90 Comments

FireStarkey alert! https://twitter.com/mobleywho/status/1371920619227480074?s=20 Tax filing deadline extended to June for Texans!

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Thanks for reminding me I need to spend 15 min doing my taxes. I keep procrastinating.

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/smh 15 minutes?

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No house anymore and no business.

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I'm waiting for the unemployment waiver. Between being stuck in limbo between jobs a year ago then being furloughed over the summer, I'll be damned if I let he gov't tax me for their incompetence.

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Have you guys heard of Fat Kid Deals? Looks like they find Amazon deals. I have no idea if it's legit, but if you are an Amazon consumer, this might be useful for you: https://twitter.com/FatKidDeals

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I don't need another way to buy more things on amazon!

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https://twitter.com/iggysnacks/status/1371900418465349638?s=20

@iggysnacks: sometimes i think my spanish is really good and then i disassociate at the buenos aires mushroom restaurant and tell the guy "dame tu hongos" sorry sir im not trying to hit on you i'm just dazed and hungry!!!

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https://www.change.org/p/uc-berkeley-library-save-the-south-southeast-asia-library-at-uc-berkeley

After 50 years in operation, the South/Southeast Asia Library (S/SEAL) located at 120 Doe Library on campus is at risk of closure to accommodate office cubicles. Read the proposal: here.

Opened in 1970, the S/SEAL has served as a window to the world of South and Southeast Asian cultures to promote cross cultural understanding in the humanities and social sciences. In addition to its foundational role supporting scholarship of the area, the S/SEAL serves the community through academic & professional presentations, curated exhibitions of the collection, library and course orientations, and fundraising and book launching events to strengthen and promote the South/Southeast Asian community on the local, national and international levels. But the primary day-to-day function of the S/SEAL is a physical space for interaction with, and enrichment of, the student body.

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DBD A/V Club

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Because as a older single dude, I upgraded my record player so I've been buying records. This week:

Radiohead, Kid A, Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher (my most listened to Covid album on my phone), Jimi Hendrix, Are you experienced?

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Reprints or originals?

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definitely reprints. The only original prints I would be able to find in China would be anything from Japan in the last 30 years - some Chinese record store owners just go to Japan and buy boxes and boxes of mixed records. But anything new is reprinted - I did buy some stuff last time I was home in the States, but that stuff is all new pressings.

One the worst things my parents ever did - so the week I was leaving Cal, someone who left Berkeley a week before left an entire box of records next to my car. It was a really good "start a classic rock record collection with these albums" collection - Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, CCR, Stones, Hendrix, Beatles Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, etc. etc. They were new pressings from the late 80s/early 90s, but it was probably 35 records.

Since I didn't know whose it was, I just let it sit next to my car while I packed up my life in Berkeley. It was there for a week. I said if it was still there on my leaving day, I would take it. Well it was, so I took the box. I didn't have a record player so they stayed at my parents place in LA, then in Sacramento for like 15 years. And then when they moved from Sacramento to Dublin, they donated the box to the Sacramento library.

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Watched "The Law" (1959, set in southern Italy, but filmed in French) this weekend, interesting movie in my estimation, but the women hated it. One could criticize that Gina Lollobrigida's cleavage seems to be a major character in the film, but that's not for me to say. This made me look up the career of Jules Dassin, who I quickly realized, must have been blacklisted. Directed several really good Noirs in Hollywood in the late 40's (my fave is Thieves' Highway) but is most known I think for Rififi (French, 1955).

The best I can describe it as Fellini without the weirdness (also without the genius as well) 16/19 WB

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051852/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_11

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The Expanse (Prime, S1, 15/19 WB). Halfway through the first season and I'm digging it. High production value. More of a gritty drama that happens to be in space. Thanks to whomever on the DBD recommended it.

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It's really great, and you're welcome 😁

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New (to me) albums that I enjoyed:

Distrito Federal, by Mexican Institute of Sound

Optimisme, by Songhoy Blues

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My current favorite album is Mirrors by Pupil Slicer

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Tired

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I usually sleep 8 to 9 hours per night.

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Stage door Johnnies constantly surround me,

They always hound me,

With one request,

Who can satisfy their lustful habits,

I'm not a rabbit!

I need some reeeeeeeeeeeeeest,

I'm tired.

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They're always coming and going and going and coming

(and always too soon)

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Heh

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Another schnitzengruben?

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15 is my limit!

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well played, hedley

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Blazing saddles was my first thought also…

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I watched part of a youtube reactor's reaction to the only 'the new sherriff is coming' scene. Since he had never seen or heard of the movie, and apparently the idea of satire prior to last week was new to him, he had to stop after every instance of N to say something.

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I am often tired, but my sleep patterns are erratic and I almost certainly would benefit from some dietary changes.

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I'm finding I need much more recovery to rest up from any given long or stressful event (which is almost every day) than I used to. It's called aging.

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Our Crumbling Democracy

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Just heard that Biden is set to appoint three members to the USPS board of governors, possibly giving him the ability to fire deJoy. If it happens, good riddance.

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MAGA voters discovered a new home online. But it isn't what it seems.

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/16/maga-safechat-falun-gong-epoch-476215

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*head-desk*

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Today in Covid-19

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I like the one called "pedantic speech". But they left out pregnancy.

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I get my first shot tomorrow. First time slot of my grouping. Someone (Terence?) has to seed the DBD with topics.

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"With Covid-19 deaths rising to their highest levels yet and a dangerous new virus variant stalking Brazil, the nation’s communications minister went to Beijing, where he met with Huawei executives and made an unusual request.

“I took advantage of the trip to ask for vaccines,” said the minister, Fábio Faria, recounting his meeting with Huawei, the telecommunications giant, last month.

Two weeks later, the Brazilian government announced the rules for its 5G wireless network auction, one of the biggest in the world. Huawei, which the government appeared to have barred just months before, would be allowed to participate."

***

"A German children’s book on the coronavirus was removed from bookstore shelves after Chinese diplomats complained to the publisher about a passage on the virus’s origins.

In the book — which was written to explain the pandemic, lockdown measures and hygiene rules to children — Moritz, an elementary-school boy says, “The virus comes from China and has spread from there around the world.”

The Chinese Consul General of Hamburg made a complaint about the book to the district attorney’s office, according to a semiofficial Chinese news blog, German-China.

“With the malicious claim that the coronavirus originated in China, a German children’s book has caused outrage in the Chinese community in Germany,” the blog’s authors wrote."

***

"Chinese embassies in a rapidly growing number of countries, including the United States, have begun requiring that foreigners entering China must first be fully inoculated with a Chinese-made coronavirus vaccine if they want to avoid extensive paperwork requirements.

Complying with the rule will be difficult for people applying for Chinese visas in places that are not offering vaccines produced in China. No Chinese-made vaccine has been approved in the United States or most of Europe."

All NYT

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""Chinese embassies in a rapidly growing number of countries, including the United States, have begun requiring that foreigners entering China must first be fully inoculated with a Chinese-made coronavirus vaccine if they want to avoid extensive paperwork requirements.

Complying with the rule will be difficult for people applying for Chinese visas in places that are not offering vaccines produced in China. No Chinese-made vaccine has been approved in the United States or most of Europe."

This is true, but you can still get into China. The paperwork isn't super difficult, but you will need your company or the Chinese government to issue an official letter of invitation. Vaccinations are slow here, but covid infection rates are currently minuscule (I think 3 people currently in Shanghai), and they're trying to keep it closed system. I suspect it will be 2022 before I can leave and come back unless they speed up vaccinations.

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Mar 16, 2021Liked by SGBear, Ruey Yen

Got my first does Saturday! The very next day, my wife receives a link from my sister for a YouTube rant from a "virologist" advocating against the vaccine. I didn't bother to ask my wife the details. My sister sadly was swept up by rabid Trumpism and its corresponding cultish beliefs and behavior. Anyhow, as soon as I drove away after getting my first shot this past Saturday, I experienced an immediate sense of relief and an early sense of closure. I didn't expect this at all and am excited to get my second does on 4/10.

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Mar 16, 2021Liked by Ruey Yen, SGBear

Received my second dose this morning of Pfizer.

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Father gets his 2nd shot on Wednesday (Moderna) and Mother gets her 2nd on April 5th (also Moderna) so I'm going to finally be relieved because thank god both of my at risk parents were able to make it to the finish line of this pandemic (knock on wood). All of my efforts in losing my senior year of high school and freshman year of college are finally now not in vain(in terms of seeing all my friends having fun in college) and I can gain some of my life for the moment and even more so when I get the vaccine in the summer in which after I can finally live it up as a college kid. Thank god for these blog sites, Twitch, and Youtube otherwise I would've never made it out of the pandemic.

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You have a fantastic attitude and I hope the rest of your college experience is amazing.

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as someone on the opposite end of this (my daughter is a freshman in college), let me give you a sincere "thank you" for trying to do the right thing. I'm hopeful that she - and you! - are able to get vaccinated in this tidal wave of shots that I hear is on the way. She's basically been confined to her dorm room; with any luck spring and a vaccination will arrive near to one another so she can get out and socialize a bit.

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Pro

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I am ashamed to have an opinion on this, but I really hope Coleen Rooney wins.

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I couldn't remember who was who, but it was definitely clever how Rooney identified the threat!

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I feel your pain. And I agree on Rooney.

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I am unashamed to have zero idea what this is.

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ME TOO

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A's lose 7-3. Buddy Reed watch continues.

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Drew Brees retirement: Breaking down the Saints' possible replacements for legendary QB

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/drew-brees-retirement-breaking-down-the-saints-possible-replacements-for-legendary-qb/

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Other College

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Krystowiak out in SLC...

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There's optimism that college football stadiums will be fully open this fall, but will fans come back?

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/theres-optimism-that-college-football-stadiums-will-be-fully-open-this-fall-but-will-fans-come-back/

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All adults should have had the opportunity to get vaccinated by the time college football season starts, so I don't see why not.

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I can hardly wait to get back to the stadium, and to several road games, a trip to Berkeley included.

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See you in Dallas!!! Horned Frog legs is a bear delicacy.....

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I am probably going to re-up my season tickets, maybe in a better location than EE.

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College football is n/a for me inasmuch as I rarely travel for it, but I'm surprisingly excited about DC United having a limited re-opening. Probably won't be able to get a ticket but I'll try nonetheless.

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That's me and the Nats. Not a season ticket holder so I won't be in line to get one of the limited tickets. Sometimes I'll decide the day of the game to go and just buy a $5 ticket that's in the upper deck down in the corner. There's always social distancing in those seats so they should just let me go but I'm sure they won't.

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I will grant that they need to start somewhere, so I'm not miffed about the season ticket holder qualification. There are enough of those for DC United that signing up now probably wouldn't help get me in the door. I can wait.

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Cal

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Mar 16, 2021Liked by SGBear

GO Bears!!!

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[WSwim] NCAA championship starts tomorrow. Cal expected to come in 3rd.

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TCU Tailgate catering options: Lockhart's BBQ, Chuy's Mexican, Chik-fil-A, Perrotti's pizza, or Jason's Deli sandwiches?

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I won't be there, but I would recommend Lockhart's out of the options listed.

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I vote Lockhart's. It appears Chuy's is a chain and I wouldn't trust a chain restaurant to provide quality mexican food.

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Chuy's is a good Tex Mex chain where one of the Bush daughters (the one who went to Texas) was served as a non-adult. It errs much more on the side of Tex instead of Mex, and their jalapeno ranch is really tasty, but oddly they don't provide it. You need to ASK for it.

Anyways, there's better Mexican food in Dallas.

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Yes Chuy's is a chain and just OK.

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plus it's Texas. BBQ is king. F*ck Tex Mex

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This sounds really good. I'm considering making the trip to Texas

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Yes. Well, not pizza.

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Hours: depends on kick off, but looks like 5 hours before game time and +2 after (or midnight, whichever comes first). We're going to get pretty buzzed.

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Man I hope that if my event is F2F that I can miss the first day. I really hope so.

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The alcohol catering is tricky. Their preferred partner is prohibitively expensive, they don't allow anybody except me to make deliveries to the place, and I have found that people want wildly different things to drink. I think it's going to be BYO. I think I'll cater coolers w/ ice + solo cups + a bottle of tequila under the table for the WFC crew.

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Texas, September, presumably beer is a good option.

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I guess it will depend on kick-off, but I'm leaning toward sandwiches (plain caters better to the masses) or BBQ (because it's Texas). Mexican is out because it's messy and Chuy's isn't that great. Chik-fil-A is out because of its politics, and pizza does not keep very well over several hours. Brisket + chicken + mac/cheese + baked beans = $14/person.

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Brisket sounds great!

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I also vote for Brisket.

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Take the BBQ

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Should TwistNHook fund the buyout for Mark Fox? Let us know in the comments!

https://twitter.com/terencelau/status/1371600479625482240?s=20

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I think you will need additional resources.

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He could sell off all of his vintage men's blouses.

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