People generally consider the "rational mind" to be a good thing. We think of it as a function or process that guides our actions, logically, usually by avoiding emotion or biased judgment. Mind helps us to maximize good or benefit. For this reason, many philosophers tout mind as better than our more intuitive reactions. What is the mind? This is a big philosophical question. Let's be clear that we're not just talking about your brain. The mind is more than just your brain. In part, it's the seat of consciousness, the "I" that makes you who you are. The mind is also responsible for higher thought. It combines sense, thinking, judgment, and memory. It allows you to weigh cost and benefit to make reasoned decisions. Rational thinking is the ability to take many variables into account and to access, organize, and analyze information to reach a sound conclusion. Whether it is planning a budget, weighing the pros and cons of a new job, or arguing politics with friends, you use rational thinking every day. Rational thinking is very human. In fact, it's what separates us from other animals and is how we are able to use tools, build cities, develop technology, and spread as a species. So, it is a very valuable, useful trait. As you can see, rational thinking is a big reason why we are here today. This does not mean that more is necessarily better, however. Star Trek fans know that super-rational beings like Mr. Spock or Data are not really human because humans also need emotion. We are not like machines. To a certain point, rational thinking is beneficial. We can distance ourselves from strong emotions that might otherwise direct our decision-making. If emotion guided us, would people leave home to go to college, for example? Many would not the emotional strain and distance from loved ones would be too powerful, even if they knew, in their mind, that college was good for them. Rational thinking can sometimes go overboard, however. We would probably be paralyzed if we based our decisions only on reason. All choices, big and small, involve so many variables that it would be impossible to decide without listening to the heart. What should you eat for breakfast, for example? Should it be the healthiest food? The best-priced food? The most time-saving? Without a bit of heart, you would never be able to decide.
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One-sentence summary -- Start with the mind. Recognize rational patterns of thought. Learn the advantages and disadvantages of the mind.

Set a clean bucket next to the pot of corn mash. Place a fine mesh strainer over the bucket and slowly pour the corn mash through it, so the liquid passes into the bucket and the strainer catches the solids. Or you could scoop small amounts of the mash into a cheesecloth bag and squeeze the bag over the clean bucket. You can discard the grain solids. The liquid that you're left with after straining the solids is called wort. If you squeeze the corn mash in the cheesecloth bag, you can actually squeeze more liquid out of the mash which will get you more corn whiskey in the end. To aerate the wort, you want to agitate or move the liquid around, so you introduce air into it. Set out two sterilized buckets. Pour the wort into one bucket. Continue to pour the wort back and forth between the buckets, so you see bubbles and froth at the top of the liquid. You'll probably need to pour them between the buckets 10 to 15 times. Introducing air will give your yeast oxygen that it needs to grow. Fill a sterilized test tube with some of the wort. Place a clean hydrometer into it and swirl the liquid a little. The hydrometer will float around and then settle into one spot. Take the specific gravity reading by seeing where the top of the liquid reaches the hydrometer. Write down the specific gravity reading. You'll use this specific gravity reading and one you take after fermentation to determine alcohol content.
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One-sentence summary -- Strain the corn mash. Aerate the wort. Take a specific gravity reading.

Write the first name of the author and then the last name, followed by a comma. The style illustrated here is for footnotes and endnotes. Bibliography citations are addressed later in this method. For example: Max Smith, If you have multiple authors, list them alphabetically by last name using the same format. Separate each name with a comma, and use the word "and" before the final name. For example: Max Smith, James Yank, and Krista Zee, Format the article title using an open quotation mark, the title, a comma, and then a closed quotation mark. Put the title of the piece in title case. For example: Max Smith, "Why Geopolitics Matters," Put the name of the publication in title case and follow it with a comma. For example: Max Smith, "Why Geopolitics Matters," The American Conservative, Write the full name of the month, the day of the month, a comma, and then the year, followed by another comma. For example: Max Smith, "Why Geopolitics Matters," The American Conservative, May 6, 2015, Write the page number as a numeral or range of numerals followed by a period. So, "[first/only page]-[last page]." For example, to cite one page: Max Smith, "Why Geopolitics Matters," The American Conservative, May 6, 2015, 32. Or, to cite a range of pages: Max Smith, "Why Geopolitics Matters," The American Conservative, May 6, 2015, 32-35. Unless you accessed the article online or in a database, this is the full citation. If you found your magazine article online or in an academic database, write that information after the article's publication date. To accommodate the new information, the period following the date becomes a comma instead. Write the URL or database, and then add a period at the end of the citation. For example, in the case of a URL: Max Smith, "Why Geopolitics Matters," The American Conservative, May 6, 2015, 32, http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/why-geopolitics-matters/. Or, in the case of a database: Max Smith, "Why Geopolitics Matters," The American Conservative, May 6, 2015, 32, LexisNexis Academic. Chicago and Turabian only ask that you include either the URL or the database. You do not need to include both if you found the article in an academic database. If you're creating a bibliography, write the last name of the author, a comma, the first name, and then a period. The rest of the citation flows the same as a footnote or endnote.For example: Smith, Max. "Why Geopolitics Matters," The American Conservative, May 6, 2015, 32.
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One-sentence summary --
Write the full name of the author followed by a comma. Place the article title after the author's name. Italicize the name of the publication after the article title. Write the date the article was published after the publication name. Add the page number after the article's publication date. Include the URL or the database where you accessed the article. Switch the first and last name for bibliography citations.