Condé Nast Portfolio, October 2007
The Banana War
For years, Chiquita paid paramilitary death squads what amounted to protection money. And the scandal may yet engulf other American companies. Read more
Features
Money, Guns, and God
One of the fastest-growing gun companies in the country is run by a son of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church. Read more
Revenge of the Hotel King
Barry Sternlicht is the hard-driving entrepreneur who founded Starwood Hotels. Now he's starting over and aiming directly at his old firm. What's he trying to prove? Read more
Trading Spaces
When the global economy erupted this summer, the tremors were felt on trading floors around the globe, from Tokyo to Tehran. Read more
The Great Laptop Forward
Can China make Lenovo into its own Sony, a breakout company that puts it on the map? It's about to try, with a massive effort to promote the PC maker through the 2008 Olympics. Read more
Rita's Hail Mary Pass
Rita Benson LeBlanc, the 30-year-old granddaughter of the New Orleans Saints owner, guided the team through the post-Katrina wilderness. Now she faces an even bigger challenge: keeping the struggling franchise in town. Read more
CULTURE INC.
Game On
The M.I.T. grads behind Guitar Hero are back with a new videogame—and a novel plan to sell music online. Read more
Backstage Players
Behind the scenes, an ensemble cast of executives helped build a $93 million modernist temple for Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theater. Read more
Shari Redstone's Big-Screen Test
She’s bullish on movie theaters; her father is not. Who’s right about the future of the popcorn economy? Read more
Hellbent on Capitalism
A noted economist’s solution is more regulation, but is jamming the free market’s gears advisable? Read more
The $59 Million Arm
Is Dice-K earning his keep? On the eve of the postseason, we analyze the Red Sox’ investment in Japan’s greatest pitcher. Read more
Also Worth a Read ...
Wealth pontificators, historical scam artists, a contrarian view of global warming, and a couple of corporate thrillers for the airplane ride. Read more
Showing Some Spine
Can a former Goldman trader create a bond market backed by $40,000 books about soccer, the Vatican, and rock and roll? Read more
Sex and the Symphony
A hot-and-heavy marketing campaign tries to sell classical music to the masses—in Mormon country. Read more
Crash Course
Hillary Clinton turns 60 this month. Here is some reading that will help you make small talk—and avoid a gaffe, should you be invited to her birthday bash. Read more
Columns
Crash Test Economy
Twenty years after Black Monday, we’re in the same predicament as we were in 1987—except this time, it’s worse. Read more
Nastier Than a Speeding Bullet
A battle for control of the Superman franchise pits Time Warner against the original Lois Lane. Read more
A Dicey Proposition
Nevada gets an early presidential caucus, but for the good of the nation, what goes on in Vegas should probably stay in Vegas. Read more
Big Green Machines
Handicapping Toyota, G.M., Volkswagen, and the new clean upstarts in the race to the future. Read more
BRIEF
Rise and Be Counted
Is inflation a worry? Not likely. Watch for the Consumer Price Index, due out October 17. Read more
Procter's Gambit
When Procter & Gamble bought Gillette for $57 billion two years ago this month, its goal was to inject some testosterone into a largely feminine portfolio. What’s happened since? Read more
Spreading the Blame
The Supreme Court draws the line between helping a fraud and committing one. Read more
Special Agents
The Frankfurt Book Fair, which runs October 10 through 14, is the publishing world’s premier schmoozefest. A look at the industry’s dealmakers. Read more
Plaza SweetIN PLAY
Point, Click .... and Call
With smaller and more-sophisticated technology, the camera phone is becoming more than just a novelty. Read more
On the Case
The resurgence of the “business case.” Read more
Real Business, Real Results
Did anyone at Microsoft ever watch the (gasp!) offensively funny show Family Guy?
Ex-Morgan Stanley exec Zoe Cruz is now heading her own hedge fund. Are Wall Street's leaders done?
Martha, Bernie and Skilling know that what you wear for court can go a long way in public perception.
spotlight on
Health Care
Bad to the Bone No More
Companies such as General Mills say they're stepping up efforts to change employees' bad
behavior and promote healthier lifestyles.
Read More
