First, this DBD is flag’d for the worst cougar pics I’ve ever seen. I was expecting urbancougar.com pics, and I’m left with Sophie from the San Diego Zoo. Lovely.

All links SF Gate unless otherwise noted. Cal-related stories are in blockquotes.

80% of college grads move in with their folks. I don’t think I’d do that if I was in there situation leaving college. Of course, I’m so anal I had plan a), b), and c) lined up (in my mind at least) in a field where I know I could get a job. If all three failed, I’d probably roll up my sleeves and do something else.

Roz Savage, 40, rowed the Atlantic. Let that sink in for a minute.

Joe “I take Amtrak everyday” Biden is using Berkeley as a national model for a solar finance plan. I wonder if Ol’ Joe has heard the sweet smell and sounds of the generator-powered portable lights that Cal rolls in for night games.

Wall St giants are not supporting Dems (NYT). I can’t believe this is news!

Recycling: going from little waste to none (NYT).

What’s in Your Wallet: “Diverse” groups fund Taliban (NYT).

Must Read: Covering the Great Recession (The Big Picture)

In unshocking news, a Caltrain hit and killed a person on the tracks.

Q & A with Steely Dan (who still rock).

Bay Area architects win awards n stuff. So that’s why they charge so much.

The Prius gets a friend. Toyota is relasing the Sai, a larger hybrid-only sedan, in Japan. No global sales have been discussed. If it doesn’t work in the land of whale catchers, it won’t work here.

Haas School to offer green tech program.

The Energy Institute at Haas combines the efforts of several existing programs at the university, which has moved aggressively in recent years to expand its research and course offerings in alternative energy. The university announced the institute’s creation Monday.

“I think this really helps put forward to the world just how good Berkeley is in this space, and it helps attract students who are interested in clean tech,” said Catherine Wolfram, co-director of the new institute. “It also helps us grow.”

The institute melds pieces of the UC Energy Institute, known for its research into energy economics, and Haas’ Center for Energy and Environmental Innovation, which offers classes in topics such as energy-project financing. The new institute has a broad mission, from commercializing new technologies to teaching students how energy markets work.

“This is a strength that Haas really has,” said co-director Severin Borenstein. “In some ways, people would say it’s luck, because we were doing this when it wasn’t hot. … Now, we’re trying to solidify that in a way that’s more appealing to students and faculty.”

CoCo County sex crimes prosecuter indicted in rape case. “Do as I say, not as I do.”

Because They Pay Way, Way More: Scientist sells moon data to spooks.

Pfizer cuts, profits jump 26% Now keep using your Lipitor, Viagra, and Chantix!

Sports

Chris Carter, aka the next big power prospect in the Bay Area who hasn’t been accused of murder, has struck out or hit a HR in 18 of his 25 plate appearances in the Mexican League (where they throw nothing but hooks; AN).

Umm…Crabtree might be starting next weekend (SJ Merc).

Calogne thinks Cal might not be irrelevant yet (SF Examiner):

That answer won’t come for several weeks. Cal will host hapless Washington State this week, travel to Arizona State for Halloween, stay at home for battles with Oregon State and No. 22 Arizona, and people will still wonder just how good this team is. Even if the Bears go undefeated in those four games, they’ll be at 8-2 with question marks.

Even a victory over ranked Arizona won’t necessarily tell the world much. The Wildcats’ best victory of the season is a win against 6-1 Central Michigan to start the season.

So what does a Golden Bear have to do to regain a little respect? They’ll not only have to win their next four games, but they’ll have to punctuate those victories with wins at Stanford and at Washington—neither of which is a cakewalk. If Cal can do all of that, they’ll finish the season with a record of 10-2, 7-2 Pac-10, and will surely be no worse than third in the conference.

Goodman: Cal’s all about the highlight plays (Daily Cal):

It’s becoming clear that the offense of this year’s team is not one that wins with slow-moving, methodical scoring drives. It’s a talented offense with enormous potential, but it’s not one that works the ball downfield with gains in the short game.

Kawahara: Bears bonding (Daily Cal):

“We told Kevin before the game that we had his back no matter what,” tailback Shane Vereen said.

So Riley went out and showed his teammates that he had theirs as well. After Jahvid Best danced his way to the sideline on his 93-yard touchdown run, with one man to beat near midfield, there was Riley about 40 yards from the line of scrimmage, throwing the block to free him the rest of the way.

Asked about it later, Best said that seeing Riley in front of him didn’t surprise him at all. But it was representative of a game in which the Bears rotated multiple personnel groups to deal with the heat and received big contributions in every facet.

As coach Jeff Tedford said afterward, the biggest positive to come out of the 45-26 win was that it was a “team effort.”

“Our preparation the last two weeks was that we need to stick together,” Tedford said. “As naysayers and critics step up, the people in that locker room are the ones who believe in each other. I thought we did a nice job of playing hard for each other.”

Saturday showed that, more than schemes practiced or reps taken, rest had or psyches re-steeled, the most important thing to come out of Cal’s bye week may have been a team-wide revitalization of the concept of team.

“Throughout these couple weeks, we just bonded,” said receiver Marvin Jones, who caught two touchdowns. “We do things that involve more team.”

Bears play D with 10 guys twice…the latter of which resulted in a Bears TD (BWF):

Revolutionary? Possibly. Brilliant? Absolutely.

All joking aside though, I thought it was one of the most bizarre things I’ve seen in a while.

Having 10 players on the field isn’t unusual in college football. You see it penalized all the time. What is so unusual is that NO ONE caught it. Not the Bears players or coaches, nor anyone on the entire Bruins squad. None of the refs, none of the sideline judges, not even the guys in the replay booth.

And it was on two plays! At a critical point in the game! We scored on that last one!

In essence, people are paid to check for these things!

Unbelievable. It’s enough to make you think it might have been intentional.

Tedford: Bob, have you thought about only throwing ten guys out there?
Gregory: What you talking about Willis?
Tedford: You know, have one down where we play zone to fool them into thinking we’ll drop back again on 3rd down. Then, on the next play, only have 10 again in MAN defense this time, so that the QB THINKS that his tight end is wide open in the middle.
Gregory: Uh Huh,,,
Tedford: And we’ll have our linebacker hide and straight up Dwight Howard the pass after it’s released. It’ll be perfect!
Gregory: You’re crazy man. I like you, but…you’re crazy.

QnA with Best (Sporting News):

Q: You also scored on a 51-yard touchdown pass when you were in single coverage by a linebacker. What’s the key to that play?

JB: We’ve been running that play forever since I got to Cal. We wait for the opportunity where we have the matchup we want, and they tell me to go out there and outrun the guy.

Q: Do your eyes light up when you see a linebacker on you?

JB: Yes, they do.