AllupInyourBiz

While the rest of the world’s banks are failing, trying to raise liquidity, trying to keep from failing and freaking out about all of the above, British bank execs say “ho hum, ol’ chap! What credit crunch?” Dealbook today, cited a survey conducted by a consulting firm called the Hay Group. According to the data, over half of the financial firms surveyed, said that the top executives have decided to make no changes in their company’s strategies, to attempt to compensate for the current market slowdown. What’s more, is that only 38% surveyed said that they “see the market woes as a threat.” The financial service sector leader for the Hay Group added his commentary, stating “The sector is sleepwalking into a period of extreme turbulence which is likely to result in some serious damage to those organizations that persist in neglecting proper preparations.”

What better way to chap one’s own hide, than to have a fart lighting contest with one’s cousin? The Telegraph UK, reports that a boy was taken to the hospital for treatment of burns resulting from a blue dart contest. The boy was reportedly having a fart lighting contest in the garden with his cousin. Unfortunately for the winner, he was standing near a gasoline can, the fumes of which were ignited by the boys blue dart. The resulting flash fire, caused “18 per cent burns to the backs of his legs and his thumb.” It looks like he may have to learn to work the lighter with his other hand, until he can recover.

Normally I would not applaud any sort of dangerous malfeasance. But in this case, I have to admit that I am pretty impressed by a guy who can outrun the cops on such a crappy bike. It is even more impressive, given that, in the video of the chase, the roads are clearly wet. Way to go, rebellious British sport biker, guy. Click here for the full article in the Telegraph UK. I found it odd, that a British paper would use MPH instead up KMPH when reporting the speed of the rebel biker. It does, however, make it easier for those of us who happen to live in the colonies, to get a better idea of how fast he was going. The rider was later apprehended at his home. He was sentenced to over a year in jail for the chase. Really? A year seems like a little much. They should at least knock off a few months for the fact that he was polite enough to use his turn signals throughout the entire chase. The chase footage published in the Telegraph, is embedded below.

The Telegraph published the results of it’s photo editing contest today. The theme was “Genetic mutations: Imagining nature’s errors.” Those Brits sure do have an imagination. It is too bad that there had to be some “photo editing” as a part of the contest. I’m pretty sure that any dentist over there could have won the contest just by submitting some completely unedited shots of his/her client’s teeth.

Pump up the volume: Gareth Pugh featured big shoulders in his Auutumn/Winter 2008 collection

According to Hillary Alexander’s column in the Telegraph, shoulder pads are back in. It is said that Europe sets the fashion trends that filter into the the US. Let’s hope, in this case, the trend dies somewhere in the mid-Atlantic. Shoulder pads were nasty in the 80’s and they still are. According to Ted Swenson’s column, shoulder pads are a Eurotarded idea that should be confined to the realm of (American) football. The makeup and hair in the photo, however, should definitely find their way into mainstream fashion.