170 Comments

I wish you could post images here - someone cut a Jack-o-lantern with VOTE! by the back door of my building.

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https://vimeo.com/469980256

"The Map" (Work & Co x Gary Hustwit, 2020) is a short documentary about a revolutionary redesign of New York City's iconic subway map. Filmmaker Gary Hustwit documents the process as digital agency Work & Co creates a new "live map" — one that updates in real-time — to help New Yorkers and tourists better plan their journeys. The film examines the evolution of wayfinding and user interfaces, and shows how good design and the latest digital technology can simplify one of the world's most complex transit systems. Featuring Felipe Memoria, Rachel Haot, Sarah Meyer, Joshua Gee, Marcela Abbade, Karina Sirqueira, Robert Penner, and Mohan Ramaswamy.

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Sounds interesting, I guess I can spend 10 minutes of my life to learn about the New York City subway map...not sure if I necessarily find it to be "iconic" though.

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In case you were wondering whether any other countries were running amok, the UK Labour Party published a report saying that in fact there was a problem with institutional anti-semitism, including actions taken by Jeremy Corbyn, Corbyn said it was a load of shit and he rejected it, the current leader of the party Keir Starmer suspended Corbyn and removed the whip, and now some faction of “right wing” Labour is trying to work a review process to have every lefty leader in the party challenged as an anti-Semite. It would be funny if it weren’t so pathetic.

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I am all-in on Keir Starmer. First Labour leader I've been a fan of in a lot of years.

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I'm getting a sense that this fellow might be the most competent government official in the UK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Mouser_to_the_Cabinet_Office

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Explains so much how the Tories could have won so resoundingly despite per all reports being very incompetent and ridiculous as well.

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A lot of older Brexit voters (outside of London and white) defected as well

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I read that as "defecated" at first.

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Not too far off

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Some real galaxy brain thinking from angry British lefty Twitter users

https://twitter.com/matflusk/status/1321806836002033665?s=21

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Also: reactionary Polish cop taking his cues from the American reactionary right, I see:

https://twitter.com/dctrojan/status/1321784651376189441?s=21

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Running amok in electoral politics that is.

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The whole world is going to implode.

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Man pays for and receives full-contact leopard experience

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2020/10/28/man-mauled-by-leopard-behind-davie-home

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Rightfully the top story in the LeopardsAteMyFace subreddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/LeopardsAteMyFace/

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there really is a reddit for everything

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I've noticed that Cal has really ramped up it's fundraising efforts. After donating to the L&S Leadership fund and the Bancroft Library I'm now getting requests to name UC as a beneficiary in my trust, granting Cal securities or real estate in addition to my heirs.

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Always laugh when the students used to call me during finals and ask me if I remember studying at the library and enjoying the 24/7 hours during finals. I can confidently say no, I never did study in the library and certainly not at night or on purpose

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AND THEN THEY MURDER YOU

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i have noticed that as well. also they have spent a considerable amount more time in NYC in recent years trying to connect w/ alum here.

they start off almost every event talking about how "state funding continues to decline and alumni funding is just as necessary as it is for Stanford and Ivy Leagues ..."

on the positive side, we have been able to meet the Chancellor, Athletic Director and a steady stream of great faculty lectures and events in town.

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

Golden One Hall does have a nice ring to it.

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

How about Golden One Field at Memorial Stadium?

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

As long as there is a dedicated DBD Section at the 50 at field level. In the shade.

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SC’s fundraising requests remain pretty constant but the tone has changed since the university has taken over all alumni groups. Well more specifically locked all the locally run groups out of all official channels, which seems like a bad idea when the one thing SC had that other colleges envied was a strong and relatively organic alumni network.

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The move towards locking out stakeholders and eliminating the last vestiges of transparency in the interest of spin and message control seems irresectable to educational institutions of all sizes and types.

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author

What is your current passion project?

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Writing a cookbook. It's very difficult. And I'm gaining weight.

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The sacrifices we make :)

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

Motorcycle mods and maintenance.

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I'm going to replace my radiator and coolent hoses in the Miata. Apparently the OEM radiator in the 1st gen starts to turn an olive green after a while and that's when people start having radiator issues. Mine has been green since I bought it. So I've got the radiator and have to place an order for the 9 hoses and clamps. Then an afternoon some weekend to get it done.

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I subscribed to Disney+ and Netflix for the first time and finally downloaded the Prime Video app in April. I'm finally watching my TV and understanding pop culture

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1. Brewing the perfect clone of Red Hook ESB;

2. Building an oak end table/bookshelf for my living room.

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen, SGBear

A modern-day adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion. I have a prologue and four chapters so far.

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

Building a wine cellar

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1 - perfecting making a good shot of espresso.

2 - aspirationally i want to learn how to do more-than-basic bike maintenance.

i recently got a new spring lever machine. it is tons of fun and generally makes good espresso. but getting a REALLY good one is still elusive and inconsistent.

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

Home Garage Gym.

I need a good set of adjustable dumbbells and a pull-up rack.

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I don’t have one. Probably should be finding another job.

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Haven't you been saying that the entire time you've been posting on Cal message boards?

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Yes. I’d prefer to retire but that’s not on the cards.

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Perfecting my corn bread recipe

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there are few things more delicious than steaming hot cornbread with butter melting all over the place. The missus adds a heaping spoonful of sugar to the recipes we normally see...

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i add a can of cream of corn to mine.

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

Building an observatory to house my 18" reflecting telescope.

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That is darn big for a private citizen. Impressive.

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Do you live in an area with low light pollution?

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It's kind of medium looking east, to the west it's kind of crappy.

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Chicken nuggets

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The only thing I eat at McDonald's is the McNuggets. The new spicy chicken nuggets and hot sauce are amazing

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Wendy's spicy chicken nuggets are really good. So glad that they brought them back! The under-the-radar choice for me is the Burger King chicken fries. I'm generally not a fan of the King, but the chicken fries (and the original chicken sandwich) are pretty good.

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How do the chicken fries compare to chicken strips?

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

The strips seem to be the frozen kind...the fries not so much, which is counterintuitive since there is no such thing in nature as a chicken "fry".

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Science! I will not question nature

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Wendy nuggets - spicy enough that I always find preferable choices.

BK - definitely under the radar, but also better than they generally get credit for.

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

The Chick fil-A ones are really good. Basically small chucks of chicken not like McNuggets.

Oh and Chick fil-A sells little squeeze bottles of the sauce.

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No hate chicken for me

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I read someone making the point that most corporations donate to the same loons so it’s not really much of a differentiator any more which is depressingly plausible

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No ethical consumption in a capitalist society (sent from my MacBook Air)

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Pretty much the point of The Good Place, no?

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It was a part - but not the whole thing

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That said I generally avoid CFA because it really upsets my daughters and I’m just as happy with Popeye’s

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Since C-F-A isn't in the northwest, and Popeyes flopped when they tried to establish a toehold, I only encounter either on road trips, and there aren't any of those currently, so its a non-issue.

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Hillsboro has one.

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

If you are ever in LA, there is a new place with Taiwan-style popcorn chicken that is really good. You'll love the name of the cafe too: https://www.bopomofocafe.com/

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I DO love the name! And my mom loves fried chicken (fried anything), so maybe someday...

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I'm pretty sure they don't contribute to conservative Christian groups, though I guess one can never be too certain about such things anymore.

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

So good, but my arteries are thankful that I haven't been to CFA in at least a year.

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they have CFA in the Fulton St subway station now, and i would pass it every day on the way to work.

their nuggets are great of course. so is their chicken biscuit sandwich

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I love the spicy chicken sandwich.

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Heh, best chicken sandwich in the WORLD is right here in Oakland at Hopscotch; so, so good. I have it with a glass of Asahi & a shot of Japanese whisky.

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Is Hopscotch the place we went with tbb during the power shutoff last year?

I like the World Famous HotBoys Nashville hot chicken in Oakland. No 3 and I are thinking of doing one HotBoys and one Gus' just down the street and sharing.

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i like Popeye's spicy chicken better, not that CFA is not good

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I haven't had that one yet. I was waiting for the lines to go down. I guess it's better now.

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I don't go that often. Maybe once every couple of months.

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we usually go on road trips, but between Fri Sat Sun driving it is invariably closed when we think of going on Sun

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I try to make my trips to/from Tahoe not be on Sundays so I can avoid the CFA-at-church disappointment.

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For the longest time the only time we thought about going was on Sundays. Was annoying.

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

LMFS lived on those until she was 10. Junior discovered cheeseburgers at around 8 so transitioned from nuggets then

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Delightful....until you get the McNugget with chewy cartilage...yuck.

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Harry

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's razor blades are good.

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They really are

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Suddenly have less of a need for razor blades now that I've grown out my facial hair.

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I'm Asian so maybe I use my beard trimmer once a week.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Same.

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I've had the beard for years now, but I don't see myself going back to shaving any time soon. Shaving sucks.

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I’m starting a seasonal beard, will see how long I last before I lose patience and shave it

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i am down to shaving once a week or if my wife complains

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I trim and clean up the beard and mustache every paycheck.

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i did not appreciate until today that Flamingo is the women's branded stuff.

i was thinking they should have named it Sally

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Duke of Sussex

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Anderson

Loved Night Court back in the day.

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We had to carry him to the ferry, which then carried Harry to the shore.

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and the reason that we had to carry Harry to the Ferry?

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Was that Harry couldn't carry any more

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CAA

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Love the California magazine they send to me!

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Elsewhere in college

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Bay Area man sentenced after threatening violence vs. Ohio State University. Gets credit for 10 months already spent in jail

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30202749/michigan-wolverines-football-fan-threatened-harm-ohio-state-players-sentenced

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I would suspect one of you all for your anti-Ohio animus, but the link does say it was a Michigan fan.

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I recently learned that the people who tried to kidnap the Michigan governor were from Ohio. Which, I mean...maybe we can trade Toledo for their governor?

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You’ll keep DeWine and like it

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(have you seen The Maltese Falcon?)

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I have!

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Thanks, Bogie

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The pirate should have stayed in the Palouse.

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OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

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Glenn Greenwald leaves The Intercept in a huff after the editors wouldn't publish his Hunter Biden piece without supporting evidence.

https://theintercept.com/2020/10/29/glenn-greenwald-resigns-the-intercept/

https://greenwald.substack.com/p/my-resignation-from-the-intercept

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Fuck Glenn Greenwald, he's either an actual stalking horse for Russia or a complete and total useful idiot. Absolute piece of anti-American trash who doesn't operate in good faith and is not actually on the left.

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IMO he’s become so obsessed with the idea that all Russiagate theories are garbage that he’s convinced that anything claimed by a source originating from Russia or Ukraine or wherever cannot also be fishy. The fact that people are probably overestimating the coherence and control of overseas influence operations doesn’t itself mean that there aren’t any. It’s also amazing to me that given an obvious opportunity to make the connection between corrupt wealthy interests the world over, Greenwald would go for the petty influence peddling by the American center left instead of the absolute mayhem on the right.

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Yeah, and he seems to have kicked off a cottage industry of such former leftists looking for another new way to be edgy, against-the-mainstream types (like Matt Taibbi).

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Yeah, it's hard to find a coherent philosophy for Greenwald at this point. I suspect he's not a stalking horse for anyone, rather he has just let his ego run amok to the point where it can't see how far he has strayed from his own purported values.

The best part is that this report (actual reporting, not the insinuation and supposition Greenwald now traffics in) about the sourcing for a lot of the Hunter Biden claims just came out too. Surprise, surprise, the sourcing is fake:

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/how-fake-persona-laid-groundwork-hunter-biden-conspiracy-deluge-n1245387

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The wrapping up of Balding in this is also weird - he's been a big part of China twitter so now he's central in global news story would be hilarious if it didn't have real world consequences

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The most generous interpretation I can muster is that perhaps he's the kind of leftist who would rather actively help fascists than liberals. I think he knows exactly what he's doing though.

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It seems like he's convinced himself that the mainstream left are the REAL fascists. I suspect this is also based on ego: it's because liberals on Twitter (and elsewhere) are mad at him for constantly dunking on Democrats, so now he's worked up into a lather trying to prove all of them wrong and missing the forest for the trees.

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I don't think he's convinced himself of that -- I think he's just an attention-whoring asshole.

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I think the Occam's Razor explanation is that he's a bad faith interlocutor who is trying his best to damage Democrats and liberalism, not a misguided progressive whose heart is somehow in the right place but can't see past his own ego.

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Inspector General: $78 billion of Covid loans (37%) were flagged as potentially fraudulent.

@ Shocked Face @

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/28/watchdog-small-business-loan-fraud-433452

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Sigh

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I can envision this being contrived to create an excuse and leverage point, and I can also envision this being a legitimate sizable rip-off (that a competent organization would have, if not prevented, at least noticed and nipped before it got so out of hand).

Neither scenario suggests an organization that is competent, or should be trusted with anything material.

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It is without a doubt drumpf.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/29/trump-covid-advertising-celebrities/

The level of corruption in this administration is simply staggering.

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Just 5 days from now is the election. THE ELECTION.

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Though in many ways, the election has already been going on for weeks.

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Sen. Mike Lee says fact-checking is a form of censorship. I also heard Mike Lee was arrested four times for pedophilia.

https://twitter.com/bubbaprog/status/1321501989625319426?s=19

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Of course the GOP doesn’t see this as a problem because they aren’t be UNT accused of crazy conspiracy theories.

However, if Dem and the left started to accuse, say ACB of adopting two

Haitian kids to use as sex slaves in a Roman Catholic cult and was taking orders directly from Pope Francis then they might have a problem with these things.

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Or killed hookers along with Craig James.

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He also raped and murdered a girl with Glenn Beck.

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SCOTUS rejects GOP attempt to suppress vote in NC

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/28/politics/scotus-nc-penn/index.html

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For now. It seems like they are going to wait until after the election to revisit that ruling.

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Tucker Carlson said he had damning evidence against Biden and then somehow lost it, but you should believe him.

https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1321608055549775872?s=19

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Is it too much to dream for the day he and the rest of the drumpf cabal flee to Mother Russia for asylum?

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Yes, sadly. Fox "news" ain't going anywhere.

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When did he join The Onion?

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Heh...I have evidence of Tucker Carlson killing hookers with Craig James and Senator Mike Lee but I lost it as well. But believe me...

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I heard Senator Ron Johnson strangled someone’s dog

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is that what he calls his Johnson?

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I heard he feeds it Purina.

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I don’t know about his chicken choking habits

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seems he chokes everything.

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PRO

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Chicago White Sox name Tony La Russa, 76, new manager

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30218070/chicago-white-sox-name-tony-la-russa-76-new-manager

Tony La Russa, 76, a three-time World Series champion, is the new manager of the Chicago White Sox, the team announced Thursday.

La Russa hasn't served as a major league manager since ending a 16-year run with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, a season that culminated in La Russa's third championship. La Russa, who has a 2728-2365 managerial record, became the first manager in major league history to retire after winning the World Series that same season.

La Russa began his managerial career with the White Sox from 1979 to 1986. White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf purchased the team three years into that stretch and fired La Russa 64 games into the 1986 season, then watched him join the Oakland Athletics later that season to trigger what eventually became a Hall of Fame career. Reinsdorf has long regretted that decision.

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Interesting choice for a team that will soon be a contender, and should feature Cal alum Andrew Vaughn in a prominent role as soon as next year. There is a chance that La Russa is willing to adapt to the modern MLB, but I wouldn't bet on that.

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By the way, Tony La Russa had helped the Cal Baseball program thanks to his California off-season connection and having Cal alum Allen Craig on his STL team back in 2010. Still, I expect to be making fun of this White Sox decision when it backfires in a year or two.

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Personally I like him... but really? This seems odd.

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oh wow...shocked. I know he has the experience, but LaRussa? I would think there are plenty of other good managers.

Would he be the old stogy manager that doesn't listen to analytics? No shifting.

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Online information seems to indicate that he uses SABR and analytics in his decision making, though perhaps to a lesser degree than others.

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hmm..ok. well maybe he won't be as much of an old stogy manager as I thought. The first question should be, "Would you have removed Snell in game 6?"

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You know, the more I looked into it, I don't think analytics would justify removing Snell either. I think the decision was based on a strict adherence to "no pitching third time through the order" and not a look at the numbers of the specific situation.

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yes I don't think they did look at the individual matchups. I mean Betts was worse against lefties than righties.

Jomboy did his video and after the double Snell mumbles something and Cash looks at his chart. Like he didn't know that Betts struggled against lefties all season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3G8QytAKWA

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I'm surprised he is only 76.

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im surprised he's still alive

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I remember seeing him play. Makes me old too.

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CAL

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Another missing UC Berkeley student

https://twitter.com/izzygwap/status/1321646001342480387?s=19

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Cal pauses practice for mens' basketball for possibly up to 2 weeks after an asymptomatic player tests positive for Covid in regular daily testing.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Cal-men-s-basketball-workouts-paused-after-15678610.php

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@that's the first positive thing about MBB in years@

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I feel dirty for laughing

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Oct 29, 2020Liked by Rick Chen

you tell the whole...errr....

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Go Bears.

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