Monday, June 29, 2020
In spite of or maybe because of bloated executive salaries, we suffer from a steady stream of business maladministration and it's not just the good old USA that manages to produce large-scale cock ups. Wirecard is a German company that offers a payment system alternative to credit cards. Last week, it filed for bankruptcy "days after the financial technology company acknowledged
that 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) that it claimed to have on its
balance sheets probably never existed."
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/
Here's the part that I really like: "Its longtime auditor, EY, formerly Ernst & Young, said the company had carried out 'an elaborate and sophisticated fraud.'" Audits are conducted by pyramidal teams, headed by a partner. An EY partner is estimated to "make on average about $450,000 a year." https://big4accountingfirms.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/
Here's the part that I really like: "Its longtime auditor, EY, formerly Ernst & Young, said the company had carried out 'an elaborate and sophisticated fraud.'" Audits are conducted by pyramidal teams, headed by a partner. An EY partner is estimated to "make on average about $450,000 a year." https://big4accountingfirms.
One would hope that an experienced auditor, say making about $450,000 a year, would be able to notice that 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) never existed. Just saying.
. . .
Has working from home these last few months made a difference? "A Deutsche Bank survey of workers in countries hard hit by the coronavirus found that on average, those in the United States felt they were more productive than before the pandemic, whereas those in Europe felt they were less productive." As one who is gainfully retired, I struggle with this issue, at least when I am not taking a nap.
. . .
I definitely fall outside one large group of Americans in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. I haven't gone home to mother. "More Adults Than Ever Live With Parents or Grandparents." As a result, rental income is down all over the country, with college towns experiencing the largest percentage declines, while expensive sites, such as New York and Los Angeles, seeing the largest dollar losses. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/
. . .
"Data from a nationally representative, longitudinal survey of U.S. adults over age 50 indicated that higher cognitive ability—measured through a variety of cognitive tests—was associated with a higher probability of charitable giving, even after controlling for such intervening mechanisms as age, income, wealth, health, and education."
. . .
Has working from home these last few months made a difference? "A Deutsche Bank survey of workers in countries hard hit by the coronavirus found that on average, those in the United States felt they were more productive than before the pandemic, whereas those in Europe felt they were less productive." As one who is gainfully retired, I struggle with this issue, at least when I am not taking a nap.
. . .
I definitely fall outside one large group of Americans in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. I haven't gone home to mother. "More Adults Than Ever Live With Parents or Grandparents." As a result, rental income is down all over the country, with college towns experiencing the largest percentage declines, while expensive sites, such as New York and Los Angeles, seeing the largest dollar losses. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/
. . .
"Data from a nationally representative, longitudinal survey of U.S. adults over age 50 indicated that higher cognitive ability—measured through a variety of cognitive tests—was associated with a higher probability of charitable giving, even after controlling for such intervening mechanisms as age, income, wealth, health, and education."
In other words, you are more generous than Trump voters.
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
It's a sad day, because of the death of Carl Reiner, actor, comedian, writer, director, producer. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/
In my mind, he will be eternally linked to Mel Brooks, as if I needed an excuse to replay the 2000 Year Old Man.
. . .
What's for dinner? After collecting data from 30 million credit and debit card holders, JPMorgan Chase "found the level of in-person spending in restaurants three weeks ago was the strongest predictor of where new [Covid-19] cases would emerge. Similarly, higher spending in supermarkets indicated a slower spread, suggesting shoppers in those regions may be living more cautiously."
https://www.bloomberg.com/
What's for dinner? After collecting data from 30 million credit and debit card holders, JPMorgan Chase "found the level of in-person spending in restaurants three weeks ago was the strongest predictor of where new [Covid-19] cases would emerge. Similarly, higher spending in supermarkets indicated a slower spread, suggesting shoppers in those regions may be living more cautiously."
https://www.bloomberg.com/
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
The Bundesliga is Germany's premier professional soccer league. While all of our professional sports leagues remain inactive because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bundeliga resumed play to empty stadiums ("ghost games"), after a two-month hiatus in May. Data "shows that before the Bundesliga closed down,
home teams won 43% of the 223 games played, with 35% being away wins
and 22% draws. In 56 ghost games, home wins have plummeted to 21% while away teams have won 50% and draws are up to 29%." https://www.reuters.com/
I'll have to ask my in-house statistician whether the sample sizes are adequate, but it sure makes for some interesting speculation about having the crowd on your side.
. . .
I'll have to ask my in-house statistician whether the sample sizes are adequate, but it sure makes for some interesting speculation about having the crowd on your side.
. . .
Reginald Hill (1936-2012) was one of my favorite mystery writers. Reading Good Morning, Midnight, I thought that he had my number: "That small advance party of his personality which had its beachhead on the shores of normalcy."
Thursday, July 3, 2020
Tonight, I attended a Zoom discussion, along with more than 800 others, on the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, the most important figure in Jewish music in the last century. He wrote thousands of songs, most notably putting standard Hebrew prayers to music. His work was not only widely heard in synagogues, he appeared in concert and other venues. In fact, I have his recording "At the Village Gate."
However, it was not the quality of his music that drew the crowd. After his death in 1994, accusations were published concerning his sexual predatory behavior, especially involving young women and girls. As in other cases, there were admissions of familiarity, after the fact, by friends and colleagues, even family members.
Synagogues have debated the continuing use of Carlebach music, some banning outright, some suspending use and then restoring. My West End Synagogue's rabbi and cantor together decided to eliminate his music from our services; this authoritarian approach was necessary to avoid the deadlock ordinarily produced by our hyper-democratic, ultra-sensitive congregational decision making process.
Should we separate the art from the artist à la Richard Wagner, or are religious services the last place to incorporate the work of a sexual predator?
Friday, July 3, 2020
The essay below appeared over the weekend, but I held it until today because I consider it the last word on the subject of placing statues of traitors in public spaces. You must read it, if you haven't. The dramatic impact of the writing begins with the title: "You Want a Confederate Monument? My Body Is a Confederate Monument" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/opinion/confederate-monuments-racism.html
Did I say the last word? Yes, the last intelligent word. On the other hand, we have this headline from The Washington Post: "Trump's ardent defense of Confederate monuments continues."
Friday, July 3, 2020
The essay below appeared over the weekend, but I held it until today because I consider it the last word on the subject of placing statues of traitors in public spaces. You must read it, if you haven't. The dramatic impact of the writing begins with the title: "You Want a Confederate Monument? My Body Is a Confederate Monument" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/opinion/confederate-monuments-racism.html
Did I say the last word? Yes, the last intelligent word. On the other hand, we have this headline from The Washington Post: "Trump's ardent defense of Confederate monuments continues."
Once when I was in Buenos Aires, I bought 3 paperbacks at the English language bookstore Kel. Only later I discovered that 2 of the books were titled "Good Morning, Midnight," one by the afore-mentioned Reginald Hill and the other by Jean Rhys. The phrase comes from Emily Dickinson.
ReplyDeleteBoth books are highly recommended.
Emily Dickinson's poems play a role in Hill's book, but the title phrase emerges in a different context.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me that I had meant to watch the program on Carlebach - Ken and I played the recording on the Cantors' Assembly Facebook page (under videos) as we drove to Boston today. An excellent program!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the brilliant article in the NYT - truly the last word on statues.
ReplyDelete