“This train had already left the station, with just a few passengers on board, at some 50 miles-perhour. By 2020 and the pandemic, that train had
E-commerce is no longer the domain of younger generations
Wednesday, August 31 - September 6, 2022 - // no. 175 www.theweeklyjournal.comPuerto Rico and the Caribbean GO TO PAGE 4 T-Mobile To use saTelliTes To end dead zones P6 PafindiscriPoTenTialMinaTionTheWorkPlaceTerTheandeMic P7 us Treasury seeks liMiTs for The cryPTo indusTry P9 dishes for sharing aT soga resT. P15 The Profile of PuerToonlinerico’s consuMer
Juan A. Hernández, The Weekly Journal Despite general belief, it is not the younger consumer the one making greater and more frequent use of digital retail platforms. As a matter of fact, a recent study about the preferences of the digital consumer in Puerto Rico revealed that people between 35 and 64 years of age account for 70% of the consumers/users of these platforms, while people between 18 and 34 represent only 18% of that universe.
Two years of pandemic pushed the world’s economy further into the digital era more than any technological advance had done before. Puerto Rico was no exception. But like with many other developments, there is much myth surrounding the conditions that follow, and interpretations abound on how Puerto Rico’s cyber ecosystem has evolve in the late stages of the pandemic.
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40GB de Hotspot móvil al mes Wi-Fi INCLUIDO para streaming en vuelos Hasta en 4 vuelos completos al año con ciertos planes.
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Precio requiere oferta de Tercera Linea Gratis, vía créditos a tu factura. Clientes nuevos que activen dos líneas de voz elegibles pueden obtener otra línea gratis en el plan familiar. Clientes existentes con una sola línea de voz en un plan elegible pueden añadir dos líneas nuevas de voz por el precio de una. Activa hasta 4K UHD de streaming en un equipo con capacidad, o el streaming de video en el equipo típicamente será a 480p. Hasta 40GB de enlace de alta velocidad, luego ilimitado en nuestra red a velocidad máx. de 3G. Internet y textos ILIMITADOS En 215+ destinos con 5G incluido Sujeto a disponibilidad de cobertura 5G. Velocidades estándar de aproximadamente 256 Kbps. Un año POR LA CASA INTERNET ILIMITADO QUE NO PUEDE REDUCIRTE LA VELOCIDAD basado en cuanta data uses en tu Smartphone con Magenta® Max.
Oferta de Magenta® Max de 4 líneas por $43 al mes con AutoPago: Requiere Oferta de Tercera Línea Gratis. Vía créditos mensuales a tu factura. Oferta por tiempo limitado, sujeta a cambios. Válida hasta el 5 de septiembre de 2022. Requiere crédito elegible y servicio en plan Magenta Max elegible. Si has cancelado líneas de voz en los pasados 90 días, deberás de reactivarlas primero. Créditos pueden tomar hasta 2 ciclos de facturación; pueden detenerse si cancelas cualquiera de las líneas o si cambias de plan. Límite de 1 oferta por cuenta. No puede combinarse con otras ofertas o descuentos. Oferta requiere activar 4 líneas en plan Magenta Max con la Oferta de Tercera Línea Gratis. Precio de líneas Magenta Max: línea 1: $85; línea 2: $55; línea 3: $30; línea 4: $30. Precio regular de 4 líneas: $200. Precio especial de 4 líneas con la tercera línea gratis es $200 - $30 = $170, para un precio por línea de $43 al mes con AutoPago. Términos Generales Magenta Max: Req. aprobación de crédito, depósito, kit básico con tarjeta SIM de $10 y, en tiendas o llamadas de servicio al cliente, un Cargo por Servicio de Asistencia de $35. Las asignaciones de data para roaming en EE.UU. y dentro de la red varían; se incluyen 200MB para roaming. Las funciones de llamadas y textos ilimitados solo son para la comunicación directa entre dos personas; otros servicios (por ejemplo, redes de conferencias, líneas de chat, etc.) podrían tener un costo adicional. Data de alta velocidad ilimitada solo en los Estados Unidos; en Canadá o México, hasta 5GB de data de alta velocidad, luego ilimitada en nuestra red hasta 256Kbps. No está disponible para Hotspots ni ciertos otros equipos de data. Se requiere equipo con capacidad para ciertas funciones. Activación requerida para streaming de video a velocidades que provean capacidad de Ultra HD Video (máx. 4K); algunos proveedores de contenido puede que no provean sus servicios de streaming en UHD. Puede afectar la velocidad en la descarga de videos; no aplica a uploads de videos. Netflix: Oferta sujeta a cambios. Recibes Netflix Básico (1 pantalla, un valor de hasta $9.99/mes) mientras mantengas 1 línea de Magenta Max elegible al corriente o recibes Netflix Estándar (2 pantallas, un valor de hasta $15.49/mes) mientras mantengas 2 líneas o más de Magenta Max elegible al corriente. Valor (hasta $9.99 o $15.49/mes) puede ser aplicado a otros planes de Netflix. Se requiere cuenta de Netflix y equipo compatible. Se puede aplicar un valor a los diferentes planes de streaming de Netflix. No se puede canjear por dinero en efectivo; no se puede intercambiar por suscripciones de regalo de Netflix. Cancela Netflix en cualquier momento. Se aplican Términos de uso de Netflix: www.netflix.com/termsofuse. 1 oferta por cuenta de T-Mobile; puede demorar 1 a 2 ciclos de facturación. Ver t-mobile.com/Netflix para información adicional. Como en todos los planes, las características pueden variar o suspenderse en cualquier momento; consulta los Términos y condiciones de T-Mobile en t-mobile.com. Oferta de ViX+: Oferta por tiempo limitado, sujeta a cambios. Válida hasta 5 de septiembre de 2022. Regístrate para recibir el código y canjéalo dentro de los 30 días. Requiere servicio elegible y cuenta nueva de ViX+. Máx. 1 código/cuenta. Rigen los Términos de uso y la Política de privacidad de ViX. Enlace: 40GB de data de alta velocidad, luego ilimitada en nuestra red a velocidades máx. de 3G. Para la pequeña fracción de clientes que usen >50GB/mes, el uso primario de data debe ser en un smartphone o tableta. El uso para smartphones y tabletas tiene prioridad sobre el servicio de Mobile Hotspot (enlace), lo cual puede resultar en velocidades mayores cuando la data se usa en smartphones o tabletas. Precios de AutoPago: solo para las líneas 1-8; sin AutoPago, $5 más por línea. Es posible que no esté reflejado en la 1ra factura. Roaming Internacional: Uso gravable en ciertos países. Las llamadas por Wi-Fi desde países Simple Global™ cuestan $0.25/min. (sin cargo para llamadas Wi-Fi a EE.UU., México o Canadá). Velocidad estándar de aproximadamente 256Kbps. No es para uso internacional extendido; debes residir en los Estados Unidos y tu uso primario debe ocurrir en nuestra red. Equipo debe registrarse en nuestra red antes de usarse internacionalmente. El servicio puede ser cancelado o restringido por uso excesivo de roaming. Cobertura no disponible en algunas áreas; no somos responsables por las redes de nuestros socios. Scam Shield: requiere equipo capacitado. Activar Scam Block puede bloquear llamadas que no desees bloquear. Puedes desactivar en cualquier momento. Gogo: en aerolíneas con base en EE.UU.; la mensajería requiere funcionalidad de Llamadas Wi-Fi, dirección e911 válida y 1 llamada Wi-Fi previa con la tarjeta SIM actual. Wi-Fi incluido para streaming en vuelos con las aerolíneas American Airlines, Delta Airlines y Alaska Airlines. Hasta en 4 vuelos completos al año con ciertos planes. Llamadas internacionales desde EE.UU.: las llamadas deben originarse en la red T-Mobile® de Estados Unidos, o en Canadá o México. Tanto las tarifas como los países incluidos varían y podrían cambiar. Control de la red: el servicio puede ponerse lento, suspenderse, cancelarse o restringirse por mal uso, uso anormal, interferencia con nuestra red, o con nuestra capacidad para brindar un servicio de calidad a otros usuarios, o por uso inmoderado de roaming. Uso en el equipo tiene mayor prioridad que el uso mediante enlace, lo cual puede resultar en velocidades mayores para la data usada en el equipo. Sujeto a los Términos y Condiciones (incluyendo cláusula de arbitraje) de T-Mobile disponibles en www.t-mobilepr.com. T-Mobile, el logotipo de la T, Magenta y el color magenta son marcas comerciales registradas federalmente de Deutsche Telekom AG. ©2022 T-Mobile Puerto Rico, LLC.
MÁS BENEFICIOS SIN PAGAR MÁS
2 202231,AugustWednesday,>JournalWeeklyThe >
De la Cruz advertising agency is celebrating 37 years in business. Affiliated to multinational Ogilvy agency, De La Cruz celebrates more than three decades of vision, innovation and evolution in the communications, marketing and advertising industry, coinciding with their first Gold Lion, won at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The award was in the Mobile category (Mobile Technology/mCommerce) for the digital tool developed by De la Cruz and SuperMax Supermarkets called “The Eye Tracker.” The idea also garnered two Bronze Lions in the Creative Commerce (User Experience) and Mobile Website categories. De la Cruz was also a finalist in the Brand Experience and Activation, Direct and Media categories, for a total of seven shortlists. The idea was selected as one of the ten best ideas of LATAM for 2022. As a result of these achievements, de la Cruz is now ranked in the “top 25” of all agencies in Latin America.
Multi-Platform Graphic and Technology Director Héctor L. hvazquez@elvocero.comVázquez Multi-PlataformDigitalDirector Rafelli González rgonzalez@elvocero.comCotto
gusTos Coffee To hosT naTionaL aeropress Championship Gustos Coffee Company and Academia de Café invite baristas to participate in the National Aeropress Championship of Puerto Rico. The event, designed for baristas, fans and lovers of coffee, will celebrate 30 years this October at Vivo Beach Club in Isla Verde. The winner will travel to Vancouver, Canada in December 2022 to represent Puerto Rico at the global championship, which in 2018 had an audience of over 68,000 spectators and more than 3,000 competitors. For this year’s tournament, competitors will have five minutes to prepare, filter, and present their coffee and creativity, which will then be evaluated by the judges in a blind taste test. Those who do not make the judges’ selection will be eliminated, leaving just a few to make it to the final round.
VP of Editorial Content Juan Miguel Muñiz jmuniz@elvocero.comGuzmán
The Nissan Versa stood out in this study because its design, fuel economy (up to 40 mpg on the highway), driverassist technology and its one of a kind system called Nissan Safety Shield 360.
Vp of Marketing and Business Operations Michelle Miperez@elvocero.comPérez
Customer Service: 787-622-7480
VP of Production Eligio edekony@elvocero.comDekony
Powered BY El Vocero de Puerto Rico, 1064 Ave Ponce de León 2nd floor San Juan, PR Postal Address: PO Box 15074, San Juan, PR 00902 Phone: 787-622-2300, 787-721-2300
/ Wednesday, August 31, 2022 3
The Murano’s appeal was based on its elegant exterior design and a 3.5-liter V6 engine, which generates 260 horsepower.
The Aeropress is a device used to prepare coffee using the pressure exerted by the barista when pressing water through a filter inside the device. a week in review
Three Lions for De La Cruz’ anniversaryvery appeaLing nissans
The Nissan Versa sedan and the Nissan Murano crossover were voted the “most attractive” cars according to J.D. Power’s 2022 US Automotive Performance Execution and Layout (APEAL) study.
The consumer research and analytics company study examines new vehicle owners’ emotional attachment and enthusiasm for their car based on 37 attributes including powertrain, entertainment system, driving comfort, among others. For the third consecutive year, the Nissan Versa ranked first in this study among the compact sedan segment, while the Murano ranked number one as a driver-friendly midsize crossover, for the first time.
President Salvador shasbun@elvocero.comHasbún
VP of Accounting Félix A. frosa@elvocero.comRosa
Human Resources Director Arlene Rolón, arolon@elvocero.comPHR
The fact is that 70% of digital platform consumers have kept or increase their online purchases…
Regarding their platforms of choice, 41% of consumers prefer those using the mail, while only 18% said they prefer to pick-up their merchandise or have it delivered in person. The remaining 41% said they used both methods.
Consumers’ online behavior
In fact,
Esteban Colón Franco, Econo Supermarkets
Navigating the websites
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 accelerated to 200 miles, and while many had managed to catch it, others figured that, once the pandemic is over, the train would slow down to 50 miles again,” said Esteban Colón Franco, from Econo Supermarkets. “The fact is that 70% of digital platform consumers have kept or increase their online purchases, and 81% anticipate they will spend more.”
Questioned about how much of their monthly alcohol purchases they buy online and/or at a store, 56% said they make their purchases in stores vis-a-vis 44% who said they did it online. A difference of 12 percentage points. A similar behavior could be observed for household products, with 52% of total purchases being done at stores, and 48% online, for a 4% difference. Only in the section of unprepared food did digital consumers buy more online (53%) than in stores (47%).
“The message consumers are sending through their answers in this area is that they found a way to save and they are doing it abroad, elsewhere,” said Yadmin Vargas, from Selectos Supermarkets, who gave a “heads-up” to local retailers when planning their next steps in terms of product availability and pricing.
optingConsumersforthe mail-in platforms justified their use citing a greater variety in merchandise (55%) and better prices (50%).
To address the issue, from the food retail industry perspective, Puerto Rico’s Marketing, Industry and Food Distribution Chamber (MIDA, for its Spanish acronym) recently published its first Radiography of the online Consumer, a profile of the consumer/user of digital platforms for buying products and services.
MIDA rated consumers’ preference for platforms selling unprepared food in terms of them having visited a specific provider at least once. Islandwide, digital consumers expressed a preference for Supermax Online (39%), Sam’s Club (38%), Econo ToGo (33%), and Selectos EasyShop (21%). Those same platforms were the most visited during the four weeks prior to the study (May 18 to 31st, 2022), with Sam’s Club and Econo ToGo topping the list with 23% and 18%, respectively.
Aside from the demographic profile of these consumers, MIDA’s radiography shows how the consumer behaves online, what products and services he/she buys and how frequently, and how much they spend. The radiography of these consumers revealed that 53% of them buy their unprepared food online.The study, comprising of 650 interviews done through a computer assisted computer interviewing (CACI) system, reveals that, while connected (digital) consumers are committed to buying products and services through the internet, they still shop for specific products at brick-and-mortar stores, specifically alcohol.
/ Wednesday, August 31, 20224
Both kinds of consumers (mail and delivery/ pick-up) cited “convenience” as the main reason for preferring their specific digital alternative. But in the case of consumers opting for the mail-in platforms, they justified their use citing a greater variety in merchandise (55%) and better prices (50%). Consumers preferring delivery/pick-up said these platforms honor the prices published in their shoppers. The groups also coincided on the “low cost” of their respective delivery methods.
Nevertheless, online consumers seem unfazed by the prospect.
“Nevertheless, the findings do suggest more of a level of brand awareness than brand loyalty,” said.
The inflation factor
Recommendations The Online Consumer’s Radiography report ends with a series of recommendations to retailers and distributors to increase their online business. Among these, the development of efficient search engines, specialized sections (i.e. organics, keto, vegan, etc.), avoiding out of stock messages and a purchase history section.
Yadmin Vargas, Selectos Supermarkets
The majority of both kinds of digital consumers said they go directly for the products the platform has on sale. Consumers also prefer to look for their products by category and availability before resorting to the search engine to look for specific brands.
According to MIDA’s Radiography of the Online Consumer, while most consumers will checkout and pay immediately after selecting their products, 24% of delivery costumers, and 37% of mail costumers would be filling their shopping carts throughout the month, until they have the money to checkout and pay. Still, a majority of these consumers (51%) would continue to buy online products and services as they have been doing it, despite inflation and the increasing costs of services. Others (28%) said they would continue to buy online, but would reduce their purchases. Only 2% of those surveyed said they would continue buying online and increase their purchases.“79%ofconsumers will continue to buy online, maybe a little less –as it has happened with brickand-mortar stores– yes. But that does not mean they are going stop using these kind of platforms,” Colón said.
Regarding how much do digital consumers spend monthly buying unprepared food online, about two thirds of both mail and delivery platform users said they spend $51, or more.
Interestingly, while this finding might suggest some type of brand loyalty, findings in the previously published Consumer’s Radiography –which surveyed consumers buying in brick-andmortar stores– point in the opposite direction. According to that study, 69% of the consumers surveyed (1,350) said they changed for a less expensive brand when a product increased its price, and 13% simply stop buying the Similarly,product.whenthe product is out of stock, the majority of consumers (51%) switch for the less expensive brands, while 32% of them said they don’t buy the product. The digital consumer on his part, either looks for a similar product within the same platform, or searches for the same product on another platform.
Yadmin Vargas, from Selectos Supermarkets, explained the neither radiographies sought to determine which brands consumers preferred.
Even though inflation has shown signs of slowing down in recent weeks, the fact is the Federal Reserve Bank (FED) and most economists anticipate it will continue its upward spiral, albeit at a slower rate, until early next year.
A majority of these consumers (51%) would continue to buy productsonlineand services as they have been doing it, despite inflation and the increasing costs of services. In fact, The message consumers are sending through their answers is that they found a way to save and they are doing it abroad, elsewhere.”
“When we look at all areas of the sample [of digital consumers] –demographics, income, region…–the results of the study are very similar to those of the Consumer’s Radiography. This confirms a low margin of error and a high confidence level for this study,” said Luis Defendini from Tres Monjitas Dairy.
/ Wednesday, August 31, 2022 5
Low orbit satellites will be used to beam down connectivity cellphones
“It’s not a substitute for ground cell stations,” Musk explained. “This is really meant to provide basic coverage to areas that are currently completely dead.” As far as pricing is concerned Sievert stated that he expects to include the satellite-enabled software for its most popular plans for free.
Sievert explained that they will harness SpaceX’s constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to beam down connectivity that T-Mobile users can tap into with their cellphones. In layman terms, this means that “if you have a clear view of the sky, you will now be connected on your mobile phone. This means an end to dead zones.”
Mike Sievert, CEO T-Mobile
/ Wednesday, August 31, 20226
The two CEO’s made it clear the program is envisioned as a global initiative and are extending an “open invitation” to carriers around the world, with T-Mobile promising that it will offer “reciprocal roaming” to other wireless providers who join in.
“I hope the public understands the magnitude of this announcement,” Musk said as he greeted the crowd. “This is a really massive game changer.”
Sievert explained, if a foreign carrier can find suitable spectrum in their country to participate in a roaming alliance, their customers could stay connected wherever they travel in the U.S., in return for giving U.S. customers the same capability in their country.According to Musk, the service will be capable of providing “maybe two to four megabits” of capacity, which translates to simultaneous1,000-2,000voicecalls or hundreds of thousands of text messages in what is now considered dead zones.
In fact, If you have a clear view of the sky, you will now be connected on your mobile phone. This means an end to dead zones.
Madison Choudhry, Special to The Weekly Journal
However, Musk made sure to emphasized that the signal would be spread over a very large area and should not be thought of as a typical cell phone plan.
Mike Sievert (T-Mobile) and Elon Musk (SpaceX) during Starbase event.
T Mobile CEO Mike Sievert recently announced the company will partner with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to use its satellites to provide mobile network coverage to users in remote areas and bring an end to dead zones. The announcement took place during an event held in Starbase, Texas, and broadcasted across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Both Sievert and Musk were present at the event.
“What I believe is really profound about what we are announcing today is that it will save lives,” Musk said. As for potential hurdles Musk said “we are constrained by regulatory approval,” but from a technical standpoint, its direct-tocellphone service would work even with just a handful of Starlink satellites in orbit with large enough antennas. “We have it working in the lab and we’re confident this will work in the field,” Musk assured.
The beta testing is set to begin as early as next year. Initially, it will be limited to text messaging, though voice calling and data support will be a goal in the future.“Inorder to make this work you have to have, as you might expect, a very ‘big ear’ as we call it, or big antennas and powerful antennas at that. You also need a very large satellite but that is exactly what we have with the gen 2 satellite,” Musk explained. Other carriers could opt in Carriers like T-Mobile generally use cell towers to provide network service to cellphones, meaning the technology of linking satellites for mobile network coverage is entirely new.
In addition, for the low-cost plans that may not include the service, he state “our aspiration is to charge a monthly service fee that will be far less than the monthly service fees charged by today’s satellite connectivity services.”
The program is envisioned as a global initiative and are extending an “open invitation” to carriers around the world.
T-Mobile and SpaceX form an alliance to bring an end to dead zones
Keith E. Sonderling, EEO Commissioner
Nationwide Issues
/ Wednesday, August 31, 2022 7
In Puerto Rico last year, the EEOC received 200 charges of discrimination against Puerto Rico employers. The island differs from the US in the type and frequency of the most common claims. The most common claim on the island is for disability discrimination, followed by age discrimination (which, for reference, is the sixth most common in the US), retaliation, and sex discrimination. This last claim covers a broad area of issues, including sexual harassment, gender and sexual orientation discrimination, and even pregnancy discrimination.
attention for all the people moving here. Yet, while it may seem like compliance issues would increase proportionally with a new set of employer-employee relationships to navigate, this has not been the case.
“The thing is, a lot of the tech companies are moving here for tax purposes. Our laws only apply if you have 15 or more employees,” Sonderling clarified. An individual CEO running his staff remotely from the island, or if the employer has a small staff, won’t be liable in the same ways as a larger employer would. Thus, Puerto Rico’s own
Some of the questions that employers ask themselves today are about how to decide which positions will be required to come back to the office. Deceptively simple, this question is heavy with potential implications for each decision made. Before deciding, each employer needs to consider how employees will be affected, determine the demographic breakdown of the group required to return, define when and how potential accommodations will be made, as well as if they will establish a mandatory vaccination policy. Puerto Rico has more cases of thediscriminationcolorthanU.S. In fact,
The challenges of the post-pandemic labor scenario
According to Sonderling, the EEOC has collected almost $1 billion for victims of discrimination in the past two years. The most common claim in the US is for retaliation; it occurs when an employer takes adverse action against an employee for exercising his/her rights. The second most common is disability discrimination, which continues to be one of the top areas of focus for Human Resources professionals nationwide. Not to mention, the new modern workforce is now plagued by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Returning to work after the pandemic has introduced a new set of potential hurdles for employers nationwide to overcome.
Keith Commission.OpportunityEmploymentU.S.ofCommissionerSonderling,E.theEqual
Secretary of Labor would work with issues like these at a local level.
[Puerto Rico has] some of the toughest employment laws in the country, much more than in other states.
EEO Commissioner speaks about potential discrimination situations Zoe Landi Fontana, The Weekly Journal Despite some of us being out of the office for two years and counting, human resources still have no shortage of controversies and concerns to diffuse. The pandemic itself created even more complications, with employers having to decide on who would work remotely or not – all of which brings implications and potential discrimination claims. While Puerto Rico trends broadly in the same direction as the US, it has its own peculiarities when it comes to human resources and the most common“Federalclaims.lawand Puerto Rico Human Resources departments have a tough job dealing with both federal laws and local employment laws. [Puerto Rico has] some of the toughest employment laws in the country, much more than in other states,” said Commissioner Keith E. Sonderling of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in an interview with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL The Commissioner recently visited Puerto Rico for the annual conference of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-PR), where he spoke about national trends in Human Resources and current statistics.
Though many employers and HR professionals are surprised to hear it, Puerto Rico has more cases of color discrimination than the US. In fact, the fifth most common claim in Puerto Rico is color discrimination, which is different from racial or national origin discrimination. It happens when darker skinned people are more often discriminated against, mocked, and/or harassed at work compared to lighter-skinned people of the same or similar cultural beenandrecentlybetweencouldAnotherbackground.pointofcontentionbetherelationshipthoseemployerswhomovedtotheislandhirelocally.PuertoRicohasgettingalotofnational
/ Wednesday, August 31, 20228
In a 41-page document, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, Walmart laid out a number of what it called legally flawed claims, including that the agency lacked “constitutionally valid authority to sue for money or injunctive relief.” It said that the FTC is trying to hold Walmart liable for the criminal actions of completely unrelated thirdparty fraudsters even as Walmart has embraced a number of steps to stop such scamming. Walmart argued that the agency is trying to contort a regulation called the Telemarketing Sales Rule that was aimed to go after telemarketers and those who actively help them but that Walmart is neither. Walmart also took issue with the FTC’s claim that Walmart allegedly engaged in an “unfair” act or practice, or any ongoing or imminent misconduct under Section 5 of the FTC Act.
>AP Photo/ Seth Perlman, File
EW YORK (AP) – Walmart filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission that accused the nation’s largest retailer moneyallowingofitstransfer services to be used by scam artists, calling it an “egregious instance of agency overreach.”
“To be clear, Walmart is now–and always has been– dedicated to its customers and shares the FTC’s goal of protecting customers from fraudsters,” the Walmart filing said. “But this lawsuit is an egregious instance of agency Walmartoverreach.”storesletshoppers to transfer money using three providers –MoneyGram, Ria Financial Services, and Western UnionWalmart,Co. based in Bentonville, Arkansas, said it has developed and implemented a host of antifraud measures –including customer warnings and employee trainings. Based on data available to Walmart, out of nearly 200 million money-transfer transactions processed at its U.S. namesake stores between 2015 and 2020, less than 0.08% were reportedly the product of fraud, according to the Walmart filing. And it said that some of that reported fraud may not be fraud at all, making the actual fraud rate even smaller. In its argument by Walmart that the FTC overreached in its authority, Walmart cited an April 2021 Supreme Court case that makes it difficult for the agency to engage in a long-time practice of seeking to recover ill-gotten gains from individuals or companies that steal from consumers. As a result of the ruling, the agency will now have to rely on other lengthier and more complicated legal maneuvers to recoup dollars from defrauded individuals. FTC officials couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
Walmart filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Com mission that accused the nation’s largest retailer of allowing its money trans fer services to be used by scam artists.
Anne D’Innocenzio – The Press Walmart stores let shoppers to transfer money using three Co.andFinancial–MoneyGram,providersRiaServices,WesternUnion In fact,
“To be clear, Walmart is now–and always has been–dedicated to its customers and shares the FTC’s goal of protecting customers from fraudsters.” Walmart’s court filing
In its lawsuit, the FTC alleged that for years, Walmart failed to properly secure the money transfer services offered at its stores, stealing “hundreds of millions of dollars” from customers. The agency said Walmart didn’t properly train its employees, failed to alert customers, and used procedures that allowed fraudsters to cash out at its stores. The FTC had asked the court to order Walmart to return money to consumers and to impose civil penalties on the company.
Associated
Walmart seeks to dismiss lawsuit by FTC over money transfers The retailer argues lawsuit is an egregious instance of agency overreach N
Crypto firms say U.S. sanctions limit use of privacy software Advocacy firm claims sanction could potentially violate constitutional rights
The Treasury Department is facing pushback from the industrycryptocurrencyoversanctions imposed on a firm accused of helping to launder billions of dollars – with some funds going to North Korean hackers. Earlier this month, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the virtual currency mixing firm, Tornado Cash, which allegedly helped to launder more than $7 billion worth of virtual currency since its creation in 2019. Mixing services combine various digital assets, including potentially illegally and legitimately obtained funds, to keep the origins of the funds secret, including money that has been stolen.
“If you are paid in cryptocurrency, transactions on most blockchains are transparent,” she said, adding that mixers are used by those who don’t want their transactions viewable on a public ledger.“Ithink we do need to have a conversation around privacy and empower law enforcement without undermining people’s ability to have private transactions,” Smith said.
This is not the first set of sanctions on a digital asset mixing firm. In May, the U.S. announced sanctions against North Korean digital currency mixing firm Blender.io, accused of helping Lazarus Group, the sanctioned North Korean cyber hacking group, carry out a $600 million digital currency heist in March. Since the Tornado Cash sanctions, crypto experts have speculated on whether expected regulations would result in a ban on mixing services.TheBiden administration issued an executive order on digital assets in March that calls, in part, for regulations on the industry.
Kristin Smith, executive director of the Blockchain Association, said the sanctions impact law abiding users of crypto mixing technology.
My government has no business sanctioning my ability to use a software that protects my anonymity, especially when I’m using it for legitimate purposes. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.)
WASHINGTON (AP) –
Coin Center, a nonprofit crypto advocacy firm, says Treasury’s financial crimes enforcement arm “overstepped its legal authority” through its sanctions, which “potentially violates constitutional rights to due process and free speech.”
In the weeks after the sanctions were announced, crypto firms, lobbyists and at least one lawmaker have come to the firm’s defense, saying the sanctions open the door to limiting Americans’ usage of privacy software.
He told The Associated Press the sanctions punish Americans who use the firm’s software for legitimate purposes. “My government has no business sanctioning my ability to use a software that protects my anonymity, especially when I’m using it for legitimate purposes,” he said.
A Treasury spokesperson said that the agency is focused on disrupting criminal behavior and will use its sanctions authorities to protect the U.S. financial system from illicit activity like cyber theft, money laundering, and weapons proliferation financing.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control says Tornado Cash’s systems were used, among other things, to launder more than $96 million drawn from the June Harmony blockchain bridge theft and August Nomad crypto firm heist.
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This story has been corrected to show that the executive director of Blockchain Association, not the association, contributed to Emmer.
The defense of the firm comes as a Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev was arrested by Dutch authorities in early August, days after U.S. sanctions were imposed, for allegedly facilitating money laundering.
One cryptocurrency firm, Tether, has said it would not freeze its accounts tied to Tornado Cash and intends to keep them open. And Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who has received at least $50,000 in contributions from the executive director of the Blockchain Association this year, wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen this week asking for the rationale for sanctioning Tornado Cash, saying the sanctions “impact not only our national security, but the right to privacy of every American citizen.”
“This may be the end,” Smith said “but we wont know until we see the regulations.”
Fatima Hussein – The Associated Press
Leadership rules we should all live by
Servant Leadership . If you are given an opportunity to lead, remember you are there to serve others, not yourself. As Simon Sinek says, leaders eat last. Your position is a privilege and it’s important to focus on helping others grow and perform at the best of their ability. The best and most effective leaders are servant leaders. They know they are there as a vehicle for a larger purpose. Surround yourself with different perspectives . Don’t surround yourself with ‘yes people’ who think exactly like you and never question you, because your ingrained beliefs are also your blind spots. It’s important to surround yourself with different perspectives and points of view and be open to seeing it how they see it. When you do, you can approach situations with greater clarity, empathy, and compassion.
rue leadership is a skill that requires intentionality, practice, and commitment. It is not a title or a position of hierarchy. Great leaders are not born, they are developed. You need a thirst for knowledge, a dose of humility, and an open mind to understand there will always be more to learn and that you can always grow as a leader. Here are the leadership lessons that I’ve personally discovered over the last two decades as a company leader. Lead with Passion . When you lead with passion, you inspire others to believe in your mission as well. I have poured my heart and soul into using my business as a platform for social good in this world. It’s my passion. My mission is to inspire other leaders to do the same in their companies.
An environment where offhanded ideas will be built upon rather than torn down.
Cristina Villalon Licensed Interior Designer and AD&V Co-Founder www.advfirm.com
Put people first . Leadership is about people.
Develop your Emotional Intelligence . The single most important thing you can develop in your life is your emotional intelligence. Nothing will help you perform better in your career or as a leader than developing skills like self-awareness, self-control, social awareness, and relationship management. Life is all about relationships. Relationships will open doors for you. Make sure you are building bridges, and not destroying them. Create an environment where people are not afraid to speak up . Nothing can be accomplished alone. You need a motivated and committed team willing to innovate and continually improve to compete in this everchanging world. To encourage innovation, you need to promote an environment where people are not afraid to speak out, take risks, and fail.
T
Finally, lead by example . You set the tone. People are watching. It doesn’t matter what you say, it matters what you do.
Nothing will help you perform better in your career or as a leader than developing skills like self-awareness, selfcontrol, social awareness, and relationship management.
/ Wednesday, August 31, 202210
To be an effective leader, you need to learn how to communicate, listen, and empathize.
Put people’s needs first and remember we are all human. How do you bring out the best in people? You make them feel seen. You recognize their efforts. You highlight the behavior you want them to repeat. You help them identify their talents. You encourage them then give them autonomy and let them shine.
Cristina Villalon, CODDI
@unitedwaypr • 787-728-8500 www.unitedwaypr.org/aporta Dona por Puerto Rico. Estarás apoyando a más de 125 organizaciones sin fines de lucro que impactan las áreas de salud, educación y estabilidad financiera de Puerto Rico.$20CONSOLOALMES ¿LadesaludmiIsla? ¿Tanta gente sin hogar?deserción¿Laescolar? Unaayudarpuedepoquitodeti,muchos. 11 < 202231,AugustWednesday,>JournalWeeklyThe
/ Wednesday, August 31, 202212
“We don’t want to legislate art, that’s not what this is about. We want filmmakers to continue to make the films they want to make,” Kramer said. “We don’t want this to be onerous or punitive. We want this to be collaborative. Seeing that the best picture nominees of this past year all qualify gives us great hope that our conversations and partnership with studios and distributors and filmmakers is working and is not creating a challenge.”The95th Academy Awards will be broadcast live from Los Angeles on March 12.
One of the conundrumsevergreenishowto attract new viewers
Bill Kramer has been thinking about the future of the Oscars since he was named CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences earlier this summer.Theformer head of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures knows some things must change, that they have to evolve and grow their fanbase. But he’s optimistic: He’s already deep in talks with Oscars’ broadcaster ABC and potential producing partners and is committed to having a host again in 2023. And he’s especially ready to “move forward” from the slap and to have a show that celebrates cinema, he told a small group of reporters this week. At the Oscars earlier this year, Will Smith came on stage and slapped ChrisTheRock.show is immensely important not just for Hollywood but for the academy itself. The revenue from the Oscars accounts for well over half of the organization’s annual income. And it’s been under increasing scrutiny from both the public, for everything from its runtime to the kinds of films that get nominated, and its broadcasting partner for its ratings. Even academy members themselves have drawn criticism, most recently for the decision to present some of the awards before the live broadcast in an effort to streamline the show. At the next Oscars in March 2023, Kramer said he wants to see “all crafts equitably acknowledged” on the show and that “there are many ways to do that.” It’s just one of the many topics being discussed with broadcaster ABC. One of the evergreen conundrums is how to attract new viewers and appeal to the masses without alienating the ones who love the Oscars the most. Efforts to infuse the show with more mainstream movies from the “fan favorite” award earlier this year or the short-lived “popular” Oscar have been mercilessly mocked. To some, montages are a waste of time. To others, they’re the heart of the Academy Awards.
Part of that strategy, Kramer said, is using social media and marketing to create more familiarity around first-run movies leading up to nominations and the awards. The hope is that come Oscar night, audiences and academy members are invested whether “Top Gun: Maverick” is nominated or not. They are also making progress in selecting producers for next year’s show. For the past several years, producers have changed with each show, but Kramer said he hopes to forge a multiyear partnership with people who have expertise in live television production. Asked for some examples of past Oscars that have worked, Kramer cited the Bill Condon-produced 81st Oscars with Hugh Jackman as host, as well as the Donna Gigliotti-produced 91st Oscars, which he said was “efficient and successful.”
But a focus on the Oscars show doesn’t mean he’s not working to advance the academy’s diversity initiatives, from its membership to its year-round talent development programs. Starting next year, best picture hopefuls will have to meet the Academy’s new inclusion standards for the 96th Academy Awards in 2024. The organization has been working with studios and filmmakers for the past two years to ensure that everyone understands the standards. He said all the best picture nominees from earlier this year would have qualified.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer Looks to Future of the Oscars
“We have been talking to ABC, our partners on the show, and really thinking about what this year means for us,” Kramer said. “It’s our 95th anniversary. We want to return to a show that has a reverence for film and 95 years of the Oscars. It’s a moment to really reflect on our membership, all craft areas, our changing industry, our fans. There are ways to do that that are entertaining and authentic and that are tied to our mission to honor excellence in moviemaking. I don’t think that’s mutually exclusive.”
Lindsey Bahr – The Associated Press nextStartingyear, best picture hopefuls will have to meet the Academy’s new inclusion standards for the Academy96thAwards in 2024. In fact,
Foreign films have long been targeted in China for references to subjects sensitive to the ruling Communist Party, such as Taiwan, the Dalai Lama and human rights. In recent years, China’s film board appears to have expanded its purview to ensure that films deliver the right message, and not one deemed harmful. That can be a challenge in a movie in which the central character is a villain. “Minions: The Rise of Gru” is a prequel that tells the story of the early years of Gru, the bumbling criminal plotter of the “Despicable Me” animated series.
The solution: Add individual postscripts about the characters, a series of them, interspersed with the credits at the end.
China adds postscript to ‘Minions’ showing crime doesn’t pay
A postscript added to the version in Chinese cinemas says a villainous character, who ends the movie as a free man, is later jailed for 20 years.
One says that Wild Knuckles, an older, mentorlike villain to the young Gru, was later bundled off to prison for 20 years because he tried to commit another crime. Before the credits, he simply drives off into a suburban horizon.
The postscript for Gru says he gives up evil, joins the good guys and, in his biggest accomplishment, is being the father of three daughters.
China’s film board appears to have expanded its purview
The actual story, told in the original “Despicable Me” in 2010, is a bit more complicated. Gru adopts three orphan girls for his plot to steal the moon. But the adorable orphans, who see in him a dad, melt his icy heart.
Positive energy is a catch phrase that emerged in China about a decade ago and has been promoted by the Communist Party to push for uplifting messages from the media and the arts, according to the China Media Project, which monitors media trends.
China doesn’t have a film rating system that assesses a movie’s suitability for different audiences. Instead, authorities ask producers to delete or alter what they consider inappropriate before movies are approved for release.
In “Peppermint,” a 2018 movie about a vigilante, the main character is handcuffed to a hospital bed. A sympathetic detective slips her a key and, in the final scene, the bed is empty with the handcuffs swinging open on its railing.
authoritiesChinese ask producers to delete or alter what they release.arebeforeinappropriateconsidermoviesapprovedfor In fact, I think the ending with positive energy doesn’t have to exist at all. It’s totally unnecessary.
The China Film Administration, which oversees the film board, did not respond to faxed questions. The distributors, China Film Co, and Huaxia Film Distribution Co., did not respond to emails.
The Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — The latest “Minions” movie subtly reinforces a message for Chinese audiences that viewers in other countries won’t see: Crime doesn’t pay.
/ Wednesday, August 31, 2022 13
“Minions: The Rise of Gru,” which has taken in 114 million yuan ($17 million) at the box since opening in China on Aug. 19, is hardly the first time Chinese authorities have altered a movie’s end.
Chinese movie bloggers pointed out the added postscripts in social media posts, drawing varying reactions. Some people said the additions were an overreaction to what is an animated comedy. Others said they demonstrated correct values, especially for kids. “I think the ending with positive energy doesn’t have to exist at all,” said one cinema goer, Jenny Jian. “It’s totally unnecessary.”
Jenny Jian, Chinese movie goer
The latest “Minions” mov ie reinforces a message for Chinese audiences that viewers in other countries won’t see: Crime doesn’t pay. >AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
The truncated Chinese version ends with her still in bed, before she gets the key.
/ Wednesday, August 31, 202214
Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept: The electric muscle car of 2024
This new automotive era is full of surprises, and American automotive giant Dodge confirmed nothing is stopping it, during the presentation of the new Charger Daytona EV. The automaker clearly established “the muscle car is not going to die, it is going to evolve.”Inan exclusive presentation called “Speed Week Day”, the famous sports car brand revealed what will be its new EV, a muscle car with the DNA of an athlete and 100% electric.
The new Charger Daytona SRT Concept offers a glimpse into the brand’s electric future through a vehicle that drives like a Dodge, looks like a Dodge and sounds like a Dodge without having a HEMI engine within its structure.Thetwo-door concept was unveiled at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan, during the third day of the brand’s three-day Dodge Speed Week series of events, where performance products had been announced and revealed.
Héctor Vázquez, The Weekly Journal
The new Charger Daytona SRT ditches the boring electric car paradigm and replaces it with an innovative sports concept. It features a new propulsion system that has not been fully disclosed, but promises to outperform the brand’s famous 710-horsepower SRT Hellcat engine and will be accompanied by a 126db exhaust sound that will not leave the famous roar of the brand’s iconic V8 engine behind, despite being electric.
Tim Kuniskis, CEO Dodge
It has always been a unique design that captures the imagination of enthusiasts since its first generation, to the latest cutting-edge designs of its recent iterations, such as the famous Hellcat and Scat Pack.
The Chargernew Daytona SRT looks like a Dodge and sounds like a Dodge without having a HEMI engine within its structure. In fact, The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept exists because performance compelled us to do so.
This new version is a muscle car with the DNA of an athlete and 100% electric
Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept Based on this legacy, Dodge takes a giant step in the brand’s path towards an electric future, revealing the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT, a concept that breaks away from the perception and style of what an electric vehicle with the Dodge emblem should be.
The horsepower promised by this model, with a stick shift transmission, has been seen in models like the Porsche Taycan, the Audi E-tron and even Tesla’s famous Model S. The Charger Daytona SRT is scheduled to arrive in 2024 and it goes without saying that we all want to see this new athletic cousin of the Hellcat with great power at all four wheels and aerodynamics that has its competitors scared.
The more than 50-year old 1969 Charger Daytona is one of the brand’s most respected sports cars in NASCAR history. It was designed to break speed records. And break records it did. The ‘69 Charger was the first sports car to break the 200 mph mark at the famous Talladega, Alabama track on March 24, 1970.
The concept’s modern exterior styling incorporates subtle Dodge heritage cues, while exceeding aerodynamic goals. Interior design elements connect to create an immersive drivercentric experience through sounds, displays and lighting elements that change in and out at the touch of a button. At the core of this model are three very pronounced features: R-Wing: A unique aerodynamic design feature that connects the concept to its iconic Dodge Daytona. Fratzonic Piping: The first exhaust system on an electric model can reach 126 dB, making it as loud as a Hellcat-powered Dodge. eRupt: Multi-speed transmission with an electromechanical shifting experience.“TheDodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept exists because performance compelled us to do so,” said Tim Kuniskis, chief executive officer of the Dodge brand. “Dodge is muscle, attitude and performance, and the brand carries that chip on its shoulder. The Charger Daytona SRT Concept can do more than run on the track; it can run a quarter-mile in acceleration. The Charger Daytona does more than define where Dodge is going - it will redefine what the American muscle car is,” he added. This model will offer all-wheel drive and a new powertrain called ‘Banshee’ that joins power family names such as HEMI, Hellcat and Redeye.
Among its innovative features, it also has the PowerShot push-to-pass function, activated by pressing a button on the steering wheel. It provides an adrenaline rush of increased power for rapid acceleration; as “fiebrús” would to say, “it will be a ‘nitrous’ concept, but electric.”
Grilled octopus with spicy chipotle sauce and tomato marmalade, served with yuca mofongo.
“Of course we will also have a few surprises during menu transitions,” Cappas anticipated.
Soga Restaurant,
experienceculinaryinIslaVerde
Customers will enjoy lite and casual dishes designed to be shared Juan A. Hernández, The Weekly Journal Soga Restaurant at the Residence Inn, in Isla Verde opened its doors earlier this month ready to offer hotel guests and visitors a new culinary alternative based on lite and casual dishes designed as tapas to be shared among diners.
To Soga’saccompanyculinary offerings there is a wide selection of wines and liquors, as well as an ample variety of local and imported beers. In fact,
Juancarlo Cappas, Food and Beverage Director, the Residence Inn
Hummus Delight: chickpeas hummus and pita chips.
To accompany Soga’s culinary offerings there is a wide selection of wines and liquors, as well as an ample variety of local and imported beers. Also, a very imaginative cocktail menu has been designed to go with the meals, or just to enjoy by themselves. Among them are the Residence Margarita, the Hemingway Daiquiri (honoring the famous novelist), the Skinny Colada and the restaurant’s signature, the Paloma.
“At Soga, we want to offer our customers a variety of alternatives with dishes for every palate. Our restaurant is open for our guests as well as the general public as a new culinary space in the heart of Isla Verde,” said the Residence Inn general manager Sem Cuevas. Soga is open for business from 11:00am to 11:00pm, and the lunch menu is available until 4:00pm.
Pan fried pork dumplings, served over plantain orange sauce. a new
Other evening dishes are the quintessential “alcapurria,” now stuffed with corned beef, and codfish ceviche.
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Nowadays we don’t eat huge portions… it is more like hors d’oeuvres. So we developed Soga’s concept around a bar bites menu.
“During the day, the menu is oriented toward light meals –burgers, quesadillas, nachos, hot dogs, pizzetas– for the families enjoying the pool,” said Cappas.Themenu changes for the evenings, to include “cod fish croquettes, hummus, pork dumplings, a variety of salads, and grilled octopus, which is our signature dish,” Cappas added.
“Nowadays we don’t eat huge portions… it is more like hors d’oeuvres. So we developed Soga’s concept around a bar bites menu,” said Juancarlo Cappas, Food and Beverage Director at the Residence Inn. Soga provides two distinct ambiances for its diners: the main dining room, decorated with delicate macramé works from artist Aleida Cárdenas, and the Bamboo Bar, an open terrace next to the pool and surrounded by bambooManagementtrees. at the Residence Inn tried to maximize all the available space to suite every guest’s preference, from families vacationing, to business people and corporate guests.
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