The Week in Cheek: business news that refuses to go away
" The world of hope, the world of ever-closer union among countries which for centuries would kill each other by the million—came to a shattering end on Thursday." ~ Felix Salmon opines on the Brexit
Other than that Brexit thingy, it was a great week.
On the lighter side of Brexit, Donald Trump, who was in Scotland visiting his golf course for no apparent reason, said he was thrilled to be in Scotland at such a historic time, and commended the Scots for taking their country back not realizing that 62% had voted to stay in the EU. Trump's comments unleashed a torrent of imaginative insults on Twitter.
Am not sure what a f*cktrumpet is, but I hear it makes beautiful chamber music. McDonald's is considering launching Weasel McF*cknuggets if Donald Trump wins the presidency in November.
In other news...
If you think that you've been subjected to excruciating training sessions, consider the employees of China's Changzhi Zhangze Rural Commercial Bank who were beaten with a stick after performing poorly on a "performance breakthrough" course. And if that wasn't bad enough, men had their heads shaved and women their hair cut for being among the eight employees with the lowest scores.
" Spanking was a training model I have been exploring for many years." ~ Jiang Yang, motivational trainer and author of Fifty Shades of Training
The biggest non-Brexit business story of the week is Tesla's $2.8 billion offer to buy SolarCity. The deal has Elon Musk energized about the possibilities of end-to-end clean energy, calling it a "no-brainer" and Wall Street thinking that combining two companies that burn through cash is, like, totally fried.
" The brazen Tesla bail-out of SolarCity is a shameful example of corporate governance at its worst." ~ Jim Chanos
Elon Musk appears bloated after swallowing SolarCity.
Goldman Sachs has released its third annual buzzword list explaining such concepts as eSports (watching others have fun), peak stuff (when ownership maxes out and people start sharing) athleisure (what I know I shouldn't wear outside the house but I do).
The rise of “craft” across categories exemplifies many of the “mega-trends” that are shaping the current generation of consumers. In particular, Millennials, who represent the largest age cohort in the US, are more experimental, seek bolder flavors, and have a high propensity for things that are perceived to be more “authentic.” ~ Goldman Sachs uses quotation marks to express how "discerning" it thinks Millennials are
Speaking of cynical investment banks trying to play nicey nicey, JP Morgan recently announced that business casual would be acceptable attire (although althleisure would be grounds for immediate dismissal). To help employees dress appropriately, a Vineyard Vines pop-up store has been set up and a helpful ad campaign launched.
JP Morgan displays its diversity of colour.
It may not surprise you to know that within the CandyLand of Facebook there exists a thriving subculture of Mark Zuckerberg fan art.
Had no idea that Mark Zuckerberg's chest was so hairy.
And finally, Rhoda M Pitcher, the Lululemon directrix with a Master's degree in organization development from University Associates and no fixed address, is no longer a mystery, although it might have been better for Lululemon if she had remained a fictional cult figure.
Highly recommended reading/viewing:
John Oliver's jolly good takedown of the Brexit.
Harvard Business Review explains why Tronc is wrong.
Maria Konnikova explains why summer makes us lazy.
Have a lazy weekend!
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8 年Democracy is so beautifully simple that it is often miscaracterized when it resets and slows down in the midst of an equally divided people. Many world democracies are in this period. Although this is disappointing to the other half who see following a rapid pace toward globlization as civility, this vote shows the prudence of navigating rough waters forward at a slower speed. Those who see the distant shores ahead as a straight course should listen to the wisdom of the seasoned older seamen on the voyage. Yes, you will get to your utopian world but take a route that is more scenic. Don't complain that it is a stupid course. Be kind and respectful to your majority who have spoken. Don't call them ugly names using big words and unkind labels. These seaman may not have PHD's but they smell the air and see the dark clouds and they came together to vote for a slower course. I respect the great nation of England. It will prevail and succeed without any of the dire consequences I've heard. This is a time for those who feel superior to set out to dine with their fellow countrymen who voted on a slower approach and find common ground. I see a great nation then becoming greater.
Visiting Lecturer of Public International law at Shahrood PN University and Persian Literary manuscripts proofreader.
8 年This is an absolute truth about savage capitalistic societies when thay always perefer private interests towards public common interests of whole body of an international or europian community. I can define this this state of democracy as a wild quasi civilization in which as Tomas Hobbes said " war if all against all . I strongly believe to failure od democracy when illiterated persons or unconscious people who are the majority of all societies have the same rights of educated and wise men of a democratic country. I mean when an honest butcher's constitotional rights are equal with seientists of Oxford or Professors of Cambridge the result of referendum is No to integration, peace, Security. If G W F Hegel was amoung us and he see this referendum's result on Uk he could say "this is a retrogasive behaviour of the soul of Human History.