Today I strolled over to Starbucks to get some tea to enjoy during my morning walk (I drink the green ginger tazo tea. It’s the best). As I reached for a stirrer to distribute my 4 packs of Equal, I saw a curious cup with writing on it. It looked like a tip cup but with a lid and a straw. The cryptic message scribbled on the cup read “Look what I can do…No more spills.” After the third re-read and my eyes darting back and forth from the cup to the tiny pile of green sperm like sticks, I finally put two and two together.

Take note of the green nub at top of photo

Starbucks has actually taken action! They actually developed and produced a small plastic stopper to avoid the horrible burping spillage that comes while walking/driving with a piping hot coffee or latte. I took a second to think about this. While, I appreciate the effort and the recognition of the fact that it is SOOO annoying to pay $3.50 for a latte and then 30 seconds later have it explode all over your hand and sleeve, I find it counter productive towards our cultures “global green-planet” goal. How much damage to the earth are these sticks causing just so we can grab our skinny latte, jump back in my car and bob and weave through traffic without our Starbucks cup spewing all over our spring brights? (effort to be politically correct).

The REALTY to the issue is about laziness and the risk aversion theory. Puzzled? Continue…While using this spill stick this morning I found it very annoying to hold the cup with my right hand  lift my left arm to hold this small stick up to snag a sip of tea.  Like all normal Americans,  I like to drink my coffee while trying to accomplish several other taskes. Which is why it is so annoying to get spilled on because it not only stains but takes attention away from my multi-tasking and forces me to just do clean-up.  So I face a quandry…

According to risk aversion theory – when i use the spill stick it is certain that I won’t get burned but also certain I must engage my left arm in activity.  My risk-averse side says take the stick – a garuntee to be spill free and I must ignore my lazy arm. But, my risk-seeking (lazy arm) side says take the chance!!!!! Yes, I might get splashed and burned and YES that makes me very angry but there is STILL a chance that I won’t get burned AND I won’t have to engage my left arm in stick holding. 

Like any good econimist or financial consultant would tell you being risk averse, gets you a savings account and a good credit score. Good thing I am a true stock market thrill seeker, and say bring it on RISK!! And while my anger boils as hot as that burbling coffee, I say NO to Starbucks small sperm stick. I take the RISK because  I want to save the environment! Because my left arm has more important things to do. Like applying my mascara and holding the steering wheel.

 

Check out all the Starbucks gossip on this blog!!

http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/_/2008/04/starbucks-quiet.html