http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNJ1qTmWHHI
George Weber was a good decent person, who easily became a fabric of news radio and thus NYC. He was without pretense, having a few brews with the gang at the Blarney Stone after work, not a place to go if you claim to have "airs" about you.
He was also most likely a homosexual, given the circumstances surrounding his death; a murder by someone he knew in his apartment late at night. He lived on Henry Street, which is Brooklyn's version of Greenwich Village.
That’s all irrelevant because what will remain is that he was a good and decent person, not his sexual preference, or the fact that he came to a demise that no one deserves, and no one, no matter whom they are, are immune. He was the kind of person that made you think of what it was like to be a New Yorker, and what a gift it is to live in NY - nothing else. He was a normal gentleman, the kind one would have to be told of his sexual proclivity because that was not how he was defined. He was a regular guy.
Of course we all want the same thing from life, most importantly - to love and be loved. Unfortunately in the depths of our despair or loneliness, we are vulnerable to people who prey on such desires. George probably hoisted a few with the boys after work Friday night, shared a few laughs and headed home to Brooklyn, and apparently later that night met up with the wrong person.
It does give us pause to know that a moments bad decision can lead to our demise, but no one - no one - should pay with their life because they opened up their heart prematurely.
And no one can steal what this man, George Weber, meant to so many New Yorkers. That he was a good and decent man who loved New York and New Yorkers loved him in kind.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Welcome to the Business World, Jake DeSantis!
Welcome to the Business World, Jake DeSantis!
Upon reading A.I.G.’s Jake DeSantis’ resignation letter one is almost moved to feel sympathy for a man who felt “duped” by company management, and anger towards a firm that did not fulfill its “commitment.”
As sympathy fades, one focuses on the fatal flaws with Mr. DeSantis’ logic, along with his isolation from a corporate world most of us live. Yes, Mr. DeSantis worked for a portion of A.I.G. that was profitable, but management views the whole in financial terms, not fragmented or decompartmentalized parts. This is why it is important for employees to consider themselves part of the whole, and concerned if a segment of their company is not performing well. As the saying goes, “we are as strong as our weakest link.”
In short, an employee is an agent of the entire company, and much like King Solomon’s test, cannot be cut in half. In dire situations, a company files bankruptcy not on a segment of their firm, but on the company as whole. As an executive Vice President, Mr. DeSantis should know he worked not for A.I.G. Northeast, or A.I.G. Southwest, but A.I.G. period; one Federal Tax ID number, one company.
It is understandable Mr. DeSantis’ pride is irked, but perhaps a few months’ reflection will set in on where he made his errors. First, being that he was able to work for $1.00 a year, unlike 98% of America, means he was well compensated in years past and has the luxury to be part of an ivory tower culture of waiting for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Has he any gratitude for A.I.G.’s past compensation, or is it all about “what have you done for me lately?” The fact Jake is in a position to “give back” his “bonus” attests to A.I.G.’s past benevolence.
As for A.I.G.’s “lying,” welcome to corporate America, the kind us working class have experienced for many years. However, in this age of enlightenment and spirituality, this could be construed as A.I.G. engaging in the power of positive thinking; management gave a rosy scenario because negative ones insure failure. Perhaps they felt past year’s extravagant remuneration deserved a level of loyalty, if not pay back?
If there is a lesson for DeSantis, he will learn, in financial terms, to reduce his exposure by joining us mere mortals, accepting a salary each and every week, forgoing the variability of a pay out in the end. Join workers who experience rainbows in black and white, if we enjoy them at all. As the clichés goes, “a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush.” Mr. DeSantis wants the best of both worlds: paid like an Executive, but when things go wrong, employing the rules of the working class?
However the most affronting assertion in Mr. Desantis’ resignation rant where he loses any popular support is he was due a “bonus” from a firm that was bankrupt; in short, he wanted his bonus to come from OPM; other people’s money, an ethic strongly adopted and utilized by the Wall Street elite (the reason we are where we are). This smacks of sheer arrogance bolstered by outright naiveté, and blind ego.
Or is this a measure of Jake’s one way commitment, and part of his lie?
David DiBello
Upon reading A.I.G.’s Jake DeSantis’ resignation letter one is almost moved to feel sympathy for a man who felt “duped” by company management, and anger towards a firm that did not fulfill its “commitment.”
As sympathy fades, one focuses on the fatal flaws with Mr. DeSantis’ logic, along with his isolation from a corporate world most of us live. Yes, Mr. DeSantis worked for a portion of A.I.G. that was profitable, but management views the whole in financial terms, not fragmented or decompartmentalized parts. This is why it is important for employees to consider themselves part of the whole, and concerned if a segment of their company is not performing well. As the saying goes, “we are as strong as our weakest link.”
In short, an employee is an agent of the entire company, and much like King Solomon’s test, cannot be cut in half. In dire situations, a company files bankruptcy not on a segment of their firm, but on the company as whole. As an executive Vice President, Mr. DeSantis should know he worked not for A.I.G. Northeast, or A.I.G. Southwest, but A.I.G. period; one Federal Tax ID number, one company.
It is understandable Mr. DeSantis’ pride is irked, but perhaps a few months’ reflection will set in on where he made his errors. First, being that he was able to work for $1.00 a year, unlike 98% of America, means he was well compensated in years past and has the luxury to be part of an ivory tower culture of waiting for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Has he any gratitude for A.I.G.’s past compensation, or is it all about “what have you done for me lately?” The fact Jake is in a position to “give back” his “bonus” attests to A.I.G.’s past benevolence.
As for A.I.G.’s “lying,” welcome to corporate America, the kind us working class have experienced for many years. However, in this age of enlightenment and spirituality, this could be construed as A.I.G. engaging in the power of positive thinking; management gave a rosy scenario because negative ones insure failure. Perhaps they felt past year’s extravagant remuneration deserved a level of loyalty, if not pay back?
If there is a lesson for DeSantis, he will learn, in financial terms, to reduce his exposure by joining us mere mortals, accepting a salary each and every week, forgoing the variability of a pay out in the end. Join workers who experience rainbows in black and white, if we enjoy them at all. As the clichés goes, “a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush.” Mr. DeSantis wants the best of both worlds: paid like an Executive, but when things go wrong, employing the rules of the working class?
However the most affronting assertion in Mr. Desantis’ resignation rant where he loses any popular support is he was due a “bonus” from a firm that was bankrupt; in short, he wanted his bonus to come from OPM; other people’s money, an ethic strongly adopted and utilized by the Wall Street elite (the reason we are where we are). This smacks of sheer arrogance bolstered by outright naiveté, and blind ego.
Or is this a measure of Jake’s one way commitment, and part of his lie?
David DiBello
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
U.S., We have a Crisis!
How dare our new President tell the American public we are in a crisis? Doesn’t he know that the best tool any salesperson possesses is the power of positive thinking, to always look at the glass as half full and to put a positive outlook i.e. spin, on anything being sold?
Do capitalists and Wall Street, stuck in their Ivory Tower, think Americans don’t know things are bad, even after the layoffs, stagnating wages, crumbling home values and reeling stock portfolios. Has President Obama just shocked us like some naïve spouse who unveils the evidence of her/his cheating mate?
Haven’t we endured enough in 2008 of Wall Street analysts seeing through rose colored glasses telling us time and again that rebound is around the corner and we have just bottomed out, or that the fall is bound to pick up any day? Are we to listen to the Larry Kudlow’s of the world telling us not to panic on the “stimulating news” commodities haven’t fallen as much as in the past as reason to rejoice?
Perhaps we should adhere to the mind numbing positive self talk theory that’s allows us to walk around believing everything is wonderful because we want it to be so as we sit down for another dinner of Styrofoam we envision as filet mignon.
Here’s an idea: acknowledge the truth and identify the problem. Only then can we know what needs to be corrected and work on the solution.
However after eight years of a supply side economy that doubled the federal debt, outsourced American jobs for more favorable returns, and favored one class while forgetting about the rest, Republicans and Capitalist rather one didn’t look to hard at the root cause of the problem, choosing to continue playing upon the magical belief of keeping a stiff upper chin.
They want to stay the course and not upset the applecart that has benefited them, rather than facing the reality of what will need to be done – raising taxes, wage equity and treating Americans as if we are all created equal, one nation under God.
We’ve had enough of that; sometimes the fat lady has to stop singing and look in the mirror.
Do capitalists and Wall Street, stuck in their Ivory Tower, think Americans don’t know things are bad, even after the layoffs, stagnating wages, crumbling home values and reeling stock portfolios. Has President Obama just shocked us like some naïve spouse who unveils the evidence of her/his cheating mate?
Haven’t we endured enough in 2008 of Wall Street analysts seeing through rose colored glasses telling us time and again that rebound is around the corner and we have just bottomed out, or that the fall is bound to pick up any day? Are we to listen to the Larry Kudlow’s of the world telling us not to panic on the “stimulating news” commodities haven’t fallen as much as in the past as reason to rejoice?
Perhaps we should adhere to the mind numbing positive self talk theory that’s allows us to walk around believing everything is wonderful because we want it to be so as we sit down for another dinner of Styrofoam we envision as filet mignon.
Here’s an idea: acknowledge the truth and identify the problem. Only then can we know what needs to be corrected and work on the solution.
However after eight years of a supply side economy that doubled the federal debt, outsourced American jobs for more favorable returns, and favored one class while forgetting about the rest, Republicans and Capitalist rather one didn’t look to hard at the root cause of the problem, choosing to continue playing upon the magical belief of keeping a stiff upper chin.
They want to stay the course and not upset the applecart that has benefited them, rather than facing the reality of what will need to be done – raising taxes, wage equity and treating Americans as if we are all created equal, one nation under God.
We’ve had enough of that; sometimes the fat lady has to stop singing and look in the mirror.
Santelli Polls Den of Thieves
It was pathetically hysterical to watch Rick Santelli poll the floor of the Stock Exchange, home of all those "year end" bonuses, creators of derivative shenanigans and ironically beneficiaries of government bailout of the industries with which they trade.
Perhaps Mr Santelli would be more convincing had he walked down Main Street and polled those people. The only point made by Santelli's impromptu unscientific poll is the division in economic classes in our country, and how what is good for the goose ain't necessarily good for others in Wall Street's Ivory Tower.
Perhaps Mr Santelli would be more convincing had he walked down Main Street and polled those people. The only point made by Santelli's impromptu unscientific poll is the division in economic classes in our country, and how what is good for the goose ain't necessarily good for others in Wall Street's Ivory Tower.
Bravo Bernie!
I am delighted with the Madoff case and have absoultely no sympathy for people who invested with this man because their greed clouded their judgment to put all their eggs in one basket.
Never did they question why they were getting 10% dividend and interest income when everyone else in America received less than 5%. This is a saga of the "have's" thinking they know better, are smarter and have better connections because they are above us all.
As the old saying goes, "birds of a feather flock together," and "like kinds attract." Bernie Madoff was the perfect medicine to people who thought they were better than the rest.
HE KNEW HE COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM BECAUSE HE COULD PLAY UPON THEIR GREED, A PREREQUISITE FOR ANY CON ARTIST.
May they stew in it, and may Bernie get pardoned, because in factual situations murder and rape are far worse crimes, but in this capitalistic society we are indoctrinated to think other wise. Tell that to someone who lost a loved one recently, or from survivors of the holocaust who saw their loved ones starve and get slaughtered.
Enjoy the stew; everyone got what they deserved!
Never did they question why they were getting 10% dividend and interest income when everyone else in America received less than 5%. This is a saga of the "have's" thinking they know better, are smarter and have better connections because they are above us all.
As the old saying goes, "birds of a feather flock together," and "like kinds attract." Bernie Madoff was the perfect medicine to people who thought they were better than the rest.
HE KNEW HE COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM BECAUSE HE COULD PLAY UPON THEIR GREED, A PREREQUISITE FOR ANY CON ARTIST.
May they stew in it, and may Bernie get pardoned, because in factual situations murder and rape are far worse crimes, but in this capitalistic society we are indoctrinated to think other wise. Tell that to someone who lost a loved one recently, or from survivors of the holocaust who saw their loved ones starve and get slaughtered.
Enjoy the stew; everyone got what they deserved!
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