JasonM

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JasonM

hello

anybody out there

A new year

Passed into 31 Hello.

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update readdy for the book blog

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Hoping for a Don Miller Wish

hoping for a don miller wish

I signed up to review his book a thousand miles on this blog we will see

jasonm

Springtime carries on

and with springtime comes a new blog this one to explore what is outside my stoop.
enjoy.

Vote

Politics:
The Political Race for the president truely begins tonight with the Iowa Caucas.

So get engaged and Vote


In Kenya this week many have lost their life due to voting. And once again i Africa the tribal wars have begun to beat their drums in a land that has had much peace and success.

"With a booming economy and tourist trade, Kenya had been considered a bright spot in East Africa. But its Dec. 27 election, which was supposed to be the pride of African democracy, sparked a spiral of violence after candidate Raila Odinga and his supporters accused incumbent President Mwai Kibaki of rigging the results. (Time)"

On Jan. 1, a church in Kiambaa where Kikuyu had sought refuge was burned by an angry mob. At least 50 people, many of them women and children, died in the attack

http://www.npr.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk

Southern

I am southenrn but not a redneck. Country but not a Farmer.
I say yes mamn and Yall
I know how to skin a catfish and catch a bream
I'm Swampwise and a Simple Man
I'm boastfull and proud but not prideful
JM

What can be more Southern than to obsess about being Southern?"
--Elizabeth Fortson Arroyo

Being Rushed

Murphy seems to sit down in the way of my path when I am rushed. This morning I am not rushed. I am sliding into today nice and peacefully.

my motto should be slow and low

as the bahamian driver said we have 2 speeds slow and stop

have a good day
its worth it

JM

a redux

Redoing the Blog again:

Thought for the moment

If you blog it it will happen. Blappin

Ethopia

Ethiopian-backed troops are in "complete control" of Somalia's capital after fierce fighting, the PM says. (BBC News)

The 1st thing I remember about ethopia is the (84-85) Famine. I think most of us remember the images on tv. Of course for me I was a youngin so I saw it recapped. I'd say it is one of the events that led america to wake up to africa and the things that were going over there.

Ethopia

Ehopia BBC Profile

connection

In 1652, the first enslaved Africans in North America were brought from Sierra Leone to the Sea Islands off the coast of the Southern United States. During the 1700s there was a thriving trade bringing slaves from Sierra Leone to the plantations of South Carolina and Georgia, where their rice-farming skills made them particularly valuable

There is an ex rice plantation now that is a natural reserve appx 10 mins north of the house I was raised in in brunswick.

The Conflict is over (see you later)

The history: (via the cia)
Civil war between 91-2002. It resulted in tens of housands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people. The last UN peacekeepers withdrew in December 2005, leaving full responsibility for security with domestic forces,




The facts:
Life Expectancy: male: 38 Female 42
Population Below the Poverty Line: 68%

The country has begun the task of reconstruction, reconciliation and consolidation of peace:

Main exports: Diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

The Peje West Coffee Farmers Co-operative (PWCFC) is a member owned and operated non-profit organization of local farmers who grow cash crops such as cocoa, rice, kola nuts, and coffee. After a decade long war in Sierra Leone, these farmers committed themselves to working together to rebuild their broken communities in an effort to collectively shape their own destiny.

As a result, these traditional farmers have organized themselves into a farmer's Cooperative. They should see their first real harvest in 2006, with the hope of exporting their produce to roasters abroad.

http://www.lionmountaincoffee.com/

my thoughts:

That said. After seing the movie trailer for Blood Diamonds I began to learn abotu LS. So what happens when the conflict is over. What do we do when places such as SL are moved to the back of the (hot) list. Will SL be forgotten? Or will they be given a chance to flourish. As far as their coffee to my best of knowledge there are no places that offer a SL Coffee. SL coffee has been hard to find information about. Its an arabica bean and is probably in some blends. I can't wait for one day to taste this rarity.

Whats in a name

Whats in a name?

Nike, Coca-Cola, Harrar, Sidamo, Yigarcheffe the last three are names of Ethopian Coffees. I consider the Ethopian coffee the best coffee in the world.

Ethiopian government launched a project to get legal ownership of its fine coffee names—Sidamo, Yirgacheffe, and Harar. By owning the names, Ethiopia will be able to occupy a stronger negotiating position with foreign buyers, capture a larger share of the market value associated with those names, and protect the reputations of its brand names.

Oxfam GBs a development, relief, and campaigning organisation that works with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering around the world. says Starbucks is hurting Ethiopia's coffee farmers. The country hopes to make more money for its coffee farmers by trademarking the area's legendary coffee beans. Many in the U.S. coffee industry, including Starbucks, say the Ethiopian plan is naive and will hurt the farmers.

Starbucks denied being behind the blocking bid by the U.S. National Coffee Association (NCA) at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). (MSNBC)

“We have heard from a number of sources that actually Starbucks was involved in alerting the U.S. coffee association to block these applications,” the charity’s Jo Leadbetter said.
It “stinks of corporate bullying” she told the BBC.


So there you go. Trademark your beans. I think its a good idea. And in case your curious about this wonderful coffee
Cafe campesino offers an Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Medium Fair Trade Organic coffee for sale.

I see this as a great way for the suppliers to get the buyers to meet them in the middle and provide more to the growers

A few Facts about Ethiopia

Life expectancy at birth:
male: 47.86 years
female: 50.24 years (2006 est.

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1.5 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 120,000 (2003 est.)

I want a story to tell

Go west young feller and tell me a story.
But Pa I don't have a story to tell
don't worry son, at the end of the age you will have stories to tell
times will come when you will be captivating
when the hills will listen to you

I seek a story to twinkle your ears
to lead you into a captivating discussion
when will my bones grow old and my thoughts become reflective
when will death beat at my door and my store be finished
not to soon now, my story is just beginning

Me and Grandaddy

Me and my Grandad at his house in Pavo, GA. I would say that He is one of my heros. His name is Ed Cone. Grandad had a stroke a few months ago but is recovering. This was before that. I just found this picture and wanted to share it.

Thoughts from Earl

Thougths from My Name is Earl:

Think local. Spend 5 mins a day doing something benifitial.

We can't fix everything but we can help fix something. There are a lot of problems in the world. But there are also a lot of people to help.

Simple Idea I know. But if we step outside the (me, myself, and I) ideas that rule our days and lend a hand, or a smile, or pick up a piece of trash, or put a cart in the rack, or hold a door, or pay for a neighbors groceries, or share a cup of coffee, or tell somebody Hello how are you doing and give them time to respond and give yourself time to listen a connection will be made and a change will come

Connections. We can become dis-connected easily. With our nets, and pods, and muzacks, and isntant world. When Jesus said love your neighbor, this some of what he ment. Allow yourself to be useful to help others. And I garantee you just as Earl your karma will return to you

Those who give receive

JM