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Tag: Daniel Ricciardo
F1 pit stop – the future looks orange!
On July 11, 2021 July 12, 2021 By ChristofferIn F1, News1 Comment
We're nine rounds into the F1 season 2021 and it's time to check the temperature and see where things stand before we move into the mid-season with the British GP in two weeks, the Hungarian at the end of the month and then the Belgian at the end of August. I dare say that even those who find F1 predictable and boring have something to cheer about this year, because so far, predictable is certainly something this season is not. Before moving into the action, let me just note that at the start of the season I wrote that if we were lucky, we may see spectatcors return to some of the races this year. Gladly that is now the case, and it's great to see!
The Dutch fans didn't miss Max's win in Austria!
Going back to where we left off, in my last update I put up the question whether Max (Verstappen, Red Bull) was going to catch up with Lewis (Hamilton, Mercedes) and I believe we have the answer. Not only has he caught up with Lewis but he has in fact clearly passed him, just as Red Bull has passed Mercedes to become the team to beat in the line-up. The most recent five races have all been won by Red Bull with Max winning four and Sergio (Perez) one. But it gets even worse from Mercedes's perspective, since Lewis has only been on two podiums in those same five races, clinching second place in France and in the first of two Austrian GP's. Perez has meanwhile also found his footing and is ahead of Bottas, so currently there is little doubt that Red Bull and Max are favourites for this year's constructor and driver's title. The die-hard Mercedes optimists will note that Silverstone in two weeks is a typical Mercedes track and they're right about that, making it a pretty decisive one: if Red Bull beats Mercedes in Silverstone, that's probably it. If they don't, my bet is that that's it anyway.
Lewis is only ahead of Max outside of the track these days
Behind the two top teams, McLaren and Lando Norris's progress is no less suprising. Lando drives like there's no tomorrow and he does so in a fast car that is now very close to the two top teams. Daniel (Ricciardo) was apparently right in his call to join McLaren rather than stay at Renault, but he needs to up his game considerably to keep up with Lando who's clearly emerging as the team's first driver. He's finished P3 three times this year and it's probably only a question of time before he wins his first race. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are doing what they can in their Ferraris which are faster than last year but still inferior not only to Red Bull and Mercedes, but currently also to McLaren. With only two points between them, the two Ferraristi are no doubt the most balanced driver pair on the grid!
The mid-field sees roughly the same teams as earlier, except for McLaren. Aston Martin where Seb Vettel has found his footing which is very nice to see, but the car, although improving, isn't really there yet. AlphaTauri, where Pierre Gasly continues to deliver strongly but Yuki Tsunoda, although having the speed, seems to have great difficulty in avoiding crossing white lines and getting penalties. Alpine is there as well with notably Fernando Alonso showing his routine, but the car is less performing than last year. Pretty much the same in other words but with Gasly's continued strong performance and Seb finding the speed again standing out as positives.
In reality, Lando's car is mostly far ahead of Ricciardo's
Finally there's not much to report on from the back of the field. Kimi (Räikkönen) and Antonio (Giovinazzi) can hope to take a point here and there in their Alfa Romeos if some of the top cars have problems, and George Russell will certainly do so in the coming races as it's truly amazing how he manages to get every last hp out of the Williams car. By the way, speculation as to whether he will replace Bottas at Mercedes before the end of the season doesn't go away. Finally, whilst Haas remain very much last in the line-up, at least Mazepin seems to have found some stability and stopped endangering other drivers in every race. Mick Schumacher beats him in most races, but he can't work wonders either in a car that is nowhere close to where it was a couple of years ago.
If you're thinking that Mercedes will never let Red Bull win the title this season without a fight, that would certainly be true in a normal year, but in view of the very big changes that will hit the F1 circus next season and that we'll come back to in a separate post in the coming months, Mercedes as well as other teams have officially stated that they will not develop their 2021 cars any further. It's therefore difficult to imagine that something could happen that fundamentally changes the outcome this year, and that would mean that we'll see a new world champion, one who for the first time ever is from the Netherlands and whose name is Max Verstappen!
F1: same same but (not very) different
On May 8, 2021 May 9, 2021 By ChristofferIn F1, News1 Comment
Four races into the new F1 season and it's time to make a first pit stop and see what's happened so far. Any unexpected positive surprises, any upsets, or for that matter any disappointments? So far the four races have taken place in Bahrain, Italy, Portugal and today in Barcelona, Spain, and we now have a two-week break before race number five, the most traditional of them all in Monaco on 23 May. The executive summary so far would go something like same same (as last season) and so far not very different, but if you read on I've done my best to add a bit more colour to that.
What is very similar to last season is the two top teams. No changes neither here, nor in the respective top drivers – Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. After Lewis's win today in Barcelona, Mercedes have an 29-point lead in the constructors' championship, with Lewis leading the drivers' by 14 points ahead of Max. The difference is smaller than last year however, with Max pretty much breathing down Lewis's neck, as shown by the podiums so far where he's been on all, and winning in Italy. Behind the two, Bottas isn't surprising on the upside any more than last year, continuing to play the role of the good soldier, but also to show that he's slower than both Lewis and Max. Red Bull newcomer Sergio Perez on the other hand is off to a promising start (already far better than his predecessor Albon was at any point during his time), and it will be interesting to see if with a few more races under his belt, he can challenge the top duo, or become the natural number three on the podium.
Lews and Max fighting it out at a rainy Imola GP
So to use some hockey terminology (but with no respect for the fact that a hockey line always has three players…), if the first line is made up of Mercedes and Red Bull, the second is also relativeliy clear, at least so far in points, consisting of McLaren and Ferrari. For McLaren this is a continuation of the positive trend from last year, with Lando Norris so far ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, even clinching third place in Italy. Then again, Ricciardo was ahead of Norris today in Barcelona, so things may be turning more even. Over at Ferrari it's a bit disappointing as the car doesn't seem to have become more competitive than last year. So far newcomer Carlos Sainz Jr. is also well behind Charles Leclerc. Before the season I wrote that I saw Leclerc-Sainz as perhaps the best driver-duo of any team this year. I guess it's too early to say, but Carlos Jr. needs to step up his game for that to come through. As for Ricciardo, it still remains to be seen whether his move away from an uncontested first seat at Renault to McLaren was the right one, but there is no doubt that McLaren is faster than Alpine (ex Renault).
Norris continues to deliver at McLaren!
The third line is quite crowded this season, regrouping Alpine, AlphaTauri, Aston Martin (ex Racing Point) and Alfa Romeo (and no, it's not because they all start with an A…). Except for Aston Martin, the remaining three can be said to be roughly where they were last year, and again, with the established drivers so far ahead of the newcomers. Fernando Alonso (Alpine) shows that he hasn't forgotten how to drive a car although he's still behind Esteban Ocon who this year is faster than at any point previously. Yuki Tsunoda still needs to prove himself at AlphaTauri, and especially vs Pierre Gasly. The big disappointment so far is Aston Martin and within the team, unfortunately again Sebastian Vettel. The car seems far less competitive than last year (I'll leave it open as to whether that's because it's no longer a copy of the Mercedes…), and Vettel is so far far well behind Lance Stroll and yet to score a point. Finally Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi are quite even at Alfa Romeo, which is pretty much where it was last year, meaning at the end of that third line.
That leaves Williams and Haas in the fourth line, which is a bit unfair to Williams who are so far clearly better and well on their way up if they keep progressing. Pretty much all of this is thanks to George Russell who continues to deliver as much as the car allows for, so far scoring 8 points. Haas on the other hand is even more disappointing than last year, something not even the talent Mick Schumacher clearly displays can change. The Haas is simply not competitive, but arguably the even bigger issue is the team's second driver Nikita Mazepin who came as a condition for the Russian sponsor money from his billionaire father, and who is outright dangerous on track. The list of incidents so far has resulted in an equally long list of Instagram jokes on him and the new nickname Maze-spin, and his private behaviour isn't making him any new friends either. Haas is in dire straits and in desperate need of sponsorship money, but this is of course the worst side of F1, when a team is forced to, and accepts taking on an unfit driver as part of the package. I really do hope things improve before something really bad happens, as Mazepin is a danger both to himself and others.
One of the funnier Mazepin jokes making the rounds on Insta…
There we go – we still have 19 races left this season so things can, and hopefully will still change around a bit. Will Verstappen be able to challenge Lewis for real this year? Will Perez become as fast as Max, and will Ricciardo prove that his move was the right one? Time will tell as we get further into the season, stay tuned!
The F1 season 2021 kicks off!
On March 21, 2021 March 24, 2021 By ChristofferIn F1, NewsLeave a comment
Next week on 28 March the 2021 F1 season kicks off in Bahrain, and it promises to be an interesting one! To start with the Covid part, the season was really supposed to start in Australia but the Melbourne GP has been postponed. In Bahrain, vaccinated and Covid-recovered will be allowed as audience, but it remains to be seen how many subsequent races will follow the same policy. At least for the first half of the season, my guess is that races will tend to be without audience, but perhaps that will improve as the season (and vaccinations!) progresses. Do remember however that the first races of last season were completely cancelled, so things are progressing, and even with empty stands there promises to be enough excitement on the track to compensate for a lack of spectators. So with one week to go, here's a round-up of the teams and their drivers, and also a few words on where those went who left since last season.
Starting with the teams, we'll have the same 10 this season as we did last, however with two of them having changed names and looks. Racing Point has changed both name and colour, going from the quite spectacular pink to a less flashy but more classy Aston Martin green as the team takes the Aston name, making it the first time in over half a century Aston Martin has its name on cars in F1. Renault on the other hand has decided to revive the Alpine name not only through the A110 street car, but also on the F1 track. Renault F1 has thus becomes Alpine with the colour changing from yellow to an Alpine blue with red elements. I've written about Alpine on a couple of occasions and in my first post on the A110 that you can find here if you missed it, I certainly didn't count on the name having much of a future. As so often, I don't mind having been wrong!
The new Alpine…
…and the good looking Aston Martin AMR21
Moving on to the drivers, we'll have three rookies and one comeback kid in 2021. Among the new entrants, none has a bigger pair of shoes to fill than Mick Schumacher, Michael's son. Mick drives one of the Haas cars and Nikita Mazepin, an equally 22-year old Russian rookie the other. A student of the Ferrari Driving Academy, Mick also won the F2 championship lsat year and the F3 one in 2018, so there's no doubt he brings more than a legendary name to the party. We'll see during coming years if it's enough to take him beyond the Ferrari academy into the actual team, and whether his career will be as successful as his father's. The third new driver is Yuki Tsunoda in AlphaTauri, a 21-year old Japanese driver Red Bull has a lot of faith in, and who's advanced from local racing in Japan to F1 in just four years. The comeback kid is of course none other than Fernando Alonso who return to Renault/Alpine, taking over Daniel Ricciardo's seat. Alonso has notably won Le Mans since he left F1 two years ago and as he turns 40 this summer, it will be interesting to see how much fuel he has left in the tank!
Red Bull believes strongly in young Yuki Tsunoda
As for the drivers who change teams, I find three of the moves especially interesting. The first is no doubt Carlos Sainz Jr. moving to Ferrari and teaming up with Charles Leclerc. This to me is probably the leading driver pair this year, in competition with Red Bull. However, it remains to be seen if Ferrari has found enough speed to allow them to compete. The second is Sebastian Vettel moving from Ferrari to Racing Point / Aston Martin. Seb turns 34 this year and has been on a downward slope for quite some time, so it will be very interesting to see if racing with Aston Martin will allow him to perform again. Finally, Sergio Perez was unsure of whether he would find a seat until the very last days of last season, when it was confirmed that he takes over after Alex Albon in Red Bull. I think this is extremely well deserved as Perez has always been a bit underrated, and whereas he won't challenge Max Verstappen's first-driver status in the team, I don't think he will be far behind – if at all. The last and to me far less interesting move is Daniel Ricciardo's move to McLaren. It was hard to comprehend when Ricciardo joined Renault and even harder to understand when he left them for McLaren, as Renault was getting better as last season progressed. Then again, maybe Ricciardo sees the same thing happening with McLaren, let's hope he's right in that case.
If the car is up to it, I'm sure Sainz will deliver!
So where did the drivers who left after last season go? Alex Albon is still with Red Bull as reserve and development driver and is set to race in the German Touring League DTM this year. Romain Grosjean (ex Haas) has moved to the US where he'll be racing in the Indycar Series and perhaps compete against Kevin Magnussen (also ex Haas) who has also moved over the Atlantic, however not to Indycar but rather for IMSA, notably driving the Daytona 24hrs this year. Finally Daniil Kvyat (ex AlphaTauri) hasn't gone anywhere at all, staying in F1 as reserve driver for Alpine in 2021.
So there we are, and by this time next week we'll have a first idea of how far the different teams have come, even though the season will of course be a long one. Given how terribly bad I am at it I won't even try to predict the outcome, but if Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari have somewhat comparable cars, I think we're in for a really exciting season. It would be really great if Ferrari has found the way back to a winning concept, and I don't think I'm the only one who look forward to see what Mick Schumacher will be able to achieve. Until next week, if you want to have a behind the scenes look back at last season, the third season of "F1 – Drive to survive" has just premiered on Netflix!
Schumacher Jr., racing for Haas in 2021
F1: A dramatic end to a strange season!
On December 13, 2020 December 13, 2020 By ChristofferIn F1, News1 Comment
Those of us who thought the last races of the year would be boring after Lewis made everything clear early November, well, we were wrong. Very wrong. Combining the drama we could have done without (Grosjean), the excitement with the oh so tragic end (Russell) and the final (well, almost) confirmation of drivers and teams for next season, this is probably the most dramatic season end in many years. But let's start from the beginning, after my last F1 update that I posted early November and that you can read here.
Some very scary moments in Bahrain – look at what remains of the back of the car…
Starting with what we could all have done without is obviously Grosjean's terrible crash in the first of two Bahrain races two weeks ago. Honestly I think many of us thought anything like this was impossible in modern F1, but at the same time it was also great to see how all the protective measures implemented worked wonderfully – with exception of the barrier that cut his car in half and caused the fire… Among recent safety equipment is the halo that wasn't really acclaimed when it came. Now, Grosjean said himself that without it he would have been dead. You could add that had everything the drivers wear, from feet to head, been done in another material than Nomex, which withstands 800 degrees C for up to 35 seconds, he would also not be alive, or at least badly burnt, given it took him 28 seconds to get out of the fire… It's unbelievable that he made it basically without being hurt. We won't see Grosjean in F1 next year and it's great it all ended on a dramatic but in the end positive note.
In the week after the first Bahrain race, we then learnt that Lewis had tested positive for Covid and that Mercedes would replace him with George Russell (Williams) for the second Bahrain race. I described George as the big British hope for when the day Lewis retires in my previous F1 post (link same as above), but hope is one thing. The reality is that so far he has never scored a point in F1, in the improving-but-still-too-slow Williams car. Oh how things were to change over the weekend….
If Bottas thought it would be easier racing Russell than Hamilton, he was wrong…
First, Russell set the fastest time in the free training on Friday, which he followed up with qualifying second to Bottas on the grid on Saturday. In the race he then passed Bottas in the first corner and led the race without any problems for the coming 60 or so laps (out of 87), until Mercedes (yes, Mercedes!) manages to screw up a pit stop so badly that he had to come in for a second one, and then for a third one after a puncture. After the first pit stop he was quickly back in the lead. After the second he was back in fifth, but needed only 2-3 laps to for second place (this included overtaking Bottas in a way that didn't make the Finn look particularly good), After the third stop he came out 15th and by now, even the very calm George was swearing over the intercom. With six laps left, and did however still manage to finish 8th. It goes without saying that he was devastated, but also that anyone who saw the race realized that this was certainly not the end of it for George. Should Lewis not re-sign with Mercedes, which he still hasn't confirmed, I'm willing to bet a face mask that Mercedes arranges for George's contract with Williams to be cancelled. If not, he is a very likely successor to Lewis the day the 36-year old quits, which may well be after an 8th title in 2021.
It wasn't to be this time, but I don't think this is the last we'll see of Russell in the Merc dress!
With Russell having the roller-coaster of his life that he could have done without, the one positive thing was that it allowed Sergio Perez to claim his first F1 victory, and few have been more well-deserved. Perez incredibly still doesn't have a seat confirmed for next year, and how Aston Martin (as the team will be called next season) could put Sebastian Vettel before Perez beats me, but I've written enough of that before.
Most of the drivers are by now confirmed for next season, and the most notable is of course that Mick Schumacher will take one of the two Haas seats. Mick is Michael's son, he looks like a perfect mix of his father and his uncle Ralph, and he didn't get here just on having a famous name (although that never hurts). He won the FIA F3 European Championship in 2018 and the Formula 2 Championship in 2020 and has so far accumulated three wins in 11 podiums. There will obviously be huge pressure on the 21-year old Mick and everyone will always and constantly compare him to his father, and you can only hope he's able to handle it. He will certainly also have to answer questions around the current state of his father of which we know very little, certainly not a good sign.
Ferrari has a a very excciting line-up with Sainz Jr next to Leclerc – as long as the car starts performing again….
Next to Grosjean, Kevin Magnussen is the other noteworthy driver who won't be returning next year, going over the pond to race in the US IMSA Sports Car Series. After Daniel Ricciardo's decision to move to McLaren, Renault (which will be called Alpine next year) looks forward to the F1 return of Fernando Alonso which promises to be interesting. And McLaren could be a better move than expected for Ricciardo given the team just signed a GBP 185m deal with American sports group MSP Sports Capital, who clearly have their eyes set on race wins next year. Again, it would be a great shame not seeing Sergio Perez in 2021, and late November Perez said he will take a sabbatical unless he's offered the second Red Bull seat next to Verstappen. If you ask me that's a very clear choice given Albon seen over the last two years has been a huge disappointment. He's picked up somewhat in the last three races after Christian Horner gave him an ultimatum, but he's still miles away from Max Verstappen. Perez on the other hand has consistently delivered over and above what anyone expected and to me is clearly the better driver. Unfortunately I don't think anyone plans to ask me, so we'll see what happens in the coming weeks.
And so the strangest season in memory came to an end this afternoon in Abu Dhabi. Lewis was back, meaning Russell was back in the back of the field in his Williams. Lewis said he didn't feel 100% which was probably true given he "only" qualified in third and finished the very undramatic race in the same place, after Bottas in second and Max Verstappen in first. Max had started on pole for the first time this season and this was his second win. He is by now a clear number 2 behind Lewis and will most probably be an even bigger threat to the latter in 2021!
Lewis is still in front, but the margin is getting smaller!
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F1 update: Lewis the Legend!
On November 1, 2020 November 1, 2020 By ChristofferIn F1, News1 Comment
With four races left to go after today's, it's time to do a quick pit stop and look at what we've seen and can still expect to see in this year's F1 season.
To start with the most deserving, a week ago Lewis Hamilton became truly legendary in beating Michael Schumacher's record of F1 race wins. After today, Lewis now totals an incredible 93 wins, 9 of which so far this season. He also equals Schumacher's record for the most wins with the same team (72), and today's Hamilton-Bottas double means Mercedes clinched their 7th constructor world title. Lewis is Formula 1's uncontested number 1, obviously helped by driving the car that is still relatively far ahead of the competition.
It's good to be the king!
If Lewis is already the de facto world champion, it's far more contested who will finish second and third – and who won't. Valtteri Bottas is probably the ideal second driver with Mercedes eyes. He's loyal to the team and occasionally manages to challenge Lewis, and so far this year has won two races. The question is however rather if what Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) manage to achieve in inferior cars isn't more impressive. Even though Ferrari is improving and Charles's results is the only thing that may save Mattia Binotto's job as team head, they are still far from Mercedes and Charles's driving is the only thing making Ferrari look slightly better than the mid-field teams. Max on the other hand does a very good job of scoring podium finishes, including one race win this year, and is still in competition with Valtteri for second place in the championship. Red Bull and Max is also the only constellation that occasionally has managed to challenge Mercedes this season.
A good summary of Ferrari's season so far…
Charles and Max's relative success also make it very clear that driving skills still count and that it's not all about the car. The last two races in Portugal and Italy were a good illustration of how far behind Leclerc Sebastian Vettel currently is, in spite of Ferrari confirming both drive identical cars. Seb had officially doubted this but also admitted that Charles is currently in another league. There is probably little hope of things improving before Seb leaves Ferrari for Racing Point / Aston Martin at the end of the season, and you have to wonder whether Racing Point don't ask themselves whether switching Perez for Vettel was a wise move. I guess time will tell.
There's equally little hope of Alex Albon retaining his seat in Red Bull. His oddds improved slightly last week when Pierre Gasly confirmed he's staying with Red Bull's little brother Alpha Tauri next year. This beats me as Alpha Tauri is Red Bull's farm team and Pierre's stellar performance this season with notably one race win stands in stark contrast to Albon's total lack of results. Today in Italy, Albon then put what is probably the last nail in his coffin himself, when after a mediocre race he completely messed up the restart after the safety car phase with 7 laps to go, managing to lose the car and end up last. Before Portugal, team boss Christian Horner last had given Albon two races to start performing. The fact that he couldn't and hasn't been able to all season most probably means we'll see another second driver at Red Bull next year.
"How the hell can Max be so fast??"
Behind Mercedes and the best half of Red Bull and Ferrari, the mid field is as competitive as ever with Racing Point, McLaren, Renault and Alpha Tauri all very close, and even Alfa Romeo Racing (ex Sauber) managing to pick up points here and there. Although he's leaving at the end of the season, Daniel Ricciardo certainly doesn't lack motivation and looks to be finishing his short spell with the Renault team in style, something that may have been really important when Renault decided to stay committed to F1. The team won't have much time to regret Ricciardo though, as they will instead need to focus on Fernando Alonso returning to the team he won his two world titles with . With an improving car, it will be very interesting to see what an experienced driver like Alonso will be able to achieve.
Will Alonso be able to recreate the magic?
At the back of the field the most interesting is certainly the discussions around Williams, its new owners (the US investment company Dorilton), and whether George Russell will stay on as driver (apparently Nicolas Latifi has enough financial backing to be certain of his seat). Russell has done a fantastic season given what could be expected, notably reaching qualifying P2 on eight occasions (I know, but we're talking about Williams here!) and also refers to the fact that he has a contract covering 2021. Then again so did Sergio Perez at Racing Point and that didn't stop the team from firing him and hire Vettel instead. Perez is still looking for a new seat, and it's not impossible that he kicks Russell out of Williams. Or maybe Perez could be the one replacing Albon at Red Bull?
The UK seems to have a promising successor to Lewis!
As for Haas, last years' rock'n'roll team notably thanks to the Netflix documentary "Formula 1 – drive to survive" (watch it if you haven't!) and the charismatic team boss Günther Steiner with his unique version of German English, it's been a sad season. The team is nowhere to be seen and not even Steiner's swearing seem to help anymore. Magnussen and Grosjean are both leaving the team next season, Gene Haas is however said to be committed to another season, so Haas will line up two new drivers in 2021. The rumours have it that one of those may be Michael Schumacher's son Nic… It also means that both Magnussen and Grosjean could be competing for that second seat at Red Bull, both bringing as much experience as Perez.
With four races to go after today there's thus still some excitement left, however rather off the track given we already know that Lewis will with very high certainty clinch his well-deserved seventh driver's title soon, with a new record in the number of race wins! Just a small point though – Lewis doesn't have a contract for next year, which is slightly strange given how late in the season we are. Most probably he'll re-sign with Mercedes in the coming weeks, because he wouldn't be retiring now that he's beaten most records, would he?
F1 action off the track
On May 31, 2020 May 31, 2020 By ChristofferIn F1, News2 Comments
In the absence of driving, the F1 circus has still managed to produce some entertainment these last weeks. Mid-May we learnt that Daniel Ricciardo is leaving Renault after only 12 months to join McLaren, and around a week before the real bombshell was dropped, namely that Sebastian Vettel is leaving Ferrari at the end of the season. He will be replaced by Carlos Sainz Jr., and will move on to…. Right. We don't know, even three weeks after the announcement (and waiting for that piece of news has now made this post a bit old…).
To start with the less surprising news, Daniel Ricciardo leaves Renault after only one season, in a move that made Renault F1 principal Cyril Abiteboul frustrated and speak of a lack of trust. My guess is that Ricciardo is at least as frustrated by a car that last season failed to show any kind of progress over 2018, and you have to believe didn't give any reason to think it would be better this year. Renault didn't deliver on everything Ricciardo was promised when joining, and Cyril should thus stop complaining and work on getting his team to perform instead.
Didn't have much to laugh about lately…
That of course assumes he still has a team, which is far from certain given Renault's and France's current status. The French state owns 15% of stumbling mother company Renault, which sacked 15.000 employees last week and has seen demand rock bottom in Covid times. It wouldn't be a massive surprise that the French state pressures Renault to pull the plug on F1, making Ricciardo's move look even wiser. Let's be honest: Daniel should never have left Red Bull and joined Renault in the first place. But with McLaren, he'll at least be driving for a team that seems to be on a roll, that has plenty of money from Lando Norris's father Adam, who seems to be slightly more business-minded than the French state, and where next to Lando, he'll probably have a first driver status.
The far larger surprise came a week earlier with Vettel announcing he's leaving Ferrari at the end of the season (if we end up having one), when his contract comes to an end. Given it's unclear where he's going or if he's leaving the sport altogether, this has led to loads of speculation as to his reasons. It's unclear if he was offered more than a one-year extension and on what terms, some therefore claiming money played a role. A lot has also been focused on the lack of a cultural fit at Ferrari after Luca di Montezemolo left and was replaced by the not-very-FI-loving Sergio Macchione and his foot soldier Maurizio Arrivabene. There may be some truth to both points, but you have to believe Vettel is mainly in it for winning races, not for the money. And in terms of culture, the changes didn't happen yesterday. Vettel has been driving under new management since 2015 and there didn't seem to be any issues until he started making mistakes. And that was after a certain Charles Leclerc joined, and regularly drove faster – and better.
Not Seb's prowdest moment
If there is indeed a cultural issue, it has no doubt been complicated by the Monegasque Leclerc, a true Southerner who is fluent in Italian, both language- and cultural-wise. Leclerc is also young enough not to have demands on anything but driving his car, which he does very well. But I doubt this is fundamentally about culture. My guess would be that it's more related to Vettel sensing he's losing his first driver status and as a four-time world champion, maybe just not having the energy to go for it again. He has nothing left to prove, which is also the reason he may be leaving the sport.
All good things come to an end sometime
If Vettel says on, his options are rather limited. That he would go to a smaller team with no chance of winning races doesn't feel very likely. That basically limits it to one option, given Albon doesn't seem to be at risk at Red Bull (and Verstappen most certainly isn't). That would be to take the second seat at Mercedes next to Lewis, replacing Valtteri Bottas who's been on rolling one-year contracts since joining the team in 2017. However, whether Mercedes would be prepared to open such a potential powder keg and whether Lewis Hamilton would agree to it is far from certain. It's also highly doubtful whether Vettel, who could never challenge Lewis's first driver status, would accept to play second fiddle to him.
The winner in all this is of course Carlos Sainz Jr, son of legendary rally driver Carlos Sainz, who did an excellent job at McLaren in 2019. By contracting him for 2021, Ferrari also completes the transition to the next generation of drivers. If Albon starts delivering, Red Bull can be said to have done the same thing, leaving Mercedes trailing behind – and making it even less probable they would engage an ageing Sebastian Vettel. The most likely option therefore seems to be that it's "Tschüss, Seb" thanks for everything!
World champion for Red Bull in 2013 – Vettel's really happy days!
F1's new star is here!
On March 31, 2019 By ChristofferIn F1, NewsLeave a comment
Charles Leclerc, the 21-year old Monegasque who moved this season from Sauber to Ferrari, is no doubt the new star of F1. Having secured pole position in yesterday's qualifying, the second youngest driver ever to do so (Seb Vettel being the youngest), he missed the start but only needed a few laps to overtake Vettel and actually making him look quite old. He then drove a perfect race until ten laps from the end when a partial engine breakdown made him lose speed and ending third, much thanks to the safety car in the last two laps. It really doesn't matter though – Leclerc's first win will come sooner rather than later.
Elsewhere we're starting to see first signs of what could be an interesting season. Red Bull (Verstappen finishing 4th today and out of the podium for the first time in seven races) is the only team posing a challenge to Mercedes and Ferrari. Sauber successor Alfa Romeo Racing has good speed with Kimi Räikkönen finishing in the points this time as well. On the other hand Racing Point, ex-Force India, seem to have major issues, as does Renault, continuing the trend of engine failures from last year, this time hitting both cars in the same lap! it's not fully clear what was behind Ricciardo's move to Renault, but it doesn't look like a very lucky one, at least not yet.
Preview of the 2019 F1 season
The 2019 F1 season starts this Sunday, as usual down under in Melbourne. The saddest piece of news is clearly that it will do so without one of the leading names in the F1 circus over the last decades, F1 race director Charlie Whiting, who passed away yesterday at the age of 66. RIP!
The very popular Charlie had been part of the F1 circus since the 70's
Looking at teams, during my visit to the auto salon in Geneva earlier this month, I had the opportunity to chat to the technical team of the Mercedes AMG F1 team, who agreed on the top teams Mercedes-Ferrari-Red Bull probably dominating this season as well, but also saying that it's very difficult to make out trends among the mid-sized teams. As per one of the technical heads, it is usually pretty easy to get some quite reliable indicators in pre-season testing, but this has not been the case this year, leaving even the top teams relatively clueless as to the capabilities of the mid-sized teams, hopefully setting the stage for an interesting season.
Alfa Romeo has retained Marcus Ericsson as third/reserve driver
In the team line-up, Force India has changed its name to Racing Point, thereby cutting ties with the team's previous Indian owner Vijay Mallya. Sauber has officially been rebranded Alfa Romeo Racing, putting an end to the name Sauber that has been part of F1 since 1993.
Among the drivers, the following transfers and changes are the most noteworthy:
Charles Leclerc has joined Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari. the Monegasque youngster (21 years) drove for Sauber last year and is seen as perhaps the most promising young talent in the field. Kimi Räikkönen has thereby in fact switched seats with Leclerc, joining Alfa Romeo Racing alongside the Italian rookie Antonio Giovanazzi. This is obviously a (quite expected) move in the wrong direction for Kimi, who struggled to keep up with Vettel during most of last season.
Daniel Ricciardo has left Red Bull Racing and joined Nico Hulkenberg at Renault. It was no secret that Red Bull increasingly looked to Max Verstappen as the team's first driver, but Ricciardo certainly had higher hopes than to join the struggling Renault team. Frenchman Pierre Gasly will join Verstappen at Red Bull, leaving no doubt as to who is the team's first driver.
The Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll has taken his money from Williams to Racing Point, thereby ensuring a seat for his son Lance (and making Williams' life even more difficult). The may be a bit harsh since Lance did actually achieve some interesting results last year, but he can't get away from being the most obvious pay driver in the field.
Having first fought for his life, then to keep his right hand, and then to race again, Robert Kubica puts an end to a 7-year struggle by making a remarkable return to the scene this season, driving for Williams. At 34 years Kubica is a veteran who will no doubt struggle, together with the 19-year old English rookie George Russell, to get Williams into the points, as the team on paper is among the weakest in this year's line-up
Few would have thought Kubica would ever return!
Finally there is a new Netflix documentary on the F1 circus based on the 2018 season that I recommend. It's called Drive to Survive and you can check it out here. Tune in for a hopefully exciting race on Sunday morning!


I find it very difficult to trust!
broke me down in a way I never knew was possible!
sure makes me feel a lot better!
in whom I know I can trust.
I still do separate myself from friends.
Most the time I would rather be at home alone.
Most the time I would rather be with just one good friend.
with someone has seemed like a dificult task now days.
and trust will betray me.
being able to actually fully trust people again.
I still find it difficult to trust..
I am finding it more dificult to trust people..
but easier to trust people..
in whom friendships is all it will ever be..


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Home News Three Generations of Holocaust Survivors
Three Generations of Holocaust Survivors
Several authors from UNYP and the National Institute of Mental Health and CEITEC (the Central European Institute of Technology) have written a research article on the effects of the Holocaust. The study was carried out thanks to the support of GACR (Grant Agency of the Czech Republic) and organized by CEITEC leader prof. MUDr. Ivan Rector, CSc.
Because psychological consequences of the Holocaust trauma primarily have been studied in Israeli, North American, and Western European populations, studies from other countries are valuable because very few transgenerational data come from post-communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The Holocaust survivors suffered from extreme, long-term stress during World War II (WWII), in many cases experiencing complex trauma at critical developmental phases that destabilized core elements of the self and one's interpersonal relationships.
The study focuses on three generations living in the Czech Republic and Slovakia after World War II (WWII) – Holocaust survivors (ages 71–95), Holocaust survivors' children (ages 30–73), and their grandchildren (ages 15–48). Authors compared the scores in posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth inventories (PTSD Checklist – Civilian Version, PCL-C; Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, PTGI) in three focal samples with age-matched comparisons. Higher scores in posttraumatic stress were found in the first and third generations, while the second generation did not show any differences in either category compared to the general population. The third generation was significantly higher in posttraumatic stress than the first generation. Higher scores of posttraumatic growth were found only in the first generation. The reasons for the absence of higher PTSD and PTG scores in the second generation of Czech and Slovak Holocaust survivors' offspring require further investigation.
The authors discuss these results in the historical and political context of post-war Czechoslovakia. The manuscript was accepted to the Journal of Traumatic Stress. From UNYP, Edel Sanders and Marek Preiss are among the co-authors.
Marek Preiss
Rethinking Sustainability Strategies for Small Independent Media in the Western Balkans
How to Prioritize!
Researching soil in Ethiopia can predict migration and conflicts
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She is adorable and a Ton of fun! I am such a Blessed Aunt to have this little girl in my life! She makes me laugh!! I just adore her!! She likes to help me find just the perfect toy for her. This little one likes to be creative and loves to be outdoors. I like to find her fun toys that keep her busy. A lot of times I like to look for something that's maybe educational, well the kids don't know it's educational, they just think it's a super fun cool toy.
You can find many great gift ideas for little girls age four. Girls love to play and pretend, they love dolls, games, puzzles and pretend food. It's so good for them to use their imagination to play.
There are many fun gift ideas for little girls; they love everything pink and pretty! Our Little girl, loves dress up, pink purses, skates and pretend food! There are so many things that can keep a little girl busy. Here is a list that we have put together of some of our favorite toys & gifts for girls age 4. Here are a few of the toys my niece loves!
Girls age 4 love to ride their scooter, have backyard BBQ's and play with their dolls. These are great Great Gift ideas!
Our children love playing store!! We just Love this Little Tikes Smart Checkout! Kids love pretend play and with this cool Smart Checkout counter kids can scan their food and watch it move down the conveyer belt. They can even pretend to pay, using the credit card and money slot.
My Little Pony!! That's what my kids want, they want any kind of My Little Pony Toys! I was so happy to find the Bright Lite My Little Pony toy for my kids! I remember having a Bright Light toy as child, this one is really fun and cute! My Little Pony toys are very popular for kids!
The JC Toys doll is Super cute!! We think she looks almost real. This Doll is made super well and the manufacture has been in the business making life like dolls, for over 30 years.
The dolls body is soft, and there is so much detail in her arms, legs & head. I think any 4 year old girl would be so excited to receive this doll as a birthday gift!
Getting children a Ride on Toy for a gift is such a good idea! Kids need to get outside and play hard. These Ride on Toys for girls age four help to develop strong leg muscles. I love to take walks to the park with my niece as she rides on her pretty pink trike. She loves her trike and it a fun way for us to spend the day.
This is such a super cool idea for kids who love to play on their iPad's or watch TV. Your children will be in control of all the fun action. Its pretty cool because the faster they pedal, the faster the action will be on their game. Download just the right game for your child to have fun. This Smart Cycle is so much fun!
The faster kids pedal, the faster the on-screen action!
These are just Super Fun Art Craft Ideas for kids. Girls age 4 will keep pretty busy creating these cute animals! Our girls love doing Crafts!
The Fisher-Price Servin Suprises is so amazing! These are so much fun for making delicious Pretend Meals to serve to family and friends. This is one of the best toys for a 4 year old girl. Girls love to play with Pretend Food.
We love the Fisher Price Little People toys. We've gotten quite a few as gifts for birthdays and Christmas. They are one of the most played with toys, and the kids really use their imagination when playing with their Fisher -Price play sets.
These are the hottest toys for little girls right now! I am always seeing kids with these bracelets and the LOL dolls! Our kids always bring them everywhere! They are super cute!
Twisty Petz - 3-Pack - Sunshiny Pony, Posie Poodle and Surprise Collectible Bracelet set L.O.L. Surprise! Glam Glitter Series Doll Twisty Petz - Dazzly Deer - Make a Bracelet or Twist into a Pet!
Little girls age four love to play grocery store, it's so fun to shop like mom and buy food. They have super cute cash registers for little girls and even shopping carts. These are some of the toys my niece loves. She likes to make Pretend Food for me to eat.
We love the Kindle Fire HD 8 Learning Tablet for children. It makes a great gift for 4 year old girl. It's a wonderful learning tablet; they will have so much fun with the Fire HD 8 they won't even know they are learning. Educational books, games, videos, apps and built in camera. The Fire 8 Tablet is an amazing fun way for kids to learn. Pick out their favorite character and let them have a blast learning. We have found many fun Online Games To Play and the kids have so much fun playing they won't even know their learning.
Four-year-old girls love the KidKraft Majestic Mansion Dollhouse. The Dollhouse play set is so much fun for girls, they can move the furniture around rooms to decorate. There are plenty of rooms for girls to enjoy, and it's three stories high. The dolls are a separate purchase, but my niece has plenty of Barbie dolls to add to her house. It's such a fun play set for little girls, my 4 year old niece loves this KidKraft Dollhouse.
Tents are so much fun for girls to play in. They really like to crawl through them, and it gives them a place of their own to play & read. These are some of the Play Tents we like, they are super durable and kids can use them indoors and outdoors.
I happen to love any of the KidKraft toys, but these kitchens are amazing!! Having a Play Kitchen for a four year old is so much fun. Kids love to cook and make special things for us to eat. Children like to pretend to cook great meals. And of course we love to eat what they pretend to make.
Board games are always fun for kids! Here are some of the most Popular Games for girls age four. We like to sit down and play a good board game together once in awhile. It's always good to have family game night. Here are a few of the games we like.
Snap Pop Beads are so much fun for our little crafty girl! She will sit for hours and put together such cute necklaces, and bracelets! This is the perfect Birthday gift that she likes to give to her friends because, she loves it so!
It's so fun to watch how much fun children have making mud pies. Girls age 4 will have a blast with their own water table, and they can play for hours. They will love to play with other kids with any of these cool Water Tables. Children can be so creative playing with sand and water, and it keeps them so busy.
My Giggly Monkey is a fun pet for girls age four. It helps little girls to be nurturing and role-play, being the mom. This monkey will respond when you play with it. It will giggle when you tickle the monkey, and it can monkey sounds when you hold her. The cuddly monkey's eyes will shut when you put her to bed. There are more favorite FurReal Friends that kids Love! It's hard picking out the cutest one because they all are so adorable!
Children love to be read to. These Books are some of the favorites that children enjoy. Books make a great gift for kids, for birthdays, Christmas and even when their not feeling well. I know we like to get a good book and just sit and read together.
I think I would have to say, that the STEP2 EXTREME ROLLER COASTER is one of the Best Toys we have ever bought! The kids have Soo much fun on this thing! I would say it gets used almost everyday!! We loved it so much we bought it in the smaller size, the Step2 Up & Down Roller Coaster and put it in the house. The kids Absolutely love their Step2 Roller Coaster!
How about something of their very own, like a special piece of furniture. Little girls love having their own couch and chairs. We think these are really cute for girls age 4!
A #1 best seller for kids!! The Pogo Foam Hoppers make an amazing gift for kids of all ages. The Hoppers's can support up to 250lbs so even adults can try them. They are super fun and they are great for indoor and outdoor play.
I love Legos for kids! They make just the perfect gift to give to any child. They always have Lego's for all ages. Children can build things over and over again and it always comes out a little bit different. The new Lego Junior are super cute for girls 4 years old.
My niece Loves to sing and she has a beautiful voice! Ever since she was little, she will sing in front of anyone. Getting her a karaoke machine was a great gift idea. I think it's one of her favorite toys. My niece loves using the microphone, she likes to hear herself sing: it's really cute.
find more 4 year old girl gifts!


Kid Cudi is silent about Drake diss on "Two Birds, One Stone" but his manager is calling the 6 God a "corny" rapper.
Drake raised some eyebrows on Sunday when he released the single dissing Kid Cudi and Pusha T, both of whom previously dissed him recently. But Twitter wasn't too happy with the Toronto emcee given that Cudi is currently getting treatment for depression.
Drake has been unapologetic this week over the diss even after getting called out for making light of Kid Cudi's depression in the track.


Written by Lois Lumbra—12/20, We had a little snow and freezing slush of some kind overnight, as the sidewalks and roads were all crunchy this morning, like walking on cornflakes, with it at 20 degrees. This afternoon Lynda Cluba and grand-daughter Benah picked me up and we went to Richford, picked up some clementines for the workers at "Lady Of The Meadows" for a Christmas gift. We were there to visit with Charlotte Deuso and Therese Demar and present them with a "Gift Of Love". We had a nice visit with Therese and she enjoyed little Benah, she sang "Twinkle, twinkle little star" for Therese and danced for her. She is just a little bundle of joy and had a great time. We ended with singing "We wish you a Merry Christmas." One more thing right after Lynda picked me up she had to go for gas, I waited in the car with Benah, as she was looking at a book, (she is 3) but pretended to read the book as it had been read to her, all of a sudden she starts laughing and laughing, I said what is funny, she said this frog. I had to laugh just to hear her laugh, then she wanted me to see the frog in the book, it was funny as the frog looked like it was laughing also. We did not get to see Charlotte as she was out with her Family celebrating Christmas. Sorry, we missed you C.
12/14, Sonny and I check on his old homestead on North Hill for his family member, and today I asked Sonny if we could go up to McGinley's which they purchased from Mr. Gazdik a few years ago. I had seen Susan McGinley recently at the Garden Club party and asked if they had taken down the old house. She told me it was all down and gone, so Sonny and I went up to take a look. Sonny had helped with the building of that house back in the early 60's. Sonny with his small bulldozer dug the cellar hole and with his wagon got many of the stones off the stone-walls during the Fall and Winter months for building of the fireplace and outside walls. We had had some snow but kept going off because of the warm weather almost like this year, and Christmas day was around 62 degrees. It sure makes for a big hole as the house was so big. The McGinleys really enjoy their new home and the privacy of their property.
Also while I was at the Garden Party sharing chit-chat, Susan was telling us about a big female moose coming out of the property owned by John Newton, walked right in front of her and kept walking down the road until it reached Scheffler's and walked off the road way. Susan was on her way to the airport in the wee hours of the morning and did not want to toot her horn at the moose, did not want to awake anyone. So she slowly drove behind the moose as the moose seemed to have the right of way. Susan said they have moose come out to the ponds up on their property and often see the huge bull moose.
12/17, I accompanied Merle and Linda VanGieson to the Christmas dinner at the Dairy Center that Lise Gates and her crew provided for Senior Citizens. We all enjoyed a delicious roast pork dinner with all the fixings. Lise asked Fredda Ploof and Rachel Roy to come in and sing Christmas songs while people gathered. Fredda asked me to join in on a few Christmas songs, which was nice and I really enjoyed myself. I think everyone had a great time and sooooo enjoyed the Tea Cup Auction.
12/18, Marijke Dollois and Charlie hosted the Historical Society Christmas Party at her beautifully holiday decorated home on Hill West, with most of the MHS Board Members present each bringing delicious snacks to share. A short business meeting was held. Thanks so very much to two of the greatest host and hostess, it was cozy and warm with a wonderful holiday spirit.
12/19, Lynda Cluba and her two young granddaughters Torah-yah and Benah Cluba ages 6 1/2 and 3 years old accompanied us as we delivered calendars that we purchased locally from the M.Historical Society "Then and Now;" "The Gifts of Love" were given out to several senior citizens in town. A few of the ladies opened up their gift while we were still there and we feel so rewarded by the looks and how the calendars remind them of what used to be. The children sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" to every house we went to. The senior's we visited were so happy to see these little girls and showed them their Christmas decorations and lit their tree for them. They enjoyed delivering gifts and were so good, and Lynda and I were as over whelmed. We Went to Connie McFarlands home and she has a doll collection, and little Benah just loves dolls and was amazed at the beautiful dolls she was shown. She would like to have purchased one but under-stood when Grammy told her they were not for sale, that they were a collection. We went to Bernie's for hot chocolate with whipped cream on top, YUMMY!!! On our way out, I'm very careful going down steps and Torah-Yah was waiting for me, I said I'm old and slow, She said "Old starts at eighty." We had a great time and Lynda and I felt like one of the kids, little ones seem to do that, don't they? Once back to the car, we smelled the candy canes really strong, Lynda's dog Jimmy found his way into the front seat and had eaten 3 of them, he could not deny that he had eaten them as he had some stuck to his whiskers. That was hilarious!!! We all thought that was funny and had a good laugh.
Happy Birthday to: Lynnda Levine, Eli Gabuzda, Gavin Baker 12/27, Marilyn Baker12/29, Artie Baker, Kelsie Deuso 12/31, Doris Buttendorf 1/3.


"With astroPuppees, I was living in L.A. and it was electric and loud," says singer-songwriter Kelley Ryan. "Now, it's scaled down and deeper and quieter—not loud like the traffic."
"At this time, the main job for an artist is to remind people what it is to be human, and that we need to look out for each other and love each other unconditionally," says Frank Iero.
"Everything is on me and if anything goes wrong, I have to look to myself," says Joe Lewis about his touring behind his newest album BACKLASH.
"I want to try to do everything myself in a solo project," says singer-guitarist Adrian Belew. "It's a personal picture of what goes on in my musical head."
Each stop "has a special meaning because I have a specific memory of the city at that time," says singer Patti Smith about her upcoming midwestern dates celebrating the HORSES album.
"Pretty much all of our songs are a love song wrapped around a drinking song," says Cadillac Three lap-steel player Kelby Ray. "That's country music, right?"
Singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy says her album EMOTIONS AND MATH "works as a whole even though it has different inspirations from different times."
"There's something more about getting scared that keeps me alive and makes me happy," says The Bye Bye Man director Stacy Title.


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Survey: Saldana 3 to 1 Over Faulconer
by Frank Gormlie on February 8, 2016 · 0 comments
in Election, Media, Ocean Beach, Politics, San Diego
The OB Rag ran a survey of our readers over their choice of major candidates for San Diego mayor, and Lori Saldana bested Kevin Faulconer 3 to 1,
In our online poll which ran for about a week, 51% of respondents chose Saldana and 17% chose Faulconer.
This is no huge surprise as OB Rag readers have more of a liberal bent than a cross-section of San Diegans. But it does show that Saldana definitely has a base among liberals, progressives and independents in this town.
The choice "somebody else" garnered almost 14%. There is a number of candidates that are not well-known and no well-known candidates besides Saldana have jumped into the mayoral race against Faulconer, a Republican. There is no well-known Democrat and Saldana is running as an Independent.
Over 10% of the participants don't know who they are voting for and nearly 7 and a half per cent "won't or can't vote." 94 readers took part.
As usual, our survey was not scientific. It does reflect views of our readers, however.
Here's the survey.
If the San Diego mayoral poll was held today, as a San Diego voter, who would you vote for?
Kevin Faulconer 17.02% – ( 16 votes )
Lori Saldana 51.06% – ( 48 votes )
Somebody else 13.83% – ( 13 votes )
Don't know yet. 10.64% – ( 10 votes )
Won't or can't vote. 7.45% – ( 7 votes )
Poll total votes: 94
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Frank Gormlie July 19, 2019 at 1:04 pm on The History of San Diego's Thirty-Foot Height LimitSee this: https://obrag.org/2018/05/city-poised-to-dismantle-30-foot-height-limit-to-allow-massive-redevelopment-in-midway-district/
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Sloan July 19, 2019 at 1:36 am on The History of San Diego's Thirty-Foot Height LimitObviously, the coast and its views should be for everyone, at least for the majority of the population. There should...
OBkid July 18, 2019 at 6:50 pm on Are Well-Known Cottages on Niagara Ave Up for Rehab?As long as not Short Term Vacation Rentals - do what thou wilt
retired botanist July 18, 2019 at 4:53 pm on Why Would the City Allow Round Up Dabbers at OB's Dog Beach Area the Day Before July 4?And in case anyone had any residual faith in the EPA, here's yet another stunning decision...apparently we'll now have to...
Frances O'Neill Zimmerman July 18, 2019 at 4:37 pm on The History of San Diego's Thirty-Foot Height LimitToday a set of different developers and architects and realtors and members of the City Planning Commission and politicians and...
Steven July 18, 2019 at 3:45 pm on May 5, 1970 Was One of the Most Explosive Days in American HistoryAt Penn State University, students took over the administration building. In the days following, the school decided to sponsor civics...
Zan July 18, 2019 at 1:54 pm on May 5, 1970 Was One of the Most Explosive Days in American HistoryWhere are all activists now. Climate change, 18 years of war, poverty and hunger in our on country, corruption, rape,...
Debbie July 18, 2019 at 11:13 am on The History of San Diego's Thirty-Foot Height LimitThis is fantastic! Mingon, Alex, Mel so many that have left the earth are happy to hear this news. Congratuations...this...
Mayapur Chandra July 18, 2019 at 10:14 am on Are Well-Known Cottages on Niagara Ave Up for Rehab?Please do not pursue contacting Doug Harvey, as it will only make my situation worse.
retired botanist July 18, 2019 at 10:04 am on Hell Yes the Man's a RacistYeah, I always thought there was no way Congress could get any more dysfunctional. I was wrong. SIX committees, 3...
Oldob July 18, 2019 at 5:32 am on Are Well-Known Cottages on Niagara Ave Up for Rehab?I'll reach out to Doug: Hey Doug, feel free to do whatever it is you want with YOUR family's property...
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Home » Around the Blogs » Link Roundup: The All-Star Break Cometh
July 11, 2013	Around the Blogs Paul Festa
Link Roundup: The All-Star Break Cometh
With one series left before the All-Star Break, the Mets have a chance to finish the first half of their season on a high note. They have to play the Pirates in Pittsburgh. The Bucs had a great first half, but have struggled of late having lost 6 of 10. The Mets, on the other hand, have won 7 of their last 10.
Most recently, they wrapped up their first road sweep of the San Francisco Giants since 1994. Here's the Mets' roster from that strike-shortened season. (And they're still paying Bobby Bonilla, amirite??)
What has been the difference in the Mets during this recent stretch of better baseball? The will to win? Emotion? A football mentality? Or maybe it's just a matter of finding better players to replace the other players who weren't performing.
Is their recent play a sign of things to come, or is it simply a blip on the radar screen?
They've also been much better on the road than at home this year.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking away the moments leading up to the first All-Star Game in Queens since 1964. Should Marlon Byrd have joined David Wright and Matt Harvey in the Midsummer Classic?
Harvey will likely make an appearance in the game, whether he starts or not. The Mets will skip his spot in the rotation during the Pittsburgh series. The reason for this is threefold. First, he's on pace for 240 innings. He threw 160 total last year between the minors and majors. That's a huge jump for most young pitchers. Second, he's been pitching with a blister on his finger lately. And third, it will allow him to throw 25-30 pitches or so in the ASG.
And lastly, Darryl Strawberry thinks Tim Tebow is a "real man."
That's all for today. Happy All-Star Break, and have a great weekend.
Back Mets Game 88: Win Over Giants
Next Mets Game 89: Loss to Pirates
Tags: All Star game, byrd, harvey, mets, Strawberry, Wright
Paul Festa
Paul is a freelance writer, blogger, and broadcast technology professional residing in Denver. A New Jersey native, he is a long-suffering Mets fan, a recently-happy Giants fan, and bewildered Islanders fan. He's also a fair-weather Avalanche and Rockies supporter. In his spare time, he enjoys the three Gs: Golf, Guitars, and Games.
Link Roundup: Playing Carnac
Mets Game 162: Win Over Brewers
Mets Game 161: Loss To Brewers
Dan B July 11, 2013 at 1:31 pm
the Mets need bullpen help. The Red Sox just called up a young reliever who had a 2.18 era in AAA and hasn't given up a run in three games in the majors. How about the Mets trade Anthony Reeker for the Pedro Beato guy?
TexasGusCC July 12, 2013 at 1:34 am
My opinion on why the Mets have played better ball lately is twofold:
1. Who have they played lately? The Giants are 10 games under and a lineup that's worse than the Mets. Milwaukee kicked the ball around. Against the D-backs, the manager screwed up the first game and after a nice 9-1 win, the Mets lost the next two. They lost a series to the Nats, beat the Phillies, won 3 of 5 against the Braves, lost a series to the CUBS, and lost to the Cardinals. That has been the last month. Do you see any Reds, or Dodgers, or Pirates? Let's not get carried away, but hey, wins are wins.
2. They have played better baseball by catching it more often and getting rid of players like Ankiel, Tejada, Duda and Davis that let's face it, were not performing. They were replaced by Lagares who has played great defensively and has hit well; Quintanilla who has played very good defense and gotten some clutch hits; Young who has added speed to this lead footed lineup, hit over .300 and catches it in left more often than we're used to; and Satin who has hit .380 playing first base and got replaced by a player that I wonder if I would want to be my first baseman if it were MY team.
Here's why I say that about Davis: Yes, he has power. But he strikes out a lot, does not show to have a good average and worse of all, his glove has become a decoration. He doesn't move for the ball, doesn't scoop out balls in the dirt, and doesn't seem to have any range. I give you two options: Player A has .260, 30 hr, 90 rbi, 175 Ks, not good defensively; Player B has .290, 20 hr, 90 rbi, 110 Ks, and better than average defensively. Who do you want? I want the better defensive player that saves more runs and is involved on more runs because although he may not hit the homeruns, getting on more often gives the offense more juice. Lagares is better defensively than Ankiel, Young is better than Duda, Quintanilla is better (this year) than Tejada, and Satin was better defensively than Davis. That half your lineup!
Therefore, go with the players that produce or you are hurting the team, period. That's my opinion.
Micalpalyn July 12, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Not that simple, although the argument is strong.
-Hefner has pitched well, no one could have predicted his improvement.
-Josh Satin has been a find, even in small sample.
-Eric Young for Colin mchugh. If you map the surge it really started with him. He has been the lead off guy we needed. Plus I like him in LF not CF.
-bullpen. Carlos Torres was the boost the pen needed along with Dave Aardsma.
– Harvey. Sorry but he is tired. He has dropped off a bit. In a nothing season, we need to see him go into next year healthy
– Oher kids are getting closer too. Noah, Montero could be up in September.
– AND, didn't Wilmer go 4-5 with 2 homers……hmmmmm.
Question. Could Ike be demoted again?
okay, since nobody is biting my Beato idea, Seattle has one of the best set-up guys in baseball. He is only 31 years old and a lefty. His ERA is 1.75 in 38 games. How about the Mets trade for Oliver Perez?
DaveSchneck July 12, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Okay, I'll bite on this one, but only because Scott Rice's arm should fall off shortly after the all-star break. Seattle needs bats, how about Jason Bay? Wait, bad idea, that already happened, somehow, I think. Need a lefty, ok, Mike Baxter? Not enough? Ok, we'll throw in Ike too. Boy, this GM work is tougher than I thought.
NormE July 12, 2013 at 3:22 pm
Dan B,
I love the way you are trying to stir the pot. Let's face it, Ollie is never coming our way again. Both sides (Mets, Ollie) are better off that way.
The bullpen is not a major issue at the moment, but getting rid of Recker means that you have a #2 catcher ready as a replacement. It's important now that TC may have grasped the importance of giving Buck more rest.
I have not seen Beato lately, but the Mets misused/abused him. Too bad.
norm, my wife always complain that I am stirring the pot with our friends. Guilty as charged.
Micalpalyn July 13, 2013 at 6:02 pm
#2 catcher? We don't have a number 1.


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I was going to write about something else, but felt compelled to share this. It's Saturday afternoon, I just came back from an ice cream run with the kiddies and I just said my afternoon prayers. As I sat in my closet (where I pray) and talked to God about how I thank him for helping me acknowledge my errors, I also touched on something else.
There was a point in my life a few months ago where I was unhappy with where I was. I have this good job, I am helping other parents, I have my own apartment, a brand new vehicle, I work from home. I mean I was not satisfied. This is coming from a woman who moved from NYC a year ago with her two boys and $400 in her pocket. A year ago I was sharing a two bedroom apartment with my brother. A year ago I slept on the bottom bunk futon pull out with my son. A year ago I road the train to and from work. A year ago the things I have right now we're things I prayed for, and I was still not satisfied. But I never stopped to really think about what it was that I was missing. I thought, perhaps if I buy a video camera, and set it up in my home, I can record myself and see how I am from a different lens. I was being greedy and I need to be able to change that with a switch. Now I say greedy, because if you are not in the mindset of gratefulness, you don't account for the things that you have. I allowed my circumstances to get the best of me, and since my children are the only ones around, my way of communicating wasn't at its best. I said, you know what God, if I could only program my mind to step outside of myself and see how I react the environment around me, perhaps the will to want to change will be greater. Then, I said wait, that is self awareness. And since I am not buying a camera anytime soon, I will work on doing just that. Change the way I think, to change the way I see things.
I am sure there are some things you may not be thrilled about yourself. Whether it be your weight, how you act around people, your finances, or where you are presently career wise. The power of change is there. It can be done, it is attainable. It's just at your paste. All you have to do is sit down and truly ask yourself. Some of these questions.
If I did change this, how will this benefit me?
Am I trying to be like someone else, or uniquely myself?
What are things that you don't like in others?
Are those same things perfect in your world?
So with that said, I hope you take the time out to reflect on your life as a whole, and your awareness. Are you truly aware of you?
→ I'm Not a Bad Mom, I'm just having a rough day.


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POETRY >
Subjects & Themes / Places >
Larry Laurence
Highly accessible, these are poems about love and work. They are bawdy and sublime, loving and carnal. Each poem suggests its own story, yet, taken together, they off entrance to the world in all its depth and mystery. Larry Laurence has won awards from Artists Trust and the Seattle Arts Commision and has received residencies from Squaw Valley (California) Community of Writers and Cummington (Massachusetts) Center of the Arts.
About Larry Laurence
Larry Laurence has won awards from Artists Trust and Seattle Arts Commission and has had residencies at Squaw Valley Community of Writers and Cummington (Massachusetts) Center for the Arts.
POE023040 (POETRY / Subjects & Themes / Places)
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Milepost 27
Milepost 27 showcases the poet's examination of the effects of climate change...
Strange with Age
by Cumberland, Sharon
Strange with Age, by prize-winning poet Sharon Cumberland, explores the gains and losses of the ageing process through the prism of her 95-year-old father, as well as other, wide-ranging subjects concerned with the vagaries and challenges of living...
The Grand Piano Range
by James, Sibyl
The "range" of the poems in Siby James' new collection, The Grand Piano Range, is political and personal as well as geographic. Many of the poems are grounded in the Pacific Northwest: Alaska, Oregon, and, most often, Washington where James has been a longtime resident...
All Fire All Water
Judith Roche's fourth collection of poems, All Fire All Water, consists of four parts. "Rivers Have Memories," the first part, explores nature and our relationship to it. Poems include fish and birds, bees and wolves, storms and the changing of the seasons. Drawing from the Salish Sea, where Roche lives, the Pacific Ocean, and the northern Great Lakes, these poems are steeped in water...
Peculiar Honors
Peculiar Honors is a collection of poems about how things appear to be one way, then surprise us by being something else. There is an alternative reality that becomes visible only through the lens of poetry. What seems to be an egg, or a crossing signal, or a child sitting in a shopping cart turns out to be a portal into the unexpected...


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Day Trips from Da Nang (Municipality) to Da Nang
Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary Open Tour from Da Nang
Marble Mountains and Hoi An City: Full-Day Large Group Visit
From Da Nang: Day Trip to Bà Nà Hill Station
Private Excursion of Hue from Hoi An or Danang City
Da Nang: City, Scenery, and Attractions Tour by Jeep
Da Nang: Full-Day My Son Sanctuary Tour
Hue Historical Tour from Da Nang
Da Nang: Small-Group Hue Imperial City and Hai Van Pass Tour
Duration: 11.5 hours
Our most recommended Da Nang (Municipality) Day Trips From
1. Private Excursion of Hue from Hoi An or Danang City
Hue (pronounced 'hway') was the capital city of Vietnam where the Nguyen dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945. Hue owes its charm partly to its location on the Perfume River. This location is also the destination of palaces, pagodas, tombs, temples, culture, and cuisine, as well as history and heartbreak — as such, the city is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site status. This private excursion gives you an opportunity to explore not only the Imperial Citadel of Hue, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the Perfume River but also a chance to meet local people in a rural village. Your tour guide will pick up you at your hotel and upon arrival in Hue, you will visit locations and sites such as Haivan Pass, Langco Bay, the Khai Dinh Tomb, the Minh Mang Tomb and the Conical Hat Making Making Village. After having lunch, you will visit the Royal Citadel, the Forbidden City, Hue Royal Museum, and the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda on the riverbank. After your visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, you'll board a dragon boat for sight-seeing along the Perfume River. At the end of the tour, you'll be dropped off at the hotel you were picked up from.
2. Hoi An/Da Nang: Hue City Private Tour
At 8 AM, get picked up from the lobby of your hotel in Da Nang/Hoi. Meet your private driver and climb into a comfortable modern vehicle. Set off for Hue City making a couple of stops for sightseeing and incredible natural scenery along the way. Drive through the Hai Van Pass where you will immerse yourself in a sea of clouds. Also, pass by the stunning Lang Co Bay, and Lap An Lagoon to take in the magnificent views. Arrive in Hue and meet your private English-speaking tour guide who will join you for the entire city tour. First, visit Khai Dinh Tomb - built for the 12th Emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty and blending Western and Eastern architecture. Then, head over to Minh Mang Tomb, built on the west bank of the Perfume River and dedicated to Minh Mang and his empress. After this, stop for lunch in Hue at a local restaurant. Once you have refueled, continue the tour with a visit to the Citadel, also known as The Imperial City. Explore this Unesco World Heritage Site, a walled enclosure and the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Next, see the Thien Mu Pagoda - an impressive 7-story pagoda which is regarded as an iconic symbol of the city. Finally, get dropped off back at your hotel in Da Nang/Hoi An, returning by around 7:30 PM.
3. From Da Nang: Day Trip to Bà Nà Hill Station
Journey to Bà Nà Hill Station in the beautiful Trường Sơn Mountains. Ride aboard the world's longest cable car on arrival, and get breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery as you make your way to Hill Station 2. Avail of different attractions and experiences independently, such as a visit to the French-built Debay Wine Cellar and the magnificent Linh Ung pagoda temple with its 67-meter tall Lady Buddha statue. See a century-old bưởi (pomelo) tree or go for a stroll in the lush gardens of Loc Uyen. Admire the Quan Am Pavilion and play exciting games suitable for all ages at the entertainment complex. Enjoy an included lunch at a restaurant and get stunning views from the highest mountain peak in Vietnam. Encounter monkeys in the natural monkey garden and much more.
4. Da Nang: City, Scenery, and Attractions Tour by Jeep
This private or shared tour starts with morning pickup from your accommodation by jeep followed by a drive along the coastline to the stunning Marble Mountains. Ride the elevator to the top and explore the caves and temples built right into the mountain. Take in the spectacular views of the city and vast beaches along the coastline of Da Nang. Continue along to the coast towards Monkey Mountain where the road climbs to Linh Ung Pagoda — one of the most significant destinations for Buddhists in Vietnam. From here, gaze at the mesmerizing Lady Buddha standing tall 2,300 feet above sea level. Next up is the Monkey Mountain Heliport Vestige, built in 1965 by the US army as a strategic site for accessing their mountain bases. Journey onward to the viewing tower for panoramic views of the Son Tra Peninsula and the surrounding lush green forests. Also nearby is an army radar station where you can take in wonderful ocean views stretching as far as the eye can see. The tour continues after a break for lunch when you cruise along the coastline on the Hai Van Pass. You will see bunkers remaining from the war and also have time to explore the area before taking a final drive back to your accommodation.
5. Discover Ba Na Hill: Full-Day Tour from Hoi An
Begin your full-day shared or private tour at 08:00 with pickup at your residence in Hoi An. Make your way to the beautiful Ba Na Hills, a hill station and resort located in the Truong Son Mountain region of central Vietnam. See the fascinating Linh Ung Pagoda and marvel at its exquisite architectural design. Stand before the massive 30-meter tall statue of Buddha towering in the clouds, and then make your way to a French cellar still used today to distill alcohol. Continue the tour to the lovely Tinh Tam Garden, stand at the Nghinh Phong Peak, and make your way to Vong Nguyet Hill for some spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding region. Visit Golden Bridge, a 150-meter long pedestrian bridge with two giant stone hands supporting the structure. Get a scenic overlook and enjoy the view of the beautiful landscape of nature comfortably and smoothly.
6. From Da Nang: Full-Day Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge Tour
Discover the beauty of Ba Na Hills on this full-day program. Experience 4 distinct seasons in a single day: it will feel like spring in the morning, like summer by noon, autumn by the afternoon and winter in the evening! With the hiking train, visitors traveling to Ba Na can enjoy views of the stunning natural landscapes in comfort. Visit several popular destinations including Linh Ung Pagoda with its exquisite architectural design and 30-meter-high Buddha statue. Continue to the Tinh Tam garden, Nghinh Phong peak, and Vong Nguyet hill, then stop for lunch.
8. From Da Nang: Private Tour to Hoi An and Marble Mountains
Explore beyond the borders of Da Nang, with this private day trip by visiting the fascinating Marble Mountains and Hoi An's Ancient Town for the most beautiful spots. Start the journey with a pickup at your accommodation in Da Nang and head to Non Nuoc Village. Also known as Non Nuoc Fine Arts Village, it is set at the foot of the Marble Mountains and features hundreds of artisans showcasing their work. Find stone and marble statues as well as household items, utensils, and jewelry. After browsing through the many sculptures at the foot of the mountain, take a short lift up the Marble Mountains. One of central Vietnam's famous landmarks, the Marble Mountains are a cluster of five limestone cliffs named after the elements of the Earth. But don't be deceived by its imposing facade. The mountains themselves have many caves, tunnels, and shrines to visit and explore. On this tour, pass by the Linh Ung Pagoda, the Tang Chon Cave, Huyen Khong Cave, and Tam Thai Pagoda. After descending the mountain, head to Hoi An's Ancient Town. Once a flourishing trading port, this UNESCO World Heritage Site remains well-preserved with old-style shophouses, museums, and temples all open to explore. Wander through the weathered streets and pass by bridges, museums, and assembly halls before stopping for a tasty Vietnamese lunch (at your expense) and heading back to Da Nang.
9. Hoi An: Small-Group Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge Tour
Explore the Ba Na Hills and including all of its attractions, both old and new. Your group will ride gravity-defying cable cars through the misty mountains, and there will be time to snap photos along the magnificent Golden Bridge, an elevated walkway through the mountains supported by two enormous stone hands. Afterwards, experience the history of the region by going on an adventure below ground to see French cellars that were used to distill alcohol during the colonial era; a true step back in time for history lovers. Before the end of the day, there will be a gentle hike up Chua Mountain for panoramic views and to visit the Linh Chua Linh Tu Temple and Linh Ung Pagoda, which is famous for its large Buddha.
10. From Da Nang: Full-Day Trip to Hue
You need yo take these tours! I can't stress enough how great this service was. My husband and I were in Da Nang for a couple of days during Tet, and they were so kind to take us on a tour to Marble Mountains, The Lady Buda and An Phu Cave. Communication was great from the very start, we could arrange everything online and by a phone call. Our guides were so nice and experienced people, they picked us up at our hotel early in the morning and took us on their bikes, it was so fun. We stopped on the road to take some pictures while they were explaining us about the places we would visit, then they took us to many hidden little paths so we could reach points with gorgeous views, and God they are fit people, the tour demands some energy from your body since you'll be walking and doing some climbing as well, but it's all worth it, you get to see incredible sculptures in dramatic caves, impressive landscapes... while learning a lot about a fascinating culture. Highly recommend this tour!
Da Nang: Lady Buddha, Monkey Mountain and Am Phu Cave Tour Reviewed by Michelle, 2/14/2021
I think the view is magnificent, we were unlucky that it was cloudy. the golden bridge is grand, but the french village is a bunch of bad copies of disneyland and the Efteling. make sure you eat well in advance as the food on offer is poor, extremely touristy and little choice. because the virus makes the park nice and quiet due to the lack of many (mainly Chinese) tourists, 50% of the restaurants are also closed
Hoi An: Small-Group Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge Tour Reviewed by Ad, 3/11/2020
Quan was a fabulous tour guide for our trip to the Ba Na Hills! Happily showed us around and took heaps of photos for us as well as told us the history behind the place. An extra stop on the way there to see the the marble from Marble Mountain and a stop on the way home at the Faifo Coffee & Tea factory for a tour- both free of charge. Would highly recommend.
Hoi An: Small-Group Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge Tour Reviewed by Laura, 3/3/2020
Our tour guide Tin was very friendly and spoke good understandable English. He enriched our visit to the facility with a lot of knowledge. We were lucky enough to be alone with Tin.
My Son Sanctuary Tour from Da Nang Reviewed by Linda, 3/10/2020
as always very well organized, great guide to Hoi An, you deserve her bonus!
Marble Mountains and Hoi An City: Full-Day Large Group Visit Reviewed by Piotr, 3/2/2020