Republicans: What Will They Think Of Next?

We’ve all seen way too much coverage about the oh so controversial New Yorker cover of fist jabbing terrorists Barack and Michelle Obama, and I’m still trying to digest/analyze the whole thing (although truth be told, my opinion will be moot when I finally get the courage to post something about it here).  However, I found this picture on Gawker today before heading home, and I can’t wait to see if there’s a similar internet shitstorm that’s generated because of it:

George W. Bush is probably putting one hand on his heart and the other on a wad of cash going towards the McCain campaign as we speak, and somewhere, Dick Cheney is quietly smiling in his bunker.

Facebook Ads are Misleading

So today at work, I was killing some time on everyone’s favorite default social networking site when I came across the following ad:

Wait a minute, our blind Governor has the power to veto video games?  I had no idea he would/could do such a thing to us, the glorious sighted youth of New York.  No doubt intrigued, I clicked on the link, which redirected me to this somewhat gimmicky-looking website.  Apparently the above ad was just a lure to get me to read the real facts posted for the whole world to see.

After The Jump: My strange adventure into the New York State Assembly Files, and why this ad is horribly misleading

More Trouble in Hollywood: Paramount, Deutsche Bank No Longer in Cahoots

Maybe it had to do with the fact that their big summer comedy bombed, but regardless, Paramount has ended its efforts to finance its films with help from Deutsche Bank today.  Why?  According to The Los Angeles Times, Paramount’s terms were too steep for the Frankfurt-based bank.  The studio was hoping to acquire between $400-$450 million over the next two years to help fund upcoming movies like “Star Trek”, “The Soloist” and “G.I. Joe”  Both parties, however, acknowledged that Paramount’s recent flops made the deal unnattractive and not worth the talks.

I have a better idea.  Stop working on crappy movies like “Star Trek” and “G.I. Joe” and give the banks an actual reason to throw you money.  Since movies based on TV shows are all the rage (the success of Sex and the City, and Get Smart’s mild success in turning a profit), that should tell parent company Viacom to have you get working on a big screen version of “The Hills”.  Stat.

Starbucks Has Me All Confused With Cafe Vivanno

First, they say they’re closing about 600 stores because they’re not performing well.  Fine, that’s totally understandable.  So why are they now going into the protein shake industry?

Today, Starbucks unveiled its new Cafe Vivanno, which, SURPRISE, contains no actual coffee.  Instead, Cafe Vivanno is a line of two (so really, hardly a line) “nourishing blends” that contain fruit and some sort of other healthyish additives.  I think they might have green tea shots, or protein or both.  They come in Orange Mango Banana or Banana Chocolate.  I got a free sample this morning waiting on line for my iced coffee.  They’re not bad, but probably not worth the four and a half dollars that Starbucks will undoubtedbly be charging for it.

Plus I totally got a sneak behind the counter at how they make one.  The barista told me it comes “pre-mixed and ready to make, except for the bananas which are fresh”.  Nice, but what exactly is the pre-mix?  It’s really this, which I like because Naked is known for making 100% juice (and not sugar water), but a closer look at the base reveals that it contains 27g of sugar in an 8 ounce serving.  Combine that with the banana and the fact that NOBODY goes to Starbucks to get an 8 ounce drink, and you’re serving up a “healthy shake” chock full of over 50g of sugar a glass (about 1/5 of your daily recommended value).

Starbucks, you’re in trouble.  Just stick to what you do best: making strong coffee drinks for the white collar workers and frappucinos for moms and college girls.  Thanks.

UPDATE 7/17: The NYC cost of a Vivanno is $3.95, not the $4.50 I predicted above.  Only comes in one size though, so at least you don’t have to fuss around with tall, grande, and venti.

(Image via Business Week)