At the International Monetary Fund's headquarters, managing director Christine Lagarde is participating in a BBC World debate on the parlous state of the world economy. Alas, the event began streaming live on the IMF homepage as final preparations for the broadcast were still underway. Lagarde could be heard chatting with former Obama economic advisor Austan Goolsbee about his confirmation hearing (only two senators showed up, he said). Asked by someone to speak for a sound check, Lagarde first counted to five and then could be heard to say, "you're very good looking!" A wisecrack, undoubtedly, but oddly chosen.