PRESIDENT OBAMA AND LIZ ARE TWO OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE US. LIZ DON’T STOP YOU AND OBAMA ARE GREAT PEOPLE. G-R-E-A-T   P-E-O-P-L-E.

LIZ—YOU ARE A G-R-E-A-T INDIVIDUAL. DON’T LISTEN TO ANYONE. JUST BE THE  WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING THAT YOU ARE.

"A.P. Giannini, the man who founded Bank of America in the early 1900s, likely is "rolling over in his grave" over how the company he built has been managed, hypothesizes his granddaughter."

When I was a teenager I had something of an internship at very busy merchant BoA, with a 50 person teller line! On Fridays I used to be put at the head of the line because I was so fast, and was always balanced out and out the door in 10 minutes after the bank closed. 

The manager of the branch office was an extremely nice grandfatherly man who knew A.P. Gianinni and he made a point of everyone knowing, valuing and honoring the founder’s ethos, ethics and intentions. They even had Founder’s Day and the manager would tell stories including about the 06 Earthquake and what AP did, he’d been part of it too.

In San Francisco the gilded doors of the bank that AP built are on Grace Cathedral on Nob Hills. I used to live on Nob Hill and there was something substantial and sustaining about walking past Grace Cathedral and seeing those doors and knowing all they stood for.

 I was also exceedingly fortunate to work for EF Hutton when George Ball was at the helm. He was an is a highly ethical man who set unquestioned standards. I admired him and the company, and left when he did resigned, knowing that Robert Foman would trash the old and venerable institution, which he did. I rec’d a very nice email from Mr. Ball on 7/23 the day my brother died, saying that "EF Hutton was great place because of people like you."

America’s financial CEOs are shameful, greedy idiots. It started in the 80s when George Bush Sr and Sandy Weil ‘reorganized’ Wall Street according to their theiving ways. The M&As started, people were thrown out of their jobs, and everything was for a buck. Then in 2001 they got their greatest prize. Totally deregulated derivatives, and wrecked the US and global economy.

People often mistake a focused drive for making money with virtues that are not necessarily there: honor, decency, humanity, wisdom. Those were the qualities and values of A.P. Giannini and there are very few like him today—-and when they are needed very badly.

Liz, 

You are a treasure. I don’t consider cultural doings ‘gossip’. You have amazing spirit, clear sighted intelligence, heart and a ton of life experience….and maybe Juan should read your book and appreciate a life well lived and still going top speed.

Loved reading all your birthday greetings from celebs and New Yorkers like Mayor Bloomberg.  

You always say exactly the right thing in a few snappy words. Love your writing style. And you look better than 99% of the folks who spend all day trying. 

You are an inspiration to me and to many. So glad you’ll be here….that will give me a reason to check in every day.

Godspeed to you each and every day.