Yesterday’s appearance did not produce a funny story. Today, however, was much more amusing. (Please excuse the shameless name dropping, but it’s what makes the tale so amusing).
I shot a brief segment for Wall $treet Week on the Magazine Cover Indicator. They saw the Contrary Indicators 2000 – 2003 Bear piece, and wanted to discuss what the various signals meant, and how to apply them.
It will run on Friday at 8:30 on PBS. We shot over 20 minutes of tape, of which they will prolly use 15 seconds . . .
So I take off the make up, gather my briefcase and papers, and head out the door — which is locked, I can’t get it open, eventually figure out you have to hit the buzzer.
At the same time, someone is trying to “buzz” in. We kinda collide, I excuse myself, and start heading out the door . . . when suddenly, something dawns on me.
“Um . . . Paul Krugman?” I ask.
“Yes. . . ”
I’m flustered, but somehow manage to gather my wits and say: “Funny, I just quoted you on Wall $treet Week about Magazine Covers — “Whom the Gods would destroy, they first put on the cover of Business Week.”
“Ahh, Enron.”
I’m kinda discombobulated, and given my general lack of social graces, I momentarily forget to introduce myself, but — surprisingly — I avoid an awkward moment. Recovering, I say “Hi, I’m Barry Ritholtz. A pleasure to meet you . . .” I hand him a business card, and he says “Oh yes, I’ve received email from you.” He must get a million emails a day, so I suspect he is merely being polite, for which I am terribly grateful.
The odd thing is, I almost didn’t recognize him as I literally ran into him. He looks quite professorial — kinda rumpled, smallish, a bit disheveled, very unassuming. Seems like a nice guy.
Greg Mankiw last night, Paul Krugman today, Nobel prize winner last month — I’m thinking about changing the catchphrase of this blog.
How’s this sound: “Mediocrity Within Spitting Distance of Greatness” ?
Any thoughts?
Mankiw might be great, but he’s a shill.
You might be mediocre (I disagree), but you have intellectual integrity.
If you are in spitting distance, spit.
1. So what do the covers say?
2. Not nice to call Krugman mediocre.
Don’t be so modest. I look forward to your comments from Maxim greatly. They are both helpful and interesting. Keep up the good work.
Look Who’s Blogging: Paul Krugman
Last year, I noted that the Times had started blogging (MSM Blogging Review: NYT Starts Blogging, too). A few months later, we discussed that the Times’ offerings had ballooned to over 30 blogs (Its Official: The NYT Has Gone Blog Crazy!). This week, t…
I stopped reading the New York Times when they let Krugman in. Him and Stiglitz are examples of how bias can corrupt even intelligent people. They are respectable economists, but when they start talking politics is when you realize how foolish they really are. Let that be a caveat to economists out there, stay in your domain!
Jonah:
You must be thinking of a different Krugman. This Krugman is the guy who warned America politley for eight years not to go down the toilet it was climbing into.