The Biden administration is restarting the free Covid test program. On Monday, you can order four more free ones from here: https://www.covid.gov/tests
Walgreens. I have Kaiser, but the shots aren't available through Kaiser yet, so I paid out of pocket ($155.99) and am hoping Kaiser will reimburse me. My friend's insurance was accepted.
the CDC has a bridge access program that is supposed to ensure that shots are free, and Walgreens is on the list - if anyone else bumps into this, mention it to whoever is administering the shot https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/
My kid learned a bitter lesson yesterday and I am curious as to other people's experience (or lack thereof). Background: it's the third week of college and my kid went out for dinner with a bunch of friends. They finish up and the bill comes to over $500. Only my kid and one other girl have any means to pay. They literally went to dinner with no money. They get back to school and the others refuse to reimburse. My kid's take on this is that kids are stupid, selfish, and evil. My take on it is that truly malignant people who would knowingly stiff everyone are rare and that the simplest answer is that these are freshmen who are wildly ignorant/clueless, but would never ever admit being this stupid so will dig in their heels. Both my wife and I were thinking back over our lives and - while we didn't have this experience in college - we absolutely both had several experiences where someone short-pays or the one guy who alligator arms his wallet when it comes for his turn to pay. You learn that there is a process to paying a group check and investigating/covering a short-pay.
what a bunch of pricks - I had friends in college who would mysteriously forget to account for tax and tip, but never once did I have someone refuse to pay me back for food.
Incidentally, me and my friend Danny spent years covering tax and tips to keep the peace... then the Christmas after we all graduated, we went out as a group to somewhere exotic like Cheesecake factory and by the time the check / collected money got to me and Danny, we ended putting in $10 for a three course meal with drinks, so we felt like there was some kind of minor karmic balancing going on.
This has been my experience as well. Sometimes a fiend would be a little short and they would just make up for next time by buying me a beer or something when we went out. I never had someone in the group never pay anything at all or go out with me with no intention of paying.
So sorry this happened to your kid and their one paying friend. Another potential take, depending on who was actually attending that meal-- my brother-in-law's cousin is insanely well off, and honestly had no clue that by constantly not paying towards meals or activities while staying with his cousin created any hardship for my more middle class brother-in-law. It took a really in-his-face convo with the insane wealth kid to get him to understand that his not paying meant less rent money/no money for further going out for others. Hopefully not all the ultra wealthy kids are like this but there are some real bubbles of non-understanding out there.
"My kid's take on this is that kids are stupid, selfish, and evil. My take on it is that truly malignant people who would knowingly stiff everyone are rare and that the simplest answer is that these are freshmen who are wildly ignorant/clueless, but would never ever admit being this stupid so will dig in their heels. "
of the four statements here, I think three are true. the only less true one is that 'truly malignant people are rare'. There are more of them than we'd like to admit.
This never happened to me, either way - never had enough to get charged for the whole thing (never had enough $$$) - but also always paid my % (unless someone wanted to be nice, In which case I would be happy about it - usually somebodies parents!)
Yeah agree - I would just never go out with those asshats again. I worked multiple jobs at Cal to make ends meet (made keys at the ASUC baby!!!) but never stiffed someone like that and never got a complete stiff either. The most I got were people nickel and diming me about how “I only got a salad” or some nonsense and paying a less than full share leaving me to cover a few extra bucks. An outright stiff is just insane - excommunicate those clowns from the friend group stat
Put another way, if you can’t afford the dinner you need to raise this before you go. Then the others can decide if they want to cover you or pick a cheaper place, etc. Just not saying anything and refusing to pay after the fact is so awful
Wow. Sorry your kid had to be on the receiving end of that lesson. Some folks aren't friends; they just want the title without the responsibility.
Your kid understands perfectly well how some folks are wired. From my experience, the judgement of evil part should be held in abeyance. But it is also prudent to avoid stupid and selfish people.
Equity futures drop as Jerome Powell and company leave rates unchanged but have hawkish comments about a strong economy, hinting that future rate hikes are probable
I took it the other way in regards to rate hikes. I think rate hikes are on pause and not likely to increase but it will be a very long and slow process to lower rates.
A lot of people - myself included - said that Deion was either going to wildly succeed or spectacularly fail. I believe he'll have the chance to do both. He has built a team purely on his personality and it comes with a ton of swagger, bluster, and emotion. But that emotion will be a double-edged sword. CU's next two games are at Oregon and vs. USC, which I expect them to lose both. If that happens, he'll have to rally his guys when they play a very beatable ASU and Stanford - but if they lose any of those two games - they might implode. But if he wins any of his next two games, his star will be insanely bright.
I think we are entering the era of coach as entertainer. Without media savvy and bragadaccio how do you get portal transferees to commit? Clearly the portal and NIL are more important than high school recruiting by now because of underclassmen risk factor that stars in the making will leave for greener pastures.
"Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?"
Cal and Washington are the only two original members of the PCC/Pac-X since the conference's inception in 1915. This Saturday will be their last. They have played each other 102 times.
On this day in 1963 in Memorial Stadium the Golden Bears defeated Iowa State, 15-8. Craig Morton hit tight end Loren Hawley with a 58-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the fourth quarter to put Cal ahead for good. The Bears had trailed 6-0 before tying the game in the third quarter then going ahead on successful two-point conversation. It was the season opener for the sturdy Golden Ones in what turned out to be Marv Levy's last season as head coach.
DBD celebrates 100 years of football in Strawberry Canyon with this daily feature appearing throughout the football season.
one of my favorite parks anywhere. stunning mountain scenery in all directions and great hikes. i would love to go back and hike around in the less crowded parts of the backcountry.
my favorite is the Many Glacier Lodge on the east side of the park. the "parkitecture" of the main lodge looby is pretty impressive.
last time i was there i rode my bike up the Going-to-the-Sun Road. i only got up about 2/3 of the way because i miscalculated how long it would take and i didnt fully appreciate that the park rangers tell you stop riding after 1000a. i had to have my family come pick me up.
I went as a kid and was amazed at the snow and ice in the summer. Fast forward 25 years and I took my two kids and was amazed by the lack of glaciers. Same thing at Waterton Lakes NP in Canada.
Florida law prevents minors from working before 6:30 am and after 11 pm, more than 8 hours when it is a school day the next day, more than 30 hours/week when school is in session, more than 5 days per week, and without a 30 minute break every four hours. Rep Linda Chaney (R-Pinellas County) filed a bill to do away with those protections.
Senate approves new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Charlie Brown by doing an one-off session to get around Tommy Tuberville's blockage to replace outgoing General Mark Milley, who is retiring at the end of this month
Only Murders in the Building (S3 E1-5). This is a more comedic season that the previous two. I know that Meryl Streep is god-tier talented, but my goodness is she amazing. I found the fugue-state trope in S3E4 "The White Room" to be very funny.
My question is: which of the Pickwick triplets did it? Brilliant scene in the most recent episode. Especially delightful are the smiling faces of the actors in the background who clearly are genuinely delighted and not acting. https://youtu.be/Piv19tK4lH4?si=8CY88kePjN0IUfu6
Today in Covid
The Biden administration is restarting the free Covid test program. On Monday, you can order four more free ones from here: https://www.covid.gov/tests
oh nice. It'll be nice to get updated ones. Not sure if the ones I had purchased a while ago are still good.
The ones my nephew gave me when he visited have long since expired.
Oh I just purchased one online this week
Personal update: I was able to get my shot yesterday (since they'd run out before they got to me on Tuesday).
cool! where? like a Walgreens? are they still free?
Walgreens. I have Kaiser, but the shots aren't available through Kaiser yet, so I paid out of pocket ($155.99) and am hoping Kaiser will reimburse me. My friend's insurance was accepted.
the CDC has a bridge access program that is supposed to ensure that shots are free, and Walgreens is on the list - if anyone else bumps into this, mention it to whoever is administering the shot https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/
Thanks!
thanks...I have one medical (as an add-on to a PPO). I'll have to see what they're doing. I could also ask blue shield.
I need to get the masks and stuff out and ready to start using once the weather cools a bit more.
Lots of it going around now (myself included)- if you are vulnerable, I wouldn't wait to mask up in crowded indoor situations.
Cheapskates
My kid learned a bitter lesson yesterday and I am curious as to other people's experience (or lack thereof). Background: it's the third week of college and my kid went out for dinner with a bunch of friends. They finish up and the bill comes to over $500. Only my kid and one other girl have any means to pay. They literally went to dinner with no money. They get back to school and the others refuse to reimburse. My kid's take on this is that kids are stupid, selfish, and evil. My take on it is that truly malignant people who would knowingly stiff everyone are rare and that the simplest answer is that these are freshmen who are wildly ignorant/clueless, but would never ever admit being this stupid so will dig in their heels. Both my wife and I were thinking back over our lives and - while we didn't have this experience in college - we absolutely both had several experiences where someone short-pays or the one guy who alligator arms his wallet when it comes for his turn to pay. You learn that there is a process to paying a group check and investigating/covering a short-pay.
what a bunch of pricks - I had friends in college who would mysteriously forget to account for tax and tip, but never once did I have someone refuse to pay me back for food.
Incidentally, me and my friend Danny spent years covering tax and tips to keep the peace... then the Christmas after we all graduated, we went out as a group to somewhere exotic like Cheesecake factory and by the time the check / collected money got to me and Danny, we ended putting in $10 for a three course meal with drinks, so we felt like there was some kind of minor karmic balancing going on.
This has been my experience as well. Sometimes a fiend would be a little short and they would just make up for next time by buying me a beer or something when we went out. I never had someone in the group never pay anything at all or go out with me with no intention of paying.
I think your kid needs new friends.
So sorry this happened to your kid and their one paying friend. Another potential take, depending on who was actually attending that meal-- my brother-in-law's cousin is insanely well off, and honestly had no clue that by constantly not paying towards meals or activities while staying with his cousin created any hardship for my more middle class brother-in-law. It took a really in-his-face convo with the insane wealth kid to get him to understand that his not paying meant less rent money/no money for further going out for others. Hopefully not all the ultra wealthy kids are like this but there are some real bubbles of non-understanding out there.
"My kid's take on this is that kids are stupid, selfish, and evil. My take on it is that truly malignant people who would knowingly stiff everyone are rare and that the simplest answer is that these are freshmen who are wildly ignorant/clueless, but would never ever admit being this stupid so will dig in their heels. "
of the four statements here, I think three are true. the only less true one is that 'truly malignant people are rare'. There are more of them than we'd like to admit.
No offense to DC Trojan, but where is your kid going to college? USC?
this one isn't on us, for once
This never happened to me, either way - never had enough to get charged for the whole thing (never had enough $$$) - but also always paid my % (unless someone wanted to be nice, In which case I would be happy about it - usually somebodies parents!)
I'm closer to your kid's view than yours. I would certainly cut all those people out of my circle of potential friends -- they are assholes.
yeah that would be a deal breaker, especially this early in their college career
Yeah agree - I would just never go out with those asshats again. I worked multiple jobs at Cal to make ends meet (made keys at the ASUC baby!!!) but never stiffed someone like that and never got a complete stiff either. The most I got were people nickel and diming me about how “I only got a salad” or some nonsense and paying a less than full share leaving me to cover a few extra bucks. An outright stiff is just insane - excommunicate those clowns from the friend group stat
Put another way, if you can’t afford the dinner you need to raise this before you go. Then the others can decide if they want to cover you or pick a cheaper place, etc. Just not saying anything and refusing to pay after the fact is so awful
Wow. Sorry your kid had to be on the receiving end of that lesson. Some folks aren't friends; they just want the title without the responsibility.
Your kid understands perfectly well how some folks are wired. From my experience, the judgement of evil part should be held in abeyance. But it is also prudent to avoid stupid and selfish people.
DBD STREET JOURNAL
Equity futures drop as Jerome Powell and company leave rates unchanged but have hawkish comments about a strong economy, hinting that future rate hikes are probable
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/20/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
I took it the other way in regards to rate hikes. I think rate hikes are on pause and not likely to increase but it will be a very long and slow process to lower rates.
Rupert Murdoch announces his planned retirement. Lachland has been groomed his entire life to take up the mantle of being a master villain
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/21/rupert-murdoch-steps-down-as-chairman-of-fox-and-news-corp.html
Study: 95% of NFTs are worthless. The rest are nearly worthless
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/nft-market-crypto-digital-assets-investors-messari-mainnet-currency-tokens-2023-9
Seinfeld_gee_thats_too_bad.gif
Really. It took a study to tell us what was patently obvious.
I guess every generation has to re-learn the lessons of what it means to be hoodwinked with a new bright and shiny object.
Can you name some previous generations versions of NFTs?
Beanie Babies in the 90s?
Pet rocks in the 70s/80s.
Dutch tulip bulbs in the 1630s
Amway in the 80s
I have 34,000 90's baseball cards - you want to buy?
PRO
RB Cam Akers mysteriously entered McVay's doghouse and got traded for a handful of beans.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38448956/vikings-acquiring-rb-cam-akers-trade-rams
Phil Cuzzi cussin'
https://twitter.com/BarnHasSpoken2/status/1704315934448484467
Chicago Bears DC Alan Williams designs for personal health reasons
https://apnews.com/article/alan-williams-bears-defensive-coordinator-d3f16da381b8d1fe38f3935f5b86803a
Resigns?
Nah he likes arranging furniture and stuff, calms him down
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
Which three teams lead the FBS for average yards per rushing attempt?
Which two Pac-12 team is in the FBS Top 10 for its defense allowing fewest rushing yards per game?
Oregon State and Utah
Correct.
Which two Pac-12 teams are in the Top 5 for rushing offense (average rushing yards/game)?
Cal and UCLA (e.g., the southern branch)
Correct.
Which must mean games 1 and 3 were really good because I don't think we did that much against Auburn.
Who leads the FBS in passing yards, including QBs who have played 4 games?
Michael Penix
Yes. Well, technically, his son does.
You're sure it's not Sam Jackson V.?
Sure as hell isn't the Cal QBs, even combined.
The Deion Sanders effect:
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/deion-sanders-effect-colorado-football-sells-out-every-home-game-for-first-time-in-program-history/
A lot of people - myself included - said that Deion was either going to wildly succeed or spectacularly fail. I believe he'll have the chance to do both. He has built a team purely on his personality and it comes with a ton of swagger, bluster, and emotion. But that emotion will be a double-edged sword. CU's next two games are at Oregon and vs. USC, which I expect them to lose both. If that happens, he'll have to rally his guys when they play a very beatable ASU and Stanford - but if they lose any of those two games - they might implode. But if he wins any of his next two games, his star will be insanely bright.
- But if he wins any of his next two games, his star will be insanely bright. _
Agree 1,000%
I would still have taken him in a heart beat over Wilcox and his vanilla personality and underachieving teams.
I think we are entering the era of coach as entertainer. Without media savvy and bragadaccio how do you get portal transferees to commit? Clearly the portal and NIL are more important than high school recruiting by now because of underclassmen risk factor that stars in the making will leave for greener pastures.
"Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?"
CAL
From Reddit:
Cal and Washington are the only two original members of the PCC/Pac-X since the conference's inception in 1915. This Saturday will be their last. They have played each other 102 times.
Go Bears!!!
Matt Cindric interview: he tore his OTHER bicep. Poor dude.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfhvFRwDsP4
I feel bad for him...tough break in year six
Mike Silver hates that "Cal Berkeley" rebrand, but that's probably unsurprising
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/cal-berkeley-rebrand-feels-cheap-and-silly-time-to-fight-for-california/ar-AA1h198L
Silver and I are on the same wavelength.
That is all.
Us old guys need everyone to get off our lawns.
he's not wrong.
It’s an atrocious idea
On this day in 1963 in Memorial Stadium the Golden Bears defeated Iowa State, 15-8. Craig Morton hit tight end Loren Hawley with a 58-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the fourth quarter to put Cal ahead for good. The Bears had trailed 6-0 before tying the game in the third quarter then going ahead on successful two-point conversation. It was the season opener for the sturdy Golden Ones in what turned out to be Marv Levy's last season as head coach.
DBD celebrates 100 years of football in Strawberry Canyon with this daily feature appearing throughout the football season.
Marv
Thanks for spotting that. Autocorrect does not recognize the first name Marv. Imagine writing a biography of Marv Albert.
YESSSSS!!!
Levy wasn't very good at Cal as head coach according to an old, old Blue I talked to. But later led the KC Chiefs to the Superbowl.
In his four years as head coach the Bears never had a winning season so, yeah, not very good.
Levy led the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls. The Bills lost all four.
Ott is 2nd in the nation in YPG at 133 but is not present in the official NCAA stats:
https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/individual/7
GNP
one of my favorite parks anywhere. stunning mountain scenery in all directions and great hikes. i would love to go back and hike around in the less crowded parts of the backcountry.
my favorite is the Many Glacier Lodge on the east side of the park. the "parkitecture" of the main lodge looby is pretty impressive.
https://phgcdn.com/images/uploads/FCAMG/overviewimages/1600x813-Many-Glacier-Hotel-Lobby.jpg
last time i was there i rode my bike up the Going-to-the-Sun Road. i only got up about 2/3 of the way because i miscalculated how long it would take and i didnt fully appreciate that the park rangers tell you stop riding after 1000a. i had to have my family come pick me up.
I went as a kid and was amazed at the snow and ice in the summer. Fast forward 25 years and I took my two kids and was amazed by the lack of glaciers. Same thing at Waterton Lakes NP in Canada.
indeed. it will soon be "no glacier national park"
A few of the folks from around here I know were visiting late summer/early Fall. Popular place.
OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY
PA to automatically register people to vote when they get a state ID
PA Governor Shapiro responds to CNN anchor's question like a boss:
SHAPIRO: Yeah. Look, I am not going to respond to Stephen Miller. That guy is a dope who can't tell the truth.
https://www.mediamatters.org/cnn/pa-gov-josh-shapiro-calls-out-cnn-anchor-giving-right-wing-lies-too-much-oxygen
Florida law prevents minors from working before 6:30 am and after 11 pm, more than 8 hours when it is a school day the next day, more than 30 hours/week when school is in session, more than 5 days per week, and without a 30 minute break every four hours. Rep Linda Chaney (R-Pinellas County) filed a bill to do away with those protections.
https://www.wfla.com/news/politics/tampa-bay-lawmaker-files-bill-weakening-child-labor-laws/
I was rather underwhelmed by the anchors in that clip.
Grifters/shysters close up shop [well-bye.gif]
https://twitter.com/BobbyHReports/status/1704583028943491164
Senate approves new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Charlie Brown by doing an one-off session to get around Tommy Tuberville's blockage to replace outgoing General Mark Milley, who is retiring at the end of this month
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4215264-senate-gets-around-tuberville-to-confirm-joint-chiefs-chairman/
I really hope that man has a dog named Snoopy.
I hope Lucy doesn't pull the football away at the last second.
Ha!
Hopefully he can get an aircraft carrier named Snoopy
There should be a court martial if he does not.
ICYMI: Texas AG Ken Paxton acquitted of corruption. You reap what you sow, Texas.
https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-impeachment-texas-871fb9c57b38fbda5bec5c2e5f280755
DBD AV CLUB
Only Murders in the Building (S3 E1-5). This is a more comedic season that the previous two. I know that Meryl Streep is god-tier talented, but my goodness is she amazing. I found the fugue-state trope in S3E4 "The White Room" to be very funny.
My question is: which of the Pickwick triplets did it? Brilliant scene in the most recent episode. Especially delightful are the smiling faces of the actors in the background who clearly are genuinely delighted and not acting. https://youtu.be/Piv19tK4lH4?si=8CY88kePjN0IUfu6
Yes, very very good.
Quite liked Hijack - finished last night - I would say the last episode was not the best of the group - but still good.
Enjoyed Only Murders in the Building overall, clever show.
I’ll give this a watch. AppleTV is so good right now that I am willing to give anything they put out a chance.
Agreed…kind of ended with a whimper, but Idris is good in everything.