Brendan fraser

We’ve all been there. You’re running for federal office, the race is hot, the polls are tight, but you’re doing OK. Then, whammo: A porn star informs you that she’s about to tell the world you had an extramarital affair with her a few months after your wife gave birth to your youngest child . What do you do? You pay her off, of course. Well, let’s not be hasty. Maybe you should deny and ride it out—an especially appealing option if it was a lie or a dubious claim that the vast majority of people, including your wife, would not find credible. Joe Biden did this in 2020 and won. But you’re not Joe Biden. You’re a self-aggrandizing womanizer with a known history of extramarital affairs and allegations of sexual misconduct . Worse, one day before this porn star approached you, the world learned that—right around the time of this alleged affair—you’d also been caught on tape bragging that you’re so famous you can do “anything” you want to women, like, for … [Read more...] about How to Pay Off a Porn Star (If You Really Must)

No clear path on helping banks U.S. banking regulators gave investors a lot to chew on yesterday. The Federal Reserve went ahead with a quarter-point increase in interest rates, signaling that, for now, it remained more worried about inflation than banking stability. But while Jerome Powell, the central bank’s chair, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that they were focused on ways to improve regulation of the banking industry, Ms. Yellen appeared to backtrack on the prospect of extending insurance on deposits. That lack of clarity unnerved investors yesterday, sending shares in smaller banks tumbling, as they worried about what’s next. The Fed acknowledged that it may finally stop raising rates — “may” being the operative word, Mr. Powell said. Though officials forecast one more rate increase this year, that’s not set in stone. In some ways, Mr. Powell added, the turmoil hitting lenders now is effectively substituting for additional rate increases . How the … [Read more...] about Markets Struggle to Decide Where Banking Rules Go From Here

A change of messenger at Goldman Sachs For nearly a decade, Jake Siewert led Goldman Sachs ’s post-crisis efforts to shed its image as one of Wall Street’s most mysterious, and maligned, money machines. We’re the first to report that he plans to announce his departure later today. Mr. Siewert joined Goldman as its communications chief in 2012, bringing both political connections — he was a top aide to Tim Geithner when he was Treasury secretary, and spent eight years in the Clinton administration, including as White House press secretary — and experience as a senior executive at Alcoa. (Mr. Siewert’s wife, Christine Anderson, is the global head of external relations at Blackstone.) He did not have an easy job: The day after his hiring was announced, a former Goldman banker published a now-famous Op-Ed, “ Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs ,” accusing the firm of fostering a “toxic and destructive” environment. As he departs, disgruntled junior bankers at the firm have … [Read more...] about Goldman Sachs’s Top Image Maker Is Leaving

Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) pressed TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew during a congressional hearing Thursday on the fact that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has access to data of the millions of Americans who use the popular app. Cammack pointedly asked Chew during the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, “My colleague Rep. [Bob] Latta confirmed that your parent company ByteDance currently can access user data, yes?” WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 3: Rep-elect Kat Cammack (R-FL) poses for for a portrait outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, District of Columbia, on December 3, 2020. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post via Getty Images) “Let’s— we have to be more specific,” Chew replied. “Yes?” Cammack asked again. “After Project Texas, no,” Chew said, in reference to the heavily scrutinized initiative that, according to Chew, would essentially create a firewall that shields TikTok user data from Chinese access. “I’m not asking after Project Texas. I’m asking … [Read more...] about Watch: Cammack Grills TikTok CEO on CCP’s Access to Americans’ Data

0 This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own. Arts & Entertainment Voted Best Concert Series of the East Bay Gold Coast Chamber Players , Community Contributor Posted | Updated Reply Untitled design - 1 Pamela Freund-Striplen, Artistic Director The Gold Coast Chamber Players will conclude 35 years in the chamber music community with a blockbuster program, "Souvenir," on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 7:30 PM in the Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette, CA, with a pre-concert talk at 7 PM. The concert will be recorded and ticket holders have access to this Digital Concert Hall for three months. Come hear why GCCP was voted Best East Bay Concert Series for the second year in a row! The GCCP Grand Finale is filled with chamber music favorites. The program begins with Beethoven’s … [Read more...] about Final Gold Coast Concert: SOUVENIR