Burger King's Mascot Speaks -- in Sign Language. Start Up Your Day Roundup Plus: A robot in Japan has enrolled in high school.

By Linda Lacina

Burger King

He speaks. Burger King's mysterious mascot spoke for the first time this week - through sign language -- to ask fans to dream up a Whopper sign.

Thinking big. A Google exec who'd shaped some of that company's 'moonshot' projects was hired to run a new research and technology division at Facebook.

Holding back. Retail sales dipped slightly last month -- a sign some experts tie to consumer caution.

A dip. Venture activity slowed last quarter, according to a report CB Insights released yesterday. The research firm says it could be a sign of skepticism for high valuations and a non-existent IPO market.

The new kid. A Japanese robot has enrolled in high school. He promises to try his best.

So money. The cutest robot phone ever made goes on sale next month -- for $1,800.

Linda Lacina

Entrepreneur Staff

Linda Lacina is the former managing editor at Entrepreneur.com. Her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Smart Money, Dow Jones MarketWatch and Family Circle. Email her at llacina@entrepreneur.com. Follow her at @lindalacina on Twitter. 

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