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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.5 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:24:45 GMT--><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><title>Extraordinary Popular Delusions</title><subtitle>EPD Blog</subtitle><id>http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/</id><link rel="alternate" type="application/xhtml+xml" href="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/"/><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/atom.xml"/><updated>2010-07-17T12:18:25Z</updated><generator uri="http://www.squarespace.com/" version="Squarespace Site Server v5.11.5 (http://www.squarespace.com/)">Squarespace</generator><entry><title>Annotate Your Arse Off with www.aviary.com</title><id>http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2010/7/16/annotate-your-arse-off-with-wwwaviarycom.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2010/7/16/annotate-your-arse-off-with-wwwaviarycom.html"/><author><name>Stickman ED</name></author><published>2010-07-16T05:37:05Z</published><updated>2010-07-16T05:37:05Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><br /></strong></span></p>
<p><strong style="font-size: 140%;"><span style="font-size: 140%;">Also here is a better plug-in (alot more functionality) of the screenshot with annotations app <a href="http://www.aviary.com">www.aviary.com</a> that works on chrome</span></strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://aviary.com/artists/chatkoff/creations/doodle"><img src="http://rookery9.aviary.com.s3.amazonaws.com/4514000/4514141_b5b6_625x625.jpg" alt="doodle.png.png  on Aviary" /></a><a href="http://aviary.com/artists/chatkoff/creations/doodle">doodle.png.png</a> on <a href="http://aviary.com">Aviary.</a>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>A $100 Million Here, a $100 Million There</title><id>http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2010/4/30/a-100-million-here-a-100-million-there.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2010/4/30/a-100-million-here-a-100-million-there.html"/><author><name>Stickman ED</name></author><published>2010-04-30T22:55:07Z</published><updated>2010-04-30T22:55:07Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><strong><span style="font-size: 200%;">Perspective on the Federal Deficit</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 200%;">&nbsp;<span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/storage/presidential_advisory_council_images/10dollarbill_1.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1272668451778" alt="" /></span></span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cWt8hTayupE&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cWt8hTayupE&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 200%;">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://www.wimp.com/budgetcuts/">&nbsp;(click here) &nbsp;I am going to check this boy's math</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Abacus-dabra! EPD launches www.ThePerpetrader.com</title><id>http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2010/4/17/abacus-dabra-epd-launches-wwwtheperpetradercom.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2010/4/17/abacus-dabra-epd-launches-wwwtheperpetradercom.html"/><author><name>Stickman ED</name></author><published>2010-04-17T17:00:06Z</published><updated>2010-04-17T17:00:06Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[]]></content></entry><entry><title>French Tackler</title><id>http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2010/3/14/french-tackler.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2010/3/14/french-tackler.html"/><author><name>Stickman ED</name></author><published>2010-03-14T23:01:14Z</published><updated>2010-03-14T23:01:14Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><strong style="font-size: 200%;">France's Tough Chic Finance Minster Takes Down Jon Stewart</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong style="font-size: 200%;">While England (and the EU) Slept France Was on the Job or Rather Taking Away the Bankers' Jobs</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong style="font-size: 200%;">"So How Do You Say 'Poop' in French Madame?"</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a style="color: #333; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com" target="_blank">The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td>
<td style="padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td>
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<td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;" colspan="2"><a style="color: #333; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-april-27-2009/christine-lagarde" target="_blank">Christine Lagarde</a><a></a></td>
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<td style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 360px; text-align: right;" colspan="2"><a style="color: #96deff; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" target="_blank">www.thedailyshow.com</a></td>
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<td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:225155' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td>
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<td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a style="font: 10px arial; color: #333; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes" target="_blank">Daily Show<br /> Full Episodes</a></td>
<td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a style="font: 10px arial; color: #333; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.indecisionforever.com" target="_blank">Political Humor</a></td>
<td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a style="font: 10px arial; color: #333; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health" target="_blank">Health Care Reform</a></td>
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</table>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Stickman'sTribeca Film Festival@Stern</title><id>http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2010/2/9/stickmanstribeca-film-festivalstern.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2010/2/9/stickmanstribeca-film-festivalstern.html"/><author><name>Stickman ED</name></author><published>2010-02-09T16:05:31Z</published><updated>2010-02-09T16:05:31Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 200%;"><strong><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/storage/dead_men_talking_images/1dollarbill_1.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1265733818247" alt="" /></span></span>Back at Stern Again for Year 3... or is it year 4??????</strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><!-- BODY { 	FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt } .aolmailheader { 	FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt } A.aolmailheader:link { 	COLOR: blue; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A.aolmailheader:visited { 	COLOR: magenta; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A.aolmailheader:active { 	COLOR: blue; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A.aolmailheader:hover { 	COLOR: blue; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } --><strong>1. BACKGROUND ON TRIBECA FF - HOW AND WHY WAS IT FORMED, EVOLVED</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Why?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="http://www.newyorkpersonalinjuryattorneyblog.com/uploaded_images/WTC-Memorial-Lights-726357.jpg" alt="http://www.newyorkpersonalinjuryattorneyblog.com/uploaded_images/WTC-Memorial-Lights-726357.jpg" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Original Goal:&nbsp; Bring People Back Downtown, Start the Healing Process</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Business Plan? (Yeah Right)&nbsp; A Leap of Faith</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lDBrdl2sZWs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lDBrdl2sZWs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>2. TFF GOALS  IN THE US and Beyond</p>
<p>Create a Global Media Company-- year-round/global/24/7</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Expansion:&nbsp; Ambition or Necessity?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>12 day event in New York doesn't work</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>is independent film model&nbsp; broken?&nbsp; needs tweaking or a whole new mind?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The world has changed:</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><object width="660" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NhPgUcjGQAw&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NhPgUcjGQAw&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="660" height="405"></embed></object></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>What is the purpose and job to be done?</p>
<p>Disrutpive Innovation Theory</p>
<p>Google&nbsp; Professor Clayton Christensen</p>
<p>Read Innovator's Dilemma</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Triangle Below Canada</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>3. TFF GOALS INTERNATIONALLY - QATAR</p>
<p>Cultural Diplomacy</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Why Doha?&nbsp; Why Not.</p>
<p><br />4. WHY THE REALTIONSHIP  WITH STERN</p>
<p>We love community and education</p>
<p><br />5. STUDENT PROJECTS</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Filmanthropy</p>
<p><strong>Founded by Aaron Kinnari </strong></p>
<p>&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>NYU Undergraduate Senior &amp; President, Stern Cares</strong></p>
<p>&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Stern Cares: Sponsoring Organization </strong></p>
<p>&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Enrolled &amp; excelled in Al Lieberman&rsquo;s Tribeca Film Festival Class last Spring</strong></p>
<p>&sect;&nbsp; <strong>The idea for &ldquo;Filmanthropy&rdquo; was born out of Aaron&rsquo;s positive experience at  TFF &lsquo;09</strong></p>
<p>&sect;&nbsp; <strong>The strength of the Tribeca brand in the education space</strong></p>
<p>&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Active in CGI</strong></p>
<p><br />6. GEOFF GILMORE MOVING TO TFF</p>
<p>Changed the Landscape</p>
<p><br />7. FILM  FESTIVALS IN GENERAL</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>New Distribution Model</p>
<p><br />8. POLITICAL- SOCIAL- ECONOMIC AGENDA</p>
<p>We're here from Tribeca and we came to help, really.</p>
<p>Can there be a civic minded media company that is for profit yet philanthropic, and creates a meaningful brand?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><br />9. THE FESTIVAL  ITSELF - STRUCTURE, BOARD</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>For Profit/ Not For profit</p>
<p>Walnut Hill became an outside investor</p>
<p><br />10. ANYTHING CRAIG WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Disrutptive Innovation</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Open Source</p>
<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EwL0G9wK8j4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EwL0G9wK8j4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Cathedral and the Bazaar</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_QOoU1MDoVA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_QOoU1MDoVA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Palindrome</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/42E2fAWM6rA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/42E2fAWM6rA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>The Re-incarnation of Howard Beale</title><id>http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2009/12/22/the-re-incarnation-of-howard-beale.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2009/12/22/the-re-incarnation-of-howard-beale.html"/><author><name>Stickman ED</name></author><published>2009-12-23T01:32:39Z</published><updated>2009-12-23T01:32:39Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 200%;"><strong>What Ever Happened to Civil Discourse?&nbsp; Forget About Tea Parties<br /></strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 200%;"><strong> A True "We're Not Going to Take It Any More" Moment from MSNBC.&nbsp; <br /></strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Reminds me of&nbsp; the quote my father use to tell me: "I never learned anything while I was talking"</strong></p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/j8R8baHPr2E&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/j8R8baHPr2E&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>2Big2Fail</title><id>http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2009/11/27/2big2fail.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2009/11/27/2big2fail.html"/><author><name>Stickman ED</name></author><published>2009-11-27T19:06:38Z</published><updated>2009-11-27T19:06:38Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><strong style="font-size: 200%;">&nbsp;It All Started Here: Read NYT Article from 1987&nbsp; That Predicts $500 Billion Bank Balance Sheets (we wish) <br /></strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong style="font-size: 200%;">U.S. Treasury Decision to Push Global Banking Bohemeths Set U.S. On a Collision Course with Inevitability of Financial Irresponsibility</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;<strong><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/07/us/treasury-now-favors-creation-of-huge-banks.html">U.S. Treasury Wants REALLY BIG Banks&nbsp; (click here to read&nbsp; entire 1987 article )</a></strong></p>
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<div class="timestamp">June 7, 1987</div>
<h1>TREASURY NOW FAVORS CREATION OF HUGE BANKS</h1>
<div class="byline">By NATHANIEL C. NASH, Special to the New York Times</div>
<p><strong>WASHINGTON, June 6&mdash; </strong> Top officials at the Treasury Department have concluded that the Government should encourage creation of very large banks that could better compete with financial institutions in Japan and Europe.</p>
<p>The Treasury plan, which would permit the acquisition of banks by large industrial companies, was also endorsed by Alan Greenspan, in an interview before President Reagan nominated him this week to be chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/07/us/treasury-now-favors-creation-of-huge-banks.html?pagewanted=print">to read entire article click here.</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>2Big2Fail: It All Began Here</title><id>http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2009/11/27/2big2fail-it-all-began-here.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2009/11/27/2big2fail-it-all-began-here.html"/><author><name>Stickman ED</name></author><published>2009-11-27T19:03:07Z</published><updated>2009-11-27T19:03:07Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.tribune-democrat.com/featur es/local_story_329105230.html&amp;amp;ct=ga&amp;amp;cd=vQHY0Wk5GS0&amp;amp;usg=AFQjCNG9- _pZBTcdUPAWYPDAo151z7jm6A&gt;">Read the NYT Article</a> from 1987 That Set Us on a Disaster Course with Financial Responsibility.</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Buttonwood Gathering: Very Strong Out of the Gates</title><id>http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2009/10/18/buttonwood-gathering-very-strong-out-of-the-gates.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2009/10/18/buttonwood-gathering-very-strong-out-of-the-gates.html"/><author><name>Stickman ED</name></author><published>2009-10-18T04:45:29Z</published><updated>2009-10-18T04:45:29Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://economist.i.feedroom.com/t_assets/economist/20090717/2261d0ecfe2253504f7b79f070a5be7c47e2704a.jpg" alt="http://economist.i.feedroom.com/t_assets/economist/20090717/2261d0ecfe2253504f7b79f070a5be7c47e2704a.jpg" width="222" height="166" /></span></span></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Transparency is Necessary But Not Sufficient: Yet another cautionary tale</title><id>http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2009/10/17/transparency-is-necessary-but-not-sufficient-yet-another-cau.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/blog/2009/10/17/transparency-is-necessary-but-not-sufficient-yet-another-cau.html"/><author><name>Stickman ED</name></author><published>2009-10-17T16:19:47Z</published><updated>2009-10-17T16:19:47Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><strong><span style="font-size: 200%;">When the Smartest Guy in the Room Looks Like Bozo the Clown</span></strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 200%;">Harvard Derivatives Hedging Strategy Backfires to the tune of $500 million</span></strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://exiledonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/summers-sleeping.jpg" alt="http://exiledonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/summers-sleeping.jpg" width="297" height="216" />&nbsp;</p>
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<blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;Larry Summers Hard at work.&nbsp; It's very tiring to be a genius, your mind never rests</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div id="attachment_8921" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 420px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img class="size-full wp-image-8921" title="Obit Harmon" src="http://thebsreport.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/bozo.jpg?w=410&amp;h=512" alt="&quot;Bozo The Clown&quot;--Genius" width="293" height="253" /></span></span>
<p class="wp-caption-text">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="wp-caption-text">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Bozo The Clown"--Genius</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h4></h4>
<h4><span class="full-image-inline ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.extraordinarypopulardelusions.net/storage/stickman_characters/stickman_devil.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1255798975952" alt="" /></span></span>Transparency, schmansparency.&nbsp; Not even the&nbsp; high-Q of Larry Summers is enough intelligence to avoid looking like a schmuck... at least in hindidght.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&amp;sid=aHou7iMlBMN8">Seems the geniuses at Harvard had a conviction that interestes were heading north.</a>&nbsp; So to hedge their interest rate exposure, they entered into a series of interest rate swaps to synthetically "lock-in" a fixed rate against their anticipated Capital Projects Campaign that would be funded trough floating rate bonds.&nbsp; A pretty intelligent and "correlative hedging" startegy and an apprpriate use of derivative proucts. But they still managed to talke a $500 million hit (that we know about) to unwind it's position.</h4>
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<h4>SO WTF&nbsp; happened.&nbsp; I'll tell you what.&nbsp; The wheels came off the car driving down the highway at 70 mph.&nbsp; Or at least one&nbsp; leg fell of the stool.&nbsp; I'll let the investigative pundits try to reconstruct or deconstruct how even the smartest guys can't manage the risk of products they don't really understand.</h4>
<h4>Lest you think I am not clairvoyant, I will predict that this&nbsp; was a combination of not only rates dropping precipitously (due tot he fianancial crisis), a cancellation of the projects (due to the fiancial crisis)&nbsp; massive investment losses in the alternative investments portfolio (due to the financial crisis)&nbsp; and something known as basis risk (hedge variable rate demand products that have weird results when spreads go wild (due tothe fiancial crisis).</h4>
<h4>&nbsp;</h4>
<h4>So it's a good thing that Harvard was able to remove the risk manager , Larry Summers -- he was kinda like the CEO. Glad he is watching the economy and the finacial markets on behalf of all of us instead of just the Harvard Treasury.</h4>
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<h4>Q:&nbsp; Ho do you sit on a three legged- stool when one of the legs breaks off?</h4>
<h4>A: You just turn it upside down.</h4>
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