A straw bear (German: Strohbär, plural Strohbären) is a traditional character that appears in carnival processions or as a separate seasonal custom in parts of Germany, mainly at Shrovetide but sometimes at Candlemas or Christmas Eve.
Note: the picture is a bear made of straw, but it is in Japan.
Just saw on Twitter that Mack Brown's daughter (Katherine Ryan) will be on Jeopardy this Friday. Am I so bitter still about 2004 and petty that I will root against (even though this was filmed weeks ago) a contestant on Jeopardy!?...maybe.
I remember a California Lottery commercial circa 2001, which had some people sharing their lucky numbers. Near the end, there was a famous tech person (I want to say that it was maybe Steve Wozniak) and he ended the commercial by sharing that his lucky numbers were "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6" and then him saying something like "don't laugh, I have the same chance as you". The commercial was quickly pulled.
Tim Bogdanof — a mechanical technician in the Lab’s Engineering Division — is participating in the 2020 edition of “Battlebots,” which begins airing on the Discovery Channel this Thursday at 8 p.m. (PST).
You may remember Bogdan from the Lab’s most recent Open Mic session. He shared a video of behind-the-scenes footage he recorded of his experience during the competition. This video will premiere on his YouTube channel (Unburnable Trash) immediately following the program.
At last year’s “Battlebots” competition, Bogdanof won the Giant Nut trophy as a member of team Bite Force. This year, however, he is competing with a completely new team and robot, named HiJinx. Let’s wish him luck!
Did I already tell you guys about my friend's project, Lunchbox? Anne Hu is my childhood friend, and her upcoming short film reflects upon her experience growing up in Cleveland as a Taiwanese-American through the lens of the lunches her mom used to make for her. She wrote and will be directing the short film. They're doing a read-through on Tuesday, December 8, and you can register for free here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunchbox-virtual-reading-tickets-131133567029
I feel lucky that I was never made to feel less than, even if my lunches didn't match what other kids had. My mom used to make this dish with cauliflower, carrots, and fish balls, and pack that with rice, and one classmate used to love to eat the fish balls. My mom also made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (to be more American), but felt like maybe they weren't nutritious enough, so she would put a slice of American cheese in it (less successful). But, I know lunch-shaming is a common experience among first- and second-gen kids.
In grammar school I usually went home for lunch. By junior high, I had Asian friends in a pretty diverse school, and enjoyed bringing things like dried cuttlefish.
The periodic table has 7 periods (rows) and 18 groups (columns). How would you organize cookies into a table? I think the noble gases should be the platonic idea of each period, so if the periods are:
1) drop cookies
2) rolled cookies
3) bar cookies
4)...
The last group/column could all be chocolate chip cookies, just in different formats.
it was a really light year for me, only 220 hours total listening to music - partly because no commuting, and partly because I made a deliberate effort to reduce headphone usage after some really gnarly tinnitus earlier in the year. What I thought was funny was the high repeat usage was pretty limited (lots of Harry Styles because that's how we roll now) and then a TON (hundreds) of individual artists because of compilations and experimental listening to single albums that I subsequently deleted.
I don't use spotify, youtube with ad blockers - discovered a new to me band the other day, The Cribs from their newest album, and then discovered they have a large back catalog, including an album with Johnny Marr.
Apparently I listened to 590 different genres this year. HOW THE FUCK ARE THERE THAT MANY GENRES? And I listened to 1843 different artists this year. My top stream this year was "Crawling Back to God" by Full of Hell.
"Wisconsin Gov. Calls Trump Election Fraud Lawsuit An ‘Assault’
“He is simply trying to seize Wisconsin’s electoral votes, even though he lost the statewide election,” attorneys say.
by: Scott Bauer
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn Wisconsin’s election results by tossing ballots only from the state’s two most heavily Democratic counties is an “assault on democracy,” attorneys for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said in filings with the Wisconsin Supreme Court...."
"Are dining tents a safe way to eat out during the pandemic?
Health experts say outdoor dining tents are generally safer than dining inside, but caution that they’re not all equal.
Many restaurants are erecting individual tents, igloos and other outdoor structures that let people who are dining together avoid being indoors, where the coronavirus spreads more easily.
Experts say the structures should be well-ventilated. A tent with four walls and a roof, for example, might not have better ventilation than an indoor dining room.
“The more airflow through the structure, the better it is,” says Dr. Isaac Weisfuse, a public health expert at Cornell University...."
I saw a picture of some setup with something like a marquee tent - lots of fresh air - but heaters under the table surrounds for the chairs - that way people were keeping warm-ish without limiting airflow too much.
The ones I've seen around DC are the igloo type. They only seat four so do have the benefit of limiting those you are in contact with even if the ventilation still isn't great.
Absolutely. He just looks lost on the sidelines as the team continues to look far too disorganized...wasting timeouts, lack of crispness, etc. Sure, some of this probably stems from rookie mistakes or miscommunication by Herbert, who not surprisingly has been a stud. But they just don't look crisp or confident.
Las Vegas Bowl cancelled for this year. That makes 4 bowls, with the Sun, Holiday, and Red Box Bowls, that the Pac-12 would, but won't be, sending a team to. No Pac-12 presence at the Rose Bowl this year either. (Can't imagine how this ends well recruiting wise for pretty much anyone.)
Just saw on Twitter that Mack Brown's daughter (Katherine Ryan) will be on Jeopardy this Friday. Am I so bitter still about 2004 and petty that I will root against (even though this was filmed weeks ago) a contestant on Jeopardy!?...maybe.
Even I think that's a bridge too far...
Absolutely...hopefully she fails to even qualify for Final Jeopardy
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HEYSTUDENTSBEARS!
thx. 50th bday. if anyone has any tips for aging gracefully or staying young ...
My advice to you is to start drinking heavily
even more than i already do?
especially during coronavirus times i have been putting some amaro or vermouth in my morning espresso.
I like your style. Newellbany and I plan to celebrate our 50ths with a trip to Auburn, AL for a Golden Bears/Tigers tilt at Jordan-Hare....
old
HBD!
Bridge
Verrazano bridge was closed yesterday due to high winds. Volume on, please.
https://twitter.com/NYCFireWire/status/1333775379010609152
It's not called the Windy City for nothing.....;-)
errr....isn't that bridge in New Yawk?
Very much so....I'za just joshing
Lottery
South Africa's winning lotto number:
5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Bonus number: 10
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55154525
FET
I remember a California Lottery commercial circa 2001, which had some people sharing their lucky numbers. Near the end, there was a famous tech person (I want to say that it was maybe Steve Wozniak) and he ended the commercial by sharing that his lucky numbers were "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6" and then him saying something like "don't laugh, I have the same chance as you". The commercial was quickly pulled.
Metal Kenneth Copeland is really great
https://twitter.com/A_Dixie_Girl/status/1332490347851747329?s=19
Straw
Hat band
An improvement over Oski. Resembles that bear mural that was the size of the court at Hass a few years back. Cal should have left that there.
Yeah, I liked it too.
Berry
...canyon
"Daaaaaaryl, Daaaaaaaaaaaryl"
fields forever
...Point, Iowa where my sister used to live.
My wife's had a boyfriend from Strawberry Point, IA. I heard that the parade is a big deal
I visited a number of times when she was there but always around the holidays so was never there for the parade.
...Inn - up near the Lair
Jam
man
What is this, 2020?
Berkeley Lab Engineering Technician Competes in ‘Battlebots’ on Discovery Channel
https://physicalsciences.lbl.gov/2020/12/01/engineering-technician-competes-in-battlebots-on-discovery-channel/
Tim Bogdanof — a mechanical technician in the Lab’s Engineering Division — is participating in the 2020 edition of “Battlebots,” which begins airing on the Discovery Channel this Thursday at 8 p.m. (PST).
You may remember Bogdan from the Lab’s most recent Open Mic session. He shared a video of behind-the-scenes footage he recorded of his experience during the competition. This video will premiere on his YouTube channel (Unburnable Trash) immediately following the program.
At last year’s “Battlebots” competition, Bogdanof won the Giant Nut trophy as a member of team Bite Force. This year, however, he is competing with a completely new team and robot, named HiJinx. Let’s wish him luck!
Did I already tell you guys about my friend's project, Lunchbox? Anne Hu is my childhood friend, and her upcoming short film reflects upon her experience growing up in Cleveland as a Taiwanese-American through the lens of the lunches her mom used to make for her. She wrote and will be directing the short film. They're doing a read-through on Tuesday, December 8, and you can register for free here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunchbox-virtual-reading-tickets-131133567029
Sounds very interesting
I feel lucky that I was never made to feel less than, even if my lunches didn't match what other kids had. My mom used to make this dish with cauliflower, carrots, and fish balls, and pack that with rice, and one classmate used to love to eat the fish balls. My mom also made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (to be more American), but felt like maybe they weren't nutritious enough, so she would put a slice of American cheese in it (less successful). But, I know lunch-shaming is a common experience among first- and second-gen kids.
In grammar school I usually went home for lunch. By junior high, I had Asian friends in a pretty diverse school, and enjoyed bringing things like dried cuttlefish.
Oh wow, I never attended a school that was open-campus, so I only ever had lunch on campus.
I brought the cuttlefish in my brown bag.
Periodic Table of Cookies
The periodic table has 7 periods (rows) and 18 groups (columns). How would you organize cookies into a table? I think the noble gases should be the platonic idea of each period, so if the periods are:
1) drop cookies
2) rolled cookies
3) bar cookies
4)...
The last group/column could all be chocolate chip cookies, just in different formats.
I’ve been watching this series— https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/christmas-cookie-challenge
Yay cookies!!! I've been watching so many food videos haha
Winning idea gets Geek of the Year award!
2020 WRAPUP / MUSICAL YEAR IN REVIEW (if you don't use Spotify)
it was a really light year for me, only 220 hours total listening to music - partly because no commuting, and partly because I made a deliberate effort to reduce headphone usage after some really gnarly tinnitus earlier in the year. What I thought was funny was the high repeat usage was pretty limited (lots of Harry Styles because that's how we roll now) and then a TON (hundreds) of individual artists because of compilations and experimental listening to single albums that I subsequently deleted.
I don't use spotify, youtube with ad blockers - discovered a new to me band the other day, The Cribs from their newest album, and then discovered they have a large back catalog, including an album with Johnny Marr.
The discover weekly playlist alone is worth it. So many bands that have come across that playlist that led me to dig further into their back catalogs.
I don't spotify, or really listen to much music at all these days. Mostly I listen to air purifying fans these days.
Unrelated but: does anyone have a good recommendation for noise cancelling headphones? can be bluetooth or not.
795 genres
4,388 artists
Most streamed song was Mariners Apartment Complex by Lana del Rey
229,367 minutes of listening, which is 160 full days. It's basically on every minute I'm awake and home.
i dont use Spotify much
You listened to 153 minutes on Spotify.
Apparently I listened to 590 different genres this year. HOW THE FUCK ARE THERE THAT MANY GENRES? And I listened to 1843 different artists this year. My top stream this year was "Crawling Back to God" by Full of Hell.
OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY
Recently pardoned Gen. Michael Flynn shared a message calling for a military coup in the US
https://twitter.com/bradheath/status/1334130843137269761
DOJ investigating bribe-for-pardon shenigans.
https://apnews.com/article/us-probe-potential-bribery-scheme-pardon-271f7536f7ba3d1bd6887b21e7549287
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wisconsin-gov-calls-trump-election-fraud-lawsuit-an-assault_n_5fc7d391c5b64511ef9f3af7
"Wisconsin Gov. Calls Trump Election Fraud Lawsuit An ‘Assault’
“He is simply trying to seize Wisconsin’s electoral votes, even though he lost the statewide election,” attorneys say.
by: Scott Bauer
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn Wisconsin’s election results by tossing ballots only from the state’s two most heavily Democratic counties is an “assault on democracy,” attorneys for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said in filings with the Wisconsin Supreme Court...."
TODAY IN COVID
"Are Dining Tents A Safe Way To Eat Out During The Pandemic?"
Short Answer: No.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/is-it-safe-to-eat-in-dining-tent-restaurant-covid_l_5fbd1fe4c5b61d04bfa46b79
"Are dining tents a safe way to eat out during the pandemic?
Health experts say outdoor dining tents are generally safer than dining inside, but caution that they’re not all equal.
Many restaurants are erecting individual tents, igloos and other outdoor structures that let people who are dining together avoid being indoors, where the coronavirus spreads more easily.
Experts say the structures should be well-ventilated. A tent with four walls and a roof, for example, might not have better ventilation than an indoor dining room.
“The more airflow through the structure, the better it is,” says Dr. Isaac Weisfuse, a public health expert at Cornell University...."
I saw a picture of some setup with something like a marquee tent - lots of fresh air - but heaters under the table surrounds for the chairs - that way people were keeping warm-ish without limiting airflow too much.
The ones I've seen around DC are the igloo type. They only seat four so do have the benefit of limiting those you are in contact with even if the ventilation still isn't great.
PRO
NFL head coach hotseat ratings...
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-coach-hot-seat-rankings-adam-gase-leads-pack-of-potential-firings-anthony-lynn-joins-the-list/
I like Lynn but he deserves to be on this list.
Absolutely. He just looks lost on the sidelines as the team continues to look far too disorganized...wasting timeouts, lack of crispness, etc. Sure, some of this probably stems from rookie mistakes or miscommunication by Herbert, who not surprisingly has been a stud. But they just don't look crisp or confident.
Elsewhere in College
Las Vegas Bowl cancelled for this year. That makes 4 bowls, with the Sun, Holiday, and Red Box Bowls, that the Pac-12 would, but won't be, sending a team to. No Pac-12 presence at the Rose Bowl this year either. (Can't imagine how this ends well recruiting wise for pretty much anyone.)
Stanford Relocates to the Pacific Northwest...could Cal be next?
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/30/stanford-expected-to-relocate-football-team-to-pacific-northwest-due-to-county-sports-ban/
Just shut it down.
All I want for Christmas is Ohio State to be left out of the CFP
Herbstreit wants Michigan to know he's not really suggesting they'd claim COVID cases to sandbag Ohio State
https://twitter.com/KirkHerbstreit/status/1333945290399903745?s=20
(he totally is)
(they totally should)
CAL
Go Bears!
Go Bears!