The following copy has been revised so as not to offend the delicate palates of a select few. These individuals were brave enough to speak up against the injustice I apparently inflicted on the English language with the previous version of this post (it contained two run-on sentences and the phrase "in my medical opinion," which made me sound "unintelligent"). Please thank them for acting as a sort of neighborhood watch group, and keeping me in line.
MBIA said today that it may sue Pershing Square Capital founder Bill Ackman. For the last six years, the hedge fund manager has "waged a campaign" against the bond insurer, and this year stated publicly that the company may be insolvent. Apparently MBIA's decision to "assess all [its] options, including litigation," is in response to an anonymous e-mail the company received, asking if it planned to follow-up on New York State Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo's comments last month that "rumor mongering" about the solvency of an unnamed bond insurer (see if you can guess which one) by an unnamed short-seller (see if you can guess who) "crossed a line." Rest assured Carney and--fingers crossed-- Andrew Ross Sorkin will have more to say on this later.
MBIA May Sue Short-Seller Ackman's Pershing Square [Bloomberg]
PS:
I've also retracted my outing of #2 by firm, but not by occupation.
Posted by I am a Dude , Aug 08, 2008 2:40PM
bess, thought you were leaving at 2.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 2:46PM
she should have left, that entry is almost unreadable
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 2:49PM
Her brain left at 2.
Posted by I am a Dude , Aug 08, 2008 2:52PM
wonder if she gets time and a half for staying late
Posted by Bess Levin , Aug 08, 2008 2:55PM
hey, 2? after you go fuck yourself, please feel free to seek content more to your liking elsewhere. have a great day.
Posted by bank_teller , Aug 08, 2008 3:01PM
all that info in just two "sentences"!
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:07PM
How bout Mr John Edward's? A tru scumbag - confirmed!
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:09PM
#2 here again, bess what does "in my medical opinion" have to do with anything. maybe your professional opinion,legal opinion, or uninformed opinion. but sorry, not your medical opinion; you just sound unintelligent. and you 7-line sentence is obscene. go back to grammar school and learn to write at at least a 5th grade level.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:11PM
From the top article on CNBC.com:
"If you get laid off, career advisers suggest taking a break—go on vacation, take a class—to clear your head before you make your next move.
“What I tell people to do when they get caught in these situations is what my kids say: Chillax! It means chill out and relax,” says Charley Polachi, who was named by BusinessWeek as one of the world’s 100 most influential headhunters."
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:13PM
@2-- the medical opinion was A JOKE, you fucking moron.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:14PM
i think @2 knew it was a joke. his point was that it was awkward. the idiomatic phrase isn't "in my medical opinion". is bess not an american?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:15PM
@2-- and you sound like a cunt bag who's never heard of humor and would probably be more comfortable at dealbook.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:16PM
10 and 12 = bess?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:16PM
bess, have a great weekend. these other jokers can fuck off.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:25PM
Agreed 14! but I still want my lunch Bess
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:30PM
Pershing should be doing alright since they bet the farm on Walmart
Posted by Bess Levin , Aug 08, 2008 3:34PM
2--I don't see the going back to 5th grade scenario happening but what do you think of this: on Monday, you'll do my job and wow everyone with what I have no doubt is, at the very least, a 10th grade writing level. While you're doing that, I'll do your job at XXXXXX. I can't imagine ball licking will be that hard but I'm sure your skills are nearly unmatched at the firm so I'll really have to bring my A-game.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:36PM
There's a lesson here, folks. God is watching.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:48PM
Mess with Bess and ya get da horns! Owned out right!
Posted by Debter , Aug 08, 2008 3:48PM
I have to say attacking Bess is NEVER a good idea. Too many people love her and will always stick up for her. She's funny and witty, more than not.
Thank you and have a nice day
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:52PM
I guess Goldman was right not wanting their people on dealbreaker comments. Bess, by calling people out, is doing her best to keep people from posting freely.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:53PM
Bess, how about a contest where we win a drink with ya?
Honestly I think the site's servers would crash from overwhelming interest!!!
Posted by AJ , Aug 08, 2008 3:53PM
Haha, oh man, I luv ya bess
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:53PM
Bess's posts are generally top-notch, but I'm with 2 here
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 3:56PM
I may need Depends after reading #17. Way to go BL.
Posted by whatelseisgoingon , Aug 08, 2008 4:00PM
XXXXXX = Management consulting firm? It's that just a fancy word for MBA's who can't find a job?
-"I know what I will do... I will tell people how to run their business by applying some academic model to a real world company I know nothing about"
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:01PM
Come on Bess. I'll buy the beers. You should meet us all at the Shack on Monday.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:04PM
i agree with 21. People should be able to post with anonymity on DB.
EP also couldn't handle the heat and threatened nasty commenters with revealing their IP info but never actually crossed that line.
Water off a duck's back...
Posted by whatelseisgoingon , Aug 08, 2008 4:07PM
anonymity on the internet? I don't remember swiping a credit card or giving my SS number to post here. All anonymity does is give wussies who would never speak up in public a chance to run their stupid mouth with no reprecussions. Actions should always have consequences.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:08PM
except db touts the fact you can spread rumors anonymously.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:09PM
@28-- yeah, people should, but people (assholes), should also give up the idea that they have some sort of an inalienable right as commenters to shit all over the editors of this site. going after the substance of the post is one thing, but what is the reason, being being a dickhead, to rake someone over the coals for grammar?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:11PM
If it isn't anonymous there shouldn't be a guest login, everyone should have to register.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:18PM
rumors? anonymous rumors? On the street, never...
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:19PM
Moving on....
Edwards finally admits that he did have an affair "but only when his wifes cancer was in remission".
He claims not to be the babies father but has not taken a paternity test.
Odds that he is the baby dady????
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:23PM
Better than the odds of Bess meeting us at the Shack on Monday
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:25PM
@35-- the BL's apparently been in cape cod since wednesday. oops, was i not supposed to offer up that personal info?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:29PM
Ahhh... much better.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:30PM
@36 - don't tell these goons that. The traffic is f*cked as it is. Now these horny tards are all gonna hop into a zip car and scour the cape for BL.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:32PM
@38-- how would you know what traffic is like? is this coming from the inside?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:33PM
It's much better now! Although maybe to make it comprehensible to we management consultants, it should be in bullet point form? The key to effective consulting decks is to cut out all definite articles, adjectives, and adverbs. Shoot for a max of 3 words each for the subject and verb in each sentence.
-24 (self-loathing mgmt consultant)
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:45PM
Dealbreaker needs this ASAP:
http://gawker.com/5034937/he-chose-poorly
"Hey we have a fun new tool to discourage shitty comments. It's called Disemvoweling (I'm told it's been used on other websites) and you can see an example of it here*. The first Disemvoweling is a warning, the second time you're dead. BE CAREFUL.
*posted by bryanswofford at 02:54 PM
Smn nds t lt Mghn sh knw tht rgrdlss f hw wll sh scks n Bghr's thck wht dck, sh's stll gng t sty slf-htng ndn grl.
nd Mry, dn't stry frm th tlkng pnts Jl gv y.
Ths grls wld b lttl lss nnyng f thy wr prttr. nd nt jst n th nsd. Jl dsn't lk ld pr s, bt sh lks lk btx fc, whch s sd bcs dbt sh's hd nythng dn. Mry nds btx, nd Mghn, sd frm th fct tht sh trs s hrd n pctrs t gt tht sxpt lk dwn, wll nt scp frm ths crzy ys, tht jkr sml, nd jst th gnrl nsct lk sh hs gng n.
Thy hv n d tht th wrst thng tht cld pssbl hppn t thm s t b pckd p n rlty shw. D y rlz hw mch wrs yr lvs wll gt bcs f t? vn th bst n ntrst frm gys y wld nvr b ntrstd n gs wy, nd tht nly hlps Tl Tql r Rl Wrld typs nywy. Grls wh hv sm smblnc f brn wll s tht ny gy thy'll vr b ntrstd wll rn frm th hlls nc thy Ggl y. Hll, y'r lrdy dlng wth tht, nd t's nly gng t gt wrs."
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 4:57PM
"PS: I've also retracted my outing of #2 by firm, but not by occupation." aw. good girl.
Posted by arioch , Aug 08, 2008 4:57PM
Bess Levin. I love you!
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 5:47PM
i was going to say something about how the post was unreadable, then i come back and see everyone else already did the job for me :)
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 7:35PM
All i want to know is why is bess levin obsessed with anal sex as a punishment or the result of improper behavior?
Almost every "article" she writes includes the words reamed
or bleeding ass.
Some college kid beat that thing up one night after a half bottle of tequilla and a pill and now were all paying the price. Including her future husband.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 7:52PM
@7:35-- there's nothing in this post about anal sex but nice try!
@5:47-- you're a douche. and a douche who makes smiley faces.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:02PM
you guys are the biggest bunch of whiners. aw, you didn't like this post? boo fucking hoo. how about the other ones from today (all of which were written by bess)? what's your review of those?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:05PM
gotta love when Bess acts unprofessionally by getting all worked up over legitimately negative comments (e.g. comments poking fun at her incorrect grammer, spelling mistakes, un-idiomatic phrases, lack of actual newsworth/rumor-worth articles, using this blog as a post for dumb, personal comments - i.e. go watch pineapple express (what does that have to do with Wall St??), etc...) - and takes it out on the commentators by posting the firm name from which they are posting, IP addresses, etc. (all the while insisting that she doesn't want to restrict free speech and comment policy is that "guests" can remain anonymous). Keep it up Bess!
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:09PM
47 = bess
she's a fiesty one when she makes fun of other people, but she can't take the heat herslef - i'll give you that
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:18PM
@49-- OR: someone sick of the sanctimonious bitching. "joe, you it's their not there," carney you have an extra s in ARS you moron," "bess this is awful did you graduate high school?"
don't like it, don't read it. period.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:21PM
haha, wow, it's so obvious when Bess posts. No one else gets so worked up (unprofessionally might I add) than you Bess. hilarious! and btw, what does "joe, you it's their not there" mean? English please
@45 - very interesting (and accurate) observation!
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:21PM
@49-- when you're going to criticize a person for what you think are grammar/spelling errors, it helps to spell all the words in your comment correctly.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:23PM
@51-- how would you know if it's accurate?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:24PM
mbia sucks, just ask salad tossing silva
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:26PM
@51-- haha, wow, it's so obvious when you post (going to take a wild guess that you're 51/49/48/45/2)...waiting for your rebuttal and predictable, "that's bess saying that!" post in 3...2...1...
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:27PM
@51-- the fact that you don't understand the joe reference, and are also under the impression that commenters don't get worked up all the time on this site speaks volumes.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:33PM
bess, are you going to name names? i'm scawed!
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:35PM
57/51, etc. get a life. for real.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:38PM
http://gawker.com/5034937/he-chose-poorly
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:38PM
random thought, does the saying, pot calling the kettle black mean anything?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:40PM
@60-- what?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:41PM
@8:38-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot_calling_the_kettle_black
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:43PM
"scawed" @ 57-- first initial 'D,' last initial 'K'?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:44PM
60's comment was in reference to 58
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:49PM
@51/49/48/45-- if you truly care about the gramm errors, etc, why don't you email bess to discuss it?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:50PM
why not make it a public discussion? better public than private. her grammar sucks - needs to be pointed out publicly since prior private emails did nothing
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:51PM
come out come oy whereever you aree besss!!
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:53PM
@66-- ten bucks said you never emailed her. and also, while I would agree that there were some issues with the original version of this post, her grammar is generally impeccable. you're starting to reveal yourself as someone who simply has an ax to grind.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:55PM
67...wow.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:58PM
besss i ur frriend fromm colleege
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 8:59PM
57-- 63 here...should I keep adding letters til we get all the way? really think i'm going to get it.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 9:02PM
shake shack anyone?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 9:05PM
BESS - THIS ISNT 5TH GRADE
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 9:07PM
@73- huh?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 9:10PM
GRAMMAR BESS! GET IT RIGHT
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 9:11PM
75(and all of your other comments)- you are being seriously creepy, dude.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 9:17PM
77
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 9:18PM
YOU MEAN DUDETTE?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 9:30PM
@72- had it it for lunch.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 9:32PM
Don K.-- what have you been up to these days?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 9:48PM
huh?
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 10:47PM
and yet, she is the one paid to write intelligible articles, and you are not. don't like the articles, don't read them. everybody wins.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 11:02PM
Delusional-- continuing to write various forms of "Bess's grammar sucks!" and insisting that all posts defending her (and going against your thesis) must be from Bess doesn't make either true. Give it up.
Posted by guest , Aug 08, 2008 11:05PM
you're accomplishing nothing, creep, except exposing yourself as a psycho who enjoys spinning his wheels. clearly you're not going to stop but you really should.
Posted by guest , Aug 09, 2008 12:41PM
Look. Bess occasionally makes a grammatical error. The site doesn't employ proof-readers or copy editors. The two editors must turn out multiple posts every day without a lot of support. Bess is frequently very funny. She's on her way up as a writer. Get off her back and enjoy what she has to contribute.
It seems that your obsession with Bess's grammar is more of an obsession with Bess personally. As a number of people have noted, that's creepy.
Posted by arthurcutten , Aug 10, 2008 7:35PM
Mixed feelings. Didn't see the original but I can't believe the Bessmeister had to rewrite it.
We luv Bess. No need to swap jobs with #2. We're all for ya.
Posted by guest , Aug 11, 2008 4:43AM
? Oh this blog is about finance or something? Damn I was just here for the Grammatical-Correction game
Posted by guest , Aug 11, 2008 11:49AM
Atleast, there were no mayo comments.
-IT guy (who monitors Wall Street fools internet all day)
Posted by guest , Aug 12, 2008 2:35PM
These dialogues look like they were composed by some frustrated cdo traders or traderessess, more likely the latter, with too much f..time on their hands. Deal with the issues and leave your self satisfaction for the nite in the private quarters!
Posted by guest , Aug 15, 2008 9:50AM
80 - You obviously have something you're dying to say.
What exactly do you think you've figured out from "bess, are you going to name names? i'm scawed!"