THE MORNING RANT: Starbucks Should Not Have Alienated Conservatives as It Now Battles the NLRB and the Anti-Carbon Left

In a piece of mine last week about the financial troubles that Starbucks and Nike and are having - with declining revenue and collapsing stock prices - I discussed the likely impact on those woke companies from conservative consumers refusing to buy their products any longer. This soft boycott has denied those companies revenue that they now desperately need.

But I’m not done bashing Starbucks yet.

Starbucks is losing in its battles with labor unions and the National Labor Relations Board. In addition, its new CEO is under fire for being a climate sinner. If Starbucks were a normal, for-profit business that avoided politics and sought to enhance shareholder value, I might care. But because Starbucks is a wicked corporation that is not only abusive to its employees, but one that has sought to use its influence to advance the cultural-communist agenda, I don’t care. In fact, I’m cheering for its destruction, and if unionization is a weapon to destroy this cancerous corporation, then good for the union.

As I documented, the coffee purveyor has embraced an evil level of wokeness, including a stated intent to discriminate against white employees and job applicants, and also incentivizing its pregnant employees to terminate their pregnancies. And I didn’t even get around to mentioning Starbucks’ racially-divisive disaster with its “Race Together” campaign, which essentially challenged its baristas to make white customers confess to their white privilege, while also encouraging white baristas to apologize for their own privilege to non-white customers.

Then there is the famous Philadelphia loitering case, in which a Starbucks manager asked for police to remove non-paying loiterers trying to use the store’s facilities. Starbucks punished both the store manager and the District Manager, and effectively smeared them both as racists. But there is something even more despicable about Starbucks’ actions against this District Manager. She was also being punished in response to allegations that black Starbucks managers were being paid less than white managers. The District Manager’s scalp was offered up to the activists, but there was a problem with that – the persecuted District Manager had no input on setting salaries!

In a rare bit of justice, Starbucks was ordered to pay $25 million for its disgraceful, discriminatory actions.

“Jury awards $25.6 million to white Starbucks manager fired after the arrests of 2 Black men” [AP – 6/14/2023]

The company’s rationale for suspending the district manager, who was not responsible for the store where the arrests took place, was an allegation that Black store managers were being paid less than white managers, according to the lawsuit. Phillips said that argument made no sense since district managers had no input on employee salaries.

There’s a clear pattern here about Starbucks’ woke behavior. While the company is reliably far-left in its stated politics, it treats its front-line employees terribly. One might even think that Starbucks’ radical wokeness serves as cover for being abusive to its employees. But it’s been my observation that denizens of corporate C-Suites nowadays are genuinely hard-left in their politics, at least culturally, while simultaneously feeling contemptuous of their labor force, whom they perceive as being lower-status deplorables whose compensation reduces the bottom line.

Unsurprisingly, where there is bad management that mistreats employees, unionization starts to have appeal for the employees. In late 2021, a Starbucks in Buffalo, NY voted to unionize. The movement has grown since then. Less than two years later, “more than 360 of Starbucks’ roughly 9,000 company-owned locations have voted to unionize, according to National Labor Relations Board data.”

Starbucks executives retaliated by closing 23 unionized coffee houses.

A quarter-century ago I would have been allied with Starbucks in this battle against unionization, but that was before companies like Starbucks allied with radical leftists in declaring culture war on half of the country.

My principles also would have led me to strongly oppose the National Labor Relations Board dictating to Starbucks what stores it can operate, and how. But again, Starbucks declared war on me, so I don’t care. If Starbucks wants those of us who are “pro-business” conservatives to care about their battle against economic communists, maybe the company shouldn’t have embraced cultural communism. Let their good friends on the left save them from the NLRB.

“US orders Starbucks to reopen 2 New York stores company shut down after workers unionized” [NY Post – 9/16/2024]

Geoffrey Carter, an administrative law judge with the National Labor Relations Board, ruled on Friday that Starbucks “violated the National Labor Relations Act” by “permanently closing its two remaining stores in Ithaca … for antiunion reasons” while “failing and refusing to bargain with Workers United.” Starbucks must comply with the order by reopening the locations “within a reasonable period of time,” according to the judge.

Kurt Schlichter gets it. In response to the legacy argument that we conservatives should be upset that a federal agency is forcing Starbucks to re-open unionized coffeehouses that had been closed, Col. Schlichter wrote ”Starbucks always embraces liberal causes so I figured they should go talk to their Democrat friends in power because I’m not going to spend one iota of my political [energy] bailing them out of the mess they got themselves into even as they disrespect people like me.”

Corporations that engage in left-wing cultural activism need to understand this point. Those of us on the right who defend free markets and fight against socialism will not protect those corporations when they learn that their cultural communist friends are also economic communists.

After Kroger fired several Christian employees for refusing to use their bodies as billboards to promote the LGBTQ agenda, but then expected Congressional Republicans to protect Kroger from anti-business Democrats, Senator Tom Cotton succinctly conveyed this important message to Kroger’s woke CEO: “I’m sorry that’s happening to you. Best of luck.”

Meanwhile, Starbucks is excusing its new CEO, Brian Niccol, from all the green sacraments and restrictions that the ruling class is trying to impose on the rest of us. Mr. Niccol is going to be commuting by private jet several days per week from Southern California to Seattle. Some on the left are noticing and objecting.

“Starbucks CEO is under fire for plan to commute to office by private jet” [8/22/2024]

Incoming Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol will be expected to report to the company's Seattle headquarters three times a week, just like other employees. But while other workers will commute by car or public transportation, Niccol will travel nearly 1,000 miles from his home in Newport Beach, California, to Starbuck's Seattle offices, by corporate jet, according to his offer letter, which was made public in an SEC filing.

Again, if this were a normal, non-woke person working for a normal, non-political company, I would have his back. But take a look at this picture from a recent Wall Street Journal article about Mr. Niccol. Specifically, look at the rightmost book on the shelf behind him. It is titled “How To Avoid A Climate Disaster.”

Mr. Niccol reveals himself to be a believer in The Sustainable Organic Church of the Carbon Apocalypse, yet his actions show him to be a climate heretic. I would not care if he and Starbucks become targets of Just Stop Oil - in fact I’d laugh - and I encourage everyone on the left to boycott Starbucks for the climate sinning the company is engaging in with their hypocritical new CEO.

Starbucks needs our money, and they’ll need our support as the left goes after them, but they’ll get neither. Starbucks chose poorly when it declared culture war on conservatives.

[buck.throckmorton at protonmail dot com]

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 NO THANKS

Posted by: BEN ROETHLISBERGER at September 30, 2024 11:00 AM (scDBq)

2 1?

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at September 30, 2024 11:01 AM (v6JzV)

3 1st?

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at September 30, 2024 11:01 AM (LxER7)

4 1

Posted by: Skip at September 30, 2024 11:01 AM (6saiJ)

5 Dammit, not first.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at September 30, 2024 11:01 AM (v6JzV)

6 Or 4th, you know whatever

Went to a Starbucks once, way to sugar up, never went back.

Posted by: Skip at September 30, 2024 11:02 AM (6saiJ)

7 But I’m not done bashing Starbucks yet.

One of the things the Horde likes about you, Buck.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at September 30, 2024 11:02 AM (Rbu5d)

8 Awwww, Starfucks is having issues....

So, anyway...

Posted by: Martini Farmer at September 30, 2024 11:02 AM (Q4IgG)

9 >>and I encourage everyone on the left to boycott Starbucks for the climate sinning the company is engaging in with their hypocritical new CEO.

No worries, I drink Dunkins' on the rare occasions I buy coffee.

Posted by: Lizzy at September 30, 2024 11:02 AM (scDBq)

10 Curse you, Big Ben!

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at September 30, 2024 11:02 AM (LxER7)

11 And can only laugh when Leftists on Leftists fight

Posted by: Skip at September 30, 2024 11:03 AM (6saiJ)

12 “Starbucks CEO is under fire for plan to commute to office by private jet” [8/22/2024]

======

Each day he does this will equal, what, a couple of weeks of powering my house?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:03 AM (GBKbO)

13 Skids to stop... Huffing and puffing...
Deep breath...

I'm here. Gasp. I'm exhausted now but I'm here.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 30, 2024 11:03 AM (4XwPj)

14 Morning.
==================
Your dream has come true:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3FdyFI3scU

Posted by: naturalfake at September 30, 2024 10:53 AM (eDfFs)

My lord that is funny.

Posted by: Robert at September 30, 2024 11:03 AM (tTIxG)

15 >>Niccol will travel nearly 1,000 miles from his home in Newport Beach, California, to Starbuck's Seattle offices, by corporate jet, according to his offer letter, which was made public in an SEC filing.

AYFKM?
Unbelievable.

Posted by: Lizzy at September 30, 2024 11:04 AM (scDBq)

16 Starbucks coffee, like Canadian beer, tastes like piss.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at September 30, 2024 11:04 AM (/U5Yz)

17 Starbucks always embraces liberal causes

==

As all corporate oligarchies , Starbucks only embraced liberal causes they thought would not affect them. Welcome to my world , Starbucks !

Posted by: runner at September 30, 2024 11:05 AM (V13WU)

18 I mentioned this about that overpriced coffee shop before; their coffee is run-of-the-mill for the price they charge. But the amount of crap you can add to a cup of it is truly staggering. Ordering a plain, black cup of coffee there is a surreal experience.

It's almost like the staff doesn't know what to do...

Posted by: Martini Farmer at September 30, 2024 11:05 AM (Q4IgG)

19 Drink overpriced coffee.

Here you go. That's $37.

Awesome!

Posted by: Random Movie Quotes at September 30, 2024 11:05 AM (Ectld)

20 Brink back Central Perk !

Posted by: runner at September 30, 2024 11:05 AM (V13WU)

21 Starbucks CEO is under fire for plan to commute to office by private jet” [8/22/2024]

He’s better than us.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at September 30, 2024 11:05 AM (4oXVn)

22 Corporations that engage in left-wing cultural activism need to understand this point. Those of us on the right who defend free markets and fight against socialism will not protect those corporations when they learn that their cultural communist friends are also economic communists.

While I agree with the sentiment, do you really think these overreaching fascists will stop with Starbuck's?

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:06 AM (xCA6C)

23 I think I've had Starbucks once or twice. Eh.

I'm still wondering where all these Dutch Bros. coffee places sprang out from. They weren't there and then suddenly BAM! They're all over the place like cancer.

Posted by: Robert at September 30, 2024 11:06 AM (tTIxG)

24 There are people starting to get videos out on the damage. It's very,very bad. The death toll is likely to rise significantly. If you can, please donate to the relief efforts.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at September 30, 2024 11:07 AM (MpVUb)

25 There are at least 2 Starbucks locations in NH that have unionized. Both in the general seacoast area. I'd much rather lick blacktop of a busy highway than drink Starbucks, but I hope the 2 stores and the employees both get what they deserve. IYKWIM.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at September 30, 2024 11:07 AM (N39Ws)

26 I've always liked the look of the Starcluck's stores; they wre convenient to get to; and their pastry offerings were all right. Never was impressed with the taste of their coffee, though. And the price$$$! Gee whillikers!

Nice news, Buck.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 30, 2024 11:07 AM (J2vNu)

27 Exactly how productive can you be if you are commuting 1,000 miles three times a week? I mean, I guess you can get some work done in the air, but then there's the travel time to/from the airport, waiting around until clearance for takeoff, and so on.

Just seems like a huge hassle for little to no benefit other than virtue signaling--"See, I'm just like the little guy! I have to obey the same rules!"

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 30, 2024 11:08 AM (7fElN)

28 plus, their coffee sucks and so does their food

Posted by: jeff at September 30, 2024 11:08 AM (ZiwLX)

29 Holy crap I had no idea that SBUX manager got such a fat payout, good for her!

The fallout from that incident in Philly is that many places that serve the public are required to allow people to use their facilities, whether or not they are customers.

Posted by: kallisto at September 30, 2024 11:08 AM (uJxwW)

30 Exactly how productive can you be if you are commuting 1,000 miles three times a week? I mean, I guess you can get some work done in the air, but then there's the travel time to/from the airport, waiting around until clearance for takeoff, and so on.

It's my guess that a chauffered car meets him on the tarmac, and in any case, most of his time is probably spent on the phone.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:08 AM (xCA6C)

31 I had a moment where I was about to care about them. Turns out it was me being hungry. I had lunch. I'm OK now.

Posted by: NR Pax at September 30, 2024 11:09 AM (OPGS/)

32
I would not care if he and Starbucks become targets of Just Stop Oil - in fact I’d laugh

Soup Nazis should throw soup at him.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at September 30, 2024 11:09 AM (63Dwl)

33 "And I didn’t even get around to mentioning Starbucks’ racially-divisive disaster with its “Race Together” campaign, which essentially challenged its baristas to make white customers confess to their white privilege"

I don't get it why t he are failing. Who wouldn't want to be lectured about their racism while sipping over priced, burnt coffee?

Posted by: Ripley at September 30, 2024 11:10 AM (GUOwU)

34 Palate cleanser: a few days ago, someone posted this link. It's very catchy, but I warn you, it's an extreme earworm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYu2i96vYw4

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:10 AM (xCA6C)

35 There are people starting to get videos out on the damage. It's very,very bad. The death toll is likely to rise significantly. If you can, please donate to the relief efforts.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at September 30, 2024 11:07 AM (MpVUb)

Goodness gracious.

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at September 30, 2024 11:10 AM (g8Ew8)

36 Re: Starbucks

I have set foot in one in years, mainly on 2A grounds. It was the quintessential Seattle company, and as Seattle has gone to shit, so has Starbucks.

My last tie to them was buying Seattle's Best Coffee, a Starbucks brand, to make at home. I switched to Indie's Coffee Company, a Marine owned outfit that supports vets and indie artists.

They roast once you place your order, and even their darkest roast, 28 Roast's Later, does not taste burnt or bitter. Supremely fresh and delicious. At 5# prices approach Costco price per pound on loose beans. My last order, they sent me a commemorative sample pack with a rendering of Trump's iconic Fight, Fight, Fight picture. Real people, great coffee.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at September 30, 2024 11:10 AM (i24o9)

37 A near-majority (48 percent) of Americans believe Harris just says what she thinks people want to hear, while only 36 percent think she says what she believes, a recent Economist/YouGov poll found.

.. I believe it is a mixture of both. When her campaign speaks, it is whatever they think people want to hear. If you notice when she does speak, the answer are pretty darn shallow .. often the middle class family meme. She can't even advocate for "her own" policies .. because it seems like there aren't any.

Posted by: SMOD at September 30, 2024 11:10 AM (RHGPo)

38 It's been enjoyable to see Lefty places like Starbucks and various media outlets unionize.
Oh, what little monsters you've created!
Sucks for you. . .

Posted by: Lizzy at September 30, 2024 11:10 AM (scDBq)

39 Obama and Co thought naming their benign child education program "Race to the Top" was a nice open wink and nod to their REAL agenda which was to get "race" back to the forefront of everyone's minds. Bastards. Fucking bastards.

Posted by: ... at September 30, 2024 11:10 AM (LCr8f)

40 Starbucks overroasts their coffee, so that the coffee-flavored milk drinks (~70% of their volume) have a bit of coffee flavor.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at September 30, 2024 11:11 AM (a3Q+t)

41 27...but then there's the travel time to/from the airport, ...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 30, 2024 11:08 AM (7fElN)

I don't htink he's driving himself.
I wonder if the car is ... electric?

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at September 30, 2024 11:11 AM (Rbu5d)

42 Speaking of Unions , Israel eliminated a "humus" commander in Lebanon. You would not believe what his full time job was ! He was an UNRWA employee ! and.."headed the UNRWA teachers’ union in Lebanon" !

Posted by: runner at September 30, 2024 11:11 AM (V13WU)

43 Niccol will travel nearly 1,000 miles from his home in Newport Beach, California, to Starbuck's Seattle offices, by corporate jet, according to his offer letter, which was made public in an SEC filing.

Carbon aside, I would think there's grounds for the board to think that's a stupid deal and that people who work at the office should actually live within driving distance.

Posted by: Ian S. at September 30, 2024 11:11 AM (2ocoG)

44 They always think the crocodile will eat them last. I don’t buy their product, never will.

Posted by: Vincent walker at September 30, 2024 11:11 AM (CYYAQ)

45 While I agree with the sentiment, do you really think these overreaching fascists will stop with Starbuck's?

Posted by: Archimedes

They didn't exactly *start* with Starbucks, you know. We've about been run out of the arena. All that's left for them now is each other.

Posted by: Brother Tim learned to stop quibbling and love the Protestant Reformation at September 30, 2024 11:12 AM (OUMaO)

46 My wife likes to go to Starbux to get their free used coffee grounds. She says they are good for the garden, and they are. If you don't put them on three inches deep

I figure their french roast has such a high level of charcoal it will act as biochar.

Posted by: Kindltot at September 30, 2024 11:12 AM (D7oie)

47 >>Starbucks overroasts their coffee, so that the coffee-flavored milk drinks (~70% of their volume) have a bit of coffee flavor.

IIRC, the darker the roast of the coffee bean, the less caffeine it has?

Posted by: Lizzy at September 30, 2024 11:12 AM (scDBq)

48 damn, could been first but read the content.

and re: starbucks - gooder and harder

Posted by: SturmToddler at September 30, 2024 11:13 AM (v6XNT)

49 My wife likes to go to Starbux to get their free used coffee grounds. She says they are good for the garden, and they are. If you don't put them on three inches deep

I didn't know about that program. I just toss our grounds at home, but occasionally ponder collecting them for compost.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:14 AM (xCA6C)

50 Eh. Good luck to SBUX with your burnt ass tasting coffee. It will be a long slow decline. No longer a "growth" story with it's over-saturation of stores. Peoples taste's change with time.

Posted by: Ganowicz Commie Exterminators, LTD. at September 30, 2024 11:14 AM (C26rB)

51 "its “Race Together” campaign, which essentially challenged its baristas to make white customers confess to their white privilege"

Hey, you! Black person! I'm sorry I'm so white! Please forgive me!

Posted by: Random Movie Quotes at September 30, 2024 11:14 AM (Ectld)

52 They shouldn't have...but...Seattle.
Seattle has had a Red streak going back to the turn of the 20th century. The rest of the state was pretty darn Conservative. But power is all concentrated in two or three cities which is dominated by the Left. So we have this Hell.

Having a Progressive CEO (or a series of them) doesn't help either. What I'm saying is Starbucks was always going to veer Left, it is as inevitable as the seasons.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Vote but also buy ammo at September 30, 2024 11:14 AM (xcxpd)

53 Liberal bosses/owners have the same respect for blue collar as their elite teachers do. Therefore they perceive ample justification to mistreat their employees. They are, after all, little better than dirt.

Posted by: Braenyard - farmers, just stick a seed in the ground and shut up at September 30, 2024 11:15 AM (KTeKV)

54 >>Niccol will travel nearly 1,000 miles from his home in Newport Beach, California, to Starbuck's Seattle offices, by corporate jet, according to his offer letter, which was made public in an SEC filing.

AYFKM?
Unbelievable.
Posted by: Lizzy

It turns out we don't fully understand how the atmosphere works. And we still don't, which is why all the climate models are garbage.
Posted by: Ian S.

It's quite simple. If you drive to work you're killing Gaia but Tay Tay's private jet heals her.

Works for Starbucks executives, too!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at September 30, 2024 11:15 AM (L/fGl)

55 blah

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:15 AM (Ectld)

56 I loved how a Starbucks spoof was Dr. Evil's front corporation in the first Austin Powers flick.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at September 30, 2024 11:15 AM (v6JzV)

57 While the company is reliably far-left in its stated politics, it treats its front-line employees terribly.
______
Replace "While" with "Because".

There was a brief time my wife and I met at Starbucks after work. We then discovered a small mom and pop store, with better coffee. So eff Starbucks.

Posted by: Eeyore at September 30, 2024 11:15 AM (1bNHn)

58 . . . I switched to Indie's Coffee Company, a Marine owned outfit that supports vets and indie artists.

They roast once you place your order, and even their darkest roast, 28 Roast's Later, does not taste burnt or bitter. Supremely fresh and delicious. At 5# prices approach Costco price per pound on loose beans. My last order, they sent me a commemorative sample pack with a rendering of Trump's iconic Fight, Fight, Fight picture. Real people, great coffee.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at September 30, 2024

***
Yeah, but --! $15 for only 12 oz.?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 30, 2024 11:15 AM (J2vNu)

59 While I agree with the sentiment, do you really think these overreaching fascists will stop with Starbuck's?

Posted by: Archimedes

They didn't exactly *start* with Starbucks, you know. We've about been run out of the arena. All that's left for them now is each other.

Are you okay with the government telling gun companies what they can do (more than they already do)?

There's always more then can do to screw things up and put a boot in your face.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:15 AM (xCA6C)

60 IIRC, the darker the roast of the coffee bean, the less caffeine it has?
Posted by: Lizzy at September 30, 2024 11:12 AM (scDBq)

True but its relatively minimal. I think like 10 percent.

Posted by: ... at September 30, 2024 11:15 AM (LCr8f)

61 "IIRC, the darker the roast of the coffee bean, the less caffeine it has?"

Yes. And more bitter. Which suits me.

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:16 AM (Ectld)

62 by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at September 30, 2024 11:10 AM

Thank you for the recommendation!

Posted by: kallisto at September 30, 2024 11:16 AM (uJxwW)

63 “Joe Biden became mentally impaired. Kamala was born that way,” Trump said to loud applause. “And if you think about it, only a mentally disabled person could have allowed this to happen to our country”

Posted by: SMOD at September 30, 2024 11:16 AM (RHGPo)

64 While the company is reliably far-left in its stated politics, it treats its front-line employees terribly.

Can they both be terrible, and I root for both to suffer terribly? I mean, we've all seen "those" baristas, right? I can only imagine what Starbucks managers have to do to get them to show up and do any work. And if the employees are complaining, I'd take a lot of it with a shaker's-worth of salt.

Remember this blast from the not-too-distant past?

https://tinyurl.com/mtxh2582

Posted by: Moron Analyst at September 30, 2024 11:16 AM (JCZqz)

65 Side note re: "Love is Love" slogan -- recently read that this likely refers to Alfred Kinsey's work that asserted that making love is a physical act, so there is no difference between sticking your*redacted* in a woman, a man, a kid, your relative, an animal, and so on. Same act, so why should it matter the context, right?

Love is love, now more creepy than initially realized. . .

Posted by: Lizzy at September 30, 2024 11:16 AM (scDBq)

66 I'm no coffee aficionado. I've had Starbucks coffee twice and it was terrible.

Posted by: javems at September 30, 2024 11:16 AM (8I4hW)

67 >>>Starbucks was always going to veer Left, it is as inevitable as the seasons.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards,
-----------------------

Perception and perspective. Starbucks started on the left.

Posted by: Braenyard - farmers, just stick a seed in the ground and shut up at September 30, 2024 11:17 AM (KTeKV)

68 My wife heard they might be closing the ports due to the strikes so she's out now buying five billion rolls of tp. I guess five of the one billion roll packs.

Posted by: banana Dream at September 30, 2024 11:17 AM (Y6IkP)

69 Well…you can’t shut down simply to avoid a union. It is what it is, and if you want to be pro labor, pro dem, pro crazy, then this is what you get I love with x, who has no idea how labor unions or labor laws work, get all wound up. This is why they are nothing but a big suck of company funds and complete waste.

But Kamala is running on union jobs, hahahah. Okay….you do that. When you have to force businesses to stay open because you appeared, perhaps the model is wrong. Also, someone should negotiate a rough contract for them. You may get better wages, but you may get less, too. Let’s learn, folks. Or folx.

Posted by: Piper at September 30, 2024 11:17 AM (p4NUW)

70 Starbucks has always seemed odd to me. Mcdonalds, I get. Waffle House, I get.

Starbucks? At least go to dunkin donuts and get a donut.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 30, 2024 11:17 AM (ocWik)

71 But I’m not done bashing Starbucks yet

Wait, we're supposed to stop at some point? I - I don't understand your entire drift, kemosabe.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at September 30, 2024 11:17 AM (IG4Id)

72 Starbucks alienated me by making awful coffee.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 30, 2024 11:18 AM (LkLld)

73 Starbucks roasts their coffee into a bitter mess and dares you to drink it black.

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at September 30, 2024 11:18 AM (KbCG3)

74 Starbucks is facing trouble from it's "allies"???

GOOD.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at September 30, 2024 11:18 AM (N1DT3)

75 While the company is reliably far-left in its stated politics, it treats its front-line employees terribly.

I don't think those are unrelated things. Leftists want money and power for themselves and none for everyone else, including their employees. Unions have run on this model forever - the actual workers get very little and the bosses get rich.

Posted by: Ian S. at September 30, 2024 11:18 AM (2ocoG)

76 *haven't set foot in one in years

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at September 30, 2024 11:18 AM (i24o9)

77 70 Starbucks has always seemed odd to me. Mcdonalds, I get. Waffle House, I get.

Starbucks? At least go to dunkin donuts and get a donut.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 30, 2024 11:17 AM (ocWik)

A Starbucks cup became a status symbol. Was the original Stanley tumbler.

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at September 30, 2024 11:18 AM (KbCG3)

78 My wife heard they might be closing the ports due to the strikes so she's out now buying five billion rolls of tp. I guess five of the one billion roll packs.

IIRC, the East Coast ports will close at midnight.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:18 AM (xCA6C)

79 I think I've had Starbucks once or twice. Eh.

I'm still wondering where all these Dutch Bros. coffee places sprang out from. They weren't there and then suddenly BAM! They're all over the place like cancer.
Posted by: Robert

Founded in 1992 it is headquartered in Grants Pass, Oregon.
They just built a huge warehouse in Melissa, Texas just across from Buc-ee's.
Revenue $966 million.
Net income $9.6 million.
24,000 employees.

Posted by: rickb223 Gold & Silver Spot Prices at September 30, 2024 11:18 AM (sDO9P)

80 I do like Costco's Cold Brew Mochas.
Hopefully in a year, I can start drinking them again.
Stupid diet...

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Vote but also buy ammo at September 30, 2024 11:18 AM (xcxpd)

81 I didn't know about that program. I just toss our grounds at home, but occasionally ponder collecting them for compost.
Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:14 AM (xCA6C)

Worms love it. I have a worm bin to act as a composter, but you can slosh the used grounds up with a gallon of water and toss it on the flowers.

Posted by: Kindltot at September 30, 2024 11:19 AM (D7oie)

82 I started making starbucks a target for jeering when they went anti-gun. I (sadly) can't hurt them any more than I already do. I spend no money there, and mock people I know without mercy for doing so. Fortunately, those friends have senes of humor. Some have even stopped patronizing.

I am conducting a war of verbal attrition.

Posted by: Don Draper at September 30, 2024 11:19 AM (P9xGM)

83 It will be amusing to see how long the NLRB requires Starbucks to operate the reopened stores.

Forever?

Posted by: Tampon Timmy! at September 30, 2024 11:19 AM (uxCna)

84 Coffee and roasting is an art. Roasting and brewing times all affect aspects such as flavor, aroma and yes, caffeine. Look at drinks like a Ristretto, which is basically a short espresso shot. That has less caffeine than something like a luongo which runs longer yet has less caffeine.

Anyway, Starbucks doesn’t know any of that. Their baristas are going to be replaced by the new super automatic machines.

Posted by: Marcus T at September 30, 2024 11:19 AM (WllsF)

85 When I lived in Tampa, the met the following athletes at Starbucks:

Derek Jeter
Joe Girardi
Warrick Dunn
Gerald Williams

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at September 30, 2024 11:19 AM (KbCG3)

86 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYu2i96vYw4
Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:10 AM (xCA6C)

Holy crap, an extended guitar solo?!?

8/10 for that alone.

Posted by: Robert at September 30, 2024 11:19 AM (L2TLq)

87 I didn't know about that program. I just toss our grounds at home, but occasionally ponder collecting them for compost.
Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:14 AM (xCA6C)

Smaller coffee houses might give you the grounds, too.

You can throw your grounds on your winter garden as you have them, just spread them out over the area, then do a good mix in once the soil is workable next spring.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at September 30, 2024 11:20 AM (Rbu5d)

88
“Joe Biden became mentally impaired. Kamala was born that way,” Trump said to loud applause. “And if you think about it, only a mentally disabled person could have allowed this to happen to our country”
Posted by: SMOD

Trump demeans disabled persons!

Posted by: Today's headline at September 30, 2024 11:20 AM (63Dwl)

89 Love is love, now more creepy than initially realized. . .
Posted by: Lizzy
--------------------

Kinsey was a creep. It was hidden at the time.

Posted by: Braenyard - farmers, just stick a seed in the ground and shut up at September 30, 2024 11:20 AM (KTeKV)

90 I'm all broken up about about this

Posted by: Doctor Elric the Blade at September 30, 2024 11:21 AM (iFTx/)

91 Meanwhile, Starbucks is excusing its new CEO, Brian Niccol, from all the green sacraments and restrictions that the ruling class is trying to impose on the rest of us.
_______
You are misusing the word "sacrament."

Posted by: Eeyore at September 30, 2024 11:21 AM (1bNHn)

92 DD coffee is also trash

And their employees are criminal

And the donuts are atrocious, i think they use WD40 in the making

Posted by: kallisto at September 30, 2024 11:21 AM (uJxwW)

93 IIRC, the East Coast ports will close at midnight.

It was pretty funny when drooling' Joe Biden was asked about the Israeli strike on Yemen, and he thought they were asking about the port strike.

Posted by: Tampon Timmy! at September 30, 2024 11:21 AM (uxCna)

94 70 Starbucks has always seemed odd to me. Mcdonalds, I get. Waffle House, I get.

Starbucks? At least go to dunkin donuts and get a donut.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 30, 2024 11:17 AM (ocWik)

It's a bar. Only they serve coffee instead of booze.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Vote but also buy ammo at September 30, 2024 11:21 AM (xcxpd)

95 Posted by: Robert at September 30, 2024 11:19 AM (L2TLq)

One word: Roy Clark

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 30, 2024 11:21 AM (ocWik)

96 I saw a window sticker on a truck this morning. It was the Dunkin Donuts logo but read:

Dunkin
Deezenuts

I chortled.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Telling War Stories at September 30, 2024 11:21 AM (xPJvm)

97 Starbucks? At least go to dunkin donuts and get a donut.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 30, 2024 11:17 AM (ocWik)

The thing about Dunkin coffee for me is the lack of consistency. The one at the Delaware rest stop on I-95 seems reliable, but I've had some really bad examples at other ones.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at September 30, 2024 11:21 AM (LxER7)

98 Anyway, Starbucks doesn’t know any of that. Their baristas are going to be replaced by the new super automatic machines.

I believe they very anxious to maintain the same atmosphere, though, so the machines will be overweight, snotty, and have blue hair, tats, and piercings.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:21 AM (xCA6C)

99 I am VERY pro-business.

I am also VERY anti-big business.

"Our" big businesses are generally acting in restraint of trade and the federal government is perfectly fine with that because they can control one business better than hundreds.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at September 30, 2024 11:22 AM (N1DT3)

100 Holy crap, an extended guitar solo?!?

8/10 for that alone.

The guy's voice reminds me a bit of Johnny Cash, but he's a better singer.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:23 AM (xCA6C)

101 19 Drink overpriced coffee.

Here you go. That's $37.

Awesome!
Posted by: Random Movie Quotes at September 30, 2024 11:05 AM (Ectld)
_______
But it was $137 under Trump, so be thankful to Brandon.

Posted by: Eeyore at September 30, 2024 11:23 AM (1bNHn)

102 "Exactly how productive can you be if you are commuting 1,000 miles three times a week?"

Including time to and from airport that has to be least least 8 hours a day, probably more. Which means time in the office might be a couple hours or so. Besides being incredibly inefficient it would wear you out after a few weeks, I would think. Why would any company allow this, even from their CEO? It show an complete lack of judgment.

Posted by: Ripley at September 30, 2024 11:23 AM (GUOwU)

103 Dikembe Mutombo dead from brain cancer at 58. Bummer. Very nice guy.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 30, 2024 11:23 AM (LkLld)

104 --------------------

Kinsey was a creep. It was hidden at the time.
Posted by: Braenyard - farmers, just stick a seed in the ground and shut up at September 30, 2024 11:20 AM (KTeKV)

There's a Kinsey museum at Indiana U. IIRC, the state legislature yanked all the funding within the last year or two and the place closed down.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at September 30, 2024 11:24 AM (LxER7)

105 If liking Sydney Sweeney breast's is evil, then so be it.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at September 30, 2024 11:24 AM (ocWik)

106 99 I am VERY pro-business.

I am also VERY anti-big business.

"Our" big businesses are generally acting in restraint of trade and the federal government is perfectly fine with that because they can control one business better than hundreds.
Posted by: Formerly Virginian at

The one thing I would argue is big business provides strong jobs at good incomes, local jobs, etc. What happened during the pandemic was bs, obviously.

Posted by: Piper at September 30, 2024 11:24 AM (p4NUW)

107 "But it was $137 under Trump, so be thankful to Brandon."

No one believes your price reduction lies, Kamala.

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:24 AM (Ectld)

108 I loved how a Starbucks spoof was Dr. Evil's front corporation in the first Austin Powers flick.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus

Carol Burnett spoof of the original Mission Impossible. Carol is hilarious as the Cinnamon Carter character.

https://is.gd/iyP5TQ

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at September 30, 2024 11:24 AM (L/fGl)

109 Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo has died at 58 years old after a battle with brain cancer.
He played for the Nuggets, Hawks, Sixers, Nets, Knicks and Rockets.

Posted by: SMOD at September 30, 2024 11:25 AM (RHGPo)

110 "Starbucks punished both the store manager and the District Manager, and effectively smeared them both as racists. But there is something even more despicable about Starbucks’ actions against this District Manager."

IIRC, the store manager was black, as well as several of the employees/customers complaining that the shiftless loiterers. Very little was ever said about these scumbags, but their look and MO seemed to me like gangbangers or drug dealers. They seemed clearly up to no good.

Posted by: Doctor Elric the Blade at September 30, 2024 11:25 AM (iFTx/)

111 "If liking Sydney Sweeney breast's is evil, then so be it."

Truth.

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:25 AM (Ectld)

112 Chain coffee stores should be nervous about the new automated machines being installed in truck stops and what not. I've hit a couple where you can select the brew strength and size, machine grinds and brews the coffee into your cup.

I've had some very good coffee from those machines.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:25 AM (tT6L1)

113 NY Post: ‘The Simpsons’ unexpectedly airs its ‘series finale’ – leaving fans perplexed

https://tinyurl.com/48skydx4

I might actually have to watch this episode.

It's in season 36?

Jesus...

So I'd argue that the first ten seasons were good. And that's an incredible run. But it has sucked ass for decades now and needs canceling.

Posted by: Robert at September 30, 2024 11:25 AM (L2TLq)

114 rickb223 Gold & Silver Spot Prices

Costco selling gold bars like hotcakes as prices surge
_Yahoo Finance

1oz, 24kt
Costco sells its 1 oz gold bar for $2,679.99. You have to be a member to buy the bullion. It's also non-refundable, and there's a limit of five total units per membership.
-----------

Posted by: Braenyard - farmers, just stick a seed in the ground and shut up at September 30, 2024 11:25 AM (KTeKV)

115 You are misusing the word "sacrament."

No he isn't - it is a full-fledged religion.

There is an anti-freeway group in Portland that explains that the frequency of heat waves and forest fires in Oregon is controlled by what the Oregon Department of Transportation does or fails to do, since ODOT apparently controls the climate in Oregon.

This is objectively insane, but makes perfect sense as a religious statement - if Oregon fails to make the requisite sacrifices to Gaia, Oregon will be punished.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at September 30, 2024 11:26 AM (uxCna)

116 The one thing I would argue is big business provides strong jobs at good incomes, local jobs, etc. What happened during the pandemic was bs, obviously.
Posted by: Piper

There's local 'big' and then there's Goog/Fizer big. Big difference.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at September 30, 2024 11:26 AM (IG4Id)

117 We hae a local chain here called PJ's Coffee. They have almost as many locations as Starcluck's -- at least they are in as many areas, includng outlying ones -- are better priced, and their coffee and pastries seem pretty much okay.

There's also the French Truck place. The coffee is for sale in Whole Foods, and I think there are only one or two actual coffee shops around here. Overpriced, yes. The coffee? I had some of their chicory coffee a year or so ago. It took several hours for my taste buds to recover, and I like chicory and (weak) espresso coffee.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 30, 2024 11:26 AM (J2vNu)

118 Chain coffee stores should be nervous about the new automated machines being installed in truck stops and what not. I've hit a couple where you can select the brew strength and size, machine grinds and brews the coffee into your cup.

I've had some very good coffee from those machines.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:25 AM (tT6L1)

This is what Sheetz is doing. I like their coffee now, and make a habit to stop there when I need a hit of 'feine.

Posted by: Ganowicz Commie Exterminators, LTD. at September 30, 2024 11:27 AM (C26rB)

119 Dr. Evil, as the legitimate frontman of your organization, I seized upon the opportunity to invest in a small Seattle-based coffee company several years ago. Today, Starbucks is a far-flung empire with 2000 outlets worldwide.

Posted by: Random Movie Quotes at September 30, 2024 11:27 AM (Ectld)

120 All fair points. They have to feel pain or there will be no change.

Posted by: insurgens ad opus at September 30, 2024 11:27 AM (dd2pd)

121 92 And the donuts are atrocious, i think they use WD40 in the making

gives them that miracle whip zing

Posted by: anachronda at September 30, 2024 11:28 AM (sGtp+)

122 Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo has died at 58 years old after a battle with brain cancer.
He played for the Nuggets, Hawks, Sixers, Nets, Knicks and Rockets.
Posted by: SMOD at September 30, 2024 11:25 AM (RHGPo)
____

Too bad. Always seemed like a classy guy from a better vanished time in the NBA when they didn't promote racial animosity, commie politics, and gangbanger chic scumbaggery. RIP. Fuck the NBA.

Posted by: Doctor Elric the Blade at September 30, 2024 11:28 AM (iFTx/)

123 94
It's a bar. Only they serve coffee instead of booze.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Vote but also buy ammo at September

Some started being a wine bar at night. Did they stop doing that?

Posted by: Piper at September 30, 2024 11:28 AM (p4NUW)

124 "We have a local chain here called PJ's Coffee. They have almost as many locations as Starcluck's, are better priced, and their coffee and pastries seem pretty much okay."

I do like PJs.

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:28 AM (Ectld)

125 So I'd argue that the first ten seasons were good. And that's an incredible run. But it has sucked ass for decades now and needs canceling.

"The Simpsons" ended around 2002. Everything since has just been a cash grab.

Posted by: Meta at September 30, 2024 11:28 AM (25k9m)

126 "Exactly how productive can you be if you are commuting 1,000 miles three times a week?"

I read that as that he will stay in Seattle, and will fly in Tuesday and out Thursday.

Not the first person to have that sort of arrangement.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at September 30, 2024 11:29 AM (uxCna)

127 Simpsons is still on??

Posted by: Doctor Elric the Blade at September 30, 2024 11:29 AM (iFTx/)

128 The left want the elites to rule and the rest of us to be servants, serfs, or slaves.
Middle class will be servants.
Working class will be serfs.
Poor people will be slaves.
The wealthy will be the elite rulers. They will all be leftists.

This was always their true intention and they have been working diligently toward that goal.
Censorship is essential to their success. Disarming the citizens is essential to their success. Banning religion is essential to their success. Crime, poverty, war.... All necessary to advance their cause.
It's all happening.
Do you see it now?

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 30, 2024 11:29 AM (4XwPj)

129 How about Caribou Coffee? Their stuff any good?

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at September 30, 2024 11:29 AM (v6JzV)

130 Starbucks treats its employees bad?

Define 'bad.'

Because most of the soibois and fembots that work there get bent out of shape if you're remotely normal and don't subscribe to their far left ideology. Seriously. The staff at any Starbucks is seconds away from a full scale mental breakdown at any moment.

Treating them 'bad' is making them work for their paycheck.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at September 30, 2024 11:29 AM (Q4IgG)

131 "Chain coffee stores should be nervous about the new automated machines being installed in truck stops and what not. I've hit a couple where you can select the brew strength and size, machine grinds and brews the coffee into your cup.
Posted by: blake"

Plus the machine doesn't give you smug woke lecture. (Yet)

Posted by: Ripley at September 30, 2024 11:29 AM (GUOwU)

132 “Joe Biden became mentally impaired. Kamala was born that way,”

-
Kamala has done just what Biden did, pick a VP candidate that's a bigger f*ck up than they are.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at September 30, 2024 11:30 AM (L/fGl)

133 I believe they very anxious to maintain the same atmosphere, though, so the machines will be overweight, snotty, and have blue hair, tats, and piercings.
Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:21 AM (xCA6C)

Wow!
So you've been to the Starbucks in Flagstaff that is near the NAU campus too!
Dang that girl (?) was ugly.
That was the last Starbucks I was in.

Posted by: Diogenes at September 30, 2024 11:30 AM (W/lyH)

134 I don't care how big a business gets. I do care a lot of regulations tend to favor big business because only big business can afford the teams of people required to deal with regulation. Not to mention the fines which put smaller businesses out of business.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:30 AM (tT6L1)

135 132 “Joe Biden became mentally impaired. Kamala was born that way,”

-
Kamala has done just what Biden did, pick a VP candidate that's a bigger f*ck up than they are.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at September 30, 2024 11:30 AM (L/fGl)

======

Who will Walz pick?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:30 AM (GBKbO)

136 How about Caribou Coffee? Their stuff any good?
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus

It's good, they are commies tho.

Posted by: BruceWayne at September 30, 2024 11:30 AM (CIS44)

137 I was never a coffee achiever.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at September 30, 2024 11:30 AM (ufFY8)

138 Every single Starbucks employee and the CEO should be made to sit and watch the movie, Am I a Racist. Maybe someone to twits will realize how fucked up they are.

Posted by: just saying at September 30, 2024 11:30 AM (Uy/WF)

139 I've had some very good coffee from those machines.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:25 AM (tT6L1)

Circle K and Maverik are doing just that. I had an excellent Colombian roast yesterday.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Telling War Stories at September 30, 2024 11:31 AM (xPJvm)

140 I strongly support both parties in this conflict.

...because I'm rooting for casualties.

Posted by: t-bird at September 30, 2024 11:31 AM (Ag3aL)

141 So I'd argue that the first ten seasons were good. And that's an incredible run. But it has sucked ass for decades now and needs canceling.
Posted by: Robert at September 30, 2024 11:25 AM (L2TLq)

10 is stretching it, but I think you hit the maximum number of good seasons.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at September 30, 2024 11:32 AM (N1DT3)

142 "Exactly how productive can you be if you are commuting 1,000 miles three times a week?"

I read that as that he will stay in Seattle, and will fly in Tuesday and out Thursday.

Not the first person to have that sort of arrangement.
Posted by: The ARC of History! at September 30, 2024 11:29 AM (uxCna)
_____

Porn stars do it all the time. If you watch those documentaries, you'll be very surprised to learn -- or at least I was -- that a lot of the girls live 500+ miles from LA were most of the shit is filmed. Many live in cheaper location in NVs and fly back and forth. I have no interest in porn. Never did. But I'm fascinated by how it gets made and who makes it.

Posted by: Doctor Elric the Blade at September 30, 2024 11:32 AM (iFTx/)

143 The left want the elites to rule and the rest of us to be servants, serfs, or slaves.

I thought that the outdoor parties during Covid held by powerful Democrats where the help wore masks, and the attendees didn't, was richly symbolic.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at September 30, 2024 11:32 AM (uxCna)

144 The Simpsons was a classic series for about 13-14 years.

Once they decided to jettison a beloved character because he was an Indian dude voiced by a white guy, that was it for me.

The Indian dude was always portrayed as one of the best people in the town, but couldn't have that.

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at September 30, 2024 11:32 AM (KbCG3)

145 I've heard of the Leviathan State stopping store closures, but never forcing openings. Wow.

btw, that whole thing with the black loiterers was a set-up. Some Alice Sharpton-activist just happened to be there filming--right.

Howard gave them cash, stock, a full ride to Harvard Business and a crack at his wife.

Posted by: The Gipper Lives at September 30, 2024 11:32 AM (HfyK/)

146 Futurama >>>>>>> The Simpsons

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at September 30, 2024 11:32 AM (LxER7)

147 136 How about Caribou Coffee? Their stuff any good?
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus

It's good, they are commies tho.
Posted by: BruceWayne

Aren't most large businesses, sadly? I remember Black Rifle Coffee making a big push for military and law enforcement guys...was pretty effective, and I still see a lot of guys with their stuff. They were anti-gun dicks on a podcast (Rogan, maybe) during the Rittenhouse shooting, though, so...fuck 'em.

Posted by: Military Moron at September 30, 2024 11:33 AM (JCZqz)

148 Chain coffee stores should be nervous about the new automated machines being installed in truck stops and what not. I've hit a couple where you can select the brew strength and size, machine grinds and brews the coffee into your cup.

I've had some very good coffee from those machines.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:25 AM (tT6L1)

This is what Sheetz is doing. I like their coffee now, and make a habit to stop there when I need a hit of 'feine.
Posted by: Ganowicz Commie Exterminators, LTD. at September 30, 2024

***
I haven't been to a Buc-ee's yet; do they have those?

Whenever I'm traveling, I try to take my breaks at truck stops. There were one or two Love's Travel Centers on our route to Vicksburg to adopt my cat Stirling in '22. Yes, people wore face diapers here and there, but nobody hassled me about it. Coffee was good, bathrooms were clean.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 30, 2024 11:33 AM (J2vNu)

149 >>>Kamala has done just what Biden did, pick a VP candidate that's a bigger f*ck up than they are.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks,
-------------------------------------

She gets installed she's going to f*ck us up.

Posted by: Braenyard - farmers, just stick a seed in the ground and shut up at September 30, 2024 11:33 AM (KTeKV)

150 Newest conspiracy theories to explain Israel's attacks in Lebanon: Jews control genies! Jews are descended from blue-blooded space aliens!

Posted by: SMOD at September 30, 2024 11:33 AM (RHGPo)

151 Good Rant; thanks

FYI - (in part)
Casey Owens Castello (@CaseyCastello) ...
X
currently @starbucks director, digital customer experience, Ordering // formerly @stanfordbiz // @USTreasury // @gatesfoundation.
Casey (Owens) Castello - Retail Operations - Starbucks
and/or
LinkedIn · Casey (Owens) Castello
Seattle, Washington, United States · Retail Operations · Starbucks
Experience Innovation, Operations, and General Management at Starbucks · Experience: Starbucks · Education: Stanford Graduate School of Business ·
---
President Biden's niece, Catherine Eugenia Owens, who has been w/Starbucks for ++years. She was also the young lady in:
Fox News, April 16, 2024: 'FLASHBACK: Biden made revealing comment about niece's Obama admin role while praising 'rising China'
A former Hunter Biden business associate told Fox News Digital that Casey Owens was 'definitely a resource' to the younger Biden in Treasury role
--
Who knows? But it has been yet another entire administration of Biden theater - pro union (USDOL) v. the NLRB (independent agency)

It doesn't need to be like that but Bernie & his people continually stir the waters & Congress & the Executive branch follow. (Again, imo.)

Posted by: L - If they'll do it with you, they'll do it to you, too at September 30, 2024 11:33 AM (NFX2v)

152 Aren't most large businesses, sadly? I remember Black Rifle Coffee making a big push for military and law enforcement guys...was pretty effective, and I still see a lot of guys with their stuff. They were anti-gun dicks on a podcast (Rogan, maybe) during the Rittenhouse shooting, though, so...fuck 'em.
Posted by: Military Moron

yup they opened a location near me, just as it was about to open all that came out, never been.

Posted by: BruceWayne at September 30, 2024 11:34 AM (CIS44)

153 >>Too bad. Always seemed like a classy guy from a better vanished time in the NBA when they didn't promote racial animosity, commie politics, and gangbanger chic scumbaggery. RIP. Fuck the NBA.

I met him at the Atlanta airport when we were both waiting on connections. He sat and talked for about a 1/2 hour and he could not have been a nicer, friendlier guy. Took time to say hello to all who came up to him and had a smile and a thank you for everyone. Just a genuinely nice person.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 30, 2024 11:34 AM (LkLld)

154 150 Newest conspiracy theories to explain Israel's attacks in Lebanon: Jews control genies! Jews are descended from blue-blooded space aliens!
Posted by: SMOD at September 30, 2024 11:33 AM (RHGPo)

So Jews are apart of Scientology?

Posted by: DoublySymmetric at September 30, 2024 11:34 AM (kqvk9)

155 Circle K and Maverik are doing just that. I had an excellent Colombian roast yesterday.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Telling War Stories at September 30, 2024 11:31 AM (xPJvm)
--------------

Another thing, the large chain gas stations seem to be placing a premium on keeping the place clean, which is nice. Which leads me to believe they make sure the coffee machines are properly maintained.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:34 AM (tT6L1)

156
Leftists still look at labor relations like it was the 1930s and Harry Bennett was busting heads at the Rouge. But now it's fellow leftie tech bros holding down pay by bringing in H1Bs. Try unionizing Google and you'll be out on your ass pronto.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 30, 2024 11:34 AM (IFuph)

157 DirecTV agrees to buy Dish for $1.00

https://tinyurl.com/muhrvye2

Posted by: Ciampino - it's a messy business at September 30, 2024 11:35 AM (qfLjt)

158 15 >>Niccol will travel nearly 1,000 miles from his home in Newport Beach, California, to Starbuck's Seattle offices, by corporate jet, according to his offer letter, which was made public in an SEC filing.

AYFKM?
Unbelievable.
Posted by: Lizzy at September 30, 2024 11:04 AM (scDBq)

The day that Niccol was hired, SBUX went up by over 20%. He probably added $15 billion to the company's market cap. That pays for a lot of trips on the corporate jet.

Niccol is the real deal as a CEO. He turned around Taco Bell, and he turned around Chipotle before he got to SBUX. I'm betting he's going to use the same playbook with coffee that he did with fast food - simplify the menu and get them back to doing what they did best.

He's a wokester, but probably no more than necessary to get past the board and his liberal customer base. If past is prologue, he's there to make them profitable.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at September 30, 2024 11:35 AM (EHP7T)

159 Once they decided to jettison a beloved character because he was an Indian dude voiced by a white guy, that was it for me.

it jumped years before that

probably around the time they decided to cruelly kill off a Maude Flanders because they didn't want to pay the voice actress, or the ridiculous retcon of Principal Skinner's past, both of which were in the early 2000s, are times fans point to as the death of the series

Posted by: Meta at September 30, 2024 11:35 AM (25k9m)

160 Eh, Starbucks? They are overwhelmingly urban. Their customer base is very Democratic. There aren't many conservatives who care about Starbucks. Alienating the right was no-lose for them.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at September 30, 2024 11:35 AM (awTae)

161 Costco selling gold bars like hotcakes as prices surge
_Yahoo Finance

1oz, 24kt
Costco sells its 1 oz gold bar for $2,679.99. You have to be a member to buy the bullion. It's also non-refundable, and there's a limit of five total units per membership.
-----------
Posted by: Braenyard

I wish I could afford gold. I'm lucky to be buying silver. And boolits. And food.

Posted by: rickb223 Gold & Silver Spot Prices at September 30, 2024 11:35 AM (sDO9P)

162 Kamala has done just what Biden did, pick a VP candidate that's a bigger f*ck up than they are.

Walz has risen to political prominence in a deep blue state.

The media has always covered for him as a member of the Ruling Party, so he's never had to endure sharp questioning on anything.

He is vulnerable.

OTOH, you can rest assured that the moderators will do everything possible to sabotage Vance.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at September 30, 2024 11:35 AM (uxCna)

163 McDonald's used to have the best coffee, in my opinion.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at September 30, 2024 11:35 AM (v6JzV)

164 Carbon aside, I would think there's grounds for the board to think that's a stupid deal and that people who work at the office should actually live within driving distance.
Posted by: Ian S. at September 30, 2024 11:11 AM (2ocoG)

Driving distance? Driving? I had assumed the peons were chained to their desks.

-- SBUX board

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at September 30, 2024 11:36 AM (nR2nR)

165 >>>Whenever I'm traveling, I try to take my breaks at truck stops. There were one or two Love's Travel Centers on our route to Vicksburg to adopt my cat Stirling in '22. Yes, people wore face diapers here and there, but nobody hassled me about it. Coffee was good, bathrooms were clean.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius
-----------------------

Brings back an old memory. Ex and I traveled a lot and I would always stop at a Truck Stop to fill up and fill up my Thermos with coffee.

Posted by: Braenyard - farmers, just stick a seed in the ground and shut up at September 30, 2024 11:36 AM (KTeKV)

166 Kamala has done just what Biden did, pick a VP candidate that's a bigger f*ck up than they are.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at September 30, 2024 11:30 AM (L/fGl)

======

Who will Walz pick?

Bill Kristol?

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:36 AM (xCA6C)

167 Once they decided to jettison a beloved character because he was an Indian dude voiced by a white guy, that was it for me.

The Indian dude was always portrayed as one of the best people in the town, but couldn't have that.
Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at September 30, 2024 11:32 AM (KbCG3)

And now, if you don't celebrate a black English Queen or Hispanic Founding Father, you're a racist or something.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at September 30, 2024 11:36 AM (Rbu5d)

168 Nothing says Dang, I want a grande latte! more than a server who is overweight, snotty, blue hair, tats, piercings and dried snot sticking to its nose ring.

Posted by: Diogenes at September 30, 2024 11:36 AM (W/lyH)

169 I subscribed to Manatee Coffee about a year ago. Two 2 lb bags, good stuff, no politics and they donate to manatee rescue.

Had an incident where I forgot to apply a coupon to my order. I emailed them and it was applied within the hour. Good people.

Posted by: NR Pax at September 30, 2024 11:36 AM (OPGS/)

170 Once they decided to jettison a beloved character because he was an Indian dude voiced by a white guy, that was it for me.

The Indian dude was always portrayed as one of the best people in the town, but couldn't have that.
Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer

Or, they could just make the accent more over-the-top as a "fuck you" to humorless Lefty scolds?

Posted by: South Park's Dr. Janus' alter ego Lu Kim voiced by a white guy at September 30, 2024 11:36 AM (JCZqz)

171 I think I might have been to a Starbucks once, in 1994. Not my thing. Nothing for me to boycott.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at September 30, 2024 11:37 AM (/lPRQ)

172 "Who will Walz pick? Bill Kristol?"

The conservative case for communist totalitarianism.

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:37 AM (Ectld)

173 McDonald's used to have the best coffee, in my opinion.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus a

For a long time people said it was Newman's Own. Dont know if true or not. Being that they now sell their own K Cups.

Posted by: BruceWayne at September 30, 2024 11:37 AM (CIS44)

174 I haven't been to a Buc-ee's yet; do they have those?

Buc--ees has everything.

Posted by: brak at September 30, 2024 11:37 AM (25k9m)

175 They were anti-gun dicks on a podcast (Rogan, maybe) during the Rittenhouse shooting, though, so...fuck 'em.
Posted by: Military Moron

That's what happens when slick 'righties' think they can just 'go on background' with reporters that chat them up, you know just joshin' around and all. They may be conservative like, but they are very cuffing stupid.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at September 30, 2024 11:37 AM (IG4Id)

176 Whenever I'm traveling, I try to take my breaks at truck stops. There were one or two Love's Travel Centers on our route to Vicksburg to adopt my cat Stirling in '22. Yes, people wore face diapers here and there, but nobody hassled me about it. Coffee was good, bathrooms were clean.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 30, 2024 11:33 AM (J2vNu)
-------------

My wife and I are huge fans of Love's because clean and a place for us to let our pooch take care of her business. I only recently spotted one of the automated coffee machines at one of their locations. The coffee it produced was excellent.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:37 AM (tT6L1)

177 159 Once they decided to jettison a beloved character because he was an Indian dude voiced by a white guy, that was it for me.

it jumped years before that

probably around the time they decided to cruelly kill off a Maude Flanders because they didn't want to pay the voice actress, or the ridiculous retcon of Principal Skinner's past, both of which were in the early 2000s, are times fans point to as the death of the series

Posted by: Meta at September 30, 2024 11:35 AM (25k9m)

Was still watchable. I was binging it awhile back and was surprised at how deep into the series I got where I was enjoying it. Some real clunkers (like that Skinner episode) but also some decent stuff.

Then they did what they always do. They went from being anti-establishment to pro-establishment once it fit their worldview.

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at September 30, 2024 11:37 AM (KbCG3)

178 While I agree with the sentiment, do you really think these overreaching fascists will stop with Starbuck's?
Posted by: Archimedes

If course they won't.

I'll object when they go after some place that doesn't hate me and want me dead.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at September 30, 2024 11:37 AM (hB7mE)

179 Who will Walz pick?

Bill Kristol?
Posted by: Archimedes

Chaz Bono? Xe would be a historic first!!!

Posted by: Moron Analyst at September 30, 2024 11:38 AM (JCZqz)

180 How about Caribou Coffee? Their stuff any good?

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at September 30, 2024 11:29 AM (v6JzV)

Canadian? If so, it is the stuff I received as a gift. It is not worth it, and it is relegated to emergency backup coffee. I don't know if it is the bean, the roast, length of storage, or both.

I tried to blend it into my 28 Roast Later, to avoid wasting it. It ruined the whole batch.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at September 30, 2024 11:38 AM (i24o9)

181 Hokey Smokes!!! I just realized this Niccol guy was the commencement speaker at my daughter's graduation this past spring!

Did a real 'Murica, mom, and apple pie speech, too, peppered with Chipoltle references.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at September 30, 2024 11:38 AM (LxER7)

182 One word: Roy Clark

One more: Billy Strings. Yeah, he's a dirty hippie but damn that kid can play.

Posted by: Oddbob at September 30, 2024 11:38 AM (/y8xj)

183 Newest conspiracy theories to explain Israel's attacks in Lebanon: Jews control genies! Jews are descended from blue-blooded space aliens!

WE KNEW IT!!!

WE KNEW IT!!!

Posted by: The Squad! at September 30, 2024 11:38 AM (uxCna)

184 My wife and I are huge fans of Love's because clean and a place for us to let our pooch take care of her business. I only recently spotted one of the automated coffee machines at one of their locations. The coffee it produced was excellent.
Posted by: blake - s

Loves and OnCue are both excellent choices around here.

Posted by: BruceWayne at September 30, 2024 11:38 AM (CIS44)

185 "While I agree with the sentiment, do you really think these overreaching fascists will stop with Starbuck's?"

No, but if the corporate psychos are losing money, maybe they'll pull back from the cliff. If not, there's no point anyway.

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:38 AM (Ectld)

186 “Joe Biden became mentally impaired. Kamala was born that way,” Trump said to loud applause. “And if you think about it, only a mentally disabled person could have allowed this to happen to our country”
Posted by: SMOD at September 30, 2024 11:16 AM (RHGPo)

this is the extended version of that sound-bite by Trump (Rumble)

https://tinyurl.com/bdfw7zfp

Posted by: Kindltot at September 30, 2024 11:38 AM (D7oie)

187 Trump demeans disabled persons!
Posted by: Today's headline

I saw a Kamala ad today which begins with a clip of Trump talking about the "Kung flu" then a fat, ugly Asian woman talks about the anti Asian hate crimes such hate speech inspired then finishes with Kamy promising peace, love, and understanding.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at September 30, 2024 11:38 AM (L/fGl)

188
OTOH, you can rest assured that the moderators will do everything possible to sabotage Vance.
Posted by: The ARC of History! at September 30, 2024 11

***
I might watch it, or some of it. Here's hoping Vance will take no nonsense from the media's palace guard.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 30, 2024 11:39 AM (J2vNu)

189 @113 The article says it's a joke.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at September 30, 2024 11:39 AM (WPL6O)

190 187 Trump demeans disabled persons!
Posted by: Today's headline

I saw a Kamala ad today which begins with a clip of Trump talking about the "Kung flu" then a fat, ugly Asian woman talks about the anti Asian hate crimes such hate speech inspired then finishes with Kamy promising peace, love, and understanding.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at September 30, 2024 11:38 AM (L/fGl)

Almost all of that Asian hate came from one demographic.

MAGA territory it is not.

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at September 30, 2024 11:40 AM (KbCG3)

191 111 "If liking Sydney Sweeney breast's is evil, then so be it."

Truth.
Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:25 AM (Ectld)

BIG truth

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Vote but also buy ammo at September 30, 2024 11:40 AM (xcxpd)

192 Niccol is the real deal as a CEO. He turned around Taco Bell, and he turned around Chipotle before he got to SBUX. I'm betting he's going to use the same playbook with coffee that he did with fast food - simplify the menu and get them back to doing what they did best.

He's a wokester, but probably no more than necessary to get past the board and his liberal customer base. If past is prologue, he's there to make them profitable.
Posted by: Darrell Harris at September 30, 2024 11:35 AM (EHP7T)
------------

First thing: No more ordering an entire meal for a family of four from the drive through. Wait times are horrendous because idiots are too lazy to park and go inside.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:40 AM (tT6L1)

193 Walz has risen to political prominence in a deep blue state.

The media has always covered for him as a member of the Ruling Party, so he's never had to endure sharp questioning on anything.

He is vulnerable.

OTOH, you can rest assured that the moderators will do everything possible to sabotage Vance.

I read a piece yesterday that says Walz is soiling himself in anticipation and dread of the curb-stomping he's about to get from J.D. Vance. It turns out he's more self-aware than the average Dem, and knows he's an idiot when it comes to debating.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:40 AM (xCA6C)

194 190 Almost all of that Asian hate came from one demographic.

MAGA territory it is not.
Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at September 30, 2024 11:40 AM (KbCG3)

=======

"So? What's your point?"
-The Narrative

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:40 AM (GBKbO)

195 I live in an area that has numerous coffee huts along the major roadways. Take you pick for drive up coffee. Also, many small locally owned shops. Starbucks and Peet’s coffee are some of the worst swill on the planet. Both burn their product. I actually believe Peet’s is worse than Starbucks.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at September 30, 2024 11:40 AM (2NHgQ)

196 174 I haven't been to a Buc-ee's yet; do they have those?

Buc--ees has everything.
Posted by: brak at September

Buc-ees is insane. Their roast turkey is good though.

Posted by: Piper at September 30, 2024 11:41 AM (p4NUW)

197 193 I read a piece yesterday that says Walz is soiling himself in anticipation and dread of the curb-stomping he's about to get from J.D. Vance. It turns out he's more self-aware than the average Dem, and knows he's an idiot when it comes to debating.
Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:40 AM (xCA6C)

========

Well, he did refuse to debate his opponent in his last run for governor.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:41 AM (GBKbO)

198 >>>Caribou Coffee

Perhaps not Canadian. I don't recall now the Canadian brand I was gifted.

In any event, Caribou Coffee touts sustainability and ESG. Pass.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at September 30, 2024 11:41 AM (i24o9)

199 For end times silver is the better buy. Smaller increments. Bags of trash silver (coins that have no numismatic value) are a good end times buy. So are 1 1/2oz bottles of liquor.

Posted by: Braenyard - farmers, just stick a seed in the ground and shut up at September 30, 2024 11:41 AM (KTeKV)

200 153
‘ Just a genuinely nice person.’
Is Mutumbo from the DR of Congo? It seems like I saw him in one of PM news shows (90s or 2000s) being interviewed and trying to bring attention to the lethal civil war going on there.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at September 30, 2024 11:42 AM (jbnUc)

201 Loves and OnCue are both excellent choices around here.
Posted by: BruceWayne at September 30, 2024 11:38 AM (CIS44)
---------

I need to remember OnCue. Thanks for that.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:42 AM (tT6L1)

202 He's a wokester, but probably no more than necessary to get past the board and his liberal customer base. If past is prologue, he's there to make them profitable.
Posted by: Darrell Harris

The customer base of Taco Bell is not in any shape or fashion 'liberal.'

Posted by: weft cut-loop at September 30, 2024 11:42 AM (IG4Id)

203 I might watch it, or some of it. Here's hoping Vance will take no nonsense from the media's palace guard.

Vance is one of the best people in the country for taking on a 3 against 1 debate.

I wonder what combination of drugs Walz will be on to keep him from losing his temper.

Posted by: The Squad! at September 30, 2024 11:42 AM (uxCna)

204 156
Leftists still look at labor relations like it was the 1930s and Harry Bennett was busting heads at the Rouge. But now it's fellow leftie tech bros holding down pay by bringing in H1Bs. Try unionizing Google and you'll be out on your ass pronto.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh

👍

Posted by: L - If they'll do it with you, they'll do it to you, too at September 30, 2024 11:42 AM (NFX2v)

205 Aren't most large businesses, sadly? I remember Black Rifle Coffee making a big push for military and law enforcement guys...was pretty effective, and I still see a lot of guys with their stuff. They were anti-gun dicks on a podcast (Rogan, maybe) during the Rittenhouse shooting, though, so...fuck 'em.
Posted by: Military Moron at September 30, 2024 11:33 AM (JCZqz)

BRCC is a marketing schtick. I fell for it. Their coffee is eh to my tastebuds. The Rittenhouse thing ended it for me.
Started buying my coffee from Rich Coast, after having purchased a bag on a whim. Small guys near where I grew up in Pennsyltuckey.

Posted by: Ganowicz Commie Exterminators, LTD. at September 30, 2024 11:43 AM (C26rB)

206 194 190 Almost all of that Asian hate came from one demographic.

MAGA territory it is not.
Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at September 30, 2024 11:40 AM (KbCG3)

=======

"So? What's your point?"
-The Narrative

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:40 AM (GBKbO)

Is that a requirement now?

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at September 30, 2024 11:43 AM (KbCG3)

207
Buc--ees has everything.
Posted by: brak at September
*
Buc-ees is insane. Their roast turkey is good though.
Posted by: Piper at September 30, 2024

***
There's one north of Birmingham on my direct route to Indiana (whenever I get to road trip up there). I'm looking forward to the stop.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 30, 2024 11:43 AM (J2vNu)

208 ...then a fat, ugly Asian woman talks about the anti Asian hate crimes...

She means the ones committed almost exclusively by blacks?

Posted by: Oddbob at September 30, 2024 11:43 AM (/y8xj)

209 The day that Niccol was hired, SBUX went up by over 20%. He probably added $15 billion to the company's market cap. That pays for a lot of trips on the corporate jet.
Posted by: Darrell Harris at September 30, 2024 11:35 AM (EHP7T)

Market cap doesn't pay for anything; that's all unrealized gains by shareholders. Revenue is what pays for jets.

Posted by: Bacon Jeff at September 30, 2024 11:43 AM (VGRuw)

210 106 99 I am VERY pro-business.

I am also VERY anti-big business.

"Our" big businesses are generally acting in restraint of trade and the federal government is perfectly fine with that because they can control one business better than hundreds.
Posted by: Formerly Virginian
======
I agree. Any big organization treats individuals (customers and line workers) as cogs in a wheel whether government or business. Large corporations bear a striking resemblance to feudal baronies and the like.

The land, like the corporations persist while the CEO/Barons come and go.

There is nothing new under the sun.

Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 11:44 AM (SI97o)

211 203 I might watch it, or some of it. Here's hoping Vance will take no nonsense from the media's palace guard.

Vance is one of the best people in the country for taking on a 3 against 1 debate.

I wonder what combination of drugs Walz will be on to keep him from losing his temper.
Posted by: The Squad! at September 30, 2024 11:42 AM (uxCna)

========

*laughing in idiotese*
-Joe Biden during his debate with Paul Ryan who had facts, man

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:44 AM (GBKbO)

212 Caliber Coffee is the successor to Black Rifle for a pro-conservative coffee brand

No idea if it's any good as I'm not a coffee person

Posted by: brak at September 30, 2024 11:44 AM (25k9m)

213 Market cap doesn't pay for anything; that's all unrealized gains by shareholders. Revenue is what pays for jets.
Posted by: Bacon Jeff
======
And Kamel Toe wants to tax that unrealized gain at 25 percent. Just imagine what joy that will bring to the stock market.

Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 11:45 AM (SI97o)

214 BRCC is a marketing schtick. I fell for it.

A couple of my friends like it so I buy it for them for Christmas. Last year I sent one of them a King Harv's gift pack and he liked it so I think that's my go-to for gift coffee from now on. Personally, I drink Sam's Club generic.

Posted by: Oddbob at September 30, 2024 11:45 AM (/y8xj)

215 She means the ones committed almost exclusively by blacks?

One of the reasons why the loathsome Chesa Boudin was kicked out of the DA's office in San Francisco is that he ignored Asians being assaulted by blacks.

Lots of Asian voters in San Francisco.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at September 30, 2024 11:45 AM (uxCna)

216 210 There is nothing new under the sun.
Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 11:44 AM (SI97o)

========

"False! There is ceding all freedoms to lords and ladies and saying it's for the benefit of the little people!"
-The modern left

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:45 AM (GBKbO)

217 Funny, but typical, that the MSM talks about the looming port strike 12 hours before the contract expiration.

I knew about it for weeks from the What's Going On With Shipping? guy.

Maybe this strike will nudge some businessesto wean themselves from evil Chynah.

I can dream.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at September 30, 2024 11:45 AM (ufFY8)

218 212 Caliber Coffee is the successor to Black Rifle for a pro-conservative coffee brand

No idea if it's any good as I'm not a coffee person

Posted by: brak at September 30, 2024 11:44 AM (25k9m)

Any consumer product that makes its rep on politics and not its viability as a product is suspect.

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at September 30, 2024 11:45 AM (KbCG3)

219 There's one north of Birmingham on my direct route to Indiana (whenever I get to road trip up there). I'm looking forward to the stop.

get ready to drop $100 on snacks, and spend way too long browsing

Posted by: brak at September 30, 2024 11:46 AM (25k9m)

220 And so did Primanti Brothers.

Begun in 1933 in Pittsburgh's wholesale food market area, an area called "the strip district," it was a bar and restaurant famous for its dagwood-stile sandwich with french fries inside.

Like most all restaurants today, it is a multi-location chain trading on its brand name and featuring the big thick sandwiches. It was acquired by Catterton Partners, a private equity firm, and later Catterton brought in another investment group, Garnet Station Partners, as it expanded to 40 locations mostly in western PA.

Likely taking a cue from its far-left woke C-suite bigwigs in NYC or wherever these partners park their asses, a manager of one outlet in North Versailles PA threw conservative customers and JD Vance out into the street over the weekend.

As in, "hate has no home here."

Let's see how Primanti fares after this. Primantis had allowed the Harris campaign to use their Moon Township location as a stage for an orchestrated campaign event, just a week before.

Posted by: Mr Gaga at September 30, 2024 11:46 AM (/g/b3)

221 And now, if you don't celebrate a black English Queen or Hispanic Founding Father, you're a racist or something.
Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at September 30, 2024 11:36 AM (Rbu5d)

All I know is I'm really enjoying watching the "hate" Yootoobers who are watching Lord Of the Amazon: Rings of Girlpower.

Apparently they have three more seasons of throwing hundreds of millions of dollars toward this abomination.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2024 11:46 AM (dGCAG)

222 Posted by: whig

Good to see you, sir. Long time, no post?

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at September 30, 2024 11:46 AM (v6JzV)

223 >>Is Mutumbo from the DR of Congo? It seems like I saw him in one of PM news shows (90s or 2000s) being interviewed and trying to bring attention to the lethal civil war going on there.

I think so.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 30, 2024 11:47 AM (LkLld)

224 "All I know is I'm really enjoying watching the "hate" Yootoobers who are watching Lord Of the Amazon: Rings of Girlpower."

They could have been making another season of Reacher or HALO.

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:47 AM (Ectld)

225 But apparently one week it's Rings of Girlpower, the next week it's Rings of Gaypower.

They switch between the two.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2024 11:47 AM (dGCAG)

226 Yeah, Starbucks' coffee isn't bad. It's fucking repulsive. I'm not saying this out of political spite. It's unfit for animal feed.

The reason why it's so bad is that they deliberately source the bitterest beans and roast them until they're practically carbon, because they're in the coffee-flavored candy business, and beans that would make for drinkable coffee would not have a detectable coffee flavor in the tub of simple syrup you're buying.

So if you try to make them into regular coffee, you just get a cup of paint-stripper out of the machine.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at September 30, 2024 11:47 AM (awTae)

227 183 Newest conspiracy theories to explain Israel's attacks in Lebanon: Jews control genies! Jews are descended from blue-blooded space aliens!

WE KNEW IT!!!

WE KNEW IT!!!
Posted by: The Squad! at September 30, 2024 11:38 AM (uxCna)

It has been very amusing to watch Israel’s enemies sink into absolute lunacy under the pressure of losing on the battlefield. This is a particular problem for Islamic cultures; they believe without question that all things are according to Allah’s will, so when their Holy War turns to shit they either have to accept that Allah has turned against, or that their enemies are magical beings with superpowers.

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 30, 2024 11:48 AM (+6sNf)

228 There's one north of Birmingham on my direct route to Indiana (whenever I get to road trip up there). I'm looking forward to the stop.

get ready to drop $100 on snacks, and spend way too long browsing
Posted by: brak at September 30, 2024

***
There's a limit to how much snack food I can take in, or that is good for me. I suspect my refueling with ethanol-free gas will cost me almost that much, though.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 30, 2024 11:48 AM (J2vNu)

229 And Kamel Toe wants to tax that unrealized gain at 25 percent. Just imagine what joy that will bring to the stock market.
Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 11:45 AM (SI97o)
--------------

I mentioned unrealized capital gains to my wife yesterday and tied it to house valuation. She was aghast. Of course, the usual suspects, the same ones who said, "homosexual marriage is no big deal" will say, "Oh, that will never happen!" when it comes to taxing unrealized cap gains on property. And, what's to stop the fed gov from looking at a piece of land and saying,, "You know, those 20 acres of land you've let sit? Yeah, since you've not improved and we know a 20 million housing project could go up on that land, here's your tax bill."

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:48 AM (tT6L1)

230 Vance is one of the best people in the country for taking on a 3 against 1 debate.

It's amusing - the Republicans frequently run non-lawyers for President and Vice President, and the Democrats almost never run non-lawyers for President and Vice President.

Now Walz is whining that it's not fair that he has to debate a Yale Law School graduate.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at September 30, 2024 11:48 AM (uxCna)

231 BRCC is a marketing schtick. I fell for it. Their coffee is eh to my tastebuds. The Rittenhouse thing ended it for me.
Started buying my coffee from Rich Coast, after having purchased a bag on a whim. Small guys near where I grew up in Pennsyltuckey.
Posted by: Ganowicz
======
Subsidiarity is a far better way of organizing most business, non profits, and government than centralization. Once the scale becomes such that people fade into statistics, it makes it easier for inhuman treatment of those people by businesses, leaders, etc.

Only a few businesses require such massive capital expenditures that only a few corporations can exist in that space. Same as something like national defense in the governmental sphere.

Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 11:48 AM (SI97o)

232 “Joe Biden became mentally impaired. Kamala was born that way,” Trump said to loud applause.

Trump has always been crazy, but I have never seen him more "off the rails" than in the last 2 or 3 days. He has totally lost it. He cannot control his anger. His name-calling is worse than ever.

The gop is too cowardly to police their own ranks or candidates, from being too weird or worse for most American voters. This is going to cost them up and down the ballot.

the media continues to sane wash his appearances. They explain what he meant to say, as they see it, rather than what or how he actually said it.

The Fear Is That if One Network Starts Covering Him Accurately, the dam breaks and it's over. All of the 4 major networks -- their ratings and revenues will plummet, as Trump slides into dementia and oblivion and history.

They can fact check him all they want, but no one has the courage to go THERE. They also won't tell the truth about his supporters. Goodnight.

Judge Chutkan is definitely on his mind (what she might decide to release of Smith's revised charge document). I'm sure there is evidence he doesn't want public.

Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at September 30, 2024 11:48 AM (JCZqz)

233 227 It has been very amusing to watch Israel’s enemies sink into absolute lunacy under the pressure of losing on the battlefield. This is a particular problem for Islamic cultures; they believe without question that all things are according to Allah’s will, so when their Holy War turns to shit they either have to accept that Allah has turned against, or that their enemies are magical beings with superpowers.
Posted by: Tom Servo at September 30, 2024 11:48 AM (+6sNf)

=======

"The results of battles ARE determined by God, but also by preparation, numbers, the absence of disease, and the availability of water. One cannot maintain a siege with the enemy behind. How many battles did God win for the Muslims before I came... that is, before God determined that I should come?"
-Saladin

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:49 AM (GBKbO)

234 Newest conspiracy theories to explain Israel's attacks in Lebanon: Jews control genies! Jews are descended from blue-blooded space aliens!

They are just trying to djinn up controversy.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at September 30, 2024 11:49 AM (ufFY8)

235 >>>Caliber Coffee is the successor to Black Rifle for a pro-conservative coffee brand

>>>RCC is a marketing schtick. I fell for it.

Seriously, give Indies Coffee a try. Marine owned, out of Texas. Great people. Best coffee I have tried. I started with a medium roast sample pack and a dark roast sample pack. Found 4/6 that I would buy regularly. Settled on 28 Roasts Later as my favorite.

Everyone who has tried it likes it.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at September 30, 2024 11:49 AM (i24o9)

236 But wait, It doesn't end there!

A Free Person supporting ctHARRIS is like a Chicken voting for Col. Sanders...

forWAR'd:: for the LIB's War on Normal People these is only one setting: extra crispy -- reduce this world to be as lifeless and useless as Mars.

Posted by: MANFRED the Heat Seeking OBOE at September 30, 2024 11:49 AM (JAyNq)

237 I mentioned unrealized capital gains to my wife yesterday and tied it to house valuation. She was aghast. Of course, the usual suspects, the same ones who said, "homosexual marriage is no big deal" will say, "Oh, that will never happen!" when it comes to taxing unrealized cap gains on property. And, what's to stop the fed gov from looking at a piece of land and saying,, "You know, those 20 acres of land you've let sit? Yeah, since you've not improved and we know a 20 million housing project could go up on that land, here's your tax bill."
Posted by: blake
=======
Many states already do that in property taxes--they tie the tax to the highest and best use (getting the highest value) of the property even though it is not being used as such.

Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 11:50 AM (SI97o)

238 Our small city of 37k supports five Starbucks locations. Families and high school kids make up nearly their entire customer base and they all buy the signature coffee concoctions.

When I go to a real coffee shop and roaster a few towns over, I find zero kids and families. They don't do as much business but they do enough to keep slowly expanding. And they earn all my coffee dollars for their top notch beans.

Posted by: Grudge Harbor at September 30, 2024 11:50 AM (hCzfy)

239 There's a limit to how much snack food I can take in, or that is good for me. I suspect my refueling with ethanol-free gas will cost me almost that much, though.

they have in-house smoked bbq and beef jerky; it adds up quickly (I'm usually traveling with the kids)

look for the blue pumps for ethanol free, usually on one of the outside fuel islands

Posted by: brak at September 30, 2024 11:50 AM (25k9m)

240 If you happen to come across it, you might try Silver Cup coffee.

I don't drink the stuff myself, but it's a local roaster that I'm told does high-quality, tasty coffee.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at September 30, 2024 11:50 AM (hB7mE)

241 DU seems to be losing its feverish certainty.

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:50 AM (B0mGw)

242 232 The gop is too cowardly to police their own ranks or candidates, from being too weird or worse for most American voters. This is going to cost them up and down the ballot.

They can fact check him all they want, but no one has the courage to go THERE. They also won't tell the truth about his supporters. Goodnight.

Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at September 30, 2024 11:48 AM (JCZqz)

=======

1. The GOP kicked out a member of Congress because he lied about being gay. Democrats then won the seat. If you want to play the whole, "holier than thou policing their own side thing," that's a whole lot more than forcing Franken to retire and replacing him with another Democrat in a safe D seat.

2. Yeah, the media hasn't yet gotten to the point of calling Republicans who support Trump Nazis yet. Holding it in their backpocket, or something.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:51 AM (GBKbO)

243 It's amusing - the Republicans frequently run non-lawyers for President and Vice President, and the Democrats almost never run non-lawyers for President and Vice President.

Now Walz is whining that it's not fair that he has to debate a Yale Law School graduate.
Posted by: The ARC of History! at September 30, 2024 11:48 AM (uxCna)

To be fair, Cummala Harryass didn't really do any lawyering.

She got the big corner office, but that was so she could have more powerful men come in and shoot loads in her hair.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2024 11:51 AM (dGCAG)

244 They could have been making another season of Reacher or HALO.
Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:47 AM (Ectld)
---------------

Fallout.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:51 AM (tT6L1)

245 But wait, It doesn't end there!

A Free Person supporting ctHARRIS is like a Chicken voting for Col. Sanders...

forWAR'd:: for the LIB's War on Normal People these is only one setting: extra crispy -- reduce this world to be as lifeless and useless as Mars.

Posted by: MANFRED the Heat Seeking OBOE

Ummm.....

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:52 AM (xCA6C)

246 243 To be fair, Cummala Harryass didn't really do any lawyering.

She got the big corner office, but that was so she could have more powerful men come in and shoot loads in her hair.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2024 11:51 AM (dGCAG)

=======

She was a prosecutor in that she managed prosecutors. By yelling at them and demanding that they treat her like a queen.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:52 AM (GBKbO)

247 STAY OFF THE HIGHWAYS!

Tim Walz
@Tim_Walz
All gas, no brakes. We’ll sleep when we’re dead.
Let’s make the next 37 days count:

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at September 30, 2024 11:52 AM (L/fGl)

248 Are you okay with the government telling gun companies what they can do (more than they already do)?

There's always more then can do to screw things up and put a boot in your face.
Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:15 AM (xCA6C)

No. We're not okay with the federales fucking with gun companies. But they're going to. And if we jump to the defense of the companies that support this shit, like Starbucks, it'll never end. They must pay the price for their actions.

There are lots of issues where we need to embrace the fact that things suck for us and the only things we can do is make it suck for them also.

One sided defense of liberty is foolish.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at September 30, 2024 11:52 AM (nR2nR)

249 >The GOP kicked out a member of Congress because he lied about being gay.

Turned out he wasn't.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at September 30, 2024 11:52 AM (lhenN)

250 226 Yeah, Starbucks' coffee isn't bad. It's fucking repulsive. I'm not saying this out of political spite. It's unfit for animal feed.

The reason why it's so bad is that they deliberately source the bitterest beans and roast them until they're practically carbon, because they're in the coffee-flavored candy business, and beans that would make for drinkable coffee would not have a detectable coffee flavor in the tub of simple syrup you're buying.

So if you try to make them into regular coffee, you just get a cup of paint-stripper out of the machine.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice
=======
True and righteous rant.

I am not a purist type because occasionally due to travel etc. I have to make do with supping with various corporate devils like Starbux such as when I was at a distant medical campus and that was all there was to buy.

But, I always try to use a very long spoon when doing so.

Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 11:52 AM (SI97o)

251 Thx Buck. Never had a cup of coffee in my life so never dealt with Starbucks, but get woke go broke is becoming a truism. Good

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 30, 2024 11:52 AM (RTfY1)

252 "Fallout."

I've heard mixed reviews on Fallout. What they did with Wheel of Time was an abortion.

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:53 AM (Ectld)

253 244 They could have been making another season of Reacher or HALO.
Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:47 AM (Ectld)
---------------

Fallout.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:51 AM (tT6L1)

=======

That's certainly coming. Well viewed (supposedly, black box numbers) and extremely well received, even by loyal fans, it'll come back.

It just takes years to make these things.

Also, with success breeds those who would destroy it. Expect Fallout season 2 to go full wokery.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:53 AM (GBKbO)

254 Newest conspiracy theories to explain Israel's attacks in Lebanon: Jews control genies! Jews are descended from blue-blooded space aliens!
------

They are just trying to djinn up controversy.
Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at September 30, 2024 11:49 AM (ufFY

Is that supposed to be a good or bad thing?

Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2024 11:53 AM (dGCAG)

255 the media continues to sane wash his appearances. They explain what he meant to say, as they see it, rather than what or how he actually said it.

I'm not sure I'd call it sane-washing (wut?) but at least someone on the left is Noticing what the enemedia do to Trump.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at September 30, 2024 11:53 AM (hB7mE)

256 They could have been making another season of Reacher or HALO.
Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:47 AM (Ectld)
---------------

Fallout.
Posted by:

Yes please.

Posted by: rickb223 Gold & Silver Spot Prices at September 30, 2024 11:53 AM (sDO9P)

257 Our small city of 37k supports five Starbucks locations. Families and high school kids make up nearly their entire customer base and they all buy the signature coffee concoctions.

When I go to a real coffee shop and roaster a few towns over, I find zero kids and families. They don't do as much business but they do enough to keep slowly expanding. And they earn all my coffee dollars for their top notch beans.
Posted by: Grudge Harbor at September 30, 2024

***
This might sound odd, but I never drank coffee until I left college in about 1975. Or very rarely. It was not a daily requirement to function or avoid headaches as it is for me now!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 30, 2024 11:53 AM (J2vNu)

258
When they say new taxes will only fall on the super-wealthy, remember that you can always be classified as super-wealthy.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 30, 2024 11:53 AM (IFuph)

259 Starbucks coffee, like Canadian beer, tastes like piss.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at September 30, 2024 11:04 AM (/U5Yz)

Enters chat.

Posted by: Bud Lite at September 30, 2024 11:53 AM (J7hCd)

260 249 >The GOP kicked out a member of Congress because he lied about being gay.

Turned out he wasn't.
Posted by: BourbonChicken
==========
The House GOP prefers having a pedo leader like Hastert, a flouncing Ms. Luntz, or a drunk like Boehner leading them.

Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 11:54 AM (SI97o)

261 There are lots of issues where we need to embrace the fact that things suck for us and the only things we can do is make it suck for them also.

One sided defense of liberty is foolish.

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:54 AM (xCA6C)

262 The GOP kicked out a member of Congress because he lied about being gay.
-------
Turned out he wasn't.
-------
You can build 1000 bridges....

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:54 AM (Ectld)

263 223
‘… bring attention to the lethal civil war going on there.

I think so.’

I do too. I remember thinking that it was nice that he was trying to do something for his countrymen not as lucky as he was.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at September 30, 2024 11:54 AM (jbnUc)

264 My wife heard they might be closing the ports due to the strikes so she's out now buying five billion rolls of tp. I guess five of the one billion roll packs.
Posted by: banana Dream at September 30, 2024 11:17 AM (Y6IkP)

Do we really get that much TP coming in through east coast ports?

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at September 30, 2024 11:54 AM (nR2nR)

265 She was a prosecutor in that she managed prosecutors. By yelling at them and demanding that they treat her like a queen.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:52 AM (GBKbO)

More like a persecutor.

Amirite?

Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2024 11:54 AM (dGCAG)

266 Never had a cup of coffee in my life
Posted by: Smell the Glove

Really? Then how are you (1) still alive and (2) sane?

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at September 30, 2024 11:54 AM (v6JzV)

267 My Mama met Mutombo during some fundraiser thing he was in town for at the library she worked at. They spent the whole day together organizing stuff and planning and whatnot. He was actively into the nitty gritty of everything, and didn't just swan in for a photo op and a paycheck.

They went out for lunch together. Mama insisted on paying. "I don't care how much money you got, you're my guest here."

Just a solid, real dude. And if Mama likes you, you know you're good people.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at September 30, 2024 11:55 AM (VoAdT)

268 Mutombo helped build at least one hospital in the Congo, his native country. By all accounts a really good person. RIP

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 30, 2024 11:55 AM (RTfY1)

269 "More like a persecutor. Amirite?"

Prostituter.

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:55 AM (Ectld)

270 There are several independent or micro-chain coffee locations around me, and they are usually quite busy.

Tenbucks (thanks, Brandon!) opened a location just across from one of these in the small town near me and while it does get business, I suspect it isn't doing as well as the local place. I can't recall seeing anyone inside later in the day, at all.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at September 30, 2024 11:55 AM (FnneF)

271 I've heard mixed reviews on Fallout. What they did with Wheel of Time was an abortion.
Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 11:53 AM (Ectld)
--------------

Great blend of mayhem, mirth and angst.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:55 AM (tT6L1)

272
Buc-ee's coffee is super-excellent. Get a regular joe from SBUX and it tastes like burnt acorns.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 30, 2024 11:55 AM (IFuph)

273 During the Defund the Police bs here in Seattle in 2020, cops were not welcome in Starbucks. And their drive through orders were spat upon.

Starbucks is closing stores left and right in Seattle proper. It's kind of amusing.

Posted by: nurse ratched at September 30, 2024 11:55 AM (hXlgB)

274 Fallout.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 11:51 AM (tT6L1)

=======

That's certainly coming. Well viewed (supposedly, black box numbers) and extremely well received, even by loyal fans, it'll come back.

The gamers can get bent. The buzz by new viewers/non gamers was tremendous. One of the newest/freshest things to come along in years.

Posted by: rickb223 Gold & Silver Spot Prices at September 30, 2024 11:55 AM (sDO9P)

275 I'm trying to think of a group of people more insanely delusional and wishcasting as DU. Trying hard . . .

Trying real hard . . .

Still trying . . .

Coming up empty. Everything they say, literally the exact opposite is true. On their site, their version of Akbar is posting JM hotties, and their version of JM is posting pics of fat guys grabbing their dicks.

Posted by: Doctor Elric the Blade at September 30, 2024 11:56 AM (iFTx/)

276 STAY OFF THE HIGHWAYS!

Tim Walz
@Tim_Walz
All gas, no brakes. We’ll sleep when we’re dead.
Let’s make the next 37 days count:

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at September 30, 2024 11:52 AM (L/fGl)

And watch your cornholes, young men.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at September 30, 2024 11:56 AM (i24o9)

277 146 Futurama >>>>>>> The Simpsons
Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at September 30, 2024 11:32 AM (LxER7)

That may have been true once...but the latest season just completed on Hulu was just awful. There were very few moments (note: not episodes) that remotely approached even their middling episodes from the original run.

Posted by: goozer at September 30, 2024 11:56 AM (aWAkn)

278 Gina Raimondo says during an interview that she's unaware of a pending dock workers strike.
She is Secretary of Commerce.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at September 30, 2024 11:57 AM (MeG8a)

279 @266 basically I substitute diet Dr Pepper and diet Pepsi for my caffeine. For a warm drink , hot chocolate

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 30, 2024 11:57 AM (RTfY1)

280 Buc-ee's coffee is super-excellent. Get a regular joe from SBUX and it tastes like burnt acorns.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 30, 2024

***
Burnt acorn coffee was all we had, and damn glad to get it!

Posted by: Confederate Soldiers, 1864 at September 30, 2024 11:57 AM (J2vNu)

281 Never had a cup of coffee in my life
Posted by: Smell the Glove

Really? Then how are you (1) still alive and (2) sane?
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at September 30, 2024 11:54 AM (v6JzV)

How do you get through your day liking to hate people?

Posted by: Ganowicz Commie Exterminators, LTD. at September 30, 2024 11:57 AM (C26rB)

282 I wonder what combination of drugs Walz will be on to keep him from losing his temper.
Posted by: The Squad! at September 30, 2024 11:42 AM (uxCna)

I for one am hoping Walz opts for the same dosage of THC Gummies that caused Michael Rectenwald to crash and burn at the LP convention. It would be the most 2024 thing ever.

Posted by: Kindltot at September 30, 2024 11:58 AM (D7oie)

283
Burnt acorn coffee was all we had, and damn glad to get it!
Posted by: Confederate Soldiers, 1864 at September 30, 2024 11:57 AM (J2vNu)

_________

Union and Confederate soldiers maintained a healthy trade of coffee for tobacco.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 30, 2024 11:59 AM (IFuph)

284 281 Never had a cup of coffee in my life
Posted by: Smell the Glove

Really? Then how are you (1) still alive and (2) sane?
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at September 30, 2024 11:54 AM (v6JzV)

How do you get through your day liking to hate people?
Posted by: Ganowicz Commie Exterminators, LTD. at September 30, 2024 11:57 AM (C26rB)

=======

I used to never drink coffee. I still genuinely dislike the stuff.

However, I kept reading about the supposed health benefits, particularly around dementia. So, I figured that drinking something I hate is worth it if it fights off dementia later in life.

Three tumblers a day now. Still hate it, though.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:59 AM (GBKbO)

285 How many battles did God win for the Muslims before I came... that is, before God determined that I should come?"
-Saladin
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 11:49 AM (GBKbO)

Saladin would bitch slap the entire Ummah if he were around today.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at September 30, 2024 11:59 AM (VoAdT)

286 "Saladin would bitch slap the entire Ummah if he were around today."

And then proceed to D.C.

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 12:00 PM (Ectld)

287 286 "Saladin would bitch slap the entire Ummah if he were around today."

And then proceed to D.C.
Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 12:00 PM (Ectld)

======

False.

England would import him and make him their Prime Minister.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, terrorizing teenagers with Michael Myers at September 30, 2024 12:00 PM (GBKbO)

288 What's really odd is Amazon did a fine job with "The Peripheral" and made a decent show out of a book which is marginal, at best.

Unfortunately, William Gibson seems to have really lost the plot with his writing and Amazon may not be able to pull off a season two.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 12:00 PM (tT6L1)

289 Never had a cup of coffee in my life
Posted by: Smell the Glove

Really? Then how are you (1) still alive and (2) sane?
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at September 30, 2024 11:54 AM (v6JzV)

I’ve had one sip of coffee in my life. Did not like. I get my caffeine cold and carbonated and non-sugared (diet)

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at September 30, 2024 12:01 PM (OW907)

290 Insty:
The modern economy rests on a single road in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The road runs to the two mines that is the sole supplier of the quartz required to make the crucibles needed to refine silicon wafers.

There are no alternative sources known.

The modern economy is 100 plates kept spinning on sticks.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 12:01 PM (xCA6C)

291 227
‘ either have to accept that Allah has turned against, or that their enemies are magical beings with superpowers.’

If your enemies’ magic is stronger than your God’s, maybe it’s time to shop for another one.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at September 30, 2024 12:01 PM (jbnUc)

292 286 "Saladin would bitch slap the entire Ummah if he were around today."

And then proceed to D.C.
Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 12:00 PM (Ectld)

Inshallah

Posted by: Warai-otoko at September 30, 2024 12:01 PM (VoAdT)

293 Gina Raimondo says during an interview that she's unaware of a pending dock workers strike.
She is Secretary of Commerce.
Posted by: gourmand du jour

There may be bigger idiots in government than Raimondo but not many.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at September 30, 2024 12:02 PM (L/fGl)

294 When I go to a real coffee shop and roaster a few towns over, I find zero kids and families. They don't do as much business but they do enough to keep slowly expanding. And they earn all my coffee dollars for their top notch beans.
Posted by: Grudge Harbor
=======
Doing this and avoiding debt as much as possible is the way for a small business to continue to exist.

Most franchises in the food and drink industry (or retail in general) use debt leveraging (as in accounts payable to their suppliers) to get big quick and then they slowly wither and die. They rely on taking in money immediately and delay in paying their suppliers for 30-60-90 or even 120 days. By that time, they benefit from multiple turnover of those dollars. That strategy dies when there is no where left to expand and fixed and variable costs like labor begin to increase.

Stock prices stagnate, someone new turns up on the block as a competitor, consumer tastes change, and the corporate executives bloat their staffs/expenses while at the same time cheapening and nickel pinching the retail establishments on things like the quality of product, labor force, cleanliness of stores, etc.

Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 12:02 PM (SI97o)

295 >>> 290 Insty:
The modern economy rests on a single road in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The road runs to the two mines that is the sole supplier of the quartz required to make the crucibles needed to refine silicon wafers.

There are no alternative sources known.
==
The modern economy is 100 plates kept spinning on sticks.
Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 12:01 PM (xCA6C)

...and it's being run by retards. Malicious, spiteful retards.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at September 30, 2024 12:02 PM (FnneF)

296 It has been very amusing to watch Israel’s enemies sink into absolute lunacy under the pressure of losing on the battlefield. This is a particular problem for Islamic cultures; they believe without question that all things are according to Allah’s will, so when their Holy War turns to shit they either have to accept that Allah has turned against, or that their enemies are magical beings with superpowers.
Posted by: Tom Servo at September 30, 2024 11:48 AM (+6sNf)

Magical Jews! Oh no!

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at September 30, 2024 12:02 PM (g8Ew8)

297 Yeah, but --! $15 for only 12 oz.?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 30, 2024 11:15 AM (J2vNu)

First thing I saw on their Web site: "organic, Fair Trade coffee".

Bye.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 30, 2024 12:02 PM (J7hCd)

298 Somewhat related to the decision of Starbucks to allow the homeless and other non-customers to use their restrooms:

During the summer here in Texas, my brother and I have been getting some exercise by walking in a nearby shopping mall which is both upscale and 95% empty. When we stopped in the men's room, we noticed that the designated container for used hypodermic needles was filled to the brim. My brother joked, "There must be a lot of diabetics around here!"

Posted by: Pete in Texas at September 30, 2024 12:02 PM (eH98r)

299 All I know is I'm really enjoying watching the "hate" Yootoobers who are watching Lord Of the Amazon: Rings of Girlpower.

Apparently they have three more seasons of throwing hundreds of millions of dollars toward this abomination.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2024 11:46 AM (dGCAG)
----
I don't think they'll make it through all five seasons before brains start melting...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 30, 2024 12:03 PM (7fElN)

300 I drink coffee because (as far as I know) it's just coffee beans and water. No weird additives or sugar or other sweeteners. Sometimes I get tired of plain water.

There's also tea and sparkling water. But coffee is definitely one of my alternatives to water.

Posted by: Emmie at September 30, 2024 12:03 PM (NIkq3)

301 "If your enemies’ magic is stronger than your God’s, maybe it’s time to shop for another one."

During Ramadan, Muslims party all night because their god is asleep and doesn't realize they're all violating the holy fast.

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 12:03 PM (Ectld)

302 146 Futurama >>>>>>> The Simpsons

Everyone charts the decline of the Simpsons as season 9. Season 1 of Futurama. They got all the best writers, it is known.

https://youtu.be/jf1vIVtU8Nc?si=dqYMwAzkUWvf6iQN

Posted by: BourbonChicken at September 30, 2024 12:03 PM (lhenN)

303 Burnt acorn coffee was all we had, and damn glad to get it!

Posted by: Confederate Soldiers, 1864 at September 30, 2024 11:57 AM (J2vNu)

Luxury. I first started drinking burnt engineroom coffee, complete with lube oil slick.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at September 30, 2024 12:03 PM (i24o9)

304 If your enemies’ magic is stronger than your God’s, maybe it’s time to shop for another one.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at September 30, 2024 12:01 PM (jbnUc)
---------------

Dude, we already did that. That whole storing the Ark of the Covenant in my house really didn't work out, at all.

Posted by: Dagon at September 30, 2024 12:03 PM (tT6L1)

305 Mr. Niccol reveals himself to be a believer in The Sustainable Organic Church of the Carbon Apocalypse, yet his actions show him to be a climate heretic.
----------------
Anyone noticing leftist hypocrisy deserves jail!

Posted by: Secretariat John von Kerry, Iranian Enthusiast at September 30, 2024 12:03 PM (jqPhM)

306 There may be bigger idiots in government than Raimondo but not many.

It's almost like the name itself is a curse.

Posted by: Oddbob at September 30, 2024 12:04 PM (/y8xj)

307 The modern economy rests on a single road in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The road runs to the two mines that is the sole supplier of the quartz required to make the crucibles needed to refine silicon wafers.

-
I'm more of an Oreos guy myself.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at September 30, 2024 12:04 PM (L/fGl)

308 While I agree with the sentiment, do you really think these overreaching fascists will stop with Starbuck's?
Posted by: Archimedes

You're right. I should totally spend my time trying to help Starbucks back on their feet so they can get back to their business of putting their boot on my face, Forever.

The better response is
Starbucks: "Save us!"
Me: " ... and I'll look down and whisper "No." "

Posted by: Chuck C at September 30, 2024 12:04 PM (yOPBE)

309 Luxury. I first started drinking burnt engineroom coffee, complete with lube oil slick.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at September 30, 2024 12:03 PM (i24o9)
----------------

That syrupy been on the burner all day consistency is just what the doctor ordered!

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 12:04 PM (tT6L1)

310 First thing I saw on their Web site: "organic, Fair Trade coffee".

Bye.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 30, 2024 1

***
As opposed to all the silicon-based coffee that's in all the stores now

Posted by: Confederate Soldiers, 1864 at September 30, 2024 12:05 PM (J2vNu)

311 If can be lunch or nap time, not sure yet

Posted by: Skip at September 30, 2024 12:05 PM (JDNxc)

312 @realDonaldTrump
We are now heading to Valdosta, Georgia, in order to pay my respects and bring lots of relief material, including fuel, equipment, water, and other things, to the State. Many politicians and Law Enforcement will be there. We’ll be saying hello to Franklin Graham, Burt Jones, Tyler Harper, Mike Collins, Austin Scott, Russ Goodman, Sam Watson, and the Mayor of Valdosta Scott James. They are working very hard. I was also going to stop into North Carolina, which has really been hit hard. I have a lot of supplies ready for them, but access and communication is now restricted, and we want to make sure that Local Emergency Management is able to focus on helping the people most affected, and not being concerned with me. I’ll be there shortly, but don’t like the reports that I’m getting about the Federal Government, and the Democrat Governor of the State, going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas. MAGA!

Posted by: Divide by Zero at September 30, 2024 12:05 PM (RKVpM)

313 290 Insty:
The modern economy rests on a single road in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The road runs to the two mines that is the sole supplier of the quartz required to make the crucibles needed to refine silicon wafers.

There are no alternative sources known.

The modern economy is 100 plates kept spinning on sticks.
Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 12:01 PM (xCA6C)

This is appropriate for the Book Thread, but I learned about that tidbit from a book called Material World, by Ed Conway. It gets scarier than that. If a particular chemical were sprayed by crop duster over that mine, in six months the quartz in there would be too contaminated to use. World chip production would grind to a halt. Conway didn't mention what chemical that was; he was sworn to secrecy.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at September 30, 2024 12:05 PM (oACm+)

314 Many states already do that in property taxes--they tie the tax to the highest and best use (getting the highest value) of the property even though it is not being used as such.
Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 11:50 AM (SI97o)

Out of curiosity, do you have any insight into Georgeism?
The single tax proposal into property taxing.

Posted by: Kindltot at September 30, 2024 12:05 PM (D7oie)

315 Every now and then, a friend offers me a Starbucks coffee and I accept to be polite. I'm always curious if it still tastes like an ashtray. The answer is always "Yes, it does."

Posted by: Emmie at September 30, 2024 12:06 PM (NIkq3)

316 True conservatives will still defend sbux because they’re still living in 2003 when corporations are the run by the good guys.

Posted by: Settled Science at September 30, 2024 12:06 PM (Wsr9E)

317 >>> Do we really get that much TP coming in through east coast ports?
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at September 30, 2024 11:54 AM (nR2nR)

A lot of it is made right here in GA. Don't ask me to explain female toilet paper anxiety.

Posted by: banana Dream at September 30, 2024 12:06 PM (Y6IkP)

318 Anyone noticing leftist hypocrisy deserves jail!
Posted by: Secretariat John von Kerry, Iranian Enthusiast at September 30, 2024 12:03 PM

No one expects the Climate Inquisition!

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at September 30, 2024 12:06 PM (ZANHd)

319 "No one expects the Climate Inquisition!"

Really?

Posted by: Ribbed at September 30, 2024 12:07 PM (Ectld)

320 Yeah, but --! $15 for only 12 oz.?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 30, 2024 11:15 AM (J2vNu)

I buy 5# on subscription. Last was about $65. That's $13 for a legit pound, not the downsized 13.5 ounces or so in the retail stores. And it is roasted fresh when I order it, not two months ago.

That's on par with Costco price per pound for not so great coffee.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at September 30, 2024 12:07 PM (i24o9)

321 A lot of it is made right here in GA. Don't ask me to explain female toilet paper anxiety.
Posted by: banana Dream

A man's usage: One roll per month.
A woman's usage: One roll every two days.

Posted by: Tonypete at September 30, 2024 12:07 PM (WXNFJ)

322 my morning rant:

my car insurance has gone up at least $100 per six months the last 4 six month periods, without my using it once (zero claims or incidents)

love this economy

Posted by: brak at September 30, 2024 12:08 PM (25k9m)

323 What's really odd is Amazon did a fine job with "The Peripheral" and made a decent show out of a book which is marginal, at best.

It did?

I couldn't get through 2 episodes, and I like sci-fi.

Chloe Grace Moretz as vidya girlboss with graphics that would have been great in the 1990s?

Nah.

Posted by: That Show Was a Sedative at September 30, 2024 12:08 PM (44PAK)

324 I used to never drink coffee. I still genuinely dislike the stuff.

However, I kept reading about the supposed health benefits, particularly around dementia. So, I figured that drinking something I hate is worth it if it fights off dementia later in life.

Three tumblers a day now. Still hate it, though.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
=======
You can get as much benefit, mebbe more, from hot tea and wine.

Ignore the pundits because most of those population epidemiology studies of consumption patterns and then trying to relate them to health of individuals are quite literally bunk. They also associate linearity with effects which unless actually demonstrated in controlled studies, is never a good thing to do. Plus you get the ecological fallacy going on.

Ask your dad about the horrendous practices in medical research studies. In many cases, they are on par or worse with pollsters in their data manipulation and research design flaws.

Sad fact, for most of us that eat things in moderation, our life span and even dementia appears more determined by genetics and access to medical care more than anything.

Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 12:08 PM (SI97o)

325
During the summer here in Texas, my brother and I have been getting some exercise by walking in a nearby shopping mall which is both upscale and 95% empty. When we stopped in the men's room, we noticed that the designated container for used hypodermic needles was filled to the brim. My brother joked, "There must be a lot of diabetics around here!"

Posted by: Pete in Texas at September 30, 2024 12:02 PM

The very last time I went to a mega-mall near me I saw needle drop in the bathroom and said, "That's it, never again."

Also the clientele looked shaky and mall security non-existent.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at September 30, 2024 12:08 PM (RKVpM)

326 Gina Raimondo says during an interview that she's unaware of a pending dock workers strike.
She is Secretary of Commerce.
Posted by: gourmand du jour at September 30, 2024 11:57 AM (MeG8a)

She ditched that meeting to get her nails done, I suspect.

Posted by: Kindltot at September 30, 2024 12:08 PM (D7oie)

327 This is appropriate for the Book Thread, but I learned about that tidbit from a book called Material World, by Ed Conway. It gets scarier than that. If a particular chemical were sprayed by crop duster over that mine, in six months the quartz in there would be too contaminated to use. World chip production would grind to a halt. Conway didn't mention what chemical that was; he was sworn to secrecy.

Yeah, the book is mentioned at the link I provided. I'd guess that the problem would be anything with a phosphate group in it, which is most insecticides, since P is one of the common dopants in Si, and absolutely needs to be controlled.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 12:09 PM (xCA6C)

328 It's funny how the people who actually care about living soil, permaculture, yadda yadda, all that crunchy hippie stuff, really don't use the word "organic" anymore. Organic means whatever the Dept of Ag says it means.

Tons of stuff that is healthy and good and useful for building your soil food web is not, according to Uncle Sam, "organic", while tons of fake, toxic, unhealthy stuff is.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at September 30, 2024 12:09 PM (VoAdT)

329 Ace discovered a "yacht rock AI" and it is perfect!

Park it in Rhode Island is my advice.

Posted by: Secretariat John von Kerry, Iranian Enthusiast at September 30, 2024 12:09 PM (jqPhM)

330 Dikembe Mutombo is mortadella.

Posted by: XTC at September 30, 2024 12:09 PM (UnA8+)

331 my car insurance has gone up at least $100 per six months the last 4 six month periods, without my using it once (zero claims or incidents)

love this economy
Posted by: bra

Liar! CNN says inflation is long gone.

Posted by: Settled Science at September 30, 2024 12:09 PM (Wsr9E)

332 322 my morning rant:

my car insurance has gone up at least $100 per six months the last 4 six month periods, without my using it once (zero claims or incidents)

love this economy
Posted by: brak
---------
Illegals and uninsured motor coverage is part of it; the other part is the huge jump in auto prices and costs of fixing cars.

Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 12:09 PM (SI97o)

333 and it's being run by retards. Malicious, spiteful retards.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket

That's only behind closed doors (cackle cackle!)! In public I'm wise and joyful! I didn't just fall out of the coconut tree! (Cackle cackle!)

Posted by: Kamala Harris at September 30, 2024 12:10 PM (JCZqz)

334 Gina Raimondo is too busy sticking pins in her Donald Trump voodoo doll

Posted by: Anna Puma at September 30, 2024 12:10 PM (6iIV/)

335 I've heard mixed reviews on Fallout. What they did with Wheel of Time was an abortion.
Posted by: Ribbed

Garbage show. They set up nominally good characters to fail to progress the 'plot.' It's utterly hateful.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at September 30, 2024 12:10 PM (IG4Id)

336 As for Starbucks

Enjoy the Government State you helped to create.

Posted by: Anna Puma at September 30, 2024 12:11 PM (6iIV/)

337 >>> A man's usage: One roll per month.
A woman's usage: One roll every two days.
Posted by: Tonypete at September 30, 2024 12:07 PM (WXNFJ)

Fact. I think they just go in periodically and sacrifice whole rolls to the toilet gods. I don't know how else to explain it.

Posted by: banana Dream at September 30, 2024 12:11 PM (Y6IkP)

338 The gamers can get bent. The buzz by new viewers/non gamers was tremendous. One of the newest/freshest things to come along in years.
Posted by: rickb223 Gold & Silver Spot Prices

Gamers >>> Grifting scammers

Posted by: weft cut-loop at September 30, 2024 12:11 PM (IG4Id)

339 The Boss is up.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at September 30, 2024 12:11 PM (LxER7)

340 Park it in Rhode Island is my advice.
Posted by: Secretariat John von Kerry, Iranian Enthusiast

You can dock it in my port, if you know what I mean. I hope what you pack downstairs matches the face...

Posted by: Pete Buttigieg at September 30, 2024 12:12 PM (JCZqz)

341 That syrupy been on the burner all day consistency is just what the doctor ordered!

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at September 30, 2024 12:04 PM (tT6L1)

My stomach is churning and my heart is burning just thinking about it.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at September 30, 2024 12:12 PM (i24o9)

342 316 True conservatives will still defend sbux because they’re still living in 2003 when corporations are the run by the good guys.
Posted by: Settled Science at September 30, 2024 12:06 PM (Wsr9E

Tax cuts, free trade, legal immigration, blank check for the DoD, on and on. Conservatives are stopped watches.

Posted by: No Help Is Coming at September 30, 2024 12:12 PM (44PAK)

343 First thing I saw on their Web site: "organic, Fair Trade coffee".

Bye.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 30, 2024 12:02 PM (J7hCd)

One of the problems, per a friend, with the burgeoning coffee industry in El Salvador is getting green beans to the US where the market is. If you have a solution to that, or anyone who wants to step in and start shipping, you can have lots and lots of Salvadoran beans here. Lots of which are grown by small growers, mostly organic, and as fair as you can manage it.

Posted by: Kindltot at September 30, 2024 12:12 PM (D7oie)

344 Lock up your daughters and nannies! Emhoff is coming to town!

The Hill
@thehill
Doug Emhoff: Donald Trump vow to protect women "is yet more lies and more gaslighting"

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at September 30, 2024 12:12 PM (L/fGl)

345 I like the close up of the exec's bookshelf, shows what they virtue signal about the most. This also was very revealing during covid when we got to see everyone's bookshelves, artfully crafted or haphazard, in the back of their cameras.

Should I be worried if a therapist for kids has the "she persisted" children's book artfully placed on their shelf? (That's the Chelsea Clinton book grift, the title inspired by the turtle's comments. ) I don't know if that's just standard virtue signaling or something more. At this point, we should be grateful it's not the children's book "the hips on the drag queen go swish swish swish."

Posted by: LizLem at September 30, 2024 12:13 PM (n8aZX)

346 The only shopping mall I’ve seen which is regularly packed just like the old days is a Hispanic themed mall in southern Ft Worth - the Mexicans love it. I go there once in a while if I need something, and I’ve been in Mexico, I’m not bothered by being the only Anglo in the place.

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 30, 2024 12:14 PM (+6sNf)

347 Nood. Thought you should now.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at September 30, 2024 12:14 PM (SJ0+K)

348 313
‘ if a particular chemical were sprayed by crop duster over that mine, in six months the quartz in there would be too contaminated to use. World chip production would grind to a halt.’

I don’t doubt you’re relating that accurately but that sounds like bullshit.. Are they claiming that the crop dust combines with the quartz in a way that can’t be machined away?
This sounds like an argument made so that everyone buying quartz this mine has unique ore.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at September 30, 2024 12:14 PM (jbnUc)

349 Should I be worried if a therapist for kids has the "she persisted" children's book artfully placed on their shelf?

yes -- that is a choice by that therapist and is a tell to their fellow leftists

Posted by: brak at September 30, 2024 12:15 PM (25k9m)

350 Are you okay with the government telling gun companies what they can do (more than they already do)?

There's always more then can do to screw things up and put a boot in your face.

Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 11:15 AM (xCA6C)
==
The best way to stop the government is to show those companies sympathetic to the left would be wise to change their mind before they come under scrutiny themselves. I think this is why the billionaires have split - and the smarter ones realizing that being with the left is great, until they decide it's your turn to take one for the team.

Posted by: Black JEM at September 30, 2024 12:15 PM (GZYu7)

351 Never had a cup of coffee in my life
Posted by: Smell the Glove

Really? Then how are you (1) still alive and (2) sane?
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at September 30, 2024 11:54 AM (v6JzV)

I’ve had one sip of coffee in my life. Did not like. I get my caffeine cold and carbonated and non-sugared (diet)
Posted by: LinusVanPelt

I get my caffeine via tablet of pill. Can't stand the taste of coffee. If it tasted like it smells while brewing, I'd have invented a way to mainline it.
But it doesn't.

Posted by: rickb223 Gold & Silver Spot Prices at September 30, 2024 12:17 PM (sDO9P)

352 I liked the fallout show, but the. I've never played any of the games.

The two main characters, the perky naive girl and the bumbling black guy, had good character progression. (Wait, they didn't start out perfect?!) And zombie Boyd Crowder was just amazing.

Posted by: LizLem at September 30, 2024 12:17 PM (n8aZX)

353 Lunch break, have a song about Buc-ee's by Tim Hawkins:

https://youtu.be/M2LX13I5sUE

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 30, 2024 12:17 PM (O7YUW)

354 One of the problems, per a friend, with the burgeoning coffee industry in El Salvador is getting green beans to the US where the market is. If you have a solution to that, or anyone who wants to step in and start shipping, you can have lots and lots of Salvadoran beans here. Lots of which are grown by small growers, mostly organic, and as fair as you can manage it.

Posted by: Kindltot at September 30, 2024 12:12 PM (D7oie)

It's marketing buzzwords any more. Sadly, for anyone in the biz, that is important to some people, even if 99% of available beans meet that wicket.

By comparison, Caribou mentioned earlier touts "sustainability" and posts their ESG reports front and center.

Posted by: 1940s Washington Post at September 30, 2024 12:17 PM (i24o9)

355 Out of curiosity, do you have any insight into Georgeism?
The single tax proposal into property taxing.
Posted by: Kindltot
==========
Dammit Kindltot, you took me back to trying to remember my history of economic thought classes as an undergrad. Vaguely remembered Henry George and the land tax idea but little more than that. After a quick refresher, Henry was like a lot of ideologues, figuring one neat trick would resolve problems while ignoring what additional problems it would cause.

Generally speaking, property tax is a wealth tax because it taxes an asset regardless of the ability to pay. It is useful for local (and for state governments that do it) as a reliable source of revenue that is relatively slow to react to changing economic conditions. On the other hand, it can be explicitly unfair in application (favored interests get lesser tax rates) and in ignoring ability to pay which penalizes poorer property owners.

There is a sad story in In God We Trust, All Other Pay Cash by Jean Shepard (A Christmas Story was the movie from part of the book) about personal property tax on residents during the Depression. Sad stuff.

Posted by: whig at September 30, 2024 12:18 PM (SI97o)

356
The modern economy rests on a single road in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The road runs to the two mines that is the sole supplier of the quartz required to make the crucibles needed to refine silicon wafers.

____________

I'd certainly read that with a certain skepticism.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 30, 2024 12:24 PM (IFuph)

357 351 Never had a cup of coffee in my life
Posted by: Smell the Glove

(...) Can't stand the taste of coffee. If it tasted like it smells while brewing, I'd have invented a way to mainline it. But it doesn't.

Posted by: rickb223 Gold & Silver Spot Prices at September 30, 2024 12:17 PM (sDO9P)

This. I've had exactly one cup in my 29+ years, and that was only after I added enough milk and chocolate to make it slightly coffee flavored chocolate milk. The aroma is false advertising.

Posted by: goozer at September 30, 2024 12:28 PM (aWAkn)

358 The modern economy rests on a single road in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The road runs to the two mines that is the sole supplier of the quartz required to make the crucibles needed to refine silicon wafers.

There are no alternative sources known.

The modern economy is 100 plates kept spinning on sticks.
Posted by: Archimedes at September 30, 2024 12:01 PM (xCA6C)

Quartz of great purity is found all over the world. The reason there are no alternative sources is that the current supplier has a contracted market.

This sort of thing happens a lot with mineral resources that have a niche market.

Quartz for radio crystals used to all come from Brazil.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 30, 2024 12:32 PM (OwAOz)

359 277 146 Futurama >>>>>>> The Simpsons
Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at September 30, 2024 11:32 AM (LxER7)

That may have been true once...but the latest season just completed on Hulu was just awful. There were very few moments (note: not episodes) that remotely approached even their middling episodes from the original run.
Posted by: goozer at September 30, 2024 11:56 AM (aWAkn)

Yeah, this season was the worst.

I don't think I laughed once.

It's like this whole season was written by one senile comic from the 1950s, three autistic guys, and Kamala Harris.

Awful crap. Just let it die already.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 30, 2024 12:32 PM (eDfFs)

360 And to tie in the coffee tawlk to the 'toon tawlk...here's a clip from this season's Futurama, "Planet Espresso":

https://t.ly/90xUz

Spoiler alert: Starbucks is an alien slavery racket.

Posted by: goozer at September 30, 2024 12:34 PM (aWAkn)

361 Keep bashin' 'em, Buck!
I spent SO much $$$ at Bux. And got quite the addiction to it. And then Bux went Woke so I got outta there.

Posted by: m at September 30, 2024 01:58 PM (VnUSN)

362 They should be careful about making the stupid kind of Blunder Ben & Jerry did last year with their THIS IS STOLEN LAND Campaign

Posted by: Tamaa the Drongo Bird at September 30, 2024 04:55 PM (wGqjj)

363 "and if unionization is a weapon to destroy this cancerous corporation, then good for the union."

Nope. Never. I don't care how bad a company is, never, ever, ever take the side of the collectivist thugs in a union.

Posted by: Bea Arthur's Dick at September 30, 2024 06:14 PM (Qt4kF)

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