I know this is going to cause me much trouble here, but I LOVE WAL-MART, and I love capitalism!!! Great prices, cheap crap, and really great cheap drugs and bathroom goods. I think Wal-Mart has empowered more poor people who need food, clothing, furniture, you name it, by providing goods at MUCH MUCH cheaper prices, than the small businesses that they put under, which were charging way more, in turn costing poor people much more of their hard earned cash. My brother in law works as an exec at Wal-Mart, has a great job and makes a ton of cash, my aunt works there as a lower down, and makes a fair wage for her education level, and gets fairly decent medical coverage. They've both worked there for over a decade and absolutely love the place. I think it's a big, easy target, and often gets unfairly beat up. Before Wal-Mart MANY people didn't have access to the cheap, yet decent goods that Wal-Mart sells, and I think it's helped lift a lot of people out of poverty. Just my 2 cents...
Starbucks coffee sucks though...and it's WAY to pricey. I'd take Folgers in a coffee maker over Starbucks any day of the week.
Lastly, it is a pity about Amek, they were making some decent stuff.