There was a slide in Singapore that they installed in the Botanic Gardens that was 2.5 stories high. It was short, steep, and had a wicked head-bopping curve in the middle. Kids came flying out of the bottom either crying or running back to the ladder with a shit-eating grin for another shot of adrenaline. They clearly got complaints because they made the slide straighter, longer, and much slower. I maintain that there has to be a certain percentage of "crying" for a slide to be fun.
The best slides (and other playground equipment) are those where the kid's first go ends with a split second of wide-eyed bewilderment that is equal parts joy and terror (and then usually turns into 20 minutes of repeating the slide again and again).
The City Museum in St Louis is a kids museum that was built inside an abandoned factory. It has some really cool climbing structures outside that also includes a slide that is on the outside wall of the factory.
There are some pretty cool new water slides. I like the funnel one. Also there was this water coaster where there are water jets on the uphill parts that would propel the "car" uphill.
I'm all for fun, but that slide is dumb. It is way too intrusive to the living spaces and the exits are flat at the end. You'd have to scoot on your butt halfway across a room-length. And it looks like a chrome butthole.
A coworker of mine recently returned from a 14-month work assignment in the Netherlands. He picked up climbing and bouldering out there because they're apparently quite popular with the locals. I found it amusing that such activities would be so popular in a country that is basically a flat sand pit.
both my daughters have been on a competitive climbing team for the last 5-7 years. the older one went to youth nationals a few years ago and so we have become sucked into the climbing world in various aspects.
even when we travel, we try to find climbing gyms in other cities/countries just to see how different/same it is other places. now that it is an Olympic sport it is getting a lot more exposure. in the coming games in Paris, they will split speed climbing from the other two (bouldering and rope).
I’ve probably spent more time in RSF than anywhere else that wasn’t my home or work. Lots of great memories playing ball with the likes of Lamond, Keenan, Marshawn, Lampley, Randle, etc.
i liked the RSF. aside from swimming, i think i used most other parts, weight room, racquetball and open courts for basketball and volleyball. HAG and I had a lot of our intramural games in there too.
i actually signed up for a volleyball PE class once, but we got to use the main court at Harmon Gym for that.
There are six unnamed co-conspirators cited in the indictment, who seem to be Drunk Uncle Giuliani, John Eastman, Sidney Powell, Jeffrey Clark, and Kenneth Chesebro. It is unclear who co-conspirator 6 is, but names bandied about include Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Ginni Thomas, Michael Flynn, and Mike Lindell.
now that Pence is involved as a witness it is going to be interesting. i wonder if Pence will get discredited as Democrat stooge? or self-serving individual trying to snatch some votes?
Trump PACs now perilously low of money ($32m) combined after slowing donations and soaring legal fees are draining cash to low levels. I mean, perish the thought that a "billionaire" would spend his own money. With more cases popping up, Trump is at risk of not being able to fund his campaign.
The Dodgers got some minor pieces, the highest upside being Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly. They seemed to have an agreement for Eduardo Rodriguez from the Tigers but he invoked his no-trade clause. Supposedly he did it for family reasons as his wife and kids live in Miami.
So they got Ryan Yarborough a reliever, Rosario a good hitter against lefties with a weak glove, Kiké back. They needed good hitters against lefties and I guess did alright.
Overall they didn't totally address their SP needs. They weren't going to overpay for pitchers under team control.
They moved the needle a little bit and I think just hoping Kershaw comes back healthy and Urías and Gonsolin pitch like they historically are able to.
that's what I thought. I guess I'll need to see if my Pac-12 network on Xfinity costs extra or not. I'll have to shift that spending to Apple TV. Also means D$ won't have access (if he's still watching) anymore either.
I already have Apple so, yay, I guess...but leave it to the incompetent boobs in charge of the P12 to choose the option that has even LESS exposure than the P12 Network. Morons.
Clemson dismissed former 4-star LB TJ Dudley (RS-Fr) for selling locker-room photos of his teammates on OnlyFans. Ole Miss has welcomed him onto their team.
Iowa State's incumbent starting QB charged with "tampering with records" trying to hide allegations that he did $2800 worth of sports betting when he was a backup QB in 2021. He faces permanently losing his eligibility.
ND, always & forever. Had an unfair money and exposure advantage - their own tv deal - since 1950. Less of an issue today, but they had a 70 year head start.
BYU? But their fans are so nice! Bringing free ice cream to all their opponent fans at the end of the first quarter? Shaking our hands and congratulating us for our victory over them in their Provo stadium?
Slide
There was a slide in Singapore that they installed in the Botanic Gardens that was 2.5 stories high. It was short, steep, and had a wicked head-bopping curve in the middle. Kids came flying out of the bottom either crying or running back to the ladder with a shit-eating grin for another shot of adrenaline. They clearly got complaints because they made the slide straighter, longer, and much slower. I maintain that there has to be a certain percentage of "crying" for a slide to be fun.
The best slides (and other playground equipment) are those where the kid's first go ends with a split second of wide-eyed bewilderment that is equal parts joy and terror (and then usually turns into 20 minutes of repeating the slide again and again).
Apropos: this new slide in Boston is perfectly designed
https://twitter.com/LiveBoston617/status/1686442418403495969
The City Museum in St Louis is a kids museum that was built inside an abandoned factory. It has some really cool climbing structures outside that also includes a slide that is on the outside wall of the factory.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/St._Louis_City_Museum_%28building_outside%29.jpg
water __
this is my favorite version of a slide. there is something very satisfying about sliding on the water and getting ejected into a pool of water.
good memories of HS field trips too
There are some pretty cool new water slides. I like the funnel one. Also there was this water coaster where there are water jets on the uphill parts that would propel the "car" uphill.
some friends of ours (early google and FB employees) live in this 4 story Manhattan apartment w/ a multi-story slide. i have been on it. is it fun.
A tubular steel slide plummets through four storeys inside this penthouse apartment in New York by architect David Hotson (+ slideshow).
https://www.dezeen.com/2013/03/08/skyhouse-with-an-indoor-slide-by-david-hotson-and-ghislaine-vinas/
I'm all for fun, but that slide is dumb. It is way too intrusive to the living spaces and the exits are flat at the end. You'd have to scoot on your butt halfway across a room-length. And it looks like a chrome butthole.
I cannot unsee the chrome butthole now
oh now you're going to make me reload the page aren't you?
Yup. can't unsee it.
DBD is always the best when we talk about infantile things like buttholes.
Gives new meaning to the phrase "anal retentive".
DBD late nite starting early.
it is certainly a strange luxury to want to put in your house.
Climbing
A coworker of mine recently returned from a 14-month work assignment in the Netherlands. He picked up climbing and bouldering out there because they're apparently quite popular with the locals. I found it amusing that such activities would be so popular in a country that is basically a flat sand pit.
my Dutch friends also go to indoor ski hills to practice all year for their one or two trips to the Alps.
both my daughters have been on a competitive climbing team for the last 5-7 years. the older one went to youth nationals a few years ago and so we have become sucked into the climbing world in various aspects.
even when we travel, we try to find climbing gyms in other cities/countries just to see how different/same it is other places. now that it is an Olympic sport it is getting a lot more exposure. in the coming games in Paris, they will split speed climbing from the other two (bouldering and rope).
RSF
I used to play pickup basketball there in the summers after work.
I recall one time a CalSO tour come through and one of the students took a small towel from the front desk like they were souvenirs being handed out.
I’ve probably spent more time in RSF than anywhere else that wasn’t my home or work. Lots of great memories playing ball with the likes of Lamond, Keenan, Marshawn, Lampley, Randle, etc.
Had to search to find out what it is. Didn't exist in my time.
It was new-ish when I was in school 1984-88.
i liked the RSF. aside from swimming, i think i used most other parts, weight room, racquetball and open courts for basketball and volleyball. HAG and I had a lot of our intramural games in there too.
i actually signed up for a volleyball PE class once, but we got to use the main court at Harmon Gym for that.
OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY
Two in Michigan charged with tampering with 2020 election
https://apnews.com/article/matthew-deperno-michigan-trump-voting-machines-a58c4a58de84d432815ec1be39c19b90
Trump indicted on four counts in Federal Court related to trying to conspire to overturn the 2020 election. Read the indictment here:
https://www.scribd.com/document/662462402/Trump-Indictment
There are six unnamed co-conspirators cited in the indictment, who seem to be Drunk Uncle Giuliani, John Eastman, Sidney Powell, Jeffrey Clark, and Kenneth Chesebro. It is unclear who co-conspirator 6 is, but names bandied about include Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Ginni Thomas, Michael Flynn, and Mike Lindell.
now that Pence is involved as a witness it is going to be interesting. i wonder if Pence will get discredited as Democrat stooge? or self-serving individual trying to snatch some votes?
Trump Reacts To Indictment: Says Jan. 6 Charges ‘Reminiscent’ Of Nazi Persecution
https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/08/01/trump-reacts-to-indictment-says-jan-6-charges-reminiscent-of-nazi-persecution/?sh=556fc64d467e
Hol Up...so...he likens this to Nazi Persecution...so he's identifying as <checks notes> a Nazi?
Trump PACs now perilously low of money ($32m) combined after slowing donations and soaring legal fees are draining cash to low levels. I mean, perish the thought that a "billionaire" would spend his own money. With more cases popping up, Trump is at risk of not being able to fund his campaign.
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-pac-campaign-finances-filing-suprising-details-1816624
PRO
NFL player suspended for gambling on games he played in.
https://www.9news.com/article/sports/nfl/denver-broncos/mike-klis/eyioma-uwazurike-facing-criminal-charges-for-gambling-on-games/73-105c0ce7-fe1b-43d7-baff-b9b45b4af6d5
Everyone in the NL West buying for the playoff stretch and the Giants telling the dealer that they're going to stay with a weak hand.
Yeah, not a good position to be in for the stretch run this year. Hopefully, keeping prospects closer to home will pay off in coming years.
The Dodgers got some minor pieces, the highest upside being Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly. They seemed to have an agreement for Eduardo Rodriguez from the Tigers but he invoked his no-trade clause. Supposedly he did it for family reasons as his wife and kids live in Miami.
So they got Ryan Yarborough a reliever, Rosario a good hitter against lefties with a weak glove, Kiké back. They needed good hitters against lefties and I guess did alright.
Overall they didn't totally address their SP needs. They weren't going to overpay for pitchers under team control.
They moved the needle a little bit and I think just hoping Kershaw comes back healthy and Urías and Gonsolin pitch like they historically are able to.
Astros reacquire Verlander from Mets
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38115264/sources-houston-astros-acquiring-justin-verlander-mets
Astros Framber Valdez throws no-hitter in only 93 pitches. He walked one batter in the fifth to spoil a perfect game.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38117698/astros-framber-valdez-blanks-guardians-mlb-3rd-no-hitter
Let's check in on how the Mets are doing. Mets leading 6-4 to start the 10th...
https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1686580220512337921
He did twitch his back foot and didn't step off. that's a balk-off.
[Women's WC] Brazil and Italy crash out of World Cup
https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/622543
The Jamaican team looked overjoyed to have tied Brazil to advance out of the group stage
Giants complete a 4-3 comeback win over Arizona with a catcher's pick off by Patrick Bailey.
https://twitter.com/SFGiants/status/1686590366760460288?s=20
DBD AV CLUB
Watched the 5th episode of Season 3 of "Witcher" - wow wow wow - what a show! Totally crazy x a billion!
Pac-X media deal.
i guess i'll finally have to start subscribing to Apple TV after all these years.
Ugh, I am not excited about this. I'll reluctantly subscribe for a couple months during the season, but I'm not happy about it
neither am I. Does it start this year, or next?
2024 i guess once UCLA/USC leave Pac-X
that's what I thought. I guess I'll need to see if my Pac-12 network on Xfinity costs extra or not. I'll have to shift that spending to Apple TV. Also means D$ won't have access (if he's still watching) anymore either.
I already have Apple so, yay, I guess...but leave it to the incompetent boobs in charge of the P12 to choose the option that has even LESS exposure than the P12 Network. Morons.
I just unsubscribed from apple tv so I can re-subscribe later & tell them it was only for pac-12 broadcasts.
CAL
Go Bears!!!
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
George K reportedly went groveling back.
https://twitter.com/jlkurtz/status/1686585884286615552
From the Front Page: The Pac12 Apple deal
https://writeforcalifornia.com/p/pac-12-media-deal-proposal-apple-tv-plus
The what now?
Clemson dismissed former 4-star LB TJ Dudley (RS-Fr) for selling locker-room photos of his teammates on OnlyFans. Ole Miss has welcomed him onto their team.
https://twitter.com/beatinthebookie/status/1685711849180774400
Iowa State's incumbent starting QB charged with "tampering with records" trying to hide allegations that he did $2800 worth of sports betting when he was a backup QB in 2021. He faces permanently losing his eligibility.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa-state/cyclone-insider/2023/08/01/iowa-state-qb-quarterback-hunter-dekkers-accused-of-betting-on-isu-sports-including-football/70509522007/
Three other players - two current and one former - were also caught in a sweep to catch gambling. Fools. A baseball players from Iowa also got caught.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa-state/cyclone-insider/2023/08/01/iowa-state-qb-quarterback-hunter-dekkers-accused-of-betting-on-isu-sports-including-football/70509522007/
I bet the penalty for tampering with records is worse than the betting.
The wrestler either comes from money or he won some of his bets.
College football team outside the current Pac 12 that you hate. For me, BYU, Ohio State, Miami and most of the SEC.
Baylor, TCU, Texas
ND, always & forever. Had an unfair money and exposure advantage - their own tv deal - since 1950. Less of an issue today, but they had a 70 year head start.
BYU? But their fans are so nice! Bringing free ice cream to all their opponent fans at the end of the first quarter? Shaking our hands and congratulating us for our victory over them in their Provo stadium?
They are very rare - very.
I find the whole Mormon thing a huge turnoff. No amount of ice cream can make up for that.
You've never bin there, I guess.
not as bad as hate, but generally dislike ND, OSU.
i find that over time my dislike for a team subsides as they invariably lose steam. Alabama seems somehow immune to this for longer than average.