Monday, May 29, 2006

Post-Enron...

I am going to save my New York Times edition covering the convinction of Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling. Had it been any other way, I would have burned all coverage and probably blown up my TV.
Read "Conspiracy of Fools" by Kurt Eichenwald. One of my favorite parts is the blasting of so-called whistle-blower Sherron Watkins. She wrote a memo about the funky accounting - I'll give her that much - but she was drinking heartily from the Enron well. She and everyone else in that lousy cesspool of a company were in it for themselves only. Now she's a motivational speaker. Can we all just stop buying tickets to Motivational Seminars, please? Send them to the island of misfits where they belong.
Another great part of the story Eichenwald tells is that, contrary to urban myth, Enron clones did not continue to buy shares in the company because Lay told them to (even while he was dumping his own shares to cover his massive personal financial mess). No - Enron Idiots were buying shares of their company because that's what Enron Idiots did - of course the stock would bounce back. After those nasty people at the Wall Street Journal stopped reporting on them.
Even with these two Robin Hood-ish storylines bashes, the story of Enron is so compelling. Rough Riders in the 21st Century - sheparding the new century in, for that matter - perhaps setting the stage for what's to come.
And then came WestJet. The start-up airline based in Western Canada finally stood up and admitted its actions regarding corporate espionage against Air Canada was "unethical and unacceptable." A couple of years late, and not enough leadership change, but it's something. At least they are clearing the air. And donating C$10 million to charity in both WestJet's and Air Canada's name.

Sunday, May 28, 2006

My Love Affair with Snapple

I love Snapple. It's everywhere in NYC. My absolute favorite Snapple is Diet Lime Green Tea. I put my happy face on when I see it in stores and pizza joints. I don't see it nearly enough, so hello? Snapple? Are you listening? Truck this stuff IN, baby!