Jul 27, 2003, 7:55pm

I consider myself a pretty liberal guy, open to all types of cultures and experiences. Yes, I gripe sometimes about living in "New Hong Kong" here in Richmond, but I try to be open to different cultures.

Tonight, I was exposed, indirectly, to a culture I really don't care much for:

Trailer Park Culture

Okay, so it's fun to watch Trailer Park Boys, but sitting next to a bunch of them at a coffee house in Richmond? Mommy, I'm scared and confused and want to go home… whimper.

Here's some random talk I overheard:

"Hell, yu get your card stamped? (referring to the little cards they give you at coffee shops, buy 6 or 12, get a coffee free). They got the draw!"

"What's it for?"

"Oh, it's for a trip to Future Shop, so you can get yer CD Roms, or you get one of those tiny cars (pointing at a poster for a new Mini being given away for a year)"

"Oh hell yah, gimme some of that. 'Magine the damage I could do with that! My truck could beat it though, got the Hemy in it, ya know…"

"Oh, but it's only a lease, you don't get to keep it"

"Fuck that shit! No wait… I'd take it! But good luck to 'em if they think they're gettin' it back in a year in any kinda condition. I'd make it mine fer sure…"

Another convo:

"Hell, my truck can make Arbottsford (that's how he pronounced it, though it's Abbottsford) in 45 minutes flat takin' zero avenue" (Abbotsford is about 1.5 hours away, driving fast from here).

"But ya gotta be careful on that zero avenue - the cops like it"

"Fuck 'em! The couldn't catch me two weeks ago! Good thing too, I had a few pints at Shelley's!"

Then the single liners:

"Five pints ain't nuthin, right, for drivin? That's my limit at least. I ain't stupid"

"It's bonus because I can stay on the pogey and still make two bills a day workin' for Steve" (translation: I am working for Steve, making $200 cash a day while still collecting welfare / unemployment insurance)

"My landlord is growin' the stuff in his house too, so who gives a fuck!"

All the above are verbatim, true words, overheard as I type this. Basically the conversations involved screwing the government, screwing the landlord, driving a truck, or drinking. There's more, but I'm getting scared and I wanna leave.

3 comments | reply

Mixelania

Photos from Algonquin Park
Photos from my trip to Algonquin Park this fall with my Mom and two brothers.

War Stories

Making Snow for the Fortress
One of the worst jobs I ever had... till I got out.

Webiffied

Tools I Use
The tools I use to build websites and lead a tech life.

iPod and iTunes Offline

iMark's iTunes and iPod isn't iPlaying anything right iNow.

Most Recent Songs

Fiddlers Green by The Tragically Hip

Around The Bend by Pearl Jam

Here With Me (Rollo's Chillin' With the Family Mix) by Dido

With arms open wide by Creed

truffle pigs by Matthew Good Band

In the News

Burundi and Beyond - NY Times
Great article by Peter Meehan - provided some background.

St. Petersburg Times
Side mention in an article about good machines

AP Story on Espresso
Background and information provided

NY Times - Grinders Article
Especially proud of this one - got the reporter to focus on grinders

Globe and Mail
LOL - showing bad reporting, dude says I'm an American-based site!

The Olympian, WA
Talks about my love for the El Sal Siberia Pacamara

Seattle Times - Clover
Interviewed for comments on the Clover brewer

NY Times - How it Works
Background and information for various espresso machines

Time Mag Article
Just a brief mention, article about roasting beans.

NY Times
Front page article about consumers getting into specialty coffee.

Washington Monthly
Quoted reference to what I wrote in an article at CoffeeGeek.

USA Today - Barista Jam
Intereviewed for my thoughts on what the epitome of espresso is.

WSJ Article
The Wall Street Journal has interviewed me 3 times. This is the first time my name got in a story.

Reuters Interview
Interview with Reuters, Jan 2 - this is the USA Today version.

My Other Stuff

CoffeeGeek
Launched Dec 22, 2001, this is THE online community for espresso and coffee fanatics.

CoffeeKid Website
It's all new, as of March, 2002. My personal coffee obsession site.

WebMotif Services
My company's site - needs an update!

Amazon WishList
Hey, if you feel the need to buy me something, check here!

Daily Visits

enGadget
Great gadget site run by the guy who used to do Gizmodo.

Google News
This is how I get my daily news fix.

DPReview Forums`
The most active forums for digital photography online today.

Daily Zen
Need my Daily Zen fix!

Jalopnik
A blog about car stuff. Vroom Vroom.

MoCo Loco
An industrial design blog. Very cool stuff.

Friends and Family Plan

Beata Blog
Beata's got her own blog! She updates it most days.

Riddla on Flickr
Matt Riddle's flickr account, updated regularly

Irdy Photos
Irdy, my friend from Jakharta, on Flickr

Recent Acquisitions

Canon EF 24-105 f4 L Lens
The best lens I've ever owned. Super sharp and quick.

Canon 5D
A full frame dSLR, with luscious colour reproduction.

Alzo Digital Lights
Some amazing florescent cold lights for product photography

Canon Xsi dSLR
Amazing technology and image quality in a tiny package.

Canon 40D
Latest prosumer camera from Canon - a much better upgrade than the 30D

Fujitsu P1610
Great 2.2lb computer that does most of my travel / writing needs

28mm f1.8 Lens
A great lens for closeup work and full picture photography

Foodsaver Advanced
Finally got the right tools for freezing green coffee.

Canon 50mm 1.4
Most amazing lens I've ever owned. Produces stellar photos.

Canon 10-22mm
Super wide angle (full frame fisheye) zoom for my Canon 20D