“Money changes everything.” — Some guy, probably without any money Andrew Ross Sorkin, access journalist extraordinaire and alleged shill for the Great and Good,1 put up a sensible op ed this morning to which I thought I would contribute a few brief supporting remarks. It seems Mr. Sorkin has taken somewhat of a shine to Antonio Weiss, a successful Lazard investment banker whom the current Administration has advanced as its candidate for under secretary of the Treasury for domestic fina...| The Epicurean Dealmaker
Auguste Rodin, The Age of Bronze, 1876 “If you meet a thief, you may suspect him, by virtue of your office, to be no true man; and, for such kind of men, the less you meddle or make with them, why the more is for your honesty.” — William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing Francine McKenna of re: The Auditorsrecently expressed her dismay that the Big Four accounting firms have continued to be noticeably remiss about engaging reputable accounting firms to audit their own in-house broker ...| The Epicurean Dealmaker
Diego Velasquez, Portrait of Pedro de Barberana, 1631 No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be; Am an attendant lord, one that will do To swell a progress, start a scene or two, Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool, Deferential, glad to be of use, Politic, cautious, and meticulous; Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse; At times, indeed, almost ridiculous— Almost, at times, the Fool. — T.S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” So The Blackstone Group decided yest...| The Epicurean Dealmaker
Thomas Nast, Mr. Moneybags “If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up.” “In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter; so far we are equal.” “True. You are a gentleman’s daughter. But who was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition.” “Whatever my connections may be,” said Eliz...| The Epicurean Dealmaker
Adolphe-William Bouguereau, The Birth of Venus, 1879 Mildred:“That Ted Forrester’s nice-looking, isn’t he? Veda likes him.” Monte:“Who wouldn’t? He has a million dollars.” — Mildred Pierce (1945) Wall Street has a problem. Kevin Roose, who wrote the definitive bildungsroman/sob story of early-2010s twenty-somethings on Wall Street, nails it. Finance is no longer the first choice of ambitious, high-achieving college graduates. Technology is:Hyperdriven, multitalented young peop...| The Epicurean Dealmaker
Messenger:“I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.” Beatrice:“No; an he were, I would burn my study. But, I pray you, who is his companion? Is there no young squarer now that will make a voyage with him to the devil?” Messenger:“He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio.” Beatrice:“O Lord, he will hang upon him like a disease: he is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! if he have caught the Benedick,...| The Epicurean Dealmaker
Korbin Dallas:“We need to find the leader. Mangalores won’t fight without the leader.” Mangalore Leader:“One more shot, we start killing hostages.” Korbin Dallas:“That’s the leader.” Mangalore Leader:“Send someone to negotiate.” Security Chief:[to Dallas] “I I I I I’ve never negotiated I…” Korbin Dallas:“Mind if I… try?” Security Chief:“No, no, sure, sure. Sure. [to Mangalores] We’re sending somebody in to negotiate!” Korbin Dallas:[walks into room, sho...| The Epicurean Dealmaker
Painting by Jen Norton. Jesus asks the viewer the question he posed to the disciples in Matt 13-18. Artwork features Jesus' "I Am" statements| Jen Norton Art Studio