a ::the smoke zone::: November 2008

19.11.08

I think we are destroying this place

Is this latte and two-pound bag of beans really ruining the world?

But it's true. I am responsible for so much poverty, so much destitution, so much terror in this world. One small sip really can do that much damage.

When I think about Peru and the endless miles of people living in ramshackle metal obstructions on a diseased river dragging sick fish out of it with their rusted fish hooks just to get by - it makes me not want to drink too fast.

When I think about the endless miles of factory farms literally squeezing out the profit from sick, bone-thin cows that shouldn't be producing milk - it makes me not want to work so much.

When I think about the endless destruction of families and forests and lives and acres of once wonderful land - it makes me not want to think so much.

Not to mention how demandingly it begs the question I cannot avoid:
Can there be any way to do a coffeeshop right anymore?
What about just living at all - is that possible now?

If so, what is the answer. Because amidst all of these questions are multitudes of antichrist answers all pretending nicely to be the perfect solution.
But what is there that can truly, honestly, and finally answer these complicated problems we are facing?

And does anyone even care enough to seek them out?
Or would a coffeeshop done right be in innate failure with no ability to make money enough to survive long enough to make its meager point?

Well, I don't have an answer. And, in fact, I'm not sure there is one at all.
Perhaps, there really is only getting by and the looking after is just the illusion we use to make ourselves feel better about that.

But, I hope not.

6.11.08

Books and Baguettes

Ridiculous.
I don't have time to post anything on Smoke Zone!
Why would you think that?
That's absurd.
...and rude, really.

So, I organized Rali and I's bookshelves today. We have about 10 books spanning ~200 years of history, and everything else in the shelves is only from this last century. And it's a rather large bookcase, like maybe 8 feet tall! Take my words for it! That's really all you can do because I'm not going to take a picture. There you go again with your absurd and rude assumptions, tsh.
Anyway, I thought that was interesting, didn't you?

So now I have to go to class and make baguettes. These will be the 10th, 11th, and 12th baguettes I have made this week.
Yes, that is a lot of baguettes.
No, you can't have any!
Well, if you come over and ask nicely, then maybe I'll think about it.