# Earl Grey... Hot! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 18, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176 "2006-09-18T15:05:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/41 "2006-09-18T18:33:10Z")
[QUOTE=Maastricht] “Computèr, è Budwesèr, lightely chilled.” [/QUOTE] “Pfui! Computer! This is _not_ le bulobaise! Le Engineer! Repair vous thees piece of merde!” ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/42 "2006-09-18T18:35:14Z")
They tried to make Picard proud of his heritage in season one, commenting on the correct order of the colors on the flag, for instance. That died fairly quickly. Unless you have a Russian accent and hair like a mophead, it just isn’t as cute. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/43 "2006-09-18T18:37:44Z")
It is a little bit of a throwback to how military officers had to order provisions in Ye Olden Days, or at least in the Cold War. “Rope, hempen, fifty-pound, three hundred feet,” and so on, and you read the commas out loud: “Rope comma hempen comma etc.” I believe this was done so that lists could be alphabetized (by computer?) under a substantive descriptor rather than having to guess whether the rope would be under “f” for “fifty pound test” or the “t” for “three hundred feet”, or the “h” for “hemp”, but knowing for sure that it bloody well wouldn’t be filed under “r” for rope. In the Air Force we still make fun of seventies-era personnel requisitions; to say that anyone could do a job we say that the billet specified “body comma warm comma one each.” It’s ridiculous to suppose that the knowledge of such a system would persist into the 23d century – but it sure does make him sound like an officer to my 20th century ears! ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/44 "2006-09-18T19:24:31Z")
[QUOTE=SiXSwordS] Computer, I like my coffee like I like my women… Maybe not. [/QUOTE] Asian and into plants? ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/45 "2006-09-18T19:32:03Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Actually, this is covered in _Deep Space Nine_. Molly O’Brien had finished eating, and Keiko told her to put her dishes away. Little Molly takes them to the replicator, and the dishes are dematerialized. I would assume since the food is fake and materialized out of pre-set patterns, the dishes are too. Now, trivia time…how does O’Brien take his coffee? [/QUOTE] Black, extra strong, extra sweet. (I didn’t look it up, either!) ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/46 "2006-09-18T19:34:30Z")
_sigh_ I believe the answer is “Black, extra sweet.” I never thought I’d be the geekiest person in a SDMB Trek thread. ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/47 "2006-09-18T19:35:52Z")
What does Sisko drink? ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/48 "2006-09-18T19:41:26Z")
“Extra strong”! I knew I was forgetting something like that. Thank goodness someone is geekier (and faster) than me. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/49 "2006-09-18T19:44:45Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] They tried to make Picard proud of his heritage in season one, commenting on the correct order of the colors on the flag, for instance. That died fairly quickly. Unless you have a Russian accent and hair like a mophead, it just isn’t as cute. [/QUOTE] Supposedly there’s test footage of Patrick Stewart playing Picard with a French accent. It sounded horrible. Oddly when we met his brother they all appeared to be speaking English (unless the UT decided to give his family French accents). ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/50 "2006-09-18T19:47:03Z")
[QUOTE=Alan Smithee] “Extra strong”! I knew I was forgetting something like that. Thank goodness someone is geekier (and faster) than me. [/QUOTE] Bow before my speedy geekiness! (No, wait a minute. What am I saying? :smack: ) ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/51 "2006-09-18T19:50:56Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Actually, this is covered in _Deep Space Nine_. Molly O’Brien had finished eating, and Keiko told her to put her dishes away. Little Molly takes them to the replicator, and the dishes are dematerialized. I would assume since the food is fake and materialized out of pre-set patterns, the dishes are too. Now, trivia time…how does O’Brien take his coffee? [/QUOTE] Jamaican blend, double strong, double sweet. And he drinks coffee in the afternoon all the time. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/52 "2006-09-18T19:52:51Z")
[QUOTE=Alan Smithee] _sigh_ I believe the answer is “Black, extra sweet.” [/QUOTE] And it was a Jamaican blend. Oh yeah, and he never drinks it in the afternoon! Oh wait, maybe he does. :smack: As for Sisko, is his drink a ratkijino (sp)? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/53 "2006-09-18T19:53:39Z")
[QUOTE=AtomicDog] What does Sisko drink? [/QUOTE] Rap ta gee no, or however you spell that Klingon coffee. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/54 "2006-09-18T19:53:57Z")
Crapples – missed it by _that_ much! (shakes fist) Darn you, **matt\_mcl!** ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/55 "2006-09-18T19:54:54Z")
Dammit! You are without honor, and your Female Parent dresses you funny! ^ 🙂 ^ ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/56 "2006-09-18T19:57:05Z")
[QUOTE=matt\_mcl] Jamaican blend, double strong, double sweet. And he drinks coffee in the afternoon all the time. [/QUOTE] We have a winner!!! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/57 "2006-09-18T20:10:20Z")
> [@](#): > > They are most likely set to not work on things that are alive. So, does this mean that you just can’t get a good serving of ga’ak from a replicator? And the real mystery isn’t why Picard specifies “hot”. It’s why he asks for Earl Grey. That stuff’s disgusting… I can’t fathom how the same country can make the best teas in the world and the worst. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/58 "2006-09-18T20:17:07Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] So, does this mean that you just can’t get a good serving of ga’ak from a replicator? And the real mystery isn’t why Picard specifies “hot”. It’s why he asks for Earl Grey. That stuff’s disgusting… I can’t fathom how the same country can make the best teas in the world and the worst. [/QUOTE] I was refering to the destruction process. Though, it seems you can’t. When Riker ordered ga’ak to prepare for the officer transfer program it came out dead. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/59 "2006-09-18T20:48:37Z")
Replicators cannot produce living things, such as _gagh_. (Oddly, they can apparently produce living _tissue_, or an acceptable analogue; in “Lower Decks” (TNG) Crusher orders Ogawa to replicate Cardassian blood.) ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/60 "2006-09-18T21:41:57Z")
[QUOTE=matt\_mcl] Replicators cannot produce living things, such as _gagh_. [/QUOTE] Except, of course, when the replicators are used as transporters. It’s the same technology therefore one should be able to go to a replicator and say “36 year old female doctor…hot” and 1) be transported to sick bay or 2) have Beverly arrive via the replicator. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176.md?page=4)