Write-Offs: 05.23.12
$$$Euro-Zone Leaders Step Up Greece Contingency Plans [WSJ]
$$$Facebook Banks Said To Make $100 Million On Stabilizing Stock [Bloomberg, earlier]
$$$The Modest Worth of Big Banks [NYT]
$$$Cardiff Garcia on Brad DeLong on Walter Bagehot [FTAV]
$$$ "While we’re on the subject, we’d be remiss not to note that Mr. Muniyappa wore jeans and an untucked plaid button down, prompting New York Times legal eagle Peter Lattman to poll observers on the last time they’d seen a witness take the stand without a necktie. 'Maybe not at the trials The Times covers,' a wiseacre snapped." [NYO]
$$$Stress! An Energy Source Of The Future? [The Awl]
$$$"Representing the sovereign in these affairs is just more fun. It is a mixture of politics, finance and law, and theater," [sovereign restructuring lawyer Lee Buchheit] said. Buchheit recalled an Asian finance minister - referring to her only as "The Iron Lady" - resting a hand on his arm as tension mounted at 3 a.m. in a marathon meeting and saying: "I know you'll get us through this." [Reuters]
$$$ UBS is looking for a credit stress testing analyst in Stamford [DBCC]
$$$China plans brokerage reforms to create its own Goldman Sachs [Reuters]
$$$In defense of private equity: Japan [Noahpinion]
$$$Romney Can’t Explain What He Learned in Business [DI]
$$$ALF Creator Paul Fusco Thinks ‘Timing is Right’ for an ALF Movie [Gawker]