Friday, July 8, 2011

Elliot Broidy in the News

Mr. Elliot Broidy showed up in the news again. There is an article about Albuquerque Journal talking about a "Pay To Play" scheme involving their governor's office. Seems as though the same people that did wrong in New York and other states were busy at work in New Mexico.

We know how much some of these "placement agents" made in California; but, they were getting paid all across the nation and still we have not seen the final arrests. It is like the song by the Carpenter's "We've Only Just Begun".

No matter which state you look at, we keep finding "placement agents", politicians, unions and pension funds, corruption and failed investments in marginal developments somehow related to redevelopment agencies. Oh yeah, something I remember from college. The largest contributors to local elections are people involved in real estate and developers. Hmmm, we will keep an eye on these things. For those of you who are not familiar with these issues, take a peek at some of my earliest posts, they will provide you with plenty of specifics and links. Be well.

I Want It



Yes readers, there is something that Pimpernel wants; but, knows he should not have. I want this car. I used to have a Benz, I had a 230 SLK, I liked it and managed to only get two tickets in it and both were quite well deserved. After the divorce I had to get rid of the car because I could no longer afford the maintenance.

For a true gear head there is nothing nicer than cruising at about 150 miles per hour with the top down. What a blast, what a rush. It is a good thing that I could never afford this car, I would lose my license. It would be my own fault, a car like this has to be driven fast some of the time.

This particular car is so very pretty. It is a working piece of art. Men are visual animals and there is nothing more attractive to us than nice curves, it speaks to our hearts and makes us stupid. I will admit that the fastest I have ever driven was 165 and it happened a very long time ago. I would like to say that if I had a car that could do it, that I wouldn't do it; but, I find it safer to not have such a car.

I in no way condone such reckless behaviour; but, I cannot lie and say that I never did it. I can say that I bought a 4 cylinder sedan; but, I also cannot say that I wouldn't love to do it again.

A song.

Be well.

I Can Now Speak

My jury duty has ended and I can now talk about the case. I do not intend to give specifics, I am allowed to; but, I am more interested in discussing the experience than the actual case. I was never one of the jurors who deliberated and was not involved in the final decision, I was an alternate and that was as far as it went.

I want to start by saying that I felt that the jurors were very committed to doing the right thing as they saw fit. I was very impressed by the caliber of people that I met and was so pleased at how friendly everybody was. As I did not deliberate, I had no idea what was going on and sat all by myself for two days. I truly felt left out, as if I couldn't be with them. When they did see me they kind enough to make me feel part of it, friends, if just for a moment.

The case was pretty serious, it even involved street gangs. Young men who have chosen paths that often lead to jail. Certain paths should not be followed as no good can ever come of them.

I felt a great honor to be on a jury even if I was only an alternate. I am also glad that I did not have to decide the case. It is a very heavy burden to have to make decisions that will so greatly impact others lives. In business I do it all the time; but, somehow that seems different. In business I am a participant and not an observer, an advocate.

I cannot say if I agree or disagree with the juries decision, I did not get to hear the questions and answers that the jury asked each other, my thoughts on the decision were never questioned nor stated so I don't know what my final decision may have been. I do know that those who did decide took it very seriously and I believe they did their job. I am going to think about all of what I saw over the next few weeks and as things occur to me, I will write about it, I will not give names of anyone, not now and not later, I am bad with names anyways.