Asia Times: Goldman's golden sunset moment

[marmar]

Goldman's golden sunset moment
By Julian Delasantellis


You may think yourself in a particularly unfortunate pickle should your business take you to Seattle for the next few months, especially as you absolutely hate the people in Seattle. Fear not. There is one place in the city where you can absolutely, positively be guaranteed not to run into any Seattleites - the Pike's Place Market, specifically, the Fresh Fish Market that anchors Pike Place's southern selling space.

Originally it was an actual seafood market for the local young professional and student neighborhoods nearby. By the mid-1990s, the proprietors came to the conclusion that they couldn't stay in business as a fish market just by selling fish - they had to provide some manner of value added for the customer as well.

This they did with entertainment, specifically a borderline shtick act consisting of fishmongers removing the customer's desired fish from the ice then flinging it around the establishment like baseball infielders executing a double play, until it reaches the fish cutter behind the display. This they do with comedy and pizzaz, as with a customer specific routine that goes something on the order of "Coho for Cleveland!" or "Swordfish for Seoul" The tourists love it; "What a cute, quaint city Seattle is!" The purchased fish are usually left behind in the hotel rooms to be enjoyed by the families of the immigrant cleaning staff.

Lately, the financial news makes one wonder if there is a new offering lying there, lifeless and conquered, upon the tonnes of ice - perhaps it's the "great vampire squid" wrapped around the face of humanity - Matt Taibbi's famous description in Rolling Stone magazine of the American brokerage house Goldman Sachs. Is last year's "miracle of evolution" destined to be seen this year on plates stuffed with onions and tomatoes because of its overweening pride and hubris. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/LB25Dj01.html