I recently have noticed something about Starbucks customers...there are the annoying ones, the dumb ones, the smart ones, the too smart ones, and the OCD. But, I am going to discuss something that might offend some. I call them the "Frappuccino People."
Frappuccino people bother me. Seriously. There is nothing more annoying to the average barista at Starbucks than a weekend or evening Frappuccino person. For one thing, in the drive thru they keep us waiting to decide what they want. Save the time, just tell us which frappuccino and move on. Don't pretend that you are smart and browsing our menu. The longer you wait to tell us that you want a Carmel frappuccino, the more we're going to be annoyed with the fact you made us wait to hear the obvious. Sometimes, we are surprised and get something like a Carmel Macchiato (not really a Macchiato for you people who do know what you're talking about, but still is labeled that by Starbucks). Don't think you people who surprise us with that are anything special. It's the drink we tell people to get if they want espresso but don't know what they want beyond that.
Second, the Frappuccino person typically thinks they are something special for having come to Starbucks in the first place to get something. Suddenly, they are a part of some elite upper middle class group and now can be labeled snobbish. Really...get over yourselves. You're not anything special for having got a drink that half the population gets when they come to Starbucks, because half the population do not know what they want. It's not an elite social club. Starbucks has millions of customers and has thousands of stores. You get a drink that is not that complicated to make, but is time consuming. It's called something fancy to make you feel fancy. Get over the illusion.
Third, the Frappuccino person does not tip. Look, I don't expect tips from everyone. But, it is notoriously the case that on weekends when we get the most frappuccinos are also the time we get some of our lowest tips for the day. That is because the common person who comes into Starbucks who thinks they are something special for having come to Starbucks though they bought a predictable, but time-consuming drink, doesn't think that tipping is anything they should do. They just bought a pricey $4 drink. Look, it's not our fault that you decided to not branch out and try our REAL coffee and espresso drinks. And even those people who spend $5 on an espresso drink by adding shots or whatnot, those people tip. We don't get paid a lot. If you are so special with your newly-given faux upper middle class status, why not tip? Make us and you feel even better!
Fourth and final, the Frappuccino person in a minivan is dangerous. That usually means there are multiple Frappuccino people in the van and we have to make multiple Frappuccinos, hence backing up the drive-thru line when it is supposed to be there for driving in and out with your drink. Ordering 4-5 Frappuccinos at one time in the drive-thru is annoying, ridiculous, incredibly stressful and time-consuming, and makes other customers behind you unhappy for having to wait. It's rude and does not follow drive-thru etiquette. If you really want all those Frappuccinos. Let us make them for you inside where you can sit on your keisters for a bit and we can help both inside and outside customers. People in their cars in the drive-thru can get their drinks quicker and the line in the store will still move despite your order.
I will make a subset of the 4th definition. Do not come to the drive-thru 15-20 min before close and order a large number of frappuccinos We are people, too, who want to get home at night at a decent hour.
I mean this set of annoyances to be generalizations and to be taken in good fun. I hope nobody was seriously offended by the things I said. But, that being said...you people annoy us. Thank you for your business.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
His Eyes Are on the Sparrow
I just read my devotional and corresponding passage of Scripture. The passage itself was Matthew 10:16-31. In this section of Scripture, Jesus is telling His disciples that they will go through all sorts of persecution, betrayal, and hatred because of the fact they follow Him and do things in His name. They should not worry, however, because when they speak, they speak with the Spirit of the Father. They should not worry because those who persecute them and kill them can only kill the body and not the soul. If they are God's house, they are in His spirit. No servant is greater than the master. God cares for them all and they should worry because things are in God's hands. The writer of Matthew uses the quotation about God watching the sparrow and they are sold cheaply, how much more will He care about us. This is a similar quotation as Jesus in Luke 12 speaking of the wild flowers of the field. Different contexts, similar thought, do not worry about your own well-being. God will care for you.
I prayed to God take my worries into His hands that I may have peace in my heart. I prayed that He would give me the strength to relinquish them completely. All those temptations; my worries regarding work, friends, family, and Amanda; and my feeling inadequate . God gave me this image of all these things in balloons floating away into a partly cloudy sky. I can't get them back. They're not mine. They're not in my control. They're in God's hands now.
Even now there is a temptation to jump and reach them, but I cannot. God loves me. I kept reminding myself of this fact this morning. No matter what I do or what I've done or will do, I am worthy of love because God says so!
I prayed to God take my worries into His hands that I may have peace in my heart. I prayed that He would give me the strength to relinquish them completely. All those temptations; my worries regarding work, friends, family, and Amanda; and my feeling inadequate . God gave me this image of all these things in balloons floating away into a partly cloudy sky. I can't get them back. They're not mine. They're not in my control. They're in God's hands now.
Even now there is a temptation to jump and reach them, but I cannot. God loves me. I kept reminding myself of this fact this morning. No matter what I do or what I've done or will do, I am worthy of love because God says so!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Sports Tribalism II
A friend of mine on facebook has been inspired to take up this topic, but from the negative standpoint. I still maintain my stance that sports tribalism is largely of its own accord, harmless, innoculous, and actually feeds basic behaviors without resorting to killing and bloodshed.
I do think he has made some good points, a couple of which I want to address here.
1) The focus upon sports is entirely too much. While I believe that due to its nature as entertainment, yes, it is publicized. However, it is entirely too focused upon. People's days sometimes hang on the balance of how their team did. Betting leading to gambling addictions and problems within sports and out are a problem of its status. And perhaps, the worst, the allure of fame brings temptations of drugs that the young adult cannot always handle. Like, Hollywood though, the price comes with the fame. If we are to be entertained by people who desire to entertain, then there comes a risk. I do not like the fact that some fall to it. But, that is more due to a societal problem than to sports itself. People can either come at this from greed or from poverty. Either way can be dangerous.
2) People who enjoy sports the most tend to be people who need to participate or at least exercise the most. This is a generalization, a gross one in fact. But, it is not without some truth. At memorabilia shows, what kind of guys do you typically see? My stereotype of said persons is a big balding fat guy, possibly with a beer gut. That is why it is good that athletes are starting a movement with youth to get them exercising. Using their celebrity as athletes to promote athleticism should be expected.
Back to this point of celebrity. These men and women are celebrities. Many of them have charities and many of them heavily support charities. There is a goodness that arises from athletes as celebrity. Good organizations can do good things for the community. It can inspire us to help. Yes, I know the other side of the coin is advertisement for products and the capitalist system, but that's not entirely bad either.
With any good thing as I see modern day sports as being, there is the tendency to overdo it and to inject it with negative things and commercialize it. No Christian would deny that Christmas is a very special day, but it is highly commercialized and it is really overdone in society. And those who find it very important still are part of the problem. But to stop sports as it is now would take a societal reversal which would have a huge impact on our economy for good or ill. And to stop sports is unnecessary anyway. It is an entertainment industry. It just needs to be slightly edited to not be so strong an influence on the daily life of the average human being.
I do think he has made some good points, a couple of which I want to address here.
1) The focus upon sports is entirely too much. While I believe that due to its nature as entertainment, yes, it is publicized. However, it is entirely too focused upon. People's days sometimes hang on the balance of how their team did. Betting leading to gambling addictions and problems within sports and out are a problem of its status. And perhaps, the worst, the allure of fame brings temptations of drugs that the young adult cannot always handle. Like, Hollywood though, the price comes with the fame. If we are to be entertained by people who desire to entertain, then there comes a risk. I do not like the fact that some fall to it. But, that is more due to a societal problem than to sports itself. People can either come at this from greed or from poverty. Either way can be dangerous.
2) People who enjoy sports the most tend to be people who need to participate or at least exercise the most. This is a generalization, a gross one in fact. But, it is not without some truth. At memorabilia shows, what kind of guys do you typically see? My stereotype of said persons is a big balding fat guy, possibly with a beer gut. That is why it is good that athletes are starting a movement with youth to get them exercising. Using their celebrity as athletes to promote athleticism should be expected.
Back to this point of celebrity. These men and women are celebrities. Many of them have charities and many of them heavily support charities. There is a goodness that arises from athletes as celebrity. Good organizations can do good things for the community. It can inspire us to help. Yes, I know the other side of the coin is advertisement for products and the capitalist system, but that's not entirely bad either.
With any good thing as I see modern day sports as being, there is the tendency to overdo it and to inject it with negative things and commercialize it. No Christian would deny that Christmas is a very special day, but it is highly commercialized and it is really overdone in society. And those who find it very important still are part of the problem. But to stop sports as it is now would take a societal reversal which would have a huge impact on our economy for good or ill. And to stop sports is unnecessary anyway. It is an entertainment industry. It just needs to be slightly edited to not be so strong an influence on the daily life of the average human being.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Sports Tribalism
I have pondered quite a bit about the phenonmenon of sports tribalism. We belong to particular categories each of us. Some of us are Democrats, some Republicans. Some are fans are particular groups of musicians or even genres. Whenever we find someone else in the same particular category, we have an instant connection, a tribe of music genre enthusiasts. In sports, it is particularly evident. Cubs fans, Yankees fans, Packers fans, Bears fans, oh my... Anyway, we very much identify with a particular team, those of us who are devoted sports fans. I am one of those. I can live and die with a team (the Cubs). Those who surround me know that. There's even a tendency for those of us who are fans of a particular team to use the term "we" in connection with the actual performing team. We are connected to their success or lack thereof. We use it to taunt and jeer at opponents' fans; they are a part of another tribe. We cannot allow them to see success without us seeing defeat. It's nationalism at a different level. It's a whole new ballgame when a nation's teams are in competition with one another. But, at the level I speak of, it's a relatively innocent nationalism. You rarely see wars fought over the score of the Cubs-White Sox series (maybe embattled egos, family splits, but rarely bloodshed). The Red Sox-Yankees series has come close though. It's a battle for pride, spirit, and stronger identity. Speaking as a Cubs fan, I can't see myself as anything else in baseball. I identify myself with the struggles of my team and with other Cubs fans as we see the team try to overcome the curse of 101-year World Series championship drought. Ok, but enough rambling. It's a fun topic to talk about, but I'm on a break at Starbucks and it's time I use my time for something else more constructive.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Ideas
How much are we based on genetics and environmental influences? Quite a bit perhaps, but not all the way.
Where do the images in our head that have no equal in the sensory perception world? Where do they come from (i.e. fantasies)? How do we create them? Perhaps in this latter question, we just base our fantasy or image upon a similar image that we know, but it still means we created an immaterial existence from what? Neurological pathways?
Where does an idea come from? Original to one's self? New to the rest of the world. It's an immaterial thought, is it proven by empiricism? Historical fact? An idea obviously can evolve as itself. It's truth can be debated and not necessarily on the terms of whether or not it really happened. We live in a society that says that the only way something is true is if it is proven to be true based on evidence. What happened to the goods of morality and ethics based on idealogies and logic? What happened on what it meant to be human as a soul and not just as a body? What happened to the soul? What happened to the idea that Truth itself is something that cannot be completely comprehended, contained? Truth itself does not need to be proven to have happened. It needs to make sense to what it means to be the very basic of human. It gives us meaning. For there to be no Truth, means there is little basis for the existence of anything. That is why most humans agree on several fundamental truths (i.e. the golden rule). It evolved that way. Maybe. But, why is it good? Why should we not beat the brains in of the person who has something we want and learn to protect it ourselves? Why is it good to love other people, love strangers? Why be altruistic? It is a sorry answer to say that it is merely because of genetic selfishness. Why is it GOOD to be altruistic? You do not benefit, and those who you serve may not benefit from the attempt, but the attempt is still noted.
Perhaps it is because the Truth behind the matter is more than a mere idealogical statement of the Tie that binds the human to the other. Perhaps the Truth is way more complicated. Perhaps it takes the form of a Supreme Being. Perhaps this Being decides to reveal Truth and reveals what it means to be human. Human in its true form. Love in its true form. Truth in its true form. Is it even possible? Yes. I sure hope it's true.
Where do the images in our head that have no equal in the sensory perception world? Where do they come from (i.e. fantasies)? How do we create them? Perhaps in this latter question, we just base our fantasy or image upon a similar image that we know, but it still means we created an immaterial existence from what? Neurological pathways?
Where does an idea come from? Original to one's self? New to the rest of the world. It's an immaterial thought, is it proven by empiricism? Historical fact? An idea obviously can evolve as itself. It's truth can be debated and not necessarily on the terms of whether or not it really happened. We live in a society that says that the only way something is true is if it is proven to be true based on evidence. What happened to the goods of morality and ethics based on idealogies and logic? What happened on what it meant to be human as a soul and not just as a body? What happened to the soul? What happened to the idea that Truth itself is something that cannot be completely comprehended, contained? Truth itself does not need to be proven to have happened. It needs to make sense to what it means to be the very basic of human. It gives us meaning. For there to be no Truth, means there is little basis for the existence of anything. That is why most humans agree on several fundamental truths (i.e. the golden rule). It evolved that way. Maybe. But, why is it good? Why should we not beat the brains in of the person who has something we want and learn to protect it ourselves? Why is it good to love other people, love strangers? Why be altruistic? It is a sorry answer to say that it is merely because of genetic selfishness. Why is it GOOD to be altruistic? You do not benefit, and those who you serve may not benefit from the attempt, but the attempt is still noted.
Perhaps it is because the Truth behind the matter is more than a mere idealogical statement of the Tie that binds the human to the other. Perhaps the Truth is way more complicated. Perhaps it takes the form of a Supreme Being. Perhaps this Being decides to reveal Truth and reveals what it means to be human. Human in its true form. Love in its true form. Truth in its true form. Is it even possible? Yes. I sure hope it's true.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Written Thoughts
I needed to write down thoughts. Amanda wrote in her blog recently and said that when she wrote, it was like a prayer. I do not pretend to the have the desire to write like she does. I do not want to become a professional writer. That's the problem. Not the not wanting to be a writer, but the fact that I can only say, "I don't want to do (fill in the blank)."
I feel like I'm in a storm of life right now. Rain is splashing on me. Lightning is flashing and blinding me. Thunder is deafening me and I don't know which way to turn. I'm wet, blind, and deaf. I'm like a newborn puppy. And yet, something keeps me from seeking God in all of this. Why? I wish God would reveal that to me. I don't know why I can't seek a real relationship with Him, why I cannot fully trust Him. There is also something keeping me from desiring the Christian fellowship I really need.
I'm glad I have friends. I'm glad I have family. But, nobody besides perhaps one or two people actually understand what I'm going through and even then, not completely. And they understand the need for a good job. A couple I believe even knows my feelings about the lack of direction. They can be sympathetic with me and suffer along, but they cannot do much more. I need someone to mentor me. To help me get through this time. I need direction. I need someone in my life who has been through it.
I'm a 25-year-old who lives with his parents, works in the food service industry, has three degrees (none of which seem to be very practical), and has loans to pay off soon with no steady job to actually do that with. I'm angry I'm in this position. I'm angry with the lack of direction in my life. I am angry that my car is always falling apart, and I can't afford a newer one. I feel angry that I have been mistreated recently and have no course but up for this. What am I supposed to do with all this when I feel no way to give it to God? Why can't I trust Him with this? I...have...little...joy...
I can't say I don't have any joy. Amanda, family, friends, frisbee, and baseball (though the Cubs bring me little joy lately either...). And with the exception of perhaps the first two (sorry to those who might be offended by this), the best the later things do is distract me from the pain created within myself because of the desire for something greater than my current state and feeling helpless to change it. So, here is my prayer, my exasperation, my current state. And yet, few will know of it despite the fact it is on the worldwide web. I wish there were more to help me through the fellowship I desperately need. Someone find me...
I feel like I'm in a storm of life right now. Rain is splashing on me. Lightning is flashing and blinding me. Thunder is deafening me and I don't know which way to turn. I'm wet, blind, and deaf. I'm like a newborn puppy. And yet, something keeps me from seeking God in all of this. Why? I wish God would reveal that to me. I don't know why I can't seek a real relationship with Him, why I cannot fully trust Him. There is also something keeping me from desiring the Christian fellowship I really need.
I'm glad I have friends. I'm glad I have family. But, nobody besides perhaps one or two people actually understand what I'm going through and even then, not completely. And they understand the need for a good job. A couple I believe even knows my feelings about the lack of direction. They can be sympathetic with me and suffer along, but they cannot do much more. I need someone to mentor me. To help me get through this time. I need direction. I need someone in my life who has been through it.
I'm a 25-year-old who lives with his parents, works in the food service industry, has three degrees (none of which seem to be very practical), and has loans to pay off soon with no steady job to actually do that with. I'm angry I'm in this position. I'm angry with the lack of direction in my life. I am angry that my car is always falling apart, and I can't afford a newer one. I feel angry that I have been mistreated recently and have no course but up for this. What am I supposed to do with all this when I feel no way to give it to God? Why can't I trust Him with this? I...have...little...joy...
I can't say I don't have any joy. Amanda, family, friends, frisbee, and baseball (though the Cubs bring me little joy lately either...). And with the exception of perhaps the first two (sorry to those who might be offended by this), the best the later things do is distract me from the pain created within myself because of the desire for something greater than my current state and feeling helpless to change it. So, here is my prayer, my exasperation, my current state. And yet, few will know of it despite the fact it is on the worldwide web. I wish there were more to help me through the fellowship I desperately need. Someone find me...
Monday, February 23, 2009
When Truth Becomes a Matter of Life and Death
C. S. Lewis wrote, "You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you." He wrote his for a different reason than what my reason currently is. But, his first: Lewis had just suffered the death of his wife, Helen Joy. He was really struggling with the grief and how to relate to God at the time. He was questioning his beliefs about God. He wasn't doubting God's existence, but what kind of God there is. Lewis during that time ranted that God is sadistic and gives us little joy in a trap to make us distraught and despairing in the end. This statement was made because he was really making that faith he had all the more real by challenging it. It had become a matter of life and death for him, because it was so challenged.I feel myself going through a moment where the truth or falsehood of my faith is a matter of life and death. I am kind of struggling with it right now. I do believe in God. I do believe in Jesus Christ. I just don't know how much right now: how much I believe, how much I trust, how much He's real. I also don't know how real He is. Some of this is due to my own "rebellion" but also to honest doubt.
I went to a lecture by Dr. Francisco Ayala and he pointed out what kind of God we would have if we go with an ID standpoint. I'll just say that one point he made about what this creator would look like troubles me. How many animals have suffered and died as a result of the natural functions and instincts of other animals? Much pain has been inflicted and if God created and guides the creation, then He could almost be accused of sadism and infinite abuse. We despised Michael Vick for pitting pit bulls against each other Lions rip apart their prey. Sharks cause much pain to their prey (except for whale sharks). What about all the diseases that have arisen and inflicted much pain on human and animal alike? So, I don't know how to answer that. This did not make me disbelieve in God. His point of view on the relationship of science and religion is not appealing to me (seems more like a schizophrenic culture of thought). But, that challenge is still there.
This isn't the only reason for my difficulties. I'm struggling to make any effort to do much, let alone my relationship with God. I'm struggling to care. Not about life, but the things of life. I love my life. I feel simultaneously confident and low at the same time though. I'm worried about the outcomes of upcoming events (end of the certificate program, end of Amanda's mom's academy time, etc.). And when May comes, who knows if I will be able to find a job? I don't want to work at Starbucks forever (it's a great place, just not my career ideal obviously). I also have loans coming to term. I still live with my parents and I'm in major debt. None of these things do I feel all that confident about the results or where I am currently. It sucks. And I'm trying to find how out how it's all going to work out. God seems to have left me in a suffering but not out economy. If I believe truly, He has led me into a field that I am not sure I will be qualified for or find a job in (as zoos aren't doing as well as they once have). Is God there? Is He watching? Does He care to lend a hand? Give me strength? I am so stressed about everything (including current class projects).
I went to a lecture by Dr. Francisco Ayala and he pointed out what kind of God we would have if we go with an ID standpoint. I'll just say that one point he made about what this creator would look like troubles me. How many animals have suffered and died as a result of the natural functions and instincts of other animals? Much pain has been inflicted and if God created and guides the creation, then He could almost be accused of sadism and infinite abuse. We despised Michael Vick for pitting pit bulls against each other Lions rip apart their prey. Sharks cause much pain to their prey (except for whale sharks). What about all the diseases that have arisen and inflicted much pain on human and animal alike? So, I don't know how to answer that. This did not make me disbelieve in God. His point of view on the relationship of science and religion is not appealing to me (seems more like a schizophrenic culture of thought). But, that challenge is still there.
This isn't the only reason for my difficulties. I'm struggling to make any effort to do much, let alone my relationship with God. I'm struggling to care. Not about life, but the things of life. I love my life. I feel simultaneously confident and low at the same time though. I'm worried about the outcomes of upcoming events (end of the certificate program, end of Amanda's mom's academy time, etc.). And when May comes, who knows if I will be able to find a job? I don't want to work at Starbucks forever (it's a great place, just not my career ideal obviously). I also have loans coming to term. I still live with my parents and I'm in major debt. None of these things do I feel all that confident about the results or where I am currently. It sucks. And I'm trying to find how out how it's all going to work out. God seems to have left me in a suffering but not out economy. If I believe truly, He has led me into a field that I am not sure I will be qualified for or find a job in (as zoos aren't doing as well as they once have). Is God there? Is He watching? Does He care to lend a hand? Give me strength? I am so stressed about everything (including current class projects).
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