Random Notes from a Crank

I had noticed this word before, but I didn't really get what the reference meant until I saw a TikTok video about it. 

There are a lot of chuds out there. 

I will be integrating that term into my lexicon. 

The U.S. is being run by a senile madman who is enriching himself on our dime: "The Great American Cash Grab."

The Republican Party needs to no longer use the acronym of GOP for Grand Old Party. It should change to AFP: American Fascist Party. 

Are maybe just CHUD? 

Here are some gleanings from the February "Harper's Index":

• Percentage of Americans who said that Trump and RFK Jr.'s policies would make the country healthier in 2024: 28
• Percentage who say that they have made the country healthier today: 19
• Portion of American girls and women aged 15 to 44 who say they want to permanently leave the country: 2/5
• Of American boys and men aged 15 to 44: 1/5
• Portion of U.S. sports betters who say they have taken out a loan from a friend or family member because of their gambling: 1/5
• Who say they have hidden their gambling debts from a loved one: 1/3
• Who say they have made wagers in the hopes of paying off existing gambling debts: 2/5

I'm surprised there are so many dumbasses who thought RFK's policies would make the U.S. more healthy. 

It does not surprise that women want to leave the U.S. 

I've been enticed by sports gambling, but I would be worried that I would get sucked in. And in general, I'm averse to gambling. It's just a really good chance to lose your money. 

Also related to sexism and the U.S., which is a probably reason why 40% of American women want to leave the U.S,  this season I witnessed some blatant sexism related to high school sports. 

My son's high school basketball team had an away game, and the cheerleaders are supposed to cheer at all conference away games. At this particular game, the girls high school team was going to play after the boys team played. 

Well, the cheerleaders drove all the way to cheer for the boys team, but they left before the girls game even started. 

That's women and a woman head cheer coach being sexist to other women. 

Astounding. 

Music Friday: "When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around"

Because I'm living in a country run by a dictator who won't be held accountable by the craven GOP in Congress, I need something to stay positive about. 

This song come across my TikTok today.

If I remember correctly, I think Sting was referring to the threat of nuclear annihilation, so this song seems appropriate. 

As Juvenal said, "panem et circensas." Bread and circuses... 

Music Friday: "Blue Train"

Blue Train by John Coltrane has to be in the top 10 of the most iconic jazz albums of all time. 

Here's the title track. 

Random Notes from a Crank

Ben Rhodes has a solid guest column in The New York Times: "Trump Is Falling for a Trap We Can All See Coming." He's right. We're living under an autocratic ruler who thinks he's above the law, both national and international. 

Consider today, which is January 6th, the day his clones tried to overturn a free and fair election. And then he pardoned the domestic terrorists. 

As George Carlin is supposed to have said, "America is an oil company with an army." Indeed. 

This week's Existential Comic relates to the current administration's tactics. 

The past couple of months' (December and January) Harper's indexes provide some interesting stats and figures: 

• Number of U.S. households whose members lived full-time in an RV in 2021: 168,000
• In 2025: 486,000
• Number of Americans projected to enter poverty next year (2026) because of tariff-related price hikes: 875,000
• Estimated number of U.S. jobs created for every $1,000,000 the federal government spends on defense: 5
• For every $1,000,000 it spends on education: 13
• Average number of days that an American had to wait for a doctor's appointment in 2004: 21
• In 2025: 31
• Percentage by which more AI-generated articles were posted online last year than articles written by humans were: 3
• Estimated percentage of news-related queries that AI chatbots answer in a misleading or false way: 45

Instead of spending so much damn money on defense and AI shit, we need to fund education, affordable housing, and universal health care. 

Sunday Hangover: Indiana

What an atrocious performance at the Rose Bowl for the Tide. 

It's pretty simple what happened. Indiana beat Alabama at line play. 

If I were Alabama's offensive line coach, I'd be worried about job security because that OLine roster is littered with four- and five-star talent that is not living up to its potential. 

The same can be said for the defensive line. 

Music Friday: "Nutshell"

This somber tune fits my mood today after watching the Tide get shellacked in the Rose Bowl yesterday. 

Jar of Flies has to be one of the best EPs of all time.