Mick Mac

YES - The equaliser from Robbie Keane!!!

Ireland Italy game is interesting - Ireland dominate play but Italy lead 1-0. I could not understand Ireland dominating possession until I realised Italy had a man sent off after only 4 mins.

a pc goal has just been scored

RoyalPeckhamgatecrasher?

That's a good tip RD but very short odds.

No probs MP - no offence taken - certainly no need to apologise. Its all about opinions.

Thanks Jeremy - I was beginning to feel very alone.

Its started - Sky News Bank of England - "Anger at bankers role in economic downturn"

mockney piers Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The money's not exactly coming from the banks now > is it. > The City contributed some ?7.2 billion in > Corporation tax since 1997, not even a drop in the > ocean for the bail out let alone increased dole > payments etc. > > Clearly if we can chuck billions into banks then > the money is available, though with failing Bond > sales the preposterous 'quantitive easing' it may > be too late to find significant further funds. > > I'm not some rabid anti banker here, I worked in > the city for many years in risk management (thus > have seen first hand how little attention was > actually paid to risk, and when positions were too > extreme the central banks were often lied to, Iv'e > seen this with my own eyes). > > I understand why we have banks, but I think > tighter regulation and much closer inspection is > vital for the future success of the city, > > You seem to think this was a hiccough, some minor > blip, and people who don't 'understand' the city > should butt out. But this was endemic practice > across the city and that can never be allowed to > bring down genuine people with real jobs (sorry > mate, but 75% of what the city does is fantasy la > la land) again. MP - I could not agree more with your points and have learned something from them. Its interesting to hear from someone who worked on risk. However I don't think its a minor blip at all. For example, our firm has a lot of companies who have breached covenants at the moment and if the banks don't play ball these companies will go to the wall and there will be lots of job losses so the banks are the priority. I don't expect anyone to butt out either, I just felt this thread was mostly in favour of the protestors' points of view, I wanted to make the point that the success of the banks is critical to the success of the country and hopefully the people in power can deal with it in time, before there are more extensive job losses either locally or nationally.

mockney piers Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There is so much we do need to invest in, getting > education right, pumping money into the > universities, into the sciences, into research, > into new technologies and the clean energy > industry of which we could become world leaders, > not to mention propping up our crumbling > infrastructure But where is all this money going to come from MP? I agree we need to invest in education etc. There are a number of financial institutions that cannot survive without the banks, the one I work in for example, without available lending companies and industries go bust and jobs are lost hence less tax is taken and less money is available to invest the way you suggest. Gordon Brown knows he is fighting for this country's long term future at the moment, and while everyone should have a voice it is the risk takers that have driven London to past successes. Yes they took disproportionate risks but the overly prudent voices should not dictate how to deal with this crisis. Brendan - no the banks won't move to Guernsey but foreign investment could go elsewhere.

There are a lot of unhappy people in the UK at the moment - did anyone see the Robert Peston visit to Newcastle, he was besieged. I think this downturn is caused principally by the securitisation and incorrect risk catagorisation of sub prime debt. If these demonstrators succeed in bringing about increased stifling regulation then the financial system will be incapable of being competitive to the level it was previously and we will all have problems. The UK does not have much else to rely upon if the City is no longer a world leader.

Brendan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Mick Mac Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > I agree with Mr Ben - some of us work hard for > a > > humble enough existence. Seems we are all being > > treated as being guilty of something. > > That is exactly the type of thought the right wing > press would like to hatch in people's minds. > Create an, us and them feeling. 99.9% of the > people protesting are not protesting against > individuals who happen to work in the city. > > The agenda are variously: calling for the > protection of people?s savings and pensions and > putting a stop to exploitative practices in > financial services, calling for political action > on the use of fossil fuels, calling for an end to > military action oversees and calling for domestic > policies of job creation and social stability. > > > It is not, ?We the crusty unwashed seek the blood > of the sanctimoniously suited.? > > That is just what they (yes them again) want you > to feel. I understand the official line Brendan - but there is no doubt whatsoever that there is a general dislike for Bankers/Lawyers/the City in general running through society at the moment. People do want something to blame for the current downturn. In the same way the official line is that this is a peaceful demonstration - however we will find out later if this is the case and if normal people on normal salaries are affected, there is certainly some apprehension affecting City workers of all levels this morning irrespective of the intentions of the organisers. I completely disagree with your 99.9% statistic. A lot of these people on the streets today will have a more general dislike of the city and a poor understanding of what has caused the current economic downturn and will be protesting against the causes of the downturn and will have been provoked into doing so by the effect the downturn has had on them personally.

Yes - interesting dress sense in our office. Have to say some of the girls look good in jeans, bit of a fashion show type opportunity for them i think. The guys don't look so good - I was expecting chino / polo shirt combinations but some of them actually look a bit intimidating, I might feel safer outside, but then I'm locked in. I agree with Mr Ben - some of us work hard for a humble enough existence. Seems we are all being treated as being guilty of something.

Keef - is this true? the wider horses have a better chance?

Safely at work - Hardly a suit in sight - only person I saw of note this morning was Harry Enfield on his way into the Wolseley (yes really), was going to shout "Loads a' Money" - but thought perhaps not the best day for that sort of chat.

You really have it in for Foxtons macroban. Why so much interest? is it purely estate agent driven? Anyway - I'm sure you have alerted us to Foxtons having breached its covenants before. Its by no means the end for a business, just a renegotiation of their debt facilities, although it makes it more difficult to survive. They have recently sold a house on our road and very quickly at that (I did think it was undervalued even in the current market) - also it seems they have more activity in their office recently, so I'm not sure what to think about their future.

Don't mind BBW - he's harmless, bless him.

Thats brilliant Gugs. I suspect you know more about racing than you are letting on with those choices. I mean, you picked the same horse as me, so you must be a smart cookie. ;-)

Yes Sean - I'd be up for a game at some stage - but I have yet to meet anyone on this fourm so maybe I should make it along to the forum drinks first to get acquainted. But if you manage to arrange something in the meantime let me know.

Quids - your Grand National thread is lacking attention - you should be posting there to bump it along...

EDOldie Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It was much better when it was the Foresters. Full > of old geezers, pool table, no nasty short skirts, > in fact no women. Beer was rubbish, food non > existent (part from the crisps) and they call this > progress! Honestly, you young people. Spot on ED - the Foresters was shit -the Bishop is a huge improvement - I think its great anytime I'm lucky enough to be in there, which unfortunatley is not that often.

Heard a lot of drilling from that new shop - so def will be a dentists.

Actually Matt - I would miss him - I think he has been very good recently - Hanson has been saying the same thing for far too long - I like Lawro though.

Typical lawyer - who pays his fees for merger advice? The lawyers are also being targeted, and if anyone knows how to milk a fee, its them. They should also lock their doors tomorrow.

Yep - HR's instructions are to 1) dress down and 2) get in early as the protestors are marching down Pall Mall at 9.45am - the office doors will therefore be locked at 9.30am and noone will be allowed in or out until "Security" decide its safe. Goodness only knows when that will be, probably sometime Thursday afternoon.