Something is pleasantly missing from www.proflowers.com — the word "florist."

Lack of federal immigration legislation is causing states to pass their own immigration laws — some of which are so stringent that thousands of Hispanics have chosen to leave their home states.

The House recently passed a bill to ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Commuters tuned into their favorite radio station are hearing all about the benefits of seeing flowers in the workplace.

The Chicago Tribune Web edition recently ran some great advice for consumers with a case of the morning "blahs": Buy flowers.

Women are more inclined to respond immediately to work e-mails as opposed to men, according to a gender communication specialist's research published in a syndicated American City Business Journals column.

A number of retailers have retooled their Web sites to provide a more pleasant online shopping experience for their customers in advance of the sometimes maddening, and always hectic, holiday shopping season.

Final results for the Sweetest Day and Boss's Day surveys are available online. See how your sales compared to the overall results, as well as promotional vehicles used and much more.

British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, 24, best-known for her 2006 hit single, "Rehab," is adding a new title to her repertoire: floral advocate.

Your voice is needed more than ever at Congressional Action Days, February 25-26, 2008, in Washington, D.C. A large and vocal showing on Capitol Hill is the only way to protect your business and keep floral industry concerns top on legislators' minds amid the din and blather of a presidential election year. Early registration helps SAF plan the most effective meeting schedules with your congressman and senators and their key staffs, so we're offering a little incentive. All attendees who are registered (or whose mailed-in registrations are postmarked) by December 15 will be entered into a drawing for one FREE REGISTRATION!

Please don't wait until the holiday rush takes all your time and attention. Click here to read more about Congressional Action Days and register today.

A reader wrote to E-Brief editors in response to last week's story on the helium shortage.

Looking for a unique way to promote flowers during the holidays? Just apply for the SAF Preferred Picture Visa credit card (click and scroll down to see the Visa description). After your card arrives, use it instead of the card you now carry. The striking floral photography on the face of the Preferred Picture Visa card proudly distinguishes your affiliation with the floral industry and SAF. You can also use your card to earn WorldPoints, which can get you cash, merchandise, gift certificates and more. And, if all that's not enough, you'll also be supporting SAF with every transaction at no additional charge to you.

On SAF's Educators' Forum, one retailer member reports that the flower portion of a local hospital gift shop closed, and the shop to asked her to stock it with her product. She is wondering if any other members have sold on consignment, and what to charge. Weigh in.

Almost 34 percent of readers responding to last week's e-poll said they had four to six personal items in their office or workspace.

Sales for the major days associated with Thanksgiving 2006 were up from the year before at 20 percent of shops; down at 25 percent and unchanged at almost half.