The Writer in Me

By Tom J. Miller

We all try to find our meaning in life, our calling. Some will have a more straightforward journey finding this meaning. I certainly did not. I suppressed my true passion – writing – for a portion of my adolescence. This reluctance to follow my passion was mostly because writing is socially considered "soft" in nature. Much of my generation does not find any appeal in the individuality, creativity, and craftsmanship that compose a finished product. However, many of these people have only a superficial understanding of writing and are oblivious to its deeper significance.

Writing is not merely a means of communication; it is everything that our soul is comprised of in text format. Any piece that you produce, even a fiction novel, is uniquely you. Writing is a byproduct of one's own peculiar brain processes. Given the same subject to write about, regardless of the genre, people will go about it in entirely different ways. Each individual writer develops his or her own style that separates their work from that of others'. Furthermore, a tangible work of writing will allow one to diffuse their thoughts more readily and on a larger scale. As seen with historical figures, one's written ideas, observations, etc. will most likely outlive them. They are leaving behind for successive generations a display of who they were; a portrait whose medium is not paint, but words. This individualistic nature of writing is often underemphasized or completely overlooked. Only when this disconnect is fixed can one understand the true power of the craft in imparting and perpetuating one's identity.

Creativity is an indivisible element of human nature. Most people have had a creative outlet at some point in their life, whether it is drawing, composing music, inventing, or in my case, writing. What separates writing from the others is that it is virtually limitless. Most mediums of creativity require a number of resources in order to materialize anything. Writing on the other hand only requires a pen, paper, and an imagination. The boundaries of writing begin where your imagination ends. Therefore, if you can envision it, you can materialize it. The limitations on an individual's creativity are minimal. For example, structure is crucial in any genre of writing, but that is not enough to inhibit creativity. If anything it stimulates it; one has to ensure that the puzzle pieces, which are the story's components, fit together properly. Experiences throughout a writer's life will spur inspiration, yielding possibilities that are never-ending. Being a writer, you are unrestricted by any external force. You define reality.

The complex simplicity of writing renders it a very engaging art form. It is simple in the sense that the fundamental objective is to get a point across. However, not everyone who can get their point across is a good writer. A good writer is one who utilizes techniques to expound their ideas more efficaciously. The degree to which one employs these techniques and therefore illustrates their theme to their audience is a measure of their aptitude as a writer. A novice writer will tell; an experienced writer will show. The latter will have a more profound impact on an audience. If everybody had this ability, writing as a profession would not exist. In addition, as a writer, an individual will always be learning. Whether it is expanding their vocabulary to spice up their work, modifying it to be more fluent, or even studying the work of another writer, there is always room for improvement. As a writer learns, their writing will flourish accordingly.


As a writer, I am distinct. My work is a reflection of my individuality. As a writer, I am free. A new dimension is added to possibility. As a writer, I am zealous. I intend to master the craft. These aspects factor into my profound love for the art of writing. This love is stronger than all of the other forces in life that have invariably shaped me. I made the decision to pursue my calling. I rediscovered myself - the part of me that never died, only temporarily subsided - the writer in me.

Analysis of Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

By Tom J. Miller

The innate violence of man and the inevitability of human evil are questioned throughout the novel, Blood Meridian. The author, Cormac McCarthy, answers these questions by strategically utilizing the setting and characters in which evil and violence are represented. He uses the lawless setting of the West and its influence on the characters’ actions to emphasize that where evil is permitted to flourish, it will. Likewise, McCarthy uses the characters as a way to answer the questions at hand. The antagonist, Judge Holden, can be compared to the likes of a divine figure; evident through his actions and dialogue over the course of the novel. He represents the powerful force and inevitability of evil while the protagonist of the novel, designated only as “the kid” and later as “the man”, serves the role as the typical human man. His actions and transition from the beginning to the end of the novel not only show the violent and warlike nature of man, but also man’s inability to evade the influential force of human evil as well as his destined fate.

The excessive amount of gruesome murders and other forms of violence in Blood Meridian was not included by Cormac McCarthy simply for the sake of entertainment purposes. It successfully highlights one of the main themes of the novel which is man’s violent nature. The kid, a fourteen year old Tennessean runaway, is one of the main characters of the novel and the epitome of innate violence. The kid eventually falls into a band of murderers and criminals led by a man named Glanton, whose objective is to retrieve scalps for Mexican officials. This in turn, grants the kid and his cellmate and fellow “scalp hunter”, Toadvine, their freedom from a Mexican jail cell. Judge Holden reappears in the novel as a scalp hunter and assists the group with the murdering and scalping of Indians. The members of the group provide one another with mutual safety while generating revenue. Although their initial motive for the scalping is for bounty, the group eventually finds the act amusing. They begin to slaughter entire villages of Indians, regardless of whether they were enemies or not and the act is treated as the standard way of life. These actions of the group show just how ruthless and violent humans can be, which is what Cormac McCarthy wanted to be acknowledged.

The novel is set in the war-torn U.S.-Mexico border in the mid-19th century, at the time being primitive, unlawful, and plagued with murder and violence. The descriptions of the deserts in the novel are nearly synonymous with the characteristics of hell, with its rugged, lightning-struck terrain. Its vast barrenness is repeatedly emphasized to stress the idea that there is no place to hide from the evils in which the West encompasses, further addressing the central questions of the novel. Its landscape is described as being nearly tantamount throughout the U.S.-Mexico border, possibly symbolizing the lack of moral direction and self-control of Glanton’s group as it relates to violence. The violence within these Western borderlands is the result of conflict between the various armies and war-parties engaging in battle. Violence and evil within the West is what ultimately dictates the actions of the characters in their attempt to remain alive in the survival of the fittest-type environment. The way that Glanton’s group treats violence as ordinary shows how the Western borderlands have influenced them after being exposed to so much bloodshed. The setting therefore serves the purpose of revealing the underlying violent nature of man as well stressing that human evil cannot be repelled or evaded by man under any circumstance.

McCarthy utilizes the persona and dialogue of arguably one of the most mysterious and frightening characters of any novel, Judge Holden, to symbolize the power and the inescapable force of evil. What makes the Judge so distinct is not only the way his appearance is described, but that he is portrayed as immortal in nature. He seems to be ubiquitous, as he always returns in the novel despite the circumstance. For example, he reoccurred after the massacre of Glanton’s gang by the Yuma’s, reuniting with the kid. He also unexpectedly reappears at the kid’s jail cell in San Diego, just when the kid thought he had escaped from the Judge. He seems to be superior to man in every aspect due to his wide range of knowledge and skills, as well as intelligence. His rants and perception of life are what polarizes him from the rest of the characters. He recognizes the warlike nature of men by referring to war as a “game”. He states, “Men and born for games… but trial of chance or trial of worth all games aspire to the condition of war for here that which is wagered swallows up game, player, all” (p. 249). He also implies this when he claims that “men of god and men of war have strange affinities” (p. 250). The ending of the novel further addresses its central question regarding the inevitability of death since it is implied that the kid is murdered by the Judge, but not stated. The kid was said to have walked into an outhouse where the Judge “gathered him in his arms against his immense and terrible flesh and shot the wooden bar-latch home behind him. (p. 334). A man was later warned by another not to enter that same outhouse, indicating that the kid was gruesomely murdered. The kid was therefore unable to escape the inevitable force of evil. The final words of the Judge and the novel were that the Judge himself never sleeps and that he’ll never die (p. 335), signifying that evil is ever-lasting.

The central questions of the novel pertaining to violence and the inevitability of evil are not answered directly by the literature, but are rather implied. In Blood Meridian, the importance of violence and bloodshed extend way beyond its literal sense. It stands for man’s innate violence, which is something that relates to every human. The Judge serves as the force of evil’s human equivalent in order to give better understanding of the inevitability of evil by giving it human qualities. Therefore, the power and imminence of the Judge depicted in the novel corresponds with that of the actual force of evil. The skillful use of underlying messages and symbolism by Cormac McCarthy is the reason why the answer to these central questions can only be found by reading in between the lines.

How to brew fresh coffee using a French Press (with Hario Skerton handmill grinder)

Although not used as widely today as drip filtration-style coffee makers and espresso machines, the French Press is a simple, cheap, and manual way of brewing a great tasting cup of coffee. An Italian designer by the name of Attilio Calimani patented the device in 1929.

It produces a cup of coffee that is more flavorful, robust, and thick given that you are operating the Press properly during brewing. The enhanced boldness and flavor are due to the fact that the Press uses a fine wire or Nylon mesh filter rather than a paper filter that most drip coffee makers use, which absorbs and traps flavorful coffee oils. 

In my opinion, there are two downsides to a French Press. One is that brewing coffee with a French Press is time consuming. If you're the type of person that rushes out of the house every morning for work or school, the French Press is not for you. The second downside, that may be a plus to some people, is that due to the many variables while using a Press and human error, the same tasting cup of coffee from brew to brew is unlikely. To some who may like to experiment, this can be favorable.

Many people alter the variables to fit their taste. Therefore, there is not one tried-and-true method of using a French Press. There are some tolerances that if you do not heed, your French Press will produce nothing but coffee that is bitter/weak and/or coffee containing too much sediment. I'm not an experienced barista. However, from some research and experimentation, I've found the method which works for me and would like to share it. 

I'm using Barefoot Coffee's "The Heavy". A dark roasted,
Central American blend.

You will need:

• French Press
• Coffee beans (whole, freshly roasted is preferable)
• Scale to weigh coffee beans
• Grinder
• Kettle (electric or stove-top)
• Plastic utensil to stir the coffee
• Timer
• Thermometer (optional)

Step 1: Weigh the coffee

I use a coffee to water ratio of 18g per cup (8oz). This may be on the strong side for some people so you may have to adjust it to suit your taste. I place a stryrofoam cup on an electric scale and then zero the scale. You may use any type of cup, bowl, or plate that you wish to weigh the coffee, just be sure to zero the scale prior to putting the beans in/on it. Pour the coffee beans in the cup until you reach the right amount of coffee for the amount of water that you're using. I usually make 3 cups (24oz) of coffee in the morning. So I'd use 54g of beans.

Weighing the coffee beans

Grinding with a Hario
Skerton hand mill.

Step 2: Grind the coffee

Grind the coffee beans to produce coarse grounds. The Hario Skerton grinder that I'm using produces a grind that becomes less consistent the coarser the setting. Therefore, I prefer to grind on the finer side so I use a setting of 7 (7 notches looser from the zero-point, which is the point where the adjustment mechanism is in its tightest setting, making contact with the plastic. See this guide for more info.)

A coarse grind next to a U.S. nickel, for comparison.

Step 3: Boil the water

Measure out the amount of water that you are going to use and pour it into a kettle. The best water to use is filtered or spring water since tap water will adversely affect the flavor of your brewed coffee. Begin heating up the water.

In the meantime, pour hot water into your empty Press in order to preheat it. This prevents the temperature of the water you're boiling from dropping when you pour it into the Press. Pour the water out completely and dump your coffee grinds into the Press. Shake the Press from side to side so that the grinds settle yielding a relatively flat surface on top:

Step 4: Pour the hot water into the Press

Once the water begins to boil, let it cool down until it reaches about 205° F or about 20-30 seconds off of the boil. Get your timer ready. Pour the water into the Press, being sure to saturate all of the grounds and place the lid on the top of the Press and begin your timer. Then wait one minute until the next step.

Waiting too long to pour the water into the Press will take away from the flavor of the coffee since the water won't be hot enough to extract the flavors from the beans. Pouring in the water too soon will result in you scalding the coffee grounds which also makes the brew less flavorful. 

Upon pouring in the water, you may notice a tan foam at the top of the water's surface. This is a good indication of whether your beans are fresh or not. The more the foam, the fresher the beans. If there is little to no foam, your beans were most likely not roasted recently and are not fresh.

Fresh roasted beans were used. 

Step 5: Stir the coffee:

After a minute has passed since you placed the lid on top, remove the lid from the Press. Using a plastic (not metal!) utensil such as a spoon, stir the coffee, being sure to break up all of the crust that has formed on the top. Do it as quickly and efficiently as possible, before securing the lid back on top once again. The bottom of the plunger (filter) should making slight contact with the water.

Breaking up the crust.

Step 6: Allow the coffee to brew

Allow the coffee to brew until your timer is at four minutes. While you're waiting, preheat your coffee mug in the same manner as you did the Press - by filling it with hot water. Remove the water shortly before the next step. You can extend your brewing time to five minutes if you like a bolder taste. I recommend starting at four minutes and modify it from there.

Step 7: Steep the coffee

At the four minute mark, steep the coffee by gently applying force directly down on the plunger without using more force in any one direction. You should notice a little resistance while steeping. Do not allow the plunger to tilt, otherwise coffee grounds will get past it and into your coffee. Continue plunging until you push all of the grounds to the bottom of the Press. Keep the steeping time under 15 seconds. 

Step 8: Decant your coffee

Serve your coffee as soon as possible! As long as the coffee is still in the Press, it's still brewing. If you plan to save some for later, store it in a Thermos.

Pouring the brewed coffee into my
preheated mug

Step 9: Drink and enjoy!

Feel free to give me some feedback! Thanks for reading!

Repeal the NY SAFE Act and NYC gun laws

I never really go on rants but gun ownership is something that I feel very strongly about.

Not only is the NY SAFE Act unconstitutional, but it is completely ineffective. For starters, it grants local authorities to overstep their constitutional boundaries and seize one's firearm(s) without a warrant or a court order if there is probable cause that the owner is mentally unstable or plans to use the firearm to commit a crime. Of course, what constitutes "probable cause" is usually vague and subjective.
 

The law goes further to classify any semi-automatic firearm that has a detachable magazine and possesses a "military-style feature" as an assault rifle. A military-style feature includes components such as a pistol grip, a bayonet lug, a folding stock, or a flash suppressor - basically any characteristic of a firearm that does not increase the ability of it to kill or do damage. If you know anything about firearms, you would know that this provision does not make anyone safer and/or lessen the lethality of any firearm. It also makes it clear that state law makers do not possess much experience or knowledge regarding guns. This definition categorizes a huge portion of firearms as assault weapons which therefore prohibits the sales of those firearms in New York state. It greatly infringes on the constitutional right allowing citizens to keep and bear arms.

The law goes on to introduce more unnecessary bureaucracy such as the requirement for ammunition dealers to carry out background checks. Likewise, under the Act, the private sale of firearms requires a background check to be performed. These provisions are in hope that it will prevent criminals or the mentally unstable from obtaining firearms. When in reality, all it does is punish law abiding gun owners. Since there will always be a black market, a criminal or any one who intends on using a firearm for bad will indeed have the access to firearms. The way to counter this is to have armed, law abiding citizens who not only act as a deterrent to potential criminals, but can prevent crimes from occurring where they are present. Human evil is inevitable. We will never live in a utopian society which is what some people don't understand. The gun is just a tool. It is ultimately the user who renders it good or evil.

The only laws more restrictive than the states are New York City's. And guess what? Based on the Uniform Crime Reporting System, NYC had a total of 52,384 violent crimes in 2013 as opposed to 23,981 in non-NYC regions in the same year. The 2013 estimated population of NYC is 8,405,837 compared to the rest of NY state's population of 11,245,290. Therefore, despite having more stringent laws on gun ownership, NYC has a higher violent crime rate than the rest of the state. These violent crimes include murders, robberies, and aggravated assaults. I wish I was able to compare the numbers of each region's violent crimes by firearms, but NYC hasn't released those figures. In essence: no, you are not safer in NYC where gun laws are more strict and legal gun ownership is less prevalent.

I find it disgusting that one year ago, at 18 years old, I enlisted in the Marine Corps. I swore to uphold the Constitution and protect the US from enemies foreign and domestic (Unfortunately I was medically disqualified). Yet, I'm now 19 and still cannot own a firearm in NYC. I have been into guns since I was 16 and not once has the thought of ever illegally utilizing a firearm popped into my head. Before I eventually move out of New York State (for a variety of reasons), I'm going to do all that I can to challenge the NY SAFE Act such as participating politically and linking up with like-minded people. I urge any one on my list to do the same. We need to act collectively to make a difference. The odds may be stacked against us but we should not be stripped of our constitutional rights due to a misguided sense of the public good.

Review - American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms by Chris Kyle

Title: American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms

Author: Chris Kyle w/ William Doyle

Pages: 320

Published: 2013

Publisher: William Morrow

List Price: $29.99

Buy American Gun here




American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms is former U.S. Navy SEAL, Chris Kyle's second book that aims to utilize the most prominent firearms in American history as framework to briefly summarize the history of the United States from its foundation in 1776 to modern times.

The ten firearms that Kyle discusses in the book are:

- The American Long Rifle
- The Spencer Repeater
- The Colt Single-Action Army Revolver
- The Winchester 1873 Rifle
- The M1903 Springfield
- The M1911 Pistol
- The Thompson Submachine Gun
- The M1 Garand
- The .38 Special Police Revolver
- The M16 Rifle

Pros:

+ Thorough research was put into this book. All of the subjects mentioned are carefully supported with factual information
+ Makes a potentially dry subject to some very entertaining by summarizing actual events where the firearm being discussed was used
+ Clearly describes the technological advances that enhanced the efficiency of firearms
+ Expresses the vitality of the firearm to our nation's establishment and further development
+ Chronologically timelines each firearms history and uses
+ Provides factual pros and cons of weapon systems
+ Serves as an American history book in addition to firearms history
+ Relatively easy for beginners to understand despite knowledge of firearms
+ Gives detail of the bureaucracy behind the adoption of each gun
+ Includes the technical specifications of all ten guns at the end of the book

Cons:
- Tends to occasionally wander off topic
- More technical information on the systems and operation of each firearm could have been included
- Kyle sometimes is opinionated when it comes to the superiority of certain firearms. However, it's his book so obviously he can do whatever he wants but I just thought it should be brought to light. In addition, he's a former SEAL and I'm just an 18 year old sitting at home. I'm not going to argue with his opinion :)

Conclusion

Overall, I had fun reading this book while learning a lot in the process. I appreciate the amount of work and research that Chris Kyle has put into it. Any American history buff or gun enthusiast - regardless if you're a collector, hunter, target shooter, etc. will enjoy the read. Chris Kyle points out that the gun is like any development in history; it can be used for good or evil. The gun is just a tool, it is the person operating it who ultimately makes it good or bad. Kyle definitely succeeds in expressing the significance of the gun to the establishment of our nation and that the gun could potentially be one of the main determinants of whether we'd be able to be calling ourselves "Americans" today.