April 3rd, 2011 ~ Blair Fedder ~
12 Comments 
While playing in a tournament and waiting for the paramedics to move the heart attack victim from the next table, my opponents, partner and I got into a discussion about my campaign promises if I were to be elected the next president of the United States. A crowd was starting to gather and our discussion became an open forum for questions and answers. In rapid fire order people wanted to know my position on those topics which most interested them. Not a lot of concern from the bridge crowd about affirmative action, improvement of the educational system, health care, job loss, rising cost of goods, multiple fronts of war or the collapse of the U.S. dollar. Not one mentioned the failure to create legislation for campaign finance reform or the president’s new policy of no change is good change. The discussion did have a direction. That was a concern over the slow play and bidding being seen in tournaments. The consesus was that there was no room any longer for any pair not finishing a round in the proper amount of time. The fact that the field needs speed pairs intermingled with the slower players to keep the game moving at all, just meant that a further hardship was being placed on those faster players, who deserve their allotted time to play their best game. The other topic was the dreaded hesitation. A rash of questions ensued, with opinion far and wide. How long a time before a hesitation is officially a hesitation? Do some players quick count that time? After a hesitation, what do you do if the opponent says, ” I’m sorry, I did not know it was my turn to bid” or “I just say a flying pink elephant.” Do you call the director after such a hesitation? This of course slows the game, which is counterproductive, as no crime has been committed yet, except that of intimidation, which no one likes…..
I think I prefer to discuss campaign finance reform or how to protect social security and save our health care system. The wars are easy to solve versus the riddles of slow play and hesitation, as you just stop fighting and let the dominoes fall as they may….
Later
May 21st, 2010 ~ Blair Fedder ~
5 Comments
Below is the response from a damaged party, Mr. Paul Ivaska, who explains why I dedicated this space to him and his cause against the individual titled above:
In response and for the record, the victim, Mr. Paul Ivaska wrote on April 29th, 2010 at 8:13 pm the following:
After Tony resurfaced playing with pros in Orlando, a friend posted their views of him. Tony retaliated with attacks via blog posts and many abusive, bullying, and profane e-mails accusing an innocent person who had nothing to do with writing the post. Blair called him on it. Tony’s last posts made me realize that I need to publicly address these posts.
The facts are these. I loaned Tony $300,000 in March, 2007, for what he assured me would be a maximum of three months. He stated that his company would cease to exist and that 14 or 15 people and/or families, most of whom I know, would be out of work if I refused. He still owed me $115,000 (at zero interest) from an obligation that originated in 1987. I reluctantly agreed to the new loan when he offered 12 percent interest (the prime rate being 8.25 percent at the time) and pointed out that he had a lot of real estate to backup the loan. He repaid $100,000 in November, 2007. The three months is now over three years. All known real estate has been sold to satisfy the IRS, Michael Schreiber, Schreiber’s attorneys, bankruptcy attorneys and trustees, and God knows who all else, but nothing further to repay his good friend. And I haven’t received an interest payment in 19 months.
There were no legal problems when Gerry and I were involved in the business. However, we left in 1987. A Google search of “Tony Kasday” will clarify Tony’s statement “I was in a legit direct mail biz for 45 years.”
In 1988, Tony encouraged Gerry and me to invest with his friend in a land deal. We then made two other investments with this person, paying into them from 1990 until 2005 (almost 16 years), when they finally sold. Of course, Gerry died in July, 2001, long before our last two investments sold. Unfortunately, Tony has always been inconsistent with his payments for the 1987 debt. I regret that we were unable to do some things, such as travel, during Gerry’s last years because of a lack of disposable income.
Not having my money has continued to deprive me of investment opportunities and many things that I want and need. I paid a six-figure capital gains tax to Uncle Sam, paid off the mortgage on my modest home, and paid off my large credit card debt and my home equity line of credit. Tony has approximately 50 percent of my remaining liquid assets. So I’m not a millionaire. I do need my money.
And, yes, I don’t think it’s proper that Tony travels so far to play in bridge tournaments when he isn’t paying principal or interest on his $315,000 obligation (even if, and I quote one of Tony’s e-mails, “I gave myself a tiny treat, AND Eddie & Bob cost me zippo” sent after the Orlando tournament.)
I’m encouraged that Tony says in his post that “I have never screwed a friend out of a nickel” and pleased to read that “There never EVER was a question of non-repayment.” That certainly wasn’t my impression since he has refused to take my phone calls since March, 2009. I’m anxious to know when he plans to repay me.
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