Anglochat chav reminder

In a rare reflection on the long shelved Anglochat memorabilia gallery, here's another jewel from the days I derided the AOL chavs on a daily basis. When desperate enough for bling and welfare check, even they fell on their wounded knees, held their greasy hands together and fell into a communal prayer:

 

NFL Action in Londontown

FOOTBALL ARRIVES IN LONDON
 

 

GUYS, PUT YER HELMETS ON! Soccer plays 2nd fiddle this weekend as the capital is in the firm grip of NFL action. The New England Patriots will maul the St Louis Rams at Wembley on Sunday in front of the usual enthusiastic 84,000 fans to celebrate the event.

 The city has already seen a Touchdown thanks to an Eli Manning's 4,000 mile throw back in 2002. His missile turned into steel and glass and is now known as The Gherkin, for some inexplicable reason. But that's just another of the many mysteries of London.

US Growth vs EU Stagnancy

US Q3 GDP +2.0%, BETTER THAN EXPECTED,

OUTPACING UK (+1.0) AND EUROZONE (+0.2)

With yet a further sign that the US economy is on the mend, today's better than expected growth of 2.0% of the nation's GDP validates the course of the Obama Administration. The 3rd Quarter result also beats the growth rate of 1.3% in the 2nd Quarter. Encouraging is the fact that the growth was fuelled broadly based, with home construction, consumer spending and car sales leading the way, more than offsetting the negative effects from the drought in wide parts of the US.

This also bolsters my argument that Britain should continue to decouple from the stagnant European economies and intensify economic ties with North America.

Vote'12 - last call

VOTE 2012: After all that's been said and done ...

 

... here are my conclusions. They are remarkably different from what they would have been only six months ago, after a campaign and a series of events which have made this year's race for the White House and control of Congress not at all as dull as the (American) media wanted us to believe.

For me, the what I believed was a dismal record of President Obama, made the incumbent the clear underdog against a yet to be determined Republican contender back in January. Then came the crowning of Mitt Romney, and the race suddenly became wide open again for me. The appalling course of impotence and incompetence in the "European Union" during the past 2 years also helped me to put the perceived failures of the Obama administration into perspective. Strangely, the Democrat in the White House has actually shown remarkable stewardship during the global financial crisis and - astounding for a man of his youth and previous inexperience in government - calm yet swiftly acting leadership in a world marked by chaos and panic from a slowly dying "European Union." It makes Obama today the clear favorite to win re-election by a margin that will surprise many. Obama's popularity in Europe is based on the relative strength and leadership quality at play in America, compared to the listless drift of the Old Continent towards the abyss.

I now expect Obama to win by a 4.5% margin of the popular vote, with a majority of 145 votes in the Electoral College.

Back in January I also expected that the current 53:47 Democratic majority in the US Senate would be reversed into a 2-3 seat majority for the Republicans. Somehow I still hope for that, but it must not come at the cost of seeing a nutter like Todd Akin be elected as Rep senator for Missouri, who fails on such fundamental issues such as biology and reproduction, and what constitutes rape and its consequences. Equally repugnant was the way how a distinguished senator from Indiana, long-serving Richard Lugar, was ousted by the irrational Tea Party wing of the Republican Party, a scary (and scare-mongering) fringe grouping on the far right. I am inclined to wish upon the failure to reach a Republican majority in the Senate after days of agonizing count and re-count of election results in Indiana.

In the end I see a 50-50 balance in the Senate, a numerical deadlock that VP Joe Biden will have to break on occasion. I do not expect a major change in the Republican hold of the House of Representatives.

For those undecided I would seriously suggest to vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson for president.

United Kingdom of Muppets

By all accounts Britain has currently the weakest pair of leadership, the prime minister on one side and the leader of the opposition on the other, in the nation's history. The unconvincing David Cameron, soon to be challenged as Conservative leader and PM  and buffoon-like David Miliband as Labour leader, provide for the most mocked at set of clowns, and for the lamest, most uninspiring and aimlessly drifting duo in living memory. The ratings underscore the deficits: any number under 50 is bad.

 

London Pub Snarl

The perils of London pubs: out-of-towners

 

Random Thoughts

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON RANDOM INJUSTICE:
A fat rat on Armstrong ban, a kangaruh court in Italy

The debilitated quip by the fat, self-inflated chief executive of the International Cycling Union, gender-neutral Pat McQuaid that "Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling. Lance Armstrong deserves to be forgotten in cycling," is as idiotic as the six-year jail terms handed out by an Italian court to scientists for "failing to predict the exact location, time and magnitude of an earthquake that left 309 people dead.

Sky's falling

Owing to a sudden bout of man flu I had to forfeit tonight's gala in honour of the latest James Bond movie at the Royal Albert Hall and pass on the ticket to a dear colleague.

Obama, after 3 debates

AFTER 3 DEBATES THE WINNER IS OBAMA
 

 

If one places enough value on presidential debates Mitt Romney had to win all three of 2012 to pose as serious challenger to incumbent Obama. He failed to achieve that sweep by miles. I have watched the last 2 debates, both clearly won by the president. The first debate, by all credible accounts, has been a disaster for Obama.

I take also consolation from the fact that Obama is on many issues to the right of the (British) Conservative Party, making the choice for Obama just the more palpably acceptable.

BA delay

Delayed; new departure 10:59 [not 11!] Sched.	Flight No.	Departing To	 Status	Terminal

09:50

BA700

VIENNA

DELAYED 10:59

3

Hostile Grounds: the "EU"

When you work for the British Government and have to embark on a mission to Brussels you cannot help but feel gratitude about the hostility thrown at you in the billion-dollar gravy-train corridors of the "EU." That was my experience last week and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The mission itself was successful: we ridiculed, tore apart and rejected the "EU" budget schemes as delusionary, out of step with reality and unacceptable.

It's anyone's guess what possesses the German chancellor to try to force down enormous budget increases for the "EU" David Cameron's throat. While Britain supports a reasonable 0.1% increase, the "EU" demands a 6% hike. And now Merkel ups the ante for vulnerable Cameron: "Accept a German compromise (4.6% budget rise) or I'll cancel next month's European summit talks."

Frau Merkel clearly over-estimates her sway in Britain. If David Cameron signs up to the excessive budget plans in Europe, he'd be dead meat in London, and out of his job. The "threat" of cancellation of a "EU" summit would also be greeted in London with open joy and satisfaction. It will be fun to watch this story to unfold in the coming days.

Trips

Today & tomorrow in Brussels ("EU" beware!);
Friday-Sunday in Paris (Emily prepare!)

ROTTEN BEANS: STARBUCKS

Starbucks: Brewing Crooks & Cooking Books

The Starbucks book value of $40bn is similarily absurd as the public offering price of Facebook shares suggested (fictitious value of $102bn with $822mn of annual profits). Little wonder that the UK arm of the dispenser of mediocre coffee made a loss of $53mn on $637mn turnover in 2011. The poorly run UK company recorded a loss in 8 of the past 10 years and paid a total of $6.2mn in corporate taxes since 2002 in the UK.

Three prime reasons for the poor performance of Starbucks UK can be cited. Starting with bad products - their coffee is barely better than the country's worst coffeemaker, Costa, even though that British company paid corporate tax of 31.6% on $52mn profit as a result of $603mn in sales - the irrational expansion of the past four years in the UK and the exorbitant "royalty fee" that Starbucks UK has to transfer to the Seattle-based mother company. This "royalty fee", nothing else but a tax-dodging instrument, is put at 6% of sales, instead of the customary industry standard of 0.8-1.2 percent.

This puts the operating cost of Starbucks UK at $$637mn in 2011. That bill is expected to top $670mn this year. The unsustainable expansion will lead to what experts call "an uncontrollable shrinkage nand implosion" of the company beginning in late 2013.

Criminal investigations have begun to investigate the elusive taxing structure of Starbucks UK, in tandem with investigation over alleged utilization of slave labour in China by Starbucks. It's green image in shambles, the dismal quality of products and service is a foreboding of yet another corporate disaster.

FLIGHT OF THE FELIX

 

 

The successful return - little surprise as all things going up must come down - to Earth for the thrill-seeking daredeviltry cannot obscure the fact that people close to him have been put through hell for the six minute adventure. It is difficult to fathom the sense and purpose of the jump from 24 miles (128,000 feet), the beautiful view of the Earth's curvature aside.

We fell far short of the insane boldness displayed over the New Mexico desert: our knees buckled at the foot of The Eye today.

(My London) Weekend 2gether + pics

Last night's chili fest turned out magnificently, thanks to the 20 chili peppers and the lovely party of 8 (that includes me). Accompanied by good wine and music the evening lasted from 7 to 2am. No casualties, no fracas, no left-overs.

Slow start this morning, we went over to Southbank to have brunch, bubblies included. I swear my eyesight improves significantly once I gulped down a flute of Bollinger.

Southbank was abuzz, even with a flair of luna park and the burlesque. From a distance, Emily pointed to the London Eye and the Phallic structure to its left, and wanted to take a spin with each. However, she changed her mind the closer we approached the wheel, and not only because of the waiting queue. The flimsiness and height made her stomach revolt and to my great relief she decided to "die another day."

<< More pics >> click below

Barbican -Random International: Rain Room

Barbican -Random International: Rain Room

saVILE and the BBC

 

 

JIMMY "VILE" SAVILE - R.I.P.

(rot in purgatory)

In his lifetime, Jimmy was a complete unknown outside the BBC1 broadcasting area, for good reasons. Looking at him today, posthumously - I shudder with what I call a "Hitler moment." It is that split of a second of shock and surprise how a creepy looking cretin, with shrill voice and awkward spasm motions, ugly as sin and shit for brains, could be allowed to rise to such prominence. Despite the known and documented acts of viciousness, let alone of hardcore crimes, the BBC provided a forum for the ostensibly retarded prick, and thought of the geeky, klotzy idiot as a great entertainer.

We cannot pursue the perpetrator anymore. But the BBC's role in facilitating the many crimes of SaVile needs to be brought to the fore, and heads must roll. I hope that more victims come forward and sue the BBC for amounts similar as in such cases in the US (there it was the Roman Catholic Church, who so far has paid victims and courts nearly $1.4 Billion).

Piece of a prize for the EU

Dragging a continent down the path towards the abyss has been awarded with the 2012 Peace Nobel Prize. Recipient "European Union" is in good company with terrorist leaders previousy bestowed with the prize: Yassir Arafat and Le Duc Tho.

According to reports from within the Nobel Prize Committee, other contenders for this year's award were Julian Assange, Hugo Chavez, Pussy Galore, The Chinese Communist Party, Abu Hamza, Vladimir Putin and Big Bird.

The Oslo committee has made a mockery of the ideals of the award, and told the world this year's best joke.

However, I believe that it was a clever ploy by the Northeners: "We give you a prize, and you continue to leave us alone, and won't ask to dish out bail-out moneys from our $460 billion national reserve fund." After all, the Norwegians have built up reserves called SWF, Sovereign Wealth Fund; all three words are treated with disdain and resentment in Brussels, replaced with Annexing, Impoverishing and Deficit-Spending.

"EURO's" Increasing Popularity

I feel tickled by the interest of a deputy of the German Bundestag (Parliament) in my blog, especially when the individual reads up on my comparison of J-C Juncker and former Iraqi (Dis)Information minister Comical Ali.

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Cameron Lists Utensils, Misses Damp Rag

The Prime Minister today missed a golden opportunity in his speech to the Party Conference to score a quick and cheap point with the populace.


I LOATHE UKIP, BUT ITS LEADER SPOKE FOR ME TOO

In his otherwise drab sermon, Cameron listed a few prominent Tories and likened them to useful kitchen utensils. Boris Johnson was dubbed a mop previously, which caused the Mayor to return the favour and call the PM a broom (both come very handy in cleaning up after the mess Labour has created over a generation).

But the PM could have pointed out the usefulness albeit ill repute of a damp rag and, after a double-check on his AA provided magna carta, could have turned towards Brussels to let the audience know where to find one.

 

EU calls Cameron's bluff

You have to laugh at anything Brussels emits these days, including this Hungarian paprika blast:

Brussels has fired a shot across the bows of Britain’s Conservative-led coalition government, saying it is increasingly concerned about attacks on core EU principles and threatening to take the UK to court if it fails to respect key elements of the bloc’s laws.

David Cameron’s decision to review and potentially curtail a longstanding right for EU citizens to live and work in the UK could also harm British business, the EU’s social affairs commissioner said. “There is no evidence that the workers who come to the UK are crowding out British workers,” László Andor told the Financial Times in an interview.
http://link.ft.com/r/VKY5JJ/4C63V5/NU1PF/169PPL/IEEMFK/ID/h?a1=2012&a2=10&a3=10

On a more serious note...

IMF calls for euro action to avert

global catastrophe

Risks to the global financial system have increased as capital flight threatens to tear the eurozone apart, the International Monetary Fund has warned.

Cameron: Dull Sermon for a Listless Conclusion

LET THE LEADERSHIP CONTEST COMMENCE!

Cameron fails to mute chorus of discontent

The astoundingly dull and uninspiring address of PM Cameron to the delegates in Birmingham inadvertently throws open the door to the contest for a suitable successor.

His rhetorical brilliance was exhausted with the hollow exclamation that "Britain is the greatest country in the world." The audience remained visibly bored and unimpressed, for everyone in the hall knows that America is the greatest country in the world. Implicitly Cameron acknowledged Labour's 13-year term in governmentas preserver of "Britain as greatest country in the world."

 

Cameron has made clear yet again that he is of the calibre of a junior minister in Whitehall, but unconvincing to lead Party nor country. As flat-footed the delivery of his speech was, as ominous were the messages contained in it. He will oversee the break-up of the United Kingdom, banks on the construction of a fiercely opposed third runway of Heathrow, supported to the end a treacherous yet aborted merger of BAE and EADS against better advice of many, including this office, shrugs off serious warnings about the economy from the IMF as recently as yesterday, evades the calls for a clear and viable stand against attempts of the EU to undermine British sovereignty and showed remarkable ignorance of challengers emerging around him.

He is the wrong man for the right time. The Party has several logical candidates to succeed Cameron, from Theresa May, (once again) William Hague, Dr Liam Fox, David Davies and - naturally - Boris Johnson. One scenario favoured by me is that the Conservatives accept a care-taker leader and prime minister Liam Fox, until the London mayor's term expires and Boris captures a parliamentary seat in 2015.

With the prospect alone that Boris Johnson would become prime minister if elected would boost the Tories' share of votes by 8-10 per cent in 2015.

Liam Fox: Rolling back EU

Dr Liam Fox, MP on Europe:
"Economic, not political Union"


The senior Conservative MP of Somerset-North and former Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox gave an interview today to BBC-4 while attending the Party Conference in Birmingham. Liam underscored his leadership position as champion of mainstream Tories, sometimes in clash with left-tilting David Cameron.

As Liam Fox addressed a packed Carlton Club fringe Monday evening on a mezzanine floor in the ICC in Birmingham, a round of loud singing broke out on the floor below. The Prime Minister had appeared at another reception, and guests were cheerily singing ‘happy birthday’ to him. As the PM celebrated his birthday, his former defence secretary was dispensing advice just a few metres above his head on what the Conservative promise on Europe should be in 2015.

‘What I want is to see us keeping faith with the British people and I want to see us having a slogan at the next election which says ‘Back to a Common Market’, back to an economic and trading relationship with Europe that parks all the political interference in the running of our economy, our workplace, our legal system and all the other things that we don’t like.’

Fox’s delivery was impressive and authoritative, statesman-like. He is clearly keen to forge a role for himself as a serious senior party figure shaping the debate from the backbenches while possessing a strong knowledge of the front bench. But what also struck me was how he managed to respectfully deflect two very passionate questions from anti-gay marriage campaigners who were very keen for him to promise that he would do everything he could to prevent the Prime Minister praising equal marriage in his speech tomorrow.

Fox’s response was that he doesn’t actually hold a view on the issue either way, but that he feels that too often political debate is shaped by what those in power want to talk about rather than what voters actually want to discuss. He also asked for a more respectful tone of debate on the issue from both sides. But it’s interesting that he’s drawing a distinction between the actual principle of the policy and the reason it has been brought up.


 

IMF vs London: Quip for Quack

The IMF often gets it patently wrong, as everyone knows all too well.

But when the folks from within the Belt Way 'over there' appealed today to PM Cameron to move to "Plan-B" to tackle the economic amnesia, Cameron, with paranoia maybe, suspected a "Plan-Boris" and quickly called for a "Plan-A+" instead. So many plans, so few men ...

Boris Jolts Conference With Brilliant Speech

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has made his second triumphant appearance at the Tory party conference within 24 hours.

The Mayor of London was given a hero's welcome in Birmingham on Monday night and there was similar chaos as he arrived for his key speech today. Despite revelling in the attention, Mr Johnson insisted that he is completely loyal to the PM and praised him for taking "difficult decisions in difficult times".

Boris electrified the Party conference with a rousing speech of optimism, a "can-do" attitude of Britain and "magna carta" grasping education for all, including future prime ministers. The mix of humour, sarcasm for Labour, Olympian reminders of what Britain can achieve, specific plans for the future and visibly professed loyalty for David Cameron's government went down well with the captivated audience. With so much enthusiasm for him, and his graceful gestures to David Cameron ("Happy Birthday, Dave!") Boris Johnson appeared more premier league than ever before.


Earlier, David Cameron claimed that he does not envy Mr Johnson's "rock star status" as he was repeatedly asked if the adulation for his fellow Tory bothered him.

[SPEECH TO BE POSTED THIS AFTERNOON]