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Destruction of Vermont sheep under way at Iowa lab
AMES, Iowa (Reuters) - Destruction began Friday of a flock of milk sheep from Vermont suspected of carrying an illness related to mad cow disease, a U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman said.
Sheep in the first of two flocks seized this week arrived by truck at a government animal disease laboratory in Ames, Iowa, Thursday. The second flock, seized Friday morning, is expected to arrive Saturday, USDA spokesman Ed Curlett said in a telephone interview from Vermont.
Curlett said all the sheep, including 234 in the first herd and approximately 126 in the second, would be euthanized by lethal injection at the Ames facility within days.
"The process has started," he said Friday afternoon.
Brain tissues will be extracted from the animals for testing and then the carcasses will be destroyed in a steel vat called a digester, he said. The vat contains an alkaline material that breaks down the carcasses into a powder.
"(The powder) will be disposed of as if it were medical waste," Curlett said.
He said test results on the tissue would not be available immediately. "It will be at least a matter of months," he said.
Last July, several sheep from the flocks tested positive for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, a class of neurological diseases that includes the sheep illness scrapie, and mad cow, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The Agriculture Department has said there is no way to determine which disease the infected sheep had.
The flocks were imported from Belgium and the Netherlands in 1996. They were quarantined in Vermont in 1998 after U.S. officials learned that sheep from Europe had likely been exposed to feed contaminated with BSE.
A related human disease, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, has killed more than 80 people in Britain and Europe.
The arrival of the doomed sheep has drawn attention to the Iowa lab. Police in Ames have been providing extra security for the facility since March 7, and animal rights activists planned a demonstration for Friday afternoon.
Bruce Friedrich of the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said four PETA activists would march in "biohazard suits" carrying signs with slogans such as, "It's mad to eat meat - go vegetarian."
16:37 03-23-01
Britain: Foot-and-Mouth Disease Is Out of Control
Officials Unveil New Steps To Halt Spread
By Beth Gardiner
.c The Associated Press
LONDON (March 23) - As scientists warned that the worst of the foot-and-mouth outbreak is yet to come, Britain considered two highly unpopular options Friday - expanding a massive slaughtering plan and vaccinating animals against the disease.
In further grim news, French agricultural officials on Friday reported a new case of foot-and-mouth east of Paris - the second French farm to be struck. The first was in the northwest village of La Baroche-Gondouin.
In Britain, the nation's chief scientist said the epidemic was ''not under control.'' Desperate officials promised to speed the pace of killing and said they might begin culling all animals within two miles of every infection site in the country.
Chief government scientist David King warned that if officials fail to halt its spread, as many as half of Britain's 63 million livestock may have to be sacrificed to stop it.
Agriculture Minister Nick Brown said he was giving serious thought to vaccinating animals against the disease, as Dutch authorities gained European Union permission to do. Britain has sought to avoid vaccination because it would keep other nations' doors shut to livestock exports.
The new culling strategy was proposed as scientists warned the number of infection sites could hit 4,000 by June. A Ministry of Agriculture report warned the number of infection sites - which passed the 500 mark - could rise by 70 per day over the next two weeks, or nearly 1,000.
''It will grow fast in the next few weeks and continue for many months,'' said the report, written by foot-and-mouth experts. ''The number of cases will rise steeply with rapid expansion in the existing areas in spite of current controls.''
The Ministry of Agriculture said the widened slaughter ''is an option that (officials) have, but it's not something that they are embarking upon at the moment. It's something that they are considering.''
Earlier, King, the chief government scientist, said the plan had already been approved.
If the wider slaughter is implemented, all livestock within two miles of infected farms everywhere in Britain will be put down, King said. The widened culling was initially planned only for the worst-hit areas in northern England and southern Scotland.
''The operational team has been asked by the prime minister to produce the reduction of the (culling) time to 24 hours and then introduce a firewall cull,'' King told reporters. ''The situation is not under control at the moment.''
Many farmers have complained the already authorized slaughter of infected animals is moving too slowly, allowing the disease to continue spreading.
''The government's policy of containment and eradication through the intensified slaughter is the right one,'' Prime Minister Tony Blair said at an EU summit in Stockholm. ''What we've got to do now, frankly, is to deliver it, make sure that it's actually happening.''
Meanwhile, Ireland sent additional troops to County Louth, where the republic's first case of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed on Thursday. It hopes to prevent the disease from moving beyond the county, which is on the border with Northern Ireland, where a case was confirmed earlier this month.
The EU said it will hold urgent talks with Japanese authorities, who have announced a suspension of all pork imports from the EU, which provides 40 percent of Japan's pork.
In Germany, where there have been scares but no confirmed cases, the railroad company Deutsche Bahn said it would stop transporting livestock.
Authorities in Argentina identified 55 cases of the disease and said they would intensify a vaccination program.
In France, the news of the second case of the disease prompted officials to immediately announced strict nationwide prevention measures. Meat, milk and other products that have not undergone a heat treatment to deactivate the virus will be barred from export starting Saturday, French farm officials said.
With more than 480,000 animals already slaughtered or condemned in Britain, this year's epidemic is now officially worse than the 1967 outbreak, previously the most dire in recent years, said Jim Scudamore, the government's chief veterinarian.
Brown said the disease has already cost Britain about $243 million, and the toll in lost livestock and meat trade could reach $815 million, said Robin Bell, head of the agriculture ministry's trade team.
AP-NY-03-23-01 1855EST
You two take it to the parking lot! My money is on Viv! Any takers?
As much as I would like to, I have no one to pick up my boy from school today. OBG and I were just thinking the same thing a few days ago. It would be cold but very beautiful. Wish I could go.
Pre is telling you the truth.
Black, White and Red. The best design in the NBA.
Excuse me. The beefcake of your choice.
Keep your % gains in mind.
I'm not up that much right now.
Of course this could be the lunchtime shake...EOM
So far you are the only one talking about selling. I think MCD has a little further to go before it turns around. Depending on what it does today and Monday those 22.50's 'might' look a little tempting. One story linking MCD to mad cow and we’re are set. JMO
Colostomy Director. You have to go be a flamer at gov now that you are a director. We can all come over there and trash your positions...That is if you have any other than multiple personality schizophrenic.
You need to make it easier for a chairperson to step down and appoint another. Please.
It’s colostomy boy! How you doing Mr. Brown?
Are you jealous cause you’re not a director? Well you donkyrapingshiteater you got it.
Brazil: McDonald's to invest R$200mil in 2001
Brazil, Mar 22, 2001 (Gazeta Mercantil/SABI via COMTEX) -- McDonald's, which
has 552 fast food restaurants in Brazil, posted a turnover of R$1.4bil in the
country last year. It plans to invest R$200mil this year. It serves 2mil clients
per day in the country, where it has 210 suppliers and 152 franchises. It is
present in 121 cities of Brazil and has 36,000 employees.
OT:Hey Matt if you are out there watching I just made Hab911 a director of the simply politics thread. Can you make him The Chairman and delete me all together? I would appreciate that very much
Cheapskate, after a win like that you should keep us set up through the night.
Portland was finally allowed to dish out what they have been receiving physically. Funny how Utah started complaining when they were on the receiving end of an elbow or two.
I am still kind of upset that they let Stockton get hold of the ball for that last shooting attempt. He was standing all by himself when he got the ball. Easy shot for the three. THANK GOD HE choked.
I brought in a couple pennants and Blazer signs Carolyn. Mind if we hang them around the Bar?
Old Lucky Eye... You mean.....
After I spent all day sighting it in, this prick picks up my brand new cannon of a rifle, and with his first shot puts it directly through the bull.
My only consolation was that the scope on the gun smacked him so hard in the face he almost passed out. Ever see a big man wobble?
The White Eagle is a nice little Whole in the wall. I made a phone call from there once. I wouldn't travel in that area anytime close to dark however...
Isn't that the truth? Coffee please.(add a little coffee liqueur please) But it is still some of themost serene times one could have.Especially when all alone,under a blanket, snuggling up to the lady of your choice,..............
Paule
I do a little cooking now and then. ;O)
What’s wrong with Herbs?
Just got here and already bumming brinks.Did you bring an extra chair for this guys big set of brass balls?
Hey I know You become Chairman.Then you appoint Motley and Sboggs as your directors. Then we would have a true representation of what our government is composed of.It would be like a leftist gang bang.
I bet you’re doing to your key board what Old Bill did to Monica’s shirt.
Hey Hab How bout I make you the Director of the Gov thread. I’ll even see if Matt can make you the Chairman so You have complete control....That give you a hard on?
Being the boss is always fun! :O) Another Round please. And one for the ladies in the house.
Did someone say herbs?
I tried to pick up more at 1 and 105 but never filled
Greed is Good!
McDonald's Results Hit by Mad-Cow
New York, Mar 15, 2001 (123Jump via COMTEX) -- The McDonald's Corporation (MCD)
lowered estimates for its first quarter results Wednesday, attributing its drop
in sales to mad-cow disease and unfavorable exchange rates, particularly with
the euro, the pound and the yen. McDonald's also surprised Wall Street with a
review of its budget.
"The effect of consumer concerns regarding the European beef supply has
persisted longer than we expected," said McDonald's Chairman and Chief Executive
Jack M. Greenberg in a statement yesterday.
McDonald's now expects to earn 29 cents to 30 cents in the first quarter,
compared to 33 cents for the same quarter in 2000. Analysts polled by First
Call/Thomson Financial expected the fast food giant to earn 32 cents per share
in the first quarter.
For the full year, McDonald's expects to earn $1.55 to $1.61 per share, compared
to earlier estimates of $1.60 to $1.65 per share. Revised estimates still meet
the consensus estimate of $1.60 per share for the year.
Feasible?
Most analysts believe the effect of the disease on results will extend no
further than the second quarter. However, given the public sentiment and its
effect on results, analysts were skeptical that McDonald's would be able to meet
even its revised earnings projections.
Lehman Brothers analyst Mitchell J. Speiser lowered McDonald's earnings
estimates from $1.72 to $1.51 and from $1.80 to $1.58 for 2001 and 2002,
respectively. He also cut the price target from $42 to $38 per share. Speiser
maintains the stock's "Strong Buy" rating.
Merrill Lynch analyst Peter Oakes downgraded the stock to "accumulate" from
"buy."
Mad-cow disease, which deteriorates an animal's brain, has been passed along to
humans who had eaten contaminated products and has been linked to more than 90
deaths in humans. Mad-cow disease has not been found in any McDonald's products.
Sales
For the first two months of the year, McDonald's had total sales of $6.2
billion, about the same as 2000. Absent the effect of currency fluctuations,
sales would have increased by 4%.
European sales were flat in January and February, compared to a 14% increase in
the same period last year. Europe accounts for about 30% of McDonald's worldwide
sales. Sales in Germany, an important market for McDonald's, have been
particularly hard hit, while sales in France are showing some signs of recovery.
Sales in the United States rose 4% in January and February. Sales in Latin
America were up 9% and increased 2% in Asia, according to the company.
Shares in McDonald's dropped to a 52-week low immediately following the
announcement, but rebounded to close at 27.55, down 25 cents. The shares are off
about 19% for the year.
McDonald's also revealed that sales in developing countries were not as hearty
as expected. McDonald's will reduce the estimated 1,700 new stores in developing
countries by 100.
McDonald's expects beef prices to rise 8% to 10% this year. In unveiling its
budget for the year, McDonald's said that it is looking for ways to cut costs
such as administrative and general expenses to improve profitability and benefit
share price.
Addressing the Issue
In an effort to retain customers, McDonald's is approaching the European market
with alternative products such as sandwich patties made with pork and chicken
and grilled-cheese sandwiches. In addition, McDonald's will conduct a marketing
campaign emphasizing McDonald's high standards for food products and its
quality-control measures.
McDonald's will also institute the made-to-order system that was recently
introduced in U.S. stores, according to Greenberg. The system makes it easier
for McDonald's to experiment with new, different products and offer greater
variety. Analysts viewed the initiatives positively.
The recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease will likely further dampen sales.
Although the disease is thought to pose no risk to humans, its highly contagious
nature and the high-profile attention it has received has drawn additional
attention to livestock and made consumers wary of the animal products they
consume.
The United States has banned the imports of any livestock or related products
from the European Union.
Greed is Good!
McDonald's Pressured Lower By European Concerns
Boston, Mar 15, 2001 (Midnight Trader via COMTEX) -- McDonald's Corp. is
declining on 1,224 REDIBook shares today after falling less than one percent in
Wednesday's regular session. The fast food chain lowered its Q1 outlook
Wednesday due to recent concerns in Europe over the Mad Cow and hoof & mouth
diseases.
Copyright (C) 2001 MidnightTrader.com. All rights reserved.
Greed is Good!
McDonald's Issues Earnings Warning
Mar 15, 2001 (Chicago Tribune - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News via COMTEX)
-- McDonald's Corp., still reeling from a consumer beef scare in Europe, warned
Wednesday that its first-quarter and full-year earnings would miss Wall Street
expectations.
In response, the fast-food giant will not open as many restaurants in emerging
markets as originally planned and said it plans to cut overhead expenses.
McDonald's said it expects earnings for the quarter ending March 31 to be 29 to
30 cents a share, below the 32-cent consensus of analysts as tracked by First
Call/Thomson Financial. The estimate would represent a rare quarterly profit
decline; a year ago, the Oak Brook-based company earned $450.9 million, or 33
cents a share.
The company placed much of the blame for the profit warning on the outbreak of
mad cow disease in Europe, which has rattled consumer confidence in red meat and
lasted longer than McDonald's anticipated. Now the company has another livestock
illness to contend with: foot-and-mouth disease.
McDonald's also said its 2001 earnings would be 4 cents to 5 cents lower than
its previous guidance excluding currency adjustments. Before Wednesday,
forecasts called for full-year earnings of $1.60 a share.
"We are taking immediate action to improve financial performance and are
optimistic about returning to double-digit earnings per share growth (in
constant currencies) for the remaining nine months of the year," said Jack
Greenberg, McDonald's chairman and chief executive.
That may be wishful thinking, analysts said. Besides mad cow, the company faces
challenges on several other fronts. Weak economic conditions persist in certain
Asian and Latin American markets. The incidence of foot-and-mouth disease has
pushed up prices of chicken and pork in Europe. The company also is dealing with
increased price competition in the United States.
"The magnitude of the reduction was deeper than expected, but I still think it's
not enough," said Allan Hickok, an analyst at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, who
lowered his full-year earnings estimate 10 cents to $1.50.
While investors have already factored in mad cow concerns into McDonald's stock
price, sentiment for the shares continued to be negative. Shares fell 25 cents
to $27.55 on Wednesday after a delayed opening at $26.30.
McDonald's European sales began falling late last year after cases of mad cow, a
fatal brain-wasting disease, were discovered in France and Germany. The consumer
panic overwhelmed McDonald's, despite assurances about the quality of its beef
and food safety standards. Fourth-quarter earnings fell 7 percent.
The ongoing concerns are hurting sales in the first quarter, although McDonald's
said strong promotions during the same period a year ago and an extra day due to
Leap Year have tempered comparisons.
Sales in Europe, before currency adjustments, were flat for the first two months
of the year, compared with a 14 percent increase a year ago. Europe is
McDonald's second-largest market behind the United States and accounts for a
third of its profits.
U.S. sales for the first two months increased 4 percent, compared with 6 percent
growth a year earlier.
The livestock worries in Europe have worsened with the recent outbreak of
hoof-and-mouth disease. To prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease
to the United States, the Department of Agriculture on Tuesday suspended imports
of livestock and fresh meat from all 15 countries in the European Union.
McDonald's is trying to combat further erosion of its European sales by offering
more pork products on its menus and better informing consumers about the safety
of its hamburgers. To aid with menu variety, the company is testing its
made-to-order cooking system, which was rolled out in the United States a few
years ago, in more European restaurants.
The company is also tightening its belt by cutting its store openings this year
outside the United States by about 100 units. McDonald's had said it would open
about 1,800 new restaurants in 2001. As for other cutbacks, Greenberg did not
offer any details other than saying the company was reviewing its worldwide
expense budgets.
"We can't promise our plans will all work but we are not standing still," he
told analysts during a conference call.
Despite measures to improve its performance, "it is likely that the Street's
confidence in McDonald's could be at an all-time low," said Mark Kalinowski, an
analyst at Salomon Smith Barney. He added that investors will want to see "hard
evidence" of a sustained turnaround before they warm to its shares again. "This
may not happen until the second half of 2001--if that soon."
By Ameet Sachdev
Greed is Good!
Dallas-Area Panel Likely to Make Building-Rules Exception for Pan-Asian Eatery
Mar 22, 2001 (The Dallas Morning News - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News via
COMTEX) -- A giant red rice bowl will probably become a permanent piece of
Southlake's setting.
In a city where aesthetics are so heavily regulated that even McDonald's had to
shrink its golden arches, council members wasted little time Wednesday night
welcoming a restaurant whose symbol is a giant red rice bowl with chopsticks
jutting into the air.
Big Bowl, part of Dallas-based Brinker International Inc., will be built along
East Southlake Boulevard about 1,000 feet from State Highway 114. City officials
have long said that stretch of road is crucial to the city's image because it's
Southlake's east entryway.
Despite the fact that the signature 7 1/2-foot dish sitting over the entrance,
with chopsticks jutting out two feet, violates the city's building ordinance,
council members signaled a willingness to make an exception.
"The bowl communicates to the public who we are," said Doug Cobb, property
development manager for the Big Bowl chain. "It's very important that we have
the bowl. It's like the Nike swoosh. We want when people see the bowl to think
'Big Bowl.'"
At the next council meeting, Brinker officials are also expected to ask members
to make an exception for the bowl, as well as for the rule that limits the
number of signs on a building.
Of the eight Big Bowls that have been built in other states, only one was in a
city where officials insisted on a smaller bowl. The company relented for
Reston, Va., Mr. Cobb said, but later regretted it and vowed not to do it again.
The bowl is 3 feet in diameter.
Southlake Building Services chief Malcolm Jackson said the bowl also violates
size requirements. Those requirements, based on distance from the right-of-way,
limit the bowl to 3 feet high.
After the Virginia experience, Mr. Cobb said, the bowl became non-negotiable.
In addition to the Pan-Asian restaurant, Brinker owns Macaroni Grill, On the
Border, Cozymel's, Chili's, Maggiano's Little Italy and Corner Bakery.
The Southlake location will be the second Big Bowl in Texas. Another one is
under construction in Frisco and is scheduled to open in May. Restaurant
officials have yet to get clearance for the bowl there.
City procedures require the council to consider granting approval to the bowl
and any other variances during another meeting in April. But given the council's
reaction, Brinker officials probably won't have to worry much.
The council's overwhelming support for the three-dimensional ornamentation
signals greater flexibility in the council's approach to development, member
Gary Fawks said. It also shows that the council is starting to heed residents'
requests to increase the number of casual, sit-down eateries in Southlake.
"I think this city is finally in a position to attract some of these national,
well-known restaurant brands like Brinker," Mr. Fawks said. "They have concepts
they've spent literally millions of dollars on, and it's important for them to
bring that corporate identity with them. They didn't just sit down with a box of
crayons and design this restaurant."
Mayor Rick Stacy said he has no problem with Big Bowl -- or any other type of
business in the city's east entrance -- as long as it's built according to the
city's strict building standards.
"I think it's pretty cool, myself," the mayor said. "Everybody is concerned
about the entrance being developed appropriately ... but that should not
preclude any kind of development."
Earlier this year, in fact, the council turned down an application to build a
gas station and convenience store even after agreeing on the need for more fuel
pumps in the area and heaping praise on the design. A gas station, one council
member explained, should not be one of the first sights greeting motorists
entering Southlake.
The city is in the midst of designing stylized markers surrounded by landscaping
to be located at all of Southlake's entry points.
Big Bowl won't be the first business for which the council has granted
exceptions. It restricted McDonald's M to 2 1/2 feet, and the extra-long "K" and
the "y" in the Kirby's Steakhouse sign required special approval. So did
Chick-fil-A's oversize "C" that looks like its hallmark rooster.
At 6,200 square feet, Big Bowl will be one of the few restaurants that isn't
part of a shopping center.
The restaurant also won a permanent permit to serve alcohol, barring any
violations.
By Jennifer Packer
Greed is Good!
McDonald's(R) Introduces Mighty Kids Meal(TM) for Growing Kids Who Want More Grown Up Meals
OAK BROOK, Ill., Mar 22, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- On Friday, March 30,
McDonald's will launch its Mighty Kids Meal in restaurants nationwide, giving
customers ages 8-10 a more "grown up" Happy Meal.
Mighty Kids Meal, the newest permanent addition to McDonald's menu, is similar
to McDonald's traditional Happy Meal(R), however, it offers older kids more of
their favorite food to satisfy their appetites and differentiate them from
younger kids. The Mighty Kids Meal offers the same toy as the Happy Meal, along
with the same size French fry and drink, but includes a double hamburger, double
cheeseburger, or 6-piece Chicken McNuggets(R) as the main entree. McDonald's
Happy Meals offer -- a small fry, small drink and either a hamburger,
cheeseburger, or 4-piece Chicken McNuggets.
"Our Mighty Kids Meal was developed to enhance the McDonald's experience for
kids who have outgrown Happy Meal-sized food, but who are not quite ready for an
Extra Value Meal(TM)," said R.J. Milano, vice president of Marketing, McDonald's
USA. "We understand that kids ages 8-10 have growing appetites, and do not want
to be identified as 'little kids' anymore. Our Mighty Kids Meal addresses these
needs."
Consumer research shows that children between the ages of 8-10 are looking for a
McDonald's meal created especially for them, but still desire McDonald's popular
Happy Meal toys. To satisfy the wishes of these younger customers, McDonald's
created the Mighty Kids Meal. The Mighty Kids Meal provides 8-10 year old kids
with a menu option that empowers them to feel more grown up while enjoying their
favorite McDonald's foods and toys.
The Mighty Kids Meal will be served in a more mature looking brown paper bag --
different from Happy Meal bags, which are printed on white paper and feature
kids activities. Unlike the Happy Meal bags, the Mighty Kids Meal bags will not
change with each promotion.
The launch of McDonald's Mighty Kids Meal will coincide with the launch of the
Spy Kids(TM) Happy Meal promotion, which runs March 30 through April 18. The
promotion is tied to Miramax's newest movie, Spy Kids, starring Antonio Banderas
and Carla Gugino. During the promotion, the Spy Kids toy collection, featuring
nine toys each with a unique "spy function" modeled from the movie, will be
offered in both McDonald's Happy Meal and Mighty Kids Meal.
The Mighty Kids Meal campaign will be supported by national television
advertising developed by Leo Burnett Co., Hispanic television advertising by del
Rivero Messiano Advertising, and African American radio and print advertising by
Burrell Advertising-Chicago.
McDonald's is the world's leading foodservice retailer with more than 28,000
restaurants, serving more than 45 million customers each day, in 120 countries.
Approximately 80 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and
operated by independent, local businessmen and women.
-- Nutrition information available upon request
SOURCE McDonald's Corporation
Greed is Good!
McDonald's much more than a coach's dream
Mar 21, 2001 (The Orange County Register - Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
via COMTEX) -- Michael McDonald polished off a couple of final exams Tuesday,
before Stanford flew to Anaheim.
The fact that one of those courses was called "The American Dream" is almost too
precious (even for ESPN). It also has nothing to do with what McDonald has done.
Dreamers dream. McDonald planned. The first time he took the Scholastic Aptitude
Test, he scored 850, which did not make him Stanford-ready. It bothered neither
Michael nor his father, Glenn.
"He was in the 10th grade at the time," Glenn said. "He'd just heard about so
many players having trouble with the SAT, he wanted to take it a year early to
see what it was like."
McDonald upped his score by more than 300 points, and he slowly built a game
that fits Stanford. His coach, Mike Montgomery, wanted him to score. So Michael
and Glenn spent their summer mornings at Long Beach State, shooting and shooting
and, when Michael got tired, shooting.
McDonald averaged 4.7 points last season and shot 36 percent. McDonald averaged
8.1 points this season and shot 49.4 percent.
McDonald tried 75 three-pointers last season and made 34.7 percent. McDonald
tried 96 three-pointers this season and made 50 percent.
That's an immeasurable boost to Stanford's offense. Actually, you can measure it
- an inside player would have to shoot 75 percent to get that many points out of
96 shots.
"Coach and I talked about it a lot," McDonald said. "Guys on defense were
leaving me alone and putting pressure on my teammates. If I can prove that I can
hit those shots, then the other guys get more room to operate and we're a better
team."
Last year, McDonald went 1 for 3 and scored two points, and Stanford was jolted
by North Carolina in the second round. It wasn't just him - the starters went 14
for 50.
In '99, McDonald also went 1 for 3, coming off the bench, and Stanford suffered
a Round 2 spinout at the hands of Gonzaga. Again, he was merely an accessory.
Gonzaga's Matt Santangelo, Dante Hall and Richie Frahm piled up 41 points.
Nevertheless, Stanford was picked to finish behind Arizona in the Pac-10
primarily because McDonald wasn't Jason Gardner. That was 30 Stanford victories
ago. His Stanford critics screamed for him Saturday, when McDonald sat with four
fouls and watched St. Joseph's pull ahead. Then he took off the warmups, and the
Cardinal won, 90-83.
"I can see where I would be criticized," McDonald said. "They had Art Lee before
me, and Brevin Knight before him (and Lee got knocked for not being Knight). I
knew this year was very important to me."
In the important stuff, it has been. McDonald has already been accepted as a
Stanford graduate student, in sociology. If there's no more basketball for him,
he'll pursue a marketing career and, probably, catch it.
His teammates suspect he'll be fine. They see him, pregame. Instead of watching
tapes, reading the chalkboard or suffering gastrointestinal distress, McDonald
studies. Textbooks. Fifteen minutes before introductions.
"It's just the way I relax," he said. "It's a way to take my mind off things so
I can be fresh."
"He's always had a great focus on what he wanted to do," Glenn said.
He also had Glenn's footprints to follow. Now the intramural director at Long
Beach State, Glenn was an All-American there, for Jerry Tarkanian, and played
for the Celtics before a career in the Philippines. Michael was born here, but
only because Glenn and Renee McDonald made a special trip. As soon as the baby
could travel, the family returned to Manila.
"We moved back to the states when he started school," Glenn said. "It took a
year or so before he lost his Filipino accent. He doesn't remember much about
it, but I do. It was a great experience. I was treated like a king. We had a
great house, maids, ya-yas (nannies), transportation, all provided for us."
Glenn McDonald said basketball is the most popular sport in the Philippines.
What is second?
"Cockfighting," he said.
America merged the two sports some time ago, of course, and called it the Big
East.
Michael played on summer teams run by Bob Gottlieb and the Pump Brothers, and he
was an all-star at Long Beach Poly, but he never forgot the classroom. "I was
coaching at Long Beach State," Glenn said, "and he'd go into the stands and open
the books and start studying. We didn't have to say a word."
Michael did not get involved in shoe bribery, as many summer players do. "It's
tough for kids who don't have anything to resist it," Glenn said. "But we told
him all along - if you want shoes, tell us. We'll get 'em."
If Tarkanian had remained at UNLV, Glenn thinks Michael might have gone there.
Utah made a run. "He could have gone anywhere and it would have been fine with
me," Glenn said, "unless he'd picked USC."
Michael visited Stanford, came back and told his parents he was "85 percent
sure" he'd go there.
"Then why are you wasting time with these other six schools that you're 15
percent sure about?" Renee asked.
Rationality. It appeals to Michael McDonald. Two more victories, and he's in the
Final Four. It almost makes you believe in the American Plan.
By Mark Whicker
Greed is Good!
New Mexico Businessman to Lead McDonald's Customer Satisfaction Improvements
Mar 20, 2001 (Albuquerque Journal - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News via
COMTEX) -- McDonald's USA has tapped Albuquerque's Paul Saber -- who created
new-look restaurants here including the neon, retro franchise on Fourth -- to
spearhead customer service improvement nationwide.
Saber will become a senior vice president who will work with senior management
and franchisees in McDonald's restaurants nationwide, McDonald's USA President
Alan Feldman said last week.
"I am excited about my new role working with the company and owner/operator
community to deliver an even higher level of customer satisfaction," Saber said.
"I have a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for and a strong commitment to this
business."
Saber, who plans to move to the Chicago area with his wife and two children as
he moves into the new job, will report directly to Feldman.
McDonald's was among the poorest performers in a national consumer satisfaction
survey released in February by the National Quality Research Center at the
University of Michigan Business School.
According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, the McDonald's score
dropped 3.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2000 from the year-ago period,
getting a rating of 59 out of a possible 100. That is more than 10 points below
the industry average.
McDonald's customers complained of slow service, sloppy burger assembly and
advertisements that did not match real products, the report said.
"Delivering the highest level of customer satisfaction is our No. 1 priority,"
Feldman said, "and Paul is one of the best and most dedicated practitioners and
advocates of outstanding quality, service and cleanliness -- the cornerstones of
our business."
"I am confident that Paul's knowledge of the McDonald's system and his
owner/operator perspective will be powerful assets as we focus on increasing
sales and growing our U.S. business," he said.
Saber's new position creates a direct link between the company's operator
community and Oak Brook, Ill.-based management.
Saber began his McDonald's career in 1985 as a franchisee in the Atlanta region.
For the past decade, he has owned and operated a dozen McDonald's restaurants in
the Albuquerque area. He will arrange to sell those franchises in the coming
months, a company spokesman said.
Saber also has been chairman of the company's National Leadership Council of
owner/operators and is on the board of trustees for the Ronald McDonald House
Charities.
Saber has demonstrated in Albuquerque how new designs can mean more traffic.
At his neon McDonald's on Fourth and Montano with the Jetsons-meet-the-Fonz
design created by JLS Architects Inc., the store set a first-day sales record
for the chain's Denver region (Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming) when it
opened last March.
The store has a Haagen-Dazs ice cream parlor, '50s-style jukebox and dance
floor, Nintendo 64 games and Net-surfing stations.
"It was really a soft opening and we still beat the record by over 10 percent,"
Saber said at the time. "McDonald's is watching how our ice cream parlor is
doing very closely. So far, it's a big hit."
The company did not release customer traffic numbers but confirmed Saber's new
McDonald's soundly beat the record previously held by a McDonald's in Logan,
Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City.
Saber has been involved in the planning of "futuristic concepts" for the company
for years.
Saber also has built and opened a rustic lodge-theme store in Edgewood and a
Wall Street-theme restaurant Downtown.
The Downtown store is a McDonald's/Shell gas station combo, the first such
combination in Albuquerque.
In addition to numerous roles with the company, Saber is involved in a variety
of community programs including acting as executive director for the Billy and
Franklin Graham crusade when it comes to Albuquerque.
The move to hire Saber follows another shift in top management, as the company
recently merged its menu development and marketing functions, replacing U.S.
marketing head Larry Zwain with Tom Ryan, head of menu development.
McDonald's has more than 28,000 restaurants in 120 countries, serving over 45
million customers every day. Approximately 80 percent of McDonald's restaurants
worldwide are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women.
By Michael G. Murphy
Greed is Good!
McDonald's New York Region to Host 25th Anniversary McDonald's All American High School Basketball GameSilver Anniversary Event to be Played at Madison Square Garden; Company Introduces All American Girls Game
OAK BROOK, Ill., Mar 21, 2001 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- McDonald's Corp. announced
today that the New York Tri-State McDonald's Owner/Operators will host the 25th
anniversary McDonald's All American High School Basketball Game to be played at
Madison Square Garden in the spring of 2002. The company also announced that it
will introduce a girls All American High School Basketball Game to take place on
the same day in the same venue.
Since its inception in 1977, the McDonald's All American Game has annually
showcased the top 24 boys high school basketball players while raising money for
Ronald McDonald House Charities and providing basketball fans with a glimpse of
college and NBA superstars of tomorrow. After 24 memorable years of boys action,
McDonald's is adding a girls All American Game to feature the premiere girls
high school basketball players.
"To recognize the achievements in women's sports, we are thrilled to introduce
our first-ever girls high school basketball game -- especially on the 25th
anniversary of the boys McDonald's All American Game," said Alan Feldman,
president, McDonald's USA. "In a place where many basketball legends have been
made, New York City and Madison Square Garden provide the perfect city and venue
for these McDonald's basketball milestones."
Both games will take place the same night during Spring 2002 at Madison Square
Garden, home of the NBA New York Knicks and the WNBA New York Liberty.
"On behalf of the more than 600 McDonald's restaurants in the New York Tri-State
area, we are extremely proud to host this landmark event," said Pete Samaha,
McDonald's restaurant owner and chairman of the 2002 McDonald's All American
Game. "The local McDonald's owners have a long history of recognizing community
leaders and the McDonald's All American Game provides the perfect platform to
honor these fine young men and women."
"The McDonald's All American High School Basketball Game is a marquee event and
we're proud to showcase it in the basketball capitol of the world," said Dave
Checketts, president and chief executive officer of Madison Square Garden.
Approximately 1,600 top high school boys basketball players from across the
country will be nominated to the McDonald's All American Team in January 2002. A
selection committee, chaired by Morgan Wootten, head coach of DeMatha Catholic
High School in Hyattsville, Md., and an advisory committee led by legendary UCLA
coach John Wooden, selects the final team members in February. Selected players
will join a list of alumni that includes current and former NBA superstars such
as Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, Kobe Bryant,
Elton Brand and Grant Hill. The nomination and selection process for the
McDonald's Girls Game is expected to be similar to those for the Boys Game.
Details on committee chairs will be announced soon.
Throughout its 24-year history, the game has fulfilled its primary purpose as a
fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities(R), as well as being a showcase
for young basketball players. Proceeds from the 2002 McDonald's All American
Games will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of New York City. Previous
beneficiaries of McDonald's All American Games include Sickle Cell Anemia
Research, the United Negro College Fund and many other local children's
charities. More than $2 million has been raised since the game was first played.
The 2001 Game will be played March 28 at Duke University's Cameron Indoor
Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, and broadcast live on ESPN at 9 p.m. (EST).
Proceeds from this game will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of North
Carolina.
For more information on the McDonald's All American Game, please visit
www.mcdonalds.com and www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com.
Ronald McDonald House Charities(R), a non-profit, 501(c)3, creates, finds and
supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children
through its network of local charities currently serving in 32 countries. The
charity makes grants to not for-profit organizations and provides support to
Ronald McDonald Houses and Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles worldwide. To date,
Ronald McDonald House Charities' national body and global network of local
charities has awarded nearly $250 million to children's programs worldwide.
There are more than 600 McDonald's restaurants owned by 200 franchisees located
throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Tri-State area. Visit
www.mcdonaldsnymetro.com for more information on other McDonald's New York
Tri-State programs.
McDonald's(R) is the world's leading global foodservice retailer, with more than
28,000 restaurants serving more than 45 million people each day in 120
countries. Approximately 80 percent of McDonald's worldwide restaurants are
owned and operated by independent franchisees.
(c) 2001 McDonald's Corporation
Greed is Good!
DANNII THROWS STAR TANTRUM IN McDONALDS
Mar 20, 2001 (WENN via COMTEX) -- Sexy actress DANNII MINOGUE shocked staff
recently when she had a tantrum in a London branch of McDonald's recently.
The singer, 29, dropped some hash browns on the floor and demanded they be
replaced immediately.
Staff refused, whereas Minogue, currently starring in West End show NOTRE DAME
DE PARIS, stormed out with no breakfast.
A source says, "The staff probably would have been more accommodating if she had
bothered to say please.
"She was livid." (AW/WNTMI/PDD)
(c) 2001 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK. All global rights reserved. No unauthorised copying or re-distribution permitted.
Greed is Good!
Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va., Biz Buzz Column
Mar 19, 2001 (Richmond Times-Dispatch - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News via
COMTEX) -- CHICK-FIL-A TARGETS AREA FOR UNITS: Chick-fil-A played a key role in
the late 1960s in the creation of mall food courts. The Atlanta-based chain
opened its first unit in a mall in 1967. And most of its locations are still
located there. But Chick-fil-A took a big step about 15 years ago by branching
out and opening free-standing units much like McDonald's.
Since then, the company has opened 314free-standing locations compared with the
423 mall-based restaurants.
The chain is accelerating its growth of free-standing units, including to target
the Richmond area, spokesman Jerry Johnston said. "We do very well in malls, but
fewer new malls are being built so we needed to look at alternatives."
The first free-standing location in the Richmond area opened last month on Hull
Street just east of state Route 288.
Another is planned to open in late April near Chesterfield Towne Center, while a
third unit should open this summer across from Virginia Center Commons.
In the next two years, four to six stores are planned for the market.
Virginia has 17 free-standing units, with most of them located in Hampton Roads.
NEW HEADQUARTERS PLANNED: Insurance broker Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton Co. is
moving its headquarters.
The Richmond-based company, which owns about 80 insurance agency offices around
the country, should move into its new digs off Lake Brook Drive in June.
HRH is moving from one part of the Innsbrook Corporate Center to another part
be-cause the company has outgrown space.
MEXICAN BUYS STAKE IN CHAIN: Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu and his
family, who took control of computer retailer CompUSA last year, now have a 5.9
percent stake in rival Circuit City Stores Inc.
They bought 12.2 million shares in the Richmond-based retailer, according to a
filing last week with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC
filing is used only when an investor acquires more than 5 percent of a stock and
the person has no plans to take control of a company.
His family-controlled investment companies have bought shares in other retailers
in the past year, including a 14.5 percent stake in department store retailer
Saks Inc. and a 15 percent stake in OfficeMax Inc.
Slim couldn't be reached for comment. Circuit City declined comment.
ANOTHER ROOMSTORE: Heilig-Meyers Co. is converting its store in Lynchburg to The
RoomStore format.
It is part of a plan by the Richmond-based retailer to convert 75 Heilig-Meyers
stores this year to the room-setting format.
The chain converted five stores in the Richmond market and one in Williamsburg
to The RoomStore last month.
Contact Gregory J. Gilligan at (804) 649-6379 or ggilligan@timesdispatch.com
By Gregory J. Gilligan
Greed is Good!
McDonald's to Test Expanded Drive-Through at Northern California Locations
Mar 17, 2001 (The Sacramento Bee - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News via
COMTEX) -- It's a sign of the times.
You have your double cheeseburger, your two for $2.22 special. Now comes the
double drive-through at McDonald's.
Fast food is getting faster, not only at McDonald's -- where adding an extra
lane has been called super-sizing -- but at franchises nationwide.
And what better place to put the latest in fast food innovation than in suburban
Sacramento County, where vans and SUVs queue each night after soccer games?
McDonald's recently received approval to put in a double drive-through at its
Elk Grove Boulevard location, and it wants one for its Laguna eatery.
Northern California became the test site for the McDonald's dual drive-through
concept last year.
"They are now going to put them in everywhere else in the country," said Terry
Grayson, an official with GPMS, the local company charged by McDonald's with
gaining permits for the double drive-throughs.
Restaurant chains, where up to 65 percent of business comes at the drive-up
window, are going all out to make service quicker and more reliable.
Fast-food companies are studying ways to improve service and speed that include
transparent bags and readout boards confirming every item ordered.
Normally, getting the food out is not the barrier at McDonald's -- order taking
is, Grayson said. When somebody wants a Coke, but is behind a motorist ordering
20 items on 39-cent-cheeseburger Wednesdays, waiting is a drag.
About 70 percent of McDonald's customers order three items or less. An extra
lane decreases the possibility the customer with the small order will get behind
a big order.
Motorists pull up to either of two speaker boards and menu posts. There is still
only one booth for money-taking and one booth for pickup, but the two aisles for
order-taking speed up service more than 50 percent.
The order-taker becomes a traffic controller, telling motorists when to move
ahead to pay and pick up.
Already, more than 20 double drive-throughs have been installed in the region
from Fresno to the Oregon border. That includes the retro McDonald's at Arden
Way and Howe Avenue and ones in Citrus Heights and Roseville. In the works are
30 to 60 others, including a location in West Sacramento.
Drive-throughs are not universally admired. Elk Grove planning commissioners
initially objected because they believed speaker sound would disturb neighbors
until the setup was reconfigured.
Several years ago, Land Park activists killed a proposed McDonald's
drive-through at 14th Street and Broadway, saying such a proposal discouraged
pedestrians in the Tower Theater business corridor.
When a former Burger King with a drive-through at the east end of Broadway
became available, McDonald's moved in, leaving the other location closed. It
remains boarded up.
"The first one was severely impacted because of the drive-through issue. Some
restaurants have 50 (percent) to 70 percent of their work at the drive-through,"
Grayson said.
Luree Stetson, a leader of the Land Park Association, said "they didn't go out
of business because there was no drive-through, they went out of business
because they were not making enough profit."
Taco Bell has introduced confirmation boards in Sacramento so that the customer
can see if the order-taker got the number of burritos or chalupas correct.
Officials at Taco Bell, which receives more than 65 percent of its business in
the drive-through, believe quick service will become increasingly important in
the future.
"All things being equal, you are probably going to the fast-food place with the
shorter line. People use the drive-through as an external look at how fast
service will be," said Laurie Gannon, a Taco Bell spokeswoman.
Carl's Jr. plans to package food in transparent bags to cut down on time
customers spend rooting for items while still in line after an order is filled.
A customer once shorted a bag of fries is likely to double-check the next time,
slowing up a queue.
At Carl's Jr., where 44 percent of its business is conducted at the take-out
window, improving accuracy is its goal, said spokeswoman Narina Singh.
Other innovations at fast-food restaurants include redesigning menu boards to
decrease order decision-making time, improving speaker sound quality and placing
timers within eyesight of employees that tick off how long a customer has
waited.
Much of this has been tried before, said Keith A. Sculle, co-author of "Fast
Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age."
"Ten or 15 years ago a couple of small companies started this business of a
double drive-through as an idea to present visually to the consumer that there
was speedier service," he said.
But it is inappropriate for all venues, he said. "I have seen a lot of idle time
at these double drive-throughs where one lane would be totally adequate," he
said.
Industry trade magazine QSR found that the average time between stopping at the
speaker and receiving food at 25 restaurant chains nationally was 182.95
seconds.
The speediest was Wendy's, at 141.73 seconds. McDonald's took 169.88 seconds,
passing Burger King at 178.2, Taco Bell at 192.69, Carl's Jr. at 198.56. Jack in
the Box timed in at 260.87.
"In the Sacramento region, our average is in the 125-second range," said Dennis
Brennan, regional director for McDonald's at the company's office in Roseville.
Idling in line at the Elk Grove McDonald's with a dozen other cars at 6 p.m.
last Wednesday, customer Sarah Carter turned toward the speaker. She asked for
two orders of fries and a milk shake.
Carter hoped that the double drive-through proposed for her hometown McDonald's
would help, but was not sure it was the answer to her fast-food woes.
"I'm used to getting behind a soccer mom with 100 kids in their car," she said.
By Bill Lindelof
Greed is Good!
I’m Bill McCartney… It’s 4TH and Goal!
"Game addiction"
For the better part of nine months, Dan Gilbert lost his wife, Lori, to an internet game.
I’m Bill McCartney… It’s 4TH and Goal!
Each day Lori, 35, retreated to her computer in the basement, surfacing only to sleep and grab a quick bite to eat. Her computer log showed she played an average of 65 hours a week. "It was like we were in different worlds," Dan said. "She didn't do much of anything except play that game."
Lori was playing one of the new types of internet games. The games are computer-generated fantasy worlds where thousands of players can talk and adventure together. But the design of the games, which encourages players to spend months and even years playing, has drawn some players into spending dozens of hours a week immersed in a virtual world while the real world rushes past.
David Turner, a fireman in Texas, found the world of online games a relaxing and predictable change of pace from his hectic real life. "It was an escape," he said. He made friends online and was admired for all his game-playing skill. But after two years of playing, Turner, a father of three who was often online for up to eight hours a day, began to realize how little time he was spending with his family.
Men, here it is: one more way for us to avoid reality. It's not so hard to understand the desire to escape from reality and live in a fantasy world. But, just because we hide from reality doesn't mean it goes away. Not only is it out there waiting for us, but most times it has gotten worse because we have been hiding from it.
Average people spend 3 hours weekly on the internet. Internet addicts average nearly 20 hours weekly. A more sobering number is that normal Americans spend almost as much time watching TV as they do working, well over thirty hours.
Guys, it's not that we shouldn't have some time to ourselves, to enjoy the things we enjoy. But, my guess is that if we compare the time we spend entertaining ourselves to the time we spend with those we love, it will be clear that we need to change our priorities for the sake of our marriages and families.
I’m Coach Bill McCartney.
Greed is Good!
A Minute for Mom
I continue teaching piano lessons and Charles is the back-up violin soloist for the Spring Concert in April. Daniel got the part - which I felt was well deserved - but Jim wants me to keep Charles fresh in case Daniel gets the flu or something. Our practice times have been so animated for several weeks. His face gets this rapt look and he keeps stopping and trying new fingerings, positions to get better tone or to create new harmonies. He keeps hollering to me if he is practicing alone, "Mommy, come here! Listen to this!" Almost every day he composes something on the violin or the piano. Sometimes I video tape it so we can write it down later if we decide to develop one. Most of them he forgets, but every so many, he remembers and develops it further. I don't know how to thank the Lord for His wonderful help in this area. It is beyond me. We did not give him this ability. We only tried to clear his soul so that God could open the gifts within him. We cannot expect the same gifts in this next child, but we pray that we can make them fertile ground for whatever work the Lord wants to do, whether music, auto mechanics, or something we have never thought of...
I never thought seriously about being a writer. It seems that God has decided that I am one - though I don't try to be one or even know how to be one. I haven't had one writing class in my life and not even a college degree in any area. God has a sense of humor and also amazing sovereignty. Last week, a Chinese lady called and was so moved by the booklet I have written entitled: "The Lamb Will Rule, Not The Lion" (a small booklet written especially for parents of infants and toddlers). She asked for permission to translate it into Chinese and have it published in mainland China. She says they are ripe for it there with all the single mothers that need help. She liked it because the size and the price would not scare anyone away and also because it wasn't 'over biblical' and I know what she means by that. I watch with interest and fascination - wondering where it got its wings to fly off without me like that. God is merciful. He has a plan. I want to be a part of that plan. It sure exceeds any plans I have for myself.
Post Script
We try to tell our young people that God's plans will not stifle or ruin their lives. I plead with them, "Look at my life! Wouldn't you agree that it is a good life?" They always have to agree. I tell them, "Do you know how I received what I have in life? By letting God have the choice! He chose my companion, my vocation, my location and thousands of smaller details too."
(Gotta go) (-: Esther
"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Psalms 90:12
Greed is Good!