I like Starbucks. I think it has a civilizing effect on a small town like Dallas. It makes people more conscious of little things like quality of ingredients and the art of discerning good-from-bad and an overall attention to detail that serves one well in life. Some people have said I'm a bit of a Starbucks "nut".

Unfortunately, sometime between 1985, when I first started being a Starbucks "nut", and now, much of the free world has decided that it also likes Starbucks. Media people, especially the nitwitty, pile-on kind, love-love-LOVE writing about Starbucks. And Starbucks manipulates those people with clever campaigns.

This is a long, and ok cranky, way of saying that, yes, I know about the free coffee being handed out at Starbucks on Thursday. Just this morning, I've received four emails telling me the big news. Thank you for letting me know. Thanks for sharing the news about the free coffee being handed out at Starbucks on Thursday. Hey, psst -- Starbucks is handing out free coffee on Thursday. Just thought you'd like to know.