"all things considered" news and stories

I have a radio in my bathroom that is plugged into an outlet in the light fixture. This means that every time you turn the light on, the radio comes on as well. My friends know this about my apartment and so don't get startled when they go into use my bathroom. However, it tends to freak strangers out. This evening I went in to wash my hands and found myself standing there a full ten minutes later, although I had needed but 30 seconds to finish the task at hand.

The reason I got stuck in the bathroom? This story, playing on NPR's All Things Considered about the Great Harvest Bread Company and the people who own the franchises of the company. The main company encourages their franchises to be creative and innovation in their stores and in turn, the store owners seemed to find great satisfaction in the work that they did. If you have a few minutes, it is definitely worth a listen.

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Yesterday, NPR's All Things Considered featured a story about how current restrictions on flying with liquids is affecting Napa Valley tourists and wineries. Obviously, it's common to bring some wine back from the wineries you visit, but not being able to carry those bottles on-board a plane is posing a problem that has many wineries worried. The situation is especially troubling to small wineries that rely on sales directly to visitors, as opposed to distributors. Checking glass of any kind in one's luggage is a scary prospect, of course. So, some wineries are offering styrofoam wine carriers that they hope will protect checked wine. Others are offering free shipping on large enough purchases. The styrofoam box pictured here comes from Uline Shipping Supplies.

NPR's Melissa Block recently spoke with noted nutritionist Marion Nestle about grocery shopping, food advertisements and healthy eating, all of which are the subjects of Nestle's new book What to Eat. Nestle talks about how grocery stores lure shoppers through their aisles and how food manufacturer's advertising "crosses an ethical line" by marketing products to children. Nestle calls for restrictions of television advertising and, if possible, the elimination of cartoons on food packaging. In an additional clip, she goes on to talk about the trend toward organic offerings by large supermarkets and the move to weaken organic standards.