When Jane Goodall was first studying chimpanzees in the Gombe region of Africa during the early sixties, the surrounding area was sparsely inhabited. In over four decades, that has changed, and now the park where the chimp community she studied lives is surrounded on three sides by humanity. Goodall recognizes that protecting chimps means looking out for the people around them, and thus supported this coffee venture for farmers in the area. The coffee is sold by Green Mountain, who have a track record for providing fair trade and organic coffee. This is a win-win-win deal - for the chimps, for the farmers, and certainly for the customer - it's great coffee. Hit the picture to order some.

I got curious and looked up just how many Starbucks there are in Vancouver. I set the search to check for all retail locations within a 20 mile range. The answer?

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FOUR.

Just yesterday I was chatting with a friend about her water filter. I make a lot of instant coffee with tap water, been eyeing filters lately and wanted to know about her experience.

Then tonight as I'm making another cuppa with a black mug, I notice many little white...*motes* swirling in the water. A closer look shows other particles floating about.

Well. Time to stop futzing around and get that filter. So I go out and buy a Pur filter, and as part of the installation instructions, remove the aerator on the kitchen faucet. Then I get curious and fill a cup straight from the faucet, no aerator.

WHOA! It's SNOWING in there!

Install filter, let it run a bit, fill mug. BIG difference. It's totally clear.

Now I realize that the white motes are, in all likelihood, simply particles of lime. Florida water comes from an aquifer built up from limestone. This stuff adds up over time and I have to buy white vinegar now and then to clean it out of my thermos.

But it doesn't exactly create confidence to see this stuff floating around in visible pieces and start wondering what ELSE is in the water that isn't so easily seen.

And whattya know...my coffee tastes better now, too.