012: My prediction (and endorsement)

2012-01-24T13:52:00.000Z

PREDICTION AND ENDORSEMENT FOR THE RIGHT PRESIDENT

This is probably the first prediction for the November election winner you'll see. The global state of affairs and the domestic situation in the US make the choice surprisingly easy, despite - or because - of the silly hoopla of a persiflage of Primaries to crown a Republican presidential candidate and the near-panic stalemate of Democrats in Congress, painfully laboring not to upset or undermine their man in the White House.

The world is vastly different into the fourth year of President Obama, just as his predecessor saw fundamental change and upheaval - wars included - during his 8-year term. At the end, President George Bush left a US weakened abroad, and on the brink at home. Decades of progress to evolve America into a balanced, peaceful and encompassing society were shattered, and as a result incumbent Obama inherited a country deeply divided and agonized.

The first 2 years of the current presidency have been a nightmare, and the core reasons will perpetuate well into the next few years. In many ways, the United States entered unchartered territory with the near collapse of the financial market and the burst bubble of an unsustainable housing industry. The Administration's response - barred of the chance to follow textbook prescriptions - has been jittery and agonizingly slow, partly for the simple reason that it HAD to get things right, there was no room for error. In my view, as an economist, the Obama administration passed the unprecedented test. The jury is still out to pass final approval, as only time will tell whether the programs initiated by the government will gain lasting traction. For now there is ample reason for cautious optimism that they will work.

Or will they? Even with a maximum of doubt applied, the Republican Party fails to rally behind a leader who demonstrates a vision for America, and an answer for the myriad of problems at home and abroad. Radical (no, outright extremist) banter only imperils the progress already achieved, and surely will lead to further isolation of the US on the international stage. The vitriolic language used by the "frontrunners" of the GOP is plain frightening; all of them seem to suffer from Tourette's Syndrome.

Consequently my prediction will see President Barack Obama re-elected in November, gaining a majority of 36-48 votes in the Electoral College. The sitting president will get a majority of the popular vote of 52.8 per cent. He has my full endorsement.

Wikipedia Black-Out

2012-01-18T10:02:00.000Z

In agreement and solidarity with Wikipedia, this site will be blacked-out until Thursday, 19 January, 10am GMT.

Scottish Independence?

2012-01-16T09:20:00.000Z

SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE? NOT SO FAST!

When Scottish First Minister Alexander Salmond thought aloud of a referendum to gain independence for Scotland ten days ago, the British Government called his bluff: Prime Minister Cameron demanded a referendum "as soon as possible," with only one question asked, "independence - yes or no." Grudgingly, Salmond set a date for the referendum in autumn 2014.

The consequences for Scotland, in case of a YES vote, will be grave and significant. But as latest polls show, the majority of Scots want to remain in the UK, while a clear majority in England, plagued by high and unfair subsidies for Scotland, favour Scotland to leave the UK. Alexander Salmond will have to do a lot of convincing ahead of the treacherous plebiscite.

In the past few weeks the Scottish "government" sounded out with the UK Chancellory whether Scotland will keep a monetary union with England and can retain the British Pound as its currency. At the time I was part of a 65-men group advising George Osborne in a feasibility study of monetary consequences if the UK splits up. The result pours more cold water on Scottish aspirations: it would either severely undermine Scottish independence in fiscal matters - more so than it does today! - or, more likely, lead to an end of the British pound as legal tender in Scotland. A Scottish pound would immediately devalue by 20-30 per cent, and any desire of Scotland to adopt the euro would be blocked by London.

A classical case of being caught between a rock and a hard place, I'd say...

London Weekend

2012-01-14T13:22:00.000Z

It was a brilliant evening at the Princess Alexandra Hall in London SW1A 1LR; I received warm applause and compliments that I, as a foreign born member, demonstrated such thorough insight and constructive ideas about how to go forward, towards a Scottish referendum and beyond. Picking up on the breaking news yesterday of mass-downgrades within the eurozone, which membership the Scottish National Party of First Minister Salmond flirts with, I pointed out that Scottish independence would lead to an immediate downgrade by 4 notches to the level of Ireland, and cost of 10-year 'government' bonds from Edinburgh would be currently at 4.8%, nearly 3 per cent above the UK level.

I also reminded the small number of Scots in the room that Scottish membership with the EU, and the eurozone, are subject to London's agreement (or veto, as is the more likely case, if peripheral negotiations should hit a snag).

The event was supposedly followed by a 30-45 minute Q&A, which in fact lasted nearly 2 hours. We finally parted at 10:45 last night, and I took Emily then to Trader Vic's at the London Hilton. We stayed until 2am ... lol

Eurostar-ing

2012-01-13T10:19:00.000Z

We will eurostar (used like a Verb) at noon to London, where I will appeal at a Tory club function to scrap the economic aid to Scotland with immediate effect. The estimated £26 billion of transfers due to Scotland until September 2014 should be kept in escrow and only released to Edinburgh if the planned referendum ends with a pledge to remain part of the UK. Also on the agenda is to prevent a Scottish grab of North Sea oil reserves and to recoup from a future Scottish nation all investments into the oil exploration of the past 40 years.

Otherwise, the London trip is reserved for undiluted fun and entertainment. It is also meant as a fact-finding mission whether Britain has still running water, hot water and electricity; nothing can be taken for granted in Europe's most antiquated country.

Oh so gay

2012-01-11T09:02:00.003Z

HOW GAY: Fred Karger, a 61-year old gay activist, is running for the office of US President. His program for the march into the Rose Garden is based on a rather dull and narrow platform: gay rights, gay & lesbian issues and to change the Republican Party are the mainstay. About 9% of American voters are gay or lesbian, and he seems to speculate to collect all of their votes.

The candidacy of a gay person is rather normal and a non-event, until one makes it a showcase and runs a one-dimensional campaign that ignores the other 91% of voters. Mr Karger will get a lot of deserving ridicule and in the long run will damage gay interests far more than he does good.

Decimation of Iranian thugs

2012-01-11T08:16:00.000Z

Another nuclear collaborator of Iran's atomic bomb program has been shredded today in a rather clever fashion. It's the sixth known nuclear weapons expert of the Revolutionary Guards who was desposed of.

Whoever is behind the campaign to liquidate such threats to world peace deserves admiration and full support.

Doomsday clock

2012-01-10T11:00:00.001Z

DOOMSDAY CLOCK: maintained since 1947 by the board of directors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists at the University of Chicago, today at 7PM CET the clock will be updated. Since January 2010 the hands show six minutes to 12 (for the eurozone the clock is 1 minute before 12)

The hands were moved closer to 12: it is 5 to 12!

Office Blues

2012-01-10T08:28:00.000Z

'twas a nice surprise this morning on our (executive) floor, when a six-member band from New Orleans brought to life the staff of around 100 with a cool mix of Blue Grass and Dixie. It made for a welcome change of dull morning meetings dealing with economic growth (or, in the case of the eurozone, shrinking) and how to play catching-up with America.

Yet another French/German summit gone by

2012-01-10T08:10:00.001Z

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spiegel.de%2Finternational%2Feurope%2F0%2C1518%2C808039%2C00.html&h=vAQEvozsnAQEYqL-wtxrxtCMKLzliDr0HRA7afvethoRPvg
"Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy have once again shown a common front in the euro crisis, insisting that the euro zone is well on track to agreeing on binding debt rules, and papering over differences on the financial transaction tax..."

Which provoked my reaction:
Chelsea Dagger ‎"on track"??? Sarky & Murky manage to perpetuate unproductive and redundant summits in a desperate, but ultimately feeble attempt to gain time. They lambast the rating agencies, yet quote verbatim the demands of these independent judges of economic mayhem how to resolve the crisis. Ignorance is bliss, and the head-in-the-sand posturing of the Little Man in Paris has become the source of penultimate entertainment. What's next? How about a tax that will further diminish economic activity in the eurozone and shift capital and jobs towards other, more liberated centers.

Moonpic

2012-01-09T17:41:00.000Z

Jardin du Luxembourg, at 5:48PM

eurozone turmoil

2012-01-09T14:09:00.001Z

EUROZONE TURMOIL: From the French-German meeting in Berlin, more blah-blah European-style summit gurgles; nothing new beyond, "We are aware of the seriousness and make progress to solve the crisis." How? Silence from Sarkozy and Murky.

Now there's an even greater likelihood of Greece soon to be removed from the eurozone.

Just how bad are things? European banks do not even lend to each other out of mutual (and justifiable) distrust. So they "invest" into German government bonds, even at negative interest rates [meaning, banks pay for lending money to Germany]!

Sarkozy's Desperation

2012-01-06T09:21:00.000Z

France's miniature Napoleon Nicolas Sarkozy, a rather hapless and tragic figure when it comes to relationships with women, is not pathetic enough not to try exploiting yet another one: the heroine (and symbol) of the Front National, Jeanne d'Arc of Orleans, whose 600th anniversary of her birth is being celebrated today, is the latest unwitting victim of the president's fancy.

Sarkozy, trailing badly in the polls, hopes to boost his popularity on the back (or breasts) of a defenseless corpse, weeks after embracing German chancellor Merkel as his newly found mother, who so readily bestows her long lost son with milk, honey and money. In the meantime, his wife ridicules and demeans poor Nicolas in words and songs.... much to the amusement of a whole nation.

2012-01-05T10:17:00.003Z

The opening salvo in the French election campaign has been fired off by socialist candidate François Hollande. In a restaurant (Chez Française) he described accurately the still undeclared candidate for the ruling party, lame-duck president Sarkozy, as "sale mec", literally a dirty guy but colloquially known as "nasty piece of work."

The president, in his distinctly cowardish style, tries to stay out of the political debate and plans to announce his candidature for re-election only after March 6, leaving him just 5 weeks of campaigning (and exposure to scrutiny from other candidates and media). Sarkozy is embattled even within his party for subordinating and humiliating the French Republic, reducing the Grande Nation to Berlin's lap poodle.

Iowa

2012-01-04T08:01:00.001Z

IOWA CAUCUS ENDS WITH HUGE SURPRISE
AND A CLEAR WINNER

Even though it was a Republican poll, the big winner is sitting president Obama.

Establishing candidates Romney and Santorum as favourites now is suicidal for the elephant party's aspiration to reclaim the White House. Romney is a member of a sect that will force him to exercise a maximum of cronyism and boiler room dealings if elected, for which the American voter will have no appetite or tolerance. The PA senator Santorum is best summed up as a nutter, and the champion of platitudes.

Gingrich, Bachman and Perry have been discarded as useless and without merits altogether. Ron Paul, who comes across like a tamed Ross Perot of ions ago, will stay in the race for a few more weeks and could become important to plead allegeance with the ultimate Republican candidate, possibly making him a VP candidate in November.

But it is clear to this commentator that Barack Obama can look forward to the election with calm confidence from here on.

Fuck the mullahs

2012-01-03T18:59:00.000Z

Iran "warned" today the US not to return an aircraft carrier to the Arabian Gulf. The commander of the carrier USS John C Stennis replied appropriately: "Challenge us, and you'll regret it." Let the game commence....

Safe in Paris

2012-01-03T16:21:00.000Z

My fears of "Here goes the neighbourhood" have been alleviated today with the announcement that Brit ghetto shits David and Victoria Beckham will not join PSG after all. The transfer to Paris reportedly collapsed as the Beckhams failed to say "ça va" even after 22,611 attempts and the temporary requisition of 8 French teachers.

FX

2012-01-02T13:02:00.000Z

Euro hovers near record lows
The euro opens the new year where it left off in 2011: against the dollar near the 14-month low (currently at $1.2933), a 2-year low against Sterling (£0.8340) and at a new 10-year low against the Yen (¥99.45), with a bearish outlook on the common currency.

The Lies that Spawned the Euro

2012-01-02T09:38:00.000Z

The truths about the lies of the euro - from its inception to the current rescue attempts - as described in the German mag DER SPIEGEL. An eye-opening read...
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spiegel.de%2Finternational%2Feurope%2F0%2C1518%2C806469%2C00.html&h=mAQEBwn4vAQEdLsKZKs8qtWkiBLyvIvRvmCwfQ-BWUZS_Aw

Dig This!

2012-01-02T09:27:00.002Z

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16320945

The "Sweet" Vienna

2012-01-01T17:09:00.002Z

Damn, it must be hard to be a diabetic...
http://tvthek.orf.at/programs/2745173-Aufgetischt/episodes/3381567-Aufgetischt--Im-suessen-Wien

2012 Predictions

2012-01-01T15:57:00.001Z

PREDICTIONS FOR 2012

Here are my predictions for what promises to be another tumultuous year of big events that will shape the world for years to come

Potentially new leaders in all Superpowers will come into office, adding uncertainty and polarisation of global conflicts.

A new leader will be acclaimed in Communist China;

A new (but familiar) leader will occupy the Kremlin: Vladimir Putin;

A new French president, the socialist Hollande, will be elected, together with a new French National Assembly, with a distinctly anti-euro bias;

Sarkozy will sink into obscurity other than legal proceedings might haunt him soon;

The German government will collapse after a rebellion within the junior coalition partner FDP; the next German chancellor will be socialist Steinmayer;

Pickering from its junior partner, and favourable polls, will encourage British PM David Cameron to call snap elections and - will win big;

Surprise in the US: Obama re-elected as president, but both Houses will go Republican, repeating the uneasy but positive cohabilitation similar to the Clinton administrations;

Showdown at the UN over Iran as Russia and China give support to their buddy, prompting the US to give (secretly) green light to Israel to mount pre-emptive strikes against the renegade nuclear peril, supporting Israel publically afterwards;

Western democracies declare war on the Revolutionary Guards in Iran;

The Syrian president will end up dangling from a lamp post in the city of Homs, ending more than 45 years of dictatorship;

Burma will make a spectacular return to the democratic fold, with the military junta stepping aside, some of them will end up in exile in the US;

Decimation of the eurozone: after the Greek election not even rates of 40% will attract takers for the country's bonds, and Greece officially declares insolvency and exit from the euro;

Italy will join Portugal to leave the eurozone, ending the "euro project"; plans will immediately be drawn for a "eurozone-II" with a hard core of 7-8 member states;

The eurozone of 17 will face more than six months of recession in 2012;

The euro will drop to around $1.10 in the first half, but rebound under a new eurozone-II agreement to close in December around $1.40;

The Olympic Games in London will be a huge success in the wake of Britain's largest security operation in her history;

Sepp Blatter will be forced to step down from FIFA post, to be arrested, finger-printed and put on trial for corruption, extortion and bribery;

The EU will face a year of stalemate: military confrontation after Turkey imposes a quarantine over Cyprus which will take over the "EU Presidency" in July;

London mayor Boris Johnson will be re-elected with 59.4%, boosting his chances for a Tory leadership role in future;

---

This will be a frightening year. It will be up to the arts, entertainment and sports world to provide some respite from the turmoil and belief in the superiority of man.

Neujahrskonzert 2012

2012-01-01T12:40:00.003Z

Das Jahr 2012 hat offiziell begonnen: mit dem Neujahrskonzert, Wien's jaehrliches musikalisches Lebenszeichen, haben alle mitbekommen, dass es die Welt wie wir sie 2011 kannten noch gibt.

Dieses Neujahrskonzert ist so ziemlich das beste das ich je verfolgt habe (und das sind mittlererweile sicher schon 30). Gluecklich gewaehlt war der Dirigent (Mariss Jansons aus Lettland), dessen Musikauswahl und Praesentation perfekt fuer den Anlass waren. Die begleitenden Filmbeitraege, besonders der Teil waehrend der Pause, waren grossartig. Alles in allem, ein Genuss fuer Augen und Ohren.

Einzige Einschraenkung: die kommentierende Sprecherin war eine Katastrophe; aber sie fiel in den Uebertragungen der auslaendischen Fernsehstationen ohnehin weg. So werden wir uns das Konzert jetzt noch einmal ansehen auf BBC, die das Konzert zeitverschoben austraegt. Und Emily, die sich langsam aus dem Bett bewegt, es nunmehr auch geniessen kann. Dazu serviere ich getastete Bagel mit Philadelphia Kaese und Lachs aus Norwegen; Schampus ist auch noch genuegend da.

Jedem sei es ueberlassen die Musik fuer sich zu interpretieren. Ich fuer meinen Teil sehe das Konzert auch als ein dem Euro marschblasenden Tritt in den Arsch, eine Waehrung die nun mit Pauken und Trompeten zur Hoelle fahren darf.

Dass das Neujahrskonzert auch ein hervorragendes "sales pitch" ist beweisen die Touristenzahlen. Aber auch die Tatsache, dass ich noch waehrend der "Tik-Tak Polka" jenen Klimt motivierten Schirm bestellte, der prominent im Pausenteil zu sehen war:

Farewell to 2011

2012-01-01T11:42:00.002Z

The amazing end of 2011: what beats celebrating the turn of the year along the Embankment in London? The same even ON the Seine, and that's just what we did. Amazing (and proving Emily right, again).

2012

2012-01-01T10:41:00.001Z

Bonne année et bonne santé!

Interactive Fireworks

2011-12-30T17:40:00.002Z

Look no further, blast off with thundering fireworks on your screen:
http://www.maylin.net/Fireworks.html

OVERHEARD IN PARIS

2011-12-30T12:34:00.000Z

THE CAT IS (STILL) IN THE BAG

Emily just got back, with this 'knowing smile' on her face. "Where I'll take you tomorrow evening will blow your mind." My dry reply, "Again?"
After a pause I said: "Ya know, I've been a few times on the Embankment at New Year's and watched the fireworks on River Thames." -
Emily: "Pffft."

OVERHEARD IN PARIS

2011-12-30T10:50:00.000Z

OVERHEARD IN PARIS

After an argument yesterday near the Centre Pompidou with a Brit fuck, Emily recorded my retort to this wanker:

"The most idiotic claim to justify self-righteousness is, 'I am older than you, therefore I know better.' It merely provides a superb argument for euthanasia."

China jails free speech advocate

2011-12-23T11:27:00.001Z

PR China: Rotten to the core

Chinese writer Chen Wei has been sentenced to nine years in jail for "inciting subversion of state power". Mr Chen dared to publish several essays online calling for freedom of speech and reform of China's one-party system. The Chinese leadership felt cornered and intimidated enough to order the court to impose the outrageous verdict.

He was among hundreds of dissidents detained earlier this year after online calls for protests in China inspired by the uprisings in the Middle East. He told the court he was not guilty and that "democracy will prevail" in China.

Posted via

Nice, France

Happy Hanukkah!

2011-12-21T22:36:00.000Z

We are invited tomorrow evening to participate with friends of Emily's family to light the third candle of the Menorah in celebration of Hanukkah, an evening with lavish food, lots of joy music. It will be my fourth Hanukkah to participate in, each time in a different city: Vienna, London, Paris and now Nice.

Current Music: Orchestra Of The Vienna Musikgesselschaft, Michael Gielen & Felicja Blumental – Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: II. Adagio Sostenuto (Rachmaninoff)

Christless Christmas

2011-12-21T05:53:00.000Z

The world owes America its very survival, and much more. US scientists have over the past 200 years stripped the Roman Catholic church, and many of earthling leaders who felt they were accountable only to the gods, of virtually all its concoctions to amass more power and have smashed its claim to be the ultimate authority on Earth.

The "big bazooka" of US scientists to destroy Christian inspired fables is the Kepler Space Telescope. Punctially ahead of Christmas, another - maybe the biggest - lie from the secretive catacombs in the Vatican has been nullified: that there is only one Earth, and it was created by a god.

The telescope has so far discovered 207 planets outside our Solar system, ten of which are "earth-like" and called earth twins; with the promise of discovering more. With every new discovery we're getting closer to the 'holy grail' of an Earth-like planet around a Sun-like star, and bring down the fictitious scenario once spread by ancient disciples and their ordained successors. There is no god; no Santa Claus anyway.

Master & Servant

2011-12-19T08:10:00.000Z

Master and Servant: Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey received Eurozone vassal Sarkozy last week in Istanbul for a humiliating public dressing-down. The press photo tells it all...

Concert

2011-12-18T18:27:00.000Z

Ravel, St-Saëns,Poulenc et Bizet

Grand Corps Malade, Ensemble Orchestral De Paris, Louis Langré and Katia Labèque et Marielle Labèque

Wednesday 21 December 2011 at 8:00pm

Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

15 avenue Montaigne
75008 Paris
France

Lofty Figure Skating

2011-12-17T10:27:00.002Z

A cute Brit/American/SA/French couple will go good-figure ice-skating at the world's most spectacular and exclusive ice rink: 57m above ground, tangled within the metal structure of the Eiffel Tower. Be envious!

Trip

2011-12-16T21:27:00.000Z

Itinéraire de Noël: 22 au 27 décembre au soeur d'Emily

Political Compass

2011-12-16T15:46:00.000Z

My Political Compass

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty of politics, it turns out I am rather moderate (tame), unlike my reputation and to my own surprise.

Economic Left/Right: 1.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.54

Try for yourself:

http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

Eurozone doldrums: Panic in Paris and Berlin

2011-12-15T18:47:00.000Z

Panic in Paris:
The president of the French National Bank, Christian Noyer, demanded that the UK should be downgraded ahead of France. It's peculiar that a Banque de France executive gives advice to rating agencies.

S&P and Moody's reaffirmed today that the UK's Triple A rating is not under review; however, the eurozone members, the EMS and the EFSF are all under review with a downgrade possible as soon as January 15th.

In the meantime, the IMF has advised Eurozone leaders in a meeting behind closed doors last week to revamp the eurozone and to consider the reduction of the eurozone by 4 or 5 members.

Two weeks ago the IMF discussed a possible break-up of the eurozone with German chancellor Merkel, causing Merkel to adopt a hard line against issuing "eurobonds" - ostensibly in expectation that the eurozone cannot be rescued, and that providing German guarantees for such bonds would be too costly in the probable case of default. Merkel then contacted Sarkozy (December 3rd), causing the Frenchman to quickly abandon his previously vehemently advocating of eurobonds.

EU summit: the losers

2011-12-15T18:18:00.000Z

EUROZONE TURMOIL: Realizing the downside of Britain's absence from future EU policy making, the EU Commission has formally asked Britain to accept an invitation to "observer status" and to continue to participate in future negotiations. The EU acknowledges the supremely authoritative position of Britain and admits that the Gallic-Teuton rhetoric during and after last week's summit was counter-productive and damaging to Europe.

The change of heart of the EU also follows polls that show severe repercussions for Merkel's CDU and Sarkozy's popularity (-5% and -9%) and a sharp rise of voter support for the Conservative Party (+12%).
So much for winners and losers...

Adieu, Monsieur Président!

2011-12-15T15:46:00.004Z

Sarkozy's life as president
expires on April 22nd

The latest polls indicate that incumbent Nicholas Sarkozy will finish third on Election Day, punishment for Napoleonesque megalomania in office, abuse in office (for which his predecessor Facques Chirac has just received a 2-year prison term) and subordinating the French nation to Germany in EU-wide plots. Mr Sarkozy is guilty of using state entities (police, Justice and Interior ministries, gendarmerie and several mayors of French towns) to persecute former Prime Minister Villepin who has just announced he would run for president himself.

The poll from December 13:

N Sarkozy, UMP: 19.5%

M Le Pen, FN: 21%
Borloo, Alliance: 8.5%
D Villepin, RS: 10%
Hollande, PS: 33%
Bayrou, MoDem: 7%
In the run-off between Hollande and Marina Le Pen on 6 May:
Le Pen: 42.5%
Hollande: 57.5%

THIS BLOGSITE SUPPORTS MARINE LE PEN FOR THE FRENCH PRESIDENCY

Avec Le Pen

2011-12-13T21:24:00.002Z

Loss of a good friend

2011-12-13T19:03:00.001Z

In Memory of

Elizabeth Cochrane Chinchilla

July 25, 1960 - December 11, 2011

ELIZABETH "ELLIE" COCHRANE CHINCHILLA, 51, of Jackson, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 at Ocean Medical Center in Brick Born in Greenock, Scotland.

She came to the U.S. in 1964 and was raised in Alpine and Tenafly, moving to the Jersey Shore in 1999. Ellie enjoyed and loved her time with her three caring and loving children and her two dogs, Heidi and Toby.

Surviving is her mother, Agnes Cochrane of Toms River; her sons Matthew and Christopher; her daughter Jacquelyn; a sister Linda Cochrane of Toms River; and loving Aunt to Jenna and Justin Cochrane.

A private funeral service and burial was held for Ellie. There will be a Memorial Service at a later date to celebrate the life of Ellie. The announcement will be posted in January.

The family would like to thank the many caring people for their kind and compassionate expression of sympathy at this difficult time. It means a lot to all of us. Ellie will forever live in our hearts.

I have known "ellieshere" since 2007 and I shall miss her greatly.

10 Myths about Cameron's Veto

2011-12-12T07:58:00.000Z

Up Yours, EU!

Article in The Spectator: 10 Myths About Cameron's EU Veto

http://www.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/7471178/ten-myths-about-camerons-eu-veto.thtml

Eurozone cracks

2011-12-12T07:52:00.000Z

Cracks in the Eurozone: the frontrunner of next year's French presidential election, the socialist Hollande, promises to renegotiate the fiscal treaty of the eurozone if elected (he leads in the polls by 18% ahead of Marine LePen and 20% ahead of incumbent Sarkozy. And my dark horse, former PM Villepin has just entered the race, making sure that Sarkozy loses his office.

The winds of change are sweeping through the fractured eurozone.

Thorny truths and sour grapes

2011-12-10T09:21:00.001Z

Part of the reasons for the ostensibly displayed irate of central Europeans over Britain's "Thanks, but no thanks" attitude for more British contributions to the EU is sheer envy. "How dare they, preserving their own AAA rating and tackle the fiscal problems assumed under Labour on their own - without 'advice' and interference from a Commission in Brussels, while we are forced to goose-step behind the Gallics and the Teutons?"

It's peculiar when people suggest that the Eurozone bloc would solve Britain's fiscal and debt problems, when the eurozone is on the brink of collapse and bankruptcy, and the EU caused many financial problems in the UK in the first place. Under 13 years of Labour, net immigration to Britain was 1.8 million, stretching public finances to the limit.

Eurozone blame game

2011-12-09T10:29:00.000Z

As European media level criticism on Britain for "refusing to rescue the euro" one needs to remind the idiots that Britain is not a member of the eurozone and has not caused the dire crisis in the eurozone, nor was a rescue package for the euro subject of last night's debate at all. On the table were French-German plans to curtail London's financial clout and to undermine free market philosophies, and to plan for additional new debts to cover for old ones.

Britain, in a staunch pro-Europe stance, signed up to Croatia's ascension to the EU as of July 1, 2013.

Unibrow distrust

2011-12-09T08:17:00.001Z

A few months before introduction of the euro, the German then-finance minister Theo Waigel lectured Britain:"Do you want to be reduced to another Switzerland, on the periphery of the new Europe with a currency succumbing to speculation?"

On January 4th 1999 the euro traded at CHF 1.6070; on August 1st 2011 it was down to CHF1.0950. Since then the Swiss National Bank (SNB) and the ECB have spent $1.6 billion to defend THE EURO. It took the Swiss Government's decision to fix the rate at CHF1.20, and its stated threat to use up to $800 billion to defend that benchmark.

Eat your words and shut the fuck up for all times, Theo!

11th summit at the 11th hour of 2011

2011-12-09T06:11:00.000Z

Eurozone-I:

Broad failure from the 11th summit of 2011, as the euro crisis has not yet even been discussed in the overnight meetings; the 17 members only settled to amend eurozone criteria by March 2012, delaying the immediate actions demanded from the markets.

The leaders ominously fail to grasp the urgency of the crisis. The main attack from Berlin and Paris against the City of London and its financial supremacy in Europe imploded as the British PM refused to sign up on restrictions on the free movement of capital and the imposition of a punishing financial transaction levy.

The summit is a summary failure and it casts even darker clouds over the sustainability and future of the eurozone.

Return of the Bling Panther

2011-12-08T17:16:00.000Z

The hope of Europe

Eurozone: of clowns, buffoons and other idiots

2011-12-07T09:00:00.002Z

Enter the face of your favourite eurozone leader

The public spat between the "Anglo-Saxon capitalists" and the Gallo-Teuton revanchist axis has reached a new climax: befuddled by the perpetual woes within the eurozone, the Gallic leader Sarkozy, in his convincing role as populist simpleton, blames now Anglo-Saxon capitalism for the financial crisis.

That's as daft as it is curious: for it was the satanic axis in the first place that pushed for eurozone entry of highly indebted nations, supported accounting tricks and outright fraud to make them appear as qualified for membership, allowed more excessive debts at lower interest rates, awarded them with a common currency and permitted their own banks to lend to Greece, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Belgium and Spain like there was no tomorrow!

Now is the time of reckoning: "haircuts" - the figurative yet nebulous term to disguise multi-billion losses for investors and banks - lead to the debtor nations in tatters and the lenders hairless (to continue the figurative speech). It's only natural that the Axis powers huddle at the line of scrimmage, blaming with panic and in rage the markets and referees (the rating agencies) for the consequences of past sins during the forced forging of the eurozone.

And so the string of "summit" meetings in the financial Bermuda Triangle between Brussels, Berlin and Paris continues, with the next one, starting tomorrow, promising to be nothing else but just another lollapalooza of hysteria, clownery and clueless buffoonery.

S&P warning to eurozone

2011-12-06T08:20:00.000Z

After the downgrade warning from S&P, Europeans are licking their wounds.

In first reactions several government leaders whince that S&P do not recognize the latest French-German rescue plan for the eurozone. Which plan? I am diligently following news coverage and government cables around the clock, but haven't discovered any hint of a cunning plan, other then Sarkozy abandoning his past demand for eurobonds, caving in to the German chancellor (and to reason, for once).

It is the EU's familiar "Shoot-the-messenger syndrome":

The chieftain of a miniscule tribe in central Europe, JC Juncker from the Luxembourg theme park (490,000 visitors during opening hours), calls the credit rating warning "excessive and unjustified, as the eurozone is in the midst of sorting out its problems." And he added with a quip: "One must not take the rating agencies seriously, and not to give them more credibility than they deserve."

Oh really?? It may be inconvenient for the schemers of a European master-plan, but the threat of adding $2 Trillion more in debt and disguise that as a plan to "sort out the debt crisis" can only fly in the wonderful world of Oz, but will not convince anyone in the real world.

Where are the concerned demonstrators that burn down Brussels and other eurozone capitals, and hang their leaders, who fire-sell countries to the lasting detriment of future generations?

Mapping Death

2011-12-05T19:00:00.003Z

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15975720

Map of British traffic fatalities between 1999 and 2010

Euro-Trash

2011-12-05T18:20:00.001Z

Napoleon's Mini-Me, Nicholas Sarkozy, proclaimed a week ago:"Euro-bonds are the only way to bolster the eurozone." The same dwarf, as host of German chancellor Merkel, stated this afternoon: "Eurobonds are in no case a solution for the euro crisis."
And these morons are surprised that markets punish them, the media ridicules them and the electorate chases them out of office as soon as it has the chance?

Merde, notre frère Jacques (Delors)!

2011-12-03T11:26:00.001Z

Alzheimer's or being truly contrite about past euro sins?

Who knows what possessed former EU chief commissioner Jacques "Phuck" Delors to state in today's Daily Telegraph that "the eurozone is inherently flawed" and to express doubts it may survive in a complete reversal of his past claims while he was EU commission president.

This from a man who pushed most fervently for unqualified Greece, Portugal and Ireland to become eurozone members, who accepted the grossly corrupt fashion in which qualification criteria have been watered down and accommodated to accept the lagging economies, and whose commission was the most crooked and tainted mis-managed public body in Europe since Caligula ruled in Rome. It is most peculiar that a man of such dubious credentials feels now that he can lecture today's European leaders on how to solve the eurozone dilemma.

"Prodi to the rescue?"

2011-11-30T07:50:00.004Z

Pro-Euro? When one of the most vocal voices in the line of defense for the eurozone, Germany's DER SPIEGEL, has to ressort to print an interview with disgraced imbecile Romano Prodi, you know how futile the attempts to rescue the euro have become!

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,800351,00.html

Musical Goose-steps

2011-11-29T22:27:00.002Z

LMAO! History bites!

Midas Touch

2011-11-29T22:05:00.000Z

There is justice after all:

Three wealth managers who live in one of the richest cities in the US have won a lottery jackpot of $254m (£163m). Greg Skidmore, Brandon Lacoff and Tim Davidson, from Greenwich, Connecticut, won the 2 November Powerball draw after buying a $1 ticket.

World's Greatest Cities

2011-11-29T14:12:00.000Z

In response to Mercer's 2011 list of most liveable cities of the world I came up with my own Top-15, based on cities I have either lived in or have repeatedly visited over the years:

1. Vienna; 2. San Francisco; 3. New York City; 4. London; 5. Seattle; 6. Geneva; 7. Paris; 8. Lisbon; 9. Sydney; 10. Nice (France); 11. Zuerich; 12. Singapore; 13. Duesseldorf; 14. Montreal; 15. Prague

http://www.mercer.com/knowledgecenter/reportsummary.htm?idContent=1128060

Euro death row

2011-11-29T10:18:00.000Z

Office News:
in a presentation today I called the break-up of the eurozone "unpreventable at this point and unavoidable in the very near future." Reminiscing over the first business cycle since the euro introduction I described it as "an entirely half-baked, economically reckless and contradicting basic yet fundamental economic rules, politically ignorant and illegitimate enterprise, gone terribly yet predictably awry."

Little Britain

2011-11-29T08:56:00.002Z

Shrinking Britain: our office predicts Britain to experience flat (zero) growth for the 1st half of 2012 and critical budget deficit; today's Autumn Statement of George Osborne in the Commons will be closely watched; fears that after 13 years of Labour assaults on Britons, the economy is in a state of disrepair.

SOS! M&S in Paris!

2011-11-27T10:54:00.003Z

I thought to have left all bad memories of Brit cuisine, culture and style behind me. But no, one of the top brands of low Britishness, the food & produce dispenser Marks & Spencer had to make a return to Paris! Blasted, goddammit!

Top-notch in Britain means sub-par in Paris

Even though the French rightly scoff at British cooking and fashion, the retailer still reckons defiantly that Parisians are yearning for its disgusting ready-made chicken tikka masala, repulsive "gourmet" chutney and sensible knickers in the style (and often of the size) of tableclothes. And so the veteran British retailer opened a flagship store on Paris’s Champs-Elysees on Thursday after a decade’s absence from French soil, bringing the taste and feel of Britain to a city that sees itself as a world capital of food and good living. As if!

Emily was there (not to buy anything, of course) and thought that 90% of the lost souls there spoke English, American, Nigerian or English English accent...

I always considered the "M&S" logo as some sort of cry for help, sort of an SOS for famished souls....

SWIFT JUSTICE: The Pope and Traffic

2011-11-26T13:13:00.000Z

SWIFT JUSTICE: From time to time I pass judgment on prolific legal cases. The latest is the case of a German who filed a complaint against Pope Benedict. The reason? During last year's visit to Germany the pope did not use safety belts when he crossed towns in the "Popemobil."

After careful deliberations I have come to the conclusion that the Pope is exempt from traffic laws and enjoys diplomatic immunity. The complaint is therefore frivolous and will result in sanctions against the German complainant. I therefore sentence the civilian for abuse of the legal system and waste of state resources to

a) 20 lashes;

b) a fine of $3,000.00;
c) a psychiatric evaluation;
c) a suspended sentence of 30 days in jail;
d) 50 hours of communal work, to be served at the discretion of the Roman Catholic Church; and
e) 30 Our Father and Holy Mary prayers, audible to 5 court appointed witnesses.

APPEAL AGAINST THIS JUDGMENT IS NOT POSSIBLE

Brit women Europe's fattest and ugliest

2011-11-26T12:23:00.002Z

UK women are 'fattest in Europe'
The UK has the highest ratio of obese women in any country in Europe, according to European Union figures.
The BBC report proves me right: I have always claimed that Brit women are fat hags and wenches, with shit for brains and raised on fat and lard. And they are the ugliest wenches in the world.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15901351

The ANC Hoodlums Strike Again

2011-11-23T13:08:00.000Z

The ruling ANC pushed through parliament a "secrecy law" that effectively muzzles the media in South Africa to a worse extent than Communist China, Belarus or Burma. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel peace laureate, said: “It is insulting to all South Africans to be asked to stomach legislation that can be used to outlaw whistleblowing and investigative journalism ... and that makes the state answerable only to the state.”

Sports Affiliations

2011-11-21T08:44:00.000Z

With the frequent relocations in my life came (and went) a string of sports franchises that I have/had interest in. In soccer, past fanship included Austria Vienna, 1860 Munich, AS Monaco and Cosmos New York (all history for me), lasting sympathy for Fortuna Duesseldorf, Werder Bremen and Chelsea, and the newly emerged fanship for Paris St-Germain (PSG). Guess what, David Beckham is bound for PSG in January, that's the rumor buzzing along the Seine these days.

And finally, there are the teams I will always dig: US Football, the best team sport there is, and my fingers are crossed hard for the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants each season. What a joy it is to be a 49ers fan nowadays: yesterday they annihilated the Cardinals for the 8th straight win. San Francisco (9-1) could wrap up the NFC West with a win at Baltimore on Thursday and a loss by Seattle against Washington next weekend. So I wish for both, to my daughter's muted delight...

Gaddhafi - Hang 'im 'igh!

2011-11-19T12:56:00.001Z

The most vicious of the Gaddhafi offspring has been captured today; hoping for a speedy trial (in Tripolis) and a date with the hangman for Saïf.

Posted via BlackBerry

Rennes, Dear!

2011-11-19T09:13:00.002Z

Emily suggested to take a w/e trip to Rennes, kinda a spur of the moment idea. So, off we go, returning tomorrow evening. Bon weekend to all!

Euro oder Krieg?

2011-11-17T19:46:00.003Z

Die praepotent penetrante Behauptung - vor allem in Berlin, Paris und Wien propagiert - dass ein Auslaufen der Eurozone zu einem erhoehten Risiko fuer den Frieden in Europa fuehren muss, zeigt allenfalls eine kaum noch verschleierte traditionelle Lust auf Krieg, und Ignoranz wirtschaftlicher Realitaet.

Die Welt von Tokio, Peking, Moskau bis Washington nimmt heute zur Kenntnis dass manche Regierungen in Europa sich selbst so einschaetzen, dass oekonomischer Zwang zur Selbstaufloesung der Eurozone unweigerlich erhoehte Kriegsgefahr aus diesem Europa mit sich bringt.

Dies werden London, Washington, Peking und Moskau bedenken muessen wenn sich die EU aufschwingen sollte und einen Staendigen Sitz im UNO Weltsicherheitsrat verlangt.

Haute culture

2011-11-17T17:10:00.005Z

http://www.france24.com/en/20111116-lulu-gainsbourg-from-gainsbourg-to-lulu-serge-charlotte-l'eau-a-la-bouche-camille-ilo-veyou-eve-jackson-en-culture

Benetton's Kiss

2011-11-17T14:34:00.000Z

Sealed with a (French) kiss -

Pope and Imam

Mocking the eurozone

2011-11-17T12:19:00.002Z

The involuntary joke of the EFSF:
When the vehicle [EFSF] that is supposed to borrow on behalf of countries that can’t borrow, can’t borrow, then that pushes the crisis into an even more dangerous phase. The first attempt to find investors of just $4bn for the EFSF failed miserably last week as global investors shunned the market, accompanied with ridicule and mockery for the ECB, the EU commission and the French-German axis.

The dramatic deterioration of the ability to raise funds of some eurozone countries continues as yields of government bonds climb to new record highs today. Italy's 10-yr bond yields rise to 7.21%, Spain's to 6.43%, Belgium's to 5.03% and France's to 3.77% currently.

Northern Rock becomes Virgin Money

2011-11-17T11:53:00.000Z

I applaud to the successful sale by Chancellor George Osborne of Northern Rock to Richard Branson's Virgin Money for £747mn ($1.17bn; SFR 1.08bn). Under the leadership of the Conservative Government part of the taxpayers' contributions have been recouped, and the condition placed to keep the headquarter of the new bank (and 3,000+ jobs) in Newcastle.

Neo-Nazi Blatter

2011-11-17T08:49:00.000Z

Seppl Blatter, the infantile Swiss-German megalomaniac FIFA chieftain with the pomp of Congo's late emperor Bokassa, should not be afforded with the nicety to resign from his post, but chased out of office with sickles and instruments used during the Spanish Inquisition's dungeons. The buffoon, who claims there is no racism on a soccer pitch, during a week when six such incidents make headlines in Britain, beggars belief. And not a handshake, as Blatter advises us, but criminal investigation and prosecution should deal with such racism. But how would Blatter, a sponsor in the past of neo-nazi groups in Germany, be a source of reason and logic? I hope he gets run over by a truck today.

Eurozone doldrums / -2

2011-11-16T13:58:00.004Z

It is most peculiar and absurd that some eurozone governments applaud and rejoice over the fact that two of its members are now governed by unelected officials who both oversaw and sanctioned the demise of their economies as EU commissioners to begin with.

The current cost for 7 eurozone countries' sovereign debt, based on 10-year government bonds (Bond yields over 6% are perceived as unsustainable):

Greece 32.25%; Italy: 7.13%; Portugal: 8.61%; Spain: 6.35%; France: 3.70%; Belgium: 4.93%; Germany: 1.83%

Eurozone doldrums

2011-11-16T08:09:00.000Z

The eurozone is quickly descending into a crippled and dysfunctional entity, shunned by investors and ridiculed by outsiders. When rating agencies started to downgrade member states because of the reckless scale of indebtness, the EU began to lambast the messenger instead of reminding its members to abide by the rules set up to protect the eurozone before its creation in the first place.

The bond market, as the ultimate judge on the insane and chaotic measures taken by EU officials, pummels sovereign debt of eurozone members, going beyond Greece and Italy now. Within days the whole eurozone will be dragged down, with bond prices (and therefore the cost of new debt) soaring and making the survival of the eurozone impossible. Just as I predicted back in 1991...

Alpha-Giants 49ers

2011-11-14T21:39:00.001Z

Wow! Wow, wow, wow!

These "Niners" of 2011 are blasting their way to the play-offs in a style not seen since 1997. Thanks to Jim Harbaugh, who did wonders already in Stanford, the 49ERS have their lead in the NFC with a record of 8-1 set in stone. Yesterday's game against the Giants was stuff reminiscent to the times of legendary Joe Montana. After a 10+ year draught, this fan can jubilate again, week after week.

"Two-speed" eurozone?

2011-11-10T08:13:00.000Z

While the latest realization of European "leaders" to consider at least a break-up of the eurozone is commendable in principle, the delusions and megalomania of cohorts in Berlin and Paris continues: to label the eurozone as a Tier-1 Europe, and nations outside of it as Tier-2 Europe reminds of past Teuton plans to carve Europe into pro-Reich and a hinterland to provide cheap labour and raw materials. To box countries like Switzerland and Norway as Tier-2 countries, who could buy up the eurozone 10 times over, shows the full scope of pathological madness that still has a firm hold on Germans.

In 1991 I wrote a dissertation on the then yet to be created eurozone. In it I argued that a core of 4 or 5 compatible economies should be ganged together, allowing new members to subsequently join as their economic progress merits it.

It took 'leaders' from France and Germany until November 2011 to arrive at similar conclusions, but only after sinking the continent into a slow growth, multi-Trillion blackhole. The damage in financial terms on the continent has been greater than World War 2 since then.

Let's follow other pipers than Murkyel and Narkozy!

événements à venir

2011-11-06T12:42:00.001Z

Nov 15

Oh Land
Venue: La Maroquinerie, Rue Boyer, Paris

Nov 22

The "Horses and High Heels" Tour /
Marianne Faithfull + Doug Pettibone
Venue: L'Imprèvu, Saint-Ouen l'Aumone

Cozy under a China/EU flag

2011-11-05T10:14:00.000Z

AT the failed G20 meeting in Cannes, communist China told its EU comrades of the precondition for economic aid and funds for the rescue fund EFSF (European Financial Stability Facility). Freed of any moral scruples and doubts, the EU leaders will find it easy to accept Chines hegemony in the Far East, issue an arrest warrant for the Dalai Lama, support China in the Tibet issue, support Chinese efforts to annex Taiwan, accept China's foreign exchange regime, support China's political aspirations on the African continent to secure raw material resources, allow China to enslave 25 million Africans, accept Chinese claims of Japanese islands and hoist a new EU flag.

Burning the Soviet-EU flag

2011-11-05T09:43:00.000Z

The financial nonviability of the eurozone is topped by the immorality of its leaders. They are not ashamed to ask for help of "unlimited resources" from the IMF, an organisation designed to help ailing and emerging economies in the Third World, and to beg for hundreds of billions of dollars from IMF member states such as Brazil, South Africa and China, at the expense of countries such as Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and the Congos.

We will participate at noon in the Jardin du Luxembourg in the event to burn the EU flag, and all it represents.

G20 held captive by French and Germans

2011-11-03T14:24:00.000Z

Member states of the SovietEUnion must be bewildered as Germany and France have usurped all decision-making and unilaterally determine the fate of its members.

When Greece decided to hold a referendum over its future within the eurozone, horror and fury broke loose in Paris and Berlin. Today, without consulting any other member state of the eurozone or the SovietEUnion, the leaders forced Greece into surrender: "if Athens decides to leave the eurozone, the Greek nation will also be expelled from the SovietEUnion. Faced with the abyss, the Greek PM caved in and cancelled plans for any referendum.

On the sidelines looms Italy, to sink into bankruptcy within six months...

Cameron warning to G-20 on "Tobin" tax

2011-11-02T16:51:00.000Z

PM heeds advice to oppose "Tobin" tax

Presentation to Chancellor on October 18 bears fruit
ERS

David Cameron has poured cold water on proposals – backed by the buffoonish Archbishop of Canterbury who dubbed a transaction tax as a “Robin Hood tax” - to be levied on financial transactions, claiming that some European countries were merely backing the levy as a way to wriggle out of their commitments to increase overseas aid.

Mr Cameron will make it clear at the Group of 20 summit in Cannes on Thursday that Britain will not support a tax unless it is implemented at a global level – something which is highly unlikely to happen because of opposition from the US, Canada and some Asian countries.

The levy – sometimes also wrongly called a Tobin tax – was endorsed on Wednesday by economically unaware and uneducated Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, in a Financial Times article. He cited dubious guesses that it might raise more than $400bn globally each year for aid projects and boost the “real” economy. As if!

Nicolas Sarkozy, French president, is hosting the G20 summit and promoting the idea, while Wolfgang Schäuble, German finance minister, told the FT this week that the European Union should introduce the tax if the rest of the world refused to participate. The German threatened that Germany might force the euro zone members to act unilaterally if necessary, a strategy that may cost him his job soon.

Mr Cameron told the Commons on Wednesday that while he supported the financial levy “in principle”, he suspected that some European countries saw the idea as an excuse for failing to meet commitments to raise aid spending to 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product.

“We must be careful that we don't allow other countries, including some European countries, to use a campaign for this tax – which they know is unlikely to be adopted in the short term – as an excuse for getting off their aid commitments,” Mr Cameron said.

The levy, which might be applied to share, bond, currency and derivatives transactions, would have a major impact on the City. According to the European Commission’s own estimates, roughly 62 per cent of the revenues generated by an EU tax would come from London.

The proposal is understandably widely opposed in London, with everyone from bankers and asset managers to brokers and traders arguing that it will raise costs and make the City uncompetitive.

“European policymakers are pricing all of the EU’s financial centers out of the global marketplace. What is the use of creating a level playing field within the EU, if we can no longer compete with other financial centers outside the union?” said Stuart Fraser, policy chairman of the City of London.

If the euro zone were to go it alone on the tax – as suggested by Mr Schäuble – the effects on the UK would be mixed.

That is largely because the tax would apply to any transaction where at least one party was based in the euro zone. London’s non-European derivatives would be unaffected, and the City might pick up some business from multinationals who can move their derivatives transactions out of the euro zone.

But many London-based transactions involving a euro zone counter-party would simply become too expensive and would not take place at all, cutting sharply into what is currently a thriving business.

Mark Field, Conservative MP for the City, says that while a solely euro zone 'Tobin' tax might give London a short-term advantage, he believes an “all powerful” single currency area would then propose other taxes to cut London’s advantage.

Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Commons Treasury committee, wrote to Chancellor George Osborne on Wednesday, seeking details on how an EU Tobin tax might affect Britain’s financial services industry.

Greek Plebiscite on Euro Membership

2011-11-02T07:14:00.000Z

Shock, dismay, revulsion - these are the sentiments amongst the leaders of the euro zone after the Greek PM decided to - quelle horror! - ask the Greek nation to vote on the rescue package forced down on Greece last week.

Once the reflex of condemnation of the PM's decision eases, the leaders should rather feel shame and embarassment over their own actions in the past of either ignoring the electorate when it made the "wrong decision" (such as France) or denying the population the right to decide (as in all other of the 17 member states). Greece effectively became the fig leave of the euro zone's stripped down derivative of democracy.

EU Travesty #2,326

2011-11-01T18:36:00.000Z

I think it is a travesty that euro zone leaders are desperately looking at communist China with a per capita annual income of $4,000 for an emergency bail-out, while the per-capita income in Europe is $38,000.

Let alone the peculiar proposition to "invest" in the euro zone, when just barely a week ago many investors saw their investments cut by $62.00 for each 100 "invested."

Halloween Parisienne

2011-10-31T14:37:00.000Z

Halloween à la Paris, this will be interesting.
Emily drummed up a gang of six others (making it 4 pairs) to celebrate Halloween on the ice of the Pailleron. She also got us costumes, transforming me quite fittingly into a henchman (carton ax included) while she thought a blood soaked Queen Mary, especially around the neckline for added dramatic effect, will be my perfect consort for the ice-capades tonight. The best costume will be rewarded, so I think I will add some more blood to her gown. Maybe I use the ice skates later today...

7 Billion

2011-10-31T09:45:00.000Z

The media report that the "7 billionth earthling" was born today, and they show pics of babies in China, India or the Congos to prove their point.

Whereas I have irrefutable evidence that the 7 billionth arrival was in Tasiilaq, Greenland, population 1,923 (2010 census).

Bonjour!

2011-10-30T18:47:00.000Z

After countless (musical) eye-openers from the missus, I am happy to return the favours and provide for concert tickets of my own. I'm happy I obtained tickets for the brilliant Alternative band THE BLACK KEYS from Ohio on January 25th at Le Zénith. We also look forward to their new album El Camino to be released early December (I believe on the 6th). Last year's album Brothers contains the single "Everlasting Light," the best song of 2010 in my book.

La Vie en France

2011-10-28T13:19:00.000+01:00

Vivre comme un coq en pâte!

Nous habitons à Paris, Ile-de-France maintenant, juste entre le Jardin du Luxembourg et le Jardin du Plantes

EU Travesty #2,322

2011-10-24T11:31:00.000+01:00

European banks, many in dire shape, will be forced to bolster their balance sheet by $150 billion, according to the "big plan" of German and French leaders. How will banks be able to do that when they will also be asked to "voluntarily" write off more than $100 billion of Greek debts, face increases in taxes and face the imposition of a Tobin (financial transaction) tax and a EU tax to finance the non-producing infrastructure of the European Union?

Sarkozy numpty

2011-10-24T08:47:00.003+01:00

Shut the fuck up, Monsieur Sarkozy! He said he was "sick of reading in newspapers about advice Mr Cameron and his Chancellor George Osborne were offering the eurozone." At one point in the exchanges, Mr Sarkozy told Mr Cameron: "We are sick of you criticising us and telling us what to do."
AS THE EU PLANS CHANGES TO THE TREATY TO SPREAD THE BURDEN OF THE CATASTROPHIC STATE OF THE EUROZONE, ALL 27 MEMBERS OF THE EU HAVE THE RIGHT AND DUTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBATE TO SAVE THE EURO!

Fuck Scotland

2011-10-22T16:46:00.000+01:00

Scotland's inferiority complex ridden chief thug Alex Salmond tells London that "the days when the British Government can tell Scots what to do are over." It's time that London tells the Scots that the days when the tribal reservation can expect the annual aid package of £12bn delivered are definitely over.

Libyan Mob - Our Ally?

2011-10-21T12:31:00.002+01:00

Our Allies? The PM of Libya says that Muammar Gaddafi died in crossfire between NTC troops and gangs loyal to Gaddafi. The videos show a different story: it was a mob lynching. After sobering up from yesterday's frenzied blood orgy we should ask some hard questions and start a credible investigation. We have been cheated of a trial and possible execution of the former dictator.

EU aims at rating agencies

2011-10-20T20:10:00.000+01:00

"Shoot the messenger, eh?"

The EU, spooked by weekly downgrades of banks and sovereign debt, plans not to rectify the pitiful state of its finances, but rather curtail the rights and scope of rating agencies. Yet another push for investors to leave Europe.

It's yet another chance and argument for Britain to ignore, opt-out and shun the EU.