81 Comments

My work has an annual footrace, but since we're not on site, we all just Zoomed in and exercised at home. So, I did ballet. But, at the end, I saw that the host had turned off my camera. I don't know when or why--WAS I INADVERTENTLY OBSCENE?!?!?!

Expand full comment

sounds like a t-shirt..."Inadvertently Obscene, Please use Caution"

Expand full comment

A wet t-shirt?

Expand full comment

Isn't that a Blue-footed Booby?

Expand full comment
author

It's a small juvenile. Their plumage really transforms into something special as they get older. Just google "big old boobies"

Expand full comment

but probably not at work.

Expand full comment

It went about as you’d expect (not on the work laptop just to clarify)

Expand full comment

The Pope

Expand full comment

Marquez Pope

Only NFL player to play for all four California teams (Chargers, Rams, 49ers, Raiders).

Expand full comment

He also helped change the NFL rules! Because of a play when he recovered a fumble but slid into the end zone and had it ruled a safety for the other team, the NFL changed the rule to say that momentum from a recovered ball does not count towards placement. The defensive team now gets it where they recovered it, unless they try to run with it.

The play: https://youtu.be/oMZDx24lyRc?t=6392

Expand full comment

without looking, is that the Raider play? I remember a play where the safety was running towards the endzone, caught it over the shoulder around the 2, and his momentum carried him into the endzone for a safety.

Expand full comment

It's Raiders-Seahawks in 2000. Seattle down 5, Ricky Watters has it stripped while running towards the end zone, Pope recovers and slides into the end zone, giving Seattle a safety. Then Seattle scores a TD on the subsequent drive to win the game.

Expand full comment

ok not the same one I was thinking of. Mine was definitely an INT on a deep throw.

Expand full comment

Although that easily could've been a Cal play as well.

Expand full comment
author

An under-rated song by Prince

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKRRxbA5dWE

Expand full comment

Is the answer to "Is the Pope Catholic" no longer a slam dunk??

Francis becomes 1st pope to endorse same-sex civil unions

https://apnews.com/article/pope-endorse-same-sex-civil-unions-eb3509b30ebac35e91aa7cbda2013de2

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis became the first pontiff to endorse same-sex civil unions in comments for a documentary that premiered Wednesday, sparking cheers from gay Catholics and demands for clarification from conservatives, given the Vatican’s official teaching on the issue.

The papal thumbs-up came midway through the feature-length documentary “Francesco,” which premiered at the Rome Film Festival. The film, which features fresh interviews with the pope, delves into issues Francis cares about most, including the environment, poverty, migration, racial and income inequality, and the people most affected by discrimination.

“Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God,” Francis said. “You can’t kick someone out of a family, nor make their life miserable for this. What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.”

Expand full comment

re: papal infallibility... since Vatican I, something a Pope says is considered doctrine only when he is speaking ex cathedra. The only instance of that occurring is the doctrine of the Assumption of Mary.

Expand full comment

I appreciate his comments, but marriage under civil law should be different from marriage in the eyes of XYZ church. We too often conflate those things.

Expand full comment

Phones

Expand full comment

I got a pixel 4xl in May. I guess I'll wait a bit before getting the 5

Expand full comment

If you're looking for a phone, Google is offering a deal on the Pixel 4a with a Google Fi plan.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/22/21529397/google-fi-phone-subscription-plan-pixel-4a

They're charging $9/mo for a Pixel 4a with Google Fi service over 2 years. I think in order to get the phone for $216 over 2 years you cannot pay the phone down early and have to have Google Fi service the full 24 months. If you have Google Fi and may need a new phone this seems to be a great deal.

Expand full comment

i pre-ordered the Pixel 5. will be my first non-Galazy smartphone

Expand full comment

Just on price alone I think the Pixel 5 is better. Plus it's vanilla Android which is even better.

Expand full comment

galaxy ... i guess there is no way to edit posts anymore. that 60 sec delay was very good for me and my lack of typing skilz.

Expand full comment
author

I do not see the point of $1000 flagship phones when a Pixel phone has 90% of the capabilities at a third of the price.

Expand full comment

I agree. The Pixel 3 is the most I've ever paid for a phone, and even then I took advantage of Google offering them for 200 or so off. I was going from a Nexus 5x to the Pixel 3 and that was a big improvement.

Expand full comment
author

I just got a Pixel 4a for $329. All in all, it is very much like my previous Pixel 2, but with the key differences being the addition of a headphone jack at the cost of my losing the side-squeeze assistant. Not a noticeable upgrade, but at that price point - I don't care.

Expand full comment

That is true at that price point. I really like my Pixel 3. I had purchased the extended warranty for 149 and just paid the $99 deductible because my phone was stuck in the boot loop. I got it to stop doing it but with the warranty running out in 1 month I decided to pay the 99 and get a replacement.

Hopefully this one will last another 2 years and then I can see what Google has to offer.

Expand full comment

Elsewhere in College

Expand full comment
author

Presidential debate

Expand full comment

The moderation was actually good, I thought (probably helped by the ability to mute the mics).

IMO Biden probably won, but the ultimate takeaway is that this probably doesn't shift the race at all.

Expand full comment

Agree, no big disruption to the race from last night, which under the circumstances is better for Biden than T.

Expand full comment

Didn't watch a bit. apparently Joe called the "proud boys" the "poor boys" and twitter was delighted.

Expand full comment

He did, but overall Biden seemed really sharp, effectively nullifying T’s main argument that Biden is senile.

Also to me the most comical piece was T’s tangent about how Democrats want to force you to have tiny windows. It was so farcical; kind of the cherry on top for this imbecile‘a reign. He has nothing to say about the worst public health crisis in a century, but man, don’t get him started on windows!

Expand full comment
author

Between the windows wackiness and his claim that wind kills all the birds and pollutes wildly, the environment segment of the debate was comedic gold.

Expand full comment

how do birds react to massive CO2 emissions and rising sea levels?

Expand full comment

And low flow faucets!

Expand full comment
author

A stupid fellow

Expand full comment

me ??!!

Expand full comment

The cheeto-in-chief

Expand full comment
author

Today in the disappearing-any-day-now coronavirus

Expand full comment

Almost 83,000 new cases today and it's been going up pretty steadily since Labor Day and some schools opened. Good thing it's disappearing otherwise we'd really be in trouble.

Expand full comment

Looks like Vandy is seeing rising cases, along with the rest of Nashville. They sent out a sternly worded email to all students talking about everyone making a commitment to be safe, etc. Not surprised it happened, just surprised it took this long for cases to rise.

Expand full comment

More like it took this long for them to report it.

Expand full comment

that could be it as well. They said based on contact tracing people were eating at restaurants in town and not in small groups or socially distancing. Also maybe entertaining out of town guests or family members.

Expand full comment

Got a message yesterday from school superintendent that schools will open 11/30. I will believe it when I see it. Also if you are going that far why not just wait til after the holidays?

Expand full comment

I think it should be reasonably safe to reopen elementary schools (with proper precautions, etc.).

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/health/coronavirus-schools-children.html

Expand full comment

because waiting until after everyone is infected through poor virus control practices during the holidays, means that you can't actually open Jan 5 or whatever. But if you are already open, maybe you don't close.

Expand full comment

I had that same thought - inertia, baby! I also am not sure what the point is of releasing these plans until the teachers agree. In a recent survey of the teachers in Burlingame, less than 10% said they felt they would be safe at work if it returned to in person. This feels like watching the MLB negotiations in the spring

Expand full comment

county average per 100K is up from last week. so, not disappearing-any-day-now.

Expand full comment
author

Today in our stumbling, bumbling, crumbling democracy

Expand full comment
author

Don Jr gets pretty animated on a Fox News segment, complete with moist, dilated eyes

(best with sound off)

https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1319481829263437824

Expand full comment
author

Watching it with the sound off looks like a normal person talking at 2x speed.

Expand full comment

Did he and Kimberly do a line right before he did the interview?

Expand full comment
author

Boogaloo Boi charged with arson, looting, and firing his assault rifle at a manned police station during Justice for Floyd protest. So far right, he circled around to being leftist?

https://www.startribune.com/charges-boogaloo-bois-fired-on-mpls-precinct-shouted-justice-for-floyd/572843802/

Expand full comment

Crazy is just crazy.

Expand full comment
author

Pro

Expand full comment
author

ICYMI: Washington probably will keep "Football Team" next season too. Sooooo... this confirms that Dan Snyder is being passive-aggressive, no?

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30156280/pretty-good-chance-washington-football-team-remains-2021-says-team-president

Expand full comment

There is compelling evidence that they do need to regularly repeat the message that that is supposed to be a football team. The results on the field certainly wouldn't lead anyone to that conclusion.

Expand full comment

I honestly do not know why they just don't take up the "Redtails" name.

Expand full comment

Because Dan Snyder is a colossal asshole

Expand full comment
author

This may be peak 2020 NY Giants.

https://twitter.com/MCamerlengo/status/1319496589166215169

Expand full comment

Haha, I know that is, the evil turf monster strikes again!

Expand full comment

I did that once in intramural football at Cal. Not quite that open but it was on an interception. I wasn't going to make it to the endzone but if I remember I did make it maybe halfway down the field.

Expand full comment

didnt Al break some bone in his foot on the turf at Underhill?

Expand full comment

yeah I think he did. Why he was able to get a handicap pass for a while. Also was around the Big Game because I remember him having to Kryptonite the wheelchair outside because they wouldn't let him in with it.

Expand full comment
author

Cal

Expand full comment
author

Some UCB classes might move to in-person, but be outside, starting on Monday

https://twitter.com/UCBerkeley/status/1319439704199172096

Expand full comment

Go Bears!

Expand full comment

Go Bears!

Expand full comment

Whoo hoo! Go Bears!

Expand full comment