Category Archives: Business

Business

IHOP SUES TACO BELL OVER “WAFFLE TACO”

Leave a comment

imageGlendale, California –  The International House of Pancakes  (IHOP), the U.S.-based restaurant chain specializing in breakfast foods, is suing Taco Bell over the latter’s new offering – the waffle taco.

IHOP, established in 1958, is suing the Irvine, California-headquartered Taco Bell for unfair business practices. “By using waffles –  a regular breakfast fair at IHOP restaurants – in its new offering, Taco Bell is not only imitating our popular and best-selling menu item, but is threatening to cut into our profits,” a spokesperson for IHOP told reporters and food bloggers.image

“I mean, come on,” the spokesperson said, “they’re called Taco Bell for a reason.  They should just stick to tacos.”

imageTaco Bell, founded in 1962, has been facing some financial challenges in recent years, forcing it to join forces with Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and other fastfood chains just to survive.  “Our waffle taco might just put us over the top. We need something to boost our business,” said an executive from Taco Bell who chose to remain anonymous. He did not comment on the lawsuit.

The new waffle taco is set to debut at selected Taco Bell restaurants this Thursday.

Business

AMAZON TO OFFER FREE SHIPPING FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Leave a comment
Graphic credit: Gawker's Jim Cooke
Graphic credit: Gawker’s Jim Cooke

Seattle, Washington – Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has purchased The Washington Post from the Graham family for a bargain price of $250 million.  The shocking news came just days after Boston Red Sox owner John Henry announced the purchase of The Boston Globe from The New York Times Company for a give-away $70 million.  The Post and The Globe have joined the string of newspaper companies being sold , a sign of times-a-changing.  More and more print newspapers are going under, thanks to the stiff competition from the Internet and declining revenues from print ads.

But there is good news for loyal consumers of newsprint, specifically The Post.  Amazon has just announced that as part of the restructuring of the business side of the newspaper, subscribers will receive free shipping if they sign up for subscription on the Amazon.com site, regardless of where — in the world –  they want their paper to be delivered. Additionally, Bezos said that consumers who buy $10 worth of any goods sold by Amazon will get a free one year’s subscription to The Post.

The Adobo Chronicles also learned that as part of the its new business strategy, Amazon will use old copies of The Post to wrap Amazon products for shipping. “It’s a win-win for everybody. Consumers will even be able to read old news,” Bezos said.

Business, International, Religion

VATICAN ENLISTS EBAY TO AUCTION OFF PAPAL ITEMS

1 Comment

popes-prada-shoesVatican City – The Vatican is enlisting the services of eBay, the Silicon Valley internet auction giant, to dispose of valuable items that Pope Francis has decided won’t have anything to do with his reign as head of the 1.2 Billion-strong Catholic Church. Since being elected pope on March 13, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio has surprised the Vatican Curia with sweeping changes that have signaled a more simple, less materialistic papacy.

Ebay is finalizing the design of a special “Vatican Store” which company executives said will make its public debut on September 1st.  Ebay is reportedly providing the Vatican with the auction service pro bono, on the condition that Pope Francis absolve the company of all its past unfair business practices.   The Vatican has said that proceeds from the auction will be used to set up a special fund to pay for legal costs in the increasing number of criminal and civil lawsuits the Catholic Church is facing in connection cases of sexual abuse by priests worldwide.

Ebay released the following initial list of papal  items to be auctioned off by the Vatican:ringFisherman's ring seen on Pope Benedict XVI's hand

  • Popemobile
  • Pure Gold “Fisherman’s Ring” (Pope Francis has chosen to wear a gold-plated silver ring)
  • Red Prada Shoes (Pope Francis is keeping his old black shoes)
  • Papal Red Cape (Pope Francis has chosen to wear a simple white cassock)
  • Pure Gold Pectoral Cross (Pope Francis insists on keeping the iron-plated pectoral cross he used as archbishop)

The Vatican is also considering renting out the papal room at the Apostolic Palace which overlooks St. Peter’s Square  (Palazzo Apostolico) to tourists since Pope Francis has opted to live in the Vatican guest house, along with other priests and bishops.