The Consumerist, among other news outlets reporting on the subject, has its doubts about the validity of the Starbucks cheer-chain, a kind act where the person in front of the other pays for their beverage, and so on. According to Radar, acts of “good cheer” - a Miami tai-chi master responded to the honking man behind him by buying his coffee, who then perpetuated the chain; and a Hempfield, PA woman started a chain that lasted two hours - impromptu, or not, coincides with the re-introduction of the “Pass the Cheer” ad campaign, and a Web site where Starbucks addicts can start their own “cheer chains.”
Radar reported that “cynics” are speculating that the news stories are either fabricated or propelled by tips from Starbucks PR reps, but Bridget Barker, a spokesperson for the company, denied that the kind acts are tainted, or propelled, by marketing tools.
Meanwhile, Starbucks is caught in the middle of another act of “good cheer” that made the news. The AP reports that police in Rancho Cordova, CA were pulling over law-abiding citizens to reward them with $5 Starbucks gift cards, paid for by local businesses.
Also:
MTV has tapped Jerry Bruckheimer, production giant behind Pirates of the Caribbean and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, to co-create original video games. Bruckheimer follows Steven Spielberg, who partnered with games publisher Electronic Arts to create three original games.
Wired reports that Blackwater is buying a fleet of aircraft and ground vehicles in hopes of winning contracts to secure failed states before the U.N. arrives, despite, or perhaps inspired by, the Blackwater name presenting a huge obstacle to plans for expanded peacekeeping.
Last evening, New York Magazinereported from opening day of the Metropolitan Museum's blog.mode: addressing fashion exhibit, an interactive exhibit that enables visitors to publicize their reactions at a “blog bar.”
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