Intl' commerce dept: "Hard times ahead!"

Sheeesh! Do I really need this bad news after what happened yesterday? Now the balance with Asia and 'South of the border' will be at its lowest level since the terrible summer of '98. And as if it wasn't enough Europe won't be of any help either. Remember Jessica Bugner last january's "0.5%, if we're lucky!" Well, ha!, it looks like we're out of luck these days... huh... months, I should say. What we need is at least 2.5% just to keep our collective heads out of those filthy 'deals breaker' (!!!) waters. Housing is a real downer in half the country and barely surviving in the other half with a 0.1% raise in the 'cuts and rates' zombie market. Yeah, this will save us, yeah, sure... sheeesh! I don't know if it's this bottle of whisky I drank last night that makes me feel so desperate, but, man, do those sh**ty days will end soon? Yesterday, bad news. Today, again bad news. And tomorrow? More bad news?!!! What's going on here?!!! Sheeesh...

Obituary: Denver Jones (1941-2015)

 

The author of "Calliope's Angels" (1962), "Dreamers" (1969), the insane "In the west we went" (1982), to name just a few, died yesterday at the age of 74 years old from causes unknown. Today three generations of unconditional fans mourn the death of this giant of modern litterature. He was the leader of the east coast 'fivers' movement in the early 60's which put the AAF on their knees for almost a year. In '75 he took the world by surprise by publishing the awesome "A sin for a sin" which tenderly described the life of Bill, Janet, and Mick (I have tears in my eyes writing this) after the seizure of the East Brockston mills. And then "Go for ever!" in '79, the troubling "Inshaka" in '89, and many others... yes... many others... I'll stop this post right here, sorry guys. I think it's time to open that old bottle of whisky which is lying somewhere in the basement. So long old chap, rest in peace.

The seventh amendment passed. FINALLY!!

Phew, that's the least we can say! By chance we had two of the most rugged and experienced green 'channelers' on alert when the situation required it. First we'll have to agree that Sam 'the man' Brown, the elder of the lower chamber (south), was up to the task. Without him the crucial second article would have never been finalized. Even if this 'rates and quotas' business is not the glamourest, it's nonetheless the base on which the whole architecture was based upon. No second meant back to case one, as simple as that. From reliable sources 'The man' put up his greatest performance in years, fighting tooth and nails until the job was done. Sam Brown delivered once again!

Then came the 'wrap it up' quagmire that seemed to go on forever until Victoria Strasford - "Madam Vic" of Talmage fame- had had enough of those surrealistic and childish partisan games and started to talk for 15 minutes. The session being secret we had to dig hard to know what she said. On the condition of anonymity we now know for sure the first word and the last sentence. That's all we got. It started by a clear and loud "ENOUGH!" and finished by an even louder "NOW, DO YOUR DUTY!" One can only imagine what she said in the middle, but it surely wasn't words of love. 40 minutes later, the seventh had passed and the session was closed.

Sam Brown and Victoria Strasford did what they're paid for. And they did it well.

Portrait: Helmut Heinkel, journalist 'extraordinaire'.

 

Remember those march 2013's front pages all over the world? "Merkel out of it!" It was him. Also in 2013: "Obama vs Schaunbruck: Nein, no more!" Yes, him again. A last one for good measure, 3 months ago and still fresh in our memories: "Angela dances to Kerry's rap." Incredible, isn't it? I could easily add hundreds more world's front page material if I had the space and time to do it. And all from the same journalist: Helmut Heinkel! This icon of the famous 'Reinberg' school of journalism in Budenstraap has hit the mark more often than anybody else in journalism modern history. Ok, I know, New York's Paul Vicksberg in the 20's and 30's paved the way, but never with the same impact. Back to Heinkel, he has the knack to dig those 'game changers' stories, "katedrall" style, always at the moment nobody expects them, like those unforgettable "Entretiens" with Blair, Merkel and Sarkozy at the Paris' summit of 2007.

There's so much to say about this fascinating character but unfortunately so little space on this modest blog. One last thing, next time you'll read a breathtaking news story in any news media, check who wrote it. Chances are great that it's author will be Helmut Heinkel, this journalist 'extraordinaire'.