“Lorem ipsum,” the Latin-like dummy text used by printers and typesetters since the 1500s, looks random. It’s anything but. The Lipsum site, operated by James Wilson in the UK, gives the history of lorem ipsum, discusses its use, and offers a “Lipsum generator” for those who want chunks of the text in what Wilson says is its proper format and style. The phrase “lorem ipsum” originally came from a passage in a treatise on ethics written by Cicero, the Roman lawyer, statesman, and orator, in 45 B.C. (He also shares his name with a unit of type measurement.) Over time, notes Wilson, the language of lorem ipsum has been adulterated “by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable.” He says that his Lipsum generator, which outputs text to requested lengths, is “always free from repetition, injected humour, or non-characteristic words.” Did we also mention that everything on the site is available in 38 different languages—or 39 if you count lorem ipsum? A reporter for WHAS11 TV in Louisville, KY, recently spoke with small business owners in the region about the rising cost of providing healthcare benefits. Among them were Vicky and John Denney, who were quoted in a story at the station’s web site. The Denneys, owners of Bethlehem Packaging and Die Cutting as well as a PIP Printing & Document Services franchise in Jeffersonville, IN, said that their healthcare costs rose 20% two years ago and 34% last year, with premiums for family coverage as high as $1,300 per month. “Because we are small business we can’t put as much in and it makes it tough on my people,” said John Denney. “Every time we have to take more contribution from them that's less money for them to take home and it’s just a lose-lose situation.” The Denneys also said that if they tried to raise their prices to the same extent that their insurance rates have increased, it would put them out of business. That fate, unfortunately, has befallen ArrowPress of Pittsfield, MA, which served the area from 1986 until February 26 of this year. Recounting his decision to close in a March 21 story in the Berkshire Eagle, founder Bob Nackoul cited “a perfect storm” of adverse circumstances that put him out of business and his nine remaining employees out of work. He said that the company, which at its peak employed 20 people and had annual sales of $2.5 million, was brought down by a combination of forces including the recession’s effect on marketing budgets; debt incurred from equipment purchases; and a drop in demand for personalized stationery and direct mail, all of which led to a $1.5 million decrease in sales last year. Nackoul now is working as an account executive for A.M. Lithography Corp. in Chicopee, MA, according to the story. The news is considerably more upbeat in Jackson, MI, where, according to a story in the Jackson Citizen Patriot, the acquisition of Champion Printing & Mailing by Jackson Printing has successfully added the nine employees of the acquired company to the acquirer’s staff of 12 under the same roof at 3136 Francis Street. The story says that Jackson Printing, run by the Hoyt family for 70 years, expands vertically by adding Champion’s expertise in direct mail. Champion, operating as a separate firm in a new wing of the Jackson plant, is said to benefit from having access to its new owner’s production capabilities including four-color offset and digital printing. “With the merger, it creates a full-service atmosphere from design to delivery,” owner Randy Hoyt is quoted as saying. “We have always outsourced the mailing, so it's a natural progression to have everything under one roof." Local media elsewhere the country have taken similar notice of print company mergers in their areas of coverage. In Jacksonville, IL, the Jacksonville Journal-Courier reports the sale of Krell’s Quick Print and Advertising Specialties to Production Press, which has also joined forces with Wood River Printing. Production Press has operated in Jacksonville since 1920. A story in Buffalo Business First notes the acquisition of In & Out Digital Printing, Tonawanda, NY, by Commercial Print & Imaging, Cheektowaga, NY, in a deal that adds custom tab manufacturing and the production of manuals to CP&I’s existing printing, mailing, and fulfillment services. And in Mechanicsburg, PA, there’s been the unlikely but presumably sweet-tasting merger of a candy maker, Brittle Bark, with Fry Communications, as reported by The Patriot-News. Fry Communications is one of the country’s largest privately-held graphic communications companies. A follow-up story says that Henry Fry, president and CEO, dropped by Brittle Bark’s shop last May, returned two weeks later, and offered to buy the wholesale business from its founder, Diane Krulac. She will stay on as president of Sweet Jubilee Gourmet, a new gourmet candy and snack company created by Henry Fry. “I feel that candy is a growing business, and I did some independent research and people who deal in candy it’s a happy thing. It seemed to be nice in that regard,” Fry is quoted as saying of the deal. (Editor’s note: to stay abreast of print industry M&A activity with the help of expert commentary and analysis by New Direction Partners, be sure to visit WhatTheyThink’s Mergers & Acquisitions section.)