Thanks for the Cuppa!

I’d like to take a brief moment to say “Thanks” to TWGW. She gave me an awesome anniversary gift for our 6th. She found an online survey about the Senseo coffee pod machine, and after filling it out, discovered that we qualified for a free one! Granted, we did have to pay $15 shipping and handling, but otherwise, it was a $70 coffee maker for free.

It arrived Thursday, along with a box of assorted pods, a canister for keeping them in, and 3 $20 off coupons to give to my friends. For those not in the know, the Senseo coffee machine uses individual “pods” to make coffee, one 4oz. cup at a time. Actually, if you use 2 pods you can make a full 8oz. mug of coffee. The beauty is that it makes your cup in about 30 seconds with a nice frothy surface.

While I drink my coffee black, I found that it made for a slightly weak java, not necessarily a bad thing, mind you. I’ve heard complaints that 1 pod makes coffee too weak, and 2 pods is too strong, but I’m happy with it. I’ve only used the decaf and the “Paris” sample so far, but I was generally pleased with it’s quality. I am by no means a coffee connoisseur, but I found it to be a quite passable cup of brew. I was surprised to find that 4oz was actually a good sized portion, just enough to satisfy my craving for a little of the magic bean. At only one (half)cup of coffee per pod, I can see where it could get a little expensive, but the expense is countered by the convenience of a perfectly sized and well brewed portion of coffee, with very little cleanup.

I’ve read where some people are making their own pods, and I’ve seen where you can buy reusable pods, though I suspect that’s a messy option. I have a drip coffee maker that makes one travel sized mug of coffee and uses a small metal basket filter, and cleaning it is a royal pain. While I like conservation, and think we should reduce waste in general, I can’t overlook the convenience in this simple design. Thanks again, honey, I love it.

The Excite mail system still sucks.

A week in, and Excite hasn’t really made any changes.  They still have us locked into a horridly slow bloated interface, with unintuitive controls.  Many have been complaining that there’s nowhere to leave feedback.  Here’s a link to leave your feedback on exactly why the new Excite e-mail system sucks.  Now, whether or not they actually read or heed the feedback will remain to be seen.

Feedback

Are You Serious?

There is no denying that we live in troublesome times. The world is in upheavel. Tensions are rising as the nations of this great earth cope with war, economic hardship and energy shortages. Diplomatic relations are strained daily over human rights issues and consumers are frustrated by quality control shortcomings, all while children are striving to avoid starvation in our poorest corners. It is in dark times like these that we, as humans, are forced to make a decision. We must learn to face our collective hardships in the only way that reasonable free-thinking adults can; by escaping in mindless, cartoony humour. Yes, that’s right, the world needs to turn to it’s brightest shining star of nonsense–Yahoo Serious, your public needs you now, more than ever!

Breaking onto the entertainment radar with the comedy classic, “Young Einstein”, Mr. Serious taught us that it was okay to reinvent history for the sake of laughter by making Albert Einstein hail from Australia rather than Austria and by demonstrating that one can split a beer atom and live to tell the tale. In “Reckless Kelly”, the colossally coifed comedian turned the superhero concept on it’s ear, years before the likes of “Superhero Movie” and “Hancock.” Later, he pushed the boundaries between cartoon and reality even further in the often overlooked “Mr. Accident.”

Yahoo Serious has a way of making movies that are harmlessly unoffensive and fun for all ages. He likes to work in subtle humour that can be appreciated by educated adults and still he loads his works with the in-your-face cartoon style slapstick that children can watch and laugh themselves silly. He’s not afraid to laugh at himself and make himself out to be the buffoon, but he also knows when to pull back and keep the jokes from being too demeaning, and preserving the idea that men are capable of intelligence once in awhile. So often, in comedies, men are painted as senseless children who never grow and learn–never changing or adapting; Somehow, Yahoo maintains a childlike innocence, while shedding his naivity. We would all do well to follow this man’s example.

Sadly, Yahoo has been out of the limelight for quite some time. The last thing I remember hearing about him was something to do with a legal battle with a certain search engine company that will remain nameless. It’s really a shame, because the tide is right for his brand of humour. The world needs you, Yahoo Serious. Yes, I’m serious.