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My facility's Furdie counterpart is having their annual meeting this week, so I've got the Zoom going in the background while I do my work. One speaker made a reference to pseudoknots and quasi-knots, which I didn't get (it's biology, but not my field of biology), so I tried checking online for "pseudoknot vs quasi-knot" and didn't really find anything helpful. I asked in the Q&A about this terminology, and for resources where I might read more about it.

The presenter (a grad student), was a bit sheepish in saying that it was a small joke, but he did go ahead and explain why he used two different terms, and he also cited a group whose work I could look into. That's all great, but then the moderator said, "For resources, you can check Google."

So fucking condescending. Excuse yourself, I DID check Google and found nothing useful. Ugh Furdies. 😡

In the comments, I thanked the speaker and said to the moderator: I should mention that I did check Google, which unfortunately didn’t seem to catch the joke :)

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Just tell them at Cal we would get an F for citing an invalid reference.

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I AM WRITING THIS POST DRESSED AS A GIANT HOT DOG. I LOVE IT.

https://images.halloweencostumes.com/products/44442/1-2/adult-plus-size-hot-dog-costume.jpg

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Can you sit down in that?!

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Yup.

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how do you feel about being "plus size"?

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Totally worth it.

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If I am wearing a hot dog costume, I would pick one that would make me look taller...AKA with smaller buns on the side.

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My buns bring all the dogs to my yard

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That doesn't look too comfortable.

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It's like a warm vinyl hug. It makes me giddy with happiness. It may also be the toxic off-gassing

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Napa County and Sonoma County Fires

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Thoughts are with you and your family, FiatSlug.

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Thanks, Jimmy.

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Calistoga Ranch has burned to the ground. 😢

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Dang, was a nice place.

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I was just camping the weekend before last at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, and that seems like it is likely doomed as well.

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I have friends who have a home on the big piece of land nestled into the southern edge of the park, between the park and the mill right on 29. Right now it looks like there is fire across the highway, but not too severe, and the park so far appears untouched. Fingers crossed.

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That does seem sad. Sorry to hear that. Fire, like Death, is a great leveler.

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Woke up this morning to news that Oakmont was evacuated last night. Oakmont is on the east side of Santa Rosa. Kenwood was evacuated shortly after midnight.

Checked the National Fire Situational Awareness map just a moment ago. It is unlikely our family cabin will survive or any other home along the northwest edge of Adobe Canyon Road that is in the canyon. The dots have advanced to the edge of Sonoma Creek in the very near vicinity of our lane.

To put it mildly, we're screwed. Irony being, I was just up there overnight on Friday into Saturday doing fire prevention work. Too fucking little, too fucking late.

I apologize for being so emotional.

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So very sorry!

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Thanks, wiata78.

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Jsut terrible, man. Very sorry to hear.

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Thanks, atoms.

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A rare, honest "Thank you Atoms"

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So sorry to hear that! :(

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Thanks.

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Here is to hoping the your cabin isn’t destroyed. Perhaps your fire prevention work might save the cabin after all.

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If it isn't destroyed, we will be extraordinarily lucky. I suppose it could happen, it's just that it requires something unforeseen or unaccounted for or simply dumb luck. With the rate of the fire's advancement overnight and into the morning, and the winds, and the fact that nearby neighborhoods were evacuated, and that particular road into the canyon was evacuated, etc., etc., it just doesn't seem reasonable to think the buildings could be spared.

My paltry efforts are just that in face of Mother Nature: paltry. Almost certainly insufficient.

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This guy is driving around the streets around Silverado Trail and posting the video on FB. It's amazing how 80% of a street can be gone but there are some houses totally intact. Don't give up hope until you know for sure.

https://www.facebook.com/MitchWilliams70

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I'll try to keep hope alive.

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I experienced the 07 wildfires in San Diego and my cousin lost her home in 07 so I know how devastating fires can be.

As you mentioned, fire, like death is a great leveler but also like death, fire can be completely random.

You’re home might make it. Perhaps the winds change course, your paltry efforts might be enough, or the incredibly random devastation of a forest fire just randomly leaves your home standing.

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Yup, the random factor is our best hope.

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You're in my prayers.

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Thanks, Tangtpt.

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Sorry to hear this. 2020 sucks.

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Thanks, Ruey. Maybe there will be a silver lining to 2020 at some point.

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wow, that sucks. Sorry Slug

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wow, that sucks. Sorry Slug

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Thanks, golden oso. I wish it weren't so.

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This sucks!! Fuck 2020.

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I wholeheartedly agree.

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That's awful. I'm sorry to hear that.

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It is awful. I fear the awfulness will only be revealed later when I go back to survey the damage.

Meanwhile, everything is intact in my memory.

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F**k. I'm sorry for that.

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Thanks, SGBear.

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Ugh, sorry to hear it

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Thanks, DC.

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Damn, that sucks big time.

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Thanks.

Yes, yes it does.

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I'm sorry <3

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Thanks. It means something to see that.

Not a good day.

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Temperature/Smoke

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Opened the doors this morning and outside smelled like a campfire in Oakland. Still glad I had that central air conditioning put in last month.

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The smoke (from the Glass Fire?) was very noticeable at 2:00 AM this morning. We left certain windows partially open and screened to allow the expected cooling breezes to cool off the house.

I got up and closed the windows to keep the smoke out. Noticed a strong breeze coming from the north and that it was warm. VERY warm. Checked the hallway thermostat - 79 deg. F at 2:00 am. Checked my phone to see what Weather Underground said. 79 deg. F at 2:00 am.

Tell me again how there's no such thing as climate change.

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The smoke was pretty bad this morning. I ended up closing the windows when I woke up. It's supposed to be mid 90s I think. PurpleAir shows an AQI approaching 100. It seems worse just looking out the window but maybe that's my imagination.

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56 and clear, with a light breeze, headed for a high of 86. AQI of 15. Almost exactly what it was in Western Oregon on Labor Day. Fortunately, the high east winds that led to events that changed things dramatically for most of the intervening 3 weeks are not in the forecast this time, as they were then.

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Will it be 106 in Berkeley today? That's the forecast.

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Right now it's 96. So it won't hit 106. Heat should mostly break by tomorrow. Forecast at 6am is 61 degrees and partly cloudy. OK, that's enough amateur meteorology.

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Temp in the city dropped around 25 degrees around 2PM. Welcome, but weird. Thank you, @karlthefog.

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Elsewhere in College

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MISS St beats LSU in Baton Rouge. I will not miss the Mad Pirate and glad he's no longer at WSU. It also helps when you've got a QB who will turn 24 at the end of the academic year.

https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1310007328666800129

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I don't think Oklahoma will still be ranked 3rd today

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Tourist caught carving initials into Roman Colosseum. Please don't be American... Please don't be American... 😬😬😬

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/tourist-colosseum-scli-intl/index.html

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That seems like a trick question, since we’re not allowed to go anywhere... although it could have been an expat I suppose.

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Just attach yourself to a rich white European, and you can travel anywhere!

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And that's why others don't want Americans to travel into their country.

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For you, what were the Jump the Shark moments of other series?

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Anytime a main character leaves the show and the show continues on (e.g. The X-Files)

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Twin Peaks, after Laura's killer was revealed.

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Any time a sitcom adds a new child (e.g., Family Ties, Cosby Show, Brady Bunch).

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absolutely.

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On Moonlighting when David Addison slept with Maddie Hayes.

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Ted

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Gambling? At Bushwood?

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Agu.

Never forget.

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DBD AV Club

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Are any of you watching GBBO?

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@I think you meant GBBR@

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Of course!

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Still watching Raised by Wolves and telling people on here how great it is and that they should be watching it.

Also went old school and re-watched Highlander on Saturday night for the first time since I was kid. Still a good movie. Darker than I remember it and a bit dated but I enjoyed it. I am surprised Hollywood hasn’t remade it yet.

Finally started I May Destroy You. Tough to watch due to the subject matter but it is really good.

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I May Destroy You is excellent

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We didn't get individual attorney names in the end credits on that show, but I did the US legal work on Raised By Wolves :)

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Currently watching the Vow on HBO, and jus started Ratched on Netflix. It's the back story to nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which I also re-watched this weekend to give myself a refresher before starting the series. She's much more diabolical in the series whereas in the movie she mainly uses her authority to exert power over the patients.

Will also be starting the new season of Fargo when I get home tonight,

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In my mind she could be sisters with Kathy Bates's character in Misery.

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Watched Enola Holmes this weekend, was a fun, family friendly type of movie. 14/19

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I'm looking forward to watching that!

My gut reaction from the trailer was that Henry Cavill is too handsome to be Sherlock Holmes

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How the hell is that a problem for you? (BTW my daughter is totally into him)

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I have been watching The Vow, the documentary series on HBO about the cult NXIVM that includes Smallville star Allison Mack (and other actresses on SciFi shows shot in Vancouver). The founder/leader is this nerdy guy who somehow got a bunch of successful people to buy into how he's apparently a genius in having invented a new tech for self help and run this utopia society out of Albany, NY. Anyhow, I can't help but think how he should have just stopped when he got the money, power, and women before things devolved into the whole branding and power pyramid that led to its downfall.

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Lovecraft Country continues to be both batshit insane and awesome in equal measures.

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Seriously....WTF is gonna happen next!

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I watched an episode of the Simpsons for the first time in probably 20+ years. Was just alright.

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Really looking forward to the new season of Fargo. 2 episodes and nearly 3 hours are waiting for me on the DVR.

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Can't wait.

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Yes!

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I am on the series finale for Turn. S1 was so-so, but S2-4 were cliffhangers. And it's based on historical fact, so it's extra cuckoo bananas. 19/19

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with David Chang. 3/19. Chang's S1 of Ugly Delicious was so good because it wasn't all about the food, but the human stories. BLD is a lazy-ass over-the-shoulder show that has Chang and a guest eat like a glutton hoping that interesting shit gets said. It's not scripted and it shows. Episodes with Seth Rogen and Kate McKinnon were cringy bad.

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Started watching Raised by Wolves because my wife has been telling me I should watch it basically every other day since she started. Perfectly fine!

Also started watching Tehran on Apple TV. I was a little skeptical because it’s by the same people who made Fauda, which I dropped because it struck me as Israeli revenge porn, but Tehran is much more nuanced (as spy dramas go).

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Henry

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Was the name of Will and Elizabeth's son in PotC, which bothered me because when you've got 2 generations of William's, why not a third?! He could have been Billy or Liam, to distinguish him from Bootstrap Bill Turner and Davey-Jones-replacement Will Turner.

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"The Wars of the Roses" is a phrase used to describe the civil wars in England between the Lancastrian and Yorkist dynasties. Some of the events of these wars were dramatised by Shakespeare in the history plays Richard II, Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, Henry V, Henry VI, Part 1, Henry VI, Part 2, Henry VI, Part 3, and Richard III. In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries there have been numerous stage performances, including:

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Yep, Shakespeare wrote all those plays as basically Tudor era propaganda on just how legit is their reign.

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When I was a kid, I got War of the Roses, you know what, I'm NOT going to complete this post.

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I just remember the War of the Roses movie with Kirk Douglas and Kathleen Turner.

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Michael Douglas

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Oh...duh yeah.

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Yes....”I have more square footage...”

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Happy Days

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Never watched a whole episode, but did see bits and pieces.

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And because of this, I didn't know Mork (& Mindy) was some sort of a spin-off

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OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

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PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE #1

Tuesday: 6-7:30 PST, 9-10:30EST

Topics:

1. Trump's and Biden's records

2. the Supreme Court

3. COVID-19

4. the economy

5. race and violence in U.S. cities

6. the integrity of the election

15 minutes each segment, including rebuttals

Chris Wallace moderator

No opening statements

No live fact-checking

No breaks

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Portland police remain in cahoots with armed gangs.

https://twitter.com/karinapdx/status/1310251802621743104?s=21

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The Portland Police is an armed gang.

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Trump suggests that Biden should take a drug test before the debate, which the Biden campaign takes with the seriousness it merits:

https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1310376174305136641?s=21

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I read this as "I'm on drugs, but I'm projecting. This is a stupid suggestion so that I get can the opposition to not drug test. I have a bigly brain. "

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Brad Parscale barricades himself into his house with arms. Get involuntarily committed.

@ I'm sure it's just normal job stress @

https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/1310567471372546048

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Did you see the TMZ video of him getting tackled by the police. The tackle seemed a bit excessive to me and I would normally have issues with such excessive use of force but it’s Brad Parscale so I think they probably should have used more force and tased him once he was tackled.

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And then several more times after that.

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I thought that this was license for the police to open fire and secure the premises

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Tax returns anyone?

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While this will convince almost no voters, this is the first time in a long time that I think that something actually sticks. Not politically - but economically and/or legally. He is either a fraud or a broke. NYC DA, several state DAs, and the US Treasury should be sharpening pencils right now. I predict he'll either be in jail, bankrupt, or dead by his own hand within 4 years.

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We can only hope. Although Trump doesn’t strike me as the type to commit suicide.

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Even if it doesn't convince a voter, it is another negative news cycle, and he doesn't have many news cycles left.

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Agreed, that is the big consequence here. Trump is behind. He needs to catch up. The more days that go by without him catching up are bringing his chances of reelection down.

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Oh, I disagree, this is super simple understand, and I think it WILL convince a bunch of voters; this is not a fatal blow, but it's more than a flesh wound.

Nicely timed as well.

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i would enjoy all 3 of those things happening

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[whynotboth.gif]

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Trump has debts of $430 million and received $73 million in payments from overseas clients/licensing. Negative net worth of over $350 million

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A tiny fraction of that amount would keep ordinary employees from getting even a basic secret clearance

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Oh man, I went on a news blackout on the wrong weekend... reading now

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PRO

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All of the Pirates’ wins this season came against playoff teams...It helps that the rest of NL Central all made the postseason, but also kind of weird that the Pirates were swept in Interleague play by the Tigers and Royals.

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Joe Montana gets contain. Mrs. Montana gets the strip-sack.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/27/us/joe-montana-kidnapper-confrontation-trnd/index.html

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49ers B team still good enough to blow out both New Jersey football teams. Nick Mullens-led offense never had to punt against the Giants.

https://www.ninersnation.com/2020/9/27/21458968/the-49ers-did-not-punt-the-ball-today-which-is-the-first-time-thats-happened-since-93

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THE LAKERS ARE HEADING TO THE NBA FINALS

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2020/9/26/21457996/lakers-vs-nuggets-final-score-recap-game-5-western-conference-finals

For the first time in a decade, the Los Angeles Lakers are heading to the NBA Finals. With a 117-107 win over the Denver Nuggets, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Co. have closed out the Western Conference Finals in five games.

This should have been an easier win than it was. The Lakers went into halftime leading by 10, but the Nuggets outscored them 33-26 in the third quarter as Los Angeles relaxed its defensive intensity. Only because of an Anthony Davis 3-pointer in the closing seconds did the Lakers even have a lead heading into the fourth. The comeback kids from Denver were very much alive.

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Oakland A’s Game #60: A’s end season on strong note in 6-2 win over Mariners

https://www.athleticsnation.com/2020/9/27/21458935/oakland-as-game-60-seattle-mariners-score-result

The Oakland A’s finished the 2020 season on a strong note after all. After losing five of their last seven games entering Sunday, they won the finale and looked good doing it.

The A’s defeated the Seattle Mariners 6-2 at the Coliseum in the 60th and final game of the regular season, before the playoffs begin on Tuesday. They did it with a formula that will work well if they can continue it into next week, combining lights-out starting pitching, nearly flawless work from their bullpen, and hitting that was both plentiful and clutch.

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Now we face the ChiSox tomorrow at noon.

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Wed? I thought all games are on Wed.

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AL starts on Tues.

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ahh...ok. Guess I missed that.

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Giants eliminated on final day of the season

https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2020/9/27/21458898/san-francisco-giants-eliminated

The San Francisco Giants season is over.

The Giants entered Sunday — the final day of the regular season — needing a win over the San Diego Padres, and needing the St. Louis Cardinals to beat the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cardinals held up their end of the deal, but the Giants couldn’t hold up theirs.

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Haha

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Sad trombone

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Giants lost 4 win and your in games in 3 days. After absorbing several losses in games they held usually unlosable leads over the course of the season. Before anyone raises the "rebuilding year" flag, I'd note they were good enough to be in position repeatedly to at least get in. This would suggest a (lack of) management problem.

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Though this is not quite right. They won 1 of 4. Three in a row to finish the season though.

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They had the lead in the 7th (which was the final inning since this was a double-header) in one of the games but Kapler in his wisdom decided to leave a pitcher in who had just walked two batters and couldn't find the strike zone with a map. The result was predictable.

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It was not the Solomon Torres game, but it is a very Giant's ending. I would be upset if I thought they had any business being in the playoffs

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Yeah, even being in this position was impressive.

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The 3 teams that could take the 8 seed by winning all lost yesterday.

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Sounds like a great argument for keeping this playoff structure forever.

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A.J. Pollock homers twice to complete season-ending Dodgers sweep

https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/27/21458838/aj-pollock-home-runs-dodgers-sweep-angels-recap

The Dodgers finished off their 2020 season with a sweep of the Angels, culminating in a 5-0 shutout on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles.

A.J. Pollock got things started with a solo home run to lead off the first inning, then added a two-run shot in the seventh. Pollock finished his 2020 with 16 home runs in 210 plate appearances, after hitting 15 home runs in 342 plate appearances in his first year with Los Angeles in 2019.

Pollock started at least once at all nine spots in the batting order in 2020, and he homered out of seven lineup spots, including two home runs while batting first.

Dustin May finished off a stellar rookie season that saw him start on Opening Day and pitch the most innings in the season finale. He entered Sunday with no outs and one on in the second inning, throwing four scoreless frames with five strikeouts, allowing only two singles and two walks.

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Final score: Patriots 36, Raiders 20

https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2020/9/27/21458557/final-score-patriots-36-raiders-20-nfl

A quick look at the Raiders’ loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, which saw a final score of 36-20 and leaves Las Vegas as 2-1.

Too sloppy:

The Raiders made mistakes on both sides of the ball and had too many key penalties to keep up with the Patriots.

Gutted on ground:

The Patriots had 217 rushing yards through three quarters. That’s ridiculous.

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UGH that was an ugly game. Beaten on both sides of the ball.

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Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-1, I’m not sure what to make of this new habit of “scoring” and “winning,” but it almost guarantees they’ll give up a double digit loss to Liverpool soon.

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Bills outlast Rams 35-32

Jared Goff rallies Rams from 28-3 deficit to take the lead against the Bills in the final minutes, but they can't hold on as the Bills score in the final seconds.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401220119

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The PI they called down at the goal line was pretty iffy.

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I think my favorite play in football is any one in which Aaron Rodgers catches the defense offsides and throws deep to try for a TD. I've seen it countless times and it's still a delight every single time.

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Also quite impressive that he's still able to do this even without fans in the stadium to make the distracting noise (I know that they pump noise into the stadium, but I think there are rules about how loud those can be).

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My wife was watching a game, and briefly thought "man these fans are lame" before remembering there are no fans.

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It's why he was pissed earlier in the game when the officials blew the play dead when the Dlineman crossed the line but didn't continue unimpeded at him. He was seeing a long bomb in that situation. Though maybe his OL moved before they hiked the ball.

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Exactly...they likely let that play go because he “mentioned” it to them earlier. Aaron is in full F-you mode this year...

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I think usually the refs blow it dead when the d-lineman get past the OL or touch the OL. If they just jump and try to get back they usually let the play go and just throw the flag. Either way, he's got them right where he wants them.

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Alan Lazard out of Iowa State emerges as a receiving threat for the Pack. Vintage Rodgers performance.

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CAL

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AP Top 25: Oregon returns to being ranked. USC and Utah drop out of the top 25 and Cal no longer gets any votes. Clearly, we're no Sun Belt Conference.

https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll

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The rankings seem especially meaningless this year.

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Everything seems especially meaningless this year.

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exactly, with Ohio State dropping 20+ places one week to being unranked then gaining back those 20+ spots the next to being ranked like #6.

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Go Bears!

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