Events

New York Times business columnist James Stewart thinks it through: Unless Britain finds a way to undo its decision to leave the European Union, London’s days as the pre-eminent global financial capital, ranked even ahead of New York, may be numbered. Who might win this high-stakes financial sweepstakes? Here are the criteria most frequently mentioned: English-language facility, which is essential for attracting a global work force; a favorable regulatory environment, especially regarding employment...

This is London: And so is this:

Two more photos from last weekend. This is what I walked around in near Tring on Sunday: down well-marked paths: That, I tell you, is England. Which I hope very much will stay in the United Kingdom.

I visited the Tate Modern on Saturday to see their new building and snapped some photos. Here's the north face with the Millennium Bridge off to the left: A better photo of the west entrance foyer: And one of the staircases in the new building: Later today or tomorrow, a couple photos of my hike in Buckinghamshire.  

Cranky Flier points out that while tourism to the UK is really a great deal right now (as I'd attest), it's going to be a lot more expensive if Brexit actually happens: Today the UK is part of the European Common Aviation Area (CAA). That means that UK-based airlines can fly anywhere within Europe they want, just as if they were based in any of those other European countries. The same goes for European airlines flying within the UK. It also means that bilateral agreements negotiated by the EU with third...

I'm heading home from London having talked to dozens of people about last Thursday's vote. No conclusions yet, or at least none that really challenged my earlier beliefs that the vote itself was a bad idea that went badly. Jeremy Corbyn probably thinks so too at this point. (Link when I'm back on a real computer.) Let's see what Parliament screws up while I'm in the air. At least the exchange rate cushions the blow immediately. Sterling is about £1 = $1.35 today, which changed the economics of the Duty...

Today was pretty full. I took a train to Tring, hiked for two hours, came back to London, and walked around Kensington for a couple more. Now it's 11pm on Sunday night and everything is closed. I won't have all the photos I took yesterday and today ready until I get back to Chicago, but here are a couple. First, the Tate Modern: Second, this guy, who rode in my train carriage on the way back from Tring: These are just from my phone. I did lug my real camera all over the hills of Buckinghamshire today...

Right around the corner from where I'm staying I found this:I don't believe I need to eat anything else today.  

A couple of things happened in the 10 hours since I got on a plane today: American stock markets fell a lot; Lucas told Chicago he's not building his museum here; and The pound has fallen to its lowest level since 1985. Only two of these are a result of Thursday's Brexit vote. But all three of these affect me. OK, I'm going to go find some curry.

It's 6:30 am in the UK, and the results are mostly in. The United Kingdom has apparently voted to secede from the European Union. That makes David Cameron about the unluckiest person ever to head Her Majesty's Government. Cameron pushed the "Brexit" vote on the understanding that it wouldn't pass. How'd that work out? In literary terms, the apotheosis of Nigel Farage is the dramatic climax in the story of the United Kingdom. David Cameron mooting the referendum was the technical climax. The denouement?...