Music Friday: "Not Strong Enough"

I got the new album from boygenius just because I'm a fan of Phoebe Bridgers. 

This song has been getting a lot of play on SiriusXM's Spectrum, and it's a good tune. 

 

Music Friday: "Obscenery"

Queens of the Stone Age has a new album out titled In Times New Roman...

I liked it from the first listen. 

This is the opening tune. 

Musing of the Moment: The Confederate History of the Gadsden Flag

Laurie Brodie wrote an interesting article in the The Washington Post that reveals the crooked history of the Gadsden flag.

Here's a link to the gifted article: "The Disgraced Confederate History of the 'Don't Tread on Me' Flag"

I dislike the flag because of its association with anti-government nutjobs and the followers of Moscow Don. 

However, I didn't know the history of its use in the Civil War. It makes sense though because Gadsden was from South Carolina. 

Music Friday: "Save the World"

The new album Weathervanes by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit has been on heavy rotation in my household this week. 

I'm really liking the new album. 

Here's a tune that caught my ear initially and has only grown in stature. 

Music Friday: "The Chemicals Between Us"

I've always liked the music of Bush. I just never have bought any of the band's albums. 

I heard this tune the other day on SiriusXM's Lithium channel and remembered how much I dig the song.

Stay Positive: Postecoglou to Tottenham

After seventy-some days after Conte and Spurs parted ways, we finally have a new manager. It's the Australian Ange Postecoglou. 

I was intrigued by both Nagelsman and Slot, but Slot just used the Tottenham's interest to fatten his wallet with a new deal with his Dutch club. For whatever reason, Spurs didn't pursue Nagelsman. 

With Postecoglou, he's won everywhere he's been, and he's often taken over clubs that were absolute messes. 

It's safe to say that Tottenham is a mess. With no European football, they have a bloated roster in need of cleaning out. 

In addition, the recent signings of Spence, Udogie, and Porro were for the previous manager who employed wing-backs. 

The new gaffer is likely not to use wing-backs extensively since he usually plays a 4-3-3. 

So it'll be interesting to see which players move on after he takes the helm and evaluates the current players in the squad whether they played this season with Spurs or on loan to some other club. 

As much as I found Mourinho and Conte to be intriguing managers for the team at time (and I wish Levy would have at least let Jose try to win some silverware), I tired easily of their brand of football. Their sides, for the most part, play a boring type of football. 

I'm a pragmatist by nature, but not when it comes to world football. 

At least with Postecoglou we know he'll employ a high-energy, offensive brand of offense. 

At first, it was reported that the deal with the new manager was for two years with an option in the third year. However, those reports were wrong. He has a four-year contract. 

My hope is that "Big Ange" clears out players who need to move on, reintegrates loanees who will help the team, and implements the system that he's used at various coaching stops. 

I'm sure there will be some rocky patches early on, but at least I'll be interested to see some offensive football from Spurs. 

It's going to be a summer of change at Tottenham, and I see that prospect as a very good step in the right direction. 

Unpopular Opinion: Why Should I Assume You're Lying?

There are a couple of verbal viruses mucking about in our spoken lexicon. And I'm tired of them. 

The first verbal virus, and this is one that I hear often among young people, is the statement before one says something true. The person often says, "I'm not going to lie." 

Here's an example: "I'm not going to lie. I thought we were going do better today." 

The other virus that I'm tired of hearing is the phrase, "To be honest." 

An example: "To be honest, I didn't think much about him as a candidate until I started researching him." 

The problem with both of these viruses is the speaker, by uttering such words, is assuming that people think they are liars. 

Why do you want people to assume you're a liar? 

Cut the verbal refuse that doesn't nothing to add to the conversation. 

Fumbling Toward Culinary Talent: Sour Cream for Scrambled Eggs

I was watching a game show a good while back, and one of the questions on the show asked what one should add to eggs to make scrambled eggs "fluffy." 

The answer was sour cream. 

Since then I've been using a dollop of sour cream for every two eggs when I make scrambled eggs, and I much prefer using sour cream over regular old milk. Just recently I used a dollop of French onion dip, and that additive worked well too. 

I'm usually not a big fan of scrambled eggs - I'm more of poached or sunny-side-up kind of guy - but I'm eating more scrambled eggs now than I ever have. 

Music Friday: "Smith Hill"

As I was checking my email this morning, this song is the first tune that came on via iPod shuffle. 

Yes, I still use an iPod. 

I saw Deer Tick with a good friend and fraternity brother years ago at Off Broadway in St. Louis. 

Enjoy.