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The Traveling Salesman Problem Meets Starbucks

Call Me Black Cloud writes "John 'Winter' Smith, a contract computer programmer, is living the traveling salesman problem. His personal quest is to visit every company-owned Starbucks and he's not doing too badly. After 7 years he's hit over 4,000 locations in the United States and 167 in Britain and Japan. What motivates him? That's one for the professionals to answer, but since Starbucks opens an average of 10 stores per week it doesn't look like Winter will be stopping any time soon. His website offers insight into why he does this ('to be different') and has pictures of the 4000+ Starbucks he's visited."

8 of 499 comments (clear)

  1. let me be the first to say.... by bobjohnson · · Score: -1, Troll

    What's the point?!?!?!

  2. you know... by dAzED1 · · Score: 0, Troll
    what an absolutely great way to aide to the destruction of the environment. Do we REALLY need to go over, again, the damage caused by jet airliners?

    One could "be different" is ways far less absolutely stupid. Take the money being spent on airfare, and open a homeless kitchen - that would be different, right?

    Hopefully, eventually, we'll (as a group) stop thinking crap like this is cool. Its a blatant waste of natural and economic resources, and there are far better things to entertain ones self with than freaking coffee. Make a name by contributing to some breakthrough OSS project...volunteer with Habitat for Humanity...something. I have to breathe this damn dirty air too, you know - your rediculous quest does affect me.

  3. Re:10 stores a week by PhilippeT · · Score: -1, Troll

    In their next release thier will be 1 Robot, i mean starbucks per 5 humans

    --
    A psychopath can't tell the difference between right and wrong. A sociopath knows the difference - he just doesn't care.
  4. Sigh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    ...and we wonder why we can't get girls...

  5. Re:Traveling Salesman Problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    You all missed his aparently subtle joke, think how the phrase 'finite amount of points' contrasts with what we all know about Starbucks store opening habits. Seems like no mods got the joke, it must suck to be so dense.

  6. Re:How does one make a living... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU HOMO

    Adressekartotek - Auktioner - Bogmærker - Film - Finans - Grupper - Horoskop - Kalender - Mail - Messenger Min Yahoo! - Musik - Netmakker - Nyheder - Shopping -Spil - Sport - Vejret - Virksomhedscenter - mere... Adressekartotek - Auktioner - Bogmærker - Film - Finans - Grupper - Horoskop - Kalender - Mail - Messenger

    YOUR MOTHER SUCKS COCKS FROM HELLMin Yahoo! - Musik - Netmakker - Nyheder - Shopping -Spil - Sport - Vejret - Virksomhedscenter - mere...

  7. Mod Parent Up by mad.frog · · Score: 0, Troll

    Oh, to have mod points today...

  8. Re:Four bucks a cup! by Fouquet · · Score: 1, Troll

    Typically by looking very surprised and displaying facial expressions like I'm wasting their time. Or they might ask 'what' like they didn't hear me or thought I made a mistake in my incredibly simple order. Occasionally, I've also been pressed to order a bigger size, although they don't usually do this if they are busy (I assume because they know there is a bigger sale standing right behind me in line).

    Looking back over what I typed, that doesn't seem as bad as I made it out to be. I guess that the employees display a sense of haughtiness towards my order that disturbs me ('We're too good for just coffee...')