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Addressing the issue of environmental sustainability are Microsoft Corporation’s Imagine Cup 2008 winners, by coming up with innovative technology programs. The winners were awarded at Musee du Louvre in Paris last July 8. Each winning team created applications, devices, and games in accordance with the theme “Imagine a World Where Technology Enables a Sustainable Environment.”

An award for the best software solution that promotes a sustainable environment was also given.

Imagine Cup is Bill Gates and Microsoft’s way of encouraging students from all over the world to take up the challenge of exploring their creative imaginations in order to develop software that can help address real-world problems and issues.

Technology is an interesting field for the youth, which probably explains why most students are now into fields related to computer studies. It has also been said that the youth holds the key to a brighter future. Combining innovative technology and the fresh ideas of students is an effective alternative to addressing world concerns, especially an issue as big as the environment. With the use of technology, more and more students will be interested and become more inclined to helping find solutions directed towards environmental sustainability.

Imagine Cup 2009’s theme deals with millennium development goals that encompass a range of world issues like poverty, water crisis, and the environment. It will be interesting to find out what the new batch of student-innovators will come up with this time.

It is amazing how the Federal Trade Commission has destroyed franchising, by selling the industry out to lawyers. We need to have accountability for the regulators and we can start by firing the head of the Franchising Group at the Federal Trade Commission and anyone who has worked in that department in the last 6-10 years. Let me give you an example of what the Federal Trade Commission’s Franchising Group’s policies have made a mockery out of the purest of business models; Franchising.

A Judge ruled that the Krispy Kreme franchisor partly contributed to the underperforming franchisees. Many of which are close to bankruptcy, of course it wasn’t the diet craze of South Beach or Atkins, no, it was the franchisors fault? But the franchisor had problems as it expanded to fast and the market changed, which is a normal business risk? Without risk there is no free enterprise. The judge further ordered the franchisor to continue to ship product to the franchisees, even when the franchisee was not able to pay for the goods? What kind of crap is this?

It gets worse, but how can this be? Well check this out: The lawyers representing the franchisee are cousins of the lawyers representing the franchisees. Interesting? Indeed. Now, then how do you suppose that happened?

“Hey, cous; I have a plan. You see we. . . whisper, whisper, whisper and then we both make money and who cares who wins the suit, we make lots of money in fees?”

Isn’t it sickening the lawyers are ruining franchising in this way? Why is this happening? It is happening due to the incompetence of the Federal Trade Commission in my opinion. As one man turns over an industry to lawyers, an industry that accounts for one-third of every consumer dollar spent in our nation and represents 450,000 outlets and an estimate 15 million jobs? Isn’t that just great. You have heard my opinion, what do you think?

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/