"On Writing"

Stephen King: "In truth, I've found that any day's routine interruptions and distractions don't much hurt a work in progress and may actually help it in some ways. It is, after all, the dab of grit that seeps into an oyster's shell that makes the pearl, not pearl-making seminars with other oysters."

I chose this quote because not only can i relate to it, but i found it a great piece of advice. When it comes to writing, or homework in general, I have to isolate myself in the library or somewhere quiet because my mind tends to wonder when there are distractions. But Kings advice, or more so outlook, that interuptions and distractions can actually be helpful and be a building tool to a great story, has changed my attitude. This inspired me to try writing or studying in a more public place, such as a coffee shop. This relates to feature writing because having distractions and interuptions can add "fluff" to your piece of work. If you're out in public and you over hear a statement that grabs your attention, it could open a door and lead you down a road with more/new options.

Let's Talk Coffee

Coffee Culture Cafe

1195 N.W. Kings Blvd.

541.753.3030

Monday-Saturday

6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Fridays till 10 p.m.)

Sunday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Getting a jolt of java to kick start your day has become a daily morning ritual. Coffee is every college student's fuel that keeps them awake during those long study sessions and boring lecture classes, which both seem to be slowly taking years off our lives. So deciding on which coffee shop to go to is one of the first major decisions you have to make every morning. But Coffee Culture makes this decision easy for me.

Coffee Culture is my coffee house of choice for multiple reasons: first off, their service is first class. I can walk in almost every morning and the barista's already know what I want and have it started right away. They're friendly, make good conversation, and they always remember your name. Secondly, the taste and quality of their unique house espresso beans are to die for. Coffee Culture had a variety of house blend to pick from, including their Dark Roast Holiday Blend and an Organic Guatemalan Blend.

Along with the deliciousness of their drinks, the prices are reasonable. You're not paying for an overpriced chalky tasting drink just because of the circular green label; you're getting what you paid for.

My drink of choice is the Mega Americano with nonfat milk. Because the drink consists of only espresso shots and water, it gets the job done fast and keeps me going all day. And how can I forget about their handmade chocolate covered coffee beans. With a white chocolate and milk chocolate twist, they melt in your mouth and give you that extra jolt we all need in order to stay awake in class.

Coffee Culture not only has a great selection of house drinks, but their deli is always stocked with fresh goods. From the pastries, bagels, and oatmeal, to the sandwiches, Paninis, soups and salads, it beats the hell out of me how this city is all about Dutch Bros. and Starbucks.

When you walk into Coffee Culture the smell of fresh ground coffee beans and gooey cinnamon rolls widens your eyes and wakes you up before you even drink your coffee. The room is lightly dimmed and the walls are painted and decorated with colors of red, orange, brown and yellow to give it a somewhat Tuscan atmosphere. One thing that could most definitely benefit Coffee Culture is getting comfier chairs. They have wooden chairs and bar stools that make it hard to want to sit there and study.

I asked 50 students around campus which coffee shop they regularly go to and their reasoning behind their preference. Is it because of the location, the atmosphere, the taste/quality, or the service? The four coffee shops that were mentioned are Dutch Bros, Starbucks, Creekside Coffee, and my personal favorite, Coffee Culture. Here are my findings:

Even though Coffee Culture wasn't the average coffee drinkers choice, it's still my one stop coffee shop because of the service, atmosphere, taste and quality of their drinks and deli. So instead of jumping on the bandwagon of the popular Dutch Bros. and Starbucks, step out of the norm and give Coffee Culture a try. Trust me, I'm a coffee connoisseur, you won’t be disappointed.

Lady Roadrunners

At a glance
Who: Linn Benton Community College Woman's Basketball Team
What: team injuries
When: 2009-2010 season
The injured list includes:
Sophomore guard, Triana Crane, adding to a previous back injury, also rolled her ankle during practice early in the season.
Freshman post, Sarah McNeilly is a transfer from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz. and has had on again off again shin injuries.
Freshman guard, McKenzie Smith injured her knee and it is unknown if she'll be out for the season.
Freshman Katy Bartholomew is out for the season due to loose cartilage in her knee and is expecting surgery sometime soon.

With a remainder of eight minutes left in the first quarter, freshman point guard Sam Sanders jumps to make a pass during a fast break against Southwestern Oregon Community College. Just as she lands, she rolls her ankle and hits the floor, adding one more to the list of injured players.

With only one returning player from last season, the team is young and lacks experience. The Lady Roadrunners ended their 2008-2009 season last year with a 9-16 record. In effort to improve this upcoming season, Coach Guerra has added six recruits to the roster. Since this season began, Coach Guerra has had to do some additional recruiting around campus, due to multiple team injuries. Three recruits have been added to the original roster, including a former LBCC volleyball player.

The original roster included six players, but due to these injuries, there are only five original players, leaving no substitutes and each playing thirty plus minutes each game.

The Lady Roadrunner's are exhausted, but they aren’t giving up. They may lack the strength and energy the other teams have, but their hearts are there and they want a chance at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Championship Tournament in March.

Even though their season started off slow with a 1-7 record, the Lady Roadrunners are keeping positive attitudes and giving 100 percent. Sam Sanders and Triana Crane were quick to recovery and are now healthy and back on the court. The team is committed and working hard to turn this season around. Keep it up ladies, your fans believe in you.