141 Comments

This change.org petition just came across my feed. Many girls and women coming forward about this guy assaulting them. Yikes. https://www.change.org/p/university-of-california-berkeley-immediate-expulsion-and-legal-action-against-nicholas-zhao-for-assault-and-rape

Expand full comment
author

It is really disappointing (not as disappointing as the allegations, but still) that change.org is how we hold people accountable these days. Something's totally broken with society.

Expand full comment

I agree :(

Expand full comment

DBD Zoom this Thursday, June 18, at 6:30 Pacific. Hoping the earlier hour will get more East Coast people. West Coast people, please feel free to eat during the call. Terence, you can eat breakfast...?

Please let me know if you did not receive an email from me with the link. I'd love to include more people; I just need your email address.

Expand full comment

I can always eat breakfast

Expand full comment

Did not hear from you...

Expand full comment

Can you email me? [my username on here] [at] gmail [dot] com

Expand full comment

Done!

Expand full comment
author

A scene from a Quentin Tarantino movie

Expand full comment
author

The dinner scene at Candyland Ranch in Django Unchained.

The dinner scene in the Hateful Eight.

He certainly has a knack for crafting very tense scenes when characters are gathered at tables (I can count three in Inglourious Basterds: the opening scene, Shoshanna's lunch in the restuarant, and the scene at German bar in the basement).

And probably the quickest of all his memorable scenes: the Mexican standoff in Reservoir Dogs.

Expand full comment

Kill Bill Vol 1, the whole House of Blue Leaves sequence, from the slow-mo entrance of O'Ren to the bloody battle to the final showdown in the snow. Totally blew me away, how much it shifted tones and remained compelling.

Expand full comment

that set of movies i think are among the best ever.

my favorite is her training w/ Master Pei Mei and then the subsequent getting out of the coffin scene.

Expand full comment

He hates Caucasians, despises Americans, and has nothing but contempt for women...

Expand full comment
author

The opening scene from Inglorious Basterds is a masterpiece of suspense.

Never has drinking a glass of milk and superficial niceties ever seemed so ominous.

Expand full comment

Absolutely! Poor Shoshonna...Great lead, SG...I'm a big fan of movie scenes...here's a few from QT movies...

Kill Bill: Vol.1 - Sonny Chiba in Okinawa where Beatrix gets herself some Hanzo steel...I like baseball.

Kill Bill: Vol.2 - Elle and Budd in the trailer with the Black Mamba..Gargantuan!!. Also the Esteban Vihaio scene "Where's Bill" ...

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - Spahn Ranch scene...chilling.

Pulp Fiction - Christopher Walken scene with Butch's watch

Inglorious Basterds: The intro scene, plus the Fassbender/Diane Kruger bar scene with Wilhelm.

True Romance is one of my favorite movies - I love pretty much every scene in that bad boy and Tarantino wrote it...

I need to watch Django: Unchained & Jackie Brown again to get a better grasp...

Expand full comment

Recently watched Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and had no idea what the main point of the movie was until the last third where it finally clicked in my head, but the Spahn Ranch scene was very tense.

Expand full comment

Yeah, my favorite thing about Tarantino is that he really designs his scenes as little mini-movies unto themselves. They all have a great structure, rise and fall. And his direction emphasizes it so well.

Expand full comment

Agreed. It's really made me notice and respect how other director's put a scene together. I thought Tony Scott directed the Tarantino-written True Romance scenes very well...that one has some doozies (Slater & Oldman/Walken & Hopper/Gandolfini & Arquette/The Beverly Ambassador...).

To those who haven't seen that beauty from 1993, I highly recommend checking out True Romance.

Expand full comment

I need to watch Django and Jackie Brown

Expand full comment

They are both fantastic films. Recently re-watched them during SIP and was equally impressed again.

Expand full comment

oops, that should say re-watch...I've seen them just once

Expand full comment

You said watch again! I haven't seen either yet.

Expand full comment

Jackie Brown is a top 5 QT

Expand full comment

I remember really enjoying that film and yet not recalling much beyond the scene with the finger counting tell and the theater revenge scene. Probably watched it in the wee hours. Might be worth revisiting it

Expand full comment

It's really 5 short films. And Lt. Aldo Raines speech to his squad is surprisingly relevant in 2020.

Expand full comment

My favorite Tarantino movie, is the least "Tarantino movie", Jackie Brown.

Expand full comment

It's up there for me too, an amazing cast and such a fun ride.

Expand full comment

I get why people like his films but I rarely feel like I need to see them. Caught a subset but almost by accident

Expand full comment
author

What's for lunch?

Expand full comment

Chicken schnitzel sandwich. Delicious.

Expand full comment

Last week I had some delicious pork schnitzel from my favorite German restaurant in SF. It was their final week open, they're closed for good as of this past Saturday, so it was my last chance :(

Expand full comment

No, they close for good at the end of this week, so you have one last chance!

Expand full comment

You sure? The website says "we are closed" now...

Expand full comment

Which restaurant?

Expand full comment

http://www.walzwerk.com/

Expand full comment

I’m sorry to hear that, have you been to Suppenkuche? It’s pretty good.

Expand full comment

I've been a couple times, though a long time ago. It's solid, just wasn't as good as Walzwerk 😉

The best German place in the East Bay is probably the one in Alameda.

I wouldn't mind finding some sort of Russian/Ukrainian type place to go eat pierogi, too.

Expand full comment

Avocado toast

Expand full comment
author

Leftover smoked beef round

Expand full comment

instant pot chili.

Expand full comment

I've gone back to not eating lunch. One meal a day is sufficient.

Expand full comment

I guess I’d better go and figure that out.

Expand full comment

Don't know. Maybe a croissant, ham, cheese baked sandwich.

Expand full comment

Either the leftover risotto with asparagus & peas or ribs, slaw & cheese biscuits

Expand full comment
author

Homemade meatball subs. Fresh french bread, hollowed out, melted cheese on the broiler, beef/pork balls w/ sauce. Fresh red bell pepper.

Expand full comment

Sounds more like dinner! (And beats my peanut butter sandwich.) If DC leaves any, I'd be up for one at dinner time.

Expand full comment

for once I didn't make a complete pig of myself

Expand full comment

Sounds great, I’ll be right over!

Expand full comment

My response would basically be unprintable after going through a contentious divorce several years ago, so no comment.

Expand full comment

I second this goldenone...

Expand full comment

SMALL dealbreakers, not big ones. :-)

Expand full comment
author

McRib

Expand full comment

I would prefer Arbyy's, but would not turn down a McRib if offered.

Expand full comment
author

I haven't had one since the 90s. I found the texture offputting.

Expand full comment

I remember liking them in the 80s but I think I’ve only had one in the last 20 years or so and it wasn’t exciting. Living closer to pork barbecue territory has changed my views on what I’m willing to tolerate in terms of “pressed pig meat products.” (Was never enough of a ribs fan to object from that direction.)

Expand full comment

They're basically a pig McNugget, aren't they?

Expand full comment

Pretty much

Expand full comment

not a fan.

Expand full comment
author

I am completely sure about this, but I think it's available year-round in Germany. In my defense, McD is sometimes one of the only places open on Sundays while I was there on month-long trips these past 1.5 years.

Historically, I think the McRib was my first introduction to the American BBQ sauce.

Expand full comment

That's sad.

Expand full comment
author

Self-styled militiaman shoots protestor who opposed conquistador statue.

https://twitter.com/nick_w_estes/status/1272731193746747392

Expand full comment

The NM cops apparently referred to these militia assholes as "heavily armed friendlies" on the dispatch radio:

https://twitter.com/samswey/status/1272768852234043392?s=20

Expand full comment

I appreciate the honesty if not the underlying truth

Expand full comment

New Mexico was against this guy until it emerged he was a former GOP candidate for office and not some scruffy lefty

https://twitter.com/generationloss/status/1272766756218683396?s=21

Expand full comment

Wow that really gives the game away, doesn't it.

Expand full comment

That should have read “New Mexico GOP” dagnabbit

Expand full comment

Hah, yeah New Mexico as a whole is pretty blue these days.

Expand full comment
author

"I may not be richest or the best looking person in the room, but at least I _______"

Expand full comment

Have never crashed a Lamborghini

Expand full comment

am not an asshole

Expand full comment

flopped the nut straight.

Expand full comment
author

these days I'm the only other one here

Expand full comment

Know it.

Expand full comment

Am in the same room.

Expand full comment

Fart a lot

Expand full comment

This one could be a small deal breaker.

Expand full comment

more like a large wind breaker amirite

Expand full comment

can't believe it took me 4 hours to think of this, insomnia's not helping

Expand full comment
Jun 16, 2020Liked by Erik Johannessen, SGBear

just died in your arms tonight.

Expand full comment

it must have been something you said

Expand full comment

am wearing my face mask.

Expand full comment
author

Deal breaker

Expand full comment

Loose turkey-neck skin

Expand full comment

She was not very nice to me. And every single one of my female friends disliked her.

Expand full comment
author

smoking

Expand full comment

I used to think smoking was a deal breaker, and then I dated a sexy Frenchman who liked to fire up the occasional Galuoise over after dinner drinks, and it just made him a bit more louche and sexy. Also, Dave Chappelle. But in general, I'm on board with the thinking.

Expand full comment

Gotta be a sports fan, at some level.

Expand full comment

General political and cultural issues I guess. It’s also hard to know what you’re willing to put up with because it’s a function of time and the person.

Expand full comment

OOOoooOOooo that's a good one, but back in the day, I never encountered this in Berkeley.

Expand full comment

Given the great American sorting of the last 20 years or so, it’s less of an issue for most people I think. If, hypothetically speaking, I was no longer with the missus, the odds that I would meet a female conservative are really low.

Expand full comment

I don't think I could be with someone meaningfully more conservative than me.

Expand full comment

For one night?

Expand full comment

Oh, just about anything's negotiable for one night. I meant for a relationship.

Expand full comment

I don't know exactly what that would be. I do know no one ever turned me down.

Expand full comment

Red pants is a good place to start....

Expand full comment

Take off those RED Pants!

Expand full comment

Li Mou must be a Cal fan.

Expand full comment

asian, studied statistics? checks out.

Expand full comment
author

Today in the 'rona

Expand full comment

Went through the Georgetown campus on part of my run. They now have signs all over that says a mask is required whenever on campus.

Expand full comment
author

I now notice that there are a LOT of people wearing their masks loosely over the lower part of their mouth, but the nose is fully exposed and there is a big gap to the mouth. My theory is that there is a sizeable percentage of the American population that have almost no tolerance for even the mildest of inconvenience.

Expand full comment

Sounds about right. I’ve noticed that on our post dinner strolls around the neighborhood there is a noticeable minority now going in the opposite direction by making a big show of putting on their mask when they get within 30 feet of us and then glaring while they walk by, which is pretty consistent with the broader moment in the culture

Expand full comment

My sister and I are in different cities, but both of us notice Nextdoor discussions about masks that are pretty mean spirited in both directions.

Expand full comment

My take: the pandemic has pushed people in both directions, some of them are nicer in this time, some are much meaner.

Expand full comment

I have yet to find anyone who is nicer.

Expand full comment

That darned pushy pandemic!

Expand full comment
author

I'm sure they recounted the story to their outraged twitter followers.

Expand full comment

Damn I’m missing out on the chance to be rude

Expand full comment

hahaha All my buildings have 8 foot wide hallways (and high ceilings), but a few tenants are making a big fuss if they don't see people wearing masks

Expand full comment
author

My niece's fever finally broke. She had it for 7 weeks straight and couldn't do anything. Didn't finish her sophomore year in HS. Not sure what will happen.

Expand full comment
author

I'm glad she's finally on the right path. It's incredible how long this can virus can persist. A friend of mine contracted it, had mild to moderate symptoms for a week or two, but then kept testing positive for well over a month.

Expand full comment

Hopefully they’ll work out some kind of summer school deal so she can get back on track. I know bureaucracies don’t do well with unplanned variations but surely your niece is not and will not be the only student who needs to address this kind of event.

Expand full comment

Glad for her but sucks she had to go through that.

Expand full comment
author

OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

Expand full comment
author

Fox News doesn't watch Monty Python.

https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1272559442953859073

Expand full comment

hee!

Expand full comment

hahahahaha

Expand full comment
author

Trump threatens to go after Bolton if his book is released next week. Without any sense of irony, the WH defense is that the book contains information that could be exploited by foreign powers against the US.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-says-bolton-will-have-criminal-problems-if-his-book-is-released/2020/06/15/b398559a-af50-11ea-8758-bfd1d045525a_story.html

Expand full comment

I notice that the White House released a copy of the legal papers with Bolton's address on it because they're not at all interested in Bolton being harassed

Expand full comment

The book has already been printed, it will be released, Trump will whine like the little bitch he is, but nothing will happen.

Expand full comment

Maybe I’ll mosey over to Bolton’s house and hold up a faintly rude sign across the street.

Expand full comment

Trump says he considers every conversation with him to be highly classified. So when he's lying about his golf game it's classified?

Expand full comment

that's the most classified part!

Expand full comment

TS/SCI (Trump’s strokes stay completely inaccurate)

Expand full comment
author

Honestly, not in the least surprised by Roberts' vote, though the opinion written by Gorsuch was a bit of a surprise.

Expand full comment

Yeah, Roberts' small-c conservative instincts are on display again (he doesn't want to rock the boat). Looks like Gorsuch might have some similar instincts.

Expand full comment

I'm sure part of it is that they don't want to have to keep hearing this issue before the court. And since clearly the intention of the law is to reduce discrimination based on personal characteristics (regardless of what the drafters said at the time).

Expand full comment
author

PRO

Expand full comment
author

Breaking: Rob Manfred still not qualified to be MLB Commissioner

Expand full comment
author

Manfred and the owners are clearing negotiating with bad faith. By delaying the negotiation, they can force the MLBPA to accept that short 50 game season.

Expand full comment
author

CAL

Expand full comment
author

MRugby: USA Rugby reverses course. Says sorry for Robert Paylor injury. IMO, this still rings hollow.

https://www.usa.rugby/2020/06/usa-rugby-statement-regarding-handling-of-2017-robert-paylor-injury/?fbclid=IwAR2so1fzwVDTy_q7RqDO5Jhy-IvGOcy1hHGy8YaPwT_oZY0qazNRooGERDI

Expand full comment
author

Yeah, it's kind of an empty-ish statement that's more about how they will try to do better in the future I guess. It's long overdue that they acknowledged Paylor's injury nonetheless.

Expand full comment
author

Breaking: UC Regents unanimously vote to return to Affirmative Action. Will now go to State ballot.

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/california-3/university-of-california-endorses-affirmative-action-measure/2309712/

Expand full comment