When whoever it was in whenever it was said “I propose a wonderful idea and it shall be a place of learning where children may learn about science, history and the arts!” they weren’t really thinking about how, in many years, we would be struggling as a race to do simple things like heat a home without needing to take out a second mortgage (mainly because the word mortgage probably hadn’t been invented yet, don’t forget). Who could blame them? Horses did the trick for travel, and cars? Well, there was no reason to think that all that terrible black crap they puffed out was going to harm our glorious earth, was there. Only someone didn’t do their research, did they? Woops. Because of that we now have millions of cars that pollute, and schools which are about as energy efficient as climbing a flight of stairs with a piano tied to your back. But have no fear! Finally schools, with all their children running about putting lights on in the daytime and general energy wasting shenanigans, are redeeming themselves. You can read all about it at Enigin PLC: http://www.eniginliaison.com/2010/07/15/enigin-energy-saving-solutions-for-schools/ Better late than never, that’s what I say. If schools can turn themselves around then anyone can, and with new government incentives targeted specifically at the smaller members of our community (not that you can blame them for wasting energy with the amount they have) it would seem that we are taking a new direction. One which might seriously make a difference in the long run, and let’s hope so. Well done to Schools!

The Enigin is a blog that gives some tips on how to save enery and how business and home users alike can save energy and go “green’. Theres some tips on the blog you can find here, that give some idea of how this can be done by just about everyone in small ways. Some of these these tips include such easy things to do in the home such as replacing light bulbs with energy efficient ones. Businesses are encouraged to do likewise and also to turn off air conditioning units when not needed.

This blog is an excellent information resources on how to save energy and help the environment. Its tips on how one can with very little effort save energy via just being more aware of the amount of energy one is using are bery practical and helpful in changing consumer and business behaviour.

Taking the time to make positive choices such as which light bulbs are more energy efficient and to act on this knowledge by purchasing them is one way one can personally help the environment by reducing waste (less light bulbs to throw away as they last longer) and reducing the amount of energy required for the light bulbs to function.

An added bonus of being more energy efficient minded is this practice also reduces costs as like most everything else energy or more precisely electricity in this case costs money.

Just pointing out these simple procedures of how to preserve energy can help people to think twice before they set the air conditioner to be on all day when there is a likelihood that in some rooms there might not be anyone in them that can benefit or that air conditioning may not be needed at all at certain times of the day. I myself recall being in a over airconditioned office and having to wear a sweater whilst its sweltering hot outside. Turning the AC down as well as off is also a good tip.

The Café Culture 2010 Exhibition to be held at Olympia Grand & National Halls on 23-25 June 2010 is one of the most awaited trade exhibitions that cater exclusively to the fast growing Café Bar’s market all over Europe. This exhibition would be held here for the fifth year in a row and has always seen an overwhelming response in the last four years and is one of the most popular Cafe Exhibitions.

This exhibition is one event that not only provides a very good opportunity to people looking for new networking, more business but also provides a vast insight into the changing trends in this very dynamic and fast emerging sector. This is no different, except you will see less pop up stands and many more coffee shops.

It will be held over a period of three days and will showcase participants from over 50 countries who would be fighting it out to win the title of “World Barista Champion”. This event has been organized by Business Design Centre Ltd, which works very closely with the Specialty Association of Europe (SCAE) and is expected to have more than 10,000 visitors from the coffee world coming down to attend this event. The venue and timings of the Exhibition would be Wednesday: 9.30am-6pm, Thursday: 9.30am-6pm and Friday: 9.30am-5pm

The following Enigin post is about technology and how great it is at connecting us all…

And it has a point: just as is stated in the post, if you do happen to loose your phone then it can be quite tricky to live a normal life–

Take me for example. Last week I went out in to town without my mobile, and, as is typical, when I arrived at the pub my friends were nowhere to be seen. The gits. “This is not good–” I said to myself, “I bet they’ve changed their mind.” (I say mind and not minds because when my friends are all together they all think like one stupid alcohol-fuelled brain.)

Luckily for me I am good at remembering numbers, and so I went straight to a phone box. Except my luck had run out already. The phone didn’t accept coins, you see. No coins! Yes, in a moment of genius insight the local council had deemed it a splendid idea to make the phone only accept cards. Cards for the love of God! How ridiculous exactly is that?

Technology had got me: I had no wallet on me (only a twenty quid note) and no mobile. So instead of walking aimlessly about I just sat in the pub on my own and drank shots. Which was a bad idea–

So it would seem that the world really does come to a halt without technology. Can you imagine what would happen if everyone forgot their phone on the exact same day?

Working in the coffee shop is the perfect place to people watch, and there are many reasons why that’s a good thing when you’re an aspiring writer. For one, it’s great when I am having trouble conceiving feasible dialogue for something I might be writing. After listening to a decent argument or three I know just how to approach that scene which has evaded me forever.

The best reason for people watching, though, is to see all those little things which you so easily miss about people. Those hidden, private things which you can only notice by spending hour upon hour staring at people’s faces. Since starting work at this coffee shop I’ve learnt how to tell if certain kinds of people are lying, and that the guy who comes every Monday afternoon has a problem with his receding hairline (I also know he knows that I know what he knows and fears, because he often catches me staring at his forehead). I have also learnt that none of the waitresses actually like one another, and that someone is stealing the tip money, but that’s another story. The main thing is that you get to learn things: because of people watching I am now an expert on sharks, how to arrange flowers properly and Tattoo removal , to name but a few things.

If I had my way all aspiring writers would be made to spend a year or two in a cafe serving coffee and staring at the world around them. I’m pretty sure that if that happened we’d have a new generation of impressive novelists upon us in no time.

]]> http://www.hoboespresso.com/2010/05/24/coffee-shop-theory/feed/ http://www.hoboespresso.com/2010/05/17/welcome-to-hobo-espresso/ http://www.hoboespresso.com/2010/05/17/welcome-to-hobo-espresso/#comments Mon, 17 May 2010 11:24:48 +0000 admin http://www.hoboespresso.com/?p=266 …the ramblings of your local coffee shop barista. That is pretty much all this blog is going to be. I work in a coffee shop while I am on my way to being ‘the next big thing’ in the writing world. And the other day one of the usual customers told me that it would be a good idea to start a blog. So here it is a blog all about me, my life, my work, and the day in day out of working at a coffee shop!

I hope that you enjoy! More posts to come soon!