  Today I did something I generally try to avoid doing: I went to Starbucks. Well, technically, I went to Safeway and walked up to the Starbucks counter, but that's beside the point. The point is the conversation I had with the barista, who not only wore a tag that said "Starbucks manager," but who also, at one point during our conversation, referred to himself as the manager. Pay attention to that. He is the manager! Of Starbucks.
This will be important later. Write it down if you need to. Me: So, what's different about the new urlLink light frappuccinos ? Starbucks manager: They are made with Splenda instead of sugar, so they have lower carbs, fewer calories and less fat. Me: How do they have less fat? SM: There's no sugar.
Me: That wouldn't change the amount of fat. Are they made with skim milk instead of regular? SM: No. We don't put milk in them. Me: They obviously have milk in them. SM: We don't put the milk in them.
We use a mix. Me: So, what's in it? SM pulls out a sheet of paper and reads: This says they have 60 percent less fat, blah blah blah fewer calories and blah blah fewer carbs. (I can't help it if I didn't pay attention to everything he said; that was a long sentence! ) Me: But how? What is in them?
SM: I don't know. Me: You don't know!? SM: No. We use a mix. We make it every morning, so it's fresh. Me: It kind of disturbs me that you don't know what's in them.
SM: I don't think they want us to know. (I have to interject here to ponder the mystery that is the FDA. Our groceries have to be labeled with what is in them down to the smallest ingredient, but if someone prepares your food/drink, they can serve you, say, cow's ass, and they wouldn't even necessarily KNOW what's in it, let alone have to tell you? ) Me: Well, they must use skim milk. SM then pulls out a BOX (nothing screams freshness like mix in a box, does it? ) that looks similar to a soy-milk box but says "Starbucks Light Frappucino," and reads: Yes, it says here that it has skim milk in it.
Me: OK, thanks. I'll take a tall light coffee frappuccino, please. SM: That will be $475.25. Me: Thanks! The point? I'm really dumb.
Despite all of the reasons NOT to buy one, I did it anyway. And it actually was pretty yummy! 
