Wednesday September 23rd

Hello Readers,
I, as well as many of my schoolmates, have experienced the cruel and abrupt acceleration of school work over the weekend. The first three weeks of introductions, readings and lectures has resulted in week of assignments, quizzes, tests and papers. So what better way to procrastinate studying for my Leadership and Diplomacy test than to write a Daily Routine? And what better way for you to procrastinate than by reading it? Foolproof. And while I could write about President Obama's attempts to restart Israeli/Palestinian peace talks, Colonel Qaddafi's nonsensical tirade at the United Nations General Assembly, or the California wildfires, there is one timely event that is close to my heart (or liver). And that brings us to today's Daily Topic: GUINNESS



Tomorrow, at 17:59 Greenwich (or Guinness) Main Time, tens of thousands of people will raise their harp-adorned pint glasses in the worldwide celebration of Guinness' 250 anniversary. The appropriate toast, according to the Guinness ad campaign, is simply "to Arthur," in honor of Arthur Guinness, the founder of the famous brew.

According to the Guinness website (don't tell them I lied about my age to access it), the event commemorates the day in 1759 that Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on the St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin. Let's pause for a moment and consider that statement.

A 9,000 year lease. This raises several questions in my mind. First, exactly how drunk did these countrymen of my great-grandparents have to be to draw up that contract? Guinness agreed to pay around $66 per year rent on the property, with an initial deposit of around $100. My second question: how confident do you have to be in your product to sign a 9,000 year lease? With this year's anniversary, he has only reached the end of the first 1/36th of his lease. Finally, was Guinness actually a brilliant businessman and is the Guinness brewery still paying only $66 a year?

So what makes Guinness so special? Well, not being of age and therefore unable to drink Guinness, I cannot tell you firsthand (cough). However, one of the secrets of Guinness' uniqueness is, quite literally, a simple element. When poured, Guinness Draught is infused with nitrogen which gives the beer a thick head and the microbubbles that sometimes appear to be flowing downward.

The dark beer also has some curious health properties. It contains less calories per pint than a glass of orange juice, milk, or a regular draft beer. Additionally, it contains antioxidants which slow down the deposition of cholesterol on artery walls. In the 1920s Guinness ran an advertising campaign which claimed, "Guinness is Good for You." Understandably, this slogan had to be abandoned several decades ago to prevent lawsuits.

The serving process is also an important part of a proper pint of Guinness. The company maintains that a "perfect pour" should last approximately 119.53 seconds (approximately). The loading screens on their website also cleverly load to 119.5 rather than 100%. Additionally, the company sells a special contraption which, when you place a pint glass of specially canned Guinness on it, releases an ultrasonic pulse through the beer, releasing the nitrogen and creating the creamy, out-of-the-keg head.

So if you're in the mood for some afternoon drinking tomorrow (depending on your time zone), raise a pint to Arthur and enjoy a taste of history.

-ROF

Daily Food: Steak and Cheese

Daily Activity: Heritage Appreciation

Daily Song: Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2

Daily Attire: Nantucket Tank Top

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Obama Makes Gains at U.N. on Iran and Nuclear Weapons

Daily News No One Should Care About: Qaddafi Delivers Rambling Diatribe

Daily Life Goal: Tour The Guinness Factory in Dublin Sometime in the next 8,750 years

Daily Complaint: IR 303 Test

Daily Drink: Guinness, It's Good For You

Daily Television: The Office

Daily Movie: Beerfest