Word: bigs
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...private-equity firms. Their M.O.? Suck up companies with borrowed money, make them more efficient and then resell, turning a profit in the process. These days, nearly 1 in 10 nongovernmental employees works for a private equity-owned company, and that, says longtime industry reporter Josh Kosman, is a big problem. In his new book, The Buyout of America: How Private Equity Will Cause the Next Great Credit Crisis, Kosman argues that private-equity firms not only pillage the companies they buy, but also put the broader economy at risk by making those companies take on copious amounts of debt...
...cheap credit that caused the housing bubble to buy companies. There are about 100 of these firms - KKR, Blackstone and Carlyle are some of the bigger ones - and they buy a company the same way we would buy a house. Put down about 20% and borrow about 80%. The big difference is, the company they're buying borrows the 80%, so they're the ones responsible for repayment. These loans were structured the same way and sold to the same people as mortgages. And the same kind of crazy prices were paid, so unfortunately we probably are going...
...natural selection. While celebrations have emphasized the British naturalist's giant role in the advancement of human progress, British political journalist Dennis Sewell is not convinced. In a new book, The Political Gene: How Darwin's Ideas Changed Politics, he highlights how often - and how easily - Darwin's big idea has been harnessed for sinister political ends. According to Sewell, evolution is scientifically undeniable, but its contribution to human well-being is unclear...
...Crimson took advantage of facing such a strong adversary in Rutgers, who was second with 863 points. Harvard typically has not had the opportunity to compete against a Big East team, especially at this point in the season...
...songs may be juvenile, but those yodels translate into big business. In Belgium, where nearly 1,000 children competed for the national title this year, the broadcaster VRT selected 12 finalists and aired the competition in primetime over four weeks. (Think American Idol for the pre-pubescent set.) The September finale earned a 30% audience share for the night in Belgium, and the CD compilation of the finalists' performances - along with karaoke versions - went platinum. (See Eurovision's most memorable moments...