Monday, November 06, 2006

So 'Old' York

Moved.

Date of a post should be date of posting, not date when when one composed its title!

Thursday, November 02, 2006

****$$$$$

















It's quite likely that the name stands for 'studded with money.' The company formerly known as StarBucks, henceforth referred to as *$, is renowned for many things. Depending on who you talk to, *$ has made a name for good (popular?) coffee, bad coffee, fair-trade, unfair trade, eco-friendly, barely eco-friendly... But if there is one thing there will be a consensus on, it is the fact that *$ makes money. Some serious money.

Ethiopian farmers are not known for many things. Not that many people, even among Ethiopians, know much about them. But here are two things there will be consensus on - that they grow darn good coffee, and that they're poor.

*$, meet Ethiopian farmer. Ethiopian farmer, meet *$. The outcome? Explosive headlines.

"Starbucks, the giant US coffee chain, has used its muscle to block an attempt by Ethiopia's farmers to copyright their most famous coffee bean types, denying them potential earnings of up to 47m [pounds] a year."

Remember when Nestle sued Ethiopia, at (one of the many) heights of food shortages across the country? Well, Oxfam, along with many appalled parties, was all over the case until Nestle backed down.

Here is round two of fighting the giants. If you think yeHarer, yeYirgaCheffie and yeSeidama coffee deserve as much trademarking as over-roasted, caramel frosted, whip cream smothered coffee products of Starbucks, learn more and take action here.






Spread the word.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Morning Non-Thoughts

Some people say their morning prayer.
Some people go for a run.
Some people drag themselves to the fridge to grab another beer to 'ease' a hangover from last night.
Some people walk the dog.
Some people do yoga.

I wonder if they also non-think:
If I should labor through daylight and dark,
Consecrate, valorous, serious, true,
Then on the world I may blazon my mark;
And what if I don't, and what if I do?
- Dorothy Parker
Who is John Galt?