Ready steady, taste

There are many things more fun in theory than they are in reallife - house-parties, for example, are rarely a carefree drinkingfest for the person paying the mortgage.

But lying overlooked in the 'sounds great / actually a nightmare'spectrum is something that seems far less risky - the dinner party.

What, you might idly wonder while inviting 12 people over for aninformal Thursday night supper, is so difficult about holding adinner party?

Put on a nice frock, mix a couple of sophisticated drinks, set thetable and light the candles and it's all sorted. All you need arenice people and you're away. Except you forgot one rather crucialthing.

The food. …

Edward Morse, Citigroup

(This is not a legal transcript. Bloomberg LP cannot guarantee its accuracy.)

EDWARD MORSE, HEAD OF GLOBAL COMMODITIES RESEARCH, CITIGROUP, TALKS ABOUT OIL AT BLOOMBERG SURVEILLANCE

JUNE 28, 2011

SPEAKERS: TOM KEENE, BLOOMBERG SURVEILLANCE HOST

KEN PREWITT, BLOOMBERG SURVEILLANCE CO-HOST

EDWARD MORSE, HEAD OF GLOBAL COMMODITIES RESEARCH, CITIGROUP

7:04

TOM KEENE, BLOOMBERG SURVEILLANCE HOST: Let's bring in Edward Morse, Credit Suisse on oil and all things - good to have you here, good morning.

EDWARD MORSE, HEAD OF GLOBAL COMMODITIES RESEARCH, CITIGROUP: Except I'm at Citi now.

KEENE: You're at …

Minn. gambling authority questions Obama Web offer

A Minnesota official has asked state authorities to investigate whether a request for money by Barack Obama's presidential campaign constitutes an illegal raffle.

In a letter on the campaign's Web site, campaign manager David Plouffe ties the solicitation to the announcement that Obama will deliver his nomination acceptance speech at Denver's 76,000-seat Invesco Field at Mile High.

"If you make a donation of $5 or more between now and midnight on July 31st, you could be one of 10 supporters chosen to fly to Denver and spend two days and nights at the convention, meet Barack backstage, and watch his acceptance speech in person. Each …

Villagers show off the fruits of their labours

Villagers pruned their blooms and perfected their Victoriasponges for this year's Claverton Show.

Despite the weather, entries were up on last year with a bumpercookery and children's section.

The show, which was first held in 1944, also attracted more than100 visitors, keen to take a look at the local produce.

A range of trophies and certificates was presented for the mostunusually shaped vegetable, tastiest rock cakes and digitalphotography.

Show secretary Mike Simmons said: "Despite the disgustingweather, we managed to put together a lot more than we expected.

"The vegetables were hard-hit but we managed to get by. Peoplehave complained that …

Hairston gets Laski's senior medical ID program

Hairston gets Laski's senior medical ID program

A free medical ID program for Chicagoans over 60 sponsored by City Clerk James J. Laski's office is coming to Ald. Leslie Hairston's (5th) Ward office today to distribute invaluable health information.

The program, created by Laski and supported by Mayor Daley, will be at Hairston's office 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 1900 E. 71st, according to Hairston.

The purpose of the free program for those over 60 is to gather medical data and vital statistics so they can be readily on hand just in case they become hysterical or are in a state of total confusion.

In describing the ID card, Hairston said the front includes …

Wal-Mart ups ante in holiday price matching

NEW YORK (AP) — Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, is announcing a new holiday price-matching strategy that aims to pull in procrastinators early by giving them a big incentive: a guarantee they'll get the lowest prices no matter when they buy during the season.

The Bentonville, Ark., discounter said Monday it will be matching prices on all its products — even after …

UK's RBS selling Pakistan unit to Faysal Bank

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC said Wednesday it has agreed to sell its Pakistan unit to Faysal Bank Ltd. of Karachi for (EURO)41 million ($50.6 million).

An earlier deal to sell the unit to MCB Bank of Pakistan for $87 million fell through in January because it didn't gain regulatory approval.

RBS acquired the unit, now called RBS Pakistan, as part of the takeover of the Dutch bank ABN Amro _ a deal that dragged RBS to the brink of collapse.

RBS, now 84-percent controlled by …