Category Archives: Classic Quotes

Gary Bongiovanni, editor of Pollstar, commenting on Beyoncè, Nelly Furtado, Mariah Carey, and Usher performing private shows for the Gadhafi family.  About a million bucks came each of their ways in exchange.  Ms. Carey said she was “naïve and unaware … Continue reading →

Brian Wilson, of the San Francisco Giants, in discussing his meeting with Charlie Sheen.  That leaves only judging folks by what they are currently doing.  Mr. Sheen has that covered as well, and he could use just a smidgen of judgment.  Sometimes judgment … Continue reading →

former Countrywide CEO, Angelo Mozilo, who paid $22.5 million to the SEC to settle federal charges that he misled investors about the nature of the risk in Countrywide’s loan portfolio.  Countrywide’s stock grew 25,000 percent over 25 years (from 1982-2007).  … Continue reading →

Noel Biderman, CEO of Ashley Madison.com, a “dating” website for married folks who aspire to adultery.   The company’s ad motto: “Life is short.  Have an affair.”  Mr. Biderman is married to a very nervous wife and has two children. The … Continue reading →

Zubiru M. Jalloh, the New York City cab driver who returned $100,000 in jewelry and cash that was left in his cab by a passenger.  Mr. Jalloh, from Sierra Leone, has become a national hero there for the positive PR … Continue reading →

J.P. Morgan Chase employee from the company’s due diligence team, expressing his concern that Bernie Madoff’s operation might be a Ponzi scheme.  The Madoff bankruptcy trustee has filed suit against J.P. Morgan for its failure to speak up when it had internal … Continue reading →

Gil Meche, a 32-year-old pitcher with the Kansas City Royals, who will not report for spring training because of problems with his shoulder that preclude him from pitching.  His contract allows him to be paid for having surgery and showing … Continue reading →

Merrill Lynch proprietary desk trader e-mailing a colleague about his purchase of 10,000 shares of Teva Pharmaceutical after a Merrill institutional client placed an order to sell 40,000 share of Teva.  Merrill was, in effect, trading on client data. 

e-mail from Innospec’s agent in Iraq to CEO, Paul W. Jennings (no relation to the Barometer) on why Innospec needed to continue to pay Iraqi officials a 2% kickback.  Mr. Jennings settled FCPA charges by agreeing to pay $229,000.  Mr. … Continue reading →

Goldman client agitated over Goldman’s withdrawal of its Facebook offering over fears that it would run afoul of securities laws.  Oh, you poor naive man.  Did you not see the congressional hearings?  Did you not witness the SEC settlement?

Tim Donaghy, former NBA ref who served 15 months for betting on games, in the New York Times, January 9, 2010.  Except insider trading is illegal too.

Althought offered by fitness guru Bob Greene, the line is one that works on ethics.  The Barometer has heard it all when it comes to businesses and business people discussing earnings management, sales puffing, and out-of-control stuff given to land … Continue reading →

Don Ching Trang Chu, an employee at a stock research firm, recorded in a conversation with hedge fund manager Richard “C.B.” Lee.  Mr. Lee, in exchange for a plea deal, was cooperating with the federal government by wearing a wire in talking … Continue reading →

Dave Tally, a homeless man in Tempe, AZ, who returned a backpack that had in it both a laptop and $3,300 in cash.  Mr. Tally found the backpack left behind at a light-rail station