Random Notes from a Crank

Countries are quickly learning that they can strike deals with other countries instead of dealing with the insane trade policies of President Adolf. They call it "'de-risking' ties with the U.S." 

Check out the Reuters article about this topic: "World Discovers It Can Hedge US Trade Risk." 

These moves make sense. Who wants to negotiate with a senile, crazy person?  

I recently subscribed to The New Yorker. I had a subscription years ago. I was inspired to get a subscription again after watching a documentary about the magazine on Netflix: The New Yorker at 100. 

The Phil Hands political cartoon reveals the hypocritical nature of the American Fascist Party, formerly known as the GOP. 

The videos of the two murders just show how despicable ICE and its supporters are.

No one is above the rule of law. And the complicity of members of the AFP in Congress and elsewhere is astounding. 

 Thanks for Clay Bennett for the above cartoon. Simple yet effective. 

Random Notes from a Crank

I was watching an episode of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, and O'Brien used the term "peter out." 

Because I usually have dirty mind, I initially thought the term originated from "Peter" meaning a penis. To my thinking, something petered out when a dude couldn't get it up anymore. 

It turns out my thinking is way off base if you choose to read "What's the Meaning of the Phrase 'Peter Out?'" 

There are about three different possibilities of how the phrase originated, but the one related to the use of saltpeter when mining in the 19th century seems the most plausible. 

This nonsense the U.S. is doing down in Venezuela needs to stop. 

Lalo Alcaraz has done some fine work below. 

Ah, MAGA socialism with the Aid Package that is going to U.S. farmers. 

According to Reuters, "US Farmers Say Trump's $12 billion Aid Package Won't Cover Losses." 

Random Notes from a Crank

I made a couple of new dishes based on recipes from Cooking Light and Milk Street magazines. The first was a slow cooker affair that used apricot preserves and jalapeños as the flavoring agent for boneless chicken thighs. They turned out like chicken sloppy joes. The second was a grated carrot salad that used a bunch of flat leaf parsley from my garden, so I got to use my grating implement of my food processor. 

There's some kind of varmint eating my tomatoes in my garden. I suspect it's a damn raccoon. 

Recently I've been researching dog breeds. Our dog is getting older, and when she passes, we'll probably get two dogs, one smallish dog for Mrs. Nasty and a dog I like. Because I want a dog that doesn't shed much and one that will make me take it for walks, the two breeds I'm interested in currently are the Vizsla and the German Shorthaired Pointer. 

Here are some links about those breeds if you're interested:

• Vizsla
• German Shorthaired Pointer

Rick Perry got early Daily Showed: "U.S. Energy Secretary Duped into Fake Interview with Russian Comedians." 

A scientist wrote a great opinion piece in the Washington Post: "I'm a Scientist. I'm Blowing the Whistle on the Trump Administration."