Slashdot Mirror
At CIA Starbucks, Even the Baristas Are Covert
An anonymous reader writes with this interesting story about what it's like to work at “Store Number 1,” the CIA's Starbucks. The new supervisor thought his idea was innocent enough. He wanted the baristas to write the names of customers on their cups to speed up lines and ease confusion, just like other Starbucks do around the world. But these aren't just any customers. They are regulars at the CIA Starbucks. "They could use the alias 'Polly-O string cheese' for all I care," said a food services supervisor at the Central Intelligence Agency, asking that his identity remain unpublished for security reasons. "But giving any name at all was making people — you know, the undercover agents — feel very uncomfortable. It just didn't work for this location."
Oh forgot to add (even though it goes against 3 and 4 slightly):
5) Being asked to spell my name when all I want is a freaking coffee.
[The Universe] has gone offline.
Not to interfere with your nascent flame-war or anything but "self-funding" is not inconsistent with "getting more taxpayer money". First, they may get larger appropriations while at the same time running side businesses. Second, even if their appropriation were cut to zero, any money they make on the side becomes "taxpayer money."
One of the most fundamental principles of our form of government is that no executive branch agency can spend money without Congressional approval, no matter where that money came from. The reasons for this go back to the English Civil War. Charles I attempted to rule without calling Parliament, but since the Magna Carta English kings did not have the power of taxation; the House of Commons did. So Charles attempted an end-run by exploiting a fee that had been traditionally levied on coastal towns to pay for maritime protection in time of war. Charles's attempt to use "Ship Money" as a revenue source independent of Parliament was one of the key events leading to the Civil War, and was familiar history to the framers of the US Constitution.
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
I see "cold fjord" in your handle. Does that refer to the /. kook of the same name?
Some Comedians (The Chasers) in Australia booked and checked in online for a flight using the names Mr Terry Wrist and Mr Al Queda. When they didnt show for their flights, the calls across the terminal were pretty comical. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FkYPV7Iwu4
In Soviet Russia the insensitive clod is YOU!