Mitch Johnson's interim title removed as Popovich officially steps down as HC and moves to President of basketball operations, which seems appropriate due to his recent stroke-related health problems
The French union, General Confederation of Labour (CGT), have threatened to block the third stage of this summer’s Tour de France over a labour dispute.
Stage Three is slated to take place in the Nord department of France on July 7, running between Valenciennes and Dunkirk.
Union officials are upset at a potential 302 redundancies at steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal, one of the largest employers in the Nord region. The organisation say they will organise disruption unless the French government holds negotiations over the nationalisation of the country’s steel industry.
Cal has almost completely reloaded. Got the top ILB in the portal yesterday along with another solid DL and a DB/special teams guy. This morning, they got a starting CB. Still hunting for depth at RB, WR and TE and will see what remaining "best available" guys still are out there but the team looks to be in very good shape heading into the fall.
While eating lunch I caught the end of beach volleyball on ESPN2. Cal goes down to Texas 3-2 in the first round of the tournament. Deciding match was tied til the bitter end.
it seems that there is plenty of legal and judicial pushback back to the borderline (or clearly over the line) stuff that Trump is trying to do. the strategy seems to be to just not care and keep doing it anyways.
while i am sure that in other countries this happens a lot as they drift towards something-bad-ism, it is somewhat new and unprecedented in out country to flout the rules so openly.
the argument seems to be that it is SO broken that we need to tear it all down.
The Executive Branch is responsible for enforcing the Judicial Branch's rulings. The first line of federal enforcement is the Federal Marshals, who are under AG Pam Bondi. Bondi might have callouses on her knees from being such an ultra-MAGA sycophant. If Federal Marshals don't enforce, then judges can still try to enforce civil cases - which are state level. So we get localized conflicts of state national guards against Federal Marshals with US military then deciding the power balance?
Or MAGA becoming so unpopular Trump gets Ceaușescu'd?
This is something I take seriously especially given my family history and own experiences. I'm pleased to see that more and more people are being open about their struggles. There shouldn't be any more stigma about afflictions like depression than there is about physical ailments such as diabetes. Also, it's not a joke to say that the current political climate is contributing to anxiety for millions.
Seriously? That's supposed to be funny? When I've not only mentioned mental health but my own and that of my family? Get a clue, dude. You've been picking at me for a long time on this board and frankly I'm sick of it. Why don't you do me a favor and ignore my posts from now on.
I have a pair of rollerblades moldering in my garage now. It's been may eight years since I've worn them simply because there's no smooth place to use them. I snow skied last December and water skied last summer. I tried snow boarding once like 25 years ago and decided that my ego was too brittle to start over in a snow sport when I was already good at skiing. I last tried to surf last summer and turned around before the break because I have "tech neck" and the nerve damage from surfing ain't worth it.
A long time ago when I lived in Alaska I was the same with XC skiing. In running races I generally was in the top five or ten finishers and won a couple times. In XC I would get beaten by half the field including recreational skiers because I had no technique or upper body strength. I quickly stuck to year round running.
Skied four solid days at Steamboat Springs in February this year. A group of us (10-15 people) do a big trip every year, since 2007. First 10 years we stayed in North America, then we started going international - Europe, Japan, Chile.
Since I’m the oldest my challenge is to keep up with at least half of them, tho I don’t do chutes or double blacks. My gripe about American resorts is they keep moving the age at which one qualifies for a Senior discount on lift tickets!
i have never really skated (aside from roller rink bday parties as a kid). no surfing, no snowboarding.
on the other hand, i skied 15 days this last season, which might be the most ever. it would have been another 5 days if younger child didnt get mono and we had to cancel a Jan ski trip to Breckenridge and Aspen.
all in all, a very successful ski year. also, i would say at 54, i am still improving as a skier. learning to ski with less effort so that i can keep doing it for longer.
hopefully HAG and I can hook up next year for a ski trip now that he is back to skiing regularly.
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE
Brotherly love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=533pibuu0EQ
Substack is acting weird again. Wrote up a post. Posted it. It disappeared.
PRO
Mitch Johnson's interim title removed as Popovich officially steps down as HC and moves to President of basketball operations, which seems appropriate due to his recent stroke-related health problems
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44967466/sources-popovich-done-coaching-spurs-staying-front-office
French steel union threaten to block Tour de France route over labour dispute
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6328891/2025/05/02/tour-de-france-route-protest-cgt-labour-dispute/
The French union, General Confederation of Labour (CGT), have threatened to block the third stage of this summer’s Tour de France over a labour dispute.
Stage Three is slated to take place in the Nord department of France on July 7, running between Valenciennes and Dunkirk.
Union officials are upset at a potential 302 redundancies at steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal, one of the largest employers in the Nord region. The organisation say they will organise disruption unless the French government holds negotiations over the nationalisation of the country’s steel industry.
It's a sign of global warming if France's summer strike season is coming this early
in the cycling world, there is still a oft-repeated phrase "steel is real"
after my injuries, i sold my carbon fiber bike. i still own 2 steel frame bikes. one is nicely vintage .. early 90's with downtube shifters.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LMPJs8ZdWIFPsrGy2
CAL
Cal gets the commitment of WR Mark Hamper - who went from Idaho to Wisconsin in December and then to us. He lasted 0.99 Cunanans at Wisconsin.
https://writeforcalifornia.com/p/mark-hamper-cal-football-transfer
Cal has almost completely reloaded. Got the top ILB in the portal yesterday along with another solid DL and a DB/special teams guy. This morning, they got a starting CB. Still hunting for depth at RB, WR and TE and will see what remaining "best available" guys still are out there but the team looks to be in very good shape heading into the fall.
While eating lunch I caught the end of beach volleyball on ESPN2. Cal goes down to Texas 3-2 in the first round of the tournament. Deciding match was tied til the bitter end.
Go Bears!!!
POLITICS
House Dems are doing in the right way. Teeing up bills they are know are going to be voted down, but forcing the GOP to say the silent part out loud.
https://dailyboulder.com/house-republicans-just-voted-to-allow-trump-to-deport-u-s-citizens-to-a-foreign-country-eric-swalwell/
Texas floats a bill to solve a problem that doesn't exist
https://www.yahoo.com/news/the-furries-act-would-ban-texas-students-from-using-litter-boxes-in-school-critics-say-it-targets-a-problem-that-doesnt-exist-232330380.html
Cadet Bonespurs says he is going to rename Veterans Day
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/01/trump-rename-veterans-day-victory-day-for-world-war-i-00323118
So I guess that veterans from other than the two world wars are not as important anymore.
Come to think of it, think of how many tax dollars we could save if we only provided veterans benefits to those who served in wars we won. Maroon.
Trump defunds NPR and PBS.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-npr-pbs-republicans-public-broadcasting-f0e3e1acb96986732a0211833165bf84
Apropos to this, Trump's Executive Order titles are absolutely following in the footsteps of naming them like Borat would.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-orders/
(*sigh*)
it seems that there is plenty of legal and judicial pushback back to the borderline (or clearly over the line) stuff that Trump is trying to do. the strategy seems to be to just not care and keep doing it anyways.
while i am sure that in other countries this happens a lot as they drift towards something-bad-ism, it is somewhat new and unprecedented in out country to flout the rules so openly.
the argument seems to be that it is SO broken that we need to tear it all down.
But what does "tear it all down" look like?
The Executive Branch is responsible for enforcing the Judicial Branch's rulings. The first line of federal enforcement is the Federal Marshals, who are under AG Pam Bondi. Bondi might have callouses on her knees from being such an ultra-MAGA sycophant. If Federal Marshals don't enforce, then judges can still try to enforce civil cases - which are state level. So we get localized conflicts of state national guards against Federal Marshals with US military then deciding the power balance?
Or MAGA becoming so unpopular Trump gets Ceaușescu'd?
DBD AV CLUB
Kid Rock is producing a "pro-Patriot" music tour across America this summer. The headliner is... [checks notes]... Nickelback.
https://rockthecountry.com/lineup/
Didn't you hear? We are annexing Canada.
Two Duran Duran are in trouble with the law
https://www.yahoo.com/news/brother-sister-accused-kidnapping-woman-181209893.html
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
One third of NFL draftees from round 1 and 2 were portal players
https://mikefarrellsports.com/college/does-the-portal-play-a-part-in-rounds-1-2-of-the-nfl-draft
A story about a blind softball pitcher
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/high-school/2025/05/01/high-school-pitcher-legally-blind-st-johns-softball-scholarship/83327522007/
More from MIT Technology Review
How is The Legend of Zelda” Majora’s Mask a quarter of a century old!?
https://www.inverse.com/gaming/legend-of-zelda-majoras-mask-25-anniversary?mc_cid=2739849130&mc_eid=34ed9ebff0
If you’re a parent or teacher who’s having to put up with constant shouts of “six seven,” rest assured you’re not alone.
https://www.parents.com/why-cant-kids-stop-saying-six-seven-11722015
MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/mental-health-awareness-month/
This is something I take seriously especially given my family history and own experiences. I'm pleased to see that more and more people are being open about their struggles. There shouldn't be any more stigma about afflictions like depression than there is about physical ailments such as diabetes. Also, it's not a joke to say that the current political climate is contributing to anxiety for millions.
Seriously? That's supposed to be funny? When I've not only mentioned mental health but my own and that of my family? Get a clue, dude. You've been picking at me for a long time on this board and frankly I'm sick of it. Why don't you do me a favor and ignore my posts from now on.
When did you last skate/board/ski/surf?
I have a pair of rollerblades moldering in my garage now. It's been may eight years since I've worn them simply because there's no smooth place to use them. I snow skied last December and water skied last summer. I tried snow boarding once like 25 years ago and decided that my ego was too brittle to start over in a snow sport when I was already good at skiing. I last tried to surf last summer and turned around before the break because I have "tech neck" and the nerve damage from surfing ain't worth it.
A long time ago when I lived in Alaska I was the same with XC skiing. In running races I generally was in the top five or ten finishers and won a couple times. In XC I would get beaten by half the field including recreational skiers because I had no technique or upper body strength. I quickly stuck to year round running.
i am the same w/ snowboarding except that i decided about the same before i even tried once.
Skied four solid days at Steamboat Springs in February this year. A group of us (10-15 people) do a big trip every year, since 2007. First 10 years we stayed in North America, then we started going international - Europe, Japan, Chile.
Since I’m the oldest my challenge is to keep up with at least half of them, tho I don’t do chutes or double blacks. My gripe about American resorts is they keep moving the age at which one qualifies for a Senior discount on lift tickets!
I have no affinity for broken bones. Love the photo tho.
I have only very occasionally done any of these things in my entire life. I have a top-heavy frame and this kind of activity is hard for me.
i have never really skated (aside from roller rink bday parties as a kid). no surfing, no snowboarding.
on the other hand, i skied 15 days this last season, which might be the most ever. it would have been another 5 days if younger child didnt get mono and we had to cancel a Jan ski trip to Breckenridge and Aspen.
all in all, a very successful ski year. also, i would say at 54, i am still improving as a skier. learning to ski with less effort so that i can keep doing it for longer.
hopefully HAG and I can hook up next year for a ski trip now that he is back to skiing regularly.