Do you want to be a North Florida Hurricanes?
What to expect at tryouts: Player trying out will attend practice with our exsisting team. This will give the player trying out and their parents a chance to meet the team and parents. Please bring all of your gear to practice/tryouts: bat, glove, helmet and catcher's gear if needed. Cleats will be worn if the tryout is at the field and sneakers will be worn if tryout is at the North Florida Baseball Academy. Baseball pants or shorts are fine, dress for weather condition.


Alexander Hollenberg is a Professor of Storytelling and Narrativity in the School of Humanities and Creativity. He earned his PhD in English Literature from the University of Toronto, where he held a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship, and his BA (First Class Honours) from Dalhousie University. His teaching and research interests are diverse but include American modernist fiction, hermeneutic ethics, and narrative medicine. He is currently working on two full-length book projects: American Modernist Simplicity and Doctored Discourse: Modernism and Narrative Medicine.
"Recalcitrant Simplicity: Thin Characters and Thick Narration in A Farewell to Arms" Narrative 20.3 (2012): 301-321.
"The Spacious Foreground: Interpreting Simplicity and Ecocritical Ethics in The Old Man and The Sea." The Hemingway Review 31.2 (2012): 27-45.
"Speaking With the Separatists: Craig Womack and the Relevance of Literary History." Studies in American Indian Literatures 21.1 (2009): 1-17.
"The Violence of Story: Teaching In Our Time and Narrative Rhetoric." Teaching War, Teaching Hemingway. Kent State UP. Forthcoming, 2014.
"Smooth Structures: Materiality, Indigenous Exchange, and Narrative Form in Willa Cather's Death Comes for the Archbishop." Style. Forthcoming, 2013.


81642A-keysight Agilent HP 81642A Tunable Laser Source-Equipland Inc.
The Agilent 81642A tunable laser covers the C- and L- Band. It is optimized for testing optical amplifiers at high stimulus power, and passive components.


Watching a documentary on North Korea. I have to be honest I should educate myself more on other countries and issues that effect world events. Pretty pathetic life many of the citizens of North Korea live.
Well – Boehner won his third term as Speaker of the House. Pathetic. Even more so is those that voted against him were punished by Boehner for doing so. Maybe I would do the same? I would hope I would hear the messages being sent and react accordingly. If the Republicans do not do the work they were elected to do there is little chance of a Republican President in 2016.
The rain here in the South has finally stopped….and now the frigid cold comes rolling in. I wish it would snow…..footage!
Looking for an ammunition supplier? I just discovered AmmoToGo.com. Check them out. Just received 800 rounds of XM193 5.56mm from them. Great prices.
Did you see Boehner kiss Pelosi? He should have thunked her with the big gavel.
A little off subject, but I found .22lr at Rural King: 500 rounds for $24.99, and 6 box limit. That's a much better price and limit than what we've been used to where I live. Maybe production is catching up some.


For more than 29 years, Service Industry News has served as the voice of the pool and spa service professional. A twice monthly newspaper, the staff covers featured stories on equipment installation, trouble-shooting and repair; water chemistry and business issues facing the industry; and news pertaining to the interests of the pool and spa technician.
In addition to the newspaper, we have produced three technical books used throughout the industry as training and reference guides. The Professional Pool Technicians' Guide to Chlorine, Guide to Alternative Sanitizers and the Guide to pH, Alkalinity, Water Testing and Water Balance are compiled from articles that originally appeared in our newspaper.
We've also updated and republished an industry classic on pool care, Charlie Taylor's Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Pool Care. This light, easy-to understand and illustrated book has long been a part of any complete library on pool care. Now, it's also available in Spanish!
Call 949-916-0292 to order a subscription or purchase any of our products.
It's a dangerous job, but someone's got to do it.
Anyone who provides pool service, repair or maintenance must be aware and prepared for the hazards that are inherent to the profession. Not only does the job require physical labor, with all of such work's potential injuries, but it also involves working with dangerous chemicals and electrical risks.
It is a profession in which workers must always be on the lookout for danger, and safety must be a habit at all times. Safety practices keep good workers on the job, where they and their customers benefit most. The first step to working safely in any industry is to think about potential hazards: anything that must be lifted, or could be dropped, anything that can cut or burn, anything that can conduct heat or electricity, or anything toxic, are all hazards that should be considered.
But in addition to monitoring their own health and safety risks, service professionals also play a big role in promoting safety awareness for their customers. Even though they might handle all chemical treatments, technicians are still instructed to inform their customers about any chemical hazards and safe handling and storage practices. And though they may be paid only to service pool water and equipment, as responsible adults in people's backyards every day, they are in a great position to serve their communities.
Because they are industry professionals, service technicians have much greater access to pool safety best practices as well as current laws and regulations. For many service professionals, their customers are like extended family, and part of the reason they can take pride in their work is in helping to ensure the safety of those families. That means informing customers when a gate latch is broken; if a pool cover is unsafe; if an electrical system is out of compliance; if a heater is poorly vented; or if a drain cover poses an entrapment risk.
Safety Hand-out in next month's May 15 issue, in time for the National Drowning Prevention month. In this issue of Service Industry News, we provide articles about both worker and bather safety.
Paid subscribers have full access to all Service Industry News content. Read the entire story — and every feature and news story affecting our industry — by ordering your subscription today online. Become a subscriber by following this link. Or, contact our circulation department at 949-916-0292 or email serviceindustrynewscd@yahoo.com for details.
How do you service your surface?


The default range setting in Y by X graphs is to show the full range of the data independently in x and y. This is fine, but I have a special condition where I an plotting some residual errors in the x and y direction and I would like the graphs to have the same range in both x and y. The effect I am trying to achieve is that if the errors are normally distributed in each direction then the residuals so show up in a circular pattern. If they are worse in either X or Y a ellipse should be seen. Of course there are outliers in each direction and the axis range is being set by them.
What is the easiest way to script the axis to take the full range of the worse direction? Something akin to uniform scaling in histogram plots.
The two scales match, 50 to 70 on the v-axis is a little shorter than 50 to 75 on the h-axis.
Craige's answer is probably the easiest. We often need a square version of the graph with the axes spanning the entire range. One way to do that is to determine the min and max values and set both axes to the same values.
I sometimes add a 45-degree line to this graph to indicate X=Y. This graph is useful if X and Y represent the same property or characteristic (not height and weight). If X and Y represented values of the same characteristic measured by measurement devices X and Y, this graph would tell us that there is a problem between the two measurement devices.
Your solution is the more desired. I would suggest that this be a feature request to be settable like isometric.


Is it Too Late to Set Goals for 2016?
How have the first two months of 2016 been for you and your business? Some of you may feel as if it's been half a lifetime since Christmas, while others may feel that the year has barely got going.
Whatever your January and February have looked like, the end of the month is a natural time to take a step back and reflect on how far you've come. The best way to do this is usually to look back at your goals and targets and measure your progress against them.
But what if you don't have any goals in place?
Many business owners use the start of a new year as an opportunity to set goals and targets for the twelve months ahead. However, the start of a new year can often be a manic time! You may have been too occupied with post-festive tasks and the end of the school holidays to have had a chance to sit down and think about the big picture for your business.
Equally, you may have gone the other way. It's easy to get swept up in the 'New Year, New You' mentality on January 1st and make impulsive goals that aren't truly consistent with your long term ambitions.
If you've found yourself in either situation, don't worry. It's certainly not too late to set goals for 2016, or even to change the ones you set originally.
Here's the good news: there are no rules about when you can set goals! There are certain points in the year when there is more of a cultural expectation to set goals, such as new year or the start of the academic year, but these times won't work for everyone.
Goal and target setting is a very personal process. For best results I'd always recommend finding a target setting schedule that works for you.
If annual goal setting makes sense for you, why not pick a date to do it that has personal significance? This could be the anniversary of the date you started your business, the end of your industry's particular 'busy season' or perhaps even your birthday. You may find that choosing a date away from traditional resolution periods gives you more headspace to make wiser choices.
A year is a very long time! Some business owners find that it's too long to focus on just one big goal. It may work better for you to set quarterly or monthly targets. These are likely to be smaller, more achievable goals that will enable you to see real progress.
We all have different strengths. Setting and sticking to SMART targets might not be yours. If this is the case, it doesn't have to be a problem. There are a wide range of professionals who are qualified to support you through this process. Regular sessions with a business coach could have two benefits in this sense: they could help you to make wise decisions about goal setting and provide a built in accountability factor.
Will you be taking time over the coming weeks to re-evaluate current goals or set new ones? If so, you may find it helpful to take a look at some of my previous blog posts on goal setting.
Have you ever heard what Thomas Edison said after years of work trying to get lightbulb prototype after lightbulb prototype to work?
Isn't that a great way to think about failure? By considering each wrong step as a kind of progress, Edison was able to keep moving forward with his efforts. And, of course, it all paid off: he did eventually patent the first commercial lightbulb in 1879.
When you get something wrong, it can be very tempting to just give up on it. This is especially true in business when we often have to put ourselves far out of our comfort zone in order to grow. Perhaps you've tried a new marketing campaign and got very little response, or maybe you launched a new service with great fanfare only to find that no one wants to book it.
Experiences like these can be really demoralising. I know because, like all business owners, I've had similar experiences myself. But before you give up, consider this: what if Thomas Edison had given up just one lightbulb prototype earlier? He would never have found the one that worked and would therefore never have been able to enjoy the results of all his hard work leading up to that point.
The best way to deal with failure is to change your mindset. This is where tools such as NLP techniques can be really helpful for business owners! If you could reframe your thinking to consider each so-called failure as a learning experience, how would that change the way you worked?
Simply changing your attitude to failure could have a huge impact on how you feel about trying new things and putting yourself out there. It could help you to embrace the idea of beneficial experimentation and give you the confidence to try new things with your business that you've been wary of in the past.
After all, every time we try something new and it doesn't have the result we'd hoped: we've learnt something. Each one of those lessons is incredibly valuable as we can put what we've learnt into practice next time we try. For example, that new marketing campaign that didn't get results? Next time you can try something different because you know that particular technique didn't help you reach the right people. And that new service that didn't get enough bookings? Consider it an opportunity to learn about what doesn't resonate with your customer base in order to move closer to something that does.
How do you approach failure as a business owner? I'd love to hear about the ways you've turned a negative experience into a learning opportunity. Why not share your stories on the Green Shoots Coaching Facebook page?
These days many of us business owners are communicating with our audience more than ever before. A lot of us write blog posts, send out regular newsletters, tweet, send Facebook updates and publish LinkedIn articles all as part of our regular marketing activity.
All these communication methods are effective and I speak to many clients who've had great success doing these things. However, I do think there's a risk of getting so caught up in these digital conversational opportunities that we forget the value of direct two-way communication.
Let me ask you a question: when was the last time you picked up the phone to talk to a client? Many of us have become much more comfortable communicating from behind our computer screens and have forgotten the benefits of a quick phone conversation. Phone calls are more personal, often quicker for sorting out details and offer much more opportunity for 'reading' the person you're talking to.
In fact, it's not just phone calls that many of us are forgetting the value of. Business owners invest so much time sending out content to mailing lists, blog followers and Facebook fans that we sometimes miss out on the benefits of pro-active direct communications. A quick personalised email to a previous client – just to check in – could result in a new opportunity. This type of direct two-way conversation often reminds previous clients how much they have valued your work in the past and may inspire them to commission you again now or to recommend you to a contact.
I was reminded of how beneficial direct communication can be just before Christmas when I got in touch with a client I hadn't heard from in a while. I'd thought of them earlier that week and wondered how they were getting on in their business, so when I had a spare fifteen minutes between appointments I decided to pick up the phone and catch up with them. It turned out to be a very serendipitous phone call: the client had just come up against a challenge she wasn't sure how to deal with and my call prompted her to book a coaching session.
Of course, none of this is to say there's anything wrong with social media communication. I think it's brilliant, and the results often speak for themselves. My point here is that simple direct communications can also have huge value – especially when it comes to keeping in touch with clients you've worked with in the past.
Oh, and a final reminder… two way communication does work two ways. If you're lucky enough to receive a direct communication from a client or potential client: make sure you remember to reply!
Are You Being Eaten Up by Your Business?
Running a small business is not for everyone. A small or micro business can offer a huge range of benefits and opportunities… but also comes with more than its fair share of challenges! I come across many of these challenges again and again, both in my own business and those of my coaching clients. One of the most difficult to address is the question of where the business owner ends and the business begins.
Have you come across this issue? It can be particularly tricky for service-related businesses. After all, when you are the product how can you maintain separation between you the individual and you the business?
It can be uncomfortable to feel that your business is taking over your life. This is true even if you are very happy with your business and absolutely love what you do! It's important to take pride in your work and business, but when things get out of balance it can start to cause problems.
After all, no matter how much you enjoy running your business or how successful it is, we all need to take regular time for ourselves. Becoming one and the same with your business twenty four hours a day, seven days a week is unlikely to be a healthy choice in the long run.
Want to make sure you don't get trapped in a situation like this? Here are some little ideas from me for how to make sure you get breathing space and retain your identity even when you're running what feels like an all-encompassing business.
Most business owners find it difficult to mentally 'leave' their business at the end of the working day. There's always more to be done and it's easy to fall into the habit of working all evening and all weekend. It's probably unrealistic to tell yourself that you'll stop doing this completely… but what you can do is set yourself small pockets of protected time off. This could mean making a promise to never work after 9.30 in the evening, or blocking off weekend mornings to spend with family or get out into the fresh air.
Investing the time to learn a new skill can be incredibly rewarding. Doing this when the new skill is purely recreational is even better! If there's a hobby you've always been interested in, why not make this the year you give it a go? Learning a musical instrument, taking up a new craft or joining a sports group can all be excellent ways to make space in your life for something that's just for you.
It's difficult to maintain separation between you and your business when everything falls on your shoulders. Bringing in outside help can be an excellent way to remind yourself of this distinction. Don't worry: expanding your team doesn't have to mean taking on a member of staff. Engaging the services of a virtual assistant or freelance professional for just a few hours a week could reduce pressure and act as a helpful reminder.
How do you avoid getting eaten up by your business? I'd love to hear your tips and strategies. Why not share them with me by commenting on this blog post?


text:
Riding On Dreams
The Story Of A Rockband
The story of Scarlet begins back in 1984. Guitarist Terry Henderson records three demo songs with the ex-Love Affair-, ex-Widowmaker singer Steve Ellis. Bass and percussion are played by studio musicians. The demo goes to different record companies. Some smaller labels which have bands mainly from the NWoBHM under contract, show interest.
But one problem is that it seems to look like only a project, because there is no steady band or singer. Due to contractual reasons Steve Ellis can neither be engaged for the band, nor for a record contract.
Nevertheless, new songs are still requested and have to be recorded, and because Terry Henderson is the sole initiator behind the project, he`s the one who must first come up with the funding for further studio recordings. Once more with Steve Ellis' help, they work on new pieces at his home in Brighton, songs are sung in by him later. As a cost saving measure, Terry Henderson decides this time not to engage professional studio musicians. "It was a disaster", laughing about it today, "someone recommended two Heavy Metal musicians. But they had never really heard of the fact that bass and percussion should play together, or to be more exact, they didn`t know what makes a good rhythm section."
The recordings of 1985 are sound-wise, technically in order, but due to the imprecise playing of the rhythm section, they tend to sound rather powerless and unprofessional. With some of the songs and two of the first demo, the search was on for a record company. In 1986 a contract gets landed with a German label and Terry Henderson in London places an announcement in Melody Maker looking for musicians for a steady band.
"It was quite unbelievable that I had Steve Ellis for the demos. Widowmaker's first album was always one of my favorite records. But it was amazing to see who responded to the announcement. John McCoy of Ian Gillan was amongst them. As an old Gillan fan, I would have had him of course with pleasure as bassist."
Among the drummers is Andy Beirne (ex-Dirty Tricks, ex-Grand Prix). "Grand Prix never was really my thing, but I liked Dirty Tricks. I already knew their singer, Kenny Stewart and likewise Terry Horbury, but I had never met Andy before."
(Dirty Tricks, i.e. Andy Beirne (dr), Terry Horbury (b) and John Fraser Binnie (g), had been the first line-up for Ozzy Osbourne´s new band Blizzard of Oz, before he returned to Black Sabbath).
"I visited Andy at his band rehearsal room in London. He listened to the demos and accepted, but insisted however, that I should take on Martin Connolly, the bass player in his band. He explained that they got on great and could play really well together. In the meantime, it was clear to me that a well tight rhythm section is only half the story. That`s why I had to put off John McCoy, unfortunately, but looking back, it was the right decision."
(Martin Connolly had played with Rick Wakeman, Van Morrison, Nicko McBrain's Drumclinic, Cheetah, as well as in a fun band with Nicko McBrain and Adrian Smith – both from Iron Maiden).
But the search for a singer turns out to be a problem:
"I could put ninety percent of the tapes I got through the announcement to one side right away. The remaining singers who I met personally didn`t turn out to be really suitable either. Nevertheless, I could still persuade Steve and his manager to join in at least on the recording. And that`s how we came to the arrangement that we were allowed to feature him as a "special guest" and not as a steady band member, which likewise, didn`t amuse my label very much."
In January 1987 the band comes to Germany and moves in to an old house with 13 rooms of which 6 are halfways furnished. A rehearsal room is rented in the neighborhood. Two weeks of rehearsing and one week in the studio are planned.
"That winter was so cold that we couldn`t use the rehearsal room. Even the beer bottles in the room turned to ice, froze and burst!"
Without the consent of the landlord and not in line with the original arrangement, a provisionally-furnished rehearsal space is quickly constructed in the basement of the house with a soundproofed window so that neighbours are not disturbed.
"The landlord lived right next door and I had to persuade him that there was no other option left but to rehearse in the house. But he wanted us to agree to an all-inclusive extra cost for heating and electricity. And then the heating didn`t run properly because of a blocked pipe and cold heating oil that wasn`t too fluid! This and the danger also that the water pipes and radiators could freeze, we had to pump fuel directly out of the tanks every hour and pour it by hand into the burner. This caused further tension with the landlord, and it got worse later too when he learned that his daughter was always hanging out with us."
Finally, after two weeks of chaos and stress, the appointment in the studio becomes very real. On the first day, after a sound check and dinner, Terry Henderson and Andy Beirne decide to have a race outside. Beirne slips and falls on the icy street so hard that fears arise that recordings might have to be postponed for weeks.
"He was bruised and grazed but above all, he was so badly injured that it was virtually impossible to go on. However, he insisted we get hold of some cold spray and try it. It was then that we recorded "Those Days Are Gone", the track which was the most difficult for him because we had to assume that the bruises would get worse in the days ahead."
But the real problem just begins! The record company has hired, without announcement, a producer who is introduced in the beginning merely as a sound engineer. After recording the basic tracks, he explains to the label that everything sounds "old-fashioned", and insists on a more commercial direction with a lot of keyboard sounds – quote ´Bon Jovi´. "That was exactly the sound and music I really hated and wanted to stand up against!"
After a few days, the overdub recordings are broken off and put on ice for a few weeks. "The label stated that it was only willing to continue if I engaged our own sound engineer and at my own expense."
Hardy Heinlin, later Henderson`s partner is soon to get the role. However, they are only allowed in the studio between 11 o'clock at night and 6 o'clock in the morning because other bands occupy the facilities during the day. The manual mixing desk must be set every night to "Scarlet Sound" and in the morning again to the other settings just as they had been left in each case. Thus, recording the guitars and mixing the LP takes months. Any reasonable collaboration between label and band can no longer be hoped for.
"The next problem was the cover. I didn`t want a cheap, stereotyped fantasy drawing, but a real, photographed artwork. I had it specially made by a goldsmith who produced customized jewellery for bikers` clubs in Germany."
Finally, after a long to and fro, the LP with the title "Red Alert" appears in 1988. The label wants to sell the whole production including contracts to another record company. "Musicians from England and Germany had strongly warned me about those guys. I ended up buying the first release and I bought us out of the contracts too."
During their collaboration in 1987/88, Terry Henderson and Hardy Heinlin decided to build their own recording studio. This new venture takes up their entire focus and "Red Alert" lies once more on ice. At this time, Martin Connolly approaches Black Sabbath and works with them in rehearsal sessions and on the pre-production of "Headless Cross". He is out of it again before the actual real recordings are made.
Then in 1989 things take a surprising turn:
"Through my mates in Saint Vitus, especially Wino, I got in contact with Hellhound Records. We met backstage somewhere in Switzerland. They wanted to bring out "Red Alert", but only on the condition that we mix the record new. My only thought was ´Thank God´, because this would sure have been one of our conditions too!"
In their own, now finished, Marquee Studios, "Red Alert" is freshly mixed and appears as LP and CD on Hellhound Records, distributed by SPV.
"Manfred Schütz, the founder and head of SPV at that time, asked me to meet him at a hotel in Munich. A great guy! He totally understood our music and said to me, I should get out of Hellhound and come directly to SPV. For years we had no label and now, so to speak, we had more than we needed."
In Summer 1990, Henderson and Schütz meet in Hannover at SPV to negotiate a new record contract. It is intended that it should include three LP/CD productions. For Terry Henderson, there are unexpectedly high sums under discussion. The issue of the singer and the timetable stucture are likewise part of the negotiations.
"I pointed out to him that we firstly had to find a new singer, but he said that he trusted me fully in my choice and assured me that the contracts would be drawn up over the next weeks and he would send them on to be signed."
Terry Henderson flies to London to meet the singer Colin Peel, together with Andy Beirne and Martin Connolly (the ex-Cannes, ex-Outside Edge singer received one of the rare scholarships at the legendary theatrical school, ´Lee Strasberg Institute´ in London. He played alongside Roger Daltrey (The Who) and Chesney Hawks in the film "Buddy's Song". Later he went on to Praying Mantis).
They get on with each other straight away and want to begin with writing songs, rehearsing and recording in the studio that same year. SPV assure them again that it will all go as planned and that the contracts will be in the post in a few days. As a result, the flights and studio get booked from October to December. Henderson proceeds to Greece to rest and to work on the new songs.
On his return he is met full on with the anticlimax! The A+R boss of SPV´s sub-label which should bring out the band, gets really awkward. She feels in the conversations and agreements that she is being bowled over. When she hears that Scarlet have a new singer, she demands new demo recordings at the expense of the band so that she can make a clearer decision.
"I called a friend of mine who was working at this time with SPV. He explained to me that I was the victim of a private feud which was going on between Schütz and this woman, and through the Scarlet project, things had actually escalated and reached new dimensions, and that I should just better forget it. After earlier experiences, it was then clear to me that if things start off in such a way, we would be better off not to get mixed up in the whole affair."
In spite of high debts incurred from the first Scarlet production and the building of the studio, Terry Henderson sticks to the plan and pushes on with recordings.
His own Marquee studios, besides 4 recording studios, contain a large 3-roomed flat in the same complex where the musicians can be lodged. Recording takes place in one of the larger recording rooms.
"The original plan was that we rehearse and work 2 – 3 weeks on the new songs. Then there was the idea of working on an individual song and to record it straight afterwards. In addition, we had to double up with the equipment. That meant two drumkits, two guitar amps etc. If a song got to the point of feeling good, we went into the main recording rooms where everything was set up and ready for recording. Martin and me didn`t wear headphones because there was a really loud P.A. system standing in the main room which I had rented especially for the occassion. Only Andy in the drumroom had to play with headphones on. This way meant that we were getting the maximum ´live´ feeling."
In the course of the first six months, 1991, the production is mixed.
"Since we had to make some money with the studio we could only use it when there were no bookings. And there were many too!" There was also a growing number of contacts to Indie labels through bookings at Marquee Studios.
"Through collaborations with these labels I got to know the business side of the music industry much better and I was making a lot of new contacts. Besides, since the SPV thing, I had the American Robert Lyng as manager and advisor (author of "Musik und Moneten" (Music and Money) and "Die Praxis in Musikbusiness" (The Way of Music Business). He had also already drawn up contracts with my musicians and with me as their producer. What I learned after numerous private talks with him, and through our collaboration with the labels, was that my first notions of having my own label was a real possibility. However, I would have needed a lot of capital, a sizeable distribution network and also a music publisher."
A publishing company for Scarlet is soon found with L.M.P. Hamburg, but the founding of an own label is purely still only a thought, and tapes still get sent on to record companies. But this changes in 1992. The legendary US band Blue Cheer books the Marquee studios to mix their LP "Dining With The Sharks" which was recorded in England. As a result, Hardy Heinlin is engaged as a mixing desk expert in the coming tour with Blue Cheer, Mountain and The Outlaws and Terry Henderson lands the role as tour manager.
"On this tour, plans for founding an own label begin to take shape, because Dickie Peterson (Blue Cheer), Hughie Thomasson (The Outlaws) and Leslie West (Mountain) were really interested in my idea and wanted to come on the label."
After the European tour of April to May in 1992, the label is founded under the name "New Sceneland Records". Sales and distribution is taken on by the SPV competitor, Semaphore.
"Unfortunately, I couldn`t get Blue Cheer out of their old contract. Their label threatened me and Dickie Peterson with legal proceedings if we co-operated. We still met though over the years now and then finally, shortly before his death. "
Hughie Thomasson splits the Outlaws and goes to Lynyrd Skynyrd. "I met him with Skynyrd backstage too, but today he is also no longer among us."
The same goes for the ex-Outlaws and later Skynyrd bassist, Ean Evans.
Mountain's LPs from the 70`s, as well as new productions, turn out to be too expensive to be able to put them on a small newcomer label. The label releases, besides the Scarlet CD which appears at the end of 1992 under the title "Ship Of Fools", its own productions and takes on others for sales and distribution.
In 1992, the renowned London music scene photographer Ron Reid is hired for a 3-day-long promotional photo-shoot. Reid is known for his work with John Lennon and as the long-standing, house photographer of the London Marquee club.
"He was the one who turned me into a vegetarian in those 3 days, and I`ve stayed one ever since!"
Back in Germany at the end of 1992, the painstaking work with the label begins. In spite of strong support from Limb Schnoor (L.M.P. Hamburg) and good record reviews, a more or less professional job cannot be realised because of too little funding. On top of that, a studio move and new building are on the cards.
A glimmer of hope comes unexpectedly in June 1993, which looking back, turns out to be Scarlet`s last surge.
"Edel Records just wanted one of our songs "Ship Of Fools" for their "Best of Metal Hammer – The Ballads" volume. However, for me the song isn`t ´finished´. It is sound-technically ´overloaded´ and connected only with bad memories. I tried to persuade them to take "Sarah" instead, but they wanted "Ship", and who is going to say ´no´ to such a chance when they can feature with Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Gary Moore and more recent bands together on one album!"
Even though Terry Henderson calls the tour with the Outlaws, Blue Cheer and Mountain the best time of his life, the first doubts arise during the tour as to whether he is really cut out for the life of a musician.
At this time, Hardy Heinlin starts programming flight simulation software.
The building of the new studio, which takes one and a half years to complete, and devours gigantic sums of capital, is still kept on. A year after its opening, it gets shut down – it`s over. Heinlin and Henderson, after years of hassle and annoyance with managers, record companies, the everyday dealings with musicians and labels, clients to the studio, they find it hard to claim anything positive from the music business.
"When Hardy's flight simulation software commercially rocketed, he devoted himself to it completely. It was like a long-desired release to freedom. Unfortunately, with me it lasted one more year until I could let go. Then I teamed up with him."
The Marquee studios and Scarlet are a history. Terry Henderson devotes himself, as well as to the software company, to the art and crafts trade. But in one of his warehouses, the Revox mastering machine from the old studio days has still been standing there for 15 years.
"A few years ago, I unearthed the thing. It was coated with a thick layer of nicotine and I put in an old Scarlet-master tape. It almost knocked me out! For nearly 20 years now I`ve been accustomed to listening to only digital mixed CDs. In those days, we recorded the mix in parallel; purely digitally and purely analogue at the same time. These analogue tapes had considerably more dynamics and clearly also in the stereo picture, a wider sound, and all in all they were just pleasantly warmer. Because the Revox didn`t run well and made a few clunks and clicks here and there, we digitalized almost all tapes, but only however with 16-bit converters. Today there are of course quite different possibilities. Everything you hear here as a free download comes from this conversion process. Unfortunately, you can hear some of the noise. In "Sarah" a channel is distorted for a short time and then it clicks in at the final chorus. It was at that point that the dear machine packed in completely!"
Years pass in which Terry Henderson refrains from publishing on the internet. The old legal agreements and possible discussions with record companies and publishing companies, as well as the some of the fears raised by his former co-musicians could have something to do with preventing him from doing it.
Meanwhile he sees things with calm and composure: "These days you can get everything on YouTube and there are many sites, even somewhere far away in Russia, where you can download everything against payment. Nobody from the early days has reacted to it yet and I can be glad about that. But it makes more sense to me though, to have your own informative site, a good choice in songs, and with a better sound. And, above all, everything as a free download. The commercial side of music doesn`t interest me any more. What`s on my mind today can be read at www.vehonis.de. Perhaps there are some rock fans who want to support me with this project."
© 2015 Terry Henderson
Those Days Are Gone
Best Of Scarlet
Trackinformation

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: SQL: add a column that shows the total number of invalid ages I have a table that looks like this,

user_id
age

First
101

Second
22

Third
85

Fourth
111

Fifth
109

I just need to add another column that shows the total number of ages above 100. Something similar to below:

user_id
age
invalid

First
101
3

Second
22
3

Third
85
3

Fourth
111
3

Fifth
109
3

How can I do that?
Thank you!

A: select *, countif(age > 100) over() invalid
from `project.dataset.table`

if applied to sample data in your question - output is

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


fabian (with a small 'f') was less 'fabulous' than a fish in a frock.
That is to say, fabian thought that 'that' was the case.
Zelda (with a capital 'Z') begged to differ.
And… they were Siamese twins.
Not, as a rule, did they share the same thoughts, nor have the same outlook on their life (or lives).
fabian would rather read an exciting crime thriller in a quiet corner; whilst Zelda liked to be amongst friends and having a cheerful conversation, with half a dozen colleagues, about all things that there were under the sun.
This may have caused conflict amongst some couples; but, somehow, fabian and Zelda managed to make it work.
When, in their eighties, the unmarried fabian and the thrice engaged Zelda finally said 'goodbye!' to this cruel world (fabian first, Zelda two days later) it was the end of an era.
They outlived all of their childhood friends – mostly Zelda's – and it was with a quietly fond farewell that the world said its own adieu.
Buried together, they still lay within a relationship that few could even begin to comprehend.
left our cares within the bin.
or is that all in the mind?
lower, middle and scupper classes.
"D'oh!" Is not a phrase that I will ever use in my writing.
Though, as you can hear, or see, it doesn't work like that for me.
"D'oh!" Was used earlier. And then again, just then, when I repeated it for cosmic effect.
It must be just me.
as I know that there is only so much of this Double Dutch that you can take – even though there is so much more of it that I could make – and my 10-minutes is nearly up – although last week, I stopped about a minute and a half early as I had run out of things to waffle iron on about – well, I certainly won't be letting that happen again. Says I.
so it must have been one of the other types of letter.
Silly, I know, why would it have been a 'q'? It could quite easily have been a 'b' buzzing round.
C what I did there? Actually, 'I' did nothing – a big, fat 0 a which is a zero and not an 'O'. How could u have made that mistake? Perhaps your (or you're) parrot (it was 'your') distracted u with a mis-timed squawk?
Anyway, all these letters 'r' just 'a' means 2 an end – which is where we are at.
Solly was a lonely soul; being the last Sole in the sea. He swam around in the English Channel, a Dover Sole was he. He swam around other places , too – he believed in swimming diversity, ever since he was at school, and all through university.
He sought a like-minded Sole to be his soul-mate; but, he couldn't find a single Sole, Solly got into a state.
Swimming the seas from Britain to France, Dover to Calais, Solly sought a Sole called Sally; but she had fled, a tad too late, and ended up upon a ceramic plate with a slice of lemon upon her head – in one short word, Sally was dead. Sad face.
Solly didn't know this, he couldn't read; he hadn't learnt, didn't heed his mum's advice to learn the Classics, Plato, Dickens, Agatha Christie – where the plot thickens, like gravy or a Béchamel Sauce ladled upon a fish who is now a main course. Sad face with tear.
Solly swam up and down; with a happy face (not) that resembled* a frown (because it was) until he met Annette. Very Sad Face with Tears.
*10-minute timer went off here. Sad face.
The Bloggers' Bash After-Presentation Cool Down was to be held in the almost Olympic-size swimming-pool situated to the rear of the premises; seclusion – guaranteed; anonymity – optional; modesty – unlikely.
When we arrived there was already a seething sea of flesh-tones immersed in the beautiful briny.
"I may just drop into the deep end and immerse myself up to my chin!" I quipped, upon spying the '5' depth' indicator marked upon the side of the pool.
I never answered myself – a fault of mine that I would never outgrow.
"I'll give it a bash!" I pronounced bravely. "I mean, what could possibly go wrong?" I also never answered the rhetorical questions that I asked myself – it was one of my unspoken rules.
well, I hope to be out of hospital soon; with my wounds healed and my reputation intact – some hope.
I popped some "Art" in the cart, and headed for the checkout.
Brought my own bag? – yup!
15 items or less? -yup!
Each one is a carrot.
I pop 15 carrots into my bag.
Each one weighs approximately the same as my 15 pieces of "Art".
Not going to be traced by using plastic.
I am in disguise, too.
Nobody notices a white, middle-aged, well-dressed, politely-spoken nobody.
I pop my "Carrots" into the back of my 'invisible' van, and drive to the warehouse.
My "Art" is quickly offloaded and carefully packed in recyclable plastic and bubble-wrap. All 15 items (counted once more) are then placed inside a hollow suitcase (empty) and this is taken to a locker at Paddington Station. Placed inside the locker, the suitcase is left for over a hundred years without any disturbance. The key to the locker is posted (2nd class) to an address in Singapore that doesn't exist.
One hundred years later, Paddington Station is subject to an explosive device that blows the door off of a single locker. Not the one that the suitcase is in; but, for the look of things, all the lockers are removed to be melted down for the war effort – there wasn't a war, but it's best to be prepared.
The 15 "Carrots" are discovered by a labourer who was labouring under the misapprehension that he was not going to discover* a life-changing discovery.
The "Art" was returned to its owner – the State.
All in all – it had been a pointless exercise.
*is where my self-regulating 10-minutes ran out.
Do you think I have prompt-buddies on speed dial? Is there an assistant that I can turn to?
"Ask somebody what my prompt is, Mr Daniels!" Without please or thank you.
I might pop to a neighbours and ask them what my prompt is – but, the hard of hearing and the hard of understanding won't be much use to me in this dire emergency.
Hold a seance and ask the dead what my prompt is – mmmmm? Well, that may not work without a room full of gulls called Ibble. And the widgee board could be said to have been fixed. Knock once for 'my prompt is 'fire'!
And I only have ten minutes from when I set the 10-minute timer to do all of this!
I'm on a strict deadline here, folks!
I need a prompt, and I need it now – or yesterday would be even better.
Where is it – I'll check the post box, under the settee, behind the cooker… no, no, and a big fat NO!
That might work in some other,, less stringent, Universe – but not this one – Oh, no.
I shall just have to wing it and work on the basis that if I choose any old prompt there is a 1 in 50,000,009 chance of it being the one – it's probably a better chance than that, but if you put 50,000,009 on a calculator and turn it upside down you will find the word 'oooooo' – now isn't that interesting? Rhetorical! Question!
Oh, well, I shall have to admit the feet (de feet) and just await a proper prompt so that I can write a proper stream* of Consciousness Saturday piece.
*Is where my 10-minutes ended.


text:
U.S. Senate Confirms Secretary of the Interior
In Response to the Confirmation of U.S. Representative Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior
Statement from Sandra Marra, President & CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
"The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) celebrates the historic nature of Secretary-designate Haaland's appointment and confirmation to lead the Department of the Interior. As the first Native American ever to be confirmed head of a US Department, Secretary-designate Haaland not only brings years of experience serving the public and public lands throughout her life in New Mexico and Washington, D.C. She will also help incorporate the perspectives of indigenous people in public land management, which advances the reality that lands have both history and inherent value that must be respected. This perspective will enrich public lands management on a variety of issues, from recreational access to encroaching development to climate change. The ATC is committed to working with Secretary-designate Haaland on these issues and to promoting stewardship, recreational access, and the unique and valuable assets of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail."
Today the U.S. Senate voted to confirm U.S. Representative Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior. An enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo and a 35th generation New Mexican, Secretary-designate Haaland will be the first Native American Cabinet Secretary in the history of the United States. The Department of the Interior oversees much of the American public lands system as well as facilitates much of the government-to-government relationships with federally recognized tribal nations. Her historic appointment to lead the Department of the Interior will hopefully increase the respect for the obligations the U.S. government holds for public trust resources like the Appalachian National Scenic Trail as well as the obligations the United States holds towards American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities.
About the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The ATC was founded in 1925 by volunteers and federal officials working to build a continuous footpath along the Appalachian Mountains. A unit of the National Park System, the A.T. ranges from Maine to Georgia and is 2,193.1 miles in length. It is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. The mission of the ATC is to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. For more information, please visit www.appalachiantrail.org.
Media Contact: Jordan Bowman
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Banner photograph courtesy of Amelia Cary


text:
LIVE DRAW HK the many ways to win, the lottery is one of the oldest. The United States has more than 40 state-run lotteries, with the largest being Powerball. There are also multi-state lottery games, such as Tri-State Megabucks. These lottery games feature drawing games and instant win games.
The New Hampshire Lottery was the first official state-run lottery in the United States. Its games include Powerball and Mega Millions. Ticket prizes range from $1 to $200,000, with top winners winning anywhere from $10,000 to $300,000.
The Montana Lottery features in-house and multi-state draw games. Its revenues support the state's public schools, parks, wildlife habitats and other community causes. It is also a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association.
The Missouri Lottery started selling tickets in 1986, and now offers eight draw games. The Maine Lottery, meanwhile, has been around since 1974. Its local and multi-state draw games include the Powerball and the Mississippi Match 5.
The Iowa Lottery features a few local and multi-state draw games. The Pennsylvania Online Lottery offers nine draw games, including the Millionaire Raffle.
The Ohio Lottery is another popular state-run lottery. It includes the Cash 4 Life game, which has a multi-state draw format. Likewise, the Connecticut Lottery is another state-run lottery that benefits the public education system.
The Rhode Island Lottery was founded in 1974, and now offers online keno and instant win games. The proceeds of the lottery are used for law enforcement, tax relief, human services, state parks, and other causes.
Things You Should Know About Playing the Lottery Online
Whether you're new to the world of lottery or a seasoned player, there are several things you should know about this popular form of live draw hk prize. Generally, the odds of winning a jackpot are quite small, and most of the profits go to colleges, public schools, and other organizations. But a little bit of research can help you increase your chances of winning.
There are several popular lotteries in the United States. They offer great payouts, and many draw crowds for the opportunity to win a large prize. While the odds of winning are relatively small, a few lucky players have gone on to win millions of dollars.
Lotteries are typically run by a state, but a handful of states offer state-wide lottery games. Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico don't offer state-wide lottery games. But the US Virgin Islands and Washington D.C., each have state-wide lottery games.
Powerball is a $2 multi-jurisdictional American lottery game. It's available in more than 20 states, and the jackpot can grow with time. In addition to the Powerball, Florida Lottery also participates in Mega Millions and other multi-state games.
The New Hampshire Lottery started operations in 1964. It offers several draw games and features Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lotto America. The proceeds from these lotteries go to a variety of causes, including open space conservation, wildlife habitats, and state parks.
The New Jersey Lottery offers seven draw games. The proceeds from these lotteries go toward state pension systems and other education programs. Several local games are also offered. However, the state does not offer online Powerball or MegaMillions games.


text:
Seek Beauty
At 1000M, we seek a notion of beauty that rises above, and we celebrate others who share this rare sensibility. The Seek Beauty Blog is for those who dare to be different, champion modernity and choose to continuously refine their life experience, giving future residents an inside peek in all things 1000M.
Buddy Guy's Legends
Only a five minute walk from 1000M is the premier blues club in the world; Buddy Guy's Legends is a restaurant and live blues club opened in 1989 by the one and only Buddy Guy. Here are a few things we love about our down-the-street neighbor.
Buddy Guy Himself
Buddy Guy is a blues legend, Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductee and one of the Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." Born in Louisiana, Buddy Guy first came to Chicago in 1957 where he recorded numerous sessions with Chess Records. He's played alongside Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and many other legends from the label, eventually going solo. His groundbreaking style has influenced Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and more. During his time in Chicago, he was pivotal in the evolution of the city's fabled West Side sound.
For several years, Guy was co-owner of famous southside Checkerboard Lounge up until 1985. When opening of his own blues joint, Buddy Guy's Legends in 1989, Guy hoped to attract the traffic of downtown with the club's prime location behind the Hilton Hotel. Operating as both a restaurant and live music club, Legends has lunch sets starting at 12 PM Wednesday – Sunday as well as dinnertime sets seven days a week starting between 5 and 6 PM. There's nothing quite like enjoying Louisiana and Cajun-style soul food essentials such as gumbo, jumbalaya and po'boys while listening to the music played on stage.
At age 82, Buddy Guy still frequents the club, and can be spotted there anytime he's in town. He even performs a month of shows each January — which sell out very quickly. Prior to his death in 1983, Muddy Waters made Guy promise to keep the blues alive, and Guy says that Legends helps him fulfill that promise.
With concerts in across-the-street Grant Park and live blues always just around the corner, 1000M keeps residents close to the best music the city has to offer.


text:
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Razer OSVR: Everything you need to know about the virtual reality platform
Open-Source Virtual Reality is here, but what does it mean exactly?
By Paul Lamkin @paullamkin
By Paul Lamkin
@paullamkin
OSVR might not have the world salivating over virtual reality like HTC and Oculus, but it's still a hugely influential player.
Essential reading: The best VR headsets
The Open Source Virtual Reality platform (OSVR) is an ecosystem of hardware and software that aims to create standards for hardware and gaming.
Here's all you need to know about OSVR…
What is OSVR?
The easiest way to explain OSVR is to compare it to Android. It's an open source platform which aims to inspire developers and big name brands companies to push VR tech forward. Its objective is to be a software framework that sets new standards for virtual reality.
Essential reading: Everything we know about Project Morpheus
Like Android, it's an open licensed ecosystem (in fact, on the same Apache Software License 2.0 as Google's mobile OS) that developers can use to create VR experiences – or more specifically, VR games – across any operating system, including Windows, Android and Linux.
"The point is to make it easier for developers," Luca Di Fiore, director of R&D at Razer – the chief hardware company working with OSVR, told Wareable.
"If I'm a developer who wants to develop VR, I don't want to really consider the shortcomings and distortions of each individual device and have to adjust to that. If you open up the system it prevents that. Gaming should not be a locked system."
Wareable verdict: Razer Nabu X review
Razer's OSVR isn't a rival to the likes of Oculus Rift, Project Morpheus and Samsung Gear VR. It's designed to make it easier developers to develop for any VR hardware – without technical (software and hardware) limitations getting in their way.
"Oculus say they are open source, but they are not," said Di Fiore. "They have done a fantastic job of getting VR on the front pages and their SDK is open source, but only for things that work on its hardware. On the device side they are locked.
"We don't want to compete with Oculus, we want to support Oculus. If a developer wants to use our platform to support Oculus, he can – already today you can do that."
What about hardware?
The main OSVR headset right now is made by Razer and is a development kit that can be picked up for $299.99. This isn't a fully fledged consumer product but a platform to get game makers developing for the hardware. However, anyone can buy it to try out the device.
We have actually seen a consumer product go live with OSVR standards. The Vuzix iWear 720 is on pre-order currently and will be compatible with OSVR games in the future.
The platform, which aims to provide a standard across VR hardware and software works with PC and Android, which means it caters for both hardcore mainstream games and mobile experiences.
At the moment the OSVR dev kit comes with its own 5.5-inch Full HD OLED display but future versions will have the ability to slot in a smartphone via a mobile faceplate.
What's it like to use?
Wareable's senior editor James Stables slapped the Dev Kit on his bonce over in Vegas for a quick demo and had this to say:
"The tech was impressive, using motion sensors that enables your hands to appear within the experience, allowing you to touch and interact with things in the virtual world. However, with limited demos, the Razer VR is going to remain an experiment for a long time unless the community, and even other brands, make use of the platform."
And that's the whole point. Razer isn't trying to impress anyone with its OSVR demos. It's simply providing the keys for developers to unlock the potential that VR alludes too.
Who else is onboard?
Big names such as LeapMotion, Sixense, Untold Games, Bosch and Virtuix have already pledged their support and the platform is backed by the Open Gaming Alliance. Game engine plug-ins such as Unity 3D, Unreal Engine 4 and HeroEngine will all be available for developers too.
LeapMotion is providing real time hand tracking technology, using a camera which is fixed on the front of the handset. That enables you to interact with items in the VR world just as you would in the real one.
What about content?
OSVR is unashamedly "all about the games", and you can get a full run-down of supported titles in our round up of the best OSVR titles. However, there are some serious highlights.
Ubisoft, the developer behind Assassin's Creed, Far Cry and Watch Dogs, is signed up, as is Nvidia Gameworks VR. That's two of the biggest industry names already on board so time will tell how big OSVR can really get.
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From the amount to do, see and experience in Tunisia, you would expect to be visiting a country many times its size. Despite being the smallest country in North Africa, Tunisia more than rivals its neighbours in terms of history, culture and natural wonders.
Tunisia has a fascinating history. Due to its strategic positioning, it has – at some point – been colonised by most of the world's great powers, from the Phoenicians, Romans and Vandals to the Byzantines, Arabs, Ottomans and French. This created a rich cultural heritage that is completely unique to Tunisia.
Tunisia, as a result, has a multitude of different archaeological sites to visit, including the ancient sites of Phoenician and Roman Carthage, the ruins of the Punic town of Kerkouane and the medinas of Tunis and Sousse – both of which are UNESCO world heritage sites and home to magnificent Islamic architecture.
Tunisia has a great balance between culture and relaxation, with a plethora of pristine beaches to while away the day on. Choose from the rugged and picturesque northern coast – such as the beaches Raf Raf and Sidi Ali El Mekki – to the stunning golden sands of the idyllic Isle of Djerba, that slope gently into the warm waters of the Mediterranean.
If you love good haggle – you won't be disappointed as Tunisia boasts colourful and bustling souks in many of the old towns and medinas. Wares include interesting arts and crafts, silk, jewellery and vivid spices.


3/4" Thickness. A beautiful cut of crystal!
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Free Custom Etching, which includes, Free Logo Etched, Free Personalization Of Award Etched, Free Proof and Free Set-ups on Crystal Awards and trophies. Logo must be black and white. Once your order has been placed, we will send you a layout for approval before the item is etched.
We take pride in our customer service, so please give us a call at 651-437-6800 for all of your award and recognition needs.


text:
Changwon Gymnasium (kor. 창원실내체육관) – hala sportowa znajdująca się w mieście Changwon, w Korei Południowej. W hali tej swoje mecze rozgrywa drużyna koszykarska Changwon LG Sakers. Obiekt posiada 3 poziomy stałych trybun, które mają 4874 miejsc siedzących, a także 955 miejsc na trybunach wysuwanych, umieszczanych na poziomie parkietu.

Sporadycznie występuje również pod nazwą Changwon Arena.

Przypisy

Hale sportowe i widowiskowe w Korei Południowej
Obiekty sportowe w Changwon

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Truex Punches His Ticket to the Championship Four
NASCAR Cup Series News
Martin Truex, Jr. punched his ticket to the final four of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs after taking the checkered flag at Martinsville Speedway.
After being moved on the last lap in 2018, Truex came ready for battle. He dominated from the start, winning stage 1 and 2 and leading 464 of the 500 lap show.
The No. 19 Joe Gibbs Toyota seemed to have no issue throughout the race, even when faced with several late race restarts. Truex was able to pull away fairly easily on each restart and maintain position.
Martinsville has not always been one of Martin's strongest tracks, but the team gets better every year. This was his first win at the famed short track and his seventh win of the season.
William Byron, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-5.
The Round of 8 playoff battle continues at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 3 PM ET on NBCSN.
Analysis: 2017 MENCS Low Downforce Package
Since 2015, NASCAR has looked at making the racing product better in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. NASCAR tested a lower downforce package at Kentucky and Darlington due to pleas from drivers, while NASCAR chose to use a higher drag package at Michigan and Indianapolis to try things their way.
After much consideration, NASCAR chose to go the way the drivers wanted, a lower downforce package. From 2015 to 2016, NASCAR reduced downforce from 2,700 pounds to 2,000 pounds.
In 2016, NASCAR tested an even lower downforce package at Kentucky and Michigan. After a few minor tweaks, downforce was reduced by 500 pounds.
Has this reduction of downforce made the racing in 2017 better? Let's take a look at the first seven races of the season! The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has went to every style of racetrack from a superspeedway to a short track and from an old abrasive surface and a newly repaved surface.
The numbers are rather shocking.
The number of green flag passes at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2016 was 3,717. In 2017, that number was 2,811. That is a difference of 27.7574%.
In 2016, the number of green flag passes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was 2210. In 2017, the number was 1,927. A difference of 3.6814%
In 2016, the number of green flag passes at Phoenix Raceway was 686. In 2017, the number was 1,026. The number of green flag passes was up by 39.7196%.
In 2016, the number of green flag passes at Auto Club Speedway was 3,346. In 2017, that number was 2,707. A difference of 21.1135%.
In 2016, the number of green flag passes at Martinsville Speedway was 1,207. In 2017, that number was 1,725. The number of passes was up 35.3342%.
In 2016, the number of green flag passes at Texas Motor Speedway, under the old pavement and configuration, was 2,733. In 2017, under the new pavement and configuration, the number of passes was 1,894. The difference is 36.2654%.
Early on in the season the eyeball test showed some issues within this package. Speedway Digest asked Denny Hamlin and AJ Allmendinger what they would change based on the eyeball test and numbers.
"I would just like them to stop changing stuff. It's tough on us. I thought way at the end of last year I think we had six top 10's in eight races and we had finally kind of gotten a feel of the aero package of what we needed and had some good race cars when it came to set-up and knowing how we wanted to set them up and they keep changing. I think that is what's tough here," said Allmendinger. "Right away we all jump to conclusions that 'oh it's not good enough we've got to change again.' You've just got to give teams time. The bigger teams, every time you change an aero package the bigger teams are going to succeed in that because they have the wind tunnel time. You would think it would bring the field closer everybody starting over again, well it just separates the field even more because the bigger teams have the more resources to go wind tunnel test and figure out the aero package a lot quicker than other teams do. It's five races, we all just need to calm down a little bit and give it a whole year and see if it's working or not and then make a decision after that, but we don't need to jump to that conclusion after five races."
Hamlin, who is a member of the Driver's Council, had this to say about the aero package in 2017 and what changes he would advocate for.
"Well, I think we've had a relatively small sample size. I think that we've had probably fewer cautions than what we've had in the past, and that doesn't help the passes, the green flag passes, because you have jumbling up on pit road, faster cars have a bad pit stop, they've got to come back through the field, so that part of it hampers passing a little bit. It would be interesting to revisit that probably mid to later in the season," said Hamlin. "But I think overall, the racing itself has been very, very good. We've seen battles for the lead every single week. So overall, we've been pretty happy with it. Corner speeds are down, which is good. That's something that we wanted. There's been more tire falloff this year, which has been good. That's what we wanted. So I think we're heading in a good direction. But early in seasons, there's some teams that are on top right now that are very hot and their cars are fast, and it's going to take a while for the competition to catch up. When they catch up, fields get tighter, more passing happens."
At this point in 2016, there were talks about a lower downforce aero package being used at the All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. However, in 2017, the rumor mill has been silent about potential changes in the aero package.
Busch, Stenhouse Get At It On-Track
RIDGEWAY, Va.— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch had at it during Sunday's running of the STP 500.
In the second stage of the race, that ran from laps 130 to 260, Busch was setting a blistering pace lapping the field up to 17th position.
Early in the stage as Busch was about to lap Stenhouse Jr., but Stenhouse did not help but put on a fight with Busch. Stenhouse was not happy with Busch and was going to let him know it the next chance he got.
The opportunity for Stenhouse came on the final lap of stage two. Stenhouse was able to get to the bumper of Busch. Busch went higher than normal in the fourth turn because he was running a lane above where the rubber was being laid down. Stenhouse went low on Busch sending him up the racetrack. Stenhouse was able to get his lap back, and give Chase Elliott the stage win and playoff point.
After the race, Stenhouse mentioned that he had to do it for his team and sponsors to stay on the lead lap.
However, Busch had a different story to tell after the conclusion of the race.
"I actually was rolling into Turn 3 and was kind of going higher out of my way in order to let the 17 back by and give him the lap. That was my intent, and then he just drove through me. It cost me my spot to the 24, so I was hoping the I could rn off the corner side by side with the 17 and keep the 24 at bay and just keep my nose in front of his and be able to score the segment, and I was trying to be a nice guy, but nice guys don't finish first," said Busch.
Busch mentioned that he felt disrespected by Stenhouse as he was banging him (Busch) into the corners. Busch also mentions that this incident will come back and bite Stenhouse at a later date.
"You've just got to remember race car drivers are like elephants; they remember everything."
Busch finished second in the STP 500, while Stenhouse Jr finished 10th.
Keselowski Scores Ford's First Martinsville Win Since 2002
RIDGEWAY, Va.— Brad Keselowski was able to hold off and set sail to give Roger Penske and Ford Performance the victory in Sunday's STP 500.
"This is awesome. We've ran so good here with the Miller Lite Ford, but something always happens and we haven't been able to bring it home. Martinsville is just one of those champion's tracks. The guys that run well everywhere run well here, and it's really just an honor to win here and get to compete here. This track is 70 years old and a lot of legends have won here. It feels great to be able to join them and bring home a clock," said Keselowski in victory lane.
This is Ford's first win at Martinsville since 2002 with Kurt Busch, and Team Penske's first win at Martinsville since 2004 with Rusty Wallace. This is Keselowski's second victory in 2017.
The first stage started with an early surge from pole sitter Kyle Larson. Larson was able to lead the first 22 circuits, but as he was battling lapped traffic, Keselowski was able to pass him. That sent Larson dropping through the field. Keselowski was on point until the caution flew on lap 70. During the pit stops, Keselowski was busted for speeding resulting in him starting from the back of the field. Martin Truex Jr. assumed the race lead to go on to dominate and win the stage. Denny Hamlin finished second in the first stage, Kyle Busch finished third, Keselowski finished fourth, and Chase Elliott rounded out the top-five.
Many drivers stayed out at the conclusion of the stage because they pitted 13 laps before hand. To start the second stage, Ky. Busch was the race leader, Elliott restarted second, Ryan Blaney restarted third, Logano restarted fourth, and Erik Jones rounded out the top-five.
The second stage belonged to Ky. Busch. Busch dominated the second stage, but came up short on the playoff point. As Ky. Busch was putting cars a lapped down, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was trying to stay on the lead lap, but failed to do so. As the stage closed, Stenhouse was able to get on the bumper of Busch coming off the fourth turn on the final lap of the stage. That bump was able to give Elliott the advantage and the stage win. Ky. Busch finished second, Keselowski finished third, Jimmie Johnson finished fourth, and Blaney rounded out the top-five in the second stage.
Elliott won the stage off pit road, Ky. Busch was second, Johnson was third, Keselowski was fourth, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top-five to start the final stage.
The final stage was prominently dominated once again by Ky. Busch. The first laps of the stage were unable to get in a rhythm as the caution flew five times for 25 laps. Once the race was able to get into a rhythm, Ky. Busch was able to lead 65 laps before Keselowski began to close in. The lead swapped between Keselowski and Busch numerous times. The final pass on Busch for Keselowski was the money move. Keseloski was able to move Kyle Busch up the race track and set sail for victory.
Ky. Busch finished second, Elliott finished third, Logano finished fourth, and Austin Dillon rounded out the top-five in the STP 500.
The caution flew 14 times for 95 laps. The lead changed 18 times among 17 drivers. The average speed was 70.139 mph. The time of race was three hours, 44 minutes, and 59 seconds.
Kyle Larson still holds the points lead by four points over Chase Elliott, Truex Jr. is third in points only 32 points behind Larson, Keselowski is 34 points behind in fourth, and Logano rounds out the top-five in points 61 back.
Next up for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is the O'Rielly Auto Parts 500 from Texas Motor Speedway on April 9th at 1:30 p.m. EST on FOX and Performance Racing Network.
Tire Management and Wear Crucial in Today's STP 500
RIDGEWAY, Va.— Tire wear and tire management will be crucial in today's STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Goodyear has brought a new right-side tire to Martinsville. This new tire was developed to help rubber-in the concrete-asphalt combination at Martinsville. The concrete corners at Martinsville provided a challange for Goodyear because they behave differently and the density of the surface.
Goodyear hopes this tire combination will optimize acceleration, deceleration, and cornering that is required at the track.
Teams have eight sets of tires to use for the STP 500. That is two sets less than what teams had last year.
With Friday's rains washing away the rubber laid down on the track from one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) practice.
Two MENCS practices, NCWTS qualifying, and the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 helped rubber in the track on Saturday,
Chase Elliott, the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 race winner, talked about how the complexion of that race changed and expectations for today's race.
"The temperatures are definitely up from what we typically see in this race. To me, the race track is taking on lots of rubber way quicker than it typically does. Typically, you don't see rubber laid down in the truck race and don't see it laid down until halfway through the Cup race. The fact that it is blackening up today, I think will probably lend itself to see some Martinsville of old with guys moving around. It's going to be darkened up really fast," said Elliott post-race.
When asked about tire wear on the left side, Elliott showed no concern.
The STP 500 is slated to drop the green flag at 2:13 p.m. EST on Fox Sports 1 and Motor Racing Network.
Elliott Victorious at Martinsville
NASCAR Truck Series News
RIDGEWAY, Va.— After beating and banging for 250 laps and a late race charge from Johnny Sauter, Chase Elliott was victorious in the Alpha Energy Solutions 250 from Martinsville Speedway.
"Obviously, we had a little help with (Bell's) misfortune, but once we got by him, I thought our truck was a little better than his," said Elliott to FOX in Victory Lane. "It was just a matter of getting by (Sauter) quickly and doing it decently, in a quick manner. Luckily, we only had to do it once with it staying green until the end."
This is Elliott's second victory in 12 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, his first of 2017.
The first stage was dominated by Chase Elliott. Elliott chose the inside lane to start the race. The caution flew shortly after the green flag fell for oil on the track by the No. 1 car of Bryce Napier. NASCAR did warn Elliott after the initial start about pulling down too soon on restarts. Towards the end of the stage, Johnny Sauter was catching Elliott while they were in lapped traffic. Elliott went on to win the stage, Sauter finished second, Matt Crafton finished third, Christopher Bell finished fourth, and Grant Enfinger rounded out the top-five in the first stage. The caution flew twice in this stage for eight laps.
Elliott lost that lead as the field went down pit road between the start of the second stage. Bell took two tires on pit-road to gain the lead.
When the second stage began, Sauter was able to pass Bell to dominate the stage. On the first restart in this stage, Sauter chose the inside lane, but Bell tried to push him down. However, Sauter was able to hash the lead. The complexion of the stage changed as drivers like Elliott and Bell hit pit toad with 12 laps remaining in the stage. The stage ended under the caution due to Elliott dumping Ross Chastain on lap 137. Sauter went on to win the stage, Crafton finished second, Chase Briscoe was third, Timothy Peters was fourth, and Grant Enfinger rounded out the top-five at the conclusion of the stage. The caution flew five times in the stage for 38 laps.
As the leaders pitted between the stages, Bell moved up to the first position, Elliott was second, Brett Moffit was third, Enfinger,and Joe Nemechek were the top-five on the restart to begin the final stage.
Bell was the dominate car in the final stage, but late-race aggression and lapped traffic cost him the victory. As the stage was in the final 50 laps, Bell, Elliott, Sauter, and Noah Gragson were within a second of each other battling for the lead. As they progressed through the field, lapped traffic began to separate the drivers. As Bell reached Austin Cindric, Cindric attempted to stay on the lead lap. Bell was frustrated with Cindric and dumped him in the first turn. However, with the move to dump Cindric, Bell lost the lead to Elliott. As the race restarted with 12 laps remain, Elliott throw a successful block on Sauter to go on and score the victory at Martinsville.
Sauter finished second, Bell finished third, Gragson finished fourth, and Ty Dillon rounded out the top-five in the Alpha Energy Solutions 250.
The race ran for two hours, one minute, and 38 seconds. The average speed of the race was 64.867 mph.
The next race for the drivers will be at Kansas Speedway for the Toyota Tundra 250 on May 12th at 8:30 p.m. EST on Fox Sports 1 and Motor Racing Network.
Elliott Starts P1 in NCWTS From Martinsville
RIDGEWAY, Va.— Chase Elliott will start from the pole in today's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Alpha Energy Solutions 250 from Martinsville Speedway.
In the first round of qualifying, Chase Briscoe was fastest at 94.789 mph,Elliott was second fastest at 94.463 mph, Grant Enfinger was third fastest at 94.279 mph, Johnny Sauter was fourth fastest at 94.256 mph, and Timothy Peters rounded out the top-five at 94.106 mph. Austin Wayne Self, Norm Benning, and Charles Buchanan Jr. are the three drivers who will be heading home and not racing today.
In the second round of qualifying , Sauter was fastest at 94.855 mph, Elliott was second fastest at 95.543 mph, Christopher Bell was third fastest at 94.265 mph, Peters was fourth fastest at 94.200 mph, and Chase Briscoe rounded out the top-five at 94.143 mph.
In the final round, Elliott was fastest at 94.951 mph, Sauter will start second with a speed of 94.803 mph, Peters will start third with a speed of 94.331 mph, Matt Crafton will start fourth at a speed of 94.214mph, and Ross Chastain will round out the top-five at a speed of 93.891 mph.
Truck drivers will hit the track at 3:00 p.m. EST for the Alpha Energy Solutions 250. FOX and Motor Racing Network will have the TV and radio broadcasts.
A Down Week For Suarez
RIDGEWAY, Va— In his first time at Martinsville Speedway, Daniel Suarez kicked off the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice by getting a backup car prepared.
Suarez hit the wall going into the third turn resulting in the back end of the car being damaged.
"It just wheel hopped. I don't know what was going on with my brakes. It was something weird. On the first run I felt something similar. Something was weird with my brakes and I just wheel hopped and here we are," said Suarez after the accident.
However, things have changed drastically this week for Suarez.
Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Dave Rogers would be taking an indefinite leave of absence. Scott Graves was announced as the crew chief until Rogers comes back.
Suarez found out about Rogers at the same time as everyone else early Wednesday evening.
"I pretty much got to know this almost at the same time as you guys. It was something that took me as a surprise and actually it took him as a surprise as well."
Suarez understands and respects Rogers and the decision he has made. However, he does not know when the return of Rogers will be.
Luckily for Suarez, he will be working with Graves, his crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Suarez and Graves were able to win the championship in 2016.
It was important for Suarez and Joe Gibbs Racing to put somebody in that knows the style of Suarez.
"I had some input for sure to put Scott in the seat because I know Scott. I know what he can do. I know what we've done together. It was important to put somebody there that I knew already."
What does Graves know about Suarez?
"I was expecting to race with him more than 14, 15 times in XFINITY stuff this year so we know him very well. He knows what I need to be fast. He knows my weak points as well. I think having Scott jump into the Cup program I think is important. And I hope we don't have to get back any. I hope we stay the same or even forward. And try to move from there."
In his rookie season, Suarez sits 19th in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points standings. He comes into Martinsville with back-to-back top-10 finishes.
Weather Forces Cancellation of MENCS Qualifying
RIDGEWAY, Va— Officials from NASCAR and Martinsville Speedway have announced that all on track activity for the remainder of the day has been cancelled.
Ever changing weather played into the decision by NASCAR and Martinsville on Friday. However, the weather for the remainder of the weekend looks perfect.
The field for the STP 500 for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will be set by the rule book. The field will be set by owner's points giving Kyle Larson the pole, while Chase Elliott will start second.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will hit the track on Saturday beginning at 11:00 a.m. EST for the first of two practices of the day.
NCWTS: Alpha Energy Solutions 250
RIDGEWAY, V.a— The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action for the first time in a month at Martinsville Speedway for the Alpha Energy Solutions 250. The first two stages will be 70 lap shootouts while the final stage will be a 110 lap dash for the finish.
35 drivers are scheduled to present themselves at Martinsville to qualify for 32 positions. Chase Elliott and Ty Dillon will be the only two drivers from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competing on Saturday afternoon.
This will be the 37th race from Martinsville. There have been 25 different pole winners. Only eight races have been won from the pole with Joey Logano being the last driver to do so in 2015. The race record was set back in 1999 by Jimmy Hensley at 74.282 mph. Logano also set the qualifying record in 2015 at 97.088 mph.
Drivers are excited about returning to the track this weekend at Martinsville.
"Having a win will make these races a lot less stressful for me. As far as my approach, I don't feel like it will be any different -- I'm out there to get a win if possible and if not, get the best finish that I can. I think it may change Rudy's (Fugle, crew chief) approach, because it will allow him to be more aggressive with his strategy. I feel like both Rudy and myself are well prepared for this race and we're going to go out and do everything we can to put the JBL Tundra in victory lane Saturday," says Christopher Bell, who won the last race at Atlanta.
"The difference in speed from a 12th-place truck and a first-place truck is very small and makes for some crazy racing and I think the new points system will make it even crazier. Last year in the spring, I saw how important it is to qualify up front for that reason, but getting the balance right is very hard to do at Martinsville. The corners are so tight it makes it tough to make adjustments that help all the way around. Martinsville also seems to go through a pretty big 'mood swing' throughout the weekend and from the spring race, to the fall race. It's definitely a track for an experienced driver and team," said Ben Rhodes.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is scheduled to have two practice sessions on Friday at 1:00 p.m. EST and 3:00 p.m. EST on Fox Sports 1. Teams will qualify on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. EST on Fox Sports 1. The Alpha Energy Solutions 250 will air on FOX and Motor Racing Network at 3:00 p.m. EST.
Copyright ©2020 Speedway Digest - Home for NASCAR News


Esperanza and Romeo are a bundle of energy.
"Can we go play after this," Esperanza asked.
"After this, you can play some more," Wilson said.
"I want to play Jurassic world again," Romeo said.
"I want to play spray zombie," Esperanza said.
Playing is their favorite thing to do.
"We like to go into the mall to the playground," Esperanza said. "My mom and dad take us there."
The kids have a good relationship with their foster parents who they've been living with for nearly two years. 5-year-old Esperanza is outgoing, curious and friendly. She's an overall happy kid. She's also very talkative, but as soon as you meet her 7-year-old brother, you'll realize that he is quite the opposite.
"It takes a little bit to get him to warm up to you, but he kinda knows what he wants, and he's someone you probably need to be patient with a little bit and work with," Keith Paxton, the kids DHS worker said.
Paxton said they have the normal sibling rivalry, but they get along pretty well. Keeping them together is very important to him.
Paxton said the siblings would fit in well with a family that can set rules yet still interact and can get on the kids' level. He says Romeo needs someone patient who he can get comfortable with.
If you have room in your heart for Esperanza and Romeo give DHS a call at 580-471-7942.


Even the damp Auckland weather couldn't keep punters away from this year's colourful annual Vodafone Pacific Music Awards where prolific music and dance group Te Vaka and multi-talented Australian based singer/producer Vince Harder have taken out the top accolades.
Always likened to the "poor cousin" of the bigger Vector Arena event, tonight's grandiose show and performances at this year's awards have dispelled those myths, it even seems to be closing the gap.
Te Vaka is a regular visitor to the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards podium and picked up two awards last night. The group's songwriter and lead vocalist Opetaia Foa'i was noticeably missing from the awards ceremony but for good reason; he is currently writing the soundtrack for the upcoming Disney film Moana.
Long-time stalwarts Pacific Underground were recognised with the Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award for their continuous commitment to Pacific Music, an accolade that has been long overdue for this Christchurch based music group.
Taulu Schuster is one of the twelve musicians playing with Niuean Mal Lakatani tonight and is "excited" to be here. Lakatani is nominated for the Sunpix Best Pacific Language award for his album Fiti Lagakali'.
Other successful recipients tonight have been American based group Common Kings for this year's Flava Best International Pacific Artist award for the album 'Hits & Mrs', Sol3 Mio's 'On Another Note' is the winner of the Radio 531PI Best Pacific Group, while TJ Taotua is the Auckland Council Best Pacific Gospel Artist for his song "Firstly". Both are previous winners in these categories demonstrating continued success in their respective genres.
World first human and robot musical concert to perform at Auckland's Q Theatre on April 14.


text:
Risners ready for another year at MC Fair
By Dan Barker |
Austin, 15, Dalton, 13, and Kaeson Risner, 10, are each taking care of two animals, most of which will go to the Morgan County Fair this year.
Austin took on the challenge of the big ones this year: A 1,222 lb. short-horn steer and a 515 lb. dairy heifer, called Freddy and Natasha, respectively, he said.
Dalton is entering a 203-pound Hampshire pig called Tiffany and a 217-pound Yorshire crossbreed called Charlotte.
Kaeson has a crossbreed catch-it pig he calls Oscar and a "blue butt" called Cheyenne.
It's important to watch the animals' weight. The goal for his pigs is to get their weight above 225 lbs., but not higher than 250 for the market swine competition, Dalton said.
That means careful control of feeding. For Austin's steer, it means 27 pounds of grain and alfalfa each day and keeping the animal off the pasture to ration feed, he said.
In the kind of heat seen in July, taking care of the cattle and pigs meant not only making sure they had plenty of water, but wetting them down each day to make sure they did not overheat, the boys said.
In Freddy and Natasha's case, the water also helps to keep their hair healthy and brushed correctly, Austin said.
What is it that makes a kid want to handle these huge cows, especially the steer?
Part of it is just the thrill of "being able to tame such a big animal," Austin said.
"They're so big and pretty," he said. "I wanted to see if I could (handle a steer) this year."
Natasha does not compete until next year, Austin said.
He's no novice. He's shown a dairy heifer before and made the livestock sale with his pigs during his four years in 4-H, Austin said.
Dalton has participated in 4-H for three years, Kaeson for two years.
Part of taking care of the pigs is to fill their mud hole, which helps them to resist the heat, too, Dalton said.
One of the fun parts is bringing out the hose and spraying them down, he said.
The pigs head straight for the hose when it comes on, obviously enjoying the cool it provides and fighting for position under the spray.
The best part of the job is playing with the swine, Kaeson said.
"Every day they're happy to see you," he said.
When it cools down in the evening, the pigs like to push old dirt bike tires with their noses, throwing them up over their necks and running around with them. They also will follow a rope with a knot in it, jockeying for position to nibble on it as a kid pulls it along.
Playing with them also serves the purpose of socializing them. Too often the boys have seen pigs at shows which would take a bite at people or other pigs, but theirs don't, he said.
"They're really good pigs," Dalton said. "It's a really great experience … They're really fun to be around."
"You'd have a lot of fun doing it," Kaeson said would be his message to other kids, especially if they like animals.
"They really like mud and kids like mud," he said.
– Contact Dan Barker at business@fmtimes.com.


I'm easily entertained, and (I think) creative about the stories my son and daughter get when they ask for a story before bed. So I'm storing some of them for recycling on my grandkids someday.
My wife laid out a few rules about bedtime stories I try to adhere to… in my own way.
Bedtime stories must be short.
Bedtime stories aren't exciting, and involve the protaganist sleeping all night long in their own bed.
1 out of 3 isn't bad.
Once upon a time, Pink Baby* was hanging out in the jungle, up in a tree.
And a bunch of monkeys came by!
The monkeys were eating coconuts, and Pink Baby started crying.
"Wah, wah wah! I want a coconut! Wah wah wah!" It was really quite annoying.
Of course, the monkeys didn't understand Pink Baby. So she cried and cried, while they sat around, passing each other coconuts to eat, chattering loudly and watching her cry.
Finally, a nice, pretty Momma-monkey came over to Pink Baby, and picked her up. Pink Baby stopped crying as the gentle Momma-monkey looked softly in her eyes, like she wanted to help Pink Baby.
WHACK!* The Momma-monkey bonked Pink Baby on the head, and Pink Baby slept for 3* days.
Pink Baby is my daughter's 2nd or 3rd favorite doll. She's not as desirable as Sally or "Baby of my baby", but this story has made her famous around bedtime.
"Whack!" was accompanied by Daddy head-butting Pink Baby unexpectedly. Note: laughing children are hard to get to sleep. Children who imitate Daddy get headaches.
When my daughter retells this story, 3 days seems too short. So she substitutes 49.