Good Coffee

Coffee Report: Had a chance to hang out with the kids at Radina's Coffeehouse and Roastery in Aggieville, Manhattan, KS. Good coffee is based on three things 1) geographic origin and how it is treated from picking to dehulling, 2) the skills of the roastmaster, and 3) proper brewing. Radina's apparently purchases good coffee, roasts it properly, and brews it correctly. I got a cup and a refill of their Guatamela. Very bold, with a full palate. Satisfying aftertaste. I drank slowly and it was even good as the temperature declined. It's nice to be able to go to a nice place like Radina's where they care about their customers and get a good cup of real coffee.

In addition, one of our Christmas presents from Christmas 06 was a pound of whole bean Powercat Blend coffee, also roasted by Radina's. Our Christmas family get together didn't happen due to the blizzard of 06 and the next weekend too. (See "Marshmallow Cars" at bottom of this blog). So we didn't get our Christmas coffee until early March. I brewed a cup yesterday evening. Same story as above. Good coffee. The Powercat Blend is lighter, somewhat fruitier, with more of a middle of the tongue effect. Good aftertaste. An excellent coffee for drinking black -- goes down easy, satisfying, less bitter than some coffees. In conclusion, a thumbs-up to both Radina's Powercat Blend and Guatemala. Check out Radina's in Aggieville when you have a chance.

Mazda 6 bye bye

Had some interesting adventures in the Kansas City, MO metro area on my way to a rollerhockey tournament. Drawing it was more fun than trying to tell it in words.

Suspended Belief

I like to look at the questions posted on Yahoo! Answers and try to answer a few of them. One of the questions currently posed is purportedly by Senator John McCain. He's asking how to cut government spending in Washington, DC.

I started looking at answers he had received and found what looks like a very blatant political spin (like this is anything new). You have to expect this type of stuff, but I had a hard time believing what I was seeing. If my eyeballs are correct, any answer that isn't in line with Mr. McCain's political views has received low ratings and has been hidden. Call me a novice Yahoo! Answer person, but in recent weeks of working on answers on this site, I have not seen hidden answers anywhere else. Even the flippant, rude, answers are not hidden. If I'm being naive, someone please give me an explanation. If what I am seeing is correct this is one of the most low-down, blatant, dishonest pieces of political garbage I've ever seen. I would like to think there's another explanation for what I think I'm seeing, but if what I am seeing is real, shame on you Mr. McCain. Take all your CAP/Arizona profits and retire.

Note to Legally Blonde

I referred you to my site then when I started to write, I realized the employment problem is a huge issue and I had so much to say I don't know where to start.

I'm unemployed by choice. After 3-1/2 years of doing good work, I realized I was being taken advantage of with no reasonable hope of getting the wages and benefits I needed. Long story, and although I was in the right to resign and I'm glad I did, what I'm finding for alternatives is dismal. I had a 29-year track record of steady employment. I have always had a good reputation and have done good work. Since resigning, I've done a few handyman jobs and I have located one steady, recurring temp position (2 days per month). Despite having 29 years of experience and having an advanced degree, there just doesn't seem to be much out there. Like Legally Blonde, I'm finding that I need to take a different approach to career search. I have not figured it out yet. I've got some stuff started in a draft file, and when I pull my thoughts together, I'll publish. Until then, I'll say this: I think that those individuals who are between starting college and recent graduates are going to have a serious problem finding reasonable employment. I think those that are not going to college -- those going to tech school, trade school, apprenticeships, and similar -- are going to have a better time of it. I think it's time to restructure our thinking regarding "traditional" approaches such as college, law school, medical school, etc. The world is moving so fast that traditional educational approaches can't keep up with the change. By the time one graduates, the knowledge is often already obsolete. The expectations of graduating with a degree and finding work in that field is certainly obsolete. More on this later.

Real Mermaids Don't Wear Bras

I'm struggling with a concept here -- maybe my aversion to political correctness. I can't put a finger on it. The comment "Real Mermaids Don't Wear Bras" is a statement on a bigger issue. If you put a bra on a mermaid, for instance, you change the mermaid into something she's not. You don't have a mermaid any more. What am I trying to say here? Someone read my mind.

I'm Boring

After viewing a few random blogs and taking a look at some of the blogs involved in "I Really Don't Like the Word Blog"s current competition, I have come to realize I'm boring. I need to do something wild and crazy. Maybe I need to develop some problems or become neurotic or something. My life is too normal.

Hippy Food Store

I just heard that the Whole Foods Market purchase of Wild Oats was finalized. Whole Foods plans to close some stores where there is overlap and they will remodel some stores. I hope they don't remodel the store at 30th & Pearl in Boulder. I think if they change it, it won't be the fun Hippy Food Store to shop at any more. I like their products, but what I go there for more than anything is the shopping experience. And it always is an experience at that store. So I say to you, Whole Foods Market, don't remodel the 30th & Pearl store. For sure, don't move to the Wild Oats store that either was set to open or opened in 29th Street Mall.