Saturday, April 30, 2016

[Belated] Music Friday: "Bring It On Home"

Sometimes you just gotta get back to the basics: a blues song about wanting some nooky.  

I give you Sonny Boy Williamson. 


Thursday, April 28, 2016

Stay Positive: Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories-Prince

"Assemble your crew. I'll be outside." 

"Is anyone up for a game of basketball?"

"The shirts against the blouses"

"Computer Blue"

"Why don't you purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka." 

"Game ... Blouses"

Click HERE to watch the video from Chappelle's Show

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Music Friday: "Sign O' the Times," "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man," & "Starfish and Coffee"

Unfortunately, Prince died this week. 

I was never a huge fan of the guy. I liked his music but was never "in to him." I always thought he was talented as hell, and I sure know a number of high school girls in the 80s who loved his music. 


My favorite album of his was Sign O' the Times


Here are a few of my favorite tunes from that fine album. 







Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Random Notes from a Crank

If you're like me, you'll enjoy Bill Maher's points about US taxpayers subsidizing religions. For the short version, here's an article on RawStory: "Bill Maher Calls for Taxes on All Religions." 

For the full argument, here's the video.




His argument works nicely with the fact that many of the founding fathers were freemasons who believed fiercely in the strict separation of church from state.

Grist has an interview with a chef who tries to have his restaurant be sustainable. I had never heard of blue fish, but I like his point about using broccoli leaves. I am growing baby broccoli in my garden this summer. Something to remember. 

Also from Grist, there's an article about how "More Californians Work in 'Advanced Energy' Jobs than Farming or Hollywood." The final ¶ of the article sums up what we might see more of from politicians: "In the world of politics, 'jobs' are solid political gold. They are the glittering beacon that politicians will cross party lines to get closer to, in their eternal quest to find the perfect factory floor for shaking hands. This particular study is only in its second year, but it already bodes well for even more legislation in support of clean energy, in California and beyond."

Monday, April 18, 2016

[Belated] Sunday Hangover: A-Day Game

The defenses dominated this season's spring game at Bryant-Denny. 

I feel bad for the poor guy who had to try to block Tim Williams. He and Rashaan Evans, who had 17 tackles, took over the game. Quarterbacks rarely had time to throw passes, so it was difficult finding out who won the quarterback battle. The four players vying for the job will take the competition into fall practice as has been usual the past few seasons. 

The quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is expected to redshirt, this season arguably had the best day of the four quarterbacks. He's a dual-threat qb who has quite a bit of quickness. 

The first-team offense was able to do very little against the first-team defense. In contrast, Damien Harris, who worked at running back for the second-team offense, had a very good day. Scarbrough has generated a lot of attention because of his similarities to Henry, but Harris reminded me of a cross between Kenneth Darby and Mark Ingram. 

From my perspective, I'm feeling good about the defense. The offense has an outstanding receiving corps at wide receiver and tight end, but the quarterbacks had little time to get them the ball. The work in the off-season will determine who starts on the o-line and at quarterback. 

Friday, April 15, 2016

Random Notes from a Crank

Here's some positive news about what could be possibly coming: "The Future Will Be Quiet." The author points to five probable changes that will ease noise pollution. I'm especially pleased about number two because I hate gas-powered leaf blowers and weed whackers because those small engines pollute the hell out of the environment. And they're loud. 

Speaking of noise pollution, the family that moved in up the street has a son. I guess he's probably somewhere in his mid-teens and doesn't seem the sharpest. This kid enjoys driving his noisy, rickety lawn tractor up and down the street. He approached me the other day about him possibly mowing my lawn on a regular basis, which is not going to happen since I have lawn mower, and using a lawn tractor in my front and back yards is silly. I don't think riding up and down the street is a sound marketing plan. Instead of wasting gas, he should read a damn book or something. 


I've lived in this area of east central Illinois for years now, but not until recently did I start shopping at Aldi. The grocery store is in the town that is about eight miles away, but I go to that town usually three days a week to drop off or pick up my daughter from dance and tumbling practice. So I'm now finally reveling in how much good stuff I getting for good prices. Just last week it was announced that my town will be getting an Aldi this fall. Huzzah for the frugal shoppers of Coles County. 


Last night I finished the first season of Marco Polo, which is an Netflix series. I really enjoyed it. I don't know much about Marco Polo or Kubla Khan or Chinese history, so I see a book purchase or two about Polo or Khan in my future. 

Music Friday: "Birdhouse In Your Soul" & "Your Racist Friend"

I'm going back to the late 80s with this one. When I entered college in 1989, the guy across the hall and two doors down from my dorm room loved playing Flood by They Might Be Giants. 

It's a good album. 


And these are two of my favorite songs on the album. The second video is their appearance on Letterman's old show. 




Friday, April 8, 2016

Music Friday: "Someone Take the Wheel" & "Happy Town"

As I mentioned in a previous Music Friday post, I was reading Trouble Boys, a book that recounts the rise and fall of The Replacements. 

For the most part, All Shook Down was a Westerberg solo affair and not really a band album. But I've always enjoyed the album even though purists of The Replacements have negative feelings about the work. Of course, some of those people probably think the band was at its best with Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash! and Hootenanny. I am not one of those people. 


Regardless, in his book Mehr notes that the album is like a suicide note for the band. He's on the mark with that comment. Westerberg picked the album cover because the two dogs summed up the state of the band: he and Tommy Stinson out there trying to keep it going. 

So here are a couple of tunes from that disc.





Friday, April 1, 2016

Stay Positive: Greatest Simpsons Religious Jokes

As much as the Simpsons' cavalcade of characters are seen in church, the series definitely has had some satirical comments about religion. 

Check out "The 18 Greatest Simpsons Religion Jokes." 

Stay Positive: Adult Jokes on the Simpsons

The Simpsons series has been inserting adult jokes into the series from the beginning. 

Follow the link to remember the "27 Dirtiest Simpsons Jokes in the History of the Series."

Music Friday: "Centerfield"

Baseball starts Sunday night. 

Tomorrow I'll be in St. Louis for my fantasy baseball draft. Draft Day is one of my favorite days of the year. In addition, I'll be bringing back my league's trophy because I won the league last year. 

Roll Schlitzophrenics Roll. 

I'm sure this song will be played at all kinds of ball parks this season.