Changes on the horizon… Cuppy’s Coffee, ROH and other possible revolutions.

I was reading over this blog (I hate that term, by the way) and I thought it may be confusing to the reader. Why is the author jumping back and forth from professional wrestling and the coffee business?

I touched on it in one post and decided to elaborate; the coffee business has the potential to go through a change. Right now, the entire coffee industry has an image of being modern, “upper class,” artistic, etc. but I think a company like Cuppys Coffee can change that. I think Cuppys Coffee has the potential to change the coffee industry the same way Nirvana and ECW changed their industries.

Industries swing on pendulums; they go from one extreme to another, which I will touch on again in a moment. And right now every coffee shop is trying to be this upper class, overly artistic, Seattle themed place, even in the middle of Ohio. Whereas a company like Cuppys Coffee is coming along and being bright, colorful and about families; I don’t know, I just think it is extreme enough to work. I even hated the name when I heard it but when I thought about it, I thought it was a brilliant idea; if marketed right.

I talk about the wrestling business because 1- I love it and 2- it also, needs to go through a change. Vince McMahon both saved, and killed, professional wrestling. He made professional wrestling bigger than it could have ever been; he made it a common, house hold thing for better or for worst; but he also bought all of the competition and was too good at what he did, that he has no competition at ALL, and has become stagnant.

A company that once used to have Randy Savage and Ric Flair in main events now has “Kiss My Ass” segments where people are forced to kiss each others ass; its gone too far, and even I, as a 10+ year wrestling fan can’t watch it and embarrassed to call myself a wrestling fan because all people know about is his product.

However, he never set the standard; back in the day, he bought up NWA and AWA’s talent and ran their matches on his stage. Then when he was having Men on a Mission rap in the ring, there was a little company called ECW in a bingo hall in south Philadelphia which changed wrestling, picked up steam, but eventually died. It left it’s mark though; and arguably caused the “Attitude” era in WWF which caused stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and Mick Foley.

But now, he has no one to lead him again. He’s beat everyone. There’s TNA Wrestling, but they pride themselves on using WWE rejects as their champions and main stars instead of the young talent which could lead a revolution. Instead of Samoa Joe or AJ Styles, they trust the company on guys like Jeff Jarrett and Sting; guys 10 years past their prime.

Now onto what I was saying about “Extremes,” after ECW, everyone thought if you were Extreme, you would be successful. This caused the Backyard Wrestling phenomenon, and a lot of hardcore companies to pop up on the indies, like IWA:Mid South, XPW and CZW. IWA:Mid South is ran by Ian Rotten, former ECW star.

CZW is ran by a man named John Zandig. CZW actually showed a ton of promise and in 2002, was selling out the ECW arena in Philadelphia; something no other company has done except for the ECW reunion shows. But recently even they have lost their vision.

XPW is dead.

But there is another company called Ring of Honor; as I said about pendulums, where ECW used barbed wire and a little broken glass on fists, CZW/IWA:MS/IWA:MS used light tubes, light bulbs, pits of hot coals, wheedwhackers, boards with nails in them, and more. Ring of Honor uses…wrestling. They rarely use weapons so when they do; it means something.

If you hit someone with glass every week, then when you have 2 people in a meaningful story line, what more can they possibly do to each other? They can’t kill one another, so you’ve cut their legs out from them. Even a chair shot can mean a ton if you don’t do it weekly.

However ROH, I honestly feel, will never get over with the public. I don’t think the majority of the world will be able to watch 2 guys put on a pure wrestling match for 30 minutes without saying its “gay” in this modern, “quick and dirty” society.

MTV’s Wrestling Society X has a chance but then again; it has guys on top that don’t belong there; like X-Pac and Vampiro; past their prime.

So I talk about the things in this blog because I like to look for changes in structure. If I saw one coming in music; I would talk about it. However I think the music industry is trying to hard to see every angle that it is just lost and so much crappy music is out there… anyone can put out a CD these days, so it means nothing. Movies, I may talk about, we’ll see. Movies are tricky.

Things may seem unrelated but they are if you think about it.

Cuppy’s Coffee video on YouTube (Blog Link as well)

I found a Cuppys Coffee video from YouTube on this very site. Check it out.

Cuppy’s on YouTube (WordPress Blog)

Cuppy’s Coffee Emerges with Spirit Undeterred After Mis-Association with Troubled Coffee Chain

Cuppy’s Coffee Emerges with Spirit Undeterred After Mis-Association with Troubled Coffee Chain
February 1, 2007
(Fort Walton Beach, Fla.)— When Cuppy’s Coffee & More, Inc., was formed in 2006, it hoped to capitalize on Americans’ never-ending thirst for specialty coffee. Cuppy’s Coffee & More and its new associates, however, never expected to dodge obstacles intended for another company. Cuppy’s Coffee & More awards franchises to its franchisees who purchase either a double drive-up building, an in-line coffee café or a “tow-behind your automobile” mobile unit from Cuppy’s approved vendor, Elite Manufacturing, LLC. Elite Manufacturing is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medina Enterprises Inc.

Medina Enterprises purchased equipment, telephones and assumed the leases from another company that licenses coffee businesses. Adding to the public confusion, Cuppy’s Coffee leased offices in the same business complex and some of the employees from the former coffee business were offered positions and are now employed at Cuppy’s Coffee. That’s how Cuppy’s problems began. Although the other coffee company, Java Jo’z, still exists as a licensing company, the owners of Java Jo’z have no financial, operational or legal association with Cuppy’s Coffee, Elite Manufacturing or Medina. The legal relationship separating the businesses is clearly defined, but some individuals who have had disputes with Java Jo’z didn’t readily understand the distinction.

“They would say we’re at the same location, we have the same phone number and we have a similar looking logo, so therefore we must be the same company,” said Doug Hibbing, president of Cuppy’s. “But that’s simply not the case. Whenever I talk to a CPA or an attorney and provide documentation, that CPA or attorney clearly realizes that we are two separate unrelated entities. This confusion even lead to the IRS initially thinking that we were the same business. Fortunately for us, even that initial perception was corrected by the IRS’s review of our documentation. Hibbing and Robert Morgan (owner of Medina Enterprises, Inc.) believed that if the business model was operated as a franchise, the core ideas behind Java Jo’z would surpass all expectations. When the previous ownership decided to sell its assets, the two set out to build a viable, well-managed business with Hibbing at the helm of Cuppy’s and Morgan at Elite Manufacturing. Even though Cuppy’s Coffee has no legal liability to the previous licensees of Java Jo’z, Hibbing and Morgan have worked to accommodate their concerns. They have arranged a no-cost conversion option to former Java Jo’z licensees. In addition, Hibbing has offered a personal invitation and complimentary accommodations to licensees who want to visit the corporate headquarters in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. to see and learn first-hand the opportunities at Cuppy’s Coffee. Hibbing candidly admits he should have performed better due diligence. But there is a calm and determined demeanor that emanates from his voice and one can sense it isn’t the first time his determination has proved to be one of his strongest traits. “With the incredible staff that we have supporting our franchisees, I have no doubt that we can overcome any obstacles. We’re doing that everyday.” Hibbing said.

Hibbing’s openness seems to mesh naturally with one of his primary goals with Cuppy’s Coffee: Build a business with a reputation for integrity. “Despite inheriting the misdirected criticisms, the affable Hibbing hasn’t let it affect his enthusiasm for Cuppy’s Coffee. Cuppy’s has opened 11 new locations since last May, has 70 stores in development and another 114 franchisees with leases or letters of intent. “I saw an opportunity that was phenomenal in the QSR (quick service restaurant) specialty coffee industry,” Hibbing said. “It’s one of the fastest-growing segments of the coffee industry. I wanted to step in and take a share of that market.”

Combat Zone Wrestling presents H8

Combat Zone Wrestling Returns:

Saturday, February 10th 2007
It’s our 8-year Anniversary!
Doors Open: 7:00 PM – Bell Time 7:30 PM
New Alhambra Sports & Entertainment Center
7 Ritner Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148

At New Year, New Opportunities, Maven Bentley offered Nick Gage the Iron Man championship, or a shot at his brother, Justice Pain’s World championship. Nick Gage took the latter, and declared that he would “beat his brother like it was 2001″.

Following a violent match between Drake Younger and Danny Havoc for the Ultraviolent Underground championship, Vortekz interjected himself and received a devestating Drake’s Landing on a barbed wire board, setting up this three way match.

After a number of injuries, LuFisto was forced to forfeit her Iron Man championship. Undefeated in 2006, Adam Flash was deemed a top contender, along with fan favourite Chris Hero. The two men will square off to dertermine a new Iron Man Champion at H8.

The BLK OUT regained the Tag Team championship at New Year, New Opportunities, and are now set to defend the titles against two fast rising tag teams, of Team AnDrew and the New Jersey All-Stars, both of which have had a very heated 2006.

At New Year, New Opportunities, Jigsaw and Hallowicked’s Junior Heavyweight championship match was interrupted abruptly by both Niles Young and Derek Frazier, both claiming that they have been under-utilized in CZW in 2006.

Both Ryan McBride and the Great Blazini had impressive showings at New Year, New Opportunties, and now are set to possibly break out in 2007 – but only one man can win this match.

Visit CZW Wrestling at http://www.czwrestling.com

Samoa Joe leaving Ring of Honor

On the new Ring of Honor video wire, it is announced that superstar Samoa Joe will be parting ways with the company.

It is being said that TNA wrestling called for him to leave ROH, but that isn’t confirmed at this time.

Samoa Joe has a huge following on the internet, especially after his classic with Japanese mega-star Kenta Kobashi.

Recently he has been making a name for himself in TNA wrestling on SPIKE TV.

Samoa Joe has been getting a little internet heat lately though because when it came time for some big ROH matches, he would have to work lightly so he didn’t hurt his knee. This happened in several huge, advertised matches like Samoa Joe Vs Necro Butcher and the CZW Vs ROH Cage of Death match at Death Before Dishonor.

During the Cage of Death, he was “taken out” by a team member early on, and for Joe Vs Necro, he was completely replaced by fellow ROH star (and also a fellowTNA star) Homicide. Loyal ROH fans even began getting upset about it because they felt betrayed; ROH helped make him a big enough star that TNA would hire him, and now he was half-assing it when push came to shove for the big matches.

Because of all of this, there was really no where left for Samoa Joe to go in Ring of Honor. He had accomplished all he could, and I doubt they would want to risk too much more on him with his history of bailing out of huge matches.

You can see the announcement at ROHVideos.com

Is coffee a rip off?

Sure many college kids and truckers have depended on coffee to survive but I ask; is coffee a rip off?

The average 20 oz. bottle of Coca Cola can cost anywhere from .75 to $1.25. However the cheapest thing on the average Starbucks is about $1.50 for the small version (excluding green teas, ice cream, and of course coca cola itself.) I won’t just argue my side though; energy drinks like Red Bull cost about $2 dollars per can; so espresso drinks have them beat there.

But why do people choose espresso drinks? Why coffee? If the argument is to “wake up,” surely a healthy breakfast will do the trick just as well, and you won’t be as addicted to it.

Some toast and a smoothie would likely help wake you up as much as an espresso drink because of the natural sugar created. It may take longer, but hopefully the effect is better.

I can relate to the “on the go” mentality; I spent a lot of my life traveling the country in a car, staying in crappy hotels. So I know sometimes you don’t have the luxury of a nutritious breakfast; but in those circumstances, you could still have a smoothie from a place like cuppys coffee or even a muffin, they have them there too. And if there isn’t a cuppys coffee in your area, I am sure you can find something better for your system than coffee.

Some legal thoughts; also a review of lunch (Chik-Fil-A and a Cuppy’s Smoothie)

Recently I have been looking at the legal world a lot. I have been wanting to register a trademark to protect a project of mine, but why must we be so paranoid? Why do I have to go through so many legal spider webs to sleep safe at night?

If I own the domain names and there is no active trademark, shouldn’t I feel reasonably safe? I think I should; but this legal “quick to sue” world has me trembling in fear that the evil wrong-doers of the world are out to get me and take everything I have worked for.

This may seem trivial, but it haunts me daily. Brushing my teeth, I’ll be reminded that I need to register my trademark before something evil happens, despite owning all of the domain names based on the project (including misspellings, pluralization’s, etc). I’ll rent a video at the video store and think that the money should have gone to registering a trademark. Why has the world warped us into such fear? Why, even when we have an original idea, and have started the idea, are we still afraid that it isn’t enough? Even writing this I am afraid someone will read it and find my ideas and register it. It’s INSANE.

The legal world is something that is never going to go away. Law problems will always exist because people are paranoid and afraid; afraid that people are out to get them. People also can’t take responsibility when they spill coffee on themselves, so there is money to be made there.

I’m just tired of it. Tired of the lawyers, the law, the legal system in general; and I once wanted to be a lawyer!

Aside from all of this; lunch was pretty cool. Here at the office we had Chik-Fil-A and then washed it down with a cuppy’s coffee smoothie. Not a smoothie with coffee in it, but the name of the company is cuppys coffee and I had a smoothie from there; you figure it out.

No big plans for tonight; probably just going to go home and watch some DVD’s. I highly recommend Rammstein’s Volkerball if you are a fan of Rammstein; it’s 1,000 times better than Live Aus Berlin which was filmed rather poorly when compared to Volkerball. It features 5.1 DTS audio as well!

A morning rip off and Cuppy’s Coffee announces new drink line

So the other morning a girl I have been seeing goes to this local java joint to get her morning coffee. I forget the name of the place, but it was some long obnoxiously long name. The World’s Greatest Seattle Java Bean something or other.

Anyway she orders her drink normally and they don’t do it right. She clearly ordered her drink correctly, yet they screwed it up. She politely asked if they could correct her order, and they said they did it right the first time and asked for the next customer. What gives? We were in a hurry so I didn’t make a scene but man, what happened to customer service in this country? The customer is always right? All of that political mumbo jumbo?

To stick with the “java” theme, cuppys coffee announced their new drink line recently on their blog.

From the Cuppys coffee blog;

Cuppy’s new Frozen Latte line will be called Cuppy’s Dream Freezes and the new flavor names are:

• Chilla Vanilla
• Loca Mocha
• Carmel Marmel
• Green Zing (Green Tea)

Interesting concept they are going for, with the names kind of rhyming. Normally I would hate the entire cuppys coffee concept. I don’t like coffee; I don’t like family friendly, “safe” things like the name, “cuppys coffee” but they have good smoothies and I also follow the concept because in world where coffee companies are looked upon as these sophisticated, artistic, modern hangouts, I think cuppys coffee could be the Nirvana or the Extreme Championship Wrestling that comes along and breaks the mold of the industry forever.

The Nintendo Wii is trying to do the same thing; take video games away from being about graphics and make them more about game-play.

Revolutions happen all around us, and I would keep my mind and my eyes open because in a flash the world can change and if you aren’t careful; you can miss it.

Problems with my internet…

This is unrelated to pro-wrestling and Cuppys Coffee but man, I just keep having more and more problems with Cox Communications.

My problems really started when I bought my new plasma TV. I had no problem setting it up or any issue with the TV itself; but then the high-definition channels started to act up.

They would scramble every few seconds, then go back to normal. Annoyed and pissed off, I called Cox. I was paying for this expensive service, so why shouldn’t it work? Their explanation was that the signal was too weak. My setup was the outside line running into the house, into a splitter, then into my room. So they installed an amplifier on that splitter for I believe $70 bucks.

It worked great. Problem solved, I thought. Then I started having problems with my high speed Internet. Cox provides my Cable model and my high-speed Internet as well, so if I have a problem with my TV, I usually have a problem with my Internet.

Anyways the problem with the Internet was that it was cutting in and out, like the TV was. It would be fine, then I would get a “little or no connectivity” message and the Internet would stop working.

Thinking it was my Ethernet card on my laptop, I bought another Ethernet card. The problem persisted.

Again I called Cox out to my house. Keep in mind every time Cox makes a house call, they charge you something like $45 bucks even if they fix the problem or not.

So this time, this guy from Cox tells me all of the wiring in my house needs to be replaced, and that the splitter was installed in the wrong place. I don’t know what kind of con they have going on there, but it’s brilliant. They throw out some tech-lingo about the decibels being wrong, the noise level on my signal being too much, and that my DB is outputting far too much, so they tried to lower it. I translated that to mean that I was getting too fast of a service than I was supposed to, so they put a limit on it, but what do I know?

Completely amazed, I humor them and get the pricing info for all of this. Since I replaced the Ethernet card, it can only be a few things. The problem can only be coming from the modem, the wiring from the modem to the PC, or the wiring in the house itself, as they suggested.

However since I believe they are 100% full of #$%!, I send them on their way. When I get my next pay check I go to Best Buy and get myself a nice LinkSys wireless gateway, wireless connector for my X-Box 360 and a wireless ethernet card. This also solves the problem I was having with my Nintendo Wii, since I don’t think there is a wired-Internet adapter out yet for it; it’s wireless out of the box.

I hook it all up in about an hour. I call Cox to get them to re-send the signal to my modem and the guy gives me some crap about not being on the account (it’s in my parents name) despite knowing the pin number, address, their names, and calling from the number on the account. After thanking him for protecting us from thieves in the night that like to break into peoples homes and upgrade their Internet connections then flee into the night, he hooks me up.

It works for a bit and the problem persists. Now about $600 in the hole (minus whatever I have paid for the YEARS of service to Cox) I decide to give up and live lightly on the computer for a while.

Miraculously it fixes itself over Christmas vacation. My problems went away on their own. I still intend to replace the wiring for insurance, but I still don’t know what caused all of this trouble. It seems upgrading your technology can cause a mess of problems and your entire world to come crumbling down.

GO 2 SLEEP

That is KENTA’s finisher, the GO 2 SLEEP. KENTA rules, and that is all you need to know.

You can read more about KENTA at KENTA on Wikipedia.

I highly recommend checking out his recent matches here in the United States for Ring of Honor. There he has had matches with top competitors like Austin Aries, Davey Richards, Roderick Strong and even a match of the year candidate with Low Ki.

Also, I’m extremely happy to see the overwhelmingly positive response about my first post. I had no idea that so many people knew about Cuppys Coffee. Since there are so many online fans of Cuppys Coffee, maybe we should consider putting together some kind of online home for fans of Cuppys Coffee? I know that since I am a fan of Combat Zone Wrestling that I post on a forum called CZWFans.com, so maybe something similar should be set up for Cuppys Coffee?

Leave me a message and let me know what you think.