Monthly Archives: January 2012

Stunning Contrasts – What We Miss When We Don’t Help

Posted on January 31, 2012 by mmjdiary

In a seminar the Barometer was conducting, a participant indicated that he was carrying the guilt from something he had done last year. On his way to an important meeting, he saw a woman with four small children along the … Continue reading →

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Methinks Greenlight Doth Protest Too Much – Einhorn and Punch Taverns

Posted on January 31, 2012 by mmjdiary

The pattern is always the same. Bright young star, brilliant career, and then the edges begin to fray a bit. David Einhorn, the head of hedge fund, Greenlight Capital, got his first whiff of fraying last week. Mixed metaphors aside, … Continue reading →

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“The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons.”

Posted on January 31, 2012 by mmjdiary

Ralph Waldo Emerson on those who tout their ethics. Remember, Lloyd Blankfein has reminded us about Goldman’s role in society, “We are doing God’s work here.” The Barometer wonders if God is aware of his agent’s claimed apparent authority.

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Ethics Tantrums

Posted on January 30, 2012 by mmjdiary

Ethics tantrums are on the rise, and they are troublesome. Ethics tantrums are the fits folks throw when they have an ideological bone to pick with an individual, a business, an industry, a state. . . Examples? James Lileks describes … Continue reading →

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“Say you were standing with one foot in the oven and one foot in an ice bucket. According to the percentage people, you should be perfectly comfortable.”

Posted on January 30, 2012 by mmjdiary

Bobby Bragan, Atlanta Braves manager on the stats theory behind Moneyball. It’s a great deal like the reasoning of white-collar criminals — “I am doing the right thing all but 5% of the time.” The problem is that the 5% … Continue reading →

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“From my personal political standpoint, I wish people got paid less. But my guiding star is not my political belief.”

Posted on January 17, 2012 by mmjdiary

Alan Johnson, owner of Johnson Associates, a financial compensation specialty firm with clients such as Credit Suisse and the late Lehman Brothers. No, one’s beliefs have no place as a guiding star.

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Levi’s 501 Jeans, Currency, and Customs

Posted on January 4, 2012 by mmjdiary

The Barometer was in a long and slow-moving line at the U.S. Post Office. A very pleasant woman in line, who was attempting to return items her guests from Norway had left at her home, struck up a conversation. How … Continue reading →

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