You slayed me with this: "... Attorney General Merrick Garland — I always think of him as Whistler’s mother — who seemed placed under perpetual house arrest by his own conscience."
You know, Tina it seems like a million years ago those Christmas lunches and it’s sort of incredible that we at Condé Nast were the subjects of much interest from the media as well as the other publishing houses. Known for the outsized expense accounts and seemingly unlimited budgets for travel and entertainment, Condé Nast was as much of a white shoe operation as Si could make it. I always thought he used a high end law firm as the business model as to how high end executives were treated and compensated…but unlike executives in public companies there were no stock options or profit sharing…truth is we all got very little compared to the profits that were being generated…but it seemed like a lot and maybe it was compared to other publishing firms.
In retrospect it all seems quite irrelevant now…not only the culture or the place but also the dawn of the death of print as we all sat watching it unfold…
so nice to hear from you, Paul. Yes the truth is, the luxe Conde perks were all a big feint for not giving us any stock options. When I think of the value I created with the VF brand in return for some Concord flights and an interest free mortgage...... but at least we had fun which nodbody has anymore! T
I work(ed) in tv and stock options would have been nice but at least there were expense accounts and parties. Everyone is so tight these days, even my apartment building doesn’t bother with holiday decorations. The vibes are “cheap” “stingy” and, as always, “greedy”.
Here's Alexander Hamilton in Federalist #76 on his hopes that the Senate's consent to presidential nominations would prevent what is likely about to happen. That last phrase, "the necessary insignificance and pliancy to render them the obsequious instruments of his pleasure." is prophetic.
"The possibility of rejection would be a strong motive to care in proposing. The danger to his own reputation, and, in the case of an elective magistrate, to his political existence, from betraying a spirit of favoritism, or an unbecoming pursuit of popularity, to the observation of a body whose opinion would have great weight in forming that of the public, could not fail to operate as a barrier to the one and to the other. He would be both ashamed and afraid to bring forward, for the most distinguished or lucrative stations, candidates who had no other merit than that of coming from the same State to which he particularly belonged, or of being in some way or other personally allied to him, or of possessing the necessary insignificance and pliancy to render them the obsequious instruments of his pleasure."
Once, in Vanity Fair halcyon days, you were heard to say that a story was so good it was like popcorn, you couldn't stop reading it. That's your column now. Happy Thanksgiving in the Dominican Republic (Casa de Campo?).
Martha Stewart is a true, authentic, strong woman. Inspiring. As are you. In my retirement, I choose to live my best life every day. Inspiration comes in many forms. Glad to be inspired here. Thank you for sharing.
The Martha doc should have been better. I can see why the big M had issues with the final cut. Women do not get the big lionizing send-offs that men routinely give themselves and their bros. 1) because we don’t know how to really do it yet (lionizing ourselves), 2) when a man is in charge of capturing a woman’s legacy - especially one as big as Martha Stewart’s, America’s First Female Billionaire - they will inevitably fuck it up, and 3) even if they bother it will inevitably get erased by even lesser, insecure men. Cleopatra was not the only Queen of Egypt ya know.
Anyway, I hope the inevitable biopic is written and directed by Emerald Fennell.
Also recall as a wee girl going to ‘harvest Sunday’ and bringing a gift of fruit or something that was then redistributed by church. Makes much more sense than this overspending and eating nightmare. Right before Christmas too.
I am thrilled to be a paid subscriber! As a 76 year old I have always been a fan of quality…in all things. This is a terrific article and a wonderful quote that I will post at home. Thank you.
"...placed under perpetual house arrest by his own conscience" -- what an extraordinarily generous assessment! As for Thanksgiving, well Bloomberg News chose the week of T-Day, 2013, to lower the boom on the entire culture department -- https://nypost.com/2013/11/18/bloomberg-news-lays-off-50-reporters-editors/ -- no waiting till "after the holidays" for the culture mayor!
You slayed me with this: "... Attorney General Merrick Garland — I always think of him as Whistler’s mother — who seemed placed under perpetual house arrest by his own conscience."
Thanks. I am afraid Garland, and even worse Comey suffered from terminal moral vanity ! T
You know, Tina it seems like a million years ago those Christmas lunches and it’s sort of incredible that we at Condé Nast were the subjects of much interest from the media as well as the other publishing houses. Known for the outsized expense accounts and seemingly unlimited budgets for travel and entertainment, Condé Nast was as much of a white shoe operation as Si could make it. I always thought he used a high end law firm as the business model as to how high end executives were treated and compensated…but unlike executives in public companies there were no stock options or profit sharing…truth is we all got very little compared to the profits that were being generated…but it seemed like a lot and maybe it was compared to other publishing firms.
In retrospect it all seems quite irrelevant now…not only the culture or the place but also the dawn of the death of print as we all sat watching it unfold…
so nice to hear from you, Paul. Yes the truth is, the luxe Conde perks were all a big feint for not giving us any stock options. When I think of the value I created with the VF brand in return for some Concord flights and an interest free mortgage...... but at least we had fun which nodbody has anymore! T
I work(ed) in tv and stock options would have been nice but at least there were expense accounts and parties. Everyone is so tight these days, even my apartment building doesn’t bother with holiday decorations. The vibes are “cheap” “stingy” and, as always, “greedy”.
yeah life is generally dingier, greedier and devoid of festive touch but happy holiays anyway T
Happy Holidays to you and all your readers here TB!
Here's Alexander Hamilton in Federalist #76 on his hopes that the Senate's consent to presidential nominations would prevent what is likely about to happen. That last phrase, "the necessary insignificance and pliancy to render them the obsequious instruments of his pleasure." is prophetic.
"The possibility of rejection would be a strong motive to care in proposing. The danger to his own reputation, and, in the case of an elective magistrate, to his political existence, from betraying a spirit of favoritism, or an unbecoming pursuit of popularity, to the observation of a body whose opinion would have great weight in forming that of the public, could not fail to operate as a barrier to the one and to the other. He would be both ashamed and afraid to bring forward, for the most distinguished or lucrative stations, candidates who had no other merit than that of coming from the same State to which he particularly belonged, or of being in some way or other personally allied to him, or of possessing the necessary insignificance and pliancy to render them the obsequious instruments of his pleasure."
Oh wow that is so superbly relevant ! Incredibe. Thanks for pointing it out ! T
Once, in Vanity Fair halcyon days, you were heard to say that a story was so good it was like popcorn, you couldn't stop reading it. That's your column now. Happy Thanksgiving in the Dominican Republic (Casa de Campo?).
How nice to hear from you Lusita , and so happy you enjoyed .Belated Festive greeetings to you too.
Martha Stewart is a true, authentic, strong woman. Inspiring. As are you. In my retirement, I choose to live my best life every day. Inspiration comes in many forms. Glad to be inspired here. Thank you for sharing.
Ms Stewart, you are a tonic.
Tptally agree on that !
The Martha doc should have been better. I can see why the big M had issues with the final cut. Women do not get the big lionizing send-offs that men routinely give themselves and their bros. 1) because we don’t know how to really do it yet (lionizing ourselves), 2) when a man is in charge of capturing a woman’s legacy - especially one as big as Martha Stewart’s, America’s First Female Billionaire - they will inevitably fuck it up, and 3) even if they bother it will inevitably get erased by even lesser, insecure men. Cleopatra was not the only Queen of Egypt ya know.
Anyway, I hope the inevitable biopic is written and directed by Emerald Fennell.
At least its a start. Of course women, when they succeed, always have to be seen to have" paid a price" T
Speaking of lionizing (lionessing?), when we be gifted your documentary Ms. Brown?
Really enjoyed his. As a scot now living in Australia Thanksgiving has always baffled me.
Thanks for seeing it my way. Its such a time suck , for what? T
Also recall as a wee girl going to ‘harvest Sunday’ and bringing a gift of fruit or something that was then redistributed by church. Makes much more sense than this overspending and eating nightmare. Right before Christmas too.
I am thrilled to be a paid subscriber! As a 76 year old I have always been a fan of quality…in all things. This is a terrific article and a wonderful quote that I will post at home. Thank you.
Bless you for being a paying subscriber! I bow down to you in gratitude.T
"...placed under perpetual house arrest by his own conscience" -- what an extraordinarily generous assessment! As for Thanksgiving, well Bloomberg News chose the week of T-Day, 2013, to lower the boom on the entire culture department -- https://nypost.com/2013/11/18/bloomberg-news-lays-off-50-reporters-editors/ -- no waiting till "after the holidays" for the culture mayor!
Nice to hear from you Jeremy. Wow. that really sucks re Bloomberg though doesnt surprise me. When did any of these guys really crae about culture? T
Happy Thanksgiving!
A belated happy birthday! As for your Hispaniola holiday, stay on the eastern side of the island!
Nice to hear from you, Steve. And happy Holidays T