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i started running with the niketown's running club last tuesday. i ran three miles in central park with the group at the pace of about nine minutes per mile. it was exhausting. tuesday was humid and bleak and i haven't ran in the longest time. i was surprised that i made it the entire way.

hopefully i can maintain this routine and run twice every week.

afterwards, my friend ellen took me to see the trading floor of bank of america. like the trading floor at ubs, all the seats are equipped with three or four screens, a fancy telephone with all sorts of dials, all sorts of amenities (trash bin and recycle bin next to each seat, water cooler directly behind every two or three seats), and of course an expensively comfortable chair. i jokingly said to ellen 'the only thing each seat is missing is a hole for them to use the bathroom.'

but seriously, these firms don't want anyone to feel the slightest need to stay away from his or her seat for longer than a few minutes.

ellen was talking to me about how the 'juniors' (what they call the new interns) do all the bitch work for the more senior employees. i can imagine that. that is similar to the social structure of a fraternity or even of some high schools (especially those that resemble the movie 'dazed and confused'). juniors do the bitch work, but once they become senior, then can make the new juniors do bitch work. and juniors should note that everyone in the firm has gone through the bitch work process. its like earning your dues.

speaking of the fraternity-esque structure of investing firms, there is a certain level of camaraderie among the male employees. of course i don't know much about this, but ellen was telling me about how they joke around, watch youtube, and generally don't take work too seriously.

and these are the people making money out of nothing. you don't have to be a genius to do it, or graduate with a 3.9 gpa, or any of that. just make sure you're the best damn slave you can be when you are a junior. or suck some really good dick.

-andy