Category Archives: News and Events

Describes new books, articles, and upcoming speeches.

Harvard Takes the High Ground – After 90 Years

Since 1934, Harvard’s library has housed a copy of Des destinées de L’âme (The Destiny of the Soul by Arsène Houssaye).  The book was published in 1879. Dr. Ludovic Bouland, a French physician, acquired a copy and placed a new … Continue reading

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“Déjà vu All Over Again”

Whilst reading the 2024 story of  Colorado’s former star forensic scientist,  Yvonne “Missy” Woods, the Barometer had that feeling of déjà vu.  Had this story of an incredible forensic scientist whose results were flawed over decades been told before? Indeed … Continue reading

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From $850 Million to $20 Million and a Bailout

Gro Intelligence, a climate analytics startup, was going to fix the global food system.  That’s a tall order.  But folks invested and created an $850-million company.  As it turns out, Gro had no impact on the global food system.  In … Continue reading

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Oprah and WeightWatchers

Oprah Winfrey has served as a spokesperson and board member at WeightWatchers.  However, in December 2023, Oprah, having lost 40 pounds touting the self-discipline WeightWatcher plan of  counting points,  announced that she had been  taking one of the weight loss … Continue reading

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Harvard: Not an Ounce of Common Sense

Whilst serving on a dissertation committee, I gained mighty insight into the halls of academe. My fellow committee members and I were sitting in shocked silence.  We had just finished a PhD candidate’s oral defense. The defense was a stunner. … Continue reading

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Debacle Two by a Board: Harvard’s Board and Pauline Gay

In studying the Harvard Board’s actions when it comes to hiring and not firing presidents of their institution, the old adage of warning comes to mind, “Would you buy a used car from this person?” Let’s run down the checklist … Continue reading

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Three Debacles and Rookie Mistakes by Boards: Debacle One: HeadSpin

We have this vision in our minds about corporate boards:  experienced, no-nonsense folks with bottom-line good sense all wrapped together in a “does not suffer fools well” package.  Three recent case studies tell us that we are misguided in our … Continue reading

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“Michigan State Confirms Its Sixth President in Six Years.”

Well, there just might be a culture problem at that university. New York Times, December 10, 2023, p. A28.

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“Overdoses Up, Leaders Rethink Relaxed Drug Policies in Portland.”

Well, la-de-dah. who knew? Headline, New York Times, December 12, 2023, p, A1.  

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Catching Up with Indicted Cardinal Angelo Becciu

On July 4, 2021, the Barometer posted the following Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, the former chief of staff for the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, was indicted, along with nine others, for money laundering, fraud, and abuse of office. It seems … Continue reading

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Mama, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up and Go to Harvard

Mercy!  Watching the debacle of the three sirens (the presidents of Penn, MIT, and Harvard) testify about calls for genocide was frightening.  The three managed to reach the same conclusion:  Halting calls for genocide of Jews or imposing sanctions on … Continue reading

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Retail Clerks Strike Over Too Much Shoplifting

United Food & Commercial Workers Local (UFCW) 3000 (Seattle) went on strike against Macy’s.  The reason?  Too many shoplifters.  Actually, their members’  complaint was no protection against shoplifting. In Seattle, where stealing up to $750 is a misdemeanor, the likelihood … Continue reading

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Hitchhiking One’s Way Through a Marathon

Joasia Zakrzewski is a top ultramarathoner.  For those not familiar with the sport, ultramarathoners run 50-miles in their races. In April 2023, during a 50-mile race from Manchester to Liverpool, Ms. Zakrzewski, picked up a ride from a friend for … Continue reading

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Remember the Astros? Apparently Not in Michigan

The allegations against the University of Michigan football team are spy-novel worthy.  Allegedly, according to allegations, in great deference to libel and all that suit-worthy stuff, an attache with military experience was dressed not as a Wolverine (not the animal, … Continue reading

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