UK Recession: Mistresses Are the Credit Crunch's Latest Victims
La maja desnuda. (Francisco Goya, 1800-1805, Oil on canvas, Museo del Prado, Madrid.) Courtesy of Google Images

Full nakedness! All joys are due to thee; 
As souls unbodied, bodies unclothed must be 
To taste whole joys. Gems which you women use
 Are like Atlanta’s ball cast in men’s views; 
That, when a fool’s eye lighteth on a gem, 
His earthly soul might court that, not them. 
Like pictures, or like books’ gay coverings made 
For laymen, are all women thus array’d.
 Themselves are only mystic books, which we
 - Whom their imputed grace will dignify - 
Must see reveal’d. – Elegy XX. 'To His Mistress Going to Bed' by John Donne

THE TELEGRAPH: Mistresses have become an unnecessary expense during the recession.

'When a man marries his mistress," the late Sir James Goldsmith famously said, "he creates a vacancy." In today's economic climate, that "vacancy" looks increasingly likely to remain unfilled.

As men, fearful for their jobs and marriages, seek to cut back on their assets and expenditures, mistresses are facing a cull. A recent survey reports that nearly half of analysts, stockbrokers and hedge-fund managers are preparing to let the other woman go. There's no doubt about it: these are bad times for the good time girls.

"Like luxury cars, mistresses require a lot of time and money to be spent on them," says Josh Spero, senior editor of Spear's Wealth Management Survey, "so when it comes to wealthy men cutting back, the other woman is near the top of their list."

Although modern mistresses may differ from their historical counterparts – in the past, royal mistresses of European monarchs such as Nell Gwynne and Madame de Pompadour were not simply kept women but figures of immense influence – the fragrant breed exists in a variety of forms. "It may be a far cry from 18th and 19th-century France," says Oliver James, the psychologist, "but there are different types of mistresses around today, including the 'other women' who describe themselves as 'mistresses' without feeling there are any negative connotations attached."

Should these credit crunch squeezes survive the cull, their prospects (as for so many in the private sector) will be humbler. In America, where the recession is more deeply entrenched, newly parsimonious guidelines are already being established by prolific adulterers: according to a recent survey by Prince and Associates, a market research firm specialising in private wealth, more than 80 per cent of multi-millionaires who had extra-marital lovers are cutting back on their gifts and allowances.

"Rich people are getting hit, and they're all expressing the need to curtail unnecessary spending," said Russ Alan Prince, the firm's president. "Lovers are part of the same calculation." >>> By Celia Walden | Thursday, March 26, 2009

Greek Unrest Spreads: Solidarity Protests Across Europe Turn Violent
Demonstrators in Rome. Photo courtesy of SpiegelOnline International
SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL: As Greece entered its sixth day of unrest sparked by the police shooting of a 15-year-old boy, violence spread to other parts of Europe on Thursday. Solidarity protests in cities including Rome, Madrid and Copenhagen turned into skirmishes between demonstrators and police.

The unrest that has gripped Greece for days has started to spill over into other European capitals, with arrests made in Rome, Copenhagen and Madrid on Wednesday night after solidarity demonstrations descended into violence.

The situation in Greece itself had calmed somewhat by mid-morning Thursday following pre-dawn violence which saw students clash with police. Youth threw stones and fire bombs at police in the early hours of the morning in the sixth day of protests since the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos ingited anger over police brutality. The events have also stoked public anger with the government -- resentment that was already widespread following a series of financial scandals and unpopular reforms.

Much of the worst violence has been perpetrated by young anarchists, the so-called Black Bloc. But there is growing anger among the wider public about the inability of the government to control the situation and restore calm. On Wednesday a general strike across Greece halted flights and closed banks, schools and some hospital services.

Meanwhile, flourishes of violence spread to other parts of Europe. In Istanbul about a dozen Turkish left-wing protestors daubed red paint over the front of the Greek consulate, while the country's embassies in Rome and Moscow were attacked by fire bombers and stone throwers. In the Italian university town of Bologna, five police officers were reported injured after clashing with demonstrators outside the Greek consulate. >>> smd -- with wire reports | December 11, 2008

GLOBEANDMAIL: Ugly Tactics of the Rioters Now Coming Under Attack

Watching television and video coverage of the riots that have swept through Greece this week, it is hard not to notice something curious: The police, for the most part, do not seem to be fighting back.

Except when stoned or pelted with Molotov cocktails themselves, they often left the rioters alone to smash store windows and set fire to buildings.

That apparent restraint springs from a November night in 1973 when the forces of a six-year-old dictatorship battered their way onto the campus of the Athens Polytechnic. No one knows the exact toll, but something like 40 people were killed, and the anger over their deaths helped bring down the military government.

Ever since, student protesters have enjoyed a special status in Greece. Lionized for bringing down the regime of the colonels, they take to the streets with a frequency and a ferocity that is unusual even in Europe. >>> Marcus Gee | December 10, 2008

TIMESONLINE: Greek Violence Spreads across Europe

Suspected anarchist protests which have dogged Greece for the last week spread outside the country today, with mobs causing violent scenes in Italy, Spain, Russia, Denmark and Turkey.

Greek diplomatic missions were vandalised in the attacks, while police, local authority and media representatives were also targeted in what appeared a co-ordinated escalation.

The upsurge took place as protests continued in Greece following the killing last Saturday of Alexandros Grigoropoulos.
Today, mobs pelted 20 police stations with rocks and bottles, overturned cars and blocked streets in central Athens. Police responded with tear gas as sporadic violence persisted amid Greece’s worst rioting in decades.

Four people were detained and at least one man was hospitalised with injuries, authorities said. In a gesture which appeared designed to ease the violence, MPs held a minute of silence for Mr Grigoropoulos.

Yet what were originally relatively localised protests over the killing have since been hijacked by mobs of self-styled anarchists who authorities say are looking for trouble, and today they spread out of Greece for the first time.

In Denmark, a total of 32 people were arrested in Copenhagen after protests turned violent while, in Madrid and Barcelona, several police officers were injured and 11 people were arrested following clashes.

The violence also spread to Turkey, where a dozen protesters were reported to have painted the Turkish-flag red on the Greek consulate. In Moscow and Rome, meanwhile, petrol bombs were reported to have been aimed at Greek Embassies.

Meanwhile, a crew of television journalists from Russia were attacked by 50 youths as they filmed clashes in Exarchia, Greece, a known hotbed of student radicalism. One correspondent from the NTV television station was injured. >>> David Byers | December 11, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback & Hardback) – Free delivery >>>

Blair Full of Hot Air
BBC: A major gathering of the world's religious leaders has called on governments to combat the association between religion and terrorism and promote constructive dialogue between those of religious faith.

In a communique issued at the end of the conference in Madrid, religious leaders affirmed their shared concern for family life and the environment, and urged the United Nations to hold a special session on dialogue between religions and cultures.

The World Conference on Dialogue was the personal initiative of the King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, and organised by the Saudi-based Muslim World League.

Critics have challenged the forum's organisers on the lack of female speakers and the absence of any Jewish delegates from Israel.

'New page'

In spite of such criticisms, the gathering remained unique in its scope, with Catholic priests rubbing shoulders with Buddhist monks, Islamic leaders and Jewish rabbis as well as those of several other faiths. Mixed Views on Saudi Interfaith Forum >>> By Christopher Landau, BBC religious affairs correspondent, Madrid | July 19, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (US) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (US) >>>

Interfaith Conference Fails after Argument between Muslims and Jews
MACAU NEWS: An interfaith conference which has been held in Madrid during the week has ended on a bad note with Muslims and Jews involved in a political argument.



Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah had gathered followers of the world's major faiths for the Madrid conference to seek religious reconciliation. 



It has been reported that exchanges between Muslim participants and Jewish Rabbis turned to a discussion on Zionism and became overheated, almost leading to blows.



It was the first time Saudi Arabia had invited Jews to such a meeting and the aim was to avoid hot issues like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. [Source: Macau News] | July 18, 2008

Hat tip: Dhimmi Watch

BBC:
Mixed Views on Saudi Interfaith Forum >>> By Christopher Landau, BBC religious arrairs correspondent, Madrid | July 19, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (US) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (US) >>>

Global Interfaith Dialogue Set for July 16 in Madrid
I realize it sounds rather cynical to ask certain questions about this interfaith dialogue planned for July in Madrid, but one really does have to ask a few questions at this point, concerning the topics to be discussed. First of all, what do Muslims know about human rights? A people who disallows others to choose their religion, or none, people who stone women to death for minor infringements, people who behead ‘criminals’ in the public square, people who cut off limbs for theft, people who believe in a death sentence for apostasy, for extra-marital relations, and for homosexuality are hardly in a position to talk about human rights. They have no understanding of the meaning of that term. And where, exactly, can we see any evidence of Muslims living in harmony with non-Muslims? So what, too, can these people add to a discussion on the topic of peaceful co-existence? – ©Mark

MAKKAH: The Muslim World League (MWL) will organize a global interfaith dialogue in Madrid on July 16, it was announced here yesterday.

Leading personalities representing various monotheistic religions would participate in the three-day conference, which would discuss various topics, including social amity, international cooperation, human rights and peaceful co-existence, said Abdullah Al-Turki, secretary-general of the MWL.

"The call for dialogue between various religions, cultures, civilizations and ideologies by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah at a conference organized by the MWL early this month was, in fact, a call from Makkah, which is the venue of divine inspiration, the source of the Islamic message and the qibla (the direction of prayer) of Muslims," Al-Turki said.

The MWL cheif said King Abdullah's initiative has been hailed unanimously by the Muslim world, which was represented at the conference by prominent scholars and thinkers. Global Interfaith Dialogue Set for July 16 in Madrid >>> By Badea Abu Al-Naja | June 22, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – USA)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardcover – USA)

Der Schlüssel Erfolg in der Politik Europas zu haben: Ex-Nackt-Modell zu sein! Zuerst kam Carla; nun kommt Mara
Foto von der schönen Mara Carfagna dank der Welt
WELT ONLINE: Silvio Berlusconi kann es nicht lassen: Erst attackiert er den spanischen Ministerpräsidenten für sein zu weibliches Kabinett, jetzt nimmt er selber vier Frauen mit in die Regierung. Darunter das Ex-Model Mara Carfagna. Die Juristin, die früher auf dem Laufsteg zur Miss-Italia-Wahl lief, läuft jetzt ins Familienministerium.

Silvio Berlusconi hat es geschafft. Mit der Ernennung von vier Ministerinnen strafte er seine vollmundige Attacke gegen Spaniens Regierungschef José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero lügen. Vor wenigen Wochen hatte der italienische Wahlsieger mit einer abfälligen Bemerkung über den hohen Frauenanteil in der spanischen Regierung für Empörung in Madrid gesorgt.

Einem Radiosender sagte Berlusconi kurz nach seinem eigenen Wahlsieg, das neue Kabinett von José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero – neun Frauen und acht Männer – sei "zu rosa". In Italien dominierten in der Politik die Männer. Daher sei es kaum möglich, genügend Frauen für Ministerposten zu finden.

Jetzt setzt Berlusconi selbst auf die Farbe "Rosa". Zwar ist die Frauenquote in der italienischen Regierung im Gegensatz zur sehr weiblich angehauchten neuen Regierung in Spanien mit nur vier Frauen im Kabinett relativ gering, doch mit der Ernennung von Mara Carfagna, einem ehemaligen Akt-Modell, erweist sich Berlusconi als viel progressiver als sein spanischer Kollege Zapatero. Italien: Berlusconi macht Ex-Nackt-Modell zur Ministerin >>> 9. Mai 2008

THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY:
Berlusconi's Babes Ruffle a Few Feathers: Despite the newly acquired statesman's scowl, Italy's colourful president just can't resist a spot of mischief >>> By Peter Popham | May 11, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Taschenbuch)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Gebundene Ausgabe)

Islamists Planned Attacks across Europe: Report
REUTERS: Islamist extremists were planning attacks across Europe, especially against public transport, before their arrests in Barcelona last weekend, a Spanish paper reported on Saturday, citing a would-be attacker's testimony.

The Al Qaeda-inspired cell planned to attack the Barcelona metro and other targets in Spain, Germany, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom, said the bomber turned police informant.

In testimony that led to the arrest of 14 South Asians last Saturday, the informant told police the group had a preference for attacks on public transport, especially metro systems, El Pais newspaper reported.

"If we attack the metro, the emergency services can't get there," the informant said he was told by a fellow suicide bomber, El Pais reported. Islamists planned attacks across Europe: Report >>>| MADRID | Saturday, January 26, 2011

Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)