Posted on July 24, 2008 at 5:33 p.m.

If all the Starbucks' store closures were genuinely a practical measure to lighten the Starbucks mothership of some deadweight to keep her afloat, I'd grab some ballast and heave-ho.

In "A Message from Howard" posted on the Starbucks web site on July 8, Schultz said the 600 closing stores were underperforming. "Poor real estate decisions that were made, coupled with a very troubled economy, convinced us that these stores would not reach acceptable levels of profitability." Every statement from Starbucks -- then and since -- has tried to leave the impression that a clever Scientific Formula had been devised to determine which stores would get the axe. More and more, that formula resembles one of Baldrick's "cunning plans" from the BlackAdder series.

One begins to detect that Starbucks' cull has more politics and less real financial formulae to it. Spurred -- and spurred hard -- by Starbucks aficionados who have organised to protest the closing of particular stores, "Schultz's List" is drawing closer examination by business owners, civic leaders, sanguine business journalists and bloggers, and it appears not all the stores on the Starbucks Kill List can be neatly lumped into the "underperforming" pigeonhole. Nor are they the scion of recent careless real estate acquisitions. (For more on this, check these: http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07... - and - http://blog.myspace.com/blackjack4fun "Strange Brew...")

Uncomfortably, Schultz's decisions since his return to the helm remind me more of a get-action-fast zealot out to prove "I told you so!" rather than the well-informed, carefully considered decisions of a good business leader.

On Starbucks releases full list of 600 store closures, including 29 in Dallas-Fort Worth area

Posted on May 9, 2008 at 8:18 p.m.

Usually there is much to praise and little to criticise about Pegasus News, however, I admit to being uncomfortable with the "humour" of the photograph and theme "Pegasus News banner stolen by terrorists...". Can't explain in detail why, but the depiction is a matter of misplaced humour. Meanwhile, on to other things: Addison Taste is a superb event, but I'm curious about the photo selection on your front page -- your selection or theirs? Somehow, chili on an ace bandage isn't the first editorial choice I'd make.

On Pegasus News banner stolen by terrorists exclamation point

Posted on March 20, 2008 at 10:20 p.m.

Discovered this theatre while staying at a nearby hotel. It IS fun, more diversity of film, people, and ambience than other cinematic adventures in Dallas on previous occasions. Someone -- either the theatre's promoters or Pegasus staff -- needs a nudge to post a banner and additional info. Additionally, several enjoyable non-chain cafes and restaurants nearby to round off an evening and sustain one's theme (Indian, Chinese, etc.).

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