No, not the whiskey, but I could probably use one about now. I just found out I’m a Grandpa again. And this time, it’s a girl!

Jennifer Ryan Knapp, born 3:30 AM Tuesday May 16, 2006, 6 lbs 2 oz. Mom, Dad, Daughter and older brother Michael doing fine.

Welcome to the world Jennifer Ryan Knapp.

And now that I have a pic, I’ve brought this post back to the top.

So, what’s with these little Fast and Furious cars? I mean, the movie was okay. The first one, anyway. The second came up lacking but it didn’t have Vin Diesel in it. But back to the cars. What exactly is the appeal? They are as slow as dirt on a calm day and sound like an out of tune chainsaw trying to chew through a piece of petrified wood. And those spoilers! Dali on acid wouldn’t come up those spoilers. Maybe they’re there because the cars are so light, a strong wind would blow them over on their back like a beleaguered turtle.

So what’s with Starbucks? Besides crappy coffee, I mean? I avoid that place whenever and wherever possible but sometimes stopping there can’t be helped. Like when you are desperate for a latte and you’re on the road and the only place to get a latte is Starbucks. Even a crappy latte is better than no latte at all.

I was thinking about this the other day when I found myself in such a position and pulled into a Starbucks. Why is it that the lattes at Starbucks seem so bland compared to lattes anywhere else on the planet? So, I asked how many shots in the mucho vente crappo whatever they call the largest one. Two shots, the guy says? Two? Did I hear that right? I’m paying the same amount of money at Starbucks for a two-shot large that I’m paying for the usual three-shot large in every other coffee shop? No wonder it’s bland. It’s not coffee, it’s warm milk. And you have to pay extra to get it the way you would get it any other coffee shop.

But the big question is, this is Starbucks, why does this sort of rip-off surprise me so?