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I do not mean this as a joke…

I do not mean this as a joke. Beach weather starts at like 50 in Michigan ...

There use to be a Michigan…

There use to be a Michigan bar sticky but that feels like forever ago --- we could use a new version

Powerful. 

Powerful. 

Just take my money.

This is…

Just take my money.

This is an obvious need. 

ESPN app

ESPN app

I opened this expecting a…

I opened this expecting a tornado watch or something. 
 

30s and a little snow sounds pleasant to me. 

This is awesome

This is awesome

I knew Jon pretty well at…

I knew Jon pretty well at Michigan. We were friends, although not super close friends. Without getting into anything too deep, Jon was (and I assume still is) a legitimately nice dude as were the other guys on the team that I met through him. 

I am thrilled he is still in the league. 

How does late afternoon or a…

How does late afternoon or a night game in front of an empty crowd "screw Michigan"? The crowd is what seems to create a tangible difference between an 11 AM, 2:30/3:00 PM, and 7 PM Central start. I find your definition of late afternoon is odd to me considering how far west Minneapolis actually is.

I have argued on this blog for years that 3:30 PM is the best home start time because it actually allows students enough time to pregame properly and still make kickoff, but this year with no fans, it just does not matter. 

In reality, we probably want whatever time frame the rain is going to be in to slow their passing game and obviously we do not know if or when it will rain at this point. 

I actually like that Lions…

I actually like that Lions parlay because of the injuries assuming you got decent odds

Oh, I totally agree. The…

Oh, I totally agree. The professors I had at Michigan were almost all excellent, both as scholars in their field and as educators/motivators. 

Totally disagree especially…

Totally disagree especially for graduate school. Collaboration is so important.

And in the humanities, almost all good writing is the result of many conversations with people and/or groups of people. It is impossible to fully replicate this process online. 

So much of what I gained from Michigan as an undergraduate and a graduate student, who never had a lab, would not translate well or at all to zoom. 

I think it really depends on…

I think it really depends on your major and course of study, I would say about half of my classes my freshman and sophomore year at Michigan were on topics that would most likely not be taught at a community college. 

I can only speak about humanities and history as it is my experience but off the top of my head, during my first two years, I took classes on American involvement in Middle Eastern Wars, the Kurdish political experience in Turkey and Iraq, and Central Asian history all while studying Modern Greek language to set up a study abroad experience in Greece my junior year.

Sure, I also took some generic math, american history, science, and basic philosophy, but about half of my classes --- the ones that had the greatest effect on my eventual professional path ---- were already highly specialized and not something I have seen on a community college curriculum. I have always appreciated Michigan for providing that value. This is not to say community colleges are without value, I think they provided tremendous value for many. But for me, Michigan was extremely worth it. 

This board has always been…

This board has always been anti-stupid nicknames.

Puke is a 2008 level Mlive special. I realized the blog getting larger did this, but it really lowers the level of useful discourse. 

Honestly, I think all three…

Honestly, I think all three current buildings are great. 

I loved Tiger Stadium but Comerica is a great ballpark.

Joe Louis was a dump. It may of been our dump, but it was so so bad. If you are above 6 feet tall, you expected pain. 

The Palace was great but the location was a joke. LCA is better based on location alone. 

Silverdome has the same issue as the Palace, while not having the amenities.

Probably, otherwise we are…

Probably, otherwise we are truly fucked. 

Perhaps I should have worded…

Perhaps I should have worded my response better to make my tone less whatever, I totally agree with your response and it does not contradict my intended meaning.

To be clear, the US response considering our resources has been completely shameful. Many, many have died who should not have. Many, many more will. At this point, I think we will be lucky to escape with less than 300K deaths and I do not think 500k is out of the equation. We were never going to have near 0 deaths because we aren't an island, but there is no reason we shouldn't be Germany's equal. 

I am incredibly touchy about the "this is only happening to us" only because two of the countries I have lived in outside the US are both having their own very, very bad outbreaks right now. I have multiple heartbreaking discussions with friends in one in particularly that acknowledge that their hospitals basically cannot take anymore people. To hear that fear in friend, shit man. I just feel like the "this is only happening to the US" erases that pain. 

TLDR: I feel incredibly helpless, I fear for friends on multiple continents, I should have been clearer in my original response. 

I am very much in the camp…

I am very much in the camp that thinks that I would bet on a decent vaccine in the next 6-12 months. 

That being said. It is possible we never get a vaccine. It is hard to think about. 

This sadly is not true and…

This sadly is not true and takes a very Western mindset.

Yes, our traditional peers in Europe and certain parts of Asia have COIVD seemingly under control. I am happy to agree that we should be trying to match this standard.

However, there are numerous parts of the World with really bad outbreaks going on. It doesn't make our situation better, it just is an observation.  

You, you realize the large…

You, you realize the large majority of these students, particularly the ones who attend Michigan, the focus of this blog, are already here in the US?

You also realize that many students do not have the same access to internet and resources in their home countries? 

 

This is a tragedy 

I have been incredibly lucky…

I have been incredibly lucky to travel a ton because of the direction my studies and work took pre-Covid…

Non-US Division

Favorite Big Famous International Cites: Seoul, Hong Kong, Madrid, Prague, Moscow, Istanbul, Kyoto, Taipei, Brussels

Favorite Big Cities that aren’t super famous for western tourism: Almaty, Bishkek, Vladivostok, Busan

Best Summer Mountain Destination: Kyrgyzstan (It is not close either, if I could only have one place to go for all the summers the rest of my life, this is it)

Best Summer Beach Destination: Pick a Greek Island, Thailand (the remote ones)

Best Beach Vacation Close to the US: Puerto Vallarta or Aruba (Very different experiences)

Best Ski Destination: Niesko

Best Nightlife for College Age Kids through their 20s: Barcelona, Prague, Seoul, Panama City

Cheapest (and Strangest) Clubbing Experience as a Foreigner: Beijing – the majority of their famous clubs use foreigners almost like props or entertainment which I found weird and super, super uncomfortable but on the other hand everything including booze is free and unlimited every night

Coolest “Wow” Experiences: Parthenon; Walking a remote, mountainous, and empty section of the Great Wall; Top of Arc de Triomphe; All of Uzbekistan; All of Istanbul; Jerusalem/Bethlehem, Sunset on Santorini

Best Beer: Belgium

Best Rooftops to Drink Sangria on: Madrid

Best Food Cities: Athens, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul, Beijing

Best Option for living it up on a student loans budget: All of Central Asia but particularly Uzbekistan

Have Not Been - Top of my Post-Covid wish list so like hopefully 2022 and beyond: Mediterranean North Africa Tour including a sunrise in the Sahara, Senegal, Vietnam/Laos, Georgia, Patagonia, Baltic Tour, Skiing in the French Alps, St. Petersburg

This.

More student-centered…

This.

More student-centered units is a really good thing for prices. 

While I agree in general,…

While I agree in general, the exception for me is field specific gear. 

For example, while I like LeBron, I couldn't give a shit about what car LeBron likes or what clothes he endorses for off the court wear. 

However, when it comes to specialty gear that affects performance, it is at least interesting to know what the very best use because you have to figure they wouldn't use substandard equipment and still be the best. 

Personal example: While incredibly niche, I am a skiing addict and actually follow, though can't afford, the yearly advances in skiing technology. In a sport where the ability to trim a tenth or two of a second often means a podium spot or not, top skiers are kind of forced to endorse the equipment that after testing that they think gives them the best equipment.

Kick out MSU as well. Even…

Kick out MSU as well. Even 10.

Hey now, the KBO is fun 

Hey now, the KBO is fun 

This is incredibly gross…

This is incredibly gross even if you are joking 

Last was in the office in…

Last was in the office in mid-March. 

I was working in a company in Asia. I now am unemployed at my parents' house. 

Turns out global pandemics suck.

- And yes, I realize that since I have my health, a bed, and food security my situation is still miles better than many -  

I care about our basketball…

I care about our basketball team way more than our football team.

I just care the whole season, not just a couple weekends in the early spring. 

If I can only have one, I…

If I can only have one, I would much rather win the regular season championship than the tourny. One shows excellence over a 20 game period. One is a very fun, but fluky weekend. 

I love Madrid, like if it…

I love Madrid, like if it was me I would stay just in Madrid. So much to do in the city, so many tapas, so many amazing rooftops to drink sangria on.

The tour is not my style as those four cities, all good places, at that pace means you will be traveling more than actually being in the cities but some people like that. I understand time is limited.

Also, it is your honeymoon so relaxing time is probably important to you. Just keep it in mind. 

I have been abroad the last…

I have been abroad the last three seasons. Your options are generally a legal stream with a vpn or a stream. It is actually not as bad as it seems. 

It has been mentioned above,…

It has been mentioned above, but Junior Hemingway not even getting a mention is very odd. 

I stan hard for that 2011 team especially their seniors who dealt with all of that and then gave us our most fun team of the decade. 

We are a possible bubble…

We are a possible bubble team. Big Ten wins are good for our numbers and after an awful first week, the big ten needs wins.

Stop acting like their childish fans. State winning this game was a small, net positive for Michigan. Enjoy that. Fans cheering against their own interests out of spite never made sense to me. 

Of course, by all means, cheer for them to lose every game in conference and in the tourney. 

9 straight years in the…

9 straight years in the student section:

3:30 is God’s start time (enough time to properly tailgate without having to get up at 5 am)

Noon games are the worst. No time to properly tailgate. 

Night games are fun against good teams.  ?‍♂️ Otherwise 

However, I live in East Asia now so I am very much for every game being a night game. 

 

 

The best thing we do for…

The best thing we do for these athletes that put themselves on the line for our university. This is far more important than the results from a game on the fourth Saturday of November.

It brings me so much pride for my alma mater. 

Dick Rod?

JFC man, go back…

Dick Rod?

JFC man, go back to mlive

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Я надеюсь, что Франц Вагнер…

Я надеюсь, что Франц Вагнер будет членом Мичиганской баскетбольной команды.

 

Yes.

Student athletes being…

Yes.

Student athletes being allowed to change schools for a better situation for them just like regular students do all the time is a horrible thing. It must be stopped. 

Can't help you with Germany…

Can't help you with Germany or with not securing the job before leaving (in general, US teachers can find work but I am not sure the EU visa process).... 

But I am still in my (late) 20s, and have lived abroad for the better part of the last two years in multiple locations in Asia.

For them:

Honestly, it is easier to adjust than you think. Technology makes it so easy to stay in touch and VPNs for sports are very key. And end of the day, you can always jump on a plane and be home in like a day or so. I am very happy to have had the chance to expand my world and travel and see new things. 

For you:

I'd say be happy for them and just see what happens. 

As a Michigan Grad still in…

As a Michigan Grad still in my 20s whose post-grad life has included jobs in Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Asia, I can tell you there is no pitch. We just go to where the best job offer is regardless. 

This continues to be the…

This continues to be the best thing Michigan does as a football program. 

 

An actual, educational/cultural/fun experience for these young men who work so hard for our university. 

 

In many ways, it is more important than the results of a single game in November. 

 

It brings me much pride in my alma mater

I got my email 11 years ago,…

I got my email 11 years ago, give or take a week, so it has been that way for a while.

Was a very happy day.

Congrats to everyone getting accepted.  Ann Arbor is truly life changing.

 

To be honest, I am in my…

 

To be honest, I am in my late 20s, have varied musical interests, and also love the Chainsmokers. They are fun and their shows are fun (yes, I've seen them live, they were great, everyone there had fun, I highly recommend it). 

 

 You all can keep hating. No one argues their music is world changing or that they are Tchaikovsky (another favorite incidentally) or savants, but in today's world I am happy to take positive, upbeat, light-hearted fun when I can get it.

 

Best Song: Roses ft. Rozes   

 

I went in 2012 to the awful…

I went in 2012 to the awful game with all of the turnovers. 

 

The good part: Campus is beautiful and worth walking around. 

 

The experience was weird though. The ND fans were almost too nice if you get what I mean and not in the genial Midwestern way you get at Nebraska and Minnesota. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I don't know, just the vibe I got.  

Very good of course but…

Very good of course but kinda pricey for what is still a sandwich. Don't @ me

this is disgusting 

this is disgusting 

Ya, what Belgium did in…

Ya, what Belgium did in Congo still blows my mind and is very, very sad

I have been riding France…

I have been riding France and England all tourny and I am not stopping now.

 

France over Belgium 3-1. Belgium will try and open it up which means France will have space and Deschamps won't be able to bore us to sleep. Give me Mbappe, Matuidi, and Pogba going forward with the player who I think should (but sadly won't) win Golden Ball in Kante shutting off the Belgium attack. Seriously, Kante has been amazing.

England over a tired Croatian team 2-1. I love Modric, but that team looks done and England has looked very strong to me. Set pieces matter in international soccer. The lads in London will get to carry their party onto Sunday. 

France over England in the final, 2-1. Picked them to win from the start. Love everything about their team. Hoping Pogba scores the game winner to build up steam for the club season. 

That being said, I like all 4 of these teams. Any of the 4 would be a deserving champion in my eye if they win 2 more times. 

lol FIFA's rankings are a…

lol FIFA's rankings are a joke for many reasons, the funniest is that they are still counting games that happened when Mbappe was 15