He was brash, irreverent he was full of macho, a kind of macho one upmanship.

Islamic fundamentalists reckon that what the rest of us regard as the liberalizing influence of technological progress and globalization is a brash re run of Western colonialism.

Yet Erdoğan, known for his brash style, responded with remarkable equanimity. If he harbored any doubt that the movement sits on troves of embarrassing and possibly far worse intelligence, the bugging revelation must surely have removed it.

And yet, even with these new institutional backstops, the global financial risks of Greece s instability remain profound. It is not hard to imagine Greece s brash new leaders underestimating Germany s intransigence on debt relief or renegotiation of structural reform packages.

Beginning with a gin and tonic just after noon, and ending with a Napoleon brandy at three o clock, lunch prior to the Big Bang was often the most arduous part of a stockbroker s day. That cozy culture ended soon after the thrusting, brash Americans, who worked even over breakfast, hit town.