It’s no secret that I’m an avid drinker of coffee and tea. You might think that I’d be knowledgable about where the ingredients of these drinks come from. Like most of us, though, I’m terribly ignorant about what goes into many of the foods I eat. I did not even know that “coffee beans” are actually the seeds of coffee cherries, a cherry-like fruit.
Thankfully, I came across Coffee Sage, a site dedicated to sharing information on coffee and tea. It’s a delightful site to visit for any of us coffee lovers and tea-tempted souls. I was reading through the entries there and was surprised when I read the following:

Well, I felt quite ignorant when I had read that so I went looking for further information.
At How Stuff Works I came to “How Coffee Works,” a fairly detailed look at the process of getting coffee from the trees to our cups. There is so much I simply did not know about coffee, and it’s really quite facinating. Just the details about the fruit itself were rich with wonder-inducement.

Admitting this ignorance makes me wonder just how much we do not know about the things we use daily. Would we appreciate more in our lives if we knew the human effort and natural wonder that goes into each day’s necessities and luxuries?

Since January of 2004 I’ve been using Audioscrobbler to keep track of my listening habits.

Audioscrobbler has been a great tool for finding new music through the months I’ve been participating and it keeps improving with new features and statistics.
Recently I’ve grown lax in frequently recommending albums and artists in detail so I’ve been considering ways to catch up or supplement this. I feel very strongly that I should do what I can to spread word about art I enjoy so this is important to me. Starting tonight I’ll be posting a weekly music chart generated by Audioscrobbler here. I hope you’ll take the time to listen to any artists you haven’t yet and perhaps join Audioscrobbler (and add me to your network) to discover even more music. If you are curious about what I’m listening to at any given moment or would like to see my top 50 artists and songs, feel free to look at my Audioscrobbler profile.

My Weekly Music Chart:

Romance is floating in the cool, white-flickering lake, hands joined and devotion sworn; now a union of lovers illuminated by the moon’s direct care.

Romance is a night on a frozen lake, letting the ice melt beneath us and counting reflected glimmers cast down by moon and stars.
Romance is an afternoon by a river eating dried apple slices and creating stories for the trees on the opposite bank.
Romance is awkward dancing before the end of the world, falling to the grass and laughing at the fullness of life.
Romance is fallen tears on a bed of leaves, sparks from a campfire and four lives interwoven beneath a starless night sky.
Romance is vanilla on our tongues, summer shade on our bodies and wind licking our limbs.
Romance is ever-walking through starlight with the ones you love, hands held and eyes soft-lit by Vulpecula and Lyra.
Romance is a stolen moment on a couch, with sugary tongues and reaching fingers, drinking flavours of all the world’s real lovers.

One of the greatest challenges I have in my creative endevours is finding the will to not be caught up in the works of others to the extent that my own projects either pale or simply become neglected. There’s such a tremendous amount of beauty being created out in the world that it can be daunting when you long to contribute somehow. This past week I fell victim to my weakness for beauty and am just now climbing back. It’s such a pleasureful and inspiring trap but still ever a trap.

One book that impressed me a lot this week was Chester Brown‘s graphic novel The Playboy. It’s a revealing and striking look at how exposure to pornography impacted his life, from stirring paranoia and shame to becoming an obsticle in his romantic relationships (“With my next girlfriend I found that in order to maintain an erection I had to imagine that I was having sex with one of my favourite playmates.”). Brown’s drawing style in his autobiographical books is fittingly quite minimalistic, leaving the reader with a sense of honesty and directness. This honesty, along with a sense of personal rawness, is the strength of The Playboy and draws the reader into a story that might be intimidating or uninteresting in a lesser storyteller’s hands. (For more of my thoughts on Mr. Brown’s work, see Louis Riel)

I’m the sort of computer user who values aesthetic in my environment. Wallpapers (or desktops) are an important part of this for me. A beautiful or meaningful image in the background can be very pleasing. It’s often hard for me to find images of high enough resolution for use on my laptop’s screen (which I have set at 1680 x 1050), so I make note of quality sources. Through Pixelgirl Presents I found TwistedSun.net, which houses a gorgeous collection of desktops pieced together from the creator’s photographs. I’m currently using the red and green mosaic tiles, in case you were wondering, though my love of apples makes the desktop featuring one tempting.

I’ve had my current wallet for about 5 years now. It’s served me well in the time I’ve had it, though it’s finally become worn and ready to be retired. I’ve noticed that its ample storage slots have become magnets for far too many cards. Who really has use for the loyalty cards, membership cards and outdated I.D.’s that we seem to invariably collect? I sure hadn’t touched the Blockbuster and Rogers Video cards in many months (I use the vastly superiour Video Difference). Part of the prolonged ritual of saying goodbye to this keeper of identity has been ridding it of unnecessary cards and miscellaneous clutter. I’m down to a grand total of 9 items, four of which are government issued necessities (ID, health and S.I.N.).
During the process of wondering how I will go about replacing this tired wallet I visited one of my favourite online comics destinations, Lowbright. The creator, Derek Kim, released a graphic anthology I enjoyed very much, called Same Difference and Other Stories. He has also, in conjunction with Poketo, offered art wallets based on the book. Upon learning of this I had a feeling I’d discover a worthy successor. All three of the Same Difference wallets are great, but one in particular spoke to me and is on its way through the crazy network that is international post. I look forward to the transition.

A couple weeks ago I was pointed toward BoyGirlParty, a site sharing art and music (and which also has Poketo wallets, incidentally). Though the visual art pieces are stunning, the music is what most captured my attention. The MP3 section offers some rather enjoyable tunes for your listening pleasure (I recommend “Last Friend”), really scrappy, DIY stuff but pleasing. How can you go wrong with projects by the names Snoozer and Snuggletooth?

Am I alone in having climbed walls when I was a kid? I found it great fun to rise in elevation in the hallway of my parents’ home back then for some reason I’ve lost to time. I’ve now stumbled across some more elaborate acts of House Gymnastics documented in a photo album. “Countertop Lunge” showcases the common grace this new sport embodies.

If you were growing up when I was you no doubt have Nintendo nostalgia. A Mr. Larter pointed me toward a most impressive piece of a capella stage performance video that will awaken memories of hitting bricks with Mario’s head, sliding Tetris blocks and slashing critters with Link’s sword. Nintendo Themes, A Cappella is absolutely a must see.

Wednesday I walked walked along Halifax’s waterfront. It’s not an especially beautiful or impressive place visually (see this travel video for an idea what it’s like), but it holds centuries of our history and some rather strong pieces of my own. The old wooden piers have absorbed the laughter and tears of countless souls and has felt the footfall of followers of every path.
I have some pleasant memories of one December visit to the waterfront with a dear friend of mine who was then my lover. Whenever I visit there those memories in particular bubble to the surface of my mind and, even now that I’ve come to terms with all that relationship held, there’s some nostalgia for the time I spent with her.
I find it facinating how memories can link to places so strongly. I have many places that I can not separate from the memories I have of them. Especially when I visit somewhere with a loved one there’s an imprint upon the place that colours how I view it. I’m left wondering how far from the objective truth our memories can get. I’m confident most of mine are accurate, but who’s to say how much is filler our brains concoct? Here’s to the beauty of that mystery.

Photos that were once included with this entry have been removed and may now be in my main photo album.

The warmth of Wednesday had dissipated as I walked along the rocky beach that had become the most comfortable place for me in all of Halifax. This day, though, a chilling wind had brought a mass of clouds to usurp the sky from the brilliant blue, a blue that had ruled many content citizens the day before.
I was driven to walk beneath the grey. The rocks under my sandals were the same solid, reassuring realness they always have been. They’re great markers of slow change, shards of ever larger wholes. From celestial bodies to mountains to sand grains. I was an aspect of the Whole walking in my silence along the coast, blissful in the discomfort of the wind and the comfort of the ocean’s scent.
I was looking for a place sheltered from some of the wind where I could sit in meditation. I hadn’t done any extended outdoor meditation before this and wanted to try sitting in a serene place. This beach was what came immediately to mind when I decided to move in that direction.
I eventually spotted a flat area on the cliff that would work and ascended the rocks. I placed my messenger bag beside me and sat with my legs crossed. I settled into a stillness, looking out across the water and feeling my hair lifted with the air’s ceaseless dance.
I closed my eyes and listened to the rhythm of the waves, the crash and recede becoming a mantra. The waves falling on the rocks resound with an “om” and “shanti” was echoed as the water drew back through the space between the rocks, leaving them damp but empty.
My meditation began with this focus and the clearing was swift. My cluttered, noisy mind was no longer crashing about, now content to let the waves hold the motion. I did not attain the truer stillness I have in the past but I was refreshed and cleansed.
I became aware of the rhythm of the wind, which had grown colder. Wind can be harder to recognize as cyclical. Like a fire it flickers more than sway to and fro as the the ocean does. There is rhythm to the air currents, a push and pause that chilled my skin and had my hair moving in a storm of threads, rising and falling.
Some time later I opened my eyes. I glanced slowly across the water. The disruptions on the surface patterned it, creating a uniformity from localized disorder. I thought on this for a short while before being interrupted.
An older man came walking down the beach and bellowed up, “Hello!” We exchanged pleasantries and he said, “I used to be better at that when I was younger.” I thought he meant meditation, seeing that I was still sitting with crossed legs. However, he talked next about the terrain and I realized he had meant traversing the rocks. He soon continued on his trek.
With my still time disrupted I slipped my camera from my pocket and took a few photos before straightening my legs and climbing down and walking from the shore.

I spent a beautiful afternoon walking across the city on Wednesday. It was finally one of those spring days that I feel completely content to just be outside in, to drink up the air and sun. After what seemed like a long winter this was refreshing and very welcome. The necessity of errands drew me out of my den and weather-influenced good spirits kept me moving along the sidewalks and paths.

When I woke that morning and moved my laptop from beside my bed to my livingroom desk the mouse I used for several years fell and was damaged, leaving it unable to be clicked. I wrapped it in its cord and disposed of it. After mailing an overdue package to a friend of mine I set out to find a new mouse.
Initially I thought I would try out a trackball mouse. I have a laptop so I figured that would be the best option for travelling, seeing that I would not need a surface to use it on. At the store I tried a couple out but was quite let down. The trackball mice were both uncomfortable and lacking in accessable scroll buttons.
I spent some time looking at conventional mice before finding a nice wireless mouse. I’ve always assumed that a wireless mouse would not be best for use with my laptop, thinking that the receiver would be too clunky to be practical. However, this mouse had a very small receiver (about the size of a key drive). What made this mouse the one I would choose were the other features, though. The comfort of holding the mouse was a major selling point. It felt completely natural in my hand and the buttons were easily accessable. 15 different buttons and scroll directions has expanded the range and ease of tasks I can do with just a mouse (I can adjust volume levels, play / pause, move forward and backward on a playlist, launch a media player, return to the top of a website or go back in a browser, all with the press of just one button). The new mouse combined with ObjectDock and a new WindowBlinds skin has my computer feeling like a brand new environment.

With that major errand accomplished I wove my way through downtown Halifax, stopping at several stores and the library. By the time I made my way to the most enjoyable leg of my wandering I was carrying some fine books, a magnetic hematite ring and a bookmark depicting Green Tara, Mother of all the Buddhas. The hematite ring was quickly useful, allowing me to return casheer-spilled change to my hand through the wonder of magnetism.

I have a great love for cemeteries. Many are among the most peaceful places I’ve encountered. The interplay of nature’s trees and human stonework is a wonderful contrast and sometimes surprisingly complementary. On my way home I walked through my favourite cemetery here in Halifax and took some time to snap some photos in it (you’ll find those in my photo section). There’s a remarkable serenity I feel whenever I venture inside its gates. No matter my mood I always leave in at least a slightly better headspace. It’s as though the monuments to other lives that have passed give my own as sense of context and a motivation to do what good I can in the time I’m allowed in this life. The trees, as always, grant me a humbleness beneath their age, strength and beauty. I stepped through the cemetery and walked on through the city, enriched and contemplative as I finished my errands.

During my transition to vegetarianism I’ve been taking joy in discovering new recipes and ways of cooking. The excitement of discovery has been as rewarding as the physical benefit this change has brought. I’ve found it rewarding to share ideas with others on a similar food path and recently asked some friends for ideas I can try out.
My friend Last Serenade shared her recipe for a quick and delicious meal. Asparagus Roll Ups are a delicious snack or full meal that takes only a few minutes to prepare and can be quite filling. This recipe has finally given me a love for the vegetable and is quickly becoming a favourite of mine.

Ingredients
4-8 stalks of asparagus (fresh preferred)
4 slices of bread (whole wheat preferred)
plain cream cheese (enough to cover bread)
butter (enough to drizzle on roll ups)

Preparation
Flatten each slice of bread using either a rolling pin or your fingers.
Spread enough cream cheese on each flattened slice to cover it.
On each slice place stalks of asparagus. I prefer to break long stalks in two and place them side by side. I’ve found it’s best to not have them hang over the edge of the bread.
Roll the bread around the stalks to create roll ups. Shaping it tightly with one’s hands is often best.
Place rollups on a cooking sheet.
Melt a small amount of butter and drizzle it across the rollups.
Bake in an oven at 350°F until tops of rollups are golden.

You should find the resulting roll ups to be crisp and savory. Enjoy.

I’ve included this recipe at Wikipes under Quickies and the recipe title “Asparagus Roll Ups“. If you have not yet explored that site, I highly recommend you give it a try. There are many great recipes there, all submitted and edited by users. It’s easy to use and a great resource.

I was lucky enough to find a promotional copy of Nick Sagan‘s first novel, Idlewild, in a local used book store and purchase it on a whim. Before it had been released to the public I was reading one of the most remarkable works of fiction I’d ever encountered. The characters were realistic and well developed, the dialogue impeccable, the plot sharp, compelling and inventive and the overall fluidity of the writing inviting of page turning. Idlewild was a dark, fresh and captivating fusion of genres (though primarily science fiction) that, for me, did more to invigorate an interest in speculative fiction than any other book released that year.

I recently reread Idlewild and was hit with a similar freshness. When I began Nick’s second novel, Edenborn, I was aware of a definite evolution in his craft. This book was stong in all the ways that Idlewild was and expanded in character depth, themes and narrative structure. Edenborn was more than I was expecting and a true joy to read, certainly one of the most rewarding works I’ve read in recent years.

Thematically, the story focuses on the interplay between intent, societal roles, personal flaws and interpersonal conflict. Within a small population one’s mistakes can be amplified and have disasterous consequences. Sagan looks at this with care, drawing lines of cause and effect throughout the story, not giving in to blind pessimism or blind optimism but instead offering an objective view of humanity in all our dangerous fragility and saving flexibility.
Nick Sagan’s focus on characters is exceptional in the field of science fiction, which far too often looks at technology and theme more closely than human characteristics and motivations. His younger characters are especially true to their real world counterparts, highlighting the mix of heightened flaws and strengths adolescence carries. From jealousy, manipulation, apathy, delusion and ambition to altruism, rebellion and curiosity, there’s a remarkable fullness and complexity to the personalities and motivations of Edenborn’s characters.
The plot is filled with twists, intrigue and stunning obsticles, advancing past the complex, whodunit-influenced plot of Idlewild. The deft mix of character development, action, conflict and revelations keeps the story moving at a comfortable, quick and enveloping pace that many novels lose from time to time. The final third of the book is especially thrilling and surprising, an expertly crafted climax that offers both closure and floods us with questions.
Edenborn is well spun, exciting and enjoyable. In a world edging closer to calamity it makes us look at how we have directed ourselves and wonder if we’re dooming the future to final echos of our mistakes or if we can alter our ways quickly enough to save our world from immense harm. There’s hope and caution in this story, a strong case for the importance of speculative fiction as mirror for ourselves and our world.

I must warn you that the following is a piecemeal collection of mentions I’ve made in another, less structured journal. I’ll be writing of one of my new favourite books tomorrow and hopefully tackling a backlog of album recommendations.

There’s a new social networking site around that some of you may wish to join. It’s called WAYN or Where Are You Now? and has a focus on travel (you can set up travel itinerary and see friends and other people in your current location). You can see my profile here.

Vacuuming the Lungs is a short but useful article on “how to breathe deeply when you’re nervous.” There’s a lot of benefit to breathing deeply, so it certainly can be helpful to know how to do so when one feels unable to.

Here is one of those “if it doesn’t kill you it’ll make you stronger” cases, a look at how resistance to the Great Plague could lead to a major advance in the battle against AIDS.

Here’s hoping that bit of evolution can lead to a wider immunity or cure.

I came across the following story unattributed. Does anyone know where it might have originated?

There’s much truth in that story. We live by the aspects of ourselves that we cultivate (feed, in this case). Compassion is a responsibility and the driving force for all good actions. As the Dalai Lama has said,

In a closed journal I keep over at LiveJournal I took part in a meme that had my friends ask questions of me without having their identities revealed. I thought I’d share some answers as part of a dose of miscellany and perhaps give another glimpse into who I am.

My psychological low point is hard to pinpoint but it was no doubt between the start of my second year of university, as I was realizing the mistake I was making by taking a degree I had no passion for, and the following year, as I struggled to redirect my life and come to terms with the end of a romance. I entered into several depressions during that time that were easily lowest points for me psychologically. Thankfully, things have been improving in the time since. With some minor bumps it’s been up-and-up.

I was asked who I would date, given the choice of “any celebrity or common person on the entire face of this earth.” You know, I couldn’t imagine dating a celebrity. I’ve developed a philosophy of only being romantically involved with someone I already have a strong friendship with, so I can’t see myself with someone I don’t know well, and celebrities would fall into that category.
As for “common people,” I’m going to be likewise boring and philosphical. There are a few people I treasure the company of and find physically attractive that I’d be happy to be with, but without them having a similar interest in my I’d not want to date them. I don’t think there’s anyone out there among my closest friends who finds me attractive in that way so I wouldn’t impose anything.
My, what a gloomy and boring answer. Sorry for not giving you any juicy secrets.