Starbucks a few times a year makes a percentage donation from sales of certain types of drinks, benefiting some charitable organization – most recently it happened to be Project Red, which helps fight AIDS in Africa. Many people who are against corporations came out to say that if one were to donate directly to the cause itself, that organization would see more of the money.
You know, I'm agreeing with many of the nay-sayers that the donations I make directly to these foundations and charities is more significant than what Starbucks offers - But damn few of us give direct donations. Even a small portion of all the coffee drinks they produce daily is helluva lot more than I'd likely be able to donate myself. This won't stop personal donations, and is just an additional supplemental source of funding. In the current economic recession here in the US, this is a way to provide a great deal of money, even if it is only $.05 at a time, when many larger and smaller donors are cutting back on charitable donations. Not to mention, now we're putting power of even $.05 from perhaps tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of individuals who are unlikely to be donating a nickel or anything else. (And since I belong to a non-profit, I can attest to the underfunding aspect of economic recession.)
This is a BUSINESS though, and they have no requirements on charitable obligations. I say thank you and kudos! Get me a triple tall latte, please!!
A very loose real number would be Starbucks gross profit margin. It’s currently about 19.2%. Taken loosely that means off of your $4 latte, Starbucks makes 77 cents. So even after they give to Project (Red) they still make 72 cents. That’s a cost to them of 6.5% of their gross profit from the sale.
Lets do a little math:
For every 100 latte's they normally sell:
Donation to Project (Red): $5
Starbuck's gross profit (after the donation): $72
Starbuck's lost gross Profit: $5.
Number of additional Latte's they need to sell to make up for the lost $5: 7
So for each 100 latte's they normally sell, they need to sell an additional 7 latte's to have their profit unaffected by the donation.
This also doesn't take into account that Starbucks will get a tax break on their donation.
And they're still a business, so I ask again what local non-corporate entity has the power and resources to DONATE millions every year to various non-profits associated with rejuvenating the lands, people, and culture that grow their precious beans, or house a precious commodity?
You should probably take a look and read over their annual CSR to find out what they actually GIVE away each year to global non-profits (without a mass marketing campaign, I might add), before making lofty folderol. The prices quoted are fair. According to their Fiscal 2008 Q4 report, they were down almost a dollar in stock - a 7 year low - with 2008 seeing a ~$200M loss. Q1 2009 already saw a .50c drop, due to pressure from the housing market.
Not to mention that a few of the Starbucks in my area donate all of the overstocked food products and GIVE it to homeless shelters. And all of the grinds go into my garden every year. And all of the donation boxes that a couple of my stores have MATCH donations.
It would seem then, in the end, the idea of a corporation is much more detrimental to the psyche, than the actual good they can accomplish. True, not all major corporations donate and make good by helping where and how they can, but it’s not fair to those that do (with little understanding) to lump them all together.
Respect is given, when respect is taken ...
Namaste and Slainte
~BG~
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Respectful Rewards
"As long as you're trying to be somebody else, the best you can ever hope for is second best. If you're genuine and consistent even those that disagree with you will be respectful of you." ~ Paul Harvey
And that's why Paul Harvey will be missed. His story telling ability was spot on each and every time, able to spin a yarn into something believable and unbiased. But, unfortunately, this isn't about Paul Harvey. This is almost in continuation of the Assistive Rewards post.
The world is full of questions, and the answers are rarely sought out. Politicians are exceptional at spinning a question into another question, as if that is itself the answer. So we are left questioning, and second-guessing our choices all the time. We ask "what if" too much, and not accept things as they are, in my opinion.
Can you really argue that trying to be like someone else, or what someone else wants you to be is beneficial to anyone? Sounds more like superficial.
Isn’t being genuine a sure fire way of grabbing someone’s attention? Everyone has what others will perceive as faults, that’s a given, and usually only on the outside and upfront. But isn’t that what can grow a healthy discussion, is taking those faults, accepting them, and maybe realizing that there is always more than one way to look at something?
There should always be some modicum of leaving some subjects alone, because you know that you will agree to disagree to which you leave it be, and that’s where civility comes into play. In the end, I’ve garnered respect for folk that have been able to logically convey their thoughts and feelings toward a particular subject, than haphazardly throwing something out there just because the feeling that that is the end all of everything.
The back-story leads into the whole story – if only what’s on top is taken, and nothing underneath is perused through, then you’ll never know … the rest of the story.
I always end my blogs and posts in one simple line:
Respect is taken, when respect is given …
Namaste and Slainte
~BG~
And that's why Paul Harvey will be missed. His story telling ability was spot on each and every time, able to spin a yarn into something believable and unbiased. But, unfortunately, this isn't about Paul Harvey. This is almost in continuation of the Assistive Rewards post.
The world is full of questions, and the answers are rarely sought out. Politicians are exceptional at spinning a question into another question, as if that is itself the answer. So we are left questioning, and second-guessing our choices all the time. We ask "what if" too much, and not accept things as they are, in my opinion.
Can you really argue that trying to be like someone else, or what someone else wants you to be is beneficial to anyone? Sounds more like superficial.
Isn’t being genuine a sure fire way of grabbing someone’s attention? Everyone has what others will perceive as faults, that’s a given, and usually only on the outside and upfront. But isn’t that what can grow a healthy discussion, is taking those faults, accepting them, and maybe realizing that there is always more than one way to look at something?
There should always be some modicum of leaving some subjects alone, because you know that you will agree to disagree to which you leave it be, and that’s where civility comes into play. In the end, I’ve garnered respect for folk that have been able to logically convey their thoughts and feelings toward a particular subject, than haphazardly throwing something out there just because the feeling that that is the end all of everything.
The back-story leads into the whole story – if only what’s on top is taken, and nothing underneath is perused through, then you’ll never know … the rest of the story.
I always end my blogs and posts in one simple line:
Respect is taken, when respect is given …
Namaste and Slainte
~BG~
Assistive Rewards
Assistive Rewards
Is there a reward for doing something that comes second nature? If a person does something that is a reward in someone’s eyes, does the one helping actually see it that way, or is it without thought?
What is it when someone helps on a grand scale, but seeks a reward – how is it different than helping one person, but seek nothing in return? How is reward defined? Is a reward a given in any situation no matter what happens?
Have you ever been the one that helps someone, only to feel a sense of let-down when nothing happened after the fact? Have you ever worked in a group of people, no matter the size, where you felt good about the deed that was done, but there was no reward, so to speak? Isn’t completion of the deed in itself the reward?
What if by proxy of a mandate of effort you are given an award that you didn’t necessarily do anything to deserve? How does doing nothing constitute being rewarded?
In our blue ribbon society, everybody is supposed to win – but what about the people actually putting forth effort to achieve something greater than being rewarded …
Respect is given, when respect is taken …
Namaste and Slainte
~BG~
Is there a reward for doing something that comes second nature? If a person does something that is a reward in someone’s eyes, does the one helping actually see it that way, or is it without thought?
What is it when someone helps on a grand scale, but seeks a reward – how is it different than helping one person, but seek nothing in return? How is reward defined? Is a reward a given in any situation no matter what happens?
Have you ever been the one that helps someone, only to feel a sense of let-down when nothing happened after the fact? Have you ever worked in a group of people, no matter the size, where you felt good about the deed that was done, but there was no reward, so to speak? Isn’t completion of the deed in itself the reward?
What if by proxy of a mandate of effort you are given an award that you didn’t necessarily do anything to deserve? How does doing nothing constitute being rewarded?
In our blue ribbon society, everybody is supposed to win – but what about the people actually putting forth effort to achieve something greater than being rewarded …
Respect is given, when respect is taken …
Namaste and Slainte
~BG~
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Internet Stimulus
What people want to hear …
What people want to believe …
Somewhere in between …
And then there’s the truth.
Be aware of the machine; fight against the machine; realize that surveillance can be avoided by how much personal information is available to the machine.
Live off-grid as much as possible.
Net Neutrality was a huge issue in the recent stimulus package. Net Neutrality makes it impossible for the big phone and cable companies to tax us for faster speed and broader access to the Internet – which is supposed to be free, in a long list of failing freedoms of choice. It is a choice for us to use, not a choice for them to control. Ever wonder how the sites of the big phone and Internet providers have faster load times; or even the sites associated with these companies?
Since their primary objective is money, they self-proclaim as the “Internet Gatekeepers”.
February 7th, 2009, marked a start time where Limbaugh, Dobbs and other Republican cronies, lobbied for McCain to strip the “Internet Freedom Preservation Act 2008 (HR5353)” (co-written in bi-partisan form) from the recent stimulus package, thereby stripping thousands of jobs from middle class workers, spoiling technology in the classroom; crawling education, banking, health and human services to a standstill; and every single company that uses the internet for their business would have to comply with the wishes of one controlling entity. I shudder to think of what will happen to all the small business owners that rely on the internet for that one small piece of free competitive market; what will happen when they can’t afford the entry cost?
Their goal would have seen that all the major players in the mobile and on-line arena station a tax for each level of speed per node of access. This would have seen uncontrolled measures of price gouging, with absolutely no means to go by.
Even the Christian Coalition is FOR the (HR5353) bill, because they understand all too well the power of Freedom of Speech.
We are not animals in a zoo to be controlled by power and money hungry trolls.
Save the Internet; save a freedom …
Respect is taken, when respect is given …
Namaste and Slainte
~BG~
http://www.savetheinternet.com/
http://epic.org/
http://www.democraticmedia.org/
What people want to believe …
Somewhere in between …
And then there’s the truth.
Be aware of the machine; fight against the machine; realize that surveillance can be avoided by how much personal information is available to the machine.
Live off-grid as much as possible.
Net Neutrality was a huge issue in the recent stimulus package. Net Neutrality makes it impossible for the big phone and cable companies to tax us for faster speed and broader access to the Internet – which is supposed to be free, in a long list of failing freedoms of choice. It is a choice for us to use, not a choice for them to control. Ever wonder how the sites of the big phone and Internet providers have faster load times; or even the sites associated with these companies?
Since their primary objective is money, they self-proclaim as the “Internet Gatekeepers”.
February 7th, 2009, marked a start time where Limbaugh, Dobbs and other Republican cronies, lobbied for McCain to strip the “Internet Freedom Preservation Act 2008 (HR5353)” (co-written in bi-partisan form) from the recent stimulus package, thereby stripping thousands of jobs from middle class workers, spoiling technology in the classroom; crawling education, banking, health and human services to a standstill; and every single company that uses the internet for their business would have to comply with the wishes of one controlling entity. I shudder to think of what will happen to all the small business owners that rely on the internet for that one small piece of free competitive market; what will happen when they can’t afford the entry cost?
Their goal would have seen that all the major players in the mobile and on-line arena station a tax for each level of speed per node of access. This would have seen uncontrolled measures of price gouging, with absolutely no means to go by.
Even the Christian Coalition is FOR the (HR5353) bill, because they understand all too well the power of Freedom of Speech.
We are not animals in a zoo to be controlled by power and money hungry trolls.
Save the Internet; save a freedom …
Respect is taken, when respect is given …
Namaste and Slainte
~BG~
http://www.savetheinternet.com/
http://epic.org/
http://www.democraticmedia.org/
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The Dr.'s Last Stand
Every once in a while a group of people come along that leave an impression. These impressions have a lasting effect usually from people that are not high profile, or constantly in the lime-light, but ordinary people just living their lives the best they know how. Never allowing the chance of growing stale or becoming has-beens from a vaunted high-profile endeavor, they are a consistent reminder that there are genuine down-to-earth people making a difference in some people’s lives in the smallest of ways.
Wishdoctor is such a group. Since their inception in the early nineties, this band has given the Colorado community a means to bang their heads and live a little on the wild side of good, hard, and loud rock & roll. They consistently give their all every weekend to a packed house, or on a slow night with a handful of people – they maintain their rock & roll dignity by always performing to one hundred percent of their eclectic abilities. Friendships have been forged, and families have been made.
Through their many line-up changes, Wishdoctor has retained a sound all too familiar to the fans in the know. If you are a fan of Wishdoctor, then you know their signature sound! If you’re looking for pop rock dance songs that make you roll your eyes instead of rock your brain, look elsewhere. Wishdoctor has stayed true to the core belief that if arranged properly, hard rock can be melodic and soothing to those wanting to vent out frustration on a week’s end.
As they play their final show on New Year’s Eve, the fans of Wishdoctor, (and this one in particular), will end up knowing that ‘something’ good was accomplished in the Colorado community. And that ‘something’ leaves a lasting, lifelong impression.
Greg Wohler
(originally submitted to The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News Dec. 27th, 2008)
Respect is taken, when respect is given …
Namaste and Slainte
~BG~
Wishdoctor is such a group. Since their inception in the early nineties, this band has given the Colorado community a means to bang their heads and live a little on the wild side of good, hard, and loud rock & roll. They consistently give their all every weekend to a packed house, or on a slow night with a handful of people – they maintain their rock & roll dignity by always performing to one hundred percent of their eclectic abilities. Friendships have been forged, and families have been made.
Through their many line-up changes, Wishdoctor has retained a sound all too familiar to the fans in the know. If you are a fan of Wishdoctor, then you know their signature sound! If you’re looking for pop rock dance songs that make you roll your eyes instead of rock your brain, look elsewhere. Wishdoctor has stayed true to the core belief that if arranged properly, hard rock can be melodic and soothing to those wanting to vent out frustration on a week’s end.
As they play their final show on New Year’s Eve, the fans of Wishdoctor, (and this one in particular), will end up knowing that ‘something’ good was accomplished in the Colorado community. And that ‘something’ leaves a lasting, lifelong impression.
Greg Wohler
(originally submitted to The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News Dec. 27th, 2008)
Respect is taken, when respect is given …
Namaste and Slainte
~BG~
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