Bowl Unbound

Bowl Unbound… Squid has always appreciated the action, drama and glitz of the Super Bowl. Even a bad game is a good excuse for lounging in front of the TV devouring bowls of shrimp-flavored popcorn. So when Squid learned Super Bowl LX would be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Feb. 8 – beyond the range of Squid’s jalopy, but still temptingly close – Squid’s hearts fluttered. But Squid discovered that the NFL doles out a set of tickets to teams and sponsors. The rest go on the secondary market, where prices for a nosebleed seat start around $6,000. To remove Squidself from the hoi polloi to sit amongst the VIPs would set Squid back around $17,000, not including parking.

Squid’s search for a deal led to Pebble Beach and The Inn at Spanish Bay, where tickets can be had starting at a mere $14,750 – double occupancy, so $29,500. But Squid still considers this a bargain. After all, the amount covers tickets, four nights at Spanish Bay, tee times at Pebble Beach Golf Links or Spyglass Hill Golf Course, transportation to and from the game and more. Squid brings this up for any penny-pinching multi-millionaire looking for an affordable game package. As for Squid, unless demand for cephalopod columnists changes dramatically – and soon – Squid will be back in front of the TV with Squid’s favorite snack.

Leafed Out… While Squid could live on shrimp-flavored popcorn, sometimes Squid needs a little fiber, so Squid supplements with leafy greens. That’s part of what inspired Squid to tune into a meeting with the federal government on Dec. 8 to hear about whether or not more money would be going to support leafy greens and specialty crops in Monterey County. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg and Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce announced a $12 billion relief aid package, the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, with one-time payments meant to help struggling farmers during a time when rising production costs, low crop prices and instability in federal partnerships are squeezing farmers nationwide.

The program is intended to help hold farmers over until funding comes in from the One Big Beautiful Bill in 2026. Squid was champing at the salad to find out what it would mean for the Salad Bowl of the World, but it turns out… basically nothing. More than 92 percent of the payments will be directed toward commodities like corn, cotton, peanuts, rice and soybeans, leaving $1 billion for other crops.

No timeline for those limited payments has yet been announced. Good thing Squid has a backup supply of kelp.