Monthly Archives: June 2009

NASA’s moon mission delayed til Friday

The Lunar Reconassiance Orbiter launch — NASA’s first return to moon exploration in 10 years — is slated for Friday, so the space shuttle Endeavor, which was delayed due to mechanical problems, can take off on Wednesday. Harlan Spence, professor of astronomy is at Cape Canaveral preparing for the LRO launch. Contact Harlan Spence, (617) […]

Tinseltown merger wave?

A new round of consolidation among Hollywood studios soon could be a coming attraction, according to media reports.  Big investor Mario Gabelli speculates that Paramount Pictures could merge with Sony Pictures, Universal Studios or another studio before long.  Professor Bill Linsman, who directs the BU in Los Angeles Program, can offer some insight into where the industry is […]

A.I.G. fights ex-CEO in court

Bailed-out insurance giant American International Group today takes its former long-time CEO Maurice Greenberg to court for allegedly plundering $4.3 billion from a trust set up to reward top performers.  School of Law Professor Tamar Frankel, an authority on securities law and a legal-ethics expert, says our business culture of greed made this all possible. Contact Tamar Frankel, 617-353-3773, […]

Bibi backs two-state, with caveats

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has finally accepted the goal of a Palestinian state, but with so many caveats that the Palestinians may not want to talk about it.  College of Communication journalism Professor Robert Zelnick, a former ABC News Middle East correspondent, can discuss the possible impact of this latest move. Contact Robert Zelnick, 617-353-5007, […]

Obama pitches the A.M.A.

President Obama today brings his health-reform case before the American Medical Association, which opposes the president’s call for a public insurance program to compete with private plans.   School of Management Professor Alan Cohen, executive director of the Health Policy Institute, can offer perspective on the battle ahead. Contact Alan Cohen, 617-353-9222, abcohen@bu.edu

Last gasp for Globe union?

Boston Globe management meets today with the paper’s largest union, which wants to suggest some cost-cutting moves the union can support after rejecting the paper’s contract offer last week.  College of Communication Dean Tom Fiedler, a Pulitzer-winning former executive editor of the Miami Herald, can offer some insight into the Globe’s future. Contact Tom Fiedler, […]

Regulating Wall Street

Word is leaking about about the Obama administration’s plan to regulate Wall Street, to be announced Wednesday.  School of Law Professor Cornelius Hurley, director of the Morin Center for Banking and Financial Law and a former Federal Reserve lawyer, can discuss the likely impact of the proposed changes. Contact Cornelius Hurley, 617-353-5427, ckhurley@bu.edu

Public Health prof. Michael Siegel comments on tobacco bill

Clark Rockefeller: Guilty

A Boston Superior Court jury has found Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, a.k.a. Clark Rockfeller, guilty of parental-kidnapping.  School of Law Professor David Rossman, who directs the school’s Criminal Clinical Programs, can comment on the jury’s rejection of Rockefeller’s not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity plea. Contact David Rossman, 617-353-5011, drossman@bu.edu

Eying summer gas prices

Analysts now think gas prices will peak this summer between $2.45 and $2.65 per gallon at the pump, leveling out not so much because of normal supply-and-demand factors but because of the recession and joblessness.  Energy risk-management expert Mark T. Williams, who teaches finance in the School of Management, can comment. Contact Mark T. Williams, […]