| MLM firm Sunshine Empire under probe
THE Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) said yesterday that it has commenced investigations into controversial multi-level marketing (MLM) firm Sunshine Empire. It also said it may ask people who have put money into the firm's schemes to help in the investigation. According to a company spokesman, the man behind Sunshine's operations, Mr James Phang, was at the CAD's office yesterday. He could not be contacted by The Straits Times. In a statement announcing the probe, the CAD said people who have placed money with Sunshine are advised to wait for further updates from the department on the case. 'More information will be released in due course, and persons who have placed money with the company may be requested to come forward to assist the CAD in the investigation,' it added.
Multi-Level Marketing, a Hidden Peril in China
HONG KONGMulti-level marketing (MLM) 1 , also know as pyramid schemes ( chuanxiao ), has become prevalent again in China in the past two years 2 . Millions of people, including students and farmers, are involved in this sector, drawing 50 billion yuan (US$6.66 billion) into the scheme. Chinese authorities continue, however, to be wary of direct sales on a number of grounds, among them pyramid scheme frauds, strong networking capabilities and loss of social stability. With such a large and well-organized sales force, MLM has caused panic on the authorities. In July and August of this year, the authorities significantly strengthened the co-operation with related departments in fighting illegal pyramid selling. According to Oriental Daily News in Hong Kong, MLM salespeople, dissatisfied with the authority's bans, often gather a crowd to attack governmental agencies.
Cruise bans travel agent card mills
The major current controversy in the travel trade press (the newspapers and newsletters published for travel professionals) is about the alleged "card mills" that charge $400 and up for an ID identifying the bearer as a travel agent. Some of these card-issuing companies also engage in what is called "MLM" -- multilevel marketing -- which pays a commission (and promises the sky) to a card purchaser who persuades other people to purchase an ID from them. The traditional travel agents are obviously frantic about such card mills, and have implored the major travel suppliers to publicly condemn them. They recently got their wish. The giant Royal Caribbean Cruises named several specific companies whose cards they would no longer honor for travel-agent discounts, and whose bookings they would not even accept.
X marks this iffy new gizmo
High-energy salespeople are hawking a device called Xpower at pumped-up meetings in Stockton banquet rooms, claiming it slashes home power bills. "Area directors" for Forum Technologies also are recruiting people into Forum's sales force, a multilevel marketing organization, or MLM, that the company's CEO says is not a pyramid scheme. The MLM half of the sales pitch, in other words, is not about buying an energy-saving gizmo but getting rich through multilevel marketing of Xpower and other Forum products. Concerned readers contacted me, saying scores of people eager for easy money are being recruited. I could not personally attend meetings, being held every few days at area restaurants, fearing that I'd be recognized. Instead, a trusted associate attended. My associate attended Sunday night's meeting at the West March Lane Carrows Family Restaurant.
Migrants in Britain - the official verdict
There are a billions of poor people out there. But we can't just continue life as before. Massive investment in housing and infrastructure of all kinds is needed. Roads, railways, schools, hospitals, water systems. Scrap the green belt and get building millions of heavily subsidised houses for all, or we can expect serious social problems in the next decade. When you already have several million people from other places living with you it's really a bit silly to be debating whether it is a good idea or not. And even whether it is financially beneficial - it's much too late for that discussion. .
Sporting Calendar 2008
17-18: Scottish Archery Assoc Eastern Area FITA Star, Men's & Women's FITA, Metrics (Penicuik, Midlothian).
24-25: British Open Field Ch'ships, NI FITA Arrowhead & 24, marked & unmarked (Ballywalter Park, County Down).
June 7-8: GNAS UK Masters, FITA 70, Men's & Women's FITA, Head to Head (Lilleshall).
25-27: Grand National Archery Meeting, York, Hereford & Long National (Lilleshall).
28-29: GNAS Premier Event, 70m & Olympic head to head (Lilleshall).
July 5-6: Jnr National Outdoor Ch'ships, Men's & Women's FITA, Metrics 1-4 (Sat) York, Hereford, Bristol 1-4 (Sun) (Lilleshall).
Aug 9-10: GNAS British Target Ch'ships, York/Hereford (Lilleshall).
16: GNAS National Flight Ch'ships, FITA & GNAS Flight (RAF Church Fenton, Tadcaster, North Yorks).
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We got a call from Jim Twite of Brewster this morning that the Cumberland Farms near Route 28 and Bank Street, AND the Harwich Gas at 435 Route 28, Harwichport next to the 400 Club, are both selling regular for $2.29. The price is $2.32 on Rte 6 in Wareham, at both Lukoil and with the hippies... who now have a bedsheet hanging up in their office with "There Goes The Neighborhood " written on it. I love those people. 7-11 in Wareham, $2.32.... same with Exxon at the Buzzards Bay rotary.... ya know, the rotary that used to have the tugboat. $2.51 at the Citgo near the Christmas Tree Shop in Sagamore.... $2.65 at the Citgo on 28 South in Bourne.... $2.64 at the Citgo on 28A, Bourne/Falmouth line, with $2.89 diesel for all you mothertruckers.
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