Happy Christmas
Happy Christmas World!
And I don't mean a volleyball block! Some dude in the company IT department has decided he would make my life a living nightmare by blocking all the websites I use! (Well, its more likely a programme that noticed the increased traffic to unauthorised sites and blocked it, but I prefer blaming a person!) I've had to resort to posting to my blog this way, which I've never done before and is pretty annoying.
So, politics. I wouldn't consider myself political, but considering all the books I read, I suppose one could say I have an interest in international politics. Two stories stood out today on the BBC News website. The first story is kinda funny, but serious at the same time. Bobby Fischer, a former world chess champion is being sought by the US government because he played a chess match in Yugoslavia 10 years ago when there was US and UN sanctions against Yugoslavia. Seemingly he could get 10 years for playing a chess match. Then again, he did earn $3 million for playing the match. Still, its just a chess match!
I'm just after reading a post on Kellie's Blog and it put me thinking. You see, I'm about to go out for dinner with half of my family - my Dad and sister. It will be nice to see them and have something nice to eat. I haven't been down to Cork in a while and anytime I do, I just end up going out with what Kellie refers to as her family in Cork. Its true, I find the volleyball gang as my family in Cork. Most of my friends who are still in Cork are part of the volleyball club. It helps that a few of my good school friends are involved in the volleyball club. I have a good few others, but they are limited to those in my class and a few others from school.
Well, actually Denmark is doing just fine. Its me! I'm only 23, but I'm crippled by lower back problems. I'm not sure how I actually did it to myself, but its killing me. I kinda screwed up my back a few years ago when I was playing hockey, but got physio for it. It comes back now and again, but its pretty bad now.
1. I'm from Cork
Good god, another week has passed by already. It seems like just yesterday that I was back down in Cork hanging out with the volleyball gang. This week has been fairly productive work wise. I mean, everything isn't finished, but I'm tipping along nicely.
I've been browsing quite a few blogs today, just tyring to see whats out there. It was kind of weird, but I came across the blog of one of my economics professors in college. Atlantic Blog is actually pretty well done, but its very extensive and a little too heavy for my liking. None the less, I thought it was kinda cool.
I had intended talking about other things, but the gravity of the situation playing out in Northern Ireland currently forces me to talk about it. This morning, the IRA released the following statement which was published by An Phoblacht.
From my point of view as someone who lives in the republic, this seems to be quite a step forward. I can see the problem from both sides. The DUP would have a hard time from their grassroots if they didnt get complete verification. But from the IRA/Sinn Féin point of view, its easy to understand why they dont want to have the decommissioning process publicised. The IRA have agreed to have two clergymen from both sides present, which surely should be enough. Even the decommissioning body should be enough. Its independent, so surely the DUP could trust them. If they cant trust that body, or even clergymen, then why bother? Do they want to do it themselves and laugh in the face of the IRA while they're at it? They have to trust someone, but they cant even trust one of their own clergymen.
"More than ten years ago, an IRA cessation publicly heralded the onset of the Irish peace process. Since then, the IRA has, time and again, demonstrated its commitment to sustaining and developing that process through a series of very significant and substantive initiatives.
In the context of the work to conclude a comprehensive agreement, the leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann decided:
- to support a comprehensive agreement by moving into a new mode which reflects our determination to see the transition to a totally peaceful society;
- all IRA Volunteers be given specific instructions not to engage in any activity which might thereby endanger that new agreement;
- the IRA leadership also decided that we will, in this context, conclude the process to completely and verifiably put all our arms beyond use;
- we instructed our representative to agree with the IICD the completion of this process, speedily, and if possible by the end of December;
- to further enhance public confidence we agreed to the presence of two clergymen as observers during this process.
The IRA leadership decided to contribute in this way to a comprehensive agreement to resolve all outstanding issues, including those of concern within unionism. For his part, Ian Paisley demanded that our contribution be photographed, and reduced to an act of humiliation.
This was never possible. Knowing this, he made this demand publicly as the excuse for his rejection of an overall agreement to create a political context with the potential to remove the causes of conflict. As the IRA leadership has said before, this is a context in which Irish republicans and unionists can, as equals, pursue our respective political objectives peacefully.
We restate our commitment to the peace process. But we will not submit to a process of humiliation.
We commend our Volunteers and the wider republican base for their patience and discipline in these testing times. Our commitment, like theirs, to our republican objectives is undiminished.
We thank those who have made genuine contributions to the efforts to find solutions to ongoing problems. While acknowledging these efforts, we reiterate our view that progress cannot be made by pandering to the demands of those who are against change.
The search for a just and lasting peace is a challenging one. The IRA leadership has risen to that challenge. The British Government and the leaders of unionism must do likewise."
P O'Neill
Irish Republican Publicity Bureau
Dublin
Unlike most others, this is going to be short. I got on the Luas last night and went two stops out to Dundrum so that I could go to Tesco to do some shopping. I had my iPaq in my hand and was just writing down what I needed to buy. I sat down next to this business type guy in his mid-twenties. Literally, a minute after I sat down, he decided to take out his PDA too. Seriously, was he just trying to prove to me and any other people on the tram that actually cared, that he was as cool as me, if not cooler with his PDA?!! It was really weird. He musn't have much confidence if he has to prove himself to a random guy on the tram that he has gadgets too!
On the off chance that some of you care and want yet more articles on CSFB, I've trawled the internet for them. So here goes two more from the FT: here and here. This quote from Reuters is pretty upbeat quoting Brady Dougan as saying that CSFB will get back up with the big boys: MS and GS.
Yet another article again from Reuters, is worth a read, but is re-hashing whats already been said. I'm just after noticing a pattern in names! Morgan Stanley (MS) and Goldman Sachs (GS) are probably two of the top IB's around. CSFB with its tongue twister name has only been doing so so recently. I think the reason behind it is simply because of its name. The comment in this FT article backs me up."Credit Suisse yesterday announced an overhaul of its business. The changes included a shake-up of its investment bank, a planned flotation of insurer Winterthur, and dropping of the Credit Suisse First Boston name. Roughly 300 jobs will go as part of the shake-up. CSFB chief executive Brady Dougan said the company will continue to compete with "bulge bracket" companies such as Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. It intends to create a unified proprietary trading desk and invest in prime brokerage, which services hedge funds."
"On the sensitive issue of branding, Mr Grübel hinted strongly that the venerable First Boston name would be dropped, but declined to say when."Having the company called Credit Suisse or CS makes it easier to confuse it with one of the two big boys! Its a cunning but surprisingly simple plan to dupe clients into thinking CSFB are the best around, which, in actual fact they are! Either that, or they just want to consolidate the group! I'm going with the simple name change!
Well, CSFB have made the announcement regarding their restructuring at their Investor Day 2004. I have yet to read all the slides that I've downloaded, but according to Bloomberg
"that as many as 300 jobs will be eliminated at CSFB as part of an effort to boost net income at the investment bank..."
Dont you hate it? I mean, what the hell is the point of it? Its obviously worth something to the spammers, otherwise they wouldnt keep harassing us all. The reason I say this, is because yesterday, I was browsing blogs here by clicking the "Next Blog" button at the top of my blog. There were so many rubbish ones advertising different crap. They just had the same post up for everyday. Reckon blogger.com should put something in place to stop these blogs being created automatically.
So, I just got an e-mail from one of my friends who was working with me in London during the summer. For those of you who dont know, I did an internship with Credit Suisse First Boston in their London office in their IT department. I suppose about a month ago, they called me offering me a full time job on their 2005 graduate programme starting in July 2005. As my current job isnt exactly setting me on fire, and the job in London pays almost twice as much, I told them that I would take it. I mean there are a load of reasons why its a good job to take, not least that London is a great city, but I wont bore you with them now.
So, the Luas! I think its great. But as everyone knows, you can't be a good old rant about the state of public transport, no matter where you are. Being in Dublin makes it a little easier because its pretty shocking to begin with. However, the Luas is probably Dublin public transport's saving grace.