The Man Who Wired Silicon Valley (WSJ)
The hedge fund community has been (potentially) robbed of a tremendous human being: “At Galleon, Mr. Rajaratnam took his fondness for pranks and dares to a new level. When executives from stun-gun maker Taser International Inc. came to make an investment pitch around 2005, Mr. Rajaratnam offered $5,000 to anyone who’d agree to be shocked. Employees gathered around as two people propped up trader Keryn Limmer at the elbows and another person fired the weapon. Ms. Limmer’s legs buckled beneath her from the shock. Ms. Limmer declined to comment. That same year, employees arrived at Galleon’s morning meeting to a surprise: In the conference room was a dwarf whom Mr. Rajaratnam introduced as an analyst hired to cover “small-cap” stocks. He was, in fact, an actor hired for an April Fool’s Day gag.”
Ponzi collapses nearly quadrupled in ’09 (AP)
Charles P is not going to be happy to hear this. In all, more than 150 Ponzi schemes collapsed in 2009, compared to about 40 in 2008, according to the AP’s examination of criminal cases at all U.S. attorneys’ offices and the FBI, as well as criminal and civil actions taken by state prosecutors and regulators at both the federal and state levels. Everyone running one of these things, promise me you’ll do better in 2010, okay?
Debriefed: A first look at the X-mas bomber’s explosive underwear (NYDN)
Go ahead, take a peek.
Moran Stanley To Overhaul Pay Plan (WSJ)
The compensation committee has met several times over the last month– once for 7 whole hours!– to discuss how top executives will get paid. Thankfully, no one wants to go the way of Goldman’s all-stock plan. One idea is that 65% (or more) of pay will be subject to clawbacks in the event of future losses. Also, 20% of total compensation would come in “shares awarded based on Morgan’s share price compared with peers’ share prices.” And of course you have John Mack. Not getting paid at all. Again.
Did Tiger Cost Shareholders $12 Billion? (CNBC)
The University of California, Davis says yes. What they don’t answer: did each girl cost shareholders roughly the same amount? Did Jungers and Grubbs cost more?
Ex-Hedge Fund Analyst Finds Calling On YouTube (NPR)
Salman Khan teaches math on the internet. Ping Jiang is hoping to be the next lonelygirl15.
Most cocaine diluted with unsafe livestock drug (SFGate)
Just an FYI: “Most cocaine coming into the United States has been diluted with a veterinary drug that is used to deworm horses and other animals but can cause severe illness and death in humans, public health experts say.”
Departing AIG Counsel Gets Millions as She Exits (WSJ)
Anastasia Kelly is getting a few mill in severance after quitting over being fed up with Ken Feinberg and his “ideas.” So that worked out pretty nicely for her.
Trump Trimmed (NYP)
Trump Entertainment Resorts, which owns the Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Marina and Trump Plaza casino-hotels, “quietly acknowledged yesterday that the properties are worth an estimated $459 million — down from $2 billion in assets when Trump Entertainment filed for bankruptcy in February 2009.”
Top Videos Of 2009 (CNBC)
The network’s top clips for the year include Santelli’s teabagging rants, a conversation with Art Cashin, Obama swatting a fly, the Lingerie Football League and this:
Programming Note: We’re on an abbreviated vacation-esque schedule ’til Monday (opening/closing wraps and very limited updates whenever the urge to reach out and touch you moves us). We still want to hear from you, though, so if anyone gets nailed for insider trading or Amanda breaks the 4th wall and acknowledges the CNBC wardrobe team keeps Dealbreaker readers in mind went determining how much of the Druries should be put on display, do not hesitate to let us know.
"In the conference room was a dwarf whom Mr. Rajaratnam introduced as an analyst hired to cover “small-cap” stocks. He was, in fact, an actor hired for an April Fool’s Day gag.”
fantastic
I like dis Raj-raj guy. I like his style. He looks like he's got a good sense-a-humor.
-cg
tasing employees? amateur hour.
-sc
@1 so awesome
that pic always makes me laugh
"I think donald trump filed for bankruptcy like 12 times…hey are those twizzlers? gimme somea those"
I am nervous about this situation.
Bess you haven't called me back yet about NYE plans. are you avoiding me?
@8- Anal_yst?
teabagging rants? how did I miss this?
Tiger
Shop smart.
Shop S-Mart.
seriously, this tiger "study" is a feeble to attempt to put UC Davis on the map. if there was any merit to the analysis, I'm sure there would be some serious renegotiation going on when el-tigre comes back. let’s see, he earns $100 mm in endorsements – if he can cause $12 bn in damage, how much positive gain did he create after winning 14 majors? surely more than $12 bn – I’d take that trade all day.
@1/4 Not cool. Examine your motives.
-LPA Member
If two people hold a person up by the elbows, and the person is then hit by an electro-shock weapon, wouldn't all three of them be shocked?
If all three of them fell over in a heap when hit with 200-300kV , Raj-raj probably would have laughed uncontrollably. He has a fantastic sense of humor.
@12 Investor,
Agreed.
Additionally Tiger is being marked to market during a crisis. Tiger's risk profile isn't like that of a residential mortgage backed CDO; his value may be only temporarily impaired.
Buy Fear. Sell Greed.
I don't have the ability or time to do it, but would someone please make a .gif of RajRaj laughing and jiggling? Thanks.
@14 was thinking the same thing
Why does everyone treat Tiger Woods like, oh sure, he's some big celebrity???
~Jon Gosselin
I'm surprised DB didn't put up the shot of Chiesi's cleavage: http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/P1-AT116...
Cluz – are you actually working today?
@19 probably b/c db highlighted the cougar's makeover over a week ago:
http://dealbreaker.com/2009/12/raj-rajaratnam-dan...
@19 wow you must be pretty hard up if you're begging for half a tit pics of a middle-aged woman wayyyyyyyyyy past her prime.
"Most cocaine diluted with unsafe livestock drug"?????????????
I have to go make some calls.
-kudlow
Just wanted to HEY!!!~! wish all you talking children who are nodding at cars… GET OFF ME!!!….Damn!!! HEY!! Heh heh heh…huh? Oh…I want to wish to you like I'd wish to a child…. CATBOX!!!….a happy holiday season and WOW!!! HEY!!! Nod if you understand…a merry season of nodding joy HUH???
~Jeff M
@22…Real men beg for tit pics all the time. I should know.
~H. Hefner
Seenitall, CA
I took a sweetie to see "It's Complicated" and it payed off. Just sayin'.
~Not-So-Handsome Meat Trader
@26/Meat Trader:
What is da best way for me to hedge against rising prices of copocolla and pork?
-cg
Isn't it just the opposite though?
@27/CG/P. F. Luger, one hedges the other, like a crack hedge or a crush hedge. call it a cure hedge.
you know the meat market as well as anyone, don't act so innocent.
-guest
Watching T. Cabrera today reminds me of the Russ Meyers retrospective I saw down in the Village.
With my ham and her fruit we could contribute a recipe to epicurious.com.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pros...
Chazzy G.
@30:
Nice, especially the preparation part: "Arrange 3 prosciutto slices alongside melon or drape over melon and serve."
MCC's sweater is tight today, and from what I'm seeing, three slices of prosciutto would probably not be sufficient.
pfluger,
Don't forget about the "delicate pink cured ham from the hills of the province of Parma".
Chazzy G.
These comments are not funny. Please try harder.
Bovine
They did not mention the time Raj tased a midget. Forgot to turn down the voltage, and, well …
I love it when da vowels just come a flyin out my bowels.
CG
So first we had Anal_yst, which was a clever combination of a job title and an excrement-related vulgar term.
Then we had Ass_ociate, which was a clever combination of a job title and an excrement-related vulgar term.
I can't think of an excrement-related term to combine with "Vice President", but clearly that will be followed by Ass_ociate Vice President, then possibly by Excrement_ecutive Vice President, and ultimately by Managing Di_rectum.
FUN@20 – yep, working. great week to get $h1t done sans interuptions…not to mention, there is plenty of talent roaming the streets in a "giving" mood.
@35 Raj might be da king of kings, as he cawls himself, but I am da King Cacasenno!
-cg
cacasenno (un/una) n. a know-it-all, a smart-ass; (lit.): one who [defecates] wisdom.
or "interruptions" for the spell-checkers out there…slow your roll.
My office secret Santa got me an Air Hog remote control plane for Christmas. Its fun but hard to fly.
My office secret Santa got me a subscription to Collieboy magazine. It's fun and it's hard.
Dennis
speaking of caruso and cabrera:
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz356/mccyabbo...
@37 you mean hookers?
I see what you did there, 41.
"So first we had Anal_yst, which was a clever combination of a job title and an excrement-related vulgar term."
or, a much-loved sexual position.
@42 posting that pic of not-MCC will never get old.
T. Cabrera knows first hand that we'd all like to begin high in her Rocky Mountains.
Peter Swinburn,
CEO
@46 thanks. I wondered.
call me an elf AGAIN! COME ON! I DARE YA! CALL ME AN ELF!
@43 – hellz no. I mean co-eds, tourists and FIT types who are (a) home for the holidays, (b) here for the holidays, or (c) lonely during the holidays (you see what I did there?)…
and my name isn't tiger or spitz, so don't call me a hooker fker!
I'm Mr. T, and I am a Knight ELF Mohawk!
I shit wisdom.
-cg
@52 Chuck,
If your shit is wisdom and a wise person has self-knowlege, then you must be aware that you're full of shit.
ARS
@36
Mangling DiErector? I dunno, that's a few years off, haven't given it much thought.
Hey ARS, whadda you, a fuckin' comedian too?? Afta what you fuckin' did to me, you got da fuckin' nerve to tell me dat I'm fulla shit!!?
Lemme tell ya sumtin, pal, I flush more wisdom down da fuckin' bowl in one day den you write in a fuckin' year.
And Pinch is a fuckin' friend-a-mine, ya douchebag. How do ya think I got dat good book review in your fuckin' rag newspaper, you busone.
-cg
Anal_thoughts?
Tiger better start watching where he dips his licorice stick. Oh, and Tiger, stop asking your caddy to pick up the pieces.
OK, let's see how long it takes someone to label this post as racist…
@57 – That is the most racist post I have ever seen.
Your Pal, Sharpton.
Half licorice stick, half chopstick, to be a bit more accurate, and racist.
Man_aging Dire_ctor
@36
Fi_douche_iary? I'm not feeling nearly filthy-minded enough for this at the minute. Maybe some more pics of Cabrera will help?
Chairman of the Bored
Tits Cabrera… the reason man invented "hate f_cking"
Anal_Marker Put
You are all homo wankers.
@66 = Simon Hobbs and his gaydar
@63-64: seconded. i loathe her so much. but i love the t's.
“In the conference room was a dwarf whom Mr. Rajaratnam introduced as an analyst hired to cover “small-cap” stocks. He was, in fact, an actor hired for an April Fool’s Day gag.”
fantastic
I like dis Raj-raj guy. I like his style. He looks like he’s got a good sense-a-humor.
-cg
tasing employees? amateur hour.
-sc
@1 so awesome
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6161691.stm
any comments raj?
that pic always makes me laugh
“I think donald trump filed for bankruptcy like 12 times…hey are those twizzlers? gimme somea those”
@69 yeah, I have a comment on a 3 year old story. douche.
-RR
I am nervous about this situation.
Bess you haven’t called me back yet about NYE plans. are you avoiding me?
@8- Anal_yst?
teabagging rants? how did I miss this?
Tiger
I'm Dr. Rockzo, the rock 'n' roll clown, I do COCAINE! KakAkaKaKAA yEAH!
Shop smart.
Shop S-Mart.
seriously, this tiger “study” is a feeble to attempt to put UC Davis on the map. if there was any merit to the analysis, I’m sure there would be some serious renegotiation going on when el-tigre comes back. let’s see, he earns $100 mm in endorsements – if he can cause $12 bn in damage, how much positive gain did he create after winning 14 majors? surely more than $12 bn – I’d take that trade all day.
@42 FTW, for the year, for the decade… thanks, man.
@1/4 Not cool. Examine your motives.
-LPA Member
If two people hold a person up by the elbows, and the person is then hit by an electro-shock weapon, wouldn’t all three of them be shocked?
If all three of them fell over in a heap when hit with 200-300kV , Raj-raj probably would have laughed uncontrollably. He has a fantastic sense of humor.
@12 Investor,
Agreed.
Additionally Tiger is being marked to market during a crisis. Tiger’s risk profile isn’t like that of a residential mortgage backed CDO; his value may be only temporarily impaired.
Buy Fear. Sell Greed.
I don’t have the ability or time to do it, but would someone please make a .gif of RajRaj laughing and jiggling? Thanks.
@14 was thinking the same thing
Why does everyone treat Tiger Woods like, oh sure, he’s some big celebrity???
~Jon Gosselin
I’m surprised DB didn’t put up the shot of Chiesi’s cleavage: http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/P1-AT116_RajJmp_G_20091228183446.jpg
Cluz – are you actually working today?
@19 probably b/c db highlighted the cougar’s makeover over a week ago:
http://dealbreaker.com/2009/12/raj-rajaratnam-danielle-chiesi.php
@19 wow you must be pretty hard up if you’re begging for half a tit pics of a middle-aged woman wayyyyyyyyyy past her prime.
“Most cocaine diluted with unsafe livestock drug”?????????????
I have to go make some calls.
-kudlow
Just wanted to HEY!!!~! wish all you talking children who are nodding at cars… GET OFF ME!!!….Damn!!! HEY!! Heh heh heh…huh? Oh…I want to wish to you like I’d wish to a child…. CATBOX!!!….a happy holiday season and WOW!!! HEY!!! Nod if you understand…a merry season of nodding joy HUH???
~Jeff M
@22…Real men beg for tit pics all the time. I should know.
~H. Hefner
Seenitall, CA
I took a sweetie to see “It’s Complicated” and it payed off. Just sayin’.
~Not-So-Handsome Meat Trader
@26/Meat Trader:
What is da best way for me to hedge against rising prices of copocolla and pork?
-cg
Isn’t it just the opposite though?
@27/CG/P. F. Luger, one hedges the other, like a crack hedge or a crush hedge. call it a cure hedge.
you know the meat market as well as anyone, don’t act so innocent.
-guest
Watching T. Cabrera today reminds me of the Russ Meyers retrospective I saw down in the Village.
With my ham and her fruit we could contribute a recipe to epicurious.com.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Prosciutto-with-Melon-4042
Chazzy G.
@30:
Nice, especially the preparation part: “Arrange 3 prosciutto slices alongside melon or drape over melon and serve.”
MCC’s sweater is tight today, and from what I’m seeing, three slices of prosciutto would probably not be sufficient.
pfluger,
Don’t forget about the “delicate pink cured ham from the hills of the province of Parma”.
Chazzy G.
These comments are not funny. Please try harder.
Bovine
They did not mention the time Raj tased a midget. Forgot to turn down the voltage, and, well …
I love it when da vowels just come a flyin out my bowels.
CG
So first we had Anal_yst, which was a clever combination of a job title and an excrement-related vulgar term.
Then we had Ass_ociate, which was a clever combination of a job title and an excrement-related vulgar term.
I can’t think of an excrement-related term to combine with “Vice President”, but clearly that will be followed by Ass_ociate Vice President, then possibly by Excrement_ecutive Vice President, and ultimately by Managing Di_rectum.
FUN@20 – yep, working. great week to get $h1t done sans interuptions…not to mention, there is plenty of talent roaming the streets in a “giving” mood.
@35 Raj might be da king of kings, as he cawls himself, but I am da King Cacasenno!
-cg
cacasenno (un/una) n. a know-it-all, a smart-ass; (lit.): one who [defecates] wisdom.
or “interruptions” for the spell-checkers out there…slow your roll.
My office secret Santa got me an Air Hog remote control plane for Christmas. Its fun but hard to fly.
Bess, do you think Amanda will call me?
Tiger
My office secret Santa got me a subscription to Collieboy magazine. It’s fun and it’s hard.
Dennis
speaking of caruso and cabrera:
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz356/mccyabbos/michelle_carusocabrera_bikini1.jpg
@37 you mean hookers?
I see what you did there, 41.
“So first we had Anal_yst, which was a clever combination of a job title and an excrement-related vulgar term.”
or, a much-loved sexual position.
@42 posting that pic of not-MCC will never get old.
T. Cabrera knows first hand that we’d all like to begin high in her Rocky Mountains.
Peter Swinburn,
CEO
@46 thanks. I wondered.
call me an elf AGAIN! COME ON! I DARE YA! CALL ME AN ELF!
@43 – hellz no. I mean co-eds, tourists and FIT types who are (a) home for the holidays, (b) here for the holidays, or (c) lonely during the holidays (you see what I did there?)…
and my name isn’t tiger or spitz, so don’t call me a hooker fker!
I’m Mr. T, and I am a Knight ELF Mohawk!
I shit wisdom.
-cg
@52 Chuck,
If your shit is wisdom and a wise person has self-knowlege, then you must be aware that you’re full of shit.
ARS
@36
Mangling DiErector? I dunno, that’s a few years off, haven’t given it much thought.
Hey ARS, whadda you, a fuckin’ comedian too?? Afta what you fuckin’ did to me, you got da fuckin’ nerve to tell me dat I’m fulla shit!!?
Lemme tell ya sumtin, pal, I flush more wisdom down da fuckin’ bowl in one day den you write in a fuckin’ year.
And Pinch is a fuckin’ friend-a-mine, ya douchebag. How do ya think I got dat good book review in your fuckin’ rag newspaper, you busone.
-cg
Anal_thoughts?
Tiger better start watching where he dips his licorice stick. Oh, and Tiger, stop asking your caddy to pick up the pieces.
OK, let’s see how long it takes someone to label this post as racist…
@57 – That is the most racist post I have ever seen.
Your Pal, Sharpton.
Half licorice stick, half chopstick, to be a bit more accurate, and racist.
Man_aging Dire_ctor
@36
Fi_douche_iary? I’m not feeling nearly filthy-minded enough for this at the minute. Maybe some more pics of Cabrera will help?
Tits Cabrera… the reason man invented “hate f_cking”
Chairman of the Bored
Tits Cabrera… the reason man invented “hate f_cking”
Tits Cabrera… the reason man invented “hate f_cking”
Anal_Marker Put
You are all homo wankers.
@63-64: seconded. i loathe her so much. but i love the t’s.
@66 = Simon Hobbs and his gaydar
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6161691.stm
any comments raj?
@69 yeah, I have a comment on a 3 year old story. douche.
-RR
I’m Dr. Rockzo, the rock ‘n’ roll clown, I do COCAINE! KakAkaKaKAA yEAH!
@42 FTW, for the year, for the decade… thanks, man.
I'd love to go to one of these Super Bowl parties and do lines off of Krystal Steal's teets while Raj gets snowballed by D. Chiesi.
@74 so you're into the busted Daytona stripper look?
Bess, do you think Amanda will call me?
Tiger
I’d love to go to one of these Super Bowl parties and do lines off of Krystal Steal’s teets while Raj gets snowballed by D. Chiesi.
@74 so you’re into the busted Daytona stripper look?
@71. . .Metalocalypse comments are always a winner.
@72
That's not her.
@71. . .Metalocalypse comments are always a winner.
@72
That’s not her.
[...] Keryn Limmer, the Galleon analyst who Raj paid $5,000 to be tased when execs from stun-gun maker Taser International came to make a pitch in 2005 [...]