Ok, so maybe Cartoon Friday will become a thing, and maybe it won't. But, today, it is totally a thing. Jody found this super sweet cartoon on YouTube, and you all need to see it, too. (Turns out, between her super big time national media interviews and live spots frosting up huckleberry cupcakes on KOMO, Bosslady likes to kick back and unwind with a little of the YouTube.) It's a super simple, easily digestible, there's-no-way-you-can't-understand-this summation of the public health care option. Plus, it's animated, lime green, and one of the stick figures has two heads, or as some like to say DOUBLE HEADS!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
It's poster show time again!
You may remember waaay back in 2007, we sponsored a little thing called the Seattle-Havana Poster Show. Curated by Daniel R .Smith, the show featured a collection of silk-screened posters from artists in Seattle, WA and Havana, Cuba. Using the similarities in aesthetic and thematic content as a launching pad, the project commented on larger cultural issues that spoke to the medium and subject matter of the pieces. It was pretty bad A.
We were so stoked on Seattle-Havana, that last year we sponsored the Seattle-Tehran Poster Show. Dan was back at it, curating a collection of posters from a culture in which any form of expression can be considered a politically charged activity and juxtaposing it with the current body of poster art in Seattle, a culture in which people say whatever they please. In a city where poster art is as ubiquitous traffic signs, the idea of a poster as a self-contained statement from within a much larger cultural conversation was pretty profound. We were like, totally diggin' what Dan was doin'.
Luckily, he's still doing it! He's back this year with the Seattle-Moscow Poster Show. As the others did before it, Seattle-Moscow will premiere at Bumbershoot and then move its way through our cafés. We can't wait to see this new work on our walls, and are so glad to be a part of this series again. This year, you can help out, too. Dan is currently in the running for a $10,000 grant to help fund the exhibit. Turns out, going to Moscow is not free. Neither is getting a body of artwork from Moscow to Seattle. Neither is hanging an art show. The grant is from Portland-based do-gooder clothing company Nau. Follow THIS LINK to their site. Log in. Vote for Dan. And then revel in your own do-goodery. Brag about it a little. Especially if it gets your friends to go to the site and do the same.
For more info on the Seattle-Moscow Poster show, and to buy the super sweet show catalogue, CLICK HERE.
We were so stoked on Seattle-Havana, that last year we sponsored the Seattle-Tehran Poster Show. Dan was back at it, curating a collection of posters from a culture in which any form of expression can be considered a politically charged activity and juxtaposing it with the current body of poster art in Seattle, a culture in which people say whatever they please. In a city where poster art is as ubiquitous traffic signs, the idea of a poster as a self-contained statement from within a much larger cultural conversation was pretty profound. We were like, totally diggin' what Dan was doin'.
Luckily, he's still doing it! He's back this year with the Seattle-Moscow Poster Show. As the others did before it, Seattle-Moscow will premiere at Bumbershoot and then move its way through our cafés. We can't wait to see this new work on our walls, and are so glad to be a part of this series again. This year, you can help out, too. Dan is currently in the running for a $10,000 grant to help fund the exhibit. Turns out, going to Moscow is not free. Neither is getting a body of artwork from Moscow to Seattle. Neither is hanging an art show. The grant is from Portland-based do-gooder clothing company Nau. Follow THIS LINK to their site. Log in. Vote for Dan. And then revel in your own do-goodery. Brag about it a little. Especially if it gets your friends to go to the site and do the same.
For more info on the Seattle-Moscow Poster show, and to buy the super sweet show catalogue, CLICK HERE.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Gettin' our Stamp on...on CNN
Hey you know those "Health Care Now" stamps we've been putting on all of our coffee cups? Well, CNN caught wind of it and sent Patrick Oppman to our Capitol Hill café to interview Jody about it. It aired today on the TV, but for those of you missed it or don't have one of those, here it is:
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Dolly Parton. Lily Tomlin. Jane Fonda. The moustache guy. You. Me. Tomorrow.
Oh geez.
Yup, that's a party. Nope, its a movie! And it's playing tomorrow night under the stars in Cal Anderson Park. Thanks to the folks at Three Dollar Bill Cinema, you can enjoy one last cinematic spectacular from the year 1980 al fresco, as they wrap up their Outdoor Cinema series with Nine to Five. If you have never seen this movie, holy boy. You are in for it. And if you have seen this movie, you already know what you're in for. And you can't wait.
We're big fans of Three Dollar Bill Cinema, producers of Seattle's Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. We sponsor the film fest every year, so we decided to sponsor Outdoor Cinema, too. If you do come out for the retro film funtimes tomorrow night (and you know you should,) make sure you stop by the concession stand. We've donated babycakes for them to sell to all you sugar-starved filmgoers, and all the money they make, they keep. That way they can keep on doing super awesome stuff like this, the film fest, and Cineoke.
It all goes down at dusk. Zing. Bring your blanket, your pillow, your friend, your lover, your dog, whatever. Just be there.
Friday, August 14, 2009
We loved this comment so much, we turned it into a post.
Blog reader "kmt" had the following things to say in response to some of the comments we got on our post "Liar, liar, pants on fire. (P.S. Your flammable skin is a pre-existing condition, and your treatment will not be covered.) We love this comment...even though it uses a swear word. There is a considerable dearth of overtly persuasive messaging coming from the pro-reform side of the health care conversation. While everyone who is afraid of reform comes to the table armed with falsified images of "socialist death panels," "Soviet-style rationing," and other chimera from the deep PR pockets of private insurance propaganda, the stories of people who are left either dead or bankrupt on a daily basis by our current system are being drowned out. So, here's one. Thanks kmt.
On Friday Aug 14th, kmt wrote:
as for healthcare, for all you folks saying that all government cares about is the bottom line, what exactly do you think private insurers care about? the people? trust me, your private insurers don't give a shit about you. they don't care who dies--as long as they get their profits. i say this from first hand experience.
my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer at 48 and given 9 months to live. her private insurance refused to cover her chemo. i considered selling everything i had and taking out a loan to get her chemo, but it would only cover 1 and a half rounds (chemo was $20,000 per treatment there are 3 treatments in a round). so to say that existing private healthcare insurers are somehow benevolent people acting in your best interest, has been proven to be ridiculous (we aren't just hypothesizing here, go see Erin Brokovich or sick or any other movie/documentary about healthcare in the US). if you're poor, trust me they are already euthanizing "your grandmother" and your mother.
they just don't aren't euthanizing the grandmothers of of rich, predominantly white folks YET. it's completely a class issue (you'll notice almost everyone arguing against some form of universal coverage has the money to afford good healthcare--or at least healthcare they 'think' is good until something goes wrong). you can try to scare folks with this rhetoric, but the truth is that we know the "scary things" that you're saying (government only cares about the bottom line) are already happening in our health care system. it's all just a lot of propaganda put out by private insurance companies and people who have a lot to lose if there is a public option. it's all just to scare people into having a knee-jerk reaction. it's all just people trying to hold onto their money and trying to scare us into making a choice that is actually against our best interests as a nation because "we're scared."
On Friday Aug 14th, kmt wrote:
as for healthcare, for all you folks saying that all government cares about is the bottom line, what exactly do you think private insurers care about? the people? trust me, your private insurers don't give a shit about you. they don't care who dies--as long as they get their profits. i say this from first hand experience.
my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer at 48 and given 9 months to live. her private insurance refused to cover her chemo. i considered selling everything i had and taking out a loan to get her chemo, but it would only cover 1 and a half rounds (chemo was $20,000 per treatment there are 3 treatments in a round). so to say that existing private healthcare insurers are somehow benevolent people acting in your best interest, has been proven to be ridiculous (we aren't just hypothesizing here, go see Erin Brokovich or sick or any other movie/documentary about healthcare in the US). if you're poor, trust me they are already euthanizing "your grandmother" and your mother.
they just don't aren't euthanizing the grandmothers of of rich, predominantly white folks YET. it's completely a class issue (you'll notice almost everyone arguing against some form of universal coverage has the money to afford good healthcare--or at least healthcare they 'think' is good until something goes wrong). you can try to scare folks with this rhetoric, but the truth is that we know the "scary things" that you're saying (government only cares about the bottom line) are already happening in our health care system. it's all just a lot of propaganda put out by private insurance companies and people who have a lot to lose if there is a public option. it's all just to scare people into having a knee-jerk reaction. it's all just people trying to hold onto their money and trying to scare us into making a choice that is actually against our best interests as a nation because "we're scared."
Did you see it?! Did you see it?!
We were featured on the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams last night! Chief Science & Health correspondent, Robert Bazell, came to our Ballard cafe back in May to chat with Jody about health care reform and small businesses. He also had a real nice interview with froster extraordinaire Ali Masterson (nevernudes, hot pink helmets, any of this ring a bell?) about how super awesome it is to have health insurance when you get hit by a car on your bike. It aired last night, and you can watch it right now by CLICKING HERE.
PLUS there's some super sweet footage of our Ballard friends 'n' neighbors over at Velouria and Sonic Boom.
Yay Ballard!
Yay small business!
Boo private insurance and their absurdly high costs and deplorable practices.
Now let's get on out there and get us some health care reform.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Liar, liar, pants on fire. (P.S. Your flammable skin is a pre-existing condition, and your treatment will not be covered.)
Oh you know we love talkin' about that health care reform. MoveOn.org is circulating a little thing called the Top Five Health Care Reform Lies—and How to Fight Back. Here they are, and here are our responses.
Lie #1: President Obama wants to euthanize your grandma.
Get serious. Barack Obama doesn't even know your grandma. And if he did, we bet he'd love her. He'd probably give her a cupcake. What's the truth behind this little bit of verbal ridiculosity? Reform legislation includes a provision, supported by the AARP, to offer senior citizens access to a professional medical counselor who will provide them with information on preparing a living will, as well as aid them in tackling other tough issues facing older Americans. If you paid more attention to the older Americans in your life, you would realize they are facing many. Some people, (who smells Palin?) have referred to this service as a "death panel." Nope. That's not a thing.
To be fair, she's not much of a "reader."
Lie #2: Democrats are going to outlaw private insurance and force you into a government plan.
One more time, the goal behind health care reform is to give the people of these United States MORE choices. You currently have very few, because the market is cornered by private insurance. A government plan will be the competition these big companies need to get in check. Competition drives down costs and empowers the consumer. It's called capitalism. The consumer? You. We've said it once, and we'll say it again - you betta shop around. And with a public plan, now you can. You like your current insurance? La ti da - keep it! Don't like it? Or, don't have any? Boom - now you do. A government funded public option: that is a CHOICE. "Option" and "choice" are, in fact, synonyms.
Like Smokey's mama said, you betta shop around.
Lie #3: President Obama wants to implement Soviet-style rationing.
Did you just say Soviet-style? Come ON. Ever heard of a pre-existing condition? What about an astronomically high deductible? What about just straight up being denied coverage for care you received (see "flammable skin")? Chances are, you have, because big insurance loves to throw those things in your face. All the time. The choke hold that private insurance has on health care, THAT is rationing. And it's super gross. That's why we need to curb vile practices like that with a universal plan. U⋅ni⋅ver⋅sal coverage. Well now, that's pretty much the opposite of rationing.
We tire of your silly, outdated references to the Soviet bloc.
Lie #4: Obama is secretly plotting to cut senior citizens' Medicare benefits.
This obsession you have with painting Obama as some soulless young whippersnapper hell-bent on ridding the world of our beloved and respected septuagenarian population is very unbecoming. Let it go. Obama's plan includes measures to free up billions in Medicare dollars that are currently being doled out in overpayments to...any guesses?...private insurance companies.
Old is awesome.
Lie #5: Obama's health care plan will bankrupt America.
First, you picked a really cute time to get all up in arms about practices you feel might threaten the financial stability of these United States. Is that a joke? Well, a little more research will show you that this country is sinking absurd amounts of dollars into this decrepit health care system you insist on preserving. It is unsustainable. We spend more money on health care in a day than AIG spends on private jets for a year (That statistic was entirely fabricated for effect.) Health care reform is an investment in this country's future, and while we're all a little wary of the "i-word" these days, this, folks, is a good one. Put the money down now to save tons of monies - and lives - later. It's called "planning ahead," and it's a pretty good idea.
Our current system, only without that cutie young Tom Hanks.
Go to MoveOn.org to check out the super fancy facts and statistics behind all of this. And then forward this along to all your friends. We need real reform. Real bad. Right now. Let's get it done.
Lie #1: President Obama wants to euthanize your grandma.
Get serious. Barack Obama doesn't even know your grandma. And if he did, we bet he'd love her. He'd probably give her a cupcake. What's the truth behind this little bit of verbal ridiculosity? Reform legislation includes a provision, supported by the AARP, to offer senior citizens access to a professional medical counselor who will provide them with information on preparing a living will, as well as aid them in tackling other tough issues facing older Americans. If you paid more attention to the older Americans in your life, you would realize they are facing many. Some people, (who smells Palin?) have referred to this service as a "death panel." Nope. That's not a thing.
To be fair, she's not much of a "reader."
Lie #2: Democrats are going to outlaw private insurance and force you into a government plan.
One more time, the goal behind health care reform is to give the people of these United States MORE choices. You currently have very few, because the market is cornered by private insurance. A government plan will be the competition these big companies need to get in check. Competition drives down costs and empowers the consumer. It's called capitalism. The consumer? You. We've said it once, and we'll say it again - you betta shop around. And with a public plan, now you can. You like your current insurance? La ti da - keep it! Don't like it? Or, don't have any? Boom - now you do. A government funded public option: that is a CHOICE. "Option" and "choice" are, in fact, synonyms.
Like Smokey's mama said, you betta shop around.
Lie #3: President Obama wants to implement Soviet-style rationing.
Did you just say Soviet-style? Come ON. Ever heard of a pre-existing condition? What about an astronomically high deductible? What about just straight up being denied coverage for care you received (see "flammable skin")? Chances are, you have, because big insurance loves to throw those things in your face. All the time. The choke hold that private insurance has on health care, THAT is rationing. And it's super gross. That's why we need to curb vile practices like that with a universal plan. U⋅ni⋅ver⋅sal coverage. Well now, that's pretty much the opposite of rationing.
We tire of your silly, outdated references to the Soviet bloc.
Lie #4: Obama is secretly plotting to cut senior citizens' Medicare benefits.
This obsession you have with painting Obama as some soulless young whippersnapper hell-bent on ridding the world of our beloved and respected septuagenarian population is very unbecoming. Let it go. Obama's plan includes measures to free up billions in Medicare dollars that are currently being doled out in overpayments to...any guesses?...private insurance companies.
Old is awesome.
Lie #5: Obama's health care plan will bankrupt America.
First, you picked a really cute time to get all up in arms about practices you feel might threaten the financial stability of these United States. Is that a joke? Well, a little more research will show you that this country is sinking absurd amounts of dollars into this decrepit health care system you insist on preserving. It is unsustainable. We spend more money on health care in a day than AIG spends on private jets for a year (That statistic was entirely fabricated for effect.) Health care reform is an investment in this country's future, and while we're all a little wary of the "i-word" these days, this, folks, is a good one. Put the money down now to save tons of monies - and lives - later. It's called "planning ahead," and it's a pretty good idea.
Our current system, only without that cutie young Tom Hanks.
Go to MoveOn.org to check out the super fancy facts and statistics behind all of this. And then forward this along to all your friends. We need real reform. Real bad. Right now. Let's get it done.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
RE-BLOG!
We're SO excited about being on THEIR blog, that we're writing about it on OUR blog!
The New York Times, that is.
They came by our new café on Capitol Hill last week to take some photos and feature it as the work of art it truly is. Brooke Hodge, L.A. based design writer and curator, wrote THIS POST about our new digs in her bi-weekly column "Seeing Things."
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Love Thy Neighbor
And boy do we ever. That's why it breaks our cupcake hearts to think that our neighbors and superfriends over at the Northwest Film Forum are in some dire straights right now. They need to raise $70,000 by August 15th to offset their budget deficit and avoid cutting staff and programming for the coming year.
In order to do this, they're asking for $10 from 10,000 people. Seems easy enough to us. By donating the price of a movie ticket, we can all feel good about the fact that we can keep on seeing the amazing films they play at the Film Forum. Seattle is immeasurably lucky to have an arts organization like them in our city. From the programming we see on their screens, to the classes they teach, to the local filmmakers they fund and support, to full on film festivals like Local Sightings, to the killer parties they throw, this city is by far better off because of all that they do.
So walk it in, mail it in, or click here to make your donation of just $10 to keep the Northwest Film Forum running at full force. Your money will help truly great films be seen, local and innovative films be made, and countless filmgoers and filmmakers be inspired.
And just in case this little plea wasn't quite sappy enough, can we please just take a moment to acknowledge how hard SubPop rocks?! Not in the way you already knew they did, but in the way that they support their fellow lovers of the arts. Sub Pop has pledged to match all donations up to $10,000. That's right people. So cool. We didn't think we could love Sub Pop anymore than we already did, but, turns out, we could. And now we do.
Art for August!
Hi folks! Allow me to interrupt your regularly scheduled blog for a quick introduction. I'm Joey Veltkamp and I'm Cupcake Royale's newest curator. Bosslady Jody has really been stepping up her game lately. If you've been to the new location on Capitol Hill, you've probably noticed the store itself is a piece of art. But don't worry, she hasn't gotten all highfalutin' -- the art will still be locally sourced (just like her ingredients) and focused on community (just like her cafes).
Gretchen McAllister returns to Ballard to share her flashy portraits of people we love. Her paintings are acrylic on birch board and always brighten up the space. The show in untitled but with a painting of Dolly, does it really need a title? Speaking of Dolly, don't forget we're sponsoring Three Dollar Bill Cinema's presentation of 9 to 5 in Cal Anderson Park on Aug 21.
Heading Home by Grego Rachko
Painter Grego Rachko just installed a great show in Madrona. It's chock full of his still lifes and crowds. In fact, it's even called Still Life and Crowds. Grego also shows at La Familia Gallery, The Hideout and other great art-viewing places. The show just opened and he's already sold a piece or two. Swing by and check it out before they're all gone.
Slugbug of '77 by Alisha Baker
Soon to be showing in West Seattle is artist Alisha Baker. Her new show is titled Along the Way and consists of oil and acrylic paintings on found objects. Alisha just received her BFA from UW and is heavily influenced by the outdoors, especially the oceans.
Flat Screen Figurine by Claudia Fitch
And lastly, Roy McMakin has curated a real nice show for the debut of the new Capitol Hill location. It's got new pieces by Claudia Fitch, Ken Kelly, Jeffry Mitchell and yours truly. Ken Kelly's pinkish-red painting in the front has been blowing everyone away.
If you're interested in showing your great art in our great cupcake & coffee houses, please shoot me an email at veritecoffeeart@gmail.com. Look forward to hearing from you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
