tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19376765158179654602024-03-13T09:21:28.117-07:00Make do and Mend with Miss Marketcrashmissmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.comBlogger371125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-69262224297046252552010-06-14T00:30:00.000-07:002010-06-14T00:59:54.445-07:00Downright intuitive and comicalI was on my hands and knees yesterday scrubbing a LOT of blood off a tennis court. And yes, we won. Note to friends - my tennis is not that good, but, I am determined. Determined. And so was he. Imagine. 45 minutes of dripping blood whilst playing. "I'm fine - I can't feel anything" he said...."Good. Keep playing" I said.<div><br /></div><div>I didn't really.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was a very welcome afternoon respite after two grueling evenings. The first, a book club discussing "Midnight's Children". The second, THAT football game. Both evenings were hosted by one of my best most brilliant friends who is very very good at keeping the glass over half full. An afternoon in the lovely english countryside was just the perfect follow.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ah you say. So...Missmc was drinking too much again over the weekend. Thank goodness - it gives a good explanation to the last most misguided ranting post. I mean really. If you are going to let your head wander to redefining the Meaning of Liquidity as a solution, one ought to have some practical experience in such matters. Cheers.</div><div><br /></div><div>In a more sober tone, George Soros has spoken again. Here is the <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/business/we-have-just-entered-act-ii-of-the-drama-20100611-y1rs.html">link</a>, but, check out the google ad that popped up whilst I was reading it. Sometimes google is like having a weirdly misguided father-in-law looking over your shoulder. Downright intuitive and comical.</div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><div class="push-0 span-11 last" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; float: right; width: 420px; position: relative; "><div class="cT-storyDetails cfix" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; 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The financial markets and the world economy are clattering in the press about interbank liquidity, the euro crisis and the solvency of several nations. Layered on top of this all is a perceptual web that remembers the past few years and knows the problem is not solved. Nonetheless, we march on. The new evil according to the press and the politicians is national debt. The phrase du jour is "fiscal austerity" and the turning of focus on the mechanisms of this variable brings forth a Salman Rushdie stream-of-consciousness cast of characters, scenarios and yes, politics.<div><br /></div><div>The hidden ghost in the machine is an algorithmic web that toys with these shifts and removes any sense of logic to the casual spectator. If liquidity is the issue, one has to look past the debt ingesting behavior of individual nations. Electronic trading platforms for bonds have increased the bond trade to such an extent that the notion of liquidity is shifting more to take on board the computerization and subsequent increase in bond trading. In other words, "more" was created, and now, the world is pondering this notion of "more" whilst the economies falter and the computers keep churning. The everyday panics and bumps are bigger in this environment, and, the risks have increased. So, then, welcome to the new world. You have been here for a while but it has just raised to the surface and poked you in the eye. And, there is more, but this is a simplified paragraph because I need a cigarette. And it is a blog after all. In essence, the key thing is our notion and definition of liquidity is shifting in a pretty Wittgenstinian kind of way. Roll with it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Inherently, this new world is really quite fine. But, like any revolution, there are adjustments to be made. This is one of those historical periods of change that will sit in the classrooms of the future. "Let the material express itself" was the dogma of my high school sculpture teacher. I sat in the front unmalleable, and, mumbled, "Yes, but then, what?"...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-1774043007203543722010-06-06T02:14:00.000-07:002010-06-06T06:25:43.803-07:00I saw Pegasus evolve into a creepy egg-laying insectOur au pair has just finished her degree in cartography. Cartography? My goodness - she must be in high demand these days. From Eyjafjallajokull to Deepwater the world is currently enwrapped in map mania. Missmc can never resist a bit of forecasting though scientists would prefer it to be called "a projection". <div><br /></div><div>Projecting the path of Deepwater's spurgy glops raised a bit of hysteria last week in the media. The press scampered back under cover and exclaimed that these projections were not real, could not be real and were mere forecasts based on inky blot models. So there. Not real, not happening. Whew.</div><div><br /></div><div>Is anyone having a flashback? Ah yes. Volcano dust. The forecasts were not facts according to the Daily Mail. So therefore not real. Philosophers.<br /><br /></div><div>Like the dust, oil mapping is a tricky task. The current maps only map what is "visible". Projections based on currents, wind and weather are semi- accurate for a day or so ahead and become more theoretical as the timeframe increases. As there has been over a million gallons of chemicals released to disperse the oil there is an awful lot of invisible gunk in the deep deep levels of the sea that will remain unmapped. The effects of the oil and the chemicals deep down under will appear later on further up the food chain, but, by then, gosh - perhaps we'll have another crisis to take off the focus. Maybe the Israelis will go on a pirating course and hone their skills.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Rorschachian nature of these maps for both the oil and the volcano dust adds to Missmc's appreciation of the mathematical models behind them. For instance, <a href="http://ocg6.marine.usf.edu/~liu/oil_spill_ensemble_forecast.html">here</a> is a map of the oil glop. I saw Pegasus slowly evolve into a creepy egg-laying insect this morning. Of course, Missmc is operating on the usual she-still-might-be-a-tad-drunk-after-last-night batteries. Afterall, it is Sunday morning. </div><div><br /></div><div>I do hope to return this week with my own map. "Deepwater, meet Eyjafjallajokull" "Eyjafjallajokull, meet Deepwater". I just have to adjust the model a bit more as long timeframe projections are...a...bit...unreliable. But the graphics are marvelous.</div><div><br /></div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-46604801301424206642010-06-03T01:54:00.000-07:002010-06-03T02:50:22.176-07:00The LBMLouise Bourgeois. Much has been written in tribute over the past few days on her passing. Most everyone knows her work, and her work's influence. So, I'll skip that, say "wow that spider" and get right to the meat of the matter. <div><br /></div><div>I've never been a proper feminist - at least according to the old school 70's jumble of ism's and anti-isms my hippie mum sponged up courtesy of Ms. magazine. I've always been uncomfortable with any slight hint of righteousness, on any topic. Or things with "messages". I mean, I couldn't watch Star Trek, Lassie...the list goes on. And the television is now permanently off. But.<div><br /></div><div>I'm having a moment of feeling like I am wearing Gloria Steinem's groovy glasses. I am looking for a soap box. Louise Bourgeois. My goodness, she has done the impossible. A late career post-motherhood contemporary art success story? How many of my 30-40something used-to-be-the-creme-de-la-creme of the art world friends who are now home with kids and struggling with work are salivating at the chance for their own <b>LBM</b> - "Louise Bourgeois Moment"? Well, to be honest, I think it is what keeps us all going. Delusional? Perhaps we are, but, delusional is okay in our field. Celebrated. </div><div><br /></div><div>Louise, we salute you. For not just the inspiration to continue, but, most importantly, for giving dignity and meaning to old age against the zeitgeist of this era.</div></div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-12831194426465863682010-06-02T12:52:00.000-07:002010-06-02T13:11:24.932-07:00An aside -<div>An aside for the day - it has been a busy one -- </div><div><br /></div>While the Deepwater debacle is more than distressing, watching the live footage of robots from an underwater camera is surreal. See it <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=2">here</a>. At the moment, there is not much action from the robots as the sawblade is stuck...<div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-66392327798151791852010-05-30T13:50:00.000-07:002010-06-01T03:01:38.796-07:00The Economy, Dennis Hopper and Deepwater"Like a picture of Jesus on the loo" said son number one after I explained the art of an exhibition we were about to see. We were headed to Whitechapel Gallery to see the Rachael Harrison exhibition. I am still going through the files to try and remember just what I said about her work to inspire such a comment. No matter. Son number two piped up and told son number one that his comment might hurt the feeling of "The Religionists". Our day was off to a grand start.<br /><br />We detoured past Whitechapel and decided to grab a bite to eat on the glorious Boundary rooftop. A quick check of <a href="http://twitter.com/boundaryrooftop">twitter</a> confirmed that it was open. We donned our tartan blankets and attempted to eat sparingly as we had a bbq scheduled later in the day. In between small bites my mind wandered from the shallow - a lust for a certain kind of eyeglasses spotted on fellow diners...and meandering to the worldwide economy, Deepwater and Dennis Hopper. Hold that mix.<br /><br />Onward - . The Rachael Harrison erased all bits of doom and gloom and replaced them with a lo-fi absurdity. The divergent- topics- stirred -together theme was explored with deadpan dada. We walked back down Brick Lane with tweaked perception. Sun shining we went on to the BBQ. Which I cannot tell you about but I will say we had the best best time.<br /><br />Okay.<br /><br />The Worldwide Economy. Dennis Hopper. Deepwater. Tie these three things together in your brain and shake. We have a blinding machismo, some robots not up to the task and a flailing mess. Drift...you will find your own thoughts on economics in all of that.missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-42200666428474799132010-05-30T03:09:00.000-07:002010-05-30T03:39:12.195-07:00Deepwater...The ironically named "Deepwater" saga continues with no end in sight. Decades of litigation dance on the horizon. My old friend who resigned from her first lawyer gig after being placed on the Exxon side of Valdez is likely reexperiencing some moral turmoil. The next plan of action is a plumbing sci-fi adventure - Read it<a href="http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6523?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theoildrum+(The+Oil+Drum)&utm_content=Google+Reader"> here</a>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-20831599394313156932010-05-29T03:10:00.000-07:002010-05-29T03:35:12.563-07:00I tap, it grows...I hadn't really meant to get an iPad until a friend said she could get me one on opening day if I should like one. In my mind, it was one of those gadgets I'd eventually end up with, but, I wouldn't think of standing in line in the midst of all the hype. Neither would she. A few quick emails to some secret amazing source earlier in the week secured our Pads and a back door appointment at the Apple store. She delivered it to my door at exactly 2pm yesterday. <div><br /></div><div>It is the ultimate procrastination device. You can't actually MAKE or DO anything with it. But, you can read, watch, arrange and communicate. I've spent the past few months with a standard issue laptop trying to pinch and poke it to expand the text. It was having none of that. And we were in bed together. Ego-killer. And it had a bit of a snore. </div><div><br /></div><div>The iPad is anthropomorphic. We are having a relationship. You know, the early days knickers flashing cartwheel type phase. I tap, it grows. It is warm, but not sweat-inducing hot. And it has shockingly reasonable speakers. Finally, it is the ultimate Lexulous device.</div><div><br /></div><div>My complaints? Well - it could be even bigger. Gigantic, able to be mounted on the wall with a remote would be neat. It would balance on my legs better if it were larger. In addition, I'll have to see if I can do two-handed typing - my instinct says that my one handed typing skills are about to blossom instead. The useful thing is all these apple gadgets that seem to sprout like mushrooms in my house are all linked by mobile me. Which means everything updates everything in relative real-time. Conceptually, I like that.</div><div><br /></div><div>My good friend Tim still thinks it is a dumb purchase. Like my short-lived Ubuntu phase. We'll see...</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-14169049091799750512010-05-28T01:49:00.000-07:002010-05-28T04:35:15.939-07:00Lying on top of Hedge-wifeMissmc was slumming it last night. The details of that will remain nonspecific but the occasion was a farewell party for my castle-laden soon-to-be-moving-to-Switzerland friend. She is reluctant to go, and, should be. I am fairly certain that she will be returned to London by the Swiss police. Her gleesome gleeishness is just. not. swissy.<br /><br />But what can one do in the midst of the great jarring crash of the financial system besides tax-dodge-run-to-Switzerland and start a hedge fund? Afterall - the hedgies have seen the biggest profit during the crisis and lo - if I had half a brain and had liquidated a few years ago - well - no - I'd need a bit of help with that. There are some things Missmc is not capable of. Just a few. Arch your eyebrows here.<br /><br />Back to the evening. Said friend was fearful she would not find anyone as "normal" as us in Switzerland. Normal? Goodness gracious that is a skew of reality. As tilted as the hill we walked up last night with our ridiculous wedged shoes. Except the long and lithe A. - she had her sensible head-girl flats on and bounded up the hill like a dog in sunshine. How she can drink copious amounts and remain positively corporate-meeting-buttoned-up-shirt is a complete mystery. I won't paint a picture of the rest of us. Yet. Yes. It is coming. That indelible moment.<br /><br />Can you believe I am still here? I cannot. It is the best and worst day of my life. Picture me, 70's jeans, those wedges, lying on top of hedge-wife . In the middle of the road. Bus approaching. Not a twisted porn scene - we simply fell down together in the middle of the road. Drunk.<br /><br />I pondered getting up, and, decided the bus had a better chance of rolling over me without squashing me if I stayed lying down. Those are the kinds of decision making skills one is blessed with whilst inebriated. Merde.<br /><br />He stopped. We rose. And made it to the other side. Of the canyon.<br /><br />To be continued...missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-33612523002520826272010-05-25T02:33:00.000-07:002010-05-25T02:50:46.937-07:00You want me back...You want me back. There you were sailing merrily along through it all and then, the uncertainty cloud wafted past. You kept your glass half-full and off we all went. I've been biting my skeptical Tongue. Why this iPhone just capitalized that is a mystery, but perhaps it does think highly of my Tongue. There. Again. <br /><br />I've been working very hard on spending all my money before the markets eat it. Back to the superb country farmhouse in Mallorca. Onto Somerset to the crow-infested Babington house. And some other bank-draining highlights. Some of you were fortunate to see me apply the same amount of obsession to things-I-cannot-control-but-can-forecast to the magnificent Iceland volcano saga. Eyjafjallajokull...That is a test. If you can spell it, you are super-a-type. <br /><br />But alas. Missmc has been polishing up her cv and is preparing to find a Proper with a capital P job. I'll keep you all posted. I do think the markets are going to torture us for some time to come and I need to start hedging.missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-9238987846281372792009-11-27T03:08:00.000-08:002009-11-27T05:45:40.924-08:00What about Dubai?Apologies. I've been slacking on the blog. My work week has been shortened by four hours by a very-ridiculous-situation. With that, I'm finding it rather hard to sneak in some keyboard time. I expect the next few weeks with work deadlines, Christmas shopping., loads of parties and the dreaded end-of-term school Roman project my son is dithering on completing ought to just about finish me off.<div><br /></div><div>How on earth working mums find the time to do the Christmas thing is the wonder of the day. Mail order? Sneaking away early from work? I've been doing both and naughtily slotted in a hairdressing appointment yesterday to ease the stress. I had visions of cascading locks, a messy kind of fresh out of bed look. I emerged the dot opposite, with blow-dry straight straight hair. I felt shiny, organized and quite unlike myself. It occurred to me I ought to cry and make him start anew. But I did not have the time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hair? No no no. Never mind the hair. What about Dubai? The answer is, thank goodness for Thanksgiving. The U.S. markets were closed yesterday, which most hopefully was helpful. I'll be watching today - futures look a bit grim at the moment. But, apart from market movements today, what does this all mean in the big picture? I'll tell you. It is a lot like my hair. Appearances can be deceptive and little things can reveal the true state of things. I'd much prefer it goes all messy upfront rather than this nervous tic repressed state we are being held in. Thin ice is never much fun. Let's slosh.</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-49184044117430069872009-11-19T04:22:00.000-08:002009-11-19T04:26:56.150-08:00"Incentivising"...Coca-cola "incentivising" buskers on the London Underground to sing a Jingle?<div><br /></div><div>Oh dear. More <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8357593.stm">here</a> on the BBC...</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-25383375601144932382009-11-12T04:22:00.000-08:002009-11-12T11:53:57.996-08:00Try and control it...Oh my. Man-made blizzard paralyzes China?<div><br /></div><div>Read about it <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2009/11/11/another-big-mess-more-snow-in-beijing/">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The China Meteorological Administration has produced the following video to explain artificial rain, and, whether or not it is harmful. See it <a href="http://www.weather.com.cn/static/html/video/3443.shtml">here</a> on their website...(in Chinese)...</div><div><br /></div><div>There is perhaps an analogy to quantitative easing but I shall resist...</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-20335604416593162902009-11-11T03:40:00.000-08:002009-11-11T04:00:36.110-08:00Contests...Contests. Would you rather enter a contest based on luck, or, on skill? Or, are you a contest avoider? If you are a contest-player, how strongly do you ever feel about winning?<div><br /></div><div>For instance, Missmc feels very strongly she might win things based on skill. I might play those. As far as luck contests, I've no strength of feeling. And, with that, I am a contest avoider, though the odd "hey...I might get lucky" moment does cross my mind from time to time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which is more satisfying? Winning contests of chance, or, winning contests of skill? For me, it is winning games of chance. Because it seems so utterly magically Santa-claus-y when random luck happens. </div><div><br /></div><div>I ought to be more attracted to contests of chance more than to contests of skill if I find chance-based contests more satisfying to win. But I have no particular attraction to them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Obviously it all comes down to my a-type tendencies and skeptical nature. Perhaps it is time to play some more chance-based kinds of contests and loosen up...</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-674620277715971602009-11-10T03:22:00.000-08:002009-11-10T05:10:54.454-08:00Channelling my inner Goldie Hawn...Missmc does not deserve to be in the intermediate pilates class but was placed there purely for economic reasons. There were only two beginners this term so I've been asked to join in with the ladies-who-know-what-they-are-doing. I am now officially the class clown. This role I truly relish.<div><br /></div><div>Until tomorrow morning. When the muscles howl and mewl and remind me that I am not intermediate, my sense of humour might just wisp away. I expect I will curse the beginner-ladies-of-Dulwich who ought to be standing alongside me in the name of solidarity. Things might be tight, but, really, other things need to be umm...tight.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am terribly inspired by my high-maintenance teacher - mostly because she has a delightful sense of humour. She has gone from long haired brunette to short haired blonde this week. I can just imagine if I had made that leap. Within weeks, I'd be scraggly and brunette and take to wearing a hat. I'd be muttering about my feminist mother letting me down, not teaching me that it is okay to be glamourous. She read Ms magazine and liked Gloria Steinem and other hairy 70's feminists. Who I loathed when I was young. They were gross. Looks do matter.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm having flashbacks of rebelliousness and think I might just have to become a blonde someday soon. My mother would faint.</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-62412301871841493512009-11-09T00:26:00.000-08:002009-11-09T02:02:22.452-08:00The Dread Spread...<div>The recent insider trading investigations have honed in on Steven Cohen's SAC Capital Advisors. Ah. Art has entered the picture. Cohen is a voracious collector of contemporary art and is one of the top ten collectors (from a monetary perspective) worldwide. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/03/business/03hedge.html?pagewanted=1&%2338;ei=5088&%2338;en=ef5d39cfeb7e135d&ex=1267678800">Here</a> is a New York Times article on his influence on the art market. <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_29/b3842001_mz001.htm">Here</a> is a profile on Cohen in Business Week Magazine from 2003. Hedgies have been good customers of contemporary art and the closing of several funds has indeed had an adverse influence on the art market. This status-du-jour set of collectors has the potential to sully the good name of art if investigations again spill over from the finance world to the art world...</div><div><br /></div><div>Big shadows of dread are creeping over Chelsea..</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-64491841236833306672009-11-06T03:42:00.000-08:002009-11-06T04:20:04.234-08:00*%$£*%& Forecasting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCtLRv1MWbWdoqJ4-OX5KxLa2Nhx6BM_H6RJHMvCOj2AVfigbPgihUEN21p6SuNWgAuU844ijiwRZx3XnkBveCykKviwj7tT-HU_ELbUuHkO-WUUCvveR7Tjut-5b1-zUqBNqcARYNc10/s1600-h/seeinginthedarkblog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCtLRv1MWbWdoqJ4-OX5KxLa2Nhx6BM_H6RJHMvCOj2AVfigbPgihUEN21p6SuNWgAuU844ijiwRZx3XnkBveCykKviwj7tT-HU_ELbUuHkO-WUUCvveR7Tjut-5b1-zUqBNqcARYNc10/s320/seeinginthedarkblog.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400964300779981170" /></a><br />The dutiful side of me won out and threw me in the car, staring at my iPhone map and deposited me at a coffee morning with the school-mums. You are right -- that is a bit out of character. I survived. Just.<div><br /></div><div>As we were walking out to our cars afterward, one of the mums started fretting about the weather forecast over the weekend. A harp crescendo strummed. No more idle chatter about children -- here was a serious topic - the weather! Here was something I could relate to - something to be lyrically obsessive about. After-all, I am a believer. But, I shielded myself with a fond goodbye and jumped into my car. And checked my email. As it happens, a friend had just sent me a great weather site link - <a href="http://www.thefuckingweather.com/">The Fucking Weather</a>.</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-22418616840576203102009-11-05T00:29:00.000-08:002009-11-05T01:51:21.114-08:00Eros-a-nomicsThe plumbers in America and the U.K. are both under the sink, mucking about. The Bank of England is on tap for today. Yesterday, the U.S. Fed announced the continuation of "exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for an extended period". <p></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-size:13px;color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">"The public seems to have some more confidence - they seem to have believed the talk about green shoots, but actually the data haven't really looked that way at all."</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-size:13px;color:initial;"><i>Former MPC member Professor David Blanchflower<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">David Blanchflower is known as as an expert in the Economics of Happiness and has published several papers on various tangents on the topic. In one study, he asserts that as the GDP goes up, happiness does not necessarily follow. But what about down? I've not found anything by him on that, but, Blanchflower is a big advocate of copious amounts of sex and a long-lasting relationship. </span></span></i></p><i><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-size:13px;color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">So. Ummm....extrapolating all that, it does appear there might be a variable that could help get the world back on its feet. Perhaps another Valentine's Day needs to be added to the calendar. Right now.</span></span></p></i>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-65367614190316881692009-11-04T04:24:00.000-08:002009-11-04T04:31:25.302-08:00Danish Innovation...Hurrah! Danish educators have it right. I think I have to move to Denmark now...<div><br /></div><div>From the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8341589.stm">BBC</a>...who, from the tone of it, seem to find this incomprehensible...</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-74902364251649916152009-11-04T03:26:00.001-08:002009-11-04T04:56:05.844-08:00"Free"It is the time of year when Christmas suggestions for the children's grandparents are sent. I've been thinking about what my children enjoy and it really does not seem to involve much that I could put on a list. My children are growing up in a world where the phrase "the best things in life are free" is the working reality. But that is only because they have discovered all the free games apps on my iphone. They obviously need an ipod touch. But the price tag seems too dear to put on the grannie list. Dilemma. I could spring for one, but two??? That ruins my austerity pledge.<div><br /></div><div>And what about the grandmother list? What else do they play with? Other children, ropes, pens, paint and paper. And cardboard boxes. What else? Nothing. There is only so much lego needed in one house. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back to the concept of free. Free art, free information on the internet, and free games are offered up to them on a daily basis. Behind the facade of free, there are large corporations footing the bill. Will my son really go out and buy a Volkswagon when he grows up just because they have sponsored the nifty little racing game I have downloaded for him? Will he someday click on one of those google paid-for ads? More than likely, somewhere along the way, he will pay for something. More importantly, they have impaled volkswagon on his mother's brain. Nothing new. Television, radio and newspapers have operated on similar models. But much of the "free" we are provided with in the new online world is sponsored by large global companies. Where is the "local" and "independent" in this new model? Well. That is coming. I can now picture a start-up industry something like desktop publishing evolving that designs nifty little entertaining apps for small businesses. And big apps to umbrella small businesses with their little apps. It is happening already for some small firms, but, they haven't exactly hit the entertainment nail on the head. Big hint: silly games hit a wide range of consumers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Digressing again. Now I've got a company idea, but, no Christmas list for the children. </div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-58700602352644504722009-11-03T03:58:00.001-08:002009-11-03T05:02:00.374-08:00WallowThere is so much going on with the markets and the economy at this very moment and Missmc has been off shopping? I know. But the behind-the-scenes scrambling both here in the U.K. and the U.S. is frothing over and bubbling out from under the lid. Even the bloggers have been called into the Treasury for a meeting. Honest engine. Read it <a href="http://alephblog.com/2009/11/03/my-visit-to-the-us-treasury-part-1/">here</a>.<div><br /></div><div>RBS and Lloyds have just been given a second <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a5nRbfrx7ZQc&pos=2">bailout</a> of 51million. The FTSE is not pleased. This week is one of those deja-vu weeks for Missmc. I'm having flashbacks. I'm drinking tea. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dead banks, lifted from graves sit on the grassy banks. Some lie there forever. Some decompose with remaining bits scattered about. Some are given to some taxidermists. Like Cher, they rise and offer promise. They look good. </div><div><br /></div><div>Look. Rain pelts shamelessly down down down. Wallow. Follow the streams down the window. They race. The one on the left pauses. The other wins. Hours pass. Radiators clink. The blanket smells of horses and must. Another life. The past comes forward, not linear, but a rhizome of mildew, puffeting through and through.</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-49467630710597761302009-11-03T01:49:00.000-08:002009-11-03T02:40:40.325-08:00Retail ReportMissmc has a retail report for you this morning. After spending a whole day in some of the bigger London shops I can report that the bountiful Christmas markdowns that occurred last year will not be as bountiful this year. Why? There is far less stock out there. Selfridges has re-vamped. The who-is-not-there-anymore-or-have-they-been-moved made Missmc a bit faint. Some brands have disappeared (Marchesa) , some not so terribly exciting brands (Cos) have popped up. The whole second and third floors have been turned topsy-turvy causing Missmc to have to break her rule about wandering up to the dowdy third floor as the dowdy is no more. <div><br /></div><div>After that dizzying experience it was onto the Gap. They have a bountiful supply of puffy coats for a price that makes one gasp. As an animation? Picture the hard eyes of fairtrade glaring so intensely that little holes are burnt on your backside as you walk the 66pound thing up to the register. I ended up buying it and then returning it. Not for political reasons, but, more that I decided I did not need to look like everyone else this year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Topshop? Yes. Full of shoppers. Full of stock. But the jumper I saw seven weeks ago is still being featured and there are millions of them. That seems very un-topshop. Fast fashion appears to be slowing down a bit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Liberty. I was the only customer. I felt like a wounded fawn wandering through a dark forest. The salespeople all attempted to guide me, lure me, dress me and help me. It felt a bit desperate. </div><div><br /></div><div>Banana Republic. Ok. I needed a few plain well made jumpers. Found them at a very good price. Serious deflation is underway. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fenwick? Yes. The shop is still much the same but also appears to have far less stock.</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, the women's retail landscape is changing. Perhaps for the better. Pleasure is being redefined as we speak. But, honestly, the answer is not Cos.</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-1560365624678262972009-11-01T12:18:00.000-08:002009-11-01T12:20:15.457-08:00Laughter is the best medicine...Try this <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/4fe40d1a-07b4-11dd-a922-0000779fd2ac.html?_i_referralObject=10664514&fromSearch=n">link</a> from the FT...missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-72237340133093117472009-10-30T11:23:00.000-07:002009-10-30T11:33:53.940-07:00CIT Friday...Well - there is no shortage of action on the CIT thing today and the markets have turned all bloody and halloweenish. In addition to the Goldman deal, here is a <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125689890371418331.html?ru=MKTW&mod=MKTW">deal</a> between Icahn and CIT. Everyone but the U.S. Government is throwing a hand into the restructuring of CIT. <div><br /></div><div>I'm headed into town tonight and no doubt will run into a few drunken bankers.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll have more to say over the weekend.</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937676515817965460.post-30380765086236575302009-10-30T03:50:00.001-07:002009-10-30T08:35:19.318-07:00Linky-links - More Goldman and CITAh. My mind is a big blank as I ponder Halloween. Halloween. I spent yesterday hanging little homemade flying bats all over the kitchen. Today I am spinning a spiders web and making some ugly cakes. One pumpkin is sporting a wink, the other is about to be thrown in the garden as something is oozing from the bottom. <div><br /></div><div>I know. You want to know about CIT. The other Halloween story. Ok. As they are busy counting votes from last night, there is no answer. Bloomberg thinks the CDS market is signaling a pre-pack bankruptcy. Read that <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aCiFMhzdZdPc">here</a>. I expect some kind of trickle of more definitive news on that topic will appear over the weekend, making for a bit of a halloween hangover on Monday marketwise...</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh - and by the way - this just in - on Goldman and<a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cit-goldman-reach-agreement-on-amending-3b-loan-2009-10-30"> CIT </a>. The one billion dollar payoff has been modified. Tell me more.</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel like Martha Stewart this morning with this heady mix of domesticity and finance info. An old friend of mine was the infamous whistle blower on dear Martha. He then went on to work for an art dealer at a gallery I used to be represented by. He was promptly fired for his honesty. Here is a story about the gallery<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/opinion/25kolhatkar.html?_r=1&emc=eta1"> here</a>.</div>missmarketcrashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06569686129965907064noreply@blogger.com0