My curiosity finally got the better of me so I went by the Great American State Fair in the middle of my run this morning. Today’s the last day and crowd was sparse. Not many people walking around outside but I could see people in the little state pavilions. Zero line to get in but lots of National Guard standing around the outside.
To get there I had to go by the Reflecting Pool. The area around it is fenced off and they were starting to drain it again. I couldn’t see any algae or fireworks debris but it is back to a shade of green again.
I think it was kinda sparse, certainly less than expected, when I was there a couple of weeks ago. What sucked is the huge stage setup between the Washington Monument and the reflecting pool/Lincoln Memorial. Kills the view.
It’s the Belgian beer that stands out to me. There are famous ales made by Trappist monks in monasteries you can can visit on a bike tour. The other unique Belgian beers are sours. There is red ale particularly Rodenbach Red and lambic. Lambic uses wild yeasts collected from the environment. The best known varieties are oriel, a sour cherry
It’s the Belgian beer that stands out to me. There are famous ales made by Trappist monks (for the smaller brands) in monasteries you can can visit on a bike tour. The other unique Belgian beers are sours. There is red ale particularly Rodenbach Red and lambic. Lambic uses wild yeasts collected from the environment. The best known varieties are kriek,a sour cherry, and framboise, which is raspberries. There is also gueuze which has no fruit added. If you’re a beer lover, check them out. If you’re not, try the sours.
I guess I'm not sure I can determine levels of chocolate once you get cheaper Nestle/Toll House, etc. Though Guittard and Ghirardelli are both way better than Toll House.
Eddy Merckx (Belgian cycllist) is considered the GOAT of pro cycling like Jordan or Gretzky. people might surpass them in the record books as Pogacar might but still no one thinks that Merckx can be supplanted.
it is interesting to me that LeBron is shopping himself around like this at his age and status. you would think he would pick a place and just let people make a team around him.
i get chasing a title like Malone and Stockton and Payton, but LeBron has many already.
I think if he wants to win next year, he can't just pick any team to build around him. Could be too many missing pieces. He needs to find a team that is close and just needs him and maybe 1 or 2 others.
OAKLAND, CA – The Oakland Ballers used a seven-run third inning and an eight-run fifth inning to secure their first series win over the Modesto Roadsters on Thursday night in a 19-5 victory at Raimondi Park.
Oakland (19-26) led 10-1 through three innings after a three-run first inning and a seven-run third inning. Tremayne Cobb led off the game with a 405-foot blast off Roadsters starting right-hander Anthony Diaz (L, 1-3). Jeter Ybarra followed two batters later with a two-run shot off the batter's eye to give the Ballers a three-run lead.
A Giant has finally splashed down into McCovey Cove. The 109th baseball to be baptized in the icy Bay waters was the first by a San Francisco Giant in 2026, and the first of Bryce Eldridge’s career.
BERKELEY – The California football program announced its home game themes for the upcoming 2026 season on Thursday. Over the course of the Golden Bears' seven-game slate at California Memorial Stadium, fans will have the opportunity to celebrate some of the hallmarks of Berkeley culture as the new era of Cal football under Travers Family Head Football Coach Tosh Lupoi unfolds. Highlights include a celebration of the Bay Area community and culture, honoring hometown heroes and AAPI culture, the rich traditions of Homecoming and the 129th Big Game and the highly anticipated introduction of the "Grateful Bears".
I was assuming that they will always have 1 game that is the Joe Roth game (assuming UCLA this year). That will probably be in conjunction with whatever the theme will be. I don't see Tosh breaking with Cal traditions since he played and coached here.
I just meant in the past it was always LA schools back in the Pac-12 days. Don't remember what team it was last couple of years. I just figured since we play UCLA at home this year and 2028 it would be that game.
No that makes sense, I totally agree. But is there a reason other than the LA schools are our next biggest rivals? If not then UCLA/SMU would work for the next four years.
That would be an interesting alternate way to play Wordle. Get as many green as possible. Which requires purposely not guessing the correct word until the last turn.
DBD Lunch
Fayruz restaurant in Jerusalem - first meal here
sort of Lebanese style rice and lentils and lamb ribs. cold beer, baklava, and Arab coffee
pretty fantastic. here in Israel for first time - week of work bookended by weekends in Jerusalem and Negev desert (and Petra).
Probably the rest of the Orvieto Chicken salad I made a few days ago.
This is my reminder that I do need to finish prepping my pizza dough for pizzas Sun night.
Politics
My curiosity finally got the better of me so I went by the Great American State Fair in the middle of my run this morning. Today’s the last day and crowd was sparse. Not many people walking around outside but I could see people in the little state pavilions. Zero line to get in but lots of National Guard standing around the outside.
To get there I had to go by the Reflecting Pool. The area around it is fenced off and they were starting to drain it again. I couldn’t see any algae or fireworks debris but it is back to a shade of green again.
I think it was kinda sparse, certainly less than expected, when I was there a couple of weeks ago. What sucked is the huge stage setup between the Washington Monument and the reflecting pool/Lincoln Memorial. Kills the view.
No way Mitch McConnell is alive, is he? Heart may be beating but no way other republicans have actually been talking to him.
Trump again declares ceasefire over but says US has agreed to talks with Iran
https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/10/world/live-news/iran-war-trump
Gas prices are high..wait...lower them...wait...
Belgium
Chocolate. MMM
i like Belgian chocolate but i dont find it particularly superior to other good chocolate like Swiss or Japanese stuff i have had
It’s the Belgian beer that stands out to me. There are famous ales made by Trappist monks in monasteries you can can visit on a bike tour. The other unique Belgian beers are sours. There is red ale particularly Rodenbach Red and lambic. Lambic uses wild yeasts collected from the environment. The best known varieties are oriel, a sour cherry
It’s the Belgian beer that stands out to me. There are famous ales made by Trappist monks (for the smaller brands) in monasteries you can can visit on a bike tour. The other unique Belgian beers are sours. There is red ale particularly Rodenbach Red and lambic. Lambic uses wild yeasts collected from the environment. The best known varieties are kriek,a sour cherry, and framboise, which is raspberries. There is also gueuze which has no fruit added. If you’re a beer lover, check them out. If you’re not, try the sours.
I guess I'm not sure I can determine levels of chocolate once you get cheaper Nestle/Toll House, etc. Though Guittard and Ghirardelli are both way better than Toll House.
wafels!!
the pearl sugar Liege variety is one of my all-time favorite things to eat.
they used to (maybe they still do) have a fleet of wafel trucks in NYC called Wafels and Dinges.
if you shouted "Eddy Merckx" you would get a bonus free topping. (See below)
Eddy Merckx (Belgian cycllist) is considered the GOAT of pro cycling like Jordan or Gretzky. people might surpass them in the record books as Pogacar might but still no one thinks that Merckx can be supplanted.
Merckx himself is super complimentary of Pogacar.
Red Devils
<<picture of Puddy in NJ Devils face paint.gif>>
Geo games
Globle
🌎 Jul 10, 2026 🌍
🔥 5 | Avg. Guesses: 8.55
🟧🟩 = 2
https://globle-game.com
#globle
Wow. I guessed one of the few countries I knew in the area
Got the general area and couldn't remember what countries are there. Tried to sing the song but that didn't help.
Wordle
#Worldle #1631 (10.07.2026) 1/6 (100%)
🔥 Current Win Streak: 4 days
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🎉
https://worldle.teuteuf.fr/share
I'm so good!!! lol
Once again, everything is coming up Justbear!
I think we should be disappointed in anyone that doesn't get it in 1.
There are several that everybody needs to get it in first try. This is one of them.
#Worldle #1631 (10.07.2026) 1/6 (100%)
🔥 Current Win Streak: 5 days
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🎉
https://worldle.teuteuf.fr/share
HMMM.....
i guess some of the countries have to be obvious to everyone
Word Games
Wordle 1,847 4/6*
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
🟩⬜⬜⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
WordleBot says > Sensational. We are as one.
Wordle 1,847 3/6*
⬛🟩⬛⬛⬛
🟨🟩🟩🟨⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
WordleBot
Skill 99/99
Luck 71/99
interestingly WordleBot's global average is 3.7
my last 14 day average is 3.5, same as WordleBot's
i think my global average is 4.1 (but i cant find that number anywhere right now)
Octordle
Daily Octordle #1628
8️⃣4️⃣
🕛9️⃣
6️⃣5️⃣
🔟🕚
Score: 65
got it on the last one after a good start ... phew
Daily Octordle #1628
🕛3️⃣
🕐8️⃣
🕚5️⃣
9️⃣🔟
Score: 71
Quordle
🙂 Daily Quordle 1628
7️⃣4️⃣
6️⃣5️⃣
m-w.com/games/quordle/
I didn’t think one of those was English
🙂 Daily Quordle 1628
7️⃣4️⃣
5️⃣9️⃣
m-w.com/games/quordle/
🙂 Daily Quordle 1628
5️⃣4️⃣
9️⃣6️⃣
m-w.com/games/quordle/
that is NOT A WORD
🙂 Daily Quordle 1628
4️⃣3️⃣
8️⃣7️⃣
m-w.com/games/quordle/
PRO
What the Warriors can offer LeBum to play for them next year
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49301354/lebron-james-2026-free-agency-market-offers-contract-money-team#gsw
it is interesting to me that LeBron is shopping himself around like this at his age and status. you would think he would pick a place and just let people make a team around him.
i get chasing a title like Malone and Stockton and Payton, but LeBron has many already.
I think if he wants to win next year, he can't just pick any team to build around him. Could be too many missing pieces. He needs to find a team that is close and just needs him and maybe 1 or 2 others.
it is not the W's!!
Unless he really wants to play with Steph and Draymond.
Valkyries play the Sun tonight.
Are there multiple WNBA teams with non-plural names?
Lynx, Liberty, Dream, Fever, Fire, Tempo, Mercury, Sky, Storm, Sun
Which more than half the teams!
Ballers batter Roadsters for 19 runs in Thursday series win (19-5)
https://www.oaklandballers.com/sports/bsb/2026/releases/202607104tf25i
OAKLAND, CA – The Oakland Ballers used a seven-run third inning and an eight-run fifth inning to secure their first series win over the Modesto Roadsters on Thursday night in a 19-5 victory at Raimondi Park.
Oakland (19-26) led 10-1 through three innings after a three-run first inning and a seven-run third inning. Tremayne Cobb led off the game with a 405-foot blast off Roadsters starting right-hander Anthony Diaz (L, 1-3). Jeter Ybarra followed two batters later with a two-run shot off the batter's eye to give the Ballers a three-run lead.
Dodgers sit at home waiting for the Dbacks to stroll on in.
Bryce splash! (Giants beat the Rockies 8-2)
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/san-francisco-giants-scores-standings/108814/bryce-eldridge-splash-hit-casey-schmitt-willy-adames
A Giant has finally splashed down into McCovey Cove. The 109th baseball to be baptized in the icy Bay waters was the first by a San Francisco Giant in 2026, and the first of Bryce Eldridge’s career.
Cal
GO BEARS
picked up this Cal shirt in Old Town Jerusalem today
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Kt6449uErBqcpQts7
Cal Announces 2026 Football Game Themes
https://calbears.com/news/2026/7/9/cal-announces-2026-football-game-themes.aspx
BERKELEY – The California football program announced its home game themes for the upcoming 2026 season on Thursday. Over the course of the Golden Bears' seven-game slate at California Memorial Stadium, fans will have the opportunity to celebrate some of the hallmarks of Berkeley culture as the new era of Cal football under Travers Family Head Football Coach Tosh Lupoi unfolds. Highlights include a celebration of the Bay Area community and culture, honoring hometown heroes and AAPI culture, the rich traditions of Homecoming and the 129th Big Game and the highly anticipated introduction of the "Grateful Bears".
They're honoring the Grateful Dead but not Joe Roth. Absolute joke.
I was assuming that they will always have 1 game that is the Joe Roth game (assuming UCLA this year). That will probably be in conjunction with whatever the theme will be. I don't see Tosh breaking with Cal traditions since he played and coached here.
There was no Joe Roth game last season.
Forgive my ignorance, but why the LA schools? Why not UCLA on even years and SMU on odd?
I just meant in the past it was always LA schools back in the Pac-12 days. Don't remember what team it was last couple of years. I just figured since we play UCLA at home this year and 2028 it would be that game.
No that makes sense, I totally agree. But is there a reason other than the LA schools are our next biggest rivals? If not then UCLA/SMU would work for the next four years.
Wordle 1,847 3/6
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜
🟩⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
WordleBot
Skill 93/99
Luck 71/99
Wordle 1,847 6/6*
⬛⬛🟨⬛⬛
⬛🟩🟨⬛⬛
🟨🟩⬛⬛🟨
🟨🟩⬛🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
WordleBot
Skill 71/99
Luck 30/99
I had a sea of green but took me to the next to the last row.
didnt scroll far enough to see this Wordle section.
that is a lot of green
That would be an interesting alternate way to play Wordle. Get as many green as possible. Which requires purposely not guessing the correct word until the last turn.