We Are More Utilitarian :)

What happened to my WAMU?

Q. When can I bank at Chase branches in my area?

A. We'll be working hard to combine systems as quickly as possible so you can begin to enjoy expanded branch convenience in your area, and we expect system changes to begin late next year. We'll let you know in advance of any changes; in the meantime, simply continue to bank at WaMu branches as you do today.

Q. Why is it going to take a full year for me to be able to use Chase branches for simple things such as an atm withdrawal, since they bought you out? There are so many Chase branches in the city!

A. Chase still wants to be able to collect that $3.00 convenience fee for another year in case you have to use a Chase ATM, and we will still be able to charge you $1.00 for using another financial institution's ATM machine.

It Ain't Right!

Waiting on line for 2 hours for the Daily Show and not getting in, and finding out afterward that Bill Clinton was the Special Guest!!!! (I can get VIP tix now if anyone wants to go soon)
David Blaine said 60 hours straight. He takes breaks every 45 minutes... I saw him standing with my own 2 eyes (drinking water and peeing in a cup - he should've gone to the bathroom like a decent person at that point)
Even Jews can't get a steady job nowadays, tutoring/babysitting/catering barely pays the Upper Westside rent
Lame NYU kids overcrowding shows at Webster Hall
ATM receipt of Wall Street banker balance reads: $97, 084.23
Everyone I know is living paycheck to paycheck!!!
AIG commercials are still running
I haven't been shopping in the LONGEST time

Wait...What?

The Economy Showdown

Please match the following lettered description with the corresponding numbered quote below:

a)Governor that is running for 5th grade Student Council President
b)Senator that is the only candidate offering real solutions and sticking to the topic
c)Senator that is still using 911 as a crutch


1)"We're going to put an end to the reckless conduct, corruption, and unbridled greed that have caused a crisis on wall street and America, we're going to put a stop to it."
"We have to assure every American that their deposit in a bank is safe, we have to have a 911 commission and we have to fix this alphabet soup of regulatory agencies that's left over from the 1930s...."

2)"We also need serious reform on Wall Street and John McCain is the guy who will get it done"
"With your vote we're going to Washington D.C. to shake things up"
"His tax plans really would kill jobs, and hurt small businesses and make even today's bad economy, look like the good ol' days"

3)"Senator McCain offered up the oldest Washington stunt in the book. You pass the buck to a commission to study the problem. Now here's the thing, this isn't 911, we know how we got into this mess, what we need now is the leadership to get us out..."

No Yemen for Americans

Breaking News:

Yes kids, I couldn't sleep and here I am giving you breaking news if anyone actually reads my blog-
U.S. Embassy in the capital Sana'a of Yemen was reported to have a car bomb explosion and gunfire just outside of it.

Witnesses report some casualties, more details will be given in the morning

This is not the first time the U.S. embassy in Sana'a has been attacked, the last attack was about 1 yr. ago

A full google map zoom-in of the area was given on CNN, but no indication of explosions or gunfire during the zoom-in.

Jim Cramer said it a year ago, and I could've confirmed it 6 months ago

Six months ago when I worked at a very popular midtown hotel that held many high-profile financial meetings, I had the pleasure of overhearing one of those American Psycho pricks give an over the phone interview with NPR right by my desk. It was around when Bear Sterns slipped into some troubled times.

I remember our financial group sales manager at the hotel freaking out, because a lot of the companies were starting to back out of the future meeting deals they were planning with us. A lot of these were off-site meetings (office was based in NYC, but staying at some hotel in NYC and renting out event space with catering). We're talking weekly or monthly meetings in the 6-7 figure range all in the name of celebration or "business."

The only thing I could really pick up on, since I don't really understand economy jargon, was the repetition of, "In the event of the collapse of a company, the fed (Federal Reserve) will be there to step in and monitor liquidity (lend some financial backing) to the company, the company remains as a player and the economy in turn will continue to be stimulated."

One month later after the Bear Sterns (JP Morgan merger) rescue, I was laid off from my position at the hotel (that lost a lot of money from financial company meeting pull-outs and an overall hit to the economy).

Six months later: The Fed to loan AIG up to 85 Billion. I guess that guy was only half right.

NYC Crazies

Spotted: The Aspiring Michael Buble Crooner
Location: Union Square
Behavior: Leaning on a post and breathing heavily in between the loud and tone-deaf lines of song
Defining Characteristics: Overall bland appearance, glasses, generic polo shirt, light blue regular-fit Lee jeans, side part, earphone only in one ear in case applause follows
Song of the night: "You Go to My Head" (most likely the Frank Sinatra recording - not Brian Ferry's rendition)

Great things about Orlando/Winter Park not Disney

Red Fox Lounge

It's socially acceptable to drink Coors, Keystone, Vodka &Gatorade,Yuengling

Also socially acceptable to drink the above poolside or in the pool

A room block at the Mt. Vernon Inn guarantees immunity from all hotel rules

It is possible to get tan or sunburn at 10:00am
*3 credit cards and your ConEd Bill is sufficient I.D. for TSA at MCO

Unabashed use of waterfalls for decoration

You can walk through Wal-Mart and eat Taco Bell/Burger King/McDonald's without the guilt

*Note: TSA will mark your boarding pass as "special," pat you down, and go through your bag to individually swab all of your shoes to make sure there is no residue that tests positive as a basic material for a bomb or explosives of some sort. Allow at least 1 hr at security checkpoint before boarding time