Starbucks! My Life!

LOS ANGELES, Sept 18 - Starbucks Corp <SBUX.O> on Thursday said its 300-plus cafes in mainland China have pulled milk supplied by Mengniu Dairy <2319.HK>, one of the companies whose product has tested positive for melamine contamination.

Starbucks said that no employees or customers were sickened by the milk.

In a statement, Starbucks said it removed the milk from supplies voluntarily after it learned that Mengniu had confirmed that certain lots of its liquid milk were tainted.

“Though we believe based on assurances from the supplier that the milk we received from Mengniu is not included in the contaminated lot, due to the serious nature of this warning, Starbucks has voluntarily pulled all Mengniu milk offerings until further notice,” Starbucks said.

Four children in China have died and more than 6,000 have become ill with kidney stones after drinking milk laced with the toxin melamine. Among the children reported ill, more than 100 are suffering from acute kidney failure.

Melamine is rich in nitrogen, which is used to measure protein, and can be used to disguise diluted milk. It can cause kidney stones and other organ problems.

Starbucks said it continues to work closely with Mengniu to further confirm that the milk it supplied to the company was not affected. The company said it is working to find alternate milk suppliers until the issue is resolved.

BEIJING (AFP) - Starbucks stopped serving drinks with milk in many Chinese outlets Friday as a crisis over poisoned dairy products that have left four babies dead and thousands of others sick spiralled.

The move by the US coffee chain came amid a government-ordered mass recall of dairy products after an industrial chemical, initially reported to be only in milk powder, was also detected in regular milk, yoghurt and ice cream.

Supermarket shelves across the country were emptied of many products made by Chinese dairy giants Mengniu, Yili and Guangming after the government said the chemical melamine had been discovered in some of their regular milk.

Singapore, meanwhile, said it was suspending the import and sale of all milk and milk products from China after melamine was detected, as the latest in a string of scandals to hit the “Made in China” label snowballed.

Singapore removed Yili brand iced yoghurt and Dutch Lady strawberry flavoured milk from shelves after testing found the chemical in some samples, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore said late Friday.

“As a precautionary measure, AVA is also suspending the import and sale of all milk and milk products from China with immediate effect,” it said.

Mengniu is one of the main suppliers for Starbucks, leading to two-thirds of the chain’s 330 outlets in mainland China to stop serving drinks with milk.

“Though the milk we received from Mengniu is not included in the contaminated lots, due to the serious nature of this warning, Starbucks pulled all Mengniu milk offerings until further notice,” the Seattle-based company said in a statement.

“The safety of our customers and partners (employees) is of utmost importance.” At some Starbucks outlets in Beijing, customers were told only black coffee and tea was being served on Friday.

The Chinese government agency in charge of product quality supervision on Friday issued detailed findings from a comprehensive national check, showing 24 of the 295 batches it tested from the three dairy brands were contaminated.

“The manufacturers should of their own accord recall all products where melamine has been detected,” the agency said on its website.

Officials at the firms could not be reached for comment.

The recall came after the government announced on Wednesday that baby milk powder from 22 dairy companies contained traces of melamine, leading to the deaths of four babies and sickening more than 6,200 others.

Symptoms have included kidney stones, failure to pass urine as well as vomiting, although there have been no reports of adults suffering such problems from drinking tainted milk.

Melamine is normally used to make plastics but it can also make milk and other products appear to have a higher protein content than they actually do.

It has become apparent in recent days that people in China have been deliberately watering down the milk to cut costs, then adding in the melamine to boost the protein content and make the product look normal.

Some Chinese press reports said the scam had been going on for years, with China’s chaotic and corrupt food safety system unable either to detect or prevent it.

Starbucks customer Cathy Wang called for the government to take the toughest action possible against those responsible.

“The criminals deserve to be sentenced to death and there should be a public trial. They are more evil than murderers,” said Wang, a jewellery retailer, as she sipped a cup of black tea in a Beijing Starbucks outlet.

At a Beijing supermarket, Cui Hongchun, 36, expressed concern and fury over previously buying milk for his eight-year-old son from one of the suspect brands.

“I’m very worried about the milk we bought because it claimed to contain high levels of protein,” he said. “I will sue them if the milk causes any problems for my boy.”

After a meeting late Friday, China’s State Council or cabinet issued a circular urging all-out effort to stem the crisis, including more checks on the dairy industry and free medical treatment for sick babies, and vowed to find those responsible, Xinhua news agency said.

The government has already announced the arrest of 18 people for their roles in allegedly providing the melamine or mixing it into milk.

Since this Starbucks account have lots of fans it is really prone to hackers. they use this account to advertise their hacking services. So if you read in the bulletin or in our profile or if you get messages like teaching you how to hack other friendster accounts in return for an amount please ignore it. Its not coming from us but from a hacker. Hope friendster would do something to prevent this. I think friendster’s security level is really poor. So if this keeps on happening we wouldn’t have any other choice but to delete this account and not have a fan profile for Starbucks here on friendster.

God bless everyone.

Plenty of health benefits are brewing in America’s beloved beverage.

Want a drug that could lower your risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s
disease, and colon cancer? That could lift your mood and treat headaches? That
could lower your risk of cavities?

If it sounds too good to be true, think again.

Coffee, the much maligned but undoubtedly beloved beverage,
just made headlines for possibly cutting the risk of the latest disease
epidemic, type 2 diabetes. And the real news seems to be that the more you
drink, the better.

Reducing Disease Risk

      After analyzing data on
126,000 people for as long as 18 years, Harvard researchers calculate that
compared with not partaking in America’s favorite morning drink, downing one to
three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single
digits. But having six cups or more each day slashed men’s risk by 54% and
women’s by 30% over java avoiders.
   

      Though the scientists give the
customary "more research is needed" before they recommend you do
overtime at Starbuck’s to specifically prevent diabetes, their findings are
very similar to those in a less-publicized Dutch study. And perhaps more
importantly, it’s the latest of hundreds of studies suggesting that coffee may
be something of a health food — especially in higher amounts.
   

      In recent decades, some 19,000
studies have been done examining coffee’s impact on health. And for the most
part, their results are as pleasing as a gulp of freshly brewed Breakfast Blend
for the 108 million Americans who routinely enjoy this traditionally morning –
and increasingly daylong — ritual. In practical terms, regular coffee drinkers
include the majority of U.S. adults and a growing number of
children.
   

      "Overall, the research
shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful," says Tomas
DePaulis, PhD, research scientist at Vanderbilt University’s Institute for
Coffee Studies, which conducts its own medical research and tracks coffee
studies from around the world. "For most people, very little bad comes from
drinking it, but a lot of good."
   

      Consider this: At least six
studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80%
less likely to develop Parkinson’s, with three showing the more they drink, the
lower the risk. Other research shows that compared to not drinking coffee, at
least two cups daily can translate to a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer, an
80% drop in liver cirrhosis risk,
      and
nearly half the risk of gallstones.
   

      Coffee even offsets some of
the damage caused by other vices, some research indicates. "People who
smoke and are heavy drinkers have less heart disease and liver damage when they
regularly consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don’t,"
says DePaulis.
   

      There’s also some evidence
that coffee may help manage asthma and even control attacks when medication is
unavailable, stop a headache, boost mood, and even prevent cavities.

Reducing Disease Risk continued…

      Is it the caffeine? The oodles
of antioxidants in coffee beans, some of which become especially potent during
the roasting process? Even other mysterious properties that warrant this
intensive study?
   

      Actually, yes.
   

      Some of coffee’s reported
benefits are a direct result of its higher caffeine content: An eight ounce cup
of drip-brewed coffee contains about 85 mg — about three and a half times more
than the same serving of tea or cola or one ounce of chocolate.
   

      "The evidence is very
strong that regular coffee consumption reduces risk of Parkinson’s disease and
for that, it’s directly related to caffeine," DePaulis tells WebMD. "In
fact, Parkinson’s drugs are now being developed that contain a derivative of
caffeine based on this evidence."
   

      Caffeine is also what helps in
treating asthma and headaches. Though not widely publicized, a single dose of
pain reliever such as Anacin or Excedrin contains up to 120 milligrams –
what’s in a hefty mug o’ Joe.
   

Boost to Athleticism

It’s also caffeine — and not coffee, per se — that makes java
a powerful aid in enhancing athletic endurance and performance, says
physiologist and longtime coffee researcher
Terry Graham, PhD, of the University of Guelph in Canada. So powerful, in fact,
that until recently, caffeine in coffee or other forms was deemed a
"controlled" substance by the Olympic Games Committee, meaning that it
could be consumed only in small, designated amounts by competing
athletes.

      "What caffeine likely does is stimulate
the brain and nervous system to do things differently," he tells WebMD.
"That may include signaling you to ignore fatigue or recruit extra units of
muscle for intense athletic performance. Caffeine may even have a direct effect
on muscles themselves, causing them to produce a stronger contraction. But
what’s amazing about it is that unlike some performance-enhancing manipulation
some athletes do that are specific for strength or sprinting or endurance,
studies show that caffeine positively enhances all of these
things."
   

      How does this brew affect
growing minds and bodies? Very nicely, it seems, says DePaulis. Coffee, as you
probably know, makes you more alert, which can boost concentration. But claims
that it improves a child’s academic performance can be exaggerated.
Coffee-drinking kids may do better on school tests because they’re more awake,
but most task-to-task lab studies suggest that coffee doesn’t really improve
mental performance, says DePaulis.
   

      But it helps kids’ minds in
another way. "There recently was a study from Brazil finding that children
who drink coffee with milk each day are less likely to have depression than
other children," he tells WebMD. "In fact, no studies show that coffee
in reasonable amounts is in any way harmful to children."
   

      On the flip side, it’s clear
that coffee isn’t for everyone. Its legendary jolt in
excess doses — that is, more than whatever your individual body can tolerate
– can increase nervousness, hand trembling, and cause rapid heartbeat. Coffee
may also raise cholesterol levels in some people and may contribute to artery
clogging. But most recent large studies show no significant adverse effects on
most healthy people, although pregnant women, heart patients, and those at risk
for osteoporosis may still be advised to limit or avoid
coffee.

Boost to Athleticism continued…

      
        The bottom
line:
      
       "People who already
drink a lot of coffee don’t have to feel ‘guilty’ as long as coffee does not
affect their daily life," says Hu. "They may actually benefit from
coffee habits in the long run."
   

In other words, consume enough caffeine — whether it’s from coffee or
another source — and you will likely run faster, last longer and be stronger.
What’s enough? As little as one cup can offer some benefit, but the real impact
comes from at least two mugs, says Graham. By comparison, it’d take at least
eight glasses of cola to get the same effect, which isn’t exactly conducive for
running a marathon.

But the harder you exercise, the more benefit you may get from coffee.
"Unfortunately, where you see the enhancing effects from caffeine is in
hard-working athletes, who are able to work longer and somewhat harder,"
says Graham, who has studied the effects of caffeine and coffee for nearly two
decades. "If you a recreational athlete who is working out to reduce weight
or just feel better, you’re not pushing yourself hard enough to get an athletic
benefit from coffee or other caffeinated products."

      But you can get other benefits
from coffee that have nothing to do with caffeine. "Coffee is loaded with
antioxidants, including a group of compounds called quinines that when
administered to lab rats, increases their insulin sensitivity" he tells
WebMD. This increased sensitivity improves the body’s
response to insulin.
   

      That may explain why in that
new Harvard study, those drinking decaf coffee but not tea beverages also
showed a reduced diabetes risk, though it was half as much as those drinking
caffeinated coffee.
   

      "We don’t know exactly why
coffee is beneficial for diabetes," lead researcher Frank Hu, MD, tells
WebMD. "It is possible that both caffeine and other compounds play
important roles. Coffee has large amounts of antioxidants such as chlorogenic
acid and tocopherols, and minerals such as magnesium. All these components have
been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose
metabolism."
   

      Meanwhile, Italian researchers
credit another compound called trigonelline, which gives coffee its aroma and
bitter taste, for having both antibacterial and anti-adhesive properties to
help prevent dental cavities from forming. There are other theories for other
conditions.
   

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( Boston , MA ) Despite 20 years of reassuring research, many people
still avoid caffeinated coffee because they worry about its health
effects. However, current research reveals that in moderation—a few
cups a day—coffee is a safe beverage that may even offer some health
benefits. The September issue of Harvard Women’s Health Watch weighs the pros and cons of this popular beverage and eases the concerns of moderate coffee drinkers.

The
latest research has not only confirmed that moderate coffee consumption
doesn’t cause harm, it’s also uncovered possible benefits. Studies show
that the risk for type 2 diabetes is lower among regular coffee
drinkers than among those who don’t drink it. Also, coffee may reduce
the risk of developing gallstones, discourage the development of colon
cancer, improve cognitive function, reduce the risk of liver damage in
people at high risk for liver disease, and reduce the risk of
Parkinson’s disease. Coffee has also been shown to improve endurance
performance in long-duration physical activities.

For
those who drink coffee to stay alert, new research suggests that you’ll
stay more alert, particularly if you are fighting sleep deprivation, if
you spread your coffee consumption over the course of the day. For
instance, if you usually drink 16 ounces in the morning, try consuming
a 2-3 ounce serving every hour or so. Again, moderation is the key.

However,
as the September issue notes, coffee is not completely innocent.
Caffeine, coffee’s main ingredient is a mild addictive stimulant. And
coffee does have modest cardiovascular effects such as increased heart
rate, increased blood pressure, and occasional irregular heartbeat that
should be considered. Studies have been largely inconclusive regarding
coffee and its effect on women’s health issues such as breast health,
cancer, and osteoporosis. But, the negative effects of coffee tend to
emerge in excessive drinking so it is best to avoid heavy consumption.

Now the fake account of Starbucks was now removed from the friendster circulation. Thanks to all those who helped us report it to friendster admin and to all those undying fans of Starbucks Coffee. God bless everyone

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Drinkers of frothy lattes, European-style macchiatos
and syrupy Frappuccinos across the United States were in denial
Wednesday as Starbucks fell victim to the economic downturn and announced it was closing 600 coffee shops.

"For more than a year now, we have seen the adverse impact that a
slower economy and dramatic decline in consumer confidence have had on
our US business," Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, who last year returned to the helm of the company, said in a statement.

"After an extensive and rigorous review of our US store portfolio,
our executive and field leadership team has decided to close
approximately 600 underperforming company-operated stores in the US
market, which includes our previously announced plans to close 100
stores," Schultz said.

            
Exactly which Starbucks will be shuttered has not yet been announced, but in cities such as Washington, San Francisco or New York, losing a Starbucks here or there would hardly be felt, and seems almost an inevitability.

There are three Starbucks within two blocks of each other near the
White House, with one more across a small park — and yet another one
around the corner. That’s roughly one Starbucks per city block.

And yet, the manager of one of the Washington Starbucks said he did
not think any of the shops in the shadow of the White House will be
closed.

"I don’t think it will impact the DC area that much, and not our
store in particular because we’re busy and profitable," he said, asking
not to be named.

Chris Lombardi, a journalist who lives in New York’s Washington
Heights neighborhood, was convinced her local Starbucks would not get
the chop either, but for a different reason.

            
"I’m thinking they won’t close my local because there’s not another one nearby, as opposed to Greenwich Village where there’s one every half block," she said.

            
Furthermore, Lombardi’s local was always packed. "Never any room at the inn," she said.

            
So was musician and television producer Clint Conley’s local Starbucks in Concord, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, and the self-confessed Starbucks addict felt sure that would save it.

"The line of cars out the lot of our local Starbucks backs traffic
up through a stop light…. That would seem to suggest our local won’t
be shuttered," said Conley.

            
"But perhaps we’re all in denial," he added.

            
Thomasine Lewis-Tilden of California said the closures would help to restore some of Starbucks’ brand integrity.

"It’s mystifying that they cheapened the brand by McDonalds-izing
– building way too many stores, some so close to another that they
cannibalized sales," she told AFP.

            
"I think cutting back and closing down stores is essential to keeping the integrity of the brand."

San Franciscan Debbie Guardian bemoaned the fate of the several
thousand workers who would lose their jobs, but was not sorry that
Starbucks was hurting.

"It’s not their coffee I don’t like but what they represent –
wiping out the small-business cafe and (saying) ‘let’s rule the
world’," she said.

"I miss the little neighborhood cafe…. I miss those dark,
speakeasy-looking cafes with wooden tables," she said, recalling an era
before Starbucks began a prolific expansion that saw it explode from
677 shops in 1995 to nearly 16,000 last year.

Starbucks coffees don’t come cheap, and with Americans doling
out more and more money to fill up their cars, many have decided to
forego their frothy coffees.

            
A medium cappuccino at Starbucks costs 3.69 dollars in Washington, or the equivalent of 29.50 dollars per gallon.

            
Gasoline seems a bargain at 4.08 per gallon.

Twenty-eight percent of US motorists have stopped going to
Starbucks or other coffee houses entirely, and 21 percent are going
less often due to skyrocketing gas prices, a survey conducted last
month by Kelley’s Blue Book showed.

            
For Conley, giving up coffee is as much out of the question as is giving up driving.

            
"I wish it were as easy as cutting back, but I am deep in the grips of caffeine addiction," Conley told AFP.

(CNN) — In an effort to alleviate problems facing the company,
Starbucks announced that it will close 600 company-run U.S. stores over
the next year. Most of the stores are near another Starbucks and aren’t
profitable.

CNN.com asked iReporters to respond to the news that the coffee
giant, known for its saturation of the market, is shuttering some
retail locations.

iReporter mattwilliams says he’s happy to see
some Starbucks go, opening the market for independent coffee shops.
Rusty1978 says he can’t imagine how Starbucks is in financial trouble,
given that his local store is always packed. Cval predicts more people
will give up their lattes as the economy tightens.

Below are a selection of iReport responses, some of which have been edited for length and clarity. iReport.com: Share your thoughts on Starbucks here

   Stefan:
Starbucks Coffee, no doubt, has been a powerhouse phenomenon in the
American barista world. The coffee super-giant has not only introduced,
but set a national trend in coffee drinking for years to come … they
have created a culture.

Everywhere you look, from street corners, to bookstores and now
even supermarkets, there is a Starbucks coffee shop or stand. So what
will we do if we no longer have our daily dose of super-charged joe? Go
somewhere else.

Since they started becoming a national chain,
there has been a rush of smaller coffee shops trying to duplicate the
relaxing, welcoming feel of Starbucks, and some do well and even exceed
the patron’s expectations, offering sofa’s, tables, background music
and even free internet.

But what about the coffee? As for those
specialty drinks, many small coffee shop owners have started sending
their employees to barista school, where they learn how to make the
"perfect" cup of coffee / espresso with those perfect little beans. …
It is possible we may see a new coffee shop in town; and maybe, just
maybe, the "next big thing".

   FlashBauer38:
I am glad to see Starbucks finally realized you only need one store per
city block. I personally do not like or go to Starbucks. I normally get
my coffee from Dunkin Donuts on the way to work or buy grounds from
them to make at home … for a reasonable price. I already have to
spend $4 a gallon on gas, why would I spend $4 for 12 oz of coffee?

cval:
You’re kidding me, right? Anyone heard of the Mr. Coffee machine? You
can get one for $15, and set it to have your coffee ready for you when
you roll out of bed, then it turns off an hour later so as not to burn
your house down should you forget to turn it off. Starbucks has always
been a luxury item, when people need to get back to basics to survive.

Maybe people are just realizing this, and it is way overdue if you
ask me. It’s as expensive as smoking, think of all the money you can
put into savings if you brew your own coffee.

   Johnmcook:
"My Starbucks", in the Uptown section of West Village is much more than
a place to get a cup of java. It is a real part of the community, a
busy, urban, somewhat trendy area near downtown Dallas.

I know
each employee by name and they know me. I keep track of their progress
through college, another’s budding music career, and will attend
another’s wedding. When on the patio with my Chihuahua, they bring him
water to help beat the heat or whipped cream as a treat …

If
you have ever spent time in the UK… you understand the social
importance of meeting at the local pub… my Starbucks is the
equivalent of that. You come there to get your favorite coffee but you
leave with and come back for … so much more.

   rusty1978: Well,
amongst all the Starbucks frowners around, I must say it’s strong
coffee and that’s how I like it. I’ve got a Starbucks in commercial
space in my building — so convenient. I love the Verona, Gold Coast
and Kenya blends.

I just can’t believe they’re not doing good
business as most every store is always packed with people — and
they’ve even raised their prices last year, so I can’t understand the
closings at all. Someone please explain. Yes, I prefer strong Starbucks
coffee in the morning!

   mattwilliams:
Could I live without Starbucks? The answer is a resounding YES! I live
in a small tourist town on the coast of Georgia. Our many different
local restaurants provide unique dining experiences with their
atmospheres and menus. This is something I fear is being lost because
of big chains like Starbucks coming in and replacing local, unique
businesses with the same atmosphere and dining experience one could
have in Anytown, USA.

So rather than make every little getaway
town in this country the very same one Starbucks at a time, I say
boycott them all and shut them all down! That won’t happen because
Starbucks has become part of a routine for so many people.

What
would be nice is for the average American consumer to wake up and try
to have a unique experience in his or her hometown. Rather than going
to that same Starbucks that is so convenient with its drive-thru and
perfect location on the way to one’s destination, why not take a detour
and find a mom-and-pop coffee shoppe, like our own Palm Coast Coffee or
Daddy Cate’s, and support their brave attempt at making the landscape
of where one lives unique.

   Nblomq:
Definitely a Starbucks Junkie! I moved from Georgia to Arizona last
fall, and the first digital picture I sent my girlfriends once I
arrived in Tucson was a picture of my first official visitor to my new
home … a Starbucks Chai!

   grdpxjmpr: I absolutely could live without Starbucks.

Reason 1: I don’t like the taste of Starbucks coffee, especially since
they had their closure back in February to make their coffee shop more
like a coffee shop. The coffee they have started using since then is
terrible.

2. If the Starbucks chain would close some stores, it
would allow mom-and-pop-type places to get a footing in the market or
allow local smaller chains to expand.

3. Buying beans for home
and making your own coffee is substantially less expensive than getting
coffee every day from Starbucks. In this economy, being able to pinch
pennies helps.

   MrRealtor:
I hate to say this, but I just like a good ole cup of coffee, and that
cannot be found at a Starbucks. Even their most mild coffee is terribly
bitter. Will I miss them? No. I would miss a 99-cent cup of coffee from
7-11 worse than a $4.50 cup of yuck from Starbucks.

   Blueken:
In my entire life, I have had exactly one coffee from Starbucks.
Nothing special. I’m not a coffee snob, of course, but I do like a pure
Kona roast. I get my caffeine fix at the local gas station. Fresh
brewed, $1.49. I predict overpriced microbrew beer is the next to take
a hit as the economy gets real.

IchDenke:
Yep, Starbucks is too pricey, too burnt and too mega for me! Gimme a
hometown-y joint that ain’t too expensive and supports our veterans
like Just Plain Joe’s, and I’m OK!

Just send all your pictures for the LOYAL FANS album of Starbucks Coffee at iloveu_starbucks@yahoo.com and we will upload it as soon as possible. Thank you and keep loving Starbucks !