Gourmet or ground: coffee is coffee, right?

Gourmet coffee shops may charge more for coffee, but the quality is reflected in that extra cost.

By SUSIE REMPFER

Staff Writer

Coffee shops offer the luxury of gourmet blends, freshly brewed coffees, delicious desserts, as well as an area to socialize with old friends. But while currently working nights and weekends in this atmosphere it seems customers are less than satisfied. 

Each shift is filled with complaints from both frequenters and new customers. Usually the complaint is about the prices. Although places like Wawa, Dunkin Donuts, McDonald’s, and corner diners offer coffees for much less than several big name coffee shops, the taste and quality are lacking in comparison. 

The important thing to remember while arguing with your barista about price is that coffee shops specialize and focus on coffee, and not just any average brew. Coffee shops offer many gourmet blends and authentic roasts that are often imported from areas all around the world.  

“I get yelled at a lot by people who think the coffee’s too expensive,” said Nicole Kopp, a student at CCC who works at a coffee shop. “The important thing to realize is that my boss makes the prices, not me, and not the other people working behind the counter.”

Like Nicole, I’ve experienced these kinds of remarks from customers. For those who love specialty drinks like lattes and hate the prices, making these drinks at home can be a cheaper alternative. Although a lot of coffee shop drinks have complicated names, they are simple to make. By making popular coffee shop drinks at home, you can increase flavor and cut back on cost. 

One popular drink that is simple to make at home is the café mocha. This drink consists of one or two shots of espresso, depending on the strength desired. A chocolate syrup, or powder, is then added to the espresso and stirred together. Milk is then steamed to serve the drink hot, or poured in a cup of ice to make it a cold beverage. The chocolate espresso beverage is then mixed into the milk. In coffee shops, whipped cream is generally added for an additional treat. 

Cappuccinos are a simple, and tasty drink to make at home. A shot or two of espresso and steamed milk is all there is to it. To add additional taste flavored syrups like vanilla and caramel are available for reasonable prices at coffee shops and turn any coffee beverage into something sweet. 

For additional drink ideas and information the Internet is a great place to search. Not only can you learn to make drinks you can also find nearby coffee shops that aren’t as expensive as places like Starbucks. 

The next time you drink a flavorful gourmet coffee you won’t need to be dreading the cost, and you can enjoy it from the comforts of your own home.

Dining out is a luxury; tipping is not.

By KRISTEN TANTILLO 

Staff Writer    

With the current economic situation, times are tough. Everyone is cutting back on their spending, but one thing that has not slowed down as much is going out to eat. People will always buy food, but the amount of money given in tips has lessened. When the money economy was stronger, customers at restaurants were able to tip a little more than the usual twenty percent. Today, most servers are lucky if they receive even ten percent of the bill. Many patrons are unaware of what a serving job entails, and that the money earned must often be shared.

The job of a waiter or waitress is to ensure their customers are satisfied. However, the footwork involved is more complicated than it may appear: servers are constantly running to get drinks, appetizers and meals for multiple tables, all while seating new parties and cleaning up. After making sure the orders are right, tables must be monitored in case of other needs like drink refills. These are only some of the responsibilities that come with the job. 

Serving tables is one of the most common jobs for college students. With tuition prices always rising, every penny earned is spent on their education and other needs. Most people are surprised to learn that their servers are paid a whopping $2.13 an hour in New Jersey (other states pay minimum wage), and most of this money goes to taxes. The tips that servers get during their shifts are what they rely on to pay their bills. The common restaurant also has a tip-share, where servers are made to give bartenders, hosts, and server assistants (busboys) a certain percentage of their tips; the amount given can often go over fifty dollars in a shift. Couple this with annual taxes, and the average student who still lives at home and is claimed by their parents may have to pay $500 or more to the government for income tax.

When serving guests, things do not always go smoothly; for example, young children sometimes get sick at the table. To prevent other guests from getting ill as well, the servers need to clean up the mess as quickly as possible. Children are also very touchy, and will not hesitate to grab any part of their server. While this can be lighthearted or funny, there is nothing more difficult than dealing with rude or unhappy customers. While itís true that people make mistakes and orders are sometimes cooked wrong, customers may not understand that the servers are not the ones doing the actual cooking. Unfortunately, they are often the ones who take the heat from customers who are dissatisfied with their food, and tips tend to suffer because of it. Customers will threaten, curse, and sometimes even throw things at their waiter or waitress when unhappy. Kristina Grando, a CCC freshman and server at the local Texas Roadhouse, said, “I once had an old man throw his creamer for his coffee right at me because he just didnít want it.” 

Those that do tip are often not sure how much to give. For example, elderly patrons often tip very little, as they might not grasp how the value of the dollar has changed  over time. As a rule, guests should tip at least ten percent of the bill, and more for dinner or excellent service.

Above all, servers need to have a positive attitude regardless of the circumstances, said CCC student and Texas Roadhouse employee Lauren Camerieri. “You just have to put a smile on your face and make the best out of a bad situation when guests are unhappy,”

Look out, Twilight: Succubus Dreams is quirky, dark

By BRITTANY WALDER
Staff Writer 

Succubus Dreams, the third book in the Georgina Kincaid series by urban-fantasy writer Richelle Mead, is charming, witty, and just as intriguing as ever.  

“I always imagined [the struggle between Heaven and Hell] as being very corporate,” the author said in a conversation at Barnes & Noble on November 22nd.

For those unfamiliar with the series, Succubus Dreams manages to keep readers up-to-date rather nicely.  The story continues the tale of Georgina Kincaid, a slacker succubus who has a “day job” in a bookstore in modern day Seattle amid an ever-complicated life within the local corporate demonic hierarchy. 

Dreams seems noticeably darker than its two predecessors, but the characters will never fail to delight. Mead is a master at character development, and each has a distinct personality that, if nothing else, will leave readers craving for more. 

The subject matter can be a bit touchy for some at times, but the humor runs wild. Everything about the novel deepens the appeal of the characters in it, and the plot has so many twists and turns that the suspense never dampens.  The saga is rich in all breeds of mythology, and the time span of Georgina’s life alone fills the pages to the brim with historical references.  

The down-side for fans may just lie in the overall mood of the novel. The first two were typically upbeat and cheery, whereas in Dreams, one gets the feeling from the get-go that everything is beginning to unravel.  At times it can even be down-right depressing. However, the complications that arise pave the way for the next installment (sadly, not due until June 2009).

The novel also seems to suffer a tad from Macbeth syndrome; everything is laid out beautifully in the beginning, giving a lot of insight, a lot of background, and details galore, only to culminate in a quick showdown of which our unlucky hero is not even truly a part.  Unlike Shakespeare however, Mead’s intent in  rushing through the finale is clear; in a quick tumble, she completely overhauls Georgina’s life, which is brilliant in that the shock value of the ending will take a while to wane. It will also compel readers to begin stashing away the $15 for the next installment. 

Overall, Succubus Dreams is an engaging read. It’s quirky and the chemistry and design of the characters feels overwhelmingly real. Given the urban fantasy setting, Mead does an excellent job in presenting her world in a way that will make readers feel as if this could all be happening right down the street.  She also manages to strengthen the appeal of her books; there is never a moment when it feels as if she is dragging the reader through the same circumstances and emotions.  For being a third book, much of the action comes off as novel. It’s impressive, to say the least, and establishes Richelle Mead’s talent as a writer who is definitely worth following.

Other novels by Richelle Mead: Succubus Blues, Succubus on Top, and Storm Born.

Video games are not the enemy

By PHIL SPIZZICA
Staff Writer 

For virtually as long as I can remember, video games and gaming culture have had a profound impact on my life. In fact, I am certain that the person I am today is directly related to my incessant, habitual video game playing from the time I was young. It’s interesting how something like that can have such an effect, and nowadays most people just seem totally incapable of understanding. It’s a tragedy, really; even though gaming quickly became a universal phenomenon and is undeniably becoming the most popular and dynamic variety of entertainment media out there, it still scarcely receives the respect that it deserves. Instead, gaming is treated to blind oppression.

If a video game includes violence, it serves no purpose other than to corrupt and devastate the minds of today’s youths, right? Well, I’d say that’s an incredibly ignorant, narrow-minded approach to the issue. Unfortunately, this opinion is all too common in our society today. A video game is, first and foremost, a popular form of escapism, of which many can customarily include and embrace mature themes; I’m not going to try and dispute that. However, this doesn’t mean that no constructive experience can be garnered from playing a video game, and it certainly does not mean that real learning can’t result from playing one, as it so frequently does.

Try and look at it this way: novels are also, first and foremost, a form of entertainment, and they often contain themes and subject matter very similar to those of video games. But unlike playing games, we are actually again and again encouraged to read novels. Why is this? Well, because it is generally accepted that reading books is conducive to greater intelligence and a more curious, explorative mind, just as it has been for hundreds of years. I surely have no problem with that statement, and I agree with it to a great extent. I just don’t see why video games must be crucified merely for attempting to convey similar ideas, though through a contradistinctive format. Reading books can certainly benefit your vocabulary and your abilities to reason and comprehend, but the oftentimes far more complex experience of a good video game can enhance several other facets of your mental dexterity at once. I personally consider myself to be evidence of this. I’ve learned far, far more from video games than I had ever cared to learn from my high school teachers, and that’s the truth. The information they teach in schools is usually taught far out of context of actual use, and it rarely has anything to do with an individual’s personal goals other than just passing a test. This can render a lot of the stuff taught at school pretty hard to swallow. Video games are sort of the antithesis of this. A good game will give you exactly the information you have to know for an objective you need and want to accomplish at precisely the right time, all the while enabling you to build upon that information on your own for future application and supplying plenty of motivation for you to keep it up. Things just play out so much better in the interactive context of a game.

The point of all this is not to suggest video games should replace high school or novels or textbooks or anything ridiculous like that. I happen to be a big fan of reading, and I love that America forces all of its inhabitants to attend school, because I strongly believe that our society would be nothing without that. I’m simply saying that people need to look on games with a more open mind, and realize that they aren’t so bad. They are educational. They entertain and bring people together in a way nothing else can. And they are a positive force on today’s society. I’m sick and tired of people forever persecuting video games for wholly contrived reasons. In a world as belligerent and unforgiving as ours, I guess people constantly need somewhere to cast blame in order to feel better about themselves, but video games have been the scapegoat long enough.

Advisement is a two-way street

By ASHLEY LONG
Staff Writer 

I ‘m a student with more than enough credits to graduate, but I’m missing one important thing, a degree.  You might be asking yourself, “How is that possible?” Sure, any student who forgets that he or she must petition to graduate, misses the deadline, or takes an ample amount of basic courses is subject to wait a little longer.  My situation is unusual – although I have enough credits, some of them are not attributable or significant to my major.  My advisor(s) suggested I embark on a variety of subjects, only to find out that they were insufficient.

Each semester every student is assigned a designated advisor.  As a freshman, you’re generally encouraged to meet with the department chair overseeing your major.  Their job is to recommend classes, inform you about changes in the curriculum, and essentially steer you in the right direction.  As an incoming student, I had a general idea of the classes I needed, but I was not familiar with course selection.  When I met with my advisor for the firsttime, I was given a list of classes corresponding to my major and sent to a conference room to fill out my paperwork. 

Unaided by my advisor, I struggled to pick and choose courses, but with a little help from other students, I was finally able to figure out what I was doing.  I walked away from my “appointment” feeling disappointed because I expected my advisor to walk me through everything step by step, and that’s not what occurred.

After my first semester, I took it upon myself to pick my own advisor(s).  My objective was to seek a professor that would take the time to sit down and assist me.  At this point, I knew I would have to stay an extra semester to obtain my degree.  Over the course of two semesters I met with two of my professors.  Both professors were more than willing to help me arrange my class schedule.  They were both encouraging and worked diligently to help me select courses.  Both questioned why I took some of the classes I did and the only answer I had was that my old advisor told me I needed it.  This genuinely concerned me, because every advisor I had ever gone to pointed the finger at another one for making a mistake.

 I realized something wasn’t right.  I started to put the pieces together after I met with my high school guidance counselor. What I didn’t know is that some of the classes suggested by my advisors were non-essential. Semester after semester I took one or two courses that I didn’t need.

I was left with two options: stay at CCC and finish it out, or transfer.  I’ve attended CCC for over two years now, and although I’ve encountered many opportunities to learn about the environment and save money, I’m ready to move on.  Anyone in a situation like this would be just as frustrated as I am. I chose to transfer because I feel it is the best decision for my future.  It would not be worth it to stay only to take one or two classes.

I can appreciate that Advisement Day is set aside for students to meet with their advisors.  I do believe it is important to take advantage of Advisement Day as well.  I think that the advisors need to be more knowledgeable about what courses are offered.  They’re not there to hold your hand, but they are there to assist you. 

It all comes down to the advisor’s signature on the schedule.  Overlooking a problem is pure carelessness, but that shouldn’t be the student’s fault.  There are ways to avoid a situation similar to mine.  I would suggest incoming students to meet with Dr. Steven Stolar, Director of Advisement.  It would be much more effective for students looking for the best guidance.  It would also be a good idea to refer to the course catalogues to be prepared when you meet with your advisor.