Starkman Approved

Organic icons set. Hand drawn elements on green blurred background. Organic, no animal testing, eco friendly, paraben free, from nature with love, farm fresh, gluten free, natural, vegetarian.

When Private Equity Goes Organic

December 10, 2021 — Lifestyle, People, Restaurants

I developed a severe tummy ache upon discovering that Erewhon, my overpriced organic food emporium I mistakenly believed was 100 percent owned by a local couple, is backed by a New York private equity firm. Adding insult to injury, the CEO of the PE firm was accused by more than 300 neighbors of trying to build a McMansion on an environmentally fragile lake in Southampton.

My indigestion worsened upon discovering that private equity is heavily involved in the organic food industry, including the supply chain.

Public good rarely results from private equity involvement.

The Michigan State Capitol is the building that houses the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the portion of the state capital of Lansing which lies in Ingham County.

Fox News and Michigan’s Covid Crisis

December 8, 2021 — Medical, Politics

As an emergency room doc working at a rural Michigan hospital, Rob Davidson presumably took the Hippocratic oath promising to do no harm. Blaming Fox News and Republicans for the inability of Michigan hospitals to care for the surge of unvaccinated patients gives a pass to those who bear responsibility: Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and their fawning anchor friends at CNN and MSNBC.

Online Wealth Management Advisor as a Concept

The “Misunderstood” Ray Dalio

December 7, 2021 — Business, People, Politics

Ray Dalio embodies the greed, arrogance, hypocrisy, and lack of shame required to reach the billionaire stratosphere of money management professionals. Here’s why he is one of Communist China’s biggest sycophants.

South Africa flag, 3D realistic wavy banner. Vector South Africa Republic national flag and Independence Day symbol of green Y shape and black triangle on red and blue background

Omicron and the Intrepid Dr. Coetzee

December 6, 2021 — Media, Medical, People, Politics

Researching Dr. Angelique Coetzee, the doctor who diagnosed the first cases of the Omicron variant in South Africa, I came to appreciate that she’s part of a feisty medical establishment that stands up to government interference. Coetzee is chair of the South African Medical Association, which puts the American Medical Association to shame.

Beijing / China - March 13, 2014: Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, top leadership of the Communist Party of China at a session in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing

China’s Steve Simon WTA Nightmare

December 5, 2021 — Media, People, Politics

President Xi Jinping, Communist China’s president for life, has long enjoyed subjugating U.S. corporations and their chief executives to his will. Steve Simon is the rare U.S. business executive willing to forfeit tens of millions of dollars rather than ignore Xi’s human rights atrocities.

View of a Coronavirus Covid-19 background - 3d rendering

Beaumont Health’s Unvaccinated Pandemic

December 2, 2021 — Medical

Michigan’s Beaumont Health, which has received unusual federal medical assistance at one of its suburban Detroit hospitals, says the hospital system’s covid patients are “almost exclusively unvaccinated.” I’ve obtained Beaumont’s internal system-wide covid stats for Wednesday, Dec. 1.

They tell a slightly different story.

Horizontal shot of video camera operator recording interview of politician. People making interview using equipment set at outdoor location. Selective focus on cameraman

Kevin Nishita And A Camera Worth Dying For

November 29, 2021 — Business, Media, People

Kevin Nishita, an armed security guard and former police officer, died this past weekend from a gunshot wound he sustained protecting the camera equipment of San Francisco television station KRON4. Had Nishita killed his assailant, he likely would have sparked national media outrage about his use of excessive force. Yet few tears are being shed for Nishita, who leaves behind a wife, two children, and three grandchildren.

Capitol building Washington DC sunlight day USA US congress

Healthcare’s Congressional Stooges

November 26, 2021 — Medical, Politics

If you are fed up with the cost and quality of U.S. healthcare, here’s why you should support the ousting of Senators Bill Cassidy, (R-La), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz), Reps. David McKinley (R-W.Va) and Doris Matsui (D-Calif), along with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and AG Dana Nessel.

Giant camera checkes group of people as a metaphor of AI-driven (artificial intelligence) surveillance system taking control over world we know concept. 3D rendering

Thanks For Vanquished Vaccine Critics

November 25, 2021 — Media, Medical, Politics

Among the things I’m grateful for this American Thanksgiving are the brave doctors and other qualified professionals who braved online banishment for daring to speak truth to power. Orwell is proving to be an optimist.

Conceptual cybersecurity image: A 3d modeled rendering of a padlock on a metallic tech background

Keep Your SSN To Yourself

November 21, 2021 — Business, Medical, Technology

Here’s why you should never provide a hospital or other healthcare provider with your social security number and other personal information they don’t require.

Life as a Perfectionist in an Imperfect World

[It can be awfully frustrating!]