Major Grocer Ditches Self-Checkout

Albertsons is getting rid of those self-checkout lanes that I've complained so bitterly about.

One of the nation's major grocery store chains is eliminating self-checkout lanes in an effort to encourage more human contact with its customers. Albertsons LLC, which operates 217 stores in seven Western and Southern states, will eliminate all self-checkout lanes in the 100 stores that have them and will replace them with standard or express lanes, a spokeswoman said. "We just want the opportunity to talk to customers more," Albertsons spokeswoman Christine Wilcox said. "That's the driving motivation."

Other grocery chains are said to be considering a similar move.

INDIANA: No More Cursive

Indiana has joined the list of states where cursive handwriting will no longer be taught. (Although schools can decide for themselves if they want to continue.)

Who still writes in cursive? That age-old writing method you might never have used since fourth grade will no longer be taught in Indiana schools come fall, thanks to a memo from school officials. Instead, students will be expected to become proficient in keyboard use. Seems like a smart move as being able to type efficiently is a vital skill in today's world, as opposed to knowing how to write cursive, which — like being able to churn butter and knowing how to hitch a horse to a wagon — is no longer needed.

Personally, I can barely sign my own name to a check these days. My ability to write by hand is almost completely atrophied.

Verizon Ends Unlimited Data Plans

Verizon has become the latest carrier to stop offering unlimited data plans.

That means subscribers will have through the end of today to lock in the carrier’s $29.99 monthly unlimited data plan — or fall into a new tiered model charging between $30 to $80 a month. Rumors surfaced in recent weeks that the Basking Ridge-based carrier, the nation’s largest wireless provider, was planning to join competitors AT&T and T-Mobile in dumping its unlimited data plan, but the company would not confirm them until yesterday. In a phone interview, spokeswoman Brenda Raney said the move was an effort to preempt network overload problems as more consumers turn to smart phones.

Sprint is the last major provider still offering unlimited plans.

The Cube House

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(Source) Tipped by JMG reader Lane.

Organizational Flow Charts

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CHINA: World's Longest Bridge Opens

The Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is 26.2 miles long and was completed in four years. We need to put them to work on the Second Avenue subway.

The Pope Has An iPad

And a Twitter account. Almost 1300 tweets in the first couple of days.