Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
  Tuesday Morning Media News

Murdoch Offers Bancrofts $30+ Mil Bribe -Nikki Finke
Los Angeles Times Reporter Attacked on the Street - Kevin Roderick
Murdoch Awaits Decision on His Dow Offer - New York Times
Huffington Post matures into online force - PRWeek
Broadcaster Tom Snyder dies at 71 - Associated Press
Mags Migrate From Building Content to Buying it - Ad Age
AT&T adds Chicago's WGN to U-verse TV line-up - Bizjournals
Bancroft family accepts News deal - Reuters
New York Sun Raises Newstand Price - Gawker
The Brits are Coming! - Gary Stewart
Goodbye to Newspapers? - Howard French
 
  Wayne Beane Update
Senior vice-president of production, Russ Newton, informed me yesterday that Wayne Beane’s sudden retirement was by his choosing, and he was not forced to retire. I will believe Russ at this moment, but if anyone else leaves to spend more time with his or her families, I will question their departure.
 
  I'm Watching Your Back
This past weekend was rather busy for myself, with my daughter Joanna and I spending Saturday at a day spa in Temecula. Joanna had her hair trimmed, and highlighted, while also having a manicure and pedicure.

As Joanna enjoyed her beauty treatment I spent two hours having every muscle in my body massaged with hot smooth rocks, which left me sore afterwards, but I slept very well Saturday and Sunday nights as a result. With all the stress at the newspaper, treat yourself to a massage once in awhile; you won’t be sorry, just a little lighter in the wallet.

And speaking about being lighter in the wallet, the Los Angeles Times Security is actively investigating the vandalism occurring at the Olympic Facility. I have contacted Wells Fargo Bank and Washington Mutual for the exact times my cards have been used at Yum Yum Donuts, so Times security can view the video from the merchant to identify the culprit in the thief’s.

I had not even bothered to see where my Visa card was used until last night, and discovered the dummy had used my credit card at Yum Yum donuts twice for charges of $4.08 and $2.98.

Last Friday before the pressroom started the swing shift Dan Lippiatt informed every one of the break-ins at a shift meeting, and urged everyone to file a report with security if they have experienced a loss. Apparently the reports filed with security are but the tip of the iceberg, as many have shared that their lockers have been opened in their absence, but have not reported the break-ins because they felt the company did not care.

One of the main reasons I have this blog is to keep my colleagues informed, so many things are presented here to stay abreast of the industry, and in this case, make all Operation Employees aware of the dangers of storing anything of value in their personal lockers.

Lets hope Times security can locate the thief before a pressman finds them, because some in the pressroom will apply vigilante justice to vent their anger.

 
Saturday, July 28, 2007
  Saturday Night Links
Oly Mailroom Employees David, Jose, Linda, and Craig from Pressroom

Blogging and the Shifting Definitions of Journalism - Lamar White

Set Your Alarm: Page One Ads Are Coming - Huffington Post

Newspapers earnings: How much worse will it get? - Blogging Stocks

New Competition For 'Metro'? - Philadelphia Will Do

Blogger Luke Ford and KTLA reporter Eric Spillman debate ethics - LAT

 
  Operations Employees at the Los Angeles Times
When the Mafia takes one of their own out, they always say “Its nothing personal, its just business”, the same holds true for management when they let a employee go, its not personal, its just business, which we witnessed first hand this week at Olympic.

As the Tribune continues on the downward spiral, especially with double digit decreases in revenue; it will only be a business decision to outsource Operations to trim costs and increase profits. I know what we’re told, that we cannot outsource Operations, but I also still vividly recall being told there would be no further buyouts, four buyouts ago.

Credibility means a lot, which leads to the meeting in which everyone working in Operations was informed their jobs were secure, and all the Times truck drivers and mechanics were let go shortly after the meeting, and outsourced to Ryder Trucking.

Many of the articles I post in the daily links are meant for my fellow workers, especially regarding outsourcing at other newspapers, don’t think for a moment we are not seen as a way of increasing profits, we all have targets on our backs, and will be eliminated when possible.

If you do not believe me take a look to our north, the San Francisco Chronicle, which has a very strong union, will be letting everyone go in May of 2009 as Transcontinental takes over the production of the newspaper.

We have heard for four years that we will be bringing in new products to produce at our printing facilities, yet no extra work has materialized, and most likely will never arrive.

My message to all of my colleagues in Operations, watch your spending habits, cut back where you can, and by all means place your credits cards in a secure place for emergencies only.

 
  An Awesome Experience
Have you ever seen the commercial where the troops are entering the airport and waiting passengers begin to applaude?

Well, I had the opportunity to experience that very same scenario while awaiting my flight on Thursday morning at Ontario Airport. And, I must say it was an experience second to that of seeing my first-born child for the first time! It was one I will never forget.

After giving up my seat on my initial flight (and reaping the benefits for doing so), I was just sitting and waiting for departure, a group of uniformed soldiers entered my waiting section. To see them initially gave me chills, as I wasn't sure if they were there to represent Homeland Security or to report to their assigned duties. Fortunately, they were there to welcome troops returning from Iraq.

As passengers deplaned, they saw an elderly gentleman wearing a veterans hat. They greeted him with handshakes and words of respect. And his smile clearly displayed his appreciation for the recognition he received.

Then, came the troops. OMG! As they exited the walkway from the plane, the chills took over me, the applause began, camera flashes came out of nowhere and tears streamed from adults and children alike.

Afterwards, the troops gathered in a group, listened to their instructions, and were on their way. I have a couple of pictures to post after my return to SoCal.

To see this gives one a renewed appreciation for our freedom and those who make it possible.

God Bless Our Troops!
 
Friday, July 27, 2007
  Friday Night Media News
Pressman Guillermo Benavides with former Dodger Bill RusellOperations employees, submit your photos for posting here
Boston Herald Explores Outsourcing Printing Operations - Boston Herald
South Bay Daily Breeze Employees Low Morale - Life On The Edge
Tribune's on a Slip-and-Slide - The Motley Fool
Papers Losing Real Estate Ads to Online - Associated Press
Contra Costa Times Reducing News Staff - SF Peninsula Press Club
Media Execs: Content Demand Never Higher - Associated Press
Union Busting at the Oakland Tribune? - East Bay Express
Belo 2Q Profit Declines - Associated Press
Where is the media watchdog? - David Lazarus
Guarding The Gray Lady - Jon Fine
Santa Cruz Sentinel Shut Down its Presses - SF Peninsula Press Club
 
  Summer Vacation
Hello everyone!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer. I've been busy the last few weeks with my daughter's All Star Softball team. They were a 12U (12 & under) team and they played their hearts out. It was great while it lasted but now it's over.

Now I'm looking forward to spending the remainder of summer enjoying the summer concerts in the park, taking long evening walks and working on my tan on my days off from work.

I hope everyone gets an opportunity to recharge yourself by relaxing, counting your blessings and enjoying all that summer has to offer.

Please pray for our troops...they need our support now that the desert heat is upon them. My son-in-law (currently in Iraq) has said that temperatures during the day can reach 125 degrees! I will not complain about the heat in Southern California as long as I know we have members of our military enduring much more.

God bless everyone!

Jade
 
  LA Cowboy: Unasked Questions About Downtown, Transportation, Housing and Grand Avenue!
Brady Westwater has published a masterful story on his blog that belongs in the Los Angeles Times Opinion Section, click on the link below to see what I mean.


LA Cowboy: Unasked Questions About Downtown, Transportation, Housing and Grand Avenue!
 
  San Francisco Peninsula Press Club: Guild fears it may be decertified
The East Bay Express's Robert Gammon, a former union official at the Alameda Newspaper Group, writes this morning that the planned merger of ANG's newsrooms with the Contra Costa Times might cause owner MediaNews to push for a decertification of the Guild at ANG. (Publisher John Armstrong described his consolidation plans in a memo posted here yesterday. Here's a link to a George Avalos story describing the consolidation.)

The merger would mix non-union employees at the Contra Costa Times with the unionized workers at the ANG papers, including the Oakland Tribune, San Mateo County Times, etc.

After the merger, if the combined news operation has more non-union than union members, the employees can circulate a petition calling for a decertification election of all employees in the bargaining unit. Gammon said Guild officials are counting heads.

Decertification means the Guild would no longer be the exclusive bargaining agent for employees, which would effectively end union representation.

San Francisco Peninsula Press Club: Guild fears it may be decertified
 
  Thank you David Hiller
This is starting out as a very unusual day for myself, giving positive raves to two Tribune executives in the same day. Standby as I pinch myself and see if I’m dreaming? Well, it appears I am wide-awake.

I have been ever so passionate about the lack of communications given to my colleagues and myself at the Los Angeles Times Operations Departments, my regular readers are aware of this.

Yesterday the publisher of the Times, David Hiller, announced the creation of a tool on the Times Intranet that will allow the workers, without company email accounts, to communicate their ideas to committees and upper management at the newspaper.

GREAT IDEA David, and we thank you.
 
  Where's Boi from Troy?
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The script had an error or it did not produce any output. If there was an error, you should be able to see it in the error log.
.
I noticed Boi from Troy has been displaying this message for over two days now, did Scott close his blog?
 
  Message from David Hiller - Publisher LAT
From: Hiller, David
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 1:50 PM
To: zzAll LATimes Employees
Subject: Suggestion Box on TimesLink

Folks,

My experience is that most of the best ideas on changing and improving our business come from colleagues who see opportunities in their dealings with readers, online users, advertisers, other departments, etc. — in other words, their first hand experiences. A lot of you have sent me emails and notes with your suggestions, and I know a ton of ideas get raised directly in your departments.

But to make sure we’re getting as many good ideas as we can, we are implementing a suggestion that came from several of you — creating an electronic suggestion box on TimesLink.

I hope you’ll click on it to submit your ideas, feedback, and insight. If you have a suggestion that will improve our business, save money, increase circulation or revenue, or just make the day to day operations of your department more efficient — we want to know. Also, be sure to pass along ideas and suggestions you hear from our customers, or your neighbors, or things you see competing media doing that we ought to consider.

We’ll take a good look at everything, get back to everybody who sends something in, and put the best ideas into action fast.

As “Times Change,” my guess is experience will again show that you have the best ideas about how we move ahead.

I look forward to hearing from you.

David
 
  Brilliant Move Dennis FitzSimons
My confidence in the CEO of the Tribune Company, Dennis FitzSimons, ability to turn the fortunes of the media company around has been low. I would not go as far as Ken Reich, and call him a numbskull, but I have lost sleep many nights wondering when all the ado and dust will settle?

Wednesday when the Tribune Company announced historic revenues declines, I fully expected a major sell off of Tribune stock. But Dennis saved the day when he told the world the financing for the repurchase of 127 million shares of outstanding Tribune stock was secured, causing the stock to gain $1.05 for the day.

The last two hurdles for taking Tribune private will be the vote by Tribunites across the country on August 21st, and a ruling by the FCC on cross ownership of media in the same market.

Brilliant move Wednesday Dennis.
 
  Take Back the Times: NYTimes Business Skill, Tribune Ineptitude
There's no getting away from the fact that these are difficult times in the newspaper business. But some companies are doing better at coping with their problems than others.

This is clear from two articles in the New York Times Business section that ran yesterday. One showed how the managers of the New York Times Co. are quite skillful, while the managers of the Tribune Co. are the numbskulls that we have gotten to know so well.

For additional laugh's, click on the link below.

Take Back the Times: NYTimes Business Skill, Tribune Ineptitude
 
  The Hazards of Outsourcing at the Newspaper
I was astounded by the response from my colleagues regarding the thief’s at the Los Angeles Times Olympic Facility; I had no clue so many lockers were being vandalized and valuables taken while the workers were manning the printing presses.

Bill Conover told me his ipod was removed from his locker, John Rickett had $300.00 cash taken from him, Dennis Rios lost his change jar, and the list could go on for many more lines.

I have discovered all the lockers that have been broken into have one common denominator, the lockers were protected with a Master combination lock. Apparently the locks can be disabled with a sharp blow from a heavy object, my Master lock now opens with a strong downward tug, rendering the lock obsolete.

Ed Santos, Bill Conover, and Craig Steer have shown me how their Master locks open with a little tug, as mine does, making our locks nothing more than adornments hanging from our lockers.

The Los Angeles Times Grapevine tells me management is considering outsourcing our security guards again. I say again, because we tried this four or five years ago, and employees lost car stereos, their lunches, and anything that was not bolted down. I’m not implying it was the outside contractor’s, but the thief’s stopped when Los Angeles Times security was brought back to Olympic.

 
  Aaron Proctor for Pasadena Mayor
Aaron Proctor is returning to Pasadena and running for mayor in this world famous foothill city in mid-August, I’m personally not familiar with Mr. Proctor, but I think this is about to change very soon.

As a child I could not stand the taste of beets, but as I have aged, they now taste extremely good in my old age. The same goes for politics, I never paid much attention to what politicians said, but now that I’m in my fifties I have developed a taste for what is being said.

Allow me to introduce Aaron Proctor in this short video.




For further information on Aaron Proctor, visit Pasadena's Political Underbelly Blog.
 
  Speculation?
"Half of the American people have never read a newspaper.
Half have never voted for President.
One hopes it is the same half."

--Gore Vidal, author.

from Dan Poynter's Parapublishing site.
 
Thursday, July 26, 2007
  My Book Is On Clearance
Get Lost With Easy-Writer
You know you're "out there" once the anthology you're in goes on sale. Experimental Travel is on sale through Lonely Planet, the travel guide company. Yup, it's gone down to $9.99, which means that once this stash is gone, it'll only be found in used bookstores, trashbins, and the homes of travelers who have about forty travelguides all lined up.....

read the rest on my blog! Leave me a note!
 
  Comedy at Biaccis Pizza in Upland
With my sister and her family in town for the next few days I find my time limited, and will blog as I can the next few days.

We are headed to Biaccis for pizza, sodas, and comedy, the comedy is free, so join us at 9:00 p.m. tonight. The title will take you to their MySpace page. Tonight's show is hosted by the famous Bruce Jingles, sidekick of Jeff Garcia.

Biaccis Pizza
775 N. Central Ave.
Upland, CA 91786
909-946-0990
 
  Traffic Alert - Downtown Demonstration
Traffic Alert

Date: August 4th, 2007, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Demonstration: Victory Outreach - Stop the Violence
Location: Figueroa & Pico

March Route:
Northbound Figueroa to 11th Street
Eastbound 11th Street to Main Street
Northbound on Main Street to City Hall South

Event is expected to draw 10,000 people. There are no official street closures at this time, however rolling closures are expected.
 
  Wanted, Old Photographs of Bob Bagwell
Calling all pressmen, if you have any photographs of Bob Bagwell would you please share them with melinda.marquez@latimes.com for Bob's upcoming anniversary party. And for you current employees, can you see Mike Gibson in this old picture? Mike is second from the right, and enters press impositions into the computer system now days.
 
  Thursday Morning Media News
Pressmen Jesse Espinoza, Larry Washington, and Woody Johnson

The gutting of the Breeze continues... - Life on the Edge
New Star Analyst Rankings for TRIBUNE CO - Starmine
Layoffs at The Tennessean - Nashville Scene
Newspapers Hungry for Younger Readers - Christian Science Monitor
Will Sam Zell be able to close his deal for Tribune? - Business Week
Can the Washington Post survive? - Fortune
Tribune says plans to go private are on track - Marketwatch
Another Publisher Bites the Dust - Naples Daily News
14 take buyouts at Pioneer Press - TwinCities.com
Political Ads Stage a Comeback in Newspapers - Wall Street Journal
Weakness in Advertising Reduces Earnings at NYT - New York Times

 
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
  Wayne Beane Retiring this Friday from Olympic

Former plant manager of the shuttered Chatsworth Facility, Wayne Beane, is said to be leaving the company this Friday. I'm sure to spend more time with his family. Wayne will be missed at Oly.

Mr. Beane's primary purpose was orchestrating the the forty-eight inch project, cutting down the width of the Los Angeles Times, at Oly then Orange County.

Has this project been stopped for some reason?
 
  Goldstein's Article Dropped for Being Innovative
Just incase you would like to read Patrick Goldstein’s killed article, Kevin Roderick has it posted on LAObserved.

And Nikki Finke has a great follow up which is a must read.
 
  Take Back the Times: Patrick Goldstein's Column Should Run In LAT
It was with considerable astonishment that I read that Patrick Goldstein's column suggesting a way the L.Å. Times might earn enough money selling music on its Web site to compensate for not putting ads on Page 1, had been killed by management.

[CUT]

It is obvious Tribune thinks Page 1 ads are great. Anything to stem the revenue losses caused by its own downsizing and denigration of the newspaper. These Chicago idiots have screwed around with the newspaper for seven years, and now they are fixing to disgrace it with yet another cheap, sleazy, classless innovation, the Page 1 ads.

Continue reading Ken Reich by clicking on link below.


Take Back the Times: Patrick Goldstein's Column Should Run In LAT
 
  Tribune Company News
60 Year Los Angeles Times Employee Bob Bagwell
Tribune's profit falls almost 59% - Chicago Business
Preparing to go Private, Tribune's Q2 Falls 58.7% - Paid Content
Tribune quarterly profit, revenue fall - Reuters
Tribune profit slides 58 percent - CNN Money
Advertising Weakness Plagues N.Y. Times and Tribune - Market Watch
Tribune earnings fall 59% on soft advertising revenues - Chicago Tribune
Tribune Profit Falls 59% on Drop in Advertising Sales - Bloomberg
 
  Tribune Shares up this Morning

Tribune Company announced an $.17 per deluted share earnings for the second quater, much better than what was predicted for today. Click on the title for the full report.
Portion of the report.
CHICAGO, July 25, 2007 -- Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB) today reported second quarter 2007 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $.17 compared with $.53 in the second quarter of 2006.

Second quarter 2007 results from continuing operations included the following:

Second quarter 2006 results from continuing operations included the following:

Tribune presents earnings per share amounts on a generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") basis only. This differs from the pro forma earnings per share amounts supplied by broker analysts to databases such as First Call.

"Our second quarter results reflect the difficult advertising environment, although strongcost controls partially offset revenue declines," said Dennis FitzSimons, Tribune chairman,president and chief executive officer. "Publishing was impacted by soft print advertising and comparisons to record real estate spending, particularly in Florida, in 2006. However, second quarter interactive revenues increased 17 percent over the same period last year. In television, the telecom and entertainment categories showed growth. Demand was softacross other categories and there was little political spending versus last year. As we look to Tribune’s second half, year-over-year comparisons will ease and new revenue initiatives are expected to contribute to publishing results. The launch of new CW and syndicated shows will positively impact our television group."

"Our going-private transaction is on track and the financing for it is fully committed,"FitzSimons added. "We anticipate closing the transaction in the fourth quarter, following FCC approval, and expect to be in full compliance with our credit agreements."

 
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
  Another Fifty-Two Week Low for Tribune
Tribune stock set another fifty-two week low this afternoon, losing one dollar per share and closing at $27.17. Let's hope the morning finanicial reports for the company aren't as bad as predicted, or we could see the stock dropping like a rock in morning trading.
 
  For Kanani...One Is Never Too Old
Hey Kanani,

Life never ceases to amaze!

Nubia
 
  Bob Bagwell to Celebrate 60 Years with the Los Angeles Times

On August 4th, 2007 Robert Bagwell will mark sixty years working at the Los Angeles Times.

And I would like to add, Bob started his Times career in the pressroom.

I snapped this picture of Bob with LA Times publisher David Hiller at the celebration for the Times 125th year in business party last year.

Bob Bagwell’s 60th anniversary with the Los Angeles Times celebration is Monday, August 6 from 2:00pm to 6:00pm in the 5th floor salon in the Times Building.

For more information contact Melinda Marquez 213-237-6370
melinda.marquez@latimes.com

A video crew will be on hand at Olympic this Thursday for comments in celebration of this unheard of event, and group photographs will also be taken.

I hope my boss allows me to attend?
 
  Fiction: Memory Of A Friend

Get Lost With Easy-Writer

She was fun. We could talk for hours. Horses, dogs, Irish verse. Myths, memoirs and novels. We would exchange cookies at Christmas. She had a laugh, loud, straight from the belly, almost a guffaw.
 
  Tina Kim Live this Thursday
The Pressroom’s favorite comedian, Tina Kim, will be on stage this Thursday at the J Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Los Angeles.1119 S. Olive Street ------ Los Angeles, CA 90015t

Tickets are $15.00 in advance at www.tinakim.com or $20.00 at the door.

NO DRINK MINIMUMS -- there will be a DJ etc, so you can hang out after the show or before the show.

Doors open at 7:00 PM for my show and my show starts at 8:30 PM. I will have a few opening acts. You can eat at the restaurant if you are hungry or you can order bar food at my show in the lounge. They have great food and cocktails here.

There is free parking on the street, a parking garage across the street from the lounge or valet parking at the lounge, and the prices vary on their valet parking for some reason, anywhere fromfive dollars to ten dollars. Not sure what they are going tocharge for my show but my instinct says ten dollars. I know how you Asians always want to know the price down to the last penny :)

Log onto J Lounge Los Angeles for more information.

I will have a few opening comics and then I will close the show. The whole show with my opening comics will be one and a half hours long.Afterwards you are welcome to stay and hang out with me.

Tickets are $15.00 in advance through my website only in advance orit is $20.00 cash only at the door. Please log onto Tina Kim Shows to get your advance tickets.
 
  Tuesday Morning Media News
Los Angeles Times Olympic PressroomPhoto by Lorie Conover
.
.
Bloggers take aim at city governments - Los Angeles Times
New Opposition Arises to Dow Jones Deal - Wall Street Journal
TRB sale to billionaire Sam Zell may be in trouble - Fly on the Wall
Video: Bernstein and Soboroff - Native Intelligence
Online Newspaper Audiences Up 7.7% From 2006 - MediaPost
Tribune Sale at Issue as Newspaper Woes Mount - Editor & Publisher
What exactly does an editor do? - Salon
 
  Los Angeles Times Explosion 1910
Did union activist bomb the Los Angeles Times or was it the natural gas leak many employees complained about for weeks prior to the explosion?

 
Monday, July 23, 2007
  Tribune Sets New Fifty-two Week Low
Thank God for the weekend, not much happens financially on Saturday and Sunday, but come Monday and the news isn’t good for Tribune employees. Tribune Company stock closed at a record fifty-two week low today on fears of what Tribune will announce on Wednesday, possible historic declines in profits.

Tribune stock closed at $28.17
 
  Monday Media Links
Former LA Times writer Saul Daniels (1968-2006) and Ed

140 Readers Called in Complaints about Front Page Ad's - Chicago Tribune
Cubs Draw Bidders, deal could top $1 Billion - Reuters
Tribune Sale Status at a Glance - Associated Press
Tribune Hits 52 Week Low - ValuePlays
Times Officials Confront Coverage Issues in the Valley - SFVBJ
Reader Representative on why newspapers tweak things - Cleveland.com
Tribune to Report 2nd-Quarter Earnings Wednesday - Associated Press
Cumulus Media in $1.3 bln buyout, radio shares rise -Reuters
Employee's Voice Absent in Tribune ESOP Vote - Save Our Trade
 
  Save Our Trade: Teamsters Shop Steward Training
The Teamsters will be holding a Training Class for Shop Stewards on Saturday September 15th 2007 in Monrovia. Anyone who is interested in becoming a Shop Steward should not miss this class. There is no cost to attend or for training materials you will receive in this course.

This training is open to anyone who is interested in the information it will provide. It will give an understanding of what a shop steward's duties, rights and responsibility's are to the members, and how to enforce our contract, as well as cover the Grievence Process.

If you're interested in attending this training class, contact Ronnie at admin@saveourtrade.com or you can RSVP directly by calling (626) 357-6476

Save Our Trade: Teamsters Shop Steward Training
 
Sunday, July 22, 2007
  Understand the HealthCare Crisis
without Michael Moore.
But enjoy Dr. Hui and Pinky on pinkyshow



And here's more on pinkyshow, which is on YOUTUBE.
 
  Los Angeles Blogosphere Today

Sean Bonner from Blogging L.A. is on vacation and blogging from Japan today.
David Markland is in love with a fellow blogger, and I don't blame him, she's a ten!
Brady Westwater is in love with the new Ralph's Market that opened Friday in downtown Los Angeles.
Kevin Roderick comments on the comments regarding the passing of Theresa Duncun.
Ken Reich revisits his 1958 trip to Italy today.
Nikki Finke has a well deserved day off.
Matt Welch is busy writing his new book and entertains us with videos from the past.
Militant Angeleno blogs about little Armenia and the festival yesterday.
Zuma Dogg is being Zuma Dogg.
Brian Humphrey blogs about a man killed on the subway tracks yesterday.
Kanani Fong reviews a new book, The Penderwicks.
Boi from Troy would like you to buy him a birthday present.
Kate Coe is also enjoying a restful day.
Centinel from Foothill Cities didn't take my advice and got married.
I'm off to Apple Valley for a small family reunion in a few minutes.
 
  Video Blogging at the Los Angeles Times
Several months ago Jacob Soboroff brought his crew to the Times Olympic Plant for his video blog, incase you missed it on Native Intelligence, here’s the footage staring senior vice-president of production, Russ Newton.

 
Saturday, July 21, 2007
  Thanks for returning my Debit Card


My colleague Ed Santos and I share the same locker room and identical combination locks for our lockers. I have been having a very hard time lately opening my lock, and noted Ed was also experiencing the same difficulty.

Last Tuesday before leaving for Los Angeles I made a quick pit stop at Valero for gasoline, a Monster drink, and a pack of Marlboro's, using my Wells Fargo debit card.

On Thursday afternoon I attempted to make a purchase at Albertson's but could not locate my debit card, so I charged my fried chicken and cookies with my Visa Card, before driving to work.

When I returned home from work on Thursday night I looked high and far for my debit card, and somehow became distracted, and forgot about it. Last night I stopped at Walmarts to buy my daughter some shampoo and conditioner, and when I reached the cashier I recalled I did not have my debit card, so I would have to charge the purchase.

Odd thing, my debit card reappeared, so I was able to make my purchase my normal way, and I thought no more of this. Actually chalked it up to my old age.

As I scanned my checking account online I see I'm not senile yet! Someone had indeed taken my debit card from my locker between Tuesday and Friday, how do I know this? There was a purchase of $5.87 at a Yum Yum Donut in East Los Angeles on Wednesday, and I have not visited a Yum Yum or any other donut shop in months.

I guess I should feel lucky I only had to buy donuts for them. Don't leave anything of value in the locker rooms at work, or you may get taken.

UPDATE 10:45 p.m.

Folks, I discovered someone had used my debit card thirty minutes before departing for dinner, across the street from our former production facility in Chatsworth, at the Stone Fire Grill. Saul Daniels, former Los Angeles Times writer, invited the pressmen to a free dinner tonight, and it was great.

As I told my colleagues about my debit card problem, I pulled my small wallet from my pocket and showed everyone where I store my debit card. I then proceeded to show them where I keep my credit card, and discovered it was missing in action.

Seems when our friendly thief returned my debit card; he lifted my Washington Mutual Visa card from my wallet. I had an extremely hard time enjoying my company and the great tasting food at that point, and wondered how much damage could be done?

I had planned to stop by Jesse’s after dinner, but thought I better get home and take care of this matter as soon as possible.

As I logged onto the credit card web site, I held my breath wondering how much of my eleven thousand dollars in credit was spent? To my relief, only $7.06 was applied to my credit card, which was then blocked from any further use.

Last year we had a major problem with thefts at the Times Olympic Plant, several computers vanished, as well as cash from employee lockers, taken while everyone was working. The thief was apprehended, then escorted to the front gate and banned from company property, he could not be terminated because he was an outside contractor.

I would like to know why the Los Angeles Police Department were not called when the thief was caught? Just because someone is in this country without a visa or passport, is no reason to allow them to walk away free. If I catch someone in my locker, I promised they will not be walked to the front gate, they will be carried out.

 
  All Doubt Removed

Mark Twain was quoted as saying
"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt"
If you know me well, my lips are generally moving up and down regarding something I find important, so when I have no audiance in my presence I blog.