STARBUCKS TO PURCHASE ALL ABC STORES IN WAIKIKI

January 4, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

Honolulu, Hawaii – Waikiki residents and frequent visitors alike were taken by surprise at the announcement that the International Market Place has permanently closed as of January 1, 2014. It is considered the last hold-out among open-air, under-the- banyan-tree places that defined this top-rated tourist destination in Hawaii. It featured small businesses in wooden stalls selling wares from t-shirts, to pearl jewelry to ukuleles. It was a “people’s park” in a sense, where ordinary people shop for inexpensive souvenirs and partake of diverse fast-food menus at its food court. In its place, Saks Fifth Avenue will build a new several storey department store.

Well, it appears this is just the tip of the iceberg. Starbucks has just announced that it is purchasing all of the ABC stores in Waikiki – that means two or three in every block or corner of Waikiki’s major thoroughfares like Kuhio and Kalakaua Avenues. Effective February 1, 2014, all ABC Stores will become Starbucks Coffee Shops. Starbucks has , however, assured everyone that it will add Kona coffee to its regular menu to keep the Aloha spirit in their business. It will also offer spam sushi as part of its breakfast menu, as well as macadamia nuts for its snacks. In place of its iced coffees, Starbucks will offer shaved ice coffees.

Business, International, Law Enforcement, Politics, Technology

GOOGLE TRYING TO COURT FUGITIVE EDWARD SNOWDEN

January 3, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

Mountain View, California – Will 2014 prove to be a banner year for American fugitive Edward Snowden? Mr. Snowden is now living in Russia, on the run from American charges of espionage and theft relating the National Security Agency top secret leaks.

First, The New York Times Editorial Board published an op-ed piece calling for an offer of clemency or plea bargain for Mr. Snowden, considering the value of his leaks and the N.S.A. abuse he has exposed.

Now, the country’s premier tech company Google is reportedly in secret negotiations with Snowden, offering him a hefty-paying position in Mountain View upon his return to the U.S.

The Adobo Chronicles has learned that Google has hit a snag and plateau in terms of the marketing of its much-ballyhooed product, the Google Glass. “Obviously, we needed a recognizable and controversial face to model our product, and what could be a better choice than Snowden,” said Google CEO Larry Page. “He’s also easy on the eyes, and the Google Glass fits perfectly on the well-defined contours of his face,” Page added.

Analysts, however, suspect that having Mr. Snowden be the model for the Google Glass is just a front, and that Google’s real intention is to make Snowden the chief of its Internet Surveillance Department which would monitor any secret or unauthorized intrusion by the N.S.A. into Google’s data system.

Business, Technology

NEW YEAR, NEW START-UP

January 2, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

Campbell, California – Google, be afraid. Be very afraid. The beginning of a new year signals the start of new things: new laws, new trends, new start-ups.

In an obscure garage right on the border of San Jose and Campbell, a new, fun, tech company has made its debut as of January 1. A brainchild of two former Apple employees, Giggle made its initial bow, promising to stage a “David vs. Goliath” challenge to the Silicon Valley’s most successful tech company, Google.

Giggle’s maiden product is called iDream, a smart phone-activated eye mask, similar to those being handed out in the first-class sections of commercial airlines. It syncs with the smart phone, using an amazing app that lets the user experience his or her favorite television or movie character, and be that character for as long as the mask is in place. For example, one can be Mary Poppins or Spiderman or even Godzilla. Unlike real-life dreams, the iDream experience does not end abruptly. Rather, it ends only when the user decides to take the mask off.

The young inventors (and investors) hope to have their initial product in the market by February 14. Many tech analysts are saying that the iDream is by far the biggest threat to the Google Glass.

A television commercial introducing the iDream is set to begin airing in a few weeks, featuring Ann Hathaway reprising her tear and saliva-filled rendition of the song “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Misérables.