Baby-sized bags must be inspected

The Orlando Sentinel wrote an article about... baby sized bags. Whu?

"Anyone wanting to visit a newborn at the hospital where a 1-day-old baby was abducted last month must now sign in, get a hospital-issued photo badge and have all baby-sized bags and packages inspected when they leave."

I think stores should place warning on luggage so that we are aware which bags are officially "baby-sized" so prospective parents and those who look like baby-thieves won't make a sack-related mistake. There'd be checked-size, carry on-size and baby-size. A color coded system would make this easier. Read the entire article

Barista: Latte and a Quarter Pounder to go please?

I wrote a post about Starbucks vs McDonalds then sent the link to a Barista friend for their thoughts. They start by describing watching that 3-hour video tape. I think they offer some excellent insider views.

Latte and a Quarter Pounder to go please?
by Anonymous Barista

3 hours...to learn again. Focus: The perfect espresso shot, the perfectly steamed pitcher of milk, and "legendary" customer service. It sounds great. It was great. Personal, in-depth, uplifting. Everything Starbucks is and is striving to become
again.

While I think it was a good experience. I don't think it will drastically make changes company wide. There is just to much room for variance.

Ohhh but changes we shall have. In my heart I would like to think that the changes we
see in Bucksland were not in fear of direct competition from the McLatte. In my heart I would like to think that they don't stand a chance against Starbucks, what with our
great atmosphere, great (mostly) partners, and quality beverages we will not see any decline in customers. In my heart I would like to think that Starbucks is and always will be the McChampion.

But...my heart tells me that I think wrong. Subtle changes are being made, and it's not making the news. You will notice. Colors will change. Wages will be challenged. Rumor is MCLatte will be offering a dollar more per hour in my neck of the woods for "previously trained" Baristas.

I think it is a whole new world for Starbucks corporation and no one is really sure what to do about. They are all sitting around a table pondering, what's next? what can we do?

Cheaper, easier to acquire, novel. That is what McLatte has. Starbucks is old news to a lot of people. And when Mr. Triple Venti Vanilla Latte crams his gas guzzling Dodge Ram in for a quick biscuit and finds that the latte is just as good and a dollar and a half cheaper, he's sold. Now, when the kiddies want to play in the fungus slides while chompin' on some nugs, he can sip his latte and surf Men's Health...all without blinking an eye.

Starbucks..bah...it's just that place where the college kids do their homework now. It's gotten dirtier, what with the cut in labor due to less customers. It's not as tempting.

I love my job and hope in the future that I get to keep it. We have excellent customers and excellent partners.

We just need to find a new "excellent" to sell.

Photo Credit: Neurosciencemarketing.com

slideshow: Livingston, Montana and Chadz Cafe

Livingston, Montana (11-1-07)

Chadz Cafe (Livingston, Montanta)
If you are ever in want of a cool coffeeshop with old couches, wacky decor and a friendly staff, please go to Chadz Cafe in Livingston. This place would be a sister cafe to Orlando's Communitiea and Pom Pom's. It is awesome and eclectic and fun.

Two women came up to us while we were eating and...
-told us our fortunes based on our astrological signs
-showed us their paintings
-brought over 3 different pamplets about the artist's work and bio and wacky made-up reviews
-discussed how awesome Livingston was

I asked the guy behind the counter if they had a website, and he said no. Weird. I guess maybe he doesn't need one, since it's a small town and the shop is so cool it would be hard for word not to spread. I guess.