30 Comments

Frank Sinatra

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He recorded a version of Jingle Bells that is one of my favorite all-time Christmas songs. https://youtu.be/b_4zqvWHuiU?si=aDFwwzATL6-O3Lye

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went to a friend's birthday party that lasted all week out in Palm Springs. my friend rented out Frank's home, Twin Palms Estate.

it is not a huge house. just nicely done. it has a pool shaped like a grand piano.

Frank (impersonator) even sang a handful of songs to us in his own house!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3mcfdhdvFtvvdkqJ7

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one of the people i met was a physicist/astronaut.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_A._Cassada

Josh Aaron Cassada (born July 18, 1973) is an American physicist, test pilot, and former NASA astronaut. Prior to his selection to join NASA in 2013, Cassada served as a test pilot in the US Navy, and has over 3,500 hours in more than 40 aircraft, and 23 combat missions. In August 2018, Cassada was selected for CTS-1, the first operational mission of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner, but subsequently reassigned to SpaceX Crew-5.

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CHEESE

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WHIZ.

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Wallace: Well, why don't you come in? We were just about to have some cheese.

Wendolene: Oh, no, not cheese. Sorry, it brings me out in a rash. Can't stand the stuff.

Wallace: [gulps] Not even Wensleydale?

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Wendolene would do well to try a couple of non-dairy alternatives I’ve found tasty: 1.) Miyokos cashew cream cheese and 2.) Follow Your Heart pepper jack. Violife feta is also decent.

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Christmas/Holiday Plans

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8 day road trip to national parks in Utah

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speaking of national parks, i just visited Joshua Tree for the first time. it was truly spectacular. loved seeing the endless fields of Joshua trees in the backdrop of the desert and the boulders.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DMQttUaNDqdqo1pQA

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Nice photos.

I go there often but I've only been there at night. I like to take photos of night sky.

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the sky was pretty cool. there was a parking lot inside the park even called "stargazers parking area"

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Nothing special. I visited my sister at Thanksgiving and that was enough travel for me. DC has plenty of special things to do. Next up for me is National Cathedral. They have a collection of hundreds of nativity scenes from around the world made with all manner of materials and they display a bunch of them every year.

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Vietnam and Cambodia for 2 wks starting this Thu.

never been to either one. we are traveling w/ 3 other families which i am sure will be very unwieldy and fun all at once. mostly going along with it so that the kids can spend time w/ their cousins

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Sounds more like a deployment.

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PRO

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CAL

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[WBB] Cal Enters AP Top 25 Poll

https://calbears.com/news/2024/12/16/womens-basketball-cal-enters-ap-top-25-poll.aspx

BERKELEY –The California women's basketball team is nationally ranked for the first time under head coach Charmin Smith, coming in at No. 24 in the Associated Press Top 25 Women's College Basketball Poll released Monday. This is the first time the Golden Bears have been in the AP Top 25 poll since being ranked No. 24 on Jan. 7, 2019.

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[WBB] Cal Defeats Austin Peay For Fifth Straight Win

https://calbears.com/news/2024/12/15/womens-basketball-cal-defeats-austin-peay-for-fifth-straight-win.aspx

BERKELEY – The California women's basketball team knocked down nine 3-pointers in the first half to take control of the game early and come away with a 71-45 win over visiting Austin Peay at Haas Pavilion on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Bears (11-1, 1-0 ACC) were led by Kayla Williams who had her best all-around game of the season finishing with 18 points (7-of-8), three 3-pointers, eight rebounds and six assists. The Bears held the Governors (3-6) to just 17 points in the second half on the way to the win.

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[T&F] Cal Track & Field And Cross Country Alum Chloe Jarvis Passes Away

https://calbears.com/news/2024/12/14/cal-track-field-and-cross-country-alum-chloe-jarvis-passes-away.aspx

California track & field and cross country alumna Chloe Jarvis, a mother of two who competed at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials and enjoyed a successful singing and songwriting career under the stage name Chloe Jean, passed away Thursday at the age 42 of after a battle with breast cancer.

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[T&F] Cal Track & Field Signs All-American Thrower Giavonna Meeks

https://calbears.com/news/2024/12/13/cal-track-field-signs-all-american-thrower-giavonna-meeks.aspx

BERKELEY – California track & field announced the signing Friday of Vanderbilt transfer thrower Giavonna Meeks, who will join the team in time for the 2025 indoor season. An All-American weight thrower and the 23rd-ranked women's hammer thrower in the United States in 2024, Meeks has three indoor and outdoor seasons of collegiate eligibility left.

"I am very happy and excited that Giavonna is joining our program," said assistant coach Mohamad Saatara, who leads the throws unit. "She is one of the best young throwers in the NCAA and the United States, with great championship experience at the SEC, NCAA and national levels in her career. Giavonna is an outstanding person and will be a great teammate as well as an incredible complement to our throws group."

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front page of calbears.com has the LA Bowl with a picture of Uluave. I hope he doesn't enter the portal after the bowl game.

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Better hope he doesn't enter the portal BEFORE the game.

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Go Bears!!!

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The women's basketball team raised their record to 11-1 with two wins over the weekend, notably an 83-63 thrashing of Furd. Bay Area Bears are encouraged to come out and see this exciting team. They're in action this coming weekend in their annual tourney.

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Yes. Cal is now ranked in the Top 25 (24th).

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DBD AV CLUB

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POLITICS

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ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE

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