Coffee likened to Cigar: Searching

No doubt many of us follow a similar process when searching for that cigar that will just hit the spot. Lately, that right cup of coffee, search, located and brewed has been of similar importance.

Coffee beans are one of the biggest commodities worldwide. More than a billion cup of coffee is consumed the world over and it keeps on increasing. Consumers will pay a lot of money to get a hold of their favorite coffee beans. To assure yourself of your own stock of beans, try scouting for coffee bean suppliers on your own.

An assortment of beans of high excellence and a variety of blends are available. There are several coffee bean suppliers from all over the world. Because it is big business, suppliers are continually upgrading and are always prepared to provide the commodity.

In your hunt for coffee bean suppliers, find out if they have the facts and understanding as well as the zeal for the commodity. These people must be very knowledgeable about the quality of coffee. People in this industry must be dedicated and are known for improving their products and continually upgrading their processes to come up with high quality beans. If they prefer to talk more about their products, their marketing strategies, research and development, and are proud of their personnel, then you are in good hands.

Once you have narrowed down your list of suppliers, go for a personal visit so that you will be able to see the beans yourself. Check how good their beans are, the packaging and the roasting processes. If it would be possible, try to request for a coffee-tasting session together with the site visit. The session could be done with the supplier or the master roaster. When the master roaster tastes the roasted coffee along with you and readily explains the process to you, this is considered a good sign and that you've come to the right place.

You should also ask if the companies have their own blends and if these blends have undergone testing and tasting by their own roasting staff. They should be able to tell you the difference between espresso and espresso-based beverages. Observe if their baristas are well-trained and if their machines are spotlessly cleaned and well-maintained.

To a supplier, you may just be another cup of coffee to them. Let them know you mean business. Ask them what they know of water filtration, the quality of water they use, the difference between drip coffee and brewing, quality control standards, shelf life of their coffee beans, and mostly of all what are their emergency precautions. What is essential is that a good supplier is someone who cares about the business and is equally devoted in serving a good cup of coffee like you.

Any thoughts about how this applies to our cigar tastes?

...but I did not shoot the Deputy

INMATES SAVE LIFE OF DEPUTY

"I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy, oh no! Oh!
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy, ooh, ooh, oo-ooh."

Prefaced by lyrics from Bob Marley and sung best by Eric Clapton, we are pleased to present you with this story about two guys (could be you and me, by all counts) in an Oregon jail and who still did the right thing - saved the life of "THE MAN."




PORTLAND, Ore. -- Two inmates helped save a sheriff's deputy's life Friday by performing CPR.

James Parker and Michael Smith were part of a Multnomah County work crew being supervised by the deputy when they stopped to help a stranded driver on North Marine Drive.

After pulling over, the deputy started to experience medical complications.

"When we looked at the deputy and saw he was already turning blue, we knew before he hit the ground. We knew something was wrong," Smith said.

Smith grabbed the cell phone of the stranded driver and dialed 911 to get help.

Parker began to perform CPR while Smith said he tried to keep the deputy calm and reassure him that help was on its way.

A sheriff's spokeswoman said the stranded driver also helped treat the deputy until paramedics arrived.

An ambulance took the deputy, a 25-year veteran with the sheriff's office, to a nearby hospital, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. The deputy's family asked that his name not be released.

Paramedics said the inmates' quick thinking helped save the deputy.

"He's somebody's father, he's somebody's husband. He's just like us," Smith said. "I'd do it for anybody."

Smith is serving jail time for a fourth-degree assault charge and Parker is serving time for contempt of court. They said it never crossed their mind to run off when the deputy fell to the ground.

"The thought that came to my head right when it happened was (that) he needs help," Smith said.

Cig says, "Give these boys a fat cigar as soon as they get released!"

www.monkeydrunk.wordpress.com has more stuff.

Hatred of the Weed

Thought Police Come for Churchill's Cigars

I loathe the anti-smoking health police. Deeply and profoundly. They are a joyless bunch of busybodies. But I never thought they would stoop to the sort of historical revisionism Orwell described in 1984. I was wrong. Their hatred of the weed knows no limits, not even historical accuracy.

Those who control the present went back in time and snatched away Winston Churchill's trademark cigar:


They came for the smokers. Then for the foie gras. Then for the trans fats. Then for salt. Then for alcohol. And so not just freedom, but also simple pleasure died.

source: www.professorbainbridge.com