Saturday, December 20, 2008

Acting alone ...

As I started reading about Bernard Madoff, I told my wife that something didn't make sense here. The guy's seventy, but he would have to be a computer whiz to pull off what he did. But it seems he probably IS a computer whiz. He was an important pioneer in forcing the the big exchanges to computerize trading.

But I do not believe he acted alone. Sheesh!

Just so you know where I'm coming from: I don't believe in big conspiracy theories. If more than a few people are involved, the whole thing becomes known. But I don't believe that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, either.

Oh, one more thing: Someone tell the New York Times to stop using that Hang Dog Picture they keep using of Madoff. There have to be pictures that make him look as evil as he's alleged to be.

And one more thing: Keep your eye on that $50B estimate of how much money his scheme was worth. That estimate comes from the master of befuddlement himself, Bernie M. The real number might have a different number of digits.

3 comments:

Martin Langeland said...

I believe the quote is:
"Three can keep a secret,
If two are dead."
And yet ...
People being people, they create opportunities for all sorts.
If one realizes the possibilities, and acts, The result appears as concert, though it was solo.
e.g.:
Knowing that one programmer allowed network signals to act in a program; and that a hardware supplier provided computers with on board wifi modems -- both honest oversights -- Then another programmer acting on contract can write a program which, when broadcast in the vicinity, can alter the results of the original program. Hence the votes for candidate A elect candidate B.
But there is no conspiracy.

Martin Langeland said...

By the by:
Happy Solstice et al.

--ml

ZM said...

oh, no - not a fan of that photo. Or persuaded by the number...