0630 coinstar

Coinstar has machines in many grocery stores across the country. The machines separate and sort the coins and keep count while it does it. The machines charge 9.8 cents per dollar, but the result can be converted into cash at the checkstand. Sounds great?

I found out that Coinstar partners with several companies to put the total on gift cards or coded receipts, without charging the 9.8 cents per dollar fee. Companies like Amazon, Albertson’s, and Borders Books. Cool!

0621 can't find a tree when you need one?

There was a live telecast of the parade in downtown Los Angeles for the Lakers. There were a lot of people there. Perhaps thousands lined the parade route. Then the news station that I was watching ran an interesting story. The parade planners planned for every contingency: food, beverages, souvenirs, security, publicity, etc. But someone forgot to order porta-potties.