In one of the harsher signs of the recession we’re not in, the gourmet coffee giant Starbucks recently announced that they were closing 600 stores in order to try and stave off revenue losses. If your as big an addict to some of their coffees as I am, this was worrisome news. I live in a tiny town 45 miles south of Atlanta, and was certain we were going to lose the store here - but it survived. Also, my absolute favorite location - their store near the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Beach has been spared. California takes the hardest hit, losing 88 locations, with Florida second at 59 store closings.

Once rather affectionately referred to as “Fourbucks” - which is now what we rather unaffectionately call a gallon of gasoline, and soon a gallon of milk - Starbucks has turned its rather aggressive expansion plans upside down after mounting losses over recent months. Their fate is nowhere near as bad as GM - who’s stock has dropped to its lowest point in 60 years, and like many other companies, and now state governments, is being hammered by lost revenue.

John McCain, who really, really, really wants to “not be Bush” had to accept the resignation of his campaign manager this week, Phil Gramm - after comments last week that America was a “nation of whiners” whose constant complaints about the U.S. economy show they are in a “mental recession.” Way to stay in touch with the masses, Phil.

That sure doesn’t seem very sympathetic to the 5,000+ employees of Starbucks who are now about to join the list of mentally unemployed.

To see if your favorite Bucks stops here, this is the list of closures.