The World around us - in crisis - Ed Begley Junior · Saturday January 31, 2009 by colin newell
I write and talk about Cafe culture and my life with coffee – it is a niche area that has been good for me and hopefully good for people that actually work in the industry… like the farmers and their families… and even a cafe or two.
But it is not something that is going to net me a huge audience that would fill an auditorium and get me round after round of ovation and accolade.
Because it’s coffee – and although millions drink it and love it… It isn’t Earth shattering.
Ed Begley Jr. talks about the environment and sustainability – the path we are on – the crisis that we are in – and the actual real tangible hope that is before us.
We saw Ed Begley Jr. at the University of Victoria Center auditorium tonight and he made sense. Sure he was preaching to the converted – like Andrea and I… and our dear friend Sheila. But I am sure there were one or two cynics in the crowd. I mean, I sure hope so. Because a converted cynic in hand is worth two converts in the bush…
Whatever the heck that means.
Anyway. I wish Ed would come to coffee one day because I share a table in our cafe with a couple of anti-global warming bobble-heads. That is, they hear an AM talk-show host say that there is no global-warming or environmental crisis… and they believe it without question.
Ed’s message is simple: “Don’t listen to me. Don’t listen to the Sierra Club. Don’t listen to AM radio or the Right Wing media.
No. Pick something you trust… like National Geographic… or someone with a Phd after their name… like a University professor who actually knows what she or he is talking about – and at least listen”
Ed’s the voice of reason. So we listened to him. And although we kind of are already on that sustainable – environmental bandwagon, there is a lot more that we can do for the Planet.
Ed also says… “Do not listen to the message about not being able to afford change or afford the environment…”
The message is: We cannot afford not to listen.
Ed speaks in a compelling way, without being too preachy – giving real World practical examples about how everyone can do their part – however small.
Anyway – do yourself a favor and check this guy out if you can – or visit his website.
Postscript – thanks for the e-mail Ed! Appreciated.
Winter follies countdown to Hawaii boast #4 · Sunday December 7, 2008 by colin newell
Just discovered a hidden benefit to getting away to Hawaii in a couple of weeks…
Getting away from Stephen Harper. And Stéphane Dion. And Gilles Duceppe. And Jack Layton.
Picture at right: Historic downtown Hilo, Hawaii – we will be staying there during our 12 day visit to the Big Island
We wasted 150 million on a Federal election that was hardly 1 and 1/2 months ago – on a whim direct from Stephen Harper’s starved ego. And the first chance he got to reach out to the opposition, he engaged in partisan politics and pissed everyone off.
In my opinion, Stephen Harper is a neo-con weasel underneath an expensive haircut. He does not appear to be particularly fond of women, or children or the Canadian fabric and infrastructure itself.
Stephen Harper would have made a great Roman leader; he is just nutty enough to squander every ounce of good will that the houses of Parliament have in Ottawa – and is more than ok with fiddling away our tax dollars while the Canadian electorate burns with rage. With indignation. With resolve.
A far cry from how a lot of us felt 60 days ago when this nimrod was trying to appeal to our sensibilities in a plaid sweater – pitching the image of the common man.
Those of us who voted in opposition did not buy it. Because we know that Stephen Harper holds nothing but waddle shaking contempt for women seeking wage parity in the work-place – for underprivileged children living in poverty – for the crumbling infrastructure of the Canadian mosaic.
This just in: Stéphane Dion will probably resign in a day or so. Stephen Harper would be wise to do the same thing. Put aside the bullshit partisan politics and get down to the serious business of saving the Canadian economy.
In the meantime, I am leaving the Country on the 19th of December. I will be taking my shortwave radios (primarily for Canadian news and views…) – but you know… the way I am feeling these days, I may point the antennas in THE OTHER DIRECTION!
Peace and Aloha friends!
Fall Colors Canadian Style - Election Time Truth Serum · Tuesday October 7, 2008 by colin newell
I had the opportunity recently to interview all the candidates in the upcoming election – and while they were in my modest studio I managed to slip some truth serum into their double-double’s – Who knew that Sodium Pentathol had uses outside of the workplace?
Anyway – this is what they said… pretty much verbatim between slurps of Tim’s and sloppy nibbles of Maple Dips:
Stephen: If I am elected, I am totally going to look after special corporate interests, my friends in high places, allow bank mergers and make cuts to social services like never before… The Canada health-care act? I wipe my BBQ with it…
Thank you Stephen… very kind.
Jack. Jack? Jack! Wake up!
Jack: If I am elected I am going to look after big labor, big labor unions, my big labor cronies, my NDP cronies… and I am going to close all the prisons. For profit health-care? I wrap my Little Red Book in it!
Nice. Stéphane?
Stéphane: Ya know. Dere was a time whan I would give ma eye teeth to be tough as nails like Jean…
Stéphane?
Oui?
Stick to the topic…
Stéphane: Ef a am elected, I will build 10 hydro-electric dams in La Belle Province, 20 new highways to Sherbrooke, 10 new sofa factories in Sept Ille’s… 15 new…
Merci Stéphane.
Elizabeth?
Elizabeth: Colin, can I have another mug of that great coffee? I am, like, so feeling trippy right now… Uhm. Wow. Like. Yea. Ahh.
Elizabeth?
Elizabeth: Yes Colin.
You need to actually drink the coffee that I gave you?
Elizabeth: If I am elected, I am going to make taxation greener, gas greener, the grass greener and make St. Patricks Day a national holiday… you know, like Robbie Burns Day… and
Thank you Elizabeth.
Anyone else? Last thoughts?
Stephen: If I get elected I am never, ever going to wear a sweater again… I am going to bring prayer and Windsor knots back to Kindergarten… and then…
Zzzzzzzzzzz….
Thank you Stephen. Thank you Jack. Thank you all.
Fall Colors Canadian Style - Too scared to blog · Monday October 6, 2008 by colin newell
It is week 5 of the Canadian election campaign and week 63 of the American election campaign. The markets are falling like Canada geese at a Dick Cheney hunting party. Peace of mind is now receding faster than my hairline and optimism is a word best reserved for a good bottle of Pinot Noir.
Hope is not entirely lost – but I am not entirely sure where I put it either… probably under that sweltering pile of broken dreams – next to my shattered mutual funds.
On a brighter note, I have started counting down the days and weeks to our vacation in Hawaii – and by then I should be in a good position to buy a few houses while I am there.
So life is not so bad if you are, like me, a 40 something steadily employed dude worried a little about the future. The real trepidation should be with our seniors and later in life retired folks who are either in retirement or thinking of it soon. Those, who were once looking at sprucing up the cottage – now double checking on that noose knot, having just opened their financial statements.
Is it just me or does dread hang in the air like the pall of a train wreck? I haven’t had any good news since Britney was released from rehab – and although the Biden – Palin debates provided about as much calm and diversion as half-a-milligram of Valium (never touched the stuff actually…) the reality is, (like you) I am feeling the sting of reality too many hours of too many days.
The upside is – I feel like giving and receiving hugs more than I ever have. Any takers? I am finding humor in absolutely the oddest places – which is good… best medicine and all.
Anyway – hang in there folks. We are all in this together.
This just in folks – just googled the word coffee and I am number 2 behind Wikipedia out of 328,000,000 possible links.
I feel oddly better – but I still feel like Number Two – especially today.
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