This and That

Just got back from seeing Up in the Air with George Clooney. Suddenly, I remember why it is that I (as well as all the rest of womankind) fancy the pants off of this guy!  I was beginning to forget actually. Kind of like the way I did with Brad Pitt. It wasn't until I saw him in Ocean's Eleven that I finally got why he's such a heart throb. I guess i'm a personality-over-looks kind of girl, but in their cases,  role-over-looks. Only God knows what these people are actually like in real life! I don't know, axe-murderers, psychotic sociopaths..?

Anyway, it was a cool film, I thought.  Another good film I saw recently was It's Complicated.  Meryl Streep is a goddess and Alec Baldwin's comic rock star status has been on the up since 30 Rock.  His brother, Stephen, currently appearing on Celebrity Big Brother over here?  Now that's a whole 'nother story for a whole 'nother day.

My New year's blogging resolution is to not overthink my blog posts. So, there you go...

Funny story in the press today. Apparently, one in four TEENAGERS in the UK think that bacon comes from sheep, and oats grow on trees!

Just over a quarter of children questioned thought bacon came from sheep, 29% thought oats grow on trees, and just under a fifth of both children and adults under the age of 30 were convinced eggs were a core ingredient in bread.

The National Farmers Union is not amused.

"The results show how important it is to teach the adults of tomorrow about the food they eat,"
said NFU president Peter Kendall.

Never mind the National Farmers Union!  I'm sure the pigs weren't very amused either!!!  Pesky sheep trying to take credit for their delicious bacon?!  How dare they...

First Post of the Year

Hello my peoples!

Happy New Year!!!

Will try to blog more (or at least more consistently this year).  :Look out for my next post....

Christian the lion - The View

Saw this on Oprah the other day. Amazing...!
Will do a proper post soon. Promise :)

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009

I'm not a big fan of Musical Theatre. Neither am i a big fan of Britain's got Talent. But i am certainly a big fan of Susan Boyle, the 47 year old spinster from West Lothian, Scotland who lives with her cat called Pebbles and has never been kissed! She totally wiped the smug smiles off the faces of Piers Morgan and Simon Cowell with the first notes that emerged from her mouth as she began to sing, and that alone makes this video worth viewing.

Over 20,000 comments so far on youtube, and over 3 million views. She could actually win this thing. And if she does, i will be glad.

Jade Goody - My take

Jade Goody burst on to our screens via Big Brother 2002 here in the UK. She wasn't the most likeable of women (in my opinion), is from the hard-ass Bermondsey area of South (or Saaaaaaaaarf) London, is the daughter of a convicted criminal and one-armed lesbian mother. Please note, i'm trying to set the scene and i'm definitely not being judgemental.

She didn't win Big Brother, but due to her inate ability to entertain (although admitedly, most viewers were laughing at her, rather than with her) she went on to become one of the most well known and sought after reality tv stars in Britain. She also made a fortune worth millions via book and perfume deals, subsequent reality shows, fitness dvds, and other merchandising opportunities.

I am glad to say that i have never watched an episode of any show she has been on because in my opinion they all employed the lowest common denominator, neither did i find her interesting. I did however, watch the version of Celebrity Big Brother she appeared on a couple of years ago, because i am a Big Brother addict. And like a lot of others i was astounded at her (and her cronies) bullying and abuse of Indian actress, Shilpa Shetty.

She was booted out of the house into a storm of public outcry and hatred, which lasted all of one month, or so. She subsequently announced her plans to go on to the Indian version of Big Brother to make amends for her treatment of Shilpa Shetty.

It was in the Indian Big Brother house that she learnt that she had cervical cancer. The cancer turned out to be terminal and now Jade has apparently been given just weeks to live. Following her return from India, her reality show continued, so did the magazine spreads and without giving it much thought, I continued to switch over. Then the coverage intensified and it began to be minor nuisance and i remember commenting on how tacky it was that she was still trying to cash in despite being ill.

That was, however, until i learnt that her motive was to make as much money as possible for her two sons before she passed away. My opinion shifted immediately. I mean, how can you argue with that? How can you argue with a young mother who knows she's dying, wanting to leave her sons behind with a secure financial future? I must add that many have. Actually, public opinion is divided. To the nay sayers, all i say is 'switch over'. I mean, i no longer condemn her choices, but still have never tuned in to see the show, neither have i seen a single picture of her wedding in OK! Magazine.

My heart goes out to her. No one should have to go through the trauma and pain that she is currently going through. On the up side, there has apparently been a 20% rise in the number of young women undergoing smear tests to detect cervical cancer.

See below for a link to an article that provides a comprehensive background to the story.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090228.ARENZETTI28/TPStory/Entertainment

Investment Banking opportunities in Nigeria and Kenya

Hi guys,

See below an extract of am email i received from an agency if anyone's interested or knows someone who might.

........................
These positions are based in Nigeria and Kenya and are research positions therefore I understand that there may not necessarily be a direct fit with your skill set and in that case I do apologise.



If anyone may be interested in the roles the team will be happy to be in contact with you however please do not call unless you have first applied or responded via email as this will be difficult to track. In addition, should you know anyone who could be suitable for the roles and could be interested in applying please have them/Yourselves apply to Strategy@selbyjennings.com



Due to the location of the roles the hiring manager will only consider applicants who have lived/Worked in Afica however he is happy to re-locate and Ex pat packages are on offer.



The Bank hiring is a large investment Bank with offices globally and is in the top 10 in Emerging Markets. The have huge successes over the last couple of years and can offer you the opportunity to work with many leading clients.

The details below are brief however applicants must have worked in a similar role before as the manager is expecting candidates to hit the ground running.





Positions Available:-



Nigeria:-



Equity Research Editor - Copy edit, proof read and fact check equity research and investment banking research.


-Editing equity research departments weeklyflagship publication, organizing materials in a manner easily understood byreaders.

-Editing prominent equity and industryresearch reports, verifying and cross-referencing financial models (incomestatement, cash flow, balance sheet)

-Enforced legal and compliance procedures,checking reports for inflammatory wording and accuracy

Applicants do not have to have equties Experience however experience in some asset class is essential.

Ideal level of hire is Associate/VP level however this is flexible.



Deputy Head of Equity Research/Strategy

- Assisting the head of research in improving the quality of the products and producing high quality Nigerian Focussed Equity research. Also assisting in increasing the team size from 8-15.

- Regular contact with London.



Equity Analyst – Associate/VP Level

- Working as an analyst within the team covering Nigerian Equities. Significant client contact.


Macro Economist

- Associate/VP level Economist (this is however flexible).

- You must have experience working as an economist to apply.

You will be responsible for :

- Assisting in setting up the Sub-Saharan Africa (ex South Africa) economic research franchise with initial focus on Nigeria

- Liaising with the head of African Research in London with a focus on macro-strategy, rates and FX and the global Head focussing of Equity research.

- Marketing to a large number of clients and contacts in the UK/Europe and the US a about Nigeria’s investment opportunities.

- Taking part in many conferences particularly African Investor conferences and liaising with senior central bank, finance ministry and capital market authorities from African countries.

- Initiating economic coverage of African markets

- Commenting on key economic policy issues

- Extensive marketing to equity and fixed income (local markets, sovereign EM and corporate high yield) clients in South Africa, the UK, Europe/ North America AND regularly gIve bespoke presentations to key corporate accounts.





Kenya


Deputy Head of Equity Research/Strategy

- Assisting the head of research in improving the quality of the products and producing high quality Kenyan Focussed Equity research.


Equity Analyst – Associate/VP Level

- Working as an analyst within the team covering Nigerian Equities. Significant client contact.


Senior Macro Economist (2ND Position available for an associate/VP level Economist)

In order to be considered for the role you must be able to demonstrate:-

- Experience working as and Economist- Economic researcher

- Experience building/updating a Sub-Saharan Africa economic database

- Publishing on the economic and political landscape of Sub-Saharan African countries with a particular focus on Kenya (publication and marketing of economic, rates, FX or Equities research product)

- Successfully developed a model of the Kenyan economy which is used to forecast economic variables

- Provided Treasury/management with economic information and forecasts.

- Applicants who are Native Kenyan and have an interest in returning and have worked as an Economist but have not covered the African Market, will be considered if you show a keen interest in the region and can demonstrate that you have monitored the region.




The team look forward to hearing if these roles are relevant to yourself. Again all applications/Queries please direct to Strategy@selbyjennings.com and not myself as there are various recruiters concentrating on these roles.



I would also like to thank you in advance should you be able to forward this to anyone who may be suitable for the role and interested in speaking to us.







Regards



Natalie Basiratpour



Selby Jennings Limited

London
4 Carlton Gardens,
London

+44(207)0194100
+971(0)42149693
+1 (212) 231 8223
+ (852) 2159 9199

Happy New Year

What? Y'all didn't know i'm Chinese?...Lol!

Anyway, shout out to everyone who came by to check up on me. 'Preciate it...

Hopefully, I will begin full blogging service very soon....Hopefully.

God bless
XOXO

Freaky Stalker Update...

He's getting married (...and no, it's not to me!)


See initial post here

Come into the Light

My last post was actually a reflection on my mood at the time of posting.

CODE BLACK

A Fox Might Bite My Bottom

It's not really a laughing matter, especially given that i am studying towards becoming a Psychotherapist and now have and even greater appreciation of the effect of fears and anxieties on human beings as entities, but i came across this article and found Charlie, 5's entry particularly sweet and endearing.

What children really fear

Elsie, 3 “I get scared when someone says they don't want to be my friend and they don't want to play with me any more.”

Charlie, 5 “In the daytime foxes have gone to bed but when they come out at night, a fox could bite my bottom.”

Millie, 5 “I am a bit scared of carrots. I used to be scared of pear but now I know it is nice.”

Maddie, 6 “I always tuck the duvet under my legs when I go to sleep because I don't want snakes to eat my feet. When I was little the snakes got in and ate my feet.”

Jess, 6 “In the night, when everyone's asleep, I can hear footsteps going up the stairs and I feel scared. I think there's kind of a monster creeping up the stairs.”

Josh, 8 “It's scary to think of the pollution destroying all the rainforest so the animals haven't got anything to eat and then the plants will die and the human race will die.”

Nye, 9 “I don't like burglars. When there's a loud noise upstairs I always think that there's a burglar breaking in.”

Ira, 10 “I'm scared of hookworms and tapeworms. I hate the thought of having one in my body because they worm their way into you and live inside you.”

Tula, 11 “I worry about all the people in Africa dying and I feel I should be doing something about it. I also worry about my house setting on fire.”

Lemar, 12 “I want to drive a car when I'm older, so I worry about petrol prices and more people driving electric cars which are really dangerous and will cause road deaths because people won't hear them.”

Amy, 13 “It scares me thinking that one day I might get so old that I lose my sense of humour and no one wants to be friends with me because I'm no fun.”


See the link below for the rest of the article.

Childrens fears may be fuelled by parents - Times Online