Quality on demand

Headed for the beach this weekend? Rather not swim with salmonella? Try Heal the Bay's new Beach Report Card texting service, launched yesterday.

Say you’re driving to Surfrider in Malibu to hang with family and friends. Just text the beach name to 23907 and, seconds later, the most recent letter grade pops up on your cell phone. (Surfrider, in case you're curious, gets a "Dry A" today. Suit up!)

Read the next two sentences really fast, in one of those radio commercial terms-of-service monotones:

Service is LA County-only until the end of September.
Text messaging rates apply.