| 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.
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.
Dantonio fires back at Michigan taunts
QUOTABLE: Dantonio, asked if this job is as difficult as he thought it might be when he took it last November: "Oh, I think the challenges are there, absolutely. They're living up to what I thought. That's why I put a tie on (for news conferences), so I don't lose it." Contact Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@lsj.com. .
Laura Diaz
In June 2005, she landed the first in depth television interview with incoming Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. That story earned her a national Imagen Award in 2006. After brief reporting stints in San Luis Obispo and Fresno fresh out of college, Laura returned home to Southern California. She has worked here ever since, becoming a full time anchor at KABC-TV in 1989. In 1997, she became part of Los Angeles television history when she was appointed lead female anchor for the station's centerpiece 5PM and 11PM newscasts. That promotion made her the first Hispanic to ever hold that prestigious position at a Southland TV station. While at KABC-TV, Laura covered many historic and compelling stories, including the Northridge earthquake and the Los Angeles riots, where she and her camera crew were threatened at gunpoint.
Mizuno mixes it up
For years, Chuck Couch, Mizuno Golf's marketing director, heard the wistful refrain from ordinary golfers.
I wish I was skilled enough to play those beautiful Mizuno blades.
But these days, he's increasingly hearing a different tune.
“I'll now run into someone in the airport, and they'll say, ‘I've got some MX-25 irons and I love them,' " says Couch, referring to the brand's game improvement franchise.
What Mizuno is experiencing is a shift in consumer perception of its brand. And it's a pleasant surprise for the company, which has achieved success on its reputation as a better player's club but struggled to broaden its appeal.
The irony is, Mizuno wasn't looking to reinvent itself when it launched the MX line in 2001.
EgyptAir to use IPO proceeds to buy jets
National carrier EgyptAir will use the proceeds of an initial public offering (IPO) to raise money to purchase new aircraft, Minister of Civil Aviation Ahmed Shafik said. He gave no date for the public offering, but confirmed that it would be about a 20-percent stake in the company. The IPO is expected to raise $750 million, which will be used to purchase 22 new planes.
Shafik said a preparatory study for the privatization was nearly complete, but a second study by an international bank would be needed.
Egypt, EU fail to set action plan Egypt and the European Union have failed to agree on a Neighborhood Action Plan (NAP) due to alleged differences over its wording on human rights issues and nuclear weapons.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit led an Egyptian delegation to a one-day meeting in Luxembourg on June 13 with EU commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
Fox News is in for a very rough 2008
John McCain (R-AZ) and especially Mike Huckabee, with his populist streak, has caused all sorts of consternation at Fox News. Even the conservative Weekly Standard took noticed. The magazine recently wrote that "A lot of conservatives have problems with both Huckabee and McCain. Last night on Fox, for example, Sean Hannity could barely conceal his distaste for both pols." And don't even mention Ron Paul's name to the folks at Fox News, who have stepped outside their role as journalists to try to kneecap the anti-war GOP candidate. The most blatant slap came right before the New Hampshire primary, when Fox News refused to include Paul in a televised GOP debate, despite the fact that just days earlier Paul grabbed 10 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucus, nearly doubling the tally Giuliani posted.
Four admit plan to murder soldier
Nigel Rumfitt QC, prosecuting, told the jury that Khan hoped to kidnap a British Muslim soldier in Birmingham's Broad Street entertainment quarter with the help of drug dealers. Mr Rumfitt told the court: "He would be taken to a lock-up garage and there he would be murdered by having his head cut off like a pig. This atrocity would be filmed... and the film released to cause panic and fear within the British Armed Forces and the wider public." Mr Rumfitt also told the jury that Khan, of Foxton Road, Alum Rock, was at the centre of a terrorist "cell" or network based in the Birmingham area. Khan was active in gathering items, Mr Rumfitt said, including computer hard drives, range-finders and night vision equipment to be sent out to Pakistan for use by terrorists operating near the Afghan border Mr Rumfitt added: "The prosecution say that Parviz Khan is a fanatic.
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