As someone who seldom likes any hot drink, I was skeptic about visiting Starbucks. However, tonight, I decided to give it a try. Conveniently, there are three Starbucks within walking distance of my home: I chose the one inside the Barnes and Noble bookstore -- simply because I already go there very often.
Inside was a familiar scene: cushioned chairs with tiny round tables, young students littered over plush sofas, soft jazz music in the background, unique travel mugs stacked up in a tiny bookshelf. What was unfamiliar was the menu itself. Yeah I had heard about mocha, latte, ..ccinos, but what is what is what I did not know. I stood behind a tiny stand and stared at the menu, as if the barista would not notice me. She did notice, indeed, but gave me all the time I needed. The extra time, however, did not help. Realizing this, I took the courage to step out, and approached the counter. There were two baristas -- young ladies wearing tidy, green aprons -- at the counter juggling the espresso machines and the cash register. One of them probalbly sensed that I may be a little confused; she continued working on what she was. The other one on the rescue:
Barista: (smiling) "Can I take your order?"
Me : "Yes, (avoiding eye contact, staring at the menu) .... do you serve tea?"
Barista: "Sure"
Me : "Great, is it the one with milk and sugar?"
Barista: "No, but you could add it yourself as you wish. (pointing me towards the counter)
Me: : "Umm, actually, I want the one in which you prepare it with milk and sugar, the one which you boil it for me."
Barista: "Sir, tea only comes with hot water and tea bag, but you may want to try Tazo tea. We can prepare it for you with milk added.
Me: : "I think Tazo tea is the one with spices... I don't like tea with spices."
Barista: "Yeah, that does come with spices."
Me: : "OK, how about some coffee, then. I've seen a coffee that you serve in a tiny cup."
Barista: (the lady takes out a big mug from below the counter) "Sir, you mean this one?"
Me : "No, this is too big."
Barista: (Takes out a smaller mug, but still too big) "This one?"
Me : "No it is really small, like a tea cup."
Barista: (Moves over the counter, and brings a white porcelain tiny cup that I had in mind) "This?"
Me : (with a child like smile) "Yes! exactly! Which coffee do your serve in this cup?"
Barista: (smiles, and names the beverage) This is very strong shot, sir, .. very large amount of caffeine.. (chuckles, correctly sensing that I, a coffee rookie, may not like it)
Me : "Umm, then lets not go there, what about a coffee with a lot of froth?"
Barista: "Sure, we have capuccino, that has bottom half coffee and top half milk froth"
At this time, the other barista intervenes, pokes her, and points to the cash register, where a customer is waiting to be rung. This lady quietly steps away, takes payment from the other customer, and swiftly comes back.
Barista: "Sir, and there is another flavor that has lot of froth, but not the milk one...."
Me : "No, I think, I'd like the capuccino."
Barista: "What size, sir?"
Me : (gazing at the menu) "Is tall really mean small? What is grande?"
Barista: (smiles again) "Yeah, these names are really other way around, tall is the smallest of tall, grande, venti"
Me : "Ok, I'll have a tall. And can you not serve it in a paper cup. I hate these."
Barista: "Sure, "
Me : "I'd like the big porcelain mug that showed me, ... Could you ...?"
Barista: "Sure. That is not a problem."
While she is taking my payment of $3.10, the other one appears and ask me "All right, do we a decision, NOW?"
"Yeah, Capuccino, tall," I reply with added confidence.
I wait behind the pick up counter and enjoy the swoosh sound of froth maker. In less than a minute, the polite barista presents me with my capuccino -- in the mug that I requested.
"Sir, enjoy."
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
What you want is what you get
Disclaimer: This article is based on fiction.
Build-A-Baby: "What you want is what you get."
“My daughter Sharon looks exactly like me”, chuckles first-time mom Karen, “the eyes, the nose, even the complexion. Further, my family does not have any history of diabetes or high blood pressure, so apart from the physical beauty, we chose a healthy life for our daughter. Thank you Build-a-Baby.” When Karen and her husband David needed to make the decision three months ago, they chose Karen’s attributes.
Entrepreneur and a long time health industry maven, CEO Josh Sanders feels proud of such client testimonials and his company. He was among the first to pioneer the DNAcopier© technology – the latest breakthrough that helps to choose your baby’s biological composition. The company has generated rave reviews. “We helped over 6000 families last year, and gave them what they wanted. And the numbers are expected to grow much larger.”, said Mr Sanders in his company’s last investor conference. Researchers at John Hopkins university share Mr. Sanders enthusiasm. A recent study by Research scientist Wellworth concluded that over 60% of Americans are interested in choosing their offspring’s looks.
Though currently the technology is limited to offer the options from within your family, research studies are underway that study use of “borrowed” genes। Teenager Shyam is excited about the developments. “I hope by the time I chose to have an offspring, the “borrow” technology would be mature enough. I’ll chose Tom Hanks looks for my baby boy.”
Not everybody shares the enthusiasm. Religious bodies oppose such developments and have vowed to lobby against any federal grants towards such research. A large population still objects to the idea of “interfering” with nature’s composition. Nobody still knows all the implications.
A recent study also showed a trend of rising disputes among couples due to advent of such tecnhnologies. People are becoming more and more obsessive about customization – even when it is about having a baby.
Build-A-Baby: "What you want is what you get."
“My daughter Sharon looks exactly like me”, chuckles first-time mom Karen, “the eyes, the nose, even the complexion. Further, my family does not have any history of diabetes or high blood pressure, so apart from the physical beauty, we chose a healthy life for our daughter. Thank you Build-a-Baby.” When Karen and her husband David needed to make the decision three months ago, they chose Karen’s attributes.
Entrepreneur and a long time health industry maven, CEO Josh Sanders feels proud of such client testimonials and his company. He was among the first to pioneer the DNAcopier© technology – the latest breakthrough that helps to choose your baby’s biological composition. The company has generated rave reviews. “We helped over 6000 families last year, and gave them what they wanted. And the numbers are expected to grow much larger.”, said Mr Sanders in his company’s last investor conference. Researchers at John Hopkins university share Mr. Sanders enthusiasm. A recent study by Research scientist Wellworth concluded that over 60% of Americans are interested in choosing their offspring’s looks.
Though currently the technology is limited to offer the options from within your family, research studies are underway that study use of “borrowed” genes। Teenager Shyam is excited about the developments. “I hope by the time I chose to have an offspring, the “borrow” technology would be mature enough. I’ll chose Tom Hanks looks for my baby boy.”
Not everybody shares the enthusiasm. Religious bodies oppose such developments and have vowed to lobby against any federal grants towards such research. A large population still objects to the idea of “interfering” with nature’s composition. Nobody still knows all the implications.
A recent study also showed a trend of rising disputes among couples due to advent of such tecnhnologies. People are becoming more and more obsessive about customization – even when it is about having a baby.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Junkyard
When I opened my inbox this morning, as always, I saw thirteen useless emails. Sitting on the top, posing in deep blue color, these mails had no right to be there in the first place. I mumbled: Welcome to the junkyard!
If you are losing faith in email technology, welcome to the "Email is so very useless" club. My personal statistics: I answer less than 10% of emails that struck my inbox. Even so, I am able to answer all the emails I am supposed to. Well, almost.
The model of free emails has taken its toll on us: we literally have to scrable through a mammoth pile -- everyday -- to find what we really need. Sure, technologies like "spam guard" help us, but only to some extent. Infact, "Spam guard" itself becomes a victim sometimes. Consider this: I send an email to a business but do not receive a reply. I follow the wait-for-two-days ettiquette, and then become impatient. I blast the customer care representative only to find later that the mail was promptly replied to the same day but landed in my "Bulk" folder. The result: a sinking guilt feeling.
Such experiences make me ponder on the demise of this ill-fated technology. But it continues to grow. In today's world, businesses want us to use email, even for the official communication. Sure, its use would help reduce their costs, but is it really saving us from the clutter?
If you are losing faith in email technology, welcome to the "Email is so very useless" club. My personal statistics: I answer less than 10% of emails that struck my inbox. Even so, I am able to answer all the emails I am supposed to. Well, almost.
The model of free emails has taken its toll on us: we literally have to scrable through a mammoth pile -- everyday -- to find what we really need. Sure, technologies like "spam guard" help us, but only to some extent. Infact, "Spam guard" itself becomes a victim sometimes. Consider this: I send an email to a business but do not receive a reply. I follow the wait-for-two-days ettiquette, and then become impatient. I blast the customer care representative only to find later that the mail was promptly replied to the same day but landed in my "Bulk" folder. The result: a sinking guilt feeling.
Such experiences make me ponder on the demise of this ill-fated technology. But it continues to grow. In today's world, businesses want us to use email, even for the official communication. Sure, its use would help reduce their costs, but is it really saving us from the clutter?
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