Random Notes from a Crank

I'm both a fan of football and American football. 

In regard to the latter and in regard to the Super Bowl outcome, it's pretty simple. The team with the best line play is most likely to play. 

Use Occam's razor. 

What we saw in Super Bow LIX is that the Eagles have a great offensive line and a phenomenal defensive line. You win game at the line of scrimmage. It's that simple. 

Or I could showcase my old-guy self and simply say, "Defense wins championships." 

I was rooting for the Eagles because of Jalen Hurts, Devonta Smith, and Landon Dickerson.

I'm not a fan of the Chiefs, but I'm a fan of the Kansas City area. I lived there for a year and enjoyed it immensely. The metro area on Sundays is very much like a college football town. 

And the barbecue. People rave about the barbecue in Memphis, North Carolina, Texas, and various parts of the Deep South. But I prefer KC barbecue. 

As for the Royals, I've always liked them. I grew up as a kid loving the Royals when they were really good in the 70s and 80s: George Brett, Willie Wilson, Hal McRae, Frank White, Amos Otis, Bret Saberhagen, Mark Gubicza, Dan Quisenberry, et al. 

And one of my favorite small breweries in the nation is Boulevard Brewing Company.

Unfortunately, I don't see it around my parts here. 

With all these funding freezes of federal grants by President Adolf, a lot of farmers, some of whom probably voted for the autocrat, are going to get fucked financially. 

Check out the article from The Washington Post: "Farmers on the Hook for Millions after Trump Freezes USDA Funds." 

I don't know much about Kendrick Lamar, but I enjoyed his performance and the choreography of his dancers at the Super Bowl halftime show. 

The article, "The Subversive Genius of Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl's Halftime Performance," covers it well as far as I can tell. 

 

That image above is pretty straightforward and symbolic: the American flag created by the backs of black men. 

Random Notes from a Crank

Apparently, according to American Opposition on Bluesky, President's Day looks like it might be a national day of protest. 

I used this dressing the other day. I got it from my local Ruler Foods. 

What the heck is California French dressing? What does the Golden State have to do with French dressing? 

 

I think I should make my own anyway. It'll be Illinois French style dressing. 

Speaking of a European country, I just read an article in the New York Times about how the E.U. is preparing how to deal with President Adolf's tariffs. Like Canada, the E.U. plans "hit specific, politically-sensitive sectors--like products made in Republican states--with targeted tariffs meant to inflict maximum pain." 

Random Notes from a Crank

I strained and tried the oxymel recipe I talked about in a Random Notes post on January 26. I did the one for cold and flu season. It's not harsh or anything. It initially hits the pallet with honey and has a subtle tang of vinegar on the finish. 

Can you tell I've been watching bourbon videos on YouTube? 

I'm subscribed to Bourbon Junkies, TheRow, and Brewzle. Even though it appears the guy from Brewzle is an Auburn fan, I like his videos in which he goes bourbon hunting in certain towns. He has way more expensive taste than I have though. 

And I like my bourbon more on the spicy and oaky side. 

President Adolf's plan for Gaza is insane. I think it's just a wild political proposal to distract the American people and journalists from all the damage he's doing to our republic and creating a federal government full of his flunkies. 

Or Dictator Donald is just a madman. 

The ultra-right Israelites love the plan because it destroys the dream of a Palestinian state. 

Here's a reaction from Informed Comment: "Ethnic Cleansing for 'Gaza's Riviera'?"

There's ultra-right reasoning behind what is proposed because of leaked documents in Israel. Kushner might be behind all of this. 

A house a couple of blocks down from our home is displaying an inverted flag. 

The traditional meaning of flying an inverted flag is used to show "a signal of distress in instance of extreme danger" or as a sign of protest, as noted by The Free Speech Center's "Flying Flag Upside Down." 

I'll assume that the residents of the home are displaying it because of President Adolf's unconstitutional actions. 

I hope it's not a symbol supporting this autocratic goon. 

Random Notes from a Crank

I'm not surprised by the report that Jake Fromm texted folks that guns should be expensive and only "elite white people" should have them: "Jake Fromm Apologizes..."

I would imagine the reaction of police officers would be quite different if the groups protesting over George Floyd were packing handguns and rifles like the protesters who went to statehouses over two weeks ago at Moscow Don's egging on. 

Some people think the 2nd Amendment only applies to certain people. 

Regardless, those folks are not a "well-regulated militia," a key phrase in one of the most poorly worded sentences in the English language. The early Republic relied on militias because the founders were wary of large standing armies. Militias were also used to quell slave rebellions. 

As we've seen via social media, how can people still be upset over people taking knees during the national anthem? 

Read "Colin Kaepernick Was Right, and Pro Athletes Won't Stand Down."