Golden Nuggets: Chai, Wine, Books, and Starting Winter Break
The Cozy Edition of Golden Nuggets.
Hello and welcome to the latest installment of Golden Nuggets where we try to chronicle the stuff you might have missed and help distract you on your lunch hour. The calendar says the last time I wrote this was a week ago but it sure has felt like a whole month. Anyways, let’s get to it!
Football Travels to Exotic Locale, Los Angeles
Cal Football made their way down to a wholly new area for them, Los Angeles. For those unfamiliar, Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California. With an estimated 3,820,914 residents within the city limits as of 2023, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind only New York City; it is also the commercial, financial and cultural center of Southern California. Los Angeles has an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and is the principal city of a metropolitan area of 12.8 million people. Last I checked, Los Angeles was also Bear Territory.
For those heading to the game, don’t forget to stop by the LA Bowl Tailgate! Tell them Write for California sent you. Or don’t.
As to the game, the team got some swag. They got the red carpet experience at Universal Studios. The team captured the chaotic Minion energy. The Art of Sport LA Bowl Social media presence embraced the Calgorithm in our time of need. Things got a little weird. And then they got a lot weird. But some would argue that they started weird. Or really it was all weird the whole time. Regardless, it should be a fun game. Tune in tonight at 6 PM PT to see what surely will be a wholly normal affair.
On the Origins of Stanford Students and Alumni
Some former and current UC Berkeley researchers performed a new analysis of DNA in ancient modern humans and determined, more precisely than ever, the time period during which Stanford alumni Neanderthals interbred with modern humans. Read more here.
Oakland, CA, Marshawn Style
As part of his ‘N Yo’ City Series, Marshawn Lynch took the production team around Oakland to showoff his favorite city. It’s a good watch.
Please Allow Rich Lyons To Introduce Himself
California Magazine, a publication of the Cal Alumni Association, interviewed new UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons. Unfortunately, the interview wasn’t able to get to the bottom of his Top Dog order.
Golden Bear Honors
Ondine Achampong was named to the Gymnastics ACC Newcomer Watch List. Mya Lauzon and Emjae Frazier were named to the ACC Preseason Watch List. The Gymnastics Team was tabbed the ACC favorite in the Coaches Poll. Future Golden Bear Claire Weinstein won gold in the 4x200M Freestyle Relay competing for Team USA. Claire also took Bronze in the 200 M Freestyle. Jack Alexy won an individual gold in the 100 M Freestyle at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest. Jack Alexy and Dare Rose took silver for Team USA in the 4x100 M medley relay. Jack also picked up a Bronze medal in the 50 M Freestyle. Xavier Carlton was invited and accepted his invite to play in the Caribe Royale Orland 2025 Hula Bowl All-Star Game. Teddye Buchanan also accepted an invite to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl. And Kirk Herbstreit gave the best College GameDay location this year to Cal. What a season.
And now for an update on Nohl Williams. First, he was named the AFCA Coaches All-American First Team. Then he was named the Walter Camp First Team All-American. Then he was named an Associated Press All-American Second Team (should have been first). Then he was named a FWAA First Team All-American. Then he was named the Sporting News 2024 CFB All-America First Team. Then he accepted an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl. What a season. Congrats all and Go Bears!
Did someone mention GameDay again?
Have you got a cool and unique story from this season? Maybe something only you witnessed at GameDay or in Auburn? Well friends, the Calgorithm is at it again doing it’s best to capture every insane thing that happened this year (and is still happening. Did Gronk really sign a meme?) If you’re interested in helping create this anthology and want to raise money for the California Legends Collective, we need your help!
We are looking for a story from this season that only you can tell. Obviously, the Calgorithm has been a defining thing of the year for all of us -- but instead of receiving a hundred different versions of how this year went, a more unique approach may be to focus into something forgotten, something missed, something that needs to be told. However, write as the spirit moves you.
If you need prompting: what are you taking from the season? How was GameDay from your point of view? What aspect of the Calgorithm experience was most important for you? How will you remember all *gestures* this?
The form will ultimately fit the story, but a good guideline is 750 to 1250 words for a "full" piece; I'll gather and group submissions less than that. Again, content will direct the vision.
For more information, please fill out this Google Form and someone will be in touch!
For some inspiration, here’s a preview of a couple articles already submitted!
Math Is A Wonderful Thing
My Cal Math Department Graduate Wife and current High School Math Teacher wife is definitely not holding me at gun point while I write this, but Ken Ribet was awarded The Steele Prize, a top math award that honors work that has had a lasting impact. Kudos to Ken, now I’m going to spend the next hour trying to figure out what exactly he did and avoid the obvious joke that Ken was awarded for a 100-page paper about math.
Oh it’s Wine, Wine, Wine, That Makes Me Feel So Fine, and not because of a century-old grape disease
UC Berkeley researchers used a grapevine cutting from 120-years ago tucked away in herbarium to learn more about Pierce’s disease in California and it’s spread. Through the cutting, they were able to obtain DNA from the disease dating back 120 years ago and compare it to similar DNA from the disease today to see how it grew and evolved in that time, which could help vineyard managers manage the disease’s spread going forward. Sounds like more a better wine to me!
But if wine isn’t your cup of chai…
UC Berkeley student Rianna Campbell wrote an article featured in Spoon University, a food website aimed to educate and inform students and people on food, culinary resources, and more. In the article, Rianna ranks the best chais across campus and downtown. I’m still a Peet’s guy though.
Cozying up with a Good Book
If you’re looking for something to read this Winter and you’re not going to be reading Brandon Sanderson’s 1344 page tome “Wind and Truth” for the next month and a half (I’m 10% of the way through it no spoilers), we got some links for you! First up, hot off the UC Press, the University of California put together a list of books written by authors across the UC System. Or if you’re looking for something a little more Berkeley, the Berkeley Library put together a list of winter break reads.
Cal Athletics Round Up
Women’s Basketball trounced Stanford (yes. you read that right. read it again. internalize it. the new normal baby.) Women’s Basketball also beat Austin Peay and picked up a nifty #24 in front of their name. Men’s Basketball trounced Northwestern State.
Cal Pros Round Up
Ashtyn Davis took flight. Jared Goff gave a tour of the Lion's facility to students in the Fate Detroit Program, then gave them four-year college scholarships. No big deal. Then he went off for 494-yards and 5 touchdowns. Quiet week for Jared. Cam Bynum kept the dance moves coming. Keenan Allen laid out for a spectacular catch.
Well, after an eventful week it was nice to take a beat, have some chai and wine, read a good book, and res- WAIT BOWL GAME IS TONIGHT GO BEARS BEAT THE REBELS.
That was a really fun play from Ashtyn.