In Marjah: Buying From Locals

"When The Hubs was deployed, he purchased scarves, hats, a large rug for the yoga area from the locals, learned Pashto and even tutored the janitor in English."
Read the rest at:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Finding Compassion by Pushing Through Fear

"Since my husband and I started on this military path in full blown middle age, I've had a lot of assumptions smashed. Let's face it. I had loads of wrong impressions about soldiers based on stereotypes that looking at it now --are loaded with prejudice."

Read about the transformation:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Bail Outs Help Zap Military Spouse Tuition

"Thousands of men and women who have signed up for courses will not be able to pay for them. They will have to drop out, delaying the enrichment of their education and the development of their careers."

Read the rest at:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Walter Reed Medical Officers to be disciplined over Hassan: Caduceus bites back

"It seems that the Army has marked medical officers in regard to the retention of Major Hassan. Six, but as many as eight are being held accountable for allowing Major Hassan to continue in his position."
Read The Rest At:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Monk Space presents Après moi, le Déluge

DIRECTIONS <<< Click for map

Monk Space
4408 Second Street
Los Angeles, CA. 90004

Thought For Today 2-27-2010

A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.

David Brinkley

Save Our Trade: Severance Negotiations Conclusion

Save Our Trade: Severance Negotiations Conclusion

Thought For Today 2-26-2010

A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns.

Don Corleone, in The Godfather

The Press Stops: Waco Trib Closes Its Printing Operation

After more than 100 years of printing locally, the Waco Tribune-Herald shuts down its press.

Action at the Los Angeles Times

There's never a dull moment at the Los Angeles Times Production Facility called the Olympic Plant, as noted on the blog LA Now. On Wednesday morning at about 12:30 a.m. a group of six armed robbery suspects crashed into the rear gate of the building with several suspects fleeing onto the property and into the building.

The building was placed on lock down as officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, backed up with SWAT and Sheriffs combed the entire building for the suspects. One suspect was apprehended inside the men's 1st floor locker room with unconfirmed reports of two women being held at bay by our dogs that call our parking lot home.

My colleagues that completed their shifts at 12:30 a.m. were held on site until the suspects were arrested, and the trucks were not allowed to leave the property, causing two trucks to be delayed and not meeting their on time delivery.

On another note, we're now into the new printing time slot's fourth week, and shipped another 45,000 newspapers to the Orange County Los Angeles Times Facility last night, marking four out of four Wednesday's we have required help from our Costa Mesa Plant. The web breaks have eased, but mechanical problems caused the delay last night, as a clutch would not engage properly.

Today should be a much better production day at the newspaper.

Thursday Morning in the Blogosphere

Pressman Gerry Leavenworth with paper handler Margarita

Margarita will be leaving the newspaper on March 15th, 2010

• Fueling Newspaper Sales - E&P in Exile
• Media’s evolving spheres of discovery - Jeff Jarvis
• The Oregonian Lays Off 37 Employees - Fishbowl NY
• Newspapers Lost 105K Jobs Since 2001 - Media Post
• 2010: Layoffs and buyouts at U.S. newspapers - Erica Smith
• What to Do If Your Industry Is on the Way Out - Yahoo Hotjobs
• Chicago Shaw To Outsource Some Printing to Daily Herald - E&P
• Bloggers Are Predominantly Male, College-Educated, Lazy - Pandora
• Deputies arrest 4 robbery suspects at L.A. Times printing plant - LA Times
• Newspaper Layoffs Numbers Down, But Trouble Signs Ahead - News Cycle

Thought For Today 2-25-2010

When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self.

Confucius

Thought For Today 2-24-2010

I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Thought For Today 2-23-2010

Wrongs are often forgiven, but contempt never is. Our pride remembers it forever.

Lord Chesterfield

Thought For Today 2-22-2010

Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

Franklin P. Jones

Save Our Trade: Severance Negotiations Update

Save Our Trade: Severance Negotiations Update

Dinner, Anyone?

Menu: Mixed greens, green beans, mac & cheese, dirty rice, cornbread, baked chicken, sliced tomatoes, beets, peach cobbler. SUNDAY DINNER! I ROLL LIKE THAT:-) LOVED COOKING! HA!

Thought For Today 2-21-2010

There was so much handwriting on the wall that even the wall fell down.

Christopher Morley

Funny Commercial Advertising for a Romanian Newspaper

Mama - Commercial Ad for the Newspaper Academia Catavencu - Romania

Thought For Today 2-20-2010

Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts.

Nikki Giovanni

The Daily Struggle Producing Your Newspaper

The Olympic Facility experienced a much better day yesterday than on Wednesday with half as many web breaks as the previous day. Yet, we fell behind as the presses crashed like domino's once again and shipped forty-two thousand copies to our brothers and sisters in Costa Mesa.

With the majority of production occurring between 4:00 p.m. and midnight I'm left pondering why our press room manager and plant manager are not present, especially during these trying times?

Our press room supervisors are feeling the blunt of the problems, and are extremely lucky to take a break or even have a bite to eat as they're all wearing many hats while at the production facility.

Several colleagues have wondered out loud "What idiot came up with the idea of shuttering the Los Angeles Times Orange County Production Facility?".

Below is a short video on a web break to give the general public an idea of what we're experiencing at the Los Angeles Times on a daily basis.

Tina Kim Headlining at Universal City Walk

Tina Kim Headlining at Universal City Walk- FRI Feb 19th & SAT Feb 20th

Type: Music/Arts - Performance
Date: Saturday, February 20, 2010
Time: 10:00pm - 11:45pm
Location: Jon Lovitz Comedy Club
Street: 1000 Universal Studios Blvd #222
City/Town: Universal City, CA
View Map

I am headlining at the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club. I had a number of complimentary tickets for my FB friends and NOW THEY ARE ALL GONE!!

Frid Feb 19th -- 8:00 PM SOLD OUT NO MORE TICKETS
Sat Feb 20th -- 8 PM SOLD OUT NO MORE TICKETS

Sat Feb 20th -- 10 PM tickets still available to purchase

The regular price for the show is $20.00 at the door or online at www.thejonlovitzcomedyclub.com (they charge a $3.00 convenience fee online) and there is a two item minimum at the show.

I recommend the general parking for $10.00. Park on the 3rd to 5th floors on the Jurassic park levels and when you get out of the parking lot the club is immediately to your left. The easiest actually is to park on the 5th floor.

The club information is below --------

Jon Lovitz Comedy Club is located in the heart of the Universal Studios Citywalk in Hollywood California.

General Parking: $10 after 5pm

Preferred Parking: $20 (Woody Woodpecker Lot)

Friday & Saturday: $7 Valet Club Parking
with validation for the first 90 minutes

plus $3 for each additional 30 min. ($25 Maximum).

Tiger Woods Apologizes to his Fans

Watch CBS News Videos Online


h/t Tina Dupuy

Tribune Company Board of Directors

Samuel Zell
Chairman of Tribune Company


Jeffrey S. Berg
Chairman and CEO of International Creative Management, Inc.


Brian L. Greenspun
Chairman and CEO of The Greenspun Corporation


Betsy D. Holden
Former President of Global Marketing and Category Development
for Kraft Foods


Randy Michaels
CEO of Tribune Company


William A. Osborn
Chairman of Northern Trust Corporation


William Pate
Chief Investment Officer of Equity Group Investments, LLC


Mark Shapiro
President and CEO of Six Flags, Inc.


Maggie Wilderotter
Chairman and CEO of Frontier Communications Corporation


Frank Wood
CEO of Secret Communications

Tribune Company Executive Management Team

Appears some colleagues have no idea whom the leaders of the Tribune Company could be? Here's the list with bio's of each person running the company.

Samuel Zell
Chairman


Randy Michaels
Chief Executive Officer


Gerald Spector
Chief Operating Officer


Lee Abrams
Senior Vice President and Chief Innovations Officer


Chandler Bigelow
Chief Financial Officer


Marc Chase
President Tribune Interactive


Donald J. Liebentritt
Executive Vice President and General Counsel


Gary Weitman
Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations


Ed Wilson
Chief Revenue Officer, Tribune Company,
and President Tribune Broadcasting

Hot off the press

Behind the scenes: The making of The Baptist Times. The newspaper is produced every week from our offices in Didcot but printed in Newbury. This is a short tour around the print works.

Sun Sentinel production employee gets $25,000 bonus for his million-dollar suggestion

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 11:04 AM
Subject: Message from Randy and Gerry/Rewarding Performance

Yesterday morning at the Sun Sentinel, Publisher Howard Greenberg handed out one of the largest spot bonuses in Tribune's history -- $25,000 and a 7-day cruise to the Caribbean -- to Bob Simons, a production maintenance manager for the newspaper. Last spring, as the Sun Sentinel was replacing some outdated equipment, Bob did something we want all our employees to do-he spoke up. He suggested that there was another supplier the company should talk to before finalizing the purchase.

Bob's suggestion wound up saving the Sun Sentinel more than $1 million. But, the story doesn't end there. The Los Angeles Times was engaged in a similar process, replacing equipment at its printing plant. The vendor Bob suggested helped out there, too, resulting in additional savings.

Bob acted like an owner would-he took initiative and he helped save the company a lot of money. Our success as a company going forward is going to be defined, in part, by everyone acting a little bit more like an owner, and we've told our managers that when they find outstanding performance to highlight it and reward it. You'll see more spot bonuses in the months ahead.

One person really can make a difference. Just ask Bob.

Randy and Gerry

SOURCE: Romenesko

Thought For Today 2-19-2010

One moment of patience may ward off great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life.

Chinese Proverb

Friday Morning in the Blogosphere

Paper Handler Darryl Landis
leaving the newspaper on March 15th.

• ‘They Got Me’ - Paul Oberjuerge
• Tiger, Tiger, Spinning Bright? - E&P in Exile
• Layoffs at the Ventura County Star - Gary Scott
• An LA Reporter’s War Stories - Celeste Fremon
• Next to the gallows: Newspaper coupons - Jeff Jarvis
• Survey: Paying for online content a tough sell - SF Gate
• Panic at City Hall -- Start the Recall Petitions! - Ron Kaye
• Darrington paper to cease publication in March - Herald Net
• What Great Bosses Know about True Motivation - Romenesko
• Lee Enterprises Reports Improvement in Revenue Trends - Market Watch

Memo from Tribune execs re reorg plan deadline

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2010 12:01 PM
Subject: Message from Randy and Gerry/Court Hearing Today

Today the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware agreed to give us until March 31 to submit our plan of reorganization to the Court. Although we are close to filing a plan, we think that additional discussion with our creditors will be beneficial. We're still hopeful of reaching a settlement that is acceptable to all our creditors and we believe we are making progress.

The Court will hear arguments on motions related to Tribune's 2007 going-private transaction and a request to appoint a special examiner on April 13.

There will be some media coverage of today's court hearing, and during the next several weeks you can expect to see continued public posturing as negotiations continue. This is not unusual. As you have throughout this process, please stay focused on your job-continuing to serve our users, readers, viewers, listeners and advertisers.

We'll continue to keep you updated in the days ahead.

Randy and Gerry

SOURCE: Romenesko

Keep the Orange County Plant Running

Now that we're into the third week of the new time formats for the main news sections of the newspaper being printed we had better keep the Orange County Production Facility open at least till the end of this year, with the infrastructure of the Olympic Production Facility in limbo.

Yesterday we experienced twenty-four web breaks and had to transfer eighty thousand copies from the Olympic Facility to the Costa Mesa Facility, also known as the Orange County Plant.

With a plate starter at 5:34 p.m. we still could not produce our allotment of newspapers in time to print the stand alone LAT Extra Section at 11:30 p.m.

Everyone working at the Olympic Facility is leaving the place tired, as we run up and down the mammoth superstructures of the printing presses. We have cut manning to the point even the press room manager, Johnny Walker, is now working as a pressman on the mighty presses making reel changes. Crew supervisors are installing printing plates and making lunch reliefs as there are not enough men and women needed to get everyone a thirty minute lunch break.

I have been questioned regarding the start times of the next day's publication, due to missing sports scores and stories, here's how it's supposed to run:

Sunday through Tuesday the schedules remain the same, the newspaper is printed between 11:00p.m. and midnight.

Wednesday through Friday the main sections begin production at 6:00 p.m., with the LAT Extra printed after 11:30 p.m. as a separate section, with updated news.

Saturday night the press run begins at 10:00 p.m. instead of 11:30 p.m., and replates are only mounted when the presses break down, and they break down often.

As I said, the Los Angeles Times had better think twice about closing the Orange County Facility at this time, or we might not get the paper out.

Tribune Company Bankruptcy Prolonged AGAIN!

Yes it's true, the bankruptcy proceedings for the Tribune Company have been extended till March 31st, 2010 for a third delay. Chatter in the Blogosphere claims the Tribune Company will not emerge from bankruptcy untill August, 2010.

Full article at Reuters

Thought For Today 2-18-2010

True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Independent examiner sought in Tribune bankruptcy case - chicagotribune.com

Independent examiner sought in Tribune bankruptcy case - chicagotribune.com

Posted using ShareThis

Thought For Today 2-17-2010

"You can't decide what others will do, but you can choose how you respond. Never give away that power."

Bette Dowdell

When life hands you lemons …

Erica Smith spends a lot of time reading about and talking about and blogging about layoffs. A lot of time.

“Lemonade” is a documentary about 16 advertising professionals who were laid off, and discovered new dreams. It’s quite inspiring. Watch the whole thing here:

Tuesday Night in the Blogosphere

Pressmen Mel Porchia and Lyle Myles

• Buzz: A beta too soon - Jeff Jarvis
• NYT caught cheating - Mark Lacter
• Major Shakeups at Gawker - Fishbowl LA
• 90 Year Old Paperboy Still at it - Daily Mail
• What I’ve Learned from Driving in L.A. - Travis Koplow
• Some Newsrooms Persist in Costly Fight for Records - NYT
• Publishers Find a Tenuous Balance - Newspaper Death Watch
• Ex-editor rips idea that LATExtra is innovation - Kevin Roderick
• Anonymity is no guarantee in online postings - Political Wrinkles
• Newspapers finish 14th straight revenue-losing quarter - Nieman Lab

Thought For Today 2-16-2010

He that never changes his opinions, never corrects his mistakes, will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today.

Tryon Edwards

Thought For Today 2-15-2010

People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes.

Abigail Van Buren

Thought For Today 2-14-2010

All love that has not friendship for its base,
Is like a mansion built upon the sand.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Thought For Today 2-13-2010

The heart has eyes which the brain knows nothing of.

Charles H. Berkhurst

War, Writing, and Poetry: Finding Hope

Each Friday I put up a post about writing. This is how poetry can help us find that sliver of light when we need it.
Read it here:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Friday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Los Angeles Times Pressman Cesar Calderon with Electro-Tech Terry Domingo

• Not plagiarism, just mixed up - Gary Scott
• Akron Beacon Journal Guild authorizes strike - WKYC
• More Layoffs at the New York Times Co.? - The Wrap
• "Internet Media Corporation" Sues Tribune Company - IMC
• Dan Neil Speaks to Zell in His Own Language - Tina Dupuy
• Publishers Find a Tenuous Balance - Newspaper Death Watch
• U-T taps O.C. newspaper exec as new editor - Sign on San Diego
• Berkeley Daily Planet to Cease Print Publication - East Bay Express
• Outside.in signs deals with newspaper publishers - Citizen Publishing
• LA Times Columnist's 'FU' To His 'Jackass' Newspaper Boss - B Union News

Farewell Dan Neil

Los Angeles Times automotive critic Dan Neil will be departing the newspaper this afternoon. His farewell letter said what many LA Times employees would like to say to Tribune Company management!

Thought For Today 2-12-2010

No one, Eleanor Roosevelt said, can make you feel inferior without your consent. Never give it.

Marian Wright Edelman

Dan Neil Leaving the Los Angeles Times

From: Neil, Dan
Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 2:54 PM
To: yyeditall
Subject: Dan Neil on the bounce


Friends, colleagues, brothers and sisters,

In the past week or so people have come up to me and said words to the effect: “The Journal, huh? Sinking ship and all that?” And I just want to slam their heads in a car door.

I absolutely love this newspaper and I am immensely proud of my association with it. People who talk shit about the LA Times to me are going to find me in their grille in a major way.

Maybe you don’t know this story. In November 2002 I had just come through an awful divorce (we pronounce that DEE-vorce in North Carolina). I was sitting heartbroken and alone in a villa in the south of France, on some godforsaken travel assignment, contemplating the taste of gunpowder. Nobody knew where I was. The phone rang. It was former editor John Carroll, who had somehow tracked me down. He wanted me to come to Los Angeles and be the paper’s car critic.

Well, I said to him, as it happens my schedule has just opened up.

It was the beginning of the most wonderful professional experience of my life, the most fun, the most satisfying, the most intellectually challenging. This placed saved me. It made me.

It’s been a rough few years here, mainly because of the jackasses in Chicago who own us. To them I say, with as much gusto as I can muster in an email, fuck you.

On a happier note, there’s not a person in this building I do not like, if not love. The paper has more greatness ahead of it, and I’ll be watching from the east coast and rooting you on.

If you are able and inclined, there’s a beer call at Redwood tomorrow, around 5 pm. Hope to see you there.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Dan Neil

-30-

SOURCE: Kevin Roderick

Corporate Video Bermont

Corporate video for Bermont, the biggest European Newspaper Printer in Spain.
Editing and voice over by Angela Hoyos.

Thought For Today 2-11-2010

It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Newsday union leaders to meet with management to review paper's financials

Local 406 press release

Newsday Union to Meet with Management on Newspaper’s Financial Status


February 8, 2010, Melville, NY – Newsday union leaders will meet with management Tuesday afternoon to examine the paper's financial status in preparation for talks aimed at procuring fair terms for the workers who report, photograph, edit, produce and deliver the Long Island paper every day.

George Tedeschi, the president of the Graphic Communications Conference of the Teamsters Union, will lead talks for Local 406 GCC/IBT. Bruce Lambert, a former Newsday reporter who helped launch the editorial unit of Local 406 in 1976 and was a union vice president for more than two decades, will assist him.

Others who are expected to participate in the talks are Joe Molinero, director of the Teamsters Newspaper, Magazine, and Electronic Media Workers Division, and Jim Kimball, director of the Teamsters Economics and Contracts Department.

On Jan. 23, Local 406 overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to reduce salaries by 10 percent to 15 percent, cut vacations, and lengthen the workweek.

After the 473-10 vote, Local 406 members have been displaying solidarity by wearing the same color on chosen days. The group expects the spontaneous color events to continue through the talks.

Union leaders said they stand ready, as in the past, to help Newsday management, which says the paper is financially troubled. A union accountant is ready to examine Newsday's financial statements when the paper agrees to release them. Local 406 looks forward to obtaining fair working conditions for Newsday's 550 reporters, photographers, editors, press operators, plate makers, electronic pre-press workers, truck drivers and building and maintenance workers.

SOURCE: Romenesko

Times Record Printing Press

Pressmen demonstrates the printing process at the Times Record newspaper in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Wednesday Morning in the Blogosphere

Another father son team at the newspaper, Pressman Mike Randall with Paper Pusher

son Mike Randall . Young Randall Jr. will be leaving the paper on March 15th, 2010

• What Toyota should do - Jeff Jarvis
• Seattle Times restructures debt - Seattle Times
• The Star Tribune newsroom's 'Thank You' ad - MinnPost
• Newspapers cut staff and are unable to print in Haiti - CPJ
• J-Schools Get an F in Finance - Newspaper Death Watch
• NEWSDAY UNION CHANGES NEGOTIATORS - Media News
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch contract talks turn ‘acrimonious’ - SLBJ
• iBusinessreporting promises transparency - Los Angeles Times
• “All Roads No Longer Lead To Print” - New Haven Independant
• Times Company Reports Profit for Quarter and Year - New York Times

Thought For Today 2-10-2010

Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him.

Booker T. Washington

Thought For Today 2-9-2010

To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well.

John Marshall

Women and PTSD

"I think to an extent, there was also a social component in this: women are expected to muddle through even the worst of times.
Read the rest at:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Thought For Today 2-8-2010

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

Denis Waitley

War and the Art of Waiting

"There was a message from a friend. She hadn't heard from her Marine, and her comfort level was being stretched."
Read the rest at:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Photo: A boy climbs a rocky hillside followed by his donkey, outside of Camp Wright in Kunar, Afghanistan. Photo by my husband.

You Have Woman, I Have 50 Turkeys, and Jack Bauer: A Luddite

Related Afghanistan story to a high tech Navy conference I attended in San Diego.

"A farmer offered the Commander of their base 50 turkeys if they'd sell him their Lieutenant."

Read the rest at:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Thought For Today 2-7-2010

Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price.

Vince Lombardi

Thought For Today 2-6-2010

The happiness that is genuinely satisfying is accompanied by the fullest exercise of our faculties and the fullest realization of the world in which we live.

Bertrand Russell

War and the Art of Waiting

"....war has left me with an ineffable wallop, as if I've been punched in the gut. It's like always having an odd taste in my mouth: no matter how many times I brush my teeth or gargle, no matter how many mints I pop, it's still there."
Read the rest at:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Saturday Morning in the Blogosphere

Twenty-three years at the Los Angeles Times, James Vasquez,
will be leaving the newspaper next month

• Tweet and Sour - E&P in Exile
• Chico paper to charge - Mark Lacter
• Mapping the ‘drunkest’ cities - Erica Smith
• Who will publish the new news? - The Gazette
• Copy editors: the disappearing gatekeepers - inVocus
• News-Press ordered to pay former editor - Gary Scott
• NewBizNews: What ad sales people hear - Jeff Jarvis
• James Rainey And Tina Dupuy Are Talking About You - Pandora
• Magazines That Cut Subscription Prices Lose Subscribers - Ad Age
• Newspapers continue fight to co-exist with the Internet - Tampa Bay BJ
  

On the Job with a Pressman

Kenda Williams from the Savannah Morning News wrote an interesting article on pressroom supervisor Daren Howard that I'm certain my colleagues at the Los Angeles Times will enjoy reading.

The article explains how and what a pressman does to create the magic of a newspaper daily, in Mr. Howard's own words.

Included are still photographs and an entertaining short video.

I would enjoy it if our publisher Eddy Hartenstein sent a reporter over to the Olympic Production Facility for an article on our pressroom, with an interview of our press manager Johnny Walker. How about it Eddy?

Click here or on title to enjoy this article.

Photo Credit: John Carrington/Savannah Morning News

Black History - Tribute to Martin Luther King

Our tribute to Martin Luther King in Celebration of Black History Month

Harlem black history clip for black history month

Friday Morning in the Blogosphere

Los Angeles Times Pressmen Wayne Padelford and Sean Greer
Both men will be let go on March 15th, 2010

• Caught in a blind spot - Los Angeles Times
• Pressman Jobs in California - iHire Printing
• Journalist To Novelist In One Step - TJ Sullivan
• An Open Letter to Our Fellow Americans - Marc Cooper
• OURstory: Rosa Parks (1913-2005) - Electronic Village
• Judge Approves Tribune Co. Bonuses - Save Our Trade
• Chicago Tribune announces format changes - Editors Weblog
• Dan Neil, Zitner jump from LAT to Wall Street Journal - Kevin Roderick
• Star Tribune staffers pony up $3,225 to honor ex-colleagues - MinnPost
• Historic Newspapers: The Los Angeles Herald, Circa 1904 - Franklin Ave

Tribune Employees and FSA's

Just a little reminder to Tribune Company Employees that have lost or will be losing their employment, use your flexible spending account or lose it.

From Kiplinger: I've been contributing $200 per month to my health-care flexible spending account, but it looks as though I might get laid off soon. Could I spend the full $2,400 that I had planned to contribute for the year, or just the $600 that I've contributed so far?

There's good news and bad news about FSA contributions. On the bright side, you can use the full $2,400 for eligible medical expenses at any time -- even if you lose your job before the year is over. "An employer cannot ask for the money back in most cases, unless the plan is written in a certain way, which is highly unusual," says Jody Dietel, chief compliance officer for WageWorks, which administers FSAs for many large employers. Ask your employer about the rules before you spend the extra money.

From the Los Angeles Times: Here's another thing to remember, Billet says: The full amount you allocate is available to you Jan. 1, even though you'll only just be starting the payroll deductions then. So if you think you could lose your job before 2010 ends, consider spending the full amount soon -- you won't have to pay it back. And if you do get laid off and have not been reimbursed for funds you spent, you can still file to be reimbursed any time before the plan year ends.

Exposing The Phoney War On Drugs !!!

Jonathan Perri, writing for the Los Angeles Times, declares the war against drugs a dismal failure. Perri mentions an op-ed penned by D.A.R.E. America Chairman Skip Miller who claims his organization has reduced illegal drug usage by Americas children.

One has to ask what is Mr. Miller smoking?

Perri notes that D.A.R.E. and other such educational programs have in fact not reduced drug use. But in reality, our drug laws have failed to stop marijuana use among American youth but have succeeded in punishing them with damning criminal records, loss of financial aid for college and removal from after-school activities. As a graduate of D.A.R.E., I know all too well about the shortcomings of this program and of Americas war on marijuana, writes Perri.

A casual glance at the so-called war on drugs reminds one of Einsteins famous quip — insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Arresting and throwing recreational drug users in prison — primarily for possessing and smoking marijuana — will not win the supposed war. It simply creates a class of criminals where none existed before

Changes in Production at the Los Angeles Times

The second day of the new production schedule at the Los Angeles Times Olympic Facility ran much more efficient then the first day, yet communications are still in need of improvement among staff in the press room.

Yesterday I was informed one truck load of newspapers arrived rather late (4:30 a.m.) to the distributor, this was not due to the Orange County and Olympic press rooms but a lost truck driver. No reports of late newspapers this morning, which is a positive sign.

With so many press runs running concurrently time seems to flow very quickly while working at the newspaper, our shifts are over at a blink of the eye.

Today's shift will be the biggest test of all as the press room is a very busy place on Friday's as we prepare Saturday's newspaper and the Sunday edition as well.

Word heard in the press room: "We should keep the Orange County Press room running, we need their help".

Thought For Today 2-5-2010

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it. If you think about that you will do things differently.

Warren Buffett

Los Angeles Times Extra Section

The Los Angeles Times launched a new section this week titled LATExtra for late breaking news. The Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday edition is produced with the regular newspaper the night before publication.

On Wednesday the news section was produced at 6:00 p.m., with the sports and LATExtra sections produced after 11:30 p.m. with the latest news and sports updates.

Unfortunately for the press room everything did not go as anticipated, with many delays while attempting to print several sections of the newspaper while also preparing for the new late night editions.

The pressmen at the Los Angeles Times are a bright group of men and women, always seeking ways to streamline production, while attempting to appease management. So there will be a learning curve as different methods of producing the newspaper are tested to find solutions for the lack of time and personnel producing your favorite newspaper.

Moving the start times ahead by five hours to produce the the A Section opens the window of time for printing the following days newspaper, but it's at a very harried pace, which I hope eases with time. Management in the press room needs to take a step back and allow the press operators room to experiment, without the fear of repercussions for trying something new that may produce positive or negative results.

Here at the Olympic Press Room activity is extremely high with many different groups of men converting the presses to 44 inches. The men from Pressline are working seven days per week, 12 to 14 hours everyday, as many different componets are altered. The roller crew is also on hand swapping the rubber rollers out for narrower rollers, and there are hundreds of rollers to be changed. The iron workers are preparing units 6 and 7 for the addition of color couples, which will add eight addition full color pages to the newspaper, they are also working seven days per week.

The parking lot at Olympic is filled with cars, just as it was in better times.

Jeff Prescott said "If they just slapped "Metro" on the 'new' section, nobody outside of the Romenesko Tribe would know the difference."

We agree with Mr. Prescott.

Really Funny Newspaper Commercial

h/t E&P in Exile

Thursday Morning in the Blogosphere

Edward with writer Joseph Mailander.
Happy birthday Joseph

• Four in the morning - Gary Scott
• Staff shifts at the L.A. Times - Kevin Roderick
• OURstory: 15th Amendment - Electronic Village
• The Inexplicable Love of Writing - Celeste Fremon
• The World's Most Generic News Report - Jour MO2
• Good news for newspapers - for a change - The Star
• Spreadsheet Journalism - Newspaper Death Watch
• Blogging is for old people, Pew report finds - SF Gate
• Acting Your Age Continues To Be A Felony - Advice Goddess
• Local newspaper Lakeland Echo closes print edition - Editors Weblog

Thought For Today 2-4-2010

Those truly linked don't need correspondence. When they meet again after many years apart, their friendship is as true as ever.

Deng Ming-Dao

Thought For Today 2-3-2010

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything they have!

Tuesday Morning in the Blogosphere

Pressmen Mike Randall and Art Sanchez

• For what it's worth - Gary Scott
• Gannett Reports Profit for 4Q - E&P in Exile
• Tribune Reorg Faces More Hurdles - Paid Content
• What Happens to Your FSA If You're Laid Off - Kiplinger
• LA Times To Freelancers: Write Less, Please - Pandora
• If you think you could lose your job before 2010 ends - LA Times
• L.A. Times changes its look on readers again - Kevin Roderick
• Newsday Paywall Nets Just 35 Subs - Newspaper Death Watch
• LAT curtails print edition amid recession, falling readership - TanTao News
• Unsecured creditors seek to challenge Tribune Co. buyout - Chicago Tribune

Thought For Today 2-2-2010

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.

Carl Jung

Gratitude: Overlooked but essential

Very Important. Get in on The Gratitude Thread over on my blog. Let us know what you're grateful for!
Read it and respond to it here:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Thought For Today 2-1-2010

Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it is only good for wallowing in.

Katherine Mansfield