The first time Bernie Madoff called me, the grinding sounds of a floor buffer in the background nearly drowned him out.

NEWYORKER: Madoff��s Curveball

Like many Ladakhi houses, this one reserves the lowest floor for livestock, and the tiny gray donkey, whose braying--like rusty hinges grinding--has kept me awake these past two nights, steps out to sun himself.

FORBES: Feature