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Took me a while to notice that bear there.

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as did I, but I did look at this at like 4 in the morn. "what is the point of this photo?", I thought.

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Today in Covid

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I finally tested (PCR) negative yesterday...yay! Altho I still have symptoms. (Maybe I have a cold now?)

Daughter who has been healthy for the last week is still testing positive :-/ So she can't go to school (until monday, because xx days since (first) positive test). Wondering what will happen next Friday when they do the weekly test and (if) she is still positive. Send her home? I don't understand that "it's been xx days since your positive test, so come on back" policy

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sign of the times i guess. my wife is usually the most cautious about masking and following the rules and going above and beyond them.

our older daughter (who had coronavirus in Mar) was with a friend in a hotel room all weekend and the friend tested positive.

my wife was fine w/ my daughter resuming all normal stuff w/o masks as long as she tested negative on a rapid test.

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Couldn't have done it without you.

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DBD Reading Club

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“Golden Age” by Jane Smiley. Last of a trilogy tracing an extended family through the last 100 years of US history. Really great, distinct, well-rendered characters. The first book (“Some Luck”) was my favorite.

Not reading: my email.

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Currently:

Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India

By: Shashi Tharoor - one of the better books I've read on the subject.

&

The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century

By: Steven Pinker - pretty good with interesting comments on the evolution of "style" books.

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Am randomly re-reading (after many years) Ship of the Line by C. S. Forester

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Recently finished We Begin Our Ascent by Joe Mungo Reed, and definitely recommend for anyone who likes cycling, but really for anyone who likes a compelling story. Quick, smart and interesting, about a high level domestique in the TdF.

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Will add to the list.

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Just finished Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise and Fall of SST Records. Even though I largely know most of the stories around the label, still essential for anyone like myself who cut their teeth on those records.

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Interesting...

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Current reading stack:

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - LeCarre

re-reading Hong Kong - Jan Morris

City of Devils - Paul French

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YOU read bloodline

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About to finish A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan( won a Pulitzer). Masterful prose. I've been making a conscious effort to read more female writers and found some excellent ones: Donna Tartt, Elizabeth Strout, Shirley Jackson and Miriam Toews to name a few.

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A few recs for you:

Ann Patchett (esp The Dutch House)

Barbara Kingsolver (esp Poisonwood Bible)

Liz Moore (Long Bright River)

Margot Livesey (The Boy in the Field)

Ann Napolitano (Dear Edward)

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Thanks. Have read Patchett and Kingslover books, will look into the others.

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Libby->Kindle->airplane mode is my solution to this problem, although sometimes then I lose momentum to finish.

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Libby is great

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Frickin loved The Lincoln Highway. Favorite book of the year so far. That little kid is absolutely the best.

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I got about 100 or so pages into A Gentleman in Moscow, but man, have to say it is pretty boring so far. Have switched over to a book of short stories by Ted Chiang that is pretty good called Exhalation

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Same here.

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Ted Chiang is so so so good. I loved that collection.

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Cinco

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Going to The Greek tonight to see Bert Kreischer, Mark Normand, Sam Morril (and probably a couple others) as part of the Netflix Is A Joke festival. Haven't been to a live comedy show since before the pandemic and I'm looking forward to seeing how it transitions to an outdoor venue like The Greek.

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I have upcoming shows for Dave Attell, Patton Oswalt and Jeff Ross

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That sounds like one hell of a show

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Bil Burr is going to be in Oakland on the 14th. .. . alas, I have like TWO other commitments for the 14th.

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Try not to rush the stage.

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I'm in one of the higher up terrace sections, so I think I'll be ok

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I went to Hasan Minhaj last Sat night. He was great. Masks were required in the SJ Performing Arts center but I saw quite a few people without them, or tucked under their nose/mouth.

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Surprisingly there are zero restrictions at The Greek since it's an outdoor venue. We saw Primus there last year and I think about 40% of the crowd was masked.

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And 60% was smoking through their mask?

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De drinko

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Today is the 34th anniversary of my wife and I becoming parents yet for some reason we celebrate my daughter's birth instead. Still bummed the missus couldn't hold out one day so the kid could have shared a birthday with Willie Mays.

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This reminds me that my mother went into false labor with my kid sister (I was 9 years old at the time) in late April. It may have been on the same date I would be married to Mrs Slug 17 years later, but I digress.

At any rate, my kid sister (Little C) was born on May 6. Yup, she shares a birthday with Willie Mays. Willie was still with the Giants when Little C was born, about 3 years before he was traded to the New York Mets (which was on this day in 1972, a day which still lives in infamy in my heart).

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The Mays and McCovey trades still rankle.

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Don't I know it. For some reason, trading Stretch was just as much of a gut punch if not more to me. Maybe because it came only a year and a half after Mays had been traded. I was glad that McCovey came back to the Giants, even if he still had bad knees. What Giants fan of that era doesn't love Willie Mac?

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I saw his last game which was -- goodness me -- 42 years ago. Interviewed him once when I was a reporter. Very nice man with a sense of humor.

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Blueberry

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DBD AV Club

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Started Under the Banner of Heaven. The Jon Krakauer book on which it is "based" is probably the best non-fiction book I've ever read. The book is largely historical. The series is more of a fictional drama built around a single family. It's a little disorienting since it's so unlike the book, but still entertaining.

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I read the book. . .. when I was road tripping and camping around Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. (Bryce, Zion, and North Rim) so some of the small towns mentioned, we drove through.

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I enjoyed Moon Knight, but I can see how other people wouldn't.

Still in the middle of:

Tokyo Vice

Under the Banner of Heaven

We Own This City

Pachinko

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I had mixed feelings about Tokyo Vice - some parts that I thought were really good, others less so. I'll be curious to see what you think about the ending.

I was talking to the 17 y.o. about it, and mentioned that I'd have recommended it aside from the fact that it has Ansel Elgort in it, whom she dislikes considerably, and then was glad I didn't when I got to the episode with all the banging.

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Aside from the wooden acting, he's also an allegedly sexual assault perp; I was impressed with his Japanese.

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I didn't read properly and thought that you were talking Pachinko and that Ansel Elgort is playing Tom (but it's the Westworld actor, right?). Was gonna say that his Japanese is *not* very good (seems to be just memorized sounds. But I also know that my Japanese sounds much better in my head than in the wild, having heard recordings of it...but my English sounds better in my head than in real life also.

in the end, will prob watch Tokyo Vice at some point

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I think those allegations are what put her off. I thought his generally wooden affect was well matched to the role - someone who is constantly acting a little out of place even as he is trying to fit in.

My trivial movie beef is that Baby Driver could have really hit the ridiculous tone it was aiming for with someone more obviously... charismatic? Odd?

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Pachinko is great - we really enjoyed Moon Knight, and I glad that CGI has come far enough for the graphics to look that good.

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I've slowly kept going with Pachinko, getting better.

Tehran S2 starts tonight!

Started S2 of Russian doll...stopped after E2.

Watching S4 of Maisel, but might stop.

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Maisel is fun, silly fun, but why stop?

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I'm not interested in what she's doing career-wise. Joel's bit is boring. the dad is too zany (and annoying) now. I'm halfway thru so might just stick with it, but I'll prob spend time watching other stuff first.

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The Empire Strikes Back .. watched most of it last night.

"i am altering the deal. pray i dont alter it any further"

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Far and away the best Star Wars movie.

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Elsewhere in college

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Jacquizz Rodgers. Haven't heard that name in a while but he's done a lot of damage on us.

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The omissions of Chuck Muncie and Jahvid Best are egregious and I don't know anyone who'd rank Justin Forsett ahead of either of them or Russell White for that matter.

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Even for non-Cal stuff, it's pretty bad - OJ is far and away the best back in the conference, and should be way ahead of Reggie Bush.

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Having seen all but Mike Garrett and Ernie Nevers play in real time (had to rely on historic footage for the oldest 2), its an impressive group, and could easily be expanded to 30 or 35 without adding anyone who wouldn't belong. Sorting them is a pointless exercise; I'm just happy to have seen them do things most people can't.

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OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

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JD Vance comes from way behind and takes the Ohio GOP Senate Primary. Shows what a Trump endorsement (for JD Mandel) and Peter Theil's money can do. Man, I hope Tim Ryan wins that race.

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"JD Vance comes from way behind" I bet he does, the dirty bugger

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Jennifer-Ruth Green wins IN-01 GOP primary. She's African-American and a woman and a Trumper. However, she will probably lose vs. the DEM incumbent.

https://ballotpedia.org/Indiana%27s_1st_Congressional_District

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William Todd Wilson plead guilty to two counts of sedition and faces up to 40 years in Federal prison. According to court documents related to his case, Oath Keepers and Proud Boys coordinated with Trump, including asking the Trump administration for permission to use force to stop the transfer of power.

https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1521876977220730882

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Half-Scoop seems to like booger-sugar.

https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1521876977220730882

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May 5, 2022·edited May 5, 2022Author

Gov DeWine (R-OH) wins GOP primary, fending off 3 Trumpers. Ohio turnout was the third lowest in history at 20.6%.

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/03/1096005706/on-primary-day-3-pro-trump-candidates-challenge-ohio-gov-mike-dewine-for-his-off

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Rep. Cawthorn (R-NC) has a video leaked of him naked in bed, humping his male cousin. Cawthorn says he was just being crass. I mean, who among us hasn't?

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someone in the GOP levers of power is really trying to destroy Cawthorn . . .and here I say: Let them fight.

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it's a very safe GOP seat so they might as well try and get someone less... problematic

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Which brings to mind a quote attributed to Harry Truman in 1941:

"If we see that Germany is winning we ought to help Russia and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany, and that way let them kill as many as possible, although I don't want to see Hitler victorious under any circumstances."

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PRO

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Ohtani taking names and kicking A. 2-4 with a RBI and 11Ks in seven shoutout innings.

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Did Jimmy G knock up Bob Kraft's girlfriend and that's why he got traded?

https://twitter.com/lil_buts/status/1522044047006834689?s=20&t=KD6REuhzqPL0D64ThOCNew

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It's definitely Matt Cassel's baby!

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ALLEGEDLY very strong genes.

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hahahaha, you can't tell from that! So the baby is cute, that's not *quite* enough.

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That baby is rumored to have slow feet in the playpen, is unable to read defenses or recognize linebackers in coverage, and throws costly interceptions...oh, and is very expensive. But the baby is by most accounts an all-around good kid, is popular at day care, and is well-liked by classmates.

Chip off the old block...it’s gotta be Jimmy G’s kid.

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Except for the feet part, he could be Chase Garbers' kid.

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That baby in the swimming pool photo is his spitting image.

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Any by girlfriend do they mean preferred masseuse?

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No, they mean girlfriend.

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Team owner celebrates in his own way

https://twitter.com/MoneyLynch/status/1522237978789093377

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Giants get all their balloons popped in LA

https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2022/5/4/23057956/giants-dodgers-recap-alex-wood-brandon-crawford

Let me present you with a list of the fi... hold up, sorry, I jumped the gun here. The San Francisco Giants lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-1 on Wednesday night. There’s what you came for. There’s the pertinent info. There’s the search engine stuff that will get this article some clicks.

OK, where was I? Oh, right...

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Mookie Betts is heating up, Dodgers finish off sweep of Giants

https://www.truebluela.com/2022/5/4/23058004/mookie-betts-home-run-tony-gonsolin-dodgers-sweep-giants

A simmering Mookie Betts homered, Tony Gonsolin pitched five strong innings, and the Dodgers poured it on late to finish off a two-game sweep of the Giants with a 9-1 win on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.

Betts had two hits, drove in two runs, and scored twice to help Los Angeles pick up their second win in as many nights over their rivals.

Clayton Kershaw didn’t pitch in Wednesday’s game, but he was interviewed from the dugout on the SportsNet LA broadcast during the bottom of the third inning and top of the fourth. Asked about the lack of offense around the sport and the deadened baseball, Kershaw joked that batters just need to hit the ball harder.

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I always take a deep breath before Gonsolin games. But great to see that the little offensive slide before this series was temporary. Hoping JT can figure some things out.

Pitchingwise we should get Heaney (who was looking good) and Treinen back soon, though might be a touch longer than expected. Price and White should also be back, FWIW.

Dodgers have banked some late-season rotation help when May and Duffy join. Pepiot will probably be called up later. And hopefully that scuzzbucket dirtbag Bauer will be off the books and permanently out of MLB shortly.

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Unless Bauer's appeal gets shortened, the Dodgers won't be on the hook for the rest of this year and next. I bet if it gets shortened then maybe next year is only half a year. If I remember his contract was front loaded so his 3rd year was much lower than the first two. At that point just release him.

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I haven't heard a timeline for his appeal. Is it really that long?

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I have no idea. But I figure the arbitrator won't shorten it to fewer than 162 games and hopefully not fewer than 1.5 years of games.

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I think the only thing keeping him paid now is the appeal. He's been quite defiant so I expect the league will not be kind at all. Probably just stalling to get a bit more cash since he will never have a big contract (or possibly any contract, for that matter) again.

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A's suffer second consecutive sweep, give Tampa Bay the franchise's first sweep in Oakland

https://www.athleticsnation.com/2022/5/4/23057363/game-25-as-lose-to-rays-montas

The Oakland A’s lost their sixth straight game today, losing 3-0 and getting swept at home by the Tampa Bay Rays.

It was a pitching duel at the Coliseum today, with both teams pitching shutouts heading into the eighth. The A’s blinked first, surrendering three runs immediately after starter Frankie Montas departed the game. The bullpen has been a problem lately.

The offense couldn’t get much going against the Rays’ pitching staff for the second time this series, collecting just four hits and a walk while striking out nine times. Tampa Bay is fourth in the A.L. in ERA for a reason.

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ESPN: MLB offensive slump. It might be MLB humidor shenanigans to deaden the ball.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33848888/what-heck-going-baseball-everything-need-know-mlb-scoring-drought

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I think the humidor and the dead balls are two separate things. MLB changed the balls without telling anyone last year and only admitted in the offseason after studies that there were two different balls. This year, the deader balls have been used a lot more, but they might swap those out again soon.

It's probably good that fewer flyballs are going out of the park, but the inconsistent meddling is both not a good look but totally expected from the Manfred administration.

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GPII injury worse than expected.

https://www.si.com/nba/2022/05/05/gary-payton-ii-elbow-injury-mri-results

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Sort of worse than expected, the resident doctor the Bay Area media goes to for injury predictions said 4-6 weeks was the best case scenario, so ~3 weeks is a smidge better. However I'm doubtful he'll return this season. No reason to risk further damage after the season he had. Brooks should be suspended one game at a minimum.

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ONE game? ONE GAME? Are you nuts? That's not a punishment, it's an "Atta boy! Go get 'em!"

Brooks should be suspended for the playoffs. Period. End of statement.

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May 5, 2022·edited May 5, 2022

Totally agreed, if he were to be uninjured one game would be the minimum (which was announced today), but for a season ending injury he should have an equally severe punishment. Apparently he has an "enforcer" reputation that I was unaware of, so one game is not much of a punishment. If only there was plunking in the NBA, maybe they can sign Zaza to a 10 day.

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Yes, although suspending for this series should do the trick.

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NBA hasn't announced a suspension yet. Wonder if they were waiting to see how long GPII was going to be out before deciding.

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Hey Rockies scoreboard operator, U OK?

https://twitter.com/TheSuzieHunter/status/1521647412527259649

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The scoreboard operator misspelled "Benatar".

That is all.

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CAL

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Annie Falcon's egg are hatching now.

https://calfalcons.berkeley.edu/webcams/

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The first one is a... hairy pelota?

https://twitter.com/CalFalconCam/status/1522234771350425602

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Oh. The pelota developed fuzz. It looks much more bird like and much less testical-ish.

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Go Bears!!!

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Bears are rather intelligent testing the line strength before hanging from it, but that's a lot of work for an empty feeder.

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[LAX] Bears lose in the first round of the Pac12 Championship 17-8. Cal ends the season 2-16 (1-9). Cal finished 98th (out of 117 D1 teams) in points per game, 93rd for assists, 95th for shot percentage, 111th for saves percentage, 111th for wins. Cal loses at least two of their top three scorers, but should return a veteran team next season. Upward and onward, Bears!

https://calbears.com/news/2022/5/4/lacrosse-cal-drops-pac-12-quarterfinal-to-arizona-state-17-8.aspx

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