Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
  Circulation at the Top 20 Newspapers
1. USA Today, 2,269,509, down 1.3 percent

2. The Wall Street Journal, 2,043,235, down 1.9 percent

3. The New York Times, 1,086,798, down 3.5 percent

4. Los Angeles Times, 775,766, down 8 percent

5. New York Post, 704,011, up 5.1 percent

6. New York Daily News, 693,382 up 1 percent

7. The Washington Post, 656,297, down 3.3 percent

8. Chicago Tribune, 576,132, down 1.7 percent

9. Houston Chronicle, 508,097, down 3.7 percent

10. Newsday, Long Island, 410,579, down 5 percent

11. The Arizona Republic, 397,294, down 2.6 percent

12. The Boston Globe, 386,415, down 6.7 percent

13. The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., 378,100, down 5.5 percent

14. San Francisco Chronicle, 373,805, down 5.4 percent

15. Star Tribune of Minneapolis-St. Paul, 358,887, down 4.2 percent

16. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 350,157, down 3.5 percent

17. The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, 336,939, down 0.6 percent

18. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 330,622, down 7.6 percent

19. Detroit Free Press, 328,628, down 3.6 percent

20. The Oregonian, 310,803, down 6.8 percent

Submitted by Pops
 
  NEVER KNEW THIS BEFORE...
I wonder how many people know about this.

A 36 year old female had an accident several weeks ago and totaled her car. A resident of Kilgore , Texas , she was traveling between Gladewater & Kilgore.

It was raining, though not excessively, when her car suddenly began to hydroplane and literally flew through the air.

She was not seriously injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence!

When she explained to the highway patrolman what had happened he told her something that every driver should know - NEVER DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON.

She had thought she was being cautious by setting the cruise control and maintaining a safe consistent speed in the rain.

But the highway patrolman told her that if the cruise control is on and your car begins to hydroplane, when your tires lose contact with the pavement, your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed and you take off like an airplane. She told the patrolman that was exactly what had occurred.

The patrolman said this warning should be listed on the driver's seat sun visor - NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR ICY - along with the airbag warning. We tell our teenagers to set the cruise control and drive a safe speed - but we don't tell them to use the cruise control only when the pavement is dry.

The only person the accident victim found who knew this (besides the patrolman) was a man who had had a similar accident, totaled his car and sustained severe injuries.

If you send this to 15 people and only one of them doesn't know about this, then it was all worth it. You might have saved a life.

Submitted by Pops
 
  Pressmen at Play
Costume Winner
Andy and Kathleen
Debi and Ed
Joann and Bill
Jimmy and his sister Dory
Debi and Sharon
Bill Conover and David Joe
Dory and Andy had a costume party Saturday and many pressmen and their ladies attended, many thanks for inviting us to your party Dory and Andy.
 
  Take Back the Times: Circulation At L.A. Times Has Now Fallen 325,000 Since Tribune Bought The Paper
Take Back the Times: Circulation At L.A. Times Has Now Fallen 325,000 Since Tribune Bought The Paper
 
  Happy Halloween!

Easy Writer thinks about Halloween.
 
Monday, October 30, 2006
  Take Back the Times: L.A. Times Editorial Fails To Recognize Clear Racism
Take Back the Times: L.A. Times Editorial Fails To Recognize Clear Racism
 
  Los Angeles Times Circulation

From: Hiller, David
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 10:00 AM
Subject: September Circulation


(Managers and supervisors: Please share this information with your employees who do not have e-mail. Thank you.)

October 30, 2006

Folks,


Today, we announced our circulation for the six months ended Sept. 24. Our total average paid Sunday circulation was 1,172,005 and 775,766 for Monday-Friday. We also reported average individually paid circulation of 741,665 Monday-Friday, an increase of 0.3%, and 1,157,332 Sunday, a decrease of 2.7%, compared with the same period last year.


The increase in individually paid circulation Monday-Friday was very good news, and will be among the best in the industry reported today. (Tribune newspapers averaged down 1.3%, and other peer newspapers were down 3.3%.) Our Sunday individually paid decrease was in line with other Tribune papers (down 2.5%) and better than peers (down 4.2%). As you know, we are focused on the individually paid audience, which is the audience advertisers most value.


Our total paid numbers, which showed declines of 8% daily and 6% on Sunday, reflect our strategy for improving the quality of our circulation by reducing other paid circulation.


Importantly, readership increased modestly for both daily and Sunday, reaching almost 2.2 million daily and 3.3 million Sunday.


These are solid and encouraging results, reflecting efforts all across the company.


We need to continue to innovate and change to bring more readers to the paper, and also to our websites. The recent re-design of the A section and the re-launch of Sunday Calendar are excellent examples. Look for The Envelope's new 11-week special print section series, which launches Wednesday. And as I am learning, there are an array of other exciting initiatives to build readership and circulation.


Thanks for all of your efforts on these fronts. They really show.


David

P.S. Our full press release is posted at http://www.latimes.com/services/newspaper/mediacenter/releases/la-mediacenter-2006-1030,0,5460139.story?coll=la-mediacenter-releases

 
Sunday, October 29, 2006
  Letters from the People- LA Times
Greetings, Mr. Padgett:

This notice is rather late, I know, but I only today stumbled across the L.A. Times Pressmen's site. It occurred to me that some of your Times colleagues might be interested in the event described below, and since the editors apparently do not intend to publicize the event in the Calendar section this is our only way of reaching the daily's staff.


- - -
The Drama department at Cal State Los Angeles will present my stage production, "Letters from the People," taken from the Los Angeles Times letters column of the 1880s, on Nov. 2, 3, and 4. The play, directed by Prof. Steve Rothman, is a series of vignettes about life in Southern California as seen by readers of the Times. All the dialogue is taken directly from the letters column; the comments of Harrison Gray Otis, who hosts the performance, introducing each subject and letter, were written by me. The production will take place at 8 p.m in the Arena Theatre, on the Cal State LA campus. It's a "staged reading:" actors in period costume but reading from the script; little or no scenery. The whole production, with intermission, runs just under 2 hours.

Since the paper didn't invite its readers to participate in the 125th birthday anniversary, we took it on ourselves to offer this as our contribution to the celebration.

The Arena Theatre is item 2A on the attached campus map. It is not to be confused with the imposing Luckman theater complex, but is located in the Music bldg. behind (east of) Luckman. There is no admission charge butthere is a nominal fee for parking.

If you or others at The Times wish to attend, call (323) 343-4118 to reserve seats, indicating what night and how many seats you'll need so that space in the small (50 seat) theatre can be saved for you.

Ralph

Ralph E. Shaffer
Professor Emeritus, History
Cal Poly Pomona

(626) 966-4304
 
Saturday, October 28, 2006
  Take Back the Times: Once A Design Mistake Is Made At The LAT, It Seems To Stay Forever
Take Back the Times: Once A Design Mistake Is Made At The LAT, It Seems To Stay Forever
 
  The Stranger
A few months before I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me the word of God, and Dad taught me to obey it. But the stranger was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to her room and read her books (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home ... not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.

My Dad was a teetotaler who didn't permit alcohol in the home, not even for cooking. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked ... and NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you were to walk into my parent's den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name?.

We just call him, "TV."

Note: This should be required reading for e very household in America! He has a younger sister now. We call her, "Computer."

Submitted by Pops
 
Friday, October 27, 2006
  American Journalist Killed in Mexico
Bradley Roland Will, 36, of New York City was shot in the abdomen during a shootout by protesters and armed thugs and died later at a Red Cross hospital in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Mr. Will worked for Indymedia.org, an independent Web-based media organization.
 
  LAFD News & Information: Change Your Clock... and Something Else!
LAFD News & Information: Change Your Clock... and Something Else!
 
  Interest in Tribune is Lukewarm At Best
Ever have that nightmare where you plan a party an no one shows up. That must be the feeling that Tribune’s bankers are having today.

The LA Times (via Romenesko) offers a good rundown about what’s ahead for its troubled corporate parent.
 
  Join Us For The Halloween Spectacular!
The City of San Dimas Parks and Recreation Department Annual Halloween Carnival will be held on Tuesday, October 31, at the San Dimas Civic Center Plaza from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The entire family is invited to this fun-filled, spooky and safe night of fun. The event will include ten cent game booths, food booth, costume contests and more. A Haunted Hall will be hosted by the Teen Action Committee.

Costume contests for children ages three years and under will begin at 6:15 p.m., for four-six year olds at 6:30 p.m., for ages seven to nine at 6:45 p.m., for ages ten to fourteen at 7:00 p.m., and for ages fifteen and up at 7:15 p.m.

For further information call the Parks and Recreation Department at 909-394-6230.
 
  Los Angeles City Nerd: Defining Halloween & "No Silly String"
Los Angeles City Nerd: Defining Halloween & "No Silly String"
 
  Tribune bids expected Friday
By David B. Wilkerson, MarketWatch

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) - A host of private equity bids for beleaguered newspaper publisher and broadcaster Tribune Co. are expected Friday, according to a published report, setting the stage for the latest step away from the public markets for a traditional media company.

Tribune Co. (TRB), officially set to decide by the end of this year whether to put itself on the block under intense pressure from its largest shareholder, is seen offers from several investment firms by the end of the day, according to the Tribune-owned Los Angeles Times.

A Tribune spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Click here for complete article
 
  Strange Bits from OC
Sergio Ramirez Speaks! from the OC Weekly blog.

On A Clear Day You Can Smell My Trash from the OC Register The strike continues. I'm going to haul my trash into work in Whittier. When are people going to do us all a favor and buy extra garbage cans? It's just a matter of time before the plastic stuff gets ripped to shreds by the rats and coyotes.



2 Idiots Peddling Poetry continues at The Ugly Mug. The 2 Idiots (Steve and Ben) sell license plate holders to strike back at the botox/heavy-debt cultists.
 
  Carl Rodgers Former Times Printer
Just took a call from Dan McQuitty regarding former Los Angeles Times Pressman, Carl Rodgers aged 75, has passed away.

No details on funeral arrangements at this time.

UPDATE: 9:15 AM

Hi you all, hope you are all fine.

I received a phone call from Jess Degeytere last night informing me that Carl Rogers passed away. Carls son Brian, who worked at the downtown plant as a paper pusher called him with the news of his dad. When Carl left the Times he bought a used bus and converted it to a tour bus and used it to drive people to Vegas, he did well in his new business.

Please call any other retired pressmen that might remember Carl, Bill call Bill Waldby, I'm sure he would like to know. This is some of the information I got from Jess on the funeral services ,he didn't have an address for the cemetery but I'm sure you can find the information some how.

Funeral services are at Oakdale Cemetery in Glendora on Oct.31 at 11:00am, hope some of you can make it. I can't as we are in Whidbey Isl. Wash. for 3 more months.

You all take care of yourselves and try and stay healthy.

Your Friend
Emmett Jaime III


Oakdale Memorial Park Cemetery
1401 S. Grand Ave
Glendora, CA. 91740

626.691.2000
 
  Group offering to buy Baltimore Sun from Tribune
(AP) — A group of local businessmen is offering to buy Baltimore newspaper The Sun from the Tribune Co. in what would be the latest in a series of proposals nationwide to return large metropolitan daily newspapers to local control.

The Baltimore group is led by Theodore G. Venetoulis, a former Baltimore County politician and publishing executive who once owned a suburban newspaper.

"The group we've put together understand two things," said Venetoulis, who lost a Democratic primary bid for governor in 1978. "One, that this will not be an investment that will provide the usual yield and return that some investors will be used to. Secondly, they've agreed that they would not in any way attempt to jeopardize the paper's independence or attempt to give it a certain ideological bent."

Jump to Complete Story
 
  Five Fire Fighters Overcome by Flames
As I read about the firefighters overcome by flames yesterday battling the Esperanza Fire, it brought tears to my eyes. I can only imagine the feelings of loss the firefighters and families are going through.

From Los Angeles Times

Four firefighters were killed and another critically burned Thursday as they battled to protect homes from a wind-whipped arson fire that charred almost 24,000 acres and forced hundreds to flee mountain communities west of Palm Springs.

"These winds were devil winds. They came out of nowhere," said Pat Boss, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman. "They were fleeing for their lives … and the flames caught them."
 
  David Hiller Memo

October 25, 2006
Folks,

You have likely heard that we had an incident last night where a white powder substance was found in a letter opened in the editorial department. After fire and security personnel responded, it was determined the substance was harmless, an apparent hoax. Joe Eckdahl and colleagues in the newsroom handled this difficult situation exceptionally well, both ensuring people's safety and also getting the paper out. Thank them for their dedication and for keeping cool under fire when you see them today. I have attached a copy of Joe's note to the editorial department. Also thanks to Mike LaPerruque and our security team for their immediate response in handling the situation, as well as to the first responders in the LAPD, HazMat and Fire Department. We live and work more safely and securely because of them.

We will also be doing an "after action" review of the incident and how we responded. For now, remember that if you see anything suspicious, including mail or packages, be sure to call security - without opening or disturbing the contents - and await instructions from our security team. We will be providing additional information and recaps of our safety and security procedures shortly.

Speaking of hoaxes, a number of our colleagues received an e-mail from a fictitious employee referring to possible layoffs. If you see or hear about these emails, please let people know they are fake.

All that said, have a fine day.

David
 
Thursday, October 26, 2006
  How Much Longer Will You Live
With Halloween just a few days away here's an odd web site to visit. Death Clock. Fill in the blanks with your date of birth, lifestyle, and you will be given a prediction of your death.

Have fun.
 
  Santa Barbara News-Press Withdraws Petition
Santa Barbara News-Press Withdraws Petition Filed on Behalf of Threatened Employee

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the Santa Barbara News-Press filed legal papers to withdraw the petition it filed in Santa Barbara Superior Court on behalf of News-Press photographer Ana Elisa Fuentes. The case involved Ms. Fuentes’ claim that fellow employee Michael Todd made death threats against her. Mr. Todd claimed the statements were jokes.

Ms. Fuentes has resigned. Since Ms. Fuentes is not currently employed at the paper, pursuit of a workplace violence injunction prohibiting future wrongful conduct against Ms. Fuentes at the work site would serve no purpose and the petition is being dismissed.

The News-Press continues to be vigilant about potential workplace violence to ensure the safety of all employees.
 
  'Put Up More of a Fight' Baquet Urges Editors to Cuts

NEW ORLEANS Los Angeles Times Editor Dean Baquet on Thursday urged fellow newspaper editors to resist business side staff reductions blindly.

Just weeks after his public battle with Tribune Company over potential cutbacks, which ended with the forced resignation of former publisher Jeff Johnson and speculation that Baquet himself might be leaving, the veteran editor told editors here that they, too, must not give in to demands for cutbacks.

Editor and Publisher
 
  A fourth Tribune Buyer
Bain considering bid for Tribune

Bain Capital LLC might bid for Tribune Co., jumping into a crowded field considering a takeover of the second- largest U.S. newspaper publisher, a person with knowledge of the firm's plans told Bloomberg News yesterday. Apollo Management LP, Texas Pacific Group and Carlyle Group are preparing separate buyout offers for Tribune, which has a market value of $8.1 billion, people briefed on their plans said this week. Tribune said last month that it might sell all or some of its assets. The Chandler family, Tribune's largest shareholder, pressed for the move in June after a 19 percent drop in Tribune's share price in the previous five years.
 
  San Dimas, California
San Dimas is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2004 census, the city had a total population of 36,200.

Famous citizens

San Dimas's most famous fictional citizens are William "Bill" S. Preston, Esq. (Alex Winter) and Theodore "Ted" Logan (Keanu Reeves), from the movie Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. San Dimas was featured prominently in the movie, and was referred to as "the center of the Universe," although many of the location shots were of various Phoenix, Arizona locales.

Lela Lee, an actress and cartoonist, grew up in San Dimas.

Geography

San Dimas is located at 34°6'10" North, 117°48'58" West (34.102908, -117.816249)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 40.5 km² (15.6 mi²). 40.2 km² (15.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.77% water.2005

San Dimas is a suburb of Los Angeles about 35 miles east/northeast of the city and of the Pacific Ocean. The Foothill Freeway (I-210) connects it to the San Fernando Valley, and the San Bernardino Freeway (I-10) connects it to downtown Los Angeles.

Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 34,980 people, 12,163 households, and 8,988 families residing in the city. The population density was 870.8/km² (2,255.7/mi²). There were 12,503 housing units at an average density of 311.2/km² (806.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.66% White, 3.30% African American, 0.69% Native American, 9.39% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 7.34% from other races, and 4.39% from two or more races. 23.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 12,163 households out of which 35.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% are married couples living together, 11.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% are non-families. 21.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.78 and the average family size is 3.23.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $62,885, and the median income for a family was $72,124. Males had a median income of $53,009 versus $36,057 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,321. 6.3% of the population and 3.6% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.9% of those under the age of 18 and 11.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

San Dimas High School

"San Dimas High School is one of two comprehensive high schools in the Bonita Unified School District. The City of San Dimas is located in the eastern region of Los Angeles County nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. San Dimas High School has the deserved reputation of providing an academically challenging educational program resulting in high student achievement. With the continued strong support for education in our community we expect to maintain this high-level of academic excellence. This web site is part of a continuing program to make school information available to all members of our community. By broadcasting information through the World Wide Web and the Internet, students, teachers, professionals, or simply the curious will have the opportunity to explore San Dimas High School and its many fine programs. " Sources (www.sandimashigh.com)

-High School Football- Contrary to the quote from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure that "San Dimas High School football rules", San Dimas High School's football program is not among the most successful in Los Angeles County.

Their football team, the Saints, plays in the Valle Vista league, which they were the champions of in the 2004 season. The only other championship for the football team was back in 1976. The San Dimas Saints football team's arch rival is Bonita Unified School District's only other high school's football team, the Bonita High School (LaVerne, CA) Bearcats. They participate annually in the "smudge pot game", in which they compete for the privilege of retaining a chrome-plated smudge pot.

-Possible Issues with Administration- It is a rumor that the San Dimas High School administration has been disintegrating, loosing valuable teachers and staff due to mainly poor administration policies. In the last year, the head of the math department, the dean of student activities, the vice principal, two counselors, and the head of the career center left mainly due to this administrations's poor actions and policies; according to some individuals.

Saint Dismas

Don Palomares received a 15000 acre land grant from Governor Alvarado in 1837, which included the land of present day cities Pomona, Claremont, La Verne, Glendora, and San Dimas. This holding was called Rancho San Jose. The northern part of the Rancho was cut through with wild canyons, and while they were of little use for vineyards, beans, and corn, they were an ideal place to house Don Palomares's prize cattle and horses during harsh winters. Due to their distance from the Hacienda, these corrals were often raided by horse thieves and cattle rustlers. Frustrated by the loss of his cattle, Don Palomares began referring to the area as "San Dismas", in hopes that the thieves would turn to Saint Dismas (the patron saint of reformed thieves) and repent of their crimes. In time, the name caught on, and the area was called San Dismas. Eventually, the first 's' was dropped (in error) and the area became known as San Dimas.

Raging Waters

San Dimas is home to Raging Waters theme park, one of the largest water parks in California.

External links


City of San Dimas
San Dimas Chamber of Commerce
San Dimas High School
San Dimas Rodeo
San Dimas Online Community
Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 34.102908° -117.816249°
Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
Topographic map from TopoZone
Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

(SOURCE) Wikipedia
 
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
  Tribune on the Blogs
LA Times: Sleepovers at David Geffen's

The other day, a prominent Los Angeles Times writer whom I very much respect confessed something rather startling to me: that he finds himself in the strange position of actively wishing for David Geffen to buy the newspaper. Perhaps more LAT staffers feel the same way, since the paper keeps dwelling on Geffen's interest in Spring Street in its pages.

Bad News for America....

The report said that some bidders think the Chandler family, the largest shareholder in Tribune after the purchase of Los Angeles' Times Mirror in 2000, would accept a per-share buyout bid in the mid-$30s.

Tribune Protecting Top Employees

Tribune senior vice president for corporate relations Ruthellyn Musil told the Los Angeles Times that these changes were “normal business practices for companies in our situation,’’ adding that no new benefits were added.

Tribune Acts Like Takeover Is in the Works

As leveraged buyout powers circle wounded Tribune Co., the media giant said it had changed its retirement and bonus plans to give certain employees payments if the company undergoes a change of control — a move typically made by firms before they get acquired.
 
  Replate: Get Well John Walker


Olympic Pressroom manager, John Walker, will be away from work for the next two weeks after Orthopedic surgery on his shoulder.

Greg Malcolm reports that he spoke with John today and he's doing fine.

Get well John, and hurry back.

 
  Los Angeles Times Survey

Last night e-mail arrived from the Los Angeles Times asking if I would take a brief survey. Having taken many other online surveys, that also claimed to be brief, I waited a few moments before giving the Times survey my attention.

I’m happy to report the survey was only five pages long, with the first page asking for the names of seven writers I enjoy reading. The second page consisted of the seven columns I read most often.

The next three pages gave the names of writers, with multiple-choice answers such as, do you recognize this writer, do you read their articles, etc.

Makes me wonder if this might be a way to judge the most popular writers to keep with the newspaper before the cuts take place?
 
  Santa Barbara Star Free-Press: Matt Welch and Opinion L.A. (click me & go)
Santa Barbara Star Free-Press: Matt Welch and Opinion L.A. (click me & go)
 
  Those Changes


Were it not for coffee and the morning paper, I wouldn't be able to get through the day. Unlike the people who ripped on them in the Opinion LA blog, I don't mind the changes. The big heavy font lends a sense of urgency to the story. The eye is directed to reading it first. And the red for Column One is good --I've always thought the writing in this column was the best, so highlighting it makes sense. I think having the Op-Ed section up front is good as well. Before I used to have to dig for it. It just makes sense to have the 'voice' of the paper and the readers up front.

But I'd like to see the old eagle brought back to the masthead. (Was it the same eagle that's on the Op-Ed section, or was it a different one?)

Have a nice day, everyone. I gotta work.
 
  What About Us?
As the uncertainty grows at all Tribune Company properties across the country, the employees remaining can only speculate on how the possible sale of the company will affect their lives. Will the new owners cut wages, benefits, and employees to increase profits?

Today’s Los Angeles Times online edition ran a story regarding Tribune’s board approval of amendments to supplemental retirement, supplemental defined contribution and bonus deferral plans for the elite at Tribune Towers if the company is sold. What about us?

With only sixty-seven days left before this year ends, the answers to our questions will be answered shortly.
 
  Private Or Public? Online Or In Print? - What Will Be The Direction Of Tribune?
(RTTNews) - The beleaguered media giant Tribune Co. (TRB charts news PowerRating) has begun its turnaround efforts in earnest. The company is mulling options that could include a breakup or its outright sale, which is expected to be concluded by the end of this year.

Tribune owns eleven daily newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Newsday, Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sentinel and Hoy (published in Spanish language). The company, which has a market capitalization of $8.4 billion, also owns twenty-five TV stations, including KTLA (Los Angeles), WGN (Chicago) and WPIX (New York). Tribune's other properties include Chicago Cubs baseball team and WGN radio.

Threatened by the fast growing Internet, Tribune's stock has seen a slump, losing almost half its value since 2000. In the last two years alone the stock has fallen nearly 40%. Taking into account, the myriad problems confronting the company, Tribune's future however appears difficult to read.

Full Story here.
 
  Tribune to accelerate executive pay on sale
Leaders of The Times' parent firm will receive deferred compensation immediately should a new owner take control.

By Thomas S. Mulligan, Times Staff Writer
October 25, 2006

Tribune Co., preparing for a possible sale or major restructuring, has taken steps to make deferred pay and benefits for its top officers and other "highly compensated employees" payable immediately in case of a change of ownership, the company said in a filing Tuesday.

Tribune is the parent of the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Cubs baseball team, KTLA-TV Channel 5 and other media properties.

On Oct. 18, according to the filing, Tribune's board approved amendments to supplemental retirement, supplemental defined contribution and bonus deferral plans to add language relating to a possible takeover of the company.

Complete story here (Registered users)
 
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
  Times newsroom evacuated


I took a call tonight from a concerned reader, asking if my building was evacuated tonight?

Having no clue what he was talking about I ran a search, using the blogger search, and found that the Times editorial Department was sealed off and the writers and editors departed to the lobby. A LA Times clerk opened an envelope with a powdery white substance on the third floor and notified LA Times security.

Keven Roderick has a link to the CBS story on his blog at LAObserved.

 
  LA Times staff evacuated in white powder scare
LOS ANGELES: About a dozen Los Angeles Times employees evacuated the paper's newsroom on Tuesday night after a clerk discovered white powder in an envelope addressed to the publication.

Police responded to the newspaper's downtown Los Angeles offices shortly after 7.30 pm after the powder was discovered, Los Angeles Police Sgt James Willis said.

Willis said a police hazardous materials squad was on the scene to test the powder and the clerk who opened the envelope was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

Deputy Metro Editor Sue Horton, one of about a dozen Times employees forced to leave their offices, said employees were not shaken by the incident.

She said many employees had to remain in the building in case they had been exposed to a hazardous substance that could be transmitted to others.

“The immediate response was a groan because we figured we wouldn't get out of the building for a while,” Horton said.
 
  Privileged Son
By Dennis McDougal

IN THESE PAGES, Otis Chandler opened up himself and his family to an outsider's extensive scrutiny for the first time. Otis knew from the outset that he might not always be pleased with my conclusions, and would surely have changed some of the less flattering anecdotes and characterizations had this been his autobiogra- phy or even an "authorized" biography with all the pulled punches that such a phrase implies. The telling of part of his tale—including the breakup of his first marriage, the unforeseen tragedy that befell his eldest son, and his ambivalence about losing control of his Los Angeles Times—was visibly painful for him to dis- cuss. To his credit, he answered questions even when he did not want them asked in the first place. Though frequently tempted otherwise, Otis was ultimately true to the Jeffersonian principles of Western journalism by which he has conducted most of his professional life: try to tell the truth and let the chips fall where they will.

More than once, his candor has landed Otis Chandler in hot water. Over the years, his closed-mouth relatives have lambasted him mercilessly for speaking his mind, which may account in large part for his reluctance to speak at length to an author before now. For several months in the spring and summer of 2000, Otis met with me weekly—usually on a Tuesday. At one point, several weeks into the project, I suggested Tuesdays with Otis as an alternative title for the book. Cau- tion quickly gave way to candor and I soon had the necessary palette from which to paint an accurate portrait of this remarkable, charismatic, and multi- dimensional molder of modern day Los Angeles. To Otis, Bettina, Missy, Harry, Michael, Carolyn, Cathleen, and all the other Chandlers who let down their guard and spoke their truths, I am deeply grateful.


Click on the title to read the book online at Questia
 
  Just Because I Feel Like It
 
  Blogger Status
Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Tomorrow we will have an outage of 60 minutes from 2p to 3p (Pacific Time) as we perform some hardware repairs.

Posted by Pal at 15:39 PDT
 
  Tan Nguyen, Meet Harry Truman
Unbridled ambition: The 47th district plays political seesaw. Democratic Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez used to be a Republican until she decided to run for her seat against the old tankhorse Bob Dornan. Now the 47th has Republican candidate Tan Nguyen who used to be a Democrat, before he was beaten by Sanchez in the Democratic primary two years ago. Confused? Just remember this: these two have been sandbox competitors before. But now there's the letter. Even though there's no chance he'll win, Tan Nguyen should take responsibility for the faulty logic and the wrongness behind it.

Full story on Easy Writer
 
  Runaways drummer Sandy West dies at 47
Tue Oct 24th 2006 at 12:07 am ET

SAN DIMAS, Calif. - Sandy West, whose ferocious drumming fueled the influential all-female `70s rock band the Runaways, which she co-founded with Joan Jett, has died of lung cancer. She was 47.

West died Saturday night at a hospice in San Dimas, east of Los Angeles, her manager Mara Fox said. She was diagnosed a year ago.

West was only 16 when she started the Runaways in 1975 with Jett, a singer and guitarist.

Along with band members Lita Ford and Cherie Currie, they had such hits as "Cherry Bomb" and "Born to Be Bad."

Full Story
 
  Take Back the Times: Will Joe Hutchinson Ruin The Times With HIs Terrible Type Faces?
Take Back the Times: Will Joe Hutchinson Ruin The Times With HIs Terrible Type Faces?
 
  Absentee Ballots
Last day to request absentee ballots, for the General Election, November 7, 2006.

For additional information contact the City Clerk Office at 909-394-6216.