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User's avatar
SGBear's avatar

Elsewhere in college

SGBear's avatar

Big X discussing eliminating divisions and dropping to eight conference games as part of confederation with Pac 12. Not in article, but one would presume that the Pac 12 is thinking the same thing.

https://theathletic.com/news/big-ten-discussing-potential-elimination-of-divisions-as-part-of-future-football-scheduling-plans/g0LD4tO9pYmP/

FiatSlug's avatar

This is a good idea for the B1G. I like the idea of each team having 3 permanent opponents and rotating among the remaining ten teams.

If the Pac-12 were to do something similar, or even use the same model (only there would be 8 non-permanent teams, not 10 as the B1G contemplates), it would ensure that all of the California schools would play each other as permanent opponents. It would also ensure that all of the non-California schools would get at least one Bay Area and at least one LA opponent each year. Each Pac-12 school would play 5 of the 8 non-permanent opponents each year.

GoldenSD81's avatar

I would honestly be okay with skipping USC every couple of years.

napabear's avatar

I believe they opened the same year, 1923. I guess Cal wasn’t the only ones packing the bleachers. Of course, going from 18” to 20”isn’t a massive increase in wiggle room, but I’d take it.

FiatSlug's avatar

Going from 18" to 20" isn't a big increase, but it will result in an approximate 11-12% decrease in stadium capacity.

Ouch.

GoldenSD81's avatar

It’s simultaneously a growing and shrinking fan base so it makes sense.

dcblue's avatar

Based on my recollection of my Nebraska relatives, this makes sense.

GoldenSD81's avatar

Fewer seats will help them maintain their consecutive sellout record streak going.

napabear's avatar

That’s what instantly crossed my mind!

PawlOski's avatar

Cleveland State is 9-1 in the Horizon and 13-4 overall. That program has been turned around by a young and gifted coach and recruiter, who also happens to be a beloved and model Cal Bear and is also a POC. Deep sigh.

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

I echo that sigh…he was my pick.

PawlOski's avatar

Such a huge miss. He checked off all of the boxes. His extension is not that pricey either ($550K/year), so it's not like that should have been an issue. What's unclear is whether he was ever even considered, and all the tea leaves seem to indicate no. They should have talked to him even during the Wyking search.

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

So disappointing.

I could see Shantay Legans perhaps being a candidate in the next HC go-round...I'm not a huge fan, but he's hanging tough at Portland.....

PawlOski's avatar

Gates's salary is not so large that you couldn't buy him out if you wanted him. Not our style though. Our style is more 60s-era ex-military insurance salesman.

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

I'm a little surprised he's still at Cleveland State...I thought a B1G team would've come knocking by now....

PawlOski's avatar

Pass. I'm still sore at him for transferring. He blew up a certain tourney team.

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

I agree....hard pass for me, actually. For the same reasons...I was real creased when he followed Ray Lopes to Fresno State.

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

Utah looks inept in getting housed at Wazzu...fall to 1-10, with only win being Cal...Fox is not the answer.

SGBear's avatar

Disney has rebranded the Tom Sawyer Island Raft. It will now be known as the Washington Football Team Joe.

https://twitter.com/wdwfacts/status/1485667899033411590

dcblue's avatar

WFT announces its new name next week. I live just across the river and have zero interest.

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Jan 27, 2022
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GoldenSD81's avatar

It’s almost as if it was written by Carlson or Hannity.

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

HAG and i had a couple nice days of skiing at Northstar and Palisades (the-ski-resort-formerly-known-as Squaw Valley)

hard packed snow, but still quite enjoyable. plus it was 35-45 deg temps so it was on the warm side.

despite HAG's complaints he did pretty well for not skiing in 27 yrs.

on the other hand i took one hard fall and now my left side ribs and right thumb are a little banged up. hopefully it will feel better soon and i dont need x-rays.

our other HS friend had a ski in-out cabin at Northstar so we stayed there for a couple nights.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/42VwcYrjjkTkgbvUA

heyalumnigo's avatar

My legs are shot after a day and a half of skiing. I thought it was going to be much tougher getting back up there. I now realize I do miss skiing.

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

if anyone wants to plan a ski trip w/ HAG, he is ready to go!!

MoriBear's avatar

How much was palisades? $250?

heyalumnigo's avatar

$200 I think. Though HSB got me an IKON discount.

heyalumnigo's avatar

Northstar was maybe 179?

GoldenSD81's avatar

They really need to rename the bread next.

SGBear's avatar

What is the best ice-cream place near where you live and your favorite flavor there?

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

Longford's small batch ice cream in Larchmont NY. the blackberry is particularly good

heyalumnigo's avatar

The closest Rite-Aid that has Chocolate Malted Crunch.. In Louisville there was a Homemade Pie Kitchen and Ice Cream. They had an Oreo ice cream that is amazing. Or the Graters Peach ice cream.

heyalumnigo's avatar

The other good one is a small Louisville chain called The Comfy Cow. They have a bourbon ball ice cream that is really good.

SGBear's avatar

"Fresh. Local Ice Cream." No short cuts. No fake anything. Their banana pudding flavor is one of my favorite things in the world.

https://www.freshlocalicecream.com/

Scootie's avatar

Send me some double peanut butter chip please.

Scootie's avatar

The original Swensen's. I am fond of the Sticky Peanut Butter.

I am spoiled for choice around here -- I have two branches of Smitten, a Salt & Straw, the aforementioned Swensen's, the Ghirardelli chocolate factory and one called Over the Moon that makes a particularly good ice cream sammich with freshly baked cookies, all within about a mile from my living room.

heyalumnigo's avatar

Is the original Swensen's the one on Hyde? I always wondered when I drove by since it looks so old.

Scootie's avatar

Yes. Hyde/Union. They still make all the ice cream in the back.

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

Mmmm. I lived at Bay and Hyde for years. Loved the Swensens visit.

FiatSlug's avatar

There used to be a Swensen's on Euclid Ave. near (downhill from) LaVal's.

heyalumnigo's avatar

I remember a donut shop on the West side of Euclid right near Hearst. My parents used to take us there maybe 45 years ago. They have French donuts as big as my head (it seemed)

Cugel's avatar

Colonial, it was on Hearst!

heyalumnigo's avatar

I think there was also one in the grand lake neighborhood on Lakeshore Ave

Cugel's avatar

That one is still there.

TheBuckeyeBear's avatar

would you perhaps like to meet for ice cream this weekend?

Scootie's avatar

Fenton's run on Saturday?

heyalumnigo's avatar

They have good chocolate milkshakes.

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

I'd maybe punch a Nana for a Fenton's Black & Tan right now...not a hard punch, something on the arm...but enough to bruise. ;-)

That's my favorite sundae in history...

PawlOski's avatar

Curbside Creamery in Temescal. Maybe salted caramel.

clapdoc's avatar

Jeni's in South Pasadena, followed by Wanderlust. Favorite at J's is the pineapple upside down cake. Favorite at W is the mango sticky rice.

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

i thought Jeni's was a midwest thing?

TheBuckeyeBear's avatar

started in Columbus, but she has scoop shops in a lot of other places now, but alas, not the Bay

goldenone's avatar

Fenton's on Piedmont Ave. Toasted almond.

sycasey's avatar

https://mitchellsicecream.com/

Mint chip is generally my favorite anyway, so that's what I tend to get. But you can't go wrong at this place.

Scootie's avatar

Their chocolate is the platonic ideal of chocolate ice cream.

Cugel's avatar

Funny, I haven't "gone out" for ice cream in decades.

Cugel's avatar

https://www.curbsideoakland.com/

Last place, it was good bourbon & something else.

Cugel's avatar

And only got some because I was waiting for a haircut at the hipster barbershop.

PawlOski's avatar

The Richard Spencer cut seems to be their specialty.

g.oso's avatar

where they trimmed your handlebar mustache while you enjoyed an ice cold PBR tallboy?

Cugel's avatar

The straight razor back neck cleaning is very nice.

heyalumnigo's avatar

Forte. Was in Kindergarten with him, then he moved to a different part of town so he went to a different elementary school. Apparently was in 7th and 8th grade with him then he went to the other HS in our district.

When No 1 heard I went to school with him he said, "you went to school with MacGruber?!?!"

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

i was lab partners w/ him in 8th grade physics. we used to crack each other up.

MoriBear's avatar

That sounds like a humblebrag ;-)

Oski Disciple's avatar

The director of MacGruber, Jorma Taccone, was a student of mine, as were his Lonely Island partners, Akiva Schaeffer and Andy Samberg. Still in touch with Jorma, good dude.

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

This one is one of my underrated favorites. I am a Michael Bolton fan..... ;-)

https://youtu.be/GI6CfKcMhjY

natebear's avatar

He is a Class of 1988 graduate of Acalanes HS in Lafayette. Funny guy back then, too

PawlOski's avatar

Is that right? I know folks in that class and/or around that time, but somehow this that has never been mentioned. I graduated from nearby Las Lomas a little later.

natebear's avatar

Yeah, he was in my sister's class. He played football and drove a huge old chevy blazer-type truck, but was not a jock - I was a freshman and he was kind enough not to haze me.

My mom moved that summer tho, so I went to LLHS as well - Class of 1991.

What about you? We might know each other?!?!?

PawlOski's avatar

‘89. Maybe I stole one of your cheese zombies at some point! Nah, I was a timid little mixed up preppy, closet jock hanging out with the stoners on the baseball field.

natebear's avatar

oh man, cheese zombies were so good. surprising how bad sausage zombies were...

SGBear's avatar

Ta'ufo'ou. The best Cal FB in recent memory. Ferocious. Better blocker than McMorris.

HeyStudentsBears's avatar

could be Cal thread too

took an on-campus PCR test to get "cleared" to be on campus but they said results would be ready in 3 days.

however, i am now CLEAR to be on campus because i tested, not because the results of the test are known!!

is this normal at other schools? i would have figured it was a rapid test.

Scootie's avatar

This is what we're doing at work too. It seems a little bit...crazy?

GoldenSD81's avatar

I really enjoyed Altered Carbon and was bummed that Netflix cancelled it after only 2 seasons, they didn’t even give them the usual 3 season treatment.

Netflix did make an animated Altered Carbon movie that was pretty good.

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

I love that show...Renee Elise Goldsberry with one of the all-time great tv character names!!!

Cugel's avatar

We watched the first season, and it wasn't until just now that I realized I'd seen Joel Kinnaman before "For All Mankind"

DC Trojan's avatar

he was in the first season of Hanna also

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

I first saw him in The Killing, a great show years ago with Mireille Enos.

MoriBear's avatar

That’s why I know him. Awesome role. And he’s great in FAM, but diff. Was also robocop reboot, but didn’t see it.

I saw E1 of altered carbon a few years ago and had no idea that was him. From scrawny to ripped!

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

He had a cool little role in Safehouse, a pretty decent Denzel/Ryan Reynolds number with a couple of great chase scenes.

Highly recommended film...Safehouse.

SGBear's avatar

OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

SGBear's avatar

Arizona House Bill 2596 would eliminate early voting except for valid excuses (eg, being Republican), be required to be counted by hand (and not be influenced by Italian Space Lasers), restrict voting to home district, and allow STATE LEGISLATORS TO GO AGAINST THE PEOPLE AND PICK WHOEVER THEY WANT AS THE WINNER.

https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/55leg/2R/bills/HB2596P.pdf

GoldenSD81's avatar

Arizona isn’t taking going Democrat very well. This is ridiculous and hopefully it doesn’t pass.

DC Trojan's avatar

those of you who are terminally online may have seen that a school district banned the graphic novel Maus for being inappropriate for kids. The reaction has been going about as well as you'd expect.

DC Trojan's avatar

also the new governor of VA has opened up a "tip line" (an email address, to be more precise) for people to complain about what their children are being taught in schools. Submissions are not all entirely serious...

Cugel's avatar

That dude is going to be very unpopular, complete snake in the grass, ran as a moderate, leaning into every hot-button culture issue is really alienating.

GoldenSD81's avatar

Him and Desantis are going to paint themselves into a corner while twisting into a pretzel to defend their crazy QAnon policies.

Scootie's avatar

Some of you may remember tales of my work crush, The Hot Consultant. I learned this week that he was college roommates with Ron DeSantis. 🤯

DC Trojan's avatar

do you mean to tell us that populist firebrand DeSantis went to a posh private college?

clapdoc's avatar

You mean Ron Deathsantis?

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Jan 27, 2022
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Cugel's avatar

Apparently not enough Virginia voters

heyalumnigo's avatar

Big Ben retires 12 years after being suspended for 6 games due to a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33158955/pittsburgh-steelers-qb-ben-roethlisberger-retires-18-seasons

clapdoc's avatar

You mean 12 years after raping two women?

Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

Exactly. Rapistberger...dude is a clown...all his born again schitt now doesn’t erase the a$$hole he was.

TheBuckeyeBear's avatar

IT'S MY FAVORITE TIME OF DAY: ZOOM PRESCHOOL

My brother's girlfriend is a preschool director, and they're virtual this week. So far:

Child 1 has a cookie and is in the car to pick up her sister who is in first grade in Ms. Pellegrini's class.

Child 2 is eating a snack and watching a video called the 72 cutest animals.

Brother's girlfriend: I have a story to share with everyone.

Child 3: I HAVE A GORILLA

Also, Child 4 is making asides in Mandarin about how other students are wrong hahahahaha

GoldenSD81's avatar

I hated zoom preschool.

PawlOski's avatar

Last night we watched the first half of the doc The Rescue, about the cave rescue of the Thai boys soccer team. Super intense.

Cugel's avatar

So we finished "We Are Ladyparts" WB 15/19 - fun show, but they ain't really punk rockers.

And watched the 3rd Episode of Mythic Quest, so far underwhelming - does it get better?

Quite enjoyed the 4th E of Boba Fett, nice that Mando intersects his story.

Also, if you liked Downton Abbey, you'll enjoy Gilded Age.

MoriBear's avatar

It gets better. Staring with E5 or 6.

sycasey's avatar

I loved Mythic Quest from the start. Maybe it's not for you.

I finally enjoyed this Boba Fett episode! Maybe because it's really a Mandalorian episode.

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Jan 27, 2022
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heyalumnigo's avatar

Abbot elementary is better than American Auto. But I do like both.

heyalumnigo's avatar

The only one I have is a carbon steel wok, probably about as old as I am. My mom gave it to me when they bought a new stove with the euro style solid electric burner with a glass top. It's a round bottom wok that needs a ring so with the glass top it couldn't be used

FiatSlug's avatar

We have a set of three. I bought them in September/October. Mrs Slug prefers them to the non-stick pans that the carbon steel pans replaced.

g.oso's avatar

accept no substitutes