I was considering to buy a Keurig machine and I was wondering if you have to use 1 k-cup per cup of coffee/tea? Because if that is the case, it will be way too expensive.
Can I use k-cups more than once… or the taste of the coffee and/or tea will be affected if I do so?
Public release date: 3-Apr-2008[ | E-mail Article ]
Contact: Jim Ericksonericksn@umich.edu734-647-1842University of Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—If you get a chance to sip some shade-grown Mexican organic coffee, please pause a moment to thank the bats that helped make it possible.
At Mexican organic coffee plantations, where pesticides are banned, bats and birds work night and day to control insect pests that might otherwise munch the crop.
Until now, the birds got nearly all the credit. But a new study from University of Michigan researchers shows that during the summer wet season, bats devour more bugs than the birds at Finca Irlanda, a 740-acre organic coffee plantation in Chiapas, Mexico.
And they often do it using a “perch and wait” hunting technique that is proving to be far more common than bat researchers had believed. A report on the study appears in Friday’s edition of the journal Science.
At a time when bat populations are declining worldwide, this new-found benefit to organic coffee farmers is another example of how these much-maligned mammals provide ecological services that go largely unnoticed. in addition to aiding agriculture, bats pollinate wild plants, disperse fruit seeds, and gorge on pesky mosquitoes by the ton.
“Bats are impacting ecological systems in all kinds of ways, and I just want them to get the credit they deserve,” said Kimberly Williams-Guillén, a tropical ecologist and a postdoctoral fellow at the U-M School of Natural Resources and Environment.
The bat’s role in controlling coffee-eating insects has been overlooked for two reasons, Williams-Guillén said. The first involves a flaw in the design of “exclosure” experiments used to study the impacts of various animals on coffee plants.
In previous experiments, the exclosures—simply net-covered wood-and-plastic frameworks—were placed over coffee bushes around-the-clock. After several days, scientists counted the insects on the protected plants and compared the tally to totals from nearby unprotected plants. The protected plants usually had higher pest counts, and birds generally received the credit.
But because the netting remained in place day and night, bats also had been excluded, Williams-Guillén said. And their impact went unnoticed.
To determine the relative contributions of birds and bats at the Finca Irlanda plantation, Williams-Guillén and her U-M colleagues established four types of exclosures: birds-only excluded during the day, bats-only excluded at night, both excluded day and night, and control plants with no netting.
They found that during the summer wet season, the bat-only exclosures resulted in an 84 percent increase in the density of insects, spiders, harvestmen and mites—exceeding the impact of birds.
Williams-Guillén’s co-authors on the Science paper are Ivette Perfecto of the U-M School of Natural Resources and Environment and John Vandermeer of the U-M Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
The second reason the bat’s contribution to coffee-plantation pest control had been overlooked has to do with hunting techniques.
Bats are well known for a foraging strategy called aerial hawking, which involves fluttering through the night sky, zeroing in on prey using echolocation, and gulping countless flying bugs. A bat can eat half its body weight in a single night using this technique.
But many of the bats at the Chiapas plantation—about 45 species have been recorded there so far—rely largely on an approach called foliage gleaning. They patiently “perch and wait” in the tree canopy above the coffee bushes, inverted and clutching a branch with their feet, sometimes for hours at a stretch. Their large, pointy ears listen intently for the sounds of insects chewing, crawling across leaves, or chirping.
Then they swoop down and snatch the bug off the leaf or stem.
“People had believed that all the bats were flying around in mid-air and taking mosquitoes and moths,” Williams-Guillén said. “And if that’s all they were going for, then you wouldn’t expect them to have an effect on insects that were just hanging around on the plants,” such as katydids and leaf-eating beetles.
“But it turns out that foraging modes in bats are much more diverse than people had thought,” she said. more than 200 species of insects feed on, or can otherwise damage, coffee plants.
Funding for the U-M Mexico study was provided by the National Science Foundation and Bat Conservation International.
For more on Williams-Guillen, visit: http://web.mac.com/kimwilliamsg/Kim_Williams-Guillen/Home.html
More on Perfecto: www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/public/experts/ExpDisplay.php?ExpID=599
Vandermeer: http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/public/experts/ExpDisplay.php?ExpID=1262
U-M School of Natural Resources and Environment: www.snre.umich.edu/
[ | E-mail Article ]
1 large organic shade-grown coffee, please – with extra bats
Okay, the answer to that question is HELL NO. Starbucks is all about cushy lifestyle porn. Stumptown is all about beans. (And the tight pants—Ed.) Still, the born-in-Portland, beloved-by-New Yorkers coffee roaster reached a new level of notoriety today when it was heralded in a story in Time magazine titled, “Is Stumptown the new Starbucks—or better?”
Writer Josh Ozersky (who won a Beard award and wrote The Hamburger: a History) explains:
In cities across America, a fervid generation of caffeine evangelists are changing the way we drink coffee. They tend to be male, heavily bearded, zealous and meticulous in what they do. And the coffee they produce is as much an improvement over Starbucks and its rivals as Starbucks was over Taster’s Choice….
…What all the third wave coffee people have in common is a thinly veiled revulsion at Starbucks and its rivals, in particular the way they overroast their beans. “Coffee beans aren’t supposed to be uniformly dark and shiny,” says John Moore of Dallis. “Every bean has a level it’s supposed to be roasted to, so that you can taste it. Otherwise it’s like cooking all meat well done.”
He’s right on about the bearded thing. I’ve taken to calling our lot of furry caffeinates “Foam Jockeys.” Ozersky goes on to note Stumptown’s excellent espresso delivery systems, its habit of paying “more at auction for prized lots of coffee beans than anyone else…” and, in general, the way the company is “changing the idea of coffee from a staple commodity, like corn or sugar, to something closer to wine.” But he says the company’s ace in the hole is its polarizing leader, Duane Sorenson, who he says has Pentecostal zeal for getting to the best beans.
No arguments there (read former WW scribe Zach Dundas’ excellent 2006 article, “Bean Town” if you’re interested in how all this coffee fervor started brewing in Portland). So, if Stumptown’s the new, improved Starbucks, then what does that make Portland’s Ristretto Roasters? Or Extracto’s Cherry Coffee Roasters? Or Spella!? and what’s the fourth wave going to be? Here’s a sneak peek from Hanna Neuschwander’s roundup of new Portland coffee roasters and shops, which hits news stands tomorrow in WW’s Cheap Eats Guide 2010…
Sterling Coffee Roasters2120 NW Glisan St., sterlingcoffeeroasters.com. 8 am-6 pm daily.Portland’s newest and craziest cafe is the micro-est micro-roaster in town—and perhaps in the country. In addition to a minimalist space—a mere 50 square feet—partners Adam McGovern (of Coffeehouse NW) and Aric Miller are roasting a changing selection of coffees in inconceivably tiny batches: one pound at a time. They’ll operate the on-site roaster 10 to 12 hours a day to produce enough beans for the tiny shop. like any heedless pronouncement of love, the scheme is so insane it might just work. Grab espresso ($2), cappuccino ($3), or drip coffee to go ($2.50)—or a changing selection of whole beans presented in a tony glass cylinder ($15 per pound).
Tags: Cheap Eats, coffee, Duane Sorenson, Portland in the news, Starbucks, Stumptown Coffee, Zach Dundas
This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 4:57 pm and is filed under Culture, Food & Drink. you can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. you can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
10 a.m. Saturday, Bethel CME Church, 1668 Pio Nono Ave. Sponsored by the Central Region Missionary Society. 405-0216.
10 a.m. March 13 and noon March 14, Forsyth. Arts and crafts show, children’s fair, a 5k run, sporting tournaments, live entertainment and more. www.forsythiafestival.com.
8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, corner of Broad and Lumpkin streets on U.S. 341, Hawkinsville. Hawkinsville Better Hometown, (478) 783-9294.
Dogwood Festival Vendor Applications
The Perry Dogwood Festival Committee is now accepting crafter/spacer and food vendor applications, April 10-11 in Perry. All vendors must participate both days. Application deadline is March 19. For vendor applications, contact Bonnie Giles, (478) 987-1234 or bonnie@perrygachamber.com.
Black History Month Gospel Extravaganza
1 p.m. Saturday, Wesleyan College, Taylor Hall Amphitheatre, 4760 Forsyth Road. Featuring Beulahland Bible Church’s Mass Choir and other local gospel singers and rappers. 757-3800. Free.
The Dark-Greene Encounter
The Workshop, 2-4 p.m. Saturday: Join musician Buddy Greene and author David Dark as they engage in a merging of spoken word and song, a dialogue between musician and author. Free concert, 7:30 p.m. Saturday: Greene will be joined by instrumentalist Jeff Taylor and opening acts the Key and Molly Stevens. Breakfast 8 a.m. and worship 11 a.m. Sunday: Greene and Dark join the Centenary Team to continue the conversation over coffee. Events will be held in Centenary’s sanctuary at the corner of College and Ash streets across from the Main entrance to Mercer University. 742-8926. www.centenarymacon.org. www.buddygreene.com.
Bethel C.M.E. Church Heritage Banquet
6:30 p.m. Saturday, LePiada Banquet Center, 4295 Interstate Drive. 746-8007. $50 per person.
An Evening with Drew Parker, Mary Cone and Logan Smith
6:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Jeffersonville Church of God, U.S. 80, Jeffersonville. Jonathan, (478) 918-7800. Love offering.
God’s Blessings are On the way 2010: “A Salute to Ester Mae Ross Night”
7 p.m. Saturday, Anna B. Lumpkin Auditorium, Fort Valley. Featuring many national gospel artists. (478) 956-3807 or (478) 235-9205.
6 p.m. Sunday, Macon Evangelistic Church. Fundraiser for the church’s Youth Camp. Soup, salad and breadsticks available after concert. 788-9409.
6:30 p.m. Sunday, Bethel Congregational Methodist Church, 1516 Thomaston Highway, Butler. (478) 862-3007.
Winter Jam 2010 Tour Spectacular
7 p.m. Thursday, Macon Coliseum, 200 Coliseum Drive. Hosted by NewSong and featuring Third Day, Newsboys, Tenth Avenue North, Fireflight and guest speaker Tony Nolan. Pre-Jam Party features Sidewalk Prophets, Robert Pierre and Revive. 751-9232. www.jamtour.com or www.premierproductions.com. $10 at door.
“An Evening with Calvary’s Way”
7 p.m. March 5, Buckner’s Restaurant and Music Hall, Interstate 75, exit 201. (770) 229-2711. Free.
“Warner Robins Sings the Gospel!”
7:30 p.m. March 5, Civic Center, Warner Robins. Featuring Gold City, the Hoppers, and Jeff and Sheri Easter. (941) 756-6942. $10 donation at door.
Tammie Klima and Soul’s Desire
10 a.m.-noon March 6, New Haven Independent Baptist Church, 106 Hortman mill Road, Roberta. Benefits American Cancer Society Relay for Life. (478) 297-4904. Love offering.
6 p.m. March 7, Evangelistic House of Prayer, 40 Huckleberry Lane, Fort Valley. Finger foods following concert. Tammie, (478) 335-4219. www.ehopchurch.com. Love offering.
5 p.m. March 13, Restoration Outreach, 5406 Fifth Ave., Eastman. Featuring Paul Beasley, Gospel Incredibles, Little Scottie Wells and the Gospel Kings. Sister Caroline, (478) 285-0218. $10 at door.
Old Friends in Concert
6:30 p.m. March 13, Immanuel Baptist Church, Yukon Road, Jones County. Featuring Crimson River, Logan Thorton, the Feltons, the Daystar Trio, Noveline Sorrell Dayspring Trio, Sandra and Friends, Old Friends Quartet, Chad Massey, Mary Cone, Ginny Porter, Montene Gates and more. Jonathan, (478) 918-7800. Love offering.
6-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. A Christian youth/young adult center. 4917-A Mercer University Drive. 390-4013. $3 admission.
8-11 p.m. Fridays, 102 Gunn Road, Centerville. 13-18, supervised, safe community activities and games. 9 p.m. Feb. 26: Pool tournament; $5 entry fee. Snacks available to purchase. Supervised by pastors of the Rain Church. 297-9244 or 953-7246. www.therainchurch.com.
Gospel and Jam Session
8-10:30 p.m. every first and third Friday, Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 809 S. Davis Drive, Warner Robins. (478) 997-1734. Free.
7:30 p.m. Thursday-March 5, Georgia College & State University, Russell Auditorium, Milledgeville. big band swing sounds featuring the music of Count Basie. (478) 445-8289. $7, free for Georgia College students.
7 p.m. March 6, Macon Coliseum. 751-9232. $37.50-$45.50.
6:30-9 p.m. each Friday, China Gourmet, 2975 Arkwright Road.
6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday nights, Chef Audrey’s Bistro and Bakery, 1241 Russell Parkway, Warner Robins. Live jazz featuring K-Mo every Friday. First Fridays feature House Budda and K-Mo and Combo. (478) 322-0170.
Jazz Appreciation Class
6:30 p.m. first Thursday of each month, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 390 Pierce Ave. Taught by George Saunders. everyone welcome. 742-4281. Free.
David Church: Keeping the Legend of Hank Williams Alive
7:30 p.m. March 5, Opera House, 42 Lumpkin St., Hawkinsville. (478) 783-1884. $18 advance.
7 p.m. March 18, City Auditorium, 415 First St. 751-9232. $42.25.
7:30 p.m. April 23, City Auditorium, 415 First St. 751-9232. Tickets not yet on sale. $39.50-$99.
Grant’s Lounge 39th Anniversary Party
8 p.m.-2 a.m. today, Grant’s Lounge, 576 Poplar St. Starring Bo Ponder and Old Soul Band. $7.
8 p.m. today, the Rose Theater, 23 West Johnston St., Forsyth. Rock, country and blues. (478) 994-7747. Free.
Saturday, Mercer University. Comedian. (310) 246-0943
8-11 p.m. Saturday, St. Peter Claver Catholic Parish, 133 Ward St. Live entertainment by Harry O’Donoghue, Danny Ray Cole, Carroll Brown and Johnny Kennedy. 743-3985. $20 per person, $200 table of ten.
8:30 p.m. Fridays, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 9, 4493 Houston Ave. 784-1454. 8 p.m. Saturdays, Warner Robins Moose Chapter 1688, 400 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins. 922-4367. Taylor Hanson, (478) 718-6666 or Calvin Poole (478) 978-6568.
Stardust Ballroom Dance
8 p.m. today, Library Ballroom, 652 Mulberry St. Monthly dance. Free cha-cha lesson at 7:30 p.m. and line dance at 8:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and punch. Dressy chic. 550-3762. $10 per person.
7:30-10 p.m. March 5, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, 301 Cherry St. Presented by Paula East and USA Dance No. 6059. Complimentary lesson at 7:30 p.m. Dressy casual. 752-1585. www.gshf.org. $5.
7:30-10:30 p.m. March 13, Howard Community Center, 5645 Forsyth Road. Presented by Greater Macon Chapter of USA Dance No. 6059. Complimentary lesson at 7:30 p.m. Dressy casual, refreshments provided. 923-5007. $7 members, $10 nonmembers.
8:30 p.m. Fridays, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 9, 4493 Houston Ave. Van Edwards, 784-1454.
9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturdays, Ga. 16 Club, 799 Monticello Road, Eatonton. (706) 473-3119. $7.
Hollonville Opry House
6:30 p.m. Saturdays, Ga. 362, Hollonville. this week: second Coming, Blue Jam, Peachtree Station, Klassic Kuntry. (770) 228-4832 or www.hollonvilleopry.com. Free; operated on donations.
7-9 p.m. first Saturday. $10. (478) 256-1560 or www.myspace.com/julietteopry.
6:30 p.m. every Friday, located on the square at 21 N. Lee St., Forsyth. Open mic for singer/songwriters and musicians. (478) 994-4433 or www.myspace.com/ladebcoguitars. Free.
6-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1007 Seventh Ave., Eastman. Saturday: Nina Dykes Band. Live music. For bookings, call David Rawlins at (478) 374-4617. Free.
6:30-10 p.m. Fridays, 215 Old Ga. 18, Gray. this week: 7 p.m. the Gospel Gazette, 8:45 p.m. Walnut Creek Band. (478) 986-6587 or www.oleclintonopry.com. Free; donations accepted.
5-9:30 p.m. Saturdays; south onto Powersville Road off Ga. 247 Connector between Warner Robins and Ga. 49. this week: 5 p.m. local talent, 6:30 p.m. Country Wheels, 7:30 p.m. Ray Knighton and Wanelle Collins with Phoenix Band. also open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. (478) 328-0678 or www.powersvilleopry.com. Free.
6:30-10 p.m. Saturdays, 699 Altman Road, Haddock. this week: 6:30 p.m. the Feltons, 7:30p.m. Mark Hall and Filmore Band. Contact Randy, (478) 363-1274. Free; donations accepted.
Williamson Music Barn
Saturdays, 2232 Ga. 362 W., Williamson. this week: 6 p.m. Jim and Friends, 7 p.m. Journey to Gospel Singers, 8 p.m. the good Ole Boys. For bookings, call (706) 975-9045. Free; donations accepted.
7 p.m. March 5, Douglass Theatre. 742-2000. $5, includes popcorn and drink.
Women’s Film Festival
3 p.m. March 7, Douglass Theatre. A series of short films produced by, directed by or starring women of significance. assistance from the Black Women’s Film Preservation Network in Atlanta. Reception opens the festival, followed by screenings. 742-2000. Free.
Douglass Theatre, 355 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. March 14: “An Education.” April 11: “Broken Embraces.” Movies are shown at 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. A discussion follows the 4:30 p.m. screening. 742-2000 or info@maconfilmguild.org. $5.
First Friday Film Series
7 p.m. first Fridays, Georgia College & State University, Arts and Sciences Auditorium, Milledgeville. March 5: “The Reader.” (478) 445-4789. Free.
February Lecture Series
3-5 p.m. Sunday, dining room of the main house, Andalusia, home of Flannery O’Connor. Lectures are followed by a light reception. Craig Amason, executive director at Andalusia, will present “A View from the Woods,” an expanded version of the paper he presented at the O’Connor conference in Rome, Italy, in April.
Central High School Author Forum
7 p.m. Tuesday, Central High School Fine Arts Auditorium, 2155 Napier Ave. International award-winning young-adult author Alex Flinn will discuss her works including “Breathing Underwater,” a relevant book for today’s teens dealing with date abuse, and her book “Beastly,” a major motion picture scheduled for release in theaters this summer. Reception and book signing will follow Q&A. Free and open to public.
“The Fine Art of Southern Humor”
5:30 p.m. refreshments, 6 p.m. program, Sidney Lanier Cottage, 935 High St. New Sidney’s Salons Spring Series. March 9: Ed Grisamore, “Why would I want to Write Fiction, I Couldn’t Make this Stuff Up!” 743-3851. www.historicmacon.org. Free for Historic Macon members, $5 for nonmembers and $3 students.
Author Judith Ortiz-Cofer
6 p.m. Tuesday, Russell Auditorium, Middle Georgia College. To kick off the school’s 2010 Reading Series, Ortiz-Cofer will give a reading from her book “The Latin Deli.” also featuring a reception during which the author will be available to discuss her works with attendees.
7 p.m. March 5, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, the Shoppes at River Crossing, 5080 Riverside Drive. Join former Telegraph reporter Mara Shaloup as she signs her book, “BMF: the Rise and Fall of big Meech and the Black Mafia Family.” It exposes the notorious Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and the Black Mafia Family. 474-0161.
March 6, Kema’s, Gray. Glenda Barnes Bozeman, author of “Macon — then & now.”
4 p.m. Saturday, Real Drama Theatre, Macon Mall. Kaili Bachan, 15, hosts this fashion show to raise funds for the people of Haiti. (478) 973-1959.
6 p.m.-midnight, Saturday, Cox Capitol Theatre. Benefit concert featuring Brass Tacks, Saint Francis, Trees in Season, Moonshine still and a variety of special guests. All proceeds will be donated to Jamie Waters to help with his battle against a rare form of leukemia, called T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia. www.marrow.org or at www.jayshope.org. Tickets at www.coxcapitoltheatre.com. $20 advance, $25 at door.
Fred Schneider’s Spring Thang Bingo and Dance Party
7-11 p.m., March 5, the Gold Room, Atlanta. Fred Schneider of the B-52s hosts a fun-filled evening of music, dance and bingo with fabulous prizes. Music by Fred and D.J. Vicki Powell. All proceeds benefit the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and Pets are Loving Support. $20 dance only; $40 dance and bingo; $75 VIP. Bus transportation leaves the Hall of Fame, 200 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., at 5 p.m. for only $20, round-trip fare.
Houston Springs Adult Community Garage Sale
9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 13, Interstate 75 to Exit 136, north on U.S. 341 about one mile, turn left on Airport Extension to Community, follow signs to Clubhouse. (478) 224-0312 or (304) 268-6265.
Bach Recital and English Tea Fundraiser
2 p.m. recital, 2:30 p.m. tea, March 14, All Saint’s Episcopal Church. English teas and pastries. Raffle to benefit the Food Pantry. Anne, 335-1487 or 920-0388. $20.
Red Bird Mission Appalachian Craft fair
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. March 20, Byron United Methodist Christian Fellowship Center, Main Street and W. Heritage Boulevard, Byron. Crafts made by local artisans. Baskets, rugs, dolls, flowers, etc. All proceeds support the Appalachian people, where their unemployment rate is 50 percent. Breakfast and lunch available for purchase. (478) 956-5717.
A Stovetop Espresso Makers does not really brew ” real espresso” it brews a very good, thick, flavored and strong coffee, but is not able to deliver the delicious creme that defines the real espresso.
The reason these are also sometimes called moka pots is because of it’s most famous brand: Moka Express.the design of the has hardly changed in over 70 years of manufacturing. Aluminum is still used to this day, as it is claimed that the residue of coffee from the previous brews, that taints the sides of a Moka pot, adds flavor and depth to future brews.
The reason a stovetop espresso maker is sometimes called a ” moka pod ” is because one of it’s most famous models is called the ‘ Moka Express’. it pretty much looks the same as 70 years ago when the design was first conceived.
Recently the company introduced a new model called the ” Mukka Express ” which is a stove top cappuccino maker.it will brew the espresso and steaming the milk into the same container! All you have to do is add the ingredients-water, ground coffee, and milk-and place the Mukka on a stovetop burner.
The preferred material for the construction of a these coffee makers is aluminum. A reported benefit of this material is that reportedly the flavor of your espresso will improve over time because of the residue accumulation in the coffee pod. Stainless steel is becoming more popular though; especially with younger people that prefer the sleek design aspect.
Newly established http://www.stovetopespressomakersite.com/ takes a look at the pros and cons of a stove top espresso maker and also has features some coffee maker reviews.
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I have a small sunbeam coffee and spice grinder and use it for other things. I was told I could use it for flour purposes too, but I have found that the wholewheat turns into fine powder, but not as fine as store bought flour is.
As I live in Sydney, Australia, where can I find such appliances?
I would like to grind my own flour, what equipment do you use. Would a coffee and spice grinder do?
Please I have applied to so many jobs and I have such a hard time finding a job in my local area! I am a military wife that has just moved to Quantico, VA from Pennsylvania. I have so much experience more then what is on my resume. What is not on my resume is my bartending and retail experience! I am am fast learning multi-tasker!! I have excellent customer service and administrative skills including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and the Internet as well as filing and phone experience that would be an asset to your company. in addition, I am an experienced billing manager. I am also a very motivated, reliable professional, who learns quickly and has the ability to work with diverse populations in fast paced environments, independently or within a team.
ANY JOB OFFERS please contact me via phone(267-679-4665) or e-mail (alexandria.blank@yahoo.com)!!! I am looking for about $10/hr Full-time!
I have placed my resume below PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP!! I am an HONEST hard worker!!!
(I can send you my resume in a word doc.!!)
Alexandria Blank
11022 Poynter Street
Quantico, Virginia 22134
Cell (267) 679-4665
alexandria.blank@yahoo.com
Objective
To obtain a position where my excellent customer service and administrative skills can be utilized in a company with growth potential.
Summary of Qualifications
-Excellent customer service skills and able to effectively serve and work with diverse populations and ages including supervisors, colleagues, customers and vendors.
-Proficient in Microsoft Word, Power Point and the Internet.
-Exceptional organizational and administrative skills, with ability to set up and maintain confidential filing systems, answer single and multi-line telephones, and deliver messages promptly.
-Motivated and proactive with ability to work in fast paced environments independently or in a team.
-Proven marketing skills including product information, design and location.
-Over two (2) years experience accurately handling cash and balancing books.
Professional Experience
Manager
Maui Wowi (Gourmet Coffee & Smoothies), Langhorne, PA (3/07-1/08)
-Responsible for the complete operation of the store, including reconciling daily cash and sales, and supervising staff.
-Provided excellent customer service at all times by greeting and assisting customers, and promptly and professionally responding to customer inquiries and complaints.
-Monitored sales activities to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service and quality goods and conducted marketing of store and products.
-Responsible to recruit, hire, train, supervise, evaluate, schedule and complete payroll for employees.
-Directed and supervised employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or in performing services for customers.
-Performed inventory of stock and reordered when inventory dropped to a specified level.
-Maintained records of purchases, sales, and requisitions. Examined products purchased for resale or received for storage to assess the condition of each product or item.
-Enforced safety, health, and security rules and maintained clean store at all times.
-Assisted in the performance of work activities of subordinates, such as cleaning and organizing shelves and displays and selling merchandise.
Alexandria Blank
Page two
Billing Manager
Wilco Electronics Inc. (Cable & Alarm Company), Fort Washington, PA (1/06-10/06)
-Verified accuracy of billing data and revised any errors.
-Operated typing, adding, calculating, and billing machines.
-Prepared itemized statements, bills, or invoices; and recorded amounts due for items purchased or services rendered.
-Reviewed documents such as purchase orders, sales tickets, charge slips, or records in order to compute fees and charges due.
-Performed data entry and bookkeeping work, including posting data and keeping other records concerning costs of goods and services and the shipment of goods.
-Maintained records of invoices and support documents.
-Counted daily cash and resolved discrepancies in accounting records.
-Typed billing documents, shipping labels, credit memorandums, and credit forms.
-Contacted customers in order to obtain or relay account information.
-Computed credit terms, discounts, shipment charges, and rates for goods and services in order to complete billing documents.
-Ordered office supplies.
Greeter
McCafferty Auto Group (Hyundai/Suzuki Showroom) Langhorne, PA (8/05-12/05)
-Operated telephone switchboard to answer, screen and forward calls, providing information, taking messages, scheduling appointments, and to hear and resolve issues/complaints from customers and public.
-Received payments and recorded receipts for services.
-Performed administrative support tasks such as proofreading, transcribing handwritten information, and operating calculators or computers to work with pay records, invoices, balance sheets and other documents.
-Greeted person
March 02, 2010, 6:16 PM EST
March 2 (Bloomberg) — While a shot of espresso may give people the sensation their hearts are racing, drinking more coffee reduced the likelihood that patients would be hospitalized for irregular heartbeats, researchers found.
A study of 130,054 adults found that people who drank four cups or more of coffee daily had an 18 percent lower risk of being hospitalized for irregular heartbeats and other heart- rhythm conditions than noncoffee drinkers, researchers at Kaiser Permanente, an Oakland, California-based health system, said today. The risk of hospitalization was 7 percent lower for people who drank one to three cups of coffee daily, the researchers said.
Cardiac rhythm disorders are problems in the heart’s electrical systems that cause it to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. Atrial fibrillation, a rapid, irregular heart beat that is the most common of these conditions, will affect an estimated 2.7 million Americans in 2010, according to the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“People who are moderate coffee drinkers can be reassured that they are not doing harm because of their coffee drinking,” said Arthur Klatsky, the study’s lead investigator and a cardiologist at Kaiser’s Division of Research.
The study is scheduled March 5 for presentation at an American Heart Association conference on cardiovascular disease in San Francisco.
Surprising Findings
The study’s findings may be surprising because high doses of caffeine have been associated with a perception of heart “racing” in people, Klatsky said. Previous studies on the topic haven’t found that the racing impression is a measurable increase in heart rate or an irregular heartbeat, he said.
The study looked at 130,054 adults who were members of the Kaiser Permanente health plan and had filled out questionnaires about their coffee- and tea-drinking habits from 1979 to 1985. The patients’ health status was followed until 2008.
The 18 percent reduction in risk of hospitalization for those who drank four or more cups of coffee daily was consistent for men and women, different ethnic groups and smokers and nonsmokers, according to the study.
The study shows “a progressive reduction in risk” of heart irregularities the more coffee people drank, Klatsky said. The research doesn’t prove a cause-and-effect relationship between reduced risk and coffee drinking or that coffee protects the heart against such irregularities, he said.
“We shouldn’t jump to the conclusion that there is a protective effect of coffee, although the study suggests there might be,” he said.
–Editors: Donna Alvarado, Andrew Pollack
-0- Mar/02/2010 23:00 GMT
To contact the reporter on this story: David Olmos in San Francisco at dolmos@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Reg Gale at Rgale5@bloomberg.net
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Early last spring, a cousin I hadn’t seen in years confided that she had recently sent a tea bag to the White House.
“For what possible reason?” I asked.
At the time, I had heard only the vaguest of references to the brewing Tea Party movement, which would eventually become a thorn in the side of President Obama.
So, over the next few weeks, I paid closer and closer attention. on the Web site of Americans for Prosperity I found an entire list of people — the president, senators, congressmen — to whom protesters should send tea, along with practical advice on mailing: “Two first class stamps should cover the weight of a typical tea bag.”
Only in America will someone protest wasteful spending by mailing people things they don’t want for 88 cents a pop.
Of course, you can also opt for Priority Mail ($4.90), which guarantees that your tea bag will arrive in two to three business days.
Like many of you, I’ve wondered for months what the president did to take his mind off all this tea. Well, now we know: Among other things, he ate pie.
And, way too much of it, according to his physician who said last week that the president’s total cholesterol level was 209; up from 173 in 2007.
Can’t you hear the first lady asking, “Darling, what are you eating in the closet?”
“Nothing! And, don’t call me Darjeeling!”
Obama’s LDL (or “bad cholesterol”) clocked in at 138, which was a bit too high for Dr. no, who wants the president to bring the number down to below 130.
This is how things work in a democracy. can you imagine what would have happened if Henry VIII’s physician had instructed him to lay off dessert?
Yeah: bada-bing, bada-bang, bada-boom.
Anyway, once the president’s pie file was opened, the birds began to sing. his habit was seized upon by critics who said “Obama” was Kenyan for “a la mode” and demanded to know what else the president was hiding.
Then, on Tuesday, Al Jazeera released a tape of Osama bin Laden passing up pie at a recent terrorist luncheon in Pakistan — even though subsequent scrutiny of the video by CIA terror experts revealed telltale bits of lemon meringue in bin Laden’s beard along with traces of pie crust on his goodie bag.
The response in the American media was also swift and ruthless.
In its story on the president’s physical, the Los Angeles Times ran a 2008 file photo of then-President-elect Obama ogling a slice of cherry pie at Manny’s Coffee Shop and Deli, described as “a favorite spot for Chicago politicians.”
Is cherry the president’s favorite? The White House refused to say.
Still, the story (combined with photos like the one at Manny’s) suggested a president who seems cool, calm and collected while addressing the nation, before rushing home to a White House where he has pies hidden everywhere: in drawers, under desks, behind presidential portraits.
Does he run around at night like Neeley O’Hara in “The Valley of the Dolls”?
According to his doctor, the president still sneaks an “occasional” cigarette, but experts insist it’s tougher to cut ties with Ol’ mr. Nicotine than it is to say bye, bye to American pie.
His options, all of which fall under the umbrella of what doctors call “pie cessation therapy,” include:
* Pie gum: Studies have shown that pie-flavored gum, which contains 2 mg of pie, relieves pie cravings in more than 90 percent of the people who chew it. Pie gum tastes like pie, but has none of the nasty cholesterol. Flavors include apple, pumpkin, coconut custard and sweet potato.
* The pie patch: These transdermal patches are applied to the body and release small amounts of pie into the skin. unlike square-shaped nicotine patches, pie patches are shaped like pie, which seems to have a calming effect during periods of extreme withdrawal.
* Cessation medications: Pie-ban, Pie-codin and Pie-lenol have been found to be effective in some patients by blocking pie receptors in the brain. They’re often used in conjunction with helpful behavior modification DVDs such as “Just a Sliver” and “Pie Hard With a Vengeance.”
* Drinking tea: According to dieting experts, tea is a natural appetite suppressant that provides feelings of calmness after a meal. Green tea, especially, has been found to suppress cravings for sweets and has been praised as a way to lower cholesterol levels. (In one study, lab mice that consumed green tea extract had lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than mice that drank coffee, smoked and sat at their desks all day.)
Well, there you go, mr. President!
And don’t tell me you don’t have any tea.
E-mail: ervolino@northjersey.com
Ervolino: Thank you all for helping the president with his diet
What is the first thing that most workers do when they get to work? is it sit down and immediately become productive? probably not. Most likely they head for the coffee. They grab a cup of coffee, say a quick hello to their co-workers, and then they start their daily tasks. for many workers, if they were to skip those first five coffee minutes, they wouldn’t feel like they would be able to be very productive in the morning. in fact, a lot of ideas start flowing around the coffee area first thing in the morning as workers come to life and start to chat.
If this is what happens regularly in your place of business, and you feel like you spend more time restocking the coffee supplies than you do the rest of your job, it might be time to consider hiring a coffee service. a coffee service can routinely stock your coffee supplies, making sure that you never run out (and you know you don’t want that to happen). That’s not all a coffee service can do, though.
What a coffee service can supply
Yes, coffee services deliver coffee. but they do so much more.
Provide coffee and coffee related beverages such as cappuccino, espresso, teas, hot chocolates and other hot beverages based on your companies needs. a coffee service should be able to determine how much your place of business will need based on the number of employees. Provide the machines to brew the beverages in. Provide disposable cups and lids, napkins, and stir sticks. Provide sugar and sugar substitutes, creamers, non-dairy creamers, flavored syrups, honey and other items that routinely go into hot beverages. Water delivery – water coolers, individual bottles of water, and water filtration devices. Provide foods such as cup of soup and oatmeal that can be made quickly the hot water from the coffee machine. Offer other light snacks and beverages such as juices or soft drinks.
Other services a coffee service may be able to perform
Maintenance of machines – Machines need to be routinely cleaned to provide the best tasting beverages, and a coffee service will do this task for you making sure it’s done regularly and done right. If a machine breaks down, a coffee service can fix it or replace it, ensuring that there is minimal disruption of the availability of coffee in your place of business. Rental of additional machinery for special events – Sometimes you need additional supplies for a conference or other special event. a coffee service can rent you extra brewing machines, carafes, durable mugs, and other supplies you don’t want to have on hand every day. of course, the service can provide you with the additional coffee, tea, creamers, sugars and other supplies you’ll need for your event. Same day service for “emergencies” – Okay, so running out of coffee may not be an emergency of say Hurricane Katrina proportions, but a lack of coffee can be disastrous to productivity and moral. If the coffee runs out or a machine breaks down, many coffee services will say “help is on the way” the same day. Vending services – Some coffee services stay in the beverage and light snack area, while others combine their services with other services such as vending machines for snacks and cold beverages, microwaves and microwavable meals for employees, and all of the cups, plates, napkins, utensils, and condiments that are needed for those services. Green your coffee offerings – Everyone’s doing an environmental part these days. Some coffee services may be able to help you green your office’s coffee by having options such as organic or fair trade coffees, teas and sweeteners, cups made from recycled materials that can also be recycled, compostable stir sticks, and other eco-friendly products.
Hiring a coffee service for your place of business can save you a lot of time, a lot of headaches (both figuratively and literally), and even save you money. Replacing over worked coffee machines routinely and buying coffee, teas and their accompaniments at retail prices can really add up. Coffee from a service can cost as little as 10 cents a cup.
A good coffee service will come out and provide you with a tasting of their coffees and other beverages before you purchase. They will also speak to you at length about the coffee habits of the people you work with so they can determine your needs. many coffee services will also throw in the first coffee machine for free as a bonus to signing on to their service. Shop around for the best office coffee service in your area.
By: Mike Cole
About the Author:
Mike Cole is a freelance writer who writes about food and recipes, often providing suggestions for breakfast and lunch at the workplace such as office coffee.