What’s in a name, or soul?
Published 12:01 am Monday, January 17, 2011
Let’s start the week easy, with some cotton candy opinions:
•“Howard Schultz writes second book about Starbucks coffee business”: The book, to be published in March, i
s modestly titled, “Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul.” Isn’t that a bit like the overconfident people on online dating sites who declare themselves “classy” or “witty”? Whatever happened to showing, not telling?
“15th Avenue Coffee & Tea returning to Starbucks branding”: This was an experiment by the soulful corporation to revamp a store that was going to be closed on Capitol Hill in Seattle and turn it into a rustic, eco-friendly shop that was called “15th Avenue Coffee and Tea” in an effort to be a more “authentic” neighborhood cafe. Belatedly realizing that Starbucks was originally an “authentic” coffee shop, the powers that be have decided to return to that name.
“Starbucks logo change: No name. More mermaid”: Meanwhile, as Soulbucks returns the “Starbucks” name to the 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea shop, it decided to take “Starbucks Coffee” off its famous logo. Business pundits say this will help the company in its worldwide expansion, with its most recent sights on India. Somehow, moving further away from the company’s original 1971 logo is just part of the company’s ongoing soul reclamation.
“New dog-sized dinosaur discovered”: Researchers discovered the small-dog sized skeleton, dating back 230 million years, in Argentina. Scientists are calling it “eodromaeus” or “dawn runner.” The rest of us Fred Flintstones are calling it by its proper name: Dino.
“Former Sonic Shawn Kemp opens Queen Anne restaurant and bar”: We’ll just assume the establishment is being advertised as super duper family friendly. Bring all your children.
“All Nuclear Sludge Chew Bars recalled over lead content fears”: Apparently because the name alone wasn’t enough to keep people from eating them.
“Facebook changes its lobbying status in Washington”: Call us sentimental, but the entire operation has lost some of its charm as it morphed from college students socalizing online to yet another powerful, gazillionaire lobbying group in D.C. demanding things be done its way. (All without ever changing its logo.)
“Could ‘Smell-O-Vision’ be the next 3D?”: The ScentScape digital scent delivery system, which plugs into your computer’s USB port, pumps scents into the air synchronized with video, SeattlePI.com reported.
The contraption comes with comes with scent cartridges that hold 20 standard odors, but has potential for customized smells. Oh, boy. (Nothing sells like the lyrical phrase “customized smells.”) Who wouldn’t want to watch, say, “Hoarders” without a smell-track, for the true authentic experience?
