"Shame, eternal shame, nothing but shame."

The French are engaging in public flogging.

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I’m traveling today, so I’m thinking a lot about airports. I’ve always wished that airports were more fun- like, there could be a climbing wall, or a slide or something (actually, I saw a slide installed at an airport in Europe as part of a guerrilla marketing campaign, so there’s hope!). But today I’ve been thinking more about how they can be greener. We all know that airplane travel is one of the most impactful things that someone can do on the Earth, that it is a gigantic part of your carbon footprint- like this is the arch, and everything else you do is the toes. But there are countless ways to make the act of flying greener without waiting around for bio- to make it into jet fuel. Here are a few thoughts:

ON THE PLANE:

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I could tell today was going to be a lovely day, so I packed it up and headed to Starbucks for my first Frappuccino of the season.  I was excited about the nice weather (72 and sunny, does it get any better?) and eager to try the newly overhauled Frappuccino.


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I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical about the Doubleshot energy drink.  I imagined it being something like that wretched coffee flavored cola they came out with a few years ago, Coke Black.  OH GOD IT WAS AWFUL.  It was literally Coke with the flavor of coffee added.  VERY BAD.


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You know I love a bargain.  (I'm not cheap; I'm THRIFTY.)  Unfortunately I also love good coffee.  And sadly, good coffee is usually pretty expensive!  Here's a run-down on some of my bargain coffee experiences over the last few years.


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Starbucks recently announced that they will be pushing their Via instant coffee out to grocery stores and other retail outlets.  Prepare for the Via onslaught, people!

Now a lot of people like to hate on Starbucks just for being Starbucks.  That's fine.  It's like a political position.  I can hardly blame someone for taking a stand on something.  And if you are fortunate enough to live near a small local espresso house, then you should count yourself lucky.


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Today I bring you the tales of coffee at two remarkably distinct price points.  The first is FREE COFFEE yes that's right FREE at Starbucks on April 15th if you bring a reusable cup.

This is apparently NOT a tie in with the American tax day deadline.  Even though lots of other places are offering free stuff on the 15th.  (Dunkin Donuts offers free doughnuts, and if you're clever and geographically lucky I guess you can score an entire breakfast this way.)  


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The Heatswell In ActionVia the outstanding coffee news website Sprudge.com comes this hypnotic and also creepy video of a breakthrough in scientific coffee sleeve technology.

As you can see from the video, the clever inventors of the Heatswell cup have found a way to attach a thin layer of substance (plastic? Polymer?) to a disposable paper coffee cup.  When the cup is heated (as when you pour coffee into it) the layer self-inflates.  It's a cup and a cup sleeve all in one!  Except icky and weird, and oddly bumpy.


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Making money requires each person on this earth to do something that he or she wouldn’t normally do. In working through school – more than one degree doesn’t always help, just sayin’ – I found myself awash in a sea of corporate shenanigans. Of course, I had a choice to work at Starbucks or any number of other places. But the allure of health care was, of course, pretty enticing. Was it worth it? Nope. But that doesn’t mean I worked all that hard. It just means that I was endlessly aggravated by the spate of semi-daft co-workers that came and went over time.

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Hand Over The Mocha And No One Gets HurtStarbucks is getting put in an awkward position by handgun enthusiasts, even though the nation's biggest coffee chain is trying its hardest to remain neutral.  In late February, the "Open Carry Movement" began encouraging people in so-called "open carry" states to wear their handguns everywhere - including Starbucks.

In an "open carry" state, you can carry a handgun, as long as it is prominently displayed.  In some states, the gun must be unloaded (although you can carry the ammunition in your pocket, ready to load).  The "Open Carry Movement" has been encouraging people to use their right to bear arms to the fullest, and has been encouraging people to wear handguns anywhere they can.


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