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The Crazy Horse dancers on strike

The Crazy Horse dancers déhabilleront did not tonight. According to RTL, the famous cabaret troupe voted to strike Monday almost unanimously, in the hope of getting a raise. The management has so far "refused or rejected" any negotiation, the performances Tuesday night and tonight were canceled.

The dancers however, were present Tuesday at the Crazy Horse, near the Champs Elysees, to explain their movement. One of them, Suzanne, told RTL micro "be paid at a rate more than deplorable," which does not take into account the constraints imposed by the cabaret. "We are asked to work 24 days a month. The Crazy Horse is not any cabaret. This is an exceptional place where the show is completely naked payday loans for bad credit. These features are not included in our earnings. "

The Crazy Horse dancers indeed work six days a week and take the stage twice a night, not counting repetitions. A meeting is planned with unions in the day. If social conflicts are rare in this area, Lido dancers had also expressed wage demands in 2003. They complained, according to Liberation, paid less than men and work in difficult conditions.

In a recent documentary, "Crazy Horse", the American filmmaker Frederick Wiseman revealed behind the scenes, sometimes less glamorous, the famous Parisian cabaret. Here's an excerpt:

Crazy Horse

Pepsi resurrects Michael Jackson

One of the first stars to have turned in an advertisement for PepsiCo was James Dean. It was in 1950.

Since, there are many who have lent their brand image, including Michael Jackson in the 1980s. Following an agreement between the managers of agribusiness etles image of the former king of pop, this will again be the case in 2012 faxless cash advances.

The limited edition Pepsi cans bearing the likeness of Michael Jackson. Photo credits: Uncredited / AP

Organize elections costs 1 euro per voter

The time is in final preparation for town hall in France, before the presidential election. For the latter, the bill for the organization of these exceptional weekend will be more or less salty. According to the Association of Mayors of France, you need a budget of around 15,000 euros per day to vote for an average city of 20,000 inhabitants. "This represents about 1 per registered voter," said Philip Lawrence, vice president of the Association and Mayor of Sceaux (Hauts de Seine).

According to the latter, the bulk of this budget is absorbed by personnel costs unusually mobilized for the weekend of presidential and legislative elections. "On Saturday, the day before voting, employees adjust any polls that are often located in public buildings or classrooms. The number of desktop depends on the number of registered voters, knowing that it takes no more than 1000 voters for an office. In a city like seals, so they are 14 offices that are developed, "says the mayor of this town of Hauts-de-Seine. "Then the Sunday vote, you have two people permanently. That's two teams of two for a 12-hour day, which must be added the support staff to ensure that everything goes well. " At Sceaux, there are 100 municipal employees who will be on duty for each day of voting.

For them, the days are long lasting and beyond counting. But allow them to receive a specific payment. "This is the most expensive for the town hall. There are many volunteers in the office but their role is only to monitor, register voters, get them signed. Requires municipal employees on site, such certificates to those who do not have their voter registration card, "said Philip Lawrence.

The presidential ballots be borne by the State

These are not purchasing urns or damaged booths that make invoice salt. These are purchased from private companies such as Form XL, the leading provider of French municipalities. Meuse in this business, it takes 94 to 327 euros for a traditional ballot box and 213 to 425 euros for one to three polling booths in places. "These expenditures, investment in the budget of the city, are negligible and are amortized from one election to another," says Philip Lawrence.

So what is the state to relieve the town halls? The latter is involved in all these costs up to 2,500 euros, according to AMF. Prefectures establish "cost of assembly, composed of a fixed amount per polling station and an amount based on the number of voters," says one to the Ministry of Interior. The envelope stuffing and mailing of election propaganda (posters, leaflets, creed and ballots) to voters is the responsibility of prefectures which in turn mobilize staff or rely on outside providers.

The State shall also be responsible for printing and mailing of ballots to municipalities for president, according to the memento sent to candidates by the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs. For legislative candidates and print their ballots may be reimbursed for these expenses if they obtain at least 5% of the votes cast in the first round. But the rules are strict: the paper used must contain at least 50% recycled or benefit "of an international certification for sustainable forest management." According to the Senate, the total estimated cost of the presidential election for the state and is estimated at 217.3 million euros. That of the general elections is estimated at 122.3 million euros this year.

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Poker legend behind the "Whale of London"

Cemented over the Internet and social networks, legends are built today at full speed. Especially in the "global village" of finance. Demonstrated experience in recent days by crossing Iksil Bruno, senior trader but anonymous until last Friday the bank JP Morgan in London.

The man remains discreet, understandably. Within days, he became the "whale of London", or "the Thames", or "white" – we do not know too much – or Voldemort, the terrible witch of the Harry Potter … The number of nicknames given to it becomes suspect. The story is told that then took a dramatic turn when it was revealed that the banker in question was French, a fact which would be enough to make a "trader crazy," Kerviel in a power nap.

This trader is part of the Chief Investment Office of JP Morgan in London. Mission: to cover the global credit risk of the bank. A bank, remember, which is one of the first in the world with some 2.3 trillion dollars in assets, including nearly 1 trillion of bank loans or bond companies.

Cover such a balance, that is to say smooth risk, entails putting a lot of money in the balance. And that's what the CIO of JP Morgan in London: its positions would reach $ 350 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. A figure which should not be misunderstood. Within this volume, the positions that bet on the rise of a particular index are largely offset by positions that bet on a decline, leaving the final few tens of millions of dollars, still in danger Loss … or possibility of gain.

An aberration of market

Why the activity of this team of JP Morgan is she suddenly appeared in full light? Bruno Iksil would take very large positions on a particular index, a derivative that replicates the behavior of CDS (credit default swaps) of some 121 companies. Such large positions that its movements can only move the value of this product, regardless of the price of 121 CDSs that compose it. A market aberration which obviously was not without consequences on some hedge funds, put in losses by the orders of the influential CIO JP Morgan. It is in this context it seems that some seem to have wanted to settle accounts in the press intermediary.

Behind "the matter of the whale in London," we therefore call one of those pretty poker games including financial traders have the secret. JP Morgan, who has not the reputation of being a bank-casino chooses to treat it with discretion. She is content to know that the activities of its London office are intended to cover its loan portfolio, and that the positions taken are knowingly.

The story may therefore be short-lived. Even if it raises real questions about the functioning of finance today. The first key of course the lack of market transparency of derivatives products, and in particular credit derivatives, whose gross volume reached tens of billions of dollars worldwide. The second, current, examines the nature of transactions. When these volumes are involved, is it still just hedging strategy or can we not think that JP Morgan also plays some of his capital? Soon, this question is no longer just theoretical: under Volcker rule that will apply to U.S. banks that collect deposits, such as JP Morgan, will no longer have the right to make the proprietary trading .

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The soil will benefit from the wave "Made in France"

Regional producers of France chasing European labels. On 20 March the European Commission awarded the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in sea salt. "This is great news that we have awaited for a long time," says Gregory Pitard, president of the Association for the promotion of artisanal salt (Aprosela). To date, 191 French products – and some 375 wines – benefit from a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) or PGI, a total of 1092 products. And forty cases are still awaiting a decision from Brussels, whose Livarot, mussels from Bouchut, Camembert de Normandie, chestnuts from Ardèche, rillettes of Tours or the Montbéliard sausage. "Producers voluntarily impose new constraints in their manufacturing process to protect their knowledge against usurpation and imitation," says the National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO).

European labels have not only a protective role. "Over time, the IGP is a business advantage," said the president of the Aprosela. In fact, 42.3% of French people think that promoting products "Made in France" should be a priority in the presidential campaign, according to a study site Testntrust. "The geographic origin of a product is an important choice for consumers, although it is difficult to measure its impact," says Jean-Louis Benassi, director of the inter Unicid ciders. A view shared by Alexis Martinod Savoîcime director, representing the Tomme de Savoie. "Achieving the required level of quality has a cost that justifies the eyes of our customers, a sales price sometimes better than others," said he. For the INAO, "buying a local product is often a militant act because, in the spirit of the French, it provides a livelihood for local channels, or even a region where the context is sometimes difficult, as the Lozere or the Ardeche. "

Europe also protects Chinese garlic …

With these labels, producers sometimes enjoy support from the regions or departments to complete their development projects. Chain of Tomme de Savoie, for example, spends an annual budget of 25,000 euros to research. Regional producers can expand their markets. "Our products are particularly relevant to retailers," says Franck Pernot du Breuil, president of the inter Fraise du Périgord. In recent years, retailers have expanded their range by playing the card of the soil. Like with its Carrefour brand Reflets de France, or E. Leclerc Our Regions of Talent.

"Retailers often do not put forward our signature Fraise du Périgord because they want to promote their own brands," says Franck however Pernot du Breuil. "As a result, consumers may not know these labels and the qualitative approach they impose on our business." The boost from the European Union can also lead to unexpected setbacks. Last October, Brussels has angered producers of French, Italian and Spanish by registering as a PGI Chinese garlic Jinxiang Da Suan, facilitating the coup its import and marketing in Europe. Meanwhile, in France, smoked garlic Arleux still waiting for the distinction.

Quality labels and home: how to find

In France, nearly one in two farmers engaged in an official sign identifying the quality and origin. In 2010, these signs represented a turnover of 19 billion euros in the first market, according to INAO, which recalls the specifics of these signs guaranteed and recognized by the State: …… ..

• The designation of origin (AOC) means a product including all stages of manufacturing (production, processing and preparation) are made according to know-how in the same geographical area. For example, the St. Nectarios can not be manufactured in only part of the Auvergne from milk from the area.

• The designation of origin (PDO) is the European equivalent of the AOC. The name of a product is protected throughout the EU. Products that have earned this distinction, there is Chablis, Roquefort, Brie de Meaux, olive oil from Corsica or Bresse chicken.

• The Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) is a product whose characteristics are related to the geographic location at which occurs at least its production or processing according to well defined conditions. The ravioli of Dauphine, the Camargue rice and Bayonne ham are among the 107 products that have obtained the PGI in France.

• The traditional specialty guaranteed (TSG) is a European label that protects a traditional recipe. To date, no French product holds this sign, which was however awarded Serrano ham or Gueuze beer. The farmed mussels and Emmental filed an application with the European Commission in 2006 and 2011.

• The Red Label is a sign that French refers to products with higher quality compared to other similar products, thanks to their conditions of production or manufacture. This is awarded to agricultural and food products such as smoked salmon, chicken, cheese or sausage.

• Organic farming (AB) production method ensures environmentally and animal welfare. The rules regulating the organic production method are the same throughout Europe, and imported products are subject to the same requirements.  

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Jack Daniel's looking for acquisitions

The owner of Jack Daniel's is in better shape than ever. Not only are sales of Tennessee whiskey, the fifth alcohol brand in the world after Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Bacardi and Absolut, are distributed in the U.S., but exports and accelerate the sales of other brands of Brown-Forman, whose Finlandia premium vodka and tequila El Jimador, is still growing as fast.

In total, the U.S. group Brown-Forman is getting ready to buckle on April 30 its 2011-2012 fiscal year with sales up 4% on a comparable basis compared to last year, when they reached 3.4 billion dollars. Operating profit is expected to jump by 8% (855 million last year). "In this sector, where the top ten players realize only 25% of the world, the race for size is not necessarily the best strategy, says Le Figaro Paul Varga, his boss. With margins generated by the sale of spirits, medium-sized groups can succeed. "Listed on Wall Street, the group founded in 1870, whose heirs hold 175 two-thirds of the voting rights, is somehow anti -Pernod Ricard. The French, whose objective is to steal the place of Diageo spirits market, multiplies decade mega-acquisitions: Seagram, Allied Domecq, Absolut. He expects to have reduced its debt to pursue the quest for external growth.

A group without debts

The U.S., he does not caress such dreams of grandeur, seeming satisfied with his seventh place in the world rankings, just ahead of the Italian Campari. Its leaders and family shareholders are vigilant, however. They not only take care not to fall prey, but they remain on the lookout for acquisition opportunities all medium.

This is the group's strategy since Prohibition. From 1920 to 1933, Brown-Forman was one of four U.S. companies authorized to produce alcohol for medical use. He took the opportunity to redeem distilleries … Virtually no debt, it now has a debt capacity estimated at 4 billion. "We will add more vodka brands to expand our portfolio, especially in entry and mid-range," said Paul Varga. The skipper, who wishes to expand in Central and Eastern Europe in this segment precludes a "no comment" to questions about his possible interest in Sobieski vodka for sale by the Franco-Polish Belvedere ( Marie Brizard, William Peel cash advance loan…).

France, emerging country

Brown-Forman, confident in the potential of the worldwide whiskey category, is also interested in acquisitions of brands of scotch whiskey and irish, based on barley, while Kentucky bourbons and Tennessee whiskeys are composed of 51% corn.

He finally target acquisitions enabling it to accelerate the internationalization of its flagship brand Jack Daniel's. Redemptions of Finlandia (2000) and El Jimador (2007) enabled him to acquire distributors in Central and South America. The group now has distribution subsidiaries in ten countries. What less dependent on its partnerships with competitors where it does not have the critical size. In most cases, as in France, he confided to the marketing of its Bacardi bottles. Then he realized in 2001 over three quarters of its sales in the U.S., this market last year represented only 45% of its turnover.

Outside the U.S., Brown-Forman does not fight on the same land as Diageo and Pernod Ricard. "Our emerging markets are different from those of our European competitors, says Mark McCallum, commercial director of the group. We continue to build on the country they regard as mature, with the aim to gain market share in France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine. "However, China and Brazil, the group sets objectives in the medium and long term. "To impose on the Chinese market today is expensive. And the risk of counterfeiting is high. As Diageo and Pernod Ricard are not fighting, we prefer to go elsewhere, "said Paul Varga, who nevertheless seeks to buy a brand of Baiju, the more alcohol sold in the country

.

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Greece: Europe completes a historical

After twelve hours of marathon, the countries of the euro in the early morning concluded their negotiations on a solid support in Athens, to save him once again the bankruptcy. Assistance, debt forgiveness and contributions combined, Greece will have cost twenty months more than 350 billion euros to the EU, banks and international institutions. As much as the debt that the country continues to grow as Sisyphus his rock.

EU assistance in the night discussed by finance ministers, an amount of at least 130 billion euros, displayed more modest ambitions than the first 110 billion plan presented in May 2010 as a panacea. The 2012 version covers the next eight years, but eventually it no longer guarantees for certain relief initially hoped the debt burden (120% of GDP in 2020). It does not fill a growing distrust between Greece, is said bled dry, and creditors like Germany believe that it can never do enough.

In the calendar, the distress of Athens as important as the progress of complex financial dealings with governments, private banks, the IMF and the ECB. Under penalty of default, the government should realize Papademos an agreement with its creditors before March 20, deadline by which 14.5 billion of government bonds mature. "We must conclude today, because time is running out," said the president of the Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Juncker.

Continuous monitoring of the accounts of Athens

Faced with the enormity of the amounts, the sense of urgency was far from being shared across the currency area. North, capitals such as Berlin, The Hague and Helsinki took advantage of last hours to demand concessions maximum of Athens by suggesting, as the German Wolfgang Schäuble, a Greek bankruptcy would be manageable after all. To the south, others were alarmed instead of a possible contagion of bankruptcies in Portugal, Spain and even Italy, in the midst of a European recession saving account payday loan.

In the early hours of the morning, the agreement was tied on two parallel negotiations in Brussels. First erase the unprecedented 107-billion of private debt, accepted in principle by the banks but stumbled on an extra effort required by the euro area. "It's done and we have a good agreement," confided to 4:30 French banker Jean Lemierre at Figaro. Then a bailout of at least 130 billion euros financed by creditors themselves. It is this second part, agreed by governments, the IMF, the ECB and other central banks of the euro which validated the entire plan.

To reassure investors, and despite the anger of the street, the government is preparing to slash Papademos 3.3 billion more in its budget deficits through the envelopes of health insurance, minimum wage and defense . He also accepted a permanent monitoring of the EU and the IMF on its accounts. "The Greek people have made considerable efforts, it is now for others to do the same," let go a Christine Lagarde yet mindful of the IMF funds.

Politically, Athens refuses any loud and European tutelage and just show the vitriolic exchanges with Berlin. But in practice, Greece has made a surrender of sovereignty unique setting up a budget account blocked, intended to guarantee the repayment of debt and interest payments. The mechanism, suggested as a sign of confidence by Berlin and Paris, is to serve the foreign creditors before committing a penny of national public expenditure. Athens won an unmatched support after the night, but it will probably remain the Greeks the bitter taste of a potion imposed from outside

.

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The Council of State suspended the execution of the decree of September 29 on the sale prices of natural gas, the institution announced on Monday. Gas prices are definitely a real headache for the government. Enact increases in the order of 4 or 5% per quarter is difficult to six months of a presidential election, particularly in times of crisis. So the government there decided by a ministerial decree of 29 September, to freeze the rates for individuals instant credit report. This price stability followed that decided on July 1.

"The Minister of Energy is preparing a new tariff order to be consistent with the decision of the State Council," responded late Monday afternoon, the firm Eric Besson said in a statement.For their part, competitors (Poweo, Direct Energy, Altergaz, Gaz de Paris) grouped in the association had also applied to the anode highest administrative court, in proceedings for interim relief.

Fnac goes hand in telephony. In this sector, the specialist distributor has a market share below 1% with only 80,000 packages sold last year. Marketing offers from most mobile operators, Fnac had to manage a complex set of over 1200 different packages!

As a result, the company decided last June to associate with a single operator, SFR, for the management of its telecom corners. Last night, Alexandre Bompard, CEO of Fnac and Frank Esser, CEO of SFR, inaugurated the new sales concept to the Fnac in Paris CNIT La Défense. This is the first to rock and eventually all the rays of the 80 mobile Fnac become "SFR space." "We hope to sell 200,000 lines via Fnac stores a year," said Frank Esser.

Specifically, the client who wants to buy a mobile Internet subscription, a fixed line, access to fiber optics as well as terminals or incidental to the Fnac will head to the "corner" SFR located within the store. It will be supported by advisers SFR, distributing only offers from this operator. The sales force, merchandising, and information systems of these areas will be managed by SFR. The operator will share the revenue with the Fnac. In return, Fnac provides SFR with prime locations in city centers and suburbs.

SFR 500 vendors

After the first opening in November in the Fnac of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, Portet-sur-Garonne, Herblay, Annemasse and Paris la Défense, five new spaces will be installed in Fnac by Christmas in Velizy II Créteil, Nantes, Bordeaux and Parly II.