The 5th largest bank in the US amazingly has not made any overseas acquisition despite constant speculations to that effect. So the outgoing CEO Dick Kovacevich has vehemently previously ruled out that option.
“I don’t think there’s a better market in the world than the United States. I don’t even want to go to the eastern part of the US.”
It must feel good to be American.
Well I met this lady friend of mine who for some reason we've not met for ages and she told she had just been to the US. She was almost regretting being in the UK. I mean guys in the US are having it easier - she visited a friend who moved to the US after 'surviving' in the UK and she was doing well. I mean had a bigger car, a bigger house (mortgage I think she meant) etc etc...
On the same token when I visit home there is always that group of people who think that we got it all by just being in the UK yet she can't see that?
I don't think there is a better market than where you are at the moment.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Au revoit, Auf wiedersehen and arrivederci!
Yesterdays PMQ was as expected an emotional affair - and the PM (ex) was up to the task. Someone described Mr Blair like a pathetic politician when everything is going well is like putting him in a pitch with so many goals - he ends up shooting aimlessly. But should you push him to a corner and there is only one exit he is brilliant. If his life depended on it he will come out of it all.
He is an extraordinary piece of work. We won't see his like again for a long time. In the Conservative party we are pretty thankful for that."
- William Hague
When the curtains fall you leave the stage.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The moralist?
By now the PM must have seen the Queen to officially cease being a PM.
He has won if I'm not wrong 3 elections making him the most successful Labour PM in recent past. Of late Personally I have nothing against the PM - even the Iraq crisis I feel given the circumstances I would have not responded very differently from him. So as others gather to condemn and judge him I find it hard to join them.
Sadly, the world at the moment is build on spin. Everywhere you turn someone is trying to short change the next person. I think sometimes that is what keeps as going. What can I offer a lady who has EVERYTHING she wants? Maybe feed her with sweet nothing - as long as we both know I'm stretching the truth. Most ladies I meet either earn more than I do or can match my salary - so my bargaining power has been negatively impacted.
Our forefathers were the hunters while the ladies stayed at home - now ladies are also hunters - I'm not sure most guys have come to terms with this fact.
Imagine we are not actually needed by ladies. We were meant to be with each other to survive but now we are together for love and romance! (Munroe)
I should see the spin doctor - salute to the outgoing PM - for the sentimental ones get a tissue its been 10 years.
He has won if I'm not wrong 3 elections making him the most successful Labour PM in recent past. Of late Personally I have nothing against the PM - even the Iraq crisis I feel given the circumstances I would have not responded very differently from him. So as others gather to condemn and judge him I find it hard to join them.
Sadly, the world at the moment is build on spin. Everywhere you turn someone is trying to short change the next person. I think sometimes that is what keeps as going. What can I offer a lady who has EVERYTHING she wants? Maybe feed her with sweet nothing - as long as we both know I'm stretching the truth. Most ladies I meet either earn more than I do or can match my salary - so my bargaining power has been negatively impacted.
Our forefathers were the hunters while the ladies stayed at home - now ladies are also hunters - I'm not sure most guys have come to terms with this fact.
Imagine we are not actually needed by ladies. We were meant to be with each other to survive but now we are together for love and romance! (Munroe)
I should see the spin doctor - salute to the outgoing PM - for the sentimental ones get a tissue its been 10 years.
Caution
Since I moved I have not been able (after cost-benefit analysis) I have no internet facilities at my place. Well actually I also have not been watching TV for over 2 months now! I thought one could do that but I've changed my mind. I have the TV there and a digibox but aerial is the problem.
My internet access is therefore via wireless connection in a library - it is so different - or at work. Most posts are far and in between because every time I start something I realise that I lack the basic options like attaching pictures is a nightmare. I know major issue is that I'm not a computer geek - if I go for help and they give me a long process to follow to rectify the issue and it doesn't work for the first time I'm out of there.
What I'm trying to say is if there is spelling mistake(s) I cannot be held responsible!
TV is for those who are idle - I must be idle then.
My internet access is therefore via wireless connection in a library - it is so different - or at work. Most posts are far and in between because every time I start something I realise that I lack the basic options like attaching pictures is a nightmare. I know major issue is that I'm not a computer geek - if I go for help and they give me a long process to follow to rectify the issue and it doesn't work for the first time I'm out of there.
What I'm trying to say is if there is spelling mistake(s) I cannot be held responsible!
TV is for those who are idle - I must be idle then.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
KShs. 17.2 Billion!
Safaricom are have just earned the title as the most profitable company in East Africa - I'm almost the last one to get such information (I don't think it matters).
I'm happy for the CEO - is that not the person who we associate the success with? But it is also good for Kenya I mean to be assoc5ated with a success story - I've been around long enough to know that.
The profit is said to like the combined performance of KQ, EABL and Barclays - this is huge.
Another interesting piece of news I came across was that KCB was laying off 70 employees part of its restructuring plan. I'm curious just what is the point is just the new CEO stamping his authority?
He could have more emphatic (or adventurous) or bold - not just for the sake of it. I thought that's the way to go until I saw it was mainly among the security, courier and printing!
What's the plan here? Saving on printing paper and number of people walking around the office? Was it cost based? If it was I'm lost here. Again the fact that most of this stories I get them from 3rd party sources I cannot be too critical or otherwise.
One of the my favourite lecturers on the topic of restructuring used to say if you are brought in to fix a mess you have to show that you are up to the task especially to the group you find there. They know they may be the reason why the company is underperforming - just pick anyone of them when others are watching and sack them on the spot.
That's extreme.
It has been suggested Sony went for a Westerner (Welsh) to spearhead it's restructuring program because they are not shy of encouraging staff to leave. I wonder how much they are saving by laying off considering that they will be trained. Business can be cold - it is not easy to just make someone redundant but unfortunately we will be the same people calling for his head if there is any hint of underperformance.
So Martin as Joseph said sometime ago - 'Whatever can go wring, will go wrong (and at the worst possible time)'
I'm happy for the CEO - is that not the person who we associate the success with? But it is also good for Kenya I mean to be assoc5ated with a success story - I've been around long enough to know that.
The profit is said to like the combined performance of KQ, EABL and Barclays - this is huge.
Another interesting piece of news I came across was that KCB was laying off 70 employees part of its restructuring plan. I'm curious just what is the point is just the new CEO stamping his authority?
He could have more emphatic (or adventurous) or bold - not just for the sake of it. I thought that's the way to go until I saw it was mainly among the security, courier and printing!
What's the plan here? Saving on printing paper and number of people walking around the office? Was it cost based? If it was I'm lost here. Again the fact that most of this stories I get them from 3rd party sources I cannot be too critical or otherwise.
One of the my favourite lecturers on the topic of restructuring used to say if you are brought in to fix a mess you have to show that you are up to the task especially to the group you find there. They know they may be the reason why the company is underperforming - just pick anyone of them when others are watching and sack them on the spot.
That's extreme.
It has been suggested Sony went for a Westerner (Welsh) to spearhead it's restructuring program because they are not shy of encouraging staff to leave. I wonder how much they are saving by laying off considering that they will be trained. Business can be cold - it is not easy to just make someone redundant but unfortunately we will be the same people calling for his head if there is any hint of underperformance.
So Martin as Joseph said sometime ago - 'Whatever can go wring, will go wrong (and at the worst possible time)'
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Out and About
Last week on a Tuesday a good friend of mine invited me for meal but I was not immediately available so we made the date for the next day. He has just come back from the States to visit family and I had not seen him for quite a while so a perfect time to catch up and see what the States was like.
Now when someone invites you to join him/her it is important to set the ground rules first. I mean I remember days gone by when I would just appear - I did not need to have anything in my pocket just bring your empty stomach or dry throat for that matter.
Maybe that's why I was reluctant to quickly join him - there were some uncertainities of the impact the escapade on my financial standing. I know this guy who every time he passes near an ATM he would just confirm how much he has in he's account - so in a day you can imagine how many times he visits 'the hole in the wall'. That's completely off the mark.
So we went into this well not posh but nice sandwich shop - I'm still apprehensive about how much I'm going to spend today, I mean I can't even pronounce half of what they are serving (Remember Ma$e?). We normally call such meetings strategy meetings - we are always discussing the way forward, I'm sure we are almost there.
You should have seen how these two accountants were spending - forget about being prudent and frugal.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Father's Day
Father's day weekend?
Well it is not very clear to my knowledge but I believe it is on this weekend. It is not usually a low key event compared to mother's day. Is it because most dad's are absent?
From D.Letterman:
"Hookers in NY are doing something special this Father's day - for an extra 50 bucks they will call you daddy!"
On a serious note happy Father's Day y'all!
Well it is not very clear to my knowledge but I believe it is on this weekend. It is not usually a low key event compared to mother's day. Is it because most dad's are absent?
From D.Letterman:
"Hookers in NY are doing something special this Father's day - for an extra 50 bucks they will call you daddy!"
On a serious note happy Father's Day y'all!
Saturday, June 09, 2007
The week that was
Interesting week it was.
Vodafone is facing some issues, like any other listed company at the moment – investor activism. Depending on who you listen it might be or might not be something. A group calling itself ‘Effective Capital Structures’ (ECF) wants to see changes – perfectly ok since they hold just over 200,000 shares out of Vodafone’s 52.9 billion shares.
The timing is suspect and the leader of the rebel group is none other than an individual who was implicated in the Marconi saga – as a former FD of Marconi he oversaw the spending spree that took the company into near bankruptcy. Maybe he learnt some lessons in the process and wishes to share with Vodafone’s board!
Vodafone’s reaction was swift when the news broke out – 1st cancelled a scheduled meeting between the CEO and the group of rebels, he was on an investors road show (ok?). Now even leading investors are planning to vote against the radical changes.
One thing is for sure ECS lacks the credibility to advise Vodafone on capital restructuring – a hard lesson for John Mayo. He had a chance to show the way, he failed so basically the reaction has been you cannot lecture us.
The point here is activism is slowly but surely creeping even among the leading companies – it was inconceivable for anyone to imagine he could single handed confront conglomerates. I notice that I did not make an effort to watch England v. Estonia. I understand Beckham saved McLaren's job! Against Estonia? What is the world of soccer turning to? Shouldn't it be a foregone conclusion that England will beat a BIG team like Estonia? It's not a good sight for a man to appear desperate - pathetic. Otherwise what would you describe a team that has all the big earner's yet they are this desperate? People are looking for anything to cling on. I've been there - or could I be described as still at that stage!
Anyway it looks like a lovely weekend on my hands. I hope others too are experiencing a refreshing weekend. Is Miss Hilton in jail or has she been pardoned? She has made a career out of being dumb (not my words - I don't about people behind there backs!!!) I'm happy for her. And the nonsense all over again in the Big Brother one contestant has been chucked out for using the N word - please if anyone has any more infor on these trivialities do not share, they might just spoil my weekend.
Have a nice one.
Who’s next GSK? Assuming Vodafone has weathered the storm – bring it on!
It must be age.
I used to enjoy football – I still do but I suspect that first love (the sparks) seem to have faded. Maybe it’s just that I need find out what fascinated me most about it. I mean I find myself watching strange sports like international cricket, tennis
Vodafone is facing some issues, like any other listed company at the moment – investor activism. Depending on who you listen it might be or might not be something. A group calling itself ‘Effective Capital Structures’ (ECF) wants to see changes – perfectly ok since they hold just over 200,000 shares out of Vodafone’s 52.9 billion shares.
The timing is suspect and the leader of the rebel group is none other than an individual who was implicated in the Marconi saga – as a former FD of Marconi he oversaw the spending spree that took the company into near bankruptcy. Maybe he learnt some lessons in the process and wishes to share with Vodafone’s board!
Vodafone’s reaction was swift when the news broke out – 1st cancelled a scheduled meeting between the CEO and the group of rebels, he was on an investors road show (ok?). Now even leading investors are planning to vote against the radical changes.
One thing is for sure ECS lacks the credibility to advise Vodafone on capital restructuring – a hard lesson for John Mayo. He had a chance to show the way, he failed so basically the reaction has been you cannot lecture us.
The point here is activism is slowly but surely creeping even among the leading companies – it was inconceivable for anyone to imagine he could single handed confront conglomerates. I notice that I did not make an effort to watch England v. Estonia. I understand Beckham saved McLaren's job! Against Estonia? What is the world of soccer turning to? Shouldn't it be a foregone conclusion that England will beat a BIG team like Estonia? It's not a good sight for a man to appear desperate - pathetic. Otherwise what would you describe a team that has all the big earner's yet they are this desperate? People are looking for anything to cling on. I've been there - or could I be described as still at that stage!
Anyway it looks like a lovely weekend on my hands. I hope others too are experiencing a refreshing weekend. Is Miss Hilton in jail or has she been pardoned? She has made a career out of being dumb (not my words - I don't about people behind there backs!!!) I'm happy for her. And the nonsense all over again in the Big Brother one contestant has been chucked out for using the N word - please if anyone has any more infor on these trivialities do not share, they might just spoil my weekend.
Have a nice one.
Who’s next GSK? Assuming Vodafone has weathered the storm – bring it on!
It must be age.
I used to enjoy football – I still do but I suspect that first love (the sparks) seem to have faded. Maybe it’s just that I need find out what fascinated me most about it. I mean I find myself watching strange sports like international cricket, tennis
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
... Who To Sleep With?
Still on the subject of who should I sleep with ...
Years ago while in during my undergrad uni days we had this visiting lecturer from the US taking in I think it was on Organisational Development (not very sure). This day he was taking us through organisational structure and he decided to inform us on how the US government was structured - President at the top, VP,... etc etc. The picture looked ok to me he stood aside thinking he had forgotten something scratched his head and then on top of the President he put a box with the name 1st lady in it!
That's not so kind to Clinton is it?
It is not the first time (certainly it will not be the last) for people to insunuate that most of this powerful men (sexist?) are actually controlled by their spouses. Apparently R. Murdoch is has lost fight to stop an Australian magazine from publishing a profile of Wendi suggesting that she wields power inside News Corp despite not having a seat on the board.
What's so controversial about that - is it asking too much she sleeps with the man!
Years ago while in during my undergrad uni days we had this visiting lecturer from the US taking in I think it was on Organisational Development (not very sure). This day he was taking us through organisational structure and he decided to inform us on how the US government was structured - President at the top, VP,... etc etc. The picture looked ok to me he stood aside thinking he had forgotten something scratched his head and then on top of the President he put a box with the name 1st lady in it!
That's not so kind to Clinton is it?
It is not the first time (certainly it will not be the last) for people to insunuate that most of this powerful men (sexist?) are actually controlled by their spouses. Apparently R. Murdoch is has lost fight to stop an Australian magazine from publishing a profile of Wendi suggesting that she wields power inside News Corp despite not having a seat on the board.
What's so controversial about that - is it asking too much she sleeps with the man!
Dog eat dog
Naivety.
I like to think of myself as a tough guy to work - not pushy but in a polite way taking no nonsense form no one. I think that is what keeps the fellas moving. The worst part is to be friendly in a business transaction (I make it sound so hitech?) - time for making a decision becomes rather awkward. I guess that is why divorce cases are acrimonious. (I better stop being so negative about marriage!)
Yeah my former landlord is stressing me.
He is finding it very hard to part with the deposit - he claims the place was 'not in a habitable state'? In 3 years I've stayed there he has never repaired anything - luckily i've kept most of the receipts. Only thing that is an issue is the fact that I never took the final electricity/gas meter readings - so i'm expecting another small bill.
I was naive to trust the bugger (a polite term of affection according to some people!). So now the talks are deadlocked - I got options, someone suggested that I could take him to court, especially after he destroyed the evidence and now claims the place was pathetic. (When he came around once in a while he never mentioned that).
My other mistake:
He lives in Cyprus - so when I was moving he was not in the country instead he sent this nice talking lady to come and look around and have a look at the place - everything was 'perfect' then. I should have insisted that he be there.
He came back from Cyprus removed the carpet, seats, and is currently renovating etc threw them away the furniture he claims were pathetic.
So i'm paying for my sins. Trust nobody. Pre-nups.... Post-nups.... whatever you call it it's worth considering...
I detest talking about people when they are not around but this guys is driving me mad - its a long time since i was really mad.
Ok I can see Sir Richard\Branson is a Maasai elder now - why is everyone suddenly against me? I've always wanted to be an elder - he beat me to that AGAIN. Who am I supposed to sleep with to be served?
Aw
I like to think of myself as a tough guy to work - not pushy but in a polite way taking no nonsense form no one. I think that is what keeps the fellas moving. The worst part is to be friendly in a business transaction (I make it sound so hitech?) - time for making a decision becomes rather awkward. I guess that is why divorce cases are acrimonious. (I better stop being so negative about marriage!)
Yeah my former landlord is stressing me.
He is finding it very hard to part with the deposit - he claims the place was 'not in a habitable state'? In 3 years I've stayed there he has never repaired anything - luckily i've kept most of the receipts. Only thing that is an issue is the fact that I never took the final electricity/gas meter readings - so i'm expecting another small bill.
I was naive to trust the bugger (a polite term of affection according to some people!). So now the talks are deadlocked - I got options, someone suggested that I could take him to court, especially after he destroyed the evidence and now claims the place was pathetic. (When he came around once in a while he never mentioned that).
My other mistake:
He lives in Cyprus - so when I was moving he was not in the country instead he sent this nice talking lady to come and look around and have a look at the place - everything was 'perfect' then. I should have insisted that he be there.
He came back from Cyprus removed the carpet, seats, and is currently renovating etc threw them away the furniture he claims were pathetic.
So i'm paying for my sins. Trust nobody. Pre-nups.... Post-nups.... whatever you call it it's worth considering...
I detest talking about people when they are not around but this guys is driving me mad - its a long time since i was really mad.
Ok I can see Sir Richard\Branson is a Maasai elder now - why is everyone suddenly against me? I've always wanted to be an elder - he beat me to that AGAIN. Who am I supposed to sleep with to be served?
Aw
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
