Matt Taibbi’s response to Jake DeSantis

DeSantis has a few major points. They include: 1) I had nothing to do with my boss Joe Cassano’s toxic credit default swaps portfolio, and only a handful of people in our unit did; 2) I didn’t even know anything about them; 3) I could have left AIG for a better job several times last year; 4) but I didn’t, staying out of a sense of duty to my poor, beleaguered firm, only to find out in the end that; 5) I would be betrayed by AIG senior management, who promised we would be rewarded for staying, but then went back on their word when they folded in highly cowardly fashion in the face of an angry and stupid populist mob.

I have a few responses to those points. They are 1) Bullshit; 2) bullshit; 3) bullshit, plus of course; 4) bullshit. Lastly, there is 5) Boo-Fucking-Hoo. You dog.

Read the rest here.


From Jake DeSantis, exec VP of AIG-FP to Edward M. Liddy, AIG CEO

DEAR Mr. Liddy,

It is with deep regret that I submit my notice of resignation from A.I.G. Financial Products. I hope you take the time to read this entire letter. Before describing the details of my decision, I want to offer some context:

I am proud of everything I have done for the commodity and equity divisions of A.I.G.-F.P. I was in no way involved in — or responsible for — the credit default swap transactions that have hamstrung A.I.G. Nor were more than a handful of the 400 current employees of A.I.G.-F.P. Most of those responsible have left the company and have conspicuously escaped the public outrage.

After 12 months of hard work dismantling the company — during which A.I.G. reassured us many times we would be rewarded in March 2009 — we in the financial products unit have been betrayed by A.I.G. and are being unfairly persecuted by elected officials. In response to this, I will now leave the company and donate my entire post-tax retention payment to those suffering from the global economic downturn. My intent is to keep none of the money myself.

(Read the rest here)


An honest open letter to Hulu

Hulu’s website is truly a step into the future of television shows. It works as both a backup (if I miss a show on TV) and a catch up (ensuring I’ll later tune in weekly to watch).

But what I truly don’t understand is why the networks are reluctant to supply full seasons with regular network-timed commercials. When I run across [a] show on hulu that intrigues me[,] I immediately want to watch the whole story unfold. Not pick up mid season with little or no background on the series.

A very few number of shows on hulu actually have full seasonal episodes. But most of the shows that I’ve come to love are posted on hulu in bits and pieces. Ultimately leaving me with very few options.. Wait for the DVD (who buys those anyways?), wait for repeats, or just go download the episodes via any number of ways on the internet.

Read the entire post here.


Open letter to Arby’s