Jérôme Kerviel is back in the news again… This time because he has been sentenced to five years of prison (with two years suspended), full restitution of the $7.2b which was lost, and a permanent ban from working in financial services. France has always had a soft spot for the lawbreaker, from Jean Valjean in … Continue reading
Category Archives: People
Quote Of The Day: Arthur C. Clarke
This is how The Economist described Arthur C. Clarke: He was not religious, and was no metaphysician; but he wanted and expected men to evolve until they became like gods. Continue reading
Andrew Smith
Interesting article from The Velvet Rocket archives… This was originally published in the Observer in 2002: To people in the peaceful Wiltshire village of Brigmerston, their new neighbour seems like a perfect English gentleman: a tall, wealthy, bespectacled former Army officer. But an investigation has uncovered evidence that behind the doors of a luxury house … Continue reading
Jimi Hendrix Murdered?
My Italian and I recently visited the Handel House Museum in London. The Handel House Museum is the 18th century house where the famous composer George Frideric Handel lived for 36 years until his death in 1759. Later, however, the Handel House was home to another musical legend – the great Jimi Hendrix… In 1968 … Continue reading
1970 Italy: The Borghese Coup
In December 1970 there was an attempt to impose on Italy the ‘authoritarian solution’. It was a strange coup d’état, so subtle and secretive that when it failed many denied, as they still do, that it had even taken place. Prince Junio Valerio Borghese, the architect of the coup, is one of the most controversial … Continue reading
The (Everyday) Life Of Frederick Forsyth
As relayed to Sue Fox for The Velvet Rocket from September 17, 2006: The alarm goes off at 7am and I go down in my dressing gown to let the jack russells out — Stella and her daughter, Shen, which in Chinese means “mystic mountain”. Sandy liked the sound of it. I crush a fresh … Continue reading
Nikola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Tower and Laboratory
If you already know all about Nikola Tesla, or think you do, skip to the next section. Otherwise, read on for a brief course on the life of Nikola Tesla: Nikola Tesla – An Electric Life Nikola Tesla was born during a lightning storm at the stroke of midnight on the 10th of July 1856. … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 