Sweet memories
For a sugary walk down memory lane, check out this nostalgic look at a collection of candy cigarette packages. Click on the pictures for some humorous comments.
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bru commented on Starbucks to close for re-training
For a sugary walk down memory lane, check out this nostalgic look at a collection of candy cigarette packages. Click on the pictures for some humorous comments.
Safety officials announced a recall of 24,000 cribs Thursday due to a risk that children will fall out. The cribs, imported by Munire Furniture Inc., have improper brackets that don’t allow their mattresses to be fully lowered. This could allow children inside the crib to crawl over the railing and fall. No injuries have been reported.
The recall includes the company’s Majestic Curved Top, Majestic Flat Top, Essex, Brighton/Sussex and Captiva cribs with various model numbers. The cribs were sold at children’s specialty stores between November 2005 and November 2007.
Get more details on the crib recall from Munire Furniture or from the U.S. Product and Consumer Safety Commission.
Trust us, you want to avoid making dumb moves on an Internet forum. Here is a video that shows what we mean.
Dailybreeze.com's reader forums are quite popular, but we do get plenty of complaints about racist, vulgar and otherwise offensive posts. We even hear about just-plain-irritating ones, like in the video.
Recently, forum participants have been complaining about "trolls," people who post numerous long-winded off-topic treatises on just about every forum all day long. So, the readers rebelled. They created their own forum called "Take back our message boards from the nutty trolls !!!", to air their frustrations over unrelentiing ranters. They pleaded with us to give them the boot. We did.
What can we say? Watch the video.
I headed to my favorite South Bay Starbucks this afternoon in an effort to see if the barista training last night made a difference in quality. The front door of the shop had a sign declaring that they offered the best espresso in the neighborhood, and above the bar, there was a newly chalked sign promising perfect drinks every time. Evidently all Starbucks made similar signs in an effort to renew their pledge for perfect drinks.
When I walked in, the staff greeted me with a smile, and chatted with me as they made my grande sugar-free vanilla non-fat latte (also known as a skinny vanilla latte). I asked the barista how training went yesterday, and she said it was informative, but that there was only one aspect of training that was useful to her. She said the espresso refresher wasn't anything she hadn't heard before, but that the training on how to make foam was extensive and useful. I knew what she was talking about after taking only one sip of my drink, a drink I have ordered many times in the past.
I thought yesterday's lattes were fine, but after having one today that was topped with foam, I realize I have definitely been missing out. The added texture made my latte richer, and more flavorful. Another Starbucks barista told me that this is how lattes are always supposed to be made, but in my experience as a Starbucks connoisseur, foam has been lacking. My barista today was certainly right--her training last night in the art of making foam was helpful and made my latte today "perfect."
Earlier, we posted the insider view on the training.
Judging from the nearly 200 comments about the re-training on the Starbucks Gossip blog, baristas are a little piqued at the ribbing from customers and haters in response to the closing for re-training. Sounds like telling them they all need to be re-trained hurt their feelings. Here's one comment:
The training was great. Now if we can only train our customers to be a little more civil with those of us who want to give them a quality beverage and experience.Who trains the customers? Scorpions?
For the most part, the comments from Starbucks employees about the training itself are positive. They feel inspired and are eager to pour their new knowledge into your cups. For example:
I just got back from the training. Well, I got back an hour ago - the last hour was dedicated to excitedly telling my SO about it.I've worked at two mainstream coffee shops previously. I was management in one, and a barista in another. NEVER have I seen such dedication to the customer, or such cleanliness! I wouldn't drink coffee anywhere else after working with Sbux for three days. The training highlighted the main points -
Pulling the perfect shot. Yeah, it's not the old style machines (which, naturally, I miss dearly), but they're not totally flawed. The beans are ground seconds before being brewed. Everyone was given a refresher on what to look for in shot quality - timing being the most important, visual and flavor closing in at a second. Now, EVERY EMPLOYEE knows how to do it perfectly. NO EXCUSES.
Steaming milk. It's going to be good - thick, creamy, 'beautiful foam'- on top of your latte. NO EXCUSES.
Customer care. Letting you, the customer, feel comfortable enough to let us know if we screwed up in ANY aspect of your drink. Then, we can remake it for you. And make you happy. NO EXCUSES.
If they hadn't had the training all at the same time, would everyone be getting a perfect cup of coffee tomorrow? It was a great idea. I work two jobs - my full time day job is a rotating shift of ten hour days. I couldn't possibly make it in after midnight to do this. I'm so glad Sbux actually cares enough about their employees to have closed down to do this - at their cost!
The Starbucks Gossip blogger has also posted links to stories from major papers around the country about reaction to the closure.
Calling all leaplings: The Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies will help you "party like it only happens once every four years" with Leap Day events from around the world. The Web site also has fun facts and links, and helps you find celebrities who share your birthday.
If you are among the estimated 200,000 U.S. babies born on Feb. 29, here's some deals for you. Papa John's wants to treat those born on Leap Day to an online-only offer of a free large one-topping Papa's Perfect Pan pizza. Papa John’s will give customers whose birthdays fall on any of the other 365 days of this year other special online offers on Friday, like three large pizzas with three toppings, all for $29.29.
Would you rather celebrate Leap Day with a weekend getaway? Kimpton Hotels is also offering a birthday special for leapies. Participating hotels have special rates and packages.
If you're feeling left out for not having a Feb. 29 birthday, fear not. Ronzoni Healthy Harvest is offering customers a free box of its pasta on Leap Day as a way to encourage people to "take small leaps for heart health."
Bummed to be working on Leap Day? Boston Market is offering a Leap Year contest for those working on Friday. Enter by today for a chance to win a free catered lunch for you and 19 of your favorite co-workers.
Paying homage to all that is cheese just got easier with maps to the more than 250 cheesemaker farms across the U.S. here.
As we've mentioned previously on this blog, Starbucks closed tonight to re-train its staff in the art of making espresso--something that I happen to be an expert in. Because I rarely enter the Breeze without a Starbucks cup in hand, I was enlisted to conduct a taste test before and after the Starbucks training and compare notes.
This afternoon I tried both a sugar-free vanilla non-fat latte, and a regular latte, and was relatively pleased with the drinks, although the first one could have used more syrup. I timed my break from work perfectly, and was excited to try the drinks again right after the mandatory training finished. However, unfortunately for my caffeine-addicted self, training was extended an hour, and wouldn't reopen until the crucially busy two hours before the Daily Breeze press deadline.
Because the baristas at my favorite Starbucks received an extra hour of espresso training, I now have even higher expectations for every future latte I consume.
Before work tomorrow, I plan on visiting Starbucks and ordering both drinks once again. We'll see if the four hours of training really made a difference. Stay tuned.
If you get a coffee drink before I do, send us a comment and tell us if you think the training did anything for you.
The Starbucks Gossip Blog posted Starbucks' goofy list of "5 great things to do in just 3 1/2 hours", part of a press release about this evening's closure for re-training.
Other facts from the press release:
-- Starbucks will be closed for 3 1/2 hours. That's 210 minutes or 12,600 seconds.
-- Approximately 7,100 Starbucks stores across the country will temporarily shut their doors to the public.
-- More than 135,000 baristas in the United States will be trained in a matter of hours.
-- That amounts to almost a half a million hours of training in one night.
We're sending a coffee-loving copy editor out to review some complicated drinks before and after the training to see if those half-million hours made any difference at all. Check back later.
Previous posts on this topic:
Starbucks to close for re-training
Starbucks closure survival guide
Every Starbucks in the country will be shutting down tonight from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for mandatory employee training. To read an explanation from Starubucks CEO and president Howard Schultz, click here.
In an effort to see if the espresso lesson will improve customer service and quality at Starbucks, we're going to send a Daily Breeze copy editor to a South Bay shop before and after the store closes down. Check back tonight to read her experience, or to offer your own.
If you're looking for a cup of joe during the three-hour window Starubucks will be closed, don't fret -- we have some suggestions of where to go in the South Bay.
Catalina Coffee Co. on North Catalina Ave. in Redondo Beach is walking distance from the beach and offers a diverse menu of food and beverages. There are comfy chairs to relax in and a friendly staff who will bring your order to you.
For a quick, drive-thru experience, head to Fox Hollow Coffee in Torrance. We especially recommend their sugar-free mocha because you can't tell the difference between that and the real thing. There is also a Breeze newspaper rack out front, so snag a copy if you need one.
If you're in Playa del Rey, there's only one coffee shop to try, and that's Tanner's Coffee on Culver Boulevard. Grab one of their fabulous teas or coffees, and enjoy the free wireless Internet, or take the drink to go and head to the beach -- it's only five minutes away. Check out a review of the shop here.
Another coffee place that offers free Wi-Fi for customers is Coffee Attic on Inglewood Avenue near Marine Avenue, right off the 405 Freeway. If you're looking for something to munch on, you can grab one of their freshly baked pastries, or there is an In-N-Out Burger right next door.
Coffee Cartel in Redondo offers free Wi-Fi, big comfy chairs and, on some nights, live music or open-mike poetry. As a bonus, there's a gelato place right next door. For reviews, click here.
Perhaps it’s a touch of wanderlust, or maybe we’ve just got too much time on our hands. At any rate, we’ve been doing some virtual traveling, something that takes just a few taps on the computer keyboard and a little imagination about what we could do if we were really there. Here are some of our favorite spots:
Paris
Even though France is nine hours ahead of us, viewing the iconic image of the Eiffel Tower is a thrill anytime of the day or night. The glittering nighttime view is spectacular — and if you click on the widescreen choice, you may see a light shining from an upper story window to the left of the screen. Could it be Gigi’s apartment? If your timing is right, you can track the moon from one side to the other. You can almost taste the croissants when the tower is framed with pink clouds at dawn.
Rome
This site links to a webcam that provides a peek at the most famous landmarks of Italy’s capital city. While most sites are illuminated at night, the daytime views are much more interesting, especially the Colosseum and Roman Forum. When you get home from work at night, pour yourself a glass of prosecco and take a cyber peek.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, which straddles the U.S.-Canadian border near Buffalo, N.Y., is the most powerful waterfall in North America, with 4 million to 6 million cubic feet of the Niagara River pouring over the crest every minute. Even covered with ice and snow, the natural beauty of the site shows through.
Outer Space
If you’re lucky enough to have visited the above locales in person and are looking for something different, this Web site is out of this world.
Launched in 1999, the site has something for everyone: timely stories and photos about space, the latest technology news, even a discussion of space movies.
We were especially intrigued this past week with photos of the lunar eclipse, as well as the satellite-killing missile launched from a U.S. Navy ship.
The Dallas Morning News has gotten access to Kennedy assassination files that recently surfaced in the office of the Dallas District Attorney. A visit to their Web site (registration is required) gives Internet surfers access to this material, because the newspaper wants some help.
The newspaper staff wants people to pore over the material, which includes some items that have been derided as worthless and even faked.
People are asked to study the voluminous and uncatalogued material and provide feedback to the newspaper and to other readers about what surfaces from the “Lost JFK files.”
Do you feel the need to make a difference? Maybe you've seen those TV ads to help the needy, but you fear your dollars might not reach the people you want to help. Or you may believe in teaching people how to fish, not just giving them a meal for a day. Then you should explore micro-lending, which is talked about in Stephanie Enright’s column in today’s Monday Business section of the Daily Breeze. The Grameen Bank Web site offers background on its efforts.
The Kiva Web site takes a Facebook-like approach to the program. It not only connects individuals with Third World loan seekers, it allows lenders to see how their money has made a difference.
While Kiva participants can loan all or part of the money requested, micro-lenders may require more substantial funds.
Other micro-lending Web sites are: www.villagebanking.org; www.opportunity.org.
We should have thought of this last week, but you still have a few hours to pull together your Oscar shindig (the show starts at 5 p.m.). Whether you’re looking for the finishing touches or aim to do it all today, here are some links to help you plan and execute:
THE FOOD: Allrecipes.com recommends Wild River Bloody Marys and porterhouse steak for “There Will Be Blood” and — naturally — ratatouille for “Ratatouille.” The site includes menus and recipes for all of the top contenders.
THE DECOR: This site is a little out of date (Has it really been seven years since “Erin Brockovich” was nominated?), but it still offers some good suggestions for non-movie-specific decorating.
THE BALLOTS: Download an official ballot for your party polling from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
THE DRAMA: Get step-by-step instructions for acting out your own ceremony.
The U.S. Geological Survey released maps Wednesday showing that Burmese pythons, already present in Florida, could find hospitable climates throughout the southern and southwestern United States within the next 100 years. That's right -- 20-foot, 250-pound snakes slithering through the South Bay and Harbor Area.
USA Today reports:
"One of the USGS maps shows where the pythons could live today, an area that expands when scientists use global warming models for 2100.
'We were surprised by the map. It was bigger than we thought it was going to be,' says Gordon Rodda, a USGS zoologist and lead researcher on the project. 'They are moving northward; there’s no question.'
Burmese pythons were introduced to this country as part of the pet trade. The first specimens in the wild were discovered in the mid-1990s in the Florida
Everglades, released by owners who no longer wanted them, says Skip Snow, a wildlife biologist with the National Parks Service in the Everglades. By 2003, there was evidence that the snakes had established breeding colonies in the wild."
As part of Spay Day L.A., free spay and neuter services will be available at locations across the city Sunday. Appointments are required and can be made online. Organizer Rebecca Chambliss hopes the event will benefit pet owners who have been unable to afford sterilizing their cats or dogs.
This week The New York Times published a story that raised questions about Sen. John McCain's relationship with a lobbyist. The Breeze didn't run the story, but it has gotten a lot of attention in other media. The focus is turning from the article itself to the question of whether it was ethical for the Times to run such an article. In fact, the newsroom has fielded more than 2,000 comments from around the country.
Today, The New York Times staff is answering questions from the public about the reporting that went into the article. If you have a question, send it here. Here's the lead-off question:
I must say that the McCain article left me embarrassed for your paper. So little substance, but trumpeted prominently as though you somehow had the goods on him or were raising burning questions. It makes it look like your reporters or editors had an ax to grind. I hope they didn't. Question: Do you read the coverage of your coverage? Did you see the piece at slate.com ridiculing your paper for this? Doesn't it smart?
Personally, I was surprised by the volume of the reaction (including more than 2,400 reader comments posted on our Web site). I was surprised by how lopsided the opinion was against our decision, with readers who described themselves as independents and Democrats joining Republicans in defending Mr. McCain from what they saw as a cheap shot.
The Times Web site has the original article, follow-ups, a response from McCain as well as comments from readers. You have to register to get in to the site, but it's free and painless.
Remember that tall ship on the front page of the Daily Breeze on Friday? It’s in King Harbor all weekend for tours.
If you’re into history, you might enjoy checking out the naval schooner, a replica of one used during the War of 1812. The vessel is fitted with ordnances and flags from that era, and its crew wears period clothing.
If you’re into movies (or Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley), you might enjoy checking out a ship used to train the cast and crew of the recent Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
You no doubt saw the story in Thursday's Daily Breeze about honey bees, their troubles and the troubles those troubles are causing for food businesses. If not, here's what you missed. But what you'll really be interested in is Haagen-Dazs' campaign to help the honey bees. They're donating a certain amount of their proceeds to research that will help determine what's wrong with the honey bees. And the ice-cream maker's Web site for the campaign is a real joy. Cute little bees buzz around while you learn about efforts to solve what's ailing the pollinators. (The Web site's a little sluggish, so be patient.) What we at the Breeze have been enjoying is the feature to e-mail, or bee-mail, your friends (or co-workers) about the campaign. You can even create your own bee to accompany the bee-mail. So get buzzing.
He turns up everywhere. Recently, we've seen Jack Kyser in the pages and Web pages of the Daily Breeze and our sister papers and heard him on the public radio show Marketplace broadcast on KCRW (89.9 FM). He's been quoted by The Associated Press, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Washington Post, the Detroit Free Press, the Toronto Star, Bloomberg News, the Riverside Press-Enterprise, the Hollywood Reporter, The Age (a newspaper in Australia) and countless others. But who is this go-to economics expert? Jack Kyser is the senior vice president and chief economist of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp. Care for the long version? Here's his biography on the L.A. Economic Development Corp. Web site, and here's a piece about him on MyCoolCareer.com, a Web site for teenagers and twentysomethings thinking about their futures.
Is your mind reeling over the twists and turns in this season of "Lost"? Maybe these Web sites will help clear things up:
Fans' forums, recaps and archives
Yesterday, Daily Breeze reader Bill called with a follow-up question about the recent beef recall story. He wanted to know what happens to recalled meat.
Here's an answer from a Q&A on the USDA's Web site:
Any Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. products in the Federal food and nutrition programs, or its derivatives, must be destroyed and cannot be used or reconditioned for human consumption. All disposal methods must be fully documented regarding type of product and destruction method and witnessed with two signatures. Entities holding 50 cases or less may destroy the product on-site by rendering the product unfit for human consumption according to destruction guidance from the State or local health authority. Quantities greater than 50 cases must be taken to a landfill, incinerated, or sent for inedible rendering.
If you have questions about national news stories, Slate Magazine has an interesting online feature, along the lines of our local Ask Us column, called Ask the Explainer. Readers ask questions about stories in the news. For example, here's the site's answer to a question similar to Bill's after a recall in 2002.
Recent questions include: Why recall two-year-old beef?
Why would Clemens shoot up with B-12?
How much do campaign staffers make?
It appears that the site has about 1,550 explanations in its archive, so chances are, your question might have been answered. If not, send your question.
But continue send your questions about the South Bay or Harbor Area to our own Ask Us editor, Stephanie Walton. We also have hundreds of answers in our archive.
The Los Angeles city attorney's office has launched a Web site for tipsters to leave information about companies they suspect of violating rules regarding insurance policy cancellations. The site stems from the ongoing lawsuit against Health Net Inc. in which the city alleges saved about $35 million in medical expenses by illegally canceling coverage for 1,600 patients over four years.
Generations on Line, an Internet software program designed to help older Americans learn to use the Web, monitored what its 30,000 users were looking for online last year.
Here's what the report released last week found:
"It’s big bands to the Bible," said Tobey Dichter, founder and CEO. "More than a third of the searches last year were for music, television, museums, hobbies, books, history, and religion, she said. "Interestingly, health and medicine don’t even make the top five, and Oprah Winfrey remains one of the most searched for terms by seniors."
The Top 10 from Oct. 2006 to Oct. 2007
1. Entertainment 13.6%
2. Religion 10.7%
3. Arts/Culture 10.2%
4. News 7.4%
5. Names 7.2%
6. Medical 6.6%
7. Retail items/stores 6.2%
8. Travel 5.8%
9. Sports/gambling 5.4%
10. Genealogy 3.6%
Also, check out this list of links especially for seniors. They include senior-friendly businesses, government sites and health information.
LA Observed, a fine blog covering the Los Angeles area, has partnered with Eric Estrin, a TV writer and much more, for a community script-writing experiment. Here's the idea, as described on LA Observed:
Eric has written the opening pages of a screenplay set in and about Los Angeles. It has a name, Right of Way, and a mayor who may or may not be shady as the main character. You can write the rest by submitting a few pages of scene and dialogue. Each week he'll select the best pages and post them.
Ever wonder what happened to Daily Breeze reporter Corey Levitan?
Well he's taken his day-in-the-life column to Las Vegas, where it's called Fear and Loafing. He's tried out work as a mermaid, a bailiff and some jobs that border on the disturbing. Check out his columns and videos here.
Did you miss the finals of the Westminster Kennel Club 2008 Dog Show? Or do just want to see Uno the beagle some more?
The club's Web site has extensive video of the New York City event.
Kristina Ripatti, the retired LAPD officer who was paralyzed in the line of duty, gave birth to a son. Seaside Lagoon got a reprieve for two more summers.
A Torrance 12-year-old has raised nearly $15,000 for students in South Africa.
Historic St. Peter's Church in San Pedro may have found a new home in Rancho Palos Verdes that will save it from vandals.
And three San Pedro couples who wed on the same morning 50 years ago planned to celebrate their golden anniversary together.
In the past few days, those stories have made headlines in the Daily Breeze, proving that not everything you read in the paper is bad news. If those stories have left you hankering for more good news, try www.happynews.com, an news aggregator that links only to happy stories.
If you've ever thought your Starbucks could have been better, you'll like this. All stores nationwide are shutting down for three hours on the evening of Feb. 26 to teach the employees how to make a proper latte.
From the Seattle Times:
"We will have all new standards for how we create the drinks," said spokeswoman Valerie O'Neil. "They will be trained in creating the perfect shot, steaming the milk and all the pieces that come together in a drink."Some people have speculated Starbucks will return to manual espresso machines, but O'Neil said the espresso-making equipment will be the same.
The retraining is part of Starbucks' plan to revive its brand and sales growth, which by one measure sank to an all-time low last quarter. Chairman Howard Schultz last month returned as chief executive to oversee the turnaround.
Here's the original story in the Seattle Times.
And of course, the Starbucks Gossip blog is buzzing about the news.
If you’re looking for something to do with your Daily Breeze after you finish reading the latest issue, we have some ideas.
To make a kite, you’ll need scissors, a tape measure, string, glue, two wooden sticks and instructions.
Or, if you want to make a biodegradable seedling pot, check out this site that will tell you how to use your newspaper to do just that.
It’s pretty amazing that with a few simple folds, you can make a piece of paper glide through the air. To perfect your paper-airplane making skills, you need some simple instructions.
Finally, for those really looking for a challenge, learn how to make purses woven out of newspaper.
Is it cheating if we link to someone else's list of links?
In the March 2008 issue, Real Simple has a list of its favorite blogs on the Web. The list is organized into categories of topics that magazine often covers, such as food, home, beauty and travel.
The online version of the list has a bonus: 17 extra blogs that didn't appear in the magazine. Plus, a link to the Real Simple managing editor's blog.
Do you suspect that your health insurance company is denying or delaying your claims? The City Attorney's Office recently unveiled a new Web site where you can express your concerns. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and his staff will collect that information to investigate unlawful and fraudulent business practices by health insurance companies.
Try some high-tech healing at the two-day-old Relationshipobit.com.
The Associated Press reports:
Relationshipobit.com is the brainchild of Kathleen Horan, a 38-year-old reporter for WNYC public radio. She recalled that after a two-year relationship fizzled she found it “oddly comforting” to write her father’s obituary. It made her think that if she wrote an obituary for her relationship, it might help her.
“It made it feel real so I could finally cremate the thing and move on,” she said.
She said the response to the Web site was much bigger than she expected.
In a video entry on the site, a woman describes how her relationship ended when she caught her boyfriend cheating at Monopoly.
“My philosophy is, if you’re going to cheat in Monopoly so blatantly, what hope do we have really?” she wrote.
If you're one of the estimated 30 million people who will spend Valentine's Day alone this year -- and you don't want to be -- check out WooMe, a live, online dating site that launched a few months ago. Today, it's hosting a national "meet-up" where people can engage in speed-dating sessions via their webcams.
The event, called "no need to spend Valentine’s Day alone," will take place today from 2 p.m. to midnight and is free to everyone.
According to the company's press release:
In its first 10 weeks of operation, WooMe has introduced over 500,000 people from across the world. Recently the company hosted a local online event focusing on Los Angeles that attracted over 6,000 visitors.
Registration is always free on the site but users are charged a small fee if there is mutual interest from both parties and they decide to "woo" each other. WooMe is waiving the fee for this event.
Your biggest challenge may be learning to understand your significant other.
HowStuffWorks offers a scientific look at the minds of men at women.
So now you know why your mate thinks that way. And you’re wondering: Why do I love them?
HowStuffWorks has that covered, too. Enlighten yourself on the chemistry of love.
Ever feel disappointed because holidays are a little sparse between New Year’s Day and Presidents Day?
Actually, there are plenty of things to celebrate during this period. In fact, there’s something to celebrate every day of the year.
There may not be too many paid holidays, but a little creative use of a sick day or a vacation day and you can celebrate “Hoodie-Hoo Day” at noon on Feb. 20 (a day dedicated to chasing away the winter by gathering in groups and shouting “hoodie-hoo”).
Sadly you’ve already missed National White Shirt Day, but you’ve still got a chance to celebrate “I Value Your Friendship Day