A Blemish on McKinsey
When I was in business school, I remember first hearing about McKinsey & Company – a management consulting firm – that charges a lot of money to solve problems for corporations, government, and non-profits (surprisingly many non-profits – especially in healthcare and eduction – can afford McKinsey).
Back then – about 35 years ago – I didn’t understand why major companies (engaged in financial services, media, asset management, telecommunications, technology, healthcare, energy, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, insurance, and more) whose executives are paid millions would pay McKinsey millions to solve problems that their executives were paid to solve. It never made sense to me even though the McKinsey employees were reputed to be the best and the brightest (McKinsey had the reputation of recruiting the top 1 or 2 male students from the top business schools back then. I’m guessing they still recruit the top students but don’t know how close they have come to gender parity) but the executives in these multinational corporations are also the best and brightest in their field. Read more 
The Open Secret Colleges and Universities Don’t Want You To Know
In 1984, the average tuition, room and board was about $4,600, which equates to $14,000 in 2024, taking into consideration the inflation rate, which means todays price of tuition, room and board should be about 300% higher than in 1984. But, we all know that isn’t the case.
The average tuition, room and board at a college or university (and it varies depending on whether the school is private or public) in 2024 is about $42,000 – about 900% more than in 1984. Most private schools cost $80,000 – $100,000 annually which makes people – and especially parents – wonder why have the costs of educating our kids increased so dramatically? Read more
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart: A Documentary to Watch
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart is one of the most enjoyable (and nostalgic) documentaries I’ve ever watched. Although the film is fundamentally about a group, the underlying theme is the love story of three incredibly talented brothers who cared deeply for each other but by most accounts would never have stayed together and endured were they not siblings. And, finally, it’s the story of a music industry that didn’t always know what to do with a band that defied norms.
I’m a bit late to the game in writing about this documentary (it was released in 2020) because I just saw it and found the story so compelling that I had to watch it again to fully grasp all the details (hearing the music a second time was just a bonus). There’s the birth of a group that catapults into a band, the success and the ups and downs but there’s also the culture of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s and the realization the brothers were better together. Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Robin Gibb were all singularly musical but the songs they wrote and sang together exponentially outshined their individual gifts. Read more
Executive Compensation at Liberty University (2022)
Liberty University (Liberty) – a private evangelical Christian university based in Lynchburg, Virginia – has been in the news quite a bit over the past few years. Seems the US Department of Education has been investigating Liberty for violations related to the public reporting of campus crime. Faced with a large fine (estimated to be $37 million), Liberty seems to be in the hot seat again (the Jerry Falwell, Jr sexual misconduct saga that resulted in Falwell’s resignation as President of the university hit the public forum in 2020), although $37 million is a drop in the bucket for Liberty who has more than $3 billion in net assets. Read more
Duke Energy Sucks: Handling Existing Customer Account Changes
We recognize the essential nature of our service and strive for excellence in all we do. We work our hardest to earn your confidence and trust every day. ~Duke Energy
There’s nothing like a monopoly in the US to make you think that maybe we don’t live in a first world country. Duke Energy, an American electric power and natural gas company headquartered in Charlotte, NC has a policy that no matter how long you’ve had an account and paid your bills on time, the company will not provide power to a new home unless they run a credit check, even if you prepay for the power. Ask them why? The standard answer is “it’s our policy.” That’s not a reason. Handling new accounts without a payment history is one thing; mishandling existing on-time paying customer accounts is quite another. Read more
Pets: IMHA and One Vaccine at a Time….
A few weeks ago, my daughter took her 6-year old female corgi to a new vet who gave the dog 3 vaccinations (rabies, leptospira, and bordetello). Five days later, the dog collapsed so my daughter took her to Burlington Emergency Veterinary Specialists (BEVS) where they admitted the dog.
Bloodwork indicated she was anemic: a PCV (Packed Cell Volume that is also called hematocrit) score of 23 compared to a normal 35, and an ultrasound showed an enlarged spleen which led to the diagnosis of Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) where the body no longer recognizes healthy red blood cells as part of the body and develops antibodies to destroy them. Without enough healthy red blood cells, the organs are deprived of oxygen, or the animal is overwhelmed by a blood clot. Read more
Executive Compensation at the PGA (2020)
The Professional Golfer’s Association of America (PGA) is always a headline grabber but recently for all the wrong reasons. Seems the PGA is being investigated by the US Justice Department for anticompetitive behavior in their battle with the new Middle East start up, LIV Golf circuit. Apparently, the PGA has suspended players who have chosen to play the for LIV Golf (who is offering vast sums of earnings for players who join and play golf on their circuit).
The PGA is a tax-exempt non-profit 501 (c) 6 – a professional business association – that is set up and operates differently than most other professional business organizations: Read more
It’s July 6th: 309 Mass Shootings So Far
July 4th is the day we celebrate our country – the United States of America – whose states don’t seem united on many issues but especially on guns. When the nation’s 309th mass shooting killed 7 people and injured dozens of bystanders at an Independence Day (the irony is not lost on anyone) parade in Highland Park, Illinois, I was in my home where I tend to be more these days because I am afraid to be in a place with crowds. Read more
I’m Struggling to Understand
I’m struggling to understand what’s going on in this country. We’ve been dealing with a pandemic for about 18 months and we just can’t seem to get control over a killer virus that we have vaccines for. Nearly 1,500 people died in the US from Covid on August 20, 2021 with more to come if we don’t get this virus under control.
The US has about 330 million people. Approximately 50 million are under the age of 12, which leaves 280 million eligible to take the vaccine. To date, about 170 million people have been vaccinated leaving 110 million Americans age 12 and over eligible for the vaccine. But, they won’t take it for a variety of reasons. As a result, we are losing the battle by allowing the virus to mutate: causing more illness and killing people. Read more
I Am Not Alexa
Just a few short months ago, we were doing simple things – turning the lights on and off, playing music, and shopping on-line – all by ourselves. But, things changed around the holidays when the cloud-based voice service called “Alexa” entered our home. Thinking her dad would love to have someone turn the lights on and off, give a weather update, or turn on whatever music he wants to listen to, my daughter decided to give him “Alexa” for Christmas. But, my daughter was also thinking of me. Read more
Paddock Post 