𝐂.𝐆. 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 ...

I am not a theologian; I am a doctor, a psychologist. But as a doctor, I have had experience with thousands of persons from all parts of the world—those who came to tell me the stories of their lives, their hopes, their fears, their achievements, their failures. I have studied carefully their psychology, which is, and which must be, my guide.

Out of my experience with those thousands of patients, I have become convinced that the psychological problem of today is a spiritual problem, a religious problem, Man today hungers and thirsts for a safe relationship to the psychic forces within himself.

His consciousness, recoiling from the difficulties of the modern world, lacks a relationship to safe spiritual conditions.This makes him neurotic, ill, frightened.

Science has told him that there is no God, and that matter is all there is. This has deprived humanity of its blossom, its feeling of well-being and of safety in a safe world.

- CARL JUNG

𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 ... 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐧

We know we can change ourselves when we realize that we are not dependent on how we feel, nor on how others feel about us, nor on what the situation is around us. The values we hold, the choices we make within ourselves and for ourselves remain our prerogative. 

In most situations, if we begin to change, to do our own inner work, to accept our own darkness and work toward consciousness, the situation will change. We will begin to emanate a different energy, one that exudes a sense of autonomy and authenticity. 

This process of self-realization is the embodying of spirit in the fifth chakra. This is the throat chakra, and has to do with being able to speak one’s own truth. Here one’s truth becomes the expression of a journey already undertaken, of facing the fear of aloneness, of refusing to listen to the voices of conformity that would smile and suck our lifeblood, and lay us in eiderdown to die. 

This is an inward journey that usually begins on a wild, stormy night. It takes great resolve to enter into the darkness of our own chaos, to give up the familiar path and begin to trust our own experience. The recognition and unconditional love of oneself is never a selfish journey. 

Most people, if challenged to love themselves unconditionally for fifteen minutes, reel in embarrassment. “What is love without judgment? How can I love myself so long as I am this assertive little prick? What does that mean—love unconditionally?” Ultimately, that is what the journey is about.... 

- MARION WOODMAN

𝐈𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬"?

Reuters August 28, 2025: “Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un will attend a military parade in Beijing, marking the first public appearance of the two leaders alongside President Xi Jinping in a show of collective defiance amid Western pressure.” 

COMMENT: On the face of it this appears to be a statement of fact. Look closer. It's somewhat rather loaded with the opinion that this shows “defiance”. Could be. Who's to say? Reuters evidently. 

But, the point is that the “news” in general is loaded with such spin; and, we form our opinions not always filtering out the colorations.

One recent that stands out — and just because I point it out, don't make me necessarily a MAGA —  a group supposed of MAGA Trump supporters characterized as a MAGA "horde". Denotatively any group might be called a "horde". Connotatively, however, "horde" doesn't exactly conjure up an image of a kindly, benevolent bunch of folks. Translate: "Not Good!"

You might remember AOC using the term "concentration camps" for the government's at the time holding border crossing immigrants. "Kids in cages" also used as a kicker to cast shade on the political opponents holding children in fenced in areas. [Which by the way Barry is the one who set that all up.] Interesting that in Israel they're setting up "concentration camps" in Gaza and everybody is just fine with that. Or, at least we haven't heard much from the political leadership on that.

Does current day education inculcate the discernment to recognize such slanting? I'm sort of thinking, not so much. Like those drug — er, "medicine" — commercials with the arms length recitation of some rather dire potential side effects delivered in an appealing voice with nice music and and smiling, happy faces on the screen. Never mind the arguable question whether a pharmaceutical drug is a medicine. Or, how "... ask your doctor ..." is the assumed given universal dispenser of health care. Where is that in the law? Of course, let's concede, alopathic medicine does seem to be the prevalent modality. Just again pointing out how common language is reinforcing our beliefs and assumptions. And, let's not even get into how modern "health care" is good a keeping sick people alive. Or how the discussion on "health care" boils down to how to pay for it. Never mind any critical discussion on the system itself. [Don't get me started.]

We're being educated — er, conditioned — to be compliant consumers of stuff and opinions.

Kapische?

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭" ... 𝐃𝐫. 𝐈𝐝𝐚 𝐏. 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐟

"Nobody can prove what I am about to say, but I think it is so: every energy in which we live is nourishment to us. It is something which is literally contributing food to the individual. If you are living within a field of sound, the same is true of your ears. 

Now it would be absolutely ridiculous if we lived in a field of Gravity and it had no effect on us, yet down through the ages this has been our assumption, that it didn’t make any difference. This assumption is still held among a lot of people. They think it doesn’t make any difference how you carry yourself because you are a spirit, an immortal and superior something, and it’s the superior something which is in charge of the situation. 

Well, a spirit is in charge of the situation, but not in the way many think. The spirit is in charge to tell the individual that he can so organize his body that he is now in line with a supporting force [Gravity]. He cannot just go on indefinitely striking out indiscriminately against this force that’s tearing him down, yet this is what he tries to do. 

You know average posture: the head way forward, the back way back, the chest almost lacking, the ribs down, no air coming in, etc., etc. His spirit will carry him through? It is an assumption that no longer works; it is the relic of an idea which was universal a hundred years ago."

— Ida P. Rolf

𝐂𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐀-𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 ...

I wrote recently about all the fuss over Coffee. Origins, varieties, home equipment, processing, tastings. 

Sounds like a short list. Think again. Multiply each of those basic categories by a factor of let's say 100, and I give you the kaleidoscopic cornucopiatastic world of "COFFEE". From one vantage point the whole thing looks like a democratic take on what the "Wine World" has been doing from quite some time. Only with Coffee, it's more accessible to more folks. "Mulla, hulla." Wine snobs, Coffee snobs ... what's the difference?

That last point, accessible to more folks, is arguable. If you read my previous missive [linked below] you'll understand that the quest for that just right, Goldilocks cup of Joe can get pretty, pretty, pretty high up there. In terms of what's entailed, and certainly in how much you can spend to get there. And it's not like there's that one cup of Coffee that you finally find and settle with at the pinnacle of the climb to perfection. There are so many variations that one can become a connoisseur of the differences and distinctions. If you search you'll see a lot of Coffee people online have batteries of all sorts of equipment in their kitchens. The lexicon of taste, color, and texture variations is as dense as it is for wine.

So, where is Cooky Cat now in this maelstrom on the caffeinated hunt?

Seems that the basic next step in upping the Coffee game is the grinder. Enough on that subject already online, so we won't be rehashing things. Suffice to say that the size and shape of the ground Coffee makes a difference. 

Your Boy here has mostly been content with a cup of Coffee. Pour overs and Moka pots mostly. French Press, Cowboy style [Chorreador]; that last one for large batches. With a $20 blade grinder. No complaints.

Then I got the bug. If I trade up will I get that better cup? As I'm typing this I'm awaiting the arrival of my new Coffee grinder. Hand grinder. Why by hand? In Coffee World an electric grinder is considered "budget" all the way up to the $500 price point. No kidding! And when doing the comparisons it's easy to price yourself up to the the next better level. Seems there's a major divide between units that deliver for espresso, and those that perform more for the coarser settings. If you're really into it you have a device for both. At least.

The one concern on my new hand grinder is the grinding itself. I'm preparing for just one cup, so the grinding should be under 30 seconds. One of the beauties of the hand units is burr grind speed. It's a thing. Electric units spin at high rpm's bringing some heat into the equation. Obviously, cranking by hand doesn't have that issue. Don't want to over excite those tender beans.

So, what did I buy. The Timemore S3. $159.00. Wow! You say. I know. I traded up a bit. There are some good units under $100. I opted for the one with an easy and quick collar adjustment. And, like I said, you get to $100 what's a few more? The other contender was the 1Zpresso J at $139.00; larger conical burrs; 48mm versus the Timemore at 42mm. But, the adjustment ring was the deal breaker along with the Timemore having 15 microns particle size per click versus 25 microns per click; more precise. The crank handle collapses, and that makes storage so much more efficient. The price spread ... hey, if you're gonna get wet, what's a little more water?

What next? 

I've also been looking into roasting my own Coffee beans. I'm putting that off for now. The main qualifier is this: just how much better can it get given that the unit I'm considering [the Hive Roaster with digital temperature reader] comes in at nearly $200. And it takes about 10 or so minutes of constant shaking the hand unit over the stove to get those green ones to be "has beans"; that is, roasted and ready to grind.

Enough for now. If my universe shifts again, I'll update you. Don't hold your breath.

By the way, I'm thinking of springing for some Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. The best cup of Coffee I ever had was at a small hotel in Montego Bay located on the road to the beach. Had to have been Blue Mountain.

Blue Mountain Coffee runs nearly $65 per pound from what appears to be an excellent source. Lothian Coffee. At that price it also nudged me to up the quality on the grinder. You dig my thinking?

They also sell green beans at $49 per pound. That's where I got the idea for roasting my own. At such steep pricing you don't want to have already roasted beans laying around and getting stale. I know, there are vacuum cannisters. Yet another something or other.

See ... so many issues. OY!

Here's the previous writing ...

And, right now as I'm about to pull the trigger and publish this my new grinder just landed on the porch. With — OMG I'm becoming one of THEM — a mister to give a bit of a spray to the beans just before grinding. It keeps the retention — stuff still in the grinder — down. Spraying Coffee beans before grinding is a technique called Ross Droplet Technique [RDT]. It reduces static electricity for a cleaner grind and less stray grounds. 

Addendum: Made my first cup of Coffee grinding with the hand grinder. Medium dark roast. Quantum step up in flavor quality. Before with the blade grinder the flavor was "confused", not clear; with a lot of different things going on. The more consistent grind brings the flavor to a unified whole. Lots of punch. I'm not versed in more florid/floral descriptions; just to net net ... the grinder does make a difference. Big. May have to dial back on the amount I'm using. Following, by the way, the 1:15 ratio; 20 grams of Coffee, 300 grams of water. 

  

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 ...

From my 2020 Facebook post citing from Senator Chuck Schumer ...

Oh, Chuck. There you go again, you slicky slickerson!

Today I heard Chuck Schumer say that the attempt at "downgrading the postal service" was in order to "affect the election". And that is "despicable".

First, it's arguable that the postal service is being downgraded, more so that the motive for whatever is going on in the post office is to affect the election [in DT's favor, in case you don't know where the Senator is coming from].

If that's true, then sure it's despicable. 

Only ... 

I didn't hear the "if". Even if it were couched with that necessary "if" the real net effect of that statement is to cast shade on the opponent. Never mind what's provable.

By the way, I'm amending this in the year 2025 and the narrative from the Dem side continues to be absent any creative policy stance other than "Trump bad". And, the unwashed [brainwashed?] millions are expected to take whatever is served with the cold comfort that whatever it is, and whoever it is they're voting for ... it's "NOT TRUMP!".

If what he said fits your preconceived, conditioned point of view, I won't argue with you. Be that way. Stay entrained to your favorite propaganda bell ringer. If you take apart the statement and look at the facts and the logic — and a lot of what Schumer and his allies have similarly stated — you'll see a pattern ...

1. State an accusation, suspicion, conjecture, hypothetical, a rumor.

2. Assume it is a fact.

3. Assert the nefarious motive behind it.

4. Condemn it.

5. State all that wrapped in the Flag, on a knee, in Kente cloth, and assume cynically that the rubes you call your voters will eat it up.

By the time you get there your spiel registers as news. 

I reposted this on Facebook recently. This is what transpired ...

Commenter: With everything else going on this is what you choose to comment on

Me: ... Yes. It came back in the FB memories today. It is still in play. "He Bad." Obviously, there are other things going on too. I could comment on the Middle East, but then I'd be anti-Semitic. We do have boychik's assurance that there is no starvation in Gaza; who am I to disagree. If I was in the clear, I'd say ... "He Bad". Or, how it's now well documented that the West provoked what's going on in Ukraine. Oh, that Putin ... "He Bad" too.

If that doesn't clear it up for you, let me point out that with all the varying narrative story lines being foisted/discussed there is that one underlying common theme. Like I've been pointing, the game is Good versus Evil. The Good in us, and the Evil in them. I defer to C. G. Jung for an elucidation on how the world is as you see it, and the evil we see is a projection of the unrecognized shadow within us. You can argue that point. Yet, I find that taking that position one has some real agency in terms of bringing something constructive to all that is going on.

𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟎-𝟏𝟒, 𝟐𝟎

Featured 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 

𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟎-𝟏𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Author: David D. Wronski

Abstract ...

Fascia “informs” ... Gravity “justifies”

 

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES

There’s an inextricable relationship between Gravity and Fascia. This is overlooked. [Interesting, remember how Fascia itself had been overlooked?]

Gravity should be included as a prime factor in understanding Human health and well being. Make it an integral consideration in Fascia science, research studies, and clinical practices.

Simply put, Fascia wouldn’t behave as it does without Gravity.

BACKGROUND

The Fascia Research Congress was started by Tom Findley MD, PhD and Robert Schleip PhD — both practitioners of Structural Integration, the method originated by Ida P. Rolf PhD. She is acknowledged as the “Mother of Fascia”.

Knowing the ideas which underpin Dr. Rolf’s approach will clarify the significance and utility of working with an included view of the integral relationship of the form that is Fascia with the force that is Gravity. And, hopefully recontextualize the subject to open for new creative ideas on approaches for the bench and for the office.

DISCUSSION

Key points on the Fascia-Gravity connection ...

Gravity is an essential reference. Balance in the architectural arrangement of the whole body is healthy, normal. The standard for bodily balance is the same as for all structures on Earth: balance in respect to the three cardinal planes. The Fascial system is the “Organ of Structure”. It is the bodywide, three dimensional fabric [“matrix”] of support and organization. Seeing its globally interconnected tensionality we now model the body as a tensegrity structure; i.e., true balance maintained in the equipoise span of the connective tissues. Imbalances in the Fascial web are contributive in symptoms of chronic pain and stress. Imbalances in the fascial web have accompanying compensations. Fascia is plastic, adaptive. Myofascial anatomy is a clinical map. Integration of the body structure with Gravity is wholistic, somatic: that is, we access the whole Human being at the concrete, hands-on body level. Upright verticality in the Human body structure is in the definition of normal. It is the direction of Human physical evolution.

CONCLUSION/SUGGESTIONS

The Human body design calls for balance with the force of Gravity. Imbalances contribute to dis-ease.

That the Human body can transform to such a level of structural integration is still to be seen as a realizable possibility. Much less a value in itself. Including this can open new areas for research study as well as clinical diagnosis and applications.

PROPOSED RESEARCH

Compile an image record of pre/post Dr. Ida P. Rolf Method Structural Integration processing enlisting models in training classes in schools accredited by the International Association of Structural Integrators. Images to include strictly comparable photographic imaging/analysis, and other innovative measurement devices; e.g., on site foot pressure plate mapping, gait analysis; selected digital pattern overlays in system with analysis of spatial and morphological variances.

 

𝐂.𝐆. 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠 ... 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬

 

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐈𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞?

Cheap Is Expensive?

Simply put, when you buy cheap it can be expensive. 

Down the road. On account of cheap stuff doesn't hold up over time. Maybe, even right away. And, even worse, when something cheap is part of an assemblage of other stuff, a larger whole, the cheap thing will bring the entire thing down. 

Weakest link kind of thing. Either right away, like a plastic flower on a prom dress; or, down the road, like a flimsy prom dress that comes off in the back seat, but the zipper is stuck and the frock doesn't get back on quite right. Gotta sneak upstairs so the folks don't see. 

Or, like painting a house with cheap paint. If you've ever had to scrap paint off wood shingles or siding, you know what a pain and expense that is. Cheap paint don't last long. 

Be forewarned. 

In our experience things like you buy for the home, or the wardrobe, tend to stay around for a long time. Again, buy the best; in your budget, of course. You'll appreciate this advice down the road. Unless, of course, you're living on up the hill, and tossing out even new things that are not wanted is not an issue.

There's truth in "You get what you pay for". Generally, that's a good axiom to hold to. Generally, that is. Sometimes you get something good at a bargain. Other times bargains are indeed only worth the price; or, not even. That's where education comes in. It's called discrimination, discernment. Quality shows. Now, let me ask you, Pilgrim, how do you discern quality? Based on what? Do you know what you like, or have you been instructed — shaped — like just another brick in the wall to like what someone says you should? And, not just being told what to like to your face; beware the "hidden persuaders". Of course, when it comes to politics, that certainly doesn't apply. You can take what you're being told to the bank. Especially if it confirms your already set bias.

We always need to give some purchases proper attention. Once you buy that kitchen knife, for example, it's gonna stay with you a long time. So, select with care. Or, shoes. Or, belts. Or, pots and pans.

What's popular too, is a good basic way to base a choice. But, basic. What most people think and/or like may not be any friggin' good at all; or, to your liking. Satisfy yourself. In a bar when I go for a glass of beer, I always ask for the favorite what's on tap. Can't go wrong on that score.

Have I made the point? 

Just how do you make an informed choice anyway?

The Internet is full of advice, and differing points of view. Check around. Don't just always go with what Oprah recommends. Or, Martha Stewart. Amazon sells most everything. We check the reviews; pretty good take on what's what, and what's not what. 

And, here's a big tip. Envision your use down the road. Just think about how you're gonna use whatsit. And, what is the incremental value in relation to cost. In a separate writing I spoke on Coffee paraphernalia. We discussed Coffee grinders. As like with just about anything now with worldwide access to everything, with grinders for Coffee the world is your Oyster. My own take, I'll stick with my $20 blade electric grinder, thank you. I just don't get that "entry level" starting at $200 USD is gonna get me that much better a cuppa.

That's about it, folks. Now, go in peace. The world is indeed as you see it. Be sure your seeing in 20/20. With the eyes in your head, and the inner eye too.  

Then there's "Made In China". Some may recall when "Made in Japan" was synonymous with "junk". Now we all know that Nippon has an age-old tradition of high craftsmanship. After the WWII what was exported from Japan was mostly flimsy stuff. Tin toy, cheap bric a brac . "Made in China" can be a crap shoot. Not that the Chinese can't make first rate stuff; they can, and do. But, since a lot of manufacturing has been outsourced to China, said marketers sometimes either don't spec the quality, or don't care. Case in point: A well known "Made In the USA" can opener is now manufactured in China. Not quite the same level of quality. On the strength of the brand name and, having had a bulletproof one in the past, we purchased one of their vegetable peelers. Broke right away, first time peeling Potatoes. Got a replacement. Same result. The customer service at the seller company seems to care less on the issue. Just sent the replacements. Looking at the metal parts of the lousy unit compared to the original USA-made item, the failing was in the tinny metal construction. Someone along the way failed to specify the proper spec. And/or, neglected to inspect the Chinese made batch. Be forewarned. Interesting, now "Made in Japan" is the mark of excellence. China is catching up. 

𝐂𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞?

Don't you be a "Coffee Asshole". 

What's that you ask? 

That's when you are cultivating a pampered palate and take having a nice hot cup of Joe to the Nth level and make a Tea Ceremony ritual of it, procedurally and with the never ending quest for all the equipment and paraphernalia that's being marketed for you to part with your cash. Let's not even get started on the choices from the world of beans. The best cup of Coffee I ever had was in Jamaica; probably Blue Mountain. At around $100 USD per pound, sorry, just how good do I have to have my Coffee? Price/value dialectic.

Like take, for instance, Coffee grinders. Electric or hand ground? Price point? Seems "entry level" electric is close to $200 USD. There are even $200 plus hand jobs too on the high end of manuals. Not to belabor the pun too far, but after all the time invested in turning a hand crank for your result, it might not be such a happy ending.

Consistency of grind — size [matters] varies depending on brew method — is a big factor. Maybe I'm not that much of a Coffee Asshole ... I'm pretty well satisfied with the grind I get with my $20 blade unit. But, I do watch for how long I press the button, and give it a few shakes in between pulses to get all the particles done to uniform size. 

I would be tempted to buy an electric grinder. But, when you investigate the options, it's very easy to trade yourself up to the next ... and, the next pricier unit. Conical vs. flat burrs. And, what size. "Retention" ... how much grounds does the unit keep for itself. I generally step back at such a point and consider how many actual coffee beans I could buy for that price. I'll stick with my blade gizmo. Besides, I'm not inclined to do the multi-dimensional palate taste report. "Berry-Orange notes forward, with a hint of Chocolate and Caramel with just the right snap of acidity, finishing with a nice slightly bitter note of burnt Sugar." 

Don't give me no jive ... give me a cup of Coffee! 

Starbucks, nota bene: "Vente?" That some jive. When I used to go to Starbucks, since I like a good amount of Milk, I'd order a Grande in a Vente cup. [If you're getting from how I'm focused on price, you might think I'm a cheapskate. And, you'd be right.]

But, when I mention "entry level" at $200, the numbers go up quickly from there. The real bucks are in the units designed for Espresso. Let's not go into that thicket of techniques and equipment. Net net, seems you can easily spend at least $1,000 on a half decent Espresso set up. Half. You better be a heavy user at that price point. Or, some Asshole who likes to impress the company. Or, have money to burn.

Which reminds me to convey to you there's the world most expensive and rare Coffee. Kopi Luwak. They literally get it out a cat's ass. I shit you not. And not just any old pussy, but a rare Coffee cherry-eating feline; one Asian Palm Civet to be exact. Talk about bustin' a Cherry! Seems these cats are fussy too. They are picky about what Coffee cherries to eat. Apparently the beans are fermented in the kitty's digestive tract. Thoroughly cleaned for your drinking enjoyment. Let's hope the guy cleaning the shit off your beans that day didn't have a row with the old lady last night. Or, quite the opposite; in which case he might be too pooped to do the poop. 

Interested? $650.00 USD per kilo. No shit! At this point I simply have to ask once again, just how good does a cup of Coffee have to be? 

The world is full of "the best of" this-or-that's. Like once someone talked about the "best" Burrito. My question was the same, just how good does a Burrito have to be? It's probably a subject worth a doctoral thesis: "The Mindset That Gets You Going down the Rabbit Hole to Perfection." I was once "into" high-end audio. Did you know you can spend $100,000 plus USD on speaker cables?

Okay, we've had our fun. Now back to the topic.

I have to confess I've watched hours of instructionals on how to brew coffee; the various brewing methods, and the equipment requirements whereof. Maybe watching all those videos is a Rabbit hole itself.

When I want a punch, it's Bustelo, in a Moka Pot. Cafe con Leche style with hoted whole Milk and a spoon of Sugar. There are still probably lots of spots in my once hometown NYC to get a good Cafe con Leche at any number of Puerto Rican and Dominican restaurants.

Props to my go-to favorite ...

Alas, no more. Formerly at near the NE corner of 8th Avenue and 14th Street.

Mostly, my morning cup is a pour-over. Fresh ground in a cone shaped funnel, water poured over and collected under into a carafe. Be sure to make a divot in the center so the water gets to the bottom-most grounds. Precisely measured amounts of Coffee beans and water. Beans ground on the spot, with a dash of Bustelo for the win.

I like my "cuppa" hot. If you've ever done a pour-over you know it takes a while. First, a "bloom" with a dash of hot water — better be sure it's the precise right temperature. The "bloom" is to release trapped carbon dioxide for a better brew. Wait a few minutes, then slow pour your hot water. I get a 300ml amount that fills my cup and pour it in three 100ml passes. 

I always wonder with all the various ways people have for doing a pour-over no one mentions the temperature fall off what with waiting so long for to get that brew into your cup. Some, I believe prefer drinking their Coffee at a less than hot-hot level. I'm sure there's a whole specialized discussion on just that one topic alone.

So ... here's what this Coffee Asshole does beside the basic steps what to get a nice hot cup of Coffee.

I set the kettle to heat the water. In a shallow pan I heat water with a carafe with some water in it. The pour over funnel goes over the heated carafe — be sure to toss the hot water out of the carafe before introducing the beverage. I've missed this point a few careless times. Ugh! I like a middle-generous amount of whole Milk in my Coffee. I put hot water in my cup and a small glass inside that to heat the milk. Works like a charm: Hot Coffee in my cup!

Here's a link to a much more lengthy treatment on the subject of "Coffee". If you've read this far into it, you're probably a Coffee Asshole so you'll be sure to want to read more.

𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝? ... 𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧

This is excerpted from the transcript of an interview with former Ambassador Chas Freeman. Edits were strictly grammatical/for reading flow. See the full video below. 

Attention Cold Warriors: If you are of the mind that the nation of Russia is out to conquer the whole world like from the days of the USSR, then skip reading this. Go ahead, continue to polish that turn nugget of Russophobia. Especially if you are convinced that President Putin is the embodiment of everything evil and dastardly. Refusing to even entertain any consideration or communication like Joe Biden did calling him in a litany of darkest shade: "butcher", "mass murderer", "killer", "crazy SOB", "war criminal", "murderous dictator", "pure thug". Some might take that as propagandizing narrative. If you bought it, then be that way. 

... Unless, of course, if you are willing to entertain that Russia has it's own legitimate security concerns. Like the US of A would most certainly have should China, for example, or some other country start training and equipping a military on the soil of Mexico with missiles pointed north.

Psychologically speaking ... We may have opinions on all this. One way or the other. Justified too, one way or the other. Nevertheless, opinions, however well justified, at some point have to have been put on; taken on, decided on ... however you want to put it. What we seem to forget is that it's not the opinion that we're contending with/protecting, it's the justification. So, how about putting opinion aside once in a while and simply look at the facts. If you're brave enough to do the shadow work, then go ahead and reexamine your justifications too. In this, and in anything in the world as well. Carl G. Jung speaks eloquently on this subjects. Dig.

On with the share ...

"Ambassador Charles "Chas" W. Freeman served as US Assistant Secretary of Defense, as US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and he was Richard Nixon's principal interpreter during his 1972 visit to China which led to the normalization of us China relations." 

Was the Russian invasion unprovoked?

"No, it was not unprovoked. We began to hear as early as 1994 from Boris Yeltson, before Vladimir Putin came to power, that the expansion of NATO and the presence of hostile forces on Russia's borders was unacceptable and would draw a military reaction. That reaction was actually further signaled during the brief war between Georgia and Russia, and there should have been no surprise. [And, BTW, Mikhail Gorbachev reportedly — and disputed — was given assurances in connection of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany that there would be no NATO expansion eastward.] Promises, promises. 

Chas Freeman: 

"The war began actually as a civil war between Ukrainians, Russian speakers and Ukrainian speakers in 2014 after the coup d’état in Kiev when the new ultra-nationalist government in Kiev outlawed the use of Russian, Hungarian, Romanian and other minority languages at the local level, so that the Russian speakers who were predominant in eastern Ukraine, in some cases 70 — well 75% in Crimea — but sometimes as much as 90% in the Eastern Oblasts, rebelled and Russia naturally supported them. 

"So they wanted the right to use Russian to educate their children and to communicate with the local administrations. This actually resulted in a negotiation; two agreements at Minsk sponsored by France and Germany, which were agreed to by the Russians, confirming that the Donbas region Oblasts Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Donetsk would remain part of Ukraine but on a basis similar to that of Quebec and Canada; that is, they would be allowed to have their own language as an official language and educate their children in that language. That agreement was then repudiated, was first vigorously endorsed by Zelensky when he ran for president, and then when he came into office it was repudiated at which point Angela Merkel of Germany and François Hollande of France both said well we didn't really mean that agreement it was just a means of gaining time for us to arm and train the Ukrainian armed forces against Russia. So the provocation began with attacks by ultra-nationalist Ukrainians on fellow Ukrainians who happened to be Russian speaking in the East it escalated to a Russian intervention against those ultra-nationalist Ukrainians that went on for eight years.

"15,000 people died from barrages of artillery into the Russian speaking areas and eventually in December 2021 Vladimir Putin demanded negotiations on three topics: [1.] one was the halt to any talk of bringing Ukraine into NATO, or the implication that American and other anti-Russian forces would be stationed on Russia's borders; [2.] the second was to reaffirm the Minsk Accords and the autonomy of Russian speakers in the East and by implication Hungarians and Romanians as well (there are other minorities in Ukraine); [3.] and, finally of course, a broad discussion of European security architecture in with Ukraine as a neutral party to that rather on the model of the Austrian State Treaty of 1955 which was reached at the height of the Cold War, which guaranteed Austria's Independence and democracy, and required Austria to treat its minorities Italians and the Slovenians [and] Hungarians in the very manner that the Conference on Security and Cooperation Europe [CSCE] requires. 

"So those were the three items for negotiation. They remain the three items for negotiation, with one major difference which is that Russia now having had to go to war against Ukraine and occupying the four all or part of the four Russian speaking Oblasts in the East now demands to keep them because it does not trust guarantees from Ukraine that in fact anything like the Minsk Accords is now possible to be implemented. 

"So I'll end here and I think that's a very brief history. There are many twists and turns in this, of course."