Friday, October 03, 2008
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
tired of paying $4 for a cup of Joe?
It looks like Starbucks is closing 700 stores. Hmmm. Could it be that the sane people have decided to A) go local, intimate and less expensive, or B) brew their own?
The article suggests that the economy is at fault, rather than the obvious, that it's just not good business sense to open a store across the street from an existing one. I mean, what moron thought of THAT plan?
I love Starbucks for introducing the county to the idea of coffee as a treat and social experience. Really. I come from a culture where there is great ceremony in offering coffee to guests (and the subsequent faux pas of refusing), and my two stints in Europe further cemented that drinking coffee is more than just the ingestion of caffeine, but something to be enjoyed, even linger over.
Too bad for Starbucks for missing that part of the equation. Too many drive-thrus have diluted the experience for me. Thank God for places like this.
The article suggests that the economy is at fault, rather than the obvious, that it's just not good business sense to open a store across the street from an existing one. I mean, what moron thought of THAT plan?
I love Starbucks for introducing the county to the idea of coffee as a treat and social experience. Really. I come from a culture where there is great ceremony in offering coffee to guests (and the subsequent faux pas of refusing), and my two stints in Europe further cemented that drinking coffee is more than just the ingestion of caffeine, but something to be enjoyed, even linger over.
Too bad for Starbucks for missing that part of the equation. Too many drive-thrus have diluted the experience for me. Thank God for places like this.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
The Virtual Life
Saw this in my facebook news feed:David S. and Allyson S. are now friends. Allyson found David through the People You May Know tool.
David and Allyson are married.
In real life.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
An unlikely movie review
I just watched an Adam Sandler movie. Surprise! It's called Spanglish. The title intrigued me when I saw the trailer for it a hundred years ago, and then, when I saw that it was Adam Sandler, I got a bit deflated. I see Sandler and I think of crass goofy junk that appeals to teenagers with no taste. Except, that I'll watch when I am feeling---oh, I dunno---careless? goofy? daring? stupid? Whatever.
Anyway, Spanglish was very good. It was Sandler playing a regular guy. Not the extreme loser caricature, but a regular husband and father. He has a dysfunctional wife who brings a housekeeper, Flor, into the mix in a rather funny way. The story is narrated by Flor's daughter, by way of a college admission essay, so we understand that the story is less about the family, and more about what Flor's daughter learns, but the lessons are painful and, I think, pretty believable. The plot goes down the path of infidelity and conflicted feelings, but manages to end where it should. And that's what surprised me. The obvious choices were obvious, so it threw me a bit when they didn't all happen as expected. I also wasn't expecting "responsibility" to be brought up. They could have substituted "commitment" for responsibility, but I guess that's semantics.
The conflict that bubbles underneath Tea Leoni's character and her mother surfaces rather surprising between Flor and her young daughter. She challenges her daughter with a very serious question--perhaps the question that as parents we worry about but never want to verbalize. Again, the predictability factor goes out the window because I never expected the question to be asked, let alone answered.
I usually get tired of movies when they become predictable and easy to figure out, yet this one kept me on my toes. Who knew Sandler could do something serious? (he still plays the kind of dazed-surprised-bumbling kind of guy, only it's engaging in this movie).
And by the way, Cloris Leachman for the win. When she tackled Tea Leoni I thought I was going to spew water all over the place.
Anyway, Spanglish was very good. It was Sandler playing a regular guy. Not the extreme loser caricature, but a regular husband and father. He has a dysfunctional wife who brings a housekeeper, Flor, into the mix in a rather funny way. The story is narrated by Flor's daughter, by way of a college admission essay, so we understand that the story is less about the family, and more about what Flor's daughter learns, but the lessons are painful and, I think, pretty believable. The plot goes down the path of infidelity and conflicted feelings, but manages to end where it should. And that's what surprised me. The obvious choices were obvious, so it threw me a bit when they didn't all happen as expected. I also wasn't expecting "responsibility" to be brought up. They could have substituted "commitment" for responsibility, but I guess that's semantics.
The conflict that bubbles underneath Tea Leoni's character and her mother surfaces rather surprising between Flor and her young daughter. She challenges her daughter with a very serious question--perhaps the question that as parents we worry about but never want to verbalize. Again, the predictability factor goes out the window because I never expected the question to be asked, let alone answered.
I usually get tired of movies when they become predictable and easy to figure out, yet this one kept me on my toes. Who knew Sandler could do something serious? (he still plays the kind of dazed-surprised-bumbling kind of guy, only it's engaging in this movie).
And by the way, Cloris Leachman for the win. When she tackled Tea Leoni I thought I was going to spew water all over the place.
Lying on the recliner, inhaling vicks vapo-rub
I've been fighting a bug all week--the insidious kind that sneaks up on you even though you're aware of it peripherally. I knew I was going to be sick because I've been really tired and cranky (ok wise guys, crankier than usual). Anyway, I'm achy and my muscles and joints hurt, and my right ear hurts, and whine whine whine.
Ha. I feel better already.
Ha. I feel better already.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
I'll remember this next time I think I have a bad day
Some wacko attacks people with flatware and poultry. You can't make this stuff up.
Where's the picture?
Friday, June 27, 2008
after the CNMC, now what?
After a pretty heady week of enjoying all kinds of interesting buzz from the Catholic New Media Celebration in Atlanta, I am slowing down a bit, partly in exhaustion, and partly in the need to get back to the status quo.
The thing is, I think the status quo has changed. I mean, Steve from On the U tweeted yesterday that there's been a crazy friending episode at 4Marks.com. True true true. I've made a lot of friends already, and I know there are many more to come. We just haven't all gotten around to it yet, I imagine.
All kinds of folks, from creators to users, have been posting pictures, videos, you name it, from the celebration. That's just the starting block for new creative endeavors that will follow in the coming weeks. More than a few folks have started brand new podcasts---it's all exciting!
Rob Suarez, creative-type extraordinaire, posted a link to Chris Brogan's site, who has a list of different ways to brand yourself. I figure, spread that love around---it's what we're doing, and definitely what we came off the CNMC intending to do.
If I can use an old tag line from Rob, go create something!
The thing is, I think the status quo has changed. I mean, Steve from On the U tweeted yesterday that there's been a crazy friending episode at 4Marks.com. True true true. I've made a lot of friends already, and I know there are many more to come. We just haven't all gotten around to it yet, I imagine.
All kinds of folks, from creators to users, have been posting pictures, videos, you name it, from the celebration. That's just the starting block for new creative endeavors that will follow in the coming weeks. More than a few folks have started brand new podcasts---it's all exciting!
Rob Suarez, creative-type extraordinaire, posted a link to Chris Brogan's site, who has a list of different ways to brand yourself. I figure, spread that love around---it's what we're doing, and definitely what we came off the CNMC intending to do.
If I can use an old tag line from Rob, go create something!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
