Monthly Archives: April 2011

The Social Responsibility of Unions

Posted on April 28, 2011 by mmjdiary

The theory of corporate social responsibility (CSR) holds that the primary responsibility of a corporation is to benefit society, i.e., companies should always act in the best interests of stakeholders and not just be accountable to their shareholders. In making … Continue reading →

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Punishing the Non-Speeders: Relief for the Impatient

Posted on April 22, 2011 by mmjdiary

The Florida Senate approved a bill that would allow drivers who are moving too slowly in the fast lane to be ticketed ($143 plus points) if another car is trying to pass them.  The kicker is the bill defines “driving … Continue reading →

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No Tips for Poor Service

Posted on April 21, 2011 by mmjdiary

It is annual meeting time and with annual meeting notices come those figures on executive compensation.  Johnson & Johnson cut its CEO’s bonus from $3.6 million in 2009 to $1.98 million for 2010.  Let’s recap – it would be easier … Continue reading →

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Speaking of Crimes and Sports . . .

Posted on April 21, 2011 by mmjdiary

A joint CBS/Sports Illustrated investigation that examined rosters of the top 25 NCAA football teams and found that 7% of the players (that’s one out of every 14) had been in trouble with the law either before entering college or … Continue reading →

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Your Stealing Arm?

Posted on April 21, 2011 by mmjdiary

There’s something about Cincinnati.  There was the puffing, swilling, je ne sais quoi of the late Marge Schott, former owner of the Reds.  Her malapropisms entertained and outraged nearly as much as Pete Rose and his gambling – on the … Continue reading →

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“Mr. Sokol has said he does not think he has done anything wrong; Mr. Buffett has said he does not think Mr. Sokol did anything illegal.”

Posted on April 21, 2011 by mmjdiary

Yes, there is a difference between “illegal” and “wrong.”  Many things are legal, but they just ain’t right.  Mr. Buffett’s choice of that one word is telling. From a New York Times story on a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder suit brought … Continue reading →

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“The words expressed do not reflect my feelings toward the gay and lesbian communities and were not mean to offend anyone.” Kobe Bryant

Posted on April 15, 2011 by mmjdiary

Note to Mr. Bryant’s handlers/PR team and the NBA:  Apologizing for offending someone is not an apology.  Mr. Bryant needs to apologize because what he did was wrong, period.  We made this point back during the Super Bowl XXXVIII wardrobe … Continue reading →

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“Neither Dave nor I feel his Lubrizol purchases were in any way unlawful.”

Posted on April 9, 2011 by mmjdiary

Warren Buffett, in announcing the departure of his heir apparent, David Sokol, from the company after Mr. Sokol’s advance purchase of shares in a Berkshire acquisition emerged.  Oh, great Oracle of Omaha — as a new acquaintance shared with me, … Continue reading →

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On the Insider Trading Front

Posted on April 9, 2011 by mmjdiary

What is it about non-public information that is so difficult to understand?  This week alone – April 1- April 8, we had a heck of a run: Adam Smith, formerly an analyst and trader with Galleon (and no relation to … Continue reading →

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When You Have a Problem, Fix It Straight Away: Southwest Airlines Shows Us How It’s Done

Posted on April 9, 2011 by mmjdiary

It was not an April Fool’s Day joke when, as a comedian says, Southwest’s flight from Phoenix to Sacramento took off as a hard top and landed as a convertible. The fuselage of one of the airline’s Boeing 737 jets … Continue reading →

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The Tell-Tale Tote Bag

Posted on April 9, 2011 by mmjdiary

Hannah’s mother wanted the Elizabeth Arden perfume set for Christmas, and the big red tote bag that came with it  — FREE!  Hannah schlepped to the mall, an experience she detested.  At the Elizabeth Arden counter she asked for the … Continue reading →

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The Eagle Scout and the Interview

Posted on April 9, 2011 by mmjdiary

A delightful young man was applying for a job.  His resumé listed that he had attained the rank of Star Scout. Another young man applying for the job listed on his resumé that he had attained the rank of Eagle … Continue reading →

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“Libya is a kleptocracy in which the regime – either the al-Qadhafi[sic] family itself or its close political allies – has a direct stake in anything worth buying, selling or owning.”

Posted on April 9, 2011 by mmjdiary

State Department cable 2009.  When trade with Libya was reopened in 2004, the hope was for “normalization of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.”  Instead, “It was a deal with the devil.”  And Satan is still in charge. Companies pay signing bonuses to … Continue reading →

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