Love note to the faculty from EagleTalk - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Apr 20, 2005

RE: RE: Love note to the faculty from EagleTalk

Date: Apr 20, 2005

Toy should rethink his favorite quote and pet peeve.

How can thinking people possibly support Shelby Thames?

Dying breath? Only that of a university.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"Interview with "Toy": http://birmingham.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2000/12/25/story8.html?page=1 Favorite quotes: "Best way to keep competitive edge: Keep all staff members motivated and involved, maintain state-of-the-art technology, and emphasize continuing education." "Favorite status symbol: Nice watches" "

My favorite quote froom this article:

Pet peeve: Ignorance

You would think that someone with this as a pet peeve would display less IGNORANCE.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
""Favorite status symbol: Nice watches" "

Shouldn't someone who wears his religion on his sleeve, as this guy does, be unconcerned with status symbols? Shouldn't he also use better language when referring to other children of God?

Date: Apr 20, 2005

Hmm, we could have a great humanities style discussion about the difference between "religiosity" and "religion" -- maybe Professor Lares can help me out with chapter and verse here, "the true religion is to love God and something about helping the widows and orphans."

Date: Apr 20, 2005

More favorite excerpts from the interview:

Most influential book: The Bible

Favorite status symbol: Nice watches

Favorite vacation spot: Woodstock, Vermont and Paris

Automobile: Mercedes-Benz E-320

====================================

Least favorite quote from the Bible: "That one about the camel and the needle . . ."

(Sorry: I couldn't resist adding this last one.)

Date: Apr 20, 2005

Perhaps we should introduce him to Monique de Guerre? They would have a lot of interests in common, and she could correct his thinking vis-a-vis USM. She would probably love jaunting up to Vermont in his Mercedes while giving him a serious piece of her mind!!

Date: Apr 20, 2005

"Best way to keep competitive edge: Keep all staff members motivated and involved . . ."

Toy gives his employees a motivational speech:

"Take your petty and one sided little picayune gossip to the . . . lounge or somewhere where it will be appreciated. . . . [Some of those former employees] probably deserved some jail time. [Some of you] are consistenly lazy, gossipy, and self centered. . . . I don't know where you clowns come up with some of this unfounded crap, but I'm good and damned tired of it. If you keep up this vicious line of unsubstaniated gossip, I'm going to start attacking your unfounded bull **** with great venom. You'd better do your homework before you start throwing your crap against this wall. I'm sick and tired of you do nothing idiots who continually try to tear everything down. . . . the only thing wrong . . . right now is that idiots like you think you can run your mouths about anybody you choose with total impunity. Not any more. This crap has to stop. . . . I could go on an on, but it wouldn't do any good with negative little pip squeaks like you."

In Jesus' name, amen.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

I wonder what percentage (if any) of the USM Foundation's assets are managed by the Inverness Asset Mgmt Firm? It would seem to be somewhat improprietous if a significant portion of the foundation's assets were managed there, or if the firm's owner is on the investment committee of the USM Foundation.

I would doubt this scenario to be the case, however.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Curious--
"I wonder what percentage (if any) of the USM Foundation's assets are managed by the Inverness Asset Mgmt Firm? It would seem to be somewhat improprietous if a significant portion of the foundation's assets were managed there, or if the firm's owner is on the investment committee of the USM Foundation. I would doubt this scenario to be the case, however."

These are excellent questions -- the kind I never think of but wish I did. Would the answers be a matter of public record?

Date: Apr 20, 2005

The foundation's website is very much "under construction," although the last time anyone seems to have done any "constructing" to it was a spring 2004. Thus the website reveals nothing about which companies, if any, manage the foundation's funds.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

http://www.invernessasset.com/new/invernessasset/

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Dogpiler
"http://www.invernessasset.com/new/invernessasset/"

"Investment products and services from this representative(s) available only to residents of Alabama (AL),California (CA),Florida (FL),Georgia (GA),Mississippi (MS),Rhode Island (RI),Texas (TX)."

Date: Apr 20, 2005

"Sound ethics, good manners, common sense, and a positive attitude will be the minimum standards by which we deal with our clients and our associates. Fairness to all concerned will take priority over selfish agendas. Kindness and consideration for the feelings of others will prevail over careless behavior. Logical thought and sound action will dominate, and a positive attitude will be the way of life. ""

From his website. My emphasis. No comment.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"Favorite status symbol: Nice watches" "

My word! Nice watches? That reminds me of an old Ray Stevens song:

"Woke up this mornin', turned on the t.v. set.
there in livin' color, was somethin' I can't forget.
This man was preachin' at me, yeah, layin' on the charm
askin' me for twenty, with ten-thousand on his arm.
He wore designer clothes, and a big smile on his face
tellin' me salvation while they sang Amazin' Grace.
Askin' me for money, when he had all the signs of wealth.
I almost wrote a check out, yeah, then I asked myself

(chorus)

Would He wear a pinky ring, would He drive a fancy car?
Would His wife wear furs and diamonds, would His dressin' room have a star?
If He came back tomorrow, well there's somethin' I'd like to know
Could ya tell me, Would Jesus wear a Rolex on His television show."

Date: Apr 20, 2005

USM Sympathizer: I didn't mean to imply that your "favorite status symbol" is "Nice watches." I know better than that. You were quoting from that website. Your name above the quote in my post might give others the wrong impression.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Cheap Timex
"USM Sympathizer: I didn't mean to imply that your "favorite status symbol" is "Nice watches." I know better than that. You were quoting from that website. Your name above the quote in my post might give others the wrong impression. "

Thanks for your thoughtfulness!

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Curious--
"I wonder what percentage (if any) of the USM Foundation's assets are managed by the Inverness Asset Mgmt Firm? It would seem to be somewhat improprietous if a significant portion of the foundation's assets were managed there, or if the firm's owner is on the investment committee of the USM Foundation.
I would doubt this scenario to be the case, however."

Directly from the Inverness Asset Management Company web site (bio on Robert T. McLaughlin):

"He serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the University of Southern Mississippi Foundation and serves as Chairman of the Foundation's Investment Committee. "

Not only does he serve on the committee, he chairs it. That in itself is not necessarily a conflict of interest, but it does smack of a potential conflict, and certain activities as chair could most definitely be a conflict of interest.

USM Foundation appears to be a privately held corporation.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Let's kill the cat, Curious
" Directly from the Inverness Asset Management Company web site (bio on Robert T. McLaughlin): "He serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the University of Southern Mississippi Foundation and serves as Chairman of the Foundation's Investment Committee. " Not only does he serve on the committee, he chairs it. That in itself is not necessarily a conflict of interest, but it does smack of a potential conflict, and certain activities as chair could most definitely be a conflict of interest. USM Foundation appears to be a privately held corporation."

McLaughlin is currently President of the Foundation. He was chair of the Finance Committee for the past couple of years, before he became President. (Like a lot of us, Inverness needs to update their web info.) Someone else is Finance chair now, but I don't know who.

A friend of a friend (an "acquaintance of an acquaintance" sounds so distant) tells me that the USM Foundation has or will soon have the bulk of their assets (whatever that means) at J. P. Morgan investments. I don't see any obvious link from the Inverness site to J.P. Morgan.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: FWIW
"The poster, Insomniac Eagle, is identified on ET as Robert McLaughlin AKA "Toy". He is currently President of the USM Foundation. "

No president of a university foundation at a decent school would say such things about his faculty. If he says the Thames non-supporters are all lazy, he's talking about 90% of the faculty.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

RE: RE: RE: Love note to the faculty from EagleTal

Date: Apr 20, 2005

RE: RE: RE: Love note to the faculty from EagleTalk

Date: Apr 20, 2005

RE: RE: RE: RE: Love note to the faculty from EagleTal