What with this beautiful warm weather and the disappearance of the kitten's favorite ball (it's not behind or underneath any of the furniture I can think of), I skimped on the online research this afternoon. Luckily, tonight's guests are such that I think I can get away with it.
Jon's guest is Christine Lagarde, France's Minister of Money (erm, Finance), the first woman to hold that position in a G8 country. She's been in assorted positions in the Forbes list of the 100 most powerful women over the past few years. And she's really got the spin down:
Q: We're not hearing about sacrifices people will have to make.
A: Rather than "sacrifice," which has this terribly negative connotation, I like the word "effort."
She's in the US doing assorted meetings, including today's "Global Financial Forum" in NY:
Please join the Foreign Policy Association, British American Business, Chatham House and Media Partner: The Wall Street Journal for a Global Financial Forum titled "The Financial Crisis: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead," on April 27, 2009. The event brings together leading policymakers, regulators and financiers to discuss the future of the financial services industry, and the measures needed to avoid future crises.
The forum features an unprecedented array of keynote speeches from: {7 people}
Yes, seven "keynote" speeches. Although the agenda says something else:
9:00 am
Opening keynote address
Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economy, Finance and Employment, France...
12:30 pm
Luncheon Keynote Address at New York Federal Reserve
Jean-Claude Trichet, President, European Central Bank
Moderator:
Robert Thomson, Editor-in-Chief, Dow Jones
and Managing Editor, The Wall Street Journal...
4:00 pm
Closing Keynote Address Timothy Geithner (invited)
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
So, 3 "keynote" speeches. I had thought that "Keynote" meant something like this:
A keynote in literature, music or public speaking is the principal underlying theme. In corporate or commercial settings, greater importance is attached to the delivery of a keynote speech or keynote address. The keynote will lay down the framework for the following programme of events or convention agenda; frequently the role of keynote speaker will also include the role of convention moderator. It will also flag up a larger idea — a literary story, an individual musical piece or event.
At political or industrial conventions and expositions and at academic conferences, the keynote address or keynote speech is delivered to set the underlying tone and summarize the core message or most important revelation of the event....
So maybe in this case "keynote" means "this Important Person wouldn't possibly appear at a conference for any lesser purpose."
Anyway, so she stopped by to chat with Jon about whatever. The entire Daily Show site blurb is above the fold. |