National Outdoor Leadership School

National Outdoor Leadership School

First Attempt at Brewing, pt. 1

Ingredients

Sterilization

Steeping uncracked grain

Malt Extract

Used uncracked grain

Boiling Wort

Excess Foam

Hops

Anchor Steam Christmas Beer

Kitchen is getting Steamy

Chilling Wort

We've got beer

Primary Fermentation

Obama and McCain - Dance Off!

I love McCain's face about halfway through.

Slow Fade

On this eve of election day, I can't help but reflect on my political views. The short answer is: I'm a republican...but in reality it is much more complicated than that. More specifically, I am both socially and economically conservative, and I disagree with some of what both candidates are bringing to the table. Economically speaking, our country always has, and will continue to go through cyclical periods of relative prosperity versus downturn. To some degree, this is unavoidable regardless of any particular Commander in Chief...life will go on regardless of the tax rate.
Our country's collective value system, however, is not cyclical. I say collective because I truly believe that the majority of Americans still hold traditional values (life, marriage, pride in country, hard work, and self reliance/responsibility) true to heart. The problem is somewhere along the line we've become scared and ashamed to hold our neighbors to the same set of standards. How often do you hear, "Well I wouldn't do that, but it's not my place to tell them they can't." Really? Why not? Or how about, "I don't mix my religion and politics." What? How can this be? I propose that if you truly have religion, or better yet faith in Christ, you can't not mix the two. If you believe it's not right for you, why would it be right for someone else? Why do we as Americans allow the vocal minority to intimidate us into compromising our beliefs? I realize that some people really do think that abortion is ok, or that gay marriage is perfectly acceptable, or that it's ok for hard workers to support the lazy - but most Americans simply do not agree. I don't have facts and figures to back this up, and maybe I'm being naive, but I don't think so.

Unfortunately I have more questions than answers, but it boggles my mind as to why we are so afraid to embrace our own convictions. This doesn't stop at politics, but the weakness bleeds into our everyday life, conversations, and situations. The "right" thing is becoming increasingly less popular to do. I'm sure you can come up with a variety of applicable situations -I know I can.

All that said, I will be voting for McCain. Not because he's on the Republican ticket, and certainly not because I agree with his all of his policies, but I do believe he best represents the values I referenced above...and without these, the other stuff really doesn't matter.

As an ironic twist of fate, my oldest son's football team was featured in the recent Obama infomercial. I cringed at hyperlinking that, so I'll offset it with this one.

Venture to Run

I decided to start a personal blog to journal the running component of my life. It still needs some formatting work, etc., but you can check it out here: Venture to Run

Autumnal Ruminations

Autumn is in full swing finally, and temperatures have begun to fall. We had our first freeze this week on Tuesday. Lethargy not-with-standing, this is my favorite time of year. My main compulsion during this season is to brew a pot of tea, sit in my recliner next to the fireplace (with fire of course), wrap up in a blanket, smoke my pipe and read a good book. On the weekends when I don’t have to get up in the morning I might substitute tea with a bottle of wine or porter. The warming effect of alcohol, along with its penchant for inducing nostalgia, is ideal for brisk Fall evenings.

Outside howling winds rush through the trees, branches clack together, a distant rifle shot from the farm down the road – all enhance the cocoon-like coziness.

Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock

I guess if there was a band that kinda captured those first couple years down at Springfield this would be it. I can remember just laying on my bed with the windows open listening to those characteristic Corgan guitar harmonics. I know they tried to come back...what was it last year?...anyway it's weird to me how they've really just disappeared when they used to be so huge.

Arkansas Cult Leaders Tony and Susie Alamo

"We smoke cigars when we ain't brainwashing."

"Looking for a Donkey Companion and Some Donkey Info"

Today, upon checking my email, I found the title of this post in the subject line of an email I'd received. At first I was like, where have I gone on the world wide web that would constitute me getting bestiality spam? Then it dawned on me that this might actually be legit because I'm on the Growing Growers listserve, which is a listserve for local farmers. Sure enough, that was the case. Anyway, I thought that was too funny not to share.

Kansas City Homes Tour

Our home is one of four pre-1900 houses on the Pendleton Heights Homes Tour, Rockin' in 2008! All are welcome and even encouraged to attend. Pre-November 15 tickets are $10, and $12 a piece after. Further details can be found here:
http://www.pendletonheights.org/holiday-homes-tour/

Warhammer: Age of Reckoning

Okay, I'm nerding out here but this game looks pretty cool. If I didn't think the learning curve was too high for a non-gamer type such as myself, I'd actually give this a try. Oh well, I'm sure I've got better things to do than to get caught up in some fantasy realm with a bunch of kids and grown men living in Mom and Dad's basement.



Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning

Okay, this settles it...I'm definitely votin' for McCain now!

Bocephus - "The McCain-Palin Tradition"

Bumper Stickers...more politics

Follow me...I'm going to FRONTLINE!

Psychedelic Conception

More experimentation with iMovie.