Category Archives: Cup of Coffee

The “Cup of Coffee” is the daily post where the Citizens are free to chat about whatever they want. Topics that prove sufficiently popular often migrate to their own, dedicated post.

December 6, 2024: By Popular Demand

One of my favorite Tweeter accounts went silent after they pulled the plug on automation (our fair website suffered a similar fate). I was randomly thinking about the account a couple days ago and posted at their inactive account that I'd love it if they came to the new place. Well, look what I just came across...

I'm taking full credit for this. Also, if you haven't made the jump yet, here's a WGOM starter pack.

December 4, 2024: Yes, Chef

The area of Japan I went to school in is dealing with a strange infestation: Bears! Like, seriously, bears have been everywhere lately. I visited there on my last trip, and in all the parks and such, there were plenty of signs warning you to stay on your guard. Apparently the local newspaper has a dedicated daily section on bear information. I, of course, didn't learn this until I got to the city, and not when I was wandering around the nearby countryside alone at night on my way in the night before.

Spoiler SelectShow

December 2, 2024: Turnover

I had some football on in the background over the weekend. I saw a quarterback get sacked and appear to have possibly fumbled the ball, and a pile ensued. Other defensive members of the home team gathered around excitedly and pointed the other away, but all the refs kept on just waving their arms without signaling. As the pile became smaller, the crowd went silent in anticipation. Once the ref got a good enough look at it, he stood back, waited a beat, then triumphantly shot his arm out the other way confirming the recovered fumble. 70,000 people went wild. As the ref, that's gotta be so satisfying.

That made me think, in all of sports, what as an official feels like the coolest call you can make? There's probably some fun ones in baseball like a good, dramatic strike three, or maybe an out at the plate after the catcher shows you the ball*. Nothing in basketball or hockey seem all that cool as it's all usually punitive (though the NBA refs certainly milk the calls from time to time).

*On the less dramatic side, there's that one when there's a close but obvious out at first and the ump just kind of stands there for a moment, then calmly but firmly pumps out their arm to signal the out. That seems like fun too.