Turkey still tweets despite Twitter ban
NEW YORK » Not long after Turkey’s prime minister imposed a ban on Twitter, Internet users in Turkey went on what else? Twitter to find ways to circumvent the blockade. Twitter Inc. and Turkish news media also shared some tips, as did Turkish residents through low-tech means such as graffiti and street posters.
The response to the ban shows why it’s difficult for governments to control the Internet. China and other countries notorious for censoring content have routinely faced efforts by citizens determined to bypass their controls. And in Turkey, people were still tweeting Friday.
Shrimp costs put Red Lobster in hot water
ORLANDO, Fla. » A spike in shrimp costs is causing trouble for Red Lobster.
Parent company Darden has been fighting for some time to win back customers at its Olive Garden and Red Lobster chains as more affordable alternatives such as Chipotle have gained in popularity.
But in recent months higher shrimp costs have become another factor weighing on Red Lobster. Chief Financial Officer Brad Richmond says the company is facing a $30 million increase in shrimp costs on an annual basis.
The Orlando-based company Friday reported a lower quarterly profit due to weak sales at its Olive Garden and Red Lobster chains. Darden has said it will spin off or sell Red Lobster to focus its attention on fixing Olive Garden.
E-Trade’s talking baby goes bye-bye
NEW YORK » The E-Trade baby will finally stop talking.
In the investor site’s new ad, the baby is upstaged by a cat named Beanie who sings. The tot quits in disgust at the end of the ad. E-Trade confirmed it is retiring the baby and will go in a different direction with its next ads.
The company began its talking baby campaign in 2008 during the Super Bowl, at a time when online investing was not as common. Having a talking baby trade stocks was a way to show people that E-Trade’s investing services were so simple even a baby could make money trading stock on the site.
Families in crash that killed 2 girls sue GM
DETROIT » The families of three teenagers killed or injured in a 2006 Wisconsin car crash are suing General Motors, alleging that the company was negligent in designing its small cars and committed fraud by not disclosing facts about the defects.
Natasha Weigel, 18, and Amy Rademaker, 15, died after the October 2006 crash involving a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt compact car with a faulty ignition switch. The car’s driver, Megan Phillips, suffered permanent brain damage, according to a statement from the families’ law firm.
GM failed to warn the teens of a dangerous defect and misrepresented the car’s safety, said lawyer Robert Hilliard in a statement. The firm said the lawsuit was filed Friday in Hennepin County, Minn., where the car was purchased.
The crash was among the first blamed on the faulty ignition switches. Last month GM recalled 1.6 million Cobalts and other small cars worldwide to replace the switches. The company has admitted knowing about the problem for at least 11 years before taking the action.
Mt. Gox finds 200,000 missing bitcoins
Bankrupt bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox said it found 200,000 bitcoins, which were previously thought stolen, in disused electronic wallets. The Tokyo-based company said in a statement posted on its website Thursday that the bitcoins were identified March 7 after "old format" wallets were searched as part of its bankruptcy proceedings.
The online exchange for the virtual currency was unplugged in late February as rumors of its insolvency swirled, adding to doubts about the viability of bitcoins overall. It then filed for bankruptcy protection in Tokyo and said nearly all its 850,000 bitcoins were missing, most likely as a result of theft.
At current prices the rediscovered bitcoins have a market value of about $120 million.
Court upholds 21-cent cap on swipe fees’
A Federal Reserve rule allowing banks to charge retailers 21 cents to process debit-card transactions has been upheld by a federal appeals panel, a blow to big merchants such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Corp.
A lower court judge invalidated the fee cap in July, ruling that the Fed’s formula included costs that weren’t allowed under the Dodd-Frank regulatory reforms that Congress passed after the financial crisis. But in a ruling Friday for a three-judge panel, Judge David Tatel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington said the central bank’s rules "generally rest on reasonable constructions of the statute."
Hawaiian Airlines warns of phone scam
Hawaiian Airlines is alerting all credit card holders, HawaiianMiles and Hawaiian Airlines Federal Credit Union members of a computer-generated phone scam targeting customers. These calls begin by stating that the victim’s account has been locked and must be reactivated by pressing "0" for more details. They then ask for the person to enter more detailed personal information about their account.
Hawaiian Airlines said it will never contact customers and request personal information over the phone, including account numbers, passwords and PINs. The airline said that if a customer receives a call, do not reply and hang up.
ON THE MOVE
The Queen’s Medical Center has appointed Celeste Mausolf director of cardiovascular disease. She previously served as executive director of cardiovascular service line at Hawaii Pacific Health from 2010.
Four Seasons Resorts Lanai has appointed Sylvain Haage executive pastry chef for Manele Bay and the Lodge at Koele. His experience includes serving as executive pastry chef at Five Diamond Grand Del Mar in California and pastry chef at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego.
The Plaza Assisted Living has named Anthony Buhain director of marketing and branding. Buhain has 13 years of marketing experience in a variety of industries, including serving as a corporate development and marketing manager for Hawaii State FCU.
