Music Friday: "Surprise Yourself"

I hadn't listened to Jack Garrett in a good while. 

Here's a tune from his album Phase, the album I listened to yesterday. 

Random Notes from a Crank

In yet another FAFO moment, the New York Times has a decent article about how the state of Iowa is getting hurt by Moscow Don's dumbass economic policies: "In Trump-Friendly Iowa, the President's Policies Have Hit Hard." 

The Governor's race, a U.S. Senate race, and two competitive House races are up for grabs in the midterm elections. Let's hope the people in my native state come to their senses. 

I doubt they will because the state is comprised of a bunch of old people who believe what they hear on FauxNews. 

Tottenham Hotspur have a hell of a run of games in the coming week and month of November:

• At Newcastle in the League Cup
• Home vs. Chelsea
• Home vs. Copenhagen in the Champions League
• Home vs. Manchester United
• At Arsenal
• At Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League
• Home vs. Fulham

It's going to be a difficult run of games to get points from. Spurs were successful giving Everton its first home defeat in their new stadium though. That was a welcome outcome. 

This week's Existential Comic is a good one. It takes on consciousness and AI: "Philosophy Vs. the Terminator." 

 

I went into the public restroom at work today, and some dude was sitting in one of the stalls listening to videos on his phone that were playing very loudly.

When did that become a thing? 

Sunday Hangover: South Carolina

The South Carolina students flooding the lower sections to be able to rush the field was premature. 

The Crimson Tide pulled out a victory in the fourth quarter after Deonte Lawson stripped Sellers to get the ball back, and Bernard eventually had a game-winning touchdown in the final minute. 

The offense played like crap most of the game, and then it finally came alive in the fourth quarter. 

The pick-six was a crucial in the first quarter. 

It was a breakout game in the passing game for Daniel Hill. It's clear that he has become the 1B to Miller's 1A at running back. 

I know South Carolina has a solid defense, especially the edge rusher Dylan Stewart, but the Tide needs to run the ball more effectively.

That has to change. They can't have Simpson throwing the ball fortysome times every game. The Tide needs to also run the ball. 

With their massive offensive line, they should be doing better at running the ball. 

Music Friday: "John the Fisherman"

There's so many of these TikTok videos floating around in which multiple people listen to songs and react to them for the first time. 

Most of the time they're listening to hard rock or metal tunes, such as bands like System of a Down. 

I'd like to see them listen to some Primus tunes because as we all know, "Primus sucks" as their fans like to say. 

Random Notes from a Crank

I'm loving these blow-up costumes that have been at protests across the country, especially the frogs. 

If I didn't already have a costume prepared for Mrs. Nasty and me for Halloween, I would get a frog costume. 

The cartoonist Nick Anderson has done good work here. 

The GOP has basically become a party of Nazi-enablers. 

And President Adolf and his GOP enablers are bankrupting the country. 

A prime example is how the US is giving Argentina all kinds of money to help out their economy while Argentinian soybean farmers sell their beans to China while American farmers are screwed by not selling any to China. 

The grift is at an all-time hight because Moscow Don is demanding that he get paid 230 million because of past cases with the Justice Department: "Trump Said to Demand Justice Dept. Pay Him $230 Million for Past Cases." 

We're living in a full-on kakistrocracy. 

Sunday Hangover: Tennessee

It got pretty smoky in the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium last night. 

I enjoyed seeing that even though I'm no fan of second-hand smoke. 

What a pick-six at the end of the first half. I had a feeling they were going to pass at the goal-line because Greg McElroy kept talking about how they ran the ball over 90% near the goal. 

And Zabien Brown ran it back for a score for 99 yards. That was a feat of glory. 

Ryan Williams reemerged as a playmaker this game, which was good to see. He and Bernard led receivers with five receptions each. 

Miller played in the game, which was a bit surprising because he suffered a concussion against Mizzou. However, Alabama couldn't do much on the ground until later in the game when Daniel Hill played quite a bit. 

Hill needs more work at tailback. 

Ty Simpson had another solid game. He wasn't spectacular, but he was dang good. 

Overall, the Tide held a very good offense to a mere 20 points. That was a welcome sight.  

Next up is a trip to Columbia to take on the Gamecocks of South Carolina. They're unranked, but they are dangerous. 

Music Friday: "For What It's Worth"

With all the protests that happened in DC and now the ones in Chicago and Portland, this song seems appropriate. 

I will say that the Portland Frog is an inspiration. 

Random Notes from a Crank

Because it's hard to trust anything President Adolf's administration says about the economy and in light of how they are no longer putting out economic data, the Washington Post has an interesting article that shows how the economy is doing poorly based on some significant signs. 

Some of the signs are cardboard boxes, Hamburger Helper, and thrifting. 

Check out "Recession Warning Signs to Watch: Goodbye Lipstick, Hello Hamburger Helper." 

The New York Times has a great article on Nick Offerman: "Nick Offerman Woodworked His Way to Playing the President." 

I'm intrigued by the series Death by Lightning. 

I'm tired of the saying, "Chef's kiss." Just stop saying it, people.

And I feel the same way about "it's been a minute," but I think I've bitched about that stupid verbal construction before on this blog. 

This political cartoon by Clay Jones sums up the kind of people who are ICE agents.

 

Sunday Hangover: Mizzou

I had to watch the game on Sunday night because Mrs. Nasty and I went to visit our oldest kid in Carbondale in celebration of their birthday. 

That opening drive against the Tide was not good at all. As Coach Saban once said, Mizzou "ran through our ass like shit through a tin horn." 

Alabama responded although it took a while for the offense to get its stuff together on that first drive after some help from the Tigers because of a taunting penalty and an offsides.  

Ty Simpson had a solid day despite the sack that caused the fumble in our territory at the start of second half. He had 23 completions on 31 attempts for 200 yards with three passing touchdowns to Riley, Horton, and Hill. 

I am really liking how Isaiah Horton and especially Lotzeir Brooks are developing in the offense. 

Mizzou has a very good rushing defense, so it's no surprise the Tide had some difficulty at times in the run game. Overall though, Alabama gained 125 net yards on the day but no touchdowns in the running game. 

However, I liked seeing Daniel Hill get more work as possibly the second running back. He's a load.

That drive in the third quarter needed to end in a touchdown, not a field goal. It would have if Simpson wouldn't have gotten stepped on by his lineman. 

One aspect of the Tide's defense that has to improve is pass rush. Per Jesse Palmer, Alabama is last in sacks in the SEC. That stat has to get better. 

One aspect I liked of this game though was that the Tide's defense forced two fumbles. They just didn't recover either of them. 

In addition, Hubbard and the freshman Lee had an interception each, and Lee would had one earlier in the game if he just would have held on to the ball. He had an outstanding read on the pass. 

The pass rush is going to be severely hindered in the next game versus Tennessee because the Vols get the ball out of the quarterback's hand so quickly. 

Music Friday: "Song for the Dead"

I've been watching some TikTok video clips of a drummer doing intros of rock songs, and one of the ones this week was a drummer doing the intro of this song, which is a great tune. 

And now since I watched that one, the algorithm is pushing all kinds of drumming videos. 

Here's "Song for the Dead" by Queens of the Stone Age. 

Random Notes from a Crank

This political cartoon from Gary Markstein what happened in D.C. and what is now happening in Chicago and Portland. 

I'm loving all the TikTok videos showing all the goofiness that is meeting the ICE agents in Portland. The satire runs deep.

The way this administration is going we might as well put a Hitler mustache on the Statue of Liberty. 

And very few people believe this government shutdown is the fault of the Democrats  unless you're full-on MAGA. The GOP hold the Executive branch, Congress, and the Senate. They created this nonsense based on LIES. 

I recently finished a biography of Napoleon. It was a good read. 

He was a brililiant general, and some of his battle tactics are still studied to this day. 

His downfall was not listening to his advisors who told him to wait to invade Russia. And by the time he came back from Elba to engage in the Battle of Waterloo, he was past his prime. 

President Adolf has Napoleonic tendencies. 

Sunday Hangover: Vanderbilt

In the age of transfer portal, programs like Vandy are making smart moves, which makes sense because it's a great academic institution. They have smart people. 

It was tied 14 to 14 at the half with Alabama doing a no-huddle, touchdown-scoring drive right before the half on a pretty pass to Bernard. 

The Commodores didn't score in the second half. 

Jefferson stripping Pavia deep in Tide territory and the interception in the red zone were huge plays for Alabama's defense.  

Simpson slung the ball around after suffering his first interception of the season. He threw for 340 yards with touchdowns to Williams and the aforementioned Bernard. 

The announcers touted how good the Vanderbilt defense had been against the rush. 

The Tide looked great running the ball with Miller. He toted the rock 22 times for 136 yards. 

That's a good sign. The Tide just can't have to pass the ball all the time. They need to run more effectively and not just exclusively with Miller. 

LB Justin Jefferson had a day: 14 total tackles--9 solo and 5 assists. 

There was one set of downs when I got upset with OC Grubb because the calls got too cute. It was the series that petered out when they ran Bernard in the wildcat. All they needed to do was run the ball in a traditional way or let Simpson do his thing. 

The one wrinkle I really liked was letting Proctor run the ball in a short yardage situation. Let the big man eat. 

Diego Pavia had some smack talk that got some attention. He said, "But we just gotta play within the white lines. If we do that, if we play our game, it won't be close." 

It was close at halftime. 

He was halfway right. It wasn't close at the end: Vanderbilt 14, Alabama 30. 

Vanderbilt is a tough team though. They have an offense that is difficult to defend because of the need for extreme eye discipline. And our secondary, as Greg McElroy showcased during the broadcast, did a poor job of fitting gaps in run game in the first half. 

Next up is a road game against the Missouri Tigers. 

I'd like to see Proctor working as a really fullback. 

Music Friday: "Southtown Girls"

One of the albums I listened to this week was Boys and Girls in America by The Hold Steady. 

Here's the final tune on that fine album. It's a song that has always stuck with me.

My son and his girlfriend broke up recently. She treated him horribly for way too long. He needs to find a girl who treats him nicely and cares for him, not a mean narcissist.