Don’t Mess with the Chef: Bob McDonnell’s downfall

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Former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were charged Tuesday, January 21, with illegally accepting gifts, luxury vacations, and large loans from wealthy Richmond-area businessman, Jonnie R. Williams Sr., in return for special treatment from the state government. Questions: 1. Did McDonnell’s wife commit fraud by accepting the $3,500 refund? Discuss. 2…. Read more »

Starbuck’s App: Are You At Risk?

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The Starbuck’s app, used by more than 10 million customers that purchase drinks and food directly from their smartphones, was exposed as risky by security researcher, Daniel Wood. According to Wood on January 13, “There are multiple instances of the storage of clear-text credentials that can be recovered and leveraged for unauthorized usage of a… Read more »

Fun with Words: Does Rightsizing Make You Feel Better Than Being Fired?

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As the language of layoffs continues to evolve, David Gillen and Will Storey question whether or not you can really sugar-coat being fired. Questions: 1. According to Geoffrey Nunberg from U.C. Berkley, where does the term “you’re fired” really come from? 2. What are the three categories that Nunberg says are associated with the language… Read more »

The Costs of Becoming an Entrepreneur

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Fifteen years ago, Becky O’Neil of Arlington, Va. decided that she wanted more flexability in her life, so she started a dog-walking service and planned to spend more time with her 7-month old son. Unfortunately, what she found was that a start-up new business required long hours, hard work and unwavering commitment, even on Christmas… Read more »

Catch 22: Money from Legalized Marijuana

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Banks, including state-chartered ones, are reluctant to provide traditional services to legal marijuana businesses in Washington state and Colorado. Since the marijuana businesses are conducted almost entirely in cash, it is exceedingly difficult for these shop owners to open and maintain bank accounts, and ultimately accept credit cards. Questions: 1. Why won’t the banks open… Read more »

Nothing’s sacred!

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Over the past decade, the number of “hospice survivors” in the United States has risen dramatically. According to the Washington Post, this is, in part, because hospice companies earn more by recruiting patients who aren’t actually dying. Healthier patients are more profitable because they require fewer visits and stay enrolled longer. Questions: 1. How large… Read more »

Not a good argument

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In a ruling on December 23, 2013, the U.S. Tax Court denied a Florida MBA student, with little work experience the claim for deduction of his tuition costs as a business expense. Questions: 1. What was the concentration (major area of study) of the student’s MBA degree? 2. What was the amount of the bill… Read more »

Tax breaks disappearing in 2014

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Unless Congress extends the tax deductions that are set to expire at the end of 2013, credits and deductions benefiting everyone from teachers and students to homeowners are scheduled to expire. Questions: 1. Which of these eight deductions will affect you personally? 2. Which of these eight deductions will affect your parents and other family… Read more »

A Christmas Miracle?

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A single father stumbles upon $50K in bonds in a discarded Christmas box and tries to return the money to the owner. Questions: 1. What are bearer bonds? What types of journal entries are associated with them for the issuer? Give examples. 2. What had Mr. Tran done that made these bonds worthless? What do… Read more »

An Epidemic or A Disorder Proliferated by Marketing?

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The sales of prescription stimulants for A.D.H.D. have more than quadrupled since 2002. Is it an epidemic? According to Dr. Keith Conners, a psychologist and professor emeritus at Duke University, who has been fighting to legitimize A.D.H.D diagnoses for the past 50 years, the rise is probably due to successful marketing campaigns that feed on… Read more »