DBD 3.7.10 Places I'd love to visit
by royrules22 on Mar 7, 2010 11:06 PM PST
894 comments
Apologizes for not being able to do this last Friday, but better late then never!
These are some locations around the world that I want to visit some time in my life. I'm not listing the large cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, etc because that's obvious. I'm more thinking of a little bit more smaller cities though Venice still counts despite it being famous!
Venice, Italy
I've always wanted to visit Venice, the city of canals. Unfortunately it is said that there exists more tourists in Venice than actual residents. Still I would love to ride a gondola one day and explore the canals of Venice.
Florence, Italy
Florence is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the home of the Italian Renaissance, renowned for it's art and architecture, the birthplace of Dante (who was banished by penalty of death), Michelangelo, Galileo, Donatello and others. And of course as the capital of Tuscany one can find some of the most amazing cuisine in the world. I would just love to go and marvel at fine arts and it's amazing architecture. In fact it is rumored that even Hitler, who ordered that all bridges in Florence be destroyed, decided not to blow up the bridge Ponte Vecchio because it was too beautiful.
Kanyakumari, India
I'm cheating a little bit on this one because I've already visited Kanyakumari, but seeing as I how was only about 8 years old I think I would love to visit it again. Kanyakumari is the city and beach at the southern most tip of the Indian peninsula and is perhaps the only place in the world where three large bodies of water (Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean) meet at one single point. It is one of the few places in the world where you can watch both sunrise and sunset at the exact same spot. Also as a matter of personal interest I'd love to visit the Padmanabhapuram Palace which was created in 1601 to be the home of the king and queen of Travencore (one of the princely states of India before the Birtish and one of the three states that eventually ended up being my home state).
Otty and Kotagiri, India
Otty is a hill-side resort place I've always wanted to visit even when I was a child and one of my parents' favorite places. They (and others who have visited it) had many wonderful stories of the place and despite it being only about 270km (~168 mi or 20mi less than Berkeley to Fresno) I never got to visit. One of these days I will. It's also unique in this list as I'm not going here to see any man-made structures at all, but rather to see its natural beauty and drink tea as it is one of the biggest tea producers in India. The nearby Kotagiri is just as idyllic and beautiful and has what is considered one of the best climates in all of India and maybe the world as it is a pleasant cool year-round. Depressingly among this is a place and tourist attraction known as suicide point because many people plunge from great heights to their deaths onto the foothills of the Nilgiri mountains.
Srinagar, India
This is the only place on the list that I'm afraid to visit because it located in the northern state of Kashmir in India and it is the location of numerous terrorists attacks and the source of armed border conflicts between Pakistan and India. Hopefully once all of this cools down I'll be able to visit to see the area. I list Srinigar as it is home to great lakes and mountain hikes as well as wonderful gardens created by the Mughal emperors when they ruled India many centuries ago. However I just as equally want to visit the various shrines, temples and villages in the various mountains around Kashmir as they are supposed to be breathtaking to behold.
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul was once called Constantinople when it was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire was also the last of the Roman Empire. Istanbul is a beautiful city with amazing historical locations from the Hagia Sofia to the the odd bridge in which you can drive from Europe to Asia and back without having to acquire a passport and visa. There's not much to really talk about here but it's just a marvelous city to visit for someone who loves history (and awesome doner restaurants!)
What places would you love to visit someday?
The opinions expressed in a FanPost are, in every way, reflective of the opinions of every California Golden Blogs Marshawnthusiast. Moreover, they are reflective of every employee of SBNation, including Tyler "Blez" Bleszinski.
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Venice sucked when I was there – granted the middle of August is the worst time to visit Italy in general, but the town was all tourists except for service staff.
My list of places to go (that I haven’t been yet)
Angkor Wat, Cambodia – scheduled for April 2011 (a friend of mine who is at UT B-school will be visiting Vietnam with his class. Post trip, we’re going to spend a week in Cambodia)
The Maldives – sure I don’t have a girlfriend nor is marriage anywhere in my immediate future that I know of. But I already know where the honeymoon will be.
Kenya
Fucking lions!
Bali, Indonesia
Everytime I’ve tried to visit Indonesia, they’ve gone through a period of threatening and/or killing ethnic Chinese or Americans. As a member of both groups, I’ve postponed and cancelled 3 trips to Indonesia over the past 14 years.
Rio
Do you really need a reason to visit Rio?
Australia
Never been. I should take advantage of my proximity and the relative affordability of the flights from here (about $400 USD through Singapore or Hong Kong)
New Zealand -
It would be nice to be somewhere the air is fresh and clean. Plus hobbits!
Oh yeah, just because it’s batshit insane. And the tours leave from Beijing. and who knows how much longer the regieme will last. North Fucking Korea. I am trying to figure out when to go this year. If I go, this will be a DBD. North Fucking Korea.
when were balinese killing americans? do you mean the bombings?
"It’s not a good car and not a good boat, but it’s the best car-boat ever made"
really? i was thinking of traveling there this year! where were they going after americans in indonesia?
"It’s not a good car and not a good boat, but it’s the best car-boat ever made"
This was back in the late 90s/early 2000s. No worries now.
(Bali – bombing aside – is not a hot spot of anti-foreigner sentiment. This was in Jakarta I remember – where they were going to all the 5 star foreign hotels and asking for guest lists with passports so they could kill all the americans – I recall nothing ever happened)
Though they did kill a couple hundred people in Bali in 2005(? ish) with a hotel bombing. Many Australians, if I recall.
Venice is nice because of the canals and those masks
Then after a day it gets boring. Just a place to see because you’ve been there
Florence is very beautiful. Just wish I wasn’t there during tourist season.
Srinagar is very safe for tourists. Unfortunately royrules, you will easily be mistaken…which makes you 1% less safe. Should be fine.
As for me,
Normandy
Prague
Sicily
Vietnam, to travel down their rivers. Plus Vietnamese women are pretttty.
Mongolia, partly just to see this 131 foot statue of Genghis Khan. BADASS.
Havana. Is the embargo lifted yet?
I’ve heard Moscow sucks. It’ll be avoided for as long as possible.
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
Nope Cuba is still banned. But they’ll stamp a blank paper of your passport and they’ll get rid of it when you leave if you ask
In other words, Go Bears!
Ive had friends got o Cuba. I think you have to fly through a 3rd country to get there.
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I was gonna use Botswana.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 1:57 PM PST up reply actions
I went through West Timor once. Man was that a mistake.
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The only place where the entry visa stamp reads PSorCY
by DC Trojan on Mar 8, 2010 2:49 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Or Burkina Faso.
We’re just picking them based on cool-sounding names, right?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:02 PM PST up reply actions
no, I’m thinking of best linkup spots to get to Cuba. Djibouti is the best
Inspiring and completing since1997 since2010!
If you wanna conga in Havana, you gotta know how to shake-a Djibouti?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:06 PM PST up reply actions
Moscow was very very interesting. Seemed a little dangerous everywhere. I was there right before I started at Cal (Summer 1991 – 2 years post Berlin Wall).
I will second Moscow being interesting, though St Petersburg is even more so. They are, however, the most freaking expensive places I’ve ever been in my life. Ho-ly hell.
I am jealous of all people who have been to St. Petersburg and the Hermitage. Hate you.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
I’m guessing you also enjoyed Russian Ark, then?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 1:03 PM PST up reply actions
I’ve heard the Hermitage is ridiculous but really just wanna go to see my favorite painting of all time, Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal Son. .
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
normandy is amazing. all the little towns are exceptional, a lot of locals don’t speak a lick of english but are super friendly, and there is a lot in the air on the beaches and the american cemetery. stay in bayeux while you’re there and make sure to see the tapestry of william the conqueror’s invasion of england, best piece of art in europe I’ve ever seen.
"It’s not a good car and not a good boat, but it’s the best car-boat ever made"
I wonder if that’s a part of France that is a bit more appreciative of Americans than most.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 4:10 PM PST up reply actions
oh, and if you think italy can be bad during tourist season – make sure to go to prague off-season. the beer is half the price, the czech are twice as accommodating, and its the only time theres elbow room in some areas. its much more chill (and chilly) in winter, but you get to hit up all the christmas markets.
"It’s not a good car and not a good boat, but it’s the best car-boat ever made"
Would like to visit here on a January 1st before I croak
by Cali49a on Mar 8, 2010 12:10 AM PST reply actions 10 recs
Florence is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the home of the Italian Renaissance, renowned for it’s art and architecture
WHO IS ART????
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ARE ART?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 10:45 AM PST up reply actions
Is this where we put typos?
It is one of the few places in the world where you can watch both sunrise and sunset at the exact same spot.
I think RR22 meant both sunrise and sunset over an ocean at the exact same spot.
I would think there are many small islands where that would be the case.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 10:48 AM PST up reply actions
Baseball salvages final game of three game series vs. Arkansas
Cal avoids a Hog sweep
BERKELEY, CALIF. – Down 2-0 in a three-game series versus No. 17 Arkansas, the California baseball team put together an outstanding pitching and hitting effort in a 6-0 shutout of the Razorbacks Sunday, March 7 at Evans Diamond. The Golden Bears were paced by stellar pitching from junior right-handers Kevin Miller and Brian Diemer, and clutch hitting from junior first baseman Mark Canha and sophomore left fielder Danny Oh to improve to 7-3 on the year. Arkansas dropped to 8-2 after winning the first two games of the series, 7-3 and 9-5.
Sunday’s game marked the fifth shutout for Cal’s pitching staff this season. The Bears opened the year shutting out Southern Utah in a three game series (14-0, 22-0, 10-0), shutting out Cal State Bakersfield (13-0) Feb. 28 in Bakersfield, and now against the Top 20-ranked Razorbacks.
Miller evened his record to 1-1 this season by limiting Arkansas, a 2009 College World Series squad, to only four hits in 6.0 innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Diemer continued Cal’s strong pitching performance by throwing the final 3.0 innings with two hits, two walks and two strikeouts to earn his first save of the season and second save of his college career.
I am a Vereenian.
Successful weekend for Cal softball
Undefeated in Vegas, baby!
The No. 15/13 California softball team went a perfect 5-0 at this weekend’s Eller Media Stadium Classic, capping off the tournament with a 5-1 win over host UNLV on Sunday afternoon.
I am a Vereenian.
Friday’s games
LAS VEGAS – The No. 15/13 California softball team concluded its Friday with a 10-2 victory in five innings over Weber State on Friday afternoon. Coupled with the Golden Bears’ 6-0 win against New Mexico State earlier on Friday, Cal is now 2-0 at this weekend’s Eller Media Stadium Classic and 13-4 overall. The Bears scored four runs in both the fourth and fifth en route to the mercy outing.
For the Bears, Shannon Thomas led the way with three runs, two hits and two RBI. Senior Marissa Drewrey and freshman Jolene Henderson split time at pitcher with Henderson notching her fourth win thanks to her four strike outs.
I am a Vereenian.
Saturday’s games
LAS VEGAS – The No. 15/13 California softball team cruised to a 7-0 win over Portland State on Saturday morning. The Golden Bears now stand at 14-4 overall and 3-0 at this weekend’s Eller Media Stadium Classic.
Defensively speaking, the first inning was a good indicator of how the rest of the game would go for the Bears. Junior pitcher Valerie Arioto struck out the first two batters and got the last to ground out to send the line-up down in order.
That bottom of the first was a great push of momentum for the Bears as they headed into the top of the second for their second round of at bats. Frani Echavarria singled though the right side and shortly thereafter came home to score off a Taylor Kelly double down the left-field line.
With Kelly stationed at second, freshman Jolene Henderson stepped up and poked a hit through the right side for a single and to plate Kelly. With their 2-0 lead, the Bears headed into the bottom of the second, which saw the Vikings get their first hit of the game, but it was not enough to bring anyone home.
LAS VEGAS – The No. 15/ 13 California softball team rained six runs on Southern Utah in the second inning en route to an 11-0 mercy win against the Thunderbirds on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Bears (15-4) were led by a terrific outing by pitcher Jolene Henderson, who allowed just three hits and faced four batters over the minimum, and junior Valerie Arioto, who had four RBI.
Shannon Thomas was the first baserunner for either team after she got aboard with a walk and then stole second in the bottom of the first. Junior Valerie Arioto then cranked a pitch over the wall in center field for a two-run homer, giving Cal an early 2-0 lead.
Arioto singled down the right-field line to score Shannon Thomas and Jamia Reid, who had reached on a throwing catcher error on her bunt and after being hit by a pitch, respectively. Next up, freshman Lindsey Ziegenhirt doubled to left center to bring around Arioto, distancing the Bears, 5-0. Jayme Goodwin stepped in to pinch run for Ziegenhirt and advanced to third on an illegal pitch. Jace Williams earned a walk and then motored to second, putting two Cal runners into scoring position at third and second.
I am a Vereenian.
Women's tennis loses to stanfurd
An upset. Boo!
BERKELEY – The fifth-ranked California women’s tennis team (9-3) fell, 5-2, to No. 14 Stanford [sic] (9-1) on Saturday (March 6) at the Hellman Tennis Complex. The Golden Bears earned points with wins at Nos. 2 and 3 singles but dropped all three doubles matches, 8-6, to surrender the doubles point for the first time this season.
The Cardinal was the first to strike in a close match as the No. 27-ranked duo of Mallory Burdette and Stacey Tan took an 8-6 win over the No. 38-ranked team of junior Marina Cossou and senior Kasia Siwosz at the second doubles court. Stanford [sic] sealed the doubles point as the second-ranked team of Hilary Barte and Lindsay Burdette earned the same score in a win over No. 13-ranked junior Mari Andersson and Jana Juricova at the top court. Stanford’s [sic] Veronica Li and Carolyn McVeigh completed a sweep of the doubles courts as they took an 8-6 win over Cal’s freshman tandem of Annie Goransson and Tayler Davis at court three.
I am a Vereenian.
Women's H2O polo loses to # 1 USC
Bears fall to 14-5, 2-2 in conference play
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – The No. 4-ranked California women’s water polo team lost to No. 1-ranked USC 7-4 Saturday at McDonald’s Swim Stadium. This was the second time in a week the Golden Bears fell to the Trojans, dropping a 10-5 decision last Sunday in the semi-finals of the UC Irvine Invitational. Senior Camille Hewko led Cal with two goals, while, defensively, sophomore goalie Stephanie Peckham added nine saves. With the loss, the Bears fall to 14-5 on the season and 2-2 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation league play.
I am a Vereenian.
On the up side, they swept a tournament on Friday
2-0 at Cal Lutheran tournament
THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF. – The No. 4-ranked California women’s water polo team won both of their games Friday at the Cal Lutheran University Spring Classic with a 16-4 victory over Occidental and a 12-4 win over Cal Baptist at the Samuelson Aquatics Center. Sophomore Emily Csikos, Cal’s leading scorer with 48 goals this season, paced the Bears with six goals in their two matches at the Cal Lutheran Invite. With these two wins, Cal improves to 14-4.
Against Cal Baptist, the Bears jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter. Cal added four more goals in the second period to extend the score to 8-1 at halftime. The Bears outscored the Lancers 4-3 in the second half, on the way to their 12-4 win.
Csikos and freshman Dana Ochsner each scored three goals against Cal Baptist. Senior Remy Champion added two more goals against the Lancers, while senior Camille Hewko scored once, giving both of them four goals in the two matches at the Cal Lutheran Spring Classic. Seniors Julie Oreglia and Erin Scully and freshman Breda Vosters also scored in Cal’s win against Cal Baptist.
In their 16-4 victory over Occidental earlier in the day, the Bears received goals from nine different players, including three apiece from sophomore Emily Csikos, senior Camille Hewko, and freshman Kirsten Mase. Defensively, the Bears held the Tigers to just one goal in each quarter, receiving five saves from sophomore goalie Stephanie Peckham.
I am a Vereenian.
Cal opens outdoor track season
A “non-scoring” meet?
California got its outdoor track & field season underway with a busy day of events at the non-scoring Stanford [sic] Open Saturday. Alima Kamara won both the 200 and 400 meters, and Golden Bears established 10 outdoor personal bests.
Kamara, a freshman from Stockton, claimed the 200 race in 24.24 and she circled the track in the 400 in 54.14 to lead a 1-2-4 Cal finish. Hayley Huxtable was second in 56.89 and Kayla Dixon fourth in 57.98.
Other winners on the day included Steve Sodaro, who captured the 1500 meters in a PR 3:46.96, Connor Landry in the pole vault (17-0.75) and Brian Carmichael with a PR 6-10.75 in the high jump. For the women, Cherrelle Garrett placed first in the 100 meters in 12.07, Natalya Beneby won the 400 hurdles in 1:02.19, and Theresa Raub’s 12.9-50 was the best clearance of the day in the pole vault.
I am a Vereenian.
Men's swimming finishes 2nd at Pac-10 championships
The furds win 29th (!) consecutive conference title
LONG BEACH, CALIF. – The No. 4-ranked University of California men’s swimming team won two more titles during the final day of the 2010 Pac-10 swimming championships in Long Beach. Junior Nathan Adrian repeated as the conference champion in the 100 free and the 400 free relay of juniors Graeme Moore and Josh Daniels, freshman Tom Shields and Adrian placed first with an NCAA automatic time of 2:50.59. However, the Golden Bears narrowly missed snapping Stanford’s streak of 28 straight Pac-10 titles, falling to the No. 3 Cardinal, 897-829.5.
Cal had several strong swims Saturday night. Besides Adrian winning the 100 free (42.59), Moore was second in the event with a mark of 42.72. In another Pac-10 runner-up finish for the Bears was Shields in the 200 fly with a school record and NCAA automatic time of 1:42.63. He topped the old mark of 1:42.98 set by Patrick O’Neil, who was the NCAA champion in the 200 fly in 2007.
Cal concluded the 2010 Pac-10 meet with five individual titles and three relay titles (400 free relay, 200 and 400 medley relays). On Wednesday, the Bears won the 200 medley relay for the third year in a row. The medley relay team of juniors Guy Barnea, Damir Dugonjic, Moore and Daniels recorded a time of 1:24.85 to lead Cal to victory in the first event of the four-day meet. On Thursday, Adrian successfully defended his 2009 title in the 50 free with a time of 19.20, while sophomore Martin Liivamagi captured his first conference title by winning the 200 IM in a career-best and NCAA automatic qualifying 1:43.73.
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12th ranked women's golf in San Jose today and tomorrow
Juli Inkster invitational
The tournament, which was rained out in 2009, will be held at the Almaden Country Club in San Jose. The Bears and the 15 other teams in the tournament will play 36 holes on Monday and 18 holes on Tuesday on the par-72, 6,233 yard course. Both days will get underway with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m.
In addition to California, the field includes: Colorado, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Hawaii, Long Beach State, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, San Francisco, San Jose State, Santa Clara, UC Irvine, and UC Davis.
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Meanwhile, 18th ranked men's golf has to go to Fresno
Lexus Classic, today and tomorrow, at San Joaquin CC
SPRING SLATE CONTINUES AT FRESNO LEXUS CLASSIC
Cal continues its spring slate at the 2010 Fresno Lexux Classic this Monday-Tuesday, Mar. 8-9. The 54-hole event will take place at the San Joaquin Country Club with the first 36 holes scheduled to be played Monday and the final 18 set for Tuesday. Play begins each day at 7:45 a.m. PST.
CAL MOVES UP THREE SPOTS TO NO. 18 AND NO. 21 IN RANKINGS
Cal is now ranked No. 18 in the nation by Golfweek and No. 21 according to Golfstat. The Bears moved up three spots in both polls this week after a second-place showing Mar. 1-2 at the USC Collegiate Invitational. The Bears had began the spring ranked No. 30 (Golfweek) and No. 33 (Golfstat) but have been as high as No. 16 (Golfweek) after winning its first tournament of the 2010 spring season Feb. 1-2 at the Arizona Intercollegiate in Tucson. Their current No. 21 ranking by Golfstat is their highest of the season.
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If you hadn't heard, women's basketball drops regular season finale vs. stanfurd
Bears finish 11-7 in conference play. On the bubble?
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) – Alexis Gray-Lawson scored 15 points in the final regular season home game of her carer as the California Golden Bears fell 63-48 to the No. 2 Stanford Cardinal. Freshman DeNesha Stallworth had the third double double of her career with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
The Cardinal (28-1, 18-0 Pac-10) played without All-American center Jayne Appel, who was sidelined with a sprained right ankle that requires a walking boot after she got hurt in practice during the week. It’s unclear how long she might be out.
Stanford missed Appel’s presence in the paint and never looked in sync while winning a 19th straight game since the team’s lone loss at top-ranked Connecticut on Dec. 23.
Kayla Pedersen added 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Cardinal, who already secured their 10th straight Pac-10 regular-season title and will be the top seed heading into next weekend’s conference tournament in Los Angeles. Stanford is trying for a third straight trip to the Final Four.
Alexis Gray-Lawson scored 15 points in what might have been her final home game at Haas Pavilion for Cal (17-12, 11-7). The Golden Bears host first- and second-round NCAA tournament games March 20 and 22 but are not automatic locks to make the tournament. It will come down to the Pac-10 Conference tournament, which starts on Thursday, March 11 in Los Angeles.
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Women's Pac-10 tournament bracket and schedule
Cal vs. Arizona State on Friday 11:00 am PT. Tournament is at the Galen Center (USC).
I am a Vereenian.
Also, if you hadn't heard...
The men’s basketball team won an outright sumthin’ sumthin’
Cal clinched at least a share of its first conference title in 50 years and the top seed in the Pac-10 tournament by beating Arizona State last weekend in a game capped by a raucous net-cutting celebration at Haas Pavilion.
The Bears were adamant about not wanting to share the title. When Arizona State finished its regular season with a 56-46 victory over UCLA that ended just before tipoff at Maples Pavilion, Cal knew it needed a win against its rivals to finish alone in first.
Stanford [sic] trailed by 12 points in the first half but fought back to tie the game at 44-44 early in the second on a dunk by Jack Trotter. The Cardinal never took the lead in the second half.
A three-point play by Theo Robertson sparked a 9-2 run that but Cal back in front. Christopher, playing in his school-record 129th game, hit three straight baskets to help the Bears maintain the lead, but Stanford [sic] cut it to 62-59 on a floater by Fields with 3:14 to go.
Boykin then scored on a putback to make it a five-point game. After a steal by Christopher, he hit a 3-pointer at the other end to put Cal on top 67-59 with 1:37 to go. That started the celebration from the small but vocal contingent of Bears fans who made the drive to Stanford [sic].
I am a Vereenian.
Men's Pac-10 Tournament schedule and bracket
Cal plays Thursday at 2:30 pm PT
#4 Arizona vs. #5 UCLA 12 p.m. PT FSN
#1 Cal vs. Oregon/Washington St. 2:30 pm. PT FSN
#3 Washington vs. #6 Oregon State 6 p.m. PT FSN
#2 Arizona State vs. #7 Stanford 8:30 p.m. PT FSN
I am a Vereenian.
Cal moves up to 19th in the RPI rankings
1 Kansas 29-2
2 Duke 26-5
3 Syracuse 28-3
4 Kentucky 28-2
5 West Virginia 24-6
6 Kansas St. 23-6
7 New Mexico 28-3
8 Baylor 23-6
9 Villanova 24-6
10 Pittsburgh 24-7
-——————————————————————————————————————-
11 Purdue 26-4
12 Texas A&M 21-8
13 Tennessee 23-7
14 Georgetown 20-9
15 Temple 26-5
16 Butler 27-4
17 Maryland 22-7
18 Wisconsin 22-7
19 California 21-9
20 Vanderbilt 22-7
I am a Vereenian.
Jahvid Best honored at halftime of women's basketball game Saturday
“CFPA Elite Performance Trophy”
Former Cal tailback Jahvid Best was honored by the College Football Performance Awards organization with the 2009 Elite Running Back Trophy during an on-court ceremony at halftime of the Cal-Stanford women’s basketball game at Haas Pavilion on Saturday.
The award recognized Best as the top performer at the running back position based upon the 21 games in which he participated over the past two seasons. Best was responsible for 32 total offensive touchdowns in those games, and he concluded his career at Cal as the NCAA’s active leader in rushing yards per carry (7.33). No other active running back in the Football Bowl Subdivision of college football averages more than 7.0 yards per carry (with a minimum of 300 carries).
The goal of the College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. CFPA recipients are selected based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. As prominent scholars from a wide variety of disciplines note, CFPA eliminates the politics and biases that vitiate balloting-based awards. Furthermore, CFPA is the only awards organization to receive praise from both Republican and Democratic White House officials for promoting objectivity and fairness in college football.
I am a Vereenian.
So, this pretty much makes it a scientific “fact” that Jahvid > Toby. :)
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:00 AM PST up reply actions
This fact was determined when Jahvid accepted his offer to Cal and Toby accepted his offer to stanfurd.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 11:01 AM PST up reply actions
And they honor him with the award just in time for the NFL Draft!
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:01 AM PST up reply actions
Interesting choices RR22. Personally, I’m not really a fan of going somewhere just to look at pretty buildings, but I think the history of a lot of those sites would be appealing.
A Vallejo teenager allegedly shot himself in the testicles Thursday afternoon, police said.
Police said the 17-year-old, whose name is being withheld because he’s a minor, walked into Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center at about 5:45 p.m. with a gunshot wound.
The gun is still outstanding, police said, and the teen has not been cooperative.
and the teen has not been cooperative.
I’m guessing that when you are shot in the nether region, being cooperative with non-medical personnel is not exactly high on your priority list.
I am a Vereenian.
that ^^
and he prolly wasn’t the one who did the shooting….
Go Bears Go
YO's spring practice preview continues
RETURNING STARTERS: Matt Summers-Gavin, Chris Guarnero, Justin Cheadle, Mitchell Schwartz.
WHO TO WATCH OUT FOR: Brian Schwenke
POSSIBLE SURPRISE: Dominic Galas
THE BREAKDOWN: Despite the fact that four of five starters return along the offensive line, there could be a lot of moving parts this spring. Five players will get a serious look at guard — Summers-Gavin, Cheadle, Schwenke, Guarnero and Galas.
Summers-Gavin and Cheadle are the incumbents at guard, but the Bears aren’t sure that Guarnero should remain at center. So Guarnero, who started three games at left guard in 2008 before suffering a season-ending foot injury, is going to get some looks at guard this spring as well. Same goes for Galas, who also is a natural center but is loaded with potential and could make a case for playing time.
I am a Vereenian.
Am I the only one really disappointed in YO's previews?
They are really pretty lame and light on any real content. His “possible surprises” might be surprises of spring practice, but once our latest recruits get here, I think his surprises will be largely irrelevant. Michael Calvin a possible surprise at WR? Please, the guy hasn’t been able to shake injuries. He’ll fall down the depth chart once the newcomers get here.
He lists Riley as a lock and Mansion as the biggest contender, yet doesn’t even list Sweeney as a “possible surprise”. Kinda whack, and very disappointing.
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
They are really pretty lame and light on any real content
I’ve come to expect that from him. Just another guy with a press pass who can’t provide anything substantial beyond what people can figure out on their own.
What about Brazinski? Is he not ready to compete for a starting job?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:03 AM PST up reply actions
On BI, there was speculation that they’d like Brazinski to be in the mix at C so that they might be able to move Guarnero to guard.
Hey Kodiak -
You mentioned in another DBD that the D this year annoyed you but you couldn’t put a finger on it. I’m looking to write some analysis stuff. Was there anything in particular I should focus in on that you were curious about? I have a zillion examples of what went wrong in our losses.
I guess the question would be how does a team with standouts at each level perform so poorly. With Tyson, Mohammed, and Syd, you think you’d be fairly solid or at least average. For instance, you’d think the Az and ’furd game would be more the norm instead of the exception.
My suspicion is that our safeties and the corner opposite Syd generally played really, really poorly and that our LB’s were frequently out of position. But was that a scheme issue, a coaching issue (not taught the proper depth to drop to in zone, half a step slow due to too many reads?), or execution?
I know Follett was really important in terms of applying pressure. In terms of measurables, he just wasn’t that fast which makes it all the more impressive how often he got to the QB. With the 3-4, I thought that you’re allowed to send one LB per down as your “base” defense and that the best defenses generate pressure with only 4 guys by mixing up where the rusher comes from. Since all of the replacement LB’s are at least as fast, if not faster than Follett, how was our pass rush such an epic phail?
Was the reason we kept doing the rush 3/drop 8 deal because we couldn’t get to the QB consistently even when we rushed 4/5/6? And is that because we lack players with pass-rush skills, or because we weren’t creative about how/where/when we sent guys?
So, y’know…Nothing too complicated. :)
I’ll look forward to whatever you manage to put together. Thanks!
I guess the question would be how does a team with standouts at each level perform so poorly. With Tyson, Mohammed, and Syd, you think you’d be fairly solid or at least average. For instance, you’d think the Az and ’furd game would be more the norm instead of the exception.
Simple Answer: Other teams schemed to attack away from those guys.
Those guys got beat a number of times as well. I can think of a number of times when Syd and Mohamed got beat and Tyson got pushed out of position. The solid play of 3 guys does not cover the performance of the other 8 on the field. When you remember the Furd and UA defensive performances, obviously our D was playing better as a whole. However, we still had a lot of the same problems during those games. What happened was that the opponents did not make enough plays to beat us nor capitalized on our mistakes.
My suspicion is that our safeties and the corner opposite Syd generally played really, really poorly and that our LB’s were frequently out of position. But was that a scheme issue, a coaching issue (not taught the proper depth to drop to in zone, half a step slow due to too many reads?), or execution?
Those are pretty good observations, and as a matter of fact, those were some of the biggest problems. A lot of things such as mistackles, bad pursuit angles, late help over the top, coverage mistakes, over-aggressiveness, and penalties are all the “smaller” things that go unnoticed during the flow of the game.
I just rewatched the Oregon game and clipped some defensive lowlights out of it. I’m going to probably take some more clips from our other losses and some of our wins as well to help demonstrate points. Don’t know when I’ll finish this but probably sometimes around the next few weeks.
I just rewatched the Oregon game
Ugh, sorry man.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:45 PM PST up reply actions
CGB guys, If you could ensure that every woman knows one thing about males, what would it be?
Inspired by Reddit. Here’s what they came up with. Anything to add to the list?
We cannot take hints. Just fucking say it.
We are not playing with our dick/balls. They are dangly beasts and can get in awkward and downright painful positions frequently. We are adjusting and easing the pinching of our scrotum.
Think to yourself, “What is the simplest, most straightforward way that his words can be taken?” That is what we mean.
…that we don’t mind if you approach us/ask us out! I’m always amazed to hear women who think it is somehow frowned upon or off-putting. Whoever is spreading this lie needs to be shot.
That’s not to say that you’re guaranteed to be successful if you do approach a guy first. I’m just saying that if you are someone we’d be interested in, we won’t think less of you for making the first move. Welcome to our world.
…that we pay more attention to what you do than what you say.
90% of the time we have NO idea what you are talking about
100% of the time we do not know what you are thinking
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash on Mar 8, 2010 7:02 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
We cannot take hints. Just fucking say it.
Nail. On. Head.
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by Rishi on Mar 8, 2010 8:14 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Masturbation- don’t take it as a personal affront if you catch your dude pulling his chain. Sometimes a guy just needs to snap one off and since I doubt most ladies are willing to do the nasty 4 times a day every day and on demand, just let him have his “me time” without thinking twice about it.
If your man is high fiving his buddies after watching Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman have angry sex on screen, let it go. Dudes like to look at pretty girls, it doesn’t mean they don’t love you anymore.
Inspiring and completing since1997 since2010!
by Fire Starkey on Mar 8, 2010 8:22 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
…that we don’t mind if you approach us/ask us out! I’m always amazed to hear women who think it is somehow frowned upon or off-putting. Whoever is spreading this lie needs to be shot.
Yes and no. Initially in the get to know you stage, getting in the way and making it obvious that you dig a a guy is strongly encouraged. As mentioned in a previous topic. Subtlety will not help your cause. Guys really are extremely oblivious. When it comes to elevating things to something more serious, I like to steer the ship. Call me old-fashioned or whatever, but when I finally encountered one of those women that were “on a mission” it scared the hell out of me, and I ended things after the second date.
CGB gals, If you could ensure that every man knows one thing about females, what would it be?
Again from Reddit, sample responses:
We are not sitcom characters. Please stop taking your dating cues from bad television shows. It is annoying.
I do not care if you watch porn, though I would appreciate being invited to the party occasionally. I will not be offended if you masturbate. I would actually prefer that you go out with your friends sometimes, even if they happen to be – motherfucking gasp – female. On a related note, I don’t perceive every woman in your life as a threat to our relationship. Leave the toilet seat up if you really want; I really don’t miss the two seconds I spend putting it in my preferred configuration. It’s not PMS. I’m not going to pressure you into a commitment, and I don’t spend evenings with my friends plotting the best way to do so. If I’m talking about something that bores you, I’d much rather you tell me to STFU than sit there and suffer.
Don’t assume we are going to turn you down. Just come up to us and talk to us. We’re pretty cool if only you take the time to have a conversation with us. Seriously, pretty girls are really just girls and not bitches (for the most part). Also, don’t equate beauty and airheadedness (I know, not the best word to use. But it’s the only one that comes to mind).
The clitoris and penis are originally from the same undifferentiated embryonic tissue. Would you want a woman to ignore your penis in bed? Exactly.
We use toilet paper to wipe after we pee.
Our breasts are not radio dials.
If I think that girl is a bitch, she’s a bitch. Agree with me. For the love of your balls, don’t disagree about this.
A rub on the small of the back releases oxytocin, a hormone that will relax us if we are too stressed out, or even if we are in pain over something (cramps).
Really small, insignificant things make us feel awesome. My favorite thing is finding a post-it with “<3” on it slipped into my purse by my BF (no, not in place of missing money_)
I think this one is pretty much a given, but it really needs to be said again.
We don’t overly care about your money or your looks as many of you seem to think (but having both doesn’t hurt) What matters to most women when it comes to dating is confidence and an overall cool attitude. I think most would would agree with me when I say that I would rather date a confident guy with average looks and an average income than a hot rich guy who needs constant emotional babying.
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
Don’t assume we are going to turn you down. Just come up to us and talk to us. We’re pretty cool if only you take the time to have a conversation with us. Seriously, pretty girls are really just girls and not bitches (for the most part). Also, don’t equate beauty and airheadedness (I know, not the best word to use. But it’s the only one that comes to mind).
So the guy has to take the effort to approach the girl and has to ask her out… and because he’s the one asking out, he has to pay on first date.
Gotcha.
7
Seriously, pretty girls are really just girls and not bitches (for the most part). Also, don’t equate beauty and airheadedness (I know, not the best word to use. But it’s the only one that comes to mind).
Am I the only one who thought: “Aww, poor pretty girl never gets chatted up” Ptttb.
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
A rub on the small of the back releases oxytocin,
I initially read that as oxycoton.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
If you replace “back” and “oxytocin” with other words, it could be useful advice from guys to girls.
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My telling you about a problem is not a request for you to solve it. Sometimes I just want acknowledgement that it sucks.
by Scootie on Mar 8, 2010 11:44 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Yeah, I’ve never quite understood this one. I’ve heard it before, but I don’t get it. Why don’t you want your problem solved?
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
They don’t want to admit that they’re wrong or incapable of solving a problem on their own.
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by Rishi on Mar 8, 2010 11:51 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I’m perfectly capable of solving my problem on my own. I just want to bitch about it for a few minutes first.
I keep wanting to add the letter “d” to your screen name.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 12:04 PM PST up reply actions
The problem here is consistency. Sometimes you just want to bitch about it. Sometimes you really do want a bail out. Like when you inexplicably decide at 9pm Friday night to switch out the bathroom faucets despite lacking the experience or physical strength to accomplish said task without assistance.
Since it’s been established that we have no idea what you mean, what you want, or what you’re thinking, if you ever want us to be helpful, you need to cut us some slack when we offer to be helpful since we have no idea if you’re just bitching or really want help.
Not that any of this has ever happened to me, of course.
I, myself, was surprised at the remarkably specificity of this clearly hypothetical situation. But thats what I like about Kodiak. He really goes all out.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
“If you’re going to eat poison, you might as well lick the dish.”
by Kodiak on Mar 8, 2010 2:42 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
rec’d for appropriate use of quote.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:46 PM PST up reply actions
Hey, I thought of a real life use for that saying – Nancy Pelosi to the house members on passing the Senate’s version of health care.
Am I known as Cugel the Clever for nothing?
Nice, that’ll sell them on it really well.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:59 PM PST up reply actions
Dude, I would never, ever attempt to change out the bathroom faucets. I pay people to do that kind of stuff. Got to keep the economy going and all that. I am a patriot!
THIS TIMES A BILLION!!!
Considering the absurd amount of complaining my wife loves to do, I’m happy she never wants me to actually fix the problem!!!
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I would ratherdatefuck aconfident guy with average looks and an average income thana hot rich guy who needs constant emotional babying.
CGB: Preventing the rest of the Cal blogosphere from getting press passes since 2006.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Mar 8, 2010 12:52 PM PST up reply actions
this is truth.
Really small, insignificant things make us feel awesome. My favorite thing is finding a post-it with "<3" on it slipped into my purse by my BF (no, not in place of missing money _ )
Go Bears Go
Ireland
I’m packing up the clan and going to Ireland in June which is one of the places I’ve always wanted to go. One downside, we’ll be there during a big chunk of the world cup so I just hope that the Irish aren’t too bitter about the cheating Frog bastards and will be watching it in every pub in the universe. We’ll see.
Inspiring and completing since1997 since2010!
Ireland is awesome
be sure to visit the Butter Museum. And eat a lot of it, preferably with soda bread.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 9:32 AM PST up reply actions
okey dokey
Ireland was the center of a vibrant trade in butter, preserved in crocks in the peat bogs. An important source of protein and way to preserve milk, the reason for all the buttermilk and hence all the soda bread.
And a boon to American clothing manufacturers, once I got home and had to buy larger pants.
You can try Kerrygold butter and cheese and Barry’s tea (even better) by visiting Roxie Market in SF
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 11:42 AM PST up reply actions
I haven't seen it at WF in SF
but thanks. Be careful of expiration dates!
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 12:10 PM PST up reply actions
They have it at Whole Foods here in the DC area, as well as some indecently good French butter as well.
YES! The French cultured cream butter??? I love that stuff, somehow it tastes more buttery than butter.
I can’t remember the name of it, it’s from Normandy. Whatever else it might be, it’s ridiculously good.
Oh, I see how that reads like I’m being a smart ass. Whoops.
Anyway, I don’t remember the brand name either, although I do remember that Straus also makes a European style cultured cream butter that I liked.
Sorry, I just assume that people are being sarcastic, which is a lazy projection of my own behavior ;)
One of the cool things about being an expat is that imported European products which are expensive in the US (d’Isigny is the Normandy butter we can get in the import markets and that I have in my fridge right now) are the same price as US products (Land of Lakes).
So given that choice, I bought d’Isigny for my toast.
I don’t know whether to be jealous in a good way or a negative, destructive way.
Although, given that this is China, how confident are you that this “Norman buttter” isn’t a local knock-off?
100%
The knock-off stuff is sold by a sketchy looking guy in a shabby suit off the back of a bicycle around the corner.
“Watch, bag, DVD, imported French butter”
Ha! I saw that museum in some of the research I am doing. Butter
Inspiring and completing since1997 since2010!
by Fire Starkey on Mar 8, 2010 10:54 AM PST up reply actions
Hmm, that’s not Touchdown Jesus at Notre Dame….
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:09 AM PST up reply actions
Looks more like Incompletion Jesus to me.
Go Bruins!
by Harsha on Mar 8, 2010 11:27 AM PST up reply actions 3 recs
Me too.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:50 AM PST up reply actions
I’m not a religious person at all, but this statue in this setting has to be the most dramatic environment constructed. This is my top choice for place I must see before I die.
Pokemonz!
We had a CGB fantasy baseball league last year, didn’t we? I’ve already forgotten everything about that and who was in charge and stuff. I made a Yahoo H2H league for friends and assorted people I know, and was just considering whether I should post the info here. The league is called “California Baseball,” so it kinda works with CGB…
I've been Honked...
Bad news, royrules22...
5 Creepy Ways Video Games Are Trying to Get You Addicted | Cracked.com
Really interesting read on games like WoW and whatnot.
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by Rishi on Mar 8, 2010 8:57 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I recommend this article… very interesting read. I think you can see some of these “addicting” things in every videogame, but they are particularly prevalent on those subscription games.
Yeah, I found it pretty interesting. I’ve done the online game thing in my time…I was lucky in that I got bored with it before getting too hooked. On the other hand, my roommate at Cal never graduated. He actually blew off a midterm because he was caught up in a MUD…then changed his major from business to Chinese (he was already fluent), so he wouldn’t have to go to class…and still ended up dropping out.
The crazy thing is this was in the age of text games/ascii graphics. The dude would have starved to death if WoW had been around then.
He may well be dead now.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 1:29 PM PST up reply actions
Well, he was selling eyeglass parts a few years back. We have an optometrist in the suite next door. He was pimping himself/his wares, saw my name on the sign, and dropped in to bother me. It was a surreal moment…like I was wondering exactly what type of crack I must have been on to room with that guy. Made me feel really, really old.
I only got into online gaming with Battlefield 2 and Team Fortress 2. With BF2 I only played for about a month before my gaming ADD kicked in.
With TF2 I had friends across the country who played so we pitched in and rented a server (some $1 each I think) and I played it for about 6 months every evening. I mainly played it so that I could talk to them via voice chat more than actually playing the game.
In other words, Go Bears!
Venice is worth a day trip, Florence is beautiful. I’ve never had much of an inclination to visit India, but all of the places that RoyRules mentioned look amazing.
Sorry to be all Debbie Downer, but I had a crashing realization last year that approaching 40 and supporting a family of 4 on a single income in a high-ish cost of living zone means that I don’t really have to worry about whether I’ll get to every amazing place that might be interesting: I won’t.
In the realm of the realizable, I wouldn’t mind another trip to Iceland, going to Montana / Wyoming, possibly Vancouver, and going to Paris and Amsterdam as an adult. I’d like to go to Tokyo and then perhaps somewhere in northern Japan as a corrective to avoid agoraphobia. Istanbul, Barcelona, and Corsica are all appealing.
But the battering my wallet is about to take to arrange a week in Scotland for a family wedding, and having the kids’ grandparents in Michigan, Maine, and California, plus having 18 days’ leave a year including sick time… if I get even half of my sorry list above done, I’ll really feel like I’ve done something.
Florence
Is the only place on there that I have been to. Rags and I went all around Italy (except Venice) for our honeymoon and had a great time. Florence was my favorite city, but the Cinque Terre were amazing as well.
List of Cities we visited (in order): Rome, Naples (for a few hours, like Oakland only Italian), Sorrento (beautiful coast resort town, good lemoncello), Cosenza (actually, outside of it, the little town my great grandfather came from), Florence, Cinque Terre (stayed in Vernazza), Milan (a couple hours) and finally to Bellagio on Lago Cuomo (another beautiful spot)
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
The missus and I went to the Cinque Terre as well – we got all corporate, relatively speaking, and stayed in Monterosso, and had a grand time. I fondly remember getting a sandwich and a drink in Corniglia, I guess it was, and sitting in a tiny public spot and looking at the bay…
Much more so than the debacle that was our stint in Rome, in any case.
Whassamatta U?
We hope to head that way in the near future and if there are particulars we can avoid that would be super to know. And if they were more in the line of comedy of errors, we can all have a good laugh at your expense, so win/win.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 9:33 AM PST up reply actions
It was entirely errors and hassles of my own making. I didn’t really take the time to read up on Rome, so I was taken aback by how little was left in the way of antiquities. It was 95 degrees with no a/c anywhere, even though it was mid / late September, and I was hanging with that until I discovered that the locals won’t open the windows on the buses because they think you’ll catch a cold off the breeze. I also succeeded in getting my pocket picked by a gypsy on the bus on the way to the Vatican Museum… everyone else on the bus, including my wife, knew this woman was a thief, but no-one, including my wife, thought to mention it because they thought it was obvious this was a pickpocket. Very accomplished too: she managed to take my wallet with walking around money out of the front pocket of my jeans, extract all but a single 1.000 lire note, and put the wallet back, without my noticing.
Imagine my surprise – after waiting for an hour in line behind 6 moronic co-eds from the US who were bitching that their study abroad programs didn’t even have Thanksgiving break – when I went to pay the entry fee for the Vatican Museum and discovered I had no money.
Fortunately the Vatican Museum is full of Christian charity, there was a bureau de change right at the ticket booths and they were willing to cash a traveler’s check based on my driver’s license.
I then nearly got into a fight in the Vatican Museum because we got stuck behind some group of Midwestern heffalumps in one of the habitrails to the Sistine Chapel – not problematic until they discovered that they weren’t on the express route and one of them started shrieking at the guard and at me that we had to let them back because “I WANNA GO TO THE SISTINE CHAPEL! I DON”T WANNA GO THE LONG WAY, I WANNA GO TO THE SISTINE CHAPEL!" She took exception to me telling that there was not room, she was holding up a lot of people, so why not shut the fuck up and start walking – so she tried to make her husband get in my grill – the poor bugger was the only person in the group who wasn’t at BMI of 75 and was even shorter than me, so he wasn’t interested.
I hated the whole experience. As magnificent as Il Duomo was in Florence – I’m not religious, but I felt like I was in God’s house – St Peter’s is depressing and authoritarian.
The only redeeming segment of that stay was when we took the local commuter train out to Ostia Antica. That was fantastic.
Similar experience, my friend and I decided to fly back to the US from Rome instead of from Nice, France. So we took the train from Nice and naively thought we’d be able to log in via his wireless connection and book a hotel from the train (which we had done successfully in France a few days before).
Little did we know you can’t do that in Italy. So we arrived in Rome at 10pm with no hotel. Stay away from the “Hotel Office” at the train station….fucking thieves! They said no rooms were available anywhere in the city and arranged for a driver….in a private car, not a taxi……to take us to a ‘hotel’, which was in a ghetto area of Rome. Turned out to be a hostel and they wanted 300 Euros/night. We had to pay the guy to take us back to the train station.
Back at the train station, we enlisted the help of an African priest, two Roman policemen, and a translator, to force the “Hotel Office” people to find us a legit hotel.
Bottom line: any civilization that has lasted thousands of years is going to be very street smart, will attempt to rip off foreigners, and will find a way to outsmart you. Be on your guard in Rome.
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 10:14 AM PST up reply actions
hmm
We didn’t find that to be the case in Greece, esp. Athens, although I’m sure one could get taken for a ride (literally and figuratively). The Acropolis was the experience you describe; at least in that case you could march up early in the day (I think 8AM) and get your sightseeing in before the pavement starts melting and the sweaty hordes pile up.
And thanks for the info- we need to check into sites/reservations/express lanes and so on. My wife’s been before so I don’t think she’ll have any particular must-sees as far as tourist attractions.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 11:50 AM PST up reply actions
at least in that case you could march up early in the day (I think 8AM) and get your sightseeing in before the pavement starts melting and the sweaty hordes pile up.
This is what AndBears and I did when we saw the Coliseum in Rome, and it was absolutely the right move. Still cool in the morning, few tourists, enjoyed it immensely.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
Midwestern heffalumps
Harumpf!
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 10:19 AM PST up reply actions
I think there’s a heffalump in my department. I detest her…..about 4’11 and 170lbs. She shouts at her husband over the work phone all day. Poor sonofabitch is obviously only with her for the money.
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 10:20 AM PST up reply actions
We were lucky that we didn’t run into too many ridiculous American tourists. (though the Sistine chapel was crazy packed). Our only silly mistake there was based on the fact that Rome is big and packed with lots of interesting stuff. We ended up walking over the entire city because there was always something interesting a block away.
We did run into one American girl, mid-twenties, a bit heavy set but not heffalump, who was at a pizza place and was trying to explain in english that she was a vegetarian and that they needed to change the utensils. I pulled out my pocket Ital-Eng book and showed her the phrase for “I am a vegetarian”. “Ah” and they took care of it. Then at the end she was yelling loudly for “To GO!” box, finally after a few minutes of confused looks, I chimed in with ‘Lei — Portare a via!" Bad grammar, but everyone finally understood. I was thrilled that I was helpful American, and laughing at this silly girl who came to another country and didn’t even CONSIDER that they might not speak her native tongue.
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
My girlfriend took three years of high school french, thus when we were in Paris she took the lead in our conversations. While at the local bakery she practiced requesting two croissants and two orange juice in french, and when the time came, our request came stammering out of her mouth. The lady behind the counter smiled, gathered the items and started carrying on in french (in a friendly tone). For two minutes she carried on, and my girlfriend only the understood the final word which was ‘agree?’ Yea, that was ackward, as she apologized for not understanding stating she is from England on holiday.
I didn’t need to go to France to have that moment. After four years of French in HS I tried to speak French to a native. Oh god I sounded stupid as hell and started forgetting all my vocab in a matter of seconds.
The only use I’ve ever actually had with my french was giving an elderly French couple directions in an Indian airport once.
In other words, Go Bears!
I took 4 years of French in HS too, and I was really pretty decent at it, but I’ve forgotten so much of it now. I think a little refresher course would really go a long way though.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:29 AM PST up reply actions
Yea I’ve forgotten most of it too. It’s been 4 years now since I last studied French
In other words, Go Bears!
It’s been 11 years for me.
Sigh… old.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:51 AM PST up reply actions
She should’ve just said, “D’accord!”
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:28 AM PST up reply actions
There was a Burn Notice reader-question clip on this one
Basically to the effect of “don’t bother learning how to say a particular phrase in fluent [French/Italian/Farsi/Swahili/whatever], because the person you say it to will respond with a stream of equally fluent [whatever] and you will have utterly no idea what he’s talking about.”
Slow and simple gets the job done.
Shawn Spencer: "I’m receiving a transmission from your husband. Really more of a voicemail, if I'm being honest. A status update. Perhaps a twitter."
Burton Guster: "I believe it’s called a tweet."
Shawn Spencer: "There’s no way I’m saying that."
truer words never spoken
Spanish= near useless in Chile, and Portuguese wasn’t particularly helpful in Lisbon (but Coimbra and elsewhere was fine).
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 11:52 AM PST up reply actions
We were with everyone else who had bought the Rick Steves guide, no matter where we went – except Ostia Antica.
My wife did the same thing as you at a tourist trap in Florence (decent cheap food though) – a middle aged English guy was trying the same tactic to get “MILK, MIIIIIILK” for his coffee. She intervened for the waiter and all was well.
Mrs. Kod and I were set on Italy for our honeymoon and then 9/11 hit…and we wussed out on international travel. Instead we rented a condo in Half-Moon Bay and moved down to Carmel a few days later. Sadly enough, the closest we’ve gotten to Italy has been a pizza + red wine + Under the Tuscan Sun on DVD. When the kids are older, we’ve sworn a blood oath to ditch them and go.
I visited Paris Oct/Nov 2001, and the Parisians were extremely friendly. Paris, great food, really hard to top.
Am I known as Cugel the Clever for nothing?
and the Parisians were extremely friendly serious assholes.
There, fixed it
Inspiring and completing since1997 since2010!
by Fire Starkey on Mar 8, 2010 10:59 AM PST up reply actions
Not when I was there, bought me drinks in bar, expressed solidarity in opposition to terrorism. Also explained that World trade center almost happened to them first, there was a plot in the late 90’s to crash a airplane into the Effiel Tower, of which I was unaware.
Am I known as Cugel the Clever for nothing?
I found Parisians to be the rudest, most unfriendly people I have ever met. The only nice people I met in paris were an old Italian couple who basically adopted my wife when they found out she had hurt her ankle on one of the cobblestone streets. The rest of the people there were just horrible. Rude, unfriendly, unhelpful. Fuck ’em.
The rest of the Frogs I met were very nice though. They admitted that Parisians have a serious attitude problem however.
Inspiring and completing since1997 since2010!
by Fire Starkey on Mar 8, 2010 11:32 AM PST up reply actions
I found Parisians to be pretty nice. I would go and try to fake my way thru an introduction in French and they would smile and then speak to me in English. I think it was my effort that made the difference.
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:34 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, I suppose shouting “COCK! BALLS!” at the top of my voice probably didn’t help.
Inspiring and completing since1997 since2010!
by Fire Starkey on Mar 8, 2010 11:37 AM PST up reply actions
I think that’s true for most large/capital world cities. Maybe the exception of Tokyo – but then its just a veneer of politeness. There’s very few large cities I think that you could characterize as friendly – and they tend to be large provincial capitals – but somewhat backwards compared to the more cosmopolitan capital. Houston, Osaka, Atlanta, Chengdu, Dublin might really be it . . .
Toronto?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 4:33 PM PST up reply actions
Montreal is one of my favorite cities on the planet. Best of both worlds.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 4:40 PM PST up reply actions
I’ve never been. But after watching the Anthony Bourdain visit to au Pied de Cochon and hanging out with my former co-worker Talia who is not only French Canadian but also smoking hot and one of the nicest people I know – I feel like it’d be an awesome place.
It is, I was there last summer for the Jazz festival. Only downside was it rained a lot, and all the locals kept saying “but it never rains like this, this weather is crazy”.
Also, the women are super attractive. Almost all seemingly.
Am I known as Cugel the Clever for nothing?
The only downside of Montreal is the bitter, bitter cold winter. I don’t think I’ve ever been so cold.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 5:00 PM PST up reply actions
Seconded on Chengdu btw. And Dublin too, I suppose.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 4:34 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, that must have been the brief but memorable “Nous Sommes Tous Américains” phase just after Sept. 11th.
That was, of course, followed by the fallout over the Iraq war and our foray into “Freedom Fries” territory.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:33 AM PST up reply actions
Well yes, I’m sure that was it, but my experience in Paris was great. And since it was a working trip for my wife, the hotel was free, so I didn’t feel so bad spending for dinner. Some of the best meals of our lives. I also know some french, but sometimes the french hate to hear you mispronounce their language that they rush to stop you from trying (even if you want to, as I did).
Ces’t la vie
Am I known as Cugel the Clever for nothing?
How was the food in Florence? I had a friend at Berkeley who was from Florence and I went to his house occasionally so I could eat some home cooked Tuscan food. It was fucking amazing
In other words, Go Bears!
Yes, amazing. Basically because of the fresh food. The whole region is a agricultural zone, so be sure to have some buffalo mozzarella and good beef as well. Funny enough, we had our worst food in Florence too, just accross the river. We found a “cafe” in an alley and ate lasagna that was worse than microwave lasagna at home. (And I know, I made damn good lasagna from scratch — I’ve even made noodles, although that’s labor intensive). We made faces, left some money, and then went somewhere else.
And I should have known, because I’ve eaten food off a cart in an alley in Bangkok. But apparently I don’t learn.
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
kinda scared
Once we went to Greece, “mediterranean food” here seems lousy in most cases. We are afraid Italian food will be off the list too after we return from this trip…
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 11:55 AM PST up reply actions
You didn’t like the food you got in Greece?
I loved all the food we got on the islands (Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos, Crete) and Athens wasn’t half bad either…
Where were you staying?
Things to Remember: Girls usually don't like it when you yell out "Beast Mode!" when switching to doggy style. - TFLN
I think he’s saying he liked it so much that, by comparison, Greek food available here was horrible.
7
yes
We only ate a couple of bad meals in Greece, either our fault (trying to eat lunch at 11AM the first day we got there because we were starving) or bad circumstances (Piraeus is not the center of Greek cuisine).
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 12:33 PM PST up reply actions
the diesel fumes
make everything taste more better!
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 1:27 PM PST up reply actions
Florence is the only city on royrules’ list that I’ve been to. Great trip. I remember it for (1) the art and (2) the food. Oh, the food. I never had a bad meal when I was there. We sort of picked places by what looked all right. And we never regretted a choice.
Hope to go back to Italy someday when the kids can appreciate it. Or when I’m retired.
I am a Vereenian.
Yea, definitely. I love love LOVED the real statue of David. I could have sat all day looking at it.
I could bring the kids to the ancestral home in Italy, but really, when I was there I #1) Made the natives restless because they never get tourists and #2) couldn’t even listen to the italian because the dialect was so thick and #3) Never felt more American in my life!
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
I could have sat all day looking at it.
You are so dirty.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I guess that makes sense. I mean that video of the naked Japanese women slipnsliding towards those dildos was art, also. So, it was OK that I sat all day watching that, too!
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I agree with you agreeing with Scootie.
The David was breathtaking… for yeah a couple big reasons.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
Merely by posting on this site, in many ways, you have lost already.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 8, 2010 2:07 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
royrules, with your DBDs, I feel it is better never than late.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Nice, but why is he putting on a second set of sunglasses?
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
How is this guy, with 2 sets of sunglasses, awesome?
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 9:32 AM PST up reply actions
He’s awesome like something, I just can’t figure it out.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 10:28 AM PST up reply actions
Why is he wearing potentially 3-5 pairs of sunglasses?
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Flagged for replying to yourself.
glass house, anyone?
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 10:35 AM PST up reply actions
Maybe they are 3-D glasses and it’s meant to poke fun at Avatar junkies?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:36 AM PST up reply actions
Rishi, and all other CGB GOPers, please try to defend Tom Delay's comments re: unemployed being unemployed because they want to be......
by 33SwisherSweet on Mar 8, 2010 9:25 AM PST reply actions
Um....
Tom Delay never said “people are unemployed because they want to be”. That is a ridiculously misleading title and you know it.
“You know,” Delay said, "there is an argument to be made that these extensions, the unemployment benefits keeps people from going and finding jobs. In fact there are some studies that have been done that show people stay on unemployment compensation and they don’t look for a job until two or three weeks before they know the benefits are going to run out.
This is what he actually says…
7
Continue reading ole wise one Rishi.....
Crowley: People are unemployed because they want to be?
Delay: Well, it is the truth. and people in the real world know it.
by 33SwisherSweet on Mar 8, 2010 9:29 AM PST up reply actions
I'll remember that when you get laid off. Hopefully, you wont. But 10% of Californians
must really be some lazy son of a bitches.
by 33SwisherSweet on Mar 8, 2010 9:30 AM PST up reply actions
12%
at last count. Not including pink-slipped educators, which should create an interesting strain on the UI fund come summertime.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 9:34 AM PST up reply actions
Tell those mother fucking lazy laid off assholes to look for a job.
by 33SwisherSweet on Mar 8, 2010 9:35 AM PST up reply actions
It goes both ways. I know both people in that 12% who have been laid off that have been looking for jobs for months and others who don’t have any real responsibilities (mortgage, kids, school loans) that just screw off.
Also, this.
Truth is, its taken some of my friends (who have master’s degrees), over 6 months to find a job. Its not easy out there. I wouldn’t say that the whole 12% are lazy laid off assholes. Maybe 11%, but not the whole 12%.
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
And I seriously doubt you’re just sitting on your butt sorting thru CGB all day. Its not easy out there. Keep your head up. Find some recruiters/headhunters if there are any for your particular industry or skill set. Let them help with your search because they can get your resume to the top of the pile. There are >1,000 resumes submitted per open position out there, you have to find every resource you can to help.
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
Which part ruined it for you? The helpful suggestion to reach out to recruiters/headhunters? Or the reality of the resume pile?
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
Oh, I already know. It’s grim out there, significantly more so than I was figuring when I quit my fatcat European job and moved home thinking I’d take the summer off and find something in the autumn…
My specific problem is that there’s really only one of my position at any given company, and then only if the company is of a fairly large size, so the opportunities haven’t been plentiful. That being said, things are looking up and soon I’ll hopefully be reading CGB on my phone during breathtakingly boring meetings. It’ll be fine.
My best piece of advice for anyone looking for work is to pimp your network to within an inch of its life. Because there are so many people applying for every opening, the only ones getting a look are those recommended by someone trusted (back to another thread on this DBD). Every role I’ve been interviewed for has been at a company where I had someone fairly high up to recommend me. Sad, but true.
It’s a leading question and they ran with it.
The basic premise is that unemployment benefits that stretch on forever can dissaude people from looking as hard for a new job as they should be doing.
7
Which is fine, but it does ignore the fact that short term unemployment benefits 1) don’t necessarily correlate to the length of an economic downturn, and 2) by definition don’t help much in addressing structural long term unemployment.
My objection is more to the vilification of Tom Delay for saying something like that.
Is your argument that long-term unemployment benefits are better or that short-term unemployment benefits are necessary? I can’t quite tell.
7
I don’t really have an argument. I think that short term unemployment benefits are necessary. The risk with long term unemployment benefits is that those really can reduce incentives to look for employment – better to spend the money on training, microcredit or credit for small enterprises, or even relocation. Although that last one is probably politically problematic.
I’d rather subsidize work than non-work. In fact, I’d rather see, instead of minimum wage in it’s current form, some kind of government top-up for low wage jobs to get them to the point of being at least nominally livable.
Nice to know that villains have a protector like you to keep them from being villified.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 12:41 PM PST up reply actions
No, but Delay is a right bastard.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 12:43 PM PST up reply actions
Right, because if the benefits are going to run out in three weeks, why bother looking for a job now, because I’ll obviously be guaranteed to get one IMMEDIATELY after the benefits run out, right? There’s no uncertainty or risk in waiting, right? The economy is ready to employ anyone who wants work, but the problem is all these silly unemployment benefits that people get, which are persuading people not to look. Yes, that’s it.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:38 AM PST up reply actions
Let’s try to keep the aggressive political posts for HuffingtonPost.com or Politico.com, 33SwisherSweet. No point in tempting the fates.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Why do you hate swishersweet. I got that article from Yahoo who got it from Huffignton.
How bout I just cut and paste the quote and we can debate it’s merits regardless of source. The bottom line is he said it.
by 33SwisherSweet on Mar 8, 2010 9:59 AM PST up reply actions
CGB is for sports and inaninity only, right?
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 10:23 AM PST up reply actions
Although hesitant in general, I do trust some people to do politics. 33SS is not one of them.
One of the biggest complaints we got in our confidential evaluation form was the frustration with huge political flame wars (esp. between Rishi and HolmoePhobe) in the DBD. I’m just trying to carry out the will of the people.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Corrected:
CGB is for sports and inanity only, right? and for the will of the people!
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 10:42 AM PST up reply actions
We will be telling Ken Crawford to take his anti prop 8 rants elsewhere too?
by 33SwisherSweet on Mar 8, 2010 10:43 AM PST up reply actions
a) Spazzy kinda started it in the content of his DBD
b) Ken Crawford’s arguments can hardly be characterized as ‘rants’.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
Dude, I said that the county’s support was “controversial.” I did not definitively connect the two. If Ken Craw wants to take exception to it, that’s his choice, and he DID. Either way, in all honesty I thought the civility of the ensuing discussion was a MODEL for how political discussions should be carried out.
CGB: Preventing the rest of the Cal blogosphere from getting press passes since 2006.
located in
Jingleheimer Junction
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 2:53 PM PST up reply actions
Is that the institution of higher learning attended by those Japanese slip ’n slide/curling women?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:17 PM PST up reply actions
No you said the county institutionalized bigotry, a little different then calling them controversial.
No, I didn’t. Re read exactly what I wrote. I have to work, so this is my last post here for today. I did not say that.
CGB: Preventing the rest of the Cal blogosphere from getting press passes since 2006.
I’m rarely pleased when we have those giants fights, but they have happened about twice in the history of this site. Also, like I said there are some I trust. I trust Ken Crawford about this much more than you. In fact, when it comes to this, there are few I trust less.
I predict strongly with your predilection towards aggressive argumentation and much more common presence here, we could have a political slap fight on a near daily basis.
I will not allow that to happen. I want you to come and have a fun time here at CGB. We have few restrictions. This is one of them.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
hawt
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 10:50 AM PST up reply actions
Corrected again:
CGB is for sports and inanity only, right? and for the will of the people and for having a fun time!
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 10:51 AM PST up reply actions
And motinos?
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 10:57 AM PST up reply actions
No, its to honor The Rishi
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:02 AM PST up reply actions
Sadly, he said that non-dots are not allowed. So I took my fake bindi and went home.
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:06 AM PST up reply actions
you mean…….
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:17 AM PST up reply actions
I may well be part of the problem, but I enjoy the discussions. There are a lot of generally thoughtful and articulate people here, despite what the prevalence of dick and poop jokes might lead one to believe, and there is usually a pretty polite but lively, if sometimes impassioned, back-and-forth on political topics between people who have different points of view that I think many people find interesting. And if some don’t find it interesting, they can scroll past.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:42 AM PST up reply actions
Go fuck yourself, I hate you.
amidoingitrite?
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 11:43 AM PST up reply actions
yes
Exactly right, you sack of shit.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:54 AM PST up reply actions
PERSONAL ATTTTAAAAACKKKK!!!
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 11:59 AM PST up reply actions
dammit
I guess I wasn’t doingitrite :-/
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 12:00 PM PST up reply actions
For some reason I have had a strong urge to visit Siberia (Lake Baikal specifically). I don’t know why, I imagine its cold, its difficult to navigate around as everyone knows Russian or an obscure language, and you have the possibility of wandering into an unmarked toxic waste site at pretty much any moment. But, I think the allure is that it is remote, and relatively untouched, though I believe Lake Baikal will be dramatically altered in the next 10 years as the Russians try to the develop the area both industrially and touristically (yes, I made that word up).
After I graduated from high school I went with my older cousin (then a Cal senior) around the world. Los Angeles to Tokyo to Hong Kong to Beijing to Trans-Siberian railway to Moscow to Berlin to Amsterdam to Paris to Wettigen, Switzerland for a wedding to New York back to LA (then 2 days after I got back was move-in day at Berkeley)
One of the big regrets of the trip is we were on the Trans-Siberian before they started allowing foreigners to get off midway. We would’ve liked to have stopped and spent a day at Lake Baikal. But we saw it from the train windows.
Have you seen “Long Way Round?”
How much did the trip cost, and how long did it take?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 1:41 PM PST up reply actions
Don’t know. Parents paid for plane tickets + trans-siberian + eurorail-pass. I had $1,000 for hotels and meals and souvenirs – but my cousin picked up all the hotels, and I didn’t buy many souvenirs, and actually came back with about $100.
We took 6 weeks – actually since my cousin didn’t need to be back for move-in day (she was starting that fall as a grad student and her transportation engineering program didn’t start for another month she continued through Europe – so she had more like 9 weeks.
Its in my lovefilm queue, but im currently working on understanding Polish urbanism through film, so its rather removed to the back of the list. I did, however, see Transiberia, and I still want to go.
Contract negotiation win?
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2010/03/ny_jets_give_cb_antonio_cromar.html
With seven children by six different women in five states and at least five paternity suits in the past two years, new Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie needs cash.
The Jets have stepped up, giving Cromartie $500,000 in up-front money (in the form of a bonus) on the final year of a contract that’ll pay him $1.7 million in 2010, according to the NFL Network.
And this is why I'm starting to detest professional sports....
by 33SwisherSweet on Mar 8, 2010 10:07 AM PST up reply actions
I thought it was because of the ’roids?
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 10:15 AM PST up reply actions
Vereen ready to break out, he was like Brandt in the 'Big Lebowski'
Cal RB Shane Vereen is ready for a Philip Seymour-Hoffman-like breakout this season. We’ve seen enough of his supporting work the past two years to know he’s ready to take the lead of the Bears’ backfield now that Jahvid Best has gone to the NFL. As a redshirt freshman, he was a loyal sidekick to Best (like Brandt in “The Big Lebowski”). As a sophomore, he nearly stole the show and actually led Cal in rushing while Best was injured (think Lester Bangs in “Almost Famous”). As a junior, he’s ready to take ownership of his role (as Seymour-Hoffman did when he won Best Actor in “Capote”). Not that Vereen is going to turn into a 5-foot-3 novelist. I’m just saying Cal’s season is in his hands.
Cal’s season is in your hands. The season’s in your hands, Dude. Mr. Lebowski asked me to repeat that: Cal’s season is in your hands.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:45 AM PST up reply actions
Injuries and how it relates to the A-11 Offense
His team, Piedmont (Calif.) High, has run the A-11 offense for 33 games but has yet to have a single major injury – as defined by an injury that causes a player to miss 21 days or more.
He’s quick to point out the reasons why.
“By design we spread the players out,” Bryan said. “There are less defenseless players getting knees clipped. We aren’t in a three-point stance banging heads. There aren’t big offensive lineman smashing into big defensive lineman on each and every play.”
That last point – collisions at the line of scrimmage on every play – made NFL commissioner Roger Goodell float the idea of eliminating the three-point stance, a suggestion that didn’t go over well with some big-time high school coaches.
But Steve Humphries, a co-founder of the offense who coaches the offensive line at Piedmont, agrees with it. And he notes that these collisions don’t just happen in games, but in practices, too.
“In an old-fashioned Wing-T or Power-I offense, how many times a week do you think a high school player gets dinged, or gets their bell rung?” Humphries said. "If you take those repeated blows to the college level, and then professionally it is no wonder players from the last generation are having the issues they have.
“When you are as spread out as the teams who run the A-11 are, there isn’t even close to the amount of head trauma.”
I wonder if Steve Humphries is related to Stan Humphries, the SD Chargers QB who often had concussions? And if they’re related, if that’s why Steve Humphires takes that position on the issue?
In all, Humphries led the Chargers to three playoff appearances and the franchises only Super Bowl appearance. Humphries’ toughness took its toll and in 1997, he was forced to leave the game after a series of concussions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Humphries
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 10:49 AM PST up reply actions
Flagged
because PIEDMONT SUCKS, ALBANY HIGH RULZ!
Inspiring and completing since1997 since2010!
by Fire Starkey on Mar 8, 2010 11:02 AM PST up reply actions
De Anza!
Was Albany in the ACCAL? I remember that Piedmont was…
by Tedfordisgod on Mar 8, 2010 11:22 AM PST up reply actions
Albany has been in a bunch of leagues over the years but the ACAL sounds familiar from my high school days. Albany, Piedmont, Alameda, Encinal, Kennedy Richmond, St Marys, Salesian, St Josephs, Bishop O’Dowd are the schools I remember being league foes. Its changed so much since then though.
Inspiring and completing since1997 since2010!
by Fire Starkey on Mar 8, 2010 11:35 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, I think it is no less confusing these days. All I know is that over the last 10 years, De Anza has gone from being decent in football to not winning a game this year.
by Tedfordisgod on Mar 8, 2010 11:50 AM PST up reply actions
Berkeley to Oakland Airport at 4:30pm?
I am determined to make good use of out my business trip to Oakland this week. I want to stop at La Burrita and get some burritos to take home to LA.
So if I’m getting my burritos at 4:30, how long will it take me to get to the Oakland Airport using a) a taxi in early rush hour traffic, or b) BART (10 min walk/taxi back to downtown BART, 20 min BART to Collesium, 15 min AirBart shuttle?)
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
Buy me a burrito, I’ll drive you to Oakland Airport – take you 40 Mins either way I’d say.
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
Do I need to buy a shrimp burrito to feed Rag’s dolphin too?
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:02 AM PST up reply actions
We live on Alameda Island, so he gets his own food and is back by bedtime.
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
Nice, make sure the dolphin stays away from those giant octopi……octopussies?
Giant octopus eats crabs off Pillar Point Harbor boat, escapes
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_14633859?source=rss&nclick_check=1
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:05 AM PST up reply actions
Taxi is probably the easiest (I assume business trip = you’re not paying for it either way)
880 will probably suck through the 980 merge and the construction just past Oak St but after that it won’t be too horrible, but also not great.
Hmmm, I have to make a 5:45 flight. I could take the 7:00 flight back but that would totes suck to get home after 8pm. But I will have a “get out of the doghouse free” card if I bring my wife La Burrita.
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:13 AM PST up reply actions
Need to allow about an hour if you don’t want to feel rushed. Walking from La Burrita to Bart is about 15 mins. Downtown Berkeley Bart to Coliseum is 22 mins. AirBart to OAK is another 15-20 mins. Security check-in to gate is another 5-15 mins.
yeah i was gonna take a cab from the BART station to La Burrita, wait for me and take me back to the station, to shave a few mins. i figured if the general advice was in favor of the cab, i’d just have the cab wait for me and take me direct to the airport.
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:15 AM PST up reply actions
winner winner La Burrita for dinner!
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:18 AM PST up reply actions
Hey, now that I think about it, isn’t there a La Burrita next to the BART station?
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:21 AM PST up reply actions
Oh, I thought there were 2-3 La Burrita locations. I know the one on Durant that I was thinking of. I thought last time I walked up from BART to Memorial Stadium, I passed one along the way between BART and the campus. Maybe I’m confused.
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:23 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, that. Damn imitations. Nothing is the same as this place….
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:32 AM PST up reply actions
The other La Burrita is on the North Side of campus, on Euclid.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:49 AM PST up reply actions
Allow at least 25 mins for AirBART.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 11:47 AM PST up reply actions
Interesting that Istanbul is leading the votes but no one is talking about it
In other words, Go Bears!
That’s because everyone would rather talk about Constantinople.
Things to Remember: Girls usually don't like it when you yell out "Beast Mode!" when switching to doggy style. - TFLN
I’d rather talk about Croatia. And how royrules dont wanna go there.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 8, 2010 11:16 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Dosta
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 1:04 PM PST up reply actions
I really hope that you just want to complain to me about that problem and that I don’t have to actually, in any way, fix it.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
"Problem" and "CCRBs" don't belong in the same sentence
Zasto ne svida ti se pisanje o jakom hrvatskom kurcu, CALumbus Bear?
I ran that through babelfish and it came out as:
CALumbus Bear, have you ever seen hairier balls than Twist’s lame excuse for junk? I mean seriously! Those things are like 2 droopy grapes hanging in a jungle of dirty dental floss! I was totally grossed out, I don’t think I’m having dinner tonight.
Inspiring and completing since1997 since2010!
Where does Twist eat lobster at night? I don’t understand.
Inspiring and completing since1997 since2010!
It’s amazing how Twist-deprecating humor has become the lingua franca of CGB. Everyone just implicitly understands it.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:00 PM PST up reply actions
Are you actually literate in French or are you putting things into a translator? Just curious. I’ve been learning French on and off for seventeen years and I’d just like to know why you’d use vous over tu in this instance.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
Cause Starkey is like 20 years older than me.
I took French for four years in HS. So I know a bit of it but I wouldn’t call myself literate because it’s been almost 4 years since I used it.
In other words, Go Bears!
Hahaha. Avi has called me both old (and, since the last DBD, has also called me fat) so I’m feelin ya on this. To be fair I am old in girl years.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
In girl years, you are 117, right? It’s 7 girl years for every boy year, right?
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Over the course of 6 years of post secondary study: Econ (focus on game theory and macro econ), Finance, and English.
Plus in 3rd grade, I won a Math competition in my class.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
hmm, by most peoples definition, you would be a “humanities” major too. i’m sure that people like twist and myself prefer the “social science” distinction. i like to think that “humanities” refers to the study of art, music, dance, language, etc., whereas the social sciences use statistics and then bs based upon those figures.
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Clearly you’ve never taken a finance class.
But yes English is a humanities major.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
everyone in bio, chem, physics, engineering, etc. will call anything but science/mathematics major “humanities”, so all of your majors fall into that category. and finance is based on statistics bs, its just complicated
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
But people in bio, chem, physics, engineering etc. would be wrong. Humanities has a specific definition, which iincludes arts and languages. Social Sciences are a different beast altogether (and about as related to humanities as they are to physical science).
so i am going to finally come to my point by accusing since1997 of being wrong, since based upon your assertion he is most certainly not a “humanities” major, and, unless her original statement was intended sarcastically, she herself is much more of a “humanities” major that twist!
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Oh geez. Lets be friends here. I was referring to a comment Twist made on a front page article regarding SAHPC. He was referring to himself as a humanities major. It was not a comment about me and my book learnin.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
twist: blow me
97: sorry for missing the reference! i obviously have issues with humanities being tossed around negatively :(
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Yeah, not really my thing. What’s Serbian for “hot boobs”?
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 2:14 PM PST up reply actions
You know what word is the same in pretty much every single language? Porno.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:18 PM PST up reply actions
lol’d….rec’d
I am a proud member of LB Chris Martin's fan group: the Martinis
by dballisloose on Mar 8, 2010 11:31 AM PST up reply actions
Really? I thought it was here:
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 12:05 PM PST up reply actions
Haha look at that stumpy little tower… its sooo cuuuuuuuuuutteee
Things to Remember: Girls usually don't like it when you yell out "Beast Mode!" when switching to doggy style. - TFLN
you mean the Monument to Failure?
Although I guess that could apply to the whole place.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 12:34 PM PST up reply actions
JEROME RANDLE IS PAC-10 POTY!
Christopher and Randle make 1st team All Pac-10
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jerome Randle, California
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Derrick Williams, Arizona
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Seth Tarver, Oregon State
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nikola Vucevic, USC
COACH OF THE YEAR: Herb Sendek, Arizona State
FIRST TEAM
Name Pos. Year Hometown
Ty Abbott, ASU G Jr. Phoenix, ARIZ
Patrick Christopher, CAL G Sr. Compton, Calif.
Landry Fields, STAN G/F Sr. Long Beach, Calif.
Quincy Pondexter, WASH F Sr. Fresno, Calif.
Jerome Randle, CAL G Sr. Chicago, Ill.
Michael Roll, UCLA G Sr. Aliso Viejo, Calif.
Isaiah Thomas, WASH G So. Tacoma, Wash.
Klay Thompson, WSU G So. Ladera Ranch, Calif.
Derrick Williams, ARIZ F Fr. La Mirada, Calif.
Nic Wise, ARIZ G Sr. Houston, Texas
Second Team
Name Pos. Year Hometown
Jamal Boykin, CAL F Sr. Los Angeles, Calif
Jeremy Green, STAN G So. Austin, Texas
Calvin Haynes, OSU G Jr. Reseda, Calif.
Theo Robertson, CAL F Sr. Pittsburg, Calif.
Nikola Vecevic, USC F So. Bar, Montenegro
I am a Vereenian.
by Ohio Bear on Mar 8, 2010 12:26 PM PST reply actions 3 recs
Boykin made 2nd team and Gutierrez made the All-Defensive team.
More on Randle:
PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
RANDLE becomes the fifth California player to earn Pac-10 Player of the Year, joining Jason Kidd (1994), Shareef Abdur-Rahim (1996), Ed Gray (1997) and Sean Lampley (2001). Randle led the Bears to their first Pac-10 title since 1960. He topped the team in scoring (18.7 ppg/4th in Pac-10), and was among the league leaders in assists (4.5 apg/2nd in Pac-10), three-point field goals per game (2.7 pg/2nd in Pac-10), three-point field goal percentage (.404/7th in Pac-10) and free throw percentage (.927/1st in Pac-10). He’s posted 20 or more points 14 times this season, including a career-high 39 at Washington State (Jan. 14). With 1,745 career points, he only trails Sean Lampley (1,776 points) on California’s all-time scoring list. He currently owns Cal career records for three-point field goals made (242) and free throw percentage (.876).
I am a Vereenian.
Isn't it four?
I thought it was 4 tournament wins:
1997: beat Princeton and Villanova
2002: beat Penn
2003: beat NC State
I’m not forgetting any, am I?
I am a Vereenian.
Hells yes.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 12:29 PM PST up reply actions
Huzzah for Randle
I’m happy that P-Chris got 1st team, but just a skoosh surprised
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 12:35 PM PST up reply actions
If you’re a “skoosh” surprised at P-Chris making a 10-player 1st team All Pac-10, your jaw must be in the floor that Michael Roll would be on the 1st team.
I am a Vereenian.
Bakersfield State Sen Ashcroft (Republican) gets DUI, comes out and says he’s gay:
State Sen. Roy Ashburn, the Bakersfield Republican who was arrested in Sacramento last week on suspicion of drunk driving, came out as gay in a radio interview this morning.
“I am gay. And so, those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long,” Ashburn told radio host Inga Barks on her show on the KERN station in Bakersfield.
The announcement follows days of intense scrutiny of Ashburn’s personal life after he was arrested just after 2 a.m. on March 3. A Sacramento television station reported that Ashburn was at a popular gay dance club that night and several people have said they have seen the senator at gay bars in the city.
His sexual orientation is at issue because Ashburn has one of the staunchest records of voting against bills that would expand rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Californians.
Ashburn did not specifically say that he was at a gay club the night of his arrest, but said, “through my own actions I made my personal life public.”
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
One university official used an anecdote from the 2007 football season to illustrate the potential benefits of switching conferences. Colorado played a nonconference game in football at Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., that season. The game attracted more than 7,000 CU fans from the area and nearby Southern California.
The weekend became a series of fundraising opportunities for regents and school administrators who attended breakfasts, lunches and dinners and small parties in between.
Another similar weekend is expected this fall when CU plays at Cal in September. If a decision hasn`t been made by then, it could be an opportunity for Buffs fans to make an impression on Pac-10 officials.
CU is generally fortunate to have 1,000 fans at a Big 12 road game. According to CU`s alumni statistics provided to the Camera, Colorado has a total of 4,523 alumni in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma combined. The largest numbers of alumni in another Big 12 state are the 6,244 in Texas.
By comparison, there are 23,137 CU alumni in California, 3,755 in Arizona, 2,983 in Oregon and 5,113 in Washington. That`s 34,988 alumni in Pac-10 conference territory compared to 10,767 in Big 12 country. Another 1,200 CU alums live in Utah.
The Pac-10 paid out approximately $100 million to its 10 members last year compared with $132 million distributed by the Big 12 and $242 million by the Big Ten.
According to a recent Sports Illustrated article citing 2007 tax filings as the basis for its information, the Pac-10 paid its members between $7 and $11.5 million that year. The Big 12 paid its members between $7 and $12 million the same year.
By comparison the Southeastern Conference paid its members approximately $11 million each and the Atlantic Coast Conference paid members between $11.2 million and $12.2 million.
The Big Ten, the only BCS conference to start its own television network, has far surpassed those totals, paying its members $22 million a piece last year.
As easy as it is to mock the Big Ten and the ACC, those numbers are impressive.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
I didnt think it was possible for Lincecum to look even younger. He must have been preparing for his bar mitzvah at that point.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I think that would only be possible with some kind of tear in the space / time fabric – or Kim Kardashian’s ass, for short.
by DC Trojan on Mar 8, 2010 2:39 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Amazingly, I think there's now a plausible four-bid scenario for the Pac-10 (plausible in the sense that it requires only one true upset, as well as a lot of chalk)
thanks to the generally mediocre state of the NCAA bubble and the relatively small number of potential “bid thieves” from small conferences.
First round:
Cal wins
Arizona wins
ASU wins
Washington wins
Second round:
Arizona wins
ASU wins
Final:
Arizona wins
At that point all three of Washington, ASU and Cal might be in the RPI top 50. Cal will be firmly in lock territory as long as there’s no loss to a sub-100 RPI team in the opening round. Washington’s case would be the most dicey, but they have a decent nonconference win in TA&M and beat Cal. Arizona would, of course, get the auto-bid.
Shawn Spencer: "I’m receiving a transmission from your husband. Really more of a voicemail, if I'm being honest. A status update. Perhaps a twitter."
Burton Guster: "I believe it’s called a tweet."
Shawn Spencer: "There’s no way I’m saying that."
I think UW is most likely to win the Pac-10 tourney, which could mean 3 bids. I think Cal and ASU have the next best chances of winning the tourney.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 1:42 PM PST up reply actions
Cept that the tourney is held in LA and not Seattle… So they have little shot at winning it… I’d say in terms of most likely:
1) UofA
2) ASU
3) Cal
4) UCLA
5) UW
6) OSU
7) Furd
8) WSU
9) UO
U$C – HAHHAHAHAHA cheaters…
Things to Remember: Girls usually don't like it when you yell out "Beast Mode!" when switching to doggy style. - TFLN
Why is Arizona more likely than ASU or Cal?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:48 PM PST up reply actions
Cal because of JuJu (he’s always watching)
UofA/ASU is a toss up to me, but for some reason I think if they matched up on a neutral court again UofA would take em, but they are very hot and cold so who knows
Things to Remember: Girls usually don't like it when you yell out "Beast Mode!" when switching to doggy style. - TFLN
UW should definitely be out in that scenario
I can’t see the loser of ASU-UW making the tournament. Both resumes are just sooo weak.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
They really aren't weak at all
Compare them to teams like Illinois, which continues to get talk as being a pseudo-contender. Illinois has an RPI in the 70s.
I mean, if you “can’t see the loser of that game making the tournament,” how could you see the WINNER of it making the tournament? It’s obviously not going to be a big “up” in your eyes…
Shawn Spencer: "I’m receiving a transmission from your husband. Really more of a voicemail, if I'm being honest. A status update. Perhaps a twitter."
Burton Guster: "I believe it’s called a tweet."
Shawn Spencer: "There’s no way I’m saying that."
Have you guys ever gotten wasted with co-workers before?
I did on Saturday and it was effing hilarious. One co-worker actually passed out and some others drew penis on his face after his wife asked them to.
The average age of my co-workers is about 25 so it’s awesome. Only my boss is old.
In other words, Go Bears!
I’ve been in both an analyst program at 22 for a finance firm, a summer associate program at 25 for a bank, and an associate program at 26 for another bank.
The answer is HELL YES and it’s awesome getting wasted on company per diems.
Highlight: On a training trip to HQs, we got wasted the first night, then had to wake up at 6a for a whitewater rafting teambuilding trip the next day. Unfort, due to lingering inebriation of 90% of the raft, we overturned the raft on a class one rapid and to make matters worse, two dudes got pink eye from getting dunked in the water. Ahhh… oh the good old days pre-TARP and financial crisis.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
I don’t.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 1:59 PM PST up reply actions
Actually I liked neither of those movies, but felt it apropros to continue the joke despite that.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
off topic
eldest and the mrs. have been reading twilight series books and argueing about it. mrs also argues with her friend over the deeper meanings…..
someone….
please…..
shoot me.
Go Bears Go
Read this instead.
http://theoatmeal.com/story/twilight
I don’t really wish the financial services industry to have those opportunities.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:04 PM PST up reply actions
What does that sort of high-on-the-hog, company-financed recreational activity add to the bottom line, exactly? I’m sure it was lots of fun and all…
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:16 PM PST up reply actions
yes, what else could i have been referring to?!?!?!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_semaphore
ps, cory hall sucks
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Because that’s where you guys work…? And because that’s the context of since1997’s story, and because it sounded pretty typical, par for the course. I’ve heard plenty of stories about extravagant retreats and getaways.
I’m sure it’s been scaled back considerably since the financial crisis… look at this story about Wells Fargo, for example: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/03/wells-fargo-defends-cancels-vegas-retreat-amid-controversy/
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:24 PM PST up reply actions
After seeing the same sort of financial abandon among all the big law firms a few years back, and seeing them now performing stealth layoffs and cutting back hiring significantly, I’ve gotta agree with you.
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
Yeah, it’s not just finance. They’re just the poster boys.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:24 PM PST up reply actions
What is a stealth layoff? Like a Ninja gives you the severance package?
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
My sister was “stealthed” about a year and a half ago from a BigLaw firm, so I know well of it.
Stealth layoffs are when firms essentially fire you for what they claim are “performance-based” reasons, when in fact it’s actually a layoff. Firms don’t like to admit they’re doing layoffs because it harms their image, so they go to extreme attempts to either pressure associates into leaving, or firing them based on poor performance reviews. It’s a common, despicable tactic at BigLaw firms.
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
Ninjas cost money! That would be counter-productive.
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
dude, ninjas HATE pirates
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 2:45 PM PST up reply actions
You mean the guys who sell DVDs on the street for like 8 RMB?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:50 PM PST up reply actions
I got two phone calls in the last two years from JB. One phone call led to a $130MM financing opportunity that added $4.5MM in revenues to the firm.This company’s CFO went to college with JB. Who is JB? Same guy who got pink eye on day two of our team building training activity.
I took 5 of my girlfriends out last June to a baseball game at our suite and also invited a bunch of VPs from a company in my portfolio. One of the VPs fell for my girlfriend MB. One year later, we are pitching for a private capital raise. We are now one of the top two firms coming out of the bake-off. Why? One of the VPs making the decision had such an amazing time at the game that he just loves the bank.
People seriously underestimate how valuable fun is in building connections. My favorite quote “The beatings will continue until morale improves.”
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
I do agree, in general, that building interpersonal connections is incredibly important. In the small business world that I reside in, it is like99.9% of success. I am moderately surprised that it is as important in the big firm world that you reside in, but it makes sense.
I do understand the frustration that some have when they see the people who they perceive to have “ruined the economy” having any modicum of fun. It is what it is.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
That sounds like exactly one side of the coin. I appreciate the value of morale and networking, but can one honestly expect a $4.5MM deal out of every booze-fueled whitewater rafting excursion? Or at some point is it just blowing through dough because the company has a lot of it?
Secondly, not to cast aspersions on you personally or your individual experience, but I suspect these sorts of clique-y insiderish relationships, and the self-reinforcing risk/reward system within the industry may have contributed to some of the bulletproof, risk-embracing mentality that fostered some of the lending practices and financial instruments trading that led to the collapse. And lastly, these stories you tell are also kind of disturbing in a sense just on a business level. I’m no MBA, and I’m sure it’s not this cut-and-dry and there’s more to it, but… a $130MM decision based in part on someone’s having a college buddy at a bank, and another seemingly substantial business decision based in part on a horny VP liking a chick at a softball game? I know we’re human and all, but that’s not exactly a very rational-sounding model.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:42 PM PST up reply actions
atoms, the personal relationship isn’t the sole reason for the work being awarded. Rather, in finance and legal, there are MANY folks who do the same stuff at the same general high level. Why one firm gets the job over another usually boils down to trust and comfot, and the personal relationship is a HUGE issue. At this point in my career, I spend way more time networking and building relationship and much less trying to make myself appear smarter or more competent than my smart and competent competitors.*
*not Twist
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 2:50 PM PST up reply actions
my smart and competent competitors.*
*not Twist
Flagged for redundancy.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:51 PM PST up reply actions
Also, I realize it’s not the sole reason. That’s why I had so many caveats (“there’s more to it”, “in part”, etc…). I also think that there’s something to be said for lowering transaction costs because of some sort of network effect. Still, I wonder if there aren’t some downsides as well.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:57 PM PST up reply actions
Sure there are downsides, like not knowing if you’re getting the best bang for your buck because you’re just sticking with your bud. The point here is that this is how work gets delegated in many areas, so might as well enjoy it. I took clients to the World Extreme Cagefighting fights on Saturday and had a blast. Business expense.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:08 PM PST up reply actions
That’s what I explain to my wife.
“No, going to the NutNButt Horseplay was a business expense, honey!”
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
“honey, I can’t help it, my clients just want to play golf ALL THE TIME. You like me having a job, right?” GOLDEN
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:13 PM PST up reply actions
Kind of an indictment of capitalism though, isn’t it? That it doesn’t really work without greasing the skids?
Also, it really also sounds like a lot of post hoc justification for spending a lot of money on frivolities, as it’s gotta be very hard to quantify… “Well, I spent $X on liquoring up and entertaining these potential clients, and the directly attributable effects increased my revenues by $Y”.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 3:16 PM PST up reply actions
I predict strongly that capitalism is the economic system MOST likely to really work without greasing the skids.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I’m not saying there’s a better system. But it’s just funny how all this important behavior occurs outside the traditional model.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 3:18 PM PST up reply actions
Gotta blame human nature on that one. People trust who they know, and you get to know them via meals and entertainment. No one wants to listen to lawyers drone on in seminars, but they will take you up on drinks or golf, or even going to the symphony. Then they think “I’m comfortable talking with that person” and you’ve got yourself a client.
This stuff is quantifiable, and we play very close attention to it.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:20 PM PST up reply actions
Kinda like how drug companies take doctors out on “seminars” and suddenly they end up prescribing the new medication they learned about!
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 3:25 PM PST up reply actions
It isn’t always quite as dirty as you make it sound. So a new drug comes out, doctors are busy, how do you make them learn about it? Teach them for free in a nice setting where they want to go. Then the doctors learn the (hopefully real) benefits and prescribe it appropriately.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:28 PM PST up reply actions
No, it’s true. For example, lobbyists also perform a valuable educational service to our legislators who can’t be experts on every topic under the sun.
But there’s an extremely fuzzy line there, and at some point what you’re doing is buying influence.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 3:31 PM PST up reply actions
Indeed, it can get dicey. If you buy gifts of note, that appears to cross the line. But more expensive dinners/booze/golf, that seems to be ok. Maybe because it is ok if you spend time together, not ok if it is just cash/presents.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:33 PM PST up reply actions
While I agree, this is one of the things driving up costs. If the doctors only have time to learn about the expensive drugs, how will they know about the cheap ones? There is some local government who is sending out former pharmaceutical reps with even handed information in glossy print. I heard about it on NPR. They were saving a ton on costs.
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
I hear ya. I bet those former pharma reps are still hotties, because every pharma rep I’ve ever seen has been easy on the eye. You’ve got to catch the attention of the target somehow, which is unfortuate, even if for a good cause.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:35 PM PST up reply actions
yes, and the fact that when surveyed both men and women prefer to look at attractive women.
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
Women prefer to look at attractive women over attractive men? Really? Intriguing.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:41 PM PST up reply actions
it might have been that women like both, while men only like women.
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
Gotcha.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:45 PM PST up reply actions
Actually, we have a set # of continuing ed units that we need to renew our licenses every couple of years, We’re suppose to read up on new meds from peer-reviewed (non-advertiser funded) journals instead of just taking the word of the rep who shamelessly flouts their new wonder product as the best thing since sliced bread w/ normandy butter.
If you think its bad in capitalism (and our company asks for 3 competitive bids before choosing a vendor) its much worse in societies which are “socialist with Chinese characteristics” ahem
Client hospitality takes on a whole new meaning in China. I’ve now spent more than a handful of nights hanging out with prostitutes . . . singing karaoke. and then basically paying for the women’s time – for hosting our group. Anything outside of that is the customer’s own dime though.
Can I ask what you do for a living?
The reason is if you’re in a field that doesn’t require you to essentially win business, this is a very difficult conversation to have. Sales is so much about relationships (and also intelligence and service).
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
if you’re in a field that doesn’t require you to essentially win business
Yeah, I’m not. I mean, I studied econ and that notwithstanding, I think I have a fairly good understanding how the world works. I’m not issuing a blanket condemnation of schmoozing here, but like I said up above in my reply to CALumbus Bear, there’s a line, albeit a fuzzy one. Look at that article I linked to about Wells Fargo, and then tell me if that doesn’t sound over the line to you.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 3:33 PM PST up reply actions
It’s a fox news article. You can visit CGB but not a news site?
It’s basically about all the extremely lavish getaways and parties that WF, AIG, and other financial institutions had been throwing for years, but after they got bailed out, people got pissed and the companies had to cancel them because it made them look bad to be spending such money on themselves when the taxpayers were propping them up. In this instance, it was a 12-night trip to the most expensive hotels in Vegas about a year ago.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 3:46 PM PST up reply actions
Our Christmas Holiday party for our branch was essentially a company-subsidized happy hour.
Blow me.
7
Eh, that doesn’t sound too excessive, except for the “blow me” part.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 3:49 PM PST up reply actions
And I’m not bothered by it! Win-win :)
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 3:54 PM PST up reply actions
But do you expect lavish parties working in the financial industry? You sound annoyed that you don’t get to go on these big expensive outings.
I never expect something like that in my industry. Hell, we didn’t even have a Holiday party.
i think the thing that annoys people in finance is the fact that you work like 24 hours a day seven days a week. CEO/CFOs fucking blowing up your phone at 3am on a Saturday. You are on call all day all night. I have analysts that work on my portfolio and they kill themselves. I would love it if we could still pay for them to go on a whitewater rafting trip to blow off some steam.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
You know, if finance workers got together and unionized, they wouldn’t have these problems…..
by turkey on Mar 8, 2010 4:04 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I’m kind of joking around, but why does your industry have this sort-of work binge and purge built into it? It seems unhealthy for the business. And this binge-and-purge seems to be structurally built into finance…
I have a friend in B-school and her Facebook feed swings back and forth between “OMG, these classes are so hard. I’ve been up for 24 hours!” to “Sitting in the Maldives drinking some champagne.” I mean, how is that healthy?
to be fair, she is in one of those crazy-good b-schools where the people you bond with will get you jobs for the rest of your life.
I am hoping to use my Cal connections for this. Don’t suck, friends!
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
If I were a CEO having someone run my financing, merger, IPO, whatever, I need someone who I can call whenever. Things come up at 3am unfortunately and they need to move quickly. They can’t have their morning shift banker and then get the night shift banker up to speed. This is how it works in a lot of industries, not just banking. Law, consulting, etc.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
Lavish parties? No. But there’s no reason a friggin’ start-up internet company with a negative balance sheet should have an actual Christmas party in a venue while a profitable bank cannot for political reasons.
7
Oh, boo fucking hoo. You and I both know that this is gonna blow over in a couple of years and you’ll have your lavish parties again. In the meantime, your industry had a lot to do with our current recession, so it’s gotta tone things down for a little while, and bitching about how the perks aren’t as perky for the time being isn’t gonna garner a lot of sympathy. People in your industry still make… what’s the word again? Oh yeah, bank.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 4:14 PM PST up reply actions
Hey! Reversing sarcasm is my shtick!
CGB: Preventing the rest of the Cal blogosphere from getting press passes since 2006.
Sadly enough, that’s exactly how it works in the dental/ortho field. I take a different dentist to lunch almost every day in an attempt to build personal relationships. It almost doesn’t matter if I do better work/treat patients better than the next guy if he’s willing to go overboard and give out expensive perks to his referrers. I try to drawn the line in terms of what’s ethical and in good taste, but I must admit to wondering if I should just go all out and borrow the Tennessee hostesses.
Tennessee hostesses are a great example. All universities offer the same basic service, and many football teams are competitive and a way to the NFL, but some offer other perks that are attractive to 17 year olds. If my dentist offered me a hostess, I’d maybe get my teeth cleaned every month.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:10 PM PST up reply actions
The problem here is that all ortho offices are not even remotely the same. And yet, there are dentists who will refer to a complete moron just because he sent them an ipod for Xmas and not because he actually does quality work. You’d think that healthcare-related decisions would be made a little more judiciously, but that would be the world we live in.
Anyone got a connect w/ ol’ Rocky Top for me?
From my perspective and seeing the history of the finance industry, insider relationships were not the problem atoms. Replacing dispassionate (and very complicated) math with “insider relationships” was actually more at fault. Actual understanding of real credit risk through strong relationships was discarded and replaced by fancy spreadsheets and complex modeling. This led to uninformed risk taking at many levels.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
That’s a fair point actually, about the move towards using (in retrospect) flawed mathematical models in place of more traditional practices. Two points though – first, how was it that these new models were so widely adopted so quickly, and secondly, what about the notion that the reward system was set up to maximize risk-taking behavior? I mean, even now, there is very little personal downside to failure. It seems to me that our system privatizes gains and socializes losses.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 4:25 PM PST up reply actions
I honestly don’t know what this means.
If I fail, I’m out. The lay-offs that you see aren’t happening to people who are rain makers. They’re happening to people who didn’t get it done. If you’re talking about Hank Paulson forcing the 8 or so largest banks to take $25billion each… or how Bank of America was forced to acquire Merrill… or how JPM was incented to acquire Lehman’s toxic assets… that’s on the govt, not the banking sector.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
What he means is that people's liability is limited in most circumstances
Corporate shareholders are only liable up to the value of their shares. Corporate employees are only liable up to the value of their jobs.
If you cause $5B worth of damage and all you lose is your $200K a year job (and not, eg, your posh house, enormous retirement account, etc etc etc), the system is socializing a hell of a lot of losses.
Shawn Spencer: "I’m receiving a transmission from your husband. Really more of a voicemail, if I'm being honest. A status update. Perhaps a twitter."
Burton Guster: "I believe it’s called a tweet."
Shawn Spencer: "There’s no way I’m saying that."
Completely not true for me because of the restrictions on interactions between federal employees and contractors. By which I mean, I am sure that the off-site entertainment would help, but we can’t do it.
oh yes. but you still have to know the people making the
decision (NOT the ones who sign it, they do what they are told by their underlings who make the decisions).
small enviro company i worked for never did any fed work….our owner was friendly with our congressman….who was on the armed services committee….he made them give us work….then they knew us….and beat down our door to give us more.
Go Bears Go
Shouldn’t we have CGB bowling first at least? Baby steps, you know.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:04 PM PST up reply actions
i thought cgb bowling was in reference to an outing in which all of the dudes here were going to get together to stick your c***cks into the finger holes of nude bowling balls? wasn’t that the context…?
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
Obviously she meant
CGB: Preventing the rest of the Cal blogosphere from getting press passes since 2006.
Are there non-nude bowling balls? Do you often dress up your bowling balls in sweaters or some such thing?
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I’m afraid the rest of us were trying to figure out how the fix something instead of listening.
by Kodiak on Mar 8, 2010 2:39 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
yes
I remember being excited by the prospect of a bowling trip, and then disappointed that the idea devolved into talk of sticking willies in finger holes.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 3:03 PM PST up reply actions
Most things in my life come down to the question of “What can I stick my dick into”
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
But you can’t stick your dick into a press pass…..yet?
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
What about the loop that the press pass hangs off of?
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Don’t pretty much all bowling centres alleys have beer?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 2:44 PM PST up reply actions
Boom Tho
I guess also in line with the travel themed DBD:
As I was flying American Airlines back from Chicago on Saturday, I thumbed through the in flight magazine and found an article on NBA D League that focused in part on the Reno Bighorns. Rod Benson was mentioned a number of times and got his own photo insert here:
I am Ted Miller
Recorded voice of Mike Montgomery is calling me right now!
he’s thanking me for my commitement this season!
(he obviously didn’t realize that I missed some games)
and asking me to join the team in LA for the Pac-10 tourney! He’s giving me the number for the Cal Ticket office!
AWESOME!
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
As someone who is not exactly skinny (euphemism for fat) I can’t exactly make fun of other people but…
… did you see Gabourey Sidibe (oscar nominated best actress for Precious) last night? My god.
In other words, Go Bears!
She looked absolutely gorgeous last night. Beaming. Hilarious. Energetic. Sure, she might not fall into the category of “traditional American style of beauty,” but there’s so much more to attractiveness than being skinny, white, and blonde.
Although, nobody tell my wife that!
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
No, I never heard about it until last night. I don’t doubt it that might have been a good movie with a powerful message and that she was a great actor. That’s not my point
In other words, Go Bears!
I got your point. Gabrielle is obese.
Pointing out Gabrielle specifically as obese though is ironic given the content of the movie that she is Oscar-nominated for. FYI- the movie was about a girl who maintains hope and optimism despite living her life as an ugly girl who had been raped and molested by both her parents.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
I dunno telling someone they’re pretty and perfect when they weigh almost as much as a baby whale is dangerous. There are always two extremes
In other words, Go Bears!
There are so many things wrong with this comment, I don’t even know where to start.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I feel as if Sidibe is overweight and could possibly stand to lose some weight for health reasons.
However, I also feel that women in today’s society as so bombarded with such specific beauty demands that anything that takes the focus away from those demands is good. Especially people who aren’t skinny, white, and blond.
There are perhaps some black women out there, who are similar in weight to Sidibe, who feel ugly or feel like they are “inferior” to a Charlize Theron or an Angelina Jolie. Having somebody who more resembles them being put up on a pedastal of beauty can be helpful in promoting their self esteem. It might not be limited to fat, black women either. Perhaps other women who are overweight might think the same way. Seeing Monique (who I never found all that funny as a stand up) win the Oscar was probably beneficial in that regard also.
So, yes, perhaps she is overweight. And perhaps she doesn’t have the classical features of a Helen Of Troy. But the good outweighs (pun intended) the bad here so much that it is hard to quibble, in my view.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I don’t disagree with that but by being so PC what we end up doing is installing a false sense of belief that living like that is ok. Being overweight is ok, whatever. But by being morbidly obese she is destroying her life. To tell her that everything is perfect and she is just great as she is, is outright dangerous
In other words, Go Bears!
I’m guessing she knows by now that it is dangerous. But we don’t have to constantly remind her or denigrate her for it. That said, I couldn’t help but notice that she is extra large.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:24 PM PST up reply actions
I’m speaking from personal experience here but it took me a while to accept that I’m not healthy (well sort of I have a clean bill of health other than weight and blood pressure) and should change. It only happened when people started being frank with me
In other words, Go Bears!
People or close friends and family? I’m guessing the latter. That’s more ok than passing someone on the street and yelling “you gonna die, fatty!”
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:37 PM PST up reply actions
Well obviously the latter. I couldn’t care if a random stranger said something to me.
In other words, Go Bears!
fuck off
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:46 PM PST up reply actions
How does it feel to have had the same thought as royrules, only slower?
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 3:47 PM PST up reply actions
RR is an EECS major, so I think I can live with it. p.s. you’re fat
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:50 PM PST up reply actions
HOW DARE YOU?!?!
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:52 PM PST up reply actions
Nous Sommes Tous Des Culs Gros
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 3:54 PM PST up reply actions
the bike messenger has left California Hall
with the CGB press pass!
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Bengie Molina: "I don't understand why they didn't want to commit to another year, with my numbers and my experience and things like that." Brain Sabean: "He's certainly welcomed back with open arms".
carp (paraphrased): "117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"
by natteringnabob on Mar 8, 2010 4:42 PM PST up reply actions
Awesome, just keep the insults in foreign languages and they will never be the wiser!
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 4:51 PM PST up reply actions
I’m not entirely sure how you define PC. As such I find it difficult to continue this conversation with you, because we could be talking about two totally separate things. I’m talking using Sidibe as an example to work to relax societal pressures on women. You seem to be talking solely about whether or not Sidibe should lose weight, something I find difficult to totally disagree with.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I agree with you in that society should work to relax societal pressures on women. But I also think that yesterday it went too far with Sidibe because she does stand to lose weight and from personal experience I have come to believe that you really need to be told “hey fatass lose weight” (well not literally but you understand)
In other words, Go Bears!
While being fat is unhealthy, there are far worse issues that girls like Precious have to deal with first. You realize how almost irrelevant her weight is to the topics that the movie Precious wants you to struggle with. Discussing her weight distracts from issues such as poverty in the inner city, the lack of access to opportunity for bright young minds in the projects, and domestic violence against children.
I know you were just making a funny comment about fat people but you’ve hit a nerve with me about Precious specifically. After the movie, you just want to protect all the little girls out there.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
I’m not even talking about the movie AT ALL. I’m talking specifically about the actor. And I’m in no way making fun of fat people.
In other words, Go Bears!
I’m not sure if I’m interpreting the arguments here correctly, but I think the point of some on this board is specifically that in this particular situation, it’s difficult to speak of the actress without first taking into account the role she portrayed in Precious.
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
why? If she hadn’t played Precious it would be ok for me to say what I did?
In other words, Go Bears!
It’s never okay dude. Usually I would have just rolled my eyes and ignored your comment. As I have said, your discussing Gabrielle specifically is ironic given the content of the movie plus the fact that Precious is… precious to me.
And lets be clear, you never in your original comment discussed anything related to the health effects of obesity, you just straight called her out on being fat. Period.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
Not to mention, even healthy girls get bombarded by the same messages with resultant self-esteem issues and distorted self-perception.
My 7 year old asked me if she was fat and should go on a diet. She’s not skinny, but she’s not fat either – just got a little puppy fat between growth spurts.
I wanted to cry. I’m not joking. She’s 7, what the fuck is this going to be like in 7 – 8 years?
Well, it bothers you…so that means you’re going to be supportive and be the best parent you can. So, there’ll be plenty of tears in 7-8 years. But when the dust settles, she’ll be okay.
I’ve had mothers actually ask me if they should do jaw surgery for their completely normal daughters so that they wouldn’t be so ugly. It’s practically criminal.
It is, no lie, going to be horrible. I think back to my 16YO self, when I was 5’6" and 125 lbs and thinking I was HUGE, and I want to cry for that girl I was. And this was 25 years ago, when the pressure was a lot less intense. I can only encourage you to bombard her with examples of a wide assortment of healthy women, and to compliment her (and other examples of the aforementioned WAoHM) often, and to never, ever comment on “chubby” or “puppy fat,” with regard to anyone, in her vicinity.
Girls think the worst of themselves. Don’t know why, but they do. Difficult difficult stuff.
I’m speechless. I don’t think I even knew what the word ‘diet’ meant when I was seven. On the bright side, if she’s growing up in a household that is ok eating butter, to pick out today’s example, I’d think that positive eating habits and self-image will be the norm.
I don’t know, I think you might be overreacting. I distinctly remember when I was 7 or 8 and having trouble sleeping for a few nights. I had seen a commercial on TV for prescription sleeping pills and asked my mom if she could buy me son. She flipped out, as imagines of gutter trash Rx-and-codeine-addicted-future-me roiled in her brain. “WHY WOULD YOU WANT SLEEPING PILLS!??!?! YOUR BODY IS PERFECTLY FINE THE WAY IT IS!!!” I remember her saying.
Anyway, I was just 7 and I saw a commercial on TV about pills that make you sleep better. Your daughter probably didn’t really understand the ramifications of what she was asking and was just curious in the way that kids can be. I wouldn’t worry too much about it, and if she bugs you about it more just go running or go play soccer with her to instill a culture of exercise (which you said you need too). Its never bad to encourage exercise!
CGB: Preventing the rest of the Cal blogosphere from getting press passes since 2006.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Mar 10, 2010 2:16 PM PST up reply actions
*buy me some.
CGB: Preventing the rest of the Cal blogosphere from getting press passes since 2006.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Mar 10, 2010 2:17 PM PST up reply actions
In fairness to royrules… it’s one thing to say, look, there’s a broad spectrum of what it means to be attractive and talented, and those two characteristics aren’t limited to blonde chicks who are a size 2. But at the same time, that principle doesn’t override the fact that obesity is unhealthy. It would be nice if people were able to disaggregate the two things, but since they can’t, we’re in a happy-clappy phase in society, which is preferable I suppose to general judgmental behavior.
Rec’d! No wait, flag’d. No, rec’d. I dunno
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:26 PM PST up reply actions
I am quite sure that nothing good can come of reading those, so I shan’t bother.
by DC Trojan on Mar 8, 2010 3:08 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
This somehow evolved from a general comment about Sidibe to a social commentary on obesity.
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
BTW, I saw a McD’s ad on a bus the other day in like.. Millbrae or something, and it had like, a Mcdouble and a Sausage McMuffin…. and the script on the ad looked like Hindi. WTF.
"atomsareenough—cleaning up CGB one day at a time until we finally get that press pass." - Berkelium97
by atomsareenough on Mar 8, 2010 3:56 PM PST up reply actions
How’s a big mac going to compete with THIS:
Favorably?
by paleodan on Mar 8, 2010 4:19 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
how did you manage to take a picture of my vomit before i vomited and cause me to vomit when i viewed that same picture? are you doc brown?
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Can’t watch Precious. The premise of the movie is too much.
aggregating recruiting notes at the solarise collection
Anyone catch Zach Galifianakis hosting SNL on Saturday?
Only SNL could make something with Zach in it unfunny.
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
There were moments, but there should have been a slew more. The monologue was the best part. But even the opening skit re politics was meh.
Costs STILL assessed against Twist
by CALumbus Bear on Mar 8, 2010 3:31 PM PST up reply actions
Agreeed. SNL generally sucks these days, but even with the lowered expectations I have of them, the opener was horrible.
I loved Zach’s monologue too. And when he played that ambidextrous flute player in that horrible “What’s up with that” skit, I couldn’t stop laughing.
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
That was probably the best line of the night.
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
Ha! I had no idea they were still together/performing.
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
Apparently you can catch them in some tiny town in Louisiana. I just hope for their own sake that they saved some of that sweet hoobastank money…
I would imagine they still have royalty checks leftover from “The Reason”
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
I have no idea what that sounds like but I’ll take your word for it. Somewhere,there’s a bad radio station playing that song twice a day.
I think it was their biggest hit. I’m sure if you heard it you’d recognize it. It was pretty much everyone’s ringtone back in…2002? 2003?
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
He used some rehashed material I had seen before.
The Hoobastank reference was nice. As was the part of his girlfriend, “…looking a little bit like Charlize Theron. And a lot like Dog The Bounty Hunter.”
Woohoo!
Just scheduled my final interview on Friday for the job I really really want. No need for you to fix it, just sharing.
We should do a DBD on interview tips. Then, you can read all the advice and DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Best interview response evair:
I was sitting on the selection committee for new ortho residents. Trying to be nice, I lobbed this girl a softball question “So, why did you apply to ortho school?”
“Uh…Because I missed the deadline for oral surgery.”
I could almost see the prof next to me crossing her name off the list.
Oh sorry…Cut out a few details…Was typing onehanded w/ baby sleeping on the shoulder.
Oral Surgery and Ortho are two completely different specialties/fields.
It’d be like saying at your law school interview that you only applied because you missed the deadline for medical school.
Because there are only a few spots open (2 in my year), and each specialty thinks they’re infinitely superior to all the others, the one thing you don’t want to say is that you only applied as an afterthought or that you weren’t really serious about the profession.
Instead, you’re supposed to make up some polite lie about how you grew up dreaming of braces and how the tooth fairy was your best friend, etc.
blah blah blah “challenging specialty” blah blah “Inspirational mentor” ….
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
Scott Fujita leaves NOLA with class:
Before leaving town, though, Fujita did one more thing for the people of New Orleans: He gave half of his Super Bowl check to charity, half of that going to relief efforts in Haiti, and the other half going to coastal restoration in New Orleans. From nola.com:
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
The news he left might be (albeit not really), but this news aint. BITCH!
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2010/2/23/1322760/dbd-2-23-10-bring-back-the-wild#31225142
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Point Break II: Bodie Lives!
Except, yknow, for the fact that they’d need to recast Bodie.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Anyone see Jimmy Kimmel last night?
It’s like since1997’s BAM post, but on video. The Handsome Men’s Club
And yes, they are all handsome, except Jimmy and Sting.
LOL'ed
I’d like to officially change my alias to handsome solarise
aggregating recruiting notes at the solarise collection
Hahahahhahaha. I’m sorry, I got lost in my own eyes.
FUCK. I wish i was in that room…
One minor change: Replace Tony Romo with Mark Sanchez.
Fire Starkey. You... complete me.
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