One of the great secrets of our success here at DealBreaker is our readers. We have the brightest, wittiest and best informed commenters on the web who help keep our recent comments page always fresh. And our tipsters--often people we have never met who reach out to us through email and phone calls--have helped us break stories and get the insider angle on stories where everyone else is simply re-writing the press release.
It seems not everyone knows how to get in touch with us. It couldn't be easier! You can email us at tips@dealbreaker.com or calls us at 212-334-1871 with your office gossip, bonus rumors, misbehaving banker snap shots, true-life stories of work gone bad, deal news, trading desk follies, market movements, promotions and firings, and whatever else happens to be on your mind.
But if you are worried that the SEC might subpoena your emails, there are two more ways to send us tips. You can now contact us via instant messaging. Our AIM screenname is TheDealBreakers. But sometimes you need that extra-measure of security--or rather, to avoid those extra measures of security from the folks who might be monitoring your computer usage. So we also have a DealBreaker tips text message account. Send your text tips to 973-495-0177.
Here's a creative way of sending tips that users recently discovered: take a photo with your phone and send it to us on the tips line or to tips@dealbreaker.com. It's a great way to send firm memos without leaving any trace that can be found by your employer!
As always, you can rest assured that we will keep your identity confidential. Thanks!
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 12:55PM
get a new picture!
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 12:55PM
is it "starvin' for news day"today?
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 1:00PM
2 - it's not a "starvin for news day"- it's a "our advertisers are realizing we add no value so pleeeeeeeaaase be more interactive!!!" kind of day
Posted by chad , Aug 20, 2008 1:04PM
stock market up today due to more buyers than sellers.
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 1:09PM
@ 3- wow, you're a jackass.
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 1:18PM
hey how about an autoreply function: if someone sends a photo, they get a photo of bess.
Posted by FUNdamental , Aug 20, 2008 1:18PM
carney playing a little just the tip this afternoon ? Certainly better than my afternoon.
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 1:36PM
I hope the new Dealbreaker tips drive the IT police nuts. They micro-manage what you can see at work while the firm's intellectual capital blows $50 bil in debt structures. IT folk should be managing traders and originators, not checking to see who's looking at titties on the internet or selling stuff on Ebay.
Posted by Madmoney , Aug 20, 2008 1:41PM
what's in it for me??? I've got something juicy here today...
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 1:51PM
Hey that's great # 8. Now let's have a debate about whether drug screening is ethical or worthwile.
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 1:53PM
I've got something juicy... IN MY PANTS!
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 1:56PM
Blue Horseshoe loves Endicott Steel
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 2:00PM
Records
24" Pizza
7 1/2 Extra Large Bacci Pizza Slices
15 Minutes/ July 9, 2005
Richard LeFevre
16" Pizza
22 Slices/Three Brothers Pizza
10 Minutes/Aug. 18, 2007
Patrick Bertoletti
Armour Vienna Sausage
8.31 pounds Armour Vienna Sausage /Lowe's Motor Speedway Charlotte 10 Minutes/ May 28, 2005 Sonya Thomas
Asparagus
8.8 pounds Tempura Deep Fried Aspargus Spears/ Stockton Asparagus Fest 10 minutes/ Apr. 26, 2008 Joey Chestnut
Baked Beans
Six Pounds Baked Beans
One Minute, 48 Seconds
Don Lerman
Baked Beans, Long Course
8.4 Pounds Baked Beans/ 84 Lumber
2 minutes 47 seconds/ Aug. 7, 2004
Sonya Thomas
Beef Tongue
3 pound 3 ounces pickled beef tongue whole
12 minutes
Dominic Cardo
Birthday Cake
Five Pounds/ TripRewards 1st Birthday
11 Minutes, 26 Seconds/ May 10, 2005
Richard LeFevre
Blueberry Pie (Hands-Free)
9.17 lbs blueberry pie/Stand By Me World Pie Eating Championship
8 minutes/July 28, 2007
Patrick Bertoletti
Bologna
2.76 Pounds Pork & Chicken Bologna/Eats of Strength Six Minutes/May 6, 2006 Don Lerman
Brats
58 Johnsonville Brats / Brat Days
10 Minutes/ Aug. 5, 2006
Takeru Kobayashi
Buffet
5 1/2 pounds of buffet food
12 minutes
Crazy Legs Conti
Burritos
15 BurritoVille burritos
8 minutes
Eric Booker
Burritos, Long Form
11.81 lbs burritos/Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill 10 Minutes/Sep. 22, 2007 Timothy Janus
Butter
7 quarter-pound sticks, salted butter
5 minutes
Don Lerman
Cabbage
6 pounds 9 ounces giant cabbage
9 minutes
Charles Hardy
Candy Bars
Two Pounds Chocolate Candy Bars
6 minutes
Eric Booker
Cannoli (tied)
26 large cannoli/San Gennaro Festival
6 minutes/Sept. 15, 2006
Timothy Janus
Cannoli (tied)
26 large cannoli/San Gennaro Festival
6 minutes/Sept. 16, 2005
Cookie Jarvis
Cheesecake
11 pounds Downtown Atlantic Cheesecake
9 minutes/ Sept. 26, 2004
Sonya Thomas
Chicken Nuggets
80 Chicken Nuggets
5 Minutes
Sonya Thomas
Chicken Wings, 12 minutes
7.5 lbs Buffalo Chicken Wings
12 minutes/ May 21, 2007
Joey Chestnut
Chicken Wings, Long form
182 chicken wings
30 minutes
Joey Chestnut
Chicken Wings, Short form
2 pounds, 2.5 ounces Hooter's Chicken Wings
5 minutes
Cookie Jarvis
Chicken-Fried Steak
6 11-ounce chicken fried steaks with country gravy/ Lone Star Cafe
12 minutes/ Nov. 2, 2003
Cookie Jarvis
Chili
1 1/2 gallon Stagg Chili
10 minutes
Richard LeFevre
Chili Cheese Fries
8 lbs, 2 oz Wienerschnitzel Chili Cheese Fries at the Queen Mary 10 minutes/February 11, 2006 Sonya Thomas
Chocolate
1 lb, 15.5 oz Chicago Chocolate Hearts
7 minutes/Feb. 13, 2006
Patrick Bertoletti
Conch Fritters
45 conch fritters
6 minutes
Joe Menchetti
Corn Dogs
12 Fletcher's Corny Dogs/ State Fair of Texas 10 minutes/ Sept. 28, 2003 Richard LeFevre
Corned Beef & Cabbage
10.63 lbs Corned Beef & Cabbage
10 Minutes/ Mar. 16, 2007
Patrick Bertoletti
Corned Beef Hash
4 pounds of hash
1 minute 58 seconds
Eric Booker
Corned Beef Sandwiches
11 8-ounce Corned Beef Sandwiches
10 minutes/Jan. 11, 2006
Patrick Bertoletti
Cow Brains
57 (17.7 pounds)
15 minutes
Takeru Kobayashi
Crab Cakes
46 Phillips Crab Cakes/Baltimore Waterfront Festival 10 Minutes/ April 29, 2006 Sonya Thomas
Cranberry Sauce, Jellied
13.23 lbs jellied cranberry sauce/Spike TV's MLE Chowdown
8 Minutes/Nov. 22, 2007
Juliet Lee
Crawfish
331 crawfish
12 minutes
Chris Hendrix
Date Nut Bread
29.5 Chock full o'Nuts Date Nut Breat and Cream Cheese Sandwiches
8 minutes/December 20, 2006
Patrick Bertoletti
Deep-Fried Okra
9.75 lbs Deep Fried Okra/GoldenPalace.net at the Oklahoma State Fair 10 Minutes/Sept. 16, 2006 Sonya Thomas
Doughnuts
49 glazed doughnuts
8 minutes/October 2, 2002
Eric Booker
Doughnuts, Cream-filled
47 Glazed and Cream-filled Doughnuts/MLE St. Patrick's Day Chowdown
5 minutes/March 17, 2007
Patrick Bertoletti
Dumplings
91 Chinese dumplings
8 minutes
Cookie Jarvis
Eggs
65 Hard Boiled Eggs
6 minutes, 40 seconds
Sonya Thomas
French Fries
4.46 pounds Nathan's Famous Crinkle Cut Fries Six Minutes/ March 31, 2005 Cookie Jarvis
Fruitcake
4 pounds, 14 1/4 ounces Wegmans Fruitcake 10 minutes/ Dec. 30, 2003 Sonya Thomas
Gelatin Dessert
7 16-ounce portions
3 minutes
Steve Lakind
Grapes
8 Pounds, 15 Ounces Grapes/ Smirnoff Twisted V Wild Grape 10 Minutes/ Nov. 1, 2005 Cookie Jarvis
Green Beans, French Cut
2.71 Pounds Green Beans
Six Minutes
Crazy Legs Conti
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
47 grilled cheese sandwiches
10 Minutes/ June 10, 2006
Joey Chestnut
Grits
21 lbs of Grits at Harrah's Louisiana Downs 10 minutes/Sept. 29, 2007 Patrick Bertoletti
Gyoza
212 chicken and vegetable gyoza/Nisei Week 10 minutes/Aug. 19, 2006 Joey Chestnut
Ham & Potatoes
6 pounds of Easter Feaster meal
12 minutes
Cookie Jarvis
Ham, sliced
2 lbs, 10 oz. holiday spiral sliced ham
5 minutes/Dec. 15, 2006
Seaver Miller
Hamburger: Big Daddy Burger
9 pound cheeseburger/ Plaza Hotel Casino
27 minutes, 0 seconds/ Jan. 21, 2006
Sonya Thomas
Hamburgers
11 1/4 Burgers (1/4 pound) "Cloud Burgers"
10 minutes
Don Lerman
Hamburgers
7 Burgers (3/4 pound) "Thickburgers"
10 minutes
Sonya Thomas
Hamburgers: Krystals
103 Krystal Burgers
8 minutes/October 28, 2007
Joey Chestnut
Hamentaschen
50 traditional Purim cookies
6 minutes
Eric Booker
Horseshoe Sandwiches
6 lbs, 5 oz horseshoe sandwiches
12 minutes
Joey Chestnut
Hot Dogs
66 Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs and Buns
12 minutes/ July 4, 2007
Joey Chestnut
Huevos Rancheros
7.75 lbs Huevos Rancheros
10 minutes/March 18, 2006
Richard LeFevre
Hutspot (potato-based "hotchpotch," or stew)
13 Bowls
10 minutes
Henry Hatau
Ice Cream
1 gallon, 9 ounces of vanilla ice cream
12 minutes
Cookie Jarvis
Ice Cream, Short form
1.75 Gallons Brooklyn Vanilla Ice Cream
8 minutes/May 26, 2006
Patrick Bertoletti
Jalapeno Poppers
118 Jalapeno Poppers/University of Arizona 10 minutes/April 8, 2006 Joey Chestnut
Jalapenos, Pickled
177 Pickled Jalapeno Peppers/Sky City Casino
15 Minutes/Aug. 26, 2006
Patrick Bertoletti
Jalapenos, Pickled, Short-form
247 pickled jalapeno peppers/State Fair of Texas
8 minutes/Oct. 8, 2006
Richard LeFevre
Jambalaya
9 Pounds Crawfish Jambalaya/ LuLu's Mardi Gras 10 Minutes/ Feb. 24, 2004 Sonya Thomas
Key Lime Pie
10.8 pounds Key Lime Pie
8 minutes/Mar. 21, 2006
Patrick Bertoletti
Kolache Factory Kolaches
56 Sausage and Cheese Kolaches/Kolache Factory in Houston, TX
8 Minutes/Sept. 14, 2007
Joey Chestnut
Kolaches
44 Cherry Kolaches/GoldenPalace.net at the Nebraska State Fair
8 Minutes/Sept. 2, 2006
Patrick Bertoletti
Krystal Hamburgers, 2 minutes
39 Krystal Hamburgers
2 minutes/September 2007
Bob Shoudt
Lobster Rolls
41 Lobster Rolls in Boston challenge
10 minutes/Sept. 23, 2006
Takeru Kobayashi
Maine Lobster/ Kennebunk
44 Maine Lobsters (11.3 Pounds of meat) from the shell
12 minutes/ Aug. 13, 2005
Sonya Thomas
Matzo Balls
21 baseball-sized matzo balls
5 minutes, 25 seconds
Eric Booker
Mayonnaise
4 32-ounce bowls mayonnaise
8 minutes
Oleg Zhornitskiy
Meat Pies
16 six-ounce meat pies
10 minues
Boyd Bulot
Meatballs
10 pounds, 3 Ounces Meatballs/ Carmine's Restaurant at Tropicana Hotel Casino
12 minutes/ Dec. 3, 2005
Sonya Thomas
Mince Pies
46 Mince Pies at the Wookey Hole Big Eat in Somerset, England 10 minutes/Nov. 29, 2006 Sonya Thomas
Native American Fry Bread
9.75 Fry Breads
8 Minutes/October 28, 2006
Erik The Red Denmark
Nigiri Sushi
141 pieces of Nigiri Sushi/MLE: The Game Promotion
6 Minutes/April 11, 2008
Timothy Janus
Onions
8.5 ounces Maui Onions (three onions)/ Whalers Village
1 minute/ Aug. 8, 2004
Eric Booker
Oysters
46 Dozen Acme Oysters/ Acme Oyster House 10 Minutes/ Mar. 20, 2005 Sonya Thomas
Oysters, Short Form
34 dozen Acme oysters/French Quarter Festival, New Orleans
8 Minutes/April 12, 2008
Patrick Bertoletti
Pancakes
3 1/2 pounds pancakes & bacon
12 minutes
Crazy Legs Conti
Pasta
6 2/3 pounds linguini (no. 115)
10 minutes
Cookie Jarvis
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
42 PB&J/Drum Corps International
10 minutes/Aug. 8, 2007
Patrick Bertoletti
Peas
9.5 one-pound bowls
12 minutes
Eric Booker
Pelemeni
274 Russian dumplings
6 minutes
Dale Boone
Pickles, Sour
2.99 pounds
5 Minutes
Cookie Jarvis
Pickles, Vinegar
2.7 Pounds Kosher Dills
Six Minutes
Brian Seiken
Pigs' Feet and Knuckles
2.89 lbs pigs' feet meat/State Fair Meadowlands 10 minutes/June 23, 2007 Arturo Rios, Jr.
Pizza Hut P'Zones
4.82 lbs Pizza Hut P'Zones
6 minutes/July 10, 2007
Joey Chestnut
Pomme Frites
2 pounds 9 ounces of Pomme Frites
8 minutes
Cookie Jarvis
Pork and Beans (84 Lumber)
84 ounces of baked beans
1 minute 52 seconds
Dale Boone
Pork Ribs
8.4 pounds pork rib meat/ Chinook Winds Casino
12 minutes/ July 16, 2006
Joey Chestnut
Pork, Pulled
9 Pounds, 6 Ounces Smoked, Pulled Pork/ Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs 10 Minutes/ Sept. 16, 2006 Joey Chestnut
Pork, Pulled Sandwiches
45 pulled pork sandwiches
10 minutes/ Sept. 1, 2007
Joey Chestnut
Posole
9 lbs, 3 ounces Posole/ Sky City Casino
12 Minutes/ Nov. 18, 2006
Patrick Bertoletti
Potato Wedges
3.74 lbs Buffalo Wild Wings Potato Wedges/Spike TV's MLE Chowdown
8 minutes/October 18, 2007
Tim Brown
Pumpkin Pies
4-3/8 Entenmann's Pumpkin Pies
12 Minutes/ Nov. 22, 2004
Eric Booker
Quesadilla
31.5 4-inch Cheese Quesadilla
5 minutes
Sonya Thomas
Ramen Noodles
10.5 lbs Ramen Noodles/NARUTO: Clash of Ninja Revolution for Nintedo Wii
8 minutes/October 27, 2007
Timothy Janus
Reindeer Sausage
28 Glacier Brewhouse Reindeer Sausage
10 minutes
Dale Boone
Rice Balls
20 pounds rice balls
30 minutes
Takeru Kobayashi
Sausage Sandwiches
13.25 Gianelli Sausage Sandwiches/New York State Fair
12 minutes/Aug. 26, 2006
ChipBurger Simpson
Shoo-Fly Pie
11.1 Pounds Shoo-Fly Pie/ Rockvale Outlets
8 Minutes/ June 23, 2007
Patrick Bertoletti
Shrimp
4 pounds 15 ounces spot shrimp
12 minutes/Sept. 22, 2006
Erik The Red Denmark
SPAM
6 pounds of SPAM from the can/ SPAMARAMA
12 minutes/ Apr. 3, 2004
Richard LeFevre
Steeplechase/Chowdown Championship
Pork burgers, Beef ribeye sandwiches, Turkey Legs, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Cupcakes/Indiana State Fair August 19, 2006 Bob Shoudt
Steeplechase/Ultimate Eating Tournament
Shrimp, Pralines, Hot Dogs, Nachos, Gelato/Broadway at the Beach 10 minutes/ Apr. 22, 2006 Bob Shoudt
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
7.9 lbs Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
8 minutes/July 29, 2006
Patrick Bertoletti
Strawberry Shortcake
15.25 lbs Strawberry Shortcake/Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival
8 Minutes/June 17, 2007
Patrick Bertoletti
Sweet Corn
34.75 ears sweet corn/ Sweet Corn Fiesta
12 minutes/ Apr. 29, 2007
Crazy Legs Conti
Sweet Potato Casserole
8.62 pounds/ NC State Fair
11 minutes/ Oct. 20, 2004
Sonya Thomas
Tacos
48 soft chicken tacos/ Zocalo Restaurant
11 minutes/ Sept. 29, 2004
Sonya Thomas
Tamales
71 Tamales/Old Town Lewisville/Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory
12 Minutes/Sept. 1, 2007
Timothy Janus
Tex Mex Rolls
30 Tex Mex Rolls/ GameWorks at Great Lakes Crossing
12 minutes/ Mar. 12, 2005
Richard LeFevre
Tiramisu
4 pounds tiramisu/ Verducci's Market
6 minutes/ Mar. 5, 2005
Timothy Janus
Toasted Ravioli
4 pounds toasted ravioli by Charlie Gitto's at Harrah's St. Louis
12 Minutes/ Nov. 20, 2004
Sonya Thomas
Turducken
7 3/4 pounds Turducken.com Thanksgiving Dinner
12 minutes/ Nov. 26, 2003
Sonya Thomas
Ultimate Eating Tournament (Various Foods)
7 Chicken Wings, 1 lb of Nachos, 3 Hot Dogs, 2 Personal Pizzas, 3 Italian Ices/Broaday at the Beach
7 minutes, 13 seconds/April 19, 2008
Juliet Lee
Waffles
29 Waffles (8 oz.)/ Waffle House
10 Minutes/ Oct. 7, 2007
Patrick Bertoletti
Watermelon
13.22 pounds Watermelon/ Brookville Community Picnic
15 minutes/ July 30, 2005
Jim Reeves
Whole Turkey
4 pounds, 12.8 ounces roast turkey meat/Thanksgiving Invitational
12 minutes/ Nov. 22, 2006
Patrick Bertoletti
Whole Turkey, Short Form
6.91 lbs roast turkey meat/Spike TV's MLE Chowdown
8 Minutes/Nov. 22, 2007
Patrick Bertoletti
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 2:02PM
"We have the brightest, wittiest and best informed commenters on the web", I'd be tempted to challenge this transparent flattery given the constant posts about mayonnaise that pollute every single thread
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 2:02PM
there's your tip dealbreaker (#13). let's see what you can do!
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 2:22PM
Oreos are not on that list. I will bet anyone not in that list $100,000 that they can not eat 100 Oreos in an hour. You can drink anything you want with the oreos. Escrows and youtubes are necessary.
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 2:31PM
#16 - any puking restrictions? (involuntary, of course)
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 2:42PM
@2: Why do you bother commenting on a site that you believe adds no value? You are clearly useless. Hope your severance is enough to pay your rent.
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 2:56PM
instead of texting, what about an old fashion fax machine?
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 3:17PM
#16 You puking means that I win, moron.
Want more fine print? Any members, past or present, or competitors in an event that was sponsored, sanctioned or authorized for annual points by the International Federation of Competitive Eating or Major League Eating, will not be offered this bet.
http://www.ifoce.com/
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 3:25PM
@8 Titties. Fuck yea.
SPODE
Posted by guest , Aug 20, 2008 4:59PM
i'll take that bet.
sincerely,
moron
Posted by Cincinnatus C , Aug 20, 2008 7:03PM
what's the point? bess never even responded to the pix of indian women breastfeeding monkeys that i sent her.