peHUB First Read

* Governments may be modeling themselves on Henry Kravis, but it's a fundamentally boneheaded move. * The Blackstone Group has become financial advisor to Ukraine, "highlighting the US private equity group's ambition to become the consultant of choice for countries faced with financial crisis." * Morning call: U.S. futures down, despite a surprisingly strong weekend for retailers, FTSE and other European shares both lower at mid-day, Nikkei weighed down by the yen and Hong Kong rises for 5th straight session. * Rich men are cutting back on payments to mistresses. Gotta love that someone actually surveys this stuff. * Whole Foods turns used canola oil into electricity.