So fellow turncoat Democrat (hey, we just don't believe in deceptive memes, bubba) Kaus points me to author Ron Rosenbaum's piece over at Pajamas, where he actually gives some damn good advice to Obama (not as good as mine, I'll argue). But then Rosenbaum goes on to slag Starbucks in the post just below.
Now, I've never drunk a cup of coffee in - well, a long time. I'd sip them when I was younger and dating and dates would suggest that the only reason why I didn't like coffee was because I hadn't tasted theirs - which always seemed like an invitation to an early breakfast, if you know what I mean.
Coffee sucks. Fully. Mark Helprin got it right in his great book 'Memoirs From An Ant-Proof Case'.
But, strangely, Starbucks does not suck.
What, you might ask, does a non-coffee-drinker see in Starbucks? And I'll tell you. Go to the counter and order this: Nonfat cocoa, no vanilla, no whip. Just that: pure, hot, almost bitter chocolate. Damn, it's good. As far as I'm concerned the markets are investing hundreds of millions and people are drinking mediocre coffee just so I can get my hot chocolate.
And I see absolutely nothing wrong with that.