Right: 52 is not a multiple of 7. But 52 is the number of weeks in a year, and a week is 7 days. How's that for relevance?
EDIT: 52 is also the number of cards in a standard deck that includes Ace through King in each of the 4 suits. Does not include Jokers which are common in commercial decks.
In our 20s my friends and I would stop off at the local 7-11 after playing BB. We'd hang out in the parking lot for maybe 15-30 min afterwards. We had been doing this for quite a while. One day the guy came out and asked us not to hang out so long. There were plenty of parking spots. So we stopped going there and found somewhere else to get slurpees and hang out.
i remember that 7-11 experience but i dont remember the alternate place. where else does one get slurpees anyways?
my best story from those basketball games in Moraga was the time i shot hoops w/ Tim Hardaway but didnt it was him until after he left. some kid playing baseball came and asked me if that was Hardaway or not. i guess it was.
Not like there were many other options without going to a supermarket. We used to have 4 supermarkets, Safeway and Luckys in Moraga and Safeway and Luckys in Rheem. Also had a Petrinis (?) in Rheem. Now just down to a single Safeway in Moraga, which really is all that is needed.
Back despite popular demand, Oski Disciple’s Question of the Day. Why are there only seven days in a week? If we had a nine day week we could have four-day weekends.
The seven-day week is thought to have originated with the ancient Babylonians, who divided the 28-day lunar cycle into four weeks. The Babylonians chose seven days because the number seven was significant to them, representing the seven major celestial bodies they observed: the Sun, the Moon, and the five planets visible to the naked eye
Pierce may not have been a good coach, but it's reasonable to assume that the GM (Tom Telesco) and the owner (Mark Davis) aren't exactly top-notch, either. It's been widely hinted that Tom Brady could shake up the Raiders as a part owner. Let's see whatcha got, Tommy Boy!
BERKELEY – The California men's basketball team plays its first home game in more than three weeks when it welcomes Virginia to Haas Pavilion on Wednesday night. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. PT and ESPNU will televise the ACC contest.
The Golden Bears (7-7, 0-3 ACC) are still seeking their first conference win after dropping an early season contest to Stanford on Dec. 7, followed by losses at Pitt and Clemson last week. Virginia (8-6, 1-2) notched its first ACC victory against NC State on New Year's Eve but is coming off a 70-50 home loss to Louisville last Saturday.
Two California softball student-athletes earned Softball America Preseason All-American team honors, announced Tuesday morning.
Senior Acacia Anders and Junior Elon Butler earned second-team recognition after being listed on Softball America's 2025 Preseason Top 100 list Monday. Butler was listed at No. 29, while Anders followed closely behind at No. 33.
The California men's gymnastics team will enter the 2025 season with high hopes for another standout season after a record-setting 2024. This year, the changes will encompass much more than the annual roster turnover, as the NCAA has introduced several rule alterations to the sport.
After road split women drop from 20th to #24 (not too shabby). They face #21 NC State at Haas Thursday. If you live in the area I expect to see you there.
Cal had a bunch of change yesterday. In: an "edge" OLB in the mold of Xavier Carlton via Jayden Wayne, the giant lineman Jordan Moko, a punter, and an apparent walk-on QB to replace either Belay Brummel and/or Andrew Maushardt. Highschooler Justin Hasenhuetl has set his commitment for Saturday and crystal balls have him going to Cal.
Out: Lu Magia Hearns (declared for draft, but he's probably out of football), Chandler Rogers
latest installment of LOTR stuff that is out there telling the story of Rohan from 200 yrs before the events of Sam and Frodo - animated
it even passes the Bechdel test - a tool used to evaluate the representation of women in movies and other fiction - probably unlike any of the LOTR movies.
The test has three rules:
The film must have at least two female characters
The two female characters must talk to each other
The two female characters must talk about something other than a man
Aurora Borealis: Also known as the Northern Lights, this natural light display in the polar regions is caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with Earth's atmosphere.
Grand Canyon: Located in Arizona, United States.
Great Barrier Reef: Located off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
Harbor of Rio de Janeiro: Located in Brazil, this is the world's largest natural bay by volume.
Mount Everest: Located on the border of Nepal and China, this is the highest point on earth.
Parícutin volcano: Located in the state of Michoacán, Mexico.
Victoria Falls: Located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
If memory serves, this list was brought about because "the Ancient Wonders of the World" was a big deal in mid-century. Many of the places on this list were erroneously included as Ancient Wonder and people realized it was a tourism marketing opportunity.
Colossus, Hanging Gardens, Lighthouse, a statue of Zeus no longer exist. I have seen the other three in person. The Mausoleum was disassembled and reassembled in the London Museum. The Temple of Artemis has been reduced to only a few columns, fragments, and the foundation where you can see the layout. The Temple of Artemis is actually really close to where the Mausoleum was.
I remember visiting the London Museum and they were renovating the Mausoleum. They had blocked off the room with large panels, but there was a little bit of room where you could peek around the panels. I remember looking at it for a while, then another gentleman came up behind me. I made room so he could see.
"What's this?" he said to himself.
"Oh it's..." I started to respond to him, but he had already peeked, wheeled around, and was already walking away. "... nothing, only just an Ancient Wonder of the World" I said to myself.
52 Places to Go in 2025 (not even a multiple of 7)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/travel/places-to-travel-destinations-2025.html
3. NYC Museums - No 1 is getting 2 year fellowship starting in Sept at the NY Met to help him finish his dissertation.
Other places on the list I've been: Amsterdam (during HS), New Orleans, Osaka, Milan.
And Lexington, MA. I visited a cousin that lives there. But we didn't see any of the Revolutionary war stuff.
we are looking forward to some nice NYC museum tours.
I have volunteered him.
Right: 52 is not a multiple of 7. But 52 is the number of weeks in a year, and a week is 7 days. How's that for relevance?
EDIT: 52 is also the number of cards in a standard deck that includes Ace through King in each of the 4 suits. Does not include Jokers which are common in commercial decks.
the Dolomites are the only place on my list for next year since older daughter will be study abroad in Rome this coming fall.
When I see Dolomites, I first think about the Eddie Murphy movie Dolemite is my Name
Seven
The name George Constanza wanted to give his son should he ever have one. Do you remember what he would have named a daughter?
The answer is Soda. Thanks for playing everybody.
I was trying to remember but couldn't. I forgot. Why was it soda?
of Nine.
thanks for the Star Trek reference. it made my day.
- 11
In our 20s my friends and I would stop off at the local 7-11 after playing BB. We'd hang out in the parking lot for maybe 15-30 min afterwards. We had been doing this for quite a while. One day the guy came out and asked us not to hang out so long. There were plenty of parking spots. So we stopped going there and found somewhere else to get slurpees and hang out.
There was a Sevvy across from the bus-stop when I was in middle school. I was up to no good at that place.
When I moved to Singapore, there was a Sevvy at the bus-stop near my house. It had literally had mashed potatoes and gravy on tap.
https://www.foodbeast.com/news/7-eleven-has-a-mashed-potatoes-vending-machine/
When visiting Japan, 7-11 is essential in keeping me stocked up on onigiri.
in Japan is an amazing thing. great place to get cheap good eats on the go.
in fact we were just in Singapore and took advantage a couple times when we needed a late night onigiri - after getting back from the bars.
The hot dogs, taquitos and mini tacos are delicious.
i remember that 7-11 experience but i dont remember the alternate place. where else does one get slurpees anyways?
my best story from those basketball games in Moraga was the time i shot hoops w/ Tim Hardaway but didnt it was him until after he left. some kid playing baseball came and asked me if that was Hardaway or not. i guess it was.
I don't remember either what we did.
Not like there were many other options without going to a supermarket. We used to have 4 supermarkets, Safeway and Luckys in Moraga and Safeway and Luckys in Rheem. Also had a Petrinis (?) in Rheem. Now just down to a single Safeway in Moraga, which really is all that is needed.
seems like Moraga was a booming place once upon a time!
used to be.
Back despite popular demand, Oski Disciple’s Question of the Day. Why are there only seven days in a week? If we had a nine day week we could have four-day weekends.
The seven-day week is thought to have originated with the ancient Babylonians, who divided the 28-day lunar cycle into four weeks. The Babylonians chose seven days because the number seven was significant to them, representing the seven major celestial bodies they observed: the Sun, the Moon, and the five planets visible to the naked eye
Speaking of planets visible to the naked eye - https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/whats-up-january-2025-skywatching-tips-from-nasa/
maybe all the days were weekends.
"When you're in Korea, it's always a holiday!"
- Capt. BJ Hunnicutt
If we had two-day weeks, it would be a mobius strip of weekends without a weekday.
PRO
Breaking news: Antonio Pierce is fired
https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2025/1/7/24326583/raiders-news-antonio-pierce-fired
Antonio Pierce lasted one full season as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Team owner Mark Davis has decided to relieve Pierce of his duties after a terribly disappointing season in which the Raiders finished just 4-13.
Pierce may not have been a good coach, but it's reasonable to assume that the GM (Tom Telesco) and the owner (Mark Davis) aren't exactly top-notch, either. It's been widely hinted that Tom Brady could shake up the Raiders as a part owner. Let's see whatcha got, Tommy Boy!
Derek Carr refused a contract renegotiation & pay cut, essentially daring the Saints to cut him and eat the dead money.
That's what contracts are for.
CAL
[MBB] ACC Action Returns To Haas
https://calbears.com/news/2025/1/7/mens-basketball-acc-action-returns-to-haas.aspx
BERKELEY – The California men's basketball team plays its first home game in more than three weeks when it welcomes Virginia to Haas Pavilion on Wednesday night. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. PT and ESPNU will televise the ACC contest.
The Golden Bears (7-7, 0-3 ACC) are still seeking their first conference win after dropping an early season contest to Stanford on Dec. 7, followed by losses at Pitt and Clemson last week. Virginia (8-6, 1-2) notched its first ACC victory against NC State on New Year's Eve but is coming off a 70-50 home loss to Louisville last Saturday.
I'm going with No 2 to the Sat game.
2 games in person in less than a week. that is pretty good.
And 3000 miles apart!
[FB] Bears Earn Academic All-District Honors
https://calbears.com/news/2025/1/7/football-bears-earn-academic-all-district-honors.aspx
Three California football players were named to the 2024 Academic All-District Team, College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced Tuesday morning.
Hunter Barth, Aidan Keanaaina and Craig Woodson were recognized for their performances on the football field and in the classroom.
[SB] 2 Bears Receive Softball America Preseason Honors
https://calbears.com/news/2025/1/7/2-Bears-Receive-Softball-America-Preseason-Honors.aspx
Two California softball student-athletes earned Softball America Preseason All-American team honors, announced Tuesday morning.
Senior Acacia Anders and Junior Elon Butler earned second-team recognition after being listed on Softball America's 2025 Preseason Top 100 list Monday. Butler was listed at No. 29, while Anders followed closely behind at No. 33.
[MGYM] Season Preview: Men’s Gymnastics
https://calbears.com/news/2025/1/6/mens-gymnastics-season-preview-mens-gymnastics.aspx
The California men's gymnastics team will enter the 2025 season with high hopes for another standout season after a record-setting 2024. This year, the changes will encompass much more than the annual roster turnover, as the NCAA has introduced several rule alterations to the sport.
Nick Rolovich loses round one. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6044509/2025/01/07/nick-rolovich-washington-state-lawsuit-firing/
After road split women drop from 20th to #24 (not too shabby). They face #21 NC State at Haas Thursday. If you live in the area I expect to see you there.
Cal had a bunch of change yesterday. In: an "edge" OLB in the mold of Xavier Carlton via Jayden Wayne, the giant lineman Jordan Moko, a punter, and an apparent walk-on QB to replace either Belay Brummel and/or Andrew Maushardt. Highschooler Justin Hasenhuetl has set his commitment for Saturday and crystal balls have him going to Cal.
Out: Lu Magia Hearns (declared for draft, but he's probably out of football), Chandler Rogers
Go Bears!!!
POLITICS
Jean-Marie Le Pen - OG French far right-wing politician and father of Marine Le Pen - dies. One fewer fascist in the world. Rest in Piss.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/former-french-far-right-leader-jean-marie-le-pen-dies-aged-96-media-reports-2025-01-07/
Probably the best thing that could be said about him was that he dressed well, judging by the picture in the Reuters article.
Otherwise, he seems to have had a twisted sense of history and the human race.
DBD AV CLUB
The War of the Rohirrim (17/19)
latest installment of LOTR stuff that is out there telling the story of Rohan from 200 yrs before the events of Sam and Frodo - animated
it even passes the Bechdel test - a tool used to evaluate the representation of women in movies and other fiction - probably unlike any of the LOTR movies.
The test has three rules:
The film must have at least two female characters
The two female characters must talk to each other
The two female characters must talk about something other than a man
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
Seven Wonders
these seem sometimes hotly debated and sometimes they are the same.
Seven "Modern Wonders" (civil engineering):
-The Chunnel (English Channel)
-CN Tower (Toronto)
-Empire State Building (New York)
-Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco)
-Itaipu Dam (Brazil/Paraguay)
-Panama Canal
-Delta & Zuiderzee Works (series of dikes and dams in the Netherlands)
I would've thought Hoover Dam would be on there.
Seven Natural Wonders of the World are:
Aurora Borealis: Also known as the Northern Lights, this natural light display in the polar regions is caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with Earth's atmosphere.
Grand Canyon: Located in Arizona, United States.
Great Barrier Reef: Located off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
Harbor of Rio de Janeiro: Located in Brazil, this is the world's largest natural bay by volume.
Mount Everest: Located on the border of Nepal and China, this is the highest point on earth.
Parícutin volcano: Located in the state of Michoacán, Mexico.
Victoria Falls: Located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
been to/seen 3.
New _ of the World
The Colosseum in Italy,
Petra in Jordan,
Chichén Itzá in Mexico,
Christ the Redeemer in Brazil,
Machu Picchu in Peru,
Taj Mahal in India
The Great Wall of China.
been to 4.
If memory serves, this list was brought about because "the Ancient Wonders of the World" was a big deal in mid-century. Many of the places on this list were erroneously included as Ancient Wonder and people realized it was a tourism marketing opportunity.
of the ones i have been to, i would put Machu Picchu as the most memorable
have not been to Colosseum, Petra, or the Great Wall though.
I've been to six of the seven. I still have yet to see Christ the Redeemer.
i was lucky to spend 6 months in Rio as a kid, we lived on the beach in a hotel. it was pretty fantastic for being 6 yrs old.
we saw the Redeemer as well as a futbol game at Maracana Stadium.
_ of the Ancient World
The classic Seven Wonders were:
Great Pyramid of Giza, in Giza, Egypt, the earliest of the wonders to be completed, as well as the only one that still exists in the present day.
Colossus of Rhodes, in the harbor of the city of Rhodes, on the Greek island of the same name.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon, in Babylon, near present-day Hillah, Babylon Governorate, Iraq; or Nineveh, Mosul, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq.
Lighthouse of Alexandria, in Alexandria, Egypt.
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, in Halicarnassus, a city of the Achaemenid Empire in present-day Turkey.
Statue of Zeus at Olympia, in Olympia, Greece.
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, in the city of Ephesus, near present-day Selçuk, Turkey.
been to NONE!
Colossus, Hanging Gardens, Lighthouse, a statue of Zeus no longer exist. I have seen the other three in person. The Mausoleum was disassembled and reassembled in the London Museum. The Temple of Artemis has been reduced to only a few columns, fragments, and the foundation where you can see the layout. The Temple of Artemis is actually really close to where the Mausoleum was.
I remember visiting the London Museum and they were renovating the Mausoleum. They had blocked off the room with large panels, but there was a little bit of room where you could peek around the panels. I remember looking at it for a while, then another gentleman came up behind me. I made room so he could see.
"What's this?" he said to himself.
"Oh it's..." I started to respond to him, but he had already peeked, wheeled around, and was already walking away. "... nothing, only just an Ancient Wonder of the World" I said to myself.
well that is pretty much 100%. impressive