Faces of Seattle resistance

If you missed it, Jenni Carlson has a good story about the five men who are leading the charge to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

The story breaks down each of the five men:

Gary Nickels, Seattle mayor
Richard Yarmuth, attorney for Howard Schultz
Brian Robinson, Save Our Sonics director
Slade Gorton, City of Seattle attorney
Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman and CEO


Free coffee from Starbucks

Starbucks will now serve up an everyday brew. Hmmm, and I thought the lattes I ordered there were of the everyday variety already. This seems a little too marketing driven.

But you can get a free cup tomorrow.

“To celebrate the launch, it will give away free 8-ounce cups of Pike Place Roast — named after its first store in Seattle’s famed public market — at more than 7,000 U.S. stores from 11 to 11:30 a.m.”

Now we’re talking.

Starbucks recently opened a location at Britton and Broadway, diagonally across from the OPUBCO building. I know I spend enough money at the McDonald’s across the street, and I certainly buy my share of Starbucks at any number of their locations.

Seems the everyday variety coffee is a big deal to Starbucks. They embargoed the story on their web site. I doubt they care that word has leaked out.

Here’s more on the coffee:

“Chairman and Chief Executive Howard Schultz touted Pike Place Roast for its bold flavor, smooth finish and “subtle, rich flavors of cocoa and toasted nuts.”

It will be freshly roasted, hand-scooped, freshly ground and brewed in small batches that sit for no longer than 30 minutes. It will be brewed, both regular and decaf, alongside rotating coffees of the week, and sold by the whole bean for $9.95 per pound.”

Apparently this is why Starbucks shut down its stores for a few minutes in February: to train its baristas.


It’s cold in Orlando

I won’t lie. It’s cold today. Overcast, breezy and cold. How cold? iPhone weather reports 48, and I’m pretty sure it’s warmed up in the past 3 hours I’ve been up.

And what’s up with people’s dedication to Starbucks? Nothing against Starbucks, I’ve spent my share of cash on their brew. But here at the Marriott World Center, there is a Starbucks in the lobby. And people will line up 20 deep and wait forever for their drink. That’s crazy.

Maybe they don’t know there is a coffee shop downstairs that isn’t as busy. $2.50 for a large.

I know, it’s not the same.


Today’s 3 Things…

Oklahoma Starbucks; Sooner Assistant Coaches; Size 2 is not fat.

sharedVideo(1333257962)


Yahoo unveils new e-mail features

Get up early tomorrow. A total lunar eclipse can be seen in Oklahoma around 4 a.m. and ending by 7:30 a.m. The Earth’s shadow will glide across the moon’s surface, eclipsing it and turning it to shades of orange red. Go to nasa.gov to watch a webcast of the eclipse. I’m probably going to go ahead and miss this one. The next total lunar eclipse occurs in February.

Yahoo is introducing new features today for its email. Users will be able to send e-mail, instant messages or text messages from a single Web site. Think of the money parents could save if their kids use their computers to text instead of 15 cents per text via cell phones.

Dunkin’ Donuts is trying to refresh its image by largely eliminating trans fat. How? With alternative cooking oil and by reformulating 50 menu items — doughnuts included. All by Oct. 15. Krispy Kreme has yet to roll out a zero gram trans fat doughnut but hopes to do so. Starbucks said in May that it would cut artificial trans fats out of its food and drink by year’s end.

Stay healthy America.

sharedVideo(1155106839)