2013 Off Topic Thread

[MMA_scientist]

Here's an interesting article about Boiler Room--and its ties to reality--that I found last night:

http://observer.com/2000/01/gekkos-l...ler-room-boys/

That's interesting. The world has changed a lot in 13 years. Only a fucking idiot would buy stocks over the phone from a stanger that cold called him now. It seems absurd that anyone would do it at any point in time...

[SPX]

I am not sure what you mean about aren't I not a criminal lawyer. I am not now, but I was for 6 years. I did criminal defense and child services cases. I still do criminal appeals. I have seen some pretty disturbing things and spoken with many disturbed people.

I've always been pretty confused about what kind of lawyer you are exactly but I thought that you've always dealt exclusively in civil matters.

[MMA_scientist]

I've always been pretty confused about what kind of lawyer you are exactly but I thought that you've always dealt exclusively in civil matters.

Right now I only do 2 things: disability law and criminal appeals. It is 95% disability work for me now, which I do for a guy I actually work for as an employee and then I have a small practice of my own where I do local counsel on disability hearings for some bigger firms and criminal appeals. When I first came on this board I did some other stuff, including a lot of family law and energy performance and construction contracts. But when I first got out of law school, I did a lot of criminal defense including a couple death penalty cases. I worked for the energy company as house counsel for a couple years after that. I had my own office full time for a while. Now here I am.

[SPX]

That's interesting. The world has changed a lot in 13 years. Only a fucking idiot would buy stocks over the phone from a stanger that cold called him now. It seems absurd that anyone would do it at any point in time...

I really understand very little about stocks and the stock market and have never understood exactly what it is that stock brokers do. I know they "sell stock" but that's the extent of my knowledge. Nevertheless the subject has always fascinated me.

The impression that I get is that the Internet has changed the way things are done--and I can see that regarding the technical details of how money may be moved around or stock may actually be purchased or whatever--but I'm not totally sure how that would effect the existence of so-called "boiler rooms." After all, just because the common man has access to the Internet, that doesn't really mean he knows anything about the stock market or what he should buy. I'm certainly proof of that. So people are still going to need guidance.

BTW, I found this paragraph particularly interesting:

“A friend’s firm that I visited was exactly like this one,” a Paine Webber broker said after the screening. “It was on Long Island. The parking lot was full of Porsches, BMW’s, Ferraris. There were a hundred guys in there. Every single one of them was under 25. Most of them were just high school graduates. They were all wearing Rolexes.”

If that was reality, it seems like a lot more kids would be aware of it and would be lining up for that kind of job, shady as it may be.

[SPX]

Right now I only do 2 things: disability law and criminal appeals. It is 95% disability work for me now, which I do for a guy I actually work for as an employee and then I have a small practice of my own where I do local counsel on disability hearings for some bigger firms and criminal appeals. When I first came on this board I did some other stuff, including a lot of family law and energy performance and construction contracts. But when I first got out of law school, I did a lot of criminal defense including a couple death penalty cases. I worked for the energy company as house counsel for a couple years after that. I had my own office full time for a while. Now here I am.

Why jump around? I've always gotten the impression that law was the kind of thing where you pick a specialty and get really good at it, and that it's difficult to be good in a lot of different areas.

[MMA_scientist]

I think it is the internet and just the awareness of scams. I wouldn't buy anything from anyone who cold called me, but less drop thousands of dollars on a random stock tip.

I guess the difference now is that if you wanted to know how to buy a stock, you would just google it. You might still use some guidance on what to buy, but you wouldn't just buy it off some guy that called you out of the blue.

[SPX]

I think it is the internet and just the awareness of scams. I wouldn't buy anything from anyone who cold called me, but less drop thousands of dollars on a random stock tip.

I guess the difference now is that if you wanted to know how to buy a stock, you would just google it. You might still use some guidance on what to buy, but you wouldn't just buy it off some guy that called you out of the blue.

I think you were right when you said it was ridiculous when anyone did that at ANY time.

I should get a book on the stock market. Maybe take the Series 7 exam. Get rich.

[SPX]

Topic Resurrection:

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

I know we've discussed it before but I can't remember what was said. Some of that shit reminded me of Boiler Room. Thoughts?

[MMA_scientist]

Why jump around? I've always gotten the impression that law was the kind of thing where you pick a specialty and get really good at it, and that it's difficult to be good in a lot of different areas.

Well i have only had 2 long term areas. I just got out of school for the first one. The in house job i took for money. It took me a while to find what i like. I would say i am an expert in disability regulations and rules of evidence. In the past i knew a lot about family law and adoption. I actually like disability, i will probably stay in that area. I had the opportunity to take a disability judge job recently, i passed though.

[edman5555]

Well i have only had 2 long term areas. I just got out of school for the first one. The in house job i took for money. It took me a while to find what i like. I would say i am an expert in disability regulations and rules of evidence. In the past i knew a lot about family law and adoption. I actually like disability, i will probably stay in that area. I had the opportunity to take a disability judge job recently, i passed though.

Is the pay for a judgeship better?

[SPX]

So apparently this little incident is making waves in the pro-wrestling community right now.

Sexual harassment or no?

[Luke]

^^^^not in pro wrestling

[Luke]

Btw, there's wayyyyyyy too much text in the last few pages I'm not reading.


Edmann, give me the cliff notes version of all this rambling

[SPX]

^^^^not in pro wrestling

I, of course, thought it was hilarious. Christy botched and Aries saved it. But people are saying Aries should be fined . . . suspended . . . even fired. Why are people bitching? The shit was funny. And if it made Christy uncomfortable, I feel for her, but she needs to remember what profession she's in, especially since she's the one who fucked up the introduction.

[SPX]

Btw, there's wayyyyyyy too much text in the last few pages I'm not reading.


Edmann, give me the cliff notes version of all this rambling

BOL!

Well you shouldn't stay away so long. . .