Hotel owner tells Hispanic workers to change names

Oct 26, 2009 - TAOS, N.M. – Larry Whitten marched into this northern New Mexico town in late July on a mission: resurrect a failing hotel. The tough-talking former Marine immediately laid down some new rules. - 44 Comments

How the World's Biggest Corporations, From Starbucks to Wal-Mart to Barnes & Noble, Claim to Be 'Local'

Sep 08, 2009 - HSBC, one of the biggest banks on the planet, has taken to calling itself "the world's local bank." Starbucks is un-branding at least three of its Seattle outlets, the first of which just reopened as "15th Avenue Coffee and Tea." Winn-Dixie, a 500-outlet supermarket chain, recently launched a new ad campaign under the tagline, "Local flavor since 1956." - 10 Comments

I never thought I would say....

Dec 11, 2008 - Go McDonalds!!!!!! http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/391566_sbuxrivals11.html Starbucks won't slug it out in ad wars Coffee chain says it'll take high road By ANDREA JAMES P-I REPORTER McDonald's has erected a billboard in sight of Starbucks headquarters declaring, "four bucks is dumb." · Earlier: Coffee Smackdown: In new ad drive, Dunkin' Donuts is claiming a taste-test victory over Starbucks If Dunkin' Donuts' taste test commercials were the schoolyard equivalent of blowing spitballs at the coffee giant from afar, then the latest from McDonald's is like pulling a wedgie. - 30 Comments

For Women

Mar 30, 2009 - A good (male) friend sent me this. WOMAN'S PERFECT BREAKFAST She's sitting at the table with her gourmet coffee. Her son is on the cover of the Wheaties box. - 7 Comments

Mexico City decrees takeout dining only, closes gyms in effort to contain swine flu outbreak

Apr 29, 2009 - Source MEXICO CITY – Capital residents ate lunch on sidewalks, in parks or at the office Tuesday as the government prohibited restaurants from letting people eat inside in a further attempt to contain the flu virus claiming new lives every day. "It's strange," said Iván Ramírez, who was carrying his fast-food meal from the touristy Zona Rosa to his office. Restaurants could still offer food to go. - 4 Comments

Rahm Emanuel's profitable stint at mortgage giant

Mar 26, 2009 - PUBLIC POST * Rahm Emanuel's profitable stint at mortgage giant Short Freddie Mac stay made him at least $320,000 By Bob Secter and Andrew Zajac | Tribune reporters 3:18 PM CDT, March 26, 2009 Before its portfolio of bad loans helped trigger the current housing crisis, mortgage giant Freddie Mac was the focus of a major accounting scandal that led to a management shake-up, huge fines and scalding condemnation of passive directors by a top federal regulator. One of those allegedly asleep-at-the-switch board members was Chicago's Rahm Emanuel—now chief of staff to President Barack Obama—who made at least $320,000 for a 14-month stint at Freddie Mac that required little effort. As gatekeeper to Obama, Emanuel now plays a critical role in addressing the nation's mortgage woes and fulfilling the administration's pledge to impose responsibility on the financial world. - 1 Comment