Today Starbucks all over are closing for 190 caffeine-free minutes. The blackout (hold the cream and sugar) is set for 5:30pm, so be prepared for a temporary Venti Soy Latte drought. Even more disturbing for Starbuckistas, however, is the sign above. The "Dear John" letter is from an 8th Street outlet (between 5th and University) and addressed to its loyal patrons. A closing Starbucks? Creepy, indeed. As for the 8th Street regulars, looks like......

Starbucks rarely fails to provoke strong opinions among a group of people, even including its employees. Earlier today we posted on a barista who sent a memo to the company's corporate HQ to express her displeasure with a new policy of identifying beverages made with skim or low-fat milk and artificial sweetener as Skinny. Our readers weighed in with their own opinions on the matter. Reader msk actually encountered a group of Starbucks baristas......