The Collegiate Brewer

This is the website that has had me consumed for a good part of the semester. It is finally polished off enough to give you the URL http://akral1.wordpress.com/

Leave comments back here as that site does not allow for them.


“You know when you're young, you think your dad's Superman. Then you grow up and you realize he's just a regular guy who wears a cape.” - Dave Attell

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Found this picture advertising a party in town this weekend. Instantly started laughing. I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more. Then I started laughing at myself, and then I peed a little. Speaking of laughing til you pee, if you haven't seen The Hangover, I am bringing it home to watch.

"What about Rainman? He nearly bankrupt Las Vegas and he was a retard."

Oh yeah...here's the picture that set this whole thing off.

3PM high

I became intensely aware of my own mortality this week. I am now 22, and statistically most people do not make it out of the double digits. If this thought has not yet crossed your mind, think about it. There is your random thought for the day.

Lesson Learned

I think I have figured out why you should not get back together with an ex. After the initial comfort of your routine is restored, things become just that. ROUTINE! I have come to realize that getting back together with an ex is a bad idea. Unless you like re-watching sad movies with bad endings. I was easily wrapped up in nostalgia and it's obvious now that neither of us has actually changed. I'm still the boorish oaf who's too stubborn, and she is still the passive-aggressive pile of neuroses. I finally understand cold hearted cynics.

Song of the Week

I think I'm going to help out all the people out there who live under figurative rocks of Clear Channel radio. I've decided to post a song roughly every week in hopes of broadening their tastes, but also my own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_moia-oVI

Click to find out this week's song for yourself!

God Am

Just opened Pandora...this song came up. Clever synopsis of young man's angst anyone??

"Sure God's all powerful, but does he have lips? Whoa..."

Dear God, how have you been then?
I'm not fine, fuck pretending
All of this death your sending
Best throw some free heart mending
Invite you in my heart, then
When done, my sins forgiven?
This God of mine relaxes
World dies I still pay taxes

Can you be as God am
Can I be as my God am
Can I be as my God am
God of all my God am
So Lord, I see you grinnin'

Must be grand always winning
How proud are you being able
To gather faith from fable

Can I be as my God am
Can I be as my God am
Can you be as God am
God am
God of all my God am
My God am God
God am

All the respect I'm giving
Shared strength acquired by living
All blooming life you're feeding
Can't hide sick ones you're weeding.

FAC....

The other night I had the lonely bug so I went to this bar. I saw this beautiful girl there. I'm thinking, "She's alone, I'm alone. Why not annoy the shit out of her?" SO I walk over, I'm walking, I'm wearing clogs. And I notice she has a black eye, she has a shiner. I'm thinking, "Great. She doesn't listen." So two McNuggets, three beers, and 50 dollars later we're back at my house doing it doggy style. Not that I planned on it, that's just how she passed out. Thank you slow gas leak.

Descartes' "Discourse on Method"

It has been a while since I read any philosophy...so I made use of my friendly local library and picked up Descartes "Discourse on Method." I could not remember how the "cogito" argument went on. So here is the only way I can describe it, while not leaving too much out:

The argument for one's existence (The "Cogito" argument)
1. Even if we assume that there is a deceiver (look up Evil Demon argument), from the very fact that I am deceived it follows that I exist.
2. In general it will follow from any state of thinking (e.g., imagining, sensing, feeling, reasoning) that I exist. While I can be deceived about the objective content of any thought, I cannot be deceived about the fact that I exist and that I seem to perceive objects with certain characteristics. (The famous statement of this from D.'s Discourse on Method is "Cogito ergo sum." or "I think, therefore I am.")
3. Since I only can be certain of the existence of myself insofar as I am thinking, I have knowledge of my existence only as a thinking thing (res cogitans).
This shows that the contents of the mind are more easily known than the body. Which is a whole other argument.

The World's Highest Rapper

Did something unbecoming of my character this last weekend...I went to a rap "concert." Afroman, billed as "The world's highest rapper", came to town. It was a fun show, because I know a few of his songs. It was pretty funny to hear 200 people singing one of the dumbest songs I know at the top of their lungs, while Afroman himself was so baked that from 25 yards I could not see his eyes. Have you ever heard the stoner slang "Chinese Eyes"? I've never seen any one person so high in my whole life. That being the case, he didn't miss a word. Don't know how he did it, but that is the truth. And oh yeah, I was drunk as all hell...

R.I.P. F-22 Raptor

We have an oxymoron on our hands. Our president is an anti-war fascist. All the time and money invested by all the people who had anything to do with this machine has effectively been wasted. This plane has been in R&D since the 1980's (that means we personally have all spent a lot of money on this project) So the senate ordered only 187 planes...not all of which will actually be completed. This does not bode well for the F-35 and anyone who has any connection to the aviation industry (Non-commercial)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/business/22defense.html

Clever Bumper Sticker Ends Abortion Debate

I'm sorry, but religion is retarded...it just is. FYI: isn't the last line kind of a misnomer? I thought that Jesus taught not to judge. It would seem that his followers have taken quite a fancy to judgment. It's one of their favorite tools. Insert rants in comment box.

Give Blood, Play Rugby

The ISU rugby team officially starts 2-a-days in August...Plan is to at least have some fun, and loose the spare tire. Worst case scenario, I'll get in better shape for the wedding. So everyone needs to learn some good rugger songs because it won't be too long until we are all together drinking and singing like the good old days. I'm thinking Nic should keep his stereo at his old house so we can party with some Dropkick Murphy's and Flogging Molly. Could be fun, just think about it!

I marvel that the flames do not wake you.

I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.

Maybe it's just organized religion I have a problem with...maybe not, it's all up in the air. All I can say is if I were to pick one, I'm glad I was raised Catholic. I just don't understand creationists...It seems like a terrible joke to me. John Paul II said (in writing) that the Darwinian sense of evolution is no longer a mere myth. Catholics 1- Protestants 0.

Few, far between, and watered down

I apologize for the infrequency of posts, but I have been busy with school and haven't gotten drunk and philosophizized in quite a while. So here is a dilemma that has been troubling me for a few days: Suppose you are an higer ranking politician, and you learn of a plot to assassinate the president. Let's also assume that the assassin knows that you have uncovered his plot. If you decide to warn the president, the assassin kills someone you love, and if you stay silent his plan goes off without a hitch. Given if he goes thorough with his plan you will not be prosecuted for high treason, what do you do?
From a blunt angle, both actions are equally wrong. Either choice ends in a failure to save a life. Can one assume that a life that YOU care personally about is of greater significance than a life that someone else cares equally for? If so, why should you get that choice? Or, should you say, "Fuck that guy...we're talking about my wife/sister/husband/child!" So here is the obligatory WHAT DO YOU THINK??

The human head is the same approximate size and weight as a roaster chicken.

That is from a book I just finished called "Stiff" by Mary Roach. It is about the science of human cadavers... oddly, it's funny. It was recommended to me by my anthropology professor. It was strange, but a very good book. I recommend it, if you can find it. Now on to my next, less entertaining read, "Practical Guilt". More or less a text on the moral dilemmas of emotion and society. It's by P.S. Greenspan, I'll find out who he is in a few days...

I had a thought about re-incarnaotion...

I realize that the idea of re-incarnation is entirely illogical, but if I grant it for the sake of an argument, lifestyle became a concern for me...

If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character...Would you slow down? Or speed up?

meaning, stay as you are or "live hard" and come back as something else?

F.I.N.A.L.S.

That stands for Fuck I Never Actually Learned this Shit. I hear Steph has 3 finals in three days. Although mine are obviously not as hard, I have 4 in 3 days. Tuesday 7:30, Tuesday 12, Wednesday 9:45, Thursday 7:30. Why so early is all I want to know? God, I hate my life for the next week...

One of the truest tests of integrity is it's blunt refusal to be compromised...

Saw this in an email I got from the Brewer's League...made me want a beer.
http://vimeo.com/4298464

Way to reach across that isle...

I hate to say that all democrats are lying, back-stabbing, cowardly, pieces of shit. I hate to say it because that gives the lying, back-stabbing, cowardly, pieces of shit a bad name. I feel like the past two years of his political advertisements were (essentially) all lies. To think that I nearly bought into his hype...yes, to those of you who are still riding that band wagon, it is JUST HYPE! I see nothing wrong with torture carried out in the last few years. Allow me this digress...

Statistically speaking, if someone has a 1% chance of knowing where a bomb is located. (and we know how to disarm it) Now imagine that that bomb's detonation will kill 1000 people. Running the numbers yields ten statistical lives. So I say break out the rack.

Speaking of the reasoning above. (Which is called Value Adjusted Possible Consequence Utilitarianism) The POINT of torture is to prevent a disaster or to "unwind" a person or organization. I believe that groups such as al Qaeda are in themselves a ticking bomb. If you ask me they chose their side, if they are big enough problems, then they should be prepared for the water board. They deserve it, even if they don't have any useful information. Now we are getting to capital punishment...for another day I guess.

Oh yeah...here is a link regarding that sniveling prick Obama that got me started on this tirade:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/21/obama-administration-bush_n_189521.html

News from New Yorqatar to Califarabia

Who would have thought, the armed forces don't want to loose their jobs too. Although arguable, I don't think that this conflict follows more than one or two tenents of the Just War Theory. Take from this article what you will : http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,513856,00.html

Red or very red?

If you haven't heard, Moldova (a tiny country East of Romania and West of the Ukraine) has had some problems this week. The incumbent Communist Party won the election with just over 50% and herein lies the problem. The "losing" side says that several people voted twice, enough to change the result. The Communists claim no foul play. So, the losing side revolted, and they are generally young people. Ask yourself one question, what to upset young people do? The answer is...riot. This failed putsch can seemingly only end in one outcome, a stronger, more determined Communist party. So the question is, where (politically) does Moldova sit? Red or very Red?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7987608.stm

Things that frustrate me

First off, I wish I this good at anything... Case and point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqx-KYw3ZFU&feature=related
By the way, I do know my fair share about rhythm, and I have no idea what he is talking about in the middle there...I still like the music though, it challenges the listener.

Secondly, what really frustrates me is the media:
http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2009-01-26-ObamaCover.jpg
-Is there a periodical in current circulation that he hasn't been on? Beside the fact that this is a fantastic waste of time and money, but it is a deliberate diversion from the daily problems. (Ignoring the fact that the magazine is, in it's self a frivolous waste of time and money.)

Moreover, this is what downright infuriates me.
http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2009/03/31/news/local_news/doc49d2925ed7998456758512.txt
They are trying to get him of on a simple charge of manslaughter. I might just be a judgemental asshole, but HELLO! HE KILLED TWO PEOPLE WITH A KNIFE! He's not insane, he's an idiot. And it's people like him that make me wish Iowa still had the death penalty. I recommend beheading with an olive fork. I realize that I am not a lawyer, but he said "my emotions took control of me," so does that mean if I'm upset about the price of gas, I can just not pay for what I put in the tank? And then go and shoot the cashier? Fuck him, I hope he burns in hell.

Beer review attempt number 1

"He who does not love beer, wine, women, and song remains a fool his whole life long." - Carl Worner

So, I had a new beer this weekend and I must say it was different. Since I don't have a template in place for beer ratings, I'll just shoot from the hip.

Name: Old Engine Oil

Brewery: Harviestoun Brewery Ltd, in Alva, Scotland

The label says, "An after dinner beer," but say it ain't so! I'll take for the session before dinner too! Very nicely balanced dark-brown ale with toffee-malt and hop flavors that are sweet and herbal but not dramatic. (just like New Glarus "Spotted Cow") The body is not "engine oil," but rather quite smooth and drinkable. A really nice British style fruitiness (Read: Newcastle)- which I enjoy. The flavor transports you to a nice foggy pub. No likeness of engine oil. I love this stuff. It said on the box's label that the original brew master spent his early life crafting wooden prototypes of the model T, and this beer's dark color and viscous nature reminded him of used engine oil.

Contractarianism

In spending time with my philosophy professor during his office hour, I have a certain passage that I find particularly important. It comes from Thomas Hobbes The Leviathan:
"Hereby it is manifest, that during the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in such a condition called war; and such a WAR, as is of every man against every man. For war, consisteth not in battle only, or the act of fighting; but in a tract of time, wherein the will to contend by battle is sufficiently known: and therefore the notion of time, is to be considered in the nature of war; as it is in the nature of weather. For as the nature of foul weather, lieth not in a shower or two of rain; but in an inclination thereto of many days together: so the nature of war, consisteth not in actual fighting; but in the known disposition thereto, during all the time there is no assurance to the contrary. All other time is PEACE.
"Whatsoever therefore is consequent to a time of war, where every man is enemy to every man; the same is consequent to the time, wherein men live without other security, than what their own strength, and their own invention shall furnish them withal. In such condition, there is no place for industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain; and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving, and removing, such things require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."

Krausening

This is something I really want to do...It is pronounced kroysening. It is the same process that big breweries such as Anhueser-Busch and Samuel Adams use.

http://www.deadyeast.com/yeastmeister.php

I would like someone to send me to template for beer rating so I can seem like I know what I'm talking about.


P.S. good time-waster!!! http://fantasticcontraption.com/

Blackberry Wheat

Brewed a wheat beer (with blackberry extract) this week...I won't know how it tastes for a while. The lager I brewed a while ago is chilling and I can't wait for that to finish. This should be a good summer if I get the honey kolsch done that I want to brew...all should be done around Dad's birthday. So, BEER PARTY!!!

Olde Main Beer and hot wings

So I have found a new combination that gives me a delicigasm...Olde Main milk stout and chicken wings. It is chock full of carbs and fat, but together are smokey and delicious. My next combo, which I have heard of but never tried, is oysters and Left Hand milk stout.

Ethics test

I had an Ethics test today...not too bad, but long enough. I feel like I know less about mankind now than I did when I started the class. It is an unsettling feeling, but now I can argue pretty much anything from any perspective. Which people in positions of authority don't seem to like.

Oh yeah...the content warning

Fuck, shit, fuck, fuck, suck it and fuck it, babies are chewable....That should piss off those cocksuckers at the FCC.

So I walked into this talent agent's office...

just fueling the fire

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Hofbrauhaus

Well, I have been invited to visit the Hofbrauhaus in Vegas. Just hearing that busted my rut of homework. I was so excited because I have wanted to go there for over a year now, and never had a chance. I still have to decide what kind of bier I want while there...too many choices. You try to decide http://www.hofbrauhauslasvegas.com/

Woo Hoo!! number one!!!

Welcome to The Drunken Philosopher! This is the first post...hopefully of many. This blog will be about good beer and good thoughts...Social drinking if you will. I appreciate replies and input! What beers do you like, thoughts on politics, gripes at my poor grammar, and the like. So, in the words of Charlie Papizian, "Sit back, relax, and have a homebrew."