Project Valour I.T.

Project Valour I.T. was started by a nonprofit organization in Altadena, California called Soldier's Angels. Funds raised by Project Valour I.t. supply voice-controlled laptops and other technology that supports the physical and psychological recovery of wounded veterans.

"Voice-controlled Laptops - Operated by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.Wii Video Game Systems - Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions.Personal GPS - Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to TBI and severe PTSD."

Please give to the project by clicking on the logo above. Right now, Project Valour I.T. is out of cash. The Department of Defense has decided to send voice activated software to injured soldiers, however, unless they have a laptop, they will be unable to use it. Project Valour I.T. is trying to raise $250k by Thanksgiving in order to make their use of the software possible.

"Due to the great hearts (sponsors, donors, volunteers and others too numerous to mention) within Soldiers Angels I have become more mobile in my rehabilitation and the laptop is absolutely one of the tools that I have in my recovery toolbox. I use it to keep current on my schedule and have several applications that assist with recovery."

Kanani Fong

Little Blogging Due Too....

I'm off to the Los Angeles Press Club in a few moments to hear the rock and roller Lee Abrams speak, so there will be little time for blogging tonight.

Never Know Whom You Might Meet?

What a fantastic day this has turned out to be so far, which I assumed would be rather similar to any other Thursday with only a different date.

Our press run of the Sunday Calendar section went extremely well with all four crews having flawless runs and completing our 780,000 copies in record time, which keeps our managers happy and away from the presses.

After work I drove over to Times Mirror Square to purchase the Obama printing plates for friends and family, and was shocked to see the price had doubled to $10.00 for employees and $20.00 for the general public. Let’s hope the Times marketing Department is prepared for the rush after the inauguration, I’m certain there will be a repeat of what we experienced after the election.

As I walked into the Times Company Store I caught sight of Sandy Banks, and not wanting to ogle her too much, I asked a young lady next to me if this was indeed Ms. Banks, to insure she was the veteran Times writer? And apparently I was asking the wrong person as she replied “Who’s Sandy Banks?” One of the young ladies working in the store overheard my question, and came to my aid with “Yes, that’s Sandy, I checked her employee badge before she made her purchase”.

Not knowing how Ms. Banks would react to a common pressman and a stranger, I said hello Sandy, I’m a big fan of your column. And after fifteen minutes of chatting she agreed to a few photographs with the Blogging Pressman. So if you happen to cross paths with Sandy Banks say hello as she is very friendly. Really made my day that much brighter.

Thank you Sandy

You can read Sandy Banks column here.

Tribune Employees Benefits Enrollment

The following hard copy message was left for me with much of the text absent this morning, which prompted me to insert adlibbed text.

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 8:43 AM
Subject: Message from Mike Bourgon/Benefits Enrollment Nov. 10 – 21

As a reminder, open enrollment for 2009 benefits is being held Nov. 10 – 21. This year we’re conducting an open enrollment. That means if you don’t make elections, we’ll make every effort to default you into the plans that match what you have currently.

Beginning Jan. 1, all of Tribune’s health and wellness benefits will be offered exclusively through UnitedHealthCare, to learn more about UHC and locate your physician in the network by visiting www.myuhc.com/groups/tribune or at 800/243-0656.

As in previous years, everyone will enroll on eBenefits via www.tribuneathome.com or TribLink (you’ll need your username and password to log on). Be sure to select the Sign Out icon when you have completed your enrollment and print your elections from eBenefits – you won’t receive a confirmation statement at your home.

Additional information about the changes for 2009 is available on eBenefits. If you have any questions about enrolling contact Tribune Benefits Service Center at 800/877-2222.

Mike Bourgon
VP/Human Resources

Wednesday Night Links

Cafe Oly Chef Mohini with Press Operator Amalia Martinez

Photo credit Charlie Packard

• Fake New York Times - Gary Scott
• Change of plans at LAT - Kevin Roderick
• The last thing newspapers need - Jeff Jarvis
• 11 Weekly Newspapers Could Be Closed - Courant
• 2008 total: 13,048+ newspaper jobs lost - Paper Cuts
• Missing LA Times Clock Just Very Worn Out - Curbed LA
• “Any Idiot Can Do This” - Michael Rosenblum - Meta Printer
• Repeal 8 efforts continue in advance of 11/15 Rally - Frazgo
• Minnesota Independent makes post-election cuts - MinnPost
• Two Visions of the Future of Media - Newspaper Death Watch
• Tribune's Rating Cut by S&P on Concern Over Cubs Sale - Bloomberg

Mitch Mitchell Rest in Peace

The widely acclaimed drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience of the 1960's and last surviving member of the famous group, Mitch Mitchell passed away at 61 today.

The legendary Mitch Mitchell pioneered a style of drumming, which would later become known as fusion. This is a "lead" style of playing distinguished by interplay with lead instruments such as guitar or keyboards, and the melding of jazz and rock drumming styles.Alongside Hendrix's revolutionary guitar work and songwriting, Mitchell's playing helped redefine rock music drumming.

Mitch Mitchell playing style is like one big solo and sounds far more impressive when its not intended to be.

He does everything he needs within the songs.

Mitch Mitchell, the best, the intuitive,the creator of the fusion, the inovator and versatile drummer ever.


Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze - Live - Atlanta 07.04.70

Los Angeles Times Summer Internship

Company: Los Angeles Times
Industry: Newspapers/Wires
Experience: Not Specified
Location: California
Salary: Paid
Ad Expires: December 10, 2008
Job ID: 994062

Los Angeles Times Summer Internship Program

Interested in working with some of the best reporters and editors around? We offer 10 weeks of intensive, hands-on experience in a region where big stories are the norm. We place interns throughout the paper – Metro, Sports, Business, Features, latimes.com, and Page Design. (Photographers, please note there is a separate application process.) These paid internships run from mid-June to late August.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be actively working toward a college degree in the U.S. Graduates may be eligible if you’ve finished school within six months of the start of the internship. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and access to a car in good working condition. Little training is offered, so previous internship experience is preferred.

TO APPLY: Please submit a cover letter, resume, a one-page personal essay, up to 12 work samples and a list of three references.

DEADLINE: Applications must be postmarked by Jan. 1, 2009.

SEND TO: Randy Hagihara, Senior Editor for Recruitment, 202 W. 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

For further information, contact Hagihara at 1-800-LATIMES, Ext. 77992 or at randy.hagihara @ latimes.com.

Contact e-mail: randy.hagihara @ latimes.com

How Californians Voted

Have you wondered how your city voted on proposition 8 or the many other propositions? Well the Los Angeles Times has a county-by-county breakdown of every county in California, and how they voted on this controversial proposition and the other important measures. Once a county is selected the statistics are further broke down city-by-city. My city, San Dimas, was not very hard to predict regarding prop 8, with so many signs upon the lawns of my town. Check your county here.

Veterans Day News

• Veterans Day 2008 - Ace of Spades
• Veteran’s Day - Altadena Above it All
• Veteran's Day: Thank You - Easy-Writer
• History of Veterans Day - Electronic Village
• Veterans Day Photo Gallery - Los Angeles Times
• Veterans Day and the Semper Fi Fund - Hugh Hewitt
• Bush Honors Vets Aboard USS Intrepid In NYC - CBS2
• History of Veterans Day - Department of Veteran Affairs
• Happy Veterans' Day? Thank You Veterans Day - Tina Dupuy
• Councilwoman Jan Perry to honor skid row veterans - Don Garza

A True Veterans Day

To honor Veteran's Day correspondent Seth Doane is in Las Vegas, where one of the richest men in the world is on a mission to make our troops a priority again.

Lee Abrams at the LA Press Club

Controversial Tribune innovations chief Lee Abrams and former Daily News editor Ron Kaye, who now runs the RonKayeLA news site, will discuss "The Future of News" at the Los Angeles Press Club at 7 p.m. this Thursday, Nov. 13. Everyone is welcome.

The Chicago-based Abrams, in his first L.A. appearance, is sure to talk about the changes he recently advocated for the Los Angeles Times and how he would change Tribune's other big property, KTLA-TV. The panel will be moderated Ezra Palmer, former managing editor of Yahoo News and a Wall Street Journal veteran. Please come!

The event will be held in the Press Club's headquarters in the Center for Inquiry West/Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., two blocks west of Vermont, in Los Feliz. Plenty of free parking. Metro: Red Line (Sunset/Vermont Station). Free to press club members (rsvp@lapressclub.org) -- others $10 prepaid or $20 at the door. Students $3 prepaid or $5 at the door. Click here to purchase tickets online.

Tribune Press Release

Tribune Reports 2008 Third Quarter Results

CHICAGO, November 10, 2008 -- Tribune Company today reported a third quarter 2008 loss from continuing operations of $124 million compared with income from continuing operations of $84 million in the third quarter of 2007.

Tribune also reported income from discontinued operations of $3 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared with income from discontinued operations of $69 million in the third quarter of 2007.

“We are operating in an exceptionally difficult financial and economic environment,” commented Sam Zell, Tribune chairman and CEO. “The newspaper industry continues to see extraordinary declines in ad revenues, and Tribune is no exception. But, we continue to aggressively pursue our operating strategy, and to tightly manage the factors that are within our control. Internally, we have established momentum on developing new initiatives and our culture now reflects that focus and mindset."

THIRD QUARTER 2008 RESULTS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS1
(Compared to Third Quarter 2007)

Complete report can be viewed here.

LATimes.com Sets New Record

From: Artley, Meredith (pictured)
Sent: Friday, November 07, 2008
To: zzTrbAllHandsLAT
Subject: Big Web Picture

Colleagues: Our online readership is growing all the time. We broke some more records, with 139 million page views for October and 24 million unique users. But let’s not bury the lede, as they say.

On election day we had 8.36 million page views, breaking the previous daily traffic record of 8.2 million set during the October ’07 fires. So we have a new daily record, right? Not so fast. The following day, Nov. 5, we drew in even more readers with our coverage of Prop. 8, reaching more than 10.2 million page views. All of these numbers serve to illustrate that what so many of you are doing is resonating in very significant ways, at a time when readers have more choices than ever.

Highlights of our election coverage included our interactive, real-time “How California voted” map that was second only to the homepage on Nov. 4 and 5 (thanks, Fishbowl LA, for the compliment). There was also a real-time results map for the nation, plus wonderful photos and video and up-to-the minute, expertly edited articles and blog posts. Dozens and dozens of our talented colleagues from every key department worked together and created a unique site and service. The planning and execution were uncannily smooth for such a big event.

We had other great successes way back in October, including great coverage of the fires with a Google map that had live updates on traffic, evacuations and school closures. Pop & Hiss launched, our new music blog with our best and brightest voices. Don Bartletti and John Vandewege produced a stunning video with Marjorie Miller’s Harris fire stories. Even if the Dodgers let us down, great coverage of the series and accompanying multimedia did not disappoint. A strong presentation for the Gangster series, the launch of a central page for all data projects and fun Halloween coverage in The Guide rounded out a strong month. On to the lists….

Top Blogs for October

Blog readership also hit a high in October, and eight blogs marked individual records – look for the asterisks. Guess who’s at the top of the ticket list…

1. The Ticket: 4,292,969 *
2. Dish Rag: 1,967,750
3. Show Tracker: 1,033,794
4. Countdown to Crawford *
5. Fabulous Forum (first full month)
6. Hero Complex *
7. L.A. Now
8. L.A. Land
9. Web Scout
10. Money & Co. *
11. Lakers
12. All the Rage *
13. Tech Blog
14. Daily Travel & Deal Blog
15. Big Picture
16. Entertainment News & Buzz *
17. Homicide Report
18. Booster Shots
19. Up to Speed *
20. Gold Derby

Most-viewed articles

1. Father kills family and himself, despondent over financial losses (Richard Winton, Evelyn Larrubia and Kimi Yoshino)

2. Schwarzenegger to U.S.: State may need $7-billion loan (Marc Lifsher and Evan Halper)

3. Effigy of Sarah Palin hanging by a noose creates uproar in West Hollywood (Victoria Kim)

4. McCain campaign accuses L.A. Times of 'suppressing' Obama video (staff)

5. Mishaps mark John McCain's record as naval aviator (Ralph Vartabedian and Richard A. Serrano)

6. Allies of Palestinians see a friend in Barack Obama (Peter Wallsten) (April story in news)

7. Frank talk of Obama and race in Virginia (Peter Wallsten)

8. Steve Schmidt: The driving force behind John McCain (Dan Morain and Bob Drogin)

9. Sarah Palin's husband, Todd, was a fixture at governor's office (Kim Murphy)

10. Voters say they were duped into registering as Republicans (Evan Halper and Michael Rothfeld)

Top photo galleries

1. The men (and women) of Madonna
2. Celebrities by The Times
3. Celebrity ink
4. Late night politics: A crazy week in review
5. The Guide: Mobile and Manufactured Communities in Malibu
6. Marek and Sesnon fires
7. Comparing airlines Airbus A380s
8. Hollywood splits: telltale signs
9. Mongols motorcycle gang sweep
10. Celebrity Halloween costumes

Top 10 videos for October

1. Tissue thin ‘buckypaper’ stronger than steel - AP
2. Halloween effigy of Sarah Palin causes controversy - KTLA
3. OJ Simpson found guilty - AP
4. Deputy charged with sexual torture in attack on wife and lover - KTLA
5. Controversial Obama cartoon called racist - KTLA
6. Southland biker gang target of ‘sweep’ - KTLA
7. O.J. Simpson could serve life after being found guilty on all charges - AP
8. Morning Update: Man punches girl at local McDonalds - KTLA
9. Barack Obama makes 'Daily Show' appearance - AP
10. Leo Nordine, zen master foreclosure king – LAT (video by Sachi Cunningham)

Special bonus list: The top 20 pages on our site on Nov. 5 (our highest-trafficked day ever)

1. Homepage -- 2,292,075 PVs -- 22.65% of total site traffic
2. Interactive Map: How California Voted California Map -- 811,809 -- 8.02%
3. Photo Gallery (ent): Best and worst of ’08 campaign -- 534,298 -- 5.28%
4. Photo Gallery (autos): Presidential cars then and now
5. Article: California voters approve Proposition 8
6. Article: Gay marriage ban leading
7. Blog: Top of the Ticket
8. Article: Voters approve Proposition 8
9. Main section: California
10. Blog: L.A. Now
11. Search
12. Subsection: Local Politics
13. Article: Gay-rights advocates to challenge Proposition 8
14. Interactive Map: U.S. state-by-state results
15. Article: California propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot
16. Photo Gallery: Obama’s victory: Newspaper covers from around the world
17. Games site
18. Photo Gallery: Proposition 8: Waiting on results
19. Article: Gay rights backers file 3 lawsuits challenging Prop 8
20. Main section: Sports

That’s it. Thanks and congratulations to all of you – so many – who keep contributing to our digital efforts.

Meredith Artley

Executive Editor, LATimes.com

SOURCE: LAObserved

Monday Morning News

Los Angeles Times Machinist' Chris, Roy, and Chuck

• Layoff and buyout rumors - Paper Cuts
• Great Los Angeles Walk 2008 FAQs - Franklin Ave.
• 'Chicago Tribune' Likely to Print 'Wall Street Journal' - E&P
• Looks Like a Newspaper, Smells Like a Newspaper - Paul Gillin
• This is 'Urgent Care Awareness Week' - Brian Humphrey LAFD
• Out of the Bars, Into the Streets to Protest Prop 8 - Boi from Troy
• Governor expresses hope that Prop 8 would be overturned - LA Times
• Washington Daily News to undergo changes - Washington Daily News
• What is Japan doing right and what is the U.S. doing wrong? - Reporter G
• Newspapers do not need to get into the memorabilia business - Meta Printer

Lost Dog in West Hollywood

A friend in our community lost her family dog in the West Hollywood, CA area at Sunset Blvd. and Poinsettia Place less than 48 hours ago.

Please copy and paste this link to your Facebook / MySpace / social media friends in the West Hollywood, CA area and ask them if they have any information on friendly “Oscar”.

Please email me if you have any leads or information.

Let us prove once again that Social Media works on many levels!

Digital Television Conversion For Dummies

Are old people ready for the digital conversion? Doesn't look like it! :D

POLL: 64% of the nations seniors would rather kill themselves with pill overdose than try to understand the upcoming switch to high-definition TV. - The Onion :D

h/t Billy Widner

Harvey Tallmon Rest in Peace

Former pressman at the Los Angeles Times, Harvey Tallmon, has passed away. Harvey was a regular at every pressmen's dinner, but was missed at our last dinner, and now we know why.

From Harvey's daughter Sue:

Friends, On Tuesday morning November 4 at 7:30 am beloved husband, father, and grandfather died peacefully at Veterans Hospital in Long Beach California. Memorial Service will take place on Monday November 10, at Westminster Memorial Park Chapel on Beach Blvd at 230 pm/ A memorial meal will be served at The Garden Grove Moose Lodge on Bixby Ave following the service. Internment will be held at The National Cemetery in Riverside Ca at 11:00am Section 5.

Please send memorial donations to The Marine Corps Museum in Quantico Virginia. Harvey enjoyed keeping in touch with each of you via e-mail, and would often spend hours on the web maintaining the deep and precious friendships celebrated so warmly by him all of his life. Thank you warmly, Sue Jeanette Tallmon

Westminster Memorial Park
14851 Beach Blvd
Westminster, CA 92683 Map
(714) 893-4552

Courage Campaign Repeal Prop 8

Hello Friends,

I just signed a pledge to repeal Prop 8 and I thought you might be interested in joining me and over 100,000 Courage Campaign members across California.

We have to come together right now to say that we refuse to accept a California where discrimination is enshrined in our state constitution.

Please sign the "Repeal Prop 8" pledge now and forward this to your friends as soon as possible:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/RepealProp8

Thanks Edward

Electronic Village: Mississippi Officials Tell Kids Not To Say 'Obama'

Did you see where school officials down in Mississippi threatened children with expulsion from busses and classrooms if they uttered the word, "Obama"?

I imagine that there are still some folks who will have difficult time dealing with a Black president. I imagine it will hurt some of the officials and judges that run federal buildings and federal courtrooms when they have to place a portrait photo of the incoming president on the walls.

I share this Obama collage in an effort to help these hard-headed folks in Mississippi and elsewhere get used to the idea of a new POTUS. As the youngsters in Mississippi school busses and junior high school classrooms are saying, "Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama and Obama!"

Electronic Village: Mississippi Officials Tell Kids Not To Say 'Obama'

Tribune Press Release

Cissy Baker to Lead Tribune Washington News Bureau

Veteran Journalist Will Oversee All Newsgathering Operations in Washington, D.C.

CHICAGO, IL, November 7, 2008 -- Cissy Baker today was named vice president of the Washington News Bureau for Tribune Company, overseeing all newsgathering operations in the nation’s capital for the company’s publishing, broadcasting and interactive divisions. She will also be responsible for coordinating news coverage and facilitating content sharing among the company’s media businesses.

"Cissy is talented, resourceful, experienced and relentless," said Bob Gremillion, executive vice president/Tribune Publishing. "She knows news, she knows Washington, and she knows what will resonate with the audiences in the local markets served by our newspapers, television stations and web sites."

Baker has served as vice president/news operations for Tribune Broadcasting since 2003, and Washington bureau chief for the division since 1994.

"This bureau has a great team of experienced print and electronic journalists who understand power and politics and know how to work together to deliver the best, most comprehensive news coverage for our readers and viewers," said Baker. "It is a privilege to lead this talented group, especially as we prepare to cover a new administration."

Baker helped launch CNN in 1980. In 1982 Baker left CNN to pursue a career in politics. At the age of 25 she ran for Congress in Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District, where her family home was located. While she won the primary, she lost the general election. Singed by that experience, she decided to go back into television and exact her revenge inside the Beltway.

In 1983 she became a Washington correspondent for CNN covering Capitol Hill, The White House and the Supreme Court. She became national editor of CNN in 1985 and vice president and managing editor of CNN in 1988. Feeling the need to get some "fair and balanced" experience, Baker left CNN in 1990 and took a job as vice president and managing editor of the FOX News Service in Washington, coordinating national news feeds and breaking news for Fox affiliates nationwide.

Baker began her career in television news at WTTG-TV, Washington, D.C., and later moved to WTVF-TV, Nashville, Tenn.