The Paradox of Corporate Taxes in America - NYTimes.com
Sooooo, looks like not that much is getting cut from the budget ... and everyone is unwilling to raise taxes or close deductions. So how exactly is the budget gonna balanced?
I look at it this way, these corporations are paying a portion of this money (not all, that would be ridiculous) to employ people who know these loopholes and can exploit them.
Not to mention anyone who's in the top tax bracket is also probably very much aware of these tax breaks. I still remember a moment in the 2004 Presidential debates where Kerry called Bush out on not paying a lot of taxes due to his status as a small business owner, having a small logging business or whatever. The specifics aren't really necessary here, and to my recollection, they weren't even proven or refuted back then; they became a throwaway line.
So how can we have it both ways like this? How can the government get accused of unfairly levying exorbitant taxes upon the wealthy people and corporations, only to have them pay a token cost.
I wonder how much they'd actually bitch and moan if we cut their subsidies too. Free handout welfare whores my ass, they're just as guilty. It would balance the budget...
-- Knutel
2.15.2011
Oh, Jersey Shore
Walk like a man: Gorilla strolls on hind legs - Technology & science - Science - msnbc.com
Haha, someone put Ronnie in a zoo
Haha, someone put Ronnie in a zoo
Will They or Won't They
So I began the idea of writing this by reading up on the issues on tvtropes, and well, as things happen on tv tropes, I got hella sidetracked. So here are I guess three links to form the basis of what I'm talking about.
So now that that's out of the way, rant on...
I hate it when television shows succumb to this styling of plotting and drama. I watch few enough shows as it is to prevent seeing this kind of thing happen, but it almost always comes into play.
Any show whose plot revolves around creating sexual tension between the cast members to an infuriating "will they or won't they" level, or even just feels the need to pair up all the cast members in relationships fails on so many dramatic levels.
The obvious reason is it's one dimensional, effectively taking any dramatic depth from a dramatic show.
But on comedies it drags them, and makes them unfunny. This is really where it kills. WTOWT single handedly turned Friends from a mediocre but sometimes watchable comedy into a half-hour long torture session of half-hearted dramedy (half).
Maybe I'm just a romantic, who thinks that comedies should be pure -- a saturated mess of realism and surrealism, made of so many layers of jokes there is no space for a laugh track, packed so densely you don't want to laugh lest you miss the next joke.
As a comedic device, it can sometimes work (emphasis on sometimes). The problem is, well, depending on I'm willing to blame at any time, either producers for mistaking these jokes for actual plot bits and forcing them along, or writers for losing ideas and resorting to these sort of cheap tricks to drag the show to its far away grave.
In dramas, well I've seen the worst. By the time I had stopped watching new episodes of Degrassi, it was only about who was hooking up with whom. There wasn't anything else to anything, and anything that might be something else was inexorably tied who was hooking up with whom. I'll always have seasons 1-8.
-- Knuttel
So now that that's out of the way, rant on...
I hate it when television shows succumb to this styling of plotting and drama. I watch few enough shows as it is to prevent seeing this kind of thing happen, but it almost always comes into play.
Any show whose plot revolves around creating sexual tension between the cast members to an infuriating "will they or won't they" level, or even just feels the need to pair up all the cast members in relationships fails on so many dramatic levels.
The obvious reason is it's one dimensional, effectively taking any dramatic depth from a dramatic show.
But on comedies it drags them, and makes them unfunny. This is really where it kills. WTOWT single handedly turned Friends from a mediocre but sometimes watchable comedy into a half-hour long torture session of half-hearted dramedy (half).
Maybe I'm just a romantic, who thinks that comedies should be pure -- a saturated mess of realism and surrealism, made of so many layers of jokes there is no space for a laugh track, packed so densely you don't want to laugh lest you miss the next joke.
As a comedic device, it can sometimes work (emphasis on sometimes). The problem is, well, depending on I'm willing to blame at any time, either producers for mistaking these jokes for actual plot bits and forcing them along, or writers for losing ideas and resorting to these sort of cheap tricks to drag the show to its far away grave.
In dramas, well I've seen the worst. By the time I had stopped watching new episodes of Degrassi, it was only about who was hooking up with whom. There wasn't anything else to anything, and anything that might be something else was inexorably tied who was hooking up with whom. I'll always have seasons 1-8.
-- Knuttel
Totally Blanked On A Title, Who Cares
For D.C.'s few tea party residents, home can at times feel like enemy territory
Kinda refreshing to see tea partiers who actually aren't just more conservative Republicans. When they first appeared, this is kind of what I thought they would be -- a mouthpiece for libertarianism, caring only about the size of government itself, reducing spending and taxing; not fearing for a military with gays serving or dithering about whether the President is a Muslim, a foreigner, or both.
Frankly I have a hard time understanding how smaller government parties in recent history have usually been "let's invade people's private lives" parties. It just doesn't seem to mesh at a philosophical level.
------------------
And while we're on the topic of conservatives and Libertarians
CPAC 2011: The crowd loves Ron and Rand Paul, but does the party? - By David Weigel - Slate Magazine
Maybe it's just the generation I'm in, being more open on social issues, but I wonder why Ron Paul has always been brushed aside by the party's base, if the big issue is usually boiled down to the size of government (period). Frankly, I disagree with a lot of what he says, and perhaps even more of what his son says, but damnit I liked the foment behind his 2008 campaign. It had a real fire to it, a substance that was only really matched by Obama. But unlike Obama, Paul wasn't taken seriously, and despite being a late hanger on in the primary, he was mainly just a thorn in the side, like Kucinich for the Democrats.
-- Knuttel
Kinda refreshing to see tea partiers who actually aren't just more conservative Republicans. When they first appeared, this is kind of what I thought they would be -- a mouthpiece for libertarianism, caring only about the size of government itself, reducing spending and taxing; not fearing for a military with gays serving or dithering about whether the President is a Muslim, a foreigner, or both.
Frankly I have a hard time understanding how smaller government parties in recent history have usually been "let's invade people's private lives" parties. It just doesn't seem to mesh at a philosophical level.
------------------
And while we're on the topic of conservatives and Libertarians
CPAC 2011: The crowd loves Ron and Rand Paul, but does the party? - By David Weigel - Slate Magazine
Maybe it's just the generation I'm in, being more open on social issues, but I wonder why Ron Paul has always been brushed aside by the party's base, if the big issue is usually boiled down to the size of government (period). Frankly, I disagree with a lot of what he says, and perhaps even more of what his son says, but damnit I liked the foment behind his 2008 campaign. It had a real fire to it, a substance that was only really matched by Obama. But unlike Obama, Paul wasn't taken seriously, and despite being a late hanger on in the primary, he was mainly just a thorn in the side, like Kucinich for the Democrats.
-- Knuttel
Fwah?
Iowa population shifts from rural to urban - USATODAY.com
So, this article totally threw me for a loop. When I think Iowa, and I do not think I am alone, I think flat ass farms and junk.
Lemme share a few facts.
The tallest point in Iowa is on a hill only like a mile or so from the Minnesota border.
I once had the pleasure of meeting people from Iowa (who had just attended the game against Penn State) who told me the most fun thing to do in Iowa was go to Corn Palace. I looked it up when I returned home, Corn Palace is in South Dakota. Let me rephrase that, the most fun thing to do in Iowa is to leave Iowa.
That'll do.
So where are these people going in Iowa? Des Moines? Cedar Rapids? Dubuque? Iowa City? Sioux City? None of these places are extraordinarily big. Geographically it doesn't seem to make much sense as much else besides a series of farms. It's pretty far upstream on the Mississippi river. It isn't really close enough to Chicago to be a part of that Great Lakes Sphere, at least as a major member. It's separated by the Rocky Mountain states by a layer of more Great Plains states. I mean, what could possibly be happenning in Iowa?
-- Knuttel
So, this article totally threw me for a loop. When I think Iowa, and I do not think I am alone, I think flat ass farms and junk.
Lemme share a few facts.
The tallest point in Iowa is on a hill only like a mile or so from the Minnesota border.
I once had the pleasure of meeting people from Iowa (who had just attended the game against Penn State) who told me the most fun thing to do in Iowa was go to Corn Palace. I looked it up when I returned home, Corn Palace is in South Dakota. Let me rephrase that, the most fun thing to do in Iowa is to leave Iowa.
That'll do.
So where are these people going in Iowa? Des Moines? Cedar Rapids? Dubuque? Iowa City? Sioux City? None of these places are extraordinarily big. Geographically it doesn't seem to make much sense as much else besides a series of farms. It's pretty far upstream on the Mississippi river. It isn't really close enough to Chicago to be a part of that Great Lakes Sphere, at least as a major member. It's separated by the Rocky Mountain states by a layer of more Great Plains states. I mean, what could possibly be happenning in Iowa?
-- Knuttel
Ah, Fear
The emergence of talent: genius and precocity : The New Yorker
Perhaps not in the traditional sense, but is it so unreasonable to fear years and years of toiling in obscurity before anyone gives a shit?
Perhaps not in the traditional sense, but is it so unreasonable to fear years and years of toiling in obscurity before anyone gives a shit?
Knuttel Makes Real Beer: Day 3
So yeah, basically just more maintenance today, make sure everything is still fermenting and at the right temperatures -- which it totally is. Played Blur's 13 album for my beer. Forgot I listened to that album so many damn times that parts of the end are practically burned off.
I know this doesn't have much to do with 13 or my beer, but damnit, this song has been stuck in my head...
So epic and so brutal.
-- Knuttel
I know this doesn't have much to do with 13 or my beer, but damnit, this song has been stuck in my head...
So epic and so brutal.
-- Knuttel
2.13.2011
Knuttel Makes Real Beer: Day 2
So I spent pretty much all of Saturday making "real" beer. What do I mean by that? I mean I did an all-grain brew, where I extract the wort from the grains myself through use of a mash tun, as opposed to buying pre-made malt extract.
I bought the ingredients on Friday, and began Saturday with a tour of a certain Philadelphia brewery. My accomplice and I quickly grabbed some cheesesteaks and then escaped back out to the suburbs to brew some beer.
I didn't really do anything fancy, so instead I'll just say where we ran into complications.
-- We didn't have enough water (more on this later, but we only accounted for water lost in the actual boil)
-- The mash tun had to be cajoled into working properly.
First, we needed 3.5 gallons to sit in the container, as opposed to the 2.5 we originally had heated up for it. Next, we were doing a batch sparge process, and, well the water didn't want to pass through once we got to a certain point -- and this was not for a lack of water, there was a definite inch sitting on top of everything. So first we tried fixing this by mixing with something long enough to reach the bottom (in this case, a hockey stick). That opened things up for a little, but then it was back to nothing as usual. So then we decided just to press everything through a strainer and fill everything up that way. We full intend to use the mash tun to its full extent next time around, but it needs modifications. Also in this stage is where we failed to account for water lost to grain absorption. An additional gallon of water was added to our planned 6 (the amount we were going to boil).
-- We had a minor boilover (it was minor, but messy). Resolution, be more vigilant and don't underestimate how early it could start boiling.
-- We did a 90 minute boil as opposed to the 60 minute boil most people use. My intent was to get more use out of the hops, but again, I failed to account for additional water I would lose during this stage (and you really need the water to boil hard). Not to mention, the fact that the wort was split amongst one giant dutch oven and two smaller pots means I was dealing with a whole lot more surface area (even more evaporation). From now on I will do only 60 minute boils, especially with the apparatus I have.
-- COOLDOWN
Luckily we still have snow, otherwise I don't even know how we'd attempt a wort chill. Even so, we started by simply placing the open containers in holes we made in the snow, checking periodically to make sure the pot sides were still making contact with snow and to check the temperatures. Well, two things, first off, leaving the lids open just let everything evaporate off even more. Secondly, the snow (the coldness) was only surrounding the substance on the bottom and sides. We fixed this by dumping the remaining small pot (yes, by now we were down to one small pot) into the large dutch oven (and, oh yeah, all of this had lost enough that I could fit it all in the dutch oven), closed the lid, and covering the whole thing with snow. About an hour after we had started cooling the wort (longer than one should take) we had the wort down to room temperature and were able to transfer it to the fermenting container. We only lost about a gallon, gallon and a half during cooling. An alternative cooling process will have to be found, with both the inefficiency of the one I used and the snow (hopefully) going away soon.
-- Yeast
The yeast was taken out from the refrigerator too early, and was also shaken pretty fully waaaaay too early, so I had to put it in a glass with some sugar to make sure it wouldn't die on me. No yeast = no alcohol. This was just carelessness on my part.
-- In order to adjust for the gratuitous water loss (we had only 3 gallons of wort ready to ferment post-cooling) I had to add I think like 12 water bottles to the whole mixture. I think it brought us around 4 gallons in the end. Considering we were aiming for 5 gallons, we didn't have much of an option. Oddly enough we ended around our target gravity (sugar density), so there's that.
PICTURES FROM THE PROCESS
Sooooo, day 2 stuff -- definitely saw bubbles on the air valve this morning, which means it has already started fermentation. very nice. Also have already played my beer the entirety of Rush's 2112 album. Gotta nurture it. I should also mention I have decided to move the fermentation area from the basement to my closet due to more ideal ale growing conditions.
-- Knuttel
I bought the ingredients on Friday, and began Saturday with a tour of a certain Philadelphia brewery. My accomplice and I quickly grabbed some cheesesteaks and then escaped back out to the suburbs to brew some beer.
I didn't really do anything fancy, so instead I'll just say where we ran into complications.
-- We didn't have enough water (more on this later, but we only accounted for water lost in the actual boil)
-- The mash tun had to be cajoled into working properly.
First, we needed 3.5 gallons to sit in the container, as opposed to the 2.5 we originally had heated up for it. Next, we were doing a batch sparge process, and, well the water didn't want to pass through once we got to a certain point -- and this was not for a lack of water, there was a definite inch sitting on top of everything. So first we tried fixing this by mixing with something long enough to reach the bottom (in this case, a hockey stick). That opened things up for a little, but then it was back to nothing as usual. So then we decided just to press everything through a strainer and fill everything up that way. We full intend to use the mash tun to its full extent next time around, but it needs modifications. Also in this stage is where we failed to account for water lost to grain absorption. An additional gallon of water was added to our planned 6 (the amount we were going to boil).
-- We had a minor boilover (it was minor, but messy). Resolution, be more vigilant and don't underestimate how early it could start boiling.
-- We did a 90 minute boil as opposed to the 60 minute boil most people use. My intent was to get more use out of the hops, but again, I failed to account for additional water I would lose during this stage (and you really need the water to boil hard). Not to mention, the fact that the wort was split amongst one giant dutch oven and two smaller pots means I was dealing with a whole lot more surface area (even more evaporation). From now on I will do only 60 minute boils, especially with the apparatus I have.
-- COOLDOWN
Luckily we still have snow, otherwise I don't even know how we'd attempt a wort chill. Even so, we started by simply placing the open containers in holes we made in the snow, checking periodically to make sure the pot sides were still making contact with snow and to check the temperatures. Well, two things, first off, leaving the lids open just let everything evaporate off even more. Secondly, the snow (the coldness) was only surrounding the substance on the bottom and sides. We fixed this by dumping the remaining small pot (yes, by now we were down to one small pot) into the large dutch oven (and, oh yeah, all of this had lost enough that I could fit it all in the dutch oven), closed the lid, and covering the whole thing with snow. About an hour after we had started cooling the wort (longer than one should take) we had the wort down to room temperature and were able to transfer it to the fermenting container. We only lost about a gallon, gallon and a half during cooling. An alternative cooling process will have to be found, with both the inefficiency of the one I used and the snow (hopefully) going away soon.
-- Yeast
The yeast was taken out from the refrigerator too early, and was also shaken pretty fully waaaaay too early, so I had to put it in a glass with some sugar to make sure it wouldn't die on me. No yeast = no alcohol. This was just carelessness on my part.
-- In order to adjust for the gratuitous water loss (we had only 3 gallons of wort ready to ferment post-cooling) I had to add I think like 12 water bottles to the whole mixture. I think it brought us around 4 gallons in the end. Considering we were aiming for 5 gallons, we didn't have much of an option. Oddly enough we ended around our target gravity (sugar density), so there's that.
PICTURES FROM THE PROCESS
mostly emptied mash tun, with hose being pulled out
trash bag with all of the spent grain
All of our lovely wort, pre-boil
Sooooo, day 2 stuff -- definitely saw bubbles on the air valve this morning, which means it has already started fermentation. very nice. Also have already played my beer the entirety of Rush's 2112 album. Gotta nurture it. I should also mention I have decided to move the fermentation area from the basement to my closet due to more ideal ale growing conditions.
-- Knuttel
2.11.2011
Goddamnit, Man Up America
http://www.avclub.com/articles/casting-agents-say-superheroes-are-played-by-briti,51246/
From a pure casting standpoint, I only really care that Captain America be played by an American, and I would prefer Wolverine to be played by a Canadian. Last time I checked, Captain America is being played by an American, and Wolverine, well, let's not go there.
The fact that Supes isn't played by an American now, I mean, ok, the character is supposed to have that all-American aww shucks kinda demeanor, but that's just acting. Superman is kryptonian. He isn't American. And as far as Batman being played by a Welshman, whatever so long as the acting chops are there. Side note, it would be interesting if Bale used his natural Welsh accent for Batman.
As a trend, this is disconcerting, for all of the reasons listed.
I submit myself, adonis that I am, to rectify these issues.
I know, you may say, but Knuttel, your acting experience is minimal, you should be utilizing your talents behind the camera. -- I KNOW THIS. But this situation needs to be fixed, so I'm gonna have to do some Orson Welles up in this bitch.
-- Knuttel
From a pure casting standpoint, I only really care that Captain America be played by an American, and I would prefer Wolverine to be played by a Canadian. Last time I checked, Captain America is being played by an American, and Wolverine, well, let's not go there.
The fact that Supes isn't played by an American now, I mean, ok, the character is supposed to have that all-American aww shucks kinda demeanor, but that's just acting. Superman is kryptonian. He isn't American. And as far as Batman being played by a Welshman, whatever so long as the acting chops are there. Side note, it would be interesting if Bale used his natural Welsh accent for Batman.
As a trend, this is disconcerting, for all of the reasons listed.
I submit myself, adonis that I am, to rectify these issues.
I know, you may say, but Knuttel, your acting experience is minimal, you should be utilizing your talents behind the camera. -- I KNOW THIS. But this situation needs to be fixed, so I'm gonna have to do some Orson Welles up in this bitch.
-- Knuttel
2.10.2011
Let's Hope They Don't Jinx It
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2011-02-09-editorial09_ST_N.htm
So I'm guessing this means that Keynesian economics actually work, and it takes a while for stimulus related things to take effect?
I realize the great depression was, well, great, and much larger than this recession we had/are having, but it took an extremely long time to get out of that, and there was little improvement of any kind until well into any of the FDR administrations. Some say it didn't fully recover until the war.
It's like brewing beer. I'm hella anxious right now to drink my beer, but I know if I open up one of those bottles it will probably be like shit. You have to give this stuff time to work.
Captain Sisco on Deep Space Nine once made a comment about letting a soufflé bake undisturbed. Opening the oven (stopping stimulus) to see whether or not it's working would just result in a deflated soufflé. You have to wait and trust it is going to work, and either it will or it won't, but there isn't much you can do about it either way.
-- Knuttel
So I'm guessing this means that Keynesian economics actually work, and it takes a while for stimulus related things to take effect?
I realize the great depression was, well, great, and much larger than this recession we had/are having, but it took an extremely long time to get out of that, and there was little improvement of any kind until well into any of the FDR administrations. Some say it didn't fully recover until the war.
It's like brewing beer. I'm hella anxious right now to drink my beer, but I know if I open up one of those bottles it will probably be like shit. You have to give this stuff time to work.
Captain Sisco on Deep Space Nine once made a comment about letting a soufflé bake undisturbed. Opening the oven (stopping stimulus) to see whether or not it's working would just result in a deflated soufflé. You have to wait and trust it is going to work, and either it will or it won't, but there isn't much you can do about it either way.
-- Knuttel
Trains
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/362107
Two things strike me about this article.
1. Of course it's Dr. Teeth to suggest this plan, he has a reputation from his Senate days of taking the Amtrak commute every day from Wilmington to DC.
2. Why is our train system so outdated? It's everywhere too, not just the nationwide Amtrak system. Rail based public transit systems haven't been updated in decades in most places. Philadelphia's El doesn't even reach city limits at its north, south, and east (northeast) limits (yes, it is shaped as a cross -- the backbone of public transport for a large area'd city and the 5th most populous metro-region in the nation is essentially a cross).
The way I see it, the rail system, at least for people transport, should be based around the nation's densely populated areas, and then there should be smaller networks to connect these to one another. It doesn't really matter the cost incurred because of the boost it will give economically.
-- Knuttel
Two things strike me about this article.
1. Of course it's Dr. Teeth to suggest this plan, he has a reputation from his Senate days of taking the Amtrak commute every day from Wilmington to DC.
2. Why is our train system so outdated? It's everywhere too, not just the nationwide Amtrak system. Rail based public transit systems haven't been updated in decades in most places. Philadelphia's El doesn't even reach city limits at its north, south, and east (northeast) limits (yes, it is shaped as a cross -- the backbone of public transport for a large area'd city and the 5th most populous metro-region in the nation is essentially a cross).
The way I see it, the rail system, at least for people transport, should be based around the nation's densely populated areas, and then there should be smaller networks to connect these to one another. It doesn't really matter the cost incurred because of the boost it will give economically.
-- Knuttel
Genetics or eugenics or something
http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/02/06/enriquez.gullans.human.species/index.html
I could list an infinite number of science fiction stories that says this is ultimately a bad idea, and maybe a handful that says it's a good idea.
I could list an infinite number of science fiction stories that says this is ultimately a bad idea, and maybe a handful that says it's a good idea.
The Sudan Splits
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110207/wl_nm/us_sudan_referendum
The south of Sudan votes to separate from the north in a landslide election.
I wonder how cohesive this region has actually politically been, and how much of their borders are defined by British colonial convenience, ala Nigeria.
Either way, there's been way too much violence between those from the north and those from the south. Even if Sudan should be a united country, now is not the time for that.
-- Knuttel
The south of Sudan votes to separate from the north in a landslide election.
I wonder how cohesive this region has actually politically been, and how much of their borders are defined by British colonial convenience, ala Nigeria.
Either way, there's been way too much violence between those from the north and those from the south. Even if Sudan should be a united country, now is not the time for that.
-- Knuttel
2.09.2011
Knuttel Makes Beer: Day Bottling
Yes, so as the title indicates, I have bottled the beer I have been making.
To bottle, on adds the brewed contents into a bottle along with some sort of priming sugar. What I was following recommended regular white sugar, though some prefer corn syrup, as it gets metabolized by the remaining yeast quicker without changing the flavor as much. Other options can include anything that has some sort of sugar in it: brown sugar, molasses, maple syrup, honey, etc.
For one batch, I used the recommended white sugar. For the other batch, I used skittles.
Yes, skittles. You see, the story goes a long ways back, and it's probably not even really worth repeating at this moment, but damnit, I was determined to make some skittlebrau. I had to leave them uncrushed, as an attempt at crushing them in a sandwich bag with a food hammer left a broken sandwich bag, not crushed skittles. Upon trying the same thing with no holding container, skittle pieces flew everywhere; the skittles went into the beer whole.
I'm already looking forward to my next batch, where I will likely make "real" beer.
-- Knuttel
To bottle, on adds the brewed contents into a bottle along with some sort of priming sugar. What I was following recommended regular white sugar, though some prefer corn syrup, as it gets metabolized by the remaining yeast quicker without changing the flavor as much. Other options can include anything that has some sort of sugar in it: brown sugar, molasses, maple syrup, honey, etc.
For one batch, I used the recommended white sugar. For the other batch, I used skittles.
Yes, skittles. You see, the story goes a long ways back, and it's probably not even really worth repeating at this moment, but damnit, I was determined to make some skittlebrau. I had to leave them uncrushed, as an attempt at crushing them in a sandwich bag with a food hammer left a broken sandwich bag, not crushed skittles. Upon trying the same thing with no holding container, skittle pieces flew everywhere; the skittles went into the beer whole.
I'm already looking forward to my next batch, where I will likely make "real" beer.
-- Knuttel
2.06.2011
Knuttel Makes Beer: day whatever, Knuttel makes a Mash Tun
Since it's officially been a week of fermenting my first batch(es) of beer, i pulled a sample of each to test them, see if they're ready or not for bottling (since it was from a kit and they gave me no hydrometer, I simply had to taste the beer to see if it tasted like, well, flat beer). And it wasn't ready yet. Will probably test it again sometime in the middle of the week.
But I also did some important fact finding and mash tun making today.
That's right, I made my own mash tun; all grain brewing is only a step away.
I used a 5 gallon water cooler.
And a piece of flexible tubing.
Then I drilled holes into the tubing, carving them afterward to make sure they were big enough and clean enough.
And inserted the tubing into the spigot on the inside of the cooler.
You see, a mash tun is supposed to extract the sugars from the grain using hot water, so basically there are two things you need -- an insulated container (in this case, a water cooler), and a filtering mechanism of some kind to separate the sugar water from the grain (in this case, the holed piece of tubing). I made mine for around 21 bucks, looking around the internet, it's usually been done for like 25-30 bucks. If you buy a premade one, well that will probably run you a hundred or (more likely) two.
I still have to find a way to close (at least a majority of) the hole on the other end of the tube, but I also still have to clean it, so that will happen. Regardless, I am just that much closer to creating the vaunted "Knuttelbrau". Besides, now I can say things like "Sparge the mash" and make total sense.
-- Knuttel
But I also did some important fact finding and mash tun making today.
That's right, I made my own mash tun; all grain brewing is only a step away.
I used a 5 gallon water cooler.
And a piece of flexible tubing.
Then I drilled holes into the tubing, carving them afterward to make sure they were big enough and clean enough.
And inserted the tubing into the spigot on the inside of the cooler.
You see, a mash tun is supposed to extract the sugars from the grain using hot water, so basically there are two things you need -- an insulated container (in this case, a water cooler), and a filtering mechanism of some kind to separate the sugar water from the grain (in this case, the holed piece of tubing). I made mine for around 21 bucks, looking around the internet, it's usually been done for like 25-30 bucks. If you buy a premade one, well that will probably run you a hundred or (more likely) two.
I still have to find a way to close (at least a majority of) the hole on the other end of the tube, but I also still have to clean it, so that will happen. Regardless, I am just that much closer to creating the vaunted "Knuttelbrau". Besides, now I can say things like "Sparge the mash" and make total sense.
-- Knuttel
Knuttel Makes Beer: Day 5
So I haven't had the opportunity/time to properly play music for my beer the past two days due to work-related issues, but I assume its all gonna be fine. Tomorrow I will test to see how close it is to bottling.
Tomorrow I may also attempt construction of what is known as a mash tun. A mash tun is used to extract the sugars from grains (barley, etc) to make the wort. If I ever want to do any all-grain kind of brewing, I would need this. And let's be honest, I do not want to keep making beer from a can. That is not beer. It's like making cake from a box. Technically you just mixed it and put it in the oven (or in beer's case, cooked the wort a lil and set up fermentation). I just want to take pride in a product that is all mine.
That being said, I believe I may have created a mathematically perfect beer recipe. It will be the first one I test, but I will only make it in 2.5 gallon format, not the 5 that is deemed standard. I am also debating whether I should make the heavier (probably very heavy) 6.6 abv version or the about 5 abv version.
Guess I'll figure it out.
-- Knuttel
Tomorrow I may also attempt construction of what is known as a mash tun. A mash tun is used to extract the sugars from grains (barley, etc) to make the wort. If I ever want to do any all-grain kind of brewing, I would need this. And let's be honest, I do not want to keep making beer from a can. That is not beer. It's like making cake from a box. Technically you just mixed it and put it in the oven (or in beer's case, cooked the wort a lil and set up fermentation). I just want to take pride in a product that is all mine.
That being said, I believe I may have created a mathematically perfect beer recipe. It will be the first one I test, but I will only make it in 2.5 gallon format, not the 5 that is deemed standard. I am also debating whether I should make the heavier (probably very heavy) 6.6 abv version or the about 5 abv version.
Guess I'll figure it out.
-- Knuttel
2.04.2011
Knuttel Makes Beer: Day 4
So the waiting game continues.
Today I played my beer Bitches Brew by Miles Davis and Meat is Murder by The Smiths.
I worry sometimes that my basement is too cold for properly fermenting the beer. I guess I'll find out later. Maybe I should have left it next to the heater.
-- Knuttel
Today I played my beer Bitches Brew by Miles Davis and Meat is Murder by The Smiths.
I worry sometimes that my basement is too cold for properly fermenting the beer. I guess I'll find out later. Maybe I should have left it next to the heater.
-- Knuttel
2.03.2011
Knuttel Makes Beer: Day 3, more maintenence
The beer's music for the day was some Mastodon and Slayer, though some of the more mature offerings from each. I guess you could say it was "brewtal" heheh. Anyways, during the day I played Crack the Skye by Mastodon, and the night offered Seasons in the Abyss by Slayer.
I decided to pull the blanket up a little bit to see the progress of the fermentation, and I suspect only one of them is fermenting. Guess Knuttel-made products are better than non-Knuttel made. Anyways, it will be interesting to see how these turn out. But seriously, I should be seeing some krausen by now.
-- Knuttel
I decided to pull the blanket up a little bit to see the progress of the fermentation, and I suspect only one of them is fermenting. Guess Knuttel-made products are better than non-Knuttel made. Anyways, it will be interesting to see how these turn out. But seriously, I should be seeing some krausen by now.
-- Knuttel
2.02.2011
Knuttel Makes Beer: day 2, maintenance
Ok, so I realize it is technically day 3, by date, but here is the rundown of what happened on day 2.
As far as music is concerned, I played it Rush's Moving Pictures during the day, and followed that with Black Sabbath's Vol. 4 at night. As I have stated before, this is vital to the growth of the yeast, as the beer is living. Suck on that vegans, you guys technically drink beer.
Moving on, there really wasn't that much maintenance. I mean, it's still fermenting, so the best thing to do is to keep it out of light and everything, so I have speakers set up right next to the batches, and the wire runs out and over top the tarp that's covering them. So when I put on some music for them, I don't have to expose them to light. The one batch was definitely fermenting the last time I opened the tarp up, didn't really check the other one, but I don't see any reason it won't.
I also took a trip to the local Homebrewing store yesterday to learn more about this great, mysterious, and arcane art (that some people treat as a science). I learned a lot on this trip, and realized that if I am going to really take this seriously, I am going to need to brew these batches at 5 gallons a piece (would turn out to be like just over 2 cases). Technically I am brewing about 5 gallons right now, but they are two separate containers, and the one is definitely not designed for any brewing. I did some research and I could probably pick up some food buckets to do brewing in from like a bakery or something, as they get them all the time. They get their ingredients in these, and so long as they're the proper size, it will do fine for fermenting as it is a food grade bucket, and there shouldn't be any plasticizing of the flavor -- they also sell buckets similar to those at like Home Depot and stuff, and while they are not approved by the FDA, they are essentially the same material. Given that one was definitely used for food, while the other was not though, and that one would likely be free, I think it's a given what I would look for first. Basically the same thing is sold at the Homebrew Store at like just under 20 bucks. Also learned I would need a second bucket for bottling (and this would pretty much be just for bottling, as beer could also be fermented in a carboy, as some prefer because they can come in glass also), sugars must be added just prior to bottling, this completes the fermentation process and gives the beer carbonation.
Basically my head is just overflowing with beer ideas, and at the very least I need more equipment to test them out. Shit, going to be making alot of beer though. Whatevs, like that's a bad thing.
-- Knuttel
P.S. figured I'd give a link or whatever to the homebrew store I visited, even though there's like nothing on their website. They were pretty damn helpful there -- http://www.winebarleyandhops.com/
As far as music is concerned, I played it Rush's Moving Pictures during the day, and followed that with Black Sabbath's Vol. 4 at night. As I have stated before, this is vital to the growth of the yeast, as the beer is living. Suck on that vegans, you guys technically drink beer.
Moving on, there really wasn't that much maintenance. I mean, it's still fermenting, so the best thing to do is to keep it out of light and everything, so I have speakers set up right next to the batches, and the wire runs out and over top the tarp that's covering them. So when I put on some music for them, I don't have to expose them to light. The one batch was definitely fermenting the last time I opened the tarp up, didn't really check the other one, but I don't see any reason it won't.
I also took a trip to the local Homebrewing store yesterday to learn more about this great, mysterious, and arcane art (that some people treat as a science). I learned a lot on this trip, and realized that if I am going to really take this seriously, I am going to need to brew these batches at 5 gallons a piece (would turn out to be like just over 2 cases). Technically I am brewing about 5 gallons right now, but they are two separate containers, and the one is definitely not designed for any brewing. I did some research and I could probably pick up some food buckets to do brewing in from like a bakery or something, as they get them all the time. They get their ingredients in these, and so long as they're the proper size, it will do fine for fermenting as it is a food grade bucket, and there shouldn't be any plasticizing of the flavor -- they also sell buckets similar to those at like Home Depot and stuff, and while they are not approved by the FDA, they are essentially the same material. Given that one was definitely used for food, while the other was not though, and that one would likely be free, I think it's a given what I would look for first. Basically the same thing is sold at the Homebrew Store at like just under 20 bucks. Also learned I would need a second bucket for bottling (and this would pretty much be just for bottling, as beer could also be fermented in a carboy, as some prefer because they can come in glass also), sugars must be added just prior to bottling, this completes the fermentation process and gives the beer carbonation.
Basically my head is just overflowing with beer ideas, and at the very least I need more equipment to test them out. Shit, going to be making alot of beer though. Whatevs, like that's a bad thing.
-- Knuttel
P.S. figured I'd give a link or whatever to the homebrew store I visited, even though there's like nothing on their website. They were pretty damn helpful there -- http://www.winebarleyandhops.com/
2.01.2011
Knuttel Makes Beer: maintenence day 1
Ok, well the beer is definitely fermenting in the one "cask", didn't really get a good look at the other, but I assume it's all going swimmingly.
As the photos show I replaced the tissue filter with one made of fabric. I realize this is still far from ideal, but at the very least it is far more waterproof.
The fabric comes from leftover material from my trip to the rally to restore sanity and/or fear, therefore this batch will be called "Dr. Stephen T. Colbert's Skittlebrau, Presented by Prescott Pharmaceuticals."
Other than that, I played my beer some music today -- a jazz compilation I put together for a trip to Chicago I think. It includes some Mingus, Eric Dolphy, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie, possibly among others, but I think that's it -- you know, the basics. Let me put it this way, beer is a living thing, what with the yeast and all. You gotta nurture it.
-- Knuttel
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