162 Comments
author

Quibi - the short-form streaming service -- has been operating for 6 months and burned through $1.8 billion in start-up capital is toast.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/21/21527197/quibi-streaming-service-mobile-shutting-down-end-katzenberg

Expand full comment

Why the heck would anybody hire Meg Whitman to run a media company? And why would anyone give her a billion dollars? She should go back to selling soap.

Expand full comment

oh. the. horror. Seemed like an ok idea, except content was was run/sought out by hollywood producers, rather than organically by the creators. So you get them asking Gal Gadot, who wanted to do something serious, do do workout videos.

Expand full comment
author

Today in Covid

Expand full comment
author

CDC: You know the 216k Americans that have died from Covid? Yeah. It's probably 300,000.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6942e2.htm?s_cid=mm6942e2_w

Expand full comment

I'd bet many people that died of flu-like symptoms before March probably died of Covid.

Expand full comment

Irks me when people argue that those who died of Covid actually died of pre-existing conditions. They weren't dying of those pre-existing conditions before Covid.

Expand full comment

Is Breaking up Google a good thing?

Google sends me a check every month for running AdSense on my websites...so I'm lukewarm about it.

Expand full comment

I envisioned literally breaking up the name into "Go" and "Ogle." The latter of which would appropriately describe how some feel about Google's analytic voyeurism.

Expand full comment

MMMMMMM.... chocolate, bourbon-caramel cake for breakfast

Expand full comment

Did your daughter make the cake?

Expand full comment

You know it.

Expand full comment

you tell the story.

Expand full comment

You tell the whole damn world this is CAKE territory

Expand full comment

Breakfast of champions!

Expand full comment

every so often i use that phrase w/ my kids and i realize they have no idea what i am talking about

Expand full comment
author

Elsewhere in college

Expand full comment
author

LSU football self-imposes sanctions. Looks lenient to me.

https://twitter.com/247Sports/status/1318974142083964928

Expand full comment

considering he was handing out cash on national TV I'd think it should be worse. The question is if the NCAA is going to go after a "blue blood" of football.

Expand full comment
author

Colorado State vs. New Mexico game cancelled as the county doesn't meet state Covid guidelines to hold it. Freedom WINS!

https://csurams.com/news/2020/10/20/football-colorado-states-home-opener-vs-new-mexico-cancelled.aspx

Expand full comment

Interesting, as this is the county in New Mexico, whereas the game is in Colorado. So the county can declare that the team can't leave the state to play a game in the next state? Wouldn't it be ok if the team tests negative for them to leave?

Expand full comment
author

Utah @ Colorado. 7:30pm. In December. Noice.

https://twitter.com/Utah_Football/status/1318629799724601344?s=20

Expand full comment
author

@I look forward to our inevitable night game in Pullman on 12.12@

Expand full comment

Christopher Brown Jr. up the middle in a driving snowstorm.

Expand full comment

Brrr

Expand full comment
author

Florida currently has 31 players (not including Mullen or other staff) with 'rona.

https://twitter.com/NickdelaTorreGC/status/1318614517144846336?s=20

Expand full comment
author

DBD recipe club

Expand full comment

weeknight special that we have quite often >> pasta w/ caramelized cabbage.

our whole family is a big fan of anchovies.

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12373-pasta-with-caramelized-cabbage-anchovies-and-bread-crumbs

Expand full comment

Wife made Early Girl tomatoes with garlic poached in EVOO, served with burrata and crostini for the second time last Sunday. So very delish.

Expand full comment
author

I tried a dish that I saw on "Chef" (Netflix) - garlic confit. It's essentially roasted garlic, but done slowly in a bath of oil instead. Having mild "roasted" garlic whenever I want is a game-changer. It is so freaking good and stays good for about 2 months. Super easy to do.

https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/garlic-confit-241125

Expand full comment

I'm confused about the whole botulism issue. Goso, what's the deal?

Expand full comment
author

Adding this to the weekend plans

Expand full comment
author

Dishwashers

Expand full comment

All these Asians on the DBD and no one uses the dishwasher like a drying rack? Weirdos :P

Expand full comment

But this non-Asian does.

Expand full comment

Once upon a time.

Expand full comment

I don't use enough dishes to need an entire dishwasher for a drying rack. In my apt I had a double sink and a small rack in the other side was enough, unless I was making a big dinner for the boys.

Expand full comment
author

FET: My parents taught me to rinse off my dishes before I put them in the dishwasher otherwise they don't come out clean. My in-laws never rinsed their dishes and they come out clean. I've been cursed out by my wife because I "cheaped out" and our dishwasher never seems to get the dishes clean. So we bought a more expensive dishwasher to do a better job. Still, the dishes feel slippery, aren't very clean, and are hazy. Fast forward to this last week where I visit a design center where a guy who has been selling appliances for 30 years tells me that modern detergents NEED the dishes to be caked with food for the enzymes to work. Without the food, there's nothing for the detergent to work on. I'm stunned to know that I've been doing it wrong for 5 decades.

Expand full comment

I work for Ecolab a large commercial chemical supplier. I work with a lot of commercial dishwashers and know quit a bit about dishwashing. Our products have enzymes too and I have to say pre-scraping aka Pre-cleaning dishes is one of the most important parts of getting clean dishes. I would argue that the appliance salesman has no idea what he is talking about.

Expand full comment

I always rinse the dishes thoroughly, removing particles of food before putting them into the dishwasher. Surprised to hear otherwise but heck you always learn something new.

Expand full comment

It's changed over the years - 30 years ago you HAD to.

Expand full comment

I have always rinsed my dishes before placing them in the dishwasher and they come out fine. Nice and clean, they aren’t slippery at all and are bone dry.

Expand full comment

Interesting about the enzymes. Never thought of it that way.

It's also interesting that the new dishwashers don't have a heating element. I think they basically use the heat in the dishes to dry things. Although I think it takes longer. At least in our Bosch dishwasher. There always is condensation on the walls but not on the plates.

Expand full comment

I also have a Bosch dishwasher.

Expand full comment
author

Bosch has a new model called the "Z" line (ie, SKU that ends in Z). It includes the Miele-pioneered feature of cracking open the dishwasher after the drying cycle to enable venting of humid air for superior drying and it has zeothlith (spelling?) filter that is naturally thermogenic, which increases the drying temperature for no more power consumption.

https://blog.designerappliances.com/bosch-dishwasher-review-100-vs-300-vs-500-vs-800-series/

Expand full comment
author

When I had a dishwasher with a heating element, it had an unpleasant habit of melting tupperware lids that escaped to the bottom.

Expand full comment

Yep, same here.

Expand full comment
author

TIL... (I also always rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher)

Expand full comment

me too

Expand full comment

Hmmm

Expand full comment
author

Something with garlic

Expand full comment
author

Disney logic:

We want to appeal to all of Asia. People like Star Wars and Legend of Korra. Thus, let's mix together those, all Asian cultures, and some of our other movie tropes to create "Raya".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BPMTr-NS9s

Expand full comment

FET: I only recently binged Avatar: The Last Airbender and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Haven't started Legend of Korra yet.

Expand full comment

Korra is less good but still has some good stuff in it. Avatar is a dang masterpiece.

Expand full comment

Really, is this the movie that I thought was trash? (haven't seen it)

Expand full comment

The Last Airbender movie is one of the worst, most lifeless movies I have ever seen. The cartoon show is brilliant.

Expand full comment

The Last Airbender movie is widely regarded as one of the worst adaptions in modern movie history. Please disregard it entirely.

Expand full comment

Lol. Growing organic version of BB8. No water bending though.

Expand full comment
author

Dianne Feinstein

Expand full comment

retire bitch

Expand full comment
author

Her technological illiteracy has no business on the Senate intelligence committee.

Expand full comment

She has no business still being in the Senate. It is time for her to walk away.

Expand full comment

Retire now Senator

Expand full comment

She should have bowed out in 2018

Expand full comment

Yeah, I'm surprised she ran again. I'm not as upset as a lot of left-wingers about her, because it's not like she's going to hold up any progressive priorities with her vote, but in terms of style she's forever stuck in a past era when the Senate was more moderate and collegial. She doesn't seem to entirely get how things have changed.

Expand full comment

She should have retired in 2012. She is 87 years old! If she does retire and Harris is elected that means we will need two new senators. One of those two better be from Southern California. I am tired of the Bay Area monopoly on senators representing California.

Expand full comment

ummm, everyone knows Northern California is way better so why bother?

Expand full comment

Most people from Northern California do not consider the Bay Area to be Northern California. I would say that the Bay Area is the north most point of central California.

I would break the state down (from north to south) as follows:

Southern California: Santa Barbara to the border

Central California: Bay Area to SLO

Northern California: Oregon border to Sacramento

Expand full comment

Central California is not a thing.

Expand full comment

Sorry, but in my experience almost everyone considers the Bay Area part of NorCal.

Expand full comment

find a southern californian known statewide that doesn't have a job, isn't a nut or republican.

Expand full comment

Eric Garcetti is term-limited as Mayor of LA and is known to have Presidential ambitions.

Expand full comment

Mayor's of LA seem to have a hard time getting anyone other than people in LA to vote for them.

Expand full comment

He's an ASS though.

Expand full comment

That description is equally and is probably more appropriate for Northern California.

Expand full comment
author

Tips for beginner runners

Expand full comment

If you were born with bad feet, like me, good shoes can make a big difference.

Expand full comment

Most of the folks I've helped get started begin with a walk-run program unless they've already been active some other way. Over time increase the percentage of running to walking until you're up to running all the way.

Expand full comment

shorter distances, longer strides. the shuffle jog isn't the sort of running that promotes full health.

Expand full comment
author

When using public trails, keep right at all times (unless passing slower walkers/runners).

Expand full comment

Carry bear spray in bear country.

Expand full comment

Is bear spray effective against mountain lions? Asking for a friend that likes to jog in Utah!

Expand full comment

A couple years after I left Anchorage I saw a story on CNN about a couple runners killed by a bear there. A little research and I found out it was a woman who lived around the corner from where I had lived and her son who I also knew. Fortunately her grandson was not harmed but still a horrible tragedy.

Expand full comment

Couch to 5k programs really work, don’t forget to warm up. Stretch afterwards.

Expand full comment

interesting recent study of note, warming up and/or stretching beforehand did not significantly reduce injuries before exercising.

Expand full comment

Yeah, I stretch afterwards, when muscles are warm.

Expand full comment

Don't run. We have bikes, scooters and cars. We even have Rascals...

Expand full comment
author

Play beer-league soccer for exercise instead?

Expand full comment

if you're smart, play goalkeeper in said league, to avoid running as much as possible

Expand full comment
author

Our Crumbling Democracy

Expand full comment
author

Drunk Uncle Rudy: "Ha! I foiled Sasha Baron Cohen prank"

Borat movie sequel that comes out in 2 days on Amazon: "Actually..."

https://lawandcrime.com/awkward/rudy-giulianis-initial-claims-about-having-foiled-sacha-baron-cohens-borat-prank-appear-to-have-fallen-apart/

Expand full comment

jfc. I'm constantly surprised at how far Cohen get's people to go with literally no effort.

Expand full comment

That is rich...

Expand full comment
author

Ilhan, AOC stream Among Us on Twitch, get 400k viewers. This is engaging future voters in the right way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CMNgvlFfz0&feature=youtu.be

Expand full comment

It was a lot of fun to watch, but I'm not sure how much events like these actually help with turnout. Is it the kind of thing where the only people who watch are already registered and already have a plan?

Expand full comment

Sort of like The West Wing special. Didn't help that it was on HBO Max and not on a platform designed for wide distribution.

Expand full comment

oh I forgot about that. I'm going to have to watch it.

Expand full comment

Well done and poignant. But I'm not sure if it will be effective at all in getting people to vote.

Expand full comment

I'm in the 3rd act. Probably won't finish until later tonight after the game. I really like it so far, but you're right. It needed to be on NBC or something else to get more people to vote. HBO Max just makes it much harder for people that need the message to get it.

Expand full comment

I'm not sure if that's what they are really doing. It's more about building an activist base. You'll need that no matter who wins a given race.

Expand full comment
author

Trump walks out of 60 Minutes interview, starts bashing Leslie Stahl on Twitter

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/20/politics/trump-interview-60-minutes/index.html

Expand full comment
author

Poll: more than half of Trump supporters believe in the conspiracy theory that Democrats are a cabal of pedophiles

https://www.newsweek.com/only-17-trump-supporters-dont-believe-qanon-conspiracy-theory-poll-1540782

Expand full comment

P R O J E C T I O N

Expand full comment

Best case scenario is that it’s going to require generations to undo the damage that has been underway for decades and that trump accelerated

Expand full comment

just like the Rothschild conspiracy stuff. I hear that one on occasion when I used to interact with people.

Expand full comment

This is usually the case, unfortunately, with (fill-in-the-name) actions that exacerbate problems we have spent years creating and not fixing.

Expand full comment
author

US can't find deported parents for 545 children. Shameful.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/lawyers-say-they-can-t-find-parents-545-migrant-children-n1244066

Expand full comment

This is still the absolute worst thing the Trump Administration has done.

Expand full comment

Not making a value choice based upon skin color or nationality, but purely on sheer body count... but I think the deliberate downplaying and pushing of clearly wrong advice regarding the pandemic might be worse. But I'm picking nits now.

Expand full comment

Yes, but I see that as more of an indirect wrong -- stupidity and incompetence leading to unnecessary death. For child separation they basically had to point at those kids and decide to traumatize them deliberately. And there was no confusion about what might happen as in the early weeks of the virus, they knew exactly what the new policy would do.

Expand full comment

It might be a disagreement over semantics, but I think knowingly ignoring experts when you are occupying the office of the President is an active act, and in this instance, an active wrong.

Expand full comment

Yes, the most consequential stupid decision - and not ramping up production of PPE and having a national response.

Expand full comment

But, but, but, there's SO MUCH to choose from.

Expand full comment

Oh, I know. But this is still the worst.

Expand full comment

Seriously, trump has created a buffet of terrible to choose from.

Expand full comment

Looks like the US government just adopted 545 children.

Expand full comment

I thought that was the plan (and if not the full plan, at least a strong subplot). Funnel a lot of these "destitute brown children" to "generous white families"

Expand full comment

It’s almost like the GOP are the ones who run the pedophile, child eating ring and needed more children.

Side note, I figured that’s why ACB adopted those Haitian children. It reminded me of an old L&O episode where wealthy white familiars “adopted” poor Haitian children that were really bought to be used as child slave labor in their homes.

Expand full comment
author

PRO

Expand full comment

Clayton Kershaw cruises, backed by Dodgers bats in World Series opener

https://www.truebluela.com/2020/10/20/21526096/clayton-kershaw-strikeouts-stress-free-dodgers-world-series-recap-rays

After an anxious weekend of winning three elimination games in a row to save their season, the Dodgers opened the 2020 World Series with a rarity — a relatively stress-free Clayton Kershaw postseason start.

Kershaw was excellent in his six innings, backed by a relentless Dodgers offense in an 8-3 win over the Rays in Game 1 on Tuesday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

There was still stress, since this was the postseason after all, and this game was scoreless into the fourth inning. In the first inning Kershaw struggled a bit, allowing a single to Yandy Diaz and a walk to the red-hot Randy Arozarena. Just three batters in, the Rays had a scoring chance.

Expand full comment

Tampa Bay bounces back, with a series evening 6-4 win over LA. Dodgers got behind, and the Blue Rays made it 64 in a row when they have a lead after the 7th inning.

Expand full comment

I am disappointed that Playoff Kershaw failed to show up in this game, but there is still time.

Expand full comment

hater

Expand full comment

100%

Expand full comment

I sorta don't get this, I mean there have been teams I've hated in the past, Cowboys & the Yankees for various reasons, but hard to sustain that hate when they're no longer relevant.

Expand full comment

Didn't you still hate Stanfurd under Buddy Teevens and Walt Harris.

Expand full comment

Giants fans will always hate the Dodgers, full stop.

Expand full comment

GBBR

Kershaw looked shaky in the 1st inning. Then settled down. I don't think he threw his slider for a strike in the 1st inning but was nails with it the rest of the game. I think all his Ks were with his slider. The HR was on his one bad hanging slider.

Expand full comment
author

CAL

Expand full comment
author

Today in history: Marshawn Cart Ride

https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1318937178693488646

Expand full comment

Here's a question that just occurred to me (hopefully I didn't miss a discussion about this earlier): Has the Pac-12 Net given up? I'm a little surprised that no games will be televised this year on the network that the conference owns. I get that this is an odd year, but the overall attitude of the rest of the country has been that most west coast games are not worth watching, so they get dumped on the network. What changed? Don't get my wrong, I'm not complaining as I was getting myself prepared for missing Cal games that were going to be broadcast on a net that most of the country (myself included) doesn't get, but I just wonder if this season could be a catalyst to something that would improve TV visibility in future seasons.

Expand full comment

The PAC12 network has very little footprint in the cable/streaming market nationwide. With a truncated season, the late start, and the threat of being left out of the CFP again, the conference needs as many eyeballs watching the games as possible to sway the polls and selection committee.

Expand full comment

And anyway, during this time what else are ESPN and FS1 going to show? The NBA won't be back yet. Of course they want these games.

Expand full comment

I think one of the deciding factors was the greater payout from ESPN and Fox. It was always a dumb idea to have a self-contained network which was an ego boost for Larry Scott who wanted to be a media mogul rather than cut a deal where the Pac-12 got a sub-network from ESPN, which would have paid out more and brought in more advertising dollars. Have you seen the ads they run on the Pac-12 Network?

How much year old gymnastics or ancient football games do folks really want to see? It's too bad for my Mike Yam and Yogi but they can now get jobs with a real sports network.

Expand full comment

The number of games that ESPN/ABC and Fox bought the rights to broadcast didn't change, but the total number of games was decreases dramatically, so there was nothing left for the conference.

Even with a shorter basketball schedule, the number of games the national networks had bought the rights to is still a small percentage of the total. There will be a lot of basketball to cover.

If things return to something similar to normal by next fall, there will be a fair number of Pac-12 FB games that get relegated to the Pac-12 Network again.

Expand full comment

Also, all of the six regional networks were totally unnecessary and only caused confusion about where games would be shown. One network is fine.

Expand full comment

As I wrote what I wrote earlier, I was thinking to myself that it's too bad that the network can't be seen by anyone because the original programming is actually pretty good. At first, I didn't like Yogi Roth, but after hearing him being interviewed other places, he's growing on me.

BTW, where is Kate Scott these days? I know she started with the P12Net, but I haven't seen her around lately. She's very good.

Expand full comment

Oh God, I think she's TERRIBLE. I cannot watch games she broadcasts.

Expand full comment

The Pac-12 schedule is now offset from the other conferences, so what else are the other networks going to show? P12 games are better than nothing.

Expand full comment
author

Will Craig mic'ed up during practice

https://twitter.com/CalFootball/status/1318708578908205056

Expand full comment