I’ve been home sick today with a cold, but I’ve still got some chum for you to chew on:
- From the “Selling It” Department: We’ve all grown up with the model of the brick and mortar store that is always there. But that’s changing, and the LA Times has two interesting articles on the change. The first article related to those kiosks you see at a mall, and how they provide a low-cost entry for new retailers to try an idea. But even big retailers are going into the short-term-store business: the second article related to pop-up stores. These are stores that rent a space for a few weeks or months, and then they are gone. They started with the Halloween and Christmas stores grabbing empty storefronts, and now retailers like Toys R Us and Sees are doing them.
- From the “Paying for Doing Good” Deparatment: Some of us carry credit card balances. Some of us don’t. I’m in the latter camp: I pay in full every month, and do sufficient transactions that, so far, I’ve had nary a fee. According to USA Today, that may change for some: some banks are adding fees for those that pay in full each month. They are doing this now because the government is taking away their ability to gouge in other areas. I’m sorry, but if a credit card company did it to me, I’ll take my business elsewhere.
- From the “They’re Creepy and they’re Spooky” Department: In addition to honest bankers and retailers that stay around, one thing we have lost is our great TV themes. Few shows have great original themes these days. The LA TImes brings the obit of a famous TV theme writer: Vic Mizzy, who wrote the themes for “Green Acres” and “The Addams Family”.
- From the “When 24 is old” Department: LAX is planning a major remodel. No, they aren’t refreshing some of the terminals that really need it, such as Terminal 2, 3, or 6. They are planning to demolish the Tom Bradley terminal (TBIT) and replace it with a new larger terminal with a mid-field concourse. All this so they can accomodate the Airbus 380 and 787. Now, I’ve never flown out of TBIT, but some of their other terminals are in even worse shape (I particuarly hate Terminals 7 and 8 with a passion — no power outlets!). But then I have a history of not being enthused by what LAWA does — I had friends living in the areas they depopulated!
