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Every game is game seven.
June 8, 2016 Brooks Shumate	Leave a comment
Game seven is the final game of a best of seven series. This game can occur in the postseasons for Major League Baseball (League Championship Series and World Series), the National Basketball Association (all rounds of the NBA playoffs), and the National Hockey League (all rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs). Read more
Last year, the Blaze finished the regular season in last place (0-14). There is something to be said for coming back from a large deficit. But what about turning around your entire life? Take Rollie Hemsley for example. Nevertheless, we finished the 2016 season with 9 wins, 2 loses and 2 ties which was good enough for the #3 seed going into the Playoffs.
Game of the Century
Blaze-Pilots Semi-Finals Scorecard
What is particularly interesting is the fact that our team really came on strong after May 16 disappointing loss to the Bears. We fault hard against the Royals a few days later and tied. But, best of all, going into the playoffs we had a 4 game winning streak.
"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."-Vince Lombardi
Final Four: Game Summary
Blaze took an early lead 3-1 after the 1st inning.
However, we gave up 7 runs in the 2nd inning and 4 runs in the 3rd inning.
At the end of three, we were losing 12-4 (down 8 runs).
Next thing you know, the Blaze came alive in the bottom of the 4th inning with 9 runs batted in during a 2 out rally.
In particular, Amelia smashed a 3 RBI homerun out of the park, followed by another 2 RBI homerun by Blake. This was enough to regain the lead.
Blake had 3 Ks in the top of the 5th inning and Henry struck out the final batter to get the save in the top of the 6th inning.
Blaze win 13-12. On to the World Series Championships!
Arguably, the most thrilling game of the century. At least the ONLY one that I was ever involved with that had such an amazing come from behind victory.
As a matter of fact, my very first Blog was about Victory and Defeat which I published back on April 17, 2016. Having attended Boys Latin High School, our slogan was Esse Quam Videri. Later in life, my favorite Latin expression became Carpe Diem after watching the movie "Dead Poet Society".
Robin Williams, was another hero of mind. In this scene above, he concludes by saying,
"Thank you boys"
Keep in mind, we were one of the few teams with a girl. And to make it more interesting, she won the MVP twice during the regular season.
So, when I sat down to write this blog, I struggled for the best title. I love the expression, "Every game is game seven" because it remind me of the famous "One Day at a Time" proverb. But then I thought about the Roland Park Baseball League Mission "Little League, BIG FUN! The purpose of Roland Park Baseball is to instill sportsmanship and to provide a nurturing environment, which will allow the children to mature physically, mentally, and emotionally. Further, the league strives to work with parents to develop realistic expectations of their children."
I love U2
I continued to wrestle for a title and thought about naming it "Never forget!" If this game doesn't build a child's memory, I don't know what does. In fact, I believe that everyone that was at that game witnessed a miracle. Speaking of miracles, listen to the following song…
Have you ever looked up the lyrics of a song? I love U2. They are by far, my favorite band for a lot of reasons. Mostly because of the spiritual words in their songs.
"As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world."
John 9:5 (fast forward 4 minutes and 15 seconds)
When my wife and I dated for about 10 years, she always used to say, "I love you". I was not ready to commit and often jokingly said, "I love U2"!
Getting back to the game, rather than clutter this blog with a bunch of images, I'll let readers browse "Final Four" photos on their own by Clicking Here. These are some amazing candid shots by one of our parents.
Another title for this blog indicative of the drama we went through is "And now the end is near. And so I face the final curtain." When we started the top of the 4th inning, I started to prepare our Coaches game summary "Defeat speech". I told the team afterwards that I honestly thought there was no way we could come back and they all booed and hissed me, and even started throwing grass at me.
See if you can get some hidden messages in this classic…
Another possible title is "Repetition is the mother of skill." I am a firm believer that if you practice fielding ground balls and swinging a bat, eventually you'll become a master. Obviously, I love quotations and started compiling a list of my favorites about 20 years ago (Click Here).
"You can spend all your love making time"
I was listening to this song immediately following our "emotional roller-coaster". Do you notice the resemblance? Here are the lyrics:
"All alone at the end of the evening
And the bright lights have faded to blue.
I was thinking 'bout a woman who might have loved me
You know I've always been a dreamer
Spent my life runnin' 'round
And it's so hard to change
Can't seem to settle down
But the dreams I've seen lately keep on turning out
And burning out and turning out the same.
So put me on a highway and show me a sign
And take it to the limit one more time.
You can spend all your time making money,
Take it to the limit, take it to the limit
Take it to the limit one more time."
Check out the Wiki facts
Finally, you may be wondering what's the point? It's simple. Success is much more than just a trophy. If you play every game like it's the last game of the World Series, field every ball like the game is on the line, get in the batter's box with all the confidence in the world that you are going to hit a hard line drive, then you are well on your way to enjoying the purpose of life.
DeterminationResilienceSuccessTeamworkVictoryWinner
Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat
I will never forget this commercial growing up => ABC Wide World of Sports featuring Howard Cosell and Muhammad Ali.
ABC's Wide World of Sports is an American sports anthology television program that aired on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) from April 29, 1961 to January 3, 1998, primarily on Saturday afternoons. Hosted by Jim McKay, with a succession of co-hosts beginning in 1987, the title continued to be used for general sports programs on the network until 2006. In 2007, Wide World of Sports was named by Time Magazine on its list of the 100 best television programs of all-time. Read more
A laurel wreath is a circular wreath made of interlocking branches and leaves. In ancient Greece wreaths were awarded to victors, both in athletic competitions, including the ancient Olympics.
The important thing to remember is that we win and lose as a TEAM. "The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime." –Babe Ruth Read Sportsmanship
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Hitter's Mentality
Brewers topple Reds 12-2 @ St. Helena Park (300 Willow Spring Road Baltimore, MD 21222). We remain undefeated, with 3 Wins and Zero (0) Losses. Our current standings would have more games played if it weren't for all the bad weather. Unfortunately, we had over 5 weeks of rainouts and holidays so we have a lot of games that need to get made-up. For more info, visit www.over40baseball.org
Well, if you have been following my "web logs" AKA blogs, then you would know I came out of retirement three (3) years ago. As a matter of fact, I am playing "Major League Rules" baseball with my old high school glove (over 30 years ago). It's a very small infielder's glove that is broken in and I love it! I also acquired a newer glove to play softball for US Army – Aberdeen Proving Ground team back in 2010 which is a little bigger and I use for pitching.
We are required to use wooden bats and most little league and high school folks don't understand why? The simple answer is power. A wood bat's sweet spot, although usually quite smaller than composite or alloy, may perform as well as a certified bat. Also, wood bats are heavier to swing compared to aluminum and composite. Interesting side story: last year my son lost his little league glove (left at the field of the Essex Father's day tournament). Obviously, a baseball player's glove is "irreplaceable" and arguably the most important piece of equipment. It generally takes a few months to break a good Rawlings glove in properly.
So, to make a long story short, if MLB used aluminum they would have to build larger ball parks. Home run fence would need to be extended at least another 100 feet. The "Green Monster" is a popular nickname for the 37'2″ high left field wall at Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team. The wall is only 310–315 feet from home plate.
Nevertheless, the main reason for starting this article is because of my very poor performance this past weekend. Even though we destroyed the Reds, I batted 0-4. Batting lefty, I hit 4 ground balls all to the 1st and 2nd baseman. However, one of them I hit on the "screws" but infielder made a nice play. I need to start hitting line drives. Hopefully, next weekend, Jun 12 when we face the Royals @ Martindale Park (990 Homberg Ave Baltimore, MD 21221), things will be different. Last year I had two stand-up triples and anybody who has ever played the game KNOWS there is no better feeling.
Why tracking your Batting Average is HURTING your Batting Average
Every season, players and coaches set goals based on how they want to perform over the course of the season. Hitters want to hit .300. Pitchers want to have a sub-3 ERA. Coaches want to win 20, 30, 50, or 100 games, depending on the level of play. These measurable stats have existed since the beginning of baseball, and in particular the batting average has become the go-to number to illustrate a hitters success.
But is batting average, hits, or strikeouts really the way to measure the success of hitters throughout the course of the season? When they line out to the shortstop and see "0-1" in the stat book, is that a way for them to build confidence as a hitter? It's probably the way for them to LOSE confidence as a hitter. Because according to baseball history, an out is the definition of a failed attempt. Which is crazy, because so much of this is out of our control!
Think about it, you did everything right over the course of an at-bat. You visualized hitting a missile in the on deck circle, and strolled up to the plate with a slight smirk knowing you were about to do DAMAGE to this baseball. You had a simple plan of attack. To HUNT the fastball, be on time for it, and LET IT FLY. You were focused, relaxed, and calm.
As you saw the first pitch fastball seeming to move in slow motion to your happy-zone, you did exactly what you had planned. YOU LET THE BARREL FLY! The barrel met the baseball with so much speed and pureness, that it sent it sizzling on a line…directly to the shortstop, whose momentum took him 2 steps back after catching the baseball at such a high speed…0-1
You're not terribly mad at your at-bat, but you are disappointed you didn't get the end-result. According to baseball you failed. According to the stat of all stats (batting average), you are a worse hitter than you were going into the at-bat. Which is starting to weigh on your head. Because going into the last month of the season, you're hitting .308…and your average has been steadily declining over the last couple weeks.
If the mental aspect of the game is really 90% of success in baseball, then why not approach the game with a mindset that enables consistency? If consistency is the ultimate sign of a great player, why don't we change our mindset to allow it to happen? Read more
Bryce Harper's Hitter's Mentality
Do you feel "lost' at the plate? Have you had that feeling like there is nothing you can do to get a hit no matter what you try? Does self-doubt overtake you when you step in the batter's box?
Sometimes, a string of bad at-bats can overwhelm a hitter. You may even start thinking that you are in a "slump" and feeling that you can't hit anything. The fact is that you can't hit every pitch, nobody can. The only way a string of bad at-bats turns into a slump is if you buy into the "slump" mentality.
Bryce Harper, 21, is the youngest player in the MBL, despite being in his third season in the big leagues. Harper hit .143 through the first five games for the Washington Nationals. Harper even showed signs of frustration slamming down his helmet and throwing his bat at a few bad at-bats. Harper started to think he was in a "slump."
Harper said he received some good advice from his father who coached when he was young:
"Man, you need to stop thinking so much. Just go out and hit the baseball. Plain and simple… It's sometimes where you start slow and that's just part of the game and there's nothing you can do about it. Just have fun, smile, laugh, just be as happy as you can all the time and good things will happen."
Harper took heed to his father's advice and it paid off with an eight-game hitting streak and a jump in his batting average to .340.
Harper started to trust his abilities, stopped over-thinking when in the batter's box and knew the hits would eventually come if he focused on the process…
Maybe you had swung at some bad pitches… so what? Learn from the at-bat, have a calm mind, trust your swing, and move forward.
Adopt a hitter's mentality: Take charge of your mental game. Focus on quality at-bats instead of your hitting average. This can help you focus on the process. (Read more).
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All for one and one for all
Today at our 1st little league "playoff game", I told the players afterwards that I was very impressed with our Team Chemistry and Cohesiveness. My wife reminds me of the positive vibes she feels from the parents as well watching the kids interact with one another so seamlessly.
The World Champs are a testament to great chemistry. (USATSI)
Team chemistry is a complicated issue, but it's also the key to getting the most out of a team's talent. Task cohesion, refers to a team's ability to function as a collective unit and perform effectively on the field. "United we Stand".
To compile a list of the best Major League Baseball teams of all time, there's more than a century of data to mine and parameters to set. For one thing, a team can't be great if they lose in the playoffs. For the Ruth and Gehrig Yankees (and every other team before 1969), the postseason simply meant the World Series. The best of the American League played the best of the National League for a winner-take-all best of seven. Based on Baseball Almanac's calculations and other tales of epic clubs of yore, here are the eight best MLB teams of all time.
8. 1970 Baltimore Orioles
In the modern era, 100-win seasons are special achievements. The 1970 Baltimore Orioles posted 108 wins and went 115-55 with their playoff run included. They beat the Reds in five games to cap off a season for the ages that was defined by the Birds' pitching staff.
Hall of Famer Jim Palmer led the staff that featured three 20-game winners in the rotation and a team ERA of 3.15. Big Frank Robinson and Boog Powell supplied the power while Paul Blair and Brooks Robinson worked their magic on the field and at the plate. This was Earl Weaver's best team, one of five 100-win squads skippered by the late Hall of Fame manager but the only one to win the World Series.
7. 1961 New York Yankees
The 1954 New York Giants could have claimed this spot, but the 1961 Yankees' dominance (109 wins) was simply too much for for teams in their era to handle. Mickey Mantle had a monster season but Roger Maris ended up stealing the headlines by slugging 61 home runs to claim the record from Ruth. Mantle cracked 54 dingers and hit .317 with a .448 on base percentage while three other players hit at least 20 homers for this new version of Murderers' Row.
On the mound, the Chair of the Board ran the show. Whitey Ford went 25-4 in the regular season before pitching 14 scoreless innings in two World Series wins to nab MVP honors. The Yankees beat the Reds in five games, but the outcome was never really in question. Maris' 61 in '61 seemed predetermined for this all time great club.
6. 1929 Philadelphia Athletics
Back in the day, Philly was a two-team town and the A's were a dominant force in the American League with Connie Mack as their manager and Shibe Park as their home field. Whether the 1910 club was better than the 1929 squad is debatable, but the latter had to take the AL title from Ruth and Gehrig's Yankees, so they win the race here. Jimmie Foxx (or, "Double X") led the charge in '29, hitting .354 with 33 home runs and a gaudy .463 on-base percentage, but Al Simmons was the team's beast with 34 dingers and 157 RBI to go along with a .356 batting average. Yeah, they were that good.
The A's went 104-46 in the regular season, blowing out the second-place Yankees by 18 games (the Red Sox ended up 48 games behind in the standings). On the mound, Lefty Grove (20-6) and George Earnshaw (24-8) combined for 32 complete games. They beat the Cubs in five games to win the World Series as Jimmy Dykes hit .421 and Foxx drove in five for the A's.
5. 1939 York Yankees
Based on the 1939 Yankees' 411 run differential, you could rank them at the top of the list for best team of all time, but they'll get their due. Bill Dickey, Joe Gordon, and Red Rolfe did plenty of damage that year, but it was Joe DiMaggio's team. Joltin' Joe hit .381 with 30 home runs in a Yankee Stadium where fly balls to left field went to die (490 feet to left-center, 415 to left.) The Yankee Clipper had an on-base percentage of .448 and somehow struck out only 20 times in 524 plate appearances.
Red Ruffing paced the pitching staff with 21 wins and 22 complete games. The 1939 World Series against Cincinnati wasn't even fair. Charlie Keller hit .438 with 3 home runs as the Yankees outscored the Reds 20-8 in a four-game sweep. With the playoffs added in, the 1939 Yankees went 110-45.
4. 1907 Chicago Cubs
While there are several stats that make the 1907 Cubs special, the one that catapults off the page is the team's mind-boggling 1.73 ERA. Even in the Dead Ball Era, this pitching staff defined stingy. They outscored opponents by nearly 200 runs on their way to a record of 107-45.
In the World Series, the 1906 Cubs team that won 116 games got to redeem itself and enter the pantheon of best clubs ever. The pitching staff allowed a total of six runs in five games. How do you manage a four-games-to-none sweep when playing five games? Game One was called off after 12 innings with the teams deadlocked in a 3-3 tie. Yes, baseball was like soccer back then.
3. 1976 Cincinnati Reds
Though one could argue the "Big Red Machine" of 1975 was one of the best ever, that club needed all seven games to win the World Series. That was not the case for the 1976 Reds who swept the Phillies in three games in the NLCS and then manhandled the Yankees in a four-game sweep of the World Series.
Johnny Bench hit .533 in the World Series with 6 RBI to take home MVP honors while George Foster and Dave Concepcion added to the onslaught. In the regular season, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, and Ken Griffey led the offensive juggernaut to 102 wins. Scrappy and scruffy in the way only a 1970s ballclub could be, the Reds of 1976 were fun to watch and one of the game's greatest.
Take David Wells, David Cone, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera in their prime. In mid-season, add Cuban sensation Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez. Start the batting order with Chuck Knoblauch and Derek Jeter, then mix in Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams, and Tino Martinez in high-production years. Round it out with Jorge Posada, Scott Brosius, and Chili Davis. Call in Jeff Nelson, Mike Stanton, Graeme Lloyd, and Ramiro Mendoza from the bullpen and DH or pinch-hit Darryl Strawberry when you want to intimidate a pitcher. That's how the 1998 Yankees went 125-50.
Manager Joe Torre had access to the most talented pool of players in the modern era during the 114-48 regular season. The only vague threat that year came in the playoffs when Cleveland took Game Two of the ALCS at old Yankee Stadium, then roughed up Andy Pettitte to take game three in Cleveland. These were the only two losses the Yankees had in the postseason. El Duque righted the ship with an epic performance in game four before Cone and Wells sealed the deal. The World Series was more like a vacation to San Diego for this team, which took home the trophy in a four-game sweep.
With all this talent, who was the MVP of the World Series? Scott Brosius, whose brutal treatment of Trevor Hoffman in Game Three ended the best closer argument and signifies just how deep the '98 Yankees were. Joe Torre insisted "Best Ever" go on the World Series ring along with the club's impossible record. His assessment holds up to objective scrutiny.
In a time when the baseball season lasted 154 games, the 1927 Yankees went 110-44. Babe Ruth mashed a record 60 home runs (more than 12 whole teams hit that year) and Lou Gehrig hit .373 with 47 home runs and 52 doubles. Outfielders Earl Combes (.356 BA) and Bob Meusel (.337 BA) combined for 83 doubles. They were called "Murderers' Row" for a reason.
The 1927 Yankees could also pitch with the best of them. Ace Waite Hoyt went 22-7 with a 2.63 ERA while closer Wilcy Moore chalked up 19 wins out of the bullpen with an ERA of 2.28. Their run differential (number of runs they outscored opponents) was a staggering 376. In the World Series, the Babe hit .400 with seven RBI as the Yankees swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in four games. It's what happens when the best player ever leads the best squad ever against any opponent.
To put Babe Ruth's achievement in perspective, the World Series opponent Pirates hit 54 home runs as a team in 1927 — six fewer than the Sultan of Swat. No wonder they wanted to put an asterisk next to Maris' 61. Reference | Other resource
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ESPN Highlights
Our Roland Baseball – National League playoffs… GO BLAZE.
Not every picture is "Sports Illustrated" quality. However, one of our parents captured some FABULOUS candid photos that clearly differentiate the average "smart phone". Click here Here is the latest reel (click here).
Above from left to right (clockwise), Coach Craig, Coach Carl, Coach Dave, Amiela, Wyatt, Luke, Mason, Krrish.
Count Everything
May 12, 2016 Brooks Shumate	Leave a comment
"In Baseball, we count Everything"…
That's why a scorecard is so, very important to the game.
Below are the position numbers in baseball. Notice that 3rd base is position #5, not Three (also the jersey # of Brooks Robinson). Click here to learn more about keeping score.
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Coach, Fan
Day at the Yard
I was going to title this blog, "Day at the Ballpark". But in Baltimore we call it the "Yard". How many other teams use the same name?
A baseball park, also known as a ballpark or diamond, is a venue where baseball is played. A baseball park consists of the playing field and the surroun ding spectator seating. While the diamond and the areas denoted by white painted lines adhere to strict rules, guidelines for the rest of the field are flexible. The term "ballpark" sometimes refers either to the entire structure, or sometimes to just the playing field. A home run where the player makes it around the bases, and back to home plate, without the ball leaving the playing field is typically called an "inside-the-park" home run. Sometimes a home run over the fence is called "out of the ballpark", but that phrase more often means a home run that clears the stands and lands outside the building. The playing field is most often called the "ballfield", though the term is often used interchangeably with "ballpark" when referring to a small local or youth league facility (read more).
The following is a list of Major League Baseball stadiums, sorted by capacity, their locations, their first year of usage and home teams. The newest MLB stadium is Marlins Park in Miami, home of the Miami Marlins, which opened for the 2012 season. All except eleven MLB stadiums (Angel Stadium of
Anaheim, Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park, Kauffman Stadium, Marlins Park, Nationals Park, Oakland Coliseum, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Turner Field, Wrigley Field, and Yankee Stadium being the exceptions) have sold the naming rights to their stadiums to corporations. Turner and Wrigley are named for the individuals and not the corporations; Kauffman is named for Ewing Kauffman who brought baseball back to Kansas City; while Fenway is named for the neighborhood and realty company at the time of ownership. This list will decrease to ten when SunTrust Park opens in 2017 as Turner Field's replacement (read more).
The next time I visit the yard, remind me to thank Lawrence Berry, usher next to dugout. I don't know if my son Blake appreciates how cool it is to see Manny, Chris, Adam and others so close, but I certainly appreciate their long road of hard work! Some of the pix above are from our 9-10 little league team, "Blaze" for Roland Park Baseball and I was excited to see good turnout, in spite of the rainy weather. Also, note the "Kids run Bases" which some of our players participated in and I'm sure it was a lot of fun!
Unfortunately, the games I attended on Saturday and Sunday (4/30 & 5/1/16)against the White Sox ended in losses. However, it was a nail bitter, where the lead changed 3-4 times. Thus, all this back-n-forth made it suspenseful. Moreover, the best part was the 2 out bunt by the CWS which turned out to be the game winning run. It goes to show, any way you can get on base counts. What was very monumental about this offensive strategy is Orioles closer Zach Britton sprained his left ankle while trying to field a bunt single by White Sox leadoff hitter Adam Eaton (read more). This was after Zach struck out the first two batters. Thus, CWS went on to win the game in the top of the 9th inning.
On Sunday, we saw another very unusual play defensively when Manny Machado and J.J. Hardy found an inventive new way to get an out at first (read more). A ball hit by Chicago White Sox' Todd Frazier gets by Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado during the fourth inning of a baseball game, but shortstop J.J. Hardy, was able to get the ball and throw it to first to get put out Frazier on the play (read more). Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has a knack for making incredible diving stops down the line, but sometimes it's nice to have some help (read more). Check out the box score.
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Always like a Girl
April 25, 2016 Brooks Shumate	Leave a comment
I would be remiss if I did not include some stories about my daughter. She is turning 12 next month and I'm so proud of all her accomplishments. In particular, she has done exceptionally well in school and extracurricular activities like Piano, Dance and Theater.
When it comes to sports, there tends to be a big "misperception". My wife found this video and it brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it.
Chelsea is an excellent runner and swimmer. This is her 7th year playing soccer and continues to excel with great success. This spring she is playing lacrosse (2nd year) for the Roland Park Middle School "B" Lacrosse coached by Sarah Layng and Kelsy Mugele. Read more
Personally, I played baseball my whole life so I was not familiar with some of the skills she needed to develop. Thankfully, her coach suggested the following sites that has proved to be very helpful from the Denver, Colorado Women's Lacrosse Team:
Session #1
Lacrosse Wall Ball Routine
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Blaze defeat Greyhounds
Score: 9-5
Tonight's game gave us an opportunity to build our confidence hitting. In particular, Wyatt won the MVP of the game for hitting a clean stand-up double and snapping his slump. He also started the game on the mound and shut them out two innings.
Krrish clobbered the team's first homerun all the way to the trees. He ripped a line drive off the pitcher straight down the left corner line.
Amelia was called from the bullpen, late in the final inning to save the game.
Blaze are now 2-1-1. Great job!
Coaches Tip of the Game: Keep working hard, try your best and don't forget to have fun.
ResultsWin
Why do players strikeout?
Answer: By regulation, baseball bats may be no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches long. A MLB baseball is only 3 inches in diameter. Thus, it is very, very difficult. As a matter of fact, you can fail 7/10 times and be qualified for the Hall of Fame (.300 batting average). Read more
The top 15 Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders: (as of 2015 season)
Reggie Jackson – 2,597
Jim Thome – 2,548
Adam Dunn – 2,379
Sammy Sosa – 2,306
Alex Rodriguez – 2,220
Andrés Galarraga – 2,003
José Canseco – 1,942
Willie Stargell – 1,936
Mike Cameron – 1,901
Mike Schmidt – 1,883
Fred McGriff – 1,882
Tony Pérez – 1,867
Bobby Abreu – 1,840
Derek Jeter – 1,840
Dave Kingman – 1,816
Active batters with over 1,400 K's:
(as of 2015 season)
Ryan Howard – 1,729
David Ortiz – 1664
Carlos Beltrán – 1,592
Mark Reynolds – 1,519
Adrián Beltré – 1,518
Curtis Granderson 1,459
Adam LaRoche 1,407
Melvin Upton – 1,406
Miguel Cabrera – 1,400
Single season strikeout records (batters):
1 Mark Reynolds Arizona Diamondbacks 223 2009
2 Adam Dunn Chicago White Sox 222 2012
3 Chris Carter Houston Astros 212 2013
5 Drew Stubbs Cincinnati Reds 205 2011
7 Ryan Howard Philadelphia Phillies 199 2007
9 Adam Dunn Washington Nationals 199 2010
10 Chris Davis Baltimore Orioles 199 2013
Strikeout records
Then there is the best pitchers who threw strikeouts.
The Top 20 Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders (active players in bold) (since 1901):[16]
Nolan Ryan – 5,714
Randy Johnson – 4,875
Roger Clemens – 4,672
Steve Carlton – 4,136
Bert Blyleven – 3,701
Tom Seaver – 3,640
Don Sutton – 3,574
Gaylord Perry – 3,534
Walter Johnson – 3,509
Greg Maddux – 3,371
Phil Niekro – 3,342
Ferguson Jenkins – 3,192
Pedro Martínez – 3,154
Bob Gibson – 3,117
Curt Schilling – 3,116
John Smoltz – 3,084
Jim Bunning – 2,855
Mickey Lolich – 2,832
Mike Mussina – 2,813
Cy Young – 2,803
Active pitchers with over 2,000 strikeouts (as of 2015 season):
CC Sabathia – 2,574
Bartolo Colón – 2,237
Félix Hernández – 2,142
Jake Peavy – 2,105
The Top 10 Major League Baseball career strikeout-per-nine innings leaders (since 1900, minimum 1,000 IP):[17]
Randy Johnson – 10.61
Kerry Wood – 10.32
Pedro Martínez – 10.04
Tim Lincecum – 9.61
Nolan Ryan – 9.55
Max Scherzer – 9.51
Trevor Hoffman – 9.36
Sandy Koufax – 9.28
Clayton Kershaw – 9.26
Óliver Pérez – 9.22
The Top 5 Major League Baseball single season strikeout-per-nine innings leaders (since 1900, minimum 1.0 IP per team game):
Randy Johnson, 2001 – 13.41
Pedro Martínez, 1999 – 13.20
Kerry Wood, 1998 – 12.58
The Top 10 Major League Baseball single season strikeout totals (since 1900):[18]
Nolan Ryan 383 1973 California Angels AL 8
Sandy Koufax 382 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers NL 9
Randy Johnson 372 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks NL 11
Nolan Ryan 367 1974 California Angels AL 14
Rube Waddell 349 1904 Philadelphia Athletics AL 18
Bob Feller 348 1946 Cleveland Indians AL 19
The Top 10 Major League Baseball single season strikeout totals (all time):[19]
Matt Kilroy 513 1886 Baltimore Orioles AA 1
Toad Ramsey 499 1886 Louisville Colonels AA 2
Hugh Daily 483 1884 Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies/Washington Nationals UA 3
Dupee Shaw 451 1884 Detroit Wolverines/Boston Reds NL/UA 4
Old Hoss Radbourn 441 1884 Providence Grays NL 5
Charlie Buffington 417 1884 Boston Beaneaters NL 6
Guy Hecker 385 1884 Louisville Eclipse AA 7
Bill Sweeney 374 1884 Baltimore Monumentals UA 10


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Q: Tools to help migration from RHEL4 to CentOS8 I have a bunch of legacy servers (about 30) running undocumented code that still run on RHEL4. Some newer servers run on CentOS5 or 6, but most of them are RHEL4. Following a security audit, management has finally agreed that something needs to be done and the servers need to be migrated to something from this (or next) decade. The servers mostly run open source applications, like cacti, mysql, php, apache, perl with some of them having Oracle bindings to query such databases.
This, or course means re-installation (on VMs or maybe containerizing what can be easily done), but I haven't found a plan/checklist/automation tool to help me get started.
So - I figure this roughly needs to get done:

*

*Clean installation of target OS (CentOS8) - this can be done in a VM, converted to a template and deployed as needed

*Networking settings (ips, routes, iptables rules, dns, ntp, snmp, ssh host keys) need to be ported over. In case of networking I'd need to convert the old /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/if-,route- into proper NetworkManager configuration. Is there a tool that already automates this?

*Migration of old users + their home folders to the new servers. I hacked something together but needs testing (https://github.com/mad-ady/os-migration/blob/master/user-accounts-source.sh). I also need to transfer their crontabs (local mails are not important).

*Install missing packages that were installed on the source (I have something to extract them from yum history: https://github.com/mad-ady/os-migration/blob/master/yum-packages-source.sh, but RHEL4 didn't use yum by default).

*Identify non-default configuration from /etc, transfer (and test/adapt) it for the new CentOS version. Not sure how to find just the changed configuration on the original host though...

*Transfer legacy applications, websites, do step by step tests and make changes as needed (like older mysqls had different authentication than newer versions). Attempt to do in-place upgrades to newer software versions (e.g. from Cacti 0.8 -> 0.9 -> 1.0, etc) while keeping old data, accounts, etc.

I was thinking of writing ansible playbooks to do all this in the hopes that it would make future upgrades easier, but writing playbooks has a higher overhead than actually doing the one-time config, so I'm not sure it's worth the effort...
I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot of stuff that needs to be taking care of, so here is my question:
Is there a recommended way of doing such upgrades? Are there tools, scripts, procedures that can help me make it less painful?
Thanks for any advice!

A: It seems that you have herited from an unmaintained IT environment.
According to me, it worth the effort of developping a playbook to build/configure the new centos8 systems (packages, network cfg, users, ssh keys...).
But the applications migration would have to be done manually, because each case would be different. You have to understand how the app is started (/etc/rc3.d should be a good starting point), what are the dependencies (lib/packages) and how those deps were installed (tarball ? package ?), is there any crontab associated, what are the new lib versions available on centos8, is there any application code changes involved by the new library version, is there any config file syntax changes.
Try to build an application matrix from old production, and deploy a test environment for each application you have identified. Once everything is working fine, you can think on how you can speed up deployment on new prod environment, and also deal with data migration.
It will be a long task if you are alone. I hope that your management is ok to pay for being helped.
Good luck !

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is making her comeback in movies after five years with Sanjay Gupta's "Jazbaa", but the actress says she never felt the gap while working in the film because of the wonderful cast.
"You will see it (me) more often now," said the actress when asked about her reason of not doing films for so long.
"It's lovely working with everyone in 'Jazbaa' as the cast is so wonderful. From Irrfan Khan to Shabana-ji (ShabanaAzmi), everyone was lovely. I never felt the gap," added Aishwarya, who took around four years of break from the big screen to raise her daughter Aradhya.


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Bid History for 72 Passenger Bus
Auction Start Date: 10/18/21 9:26 AM ET
Asset ID: 27 Number of Bids: 21
72 Passenger Bus
High Bidder: d*******4
Sold Amount: $6,050.00
Buyer's Premium (12.50%): $756.25
Year Make/Brand Model VIN/Serial Miles Title Restriction
2010 International CE 4DRBVAAN59B115218 131,591 No Title Restriction
Year Make/Brand Model
2010 International CE
VIN/Serial Miles
4DRBVAAN59B115218 131,591
Title Restriction
No Title Restriction
Used/See Description Buses, Transit and School
International Maxx Force DT 466, 6 CYL Engine 200hp, Allison PTS 2500 Transmission. Bus has AC
Q: Is the bus fully operational and running? (9/26/21 2:50 AM)
A: Yes it is, fully operational and running (9/26/21 11:23 AM)
Q: What is the reserve? (9/26/21 7:20 PM)
A: Which bus? (9/27/21 3:14 PM)
Q: What year is the bus? (9/27/21 3:10 PM)
A: 2010 (9/27/21 3:14 PM)
Q: What is the reserve for bus 4DRBVAAN59B115218? (9/29/21 1:02 PM)
A: 5,000 (9/29/21 2:29 PM)
Q: What is the floor to ceiling height for bus 4DRBVAAN59B115218? (9/29/21 1:02 PM)
A: 6' 5 " (9/29/21 2:28 PM)
Q: when was this bus purchased by the school system? And what was the in service date? (9/30/21 9:17 AM)
A: Purchased- July 2008 In service- 2009 (9/30/21 10:00 AM)
Q: Is this bus air brakes or Hyd ?? (10/1/21 10:44 AM)
A: YES (10/1/21 11:13 AM)
Q: Bus length (10/1/21 1:34 PM)
A: 72 passenger bus, 40ft (10/19/21 9:42 AM)
Q: Why is the bus being reposted? (10/18/21 9:51 AM)
A: the minimum was not reached (10/19/21 9:36 AM)
Q: Is there a buy now price? Or buy price if reserve not met? (10/19/21 5:04 PM)
A: check back the last day of the auction (10/20/21 7:56 AM)
Q: Is it possible to get a picture of the engine compartment, or at least could you tell me if the Engine block is painted blue or black/gray color? Trying to determine the generation of the Engine as 2010 was when the MaxForce DT underwent some design changes, however it's possible this bus was manufactured with the previous edition. (10/25/21 8:32 AM)
A: DT 466 Max Force Silver in color (10/25/21 11:05 AM)
Q: Does this bus require DEF fluid? (10/26/21 9:12 PM)
A: no.....have a great day (10/27/21 8:00 AM)
Seller Name Cartersville School System, GA
Asset Location 15 Nelson St
Cartersville, Georgia 30120-2855
Most items offered for sale are used and may contain defects not immediately detectable. Bidders may inspect the property prior to bidding. Inspection is by appointment only. Please see the contact above to schedule an inspection.
Wire Transfer is the only payment option for this item. The Wire Transfer Transaction Summary page will provide payment and account information. The Wire Transfer must be completed within 5 days unless otherwise specified below.
PAYMENT MUST BE MADE ONLINE-- To make online payment, Log into your Liquidity Services account and select "My Bids". Please follow the instructions there.
Payment in full is due not later than five (5) business days from the time and date of the close of the auction. Payment must be made electronically via the payment methods are listed above.
TAX EXEMPTION: Where taxes are applicable (see the Buyer's Certificate), Tax Exempt documents must be provided to Liquidity Services Bidder Services at taxhelp@liquidityservices.com within 24 hours of the auctions close and before payment is made. Bidders are encouraged to submit their Tax Exempt Documentation prior to the Auction's close to expedite this process. Please contact Liquidity Services Bidder Services for all tax exemption questions.
Property may be removed by appointment only and appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance. All items must be removed within ten (10) business days from the time and date of issuance of the Buyer's Certificate.
The Buyer will make all arrangements and perform all work necessary, including packing, loading and transportation of the property. No Assistance will be provided. A daily storage fee of $10.00 may be charged for any item not removed within the 10 business days allowed and stated on the Buyer's Certificate.
Guaranty Waiver. All property is offered for sale 'AS IS, WHERE IS.' Cartersville School System, GA makes no warranty, guaranty or representation of any kind, expressed or implied, as to the merchantability or fitness for any purpose of the property offered for sale. Please note that upon removal of the property, all sales are final.
Quick Asset Lookup (QAL) #: 8188-27 (GD)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


When I entertain I like to make sure my table looks beautiful for my guests. I choose the china to match the occasion and I like to use crystal wine flutes. I also love to use chafing dishes. They are especially handy when I have lots of guests. Keeping the food warm is always my main concern but I'm also thinking about my decor and the presentation of the table. I love using a round chafing dish for this reason. Have you seen how good they look? Don't miss out on an item that can really add that "something extra" to your home.
⇒ See the Top-Rated Round Chafers, Click Here.
Sure, there are lots of ordinary chafing dishes available but I like to make my chafing dishes a feature when I entertain. And why not? After all, they do hold the entree which is the star of the show when everyone sits down for dinner. Here are the best round chafing dishes to add to your home.
This Winware round chafing dish has a stunning stainless steel mirror finished cover. It holds 6 quarts and the cover can roll over to 90 degrees or 180 degrees.
This chafer includes one round food pan, the water pan, a dome cover and the fuel holder. The dome cover is a roll top so there's no need for a lid holder. The stainless steel is heavy commercial grade, yet it is still light weight to lift. It looks stylish and modern. This is a high-quality chafer.
This round chafing dish has a double bowl set-up. There's the bottom water pan for steaming water and the serving pan above it.
This chafer looks stunning on your table for formal occasions or casual dining. Your guests will definitely notice this addition to your home. It keeps the food warm and you can be happy with it's stunning appearance.
This Winware chafing dish makes any occasion special. You'll find it attracts a lot of comments from guests and it looks so good you'll want to use it every time you have guests over. It's an impressive chafing dish you'll want to own.
The Winco Round Crown Chafer is a more traditional dish. If you have antique furniture or a traditional style of décor, this Winco round chafing dish will be perfect. With more detail than other chafers, it stands out as a beautiful addition to your table. As well as its round shape and detail, it also boasts wooden detailing on the handles.
This traditional chafer has a 6 quart capacity. It's 18/8 stainless steel construction with a mirror finish. The dimensions are 17.13″ x 13.25″ x 16.5″ (LxWxH).
This round chafer is a double pan set up. The water pan is underneath for warming with the food pan above it. The dome cover lifts off, it is not hinged. It includes the fuel holder underneath.
If you have beautiful decor you want your chafing dish to match. The Winco Round Crown Chafer is a delight to own and use.
This Cuisinart round chafing dish is available in three different sizes, 11-inch, 12-inch or 13.5-inch. But the 11-inch is the only round chafer. The 12-inch is rectangular and the 13.5-inch is an oval shape. These chafers still complement each other despite being in different shapes. You can choose the size you need or buy multiple sizes to serve a buffet.
The dimensions when the pan is sitting in the rack is 17-inch x 11-inch x 8-inch (LxWxH). It has a 2.6 quart capacity.
Constructed from 18/10 Stainless Steel, this Cuisinart chafer has an aluminum encased base for even heat distribution.
It includes a glass lid. The lid lifts off, it is not hinged. Both the stainless steel pan and the glass lid are dishwasher safe.
One of the biggest advantages of this chafer is that you can serve directly from the oven or stovetop using the wide stainless steel handles for easily transporting the dish.
This chafer doesn't use chafing fuel. It keeps the food warm using two tealight candles. At first you may not think the candles will be enough, but they really do keep the food warm.
If you're looking for a high-quality elegant round chafing dish for your home, you'll absolutely love this Cuisinart chafer.
If you're looking for a round chafing dish that offers a clear view of the food, this Artisan round chafer is perfect. The glass lid lets you see the food without lifting the lid. It also provides a lid holder giving you extra convenience. We all run out of space for the lid!
This stainless steel chafer has a 4 quart capacity. It measures 14-inches in diameter and 10 ¼-inches height.
This round chafing dish includes the rack, water pan, food pan, cover and fuel holder.
The glass lid includes a steam release vent.
This Artisan chafer offers so much convenience with the lid holder. If you're looking for a chafer that's just a good for everyday use with the family as it is for entertaining guests, then look no further. The Artisan chafing dish looks good and is also very practical.
This Zeny Chafer can be bought as one item or you can save even more money and buy is as a set of 2 chafers or 3, up to 6 of them.
This stainless steel chafer comes with the water pan, a food pan, a stainless steel lid, the frame and an alcohol furnace. The lid lifts off (not hinged).
The Zeny Chafer has a 5 quart capacity. The dimensions are 16-inch x 13.2-inch x 11-inch (LxWxH).
This round chafing dish is practical and good quality. You can use it for a party or a weekly family gathering. It looks good in the round shape and keeps the food warm as you'd expect.
If you need more than one round chafing dish and you're looking for bang for your buck then this Zeny chafer is ideal. You can order from 1 to 6 dishes and save money. This chafer is great for all occasions.
This stainless steel BirdRock Home Chafing Dish offers a lot of convenience. If is one of the few round chafers with a hinged lid. The hinge gives you the convenience of not having to hold the lid while you're serving or find a place for it on the table.
This round chafing dish also has a glass panel in the lid which lets you see the food. The lid is a nice domed shape so you can pile the food higher if necessary.
It holds a capacity of 5 quarts. The dimensions are 16.5-inch diameter by 13-inches in height.
This chafing dish includes the water heating pan, a food pan, the stainless steel and glass lid, the stand and the burner.
For convenience you really can't beat a hinged lid (unless, of course, you want a roll top, see the Winware Roll Top Chafer above). The handle on the front of the lid makes it easy to lift.
The round shape of this BirdRock Home Chafer with its domed lid makes it a pretty looking chafer. It would suit any occasion.
When you're looking for your new round chafer, consider what you need and what will look good in your home. It's easy to see one and think it will be the one but try and make your decision based on how you'll use it. Do you need a lid holder? Would you prefer a roll top? What about a glass lid?
There are so many great features on round chafing dishes, hopefully you'll be able to find exactly what you're looking for. Enjoy your new chafing dish.
☑ Looking for the best induction cookware? Read more here.
☑ Do you like convenience in the kitchen? What about an Instant Pot?
☑ Want healthier fries? Time to try an Air Fryer.
This entry was posted in Small Appliances on January 14, 2018 by Edwina.


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Update from TD with regards to the changes/effects of the Stress Test
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) recently proposed a change to uninsured qualifying rate rules. Upon confirmation, effective June 1, 2021, OSFI will require uninsured mortgages, including TD Home Equity FlexLine borrowers, to qualify at the greater of:
the OSFI-defined five-year minimum qualifying rate (5.25%) or
the customer's contract rate + 2%.
Example: If the customer's rate is 2.29% + 2%, their qualifying rate would be 4.29%, however, they would be qualified at the 5.25% OSFI rate which is the greater of the two.
Further updates to OSFI's proposed qualifying rate rules, if any, will be communicated as they become available.
The impact to the customer of this change is estimated to be up to a 4% reduction in the principal amount, depending on the customer's circumstances.
Existing pre-approvals must have a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) signed before June 1, 2021 in order to not have to requalify under the new rate rules.
A signed PSA means the offer has been accepted prior to June 1, 2021. There may still be conditions to be waived or fulfilled.
For refinances, any new submissions or resubmissions with material changes received on or after June 1, 2021 will be qualified under the new qualifying rate rules.
Here's an example of how the new qualifying rate rules can impact the maximum mortgage amount a customer can qualify to borrow. The below amounts are based on a combined household income of $100,000, a five-year fixed-term mortgage rate of 2.29%, a 25-year amortization, a down payment of $100,000 and $700 in other monthly debt obligations:
Up to May 31, 2021 After June 1, 2021 Target rate 2.29% 2.29% Qualifying rate 4.79% 5.25% Maximum mortgage $403,000 $385,959 Available down payment $100,000 $100,000 Home purchase price $503,000 $ 485,959 In this example, the customer experienced a 4% decline in the total mortgage amount they qualify to borrow. A customer's maximum mortgage amount may be influenced by several factors including the term selected, variable or fixed rate, product selected, amortization, other debt obligations and credit score. Note: this example is for illustrative purposes only.
Call Mike Bolger at (519) 616-2656 now.
CONTACT MIKE BOLGER
"The pressure was on, had a new job in Waterloo and needed to relocate from Toronto and merging two households. All of this with a very short timeline in a crazy unpredictable market during a global pandemic. We needed a superhero re..."
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"Mike is amazing to work with. He has been extremely responsive and has been able to provide a valuable amount of information. He is very professional and well trained and was able to provide insightful information of the current rea..."
Kenny Harrison
"We purchased land with Mike Bolger to build our custom home. Mike was very responsive and easy to work with. We were very happy with everything. It was a fast and easy transaction. We would recommend him."
Deborah Dickson


text:
https://apnews.com/article/europe-cyprus-forests-fires-environment-and-nature-2bdce0cd7eb6c63fa59a936bcab52be4
Cyprus government
Cyprus asks EU, Israel for help fighting huge forest fire
July 3, 2021 GMT
A helicopter flies overa forest fire, in the Larnaca mountain region, Saturday, July 3, 2021. Cyprus has asked fellow European Union nations to help battle a huge forest fire in a mountainous region of the east Mediterranean island nation that has forced the evacuation of at least three villages. Cypriot Environment Minister Costas Kadis told state broadcaster Saturdasy that the fire has claimed "huge tracts of forest" and private property near the village of Arakapas in the Troodos mountain range. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus asked fellow European Union nations on Saturday to help battle a huge forest fire in a mountainous region of the east Mediterranean island nation that has forced the evacuation of at least seven villages.
Cypriot Environment Minister Costas Kadis told state broadcaster CyBC that the fire has claimed "huge tracts of forest" and private property near the village of Arakapas in the Troodos mountain range.
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said on Twitter that this was "a very difficult day for Cyprus" and that the "entire state apparatus" has been mobilized to assist in fighting the blaze which strong winds have fanned across multiple fronts in difficult, hilly terrain.
"The main priority is to avoid any loss of life," said Anastasiades.
News reports showed homes going up in flames and massive plumes of brown smoke blotting out the sun. Arakapas residents who helped fire crews battle the fire told the CyBC the fire moved much too quickly through forested areas to be brought under control.
The fire has cut power to at least eight villages.
Cyprus government spokesman Marios Pelekanos that Greece is sending two firefighting planes and Israel has also dispatched two aircraft. He said another four aircraft have been requested through the EU's civil protection mechanism.
Pelekanos said that fire crews will remain on duty throughout the night when winds are expected to die down, easing fire fighting efforts.
He said Cypriot National Guard drones are mapping the entire expanse of the blaze in order to identify which fronts fire crews will prioritize. Authorities will provide accommodation to people who have lost their homes.
Greek official Nicholas Hardalias posted on his Twitter account that Greece "stands by Cyprus" and that two Canadair CL-415 are on their way.
Civil Defense official Olivia Michaelidou told state-run Cyprus News Agency that another two aircraft are expected to arrive from Italy.
Four Cypriot firefighting planes were joined by helicopters from the Cypriot National Guard, the police and British forces based at two U.K. military bases on the island to help beat back the fire in remote areas that ground crews had difficulty reaching.
A Cypriot National Guard spokesman said army water tankers have also been pressed into service to assist fire fighters.
Fire Service spokesman Andreas Kettis said the entire Cypriot Fire Department has been mobilized with all off-duty firefighters called back into service to help.
Police said they have arrested a 67 year-old man to assist in the investigation into the cause of the fire.


Graduates of these programs can transfer seamlessly to four-year institutions. The courses included in these degrees are individually transferable through the Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS). Specific degree pathways are provided to allow students a timely, accessible, and affordable completion of an Associate's degree.
Click here to see the Associate of Science - Liberal Arts and Sciences transfer degrees.


Cerdic, the first English monarch, from an artistic depiction dating from 1611.
Language serves the purpose of providing us with a map of abstract reality. Therefore, political terminology serves to achieve the aim of politics, and that is, according to Carl Schmitt, the art of recognizing and neutralizing the enemy. In other words, it establishes a friend and foe dichotomy. To have a political enemy, you have to give him a name. With such dualistic tendencies of our abstract thinking, it is no wonder that the vast spectrum of all possible political attitudes is cut in half by the overgeneralizations of the Left and Right.
The practical applications of Left-wing or Right-wing politics are definitely not static: even their core ideas seem to change from generation to generation. There is no reconciling center between them: at least not any that is permanent. I am convinced that Hegelian dialectics, the thesis/antithesis dichotomy which is overcome by a synthesis, is not at all appropriate here. Hegelian dialectics perhaps may be used to solve highly abstract philosophical problems by those few who are specialized in doing so, but they cannot be applied when we try to understand the political dynamics of electoral democracies.
The Left and the Right, whatever they are, are two sides at war. We can see how, over the decades, both sides try to pull the public discourse in their favor. Yes, there is a Center, a moderate position – yet this position is not at all fixed, but moves towards the side which is more successful in normalizing its ideas. More than a place of reconciliation, the Center is a position of truce. Somebody who is a centrist on social issues nowadays would be yesterday's Leftist extremist. Let this not fool us into believing that some Universal Spirit is at work here, moving mankind towards some future universal Omega-point utopia. Dialectics are usually used as a narrative tool by the Left, but, as I have seen during the recent migrant crisis in Europe, the Left is capable of quickly dropping this concept if it fails to influence the development of public opinion in its favor.
Now, when we see that the vague Center is like a bride that is being abducted by two rival grooms, it should be clear that it has barely any value in itself. On the other hand, the extreme Left and the extreme Right can at least be respected for holding fixed and concrete ideas, even though they both have to disguise their agenda when trying to apply it in real-life politics. Still, their ideological war is just as real as its mechanisms are concealed from the average eye.
It is the aim of my article to examine the essence of Right-wing political thought, and what the White Nationalist movement, or some individual White Nationalists at least, can gain from a radical return to what historically were the most central ideas of the Right. That being said, please keep in mind that I do not denounce appropriating certain Left-wing stances, such as those on economics, as will be discussed later.
Yet, what is the essence of the Right?
It is highly debatable whether we can take fascism to be the "purest" historical manifestation of the ideals of the Right. It is likewise highly debatable whether Giorgio Locchi was correct in his Essence of Fascism (L'Essenza del Fascismo), where he claimed this essence to be "Nietzschean-Wagnerian surhumanism." This surhumanism, contrasted with egalitarianism (I can definitely accept the refusal to speak about non-egalitarianism, as it is a purely negative term, while surhumanism – centered around the idea of the overreaching man, overman, surhuman – has at least some, even if fantastical, positive connotations), is still just a Right-leaning historical reaction to the bourgeois democracies that emerged in the nineteenth century. In other words, Nietzsche's surhumanism is a reaction to the decline of aristocracy. And, as we know, the terms Left and Right came from revolutionary France, where the Left denotes the democrats and the Right denotes the defenders of the Ancien Régime.
One might regard the French Revolution as a cultural, political, and religious catastrophe, yet it is my conviction that it was necessary. To quote Evola, "the plebeian masses would have never been able to make their way into all the domains of social life and of civilization if real kings and real aristocrats had been in power."  It is my belief that the essence of the Right indeed lies in aristocracy. However, the late decadent European aristocracy can in no way be seen as a representative of the ideals that I desire to see realized. These ideals have no connection to the way in which aristocracy as a political class ended, but only to the way in which it started in the first place.
So, how did aristocracy start?
There is a common misconception that aristocracy began in prehistory, when a certain violent group of people desired to dominate their fellow men. After the stronger man spared the weaker, leaving him with his life at the price of his freedom, aristocracy and serfdom were alleged to be born. This is the root of Hegel's myth about master-slave dialectics. These dialectics, according to Hegel, negate themselves by the fact that the slave, following his submission, wasn't even free to give the master his consent. The aristocrat paradoxically lost what he was fighting for – his fellow man's recognition – by forcing the bondsman into a state where he could no longer authentically give it. This narrative is, of course, mostly a Leftist fabrication.
It is correct to search for the roots of aristocracy in prehistory. Prehistoric groups found themselves in many critical situations, either fighting other groups or harsh natural conditions for survival. In times of crisis, those who were ready to show resolve and leadership and were able to overcome a crisis were those who would later turn into the aristocratic class. They had the talent and skills to mobilize people and resources for the defense of their community. As Evola puts it, it was not the aristocrats who were in need of common people, but the other way around: the people needed their aristocrats. They needed them not just as protectors, but indeed as a visible embodiment of what is most divine in man, and of what is most intense in life – for their ability to "carry the flame of heaven down unto men." Contrary to the Leftist myth, aristocracy was not born from contempt for the common people and out of a wish to dominate them. It was born from man's love for his kin and the ability to protect them. Indeed, this is what made the original aristocracy godlike, and what made their recognition authentic.
When the warrior aristocracy degenerated into a caste of well-heeled, fashion-obsessed wimps wearing wigs and stockings, it was not a surprise that society started to view them as parasites and eventually got rid of them. The relationship between the first aristocrat and the rest of society – between the hero, the savior, and the saved – had already been long gone, for many generations. Yet a classless society was not established, nor can ever truly be so, as the masses will always need a leader, a few who are elected to stand before them and lead them, even if this "elite" calls itself a Communist Party. With the caste system gone, different values had to be adopted. What happened is that these adopted values were, in the end, not those of the common people who spilled their blood, but those of the bourgeoisie. These were actually the values of a class quite distinct from that of most of the common folk, yet these values were declared to be valid for all, forcing everyone to submit to the reality of the market economy. However, these mercantile values are predisposed only for a man of certain qualities, and may, from a different point of view, be seen as discriminatory if applied universally.
Now, we all know that in a society dominated by mercantile values, alienation, and atomization, rootlessness and social confusion prevail. The archetype of a merchant is that of a nomad: he travels from place to place, not really belonging anywhere. Everything for him is interchangeable and reducible to its monetary value and subject to the forces of the market, including culture. Culture necessarily deteriorates in such a system, because the commercial imperative demands a constant psychological stimulation of the people's lowest sexual and materialist impulses in order to keep them buying and to keep the consumerist machine properly running. The traditional values of the masses are never openly persecuted, but under such a mercantile ethic, they corrode anyway.
Oswald Spengler shows us that the last civilizational phase is marked by the removal of the values of the mercantile class. This is carried out when the masses perceive a crisis and require a strong charismatic leader, a "Caesar," to step in. This is the psychological core of the Trump phenomenon. One considerable element that led to his victory was an atavistic, almost primordial desire by the working classes for, not only the return of a king, but also a clear symbol of a civilizational center. The ideologies of the Third Way were based on a similar psychology, just as were the ideas of the German Conservative Revolution, which called for a return of radically traditional values as well as socialist reforms in the economy. They were in fact proposing an alliance of the "spiritual aristocracy" and the masses against the bourgeoisie.
The economic dimension of capitalism is not the worst thing about it. Capitalism is not just an economic system, but also an anthropological one that views man as an isolated individual, nothing more than a consumer and a producer, and as just another wheel in the machine which generates the gross domestic product. People, if they can perform their economic roles, are viewed as entirely interchangeable. Such a view of man, again, leads to social deterioration, atomization, alienation, and so on. Yet people still adopt bourgeoisie and progressive stances. (Note that progressivism is nothing more than the jester of capitalism, a completely malformed Left-wing ideology which, instead of persecuting the mega-rich, rather divides the people – men against women, ethnicity against ethnicity, one artificial identity against another, and so on, therefore becoming an ideological ally of its former worst enemy.) Being progressive is seen in some circles as a virtue and as a badge of belonging to the better part of society, the one which does not feel "threatened" by losing its "privilege." Yet this can be psychologically deciphered as a silent contempt for one's own roots and one's own ethnic kin, who are seen as "white trash" replaceable by any foreigner capable of doing their job.
From what I can see, a majority of the common people, at least here in the eastern part of the European Union, have the feeling that "something is terribly wrong with society." The destruction of our cultures is not openly declared, but it nevertheless is progressing, slowly and with low intensity. Unfortunately, people tend to choose safety and keeping their mouths shut over taking any kind of risk, even in terms of simply and openly demanding a change of the course in where our civilization is headed. Even if one is terribly socioculturally oppressed, the common man will most often not accept any danger and will not openly fight for himself – perhaps because he does not know how to do it. At the end of the day, having a beer while watching a football match makes his demise seem bearable. This is where the essence of the Right – that of integrating heroism, personal responsibility, and forging a future worth having into one's lifestyle – has to step in.
In the opening scenes of Goethe's Faust, the main protagonist analyzes the theological notion which holds that "In the beginning was the Word." Goethe concludes that this choice of words is not quite correct, and claims that it would be more proper to say that "In the beginning was the Deed." Societies were not spawned by logos, but rather by mythos. Words without acts are empty. Debating in echo chambers never saved anyone – swearing behind closed doors is what the common people, the ones waiting to be saved, do. The hero prepares for the clash and steps out to face his enemies. The fact that these clashes today consist of competitions in rhetoric and charisma changes nothing.
In his On Heroes, Hero-Worship and Heroism in History, Thomas Carlyle demonstrates how the notion of the hero has changed over the ages: from a warrior and a divinity "down" (?) to a priest, a poet, and a man of letters. Yet if I were to define the universal essence of heroism, I would say that it is the ability to take risks on behalf of others, the courage to openly undertake danger, possible persecution, or even death or worse. The prehistoric threat posed by the wilderness or by enemy tribes has transformed into today's threat of social ostracism, losing one's job, being spied upon, beaten up, or possibly even put in jail: but the essence is still the same. One has to stand for what he believes in, to risk utter personal defeat, for only this opens the path to true victory. At the end of the day, courage and well-performed actions attract others much better than any theoretical and well-researched analyses.
It is my belief that the current global system is absolutely unsustainable. All populations except those of the West (and of the Far East) are exploding. If Third World countries desire to achieve the level of material prosperity of the West (an indeed despicable wish to have, but still, alas, very tempting), we might see a world revolution of the underdeveloped countries against the developed ones as soon as the first larger crisis hits. Yet before that day of great deeds (if such a day ever comes), I would like to give a word of warning to the would-be-heroes of the West: don't be stupid, and avoid being counterproductive.
Counterproductive behavior caused the demand for securing a future for white people seem like an extremist slogan, and therefore paved the way for an ideology making our demise seem like an implicitly welcome outcome.
I believe that the dilemma of the common man today is this: "The current regime is going to destroy our culture and our nations in the long run, yet there is nothing we can do about it, as there is no alternative: or actually, the only alternative is Nazism, and we don't want that, do we?" One will most surely be denounced as a "racist, fascist, xenophobe," and so on, and that must be contended with. Yet it is my belief that deep down, the common people know that a major shift towards nativism is right and necessary. One has to denounce hatred: it has to be widely understood that multiculturalism is not just bad for us, but even more for the uprooted, alienated migrants.
For the time being, words have to be used as a tool of our mythos: words have to prepare the metapolitical landscape for what will have to be done later. We are still in the stage of a cultural war. Some may see me as contradicting myself, going back from deeds to words, yet even words of truth can be revolutionary. One has to adapt a Gramsciian tactic, being actively involved in practical life as a builder and an organizer, and being always persuasive and unapologetic for what one holds to be true. It may sound simple, but it will cause you a lot of problems and make you a target for hate and (oh, the irony!) prejudice. There is always something that can be done to effectively advance the message. There is always something one can do to become a better man. There is always something one can change so that the public will not view you as a monster. And getting serious in this endeavor will guarantee you a life of adventure and higher intensity, and that is as much creative heroism as the Kali Yuga has to offer.
  Julius Evola, Revolt Against the Modern World (Rochester, Vt.: Inner Traditions, 1995).


I've recently began playing Soul Silver again and I was wondering when I should save to get a Togepi with Serene Grace. Is it's ability determined when you receive the egg from Mr. Pokémon or Professor Elm's aid? So should I save before entering Mr. Pokémon's house or before exiting the gym?
When you receive the egg from Mr. Pokemon, it's not actually an egg - it's actually a Key Item, so that should have no effect on what kind of egg you receive in the future. You will actually receive the egg from Elm's aide, which is the point where you want to save. The egg's characteristics are determined once the egg is received.
Why won't I get any female Togepis?


Speaking at the third reading of the Tenant Fees Bill in the House of Lords today, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth outlined that following royal assent, the provisions of the Tenant Fees Bill will come into effect on the 1st June 2019 for all tenancies signed on or after the date.
The third and final reading comes after controversial amendments in the Bills Report Stage, which lowered the deposit cap from six weeks to five weeks for properties with an annual rent of less than £50,000. This will likely affect some tenants' ability to find a home, especially if they have pets or poor credit history.
In regard to contractual damages, Lord Bourne also provided further reassurance to the house, arguing there is plenty of case law in place that already deals with damages, and this will ensure that they are not used as a back door to default fees.
Local authorities will be able to retain the money raised through financial penalties with this money reserved for future local housing enforcement.
Payments arising from a default by the tenant such as replacing lost key.
After it leaves the Lords this evening, the Bill will return to the Commons, after which it will receive Royal Assent and become law.
A lead local authority will police and oversee the new measures will be announced next month, something which the NLA has repeatedly pressed for clarification on regarding enforcement.
The one week rent cap applies to holding deposits, it is security deposits that will be capped at five weeks rent.


This building at 600 West 58th Street stands 10 stories tall and spans almost 120,000 square feet, split between a sizable retail and community facility component, with apartments above. With over 12 affordable apartments and 53 market-rate units, it's going to be challenging to find something similar. This captivating building was designed by Studio V Architecture and developed by Durst Firm.


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The inspirational journey from tech start up to CMO of FTSE 250 company
Podcast, Tech, Top Podcasts, Uncategorised
How to discover your own entrepreneurial style, with Eric Holtzclaw
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Business unusual in a bat-shit crazy world.
Read our full story
The Leader's Leader: Kevin Murray's journey to the top
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What does it take to inspire leadership, spark curiosity and lead charismatically; regardless of role or situation? Kevin Murray has made it his life's mission to find out. As a globally recognised leadership coach and communications specialist, Kevin has year...
A Digital Empire By Age 23: Becoming A Social Influence Titan
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Imagine leading the UK's largest influencer marketing agency, employing a team of 50+ creatives, and being one of the most powerful influencers on social media - all by the age of 23. For Steve Bartlett, founder and CEO of Social Chain, that's an everyday real...
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Meet Aman Khurana, a seasoned digital expert and entrepreneur. Aman started his career as a technical consultant and founded his first business, Mind Action, in 2012. He is now the Co-Founder of GoInStore, a company disrupting online shopping and retail spaces...
Leaving UBS & Motivated by Family Health: London's High End Foodpreneur
Sink your teeth into one of Romeo's brownies and you would never guess that it's sugar-free, gluten free and dairy free. It's fudgy, chocolaty and perfectly moist, as all brownies should be. Romeo is the enthusiastic Founder of Romeo's Sugar-Free Bak...
5 Year Passion Project Led To Making World Famous Music Videos & Films
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Meet Corin Hardy, a multi-award winning filmmaker and director with an unmistakably dark, eccentric and cinematic style. Hardy has created music videos for global mainstream artists including Biffy Clyro, The Prodigy, Keane, Palo Nutini and Ed Sheeran. His mus...
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text:
CETV
Home»Blog»LEADERSHIP»Church Growth»Alternative facility options — spotlight on: happy campers!
Alternative facility options — spotlight on: happy campers!
church architecture, Church building, church building options, Church Construction, Church design, Church expansion, church facilities, church facility options, church metal buildings
March 1, 2016 at 10:18 am.
By Erin C. Townsend
For an 18,000-square-foot worship center for the new Oklahoma Assembly of God State Youth Camp in Sparks, OK, a metal building system made the most sense. Here's why.
Located in the h eart of Oklahoma — halfway between Tulsa and Oklahoma City, where many of the state's Assembly of God churches are situated — this new camp replaced the denomination's popular Turner Falls camp, which hosted thousands of young people more than 50 years.
At the center of the new camp was a brand-new worship center for more than 1,000 people.
A facility this large — which, given its unique environmental and site challenges, didn't lend itself to traditional construction — was no easy feat. After all factors were accounted for, a pre-engineered metal building from Memphis-based Varco Pruden fit the bill.
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For one thing, the new worship center needed to be a free-span structure — an open space with no columns. This was possible with a metal building because of the engineering and strength of the steel framing. Better yet, the space could be free-spanned without incurring the cost of conventional structural steel construction (namely, extensive drawing and engineering). Instead, metal building systems consist of framing, roof and wall systems as part of an integrated package — a single-source solution.
Second, the weather and site itself were forces to be reckoned with. The wetness of the winter and spring months, combined with the soft Oklahoma clay, proved challenging.
All things considered, a metal building made the most sense in the end. It features a rigid framing system, as well as an architectural roof system — for aesthetic appeal — and metal exterior wall system.
RPR™ Panel, Varco Pruden's reverse-rolled, Galvalume® wall panel system, was also employed; so was the Cool Leaf Green SLR II™ roofing with KXL™ finish and Classic Beige Panel Rib™ walls. Earth tones were selected to complement the surrounding landscape.
much more than "a big box"
Lest you think a metal building automatically means a "warehouse look" — with little opportunity for customization —take a look at the finished worship center project at the camp.
It features an inviting wrap-around porch with rough-sawn cedar veneers and stone arch entries to match the dining hall. A three-tiered gable entry roof and a 30-foot cross tower welcome worshipers. The "country-style church" fits in well with the scenery, thanks to its green metal roof and beige metal wall panels.
It looks good. But more important, the worship center does what it was intended to do: comfortably accommodate 1,000 campers, staff and adult volunteers.
This level of customization continues throughout the site. Built on a 410-acre parcel of land a few miles south of Chandler, OK, the camp's rolling acreage has woods, meadows and several ponds — including manmade 5- and 20-acre lakes. Campers and guests enjoy fishing, swimming, paddle boats and a "blob" water feature — a large, air-filled inflatable rubber tube floating on the water. Campers can jump on to the attraction from a 20-foot tower.
To "feed" these amenities, water was brought to the site from Chandler, channeled with a huge underground concrete water reservoir. A water treatment facility was constructed and installed, as were large septic ponds to treat waste water.
Campers enjoy six RV camp sites and primitive camping; five outdoor basketball courts; five sand volleyball courts; five "high-five football" courts; a 5,000-square-foot log cabin for executive sleepovers; and 16 modern cabins. Each cabin spans 6,000 square feet and features four large bunk rooms to accommodate 64 campers and staff — including private restrooms / showers — surrounding a central commons area.
To feed up to 1,000 campers, a 23,000-square-foot dining hall was built, complete with four commercial buffet-style serving lines and a full commercial kitchen, including 600-square-foot walk-in coolers and freezers.
And that's not all on the food front: The camp also boasts a 5,000-square-foot concession stand with an octagonal design. This eight-sided footprint allows for serving counters to be positioned around the core and for open seating to be situated around the perimeter.
It's worth noting that the concession stand wasn't originally intended to be a metal building. However, Oklahoma is prone to tornadoes, and the structure's original plan, which called for a wood, octagon-shaped roof — supported by wood columns and beams — would be prone to damage in inclement weather. To ensure safety and stability, contractors changed the structure to a steel building during the construction process.
For continuity and safety, the roof contours and elevations were carried through the other buildings on the site.
For ultimate comfort, all the new buildings on the camp site are air-conditioned. This is an especially welcome upgrade in the summer, when temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees.
The Oklahoma Assembly of God State Youth Camp is a sprawling, impressive setup. By any camp's standards, it's top-of-the-line.
What makes it a destination for the denomination, however, is the worship center. It's the heart of the project. By thinking outside the box — and considering a non-traditional building option — this critical space is everything the owners wanted, and more.
Owner: Oklahoma District Council of the Assemblies of God (Oklahoma City, OK)
Builder: Daniels and Daniels Construction Inc. (Broken Arrow, OK)
Architect: Crafton, Tull and Associates Inc. (Tulsa, OK)
Pre-engineered metal building: Varco Pruden Buildings (Memphis, TN)
Erin C. Townsend is public relations coordinator for Memphis-based Varco Pruden Buildings, a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. Varco Pruden markets its products through a network of more than 1,000 authorized builders within the United States and Canada.
Tags: church architecture, Church building, church building options, Church Construction, Church design, Church expansion, church facilities, church facility options, church metal buildings
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text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace _08.MostFrequentNumber
{
    class MostFrequentNumber
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            int[] arr = Console.ReadLine()
                .Split(new char[] { ' ' }, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
                .Select(int.Parse)
                .ToArray();

            int count = 0;
            int bestCount = 0;
            int bestNum = 0;
            for (int i = 0; i < arr.Length; i++)
            {
                count = 0;
                for (int j = 0; j < arr.Length; j++)
                {
                    if (arr[i] == arr[j])
                    {
                        count++;
                    }
                }
                if (count > bestCount)
                {
                    bestCount = count;
                    bestNum = arr[i];
                }
            }
            Console.WriteLine(bestNum);
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I wouldn't call myself a reader. I read, but not nearly as much as my wife or my boys or several of my friends. They're readers. I may finish 10-15 books each year. Kristi finishes over 100.
I'm fine with non-fiction books about manhood. Resources from John Eldridge, including Wild at Heart, are priceless.
However, I always prefer fiction over fact. For me, there's simply more truth in good fiction (let that sit a while). I don't watch bad movies for the same reason I don't read poor literature. So the fiction needs to be good. Don't give me heavy-handed lessons on marriage or manhood or life in general. The few minutes of Luke and Yoda in Star Wars: The Last Jedi are enough to carry me for months. It's the same with the Old Man.
Ego, and self-preservation are not the keys to Life.
The Old Man and the Sea is not a new book but the lessons are timeless. The Old Man…I want to be him when I grow up. I also want to be Gandalf, Yoda and Dumbledore, but that's a different lesson. Or is it?
What do these characters have in common?
The Old Man is the focus of the story, but his relationship to the boy and to the sea and to his village – those are what we're to learn about the Man. It's much the same with Gandalf (barely in The Hobbit, and missing from much of The Lord of the Rings), Yoda (who appears for brief lessons of wisdom…or to do things no one else can do) and Dumbledore (definitely not a main character in the Harry Potter series). Each of these characters realizes one thing: they are not the only person in the world and people should not see them as the center of the universe. They're flawed and they know it. The stories do not revolve around them, but their influence is unmistakeable.
There's an obvious lack of male integrity and we live in a world of uninitiated men who gain and hold leadership positions. It's been this way for a while and we have obvious current leaders who are summarized by a lack of integrity despite whatever good or bad we may see in their work. One can accomplish many good or bad things but have no integrity, especially when lack of integrity seems to be a badge of honor, and the last thing I want to know on my deathbed is that I accomplished great things but lacked integrity in doing so. If I have to choose success or integrity I will take integrity, and you can write my epitaph that I did nothing else.
Lack of leadership integrity has led others in my daily life to assume this is normal, desired and valuable way to live as men. Men set up behind the scenes, keeping records of wrongs, building alliances to fight battles for, they say, good and valuing the sin of gossip as a method to get things done. In the end they justify acting like jerks in the name of manhood or, worse, Jesus. It usually doesn't take long for someone to mention that Jesus never acted the jerk for a man in the room to mention how Jesus turned over tables. Other than a possible misinterpretation of his actions, there is one example of Jesus sort of losing his cool. Maybe. It's hardly something to solely base my interactions with others upon. Grace, as with the Old Man, is central to the life of Jesus. Without it, men are lost.
Read The Old Man and the Sea. Then, read it again next year. Spend a lifetime learning lessons of integrity and humility and perspective. Realize that you don't have it figured out, never will figure it all out, and aren't expected to figure it all out. Then say thanks to the Old Man.


text:
Q: Core Graphics Throws EXC_BAD_ACCESS Only On Real Device Good evening,
I'm just about finished with this new app that I made and I was doing some final tests on it before I submitted it to the app store, but something came up that really stumped me. For one of my view controllers I'm using a UITableView and so I implemented the
 -(UIView*) tableView:(UITableView*) tableView viewForHeaderInSection:(NSInteger) section

method of the UITableViewDelegate protocol so that I could provide my own custom view for the header. (Yes, I did also conformed to the UITableViewDataSource protocol and provided all necessary methods for it)
So I wrote my own UIView class and implemented the drawRect: method to draw my own custom view. When I run this in both the iPad 6.0 and iPhone 6.0 simulators, it runs perfectly fine.
However, when I plug up my own iOS device ( running iOS 6) it crashes and throws EXC_BAD_ACCESS.
I did some breakpoints and found out that when running the app on my real device, the code only gets executed up to here:
    // This code is the beginning of my drawRect method for my custom view
    CGContextRef context = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext();
    CGColorRef lightBlue = [UIColor colorWithRed:72.0/255.0
                                      green:121.0/255.0
                                      blue:201.0/255.0 alpha:1].CGColor;

    CGColorRef cream = [UIColor colorWithRed:235.0/255.0
                            green:235.0/255.0
                            blue:235.0/255.0 alpha:1].CGColor;
    CGContextSetFillColorWithColor(context,cream);
    CGContextFillRect(context, _paperBox);
     // the _paperBox variable was defined earlier as CGRect _paperBox
     // the _paperBox variable was given a value in the -(void)layoutSubviews method

    CGColorRef shadow = [UIColor colorWithWhite:.5 alpha:.5].CGColor;
    CGContextSetShadowWithColor(context, CGSizeMake(0,3), 2, shadow);
    CGContextSetFillColorWithColor(context, lightBlue);

    // and later on I setup some code to draw a linear gradient:

    NSArray colors = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:(__bridge id) lightBlue,
                                                 (__bridge id) cream,
                                                 nil];

The EXC_BAD_ACCESS happens right at that last line. Why does this only happen when running on a real iOS device and not on the simulators?
Thanks,

A: I found out the answer to my question, hopefully anyone else reading this that was having the same troubles will find this response helpful. Due to the release of ARC and the new __bridge modifiers, my old casts to:
    (__bridge id)

on each CGColorRef weren't technically "correct" with the new ARC terms, and I'm not too familiar with the new __bridge concepts so what I did that fixed it was not to make a CGColorRef for each UIColor, but instead cast the CGColor property of each UIColor to id in the array like so:
    NSArray* array = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:
    (id)[UIColor whiteColor]CGColor],
    (id)[[UIColor colorWithRed:235.0/255.0
    green:235.0/255.0 blue:235.0/255.0]CGColor],nil];

This seemed to do the trick for me. However, I do recommend for everyone who isn't already familiar with the new __bridge modifiers to learn them when using ARC ( including myself).
Thanks everyone!


text:
Vinyl Fantasy VII - FFVII/Hip-Hop Mashup Album
Xin 2010-02-01, 05:26 am.
It's boring out there. No SQEX news at all. So in our boredom, we gaze the blogosphere. And what do we find but something that's no less than amazing.
Vinyl Fantasy VII, a mashup of various Hip-Hop artists and the Original Soundtrack to Final Fantasy VII, is brought to you by the talent over at Team Teamwork. Even if you're not traditionally a fan, you should give this a listen.
The remixes of the oh so familiar FF tracks and the surprisingly game-relevant lyrics from the various artists make for a fun little listen.
Tracklist + Download 01. Kool Keith + Tom Waits - Spacious Thoughts (The Prelude) 04:07 02. Jay-Z - Lucifer (Mako Reactor) 03:17 03. M.O.P. - Ante Up (Battle!) 03:42 04. MF DOOM - Air (Barrett's Theme) 02:35 05. Outkast + Raekwon - Royal Flush (Sailing from Junon) 03:34 06. Skyzoo + Wale - Lyrically Inclined (Jenova) 03:18 07. Gucci Mane - Stoopid (Costa Del Sol) 04:10
08. Clipse - Fast Life (Sephiroth's Reunion) 03:52 09. Dorrough - Ice Cream Paintjob (Gold Saucer) 04:07 10. Murs - Me and this Jawn (Mideel) 03:02 11. Slum Village - Get Dis Money (One-Winged Angel) 03:11
12. Ghostface Killah - Save Me Dear (City of the Ancients) 02:34
Luckily, it's a pay what you want (read as: free) download, so anybody who wants to give it a listen can. And why wouldn't you? Stop being so boring~
MickeyD 2010-02-01, 06:36 am
Thanks for letting us know Xin! I've been a fan of Team Teamworks previous works, mainly in regards to "The Ocarina of Rhyme" tracks. I'll have to give it a listen!
darklordmagus 2010-02-02, 15:09 pm
can't wait to put this on here at work =)
so far the ffvii cd aint too bad, i also got the ocarina of rhyme so ima listen to that after =)
Xin 2010-02-02, 20:15 pm
Tracks 2, 8, 9 and 12 are my standouts personally.
J!nchu 2010-02-26, 18:07 pm
It's not working, the page says nothing is there. HELP. I really want these.
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Title Final Fantasy VII
Platforms PS1 PSN PC
Final Fantasy VII Remake Will Be Episodic
Square Enix has announced that the Final Fantasy VII remake will be "told across a multi-part series, with each entry providing its own unique experience". Yoshinori Kitase said that they from the beginning considered it impossible to remake Final Fantasy VII into one single game and that they are unable to give any more details about the splitting at the...
Final Fantasy VII Remake Gameplay Premiere
Square Enix announced the Final Fantasy VII Remake a few months ago during Sony's E3 press conference. Today they showed off the first gameplay at the PlayStation Experience keynote. Oh and the PC port of Final Fantasy VII that they trolled us with last year is available on the PlayStation 4 today!
Final Fantasy VII Arrives on iOS
The iOS port of the PC port of Final Fantasy VII has begun its debut on the iOS App Store. Primed for iPad and iPhone, this edition is very much the same as previous PC releases in the last few months. While the game has yet to hit the North American iOS App Store it has already launched on the...


My research focuses on advancing the understanding of how psychosocial and behavioral factors influence utilization and outcomes of cancer prevention and early detection services, particularly among high-risk populations. My current activities involve the investigation of psychosocial issues related to the utilization and outcomes of genetic counseling and testing for several hereditary cancer syndromes, including hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC), familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and familial melanoma. Primary research interests also include utilization of cancer genetic counseling and testing in minority populations, and cancer screening and early detection behaviors in high-risk populations.
Depending on the student's interests, a tutorial with my research group would offer experience in developing and conducting behavioral science research studies involving patients and families at risk for inherited cancers.


Ever wish you could multiply your gift to Columbia Gorge Habitat for Humanity? Here is a way—employer matching contributions. Thousands of companies have Matching Gift programs which double, or even triple individual, tax-deductible contributions made by their employees. Check with your employer to determine if they offer a matching gifts program.
Planned gifts may qualify for significant tax deductions. Giving options include bequests, life insurance, charitable IRA rollowvers, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts. Please contact us to find out how you can financially benefit Columbia Gorge Habitat for Humanity and provide a lasting legacy. It could even be as easy as adding this wording to your will: "I, [name], of [city, state, zip], give, devise and bequeath to Columbia Gorge Habitat for Humanity, tax ID #93-1102851 [written amount or percentage of the estate] for its unrestricted use and purpose." Contact our office at columbiagorgehfh@gmail.com or call 541-296-8817. Our federal tax ID number is 93-1102851.
A charitable gift of stocks or bonds provides an opportunity for tax savings while generously sharing with others. A gift of stock owned for more than one year entitles you to a charitable deduction for the full market value at the time the gift is made. If the stock has appreciated, you also avoid a capital gains tax on the appreciation. In addition to helping Columbia Gorge Habitat, you may diversify away from low-basis, long-term holdings into other assets that will better suit your current needs.


text:
New Record for the World's Largest TV
Posted: January 8, 2008/Under: Eletronics & Gadgets/By: SY Tan
How big is the world's largest TV? Both Samsung and LG introduced their 102 inch TV and made the record books in 2006. Subsequently Panasonic brought in its 103-inch plasma TV in early 2007 and broke the record. However, the record made by Panasonic didn't stay long. Sharp unveiled its 108-inch LCD TV in the 2007 International Consumer Electronic Show (CES) at Las Vegas. Now, a new record made again by Panasonic. The Japanese electronics conglomerate Matsushita Electric Industrial Co introduced its flat panel 150-inch plasma TV at the Consumer Electronics Show CES in Las Vegas, January 7, 2008. This is a new record in TV industry.
This 150-inch plasma TV boasts four times better resolution than full high-definition 1080p picture quality and offers a screen the size of nine 50-inch plasma televisions. This new TV will only be available in the market in 2009 at an undisclosed price. Get hold of this 150-inch plasma TV in 2009 to enjoy your favourite movies!
The World Largest's TV