Golden Nuggets: The Odyssey, AI Burnout, and the Plates Are Back!

Can't burnout what you don't use!

Hello and welcome to Golden Nuggets, our weekly recap article where we try to highlight all the fun, funny, or interesting things you might have missed roughly over the last week across Bear Territory (the whole damn world of course). Think of it like a cheat sheet for small talk about Cal.

Sorry Christopher Nolan, there will be no topping this adaptation.

A Book Club Odyssey

Years ago while filling out a class schedule, I elected to take Classics 28 because I needed the units and it would fill out my breadth requirements needed to graduate. I figured it’d be interesting and then I’d subsequently never think about Greek Mythology ever again.

Years later, here I am fresh off devouring “Circe” and “The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller, “Ariadne” and “Elektra” by Jennifer Saint, and “Mythos”, “Heroes”, “Troy” and “Odyssey” by Stephen Fry, and that little silly Classics 28 class is still ringing around in my head (not to mention I still can’t hear Hotel California and not think of the Odyssey).

Anyways, long story short, the UC Berkeley Arts & Humanities is hosting a Book Club centered on “The Odyssey!” You can read all about it here, and watch some of the past sessions! Hope to see you there!

Hot Links

AI Tech Burnout

Hey look! Tech workers are seeing higher levels of burnout from prolonged use of AI! Read more at Tech Crunch about the research UC Berkeley researchers are publishing on the trend here.

Reading Between the Fault Lines

SF Gate went to some experts to learn about how Levi’s Stadium would handle earthquakes in light of the swarm currently plaguing San Ramon. Read more here!

Small Bites

• UC Berkeley is hiring six new tenure-track AAPI specialists

• Tony Franklin retires. Get some rest coach.

• Tosh got a haircut.

• W Magazine named Noochie (a former Berkeley Humane shelter resident!), the tabby from Sorry, Baby the Best Animal Actor of the Year

This Week on Facebook Marketplace

The plates are back!

Check out this sick set of plates you can never eat on. Buildings included in the art are The Greek Theater, International House, South Hall, The Life Sciences Building, Wheeler Hall, Stephens Memorial Hall, Giannini Hall, and Bowles Hall! Check it out online here.

Golden Bear Honors

• Lulu Twidale (Women’s Basketball) was named the January Gatorade Student-Athlete of the Month. Lulu also joined the 1000 Point Club.

• Ali Sahaida (Pole Vault) beat a school record set in 2018 with a mark of 4.49m and was also named ACC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week

• Pietro Camilli (Weight Throw) continues to break over records setting a freshman record in the weight throw

• Mari Testa (Track) tied a school record in the 60m hurdles

• Sam Novak (Pole Vault) set a freshman record and moved in No. 3 all-time at Cal and was named ACC Men’s Freshman of the Week

• Gisella Maul (Women’s Basketball) was named USBWA National Player of the Week

• Sage Melkonian was named ACC Co-Specialist of the Week

Cal Athletics Recap

• Men’s Basketball beat Georgia Tech (90-85) but lost to Clemson (55-77)

• Women’s Basketball beat Georgia Tech (63-56) and Pitt (95-80)

• Track and Field competed at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic (Day 1, Day 2

• Softball lost to Oklahoma State (3-8), Oklahoma State (2-15), San Jose State (2-10), and Stanford (2-7) but beat San Jose State (1-0)

• Lacrosse beat San Diego State (13-12) but lost to USC (9-16)

• Men’s Gymnastics competed at the Greenville, Simpson Tri-Meet (Results)

• Rugby beat the University of British Columbia (38-7)

• Women’s Gymnastics beat Clemson

• Men’s Tennis lost to San Diego (1-4)

• Women’s Water Polo beat Davis (13-12)

Cal Pros Recap

Football

Craig Woodson and Jaylinn Hawkins appeared in the Super Bowl and gave one heck of an effort (if only the Patriots offense could match.) Marshawn appeared in a Meta ad. And a Nike ad.

Basketball

Jaylen Brown missed a game this week, but is still cooking at 29.4 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 34.3 minutes played. James Harden will look to learn a few things about basketball from Jaylon Tyson.

Soccer

Coco Thistle was invited to trial with Sporting Jax of the USL. Lumi Kostmayer signed with professional club Fortuna Hjørring in Denmark.

Next Week in Bear Territory

• Men’s Basketball travels to Syracuse (2/11) and Boston College (2/14)

• Men’s Gold competes in the John A. Burns Intercollegiate (2/12-2/14)

• Women’s Basketball takes on Virginia (2/12) and Virginia Tech (2/15)

• Track and Field competes in the Battle Born Classic against Nevada and the Husky Classic against Washington (2/13-2/14)

• Softball takes on Utah (2/13), Santa Clara (2/13), UC Santa Barbara (2/14), Santa Clara (2/14), Illinois State (2/15)

• Women’s Water Polo takes on Hawaii in the Barbara Kalbus Invitational (2/13-2/15)

• Lacrosse plays Florida State (2/13)

• Baseball plays against Santa Clara (2/13, 2/14, 2/15, 2/16)

• Women’s Golf competes in the Alice and John Wallace Classic against Long Beach State (2/14-2/16)

• Men’s Tennis takes on Pacific (2/14), Saint Mary’s

• Rugby takes on Arizona (2/14) and Grand Canyon University (2/15)

• Women’s Gymnastics competes in the Metroplex Challenge against Stanford and Air Force

• Men’s Swimming and Diving starts the ACC Championships (2/15-2/21)

• Women’s Swimming and Diving starts the ACC Championships (2/16-21)

And so we find ourselves again at the end of Golden Nuggets. I appreciate you all reading this, and I have a ton of fun writing it. Last week’s most clicked link was the CBS Sports Portal Rankings. Go ahead and give it another look. Its okay to be hyped.