Welcome to the Daily Bear Dump, a Write for California community board where one can talk about anything - Cal related or off-topic. Comment threads are sorted by topic. Anything is fine, so long as you’re generally civil.
The below picture is part of the Holtsós Lagoon, a tidal lagoon just southeast of Seljalandsfoss (the waterfall you can walk behind on the Southern part of the Ring Road) and just south of Eyjafjallajökull. It has the black sands created by the eruption of the volcano just north of it and the yellow sediments from more recent run-off. It’s a fantastic shot that you can’t really see from the ring road.
CHICAGO — Donald Trump on Wednesday berated a Black reporter who pressed him about past offensive comments and accused his opponent, Vice President Harris, of downplaying Black heritage she routinely highlights as a sit-down meant to showcase Trump’s outreach to voters of color immediately turned hostile.
ABC News’ Rachel Scott began the Q&A session at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago by noting — among other comments — Trump’s insults toward Black prosecutors, his repeated false claims that America’s first Black president was born in Africa and his comments that four congresswomen who are racial minorities should “go back” to the places they came from.
“Why should Black voters trust you after you have used language like that?” Scott said.
“Well first of all, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner,” Trump said, calling the interview “disgraceful” and criticizing a “rude introduction.” He alleged he was invited under a “false pretense” because he had expected his opponent to be there as well and criticized the organizers for starting late.
COMMENT: TFG doesn't get called out nearly enough for brazenly derogatory remarks like that reported above. It's a big part of why this nation is in the current condition it is in now. If we're going to help heal these wounds, we have to stop the dysfunctional behavior and metaphorical burying our collective heads in the sand.
Not that there was any doubt, but Israel does not **** around. They assassinated the head of Hamas by an airstrike bombing his house in [checks notes] Tehran. They also assassinated an inner circle advisor in Hezbollah in Beirut. Essentially Israel is escalating Iran's cover of hiding behind proxies.
Bette Davis is a favorite actor of Mrs Slug's. There are a number of films in which Bette Davis made great performances. Among those are Jezebel; Dark Victory; The Letter; A Stolen Life; Now, Voyager; All About Eve; Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?; Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte; and Dead Ringer. Davis played double roles in A Stolen Life and Dead Ringer.
I don't think that Scootie would watch any of the films I've named because they were filmed in black & white (sorry, Scootie). It was only later in her career (maybe after Dead Ringer) that her films were filmed and released in color.
I liked her a lot in The Letter, although I have a certain fondness for her performances in All About Eve and Now, Voyager even though they are very different characters. Davis in Dead Ringer was quite good.
I haven't seen her in the three films you named. I'll have to do that.
I thought the title was a Bogart film. Now that I think about it, I may have caught a short bit of it, but I'm reasonably certain I haven't seen the whole movie.
VCU has the Confederate White House on campus, housing the CSA's only President Jefferson Davis. Davis served in the US Army and then married the daughter of Zachary Taylor, the latter only living three months before dying of malaria. Fourteen years later, Zachary Taylor would go on to be the President of the United States. Through family connections, Davis was appointed to be Secretary of War and he was influential in the Pierce Administration - including pushing for the repealing the Missouri Compromise, allowing NM/UT to have slaves (which perpetuated slavery) and the Nebraska/Kansas Act and the Gadsen Purchase to pursue railroads as a national defense initiative. The Transcontinental Railroad made the investor in the Central Pacific Railroad filthy rich - Leland Stanford.
I barely recall that there was a Cal running back who was described by a radio announcer as the man who walks on eggshells. Might have been a teammate of Chuck Muncie. Howard Strickland maybe?
I leave a layer of grass clippings around my raised garden beds as a poor/cheap man's mulch. My wife gets a bit lazy dumping out the compost bucket into our initial composting bin (the closed-top hot/wet barrel) and chucks it directly into my open-air intermediate compost bin, which I use to hold grass clippings. When I go to refresh the clipping around the garden bed, it inevitably has eggshells in it and they get stomped into little fragments over time. In this case, I literally am walking on eggshells whenever I visit the raised beds, which is a few times per week.
A little better this time up. I turned on the game as I got home. Bases were loaded on two walks and a hit batter. On an 0-2 count he hit it onto the street above the right field bleachers for a slam to give the O’s the lead.
Paul DeJong's trade is the cliche you've heard about. Traded just before a game starts to that day's opponent so he walks across the stadium to the other clubhouse.
[NY Times] The New York Times reports that 23 Chinese Olympic swimmers were caught doping in 2022. The Chinese investigated themselves and shocking found themselves innocent because [checks notes]... hamburgers. And WADA totally agreed with the Chinese. I have a bridge to sell to WADA. No wonder the Americans were so pissed at the Olympics over Chinese cheating.
I faintly recall decades ago that the Chinese coaches claimed that their swimmers' ability was due to a secret herb they took. Shortly afterward, the herb, which maybe came from a worm?, was up for sale.
The Summer Olympics have a surfing event. The Olympics are in France, so naturally, the event is being hosted in [checks notes]... Tahiti. And because it's surfing, the correspondent is naturally [checks notes]... Colin Jost
Arbitration case dismissed in match fixing allegations against members of the American saber team. Dude, who hears a case like that during the Olympics rather than before it? Is Judge Cannon the judge?
USA fares poorly in shooting events. American are outraged, but then realize that they shoot tiny guns at inanimate targets. Watch out World once the Olympics include assault rifles, school children, and POC.
[WRugby7] The Bronze medal match between the US and Australia had the most dramatic, amazing, heart rending finish I have ever seen. Australian defense inexplicably collapsed with seconds to go, allowing the US to run the length of the pitch with no time left and beat the heavily favored Wallabies.
Driving an errand earlier this a.m., had the siriusXM radio The Full Ride on with Rick Neuheisel & Chris Childers and Cal/Stanfrd came up. With the topic that both Cal & Stan., when the coach, players, flew to the ACC media day....that they, of all things, flew commercial and not on a private jet. This seemed to spell further doom with Chris Childers, the gravel voice loudmouth, but a bit less with Neuheisel....just a bit. Just another example, they said, of not taking football seriously.
The remarks didn't set well with me, a long suffering and sensitive fan. Come on.
Nothing to do with actual game travel, to be clear, which we know is different.
That's a stupid take. Very few universities own or lease planes. Ohio State, Penn State, and Florida are some exceptions. Some universities will charter flights for whole team travel - Cal included. But not owning or chartering a plane to fly four players, Wilcox, and a few other staff to the ACC Media Day is obviously a stupid financial idea. But you don't have to be a graduate of literally one of the lowest ranked universities in America to know that.
Saunders has officially medically retired it would appear. Our front 7 is by far our most glaring weakness/concern. The starters are good but zero proven depth.
The Bear (S3 E1). E1 is a masterclass in the screenwriting maxim "show, don't tell". It is an impressionist's composite of little vignette's of character's past and present day. Each is an aching little story why the main character is such damaged goods - a person worthy of the viewer's frustration, love, and pity. The season premier does not deter me from thinking that The Bear is the best thing on television now.
Our crumbling democracy
How is it that this guy gets away with this ish?
Trump says Harris ‘became a Black person’ as NABJ interview turns hostile, chaotic
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/31/trump-black-voters-nabj-harris/
CHICAGO — Donald Trump on Wednesday berated a Black reporter who pressed him about past offensive comments and accused his opponent, Vice President Harris, of downplaying Black heritage she routinely highlights as a sit-down meant to showcase Trump’s outreach to voters of color immediately turned hostile.
ABC News’ Rachel Scott began the Q&A session at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago by noting — among other comments — Trump’s insults toward Black prosecutors, his repeated false claims that America’s first Black president was born in Africa and his comments that four congresswomen who are racial minorities should “go back” to the places they came from.
“Why should Black voters trust you after you have used language like that?” Scott said.
“Well first of all, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner,” Trump said, calling the interview “disgraceful” and criticizing a “rude introduction.” He alleged he was invited under a “false pretense” because he had expected his opponent to be there as well and criticized the organizers for starting late.
COMMENT: TFG doesn't get called out nearly enough for brazenly derogatory remarks like that reported above. It's a big part of why this nation is in the current condition it is in now. If we're going to help heal these wounds, we have to stop the dysfunctional behavior and metaphorical burying our collective heads in the sand.
Not that there was any doubt, but Israel does not **** around. They assassinated the head of Hamas by an airstrike bombing his house in [checks notes] Tehran. They also assassinated an inner circle advisor in Hezbollah in Beirut. Essentially Israel is escalating Iran's cover of hiding behind proxies.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/30/middleeast/hamas-political-leader-ismail-haniyeh-killed-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/30/middleeast/beirut-explosion-hezbollah-stronghold-intl-latam/index.html
DAVIS
Bette Davis is a favorite actor of Mrs Slug's. There are a number of films in which Bette Davis made great performances. Among those are Jezebel; Dark Victory; The Letter; A Stolen Life; Now, Voyager; All About Eve; Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?; Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte; and Dead Ringer. Davis played double roles in A Stolen Life and Dead Ringer.
I don't think that Scootie would watch any of the films I've named because they were filmed in black & white (sorry, Scootie). It was only later in her career (maybe after Dead Ringer) that her films were filmed and released in color.
The Letter is my favorite of her performances. I also liked her a lot in Marked Woman, Petrified Forest and Three On a Match.
I can't imagine anyone not watching films because they're in black and white, there are so many great black and white films.
I liked her a lot in The Letter, although I have a certain fondness for her performances in All About Eve and Now, Voyager even though they are very different characters. Davis in Dead Ringer was quite good.
I haven't seen her in the three films you named. I'll have to do that.
Yes, she's excellent in Now Voyager and All About Eve. Petrified Forest is a must-see, the cast includes Bogie and Leslie Howard.
I thought the title was a Bogart film. Now that I think about it, I may have caught a short bit of it, but I'm reasonably certain I haven't seen the whole movie.
Rulon
VCU has the Confederate White House on campus, housing the CSA's only President Jefferson Davis. Davis served in the US Army and then married the daughter of Zachary Taylor, the latter only living three months before dying of malaria. Fourteen years later, Zachary Taylor would go on to be the President of the United States. Through family connections, Davis was appointed to be Secretary of War and he was influential in the Pierce Administration - including pushing for the repealing the Missouri Compromise, allowing NM/UT to have slaves (which perpetuated slavery) and the Nebraska/Kansas Act and the Gadsen Purchase to pursue railroads as a national defense initiative. The Transcontinental Railroad made the investor in the Central Pacific Railroad filthy rich - Leland Stanford.
https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2019/05/first-transcontinental-railroad-stanford-forever-linked
It’s time once again for Oski Disciple’s question of the day.
You sometimes hear of people walking on eggshells. Why didn’t anyone sweep up those eggshells? Who leaves eggshells on the floor?
I barely recall that there was a Cal running back who was described by a radio announcer as the man who walks on eggshells. Might have been a teammate of Chuck Muncie. Howard Strickland maybe?
Real eggshells can be messy. Metaphorical ones, too.
Need to hear intruders?
I leave a layer of grass clippings around my raised garden beds as a poor/cheap man's mulch. My wife gets a bit lazy dumping out the compost bucket into our initial composting bin (the closed-top hot/wet barrel) and chucks it directly into my open-air intermediate compost bin, which I use to hold grass clippings. When I go to refresh the clipping around the garden bed, it inevitably has eggshells in it and they get stomped into little fragments over time. In this case, I literally am walking on eggshells whenever I visit the raised beds, which is a few times per week.
PRO
Giants trade a prospect for Mark Canha (UC Berkeley 2007-2009)
Mike Trout's rehab from knee injury has setback. And water is wet.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40686012/angels-shut-rehab-mike-trout-setback-place-anthony-rendon-il
Matt Holliday's 20 year old son just got called up to the Bigs
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40687120/baltimore-orioles-set-call-top-prospect-jackson-holliday
He was underwhelming his first shot earlier this year.
A little better this time up. I turned on the game as I got home. Bases were loaded on two walks and a hit batter. On an 0-2 count he hit it onto the street above the right field bleachers for a slam to give the O’s the lead.
Paul DeJong's trade is the cliche you've heard about. Traded just before a game starts to that day's opponent so he walks across the stadium to the other clubhouse.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40687156/paul-dejong-thrilled-land-royals-great-team
DJ gets Moore money
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40685363/chicago-bears-dj-moore-agree-4-year-extension
OLYMPICS
How it started: https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/1816995742562812048
How it ended: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/30/sports/table-tennis-anthony-edwards.html
LOL
https://twitter.com/hannahchrstina/status/1818239433855877407
Egypt's Nada Hafez beat the US's former college fencing champion. Actually, both her and her 7-month fetus won.
https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-pregnant-fencer-nada-hafez-60187a9ba572d166e3ed2a29a69689de
[NY Times] The New York Times reports that 23 Chinese Olympic swimmers were caught doping in 2022. The Chinese investigated themselves and shocking found themselves innocent because [checks notes]... hamburgers. And WADA totally agreed with the Chinese. I have a bridge to sell to WADA. No wonder the Americans were so pissed at the Olympics over Chinese cheating.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2024/07/30/more-chinese-swimmers-tested-positive-blamed-burgers/74598800007/
I faintly recall decades ago that the Chinese coaches claimed that their swimmers' ability was due to a secret herb they took. Shortly afterward, the herb, which maybe came from a worm?, was up for sale.
The Summer Olympics have a surfing event. The Olympics are in France, so naturally, the event is being hosted in [checks notes]... Tahiti. And because it's surfing, the correspondent is naturally [checks notes]... Colin Jost
https://twitter.com/latenightercom/status/1817630035114926377
Oh they needed to bring along Michael Che as well.
Jimmer Fredette leaves the Olympics as he did coming in - not scoring many points. Also, is a 35 year old ex-NBA journeyman the best we can do?
https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/40685464/fredette-team-usa-fall-3x3-olympics-basketball-opener
This is still in pool play, right? I think they have more games to play, so he's not leaving yet.
Arbitration case dismissed in match fixing allegations against members of the American saber team. Dude, who hears a case like that during the Olympics rather than before it? Is Judge Cannon the judge?
USA fares poorly in shooting events. American are outraged, but then realize that they shoot tiny guns at inanimate targets. Watch out World once the Olympics include assault rifles, school children, and POC.
https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/schedule/shooting?day=31-july
pqtm
[WRugby7] The Bronze medal match between the US and Australia had the most dramatic, amazing, heart rending finish I have ever seen. Australian defense inexplicably collapsed with seconds to go, allowing the US to run the length of the pitch with no time left and beat the heavily favored Wallabies.
https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/1818360220009341283
Mrs Slug says she frightened the dogs because she was yelling so much.
Good thing the field isn’ any longer. Aussie woman was getting close.
I think the US woman slowed down when she knew she'd make it. Sort of like Desean Jackson.
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
DeShaun Foster owns up to his disastrous Media Day. LOL.
https://x.com/BruinReport/status/1818662848886980775
CAL
Driving an errand earlier this a.m., had the siriusXM radio The Full Ride on with Rick Neuheisel & Chris Childers and Cal/Stanfrd came up. With the topic that both Cal & Stan., when the coach, players, flew to the ACC media day....that they, of all things, flew commercial and not on a private jet. This seemed to spell further doom with Chris Childers, the gravel voice loudmouth, but a bit less with Neuheisel....just a bit. Just another example, they said, of not taking football seriously.
The remarks didn't set well with me, a long suffering and sensitive fan. Come on.
Nothing to do with actual game travel, to be clear, which we know is different.
That's a stupid take. Very few universities own or lease planes. Ohio State, Penn State, and Florida are some exceptions. Some universities will charter flights for whole team travel - Cal included. But not owning or chartering a plane to fly four players, Wilcox, and a few other staff to the ACC Media Day is obviously a stupid financial idea. But you don't have to be a graduate of literally one of the lowest ranked universities in America to know that.
https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/18724734/many-universities-using-private-planes
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-childers-b12981a/
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/tn?schoolType=national-universities&_sort=distance&_sortDirection=asc
Go Bears!!!
Key take-away from opening fall practice: we are fast
I'm curious to see what the team is going to do to fill the BRETT JOHNSON size hole.
Saunders has officially medically retired it would appear. Our front 7 is by far our most glaring weakness/concern. The starters are good but zero proven depth.
DBD AV CLUB
The Bear (S3 E1). E1 is a masterclass in the screenwriting maxim "show, don't tell". It is an impressionist's composite of little vignette's of character's past and present day. Each is an aching little story why the main character is such damaged goods - a person worthy of the viewer's frustration, love, and pity. The season premier does not deter me from thinking that The Bear is the best thing on television now.
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE