My Problem At Cuppy’s

My Cuppy’s barista is taking off for the summer. She’s going off to college next year and she wants to get in some traveling in before hand. The problem is that I really wanted to get to know her a little better. She’s cute, and from this side of the counter looks like she would be fun to hang out with. Kinda put a damper on my day today.

Coffee, A Couch and Basketball: Bring On The Sweet 16

Upsets and near losses is enough to drive any sane basketball fan mad. The sweet 16 tournament is about to get underway. Got a pot full of coffee, a nice couch and 24in flat HD tv to watch it all on. No worries, no problems….and a new bracket. LOL

Summer Movie Blowout!

Reading my entertainment news on my laptop as Cuppy’s I see another Marvel hero coming to the big screen. Iron Man makes his big screen appearance this summer. Now so far we have another Harry Potter movie, Indiana Jones, and supposedly a spin off of the Godfather coming this summer. Seems its gonna be a blowout!

The Marvel heroes to date that have made it to movies: The Hulk, Spiderman, Fantastic 4, Daredevil, Xmen, Electra, and Ghost Rider. Sorry if I missed any…feel free to update me.

Let The Games Begin…Starbucks vs Everyone Else

Although I’m a loyal customer of my Cuppy’s Coffee, I’m fascinated with all the hoopla and press Starbucks has been getting for closing its stores. A mass retraining exercise? Sounds like something the military would do. I came across this blog with a little explanation as to why all this is happening. Just check any newscast or PR release and you’ll have plenty of information. But this one gives a little insight as to why we are seeing this today. Hope the author or blog master doesn’t mind. I’ve linked back to that sight. Here it is.

Today is the day coffee houses across America have been waiting for, a chance to bite into the customer base of the world’s largest coffee chain, Starbucks. Starbucks is closing all 7100 stores today for a massive retraining program aimed at offering their customers an experience lost years ago on their way to coffee world domination. From the beginning when Howard Schultz reclaimed the helm of the struggling empire, Starbucks has been looking for ways to stabilize its shrinking customer base. Consumers and avid coffee lovers are tired of being treated like a number or another statistic to shareholders Schultz has acknowledged. Read the rest of the post

Lucas Corp Problems with Star Wars

Hopefully they’ve worked out the bugs and problems with the edition of Star Wars. I’m looking forward to getting into the game. 

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Set between Episode III and Episode IV, The Force Unleashed helps bridge the gap between the two films by telling an all new side of the light and dark story. Anikan Skywalker is now Darth Vader, but he’s not the puppet to the Emperor we all remember (yet). Instead, he’s plotting his own schemes to take Sidious off his throne by taking on an apprentice–which you will take control of for the game. (more)

A Scam At Cuppy’s Disrupted

It was like in the movies. Standing there waiting to order my coffee at Cuppy’s before heading to the office, I noticed the guy in front of me acting nervously. I didn’t think much of it a the time but as he ordered he was constantly rubbing his hands against his pants. I thought the guy was going to steal something. He ordered his coffee and went to hand the cashier a 100.00 bill. The young lady, didn’t stop to check it before opening the register to give the guy his change. Anyway, I started talking to the barista talking about all the problems and scams and counterfeit money floating around and that she probably wanted to check out that bill. Before I could finished, that guy high tailed it out of there. Good thing they had security cameras because I’m  pretty sure the police will be looking for this guy. By the way I did get my coffee that morning for free. Good thing cause all I had was a $100 bill.

Missile Strike Takes out Defunct Satellite

The precision and timing of the mission couldn’t have gone better. Looking at the video of the blast reminds me of the old arcade games like Asteroids and Space Invaders. Although I don’t think I would have spent $60 million in quarters to win the games. Can you imagine all the think tanks, meetings and coordination it took to bring this stray satellite down? Just the thought of it is overwhelming. Check ou the video of the impact and explosion that followed.

Elite Manufacturing resolved a complaint lodged by a customer to everyone’s satisfaction. Seems there was a breakdown in communications. The customer did post a correction and I thought that was a decent thing to do. Good luck to both of them. 

A Topic To Hard To Ignore: Clinton/Obama Obama/Clinton

Over coffee, a friend and I were discussing the election scenario happening in our country. For the first time in a long time I’m paying attention to what’s being said and what the possible outcome may mean to me. History is in the making and I’m humbled to take part in that process.

Out of the cotton fields and into the Whitehouse says volumes about where we, as a nation, once were and to where we can dream to be. From out of the kitchen and into the Oval Office, women of this country can relinquish the title of homemaker to dreammaker. The very thought touches me to my core.

The hopes, dreams and aspiration of this election come down to one important thing. A vote. Millions have perished, many have been beaten and jailed, thousands more have fallen…all for the single purpose that makes us all Americans. The right to vote. Be there and have your voice heard. Either way it goes you will help make history.

The Blue Mau Mau Dispatched: The Story of a Franchise Pick

Another day of doing what it is I do. Nothing spectacular until a call came in from a desparate housewife looking to surprise her husband for Valentine’s Day. She had bought him a media center and had no clue as to how to set it up. Knowing a friend of a friend she called and pleaded with me to come over to assit. Me being the pundit of all media equipment I said I’d stop by. Maybe I should be a franchise pundit of media? Something along the line Blue Men Under Attack, Media Attachment Unit or Blue MAU MAU for short. Probably make for a good video game.

Anyway on my way I stopped by my favorite coffee shop, Cuppy’s Coffee and while I waited for the cars ahead of me to move forward she calls again to make sure I’d be there. I told her that after I got my coffee I’d be right over. The conversation quickly turned to Cuppy’s and she asked if I’d pick her up a frozen hot chocolate. Now I’ve never tried that so I made it two at the window.

I arrive a low and behold this woman, Morgan, had purchased a 60in plasma screen with surround sound speakers. Talk about love, I asked if she had a sister. So I’m hooking everything up and I’m just about done when her sister stopped over. Morgan wasn’t such a bad looker herself, but her sister was a knock out! Fran, that was her name, had to help me off the floor. We talked for a little about their family and I learned that their family had 7 siblings all girls. Jokingly I said their family must be a franchise of beautiful women. They both laughed and I imagined having my pick of the franchise. A franchise pick of beautiful women. Then both Fran and Morgan dropped the bomb, all sisters were married. Oh well The Blue Mau Mau would have to wait another day.

Is the Specialty Coffee Industry Evolving?

Starbucks is slowing down and now another coffee player (Tully’s) is looking to sell its stores in a restructuring effort. What is going on…is coffee really getting that tough? Look at Cuppy’s Coffee, there opening stores left and right and to me looks like they’re moving in the right direction. How can the big corporate guys be outdone by the little guy?

Cuppy’s Coffee must be doing something right when all this press about the bad economy, laying off staff and selling companies is at the top of the news. I’m looking for Medina Managment and Cuppy’s Coffee to be the major players in 2008. Hey, folks gotta have their caffeine.