A Continuum of Design

A Sunday Open Air Market in France

2010-06-08T03:08:00.001-04:00

Open air markets are essential to the French way of life, not only in small villages but in big cities as well. The Saone market of Lyon is one of the most interesting in France with hundreds of stalls offering fruit, vegetables, sausage, cheese, flowers and more. Prices are low and quality is generally exceptional. The market is open five days a week but Sundays are a true cornucopia with a multitude of vendors and a plethora of goodies. Many of the shops shops are owned by farmers who sell their own produce. A fat bunch of twelve peonies costs about $10. And on this fine June morning you can choose among many varieties of strawberries.

A selection of plants and flowers to grow on your terrace.

Tasting before buying is the general rule and no effort is spared in creating a beautiful display.

And for something oh so typically French, on a Sunday morning at 10am you can sit down at a cafe on the bank of the river and feast on a dozen oysters while sipping from your flute of champagne – all for about $10!

Design for our Kids

2010-03-31T11:39:00.002-04:00

Our little munchkins need something more stylish and well designed than the classic vapid pieces of furniture inspired by Andersen or Hollywood. The Danish designer Jesper K. Thomsen has launched a new line of children’s furniture just in time. Re-interpreting the classic soapbox cart he’s created a series of quality furniture items for children.

Similarly inspired but along another line Serendipity, a very exclusive shop in Paris, has a scalable bed that includes everything a child needs: bed, table, and storage compartments.

And if you are oriented toward sustainability you can buy a refurbished school table that gives you the best of both worlds at Bianca & Family.

Color Palette for Home

2009-12-06T13:02:00.001-05:00

Reading a press release about "Color Trends for 2010" made me think about how color in fashion evolved. The palettes you can see below give an indication of trends in color from the 16th century to the present time. Below a 16th century Italian palette

A 17 th century palette of the French painter Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665). Many writers contrasted Poussin's style to that of Rubens, saying that while Poussin's stress was on drawing, that of Rubens was on bright color!!!

In the end of the 19th century Symbolists like Puvis de Chavannes preferred more subtle colors, in turn launching a new trend of pastel colors in reaction to the dominant fashion of the second half of tthe 19th century.

Below a color palette of the 30's. This one is Picasso's.

Inspired by industrial architecture, this 2009 palette veers toward a mix of modernity and tradition.

Splashes of sunshine for spring 2010! fashion!

PPG PORTER paints a prediction for 2010: canvas palette.

PPG PORTER paints a prediction for 2010: grace palette

PPG PORTER paints prediction for 2010-:pink city palette

A young inspired Swiss designer: Philippe Bestenheider

2009-11-22T11:59:00.001-05:00

Born in 1971 in Sion, Valais, Switzerland, Philippe Bestenheider studied architecture and industrial design in Switzerland and in Milan, Italy. From 2001 to 2006 he was Senior Designer in Patricia Urquiola's office in Milan, working for Moroso, Molteni, Agape, Alessi, Axor amongst others. In 2007 he opened his own studio, working between Switzerland and Milan. He is now working for Moroso, Pallucco and Nilufar Gallery.


Nanook Chair designed by Philippe Bestenheider for MOROSO Spa: " Like the Inuit peoples who wear animal skins for protection, Nanook's technical-fabric upholstery has tribal echoes. " The Nanook Collection is comprised of a chair, an armchair and a low table	Binta Armchair Inspired by Africa the chair’s form is based on African wood carvings and the upholstery is based on Senegalese patchwork fabrics.	Bright colors and stylized motifs of African fabric

Geometric patterns and Swiss engineer precision.	Lui 5 cane chair for Fratelli Boffi	The Nanook table (MOROSO Spa) with a shape inspired by snow flakes.

Will Modern Architecture Age Well?

2009-11-22T10:57:00.001-05:00

For quite a long time "new" and "modern" were values in and of themselves. Nevertheless many voices did not agree at all with that, especially as regards "modern architecture." Prince Charles among many others accused modern architecture of being "all stumps and carbuncles." And it's quite true that the market value of many modern architecture houses is low as buyers are relucutant to invest in a building with a questionable esthetic and very high maintenance expenses. But there is nothing new here: a great number of wonderful castles of the 17th and 18th century were destroyed by their owner because the maintenance costs were too high!!. But don't worry, many modern architects designed masterpieces that will surive the test of time. Try to respond to the following questions and you will have an idea of which ones:

Functionalism?

Despite the idea that modern architecture was based on functionalism (more often than not a wrong idea), as in Otto Wagner's "form follows function," it's always interesting to ask the question: is the design of this building adapted to its function? Ask people who live inside their opinion. Few poorly adapted buildings will surive. That said, what judgement can we place upon the pyramids of Egypt!

The Goetsch Winkler house: This beautiful house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1939 for two professors from Michigan Sate University. The irony here is that Lloyd Wright originally conceived the design as a low cost project. However the owners were unable to hold on to their house as the maintenance cost were so exceedingly high!

What about the maintenance and operating costs?

Examples of lack of consideration for maintenance cost:

The Pruitt-Igoe Housing Project (low-income housing project) by Minoru Yamasaki, was hailed for its successful use of the principles of modernism. In 1972, however, the project was demolished due to the high cost of its maintenance.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles designed by Frank Gehry, 2002-2003 has vertically-curved layers of shiny stainless steel sheets at different angles, which amplify and reflect abundant California sunlight in all directions, blinding residents and heating up their neighbouring apartments by several degrees. After many complaints, the Los Angeles Philharmonic had to solve the reflection problem by covering up the steel facade with unglamorous matte cloth. Had Gehry taken into consideration the impact of the building on its surroundings, he would not have used mirror-like panels in the first place. It seems Gehry did not learn his lesson, as his subsequent work on the Stata Center exemplifies. Source: Business Standard June 25, 2008

The Georges-Pompidou Center in Paris was designed by the world famous architect Renzo Piano in the 70's. The defining concept was to turn the structure inside out such that it's functionalism could be seen from the outside (pipes, vents, etc.) and its interior space would not be limited or compromised. However, fifteen years after its completion the building had to be renovated due to its inappropriate design at a cost close to the cost of the initial construction!!!!

Will the esthetic and social concern on which the design was based become a classic or just the debilitated witness of a temporary trend?

Smith House, Darien, CT. A masterpiece of 60's architecture designed by Richard Meier. Fifty years later it hasn't aged a day and remains a masterpiece!

Little Paradise for Your Vacation

2009-11-03T03:02:00.002-05:00

A Little Paradise in Northern California

This is time to take advantage of the off season rates and have a lover's week-end at a bargain price: Nested on the northern California coast at ELK, Harbour House is the perfect place to have a refreshing respite from the busy world.

Horse riding on the beach, mushroom hunting, wine tasting, hiking, fishing... You won't be bored.

A Little Paradise in Corsica, France

This is the Santa Julia Bay in Corsica, France. Go to The Moby Dick Hotel, a small hotel by the beach. Perfect location, excellent food, adequate rates. Corsica is a mountainous island located southeast of the French mainland with some of the exquisite beaches in the world. The mountains are not far from the coast and the back country is rugged and spectacular.


This is the Moby Dick Hotel.

Alone in the world on the white sand	I went there in Mai and i dream about returning

It’s All in the Box

2009-11-02T11:15:00.003-05:00

Loris Gerard, 2009

Since the time when Marcel Duchamp created his "Boite en Valise" in 1936, boxes seem to have been an endless subject of inspiration for modern artists. Not only are boxes everywhere from the supermarket to the office but their square lines and their volume can be filled by all the treasures of one's imagination. The door to art is wide open.

Marcel Duchamp, Boite en Valise, 1936


Steve Wolf, 2001-2003 Steve Wolf was born in Pisa, Italy in 1955? He lives in San Francisco.	Jill Magid: Vetting Box Full "I bring things that are far away in closer to my body" Jill Magid is a Cornell University bachelor of art. He will exhibit soon at the TateModern, London.

The armoury of the 1984 Miss General Idea pavillon. Mai 36 Gallerie, Switzerland Founded in 1968 by a group of artists to examine the products of popular culture and the role of artists.	Richard Artschwager, 2009 Formica & wood.

Kaz Oshiro, Disposal Bin, 2009 Kaz Oshiro was born in Okinawa, Japan in 2007. He lives in Los Angeles, CA. He crafts trompe l’oeil replicas of common objects that are in fact three-dimensional paintings.	Jaye Moon Jay Moon lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Robert Gober, 2002. Robert Gober is an American sculptor born in Wallingford, CT in 1964. His work is in many museum collections.	Jill Magid, Vetting Box Closed, 2008

Treasures from Flea Markets

2009-10-24T06:04:00.002-04:00

Flea Markets are the places from which you come back exhausted. As those in the know, know, one week end at Brimfield can be a real ordeal. But there's nothing like a flea market to give your eye a workout! All these trinkets and treasures were found from Brimfield to the Paris "puces" to Portobello, to Spitafields and beyond.

It was at Brimfield Antique show


Antique Piggy Bank	Hand painted candlestick, early 20th century

Quimper Bowl with Britton Couple	A traditional hand-painted bowl.

A Louis Sherry candy box from the early 20th century. Louis Sherry Inc. was founded by New York restauranteur Louis Sherry and Lucius M. Boomer, then Chairman of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.	Perfect and strong jar for traditional canned food

The all set of suitcases from the 1940’s at Brimfield

The Art of Creating a Showpiece

2009-10-10T12:39:00.002-04:00

atelier abigail ahern

Atelier Abigail Ahern is a store & an interior designer based in London, UK. Abigail Ahern is able to design spectacular interiors, creating an atmosphere of her own using easily affordable components and mixing different styles. What we like about Abigail is that with her designs your home will never resemble an anonymous hotel or a perfect design exercise, so perfect that no one would feel at home.
" As a designer I follow my heart not what the Jones’s down the road are doing. I haunt thrift stores in search of brown furniture that I can spray in super glossy car paint, and I jump up and down for joy when I find a gem – my 1950’s Gnome that came from an amusement park and doubles up as a light. Roughly thrown ceramics, old 60’s chairs that I have just covered in a super sexy slubby electric blue. Yes its a personal vision but I love the stuff that surrounds me and hopefully that comes across in all my designs."

Modern Design in the Garden

2009-08-20T13:57:00.001-04:00

Looking at this pair of whimsical chairs, one would never imagine that they would have been chosen for the garden of an 18th century French chateau – but they were and it works!!! ( The owner, by the way, is looking for a designer for the interior of the chateau, someone with a sophisticated knowledge of the past and a flair for contemporary design.)


This garden armchair designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell is made of polyethylene. Its line is reminiscant of the traditional club armchair.	Pastil chair designed by by Eero Aarnio in 1967. The New York Times wrote about the Pastil Chair at this time: "the most comfortable forms to hold up the human body"	Ikea Vano rattan easy chair. ( available in two colors: green and red at a bargain price.)

Serie 7 designed in 1955 by Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971).	Gruppo G14 armchair: it reminds me Xmas ribbon candy.	Him designed by Fabio Novembre. The “Her” chair exists too and is probably more confortable.

Enzo Mari Plastic chair.	Low Lita chair ( for kids)	Selene designed by Vico Magistretti

Designed by Verner Panton (1926-1998)	Paolo Lenti, Milano. Perfect for a nap in the garden	Trinita, designed by Nanna Ditzel

Lawnge chairs at Valkenberg Park in Breda, Netherlands

Arthur David, a Textile Designer

2009-08-11T13:29:00.007-04:00

Arthur David is a textile designer who lives in Zurich, Switzerland. He worked for many famous fashions designers like Jean louis Scherrer and Valentino .

This is Art

"Most Popular", the dream of many

2009-08-06T05:50:00.003-04:00

Art Deco and Rococo Style

2009-08-04T06:26:00.004-04:00

All the works below were created in the Art Deco period by Louis Icart. At that time he was extremely popular in the United States where he was nicknamed “the Parisian dreamer.” Art Deco is best known for its geometrical design, however this doesn’t apply to Icart whose style was a kind of synthesis of Art Deco and Rococo. Louis Icart started drawing at a very early age and was soon recognized as an extremely talented artist. He loved women and fashion at a time when fashion styles evolved toward a celebration of women using spare and simple lines. What makes Icart such a unique artist was his ability to be at the same time an heir of Watteau and a symbol of the more stylized Art Deco period.

The New Antiquarians

2009-07-30T12:49:00.000-04:00

An article in the New York Times dated July 29, 2009 asks why modern design has lost its allure and why antiques of all kinds have never been so popular.
There are many possible responses to this question. “Modern design” first appeared on a large scale in the 30’s with the industrialization of furniture fabrication, the new mass markets, and the development of marketing techniques. Take the chair of the mid 30's.

André Mare & louis Sue mahogany Chair.

At that time it was still possible to purchase an armchair handmade by craftsman who trained for years in the traditional techniques of furniture building as well as an industrial armchair factory made by modern Italian designers such as Giuseppe Terragni or Luigi Vietti. What was lost in this transition was personal - the sense that a piece was unique and that one could have not only a personal relationship with the artist who created it but also be a part of a long cultural tradition.

Italian Chair, 1932
Designed by Giuseppe Terragni ( 1904-1943)
was a member of "Gruppo 7" , a group of designers who promoted rational design.

On the other hand, modern design was affordable and thus accessible to many more people. In marketing terms "new" was the operative word to sell a product and consequently the ultimate value in its promotion. "Beauty" became a translation of functionality that broke with the past. In order to pull this off, the promoters of modern design needed to convince their public of this "value" and they did it with aplomb. "It's new, it's different and you deserve it!" One of the miracles of modern marketing and mass communication is the ability to not only erase the apparent contradiction but to transform it into an apparent asset. Now you could be original without risking the loss of safety and public approval. Like the hordes of tattooed teenagers, the modern consumer flocked to modern design. Today, eighty years later, maybe people are waking up to the fact that new is not enough.

Beautiful Antique Doors

2009-07-30T10:07:00.000-04:00

A typical "art-nouveau" door , Paris France

All the doors below come from the south of France ( Avignon or Aix en Provence)

When Wall Street Meets Charity

2009-07-22T10:50:00.000-04:00

It has never been so true that charity begins in the home. People who are interested either in investing in biotechnology or in giving their money to charitable health care foundations should be wise enough to investigate a bit more deeply where their money is ultimately going. It has been known for a very long time that conflicts of interest exist in many nonprofit organizations. Many of these philanthropic organizations have a board of directors that decides where the money donated will be spent: what art works are going to be purchased by the museum, what research project or biotechnology company will be given money, etc. It happens quite often, not too surprisingly, that museums will acquire paintings by the same artist as those owned by their board members. That is to say that the museum itself can falsely increase the value of a piece of art just by putting it in their collection which in the end will benefit these board members. In modern art, thus, the value of an art work depends to some extent on the reputation of the museum who owns the works of the artist. It happens too that medical foundations often invest their money in projects where their sponsors have direct or indirect financial interest. It’s a very old story that such foundations have sometimes been created for the sole purpose of improving the reputation or cleaning the conscience of their founders. A famous example of the flip side is that of Chancellor Nicolas Rolin who was the treasurer of the Duke of Burgundy (one of the most powerful men in the world during the 15th century) who abused his high position to make a huge fortune. Overcome with remorse for what he had done, he gave an important part of his fortune to a foundation he created in 1443 in Beaune, France. This is the origin of the famous “ Hospices de Beaune,” a public hospital free of charge for poor people. Six hundred years later, we humans have not changed so much. I recommend the reading of the story of Dendreon, a biotech company that is the first to bring to market an immunotherapy that makes use of the body’s own immune system to fight cancer and that has a proven efficacy with negligible side effects. It’s a perfect illustration of what has to be changed in the financial markets!!!

Elegant Little Girls

2009-07-22T02:46:00.000-04:00

There was a time when little girls were the glory of their mom. For any social event they were dressed with such care and elegance that neither time nor effort was spared to make them beautiful. The finest pieces of fabric, the most delicate lace and embroidery were used. These articles of clothing were hand-made with love. The selection of clothes below were made at the end of the 19^th century to the early twenties century. They are the evidence of a bygone era. Nevertheless, lest you despair, know that one of the only shops in the world that makes baby clothes inspired by the richness and quality of the past opened its doors uncommonly on a Sunday in Paris this year to Michelle Obama so that she could outfit her girls in high style.

Lace Inspirations

2009-07-02T12:03:00.001-04:00

The grace and delicacy of lace has often inspired artists.

Maggie Weldon has merged her love of crochet with her new found passion in pottery and produced Lace Pottery. Each piece of pottery is handmade in her Kernersville, NC studio using fine porcelain clay and crocheted doilies.

Paolo Venini ( 1895-1959) was a lawyer of Milan who developed the most successful of the Murano glass furnaces in 1925. He was the first one who hired designers to bring new ideas and shapes to Murano. He created, in collaboration with Fulvio Bianconi (1915-1996) several glass vase with a shape inspired by the Venetian lace: the " Fazoletto" or Handkerchief vase" (photo below). He is one of the principle actor of the renaissance of Murano glass in the 20th century.

Alice Rhiel is a French artist who was trained at the French Ceramics Institute at Sevres. The search for lightness, or even weightlessness, results in unique pieces of work, thinly modelled, sometimes placed in unsteadiness, as a fly off.

Practice of conspiracy theories

2009-06-26T03:22:00.000-04:00

June, 08 2009: an unknown Italian news agency, AsianNews.it, published the story that "Bonds worth US$ 134.5 billion are seized. This is the largest financial smuggling case in history. But are they real? Concern over ‘funny money’ or counterfeit securities is spreading in Asia. The international press is silent." and if the international press is silent there is certainly a good reason. The T bonds that were seized included 249 US Federal Reserve Bonds worth $ 500 million each and dated 1934 and 10 "Kennedy Bonds" of $ one billion dollars each!!
June 17: Bloomberg.com released an article on the same subject. " The implications of the securities being legitimate would be bigger than investors may realize. At a minimum, it would suggest that the U.S. risks losing control over its monetary supply on a massive scale"
June 18th the Financial Times, London wrote an article titled " Mafia blamed for $134bn fake Treasury bills"
Many others information media released the same news: such reliable signature as Bloomberg or the Financial times cannot be wrong!!
But if you go a bit further, for example asking any bond dealer what is it about you will immediately know that:
The US government has not issued any physical T bonds since 1980, that no such a bunds were issued in 1934, Only four countries in the world own over $134 billions of Treasuries securities, and consequently no financial institution of any kind could be fooled .
Since June 6 what happened to the two Japanese? No Italian judge send any Japanese citizen to jail in Chiaso. No Italian lawyer got the case. No more news. But millions of readers were fooled. Sorry I'm wrong: some of them have exclusive information: President Obama and President Berlusconi had a phone call about the bonds!!!
Italian lakes have always been a very nice place in which to let your imagination wander!!! By the north Italian lakes there are some of the most beautiful estates in the world.

A villa by the Como lake

Clos de Vougeot : the monks had good taste!

2009-06-22T10:53:00.000-04:00

The vineyard of Clos de Vougeot already existed when the Cistercian monks first began making wine there in the early XII century. After the French revolution all the church properties were confiscated by the French state and sold to different owners. For quite a long time the reputation of Clos de Vougeot was to produce wines with a broad range in value.

The best Clos de Vougeot were the wines coming from the northwest sector of the domain where the soils are light on oolitic limestone.

We recommand the Clos de Vougeot Grand Crus from: Chateau de la Tour (the only one that makes its wine inside Clos de Vougeot and our favorite), Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot, Domaine Jean Grivot, Domaines Perrot-Minot, Domaine Francois Lamarche. You won't be disappointed if you are a pinot noir lover!

Clos de Vougeot is not only an excellent wine, it is a beautiful place to visit, especially if you are invited to a dinner at the " Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin" an exclusive club of Burgundy wine enthusiasts of which I am a member. Not only will you enjoy an excellent dinner and taste several fine Burgundy wines but you will also have the privilege of participating in a spectacular ceremony known for its wit and its soul!

AIG BONUSES : A DANGEROUS THREAT TO THE RULE OF LAW

2009-03-20T20:08:00.000-04:00

The story of the AIG bonuses poses many important questions, questions that unfortunately the American public doesn’t seem to be posing.
For starters, at the time when AIG committed to handing out the bonuses in question, was it in their best interest to do so? If not, isn't it the directors of AIG who should be replaced? Is this not the law of free enterprise? If it's the case for any number of reasons that it was in their best interest, for example, if to NOT give out these bonuses would have caused the company to lose its partnerships with those from whom the company profited, should AIG put aside its proper interests for political reasons? In so many words, is it the duty of the directors of a company to pursue political objectives to the detriment of its own financial interests?
AIG is a company that employed tens of thousands of people all around the world. The large majority of these people worked in department that were profitable, which still holds true today. Should all of these people feel guilty because they were employed by AIG, even if in the pursuit of profit for their company their actions were 100% correct and legal? Today, one has only to read the hate letters received by those who worked with AIG or to listen to the cries of political resentment from the United States government to see that the demons of the turn of the 20th century are raising their heads. Is anyone at Harvard today still studying the Dreyfus affair?
Having been one of the precursors of risk management study in the financial markets, I know all too well the problems that pose systemic risk, like the one that in large part explains our economic crisis today. The general public and their political representatives seem to think that private companies should have had to take responsibility for these risks and that it's their fault for not having done this. The truth is that there is no real local strategy, that is to say at the company or individual level, that allows a business to develop without exposure to systemic risk, and this is particularly true for banks. The diverse activities of banks would no longer be possible if each one doubted the solvency of the others. It's for this reason that systemic risk is the responsibility of the state, such that it's the government's responsibility to manage such risk by the imposition of its laws. Unfortunately, there is an enormous failure at this level and this failure needs be attributed to the government. In a sense, in this sense, it's the responsibility of the people in general.
The climate of hate and harsh words that's developed around AIG could cost the United States a great deal. America has existed for a very long time in a position of debt to the rest of the world. Both public and private investors around the world have accepted to underestimate the country's inherent risks or economic imbalances because America represented free enterprise, the success of private companies, and individual freedom. Today, the fact that the American government has chosen to be a printing press for money and the singling out of scapegoats, is a cause of the lost confidence of the rest of the world . Personally speaking I'm not sure that it will return anytime soon. There are many too many events today that recall the darkest periods in American history.

Organic textiles

2008-09-29T12:07:00.000-04:00

Many commercial sites sell textiles supposed to be organic. But are they really clean of dangerous chimical product?

Cotton is grown on an estimated 3% of the total cultivated area in the world, but uses about 25% of inseticides consumed in agriculture. Conventional cotton is very prone to insect attacks and large quantities of the most toxic insecticides are used in its production. After harvesting, cotton is treated with a variety of chemicals to improve its appearance and performance. Cotton fabrics are often processed with toxic dyes and formaldehydes before being sold to the customers.
Organic cotton is supposedly the answer to these problems. However, if the goal isl to have production that is free of the most dangerous chemicals, are today's practices reliable? First of all, certification programs and standards vary, especially in response to regional differences. Then, it's almost impossible to control what really happens at the various stages of production. The reality is that the following is a sampling of chemicals that are currently authorised.
The US National List of Allowed Substances By the National organic program includes :Ethanol, Isopropanol, Calcium hypoclorite,Clorine dioxide,sodium hypoclorite, copper sulfate, hydrogen peroxide, ozone gaz in irrigation system cleaners, herbicides soap-based, mulches, ammonium carbonate, boric acid, copper sulfate, calcium polysulfide, sucrose octanoate esters, sulfure dioxide, vitamin d3, copper hydroxide, copper oxide, copper oxychloride, copper sulfate, humic acids, lignin sulfonate, soluble boron, sulfates, carbonates,oxides or silicates of zing, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and cobalt, hydrogen chloride for delinting cotton seed for planting.
The production of o rganic cotton, despite this impressive list of substances, is certainly an improvement over traditional cotton production. However, I'm not sure that many consumers are aware of the vast number of chemical products that remain authorized in its production. This is not to mention all the additional chemicals involved in the industrial process; see " Organic cotton: from field to final product Edited by Dorothy Myers and Sue Solton"
Many biologists think that there is a link between the many chemicals involved in making and maintening tetxiles, such as cotton, and health risks such as allergies and asthma. Linen and hemp products are the real alternatives that protect your health ( at least those that are not fabricated in certain Asian countries where industrial production is polluted).

Open the door please

2008-09-28T10:32:00.000-04:00

Making a silk purse out of a sow's ear

2008-09-26T10:23:00.000-04:00

My wife, who is from New York, and I had a talk this morning about what’s happening on Wall Street. From my experience with investment bankers I told her that I was always struck by the absence of common sense in top management. It's as if thinking about huge profits instantly makes one blind. The internet bubble happened only ten years ago. How unbelievable that the same phenomenon is happening again. And how strange to hear the CEO's of big investment banks saying, “I didn’t know the risk taken by my own bank." The real question is, how is it that the system came to choose these people to be in charge? How come the exact same problems are recurring with the same people? Is their job “de prendre des vessies pour des lanternes,” a French idiom that my wife and I tossed around in trying to translate it into English: making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, or pulling the wool over somebody’s eyes, or thinking the moon is made of green cheese? On Wall Street it’s likely that it's all three together.

The Fortune teller by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

The disease of curiosity

2008-09-23T00:01:00.000-04:00

A compass for Wall Street

"There is another form of temptation, even more fraught with danger.This is the disease of curiosity.....It's this which drives us to try and discover "

Augustine, around 400 AD

Wall Street had probably to much faith and not enough curiosity!!