Spare a thought for Mark Everson, the beleaguered former commissioner of the US Internal Revenue Service.

Yes, yes, TS knows it is tricky to have sympathy for the taxman. The IRS is hardly anyone's best friend.

But Mr Everson has lost his new job at the Red Cross. That's right, a bit of compassion is in order. What did he do?

Well, admittedly, it doesn't look good. He had an affair, the Red Cross said, with a subordinate. Easily done, I'm sure you will all agree. Let's not take pleasure in this turn of events, though well we might.

Not even those of you at KPMG, who Everson took particular exception to over the tax shelter row. A solemn and respectful silence with regards to his highly embarrassing problems would be most appropriate, TS thinks.