THE CONNECTION

Okay, this magazine I found at the laundromat says: "The Connection" on the cover, and then LAS VEGAS Leadership Summit 2005. It's dated November 2005. There is a table of contents with cryptic chapters like: New Ring Earners, New Platinum Jacket Earners, and Golden App Award Winners. And then there is one that says, Las Vegas Talent Show, which is the first thing I've seen that makes any sense, so I'll look at that chapter. There are pictures of people with microphones, they look like normal, dressed up people, more or less. They seem to be from all over the country, and the winners, a couple from California sang "Louisiana Woman Mississippi Man." Still no clue to what this business is all about. Maybe just having a good time. I page through the magazine. Most of it consists of lists of names, and the states they are from, under headings such as: "Top Producers," "Top Recruiters," "Executive Directors," and "Managers & Directors." Okay, the back of the magazine comes with an earnest portrait of a guy from Fayetteville, NC who is quoted under his photo: "My lifestyle has changed a lot because I have time and money freedom! I like the opportunity to help others become successful! That's my life mission!" Weird! It's so general! And then there is a kind of generic photo of a modern office building at night with brightly lit windows, and next to that it says" Profiles of Success." There is a phone number there where you can order "your" copy. Then there is the address of the person who this magazine was sent to, somewhere in Illinois. The name on the mailing label is simply "Lee." I'm thinking this thing is some kind of cult. It's pretty creepy. I wish now I hadn't even looked at it!