Friday afternoon conversation fodder:

• Ambitions of India's Retail Revolutionary (Registration required)
  "Mukesh Ambani, one of the country's most powerful businessmen, has big plans for a sector dominated by small shopkeepers"
• Critical Thinking: Part Skill, Part Mindset and Entirely up to You
  Some talents, you can choose not to use
• Hallmark of Quality Care: Efficiency
  "N.J. hospital leads the way to streamlined, effective teamwork
• New Creations Personalize Cremation
  Businesses bank on the fact that the long gone don't need to prompt long yawns
• New Instruments That Call the Tune
  "In a dramatically transformed investment world, ever greater innovations not only spread the risk but also drive change"
• One U.S. Chain's Unlikely Goal: Pitching Chinese Food in China
  "Yum Brands, Owner of KFC, Pegs Hopes on Efficiency; No Room for Dumplings; Melding Eight Types of Cuisine"
• A Tale of Several Cities
  "Why do some cities flourish while others fail?"
• You Can’t Use That Tax Idea. It’s Patented.
  One reason the patent office might want to rethink allowing business method patents