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You read in this issue’s Take Two column all about William Wrigley Jr. Company (NYSE: WWY). You might also have read that Wrigley has agreed to be purchased by Mars, Inc. with a little help from Warren Buffett. This announcement came after we went to press (Murphy’s Law, anyone?), so we asked the writers of the Take Two article what they thought about this new development.

Charles Worthman
Mars, Inc. recently agreed to buy William Wrigley Jr. Co. for approximately $23 billion, which equates to 4.1x revenue and 18.4x EBITDA. As per the Take Two column this May, this could be considered expensive. Yet it might not be expensive should Mars be able to reduce expenses via synergies.

Second, the merger with Mars will help head off competitive threats by giving the company more power to negotiate with vendors and by using Mars distribution channels and other resources.

Third, while growth is still an issue it becomes less so in a private company that might be content to simply milk the produce line without dealing with shareholders.

Finally, while brand loyalty is not as high in gums, Wrigley still could face competitive threats but will have more scale and more fire power to fight these threats especially on pricing.

Chris Lahiji
Whoa, what a turn of events.

Mars and Wrigley are teaming up to make the largest confection factory in the world, and one of the world’s greatest investors, Warren Buffet is financing a piece of it.

This is a great move because as the developing world is getting wealthier and wealthier, hygiene becomes important, and the cheapest way of improving your hygiene is by having great breath.

Seriously though, gum is anti-recessionary and so is candy.

Good move.

Thanks guys!

-Jennie

The federal government started its check distribution of the much-touted economic stimulus bill this month. In the end, the U.S. Treasury will send checks to about 130 million taxpayers by July.

Individuals who filed taxes in April and make less than $75,000 annually should be receiving a check for $600; couples should receive $1,200; and parents will get an additional $300 for each child.

Direct deposit payments are well under way, but payment via paper checks will take a bit longer. Want to know when your check will be sent? The stimulus payment schedule is arranged according to the last two digits of your Social Security Number. You can check out the schedule HERE.

In the end, with Americans spending their checks on all sorts of things across the economic board, the government hopes to start the U.S. economy on a swing toward recovery.

So what are you planning on using your stimulus check for? I asked brass staffers what they’re planning to spend their checks on, and the answers were pretty diverse.

• Katie Kacvinsky plans to do her part in “boosting” the economy by traveling around the Pacific Northwest and to “kick back, drink wine and love life.”
• Jennie Bartlemay also says she wants to use the money to travel. She’ll be heading to Las Vegas this summer with friends.
• Brady Sahnow says he will put his children’s portions into their investment fund. For himself he might splurge on an Xbox 360 game and save the rest to pay for groceries.
• Joel Ranck is thinking about stashing his check in a rainy day fund, or throw it into the pot for an eventual down payment on a house.
• Zack Marker is likely to spend it on high-quality groceries. Having miraculously recovered from his ketchup only diet, he gave a great link to a site listing what other people are spending their stimulus money on. Check it out HERE.
• Sarah Higginbotham says she will be taking a big bite out of her student loan debt.
• As for myself, I will invest in my photography business. I recently upgraded to a Nikon D300, and my stimulus check will help make up part of the cost.

At brass, we’re doing our part in all kinds of ways and having fun while we’re at it. Well, some of us at least. Happy spending.

– Peter

As promised in the May issue of brass|MAGAZINE, here’s the entertaining follow-up to the brass Team Member profile on Special Projects guy, Zack Marker. It’s also the second installation of our brass Vlog and Randy is back in action. For those of you that have yet to check out Zack’s full profile on page 1 of our latest issue, I’ll catch you up:

brass staffer Zack, 23, is a lover of good food who is known for posting pics of his culinary creations on Facebook. When he’s not on camera in the Video Department or sneaking treats from the break room, he runs to keep his eating habit from becoming a weight problem. This past weekend he ran his third marathon. Here’s a sneak peek at his rigorous training regime:

Life in the working world is just around the corner for us. This week on The Civil War Graduation Countdown we’re sharing our stories from the job hunt.

Susie — Oregon State Univ.

On June 15th, I’ll have officially graduated from college. A day after that, I’m packing up my life and driving home to Southern California with my parents. A month later I’ll be on a plane to New York City to start a new adventure. I know most of my friends are worrying about what they’re doing post-college and I’m just as panicked, even if I do have an idea of where I’m headed.

Once in New York, I aim to have job prospects or interviews set up. I know, I know — I’m moving across the country without a job locked in. Being far away from NYC right now inhibits me from jumping on jobs that become available and are instantly filled. Unlike my engineer brother, no one is actively recruiting me or paying to fly me in for interviews – I essentially have to be persistent (but not annoying) to get myself into a nice little entry-level job.

It may sound tough, but I’m determined to be positive. Here’s my weapons chest:
• I had a great boss at Glamour last summer and I’ve kept in touch with her after leaving — she offered to help me out if she could when I arrive after graduation. Maintaining work relationships can mean a helpful contact or reference later in your career path – you never know!
• I met with someone at Marie Claire who has already helped me a ton. She gave me the idea to start sending letters to Human Resource departments of the major publishing companies in May, and following up once a month until I arrive so that they know I’m serious and have a name to remember, which will hopefully keep me on file for any available jobs.
• There’s also my ultimate web source – Ed2010. The website sends newsletters with “whispers” about job openings and internships at magazines, mostly in New York.
• And hey, I can’t forget my awesome editorial experience at brass! I’ll bring solid skills that will amp up my resume and hopefully help open some doors.

Clearly, I don’t have a whole lot of concrete answers for my future, but I know where I’ll be and what I’ll be working toward. I’m counting on my determination and positivity to keep me going until I have that perfect job!

Jens — Univ. of Oregon

Just like the headline says: I have 38 days until this whole college thing is over. That means now’s the time to get looking for a job. In all honesty, it’s been a bit harder than you might think. It’s not always easy to find time to look for a journalism job while taking a full course load and working two jobs – as an intern at brass, and at a local lumber store. As our Editorial Content Director Sarah Higginbotham said, “A teacher once told me that my job after school was to look for a job.”

I’ve been checking the Career Services page for the journalism school at U of O. Also I’ve found a big part of my job search, while still in school, is learning skills that will help me once I graduate. I started out as a writer (and am still pursuing that as a magazine major), but I’ve taken photojournalism courses, and am currently working as a photographer for the School of Journalism and Communication’s capstone newspaper project, Mosaic. I’ve also learned multimedia skills. So far I’ve produced some photo slideshows, set to music, with Soundslides and am in the process of learning Final Cut Pro in the hopes of adding video to my repertoire. Hopefully these skills will help me get a job in a journalism field quickly switching to multimedia.

Another helpful thing I’ve learned is the power of networking. Every time I meet someone in the journalism school, I try to add them as a friend on Facebook. Having a network of friends who all graduated from the journalism school could prove invaluable in the future. I’ve also learned to not underestimate the power of my professors. Many of my profs worked in the journalism field for years before moving into academia – they still have valuable contacts. Building a relationship with them can help me get my foot in the door.

Wish me luck.

Be sure to check in with us next week as we get even closer to the big day.

– Susie and Jens

Are you on Facebook? Do you realize that the site has more than 70 million active users? There are more than 14 million photos uploaded daily and more than 6 million active user groups.

But you probably already know this. What you may not know is that brass is on Facebook. Check out our Page with lots of photos, feeds, notes, videos, contests and prizes. You can connect with other readers, contributors and brass staffers. Be sure to post your favorite articles, links, and even articles YOU contributed in our Posted Items. Leave your thoughts on our Wall and get talking in our Discussions. It’s where YOU get to connect with all that is brass! Become a Fan and share the page with others!

Speaking of prizes, the first person to post on our wall and mention this blog post gets one of our cool T-shirts! (That link is to a pic sent in from one of our last T-shirt winners–thanks for posting Mike!)

If you’re not familiar with Facebook, check out what founder/CEO Bryan Sims has to say about social networking sites. Thanks for reading and for sharing the news!

- Jennie

Big news brass fans: The latest issue is online and in the mail. As I speak, a massive truck is pulling up outside my window with just a “few” of the over 550,000 mags that will head out around the country. (I’m seriously hoping that truck doesn’t run over my boss’ car…yikes!)

Just in time for National Volunteer Week!

As it turns out, the release coincides with National Volunteer Week and we’re especially proud of this issue. Our cover story, At Your Service: The making of a firefighter, features 24-year-old Dan Murray of the Seattle Fire Department. While he is just one of over a million dedicated paid and volunteer firefighters in the U.S., he is also part of the elite 1.23 percent that made the cut for the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) – a place even more competitive to get into than Harvard. And it turns out, about 72% of firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers, which is exactly where Dan got his start. Check out the story online and be sure to view the full story and photos by using the PDF link in the top right corner. Still want more? Take a peek at photos from the cover shoot we’ve posted.

And to get you into the spirit of National Volunteer Week, one of our May feature stories, Kick Start Your Heart, will get you hitting the pavement for a good cause. On Wednesday, brass interns Jens and Susie blogged about how they got involved in volunteering during their college days this week and offer up some tips for you.

Take Three

You might have heard that Warren Buffett and Mars, Inc. are teaming up to purchase Wrigley, the company featured in this issue’s Take Two column. Stay tuned next week when we’ll have an update and see what our two stock columnists, Chris and Charles, think about this new development.

That’s the update for now. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to check out all the new May issue, get inspired, and find a way to get involved this month. (Oh yeah, and be sure to let us know what you think.) Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

- Sarah

College is a lot more than just going to class. This week on The Civil War Graduation Countdown, we’re sharing our experiences as volunteers.

Jens — Univ. of Oregon
Living a life of true meaning involves more than just personal material gain. Since starting college, I’ve helped a local youth group that my brother-in-law pastors. One of the best experiences I had was when we took a group of high-schoolers to Carmen Serdan, Mexico. The Mission at Carmen Serdan is an orphanage that takes in physically and mentally disabled children who have been abandoned by their parents – either out of neglect or because their lack of facilities and finances. Carmen Serdan is a tiny village with no paved roads and only a little corner market.We helped out The Mission staff by caring for the kids and doing maintenance work.

It definitely puts things in perspective to see people who devote their whole lives to caring for others. It was an honor to give a week to help support people and a place that helps fill such a big need. But to help others you don’t have to go to another country.

In 2004 I volunteered with a local elementary school in Corvallis as a “Lunch Buddy.” I went twice a week to have lunch with a group of second graders. It’s awesome to see how happy kids are to hang out with older buddies. I spent recess, lunch, and Spanish class with them – they could talk circles around me in Spanish, but I used to crack them up with a New Mexican accent I picked up from my childhood in Santa Fe. The Buddy System is designed to show kids they can succeed in school and inspire them to learn.
Susie — Oregon State Univ.
I’m sure we’ve all heard this before far too many times: Want to meet more people? Join a club! Get involved! Maybe these statements never bothered you, but I’ve always been a shy person. Since I came to Oregon not knowing a soul, the idea of walking into a room full of people who were already a group was extremely intimidating.

To say the least, I was very lucky in the string of events at OSU. My roommate in the dorms instantly became my best friend, and she was an outgoing risk-taker. We learned we had both been a part of Key Club in high school (a community service club – part of the larger Kiwanis organization) and one day came across a booth in the quad for Circle K (the college branch) and decided to check it out. Going into a club of mostly people who know each other was easier with a friend by my side. We jumped right in freshman year and stuck with the club for three years, making friends and having a great time with our various community events.

I learned how to loosen up a lot thanks to the fun and welcoming people of Circle K, and the events the group took part in. I stood in the cold asking for donations during the yearly food drive. I served pancakes and got to know the people of Corvallis. I helped children plant flowers at the Farmers’ Market on weekends. I also helped plan and participate in our Relay for Life team. Over my three years in the club I was treasurer and vice president, and gained skills that definitely helped me in college and will continue to help me in the future.

So, from the both of us — take a little time out of your own life and help enrich someone else’s. To get involved, look for resources at your own school or seek out volunteer network sites like VolunteerMatch.

Also, check out what brass CEO Bryan Sims has to say about volunteering.

– Susie and Jens

Coming next week from our Duck and Beaver fans: The Job Search

Going green is becoming increasingly popular in the public spotlight thanks to the fashion and entertainment industries, and there are simple, clear advantages to paperless bill pay in terms of the environment. According to NACHA–The Electronic Payments Association, for every 38,000 bills paid by direct electronic payment, one ton of paper is saved, 1,941 pounds of solid waste is avoided and 5,058 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions are never created.

Even if saving the world isn’t at the top of your to-do list, just think about how much easier it could be managing your bills with online documents instead of having paper envelopes piling up every month.

– Susie

I’ve been following a Freakonomics blog series on The Economics of Happiness. Blogger Justin Wolfers explores this topic from multiple perspectives, including whether richer countries are happier than poorer countries (part 2) and whether raising the incomes of all would make everyone happier (part 5). Here are some interesting points made in part 6 of this series, where he jumps more deeply into just what it means to be “happy” and how that relates to a country’s GDP:

• Richer countries are less likely to experience physical pain, depression, boredom, and anger, and more likely to eat “tasty food.” They also are more likely to report having been treated respectfully and feeling ownership over their time.
• On the flip side, reports of being well-rested and taking pride in recent achievements don’t seem to be related to economic development.
• GDP doesn’t seem to correlate to how much a country’s population worries.
• As it turns out, money can’t buy love–it’s likely to be experienced in countries all across the GDP map.

As Wolfers points out, the issue of wealth and living conditions as it relates to happiness and life-satisfaction affects all facets of society including economics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political science. A few months ago I read about an entertaining study/project where a psychologist produced a “World Map of Happiness.” Defining happiness is not an exact science, but as this article explains, the three biggest indicators of national happiness according to a recent survey included (in order of influence) health, wealth, and education. See a list of the 20 happiest nations in the world according to the World Map of Happiness here (the U.S. falls at number 23).

In light of all this discussion on levels of national happiness, writer Eric Weiner decided to spend one year researching the world’s happiest places for a book called The Geography of Bliss. Check out this slide show on nine of the places spotlighted from Weiner’s year of happy exploring. According to this article, the book reveals a few commonalities between the happy people in Weiner’s destinations: family, a sense of community, and a sense of humor. You can read the first chapter of his book online, courtesy of the New York Times.

From all of the current dialogue on the contributing factors to happiness, I think it’s clear that having lots of money isn’t a first-class ticket to perpetual bliss. However, the ability to stay healthy, get an education, and have a say in the direction of your own life and community are significant factors. The ability to make, manage, and multiply your own money skillfully and conscientiously–whether that’s paying for health insurance, taking out a reasonable loan for school, or donating to charity–can definitely help keep the good times rolling. Knowing how to make money work for you helps you avoid troublesome situations so you can focus on what keeps you smiling and satisfied. And for me, that’s grabbing another free bagel in the break room courtesy of brass.

Happy Friday!

- Sarah

This week on The Civil War Graduation Countdown we’re sharing our best college money-saving moves and worst money blunders.

Susie — Oregon State Univ.
College is all about having money issues. Textbook costs are rising along with cost of living (in dorms or off campus), and of course going out and having fun definitely crimps your cash flow.

The most useful money saving tip I’ve learned is to track my expenses. I’ll admit it wasn’t something I planned on. One day my mom sent me sheets of paper with grids on them and told me to start writing down my expenses. These days I use Microsoft Excel to make an easy electronic chart, and websites like wesabe.com can help you manage your budget online. Just realizing I had to be responsible for my spending was really helpful. I make expense categories for groceries, fun stuff, books, tuition and rent. Then, whenever I buy something, I deduct the amount immediately and know exactly what I can still spend. This is especially useful with groceries – I have a bad habit of starting with a list but then going overboard with impulse purchases. Once I realized how quickly I was wasting my money, I buckled down and started paying attention.

Oh money blunders. It’s those moments where you check your account, gasp and say, “Where’d my money go?” My biggest money waste came from not using the university textbook “buyback.” I never went to sell back my books that first year. I wasted a year spending around $200 on books each term and getting zilch back. Sure, sometimes you still only get $15 back anyway, but hey, it’s better than nothing! After I started using the buyback, I lucked out for a while, getting $70 or $80 back each time, which I used to pay for the shuttle to the airport when I went home for winter and spring break. So, my stories all come down to one giant tip: make your money work for you!

Jens — Univ. of Oregon
I spent my first two years of college eating a lot of microwaveable chimichangas, bulk black-licorice jelly beans, and canned food from discount grocery stores – one of which we affectionately called the grocery graveyard.

But speaking more seriously… my best money-saving move was to attend community college for the first two years. The average annual in-state tuition at a four-year college or university was $6,185 in 2007-2008, but only $2,361 at a community college. That’s almost $4,000 less per year. Transfering to university after two years saved me a bunch of cash.

There were times, though, when I wasn’t the savvy-savings guy. When I first started college, I bought my books only from the campus bookstore. After paying hundreds of dollars the first few terms, I learned you can purchase many of your textbooks from online wholesalers like amazon.com, half.com, and campusbooks.com.

In my experience the prices are much cheaper. And if you’re in a rush to get the book, the money you saved should more than offset the cost of expedited shipping.

For more offbeat money saving tips check out these brass articles on temp work abroad and free online sites.

Coming next week from our Duck and Beaver fans: Doing Good With Volunteer Work