Tying Environment To Marketing Strategy

Side View of Itasca, Illinois OfficeMax Headquarters

Killing two birds with one stone - No, this is not an avian flu update!

This release from OfficeMax via RetailWire Newsletter -

OfficeMax Launches Nationwide 900+ Store Rollout of Ink Refill Station Program
Challenging Consumers to Be Environmentally Responsible, Save Money By Refilling Computer Printer Ink Cartridges

ITASCA, Ill., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Determined to persuade millions of Americans to save money and be environmentally responsible by refilling their old computer printer ink cartridges rather than buying new ones, OfficeMax kicked-off one of the most ambitious service launches in the Company's history. The OfficeMax Ink program, which involves installing Ink Filling Station kiosks that will enable consumers at nearly 900 OfficeMax stores by Fall 2006 to refill empty ink cartridges at up to 50 percent savings over buying a new cartridge, is the first step in OfficeMax's new Ink Initiative. The Company-wide Ink Initiative is designed to provide OfficeMax customers with a total ink solution spanning the purchase of new ink cartridges (either branded or OfficeMax's own label), the refilling of empty ones, and the recycling of ink cartridges that have reached the end of their useful life.
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"Throughout the world, consumers throw out 300 million ink cartridges a year -- and because cartridges are made of materials which do not degrade in landfills for 1,000 years, empty ink cartridges are an environmental challenge," says Ryan Vero, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for OfficeMax.
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Loyalty Card Preference Survey Results

It strikes me those consumers who like to use loyalty cards, should be allowed a choice of use redemption options.

This from Progressive Grocer -

When Using Loyalty Cards, Adults Prefer Discounts at Each Supermarket Visit: Study
MARCH 28, 2006

-- BALTIMORE -- Forty-nine percent of adults prefer a discount on specific products during each store visit, vs. 34 percent who prefer to accumulate points for a larger reward or payoff at stores that offer a frequent buyer or loyalty card program, according to the proprietary "Customer Focus 2006: Grocery" study from targeted advertising, media, and marketing services provider Vertis here. More specifically, 51 percent of men age 50 and over and women age 35 to 49 who have loyalty cards prefer a discount as opposed to amassing points, the study found.

"From the results of our study, we have noticed a shift in reward programs and an increase in usage among younger demographics," said Vertis v.p., market insights Jim Litwin in a statement. "This presents an opportunity for marketers to better understand different demographics and apply this knowledge to effectively target consumers."
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Additional finding were as follows:

-- If a store offered a frequent buyer or loyalty card program, 51 percent of professional/white-collar adults would prefer a discount on specific products during each visit, compared with 46 percent of blue-collar adults surveyed.

-- 42 percent of Hispanic consumers prefer to accumulate points for a larger reward or payoff, vs. 34 percent of total adults.
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You guessed it; the majority of people who can afford the "delayed gratification" approach already know that we are NOT serious about the enforcement of our immigration laws.

White House Chief of Staff Resigns

White House Chief of Staff Andy Card is seen at the Reagan Office Building in Washington, DC November 3, 2004. Card will resign on April 14 and be replaced by budget director Josh Bolten, a senior administration official said on Tuesday. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

In a news cast cut-in on IMUS In The Morning broadcast - MSNBC, the crowd on IMUS made these comments (paraphrased) observing Andrew Card's demeanor.

"He looked as if he had a couple of hooded gunmen off to the side"

... "He should have been sat down in front of the podium with a hood on with demands of the release of prisoners from around the world."

Or this, "... we see Andy get into a cab and drive off before the final, in cab, interview" (ala The Apprentice)

... "and the rest of the staff is being told, as they leave the room, our approval ratings are down so your task this week is to get them back up, and if they aren't up, we will go to the board room where one of you WILL be fired!"

This from Reuters -

Chief of Staff Card resigns
25 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House chief of staff Andrew Card has resigned and will be replaced by budget director Josh Bolten, a senior administration official said on Tuesday.

Card will depart the White House on April 14.
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"It is something he initiated," the official said.
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Afghan Christian Convert Released Now Missing

We should all pray for his safety. This could get very ugly.

After a whitewash of a dismissal, do we now have a "kick 'em to the curb", prison justice type of release?

Why wasn't he released into the custody of people who wanted to take him in a safe haven country?

This from AP via Yahoo News -

Christian Convert Vanishes After Release
By AMIR SHAH, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 2 minutes ago

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan man who had faced the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity quickly vanished Tuesday after he was released from prison, apparently out of fear for his life with Muslim clerics still demanding his death.

Italy's Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini said he would ask his government to grant Abdul Rahman asylum. Fini was among the first to speak out on the man's behalf.

Rahman, 41, was released from the high-security Policharki prison on the outskirts of Kabul late Monday, Afghan Justice Minister Mohammed Sarwar Danish told The Associated Press.
"We released him last night because the prosecutors told us to," he said. "His family was there when he was freed, but I don't know where he was taken."
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On Monday, hundreds of clerics, students and others chanting "Death to Christians!" marched through the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif to protest the court decision Sunday to dismiss the case. Several Muslim clerics threatened to incite Afghans to kill Rahman if he is freed, saying that he is clearly guilty of apostasy and deserves to die.

"Abdul Rahman must be killed. Islam demands it," said senior Cleric Faiez Mohammed, from the nearby northern city of Kunduz. "The Christian foreigners occupying
Afghanistan are attacking our religion."

Rahman was arrested last month after police discovered him with a Bible during a custody dispute over his two daughters. He was put on trial last week for converting 16 years ago while he was a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan. He faced the death penalty under Afghanistan's Islamic laws.
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Let the man live with his beliefs.

UPDATE, 12:28 PM, PST -

Afghan Convert in Hiding After Release
By AMIR SHAH, Associated Press Writer 45 minutes ago

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan man who had faced the death penalty for abandoning Islam for Christianity was freed from prison and went into hiding Tuesday in Kabul after Muslim clerics threatened his life. Italy said it may grant him asylum.

Respect, Dignity, Recognition

The protest march in downtown Los Angeles went from Broadway and Olympic to City Hall. (Bob Chamberlin / LAT) Mar. 25, 2006

It is more about pandering, voting block, and degradation to the rule of law. If you listened to the Mayor of LA speak yesterday, you would think that the rule of law and actual citizenship of the nation stand for nothing.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa briefly addressed the rally."We cannot criminalize people who are working, people who are contributing to our economy and contributing to the nation," Villaraigosa said. So Tony, we are criminalizing because we want to have our laws enforced.

Mayor, Mayor, ... who is breaking the law here? It is the "un-documented" workers who are choosing to break the law (lawbreaker, criminal).

Respect, Dignity, Recognition was printed on a protest sign at the immigration rally here in Los Angeles over the weekend. Respect, Dignity, & Recognition are given when one stands up to be recognized by applying for work permits and respect is achieved by participating in the process of LEGAL IMMIGRATION - once legal, one achieves dignity!

Opinion from the New York Post -

IMMIGRATION: A FIRST STEP
By ABBY WISSE SCHACHTER

March 27, 2006 -- STARTING WITH ENFORCEMENT MAKES SENSE. It's showdown day for immigration reform - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's deadline for the Judiciary Committee to approve a bill, or he'll send his own enforcement-only bill direct to the floor.

At issue is whether the next step is that sort of enforcement-first approach, or whether Congress should include other steps toward comprehensive immigration reform. The problem with the second approach is that "steps toward" comprehensive reform don't solve the immediate crisis any better than enforcement alone.
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'05 Champ Wins For New Team By .014 Seconds

Photo Credit: danwheldonfans.com

The first race of the 2006 season had a classic IRL finish ... side-by-side at over 200 MPH at less than a tenth of a second seperation. The finish was the 9th closest finish in IRL history.

Dan Wheldon, last year's champion for the Andretti/Green Racing team became the winner of his first race driving for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. During the last 20 laps, Wheldon and Helio Castroneves of Team Penske traded the lead in side-by-side fashion with Wheldon on the outside. Behind them, racing three wide much of the time were Sam Hornish - Team Penske, Dario Franchiti - Andretti/Green Racing, and Scott Dixon - Target Chip Ganassi Racing ... all with a ringside seat to the outside pass that won the race.

From indycar.com -

Wheldon edges Castroneves for victory
Sunday, March 26, 2006 By indycar.com staff

"Hopefully we put on a good race on a very sad day," said Wheldon, the reigning IndyCar Series champion. "It is a very entertaining series, and certainly one of the most competitive in the world."

Wheldon and Castroneves were wheel to wheel coming out of Turns 3 and 4, and rubbed tires at least twice.

"That's one of the things about the IndyCar Series; everybody respects each other an immense amount," said Wheldon, who led eight laps. "Whenever you run side by side with Helio, he gives you just enough room, and hoepfully I do the same."
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Rahal-Letterman Team Pulls Cars, Driver Death

Driver Paul Dana of St. Louis, Mo. is seen at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Saturday March 25, 2006. Dana died after a two-car crash Sunday, March 26, 2006, during the warmup for the season-opening IRL IndyCar Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (AP Photo/Luis Alvarez)

It is a sad, sad day. May God bless the family and survivors of Paul Dana.

AP story via Yahoo News -

IRL Driver Paul Dana Dies After Crash
By MIKE HARRIS, AP Motorsports Writer 12 minutes ago

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Driver Paul Dana died after a two-car crash Sunday during the warmup for the season-opening IRL IndyCar Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The other driver, Ed Carpenter, was awake and alert at a Miami hospital, IRL officials said.
Dana, 30, a former motorsports journalist with a degree from Northwestern, was a rookie who competed in three IRL races for Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing last year with a best finish of 10th in the race at Homestead.

The Toyota Indy 300 race was expected to be run as scheduled. Bobby Rahal, co-owner of Rahal Letterman Racing for which Dana was to race this season, said the team's other two cars — driven by Danica Patrick and Buddy Rice — will be pulled out of the race.

Dana's wife, Tonya, was in Indianapolis, where the couple lived, and was notified of her husband's death while attending a church service.

"Obviously, this is a very black day for us," Rahal said. "This is a great tragedy."
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Paul Dana would have been 31 on April 15th.

UPDATE: 1:40 PM, PST - Ed Carpenter does not have any broken bones. Currently receiving full body CAT scan tests.

It's Time To Drop The Checkered Flag!

Logo Credit: indyracing.com

Today is the day the first American series open wheel race of the 2006 season will held. The flag drops in Homestead, Florida on the first of fourteen races, eleven of which are staged on oval tracks. This racing series was spawned by Tony George, the owner of the Indiapolis 500 (to be raced later this year).

This from the Indy Car Website -

Sunday, March 26, 2006
Who will win? It's anyone's guess, and everyone has one
By Dave Lewandowskiindycar.com

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Three points to consider when watching or listening to the season-opening Toyota Indy 300 at 3:30 p.m. (EST) on ABC, IMS Radio Network affiliates, and also simulcast on XM Satellite Radio IndyCar channel 145 and indycar.com:

Parity: Sure, with each of the 20 cars having the same Honda HI6R Indy V-8 engine, there will be a more level playing field. But that only goes so far; more will be in the hands of the drivers and their pit crews. “Eighty percent driver and 20 percent pit stops,” said Helio Castroneves, who will start on the front row alongside Marlboro Team Penske teammate and pole winner Sam Hornish Jr. “Because the equipment seems to be similar, small differences in a setup will make a big difference on the racetrack. The team and driver that find that better is definitely going to be in good shape.”

Old guard: Don’t discount Eddie Cheever Jr. and Buddy Lazier. Sure their programs are new and they’ll be starting from the rear of the field, but experience goes a long way. Both will make a statement.

Next generation: Marco Andretti has the pedigree and P.J. Chesson the Car Melo. The first is a household name at age 19 because of his grandfather and father. The latter will be a household name before the season is half over.
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One thing is for sure, the season will kick off today with high energy (and we’re not only talking about the ethanol/methanol blended fuel).
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Now, if only we all drove those cars, we wouldn't be addicted to oil anymore ... hummmm?!

The first race of the primarily road course, open wheel racing series, "Champ Car World Series" comes in a couple of weeks in Long Beach (April 9th) ... Now That Is Racing!!

These cars run on streets, airports, dedicated road courses and one fabled oval known as the "Milwaukee Mile". It is an American series that is contested internationally (similar to Formula One) and features racing venues in the US, Canada, Mexico, South Korea and Australia. By the way, these cars run on Ethanol/Methanol blended fuel as well.

It is time for the 2006 season to begin!

Protest, What Protest?

Demonstrators gather to protest federal legislation that would build more walls along the U.S. - Mexico border and make helping illegal immigrants a crime, in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, Saturday, March 25, 2006. ( AP Photo:Ann Johansson)

To be honest, I was driving through downtown today and it looked the same (have you ever been in Downtown LA on a weekend day?). Nobody ever goes to downtown LA on the weekends except shoppers … Latin culture shoppers with Banda music blaring into the streets from about every fifth store front. It looked like a brisk business day.

Excerpts from AP via Yahoo News -

Thousands March in L.A. Over Immigration
By PETER PRENGAMAN, Associated Press Writer (Associated Press writer Bob Jablon contributed to this report)

LOS ANGELES - Tens of thousands of immigrant rights advocates from across Southern California marched Saturday in protest of federal legislation that would build more walls along the U.S.-Mexico border and make helping illegal immigrants a crime.

The march followed rallies on Friday that drew throngs of protesters to major cities around the nation.

On Saturday, demonstrators streamed into downtown Los Angeles for what was expected to be one of the city's largest pro-immigrant rallies. The crowd was estimated at more than 100,000, said police Sgt. Lee Sands.
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Elger Aloy, 26, of Riverside, a premed student, pushed a stroller with his 8-month-old son at Saturday's Los Angeles march.

"I think it's just inhumane. ... Everybody deserves the right to a better life," Aloy said of the legislation.
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"They say we are criminals. We are not criminals," said Salvador Hernandez, 43, of Los Angeles, a resident alien who came to the United States illegally from El Salvador 14 years ago and worked as truck driver, painter and day laborer.

Francisco Flores, 27, a wood flooring installer from Santa Clarita who is a former illegal immigrant, said, "We want to work legally, so we can pay our taxes and support the country, our country."
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Well Mr. Flores was the only person interviewed for the article that has it right ... on several counts:

He is a former illegal immigrant (former lawbreaker), operative word - former.

He wants to work legally.

He wants to pay taxes.

He wants to support the country ... His country (I think he means the USA?)!

Why is he protesting, he wants what every American wants ... legal immigration and respect for our laws ... eventually.

UPDATE: 6:35 PM, PST
From AP - Immigration March Draws 500,000 in L.A. ... Must have been a sale!

The Face Of Taliban Fear

A TV frame grab, aired on March 22, 2006, shows Abdur Rahman holding a translated version of the Bible at a Kabul court.
(Reuters TV/Reuters)

What will happen when Abdur Rahman, 40, goes to trial in Afghanistan for believing that Jesus Christ died for his sins and, by believing this is so, he will have everlasting life?

This simple belief, shared by billions of humans throughout the world, is against the constitutional law in Afghanistan ... save for one small caveat. The Afghan constitution says it will abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines freedom of religion.

News item from Reuters -

Afghans grapple for solution to convert crisis
By Robert Birsel – Reuters

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan officials, trying to resolve a crisis over an Afghan who may face the death penalty for converting to Christianity, struggled on Saturday to satisfy conflicting international and domestic demands.

The controversy over the man who abandoned Islam, Abdur Rahman, 40, threatens to drive a wedge between Afghanistan and the Western backers who ensure its security and finance its development. Rahman's trial is due to start in a few days.

International pressure on Afghanistan to respect Rahman's religious freedom and release him from jail has been met in Afghanistan by calls for him to be tried under Islamic law and executed, and a threat of rebellion if the government frees him.
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UPDATE - AP, 5:26 AM, PST

Case Dropped Against Afghan Christian

POLICHARKI, Afghanistan - An Afghan court has dismissed the case against a man who converted from Islam to Christianity for lack of evidence, an official said Sunday.
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On Sunday, he was moved to a notorious maximum-security prison outside Kabul that is also home to hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaida militants. The move to Policharki Prison came after detainees threatened his life at an overcrowded police holding facility in central Kabul, a court official said on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

Gen. Shahmir Amirpur, who is in charge of Policharki, confirmed the move and said Rahman had also been begging his guards to provide him with a Bible.
Raed All>>

This is very good news but the question has to be asked.

Is not a dismissal due to a lack of evidence a whitewash of the issue before the court, shouldn't there have been a ruling that - in fact - religious freedom is legally enforced in Afghanistan? And on that basis, Abdur Rahman was wrongfully charged in the first place?

Give the man a Bible! The fear is still here.

More About The New York Times & Scamming

This from the Washington Post -

Of Media Mistakes and Explanations
By Howard KurtzWashington Post Staff WriterFriday, March 24, 2006; 8:51 AM

Stop the presses: The New York Times has been scammed again :

"An article in The Metro Section on March 8 profiled Donna Fenton, identifying her as a 37-year-old victim of Hurricane Katrina who had fled Biloxi, Miss., and who was frustrated in efforts to get federal aid as she and her children remained as emergency residents of a hotel in Queens.

"Yesterday, the New York police arrested Ms. Fenton, charging her with several counts of welfare fraud and grand larceny. Prosecutors in Brooklyn say she was not a Katrina victim, never lived in Biloxi and had improperly received thousands of dollars in government aid. Ms. Fenton has pleaded not guilty.

"For its profile, The Times did not conduct adequate interviews or public record checks to verify Ms. Fenton's account, including her claim that she had lived in Biloxi."

As Reagan said, trust but verify. This is particularly unfortunate since the Times admitted six days ago buying a bill of goods from a former Abu Ghraib prisoner who claimed to have been the hooded guy photographed on that box.

I mention this as a backhanded way of getting into a discussion about media transparency. The Times, in my view, has made great strides on that front since Bill Keller took over in the wake of the Jayson Blair debacle. I've generally found Keller candid and accessible (except when he made a decision that he could not detail why the paper held the domestic eavesdropping story for a year without compromising confidential sources).
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If you read on you will see the word overstretched again, however, it is used to speculate about a military draft. MSM News people interviewed for this article diffuse their own lazy, scamming ways by trying to work/massage in a "hot point" political discussion - This Is Rich!

Let us just say, in a paraphrase, that "the truth does not justify the means" at The New York Times.