refresh the package archive on every start

init.el

@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
 
 ;;; Code:
 
+(message "%s" "Emacs Prelude is powering up. Be patient, Master.")
+
 ;; On OS X Emacs doesn't use the shell PATH if it's not started from
 ;; the shell. If you're using homebrew modifying the PATH is essential.
 (if (eq system-type 'darwin)
@@ -89,4 +91,6 @@ by Prelude.")
 (when (file-exists-p prelude-personal-dir)
   (mapc 'load (directory-files prelude-personal-dir nil "^[^#].*el$")))
 
+(message "%s" "Emacs Prelude is ready to do thy bidding, Master!")
+
 ;;; init.el ends here

modules/prelude-packages.el

@@ -38,8 +38,10 @@
              '("marmalade" . "http://marmalade-repo.org/packages/") t)
 (package-initialize)
 
-(when (not package-archive-contents)
-  (package-refresh-contents))
+;; check for new packages (package versions)
+(message "%s" "Emacs Prelude is now refreshing its package database...")
+(package-refresh-contents)
+(message "%s" " done.")
 
 ;; TODO find a way to get inf-ruby 2.2.2 into Marmalade
 (defvar prelude-packages