176 Comments
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SGBear's avatar

Well that was interesting. I spent 30 minutes in a closet because a tornado touched down about 5 miles from my house.

Scootie's avatar

Congratulations on coming out.

heyalumnigo's avatar

You're doing better than Tom Cruise

MoriBear's avatar

the first "loud" pringling that I've seen! (I guess pltm = LOL?)

FiatSlug's avatar

At least you didn't enter Narnia as a consequence.

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

College admissions 2022

old daughter, senior in HS, tells me that all the Ivy League schools mail out their decisions at 700p tonight. she is going to hang out w/ some friends as moral support as they all check their emails since she didnt apply to any.

she is waiting to hear from a 4 yr program at NYU's Shanghai campus, a path fraught with many perils ..

SGBear's avatar

All the kids we're hearing are getting disappointed because the admission volumes were through the roof this year because so many kids deferred from last year + standardized testing no longer required for some schools. My niece has 3 patents and was flat rejected from most school. My employee's kid got a perfect score on ACT, straight As, and captain of the state's top XC team is going to a safety school.

heyalumnigo's avatar

It was insane last year and I can imagine it's the same again this year.

GoldenSD81's avatar

They send admission letters via email now?

Ruey Yen's avatar

I'm surprised it's not via a text.

I also thought it's been the norm for more than a decade now for colleges to reveal the decision either by email and/or make the potential students check some webpage.

Ruey Yen's avatar

Or you get a DM from @Cal or whatever that you're in!

CruzinBears's avatar

I was able to check my UC admissions on a website in 2004, CSUs did not offer that option back then.

dcblue's avatar

Yeah, in the early 70s we did not look to email, text, DM, or TikTok. LOLD.

goldenone's avatar

I got mine via snail mail with a gold sticker on it. So I knew I was golden.

Peetyjay's avatar

Stanfurd Persuasive Technology Lab sending admission notice via Tik Tok.

DC Trojan's avatar

yup! Really fun when your kid finds out they didn't get in somewhere they wanted to go, and you didn't have the warning of the skinny envelope. Surprise!

SGBear's avatar

This Twitter thread asking comedians what weird shit has happened to them while on stage is something else.

https://twitter.com/marcellacomedy/status/1508273660829716484

GoldenSD81's avatar

I really want to know what joke he said to provoke such a response.

SGBear's avatar

ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE

SGBear's avatar

Fred Taylor admits that UGA paid him $50k to go there. He chose Florida and kept the money anyways.

https://twitter.com/_willcompton/status/1509243287898628108

heyalumnigo's avatar

So it is possible to have your cake AND eat it too!

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

speaking of cake, we were in the Lower East Side yesterday and picked up some pies from Petee's Pie Company.

we got an assortment of slices instead of a whole pie, cherry, currant, choc cream

not sure it is the best pie on the planet, but it was good

https://www.peteespie.com/

Fire Starkey's avatar

thats pretty common. What are they going to do, turn you in? Nope

DC Trojan's avatar

verbal contracts are worth the paper they're written on, etc.

Berkelium97's avatar

Pulling a trailer through that?! I hope that driver brought an extra pair of underwear.

Fire Starkey's avatar

yeah, thats a no for me, dawg

SGBear's avatar

She blinded me with...

SGBear's avatar

NASA announces that Hubble has detected a galaxy 12.9 billion light years away, smashing the previous record. Wait until James Webb goes online.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2022/record-broken-hubble-spots-farthest-star-ever-seen/

SGBear's avatar

Northern Lights might be visible tonight from a lot of places in the US that might not normally see it.

https://twitter.com/WeathermanAdam/status/1509190660762521612

Berkelium97's avatar

*checks weather forecast showing a giant band of storms spanning the entire east coast this evening* cool

clapdoc's avatar

Yup, the one time I want clear night skis in Los Angeles...

dcblue's avatar

warm and windy when I was out this morning in advance of the storms.

SGBear's avatar

Summer vacation plans

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

the Tour de France passes thru the village where my neighbors have a house in the Alps, Allemond, on the way up the Alpe d'Huez on Bastille Day. the plan is to go for a couple weeks, watch the Tour and ride around in the area for a bit.

ideally we will combine w/ some other vacation in the area as well as just staying longer and working remotely.

DC Trojan's avatar

I'm not a huge cycling fan but I would like to see a couple of stage days of the tour including in the Alps. My uncle owns (or has an interest in) a sort of B&B on one of the routes but I never think to check in advance.

Berkelium97's avatar

Flying to LA in mid-May for my first trip there since covid. It will be a whirlwind trip to have Cf-98 meet all the friends/family that have been waiting to meet her for the past year and a half.

goldenone's avatar

I'm buying a second home with plans to spend summers there.

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

we are toying w/ the idea of a second home that will eventually become the first home maybe. so far Burlington VT is the leading contender but we are still shopping around for the next couple years.

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

where is the second home?

goldenone's avatar

Washington - pretty close to the border with B.C.

BentPawn(Don)'s avatar

You going for Vancouver proximity or a jumping off point for accessing greater Canada? The Tonasket to Oroville stretch of highway 97 in central WA is isolated and has some beautiful spots. Very easy border crossing right at Oroville to head towards Jasper, Calgary and other spots.

CruzinBears's avatar

Blaine is a neat little town and only a 30min drive from Bellingham which has a nice airport. Also has a cheap marina that is close to the San Juans. Blaine also has the best oysters I've ever had at Drayton Harbor Oyster Co

heyalumnigo's avatar

No vacations planned. Just No 2's graduation in Nashville in May, a testing event in Seattle in June, a testing event in Sept the week of the ND game. So travel but not vacation.

SGBear's avatar

Plans have been in flux. I cancelled my plans to go to Italy, England, France, and Scotland, but the wife is still going to Scotland for 3 weeks. I'm still chaperoning SGB 2.0 for 2 weeks - half of a summer school program at Fordham. It's a single undergrad class targeted at qualified high school seniors. I'll probably squeeze a weekend in Seattle somewhere in there.

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

stop by for a beer if you are in Fordham for an extended amount of time. we are close.

BearByBlood's avatar

Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, and a brief stay in Las Vegas.

Justbear's avatar

You should go Antelope Canyon too

CruzinBears's avatar

Trying to get out to Santa Cruz Island a couple times, other than that no vacation plans at this time. We are doing a staycation of sorts in August by going to the This Ain't No Picnic festival that is being held on the Rose Bowl grounds.

DC Trojan's avatar

None. The wife and girls will be in Vermont per usual. Perhaps I'll go to Oregon to see my mother (went last week / weekend after a long gap & I think more frequent visits might be in order) but that's not a vacation as such. At some point we need to use our "credit" with British Airlines from 2020 but nobody seems to want to change their plans for the year in general.

Peetyjay's avatar

The usual, week-long back packing trip at some point, probably early July. Barring smoke and wildfires, my friend and I might try to tackle Tuolumne Meadows to Echo, northbound.

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

since we will be in the Alps, i am trying to convince my wife to do the 100 mi trek around Mount Blanc

Peetyjay's avatar

That sounds amazing!

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Mar 31, 2022
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Peetyjay's avatar

That would be a tough. She'll probably be knocking down 25+ miles days if you plan to meet here more than a month after she starts.

Scootie's avatar

10 days in London, 2 in Paris, 10 in Tuscany (three in Florence, then a week at this little cottage), back to London for a night, then home.

https://www.homeinitaly.com/luxury-villa-for-rent-in-italy-tuscany-chianti-area/villa-pratomaggio_806

SGBear's avatar

"indoor capacity up to 40 guests"

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

"little cottage" looks nice.

Berkelium97's avatar

Definitely. It looks like a serene and peaceful place to spend a week

Cugel's avatar

And go wine tasting.

Scootie's avatar

For sure. We're going here, which seems like a place you would like (check out the art situation) https://www.castellodiama.com/en/

DC Trojan's avatar

that all seems very civilized.

AndyPanda's avatar

OMG and Wow! Talk about being a .0001%-er experience!

Peetyjay's avatar

This sounds amazing. I've been to Europe once, in 2004. Visited London, Oxford, Brighton, and a 5 day jaunt to Barcelona. I am aching to go back.

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Mar 31, 2022
Comment deleted
heyalumnigo's avatar

I'll be the driver.

I can drive.

Scootie's avatar

It seems to me you are dead to me for some reason? I forget why, but I'm gonna hold onto the grudge for a little while anyhow

TheBuckeyeBear's avatar

So many fancy summer vacation plans! I will probably be housesitting for my parents while they go to Taiwan.

heyalumnigo's avatar

Kegger at tbb's parents!!

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

our daughter might be hosting a kegger too if we go out of town and leave her at home for a few weeks.

MoriBear's avatar

bought tix to Japan (first time there since 4 years ago). still waiting to see what the rules will be in three months. as of now, we have applied for visas (which is new), so waiting on that. from there, it's how long we need to quarantine in hotels after arriving...

MoriBear's avatar

I just checked on Netflix to see the Japanese name ("Doing it for the First Time"...which sounds worse in English), and in the upper-left "warning" corner, it says Violence, Gore...what do they have these kids doing?!?

MoriBear's avatar

Ha! We do need to put our daughter to work, tho. (Altho she is pretty helpful for a 6-yo.) I will be checking out that show!

paulie's avatar

going to SoCal for a few weeks to visit the wife's family

SGBear's avatar

Cognitive biases

Berkelium97's avatar

The above chart is an excellent example of how poorly people tend to understand the frequency of extremely rare events on the tail end of a distribution.

GoldenSD81's avatar

The above chart is great but I also think cognitive bias is formed by where you live. Those numbers seem right for the entire US but I am sure they are very different on a local and state level for things like minorities, etc. It would be interesting to see what those statistics are for the state of California.

Cugel's avatar

To me, the goofiest one is the first one: 20% of American families have an income of $1 mil/year? The Trans/Muslim/Gay numbers are inflated due to both the culture wars on the right, and at least for Trans/Gay, inclusivity in Hollywood.

SGBear's avatar

The goofiest is the perception that America is 109% Black, Hispanic, or Asian and 59% White. The three worst things about Americans are that they are brainwashed and are bad at math.

Wiata78's avatar

Yep. Though to be fair, it's probably not just Americans.

Wiata78's avatar

It also throws out the "wisdom of the masses" idea. Except when it comes to guessing what proportion of the population are Republicans.

Scootie's avatar

Except that nowhere near 50% of the population are Republicans. Does YouGov have its own cognitive biases?

https://ballotpedia.org/Partisan_affiliations_of_registered_voters

BentPawn(Don)'s avatar

Going to Vegas this weekend. I intellectually know that, for example, 3 reds in a row at the roulette table does not impact if the next spin will be red or black. But for my actual betting habits, I have that little voice in my head saying that the black is due. Not sure if that's a cognitive bias, or just a blind spot.

Peetyjay's avatar

It is mistaking an independent variable as a dependent variable. Casinos know this, which is why the electronic board at a roulette table keeps tally of prior spins: Manipulating humans into believing a certain color or number is "due" to hit. The funny thing is, when it does, it becomes confirmation bias, and when it does not it is kind of has a neutral effect. As we know, the odds remain the same on each spin and the history of prior spins is absolutely meaningless.

clapdoc's avatar

I choose to both accept that it is a cognitive bias and a blind spot, but also a way to have fun with money I do not expect to win back.

Though the last time I played, I hit my numbers five straight times. That's going to pay for my next trip.

Wiata78's avatar

NASA has a class "Mitigating Cognitive Bias in Engineering Decision-Making".

Case studies include the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters.

https://appel.nasa.gov/2018/04/11/mitigating-cognitive-bias-in-engineering-decision-making/

space_lab's avatar

There’s an internet-centric community interested in “applied rationality”…. I find them irrationally irritating for some reason.

SGBear's avatar

DBD Cooking academy

SGBear's avatar

I made 干煸四季豆 last night. Turned out pretty dang tasty. Here's the recipe.

https://thewoksoflife.com/sichuan-dry-fried-green-beans/

heyalumnigo's avatar

Interesting. I've always used a little bit of oil when trying to duplicate this dish. I guess the fact that it's called "dry fried green beans" should've clued me in...

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

nice. i try to find long beans because they seem to hold up to the high heat a little better. also very tasty in a slightly different way.

SGBear's avatar

Honestly, that was the first time that I've shallow fried. It totally works. Created that shriveled, scorched look you get in a restaurant without being overcooked, limp, or - weirdly - oily. Also, I'd go with fresh local green beans rather than long beans from H-mart that have been through a longer logistics chain.

Scootie's avatar

Have a frittata in the oven right now with mini yukon golds, asparagus, prosciutto and comté in it.

Cugel's avatar

That sounds good.

space_lab's avatar

Was going to make a pork tenderloin tonight but when I opened it it smelled like old fish…. Straight into the trash.

clapdoc's avatar

Wife wants me to make paella for her parents tomorrow night. What are your favorite meat/seafood ingredients for paella? My default are duck legs and tiger shrimp. (Yes I know it isn't traditional but I got to make it enticing for old Asians.)

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

the 3 C's ... chorizo and calamari and chicken, but not necessarily all together

clapdoc's avatar

Doesn't chorizo overpower everything in flavor? And I've tried calamari, when it's fresh it's very good but it isn't always fresh from where I get it.

Cugel's avatar

Wife made something new, a hearty salad of roasted veggies and chickpeas over arugula with feta cheese on top, served with warm pita bread.

Cugel's avatar

Watched Moon Knight, it was fun - never read any of the comics. His accent could use some work however.

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Mar 31, 2022
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Cugel's avatar

...because that's not his real identity?

SGBear's avatar

OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

SGBear's avatar

Remember how Trump asked Putin to release dirt on Hunter Biden two days ago? Well, Russia did. Let's be clear... we have someone who asked for and received misinformation from a national enemy to harm the Commander in Chief...

https://twitter.com/michaelh992/status/1509531523065602062

SGBear's avatar

Some leaked emails from Ginni Thomas. Jiminy. Farking. Christmas.

https://thetriad.thebulwark.com/p/what-is-ginni-thomas

paulie's avatar

"Boomer with an internet connection" lolol

GoldenSD81's avatar

That was funny and true.

FiatSlug's avatar

"...crazy cat lady with a Facebook account..."

Broo-tuhl.

Justbear's avatar

Rams continue to sign big name veterans. I think they are going to sign Stephon Gilmore and Tyrann Mathieu

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

The salary cap is a myth.

SGBear's avatar

Spurs lose, Lakers back into 10th spot for playoffs for now. Pelicans win too.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401360963

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

it appears that the early WC matches will be right around Thxgiving. maybe worth considering a trip since i can get some free lodging ..

>> World Cup 2022 takes place in Qatar from November 21 to December 18

Berkelium97's avatar

I didn't realize it was so late this year, although it makes sense because a usual June-July World Cup would feel like playing on the surface of the sun in Qatar.

sycasey's avatar

Yup, that was one big criticism when Qatar was chosen and they moved the dates to accommodate.

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

similar thing happened one year when they hosted the cycling world championships

sycasey's avatar

I had gotten used to World Cup games happening during the summer when not much else is going on, sports-wise. Having it happen in the middle of the NFL season will be a little weird.

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

The draw for the tournament takes place on Friday 1 April 2022

sycasey's avatar

Last round of CONCACAF qualifiers were interesting: you could tell that Costa Rica and Mexico still cared about winning, while the US and Canada did not.

CruzinBears's avatar

Warriors put up one hell of a fight against the Suns but fall in the end. Friday against the Jazz will be tough, but they finish the season with four winnable games to try to stay in 4th seed (or sneak into the 3rd if the Mavs start losing)

heyalumnigo's avatar

Sat against the Jazz isn't it? I'm bringing No 3 for his Christmas present, but unfortunately UNC/Dook is at virtually the same time. I put my tickets back on ticketmaster to see if I can sell them so we can find somewhere to watch UNC/Dook. Worst case I'll bring a tablet so we can stream the game.

CruzinBears's avatar

Sat is Lakers I thought

heyalumnigo's avatar

I just checked my tickets. Sat is Jazz. Sun is at Kings. Lakers is Thurs.

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

indeed. there was a sliver of hope they would win .. but Chris Paul was too good at the end

SGBear's avatar

Grinnell - the male of the peregrine falcon pair in Sather Tower, is dead.

https://twitter.com/CalFalconCam/status/1509650552904466447

Ruey Yen's avatar

How many level of underground classrooms and offices is that?

heyalumnigo's avatar

Is the WEB still there? I'm going assume no since everyone has computers now.

Berkelium97's avatar

In the first image there's a giant glass and stone (?) building on the street corner east of Pimentel and Latimer--what is that?

Scootie's avatar

It's a new planned building called Heathcock. I spent HOURS last night going through the new master plan -- it's pretty fascinating (and 226 pages long). Heathcock will provide additional capacity for the College of Chemistry.

Justbear's avatar

Is Wurster still there?

Scootie's avatar

Yes, and slated to stay untouched. If I have some time this afternoon I will summarize the highlights from the master plan -- lots of building redevelopment being planned! Off the top of my head:

New Heathcock building

New building on the Dwinelle parking lot

New low building sunk into the ground on the slope where Evans is now

Restore the connection of Hearst Mining Circle to the glade by removing the paving on the west side of the circle

Redevelop Morgan

Redevelop Anthro (formerly Kroeber)

Build a new building on North field (between Hearst and faculty glade)

Redevelop the Hearst annex, including a new field there

Build a new building just south of Sproul Hall

Renovate and add on to RSF

Redevelop Alumni House

New buildings west of Edwards, including demolishing the west bleachers

Berkelium97's avatar

Thanks for all the useful info and, more importantly, for having the patience to wade through a 200+ page document

FiatSlug's avatar

Relieved to see that the West bleachers are slated to be demo'd. That's been a small disaster waiting to happen for decades now.

Cugel's avatar

IMO the West bleachers are not EQ safe at all. Guessed the age of it within 6 months based on construction details.

Justbear's avatar

Thanks, I'm very happy to hear that.

Cugel's avatar

Apparently there's a good restaurant in Wurster - who knew?

Justbear's avatar

Just looked up. Looks different from when I was there. It was called Cafe Milano in 2000s and I used to get panini there all the time.

SGBear's avatar

Cal introduces their new MSOC coach. Welcome Coach Griffin.

https://twitter.com/CalMSoc/status/1509626957482246156

Ruey Yen's avatar

Every recent Cal hire has been either an alum (Chelsea Spencer in Softball, Meagan Owusu in Beach Volleyball), a former Cal assistant (Sam Crosson in Volleyball), or both (Scott Frandsen in Men's Rowing)...I guess I'm leaving out the fail hire of Cal Diving when Knowlton attempted to break this mold.

Griffin is a former Cal assistant from when Cal was No.1 in the country in 2013.

SGBear's avatar

Follow W4C's Twitter and get live updates on the WGYM's NCAA regionals.

https://twitter.com/WriteForCalLive

SGBear's avatar

Wow! What an amazing, sensational, dramatic, heart-rending... exciting, thrilling finish.

Ruey Yen's avatar

Bears did it the hard way, but survive and advance is what matters.

MoriBear's avatar

Anyone use the Blaze Pizza Pi Day discount? I realized that it's expiring today, so I figured I'd take a drive to Stonestown – it *is* a $3.14 pizza! – so I went online to order, but the next availability is 7:15!

So doing Little Star instead...

heyalumnigo's avatar

I remember yesterday but didn't want to go into Berkeley to get it. It's that or Pleasanton and I wasn't willing to go to either to get a pizza for just 3.14.

MoriBear's avatar

not sure where you live, so don't know how far a drive Berkeley would have been, but stones town woulda been about 20 min for me. more that I normally would do, but I was curious about Blaze...and didn't want to waste the opportunity! (plus, I coulda picked up some mocha donuts while there, or something, to amortize the effort :-)

heyalumnigo's avatar

I've had it before and it's pretty good for fast food pizza. We had it in Louisville before we left.

TheBuckeyeBear's avatar

Gifts for people who like escape rooms/puzzles: https://mysteriouspackage.com/ and https://www.curiouscorrespondence.com/

Kodiak's sister told me about these today

heyalumnigo's avatar

Those look cool.

Wiata78's avatar

Cool, thanks for sharing!