"While the 14-team playoff format is just now coming into effect, the College Football Playoff could soon see another change. The committee is looking at a potential 16-team format. This would see the Big Ten and SEC -- arguably the two best conferences in college football -- each get three automatic bids. The Big 12 and ACC would each get two automatic bids, with one Group of Five teams getting a bid. From there, the three highest-ranked programs would then get into the playoffs."
Leaving aside the open greediness of the Big Ten and SEC, the idea of tying automatic playoff bids to specific named conferences seems incredibly stupid to me. We've all seen just how much these conferences can get altered in very short time frames! What if the Pac-12 had this kind of auto-bid applied before it got whittled down to 2 members? How dumb would that be?
Say what you will about the 12-team format, but they were smart to just make it the five highest-ranked conference champions. Sure, it's almost always going to be the Power 4 + one G5, but it's not specified because conference strength can change over time.
Walgreens and CVS said Friday that they are preparing to dispense the abortion pill mifepristone in states where it is legally allowed, starting as soon as next week.
Walgreens said it has completed the Food and Drug Administration’s certification process to sell mifepristone and expects to do so within a week. “We are beginning a phase rollout in select locations to ensure quality, safety and privacy for our patients, providers and team members,” the company said.
CVS said it is “working with manufacturers and suppliers to secure the medication and are not yet dispensing it in any of our pharmacies,” adding that it will begin filling prescriptions for the drug in Massachusetts and Rhode Island “in the weeks ahead and will expand to additional states, where allowed by law, on a rolling basis.”
Probably just a ham sammy on homemade sourdough baguette with Laughing Cow cheese.
My sister and her BIL got me an Emile Henry Baguette maker for Chistmas a couple of years ago. It seems like it's enameled and I'm supposed to flour it before putting the dough in it. The problem is it sticks to the bottom so I end up ripping the crust trying to take it out. Gotta figure out how to fix that if I want baguettes. Otherwise I just use a large dutch oven and make a batard shaped loaf.
A special election to fill the vacant City Council seat representing downtown Berkeley will be held on May 28 — well after many of the district’s student residents leave for summer break.
The City Council voted unanimously to set the election date Thursday over the objections of student advocates, who argued it would stifle turnout by young people who are likely to move out of the district temporarily after UC Berkeley’s spring semester ends May 10.
City officials said it wouldn’t be feasible to set an earlier date for the election in Council District 4. They noted mail ballots will be sent to the district’s voters starting April 29, giving students an opportunity to cast their votes before the semester ends.
The election was prompted by the unexpected resignation of Councilmember Kate Harrison, who held office from 2017 until she stepped down less than halfway through her second term. Harrison’s final day of work was last Friday.
In my regular rotation are an Arsenal cap, Cal cap. SF Giants cap, Finland cap and one I got at the Auguste Rodin museum in Paris last Spring which has "there is Beaty everywhere" in French on it. I have a ton of others in the back of my closet. I wish I had a dollar for every cap I've ever owned.
Since working from home, I don't wear hats as often as I used to. I have a few hats that I rotate through when I do wear them. I have lots more, most of which are just gathering dust.
I regularly wear my Ebbets Field Flannels Cal hat, I have a faded Cal hat that I got the summer before the Tennessee away game, an old UNC hat, and a Dodgers hat.
Warriors started big, held the lead, and didn't give it up in the 4th. Hopefully 2 way Wiggs comes back because they need him to go far in the playoffs.
This morning's Chronicle says the forecasted rate of snowfall for this storm will be anywhere from 2 to 3 inches for 48 to 72 hours, all of which seems unbelievable to me. The range of accumulation is anywhere from 96 inches (8 feet) to 216 inches (18 feet) over a 2 to 3 day period.
I saw the snow cam and it looks like Northstar has about 5 lifts open and there are some adventurous people out there. Looks like none of the Heavenly also has just a handful of lifts open, none at the top of the mountain.
Heavenly sits at a higher elevation, does it not? May be white out conditions up on the mountain, which would make it dangerous. White out also implies high winds, which would be bad enough.
Maybe. Yeah it looks like the top of Heavenly is about 1500 higher than the top of Northstar. Also I think that the Ca side of Heavenly faces north so wind from the west sweeps across the face, whereas the face of Northstar I think faces NE so the mountain shields some of the face.
I'm not going up to ski until the last week in March. Taking No 3 up for his spring break. Going to get him two morning lessons and then ski with him in the afternoon. 2nd time up ffor him so we'll see how it goes.
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - The California women's swimming & diving team extended its lead at the 2024 Pac-12 Championships on Thursday, piling up points with three finalists in both freestyle events - including a pair of runner-up finishes at Weyerhaueser King County Aquatic Center.
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – Two divers from the California men's swimming & diving team advanced to the finals of the 3-meter dive on the second day of the Pac-12 Diving Championships Wednesday at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
Sophomore Joshua Thai took sixth for the second-consecutive event, finishing with a score of 351.05. Thai finished the prelims in third with a score of 362.00.
EUGENE, Ore. – The California women's basketball team displayed poise under pressure overcoming a six-point deficit with just five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to claim victory against Oregon, 62-59, Friday night at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon. The win gave the Golden Bears (17-12, 7-10 Pac-12) their first season sweep against the Ducks (11-19, 2-15) since the 2012-13 season and their first road victory in the series since Feb. 24, 2017.
BERKELEY, Calif. – Kennedy Goss scored a career-high four goals but her performance was not enough for the California lacrosse team in a 10-8 loss Thursday to St. Bonaventure (2-3). The Bonnies scored four straight goals spanning the end of the third and beginning of the fourth periods to snap a 5-5 tie and held on for a two-goal victory in the nonconference NCAA lacrosse contest played in wet conditions at California Memorial Stadium.
BERKELEY – The California men's tennis team heads to La Jolla to compete in the annual Pacific Coast Men's Doubles Championship from Friday through Sunday and to face UC San Diego on Sunday.
BERKELEY – Due to forecasted inclement weather at Stanford, Friday's neutral site softball game at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium between No. 20 California and No. 3/5 Georgia has been moved from Noon to 10 a.m.
The Saturday and Sunday DeMarini Invitational schedule currently remains unchanged at this time.
CHARLOTTE – The Atlantic Coast Conference today released the home and away conference opponents for the upcoming 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. Dates, times and television selections will be announced at a later date. The California women's basketball team will play nine home and nine road games during ACC play in each of the upcoming two seasons.
BERKELEY – The California men's tennis team has signed China native Qian Sun, who will join the Golden Bears immediately, Cal's Peter Wright Director of Men's Tennis Kris Kwinta announced Thursday.
BERKELEY – Road trips to traditional powerhouses Duke and North Carolina highlight California's list of home and away conference opponents for its inaugural men's basketball season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as announced during the ACC Network's ACC PM program on Thursday.
BERKELEY – Following a nearly perfect opening weekend in which it won 40 out of 41 sets, the California beach volleyball team gets its first taste of top competition this weekend in the Battle For L.A. co-hosted by UCLA and Loyola Marymount at Mapes Beach. The Golden Bears (4-0) earned as high as a No. 6 national ranking (TruVolley) following its quartet of 5-0 sweeps last weekend at home.
BERKELEY – Coming off of back-to-back Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championships, the California men's rowing team will begin the 2024 season at the Las Vegas Invitational, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada.
BERKELEY – California rugby closes out its four-game road swing this week with a trip to the east coast to face Army West Point on Saturday. The Golden Bears and the Black Knights will kick off at Warrior Field at the Anderson Rugby Complex in West Point, N. Y., at noon EST. The contest will be aired live on The Rugby Network as the collegiate "Match of the Week."
OSKI DISCIPLE’S TRIVA FUN, A DAILY DBD FEATURE
The Battle of Gettysburg was delayed when a collie ran out on the battlefield.
(All trivia verified by the International Trivia Foundation.)
What if the collie was just trying to keep each side on their side of the Border?
Would only work if it was a Border collie, vs, say, a Standard or Rough collie.
HEY ALUMNI GO...birthday!
Thanks tbb!
Many happy returns!
Thanks OD
Happy Birthday, HAG!
Thanks FS
College
Not sure exactly who is floating this, but proposals for a 14-team football playoff are circulating:
https://www.mensjournal.com/pursuits/on-campus/more-details-emerge-on-potential-14-team-college-football-playoff-model
"While the 14-team playoff format is just now coming into effect, the College Football Playoff could soon see another change. The committee is looking at a potential 16-team format. This would see the Big Ten and SEC -- arguably the two best conferences in college football -- each get three automatic bids. The Big 12 and ACC would each get two automatic bids, with one Group of Five teams getting a bid. From there, the three highest-ranked programs would then get into the playoffs."
Leaving aside the open greediness of the Big Ten and SEC, the idea of tying automatic playoff bids to specific named conferences seems incredibly stupid to me. We've all seen just how much these conferences can get altered in very short time frames! What if the Pac-12 had this kind of auto-bid applied before it got whittled down to 2 members? How dumb would that be?
Say what you will about the 12-team format, but they were smart to just make it the five highest-ranked conference champions. Sure, it's almost always going to be the Power 4 + one G5, but it's not specified because conference strength can change over time.
What, make qualifying a measurable qualification criteria matter? Pretty progressive thinking there!
Business decisions
Walgreens, CVS to begin selling abortion pill mifepristone in some states
From WaPo - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/03/01/abortion-pill-cvs-walgreens-mifepristone/
Walgreens and CVS said Friday that they are preparing to dispense the abortion pill mifepristone in states where it is legally allowed, starting as soon as next week.
Walgreens said it has completed the Food and Drug Administration’s certification process to sell mifepristone and expects to do so within a week. “We are beginning a phase rollout in select locations to ensure quality, safety and privacy for our patients, providers and team members,” the company said.
CVS said it is “working with manufacturers and suppliers to secure the medication and are not yet dispensing it in any of our pharmacies,” adding that it will begin filling prescriptions for the drug in Massachusetts and Rhode Island “in the weeks ahead and will expand to additional states, where allowed by law, on a rolling basis.”
DBD Lunch
Ramen noodles & broth. Warm and tasty on a snowy day.
Whatever the missus has waiting for me when I get home from teaching my morning class.
None.
Probably just a ham sammy on homemade sourdough baguette with Laughing Cow cheese.
My sister and her BIL got me an Emile Henry Baguette maker for Chistmas a couple of years ago. It seems like it's enameled and I'm supposed to flour it before putting the dough in it. The problem is it sticks to the bottom so I end up ripping the crust trying to take it out. Gotta figure out how to fix that if I want baguettes. Otherwise I just use a large dutch oven and make a batard shaped loaf.
any my BIL
dammit...
and my BIL
DBD AV Club
Government stuff
Special election for vacant downtown City Council seat set for May 28
Election Day in the district where thousands of students live will be more than two weeks into UC Berkeley’s summer break.
From Berkeleyside.org - https://www.berkeleyside.org/2024/02/29/berkeley-city-council-special-election-date-kate-harrison
A special election to fill the vacant City Council seat representing downtown Berkeley will be held on May 28 — well after many of the district’s student residents leave for summer break.
The City Council voted unanimously to set the election date Thursday over the objections of student advocates, who argued it would stifle turnout by young people who are likely to move out of the district temporarily after UC Berkeley’s spring semester ends May 10.
City officials said it wouldn’t be feasible to set an earlier date for the election in Council District 4. They noted mail ballots will be sent to the district’s voters starting April 29, giving students an opportunity to cast their votes before the semester ends.
The election was prompted by the unexpected resignation of Councilmember Kate Harrison, who held office from 2017 until she stepped down less than halfway through her second term. Harrison’s final day of work was last Friday.
https://twitter.com/JoJoFromJerz/status/1762924702375301191
Jo
@JoJoFromJerz
If only Donald Trump were a real billionaire like Taylor Swift he’d be able to pay his NY business fraud bond.
Hats
Urine samples
Men without -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM4okRvCg2g
In my regular rotation are an Arsenal cap, Cal cap. SF Giants cap, Finland cap and one I got at the Auguste Rodin museum in Paris last Spring which has "there is Beaty everywhere" in French on it. I have a ton of others in the back of my closet. I wish I had a dollar for every cap I've ever owned.
Since working from home, I don't wear hats as often as I used to. I have a few hats that I rotate through when I do wear them. I have lots more, most of which are just gathering dust.
I regularly wear my Ebbets Field Flannels Cal hat, I have a faded Cal hat that I got the summer before the Tennessee away game, an old UNC hat, and a Dodgers hat.
Pro
Warriors started big, held the lead, and didn't give it up in the 4th. Hopefully 2 way Wiggs comes back because they need him to go far in the playoffs.
Lots on snow in Truckee today.
Weather Channel has aired regular reports from Truckee and one from Soda Springs.
This morning's Chronicle says the forecasted rate of snowfall for this storm will be anywhere from 2 to 3 inches for 48 to 72 hours, all of which seems unbelievable to me. The range of accumulation is anywhere from 96 inches (8 feet) to 216 inches (18 feet) over a 2 to 3 day period.
That's a lot of snow.
I saw the snow cam and it looks like Northstar has about 5 lifts open and there are some adventurous people out there. Looks like none of the Heavenly also has just a handful of lifts open, none at the top of the mountain.
Heavenly sits at a higher elevation, does it not? May be white out conditions up on the mountain, which would make it dangerous. White out also implies high winds, which would be bad enough.
Maybe. Yeah it looks like the top of Heavenly is about 1500 higher than the top of Northstar. Also I think that the Ca side of Heavenly faces north so wind from the west sweeps across the face, whereas the face of Northstar I think faces NE so the mountain shields some of the face.
I'm not going up to ski until the last week in March. Taking No 3 up for his spring break. Going to get him two morning lessons and then ski with him in the afternoon. 2nd time up ffor him so we'll see how it goes.
CAL
[WSWIM] Bears Extend Lead At Pac-12 Championships
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/womens-swimming-diving-bears-extend-lead-at-pac-12-championships.aspx
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - The California women's swimming & diving team extended its lead at the 2024 Pac-12 Championships on Thursday, piling up points with three finalists in both freestyle events - including a pair of runner-up finishes at Weyerhaueser King County Aquatic Center.
[MSWIM] Two Bears Advance To Finals Of 3-Meter Dive
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/mens-swimming-diving-two-bears-advance-to-finals-of-3-meter-dive.aspx
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – Two divers from the California men's swimming & diving team advanced to the finals of the 3-meter dive on the second day of the Pac-12 Diving Championships Wednesday at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
Sophomore Joshua Thai took sixth for the second-consecutive event, finishing with a score of 351.05. Thai finished the prelims in third with a score of 362.00.
Women's basketball team edged Oregon in Eugene last night, 62-59 in their penultimate regular season game. The Bears are now 17-12 overall and 7-10 in conference. The Bears take on OSU tomorrow at noon. Ioanna Krimili led the Bears with 21 points. https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/womens-basketball-cal-earns-gritty-win-at-oregon.aspx
[WBB] Cal Earns Gritty Win At Oregon
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/womens-basketball-cal-earns-gritty-win-at-oregon.aspx
EUGENE, Ore. – The California women's basketball team displayed poise under pressure overcoming a six-point deficit with just five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to claim victory against Oregon, 62-59, Friday night at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon. The win gave the Golden Bears (17-12, 7-10 Pac-12) their first season sweep against the Ducks (11-19, 2-15) since the 2012-13 season and their first road victory in the series since Feb. 24, 2017.
Go Bears!!!
[LAX] Cal Falls 10-8 To St. Bonaventure
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/lacrosse-cal-falls-10-8-to-st-bonaventure.aspx
BERKELEY, Calif. – Kennedy Goss scored a career-high four goals but her performance was not enough for the California lacrosse team in a 10-8 loss Thursday to St. Bonaventure (2-3). The Bonnies scored four straight goals spanning the end of the third and beginning of the fourth periods to snap a 5-5 tie and held on for a two-goal victory in the nonconference NCAA lacrosse contest played in wet conditions at California Memorial Stadium.
[MTEN] Bears Play Pacific Coast Doubles, UCSD In La Jolla
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/mens-tennis-bears-play-pacific-coast-doubles-ucsd-in-la-jolla.aspx
BERKELEY – The California men's tennis team heads to La Jolla to compete in the annual Pacific Coast Men's Doubles Championship from Friday through Sunday and to face UC San Diego on Sunday.
[SB] Friday DeMarini Invitational Game Time Changed
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/softball-friday-demarini-invitational-game-time-changed.aspx
BERKELEY – Due to forecasted inclement weather at Stanford, Friday's neutral site softball game at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium between No. 20 California and No. 3/5 Georgia has been moved from Noon to 10 a.m.
The Saturday and Sunday DeMarini Invitational schedule currently remains unchanged at this time.
[WBB] Women’s Basketball ACC Opponents Released
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-acc-opponents-released.aspx
CHARLOTTE – The Atlantic Coast Conference today released the home and away conference opponents for the upcoming 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. Dates, times and television selections will be announced at a later date. The California women's basketball team will play nine home and nine road games during ACC play in each of the upcoming two seasons.
[MTEN] Cal Men’s Tennis Signs Qian Sun
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/mens-tennis-cal-mens-tennis-signs-qian-sun.aspx
BERKELEY – The California men's tennis team has signed China native Qian Sun, who will join the Golden Bears immediately, Cal's Peter Wright Director of Men's Tennis Kris Kwinta announced Thursday.
[MBB] ACC Reveals 2024-25 Men’s Basketball Opponents
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/mens-basketball-acc-reveals-2024-25-mens-basketball-opponents.aspx
BERKELEY – Road trips to traditional powerhouses Duke and North Carolina highlight California's list of home and away conference opponents for its inaugural men's basketball season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as announced during the ACC Network's ACC PM program on Thursday.
And the women's slate of basketball opponents was released as well. https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-acc-opponents-released.aspx
[BVB] Cal Faces Top Competition In Battle For L.A.
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/beach-volleyball-cal-faces-top-competition-in-battle-for-l-a.aspx
BERKELEY – Following a nearly perfect opening weekend in which it won 40 out of 41 sets, the California beach volleyball team gets its first taste of top competition this weekend in the Battle For L.A. co-hosted by UCLA and Loyola Marymount at Mapes Beach. The Golden Bears (4-0) earned as high as a No. 6 national ranking (TruVolley) following its quartet of 5-0 sweeps last weekend at home.
[MROW] Men’s Rowing Set To Begin 2024 Campaign
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/mens-rowing-mens-rowing-set-to-begin-2024-campaign.aspx
BERKELEY – Coming off of back-to-back Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championships, the California men's rowing team will begin the 2024 season at the Las Vegas Invitational, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada.
[RUGBY] Cal Heads East To Face Army
https://calbears.com/news/2024/2/29/rugby-cal-heads-east-to-face-army.aspx
BERKELEY – California rugby closes out its four-game road swing this week with a trip to the east coast to face Army West Point on Saturday. The Golden Bears and the Black Knights will kick off at Warrior Field at the Anderson Rugby Complex in West Point, N. Y., at noon EST. The contest will be aired live on The Rugby Network as the collegiate "Match of the Week."