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Calling all java junkies
Pour yourself a nice cup of coffee and explore these Web sites brimming with information about that steamin’ joe many of us can’t do without.
www.coffeeuniverse.com/university.html
Here, coffee’s history is traced to a hyperactive goat in ancient Ethiopia. You be the judge. The Web page is part of a site aimed at the coffee-shop industry.
www.cs.unb.ca/~alopez-o/Coffee/coffaq.html
Talk about complicating a simple subject. Here we learn every possible tidbit there is to know about coffee. For example, “the optimal water temperature for drip coffee is 95-98C colder water doesn’t extract enough caffeine/essential oils from the beans, and above such temperature the acidity increases wildly.”
Sure, there’s a tour business specializing in coffee and tea destinations. A big trip to Brazil is offered for July. A little more caffeine and maybe they’ll book you to the moon.
If you’re too jittery to make the Brazil trip, try the national Coffee Conference set for May in Anaheim, Calif. It should be hopping.
New Sprint phone adjusts to suit user’s tastes
Talk about mood rings: The newest phone from Sprint is adjustable to match its user’s mood or style, and can be accessorized with a variety of ring tones.
The Sprint PCS Phone 4NE1 , right, by LG InfoComm is the size of an ice cream sandwich. It is sold with an optional strap, so the phone can be worn around the neck. Built-in screen savers and changeable colored side panels allow users to create their own style.
In addition, the 4NE1 supports the Sprint PCS “Ringers & More” add-on service that allows users to wirelessly download ring tones and screen savers.
The 4NE1 offers one-touch Sprint PCS Wireless Web access, five-minute voice memo, 30 voice-activated dialing commands and vibrate ringing mode. It is available for $149.99 at Sprint Stores and at www.sprintpcs.com/.
The phone’s standard lithium ion battery offers 2.5 hours of talk time or 170 hours of continuous stand-by time in digital mode.
Spinning the Web reviews Yahoo!’s recent stumbles
www.ljworld.com/section/spinningtheweb/
This week, Spinning the Web columnist Michael Newman, right, takes a look at online giant Yahoo!’s recent missteps in its quest for a viable business model.
For this week’s column and an archive of past columns, visit www.ljworld.com/section/spinningtheweb/.