There's a reason Popeye the sailor man eats his spinach: It ranks better for more nutrients, fewer calories and better palatability than kale and the others

spinach

basil

arugula

broccoli

dandelion

kale

It turns out you could make it on just French Fries, milk, oatmeal and some kale, spinach or broccoli, and lose weight

This story got my attention:

Why French Fries Are More of a "Superfood" Than Kale.

From there I landed on:

Could you survive on just one food?

From which this:

Some years ago a reader wrote to The Chicago Reader advice column, The Straight Dope, asked whether it was true you could live on just potatoes and milk. After all, it's been said that before the Irish Potato Famine, people there were living almost solely on potatoes. Cecil Adams, the erstwhile columnist, claims to have run the numbers with his assistant and found that a whole lot of potatoes and milk would get you most of what you need – with the exception of the mineral molybdenum. But you can get all you need of that by also eating a bit of oatmeal.

Hearing this, [dietician Jennie] Jackson [of Glasgow Caledonian University] laughs. “Oh, that's our diet – that's the Scottish diet from a hundred years ago. That fits right in. Potatoes, milk, and oatmeal, with some kale in there, too.”

Happiness is "The Boys and Me" by Sawyer Brown, 1993

We talk too slow, drive too fast, we're high on life and we're low on gas . . ..

Here.

Happiness is Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund . . . hunting rabbits!

Here.

Happiness on St. Paddy's Day is . . . 239 bean stew

And why 239 beans you ask?

Because one more and then it would be too farty, if you know what I mean.

Happiness is a grilled pork chop seasoned with Budapest's Best Hungarian Paprika

Sprinkle liberally with kosher salt and this stuff, and grill over white hot coals.

It's a magnificent taste of summer in the late winter.

And in the summer it'll be a magnificent taste of the late winter!

How do you say "carbon monoxide" if you're dyslexic?

Happiness is Chef John's roasted Greek chicken thighs with potatoes

Adapted from Chef John at all recipes dot com here.

10 chicken thighs with skin on

1 T kosher salt

1 T dried oregano

1 t black pepper

1 t dried rosemary leaves

1 pinch cayenne pepper

.25 cup lemon juice

.5 cup extra virgin olive oil

6 cloves fresh garlic pressed

4 russet potatoes, peeled and quartered

1. Combine salt, oregano, black pepper, rosemary, cayenne, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic in a bowl. Whisk until blended.

2. Lightly Crisco a large roaster.

3. Dredge each piece of chicken in the spice mixture in the bowl and place each in the roaster. I could have used a little more lemon juice, but .25 cup was all I had. The last two pieces of chicken got shortchanged. Chef John's original recipe calls for less chicken than I used, but mine still turned out just fine.

4. Position the potato pieces around and between the chicken pieces.

5. Preheat the oven to bake at 425F while you tidy up.

6. Roast the chicken and potatoes for one hour.

7. Reduce heat to 350F and roast another 10 minutes.

8. Switch to broil for a few more minutes if additional browning is necessary.

9. Serve chicken and potatoes on a large plate, topped with some of the pan juices if you like, and steamed petite peas and butter.

10. A glass of cold Moscato was perfect with this.

11. OK, two glasses.

Happiness is nonsense verse

Happiness is Camille Paglia, who once ate two steaks during an interview, tearing into Meryl Streep

Noted here:

At last we were seated at a small table a few yards from the first. We would remain there for the next 4 hours and 45 minutes. In the grand scheme of Paglia interviews, mine was brief. When Francesca Stanfill profiled her for a New York cover story, in 1991, their conversation lasted ten hours, long enough for Paglia to consume two steaks: one for lunch and a second for dinner. ...  “I have been on an anti–Meryl Streep campaign for about 30 years,” she said. When Trump called the actress “overrated” in a January tweet, “I wanted to leap into print and take that line but I couldn’t, because Trump said it.” ... In the general election, as a resident of Pennsylvania, she voted for Jill Stein. ... She approved — of all things — of the Women’s March. “I think it’s important that women rediscover solidarity with themselves,” she said. ... Still, the pussy hats: She buried her face in her hands as she discussed them. “I was horrified, horrified by the pink pussy hats,” she said; the pink pussy hats were “a major embarrassment to contemporary feminism.”

Happiness is . . . Der Wunder-Meyer

The Great Encyclopedia for the Educated Classes by Joseph Meyer (1796-1856).

Ultimately numbering 52 volumes, Das Grosse Konversations-Lexikon für die gebildeten Stände was the most comprehensive completed German encyclopedia of the 19th century, also called "der Wunder-Meyer" (The marvellous Meyer). The complete set was reprinted 1858-59. ... The 9th edition, now from Mannheim, entitled Meyers Enzyklopädisches Lexikon in 25 Bänden (in 25 volumes), appeared in 1971-79. Just like the very first, this final Mannheim edition was the most comprehensive German encyclopaedia of the century.

Happiness is John Mellencamp singing "Small Town"

Here.

Four foods doctors prescribe instead of drugs

Read the story here.

to reduce bad cholesterol

to improve sight

to combat dementia

for heart health

Siegfried in The White House: Get smart, we do KAOS here!

What's 1/16 Cherokee + 1/32 Cherokee?

Two complete nuts.

Chief Ward Fulabaloni

Elizabeth Talking Bull

I used to make a livin' man, pickin' the banana

I don't wanna walk around with you . . .

. . . Try the dog.

No Valentine's Day would be complete without the Ramones singing "I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You"

Here.

On Valentine's Day happiness is Eddie Murphy as Buckwheat singin' "Wookin' Pa Nub"

Here.

Happiness is Dee Dee and Tommy Ramone performing Cretin Hop December 31, 1977

Hey Johnny, Hey Dee Dee . . . Little Tom and Joey . . .

Here.

For less caffeine, try Caffè Americano style espresso from the stove top moka pot

The whole 12 oz. fits perfectly in one of these from 2009.

The story told is that US GIs in Italy during WWII would dilute the espresso offered with hot water to suit their tastes. This recipe basically accomplishes the same thing.

6 oz. water in the reservoir of a three cup maker

10 grams fine espresso in the filter basket (about a third of the normal amount, which is 25 to 30 grams)

6 oz. milk

1 tsp. sugar

Brew the espresso on the stove top. You can take it just like it is, black, or with sugar, and/or with a little half and half. It's great if you are in a hurry.

Or . . .

Heat the milk in a microwave a minute and a half or so and froth. Let the milk rest in the frother a minute or two to allow the foam on top to separate from the warm milk below.

Add the milk slowly to a mug to dissolve the sugar, then gently tap the foam into the mug. Then add the brewed espresso to the mug, "staining" the milk and foam however much or little you like. 

A little stain is the way I like it, uh huh.

I use one of these from Harold Import Co. to froth the milk.

Happiness is seeing the New England Patriots down 3-28 in the third quarter win in OT 34-28

Tom Brady becomes the first quarterback to win five Super Bowl rings in an amazing come from behind performance. The Atlanta Falcons simply melted away after dominating the game into the early third quarter.

Brady's wife was pretty happy too:

Just remember Super Bowl fans, Weird Al warned you Lady Gaga just performs that way

Here.

Manfred Mann performing Doo Wah Diddy Diddy in July 1964

Here.

When the wind chill is 5°F (-15°C), happiness is a hot rotisserie chicken for $4.98 from Sam's Club for dinner

With some Basmati rice and butter and a nice romaine and spinach salad with avocado and sweet peppers.

Happiness is Bart Simpson giving the Statue of Liberty an edgier voice

Here.

h/t Chris

Happiness is the inspirational Dushun Wang who reinvented himself yet one more time at age 79

Video here.

Forget radiation: Micro plastics contaminating fish now showing up in humans

From the story here:

Seafood eaters ingest up to 11,000 tiny pieces of plastic every year with dozens of particles becoming embedded in tissues, scientists have warned, in findings described as 'sobering' by the Prince of Wales. Researchers from the University of Ghent in Belgium believe that microplastics accumulate in the body over time and could be a long term health risk.

What a horrible development, all thanks to everything plastic finding its way into the oceans, from particles from washing your fleece clothing to plastic micro beads in personal care products and cleansers which pass into the seas.

Read a study about it here.

Everything that lives in the water worldwide appears to be in danger, especially shellfish which filter lots of seawater, but particles were found in a majority of species from the Adriatic to the North Pacific to China to Brazil:

Data analysing fish caught in the wild and sold for human consumption at markets found the following: “In Indonesia, anthropogenic debris was found in 28% of individual fish and in 55% of all species. Similarly, in the USA, anthropogenic debris was found in 25% of individual fish and in 67% of all species. Anthropogenic debris was also found in 33% of individual shellfish sampled. All of the anthropogenic debris recovered from fish in Indonesia was plastic, whereas anthropogenic debris recovered from fish in the USA was primarily fibers”.

Frau Merkel und Hans Merkel?

Don't think about it . . . ever.

Ya, or you might cause a flabulance.

Happiness is a punk rock cover of Melanie's "Brand New Key" by the Dollyrots

Here!

No offense to Melanie, but I LOVE this cover much better than her original from 1970, except that the Dollyrots dangerously lengthened it just a little bit. The early Ramones always kept things short, but this is a great wall of sound at a fast, electric tempo nonetheless.

Turn it up!

Happiness is Manfred Mann singing "Do wah diddy diddy" from July 1964

Here.

Happiness is "Stove-top Espresso", sung to the tune of "Blessed Assurance"

Stove-top espresso! Coffee is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste, of glory divine!

Luigi De Ponti, inventor from God,

For Bialetti, made moka pot.

Refrain:

This is my coffee! This is my cup!

Waking my mind up, all morning long!

This is my coffee! This is my cup!

Making me wind up, all morning long!

Perfect bean grinder, grinding beans fine;

Piercing my hearing, through last night's wine!

Aromas ascending, lift me above,

Aromas of mercy, whispers of love.

From agitation, I let the milk rest;

Macchiato, from my glass French press!

Doing it this way, I know isn't quite right,

But the thing only cost me, nine ninety-five.

Mein Damp, Schatzie

Sorry, but 2016 was pretty good!

• Politics kept EVERY day entertaining all year long, a downpayment on the entertainment which is sure to follow in 2017.
• The Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl. I still admire John Elway after all these years. An American original.
• I got a new dishwasher which actually washes the dishes clean on the first try, and still does.
• Somebody in my household got a full-time job for the first time in 8 YEARS, probably because . . .
• Obama is going bye-bye and it's finally looking safe to hire again on the periphery of the economy where we operate.
• The Chicago Cubs won the World Series. No, really, they did.
• Another person in my household found an interesting and promising career path.
• Lots of family visited, and gramps turned 90.
• And there was a wedding in the family. Imagine that. Now imagine babies. I don't care if they're Chinese.
• We won't have to wake up every day and hear Hillary promise "I won't do that again".
• And Chris Plante of WMAL in DC announced he will be syndicated in 2017. Best talk show out there, if you ask me. And also if you don't ask me. If talking is an art form, what he does is sort of analogous to pointillism, a mostly abandoned technique. A daily dose of smart invective hurled at WaPo and CNN, delivered with biting humor and panache. He subscribes and watches so you don't have to. AND IT'S FREE!
• Happy New Year everybody!

Happiness is Hormel Natural Choice bacon on sale for a Wednesday night pasta carbonara

This dish is very simple, sort of a post-war Italian bacon and eggs according to one theory.

1 pound De Cecco brand angel hair pasta

1 package Hormel bacon made into 1 inch lardons with a scissors

3 large brown eggs whisked in a really big pasta bowl

1 pepper grinder loaded with peppercorns

1/3 cup chopped Italian flat leaf parsley leaves

1 bowl grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Fry the bacon lardons in a deep dutch oven over medium heat, stirring constantly. Don't mess around. Just grab the whole bacon out of the package and start cutting it right into the pot. As it cooks the lardons will get away from you quickly at the end and get too brown if you aren't careful, but I like 'em that way, a little carbonized. Remove from the pot to drain on a paper towel.

Meanwhile bring a pasta pot of salted water to a boil.

Heat your pasta plates in a warm oven.

Whisk the eggs in the pasta bowl.

Chop the parsley.

Drink some wine.

When the water boils, add the pasta and boil about two minutes. Stir with a pasta fork into a ball in the water, then drain well and transfer to the pasta bowl with the whisked eggs while it's still steaming hot. Using two pasta forks stir the pasta and the eggs together thoroughly until the eggs have cooked, about a minute. Basically, the eggs will disappear when using angel hair because of all the surface area absorbing the cooked egg. Larger pasta shapes produce more visible cooked egg clinging to the sides.

Divide the pasta into the serving plates, top or stir in the parsley and bacon in each, and a little olive oil if you like.

Serves three easily. Pass the cheese and the pepper grinder. The pepper is essential, liberally applied. The cheese is optional.

Don't forget the red wine at the table, and a steamed vegetable like broccoli on the side.

Happiness is a Kreutzkamm Christstollen after church on Christmas Eve

For a good time don't call Tim Wilson in his Peterbilt prison

I was a truck-drivin', long-haulin', ladies man

My handle was the cream of the crop

'Til a brewhaha for a 40-D bra brought that to a screeching stop

My wife got wind of one of my girlfriends

whose brassier had the busted seams

And she changed my handle to henpecked

in a man-and-wife driving team

Here's the song.

Happiness is Fats Domino singing "Walking to New Orleans"

Here.

Happiness is the Rhumba Girl, Nicolette Larson, Rolling Stone's Female Vocalist of 1978

Sadly taken from us nineteen years ago this month. The amazing performance here dates to August 1977.

Happiness is Commander Cody singing "Daddy's Drinkin' Up Our Christmas"

Here.

Happiness is a 10-year old Honda CR-V all ready to go for another snowy winter in Grand Rapids

Our 2007 EX in Green Tea looks just like this one. It has Michelin X-Ice installed on all four paws, a new battery, an oil change, a wash, recalls on the air-bag inflators completed, and 127,000 miles going on 200,000 God-willing and the creek don't rise.

Oh yeah, and AAA Premier . . . just in case.