Monday, December 29, 2014

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Belts

I was promoted to Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at a seminar on 12/6/2014.  My instructor dropped some hints before the seminar, making sure I would attend, complementing my technique, only matching me up with other brown belts in sparring, and then talking with them privately after my roll.  So, I wasn't completely surprised when he called my name.


What I wasn't prepared for was the emotions that came with my promotion.  I started BJJ in Omaha, Nebraska at a time when the closest black belt was in St. Louis, Missouri.  The highest ranked student in the state was my instructor, a guy who had just promoted to Purple belt.  That Purple belt has since been promoted to Black Belt, but the lasting impression of him destroying me as a Purple belt has stayed with me all these years.
On that day I had just been promoted OVER that instructor.  It is silly and unproductive to live in the past, but I have a hard time accepting that I am worthy of the belt.
At my current school, I am not the best brown belt, but I am not the worst one either.  I am about in the middle of the group, which is where you want to be for a newly promoted belt.  It tells you that your promotion was legitimate for your school.  So, skill-wise I know I am worthy.  I teach classes, I help out the lower belts, so I know that maturity wise I am worthy.
However, deep in my soul, I am still that White Belt getting smeared all over the mat.  It makes me feel like my promotion was not deserved.  The problem is that I will never rid myself of these thoughts.  BUT...  I have found that these thoughts are not uncommon in BJJ.

Belts in all martial arts mean something.  However, they don't mean what the lay person think they mean.  A belt does not measure how quickly and effectively you can beat someone up.  Universally, they mean that the practitioner has spent the minimum required time training, and has acquired the skill that instructor deems worthy of that belt.  Essentially, the belt is the instructor announcing to the world, THIS PERSON REPRESENTS MY MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THIS SKILL LEVEL.
Most martial arts, and even in BJJ, a time requirement is set on when you are eligible for your next belt.  In Tae Kwon Do, the time requirement was 2 months per belt, until you got to green, then you had stripes that you had to test for, but the time between stripes was 2 months.  If you test every time you are eligible, it takes about 4 years to achieve a black belt.
Most old school BJJ academies have no testing requirements.  You are promoted when your instructor thinks you are ready.  The time varies from student to student on their belts.  My progress has been slower than the mean.  I spent more time as a Purple belt than I did in all of my color belts in TKD.  I don't expect to be presented a black belt for at least another 4 years.

This long time frame makes the BJJ belt seem that much more important.  However, it is also the time frame that causes many people to leave BJJ.  I am now a Brown Belt.  There are fewer Brown Belts in BJJ than any other belt rank.  It is the rank before black belt and the one hit hardest by attrition.  Attrition starts at white belt and it whittles down practitioners until the final color.  However, the brown belt holder is also the most likely to complete the journey through the color ranks to achieve Black Belt.

Anyway...  Here I am.  People often try to attach meaning to the belts, but you really can't.  The meaning is deeply personal, but I will share what my journey so far has been.

White Belt


  • Learn positions
  • Learn submissions
  • Learn transitions
  • Learn how to act
  • Learn how to react
  • Learn how to tap

Blue Belt

  • Apply submissions
  • Learn how to pass
  • Transitions become natural
  • Gain endurance
  • Learn defense
  • Learn when to apply and when to conserve strength
  • Lean introspection so that you can improve your game

Purple Belt


  • Pass is natural
  • Submissions are natural
  • Deep introspection to learn about yourself
  • Focus shifts from learning moves to move details
  • Game is defined
  • Strength conservation is natural
  • Defense is natural
  • Learn how to attack



This is my journey.  Other journeys are different.  That is why the meaning of the belts are different for each person.   

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Come and get them.  Spartan King Leonidas I's response to the Persians request that they throw down their arms at  Battle of Thermopylae.

It is a rallying cry for gun owners.  Unfortunately, it has come time to put up or shut up in Connecticut.

What's going on?  Well, last year Connecticut banned "Assault Weapons" and all magazines that hold over 10 rounds.  They don't really know what an Assault Weapon is, but anyway that's not the point of this post.

The CT Government gave gun owners, who lawfully purchased and registered their guns (This is an important point, because this law only applies to legal gun owners. Illegal gun owners wouldn't register their guns...  why would they? They are illegal!!!), until January 1st to register their now illegal guns and magazines.   Many people sent in their registrations, but they didn't arrive at the post office until after January 1st, so they were not postmarked until after the deadline.  So, the Governor of Connecticut, Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, without the consent or approval, read illegally, taking a cue from the President, simply said that gun owners had until the 4th of January.
This, of course, was meaningless to many gun owners, because only the State knew they were not in compliance with the law.  The owner received no notice that they were late.

Now the fit starts to hit the shan.  Letters are now going out to owners saying that they didn't make the cut.  They are now required to turn in their guns.



So...  If they don't turn in their legally purchased and owned property the Government will confiscate them.  They know where you live.  They know you own the weapons, because you tried to follow the law.

What happens now?  Are the people of Connecticut Lions or Sheep?  Will they stand on a line and challenge the CT State Police to Molon Labe, Come and take them?

I find myself wanting them to be Lions and have the State of Connecticut back down.  What I know will happen is that they will be Sheep and turn in their guns.

What will happen is that the state will make an "example" of some of the owners.  The State will burst in the gun owners house like a military force, with military weapons, and take all of the once legally owned guns, and kill anyone who might resist in the slightest way.

Freedom is dead in America.  It died a long time ago.  If you have to ask permission to do something it is not a right, it is a privilege.  What has been proven time after time in DEMOCRAT controlled states is that we own weapons at the pleasure of the Governor and the State Legislature, and sometimes the Mayor of your city.
I want this situation to end without ANY American blood being shed.  It won't happen.  A Law Enforcement Officer, or citizen WILL die in CT during a raid.  Gun grabbers will use it as an example that ALL guns need to be taken away.  Then America will have to decide.  The new Persians, in the form of our own Government will be at our gates.  What will we do?  Will we be Lions or Sheep?
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Unmentioned Benefits To Training Martial Arts

You have heard all of the benefits to training Martial Arts.

  • Self Defense
  • Discipline
  • Exercise
  • Lose weight
  • Comradery
  • Blah blah blah blah
There are many benefits that are never mentioned, because people would never sign up.  Nobody wants to hear about these, because they cause the practitioner to look deeply into their soul, and find out WHO they really are.
Imagine how that conversation would go:
MA Instructor:  In addition to the above stated benefits, this will also cause you deep introspection that will cause you to really learn what kind of a person you really are.
Prospective Student:  Fuck you dude, I just wanna learn how to FIGHT!!

These benefits have nothing at all to do with the physical aspects of Martial Arts, and has everything to do with the spiritual aspect of Martial Arts.  Now..  I'm not talking about meditation, Eastern Philosophy, Zen, Chi, Tao or any of that crap.  Those are religious aspects that have been attached to many forms of Martial Arts, because they were practiced in religious institutions, or had to do with the moral aspects of using violence.  This is not what I am talking about.  

What I am talking about is how training can affect your personal knowledge of yourself.  Who are you, really?  Are you a bully?  Are you an egomaniac?  Are you a coward?  Are you courageous?  Are you kind?  Are you tenacious?
Who are you?

Training Martial Arts puts you in a position where all of these questions about yourself, and more are answered.  

Example, if you are properly training, there will be a point where you are so tired that you can't lift your hands.  Yet, there will still be time left in class.  What do you do?  Keep going?  Quit?  Your training partners will be urging you on.  What do you do?  Let them down?  Who are you?  When the chips are down will you just give up?

Better example, you are getting your ass handed to you on a silver platter.  The guy you are rolling with has you in all of the control positions and there is not a damn thing you can do about it.  He puts you in to side control and you can't move or breathe.  He switches to knee on belly, and crushes the breath from you, you are sure your ribs are about to pop with the pressure.  What do you do? Keep going?  Quit?  All you have to do to make it end is to tap out and say you are done.  Who are you?  Are you someone who just gives up?  Are you just going to get angry and think the other guy is cheating?  Who do you blame???  Your instructor?  Your school?  YOU???

How can you take humility?  Do you let your ego run your life?  
Example, You are a highly ranked member of your school.  Everyone recognizes your ability and technique.  Everyone respects you.  There is a younger member of the school, who is a phenom.  He is several ranks beneath you.  His style is the perfect foil for yours.  Your go to movements, that won you tournaments and countless matches in the gym have no effect, you are constantly on the defensive, and tapping every time to submissions that you never see coming.
What do you do?  Do you get angry with the kid?  Do you refuse to train with him?  Do you blame him for cheating?  Can you leave your ego at the door?  Can you ask the kid to work his game with you so that you can learn how to overcome it?  Who are you?

The Delphic Maxim states "Know thyself."  Plato insisted the this was the the only way to true knowledge.  Martial Arts will lay bare your soul, and show you yourself.  Some embrace this opportunity, and use it to change themselves.  Some can never recover from what they saw, and quit, never wanting to look again.

What will you do?  Can you stand to know thyself?  Who are you?  




Friday, February 14, 2014

How Does Raising the Minimum Wage Cost Jobs?

Raising the Minimum Wage can only be a good thing right? Only a heartless bastard would want to prevent people from getting a "Living Wage."

Not really. Let's put this all into perspective.

Mr. Jones owns a small grocery store. He employs 10 people, 6 full time and four part time. He has a three check out people, two sackers, two stockers, one team lead and two managers. The two of the sackers and both stockers are teenagers. The team lead is full time and acts as a senior member and assistant manager for the sackers and stockers. He also is in charge of making sure the produce is fresh.

Mr. Jones has to make a certain amount of profit to keep his store running. Most of his profit is reinvested into the store the next year. This upkeep and the wages he pays his workers, along with the cost of materials regulates the price he charges for his wares. This cost is a little higher than the larger store 10 miles away, but the neighborhood comes to the Jones store because the extra cost is outweighed by the convenience of the Jones store, not to mention the social and community aspects of seeing your neighbors at their place of work.


Mr. Jones makes a modest living, but is known around the neighborhood as a good employer. The teens in the area know that if they get a job at the Jones' store, they will be well treated, and they will make a little money.

Mr. Jones pays his workers what they are worth to the business. The sackers make $3 an hour, the stockers $5. The team lead makes $10. The checkers make $8. The managers make a yearly salary, with a bonus based on the profitability of the business. Mr. Jones always gives a little extra at the holidays.

Each worker has incentives to work hard, and contribute to the business. The sackers and stockers could make more money if they work up to stocker or checker. The team lead wants to be a manager, and the managers want the business to be profitable to increase their bonus.

One year, the Government added a minimum wage of $5 an hour.

This forced Mr. Jones to pay his sackers the same as if they were a stocker. The problem was that the sacker position is more of a "helper" position, and not worth $5 an hour to the company. In order to maintain his profit, Mr. Jones is forced to fire one of his sackers. The other sacker, now making as much as a stocker, really doesn't want to work at the grocery forever, so he starts to coast in his job. He has no incentive to show off what he can do to become a stocker. Mr. Jones now notices that his saker is much less inclined to help out, hurting his customer's overall experience. In addition to that, with only one sacker, working part time, he now has long periods in the day where his checkers must sack their own lanes, adding to their overall workload, hurting the moral of the check out team.

The next year, the Government raises the minimum wage to $8 an hour.

Mr. Jones can not afford to pay his sacker and stockers and maintain his profit margins. He fires all of his part time staff. The checkers now must sack their own lanes. The Team Leader must now do all of the stocking himself.
The checkers, now making "minimum" wage, and being forced to do MORE work than before, have their moral completely disappear. They do only exactly what is required of them.
Mr. Jones notices that without his sackers and the demoralized checkers, his customer's end experience is now vastly degraded. In addition, the produce is no longer as fresh as his team leader is now spending all of his time stocking shelves. He now has very little time to do the time consuming job of maintaining the produce.
In Mr. Jones' customer's minds, it is now no longer worth the extra money it costs to go to the Jones store. The friendly experience they used to get there has been replaced by a general worker's malaise. No one greets them when they walk in the door. No one helps them get their purchases to their cars. Their sons and daughters are no longer given employment, and the once always fresh and appealing produce has been replaced by rotten and expired goods.
The customers, simply stop coming to the store except to buy only forgotten goods.

Mr. Jones can no longer afford to pay his managers a bonus. The holiday extras are a thing of the past. Mr. Jones is forced to eliminate one of his Manager positions.
Mr. Jones has to make compromises on the upkeep of his store.
The paint peels. The refrigerated aisles fall in to disrepair. The store begins to stink.

After much yelling and wringing of hands about a "Living Wage" the Government raises the minimum wage to $10 an hour.

Mr. Jones now has no choice but to get a loan and install an automated check out line. He can only afford to pay a single full time checker. The cost of the automation is so much that he must eliminate his manager position. He can not afford to pay another stocker at $10 an hour, therefore the produce issue is never addressed.

A man who was once a proud owner an community pillar is now seen as a disgusting miser who allowed a great community business fall in to squalor. A man who once employed 10 people now employs only two.


Raising the minimum wage costs jobs and destroys small businesses. Only the big box companies can survive. You want to promote business? You want to create jobs? Stay away from the minimum wage.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

How Stupid is the SAFE Act?

These rifles are safe, legal and will help reduce violence committed with a gun:




These rifles are death machines, that only the Government should be allowed to have:




These rifles have the exact same inner workings, fire the exact same round, and use the exact same magazine. The only difference is the cosmetics. How they "look." The SAFE Act calls a rifle an "Assault Weapon" if it has two of the following:
  • Detachable magazine with capacity greater than 10 rounds
  • Folding or telescoping (collapsible) stock
  • Pistol grip
  • Forward grip
  • Bayonet lug
  • Flash suppressor
  • Muzzle break
  • Barrel shroud
All of the "safe" rifles have at most one of the aspects above, the detachable magazine. All of the killer death machines have at least two and some have more of the aspects listed above.

Of course, the "safe" rifles I chose to show are all black and scary looking, and the killer death machines are all pink, purple and feature Hello Kitty. This, for the ironically impaired, was to prove a point. These laws do NOTHING to prevent crime. They only serve to make it more difficult for law abiding citizens to legally purchase weapons.

The issue is that lawmakers writing gun bans, have no idea what they are doing. They can't come out and announce a ban on all semi-automatic weapons, which is what they want to do. They must try and get around that by banning cosmetic aspects of rifles, that in no way affect the way the rifle works.

Stupid people do stupid things because they are stupid.

Monday, February 10, 2014

What The Hell Is Going On????

The CBO released a report that stated that The Affordable Care Act “creates a disincentive for people to work.” The report predicted the law would lead to fewer hours worked, costing the equivalent of nearly 2.5 million jobs.

How?  Well, basically, the Government has rules set up as to how much money you can make, and how much time you can work before it STOPS paying you in the form of subsidies, tax credits, food stamps, medicare, etc.

We have all heard the story about the old plumber who only works a set amount of hours for a set amount of money because any more and he would lose his Social Security payment. It's that but on a massive, nationwide scale.

The Democrats come out and actually say this is a wonderful thing.  Over the weekend Peter King said that "Americans work too much already."  Jay Carney said that "Opportunity created by affordable, quality health insurance allows families in America to make a decision about how they will work, or if they will work."  He seriously said that.
Harry Reid said that it is a great thing, because Americans are no longer "locked" in to a job they don't want because of the health insurance.

I read these quotes, and I stared at the pages in disbelief.  I thought that perhaps I was reading satire, but no, they were actual quotes.

I don't know what is going on any longer.  Who the fuck is going to pay for all of this health care and food stamps and what not if we are shrinking the economy by people not working?  The money has to come from somewhere.  There is no such thing as a free lunch.  You can't keep taxing the rich to make this up.  You have to print money, or borrow it or both.

I don't get it.  The only explanations that make any sense at all are that this is a power grab designed to incentivise a majority of Americans to vote in perpetuity for Democrats.  But even then that doesn't tell the complete story.  A simple power grab doesn't justify destroying the nation that you are intending to grab the power of.
Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are NOT stupid.  Quite the contrary, they are very very very smart.  They must see the danger of overextending the debt out causes.  The only thing that tells the whole story is that they WANT the United States of America to collapse economically.  The WANT a constitutional convention that will recreate the nation.

I don't want to think like a conspiracy nut, but...  Just what the hell is going on here????

Monday, February 3, 2014

I No Understand...



People are upset at this commercial. Why?  Because a patriotic song is sung in multiple languages.

If this is your takeaway from this commercial, you are either a xenophobe or a racist.  I know not, nor do I care, wich.

The United States of America is so much better for its diversity of people.  Its exchange of cultures rather than the waring of cultures.  This commercial celebrates that.

It is a beautiful commercial.

My Favorite Beers

I am somewhat of a beer snob. I like beer, and all of the nifty styles that barely, hops, yeast, and water can make. I always get asked what my favorites are, so... I tried to put them down. These are what my favorites are RIGHT NOW. That could change tomorrow with the discovery of a new brew.
I have some styles that have a single stand out, and some that tie.
This list represents beers that I personally like.  It is my list.  Others will have other lists.  I'm not saying that other brews are bad, only that these brews appeal to my tastes.

It will be plain to see that I like certain breweries.  Sierra Nevada clearly comes out as one of my very favorite breweries.  As does Anchor and Great Divide.  They make good beers!!

I tend to like the American style of brewing.  American styles tend to use a stronger hop blend than the other styles and a very much like that.  The styles I have represented are ones that I like.  I have tried nearly all of the recognized styles and there are some that I just don't care for, such as the many English styles.  It's not that these styles are bad, its just that I would choose something else, typically from the American or German styles, over something from the English styles.  Which is interesting because many of the American styles are directly English in origin.

What are my favorite styles???  Tough question...  Right now, I would say my very favorite styles are the American Pale Ale, the American IPA, and the Saison/Farmhouse Ale.

Many thanks to Beer Advocate for their descriptions!!!!

Ales

Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste. Most ales contain hops, which help preserve the beer and impart a bitter herbal flavor that balances the sweetness of the malt.

American Styles


American Blonde Ale

More or less a creation from the craft-brewery movement, and also reminiscent of the German style Kölsch. Pale straw to deep gold for color. Usually an all malt brew, well attenuated with a lightly malty palate. Most have a subdued fruitiness. Hop character is of the noble variety, or similar, leaving a light to medium bitterness. A balanced beer, light bodied and sometimes lager like.

  • Real Ale Brewing Company Fireman's #4

American Brown Ale

Spawned from the English Brown Ale, the American version can simply use American ingredients. Many other versions may have additions of coffee or nuts. This style also encompasses "Dark Ales". The bitterness and hop flavor has a wide range and the alcohol is not limited to the average either.
  • Big Sky Brewing Company Moose Drool

American Pale Wheat Ale

An Americanized version of a Hefe Weizen, these beers range within the pale to golden range in color. Reminiscent of a Hefe Weizen in appearance, unless filtered. Long-lasting head with a light to medium body, higher carbonation is proper. German Weizen flavors and aromas of banana esters and clove-like phenols will not be found. Most use a substantial percentage of wheat malt. Hop character will be low to high but most are moderate in bitterness. There may be some fruitiness from ale fermentation though most examples use of a fairly neutral ale yeast, resulting in a clean fermentation with little to no diacetyl. 
  • Boulevard Wheat

American Pale Ale

Of British origin, this style is now popular worldwide and the use of local ingredients, or imported, produces variances in character from region to region. Generally, expect a good balance of malt and hops. Fruity esters and diacetyl can vary from none to moderate, and bitterness can range from lightly floral to pungent. 

American versions tend to be cleaner and hoppier, while British tend to be more malty, buttery, aromatic and balanced.
  • Serra Nevada Pale Ale
  • Boulevard Pale Ale
  • Anchor Liberty Ale

American India Pale Ale

The American IPA is a different soul from the reincarnated IPA style. More flavorful than the withering English IPA, color can range from very pale golden to reddish amber. Hops are typically American with a big herbal and / or citric character, bitterness is high as well. Moderate to medium bodied with a balancing malt backbone.
  • Cigar City Jai Alai 
  • Caldera IPA
  • Serra Nevada Torpedo IPA

American Double India Pale Ale

Take an India Pale Ale and feed it steroids, ergo the term Double IPA. Although open to the same interpretation as its sister styles, you should expect something robust, malty, alcoholic and with a hop profile that might rip your tongue out. The Imperial usage comes from Russian Imperial stout, a style of strong stout originally brewed in England for the Russian Imperial Court of the late 1700s; though Double IPA is often the preferred name.

  • Great Divide Hercules 

American Porter

Inspired from the now wavering English Porter, the American Porter is the ingenuous creation from that. Thankfully with lots of innovation and originality American brewers have taken this style to a new level. Whether it is highly hopping the brew, using smoked malts, or adding coffee or chocolate to complement the burnt flavor associated with this style. Some are even barrel aged in Bourbon or whiskey barrels. The hop bitterness range is quite wide but most are balanced. Many are just easy drinking session porters as well. 
  • Anchor Porter

American Stout

Inspired from English & Irish Stouts, the American Stout is the ingenuous creation from that. Thankfully with lots of innovation and originality American brewers have taken this style to a new level. Whether it is highly hopping the brew or adding coffee or chocolate to complement the roasted flavors associated with this style. Some are even barrel aged in Bourbon or whiskey barrels. The hop bitterness range is quite wide but most are balanced. Many are just easy drinking session stouts as well. 
  • Sierra Nevada Stout

American Imperial Stout

The American Double Stout gets some of it inspiration from the Russian Imperial Stout. Many of these are barrel aged, mostly in bourbon / whiskey barrels, while some are infused with coffee or chocolate. Alcohol ranges vary, but tend to be quite big, and bigger than traditional Russian Imperial Stouts. Most tend to have cleaner alcohol flavors, higher hop levels, and more residual sweetness. Very full-bodied with rich roasted flavors far surpassing normal stouts.
  • Great Divide Yeti

Belgian Styles

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

On the same path as the Belgian Dark Ale but obviously higher in alcohol with more of an all around character. The alcohol character can be deceivingly hidden or can be very bold and in your face. Look for lots of complexity within a delicate palate. Hop and malt character can vary, most are fruity and may have mild dark malt flavors. Phenols will range from minimal to high and most will be light on the hops. All in all most are spicy and alcoholic.
  • Chimay Grande Réserve (Blue)

Dubbel

The Belgian Dubbel is a rich malty beer with some spicy / phenolic and mild alcoholic characteristics. Not as much fruitiness as the Belgian Strong Dark Ale but some dark fruit aromas and flavors may be present. Mild hop bitterness with no lingering hop flavors. It may show traits of a steely caramel flavor from the use of crystal malt or dark candy sugar. Look for a medium to full body with an expressive carbonation. 

Traditionally a Trappist Ale, many brew similar "Abbey Dubbels" to try and emulate the originals (Trappist Westvleteren 8, Westmalle Trappist Dubbel & Chimay Première).
  • Chimay Première (Red)
  • Brewery Ommegang Ommegang (Abbey Ale)

Saison / Farmhouse Ale

Saisons are sturdy farmhouse ale that was traditionally brewed in the winter, to be consumed throughout the summer months. Not so long ago it was close to being an endangered style, but over recent years there's been a massive revival; especially in the US. 

This is a very complex style; many are very fruity in the aroma and flavor. Look for earthy yeast tones, mild to moderate tartness. Lots of spice and with a medium bitterness. They tend to be semi-dry with many only having touch of sweetness.
  • Stillwater Artisan Ales Stateside Saison
  • Boulevard Tank 7

Tripel

The name "Tripel" actually stems from part of the brewing process, in which brewers use up to three times the amount of malt than a standard Trappist "Simple." Traditionally, Tripels are bright yellow to gold in color, which is a shade or two darker than the average Pilsener. Head should be big, dense and creamy. Aroma and flavor runs along complex, spicy phenolic, powdery yeast, fruity/estery with a sweet finish. Sweetness comes from both the pale malts and the higher alcohol. Bitterness is up there for a beer with such a light body for its strength, but at times is barely perceived amongst the even balance of malts and hops. The lighter body comes from the use of Belgian candy sugar (up to 25% sucrose), which not only lightens the body, but also adds complex alcoholic aromas and flavors. Small amounts of spices are sometimes added as well. 

Tripels are actually notoriously alcoholic, yet the best crafted ones hide this character quite evil-like and deceivingly, making them sipping beers.
  • Chimay Tripel (White)
  • New Belgium Trippel Belgian Style Ale 

Belgian Witbier

A Belgian Style ale that's very pale and cloudy in appearance due to it being unfiltered and the high level of wheat, and sometimes oats, that's used in the mash. Always spiced, generally with coriander, orange peel and other oddball spices or herbs in the back ground. The crispness and slight twang comes from the wheat and the lively level of carbonation. This is one style that many brewers in the US have taken a liking to and have done a very good job of staying to style. Sometimes served with a lemon, but if you truly want to enjoy the untainted subtleties of this style you'll ask for yours without one. Often referred to as "white beers" (witbieren) due to the cloudiness / yeast in suspension.
  • Avery White Rascal

English Styles

Extra Special Bitter

ESBs are essentially more aggressive and more balanced Bitters, both in alcohol and hop character, but nothing overpowering. Color range will be similar, though leaning towards the darker end of the scale; dark golds to copper. Low carbonation. Malts tend to be more pronounced, often toasty and fruity, with maybe some notes diacetyl. And despite "bitter" being in its name, ESBs are not really all that bitter. They key to an ESB is balance.
  • French Broad 13 Rebels

German Styles

Altbier

A Düsseldorf specialty, an Altbier is a German style brown ale, the “alt” literally translates to "old" in German, and traditionally Altbiers are conditioned for a longer than normal periods of time. Other sources note that "alt" is derived from the Latin word "altus," which means "high" and refers to the rising yeast. Take your pick, but the extended conditioning mellows out the ale's fruitiness and produces an exceptionally smooth and delicate brew. The color ranges from amber to dark brown, medium in carbonation with a great balance between malt and hops.

"Sticke" is a stronger version of an Altbier, thus a bit more malty and hoppy to boot.
  • Uerige Obergärige Hausbrauerei Uerige Sticke

Hefeweizen

A south German style of wheat beer (weissbier) made with a typical ratio of 50:50, or even higher, wheat. A yeast that produces a unique phenolic flavors of banana and cloves with an often dry and tart edge, some spiciness, bubblegum or notes of apples. Little hop bitterness, and a moderate level of alcohol. The "Hefe" prefix means "with yeast", hence the beers unfiltered and cloudy appearance. Poured into a traditional Weizen glass, the Hefeweizen can be one sexy looking beer. 
  • Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
  • Sierra Nevada Kellerweis

Kölsch

First only brewed in Köln, Germany, now many American brewpubs and a hand full of breweries have created their own version of this obscure style. Light to medium in body with a very pale color, hop bitterness is medium to slightly assertive. A somewhat vinous (grape-y from malts) and dry flavor make up the rest.
  • Brauhaus Sion Sion

Scottish Styles

Scottish Ale/Wee Heavy

Scotch Ales are strong ales, also known as "Wee Heavy." In the 19th century Scotland, they'd also be known as 160/-, a nomenclature based on the now obsolete shilling currency. 

Scotch Ales traditionally go through a long boil in the kettle for a caramelization of the wort. This produces a deep copper to brown in colored brew. Compared to Scottish Ales, they'll be sweeter and fuller-bodied, and of course higher in alcohol, with a much more pronounced malty caramel and roasted malt flavor. A low tea-like bitterness can be found in many examples. Best served in a "thistle" glass.
  • Great Divide Claymore Scottish Ale
  • Upstream Brewing Company Dundee Export Scotch Ale 

Lagers

Lager is a type of beer that is fermented and conditioned at low temperatures. Pale lager is the most widely consumed and commercially available style of beer in the world. Bock, Pilsner and Märzen are all styles of lager. There are also dark lagers, such as Dunkel and Schwarzbier. The term Lager is a cognate of ligrs, Gothic for "place of lying (down)".

American Styles

American Amber Lager

A sort of catch-all category, these lagers boast a bit more malt backbone and overall character than their lighter sister styles. Bitterness is generally low.
  • Mac and Jack's Brewery African Amber

American Pale Lager

Sometimes referred to as "all-malt," this category of beer refers to lagers brewed without cereal adjuncts (mainly rice or corn). Though often still yellow and fizzy, these beers will display a broader depth of malt flavor and a more complex bitterness vs. their adjunct counterparts.
  • Boulevard KC Pils

California Common / Steam Beer

The California Common, or Steam Beer, is a unique 100% American style lager. It's usually brewed with a special strain of lager yeast that works better at warmer temperatures. This method dates back to the late 1800's in California when refrigeration was a great luxury. The brewers back then had to improvise to cool the beer down, so shallow fermenters were used. So in a way the lager yeast was trained to ferment quicker at warmer temperatures. Today's examples are light amber to tawny in color, medium bodied with a malty character. Mildly fruity with an assertive hop bitterness. 

Anchor Brewing Co. trademarked the term "Steam Beer" and as such all other beers must be legally referred to as "California Common."
  • Anchor Steam

German Styles

Bock

The origins of Bock beer are quite uncharted. Back in medieval days German monasteries would brew a strong beer for sustenance during their Lenten fasts. Some believe the name Bock came from the shortening of Einbeck thus "beck" to "bock." Others believe it is more of a pagan or old world influence that the beer was only to be brewed during the sign of the Capricorn goat, hence the goat being associated with Bock beers. Basically, this beer was a symbol of better times to come and moving away from winter. 

As for the beer itself in modern day, it is a bottom fermenting lager that generally takes extra months of lagering (cold storage) to smooth out such a strong brew. Bock beer in general is stronger than your typical lager, more of a robust malt character with a dark amber to brown hue. Hop bitterness can be assertive enough to balance though must not get in the way of the malt flavor, most are only lightly hopped. 
  • Anchor Bock Beer

Doppelbock

Bocks--you know, those beers with goats on the label--are relatively strong German lagers. Doppelbocks--as the name might suggest--are typically even stronger and contain enough malty goodness that they’ve been considered a meal in a glass for centuries. Generally they have a very full-bodied flavor and are darker than their little Bock brothers and sisters and a higher level of alcohol too. They range in color from dark amber to nearly black, and dark versions often have slight chocolate or roasted characters.
  • Tommyknocker Brewery Butthead Doppelbock
  • Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan Weihenstephaner Korbinian
  • Upstream Brewing Company Gladiator Doppelbock 

German Pilsner

The Pilsner beer was first brewed in Bohemia, a German-speaking province in the old Austrian Empire. Pilsner is one of the most popular styles of lager beers in Germany, and in many other countries. It’s often spelled as "Pilsener", and often times abbreviated, or spoken in slang, as "Pils." 

Classic German Pilsners are very light straw to golden in color. Head should be dense and rich. They are also well-hopped, brewed using Noble hops such has Saaz, Hallertauer, Hallertauer Mittelfrüh, Tettnanger, Styrian Goldings, Spalt, Perle, and Hersbrucker. These varieties exhibit a spicy herbal or floral aroma and flavor, often times a bit coarse on the palate, and distribute a flash of citrus-like zest--hop bitterness can be high.
  • Victory Prima Pils

Märzen / Oktoberfest

Before refrigeration, it was nearly impossible to brew beer in the summer due to the hot weather and bacterial infections. Brewing ended with the coming of spring, and began again in the fall. Most were brewed in March (Märzen). These brews were kept in cold storage over the spring and summer months, or brewed at a higher gravity, so they’d keep. Märzenbier is full-bodied, rich, toasty, typically dark copper in color with a medium to high alcohol content. 

The common Munich Oktoberfest beer served at Wies'n (the location at which Munich celebrates its Oktoberfest) contains roughly 5.0-6.0% alcohol by volume, is dark/copper in color, has a mild hop profile and is typically labeled as a Bavarian Märzenbier in style.
  • Augustiner Bräu Märzen Bier

Why I Hate Southwest Airlines

I hate Southwest Airlines. I hate just about everything about them, except their "bags fly free" policy. Of that, they are the only major airline that has included the cost of shipping bags into their ticket. I applaud them for that, because it limits the amount of stuff that people take on board. Other airlines could learn from this policy, as, despite my hate for them, this policy has been the deciding factor in my airline choice because I wanted to travel with lots of stuff on a vacation, and not have my ticket price increase by $100 or more dollars. But aside from that, I hate them.

I'll start with just the annoyances, and end with why I really really really hate them.

I hate the informal way they treat their customers.
It seems to come in one of two flavors, either I'm their best buddy, or they hate my freaking guts. Either way it is never profesional.
They sing silly ditties to welcome me to cities.
They throw snacks at me.
They act like it is a HUGE deal bring something to me, even though they just asked if there was anything else they could do.
They make jokes about other airlines.
They make jokes during the safety briefing.
They generally treat me like a child.
Because of this general informality, customers think that they can get away with more than on other airlines. They fight with the people that hate their guts, and get buddy buddy with the best frienders when they do something that they shouldn't do. Like get up to go to the restroom during taxing or when the airplane is on final.
Flight attendants are much more than sky waiters. They are responsible for the safety of the passengers, and not having a professional demeanor lessens the customer's sense of authority, and makes them less likely to comply with Flight Attendant instructions.

I hate them.

I hate the way they do their boarding.
They line you up like cattle and call the number that you are in. Some unknown random computer algorithm chooses this order for them, because, with the exception of the premium customers, there is no rhyme or reason that you get placed in line where you do.

I hate them.

I HATE the way they do their seating.
Because the seating is open, there is a mad dash to the airplane door from the boarding line. There is no guarantee that you will get to sit with the people you are traveling with.
Because people get to choose their seat, the center chair is always last one to be selected. People play the "this seat's taken" game with that center chair to discourage others from sitting there. Most of the time it takes a flight attendant, acting as their best friend, or hating their guts, to force the people to give up the middle chair.
Because it is open seating people push all the way to the back to find those aisle and window seats. When they realize that there are no more window a aisle seats available they turn around and try to get back to the front to take the middle chairs. This causes a massive traffic jam, with people pushing and shoving to get back and forth in the narrow aisle.

I HATE them.

I HATE their be at the gate in 30 minutes before departure policy.
The reason I hate this one is that if your connecting flight is late, even if you are a ticked and confirmed passenger these motherfuckers will sell your seat to a standby passenger, then close the airplane door to send it on its way early.
Despite Southfuckingwest being the reason I am not at the fucking gate 30 min before departure, these assholes are more concerned with getting the plane in the air ahead of schedule than me making my flight.
And, because of their previously noted unprofessional attitudes getting on another flight, because of their fuckup is like asking them to give up Christmas. Because they treat me like a child, instead of the guy who shelled out hundreds of dollars to travel on their shitty airline, it is always assumed that I am to blame for missing the flight. So starts a fight with the desk person to the desk person's supervisor, to the customer service person, to the customer service person's supervisor before I am put on a new flight, stopping fucking Amarillo, with a fucking drink voucher for my trouble.

I HATE THEM.

I HATE the way they have stops built in to their flight schedules. Sure, we can get you to Dallas from Denver! We just have to stop in fucking Amarillo Texas first.
Multiple stops means multiple places for the airplane to be delayed, and starts the vicious circle that was mentioned in the reason previous. So that they can land in Amarillo, and get to Dallas on time, they fuck you in the ass when your flight is late arriving in Amafuckingrillo so that you could make the connection to Dallas.
So, now you are sitting in the plane waiting for people to board it Amarillo. The premium passengers walk on and about shit themselves when they see they can't get the window seat in the exit row. This starts a fight with the Flight Attendants and the person sitting in the exit row seat. So, despite paying more money for the flight, the premium customer gets fucked in the ass when it comes to seating.

I HATE THEM!

Most of all I HATE HATE HATE HATE the people that fly Southwest. They are the most inconsiderate assholes on the fucking planet. The flight is full, so I think I'll shove my 40 year old carry on bag in the overhead bin sideways so that no other bags can be placed in that bin. I'll also shove whatever coat or "personal" item in the overhead sucking up any additional space that might have been left. Then I will scream bloody fucking murder when someone touches said bag or other personal shit in the overhead when they come to sit in one of the two other seats. When a flight attendant says that the flight is full and that your 40 year old oversized bag must be checked, they throw a hissy fit so large it would make brattiest, most spoiled two year old take notes.
Or maybe my carry on is a FUCKING GARBAGE BAG that takes up all of the space in the overhead, because you shoved your entire wardrobe in there.

I hate that on every single Southwest flight there is at least one asshole that will start talking to the rest of the airplane for some stupid fucking reason. "I'm going to Dallas to see my baby-momma!! Wooooooooo!!!" Sit down. Nobody cares. Shut the fuck up.

Does Southwest have some weight requirement for their passengers that I am not aware of? It seems like every other person is so fat they take up their seat and half of yours. For fuck's sake STOP FUCKING EATING!! Because the cabin is filled to the brim with corpulent dickheads, 5 seconds into the flight they all start farting and generally smelling up the cabin. Not to mention the constant stream of fat morons making their way to the lavatory where they release odors that could be weaponized by North Korea.

Most of all, I absolutely fucking HATE the sense of entitlement that most Southwest passengers carry around with them. Yes, we all know you paid good money for that seat. So did everyone on the plane. Sit the fuck down and shut up. No, the seat is not too small, you are too fucking fat. Yes, we all know that the prices of drinks on airplanes are high. If they are too expensive for you, don't order one, and shut the fuck up. If the person next to you orders a drink, they don't need to hear from you about how you would never pay that much for a beer. Shut the fuck up.
I HATE THEM!!!!!!!!

So, to sum up, I hate Southwest Airlines.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

But... Who Will Build the Roads????

I saw this picture on the Facebook today:


Everyone's a small government conservative until their state is buried under 2 feet of snow.

It makes my head hurt.  I mean really really really bad.  The creator of this graphic assumes that ONLY government can clear the roads.  This leads into the real issue.  Many simply believe that only Government can build infrastructure.

The hard facts are that, in many places, government has a legislated monopoly on the creation of infrastructure.  They have said that only they can build, and maintain the roads.  However, when relieved of government limitation, anyone has the ability to build infrastructure.  All it takes is investment.

A good example of private road building comes from the Oil and Gas industry.  They need to get their rigs to the wellsites.  These rigs are transported by trucks.  Trucks need roads.  Wellsites, for the most part, are in remote areas where there are no roads.  How do the trucks get there?  The company builds the roads, bridges, and other infrastructure to get their equipment to the site. The investment that the put in to the infrastructure building, is recovered by the sale of their product.

Let's come back to the situation above.  Even with proper planning, no company, or government, would have bought the necessary equipment to handle the situation there.  The company, or government would not be acting in anyone's interest to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of so many snow plows.  However, with proper planning, a situation like the one above could have been mitigated had the government entity responsible for the clearing of roads had a contingency where private citizens and business could have contracted with the government to aid in the road clearing.  Many business would have done it out of their own pocket, and, in the real world, many do illegally.

For some unscientific, anecdotal evidence, we look to the great snow storm in Oklahoma City on Christmas 2009.  About 15 inches of snow was dumped on the completely unprepared city.  Everything shutdown.  The government had no ability to clear the roads, as they only had a single vehicle that could have a snow plow attached to it.  However, they didn't have the snow plow.    So...  What happened?  Did OKC just shut down and everybody rolled over and died? No.  Illegally, business and private citizens attached snow blades to their private vehicles and cleared the roads.  Within a day or two, before equipment arrived from other states, everything was running smoothly.  There were a few people that were ticketed for clearing roads.  But all in all, the problem was solved by private citizens.