Musing of the Moment: Celebrating Son Hueng-Min

Last night I watched this video of all of Son's goals for Tottenham. 

It's sad to see Son go to LAFC, but after ten years at the club, it sounds like he wanted a new challenge. 

I think he has at least of couple of solid years in him for the Premier League if he were to stick around. 

To my mind, I think he'll tear up the MLS because he got overplayed in this past season because of all of the injuries with Spurs. But he's going to Los Angeles, which has a huge Korean immigrant population. 

He's my favorite Spurs player. 

He stuck around and won a trophy for a club. 

COYS

Random Notes from a Crank

 

I saw this image from the Radical Centrist on FB. I thought I'd share. 

If you were to make a Venn diagram of these assertions, that Venn diagram don't hunt. 

I don't understand why Tottenham Hotspur appears not to be showing any interest in the Canadian striker Jonathan David. 

He's a free agent. He's two-footed. He's productive. He's in his mid-20s. And there's no transfer free. I think he's a fabulous player. 

In a recent YouGov daily survey, 50% of people polled said "Yes" to this question:"Would you ever vote for a third party or an independent candidate?" I said Yes to that question. I'd vote for one for sure if the candidate was viable. 

The third question was "Do you think a third major political party is necessary for the United States, or are the Democratic and Republican parties enough?" 55% answered "A third party is necessary in the U.S." Only 20% agreed with "The Democratic and Republican parties are enough to represent Americans." 25% were "Not sure." 

Mother Jones has a solid short article that describes the importance of preserving and probably expanding wetlands: "The Economic Case for Preserving America's Wetlands." 

As the author relates, wetlands work like sponges, so they can prevent the massive flooding events that are only going to be more frequent because of climate change. Unfortunately, under the the administration of President Adolf, I doubt many projects like the one in Raleigh are going to get going.  

A frightening article in that same issue of Mother Jones is one about Clearview AI, a facial-recognition tech company whose founders have ties to right-wing extremists, Holocaust deniers, and Neo-Nazis. 

Check out "The Shocking Far-Right Agenda behind the Facial Recognition Tech Used by ICE and the FBI."

Here are some interesting statistics from the June "Harper's Index":

• Percentage by which tourism to the United States is projected to decrease this year: 9
• Percentage increase this year in seizures of eggs being smuggled into the United States: 48
• Percentage increase last year in the number of U.S. households that owned chickens: 28
• Factor by which the word "notable" appears more frequently in AI-generated sentences than in those written by humans: 13
• By which the word "esteemed" does: 120

I'm surprised the decrease in tourism is only projected to be 9%. I thought it would be in the high teens.

I'll be on the lookout for "notable" and "esteemed." 

Random Notes from a Crank

I know the Trinidad & Tobago national team is a weak side, but the US Men's National Team had a solid match against them on Sunday in the Gold Cup. As a Tottenham fan and as an American, I want Pochettino to succeed.

 

I like his brand of football. 

But what is the definition of success for the USMNT? 

Saturday's insanely expensive so-called celebration of the military/military parade for Moscow Don/President Adolf was a resounding failure in terms of what Adolf expected it to be. 

The videos on TikTok and the truthful media coverage have been satirically ruthless about how pathetic and how poorly attended the event was. 

So low energy...

So much like a guy with a small dick trying to compensate...

Tottenham hired Thomas Frank after sacking Ange. Of the options available, he was probably the best choice. It should be an intriguing transfer window. 

I just hope we keep Romero and Son for at least another season. Ideally, I'd like to see Spurs extend Son for one more season, have this coming season be his last at the club, and sell him to whatever club he wants to go to for a decent fee. 

I want to see Archie Gray playing in the 6 and the 8 positions. He's a midfielder. Playing as a right or left back or even as a center-back should be emergency option.

Musing of the Moment: Ineptitude at Tottenham

It's June 3rd, and over ten days after Tottenham won the Europa League, fans like me are not sure if Ange is still the manager, and there appears to be a shakeup with the board. 

It's ridiculous. 

After winning the Europa League and then finishing the season with an unfortunate loss, the chairman of the ENIC board Daniel Levy went on vacation. 

He went on vacation during a time when other clubs are taking advantage of this new mini-transfer window. 

Other clubs are signing players while there's silence in N17. 

Ineptitude. 

Ange In. 

Levy out.

Why did I have to choose a Premier League club that is so poorly run? 

Random Notes from a Crank

If you want to watch a solid documentary about the somewhat recent past, you need to check American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden. 

The film starkly contrasts the Bush and Obama administrations. They had bin Laden trapped in the mountains, but for whatever reason, the Bush administration did not use troops to scoop up the leader. 

Whereas when Obama had a chance to get him, and it was a risky call that his Vice President advised against him doing, Obama went forward on the special operation to take down what they found out to be bin Laden. 

This contrast goes against the common thinking that the GOP is tough on crime and terrorism, whereas the leader of Democratic Party is one who ordered the takedown of the mastermind of 9/11. 

Tottenham Hotspur won the Europa League, so there's been quite a party going on in N17. 

I'm an "Ange In" guy, so the club needs to get it together and acquire some players that will make us competitive in the Champions League. 

It's pretty simple. He won silverware for a club that hasn't won a competition in 17 years. 

Get it done. 

Random Notes from a Crank

As was expected, Moscow Don's foolish economic policies have made the economy worse because of his stupid tariffs and the amount of debt the U.S. owes to all kinds of countries: "Markets Rattled on Concerns about U.S. Debt." 

This is what the U.S. gets when the country votes in a moron who bankrupted a casino.

The GOP says they care about budget deficits, but when they get the White House, the deficit increases. 

They only seem to care about the deficit when a Democrat is in office. 

I recently purchased some chia seeds because I've been reading about the health benefits of eating them. People suggest using them with yogurt. 

I've moved from the high-sugar yogurts to something much healthier. I'm going with Greek yogurt with fruit intermixed, and I add some honey for a bit of sweetness. Then I will sprinkle in some chia seeds. 

Here's what Healthline says about chia seeds: "Chia Seeds 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits." 

Tottenham Hotspur won the Europa League yesterday. #COYS

I'm intrigued with which new players will join the club to bolster its squad because of the Champions League competition. 

Musing of the Moment: Tottenham to a European Final

Tottenham beat Bodo Glimt 2 to 0 in the second leg of the semifinal with goals from Solanke and Porro. 

Spurs are in the Europa League Final and will face Manchester United. It's a Premier-League Final. 

The last time Tottenham was in a European final they faced another red-clad, Premier-Leage team: Liverpool. 

My hope is the outcome is different in 2025. 

Come On You Spurs. 

Random Notes from a Crank

Rachel Maddow covered the imbecility of the Secretary of Education extensively in one of her shows, but the marketing gurus took it a step further with this Instagram post. 

That's some pretty good satire right there. 

I happened upon an interesting article from the BBC that talks about how people are using brewers spent grain. They're experimenting will turning it into food products and an alternative to leather. Check it out in "How Beer Sludge Is Being Turned into Vegan Milk and Leather." 

My word-of-the-day calendar shows that today's word as "mala fide," which is an adverb or adjective meaning "with or in bad faith." That word sums up a lot about the current administration in D.C. 

My club, Tottenham Hotspur, have a huge away game tomorrow. 

As much as I like Ange, if he doesn't win it all in the Europa League, I think he's going to get sacked. 

The team went through a dreadful spell for about three months when they had all kinds of injuries, but with the way he has turned again or criticized the fans, I don't think he'll survive for next season. 

But I hope to be proven wrong by him winning a trophy and Spurs doing well in the remaining games in the Premier League. 

Random Notes from a Crank

I volunteered to conduct a couple of mock interviews with graduating seniors in our department. The one I did last week was with a young lady who is intending to enroll in a graduate program at the University of Alberta. 

My first question to her was why that university, and I asked a joking question of "Are you a big fan of the Edmonton Oilers or something?"

Her reply was that part of the reason was the "political situation" in the U.S. 

I suspect Canadian universities are going to see an uptick in applications from U.S. students over the next few years. I know my daughter is probably looking at some grad programs in Canada along with universities in blue states. 

I saw this chart of sorts on Facebook. 

I'm no vegan, but looking at this chart and based on my tastes, here are more go-tos for protein:

• Almonds
• Pistachios
• Tofu
• Hazelnuts
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Lentils
• Garbanzos
• Lima beans
• Spinach

Now that it's warming up, I need to get to making some tofu fried rice on my Blackstone griddle. Tofu is so cheap compared to meat. I wish I would have known how to cook it back in college. 

I'm worried about Ange's future at Tottenham if he doesn't move forward in the Europa League. Thursday's match looms large. 

I see the Vikings moved on from Sam Darnold, and they resigned Aaron Jones. And then they signed Ryan Kelly for the interior line. Good moves all around. 

I also saw that Najee Harris signed with he Chargers for a one-year contract in a run-first offense. I will be targeting that guy in my fantasy football draft. Harbaugh loves running the football. 

As we expected, RFK Jr. is claiming all kinds of nonsense in a recent interview. 

Random Notes from a Crank

Someone should do a documentary on the actors who were in the High School Musicals. Because I've seen all of them multiple times because of my kids, I'd be interested to see what those folks are up to. 

That thought reminds me of my daughter playing Sharpay in High School Musical Jr. in middle school. It was quite a treat. 

I'm a frustrated Dad up in the stands this basketball season. My son dresses varsity but rarely gets to play. The head coach is playing guys ahead of him who are clearly not as good as him. Those players are seniors and/or are sons of people who work in the school district. 

As a coach I would be committed to playing the guys who give me the best chance to win. Small town bullshit. 

As much as these basketball teams want to chuck up threes all the time, if you're not going to play good defense, you're going to get beat. 

I saw the image below online on Bluesky. It's a good image to reflect what Project 2025, Moscow Don, and his goons are going to try to do. 

I have not read The Handmaid's Tale, but I get the general premise of the novel: men wanting to control women. I recently ordered a copy and then cancelled the order because I'll just get a copy from my local library when I feel like reading some fiction. I'm more of a non-fiction reader. 

Today's my birthday, and two of my presents are the following: Tottenham won 3-0 in extra time in their FA Cup match, and Manchester United beat Arsenal on penalty kicks in that FA Cup match.  

Stay Positive: Grading the Tottenham Summer Transfer Window

The transfer window has closed at least for the Premier League. Tottenham had a ton of outgoings and acquired some incoming players, many of whom I'm excited about. 

Outgoings

Although it's still technically a loan to Marseille, Hojbjerg was a solid player for Spurs although he didn't really fit the Ange Ball system. The Danish captain is likely to excel in the French league. 

Emerson Royal going to AC Milian made sense because he's more of traditional right-back. He was a popular guy in the squad, but he's another player who really didn't fit the system. 

Rodon to stay at Leeds United made sense, but I don't think any manager has ever given him a fair shot. Regardless, the fans at Elland Road appreciate him, and I hope Leeds come back up the Premier League next season. 

Spurs paying off Ndombele made a heck of a lot of sense. We moved on from a terrible signing. 

Tanganga going to Millwall will probably work out for him, but I hate seeing an academy player go somewhere else. 

Troy Parrott was sold to AZ for a decent fee and will probably excel in the Dutch league like he did last season. 

Lo Celso finally made it back to Real Betis. I've always liked Gio, and I think he should have played more often last season, especially when Maddison was out. But Lo Celso has his own history of injury problems even though he usually seems to be fit for international duty. 

Bryan Gil going to Girona makes sense. It just seemed like he is not built for English football. 

One of my few criticisms of the gaffer is that Skipp never played in a position that suited him. He's more of a defensive midfielder, but when he played for Ange, Skipp played more an 8 when he's really a 6. I don't get it. 

Manor Solomon is on loan at Leeds and will probably do quite well there. In his first game, he got an assist. With the guys we brought in, he wasn't going to get regular playing time and needed to go somewhere to get back in playing rhythm. 

Why couldn't they find a club for Reguilon? 

Incomings

Bringing back Werner on loan at the club early in the window was a head-scratcher to me. I think he'll do okay for what the manager asks him to do, but my reaction to bring him back was "Meh." They could have done better, but I hope I'm proven wrong. I wanted someone better than okay.

In contrast, acquiring Solanke could prove to be a pivotal signing. I think he's a solid center-forward. 

I love the signings of Bergvall and Gray because they're both young and talented. Bergvall might serve as Maddison's understudy and has looked really good so far. Gray can play a number of positions, but I think he'll eventually settle in as a midfielder. I'm excited about both of these players. 

The South Korean Yang will come in January I believe, and I like him because he's young and versatile, which is a trend among acquisitions under Ange. 

Odobert was a surprise signing, and I think he'll grow into his role as a front-line player either on the left or right wing.

Although he's technically not an incoming, Spence staying helps provide cover at right and left back. And he's English. 

Grade

The transactions of Skipp and Werner puzzle me, and I like the additions of the youngsters Gray, Bergvall, Odobert, and Yang. Solanke was a smart signing. The club also did a strong job of shipping out players who needed to go out a year ago and moving other players to clubs. I grade the Tottenham transfer window a B.  

Random Notes from a Crank

My home state of Iowa has become what my nephew, who is a political consultant, describes as "cold Alabama" from a political standpoint. It's been a red state for way too long in presidential contests, but I realized recently that Mississippi is more progressive than the Hawkeye State in one way. 

The Magnolia State allows medicinal marijuana, whereas Iowa does not allow it. Good Gods, even Missouri allows recreational use of cannabis.   

I'm not a smoker of the Mary Jane, but weed policies seem to be a bellwether of political leanings. And Iowa is going in the wrong direction. 

Out of nowhere, which was a surprise to fans and pundits, Tottenham signed Wilson Odobert as a winger in the transfer window. The young Frenchman is likely to play on the right wing behind Brennan Johnson. 

If the window is closed for Spurs, it's been a good one. However, I'd like to see them sign a center back who can also play left back because I assume Ashley Phillips will go out on loan somewhere even though I think Ange should keep him around with the first team. 

Musing of the Moment: Tottenham's Away Kit

Tottenham's away kit got released recently. You can see it below and read about it on Footy Headlines. 

I dig the new away kit. I like the mixture of three different blues and how the cockerel atop the ball is in the middle of the shirt. 

My only question is why Nike went with the kind of strange-looking v-neck. Why not just do a regular v-neck? I don't understand. 

If I were to get a Tottenham jersey, I think this would be the one I would get. However, the damn thing costs $95. That figure is astounding. 

Musing of the Moment: The Summer Transfer Window for Tottenham Hotspur--Outgoings

Tottenham finished fifth in the Premier League, which is probably a fair result considering Ange has installed a totally different system, and we lost the club's best player of all time two days prior to the start of the season. And all the injuries...

Here's my take on possible outgoings from the club. 

I'm an avid watcher of the We Are Tottenham TV videos along with Chris Cowlin and Barnaby Slater's videos on YouTube. I highly recommend them if you're a Spurs fan. Slater's videos, however, are just about transfer rumors around the Premier League. 

Most Definitely Out of the Door

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

He's been a solid squad member for many years, but Spurs can garner some good money for the midfielder, and there are a number of clubs interested. He's wants to play regularly, which is understandable because he's Denmark's captain. He deserves a move away for consistent playing time. 

Giovanni Lo Celso

I've always liked Lo Celso because has a bit of shithousery to his game. But he can never stay healthy, and he's got a year left on his contract. I see him ending up somewhere in La Liga. 

Sergio Reguilon

He's played admirably for Brentford, but he didn't seem to impress Ange. I could see him ending somewhere in La Liga, but he's on high wages, so moving him to a smaller club in the Premier League would be difficult. 

Bryan Gil

It's a shame he hasn't gotten more playing time, but the staff has gone elsewhere for wingers when needed. He's going back to La Liga I suspect. This signing has not worked out at all. 

Joe Rodon

Leeds are staying down in the Championship since they couldn't muster any goals against Southhampton, so I don't know what will shake out here. Leeds fans rate him highly, so I would think he's going there although there may be some competition for acquiring him because he had a solid season in the Championship. 

Japhet Tanganga

I've always liked Tanganga, but he seems to have found a home a Millwall. We have Romero and Dragusin able to play at right center-back along with youngsters Alfie Dorrington and Ashley Phillips as hopeful possibilities. 

Tanguy Ndombele

Acquiring him has been a disaster. And all the loans have been disasters. We need to just cut him. 

Probably Out the Door

Djed Spence

It sounds like he's done well on loan this season. I was excited when Spurs signed him. To me, I think he would be a solid back-up for Porro or even Udogie. However, for whatever reason, Ange isn't impressed by him. There are rumors of attitude issues, but those are just rumors. 

Emerson Royal

He's worked well when he plays although he's limited from an offensive perspective. There are a number of clubs interested in him, so I suspect Tottenham will cash in. 

Troy Parrott

He really hasn't gotten a look from Ange since he was hurt during pre-season. He's a striker who has done well on loan in the Dutch league, so it'll be interesting what happens with him, Scarlett, and Veliz. 

Check the Magic 8-Ball

Manor Solomon

I thought he did well when he played on the left wing in the early part of the season. We got him on a free transfer, but he's rarely seen the pitch because of a number of injuries. I don't know what Tottenham would even get for him in a transfer. 

Timo Werner

The price is right for this guy for a transfer, but I think he's on high wages, which might be a stumbling block. 

Ben Davies

Every manager has liked this guy, and he always works hard for the club. Are he and Son the only guys remaining for the Pochettino era? This season he filled in at center-back admirably, but he does not have the attacking quality of Udogie that Ange's system demands. 

Musing of the Moment: Tottenham's 24-25 Kits

Footy Headlines is at its usual work. Tottenham's home, away, and third kits were leaked by them here. 

Let's take a look. 

Alasdair Gold and the fellows at WeAreTottenhamTV weighed in on these, but I'll do so also. 

There's not much a designer can do to jazz up a team that wears white for its home jersey. It's safe to assume we're going back to navy shorts instead doing the all white kits like they did this season. 

I like this jersey with the navy sleeves and piping down the sides. 

I'm fond of the away kit. I like the lighter blue with navy, and I prefer football jerseys with a v-neck rather than a crew look. If I were to get a jersey, I'd probably get this one. 

As for the third kit, I like the old-school logo and Nike logo facing downward for whatever reason, but I'm not fond of this mint-green look. If Spurs is going to go with green, I'd prefer they go back to the forest green look we had a few years ago. 

What I really want for an away or third kit is a purple one. 

Musing of the Moment: Life after Kane

It finally happened. Harry Kane is departing Tottenham Hotspur for Bayern. 

It was iffy whether this move was actually going to happen, but at least Daniel Levy got the fee the club needed to depart with its greatest player in its history. 

I've watched the videos from the various YouTube pundits bemoaning the loss of Kane. 

It's a brutal loss, but I'd rather get money for him leaving now rather than him moving to Manchester United or, for God's sake, Chelsea after the season is over. I could not stomach seeing Kane in a Chelsea kit. That would be a major kick in the short and curlies. 

Not all is lost though. 

Richarlison will move to the position that he's actually best at playing--as a number 9. While he had an underwhelming campaign last season, I'm confident he'll be a positive force without now being under the shadow of Kane.

He's Brazil's no. 9. His performance last season was shite for the most part, but he didn't get regular playing time at all under Conte due to injuries and Conte being Conte. He was not able to establish any kind of rhythm as a player. 

The money from the sale of Kane to Bayern could help Spurs sign another center-back, which is sorely needed. I like Micky van de Ven, but we need another swift and strong center-back although I still have hope for Tanganga. 

In addition, part of the funds could go toward acquiring someone like Gift Orban and/or Brennan Johnson. 

If Spurs decide to sell Hojbjerg, they could also go shopping for another midfielder. 

It appears Tottenham is going through the rebuild that Pochettino called for years ago--just this time without Kane. 

Time to move on and trust the fun system that Ange has created. 

We aren't going to be a football club that relies so heavily on one player to score. I suspect the goals will be spread around. 

Stay Positive: Postecoglou to Tottenham

After seventy-some days after Conte and Spurs parted ways, we finally have a new manager. It's the Australian Ange Postecoglou. 

I was intrigued by both Nagelsman and Slot, but Slot just used the Tottenham's interest to fatten his wallet with a new deal with his Dutch club. For whatever reason, Spurs didn't pursue Nagelsman. 

With Postecoglou, he's won everywhere he's been, and he's often taken over clubs that were absolute messes. 

It's safe to say that Tottenham is a mess. With no European football, they have a bloated roster in need of cleaning out. 

In addition, the recent signings of Spence, Udogie, and Porro were for the previous manager who employed wing-backs. 

The new gaffer is likely not to use wing-backs extensively since he usually plays a 4-3-3. 

So it'll be interesting to see which players move on after he takes the helm and evaluates the current players in the squad whether they played this season with Spurs or on loan to some other club. 

As much as I found Mourinho and Conte to be intriguing managers for the team at time (and I wish Levy would have at least let Jose try to win some silverware), I tired easily of their brand of football. Their sides, for the most part, play a boring type of football. 

I'm a pragmatist by nature, but not when it comes to world football. 

At least with Postecoglou we know he'll employ a high-energy, offensive brand of offense. 

At first, it was reported that the deal with the new manager was for two years with an option in the third year. However, those reports were wrong. He has a four-year contract. 

My hope is that "Big Ange" clears out players who need to move on, reintegrates loanees who will help the team, and implements the system that he's used at various coaching stops. 

I'm sure there will be some rocky patches early on, but at least I'll be interested to see some offensive football from Spurs. 

It's going to be a summer of change at Tottenham, and I see that prospect as a very good step in the right direction. 

Musing of the Moment: Tottenham Hotspur, Conte, and the Future

When I started watching Premier League football, I had no idea that the team I would pick, Tottenham Hotspur, would provide so much drama over the past few years. 

I guess I should have done more research into the squad. I simply saw them as a consistently good club that had a good chance to improve and contend. That was during the middle of the Pochettino era. 

One of the best journalists who covers the Spurs beat, Alasdair Gold, has a good article up on Football London that gives a fair history of the current situation with Antonio Conte: "The Inside Story as Daniel Levy Faces Major Decision To Call Time on the Antonio Conte Tottenham Era." 

The pundits have covered Conte's explosive press conference after the terrible draw against Southhampton at great length - much writing and speculation and tongue wagging has been had. 

It appears to be a foregone conclusion that Conte is out. It's just a whether a question of when: soon or later like after the season. 

But I cannot see him sticking around. I don't know how he goes back into the dressing room after calling players "selfish." That's a statement to make to people face to face, not in a press conference, especially a press conference before the international break in which he has no contact with them. That move seems very calculated to me no matter how he is described and passionate and emotional. 

I like Conte to a degree. He obviously has a strong track record. But here are reasons why his regime has not worked out (even though, if you think about it, Tottenham are still current in the top four): 

• For someone who fancies himself a defense-first coach, the team this season has given away an astonishing amount of goals. They've scored a lot, but still, they have given away too many goals. A lot. 
• He's too rigid with his tactics. He almost always plays a 3-4-3, which I like as a system. However, when Spurs have played teams with a lot of midfielders, it seemed obvious to me that we should have switched to a 3-5-2 in matches, for example, against Arsenal.
• He doesn't give young players or newly acquired players enough playing time. A prime example is Djed Spence, the England international who is starting regularly for Rennes. Another example is Richarlison. He's had injury problems for sure, but when he's been available, he needed to be used more often. Oh, and Danjuma. 
• As much as I like his passion, he spins out of control too often in public. The obvious example is the last press conference, but over a year ago think about the press conference after the loss to Burnley. This dust-ups are good for journalists but not for the club. 
• As much as his criticism of players rings true for some I think, he has to have lost the dressing room. And even if he stays around, consistently not addressing his contract and future at Tottenham has made his players, I would speculate, think he won't be around next season. 
• He doesn't seem to care much or be concerned much with developing academy players. 

So let me speculate about the future.

Tottenham needs someone who plays attractive football. They need someone to develop the academy and see his job as a long-term project. 

I know there are reports out there that some people on the Tottenham board are not as sanguine about this prospect as many of the club's fans, but I think we need to go back to Pochettino. 

He's a solid coach who wants to be at Tottenham. 

He directs a squad that usually plays attractive football. 

He will be involved with developing academy players. 

Also, the club he returns to is significantly different than when he left since they have a much larger scouting staff and a strong Managing Director of Football. And they seem more liable to spend money. 

The main issue I see is that the players who have been acquired over the past windows under Conte were acquired for Conte's system. 

However, I think players like Gil, Spence, Bissouma, Sarr, Scarlett, Udogie, Richarlison, Kulusevski, and Skipp, et al. would flourish in his system. And probably some others in the army of loan players, someone like Reguillon, might do quite well. 

Hire Pochettino. 

Musing of the Moment: Adopting British Terms

Since I watch Premier League football (we Americans just need to stop calling it soccer) and watch YouTube programs devoted to matters related to Tottenham Hotspur, I've been picking up a number of British slang terms and commonly used words as I watch the videos. 

I'm interested in expanding my vocabulary by adding certain words and vulgarities/insults from the Brits.

Here's a list of them I'm targeting to add to my lexicon:

• Fancy: I like the word as an option for "like" or having a desire, such as "I fancy how you look today."
• Rubbish: It's a word for trash, but I like how it also means nonsense. 
• Gutted: The term means that someone is extremely upset. 
• Bollocks: This word refers to one's balls, but I guess it also is a general term for expressing anger
• Daft: It's a term for being a bit stupid or silly.
• Dodgy: The word mean something akin to "sketchy." 
• Whinge: This odd term means to whine. 
• Shambalic: Football pundits often use this word when a team's performance is terrible or in shambles, such as "their defense was shambalic." 
• Knackered: It means exhausted. Alasdair Gold uses this quite often in his videos. 
• Shag: Nooky. To make the "beast with two backs." To fuck.
• Box clever: This term means to do something smartly.
• Gaffer: This word means manager, coach, or director. In football, it means the head coach. 
• Wanker: It's an insult meaning jerk or asshole. This is one of my favorites, you wankers.
• Mental: The word means someone has gone crazy, such as "He's absolutely mental." 
• Muppet: The term indicates a stupid person, not one of Jim Henson's creations. 

Random Notes from a Crank

Mother Jones has an interesting article in the Jan-Feb issue. The online title of the article is "Heavier Storms Are Here. Rain Gardens Can Help." The author, Jackie Flynn Mogensen, relates how San Francisco has done some great work using rain gardens to soak up the rainfall from heavier storms. 

The mass amount of water would normally just run off into storm sewers and flood various areas. As she states, "Rain gardens soak up downpours, filter pollution, and offer habitat for pollinators."

The article led me to another one in Mother Jones: "Have a Yard? Consider Adding a Rain Garden," which provides information about resources and rebate programs. If I lived in Chicago, I could get a free rain barrel. 

I've been thinking about getting a rain barrel for years, but I've never gotten around to it. 

A word I need to work into my lexicon more is shite, the British term for shit. It just sounds classier than shit. 

Since I watch and listen to the Premier League and the fellows who post regular videos on WeAreTottenhamTV and the Grumpy Pundits program on SiriusFC, I've also picked up some British terms, such as "fancy," "big up," and "bullocks." 

Some British take special glee in being able to say "bullocks" for American audiences since apparently they cannot say that word on British airwaves or TV.