Letting Go of Joe

I have a love of the bean. Is it a horrible problem? Not really. It's not like I'm into crack cocaine, Britney Spears or George W. Bush or something.

But, still, when I shouted out that I was making my usual morning run to Pret a Manger for a Java fix, my colleagues suggested that a 12-step program might be in order. Considering that I really only get one "fix" a day, I don't think that's quite necessary - yet.

Then again, today's Daily News investigates dining establishments that offer that elusive gift of cool and caffeine: a free refill on iced coffee. That combo, in conjunction with the word "free" and the upcoming dog days of August, might just shift my little romance with Joe into addiction territory.

But, just in the nick of time, it looks like the Russians are going to save the day. Seems they've stumbled upon something more powerful than hypnosis or a family intervention. According to a report in Pravda:

Scientists from a technological academy located in the Russian city of Voronezh developed a revolutionary technique of producing an entire array of food products such as milk, yogurt, chocolate and coffee from blood, reported the academy's administration to "Interfax".

According to the scientists, a local meat-packing factory looses nearly 7 tons of blood daily. The newly developed technology allows the researchers to use this blood.

"Some food products made of blood, which taste like the real thing, have already been manufactured. All of such products made of blood contain unique proteins that are digested twice as fast as egg proteins," notes the academy.

In the meantime, all food products that have been manufactured by means of the new technology were sent to Moscow for further examination.

Yick!!! After reading that, I definitely don't want a cup of coffee. On the other hand, I think a strong drink might be in order. (So much for trying to avoid 12-step programs.)