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A poll just published shows that more people now trust Jeremy Corbyn than David Cameron I have a metaphor for that. Which dad would a child smile for, the one that says, "How would you like an increase in your allowance?", or the one that says, "I need you to mow the lawn every Sunda...

Chicory is alive and well in New Orleans. When I was flying domestic and laying over at the Crown Plaza on the corner of Canal and Bourbon Streets, the provided 'Community Coffee' brand in the room was a chicory blend. I've only seen chicory widely sold in Louisiana. I neither like nor dislike it. I...

Was just thinking about Con-pilot when Dushan sent me the email. There are a handful of old Pruners who have attained a certain state, like Tony D., Beagle, Flaps and others. C-P, with his non-judgmental good humor and ready admittance to his mistakes, had the good opinion of us all. It may not make...

I just received news that Con-Pilot, one of the really good guys, passed away today.

Isn't it ironic that as much as Western Civilization has done to advance the human condition, bringing to itself material comforts and more universal distribution of them than ever in history achieved, would turn on itself as we have?

Rodney Dangerfield

: "My parents sent me to a child psychologist. That kid didn't do me no good."

There's so much history and heritage up the Hudson to Lake Champlain. Green Mountain Boys, Benedict Arnold and Ticonderoga, the French and Indian War, and the many waypoints of the Revolution. Given all that, how did Vermont get so weird over the last generation? How is it a committed socialist like...

Lincoln stands with a select few, Washington and Jefferson, as the penultimate American icons. His wit was charming, always playing on his humility. Once he was accused of being two-faced. Conscious of the homeliness of his outward appearance, he responded, "Do you think that if I had two faces...

Seconded, though I never experienced the travails of education as you have, RGB. But I'm convinced Tom Joad is a good man. Corporal punishment is a tricky subject. At its worst it is sadistic. At its best it guides positively. While the optimum balance is elusive, I think there is a place for the di...

Enjoyment of the tipple is constantly demonized in our culture. Many luminous societal achievements have been inspired under the influence. It has been said that during WWII, Churchill was seldom sober, but at the same time he was the critical inspiration for the war effort around the free world. Th...

Of course, if you don't like it, when she comes around again and your cup is still full, you won't get another free pour. As you like it. I do admit my tastes in coffee are rather pedestrian. In fact, many times, particularly in Asia, I've settled for instant Nestles brought to life with water from ...

The reality is, though, that EU did not prevent the Kosovo War, which I know was a real, hot war (first hand), though in the corner of my fuzzy mind there's a haunting little devil barbing me that I might have been fighting for the wrong side. But regardless, my key point is that the mentality of th...

It never caught on where proper coffee was part of the culture. France, Italy for e.g. Another thing that never caught on was the free refill. Pretty much at every sit down restaurant in the US, if you buy a coffee the waitress will come around during the meal and refill your cup - no charge. Not s...

Tom Joad,

You're doing such important work. Keep up the standards and demonstrate that your ethics are your paramount concern and I, for one, will always be your ally.

While there may be some hyperbole in the reporting of the European open borders debacle, I wouldn't take the reports too lightly. The numbers are there for all to see. Europe is allowing thousands of Jihad warriors intent upon carnage to take up residence. I don't see any good coming from it, despit...

Good God! Am I in a bubble? I was educated in the Detroit Public School system, which has declined from its glory days as the best in the country to the worst. I was never abused or molested in any way by a teacher. Though a few scrapes occurred, I pretty much got the discipline I deserved and had n...

Horrid outfit, horrid products. That hasn't been my experience. But I like the coffee they sell, and can tell the difference between a Starbucks roast and others available. I also like the ambiance of the typical Starbucks store - Hang out and use the wi-fi, enjoy the music, and engage with general...

Better yet, go home and train to become a doctor, lab technician, software writer, or otherwise attain some skill that we need and want. Then we'll welcome you with open arms, with the expectation you're going to pay taxes, work to achieve the American dream, and raise a nice family to carry on our ...

Yet I have a grudging respect for those who seek and succeed in foiling the tax man. After all, he is taking what really belongs to you. Why not make it as hard as possible for him? No sympathy, though, for those stashing ill-gotten gains, or secreting the NGO's well-intentioned charity donations fo...

Starbucks here are starting to sell beer and wine now. That seems to be a time-tested money maker. Back to the tapas bar theme and relating it to Starbucks. I noticed in Spain, and to a lesser extent in Italy, that certain shops opened early in the morning, selling coffee, squeezing orange juice, a...