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The McLatte Deception November 25, 2006

Posted by nitestrike in : Crotchety Blogger, Food, Venting , add a comment

Just a few minutes ago I made a coffee run to an extremely well known arched fast food restaurant. My wife had asked for a White Chocolate Raspberry Latte, but if they didn’t have that she would take regular coffee. Hey fair enough, I needed a break and who knows maybe I would be able to remember exactly the thing she ordered without having to ask again. So I drive on over and pull up to order at the drive thru. I did a quick scan of the menu board and do not see any mention of lattes or other specialty coffees. So after a few seconds I was greeted by the Driver Thru order “attendant” to which I asked what they had in the way of coffees. His reply was they had the Premium Regular and Decaffeinated kinds. Which I asked if there were any other kinds just to make sure. For you see my wife had been there just a day or two before and I thought would not have requested a Latte if they had not had it. So once he responded that was all they did have I ordered two large Premium regular coffees with creamer and Equal. I then proceeded to pull around and pay for the coffees at which time I noticed that the same car was still sitting at the delivery window (the second window) as when I had pulled into the restaurant. After paying I sat there for several more minutes, about 5 to be exact, before there was not any activity at the delivery window with that car that had been sitting there the whole time. I’m thinking hey it’s a Holiday weekend they’re trying to do the right thing for the employees and are a bit understaffed. So after the two cars in front of me get their orders squared away I pull up to the delivery window myself. I only have a couple of Coffees and they already know what I wanted to have for them so the coffees should be sitting right there for me to pickup. Aaaa nope, what I did see was someone picking up and carrying an empty coffeepot away. Not only that, but, I saw a nice large machine on the front counter that said Cappuccino across the front of it in all upper case large letters. Now I’m sure you’re thinking this is where I start the wind this narrative up, and once again I’m forced to answer with a resounding nope. I proceed to knock on the window to get the attention of the McEmployee that is taking care of processing the Drive Thru orders. To her credit she was very nice and polite and took care of the issue quickly and efficiently. I asked in a very nice yet somewhat confused voice are the Premium Coffee Cappuccinos, because the person who had taken my order had said that you only had the regular and decaffee Premium coffee when I inquired at to what you had in the way of coffees. She said yes they did have Cappuccinos and asked if that is what I would like instead, so I asked what flavories they had and as expected they had exactly the one my wife had asked for. But her is the part that totally blew my mind away was her response to the confusion when ordering, and the worst part is I actually believe her. The employee that had taken my order knew that the Cappuccino was a Caffinated Beverage, but did not realize that it was a coffee. Now all I have to say is Huuuhhhh???

So there is my first tale as the Crotchety Blogger, that is usually how they go, not just a story service, but a marvel of thinking and reasoning .

The Crotchety Blogger strikes back… November 25, 2006

Posted by nitestrike in : Crotchety Blogger, SYSNOTE, Venting , add a comment

Now those of you who have been following this blog from it’s inception, which I’m sure is a significantly low number and my owning doing, know that it used to be tiled the Cranky Blogger. It was a place to vent and who knows maybe actually make a little difference in this twisted and hosed up world of ours. But I digress.

This weekend I’ve been trying to blog on a couple of different items that I thought were interesting and just can not find a groove or get in the mood to do so. Over the last week or so have had some very interesting set of tales about customer experience which have questioned my thoughts on just what our society considers acceptable customer service. As a result I’m bring back the essence of the Cranky Blogger as a Category, and possibly a page, as the Crotchety Blogger - A display in human thought, wonderment, and thinking.

O where, O where, did that little hole go, O where did it go November 20, 2006

Posted by nitestrike in : Personal , add a comment

You remember those long summer days you spent digging that hole! That hole that would allow you to reach… yes reach China. My friend the Library Despot stumbled across this site, a Google maps mash-up that calculates just where that whole would have ended up. And like my friend the Despot I would have had a pair of very upset parents after having emptied a whole ocean into our back yard.

Order of the Phoenix November 20, 2006

Posted by nitestrike in : Entertainment , add a comment

Over at Sci-Fi Wire you can catch the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie posters, and a teaser trailer. The trailer can be seen  if you happen to catch Happy Feet. Order of the Phoenix is to be released Friday July the 13th, 2007.

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter
Written by Michael Goldenberg
Directed by David Yates
Not Yet Rated
Opens July 13, 2007

SATS, a NASA rethink of today’s air travel model November 19, 2006

Posted by nitestrike in : Aerospace, Tech , add a comment

I was watching an episode of The Histories Channel’s Modern Marvels apply named “Private Jets”. The episode is a rundown of the private jet usage today from corporate converted jets to personally owned small kits. The episode begins with a short interview with Michael Dorn about personal jet ownership and buying a private jet. I highly recommend the episode if you can catch it.

During the last segment of the episode they mentioned a little know project being conducted by NASA called SATS (Small Aircraft Transportation System), an evolution of the current spoke and hub system we have today.

SATS: A bold vision

NASA has proposed a travel alternative to relieve congested interstate highways and hub-and-spoke airports, with the potential to revolutionize transportation accessibility and mobility.

As envisioned, the Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) will free people and products from existing delays, by allowing more access to more communities in less time.  

To prove the SATS concept will work, NASA has initiated a five-year $69 million research plan. NASA will conduct ground and flight research at several airports around the country, culminating in technology flight demonstrations by mid-2005.

SATS offers an on-demand, point-to-point, widely distributed transportation system. It relies on advanced 4- to 10-passenger aircraft using new operating capabilities. Such a system promises improved safety, efficiency, reliability and affordability for small aircraft operating within the nation’s 5,400 public-use-landing facilities. About 98% of the US population lives within 20 miles of at least one of these airports.

This more flexible on-demand system of air travel will allow us the freedom of picking where we want to go and when we want to go there. A mash-up of our current highway system and the convenience and comfort of air travel. Who knows, we may finally see that dream of the flying car come to fruition.

Other groups involved in this project include both private and public entities. These groups are The National Consortium for Aviation Mobility (NCAM), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Resource(s):
SATS Fact Sheet - NASA
SATS 2005 Technology Demonstration - NASA

Reference(s):
“Personal Jets” - Modern Marvels - History Channel