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Lunch: leftover risotto with asparagus and peas w/ lemon zest, the lemon zest really makes it sing - so tasty.

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I had sliced ribeye, brie and spinach on plain warm focaccia.

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I had a peanut butter sandwich. Not quite on the same plane.

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lentil curry soup, canned fruit cocktail, rice.

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Leftover salmon with some sourdough toast.

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Fresh yakisoba noodles from H-mart. The only problem is that the packaged sauce had so much MSG that my heart is still racing 4 hours later. Time to tamp it down with some bourbon.

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So.... same lunch tomorrow?

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pork fried rice leftovers from last night + 2 eggrolls.

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I love how lemon brightens things. Today, my lunch was a curry puff and two pigs in blankets.

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wait, what happened to no land animals?

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It's still in effect; I got Amy's Meatless Sausage

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probably leftover homemade chicken salad on a croissant.

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Some Good News

It's John Krazinski's youtube channel showing some good news he started 4 weeks ago. It's really good content. Yesterday he did a class of 2020 virtual prom.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOe_y6KKvS3PdIfb9q9pGug

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Economy

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Mark your calendars. Right now, we are going through one of the craziest oil markets ever. The oil market collapsed with an 80% drop intraday - with crude oil nearly reaching $2.50/barrel. That's a nickel a gallon. Someone must have stepped into the market because, they just soared. They are now above $20/barrel. Click on the intraday chart.

https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?type=wti

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WTI futures (tomorrow delivery) closed at negative $37.63/barrel.

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That's because there's no storage available, so unless you've got room for 1,000 barrels of oil to pick up tomorrow...

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Negative territory - oil producers have to pay YOU to take if off their hands!!!

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$0.01/barrel

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$.41 a barrel - whoa!

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holy cow. that's crazy. 1.16 right now.

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I thought the Saudi/Russia agreement to decrease production would raise the prices. I guess the demand is probably as low as it has been since the early 80s (just a WAG).

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When I got gas yesterday, it had dropped 20 cents a gallon in the time it took to use 1/2 a tank, from the lowest price in at least 7 years to the lowest price I've seen in at least 13 years. Today, I noticed the price has dropped 4 cents more. And yet its still highly profitable to sell gas, and there are always multiple customers at the station. This all should tell us something about the extent of price gouging that's gone on for literally decades that no one has done a thing about.

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Now $.99 a barrel

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Fortunately Nasdaq is up .1% so far...

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Looks like the low hit 1.28. That's insanity.

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May futures are 1.92 a barrel according to Marketwatch.

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Whoa

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My friend/coworker's PhD research is on STEM education. Those of you who are in STEM, particularly faculty and students: would you be willing to fill out her survey? https://berkeley.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_79WyNOkXobABlm5

Study Title: Impact of COVID-19 on STEM Students and Professionals

Description: Considering the emergence and spread of the new respiratory Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is inevitable that COVID-19 will impact the lives of students and professionals. In this study, we are interested in learning about the ways in which COVID-19 has impacted science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students and professionals personally, academically, and/or professionally. The results will be used to inform higher education and scientific institutions about these experiences, and contribute to efforts to offer support where it’s most needed.

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"No message this week"

Do you leave voicemails to people you know or do you leave your "calling card" under the assumption they have caller ID?

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If I'm calling someone, including returning a call, then there is a need to communicate. If I don't connect, I leave a voice mail, and probably also txt.

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If I need them to call me back, I leave a message. If I'm calling just to make a pithy remark or have a chat, I don't leave a message and they can call me back or not when they noticed I called. I generally don't return calls just from caller ID.

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how often are you calling people to leave a pithy remark?

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Yeah. I have a fellow Bear alum who calls almost everyday just to shoot the breeze. If he doesn't leave a message I assume it's nothing important so it's hit or miss if I call back.

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You mean like a non work call?

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Basically if it’s work, I leave a message or send a text. If it’s family, I’ll usually text ahead to see if they’re available. I can’t think of the last time I called anyone else.

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I think the last time I called someone without checking was January 2019 - I was driving from LAX to the Palm Springs area and was trying to catch up with a couple of SoCal friends to kill time, and since I don’t text while driving...

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I feel I should clarify - for years after I moved to the east coast I would call family and friends and then I realized that I was doing all the work (and paying for the long distance, kids ask your parents to explain). So I stopped and it was fine. I get together with old friends if we’re in the same place, and it’s lovely to catch up, and that’s about that.

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What was the name of your favorite childhood stuffed animal and what was it?

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Bear Bear. I clearly had tons of imagination as a 3 year old.

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I didn't have many stuffed animals... I do have a koala decked out in Dodgers catcher's gear, that's probably my favorite. He doesn't have name, and he looks like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-Official-LOS-ANGELES-DODGERS-STUFFED-CATCHER-KOALA-BEAR-/223963253975?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

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Apr 20, 2020Liked by SGBear

Terry the bear was a non-jointed bear my grandfather gave to me when I was born. She was sufficiently loved that all of memories of her include the fact that she had no eyes. But my favorite bear is one I was given when I was 21, by my brother who was living in Munich at the time and sent him home for me with my parents, whom he had met in London just before Christmas. He's super cute and from Harrod's, with the year embroidered on his paw (so my brother named him Harry for me) and he is still a member of my household.

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It’s not as posh, but my older daughter has a much loved bear from Marks and Spencer’s - official name (as sewn on) is Spencer but known as William.

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Jasper the raccoon. That dude got pretty grubby. Don't know what ever happened to him.

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Pooh Bear

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I still have my Pooh Bear that I got in Disneyland. He still has his red jacket/shirt, but I replaced it long ago with a Cal baby onesie with an image of Oski on it. He is now sitting in my front window wearing a facemask. #teddybearhunt

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Apr 20, 2020Liked by SGBear

Which leads to this sappy story:

According to my mom, I loved that Pooh Bear, took with me everywhere, until one day when I was 5 he either fell out, or was thrown out the station wagon window (I have no memory of this) and my mom was shocked, and asked me if we should go back a look for him. I said "that's ok, I don't need him anymore".

I told this story to my son when he was 5, and I guess it really bothered him, so he made me a drawing of a Pooh Bear as a replacement.

https://imgur.com/suHPiHO

I only wish he hadn't cut it out because the outer line was nice, and you can't tell now, but he's wearing his red shirt.

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That's sweet!

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Today in the 'rona

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Just found out like 10 minutes ago that my niece (central NJ) has the 'rona according to her General Practitioner. Her and her whole family has been in quarantine for 4 weeks. No trips out. Gets stuff delivered. Wipes down groceries. Goes outside for walks, but does social distancing. Bit of a mystery.

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I've been thinking lately how the current situation reminds me of The Watchmen.

------ SPOILER ALERT---------- ------ SPOILER ALERT---------- ------ SPOILER ALERT----------

The graphic novel and the movie were slightly different, but both sought to unite a disjointed world against a common enemy (an alien invasion or a rogue superhero). This was seen to be so successful that the good people were killed to hide the fact that it was a fraudulent enemy. But...I don't think it would have worked in reality.

COVID-19 could have been the common enemy that the world unites against. Instead the world is as disjointed as ever. Perhaps worse. There are many interpretations of the situation; accusations of lying fly back and forth, endless arguing over what should be done.

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If you watch the TV show, it's pretty clear the squid didn't really work in the way that Ozymandias thought it would.

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I missed both the TV series and the Doomsday Clock comic sequels. Sounded like both were good. But from what read, in both cases the alien invasion was exposed as fraudulent, and that's the reason for the failure of the "plan for peace."

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Not exactly accurate, without giving away the TV show (which you REALLY should watch) but they find other people to fight against. The alien invasion is kind of exposed but not to the masses (yet?)

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I'm not sure if people are in as much disagreement as the news coverage makes it seem. Polling indicates pretty broad support for the current social distancing measures, across the political spectrum. A small batch of idiots trying to protest them are going to get the TV cameras to show up, but they are a minority.

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When conservative white people protest, the media deems it a lot more attention-worthy.

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Even the people who agree with the social distancing may disagree on other aspects such as needing to blame someone (China) for the disease outbreak. There is also way too much time spent by politicians to make partisan decisions and then gaslighting the public on their erroneous decisions. Finally, I would think the hardcore capitalists would get mad about this (but I don't see it), wrongly promoting a wrong drug is totally inefficient in the private sector devoting time and money to create an actual cure.

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This disagreements do exist, but again I wonder just how much is truly top of mind for people and how much is just being amplified by media that thrives on conflict.

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I agree 1000%. I was really saddened by this few weeks ago.

I try to rationalize the lack of a global response in the world right now by thinking about how COVID-19 is an invisible common enemy and how a lot of people (particularly those who doesn't listen to scientists) just don't understand the threat. But I also think that with the current administration, IF there is a potential global disaster like an asteroid, Trump and company will just save themselves rather than the future of mankind.

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It would have to be a really idiotproof threat. In the case of an asteroid, I can see people blaming each other for not spotting it sooner, for not funding sky scanning efforts, for not developing nuclear weapons to destroy the asteroid...It is quite sad.

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I found out that a friend and former labmate from grad school caught it, along with his wife and child. Fortunately it was mild symptoms for all and a recovery for his wife and kid, but he continues to test positive even though it's been nearly a month. Ironically, he researches disease transmission for NIH.

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I think I saw a headline about an Italian patient who keeps testing positive. My parents also told me about someone in Taiwan who has been "recovering" for over 70 days.

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That is an unimaginably long time to be self-isolating under quarantine. That sounds worse than the disease.

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A friend of mine had it - she had to sleep sitting up for 3 weeks and said every breath was like being stabbed in the chest. I would take 70 days in an apartment.

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Hope things turn out ok. That is indeed a mystery. Sounds like they were more careful than most.

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Daughters brought it back from college. They were asymptomatic. Update: husband is getting better. No change in wife's condition: ventilator, sedated.

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No 1 is talking about maybe coming back end of summer if the fall semester at UPenn is also remote. I guess they can't test him if he is asymptomatic. He said he and his GF may have gotten it back in Feb/early march but didn't get tested because it was before it all got really bad.

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No guilt there, then 😬

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Thoughts are with your friends and you, SGBear

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Those girls seem very responsible and adult; it speaks well of your friends as parents

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I drove 30 minutes to the closest Trader Joe's this morning. The line to get in was wrapped around the building and onto the parking structure, so I just went home. There's no way I would have been home in time for a 10am meeting I had.

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There's something about TJs. Every time I go by one there's a line outside. Safeway and Whole Foods are also limiting the number of people going in and I've seen them counting but I've only seen a line at WF once and never at Safeway.

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The main Safeway in Alameda seems to always have a line. I've been trying to hit the smaller Safeway on Bay Farm for exactly that reason.

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The one I go to is a relatively small neighborhood one. Haven't been by the big one in Georgetown to know if it has lines.

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Berkeley Bowl always has a line.

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See if you can see Jay Caspian Kang who has apparently moved to Berkeley and shops there with regularity.

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I tried to go a couple of weeks ago and it was through the parking lot onto the sidewalk down the street. I'd like to go but I'm not sitting in that line. One day I may try to go before it opens to see how long the line is.

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The line at Berkeley Bowl IS pretty long, but I don't mind as long as I'm wearing a hat. It helps that I can actually find what I need once I get inside.

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yeah they do seem to have a little bit of everything. At hte time they also had boxes of disposable gloves. i probably should've bought one. The other thing I'd like to get is yeast but I'm not sure they'll have that either.

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MWF 8-10 are senior hours

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I'm lold but not that old. I did notice that Costco has senior hours but they aren't allowed to bring non-seniors with them. Which I guess is the point of senior hours.

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The safeway in Moraga always seems to have a line but the one in Lafayette doesn't. The TJ does but it's usually 5-10 min max.

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Is the long line partially due to social distancing during lining up? That's my experience for Trader Joe's here in Pittsburgh. Also, because they are limiting the number of shoppers in the store at once, it was actually much faster once you get into the store.

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The line seemed to be a combination of 1) limits on the numbers of customers allowed in the store at the same time, 2) distancing in the line, and 3) everyone and their mom planned to go to Trader Joe's this morning.

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I have started to get SUPER irritated by couples grocery shopping together. One of you can do the shopping. Why take up two spots in the store?

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My dad now sits in the car to wait for my mom to finish so he can help load the car.

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If done right, you can shop twice as fast? I'm in quarantine with my dad and he has insisted on coming on all the supermarket runs with me. I've also tried to get him to possibly go during the early seniors-only hours, but he has preferred to go with me (something about not knowing the area).

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If there is something my wife really wants to shop for and she asks me to do it, that is bound to lead to me forgetting or getting the wrong version of it and that starting a fight at home and someone having to make a separate trip anyway. I can see why people might want to both have the chance to get things they need.

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The missus and I run errands separately for this reason

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the nice grocery store and trader joe's all have lines around here. but the regular Stop and Shop has no lines. i was in and out in 30 min. of course there was a limited selection of fine French cheeses which i am sure my daughters will complain about ...

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The Wegman's around here can be busy at the wrong time and is usually missing various items, but the local Sprouts is always nearly empty and shockingly well stocked.

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sad Marathon Monday in Boston

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Yes. Not as sad as 2013 at least.

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Heist Movies

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tangential, but I freaking love every sitcom heist episode (including B99)

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I just watched the B99 one from a couple of weeks ago. Enjoyed it and it was a good premise since they didn't come back until after the New Year.

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I liked Logan Lucky as well (good direction really counts)

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The Sting. Newman and Redford at their best.

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I know this is a much beloved classic, winner of Best Picture even, but the last time I watched it, it seemed to have a lifeless, preserved in amber quality to it.

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Great choice

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Love this movie.

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Rififi is excellent.

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Getting my degree from Cal...

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Ocean's 11 and Heat are two of my favorites. The Town is also quite good.

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The Town just started on HBO and I'm watching it for literally the 47th time...."Taking down the Cathedral of baseball....priceless."....

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duh forgot about the Ocean's movies.

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Obviously there are a lot of heist movies. Off the top of my head The Italian Job, The Bank Job, Fast Five, Inside man. I'm still sleepy after a 6 AM call and then going into a 2+ hour long call now.

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Inside Man is a great call....Thomas Crown Affair isn't a bad, either one...

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Pro

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Episodes 1 and 2 of the Last Dance aired last night - they were excellent. I hated the Jordan Bulls, and even I got chills as they started playing 'Sirius' - the Bulls introduction song, and the Bulls announcer intoned "And now . .. . !!!!"

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Looked good what I watched of it.

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I’d forgotten what it was like to be on Twitter when the people I follow are all tweeting about the same thing (that I’m not watching)

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That was quite good and leave me wanting more. A replica MJ jersey and a Pippen shirtzy are the only prized red pieces of clothing that I (still) own.

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I was ready for next Sunday as soon as it finished.

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I'm actually ok with them spreading it out over 5 weeks (and they're trying to finish episode 10 right now - spread across 4 or 5 different producers/editors all working at home - the expectations are that episode 10 will be finishing up a couple of days before airing)

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I didn't get a chance to watch them. Going to try to see if espn3 has them on there.

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The episodes are available on WatchESPN (new name for ESPN3) which does require you to have a TV login, but I don't think you need ESPN+.

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cool. I have it with xfinity so I'll try and watch them this afternoon.

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ESPN2 is re-airing them Wednesday at 12am and 1am. I know this because I just set my DVR to record the whole series because I missed last night's episodes.

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oh...I've had the xfinity DVR for 1.5 years and keep forgetting I can DVR stuff. That's an option as well.

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Is ESPN2 the edited version? I don't see it listed on ESPN until Sun right before ep 3 and 4 debut.

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yes the Wed shows on ESPN2 are the edited version. It looks like ESPN doesn't show it again until Sun afternoon right before ep 3 and 4. I may try WatchESPN.

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Cal

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Report: Pac-12 in talks with Apple TV for exclusive distribution.

https://footballscoop.com/news/report-pac-12-in-talks-with-apple-for-next-round-of-tv-deals/

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Larry Scott's mission is to have Pac-12 sports exclusively shown inside a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the Leopard"

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As it happens, I have a “free” Apple TV subscription that would carry me through the ‘20 season of college football oh never mind

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Go Bears!

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we went to a hike at a nearby state park (Harriman) in upstate NY. my wife wore one of the many Cal shirts i have bought for her over the years.

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It's difficult to rep the Cal brand from inside. My wife was working upstairs in the den and I'm currently working from at the breakfast nook. I heard my wife on a Zoom call explaining to her contact that hey-yeah-her-husband-went-to-Cal-too. I yelled a "GO BEARS" up the stairs and I heard him yell back "GO BEARS". I'll take what I can get these days.

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