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Justbear's avatar

The other day I learned you can ski in Hawaii too

Cugel's avatar

Tallest mountain on the planet.

Newellbany's avatar

Base to summit, maybe? Like, if you're including the underwater parts? Sounds fishy (did you see what I did there).

SGBear's avatar

Themed restaurants

heyalumnigo's avatar

Ed Debevics, a 50s diner theme. The first time we went I think was when HSB and I went down to the UCLA game. It was fun but if I remember the food was just alright. Paying for the schtick and the atmosphere.

DC Trojan's avatar

I had completely forgotten about that place!

heyalumnigo's avatar

I wonder if they're still around.

SGBear's avatar

There is a chain of ninja themed restaurant in Japan. They are kitchy, but well done. My whole family enjoyed it - twice! Japan is undefeated when it comes to themed-restaurants.

https://ninjaakasaka.com/en/

Justbear's avatar

Never knew that. Have to take American visitors there next time

SGBear's avatar

Grand Army - a Boerum Hill bistro on a seems-like-a-postcard Brooklyn street - is a delightful place. It changes its themes seasonally, last fall they had a cat-themed menu. When I visited, their cocktails were based on the Spice Girls. As I get on in age, I now tend to get cocktails because a) they are a lot of work and I wouldn't make it for myself, b) they are often GD delicious and I don't care if they are all girly because delicious is delicious. They do impeccable work in the kitchen and behind the bar.

https://www.grandarmybar.com/

GoldenSD81's avatar

94th Aero Squadron. I believe most of them have closed but I have been going to the one in San Diego since I was kid because my grandparents love that place.

Cugel's avatar

Does Chevy's qualify?

goldenone's avatar

Used to take the kids to Rainforest Cafe. Don't even know if it still exists.

goldenone's avatar

The one in the City is gone though.

AndyPanda's avatar

Thoroughly enjoyed visiting. Hope they find an expansion route forward.

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Aug 9, 2022
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TheBuckeyeBear's avatar

Let's go to a tiki bar together!!!

heyalumnigo's avatar

pqtm...I clapdoc'ed this.

Tangtpt's avatar

Milwaukee has a spy-themed restaurant called SafeHouse. The entrance is tucked away in an alley with a sign for a trading company. You need to figure out the password in order to get in, but if you don't, they'll make you do something silly before opening a secret door to the actual restaurant. The food is just OK, but the atmosphere is so fun.. When you're done, you have to figure out how to get out through a phone booth. Very fun place.

Justbear's avatar

I went there in April too! Didn't know it was spy themed. I was so confused when I walked in and the guy made me dance with my hands up and spin around. Really enjoyed the experience though.

Newellbany's avatar

Holy crap - they made JimmyChitwood do that, too!

I had been there before so I knew the password - he didn't. So they let just me in at first and I immediately got my phone out to film the TV screen that shows the entry room. They had our man take his shirt off and, like, belly dance. I recorded the whole thing and will happily show it to anyone coming to South Bend.

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

I'll take "Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Life Long Friends" for $800, Mayim.

Newellbany's avatar

I just found the video and it made my whole day all over again. Spectacular.

Justbear's avatar

I went there with my clients from Japan, and we were supposed to meet a CEO of a vendor for dinner there. The CEO came later. We watched and laughed, recording him on TV screen, a very rigid businessman confusingly dance around. He looked very unpleasant at our very first meeting lol

BentPawn(Don)'s avatar

Gourmet ghetto, the stretch of Shattuck Avenue and sidestreets that encompass Chez Panisse, Saul's, the original Peet's, Cheeseboard, Gregoire, and others. I'm surprised the little produce market that was next to Cheeseboard closed.

FiatSlug's avatar

The owner of the market (Sam Hort, owner of The Produce Center) retired in 2018. Cheeseboard took over the space and make upgrades that were completed in 2019. Then the pandemic hit and the plans to move into the space stalled.

See this linked article on Berkeleyside.com from March 3, 2022 here - https://www.berkeleyside.org/2022/03/03/cheese-board-berkeley-expansion

heyalumnigo's avatar

I think I saw that Cheeseboard is going to expand and take it over.

SGBear's avatar

Upper Richmond District in the 90s was one of my favorite ghettos. There was something magical about the mashup of an Irish/Chinese/Russian ghetto. And not just root of those three culture - but chain migration that had secured a steady base of first-generation immigrants. Great Cantonese food, Russian ladies in the far upper-right corner of the hot/crazy spectrum, and legit IRA bars.

heyalumnigo's avatar

Was just at Asian Ghetto yesterday but I did not see triangle man. No 3 got the Beef Bulgogi Ramen, No 2 got IB, and I got Top Dog.

KetamineCal's avatar

My roommate was always terrified of the Mandarin House lady for I have no idea what reason.

SGBear's avatar

I watched S1E1 of The Bear on Hulu. It was a masterclass of storyboarding and editing. They set up the various internal/external conflicts with imagery. It was also a cooking nerd's perfect show.

I also watched S1E1 of Nine Perfect Strangers. It was the opposite. It was terrible.

WilderThanGene's avatar

I binge watched the entire season of The Bear after work yesterday! (so obviously, I liked it)

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

Nine Perfect Strangers was silly, though possibly inspired Aaron Rodgers' latest foray into psychedelics

Scootie's avatar

Nine Perfect Strangers was a terrible book so I'm not surprised the show is no better.

Cugel's avatar

Heh, The Bear is good, but EVERYONE in my family liked it better than me (I liked it, but I didn't think it was great).

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Aug 9, 2022
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O.Overall's avatar

Same, it is fine, but sort of grim and uninteresting to me on a basic level

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

Have you ever worked in a restaurant? Same question to you, Cugel...

O.Overall's avatar

No, I can see that would maybe add to my appreciation. Tho tbh I am a lawyer and I hate lawyer shows as they remind me of work, so I could go either way on that angle

Fire Starkey's avatar

we havent finished it. Its good but awfully shouty and Mrs FS gets exhausted watching it in anything other than small doses

Cugel's avatar

Heh, haven't watched (it reading about it politically/culturally) but I assumed Yellowstone was in the 19th century.

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Aug 9, 2022
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Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

THAT was one of the best shows of the year.

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

The Sandman (Netflix) - some Neil Gaiman fantasy nonsense that I've found is completely lost on me. I did manage to watch all 10 episodes, though, and found a couple of the episodes pretty entertaining. However, by the end, I was seriously giving the actors kudos for not breaking down in fits of hysterics at the absurdity of the lines they were saying...these are some brilliant thespians, because some of the lines were so ridiculous I still don't know how they kept a straight face.

The outtakes must be hilarious.

I prefer my fantasy to involve that of the Cal revenue sports....

BentPawn(Don)'s avatar

I am a Gaiman fanboi, and I am loving Sandman so far (4 episodes). It is exceeding my expectations, getting enough of the small touches that fill out the world while pushing the main storyline. I'll grant you.....sometimes Gaiman does go into a faux-Shakespeare mode with his dialog, which works better in print than on the screen.

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

I found eps 5 & 6 to be my favorites, so will be interested in hearing your takes.

It seems like there were plenty of different storylines going on.

DC Trojan's avatar

Saw Beach Bunny at the 930 club last night. We caught one of the opening acts, Sidney Gish, who was surprisingly good for one woman with a guitar and a sampling / effects box. I don't know that Beach Bunny are hugely innovative, but they are really good live.

Going to see Franz Ferdinand tomorrow, I think I can safely assume that the crowd will run a little older 😂

Cugel's avatar

Sure, but I've heard that they are really good live - sadly never seen them.

DC Trojan's avatar

Franz Ferdinand? I saw them some time ago - like 2013? - and they were really good, that's why I'm deviating from my usual rule of no oldies. I'm thinking that based on the review of one Mr G. Oso I'll make a similar exception for Bauhaus.

Berkelium97's avatar

I also fully endorse seeing Bauhaus. They were fantastic when I saw them in May.

Cugel's avatar

Oldies? Not like Belle & Sebastian, am I right?

😁

DC Trojan's avatar

it's more of a vibe than an empirical standard 😉

g.oso's avatar

Going to see Steve Von Till (guitarist from Neurosis) tonight at Starline Social club. It’s his solo stuff tonight which is an acoustic mix of lo-fi psych, folk, and krautrock. Very sparse instrumentation with his voice being the real star.

Cugel's avatar

Just down the street...

heyalumnigo's avatar

I think someone is fishing for an invite...

Cugel's avatar

We watched the first episode of Under the Banner of Heaven - which I thought was both great and deeply disturbing.

Cugel's avatar

OOOOOoooOOOOooo The Better Call Saul episode last night was awesome - and proved my son's theory about where/why Kim was 100% wrong.

(He's way too idealistic)

Berkelium97's avatar

It was a very well done penultimate episode: setting up multiple possible outcomes in the final episode without feeling too rushed or too slow.

And Rhea Seehorn most definitely needs to win the best supporting actress Emmy.

sycasey's avatar

Seehorn should have won every Emmy since this show started.

Feels like this is the end for her character, and it was a great way to wrap up her storyline. Not the long expected outcome, but an appropriate one.

BentPawn(Don)'s avatar

It was very good. I watched it with my Mom-in-law, and we both agreed that you don't try to play mindgames with old women.

Oski Disciple's avatar

Great episode as penultimate ones often are. When I saw in the opening credits that Vince Gilligan had written and directed it, I knew it would be good.

SGBear's avatar

ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE

FiatSlug's avatar

It appears that I'm not the only one to think that Cal, Stanf*rd, UO, and UW became likely candidates for B1G expansion.

FiatSlug's avatar

The Beavs and the Cougs seemingly have the MWC staring them in the face.

FiatSlug's avatar

Fascinating. It appears that CBS and NBC were looking for college football inventory after all.

The media rights negotiations for the Pac-12 just got more interesting. If ABC/ESPN is dropping B1G like a hot potato, that frees up a whole lot of time slots on ESPN's schedule.

Also, I wonder if this signals that Cal, Stanf*rd, Oregon, and Washington have just become more attractive to the B1G.

It almost feels like the remainder of the Pac-12 is on the verge of flying apart.

g.oso's avatar

Warren and The B1G did not want espn to have exclusive rights to the CFB playoffs and has been pushing for bringing in another tv partner like Fox. With espn being cut out of the B1G media rights, it almost assured this will happen when the current playoffs contract expires in 2026.

FiatSlug's avatar

I must have missed that, but it makes eminent sense. It also explains why B1G wanted 7 years, $380MM from ESPN, but took only $350MM each from CBS and NBC.

ESPN represents a monopolistic or, at least, hulking behemoth approach to CFB programming and has for decades. It's not healthy for CFB in the long run.

Even so, we're entering an era in which bowl games will be devalued. I believe that this bodes ill for CFB in the long run as playoffs represent the subsuming of CFB into the NFL minor leagues without the NFL paying the way. The bowl game season was what made CFB truly special compared to the NFL, especially since the NFL owners have pushed for ever longer regular seasons and playoffs.

The bowl game season engendered off-season arguments and debates about the relative strengths of powerhouse programs in different years, in no small part because the #1 and #2 teams didn't always play against each other in a bowl game.

The bowl game format also allowed fans of teams with fewer wins to dream of getting to a bowl game or an amazing run of victories. This harkens back to Cal's own great teams in '91 and '04.

Ah, well. All good things must come to an end.

Justbear's avatar

Oh that's a good analysis. Big Ten needs to add more teams.

Justbear's avatar

Are USC and UCLA coming back?

SGBear's avatar

CBS's engagement-bait post about best football programs in each state.

Hahahaha! Suck it, Huskies, Gators, Longhorns, Tarheels, Buffs, and Sooners!

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/picking-the-best-college-football-team-in-each-state-entering-the-2022-season/

SGBear's avatar

OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

SGBear's avatar

Trump loses appeal about having his tax forms released. He can appeal, but it is still a loss.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/09/politics/appeals-court-house-trump-taxes-opinion

SGBear's avatar

After being ruled in contempt and fined $10k/day for not complying, Cushman & Wakefield supplies nearly 36,000 documents to the NY AG's civil case against him.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/08/trump-real-estate-appraiser-hands-over-thousands-of-documents-to-ny-ag-in-civil-probe.html

DC Trojan's avatar

is that a real estate firm or a Yes cover band?

Berkelium97's avatar

I've long been skeptical that he's going to face any meaningful punishment for his crimes. But this...this gives me a glimmer of optimism.

GoldenSD81's avatar

Same and same. I was genuinely surprised with the events of yesterday.

goldenone's avatar

Trump world takes stock of which Republicans back him against the FBI

Two people close to the former president said they believe he will expedite his decision to run for the White House again.

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/09/trump-world-republicans-fbi-2024-run-00050485

Berkelium97's avatar

The bear logo on the Cubs hat looks like a pregnant anteater

SGBear's avatar

If I was a Red's fan and looking for a gardening bonnet...

O.Overall's avatar

That Cubs hat is a fairly common Cubs throwback hat. I had one in high school.

I wish the teams did more “throw forward” type stuff where they make up new unis, is more fun

Scootie's avatar

That's how we get that City Connect bullshit that makes my eyeballs bleed.

O.Overall's avatar

Hah, true, Cubs and Giants are really bad. Makes you wonder how hard is this? White Sox one is great tho

FiatSlug's avatar

Sometimes there's not enough inspiration to go around.

But even so, I tend to abhor these things because they usually don't have nearly enough research or understanding about the fanbase and the franchise.

SGBear's avatar

[The Athletic] KD says "it's me or Steve Nash/Sean Marks (Cal MBB 94-98)"

https://theathletic.com/3485297/2022/08/08/kevin-durant-nets-trade-steve-nash/

Cugel's avatar

Yeah, this looks kinda weird to me.

O.Overall's avatar

I think he has kind of maxed out his leverage here. If he continues to push like this he will seem problematic in a way that will make teams more likely to pass on him.

Cugel's avatar

Boston SHOULD NOT make the trade they were talking about (even though I am no Boston fan, in fact I used to truly despise them)

TheBuckeyeBear's avatar

When discussing this with my friends, one pointed out that there's a mustard shortage in France!!!

SGBear's avatar

Mustard grabs the headlines, but there's a shortage of all the things where Canada has big market share: lentils, canola seed, mustard seeds, and to lesser extent wheat

heyalumnigo's avatar

One swipe tag to win it

https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2022/8/8/23297733/giants-padres-recap-joey-bart-alex-wood

There were four things that led to the San Francisco Giants beating the San Diego Padres 1-0 on Monday night, extending their win streak to three games — their longest since the final trio of games before the All-Star break.

But rather than following the tired trope of a chronological sports recap, let’s instead start at a very good place to start: no, not at the beginning (sorry, Julie Andrews), but at the climactic moment.

It’s the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Giants lead 1-0. After getting the leadoff batter out, Alex Wood allows a single to new Padre Brandon Drury. It was the final pitch that Wood would throw on an exceptional day — spoiler: he’s one of the aforementioned four things.

In comes John Brebbia with one on and one out, and the fourth pitch he throws is tattooed into the corner by Ha-seong Kim. It has all the marks of a game-tying double.

GoldenSD81's avatar

I am not sure how they overturned that score for the Pads. Looked safe to me.

sycasey's avatar

I thought he looked probably out, but wasn't sure it was enough to overturn.

FiatSlug's avatar

Nope. He's out, and it's veeerrrrry close.

If the runner hadn't raised his fingers above the plate, he'd be safe.

KetamineCal's avatar

Probably because there's only 1 odd dude from Chico who would be into it.

Oski Disciple's avatar

I have an appointment today with Stanford Health Care (Oakland office) is it acceptable for me to enter their facilities chanting, "We've got the Axe! We've got the Axe! We've got the Axe!"?

heyalumnigo's avatar

If you don't have a photo of you with the axe, photoshop one and when they ask for ID, show the photo.

goldenone's avatar

I've been there for a CT scan. At the intake desk they ask you if you attended or have taken courses at Furd. I have so I said yes. I suppose it separates Furdies from the unwashed. They then offered the white glove treatment. I think it would be appropriate to point out that they don't have the axe as a Cal alum.

KetamineCal's avatar

They may have the scalpels but that's not an Axe.

GoldenSD81's avatar

Please report back how that went after you awake from your colonoscopy.

g.oso's avatar

One positive thing about stanfurd is they provide top notch health care. All of my drs are stanfurd medicine and I never want to go anywhere else.

dcblue's avatar

One of my cousins had to have heart surgery when he was one or two years old. My uncle had Kaiser insurance and they paid to send my cousin to Furd for the operation and Norman Shumway did it. Cousin went on to be on the cross-country ski team at Univ of Alaska.

Cugel's avatar

Yeah, I have to agree - my mom received open heart surgery there in 1969-70 when that was very much a new, and cutting edge surgery and lived another 28 years because of that.

Justbear's avatar

Here in Orange County, a lot of awesome doctors that take care of my mom are USC grads.

O.Overall's avatar

My wife switched from UCSF to Stanford at one point and to be honest the level of care and attention you get is almost night and day different

Cugel's avatar

Definitely wear Cal gear

GoldenSD81's avatar

I’m a job monogamous, in that I’ve only had two career jobs since graduating from Cal in 04. I am applying for a new job and am feeling a bit nervous as I haven’t put together a resume or seen my old college transcripts since June 2011.

Scootie's avatar

If you are 40+ your college transcripts should no longer be relevant. When you're 20 years into your career, it's all about fit -- they know you can do the job. Remember, you're interviewing them as much as they're interviewing you!

Fire Starkey's avatar

20 years in? Shit, 5 years in and your transcripts are no longer relevant

GoldenSD81's avatar

I’m 41 and was surprised by the ask of providing a college transcript or a copy of my diploma. I don’t think they care so much about my grades as much as they want proof of my attendance/graduation. I have my transcripts saved on my computer and I’m too lazy to take my diploma down and make a copy of it so I’m sending the transcripts.

TheBuckeyeBear's avatar

My diplomas are definitely more impressive than my transcripts 😅

goldenone's avatar

Good luck. It's only been 18 years so you are not "old" by any stretch of the imagination, so there a lot of positives. I'm over 50 so if I was going into the job market I am sure it would be more problematic..

Scootie's avatar

I completely stopped thinking about changing jobs once I turned 50.

goldenone's avatar

Me too. I am almost done and am semi-retired, just a few more deals to close in the oncoming couple of years and then sort of emeritus status.

TheBuckeyeBear's avatar

Good luck! Maybe people here can look at your resume/cover letter as well.

Fire Starkey's avatar

what up, bitches! Back from the extravaganza. General observations about New England

Everyone in NE is on the Maine coast right now. eff that place til October

Why is it illegal to bring fire wood from out of state?

Why does everyone want "clean" fill?

Loved Portsmouth NH and York Harbor ME

The drive in western Maine sucks...gets pretty in Bethel and Northern NH and Vermont is spectacular

I dig Burlington VT. Randomly had amazing Turkish food there, 2nd best meal on the trip

Loved our sailing trip on Lake Champlain

Connecticut is ok but kind of dull. As a local put it when I asked if locals go to Yale (we were in New Haven briefly) "Connecitcut is boring so if you can get into Yale, why wouldn't you go to Princeton or Stanford (sic) and enjoy something different?" Seemed accurate to me

Did a boat tour of the Thimble Islands on the Connecticut coast though- awesome, totally worth it

Cape Cod barely has any sand dunes! Its all trees and you cant see shit when driving. I liked Orleans and Chatham though. Provincetown was ridiculously crowded but our whale watching tour there was awesome. 16 humpbacks up close during the trip and a lot more in the distance

Food generally underwhelming. Mrs FS had 1 lobster roll for $33 and said eff that the rest of the trip. We thought this most of the meals we had

overall, we enjoyed the trip but its no Alaska or Ireland that we HAVE to go back to

SGBear's avatar

We took a guided tour of Cape Cod's dunes and they showed us pictures of what it used to look like and showed us where all the sand went (the part of highway 6 near P-town where they turned the harbor into an inland lake). Sad.

heyalumnigo's avatar

Sounds like a fun trip. How are D$ and DHoney?

Fire Starkey's avatar

good good. D$ seems to like the college he is teaching at and he is definitely punching above his weight class with his lady. Very nice girl

heyalumnigo's avatar

Nice. I met her around 2018 I think. Yes he is punching above his weight class.

DC Trojan's avatar

my wife is still kind of mad at me for saying that the problem with parts of New England is that you can't see anything for the trees... in like 1994. I'm right though.

FiatSlug's avatar

Ba dum bump TSSHHHH!!!

Fire Starkey's avatar

I mean, you aren't wrong. Couldn't see the scenery at all while driving. Kind of disappointing and plenty boring

DC Trojan's avatar

Her position - which is defensible - is that the trees *are* the scenery. She has conceded that they do make it harder to see the occasional vista.

Berkelium97's avatar

As someone who grew up in Southern California, I'm still of the "trees are the scenery" mindset when traveling around in this dense, forested part of the country. That said, it is kinda nice in winter being able to see through all the trees/fields without all the greenery in the way...

Justbear's avatar

I grew up in NY and thought nothing of trees. I loved the scenery and fall foliage, but took it for granted. I moved to SoCal in high school, and ever since then wherever I go, I admire trees, and just love seeing trees.

DC Trojan's avatar

I didn't live anywhere with anything like the tree density here until I finished college. I don't find it as oppressive as I used to, but I do like being able to see more than a couple hundred feet.

I did try selling that this is a collective memory issue from some Roman legionary who knows that the forests are where the Germanic tribes hide until they ambush you. No sale.

Macarolina's avatar

love this recap, thanks! Also reminds me to thank the W4C'ers that gave us some great recs for our visit to PNC Park earlier this summer. We loved the park, had the uber cold IC Light, met Manny, and had to ask more than 5 park employees which vendor had the pierogie sandwich (no one but tourists asks for that I guess). Lots of open seats so we did an around the view innings. Not a bad seat to be had, but particularly enjoyed the walk up outfield fence seats- perfect spot for the Pierogie races. We think we'll go back to Pittsburgh for another weekend trip sometime.

dcblue's avatar

My sister called a couple days ago. Asked about stopping by the end of this month for a couple days on their way to visit friends in Maine. I won't tell her about your first observation. Not sure if her friends are on the coast or not.

Fire Starkey's avatar

Oy... from Ogunquit to Bar Harbor it was a non stop shit show. Bumper to bumper in the south and Bar Harbor, you could barely move there were so many people. We cut our stay short there cause we couldn't get in or do anything there

DC Trojan's avatar

while I get bored fast at my mother in law's place, it's at least far enough off that route that you don't get crowded out that way.

Cugel's avatar

The olny parts of NE I've been to is Boston & Marblehead when I was 13, and back in the country, hanging with my cousin. He drove me out to a bunch of friends in a fancy Marblehead house, where I described to his college friends that once I got to college, I was going to work on designing new designer drugs.

GoldenSD81's avatar

Most places ban out of state or even out of campground firewood as a way to control the spread of invasive bugs that could kill native trees. In SoCal we have the gold spotted oak borer that is killing a lot of our native oaks so all campgrounds have banned firewood coming into the campground and you have to buy clean wood at the campground.

Berkelium97's avatar

Yep. The emerald ash borer is decimating ash trees out here, so MD is pretty strict about hauling firewood from place to place (even within the state).

Fire Starkey's avatar

ah, that makes sense. We had a lot of "Why does Maine hate New Hampshire's wood? Is this some sort of weird rivalry?" convos

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Aug 9, 2022
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Fire Starkey's avatar

no, we saw references to it but didn't try it. Had a couple of iterations of pizza in the region and it was pretty good but not life changing