A Brewer's Contemplation

This past weekend was a success. Not only did I manage to completely avoid any schoolwork, or shirk all responsible pursuits for that matter, but I am one step closer to finishing my next batch of homemade beer.

The process that occupied my Saturday morning is known as racking. Unlike the corporate breweries such as Budweiser or Coors that produce a shameful example of beer, home brewers do not utilize a filtration system but instead use the racking process.

In the most simplest of terms, to rack one’s beer is to move it from one glass carboy (container that holds beer) to another. Compared to brewing day, or opening the first bottle, this is a bit more tedious of a process but one that is necessary.

Once a beer has completed the fermentation process, it leaves particulates and a caked layer of yeast at the bottom- not something you would want in your drink. Racking beer allows it to continue to the next stage in the process, while leaving the junk behind.

There are often moments in life, where we too, may need to undergo a racking process. An opportunity to move forward and mature as an individual while leaving those unwanted particles of the past to be tossed out on garbage day.

I remember using the transition from high school to college as racking process. As a student in a new town where there was fresh start, I was able to remove obstacles from my home town that would have impeded my capacity to grow as both a student and an individual.

When racking beer, there is a specific procedure to follow. One cannot merely pour it into another container, as it would carry the undesired content with it.  The beer must be siphoned with highly sanitized equipment that is carefully placed as to eliminate splashing and minimize the amount of oxygen and external elements that could be exposed to the beer.

Certain tasks, that seem tedious in procedure and minimal in importance, can often play a major role in the success or failure of a goal. When racking, it is just as important to keep new bacteria and possible contaminants out as it is to leave the unwanted behind. Beer is highly sensitive to its surroundings and easily contaminated while it is being produced.

If self-improvement is to be a worthy end worthwhile of one’s effort, then as individuals and as a society that is constantly moving from one stage to the next; it becomes important that as the next chapter is entered, old stumbling blocks are left behind while necessary precautions are taken to eliminate new vices and corruption.

It is necessary to go through a filtering process. It can be unhealthy for the beer, as it ages, to remain mixed with the particles and yeast that, through a reactive chemical process, made it what it is today.

As an individual, it is important for progress and growth to learn from the experiences and challenges that are faced. It is unhealthy that as one grows and matures, he or she still faces the same problems of one’s younger years.

When it comes to racking, it’s best to do it right and as clean as possible. A little work can go a long way and after all, no will want to taste bacteria infected beer.

George Will: A Brain Workout

After a lazy summer of eating processed foods and drinking beer, I decided last night to get back into shape and begun the laborious routine of pushups, weights, kettle bells and sit ups. Needless to say, my body wasn’t used to it- I woke up sore.

Reading a George Will article can have a similar effect on one’s brain. If you haven’t been exercising your brain, it might hurt when you get to the end. In spite of the possible headache, the columns are well worth the effort, like I hope my efforts at the gym are.

Will writes a column twice a week, providing refreshingly logical analysis on political and domestic affairs. He is able to boast of a Princeton doctorate degree in political science, a Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1977 and an extensive career in journalism ranging from an editor for the National Review, a news analyst for ABC’s This Week, and is a columnist as a member of the Washington Post Writers Group.

From a strong conservative viewpoint, Will is able to consistently convey current political events in an intellectual manner. It provides a unique insight into the controlling entities that govern our lives and encourages readers to also critically contemplate the implications of our leaders in government.

Will’s columns are eloquent and articulate in pointing out the disastrous policies (such as high speed rail) under our current President, while maintaining a capacity to think independently of the Grand Old Party’s rank-and-file members. In the Bush era, Will supported such Republican-opposing policies of withdrawing U.S. soldiers from Afghanistan and a ‘path to citizenship’ for illegal immigrants.

Too few people involved in politics are able to simply look at the facts and make an informed decision based on evidence without an illogical and unbreakable chain to their ideology. George Will is one of those.

Unlike many political columnists on both sides of the aisle, Will does not need to rely purely on heated emotions and repetitive talking points. His most recent column embeds his own opinion, but is intermingled with solid research and factual evidence to support a sensible conclusion.

Will writes in a style similar one would expect in an academia debate. He commonly ties America's past conflicts to today’s circumstances and the world’s aged philosophers to today’s ideology. His opinions are well-grounded, but can necessitate an encyclopedia or history textbook to understand.

Perhaps Will took an extensive course at Princeton in how to use big words that is not common for everyday language, because a dictionary has proven to be a necessary tool to conquer an understanding of his articles.

Unfortunately, his columns don’t have spark notes.

            At some later point today, I will drag myself back to the gym. Despite the hard work and pain, the benefits outweigh the cost.

At some later point this week, I will be reading Will’s next article. Despite the tedious work of looking up definitions, historical meanings and obscure philosophers that are referenced in his columns, the reward of insightful knowledge and intellectual challenge to look meaningfully in today’s political realm is well worth the slight headache.

Make It Yourself

              College is plagued by bills. From tuition payments to Comcast and SMUD, it has become an inevitable, and unpleasant, constant in life. This summer, however, I was struck with an epiphany on how to reduce my expenditures on the biggest weekly grocery item of mine: beer.

              It was sparked by a nostalgic memory I share with my two brothers; a warm sunny afternoon spent messing the kitchen tossing grains, hops, malt extract and yeast into each other. After a couple very complicated steps later and an agonizing month-long wait, we were drinking our very own hand crafted home-made beer that had a memorable taste of ale similar to a Sam Adams.

              Like walking right into a light pole, I stunningly realized that customers are spending a minimum of $11.00 per twelve –pack (if on sale) on their favorite micro-brews such as Fat Tire, Sam Adams or Sierra Nevada when taking a trip down the beverage aisle at the local Food Source; while home brewers can spend as little as $7.50 per twelve-pack while creating a product that is comparable in taste and quality.

Brewing your own beer at home is a cost effective option of ensuring your parties are never in short supply of beer without giving up one’s gas money for the week. After the initial investment in the proper equipment, which ranges from $90-$150 depending on how frivolous one is, a payment of $35.00 on ingredients can be turned into five gallons of pure, liquid nectar.

It’s not always easy to start new projects or learn a new skill. As a busy college student or faithful employee, life can become a zero sum game where one activity comes at the expense of another. Home brewing has become a positive new hobby as it requires a mere approximate four hours to make before placing it under the stairs and forgetting about until its ready the next month.

The rewards of making your own beer are not exclusive to saving money however. Home brewing is a hobby, and it does require a bit of hard work, research and time (three weeks minimum to sit), but the end result is a creation that you can be proud of and is worth every effort.

The first sip of one’s own batch of beer is like receiving the first paycheck for the first job one ever had. There is a beautiful aroma consisting of a blended mixture of accomplishment, success and satisfaction in knowing that each pint is a deserved reward for the work and patience put into it.

I recently finished my first five-gallon batch of beer by myself without my genius brew master brother-in-law at my assistance. Admittedly, I was a bit anxious about how it would turn out. But beyond my own expectations, the beer is vibrant in color, full in flavor, and strong in aroma, leaving a large frothy top once poured in a glass.

If necessity is the mother of invention, I can oddly say I’m glad I am a poor, thirsty college student. When faced with the challenge of spending less on essential groceries (beer is essential), necessity had thrown me in a new, cost-effective, hobby that I thoroughly enjoy and would now do just for enjoyment it brings.

Plus, nobody will remain unimpressed at the Sunday’s football game party when delicious, hand-crafted beer is served refreshingly cold.

Quit Worrying About the Grades & Meet People

Today’s college students will be tomorrow’s global leaders, and today's college students are in the prime marketplace to network themselves as competent employees. The familiar faces at the cheapest happy hour hot spots will soon graduate, maybe mature a bit, and be a familiar face in a professional career.

A good friend of mine from our very own Sacramento State University’s Government department recently obtained a position with a state legislator. In today’s tough economic times, the proverb “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is ringing especially true. As an expectant graduate this year hoping to work with legislation, having a friend in the field can be a great asset.

Forget the academics. With the exception of a few essential major requirement courses, students can barely remember who their academic professors were, let alone the details about a subject they are forced to take in order to graduate.

A roommate of mine, who is a rather studious civil engineer student, was recently explaining how the beginning of the semester is a review of previous course material but it still felt new and foreign. The frank reality is that most students will forget the bulk of what they learn. Of course college students will develop the fundamentals in a particular skill set, but the four years one spends in college offers opportunities far greater than facts and figures.

College is the natural residence of numerous social and academic groups that can often equip students with further networking opportunities and valuable experiences that can make an individual more competitive. Numerous industry-related clubs have brought local professionals and entrepreneurs of their trade to speak and share advice to students.

Although tedious and, even worse, for no pay; many students are able to intern at various institutions and establishments. From observing videotapes of sewer pipes for cracks to entering data on excel files and volunteering at Mercy Hospital, there are numerous Sacramento State students who are currently taking advantage of college internships.

What is the benefit of completing tedious tasks for free?

Besides the obvious answer of having another item to fill up the white on a resume and networking for jobs; it gives students the chance to observe working people (hopefully in their area of interest) on a daily basis. As a student intern myself, I have been able to observe and analyze the difficulties of the full-time staff, the challenges they face and more importantly the skill sets they utilize to overcome those challenges. It can shed light into a career path that cultivates enthusiasm or provide a realistic portrait of an idealistic dream.

Another roommate of mine is currently a master graduate student working on his thesis. During this time, his advisers and professors have been able to give him personalized advise of where to job hunt and has even been introduced to potential employers because of his instructors assistance. College professors and advisers can play key component of aiding students in finding volunteer and job opportunities. There are multiple professors’ college departments that were successful in their careers prior to teaching and are often too eager to share their knowledge of the industry.

The greatest aspect of college is the series of opportunities it provides. It’s about the extracurricular that makes a graduate both competitive and competent in a rough economic market. Facts can be learned and skills developed, but college provides the opportunities to obtain experience in an educational atmosphere while opening doors into the offices of current, leading individuals in a variety of industries. The networking and extracurricular activities a college can offer gives a major advantage to those fortunate enough to pursue higher education.

I am often told by professionals through my internship that its not what you know, its about who you can trust. Students can quit worrying about the A, and use these four years to harvest relationships.

Know Matter How Hard You Plan

   As an immaculate planner, there has never been a semester that I have had difficulty finding a schedule that works flawlessly. One that fits in rhythm with the various activities I have engrossed myself in; ranging from club meetings as a student officer to a dedicated intern for a state assemblywoman. That was true until the beginning of this semester.

   Contrary to certain perceptions, a 294.00 tuition increase is not maintaining the availability of classes and possibly, the quality, of education in the California State University system. The experience of my first week as a senior has give an unfortunate, but personal, taste of the effects that budget cuts in California is having on numerous students throughout the state. 

  As a senior entering into the first semester of my fourth year, I personally had been enrolled in each class I needed to earn my degree this fall. That is correct, it would have been possible for me to graduate in only three and a half years; quite an achievement I would have been proud of. However, one of the mandated classes that I was enrolled in for my degree in Government-Journalism was dropped before school even started. It quickly became an administrative nightmare to try to overcome. I have reluctantly settled to pick up a minor and graduate in the spring instead.

   Despite a slight annoyance at not graduating this semester, I eagerly began my week on Monday to attend the three classes I was fortunate to get into. As I show up for my first class of the day, Western Philosophy, I am surprised to see no instructor in the classroom. I had unknowingly enrolled in an eLearning class, which meant that our classroom merely displayed a live televised version of the class (this was actually a welcomed surprise for most students). However, it was by mere fortune that one student in the classroom knew how to operate the classroom projector because there was only a mere note on the chalkboard instructing us to turn to channel 30. Interestingly, I was not the only student who was expecting a professor in the classroom. I'm not sure why I was surprised to find that a quality education has been reduced to a handwritten note instructing us to turn on T.V.

   After going through the introductory motions of the first day of school, filled with mispronounced roll calls and repetitive syllabuses, I was looking forward to the last class of the day. Upon my five-minute early entrance to this class, I had found myself stepping into a furnace. There were already more students than desks crammed into one of the campus's smaller classrooms and an even greater number of students trailing behind. Lets not forget, I was early. Sitting in the stifling heat at a small table in the front corner of the classroom craning my neck forward desperately trying to read the potential test material on the chalkboard regarding something important (I recall something about a constitution), I was merely thrilled I was not the unfortunate late student sitting on the floor in front of the doorway. As this was an American political thought class, my thoughts began to dwell on our nation's political roots.

   In ancient Greece there was a legislator that made the death penalty a common form of punishment for even minor of offenses. His name was Draco, hence the term draconian. Although my life is not quite at stake here, the term does seem to apply towards the administrative behavior of our beloved school. Ancient Greece also gave birth to democracy, which begs the question, how would things be different at Sacramento State if decisions were made a little bit more democratically?