Starbucks v. Doubleshot Coffee Co.

I'm not sure if you all have heard about this. I know some of you don't like going into the store (problems with the owner). But that doesn't change the fact that they have the absolute best coffee in Tulsa, and maybe even the world. This whole situation (read on) makes me so angry. They won't stop until they put every single independent coffee house out of business.

This is a copy of the email that I recieved from Brian on Tuesday...

It's true. I received a letter last week informing me that I am infringing on a trademark that Starbucks has had since 2001, "Starbuck's Doubleshot." The lawyers advised me to cease using the DoubleShot Coffee Company name, to shut down my website (http://www.DoubleShotCoffee.com), and to destroy everything I have which bears the "DoubleShot" name. Come read the letter yourself-- it's framed and hanging on the wall, over the garbage can.

At first I frowned, then I smiled, then I laughed, then I experienced a little anger and fear, and then I went back to vengeance and irritable laughter. As you know, I don't take kindly to people telling me what to do. After briefly discussing the matter with my lawyer, and a gaggle of other lawyers who regularly patronize DoubleShot (my DoubleShot, not the can at the gas station), I don't think Starbucks has a leg to stand on. Doubleshot is a generic industry term for two shots of espresso. They have no exclusive rights to it. But they will try to scare me and lawyer me out of business if we give them the opportunity.

So today, as a legal clarification, I would like everyone to know that we are not Starbuck's Doubleshot. If we tricked you into coming in here, thinking you could get a can of Starbuck's DoubleShot here, please let me know. And if you thought that $2 Tuesday was a sale on Starbuck's Doubleshot, I vehemently apologize for the confusion and ask you to please not come in here anymore because stupid people annoy me.

On the other hand, if you are brilliant enough to seek out a pound of fresh-roasted DoubleShot coffee, you will be rewarded today. Come in anytime today for $2 Tuesday, and receive a $2 discount on every pound of oh-so-tasty-coffee you purchase.

We don't have any cans of Starbuck's Doubleshot here, but we do have the freshest coffee on the planet!

Please tell as many people as you can about this outrageous Starbucks chicanery. We figure that the more publicity and public indignation we stir up, the better chance we will have at standing up against this evil corporate empire.

There is also a podcast.
http://www.DoubleShotCoffee.com/aacafe or on iTunes (search for "AA Cafe" in the music store).

Vanessa's bday

This is a tad old (December), but an interesting video. Precraziness.

Movie Test

Thought I'd see if this works, this is a video my dad shot in NYC back in October.

The Gossip

Originally from Searcy, AR, this punk-pop teenage trio moved to Olympia, WA, joining the roster of the indie rock label K Records. Nathan, Kathy, and Beth are highly visible due to their exposure in magazines like Out and The Advocate, where they became icons in the gay and lesbian indie rock community. They have toured with the White Stripes and Sleater Kinney.

Their new album, Standing in the Way of Control, is fantastic. I think Todd said it best when he said "They're everything I wish The Kills were." The whole album is awesome, my favorites on this album are Fire with Fire, Standing in the Way of Control, and Yr Mangled Heart.

Vault 49 in Tulsa

We had a great time hosting Vault 49 in Tulsa on Tuesday for Art Directors. John and Johnathan, originally from London, are designers that moved to NYC a few years ago. We had a really good group of people come to the lecture (about 80) and everyone seemed to have a good time. A bunch of people met up with us at Kilkennys afterward. We stayed out till 2am or so. You can see photos at flickr. Also their website has some of their facinating work, including their clothing line, go to www.vault49.com.