Some hard truths about GM CEO Mary Barra and why I regard Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Board, a hero.
Business
Propecia & the FDA’s Blind Eye to Drug Risks
The Israeli publication Haaretz in September published a blistering expose about how adverse side effects of the hair growth drug Propecia destroyed the lives of countless men in that country. Notably, the Atlantic, a publication at the forefront of the U.S. media that published stories discrediting Covid vaccine critics, in 2012 discredited early critics who warned about Propecia’s side effects.
The FDA failed to act on repeated warnings about Propecia, even after European and Canadian regulators moved to alert consumers about the drug’s risks.
A Primer on EV Alternatives to Elon Musk’s Tesla
The media has declared the Tesla brand is dead, thanks to Elon Musk’s Twitter antics. As a public service for those who refuse to buy a Tesla in protest, I’ve prepared a primer on some alternative electric vehicles and some details about the people and companies that make them.
A Lesson for Disney from Hallmark’s Wonya Lucas
Reflecting on the lyrics to the “Deck the Hall” Christmas carol last night allowed me to discover the impressive diversity and more inclusive programming the Hallmark cable channel has achieved in the past two years without generating one iota of controversy. Here’s what happens when a corporate CEO quietly implements meaningful change without broadcasting to the world that’s her end game.
The Stress & Zen of Living Without Email
When my email was disabled more than a week ago, I initially felt disconnected from the world. By day 3 of the disruption, I felt more connected than I felt in a very long time.
My experience as one of the tens of thousands who mistakenly trusted Rackspace Technology to host and secure our emails.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s Alleged History of Deceit
To dismiss the collapse of the FTX crypto exchange as a trading story is akin to labeling Watergate a burglary incident. The scandal raises issues about the valuations of storied venture capital firms and Silicon Valley’s cozy relationship with Congressional Democrats.
Elon Musk’s War on Entitled Twitter Workers
The New York Times reported on Friday that Twitter “teeters on the edge” after 1,200 employees resigned rather than accept Elon Musk’s demand to accept a “hardcore” work culture. Perhaps that’s true, but if Musk is successful transforming Twitter into a profitable company with less than half its previous workforce, it will further underscore how tech company valuations are grossly inflated.
It hurts to admit this, but here’s why I’m rooting for Musk.
On My Mind: November 17, 2022
Some thoughts on why lawyers for Theranos fraudster Elizabeth Holmes convinced me she deserves significant jail time; a misguided advocate’s attempts to cancel Henry Ford in Detroit because of his antisemitism; the resurging demand for manual transmissions; and fall colors in West Los Angeles.
FTX, President Biden, and the Intercept Orbit
As deftly reported by Ashley Rindsberg in the online magazine Tablet, the media played an integral role creating the myth of Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced CEO of crypto exchange FTX.
Bankman-Fried donated to various publications, including the Intercept, an online publication that possibly contributed to the election of President Biden.
Beware of the Smartest Guys in the Room
The collapse of crypto exchange FTX serves as yet another reminder as to why the public should be wary of executives the media peddles as geniuses, particularly when they profess to adhere to the highest standards of morals and ethics.