Posts filed under 'Ramblings'
They say it’s good for your health to laugh at least ten minutes a day, so…here’s a list of signs you’re drinking too much coffee, enjoy! (source)
You’re Drinking Too Much Coffee When . . .
Juan Valdez named his donkey after you.
You ski uphill.
You get a speeding ticket even when you’re parked.
You speed walk in your sleep.
You have a bumper sticker that says: “Coffee drinkers are good in the sack.”
You answer the door before people knock.
You haven’t blinked since the last lunar eclipse.
You just completed another sweater and you don’t know how to knit.
You grind your coffee beans in your mouth.
You sleep with your eyes open.
…(continued)…
Read more …
December 21st, 2006
I know this is totally off topic, but I had to let you know about a new iPod dock from Pressure Drop called the JukeDock. It fits any iPod with a dock connector and has an adjustable back stop to fit the different sizes - mine works great with my iPod Mini and my iPod Nano. It has a USB connection to your computer, and of course audio and video outputs. The lights can be put into a few different modes; there’s a jukebox-like light cycling mode, a steady illumination, the pulse-to-the-music ‘party’ mode, and my favorite, one where it slowly cycles through all of the colors (the speed of the cycling is adjustable). Lastly, you can program it to work with just about any remote control to control all the functions of your iPod. It’s available now from Pressure Drop for $99. (read more at PlayListMag, Gizmodo, or iLounge).
November 20th, 2006
Ok, so this has nothing to do with coffee, but…I came across the text of a speech Steve Jobs gave at a college graduation in 2005. It’s inspiring and thoughtful, definitely worth reading! See the rest of this entry for the full text. (source)
Read more …
November 6th, 2006
The New York Times has a neat article about the smaller coffee shops - not Starbucks, but those one-offs that, if you’re lucky, you’ll find in your local neighborhood. It goes on to talk about the differences in the drinks (and quality) you’ll find there. My favorite local cafe is The Bean Scene in Sunnyvale - good coffee, good ambiance, though they don’t roast their own beans. For that, the Los Gatos Roasting Company is a fantastic choice, but too far for me to frequent.
September 16th, 2006
My wife and I just returned from a short vacation in Las Vegas. We hadn’t been there in a few years, and I was really surprised by the proliferation of Starbucks. From all appearances, they’ve taken replaced all the existing coffee shops, maybe even added a few. Luxor had *two*, for example! I never did get a chance to get an espresso at anywhere BUT Starbucks. Now, this may not be a bad thing if the quality weren’t so incredibly awful. The biggest problem as the service; out of four Starbucks drinks I ordered there, the only one that was done right was the one in the airport. First, there was the experience ordering a short cappucino, an off-menu drink that I much prefer to the tall. The cashier was clueless. Rang me up for a tall cappucino, I then asked why a short cappucino is the same price as a tall (it never is), and was informed that they don’t have that size (grr). Happened in two different Starbucks. My other favorite drink is an espresso machiatto. So, I ordered one at the Starbucks in the Monte Carlo casino. “Doppio Espresso Machiato, please”. The cashier responded “a what?”; I repeated myself, as did he, a few times. He got the ‘espresso machiatto’, and repeated that back to me. “A doppio”, I said. “A what?” “Doppio.” “What?” “Doppio, a double.” To which this clerk responded, “Oh, I don’t speak that Italian stuff.” My response: “But it’s printed on the menu right behind you!!!” Sad. I went through the same ordeal trying to get the same drink at the Luxor Starbucks. The guy finally rang me up for one, though I noticed the amount was for a solo (single) and he never told the barrista to make it a doppio. I asked the guy if he got that it’s a double, he said of course, and told the barrista to make sure it’s a double. The result was weak, I think they just did a long shot instead of a double. The whole experience really soured me on Starbucks; it’s bad enough that they’ve displaced all the other coffee shops that used to be there (such as the one in Excalibur), but it’s even worse when the quality just plain SUCKS.
July 10th, 2006
Starbucks had a darn good quarter, with sales increasing 24% and net income per share increasing 33% (via Bloomberg news). They’re expanding their lineup, adding hot breakfast sandwiches and lunch items. So, where is this all going? Straight downhill, that’s where. If they maintained espresso as the core of their business I’d respect that, but I see it going the other way. I stopped by a new Starbucks location in Fremont (California) the other day. It looked like all the others, naturally, but that’s OK as those stores typically have a warm, friendly feel to them. Feeling adventurous, I ordered a double tall latte, a drink I used to enjoy before switching to short cappucinos and espresso machiatos. Glancing behind the counter, though, I was surprised to see just how far Starbucks has embraced technology. Their espresso machine was a fully automated system, just press the button. No grinding, no tamping. In spite of that, the barista still managed to screw something up, with the cashier asking him if he had pressed the button twice as espresso was still coming out (he didn’t know). As much as I love technology, I believe there are some things that are best left to a skilled hand, tamping and drawing a shot of espresso is one of those things (let’s see a machine even attempt latte art!). Seeing this, I’m just less and less interested in Starbucks. Sure, they’re fine for a quick pick me up, but they really are the McDonald’s of the coffee world. The only chain I enjoy is Peet’s, but it’s the independent local coffee shops that I really enjoy.
May 6th, 2006
A little random humor for the day:
15. “They told me at the blood bank this might happen.”
14. “This is just a 15 minute power-nap like they raved about in the last time management course you sent me to.”
13. “Whew! Guess I left the top off the liquid paper”
12. “I wasn’t sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm!”
11. “This is one of the seven habits of highly effective people!”
10. “I was testing the keyboard for drool resistance”
9. “Actually I’m doing a “Stress Level Elimination Exercise Plan” (SLEEP) I learned it at the last mandatory seminar you made me attend.
8. “I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve work related stress.”
7. “Darn! Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem.”
6. “The coffee machine is broken….”
5. “Someone must’ve put decaf in the wrong pot.”
4. “Boy, that cold medicine I took last night just won’t wear off!”
3. “Ah, the unique and unpredictable circadian rhythms of the workaholic!”
2. “I wasn’t sleeping, I was trying to pick up contact lens without hands.”
AND THE #1 BEST THING TO SAY IF YOU GET CAUGHT SLEEPING AT YOUR DESK:
“Amen”
January 24th, 2006
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