business news in context, analysis with attitude

Regarding the decision by Costco to shutter all its in-store photo centers, one MNB reader wrote:

I’m kinda sorry to hear this.  Fortunately, I had all my father’s home videos transferred to DVDs at COSTCO a few years ago.

Wish we had.


One MNB reader had a question about the Glassdoor list of best places to work:

I expected to see a KC’s View on how MNB fared in the Glassdoor list.

Nope.  I was just licking my wounds from not even a mention.  (On the other hand, nobody said anything bad about me, either.)


Yesterday we took note of a Los Angeles Times  piece about a business in California that is booming - it makes body bags, which are in demand because of the pandemic.

One MNB reader reacted:

Really??  If it’s meant to be funny, too soon.  If it’s meant to be informative, don’t care.  Sooo, what was the purpose?  I think there may be a few more newsworthy stories out there than this one.

Well, first of all, it wasn't a lead story.  It was the last bulleted item in the sixth story of the day.

But I'm sorry if you were offended.  It certainly wasn't meant as a joke.  I used it as the tag story in the piece because I thought it provided a punctuation point on the level of death that is the result of the pandemic … you know, for all those folks who think it isn't a big deal.


And finally, I got this email responding to Monday's FaceTime video, in which I talked about Feargal Quinn while making lamb Bolognese in my kitchen:

I love it when you're cooking.  Normal guy , as the rest of us learn to cook and..contribute too.

I know that the meal sounds simple,  but as a novice I would appreciate your recipe.  Sounds delicious!

It was … and actually pretty simple to make.

Here are the ingredients:

2 cups chopped onion

2 cups chopped carrots

2 clove sof garlic

Extra virgin olive oil

a bit of sea salt

2 pounds ground lamb

crushed red pepper

Italian seasoning

1/2 cup tomato paste

1 cup red wine

32-oz. crushed tomatoes or tomato puree

Shredded mozarella

Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

• In a large dutch oven or heavy pan, coat the bottom with olive oil.

• Put in the onions, carrots and garlic.  Let them cook slowly until soft.

• Add a bit of sea salt.  Maybe a bit of Italian seasoning.  Bit of red pepper.

• Add the ground lamb and break it up, cooking it until browned.

• Add a bit more red pepper and Italian seasoning, to taste.

• Add red wine.

• Drink some red wine.

• Add the tomato paste.

• Add the crushed tomatoes or tomato puree.  (Depends on how chunky you like it.)

• Add the butter.

• Drink some more red wine.

• Stir well.  Bring to a high simmer, then lower the heat to low.

• Add a sprinkle of mozzarella.  Stir again.

• Cover.  Cook on low for 1-2 hours.  Sip on red wine.

• When you are ready, boil water.  Make pasta.  Drain pasta when al dente.

  • Put pasta in big bowl.  Add sauce.  Mix well.  (Or not. Up to you.) Top with parmesan.
  • Serve.

• Eat.  Drink red wine.

Enjoy.

Here's how mine turned out: