Let's Not Say Things We Can't Take Back Now

by TwistNHook on Jun 18, 2008 9:15 PM PDT in Memorial Stadium Upgrade

Things are starting to calm down here at Calsylvania. We all woke up this morning with the uninhibited glee of a Christmas morning. Then, we got coal in our stocking for like 36 of the least productive hours of our life. Things got a bit wacky in the open threads near the end of the workday as it appeared nothing might be emerging.

Then, it went South fast. NBC was reporting this. ABC was reporting that. Rumors of people having read the opinion were rampant. Tree-sitters were cheering. And we all took it at face value, even though it seemingly came all from that PHA guys wild and crazy imagination (the project is about as dead as the ironic mustache in "certain coffeeshops in the Mission"). All seemed lost. Texts, calls, emails and carrier pigeons of despair were flying about. Then, we started to read it. And read it. And read it. Things didn't seem so bad all of a sudden. Looking past the shallow veneer of the Carolyn Jones and PHA Dudes of the world, Cal was maybe rocking out with a wide variety of its appendages out. Maybe.

That's where we are now. Danzig has been helpfully posting his thoughts and analysis in helpfully titled sections like Biological Impact, Native American burial site, and Hippies Deserve Swift Kicks To The Behind. And OakTownMario is working on his own level of analysis, which should hopefully be good. And I'm working on figuring out a series of Married....With Children references to tie in to this whole thing. Right now, I'm thinking of calling the tree-sitter's God Pod "Wanker County." I'll work on that, don't worry. Don't worry. I've got a whole NO MA'AM thing ready to go. I said don't worry! So, stop worrying!

Plus, (plus! there's more!) CBKWit was at the grove today in the afternoon and has photos and stories. Ragnarok was/is out at the grove tonight and will have some information on how things were when the ruling was announced and what happened afterwards. When I called him on the phone, he said he was two feet away from the PHA guy. Scary! Will he lives to tell the tales? Or will he be crushed under a cubic ton of spin.

Many people might think that this is the end, but it's just the start. A whole lot of content is on its way around here, so don't change the channel. But hey, feel free to relax, rest up, and put that one hand down your pants. You worked hard selling women's shoes today, you deserve it.

[Edit by Ragnarok: Big thanks to Ken Crawford , who put the ruling together in a PDF (found here: StadiumRuling ) so we don't have to tediously click through all 129 TIFF files...]

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Huh.

I left to play softball for a couple of hours, and now my despair has turned into … cautious optimism? I’m confused. A beer should fix this.

Does anyone know the timeline for Berkeley to re-submit?

by sec119 on Jun 18, 2008 9:35 PM PDT 0 recs

The last few pages of the Order say that the plaintiffs have until 6.24 to submit a Writ of Mandate and judgment to the Court and then the “us” have to 6.27 to object to that and submit their own. I’d be lying to you if I knew what that meant here in this context.

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Jun 18, 2008 9:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

I was pro-Bear, pro-Oak and anti-Bush yesterday. I will be pro-Bear pro-Bear, pro-Oak and anti-Bush tomorrow. And pro-Riley, that hasn’t changed either.

Stanfurd Delendum Est.

by Olsonist on Jun 18, 2008 9:55 PM PDT 0 recs

Ahhhhhhhhhh, pro Oak???

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 10:24 PM PDT up 0 recs

I think we are all generally pro-Oak. But anti-insanity.

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Jun 18, 2008 10:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

I love Oak trees too, but these are landscaping Oaks. C’mon…

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 10:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yes brother Bear, pro-Oak. I really like going to the games through the oak grove. It means a lot.

You’ve been to Big Games at Stanfurd? I kinda liked the old Stanfurd Stadium. I kinda hate the new stadium. Worst most generic stadium ever. I hate Mt Davis in the Coliseum. I’ll admit PacBell Park or whatever they’re calling it now, is a pretty awesome place.

But my favorite is Memorial Stadium with the Oaks and with Tightwad Hill. You just can’t improve upon perfection.

Stanfurd Delendum Est.

by Olsonist on Jun 18, 2008 10:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yeah I went to the Big Game last year. My friend and I spent an hour trying to find our car in that forest turned into a parking lot. Total nightmare.

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 10:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

What got me was the seats. They have these hollow aluminum seats so their puny crowds can stamp their feet and make up for their lack of attendance. But the aluminum metal sucks the heat out of through your feet and you freeze to death.

I love bands. Cal Band Great. But I like the other team’s band too, especially UCLA. What is fucking insulting is for the Stanfurd sound system to play the same recorded crap music you would hear at a AAA Bakersfield minor league stadium over the fucking huge speakers. Let the bands play.

I don’t think I can bring myself to go to another Big Game at Stanfurd.

Stanfurd Delendum Est.

by Olsonist on Jun 18, 2008 10:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

The only good thing about that stadium is their concessions. Everything else is shitty. Try finding your car in the cold dark while being harassed by Stanfurd fans. My friend and I both, being homicidal psychopaths, could have ended up with life sentences. And for what? Nah, screw that elitist cesspit!

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 11:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

Stanfurd does their tailgate partays right. I’ll give em that. But I can’t wait to get away from PA after the game, win or lose. Head up to San Francisco for some real chow.

But for concessions, who ever does the hot dogs at Memorial, and it isn’t Top Dog, is a fucking God. Like $8 for a dog but that bitch tastes so sweeet.

Stanfurd Delendum Est.

by Olsonist on Jun 18, 2008 11:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well when you basically have camping sites to park at, of course the tailgates will be better. If we had as much room as the PA jerks we wouldn’t be in the situation we are now. How come no one is protesting the parking of cars in that urban forest?

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 11:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

I’ll offer you a deal.

I will personally chop down one of the Coastal Oak trees myself. You can watch. But then I get to whittle it down into a stake which I get to drive into Nathan Longshore’s heart.

Deal?

Stanfurd Delendum Est.

by Olsonist on Jun 18, 2008 11:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

You mean you don’t LOVE Nate Longshore? R u serious? Wow, you mean we are both big Riley fans???

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 11:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Seriously though, I don’t hate Longshore that much. In fact I don’t hate him at all. From all that I have heard he’s a stand up guy. I just think he had his chance. It’s time for change. Even Obama has endorsed Riley. How can anyone go against the mantra of change in our current environment?

Vote Riley 08!

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 11:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

If something bad happened to Nate, something, you know, unfortunate, I’d need an alibi. Don’t even get me started, I’m not rational about it. My buddy who I go to games with is a Longshore fan. I just can’t understand it. We’ve been to the same games. If Longshore gets named starter for the Michigan State game, I just don’t think I can go.

I like what I’ve seen of Riley and his progress and I wouldn’t mind three years of that.

Stanfurd Delendum Est.

by Olsonist on Jun 18, 2008 11:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well Son, back when I was a young buck I felt the same way about Ayoob. I said some pretty fucked up stuff about him. Now there is not a month that goes by I don’t feel terrible about it. Be careful with what you say and do. You might just feel bad about it later.

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 11:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

...a cubic ton…snicker

by joffle on Jun 18, 2008 10:00 PM PDT 0 recs

Have I revealed my lack of geometric knowledge? Noooooooooooooo!

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Jun 18, 2008 10:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

Heres what Seth pointed out:

Tree sitter Dumpstermuffin gets a kiss from another tree sitter as the crowd of supporters below reacts with happiness upon news that the trees are safe for the time being, that the injunction against their destruction holds. Tree sitters and supporters are battling in an effort to save a sacred grove of trees standing in the way of the University of California’s plans to build an athletic facility, on the Cal campus, in Berkeley, Calif. on June 18, 2008

That is from this Chron article. I wanted to bring this here, because its kind of buried in the other thread. Interesting. Seth also mentioned that he contacted KRON4 to complain about a absurdly one-sided article. I fully support these sort of citizen complaints to the inanity of the media, but only hope that it is done in a reasonable and dignified manner.

If that doesn’t work, lets get all BEAST MODE! on them.

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Jun 18, 2008 10:17 PM PDT 0 recs

Just to make it clear, the point of posting the photo and the text is to note that Carolyn Jones has added the word “sacred” as a clear editorial. I’d go back and bold that if I could. Which I can’t. Ai!

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Jun 18, 2008 10:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

by Spazzy Mcgee on Jun 19, 2008 12:36 AM PDT up 0 recs

The thing about reporters...

Most of them are idiots. At least the types who work at a first-class third-tier newspaper like the Chronicle. Having found themselves inept at any industrious work of their own, they’ve resorted to parroting what others tell them, and they avoid the nitty-gritty details of fact checking because that would slow down THE SCOOP. You would think they would learn from their mistakes, but that’s because you’re not a reporter.

by bears'R'us on Jun 18, 2008 10:38 PM PDT 0 recs

I think Seth is on to something here. We need to figure out a way to organize an email writing campaign or something like that to try to counteract all the unbelievably wrong media depictions. in a dignified manner, of course.

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Jun 18, 2008 10:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

thanks to all for an entertaining day of posts

btw twist, who starred in the first light beer commercial? cuz i say it was bubba smith!

by Itchy25 on Jun 18, 2008 10:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

Was that the commercials where we touted their great taste? Because that’s why I bought light beer in the late 80s. GREAT TASTE!

And for no other discernible reason.

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Jun 19, 2008 7:42 AM PDT up 0 recs

Matt Snell, actually.

I was thinking Deacon Jones and the “easy opening cans.” Here’s a synopsis.

by Montezuma's Revenge on Jun 19, 2008 8:25 AM PDT up 0 recs

damn i was leaning toward bubba smith… or billy martin.

by Itchy25 on Jun 19, 2008 10:34 AM PDT up 0 recs

Because it was sort of hidden at the bottom of the Open Thread II (with over 200 comments), I thought I’d bring this in here, too. Danzig has the link to comments by GreyBear over at Scout. GreyBear has been following this very closely and was at the press conference tonight. Some good stuff in there, but I wanted to key in on this excerpt from a conversation with UC’s lead atty:

In that group – Olson was confident that, given the Cal win on 95%+ of the issues before the court, the injunction issue would be “resolved” in a few days.

Man, I hope he is right on the “few days.” On that issue, the plaintiffs have won the battle, but really they have lost the war. GO BEARS!

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Jun 18, 2008 10:47 PM PDT 0 recs

Looks like the ewoks are going to be mighty surprised when ground breaks on this project. And, by ewoks, I am including the Chron, KRON, the actual ewoks and the NIMBYs.

http://sportingcontrarian.wordpress.com/

by BeastMode on Jun 18, 2008 10:50 PM PDT 0 recs

well, by claiming victory in this complicated decision...

...they’ve enhanced their potential for extreme outrage at their inevitable defeat. their spin allows uc to be presented as a bigger monster down the road. meanwhile, exxon continues to rape baby seals.

by mwpfoot on Jun 18, 2008 11:50 PM PDT up 0 recs

Ten cheers for the excellent coverage by CGB!!!

All I can say is thank God for CGB. If I were a Cal fan who wasn’t aware of this place, I might still be contemplating doing something terrible. Man oh man! Now, if you could just start reporting on worldwide news and the presidential elections I would never have to leave this place! Any chance of that?

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 10:55 PM PDT 0 recs

We expected no less.

Stanfurd Delendum Est.

by Olsonist on Jun 18, 2008 11:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

hip hip hooray

Ms. Jones is a disgrace to her degree and school. CGB is by far the best outlet for coverage on this issue (with the possible exception of Ken Crawford).

by CalBandGreat on Jun 18, 2008 11:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

P.S.

I can’t believe I’m still here at 11PM. Don’t we have jobs? I have a rose bush in Antioch that might be cut down to go lie in tomorrow at 6AM….

by CalBandGreat on Jun 18, 2008 11:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

I know. It is getting pretty late….

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 11:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

We merely provide an outlet for all the fans to work together. Ken Crawford did some great work, too. But on this thing we are working together to figure it out.

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Jun 19, 2008 7:43 AM PDT up 0 recs

I can sum up the ruling announcement rather easily...

1) Announcement and delusion:

2) People actually read the ruling… then the media ownage begins:

“that’s why I don’t read the newspaper… because its crap!”

by danzig on Jun 18, 2008 11:00 PM PDT 0 recs

Oh my GOD! That was genius Danzig! You’re almost as funny as Twist, almost…

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 11:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Now for the important questions

What will they do with all that chopped down oak? Sure, they could put it to good use by recycling it into an on-site sauna, or perhaps mulching the landscaping for a year, but…

...I think the university could make a FORTUNE by selling chunks of Commemorative Oak Grove Logs engraved with Jeff Tedford’s signature. Think about it.

by bears'R'us on Jun 18, 2008 11:04 PM PDT 0 recs

I heard the University will save it for Big Game bond fires. They expect it to last for the next several years.

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 11:14 PM PDT up 0 recs

Having a bond fire will be nice for a change. They will be held in the Panoramic Hill Associations neighborhood!

by CaliSeth on Jun 18, 2008 11:15 PM PDT 0 recs

Double victory today

Seahawks cut someone and sign Tex!!!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2008004324_webhawk18.html?syndication=rss

by danzig on Jun 18, 2008 11:25 PM PDT 0 recs

Perhaps it's just the pessimist Jew in me, but

I will not be happy in any way shape or form until I see trees cut and concrete poured.

by Spazzy Mcgee on Jun 19, 2008 1:03 AM PDT 0 recs

Hey guys,

Good to see all of you again. Anything happen today?

by BearsNecessity on Jun 19, 2008 1:29 AM PDT 0 recs

I evicted a grandmother!

But, otherwise, no.

www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Jun 19, 2008 7:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

Thanks a lot guys

To use a gaming term (because I’m a PC nerd) I rage quitted yesterday because of the media calling it a victory for the tree sitters. I was way too frustrated to read everything and I’m glad you guys summarized it for me who has the shortest temper ever.

In other words, Go Bears!

by royrules22 on Jun 19, 2008 9:54 AM PDT 0 recs