"Anyone who bets against him is a loser, " says his pal Weinstein.

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"If the parent writes a check to a child, the child cashes it and the child immediately writes his own check, that's a loser, " says Kent.

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The bottom line, he says, is that Ripplewood is a huge loser here, instead of walking away with big profits.

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Georgianna Edwards says a six-week "biggest-loser" challenge she entered with 11 co-workers caused tension when some participants who didn't make progress started criticizing others' diets and balking at weekly weigh-ins.

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"Treating the market like a lottery is a loser for most people, most of the time, " says Wallman, 49.

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