Category Archives: News and Events

Describes new books, articles, and upcoming speeches.

Banks Are, Generally, Well, Trouble

We are still cleaning up bank messes from 7 years ago as we find ourselves in yet another.  It was 2016 when the news hit that all the new accounts Wells Fargo was boasting about were not real.  By the … Continue reading

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Rating Service: Gaming the System

The Barometer has noted the presence of a nearly instantaneous quality-of-service survey in her inbox seconds after Clear has “cleared” her through TSA airport security.  Except in Atlanta.  The Atlanta airport is a mess.  The Clear lines there serpentine in … Continue reading

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Samuel Bankman-Fried vs. Dr. Jerry Robinson

When the story of the multibillion dollar collapse of FTX broke, the Barometer thought Dr. Jerry Robinson (Peter Bonerz), orthodontist office mate of Dr. Bob Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show had succumbed to financial temptations. You decide: Dr. Jerry Robinson … Continue reading

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Madison Square Garden Banishes Plaintiff Lawyers

MSG Entertainment, which owns and operates Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, other venues, and restaurants, took a bold step.  It sent a letter to 90 law firms that are in litigation with MSG stating, “Neither you, nor any … Continue reading

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When the Justice Department Jumped the Shark

In October 2021 there was the memo that Attorney General Merrick Garland sent out to all offices about the need to crack down on those violent parents at school-board meetings. He could offer no examples or prior investigations before Congress … Continue reading

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Wells Fargo VP Terminated for Urinating on a 72-year-old Woman (Allegedly)

Shankar Mishra, 34, until recently a VP at Wells Fargo, was on a flight from New York to Delhi, India. Mr. Mishra had been drinking on the flight and for some reason began urinating on a fellow passenger.  According to … Continue reading

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The Conversations That Have No Point

The New York Times runs a regular feature called, “The Conversation.”  Columnists Gail Collins and Bret Stephens shoot the breeze in a stream-of-consciousness format.  The Conversation is lengthy, too lengthy once you catch on to its content.  You will find no new … Continue reading

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“Aiming for an Ivy and Try to Seem Less ‘Asian'”

Title of a story in the New York Times about applicants of Asian descent tailoring their application materials to maximize their chances for getting into an Ivy League school.  Some Asian applicants check “prefer not to say” when the demographic questions … Continue reading

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Disney Hires McKinsey

Now there’s a combo — the consulting firm that turbo-charged pharmas to millions in liability with its advice on increasing opioid sales and their inventories.  Even McKinsey settled up for its part in that fatal national crisis. Now McKinsey meets … Continue reading

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FTX– Some Safety Tips for Avoiding Ponzi schemes

The Barometer has said it before, but bears repeating:  How many times of we have to go through these genius scams before we recognize them for the frauds that they are? To no one’s surprise, except perhaps FTX  investors and … Continue reading

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When Success Comes Too Soon and Too Easily

John R. Tyson, the great grandson of Tyson Foods founder, graduated from Stanford business school with an MBA in 2019.  He was then hired at Tyson foods as Vice President of strategy and chief sustainability officer.  In September 2022, he … Continue reading

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Lessons from a Cab Ride

The Barometer needed a cab to get from the hotel to the airport.  There were no cabs in sight but there was a long line of guests waiting. The desk valet said, “I can get you a cab.”  He made … Continue reading

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NYC Hires McKinsey to Research Its Garbage Problem, i.e., Too Much Garbage

Fresh off its opioids settlement, maybe McKinsey can find a way to tackle garbage. However, a consulting firm needs to manage garbage?  Why not hire Waste Management? Those folks might just know a thing or two about waste and its … Continue reading

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“Am I Obligated to Look After My Insufferable Mother?”

Question to “The Ethicist,” New York Times Magazine, October 9, 2022, p. 16. Yes, you are.  Because your mother looked after the insufferable you for many years. Caring for our aging parents is no easy feat.  But this daughter is missing a … Continue reading

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