Stupid News

Two teenage boys (18 & 19) from Pittston are in a heap of trouble today after stealing………..

wait for it……………….

a parking meter (WTF) on Thursday night at around 6:30 pm (when it was still light out, duh).

They took lugged the parking meter to an apartment (evidently someone noticed this and called the police) and were going to smash it open for the coins inside.  Because there is probably a million dollars in a parking meter in Pittston, right?

These two chuckleheads were arraigned today and charged with criminal conspiracy to commit theft, criminal attempt to commit theft, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.  The older boy was also charged with theft.

I think the gene pool dried up before they dove in.

Downtown Harrisburg Getting Coffee House And Bookstore

A former Starbuck’s at Third and Market Streets in downtown Harrisburg will become the new home of Agia Sophia Coffee House and Bookstore in mid-August.

The new store will offer coffee, tea and other café items, including smoothies and Italian sodas.  Eight Day Books of Kansas City will providing a selection of books on philosophy, history and spirituality.  Agia Sophia is a nonprofit coffee house.  The Harrisburg store will be based on Agia Sophia’s Colorado Springs store.  Agia Sophia, Colorado Springs is rated #1 for atmosphere and coffee according to their website.

To learn more about Agia Sophia, click here:

http://agiasophiacoffeeshop.com/

More Stink Bug News

Everybody’s favorite imported bug does not like the extreme heat anymore than humans do.  This explains why we haven’t seen many of them lately.  But do not get too excited because they are laying eggs and getting ready for the next wave to hatch.  The wet spring (doesn’t that seem like eons ago) produced a bumper crop of stink bugs.

Good news is being reported from fruit growers who were given permission to use a very lethal pesticide to combat the voracious bugs.  The insecticide appears to be helping but it must be sprayed directly on the stink bug, which means the process is more labor intensive.

It is recommended that cracks around windows and doors be sealed up now.  As the weather turns colder the stink bugs will be looking for a warm refuge.  Do not let that be your home!

Merck & Company To Layoff 13,000 In Latest Restructuring Round

Although Merck had a higher than anticipated second-quarter profit, stocks are down 2 percent and a new round of job eliminations is planned that could cut as many as 13,000 from the workforce.

Since 2009, Merck eliminated 12,500 positions but only reduced headcount by 6,000.  The latest round of cuts would bring the total number of jobs eliminated by Merck to 30,000, since 2009.  The workforce will drop from 91,000 (July 2011) to about 80,000.  The job cuts are to be completed by 2015.

Merck makes Singulair, Januvia and Janumet (their three top-selling drugs).  Singulair’s patent is expiring next year which will cut profits as generics hit the market.  Adjusted earnings for Merck came to $2.95 billion, up 9 percent over last year.  Revenue was $12.15 billion, up seven percent over analyst’s projections.

Time will tell what this means for the Lansdale plant.

Underground Dallas – 36 Blocks of Climate Controlled Shops and Restaurants

Deep in the heart of Texas…