I have had a weird vocal chord malady that has gone undiagnosed for nearly 30 years. If I shout/yell, it injures my vocal chords and - at best, I am hoarse. Once, I got an infection, got sepsis and almost died. This is why, fair Cal Bear fans, that if you see me at a Cal game - I do not shout or yell. I just clap and mutter under my breath. Perhaps I need a custom vuvuzuela and a doctor's note that let's me bring it into the stadium.
If you think about it, the Cowboys are definitely America’s team. Both the US and Cowboys are managed by wealthy, shady, inept and racist white men who think they are smarter than every one else in the room. Both have over seen the slow and steady decline of their organizations during their tenure in power.
I am confused as to why the Rockies would extend him in October, leave him with a roster that can't be anything but terrible, and then fire him in May. Did they say, "Look, man, you're going to be scapegoated next year—here's a sack of money?"
Because the Rockies front office was caught flat-footed at the end of last season. Bill Schmidt (Rockies GM) should have fired Black at the end of last season.
Schmidt has been the Rockies' permanent GM since October 2, 2021. Since then, the Rockies have been 269-418, 0.392 up to yesterday's game. Schmidt is probably feeling some heat, so Black got fired first. Schmidt will be fired next if the Rockies don't show any improvement. With a current record of 7-33, 0.175 in 2025, there's no place to go but up.
He got the dreaded vote of confidence from the GM the day before the owner decided otherwise. Went out on a high note as they won 9-3 before getting axed.
We are excited to see you in NYC on Wednesday, May 14th for our Cal Football event featuring Cal Football GM Ron Rivera and Travers Family Head Coach of Football Justin Wilcox hosted by David Corvo, '72 and Michele Willens.
the Bear's Lair was the best. Fri afternoons on a sunny day were unbeatable. one Classics prof would just invite us down there and buy us beers after class.
he was a prof that taught a course on ancient athletics so there were a bunch of Cal football and basketball players in that class. he also discovered the ruins of the stadium and locker rooms at Nemea, so it was a cool connection between his archaeological work and the fun class he taught at Cal.
It wasn't the best. It was kinda a mediocre bar, but it had location, location, location. What it offered was the ability to hang out on a Thursday at 1 pm outside wearing sunglasses with a half drunk pitcher in front of you while the nerds had to prepare for class on Friday.
I talked with a friend who was seeking counseling services for anxiety due to the current administration's attack on civil liberties and putting his family in harm's way. The counselor was an apparent MAGA supporter - denying that Project 2025 was a thing, claiming that Americans being deported without due process was fake news, didn't believe that Trump wasn't going after people/institutions, and refused to believe that Whitehouse.gov was reliable source of news. The counselor ended the session by saying it was all made up in his head, didn't believe his mental issues were a thing, and refused to do any more work with him; even if we pretend that's true, THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF SEEING A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. He is so mad at the counselor and I don't blame him, but doesn't have the energy to take it any further. I am debating whether to go after the counselor myself. I can't fight City Hall, but I can certainly blow whistles at individuals.
that's horrible and yet this is the state of the affairs sadly.
there was a time when 100% of the people would think that accepting a Middle East jet as a president was completely inappropriate.
today, some fraction of people would call it fake news and others would find some way to brush off the criticism saying the "other side is just as corrupt"
Here in CA we have something called the Board of Behavioral Sciences that can hear cases of unethical transgression by a licensed clinician that adversely impacts a client’s mental well-being. I don’t know what state the above event took place in, and it is iffy whether they would determine that a provable wrongdoing happened that meets their threshold for opening a review, but certainly there is no harm in looking into this with the professional governing body for the state in question.
How about they adopt the Big Dig 1970-2007 on their state flag in Comic Sans, have the Dunkin Donuts logo as their seal, and replace their motto of "Make It Yours,
The Spirit of America" with "Dats a fuckin wicked pissah"
The Residence (Netflix S1 17/19). [chefskiss.gif]. Great seasons start to finish. Great acting. Great writing. Great editing. The person who did it was my second guess and my top pick was the person who was the red-herring before revealing actually who did it.
I think my red herring was also your red herring, just because the character was such a jackass. Kudos, by the way, to that actor for their portrayal. I'm not naming the actor or intimating the actor's gender for fear of giving away some of the plot.
DBD STREET JOURNAL
If you missed your chance of being defrauded via the first Stanfurd Blood Testing Scheme, you're in luck
https://x.com/chrisjbakke/status/1921180544294941039?s=46
SHOUT
I have had a weird vocal chord malady that has gone undiagnosed for nearly 30 years. If I shout/yell, it injures my vocal chords and - at best, I am hoarse. Once, I got an infection, got sepsis and almost died. This is why, fair Cal Bear fans, that if you see me at a Cal game - I do not shout or yell. I just clap and mutter under my breath. Perhaps I need a custom vuvuzuela and a doctor's note that let's me bring it into the stadium.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPVf01jXL7M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utyXQqZ35do
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye7FKc1JQe4
Apropos: the version by Disturbed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPsFVTPm1qc
YOU KNOW IT,
YOU TELL THE STORY,
YOU TELL THE WHOLE DAMN WORLD ...
PRO
NFL still insists that the Cowboys are "America's Team" and showcases their game as the season opener. Why not the Ravens vs. Browns?
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-nfl-2025-season-opener/4182393/
I think there’s a team with a more Patriotic name…
If you think about it, the Cowboys are definitely America’s team. Both the US and Cowboys are managed by wealthy, shady, inept and racist white men who think they are smarter than every one else in the room. Both have over seen the slow and steady decline of their organizations during their tenure in power.
But... [gestures broadly at the rest of the NFL owners]
Rockies fall behind 19-0 in the fifth inning to the Padres and then lose 21-0
https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401695496
Bye bye, Bud.
I am confused as to why the Rockies would extend him in October, leave him with a roster that can't be anything but terrible, and then fire him in May. Did they say, "Look, man, you're going to be scapegoated next year—here's a sack of money?"
Because the Rockies front office was caught flat-footed at the end of last season. Bill Schmidt (Rockies GM) should have fired Black at the end of last season.
Schmidt has been the Rockies' permanent GM since October 2, 2021. Since then, the Rockies have been 269-418, 0.392 up to yesterday's game. Schmidt is probably feeling some heat, so Black got fired first. Schmidt will be fired next if the Rockies don't show any improvement. With a current record of 7-33, 0.175 in 2025, there's no place to go but up.
They gave him the double golden parachute.
He got the dreaded vote of confidence from the GM the day before the owner decided otherwise. Went out on a high note as they won 9-3 before getting axed.
CAL
this week, HAG and I are going to this
We are excited to see you in NYC on Wednesday, May 14th for our Cal Football event featuring Cal Football GM Ron Rivera and Travers Family Head Coach of Football Justin Wilcox hosted by David Corvo, '72 and Michele Willens.
Interesting (and sad) article about the slow death of the Bear's Lair.
https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/cal-berkeley-killed-america-best-sports-bars-20319623.php
i saw that too. forgot to post.
the Bear's Lair was the best. Fri afternoons on a sunny day were unbeatable. one Classics prof would just invite us down there and buy us beers after class.
he was a prof that taught a course on ancient athletics so there were a bunch of Cal football and basketball players in that class. he also discovered the ruins of the stadium and locker rooms at Nemea, so it was a cool connection between his archaeological work and the fun class he taught at Cal.
It wasn't the best. It was kinda a mediocre bar, but it had location, location, location. What it offered was the ability to hang out on a Thursday at 1 pm outside wearing sunglasses with a half drunk pitcher in front of you while the nerds had to prepare for class on Friday.
Another reminder (sad) of how old I am. No alcohol there when I was in school.
Go Bears!
see SHOUTING above
POLITICS
I talked with a friend who was seeking counseling services for anxiety due to the current administration's attack on civil liberties and putting his family in harm's way. The counselor was an apparent MAGA supporter - denying that Project 2025 was a thing, claiming that Americans being deported without due process was fake news, didn't believe that Trump wasn't going after people/institutions, and refused to believe that Whitehouse.gov was reliable source of news. The counselor ended the session by saying it was all made up in his head, didn't believe his mental issues were a thing, and refused to do any more work with him; even if we pretend that's true, THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF SEEING A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. He is so mad at the counselor and I don't blame him, but doesn't have the energy to take it any further. I am debating whether to go after the counselor myself. I can't fight City Hall, but I can certainly blow whistles at individuals.
that's horrible and yet this is the state of the affairs sadly.
there was a time when 100% of the people would think that accepting a Middle East jet as a president was completely inappropriate.
today, some fraction of people would call it fake news and others would find some way to brush off the criticism saying the "other side is just as corrupt"
Report this jerk to the counselor's professional licensing board. This counselor should be reprimanded at the very least, and possibly decertified.
Here in CA we have something called the Board of Behavioral Sciences that can hear cases of unethical transgression by a licensed clinician that adversely impacts a client’s mental well-being. I don’t know what state the above event took place in, and it is iffy whether they would determine that a provable wrongdoing happened that meets their threshold for opening a review, but certainly there is no harm in looking into this with the professional governing body for the state in question.
China/US decide to temporarily reduce tariffs to 30%. Heaven help any business trying to figure out when to replenish their stock.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/12/us-and-china-agree-to-slash-tariffs-for-90-days.html
30% is still very high, especially for small businesses and the Dollar Tree/General stores of the world.
MA declares an open call for a new flag, motto, and seal. Here comes all the snarky, funny suggestions.
https://www.wbur.org/news/2025/05/09/massachusetts-new-seal-flag-motto-submissions
How about they adopt the Big Dig 1970-2007 on their state flag in Comic Sans, have the Dunkin Donuts logo as their seal, and replace their motto of "Make It Yours,
The Spirit of America" with "Dats a fuckin wicked pissah"
Normal politicians can't even accept a pen from anybody. Trump, meanwhile, sees zero problem with accepting a $400m plane
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-administration-poised-accept-palace-sky-gift-trump/story?id=121680511
He takes it a step further, calling Democrats "world class losers" for not being corrupt
https://dailyboulder.com/world-class-losers-trump-rips-democratic-criticism-of-qatar-plane-gift/
I HEREBY DECLARE DRUGS ARE CHEAP. I AM PRO BUSINESS, SO I AM FIXING PRICES.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/12/trump-pledges-to-revive-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-00341622
He says prices will be decreased immediately. Just like he fixed Ukraine, the Middle East, and egg prices on day one.
Don’t forget the $1.98 a gallon for gas.
Promises made, promises kept!
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
How Urban Meyer brought down the barrier between Chuch & State at Ohio State.
https://awfulannouncing.com/college-football/urban-meyer-threatened-leave-ohio-state-bible-studies.html
DBD AV CLUB
The Residence (Netflix S1 17/19). [chefskiss.gif]. Great seasons start to finish. Great acting. Great writing. Great editing. The person who did it was my second guess and my top pick was the person who was the red-herring before revealing actually who did it.
I’ll check this out.
I think my red herring was also your red herring, just because the character was such a jackass. Kudos, by the way, to that actor for their portrayal. I'm not naming the actor or intimating the actor's gender for fear of giving away some of the plot.
The episode of the he-said/she-said with Sheila as the unreliable narrator was so great.
Diplomat season 2 (19/19).
i was expecting more drama and more episodes when season 2 abruptly ends with a cliffhanger after just 6 episodes!
watching Andor season 2 now instead
Those two shows (Dilpomat and Andor) are probably the best TV shows of 2025.