I think I've explained this to you all before, but one more time perhaps is in order.

The "invention" of Starbucks happened when a broker speculating on "coffee futures" ended up stuck with actually buying an enormous quantity when everyone else realized that it was burnt beyond use for the then existing commercial joe-istas.

Forming an alliance with a down-and-out wannabe entrepreneur, together they realized that if the doctored it up with enough milk/cream/syrup/froth and told people it was something new, and especially if they charged an outrageous price for it, the "yuppie generation" (FKAGB^*) would snatch it up eagerly.

They succeeded far beyond even their own wildest dreams - because people are stupid. (Always a safe bet, but in this enterprise yuppiedom outdid itself.)

Development problems plagued the early days of Starbucks when they found it difficult to convince coffee suppliers that they really did want to buy burnt beans but that hurdle has been (apparently) overcome.

If you happen to be blessed with a loved one who believes that "spending money extravagantly" is a treat, and have given up searching for the unattainable reason why you still love them, and hang around despite not understanding why, you likely will be forced, occasionally, to partake.

As bad as Starslush is, the occasional accidental encounter with "imitators" should quickly convince you that there really is a degree of skill and art in serving it up as they do at Starbucks. (The "coffee tent" at WVA for the past 8 or 9 years is a prime example of the "less comptetent immitator." He tries, but ...)

As the three hour shutdown was advertised as a "training session" it would be nice to assume that the intent was to assure that Starbucks barristas are properly trained in the art of making bad coffee taste less than really bad. Unfortuntately, my assumption would be that the main subject of the lesson plans was

            SALESMANSHIP AND MARKETING.

But then I've been accused of being something of a cynic.

^*FKAGB = "Formerly Known As Greedy Bastards" (a common definition of "yuppie").

John