Maynard, who will segue into a first-look producing pact with CBS after stepping down from his current position late last week, is credited with convincing CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves to take a chance on the controversial Swedish concept Survivor some eight years ago.

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Maynard, who will segue into a first-look producing pact with CBS (nyse: CBS - news - people ) after stepping down from his current position late last week, is credited with convincing CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves to take a chance on the controversial Swedish concept Survivor some eight years ago.

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The concept stands a reasonable chance of being mimicked by the NHL and by Major League Baseball, which, like the NBA, draw big percentages of their revenues from local media deals.

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"There's really a chance here to profoundly reinvent the American concept of death, " says Joe Sehee, international director of the Green Burial Council, a nonprofit that certifies sustainable cemeteries.

WSJ: Recycling Project: Green Cemeteries | WSJ.Money Summer 2013

As chance would have it, the same week the costly new vehicle concept was revealed, the Navy Department was moving to cancel a Marine amphibious vehicle that cost a similar amount, mainly because the price-tag was too high.

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And while Durkee knows he took a risk with an unproven technology, he thinks his success has served as a proof of concept for established companies that are reluctant to take a chance with Linux on their mission-critical systems.

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Now, I understand some of you had some philosophical differences perhaps on the just the concept of government spending, but, as I recall, opposition was declared before we had a chance to actually meet and exchange ideas.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Takes Questions at GOP House Issues Conference | The White House