...For when "your way" calls for an enslaved chicken, Burger King invites you to "have chicken your way" by offering you the newest in ads even veteran AdBusters won't want to bust: The Subservient Chicken. He "riverdances", he "throws pillows", he "builds forts" and he even takes "bonghits". He's technically a rooster, but let's not worry about that when we can tell him to "play air guitar", "moonwalk", or "grab crotch like michael jackson." The Subservient Chicken: more than a furry's dream come true, more than a timewaster for stoned college kids; this method of advertizing just begs to be copied like so many memes. Plus, you can tell him to "die".

found on BoingBoing, including all commentary.

April 7, 2004 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 11:07 a.m. ET

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- Voters rejected a ballot measure that would have cleared the way for a colossal Wal Mart in this Los Angeles suburb, one of several communities across the nation to resist the retailer's advances.

Activists who opposed the measure -- which would have allowed Wal Mart to skirt zoning, traffic and environmental reviews -- said it would hurt the community by inviting the Supercenter to drive out small business and encourage sprawl.

With all 29 precincts and absentee ballots counted late Tuesday night, Inglewood voters opposed the measure 60.6 percent to 39.3 percent, said Gabby Contreras of the city clerk's office.

The tally was 7,049 votes against the initiative and 4,575 in favor. Contreras said there are about 40,000 registered voters in the city.

``This is very, very positive for those folks who want to stand up and ... hold this corporate giant responsible,'' said Daniel Tabor, a former City Council member who had campaigned against the initiative.

Debate raged for weeks in this working-class community. Opponents said passage would clear the way for Wal-Mart to build a combination supermarket-retail store next to Hollywood Park racetrack.

The City Council last year blocked the proposed shopping center, which would include both a traditional Wal-Mart and other stores -- prompting the Bentonville, Ark.-based company to collect more than 10,000 signatures to force the vote.

In a statement, the company said the decision means Inglewood residents will have to go elsewhere to shop at Wal-Mart.

``We are disappointed that a small group of Inglewood leaders together with representatives of outside special interests were able to convince a majority of Inglewood voters that they don't deserve the job opportunities and shopping choices that others in the LA area enjoy,'' the company said.

Wal-Mart had argued in Inglewood and elsewhere in California that its stores create jobs and said residents should be able to decide for themselves whether they want the stores in their community.

But opponents argued the Supercenters amount to low-wage, low-benefit job mills that displace better-paying jobs as independent retailers are driven out of business. They also fear the super-sized stores will contribute to suburban sprawl and jammed roadways.

Objections to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. have surfaced elsewhere around the country, including Chicago, where the City Council recently stalled a measure to approve the first Wal-Mart inside city limits because of concerns about the company's labor practices.

The company succeeded in lobbying residents in Contra Costa County, where residents voted last month to allow a Supercenter. But Wal-Mart also lost a vote that day to allow it to open another store near San Diego.

Wal-Mart had spent more than $1 million in its Inglewood campaign, according to campaign finance records, while opponents spent a fraction of that amount.

Alversia Carmouche, a beauty shop owner who voted against the measure Tuesday, said she was convinced the behemoth discount store would ultimately hurt the community.

``Maybe the store would possibly be a good thing in the beginning, but it will drive out the smaller businesses,'' said Carmouche, 66. ``I really feel it will absolutely close this town out.''

DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- A computer hardware glitch at First Data Corporation resulted in more than 800,000 Mastercard and Visa transactions being double- or triple-billed last week at Wal-Mart stores around the nation.

First Data spokeswoman Staci Busby said Sunday the excess charges, which occurred on March 31 and were posted April 1, had been reversed. "First Data corrected the problem as soon as we discovered it," Busby said.

Busby said the problem showed up on reports the company regularly generates for quality control purposes. She was unable to say how many customers were affected, but did say Wal-Mart was the only retailer involved.

"Anyone who conducted a transaction with a Visa or Mastercard on March 31 should check their statements," Busby said.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Danetta Thompson said Sunday the retailer had posted signs about the problem and was working to inform its customers. "As far as the corrections are concerned, it was First Data's system that had the problem," Thompson said. "I feel like they've got their arms around the problem. Those charges have been reversed."

Thompson said Wal-Mart cashiers have been told about the mix up and that signs in the stores point customers to First Data's toll-free number -- 888-893-0626.

Busby said that in addition to the toll-free hot line, First Data was making outbound calls to affected customers. She said that some people may not see the reversed charges on their accounts until Tuesday.

"Consumers need to regularly monitor their payment records, their bank accounts and bank statements to ensure there aren't any discrepancies," Busby said.

She said First Data had instituted additional quality control measures as a result of the overbilling.

"We doubled and tripled our quality assurance measures," Busby said.

First Data Corporation is an electronic payments processor based in Greenwood Village, Colorado. The company owns Western Union Financial Services, Inc. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is the world's largest retailer, based in Bentonville, Arkansas.