C note: Critics, coffee, cats, candy

Hey, now!

There’s a double dose of chat on the menu this week.

What fun, eh?

I’m doing back-to-back chats for a couple of reasons.

First, readers seem to really like them — which is very cool.

But second, I need to tell you something that probably wouldn’t fit properly in a column about road construction or Medicaid expansion.

It’s about why I write some particular columns, and how I choose the subjects.

The issue is on my mind today because a gentleman named Rick Casemore sent me an email to discuss several important topics on which I’ve shared an opinion.

At the end, Rick said he was now reading some of my columns, although I got the impression it might have been a tough sell.

He made a point, though, to say that the one about the fictitious hippo in downtown Coeur d’Alene was silly.

Quick answer: I’m silly at times, too, so occasionally the column will be.

The concept of A Brand New Day has always been to pretend a few thousand of us are having coffee somewhere, just shooting the breeze about whatever comes to our minds.

It could be a serious issue, or maybe something funny.

That’s been the sole premise of this column, and since so many of you have written to say very nice things ...

I think we’ll keep it that way.

ITEM: Ah, here’s the perfect topic, since I just mentioned meeting you all for a cuppa.

We know, of course, that the Northwest is the coffee capital of the universe.

There’s a java hut on every corner, we love the stuff dearly, and we gleefully ignore relatives (and doctors) who insist that coffee is hazardous to our health.

Well ...

A study reported in the journal Pharmacology suggests that consuming caffeine regularly may increase your ability to withstand pain.

Caffeine-guzzling volunteers in the study were taken to a laboratory to test their pain tolerance, using calibrated devices that gradually increased heat or pressure on a volunteer’s forearm or back.

People pressed a button on a hand-held device when the sensation became painful, and then again when it became intolerable.

Bottom line ...

The more caffeine intake, the greater the tolerance for pain.

Yes, and I’ll have another cup, please.

If my critics slap me around, I’ll barely feel it.

ITEM: Here’s one for folks who roll their eyes when I mention Sammie the World’s Greatest Cat.

Fact: Domestic pet food is running low in China, so people buy it from the U.S. — $25 billion worth last year.

Unfortunately, the supply is getting low.

With 51 million dogs and 41 million cats to coddle, Chinese pet owners are becoming international commerce statistics.

Austin Chen of Guangzhou has been stocking up for his orange tabby, Fera, in case his American brand of cat food goes out of stock.

“It is the first time,” Chen told the New York Times, “that I realized the trade war deeply influenced my life and my cat.”

Now ...

Just imagine if I were writing a chat column in Guangzhou.

ITEM: Finally, here’s a note concerning our ongoing survey about Halloween goodies, and all the treats that are more popular in North Idaho than candy corn.

As they should be.

I got a delightful message from Frank Rypka of Coeur d’Alene...

“I’ve kept track of how many trick-or-treaters we’ve had for years, so I have a rough idea of how many we’ll have,” Frank said.

“The first thing I do, after buying way too much candy, is remove all the Reese’s peanut butter cups.

“These will be kept in reserve, in case of an emergency. You can never be too safe.”

Frank is my hero.

•••

Steve Cameron is a columnist for The Press.

A Brand New Day appears from Wednesday through Saturday each week.

Steve’s sports column runs on Tuesday.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

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Twitter: @BrandNewDayCDA