Coffee Maker Poses Security Risks
I never even knew that there is a coffee maker that can be connected to the Internet! Apparently, there is such a product and it poses certain security risks. I read this on CNET:
An Australian man has discovered security vulnerabilities in his Internet-connected coffee maker that could allow a remote attacker to not only take over his Windows XP-based PC but also make his coffee too weak.
Craig Wright, a risk advisory services manager at professional services firm BDO, found several security holes, including a buffer overflow in the Internet Connection software that links his Jura F90 coffee maker to his PC.
I don’t know about you but this is just too funny. I mean, I love coffee but why the heck would I get a coffee maker that I can connect to the Internet, especially one that goes for a hefty USD 2,000? For one, my apartment is small enough that I only need to take 5 steps to go from my bedroom to where my coffee maker is at. More so, I don’t think I have that much money lying around just to spend on something that may not be really necessary.
People say that Internet-connected devices seem to be what’s in store for the future. I love toys and gadgets, there is no doubt about that, but at this point, I cannot understand why I would want to get them. Except for the reputation points, I guess.
Rachael Ray, Kaffiyeh, And Coffee
Oh my, just when I thought that people were becoming more open minded and rationale! I have never been a fan of Rachael Ray, let me say that outright. This latest uproar over her makes me kind of feel for her though. For those who may not know, she is a spokeswoman for Dunkin’ Donuts. So there she was, doing her job, being her uber perky self as usual, right? She made this Internet commercial about how good Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is (by the way, I do like Dunkin’ Donuts coffee).
Suddenly, out of the blue, she is being accused of symbolically supporting terrorism! Come on now, this irritatingly cheerful person you see on TV several times a day a supporter of violence? As much as her personality and shows grate on my nerves, I just cannot see her trying to promote terrorism by trying to get away with wearing a kaffiyeh look-a-like in a Dunkin’ Donuts commercial.
Perhaps Michelle Malkin, the blogger who put up these suggestions, is mistaken? Or maybe she has got something personal against Rachael Ray? Seriously, the drama of it all! Why can’t a person wear what she wants to when plugging good coffee without being misunderstood? More than this, who says that the kaffiyeh is only used by terrorists?
Anyhow, Dunkin’ Donuts has pulled the plug on this commercial. In the interests of peace, I suppose it was the right thing to do. Now let me go get some of that iced coffee to cool off.
Of Race and Coffee
Before I even begin, I’d like to send out a warning – this post may be bordering on the politically incorrect. So, if you’re sensibilities are easily offended, I suggest that you skip this one. However, if you love coffee and can take a joke, read on and have a laugh with your nth cup of java. 
Coffee and humor go together. There is no explanation for it, they just do! Take this post that Clander wrote on Stuff White People Like. It just cracked me up:
There is no doubt that white people love coffee. Yes, it’s true that asians like iced coffee and people of all races enjoy it. But I promise you that the first person at your school to drink coffee was a white person. You could kind of tell they didn’t enjoy it, but they did it anyways until they liked it - like cigarettes.
White people all need Starbucks, Second Cup or Coffee Bean. They are also fond of saying “you do NOT want to see me before I get my morning coffee.” White guys will also call it anything but coffee: “rocket fuel,” “java,” “joe,” “black gold,” and so forth. It’s pretty garbage all around.
If you want to go for extra points - white people really love FAIR TRADE coffee, because paying the extra $2 means they are making a difference.
Gotta run – I have to grab my cup of fair trade java! Ha ha. Clander, you rock!
Unusual Coffee
Many coffee lovers love the fact that their coffee is familiar. They get the same brew everyday. They have discovered the one true blend for them and that’s that.
For some people, having so little variety would be boring. It is always a great idea to try some new mixes and recipes. It’s the only way to find out if there is a brew out there that tastes better than the one you already enjoy.
Truth be told it is great to know exactly what you like but it does help you appreciate your favorite cup of joe even more each time if you have something to compare it to that you don’t drink everyday.
Take for example Nogged Coffee. By its very name, a lot of people feel that it is only something to drink in December. Actually this unusual drink can be drunk anytime you feel like it. It is a great beverage for warming the body - and the heart they say.
If you’d like to try it, here’s the recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of cream
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 cup of coffee
- dash of nutmeg
- Develop good oral hygiene
- Brush your teeth properly and carefully twice a day
- Floss at least once a day before brushing
- Rinse your mouth with water especially after drinking or eating
- Clean your tongue well
- Drink a lot of water. Two glasses for every cup of coffee is good for cleansing.
- Add food that can help improve the scent of your breath to your diet such as apples, carrots and celery.
Procedure:
Beat sugar and egg yolk together. Place cream into saucepan, and heat over low setting.Whisk in egg mixture. Heat to 200 F degrees. Pour coffee into to cups, and top with cream mixture, garnish with nutmeg
People’s Sexiest Man
Don’t you just love a man with a sense of humor? George Clooney, People magazine’s choice for sexiest man of the year, stars in the ad for Nespresso. It just shows that he truly hasn’t let the title go to his head since he can poke fun at himself and point us in the direction of good coffee at the same time.
The ad called The Boutique has the Oscar wining actor overhearing two ladies chat about their favorite “dark, intense body”. He mistakenly thinks they are talking about him. Sorry, handsome, they meant the coffee.
Nespresso UK’s managing director, Brema Drohan, was very pleased that George Clooney chose to take part in their ad campaign. He says that George Clooney was perfect for the role. He has that air of sophistication and style that their coffee has.
George Clooney says that he is indeed a coffee lover. He informed his Nespresso bosses that he has Nespresso coffee machines in his US and Italy homes. It is always good when a person endorses something that they themselves actually own and use.
There’s no need to wait though to find out if Nespresso is the coffee machine for you. They’ve been in business for 20 years and yes, they do make some great coffeemakers. Check out the Nespresso Le Cube. It has nice,simple, clean lines that are perfect for any kitchen. They do make great gifts for your family and friends who love espresso. Do note that it uses coffee capsules though. For more information you can visit their website.
The ad is set to air at the end of this month in the UK, specifically on November 27, 2006. Enjoy the ad…(and your Nespresso).
Technorati Tags: coffee, coffeemakers, ads, George Clooney, Nespresso
Coffee Date
If you’re new to the dating game or been out of it for a while, here’s a tip that you should keep in mind. If you’re meeting someone for the first time (blind date or otherwise) choose to meet them over coffee. That way you do get to chat but you aren’t stuck with them for an hour or more, especially if you do find that they just aren’t your type.
The way they choose might even help you decide on whether a relationship is worth pursuing. For example, if you’re looking for someone who is decisive, you defintely won’t want to keep seeing someone who takes 30 minutes just to decide on what kind of coffee to drink.
Coffee is well known to inspire conversations. Use your favorite cup of joe to see if you have found a like minded soul. You may be surprised at how fast time will fly and you’ll be very much inclined to meet again, assuming of course he didn’t bore you. Oherwise, just enjoy your delicious cup of coffee. At least it should satisfy your taste buds even if your date is a bust.
Technorati Tags: coffee, dating, conversations
Traffic Violation Due to Coffee
A lot of people just want a simple cup of coffee. yet often times, they are too rushed or too tired to make the brew for themselves. Luckily we live in an age where almost anything you need is available for purchase.
For those who don’t need to have gourmet coffee, Dunkin’ Donuts is a favorite source for a quick cup of joe. They do have espressos and lattes as well and the blueberry flavored is a favorite. The franchise is found almost everywhere. The basic coffee is inexpensive but good and strong.
In fact, the popularity of the coffee of Dunkin’ Donuts is said to be causing accidents to occur, particularly in Auburn, New York. The line at the drive thru of their Grant Street branch can be ten to twelve cars long at the peak of rush hour. Many of them turn left from Standart causing a traffic jam. They must really have a good brew.
Government has stepped in. They’ve made it a no left zone from Standart but these coffee lovers haven’t been following the rule. Their happy days are about to be over though.
Fair warning given, coffee lovers. If you want to keep getting your coffee from here, find another way to get there or you’ll get a ticket. Is any cup of coffee worth violating the law?
The best solution: find another Dunkin’ Donut on your way home or to work or find a way to go round to the Grany Street branch. The shortcut is a pain.
Technorati Tags: coffee, news, dunkin donuts, new york, law, traffic
Coffee Breath
The girls got together for our day out. Our agreement is that this is a girls only day; no husbands, boyfriends, life partners, kids, parents or work allowed to intrude. It is time to take care of the women and enjoy one day without responsibilities. Thankfully, our families understand.
One of the girls mentioned that she recently had a meeting with a client. She walked in the door and as he spoke, she felt a bit dizzy. No, it wasn’t his gorgeous good looks that caused the
sensation. It was his coffee breath!
Most people are unaware that they have halitosis. Everybody gets them at some point. Coffee drinkers smell coffee on their breath and think absolutely nothing of it since they love coffee.
Unfortunately, the smell of coffee on someone’s breath isn’t always pleasant. Coffee is acidic. The acid combined with the bacteria in our mouth isn’t exactly the best scent around. The odor can ensure that people will give you a wide berth. Hmmm…not the reaction you want if you are running for Hunk or Babe of the Year.
Fortunately, there are some simple solutions that do not require you to give up your favorite coffee drink.
In a pinch, there’s always Altoids of course. People around you will appreciate it.
Building A Coffee Collection
If you have a friend who loves something, is a huge, HUGE fan, don’t they go around collecting things that reflect that love. Trading cards, matchboxes, coins, stamps are the most familiar to most. There are also those who have collections of everything made with their favorite on it. For example a fan of a singer would usually have all their albums and memorabilia. There are quite a number of people who have huge collections of the various Barbie dolls and the matching outfits and accessories.
If you knew someone who is absolutely into coffee, wouldn’t it be great to help him or her build his collection? Think about it! These would be practical gifts that they could not only look at but enjoy. And if they get a great brew using your gift, woohoo!
You don’t even need to go very far for gift ideas. Thanks to the many coffee shops spread all over the city, you can take a look around right there and find great ideas and have a cup for yourself while you’re at it. And if the coffee shops don’t have it (heaven forbid!) then go on over to a gourmet coffee shop and ask for suggestions on where to find the equipment you want. It can’t be that hard to find a good coffeemaker, a great coffee grinder or a really handy coffee press.
You don’t even need to look for anything fancy. You can keep it simple, like getting him or her a really good coffee mug. One that can make him laugh just looking at it and warm him with thoughts of you guys. One that at the same time keeps tha coffee’s temperature perfect til he or she drinks it.
Of course you can always go get a coffee mug mouse for him or her. Just don’t forget to remind them to move slowly when it has coffee in it. Oh, and no matter what, try not to get coffee on the keyboard or laptop.
Coffee Astrology
And now for the latest in New Age Astrology…..coffee, anyone?
Aries: First in line, first out the door — a triple shot of espresso, and the Ram is off and running.
Taurus: Cappucino — earthy simplicity wrapped in luxury for the Bull ruler of the material world.
Gemini: Always of two opinions (and more than ready to share them), Gemini settles on a double latte — half decaf, half regular.
Cancer: Cozy Cancer is right at home with a mocha — all the comfort of cocoa.
Leo: Perfect presentation with enough kick to get the whole group going: macchiato.
Virgo: Precision is the only way: Virgo prefers Caffe Americano (regular house coffee is not an acceptable substitute).
Libra: No need to tip the scales — Libra strikes a balance with Caf au Lait.
Scorpio: Never prone to self-denial, Scorpio opts for all the sensuality of a breve latte — one can barely taste the coffee, but isn’t subtlety the name of the game?
Sagittarius: An iced caramel latte in the dead of winter seems correct to the Zodiac’s thrill seeker.
Capricorn: Always efficient, Capricorn has found that a shot of espresso in one’s coffee gets the job done … and then some.
Aquarius: Organic raspberry tea is a refreshing alternative to coffee for the water bearer — it transcends the boundaries of modern society, deeming caffeine unnecessary.
Pisces: Someday, Chai will replace coffee entirely, and Pisces will be ahead of us all — meanwhile, they can sit back calmly, ready to ride the wave of the future.
