No smoke without fire
Dave learns about the business benefits of packing in the ciggies, while Larry Ellison and Apple users are feeling flush
Contrary to what Her Indoors seems to believe, I don't need reminding of the health and financial benefits quitting smoking would bring. But I've discovered that kicking the evil weed could also be good for business.
Distributor EntaTech has jumped on the seemingly unstoppable anti-smoking bandwagon by signing up as a distribution partner for E-Lites electronic cigarettes. According to the marketing bumpf, the faux fags "look, taste and feel just like smoking" (I'd politely dispute the "look" part. And I'm not prepared to allow myself to be proved wrong on the "taste"' and "feel" bits.)
EntaTech retail product manager Paul Oliver said: "E-Lites are available at an excellent price which enables us to offer fantastic margin opportunities to our resellers."
Maybe so. But I can't remember the last time any of my sales goons went into a customer meeting without carrying with them the reassuring musk of Old Spice and B&H. Which might make something of a mockery of their pitch.
Rainbow woe for Oreo
Hats are to be tipped this week to inexplicably popular cookie maker Oreo for being prepared to lose a few customers by throwing its weight behind a righteous cause.
To celebrate LGBT Pride Month, and the raft of gay pride events that have gone on worldwide, the US biscuit outfit posted a picture on its Facebook page of a bumper version of one of its treats with seven layers of icing in the colours of the rainbow flag and a message saying: "Proudly support love!"
Seems fair enough. But, predictably, a number of internetters voiced their vexation. A particularly angry user, who cited among his interests "Sarah Palin" and "I love
Jesus", was one of many to publicly swear off the cookies.
Another seemed to inadvertently back the equality movement by saying: "I don't have a problem with gays... I don't believe they should have any special rights though." Shortly before going on a tirade about how they should "stop trying to change the foundation that this great nation was founded upon". (I presume he's talking about immigration).
One irate chap lamented that he didn't want "more homosexuality shoved down our throats". I think if it involves an Oreo with seven layers of icing in the middle, most Americans would be more than happy to have homosexuality crammed into their collective gob.
No man is an island
It emerged recently that, in a typically low-key move, surprisingly youthful-looking Oracle bigwig Larry Ellison has agreed a deal to buy a Hawaiian island.
The purchase of Lanai (which we assume must be part of his ‘How To Be A Billionaire 101' coursework) will reportedly cost the software supremo $500m to $600m. Once known as the pineapple island, after it was bought and cultivated by fruit magnate James Dole, Lanai now houses several
high-end resorts.
Generally less well-heeled than the visiting tourists are the 3,200 residents, who, says the AP, are hoping Ellison takes care to protect jobs, ensure affordable housing and rein in bureaucracy on hunting and fishing rights.
I'm sure Ellison will take this under advisement. And, what's more, I imagine the islandfolk of Lanai can also wangle a cracking discount on their next Exadata refresh.
Appy holidays
I was more than a little shocked this week to discover data suggesting that Mac users are a la-di-da lot with more money than sense.
According to stats from travel site Oribtz cited by the WSJ, Mac users spent, on average, $20 to $30 a night more on their holiday accommodation than the Windows proletariat. Apple fanboys and girls are also 40 per cent more likely than Microsoft aficionados to book a four- or five-star hotel. Apparently.
I must admit this rings true for me. I've been using Windows for more than 20 years, and I thoroughly resent splashing out on any breaks more expensive than a long weekend in Dungeness.