29. juli 2004

Insider traders will go to hell There is apparently a correlation between belief in hell and business ethics. Instead of poking holes in this theory, I will just point out that there is also a correlation between child births and stork populations. There may, however, have been a causation between belief in predestination and the origin of capitalism, famously described in Max Weber's classic The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. 9:24:39 PM    comment []  trackback []

Pointy haired sensitivity The French electricity board worker Corinne Maier has rised the ire of her bosses after she wrote what a book about stupidity at the workplace. How strange! EDF bosses seem to feel the book reflects badly on them, though the company is never mentioned by name. Trying to take disciplinary action against her will reflect so much better on them, I guess With chapter headings such as Corporate Culture - Stupid People, and swipes at useless middle management, it has certainly touched a raw nerve. But it was Ms Maier's advice to readers that probably stung the most: "You don't have much to lose if you don't do much at work," she wrote, telling readers to choose the most useless sort of job - become a consultant, an expert or an adviser. Ms Maier isn't sure what to expect at her disciplinary hearing on 17 August. But when it happens, she'll almost certainly arrive with a bulging bundle of files under her arm - the best way, she says, to avoid questions from your boss about what exactly it is you have been doing all day. Make it a collection of Dilbert cartoons. 9:13:59 PM    comment []  trackback []

Palestinians made millions selling cement for the barrier Arafat's PA leadership has strongly opposed Israel's security barrier, but at the same time Palestinian businessmen, with the full knowledge of Arafat, has been making a fortune celling cement to Israel. Arafat's officials have made a nice profit from bribes in this shady deal. A damning report by Palestinian legislators, which has been seen by the Telegraph, concludes that Mr Arafat did nothing to stop the deals although he publicly condemned the structure as a "crime against humanity". The report claims that the cement was sold with the knowledge of senior officials at the Palestinian ministry of national economy, and close advisers to Mr Arafat. It concludes that officials were bribed to issue import licences for the cement to importers and businessmen working for Israelis. I, and probably most others, did not know that the Palestinian terrirtories had such a massive cement industry (if they did, that would be a good sign, not?). Well, they don't. The cement was supplied to them by Egyptian businesses at heavy rebates, to help rebuilding houses demolished by the Israeli army. The report reveals that the cement originally came from Egyptian companies which supplied it at a huge discount of $22 (£12.50) a ton to help rebuild dilapidated Palestinian houses or buildings bulldozed by the Israelis. Between September 2003 and March this year, 420,000 tons of cement were allegedly sent to three big Palestinian companies. According to the report, however, only 33,000 tons were sold in the Palestinian market. The vast bulk was transported to Israel on trucks owned by the three firms. According to Mr Khreishe, the cement was then sold with a mark-up of at least $15 a ton - and possibly as high as $100 - making profits of well over $6 million (£3.4 million) for company executives. The Legislative Council launched an investigation after Egyptian journalists stumbled upon business links between a German Jewish businessman and the Palestinian companies. Money talks, and Arafat's government is listening. 4:31:12 PM    comment []  trackback []

Or maybe it's Bush's secret death star It is obviously no space station, but it sure looks like one. Very cool picture from Cassini. 1:30:33 AM    comment []  trackback []

© Copyright 2004 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.08.2004; 12:47:01.