Avatar is the grown up version of FernGully.

Avatar is also totally, totally racist. It's the story of a white man becoming one with another race and eventually their leader and savior. Think District 9. What's worse is that the natives in Avatar wear African jewelry and dreadlocks. The matriarch is basically a New Orleans Voodoo practitioner. The voice actors are also primarily black, like Zoe Saldana, Laz Alonso and C.C.H. Pouner.

My roommate tipped me off to this awesome essay. Here is Telegraph.co.uk post I found that pretty much says the same thing.

I guess I could have done my home work first and not given them my money.

Grand Canyon self portrait. 23, Dec 09. 07:43a.m.

Hat by Dot Armstrong  (grandma).

Cactus.

More Grand Canyon. The sky was overcast, not high enough and the sun doesn't shine down there until it's high in the sky. I'm having a hard time with the photography. 

Grand Canyon.

12, December 2009.

1/80, f11 iso 100. 22mm focal length.

View Larger Map

I was fortunate to have two trips into the Mojave this winter. Once to Joshua Tree and once to the Grand Canyon. It made for a lot of driving.

last stop before the canyon, empire espresso.

Grand Canyon in winter as presented by the New York Times.

Weather data for where I'm headed. 

I spotted this monkey's fist on the Victoria Clipper. The knot is used to weight one end of a haul line which is then used to drag a larger mooring line from ship to shore. Knot craft is a sign of real sailors.

 Faithful blog readers, I'm preparing to go to the Grand Canyon. I'll be out for most the rest of the year. I'm almost packed. You can see here a bunch of my stuff, here are some details;

Backpack

tent

socks x3

underwear x3
long underpants x1
polly tshirt ss x2
polly tshirt ls x1
brown prana pants
mid layer

hat
gloves

down parka
gortex coat
goretex pants
gaiters
boots

sleeping bag
therma rest

cup
spoon
bowl
water filter
headlamp x2
bottles

water 3x 2liter
pot (not that kind)

cliff bars and gel

It seems like to much and not enough all at once. That's the way of it. 

In the back of a restaurant on Broadway.  Asking way to much considering condition and no serial number.

Why no capitol C in coffee?

I clearly haven't reached my full potential as cocktail nerd because I don't remember what all went in here. Rye and Cynar plus plus.

Solomon's in Victoria. Lamb stew, Raviolis with chestnut, cheese and balsamic. Put this place on your A list.

Also, righteous fries.  

This alley in Victoria looks a little like Amsterdam. Eiry looks like she's a little sick of me taking pictures all the time.
Fan Tan Alley is, according to my source the smallest street in Canada.
oh and here it is on wikipedia.

Habit, Victoria BC. I drank a Sidamo from the press pot. It was hines; http://www.originscoffee.com/

Japanese donut dripper.

Discovery Coffee's Oak Bay location. This bar is beautiful and spotless. They have great kit and could probably triple their volume with out problems.

Street Level, vicky BC

This place was so charming. It has all the things I love in the best coffee bars; it's tiny; not to clean, just a little grungy, not gross; enormous personality at the helm. The toy camera collection is krad too.

The small bars are always the best ones.

disco, victoria BC

Herkimer El Salvador C.O.E.

Billy Wilson's cafe, Barista, served us well on Monday morning in below freezing weather. It was really busy in there.

The frozen solid Japanese garden. They have thermal covers on a lot of plants. I imagine it's a lot of work to keep that place alive through this weather. 

This evening I went for cocktails at the Beaker and Flask in south east Portland. The place is pretty busy and they have a seating policy which doesn't allow for a standing room situation. I started out with a bourbon based absinthe drink.

They source the bar ware from estate sales and antique shops, so our glasses were vintage and fantastic.
Our Bartender, Elizabeth, was really sharp. While she was crafting my cocktails she told me about her sourcing trip to Kentucky. She and I had a great conversation about bourbon, she selected a barrel and brought it back for the bar. I followed up with an old fashion with monster ice cubes and a giant slice of orange peel.

Dinner was at Lovely Hula Hands, another great experience. Roasted beat and potato salad with fennel, calabrian chiles and creamy horseradish. Followed by a caramelized cauliflower risotto. Desert tied it together; house made brown sugar ice cream with a cakey ginger bread. Not to sweet, good texture.

Lovely night.

Kevin and Nick at the Albina Press on Hawthorn.

Portland on the water front.

Boots at a buss stop in Portland.

Left to right; Kevin, Albina Press; Sara, Barista Magazine; Matt, American Barista and Coffee School.

Many beers. Much discussion.

We actually walked in on this, she didn't know it as her boss slipped behind the bar and up next to her. 

Me, under a bridge in Portland. 

Yes captain.

The phone in my Portland hotel room.

Kevin at Albina Press.

Serious coffee people talk serious coffee stuff. And drink beer.

Meant to post this a few days back.
I'm loving the V60.

Jason's home roast. I love it when regular customers bring me stuff.

Got my hair cut. I made an appointment but, for whatever reason my guy didn't make it today. They asked me if I wanted to reschedule or go with some one else. I got fucking butchered.  

So here I am opening Porch Light Coffee. I was there open to close today. I love this job. People come hang out with me, other people just stop by. I make delicious drinks. We have donuts and these amazing peanut butter chocolate thumbprint cookies. Herkimer coffee is great.

The guy from the Spanish restaurant next door brought me really good food. I get tips. I do a good job and the boss likes me and, did it mention, this cafe rocks. It makes a long day, but I'd probably hang out in coffee shop for a few hours anyway. Love it. 

A slayer in the training room at Stumptown on 12th ave.

Cupping Anniversary Blend. It was next to some Africans and that was all I could taste.

You can call this Highball bouldering, but, I don't know what makes it different from free solo. This is the 'Green Boulder' in the Gold Bar's 'Clear Cut' bouldering area out off highway 2.

My friend drew.

Drew and I probably shouldn't be allowed in public. Here we sit, in a bar, doing our normal thing; laptops, beers and well.. we're dorks.

Dead guy ale and thoughts of my future.

Having taken in the sunrise, mountains and sound, I moved on to my new Hario V60 Dripper.

Discovery Coffee Guatemalan (trial)

I walked to the Slayer studio this morning, the sky was brilliant and clear. I noticed Mt. Rainier and all the the Olympics. The sun was warming the freshly frosted streets, I even slipped on ice.