| Tesco May Beat Wal-Mart to Russia
The English retailer Tesco, the third largest in the world with expected turnover of $103 billion this year, has announced that it may open stores in Russia. Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy announced the chain's expansion into India and possibly Russia in an interview with the British Times. The company's headquarters could not provide additional information. Tesco now operates in 13 countries and it plans to double the proceeds it receives from abroad (currently 27 percent) in the next ten years.
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Alexander McCall Smith: Terrible Orchestra?
The fortunes of the orchestra continued to improve, even if its playing did not. We presumed to make two CDs, which somehow got into the hands of radio stations abroad. We have now been played more than once by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and by National Public Radio in the United States. The orchestra's fame spread. Earlier this year the New York Times, for a mention in which many professional musicians would sell their souls, devoted a quarter of a page to an article about the Really Terrible Orchestra. A few days after the appearance of the article the orchestra's chairman, Peter Stevenson, received an approach from the same New York impresario who had first taken the Beatles to the US. Even if the orchestra never gets to New York, that will be enough.
Indian gambling law stacks deck against communities, Baird says
Congressman Brian Baird sees need for significant reform of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the 1988 federal law that has spawned an explosion in Indian casinos. "I think there's room for a lot of improvement, frankly," the Vancouver Democrat told The Columbian's editorial board Monday. "The deck is so stacked right now, in terms of process, against the local community." Baird, however, continues to remain neutral on the big casino proposal inside his own congressional district: the Cowlitz Tribe's plan to build a $510 million gambling, shopping and entertainment complex on 152 acres west of La Center. Instead of taking a yes-no position, Baird has pushed for an open federal process, even though he sees deficiencies in that process.
A sampling of after-Christmas sales in the Dallas area
The presents have been opened. New Year's parties are around the corner. Yep, it is prime time to head back out to the stores and shop some more! Nordstrom Men's Half- Yearly sale continues until Jan. 6 at all its store locations. Save 33 percent or more off shoes, apparel and accessories from Hugo Boss, Burberry and Cole Haan. Too bogged down to head out to the mall? You can shop the sale online at nordstrom.com. Barneys New York at NorthPark Center has slashed prices again. Save up to 60 percent off select men's and women's ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories. At Forty Five Ten, 4510 McKinney Ave., the after-Christmas sale includes all designer women's clothing and shoes at 60 percent off.
Filmmakers Look to Sundance Buying Spree
The same writers strike that transformed the Golden Globes into a news conference might bring smiles to the faces of agents and filmmakers gathered in this snow-covered ski town. They're hoping that studios will spend more freely than usual at the Sundance Film Festival, buying up independent movies to fill release schedules that have begun to thin as the Writers Guild of America work stoppage continues. Combine traditionally forgiving audiences here with slowly increasing pressure for ready-to-go movies, and even a dramedy about women who scrub blood from crime scenes may not be a hard sell (though "Sunshine Cleaning" is attracting interest anyway, for its stars Amy Adams and Emily Blunt). Director Johan Renck expects the strike will help his movie "Downloading Nancy" get picked up at the festival, "and in some ways we're happy about that.
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