Oxford Word Of The Year: Locavore

The New Oxford American Dictionary has announced its 2007 Word of the Year.

That new addition is: locavore.

“Locavore” was coined two years ago by a group of four women in San Francisco who proposed that local residents should try to eat only food grown or produced within a 100-mile radius. Other regional movements have emerged since then, though some groups refer to themselves as “localvores” rather than “locavores.” However it’s spelled, it’s a word to watch.

Runners-up for the 2007 Word of the Year include:

aging in place: the process of growing older while living in one’s own residence, instead of having to move to a new home or community.

cloudware: online applications, such as webmail, powered by massive data storage facilities, also called “cloud servers”

cougar: an older woman who romantically pursues younger men

mumblecore: an independent film movement featuring low-budget production, non-professional actors, and largely improvised dialogue

previvor: a person who has not been diagnosed with a form of cancer but has survived a genetic predisposition for cancer

social graph: the network of one’s friends and connections on social websites such as Facebook and Myspace

upcycling: the transformation of waste materials into something more useful or valuable

as per Oxford University Press

Starbucks Net Rises 35%

Starbucks Corp. posted quarterly profit that rose 35 percent on higher prices. The retailer lowered its sales and earnings forecasts after U.S. customer visits fell, sending the shares down 8 percent.

Starbucks lost customers after a 9-cent-per-cup price increase in late July caused consumers concerned about higher food, fuel and housing expenses to go to McDonald's Corp. or Dunkin' Donuts LLC stores instead.

Hm.

Let's face it, folks. It comes down to Annie's Bottom dollar, right? And nowbody wants to pay higher prices. So, let's hope milk prices drop and prices generally drop a bit so that instead of paying 4 whole dollars for a Venti Macchiato, we could all pay a measly $3.98. Because, $3.98 is just so reasonable for a cup of coffee, as my folks put it.

Decadence, Starbucks customer, is thy name!