Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe French gay TV's ads create controversy PARIS, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- France's gay oriented Pink TV has created rancor with ads featuring straight politicians François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl holding hands. Advertisement The 1984 vintage black and white photograph of the well-known men with the caption "There's more to life than sex," has caused outrage, the International Herald Tribune reported Monday. "Of course, I did it because I wanted some controversy. It's a joke, and everyone knows they're not gay. But there is some truth that men can have a deep relationship and sex is not part of it," Pink TV President Pascal Houzelot said. The Paris pay channel, which launched Oct. 25, already has more than doubled its early projection of 5,000 subscribers. "Our channel is not just for gays. It's a lifestyle channel, so we can be interesting for straight people, too," Houzelot said. Advertisement Best Buy to exorcise devil-customers RICHFIELD, Minn., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Big box electronics retailer Best Buy wants to run off customers who contribute nothing to profits, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Known as devils, such customers typically buy products, apply for rebates, return the purchases and then buy them back at returned-merchandise discounts. They load up on severely discounted merchandise designed to boost store traffic, then flip the goods at a profit on eBay. Devils, who acccount for about 100 million of the store's 500 million customer visits yearly, slap down rock-bottom price quotes from Web sites and demand that Best Buy make good on its lowest-price pledge. Angels, on the other hand, are customers who boost profits by snapping up high-definition televisions, portable electronics and newly released DVDs without waiting for markdowns or rebates. This year, Best Buy is stocking more merchandise and providing more appealing service to attract angels. To deter devils, it's cutting back on promotions and sales tactics that tend to draw them and culling them from marketing lists. What's hot and what's not in kids' toys NEW YORK, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Independent consumer group Toyportfolio.com, of New York, Monday released its 2005 list of what's hot and what's not for children's toys, books and videos. Advertisement "We are certainly not recommending all of the 'in' products, but want to let consumers know the landscape of children's media this year," said Joanne Oppenheim, child development expert and president of toyportfolio.com. Toys that are "out" include puzzles, dolls that talk, decoupage, gender-free games, Orange-Alert toys, candle making, futuristic cities, pink poodles, Barney, and Uno. Toys that are "in" include: puzzles that talk, dolls that go potty, knitting, mall shopping games, castles, scrapbooking, treehouses, teddy bears, Bob the Builder and poker. The Oppenheims' reviews of the best (and worst) are included in the organization's annual guide, "Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2005 Edition: The Best Toys, Books, Videos, Music and Software." Schools sending obesity warning TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Florida schools have begun sending letters to some parents warning them that their kids are too fat. The first letters were sent to parents of kindergartners and first-graders in Hillsborough County schools in the Tampa Bay area. Children in the sixth and seventh grades are also targets this year, The Tampa Tribune reported Monday. The program is optional for high school freshmen. About 45,000 letters are being sent informing parents of results from obesity screenings under way in Hillsborough County schools. Advertisement The county is part of a statewide project doing body mass index measurements known as BMI. A team of nurses goes from school to school to take height and weight measurements to calculate the BMI. The Florida Department of Health is overseeing the program under a new state law. The program has been run on an experimental basis since 2000, but this year is going into full operation.
