So tonight we here in Boston were treated to a series of pictures taken of a supposedly suspicious man who was captured on film doing the unthinkable: Running away from an explosion so powerful it shredded his clothing! I mean, who does that? Oh, everyone? Well, but he was first! He's suspect! Well, no, there were other people who can be seen running just a second after he does. Again, this guy was basically depantsed by a bomb that ripped limbs off of people right in front of him. So, naturally, he should be viewed with suspicion for doing the totally fucking natural thing of running for his fucking life, right? He should have his blurry face ominously freeze-framed to imply maximum culpability? Oh, no? That would be totally fucking cruel, because he was almost certainly just some dude who was traumatized like everyone else? You don't say. Well, who in the fuck would ever pimp this series of photos as some kind of potential evidence of a criminal fleeing? Meet the photographer:
http://www1.whdh.com/video/player/?clip ... ?autoStart#?autoStart
His name is Ben Thorndike. Hello, Ben Thorndike! And who, praytell, are you?
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ben-thorndike/1/5b6/678Ben Thorndike's Overview
Current
Senior Managing Director- Head of Business Development and Client Services at Feingold O'Keeffe Capital
Past
Partner-Investor Relations at Huntsman Gay Global Capital
Director, Investor Relations at Bain Capital
Director at Wellington Management Company
see all
Education
Colby College
Milton Academy
Recommendations
1 person has recommended Ben
Connections
500+ connections
Ben Thorndike's Summary
1. Twenty years of experience with large, public security asset management firms (Scudder, State Street Research and Wellington), with a high degree of success across a broad range of responsibilities
2. Eight years of experience representing best-in-class alternatives firms (Bain Capital, Huntsman Gay Global Capital and Feingold O'Keeffe Capital), providing me with the relatively unique background of having deep expertise in both traditional and alternative asset classes
3. A strong record of both senior leadership and as an individual contributor; for me it is about working well with people and getting the job done no matter how my role is defined and what is required to exceed objectives
4. Demonstrated track record of success in gathering assets throughout my career
5. Deep experience as an investor and an asset allocation specialist, positioning me to be a trusted, informed representative for clients of the firms that have employed me
6. Huge network, both local and global, with extensive experience building relationships around the world including the Middle East (10 trips to the region over my career)
7. Business style that is likable and additive; my focus is on making the day better for everyone around me no matter how senior or junior
8. Deeply imbedded personal values, as demonstrated by my commitment to chair the Board of a non-profit focused on working with children with severe emotional challenges
Just to be sure this isn't some pussy liberal who just happens to be associated with Bain like Steve Pagliuca...who may be more than meets the eye, but as a Celtics honcho he gets a lazy, convenient pass from me because I'd prefer not to think of my sports teams being shady...
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/ ... p?cycle=08THORNDIKE, BENJAMIN W MR.
DOVER, MA
02030 BAIN CAPITAL/DIRECTOR INVESTOR RELA $2,300 03/06/2007 P ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT INC. - Republican
And one more for good measure...
http://www.prleap.com/pr/114958/Saudi Minister Meets US Business Leaders - SAGIA Meets with Massachusetts State Treasurer, hosted by Atlantic Financial Inc.
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Boston, Massachusetts February 24, 2008 Business News
(PRLEAP.COM) The Governor of the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority (SAGIA) His Excellency Amr Al Dabbagh was joined in Boston this week by Massachusetts State Treasurer Tim Cahill and a dozen academic and business leaders to discuss cooperation and business opportunities between Saudi Arabia and the US. The meeting was hosted by Bruce Fenton, President of Atlantic Financial Inc., an investment company that focuses on the Middle East region.
Governor Dabbagh highlighted SAGIA’s construction of six economic super cities and discussed the many economic incentives available to US based companies who might be interested in business opportunities in Saudi Arabia. The economic super cities are King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), Knowledge Economic City (KEC), Prince Abdulaziz bin Mousaed Economic City (PABMEC), Jizan Economic City (JEC) and two more economic cities are expected one each in Tabouk and Dammam. Total infrastructure investment in Saudi Arabia is projected to exceed both the US and China. Governor Dabbagh highlighted the desire for Saudi corporations to draw on the expertise of US firms and the ways in which Saudi Arabia can benefit US companies as consumers and as a source of consumption, capital and a gateway to the region.
“The economic growth and social change in this region is astounding,” said Fenton. “It’s really one of the largest stories in the world today. People in the US need to know more about Saudi Arabia’s amazing accomplishments. We need a much greater level of understanding between our countries so it's great that these business and academic leaders were able to hear more about the region’s latest developments.” Fenton’s firm provides US investors with access to the region, “Although business opportunity is extraordinary, what is even more important is bridging the cultural gap, no place in the world is more misunderstood by Americans than Saudi Arabia.”
“It’s important to build communication and understanding between our nations,” said Treasurer Cahill. “Governor Dabbagh outlined the many exciting reforms and changes Saudi Arabia is going through, and discussed ways in which Saudi Arabian economic growth can benefit Massachusetts companies and institutions.” Treasurer Cahill is responsible for economic growth of the $350 billion Massachusetts economy as well as the management of $60 billion in state government pension assets.
Governor Dabbagh’s group is the driving force behind the 10 by 10 strategy a goal set by Saudi Arabia to be ranked as a top-10 global economy by 2010. Fenton pointed out the hundreds of developments that were made already to bring Saudi Arabia from the triple digit rankings to the current rankings which surpass many other developed economies. Attendees at the private meeting represented some of the largest and most innovative companies and academic institutions in America.
In addition to Governor Al Dabbagh, Treasurer Tim Cahill and Bruce Fenton, the meeting was attended by Desh Deshpande, Chairman of Sycamore Networks, a publicly traded tech company, Stephen Pagliuca, Managing Director of Bain Capital, one of the world’s largest private equity firms and owner of over $70 billion worth of large corporations including Dominoes Pizza, Dunkin Donuts and 3Com, David Wajsgras Chief Financial Officer of Raytheon, a 72,000 employee defence contractor, Ben Thorndike Director of Investor Relations at Bain Capital, James Freeman of Cantella & Company a Boston based investment broker dealer, Tom Kennedy of The Kennedy Group communications consulting, Jane Nelson of the Kennedy School of Government, Anne Habiby, Consultant and expert on developing economies, Norman Strate, President of medical device company TBS Technologies, Rodney LaBrecque of Wilbraham & Monson Academy, a Massachusetts private high school that offers a global entrepreneurial study program and other business and academic leaders.
Well, isn't that special? You're quite special, Ben Thorndike!
Now, how will it feel, when your family googles you and sees this thread?
Where I will come right out and say it, for your google alert to see:
You're suspect!You remind me of the thief who says, "Officers, he went
that way! And I have pics!"
Doesn't feel so good, being vaguely accused of having a hand in terrorism, eh?
(I'm the
last person these people want watching the local news, I think. When that whole Qaddafi liberating-Libya thing happened, and WCVB interviewed none other than Emadeddin Muntasser (his lovely family in the background) for, you know, the common Libyan immigrant's perspective, without even a
hint of awareness of Muntasser's recent history, I single-handedly alerted the station via Facebook and they deleted that interview from the rest of the morning re-broadcasts real quick. It's funny what kind of creeps the news knowingly or unknowingly passes off as fine, normal, unremarkable citizens.)
So, now we have two intimations. No, wait...
Make that three speculative intimations (plus probably more I'm forgetting)
- The Director of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, big shot at the Bain-BFF Pru-top Ropes & Gray
- The accidental photographer who made the news, once a Bain big shot, tight with Saudis
- The Fens fire 11 days ago, which seems to occur with regularity, like a mini-Cremation
(p.s. In today's Globe there was a story about businesses deciding what to do Monday afternoon and whether to have work Tuesday. The Pru in general was fully-operational Monday, it seems. Can't say for sure about individual tenants, except the Top of the Hub restaurant and Partners Healthcare in the middle floors. Over at the Hancock, the one tenant reached for comment was seemingly in full swing on Monday but decided to have all its employees work from home Tuesday. Guess which company? If you said Bain Capital, you win an emoticon of your choice.)
Plus, the literally and figuratively shifty Saudi roommate who likes his liquor.
Plus, the
incendiary device mechanical failure at the JFK library at
3pm*, "near" archives.
(Which is up to 6 posts in one weak thread on the JFK Education Forum. Good job, there! Not.)
*Globe article today actually said "shortly before 3pm", described small fire that
whooshed.
Plus, my premonition. Which can be confirmed by two people. A third, maybe.
(But which doesn't seem to have met anyone's standard of noteworthiness?)
Why bother with arid farts like Loren Coleman or Alex Jones?
Do I have to start a blog and grow a cult following to get people's attention?
Throwing bits of shit against the wall here, and it's not necessarily insubstantial!
Or would everyone prefer if I posted a link to something bad in Iraq or Pakistan?
Or maybe I should indulge in the laziest, most cynical defeatism I can muster?