Monday, May 23, 2005

Organised crime has come a long way since the Krays used to terrorise local businessman.

The Fear Factor - Computing: "Back in the 1960s, it was common for a new business to receive a visit from a gentleman with a flashy suit and expensive motor. While the proprietor of the business was still wandering how such a cocky young upstart could afford these luxuries, the brash gunslinger would hit him hard. This is a nice business you've got here, he'd begin. Wouldn't it be a tragedy if someone was to come along and trash it? You could lose all your customers overnight. Once they've been scared off they'll never come back, he'd point out. He'd follow up this advice with what modern salesmen call a leading question, like 'and we don't want to get the police involved in this, do we?'"

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