# Style over substance, or, YEEEOOUCH! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 30, 2003, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104 "2003-04-30T10:16:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/21 "2003-04-30T14:54:10Z")
The following are minimum requirements for an office full of geeks: 1. Coffee machine (filter) 2. Coffee machine (Pressurised for espresso, with milk frother for wusses) 3. Coke vending machine 4. Chocolate vending machine 5. Hot water boiler (for pot noodles) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/22 "2003-04-30T15:04:39Z")
There is, actually, a combination filter coffee/espresso maker on the desk next to mine. Unfortunately, everybody decided that making fresh coffee, and cleaning out the pot, was Somebody Else’s Problem. So now we’re just sitting around and hoping that, when whatever it is that’s growing in the bottom of the pot gets large enough, we can recruit it as a new developer. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/23 "2003-04-30T15:13:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary Kumquat \* > \*\*5) Hot water boiler (for pot noodles) \*\* Oh God yes, we’ve got potted noodles galore in this fucking place. The _smell_. They’re afficionados though: there’s all sorts of dehydrated noodle stuff here, some of it even supersized and directly imported from Japan. ---
**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:** [April 30, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/24 "2003-04-30T15:29:15Z")
> [@](#): > > I just checked Future Shop online, and they don’t have an electric kettle for more than $44 Canadian! They even have one for $20. For real?! I had a hell of a time finding a fgn kettle here in Montreal. Eventually I had to “suggest” it to my cousin as a Xmas gift idea. ---
**Author:** ![bifar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bifar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bifar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/25 "2003-04-30T15:30:10Z")
Dear me, I shall not have the Queen of Hot Beverages reduced to a spigot. What you need, Steve, is an Urn. And Yorkshire Tea for preference. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/26 "2003-04-30T16:22:09Z")
**Matt** , try the Bay. They were founded 333 years ago by Brits, and they’ve got kettles galore. Which is where I picked up my shiny stainless steel kettle WITH A PROPER PLASTIC HANDLE so you don’t burn your hand on the thing. And the element is horizontal. [sub]Hey wait a sec-- where is the Bay downtown? I know there’s one at Fairview… I’ve been gone so long![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![evilhomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/43a26b/32.png) [@evilhomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhomer)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/27 "2003-04-30T16:47:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by matt\_mcl \* > \*\*For real?! I had a hell of a time finding a fgn kettle here in Montreal. Eventually I had to “suggest” it to my cousin as a Xmas gift idea. \*\* Check out [The Small Appliance Section](http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/subclass.asp?logon=&langid=EN&dept=12&WLBS=fsweb11&catid=10847) for the Future Shop website. Four different electric kettles to choose from. I notice however that they don’t have any stores in Quebec. I don’t know if they’ll deliver to Montreal if you order online or not. As **Barbarian** suggested, you could try The Bay, or Zellers, both of which I see have several stores in Montreal. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/28 "2003-04-30T20:58:18Z")
Maybe I should forward that link to management. (Canada too! We’ll have covered the whole Commonwealth and parts beyond soon.) ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/29 "2003-04-30T22:03:26Z")
SyphiliticDonkeyRaping Systems? If you guys ever make a t-shirt for your company, I want one. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/30 "2003-04-30T23:05:42Z")
My rooms in college have electrical wiring that dates back to shortly after Ben Franklin went outside with a kite. Thus, while the fusebox can cope with various combinations of TV, fridge, microwave, toaster, 3 CD players, a clock radio, 2 phone chargers, a hairdryer, a laptop and a printer, it explodes whenever a kettle goes near it. We therefore have to use one of our 2 precious gas hot plates to boil water, in our wonderfully retro 1960s screaming kettle. I think the handle is made of bakelite…or something equally ancient and crumbly. We have to use oven gloves to touch the damn thing. The real problem is that everyone else in the buildling has the same problem…and the sound-proofing is older than the wiring. See how much fun screaming kettles are when there is one boiling within earshot every 15 minutes, day or night! Grr!! ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/31 "2003-04-30T23:19:22Z")
You have to use an electric kettle to make tea in England? I just take the ceramic cup, put water in it, put it in the microwave for 90 seconds. Out it comes, in goes the tea bag, and then there is tea. Your office kitchen has no microwave? Ours has 2 microwaves, toaster oven, coffee maker, dishwasher, and fridge. We’d now like them to hire someone to come in early and brew the coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/32 "2003-05-01T01:50:19Z")
Quit 'cher bitchin. When I worked for what was then the largest office equipment supplier in British Columbia, I had to heat the water for _my_ tea using a bent spoon and a truncated extension cord, just like they do in prison. I’m serious, here. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/33 "2003-05-01T01:54:59Z")
I am simply in awe of a man who can use **priapism** properly in a sentence. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/34 "2003-05-01T04:57:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > \*\*I am simply in awe of a man who can use priapism properly in a sentence. \*\* Forget about using priapism. I’m still waiting for the man who can demonstrate it properly… ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/35 "2003-05-01T05:25:59Z")
Steve, you have my sympathy. SyphiliticDonkeyRaping Systems clearly needs to hire me as a consultant to come in and recommend a proper tea/coffee preparation facility. When I arrived as the new CTO of my company, my first priority was replacing the $10 (Canadian) coffee machine and $2.99 per 2 kg can o’ coffee with something more appropriate. We now have a stainless steel Cuisineart coffee maker and wonderful $13/lb coffee. Yes, I understand the truly important aspects of my industry. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/36 "2003-05-01T05:27:04Z")
So, anyone up for some Folger’s instant coffee? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/37 "2003-05-01T05:35:34Z")
“We’ve replaced Stephen Wright’s deposited limescale with Folger’s Crystals. Let’s see if he can tell the difference…” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/38 "2003-05-01T05:37:07Z")
Strike “Stephen”, replace with “Steve”. This is what I get for not checking usernames before I type them. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/39 "2003-05-01T09:51:25Z")
One office I worked in had those wall-mounted boiler units in the kitchens that produced instant hot water for tea and coffee. Unfortunately it tended to come out at a temperature that melted the cup and stripped the skin off your hands, but hey, that’s progress for you. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104/40 "2003-05-01T10:08:50Z")
The place I used to work had one of those. Boss was concerned that people were spending too long waiting for the kettle to boil when they could be at their desks working. This particular wall mounted unit produced foul tasting water at a temperature not quite hot enough to make tea. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/style-over-substance-or-yeeeoouch/172104.md?page=3)