Larry's Beans are the best!

http://larrysbeans.com/

What can I say? These guys:

• ...sell fair trade, organic, shade-grown coffee.
  
• ...drive a veggie-bus (Check it out).
  
• ...donated 300 lbs of coffee to our soldiers in Iraq.
  
• ...educate the public on improving the world at their Sustainability School and also teach proper grinding techniques on their web site.
  
• ...soak their beans in such concoctions as molasses and honey to give it the BEST flavor EVER once it is ground and dripped/pressed into your coffee. Honestly, it is the best coffee I have ever tasted.
  

Besides, Larry looks unbelievably like John Lennon.

This is Larry:


This is John:


So, stop on by my apartment here and try some. =) I'll make a fresh pot just for you.

Love,
David

Google Calendar

Yup... if you need to know when I work, my schedule is on Google Calendars. There's only one catch. I didn't want everybody in the world to be seeing this (if you work in the health care profession, especially mental health, I'm sure you understand why). So... you kinda have to have a Google Calendars account. It's free and you can upload calendars from lots of different programs as well as just create your own. And you can share them with ANYBODY that you want to.

Well, that's about it. Time for some tea. =)

TTFN

David

Nutopia

We announce the birth of a conceptual country, NUTOPIA.

Citizenship of the country can be obtained by declaration
of your awareness of NUTOPIA.

NUTOPIA has no land, no boundaries, no passports, only
people.

NUTOPIA has no laws other than cosmic.

All people of NUTOPIA are ambassadors of the country."

          -John Lennon

Come, friends, and become a citizen of Nutopia today.

Love,
David

"Our job now is to tell them that there is still hope. We must get them excited about what we can do again."

My next non-fiction read... besides my textbooks.

This is next on my non-fiction "To Read" list:



Time for a new admission. =D Adios!

Love,
David

Overnight shift... here I am.

Yup. I'm training on an overnight shift tonight. I've been here for 2 hours so far... and I have 6.5 remaining. Luckily, I can use the Internet when I am not on checks. But, even the Internet in all its glory gets old after a bit. And one's eyes get tired of staring at the screen after only a short while...

I think I'll start working on reading The Drawing of the Three: The Dark Tower II, Stephen King's second installment of his epic Dark Tower series. The first story was amazing, and I'm hoping to find the second one at least as engaging.

Well, I'm going to go grab a soda to help me keep awake... I hope you are all tucked warmly in your beds as I silently curse your names under my breath. =P

Then again, I'm getting paid for this... and I believe a bonus comes along with working overnights as well. =) So, perhaps I could get used to working overnights here.

Anyway, that's about all for now.

Pleasant evening... I mean, good morning to you all.

Love,

David Filkins, Patient Care Provider
Van Andel Center Adult North Unit

YESTERDOG! Give me an AMEN!

Oh, yeah... you'd better believe it, folks.

Pic of Amanda eating a Yesterdog, coming soon...

Great times with great people.

I think I'll manage here after all.

Love,
David

Please... sign this petition.

I just ask that you take a moment to read this petition and consider adding your signature. Israel has become a military monstrosity without bounds and Lebanon desperately needs our help. Please, at least take the time to visit the web site.

Thank you for listening.

In love and peace,
David Filkins

Serj is really cool, too...

“Nations are like people. Once you understand the interactions between nations, it's easy to understand why things are done, in terms of foreign policy, in a certain way. But nations are not like people in the sense that we are cumulatively represented by others - and their interpretations of what our interests are may not be the same as what they really are. And that's what's dangerous, even in a democracy.”

-Serj Tankian

Check out the non-profit organization that Serj helped co-found: http://www.axisofjustice.org

Also, there's a sweet CD/DVD set I wouldn't mind getting... http://serjicalstrike.com/axisofjustice/

Ah, once I start making money again... =P

Love,
David

Bono...

Another reminder why Bono is one of the greatest people on earth... he even won Bill O'Reilly over to his cause.



Love, David

Moral Politics

Take the quiz! Check it out here.

Love,
David

Quote from George... Orwell, that is.

"As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for socialism is its adherents."

-George Orwell

I don't care who you are... this is HILARIOUS!

The REAL Greatest American

Is this the world we created?

Yes... yes it is.



Click on the image to see and hear a very haunting version of one of Freddie Mercury's greatest songs ever... performed at Live Aid in 1985, this song rings so true still today.

That's all for now. I just had to share that with all of you. =)

Love,
David

I have friends!

Rob and Joel got bored yesterday and decided to visit me! =D We went to Buffalo Wild Wings for a tasty meal of wings and went out for a walk on the town. Not only were we able to locate the giant Calder:



...but we also had a ride on the WORLD'S LARGEST TIRE SWING! (Sorry... it had to be a close-up for the flash to reach, so you can't really see the swing.)



We also went to East Grand Rapids and looked at the moon and its reflection on Reed's Lake while watching people fishing with lighted bobbers. It was great. It was a perfect night to be out and about. We all came back, exhausted, and pretty much crashed immediately.

We got up this morning, went to Panera Bread for breakfast, and they left. Now I'm alone again. =( At least my orientation for work is tomorrow... that will give me something to do. =)

Take care everybody! And enjoy the rest of your weekend. =)

Love,
David

Wal*Mart - Daily Show

"It's better than getting kicked in the nuts."

Updates:

1) Liz is leaving me tomorrow to go to Germany... this is going to be a long week.

2) I think I might try to start going to church here: http://www.fountainstreet.org/

3) I was hired at Pine Rest as an adult care provider. I have an orientation on Monday. Oh, and I took some pictures of the Pine Rest facility today. I could only take three because of my lack of a memory card, but I thought they all turned out rather well. Anyway, here they are:




4) I also got a call from Family Video about scheduling an interview, which might be fun... I do love movies, after all. =) I just don't know if I'll be able to work two jobs along with my classes. The job at Pine Rest is "per diem," but I'm not sure exactly what that would entail for scheduling. Hopefully, I'll discover more after my orientation. So, I hate to make a commitment to work at Family Video until I know more... but I don't know how to convey that to them and still maintain their apparent interest in hiring me. Any ideas, friends?

5) This week is going to suck. Maybe I'll just come home... or spend the whole time in Kalamazoo. I've spent the last few weeks watching WAY too many movies. My favorite to entry into David's top favorite movies of all time is Stanley Kubrick's AMAZING Cold War satire entitled "Dr. Strangelove OR: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb." FANTASTIC! You won't see Peter Sellers in a better performance until 15 years later in his 1979 role in the amazing film "Being There." In fact, you will see him in THREE performances. He brilliantly portrays a British soldier, an American president, and a German ex-Nazi scientist named Dr. Strangelove who is currently serving the U.S. administration during these stressful times. The best line of the film, and the point where I really started to understand the film, was when president Muffley (played by Sellers) broke up a fight between the Russian ambassador (Peter Bull) and General "Buck" Turgidson (George C. Scott) by telling them: "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" And apparently the concept of the War Room was so deeply imbedded into the minds of our culture through this film that even President Reagan was confused when he got into office. On his first day serving, he asked "Where is the war room?" only to be told that such a room only exists on film and within the brilliant mind of Mr. Stanley Kubrick.

Well, friends... that's all from me tonight. Tomorrow, you'll probably get another post from a sad, lonely man. If any of you even bother to read this, that is. I know I wouldn't.

Goodnight.

Love,
David

P.S. You need to see "Being There" if you haven't already. Then you need to read this exquisitely written review by Roger Ebert. He happens to be one of the few film critics with whom I generally tend to agree.

View from the patio...

Whaddya know? =)

You Should Rule Saturn

Saturn is a mysterious planet that can rarely be seen with the naked eye. You are perfect to rule Saturn because like its rings, you don't always follow the rules of nature. And like Saturn, to really be able to understand you, someone delve beyond your appearance. You are not an easy person to befriend. However, once you enter a friendship, you'll be a friend for life. You think slowly but deeply. You only gain great understanding after a situation has past.

What Planet Should You Rule?

"Israel should not have been created in the first place, but it's here now."

I just so happened to stumble upon somebody else who agrees with me in regard to the whole Middle East conflict... thanks, and I hope you don't mind me quoting your brilliance. =)

"Moral equivalency being what it is...

Israel should not have been created in the first place, but it's here now.

The Palestinians deserve their own country.

Israelis should not have to live in fear of violence.


So my opinion =

The Palestinians do not have tanks, airplanes, nukes, or the support of the USA. So it's no surprise they resort to assymetrical warfare.

Are they right to do so? Yes, if they feel that is the only real solution to the problem and the stakes are high enough.

Does it make it right to kill innocent people for politics? No.

But say that to Israel..."

That's all... it's late and I promised somebody I would go to church in the morning. I'm also in the middle of watching "The Godfather: Part II." I wasn't a big fan of the first one, except for Marlon effin Brando... but this one is absolutely amazing. I can't get enough of young Vito. =)

Anyway, I'll start disc two and pray... if there really is a God who wants me at church, perhaps it'll lend me a hand here.

Goodnight. =)

Love,
David

P.S. Yes, I am aware that in taking such a view, there is no solution in sight. However, at least in my perspective, I offer a voice to the terrorists... one that they feel that they have lost... one that they feel they must kill to reclaim. Perhaps if democracy started to recognize terrorists (not deal with them, mind you... but at least fucking LISTEN to them), we wouldn't be getting the bad rap we have today across the globe... and rightfully so. 'Nuff said. G'Night, lovers... "And remember... this world is made of - LOVE AND PEACE!" ^_^

We all have AIDS... if one of us does.

Amazing... absolutely amazing.

Oh, and on the South African version of Sesame Street, they have even introduced a new muppet named Kami who happens to be HIV positive. How incredible is that? =) To teach acceptance at such a young age, as well as how to cope with the disease... The station plans to teach such things as "what to do when I cut my finger" as well as "what others can do when I cut my finger" as well as the social issues that needed to be addressed.

I wish I got Takalani Sesame here at the apartment... but, the rabbit ears sitting on top of my TV barely pick up the CBS station in Kalamazoo.

Drats. =(

Well, here's the website for Takalani Sesame: http://www.schooltv.co.za/TakHome.htm

And here's the link for the "We all have AIDS" campaign: http://www.weallhaveaids.com

All for tonight. =) Adios.

Love,
David