the Caffinated Sophist

Meaningful Messages from Commercials

2014-07-13T14:27:00.003-05:00

Maybe some of you have seen these; but I have found these to be amazingly inspiring, powerfully emotional, and with incredible meaning towards our personal lives as a whole of society.
Underneath is one of the best ones (I actually have several favorites) of these 'Thai Life Insurance' commercials. The message I received is that 'Goodness spreads both within and without on deeds of not expecting a reward, other than that the power of goodness of the deeds themselves.'

A Tale Told by a Dragon

2011-12-13T02:50:00.003-06:00

I am the ninth son of the ninth son of the Great High Dragon-King of the Eastern Sea, Ao Guang, whom all of his descendants call Grandfather. During a great flood, during the early Xia Dynasty – which also was my eleventy-first birthday – my Grandfather provided a home for me. The home was at first humble, small, and in the midst of a great misty bamboo forest, yet it was also a pristine clear brook with access to hot vents from deep within the earth creating springs up and down my brook. I had not yet gained enough fortune or glory of my own; nor had I made a name for myself, where my Grandfather did not yet see fit to find a bride for me or servants of fish, turtles, snakes, and the like. No, but I was content at being alone in my palace within the brook of the bamboo forest.

My brook had grown from a creek to a tributary then into a wide and deep stream over the next thousand years, yet remained heated and clear. The bamboo forest grew tall and thick. Each bamboo tree was as thick round as a human. The mist from both my stream and from the mountains slowly inched through and lingered, hanging on each of the tallest bamboo braches. From tiny heated tributaries, flowing and spilling from tiny waterfalls of the foothills of the mountains, came the principle warmth that, not only contributed to my stream and making it as a long wondrous spring, but also created the mystical beauty that surrounded the ever-so green and misty area. The beauty of my stream became a legend and a wonder to mortals. So much so, they built a small village nearby as well as shrines honoring me surrounding the stream and the edges of the forest. It was then I finally started to build enough fortune and glory of my own; but it was too little too late. For my stream, my home, became too wondrous that the villagers became too many and too greedy.

They stole my stream! They dammed it up; for their own selfish needs! They placed their dam, up current, leaving my palace dry, barren, and destroyed. I was now homeless and forgotten. I first sought shelter in the nearby bamboo forest, scaring away any villager, woodsmen, or anyone wanting wood from the forest. Nevertheless, my deeds were in vain, there were too many, and they felt that their need of wood was too great. Therefore, I sought shelter in a cave in a nearby mountain range, yet it was home already to demons.

I fought them and ran them out. “This cave is now mine!” I yelled at them. The demon tribe, the Blue Jade Monkey Demon Tribe, stole treasures from nearby villages for many generations; treasures of gold, silver, jewels, plates, goblets, swords, armor, shields, vases, tables, and more they acquired. I now inherited the treasure and the cave – which was properly named “Blue Jade Cave,” for most of the interior was made from a greenish-blue jade.

For over half a century, I slowly gathered fortune this way, by conquering over the demons that hid in the mountains of Taihang. Some demons had more gold and silver, others had magical treasures like a Gourde of Plenty that provided anything that the bearer wanted, or the Silver Tooth Spear that could cut through mountains, or a more useful tool against the demons themselves, was the Gourde of Void, that sucked in any – and all – that the bearer wanted to be trapped. I also won over missing both human and spirit daughters – kidnapped from the demons as slaves – at the same time of conquering golden treasures from the demons. After rescuing them they asked either to be returned to their homes, or to remain with me as servants or wives. My ventures and conquests became famous, part by the stories of the ventures themselves and part by the peace I created, for the mortals around the mountains. Many of the villages named me the great Dragon King Ao Tai, and built shrines and performed theatrical performances honoring my deeds as well a way to keep my efforts in protecting them.

After a century – of finding the Blue Jade Cave – the local (and lesser) gods of the mountains, forests, streams, hills, houses, wells, and trees celebrated loudly – within my new throne room in the Blue Jade Cave – over my absolute victory over ridding the mountains and valleys of fiends and demons and taming the man-eating beasts. During the heights of the festivities, a figure stood in the entryway casting a red glowing shadow causing all my guests to change their glances over to the entry. I called out “Who goes there? Are you here to pay tribute? Are you here for retribution against your fallen demon-brethren? Who are you and why have you come?” For a long moment the cave was quite waiting for a reply, my guests were getting nervous, but before I demanded an answer, an answer was made in reply.

“You should know me young one, I gave you a fine home, yet you squander your inheritance in this cave, like an outcast petty dragon-fiend!” the voice boomed through the cave, making my guests shake and sending them to their knees kowtowing. I too was shaken, but because it was a voice I recognized, for it was my Grandfather, the Great High Dragon King of the Eastern Sea.

I quickly got down, kowtowing while crying out “Grandfather! Grandfather! Forgive me! Forgive me! My home was destroyed! I became homeless!”

“Homeless!? You had a home within my palace under the Eastern Sea. Why did you not return if your palace, I gave you in the bamboo forest, was destroyed?” asked the Great Ao Guang.

“I was ashamed Grandfather. The mortals dammed the stream. Then, when I went to save the bamboo forest, they chopped it up. So I sought refuge in a nearby cave within the mountains. There I fought a demon monkey tribe that stole treasures from the humans for generations. After my success, I decided to protect the mountains and remove the infestation of the demons and fiends that lived throughout the mountain range. Both mortals and immortals around and within the mountains began to respect me and honor me. The mortals, in their villages built shires and called me Ao Tai. I gained treasures from the spoils, rescued daughters that are now either free or my servants and my wives. I have…”

“Enough! I have watched you from afar! I know what you have done. And out of all my children…” my Grandfather started as he approached me. “Out of all my children, none have gained their own prestige through good deeds without help from me. I am proud that you are a child from my line.” I looked directly up at my Grandfather’s face, whom now was standing in front and towering over me. His face was brilliant with a smile that stretched from ear to ear; his moth-eyebrows raised, and his eyes gentle and affectionate. He grabbed me by the shoulders lifting me up, for our eyes to meet, and then embraced me.

Grandfather offered me a proper palace, near his, in the Eastern Sea. He offered a proper dragon bride and sea servants with dragon treasures including dragon-pearls.

I kowtowed my Grandfather then said, “Grandfather, I am deeply honored. But, may I ask what will happen to my current servants and current wives? What will happen to the mortals within and around the mountains? Who will protect them from demons and fiends that will most likely re-enter the mountains after my leave? My apologies Grandfather, but I cannot leave when I am still needed.”

My Grandfather smiled larger than before, then started to laugh so loud that the cave started to shake. “Oh my boy, you continue to surprise me! If I can find you a proper home, respectable for a dragon’s palace, within these mountains, will you consent then?” I nodded in response, then Grandfather said, “Good! Follow me, I know of a grand place!” I and my guests all followed, out of the Blue Jade Cave, down the mountain, and towards a bamboo forest. There Grandfather pointed towards a small river, clear and pristine.

“How can this be!? This cannot be my old home!” I said in wonder.

“It is, I smashed the dam letting loose the water, and redirected smaller brooks and tributaries to feed your new, but old, stream. It is know a river, the Wei River!” Grandfather finished with a bellowing laugh.

“It is named after me, my true name?” I asked in wonder.

“Yes Ao Wei. Be proud of such a river, of such a home. Take good care of it, protect the mortals, and be respectful of the surrounding mountains, for they begged me to help them to give you your home back as a way to pay homage to your great selfless deeds.” Grandfather said.

I looked back to the local gods of the mountains, forests, streams, hills, houses, wells, and trees, and all of them kowtowed in appreciation. I, in return, kowtow to them out of humbleness and for their great gift.

“Before I forget.” Grandfather said, while handing me a very large bag of pearls. “The smaller ones,” Grandfather pulled one out showing me, “are for you wives and servants – though there are now some fish, turtle, and snake servants I called forth to serve you in your palace below the currents. However, these pearls will allow your mortal servants to live underwater, as well as preserving their youth as long as they have them on their possession. The three larger ones are for you find purposes for” my Grandfather said with a wink; and as I held the silk-bag of pearls, he embraced me one more time before saying, “I must be heading off, but I will stop on by some time, but I expect you and your wives to come by to my palace in the Eastern Sea; your father, mother, and brothers and sisters all miss you.” No sooner than he said that, he was in the sky as large as the mountains themselves and as long as the Yellow River, swimming in the clouds as a snake in water headed east.

So my story closes. Though, this was how my story began, my story does still continue by ensuring the Wei River does not flood – or at least not as much to harm the mortals that live near – and patrolling the mountains continuing that they are safe and free from demons. However, most of my time is either spent in my palace, with my family, or at local temples with their theatrical performances to request and beg that the river will not flood. So if you see a red-golden snake with golden eyes and nine red spots on its square head, please be respectful, bow and say “Hello Ao Wei.”

[To my followers on this version of my blog, please follow me on the new version of this blog (the corrected spelling) @ http://caffeinatedsophistsophist.blogspot.com/; Thank You]

[Poem Share] Morning Breath

2011-09-24T23:12:00.001-05:00

You become a dragon in the morning,
did you know?
Wake up early, very early, just as the sun
rises beyond the color turning trees.
It’s best to do this just as you get out of that warm
cocoon that you slept in all night.
I also find comfort, and for a little warmth,
to have a nice steamy dark cup of coffee
in hand, sipping and smelling.
Step outside, the transformation is starting;
take a sip, then breathe in slow and deep,
through your nose.
Then,
Blow out slow and small; now watch!
You are a dragon now!
Breathing smoke and steam into the air.
Now smile,
your childhood is back in your heart warming
what once was cold from days of work.
You are a dragon!
And here, in the mornings,
is your Dragon Morning Breath!

[To my followers on this version of my blog, please follow me on the new version of this blog (the corrected spelling) @ http://caffeinatedsophistsophist.blogspot.com/; Thank You]

Music Shout

2011-09-06T14:50:00.000-05:00

I love all types of music. There are some genres I typically stay away from (e.g. pop, rap, country, etc.,), but do like some songs or artists that come from said genres, which makes me a non-discrimitory listener, though I deffintally have a particular taste.

Mostly I love Jazz, Blues, Classical (which I find it strange it being called, since some "classical" music has been made in the 21st century), Ethnic/World (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Mongolian, etc., folk/traditional music), some Rock, Reggae/Island music, some Chinese pop, some Japanese pop, some Korean pop, even some New Age, and more.

That is where "Music Shout's" will come in. From now on, every now and then, I will place some posts with certain music that I like to share and talk about. I also hope people will make comments about what they think of the song(s) within each Music Shout.

This first Music Shout goes out to Beethoven; my utmost favorite of his works is the small piece Moonlight Sonata. Most people do not like the piano piece, since (to them) it is very solemn or depressing. To me it is relaxing. Turn off the lights, have a cup of hot jasmine tea or small espresso near by, everything off except the stereo on loud and repeat, close your eyes and let the music move you. Each note of this song is so powerful, you feel both the artist's (the one that is actually playing the piece) pain and the pain from Beethoven, whom wrote it. But you also feel this relaxing ease, as if the song is saying, "although there is pain, be at peace, because it will pass." The song always strikes my soul, and at times I feel like crying, not out of sorrow, but because the sorrow is lifted and I find my peace again. Thank you, Ludwig van Beethoven, for your brilliance and you pouring your soul into this piece.

[To my followers on this version of my blog, please follow me on the new version of this blog (the corrected spelling) @ http://caffeinatedsophistsophist.blogspot.com/; Thank You]

Refill Me, Please!

2011-09-02T23:45:00.000-05:00

The heat, the bright sun, and the heat;
practically nothing to do but stay in to avoid
the heat, the bright sun, and the heat.

There isn’t much I like about summer.
Only one, noting but one essence of summer I like;
that being the great cool rain storms.

Not the typical drizzle from a cloudless sky;
nor the afternoon passerby with hot drops that sizzle
and with hotter stale almost nonexistent wind.
Especially, most especially not from the rainless,
greenish, grayish, clouds with yellow sparks dancing,
dancing(!) in the heavens, teasing the dry earth, and friends of the earth.

No, storms I like, are the ones that fill your body –

- with energy from their strong gusts;
ones with brilliant displays of effulgent and incandescent lightening
and plangent and booming thunder that shakes the ground and buildings;
ones with blackening rolling tall columns of giants,
giants with large pales of water at the ready to pour down.

These! These storms, that last for hours, the capability -
to bring the temperature down many of several degrees,
and make night life in summer not only enjoyable, but give life!
These storms, make day life livable, for the next day the air –
is breathable again, life within trees seems renewed, and
and my heart is renewed by their energy, their life, life again.

[To my followers on this version of my blog, please follow me on the new version of this blog (the corrected spelling) @ http://caffeinatedsophistsophist.blogspot.com/; Thank You]

Caffinated Meet Caffeinated

2011-08-22T04:35:00.000-05:00

Yeah I get to have my blog with the appropriate non-missspelled word!

I couldn't get, at first Caffeinatedsophist... so I went with Caffinatedsophist

Now I get both :D those that follow the missspelled, pls follow the right spelling one! (I'll keep both though)

Below is the link, pretty simple change, 1 letter :D

http://caffeinatedsophistsophist.blogspot.com/

My Blog is Carbon Neutral [Poem Share] I Love Trees! by the Caffinated Sophist

2011-08-07T04:05:00.002-05:00

Thank you DCG for that link!

I Love Trees!

I use to love climbing trees,
tried planting as many as I could
(making my parents furious as I did);
I use to talk to them
(no they did not talk back,
but wished they did).

Love smelling the air that they gave,
or just lying up against one
in the spring, summer, or fall,
while the world just slipped past by.

Hid in behind the bushes, using a tree's
shade as cover, while the world was busy,
I was playing with my friends,
oak, ash, beech, magnolian, and birch.

During the winter, when they sleeping in
cold breezes, white powedered pillows and blankets,
I made sure I kept them company, by placing
my hand on their trunks saying
"if you're still here, I'll still be here."

Miyazaki Hayao & Fujisawa Mamoru (aka Joe Hisaishi) a Perfect Pair

2011-08-03T03:31:00.002-05:00

I fanatically love Miyazaki Hayao's films. I was first introduced to his genius with the film called Princess Mononoke (the trailer shown to your right, respectively). I was sick with a real bad case of asthma one day in my early teens; during the night, when everyone was asleep, and I sickly awake, AMC (the movie channel) was doing a special on Miyazaki's work, and I caught the start of his masterpiece もののけ姫 (Mononoke-hime = Princess Mononoke).

Ever since then, I found, bought, and watched almost all of his movies, My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ), Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し), Nausicaa of the Vally of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ), Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城), Pom Poko (平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ), etc.; there's no way I can choose an absolute favorite. All of these movies, plus others I didn't mention, are great on different levels. If I had to, my top 3 (in order) would be Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro.

Princess Mononoke is about a young prince of a tribe in ancient Japan; he is cursed by a demon (FYI: demons in Japanese and Chinese culture are very prevalent throughout many stories told to children even in modern society) and must find a way to relieve himself of it. Through his journey he finds an iron-town that is in a middle of a war between samurai and the forest gods.

Spirited Away is a beautiful children's story about a young girl that has to find a way to save her parents, whom were too greedy and stole food from the spirits. She has to find her courage and make a lot of new friends to save her parents, save her self, and have a great and unforgettable adventure.

My Neighbor Totoro is another wonderful children's story about two girls and their father moving into a new home. Their mother is in a hospital while they discover the area surrounding their new home, where they meet the forest guardian (depending on your translation) named Totoro. This story brings your child out to play and smile.

All of three of my top picks, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro, along with many other Miyazaki Hayao's films, also had the same composer, Fujisawa Mamoru (aka Joe Hisaishi), for the scores of these films. I am a classical music lover, the music in these three movies, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro are breath-taking to a magical experiences in unknown lands.

The video to your above is the main theme of Spirited Away, called One Summer Day, it is also a very beloved song in Japan, used in other films throughout Asia.

The video above is the one of the main themes in Princess Mononoke; I absolutely love this piece. I can lay back and let it take me to long forgotten unreachable worlds and just be at peace.

Though this music piece (above) is not from my top three movies, Howl's Moving Castle is up there (I still can not decide whether this movie is #4 on my list or Pom Poko). This piece, to your left, is also very magical and the main theme for the movie. I chose to do a piece from this movie and not from My Neighbor Totoro, though the music from this film is good, but it was mostly of a childish (as in not the age of the art of the music but the sound it was directed to) tone to it and made with electric synthesizers (in the majority of the pieces to the movie). That is the reason I chose to go with a piece from Howl's Moving Castle instead.

[I had a very hard time with the format and placement of the videos (it took me forever to get it the way it is now); I was half tempted to leave this post without any videos, but I didn't think it would be fair to the readers without a little sample of what I was talking about.]

[Poem Share] Jeeper Creepers by the Caffinated Sophist

2011-07-30T04:29:00.002-05:00

"What are they?"
"Are they blue?"
"They're green, right?"
"They have to be grey?"
"No, I got it! Hazel, no?"
"It seems like they change
from one color to the next,
like they're chameleons."

"They're defiantly blue."
"Are they green?"
"No they're yellow, hmm?"

"I love looking at them"
Why don't we sit over here
and talk about your eyes.

[Poem Share] My Love of Nyx by the Caffinated Sophist

2011-07-30T03:11:00.001-05:00

Nyx fancies me,
and I fancy her.
Her bright white side-ways smile
always brings me joy.

Her cooler dark hair
surrounds me fully,
while my weary eyes leisurely
finds comfort within the darkness of her.

The world looks fuller, richer, and filled
with more mysteries
than with her daughter, Hemera.
Her soft cool and cleaner breath
takes me farther in thoughts
and heals my soul.

I feel like ME!
Not just me, MORE of me!
Free, alive, full, and closer to God!
I feel the world,
I feel the tingling energies surrounding.

And it is this,
this is why I fancy Nyx!
And why she fancies me!
For we understand
peace, peace within.

[Poem Share] Heart Memory by the CaffinatedSophist

2011-07-24T18:00:00.001-05:00

Innocent despair,
frozen and wrapped,
heaven is blind to my
heart's inferno.
Are you proud
of stealing?
Laying naked
broken filled with
a hole the size of
my heart.
Hellbound you burglar,
I forget, why?
I have no memory.

Migraines

2011-07-24T04:19:00.017-05:00

For those that do not know, a migraine is a compendium of all things stinging, throbbing, stabbing, pounding, squeezing, exploding, poking, prodding, pulsating, agonizing, terrorizing, nauseating, annoying, lingering, photophobic, phonophobic, and simply but not so simply an excruciating experience. Medically, a migraine is a headache, but instead of too much blood in the brain (which causes a typical headache), a migraine is where blood vessels constricts/dilates restricting blood to parts of the brain, causing a great deal of pain, which is an understatement at times. So in a way, migraine suffers experience mini-strokes, since migraines, when occurring, allocate blood from where it is needed. Nerves in the brain need blood for it's oxygen and minerals for many things, without it the nerve vessel can't do their job and become aggravated due to starvation of oxygen.

How can you tell it is a migraine? Well there is a big difference between a typical headache and a migraine; but many people, including me, usually (not always) sees what's called 'auras' before a migraine will occur. These auras vary in description, some may be just blurry shapes (usually in a circular shape, non-geometric), others can be colorful (and some times mulit-color that changes colors) tiny dots, others are painful blurs that blind one eye or the other (very rare to have this kind of aura to be in both eyes). Auras do tend to be in one eye or the other, but it is not too rare to have auras in both eyes.

The pain of migraines are intense. The pain does really feel like either, your head is imploding, exploding, someone is stabbing your head with an ice-pick, a person is banging your head (inside) trying to get out, someone or something is tearing and ripping your brain out, crushing or squeezing your head in, or all of the above. Now the placement of these lovely sensations are varied due to where the brain is being aggravated. Each person is different on what aggravates his/her migraines, generally it's stress ("stress" is an internal source since you can handle your stress level with meditation and self-control) or stress caused by an external source (i.e weather, food, pollution, sound, light, etc.,). How the brain is being aggravated is still unknown, but it is known that when the brain is being aggravated, the blood vessels dilate and cause tension on nerves (causing pain). Where the aggravation is, the pain occurs, but, here is the fun part, depending on the actual location of the pain, a suffer's eye sight will be lost, but which eye? If my left side is hurting, my right eye can me loosing its sight; now this not always true to all cases due to that sometimes the effects of the migraine are affecting one eye or the other, so you could be feeling pain on one side and being blinded on the same side. This is also true with other senses, motor ability, and any and all functions of the brain, if the migraine is affecting a part of the brain, it would be no wonder that the person having a migraine would have trouble speaking, navigating down a hall way (loss of balance and coordination), seeing smells, tasting colors, etc., all of these are due to the fact the brain has one part of itself without oxygen to function correctly.

Migraines come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiniest (no more than a nuisance) to needing to go to the hospital for heavy narcotics; lasting from no more than 30 minutes to 7 (or more) days. The pain can be in the back of your head, blinding your eye (where you want to pull your eye out to relieve the pain), move from one side to the next, or in between your eyes (sinus migraines are annoyingly painful); the pain could also pulsate as fast as a jackhammer, or slow, hitting you once, randomly, then won't hit again till another random time (those are the worst, make me sick every time, because once it hits the pain is so intense making me want to vomit). They can just be a small annoying pain that won't go away, making you weak over time, which makes the pain feel worse.

I suffer with migraines. I endure these tediously vexatious incidents 2-3 times within a month or two. I used to receive these painful gifts 3-5 times a month (I'll explain how I reduced them further down). My migraines are stimulated by weather fronts (e.g. storm fronts - with clouds and rain, or hot/cold air moving through that could create clouds with rain - i.e. barometric pressure), stress, and too much consumption of the overly-used MSG (monosodium glutamate).

I first got my migraines when I was younger than a teen (not sure on the exact age); it seemed that my asthma and migraines acted as dogs and cats. One would be aggravated by something, which would aggravated the other; say my migraines would be aggravated by the barometric pressure, which in turns stir up my asthma, or my asthma was disturbed by an allergy, which pesters my migraine. I had a very sickly childhood before getting migraines, so my migraines was just icing on the cake of my life. But I digress; I moved to a dryer climate, alleviating and almost growing out of my asthma, but this same area has very frequent storm traffic. If Oklahoma isn't getting rain, it's getting constant fronts moving in and out on an almost constant basis.

I have experienced many different types of migraines, most of which I have described, but one still baffles me, but my wife loves. Now usually, after a migraine lifts (when the effects of the migraine leaves the brain), a person will feel like a new person, or a new flow of energy coursing through, which the person will probably want to do everything and anything. But with this type of migraine, I have some never-ending urge to keep moving, and clean (shhh you did not hear that from me...); I can't help myself, I just need to be actively moving, my head is hurting like hell, but I have to keep moving and doing something, which ends up cleaning.

Now how have I reduced the amount of my migraine occurrences? I try not depend on pain medicine, some times dependence of these pain meds typically make things worse (but not using pain meds is not smart either). I meditate (learned from books and Buddhists). I make sure I place my self in dark quite rooms, and not just when I am having a migraine, less stimulation to the brain (other than thinking and work of course) the better; constantly trying to keep my head clear of junk and lights and sounds really help. Drinking tea instead of coffee; eating properly (no junk food; eating more vegetables; a good intake on vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and omgea-3's). I am also taking an herbal supplement that I wife's mother sells; it's a Chinese herbal supplement. Now I'm not advertising, nor trying to con my way to have you (my readers) to buy anything. Just telling you what I am taking that helps. This herbal supplement is from a Chinese mushroom that detoxifies the body and has to be taken on a regular basis, I take 2-3 pills a day, everyday. If you like to more, e-mail me. But other wise this is my experience as a migraine sufferer.

[Coffee Shot] Preferences

2011-07-20T18:41:00.004-05:00

This is for those that are not quite known of the art of crafting your own coffee. And what I mean is to have quality coffee in your own home. Coffee: whole beans, grounds, filters, makers, grinders, espressos, mugs, etc., is on the rise due to the economy. More and more people are buying products to make their own coffee at home, and finding the love of making it on their own. So, I thought I would make a reference guide to help people make a better quality coffee at home.
Before I get into preferences, with any and all preferences, you MUST always use either distilled water or at the very least use filtered water. Why? Well when you boil water, tap or other wise (non-distilled), the water leaves mineral deposits on your makers, and what is not left on your makers, those minerals will also be in your coffee, creating a different flavor, usually an awful taste. With filtered water, you may still have mineral deposits (depending on your filter) but not as much as straight tap.
I will address 5 methods of crafting coffee, each has their own level of ease and difficulty.

French Press: Personally I think this method is the easiest of all methods; it's also relaxing to have with family and friends to sit around talking pouring coffee out of the press. All you have to do is, well first get a press, add ground coffee, boil water, pour water into press, , wait, press 3-4 times, and pour. Well that is the short version; you actually need not-so-fine ground coffee. If you put in say espresso fine coffee, the small grounds will get stuck into the small grid holes causing not only a later big mess to clean up, but a problem of pressing the pump down. The boiling water, pretty simple, just make sure to use distilled or filtered water. Waiting for the boiling water to brew the coffee, read the instructions of the individual press, but usually its just a couple of minutes. Pressing, well I usually press one for every minute of waiting (4 minutes of waiting = 4 presses); be careful when pressing, sometimes its tough pressing down, go slowly, do not force it.
Drip machines: Personally I hate these things, but they are the most used contraptions for making that morning cup of Joe, especially at the office/work. At work, there is usually not a choice on how to make the coffee, just brew and cover it up with as much junk as possible to get rid of the awful taste. But at home.... You have NO excuse. Still make sure you use distilled or filtered water; this is where if don't you'll ruin your maker and coffee. Coffee can either be not-so fine to really fine, it doesn't matter, the filter catches it. The filter, try and make sure it is not bleached, there are some natural filters, fairly cheap too; this is important too, since if you use the bleached filters, you might as well have poured bleach in your cup of coffee (it's not that bad, but still, there are still trace amounts being put into your coffee). The reason I hate these things, is that there is no air being put into the coffee. Air is very important with both food and drink, the actual term is aeration, allowing the food or drink to become more flavorful; its why espressos and cappuccinos taste so good, not only the process of making it includes aeration, but the steaming, the frothing also aerates the coffee and milk/cream as well. Now this method is also pretty easy, all you have to do, add water, add filter, add coffee (the amount is the preference of the drinker's need for strong or weak coffee) then press the button (or press a timer to go off at a certain time).
Espresso! My favorite, more challenging too. Again, make sure you use distilled or filtered water; this is where if you don't you'll ruin your maker and coffee. An espresso machine usually comes with a metal filter (which is better than buying a bunch of disposable filters, costing money and a drain on the environment), a glass measuring cup with a handle, with some machines a measuring spoon with or without a press (basically a flat ended 'thing' sometimes at the end of the scoop or by it self) that 'presses' or packs the coffee into the metal filter (kind of like old muskets and black powder), and usually (not always) a spout for the steam to froth your milk and/or coffee. Each machine varies especially on the functions, so make sure you read the instructions. Essentially, you take really fine ground coffee (finer the better) in the metal filter, pack the coffee grounds down (it does help), the amount is not much, but depending on the 'cup' marked increments in the metal filter, will determine the strength of the coffee. The type of coffee can also be varied just as the previous two; however, the bolder coffee is usually preferred in this method of coffee making, though I have tried Kona (a lighter blend of coffee) through the espresso, just magnificent.
Percolators: Not my favorite, but these old contraptions do make a good cup of coffee. This method is like a combination of the press, espresso, and drip. You place the coffee grounds in the filter chamber, pour water in (before placing the coffee, usually), let the water boil and brew the coffee. I won't go into details how this is done, if you get one, there will be instructions, but essentially, when the percolator is done, depending on the percolator, will give a sound and you pour your cup of coffee. I won't say it again about the need for the need of distilled or filter water.
Pods: Aptly named due to the pods, the individual plastic covered cups that are placed in a filter-like chamber, where hot water pours through then into a single cup/mug. These do, I have to admit it, make a good cup of coffee or tea. However, I think their cheap (not the pricing, because they can get expensive). They take away the pleasure of handling the coffee, the smell of an open bag of coffee beans/grounds, the effort putting in making the coffee. Also they can become quite expensive, you have to buy the pods for your coffee (making you totally dependent on these pods). Now there are some Pod machines that have adaptations to put in coffee grounds to make your own coffee; but what I have heard (only tried it several different times, never really 'used' these things) that they don't turn out right like that of espresso, drip, etc., But these would be the fastest, easiest, and personally the laziest way of making coffee.

I hoped this helps, either directing you to making a perfect cup of coffee or leading you to your preference of making coffee.

[Poem Share] Teasing Flower by CaffinatedSophist

2011-07-14T19:56:00.001-05:00

Why do you tease lust from limbs?
Your clothing is more handsome
You dance while the wind hymns
You dare place my heart for ransom

With Springy Feathers and Cotton
Yourself garnish, when heart is wood
I give you incense, deeds forgotten
My efforts and love misunderstood

I shake and shiver when you bloom
Yet, not for me, for everyone to see
I hear cheers for the pink costume
Vain flower my merriment is in thee

Confused my heart is, love, hate
Skin like silk, voice like the banshee
Why do I care for such an ugly trait
For lunacy states, your love is in me

[Had really a hard time with the format with this one, both from transferring from MicroWord, and with blogger's formatting; the stanzas are suppose to be centered but justified]

[Poem Share] The Mood of the Darken Glass by CaffinatedSophist

2011-07-05T01:52:00.001-05:00

“Why do you jeeringly gawp with sapphires of obsidian?”
“I needlessly stare because you are gratuitously gazing.”
“You are a melancholy, demeaning, doubting Gideon!”
“I am bleak for the same reason your insight is burdensome.”
“I detest your haranguing when Nyx is at her meridian!”
“I say naught, while I boorishly stare in insolent reply”
“Yes, and you depart every time around Antemeridian!”
“And reappear for your amusement and necessitation.”
“Why do you confuse me by speaking in your Akkadian?”
“For the same reason you converse to personification.”
“I speak at nothing while you talk of Minimifidian?”
“I am incapable of having faith, yet you doubt your own.”
“Why do you bring terrible memories? You damn Mnemonician!”
“For I am the only one that’s renewed when day recycles.”
“Nothing replenishes, yet you converse like an Ovidian.”
“While nothing is new under it, when the sun’s convalescing.”
“So why do you judge when I’m walking a Paramedian?”
“It’s only self-criticism when…”
“Just like you to leave when our argument reaches circadian.”

[Story Share] Stop Motion by CaffinatedSophist

2011-07-01T23:31:00.001-05:00

[I did this story for a contest, don't remember which one, but it required the ending "Nothing was ever the same after that". I also don't remember why I titled it so; but thought I will share it. Oh, I also don't typically do stories like this, won't tell until the end.]

“Some people swore that the house was hunted,” said the older gentleman in a gray sports jacket, navy slacks, and white buttoned collar shirt.

“Is that something a realtor should say?” asked Kenneth Bond. Kenneth, or Ken, was in his early thirties whom just received a better position at Oklahoma State University in the Philosophy department; better compared to his three-year old position at Ohio State University. Ken and his wife, Felicia, came down to the university town in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to look at different houses. Jack Hesser, a “small time home realtor,” as he calls himself, was showing the Bond’s several different places, one of which, being also the first one was the old Malory place.

“Y’all don’t believe in ghost stories now do ya? She’s a beaut, ol’ German style, stones, ‘stead of bricks, two story, and a basement, which’s an oddity round here. And look at this yeard, since she’s located on the corner, set back’a ways mind you, givin’ a humongous green tree infested pasture.”

“Tree infested?” asked Felicia, “Are the trees infested?”

“No, deary, the yeard’s infested with trees, get it?” laughed in reply the peculiar man.

The couple looked at each other bewildered; Ken broke the tension by mouthing “Yeard?” Felicia tried to hold her giggle in while lightly slapping her husband’s shoulder.

With a barely straight face, Ken asked “Why has this beauty not been selling and why’s price as low as it is? Are there any issues that we need to know about?”

“Now who’s been tellin’ y’all these stories?” asked the realtor.

“Google. Might need to check that out” replied Ken. Felicia now really was trying to hold her laughing.

“Well it’s t’ue that she ain’t been sellin’ but only because the folk round here do believe in ghost stories. But ol’ Jack knows yo people’re nice smart. I can see that clear. What parts y’all from anyways? Meant to ask earlier.”

“Columb…” “California,” interrupted Felicia, with her husband a bit perplexed at her interjecture but went along with it.

“Hmmm, Califoniya folk, that’s fine, real fine. So, y’all want to look in?”

“Yes, but real quick, why is the yard not kept up?” asked Ken emphasizing “yard.”

“Oh that’s just a dispute we havin’ with the grounds-folk, they want extra just cause this past month rained and hailed and they sayin’…”

“Sorry” interrupted Felicia, “Could you show us the inside. We’re looking at other houses, right? And we’re only here ‘till tomorrow morning and we have other business to do.”

Jack was stunned for a second due to the bluntness that he was not use to, but then said, “Sure deary! I’ll just go get the keys in my car.”

“What do you think?” Felicia asking her husband.

Not surprising to Felicia Ken responded “I actually like it. It is beautiful, large, both the house and the yard, close to campus…”

“But its expensive and…”

“It’s a descent price considering, and as for the peculiarness of that ol’ man and this place, well, it’s simple folk lore, that’s all we’re dealing with.”

“Got ‘em!” shouted Jack, as he speed-walking towards the couple. “Here we go.” And off he went passing the Bond’s towards the front door. Jack unlocked the door, with Ken and Felicia following, and opened the door. The Bond’s were gestured in by Jack’s hand; they stepped inside and witnessed an eerie translucent old woman dusting the hallway desk. As the couple turned sharply out the door they noticed Jack was also translucent saying “Don’t y’all want to see the house?”

Nothing was ever the same after that.
[This was my first scary story, not sure why I did a scary story for a contest, but it just came out, maybe the ending made me think of a a scary story. Tell me what you think of it, please.]

Sorry

2011-07-01T01:52:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted anything new lately; I've been busy and trying to work on a series of posts with the title "Selfishness, Individualism, & Society;" kind of a cultural pyschological outlook on how and why our cultures are being hindering by Idividualism. I'm doing research (for fun) on this idea and I know it will end up being more than 2-3 long posts. I was working on it, but lost track of where I was going with it; so it still be some time before I'll post it. I'll try posting other subjects while I'm working on this nice long philosphical talk about the evolution and develution of culture.

A little Rant on capitalism and common sense

2011-06-16T20:26:00.003-05:00

I'm no lover of capitalism, but I do understand how a little capitalism does help an economy of a government(s); but too much really degrades common sense or corrupt capitalism preys on those without common sense. This little rant is from when I saw this commercial about an automatic soup pump, and their reasoning, telling people to buy it is so that "your family won't spread any diseases" (not word-for-word) by not touching the soup-pump and getting filthy. Ok, let's think this out, when you wash your hands, your hands are dirty, the soup-pump is too, but you touch the pump to get soup, to clean your hands, after you are done washing your hands do you touch the soup pump again? No, and if you do, you have soup on your hands, which means you have to wash your hands again.
The problem is, which the commercial conveniently doesn't talk about, is when you touch, with your dirty hands, your faucet's knobs, turning the water on, and then turning them off with clean hands, which makes your hands dirty again. That is why hospital care workers HAVE TO use either motion-sensor faucets, or use dispensable towels to turn the faucet knobs off after washing their hands. The soup-pump is not a big concern! It is a luxury only! I get if you want to sell a product you need to tell the reasons for selling the item or even the reasons behind why the product was ever made, but to create a lie to the consumers, to fear them in buying the product is a whole other unethical marketing. Now, whether the marketing company had the common sense about what was said above and actually lied, well that is to them and whomever you pray to, but this rant I hope will help people use common sense before buying a product, and not letting commercials doing the thinking for you. But, again, if you like the luxury of an automatic soup-pump buy it, but not because you were scared of buying the product. This was more of an example of corrupt capitalism at play anyways, I wouldn’t mind an automatic soup-pump, but I’d rather get an automatic faucet before I get it though.

Digital Reading

2011-05-28T18:01:00.000-05:00

Many out there are playing the scales game with print and digital reading. To me, it is not a matter of what is better, it is the preference and the benefits that each have. You do not have to totally move to one side, I have a Kindle (LOVE IT), but I also enjoy reading my little library of books, though my wife would rather have the space for other things (which I think is the reason why she got me the Kindle...). Anyways, there are many surveys and studies out there about the benefits, trends, preferences, and uses of print versus digital (and vise versa). Most of the articles use 'online' instead of digital; I think digital is more of an over-encompassing term, referring to both reading online (internet, via a device) and reading just on a device (a smart phone, tablet, e-reader, etc.,), without the use of the internet. Also, many articles discuss habits or reading strategies of a people that an article would study over. What most of the articles conclude is that technology is evolving as well as the readers (some with inclusive and others evidence of what that particular article's thesis is concerning). Yes, many of these articles are also focused towards the educational benefits or disadvantages that the researcher (of an article) found with technology in reading.
You can find these articles (maybe not all) on google scholar by typing "online reading [stratgies/preferences/etc.,];" Below are a couple of suggested articles; Poole is one of the leading researchers in this subject.

Poole , A., & Mokhtari, K. (2008). ESL students’ use of reading strategies when reading texts online and in print. In K. Mokhtari and R. Sheorey (Eds.), Studies in first and second language reading (pp. 197-214). Norwood, MA: Christopher Gordon.

Amer, A., & Qaboos, S. (2010). Student teachers’ perceived use of online reading strategies. International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology
(IJEDICT), 2010, Vol. 6, Issue 4, pp.102-113.

Poole , A. The relationship of reading proficiency to strategy use while online: A study of US college students. Journal of College Literacy and Learning.

Please comment, with a discussion I will be able to answer questions and have a nice debate.

Ode to the Bubble tea

2011-05-11T06:52:00.001-05:00

It's not very often I get a bubble drink. Mostly due to availability; though there is one (maybe two) places near where I live that does sell them (yet their's is not really good). I have to travel 1.5 hours (to and back) to get a real bubble tea. For those that don't know what a bubble tea is, well it is a unhealthy smoothie (unhealthy for the most part, due to artificial flavors and sugars, unless they make with real fruit/juice), usually green or black tea, cream, and a choice of juice and/or blended crushed ice. The picture (as well as more information) is from Wikipedia; but essentially this is what most bubble drinks look like, especially in Asia, or places that stick to this portable plastic style. The round black things on the bottom are the tapioca balls, pearls, or bubbles, that you suck through the abnormally large straw and chew. You can have (if the establishment offers) different things to put into the drink, like crushed coconut jelly (I know by the Chinese name yeguo 野果, though it is also known as nata de coco), which is supposed to be healthier than the tapioca. Though typically unhealthy, it is still very popular in Asia, and with many Asians and Asian oriented people in non-Asian regions.
Yesterday, I had my first bubble drink since... I guess it was five months ago; that is so long for a bubble tea fix. I had (yesterday) a passion fruit smoothie with tapioca pearls; my wife had black tea with papaya flavor and tapioca pearls... it was a minute of blissful heaven.
You can make your own, which is always a healthier and better (depending on your effort and the materials you use). Like I said, bubble teas are essentially smoothies with (or without tea) with tapioca pearls (WuFuYuan - Tapioca Pearl (Black) - Net Wt. 8.8 Oz.).
My favorite flavors are, passion fruit (smoothie), taro (smoothie), green tea (without or with passion fruit or lychee juice) and cream (hot and cold), and honeydew melon (smoothie).

Literature's Beginnings [Excerpt] of "The Hobbit" by JJR Tolkien

2011-05-06T03:16:00.004-05:00

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. It had a perfectly round door like a porthole, painted green, with a shiny yellow brass knob in the exact middle. The door opened on to a tube-shaped hall like a tunnel: a very comfortable tunnel without smoke, with panelled walls, and floors tiled and carpeted, provided with polished chairs, and lots and lots of pegs for hats and coats-- the hobbit was fond of visitors. The tunnel wound on and on, going fairly but not quite straight into the side of the hill-- The hill, as all the people for many miles round called it-- and many little round doors opened out of it, first on one side and then on another. No going upstairs for the hobbit: bedrooms, bathrooms, cellars, pantries (lots of these), wardrobes (he had whole rooms devoted to clothes), kitchens, dining-rooms, all were on the same floor, and indeed on the same passage. The best rooms were all on the left-hand side (going in), for these were the only ones to have windows, deep-set round windows looking over his garden, and meadows beyond, sloping down to the river.
[This excerpt, for my 'Literature Beginnings' series, is from first paragraph from the first chapter of The Hobbit. This story is my utmost favorite story of Tolkien's works. Additionally, the beginning is not just a classic, it is the epitome of literature beginnings (as I discussed in the previous post on literature beginnings) for two reasons, 1) it is the most memorable do to the emotional, sentimental, cozyiness that Tolkien puts into this passage. 2) Out of all the beginnings passages of his writings, none have such a connection and set-up as this passage. Within this one paragraph, readers are introduced to hobbits, not just to one, Bilbo, but also to practically all of the hobbits, as well as their architecture and culture. From the descriptions alone (of this paragraph and the rest of the book, mostly the chapter), we now know the setting of Hobbiton for the book "The Hobbit" but as well as "The Fellowship of the Ring" and at *SPOILER* the very end of "The Return of the King."
What I mean by culture, is that with the descriptions of The Hill, Bilbo's underground manor, we can see what hobbits find important, what they value. In terms of comfort, hobbits prefer underground instead of above ground (for the most part), to be rounded instead of boxy, and based on what was considered as "the best rooms" were ones with windows that faced a growing living garden. From this we can assume (both from this and other statements made further in the chapter) that hobbits find more value in growing things (as well as food, drink, and smoking pipe-weed) than adventure, coin, or anything that of the "big-folk." The first line (the first two sentences) alone, is my all-together favorite line of all literature. That one line states the entire paragraph, the rest of the paragraph is just an adverbial non-defining relative clause of that one line (simply, an elaboration), if you will.

My Apologies

2011-05-06T01:14:00.000-05:00

I was a way focusing on finals and papers, thought I could handle work, school, and manage this blog, but could not.

Literature's Beginnings [Excerpt] of "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau

2011-04-24T04:03:00.001-05:00

I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least;" and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amount to this, which also I believe-- "That government is best which governs not at all;" and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which the will have. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. The objections which have been brought against a standing army, and they are many and weighty, and deserve to prevail, may also at last be brought against a standing government. The standing army is only an arm of the standing government. The government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it. Witness the present Mexican war, the work of comparatively a few individuals using the standing government as their tool; for in the outset, the people would not have consented to this measure.
This American government -- what is it but a tradition, through a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity? It has not the vitality and force of a single living man; for a single man can bend it to his will. It is a sort of wooden gun to the people themselves. But it is not the less necessary for this; for the people must have some complicated machinery or other, and hear its din, to satisfy that idea of government which they have. Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed upon, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage.
[This excerpt and another I'll post later are examples of how, in literature, the beginning of a text is the most well known. Here, Thoreau's "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" may not be well known, as of the book's entirety, but more from the over-use of these two phrases: "That government is best which governs least" and "That government is best which governs not at all." However, not only was Thoreau quoting Thomas Paine and/or Thomas Jefferson, but due to being taken out of context, many believe that Thoreau was against government all together. This is not the case, Thoreau was actually asking for a better government, even then in 1848 (when he wrote the piece), due to many instances that was happening during the time; one of which is still prevalent today, an overly blinded patriotic following, that gives too much power and control to the government. Though the Third Reich (the fascist ) happen well after Thoreau, it is still a clear and scary example of what happens when the people of a government become too patriotic.]

[Coffee Shot] What is your favorite coffee/tea drink? And What makes coffee/tea special for you?

2011-04-23T00:48:00.001-05:00

I have a particular taste, but is it not defined/confined to a particular drink or two; my favorite drink is defined by my mood and what I need to help my mood. First, I need to state that caffeine does NOT make me energetic nor awake; it actually relaxes and allows a clear mind and for better concentration. A strong dark latte may help on days where I need to keep busy and stay on task (I have ADHD, which could explain a lot about me). These days, the days mentioned, are days during school, or work, where I have a lot of tasks, a lot of assignments, studying for test, etc...
I also put a shot of Irish whiskey in my coffee (I make a mean real Irish coffee/latte) when I have migraines; this I have found to be a secret medicine or weapon against migraines since a migraine is where the blood is not getting to the brain (whereas headaches receives too much blood in the head). The caffeine allows vessels to expand and the alcohol thins the blood allowing a better flow to the head; and both caffeine and alcohol relaxes and helps for a clear thought process. Granted I do not have my Irish coffees during school or work, obviously.
With tea, I love this particular loose leaf Chinese green tea that my wife's cousin got us for part of our wedding gift while we were in China, it is both bitter, smooth, and so so fresh. Tea like coffee, as well as many things is best when fresh, not processed! I also love jasmine and oolong tea, but only drink jasmine when I've had too much green (or coffee) and only oolong when feeling ill or weak (considering the positive effects that oolong has on the digestive system). There are some days where I feel I need a strong dark small espresso, in a nice small white cup while sitting and watching the world go by. Or other days, drinking a tea latte with friends late at night talking about randomness.
I was first introduced to coffee by my cousin Tara, and realized its potential of relaxing me with my migraines and asthma (had asthma bad when I was young). I was introduced to green teas by my wife, then my best-friend; she didn't technically introduce me, but since she was/is Chinese, I introduced myself as much as I could to anything Chinese, including tea. Found I loved the taste, of real tea, not processed bagged tea.
Please tell me of your coffee/tea stories, your favorite drinks, and why coffee/tea special for you.

[Poem Share] Bleaker and Bleaker Still by the Caffinated Sophist

2011-04-22T08:07:00.002-05:00

May I ask of thee, for she, to thee,

From me; to increasingly plummet--

--into the dark mirthless doleful sea?

Mine eye can’t abide thine summit.

Phoebus, thine tender intensity
conflicts with my state, here with my love.

Thou art a fierce luminosity,

while I lie here with her and thy above.

Thine ever stabbing, throbbing, searing,

radiant, crystal daggers of yore.

I constantly find myself fearing--

of thy moving espirt de corps.

I respect the ever need of thee.

I will admit thine healthy habit.

Yet, if thou could hastily flee,

while safe in my hole like a [rabbit].

Hopefully thou find that mutually--

--[this agreement is] for our rapport.

For my mind still anachronistically.

Bleaker my darken life, heretofore.

As Donne states “Why dost thou thus” “old fool.”

For here two lovers lie still embraced;

waiting on naught reveling on morn’s cool;

recapturing my youth’s misspent waste.

Though thy tepidity ascends and falls.

Our fervent passion remains ageless.

Thine consoling nature just appalls--

--me, for one of us tarries lifeless.

Phoebus! Leave us be in peace and rue!

For morrow thee bring bleak loneliness

and I pull the curtains to eschew--

--thee, when I should pull purple rock cress.

I apologize from me to thee.

when thou creeps thine heavenly azure,

is when she must honor Charon’s fee.

While I lie, cold, starring at her contour.