or Powell's or me• • •
"Mike and Jon, Jon and Mike—I've known them both for years, and, clearly, one of them is very funny. As for the other: truly one of the great hangers-on of our time."—Steve Bodow, head writer, The Daily Show
•
"Who can really judge what's funny? If humor is a subjective medium, then can there be something that is really and truly hilarious? Me. This book."—Daniel Handler, author, Adverbs, and personal representative of Lemony Snicket
•
"The good news: I thought Our Kampf was consistently hilarious. The bad news: I’m the guy who wrote Monkeybone."—Sam Hamm, screenwriter, Batman, Batman Returns, and Homecoming
October 17, 2010
10,000 Ways for Banks to Say Fuck You
This is buried in a New York Times story about the government's legal settlement with Angelo Mozilo of Countrywide (now owned by Bank of America):
Bank of America is paying Mr. Mozilo’s legal bills. Countrywide is paying $5 million toward Mr. Sambol’s repayment to investors and $20 million of Mr. Mozilo’s reparations.
So for all of 2009 before Bank of America repaid their TARP money, we owned them and were paying for Mozilo's defense. And of course we essentially still own Bank of America in less formal ways, and so continue to get to pay his legal team and part of his settlement. Sweet.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the exact amount Mozilo took home from 2003-8 while he was destroying the world economy was $470,686,861. His legal settlement with the government required him to pay $67.5 million in penalties and reparations to investors. But since Countrywide covered that $20 million, he's only coming up with $47.5 million personally—or just over 10%. Like a bad tip.
—Jonathan Schwarz
Posted at October 17, 2010 08:13 PMWhy did I not think of studying FINANCE instead of deciding to go to medical school ( and do academic medicine )? At least, that would have helped me to count $470,686,861.!!!!!
Posted by: Rupa Shah at October 17, 2010 09:17 PMNew Miranda rights for the wealthy: "You have a right to an attorney. If you can afford the most expensive attorney of your choice, it will cost you
nothing. A portion of any financial penalty you may incur will be paid for as well."
Rupa Shah wonders Why did I not think of studying finance instead of deciding to go to medical school...?
possible reasons include
ambitions inculcated by the parental units from earliest childhood
and/or
a desire to benefit one's fellow potentially sentient beings through win/win transactions, instead of depriving them of resources while increasing one's own (win/lose transactions, a.k.a. parasitism)
Places I currently go for parasitological news and views include nakedcapitalism dot com and counterpunch dot org
Posted by: mistah charley, ph.d. at October 18, 2010 09:27 AM
Potentially sentient...
I like that.
Posted by: JerseyJeffersonian at October 18, 2010 11:12 AMIn contrast to Mr. Mozilo’s $470,686,861, the following data is the other reality. Will the THIRD PARTY change that? In spite of being a very optimistic person, I doubt very much, it will happen in my lifetime.
"Wealth Gap Yawns—and So Do Media:
Little interest in study of massive race/gender disparities"
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=4078
And as far the judicial system is concerned we all know, USA has the highest prison population in the world, majority being the minorities so if Mr. Mozilo has to go to jail, it will be a 5***** jail. Contrast that with the story of Dee Roberts of Melody, Texas ( I watched the movie last night---great movie but shocking, called "American Violet"---you can google it and see the storyline and reviews ). What was shocking was, 90% of cases were settled with plea bargaining when probably in majority of cases no crime was committed.
btw, I was lucky enough not to be indoctrinated by my parents. I was at full liberty to make my choices even at the age of 12!
Posted by: Rupa Shah at October 18, 2010 03:17 PM>I was at full liberty to make my choices even at the age of 12!>I was at full liberty to make my choices even at the age of 12!
Hey, me too! My dad said, "Either you straighten up your act, or I kick your ass."
Posted by: Paul Avery at October 18, 2010 05:48 PMThat's a beautiful post!
Posted by: N E at October 18, 2010 08:12 PMMy dad said, "Either you straighten up your act, or I kick your ass."
I heard this kind of language being used ONLY after I came to this country!
And I hardly watch TV but yesterday I was sent an email about 60 minutes which was going to have a story about Silwan/Jerusalem. So I watched the programme which had a story about HOMELESS veterans.
Should not Mr Mozilo and the likes of him who sent these men and women to war become homeless and his half a billion be used to provide food, shelter and health care for the veterans? Iwas driving in the neighbourhood doing errands today, thinking about last night's progrmme and what struck me was, I did not see ANY car with "Support the Troops" ribbon stickers and NO YELLOW RIBBONS!! We have such short memory!
Rupa Shah: That's how I was raised. Funny thing about wars, just the damnedest crap can happen to a soldier.
Posted by: Mike Meyer at October 19, 2010 02:18 AMPretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
Posted by: medical billing at October 19, 2010 03:49 PM>Funny thing about wars, just the damnedest crap can happen to a soldier.
Just ask Tyrone Slothrop.
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