Risk! What Risk?

A Mr Krugman writes in his sometimes technical but always enlightening blog that he concurs with a Mr Haldane of the Bank of England. The latter opines that much of the present crisis may be put down to the increased appetite of the banking classes for risk, high risk, the risk of a high-wire act. Whyfor should such said classes of person subject themselves to danger of this kind. My own view is that the present system of remuneration among these folk (based on greed, avarice and the existence of schemes for the avoidance of redistributive taxation) encourages, nay handsomely rewards, the beggars and of course our leaders our own dear democratically elected leaders shuffle the blame, cost and pain for this on to our heads, hearts and wallets.

I think I will join Mr Krugman in vegetable chopping therapy.

A Pretty Pickle?

The Pink'un had a lovely headline on Saturday:-

Pickles combats korma trauma with curry school

(FT Weekend 19 November 2011, p4)
The Gauleiter who, it is alleged, is a saucy devil peppering his policy statements with refernces to the cuisine of the sub-continent proposes to stem the tsunami of chefs, sou chefs, sauciers, sommeliers and understrappers from same by establishing a curry school to train British cooks.

The mind boggles.

Zo Heston! You vill make ze chicken tikka masala vith ze powder of ze great Guru Masala!
Ozervise ze Fat Duck vill be no more fat; it is ze vasser bath for you!

Must have been a slow week at communities, maybe a warm up act for the housing strategy.

If you have any doubts whatever about this government of gombeen men I suggest you consider the poster reproduced by Mr Murphy on his excellent Blog here.

Billion Dollar Art Heist

Shenanigans in the art world seem to be my thing at the moment. I watched the above Documentary in the Storyville Series. It's on the eyeplayer for the next couple of weeks.

If you are interested in art, politics, power, charities, how to organise a legacy, the perfidy of folk and others, good guys, bad guys, and about 26 billion dollars and change you might give it a go. I believe the Barnes Foundation has a website and Mr Wikipedia, as always, has something to say about Mr Barnes, who seemed a good soul.
I haven't got there yet. I'm still shocked, shocked, I must sit down. Could someone make me a cup of tea, on the strong side, please?

The Milk of Human Protest

A pleasant evening in with a DVD from the wonderful Suffolk County Libraries. Sad that they are to be slowly throttled with a ruse to ensure SCC will be able to say nothing to do with me gov. it was those idiots over there. It takes a special kind of mind to dream up the idea of getting an Industrial and Provident Society - a mutual organisation- to torture the libraries to death. I digress.

I have been meaning to watch Milk for some time. I am a great fan of Harvey Milk and what he achieved. He certainly learned how to organise. Strangely uplifting for a film in which the gay hero stands in dog shit and gets shot. Can't wait to see the look on the local librarian's face when I take it back!

All Greek to Me

My Greek isn't up to it but I fondly believe this shows a very tired and overemotional ex Greek PM giving a lift to a very tired and overemotional ex Italian PM after a night of commiseration.

Metaphorically!

Questionable Language

I am certain that I will never write a work of fiction. I don't have the capacity, language or imagination even! (HMRC please take note.) However, I hope that does not prevent me from a good laugh at the odd word or two.
I'm reading The Trinity Six by Charles Cummings.
I happened upon this on page 192 and had a good chuckle -

...he checked his vehicles religiously as a hangover from Northern Ireland.

... I knew the Black Bush and Guinness would do for his immortal soul.

Art Theft

Times may be hard but not that hard. I have just read Sandie Nairne’s book of the same name.

It concerns the theft and recovery of 2 paintings from the Turner Bequest.
The thieves were apprehended, as they say, and banged up in chokey. The paintings were not recovered for some time and then only after excruciating and complex negotiations.
Some gambolling thoughts.
Sandie Nairne must have the patience of a recently canonised stoic.
Geoffrey Robinson, whom god should preserve, is to be blessed on the basis of the tale and his part in it.
A Mr Robert Hiscox, insurer of this parish, played a blinder by whipping into line a motley crew of underwriters, understrappers and underlings. (Note to Self:- find out what he did and we will do it to the bankers?!)
We are assured that all was done honestly, decently, truthfully and we have no reason to doubt that. We should, indeed, be extremely grateful to all the good guys and gals. A truly wonderful part of our art heritage was gorne and is now, prodigal like, with us once more. I have to declare an interest at this point and say that I have been known to gaze at J.M. W’s. product (for several hours at a time but only in the privacy of certain galleries that shall remain nameless.)
All this good work has to be set against the possibility that a part of the money paid legally and justifiably for information to facilitate the return of the paintings will end up in the hands of criminals. Not necessarily eccentric toffs but drug dealers, gun runners, people traffickers, and money launderers.
Never simple is it?
Meanwhile if anyone is interested in acquiring a reproduction by some continental underachiever contact me at BPArt through the usual channels. It’s a bit dusty and has been clogging up the attic at The Towers for about 20 years now. Not very well composed, one of the 3 figures is sitting with his back to the audience. The Dutch dauber has tried to liven it with a few birds and paintings within the painting but it doesn’t do much for me. We used to have it in the downstairs loo but Lady BP said it exacerbated her constipation. I know what she means. No reasonable offer refused.