Should Ruth Madoff have her MacBook taken away?
I was browsing through the latest issue of Vanity Fair, in which Mark Seal has a profile of Ruth Madoff titled "Ruth's World," and noticed that Madoff, wife of jailed Ponzi-schemer Bernie Madoff, is apparently an Apple user.
The article talks about how she had to give up many of her pricier belongings, including a fur coat (or probably several), when U.S. marshals took possession of her Park Avenue apartment on July 2.
Personally, I wasn't too concerned about the fur she wanted to keep, but sick tech blogger that I am, all I could think about was whether she was going to get to hold on to her MacBook. Now, I'm not sure what's inside that MacBook, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was a top-of-the-line model (when she bought it anyway).
Now, if you're one of Bernie's victims--and an Apple fan to boot--that picture would seem doubly insulting. OK, so I don't know whether the laptop was taken away with the furs, but I have a sneaking suspicion it wasn't. And if I were the feds, I'd force her to use Windows Vista on some Netbook that barely runs it.
Ruth Madoff may be innocent of conspiring to defraud people with her husband, but it's a crime that she's still allowed to use a MacBook.
Just my two cents. How 'bout yours?
Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter. 
This downfall doesn't stop at our borders, in case you didn't realize. It's VERY global, so I guess you should condemn all of the western world (and quite a few parts considered beyond) of this ineptitude. Madoff is an admitted crook; last time I checked, in pretty much ALL societies around this planet criminals are subject to punishment. Yet you act as if Bernie Boy deserves actual pity. It's BECAUSE he's the thieving scumbag that he is that merits his ascension to poster boy status. That's the way people are; symbolism is a part of being human.
As for Madoff's victims: define 'many'...
"i was browsing through the latest issue of Vanity Fair..."
Ok.. first hand over your Man Card and then give me back the 1.5 minutes you wasted from my life.
Couldn't you just skip this article?
:D
Don't be pathetic. If she really didn't know, then she too is a victim - her reputation is absolutely shot, not for something she did, but for something her husband did. If your partner murdered someone would you expect to join them on the electric chair?
Now her husband, is a different story, he really is a hateful creature worthy of contempt - but lets not get them confused.
No I am not suggesting it, I am stating it.
I'm a 3d artist. I need power... Raw Power... I have a 4 ghz Core i7 PC. Sum of parts cost is 1200 6 months ago, even cheaper now. High performance as well as rock solid stability. How much is a top of the line, single cpu, quad core mac pro again?
The day that apple actually has a product that is faster *at the very least in proportion to the price difference* and truly more stable than windows *yes I've used many macs throughout my education and Career* I'll very excitedly buy one.
So to you macs are not overpriced for whatever reason. To me they are obnoxiously overpriced, by a factor of 3 compared to what I can build. So you are suggesting it, not stating.
I am stating it, Macs are not overpriced.
c|net, what's wrong with you people? I would have thought this kind of "article" if we can even call it that is beneath you.
by mrcjacobs August 13, 2009 3:23 PM PDT
apparently it's not. this is just another example of the lack of journalistic integrity that has stricken most news organizations!
by ~Canuck~ August 13, 2009 3:25 PM PDT
This is the most pointless, topical, and pathetic attempt at journalism I have ever seen. How is this news?
Do you people not know what "blog" is??? This is 1 persons place to post what he/she wants. Anyone can get a blog...even you guys. So go make a blog & we can all get on it & tell you what a waste of time your stuff is...Or is it just easier to be a "blog troll" because actual blogging seems like work???
Throwing in the Vista comment was meant for flame wars. All this guy was looking for is easy page clicks.
THE GADGET BLOG FROM CNET"
-Just quoting what it says at the top.
For years the Madoff's lived a lavish lifestyle with other peoples money. I say give her what the madoff's have given us - NOTHING. Let her apply for social security early. Maybe she should have had a real job so she could have received a pension. She should not get to keep a laptop or anything.
I do find it insulting that any of them get to keep anything. I don't believe it was just Madoff himself. This was a huge operation in my opinion that many people were a part of. I have so many family members who's lives have been destroyed.
The SEC should compensate the victims. The IRS only allows you to go back 3 years on taxes you paid on investments.. my family was with madoff for over 20!!
I say Ruth shouldn't get a laptop.. she can get a pen and a piece of paper.
Am I bitter? Yes and very disappointed in the SEC who should have been there to protect us.
You're way too generous. I say give her a rusty nail and let her write on Bernie's butt.
- by nautics80 August 13, 2009 6:04 PM PDT
- My family has been destroyed by Madoff. Many members of my family are penniless now including my father who saved for so many years. We checked with the SEC many times.. they failed us! I know what people say about being selfish and greedy, but if you check with the SEC and they tell you he's great and it's a blessing to work with him.. wouldn't you??
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- by Shaun822 August 15, 2009 8:10 AM PDT
- Sad part is there was an investor in Boston that Madoff tried to sucker that told the SEC to investigat him because there was no way his revenue was legit because it was the same 11% (don't know the actual number) regardless of what the rest of the economy was doing.
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- by Brolix August 17, 2009 4:49 AM PDT
- The SEC Can't compensate every victim of a Ponzie Scheme. It's their job to prevent these things from happening, and for the most part, the succeed; however, it's impossible for them to take responsibility for the failures that do occurr. There's always someone out there smart enough to out-think the system. But man, i'm so sorry your family was victimized by him-it's a horrific to work your whole life for something, and then have it snatched away through Betrayal.
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Showing 1 of 3 pages (104 Comments)For years the Madoff's lived a lavish lifestyle with other peoples money. I say give her what the madoff's have given us - NOTHING. Let her apply for social security early. Maybe she should have had a real job so she could have received a pension. She should not get to keep a laptop or anything.
I do find it insulting that any of them get to keep anything. I don't believe it was just Madoff himself. This was a huge operation in my opinion that many people were a part of. I have so many family members who's lives have been destroyed.
The SEC should compensate the victims. The IRS only allows you to go back 3 years on taxes you paid on investments.. my family was with madoff for over 20!!
I say Ruth shouldn't get a laptop.. she can get a pen and a piece of paper.
Am I bitter? Yes and very disappointed in the SEC who should have been there to protect us.