An American corporation is getting what it deserves. A wound in the gut and I think we should all watch it bleed. I know that is grotesque but frankly I don’t care and I’m loving every minute of it. mwhahahaha! Read here via drudge
Starbucks Corp. announced Tuesday it will close 600 company-operated stores…Starbucks is closing 19 percent of all U.S. company-operated stores that opened in thelast two years…In total, the company forecast up to $348 million in charges related to the closures, $200 million to be booked in the fiscal third quarter ended June 30…The 500 more that will be closed had been on an internal watch list for some time. They were not profitable, not expected to be profitable in the foreseeable future, and the “vast majority” had been opened near an existing company-operated Starbucks,
This is where the logic of corporate America boggles me. Just like an addict that takes meth until his dying day, corporations consume everything is their paths with the single desire for growth despite an undesirable future.
Bocian said that between 25 and 30 percent of a Starbucks shop’s revenue is cannibalized when a new store opens nearby, and that the closures should help return some of that revenue to the remaining stores.
Market saturation does not equal profitability but often the beast that is a corporation doesn’t posses the wisdom to realize this. There are times when the best business plan that is the most sustainable and in the best interest for a corporation (including a church, or a food system, just thought I’d mention those because I feel strongly about those too) is a plan of non growth.
Just think about it. 600 stores that were not profitable because the vast majority of them had “opened near existing company operated Starbucks“. Starbucks is taking business away from itself. Genius! Think how many profitable locally owned coffeeshops that are sustainable and an important part of a community are closed when a Starbucks comes in town. They are devouring the locals and themselves. Cannibalism, makes you sick and spreads disease. Like I side they get what they deserve. 600 out of however many stores they operate is likely not that many but the reality of the money lost, lifes affected, businesses affected and just all the work that meant nothing is pretty sick. Want to open a coffee shop now?
While I was away on a mission trip to Croc Mexico it was unfortunate that I missed the Ride for Rachel House. Morées dad (father in law) is one of the primary organizers of the event. (You can see pictures from last year here.) He works really hard to make this thing happen for the past couple of years and I imagine will do so for many to come. Even though I wasn’t at the ride Morée and the kids were there on my behalf. Somehow amongst the chaos Oliver had a photo shoot and ended up on the cover of the Tribune. As you can see he enjoys riding the cherry red motorcycle but the look on face tells you its serious business.
Recently a friend sent me some mp3s of Dr. Bruce Ware discussing The Sovereignty of God. These thoughts were insightful and easily applicable so I thought I’d share them.
We always choose to do what we most want to do(its human nature to most always look out for self). Your “want to dos” never match up with what God wants you to do. You have to change “your want to dos” to His. We have to have our “most want to dos” transformed. We act not what we know, (an addict knows better) we act out what we have the strongest affection for. We need to develop new appetites and taste for what God wants us to do. Its called His Will.
Reading our bibles, evangelize our neighbors…we might not “want” to do these things all the time but this is the Kingdom way, the new story, the good news.
We have to pray that God gives us hearts that we would long to do what God wills us to do. Love what God loves, hate what God hates.
Dr. Ware is very reformed baptist yet I found Brian Mclarens comments on repentance below to go in stride with Dr. Wares.
Repent - Realize that our entire way of seeing things is wrong. Stop believing the other stories(religions, patterns of the world) there is another story going on. Jesus said I’ve got better news, a better story.
Ceaser made peace by shedding other peoples blood…Jesus made peace by shedding his own blood. Christians are to be living in this story.
These thoughts ring true for me not only spiritually but for any area of life. You could easily use these thoughts as motivation not only for “churchy purposes”(read your bible) but also for practical purposes getting out of debt, eating healthier… I personally think those are spiritual too but for the sake of those that haven’t made that connection yet I stated them as separate.
Ok so I have upgraded to the latest wordpress release. My old theme is still having problems so it looks like we’ll have to use this black and white job until I can troubleshoot further. At least the content wasn’t destroyed and it appears to all be in tact.
Just got back from Croc Mexico. It will be a couple days before I get to blog anything about it. Until then enjoy this slide show.
For those of you visiting here for the first time please be patient with me as this blog has been hacked. If you get an error about a script just click the “stop script”. Hopefully I’ll get a new install going soon but with two kids and one on the way ..its not always easy to find time for stuff like this.
David Glass confesses his sins. Don’t be confused he hasn’t committed adultery or something like that he is talking about baseball so its much more spiritual. There is a good chance this isn’t real. If it isn’t real then it is hysterical. If it is real then its exactly what needed to happen …either way. Somebody ripped him a new one. Now we truly have a reason to be optimistic. Today I am a happy Royals fan. Lets go Royals Lets GO!
Here are some of my highlights.
I’ve been in charge of the Royals for almost 15 years. There hasn’t been a lot to cheer about in that time. A once-proud organization has become a source of nearly constant frustration and disappointment….
Latin America is, of course, rich with talented baseball players. Latin America was also the responsibility of my son Dan, who worked in player personnel before he became club president. In his team bio, my son takes “credit” for the coordination and development of the Royals’ Latin American program.
…But fixing the franchise will take time. After all, I gave real management duties to my son, who worked in the jewelry business before I brought him out to Kauffman Stadium….First, the Royals will no longer be a Glass family project. Dan will no longer serve as the team’s president. I am also removing my wife, Ruth, and children Don and Dayna from the board of directors board of directors. I love my family, but it has become obvious that this corporate structure does not work and hurts our credibility.
I’m also going to stop lying. I’ve forcefully denied that my son and I have interfered in the baseball side of things by rejecting trades and the like. But I wasn’t telling the truth. For instance, we walked away from several opportunities to trade the expensive and often-hobbled Mike Sweeney.
Finally, I promise to continue to try to improve public relations.
PR has never been a skill of mine. When I was at Wal-Mart, we ran a “Buy American” campaign. Trouble was, children in Southeast Asia made some of the clothes that we sold. Confronted with the evidence by Dateline NBC, I looked like a buffoon.
Again, fans, I’m sorry the Royals squandered your adoration and your money. I’m sorry that I acted like an imperious creep all these years. You can take the man out of Wal-Mart, but it’s hard to take Wal-Mart out of the man, I guess.
Now I’m going to find a jewelry store for my boy to run.
I used to think twitter was for web junkies but after watching this video I can see the benefit of using it as a miniblog. Some things that can develop into bigger conversation pieces or connect people don’t always merit a full email or blog post. hmm Good point.
Galatians 5:13-15
13For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
1 John 3:17-18
17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
John 13:34-35
34″A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
An American corporation is getting what it deserves. A wound in the gut and I think we should all watch it bleed. I know that is grotesque but frankly I don’t care and I’m loving every minute of it. mwhahahaha! Read here via drudge
..its not always easy to find time for stuff like this.
David Glass