The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act..... yay eventually women get paid the same as men.. well.. or at least on paper... and just in the US. 

But well done OBAMA

DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

The world of banking has changed....but one  thing will always remain the same the sentence

DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

the theme is recurring and the answer to the question is always the same  

A PRICK- especially if the person in question is wearing round glasses, pinstripe suit and such a odd feature... a GOLD safety pin to hold his tie... 

the best story was obviously by same person... saying that.. the reason for the financial crisis is that banks have a back office and pay for it... clearly.... the 1m spent in useful people compensation, that's a crime, 1m to renovate an office.. totally normal... 

Nobody really important, will ever ask you that question, especially because if you are really important... they always make sure you have a name tag. 

Went to an interesting due... 

creme de la creme of banking -60 individuals- number of women 4- number of women which made it to the pub 1- guess who? well clearly only me. Number of women which were not in HR  3 - number of women which didn't work for the boss 2

What amazes me... you can be the biggest investor in the world.... and still didn't manage to learn to type with 5 fingers... 

oh well... knowledge is really something from the past... the only way of arriving to the top is and will always be one

WHO is your father, hence your surname and the university he bought your degree from, all the rest... is irrelevant. 

well need to go to work now... already late... 

Welcome to the Year of the OX

Kung Hei Fat Choi! (Happy New Year!)

Quite funny to appropriately find this picture...



A delightful evening, with paper packets, delicious food, money bags... and lots of red.



Such year as 2009 year of the earth Ox has a straight and unprejudiced nature though sometimes reveals hidden secrets without due thought, inadvertently hurt someone's feelings and offend others. It should turn out to be the prosperous year for those hard thinkers and active planners who believe in and relay on a teamwork, running own business or work independently.
Some of the favourites are Ox too... not me.. I'm a fire snake!

Barack Obama, Catherine Freeman, Heather Locklear, Jane Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Juliette Lewis, Margaret Thatcher, Meg Ryan, Meryl Streep, Princess Diana, Vivien Leigh and George Clooney.

The red envelope ("Hong Bao"), also known as lucky money (cash or check) holder, is like the Chinese wand of hope, and it often carries boundless blessings. The lucky red envelope with money inside is given out to signify good fortune and good energy, especially when the money notes are crisp new notes with fresh new "chi" energy. The amount of cash inside the red envelope is usually an even number. More here

The last time the earth Ox was seen as the ruling influence was January 29, 1949 - February 15, 1950. The world suffered a recession in late 1948 and early 1949. The world economy recovered during the year of the ox due to rational decisions and careful planning. By 1951, the recession was over. Many will be searching for a quick solution to the current economic crisis, but the ox favors a well planned, consistent path that will take more time but lay a foundation for long lasting results. The strong earth influence of this year favors a strengthening of the housing market, but risk takers will not find this year favorable. Those who look for long term benefits, have a well thought out plan and are willing to work to see results will find great success.

Baby boomers who were born the last time the brown earth Ox ruled the zodiac celebrate their 60th birthday this year. Those who are influenced by the Ox will have experienced many years of good fortune if the planning, hard work and discipline of the sign were heeded. Those who failed to plan are given a new opportunity this year. If the lessons of the past are integrated, the future brings harmony and good fortune at home and in business.

Also went to see.. Monkey Journey to the West

Despite the place was freezing it was magnificent

Ok so Xmas!

Gina was here for Xmas ...

by the arrival at the airport she knew anybody that was on the flight, she had 4 phone numbers, somebody holding her coat, somebody watching her luggage.. And.... she smuggled 35 kg of sicilian delicatessen

38 meatythings skewers

25 sicilian sausages

1    kg of mince meat

2   falsi magro ( rolled up meat with egg ham and mince)

3   massive piece of meat for broth ( in case Filippo doesn't mould the tortellini!!)

10 salami

5  kgs of parmesan

chilli jam ( very nice) 

5 jars of pistacchio powder and pesto ( the new frenzy! she has one every year- this year, pistacchio pesto, pistacchio powder to bake potatoes  etc etc etc 

anyway she was in top form

Obviously Mamma Mia ( the musical) was shit and the movie was better, at least the wonderful Streep was dancing ( despite, surely wasn't her!) 

ice skating... no... she could have broke a leg... 

and the usual... more kids presents to buy more attempt to buy carpet, to buy piece of furniture for the kitchen and blablabla

Xmas was spent with the Obers, wine was flowing, cigars were lit and food was no stop. 

Mike was nicknamed the kitty fairy, Gina wore wings and various other outfits 

but Xmas will be remembered for the horrible necklace she brought over for me

the black Santa I received as a gift, the fake snow machine inside the church at the Xmas mass ( attended for her joy by everybody) 

but least and not last the super present... from the usual friend... it's impressive... she loved it so much, she bought it in Milan, brought it to Sicily, gave it to Gina, which took it to London

and here it is.... The useful.... tool for the ultimate traveller ( apparently) 

it even says eXtra Large on the side

and you all know how tall Molly is!

Merry Xmas happy new year welcome Obama etc etc

Elo, apologies for lack of posting, but life as well as financial times can be hard on you.
I still got a job, which is impressive considering the decimation which happened in the last few days and months... and I don't even want to get into how hypocritical, false and absurd it all is... apart from obviously unfair.
I think I can summarise it with the following event. Our ex-Ceo, fired yesterday after 3 months on the job ( heavenly paid 40m$).. Fine, he "saved" us from collapse.. but he also spent 1.2m $ to refurbish his office, 80k only on a persian carpet.... and people paid less than that for a year, got fired today, young smart people, the cheapest, the future, while the idiots useless old farts are all there.
End of work- start of the weekend.
I thought I'll join the rest of the world in blogging about Obama. This is my tribute:



M is here I gonna hop.. promise I'll continue soon
I'll just leave you with a snippet of what's to come

Gina ......fly.......ing