Sunday Hangover: Auburn

 So Bo Nix called Mac Jones a "game manager," huh? How'd that work out? During the game, the announcers related this comment, which apparently got the wide receivers all riled up to show what Mac can do. 

Here's what Mac did: 18 for 26 passes completed for 302 yards and 5 TDs.

Once again Devonta Smith put up huge numbers and brought in two more touchdowns. Metchie had a solid game. And Billingsley has emerged as one of those super-athletic TEs who can create serious matchup problems. 

Najee had a solid game with a great TD run and an outstanding catch and run off of a dump pass. 

Final score: 42 to 13. 

The lone touchdown by Auburn came in the fourth quarter. However, the Tide defense played well by mainly shutting down the Auburn run game throughout most of the game, which then hindered their play-action, gadget stuff they do with their passing game. 

The biggest change I've seen in this team is the play of the defense. If we want to think back to the olay defense that happened versus Ole Miss, it's clear the D has gotten better. 

Music Friday: "Answering Machine"

 I'm in the midst of reading Ander Monson's I Will Take the Answer. One of my favorite essays so far is "The Sadnesses of March," which recounts he and his wife's 64-song tournament of sad songs, which went viral. 

As he relates, for some of us we really dig sad songs for a number of various reasons. I won't give away the details of the essay, but it's a fine piece of non-fiction. 

Mr. Monson is also an alumnus, like me, of The Capstone, the University of Alabama. Roll Tide, sir, Roll Tide. 

The purveyors of the tournament picked songs from a certain time period, and you can look forward to my own post that informs folks of some sad songs everyone should enjoy. I also like sad songs although I do not share Mr. Monson's love of Morrissey. 

But to get to this post, they picked "Here Comes a Regular" from The Replacements. I get why they chose that tune, but I think it has stiff competition from this song from Let It Be. 

Unfortunately, kids these days won't get the reference.

[Belated] Sunday Hangover: Kentucky

 I only got to watch part of the game because I was driving during the first half of the game, but the score speaks for itself: a 60-point margin of victory. 

Devonta Smith made SEC history with a couple of touchdowns, and Mac Jones looked great. 

You know it's a lopsided game when the probable third or fourth running back on the roster led all RBs in rushing yards. Jase McClellan ran 10 times for a net yards gained of 99. And of course Najee Harris had a solid game and contributed two rushing touchdowns. 

Many underused players got lots of playing time, but one fellow that stood out defensively was Christian Harris with 11 total tackles and a sack. 

Next up is the Iron Bowl hosted by Alabama in Tuscaloosa. 

Music Friday: "Gift"

 I hadn't listened to File Under Easy Listening for a good while, so I kicked out the jams today and listened to it while at work. 

Here's the opening salvo on that fine opus. 

Random Notes from a Crank

 Lately I've been thinking about the concept of "staircase wit," also notably described by the French as "L'esprit de l'escalier." It's when you think of something you should have later. 

The funniest version of it comes from this episode of Seinfeld. 

One could also call it the jerk-store paradox. 

This year I discovered a cocktail I should have had imbibed years ago. It's the Caesar. It originated in Canada, and it's basically a Bloody Mary but with Clamato instead of tomato juice. 

Why is it called the Caesar though? I know a lot of factoids about Roman history, but I don't recall Julius Caesar known for liking clams. I guess it's possible. But come to find out, it's full name is Bloody Caesar. So that's why - the whole stabbing on the Ides of March. 

Random Notes from a Crank

Here are some interesting factoids from the November "Harper's Index": 

• Portion of local U.S. parks that saw an increase in visitors this spring: 2/3
• Portion of U.S. parks-and-recreation agencies that have been asked to reduce spending this fiscal year: 2/3
• Percentage by which the population of the average wildlife species has declined globally since 1970: 68
• In Latin American and the Caribbean: 94
• Rank of deforestation among the causes of wildlife decline on land: 1
• Percentage decrease in the length of the average work meeting since the onset of the pandemic: 20
• Percentage by which the unemployment rate of recently graduated U.S. physics majors exceeds that of art history majors: 60
• Average factor by which countries led by men have had more COVID-19 deaths than countries led by women: 1.9
• Factor by which mainstream newspapers cite organizations that oppose climate change more often than those that support: 2
• Portion of Americans who admit to not relying on the news sources they regard as the most trustworthy: 1/3

Since Mrs. Nasty and I don't commute that far to work, we're willing to get paid for carbon offsetting other people's long commutes. If you're interested in assuaging your liberal guilt, you can pay me via PayPal. 

I absolutely should not donate to any US Senate campaign. I gave money to Theresa Greenfield's campaign because I despise Joni Ernst. In addition, I gave money to Jaime Harrison because I despise Lindsey Graham even more. And I'd love to see Democratic US Senator from the Deep South. Both challengers lost, unfortunately. 

As the pandemic rages, Moscow Don does nothing but spite: "As Trump Stews over Election, He Mostly Ignores the Public Duties of the Presidency." 

Music Friday: "Life of Sin"

 Sturgill Simpson was on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert the other night, and he showcased his new album, which is a collection of 20 of his songs just done in a bluegrass manner. 

It's a fun album. Here's one of the tunes from the album, Cuttin' the Grass. 

Random Notes from a Crank

I was watching an episode of Archer the other day, and Sterling Archer said this: "Introspection is the enemy of happiness." 

I'm worried Moscow Don is going to steal this election via his unfounded lawsuits. 

While it's clear to most people who work within the bounds of reason that Biden won the presidency, I'm going to be a Debbie Downer on the Senate. One, Maine reelected Collins, and dumbass Joni Ernst won in Iowa, and it is clear the Democrats didn't flip North Carolina. And in Alabama, a carpetbagger who doesn't know shit about policy won: Tommy Tubberville. 

While I hold out hope that Stacey Abrams and her infrastructure she built can win both Senate seats, but I'm not optimistic. 

Sunday Hangover: Bye Week

 Well, Clemson lost to Notre Damn, but I suspect when the committee puts out its rankings, Clemson will still be in the top four. I don't know if Trevor Lawrence would have helped them win against the Irish, but the committee won't penalize them. 

Florida looks pretty damn good. Kyle Trask destroyed that Georgia defense. 

Texas A&M is quietly showing themselves to be a solid team. Mond is one heck of a QB. 

Indiana beating Michigan shouldn't come as that much of a surprise. Michigan lost to a moribund Michigan State last week. And the Hoosiers have beat some good teams over the years. Let's hope they can same thing against the Luckeyes. 

Speaking of Michigan State, Iowa took them behind the woodshed yesterday.

And the Cyclones of Iowa State held on against Baylor. I don't know how I feel about those black jerseys. 

Random Notes from a Crank

 If you have a subscription to the New York Times, take time to read "This Is America" by Roxane Gay. 

Over a year ago, the Nasty family booked a vacation in Cancun for over the week of Thanksgiving. I feel a bit shameful about this, but we're still going. If we don't, we would just flush thousands of dollars down the toilet. And from what I gather, Cancun was one of the best places to take precautions for Covid-19 when the pandemic started. 

We've consulted all kinds of info about this trip, and from the sound of it, we're probably safer in Mexico than the United States, which is a sad commentary on how poorly America has dealt with the pandemic. 

Still though, I harbor a good bit of nervousness about the trip. 

Sometime this summer I need to take my family to Cahokia Mounds. 

Back when I was in graduate school, Mrs. Nasty and I visited the Moundville Archeological Park, which was really interesting. It's a smaller, more closely bunched set of mounds. 

Those Mississippians...

Which reminds me of this great song.

Music Friday: "Year of the Boomerang"

 These guys need to put out a new album since they've joined back together. I miss their political commentary. 

Sunday Hangover: Mississippi State

 Well, that was an old school mauling by the Crimson Tide squad. 

The passing duo of Jones and Smith were unstoppable. And 203 yards and four touchdowns is not Smith's personal best. 

A move that be something to watch is that Trey Sanders out carried Brian Robinson. Sanders, the heralded recruit from two years ago, toted the rock 12 times for 80 net yards, which was solid. The offense chewed up State's defense on the ground. Harris had a stellar day with 21 carries for 119 net yards. 

The welcome sight was the defense daring State to run and shutting out the Bulldogs. I love an old fashioned shutout. 

State almost got on the board late, but Dylan Moses made an outstanding interception in the end zone. 

Next up is a bye week before the Crimson Tide travels to Baton Rouge. 

Random Notes from a Crank

The Guardian has an interesting article that ties in habitat loss, loss of biodiversity, and climate change to the likelihood of more pandemics. It's good reading: "Protecting Nature Is Vital To Escape 'Era of Pandemics.'" 

Because of my area of east central Illinois spiking in cases, our region now can't have eating in at restaurants, and bars will be closed. 

Even Russia is mandating masks in contrast the dumbass that is Moscow Don: "Trump's Ideal Strong Man, Putin, Orders Nationwide Mask Mandate as US Flounders Under Weak Leadership." As Cole notes, "But in the US, the mask refuseniks are about half the population, and they are led by the denialist-in-chief, Donald Trump."

"Mask refuseniks" is great phrasing. And Cole puts it well toward the end of the post: "Trump has confused ignorance and genocide by neglect with machismo."