Category Archives: Business

CNN WANTS WEED NAMED AFTER THE NETWORK

August 24, 2013 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Denver, Colorado – A recent segment on CNN is causing quite a stir in the Cannabis world. But it is not most people would think.

In a recent special report, CNN’s chief medical correpondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, whose name was once floated as a candidate for the country’s Surgeon General position, indicated that he has changed his earlier position on medical marijuana. Gupta said he now believes that MJ has its medical uses and can bring grams and grams of relief to individuals suffering from chronic and untreatable conditions.

The Helping Hands Dispensary in Colorado was so elated over the CNN report that it named one of its marijuana strains after Gupta. It started selling the strain under the name, “Sanjay Gupta Kush.”

Upon learning of this move by the marijuana dispensary, CNN called the owner expressing its displeasure about the Gupta Kush.

“CNN was visibly very upset, demanding that we drop the name,” the owner said. The Atlanta-based cable news network threatened to sue the dispensary unless it changed the name of the strain to “CNN Kush.”

“After all, the report was broadcast on CNN,” the network told the owner. Besides, CNN added, “we need all the publicity we can get in view of our declining ratings, not to mention the new competition we are getting from the newly-launched news cable network, Al Jazeera America.”

Business, Film and TV

CNN TO ACQUIRE ENTERTAINMENT CHANNEL

August 23, 2013 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Atlanta, Georgia – Cable News Network (CNN) has announced that it is acquiring the E (Entertainment) Channel and that it is transitioning out of its normal news content. The announcement came just days after Al Jazeera America debuted on U.S. television sets beginning Tuesday this week. CNN was apparently threatened by the Qatar-owned international news network that boasts of news bureaus around the world, from the Philippines to South Africa. Al Jazeera America promised news programming that is less sensational, less opinionated, more in-depth and more accurate.

CNN’s top officials acknowledged that the network cannot compete with the resources and talent that is being brought into the American market by Al Jazeera television. Additionally ratings after ratings show that the number of CNN viewers in the U.S. have declined over the years, claiming only half the viewership of FOX News which maintains its lead over all the other cable news networks. CNN is second in ratings, followed by Headline News (HLN) and MSNBC.

On the other hand, CNN has found its niche in entertainment television, as shown by its recent coverage of the George Zimmerman trial and the wait for the arrival of England’s Royal baby. The network’s ratings also went up each time it covered celebrity gossips — from Lindsay Lohan to Justin Bieber. CNN also admitted that its political pundits and so-called experts are getting a bit old and tired of doing the same thing, 24 hours a day.

By purchasing the E Channel, CNN expects to recover from its financial losses and gain monopoly of big-time advertisers that usually support Hollywood-type content. CNN is also expected to eventually phase out its sister network, HLN.

Business, Travel

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES LAUNCHES WORLD’S FIRST OPEN-DECK PASSENGER AIRCRAFT

August 19, 2013 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Manila, Philippines – The world has seen the launch of the Airbus A380 super-jumbo, currently the largest passenger aircraft to fly commercially. Other airlines have introduced on- board showers, full-sized beds and on-board chefs in their first-class sections. Budget airlines have not lagged behind in providing perks to their loyal customers — from pure leather seats to free wi-fi.

But nothing beats the ingenuity of the Filipinos. As the Philippine Tourism Department’s mantra says, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.” And shall we say, inexpensive.

Philippine Airlines today started flying its newest passenger aircraft to service low-income citizens who cannot afford the cost of air travel and yet have to use a faster mode of transportation to move their produce — especially fresh farm fruits and vegetables — from the countryside to the urban centers. The new aircraft’s inaugural route is between La Trinidad Valley District Airport and the Ninoy Aquino Domestic Airport in Manila. La Trinidad, just a few miles north of Baguio City, the Philippine summer capital, produces the best and most abundant fruits and vegetables in the country, earning for itself the name, “Salad Bowl of the Philippines.”

For just four hundred pesos — about ten U.S. dollars — farmers can ride on the open deck built on top of the aircraft, along with their agricultural produce not exceeding 10 kilos (22 pounds) per passenger. The only downside to what Philippine Airlines is calling the “deck class” is that there is no beverage service available. Asked by The Adobo Chronicles whether or not there is a lavatory on the open deck, a PAL spokesperson replied, “We don’t think anyone needs it up there.”

The new open-deck aircraft is expected to serve other airports in the Visayas and Mindanao islands within the next year or so.