Monthly Archives: July 2012

“We’re clean, but we’re dirty-clean, rather than clean-clean.”

A Barclays representative when questioned by a British regulator as to whether the Barclays was involved in some untoward behavior with regard to fixing interest rates in order to make its credit position look better than it was.  The crackerjack British regulator responded, … Continue reading

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“It’ll give me a chance to show my innocence.”

John Kinnucan, founder of Broadband Research LLC, a Wall Street analyst firm, in December 2010, after FBI agents raided his office.  Mr. Kinnucan also added “My research has nothing to do with ‘inside information’ and everything to do with a … Continue reading

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The NCAA, Sanctions, and the Opining

“SMU got the death penalty for paying players.  What the NCAA did is not enough for what happened at Penn State. These were boys, they knew, and they did nothing.” “You are punishing people who had nothing to do with what … Continue reading

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“Either you were complicit, grossly negligent or incompetent.”

A member of Parliament confronting former Barclays CEO, Robert Diamond, on the Barclays’ settlement for fixing LIBOR rates.  The best part was Mr. Diamond’s response, “Is there a question?”  Sure is, buddy, which one is it? He just got better when he added, … Continue reading

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On Absolutes Coming Full Circle

For as long as the Barometer can recall, the mantra, “There are no absolutes,” has been repeated with reverence, deference, and unequivocal conviction.  The facile response has always been, “Well, there are no absolutes except that one that you just … Continue reading

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Shana Madoff Swanson — The In-House Counsel and Compliance Director for Bernie Who Allegedly Used $30,000 of Company Funds to Pay Her Interior Decorator

And that is only the beginning of the allegations.  Prosecutors are now focusing on $241,958 in her rent payments made by the Madoff firm.  And $374,860 in personal expenses charged to her corporate American Express card that included clothing, cosmetics, … Continue reading

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Peter Madoff: “Okay, so my wife was paid 100-grand per year and never showed up for work, who knew?”

Peter Madoff, Bernie’s brother, was sentenced to ten years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea to all manner of federal charges including lying to regulators, trying to squirrel away funds after he knew he and the Bernster had been … Continue reading

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How About If We Just Tell the Truth? The Tech Problem with Health and CEOs

Google CEO and billionaire co-founder, Larry Page, missed the company’s annual shareholder meeting in June.  The company has announced that he will also miss the company’s July earnings call. The explanation given at the annual meeting was that Mr. Page “lost … Continue reading

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