My new chapter with the Island Prostate Resource Centre · Thursday March 19, 2009 by colin newell
In my 35+ years as a technical professional at a local University, I would find time in my schedule to do committee work, employee contract negotiations and mediation.
These and other volunteer positions put me in contact with a varied segment of my workplace. I found listening to people and offering creative solutions very rewarding.
Eventually, I would mentor younger leaders in this activity and move onto larger committees centered on well-being, work-life balance, including mental and physical health.
As fate would have it, my mortality came into sharper focus, at age 40-something, with some unusual blood test results: a higher than normal PSA (Prostate specific antigen) reading indicating immediate action was required. Off to a urologist, a biopsy and a bunch of research on my part! As it turned out, after numerous MRI screening sessions, more blood work, more physical examinations and – nothing was ever found. I was in the clear… for now.
It dawned on me after my clinical experience, that for every man that detects an anomaly such as this, another 5 men are blithely unaware that anything is amiss. So what’s the cure? Simple: Dialog, awareness, conversation and empathy.
Somewhere along the way, the Movember movement found me… or I found them. Movember originated in Australia and is all about medical research, education and awareness. During the month of November, participants eschew the often daily ritual of facial hair removal… growing a myriad of variants on the moustache.
I did 16+ years as a Movember team leader and, at times, a regional ambassador… a thinker… A talker… A media go-to… And ultimately, a fund raiser. Eventually I had done everything I felt I needed to do with Movember. A tip and friendly conversation with my Urologist, between the physical examinations and blood letting, led me to a Vancouver Island resource center and its executive officer Leanne.
For me, I had the broader view with Movember but I was losing sight of the big picture in my very back yard. I need to be clear, Movember does great work but I found that there were things that needed more attention, particularly the one-on-one personal touch.
The best moments of my journey thus far, on the subject of male mental and physical health, were the taps on the shoulder from younger lads (and older guys) struggling with something that made them feel alone. I was “first contact” for them. Listening to their stories and struggles — and giving them a bit of direction to the right resource or even some encouragement was life altering in many instances.
I would soon discover that the Prostate Resource Center would be the “first contact” point for hundreds of men annually. Much to my surprise, the resource center receives no base budgeted funding from anywhere but the generous pockets of sympathetic benefactors who see the benefit of front line resources.
They are the leanest of teams — and now I am finding my own place in this group — finding my voice as it were in a new chapter of my life as a servant to the community as a whole. I look forward to what awaits me with this group.
The Kona Coffee Farmer’s Little Boy That Could · Sunday March 15, 2009 by colin newell
Yes, once there has been a Kona coffee farmer in space as well. A local farmer’s son named Ellison S. Onizuka grew up to become a NASA astronaut while picking coffee cherries for his family after school. Guess he was made of the ‘right stuff’. Sadly he perished with his crew in the 1986 Challenger disaster on his second flight into space. There’s a museum dedicated to the little ‘Big Island’ boy-that-could at our Kona airport. When at our airport, take the time to stop by there; it’s really nicely done. You can’t believe what an inspiration this man has become to the local kids and how teachers and locals uphold his image and achievement. Somehow we think he was looking forward very much to having his first Kona coffee in orbit after takeoff and looking down onto the vast Pacific with his island home floating in the midst of it. Even trying to make out the green coffee fields of his parents and grand parents, early Japanese immigrants, here in Kealakekua.
Kona coffee is truly an out-of-this-world-experience, as Astronaut Suni Williams, Mission Log 2007 from the International Space Station describes:
“Opened a new beverage container so I am enjoying Kona coffee from Hawaii with cream and sugar. Hmmm. I was really surprised to see the CREAMY coffee in there. I think they [Houston] saw that nasty grimace I gave every morning choking down plain old black coffee – I’m only half a sailor…”
The NASA STANDARDS, FOOD, AND SPECIFICATIONS BOOK explains to the space traveller with detailed instructions of how to prep the perfect Kona coffee in space:
Page 447: Processing of Kona Coffee
Page 448: Processing of Kona Coffee w/Sugar
Page 449: Processing of Kona Coffee w/Artificial Sweetener & Nondairy Creamer
Therefore one should not assume that just being able to fly a space craft would make you automatically a master in making a cup of Kona coffee, right?
Give ticketmaster a break already · Sunday March 8, 2009 by colin newell
A Winnipeg woman has launched a class action lawsuit against concert ticket giant Ticketmaster for overcharging.
According to the woman’s lawyer, her daughter bought tickets through a Ticketmaster subsidiary for around $200 each when the original ticket price was just $57.
Oh boo-hoo.
I went on line over a year ago to get some Police tickets for the Vancouver show – and much to my surprise, I was redirected to an “associate” auction site to pay exorbitant prices to see the Stingster and his aged colleagues.
Did I buy a ticket? No. I am not paying $500 to see 3 old farts trot out hits from my heyday – music that was much better then thank you very much.
Oddly, I did get a call from the London Times rock editor to talk about it. The rock editor no less.
And I told this wanker the same thing. It is business. It is commerce. If there are some sweet smelling rich people out there that are willing to pay top dollar to ticketmaster for some has been band from the 70’s or 80’s… Well so what!? It is business after all.
London times editor thought, even then, that there outta be a law!
Right.
Here’s the deal.
Ticketmaster is a business, yea?
And they are in the business to make money, yea?
Well let them do it.
If there is some sour grape sap out there that is crying into their happy meal because they cannot afford a ticket to some washed up celebrity show – well, suck it up soldier. This is a free market after all.
On behalf of big corporate media, I say…
Sock it to me.
Getting back into the groove - with the launch of V2 · Saturday March 7, 2009 by colin newell
There is a sense of relief when you hit the crest of any hill. And in life, there is no shortage of hills. Why do we climb them? I don’t know. Maybe because they are there and we like the view.
Anyway – The Coffeecrew.com V 2.0 is out – for all to see. And dang it, I am a little bit proud… like a new Dad, whose new child has 5 hands and 12 toes (kidding…) – In this case, I have a website… that has taken the content and photos and features from the previous version and moved it forward a click or two. I hope it pleases coffee lovers on some level.
Other things I am working on: Writing a review of the ECM Cellini espresso machine. Reviewing the Sara La Piccola Pod espresso machine. Reviewing a Black box that allows you to turn your PC into an air traffic control center (as an observer of course) with some delays built in. A nice toy with a frighteningly high price tag… So if you are an aspiring pilot or ATC specialist, this might be a wise investment.
Food reviews… have been writing for EAT Magazine British Columbia for the past 3 months – and that is a gig with an almost monthly guarantee of some activity.
I get the feeling sometimes that I have way too much on the go. Then again, you only get one life and this one is not a dress rehearsal.
Anyway. New website. Almost all of my sponsors and ad clients have gotten on board to hand out some prizes and promotions – so if you are looking for some free stuff, check the website from time to time.
As things calm down a bit, I may get back to a rant or two – if I am suitably prompted or provoked. Think of me as a poorly behaved junk yard dog on the end of a very short and rusty chain. Go ahead. Poke a stick at me.
Hats off to Bubby Roses Bakery and their glowing review in Monday magazine. I have been preaching this for years – if you want the very best of anything baked, there is only Bubby Roses. Every other bakery in Victoria are miserable shadows of The Bubby – there, I said it… that should generate some hot water.
Onward!
