An old classic

That I'd like not to forget

Too long

Oh well, been away on an extended break again. Travelled down to Chile for Xmas with Macarena's family, and was (fortunately) totally distracted. Now back in New York, briefly, and we're preparing to head off to Madrid on Wednesday for a wedding of one of m best mates from Uruguay, Juan Diego. Spain, beware!

In the meantime, I've seen this in lots of emails but thought it's worth highlighting the original source:

FRIENDS of rogue trader Jerome Kerviel last night blamed his $7 billion losses on unbearable levels of stress brought on by a punishing 30 hour week.

Kerviel hid his November losses in a batch of wonderfully fresh croissantKerviel was known to start work as early as nine in the morning and still be at his desk at five or even five-thirty, often with just an hour and a half for lunch.

One colleague said: "He was, how you say, une workaholique. I have a family and a mistress so I would leave the office at around 2pm at the latest, if I wasn't on strike.

Hasta!

Angels

One Christmas a long time ago Santa Claus had problems. Four of his elves were sick so Santa got behind schedule. Then Mrs Claus told Santa that her Mum was coming to visit; this stressed Santa even more. He went to see his reindeer and found that three of them were about to give birth. More stress. Then when he began to load the sleigh he dropped the toy bag and scattered the toys.

Santa went into the house for a shot of whisky but the elves had drunk him dry.

Just then the doorbell rang and Santa cussed on his way to the door. There was a little angel with a big Christmas tree. "Merry Christmas Santa”, said the angel, “Isn't it a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?”

Thus began the tradition of the angel on top of the Christmas tree.

From popbitch

Cash in Argentina

From the Wall Street Journal's Mary O'Grady:

The U.S. Justice Department alleged on Wednesday that Mrs. Kirchner's recent election campaign was the destination for $800,000 in cash shipped south in a suitcase from Mr. Chávez in August. If true, it would confirm what many Argentines have long suspected: that Argentina, under former President Nestor Kirchner and now his wife, has been leased out to the Venezuelan strongman in much the same way that Bolivia and Nicaragua have come under Mr. Chavez's influence.

This is grim not only for Argentine democracy. If members of the Organization of American States are indeed on Mr. Chávez's payroll, it would explain why the Washington-based multilateral organization, charged with defending democracy, has been so timid with the anti-democratic Venezuelan president.

It also raises questions about whether Mrs. Kirchner was acting in good faith last week when she met with Mr. Chávez's sworn enemy in South America, Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, to discuss the plight of French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt and 44 others held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

And later:

Mrs. Kirchner may have domestic political reasons for avoiding the subject of the Geneva Convention. Her government -- and her husband's before her -- relies on allies, advisers and cabinet members who are former members of Argentine terror groups that made a living from kidnapping in the 1970s. If the FARC is guilty of violating the convention, so too are many kirchneristas.

And so it beings

This out today!

We are pleased to announce the promotion of Matthew Cowley as a Money Talks columnist in North America. With Matt on board, the Money Talks column will complement the existing contributions from Asia and EMEA. Matt will write about major topics across fixed income markets, addressing areas of interest to a broad audience.

Big week for DJ

As a big week begins for Dow Jones, with Rupert Murdoch's Newscorp about to complete the takeover, some hints from a former Murdoch editor:

So the Murdoch men are being flown into Manhattan to help the Master re-mould the Journal to his wishes. Ponderous and bureaucratic Dow Jones still does not know what is about to hit it. Decisions will suddenly be taken with the speed of light, Murdoch will be involved in every major one and his lieutenants will soon fill all the key posts.

Articles will become shorter and pithier, the Chinese wall that separates news from comment will be torn down, the news agenda will start to reflect the paper's editorial line (which is already robustly rightwing and hence to Murdoch's taste) and political and non-business coverage will be beefed up, all the better to take on the New York Times, which may be about to face as much of a culture shock as the staff of the Journal.

Light entertainment

Some light entertainment today...first of all, rude gas bills in Spain, and next, crazy Japanese playing football.

(Thanks Emily, Andrew!)

UPDATE: Also, the first moves seem to be happening in the Murdoch takeover. It's supposed to wrap up next week, the 13th, I think, but already we'll have a couple of new top bosses from Murdoch's U.K. operations.

Blame the opposition

The NYT has a good angle on Venezuela's opposition.

The surprising defeat of a referendum over the weekend to accelerate President Hugo Chávez’s socialist-inspired revolution has given new energy to his long-suffering opposition.

But just how long that momentum lasts will depend on whether his opponents can keep within their ranks the Venezuelans who defected from Mr. Chávez to vote no on the proposals.

All go!

First snow of the year on Sunday, and I'd played tennis on a (admittedly frozen) court in Central Park the day before. Also on Sunday, Chavez lost a vote in Venezuela, the first in nine years, Corinthians of Sao Paulo is relegated! It's all go. And I officially start my new job - though the transition is a little painful what with the holidays coming up fast.

Boston for Thanksgiving

 

We took off for Boston for the long Thanksgiving weekend. We nearly struck out - everything was closed on Thursday, practically nowhere to eat!! By accident we ended up at the one restaurant open in town, a complete fluke as we'd been asking and no one had come up with any suggestions. The rest of the weekend was a combination of walking round Boston's historic places - Faneuil Hall was my favourite - and plenty of good food. We also traipsed around South Boston, heavily Irish and home to some of the most fervent supporters of the IRA during the Troubles....very interesting if a bit chilling.

Talking sense

From the Economist:

Only a paranoid fringe in America thinks the country's constitution or the values underpinning it face an imminent threat of being overturned. That fringe is in charge in Iran.

At times like these, you have to have faith in the strength of the institutions that underpin your society. Undermining them is the quickest way to a full surrender.

Eliminatorias!

Que suerte que tuvieron los brazzucas!!!

Embracing change

Huge few weeks of change and I've thoroughly neglected this blog. So here's a commitment to start trying harder! This week I became a columnist and saw our baby alive and kicking (though still in the womb) for the very first time. I'm not sleeping very much, as you can imagine. But it's all quite fantastic. Seeing the fetus kicking and bouncing around - and even sucking its thumb - was truly an incredible experience. It's still early days, Macarena is coming to the end of the first trimester, and so far so good. We're in a sort of limbo, there's not a whole lot we can start doing yet - except run lotion on Maca's belly!

Great friends

It's always great to catch up with old friends. It's quite amazing how much changes and yet how little changes. Cello and Kal have been friends since halls in our first year at university. Meeting up in Leicester Square has become a bit of a tradition, hopefully soon they may come over to NY for a visit as well. Abrazo!

Ashburton Grove

Well, I'm very sad to say I never made it to Highbury while it existed, the joys of trying to support a team long-distance. I've been determined to make it to the new stadium at Ashburton Grove, and managed it twice this week. The first one was thanks to Toby and his bro, Sam. Straight off the redeye from NY I dropped my bags off at Vardens Road and legged it up to North London. It may have only been Derby, but it was 5-0, which was fantastic to see. Having seen it live just makes it so much better now I see it on TV!! Then back in midweek with Andrew and Dad to watch Newcastle get knocked out of the Carling Cup 2-0.

Is this Sao Paulo??!

Philadelphia

Philly rolls out the red carpet

New and old

Cheese, wine and beach in the Hamptons

First trip to the Hamptons (posh part of Long Island), in a tour organized by a cheesemonger in the Essex Street Market (and spotted by Danielle and Matt). Two hour bus trip out to a vineyard, quick tour then down to the serious business of drinking wine and eating cheese. Then a swing by a dairy farm where they make cheese (as well as pigs and turkeys) and then on to the beach at Southampton. What a day!