I can’t believe CBS cancelled the show after 3 short episodes.

Dragostea Din Tei, An International Phenomenon. (I know I am a bit late to this, but it is better late than never)

Creature Comforts

Creature Comforts is a brilliant new TV show on CBS, a compilation of people who were interviewed with various topics. Their thoughts and comments were then conveying through the characters of the claymation.

He Walked Away With A Sprained Ankle.

If you missed the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal last weekend, you missed this spectacular crash...

What Would You Do to Win A Million Dollars?

The contest was long over. Even though I didn't make it to the final, I was satisfied with my result.

Then, I read something about the alleged cheatings among some finalists a few days ago, but it didn't elaborate on the details until today.

During the contest, I was amazed by some contestants who were able to pick big winners consistently, while I labored myself trying to keep up with them. Now we know that they took the advantage of CNBC's flawed software design.

Anyway, I had fun, and it was a lot easier to trade with the funny money with no emotional burden...

Are you μ + 3σ?

Panama's Hacienda la Esmeralda has done it again. The winning bid for this year's crop is $130.00 per pound (unroasted coffee beans), and I have already received a solicited email for $99.00 per 1/2 pound of the roasted cherries (if I remember correctly, it is up from $55.00 per 1/2 pound of a different roaster last year).

I like coffee, and I consider myself (knowledge of coffee and cupping ability) as any normal μ + 2σ coffee drinker. So, let me read and hear about it from those hardcore coffee folks. Unless you want to buy me a cup...

Love This Location.

But we are not meant to be together..

Busy Racing Weekend!

Memorial Day is the day to honor and remember those service men and women who died for this country. The Memorial Day Sunday, is also the day the world’s most prestigious automobile races will burn some rubbers. (thanks MikeP...Need to make sure the correct "rubber" is being burned here...)

Formula one will be broadcast live at 7:30AM EST, Sunday morning on Speed Channel, my favorite F1 pilot, the hard charging Fernando Alonso sits on the pole position. The circuit of Monaco Grand Prix is tremendously hard to overtake the car in front. It is not impossible, but it is very difficult. The only place to improve the position is done in the pit. The sooner the pit crew can get the car out to the track, the better chance for that driver to move up on the grid.

Not to forget about the exciting finish of last year’s Indy 500. It was the 2nd closest finish in history with the margin of victory in 0.0635 of a second! The race will be live on ABC TV station, with pre-race at 12:00 AM EST. Let’s hope Michael Andretti can finally win the elusive BorgWarner Indianapolis 500 Trophy.

2006 World Barista Champion, Klaus Thomsen.

Those Danish sure know about their coffee. Out of total 7 World Barista Championships (WBC), they finished in top 3 six times (except for 2003), and produced 4 world champions. Klaus was awarded with his WBC title in Berne, Switzerland last year.

Making espresso is one hobby of mine. It would be great to have a world champion to coach and improve my skill, but finding this clip while surfing youtube is the next best thing.

When making the cappuccino, the terminal temperature for steaming the milk is usually about 160~165°F (71~74°C). Klaus thinks the correct serving temperature is at 149°F (65°C), but he prefers his at the lower temp at 140°F (60°C). I also prefer my cappuccino at the lower temperature. I guess I obtained that habit from the days when I was learning the latte art. I made it just hot enough (or cool enough) for me to drink it fast, then onto practicing for another one. So that is my story.

Here is another story, I had a chance to taste an espresso and a single cappuccino from another famous Dane, Fritz Storm (2002 WBC Champ), when he visited Chicago 2 years ago. Those drinks were excellent.

Learning How To Pour Tulip

Learning how to pour tulip
Originally uploaded by Spinnaker007.

Spring is here, and the tulip latte arts are popping up everywhere like their real counterparts. I figure I'll learn how to pour one...

Actually it is quite simple to do,

1st, pour like you would do a rosetta, just a couple of wiggles,

2nd, make a solid dot and push the partial rosetta toward the opposite side of the cup,

3rd, finish with a heart.

Do it well with the clean definition like this one, now that is a challenge. (Looking at how Sammy pours with such an ease, makes me envious.)