111 Comments
author

Sweet Tap Dancing Ecco Homo! Look at the official redesigned South Carolina flag. The State legislature is voting on it in 2021. It used to be one of the coolest flags in the US.

https://twitter.com/AveryGWilks/status/1343558116630265857

Expand full comment

New Year's Eve. Probably folks will be throwing cherry bombs down from inspiration point on Grizzly Peak Blvd. The problem is that technically that area is under the domain of the UC police, not Berkeley, so enforcement is a problem. That's what happened last year.

Expand full comment

Why is that a problem? Cherry bombs seem apropos for NYE!

Expand full comment

hello daddy hello mom! ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EBvXpjudf8

Expand full comment
author

Tonsils

Expand full comment

just checked; still got 'em (and the wisdoms and the appy, now hoping I didn't jinx myself...)

Expand full comment

I still have mine.

Expand full comment

Same, wisdom teeth and appendix, not so much

Expand full comment

I still have my tonsils, all four of my wisdom teeth and my appendix.

Expand full comment
author

Same

Expand full comment

Got 'em still.

Expand full comment

I do as well.

Expand full comment

Good bye 2020, and thanks for all the fish...

Expand full comment
author

I just realized that because I was on the other side of the world a year ago (I was actually on a flight between Japan and Taiwan when the local time flipped from 2019 to 2020...yes, that flight was quite a bit cheaper than the day before or after), I actually will be spending an extra 11 hours in 2020 than most people.

Expand full comment
author

Endorse a product/service that you like

Expand full comment

Honey Bunches of Oats, the best conventional-brand cereal on the market!

Expand full comment

My two favorites are Oh's and Smart Start.

Expand full comment

I can confirm that endorsement. Quality simple pleasure.

Expand full comment

Cheez-its

Expand full comment

White Cheddar or Reduced Fat regular ones are the ones I buy

Expand full comment
author

Samplize

Simplifies paint samples. Less than $6 all-in.

https://shop.samplize.com/

Expand full comment

Thanks for the link. Repainting in 2021. Website looks great.

Expand full comment
author

Today in Covid

Expand full comment

(From an AP report)

Authorities arrested a suburban Milwaukee pharmacist Thursday suspected of deliberately ruining hundreds of doses of coronavirus vaccine by removing it from refrigeration for two nights.

Can't even begin to comprehend how or why this could occur.

Expand full comment

Anti-vaxxer? If so, it seems pursuing a career as a pharmacist would be an odd choice.

Expand full comment

For those who balk at some of the restrictions in the US, I saw on the "crawl" a note about some 2 name town soccer club (I believe British) getting a 3 match suspension for some attendance at an "affectionate gathering".

DC-T can probably add context, but I somehow wasn't surprised to read about an English aversion to affectionate gatherings, Covid times or otherwise.

Expand full comment

The UK is in a world of hurt. They had 981 deaths today, which is like us having more than 5000.

Expand full comment
author

Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) said that 60% of nursing home staff in Ohio declined to get a Covid vaccine. 😨

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/532198-ohio-gov-60-percent-of-nursing-home-staff-elected-not-to-take-covid-19

Expand full comment
author

LA Times: About one-third of LA-area frontline workers declined the Covid vaccine

https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1344648353397702657

Expand full comment

How are they allowed to continue to work at a nursing home and decline the vaccine? I get it is their toxic individualism choice but all choices have consequences and they should be fired for endangering the residents.

Expand full comment

without wanting to appear difficult, who is going to look after residents / patients if people are fired for declining the vaccine?

Expand full comment

Fair point, but the institutions need to set policies in advance - my daughter was working at UCSF, in a clerical role, but everybody who works there has to get the flu shot, period.

Can't see why this would be different.

Expand full comment

you get the flu shot or have to wear a mask for the duration of the traditional flu season, typically October-March. Which in any non-Covid year is a pain in the ass.

Expand full comment
author

Yep. Intentionally endangering the lives of their residents is unacceptable.

Expand full comment

Agreed - no question.

Expand full comment
author

US sets two daily death records in a row. 3725 and 3903.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/532186-us-sets-daily-coronavirus-death-record-for-second-straight-day

Expand full comment
author

To put this into perspective, the worst one-day fatalities in US history are:

1. Galveston Hurricane of 1900: about 8,000

2. Yesterday: 3,903

3. Day before yesterday: 3,725

4-11: Seven other days, most of them very recently

12. 9/11: 2,977

13-26. 14 other days that had more than 2500 deaths/day

27. D-Day 2,500

28. Pearl Harbor 2,403

29-38. 10 other days this year

39. Antietam 2,108

Expand full comment

This is interesting. Do you have a source? Wanted to share, but verify first. Not finding much on google, BUT, found a site that said 1918 (Spanish flu) had 6300 deaths per day in the US in the month of October, so this list would probably read #2-~#60 as all being Spanish flu if you dont caveat that out..

Expand full comment

And yet it is imperative to return to in-person schooling IMMEDIATELY. (Or so I've heard from a number of outspoken local advocates, NONE of whom has had to respond to a single medical emergency in the last 10 months.)

Expand full comment
author

Even with all this holiday traveling and indoor gathering, I'm pretty confident that the top spot will stay secure with the Galveston Hurricane. Then again, the American people have found new and astounding ways to surprise me in the last 9 months...

Expand full comment

I think we can do it, I believe in us.

Expand full comment

'Murica - Yes we can!

Expand full comment
author

Of course, as I'm typing that I look up at the tv with the Armed Forces Bowl to see a line of Purple Heart recipients waving at the camera while standing shoulder to shoulder, half of whom aren't wearing masks. And nearly all look to be old and overweight.

Expand full comment

Postgame there was a major brawl. It was not a good way to wind things up for the Pirate, or anyone else on the scene.

Expand full comment

Any wonder the team is undisciplined?

Expand full comment

JFC

Expand full comment
author

Give the DBD some less obvious reasons to hate 2020

Expand full comment
author

Gotta deal with the fallout from this nonsense

https://twitter.com/UCLA/status/1344417987617562630

Expand full comment
author

On a 19 point scale, how wild is your NYE going to be?

Expand full comment

Already 10+ because both the Mrs. and my COVID tests came back negative. We have been very careful, but the combination of the current LA clusterfuck and me having body aches/some nausea/headaches the past two days had me a little nervous.

Expand full comment

WOOOOOOOOOO.

Expand full comment

8 - at my brother/sister in-laws in Philly.

- 90 min streaming SoulCycle this morning

- just got out of the hot tub

- we are doing a home chef catered tasting menu at home.

- we have a LOT of sake and whiskey.

- nothing super wild, but it should be fun

Expand full comment

Sounds like you win.

Expand full comment

Or just optimistic..

Expand full comment

I'm hoping to get a Mt. Bike ride in tomorrow before all these storms come pounding Nor Cal over the next week. However, we are having a bonfire with in laws and one other family at my house tonight. This could very well exceed a 10, in which case, maybe no trail ride tomorrow.

Expand full comment

3...surf & turf at my friends house in our 5-person "pod"...hopefully we choose a better movie than last weeks Wonder Woman 1984 disaster....the number takes a hit tho because it's yet another Sun Bowl-less NYE-day for the Fightin' Oskis!!!

Expand full comment

Next year in El Paso....

Expand full comment

1 - i might have a couple of beverages while waiting for the daughters to return from their shenanigans (one in a pod, one with friends in an open garage)

Expand full comment

I was going to shoot for a 1 or 2, but developed a sinus headache late yesterday, and had to work a couple of hours today on a scheduled day off. OSU's home bb game this afternoon was ppd this morning (everyone can guess why).

At this point, looking like about a -2.75.

Expand full comment

4-5. The lady friend is coming over. We have plans for cheese and charcuterie, and champagne. Death to 2020 on Netflix is in the plans as well. My place overlooks Dimond Park and people on the other side of the park seem to have stockpiled fireworks for such occasions so I expect to see a show at midnight.

Expand full comment

Lady friend coming over should exceed a 10...just sayin'! ;)

Expand full comment

we'll see

Expand full comment

update: we'll be having charcuterie, raclette over fingerlings, and drinking Boulevardiers with champagne at midnight,.

Expand full comment

We'll be having a French stew over noddles - I'll have it with a 2011 Listrac - Rose NV champagne at the chimes

Expand full comment

0. I am sitting on the sofa, possibly with some home made mushroom and artichoke focaccia, if I can motivate to start it in the next couple of hours, and a cheese board.

Expand full comment

I paused reading at mushroom and thought, you go Scootie!

Expand full comment
author

Cake?

Expand full comment

Ugh I guess. I am so tired of that fucking cake.

Expand full comment

1. My kids aren't here. My sister and her family came up before Christmas and they usually go to bed early, like around 8.

Expand full comment

I flushed the radiator last night and put in some distilled water trying to flush the system. Today I've been removing things to replace the thermostat which is below the intake headers, PITA. Ended up removing the radiator to give myself room. After lunch need to try to remove the upper radiator hose where it enters the engine. Also a small space. Will try to put stuff back after lunch and then flush a few times over the weekend.

Also found out for some reason the engine coolant temp isn't showing up through the OBD2 port. It should be so I may try to figure out why that isn't working. My fan didn't go on last night even after 20 min of idling. Not sure why not since the dash showed a regular temp, at least it looks that way.

Expand full comment

This is in the TSX if anyone cares...crickets...crickets.

Expand full comment

Also, I just finished replumbing my entire house in pex. Several days of crawling on my belly and cursing at the gods of insufficuent subfloor access. The good news that everything worked with no disasters and I managed to come out with nary a black widow or brown recluse bite!

Expand full comment

Pex? Some sort of plastic? We only use copper.

What was it plumbed with before? Galvanized?

Expand full comment

Yes, pex is plastic. The old galvanized was about 60 years old, corroding on the inside and wreaking havoc on the fixtures and valves. Pex is much easier to install than any other pluming material availbable.

Expand full comment

My co-worker used that when he finished his basement. Looked pretty cool. Easier to run than copper. And you don't need to use a torch in small spaces.

Expand full comment

"Nary a black widow or brown recluse bite!"

Admirable accomplishment. This year, we take wins when we find them.

Expand full comment

I don't know what TSX is but I think this comment belong on the WFC Bob Villa thread, or the DBD-DIY thread!

Expand full comment

Acura TSX. It can go in the DBD-DIY thread.

Expand full comment
author

Subscribe

Expand full comment

I hope a 3 or so, we'll see.

Expand full comment

Have to further evaluate what is going on down the road a ways. Its either a pretty sizable fireworks show or a WW II battle reenactment.

Expand full comment
author

4. We'll make a nice dinner and we've got supplies to make several cocktails over the course of the night. And a friend gifted us some champagne for Christmas, so we've got that covered.

Expand full comment
author

Probably 1. I will have a sympathetic drink so my wife doesn't drink alone and then go to bed. I have to work tomorrow.

Expand full comment

WUT. Why?

Expand full comment
author

Fiscal year end close. Good times.

Expand full comment
author

ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE

Expand full comment

West Virginia defeats Army 24-21 in the Liberty Bowl. Game in doubt until WV got an int with 29 seconds left.

Watching both these teams, I'd like to see anyone on the "meaningless bowl" rant look any of the WV or Army players in the eye and tell them that was meaningless.

Expand full comment

SJSU - perhaps the Bay Area's best team, getting surprised by Ball State in the Arizona Bowl. 34-13, 7 minutes left in the 4th quarter.

Expand full comment

they're missing a number of their best players and their OC and DC are both out

Expand full comment

Davis Mills entering the draft

https://twitter.com/brucefeldmancfb/status/1344745584079458309?s=21

Expand full comment
author

This means first string QB is an academic senior/athletic RS-SO Jack West becomes the presumptive starter, followed by academic SO/Athletic Freshman Tanner McKee. RB Jones returns, but WR Fehoko has already declared for NFL. Stanfurd could really suck next season.

Expand full comment

Jack west career stats 29-56 for 301yds, 0 TDs, 0 INTs and 14 rush attempts for -25 yds.

Expand full comment

I hope so, I feel like we have been saying that for a decade now.

Expand full comment
author

Oklahoma demolish Florida and Kyle Trask's draft ranking (55-20) behind 435 yards net rushing yards (10.9 YPC). ESPN commentators focus on CFP rather than OU/UF game.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401256194

Expand full comment
author

It's always nice to see that an SEC team was destroyed in primetime.

Expand full comment
author

OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

Expand full comment
author

Trump just pardoned a cop who sic'ed her dog on homeless people for the hell of it.

https://www.theroot.com/trump-pardons-racist-former-maryland-cop-who-unleashed-1845968522

Expand full comment
author

In a move to deflect attention away from Trump's silence on Russian bounties, the US verbally describes some unsubstantiated reports of Chinese bounties. It's a Christmas miracle why this was unclassified now.

https://www.axios.com/scoop-trump-administration-declassifies-unconfirmed-intel-on-chinese-bounties-84131ec6-c54f-4556-8d0f-547131a343ef.html

Expand full comment
author

Trump calls for Georgia's governor and secretary of state to resign. He accuses the Secretary of State's (SOS) brother Ron of working for a Chinese tech company. The catch: The SOS brother doesn't work for a tech company, nor named Ron. The only people who said that were on Newsmax.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1344142388063821825

Expand full comment
author

PRO

Expand full comment
author

Becky Hammon becomes the first woman to be the acting head coach of an NBA team

https://twitter.com/JillJelnick/status/1344470933096919041

Expand full comment
author

CAL

Expand full comment

Go Bears. Hopefully men's BB will win at Oregon this eve.

Expand full comment

I did enjoy watching John Oliver blow up 2020 in his season finale.

Expand full comment