RAPID RESPONSES November 6, 2011 Bailouts vs zombies As Marc Sidwell says [The Zombie Menace of Anti-capitalist Thought, Friday], the Occupy London protest is leaderless, yet he lumps all the protesters together as anti-capitalist. From what I’ve gathered, some may be anti-capitalist but there is a range of views; many are simply disgusted with the way that banks have been [...]
Fibonacci – either to-do or voodoo November 6, 2011 FAMED for introducing the Hindu-Arabic positional number system to Europe, Leonardo Fibonacci was one of the greatest mathematicians of his day (c.1170-c.1250) and 80 years is not a bad spread for the Middle Ages. He didn’t discover Fibonacci numbers, but in Liber Abaci he enlightened Europeans on this Indian intellectual innovation. He explained Fibonacci numbers [...]
THE WEEK AHEAD November 6, 2011 COMPANY NEWS ● Today, Rentokil Initial announces. The global business services company – which is active in Europe, America, Africa and Asia – will be looking for results that aren’t a pest. ● Tomorrow, Vodafone and Marks & Spencer both announce. The former is the world’s largest mobile telecommunications company, and the latter is the [...]
THE TIPSTER November 6, 2011 IT HAS been a tough year for retailers, in particular clothing retailers, who’ve been subjected to not only weakening consumer demand, but also higher cotton prices. With the share price down some 15 per cent so far this year, investors will be hoping that Tuesday’s numbers might spark something for Marks and Spencer. Capital Spreads [...]
DRAGHI TURNOVER RAISES ECB MOVES November 6, 2011 ON THURSDAY, the world’s equity markets got an unexpected, but thoroughly welcome present: a 25 basis points reduction in the European Central Bank’s (ECB) key lending rate. And the generous benefactor? None other than Mario Draghi, its newly installed head. Analysts had not expected the move, not least because Draghi only assumed his new role [...]
Sing in the rain under the sturdiest umbrella November 6, 2011 HOW many times have you bought a dud umbrella? One that embarrasses you when it violently flips inside out? One that can’t quite stand up to the limp November rain, or an occasional bluster on the way to work? Well, worry no longer and consider one of these fine specimens. These umbrellas not only look [...]
Q&A: HOW TO GET DRESSED November 6, 2011 Q. I am always cold but find wool knits unflattering on my petite frame. What are the alternatives? A. Oversized chunky winter knits look great on the runway but unless you are tall, require stacked heels to balance your proportions. The secret to staying elegant (but still warm and comfortable) at this time of year [...]
In the snow in British Columbia November 6, 2011 RUNNING through Vancouver in bright ski gear, carrying boots, boards and skis is an experience in itself. Before hitting the steep and deep slopes of Whistler Blackcomb – British Columbia’s powder playground – we decided to find our ski legs at Vancouver’s nearby family resorts of Cypress, Seymour and Grouse Mountains. The local resorts are [...]
DINING IN STYLE | GOURMET AND WINE AT THE RITZ MADRID November 6, 2011 Tired after a day of museums and walking in the magnificent, enormous Parc Retiro where the Madrileños relax, talk and play, we entered the cool and peaceful Ritz Madrid. We received a warm welcome from the doormen who swept our bags inside and led us to the reception. The location could not be better. Positioned [...]
In which I star in my very own video game November 6, 2011 Being inside your own video-game sounds like fun. Unless that game is Tetris; then you’d be locked inside an endless cycle of rotating blocks, falling towards you at ever increasing speeds. I had a dream about it once. The Tetris music still brings me out in a cold sweat. So when I was asked to [...]
