Month

“We are alert to any dangers and problems,” announced David Cameron, having created the dangers and problems. You see, he invented the “Help-to-Buy” program, aka “Blow Me.” Allowing UK homebuyers 5% down payments, while he guarantees the balance. Naturally, consumers and banks, sensing a one way bet, blew a bodacious bubble. Which was the point. And as UK business investment hit 2008 highs (+8.7% yoy), Carney warned

“People say I have a terrible accent, that I sound like some guy from Brooklyn,” he said, with a terrible Brooklyn accent. “I don’t deny it, I don’t dare try and change it, I use it as a strength,” he continued, laughing, defiantly. “And I don’t believe in media training, I just ignore the fact I’m on TV, I just am who I am, I talk to people like I’m talking to you now,” he said gruffly, getting on a roll. “So when e

Hope all goes well… “There were robots absolutely everywhere,” said the scientist, developing innovative materials to cut the costs of harnessing solar. “Their productive efficiency was staggering,” he continued. “What takes us hours to do with prototypes for one wafer, they do with sixty wafers in 3 seconds.” The Chinese continue to dominate global production, transforming manufacturing hubs into economic ecosystems

“France is starting to undermine trust in itself as a reliable supplier,” tweeted Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin. And enterprising American entrepreneurs raced to trademark his name for the world’s greatest blockbuster; a combined hair loss, depression and dysfunction drug. “Probably our colleague is not aware of the number of jobs created in France thanks to our partnership,” continued the Russian plutocrat,

“We are at an inflection point in Modern Chinese history,” said David Petraeus, former CIA chief and four-star General. “A number of dynamics are different, President Xi knows this and is trying to work through them,” he continued. Then listed China’s challenges: labor cost advantages are being lost, economic returns from moving rural people to cities has diminished, Debt/GDP is probably the highest on earth but hard

Hope all goes well… “Can you believe we’re partying with this congressman?” whispered the Vice Chairman of Wall Street’s greatest bank, playing blackjack, atop a $1.9trln pile of client chips. At that big Vegas conference. “That’s my favorite quote of the night,” I told Gary, laughing. You see, I just love guys who never forget where they’ve come from, and we’re both public school idiots from NY. “What’s your 2nd fav

Hope all goes well… “So explain why bond yields decline when the Fed tapers?” asked Yoda, high in the Rockies. “And explain why stocks won’t go down when earnings aren’t going up?” continued the mkt’s biggest S&P local. “Explain why the S&P is at all-time highs when the Russell is below its 200day average?” he asked. “And explain why energy stocks trade like internet stocks when December 2017 oil trades at $8

The city’s inhabitants flooded into the streets. To celebrate Sarajevo’s City Hall reopening. It had been 22 lost years since the iconic building was hit by mortars, engulfed by the inferno. And the EU had finally rebuilt it. Like so many icons, its history had neither ended nor begun on that 1992 morning. After all, Archduke Franz Ferdinand stepped through its front door in 1914, and was promptly plugged. Pop! Usher

Pulled in. Hopped out. Dragged my bags from the back seat. “Daddy’s home!” shrieked the lookout. And their campaign began. Shock-and-awe. My four year old hit first, at full speed, hurling himself with the kind of un-hedged commitment that comes from having always been caught. I threw the little terrorist high in the air. Because I still can. And as Osama bin Charlie wrapped himself tightly around my neck, securing t

Hope all goes well… “Can’t believe I’m telling you this,” confessed Dirk, an investment banker, swinging on the pole. I tucked a twenty into his thong. “When I started in the biz, I’d sell companies to private equity firms, they’d make things efficient, hire good sales people, everyone won, even employees.” There were 15 PE firms in his sector, now there are 400. “Promise you won’t reveal my name,” implored Dig