Daily Blues & Views

 “What’s the most expensive coffee in the world?”  The question came at the close of a lively discussion in my International Problems class. This lively group of high school seniors included many recent coffee drinkers. In studying the relationship of poor countries to cash crops, they were eager to learn about the economics and politics of coffee. “ I guess it would be Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee,” I responded. “What makes it so expensive?” “How much does it cost. Have you ever tasted it?”  The questions kept coming.  I told my class the price is about $40-$50 a pound because it’s usually a very small crop. I tasted once when my local Peet’s coffee shop brewed some and offered small cup tastes one afternoon. It was gone in about an hour. Taking note of the enthusiasm and interest in this topic, I made my class an offer.  “Maybe we can taste it here in class.”  Quickly polling the class, I saw that most were interested. I then took up a collection of quar...

 I take my walk at about the same time every day. Early afternoon is usually enough to see if the sun will appear or if rain will accompany me. It’s 2 blocks to the main drag.  I turn right and walk past the clothing store with high-quality merchandise that few in this town can afford. They buy anyway. Literally, anyway they can. Two doors down is the music store that formerly was a boutique. COVID had its way with about half the businesses in my town. Only the 3 dive bars in the next block survived and Slims, the most favored of the trio even underwent a makeover of sorts. The facade was crumbling so the entire front entrance was closed for months. The loyal clientele easily found their way to the back entrance, so even the grizzled day drinkers who usually sip and smoke at the small sidewalk tables up front never missed a beat. There is a daycare and martial arts gym next. The kids in the daycare always prompt a glance from me. It’s a bit like looking at puppies in a pet sto...