Study: Bank Bonuses Far Exceeded Profits

"Several financial giants that received federal bailout money in the last year paid out bonuses to employees in 2008 that greatly exceeded the amount of profit generated by the banks, according to a study on executive compensation released by New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo Thursday."

Team Of Rivals (Zsvangiria and Mugabe)

Can a team of (bitter) rivals heal Zimbabwe?

Hunches, Decision-Making, and Battle

". . .The study complements a growing body of work suggesting that the speed with which the brain reads and interprets sensations like the feelings in one’s own body and emotions in the body language of others is central to avoiding imminent threats."

Cattle Ranch Humor (Related to Leadership)

ALL I NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED ON THE CATTLE RANGE

1. Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.

2. Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.

3. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

4. Always drink upstream from the herd.

5. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

6. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in
your pocket.

7. There are three kinds of men:
- The ones who learn by reading.
- The few who learn by observation.
- The rest of them have to touch the electric fence to see if it's really on.

8. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad
judgment.

9. If you're riding ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then
to make sure it's still there.

Nixon Library Releases 154 hours of White House Tape Recordings Online

"On June 23, 2009, the Nixon Presidential Library will be opening approximately 154 hours of tape recordings from the Nixon White House recorded in January and February 1973 and consisting of approximately 994 conversations. The conversations cover topics such as the conclusion of a peace settlement between the United States and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the return of American POWs, President Nixon’s second inauguration, the U.S. and Europe, the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, Energy policy, the reorganization of the executive branch, and the first Watergate trial."

Nixon Library Releases 154 hours of White House Tape Recordings Online

"On June 23, 2009, the Nixon Presidential Library will be opening approximately 154 hours of tape recordings from the Nixon White House recorded in January and February 1973 and consisting of approximately 994 conversations. The conversations cover topics such as the conclusion of a peace settlement between the United States and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the return of American POWs, President Nixon’s second inauguration, the U.S. and Europe, the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, Energy policy, the reorganization of the executive branch, and the first Watergate trial."

Obama's 10 Most Important Faith Leaders

"Even before Barack Obama was elected president, religious figures loomed large in his political career. . .In an administration that keeps in touch with hundreds of faith leaders, here are the 10 most important."

Interesting Article on John Calvin

"Known as a divisive theologian, John Calvin has become a unifying figure 500 years after his birth on July 10, 1509. Already several sources have recounted how conservative Baptists, charismatics, Presbyterians, and others have rallied around the reformer's teaching about the glory and sovereignty of God. But fewer have observed the diverse collection of mainline Christians who have stepped forward to defend Calvin, sometimes confronting ignorance within their own historically Reformed denominations."

Leadership Humor

A manager was complaining in a staff meeting the other day that he wasn't getting any respect. Later that morning he went out and got a small sign that read, "I'm the Boss." He then taped it to his office door.

Later that day when he returned from lunch, he found that someone had taped a note to the sign that said: "Your wife called. She wants you to bring her sign back."

Benchmarks: The Typical Small Group

"Because it is difficult to get a handle on what is going on in other small groups outside of your own (or your own church), SmallGroups.com does live surveys each month on a variety of small-group topics. The purpose of these surveys is to uncover a sense of what is going on in small groups around the world, and particularly in North America. . . .here are some results of SmallGroups.com surveys on the subject of what goes on during typical small-group meetings."

A tough job for P&G's new CEO

"When news broke Tuesday that Procter & Gamble CEO A.G. Lafley would step down in July, all eyes turned to his successor, COO Bob McDonald. The transition comes at a crucial juncture for P&G, which will rely on McDonald's skills as an operator going forward. But what's less known -- and perhaps equally valuable -- is that the incoming CEO is, like Lafley, an impassioned manager."

Interview with Robert Wuthnow: Global is the New Local

"Today, globalized economic and communications networks create new possibilities for American congregations, says Princeton University's Robert Wuthnow in his most recent book, Boundless Faith: The Global Outreach of American Churches. Since 2000, for instance, 12 percent of active churchgoers reported having gone overseas on a short-term mission while in their teen years. That is up from 5 percent in the 1990s, 4 percent in the 1980s, and only 2 percent before that. Currently, this represents about 100,000 congregations (or one-third of all congregations) every year sending teams that average about 18 members."

Israel’s Elder Statesman, Now With Renewed Clout

"AFTER 60 roller-coaster years in Israeli politics, including two stints as prime minister, Shimon Peres, probably did not expect his career to take any more surprising turns. When he became president of the nation two years ago, a job usually described here as ceremonial, many Israelis assumed the man long known as a perennial plotter and dreamer would gracefully semi-retire. Instead, Mr. Peres, 85, the last of Israel’s founding fathers in office, seems to have been reborn. Though he was often mocked here in the past as a serial election loser and has commanded less respect for his dovish political views at home than abroad, Mr. Peres is basking in more power and public acceptance than ever before."

Merkel is the Message (Successful German Chancellor)

Two articles: Merkel is the message and The Mystery of Mrs. Merkel

Corporate Convicts: Where Are They Now?

"When Bernard Madoff is sentenced Monday, he'll join a pantheon of corporate criminals doing real time. Here's a look at how the most famous while-collar cons are faring."

How Employee Engagement Turned Around Campbell's

An interview with Douglas Conant, CEO of Campbell Soup Co.

The Legacy of FDR

Several good articles on FDR are available at this site.

Ten Things You Didn't Know About Henry VIII

Ten Things You Didn't Know About Henry VIII

In Sickness and in Health (Provosts and CFO's)

"It may come as a surprise, but when you get a group of provosts and chief financial officers together, it sometimes feels like an episode of The Honeymooners. As a Sunday session at the annual meeting of the National Association of College and University Business Officers illustrated, the partnership of these two high-level administrators is at times more like a marriage than a traditional professional relationship."