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Wall Street Traders Bring Home Far More Than Brain Surgeons
Apology accepted. It was a very cool experience. I was going to tell you about how I ran into Donald Trump in the lobby of Trump Tower (I actually did and he said hello to me!) but I thought you would demand proof ;)— January 17, 2011 12:07 p.m.
Wall Street Traders Bring Home Far More Than Brain Surgeons
The other link should work.— January 17, 2011 7:27 a.m.
Wall Street Traders Bring Home Far More Than Brain Surgeons
<a href="http://s747.photobucket.com/albums/xx120/PickleCa…" target="_blank"><img src="http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx120/PickleCa…" border="0" alt="Badge"></a> Not a great picture of me - my husband requested I cover my real first name.— January 17, 2011 7:23 a.m.
Wall Street Traders Bring Home Far More Than Brain Surgeons
Ponzi, my husband (who has been in the securities industry for over 25 years) is laughing out loud at your comments. You are sadly misinformed about access to the floor of the exchange. I am aware of who was there that day. I was fortunate to be among them. I will reiterate - if you have connections, you can get on the floor. My brother-in-law and his family have been on the floor. Two of our good friends have been on the floor. All post 9/11.— January 17, 2011 7:09 a.m.
Wall Street Traders Bring Home Far More Than Brain Surgeons
Ponzi, why would I lie? I will send you a copy of my guest badge, if it makes you feel better. My husband works in the financial industry. And you can get inside, you just have to know somebody. Yes, the entire building is barricaded, and you have to call your sponsor at an allotted time. They come outside and get you and escort you through security. You then get photographed and receive a badge good only for the day your visit is scheduled. We spent an hour and one half with the owner of a specialist firm, but as I am sure you know, they are no longer called "specialists", but rather "designated market makers".— January 17, 2011 6:49 a.m.
Wall Street Traders Bring Home Far More Than Brain Surgeons
It's already happening, nan. But here's something our host told me as well - his company used to sponsor a huge boy's and girl's club. They would pay for day trips and huge picnics and all kinds of stuff for these kids. The guys on the floor are different than the ones at Goldman-Sachs. They have heart and they are funny. One thing that they all struggle with is the villainization of them. The owner told me that NEVER would the press report on the good things they did. It sickened him that all press was relegated to so-called obscene profits. Sometimes when you are exposed to the humanity of the people that you think are the devil incarnate, you are most decidedly pleasantly surprised.— January 16, 2011 1:18 p.m.
Wall Street Traders Bring Home Far More Than Brain Surgeons
Don, I could honestly feel the demise of the NYSE while there. That wonderful building is all for show now, and really unnecessary. It's basically a studio for news stations. And it WAS scary. All that intellectual property just going up in smoke. One of the guys that owns the company that hosted us told me that there was a sense of uselessness to them now. It was actually kind of sad.— January 16, 2011 12:28 p.m.
Wall Street Traders Bring Home Far More Than Brain Surgeons
Dennis, I was on the floor of the NYSE on December 10th, and I can tell you with all honesty that the traders HATE what their jobs have become. They used to be able to use their brains and their intellect to conduct trades, and it is now all done on hand-held devices using algorithms. The Blue Room is completely empty, and the experience, while educating, was nothing like 2000. The investors have become so risk-adverse that even when the traders make their clients a boatload of money doing a trade based on instinct rather than the set mathematical formula, they run the risk of being given an earfull at best, and losing the client at worst. The overall sense you feel on the floor is one of nostalgia for days gone by, never to return again.— January 16, 2011 noon
La Scala Closes
Thanks, Nan!! And my husband informed me (he grew up in Point Loma) that the old strip club in the La Scala location was called "Fast Eddie's Booby Trap". Priceless.— January 16, 2011 11:38 a.m.
La Scala Closes
Point Loma Seafoods is hands-down the BEST place to get seafood. We purchased a quart-size container of ceviche there recently and it set us back about $25.00!! But OMG, it was heavenly. They still have not commenced their remodel.— January 16, 2011 11:14 a.m.