Best Starbucks Product Placement, Ever
posted Friday August 17, 2007 under north-korea, silly by jeffrey
U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill, center, sits with his delegate members attending the 2nd working group meeting on North Korea’s nuclear program at the Liaoning Friendship Convention Center in Shenyang, northeastern China, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007. Envoys to talks on North Korea’s nuclear program met Thursday in northeast China to discuss the next steps in ridding Pyongyang of its atomic ambitions. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Yes, that is a Starbucks cup, logo forward, in the image.
One wonders if Hill is thinking about a career as a pitch-man for the Seattle-based coffee company, just in case this whole “globe trotting statesman” thing doesn’t work out. I can only imagine the testimonials …
Often, when listening to one of Kim Kye-gwan’s extended monologues, I sometimes start to nod off. That’s when I reach for a doppio espresso from Starbucks …
Despite a gastronomic history stretching back thousands of years and a booming manufacturing sector, the Chinese people still can’t seem to combine the two in a decent espresso or properly steamed milk. That’s why I never go anywhere in China without a tall soy latte from Starbucks …
After a White House showing of the Manchurian Candidate, Dick Cheney’s staff now requires all State Department officials to carry poison pills when traveling abroad. I like knowing, if it ever came to that, my last beverage will be a half-caf venti low-fat Mochaccino from Starbucks …
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Man, this whole nuclear weapons negotiating thingy is a real bummer… You know what would really make things better? ORANGE MOCHA FRAPPUCHINOS!!!
— Haninah · Aug 17, 03:38 PM ·
“Caramel Macchiato – yet another weapon in the US arsenal of luxury goods.” Goes well with the “Can’t touch this” on the IPod.
— RS · Aug 17, 05:23 PM ·
More Christopher Hill Starbucks endorsements…
1. The ambassador explained to me Mao’s principle of guerrilla warfare: when they retreat, we attack. I explained my principle of diplomacy, when they flag, we caffeinate with a grande caramel macchiato.
2. If Lin Biao had a couple of these babies, he’d still be alive today.
3. The green tea Frappucino is a perfect meeting of East and West, yin and yang, Nixon and Mao.
4. I take that back. Tea sucks.
— august · Aug 17, 06:03 PM ·
Odd how that’s the most in-focus part of the photo.
— I'll take "Things Fissionable" for $24 million, Alex · Aug 17, 09:43 PM ·
This thing about STARBUCKS
is blowm way out of
proportion…..
— Ron Medler · Aug 18, 09:53 AM ·
“Kim Gye-gwan and I were trying to figure out, what could possibly be the equivalent of 950 thousand tons of fuel oil when I reached for a sip of my tall low-fat double macchiato from Starbucks. He asked if the stuff really gives me energy to keep going. I told him, ‘Mr. Kim, I believe we just found our equivalent.’”
— Anon · Aug 18, 11:15 AM ·
In terms of focus, I blurred everything other than the Starbucks in order to highlight it.
— Jeffrey Lewis · Aug 18, 12:04 PM ·
Awfully coincidental, less than a month after the Forbidden City thing…
( http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/324790_starbucks24.html )
— Doug Shaw · Aug 18, 01:42 PM ·
Lest we forget, Hu Jintao has already taken on the mantle of unofficial Starbucks promoter in Asia:
“If I were not serving in this office, I would certainly prefer to go into one of the coffee shops run by Starbucks,” said the usually reserved Hu.
http://english.people.com.cn/200604/20/eng20060420_259720.html
For a visual, check out http://blogenchine.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/Starbucks_Hu%20Jintao.jpg
— James · Aug 19, 11:10 AM ·
I think that is the same thing that Bush’s team did while trying to sell the WMD story in Iraq. Certainly a good example of distortion of the truth, and the difference between true journalism and blogs.
“In terms of focus, I blurred everything other than the Starbucks in order to highlight it.”
Jeffrey Lewis · Aug 18, 12:04 PM ·
— Scott G. · Aug 20, 08:12 AM ·
Unsubstantiated claim of the day:
“Starbucks sure beats the #@$% out of Seattle’s Best,” Chris Hill
— abcd · Aug 20, 08:53 AM ·
@Haninah
I mean, drink tanks have responded for years by imbibing heavily. I hear the world isn’t safe yet, so why not try simple carbs?
— Eric Hundman · Aug 20, 09:15 AM ·
The blog post also included a link to the original picture on the Washington Post.
Get off it.
— Jeffrey Lewis · Aug 20, 09:20 AM ·
“It’s not always easy keeping the world’s most dangerous weapons out of the hands of the world’s most dangerous people.
My favorite tool in the counterterrorism toolbox? Starbucks double-shot. Enough caffeine to keep me going. Enough cream to keep us on the offensive.”
— Brian · Aug 20, 10:40 AM ·
So… there is a Starbucks in North Korea? Where did he get it from?
— Winston · Aug 20, 11:30 AM ·
No, the Six Party talks usually occur in China. This time they are in Shenyang, which has four Starbucks.
Given that Hill stays at the InterContinental (208 Nanjing N. St.), my guess is that the workers at the 206 Nanjing N. St. location were treated to an appearance by "boyish US envoy" who has become a "heartthrob in China."
— Jeffrey Lewis · Aug 20, 11:54 AM ·
“It’s the latest from the DARPA brats, Mr. Hill. Point the logo at a person and you can hear what he’s thinking.”
“And the logo?”
“After the Forbidden City shutdown, Starbucks was willing to do anything to get even. They practically begged to be the cover.”
— MTC · Aug 20, 06:16 PM ·
FYI starbucks OWNS seattles best…
— fred · Aug 22, 11:30 PM ·
To be honest, Fred, I was previously unaware of this. But Starbucks apparently hasn’t shared with Seattle’s Best their secret to making GOOD coffee. It’d be like lumping Old Navy and Banana Republic together, even though they are owned by the same parent company.
— abcd · Aug 23, 08:37 AM ·
He’s trying to promote capitalism in N. Korea:
“We’ll open a Starbucks if we can open sweatshops. You know you want to, Kim.”
— Binh · Aug 23, 10:14 AM ·