Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

That is why a company floats on the market and borrows the money of the new shareholders.

That is why companies have placements,

That is why some farmers are prepared to go into debt to buy a new piece of machinery or other plant in the hope that it will improve his efficiency and profitability.

Get real.

Short term gamblers probably are of little value to the market or themselves.

Capitalism yes, but not based on simple greed and opportunism.

PS.

Is Branson a tory party donor or a friend of Aschroft.

He is certainly not a Virgin.

Hi Hilary,

I agree that it is far more the fault of Governments than banks, but your reply in answer to the comment
'It is such an absurd situation that the lives and futures of so many millions of human beings is subject to the narrow opinions of a few bean counters sitting in rating agency offices, bond trading floors and elsewhere."

'I don't see why. If governments want to raise money by selling bonds, they need a market and all markets need traders', I feel is only partly right.

Reason............Many millions of people are being effected that have 'No say whatsoever' in what happens on the trading floors or any other area of investment or finance.
And with the EU going the way it is, with even more none elected officials calling the shots, the common people have even less say.

Greek.

N,

I don't think the EU will collapse. There will be a reorganisation with increased integration of political, fiscal and foreign and trade policies with France and Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal at the heart. I think in spite of the present problems, Italy and Spain will probably be included, but there maybe there will be a delay in their unification.

The anti-european emotions are not prevalent in Europe, other than a small minority of right wing groups, who border on the fascist ideology.



The sentiment seems that while Europe has problems, the EU has been beneficial over the last 60 years.


Also, I think the sentiment with the French and German sentiment is that they will be glad to see the back of Britain and will be prepared to protect their own markets against piracy.

Greek,

Of course those millions have a say. Unless they live in Zimbabwe, they will have elected their government. If that elected government has failed to balance their books, then the populace should take it up with their heads of government. It's most certainly not the fault of banks, analysts, ratings agencies, markets, traders or spivs.

There's nothing whatsoever which compels banks or institutions to buy debt, be it sovereign or personal. That's life.

why are people ashamed of there colour it is what makes you what you are black brown pink yellow colour does not matter . if they are ashamed of there colour then blame your mum . all people at one time is called names it is life .
grow up and be proud of your colour .
we all have the same genes

When I think of Cameron and Osborne and the coalition the following remark appears apt.

"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." - Mark Twain

Charles De Gaulle (spelling right ?) if only we knew it was a very good friend to us.
2517

.

brilliant

One for you Fred - Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.

Skinny,

Are you referring to the coalition's interpretations of data. If so, which departments, or is it all of them. To me, many of the present political "masters", use distortion to avoid their own culpabilities.

By the way, facts are facts and can't be distorted. They may be presented in a different ways.

The inferences drawn, may be distortions of the truth, which is the practice of many of the present political leaders who could have stuck to their original "professions".

========


I cannot see why George looked so happy about the deal he has done with Virgin.

I appears he is selling off the good parts of a company at a loss and keeping the bad parts at an increasing cost to the tax payer.


.

Sorry Fred - I thought we were quoting M Twain.

In Paris they simply stared when I spoke to them in French; I never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language

Skinny,

I not sure if you are quoting me or not.

But I have had that experience many times.

Come to think about it, I have had the same experience talking to my wife and children in English.

:-)

One for the purists - Berlusconi launches love songs album

Italy's former prime minister and cruise-ship crooner Silvio Berlusconi released an album of love songs on his last day in office on Wednesday.

If Fred feel's so strongly about Capitalism why does he invest on the stockmarket ? or the casino as he would call it.

Talks the talk, can't walk the walk.

A NUN WAS SITTING AT THE MADRID AIRPORT , WAITING FOR HER FLIGHT TO ALICANTE . SHE LOOKED OVER IN THE CORNER AND SAW ONE OF THOSE WEIGHT MACHINES THAT TELLS YOUR FORTUNE AND THOUGHT TO HERSELF, 'I'LL GIVE IT A TRY AND SEE WHAT IT TELLS ME.'

SHE WENT OVER TO THE MACHINE, STEPPED UP ON THE SCALE AND PUT HER NICKEL IN ; OUT CAME A CARD THAT READ, 'YOU ARE A NUN, YOU WEIGH 128 LBS, AND YOU ARE GOING TO ALICANTE .'

THE NUN SAT BACK DOWN. SHE TOLD HERSELF THAT THE MACHINE PROBABLY GIVES THE SAME CARD TO EVERYONE. THE MORE SHE THOUGHT ABOUT IT THE MORE CURIOUS SHE GOT SO SHE DECIDED TO TRY IT AGAIN SHE WENT BACK TO THE MACHINE AND AGAIN PUT HER NICKEL IN, AND OUT CAME A CARD THAT READ :

'YOU ARE A NUN, YOU WEIGH 128 LBS, YOU ARE GOING TO ALICANTE AND YOU ARE GOING TO PLAY A FIDDLE ..'

THE NUN SAYS TO HERSELF, 'I KNOW THAT IS WRONG, I HAVE NEVER PLAYED A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT EVEN ONCE IN MY LIFE.' SHE SAT BACK DOWN.

FROM OUT OF NOWHERE A COWBOY CAME OVER AND SAT DOWN, PUTTING HIS FIDDLE CASE ON THE SEAT BETWEEN THEM. WITHOUT THINKING, SHE OPENED THE COWBOY'S CASE, TOOK OUT THE FIDDLE, AND STARTED PLAYING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC. SURPRISED AT WHAT SHE HAD DONE, SHE LOOKED OVER AT THE MACHINE, THINKING,'THIS IS INCREDIBLE, I'VE GOT TO TRY THIS AGAIN.'

BACK TO THE MACHINE SHE WENT, PUT IN ANOTHER NICKEL, AND ANOTHER CARD CAME OUT. IT READ, 'YOU ARE A NUN, YOU WEIGH 128 LBS , YOU ARE GOING TO ALICANTE AND YOU ARE GOING TO BREAK WIND.' NOW SHE KNOWS THE MACHINE IS WRONG, AS SHE THOUGHT TO HERSELF, 'I'VE NEVER BROKEN WIND IN PUBLIC A SINGLE TIME IN MY LIFE.' BUT GETTING DOWN OFF THE MACHINE SHE SLIPPED, AND AS SHE WAS STRAINING TO KEEP HERSELF FROM FALLING TO THE FLOOR, SHE BROKE WIND.
ABSOLUTELY STUNNED, SHE SAT BACK DOWN AND LOOKED AT THE MACHINE. SHE SAID TO HERSELF, 'THIS IS TRULY REMARKABLE. I'VE GOT TO TRY THIS AGAIN.' SHE WENT BACK TO THE MACHINE,PUT IN ANOTHER NICKEL And ANOTHER CARD CAME OUT.






IT READ: 'YOU ARE A NUN, YOU WEIGH 128 LBS, YOU HAVE FIDDLED AND FARTED AROUND AND MISSED YOUR FLIGHT TO ALICANTE .

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