Geeky, and works...

Have you ever seen something like this, where you think "That'd be awfully cool, but is it any good?"

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/aaa5/

Well - it's pretty darn good. It gave me a few years of good service, before one of the magnetic snaps pulled free from the canvas. This isn't a serious issue, though it seriously limits my use of the bag - it removes the front "utility" pouch, which was very important for me. It looks like a clever, crafty person could fix it - but that's not me.

Still - about $50, for a few years of good service, and relatively sturdy construction, is worth it for me.

(And once my new one shows up, if anyone thinks they *are* clever and crafty enough to fix the magnetic snap on the front pouch - or just doesn't need the front pouch at all! - there'll be one available, damn cheap.)

Washington area coffee fans...

I'm about to post my old Rancilio Miss Silvia espresso maker on something like craigslist. Is there anyone out there who likes espresso, would love to have a good espresso machine but wouldn't spend the OMG-too-much for one as good as the Silvia?

I have a new one - a double boiler model that can make a latte quickly. The Silvia *can*, technically, make a latte - but it takes about a minute to get up steam pressure. So you can either steam your milk, and hope you cool the boiler enough to make good espresso, *or* you can let your espresso sit about 2 minutes while you steam your milk. So I splurged on the new one.

Because I'm going to sell it on Craigslist for about half retail (maybe a bit more, just to see if I can get it), but I'd just as happily give it to a friend (or decent acquaintance - offer void if you're an acquaintance because you used to steal my lunch money to buy heavy arms to steal the lunch money of small third world nations - or if you're using the espresso machine as part of your plan for ruthless dictatorship. Ruth was a good player, and deserves to be remembered!)