(serious question) How often do you go to Ikea, for their cookies to be that high in a cookie rotation? Did they become the purpose of the trip, or do circumstances require relatively frequent furniture shopping?
I guess I just mean when I go there. Sometimes if I'm going to the Ashby Berkeley Bowl I'll stop by. For about 3 months they didn't have them so I went more often to try to get them. The last time I was there they had the cookies but not the Pear Sodas so I now have my cookie fill and probably won't go for a few months.
we go to Ikea specifically to buy lingonberry jam and this caviar spread that we like. end up getting meatballs and other things too while we are at it.
we dont even venture into the furniture section anymore
Ah, I'd assume you're also relatively close to one or its easy to get to.. My closest in Massachusetts is a ~45-60+ minute drive now, and the route in and out is a sh!tshow, and my bearings have been reset since the old Berkeley days with that one in Emeryville.
Frankly, I didn't know they were called that before today. I knew them by the LU brand name, which is far more prominent on the box than the product name.
I think I could, but I bet Scootie would make an even better cake! A couple ideas:
-separate the cookie from the chocolate, blitz the cookie for a crust and use the chocolate for a cheesecake, then line whole cookies around the perimeter of the cheesecake for presentation
-a layer cake (layers: a buttery yellow cake layer, a dark chocolate cake layer, and maybe a cookies and cream cake layer) filled with whipped cream and crumbled Petit Ecolier, and cover the whole cake in ganache
Every house in our neighborhood has wild rabbits living in the landscaping. If you go for a walk, you'll see dozens of them - especially adolescent bunnies.
we had a little batch of them a few weeks ago. during one of the big rain storms my wife and neighbor was obsessed with erecting some shelter so their nest wouldnt flood.
the kids and i thought that nature should take its course ...
Visiting my grandpa in Iowa, growing up. He caught some young bunnies in his garden, put them in one of those large, heavy duty bags for dry dog food, smacked the bag against a tree a few times, and then tossed the bag in the burn barrel. Don't mess with grandpa's garden, I guess.
My mother and her grandfather used to catch rabbits by putting a net over the main hole into a warren and then letting a ferret loose via another hole.
I watched a National Lampoon "double feature" over the last week. The Will Forte "dramatized" version and the documentary. Not sure why I spent 3.5 hours watching about something in which I had little connection – I was aware of Lampoon in my teen years, but never read it – but don't feel that the time was wasted.
The Forte one had a great cast. Watched it first, so when I saw the doc (with the real people), it was interesting to see the similarities, etc. And didn't realize the history of a lot of the people.
Killing time this am before I hit the road....the 3 week road trip to Ft Worth ends today with our return to SB this afternoon and it can’t come soon enough. Traveling with both the 14 year old vizsla & an 8 month old Brittany puppy has been an incredible challenge, and I realize just how easy I’ve had it over the years bc the older pup is just a breeze on the road. I have mad respect for parents out there and traveling w/ human kids! But we’ve started streaming a number of programs on the iPad during the trip:
1. Manifest - Interesting premise for this LOST-inspired show, but these broadcast tv series get pretty hokey and the characters soooo often act just incredibly lame and do such stupid things simply to maintain a storyline that it’s tough to take the program seriously. I’m committed to the 1st season tho, and am halfway thru...hope I can persevere, but this show could really benefit from the holy trinity of premium cable - adult language, violence, & nudity/strong sexual content.
American Rust - Much like the classic film studio battles of Armageddon v. Deep Impact and Dante’s Peak v. Volcano, this is Showtime’s answer to HBO’s Mare of Easttown. Rust stars Jeff Daniels as a small town police chief handling a murder case, and like Mare, it offers just a thoroughly depressing look at life in a small, working class Pennsylvania town, tho this is the Pittsburgh side, not Philly. If you own stock in the state of Pennsylvania, you may wanna unload it and buy an up and comer like Idaho & Montana...yikes, heavy, heavy stuff, tho not as depressing as the current state of the Cal Men’s Basketball program.
Y: The Last Man - Based on a graphic novel, this disaster series focuses on a congresswoman (played by Diane Lane) and her children in the wake of a plague that apparently kills all the men on the planet...an interesting take on the mass extinction and life in its immediate aftermath, it has notes of The Stand, I Am Legend & pretty much every other offering that deals with a large portion of the population being eradicated. Also heavy stuff, but again, it’s not as burdensome as the Cal Men’s Basketball program.
Exactly!! It was ridiculous, yet entertaining. It's like Pierce Brosnan took his family to Rocky Mountain National Park on holiday for the 3-day Memorial Day weekend in '96, ran into Linda Hamilton's twin sister and figured they'd cobble a movie together.
I recently stumbled across VOLA, which is Scandinavian prog metal. Some very interesting songs. Might be worth a listen if you dont know them. "These Black Claws" was my gateway song
I watched Star Wars Visions on Disney+ last night. It is a collection of short stories/episodes and it was great. I highly recommend it if you like Star Wars.
i rarely click on what is recommended but in this case it was pretty good. only seen the 1st episode but it does a good job of jumping between the actual heist and all the background leading up to it.
My wife loves it. I think it has the club version of Ciao Bella as the theme song, yes? It was in heavy rotation here for awhile. And 5-yo daughter added it to her playlist.
The missus made some fantastic huevos rancheros last night. We usually have most of the ingredients (eggs, tortillas, homemade salsa, cotija cheese) around the house, so we both wondered why we don't make it more often.
The show-stealer last night was garlic bread. Fresh French baguette, sliced in half. Spread on top is butter, olive oil, mashed roasted garlic cloves, salt, and Reggiano. Broil. So good that people negotiate for seconds.
Michael Flynn thinks Deep State is trying to put Covid vaccine in your salad dressing. Remember folks, he used to be the primary advisor on national security.
In 1977, the Supreme Court in Nixon v. Administrator of General Services, rejected Nixon’s privilege claims about White House tapes and documents, embracing the idea that executive privilege “is not for the benefit of the President as an individual, but for the benefit of the Republic.”
Two baserunning blunders yesterday (at least I think it was yesterday since it was on ESPN today).
Braves (again). Duvall hit a HR off the CF's glove leaping at the fence. Riley turned around to go back to 1st thinking it was caught so Duvall passed him. This is exactly what happened to Bellinger and Turner against Colorado the first series of the season.
Ohtani tagged up in the bottom of the 10th on a short flyball to RF. He had to go around the catcher, didn't slide, wasn't tagged, but also didn't touch home. He went past home about 10 feet and couldn't get back and was tagged out. I guess this wasn't as much of a blunder but he didn't even try to slide wide and reach for the plate.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins said earlier this year that the only way he would get a COVID-19 vaccine is if he were forced to do so. Now, as the start of the 2021-22 season nears, the organization is dealing with an ongoing headache behind the scenes because Wiggins' stance has not changed.
Wiggins has, to this point, decided against getting the vaccine, a league source told ESPN, confirming a San Francisco Chronicle report Wednesday night. This has put into question his availability for some games for the start of the season. As of Aug. 20, the city of San Francisco has required proof of vaccination for large indoor events.
The Warriors declined to comment on Wiggins' situation late Wednesday night, citing player privacy protocols. In a statement to the Chronicle, the San Francisco Department of Public Health said it would not comment specifically on Wiggins' situation -- unless the NBA grants him a religious exemption.
yeah, it's nuts. They'd be paying him, what?, $30M+ to play in half their games. (Oddly, visiting players aren't subject to the same limit, so non-vaxxed Lakers – for example – could play, while Wiggins can't.
One billion people (±) have received shots with limited issues. (Way fewer issues than people w/o the shot dying.) I just don't get the reticence anymore.
And, religious exemption? Fuck that.
I like having Wiggs on the team – overpaid, but a great complementary piece in the Steph/Klay/Dray world – but now I just wanted him traded for scrap. Altho the way the NBA works, the Dubs would have to send along too much value to be worth it for them :-/
I do not understand how a visiting team is exempt from SF's Public Health Order. The players are working when they play a game, and they are ultimately working for the NBA through their contract with an NBA franchise (the Lakers in this example).
I also don't understand the religious exemption except for Christian Scientists. Their proscriptions against medical intervention is the whole basis for their faith. For any of the major religions (Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, etc.) the directive to love one's neighbor is practically a directive to be vaccinated: you must be concerned for the welfare of others. Also, vaccinations are a gift from G*d. Refusal is tantamount to refusing G*d.
Any folks here have interest in sumo? The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) is completely out-of-date with streaming of tournaments. Like I don't think it's possible.
But near the end of the summer Nagoya tournament, I discovered that there are daily 30-minute highlights on NHK World that drop at like 7pm the next day (live being about 2am PDT).
Con: all the ceremony gets cut. Pro: easier to plow thru a day's action. And it has English commentary (pro and con), but the announcers seem to know their stuff.
Anyway, I haven't seen any sumo (live or televised) since 2018 (last trip to JPN). So I'm getting to who the wrestlers are. Personalities, styles. There have been some great matches during the current tournament. Back-and-forth battles, crazy throws, super-quick dominations.
Another "pro" of the digest format is that it makes a great intro for those who haven't watched. There are a few days left in the tournament...and they have the previous days available as well.
I watch it regularly. The highlight show is very good, though you're right that it would be cool to see the ceremonial stuff that seems to be an integral part of the sport.
the lower-level wrestlers at first and the better wrestlers are later.
If you watch Day 9, there's a match with a crazy ending (about the 15:30 min mark, iirc). One of the rikishi involved is Hoshoryu – the nephew of Asashoryu, who was a Yokozuna (grand champion) about a decade ago.
One thing that came to mind the other day: having fans and photogs so close to the action at NBA games is dangerous (for both players and others). The sumo dohyo is raised like two feet and these dudes often fly off. Landing awkwardly. Hitting ringside judges. Sometimes ending up the seating area. Last night, one guy flew out and landed on the ground, and then had the victor (all 300+ lbs of him) land on his head. Amazing the (unnecessary) risk that they put the wrestlers in.
Also, altho fat, they are also (generally) limber and strong. Would make good OL in the NFL, maybe. Or reverse...be interesting to see an offensive guard get into sumo.
I check in on the tournaments from time to time. I found them on NHK a few years ago. I have a friend (Cal alum) who follows the tournaments religiously.
The A’s lost quietly to the Seattle Mariners yet again on Wednesday, by a 4-1 score at the Coliseum.
Entering this week, Oakland still had a slim chance to compete for a Wild Card, but they’d need a big performance against the Mariners. Instead they’ve lost three straight to their division rival, totaling just five runs along the way. Not only have the A’s now fallen four back of the Second Wild Card with only 10 left to play, but Seattle just passed them in the standings, which means there are now three teams ahead of them for that final spot.
Tonight’s game was the same as the last two nights. The Mariners scored a few runs to take a lead, while Oakland’s lineup never got anything going in response. The A’s only mustered four hits, and they only scored on a solo homer.
This is so depressing. I want the A's to do well and get into the playoffs and yet, it's been obvious since mid- to late-August that was going to be a heavy lift. Ugh.
Pitching has carried the Dodgers all season, which made Wednesday night’s clunker a surprise. The usually reliable Walker Buehler and Alex Vesia had particularly rough nights in a sloppy 10-5 loss to the Rockies.
The Dodgers scored five runs for the ninth time in 10 games. But for the first time since July 30, they lost while scoring at least five, snapping a string of 25 straight wins in such contests.
Ten runs allowed are the most by the Dodgers since June 12, 88 games ago. In between, Los Angeles pitchers allowed 3.01 runs per game.
After starting strong then having a few not so good starts, JoJo Gray got his first win as a Nat last night. Along the way he got thrown out at first on a one hop line drive to the right fielder.
Remember a while back when I pointed out that Lamonte Wade Jr.'s 9th inning batting average was 0.600? He struck out last night in the 9th and his batting average is now back down to 0.600.
It’s easy to peruse the box score and think that the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres in the first inning. That it was a game devoid of mood swings.
After all, the Giants jumped on the Padres early. They loaded the bases with one out in the first inning before Kris Bryant knocked them all in with a double.
It was a 3-0 lead, and drag your finger across the inning-by-inning line score and you’ll think that was that. The game was decided in the first inning. The score fluctuated, as scores are wont to do, but that first inning gave the Giants a lead they would never relinquish.
we're heading to Providence for a family wedding - reception, really, since my wife's cousin decided to just get married anyway last summer - but it's going to be a lightning trip. Since it's an outside reception, I'm slightly concerned about the forecast (50% chance of rain)
I'm sad for all the people whose wedding plans got disrupted by the pandemic (amidst the overwhelming sadness and frustration about the pandemic, of course), but I'm glad that American society is becoming more understanding about separate observations of legal vs family/friend/community marriage.
I know people who've gotten legally married, but felt like they couldn't tell people, lest others not want to attend the wedding celebration. But, I think getting married can be all or some of those things--the legal protection, the commitment in front of people you love and/or the random +1 of your second cousin, the private vows--and it doesn't all have to happen on the same day.
Nice point! We got married at SF city hall – which is like having a European castle wedding for $65 – with a smallish dinner with fam and close friends that evening. Then 3 months later, had a bigger party at a restaurant near city hall that we rented out.
Wore our wedding duds again, which was cool, even including the dirtiness that they absorbed when a bunch of us went to the Mission afterwards for burritos, drinking, and dancing...good times!
That all sounds lovely! Arthur Brown, the architect who designed SF City Hall, was a Cal grad who also designed my workplace at Berkeley Lab. (Cugel, I still need to read the book you lent me!)
This weekend we're headed to Charlotte for the first wedding since 2018 (?). Wedding starts around 6pm and I volunteered to leave the dinner a little early so I can put cf-98 to bed at the hotel (and, more importantly, find a stream of the Cal-UW game).
Interesting. Since I haven't had the interesting alternatives in Charleston, I can't speculate one way or the other, but I spent many happy visits trying various offerings in New Orleans... I'd be impressed if Charleston could beat it.
I've been twice and both times with "problematic" eaters, i.e. my wife and daughters, so I wasn't able to take advantage. I should just go by myself sometime.
I've been borderline on cholesterol for some time & have a truly splendid family history of heart disease 😬 - but I am reasonably sensible most of the time so that I can push the boat out occasionally.
I'm not saying that to minimize the changes you have to make! I had to go on blood pressure meds at 37, cut back on fatty and salty food, don't drink much booze, etc. My real remaining issues are 1) not eating enough plant-based food, and 2) too much processed sugar. The good news is that pretty much anything you do will help.
My cholesterol started ticking up when I turned 48, so I've been on Atorvastatin for a few years, which keeps it in the good zone. Also had a heart and lung scan via MRI last year at Furd, with good results. My doc said it was a good idea to get a baseline reading for the future.
oddly (or not) i recharge by getting physically exhausted.
a nice 4 hr bike ride on a Sunday morning is the best thing to disconnect, feel alive, think about both everything and nothing.
in contrast, my interval training rides are much more intense. trying to hold XXX watts for 8 min is hard enough that i dont have time to think about anything except holding those watts. repeat 4-5 times and i am gasping for air by the end, but i realize after that i am mentally refreshed from not thinking about anything for that one hour.
and i must admit that Soul Cycle has a similar effect which is why i have been going pretty regularly for 8+ yrs.
I recharge by watching youtube and twitch. Currently doing so as I type this during my first week of classes, where I am way ahead and only have assignments in 1 class still do to through Monday. Also wrote my first piece for Santa Clara's newspaper "The Santa Clara" on the SF Giants (I'll post the link in a DBD when it gets published) but there's my start.
I've been trying to go through TOS recently and have found it tough sledding. (To be fair, so are the first two season of TNG.) Maybe I need to just hit the episodes that are considered the best.
Actually Spock's brain is good in a ridiculous sort of way. I like how he talks Dr. McCoy through the re-connection process, even though McCoy loses the knowledge he had gained through the "teacher."
I recall seeing Tribbles when I was like 8 (so early-70s) and loving it (as a kid is won't to do). I've prob seen every ep between 5 and 10, but I've *never* come across Tribbles again. as part of standard syndication; I've not gone to a streamer specifically to watch it. I thought that maybe it was a "special" ep that was held out of the synd package for some reason...
I can help! About a 1/3 of the episodes are unwatchable, some are so bad they are funny (Spock's Brain) you want a list of essential episodes? Happy to help.
Maybe this should go in AVclub, but in Reply 1988 there's a bit where one character leaves a baseball as a marker of a future conquest; totally reminded me of the baseball left by Sisko to tell Gul Dukat that he was coming back (Call to Arms, finale of season 5).
I believe seasons 4-6 of DS9 are the best Star Trek has to offer, overall. There are great episodes of TOS and TNG, but no great seasons.
I like the original Trek though TNG is also good. Never got into the latter series. In the first couple of years of the original series a number of sci-fi authors wrote the scripts, e.g. Theodore Sturgeon, etc.
they are good but follow the standard script of a show these days that you cant just pick up and watch an episode anymore. you have to watch the whole story arc in sequence to know what is going on.
so it is just like a really long movie ... and in the end i lose interest a bit because most stories arent that great for that long. obviously there are notable exceptions like Game of Thrones.
I think even GoT knew better how to break up the storylines to keep some semblance of a structure to the individual episodes. The streaming series that try to get you to binge often don't really try.
For those who aren't sure if they've ever heard "ope" in the wild https://twitter.com/Tylerjoelb/status/1441103305107591175?s=20
The best cookie you can buy in a grocery store
Milanos
ALL OF THEM....except for Fig Newtons...barf
Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies are an absurdly delicious trip down memory lane on rare occasion, but probably dont qualify as cookies.
Nutter Butter.
My ex loved Flakey Flix. I think the only cookies I very rarely buy are Oreos or Dark Chocolate Milanos.
Oh, I forgot about the Ikea Crispy Chocolate sandwich cookies. I buy these more often than I should.
I make cookies more often than I buy them, other than the Ikea ones.
(serious question) How often do you go to Ikea, for their cookies to be that high in a cookie rotation? Did they become the purpose of the trip, or do circumstances require relatively frequent furniture shopping?
I guess I just mean when I go there. Sometimes if I'm going to the Ashby Berkeley Bowl I'll stop by. For about 3 months they didn't have them so I went more often to try to get them. The last time I was there they had the cookies but not the Pear Sodas so I now have my cookie fill and probably won't go for a few months.
we go to Ikea specifically to buy lingonberry jam and this caviar spread that we like. end up getting meatballs and other things too while we are at it.
we dont even venture into the furniture section anymore
Ah, I'd assume you're also relatively close to one or its easy to get to.. My closest in Massachusetts is a ~45-60+ minute drive now, and the route in and out is a sh!tshow, and my bearings have been reset since the old Berkeley days with that one in Emeryville.
it is not that close. there are 3 all about an hour from home: new haven, newark, long island
but there are random reasons to drive in those directions on a regular basis so we just make it point to always have lingonberry sauce at home
when i hear of lingonberry i can only think of the nihilists, and how its not fair that one of their girlfriends gave up a toe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6_PtNRYhy0
My favorite was always the dark chocolate Pinwheels. Not to be confused with the nearly identical-looking, but not as tasty, fudge Twirls.
Oh, that reminds me that I always enjoy Keebler Fudge Stripes
Dark Chocolate Little Schoolboy (Petit Ecolier)
Randy Watson would be soooo pleased!!!
Can you bring the reference?
Sounds like I'm missing out...never heard of these.
Frankly, I didn't know they were called that before today. I knew them by the LU brand name, which is far more prominent on the box than the product name.
I'm going to repeat my theory here that they would make incredible s'mores (I have not tested said theory. yet.)
You're a GD genius.
Excellent choice
Ooooooh
strong strong entry
Thank you, thank you, all. :-)
Forgot to mention: dipped in milk
Maybe TBB can make a cake out of them?
I think I could, but I bet Scootie would make an even better cake! A couple ideas:
-separate the cookie from the chocolate, blitz the cookie for a crust and use the chocolate for a cheesecake, then line whole cookies around the perimeter of the cheesecake for presentation
-a layer cake (layers: a buttery yellow cake layer, a dark chocolate cake layer, and maybe a cookies and cream cake layer) filled with whipped cream and crumbled Petit Ecolier, and cover the whole cake in ganache
how about a layer of cookie, a layer of buttercream frosting, repeat...
It could make a good icebox cake! I'm not a fan of buttercream frosting, but far be it for me to stand in the way of your dreams!
i LOVE icebox cake. Magnolia Bakery in NYC has some decent ones.
Historically, I was a Famous Amos man. But nowadays I must admit that Tate’s are hands down the best grocery store cookies.
Agree with Tates
Tates is also a good ice cream sandwich cookie
back in the day - those Duncan Hines soft-batch ones were really good.
today - Halloween Jo-Jo's from Trader Joe's is the single best item they sell
soft batch chocolate chip cookies that is ...
Rabbit
Every house in our neighborhood has wild rabbits living in the landscaping. If you go for a walk, you'll see dozens of them - especially adolescent bunnies.
we had a little batch of them a few weeks ago. during one of the big rain storms my wife and neighbor was obsessed with erecting some shelter so their nest wouldnt flood.
the kids and i thought that nature should take its course ...
Visiting my grandpa in Iowa, growing up. He caught some young bunnies in his garden, put them in one of those large, heavy duty bags for dry dog food, smacked the bag against a tree a few times, and then tossed the bag in the burn barrel. Don't mess with grandpa's garden, I guess.
My mother and her grandfather used to catch rabbits by putting a net over the main hole into a warren and then letting a ferret loose via another hole.
where did the get the ferret?
it was a "pet" kept for hunting rabbits.
My zodiac sign. Also, I was born on Mid-Autumn Festival. Along with several other factors, I've long had an affinity for the moon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_rabbit
My wife is a rabbit also. Maybe that's why we have the pets that we do...
Aries here. I follow my horoscope with religious vigor. Well, not really. A Bear victory is in the tea leaves for Saturday, though.
Our pets here at Casa Mori, so I hope I don't start reading recipes or "when I was at this paella restaurant in Spain..." stories! ;-)
There's this paella restaurant in Spain. Outside lived little bunnies, which were cute. The end.
DBD AV
I watched a National Lampoon "double feature" over the last week. The Will Forte "dramatized" version and the documentary. Not sure why I spent 3.5 hours watching about something in which I had little connection – I was aware of Lampoon in my teen years, but never read it – but don't feel that the time was wasted.
The Forte one had a great cast. Watched it first, so when I saw the doc (with the real people), it was interesting to see the similarities, etc. And didn't realize the history of a lot of the people.
Killing time this am before I hit the road....the 3 week road trip to Ft Worth ends today with our return to SB this afternoon and it can’t come soon enough. Traveling with both the 14 year old vizsla & an 8 month old Brittany puppy has been an incredible challenge, and I realize just how easy I’ve had it over the years bc the older pup is just a breeze on the road. I have mad respect for parents out there and traveling w/ human kids! But we’ve started streaming a number of programs on the iPad during the trip:
1. Manifest - Interesting premise for this LOST-inspired show, but these broadcast tv series get pretty hokey and the characters soooo often act just incredibly lame and do such stupid things simply to maintain a storyline that it’s tough to take the program seriously. I’m committed to the 1st season tho, and am halfway thru...hope I can persevere, but this show could really benefit from the holy trinity of premium cable - adult language, violence, & nudity/strong sexual content.
American Rust - Much like the classic film studio battles of Armageddon v. Deep Impact and Dante’s Peak v. Volcano, this is Showtime’s answer to HBO’s Mare of Easttown. Rust stars Jeff Daniels as a small town police chief handling a murder case, and like Mare, it offers just a thoroughly depressing look at life in a small, working class Pennsylvania town, tho this is the Pittsburgh side, not Philly. If you own stock in the state of Pennsylvania, you may wanna unload it and buy an up and comer like Idaho & Montana...yikes, heavy, heavy stuff, tho not as depressing as the current state of the Cal Men’s Basketball program.
Y: The Last Man - Based on a graphic novel, this disaster series focuses on a congresswoman (played by Diane Lane) and her children in the wake of a plague that apparently kills all the men on the planet...an interesting take on the mass extinction and life in its immediate aftermath, it has notes of The Stand, I Am Legend & pretty much every other offering that deals with a large portion of the population being eradicated. Also heavy stuff, but again, it’s not as burdensome as the Cal Men’s Basketball program.
100% with Manifest. First episode was interesting. By E3, I'd lost interest in everyone.
Dante's Peak is hysterically bad, so bad it's actually quite funny.
Exactly!! It was ridiculous, yet entertaining. It's like Pierce Brosnan took his family to Rocky Mountain National Park on holiday for the 3-day Memorial Day weekend in '96, ran into Linda Hamilton's twin sister and figured they'd cobble a movie together.
spent some time listening to albums by Red Fang and Sword for some slightly less shrieky but still reasonably crunchy metal-like music.
I recently stumbled across VOLA, which is Scandinavian prog metal. Some very interesting songs. Might be worth a listen if you dont know them. "These Black Claws" was my gateway song
I'll give it a go
Come on, Olaf, “Berserker”...My love for you is like a truck, Berserker...would you like some making f*ck Berserker!
And Clerks 3 is coming out? (Did I ever see Clerks 2? Can't remember.)
I missed it...Clerks was OG...."aw, you can't even pass"
Chewbacca...what a Wookiee!
I watched Star Wars Visions on Disney+ last night. It is a collection of short stories/episodes and it was great. I highly recommend it if you like Star Wars.
someone in another internet place posted this in the Star Wars themed stuff.
one of the funniest things ever ...
Star Wars - Duel of the Fates (Sing-Along)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFDT2L5bPFI
Money Heist on Netflix.
i rarely click on what is recommended but in this case it was pretty good. only seen the 1st episode but it does a good job of jumping between the actual heist and all the background leading up to it.
My wife loves it. I think it has the club version of Ciao Bella as the theme song, yes? It was in heavy rotation here for awhile. And 5-yo daughter added it to her playlist.
DBD Kitchen
The missus made some fantastic huevos rancheros last night. We usually have most of the ingredients (eggs, tortillas, homemade salsa, cotija cheese) around the house, so we both wondered why we don't make it more often.
A tender pork loin with miniature rosemary potatoes backed in the oven at 420.
"baked"
The show-stealer last night was garlic bread. Fresh French baguette, sliced in half. Spread on top is butter, olive oil, mashed roasted garlic cloves, salt, and Reggiano. Broil. So good that people negotiate for seconds.
Today in COVID
COVID in California: FDA gives nod to Pfizer boosters for older adults and high-risk workers
https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/COVID-in-California-Latest-news-and-updates-16477224.php
Goal accomplished, but none have won the Herman Cain Award (yet).
https://twitter.com/darcyropchan/status/1440812858304991236
Crumbling Democracies
Trump pressures Gov. Abbott to do an election audit. Remember folks, Trump won in Texas.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/573629-trump-demands-abbott-back-election-audit-in-texas
Wouldn't it be funny if an election audit found inconsistencies and he ended up losing Texas? Or it became much closer?
Biden to Machin: "ok, what dollar amount for the infrastructure bill would work for you and stop you from keeping the country as a hostage?"
Manchin: "LOOK OVER THERE!" [runs away]
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/573534-manchin-biden-told-moderates-to-pitch-price-tag-for-reconciliation-bill
Michael Flynn thinks Deep State is trying to put Covid vaccine in your salad dressing. Remember folks, he used to be the primary advisor on national security.
https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1440644282759614478
Former Press Secretary Kayleigh McENazi deletes her tweet that blamed Biden for a surge of murders during the Trump administration
https://twitter.com/donmoyn/status/1441025835620724736
Jan. 6 investigation accelerates as it turns toward Trump
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/23/january-6-investigation-trump-subpoenas-513642
In 1977, the Supreme Court in Nixon v. Administrator of General Services, rejected Nixon’s privilege claims about White House tapes and documents, embracing the idea that executive privilege “is not for the benefit of the President as an individual, but for the benefit of the Republic.”
Other College
U Tennessee will pay $500k to NOT play Army. The Volunteers schedule Akron instead, which they undoubtedly have to pay also.
https://twitter.com/FBSchedules/status/1440453285773676546?s=20
Pro
Two baserunning blunders yesterday (at least I think it was yesterday since it was on ESPN today).
Braves (again). Duvall hit a HR off the CF's glove leaping at the fence. Riley turned around to go back to 1st thinking it was caught so Duvall passed him. This is exactly what happened to Bellinger and Turner against Colorado the first series of the season.
Ohtani tagged up in the bottom of the 10th on a short flyball to RF. He had to go around the catcher, didn't slide, wasn't tagged, but also didn't touch home. He went past home about 10 feet and couldn't get back and was tagged out. I guess this wasn't as much of a blunder but he didn't even try to slide wide and reach for the plate.
The first one is a no-no of the first order. DO NOT PASS a preceding runner on the bases.
The second one is a blunder I can't comprehend. What the hell was he thinking?
It reminds me of this exchange from The Natural -
Max Mercy: Hey slugger, why didn't you slide?
Bump Bailey: I had a cigar in my back pocket and I didn't want to mess it up.
Warriors' Andrew Wiggins remains unvaccinated, source says, jeopardizing his availability for Golden State
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32261240/warriors-andrew-wiggins-remains-unvaccinated-source-says-jeopardizing-availability-golden-state
SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins said earlier this year that the only way he would get a COVID-19 vaccine is if he were forced to do so. Now, as the start of the 2021-22 season nears, the organization is dealing with an ongoing headache behind the scenes because Wiggins' stance has not changed.
Wiggins has, to this point, decided against getting the vaccine, a league source told ESPN, confirming a San Francisco Chronicle report Wednesday night. This has put into question his availability for some games for the start of the season. As of Aug. 20, the city of San Francisco has required proof of vaccination for large indoor events.
The Warriors declined to comment on Wiggins' situation late Wednesday night, citing player privacy protocols. In a statement to the Chronicle, the San Francisco Department of Public Health said it would not comment specifically on Wiggins' situation -- unless the NBA grants him a religious exemption.
I really don't understand this nonsense, especially from a professional athlete.
yeah, it's nuts. They'd be paying him, what?, $30M+ to play in half their games. (Oddly, visiting players aren't subject to the same limit, so non-vaxxed Lakers – for example – could play, while Wiggins can't.
One billion people (±) have received shots with limited issues. (Way fewer issues than people w/o the shot dying.) I just don't get the reticence anymore.
And, religious exemption? Fuck that.
I like having Wiggs on the team – overpaid, but a great complementary piece in the Steph/Klay/Dray world – but now I just wanted him traded for scrap. Altho the way the NBA works, the Dubs would have to send along too much value to be worth it for them :-/
I do not understand how a visiting team is exempt from SF's Public Health Order. The players are working when they play a game, and they are ultimately working for the NBA through their contract with an NBA franchise (the Lakers in this example).
I also don't understand the religious exemption except for Christian Scientists. Their proscriptions against medical intervention is the whole basis for their faith. For any of the major religions (Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, etc.) the directive to love one's neighbor is practically a directive to be vaccinated: you must be concerned for the welfare of others. Also, vaccinations are a gift from G*d. Refusal is tantamount to refusing G*d.
Also, FANS have to be vaccinated. The visiting players are the only people in the arena who can be unvaccinated. I do not understand.
Yeah, anyone claiming a religious exemption is basically creating their own new religion (ala Pastafarians) for the sole purpose of this BS.
If the local venue in SF requires vaccination, doesn't that mean he's basically being forced to get it?
or he won't play home games. And I guess not be able to practice with the team? Although maybe that doesn't count since it isn't an event.
Yeah, this seems like pretty much a requirement to be an effective member of the team.
Any folks here have interest in sumo? The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) is completely out-of-date with streaming of tournaments. Like I don't think it's possible.
But near the end of the summer Nagoya tournament, I discovered that there are daily 30-minute highlights on NHK World that drop at like 7pm the next day (live being about 2am PDT).
Con: all the ceremony gets cut. Pro: easier to plow thru a day's action. And it has English commentary (pro and con), but the announcers seem to know their stuff.
Anyway, I haven't seen any sumo (live or televised) since 2018 (last trip to JPN). So I'm getting to who the wrestlers are. Personalities, styles. There have been some great matches during the current tournament. Back-and-forth battles, crazy throws, super-quick dominations.
Another "pro" of the digest format is that it makes a great intro for those who haven't watched. There are a few days left in the tournament...and they have the previous days available as well.
I watch it regularly. The highlight show is very good, though you're right that it would be cool to see the ceremonial stuff that seems to be an integral part of the sport.
i know little about it but would love to learn more
here's the NHK link
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/2061461/
the lower-level wrestlers at first and the better wrestlers are later.
If you watch Day 9, there's a match with a crazy ending (about the 15:30 min mark, iirc). One of the rikishi involved is Hoshoryu – the nephew of Asashoryu, who was a Yokozuna (grand champion) about a decade ago.
One thing that came to mind the other day: having fans and photogs so close to the action at NBA games is dangerous (for both players and others). The sumo dohyo is raised like two feet and these dudes often fly off. Landing awkwardly. Hitting ringside judges. Sometimes ending up the seating area. Last night, one guy flew out and landed on the ground, and then had the victor (all 300+ lbs of him) land on his head. Amazing the (unnecessary) risk that they put the wrestlers in.
Also, altho fat, they are also (generally) limber and strong. Would make good OL in the NFL, maybe. Or reverse...be interesting to see an offensive guard get into sumo.
I check in on the tournaments from time to time. I found them on NHK a few years ago. I have a friend (Cal alum) who follows the tournaments religiously.
Game #152: A’s lose third straight, fall behind Mariners in standings
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2021/9/22/22689237/oakland-as-game-152-seattle-mariners-score-result
That might be it for the Oakland A’s in 2021.
The A’s lost quietly to the Seattle Mariners yet again on Wednesday, by a 4-1 score at the Coliseum.
Entering this week, Oakland still had a slim chance to compete for a Wild Card, but they’d need a big performance against the Mariners. Instead they’ve lost three straight to their division rival, totaling just five runs along the way. Not only have the A’s now fallen four back of the Second Wild Card with only 10 left to play, but Seattle just passed them in the standings, which means there are now three teams ahead of them for that final spot.
Tonight’s game was the same as the last two nights. The Mariners scored a few runs to take a lead, while Oakland’s lineup never got anything going in response. The A’s only mustered four hits, and they only scored on a solo homer.
This is so depressing. I want the A's to do well and get into the playoffs and yet, it's been obvious since mid- to late-August that was going to be a heavy lift. Ugh.
Dodgers pitchers can’t stop the bleeding in loss to Rockies
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/9/22/22689009/walker-buehler-alex-vesia-dodgers-pitching-rare-clunker-rockies-recap
Pitching has carried the Dodgers all season, which made Wednesday night’s clunker a surprise. The usually reliable Walker Buehler and Alex Vesia had particularly rough nights in a sloppy 10-5 loss to the Rockies.
The Dodgers scored five runs for the ninth time in 10 games. But for the first time since July 30, they lost while scoring at least five, snapping a string of 25 straight wins in such contests.
Ten runs allowed are the most by the Dodgers since June 12, 88 games ago. In between, Los Angeles pitchers allowed 3.01 runs per game.
After starting strong then having a few not so good starts, JoJo Gray got his first win as a Nat last night. Along the way he got thrown out at first on a one hop line drive to the right fielder.
I also heard Ruiz is hitting better recently. I think they'll both be pretty good.
He has at least two hits in four of his last five games. Three hits in three of them. The team is really high on him.
Remember a while back when I pointed out that Lamonte Wade Jr.'s 9th inning batting average was 0.600? He struck out last night in the 9th and his batting average is now back down to 0.600.
Scott Kazmir and Camilo Doval, naturally, lead Giants to two-game lead in NL West
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2021/9/22/22689247/san-francisco-giants-padres-dodgers-camilo-doval-scott-kazmir
It’s easy to peruse the box score and think that the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres in the first inning. That it was a game devoid of mood swings.
After all, the Giants jumped on the Padres early. They loaded the bases with one out in the first inning before Kris Bryant knocked them all in with a double.
It was a 3-0 lead, and drag your finger across the inning-by-inning line score and you’ll think that was that. The game was decided in the first inning. The score fluctuated, as scores are wont to do, but that first inning gave the Giants a lead they would never relinquish.
For some reason Tyler Rogers is unhittable before the 9th inning but very hittable in the 9th. It doesn't make much sense.
Sounds psychological to me.
He did come in with a four run lead last night and immediately walked the first guy (and the pitches weren't close). Must be.
A's lose again 4-1 to Mariners, fall into 3rd place in AL West. The hope for a wildcard birth is all but extinguished.
49ers kick out Virgin in order to get someone even younger.
https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-rb-jacques-patrick-cb-release-dee-virgin
Cal
Deng out for Saturday
https://twitter.com/CalRivals/status/1440860183824003074?s=19
Not really surprising, hope the younger guys in the rotation step up.
Go Bears!!!
Battery
This cute little 2500 square foot pied de terre on Charleston's battery. Flood insurance probably costs a bajillion dollars per year.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/16-Murray-Blvd-Charleston-SC-29401/10904674_zpid/
that's rather nice, but I don't think I'd put anything in there that I minded losing
we are headed to Charleston next weekend for a wedding. coronavirus aside, we havent been to a wedding in a LONG time
we're heading to Providence for a family wedding - reception, really, since my wife's cousin decided to just get married anyway last summer - but it's going to be a lightning trip. Since it's an outside reception, I'm slightly concerned about the forecast (50% chance of rain)
I'm sad for all the people whose wedding plans got disrupted by the pandemic (amidst the overwhelming sadness and frustration about the pandemic, of course), but I'm glad that American society is becoming more understanding about separate observations of legal vs family/friend/community marriage.
I know people who've gotten legally married, but felt like they couldn't tell people, lest others not want to attend the wedding celebration. But, I think getting married can be all or some of those things--the legal protection, the commitment in front of people you love and/or the random +1 of your second cousin, the private vows--and it doesn't all have to happen on the same day.
Nice point! We got married at SF city hall – which is like having a European castle wedding for $65 – with a smallish dinner with fam and close friends that evening. Then 3 months later, had a bigger party at a restaurant near city hall that we rented out.
Wore our wedding duds again, which was cool, even including the dirtiness that they absorbed when a bunch of us went to the Mission afterwards for burritos, drinking, and dancing...good times!
That all sounds lovely! Arthur Brown, the architect who designed SF City Hall, was a Cal grad who also designed my workplace at Berkeley Lab. (Cugel, I still need to read the book you lent me!)
It's been a year! Are you reading one word per day?
She's busy eating cake!
This weekend we're headed to Charlotte for the first wedding since 2018 (?). Wedding starts around 6pm and I volunteered to leave the dinner a little early so I can put cf-98 to bed at the hotel (and, more importantly, find a stream of the Cal-UW game).
Jealous. Best food in the South.
also is New Orleans not in the south now?
I'd take Charleston's food over Nawlins any day.
Interesting. Since I haven't had the interesting alternatives in Charleston, I can't speculate one way or the other, but I spent many happy visits trying various offerings in New Orleans... I'd be impressed if Charleston could beat it.
I've been twice and both times with "problematic" eaters, i.e. my wife and daughters, so I wasn't able to take advantage. I should just go by myself sometime.
i am a newly minted "problematic eater" since it turns out i have high cholesterol and family history of heart disease.
trying to eat fish, eggs, and limited dairy along w/ all the veggie things for we'll see how long ...
that trip to Texas + brisket might have been the last of the good stuff for a while.
I've been borderline on cholesterol for some time & have a truly splendid family history of heart disease 😬 - but I am reasonably sensible most of the time so that I can push the boat out occasionally.
I'm not saying that to minimize the changes you have to make! I had to go on blood pressure meds at 37, cut back on fatty and salty food, don't drink much booze, etc. My real remaining issues are 1) not eating enough plant-based food, and 2) too much processed sugar. The good news is that pretty much anything you do will help.
agreed. i was hoping to be "good" for 3-6 months and get cholesterol down to a good level if possible w/ diet changes.
i still might need to go on meds, but at least going to try to see if a can avoid it.
and once i am in "good" territory i assume that i'll be able to cheat occasionally and know what it takes to counteract it
My cholesterol started ticking up when I turned 48, so I've been on Atorvastatin for a few years, which keeps it in the good zone. Also had a heart and lung scan via MRI last year at Furd, with good results. My doc said it was a good idea to get a baseline reading for the future.
My friend's husband decided to go fully plant-based rather than take medication!
NC not far enough south? seems south enough to us Yankees ..
There's Border States, Deep South, Gentle South, and Florida. We're gentle south.
Recharge with 8-9 hours of sleep
Sleep is underrated.
That is all.
yes, please!
wait...8-9? that's -1 hours of sleep!
I was told there would be no math!!
Lashing out the action, returning the reaction
Weak are ripped and torn away
Hypnotizing power, crushing all that cower
Battery is here to stay
oddly (or not) i recharge by getting physically exhausted.
a nice 4 hr bike ride on a Sunday morning is the best thing to disconnect, feel alive, think about both everything and nothing.
in contrast, my interval training rides are much more intense. trying to hold XXX watts for 8 min is hard enough that i dont have time to think about anything except holding those watts. repeat 4-5 times and i am gasping for air by the end, but i realize after that i am mentally refreshed from not thinking about anything for that one hour.
and i must admit that Soul Cycle has a similar effect which is why i have been going pretty regularly for 8+ yrs.
Same. Getting on the bike is a great way to unwind and think as much or as little as needed.
I recharge by watching youtube and twitch. Currently doing so as I type this during my first week of classes, where I am way ahead and only have assignments in 1 class still do to through Monday. Also wrote my first piece for Santa Clara's newspaper "The Santa Clara" on the SF Giants (I'll post the link in a DBD when it gets published) but there's my start.
i tend to watch re-runs of Star Trek to unwind.
TOS is going off Netflix at the end of this month, I hear.
It's cheesy, I know. But I love TOS.
I've been trying to go through TOS recently and have found it tough sledding. (To be fair, so are the first two season of TNG.) Maybe I need to just hit the episodes that are considered the best.
Most of my favorite episodes.
Season 1 -
Ep 4 - The Enemy Within
Ep 8 - Balance of Terror
Ep 12 - Conscience of the King
Ep 13 - The Galileo Seven
Ep 20 - The Alternative Factor
Ep 28 - The City on the Edge of Forever
Season 2 -
Ep 2 - Metamorphosis
Ep 5 - Amok Time
Ep 6 - The Doomsday Machine
Ep 17 - The Gamesters of Triskelion
Ep 19 - The Immunity Syndrome
Ep 22 - Return to Tomorrow
Ep 24 - The Ultimate Computer
Season 3 -
Ep 1 - Spectre of the Gun
Ep 6 - Spock's Brain
Ep 10 - For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky
Ep 14 - That Which Survives
Ep 15 - Let That Be Your Last Battlefield
Ep 16 - Whom Gods Destroy
Ep 17 - The Mark of Gideon
Ep 21 - Requiem for Methuselah
Ep 23 - All Our Yesterdays
Season 1 -
Ep 4 - The Enemy Within - just Ok
Ep 8 - Balance of Terror - great 5 star
Ep 12 - Conscience of the King - good, 3.5
Ep 13 - The Galileo Seven - ok, 3
Ep 20 - The Alternative Factor - Garbage! 1 star
Ep 28 - The City on the Edge of Forever - great 4.5
You left out:
Ep 4 The Naked time 4.5
Ep 23 A Taste of Armageddon 5 star!
Ep 25 Devil in the Dark 4.5
Season 2 -
Ep 2 - Metamorphosis eh, ok
Ep 5 - Amok Time - great 4.5
Ep 6 - The Doomsday Machine - ok 3
Ep 17 - The Gamesters of Triskelion - fun, but silly
Ep 19 - The Immunity Syndrome - 4 stars
Ep 22 - Return to Tomorrow eh, just ok
Ep 24 - The Ultimate Computer - 4 stars, good
You left out THREE of the very best!
Mirror Mirror - 5 stars
Journey to Babel - 5 stars
The Trouble with Tribbles - 5 stars
I kinda like Bread & Circuses, but I only rated it at 3 stars
Season 3 -
Ep 1 - Spectre of the Gun - Terrible! 1 star
Ep 6 - Spock's Brain - ZERO stars
Ep 10 - For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky - bad 2 stars
Ep 14 - That Which Survives - 1/2 star
Ep 15 - Let That Be Your Last Battlefield - ?
Ep 16 - Whom Gods Destroy - bad, 2 stars
Ep 17 - The Mark of Gideon - 1 star
Ep 21 - Requiem for Methuselah - 1/2 star
Ep 23 - All Our Yesterdays - 3.5, not bad
BUT, you left out:
The Enterprise Incident - 4 stars
The Tholian Web - 4 stars
Elaan of Troyus - 4.5 stars ( with the gorgeous France Nuyen - what is wrong with you?)
Actually Spock's brain is good in a ridiculous sort of way. I like how he talks Dr. McCoy through the re-connection process, even though McCoy loses the knowledge he had gained through the "teacher."
When I rated these years ago, I gave some of them funny stars - "Brain and brain, what is brain?!?"
that is quite a TOS battle!
I recall seeing Tribbles when I was like 8 (so early-70s) and loving it (as a kid is won't to do). I've prob seen every ep between 5 and 10, but I've *never* come across Tribbles again. as part of standard syndication; I've not gone to a streamer specifically to watch it. I thought that maybe it was a "special" ep that was held out of the synd package for some reason...
I can help! About a 1/3 of the episodes are unwatchable, some are so bad they are funny (Spock's Brain) you want a list of essential episodes? Happy to help.
Yeah, Spock's Brain is bad. It's part of why I like it.
Why so hard?
ToS, TNG, DS9, others?
I've recently started going through DS9 and am finding it more entertaining than I remembered.
mostly TNG, but anything will do
Maybe this should go in AVclub, but in Reply 1988 there's a bit where one character leaves a baseball as a marker of a future conquest; totally reminded me of the baseball left by Sisko to tell Gul Dukat that he was coming back (Call to Arms, finale of season 5).
I believe seasons 4-6 of DS9 are the best Star Trek has to offer, overall. There are great episodes of TOS and TNG, but no great seasons.
DS9 took a while to actually get good. Those first three seasons were a bit boring.
Seasons 4-6 get great with the arrival of The Dominion.
same with TNG. first 3 seasons are nigh unwatchable. Wil Wheaton as an adult is great; but Welsey was brutal!
The first 3 seasons still has a TOS feel to it but it has some gems.
I think by Season 3 they are starting to get it. Season 2 has some good episodes here and there.
gif of Kirk, Spock and Bones nodding in agreement.
I like the original Trek though TNG is also good. Never got into the latter series. In the first couple of years of the original series a number of sci-fi authors wrote the scripts, e.g. Theodore Sturgeon, etc.
Discovery? Picard? Thoughts? (Granted they aren't reruns.)
Actually Lower Decks (animated) is quite entertaining and extra violent for ST.
Discovery - 1 season was insane, 2nd was fairly great, 3rd, super disappointing (after the 2nd)
Picard, eh, ok but I think only loved by stans of TNG, which I am not one.
Good to know that I can skip S3. I thought S2 was kinda meh. too much Star Trek Science to keep the plot moving.
and bring characters back from the dead.
they are good but follow the standard script of a show these days that you cant just pick up and watch an episode anymore. you have to watch the whole story arc in sequence to know what is going on.
so it is just like a really long movie ... and in the end i lose interest a bit because most stories arent that great for that long. obviously there are notable exceptions like Game of Thrones.
I think even GoT knew better how to break up the storylines to keep some semblance of a structure to the individual episodes. The streaming series that try to get you to binge often don't really try.
good point! and there's a lot of not good stuff in there as they stretch it out to be a "long" movie.