March 13th Becomes First National Coffee Party Movement Day

Accidentally started by documentary filmmaker Annabel Park, the Coffee Party movement faces its first test today:  newly-formed Coffee Party chapters are meeting all across the country.  Formed out of frustration over what some call the extreme views of the Tea Party movement, and even racism, the Coffee Party movement started with a rant on her Facebook page by Park.

Several weeks ago, Park posted the following on Facebook:

"Let's start a coffee party — a Red Bull party — anything but tea. Let's get together and drink cappuccino and have real political dialogue with substance and compassion."

After Park was swamped by responses agreeing with her, that the Tea Party movement did not represent their of America, things snowballed.  The official Coffee Party movement Facebook group has swelled to over 130,000 fans.   They also have an official website. Interestingly, despite being founded in March of 2009, as opposed to weeks ago, the Tea Party facebook group has only 110,000 fans.

Saturday, local Coffee Party movement organizers will hold more than 350 meetings for the Coffee Party National Kick Off. Meetings will take place in almost every state, with national organizers encouraging groups of no more than eight people at a local (where else) coffee shop.

The Coffee Party movement declares the following on its Facebook page:

"We want jobs with decent pay for all Americans. We want affordable health care and education. We want our government to cut wasteful spending and practice fiscal discipline. We want regulation of Wall Street to protect consumers and promotion of financial literacy."

It also states the following in a message to Congress:

"You work for us, not for corporations. We hired you and we get to fire you. We pay you and give you great health insurance. Now get to work serving the interests of the American people, or get out."

The Coffee Party movement, like the Tea Party movement, believes that government does not represent them.  Unlike the Tea Party, however, the Coffee Party wants to change it so that government does represent them.  Meanwhile, the Tea Party wants government to go away.

It is clear, therefore, that the Tea Parties have not taken an example from Denmark.  For years (2007, 2008, late 2009) Denmark has been called the "happiest place on earth."

University of Copenhagen Sociologist Peter Glindelock described part of the reason for the happiness in Denmark is, in fact, big government. He has conducted many studies on this issue.

Glindelock says part of the reason is the country's social system. "The happiness standard is the quality of life in different societies. And Denmark scores very highly on all those different values. So even though the climate is poor, which is part of that analysis, it still shows that the welfare state is very important for people's happiness."

In Denmark, the state controls the health, educational, and other systems, and the Danes are willing to pay high taxes to support them. "And this kind of welfare state means that everybody gets more or less the same from the state," said Glindelock. "At least what the Danes like, they like an egalitarian society."

Watch a video from the Coffee Party Movement's website:

Starbucks Embroiled In Aztec Image Use Issue With Mexico

Starbucks has pulled a mug from its retail stores after a claim by Mexico that the coffee company has violated its intellectual property rights. The claim is for a line of coffee mugs showing pre-Hispanic images.

The mugs contained images of the Aztec calendar and a pyramid from pre-Aztec ruins near Mexico City. They have since been removed from shop shelves.

Meanwhile, Starbucks says it is working with Mexico to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. The government archaeological agency said Wednesday it will decide by next week whether Starbucks will be required to pay any fees.

Starbucks itself said it feels the supplier of the mugs did due diligence in this matter. The company reported tried to get necessary permits, but never received a response.

It's National Coffee Day; Drink Up

Today is National Coffee Day (though most probably believe that day is every day). So how does Starbucks celebrate it? With a free cup of java? Nope. They launched their instant coffee today.

Seriously, though, it's nearly eight months after Starbucks began selling its Via instant coffee in Seattle and Chicago. On National Coffee Day, the company will begin offering it to nationally as well as in its Canadian stores.

Realistically, Starbucks is facing much competition as people turn to cheaper brews in this time of recession. After all, the name Starbucks, which used to draw people in for more price beverages, isn't enough when companies like McDonald's have their own coffee, which, to be honest, is quite good.

While Starbucks has seen its revenue slide for the last three consecutive quarters, McDonald's has even started serving espresso, cappuccino, and other drinks. Dunkin' Donuts has its fans as well. Starbucks may see 2009's National Coffee Day as a chance to intensify the battle.

In terms of National Coffee Day freebies, here are a few we know of:

• At Panera Bread, buy any size of drip coffee, say “Pay it Forward” and you get a second cup for free to give to a friend.

• Even better, in New England, McDonald's has been leading up to National Coffee Day by giving away free cups of their new regional coffee, Newman's Own Organics, for the last month. This will continue through the end of the month, and Nell Newman, president of Newman’s Own Organics: The Second Generation and daughter of late actor Paul Newman and actress Joanne Woodward will visit a restaurant in South Attleboro at 444 Washington St.

There are likely to be many local offers as well. Do any of you readers know of any? At any rate, drink up!

Grab N Go Espresso Bikini Baristas Face Prostitution Charges

Five Washington state Grab N Go baristas, who normally wear bikinis while preparing coffee, have been charged with prostitution. Apparently they failed to realize that the "grab" part of the name did not apply to grabbing body parts.

The Grab N Go Espresso location is in Everett, WA. The charges are a result of a two-month undercover police investigation in which police found the women were charging for things besides coffee.

The Grab N Go Espresso baristas, aged 18 - 24, were charging up to $80 for things such as stripteases, licking whipped cream off of each other and also allow customers to touch their naked breast and butts.

While not what I might consider prostitution (ahem), that last behavior falls under the city's prostitution ordinance. Of course, Bill Wheeler, the owner of the Grab N Go Espresso stand, denied their behavior.

Additionally, since the crimes are misdemeanors, the Grab N Go Espresso baristas have not been arrested. They are expected to have their day in court in the next few weeks, however.