The Outcome is in God's Hands . . . But the Coffee Can Be in Yours

No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt a man.
But it is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another.

- Psalm 75.6,7

Here's another sure thing on Election Day: show up at any Starbucks today (Tuesday) and tell them you voted. You'll get a free drip coffee.

It's the Weekend. Hallelujah!

I was in Starbucks yesterday, and they were playing Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's song, Hallelujah. The first time I ever heard this song, it was performed in concert by Justin Rosolino, and then several months later in another concert by his friend, Brian Webb.

I'm told that some have called this "the most perfect song ever written." I'm not so sure about that, but there is something about it that tends to draw you in and take you to a different place.

I also get the impression that Jeff Buckley's version is generally considered to be the best, but for my money (which is Zero, since YouTube is free), I find K.D. Lang's the most compelling. She's not exactly what you'd call beautiful, but her rendition grabs me. Perhaps it will you, too:



And as a bonus, how about four Norwegian guys singing the song? It's strange, but captivating in its own way. For some reason, it can't be embedded in this blog post, but you can go to it on YouTube here.

Brewing Up Some Myths

More about my trip to Naples and Rome . . .

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Some things are better in Italy: pizza.

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Some things are worse: coffee.

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It seems like every guide book you read gushes on about how good the coffee is in Italy. They even tell you who has the best coffee in each city (San Eustachio in Rome, Mexico in Naples).

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It's all a lie.

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For me, coffee is something to enjoy over a period of many minutes or even an hour or two. It's something that's synonymous with conversation, deep thoughts, and good times ("Let's do coffee").

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But in Italy, coffee is a quick swallow. Nothing more. Sure, it tastes OK, sometimes even good. But one gulp and it's gone. There's always time for coffee in Italy, because it takes no time for coffee in Italy: in one minute you can order, pay, swig, and depart.

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Starbucks has already moved into France and even Austria. When they get to Italy, they'll do just fine.