Okay, apparently it's time to get my glasses checked - my hydrometer doesn't even reach as high as what I'd initially read it as, so 27% is *literally* impossible. Likely more like 18%, which is still at the upper limit, but *much* more reasonable.

Thing about weather throwing off active sensors - it really doesn’t take much on a back-country road to make the road invisible to sensors but still super-clear to humans. A light dusting of unplowed snow will obliterate the lines for a robot, but it’s still reasonable for a human to drive in.

Clarity leaves a little to be desired, and needs to age a few months to smooth out. Managed 3 full bottles and another half I can try to salvage from the sediment. Vanilla and cinnamon are very front, apple and fig a bit more subtle. Sweet but not too sweet. Just shy of 13% ABV.

I'm optimistic enough to believe in the best in people - it's why I loved the Good Place - but I'm also realistic enough to know that there's people out there who embody the worst of humanity, who will accrue power then then lord it over others. And much like Captain America, I don't like bullies.

We grew up in the same environment, heard the same stories about how this country was great, a land of opportunity for all, how anyone could be anything they wanted, how the law protected everyone equally....years spent learning the national mythology, and now you're surprised that I believe in it?

...and then turn around and ask how my mom is. Excuse me? You just spent 15 minutes pissing in my Cheerios, and now you want polite small talk? Make up your mind - am I a divisive, un-American source of disruption, or am I your neighbor to chit-chat with?

Yet they don't *see* it. They claim liberals are the ones "full of hate" while hating on DEI, immigrants, LGBTQ, government workers, etc. They'll flat-out tell me to my face that liberals are "the enemy" and list off everything they think is horrible about me...

They're so caught up in hating the things they've been groomed to hate that they don't even care that they're cutting off their own nose to spite their face. They'll pay any price necessary to make sure that those they disapprove of suffer - because that's the point, Protestant guilt as policy.

The things that they're cheering and approving of are having negative impacts on their fellow Americans, and they simply... don't care.

They'll say, "Well, I'm sorry the people you know are going through that." No, you're really not. At best, you're sorry you're hearing about it.

I’m still trying to figure out how this “saves over $1M”. The systems are already in place, it’s not like there’s significant future changes. If anything, undoing those changes are gonna cost money.