i was going to take the day off for skiing in VT this weekend. that is not happening anymore. lets hope that the inn in VT can re-book the room i cancelled so they dont charge me one night's stay for a late cancellation.
there is some chance that HAG child #1 stops by to see us this weekend.
Oh right, he and his GF have to move out so that his landlord can get the lead paint from their windows removed. Which I always thought was weird, since you can paint over lead paint. And as long as you don't chew it it isn't too bad.
I think this one hurts because my favorite cousin-in-law also just announced that she is not fighting her third bought against cancer. Screw you, cancer.
Tehran on AppleTV…finished S2 - interesting, and timely…I have thought of modifying my summer road trip and rather than driving CA - NY with the pup, I instead fly to Israel and road trip from Jersulaem to Tehran…21 hour drive according to Google Maps…what could go wrong?
BERKELEY – The California baseball team did not disappoint the home crowd in its first game at Stu Gordon Stadium. The Bears' pitching staff overpowered visiting BYU striking out 13, while the offense scored early and in bunches as the Golden Bears defeated visiting BYU 8-0 on Wednesday evening.
We were there last night. It's been great to see consistent pitching to start the year with good to solid coaching (ie no letting struggling pitchers go too long or pulling one whose rolling). The bats are there so that's less of a worry.
If pitching can maintain quality innings, this team could be CWS bound. Lomavita and RJ are special players in the field and at the plate., though RJ seems to swing for the fences every at bat and strikes out a lot.
The No. 6 California women's water polo team takes a 6-1 start to the season into this weekend's Barbara Kalbus Invitational in Irvine. The Golden Bears kick things off against No. 13 UC San Diego on Friday at 5 p.m. PT in the final game of the day. With a win, Cal will face the winner of No. 3 Fresno State and Biola on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. at Corona del Mar High School. The Bears are coming off an 11-5 win at No. 13 UC Davis – their third over the Aggies this season. It was also the third time Cal's defense has allowed five goals or fewer through seven games, giving the Bears an MPSF-leading 6.1 goals allowed per contest thus far.
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii – The No. 19 California women's golf team closed out the Pac-12 Preview on Wednesday at Nanea Golf Club in ninth place with a team score of 34-over-par 910.
For the third time during her freshman season, Constance Fouillet (71-74-78) finished as the Golden Bears' low scorer, carding a 4-over 223 after 54 holes. She finished in a tie for 21st place individually.
The California women's basketball team (15-11, 5-9 Pac-12) will look to avenge its loss from earlier this season to Arizona State (11-15, 3-11) when it hosts the Sun Devils on Friday at 7 p.m. PT at Haas Pavilion. The Bears will look to avoid a season sweep by Arizona State, which has not happened since the 2017-18 season.
California track & field will compete in its last regular-season indoor meet of the 2024 season this weekend, traveling north to Seattle for the Ken Shannon Invitational on Friday-Saturday. With five athletes currently in the national top-25 rankings for their respective events and a total of 17 program top-10 marks set this season, the Golden Bears are sending their best to Washington's Dempsey Indoor in hopes of putting more athletes into contention for the NCAA Indoor Championships in two weeks.
CAL STARTS FIVE-GAME HOMESTAND FRIDAY AGAINST LINDENWOOD
— Cal and Lindenwood are meeting for the second time in school history with the Lions returning a visit the Golden Bears made to St. Charles, Mo., last season when Cal was a 17-9 winner in both the debut of now second-year head coach Jennifer Wong and the first Division I game for Lindenwood.
BERKELEY – The California men's basketball team will host Oregon State on Thursday night on the front end of its final 2023-24 regular-season homestand. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. PST inside Haas Pavilion, and the contest will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
Players can now start opting in to EA College Football '25 for NIL. Up to 85 players can be added. Sorry, walk-ons. Goodbye to everybody's dream of quarterbacking Belay Brummel to lead the Cal Golden Bears to a Natty have been dashed.
You’re basically gonna have the champs of the ACC, B12 and the G5, plus maybe a Notre Dame, and then ALL SEC and Big 10. Fun stuff…can’t wait to see f-ing Iowa in the Playoff when they somehow win 10 by avoiding having to play Michigan/Ohio St./USC/UW/UO.
I submit that the system has been broken ever since there was a move away from bowl games with the advent of the BCS.
The bowl game system was fine, but the pursuit of ever more dollars dictated a playoff system or at least a designated matchup, which is what the BCS attempted to provide. That the field expanded was a predictable outcome.
Why stop at 14? Make it an even 16. No wait, those 17th, 18th, 19th ranked teams are going to be pissed. Do like basketball and make it a 68 team field. Hell, just make the whole season a playoff for the national title.
I have a friend from grad school who worked out (on a bar napkin, which gives you some idea of how this came up) that you could actually have an all-FBS single elimination tournament over the course of a typical season and just have teams play conference opponents after they got eliminated. Wouldn't happen for any of a number of reasons but would be very entertaining.
i would argue that ... it used to be the case that the whole season was a playoff for the national title and that was the BEST thing about college football.
it was chaotic and subjective, and yet so much more fun.
now there is so much discussion of who is deserving and who had a not-so-bad late season loss, or non-conference champions still being in the mix of the national title, etc etc
Iceland has some of the most notable public bathrooms at certain vistas. At these places, the restrooms will have a glass wall - so you can look at a glacier, or a black sand beach, or a giant waterfall as you tinkle. And like anything else in Iceland, they're not cheap so turnstile hopping is common.
Thingvellir is famous for the fact that it is at the intersection of 2 continental plates, the North American and the Eurasian plates run into each other here.
the best little outhouse with the nicest view .. in Sweden. it is a short 1 min walk from my cousin's summer house off the coast in northern Sweden. in the summer time, even at 400a, there is plenty of light so you can find your way and back pretty easily.
The men's room at the Museum 21C hotel/restaurant in Louisville has a urinal wall that faces a hallway. It has a 2 way mirror where the urinals look out and the hallway looks like a mirror. The inside basically is a waterfall where you pee onto the bottom half and the top half you look out.
Yeah there is a bunch of modern art at the museum. There is some weird stuff there. My sister wanted to visit when she was here since I think she knew an artist that had a piece there.
REST
Speaking of rest, I'm on PTO tomorrow. So post away.
i was going to take the day off for skiing in VT this weekend. that is not happening anymore. lets hope that the inn in VT can re-book the room i cancelled so they dont charge me one night's stay for a late cancellation.
there is some chance that HAG child #1 stops by to see us this weekend.
Oh right, he and his GF have to move out so that his landlord can get the lead paint from their windows removed. Which I always thought was weird, since you can paint over lead paint. And as long as you don't chew it it isn't too bad.
PRO
A topic outta nowhere: The Jump Ball
https://www.theringer.com/nba/2024/2/21/24074472/jump-ball-rules-strategy-chicanery-history
People are complaining about the new Fanatics MLB apparel
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/mlb-fanatics-see-through-pants-controversy-uniforms-jerseys/6628e33172fc02fba94a4431
i use that site quite a bit, but avoid their own Fanatics brand like the plague, after getting several dogshit quality shirts from them.
I do try to avoid all Fanatics labeled apparel. Unfortunately that was the majority of the stuff being sold after the Dodgers won in 20.
Olympic ice skating legend Scott Hamilton will not fight his third bought of brain cancer.
https://people.com/scott-hamilton-is-choosing-not-to-treat-his-third-brain-tumor-exclusive-8597755
I think this one hurts because my favorite cousin-in-law also just announced that she is not fighting her third bought against cancer. Screw you, cancer.
That is tough. So sorry about your cousin.
BASEBALL!! Dodgers score 8 in top of first against the Pads.
[POLITICAL STUFF HERE]
My my my, if it isn't the consequences of my own actions
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/22/ivf-ruling-embryos-alabama-00142625
DBD AV CLUB
Tehran on AppleTV…finished S2 - interesting, and timely…I have thought of modifying my summer road trip and rather than driving CA - NY with the pup, I instead fly to Israel and road trip from Jersulaem to Tehran…21 hour drive according to Google Maps…what could go wrong?
It was great! Hoping for another season.
Subscribed to F1 tv. Found a 15% discount code on a youtube channel whose video I was watching about day 1 of testing
s3e1 .. The Bad Batch (Disney) 12/19
generally i really like this series despite the complaints about Omega's whiny voice. first episode off to a slow start ..
CAL
Go Bears!!!
[BASE] Pitching Overpowers BYU
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/21/baseball-pitching-overpowers-byu.aspx
BERKELEY – The California baseball team did not disappoint the home crowd in its first game at Stu Gordon Stadium. The Bears' pitching staff overpowered visiting BYU striking out 13, while the offense scored early and in bunches as the Golden Bears defeated visiting BYU 8-0 on Wednesday evening.
We were there last night. It's been great to see consistent pitching to start the year with good to solid coaching (ie no letting struggling pitchers go too long or pulling one whose rolling). The bats are there so that's less of a worry.
If this team can get consistent outings, things could get interesting.
If pitching can maintain quality innings, this team could be CWS bound. Lomavita and RJ are special players in the field and at the plate., though RJ seems to swing for the fences every at bat and strikes out a lot.
[WPOLO] Cal Opens Barbara Kalbus Invitational Against UCSD
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/21/womens-water-polo-cal-opens-barbara-kalbus-invitational-against-ucsd.aspx
The No. 6 California women's water polo team takes a 6-1 start to the season into this weekend's Barbara Kalbus Invitational in Irvine. The Golden Bears kick things off against No. 13 UC San Diego on Friday at 5 p.m. PT in the final game of the day. With a win, Cal will face the winner of No. 3 Fresno State and Biola on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. at Corona del Mar High School. The Bears are coming off an 11-5 win at No. 13 UC Davis – their third over the Aggies this season. It was also the third time Cal's defense has allowed five goals or fewer through seven games, giving the Bears an MPSF-leading 6.1 goals allowed per contest thus far.
[WGOLF] Bears Close Out Pac-12 Preview
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/21/womens-golf-bears-close-out-pac-12-preview.aspx
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii – The No. 19 California women's golf team closed out the Pac-12 Preview on Wednesday at Nanea Golf Club in ninth place with a team score of 34-over-par 910.
For the third time during her freshman season, Constance Fouillet (71-74-78) finished as the Golden Bears' low scorer, carding a 4-over 223 after 54 holes. She finished in a tie for 21st place individually.
[WBB] Bears Set To Host Arizona State
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/21/womens-basketball-bears-set-to-host-arizona-statecal-looks-to-split-season-series.aspx
The California women's basketball team (15-11, 5-9 Pac-12) will look to avenge its loss from earlier this season to Arizona State (11-15, 3-11) when it hosts the Sun Devils on Friday at 7 p.m. PT at Haas Pavilion. The Bears will look to avoid a season sweep by Arizona State, which has not happened since the 2017-18 season.
[T&F] Bears Head To Seattle For Indoor Regular Season Finale
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/21/track-field-bears-head-to-seattle-for-indoor-regular-season-finale.aspx
California track & field will compete in its last regular-season indoor meet of the 2024 season this weekend, traveling north to Seattle for the Ken Shannon Invitational on Friday-Saturday. With five athletes currently in the national top-25 rankings for their respective events and a total of 17 program top-10 marks set this season, the Golden Bears are sending their best to Washington's Dempsey Indoor in hopes of putting more athletes into contention for the NCAA Indoor Championships in two weeks.
[LAX] Cal Starts Five-Game Homestand Against Lindenwood
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/21/lacrosse-cal-starts-five-game-homestand-against-lindenwood.aspx
CAL STARTS FIVE-GAME HOMESTAND FRIDAY AGAINST LINDENWOOD
— Cal and Lindenwood are meeting for the second time in school history with the Lions returning a visit the Golden Bears made to St. Charles, Mo., last season when Cal was a 17-9 winner in both the debut of now second-year head coach Jennifer Wong and the first Division I game for Lindenwood.
[MBB] Bears Open Final Homestand Of Season Against Beavers
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/21/mens-basketball-bears-open-final-homestand-of-season-against-beavers.aspx
BERKELEY – The California men's basketball team will host Oregon State on Thursday night on the front end of its final 2023-24 regular-season homestand. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. PST inside Haas Pavilion, and the contest will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
USC's Caleb Williams will try the draft agentless
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/caleb-williams-enters-the-nfl-without-an-agent
that's an interesting approach (wtf is he thinking)
preserves his ability to jump back to play in college if draft results not to his liking, no?
in theory, yes. But as the #1 QB on almost everyone's list, why would he? Plus he should have already been graded.
He could end up with the Commanders which would make me rethink going pro.
Players can now start opting in to EA College Football '25 for NIL. Up to 85 players can be added. Sorry, walk-ons. Goodbye to everybody's dream of quarterbacking Belay Brummel to lead the Cal Golden Bears to a Natty have been dashed.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/39574788/players-opting-ea-sports-college-football-25-get-600
CFP already discussing what a 14 team playoff. How many teams are in the SEC and B1G? Let's stop pretending and cut to the chase. Except you, Vandy.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/39572477/cfp-officials-discuss-expanding-14-team-playoff-2026
You’re basically gonna have the champs of the ACC, B12 and the G5, plus maybe a Notre Dame, and then ALL SEC and Big 10. Fun stuff…can’t wait to see f-ing Iowa in the Playoff when they somehow win 10 by avoiding having to play Michigan/Ohio St./USC/UW/UO.
This system is broken.
Yes, yes it is.
I submit that the system has been broken ever since there was a move away from bowl games with the advent of the BCS.
The bowl game system was fine, but the pursuit of ever more dollars dictated a playoff system or at least a designated matchup, which is what the BCS attempted to provide. That the field expanded was a predictable outcome.
Why stop at 14? Make it an even 16. No wait, those 17th, 18th, 19th ranked teams are going to be pissed. Do like basketball and make it a 68 team field. Hell, just make the whole season a playoff for the national title.
Prediction: Somebody is going to try to do a mid-season Bowl Game to see if they can squeeze more money out of people.
I have a friend from grad school who worked out (on a bar napkin, which gives you some idea of how this came up) that you could actually have an all-FBS single elimination tournament over the course of a typical season and just have teams play conference opponents after they got eliminated. Wouldn't happen for any of a number of reasons but would be very entertaining.
i would argue that ... it used to be the case that the whole season was a playoff for the national title and that was the BEST thing about college football.
it was chaotic and subjective, and yet so much more fun.
now there is so much discussion of who is deserving and who had a not-so-bad late season loss, or non-conference champions still being in the mix of the national title, etc etc
wish I'd seen this before I posted the single elimination idea above, it would have been better as a reply here.
Notable Bathrooms
Iceland has some of the most notable public bathrooms at certain vistas. At these places, the restrooms will have a glass wall - so you can look at a glacier, or a black sand beach, or a giant waterfall as you tinkle. And like anything else in Iceland, they're not cheap so turnstile hopping is common.
not cheap meaning you have to pay to use the bathrooms?
we went to Thingvellir National Park and the public bathroom was indeed like that.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/399483429444790666/
Thingvellir is famous for the fact that it is at the intersection of 2 continental plates, the North American and the Eurasian plates run into each other here.
https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/jorunnsg/ingvellir-national-park
Madonna Inn, near SLO. Still there? I recall seeing it in the movie Aria (Aida?). 10 opera-themed mini-movies. Buck Henry was in one.
What about restrooms at Cal?
These guys did an interesting survey. But the emphasis is more on privacy than nice view.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwinhK2uur-EAxUOOTQIHXcAAcQQtwJ6BAhBEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DKvumFXyARQY&usg=AOvVaw3FB8YnmDp88aPWKNlRdmpy&opi=89978449
Henry's and their red furd urinal
the best little outhouse with the nicest view .. in Sweden. it is a short 1 min walk from my cousin's summer house off the coast in northern Sweden. in the summer time, even at 400a, there is plenty of light so you can find your way and back pretty easily.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MEvKHhv8rkt9PVik8
i made a little map drawing so you can sort of see where it is
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Rugdv2YyZnanA2SA7
The men's room at the Museum 21C hotel/restaurant in Louisville has a urinal wall that faces a hallway. It has a 2 way mirror where the urinals look out and the hallway looks like a mirror. The inside basically is a waterfall where you pee onto the bottom half and the top half you look out.
Ha, this was a tour item while visiting a friend in Louisville- first place I thought of at the question.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g39604-d601490-i17289407-21c_Museum_Hotel_Louisville-Louisville_Kentucky.html
After you're done peeing, you can go see a paper mâché General Nguyễn blow out the brains of paper mâché Vietcong Nguyễn Văn Lém (see next slide)
Yeah there is a bunch of modern art at the museum. There is some weird stuff there. My sister wanted to visit when she was here since I think she knew an artist that had a piece there.
womens bathroom in Hancock Tower in Chicago overlooking Michigan Ave. i have not been, but i hear it is the best view in Chiacago.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/robhurson/10584251483