I was listening to Ella and Louis sing They Can't Take That Away From Me just now when it occured that today, it would have to be You Can't Take That Away From Me.

Posted by at March 10, 2001 12:34 PM

TheStandard.com: Wall Street's Toxic Tool

Here's a hypothetical example of a death-spiral convertible. Acme.com takes a $30 million investment for 30 percent of the company. If Acme's shares rise, the vulture capitalist keeps 30 percent of the business and makes money. But let's say the stock price is cut in half ов which means, of course, that the value of the company is cut in half. By the terms of this death-spiral convert, the vulture's stake cannot fall below $25 million. So instantly, a pile of new shares is handed over to the vulture capitalist, and his stake rises to 50 percent. And if the stock ever recovers, he'll still own half of Acme.com.

Posted by at March 10, 2001 08:19 AM

TheStandard.com: The Trials of a Comic Book Hero

Paul, who co-founded Stan Lee Media but never held an official job or title there, was cut off from the company in early January. He left behind an enterprise in turmoil. The Securities and Exchange Commission had launched an informal inquiry, and an internal investigation led to the termination of Paul and another executive suspected of involvement in stock manipulation and embezzlement. By then, court documents say, Paul had made plans to flee to Brazil, where he is thought to be today.

Posted by at March 10, 2001 07:28 AM

Both sides vaunt selves in culture battle

Ms. Lemieux shifted her criticism to the federal government, saying Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps was wrong when she said in a letter sent to Ms. Lemieux yesterday that Quebec culture is also a regional component of Canadian culture. Ms. Lemieux called this a repudiation of the existence of Quebec as a nation.

...as though Quebec could survive as an independent nation.

I see two circumstances under which Quebec might achieve nationhood. One, is with such a brutal and humiliating send-off that western Canada is finally satisfied that the favorite spoiled child has finally received comeuppance. The other has British Columbia and Alberta also separate from Canada at the same time, and work with Quebec to achieve more alimony. Ontario would then be left to support Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Maritimes, and would have to pawn her pearls.

This is not as bad as it sounds.

Posted by at March 10, 2001 06:52 AM

British legal chief urges end to ban on Catholic monarchs

The British government's top legal adviser called Saturday for a repeal of the 300-year-old ban on Roman Catholics ascending to the throne.

Lord Williams, the attorney general, told the Daily Telegraph that the Act of Settlement of 1701, which says the monarch must not be Catholic or marry a Catholic, was discriminatory.

"I don't like any form of discrimination. My personal view is there should not be any such bar," he said.

Monarchy is based on discrimination by birth.

He said he would welcome any debate that changing the law would bring, for example on the monarch's official position as supremer governor of the Church of England.

A church unsentimentally created by Henry VIII because he felt the need to get married every morning, just after breakfast.

"It's healthy to have a debate about this in a community that now has many different faiths in it."

Next he'll want Muslims to be Pope.

Opposition to the Act of Succession has grown in recent years with lawyers claiming it conflicts with human rights legislation.

That is foolish on so many levels.

Gareth Williams said the monarchy was long overdue for reform. Although he did not want to replace it with a republic, he said the law should be amended to allow royal daughters equal rights to succession.

At present a daughter can succeed to the throne only if there is no direct male descendant.

Queen Elizabeth was crowned after the death of King George in 1952 because he had no son. Prince Charles is now first in line to the throne, followed by his elder son Prince William.

Yo: a monarchy is a prettified relict of Stone Age tribalism where whoever whacked the most guys over the head with a stick (or later, over the head with a spin doctor) got to say what happened with the women, the food, and the booze. It can be argued that it does represent superior genetic stock because whoever was that strong or clever was likely to pass on his genes to a woman he chose (increasing the odds of good stock on both sides). These days, it's a nice symbol for a country to get behind and I'd like to be a queen as much as the next woman. It can stand for a certain amount of internal revision, like allowing women to freely ascend the throne, but even allowing persons of different faiths to head up the C of E may be more than it can stand in these days of ruthless practicality without regard for morale or good sense.

Posted by at March 10, 2001 06:42 AM