At a farm in Dublin, Ireland, Paul Brennan took a video that has gone viral for its creativity in using drones – rounding up sheep. Questions: 1. Put on your thinking cap. Is there any task that a drone could do in the future to assist the accountant or auditor? 2. Besides Amazon, what other… Read more »
Posts Tagged: risk
The New Parameters of the Advertising War
Electronic warfare has broken out between internet users and the $120bn online advertising industry. Questions: 1. According to the article, by what amount did the number of people using ad blocking software increase last year? 2. Do you agree with Mr. Zaneis, general counsel at the Interactive Advertising Bureau, that the free internet that consumers… Read more »
The Clock is Ticking!
A new legal quirk could bring a surreal ending to foreclosure casess around the country; the debtors may get to keep their homes without ever having to pay another dime. Questions: 1. Why might tens of thousands of homeowners who have missed more than five years of mortgage payments get to keep their homes without… Read more »
The Slump of the Big Mac?
According to the CEO of McDonalds, Steve Easterbrook, McDonald’s has an “urgent need to evolve” after unveiling another slide in worldwide sales, which is the ninth month in a row that sales have fallen at the fast-food chain. Questions: 1. How does McDonalds propose to get out of this slump? 2. What is Mr. Easterbrook’s… Read more »
Huge Food Merger
Heinz is going to buy 51% of Kraft in a deal brokered that is by Berkshire-Hathaway and the Brazilian-based private equity company 3G. As a result, Kraft shareholders will get a $10 billion special dividend (about $16.50 a share) under the deal. Questions: 1. What happened to the price of Kraft shares after this deal… Read more »
How many 112 year olds are taking new jobs?
A recent audit of the Social Security Administration revealed that thousands of workers over the age of 100 applied through the U.S. government to verify their employment eligibility in recent years. Questions: 1. About how many active Social Security numbers in the Administration’s master file belong to people who are at least 112 years old?… Read more »
Huge deal!
General Electric Co. has agreed to sell the consumer-lending business of GE Capital in Australia and New Zealand to an investor group. This investor group includes KKR & Co. and Deutsche Bank AG—and the estimated price is about $A8.2 billion or $6.26 billion U.S. Questions: 1. Why is GE selling its banking business? 2. Why… Read more »
Be Careful: Your TV may be listening to you!
Samsung is warning customers not to discuss personal information in front of their smart television set. The warning applies to TV viewers who control their Samsung Smart TV using its voice activation feature. It is possible that this information will be shared with third parties. Questions: 1. What types of steps has Samsung taken to… Read more »
Is the use of videoconferencing one to improve recidivism or profits?
Jails are replacing face-to-face visits with video conferencing screens and are passing the costs on to inmates and their families. In some cases, these costs are up to $1 per minute. Questions: 1. Where do most videoconferencing companies make their money? 2. Who are the industry giants in prison videoconferencing? 3. Explain the last statement… Read more »
Are you getting what is advertised?
Four major retailers were accused by the New York State attorney general’s office of selling fraudulent and potentially dangerous herbal supplements. The attorney general demanded that they remove the products from their shelves. Questions: 1. Who were the four national retailers? 2. What were the results of tests performed on the supplements? 3. In summary,… Read more »