In this era of increasing skepticism regarding executive compensation of public companies, I pass along this Seattle Times blurb on the compensation package of Amazon.com’s CEO, Jeff Bezos:

Amazon.com spent $1.1 million last year protecting Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, according to regulatory filings.
Since 2003, the online retailer has paid roughly $3.2 million on security for Bezos, including at business facilities and for business travel. The expense showed up for the first time on the company’s annual proxy, which was filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Meanwhile, Bezos’ pay remained the same for the eighth year: $81,840.
As the company’s founder, Bezos owns 101.3 million shares, or 24.3 percent of the company, worth about $3.68 billion.

80 grand in annual compensation and over a million in security costs? Sounds as if Bezos should trade jobs with his bodyguard. ;^)