What's in a Name, Starbucks

Seems appropriate when talking about coffee to add this tidbit from Starbucks. “The name, inspired by Moby Dick evoked the romance of the high seas and the seafaring tradition of the early coffee traders. Our mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit.”

During 1971, when Starbucks was first coming to be, it was searching for a way to capture the seafaring history of coffee and Seattle’s strong seaport roots. The owners read old marine books. They found a 16th century Norse woodcut of a twin-tailed mermaid, or Siren. There was something about her – a seductive mystery mixed with a nautical theme that was exactly what the founders were looking for. The logo was designed around her, and their long relationship with the Siren began. Lofty goals, a mermaid, and coffee are all good ways to start a Friday.

Annual Rainfall

While checking a city and looking at annual rainfall can be interesting, it may not be informative. For instance, Houston, Texas gets 49 inches of rain annually, which is more rain than Seattle, which gets only 38 inches of annual rainfall. The key difference is Seattle has a relatively high amount of days per year with relatively light rain, 158 vs. Houston with 104 rainy days. Seattle also has 226 cloudy days per year.

Wordology, Skid Row

The term “Skid Road” or “Skid Row,” a slang term for a run-down or dilapidated urban area, was an actual road in Seattle, Washington during the late 1800′s. The real name of the road was Yesler Way (now better known as Pioneer Square),  and it was the main street along which logs were transported.  It soon became a rather sketchy street that loggers began to call “Skid Road.” It also became the dividing line between the affluent people of Seattle and the mill workers along with the more impoverished population of the city. It didn’t take long for the name to catch on and eventually stick.

Package Delivery

In 1907 in Seattle a teenager named Jim Casey borrowed $100 from his friend, Claude Ryan, and started a local delivery service named American Messenger Company. They provided round-the-clock customer service with courtesy, reliability and low rates.

In 1913 they merged with Mac McCabe and formed Merchants Parcel Delivery. It was the first company to consolidate packages with similar street destinations on one delivery truck. The trucks were painted dark brown color to portray a professional appearance.

They expanded to Oakland and Los Angeles, California. and changed the name to United Parcel Service.  UPS now operates a small package and document network in more than 200 countries and can reach over four billion people.”

What's in a Name

Iowa and DOA: The state changed the name of its Department of Elder Affairs to the Department on Aging, or DOA, in 2009. It has since learned the unintended consequences of the acronym and changed to IDA, for Iowa Department on Aging.

Sioux City and SUX: The Sioux City Iowa Gateway Airport has the FAA moniker of “SUX.” Airport authorities petitioned for a new code, and the FAA (not a joke) offered them “GAY” recognizing the “Gateway” part of the airport’s name. The city declined. Other contenders are Fresno’s "FAT", and Perm, Russia’s is "PEE."

Seattle and SLUT:  In 2007, Seattle opened a new streetcar line connecting the South Lake Union neighborhood to downtown. The project was officially called the South Lake Union Streetcar, but local residents began calling it the South Lake Union Trolley, or SLUT. The city tried to change the opinion, but residents still refer to it as the SLUT. Some local places sell t-shirts that read, “Ride the SLUT.”

What's in a Name

Richard Gere's real middle name is Tiffany.

************

Chief Seattle (more correctly known as Seathl) was the leader of the Suquamish and Duwamish Native American tribes and was known for his daring courage and leadership. He gained control of six of the local tribes while maintaining a good relationship with the Europeans.

In 1852 out of respect, the early settlers at Duwamps renamed the town Seattle.