by The Editors on March 1, 2011
The banners that went up Friday, February 25, 2011, outside the Blockbuster video rental store at 660 Carlsbad Village Drive say “Store Closing. This Location Only.” But that’s not really true. According to a Reuters story the company plans to close 182 of it’s remaining 2,900 stores in the first quarter of 2011 as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. The company has shut down more than 1,000 stores in the past two years.
Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy in September, weighed down by its debts and stung by video-on-demand and competitors such as mail-order pioneer Netflix and Redbox, a Coinstar Inc unit that rents movies through kiosks. . . The company entered bankruptcy with a plan that would put billionaire investor Carl Icahn and his hedge fund partners in control of the company when it emerges.
So what exactly does “This Location Only” mean? According to an employee at the Carlsbad store it means, “That only this location is closing, not all of Blockbuster.” We’re guessing those same banners hang on more than a hundred stores this week.
We switched over to digital rentals years ago, but for those who haven’t there is a bit of good news. All the DVDs in the store on sale for $9.99 each and new releases are being sold at ten percent off. Get them while supplies last. As for Blockbuster it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which they emerge from bankruptcy and return to any kind of profitability.
by The Editors on February 24, 2011
After spending nearly 40 minutes trying to get up Elm CVD through all those dragging, lagging Village of Carlsbadistan traffic lights following the Carlsbad Marathon we’re all for any kind of intelligent traffic light upgrade that would speed the flow. The City of Carlsbad is apparently all over it.
Traffic engineers plan to replace the city’s current control system, which is limited to a small number of traffic signals, with a new system over five years. The citywide network will enable staff to observe an entire corridor and adjust signal timing to optimize traffic flow based on real time conditions. . . .“This new technology won’t improve traffic flow by itself, but it will give us a much more advanced and efficient way to make changes as needed to keep cars moving,” said Bilse. “Traffic is a big concern out there. This is a great example of using technology to make a noticeable improvement in the lives of our community members.”
Sounds great aside from the five years part. Follow the jump for more details. [click to continue…]
by Richard J. Riehl on February 24, 2011
Labor unions have been credited with the rise of America’s middle class. In the 1950’s about 40 percent of the nation’s workforce were union members. Today that number has dropped to less than 7 percent of private sector workers and about a third of public employees. Economists now warn of a disappearing middle class and the income gap between labor and management employees has widened.
In the five years from 2002 to 2007, 65 percent of all income growth in the U.S. went to the wealthiest 1 percent of the population, according to researchers at UC Berkeley and the Paris School of Economics.
Politicians have jumped on the bandwagon of union bashing for ruining state and local economies. Carlsbad’s new mayor built his successful campaign on a promise to prevent a union takeover on the council that would threaten the city’s future prosperity.
Follow the jump for the rest of the story.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on February 23, 2011
Just as a warning: Do not get into an argument with any of the Carlsbad High students shown in this photo. You’ll likely lose. They are trained debaters and according to some recent performances they’re pretty good at it, too.
Winter Debate Tournament, held January 28 and 29 at Helix Charter High School, saw 16 schools competing in four different debate categories. Carlsbad’s team walked away with a 2nd place overall, including first places in the parli and public forum categories. . . La Costa Canyon hosted a Winter Individual Event tournament on February 5, where 11 schools competed in 12 different events. Winning top honors – 1st place sweepstakes – was Carlsbad’s powerhouse team, who took first place in six of the twelve events. . . “I am impressed with our rankings, and proud of our team’s accomplishments,” says Coach Minnia Curtis. “This team started with a handful of members just four years ago. We are now over 100 strong and true contenders!”
Carlsbad will host the State Qualification Tournament March 4 and 5, 2011. Coach Curtis is also looking for volunteers to judge future debates and/or help support the team. For more information follow the jump.
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by The Editors on February 21, 2011
by The Editors on February 16, 2011
Carlsbad High School’s Lancer Dancers brought home a Hip Hop National Championship and a bronze medal in Jazz from The National Dance Team Championships held February 6-7, 2011 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. But it wasn’t all easy. No, no, no. Let’s just say there were issues.
The Lancer Dancer’s early morning flight on Thursday was cancelled, and the team was told they wouldn’t be able to get another flight for their large group until just hours before the competition would start. Everyone scrambled and the team ended up having to change airlines and carpool up to Orange County in order to get a flight late on Thursday. Due to so many flight cancelations, the flights that could get out were so full, the team’s carry on bags with their costumes in them had to be checked in. Captain Lani Yamanaka said,” The storm was a nightmare! We didn’t know if we would make it in time for the competition or if our costumes would get lost. I was thinking, we might be competing in what we had on at the airport.”
But they made it. Congrats to the Lancer Dancers. Follow the jump for all the details on their spectacular trip. . .
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by The Editors on February 15, 2011
A police investigation is in progress in the 900 block of Carlsbad’s Oak Avenue (behind Albertson’s) after the body of an elderly man was discovered in an apartment building this afternoon (February 15, 2011) according to a story on 10News.com.
Police were notified by a member of the apartment’s management. . . Police are conducting an investigation and said the death is considered suspicious.
[Update February 16, 2011: Police now say there were “no signs of foul play” in the death of the elderly man found yesterday afternoon, according to CBS8.com]
[Link: 10news.com and CBS8.com]
by The Editors on February 14, 2011
“Your Dream homes are my heart aches.” Guess our big question is, “Who gave the disgruntled maid a can of Krylon?”
by The Editors on February 11, 2011
Former Carlsbad High surfer Austin Ganz helped lead the University of California Santa Barbara surf team to a win the NSSA West Coast College Surfing Season 2010-11 Title, by finishing 4th in the Men’s Short Board on Monday, January 17th at D Street in Encinitas.
When asked about this, Ganz said, “Surfing and education go hand in hand, competitive surfing teaches you to work hard for something you want like a college education.”
Austin was one of only 3,600 new Freshmen admitted to UCSB this year. Austin’s degree at UCSB is declared as Marine Biology (Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology EEMB).
In the future Austin will be supporting UCSB as a scientific scuba diving and underwater researcher for Santa Barbara Coastal Long Term Ecological Research program.
“Carlsbad is a great place to grow up, it has given me a great appreciated for our oceans, and I look forward to continuing my education and one day being a Marine Biologist,” Ganz says.
We can’t say we disagree with Austin. Congrats!
by The Editors on February 9, 2011
On Saturday evening April 30, 2011 Carlsbadistan’s New Village Arts Theatre will transform The Flower Fields into an Enchanted Garden Masquerade Ball as part of their annual gala.
Escape to a magical garden where your story is what you make it. Who will you be?
Tickets are $150 per person or $1,350 for a table of 10. And if you don’t have a mask, then be sure to attend NVA’s Family Fun Mask Making Event on Sunday April 3, 2011. Click here to buy tickets for the mask making party, or click the link for more information.
[Link: New Village Arts]
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The Riehl World: Unions Not A Carlsbad Problem
by Richard J. Riehl on February 24, 2011
Labor unions have been credited with the rise of America’s middle class. In the 1950’s about 40 percent of the nation’s workforce were union members. Today that number has dropped to less than 7 percent of private sector workers and about a third of public employees. Economists now warn of a disappearing middle class and the income gap between labor and management employees has widened.
In the five years from 2002 to 2007, 65 percent of all income growth in the U.S. went to the wealthiest 1 percent of the population, according to researchers at UC Berkeley and the Paris School of Economics.
Politicians have jumped on the bandwagon of union bashing for ruining state and local economies. Carlsbad’s new mayor built his successful campaign on a promise to prevent a union takeover on the council that would threaten the city’s future prosperity.
Follow the jump for the rest of the story.
[click to continue…]
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