The article says nothing about *why* the chimney was installed. I wonder if the chimney is disassembled and the flue is capped after each conclave has concluded. That might make sense in that the visible stack is apparently metal, and presumably subject to corrosion.
Knicks vs Celtics game 1 tonight. we have tickets to game 4 at MSG. i am hoping that as long as Celtics are not up 3-0 by then, it will be a good game to be at.
Jets win Game 7 in double-OT over the Blues with a dramatic tying goal with 1.6 seconds left in regulation - but Morrissey is so very sickened, oh, so sickened now
i exchanged a hearty "Go Bears" at the doctor's office today. my ENT doc was a Cal undergrad and her kid goes to UCLA (math major).
we talked about Alex Filippenko and how much fun his astronomy classes were. i didnt actually take his classes. rather i was an undergrad TA for them. i sat in on a few lectures since there was so much hype about what a great prof he was.
In the United States, May 4 is informally observed as "Dave Brubeck Day". In the format most commonly used in the U.S., May 4 is written "5/4", recalling the time signature of "Take Five", Brubeck's best-known recording.
Trump said he'd declare 100% tariffs on films made outside the US. I personally am looking forward to the next episode of the Lord of the Rings miniseries shot in Fresno
If things keep going like this the National Mall is going to be off limits for me. First Trump is going to have his birthday parade and now the NFL is going to take it over for the draft in 2027.
Case in point: the On3 Nebraska guys being super excited about getting Kyle Cunanan on scholarship because their other two kickers are iffy and not directly addressing the elephant in the room - they may have to cut about 15 percent of their team within three month
I counted. Cal has 97 players, so room for 8 more. I expect them to get TE, another PK, a CB, an OLB, and maybe a S. And then final 3 spots in hand for opportunistic pick ups.
Without reading the NYT article, I will say that football has always presented problems for institutions when it comes to Title IX and finances.
College football would be a different game if roster limits were much closer to the NFL's 53 active with 17 on the practice squad. It would also make it easier on teams with regards to travel, scholarships, and institutional compliance with Title IX.
College football roster limits were immense in the days before Title IX (1972). Some schools could afford to stash players who would have been starters elsewhere on scholarship. As recently as the early 1990s, scholarships players and walk-ons could be as many as 130 combined. 106 of those could be players on scholarship. Then the numbers of scholarship started to drop. Now, it's down to 85 scholarship players in FBS football, which is still many, many male athletes on scholarship, particularly when you consider the number of roster spots in all other sports available to women.
Posted here on Friday that it was Mental Health Awareness month and how it meant a lot to me given both my family and personal experiences. Someone decided to make a joke in response. I was stunned. Even though we're anonymous here we sometimes make ourselves vulnerable by posting of personal issues. When someone makes light of that it's discouraging. I've always felt "safe" on the DBD. Not so much now though.
I also like hearing what you have to say- and that DBD is a place to be real, sometimes about hard things, not just the excitement and misery of being Cal fans. I hate that you felt kicked in the gut- but I hope with time you don’t let the few insensitive commenters ruin your enjoyment, value and connection gained from DBD and W4C.
Ok, none of the revenue sports have good exciting news of late. But- Rugby national championship! Men’s swimming national championship runner-ups! Track and field world record holder!
And I’m still holding on to a glimmer of the Game Day excitement. Can’t take that away, evil portal.
Mental health is a hidden struggle for many. I know this from personal experience that hits close to home in my own family. I have been touched by mental health struggles in myriad ways and have empathy for folks struggling with their own issues or those with whom they are close.
Joking is how some folks deal with subjects with which they are uncomfortable or not knowledgeable. Doesn't excuse it; that small bit of insight might provide some meager illumination.
I have enjoyed reading many of your observations and opinions, even if I have found them to challenge some of my own. I want you and others to continue to find this a safe place in which we can share observations, humor, and reasoned opinion, even if a tad tart.
I hope that you will continue to be a presence here.
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE
For one hour per year, Eastern Oregon and Western Florida have the same time
Remember that scene in "Outbreak" where Kevin Spacey's lover poked a hole in his suit while testing ebola?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markkortepeter/2025/05/04/nih-lab-studying-deadly-pathogens-goes-offline-over-safety-issues-is-the-public-at-risk/
What happened to the previous chimney they used?
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/03/nx-s1-5385869/vatican-chimney-new-pope
The article says nothing about *why* the chimney was installed. I wonder if the chimney is disassembled and the flue is capped after each conclave has concluded. That might make sense in that the visible stack is apparently metal, and presumably subject to corrosion.
A boat with 32 bikini clad influencers started sinking. The Coast Guard from 54 different US states responded within minutes [kinda NSFW].
https://nypost.com/2025/05/04/us-news/4m-lamborghini-luxury-yacht-flipped-over-off-miami-beach-32-rescued/
PRO
BUDDY HIELD!!!
.. hits 9 3's as Warriors win game 7 vs Rockets. defense was solid too. holding Rockets under 90 pts again.
now #6 plays #7 seed.
I had this song in my head all night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX6G6sODMrQ
Rockets reverted back to poor-shooting form in the closing game, unfortunately for them.
Ravens release their 7x all-pro/massage enthusiast PK
https://x.com/Ravens/status/1919496424602951758
Knicks vs Celtics game 1 tonight. we have tickets to game 4 at MSG. i am hoping that as long as Celtics are not up 3-0 by then, it will be a good game to be at.
Vlad Jr has a half billion dollar fully-guaranteed contract. The Blue Jays are now dead last in homers and Jr has a small WAR value as a batter
https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/stats/_/name/tor/table/batting/sort/homeRuns/dir/desc
Wasn't it just last week (certainly within my adult lifetime) that a $100M contract was seen as unrealistic and obscene for a baseball player?
Aaron Judge is batting 0.423 with a 1.287 OPS
https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/player/_/view/batting/players/7/table/batting/sort/OPS/dir/desc
Royals had only 18 homers through 34 games. Then they go off for 7 in one game.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44998745/royals-set-club-record-seven-home-runs-vs-orioles
Jets win Game 7 in double-OT over the Blues with a dramatic tying goal with 1.6 seconds left in regulation - but Morrissey is so very sickened, oh, so sickened now
https://x.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1919204916783927529
https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3280704
Willy Adames finally breaks out for 2 homers and a double as the Giants take 3 of 4 from Colorado.
https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/willy-adames-win-rockies/1847790/
CAL
Women's basketball adds a third player from the portal https://www.instagram.com/p/DJPkvcty9Tb/?img_index=1 Looks like we have a much-needed forward.
Go Bears!!!
i exchanged a hearty "Go Bears" at the doctor's office today. my ENT doc was a Cal undergrad and her kid goes to UCLA (math major).
we talked about Alex Filippenko and how much fun his astronomy classes were. i didnt actually take his classes. rather i was an undergrad TA for them. i sat in on a few lectures since there was so much hype about what a great prof he was.
Cal wins Rugby Natty!
https://writeforcalifornia.com/p/cal-rugby-d1a-2025-national-champions-life
FIVE
Take _
also May 4th is Dave Brubeck Day.
In the United States, May 4 is informally observed as "Dave Brubeck Day". In the format most commonly used in the U.S., May 4 is written "5/4", recalling the time signature of "Take Five", Brubeck's best-known recording.
I noticed the Giants organist playing Take Five yesterday. Didn't make the connection until now.
Not being hyperbolic when I say that it's one of my favorite songs of all time.
today is the "Revenge of the Fifth" as a follow up to Star Wars Day yesterday (May the Fourth Be With You).
yesterday we watched Episodes IV and V.
ON IT
By Oaktown's own Luniz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me3CPl_i4C4
POLITICS
Trump said he'd declare 100% tariffs on films made outside the US. I personally am looking forward to the next episode of the Lord of the Rings miniseries shot in Fresno
https://www.thewrap.com/trump-promises-100-percent-movie-tariff-outside-us/
Tariff away. I'm still going to find a way to watch Paddington 4.
Rep Mike Lawler (R-NY 7th) held a town hall meeting. It did not go well
https://bsky.app/profile/thejenniwren.teamlh.social/post/3lof7h3prp22u
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/new-york-gop-congressman-shelled-questions-trump-raucous-121458724
Trump says he's going to reopen [checks notes]... Alcatraz as a prison
https://apnews.com/article/trump-alcatraz-prison-fabe3385415ae03829d44e50efb3c1fb
If things keep going like this the National Mall is going to be off limits for me. First Trump is going to have his birthday parade and now the NFL is going to take it over for the draft in 2027.
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
The messy consequences around the lack of clarity of the 105 roster limit enforcement and the young men on the fringe who may get left out to dry
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6275758/2025/04/14/college-football-roster-limits-spring-portal/
Case in point: the On3 Nebraska guys being super excited about getting Kyle Cunanan on scholarship because their other two kickers are iffy and not directly addressing the elephant in the room - they may have to cut about 15 percent of their team within three month
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v122fsJLvQ
I counted. Cal has 97 players, so room for 8 more. I expect them to get TE, another PK, a CB, an OLB, and maybe a S. And then final 3 spots in hand for opportunistic pick ups.
I bet it will be filled with 4 DBs, 2 LBs and 2 DLs.
Without reading the NYT article, I will say that football has always presented problems for institutions when it comes to Title IX and finances.
College football would be a different game if roster limits were much closer to the NFL's 53 active with 17 on the practice squad. It would also make it easier on teams with regards to travel, scholarships, and institutional compliance with Title IX.
College football roster limits were immense in the days before Title IX (1972). Some schools could afford to stash players who would have been starters elsewhere on scholarship. As recently as the early 1990s, scholarships players and walk-ons could be as many as 130 combined. 106 of those could be players on scholarship. Then the numbers of scholarship started to drop. Now, it's down to 85 scholarship players in FBS football, which is still many, many male athletes on scholarship, particularly when you consider the number of roster spots in all other sports available to women.
DBD AV CLUB
Star Wars Episode IV - 19/19.
"will someone get this walking carpet out of my way"
- Leia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwWsZQr7ZEk
Posted here on Friday that it was Mental Health Awareness month and how it meant a lot to me given both my family and personal experiences. Someone decided to make a joke in response. I was stunned. Even though we're anonymous here we sometimes make ourselves vulnerable by posting of personal issues. When someone makes light of that it's discouraging. I've always felt "safe" on the DBD. Not so much now though.
I reviewed the comment. It has been removed.
Thanks.
sorry to hear that. i like what everyone has to say, especially on the personal stuff.
I also like hearing what you have to say- and that DBD is a place to be real, sometimes about hard things, not just the excitement and misery of being Cal fans. I hate that you felt kicked in the gut- but I hope with time you don’t let the few insensitive commenters ruin your enjoyment, value and connection gained from DBD and W4C.
Thanks, very well said. If decades of following Cal football haven't discouraged me than an insensitive comment isn't going to.
you said it much better than me. i wasnt sure how to word the thing you just said. so thanks.
also .. can you remind us about the "excitement of being Cal fans"? i feel like that hasnt happened in a while.
Ok, none of the revenue sports have good exciting news of late. But- Rugby national championship! Men’s swimming national championship runner-ups! Track and field world record holder!
And I’m still holding on to a glimmer of the Game Day excitement. Can’t take that away, evil portal.
Mental health is a hidden struggle for many. I know this from personal experience that hits close to home in my own family. I have been touched by mental health struggles in myriad ways and have empathy for folks struggling with their own issues or those with whom they are close.
Joking is how some folks deal with subjects with which they are uncomfortable or not knowledgeable. Doesn't excuse it; that small bit of insight might provide some meager illumination.
I have enjoyed reading many of your observations and opinions, even if I have found them to challenge some of my own. I want you and others to continue to find this a safe place in which we can share observations, humor, and reasoned opinion, even if a tad tart.
I hope that you will continue to be a presence here.
Thanks FS. I'm not going anywhere, actually going on vacation for two weeks plus on Friday. I look forward to your comments as well.
where is vacation again?
England and Scotland.