Cranium Drainium 16

It’s been a long time since I opened the flood gates to let dead brain cells dump out onto the blog.  Here goes…

• Fixed a toilet, a refrigerator water filter, a light fixture, and the A/C return filter all before 7:30 AM on a Saturday, including a trip to Lowe’s the same morning.  I feel manly now.
• Earned my MCITP Enterprise Administrator certification this past week.  Exam 70-647 was tricky, but I passed the 2nd time around after insane studying.
• I wired in a 10/100 switch at home to replace the 802.11x wireless bullshit around the house.  I have one more line to run to get all our computers on the circuit.  Only the Wii and mobile devices will use the wireless.  I f-ing hate wireless.
• Starbucks ended the seasonal supply of Pumpkin Spice Latte and replaced it with “Dark Cherry Mocha” which is not very good.  I’m going back to Caramel or Mocha from now on.
• I finished up two intranet portal side jobs and added two Internet web projects.  Looking forward to the road ahead.  Nothing to lean on, financially, but it does help with coffee and beer funds.
• I diverted some of my tax refund to buying a Dell Inspiron Zino HD with extra trimmings.  I can’t wait for it to arrive, I’m stoked!  I will then cycle my current workhorse to my son, and his computer will become the TV media center box again.
• Taking my kids to the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) of Virginia this weekend.  We have a free pass, so why not?
• Tired of the shitty cold weather.  Waiting for Spring to return.

Proof That We Are Doomed

Since Monday of this week, and it’s Thursday today, I have seen:

• 2 “mothers” place their baby carrier (with a real baby) on the street, on the driver’s side, in the path of passing traffic, while reaching back to get more things from their vehicles.
• 5 people open their driver’s side door as cars pass by, forcing them to swirve to avoid hitting the door (I want to take one off myself)
• 2 dozen red Ford Mustangs
• 2 dozen red Dodge Chargers
• 2 dozen red Dodge Challengers
• 4 people ordering from Starbucks asking for a “mack-ee-ah-tee” (think of a Boston accent, but they’re not from anywhere near Boston)
• Same 4 asked for a “small”.  When the lady said “you mean ‘tall’” they disagreed.
• Philly’s fans cheering on TV when A-Rod was hit for the third time (game 5)
• The week’s not over yet…

The Starbucks Factor

I've finally "had it" with idiots who have to share opinions. Like me. The big news article in our office today is the story about people being "happy" that Starbucks is suffering. It's just dumb. First off, wishing ill upon (just about) ANY business in America is shooting our own feet. The economy matters people. Jobs. Revenue. Tax earnings that pay for the g-d roads you drive on everyday. The jobs that feed families and pay rents and buy groceries. You know: THOSE JOBS. Businesses that actually HURT people don't deserve such mercy, nor do they typically receive any. Starbucks doesn't hurt anyone.

All the whining about killing off mom-and-pop coffee shops is bogus crap. Sure, you can probably (seriously, realistically) count *maybe* a handful from personal experience. That does not translate nationwide. Not at all. Not even close to statistical reliability.

I've been a fan of Starbucks for a long time. I know all too well the reactions that gets from people, both good and bad. Yes, their coffee is high priced. Yes, it's just coffee. I don't care. It's no different that liking beer, wine, cigarettes, guns, cars, music, whatever. It's subjective. Get over it.

Yes, it's just coffee. Beer is beer also. Unless you're really into beer, then it matters which brand and brew types you prefer. I've yet to meet a human that doesn't have some sort of idiosyncratic preferences for something that hinge entirely on personal taste. Yet they still have the audacity to dish out their opinion to others. These are the same stupid idiots (a double redundancy - I know) that plaster bumper stickers all over their vehicles telling us all how they feel about politics, abortion, gun control, peace love and togetherness, saving whales, saving the environment, whatever. Who cares. Shut the f*** up.

The big flaw I see with this article is that it makes HUGE assumptions about mom-and-pop coffee shops. I live in the largest populated metropolitan area in the state of Virginia. There were almost NO such coffee shops anywhere until Starbucks showed up. Then, and only then, did the copycats show up to siphon off some of the revenue generated by the "new craze for caffeine". Fat chance. So the sour-puss losers start moaning and complaining that Starbucks is killing them off. Same crowd that complains about Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.

While I don't particularly favor Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Sam's Club, BJ's Club, Costco or any of the mass-package sales outlets, they have obviously, undoubtedly driven costs down and provided greater options to places that never had more than a corner gas station. Get over it.

If you want to whine about something, whine about why our government can't get off their ass to fix the problems that have lingered and festered so long. Highways, power grids, water treatment, communications, air travel and the list goes on. No, we only care about coffee. Shut up. Conserve your whining energy for things that matter, and go buy a triple venti carmel macciato to help the local economy out while you're at it.