| 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.
India's Tata Leads Car Innovation--But Is It The Right Innovation?
Tata Motors of India will soon unveil a $2,500 car that is a not only a marvel of low-cost manufacture but a novel business model innovation. The "People's Car" (this nickname sounds like the original Beetle, right?) is the latest incarnation of India's ability to change the way business is organized and managed to produce low-priced products services for people at the Bottom of the Pyramid. India is pioneering in low-cost eye surgeries, low-cost telecom services and low-cost retailing (with tiny sachets of shampoo and other products). There is a challenging attitude toward the norm among Indian business people that generating business model innovation on a widening scale there and atracting the attention of US, European, Korean and even Chinese CEOs. This Indian innovative mindset combines irreverance for existing business models with a goal of creating through frugality.
Brrrrrrrrrr...taking the plunge in Rockland Harbor
The opinions expressed in reader-posted comments are not necessarily the opinions of MaineCoastNOW.com, Courier Publications or its newspapers and staffs. MaineCoastNOW.com, Courier Publications and its newspapers and staffs do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any reader-posted comment. Responsibility for what is posted lies with each user. .
Djokovic's game is way up Down Under
Tsonga's audacious style, resemblance to Muhammad Ali and magnificent run in only his fifth major made him a popular contender at Melbourne Park. His great tale about his Congolese father witnessing the epic "Rumble in the Jungle" heavyweight bout between Ali and George Foreman in 1974 added to the legend.
The underdog story gained momentum when Tsonga's father, Didier, who flew in from France for the match, stood and threw four right hooks to celebrate his son's first-set success.
Djokovic admitted he felt the heat. But he regrouped after the first-set barrage and began to climb back. He did not face a break point in the second and third sets. He staved off one crucial break point in the fourth before dominating the tiebreaker.
"Coming on against a player with nothing to lose – he was going for the shots and he was very dangerous, especially in the first set – I was pretty nervous," he said.
BIG 92.7 FM Rajkot, marks Labh Pancham in a special way!
MUMBAI: Living up to it's brand line of Suno Sunao, Life Banao! BIG 92.7 FM, India's No. 1 FM Station, marked the auspicious Labh Pancham, the final day of Diwali festivities, on Thursday in a very special way. BIG 92.7 FM Rajkot's Breakfast RJs Makrand Shukla and Mital Rajgor visited many shops that reopened after the Lakshmi Puja and bought products worth Rs 101 from each shop. While for these shops BIG 92.7 FM was the first customer in the New Year, the RJs gifted the goodies bought to the underprivileged kids, thus making the day a special one for them. The most humbling experience for RJs was the generosity shown by the shop owners, who supported BIG 92.7 FM Rajkot's initiative, by giving away goods worth much more than Rs 101 offered. The RJs not only got an opportunity to give the New Year boni (the first pay) to the shop owners but also gave away BIG 92.7 FM goodie bags.
Defense wants Cooper's gambling history barred from trial
A defense attorney for Michael Cooper, former chief executive officer of Renaissance, The Tax People, doesn't want jurors in a trial scheduled to begin Monday to see a videotape of Cooper gambling, saying it would prejudice them against his client. In a motion filed Tuesday, defense attorney John Jenab sought an order from U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia to bar federal prosecutors from presenting evidence on several topics, including gambling, during Cooper's four-week trial. .
Brady practices in Patriots' first Super Bowl session
Ah, but the rest of the world certainly has. Brady's foot overshadowed the Patriots moving in on the first perfect NFL season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Yes, the three-time champion quarterback's persona has transcended even the Super Bowl. No matter how vigorously coach Bill Belichick and the rest of the Patriots want to ignore it, the questions about their biggest star's health will persist. Almost certainly, the answers will remain consistent, too. "I think he got a lot of publicity last week for not what he wants to get publicity for," center Dan Koppen said. "I think he'll be OK. "Tom's recognizable, and what he does is watched. We don't pay attention to it. If you guys want to report on it, then go ahead. Tom's a good guy who handles himself accordingly.
|
