The Earth's Changing Climate

Where is the earth's climate headed?  My view is that the single largest input of energy into the earth system is The Sun.  Not sure how we've missed including that as part of the discussion, but I think the Sun's energy output is most relevant to the question.

The chart is showing sunspot activity going back to 1700 (click on the chart to see a more readable display).  That's a very significant data set.  The number of sun spots in a given year is directly related to the amount of energy coming from the sun (measured in Watts per square meter) but it's easiest to plot sunspot count. Now, they say that one climate data point gathers the previous 30 years worth of data. So I did that, and that is the top chart.

On the 30-year average chart, each data point is the average number of sun spots over the previous 30 years.  I've added a green and blue band and some recognizable historical events to give a reference. 

You can see that since 1950, we have been in an ongoing period of the highest amount of energy coming from the sun in history. This has produced a wonderful period of good crops worldwide. You could call it global greening!

You can also see that we are now heading into a period of reduced energy coming from the sun. Don't say 'ice age'.  It is more likely going to be a period with weather patterns like we saw in the 30's. Long harsh winters and reduced crop yields. We are already seeing very long and harsh winter weather conditions in the northern latitudes. Expect that to continue for the next thirty years!  

No, there's nothing you can do to change it. It's The Sun stupid!

Elevator Pitch

Here's my "be ready at any time" talk about Oak City Coffee Roasters.  Parts of this can be used at any time:

I started this business so the people of Raleigh could have their own coffee, roasted right downtown.  And I wanted it to be something people can be proud of, and talk about when they go home.  

To me that looks like having maximum impact, wherever we do business.  

1. Seeking out relationships with farmers who grow quality coffee and being generous with them.  If I can deal directly with a farmer, and pay him directly, I want to pay him generously. I want to end his poverty directly.  That costs money- not 15 cents a pound above market price- more like two to four dollars a pound above market, directly to the farmer.  I know what I need to make to stay in business.  I'm not paying as little as I can, charging as much as I can, giving as little as I can...  I'm paying as much as I can to someone who earned it.  In the end I'm paying in a way I'm proud of, roasting really good coffee, and charging a fair price in the marketplace.                                                                                                                            
2. Inside the business, all of the labels on our bags are applied by adults with autism. I think that's just compassionate.  We're a part of this community. One way to stay connected with the needs of families in the community is by including them in the business.  I think its' possible for a business to express compassion in the community in this way.                                                                                                     
3. We have vision to do more as well.  Through Care Cups, we will create meaningful work for adults with autism by building a company with them at the center- making a real product, in a real marketplace and earning real money.  I really hope to change the way society thinks of our people with special needs.  I know God loves them.  We should too. Creating a business and workplace where they can thrive is loving.                                                                                                                 
4. More vision for the future- creating business opportunities for men in South Raleigh who can't find work.  Society casts them aside, but God loves them. I think providing a way for them to enter into society through respectable business ownership is loving.  I hope to create a network of local business owners to provide the resources to help men who are currently the rejected ones, to thrive.  And when they succeed, they'll bring the whole community with them.                                                                                                                                                                      
5. We joined the Rainforest Alliance and we're one of the first roasters in the country to pursue non-GMO verification for our coffees.  That's like being a responsible part of society. Those things aren't necessarily about the flavor of the coffee, but its something worth caring about.

So we're just fulfilling our role in life of being a Super Hero.  Nobody wins when you just try to make money...  But save the world, and now you're changing things!

This is how it starts...

October 2012: 

I'm at Staples chatting up a girl in the checkout line. She's a bartender at Slim's.  
"Oh, so you don't have a real job.  You're like me, I'm a coffee roaster."
"Really? How cool! My roommate is a barista at Helios "
"Really?!  Can I give you a sample of my coffee to give to her?  Its gonna change her life!"
 "Sure, I'm going over there right now."

Thanks Jesus!  You just scored an insider connection for me at Helios.



Then I'm minding my own bidness, roasting coffee at the fire house tonight, and a guy drives up and walks in the garage door. 
"Hey, what are you doing? Roasting coffee?"
"As a matter of fact I AM roasting coffee.  This is the home of Oak City Coffee - Raleigh's own, locally roasted, hometown coffee"
"That's really cool. I own a catering bidness and I have an RV that we hardly ever use that you can sell coffee from. See, here's the picture. You can take it anywhere"
"That's awesome man!  I've been thinking about that for six months as a way to introduce Raleigh to my coffee"
"Maybe you could use my RV.  Here's my card. I gotta go, but call me" 

Thanks Jesus!  You just scored me an RV to start a new business from!  Anyone need a job?!!



Five minutes later, a couple drives up and smells the coffee.
"Are you roasting coffee?!!  We love coffee!"
"As a matter of fact I AM roasting coffee.  This is the home of Oak City Coffee - Raleigh's own, locally roasted, hometown coffee."
"That is so cool!  We do website design, and we definitely do barter deals - like coffee for web design..."
"Really?  I need help with my web site!  Want some just-roasted coffee?"
We then talked for an hour about my vision to give Raleigh an identity as a city of coffee roasting.
"That's awesome, man!  Take our number, stay in touch, come to our pool, be our friend..."

Thanks Jesus!  You just scored me some free website development and summer pool time!



I'm just gonna start a whole website called Thanks Jesus, droppedinmylap.com


OK, that's the news from this week in watching Jesus rule the earth, and show His favor as He takes over Raleigh.


October 2012