171 Comments

My employer announced that we've been instructed to halt diversity training. Meanwhile, my division is working on our mission statement, and feedback has included:

-I'm tired of talking about inclusion

-we need to explicitly say inclusion

-we need to say that we're excellent

-we're not actually that special

I guess our crowdsourced mission statement will be: We are a beacon of mediocrity in a world of dumpster fires.

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So will Write For California be posting up a CFB and NFL game day threads this season?

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Sally quickly strengthens to hurricane strength, appears to ready to come onshore as a Cat-3. Hold on to your butts, New Orleans

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-storm-sally/tropical-storm-sally-to-strength-to-hurricane-forecaster-says-idUSKBN265218

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Vinyl outsells CDs for the first time in a long time. That's rad, man.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/13/tech/vinyl-records-cd-sales-riaa/index.html

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Groovy!

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You get that turntable yet?

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Uhhhhh

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I just about had a stroke trying not to laugh to loud at work.

https://i.imgur.com/DLcDU9a.jpg

I've gotten at least one of these a day on both phones for the last week.

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Smoke

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My dad used to smoke 2+ packs a day. My brother and I took DARE and got scared that he was going to die and got him to stop by hiding all the ashtrays and bursting into guilt-tripping tears every time he tried to light a cigarette.

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How long did it take him to decide to quit?

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My memory's fuzzy, but I think it was only a month or so. He can't stand to see anyone cry and we were very persistent. He quit cold turkey and hasn't touched a cigarette in 20+ years.

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Only when I'm really drunk

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current AQI 178 here. been 160 to 180 for about a week now.

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193 in Oakland, 170 yesterday. This sucks.

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My brother is up near Grass Valley and it's been in the 300-400 range for a couple days. Just checked and down to 180.

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At this point I think it's never going away until November.

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Looks like we're currently at about 180. I think it's been very similar last few days.

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Spoon

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How did The Tick not make an appearance here???

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What are your thoughts on sporks?

I think they're the worst of both worlds.

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yes, sporks are for people who don't like to eat.

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Apropos: KFC has changed their sporks into a runcible spoon.

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Cut your nails before you play. No rings allowed.

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This needs an explanation...

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I'm guessing so you don't scratch others when grabbing the spoons?

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Exactly! Those games can get viciously competitive

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knifey-spoony?

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I have never played, have no idea what you're talking about.

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Spoons. How we played was one less spoon than players. 8 players, 7 spoons. Each person is dealt 4 cards from a standard playing deck, and tries to get 4 of a kind. Cards originate from one player picking up every card and either keeping it or discarding it to the player to his left/right. Cards make their way around the table until someone gets 4 of a kind and then grabs a spoon, followed by everyone else until one person is left without a spoon. The loser.

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Full of sugar.

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There is no spoon.

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Chinese spoons that transfer hot soup to your hand if you hold them at the wrong angle. Memories of a 3 year old.

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My father doesn't like the ones with the hooked handle (that latches on to the side of a bowl), but I think they're great

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Giant Heroin spoon sculpture has moved around various Pharma doorsteps, including Purdue's Pharma building and other drug makers.

https://www.wnpr.org/sites/wnpr/files/styles/medium/public/201809/P1810821.jpg

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Apropos: both my wife and I have had surgeries within the last 12 months where we were prescribed Oxycontin. They mail you a letter warning you that 1 in 5 people get hooked on Oxy. We had a really hard time getting the doctor to NOT prescribe a giant amount of pills in one go. I was given 60 and she was given like 100. They refused to reduce the size of the prescription or make them smaller with refills, despite our protests. There has to be some sort of kick-back or something because I have never seen people so universally motivated to do something against patient wishes when everything else they're like "whatever you want".

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I know how SGBear plans on funding the ND tailgate...(if we get to watch live)

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Ha. All those pills went into one of these bad boys today

https://www.mallinckrodt.com/corporate-responsibility/responsible-use/medication-disposal/

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Interesting. I never knew about these things.

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How many unsolicited requests for aabsentee ballot have you gotten?

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None. I am permanent absentee.

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same here

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MD sent everyone info on how to request mail-in ballots, and that's the only mail I've received about it.

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Hmmm... I've gotten perhaps... 10. NC is a swing state and one of the few that has more GOP voters who would be served by absentee. So somebody is spending a lot of money to get people to absentee vote here. When I drive up north where it's much redder than Raleigh, you see the Trump and "register as an absentee voter" signs everywhere. I also got the USPS official postcard saying the same thing, but it is a national mailer that is worded to perhaps encourage people to register/vote at the last second (ie, suppress absentee voter).

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In round numbers: zero

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Elsewhere in college

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The Big 10 is supposed to vote this week on whether to resume the football season, which could start as early as October 17th. My guess is they will vote to play and then the Pac 12 and MWC will also vote to play.

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Here's the college football empire map, which looks mighty weird.

https://i.imgur.com/7Gmq2u5.png

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Any team that has a covid case should forfeit its territory and have its logo replaced with a biohazard logo. Afterwards that territory cannot be reclaimed.

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there goes BYU's empire

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We ain't in there.

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I couldn’t bring myself to watch any college football this weekend. Unsure of when that might change 🤷🏼‍♂️

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I watched a little bit (the Notre Dame game), but since Cal is not part of the landscape it is hard to care about what happens.

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Awfully weird to see SEC teams playing in spite of Covid. NCAA should have canceled/postponed the season for each conference. I didn't watch any of the games.

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Yeah, as AP said, the SEC hasn’t started yet. The ACC and Big 12 have.

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?

None of the SEC teams have played. Nor will they next weekend.

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Ah, my bad. I meant ACC.

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You missed some really interesting, and entertaining, events that unfurled.

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Texas Tech gives up 572 yards passing and barely holds off FCS-level Houston Baptist 35-33

https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401236039

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How about Georgia Tech, getting picked twice and 3 kicks blocked -- and still winning their first ACC road game since Ross Perot ran for President

https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401234563

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Winning their first ACC road game since Ross Perot? That has to be a mistake. They have won road ACC road games in the last decade. Must have meant first ACC road opener?

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Georgia Tech absolutely destroyed Louisville either last year or two years ago. Had like 500+ yards rushing on only 2 or 3 pass attempts. I Think it may have been during a downpour so I guess that makes sense.

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Paul Johnson was their coach then and he ran the triple option, so the run heavy, limited pass attempts was 100% in line with what they did then.

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Or maybe they meant first ACC road win under their new head coach? I know it has been a rough transition from their previous coach to their new one.

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No 3 said that FSU is so bad. I hadn't realized how bad they were.

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One upside of FSU having lots of fans in the stadium was the excellent crowd reaction shots that made their way into Twitter

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I love the one video or article that i saw that described all the different crowd reactions, like Surrender Cobra.

This wasn't it but is still pretty good.

https://www.bannersociety.com/2018/10/10/20729135/college-football-fan-memes

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I didn’t see them, that is for sure. I wouldn’t say I was missing it though Bob 😂

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Sun Belt!

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Kansas State loses to Arkansas State

Kansas loses to the Chanticleers

Iowa State loses to the Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana

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Or as I like to say, teams that wish their games were postponed due to Covid 19.

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Time to disband the Big 12.

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Today in Covid19

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current fatality rate of confirmed cases is just shy of 3%, which means we could be looking at about 9 Million deaths in the US, when everyone gets exposed.

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Has anyone else been dreaming in web-conference gallery view lately, or is that just me?

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also, love the profile pic.

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I'm so sorry.

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Coastal elites. A Trump supporter (a friend of sorts) accused me of being a "coastal elite." Ignore fly-over America.

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OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

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This response is [ChefsKiss.gif]

https://twitter.com/jeneps/status/1304946468504076297

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Trump claims he was awarded the Bay of Pigs Award. No such award exists. And if it did, would it be named that?

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2020/sep/14/trump-repeats-claims-he-received-bay-of-pigs-award-which-doesnt-exist-video

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The Bay of Pigs is to Cuban Americans as the Confederacy is to Trump and white southerners.

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Prosecutor resigns from law enforcement commission because he says it is a sham

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/11/politics/john-choi-resigns-trump-law-enforcement-commission/index.html

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HHS Asst. Sec'y Michael Caputo admits he edited CDC publications to fit Trump's narrative

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/09/13/covid-scientists-white-house-meddling-cdc-mmwr/5787230002/

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He sounds completely unhinged.

“I don’t like being alone in Washington,” he said, describing “shadows on the ceiling in my apartment, there alone, shadows are so long.” He then ran through a series of conspiracy theories, culminating in a prediction that Mr. Trump will win re-election but his Democratic opponent, Joseph R. Biden Jr., will refuse to concede.

“And when Donald Trump refuses to stand down at the inauguration, the shooting will begin,” he said. “The drills that you’ve seen are nothing.” He added: “If you carry guns, buy ammunition, ladies and gentlemen, because it’s going to be hard to get.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/14/us/caputo-virus.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

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oh god that sounds like my old intern from Texas. Thought for sure he was going to have to surrender his gun when Obama got elected. My co-worker and I thought it would have been funny to walk up to him and demand he surrender his guns.

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That might have ended poorly...

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Swine

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VA GOP telling fibs / on themselves

https://twitter.com/pecunium/status/1305333646707097601?s=21

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The rioting is coming from inside the house...

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The president is very excited about breaking the 22nd amendment and encouraging extrajudicial execution of political opponents. So it’s basically morning in America.

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Incredible. Grounds for 2nd impeachment and immediate dismissal.

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The current example, probably won’t be the last

https://twitter.com/magpiekilljoy/status/1305361864885403649?s=21

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PRO

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Cubs' Alec Mills no-hits Brewers

https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1305257731159400465

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Cardona goes full Shaolin Soccer

https://twitter.com/JarredLfc/status/1305220270622474242

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My club (Leeds) had their first game in the Premier league, and although they didn't draw against Liverpool, they looked pretty good. Dumb penalty in the box @ 86' cost them a PK and the match, 4-3. Highly entertaining game.

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Goff leads Ram's to ho-hum 20-17 victory over the Cowboys in the new glassed in SoFi stadium. 275 yards passing but an INT. He has to cut down on the INTs and strip-sacks to be an elite QB. Those small hands...

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Reading through that thread Trump wants flag burners to go to jail. And he wants to negotiate a third term. Is there anything in the Constitution he's in favor of?

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The pick, as mentioned should have been called back. Even if it was a bad decision to throw to that WR, the hit to the head seemed to alter the ball and the velocity of the pass.

The thing that still seems to be a troubling problem for Goff is balls being batted or tipped at the LOS. That was an issue while was at Cal and continue to be one in the NFL.

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The INT should have been called back for a hit to the head that the refs missed. Still wasn't a great decision to throw it there.

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Yesterday I watched most of the Raiders game on the TV and a lot of the Packers game on my computer. The most football (more than a half) I've watched in probably 3-5 years.

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*NFL football

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Ron Rivera wins in his debut as coach of Washington Football Team. They fell behind 17-0 early on and then scored 27 unanswered. I tuned in to root for Ron and for the novelty of hearing announcers repeatedly say "Washington Football Team" and was rewarded with an unexpectedly entertaining game.

https://twitter.com/WashingtonNFL/status/1305239025557667849

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Lakers complete second consecutive gentleman’s sweep with dominant win over Rockets

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2020/9/12/21434396/lakers-vs-rockets-final-score-recap-lebron-james-harden-nba-playoffs

James Harden finally showed up for a playoff game his team really needed him in, but unfortunately for him and everyone in the Houston area, none of his Rockets teammates decided to join him. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers completed a dismantling of Rockets not seen since the U.S. government slashed NASA’s budget, finishing off their second consecutive five-game gentleman’s sweep of the NBA playoffs and sending the Rockets home with an easy, 119-96 victory.

The Lakers got out to a hot start with their shooting, jumping all over the Rockets to begin the game and taking a 22-point lead in the first quarter. LeBron was brutalizing his way to the basket, the Lakers’ bench was going bananas, and it looked like this game might be over before it was started.

By midway through the second, however, they’d clearly eased off the gas a bit, and the Rockets had cut the deficit to just 7 points as they started to hit their open shots. For all their talk over the last few days about the importance of locking in over 48 minutes tonight, the Lakers clearly weren’t doing so in the second quarter.

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I'm conflicted with this series. I don't like neither Harden (hate the way he plays, drawing fouls and such) nor LeBron. While I agree Harden is a great scorer I hate how he tries to draw a foul everytime he drives. this year he has been driving and kicking out for a 3 more. I don't think the way Houston plays will ever win a championship. Harden always seems worn out by the time the playoffs come around so I thought this year might be different. Russ sucking due to injury didn't help either. Live by the 3 Die by the 3.

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Harden is extremely overrated.

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He's a great regular season player, but there are too many playoff flameouts to ignore at this point.

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in the playoffs you need a team with more than one 'top of the game' player. Harden holds the ball to much to work with another one for any length of time.

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he's the Kershaw of the NBA

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Totally, though in his case it's worse since a star player controls so much more in basketball.

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It was weird seeing "LV" next to the Raiders logo on the ticker yesterday...

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Las Vergas

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I still don't understand why anyone from the Bay would still care about the Raiders.

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Oh I care, the ungrateful motherfuckers.

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Better the Raiders than the 9ers.

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They are scum, fuck the Raiders

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I don't understand that either. One of those teams never left the region.

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I grew up in the area but am a Dodgers fan and hate the Giants. Similarly, I'm a Raiders fan and don't like the 9ers. I guess it doesn't matter to me if the team left. That's the owner not the players.

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NEVER

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Better black and silver than red and wine and cheese.

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Never heard of them.

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Yes it was.

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RRRRAAAAAAIIIIIIIDDDDDDDEEEEEERRRRRRSSSSSS

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Oakland A’s Game #46: A’s can’t withstand strong Odor of Texas in 6-3 loss to Rangers

https://www.athleticsnation.com/2020/9/13/21435420/oakland-as-game-46-texas-rangers-score-result-rougned-odor

The Oakland A’s smelled the pungent aroma of defeat on Sunday, and the source of it was the bat of Rougned Odor.

The Texas Rangers second baseman hit a three-run homer to break a tie in the 6th inning, the second time he’s done exactly that in this series and the third time he’s gone deep. Texas never relinquished that lead, and the A’s dropped the season series finale 6-3.

While Odor is known for his power, he’s not the likeliest of heroes right now. Before this series he only had three homers in 24 games, a number he matched in three dates this weekend, and entering Sunday he was batting .150 with a .541 OPS and his usually atrocious walk and strikeout rates. But the ever-present slugging is what shined through against Oakland, leading the way in a pair of victories and a series split.

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Former Cal Bear Daulton Jefferies made his MLB debut in game 1 of Saturday’s double header and he got roughed the fuck up. Gave up 5 runs in the first including a 3 run shot to Odor. Good to great velocity but needs to work on his command/placement.

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It's weird because Braden said he was a master of control and had only walked nine guys in the minors as compared with 75+ K's. Not to be, I guess. Jeffries claimed adrenaline was part of the problem.

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and he was dialing up 94mph heaters right over the plate

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No shit, that was rough.

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Still 6.5 games ahead of the Asstros with the season winding down. Unlikely the A's lose the division lead barring some sort of unforeseen collapse.

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Unfortunately the Dodgers blew it on Sat and didn't help. Kenley came out and blew a 3 run lead. 6 or 7 straight hits, no outs. All on 2 strikes i think. Looked much better on Sunday.

Some of the signs Dodgers fans had when the Asstricks bus drove to Dodgers Stadium.

https://twitter.com/4Ev3rblue/status/1304856120058474496

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ICYMI: Chappy out for season

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1304848600271384576

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bad news is bad

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Giants feebly get shut out by Padres

https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2020/9/13/21435286/san-francisco-giants-padres-final-score-doubleheader

On the surface, there were some similarities between the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres ahead of their doubleheader opener on Sunday.

Both offenses are good; surprisingly good, perhaps.

Both starting pitchers are having difficult seasons but there’s plenty of reason to think they’re quite good, given their respective pasts.

But even if you look at those similarities, they point in the Padres favor as you start to dig deeper.

Sure, the Giants offense has been good; but not as good as the Padres. And sure Johnny Cueto is a formerly great pitcher; but Mike Clevinger was great as recently as last season.

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Surprise, surprise, the Giants lost again

https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2020/9/13/21435467/san-francisco-giants-padres-final-score-doubleheader

Let’s remember something: 2020 is not the top priority for the San Francisco Giants.

That’s not to say it’s not important. Kevin Gausman wouldn’t be on the team anymore if it weren’t important. Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence still would be.

2020 is important, and the Giants are — despite a horrendous few days — still in playoff position.

But the future is a lot more important.

So repeat that to yourself because otherwise you’re going to be very upset about what transpired on Sunday, especially if you’re a fan of the other San Francisco sports team that was playing.

With that mindset, here’s what you should take away from the Giants 3-1 loss to the San Diego Padres in the second game of their doubleheader, which left them outscored 9-1 on the day, and without a win in the series: Logan Webb and Joey Bart are 23 years old.

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GPYAB

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Dodgers defeat 2017 AL West champions

https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/13/21435690/los-angeles-dodgers-houston-astros-mlb-recap-mookie-betts

With their 8-1 win on Sunday night, the Dodgers took the season series against the team that plays their home games at Minute Maid Park. LA took three of four games against em, and they could (more like should) have swept the series.

The Dodgers got things going early on as AJ Pollock connected for his 10th homer of the season. He continues his incredible season, as he’s been one of LA’s most consistent hitters throughout the year.

More offense came in the fifth inning, when they scored four The runs. Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor had back-to-back hits, putting runners on first and second. Enrique Hernandez then singled in two runs, giving LA the 3-0 lead. Mookie Betts then stepped to the plate, and you can already expect what he did next.

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Quite a few times the Fox (Smoltz) and ESPN (ARod) announcers wondered why the Asstrisks players were top 3 last year in hitting and middle of the road this year in hitting. I'm sure Joe Davis muted himself for his reply. How they had so fewer strikeouts last year vs this year. Just about all the players are hitting worse than last year.

Hmmm...gee i wonder why??

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Everton beat Spurs 1-0 which I didn’t see due to my general opposition to paying for NBC sports streaming packages.

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Pretty sure you are not close to alone in not having seen it.

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I’m watching a lot less sport than typical for me during the Before Times. I’m thinking about spending the money on ESPN+ because you get so much more soccer for your money that way. 🤷🏼‍♂️

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CAL

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UC Berkeley pays $2.4m fine for not reporting campus crime statistics correctly. I mean, what's another few million during this dumpster-fire of a budgetary cycle?

https://www.dailycal.org/2020/09/14/uc-berkeley-reaches-settlement-to-pay-2-35m-fine-for-clery-act-violations/

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Go Bears!

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go bears.

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