Monthly Archives: December 2020

“I know the estimate was $350, but it did not take me that long, so it is only $300.”

The electrician was redoing some wiring to correct an error in the wiring to the grinder pump. The Barometer has no idea what that last sentence means, but the electrician’s estimate for the fix came in at $350. When he … Continue reading

Posted in News and Events | Leave a comment

“Nothing about Martin or the case surprises me.”

That’s a quote from Martin Shkreli’s attorney. Martin Shkreli, often referred to as “Pharma boy,” was the young ‘un who raised the price on Daraprim, a life-saving drug, by 5,000%. If that were not enough for the little charmer, he … Continue reading

Posted in News and Events | Leave a comment

Stanford Finds Lapses in Internal Controls Following Coach’s Charges in Operation Varsity Blue

William “Rick” Singer, college-admissions consultant and creator of one of the most bizarre criminal conspiracies in history that resulted in 52 folks, including parents, being charged with fraud, recruited college coaches for his scheme. At Stanford, he roped in John … Continue reading

Posted in News and Events | Leave a comment

Cheesecake Factory Settles With the SEC For Its Inaccurate Disclosures

You don’t usually see this kind of behavior in a happy place, particularly a place that sells desserts with 1,000+ calories per serving. They do put it right out there on the menu — you can get a full day … Continue reading

Posted in News and Events | Leave a comment

There but for the grace of God go I and Jeffrey Toobin

Jeffrey Toobin, attorney and writer was placed on leave from his gig at CNN after he exposed and touched himself on camera during a virtual meeting with New Yorker journalists about an upcoming podcast they were planning — on the … Continue reading

Posted in News and Events | Leave a comment

UAW Settles Up on All the Corruption

For six years the UAW will have a court-appointed monitor overseeing activities. The UAW will also pay $1.5 million related to text issues. The settlement on a four-year corruption investigation does not cover individual criminal charges for embezzlement and racketeering. … Continue reading

Posted in News and Events | Leave a comment

“Turbocharging” OxyContin Sales and McKinsey: An Apology?

It seems someone woke up at McKinsey, the world’s most prestigious consulting firm, and decided it was time to change. McKinsey was a consultant to Purdue, the pharmaceutical company that produced OxyContin. Purdue is now in bankruptcy and owes $8.3 … Continue reading

Posted in News and Events | Leave a comment

German Regulators Playing the Market

Ralf Bose, the head of Apas, a German government agency that oversees auditors, confessed to Parliament there that he purchased shares in Wirecard in April 2020. At the time Apas was reviewing the work of Wirecard’s auditor. Mr. Bose sold … Continue reading

Posted in News and Events | Leave a comment

Temple University Settles Case with Department of Education: Those MBA Rankings

In many cases, administrators receive bonuses. At some universities the entire MBA staff benefits if the rankings for their programs improved. The pressure is perhaps greater than that experienced by CFOs on earnings results. Temple University submitted data to U.S. … Continue reading

Posted in News and Events | Leave a comment

Overtime Fraud at Metropolitan Transit Authority and Truth Percolates

New York City has a long list of problems, to which we can now add overtime pay fraud. Yes, five MTA employees were putting in for overtime, when, in one case, for example, they were actually bowling (Average score 196). … Continue reading

Posted in News and Events | Leave a comment