Listen people. When you take a job, you agree to a certain salary, and even when you make mistakes, you’re still entitled to your paycheck. Remember, “80 percent of success is just showing up.” These AIG execs came to work, and in that way they were very very successful. If a waitress spills some coffee, should she expect to not get paid? Of course not!! That’s ridiculous. She showed up for work, and sure, she may not be good at her job, but that’s not the point. Not everyone is great at what they do, but a deal’s a deal. Show up for work, and we’ll pay you, whether it’s $8.50 and hour for incompetent waiting, or $165 million in bonuses for incompetent investing. The principle is the same. Sure, these AIG guys helped precipitate the worst economic collapse in more than half a century, but again, that’s not the point. The point is, a deal’s a deal! This populist outrage is downright moronic.

If you read this blog you know that I am all for bailouts. But this is too much! This obvious PR stunt only undermines the seriousness of the current economic climate, and the desperate need for strategic “save the economy before it goes under” bailouts. Wall street needed a bailout! The auto industry needed a bailout! I STILL need a bailout! Larry Flynt and Joe Francis do not need a bailout!! This is serious business! I’m so annoyed I just cancelled my 5 year subscription to Girls Gone Wild. Hustler, I’m afraid, I cannot live without.

Man, this Madoff scheme is a real mess. The thing is, if we weren’t in this media driven recession, his ponzi scheme might have continued for another 20 years, and no one would have been the wiser. Hey Randy Cohen, If everyone’s getting paid, does it matter if they’re not getting paid the way they think they are?

On a side note, I’m pretty sure my old friend Dexter works for the Fairfield Greenwich Group. They lost 7.5 billion because of Madoff.

I’ve voted Republican my whole life, and for the first time ever, I do not agree with the G.O.P. Even though I would never drive an American car — I drive an Audi — I think that in these troubled times, bailouts are essential — even for crappy American cars. Capitalism on the way up, socialism on the way down, and then back to capitalism when the money’s flowing. That’s what I say!

I just read in the times that Bulgari is leaving the underside of their new watches unpolished in an effort to cut costs. What a fucking mess. I’m glad I bought my Diagono Professional last year.

Is it strange that I really want a new car? I know that I’ve got no job and am in major debt, and it’s not like my 2007 Audi TTS Roadster is outdated. It’s just that i really like the new grill on the 2009 models, and I REALLY like the new Audi Allroad. Of course, they don’t even make the Audi Allroad in the states, so I would have to ship it in from Europe. But fuck it, right? I mean, it’s awesome looking, and the wife and I have talked about having kids soon, and that will make a great family car. Who am I kidding? I’ll probably get it.