[Coffee Shot] Preferences

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.

1. 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.
2. 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).
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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

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

“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

[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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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.

[Poem Share] Blue Mist by the Caffinated Sophist - tell me what you think

Dew in the morning air
Brings life to death so fair
Spring, Autumn, the icy chill
How I miss those times of fill

When memory and the present
Leave as the hunted pheasant
Autumn, Spring, the icy chill
Oh I miss those times of Psalm

Fire, rises, smoke fills lung
While story and memory flung
Spring, Autumn, the calming tone
Ah, I miss that amber shone

While the fair blue mist rises
And descends, I forget the devises
Autumn, Spring, the icy chill
How I yearn for memory’s ease

Centrist

Why does the United States have only 2 parties for government? I mean yes they have these (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_the_United_States#Political_parties) different minorities; but only two major parties that are splitting the country apart by acting like children. I don't take sides really on matters of republican or democrat, I'm a centrist, therefore I see things what are more practical and what would work better, which could mean a little bit of republican ideas and a little bit of democrat ideas. In fact a lot of times I play devil's advocate just to have the other party to see the other side of the argument (Ha!). But back to my question, "why does the United States have only two parties for government?" I know of American political history on how these two parties became the major leaders in government, but why now still? There are so many other options to break their hold on monopolising our government the way they're doing. I even know of some republican and democrat (not personally, only from news) individuals that are NOT republican or democrat, but were elected to be so; so that they can be supported and get into office (too many sites, just look on google and wiki... though I know their sources are not too reliable many times). Hopefully someone will come on and answer this; or I might have to put this on the questions forum (hmmm....).
Anyways... I like to reiterate what I said, to complete my thought on the matter; for that  I mean on the comment "but why now still, there are so many other options to break their hold on monopolising our government the way they're doing." If the United States government had three or more parties, it would offset the balance of power, also there would not be such a deadlock as much as two parties would. The republicans and democrats split the nation so perfectly to distract the people of the real issues and keep a 'stale-mate tug-of-war' in Washington so nothing gets accomplished, made to look like nothing getting done, or simply drag everything out to blame party A so that party B can get into office (notice I not blaming either party, but both in a not so much of an indirect way).
So I would like anyone reading this post, first to think of what you really want out of your government then go to this 3rd party site http://www.politicalcompass.org/test and take the test (logically & honestly); it is long and a bit difficult if you don't know much about politics, economy, and so on , but it is well worth the time and learning to 'know thy self better.'
I took the test, hmmm, 9 times in my life time, first time I took it I was a republican, mostly from my parents' influence, 2nd time I took it, still a republican, 3rd time (a little over a year later) I found my self to be a democrat, 4th time (6 months later) a communist, 5th time the same, 6th time (a year after the 5th time) a centrist, 7th time the same, 8th time the same, and just recently (the day I wrote this post) after 2 years after the last time I took the test, making this the 9th time, I'm still in the middle near centrist but also leaning towards Social Libertarian/Authoritarian, which I find kind of funny, though they did change up the questions and how to answer them, used to you could click 'maybe,' which I pick a lot because it just depends on the circumstance to know how to answer some of those questions. But I can still accept the results, I'm still near the center, which I like to be, like I tell everyone, I like the middle-path, its hard to walk on sometimes, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Below is the image of where I stand (currently), the map is a good description of how people stand, and how close they stand next to, certain political views. Please try it yourself.

Caffinated Sophist: the Meaning Behind the Name

I love coffee. I mean I am a coffee lover, not a fanatic, nor someone that drinks a lot of the black fowl sludge that the 'job' serves in the crude dripping lazy mechanic disaster of those drip coffee makers, or even those lazier weird 'place-in-the-cup-and-water-and-step-away' automatic contraptions. Granted, those Keuring's and Bunn's (not trying to advertise!) single "gourmet" "k-cup" coffee makers do serve a good cup of coffee (occasionally).
But I love to actually get involved with my coffee, to put in the effort, griding the whole beans into a beautiful dark fine powder, to smell the pungent delicate aroma filling the room, to place and pack the powder in a small metal cup-like filter for pressured steamy water to pass through (absolutely love my espresso maker). Or, grind the beans into not-so-fine granules, to brew in hot water and then pressed and pumped in my French-press. I don't see putting the effort in this process as time consuming nor problematic, if you want something done right and good, do it your self and take the time to do it, right?
Anyways... I also love tea, mostly Asian teas, jasmine, oolong, green (which there are so many different types of green tea out there); most often loose leaf, I can not go back to bags, sorry Lipton. Can only have coffee like 3-4 days a week (its the nerves) and other days just water, juice, and tea... No Soda (pop, what-have-you)...
So, that is the reason behind the name of this blog, or at least the half of it...
The other half is that I love discussing with others on topics of philosophy, cultures, linguistics (which is quite vague for a topic actually, not to say the others are not), and topics on reason and logic; for I believe, anyone, if we (people in general including me) all use rational thought and logic, we can overcome petty disputes, compromise, and create a more stable atmosphere to finally accomplish anything and everything, rather than letting emotions getting in the way, taking control, and allowing for poor behavior and terrible judgments, actions, and relationships with our family, friends, and neighbors.
So, that is the whole reason behind the name of this blog; its not just what I consider myself, but its what I do, and how I relate to others, and whom I relate to (I know I ended a sentence with a preposition, but its ok, that's priscriptive grammar, and for blogs its descriptive grammar that is used... Ha! did it again, so there Haha!).

Welcome to Caffinated Sophist!

This site is dedicated to talking about most things, but more specifically: Coffee/Tea, English/Chinese (languages, i.e. grammar, TESL/TEFL, TOEFL, learning a foreign language, etc...), Travel, Cultures, Beauty (i.e.Health, Wellness, Cosmetics, etc...), Literature, Philosophy, and Politics & Religion; however, I must ask we (as in ALL that post) MUST show the 3 R's: Respect, Reserve, and Responsibility, especially on the latter 2 subjects (Politics & Religion).
First a little about me/us... I'm James, dedicated to learning and teaching, trying to get my MA in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) and hope to teach overseas (more specifically in China) and do hope I will be able to help more over the web through this blog.
My wife, Luying, is getting her degree in business and will help in conversations with Beauty aspects, and may spark in at times to give her 2 cents in any conversation that perks her interest.