Free Samples

Roger Melanson, president of Great American Software Inc., has given away at least 3,500 copies of his small-business-oriented accounting programs since January. "When I give it to people, they think there is no diskette in the box or it's an old version," said Melanson, who quickly assures recipients that the free computer software is brand-new and ready to use. Giving away software to business owners and accountants serves two purposes.

The gig: Greg Koch, 48, and Steve Wagner, 54, are the founders of Stone Brewing Co., one of the largest brewers of craft beer in the United States. The company is best known for its hoppy, high-alcohol beers, including Stone IPA, Stone Ruination IPA and Arrogant Bastard Ale. Koch and Wagner started experimenting with home brews in Koch's Solana Beach, Calif., condominium in the early 1990s and opened a brewery in a San Marcos, Calif., warehouse in 1996. Stone has grown from 400 barrels that year to 177,200 barrels last year, developing a cult-like following among craft beer enthusiasts.

A City Council committee voted today to stop tobacco companies from handing out free samples on city streets and sidewalks. Members of the council's Police, Fire and Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to approve the ban after several council members and health organization representatives voiced concern that the free distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco products could encourage more people to pick up the habit.

A half dozen singers and dancers from Fiji's Conservancy of Music are performing at the Los Angeles Times Travel Show on Saturday and Sunday.  On Saturday, the lively exhibit was drawing healthy crowds and serving the traditional kava, a non-alcoholic drink made from the root of the pepper tree. In Fiji, it's used as medicine, and also to mark important occasions, such as weddings, or a new tribal chief. Also, ask about a “tapa, a piece of Fijian artwork.

The gig: Greg Koch, 48, and Steve Wagner, 54, are the founders of Stone Brewing Co., one of the largest brewers of craft beer in the United States. The company is best known for its hoppy, high-alcohol beers, including Stone IPA, Stone Ruination IPA and Arrogant Bastard Ale. Koch and Wagner started experimenting with home brews in Koch's Solana Beach, Calif., condominium in the early 1990s and opened a brewery in a San Marcos, Calif., warehouse in 1996. Stone has grown from 400 barrels that year to 177,200 barrels last year, developing a cult-like following among craft beer enthusiasts.

Grand Opening: A new cosmetics store is opening Friday at Fashion Island Newport Beach with free samples, food and entertainment. Bare Escentuals, a 10-store chain based in the Bay Area, will offer a "custom fragrance bar" where customers can choose among 60 different scents. To encourage recycling, the store is offering discounts for refills of empty bottles of its products.

The state filed a lawsuit Thursday against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. for distributing free cigarette samples to Californians in violation of a prior agreement. The suit filed in San Diego Superior Court, alleges R.J. Reynolds mailed an estimated 900,000 packs of free cigarettes to 115,000 Californians in 1999.

A Los Angeles City Council committee has voted to stop tobacco companies from handing out free samples of cigarettes and other tobacco products on city streets and sidewalks. The Police, Fire and Public Safety Committee approved the ban because of concerns that the giveaways entice people to pick up the habit. "I believe the city should set the moral tone that it does not encourage people to smoke cigarettes," said Councilman Marvin Braude, who proposed the ban.

A half dozen singers and dancers from Fiji's Conservancy of Music are performing at the Los Angeles Times Travel Show on Saturday and Sunday.  On Saturday, the lively exhibit was drawing healthy crowds and serving the traditional kava, a non-alcoholic drink made from the root of the pepper tree. In Fiji, it's used as medicine, and also to mark important occasions, such as weddings, or a new tribal chief. Also, ask about a “tapa, a piece of Fijian artwork.

A half dozen singers and dancers from the Conservancy of Music are performing at the Los Angeles TimesTravel Show show on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the lively exhibit was drawing healthy crowds and serving the traditional kava, a non-alcoholic drink made from the root of the pepper tree. In Fiji, it is used as medicine, and also to mark important occasions, such as wedding, or a new tribal chief.Also, ask about a tapa, a piece of Fijian artwork. Free samples were being given away at the booth as supplies last.The booth is easy to find, located right next to the show's climbing wall.

A half dozen singers and dancers from the Conservancy of Music are performing at the Los Angeles TimesTravel Show show on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the lively exhibit was drawing healthy crowds and serving the traditional kava, a non-alcoholic drink made from the root of the pepper tree. In Fiji, it is used as medicine, and also to mark important occasions, such as wedding, or a new tribal chief.Also, ask about a tapa, a piece of Fijian artwork. Free samples were being given away at the booth as supplies last.The booth is easy to find, located right next to the show's climbing wall.

A half dozen singers and dancers from Fiji's Conservancy of Music are performing at the Los Angeles Times Travel Show on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the lively exhibit was drawing healthy crowds and serving the traditional kava, a non-alcoholic drink made from the root of the pepper tree. In Fiji, it¿s used as medicine, and also to mark important occasions, such as weddings, or a new tribal chief.Also, ask about a “tapa, a piece of Fijian artwork. Free samples were being given away at the booth as supplies last.In the meantime, the Conservancy of Music performers were enchanting audiences of 20 to 30 on Saturday afternoon, when the show was at its busiest.The Fiji booth is easy to find, located right next to the show¿s climbing wall.

There are no free lunches in life, but one could always count on free beer at Anheuser-Busch theme parks. Until now. The brewer has stopped giving free samples in hospitality centers at its SeaWorld theme parks in Orlando, Fla.; San Antonio; and San Diego and its Busch Gardens parks in Tampa, Fla.; and Williamsburg, Va. An Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks spokesman said the free samples had a narrow appeal among park customers.

It's only Thursday and already I'm beat. As usual, I'm swamped: phone calls to return, charts and labs to review, all sandwiched between my regular schedule of patients. I love them, but the frenetic pace wears me down. There is hope in sight: On Thursdays, the drug reps cater lunch. They roll out the red carpet, flatter and regale me with all sorts of impressive-sounding scientific studies, all showcasing their drug.

WASHINGTON -- A Florida woman opened her mailbox last month to find a free box of once-a-week Prozac from her pharmacy chain--astonishing, she says, since she didn't use Prozac and hadn't asked her doctor to switch her from another antidepressant. It's not clear how many other patients received unsolicited Prozac (the woman's attorneys say they know of two more so far) or whether the apparent campaign to sign up new Prozac customers extended beyond South Florida. Prozac maker Eli Lilly & Co.

The state filed a lawsuit Thursday against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. for distributing free cigarette samples to Californians in violation of a prior agreement. The suit filed in San Diego Superior Court, alleges R.J. Reynolds mailed an estimated 900,000 packs of free cigarettes to 115,000 Californians in 1999.

A half dozen singers and dancers from Fiji's Conservancy of Music are performing at the Los Angeles Times Travel Show on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the lively exhibit was drawing healthy crowds and serving the traditional kava, a non-alcoholic drink made from the root of the pepper tree. In Fiji, it¿s used as medicine, and also to mark important occasions, such as weddings, or a new tribal chief.Also, ask about a “tapa, a piece of Fijian artwork. Free samples were being given away at the booth as supplies last.In the meantime, the Conservancy of Music performers were enchanting audiences of 20 to 30 on Saturday afternoon, when the show was at its busiest.The Fiji booth is easy to find, located right next to the show¿s climbing wall.

Hawaii's Big Island is known for its elegant resorts. But there are free things to do there too. A sampling: KING'S TRAIL PETROGLYPH FIELD: Hourlong guided tour of ancient rock carvings. 10:30 a.m. Saturdays. Meet at Waikoloa Beach Resort's Kings' Shops. Tel. (808) 886-8811. STARGAZING: Onizuka Visitors Information Center. 6-10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Tel. (808) 961-2180. FISH AUCTION: Suisan Fish Market, Hilo. Daily except Sundays; starts about 7 a.m. Tel. (808) 935-9349.