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.

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.