BeeBusinessDesk's blog

Last Friday, 7/6, was the last day of work for 99 employees at Hershey’s Oakdale plant -- the first in a series of layoffs -- as Hershey prepares to permanently shut down the chocolate factory. 

In a bittersweet twist, Friday also happened to be the day that Hershey celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Hershey Kiss.

The celebration in Hershey, Pa., included the unveiling of the “world’s largest Hershey’s Kisses chocolate.” The massive Kiss weighed more than 30,000 pounds and is “complete with a seven-foot long plume and 16,460 feet of foil wrapping,” according to a Hershey press release. It was certified be the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest piece of chocolate.

Sound off on Vista right here!

Many people think they’re safer from identity theft then they actually might be. But an online quiz from the Identity Theft Resource Center would bridge that gap, with 15 questions on such topics as how you keep your Social Security number and what you do with credit card offers.

The quiz, at IDconfidence.orgcq, also offers personalized tips on lessening your susceptibility to identity theft, depending on how you answer the questions. Other information on the site includes statistics on how common identity theft is and how it’s usually carried out. The quiz and other Web site information are free.

Lobsters, if they could do so, might breathe a sigh of relief that a three-day promotion at Raley’s Superstores involving them won’t be repeated.

In late December, the store sold live lobsters kept in containers scarcely bigger than the crustaceans’ bodies. Raley’s has three stores in Modesto and one in Turlock.

After several complaints from customers and animal-cruelty watchdogs spurred by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the store dropped the promotion, and a spokeswoman said Friday that it would not be repeated.

It should be noted that the traditional way to cook lobsters is still scalding them to death in boiling water.