101 Comments

early/late

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several of my work meetings have switched to a "Berkeley time" format, where they don't officially start until about 5 minutes after the hour. It's been good for building camaraderie because most of that time is spent chit chatting and being lighthearted

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On time is late.

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if you are not early, you are late.

that is how i get places on time.

in general i try to get somewhere 5-10 min early. it of course leads to a lot of friction when living w/ people who do not share this view.

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Heavenly: went there for first time in like 20~25 years. Big mountain with some nice long runs, and amazing lake views.

But...20-min line at gondola on Fri morn. Shut down due to wind on Sat and Sun, which funnels everyone to CA base tram (1-hour line). After an hour wait in shuttle line to get there in the first place.

To get from place-to-place is a lot of flatness. Can't ski down to village.

All-in-all, way less skiing per hour than we get at (say) Northstar.

Guess have to try out Kirkwood again to get some local variety out of Epic Pass.

Seemed like a lot of folks skiing there were tourists (especially from overseas) who had been swayed by the postcards...

4/19 (WNB)...and will not return.

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I did Heavenly last year on Sat since I was cheap and bought the pass where I couldn't go to Northstar on sat (friend has a cabin within walking distance to the base of the Ritz gondola so I did Northstar on Fri). Was the first time I had gone to Heavenly in probably 35 years. Parked at the village gondola since by the time I got there no way I was going to be able to park on the Ca side.

I had forgotten how much I liked it. The Ridge Run is just a nice long crusing run with great views. They have nice runs where you can just cruise, which given the condition of my legs was just fine by me. Surprisingly it wasn't that crowded in the middle of Feb so it was a max of 5 min wait on the Ca lifts.

But just like you, I couldn't get back to the gondola so I just took the chair back down to the Ca base and waited for the shuttle. I left around 2 because I wanted to get back for the UNC Dook game so the shuttle was only like 10 min.

I bought my Epic pass after tearing my achilles because of the buddy passes and will only end up going up once this year for a couple of days at the end of March. Trying to decide if I get one next year or not since the prices went up another 25%.

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Ridge Run *is* a great cruiser, as are all the blues off Sky and Canyon...which made me optimistic about it (even after the gondola slog).

but when Sky lift is closed (like it was mid-day Sat), you only get 2/3 of Ridge Run (from Canyon) and then you get 10~15+ minute lines at Canyon.

And when Sky is closed, can't get back to the Gondola/NV areas (I think), so end up having to go to CA Lodge, which is either the flat slog of Roundabout (at least the top part) or taking the tram down (which means you're not skiing). (Or doing one of the double black diamonds down, which maaaaaaybe I coulda done, but was tired and was with others. and it would have taken me forever and not been fun.)

Got nine days in this year (a "day" being anywhere from 2 to 6 hours). Would like to sneak up for another trip or two, but daughter has school on Saturdays, which makes it tough.

for me, the Epic renewal is an 8% jump: $621 from $575.

was my first year with Epic. Have buddy passes, but haven't used any. maybe will do a mid-week trip with a friend? but I think that benefit of buddy pass is much less on weekdays? it's a flat cost, not a % discount, right? which makes it not much less than normal mid-week cost.

oh, speaking of costs: heavenly tix were $239 and the "view" ticket (for gondola, where I guess you get off midway to look round) is $109?!?

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I've done about 6 days over 2-3 years after not having skiied in almost 30 so I'm basically just doing blues and taking my time and not getting hurt. I definitely feel it the last couple of hours of the day.

HSB was going to try to come out and use a couple of buddy passes but his plans changed and couldn't. Yeah my epic Tahoe value pass is 521. So in order for it to be worth it it's like 3 or 4 days. No 3 had 1 lesson 2 years ago (we cancelled last year after I tore my achilles) and is doing 2 half days in a couple of weeks. We'll see if he wants to do it again next year. Maybe I'll get it again if I think I'll go twice for 2 days each. Once with him and once by myself. My friend says I can use the cabin any time it's not used so maybe I'll do one trip in Feb and one in Mar during No 3's spring break.

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having free lodging available is yooj! the cost of the epic pass is peanuts compared to lodging...

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"walking distance to the base of the Ritz gondola" is even yooj-er

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that's where the cabin is? noice! [Just re-read the above comment about the location of the gondola]

we stayed as Basecamp Lodge – a fancified old motel – which was a 10-ish minute walk to gondola. not bad, but when carrying two sets of skis, even that's a bit of a slog. at least no parking issues!

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OSKI DISCIPLE’S TRIVA FUN, A DAILY DBD FEATURE

In Europe, the poet Ezra Pound was known as Ezra Kilogram.

(All trivia verified by the International Trivia Foundation.)

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Also, referred to as Ezekiel Ton.

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Did he invent Pound Cake?

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I apologize for the silly comment above. After reading some of his lengthy Wikipedia page, I understand that he was a controversial character, which seems to be a vast understatement.

For my own part, I think I would have found him tiresome in the extreme.

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Ezra Pound was born five months before the founding of THE University of California. He was born in Idaho Territory five years before it achieved statehood

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pqtm

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DBD Jukebox

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"Hoist the Colors" - a song by Hans Zimmer and Gore Virbinksi in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The World's End" is a vocal bass-heavy from the movies soundtrack. Someone remade it as an all-bass version. As a former bass-singer, this song thrills me and it took me down a rabbit hole of bass-centric songs, which all seem to be sung for macho period-piece television & movies [think: pirates, vikings, dwarves, medieval knights).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkzy_420hts

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A nice way to bookend 96 years of Bears vs. Bruins baseball. Cal is now 188-187 all-time vs. UCLA, after sweeping the Bruins over the weekend.

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OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

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Lara Trump officially becomes the co-chair of the RNC. Good, I hope he drains all RNC's money for his defense fund.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/03/08/donald-trump-gop-rnc-lara-trump/72885304007/

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DBD AV CLUB

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Best part of Oscar show was Gosling doing the I’m Just Ken song. IMO, he should have won best supporting actor. Comedy is SO MUCH HARDER to pull off well than drama is, and he hit the character so unbelievably perfectly.

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In the same vein, I really though Jennifer Lawrence was great in No Hard Feelings. Not the type of role they give out nominations for, but every bit as "brave" as Emma Stone's performance, and a hell of a lot more entertaining.

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Yeah, this was clearly one of those "career honor" things for RDJ. I would have voted Gosling (or Ruffalo).

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I didn't realize RDJ was in Oppenheimer until the nominees were listed during the broadcast. And I just saw Oppenheimer on Saturday...

Clearly they nailed it in the makeup and styling department, as he was nigh unrecognizable (to me, at least). They did a great job with Emily Blunt too.

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(Repost from late-Friday)

Landscape with Invisible Hand (Amazon Prime). 13/17

Interesting quirky alien invasion movie. black comedy. pretty entertaining.

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and after watching that, Marry My Husband showed up (no algorithm involved, I suspect)

started watching. got frustrated with how some of the characters acted and some plot points. but many of the annoyances were addressed well as the show went on.

most frustrating thing now is that there are 16 eps and each one is about an hour. can't they pick up the pace?!?

but every time I'm about to bag on it, they do something to pull me back in. especially the BTS scene, where I was thinking, "do they really have to do that product placement?", but it was a great twist.

(women with cancer has shitty husband dies and goes back in time 10 years to make her life better...not really a spoiler since all this happens in the first 20 minutes. and the summary on Prime for S1 is even more spoiler-y)

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Billie Eilish has won an Oscar. She's 22. What have I done with my life?

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I think two, right?

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Correct, two Oscars. She also won for doing the Bond theme a couple years ago.

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Is she halfway to an EGOT?

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Yep. In fact, she's halfway there this year alone. I'm not sure if she has any planned roles on broadway or on tv this year, but there's still plenty of time.

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Honestly, a pretty good Oscars all around. Moved quickly, no terrible winners, some surprises. Jimmy Kimmel delivered dad jokes skillfully. Great performance from the Kens.

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Agree though would have been cool to see Barbie win something (other than best song for the Billie Eilish song, which tbh I think is not very good). It really resuscitated Hollywood summer blockbusters, and despite being contrasted with Oppenheimer as an escapist romp, dealt with a lot of pretty heavy material. I think you can even argue it had more to say about its material than Oppenheimer did

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It may have had a chance if it were nominated for best original screenplay rather than adapted (the adapted category was STACKED this year)

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I think the Billie Eilish song is very good for its function, though honestly they should have also nominated the Dua Lipa song (and maybe the Lizzo one too) from Barbie.

Frankly, it's kind of a miracle for the Barbie movie to get nominated for so many awards at all. A few years ago if someone told you that was going to happen you would have thought they were nuts.

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I suppose so, but the snub reminded me of when one of the Farrelly Bros won for Green book. It was a good movie, sure, but they have made legitimate movie classics that everyone knows and loves, like Dumb and Dumber, Something About Mary, etc. It’s just weird and kind of disappointing that the Academy is so intent on perpetuating the concept of high art v. low art, since the medium (film) doesn’t even require you to be literate to enjoy.

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Go Bears! (Nolan seriously erred by not including a shot of the Axe or at least Memorial Stadium.)

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ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE

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Vandy QB says the Italian mafia asked him to throw a game for $300k. I dunno about you, but I'd tell the NCAA but keep my big yap shut in public.

https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2024/03/09/mo-hasan-stats-vanderbilt-italian-mob-fix-sec-football-games-jason-aldean-bar/72904057007/

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ACC in the DMV. Something for Oski to look forward to. I think I heard they were going to National Cathedral later for a blessing.

https://www.fox5dc.com/video/1423866

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TIL the ACC tourney shifts venues. They've been rotating through NC, NY, and DC over the last several years. Although the next five will be in Greensboro or Charlotte.

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[High school] Well, ain't that a kick in the head.

https://twitter.com/1ChrisClayton/status/1766281449861431467

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There was kicking/tripping going on all weekend.

https://twitter.com/kyletheboone/status/1766620578054558090

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March Madness has multiple contexts.

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[WBB] The LSU/South Carolina game got a little feisty

https://twitter.com/KarmacRex/status/1766969117238599716

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Just read that the guy who jumped the scorer’s table on to the court is the brother of the LSU player who got pushed down. He was arrested and is in jail as of the report.

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Kim Mulkey is an awful person.

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Truly unredeemable. Reese is a little problematic herself. They are really made for one another. While Mulkey is talking up Reese as some tough girl and the rest of her team is rushing to her teammate's help, Reese is walking off the court in the other direction. Just a very classless operation.

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Rooting agains them in the tourney (unless they play Furd).

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As much as I like to tease the Furd, their WBB program is the polar opposite of LSU's. Understated excellence.

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Absolutely agree.

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PRO

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[ESPN] Falcons about to find out how much Kirk Cousins has left in the tank. Desmond Ridder was not the answer.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1767255983430988083

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A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Cousins' deal is worth $180 million ($45 million per season), including $100 million guaranteed.

seems like a lot for someone who "used to be good"

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I’m not sure if he ever used to be good. Looking back at his team’s results, I don’t see a third of a billion dollars of results there for his career.

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Don't hold your balls too long. Also, don't hire boys to hold your balls too long too.

https://www.sportbible.com/football/premier-league/premier-league-ball-boys-goalkeepers-708234-20240310

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Apropos: the ball boy that Eden Hazard kicked is now worth almost as much as Hazard

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/25482267/chelsea-eden-hazard-ballboy-kick-swansea-charlie-morgan/

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Serie A Lecce have fired their HC for this.

https://twitter.com/ItalianoCalcio/status/1766827539199041696

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Oh shit, this isn't going to end well.

https://twitter.com/AndySlater/status/1765843125551943832

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Everyone wants the A's fans. Every. One.

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Ireland/Afghanistan cricket match postponed due to heavy rain in [checks notes]... UAE.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/68521852

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Mac Jones traded to the Jags. Once you see how his contract is structure, you'll see why

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/jacksonville-jaguars/mac-jones-72395/

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Jets should try to trade Aaron Rodgers as well. Restructured to backload his contract only to tear his achilles in the 1st drive of last year.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/new-york-jets/aaron-rodgers-3745/

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The good news: The Knicks' defense held its second straight opponent to under 80 points

The bad news: they lost by six

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401585555

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[ESPN] Russell Wilson to sign with the Steelers for [checks notes]... the veteran minimum. Boy, the market for his services is terrible. He will make less than the Detroit Lion's 3rd string QB - Hendon Hooker.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39704594/sources-russell-wilson-sign-free-agent-deal-steelers

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Russell Wilson leading an Arthur Smith offense is going to be a national punchline next season…OMG, it’s gonna be hilarious.

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Baker Mayfield signs a $100m 3-year deal so that he can play in the NFL stadium closest to an international airport

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39702094/source-buccaneers-baker-mayfield-agree-3-year-100m-deal

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CAL

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Go Bears!!!

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[LAX] 9 Bears Score In 14-3 Victory Over Winthrop

https://calbears.com/news/2024/3/10/lacrosse-9-bears-score-in-14-3-victory-over-winthrop.aspx

BERKELEY, Calif. – The Cal lacrosse team (2-5) picked up goals from nine different players in a 14-3 victory over Winthrop on Sunday at California Memorial Stadium. Josie Lillquist had the first hat track of her career to lead the Golden Bears. Kennedy Mason, Addie Fischer and Belle Tiesi added a pair of goals each, while Kennedy Goss, Isabel King, Jane Middleton, Caroline Roxas and Mya Wang had one each.

Mason and Emily Moes also had two assists apiece, while Tiesi, Annette Ciupek and Avery Hoeft recorded one.

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Cal finished 106 out of 126 based on RPI last season. While a win over winless Winthrop is a step in the right direction. Cal's next game is against a pretty Butler team. If they lose that, there is a good chance that they'll end with an even worse record than last year because Oregon doesn't suck this year.

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[BASE]Lomavita, Bears Sweep Bruins In Walk Off

https://calbears.com/news/2024/3/10/baseball-bears-sweep-bruins-thanks-to-lomavitas-bomb.aspx

BERKELEY – For the second straight day junior catcher Caleb Lomavita delivered in the clutch for the California baseball team. In the bottom of the ninth, he smashed an 0-2 offering for a three-run walk-off home run to complete the three-game sweep over visiting UCLA, giving the Golden Bears a 6-5 win on Sunday at Stu Gordon Stadium.

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[WGYM] HISTORY MADE!

https://calbears.com/news/2024/3/10/womens-gymnastics-history-made.aspx

STANFORD - The No. 2 California women's gymnastics team captured the first outright conference championship in program history with an exclamation point Sunday, posting its highest team score ever to knock off No. 22 Stanford 198.550-197.975 at Maples Pavilion.

After claiming a share of the Pac-12 title in each of the last two seasons, the Golden Bears (14-3, 7-0) polished off an unblemished conference season to set off a celebration on The Farm that will be remembered for a long time.

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[WPOLO] No. 4 Bears Down No. 2 Hawaii In Thriller

https://calbears.com/news/2024/3/10/womens-water-polo-no-4-bears-down-no-2-hawaii-in-thriller.aspx

BERKELEY – Facing the nation's No. 2-ranked team Sunday in front of an electric Spieker Aquatics Complex crowd, the No. 4 California women's water polo team came out on the right side of both a first-quarter flurry and a furious fourth-quarter finish, toppling No. 2 Hawaii 9-8.

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[BVB] No. 7 Cal Sharp In Wins Over Oregon, No. 10 ASU

https://calbears.com/news/2024/3/10/beach-volleyball-no-7-cal-sharp-in-wins-over-oregon-no-10-asu.aspx

TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 7 California beach volleyball team took care of business on day two of the Pac-12 South Tournament, earning another 5-0 sweep over Oregon and taking down No. 10 Arizona State 3-2 for its second win of the year over a top-10 opponent.

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[MTEN] Cal Downed By SMU

https://calbears.com/news/2024/3/10/mens-tennis-cal-downed-by-smu-5-2.aspx

DALLAS – The California men's tennis team fell to No. 58 Southern Methodist, 5-2, on Sunday at the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex, with Alex Chang and Timofey Stepanov winning in singles for the Golden Bears.

Cal's record is now 4-6. SMU improved to 10-6.

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[MSWIM] Jensen Wins Pac-12 Title In 100 Freestyle

https://calbears.com/news/2024/3/9/mens-swimming-diving-jensen-wins-pac-12-title-in-100-freestyle.aspx

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Senior Matthew Jensen gave the California men's swimming & diving team its second individual conference title in as many nights Saturday as the Golden Bears closed out the 2024 Pac-12 Championships in third place at Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.

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[SB] No. 15 Cal Drops Series Finale

https://calbears.com/news/2024/3/9/softball-no-15-cal-drops-series-finale.aspx

EUGENE, Ore. – The No. 15 California softball team fell 5-2 to Oregon in the series finale at Jane Sanders Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Elon Butler hit her conference-leading 10th home run and Tatum Anzaldo added a pair of hits for the Golden Bears (21-4, 1-2 Pac-12). Ariel Carlson had two hits for the Ducks (14-9, 2-1 Pac-12).

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Head to La Burrita for the Mendoza burrito. Proceeds to benefit National MS Society. Even though I don't like La Burrita, I'm going to try to go today for a late lunch.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4WOC_rS8Ig/?igsh=MXd3MzVyMDBkdXRibw%3D%3D

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Eating it now. It's good. 12.99 for a burrito about the size of the ones from La Taqueria in SF. Not as fat as Farolitos. Has black beans instead of refried pinto beans like most burritos.

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17/19 WB

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After finishing it, bumping it up to 19/19 WB. Great combo of flavors from the black beans to the chimichurri sauce. Also got a Thai Iced Tea from Feng Cha next door.

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Name something you got on discount?

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ACC got Cal on big discount

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SMU has entered the chat

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This DBD's date is listed as 3/9 which was Saturday. According to my calendar today is the 11th. Color me confused.

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[Wave hand in front of OD's face]. It says 3-11. It's always said that. You saw nothing. These are not the droids... eh... for which you are looking.

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My mistake.

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