Many indie coffee cafes now restrict, or ban outright, the use of e-reading devices

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by Harmon

Bought my wife a Kindle with a light cover for V Day. Her reaction - now I can read during intermissions at Met at the Movies.

ummmm...first we NEED to take away your coffee, with the spray-n-pray posting spree. haha!!

Next, dunno if your heart can handle this, but it's been a while since there were intermissions at the movies. Heck a guy hardly has time to grab a bucket-o-pcorn, a barrel-o-beverage and grab a fast pre-credits tinkle before the show starts these days.

[andrew121]

I live in NYC and have yet to encounter a coffee shop that has banned my Kindle... not saying it doesn't happen, but I don't think its as common as this article makes it seem.

[doreenjoy]

The only thing that bothers me about Internet access in cafes is when men are surfing porn sites.

I have nothing against porn but seriously, you're in a public place (and not one with "naughty" in the name)

[doreenjoy]

Originally Posted by andrew121

I live in NYC and have yet to encounter a coffee shop that has banned my Kindle... not saying it doesn't happen, but I don't think its as common as this article makes it seem.

"Have Kindles been banned from /many/ coffee shops? Our sources say No, but our editors say YES!"

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

That is SO politically correct! Reach into that dark space in your soul and tell us what you find!

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

The only thing that bothers me about Internet access in cafes is when men are surfing porn sites.

I have nothing against porn but seriously, you're in a public place (and not one with "naughty" in the name)

Ever caught a woman surfing porn sites?

[david_e]

Originally Posted by carld

I live in a zipcode with NO STARBUCKS!

And what planet would this be on???

[doreenjoy]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Ever caught a woman surfing porn sites?

Nope!

And I've done a quick survey, too.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by Harmon

Hmmm. What else would coffee be made with? Milk? Brandy? Well, sometimes I add brandy, but it has not previously occurred to me to substitute it for water...

Light to medium roast, Columbian bean. No dark roast. Maybe some other beans - in fact, probably a mixed bag of beans, depending on what's available.

Those are styles that people drink around the world, my friend.

Not to be confused with that vile concoction, the "Americano."

It's not vile; it's a good change-up when you want something different.

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

The only thing that bothers me about Internet access in cafes is when men are surfing porn sites.

I have nothing against porn but seriously, you're in a public place (and not one with "naughty" in the name)

I don't think that the cafes would be happy about customers using the WiFi access to download from torrent sites or the like either. Maybe even less than porn downloads.

Originally Posted by david_e

And what planet would this be on???

Actually I live in a county with no Starbucks. In fact the nearest Starbucks in over 200 miles away. Contrary to popular misconception Starbucks has not assimilated the country.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by carld

It'll be awfully cold by the time it gets here.

...you stole my line.

[kennyc]

Silly monkey and Card! Buy the beans! Grind them! Make coffee....sheesh!

Or if you prefer grind your iPhone and smoke it.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

What is the American style? Is it coffee made with water? Or is it a style of roast?

It involves the intricate and beautiful American Coffee ceremony where coffee is prepared in the rare "Mr. Coffee" 'drip-o-lator'. There are no loose grounds, no presses, no exotic roasts or blends, NO frothing of any sort.

The coffee comes from a vacuum packed can and there must be absolutley no indication of how long ago the coffee was ground and packed. The most authentic "Mr. Coffee" devices are ones sold by Joe Dimaggio himself but those are getting rare and we must make do with lesser, newer Mr Coffee machines. I understand there is a move to get George Foreman to produce coffee machines to restore authenticity to the ceremony.

The coffee is poured into a chipped ceramic Mug with a handle glued at least 3 times to the rest of the cup. Purists believe that the coffee tastes best when there is an element of chance that the handle will separate from the mug, spilling the delicate brew into the celebrant's lap. Non Dairy Creamer is then added to the brew and sugar to taste.

The celebrant then blows on the coffee for exactly 3.75 seconds to cool it slightly. The coffee is sipped and then the celebrant either makes a smile of satisfaction or a grimmace of distaste. In a group setting, regardless of quality of the coffee or of the facial expression just displayed, the celebrants must all claim the coffee is fine. The coffee is then carried to the LaZBoy recliner in front of the TV.

As the celebrant walks, a small amount of the sacred brew must be allowed to "slop" over the lip of the cup and stain the carpet. This is considered good luck. If you have a dog or a cat that likes the taste of coffee, and who laps at the wet spot on the carpet, that is considered even luckier.

That ends the formal part of the ceremony, but many people feel that the ceremony doesn't truely end until you watch a morning news show on television. Call me sentimental. . .

[jshzh]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

I find them to the be the same species of human that breathes air. That is, there is no one defining characteristic...they come from all different backgrounds.

You are right. They are human beings and may come from all different backgrounds. But there are percentages and proportions. It is not "derogatory labeling", but to discuss a social phenomenon in a critical way, to see how our consumption is not (only) shaped by our "rational" decision but also many social and cultural factors. No one tried to single out a group and dehumanize them. Indeed, Apple users are a fluid group. No one is always in their 20s and 30s, not everyone can always afford a pricey device. People's values and world view also change.

Fortunately many people are not passive buyers. They hack, they pirate, they use their Ipad as a brick when they are in danger. So there is hope we are not slaves.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

It involves the intricate and beautiful American Coffee ceremony where coffee is prepared in the rare "Mr. Coffee" 'drip-o-lator'. There are no loose grounds, no presses, no exotic roasts or blends, NO frothing of any sort.

The coffee comes from a vacuum packed can and there must be absolutley no indication of how long ago the coffee was ground and packed. The most authentic "Mr. Coffee" devices are ones sold by Joe Dimaggio himself but those are getting rare and we must make do with lesser, newer Mr Coffee machines. I understand there is a move to get George Foreman to produce coffee machines to restore authenticity to the ceremony.

The coffee is poured into a chipped ceramic Mug with a handle glued at least 3 times to the rest of the cup. Purists believe that the coffee tastes best when there is an element of chance that the handle will separate from the mug, spilling the delicate brew into the celebrant's lap. Non Dairy Creamer is then added to the brew and sugar to taste.

The celebrant then blows on the coffee for exactly 3.75 seconds to cool it slightly. The coffee is sipped and then the celebrant either makes a smile of satisfaction or a grimmace of distaste. In a group setting, regardless of quality of the coffee or of the facial expression just displayed, the celebrants must all claim the coffee is fine. The coffee is then carried to the LaZBoy recliner in front of the TV.

As the celebrant walks, a small amount of the sacred brew must be allowed to "slop" over the lip of the cup and stain the carpet. This is considered good luck. If you have a dog or a cat that likes the taste of coffee, and who laps at the wet spot on the carpet, that is considered even luckier.

That ends the formal part of the ceremony, but many people feel that the ceremony doesn't truely end until you watch a morning news show on television. Call me sentimental. . .

I think you've been watching my morning ritual.

You forgot the part about the timer set very early in case of waking earlier than usual, which also gives the coffee time to age properly on the warming plate.