Random Notes from a Crank

Over the past couple of weeks, I've made both mustard greens and collard greens in the Southern style. Although this opinion may be unpopular among people who care about food, I prefer mustard greens over collard. I like the spiciness of mustard greens. 

According to the short article by heathline about collard greens, they're rich in antioxidants and a solid vegetable to eat because they have incredibly high levels of Vitamin K along with C and A. 

The same goes for their rundown on mustard greens. 

So this cursory research got me to thinking, "What the hell is vitamin K anyway?"

Apparently vitamin K helps with strengthening bones, improving memory, and keeping the heart healthy. 

The new Netflix stand-up special by Jim Jefferies is quite good. I really like his point that the saying "Happy wife--happy life" is generally thought of a truism or a maxim that most people believe. 

I agree with his point that there is no saying that is approved about a "happy husband." No one gives a damn. Most people, as Jefferies intimates, would have a reaction more like this: "Happy husband - Wait, why is he happy?" 

I know how he feels. 

Music Friday: "One Last F.U."

I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. 

The first single off Lucero's new album, Should've Learned by Now, starts out with a the drummer playing and using a cowbell.

Here's "One Last F.U." 

Musing of the Moment: Adopting British Terms

Since I watch Premier League football (we Americans just need to stop calling it soccer) and watch YouTube programs devoted to matters related to Tottenham Hotspur, I've been picking up a number of British slang terms and commonly used words as I watch the videos. 

I'm interested in expanding my vocabulary by adding certain words and vulgarities/insults from the Brits.

Here's a list of them I'm targeting to add to my lexicon:

• Fancy: I like the word as an option for "like" or having a desire, such as "I fancy how you look today."
• Rubbish: It's a word for trash, but I like how it also means nonsense. 
• Gutted: The term means that someone is extremely upset. 
• Bollocks: This word refers to one's balls, but I guess it also is a general term for expressing anger
• Daft: It's a term for being a bit stupid or silly.
• Dodgy: The word mean something akin to "sketchy." 
• Whinge: This odd term means to whine. 
• Shambalic: Football pundits often use this word when a team's performance is terrible or in shambles, such as "their defense was shambalic." 
• Knackered: It means exhausted. Alasdair Gold uses this quite often in his videos. 
• Shag: Nooky. To make the "beast with two backs." To fuck.
• Box clever: This term means to do something smartly.
• Gaffer: This word means manager, coach, or director. In football, it means the head coach. 
• Wanker: It's an insult meaning jerk or asshole. This is one of my favorites, you wankers.
• Mental: The word means someone has gone crazy, such as "He's absolutely mental." 
• Muppet: The term indicates a stupid person, not one of Jim Henson's creations. 

Music Friday: "People Watching"

I'm making a potato gratin for lunch. The last time I tried making one it turned out well, so I'm hoping for continued success. 

Here's one of the songs that was played during a song shuffle of iPod: "People Watching" by Jack Johnson. The Curious George film was the first movie we ever took our daughter to. 

Random Notes from a Crank

Mother Jones has an interesting article in the Jan-Feb issue. The online title of the article is "Heavier Storms Are Here. Rain Gardens Can Help." The author, Jackie Flynn Mogensen, relates how San Francisco has done some great work using rain gardens to soak up the rainfall from heavier storms. 

The mass amount of water would normally just run off into storm sewers and flood various areas. As she states, "Rain gardens soak up downpours, filter pollution, and offer habitat for pollinators."

The article led me to another one in Mother Jones: "Have a Yard? Consider Adding a Rain Garden," which provides information about resources and rebate programs. If I lived in Chicago, I could get a free rain barrel. 

I've been thinking about getting a rain barrel for years, but I've never gotten around to it. 

A word I need to work into my lexicon more is shite, the British term for shit. It just sounds classier than shit. 

Since I watch and listen to the Premier League and the fellows who post regular videos on WeAreTottenhamTV and the Grumpy Pundits program on SiriusFC, I've also picked up some British terms, such as "fancy," "big up," and "bullocks." 

Some British take special glee in being able to say "bullocks" for American audiences since apparently they cannot say that word on British airwaves or TV.  

Music Friday: "Picking Up the Signal"

The last couple of days at work I've been listening to the Son Volt discography in release order. 

Here's a great song from Straightaways, the band's/Farrar's second album. 

Music Friday: "Suspots" & "Compositions for the Young and Old"

One of the finest albums of the late 80s is Bob Mould's Workbook. 

As the kids say these days, every song on that album "slaps." 

The first tune is the opening instrumental, and the second song is the eighth song on the 11-song opus.