Remember when the NFL Commissioner said "We will strongly oppose legalized sports gambling." Well, they now own 10% of ESPN's sportsbook and will directly profit from gambling
Valkyries lost to the Aces last night. BUT! The Cal Band was there. They performed in Thrive City before the game—I sang along of course. And they performed the anthem before the game.
Also before the game, KPIX interviewed the wife and me. Feeling slightly famous.
Edits: Got a couple likes, then I fixed some typos, but this made the likes disappear. :(
The old idiom goes "You should never look a gift horse in the mouth"; in baseball it's especially true if that gift horse happens to be four walks in the bottom of the ninth.
The Oakland Ballers staged one of their biggest – and latest – comebacks of the year, scoring four in the ninth to win 7-6 over the Yuba-Sutter HighWheelers.
It took the San Francisco Giants four games to realize they were playing the Pittsburgh Pirates and not the 1927 New York Yankees this season. With their confidence back after a big win Tuesday, the Giants came through with three late runs and a clutch pinch-hit RBI double by Dominic Smith to beat the Pirates, 4-2.
The Dodgers didn’t have the offensive firepower they had on Tuesday night, and combined with sloppy defense late in Wednesday’s game resulted in the Cardinals stealing the rubber match and the series by a final score of 5-3.
Locally in the NC Triangle area, there was Tuffy, named after NC State's mascot. It did okay, but it didn't sell great because it was... too delicious and had too much flavor. They switched two years ago to a version that is... easier drinking.
I have the normal blackberries in my backyard on a hard-to-reach area that is technically in the HOA owned area on a steep slope in some scrub. It is the bane of my backyard and neigh impossible to kill.
Sounds like a recipe for live and let live. Probably the best thing that can be done is to keep it at bay by the use of pruning shears. I'm envisioning the use of telescoping loppers used to prune small branches from trees, that can be operated with an attached rope that you pull.
I think he is motivated in significant part by a desire to do a bunch of wild shit before he dies. I don’t think he would be so wacky if he were like 50
No, yes. I think he is really afraid of death and is trying to distract himself from the fact of his own mortality. Whether he is otherwise healthy or not, he is 79 years old
I guess he just wants to put is mark on the country so that when he's dead, his name will be recorded as the one that got the country to where it is. And in his mind, he thinks it will be a good thing.
Not a bad price for the size of the property, but you have to be willing to go through the entitlement process to tear the buildings down and put something else there, so you are probably 10 years away from a return and paying for the carry (taxes and insurance and legal fees to a land use attorney) until then
Although when you go to Shattuck/University area especially now, it is amazing the amount of development there. So many high rise apartments/condos on what used to be vacant lots or decrepit old buildings. Also fair number of University buildings creeping out of the historical campus confines. So a blood sport, yes, but one you can apparently win if you stick it out
There is also a massive tower that is planned for the corner of Shattuck and University and will take up a sizable portion of that block on the Shattuck Ave side, especially. When complete, its top will be at an elevation higher than the Campanile.
Is that the one where they kicked out low income housing people to knock down the building and put up the student housing tower. That's a terrible one.
The project planned for something like 26 stories and 250 units (+/-) at Center and Oxford is delayed due to the cost of borrowing. Tariffs on steel are probably also factoring into the delay.
I will note that recent changes in CEQA (landmark state law) have swung the balance in favor of developers. Before those changes, it was possible to delay a project to death. Now, not so much. Also, there is a different state law with regards to set-asides for affordable units that bypasses local control. It was used by the developers of the Spenger's parking lot to force approval of the project. And, I think the same law recently fast-tracked a project for 2655 Shattuck Ave (x-street Derby St.). The project proposal is for 97 units, 8 floors, with 2,000 square feet of commercial space.
Not unless there are measures being taken to provide better access and egress and the horrible parking shortage. I haven't read (or seen when there last fall) any reasonable infrastructure improvements to support these kinds of high density high traffic drivers in an area with an already horribly overtaxed infrastructure.
Actually, this is the original Oxford School site on Oxford St. a couple hundred feet or so south of Los Angeles Ave. Oxford School was relocated to the old West Campus site at University Ave and Bonar St. Coincidentally, I spent part of 2nd grade at Oxford School when that building was relatively new, and, later, at West Campus as a BHS freshman.
EDIT: this site is about 1.8 miles from the north end of Cal Memorial Stadium. Not really conducive to tailgating.
Pretty much. There were also kids who were bussed from the flats to Oxford. When I was at Oxford School, I walked from home to the school building, about 0.4 mile. The next school year, I was at Cragmont School which was even closer to home, about 0.3 mile walk.
Is there a school on or just off Marin? That would suck to have to stop on Marin to pick up kids. I seem to remember seeing kids walking around after school hours when driving up Marin to get to Grizzly Peak.
Cragmont School is on the corner of Marin Ave and Spruce St. That's probably the school you're thinking of. I'm guessing you're thinking about the stretch of Marin between The Circle and Grizzly Peak Blvd.
The block of Marin between Spruce St and Regal St is steep. Stopping on the school property side of that block is prohibited by NO PARKING signs. The residential side is red zoned the entire length, except for the driveways.
The Spruce Street side is not nearly as steep, though it still has a gentle incline and this is where school buses park to take kids to their homes in the flats. The Regal Street side is often used for pickup. It's not flat, but it isn't anywhere near as steep as the Marin Ave side.
"I like my [men/women] like I like my coffee..."
hot flat white
Over a counter
Hot and bitter
Great line from Airplane! So much inappropriate stuff in that movie that would no longer fly
Airplane still flies.
My wife says this to me occasionally before adding "blonde and sweet."
I was blonde. Once.
PRO
What's faster than Mason Miller's 103.9 mph fastball?
https://bsky.app/profile/bmags94.bsky.social/post/3lvpfnnbcs224
Remember when the NFL Commissioner said "We will strongly oppose legalized sports gambling." Well, they now own 10% of ESPN's sportsbook and will directly profit from gambling
https://www.mediaite.com/media/sports/espns-blockbuster-deal-with-nfl-has-fans-fearing-the-worst-extremely-problematic/
Society is making strides forward so that both genders can terribly blow an important call
https://apnews.com/article/mlb-female-umpire-jen-pawol-000cf10d7d458329e89d4fa83f8cefcc
Valkyries lost to the Aces last night. BUT! The Cal Band was there. They performed in Thrive City before the game—I sang along of course. And they performed the anthem before the game.
Also before the game, KPIX interviewed the wife and me. Feeling slightly famous.
Edits: Got a couple likes, then I fixed some typos, but this made the likes disappear. :(
Allgeyer’s Walk-off Hit Caps Ninth Inning Comeback (Ballers beat the Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers 7-6)
https://www.oaklandballers.com/sports/bsb/2025/releases/202508064zbbb0
The old idiom goes "You should never look a gift horse in the mouth"; in baseball it's especially true if that gift horse happens to be four walks in the bottom of the ninth.
The Oakland Ballers staged one of their biggest – and latest – comebacks of the year, scoring four in the ninth to win 7-6 over the Yuba-Sutter HighWheelers.
A's lose to the Nats 2-1
Giants rally late to take game, series against Pirates
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/san-francisco-giants-scores-standings-nl-west/81563/giants-rally-late-take-game-series-against-pirates-recaps
It took the San Francisco Giants four games to realize they were playing the Pittsburgh Pirates and not the 1927 New York Yankees this season. With their confidence back after a big win Tuesday, the Giants came through with three late runs and a clutch pinch-hit RBI double by Dominic Smith to beat the Pirates, 4-2.
Dodgers bullpen loses second game of series to Cardinals
https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-scores-standings/87912/shohei-ohtani-dodgers-bullpen-woes-cardinals
The Dodgers didn’t have the offensive firepower they had on Tuesday night, and combined with sloppy defense late in Wednesday’s game resulted in the Cardinals stealing the rubber match and the series by a final score of 5-3.
CAL
Oregon State opens as a 2.5 favorite over Cal in Corvallis.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401752936/california-oregon-st
Probably about right. Given all our unknowns. About a pickem with OSU getting the home field advantage.
RIP Cafe Durant
HOLY MOLY
https://x.com/tsedg/status/1953485226363015538
Locally in the NC Triangle area, there was Tuffy, named after NC State's mascot. It did okay, but it didn't sell great because it was... too delicious and had too much flavor. They switched two years ago to a version that is... easier drinking.
https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article278577199.html
Will beer cans survive being checked in? Asking for a friend.
I don't think they'll blow up since it shouldn't freeze.
What's the signature drink of Boston? Sam Adams? Ward 8? Cheap downbrand vodka in a plastic bottle?
My guess is Sam Adams. Or anything cheap that gets you drunk.
Anyone know if there is a Cal fan day thing this year?
BLACK
-KKlansman. Thought it was a great movie and even better that it's based on a true story.
Panther
Dahlia
Berries are on peak season in the PNW. I planted a couple of thornless ones in our yard and am getting a bowl full every other day.
I have the normal blackberries in my backyard on a hard-to-reach area that is technically in the HOA owned area on a steep slope in some scrub. It is the bane of my backyard and neigh impossible to kill.
Sounds like a recipe for live and let live. Probably the best thing that can be done is to keep it at bay by the use of pruning shears. I'm envisioning the use of telescoping loppers used to prune small branches from trees, that can be operated with an attached rope that you pull.
POLITICS
Trump orders new census. What are the odds that Red/Blue states have a noticeable increase/decrease in population?
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5440548-trump-orders-new-census/
I think he is motivated in significant part by a desire to do a bunch of wild shit before he dies. I don’t think he would be so wacky if he were like 50
Does he have a terminal illness? Or is he just simply wackadoodle?
No, yes. I think he is really afraid of death and is trying to distract himself from the fact of his own mortality. Whether he is otherwise healthy or not, he is 79 years old
Fear is a great motivator. I'd be okay with it as long as it doesn't affect a wide swath of the country, and negatively besides.
I guess he just wants to put is mark on the country so that when he's dead, his name will be recorded as the one that got the country to where it is. And in his mind, he thinks it will be a good thing.
DBD AV CLUB
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
Texas Southern is bringing their marching band to Berkeley. Get ready for some HBCU band goodness.
https://x.com/oceanofsoultsu/status/1949706902977368390?s=46
Oh Damn I'm going to miss this. Don't think I can get out of what I need to be at. The Grambling State football game was so good.
If it were a 6 PM game I probably could.
Did he sprain his mouth from running it so much?
https://x.com/petenakos_/status/1953198924505772296?s=46&t=JACS-tlUx1BArJFn-u_nQw
It's like Running of the Bulls, except with wet, underemployed dudes
https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/coastal/what-is-slamarack-inside-surfings-running-of-the-bulls/
Anyone have an extra $3 million lying about?
Berkeley’s vacant Oxford Elementary site is for sale for $3M
https://www.berkeleyside.org/2025/08/06/berkeleys-vacant-oxford-elementary-site-is-for-sale-for-3m
Not a bad price for the size of the property, but you have to be willing to go through the entitlement process to tear the buildings down and put something else there, so you are probably 10 years away from a return and paying for the carry (taxes and insurance and legal fees to a land use attorney) until then
All very good points. In Berkeley, politics and zoning are blood sports.
Although when you go to Shattuck/University area especially now, it is amazing the amount of development there. So many high rise apartments/condos on what used to be vacant lots or decrepit old buildings. Also fair number of University buildings creeping out of the historical campus confines. So a blood sport, yes, but one you can apparently win if you stick it out
There is also a massive tower that is planned for the corner of Shattuck and University and will take up a sizable portion of that block on the Shattuck Ave side, especially. When complete, its top will be at an elevation higher than the Campanile.
Oh wow didnt know!
Is that the one where they kicked out low income housing people to knock down the building and put up the student housing tower. That's a terrible one.
Different project. I think the project you're thinking of is the now one-year old Anchor House on Oxford between University and Berkeley Way.
Nothing in Berkeley should be allowed to be taller than the Campanile.
Someday someone will propose making the Campanile higher.
The project planned for something like 26 stories and 250 units (+/-) at Center and Oxford is delayed due to the cost of borrowing. Tariffs on steel are probably also factoring into the delay.
I will note that recent changes in CEQA (landmark state law) have swung the balance in favor of developers. Before those changes, it was possible to delay a project to death. Now, not so much. Also, there is a different state law with regards to set-asides for affordable units that bypasses local control. It was used by the developers of the Spenger's parking lot to force approval of the project. And, I think the same law recently fast-tracked a project for 2655 Shattuck Ave (x-street Derby St.). The project proposal is for 97 units, 8 floors, with 2,000 square feet of commercial space.
Great news all around for the Berkeley housing pipeline.
Not unless there are measures being taken to provide better access and egress and the horrible parking shortage. I haven't read (or seen when there last fall) any reasonable infrastructure improvements to support these kinds of high density high traffic drivers in an area with an already horribly overtaxed infrastructure.
Too bad it's too far down University. Could've been a great tailgate spot.
Actually, this is the original Oxford School site on Oxford St. a couple hundred feet or so south of Los Angeles Ave. Oxford School was relocated to the old West Campus site at University Ave and Bonar St. Coincidentally, I spent part of 2nd grade at Oxford School when that building was relatively new, and, later, at West Campus as a BHS freshman.
EDIT: this site is about 1.8 miles from the north end of Cal Memorial Stadium. Not really conducive to tailgating.
Oh I never knew this was up there. I guess it was a neighborhood school where everyone could walk to school.
Pretty much. There were also kids who were bussed from the flats to Oxford. When I was at Oxford School, I walked from home to the school building, about 0.4 mile. The next school year, I was at Cragmont School which was even closer to home, about 0.3 mile walk.
Is there a school on or just off Marin? That would suck to have to stop on Marin to pick up kids. I seem to remember seeing kids walking around after school hours when driving up Marin to get to Grizzly Peak.
Cragmont School is on the corner of Marin Ave and Spruce St. That's probably the school you're thinking of. I'm guessing you're thinking about the stretch of Marin between The Circle and Grizzly Peak Blvd.
The block of Marin between Spruce St and Regal St is steep. Stopping on the school property side of that block is prohibited by NO PARKING signs. The residential side is red zoned the entire length, except for the driveways.
The Spruce Street side is not nearly as steep, though it still has a gentle incline and this is where school buses park to take kids to their homes in the flats. The Regal Street side is often used for pickup. It's not flat, but it isn't anywhere near as steep as the Marin Ave side.