"You can't take everything personally," said Deana Cruthird, 31, at Kenmore station.

And, besides, said Russell Sweet, 48, "There are plenty of other things to be offended about."

But that's not the view of Stephan G. MacDougall, president of the Boston Carmen's Union, who fielded 40 phone calls from Green Line workers incensed by the ads.

"To say they are angered and offended is to put it lightly," MacDougall said. "I will tell you this: If they don't come down, we will not drive those trains."

MacDougall said he likes Legal Sea Foods, and cannot understand why the company and the T could not have anticipated a backlash to the ads.

"Who the hell wants to say they have a face like a fish?" he said. "I happen to like to eat fish, and I like seafood, and I like going fishing, but I don't want anybody saying that I or any of my members look like a fish."

The ad agency doesn't see anything wrong with making fun of trolley conductors. They told the Globe that they rejected one idea that was a bit much, so obviously they're not like, insensitive...

The ads were designed by the New York ad agency DeVito/Verdi, which vetoed one idea as too crass: "This trolley is a lot like your mother. Anyone with a couple of bucks can get a ride."

"So it's not like we're insensitive," said Ellis Verdi, president of the agency.

Seems like they rejected the only funny one.

Hook, line, or stinker? [Boston Globe] (Thanks, Kevin!)
(Photo: 100%`￥afe)

The ad reads:

Did you know that there are people in this country who want prayer out of schools, "Under God" out of the Pledge, and "In God We Trust" to be taken off our money?

But did you know that 86% of Americans say they believe in God? Now, since we all know that 86 out of every 100 of us are Christians who believe in God, we at Kieffe & Sons Ford wonder why we don't just tell the other 14% to sit down and shut up. I guess maybe I just offended 14% of the people who are listening to this message. Well, if that is the case, then I say that's tough, this is America folks, it's called free speech. And none of us at Kieffe & Sons Ford are afraid to speak up. Kieffe & Sons Ford on Sierra Highway in Mojave and Rosamond: if we don't see you today, by the grace of God, we'll be here tomorrow.

The ad has been running on radio stations in southern California since at least February, according to one blogger. She wrote to Ford headquarters, but received a reply that because the dealerships are independently owned and operated, she should get in touch with the management at the dealership.

Here's the audio of (most of) the ad:

The Underground Unbeliever [via BoingBoing]
(Photo: Amy Watts)
(Audio: Karen Peralta)

Our reaction is, of course, "Holy Shit! Where can we buy that poncho!?"

ROFLcon and ponchos spark controversy [Weekly Dig]

“Adolescent and teenage girls hardly need further inducements to drink,” wrote George A. Hacker, director of the alcohol policies project at CSPI. “Heavy drinking imposes special risks for girls, due to their lower body weights and different metabolisms and the contributing role of alcohol in sexual assaults, date rape, and unwanted and unplanned pregnancies.”

The devilish ts in question featured the logos of various beers such as Miller, Guinness and Foster's, as well as catchy slogans like “beer is my anti-drug,” and “save water, drink beer.” Forever 21 has responded by quietly yanking the shirts from its website.

We don't think the CPSI should be so hard on Forever 21. After all "21" is in the name and they do have this handy outdated food pyramid shirt. I mean, what more could they ask?

Brewers Urged to Stop Marketing Beer Shirts to Young Girls [CSPI]

"They address the issue of BPA in their bottles (on their Web site); they cite the (Food and Drug Administration) stating that they see no problem with it. The problem is they didn't cite the many other studies that show there is a risk and there is a great concern about the issue," attorney Harold Hewell, who represents Felix-Lozano, said.

The lawsuit does not describe any physical ailment suffered by the plaintiffs and seeks unspecified damages.

"Nalgene sports bottle maker sued over toxic claims" [Reuters]
(Photo: Getty)

Wisconsin Management Company, Inc. extends its deepest condolences to both the Zimmerman and Gonnering families. We regret how our statement on Friday was characterized. Wisconsin Management Company, Inc. takes great pride in our service and commitment to our residents. We felt it inappropriate, one week after the incident, to discuss the particulars of the lease situation until we had spoken to the families. We have since had the opportunity to speak with Jordan's parents. After discussing what the family wanted, we have decided to release all parties from any lease obligations. Once the property is released by the police, we will do any cleaning or repairs that are necessary. We have also offered housing to Mr. Gonnering, which he will consider. Now that this situation is resolved, we hope people can focus on the actual tragedy and work towards healing and justice.
 
Russ Endres
President
Wisconsin Management Company, inc.

The president of Wisconsin Management Co., Russ Endres, says the company hasn't even officially spoken to Gonnering yet. He says they will work with him if he calls and they have a good track record of helping students who want to break leases. 27 News asked Endres if he personally believes Gonnering should be allowed to cut ties to the apartment, and Endres said, "It's too early to say." He would not commit to allow Gonnering to break the lease.

The campaign taps into the national pride of Mexicans, according to Favio Ucedo, creative director of leading Latino advertising agency Grupo Gallegos in the U.S.

Ucedo, who is from Argentina, said: "Mexicans talk about how the Americans stole their land, so this is their way of reclaiming it. It's very relevant and the Mexicans will love the idea."

But he said that were the campaign to run in the United States, it might fall flat.

"Many people aren't going to understand it here. Americans in the East and the North or in the center of the county — I don't know if they know much about the history.

"Probably Americans in Texas and California understand perfectly and I don't know how they'd take it."

Meanwhile, the campaign has been circulating on the blogs and generating strong responses from people north of the border.

"I find this ad deeply offensive, and needlessly divisive. I will now make a point of drinking other brands. And 'vodka and tonic' is my drink," said one visitor, called New Yorker, on MexicoReporter.com.

Reader Paul Green goes into a discussion on the blog Gateway Pundit of whether the U.S. territories ever belonged to Mexico in the first place, and the News12 Long island site invited people to boycott Absolut, with one user, called LivingSmall, writing: "If you drink Absolut vodka, you can voice your approval or disapproval of this advertising campaign with your purchases. I know I will be switching to Grey Goose or Stoli and will never have another bottle of Absolut in my house.

What do you think?

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

What if a store were to sell you merchandise, but claim that the bag and reciept were their property (akin to my University ID stating "This card is University property")?

Could they print a line on the reciept & bag to the effect of "This reciept/bag is WallyWorld propety and must be surrendered on request of WallyWorld or their designee"?  Your merchandise is yours once it's been paid for, and they have no business seeing it, but the reciept and bag were not purchased- they technically still belong to the store.

Any thoughts?

The NFL's binding arbitration deal would have retroactively charged TWC for the game after the arbitration process was finished.

Time Warner Cable's CEO Greg Britt wrote to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell:

"As I'm sure you are aware, over the years we've been able to successfully reach agreements with hundreds of programming networks without the use of arbitration," he wrote. "We continue to believe that the best way to achieve results is to privately seek a resolution and not attempt to negotiate through the press or elected officials."

Meanwhile, a number of states, including Wisconsin, are trying to force the cable companies into arbitration against their will. From USAToday:

A vice president of the Green Bay Packers told the state Senate committee in Wisconsin that the channel's exclusion from some major cable networks could spell the beginning of the end of the sport's popularity.

"Sports die off when they are not broadly accessible to the fans," Jason Wied said. "This is the start of that problem."

Wied, along with the president of the NFL Network, spoke in support of a bipartisan bill that could require an arbitrator to resolve disputes between the network and cable companies.
...
The director of the Wisconsin Cable Communications Association, which represents Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, MediaCom and 25 other smaller providers, said the state should not interfere with negotiations in a free market and doing so may be unconstitutional.

We love the NFL (obviously), but the fact remains that most people don't want their cable rates raised year round to accommodate a small number of sports fans who enjoy watching out-of-market football— and the cable companies know it.

NFL offers arbitration to cable for NFL Network [USAToday]
(Photo:Paul Keleher)

(Photo: Getty)

I went to Starbucks today and read their countdown message board - 4 days to raspberry mochas and frappa-wappa-who-whatsits.

When it was my turn to order, I asked if they had raspberry syrup. They said yes, and promptly whipped up a raspberry mocha for me without comment.

Of course, this was after spending about five minutes on the customer in front of me. She walked in and in this really desperate voice said, "Oh no, I don't know anyone here! Where's Kayla? Where's Brian? They know how to make my drink." It involved about six different ingredients and another ten or so specifications - two cups AND a sleeve, half an inch for cream, 127.436 degrees, etc.

I guess asking for raspberry syrup four days early wasn't really that big of a request in comparison.

PREVIOUSLY:
Starbucks "Juicy Raspberry" Controversy Continues
Epic Battle For Raspberry Syrup Ends With Starbucks Apology And Gift Card

Highlights inside.

You know I think it's extremely shitty of that lady from corporate to send that customer that letter, when we got a memo SPECIFICALLY telling us NOT to use the Juicy Raspberry until promo launch! That makes all the store partners look bad when they were just doing what they were told to do.

Everyone keeps saying it's about "uplifting people" and "who cares, just say yes!" You guys, we are a corporation...ok? I think that internal audits, people losing jobs, and mess-ups in inventory are a lot more important than giving someone their raspberry. If someone told you that either you can lose your job and sell them raspberry, or tell them to wait, what would you choose?

Companies set up regulations to be followed. I know how some rules are "meant to be broken", but I don't see anything wrong with this. Overall, waiting till the 25th is the best decision, and if the heads of a corporation had hundreds of people think of this beforehand, then I will trust their judgment.

If a customer asked me to sell them juicy raspberry, I would probably say no. I would explain the launch date, offer alternatives, even offer a comparable drink for free, and try to connect.

Why can't I walk into Best Buy and DEMAND a new Xbox, two days before the release date? After all, I know they have it in stock. Disclaimer...I couldn't give a rat's ass about any Xbox, but is it not a fair analogy?

we ran out of raspberry a month or so ago. so did all the stores around us. one of our daily regulars loves the raspberry so much and our store so much, when he was in a store that did have the raspberry, he bought himself 2 bottles of the stuff(that's all they would sell him). it sits in the cupboard under the bar with his name on it and we only serve it to him.
we also had him try the juicy raspberry and he hates it.
we know he's a freak, he knows he's a freak. but he's our freak and we love him. plus, he's all proactive about it and not whiny.

Let me be sure I hear this right. There are folks here that are willing to ignore a release date?

Please reconsider. I enjoy making my customers' day as much as anyone, but not by preselling something. Sure, it's "just syrup", but if you will say yes to that, I can't see why you would say no to anything else.

Thank you Herman! It's not about saying no about a syrup....but if saying yes then where is the stopping point the next time a customer asks for something early... there has to be a stopping point or promo launches don't become special anymore. But I still think the writer is a cry baby!

This should be a non-issue. If it is between losing a customer and doing things in a rigid fashion, just make the customer happy. How much money do you think this guy spent at Starbucks everyday over the years? Let's see - Iced Venti Mocha plus soy and another syrup? That's almost $5 there, more in some areas. Now, how many times a day did he visit? 2 to 3 times? Now multiply that over the years. This guy is the customer we want to keep, the customer who is invested in our culture and the partners in his home store.

PREVIOUSLY: Epic Battle For Raspberry Syrup Ends With Starbucks Apology And Gift Card

The idea is causing a bit of a dust-up among people who feel the location is too prominent for a Starbucks, and should go to a local business. From the Times Picayune:

Java giant Starbucks Coffee Co. and local restaurateur and chef Scott Boswell are competing for the lease on the old la Madeleine space in Jackson Square's Lower Pontalba Building.
...
The withdrawal of la Madeleine, which still operates several other locations in the metro area, opens up a high-profile location in one of the city's most popular tourism corridors. Don Schwarcz of SRSA Commercial Real Estate said the 3,000-square-foot corner site is a solid retail location that should command top-dollar rents.

Even if it means chaining ourselves to the vacant storefront that once housed Le Madeliene (yes, another chain, albeit a smaller one and certainly the lesser of the two evils) with our leftover Mardi Gras beads we have to do everything in our power to keep Starbucks from setting up camp.

Starbucks, local restaurateur, vying for La Madeleine site on Jackson Square [Times-Picayune via Blogging New Orleans via Starbucks Gossip]
(Photo:chuckp)

Our tipster writes:

"My husband is a assistant manager at a Wal-Mart here in North Carolina. I personally hate Wal-Mart and all that they stand for, and refuse to shop there (and haven't in almost a year).

While having dinner last night, I asked him if Wal-Mart was going to carry Brokeback Mountain when it's released on DVD on Tuesday. He said that he had just gotten an e-mail (sent to all the upper level-managers) that "due the controversial nature of the film" they were expecting to get a large number of customer complaints. The e-mail went on to say that the "corporate office does not want ANY manger to attempt to address the complaints and to refer all of them to an 800 number at the Arkansas office."

Says Wal-Mart, "I will quit you, Jim."

UPDATE: We just called our favorite Wal-Mart (Liberty, Missouri) and they will be carrying the film. The customer service specialist said that headquarters decides whether or not to pull a film based on complaints. Sometimes, he said, they will do so by geographic area, such as only from northwest Missouri. The representative said he's logged four complaints so far.