Write-Offs: 08.12.10

$$$ Harbinger spokesman: "Phil Falcone is a strategic visionary with a record of success through all business cycles." [Reuters]

$$$ Recession, Hamptons Style [DI]

$$$Importer of 'Smurfs' takes plea in wacky $11.5 million Blackstone Group extortion case [NYP]

$$$Rattner Discusses Management Changes At GM (via Martha's Vineyard) [Bloomberg]

$$$Lehman: Och-Ziff Knew of Stock 'Short and Distort' Efforts [WSJ]

$$$ Highfields co-founder/key-thrower Richard Grubman to retire [AR]

$$$How To Survive A New Boss [FINS]