Write-Offs: 05.17.11

$$$ In Europe, a first call for IMF chief Strauss-Kahn to quit (WaPo)

$$$This is what Ben Stein had to say about the Dominique Strauss-Kahn situation: "The prosecutors say that Mr. Strauss-Kahn "forced" the complainant to have oral and other sex with him. How? Did he have a gun? Did he have a knife? He's a short fat old man. They were in a hotel with people passing by the room constantly, if it's anything like the many hotels I am in. How did he intimidate her in that situation? And if he was so intimidating, why did she immediately feel un-intimidated enough to alert the authorities as to her story?" (American Spectator)

$$$A Once-Tight Flock at Goldman, Now Scattered [Dealbook]

$$$ Skepticism grows on Geithner's debt limit deadline (Reuters)

$$$Iran president may become OPEC president (MarketWatch)

$$$ Fund managers losing faith in world economy (FT)

$$$Hedge Funds Line Up for AIG Pitch Meeting (CNBC)

$$$ LinkedIn IPO: Biggest Price Bump Since Tech Bubble (Deal Journal)

$$$ Goldman's Hatzius: The Next US Recession 'Is Years Away' (CNBC)

$$$Barclays Pays Its Top Staff 7% Interest on Five-Year Deferred Cash Bonuses (Bloomberg)

$$$ Dennis Berman: The Midwest Medicis' Favorite Financier [WSJ]

$$$A colour-coded guide to the Greek crisis (BofA/ML via FT Alphaville)

$$$ Reality vs. Matt Taibbi, Part I [Stone Street Advisors]

$$$ Warren Buffett's Ride on the Rails Is Paying Off (Businessweek)

$$$Suit vs Citigroup execs over mortgages tossed out (Reuters)

$$$ Kohn ‘regrets’ pain of millions in financial crisis (FT)

$$$Warren and Me [The Reformed Broker via Easy Street/Heidi Moore]

$$$Mitt Romney’s money machine cranks up (Politico)

$$$ Is it fair to fine fat people for not dieting? (BBC)

$$$Famed NYC eatery Elaine's to close down six months after owner Elaine Kaufman dies (NYDN)

$$$ Vikram Pandit Wants You To Like Him [TSC]