Moving Day

Moving Day!

We're moving over to Wordpress again.  Posts will be archived there, and this site maybe deleted too.

Update bookmarks if someone's bookmarked it.

http://paperbackwriterroasters.wordpress.com

Why I use Linux

I was once one of the Windows refugees Linux blogs are talking about. I had a laptop I really needed to get an operating system on -- any operating system on to get it running.

I use it purely because it works, and given the right distribution it just works. I have rarely had the hardware nightmares people talk about. In fact, I think I have only ever had one wireless dongle not work out of the box.

How over this, really sums it for me:

http://fossforce.com/2014/08/its-all-linux-under-the-hood/

Coffee Naps.

I wonder if these work.  I have been reading a lot about these lately. Basically, the idea is to take a hit of espresso than take a 10 to 20 minute power nap, and you will be more refreshed and awake.

http://www.vox.com/2014/8/28/6074177/coffee-naps-caffeine-science

Linux is 23

I've been delving deeper and deeper into my operating system of choice over the past few weeks, learning even more than just using a GUI to do anything. 

I just did not know that today is a birthday. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINUX!

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Linus-Torvalds-Started-a-Revolution-on-August-25-1991-Happy-Birthday-Linux-456212.shtml

A Bit of Truth from Miami

I really don't have much to say on it, because this is all pretty straight forward. One of the things I like about this song is that she isn't asking him to take care of her, or putting herself in a place of dependence. She's just telling the dude that he's got to grow up and take some damned responsibility for himself.  When everyone stands up and becomes responsible, it makes for a stronger family, stronger community, and a stronger society.

This goes for me and women.

On a side note, I did come across it listening to this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008IXCZ/ref=s9_simh_gw_p15_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0PE2K2MYXV9P318M515J&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

Climate Change is Real.

And here's one more reason why you should care.

http://ensia.com/videos/what-climate-change-means-for-your-coffee/

Reach Out, Touch Faith

Just because I haven't posted any decent writing in a long while. It is completely unrelated to anything going on. It is just a little drabble based on a story a friend told me this week.

"Reach Out, Touch Faith"

I met my Playmate at hospital after I broke my arm at age 7. A little Indian woman who tells me things, shares things with me. My personal Vishnu, my Kali.

Word is, I couldn't even break my arm right. They had to break it for me again. Being good, western doctors they didn't want me to suffer in pain. A shot of morphine to numb me. A shot of Special K to see the goddess.

Before I knew it, I had a new thick cast as a new friend promising she would stay by my side.

.... Together, we will make the world burn.

Now, where did I put my drugs?

George House Coffee and Tea

So here we are, finally with a review.

Recently, a wonderful friend of ours brought us some coffee from a coffee shop someone in her family own. That wonderful gesture of generosity does make this review biased. Also, I wasn't able to visit the shop myself since it is in another state.

We were presented with two coffees to try. One is a roast from Panama's Boquete region, and another is a Snickerdoodle.

Both are excellent coffees. I think the Boquete is one of the better ones I've turned into espressos. It hits all of those right notes I like, and makes a pretty little shot. (I would get pictures, but I broke my clear espresso glasses.)

I think Panama is becoming one of my favorite places in the world for coffee, just from the few coffees I've had from there.

George House Coffee and Tea

If I am ever in this part of Ohio, I will definitely check out the shop.

On a side note, we were also given some crystallized ginger. I know its meant to be used in stuff, but I've been sneaking it like candy all week.

Coffee in SPACE!

Here's something from one of my favorite science blogs talking about a new coffee machine headed to the ISS. It is being made in conjunction with the Italian Space Agency and Lavazza.

I guess, if you are going to have some kind of vendor lock-in, Lavazza isn't a bad way to go.

http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/isspresso-coffee-in-space/

Deal With the Devil

http://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/2ag5pz/wp_having_just_made_a_deal_with_the_devil_he/ciusepk

Nothing more than someone's drabble I wanted to share. I may not be a believer, but the devil is always fascinating.

The 90's at 9.

90's Torch from patrickthewriter on 8tracks Radio.

Well, 9-ish.

I've been meaning to pop this up for a while. Enjoy.

Whatever happened to Love Canal and Mighty Joe Plum anyway?

Finally!

I found the most awesome new today that could possibly come from Canada.

Ethical Bean Coffee is now easily available in the US. I don't have to hunt down and horde it anymore. Ethical Bean is now offered through Amazon.

Their full range is now available. Just in time for an extremely belated Father's Day gift.

http://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Bean-Coffee-Mellow-Medium/dp/B00FYB2N46/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1404496491&sr=8-9&keywords=Ethical+Bean+Coffee

Open Source Software

I use a lot of it. In fact, at home it is almost exclusively all I use outside of gaming. I came across this little article that really encapsulates open source software, and the value of community driven software.

http://opensource.com/business/14/6/get-what-you-paid-open-source

There is one group missing from the group, and I feel like it is one I fall into: Evangelists. I believe in the value of things created by the community.

I don't write about it enough, and I plan to, in time. There is just something nice about using something that was created as a labor of love, rather than just a product.

Of course, there are issues with that too, but that is just people.

Grinds: A Replacement for Chew

This... This is a thing.

Grinds are coffee pouches that are meant to be chewed instead of smokeless tobacco. You're switching out one nasty, potentially deadly vice in exchange for one less so. It is basically a coffee based energy drink turned into some kind gum or gritty mess. I have to wonder just what the texture is in the mouth.

I get it. I even applaud the effort.

http://www.getgrinds.com/

However, at the same time, I cannot quite wrap my head around it.

For those who would want to quit chew tobacco, its is a good alternative.

You should quit chew tobacco. In fact, you should quit smoking too.

I just wonder, is this a good alternative for coffee? If there a DIY method of those wanting to homebrew this mess?

Spitting black spit everywhere is kind of disgusting though.

Back in Flannel and Needin' My Fix

Midnight Rambles

It is the first night of summer, and I just realized it has been a couple weeks since I have posted anything on this blog about coffee, or even something completely unrelated.

I have been cutting back on my coffee intake after a few brutal weeks of caffeine overkill. Also, my own real life has consumed me with a few issues that will not be chronicled for anyone with search engine access to find. 

I will start up with coffee soon. I have almost started drinking Peet's House blend in my espresso maker and French Press, and Hi-Line in the Nespresso Machine.

Dellessa actually likes the Hi-Line over the Nespresso blends, and it works for her in the early hours. 

Even though we are starting to get into the more brutal parts of summer, I am finding my way back into open flannel shirts, grunge and post grunge music, and some of the movies and culture of my youth. 

I have also started to explore some of parts of the early Internet I missed in those days: I set up my own IRC server and have started exploring Usenet, reading over it like Reddit. It is all fascinating in its simplicity. Well, the IRC server took some doing to get it set up properly on an Ubuntu server, but oh well.

Maybe its just all the coffee talk taking me back to a simpler time? Before a cup of Starbucks wasn't a symbol of suburban middle class, and was a piece of counter-culture.

Of course, us old flannel wearers are soccer moms and middle management stiffs now. Soon, we will be the dreaded Man. 

In the meantime, here's some Seven Mary Three

Coffee Prices.

Well, its finally happening to one of the biggest of the big boys in the coffee world. Even the price of Folgers is going up because of the world wide prices of Arabica.

If these keeps up, the cheap stuff really won't be that much cheaper than some of the decent mid-Range coffees.

Why waste time on Folgers when you can get a slightly better cup for not that much more money out of a brand like 8 O'Clock?

http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2014/06/03/j-m-smucker-hikes-coffee-prices-after-arabica-surge/

Well, Its Called Coffee.

Well, the track is called coffee. Its also, not a bad riddim, not that I can call myself an expert in it.

This Is a Pretty Looking Machine.

I know, more link dumping. Real life has kept me from being an active coffee person lately.

This a new machine from Senseo. Its a single cup machine that is made of a lot of recycled plastics. No word or product review yet.

However, depending on price, this would fit nicely with my Pixie and De'Longhi.

I mean, just look at that.

http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/design-challenge-philips-senseo-coffee-recycled-plastics

Cold Brew

Here is some more reposting.  This time it comes from Boing Boing with a great how to for cold brew coffee.

Essentially, its a lot of coffee coarsely ground as if for a French Press. You put it in a nutbag, which is like a bag made from a tightly woven cheesecloth.

You let to sit in cold, filtered water overnight, and it is ready for the next day.

I just need to track down a nut bag and give it a shot.

http://boingboing.net/2013/07/20/cheap-easy-no-mess-cold-brew.html

The Road to Hell is Brewed With Good Intentions

The Road to Hell is Brewed With Good Intentions : diesel sweeties by @rstevens robot webcomic & geeky t-shirts

Yeah, just go look at this one. I won't say it isn't partially true.