For people who don't actively listen to lyrics, they might think the title of the song intimates some kind of pro-white stance.
That's not the case at all.
Friday, April 27, 2018
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Random Notes from a Crank
Many people search for what sets homo sapiens apart from other animals. Some people say communication, yet we know animals have various communication strategies they employ on a regular basis. Some people say abstract thinking, problem-solving, and using tools, yet we know other species can do all that too. Check out Ackerman's The Genius of Birds if you question my previous statement.
While our big brains could be a significant difference, possibly one of the notable differences is this: we can walk upright, and we're good at it. As Ian Walker, a professor of biology at Harvard relates, "upright walking is the defining characteristic of the human lineage. Its consequences are hard to oversell." Check out the article the statement comes from: "3.6 Million-Year-Old Footprints Suggest Early Human Ancestors Were Excellent Walkers."
Another way to think about what sets humans apart is the statement of Lucifer in Twain's Letters from the Earth (and I'm paraphrasing here): humans think they're the center of the universe ~ they think they're God's pet.
Here's one of the better op-ed columns I've read in a while: "Trump Said He'd Stand by Farmers and Ranchers Like Me. He Hasn't." As conclusions go, Callicrate's is a good one: "American family farmers and ranchers are becoming an endangered species, squeezed by the forces of globalization and the immense leverage of gigantic corporations. We hoped that Trump would be our champion and side with use against the multinational corporations that are threatening our future and our nations ability to feed itself. But we've been let down. If the American farmer is to survive, we must be treated fairly. There is still time for Trump and Perdue to reverse course. We hope they seize this opportunity. But if Trump won't fight for us, we will bring the fight to him."
What I find confounding in that conclusion, however, is that why someone would ever think a Republican president would ever go against "gigantic corporations." Or any presidential candidate for that matter because most politicians forward policies based on who funds their campaigns. The fact of the matter is that many people got duped by a pathologically lying unsuccessful businessman who is really just TV reality star. And other folks just voted party over country.
While our big brains could be a significant difference, possibly one of the notable differences is this: we can walk upright, and we're good at it. As Ian Walker, a professor of biology at Harvard relates, "upright walking is the defining characteristic of the human lineage. Its consequences are hard to oversell." Check out the article the statement comes from: "3.6 Million-Year-Old Footprints Suggest Early Human Ancestors Were Excellent Walkers."
Another way to think about what sets humans apart is the statement of Lucifer in Twain's Letters from the Earth (and I'm paraphrasing here): humans think they're the center of the universe ~ they think they're God's pet.
Here's one of the better op-ed columns I've read in a while: "Trump Said He'd Stand by Farmers and Ranchers Like Me. He Hasn't." As conclusions go, Callicrate's is a good one: "American family farmers and ranchers are becoming an endangered species, squeezed by the forces of globalization and the immense leverage of gigantic corporations. We hoped that Trump would be our champion and side with use against the multinational corporations that are threatening our future and our nations ability to feed itself. But we've been let down. If the American farmer is to survive, we must be treated fairly. There is still time for Trump and Perdue to reverse course. We hope they seize this opportunity. But if Trump won't fight for us, we will bring the fight to him."
What I find confounding in that conclusion, however, is that why someone would ever think a Republican president would ever go against "gigantic corporations." Or any presidential candidate for that matter because most politicians forward policies based on who funds their campaigns. The fact of the matter is that many people got duped by a pathologically lying unsuccessful businessman who is really just TV reality star. And other folks just voted party over country.
Monday, April 23, 2018
Fumbling Toward Culinary Talent: Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
I made some chicken tacos on Sunday, and here's the recipe.
Ingredients
4 large chicken breasts
Chicken stock to braise the breasts in the crock pot
Healthy smidge of Penzey's salsa and pico seasoning
Smidge of Penzey's Adobo seasoning
Pepper to taste
1/4 cup of diced yellow onion
3 tablespoons of diced red bell pepper
I can of La Preferida red chile enchilada sauce
Shredded queso fresco
Chopped cilantro
Process
Trim any nasty bits off of the chicken breasts, put them into the crock pot, and dump in enough chicken stock to cover the breast halfway. Add spices atop the breast. Cook on low for eight hours or so. Halfway through the cooking time throw in the peppers and onions. Two hours prior to eating throw in the enchilada sauce. When cooking time is up, shred the breast in the crock pot. Use whatever kind of tacos you want to use ~ crunchy or soft.
Revisionist Thoughts
Next time I make this, I'm going to dial up the flavor factor a bit by using some toasted dried chiles and adding garlic and shallots.I am also considering adding some type of hot peppers. Jalapeños would probably be good.
Ingredients
4 large chicken breasts
Chicken stock to braise the breasts in the crock pot
Healthy smidge of Penzey's salsa and pico seasoning
Smidge of Penzey's Adobo seasoning
Pepper to taste
1/4 cup of diced yellow onion
3 tablespoons of diced red bell pepper
I can of La Preferida red chile enchilada sauce
Shredded queso fresco
Chopped cilantro
Process
Trim any nasty bits off of the chicken breasts, put them into the crock pot, and dump in enough chicken stock to cover the breast halfway. Add spices atop the breast. Cook on low for eight hours or so. Halfway through the cooking time throw in the peppers and onions. Two hours prior to eating throw in the enchilada sauce. When cooking time is up, shred the breast in the crock pot. Use whatever kind of tacos you want to use ~ crunchy or soft.
Revisionist Thoughts
Next time I make this, I'm going to dial up the flavor factor a bit by using some toasted dried chiles and adding garlic and shallots.I am also considering adding some type of hot peppers. Jalapeños would probably be good.
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Music Friday: "Before We Disappear"
I planned on posting my usual Music Friday post yesterday, but I forgot about it in the afternoon. Then I had to travel to my daughter's track meet. Once I finally got home at 9:30, I forgot about it again.
Jeesh.
Anyway, here's a great song by the late great Chris Cornell.
Jeesh.
Anyway, here's a great song by the late great Chris Cornell.
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Fumbling Toward Culinary Talent: Edamame-Garbanzo Salad
I had a bag of frozen edamame in the freezer, so I did some research into versions of edamame salads.
I surveyed what the Interwebs had to offer, and I made my own. Here it is.
Ingredients
1 bag of frozen edamame, steamed in the bag according to directions
1 can of garbanzo beans, drained
2 small plum tomatoes, diced
1 bell pepper, chopped finely (I used a yellow one)
2 tablespoons of finely chopped yellow onion
Chopped parsley to desired proportions
Chopped cilantro to desired proportions
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon of honey
1 teaspoon of dijon mustard
Juice of one small lime
Salt and pepper to taste
Process
Steam the edamame, drain the garbanzos, chop the other stuff. Throw it all in a bowl. Whisk the dressing together and mix thoroughly.
I surveyed what the Interwebs had to offer, and I made my own. Here it is.
Ingredients
1 bag of frozen edamame, steamed in the bag according to directions
1 can of garbanzo beans, drained
2 small plum tomatoes, diced
1 bell pepper, chopped finely (I used a yellow one)
2 tablespoons of finely chopped yellow onion
Chopped parsley to desired proportions
Chopped cilantro to desired proportions
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon of honey
1 teaspoon of dijon mustard
Juice of one small lime
Salt and pepper to taste
Process
Steam the edamame, drain the garbanzos, chop the other stuff. Throw it all in a bowl. Whisk the dressing together and mix thoroughly.
Friday, April 13, 2018
Music Friday: "Amos Moses"
Today I'm featuring a classic, "Amos Moses."
This video features not only Jerry Reed but also Glen Campbell.
Enjoy.
This video features not only Jerry Reed but also Glen Campbell.
Enjoy.
Monday, April 9, 2018
Random Notes from a Crank
The Atlantic has a couple of articles worth a thinking person's time in the April issue.
The first is "The Nancy Pelosi Problem," an article that demonstrates that the vitriol spewed against Pelosi by various people has a gendered proclivity. As the article shows, she's been pretty darn good at her job as Majority and Minority Leader. But a lot of what she's up against (and the Democrats for that matter) is showcased in the study that presents how people react to "John Burr" and "Ann Burr."
Another good piece features Julie Washington's work and research. She's a linguist who is trying to use AAV to help students succeed. Check out "The Code-Switcher: Julie Washington's Lifelong Quest to Change the Way We Teach Young Speakers of African-American English."
"More Guns Do Not Stop More Crimes, Evidence Shows" by Melinda Wenner Moyer in Scientific American should be required reading. I read it when it came out in October. The article won the American Society of Jounralists and Author's Excellence in Reporting Award.
In a more recent article in Scientific American, "The Number of Americans with No Religious Affiliation is Rising," the author reports on how the number of "nones" is getter larger in the US. I tend to agree with Shermer's statement that "This shift away from the dominance of any one religion is good for a secular society whose government is structured to discourage catch basins of power from building up and spilling over into people's private lives." Also, like the author, I find some of the beliefs of these non-religious people puzzling and downright silly.
The first is "The Nancy Pelosi Problem," an article that demonstrates that the vitriol spewed against Pelosi by various people has a gendered proclivity. As the article shows, she's been pretty darn good at her job as Majority and Minority Leader. But a lot of what she's up against (and the Democrats for that matter) is showcased in the study that presents how people react to "John Burr" and "Ann Burr."
Another good piece features Julie Washington's work and research. She's a linguist who is trying to use AAV to help students succeed. Check out "The Code-Switcher: Julie Washington's Lifelong Quest to Change the Way We Teach Young Speakers of African-American English."
"More Guns Do Not Stop More Crimes, Evidence Shows" by Melinda Wenner Moyer in Scientific American should be required reading. I read it when it came out in October. The article won the American Society of Jounralists and Author's Excellence in Reporting Award.
In a more recent article in Scientific American, "The Number of Americans with No Religious Affiliation is Rising," the author reports on how the number of "nones" is getter larger in the US. I tend to agree with Shermer's statement that "This shift away from the dominance of any one religion is good for a secular society whose government is structured to discourage catch basins of power from building up and spilling over into people's private lives." Also, like the author, I find some of the beliefs of these non-religious people puzzling and downright silly.
Friday, April 6, 2018
Music Friday: "Kinky Hypocrite"
Here's a solid tune from the most recent album by the Drive-By Truckers.
Friday, March 30, 2018
Music Friday: "The Intro" & "Say It Louder"
I had forgotten that the bands Buffalo Tom and Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats had new albums come out earlier this month.
Both are solid albums.
Here are a couple of tunes from Tearing at the Seams.
Both are solid albums.
Here are a couple of tunes from Tearing at the Seams.
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Random Notes from a Crank
I'm going to have to update my "Death Wishes" post sometime because I recently told Mrs. Nasty that if I get killed by some kind of assault weapon and/or lack of background checks because of the intellectual buggery and the financial whoring of politicians by the NRA, I don't want any person who is a member of the NRA to attend my funeral. They are not invited.
People tend to gloss past the first part of the Second Amendment: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of free state." The Bill of Rights was written in the 1790s when our leaders had extreme distrust of large, standing armies, and the nation relied on ad hoc militias for military missions. For example, Andrew Jackson used a militia, not the army, when he killed all kinds of Native Americans during the War of 1812. And one of the reasons the US mainly got its butt kicked in that war was because of the nations reliance on militias.
We have a large standing armed forces now. If a person wants to use weapons of war such assault rifles and automatic guns, that person needs to join the military.
Then again, the most deaths by guns are because of handguns.
Here's some interesting factoids from March's "Harper's Index"
People tend to gloss past the first part of the Second Amendment: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of free state." The Bill of Rights was written in the 1790s when our leaders had extreme distrust of large, standing armies, and the nation relied on ad hoc militias for military missions. For example, Andrew Jackson used a militia, not the army, when he killed all kinds of Native Americans during the War of 1812. And one of the reasons the US mainly got its butt kicked in that war was because of the nations reliance on militias.
We have a large standing armed forces now. If a person wants to use weapons of war such assault rifles and automatic guns, that person needs to join the military.
Then again, the most deaths by guns are because of handguns.
Here's some interesting factoids from March's "Harper's Index"
- Hours last year for which Germans were paid to use power because supply outstripped demand: 331
- Percentage of US news stories about poverty that feature black families: 59
- Of US families living under the poverty line that are black: 23
- Number of write-in votes for University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban in the state's November special election: 414
- Estimated number of US private schools receiving public funding that teach Christian curriculum: 5,071
- That teach an Islamic curriculum: 70
- That teach a curriculum inspired by L. Ron Hubbard: 5
Clearly we need to fight harder for the separation of church and state. Those last three figures are bullshit. I don't want my tax dollars paying for that curricular nonsense.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Fumbling Toward Culinary Talent: Broccoli Cheese Soup
This is a variation on the cheese soup recipe I saw on the aforementioned episode of Good Eats.
Ingredients
Half of a yellow onion, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
1 large stalk of celery, finely chopped
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
32 oz. of chicken stock
1 minced clove of garlic
1 cup of heavy cream
1 bay leaf
7 ounces of gouda, shredded
3 ounces of smoked gouda, shredded
1 package of steamed broccoli
Smidge of tyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Process
Heat a dutch oven to medium and melt the butter. Sweat the onion, carrot, and celery until soft. Coat the mixture with flour and cook for approximately a minute. Add the stock, bring to boil, and then move it back to a simmer.
Add the garlic and bay leaf. Simmer for 10 minutes.Use a handheld mixer to blend the aromatics.
Add the heavy cream and continue over a slow simmer. Add the shredded cheese in bunches. In the meantime, steam the broccoli and add into the soup. Simmer for five minutes.
Ingredients
Half of a yellow onion, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
1 large stalk of celery, finely chopped
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
32 oz. of chicken stock
1 minced clove of garlic
1 cup of heavy cream
1 bay leaf
7 ounces of gouda, shredded
3 ounces of smoked gouda, shredded
1 package of steamed broccoli
Smidge of tyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Process
Heat a dutch oven to medium and melt the butter. Sweat the onion, carrot, and celery until soft. Coat the mixture with flour and cook for approximately a minute. Add the stock, bring to boil, and then move it back to a simmer.
Add the garlic and bay leaf. Simmer for 10 minutes.Use a handheld mixer to blend the aromatics.
Add the heavy cream and continue over a slow simmer. Add the shredded cheese in bunches. In the meantime, steam the broccoli and add into the soup. Simmer for five minutes.
Friday, March 23, 2018
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Random Notes from a Crank
This is not a surprise, but as the Washington Post reports, the number of typos and misspellings by Trump and his administration are astounding. Moscow Don's lack of attention to detail and the administration's incompetence are probably unparalleled. Check out "'Elected to Lead, Not to Proofread': Typos, Spelling Mistakes Are Commonplace in Trump's White House."
Moscow Don is doing a tremendous job of being a moron, and the wonderful, first-rate people who work for him are equally as inept.
Yesterday I thought I'd combine cottage cheese, which I like, with some sliced guerito peppers, which I enjoy in my salads because they provide a nice spicy kick. I wouldn't say the combination of cottage cheese and gueritos was horrible, but I wouldn't probably combine them again.
The other night I was watching an old episode of Alton Brown's Good Eats (well, they are all old episodes now), and that episode on cheese has inspired to try making some cheese soup. I doubt I can find some find fontina cheese around here though, so I'll probably just use gouda or provolone. What might be even better is smoked gouda.
Moscow Don is doing a tremendous job of being a moron, and the wonderful, first-rate people who work for him are equally as inept.
Yesterday I thought I'd combine cottage cheese, which I like, with some sliced guerito peppers, which I enjoy in my salads because they provide a nice spicy kick. I wouldn't say the combination of cottage cheese and gueritos was horrible, but I wouldn't probably combine them again.
The other night I was watching an old episode of Alton Brown's Good Eats (well, they are all old episodes now), and that episode on cheese has inspired to try making some cheese soup. I doubt I can find some find fontina cheese around here though, so I'll probably just use gouda or provolone. What might be even better is smoked gouda.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Music Friday: "No Roots"
Sirius XM's The Spectrum station has been playing the hell out of this tune over the past months. I don't know much about the artist at all, but one of the people who spun the tune once said the song is based on her life because she moved around a lot.
So there you go.
I guess I can kind of relate. Compared to the community in which I live, Mrs. Nasty and I are outliers in that we both grew up in Iowa (separate cities and didn't know each other until her college days) and have lived in different places.
As for me, I lived in Waterloo, Iowa up until college; Kirksville, Missouri; the Kansas City, Missouri area (Gladstone to be specific); back to Kirksville; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; St. Louis, Missouri; and now Charleston, Illinois.
Most of people around here where I live haven't lived many other places, if any new ones, at all.
But I'd like to think I have pretty good roots now.
However, I still consider myself an Iowan.
So there you go.
I guess I can kind of relate. Compared to the community in which I live, Mrs. Nasty and I are outliers in that we both grew up in Iowa (separate cities and didn't know each other until her college days) and have lived in different places.
As for me, I lived in Waterloo, Iowa up until college; Kirksville, Missouri; the Kansas City, Missouri area (Gladstone to be specific); back to Kirksville; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; St. Louis, Missouri; and now Charleston, Illinois.
Most of people around here where I live haven't lived many other places, if any new ones, at all.
But I'd like to think I have pretty good roots now.
However, I still consider myself an Iowan.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Random Notes from a Crank
If there is no one in the porn industry working on a spoof of Moscow Don and the Stormy Daniels affair, filmmakers should be ashamed of themselves.
And that statement begs the question: Are there any porn filmmakers who can be shamed?
This much is clear: Moscow Don is a consummate buffoon.
I have about 130 pages to go to finish Ron Chernow's biography of Ulysses S. Grant. It's quite good and provides a much needed history of Reconstruction that K-12 and college classes neglected from me.
I'm not entirely through the whole of the biographer's coverage of his presidency, but one of my only gripes about the book is that perhaps it needed to cover more about what was going on with Native Americans during his administration. The horrible crap happened late in his second term, but I wanted more analysis of why Grant acted the way he did toward Natives and why his decisions led to destruction of their lives and culture.
I did learn that Grant was a big proponent of the separation of church and state, a principle I have in common with him. Here are two statements from speeches he gave in 1875 that should clearly show where he stands on public education:
This much is clear: Moscow Don is a consummate buffoon.
I have about 130 pages to go to finish Ron Chernow's biography of Ulysses S. Grant. It's quite good and provides a much needed history of Reconstruction that K-12 and college classes neglected from me.
I'm not entirely through the whole of the biographer's coverage of his presidency, but one of my only gripes about the book is that perhaps it needed to cover more about what was going on with Native Americans during his administration. The horrible crap happened late in his second term, but I wanted more analysis of why Grant acted the way he did toward Natives and why his decisions led to destruction of their lives and culture.
I did learn that Grant was a big proponent of the separation of church and state, a principle I have in common with him. Here are two statements from speeches he gave in 1875 that should clearly show where he stands on public education:
- "Encourage free schools and resolve that not one dollar of money appropriated to their support no matter how raised, shall be appropriated to the support of any sectarian school ... Leave the matter of religion to the family circle, the church and the private school support[ed] entirely by private contribution. Keep the church and state forever separate."
- The US should "establish and forever maintain free public schools adequate to the education of all the children ... irrespective of sex, color, birthplace, or religions; forbidding the teaching in said schools of religious, atheistic, or pagan tenets; and prohibiting the granting of any school-funds, or school-taxes ... in aid ... of any religious sect or denomination."
These intelligent statements, however, conflict directly with how Grant wanted to Christianize Native Americans.
Regardless, if I were a voter in the 1860s-70s, I would have voted Republican because they (mainly the "Radical Republicans") cared about voting rights and protections for black folks. Democrats, in contrast at that time, were for the hokum that was/is states' rights, which was just cover for returning the US to white supremacy.
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