Minter Dial

Raising money (without raising hairs)

by Minter Dial | May 9, 2007 | Business

Got this nice story courtesy of Bill in England. Lewis Cullman - notable NYC and Yale philanthropist - has written a little book about raising money, "Can’t Take It With You. The Art of Making and Giving Money." The story goes along the lines : "Raising money is...

Sarkozy better/mieux for/pour les relations France/USA

by Minter Dial | May 9, 2007 | Politics

Here is the first "thread" for this blog: Will Sarkozy be better or worse for relations between France and the USA (compared to Chirac)? And whom among the 2008 Presidential candidates in the USA will be his best complement? Voici un premier "filon" (pas de reference...

Rip Off Tourist Bus in London

by Minter Dial | May 7, 2007 | Travel

If only a cathartic exercise, we would like to share with you our disappointing family experience on a recent tour with The Original London Sightseeing Bus Tour. 1-/ The buses were dirty. The smell was disgusting, particularly in one bus. 2-/ The buses were packed,...

Lessons from French Elections for USA

by Minter Dial | May 7, 2007 | Politics

Ok, the old news is that UMP candidate Nicolas Sarkozy has won the 2007 French Presidential elections. Argue what you will about the benefit of one or other candidate, the campaign and its results seem to carry several good messages that the American electorate would...

Spending on US political campaigns

by Minter Dial | May 6, 2007 | Politics, Social Media

Until recently, I wasn't aware that US presidential candidates were only allowed to accept $2,300 from a single individual in the primaries and another $2,300 for the presidential campaign. The only exception is the candidate him/herself who is allowed to invest as...

Luxury prisons – rent your cell

by Minter Dial | May 5, 2007 | Travel

I was quite titillated by an IHT article last week (April 30) entitled "For $82 a day, a cozier way to do hard time." This article opened my eyes to the concept of how wealthier prisoners in certain California prisons (ex Santa Ana) are able and allowed to pay a daily...

Blogger as journalist

by Minter Dial | May 4, 2007 |

I have recently found out about the presence of "pro bono" blogger, Matthew Lee, who has been accepted at the United Nations as part of the press corps -- see www.InnerCityPress.com. Lee is part of 200 full-time permanent correspondents at the UN. This brings up the...

Grass versus Clay, Nadal v Federer

by Minter Dial | May 3, 2007 | Sports

The recent battle of the champions' surfaces, featuring Nadal versus Federer on a hybrid court, half grass and half clay, was completely innovative. When I read about the concept, it felt instinctively distinctly weird. The bounce on your side and the movement...

Queen’s Day in Amsterdam

by Minter Dial | May 1, 2007 | Branding, Travel

Queen's Day is a weekend of extravagance in Amsterdam. Concerts, orange shirts, beers and garbage sprawled across the streets. It is a moment of tremendous frivolity, much aided by the glorious sunny weather on this weekend. On this trip, I was spoiled by two...

LIVERPOOL

by Minter Dial | May 1, 2007 | Sports

I have been a supporter of Liverpool FC since 1972... for silly reasons really (my best pal liked 'pool at school). So, here I am in Amsterdam, 35 years later, in my hotel room, just having watched Liverpool win the Champion's League semi-finals against Chelsea via...

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