As many of you know, though there are tremendous benefits to be gained from taking a public company, there are also serious downsides to consider, like unwanted scrutiny of your business practices. While executives at Dunkin’ Brands were probably pretty pleased with last week’s opening day pop, the IPO has presented some problems for the branch office employees who’ve been using the pastry purveyor as a front for the real goods they’re selling: ass-play and hand jobs via the mouth. Continue reading »
amateur hour
At the end of May, it was announced that David Einhorn would pay $200 million for a 33 percent stake in the Mets. The deal appeared to be a win/win for both parties, Einhorn being a lifelong Mets (/Brewers) fan and the ball club’s finances getting to the point where they were considering passing around a collection plate during games. Seven weeks later a contract is yet to be signed, the sticking point seeming to be what percentage the Greenlight Capital founder will be able to increase his stake to, when, and for how much. While the negotiations remain open, people familiar with the matter stress that “Einhorn considers the deal on track” and for their part, The Mets said in a statement “We are in exclusive negotiations with David Einhorn and continue to have positive and productive discussions regarding David’s ongoing interest in an investment in the Mets.” Which is why it was interesting to hear that the management has been running around town with not one but three more potential suitors and then leaking it to the press in some sad sack attempt to get Einhorn to put a ring on it A-sap. Continue reading »
Trader Turned Bank Robber’s Plan Didn’t Leave Room For Rookie Mistakes, Old DUI Charges
By Bess Levin
In 2003, Stephen Trantel lost his trading job, though he left the house “for work” every morning to keep up appearances with his wife. He couldn’t find a new gig and didn’t know what he was going to do. Then one day while sitting in his car, after being unemployed for over two months, it came to him.
“I was just sitting in my truck looking out the window. And I’m like: ‘I need money right now. What can I do where nobody’s gonna get hurt?’ I just came to this epiphany that there’s no other way. If I wanna hold on to everything, then I’ve got to steal money.”
He started “researching” how one goes about robbing a bank without getting caught and found out a few things, like that 80% of the people who rob banks are caught in their getaway car so he “took that out of the equation. Stephen decided to “focus on one bank at time,” and “observing that most blue-collar men and cops cash their cheques on a Wednesday, avoided mid-week heists.” He planned his escape route in advance and on the big day, would wear a disguise that consisted of a baseball cap, sunglasses and a fake ‘stache. He’d enter the bank, identify “the weakest” teller and despite not actually having a gun, would slip him or her a note that read, “Hey, I have a gun. No funny games. No alarm.” This worked out pretty well for a while and Stephen successfully robbed 9 banks. Until he made two big mistakes. Continue reading »
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