Madoff's Whistle Blower Talks

 
Here is the first television interview on 60 Minutes with the man who figured out what Bernie Madoff was up to before anyone else, Harry Markopolos. 

The fact that he figured out in 2000 that Madoff was using a Ponzi scheme and tried to tell the SEC five times, with nothing done, is insane! How is that possible?? This guy says he figured it out in 5 minutes and was able to prove it in 4 hours through simple math...well, maybe not simple math. 

If he's right that the SEC doesn't investigate fraud until after a crime is over, then maybe Obama should keep a close eye on his newly appointed head of the SEC, Mary Schapiro. She apparently hired Madoff's son to serve on the National Adjudicatory Council at FINRA. The council was designed to review disciplinary decisions made by FINRA. Hhhmmm...I wonder how he would have voted when his father's company, a company he was also a chief executive at, was brought up for review???

After reading in the New York Times today about how he is trying to keep $62 Million in assets that are supposedly his wife's, I am even more disgusted with Madoff and his family.

The Obamas 1996

* Photo by Mariana Cook, 1996

As anyone who is reading this blog at this point already knows, I recently got married. I think it's a very human thing to do when you're in a relationship, but I always find myself studying other couples. Trying to see what keeps them together, to see what kind of spark they have. 

I don't think I'm alone when I say that I am fascinated and completely inspired by the Obamas. I can't remember the last time, in my lifetime, that a family has embodied the best of American values and invited all of us to see how they keep their family healthy and connected. 

Jason Kottke at the Kottke.org blog posted a link to this amazing interview excerpt with the Obama's that The New Yorker was featuring. I will try and track down the full interview, but it may not be online. 

Even though it's short, this excerpt is so touching and shows how strong their partnership and marriage is. I really look forward to featuring more interviews with them in the future. I'm sure there are bound to be a lot of good ones coming up!