"madoff" written by Codypomeray on estrip.org

Category: story

03/12/09 11:38 - ID#48038

madoff

I think the fact that Madoff's bail was revoked and that he will be spending the rest of his life in jail is great. The unfortunate thing is that many more are getting away with robbing the American people and driving this country into this current recession.

I was getting new front tires about a month ago when I ended up speaking with the gentleman in the waiting area of Mavis. A few of his good friends had lost all of their savings with Madoff. We started talking about it because it happened to be on the little tv sitting on the table in the corner. The gentleman explained how the friends of his got involved. It happened at an exclusive private country club in Florida. Apparently Madoff had "two guys" who would carefully screen propsective investors who would only be accepted if they were in a certain income bracket. He also explained that there was a "referral" system through other members to Madoffs guys. After all of these "formalities" the prospective investors would begin investing with Madoffs firm.

While listening to this, I was watching the cars being serviced in the garage area through the large glass window. My silver jetta, another guys blue gti, and then this gentleman's jaguar. My mind was spinning trying to imagine the lifestyle one must have had before being swindled by Bernie Madoff. Meanwhile the guy with the jaguar looks at us and says "wow am I happy I didn't get referred by anyone, and I wasn't considered special enough to invest with that firm." He then began to ramble on about how he was leaving for florida in the morning.

It was all kind of bizzare in a way. Everyone has been touched in one way or another by this recession. Some more than others. Nothing profound here, just wanted to share that story

dcoffee writes at 05:45:11 03/13/09 - Comment #46412: amazing how someone can get so rich doing so little, producing nothing of real value. Glad he's been caught and made an example of. Interesting that local folks got swindled too.

codypomeray writes at 11:20:55 03/13/09 - Comment #46394: Joshua I completely agree with you. Better regulations, a less politicized securitied and exchange commision. Oversight needs to be rigid in order to keep this from happeneing again and our country as a whole needs reevaluate its values, and realize that in order to consume, we first have to produce ideas, products that others want to buy. Our country has been living on empty calories and transfats for years. Our public health issue was a parody for our economic health. The american dream is not white pickett fences for everyone with two cars in the drive. It has to be reworked!

joshua writes at 09:26:56 03/13/09 - Comment #46381: Really the scary thing about all this is how it was the elites that primarily got ripped off by Madoff - you know, the supposed smartest of the smart, the most financially savvy Americans? Beyond the startling amount of money that was lost, that should give everybody pause. Madoff was Chairman of Nasdaq for God's sake - how much more credibility does one need? It was the most brilliant con ever perpetrated. I'd put the house on a bet that his kids and family were somehow involved in hiding some of this money, but will never be touched because of the plea deal.

I'm pretty much an intolerant zealot when it comes to defending our market system, but EVERYBODY has to realize that more effective regulation (not more, just a lot better) is needed if we're ever going to prevent this from occurring again.

james writes at 08:59:52 03/13/09 - Comment #46380: I just read Madoff's statement in which he pled guilty and explained how he committed his crimes. It is baffling. He ran a very successful investment firm which dipped a little with the market in the early 90's. So, he just puts all the investment money into a bank account and makes false reports. If someone wants some of their money, he just pulls it from the bank account.

One little market when in the same time the DOW has gone up nearly 400%. That is just some crazy shit.

Permalink: madoff.html
Words: 312
Location: Island Park, NY

Category: travel

03/11/09 11:04 - ID#48017

London Town

I am going to London in May. I don't know if it has really sunk in. It was kind of a impulse decision to be honest. I'm going to be there for my birthday, which I now have mixed feelings about that. I'm in the process of trying to recruit people to go, as it is just me right now. I have friends just outside of London and a goody buddy in Dublin, so I could go to ireland as well. Right now I have to flesh out the details such as hotels, itinerary and anything else. Ill let you all know how things are progressing.

Permalink: London_Town.html
Words: 106
Location: Island Park, NY

03/06/09 07:04 - 50ºF - ID#47971

light reading

Just read an article in the Atlantic Monthly that I wanted to recommend. Its called How the Crash will Reshape America, by Richard Florida. Good article. Buffalo even get some face time, not that flattering, but hey. Its a really interesting article. If you go to the website, its in the magazine section.

Permalink: light_reading.html
Words: 53
Location: Island Park, NY

Category: little pleasures

03/05/09 06:14 - 51ºF - ID#47965

newcastle stories

The outback is very underated for a chain/corporate restaurant. Haha...it could be that I'm biased catching up with one of my good friends who happens to be behind the stick. Swapping stories and the goings on of the past few weeks while I enjoy a Newcastle.

Permalink: newcastle_stories.html
Words: 48
Location: Island Park, NY

Category: lunch time travel

03/05/09 02:02 - 44ºF - ID#47958

voyeur

Usually at lunch there are a few things I do everyday. I guess a routine if you like. I read the Times, Buffalo News and the Newsday. Usually its my second helping of the BN, sometimes when I get in in the morning it seems to be yesterdays news.

By read, I mean I scan to see what interests me and read that. I have to say I prefer the Times, only because of the wide variety of pieces I can dip into. The buffalo news helps me keep up to date with what's going on back at the ranch haha.

Recently however, I have started going on "lunch time vacations" I go to flickr and search a destination, then flip through the vacation memories of others. Its interesting seeing what people snap pics of while on holiday. Of course you get the obligatory shots of monuments, tourist traps, and government buildings. I find the other pics much more interesting. Of course some of them can get quite racy, not that I mind, but its funny how everyone is truly the "same". By that I mean people do the same types of things around the globe. Not that I ever though otherwise, but seeing it "done" in locations all around the world is reassuring I guess.

Traveling abroad during lunch always leaves me with a mix of emotions. It keeps a fire going inside of me that desires nothing more than to pack it in and travel. Working along the way. It reminds me of what else is out there, not that I need that. But it feels like people my age seem to forget what is outside of their world. They have homes and a family and their focus changes. Rightly so, but there is a loss of wonder about the outside.

Well that was quite a rant. May be a bit wild, you'll have to bear with me. Just gettin back into the swing of this. I also have to learn how to load pics from a mobile post!

Permalink: voyeur.html
Words: 341
Location: Island Park, NY

Category: first time

03/04/09 03:56 - 26ºF - ID#47945

First mobile post

So this happens to be my first mobile post. One of the reasons I have not been on here in about a year is my laptop is possessed. Using it it online is pointless, because it does what it wants. I have turned to my work computers for everyday, non restricted use. As I speak I'm at my desk going through files on one computer and watching Manchester United v. Newcastle United on the other.well itsk the second half. Time to get back to the match and do some work!!

Permalink: First_mobile_post.html
Words: 91
Location: Island Park, NY

12/17/07 04:35 - 27ºF - ID#42556

winter

im just glad that noreaster missed us down here, well not technically, but we didn't get the snow you all got. on saturday nite it was cold as an be and sleeting for a while, but then turned to rain last nite, the wind, wow, like a damn freight train roarin down the street

Permalink: winter.html
Words: 54
Location: Island Park, NY

12/13/07 09:31 - 36ºF - ID#42507

lovely aileen

And due to popular demand, a shout out to the lovely aileen of Willie P. Long Island.

we just recently re-met at a toys for tots event that shauna held at the reco room. it was a pretty good turn out from what i hear, i was late of course.

Permalink: lovely_aileen.html
Words: 50
Location: Island Park, NY

05/29/07 11:37 - 66ºF - ID#39447

hiatus?

'alo peeps i have been on hiatus. actually just moved and my comp is not cooperating with my roomates modem. so i am using her comp. it 's a really personal thing, a computer. no it is. anyways. i now live a block from the ocean and it is grand. thank you for the bday wishes LC and Jenks. I always look forward to a random text from ladycroft. it can make an evening. well hopefuly soon i will have my machine up and running and then i will again participate in this awesome community. i hope all is well with everyone. and what is this job you got LC? gnite all

Permalink: hiatus_.html
Words: 112
Location: Island Park, NY

02/09/07 02:33 - 16ºF - ID#38082

keep warm peeps upstate!

hi ya'll. i heard its kinda lousy up there. its cold here too, but no snow. last weekend was the polar bear swim on superbowl sunday. let me tell you, that was one sight to behold. i was going to do it, but the 4 degree windchill changed my mind. AND my camera went dead so i don't have any pictures. well i hope everyone stays warm and safe. im off to bed...in my flannel sheets. yeah nice...sexy time. haha. not really..its by myself. take care all

Permalink: keep_warm_peeps_upstate_.html
Words: 89
Location: Island Park, NY