There is bittersweet news for investors in Hershey Co (HSY). After over 100 years in the same location, Hershey Co. is electing to close its original chocolate factory, which was built beginning in 1903. The company cites the need to upgrade equipment as the main impetus for the change. The company needs to remain current to effectively compete on the global playing field. Hershey is spending $300 million building a new facility near the original factory's location.

Today, starting at 5:30 p.m. (local time), your neighborhood Starbucks is closing. Yes, yours -- and yours, too. (If you live in the U.S., that is.) CEO Howard Schultz has ordered this emergency intensive remedial training, hopefully giving baristas valuable skills they should have learned in the ordinary 40-hour new "partner" training. One of the skills -- which, according to one New York Starbucks manager involved in the test training program, was a "revelation" to some of her workers -- is a milk steaming technique that will allow baristas to "free pour" (without holding foam back with a spoon) the milk no matter how the customer orders the drink.

Partners will also be instructed to wipe the steamer wands and rinse the pitchers and shot glasses every time -- not a new idea, but according to anecdotal evidence, also not commonly done. A new procedure will be instituted for the espresso machines; baristas will always pull a double shot, instead of occasionally pulling only one when only one shot is needed. This, apparently, will assure a better-tasting espresso.

At the closing bell, Time Warner was down slightly from its opening price.

The stock opened today at 16.90 and closed at 16.89, which yielded an overall -0.01 net change, which equates to a -0.06% change.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? A net change of -0.01?

You know, that figure sort of reminds me of high school wrestlers. You know the ones I’m talking about -- those creepy guys who spent the entirety of history class spitting into a Snapple bottle to “cut weight” before the match.

So, at the end of the day, I’ll say to you, Time Warner, what I always said to those wrestlers: Quit with the spitting because you’re grossing me out. No one notices a -0.06% change, anyway!

Stocks fell today, despite the uplifting announcement of strong consumer confidence and slightly higher home sale numbers.

Luckily, today’s general market trends didn’t have much of an impact on Time Warner. I guess that’s to be expected; this stock hasn’t had any major movements since late July. And frankly, when it comes to business, no news is often good news, even if it does make for boring commentary.

 

The stock opened at 16.87, hit a low of 16.73, and a high of 16.97. When the closing bell rang, TWX was at 16.9, up 0.06 (0.36%).

My humble opinion? Please, let tomorrow be a little more exciting!