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Last week, Hallmark debuted a #birthdayfail campaign featuring the lovable reality TV family the Robertsons from A&E’s “Duck Dynasty.” There are jokes aplenty between members of the family, who make a valiant attempt to demonstrate why a physical card is better for birthdays than sending one digitally – or, for that matter, telepathically.
Hence, #birthdayfail, a seemingly counterintuitive Web-based attempt to get customers into physical stores. Sample dialogue reads a bit like a lost “Hee Haw” script – especially in our e-card age:
“I posted ‘Happy Birthday’ on your wall,” says Jace Robertson.
“You talking about at my house?” replies Uncle Si.
“With our ‘#birthdayfail’ campaign, our overall goal is to sell our ink and paper products and drive people to our retail stores,” said Jaci Twidell, a spokesperson for Hallmark. “We chose the Robertsons because we had a product in store and it was a good tie-in.”
Several of the “#birthdayfail” videos have around 70,000 views on Youtube, with one video at about 140,000 views since launching last week. Twidell said the campaign, which was done with the help of agency FleishmanHillard, was devised to reach young mothers using humor “to talk to our consumer like she talks to her friends.”
The social effort is just the latest move by the beleaguered card company. The research firm IBISWorld puts Hallmark’s combined paper and e-card market share at 44 percent of the $5.4 billion industry – miles ahead of its closest competitor, American Greetings.
But in a digital era when other online companies, like Someecards, are stepping in to fill a digital card-sharing void, Hallmark has struggled to adapt to the times. The number of greeting cards exchanged this year is expected to drop by 500 million from 7 billion, where it had hovered for about 10 years, to 6.5 billion, according to The Greeting Card Association.
Last month, Hallmark announced it would be dropping its 50-year-old party-ware business and streamlining its core greeting-card business designed to get cards on store shelves faster – to the tune of 250 jobs. The cuts amount to 7 percent of the 3,200 jobs Hallmark has in its hometown of Kansas City alone. The company has about 12,000 employees worldwide.
Then there’s the tone thing. Hallmark was ridiculed from across the Internet (and on talk shows) last month as well for changing the words of a 200-year-old Christmas carol on a sweater-shaped tree ornament. Instead of reading “Don we now our gay apparel,” the new ornament read “Don we now our FUN apparel.”
Someecards, on the other hand, earns its keep on sarcastic and downright offensive cards that young people love to share around the Internet. With around 2,200,000 Twitter followers and 900,000 followers on Facebook, Someecards commands a huge audience between the ages of 18 and 34. The company’s CEO, Duncan Mitchell, once joked that if Someecards got big enough, they’d just buy Hallmark.
Hallmark says it’s not sweating. Yet. This past October in its hometown, Kansas City, Mo., the company debuted a concept store called “HMK.” The store is meant to be a boutique with “a focus is on in-store personalization, customization and co-creation made possible by today’s technology,” and is the “first new store concept” since the 1980s.
But don’t call any of this a rebrand.
“This doesn’t ladder up to any overarching rebranding,” said Twidell, albeit a bit nervously. “We’ve had our Shoebox humor line, and ‘#birthdayfail’ was just a way to position up the humor differently.”
Perhaps, though, Hallmark is taking note of what its competitors are doing and is moving in that direction.
“Hallmark is amazing at selling greeting cards to a broad audience, but that being said, I’m not sure their voice is right for social media marketing campaigns,” said Someecards’ Mitchell. “It just feels a bit like your dad trying to tell jokes to your friends on Facebook – a little uncomfortable, even if your dad is pretty cool.”
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Michael Weaver, senior vice president, business development and growth, Al Jazeera Media Network An everyday conversation between publishers and advertisers goes like this: The publisher invites the advertiser to a meal to talk about their business, attempts to delve into specifics on what the media buyer is looking to achieve, their audience breakdown and how […]
How gaming organization OTK strikes a balance between creator-ownership and more traditional executive experience
Since its formation in October 2020, creator ownership has been a core part of One True King’s DNA. The group is constantly adding new talent to its list of creator–owners, fueling a rapid rise and accolades such as “Best Content Organization” at last year’s Streamer Awards.
When it comes to TikTok, some marketers proceed with caution
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New scrappage schemes offers up to £3,000 for old windows and doors.
Anglian Home Improvements has announced the introduction of a nationwide scrappage scheme, which will see customers receive up to £3,000* to scrap their old windows and doors, while also benefitting from a discount of up to 40% off new energy efficient replacements.
The scheme is being implemented by Anglian at a time when homeowners across the country face rising energy prices, with bills set to increase yet again this winter. Not only will the installation of new thermally-efficient windows and doors help keep energy costs down for Anglian customers, it will help the leading home improvements company to further meet its environmental commitments by responsibly recycling old windows and doors.
Martin Rutter, Managing Director at Anglian Home Improvements, comments: “The scrappage scheme is not only a game changer for the windows and glazing industry, it is also win-win solution for both our valued customers and the environment too.
“We know a typical property can lose up to £2,800 worth of energy over a decade , and as much as 18% of the energy we pay for is lost through windows . New energy-efficient windows and doors not only transform the look of a home, they also add-up to savings when it comes to heating the home.
“Scrappage gives our customers the opportunity to upgrade their property at a more affordable price, while also helping to off-set the hikes they are seeing in their monthly energy bills – safe in the knowledge their old windows and doors have been responsibly recycled.
“Terms and conditions do apply, so we would urge all customers to visit our website for full details.”
Anglian’s scrappage scheme is valid on orders placed between the 20th September and 31st October 2017; and it applies to all Anglian window, door & porch ranges. Further details are available at https://www.anglianhome.co.uk/double-glazing-windows/scrappage-scheme
From providing an online review or referring a friend, to simply following Anglian on social media or having a showhome board outside the property, there are 9 initiatives to help you save money. It is up to each individual customer which initiatives they opt into, but the more they do, the bigger the savings.
Anglian in Numbers
Anglian is sincere about its passion for the environment and makes huge efforts to protect it. Below is a breakdown of the good work we’re currently doing:
- We extrude 16,000 tonnes of plastic each year, that’s 20 million metres worth
- We recycle 80 tonnes of metal each year, the equivalent to 640,000 drinks cans
- We recycle 1,300 tonnes of uPVC each year, that’s the same weight as 109 double decker buses
- We recycle 3,300 tonnes of glass annually, the equivalent to 660 African elephants
For more information about Anglian Home Improvements and its wide range of home improvement products, including double glazed windows and doors, conservatories and orangeries, visit www.anglianhome.co.uk.

domain: news


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Former NSA contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden has come out swinging against US President Barack Obama after the latter, referring to the ongoing spat between Apple and the FBI, urged Americans not to adopt absolutist positions on privacy and security.
Apple has revoked the security certificate which was being used to sign the ransomware known as KeRanger, making it impossible for the malware to infect systems any longer.
Top cryptographers differ on whether Apple or the FBI is in the right in the case of the iPhone 5C over which the US domestic security agency has obtained a court order demanding that Apple create a modified version of its operating system so that data on the device can be accessed.
Out of interest, when/where does NBN specify the sort of things like only a single high-speed burst per day. Do[…]
The 1000/50 HFC service is a joke. You can only burst up to the top speed for up to a[…]
Hey cubby ignore the ignorant people who say random shit... they have no idea that the anti cheater is fucked[…]
I don't trust the ChiComs any further than I could throw them!
Good article, good study, but it does beg the question:How many studies does it take to establish a permanent link[…]


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By Natalie Broda, Crain’s Detroit Business
Ten women sit around a large table, paint brushes in one hand, wine glasses in the other. Propped on the easels in front of them, similar works of art take shape. The women are painting the night sky as an instructor circles the room, checking in, giving tips and telling jokes.
This, explains Leanna Haun, owner of Picasso’s Grapevine in downtown Clarkston, is paint and sip.
Haun opened the business in June after 20 years as a corporate controller; she explains the business as one part wine, one part paint and one part entertainment.
“Right now, in Michigan, this industry is on a bull curve and it’s surging,” Haun said.
[Read entire article on CrainsDetroit.com]


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Cotton farmers in Tanzania are likely to suffer more losses following endless price fluctuations resulting from by surplus production of the crop in the world market.
Speaking yesterday on a phone interview, Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB) Managing Director Marco Mtunga said the ups and downs of the price are a result of world market dynamics characterized by supply and demand.
“We at the TCB are not to because we do not control the world market. The widely seen dramatic drop of cotton price in the country is a result of supply and demand currently characterising this business,” he said.
The Managing Director said that projected cotton production for the coming season stands at 27million tonnes in additional to current stocks of about 13 million tonnes. With the current consumption only standing at 23 million tonnes annually, it is difficult to tell when the price of the crop will eventually stabilise.
Statistics show that, with the current cotton stock of 13 million tonnes, at the current consumption rate, the world would need only 10 million in the coming year.
This means that next year the world would have 17 million tonnes in stock, 30 percent higher than the present stock of 13million tonnes. TCB boss further explained that only 30 percent of the country’s cotton produced is sold internally, while the rest is exported. This would, consequently, affect a big number of the farmers, he said.
According to Mtunga, with such a big fluctuation, the farmers and other stakeholders in the sub sector, have unnecessarily harboured fears among themselves on the price while the board has not yet set the crop purchase price.
Legislators from the cotton growing regions rallying behind their farmers, have proposed that the new purchase price for the crop should not be less than 1000/- per kg.
“Last year cotton price per kg in the world market stood at USD1.45 which enabled our farmers to sell their cotton at 1100/-. However, the sudden drop of price to USD0.83 cents has done a big blow to the farmers and that is why you hear lots of cries now,” Mtunga said.
Commenting on the cries for crop subsidy, Mtunga said: “It is upon the government to subsidise the crop and actually we welcome the move but my worries are on what would happen to the farmers of other crops.”
According to him, cotton farmers do not currently benefit from the crop due to the low productivity of 300kg per ha on average,’ he said
Subsequently, even if they would sell a kg at 1000/-, still they would reap as little as 300,000/-.
Therefore he said: “More efforts need to be undertaken to ensure that farmers can at least produce 1000 kg of cotton per ha.
This can be done by ensuring that there is availability of certified seeds capable of producing high yields. He revealed that, the current seeds demand in the country is 15,000 tonnes, “yet we only produce 8000 tonnes, which has resulted in about half of the farmers continuing to use old fashioned seeds.”
Recently, Tanzania Cotton Growers Association (TAGOA) chairperson, Elias Zinzi told this paper that: “If the government fails to issue a stand on subsidising the farmers, they are likely to give up their support on the sector.” Zinzi further noted that since cotton farmers constitute 40 percent of the country’s population, if they fail to have assured income, it would be hard for the government administer them.
Meanwhile, in our June 18, 2012 edition we inadvertently referred to Dr Joe Kabisa as the Director General of TCB and as having predicted a 28 per cent fall in cotton output this season.
The truth is that Dr Kabisa was the former Director General of TCB and he retired three years ago. We regret for any inconveniences caused by the publication


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As competition rises among convenience stores, retailers have been on the lookout for the perfect opportunity to tie-the-knot with the foodservice industry. Traditional convenience stores may offer a smaller variety of accessible snacks for consumers on the move. However, adding fresh, made-to-order products, ready-to-eat sandwiches and salads to their inventory will give consumers an added reason to shop their brand.
At SMS Assist, the retailers we work with see the benefits of integrating mobile technology into their FM tasks every day, but where does the rest of the industry stand? How do retailers from around the country feel about the adoption of mobile technology into their facilities maintenance workflow?
The Internet of Things is transforming the in-store experience. From smart thermostats that improve energy use, to smart shelves that detect low inventory, the entire retail experience is going through a transformation. These upcoming advances in technology can also help mitigate risk down the road.


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Baku, Azerbaijan, April 25
By Matanat Nasibova – Trend:
The Azerbaijani furniture company Sultanoglu plans to start exporting its products, director of the company Ramil Sultanov told Trend.
According to the director, the company's short-term plans include exporting products to Russia and Ukraine.
“Our products enjoy rather good sales on the domestic market, but due to the presence of demand outside the country, we want to take advantage of this opportunity. We are therefore negotiating with foreign partners with regards to exports,” said Sultanov.
The director noted that there is currently serious competition in the domestic furniture market due to the growing number of manufacturers of these products.
"Today, there is a noticeable decrease in the rate of sales of furniture in the domestic market, primarily due to unfair competition from a number of manufacturers who produce products of insufficient quality at a lower price. Customers often pay attention to low prices, although they ultimately do not benefit from this," said Sultanov.
At the same time, according to the director, healthy competition – provided that the required quality standards are met in the production of furniture – “certainly stimulates manufacturers”, and contributes to lower market prices.


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SPAK shocks the Meta-Kryemadhi couple, prosecutors start seizures for their "black" money laundering file, here's what's happening at GJKKO
Albania boils over "SKY" interceptions, the wealth of the State Police dome for 2022 is revealed, from Muhamet Rrumbullaku, Neritan Nallbati, Rebani Jaupi, to Altin Qato and Edmond Rizai, here is who is the richest and poorest leader
This is how the secretary betrayed Aldo Bumçi, directly implicated the former minister as Shkëlzen Berisha's soldier in the dismantling of weapons in Gërdec, SPAK is questioning him for the first time today
Sali Berisha created the "Foltore" for his personal problem and sold the Democrats to the "butcher" Ilir Meta, Evi Kokalari sheds light on the sensational behind the scenes and asks the well-known MP to be careful of the attacks of Reestablishment
There is no end to the cruelty towards citizens, in Albania the price of oil remains in the stratosphere even though the value of a barrel of "black gold" has decreased by 7 dollars in the international stock markets, experts raise the alarm
Frrok Çupi: This is why SPAK is not arresting Sali Berisha, how will the former prime minister go to handcuffs and what behind the scenes are hidden behind Argita's appearance on the stage
Fatos Klosi sheds light on the "black file" of Sali Berisha: Here's how he has escaped arrest so far, his crimes in '97-'98, the secrets behind the murder of Azem Hajdari, the planning of the execution of 4 protesters on January 21 and why will not lea...
The well-known analyst Kastriot Aliaj unmasks Sali Berisha, from the meetings with the Serbian murderer Arkan, to the intrigues, bargains, insults, frauds, crimes and his family corruption, how he stole 1.6 million dollars from the state coffers in coo...
Study: Women who drink wine age more slowly
Written by SOT.COM.AL 22 Shtator 2023
A type of red wine can stop skin aging, experts say. A new study has shown that a specific and unusual type of red wine makes skin look younger.
Researchers from the University of Florida found that women who drank two glasses of non-alcoholic musk wine a day had more elasticity and water retention in their skin than those who consumed a placebo. The findings of the study were presented this Monday in Boston at the annual meeting of the American Association for Nutrition "Nutrition 2023".
Muscat wine is made from the Muscat grape, a hardy, thick-skinned grape native to North America.
Loss of elasticity causes the skin to sag during the aging process, while water retention helps create a barrier against damage. The aforementioned study is the first to determine how wine consumption may affect skin health in a randomized clinical trial.
Scientists chose 17 women between the ages of 40 and 67 and randomly assigned them to drink two glasses a day of still wine or a placebo drink that looked and tasted similar.
The muscat grape is native to Southeast America and is commonly used to make wine, although it is often called a "superfruit" because of its high levels of polyphenols, including anthocyanins, quercetin and ellagic acid, which can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.


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It's a Halloween miracle. Tilda Swinton -- actress, unconfirmed immortal, subject of a mesmerizing and hilarious parody Twitter handle -- has a new gig, as the spring face of Nars cosmetics.
Swinton has four ads in the works for the makeup line, the first of which will drop in January, the company says. Shot by François Nars himself, each features products from a different collection. The first focuses on the "Eye Opening Act" range.
This is great for a number of reasons. Swinton is the definition of an unconventional beauty icon, frequently hitting the red carpet with barely any makeup (hello, pale lashes) and a partially shaved head.
She's also 53, putting her in league with 68-year-old Charlotte Rampling, who modeled for Nars this summer, and 64-year-old Jessica Lange, a recent face of Marc Jacobs beauty. Giving older women high-profile placements like these is a good trend if there ever was one -- although, really, appreciating mature beauty shouldn't be a trend so much as a fact of life.


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Verve is proud to announce our new partnership, launched today at the first global ShopTalk conference in Las Vegas, with Atrius™, the IoT division of Acuity Brands. As an early adopter of beacon technology, Verve is excited to bring the power of Movement Science™ to the Atrius IoT Partner Ecosystem and to further enrich Verve’s capabilities to measure and analyze in-store consumer movement patterns.
“Location technology, leveraged for in-store and out-of-store insights, enables a retailer to illuminate the blind spots between their customers’ offline and online activity” said Brian Dunphy, General Manager of Verve’s Device & IoT business. “Behavioral location is extremely valuable for retailers. It helps them measure the effectiveness of digital advertising initiatives, re-engage customers based on visit patterns, understand in-store metrics such as visit duration, path taken, and frequency in-between visits as well as understanding what other stores or competitors their customers visit. And, of course, it helps them to better serve those customers with more personalized and contextually relevant experiences. Verve recognizes that beacons must be embedded in powered devices ― such as lighting networks ― in order for the technology and in-store location signals to scale and we’re incredibly excited to join forces to bring this to fruition”.
Dive into all the ways that smartphones are shaping in-store decisions to buy.
Exciting conversations and major takeaways from Cannes Lions 2018.
It’s time for a massive shift in our approach to consumer personal data, and decentralized models provide a starting point.


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A company called Pavegen has created floor tiles that create electricity using kinetic energy. The tiles have been installed in almost 40 countries and can generate up to five joules of energy per footstep.
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We live in an exciting time for so many reasons, but the progress being made toward decreasing our dependency on fossil fuels is certainly high on the list. The shift toward electric cars has been projected by several studies to have a dramatic impact on the amount of gasoline the world consumes over the next few …


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Guthy-Renker, the company that makes WEN by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioner, has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that the product causes hair loss, hair breakage, rash and balding for $26.25 million.
What’s the Problem?
August 16, 2016 – If the settlement is approved by a federal judge, it would repay $25 to anyone who’s purchased a bottle of WEN cleansing conditioner and up to $20,000 to people who suffered an adverse reaction after using the product, according to the New York Times.
Plaintiffs may be eligible to make claims to be reimbursed for treating side effects, as well as for injury awards. Guthy-Renker stands by the safety of its cleansing conditioner, citing studies the company says demonstrate that it does not cause hair loss, instead referring to the pending settlement as a “business decision.”
On July 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that WEN could cause balding, hair loss, itching and rash, stating that it had received at least 127 adverse event reports associated with the products. Although the warning was unprecedented for a haircare line, the FDA does not have power to issue recalls of cosmetics the way it does with pharmaceuticals. Instead, the agency monitors complaints and decides whether to conduct an investigation. FDA can potentially take action if it determines that a product is mislabeled or contaminated.
Proposed legislation from Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) would require cosmetic manufacturers to notify the FDA of “serious adverse” reactions in real time, in addition to submitting an annual report of all “adverse events” and giving the agency power to recall products. The bill would collect fees to study the safety of cosmetics, and has been endorsed by major labels such as Estée Lauder, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble. Guthy-Renker and other independent companies like Mary Kay support a different bill that would require notification of adverse events but not collect fees for safety studies or grant the FDA authority to issue recalls.


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Google launched the Google Tasks application for Android and iOS in April 2018, which is also integrated into the Calendar version on the web. But now Google has integrated Google Tasks into Android and iOS applications as well, allowing the user to create and view tasks from a smartphone on Google Calendar.
This integration should also eliminate the need to have the Tasks application installed on your smartphone, since you can now create new tasks and view existing tasks in the Calendar application.
To add a new task to the Calendar in the mobile applications, just touch the create button in the lower right corner, touch ‘Task’, fill in the details and save. Needless to say, the tasks we add to the calendar will be automatically synchronized on the smartphone and the desktop.
This new feature is already being released for Android and iOS and is expected to reach all G Suite customers and personal Google accounts within two weeks.


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Coca-Cola, the Philippines’ most-loved beverage brand, heralds this year’s season with “Buksan ang Magic ng Pasko,” a holiday campaign that celebrates the real magic of community and togetherness. The multi-faceted campaign carries, at its heart a simple message of festive joy and inclusion; reminding us that real magic is in the moments of connection we share with others.
“Most of us grew up with Coca-Cola. As a brand, we consider ourselves fortunate to have been given the opportunity to be part of every Filipino table and witness the real magic of human connections, especially during Christmas. From celebrating every occasion to being a source of comfort – Coke serves as that uplifting pause that connects people, in friendship and in community, over a meal or a glass of Coke – and we see this even more pronounced during Christmas,” says Cesar Gangoso, Coca-Cola Marketing Director for Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
Coca-Cola, with its 100-year-old history with the Filipino community, signals the start of Christmas celebrations with a full line up of experiences that people can enjoy. This includes a display of creative out-of-home images that celebrate people, colorful packs, lights and sound festival, well-decorated bottling facilities all over the country, and the infamous Coca-Cola truck going around to surprise 10 local communities.
Gangoso adds, “Christmas for most Filipinos has been a bit different for the past two years. However, what has always been consistent is the familiar comfort that family and friends bring. This year is no different, and just like in the past, Coca-Cola will continue to be part of everyone’s story.”
Coca-Cola’s Real Magic brand philosophy believes that magic is everywhere. It is alive in quiet moments and in grand celebrations. It is in every new experience discovered and nostalgic memories remembered. It is real in shared moments with people we love and even with our community, whether these connections are made physically or virtually.
Of course, Christmas will not be the same without iconic films. Buksan ang Magic ng Pasko is anchored by a new short film and supported by a series of activations across digital channels including influencer partnerships and in-store activations. The new film, directed by Sam Brown of Rogue Films and created by dentsuMB UK, embraces and celebrates human kindness with a renewed relevance for the world we live in today. Its uplifting tale shows a boy whose imagination and efforts gather a community’s goodwill at Christmas, creating a shared moment of magic around a festive meal and a Coke.
Coca-Cola Philippines has a series of activities for this holiday season. Buksan ang magic ng Pasko! Celebrate #PaskongCocaCola and the people around you who make moments of connection and hope truly magical. Visit facebook.com/CocaColaPhilippines to learn more.
- Real Magic™ is the new long term, brand philosophy and belief of Coca-Cola, which celebrates the real magic of humanity. Coca-Cola’s mission has been to spread positivity and optimism for over 100 years and Real Magic™ continues that promise. We believe its core philosophy will resonate with people all over the globe: that we can all experience Real Magic™ in real moments when we come together.The Real Magic™ is not tagline or a one-off campaign. It is a new platform that will drive and guide marketing and communications across the Coca-Cola® Trademark, including Coca-Cola®, Coca-Cola® Zero Sugar and Diet Coke/Coca-Cola® Light.
- The Christmas film begins with a boy moving into a new apartment with his mom at Christmas. Standing in his new house, he notices there’s no fireplace, and the realization hits him. No chimney means no Santa! He decides to make one himself. The boy starts building a chimney of boxes and neighbors quickly band together to help finish it in time for Christmas.
- Manolo Arroyo, Global Chief Marketing Officer quote: “This is our first Christmas campaign under the new Real Magic brand philosophy for Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola has always believed in the magic of Christmas and this year; our campaign celebrates the real magic of human connections. With a simple and uplifting message of unity, inclusion and positivity at its heart, it aims to remind us that all we need for a magical Christmas is shared moments with community and the ones we love.”
- Simon Lloyd, Chief Creative Officer at dentsuMB London quote: “Magic is all around us, but most of the time we don’t even notice. This story is set in an apartment block in the USA, but it could be anywhere. For most people across the world, living stacked up on top of one another is a reality; so close, yet still strangers. But the global pandemic also brought neighbours together like never before. With Christmas cancelled for many last year, this humble holiday story focuses on what matters: the community and generosity that connects us in an imperfect world.”


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By Spencer Ante, with Cliff Edwards, Ian Rowley, and Andy Reinhardt Opening a new round of hostilities in one of Silicon Valley's longest-running legal feuds, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) on June 27 filed suit against chip giant Intel (INTC) for a series of alleged antitrust violations AMD says are aimed at crippling the smaller chipmaker.
In a sharply worded 48-page complaint, AMD claims that Intel has engaged in an aggressive, global campaign to shut out or severely limit AMD's participation in the microprocessor market. The methods Intel has used, according to the complaint, include hundreds of millions of dollars in rebates, discounts, and marketing funds to drive computer makers, distributors, and retailers into exclusive or near-exclusive deals with Intel.
In one case, AMD says Toshiba (TOSBF) stopped using AMD chips in 2001 because doing business with the chipmaker would "jeopardize Intel market development funds estimated to be worth $25 million to $30 million per quarter." In 2002, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) said it would be willing to use AMD chips only if AMD paid the computer maker $25 million each quarter to compensate for the expected retaliation from Intel, the suit contends.
CROWD PLEASER? Intel also applied intense personal pressure on executives who contemplated breaking ranks, AMD alleges. The complaint says Craig Barrett, Intel's former chief executive and now chairman, flew to Taiwan in September, 2003, when he heard that Acer was planning to publicly support the launch of a new AMD chip for laptop and desktop computers. He allegedly told Acer's chairman and CEO that the company would suffer "severe consequences" if it participated in AMD's launch. Ultimately, Acer withdrew from the publicity events.
AMD is seeking unspecified damages in the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware. But the Sunnyvale (Calif.) chipmaker says financial payments are much less important than forcing Intel to stop its monopolistic practices. AMD contends that Intel's behavior has resulted in higher PC prices, fewer choices, and a decline in innovation.
"It has become clear that the industry needs us to do this," says Hector Ruiz, AMD chief executive. "Around the world people will be happy we're putting this on the table. They may not come out and say it. But there's no doubt in my mind."
UPPING THE ANTE. Intel denies any wrongdoing. "We haven't seen the lawsuit and therefore can't provide specific comment. However, we believe our sales practices are both fair and consistent with federal antitrust laws," says Intel spokesman Tom Beermann. Intel makes no secret of the fact that it pays money to computer makers for marketing, and it contends that nothing is wrong with the practice. Moreover, in a May interview, Barrett said Intel's payments are a benefit to customers, because the result is cheaper PCs.
The Delaware lawsuit is the latest in a long series of legal battles between the rival chipmakers. The two companies have been involved in at least five different suits since the 1980s, involving everything from breach of contract to trademark infringement. In 1991, AMD sued Intel for antitrust violations. Then in 1995, AMD and Intel signed an agreement to settle all outstanding litigation, including the antitrust suit. In 2001, AMD filed a complaint against Intel with the European Commission, alleging anticompetitive practices. The EC's investigation is still going on.
Executives and lawyers for AMD say it's filing its own private antitrust lawsuit for a simple reason: AMD's products are more competitive than ever before, and Intel is stepping up its efforts to keep the new AMD chips from gaining any ground. AMD boosted its share of the PC processor market to 9.1% at the end of 2004, from 7.9% in 2003, according to market researcher IDC. Yet that's less of a gain than many analysts expected, given AMD's perceived technological edge.
FREE-MARKET ARENA. "We've created a family of products that are pretty awesome," says Ruiz. "It has become clear we cannot earn our way in the marketplace because of Intel's illegal monopoly. I made the decision that there was no other choice."
Proving that Intel's actions amount to anticompetitive behavior will be very difficult. The dominant chipmaker has been investigated by regulatory authorities numerous times in the past, and it has never incurred much more than a slap on the wrist. Courts, regulators, and juries, particularly in the U.S., tend to favor unfettered competition. In addition, it's unclear whether any top execs from the PC industry will testify against Intel, given their dependence on the chip behemoth. One former chief executive contacted for this article was familiar with the AMD lawsuit but declined any comment on the record.
Another complicating factor is that AMD's suit is focused on an emerging area of antitrust law involving what's called exclusionary pricing. A dominant company may use these pricing tactics to keep out competitors. One example: The market leader could offer lower prices to a customer if that customer buys 95% or 100% of its supplies from the leader. The problem, says Eleanor Fox, an antitrust expert at the New York University School of Law, is that the use of exclusive contracts and rebates is not always illegal. "Competition is about playing hardball," says Fox. "The plaintiff has a very high burden."
TOUGHER OVERSEAS. Still, AMD chose its court carefully. The District Court in Delaware is part of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which handed down a key opinion on exclusionary pricing. In the case, transparent-tape manufacturer LePage's sued giant 3M (MMM) for allegedly offering customers cash payments for buying exclusively from 3M and higher rebates for buying other 3M products. The Circuit Court ultimately ruled in favor of LePage's, which won a $68 million judgment.
Regulators in other countries have been more aggressive in their investigations of Intel's practices than those in the U.S. Last year, Japanese investigators raided Intel's offices and seized boxes of documents. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) discovered that Intel had paid rebates and refunds to Japanese PC makers when they bought its chips exclusively and, in other cases, when the PC makers bought 90% or more of their chips from Intel.
The JFTC deemed those as anticompetitive practices and, in March, Intel accepted a recommendation from the commission requiring it to stop them. "With the rebate -- the cash -- they tried to control the market," says Hiroshi Yamada, a JFTC official who headed the team investigating Intel. "We don't want that kind of conduct."
WHAT'S FAIR? Though Intel agreed to stop the practices in question, it maintains it did nothing wrong. "Intel believes that its practices are fair and lawful," the company said in a statement at the time. Japanese regulators say they continue to monitor Intel's conduct. If it violates the order, Intel could be fined and its employees could be sent to prison. "Our ultimate objective is to restore order in the market," says Yamada.
The EC has yet to determine whether it will take any action against Intel. Last year, the EC sent out about two dozen letters to PC makers and retailers from the U.S., Europe, and Japan, requesting information. And the commission says it's cooperating with Japanese officials because the issues are similar.
AMD is betting that its own lawsuit will strengthen the constraints on Intel's behavior, in the U.S. and elsewhere. "We want to create a level playing field for competition," says Ruiz. That may be the ultimate goal. But the latest round of the battle is just getting started.
Ante is Computers editor for BusinessWeek in New York


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Since the year 2000, the UK’s functional food market has grown from £335 million to £190 billion in 2018. With all the food and drink bought by Brits, one can imagine the level of food waste that emerges.
When everyone watched David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II TV documentary series, public awareness on the outrageous levels of plastic waste that the world produces escalated to new levels. Yet as consumers and leaders around the world are taking steps to remove plastic waste, food waste continues to be a problem.
Aldi corporate responsibility managing director Fritz Walleczek told Retail Gazette that food and plastic waste go hand in hand, and that they’re both “crucial” issues.
“Both food and plastic waste are crucial issues”
“On the one hand, we don’t want to see excess packaging harm the environment,” he said.
“But on the other, packaging can play an important role in protecting and preserving food so that as little as possible goes to waste.”
According to Melissa Wade, a retail consultant at business consultancy BJSS, 81 per cent of shoppers in Europe consider food waste their second biggest worry after plastic.
“It is understandable why the big grocers are combating plastic first,” she said.
“However, food waste is a serious issue and shouldn’t take a back seat.”
It can be argued that supermarket chains bear a large chunk of the world’s responsibility in managing food waste. Grocers are increasingly trying to woo environmentally-conscious consumers with latest anti-food waste innovations. But the question remains as to how effective these strategies are.
One strategy undertaken by Aldi’s rival Lidl is the decision to not print best before dates on 90 per cent of its fruit and veg.
A Lidl spokesperson told Retail Gazette: “We’ve done this since opening our first stores in 1994, allowing and encouraging customers to assess certain products themselves, which in turn helps to prolong shelf-life.
“Our efficient ordering processes also enable store teams to order products on a ‘just-in-time’ basis, so that our produce is as fresh as possible, helping to mitigate unnecessary waste.”
Another supermarket that’s reassuring customers that eating produce past its best before date is in fact still edible and doesn’t lead to illness is Big 4 grocer Sainsbury’s.
“We continue to help customers understand the difference between Best Before and Use-by”
Sainsbury’s senior media relations manager Sophie Brazier told Retail Gazette that grocer has already amended labelling across the majority of our products.
“We only have ‘best before’ or ‘use-by’ dates on perishable food,” she said.
“We also changed our packaging to state customers can freeze up until the use by date rather than the day of purchase.”
“We continue to help customers understand the difference between ‘best before’ and ‘use-by’ and have updated guidance on packaging for some product ranges to help customers reduce waste.”
According to Wade, Brits throw out the equivalent of £13 billion worth of food waste each year.
“Use by and best before mean different things,” she explained.
“This is causing confusion amongst customers, often throwing food away outside of these date ranges, when it’s only the use by dates that need to be kept to for food safety reasons.
“If supermarkets provide clearer label definitions, customer confusion will reduce and so will food waste – it’s not rocket science.
Wade added: “It’s not just the money that’s a waste, it is the environmental drain on our resources to produce food that in the end is not eaten.
“Some supermarkets have been addressing this with food bank donations.
“However, these are restrictive in themselves as food has to be consumed prior to their use by or best before dates, resulting in waste.”
To further emphasise its food waste managment strategy, Lidl rolled out ‘Too Good to Waste’ boxes of wonky or damaged fruit and veg in March at its UK stores. At 5kg per box, they are sold for just £1.50.
The boxes are packed with “slightly damaged, discoloured or deteriorated, but is still perfectly good to eat” fresh produce. Since the trial launched in August last year, Lidl said the initiative has prevented over 500 tonnes of food going to waste.
“Use by and best before cause confusion amongst customers, often throwing food away outside of these date ranges”
Meanwhile, Morrisons’ introduced 1kg boxes of “soon-to-expire” fruit and veg for just £1 in December, which aimed to offer shoppers a budgeted option to help meet their five-a-day intake. Morrisons said its greengrocers ensure each fruit and veg is “condition checked” before put on sale in the boxes.
Moreover, food retail business Co-op Food, who recently struck a “meal deal” partnership with health and beauty retailer Superdrug, said reducing food waste is a top priority.
A Co-op spokesperson said: “This year we have announced a 29 per cent drop in food waste over the last three years. Our target is to halve our food waste by 2030, and we are doing this in a number of ways.
“We have introduced new systems that allow us to track our waste more accurately, which means we can forecast and manage our stock so that we don’t create waste in the first place.
“In addition, a new system to reduce pricing when food is about to go past its ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ dates makes sure it gets sold and eaten.
“We have developed new ways of packaging products to increase their shelf life. For example, we have developed new skin packs and vacuum packaging for steak which has increased shelf life to 15 days, and we give storage tips on Co-op packaging and carefully design recipes in our magazine and online.”
Wade said that only was the Co-op the first UK retailer to partner with the Waste and Resources Action Programme, it also launched the Love Food Hate Waste initiative to help shoppers reduce household food waste.
“While others such as Sainsbury’s, Asda, Aldi and Morrisons all have targets to ensure their own brand packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025, in my mind this is a very narrow approach to reduce plastic and why Tesco and Co-op are the front runners,” she explained.
In mid-May, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Waitrose joined the 300 businesses to pledge halving food waste by 2030, after Environment Secretary Michael Gove spoke at the Step Up to the Plate event in London and urged supermarkets to pledge halving food waste by 2030 or risk facing government fines.


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Young entrepreneurs called upon for innovation
Awards celebrate the best young business minds
Young entrepreneurs are being called upon to showcase their talent for the 2007 Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Last year’s winner is urging other young business-owners to compete for the title and prize of £10,000.
Previous winners include Innocent Smoothies and online tyre company Black Circles. Innovative bicycle storage firm Cyclepods won the 2006 title.
“Winning the regional and then the UK award last year was a great boost for our business and we’d urge other young businesses to enter and try and scoop the honour,” said Natalie Connell of Cyclepods.
“Many great businesses have come through the Shell Livewire Awards and gone on to great things and we hope to be another one of those too.”
James Smith, chairman of Shell Livewire said that ‘encouraging entrepreneurs is vital if Britain is to prosper from their innovation’.
The awards are open to all entrepreneurs aged between 16-30 whose business have been trading between three to 18 months from 31 March 2006.
Building a website for your business idea is easier than you might think. Our online tool ranks the top website builders that offer free trials.
Entrants can find an online application form at www.shell-livewire.org/win10k, as well as further details of how to enter.
The competition is now 25-years-old. Gerry Ford, executive director of the Shell Livewire said that the organisation is ‘all about young people’, and they were looking for ‘the most exciting young entrepreneurs’ ideas in our 25th year’.
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2007


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The reports are in and as it states, Oculus are all set to acquire the Carbon Design team by the end of this summer. In a statement, Oculus said that the Carbon Design team is one of the top rank holders in the list of the best industrial design and product engineering team in the world. With the deal with Oculus, both the two companies will have something to cheer about.
The Carbon Design Team is one of the premier Industrial Design and Product Engineering organizations. The team has experience and the quality that is required to reach the new heights in the designing field. As said by a representative from Oculus, the company has been working with the Carbon Design team over a few projects and it is highly believed in the ranks of both the organizations that the deal will unlock new doors of gaming imagination.
The Carbon Design team is behind the classic Xbox controller. According to the statement issued by Oculus, Carbon Design team will be working on the development projects from Carbon Studio in Seattle. The Carbon Team is also expected to be a part of the R&D of Oculus. With the kind of expertise that Carbon has in the area of designing, it will be wrong not to state the developed chances of Oculus in the gaming Industry.
Meanwhile, Oculus has plans to expand its business and there are many job openings across its offices at Seattle, Dallas, Irvine and San Francisco.
Oculus Virtual Reality has stated that it did not do anything wrong or against the law in response to the allegations made by the Video game developer ZeniMax Media Inc. According to the issues rising between the two companies, ZeniMax Media Inc. accused Oculus VR of stealing trade secrets. ZeniMax Media Inc. has also filed a federal lawsuit against Oculus VR for stealing the trade secrets.
[ Source ]


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Terms of the Deal
Merchants who lease or buy gas stations from DeLand-based Delco Oil complain that terms of the deal put them at a disadvantage. Delco officials say their terms are common throughout the industry and necessary to protect their interests.
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL:
Merchants sign five-year leases to run gas stations and convenience stores, but Delco may at any time give them 30 days to match a third-party offer to buy the properties or "forfeit any and all right, title and interest in and to the leased premises" with no compensation.
If a leaseholder refuses to leave after failing to match such a third-party purchase offer, Delco will charge up to 10 times the normal rent as liquidated damages.
FEDERAL PROTECTIONS WAIVED:
Because leaseholders buy and sell gas as commission agents for Delco and do not control gas prices, they are not considered franchisees. They must waive the right to receive 90 days notice of eviction under the federal Petroleum Marketing Practices Act.
LONG-TERM SUPPLY AGREEMENT:
Leaseholders who buy their properties must agree to buy gas only from Delco Oil for at least 15 years.
A leaseholder who opts to buy the property and later sells the gas station must pay Delco $10,000 to transfer their fuel supply agreements to the new owner.
Immigrants pursuing their American dream sign long-term leases
for gas stations, then live in fear of being told...
Buy It or Lose It
First-place winner, Business Reporting, Mid-Florida Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists 2003 awards
Published in The Daytona Beach News-Journal on July 27, 2003
They make their living selling six-packs of beer, soda and generic cigarettes.
They work their wives and kids and eat family meals behind displays of lottery tickets and headache powders.
They seldom speak fluent English.
And they live in fear of a single sentence: "We have an offer to buy your store."
Dozens of gas station and convenience store operators such as Nath Joshi and his wife, Varsha, came to Volusia and Flagler counties in search of better lives than they had in such places as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India. But what first seemed like a great opportunity later felt, for some, like a trap.
The Joshis, from Bombay, India, are being evicted from their store in DeLeon Springs, four years into a five-year lease, because property owner Delco Oil decided to sell it, and the couple can't raise $350,000 to match a purchase offer Delco solicited from a third party. They've hired a lawyer to fight the eviction.
"What I have in my life now is all in this business," Nath Joshi says. "If I lose that, I don't have anything."
The Joshis aren't alone. Across the nation, foreign merchants work from dusk to dawn, like modern-day sharecroppers, in stores they don't own, selling gas at prices they can't control, at the pleasure of large and small oil distributors who can force them out at will by invoking lease clauses to which few experienced business people would ever agree.
DeLand-based Delco Oil says all of its stores are up for sale & it owns more than 50 & and five brokers are looking for buyers. The clock is ticking for the rest of the company's merchants, even though they hold long-term leases.
If the company has its way, the merchants will get letters telling them they each have 30 days to make a decision: Raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase their properties & with expensive strings attached & or walk away with nothing but the inventory they own.
The buy-or-leave ultimatum is allowed under the company's lease contracts.
And it's perfectly legal.
The Joshis have run their gas station for the past two years. In 2001, Nath Joshi says, he left a good-paying job in California as a financial consultant, moved to Florida and bought the store keys from his brother-in-law for $115,000.
Since then, Joshi and his wife have worked at the store 18 hours a day, seven days a week. After paying rent, credit card charges, and taxes, they clear about $1,000 a week, Nath Joshi says.
"I don't have time for my children. I can't take my son places he'd like to go," he says.
Meanwhile, Joshi and other merchants complain that Delco is slow to fix broken gas pumps, lights, nozzles and hoses, and too often allows their gas tanks to sit empty. Delco officials respond that the problems are usually merchants' faults.
The decision to move here "was the biggest mistake of my life," Joshi says.
In May, Delco sent the Joshis a letter telling them they had 30 days to exercise their "right of first refusal" to buy their store. After the 30 days ran out, Delco sent them an eviction notice and told them they'd be charged triple the normal rent if they stayed and contested the eviction. The couple and their attorney are preparing to fight.
Similar stories unfolded this year when tenants were forced to walk away from Delco stations in Sanford, DeBary and DeLand. In Bunnell, Muhammad Tariq and his wife await formal notice that their store is being sold. A Delco real estate broker has told them to get ready.
"My blood pressure is high," Tariq says. "I've been fighting with my customers and with my wife because it makes me so upset because I paid a lot of money to get this business."
Anis Ahmed has run Delco-owned stations in Edgewater and DeLand since 1996. In May, he bought the properties after a Delco broker told him "10 to 12 times" that he'd sell the businesses to someone else if Ahmed failed to buy them, he says.
People born outside the United States now run more than 90 percent of all gas station-convenience store combinations in the country, industry experts say.
A growing number are locked in perpetual battles over shrinking profit margins with gas distributors & or "jobbers" & who either own gas station properties outright or sell gas to individual stations under long-term agreements. The operators are often naive in the ways of American business, and don't hire lawyers to review contracts.
Operators who lease their stations enjoy little leverage over their oil distributor-landlords, according to Pat Moricca, president of the Florida Gasoline Retailers Association. By designating merchants not as gasoline franchisees but as commission agents, distributors circumvented federal laws imposed in the 1970s that made it harder for oil companies to evict merchants, he says.
Delco at least gives merchants an opportunity to buy their properties. Other companies insist on leases they can cancel with 30 days notice, no questions asked, Moricca says. "They can come in and say, 'We don't like you, and you're out.'"
More and more immigrants are losing under the system's current setup, Moricca says.
"A lot of foreigners came into our country & it's not that they're bad people, but they trusted the distributor: 'Don't worry, sign it.' It looks good on paper, but it doesn't turn out that way. It's a process going on now that's destroying families.
"It's hard to say it's a racial or ethnic thing. It's hard to say it's an immigration thing. This is what's happening. More of them are getting into the business and they can easily be swayed."
OWNER: 'I FIGHT TO SURVIVE'
Delco Oil is one of the most powerful jobbers in Central Florida. It's also one of the most feared, according to current and former gas station merchants.
The merchants warn each other not to cross company owner Stephen B. DeLuca. Court records are littered with accounts of those who challenged him & and lost.
In Volusia County alone, DeLuca or his companies have been sued 68 times and filed 83 suits since 1990.
Eighteen suits are winding their way through the court system now, according to records maintained by the county Clerk of Courts. They include disputes over a land purchase, a fuel delivery bill, evictions, gas pumps, rent charges, credit card charges, property taxes and retail signs. Opponents include former leaseholders, the state Department of Environmental Protection, former oil distributor William Scovell and the Shell Oil Co.
Because Delco often settles claims out of court, there's no way to know how many the company has won and lost. But court records show Delco has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage claims.
In 2002, the company was ordered to repay a $10,000 down payment for a gas station purchase that was never completed.
In 1999, it paid a $139,367 judgment to a pump island installer that Delco had fired a year before.
In 2000, DeLuca spent $2,000 fighting a $500 claim that an employee with a front-end loader totaled a pickup on a lot Delco was preparing to purchase. He lost.
"If I'm guilty of anything, I fight," says DeLuca, a former semi-pro football player. "I fight with the county. I fight with the state. I fight with my dealers. I fight with whoever, because that's what I've had to do to survive."
Many of Delco's leaseholders are fighting mad as well. They complain that DeLuca exploits them by failing to make timely repairs & as required by their leases & to gas pump islands and gas station buildings. Sometimes Delco fails to make timely gas deliveries and leaves them dry for weekends at a time, they say.
Under the commission-agent setup, leaseholders keep 4 cents for every gallon of gas the station sells. While leaseholders make most of their money on sales inside the stores, their ability to sell cigarettes, beer, coffee or chips depends on having working gas pumps outside the stores.
DeLuca blames leaseholders for the shortcomings. When their gas tanks run empty, it usually means they've failed to report how much they've sold, he says, because they held onto money that should have been paid daily to Delco and was instead used to stock up on store inventory.
When pumps sit broken, it's because leaseholders failed to report problems or make minor repairs themselves, DeLuca says.
"I resent (the suggestion) that we who make all of our income on the sale of gasoline would intentionally leave pumps down. It's illogical," he says.
Of his more than 50 leaseholders, DeLuca says, many fail to report problems with the pumps "because they're so damned lazy.
"They don't even wash the pumps. They are just lazy. Why don't they empty their trash cans? Why don't they pick up the property around their stores? ... Why don't they use deodorant?"
Still, state inspection records reveal gas pump problems at some Delco sites.
Of 18 local properties monitored over the past year by the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, inspectors discovered inactive nozzles at 10 sites. Of those 10 sites, seven had six or more nozzles down on the days they were first inspected.
DeLuca acknowledges that the company has faced challenges keeping pumps operating, including lightning strikes, salt air damage and financial problems at the company that makes most of Delco's pumps.
WORK HARD, LOSE STORE
Immigrants from South Asia say they're attracted to the gas station business because it beats working for hourly wages.
Companies such as Delco Oil make it easy to get involved. Business leases generally cost about $100,000, but some merchants have been allowed to finance their down payments in part by pledging monthly gasoline sales commissions.
Operators essentially buy their jobs. Usually strangers to the country, they're willing to gamble that they'll get to work for a few years before the jobber invokes the lease clause giving them 30 days to buy their properties or walk away with nothing.
"If you do this for four or five years, you can get pretty good capital together then do whatever you want," says Hershel Patel, operator of a Flagler Beach gas station and convenience store not owned by Delco Oil.
But the desperation some feel to get into the business often blinds them to the clause that can end it all, Patel says.
"A majority of people who sign all this stuff don't know what they're getting into until it actually happens," he says.
Here's the catch: The harder a merchant works to build up his business, the more attractive the location becomes to outside buyers. So when a jobber finds out how successful product sales inside the store have become, the price to keep a third-party buyer from capitalizing on the leaseholder's efforts goes up, merchants say. So some try to conceal the actual sales figures from the jobber, Joshi says.
When a Delco real estate broker told Ahmed he was trying to sell the two stores he operated, Ahmed faced a tough choice:
Agree to purchase the properties, or step aside, retaining only the inventory he owned in the stores.
DeLuca says he decided a year ago, on the advice of a financial consultant, to put all of his gas stations for sale and concentrate on his wholesale distribution of gasoline and petroleum products. He's sold 14 properties since July 2002, according to attorney Alex Ford.
All leaseholders were told that their stores would soon go up for sale, DeLuca says.
Yet, Joshi and Tariq say that news came as a surprise.
Prospective buyers came to look at Tariq's place several months ago, he says. "They said, 'Your store's up for sale.' I said, 'What are you talking about?' They said, 'Call Delco.'"
DeLuca says he's "bending over backwards" to help his merchants who want to buy their properties. He says he's held second mortgages for some buyers with mediocre credit ratings. He's required third-party buyers to purchase the inventory of leaseholders who were being forced out of their stores, so they're not left penniless, he says.
Even if he has a third-party offer for a business, DeLuca will help a leaseholder buy the property at a lower price to avoid a lengthy and expensive eviction suit, Delco attorneys Ford and Darren Elkind say.
Merchants say they pay a steep price for DeLuca's benevolence. In exchange for DeLuca's flexibility on property purchases, they must agree to purchase Delco gas & and only Delco gas & for 15 years.
Ahmed contends that Delco's wholesale prices run 6 to 7 cents higher than nearby competitors. Because he cannot charge more than competitors, he clears just a penny a gallon, he says.
DeLuca says his wholesale prices are competitive. Operators who own their stations set their own prices, and thus, control their own profit margins, he says.
Another condition of Delco's sale to Ahmed requires him to pay the company a $10,000 fuel-supply transfer fee if he ever decides to sell the newly acquired properties.
"They will screw you every chance they get," he says.
DeLuca says the fee covers the costs associated with checking credit histories and business backgrounds of new customers, plus other red tape associated with transferring accounts.
Although terms offered to gas station leaseholders may seem strict, distributors say they provide opportunities that few immigrants with modest incomes can get anywhere else.
"It might not be the best or most advantageous terms, but it's an opportunity many people are happy to (take)," Elkind says. "And it's a contract they choose to enter into."
Jim Smith, executive director of the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, says "it's clearly easy to understand why someone would think it isn't right" for distributors to force merchants out after invoking the buy-or-leave clause midway through their lease terms.
"But it's standard throughout the industry," he says. "It happens every day."
BLAME FALLS BOTH WAYS
DeLuca and other distributors say foreign-born operators often bring problems onto themselves.
While cultural differences can put South Asians at a disadvantage when doing business, some try to exploit those differences to their favor, the distributors say.
Some play fast and loose with surnames to stymie creditors' efforts to find them, says Brian Chamberlin, vice president of Clay Oil, a Delco competitor based in Jacksonville. "There are many different names that the Muslims will take that weren't their original names," he says. "Muslims will take names like Mohammed and still have their given name."
In Northwest Volusia, a partnership of four brothers who all go by the same Muslim name are trying to purchase a group of gas stations. When applying for a bank loan, "they tried to pick the one with the best credit and (all of them tried to apply) under his Social Security number," DeLuca says. "And the bank caught them."
"Keys" to stores are frequently sold, traded or bartered among merchants but no one puts anything on paper because distributors typically charge thousands of dollars to transfer leases. Delco's transfer fee is $10,000. DeLuca and Chamberlin say they frequently discover the person running a store isn't the person who signed a lease.
"We may get a call from someone saying, 'I'm your new customer,' and we weren't aware there was a sale," Chamberlin says.
For example, Nath Joshi's name isn't on his station's lease, but he holds power of attorney from the corporation that sold him his keys. Joshi contends his arrangement shouldn't concern Delco as long as he continues honoring terms of the lease.
Some leaseholders involved in contract disputes admit they got in trouble because they didn't read their leases carefully, didn't pay lawyers to review their leases, or were too quick to trust the words of previous
leaseholders, including friends and relatives, eager to get out from under their own bad deals.
Edward Hanna, a former Delco leaseholder from Ecuador, says he accepted Delco's word that everything was in working order at the Daytona Beach site he leased in 2001. He says he immediately discovered problems with the pumps. Delco says they worked when Hanna signed the lease. The problems triggered a series of conflicts that ended with his eviction a year later. "I trust people. That's a problem," Hanna says.
Many mistakenly believe that what's in the contract matters less than what they negotiate by handshake after the contract is signed, Chamberlin says.
Margaret Fung, executive director of the Washington D.C.-based Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, says recent immigrants don't always know how to avoid entering into contracts that more experienced businesspeople would refuse to sign.
She urges immigrant businessmen to enlist advice from attorneys or consultants & preferably ones who speak the immigrant's native language.
Joshi wishes he could take that advice today. He blames his mess on his brother-in-law, who he says failed to tell him about the buy-or-leave clause when he sold Joshi his key to the store. He's ready for his day in court to fight the eviction. He's confident a judge will agree with his contention that the buy-or-leave clause is "unconscionable."
"I'm a true follower of Gandhi, who said, 'You fight for the truth. Even if it's the scare of your life. You don't give up,'" he says.
DeLuca, the fighter, is asked to name gas station dealers who would speak in praise of him and their treatment by his company. Of 71 stores between Jacksonville and Orlando that he either owns or supplies, he names three & two in Orlando and one in Lake Helen.
"Should I be doing it differently?" he asks. "Perhaps. Maybe I will. But, I'm guilty of fighting. That's all I'm guilty of."
Copyright, 2003, The News-Journal Corporation


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Washington Square News
Green festival flourishes despite rain
April 25, 2010
by Samantha Wilson
Think New Yorkers can’t lead sustainable lives? The New York Restoration Project believes you should think again.
The organization held NYC Grows, a green festival promoting sustainability, gardening and organic cooking, in Union Square Park yesterday.
The festival, presented by Organic Gardening Magazine, aimed to demonstrate to visitors how to lead better, more sustainable lives despite living in an urban area like New York City.
At the free event, visitors willing to brave the rain and head to Union Square could sample organic goodies from companies like Whole Foods and Ciao Bella and be entertained by performances from TC and The Bloodline, Jason Myles Goss and Amy Crawford, among other bands.
Jenn Nelkin of Gotham Greens was happy to have a forum to share her organization’s message with the community.
“We’re starting to build a commercial scale hydroponic rooftop greenhouse in Greenpoint,” Nelkin said. “Our produce will be available in Whole Foods, all locally grown in New York City. You hear a lot of booths here today talking about urban farming, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Nelkin said visiting the festival was a great way for anyone to get the resources necessary for starting a more sustainable lifestyle, including gardening tools and, more importantly, information.
Others, like Jediah Cirigliano, the vice president of national sales for Ella Vickers, participated in the event to showcase their green products. Cirigliano showcased the company’s purses and bags that it manufactures out of recycled sailcloth.
“The sails are locally harvested and processed from the New England area,” Cirigliano said. “It’s a small carbon footprint. If you know anyone who has sails, we trade bags for sailcloth because it has become a commodity. And that’s a way that students can get involved and give back – keep your eye out for us.”
NYRP was founded by Bette Midler in 1995 as a response to the increase of garbage and pollution littering the streets of New York City. NYRP restores and revitalizes parks and community gardens throughout the five boroughs and educates community members on the importance of creating a sustainable environment in the city.
“We designed the event to capture the interest of everyone in the neighborhood,” said Kristin Dougherty, the chief development officer for NYRP. “NYU, as part of this community, has the chance to help out. If everyone just makes one change in their daily life about being green, then collectively that would have a significant impact on the city, be it volunteering to plant a tree, shutting off light bulbs … It will all add up.”


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July 9, 2014
With an eye on the markets for wearables and the internet of things (IoT), digital signal processing specialist IP company CEVA has bought RivieraWaves, a France-based supplier of WiFi and Bluetooth cores, in a deal worth an expected $19m.
July 3, 2014
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has turned its attention to slashing the electricity demands of network-attached devices with a report that says manufacturers and service providers need to look at changes to protocols and features such as energy harvesting.
June 25, 2014
With the aim of accelerating the development of applications and algorithms that harness sensor fusion, startup Sensor Platforms has released as open source its Open Sensor Platform (OSP).
June 12, 2014
Building the internet of Things will demand collaboration and a healthy ecosystem
May 29, 2014
Synopsys has developed a digital signal processing (DSP) instruction set extension to its EM family and two cores that employ it.
May 22, 2014
Imagination Technologies has set up an open-source effort that mirrors ARM's Linaro group and cut a deal with Oracle for Java optimization.
April 4, 2014
Power converters are arriving on the market with the aim of simplifying the job of building energy-harvesting systems for wireless sensor nodes and the Internet of Things.
April 3, 2014
Registration is free-of-charge to attend Mentor, Oracle and Samsung keynotes and choose from nine technical tracks at one-day event.
April 2, 2014
Newton, a MIPS based board from Ingenic, is optimized for Android Gear smartwatches, wearables and IoT designs.
February 25, 2014
The rise of the Internet of Things will drive a change in attitude to security, Green Hills CTO David Kleidermacher claimed in his Embedded World keynote.


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There are many reasons why the Mobius Awards advertising and package design competition is different from most annual creative reviews.
The international prestige and industry credibility — which have been growing since the event was founded in 1971 — are no doubt admirable. But the selection process is what really separates it from the rest.
To determine winners in all categories except packaging, Mobius judges vote individually, rather than in groups. Accessing an online system that spans the globe, more than fifty professionals from Australia to Los Angeles and Chicago to Singapore weigh “creativity and effectiveness” when casting their ballots, according to Mobius’ Media Relations Manager Sandra Kelly.
“Our judging has become electronic,” she explains. “Individual judges judge from wherever they wish.”
This process replicates the consumer experience in more ways than one. Besides eliminating the weight of peer pressure and the distractions of group deliberation, decisions are based on personal preferences and made through personal devices. Until the winners are announced in January, no judge knows how another has voted on an entry.
The autonomy wielded by the judges also means that they, like consumers, can chose not to make any selection at all.
“One of the things that I think is particularly good is that the judges do not have to declare a winner,” Kelly continues. “If they don’t find anything that is worthy of their vote, they don’t have to give an award.”
This is not a mere talking point. There were no winning submissions from Chicago last year.
Havas’ “Streaker” for DishLATINO — which portrays a naked man disrupting a fictitious soccer match in a sold-out stadium — earned recognition in 2015.
The judges hail from internationally recognized academic, entertainment and marketing companies and organizations. Many of them are recruited directly by Lee Gluckman, the event’s President who makes presentations in the cities of winning agencies every year. Among the 2017 group is Leo Burnett-Chicago ACD Doug Burnett, a One Show Top 200 Creative Worldwide.
According his bio on the Mobius Awards website, Barnett “works on the global accounts for Samsung, Allstate and Brooks and is currently directing a campaign to smuggle donated USB drives into North Korea.”
Submissions for the 2017 Mobius Awards will be accepted until October 1. The competition will consider work created between Oct. 1, 2016, and Oct. 1, 2017 in several categories and mediums.
Recently introduced categories include Health and Wellness, Animal/Pet Products and Services, and Financial and Lifestyle Products and Services. Others include Brochure/Book, Cinema-In-flight, Direct, Mixed Media Campaign, New Media, Online, Outdoor, Package Design, Photography, Point-of-Purchase, Print, Radio, Television and Student. Package Design categories include Sustainable Packaging and Packaging Redesign.
For more information, click here.


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ÜÇGE has urgently implemented the "Social Distance Protective Panel" product designed in its R&D center for the needs of the retail sector, which is working intensively against the Covid-19 Virus threat, which has an impact all over the world.
"Retail is a business that requires being in the field"
While companies as well as the state continue to take the necessary measures against the coronavirus outbreak; Retail is one of the sectors that must be on the field for the public to access their needs. Grocery stores, which are especially critical to remain open, provide the basic needs of citizens. This leads the markets, where people have to gather, to take new measures. ÜÇGE R&D Engineers, who set out from this issue, realized the "Social Distance Protective Panel" product, which they designed for the most effective protection against the possible spread of viruses and bacteria that will threaten the health of both store employees and customers.
As ÜÇGE Family, we wish to overcome this process in a very short time and in the strongest way and meet again in healthy and beautiful days.


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2019 saw a number of highly-successful games launch.
However, 2020 may be even better – as a number of big titles and iterations of popular franchises are set to be released.
The most anticipated video games expected to launch in 2020 are listed below.
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most exciting games to be unveiled in recent years.
Made by CD Projekt Red, which is known for smash hit The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077 is expected to have a much larger open world, yet will allegedly be just as packed with stories and characters as The Witcher 3.
Cyberpunk 2077 is expected to launch on 16 April 2020.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a sequel to the hugely popular Ori and the Blind Forest.
The game is expected to be of a similar style to the previous iteration, but with even more vibrant graphics.
Developed by Moon Studios, the game is set to launch on 11 February 2020.
The Last of Us Part 2
The sequel to the popular The Last of Us game, The Last of Us Part 2 is expected to offer an even more brutal and emotional experience.
The game will improve upon the original’s combat style, while several new characters will also be introduced.
The Last of Us Part 2 is set to launch on 29 May 2020.
Based on the James Cameron movie, the Avatar game will use Ubisoft’s Snowdrop Engine – which powers The Division.
The game is expected to be an open-world adventure game, and will take place in Pandora, the same land in which the movie took place.
It is likely that the game will launch at a similar time to the 18 December 2020 release date of the Avatar 2 movie.
Popular online shooter Overwatch is set to get a revamp in the form of Overwatch 2.
Blizzard will add four-player co-op missions that focus on telling stories, as opposed to the current online, arena-focused gameplay that Overwatch is known for.
This will allow players to engage more deeply in the lore of the various characters.
The game will also include new maps, heroes, and game modes for the PvP version of the game.
It is unclear when Overwatch 2 will be launched, but it is expected to take place in 2020.
Blizzard is expected to launch Diablo 4 in 2020.
The next iteration from this popular franchise will lose the cartoonish style that is present in Diablo 3.
Instead, it will sport a grungier style similar to that in older versions of the game.
Diablo 4 will also include popular classes that were not available in Diablo 3 – such as the Sorceress – and will now take place in a shared open world.
Users will be able to group up, play solo, or engage in PvP battles.


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The issue is tied to the Gemini Earn program, which offers 8% earn interest on crypto lending and is operated by Gemini in partnership with Genesis.
Decentralized finance, also known as DeFi, is a sector within the overall cryptocurrency and blockchain industry focused on providing a decentralized version of mainstream financial opportunities. In the mainstream world, financial institutions offer customers access to opportunities such as cash storage and loans. However, these offerings are governed by centralized entities.
Smart contacts capable of handling complex computations, while ensuring a level of privacy are the future for enterprise adoption.5325
Top-100 DeFi tokens saw a bullish wave with the start of the new month, but many DEX platforms are still haunted by FTX contagion.5709
The company stated it would be discontinuing aBNBc and aBNBb tokens “effective immediately,” and that “new ankrBNB tokens will be minted and airdropped to affected aBNBc and aBNBb users.”2789
Bitcoin proponent and author Jeff Booth is convinced that the crypto ecosystem will eventually collapse as a consequence of its centralization — except Bitcoin, that is.4292
Ankr announced that it will be reissuing aBNBc tokens, promising that it will assess the situation and compensate affected users.8034
The decentralized-finance protocol said it is working with exchanges to immediately halt trading of its BNB staking rewards token, aBNBc.14349
Despite the new multichain vision, the Trader Joe team confirmed that its “true home” and “top priority for all growth efforts” will continue to be on Avalanche.7543
Cointelegraph’s editor-in-chief Kristina Cornèr moderated a panel discussion on DeFi’s future among market dynamics, cyberattacks and regulatory uncertainty.2656
“Fantom will become the youtube/twitch of blockchain platforms,” commented ecosystem architect Andre Cronje.4267
The Solana-based automated market maker Orca has opened up fiat purchases and fiat-to-crypto transactions through a new integration with Stripe.4283
Demand for liquid Ethereum staking options gains pace in the months following the Merge, according to blockchain data.9963
Auros is an algorithmic trading and market-making firm that provides liquidity for exchanges and token projects.5466
Despite Facebook’s new name, focus and billions in investment, the metaverse will emerge drastically different from its vision.4033
Investors in the round included Ripple, SIX Fintech Ventures and Middlegame Ventures.2599


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After plus-size models walked the Versace runway for the first time during the Spring/Summer 2021 shows last year, the Italian brand has hired plus-size model Precious Lee for a recent campaign. Chanel too had its first plus-size model in over a decade when Jill Kortleve walked the Paris runway in March 2020, while Kortleve and Paloma Elsesser became the first plus-size models to walk for Fendi last February. But increased representation in advertising campaigns and on catwalks hasn’t corresponded to extended sizing in stores.
That may be starting to change as Italian luxury brands are among those finally embracing plus size. Donatella Versace says she is considering extending sizes at Versace, in an exclusive Vogue Business interview. “I can only speak for Versace of course, and I can say that you will [see more size inclusion],” Donatella Versace said via email, without sharing specifics on a timeline or what additional sizes may be produced for retail. “My hope is that we are becoming more open to inclusion and that we will get better at it.” Dolce & Gabbana, which became the first luxury heritage house to offer ready-to-wear pieces above a size US 16 when it went up to US 18 in 2019, says the response has been positive.


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Classic Wheels Export and Import Pvt. Ltd, the official distributor of Crossfire motorcycles in Nepal, has issued a notice regarding the faulty key set on their RM 250-Race Edition models.
Apparently, a number of customers have been facing ignition issues with their motorcycle, which the company has concluded is due to a faulty key set on some of the models. The notice issued by the company says that the RM 250-Race Edition models purchased after 16 Baishak 2078 will get a replacement key set at no charge.
According to the company, the problem is due to water leaking into the key set, leading to electric shorts. The company has contacted all customers through its dealers, and it has urged customers to call a Crossfire dealership if they have not been contacted. They further request everyone to disregard the rumours that have been spread regarding the issue.
Hero MotoCorp launches the new ‘connected’ Maestro Edge 110 in Nepal
Nepal General Marketing Pvt. Ltd, the sole distributor of Hero motorcycles in Nepal, has launched the new Maestro Edge 110. The scooter comes equipped with an LED projector headlamp, full digital speedometer, idle start/stop system (i3s), bluetooth connectivity with call alerts, and turn-by-turn navigation as additional features to its predecessor’s. Commenting on the launch, Sanjay […]
Volkswagen rolls out festive schemes around the Taigun, Polo, and Vento
On the occasion of Dashain, Pooja International Nepal Pvt. Ltd, the authorised importer of Volkswagen cars in Nepal, has brought together two attractive consumer-focused schemes. VolksFest Surprise For the Polo and Vento, the company has introduced the ‘VolksFest Surprise’ offer on the purchase of these vehicles; and for buyers of the newly unveiled Volkswagen SUV, […]
To mark its 80th anniversary celebration, Jeep has officially launched the Wrangler in Nepal. The Wrangler was unveiled by his Excellency, the Ambassador for the United States to Nepal, Randy Berry. The newcomer 4×4 off-roader is available in two variants: the Unlimited and the Rubicon. Prices start at Rs 2.67 crore. Design The all-new Wrangler […]
Tata Motors Nepal unveils the new Altroz variants with BS-VI
The Tata Altroz, launched in the first quarter of 2020 in Nepal, is regarded as one of the safest hatchbacks in Nepal. The car was first available in three variants: the XM, XT, and XZ–all compliant with BS-IV emission norms. And now, Sipradi Trading Pvt. Ltd, the authorised importer of Tata vehicles in Nepal, has […]
Cooperation between Toyota and Shivpuri Club: jerseys and sportswear handed over to club players
United Traders Syndicate, the sole distributor of Toyota vehicles for Nepal, has handed over 20 jerseys and football wear to Shivpuri Nav Jagriti Club. During the handover programme, held recently, Vaidya Group President Suraj Vaidya presented the gear to the club president Biroj Thakuri, club officials, and players. “UTS has been supporting the club in […]


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By XUAN GUANGGAO
LONDON (China Daily Show) – Athlete Liu Xiang shocked markets – and fans – today by announcing his retirement from advertising “effective immediately.”
One of China’s best-loved product spokesmen, Liu was in the sixth round of preliminary negotiations for a multi-party agreement with Coca-Cola, Li Ning and Air China yesterday, when he dramatically failed to clinch a profit-percentage revenue for overseas sales.
“He failed at the first contractual hurdle,” said Hu Jinjin, a close friend who did not wish to be named.
Liu had originally expected royalties from a signature shoe and apparel range, expected to earn him millions of yuan over the next four years.
Unfortunately, analysts say, Liu tripped over his long-time Achilles’ heel – an exclusivity agreement with Nutrilite that had blighted endorsements at the previous Games in Beijing – forcing lawyers to try to limp over the dotted line with artistic leeway over sneaker design and a lifetime ban on working with Yum! foods.
Unable to agree final terms, however, Liu tearfully announced his withdrawal from future advertising this afternoon to an audience of millions of mistrustful Weibo users.
The messy deal marks an end to one of the most distinguished careers in commercial sponsorship that China has ever seen.
Liu became an overnight sensation in 2004, after signing a then-record agreement with Adidas sportswear, before going on to feature in over 32,000 advertisements.
But his star began to wane in 2008, when, under intense pressure, Liu underperformed while securing fresh contracts with Omega timepieces, ultimately failing to sign an agreement after representatives pointed out conflicts over existing deals with Yili dairies, Erke sneakers and the Shanghai World Expo.
Speaking beneath a poster of Mama’s Pickled Bamboo Derivative bearing his image, Liu told a gathering of industry executives that he was “heartbroken” at the missed opportunity to secure more lucrative advertising.
“It’s been wonderful to have the support and love of legions of consumers and brands the world over,” Liu told media. “I’d like to say to all my fans – Nike, Yili, Nutrilite, Visa, China Post, Baisha, Aokang, Shanshan, Cadillac, Tsingtao, the Bank of Communications – thank you for everything and our contracts are binding.”
Chinese netizens were divided in reaction, with many vowing to continue drinking Coca Cola and using their Visa credit cards, despite Liu’s disappointing stock performance this quarter.
But others said they would now shy away from consuming any further beef product bearing Liu’s image.
“To be honest, if you put Liu Xiang’s image on a naked, oiled Megan Fox, I’d still think twice about getting involved,” wrote netizen ‘ShaSha BiBi,’ in a microblog post reshared thousands of times.
Diehard fans have meanwhile been paying tribute online to one of China’s best-loved brand ambassadors.
“Liu can look back on a glittering career of product placements,” said popular blogger Xiao Jiji. “Now perhaps he will have the time to finally pursue his athletic hobbies.”
Follow breaking China news at @chinadailyshow on Twitter


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With the trend of peddling brands over social media platforms catching up, influencer marketing is pegged to be a 900 crore market in India by the end of the year, according to a report by media buyer Groupm.
The fledgling category is expected to grow 25% annually to become a 2,200 crore industry by 2025, the INCA India Influencer Report said. The growth in Internet penetration, the proliferation of social media platforms has grown, which has been seized up by brands by engaging with influencers to push their message.
Read Full Story: https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/social-media-influencers-to-corner-900-cr/article36525542.ece
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IT HAS only been six months since Graham MacIntyre made the bold move to stand up for Queensland's dairy industry.
His pioneering company Lynward Queensland Milk has already become a house-hold name, with production skyrocketing from 1000 litres to 10,000 a week.
Hundreds of supermarkets, home fridges and coffee shops across the state now stock the maroon-labelled product, produced in his home town at Kenilworth on the Sunshine Coast.
But the real proof of his success was revealed last week when two new trucks were fitted with his signature label, and will be used to transport it across the state.
"It has been really hard starting out on our own but we are starting to see the light now," Mr MacIntyre said.
"All the dairy farmers are encouraging it, everyone has been supportive and now you can see us on the road six days a week."
The Maroochy RSL has been featured on the milk trucks, bearing the catchy slogan, "We do Queensland Milk so well for Maroochy RSL".
Mr MacIntyre said the club was one of the first businesses to stock his milk and its support had caused a "domino effect" in the local industry.
"Word of mouth spreads quickly, especially when the product is used in the biggest RSL on the Coast," he said.
"We have been taking on a lot of new clients daily - it is a great feeling."
Maroochy RSL general manager Harvey Fewings said the milk was used for all products produced in the club's kitchen and cafe.
"We are a local business who wants to support the local industry and help local farmers get one back from the supermarket giants," Mr Fewings said.
"We have a lot to offer on the Sunshine Coast for local industry, we just need more businesses to take advantage of that."
As sales for the milk continue to grow, Mr MacIntyre said he hoped to be sustaining at least 10 local farmers by the end of the year.
He said a milk processing plant on his farm would help boost the volume of milk produced.
"At the moment the milk is being bottled at another farm, which is working well, but I think if we are going to continue producing at the rate we are now we will need to bring production closer to home," he said.
"This could mean I can employ more people and start putting on some local farmers."
The new trucks will sell milk into Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Mr MacIntyre anticipates selling into Toowoomba and the Darling Downs by December.
He will also donate five cents from every litre of milk sold this year to the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation.
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Elections Canada Warns Tech Giants of Fines If Political Ad Rules Violated
Earlier this month, it was reported that Ottawa might take measures to regulate social media firms like Facebook, Twitter, and Google as part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard the upcoming elections.
Today, Elections Canada has informed all online social media platforms that they must comply with the new political advertising rules and has also warned them that not abiding by the rules could result in thousands of dollars in fines, CTV News is reporting.
Elections Canada’s new edict explicitly states that even if social media companies do not plan on allowing political ads on their platforms, they still have an obligation under the law to make sure that their sites uphold the new requirements.
The electoral regulator says the guidance is meant to help online platforms and digital advertisers to comply with the new changes to election-time adverting passed under Bill C-76. “The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and it will be important for the law to keep pace with change,” said Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault.
“Some platforms may decide not to sell regulated ads rather than create a registry. However, in such situations, steps must still be taken to ensure that no regulated advertising appears on the platform. If regulated ads appear without being included in a registry, an investigation and even prosecution could take place, depending on the circumstances,” says Elections Canada.
It must be noted that the new ad reporting requirements passed under Bill C-76 do not apply to texts, emails, news content, posts on party websites, or “user-generated content posted for free on social media.”


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La. House Committee OK’s Marijuana Sales
Discussion of a measure to allow the sale of medical marijuana in Louisiana was expected to be brief. Debate went on longer than expected Wednesday, but a house committee approved the bill. If it passes the full legislature, the measure will allow the establishment of stores where people with a doctor's prescription will be able to purchase marijuana derivatives for medical use. The Advocate reports, the use of medical marijuana has been legal since the 1990's, but there have been no provisions for Louisiana residents to purchase it.


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Walgreens says it is closing its call center in West Chester, a move which will put 121 people out of work.
The call center, which handles customers on Medicare Part B plans, is located at 9025 Centre Pointe. The 121 employees will be laid off between July and the end of October of this year.
In a release, the company said the closure of the facility will be permanent and the employees will not have bumping rights within the company, according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.
The Deerfield, Ill.-based drug store chain has over 30 locations in the Dayton area.


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The new rule will require broadband companies to have customers opt in to the sale or sharing of their online histories as part of marketing or ad deals. It includes restrictions on the way that providers can share users’ location data and other information and also ensures that they will have to tell consumers exactly what data they collect and what they do with it. The changes do not apply to how broadband providers can use customer information in their own marketing, though.
The new regulations also require that broadband providers have “common-sense” data breach notifications and reasonable security practices.
The vote by the FCC makes distinctions between broadband providers and phone carriers and other service providers. Before the vote, providers and others had urged the FCC to align its rules with existing ones from the FTC on usage of customer data for marketing.