Casa de Slug has a lease on a solar array that is rated for 4.0 kW per day. This was installed by Sungevity, which was taken over by SunRun when in bankruptcy. We paid for the lease up front (in 2013) and paid it off in 7 years. We've had very low cost electricity since then. The lease runs out in 2033, but I can extend it, without cost to 2038.
I can't speak to SunRun issues with construction. But I'm not sold on the idea that SunRun is a well-run company, even though I haven't really had any problems with them.
I hope, before my current lease runs out, to get a better handle on my options for replacing my solar array. I have come to understand well before the pandemic that solar technology and yield from solar arrays is now much better than it was in 2013. If Trump's tariffs haven't totally effed up the solar tech marketplace, I hope to replace my current array with a new one and match it with a battery system. I will avoid anything made by Tesla.
SunRun does do the battery now because what they do is have a baseline each month. If you use less than the baseline, you still pay the full amount, but you get credited the kWh you don't use. That can be applied to months where you use more than the baseline. For example, in the winter without AC, you use less than the baseline. In the summer with AC, if you go over, you can use the credit before you have to start paying for the overage (which is still charged at your baseline kWh rate). So this sounds promising. The issues I've read is that sunrun wasn't crediting people when they've had issues. And getting charged a lot for them to remove the panels if you need roof replacement. They claim if you use one of their preferred vendors, that the panel removal and reinstallation will be free. I don't think that is in the contract so I'm telling them that has to be in if we're going to sign.
I'd also worry about the cost of new roofing from SunRun vs. the cost from an independent contractor. I would look for a cost differential from SunRun that would essentially fold in the cost of panel removal so that the total cost would be no different that if you went with a different roofing contractor and had SunRun remove the panels while the roofing project is underway.
Right I was thinking about that as well. The guy goes, oh it's something like $50/panel depending on your area to take off and put them back on. I said something to the effect of I'd need something in the contract before I signed it as well. That was when he said if we go with one of their preferred contractors that it would be included.
I'm slowing thinking I'm not going to sign because I don't think they'll add those things to the contract. I've seen a couple of posts where people have said they were quoted like 10-15K to takeoff and put the panels back on. Something I'm trying to avoid.
Has anyone been contacted by Sun Run about their solar panels? Twice I've had a couple of guys show up trying to sell their solar system. The old system a few years ago was that you "bought" the system from them by paying a fixed electricity cost monthly. They will warrantied the system for 25(?) years so they would replace batterys and panels when they went bad.
Their new system is a 25 year lease. So you give them permission to install their panels on your roofs and batteries on the side of the house and you pay some amount based on your electricity usage over hte last year that goes up 3% each year. since they own the system, they fix things that go bad, and if you don't get 90% of the panels they credit you what you have to pay PG&E. Their big selling point is that PG&E will go up way more than 3%/year so you're always going to be paying less than PGE. They quoted that KWh has gone up a lot over the last 5 years, like more than 50% I think, and could keep going up a lot more if we keep getting wildfires. Of course they don't mention during selling that it only doubled between 2000 and 2020. After 25 years, with the 3% escalator, I think the monthly cost only slightly more than doubles.
I've got a couple of solar powered, inflatable, lamps. They are plastic that has a few LEDs on the bottom so when you turn it on the plastic lights up. It's only like 3" in diameter and 4 inches tall inflated. PG&E gave them out when we had rolling outages due to electricity demands.
Introducing an exciting new feature: Oski Disciple’s Quote of the Day, appearing daily on the DBD.
“There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of a comfortable past which, in fact, never existed.” — Robert Kennedy
One HAS to wonder how much difference it would have made if EITHER the assignation attempt on JFK or RFK had featured the accuracy deficiency that led to DT being shot in the ear.
LOTS of umpiring. Did a state hs quarterfinal Friday night, then 3 games on Saturday, including a great DH (extra innings, followed by a1 run game, but I paid for it afterwards, we aren't used to summer heat that suddenly arrived yet!) and then another DH Sunday.
Then we had the first backyard BBQ of burgers and brats to celebrate the day be fore (and Sunday of) my daughter & son-in-law's wedding anniversary.
Didn't do too much. Short drive on Sun before the Dodgers/Yankees game into Berkeley to get Thai Iced Tea, only to find out the place is closed. It's was the one right next to the Taco Bell Cantina down from Top Dog. Then drove up through the Lawerence Hall of Science, into Tilden a little, then Grizzley Peak to Skyline to Redwood Rd back home.
short trip to Philly to see the cousins. younger one is heading off to college in the fall and not around much this summer either. so we took the opportunity to have some extended family time
our kids are older now, 18 and 21. you forget how much noise little kids (9,12,15) make. i tried to take a nap but there was too much squealing and fighting and yelling going on.
normally Philly and NYC are about the same. however in the last week or so Philly has had a ton of rain and flooding. nothing real to report in NYC except some sprinkles.
Built originally as a hotel in Fresno and designed to shelter guests from the heat. The "builder/digger" was an Italian immigrant who also knew a thing or two about planting citrus, which he also did in the catacombs. It is now a tourist attraction and a great stop on the way to Sequoia National Park.
Great place for little kids. Lots of life size dinosaur statues and activities for kids to do. There is a Brachiosaurus that is visible from the freeway. Right near Mammoth Caves.
Mystery Spot .. not my state, but still my favorite "not so widely known tourist attraction." it is amazing the number of bumper stickers you still ocassionally see.
Dad took us to Mystery Spot when I was little. We all liked it, especially Dad, until we came back to the car and saw that they'd put a bumper sticker on without asking. He was really mad and took it off before we left.
Was quite disappointed a few years later when the same sort of mysterious house was set up temporarily at Knott's Berry Farm.
There is a car that occasionally parks down the street from me in Arlington that has the bumper sticker. I always wish I saw the driver so I could find out the story.
FDR's Little White House, next to the therapeutic warm springs he used a lot post-polio. The State has preserved the home as it was the day he passed away there, and also created an FDR museum building next door. Great spot if you like history and politics.
OAKLAND, Calif -- For a third time in the series, Oakland had to rally to beat the Grand Junction Jackalopes, this time by the score of 9-6.
It was an early lead for Oakland who saw a run across the board in the first, and then a trio of runs in the second on five straight singles (including three infield singles). Pat Montieth drove in two and Davis Drewek added one.
The club wrapped up its weekend series with the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon, falling to their AL East rivals by a final of 8-4 and finishing off the four-game sweep of the Athletics.
A’s strike first
The Athletics came out in the first inning looking determined to get the win today. A leadoff walk to Lawrence Butler and a Jacob Wilson single got the rally started for the club against Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman, and Tyler Soderstrom cashed in a run with a productive out:
A weight lifted off the collective shoulders of the San Francisco Giants as Luis Matos rounded the bases. 3-run homers are generally pretty life-giving, they feel down-right miraculous when you’ve averaged only 2-runs a game for weeks, and just yesterday, you watched every well-struck ball at the wall get wrassled out of the air by a Miami outfielder.
LOS ANGELES — The Yankees turned the tables on the Dodgers, beating Yoshinobu Yamamoto in his shortest start of the season. The 7-3 win by New York snapped the Dodgers’ two-game win streak.
After the Dodgers got six innings out of their starting pitchers in each of the first two games of this series, their ace Yamamoto couldn’t finish the fourth inning on Sunday. He allowed four runs, the biggest blow a two-run home run by designated hitter Ben Rice in the third inning.
How about those Rockies? (From ESPN). The Rockies are 9-50 -- the worst record through 59 games of any major league team in the modern era (since 1901). They have been swept 10 times in 20 series. Colorado has lost all 19 series it has played this season and has been outscored by 185 runs. They are the first team in MLB's modern era to lose 28 of their first 31 road games.
i have been watching all 3 grand tours consistently for 10 yrs and yet never been to a stage. yesterday HAG's oldest sends me photos from stage 21 of the Giro, the final day of the tour that ended in Rome.
his comment was >> In Rome and saw a pretty serious cycling race
you rarely hear of a "last minute come from behind victory" in cycling, especially a 3 week grand tour. except this year, that is exactly we had.
stage 20 was the last real stage and Yates attacked on the final 2 climbs of the day to gain almost 5 min on his 2 rivals that were about a minute ahead of him in the standings.
for one, they couldnt keep up w/ Yates and his initial surge. more interestingly, the 1st and 2nd place riders didnt cooperate to bring Yates back or keep the margin reasonable since they were more worried about each other. and in the end they both lost!
CAMDEN, N.J. – The No. 1 California men's rowing team finished third as a team in the James Ten Eyck standings at the IRA Championships for the second straight year after earning 244 team points at Cooper River on Sunday afternoon. The 2V8+ and 3V8+ placed third in their grand finals and the V8+ won the petite final in 5:24.040 – the fastest time of the entire regatta. The Golden Bears' V4+ placed third in their grand final on Saturday.
I looked at some of the results. Cal V8 was running a close second in their semi but lost twenty seconds in the last 500 meters. Apparently “caught a crab” so finished last and was relegated to the petite final. Seems like they were probably the best boat but had that bad luck.
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The California women's rowing team's varsity four won the petite final Sunday on the final day of the 2025 NCAA Championships on Mercer Lake.
The crew of coxswain Kira Obsitnik and Vivi Spitz, Annie Brown, Ella Lewerenz and Alexandra Pearson finished the course in a time of 7:06.197, more than four seconds ahead of runner-up Syracuse.
Neat! Ella Lewerenz is the daughter of a guy I went to primary/middle/high school with. And we were on the same LMYA soccer team, coached by his dad. His father would have sliced oranges for us to eat after each game and our team cheer was "Lewerenz Company Real Estate!" and our hated rival was Bill's Drugs.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The California track & field team has officially finished up competition at the NCAA West Regional, with one of the five Golden Bear women who appeared at E.B. Cushing Stadium on Saturday advancing to the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Championships to bring Cal's total number of qualifiers to eight.
I saw a guy wearing a Campanile Falcons t-shirt yesterday. We were running in opposite directions so by time I realized what the shirt was it was too late for a Go Bears. Cool shirt though.
Annie is now at least 10 years old. She has had at least four mates on the Campanile - long time beau Grinnel (who went missing and is presumed dead at end 2022), Alden (2022), Lou (2022-2024), and now Archie. The birdwatchers fear that bird flu got Alden and Lou.
* - except in the State of Washington starting in 2029, where those convicted of dangerous driving offenses will have mandated speed limiters installed on their cars
Bills like this are necessary because courts will not do the obvious - revoke and permanently suspend the license of anyone who recklessly causes the death of another using a motor vehicle.
Driving is a privilege, not a right. Drivers are issued a license with the promise and pledge to obey traffic laws and maintain safe vehicles. Reckless driving is breaking that promise and pledge. The state has an affirmative responsibility to maintain safe roadways, including the revocation and continued suspension of license for drivers who drive recklessly and cause injury and death as a result of their reckless actions.
Although I still haven’t seen any episodes of the Star Trek spinoff Below Decks, I did check out a graphic novel from the library, and it’s quite clever and entertaining.
While getting ready to go out yesterday I caught a weird play in the UCLA-Tennessee softball game. Tennessee up by two in the 7th inning. UCLA player hits a two run homer to tie the game. But she misses home plate as she runs into her teammates crowding the plate. She goes back and touches home. Tennessee challenges saying she was touched by a teammate before scoring and run should not count. A long discussion ensues and umps go to the review headset. More time goes by and the final decision is that the play is not reviewable and interference was not originally called so the run counts. Tennessee wins in the end anyway.
I didn't think there actually was a rule that you couldn't be touche by a teammate. As long as the teammate isn't helping you advance to the correct base.
Right. In this case, I'm assuming they didn't push her to touch the plate. If they did, then that should be the call that it was interference, or whatever the rule actually is called. For example, if they high five the 3rd base coach, that's touching a coach but isn't interference.
Wouldn't be interference, that's an act by the offense that prevents the defense from making an initial play, or a member of the offense impeding the making of a play on another player.
It would be illegally assisting the runner, and proper mechanics provide for not only watching touching bases, but in the inevitable team celebration, whether there was a physical assist to retouch a missed base.
Sounds like there was a retouch, but the assist was missed in the mass of bodies. Avoidable nightmare for the plate umpire.
I did more checking and a news report I saw said another teammate grabbed her by the arm and told her to go back and touch home. Sounds like she probably should have been called out but it’s not reviewable so original HR call stood.
In MLB I’ve seen runners called out because they were touched by third base coach trying to stop them from going home. Don’t know if same applies in softball or if it’s different for coaches v teammates. In this case they punted and said it wasn’t reviewable and I didn’t hear a definitive explanation of the rule from the announcers.
RUN AWAY!
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/2025/06/02/mount-etna-eruption-sends-tourists-running-for-their-lives/83988597007/
DBD Solar Panels
Casa de Slug has a lease on a solar array that is rated for 4.0 kW per day. This was installed by Sungevity, which was taken over by SunRun when in bankruptcy. We paid for the lease up front (in 2013) and paid it off in 7 years. We've had very low cost electricity since then. The lease runs out in 2033, but I can extend it, without cost to 2038.
Interesting. I've seen some issues people have had with Sun Run. Trying to figure out if those are not the norm.
I can't speak to SunRun issues with construction. But I'm not sold on the idea that SunRun is a well-run company, even though I haven't really had any problems with them.
I hope, before my current lease runs out, to get a better handle on my options for replacing my solar array. I have come to understand well before the pandemic that solar technology and yield from solar arrays is now much better than it was in 2013. If Trump's tariffs haven't totally effed up the solar tech marketplace, I hope to replace my current array with a new one and match it with a battery system. I will avoid anything made by Tesla.
SunRun does do the battery now because what they do is have a baseline each month. If you use less than the baseline, you still pay the full amount, but you get credited the kWh you don't use. That can be applied to months where you use more than the baseline. For example, in the winter without AC, you use less than the baseline. In the summer with AC, if you go over, you can use the credit before you have to start paying for the overage (which is still charged at your baseline kWh rate). So this sounds promising. The issues I've read is that sunrun wasn't crediting people when they've had issues. And getting charged a lot for them to remove the panels if you need roof replacement. They claim if you use one of their preferred vendors, that the panel removal and reinstallation will be free. I don't think that is in the contract so I'm telling them that has to be in if we're going to sign.
I'd also worry about the cost of new roofing from SunRun vs. the cost from an independent contractor. I would look for a cost differential from SunRun that would essentially fold in the cost of panel removal so that the total cost would be no different that if you went with a different roofing contractor and had SunRun remove the panels while the roofing project is underway.
Right I was thinking about that as well. The guy goes, oh it's something like $50/panel depending on your area to take off and put them back on. I said something to the effect of I'd need something in the contract before I signed it as well. That was when he said if we go with one of their preferred contractors that it would be included.
I'm slowing thinking I'm not going to sign because I don't think they'll add those things to the contract. I've seen a couple of posts where people have said they were quoted like 10-15K to takeoff and put the panels back on. Something I'm trying to avoid.
They do say that even if the contract is signed, we can cancel up to the first thing they need to do physically onsite.
Has anyone been contacted by Sun Run about their solar panels? Twice I've had a couple of guys show up trying to sell their solar system. The old system a few years ago was that you "bought" the system from them by paying a fixed electricity cost monthly. They will warrantied the system for 25(?) years so they would replace batterys and panels when they went bad.
Their new system is a 25 year lease. So you give them permission to install their panels on your roofs and batteries on the side of the house and you pay some amount based on your electricity usage over hte last year that goes up 3% each year. since they own the system, they fix things that go bad, and if you don't get 90% of the panels they credit you what you have to pay PG&E. Their big selling point is that PG&E will go up way more than 3%/year so you're always going to be paying less than PGE. They quoted that KWh has gone up a lot over the last 5 years, like more than 50% I think, and could keep going up a lot more if we keep getting wildfires. Of course they don't mention during selling that it only doubled between 2000 and 2020. After 25 years, with the 3% escalator, I think the monthly cost only slightly more than doubles.
the only solar powered thing i have is a backpacking lantern. it does a decent job lighting up the tent for a couple hours each evening.
I've got a couple of solar powered, inflatable, lamps. They are plastic that has a few LEDs on the bottom so when you turn it on the plastic lights up. It's only like 3" in diameter and 4 inches tall inflated. PG&E gave them out when we had rolling outages due to electricity demands.
Introducing an exciting new feature: Oski Disciple’s Quote of the Day, appearing daily on the DBD.
“There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of a comfortable past which, in fact, never existed.” — Robert Kennedy
Father, unlike son.
One HAS to wonder how much difference it would have made if EITHER the assignation attempt on JFK or RFK had featured the accuracy deficiency that led to DT being shot in the ear.
HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND?
LOTS of umpiring. Did a state hs quarterfinal Friday night, then 3 games on Saturday, including a great DH (extra innings, followed by a1 run game, but I paid for it afterwards, we aren't used to summer heat that suddenly arrived yet!) and then another DH Sunday.
Then we had the first backyard BBQ of burgers and brats to celebrate the day be fore (and Sunday of) my daughter & son-in-law's wedding anniversary.
Didn't do too much. Short drive on Sun before the Dodgers/Yankees game into Berkeley to get Thai Iced Tea, only to find out the place is closed. It's was the one right next to the Taco Bell Cantina down from Top Dog. Then drove up through the Lawerence Hall of Science, into Tilden a little, then Grizzley Peak to Skyline to Redwood Rd back home.
short trip to Philly to see the cousins. younger one is heading off to college in the fall and not around much this summer either. so we took the opportunity to have some extended family time
our kids are older now, 18 and 21. you forget how much noise little kids (9,12,15) make. i tried to take a nap but there was too much squealing and fighting and yelling going on.
interestingly the weather ..
normally Philly and NYC are about the same. however in the last week or so Philly has had a ton of rain and flooding. nothing real to report in NYC except some sprinkles.
Nice. Gym, reading, watching movies, attended a talk on how to get your book published that I learned nothing new from. How was yours?
I studied and tried to shovel 18 yards of Chip Drop mulch. I did about 8. I was in bed by 8 pm on Saturday.
NAME A NOT-SO-WIDELY KNOWN TOURIST ATTRACTION IN YOUR STATE
Forestiere Underground Gardens, Fresno.
Built originally as a hotel in Fresno and designed to shelter guests from the heat. The "builder/digger" was an Italian immigrant who also knew a thing or two about planting citrus, which he also did in the catacombs. It is now a tourist attraction and a great stop on the way to Sequoia National Park.
https://undergroundgardens.com/
Dinosaur World, Kentucky
https://www.dinosaurworld.com/kentucky
Great place for little kids. Lots of life size dinosaur statues and activities for kids to do. There is a Brachiosaurus that is visible from the freeway. Right near Mammoth Caves.
For those of you who attended the Wake Forest game (or plan to in the future), there's this - the last yellow clamshell Shell Oil Station
https://g.co/kgs/4kpwnzt
Mystery Spot .. not my state, but still my favorite "not so widely known tourist attraction." it is amazing the number of bumper stickers you still ocassionally see.
https://www.mysteryspot.com/
Dad took us to Mystery Spot when I was little. We all liked it, especially Dad, until we came back to the car and saw that they'd put a bumper sticker on without asking. He was really mad and took it off before we left.
Was quite disappointed a few years later when the same sort of mysterious house was set up temporarily at Knott's Berry Farm.
There is a car that occasionally parks down the street from me in Arlington that has the bumper sticker. I always wish I saw the driver so I could find out the story.
The #1 bumper sticker by far that I saw across Asia was Mystery Spot
FDR's Little White House, next to the therapeutic warm springs he used a lot post-polio. The State has preserved the home as it was the day he passed away there, and also created an FDR museum building next door. Great spot if you like history and politics.
https://gastateparks.org/LittleWhiteHouse
PRO
Ballers Take Series in Comeback Victory (Ballers beat the Jackalopes 9-6)
https://www.oaklandballers.com/sports/bsb/2025/releases/20250601wjruu1
OAKLAND, Calif -- For a third time in the series, Oakland had to rally to beat the Grand Junction Jackalopes, this time by the score of 9-6.
It was an early lead for Oakland who saw a run across the board in the first, and then a trio of runs in the second on five straight singles (including three infield singles). Pat Montieth drove in two and Davis Drewek added one.
Late Rally Dooms A’s in 8-4 Loss to Blue Jays
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2025/6/1/24441078/late-rally-dooms-as-in-8-4-loss-to-blue-jaysoss-to-blue-jays
The club wrapped up its weekend series with the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon, falling to their AL East rivals by a final of 8-4 and finishing off the four-game sweep of the Athletics.
A’s strike first
The Athletics came out in the first inning looking determined to get the win today. A leadoff walk to Lawrence Butler and a Jacob Wilson single got the rally started for the club against Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman, and Tyler Soderstrom cashed in a run with a productive out:
“That was therapeutic” (Giants beat the Fish 4-2)
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2025/6/2/24441486/san-francisco-giants-june-1-2025-recap-luis-matos-hayden-birdsong-miami-marlins-mlb-scores
A weight lifted off the collective shoulders of the San Francisco Giants as Luis Matos rounded the bases. 3-run homers are generally pretty life-giving, they feel down-right miraculous when you’ve averaged only 2-runs a game for weeks, and just yesterday, you watched every well-struck ball at the wall get wrassled out of the air by a Miami outfielder.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has shortest start of year in Dodgers loss to Yankees
https://www.truebluela.com/2025/6/1/24441246/yoshinobu-yamamoto-dodgers-yankees
LOS ANGELES — The Yankees turned the tables on the Dodgers, beating Yoshinobu Yamamoto in his shortest start of the season. The 7-3 win by New York snapped the Dodgers’ two-game win streak.
After the Dodgers got six innings out of their starting pitchers in each of the first two games of this series, their ace Yamamoto couldn’t finish the fourth inning on Sunday. He allowed four runs, the biggest blow a two-run home run by designated hitter Ben Rice in the third inning.
Must see for me with Judge and Ohtani both playing.
How about those Rockies? (From ESPN). The Rockies are 9-50 -- the worst record through 59 games of any major league team in the modern era (since 1901). They have been swept 10 times in 20 series. Colorado has lost all 19 series it has played this season and has been outscored by 185 runs. They are the first team in MLB's modern era to lose 28 of their first 31 road games.
Giro d'Italia
i have been watching all 3 grand tours consistently for 10 yrs and yet never been to a stage. yesterday HAG's oldest sends me photos from stage 21 of the Giro, the final day of the tour that ended in Rome.
his comment was >> In Rome and saw a pretty serious cycling race
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NKEQc2B6TSaAnCZr8
also .. Simon Yates wins.
you rarely hear of a "last minute come from behind victory" in cycling, especially a 3 week grand tour. except this year, that is exactly we had.
stage 20 was the last real stage and Yates attacked on the final 2 climbs of the day to gain almost 5 min on his 2 rivals that were about a minute ahead of him in the standings.
for one, they couldnt keep up w/ Yates and his initial surge. more interestingly, the 1st and 2nd place riders didnt cooperate to bring Yates back or keep the margin reasonable since they were more worried about each other. and in the end they both lost!
I read about the next to last stage. I’ll have to see if I can find some video.
it was streaming on Max .. in case you pay for that one already or have access somehow.
CAL
[MROW] No. 1 Cal Finishes Third At IRA Championships
https://calbears.com/news/2025/6/1/no-1-cal-finishes-third-at-ira-championships.aspx
CAMDEN, N.J. – The No. 1 California men's rowing team finished third as a team in the James Ten Eyck standings at the IRA Championships for the second straight year after earning 244 team points at Cooper River on Sunday afternoon. The 2V8+ and 3V8+ placed third in their grand finals and the V8+ won the petite final in 5:24.040 – the fastest time of the entire regatta. The Golden Bears' V4+ placed third in their grand final on Saturday.
I looked at some of the results. Cal V8 was running a close second in their semi but lost twenty seconds in the last 500 meters. Apparently “caught a crab” so finished last and was relegated to the petite final. Seems like they were probably the best boat but had that bad luck.
Oh no! Caught a crab. What terrible timing for that to happen.
[WROW] Cal Varsity Four Wins Petite Final
Bears Place Ninth In Overall Points Standings at NCAA Championships
https://calbears.com/news/2025/6/1/womens-rowing-cal-varsity-four-wins-petite-final-at-ncaa-championships.aspx
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The California women's rowing team's varsity four won the petite final Sunday on the final day of the 2025 NCAA Championships on Mercer Lake.
The crew of coxswain Kira Obsitnik and Vivi Spitz, Annie Brown, Ella Lewerenz and Alexandra Pearson finished the course in a time of 7:06.197, more than four seconds ahead of runner-up Syracuse.
Neat! Ella Lewerenz is the daughter of a guy I went to primary/middle/high school with. And we were on the same LMYA soccer team, coached by his dad. His father would have sliced oranges for us to eat after each game and our team cheer was "Lewerenz Company Real Estate!" and our hated rival was Bill's Drugs.
Ah, his dad died in 2020. He was a Cal alumnus, TKE member, and senior class president at UC Berkeley.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/eastbaytimes/name/william-lewerenz-obituary?id=8319078
[T&F] Lindfors Punches Ticket To NCAA Championships
https://calbears.com/news/2025/5/31/track-field-lindfors-punches-ticket-to-ncaa-championships.aspx
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The California track & field team has officially finished up competition at the NCAA West Regional, with one of the five Golden Bear women who appeared at E.B. Cushing Stadium on Saturday advancing to the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Championships to bring Cal's total number of qualifiers to eight.
Go Bears!!!
I saw a guy wearing a Campanile Falcons t-shirt yesterday. We were running in opposite directions so by time I realized what the shirt was it was too late for a Go Bears. Cool shirt though.
Annie is now at least 10 years old. She has had at least four mates on the Campanile - long time beau Grinnel (who went missing and is presumed dead at end 2022), Alden (2022), Lou (2022-2024), and now Archie. The birdwatchers fear that bird flu got Alden and Lou.
Annie and Archie are also missing, presumed dead, likely from bird flu. Sad times for the Cal falcon lovers.
POLITICS
US Dept of VA affairs orders doctors to not publish in scientific journals unless their articles have been cleared by political kommissars
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/01/us-veterans-affairs-agency-doctors-scientists-research
TIL: There is a dark roof lobby
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/01/dark-roof-lobby
Trumpski elected President in Poland
https://news.sky.com/story/trump-inspired-candidate-karol-nawrocki-wins-polands-presidential-election-13378011
I CAN'T DRIVE.... 55!!!*
https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/leavitt/2025/04/21/rep-leavitts-beam-act-passes-senate-and-house-advances-to-governors-office-for-signature/
* - except in the State of Washington starting in 2029, where those convicted of dangerous driving offenses will have mandated speed limiters installed on their cars
Bills like this are necessary because courts will not do the obvious - revoke and permanently suspend the license of anyone who recklessly causes the death of another using a motor vehicle.
Driving is a privilege, not a right. Drivers are issued a license with the promise and pledge to obey traffic laws and maintain safe vehicles. Reckless driving is breaking that promise and pledge. The state has an affirmative responsibility to maintain safe roadways, including the revocation and continued suspension of license for drivers who drive recklessly and cause injury and death as a result of their reckless actions.
DBD AV CLUB
Although I still haven’t seen any episodes of the Star Trek spinoff Below Decks, I did check out a graphic novel from the library, and it’s quite clever and entertaining.
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
While getting ready to go out yesterday I caught a weird play in the UCLA-Tennessee softball game. Tennessee up by two in the 7th inning. UCLA player hits a two run homer to tie the game. But she misses home plate as she runs into her teammates crowding the plate. She goes back and touches home. Tennessee challenges saying she was touched by a teammate before scoring and run should not count. A long discussion ensues and umps go to the review headset. More time goes by and the final decision is that the play is not reviewable and interference was not originally called so the run counts. Tennessee wins in the end anyway.
I didn't think there actually was a rule that you couldn't be touche by a teammate. As long as the teammate isn't helping you advance to the correct base.
What constitutes "assistance" at the plate or anywhere is a judgement call. Your results may vary at any level with the umpire/crew involved.
Right. In this case, I'm assuming they didn't push her to touch the plate. If they did, then that should be the call that it was interference, or whatever the rule actually is called. For example, if they high five the 3rd base coach, that's touching a coach but isn't interference.
Wouldn't be interference, that's an act by the offense that prevents the defense from making an initial play, or a member of the offense impeding the making of a play on another player.
It would be illegally assisting the runner, and proper mechanics provide for not only watching touching bases, but in the inevitable team celebration, whether there was a physical assist to retouch a missed base.
Sounds like there was a retouch, but the assist was missed in the mass of bodies. Avoidable nightmare for the plate umpire.
I wasn't sure the phrase the rulebook would use.
I did more checking and a news report I saw said another teammate grabbed her by the arm and told her to go back and touch home. Sounds like she probably should have been called out but it’s not reviewable so original HR call stood.
Oh...if that's true and the umpires saw it then I think she should be out.
In MLB I’ve seen runners called out because they were touched by third base coach trying to stop them from going home. Don’t know if same applies in softball or if it’s different for coaches v teammates. In this case they punted and said it wasn’t reviewable and I didn’t hear a definitive explanation of the rule from the announcers.
Now this would be intererence. The base coach actively preventing the runner from going home.
I hate double elimination tournaments. It's bad enough to be eliminated once, but to have to go through it a second time is simply cruel.
Out of this list, how many do you know which state they are in?
Wright State
Weber State
Wayne State
Westfield State
Williston State
Wichita State
Before this question, honestly I only knew two of them
never heard of Westfield State or Williston State. i know the rest.
Same.
Same. Helps that my cousin's kid went to Wright State, and that UNC basketball had a shocker first round Tournament loss to Weber State way back when.
Same
i have a friend who teaches geology at Weber St and living in IN for 8 yrs would somehow hear of Wayne St. and Wright St.
Crazy results in baseball regionals- #1 Vandy already out. Building up to a fun CWS.
And #2 Texas. Top-ten Oregon got bounced with 2 straight losses as well.