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Funny Business
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] , Craigslist took the spoof listing down. But not before listing it as among "The Best of Craigslist"!
I contacted the person who posted the fake listing—turns out it's long time Funny Business reader "Helena Handbasket", who works for another firm on Wall Street.
She forwarded me some of the emails the posting received:
From a Merrill employee: "I am very interested in the antique area rug!!! :-)"
From BC: "What a deal! Hold on I let me call a few investors… I need to see if I can steal some more suckers money to furnish my office."
And "salutations" from someone who thought the post was legitimate: "I'm a collector and lead buyer for a antique firm in the NY area. Could you provide pictures or more details on the area rug? Pictures or some history would be ideal. If that doesn't work when would be an appropriate time to look at the merchandise? Salutations."
Funny Business Comments: |
YOUR EMAILS ON THAIN AND FAKE MADOFF:
Emails coming to my blog about the Thain episode:
Lou G says the Craigslist post was missing "one final item": "Commode on legs- $32,000...Lift the mahogany top, open the left and right front carved doors, and you're 'good to go'. Has a built-in aroma therapy attachment to relieve stress associated with making big decisions, or (to) cover up odors if anyone should enter your office shortly after using it."
From EC: "In the interest of Fair Play, maybe we can find out how well Ken Lewis' office is decorated in comparison."
Chris G. is fuming over Thain's spending on bonuses before leaving:"That was taxpayers money paid out as bonuses from an insolvent company. When Madoff tried to do that, at least his sons turned him in. Thain, his Board and his CFO should all go to jail. The employees should be made to return the money they got as bonuses."
(*This Programming Note: John Thain Talks With CNBC's Maria Bartiromo Today On CNBC's Closing Bell At 4pm/ET*)
REGARDING MADOFF...
My "reveal" of the man behind the Fake Bernie Madoff blog drew a sharp rebuke from Mark G. for bringing up Jay Berkman's own brush with the law:
"Dear Jane...you pulled a rather unsavory move with Jay Berkman today, taking an interview and editing it to a point of exposing Jay, who has already been devastated by a circumstance, choosing to focus on 'fraud' not the blog. Do reporters ever stay with the part of the story that could better someone's life? You could have taken his Madoff Blog and the movie idea he had...and helped him. Why didn't you tell him that you were going to air the interview, and he should be prepared because you were going to focus on the 'wire fraud' (not bank fraud as you stated), and it is going to embarrass his family publicly, and take his seeming interesting approach to recouping his family's loss from Madoff's scheme and destroying any possibility of furthering the idea?
I hope the sun shines your way often because you certainly put a cloud back over a person's head who trusted you. How do reporters do it? Didn't you find the blog entertaining? Wasn't that the reason why you wanted to do the story? Unbelievable! Could you imagine if you focused on the creative things that he is doing...suddenly taking off with a book/movie deal from his personal tragedy and ad dollars because of the blog! You attend the premier knowing you did something that helped someone instead of hammering him."
Response from Jane: As a reporter, I felt compelled to disclose Berkman's past conviction, and I told him this would have to happen. Imagine if I knew and didn't report it? I did get the bank fraud wrong, it is conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and I corrected it as soon as I was made aware. I think the blog is hilarious, and I think Berkman's wit and experience makes him the perfect person to do it. I hope he makes a killing at it.
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