In Chicago, Giants bats give Verlander a 4-0 after two innings. Verlander gives up 3 over 5 innings and ends up with a no-decision and remains a negative WAR pitcher. Camilo Doval now effective now that he's no longer the closer. The bad news is that Erik Miller - on his inaugural save opportunity - blows it by serving up two runs via two walks and a hit. In the 11th, Cubs reliever Ryan Pressley then gives up a [inherited runner on 2nd], double, single, sac bunt, walk, HBP, single, single, single as the Giants bat around in nine-run inning.
Mrs Slug had turned on the game after I came home from work. Giants were up 5-3 at that point (7th inning). Erik Miller was having his pitching meltdown and I got up to gather garbage to get trash to the curb. I wasn't going to watch the nonsense of the bullpen giving up what should have been a perfectly safe lead.
At some point, I realize the Cubbies had tied it up, forcing extras. Eff this nonsense. Walk the dogs. Come back in the 11th inning and it's 12-5 Giants. Mrs Slug regales me with the story with the Giants up 6-5 or 7-5 (whatever) about the batter who took a pitch inside, jumped out of the way, the ball goes to the backstop, scoring a run. Cubbies call for review, hoping it would be called a foul ball. Nope, the ball grazed the player's uniform, batter deemed to have been hit by pitch forcing in a run because the bases were loaded. Apparently the Cubbies bullpen can't get an out to save their freakin' life at that point.
Giants score 9 in the 11th inning at Wrigley Field, which, according to Duane Kuiper, has never been done before.
My lesson/takeaway is that I shouldn't watch Giants games; I'm a jinx.
after watching how non-competitive the T-wolves were in game 1 and the defense holding their ground again, i figured we might have a chance. not w/o Curry though.
Indi hits last second 3 to win the game and go up 2-0 in the series after it seeming like they had no chance down the stretch. Cavs kept making one mistake after another
Trump’s budget request for next year proposes 50%+ cuts to science agencies, which will devastate science for a generation as both students and experienced staff are forced out.
I commonly drive to my cousin in law's near Detroit for Thanksgiving (675 miles) and my sister in law's (508 mi). After living in Asia and commonly flying for more than 24 hours, a half-day of driving seems very doable.
Berkeley to West Lafayette, IN, and back with stops in Madison, WI, Chicago and Indianapolis. Cal Band road trip in '92 for the Purdue game. 3 minivans, 18 people, IIRC, and the torso of a female mannequin strapped to the front of one of the vans. In those days, the Bandsmen who went on those road trips would have to pay for it themselves, offset by a gig or two for local alumni (hence, the stop in Chicago). The stop in Madison was to pick up another trumpet player at his parents' house, and Indianapolis was to shower at an alum's apartment on the way home. Good times.
Bay Area to Chapel Hill for grad school. My sibling came with, fit in stops at a cousin’s house in Palmdale, visited a high school friend in Albuquerque (and side bar day trip to Santa Fe), overnight in Home of Garth Brooks Oklahoma City, wished we had saved time to stop in Arkansas it was so unexpectedly pretty, overnight and fun day in Memphis- planned to hit Graceland, and just by chance it was Elvis Death Day (saw some really great fans there), next day lunch in Oak Ridge TN with a family friend, then Chapel Hill. Really fun trip. It’s really inspiring to see what a vast country we have.
Bloomington IN > Ann Arbor MI > Lynn Lake MB and back again.
in grad school the expt i worked on was launched from northern Canada in a helium balloon. we convoyed up there w/ 3 u-hauls and a special designed towing contraption for 4-5 days.
also spent time in Edmonton and Winnipeg on that trip, didnt count all those miles since they were offshoots while we were there
In one day, just under 800 miles, a number of times. Home in western Oregon to Salt Lake City area on football road trips, and then back, a number of times.
Almost the same distance to (or back from) Fresno.
Well, if you're talking one trip within one day, I'd say about 480 miles from Berkeley to Bend, OR. Did the reverse 2 days later only we drove past Crater Lake. which would add about 35 miles. So, 515 miles in one day. About 1,000 miles round trip. That was in September 1991.
Spoiler alert. As I ate lunch I saw that Cal softball was on in the ACC tournament. Unfortunately when I turned it on they were down 7-0 and ended up getting run ruled. Ugh.
Rep Buddy Carter (R-GA) has filed a house bill to rename Greenland as Red, White, and Blueland. I swear, I can't tell if it's Congress or the Onion anymore.
Terrorist tries to overthrow the US government by violent means. She is shot dead in the process, becoming a martyr for the Fox News set. The Trump administration makes her family generationally wealthy ($30m).
Cam Rising medically retires. He turns 26 next week. His high school cohort includes Trevor Lawrence, JT Daniels, Micah Parsons, Justin Fields, Patrick Surtain II, Ja'Marr Chase, Talanoa Hufanga, and Penei Sewell. At Cal, his contemporaries are Nikko Remigio, Will Craig, Chigi Anusiaem, and Dario Longhetto. Man, Cal's recruiting class of 2018 was not good.
Again, my Pulitzer will come via my coffee-table book "Piss On My Grave: the final resting spots of 200 infamous Americans and a guide to leaving your regards"
PRO
In Chicago, Giants bats give Verlander a 4-0 after two innings. Verlander gives up 3 over 5 innings and ends up with a no-decision and remains a negative WAR pitcher. Camilo Doval now effective now that he's no longer the closer. The bad news is that Erik Miller - on his inaugural save opportunity - blows it by serving up two runs via two walks and a hit. In the 11th, Cubs reliever Ryan Pressley then gives up a [inherited runner on 2nd], double, single, sac bunt, walk, HBP, single, single, single as the Giants bat around in nine-run inning.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401695443
Mrs Slug had turned on the game after I came home from work. Giants were up 5-3 at that point (7th inning). Erik Miller was having his pitching meltdown and I got up to gather garbage to get trash to the curb. I wasn't going to watch the nonsense of the bullpen giving up what should have been a perfectly safe lead.
At some point, I realize the Cubbies had tied it up, forcing extras. Eff this nonsense. Walk the dogs. Come back in the 11th inning and it's 12-5 Giants. Mrs Slug regales me with the story with the Giants up 6-5 or 7-5 (whatever) about the batter who took a pitch inside, jumped out of the way, the ball goes to the backstop, scoring a run. Cubbies call for review, hoping it would be called a foul ball. Nope, the ball grazed the player's uniform, batter deemed to have been hit by pitch forcing in a run because the bases were loaded. Apparently the Cubbies bullpen can't get an out to save their freakin' life at that point.
Giants score 9 in the 11th inning at Wrigley Field, which, according to Duane Kuiper, has never been done before.
My lesson/takeaway is that I shouldn't watch Giants games; I'm a jinx.
Warriors play good defense again OR T-wolves can barely make an open shot.
in either case, Ws win game 1 despite missing Curry for 2nd half. they were up 20 at some point and had enough of a cushion to weather a couple runs.
also Buddy Hield played fantastic yet again
It is absolutely ludicrous that the Warriors won this game. The Wolves should be ashamed of themselves.
the latest news is that Curry is out at least thru game 4. that will be tough ..
Yup, though stealing Game 1 makes it kind of plausible to hang on.
Not that I expected them to win this series anyway.
after watching how non-competitive the T-wolves were in game 1 and the defense holding their ground again, i figured we might have a chance. not w/o Curry though.
the road team (and lower seed) has won all 5 games so far in the conference semifinals. WHAT IS GOING ON??!!
Indi hits last second 3 to win the game and go up 2-0 in the series after it seeming like they had no chance down the stretch. Cavs kept making one mistake after another
SHE BLINDED ME WITH...
Wanna listen to a 10.2 billion year old star that is 21 light years away?
https://phys.org/news/2025-05-astronomers-tune-music-nearby-star.html
If you're looking for a more ecologically sustainable way to produce concrete, you're in luck
https://techxplore.com/news/2025-05-bio-concrete-urine-sustainable-material.html
Trump’s budget request for next year proposes 50%+ cuts to science agencies, which will devastate science for a generation as both students and experienced staff are forced out.
Seriously, please call your Congress critters.
https://aas.org/posts/news/2025/05/skinny-presidents-budget-request-fy2026
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE
Wild beavers back in Wales after 400 years
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c705le51rpzo
Cinnamon tips herself
https://www.ktvu.com/news/bear-breaks-tahoe-ice-cream-shop-swipes-gallons-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough
DISTANCE
What is the furthest you've ever driven?
Berkeley to Flagstaff AZ (764 miles).
I commonly drive to my cousin in law's near Detroit for Thanksgiving (675 miles) and my sister in law's (508 mi). After living in Asia and commonly flying for more than 24 hours, a half-day of driving seems very doable.
Berkeley to West Lafayette, IN, and back with stops in Madison, WI, Chicago and Indianapolis. Cal Band road trip in '92 for the Purdue game. 3 minivans, 18 people, IIRC, and the torso of a female mannequin strapped to the front of one of the vans. In those days, the Bandsmen who went on those road trips would have to pay for it themselves, offset by a gig or two for local alumni (hence, the stop in Chicago). The stop in Madison was to pick up another trumpet player at his parents' house, and Indianapolis was to shower at an alum's apartment on the way home. Good times.
Bay Area to Chapel Hill for grad school. My sibling came with, fit in stops at a cousin’s house in Palmdale, visited a high school friend in Albuquerque (and side bar day trip to Santa Fe), overnight in Home of Garth Brooks Oklahoma City, wished we had saved time to stop in Arkansas it was so unexpectedly pretty, overnight and fun day in Memphis- planned to hit Graceland, and just by chance it was Elvis Death Day (saw some really great fans there), next day lunch in Oak Ridge TN with a family friend, then Chapel Hill. Really fun trip. It’s really inspiring to see what a vast country we have.
4500 miles on a road trip (Aug 97)
Bloomington IN > Ann Arbor MI > Lynn Lake MB and back again.
in grad school the expt i worked on was launched from northern Canada in a helium balloon. we convoyed up there w/ 3 u-hauls and a special designed towing contraption for 4-5 days.
also spent time in Edmonton and Winnipeg on that trip, didnt count all those miles since they were offshoots while we were there
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RzqzYVhK5ET8xpbV8
In one day, just under 800 miles, a number of times. Home in western Oregon to Salt Lake City area on football road trips, and then back, a number of times.
Almost the same distance to (or back from) Fresno.
Well, if you're talking one trip within one day, I'd say about 480 miles from Berkeley to Bend, OR. Did the reverse 2 days later only we drove past Crater Lake. which would add about 35 miles. So, 515 miles in one day. About 1,000 miles round trip. That was in September 1991.
CAL
Go Bears!!! It is May 7th and California possess the Stanfurd Axe.
Spoiler alert. As I ate lunch I saw that Cal softball was on in the ACC tournament. Unfortunately when I turned it on they were down 7-0 and ended up getting run ruled. Ugh.
POLITICS
You know what would make America's hosting of the World Cup Great Again? Joke about deporting tourists.
https://x.com/atrupar/status/1919851212800766339
America pisses off the [spins wheel]... Swedish
https://swedenherald.com/article/usa-urges-stockholm-to-cease-diversity-initiatives
Trump announces he wants to rename all the Gulfs
https://apnews.com/article/trump-persian-gulf-saudi-arabia-ce30874c27bc01426d93ad3c65a18844
Rep Buddy Carter (R-GA) has filed a house bill to rename Greenland as Red, White, and Blueland. I swear, I can't tell if it's Congress or the Onion anymore.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1161
Terrorist tries to overthrow the US government by violent means. She is shot dead in the process, becoming a martyr for the Fox News set. The Trump administration makes her family generationally wealthy ($30m).
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/new-doj-agrees-to-settlement-with-ashli-babbitt-family-in-30m-lawsuit-over-capitol-police-shooting/ar-AA1E7kAR
DBD AV CLUB
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
Pro-Harvard grammar nazis 1 - Actual Nazi 0
https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/05/barely-literate-education-secretarys-deranged-letter-gets-major-red-ink-corrections/
Cam Rising medically retires. He turns 26 next week. His high school cohort includes Trevor Lawrence, JT Daniels, Micah Parsons, Justin Fields, Patrick Surtain II, Ja'Marr Chase, Talanoa Hufanga, and Penei Sewell. At Cal, his contemporaries are Nikko Remigio, Will Craig, Chigi Anusiaem, and Dario Longhetto. Man, Cal's recruiting class of 2018 was not good.
https://x.com/crising7/status/1920194414992908589
Once again no Pulitzer Prize for either the DBD or WFC. Feel free to share your outrage at these slights.
Don't hold back. It's good to get it out of your system. We're here for each other.
Again, my Pulitzer will come via my coffee-table book "Piss On My Grave: the final resting spots of 200 infamous Americans and a guide to leaving your regards"