Journal of a Trapper

Main Stream Media Money's Worth

2009-02-16T16:15:00.000-08:00

How many times can a newspaper, broadcaster, blog/forum, etc... print the same story? I see the same story at least twice, 3 or 4 times even per week. Often enough right on the front page! I'll post some examples soon enough... But really, the MSM can really bleed one out. I first heard about GOP Sen. Judd Gregg's withdrawal as Commerce Secretary nominee sometime last week. I've seen it multiple times as "headline" material in both the IBD and WSJ. No new information convey, either. It's just silliness. Almost like listening to an acceptance speech...pointlessness.

Blog Cleaning

2009-01-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

I'd like to clean up this blog. I just looked at the vast amount of tags I have and noticed too many (1)'s. A pretty clear sign of mind-fog. I need to clear out the mind fog...

...being a student

2008-12-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

Papers due, finals coming, I'm still a junior-college aficionado. I think the hardest part of "going back to school" is the reminder of the first failure. Though it seems that if enough time passes you're more apt to think positively about it. A few of the non-trad students I talk to are in their 40s or even later. They all too happy about being in school again, buying books, attending lectures, campus life, blah, blah, blah.

mobility required

2008-09-30T00:35:00.000-07:00

Ever since I first saw "packed file corrupt" on my Dad's 386 MS-DOS machine (used for his business) I've had a strange relationship with computers and software. And now, some 20 years later, it feels like that continues to resonate with my struggle with these (this?) technological time burglars: broken monitors, sketchy disc burners, failing hard-disks, "out of memory", and numerous minutes spent "...loading"

Oh to be a Luddite.

blurb about Bank of America ATM deposits

2008-09-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

You don't even need an envelop to deposit into a Bank of America ATM. I just used this today and it was simple as possible. You login, feed your check into the deposit slot, the machine grabs it, scans it, asks you to verify the amount (it reads the check. Hit a button or two, get a receipt with a scan of your deposits on it, and your gone. I'm probably never going into the bank again for any normal teller services. (They used to be frequently out of envelopes) Nice innovation. I don't know who came up with that, but thanks.

money and mouths

2008-09-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

With all the recent blibbing and blabbing on financial news media I find something interesting: How far can you really stand behind what you say? You could think of it like a derivative from calculus, using "why" as the differentiator. From that analogy I suppose the integral would be the thoughts you say. I mean I'm always hearing about how "this will do that, and if this then the end of the world." Much of the time it's to one extreme or another. When I argue with someone (as I often do) I find myself answering why after why after why question until it ends up that I don't know after a while. A lot of the time when I give the why I'll get some damn illogical reference to some fringe "study" or "evidence". Frustrating, but I guess that's why successful people are those who can cut through bullshit like that. But even successful people don't know everything...

Socialism for the Rich

2008-09-08T23:27:00.000-07:00

Though it may actually be a good thing, it should still be noted that the nationalisation of Fannie and Freddie means all the higher-ups of those companies are going to get off with all the money they line out to themselves via salaries and bonuses and now handing the bill to the Fed. Nice...whatever.

This country has two economic platforms: Capitalism & Corruption (read: socialism for the rich) Bailouts at the top of society and the bottom. Though I'm sure the bottom still sucks. Female, poor, and need sympathy...just get pregnant; need some paid time off...just get fired and go get your check; old and out of shape?...ah whatever...

Work: Something you do?

2008-09-07T23:01:00.000-07:00

Wah? Work is, of course and by very definition, something you do. However, for me and may others it's also, maybe even more so given my low-ass-class stature, a place you go...go everyday...5,6,12 or more days a week. (trust me, there are no 7 day work weeks. There's just 6, then it's at least a 12 day week.) Though I'm not inclined to work in their industry, Best Buy has implemented a plan to help some of it's employees remember that work is only worth it if you get things done. Their plan is called ROWE, Results-Only Work Environment, and is being used by about 3,000 workers at the company’s main offices in Richfield, Minn. It was tested at two divisions of Best Buy in 2003 and then spread to other units. There's no work schedules, but you'd better get things done.

Individual team managers have developed goals for each worker that are intended to serve as the sole basis for deciding whether that employee is delivering the necessary results. About 80% of Best Buy’s headquarters staff have switched to ROWE.
ROWE’s developers say a main goal is to get managers to abandon the widespread but misguided notion that “Time + Physical Presence = Results.”

I don't know, I bet there's heavy politics involved. Though, absolutely right on the concept.

What does a VP do???

2008-09-04T22:47:00.001-07:00

CNBC clip via YouTube: Sara Palin Qualified?
What the hell was that? The clip is from a Larry Kudlow interview with republican VP nominee Sara Palin. She can't sound much dumber, can she? "It's a pretty cool job, too." -just dumb...hell ass dumb! Listen to how Kudlow has to hold-back (amid a couple cracks) his laughter. It doesn't get much better than that. LOL.

Millionaires under 30

2008-09-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

I just watched a small segment on CNBC about some of the top investors are under 30. I'm 29 and have for about 10 years been an on/off trader and market enthusiast. It just makes me wonder about ambition. Which is the main factor of those under 30 (or even 40) that allows them to be successful. It really boils down to that...along with some organizational skill. Organized ambition is what built the country, discovered the "new world", built the atom-bomb. There's a quote that often seems to embroil me rather than encourage, but "you've got the same number of hours in your day as Newton, Einstein, Dylan, Da Vinci, Magellan, Franklin, Washington, even Bush." Okay, that's not exactly the quote, but it's something like that. Anyway, use the hours.

Text books suck

2008-09-02T22:09:00.000-07:00

It happened again. So many times over the course of my college endeavors in taking classes I will see one book listed in the Syllabus and another, though similar, book in the bookstore. I know, I know go to Amazon and get the book listed in the silly-bus, but I was on the short-squeeze this time, having taken a week off already and really just need the material for next class period, which would be tomorrow. Anyway the book I bought from the bookstore was 15 bucks more than listed, due to some fees and tax. Can't they just be on the same page instead of trying to screw with someone just that one inch further?

Political culture

2008-09-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

I caught a few glimpses of the DNC and will have to watch the RNC now. After taking a compulsory class in US Constitution I've wanted to become more politically involved. Not just aware of issues and people, but actually put effort in understanding how that mess-o-machine works. Seems like it's too important to let slip by. Look what happened when not enough people cared in 2000, and then similar shit in 2004. There's a lot going on in the world, and we're in the world. If you're not paying enough attention and trying to understand things for yourself, then the world's not going to just "pass you on by", but it'll most likely just find a new way to fuck with you.

Return from the North Country

2008-09-02T21:28:00.000-07:00

Well I'm back in Tallahassee after spending a couple weeks on my family's grain farm in Minnesota. I'm also back in school to complete a BS in engineering at FSU, though I'm currently taking the back-roads in. Minnesota is beautiful in the Summer. Cold and bitter in the Winters though. I'd like to thank all the staff at TJ's Tavern, in Oklee, for the great hospitality during the open mic sessions (every Wed. night). Excellent pizza as well.

The flight up was a standard nwa flight for me. I've never had any complaints with any of the nwa staff or procedures. I flew into Minneapolis/St. Paul int'l airport and hitched a ride with my brother 300 miles N by NW to the farm. My return trip didn't go quite as smoothly. Since my brother would be heading South before me I bought a ticket on Jefferson Lines (pretty much the only bus service in that area). I bought it a week in advance on the internet. I paid for a full one-way fare from McIntosh, MN to Minneapolis, MN, about $60. Anyway, I get a ride to McIntosh (about 15 miles from the farm) and find there's no designated bus-stop area. We went into the only gas station (located next to the major highway that is the bus-line) and asked if the bus stops here. We were told that it usually did. So we waited, thankfully my ride waited with me, be cause we found out that the bus was running an hour and 15 mins late. Turns out the damn thing starts out in Winnipeg, CANADA! And we were told, "sometimes gets hung up at the border," what the hell? Anyway, so the 1:15 turned into about 1:40 and as I saw it barreling down the highway approaching the gas station, I ran outside to make sure he could see me. That damn bus never slowed down! We jumped into the car to try and catch it in the next town and found it didn't even stop there. I can't understand that, I bought the ticket in advance, he should've known there was a stop in McIntosh. Then when I called their customer service line I was informed that since it was Sat. and Mon. was a holiday, they couldn't help me until Tues. Okay, I called the main-office in Minneapolis and got nothing but a recorded message telling me to write a letter to them if I had any trouble! Oh they'll get a letter.

Anyway, is that the best we can do, shit, is that WHAT we're doing? Isn't it 2008?!? We should be transported anywhere in the US by some sort of Jetson-mobile by now. What the hell is wrong with this place?

blogs suck

2008-07-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

i just realized that blogs suck...well this one does anyway. Seems like there is plenty to write about, I just don't take the time. Or it actually could be that transplanting to the south really has taken its toll on me and now "I's be hell-as-dumb! Yee-haw!"

More Ideas on New leaves and turning them.

2008-05-26T15:36:00.000-07:00

It's probably a noble idea to want to make a change for the better. Or even to just make a change at all. The more and more I think about trying to change things I don't like about my life or situation, it seems it becomes that much harder to do. The more I focus on what I think a problem might be, it seems that I've got less time to do anything about it! --Especially when it is in regard to new activity. The amount of time doesn't change of course, but my interpretation of it does.

Does it Pay?

2008-05-20T04:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back to my regular job and my daily routine. I don't like my job that much. It really seems to rob me of so much time. But rejection letter after rejection letter has gotten on to be kind of depressing at this point. I've even gotten to where I don't even look at the job listings regularly. (It used to be a daily occurrence.) I suppose I could get a less "hourly-demanding" job, but here's another stinker --I need the damn money and without too much paper behind me (i.e. a Bachelor's D.) I feel I should hang on to the current carrot-on-a-stick that's already been hanging out in front of my face for the last year. I'm heading back to school, most likely for engineering. Still not entirely sure. Florida is making it a bit of a bugger to get back into school too. How much is a person's time worth...

For bums, you know, there time is worth the most. They don't have to work at all.

Recent travels and endeavors

2008-05-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

I came back this weekend from a 3-week farming trip in NW Minnesota. Planted oats, wheat, and barley. Should be able to have soybeans in by the first of June. It's a great experience to breathe the air and drink the water from that part of the country. It just seems to be cleaner and easier to take in.

Just Haven't Cared

2008-04-08T18:37:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been another month without a post. I regularly get backed up about a week on my blog-reading and commenting. And it all boils down to the fact that I'm just so tired and unmotivated. Barely enough so to just post this.

Watch This!

2008-03-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

Available to view online are certain programs from PBS. Nova is one of my favorite programs. Even as a kid I enjoyed this stuff immensely. It's just a suggestion, but perhaps you might be entertained (and possibly informed) by this stuff. Everything from 4 winged dinosaurs to Astro-spies and that's just from Feb '08. Anyway go here: www.pbs.org and then click the watch online. It should be sponsored by your local affiliate.

Blog More Often

2008-02-19T05:51:00.000-08:00

Not completely an effort to put quantity before quality, but I haven't been very consistent in either. So, yeah.

Presidential Crapola

2008-02-18T04:33:00.000-08:00

You know, I'm not too confident in the next elected leader of this country. Mainly for one reason only: This is still the country that voted in 8 years of BushCo. Bleh, I'm reeling still I know. But I've never mentioned it here.

Tallahasse Beer

2008-02-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

Ol' Tally Brew. I made my latest batch of wonderful, delicious beer using a slightly unorthodox main ingredient: Joe Anderson's Old Fashioned Cane Syrup. It made for an obviously sweeter tasting ale. Though a word of advice is still keep as many potential variables constant. I've had some mixed results with this batch and I believe it comes down to some inconsistencies during the bottling. I'm not going to get into meaningless details, because it all comes down to being as consistent as possible to be able to pinpoint actual problems to work out before the next go around.

A word

2008-02-17T15:43:00.000-08:00

I found a word I don't like. At least, not used in the present tense. I suppose it is actually as good a word as any at describing the way something had been or had been perceived to be. I can't stand the word crisis. Damn fool-ass word really. What the hell does a word like crisis do for you in the present tense, other than make you out to be a "sky-is-falling" chicken-little-bastard. --"We're in a crisis."--How the hell do you know? Maybe there's going to be...but that's still a stretch...a hell of a stretch. We can generally surmise that "there had been a crisis", but I can't understand anything about crisis. Catastrophe? Ab-sol-utely. But crisis...f--- off

This thought came to me after looking at this article in the NY Times.

Manchines

2008-02-16T16:53:00.000-08:00

14 "challenges" were announced at the AAAS convention in Boston, Mass. Here they are:
Make solar energy affordable
Provide energy from fusion
Develop carbon sequestration
Manage the nitrogen cycle
Provide access to clean water
Reverse engineer the brain
Prevent nuclear terror
Secure cyberspace
Enhance virtual reality
Improve urban infrastructure
Advance health informatics
Engineer better medicines
Advance personalised learning
Explore natural frontiers

Ray Kurzweil says that humans and nanobots will merge, get this, by 2029. What a load of post-compost. Secure cyberspace??? What the hell is that? I thought we quit using that proto-computer networking-term in the late 90s. Explore natural frontiers??? When the hell haven't we? Prevent Nuclear Terror...I want to know who put that one on the list. You know it's got to be a solo act. Any way I learned of this from the BBC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7248875.stm

Politics

2008-01-29T18:47:00.000-08:00

I think we need, if not a new political system, more real (organized) political parties in this country. I don't know...just a shot from the hip.

Trying to Turn a New Leaf

2008-01-29T18:21:00.000-08:00

It seems that during my existance, as far as I can recall, I've always been trying to rework myself. My persona, my mindset, outlook on life, and what not. As I reflect on my progress in any of those areas it seems on the contrary they have a very subtle ring of static to them. But now of course I feel like "this time" I really am turning a new page and it seems like it maybe in a new book. I'm not sure that even holds much logic, but whatever.

I'm starting to really become aware of my appearance and style of being...manners, maneurisms and the like. Don't get me wrong, I think ABC Family (and Disney, and Bushpublicans, and Robertson's & Falwell's Uni) sucks and is a drain on humanity leading to a sour mash of rotting human sewage, but it's apart of one's character and that in itself is apart of one's being.

So far I've started smoking a pipe; I drink gin and bourbon (no mixer); I build fires in my backyard; I built a doghouse; I take long epsom-salts baths; I read a lot more; still brewing beer; learning to fly an airplane; learning to code a decent website; re-learning French & German; learning Farsi & Chinese; drafting a business plan; revitalizing my musicianship and artistry; and trying to write more.

I'm not sure those first two on the list are really all that good for me, but they help to relax and are enjoyable on several levels for me at this time, or so it seems like that anyway.

Statistical Indicators

2008-01-22T04:04:00.000-08:00

How far out do statistical indicators have to be before they become 100% worthless? An example would be:

The Index of Leading Economic Indicators fell 0.2% in Dec., the 3rd straight monthly drop. Year over year, the LEI sank 1.4%, the worst drop since the ’01 recession. Also, ECRI’s leading U.S. index rose for a 2nd week. The annualized growth rate edged off a 6-year low to -6.7%, but is still at recessionary levels.

-From the Jan 22nd IBD

Leading Economic Indicators? I gotta look into that.

Cost vs. Value

2008-01-17T04:31:00.000-08:00

What is the real cost of something? Then what is its value...its real value as it is to you? I've been watching the decline of the dollar and the ascent of gold. I think it was in 2001 gold was less than $300 per ounce. Now as of Monday it was $900 per ounce. I only think that the dollar weighs less mostly because that is what I'm told by newspapers and financial columns. Now that I'm looking to buy a house I'm really starting to grasp what the value of things really is. Will the house be worth more in a few years? Next year? How long do I want to live in the thing? Do I want to live there at all? Is it really worth parting with $100,000 or should I look for something much nicer, but one that'll put me close to broke on a monthly basis? I don't know, I've heard that renting may still be the right thing to do for a little while longer.

But still, how does the value of $1.05 for a coke compare to $105,000 for the house? Could I buy it using cokes? I might like to try that, but I think ringtones are a better currency for now.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-25T18:49:00.000-08:00

Well this is four days late, but still, hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving day. We enjoyed a nice day at the park with our dog, enjoyed a nice meal, and of course watched some football and relaxed the evening away.

I've been reading Herodotus' History. It's a take from Greek/non-Greek view-points. I find it interesting to learn about a viewpoint from about 2000 years ago and make connections to things and happenings today. Certain "style at the time" attributes seem carry themselves and transcend through time.

Similar stories would be Homer's Iliad & Odyssey.

Hostility a-plenty

2007-11-20T20:09:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged much lately. Every time I decide to put something down it gets inundated by my seething hostility for just about anything. I think it may have something to do with my genetic method that I apply haphazardly. Oh well. Will just have to stick to random thoughts I guess. Random, but filtered for crap. Wait, that's stupid.

non-fossil fuel fuels

2007-10-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

Another quick thought:

Are fossil fuels really the most overall effective fuels. I'm talking about total cost of production and implementation and also return on investment.

The good people at www.journeytoforever.org give good evidence and research for looking into alts.

Bio-Diesel will be a big player in the near future. That is to say an even bigger player. (Most farm diesel has some percentage of it as bio)

-SR

Unicameral like Nebraska

2007-10-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

A quick thought:

Why don't we have a Federal non-partisan unicameral congress, or even one of the legislative houses for that matter.

I was watching something on the History Channel and it mentioned that Nebraska has made this their way for legislature. Seems like a better way to handle it.

-SR

FSU v. Miami

2007-10-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

Whatta bummer of a game. Pre-game antics were wonderful. Homage to the DEVICE!

Jackplane Ranch, WY

2007-10-22T18:14:00.000-07:00

I went hunting with a few friends out in Wyoming a couple weeks ago courtesy of the Jack-plane Ranch. Beautiful country, almost in a desolate, uber-western way. Rough hills pour over the entire scenery when your standing in that property. I shot and killed a young buck. The other two guys shot a buck each. Great hunt and many thanks to Rick for the opportunity and guide.

We traveled around the area taking in what the Big Horn mountains and the town of Buffalo could offer. (Maybe I'll post some pics)

If you're an outdoorsman and headed that way, I definitely suggest skipping Cabela's and take your business down to the Sportslure. They were able to offer quality advice, knowledge of product, and courteous service. I plan on going back there again.

Journal of a crapper

2007-10-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

I don't remember if I've said it before. (I don't read my own blog) But this has turned into more of a "Journal of a Crapper" than I thought it would get to be.

facts, opinions

2007-09-13T20:04:00.000-07:00

Isn't it funny how the same facts can cause different opinions, but the same opinions can come from very different facts. Funny...eh!

The Black Swan by Taleb

2007-09-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

After reading Nassim Nicholas Taleb's latest book "The Black Swan: Impact of the Highly Improbable" I believe I'd like to read it again, at least parts of it. (large parts) At this point all I've gotten from it is that certain events happen, not necessarily for no reason, but the they are generally unpredictable. That leads into the whole Extremistan/Mediocristan thing, which is an interesting description of our worldly situation.

Anyway I'll be giving it another read. If you haven't read of it or heard of it even, I suggest checking it out.

Why are so many things crap?

2007-09-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

Have you ever worked on a project, gotten to a point where there are several different methods or ways to get a smaller part of the overall project done, and due to some time constraint or social-tick just half-assed it. Keep in mind it's just a minor detail...or is it. Minor detail...needn't worry about it?! I wonder if that crossed the minds of the O-ring designers, or the installers, that helped blow up the Challenger shuttle, or countless other half-asseries in design. I may be out of line on the Challenger reference, but not too far out. Still it could possibly offend someone, or it could be misconstrued on my part. But at this time I don't care. Not even a little.

Is the world we live in now really the product and summation of our best design? Really, like my '06 1/4 ton truck that only gets 25 mpg when you drive it NOT like most drivers. Bunch of crap, rubbish. I can't stand poor design. Worse yet is good or decent design that gets halted and then gains on the crap-o-meter as time advances.

Not that the internal combustion engine (especially the one in my truck) is junk, or that "in and of itself" is a poor design. It's actually a terrific design, marvelous for what it is. But to power my transportation, nope. I'm calling that poor at best...nowadays anyway. I didn't live 80-90 years ago, but for what I've been told, the whole world was affected by the producing of 1000s of vehicles in just a few months (or so). And when the railroad unions opened the doors to over-the-road trucking, the whole thing exploded to what it is today. But is it really that way? I don't know and other than entertaining thoughts I don't care, as long as we can do better.

note: I loved Homer Simpson's line in an episode where he tells Bart "...you don't quit. You just go in everyday and do it really half-assed. It's the American way." I smile big when I think about that, mostly because it should be a parody, and hopefully it stays that.

What a bugger

2007-09-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

I'd like to start giving this blog some direction and regularity soon. It's an odd thing, I never really wanted to start a weblog/personal website. I wanted to have had one going for a while. Maybe just a few months, or even several years would've been neat to. That's a good indication where I've been in my life lately. I find a tremendous amount of difficulty with starting almost anything at all, after the honeymoon of the announcement that is. I've been all too good at announcing what I'm going to do and what I should've been doing that, even though I've been keenly aware of it, I'd trained myself to "give-up" before actually trying. What a bugger that's been.

And all of that is not some announcement that "from this time forth...blagga blagga bleh...blagga blagga." I may still be though-infected by it and may go on in spite of it's processes. Oh well.

Black Swans and Bridge Collapse

2007-08-09T19:26:00.002-07:00

Though I never lived in Minneapolis for more than a few days at a time, I had motored across the I-35 bridge many-a-time. I heard about the collapse via cell phone call whilst traveling on the Florida turnpike. We stopped in a travel plaza and watched on the television mounted in the ceiling corner of a Burger King the "news" coverage of the event. Quite a fright to be there, or as was my case, to have family and friends, as I eventually found out, very close to it. Over a thousand miles away it made me anxious as we continued to drive. Graciously all phone calls were returned and the first priority was vested- knowing they're okay.

A friend of mine, also Minnesotan by birth and primary education, posted something profound about the cause:

...on the cause of the bridge collapse, I think they'll determine it was a cascading failure and not a singular reason...this is a so-called black swan, an event no one would have expected.

I believe he's been reading "The Black Swan" by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Excellent work, both of you. I highly recommend the read. In fact here you go: to buy it; to wiki it; to drink it.

The Economist

2007-08-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been longer than I thought I wanted it to be since the last time I managed to log-in to my account and type away something recent. Anyway,

The beer turned out great. Excellent reception and review from those who were, as it seems, fortunate to get a bottle or two. 5 gallons produced about 52 12 oz bottles. 52 times 12 is < 5 gallons, but there ends up being some waste involved. Oh well, now it's time for refinement of the process. If you're interested in a sample, email me. (No, I'm not publishing my email. So it's still an exclusive club...we meet Wednesdays.)

I've been reading The Economist (online, RSS of the "Full print edition") and found it to be pretty on the level. I suppose that depends on your point-of-view, but hard to argue that it's not well written. To check it out: The Economist

What Next for Hackers

2007-06-24T18:16:00.000-07:00

Seems to me hackers, also known as "those who tinker", have generally been the fore-runners of the great technological breakthroughs, advances, and what not. I'm sure the inventor of the wheel was just tinkering with a stone or log or something. People played with fire and now we've got pyro-technics.

The term, hacking, has been fixed to computers and programming now so firmly that I think people automatically think computer geek when they hear that word. But whatever, people who tinker with anything over time are hackers.

The PC has been here a pretty long while now and the internet is past it's fledgling phase. It's easy to see where the industry has been for the last 20 years, but I wonder if it can be any indication for where it may be going? I recently re-lit the idea of what can be next in the way of technological breakthrough. Would we even know it if it was upon us right now, just not getting any play on the adverts?

yet another month

2007-06-18T07:16:00.000-07:00

I don't mean for this to be a "monthly" thing, but then again it seems I'm "making" it a monthly thing.

The beer is good. Delicious, nutritious, frothy good. Turned out to be kind of a cross between a "Brown Ale" and a "Killian's Red". Good stuff. The rest of the notes will be up soon...before next month...

Brewing Beer

2007-05-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

I brewed the wort (pronouced "wert") today and transfered it to the first stage fermenter. I bought the brewing kit from Beer & Wine Hobby via their website at www.beer-wine.com (nice website by the way)

I bought the ingredients back on April 17th, but due to an already strained schedule, brewing was put off until today (May 20th). But like the mantra says "Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew." (however since not having brewed any "homebrew" I opted for a deliciously wunderbar Sam Adams Light) Oh man, that Samuel Adams is great stuff, absolutely. Anyway I'm attempting to make something that'll eventually be in the wunderbar category.

Here's what I did to get this far:

Decided on whether or not to buy the "Kit" or assemble my own brewing station. (I decided on a kit due to time constraints of being a busy minded person and not wanting to take the time to locate all the pieces separately. The kit also came with ingredients.)
Ordered and received the kit & ingredients, checked everything out. Tried out the hydrometer, auto-siphon, and thermometer.
Sanitized all equipment used. (Brew pot, ladel, spatula, thermometer, hydrometer, metal tongs, glass for pitch, fermenter & lid, fermentation lock, strainer, & prep/brew area.)
Placed crystal malt into muslin bag (basically made a tea-bag) placed into pot with 1.5 gal of water and brought to boil; then removed heat and let steep for about 5 mins.
Added malt extract, hops, water crystal (gypsum & mineral) and then brought back to boil, stirring often; once boiling heat reduce to make for a "gentle" boil for about 30 mins. (note: placing malt extract cans in warm water makes them run from the container more easily, also using a spatula gets all the malty goodness out. Just before you throw the container --taste a little bit of the malt. Interesting flavor.
Added about 3 gal of cold water (I used 1 gal of ice, but that seemed to drop the temp to far) to fermenter; then via ladel added wort to fermenter. Also used a strainer and picked up the pot to pour after a manageable weight was left.
Let wort cool to about 70 degrees Farenheit, then mix in the pitch by stirring vigorously, but don't spill. (the pitch is 12 grams of brewers' yeast added to 1/2 cup luke warm water and allowed to sit for 10 minutes)
Take the hydrometer's container (sterilized) and fill about 3/4 full of pitched wort, take the specific gravity reading. (This is used to determine alcohol content as well as an indicator for the next stage of fermenting.) I read 1.042
Place lid on fermenter and insert fermentation lock. Place fermenter away from disturbances and direct sunlight.

I did end up breaking the nice thermometer that came with the kit (during the sanitizing process). That caused for a bit of disappointment. Be careful when handling anything glass or any measuring device. ( the thermometer only dropped 2" as it slid out of it's container as I was placing it into the fermenting bucket filled with sanitized water. Surprised me!)

Now it's 3-4 days until it gets moved to a 5 gal glass carboy 2nd stage fermenter, and it's also time for more Samuel Adams. It'll be about 14-17 days before it's time for a Samuel Edwards.

Legal to lie

2007-05-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

Did you know that, unless under oath, it's legal to lie. Blah blah blah, pretty neat huh?

One Month

2007-05-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't posted in over a month now. I suppose I should site the usually suspect of "not enough time" or "too busy", but really looking back over the past month there are spots where I'm sure I was not busy. And time has been pretty constant I guess.

I'm trying to move into a phase of condensing endeavors. I just returned this past weekend from a trip to my farmlands. Farming...it's a form of "nutsness" really. Not sure what direction it's going for us. Though I could never see myself living up there on a permanent basis. I could never be all that far away. Some of my best thoughts ever have come to me while being around the home-front. Some of the worst as well, but in retrospect much more good thoughts.

Too much

2007-04-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

I actually envy some of the people I can't stand. That is I at least go through the motions of envious behavior and thought. Horrible to think that though I may say it oughtta be this way when I feel so guilty if it isn't that way. I think I'll brush up on my French.

crap-posting

2007-04-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

I'm all over the place. Too many thoughts, too out of time. Too much energy when I shouldn't have any. Not enough when I believe I really need it. Too easily manipulated to get rich quick, to get smart, to get help, to get back, to get anywhere. Huh...

ants

2007-04-01T12:53:00.000-07:00

From the point of view of an ant the world undoubtedly looks different, but would it feel different also? An ant has the ability, poise, and confidence to "pick up" a droplet of water. Actually pick it up, really. For us it seems such an impossibility, at least without the help of tools or a long long long time practicing --no doubt some form of oriental mysticism. Anyway, so the ant can pick it up because it does not break the tension of the water with its "hands", straight outta the box, no practice (i don't know for sure, but I'd bet a few farms the ant'd do it before you.) I wonder about the other things on its level that must seem just as normal to the ant, but so far out of our reality. Like social tensions, biological tensions, things like that. Disney and Pixar easily corrupt the minds with all that human-ification in their movies, but I'm gonna bet again that it's something completely different. I wonder how much would really be similar?...

Ten Minutes

2007-03-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

Ten minutes, what could you get done in 10 minutes? That's enough time to write 3 pop hits! Well, theoretically anyway.

Desktops

2007-03-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

You know what I'd like to see on my desktop? ...all the info I deem relevant. Right there, in real-time (with a few exceptions) with the ability to modify on the fly. I can't stand the way typical computers are setup. They are to cumbersome and so many unnecessary things. more later...

Ticks on Twain, Feynman

2007-03-12T06:19:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it seems to me that people know what they want, but haven't the slightest idea of how to accomplish the task or tasks required to obtain that "what". There always seems to be some excuse for their current situation. Consistently using the words "if only...I would've...if I could go back... " and it remains most of the time in vain. The same people will look at a problem, knowing damn well they haven't a clue or even enough sense to actually recognize a clue, then furrow their brow in a futile attempt to convey they are trying to solve the problem. I wish they'd just admit that they don't know, then follow through with the not knowing by listening to the person who does. I wish I'd do that too.

A sight for sore eyes

2007-03-07T06:32:00.000-08:00

It wasn't more than two or three weeks ago now. I saw the ol' gal. That beauty of work and steel. She had a new paint job, rims, and oversized tires. She'd gone threw some hard times though. She's lookin' like an armed model now, but been threw a few lovers of late. Then there were the additives she'd been hooked on for so long, hell, damn near tore her valves up over that. She would've been left for dead out on that lonely highway. Good thing there was that wrecker. A good man, did her well. Wish I could say she reciprocated, but nah, that wouldn't be like her to do that. Something about her though left that ol' lift and tow in good spirits. She did have that quality. You know the one where you'd let her walk right up to you and put a bullet through your foot all the while wearing a smile that seemed to say "...just keep smilin' hun, you'll be fine."

A Singularity

2007-03-04T12:24:00.000-08:00

Does a singularity really have any significance in and of itself? I'm not sure that it does.

Ginger Beer (ver 0.1)

2007-03-04T09:19:00.000-08:00

I've always been enamored by the cook and the chemist. So I'm going to try it out for myself. My first attempt will be a very simple recipe from Giles Paterson, a software engineer, from Kingston on Thames, and he shan't hardly be bothered by anything else.

http://www.vurt.co.uk/Articles/GingerBeer.html

that's the link (posted without permission) (do you need permission?)

All Right, it's getting more and more exciting...all the time.

Flaws

2007-03-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

There's definitely something flawed with the software industry. There's way too much ambiguity allowed by consumers. That's who actually designs the market, the consumers of market's product. And though, not entirely dependent of consumer "happiness", I think ultimately the patrons will decide on how a business will perform and subsequently how that market will thrive.

With software people have accepted a quality standard that is hardly a standard at all. There's hardly any assurance that the software you've purchased and installed and activated and any other contingencies before actual use, will accomplish the task. Anyway that's just an all to common gripe that I've heard when talking to "informed" individuals. I wonder if it's a "herd" mentality that keeps quality down...I don't know.

from Mark Twain

2007-02-27T18:59:00.000-08:00

"We are discreet sheep; we wait to see how the drove is going, and then go with the drove. We have two opinions; one private , which we are afraid to express; and another one--the one we use--which we force ourselves to wear to please Mrs. Grundy, until the habit makes us comfortable in it, and the custom of defending it presently makes us love it, adore it, and forget how pitifully we came by it. Look at it in politics. Look at the candidates whom we loathe one year, and are afraid to vote against the next; whom we cover with unimaginable filth one year, and fall down on the public platform and worship the next--and keep on doing it until the habitual shutting of our eyes to last year's evidences brings us presently to a sincere and stupid belief in this year's. Look at the tyranny of party--at what is called party allegiance, party loyalty--a snare invented by designing men for selfish purposes--and which turns voters into chattels, slaves, rabbits, and all the while their masters, and they themselves are shouting rubbish about liberty, independence, freedom of opinion, freedom of speech, honestly unconscious of the fantastic contradiction; and forgetting or ignoring that their fathers and the churches shouted the same blasphemies a generation earlier when they were closing their doors against the hunted slave, beating his handful of humane defenders with Bible texts and billies, and pocketing the insults and licking the shoes of his Southern master."

from "The Character of Man",
Mark Twain's autobiography, Vol. II (January 23, 1906)

--just thought I'd share that...

cut from a letter

2007-02-27T18:56:00.000-08:00

I'm actually going to be on the farm near the very end of April. I'm actually looking forward to it. It's another one of those things that I now know about myself that I didn't know then.

I'm looking at finishing my degree in either Computer Sci or possibly Physics. It's something I really regret putting off. Technically I'm not a drop-out since I do have my A.A.S. in Electronics, but it doesn't hold much weight. But that's not the reason I'm going back. I'm going back because I know now what I didn't know then. I'll just leave it at that.

More Feynman

2007-02-27T08:12:00.000-08:00

I can tolerate fools. Definitely, in fact I can be quite entertained by the mere thought of one. I can even work with them. Ordinary fools that is. Now there's another kind that I don't fair well with and that's the Pompous fool. Ordinary fools are honest, but the pompous fool uses his efforts in a way to make himself illegitimately "superior" to those around him. In other words taking credit for other fools' hard foolish work.

Feynman

2007-02-11T20:24:00.000-08:00

I don't even have rabbit ears hooked up to my TV let alone cable, dish, or any other television broadcast medium (although we do have a VCR & a DVD player hooked up and will, thanks to our tv show enabler, watch taped episodes of "Lost" and fine movies in the mail from Blockbuster), though I still can't find the time to read as much as I'd like to. I don't know, I could very well just be making excuses. Anyway, I'm reading "Surely you're Joking, Mr. Feynman" isbn # 0-393-01921-7. If you're even remotely interested in physics or sciences, or just curious characters, then I highly recommend this book. I've also been checking out the audio books on his lectures on physics. I've been able to gain so much from my brief introduction to the guy's work in several different areas, it's just remarkable how it hits. Good stuff.

Trapping and Programming

2007-01-28T20:40:00.000-08:00

There's so little in common with those two professions. I don't know why I pursue either. I've got so little to do with either of them. But still for some reason I find myself steeped in one or the other. Hunting and gathering my seem like a more viable option considering the climate in Florida, but air-conditioning makes the one seem like the other's not so bad after all.

Tom Waits' New Album

2007-01-28T20:35:00.000-08:00

Check out Tom Waits' new one called "Orphans: Bawlers, Brawlers, and Bastards"

Wow talk about back porch music. It'd probably work all right on the front porch too. I might not try it in the car. Great stuff: raw, witty, dirty, city, country, 20th Century, fox and the hound dog kind of music, poetry, and prose.

Whatever it is, it's worth checking out. Give it a listen, give the whole thing a listen.

Kudos Blockbuster

2007-01-28T20:18:00.000-08:00

I just recently returned from blockbuster with two movies in my hand. I did not pay for them. That's right, I walked up to the counter and laid my coupons down and walked right out. Of course after scanning my card and asking for my phone number...why do they always ask for my phone number? Anyway, we're subscribers to Blockbuster online. For the most part I let my girlfriend handle all that business since I'm really not up and up on the movies thing. Anyway I just got the gist of it the other day:

Go to Blockbuster online
Then you search for movies (they even had "Ghengis Blues")
Then they mail them to you
Watch them
Return them via the US Postal Service.

Okay, that's wonderful, really it is. But I recently found out that there's an alternate option to #5. You can also just stop by your local Blockbuster store and use the sealed envelope to get another movie free! That's incredibly awesome! Why? Because Blockbuster stores are practically worthless if you're into foreign or non-pop movies. But online you have a great selection. Soooo, now

Go online
Get hard to finds
Watch them and return to store
Pick up "New Release" that you want to see

That's cool. Just thought I'd share.

Engineering versus Philosophy

2007-01-14T09:26:00.000-08:00

I find myself being interested in too many things. I don't have enough time to devote to so many interests. At times I end up asking myself: "what the point of this particular interest is?" So often I find that I do actually know. I know that there isn't much point and I get frustrated, even angry at myself for all the time I seem to have wasted. It can be likened to a fishing lure. I see something shiny, or a single appealing attribute, and then next thing you know I'm hooked and begin the long struggle to avoid being "hauled in".