Music Friday: "Windup"

I featured a tune from the Branford Marsalis Quartet back in early February. 

Today you're getting "Windup" from the album Belonging. 

Random Notes from a Crank

GoComics.com

Gary Markstein has it correct that Moscow Don wants to be just like Putin. He's obsessed with being Putin's pal. 

And craven Republicans are not speaking out against his dealings with Russia and our abandoning of Ukraine. 

I wonder if there's any conservative outrage over the Home Depot commercials that have been running during NFL games. The commercial features Latinos speaking in Spanish. 

I did a simple InterWebs search that only brought up some lady bitching about them on FB. 

I'm surprised FoxNews hasn't covered this issue thoroughly. 

I can't catch a break in fantasy football. 

My Schlitzophrenics are 2-5, but I've produced the fourth highest amount of points in my ten-team league. And now in Week 8, two of my best receivers, Nico Collins and Chris Olave, have bye weeks. 

Sunday Hangover: Texas A&M

After two consecutive losses, the Crimson Tide put together an excellent fourth quarter to defeat the Aggies of Texas A&M. 

A&M played like what people thought they would be like for the first three quarters. They played like the players they bought, three of which were on Alabama's roster last season. 

Of the three passing touchdowns, two went to tight ends. I see that happening as significant. 

But the guy who had a day was Rico Scott. He had six receptions for 156 yards. 

In the game, the Tide seemed to abandon the running game, which is troubling. Alabama needs to have a coherent running game to ensure success. 

Hopefully they work on that part of the game plan in the bye week. 

Music Friday: "Let Your Love Flow"

I was driving the other day and listening to the Life with John Mayer station on SiriusXM, and this song came on, one that I haven't heard in a great while. 

The song reminded me of when I would eat breakfast when I was a kid, and my Mom would have the radio on to a local AM station that played a mix of soft rock and soul music from the 70s. 

So "let your love flow." 

Sunday Hangover: Tennessee

I was so disappointed with the loss in Knoxville, that it took me this long to do my Sunday Hangover post. 

Russell didn't look like his normal calm self, and the defense didn't play well. 

I hate losing to Tennessee. 

But the team needs to move on and learn from the game. 

The Tide will welcome the Aggies of Texas A&M this coming Saturday. Line play must improve. 

Music Friday: "Thoughts and Prayers"

I got this book this week and started reading it. 

And then the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon happened. 

Here's to second amendment fundamentalists' stupid fucking thoughts and prayers. 

Sunday Hangover: Georgia

If there ever was a game in which I thought the refs were paid off, it was last night's game. 

There was a clear facemask penalty not called. A possible interception was overturned. And the biggest one was a clear pass interference not called to help the Crimson Tide. 

Regardless, the Tide did not play well in the second half. The offense sputtered, and the defense gave up too much ground in rushing game. 

I sent an email question to TiderInsider TV, which airs on WVUA on Tuesday. Here is my question: "This has been a few games coming, but who will be replacing Dijon Lee Jr. as the starting cornerback?" 

What I thought was a clear strength of the defense, the secondary, seems to be one of the weaker aspects of the team. And teams are targeting Lee all the time. 

I hope the Crimson Tide takes out its frustration on Tennessee on Saturday. 

Music Friday: "3 Dimes Down"

I hadn't listened to a Drive-By Truckers album in a good while, so I listened to Brighter Than Creation's Dark this morning. 

Here's the Cooley-led second track on the album. 

Sunday Hangover: Mississippi State

Ayrton Breckenridge/Clarion-Ledger

I dislike 11am game times, and I hate cowbells. 

I got treated to both yesterday. 

But it was a solid win against a talented group of Bulldogs. 

The Alabama defense made "SuperKamario" not so super. They had 5 total sacks. The true freshman Xavier Griffen led the team with nine tackles followed by defensive play caller Luke Metz and then safety Bray Hubbard. 

Dijon Lee had a sweet pick six in the first quarter. See above. 

Alabama made Mississippi State one dimensional on offense by holding them to only 18 net rushing yards.

On the other side, Alabama was more balanced by rushing for 179 net rushing yards and passing for 304 yards. 

Brooks had some huge passes from Russell.  

A good sign from my perspective is that the tight ends caught some passes because the offense need to use them more often. 

However, Daniel Hill had two troubling fumbles, which is disturbing. 

Next up is a night game at home versus Georgia. 

Music Friday: Big Modern!

I finally got around to getting the new album by Goose. 

It's a good one. 

Here's the title track. The second video is of them playing at Red Rocks, which would be an awesome place to see a concert. 

Random Notes from a Crank

GoComics.com

Joe Heller's political cartoon reflects the reality of how farmers are getting screwed by the current administration that many of them probably voted for. 

FAFO. 

It's just another effect of MAME: Making America More Expensive. 

And as Nice Anderson relates with the cartoon below, our tax dollars are paying for President Adolf to run a campaign ad he used years ago. 

GoComics.com

The Daily Show covered this issue well. 

And the Daily Beast also covered The Daily Show covering it well: "Daily Show Find Huge Hole in Trump's Campaign Ad Defense." 

Random Notes from a Crank

This week's Existential Comic is a good one. This one addresses the glass half empty/glass half full conundrum via Schopenhauer and Nietzsche. 

You can hit the link above or read it below. The next to last panel got a good guffaw out of me. 

existentialcomics.com

I think most people would consider me a glass half empty kind of guy, but I think I tend to say glass half full. 

I am a skeptic though. 

In a deliciously bit of irony, there's an interesting article in the Daily Eastern News: "Students Petition Eastern to Address Concerns about AI-Generated Curriculum." 

I disagree with the Provost that using AI is an "academic freedom" issue. Professors using AI to comment on student's work is lazy, dumb, and deplorable. 

I'm definitely have a half empty perspective on this situation. 

I hate it when athletes are interviewed after a great performance, and all they do is blather on about Jesus, their "Lord," and other religious bullshit. Leave that crap for your church service. I don't need it mixed up with my football watching. 

An example of this nonsense was Case Keenum after the Bears win on Monday Night Football. 

Fumbling Toward Culinary Talent: French Onion Chicken Cutlets

Mrs. Nasty sent me a recipe video, but I modified it, and here's how I will make it in the future. 

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts, cut in half to make cutlets

2 cans of Campbell's French onion soup

1 cup of French onion dip

1 1/2 cups of seasoned croutons, broken into smaller pieces

3-6 slices of mozzarella or provolone cheese

1/2 to 1 cup of French fried onions

Dan-O's seasoning or Penzey's roasted garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

Process

Cut the breasts and pound them out, so they are uniform. Season with salt, pepper, and either of the garlic seasoning. 

In a baking dish, pour out the French onion soup and lay the breast on top of it. Slather the French onion dip, so it covers the cutlets. Spread the croutons on top of the whole dish and top with the cheese. Then put the French fired onions on top of the cheese. 

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and put into a 400 degree oven. After 35 minutes, take off the foil and bake for 10-15 minutes. 

Serve over rice and enjoy. I took the sauce of sorts at the bottom of the dish and put it over the chicken cutlet. 

Sunday Hangover: South Carolina

I was a bit anxious about this game because South Carolina has played Alabama tough in the last two meetings. 

They had their chances early but missed a field goal and then failed to convert on a fourth and two in Alabama territory. 

Then Alabama scored on a first and ten on a huge touchdown strike from Russell to Brooks. 

At the end of the day, Russell went 21 for 27 for 365 yards and also ran for a touchdown (see above). 

The offense only ran for a total for 124 yards, so there's still room to improve in the rushing game. However, the offensive line excelled in pass protection. 

I was worried when Hubbard went to the locker room, but he came back out and played in the second half. 

The offense did not do much in the third quarter but then finally got it going in the fourth. 

Next up is a very dangerous Mississippi State team in Starkville. 

I hate cowbells. 

Music Friday: "Domesticated Animals"

I'm aware that Queens of the Stone Age will put out a new album at the end of October. 

So today I'm currently listening to Villains. 

Here's a tune from that fine album from 2017. The live video provides insight about the lyrics.