Vienna is one of my favorite Billy Joel songs. I also heard it this weekend at a wedding I attended, for my niece and her betrothed, although the tape sounded like a cover by someone else.
There was a time when Waze would either send you through a pretty cool shortcut through residential neighborhoods or else through a really sketchy part of town. It no longer does that. I do appreciate not going through a dangerous area that I'm unfamiliar with at night. However, I do miss learning secret shortcuts.
I have a real problem with this feature of Waze. Not so much that it affects me, but that it does affect portions of North Berkeley, specifically, folks who live along Marin Ave and Grizzly Peak Blvd.
When I-80 was backed up with afternoon commute traffic, Waze would send folks with destinations east of the Caldecott Tunnel through Albany and Berkeley along Marin Ave and Grizzly Peak Blvd to Fish Ranch Road, then down to Hwy 24 after the Caldecott Tunnel.
This redirection put heavy traffic on streets that weren't built for it (Marin Ave east of The Circle and on Grizzly Peak Blvd.) and also slowed traffic through the Caldecott because of the merge with traffic entering Hwy 24 from Fish Ranch Road.
But this also points up a bigger problem than an app that creates complications - we need leaders who will lead on public transit. Don't get me started because I think this is an immense failure of state and local Democratic Party leadership and symptomatic of the disease of incumbency - the objective is to be re-elected, not to enact meaningful legislation. This issue touches many others; we are not being served by our electeds.
One of the primary reasons for optimism for San Francisco Giants fans this year — in addition to, you know, the courtesy optimism handed out in a pretty bag to every fan at the start of a season — is the lack of holes in the roster. The potential lack of holes, that is.
ICYMI: Nick Martinez with the nifty no-look behind the back catch of Heliot Ramo's comebacker on Sunday. Giants won the game and the series on the road.
Veni, vidi vici. They came, they saw, and they conquered. That’s the current mindset watching the Dodgers, and it was in full display as they easily handled the struggling Braves, winning 6-1 in Tyler Glasnow’s first regular season start of 2025.
Dodgers have had 3 organists. The first one did it for 15 years, Nancy for 27 years, and Dieter, the current guy, for about 10 years I think. Nancy used to play "Master of the House" whenever Orel Hershiser got the start.
Jurickson Profar - who had a weirdly good year last year after a career of generally sucking and signed with the Braves during the offseason - tests positive for roids. He's been suspended for half of this season, plus is also ineligible for the postseason
I thought that if I visited my brother who lives in the foothills we might go down for a game. $50 to sit on the lawn in the right field corner, I don’t think so.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 17th-ranked California women's tennis team shook off a rain-induced postponement to defeat No. 69 Miami 4-2 on Monday, run its winning streak to 10 straight matches and remain tied for first place in the ACC. Senior Lan Mi clinched the victory.
FINAL GAME OF ROAD TRIP - Cal ends a season-long nine-game road trip Tuesday at Sacramento State. The Golden Bears have won six of their first eight contests on the trip starting with a season-long five-game win streak March 18 at Saint Mary's, including a historic three-game sweep at No. 14 Stanford (March 21-23) that was its first of the Cardinal in recorded history and first of Stanford at any venue since taking three straight in Berkeley in 1992, and finishing with a win at San Francisco (March 24). The Bears dropped two-of-three at Louisville (March 28-30) in their most recent series, winning the middle game.
BERKELEY – California women's gymnasts Mya Lauzon and Maddie Williams were named WCGA All-Americans, the organization announced Monday.
WCGA (Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association) All-America selections are determined purely by National Qualifying Scores (NQS). First Team honors are awarded to the top eight finishers, plus ties, of the NCAA regular season for all four events plus the all-around. Second Team honors are awarded to the ninth through sixteenth place finishers, plus ties.
After the Trump administration took over the Luigi Mangioni case (United Health CEO murder case), AG Pam Bondi has given instructions to seek the death penalty. Ok. It''s official. The government is now trying to kill people for political purposes.
Cal Athletic Director Jim Knowlton has resigned saying: "I'm clearly in over my head. I've made countless mistakes and my incompetence has been glaringly obvious to even the most casual observer. I apologize to the university and the athletic department in particular." Knowlton's resignation is effective immediately.
In a bold attempt to help reduce air travel costs, low-cost airline Frontier has introduced the industry’s first-ever standing room fare — Vertical Class.
Passengers looking to save as much as possible and who don’t mind being on their feet for the entire flight can soon fly for as little as $9 each way to any of the airline’s 120+ destinations.
I need more than one year to call this a trend, but with the open portal driving all the best players to the programs with the most money, you have to wonder . . .
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Remembering Reef / Larry Berroya & supporting a token of his legacy
https://writeforcalifornia.com/p/larry-berroya-memorial-donations
SHE BLINDED ME WITH...
Meet Dr. Leanhardt, the engineer who created the bowling pin bat that is terrorizing pitching this season
https://www.mlb.com/news/aaron-leanhardt-discusses-invention-of-torpedo-bats
DBD Jukebox
Link a generally unknown song from a well-known artist
Elton John - Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAKIOlZrLzw
REM - Cuyahoga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSjo81bSW3s
Love this whole album (Life's Rich Pageant). Top 2 or 3 for me.
Stevie Wonder: Saturn. Lyrics as timely now as ever.
https://genius.com/Stevie-wonder-saturn-lyrics
Paul Simon - Slip Slidin' Away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUODdPpnxcA
The Beatles - Here, There and Everywhere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FusIKjztap8
Billy Joel - Vienna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jL4S4X97sQ
this seems to be my youngest child's favorite song for the last year or so. they picked it up at sleepaway camp last summer.
Vienna is one of my favorite Billy Joel songs. I also heard it this weekend at a wedding I attended, for my niece and her betrothed, although the tape sounded like a cover by someone else.
ROUTE
There was a time when Waze would either send you through a pretty cool shortcut through residential neighborhoods or else through a really sketchy part of town. It no longer does that. I do appreciate not going through a dangerous area that I'm unfamiliar with at night. However, I do miss learning secret shortcuts.
I have a real problem with this feature of Waze. Not so much that it affects me, but that it does affect portions of North Berkeley, specifically, folks who live along Marin Ave and Grizzly Peak Blvd.
When I-80 was backed up with afternoon commute traffic, Waze would send folks with destinations east of the Caldecott Tunnel through Albany and Berkeley along Marin Ave and Grizzly Peak Blvd to Fish Ranch Road, then down to Hwy 24 after the Caldecott Tunnel.
This redirection put heavy traffic on streets that weren't built for it (Marin Ave east of The Circle and on Grizzly Peak Blvd.) and also slowed traffic through the Caldecott because of the merge with traffic entering Hwy 24 from Fish Ranch Road.
But this also points up a bigger problem than an app that creates complications - we need leaders who will lead on public transit. Don't get me started because I think this is an immense failure of state and local Democratic Party leadership and symptomatic of the disease of incumbency - the objective is to be re-elected, not to enact meaningful legislation. This issue touches many others; we are not being served by our electeds.
PRO
Giants crush Astros behind star performance from Things That Bode Well
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2025/3/31/24398380/giants-astros-scores-recap-jordan-hicks-wilmer-flores-camilo-doval
One of the primary reasons for optimism for San Francisco Giants fans this year — in addition to, you know, the courtesy optimism handed out in a pretty bag to every fan at the start of a season — is the lack of holes in the roster. The potential lack of holes, that is.
Astros bats have been cold. They are dead last in MLB in hits.
Hmm...no garbage can pounding??
ICYMI: Nick Martinez with the nifty no-look behind the back catch of Heliot Ramo's comebacker on Sunday. Giants won the game and the series on the road.
https://bsky.app/profile/codifybaseball.bsky.social/post/3llmmijtjek2o
Tyler Glasnow dominates as Dodgers beat Braves, 6-1
https://www.truebluela.com/2025/3/31/24398490/tyler-glasnow-teoscar-hernandez-dodgers-braves
Veni, vidi vici. They came, they saw, and they conquered. That’s the current mindset watching the Dodgers, and it was in full display as they easily handled the struggling Braves, winning 6-1 in Tyler Glasnow’s first regular season start of 2025.
Former Dodgers organist passes away. Apparently, she knew 2,000 songs by heart
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44463386/nancy-bea-hefley-long-organist-dodgers-dies-89
Dodgers have had 3 organists. The first one did it for 15 years, Nancy for 27 years, and Dieter, the current guy, for about 10 years I think. Nancy used to play "Master of the House" whenever Orel Hershiser got the start.
Did Dieter used to be the Giants' organist? I recall there being a Dieter a decade or two back...maybe even at The Stick?
Looks like it wasn't him. Ruehle does Kings and Dodgers.
Jurickson Profar - who had a weirdly good year last year after a career of generally sucking and signed with the Braves during the offseason - tests positive for roids. He's been suspended for half of this season, plus is also ineligible for the postseason
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44482019/braves-jurickson-profar-gets-80-game-ban-ped-violation
Poor A’s. Welcome to Sacramento.
A's lose to the Cubs 18-3, with Carson Kelly hitting for the Cycle.
My buddy got an invitation to put a deposit down. He put his $200 down and then was shocked to find that tickets were outrageously expensive.
https://mlb.tickets.com/?agency=MLB_MPV&orgId=57649&pid=9487270&tfl=Athletics-Tickets-Buy_Athletics_Tickets-Single_Game_Tickets_Buy_Tickets_Button-x0-Desktop-Landscape&adobe_mc=MCMID=77845120567241301844463760758896810804&MCORGID=A65F776A5245B01B0A490D44%40AdobeOrg&TS=1743524838&affiliateId=tdl-Los_Angeles_Dodgers-Spring_training-Dodgers_Spring_Training-button-x0-Desktop-Landscape#/event/9487270/ticketlist/?view=sections&minPrice=48.45&maxPrice=302.2&quantity=1&sort=price_desc&ada=false&seatSelection=false&onlyCoupon=true&onlyVoucher=false
I thought that if I visited my brother who lives in the foothills we might go down for a game. $50 to sit on the lawn in the right field corner, I don’t think so.
Don't like it? Bring it up at the Athletics Media Tool Shed.
https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/as-holding-press-conferences-tool-shed.html
I saw this and I thought it was an April Fools Joke.
The April Fool's Day joke is A's ownership and senior management.
If you buy a ticket to the Solon club, does all your debt get wiped away?
CAL
[WTEN] No. 17 Cal Beats Miami To Stay Tied For First Place In ACC
https://calbears.com/news/2025/3/31/womens-tennis-no-17-cal-beats-miami-to-stay-tied-for-first-place-in-acc.aspx
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 17th-ranked California women's tennis team shook off a rain-induced postponement to defeat No. 69 Miami 4-2 on Monday, run its winning streak to 10 straight matches and remain tied for first place in the ACC. Senior Lan Mi clinched the victory.
[BASE] Cal Finishes 9-Game Road Trip At Sacramento State
https://calbears.com/news/2025/3/31/baseball-cal-finishes-9-game-road-trip-at-sacramento-state.aspx
KEY THINGS TO KNOW
FINAL GAME OF ROAD TRIP - Cal ends a season-long nine-game road trip Tuesday at Sacramento State. The Golden Bears have won six of their first eight contests on the trip starting with a season-long five-game win streak March 18 at Saint Mary's, including a historic three-game sweep at No. 14 Stanford (March 21-23) that was its first of the Cardinal in recorded history and first of Stanford at any venue since taking three straight in Berkeley in 1992, and finishing with a win at San Francisco (March 24). The Bears dropped two-of-three at Louisville (March 28-30) in their most recent series, winning the middle game.
[WGYM] Lauzon, Williams Named WCGA All-Americans
https://calbears.com/news/2025/3/31/womens-gymnastics-lauzon-williams-named-wcga-all-americans.aspx
BERKELEY – California women's gymnasts Mya Lauzon and Maddie Williams were named WCGA All-Americans, the organization announced Monday.
WCGA (Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association) All-America selections are determined purely by National Qualifying Scores (NQS). First Team honors are awarded to the top eight finishers, plus ties, of the NCAA regular season for all four events plus the all-around. Second Team honors are awarded to the ninth through sixteenth place finishers, plus ties.
Go Bears!!!
Cal. Band. Fake.
https://x.com/calband/status/1907143943952949503?s=46
Cal's Marta Suarez - who was lights out - is in the portal
https://x.com/TaliaGoodmanWBB/status/1907120126224179395
I wonder if "do not contact" means she already knows where she is going.
I love goooooooooooold.
https://x.com/CalFootball/status/1907072659269239123
Is this an April Fool's joke? I think this is going to backfire.
Other teams in white uniforms are going to blend into the gold background. I forecast a rise in INTs delivered by Cal QBs... at home!
I think it is.
But I lowkey like it.
Just so long as you don't have to play on it!
Can't wait for Georgia Tech to come visit
There's an argument not to have done what they done did.
DBD AV CLUB
POLITICS
The Elon Musk $1m lottery giveaway went to the WI GOP College Republicans chairman. What are the odds? Like 100%?
Mississippi accidentally signs into law to eliminate state income tax in 14 years due to a typo
https://apnews.com/us-news/taxes-tate-reeves-mississippi-general-news-573ad75c52cb94af8f8adc90d1cd5e96
After the Trump administration took over the Luigi Mangioni case (United Health CEO murder case), AG Pam Bondi has given instructions to seek the death penalty. Ok. It''s official. The government is now trying to kill people for political purposes.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/01/luigi-mangione-death-penalty-00005901
* sigh *
FOOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic62RsJ9kRQ
Cal Athletic Director Jim Knowlton has resigned saying: "I'm clearly in over my head. I've made countless mistakes and my incompetence has been glaringly obvious to even the most casual observer. I apologize to the university and the athletic department in particular." Knowlton's resignation is effective immediately.
Frontier Airlines Introduces ‘Vertical Class’ — The First-Ever Standing Room Fares
https://upgradedpoints.com/news/frontier-introduces-vertical-class-standing-room-fares/
In a bold attempt to help reduce air travel costs, low-cost airline Frontier has introduced the industry’s first-ever standing room fare — Vertical Class.
Passengers looking to save as much as possible and who don’t mind being on their feet for the entire flight can soon fly for as little as $9 each way to any of the airline’s 120+ destinations.
They are also going to experiment with the Brooks Class fares. Fares are even cheaper, starting with free depending on who you are.
https://encyclopediavirginia.org/4303hpr-7e68246b9587078/
You also have to sign a waiver before boarding!
Good one!
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
The money is apparently better in NIL than pro WBB
https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3llpntwvyck2z
Ooops All Ones.
Final Four for both men's and women's basketball tournaments are all top seeds.
I need more than one year to call this a trend, but with the open portal driving all the best players to the programs with the most money, you have to wonder . . .
OSOC model is best for guessing the champion (your bracket will probably be hosed as a result most years).
In the women's tourney an upstart UConn seeded second crashed the party.
My bad.
UConn would have had a real hard time vs US$ if JuJu had been able to play.
Yup, absent the JuJu injury we'd have four number one seeds on the women's side as well.
What this nonsense about "madness?