Zero Dark Thirty

Director Kathryn Bigelow recently released another gripping war movie, Zero Dark Thirty. Thus far 10 million (or so) have seen this film domestically. The film has legs which is more than can said for some of the combatants. It was nominated for Best Film in 2012, but Ms. Bigelow was not nominated as Best Director, as was expected by many. ZDT chronicles the decade long efforts of the US intelligence community and military to avenge the 9/11 attack. ZDT comes after Ms. Bigelow’s Best Movie of 2010, Hurt Locker. Hurt Locker showed the brutality of wars fought with snipers and explosive devices in small scale war, as opposed to massive troop engagements in earlier wars.

Jessica Chastain, ZDT

Clair Danes, Homeland

Unfortunately, I found ZDT fell far short of Hurt Locker. Its message wasn’t clear. Some critics have argued this is an “anti-torture” statement. Others observe that crucial information was obtained by tough interrogations tactics, torture, thus is it “pro-torture”.  Further, there is a furor around the film about what information may have been leaked to the producers, and accusations of possible political motivations of its content. While I don’t always believe where there is smoke there is fire, but it seems fairly smoky here. (The Fog of War?)

What struck me while I was watching ZDT was that our entire US counter-terrorism effort is largely dependent on attractive, neurotic, young women as played by Jessica Chastain in ZDT or Claire Danes in the incredible HBO series Homeland. Single minded (and single) these heroines don’t have a life, work 24/7 on Red Bull, chips, or other “junk” food, live in messy apartments (when they do go home), open refrigerators which have only limp celery, days old Chinese takeout, and sour milk. However, they won’t rest until evil is taken out.

ZDT is slang for a very early time of departure. Sources I found suggest this started as a military term, but has drifted into business speak. Like a New York minute, or going the final mile it is used widely. ZDT. While most are still sleeping, a few are off and on their way. Getting started. For the past several years I was a regular ZDT (particularly in the winter) participant as I joined my ride pool into San Francisco before the buses started running. My ride-mates were all investment managers who wanted to be in the office when the US stock market opened. (This is another example of east coast bias. Those from Connecticut suburbs, or where ever, can arrive at a leisurely 9:30, Starbucks in hand, and see the market open. Their west coast counterparts routinely miss Letterman and Leno and must beat the sun many months a year to hear the opening bell). I loved this group because it was 25 minutes of sharing about investing, the economy, music, what’s happening, and life in general. My last remaining life-line to the hip world.

My ZDT link was to get to the gym before work, being a morning person. However, any reference to the military ends there. My work outs remain “middle aged”, the only “enemy” was the residual of that Fenton’s sundae from the night before.  

Similarly, the group of guys I worked with for nearly 10 years (and some well beyond that) were the antithesis of military hierarchy. They work in a focused, but collegial manner, and always have time to chat about the latest game results (boo-hoo the 49ers lost in SB 47, but destiny assures they will win in two years, if not next year), business trends (America has problems, but is the best house in the ghetto, thus a strong dollar, for now anyway), or political folly (too many examples!!).

Bridgeway Capital Advisors is a great place to work, has a solid business niche, and delivers excellent service and advice to its clients. I genuinely like those guys, and enjoyed the chance to work with them on various projects. However, something inside me told me I should turn over a new leaf. After all I had been at this for a long, long time. When I started working in June 1967. (Some of the ride pool weren’t born):

·         LBJ was president and was ensnarled in little Vietnam

·         The Dow Jones Industrial Average was flirting with 1,000, now it is over 13,000

·         The average income in the US was about $7,500, now something like $40,000

·         A ticket to see Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner cost $1.25, now ZDT costs $8-9, a buck more if in 3D

·         And Green Bay won the first Super Bowl. The cost of a 30 second spot for that game was the cost for 1 second in yesterday’s contest.

One week before starting work, on our Hawaiian Honeymoon

Thus, late last year our Managing Partner, Jack Goodman and I started talking about my transition out of BCA. It was a sad recent Saturday morning when I cleaned out my office in a couple of banker boxes. I felt like a significant chapter in my life was coming to an end. That was something over 10,000 bright, new days which offered challenges and usually enjoyable collaboration with teams. (Perhaps more on this later, but I want to get back to the topic at hand).

Never one to pass an opportunity to have some fun, Jack & Catherine Goodman hosted a dinner last night to acknowledge this transition. Despite the end of the Super Bowl pushing a lovely dinner back 30 minutes or so, we had a great evening of remembering back. Catherine is a gracious hostess who served a memorable dinner. No roast here, either to eat (we feasted on what was probably an Italian chicken dish with olives and prunes), or kidding me about all my miscues.

Knowing my tendency to collect golf balls, and my lack of skill, I was given some camouflage golf balls, which I plan to give opponents. They will never find them. I also received the book 1,000 Places To Go Before You Die, and interestingly our traveling friends Rod and Sylvia Hurd had only gone to 487 of them, so far. The book resonated with my career since customers were always telling me “where to go”.  Acknowledging my minimalist wardrobe, I got the all time gift of a gangsta’ gold and diamond watch. It makes a garish set of gold capped teeth, a gold medallion Dollar sign, and $2,000 lighted rims for a chopped “ride” all seem bland as the Cosmopolitan Club of New York. And, I got world’s biggest fortune cookie, which advised taking more naps, or similar.

New School

Old School                  

                                                                            

Note of disclosure. In my new state, the times on those watches are PM, not AM.

I know the party went on beyond when most of us had planned. Thanks to all for their patience, knowing it was a “school night”, and ZDT would come sooner than wanted.

Genuine thanks to all who made that night so special to Carol and me. I apologize for this unconventional thank you note. We look forward to staying in touch.