The Knockbox

"Caffeine gives you powers. Take in enough of it and your twitching, vibrating body is capable of amazing feats. This highly scientific *cough* test determines your level of caffeine intake by measuring how fast you can click your mouse. The test will last for 30 seconds, during which you must click the button below as many times as possible."

Click Here to take the test

I clicked the button 237 times in 30 seconds. According to this test I have Delusions of Godlike power (which of course is true).

That tells me two things:

1. I drink too much coffee

A great article in today's New York Times that dispels the myths of coffee and health:

"But as with any product used to excess, consumers often wonder about the health consequences. And researchers readily oblige. Hardly a month goes by without a report that hails coffee, tea or caffeine as healthful or damns them as potential killers.

Can all these often contradictory reports be right? Yes. Coffee and tea, after all, are complex mixtures of chemicals, several of which may independently affect health."

The whole article can be read here.

A post by our wonderful South Portland Manager, Kate Brown:

Why is is that lattes are used by the media represent all that is wasteful and slothful about daily conspicuous consumption?

http://www.businessandmedia.org/printer/2008/20080721170338.aspx
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/21/earlyshow/living/money/main4276979.shtml
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/money/4287774/detail.html


This morning I was watching "Good Morning America", and there was a short piece on the show about the National Deficit. According to this show segment, if every American gave the government $2,000 in a year, we would be able to signicicantly pay down the National Deficit.

Cut to a graphic of the U.S. Animated latte cups start popping up all over the screen. The attractive, young newscaster says, " . . . or every American could give up 666 lattes a year and the National Deficit would be paid off!"

WHAT! Funneling cash into the middle east and subsidizing a failing agricutural system, among many other things, is putting our nation deeper into an economic pithole. But not to fear! According to the media, the solution is to give up the one tasty pleasure that you can still afford for yourself. Give up that latte, and everything will be fine - except you may have an overwhelming sensation of wanting to kill someone between the hours of 7 - 10 am.

Lattes are not responsible for the war, the current economic recession, or high gas prices. Lattes are creamy and nice. Often, lattes have caffeine in them, so by consuming them, we are actually contributing to the productivity of our country. Lattes are patriotic.

Lattes are not harmful, unless your barista sucks and makes it too hot. But in that case, its not the latte that is dangerous, it's the barista who is. Trust me, I make about 50 lattes a day.

"MAKE LATTES, NOT WAR!"