We see a large number of patients in our Prescott clinic, and Weary Chiropractic Clinic has helped countless people eliminate a wide array of health issues. Even so, the primary concern that seems to prevent some people from getting care is whether or not chiropractic adjustments are safe. Well, according to three different studies (out of many on the topic), the answer to this question is a clear: "Yes! Chiropractic is safe!"
The first study(1) was published in Spine and involved 183 men and women. Each test subject was suffering from some kind of back pain, and half of the individuals received real chiropractic care while the remaining patients were given two fake chiropractic treatments. Data was gathered after each real or fake adjustment to determine whether or not any unpleasant reactions occurred as a result of the real chiropractic treatments.
Researchers reported that no participants reported any significant adverse side effects in any way after getting one or two sessions of chiropractic care. Some participants did state that they had a headache (just 9% of people) or muscle stiffness (37 percent) post-treatment, but the effects were not serious.
The next study(2), also released in the important publication, Spine, was done in an effort to ascertain the safety of chiropractic care. The test group was much larger -- 20,000 individuals. Each participant received chiropractic adjustments of the cervical spine, with over 50,000 total adjustments for all study participants.
Again, the experts discovered no serious adverse side effects. The authors computed the risk of total adverse reactions to be about six out of every 10,000 consultations or every 100,000 treatment sessions. And, just as with the first study, some volunteers did report non-serious, milder, side effects such as dizziness (less than 2%) or a headache (4%), and this caused the authors to conclude that "the risk of a serious adverse event, immediately or up to 7 days after treatment, was low to very low."
The third research paper(3) is different from the previous two pieces of research, as it concentrates on the safety of chiropractic care for children. In this article, researchers analyzed results reported by both chiropractors and parents involving 816 children who participated in 7,173 chiropractic adjustments.
Out of 5,438 chiropractic appointments made for the kids, chiropractors answering the survey documented only three cases where there were adverse effects. When parents were surveyed, they indicated only two adverse side effects out of 1,735 visits. Furthermore, both chiropractors and parents reported "a high rate of improvement with respect to the children's presenting complaints."
Based on studies like these, chiropractic has been found to be safe and effective for everyone. To learn what chiropractic can do for you, call our Prescott office and schedule an appointment today at (928) 778-2227.
When you're trying to sustain your family, take care of your home, and pay all of your bills on time, every day at work counts. Work injuries can be a huge problem for many people, and we see many of these types of injuries in our Prescott office. Weary Chiropractic Clinic appreciates your situation and is here to help.
The benefits of chiropractic care for work injuries are well-established. A 2013 research paper involving over 600 adults who were suffering with either back or neck pain found that the people who didn't see a chiropractor missed work at twice the rate of those who were seeing a chiropractor.
According to the participants in this paper, two of the major reasons were that they thought they needed a medical referral for chiropractic care (which is typically no longer true) and they overestimated the costs associated with chiropractic treatment sessions by almost 70 percent.
If you live in Prescott and you've been injured at work, we can help. Give our office a call today at (928) 778-2227 for an appointment.
We come across a lot of sports injuries in our Prescott clinic, and Weary Chiropractic Clinic is generally able to assist these athletes. Stanford Children's Hospital states that over 3.5 million children aged 14 and younger are injured each year when playing sports. Add that to the close to 2 million adults injured annually while engaged in sports-related activities, as reported by statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and you can begin to see the necessity of minimizing these sorts of widespread injuries. One approach to potentially realize that goal, as reported by a study released in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, is to engage in regular chiropractic treatments.
In Australian Rules football, hamstring and other leg traumas are common, frequently sidelining the players and impacting their team's likelihood of securing a win. One particular study was conducted using 59 semi-elite Australian Rules footballers to see if chiropractic could diminish these injuries and help keep them in the game.
For this study particularly, every one of the participants received medical treatment. Furthermore, half of them also received chiropractic sessions at the rate of one treatment each week for the first six weeks, biweekly sessions for the next three months, and one treatment a month for the final three months of the study. The other participants were given no chiropractic intervention whatsoever and were used as the control group to assess the benefits of chiropractic care.
Following 24 matches, researchers reported a lessened number of lower limb muscle strains in the group that had received chiropractic care. Moreover, that very group also missed fewer matches correlated to non-contact knee injuries. This lead the researchers to conclude that chiropractic should be added to sports training programs to dramatically decrease the quantity of leg injuries.
If you or your child are active in sports and you want to ensure more time is spent on the field versus on the bench, call our Prescott office at (928) 778-2227 and make an appointment today. We will do our best to keep you in the game!
Weary Chiropractic Clinic sees a lot of back pain patients in our busy Prescott chiropractic office. Many of these people have some kind of spinal issue that is causing them pain and discomfort. Fortunately, Weary Chiropractic Clinic has found that spinal decompression treatment is an effective way to help these individuals.
What is Spinal Decompression and How Can it Help Me?
Non-surgical spinal decompression is a treatment method that takes all of the positive benefits that one normally gets from chiropractic, traction, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, and myofascial therapy and merges them all into one.
The objective of decompression is to keep you off the operating table, and that is precisely what it's done for a number of people, as it has a reported 85% success rate.
A few of the issues spinal decompression helps with include generalized back pain, sciatic nerve pain, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, compression fractures, and joint pain.
Spinal decompression works by reversing the effects of wear, tear, and the force of gravity that compresses the intervertebral discs in your neck and back. The movie below shows how it works to decrease pressure on your back and helps decrease pain and disability.
If you live in Prescott and you're struggling with back pain, spinal decompression therapy might be the answer. Call Weary Chiropractic Clinic today at (928) 778-2227 for a consultation or appointment.
According to research, approximately 5 percent of the population will suffer from painful ailments like frozen shoulder syndrome at some point in their lives. That makes shoulder pain a common occurrence and one that Weary Chiropractic Clinic sees in our Prescott practice on a regular basis.
In general, this issue is more common for people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, and it tends to affect women more often than men. While ice, heat, and gentle stretches can often times help alleviate the discomfort, so too can chiropractic.
As an example, one study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine looked at 50 patients with frozen shoulder who were given chiropractic care. The length of care varied from 11 days to 51 days, with 28 days being the average.
Only one of the original 50 reported an improvement of 50 percent or less, so reports like this show just how beneficial chiropractic care can be when it comes to decreasing shoulder pain and improving quality of life.
Let Weary Chiropractic Clinic help you ease your pain by contacting our Prescott office and scheduling your appointment today.
Weary Chiropractic Clinic works with countless sciatica patients here in our Prescott office, and quite a few of these men and women were afraid that they might require surgery to treat their pain. The most recent research reveals that many people don't require surgery for this widespread problem, and that chiropractic is more effective at clearing up sciatic nerve pain.
A typical surgery for sciatica is microdiscectomy, and in a 2010 study, physicians looked at 80 patients with sciatica who were referred for this procedure.
Forty patients were then randomly sorted into one of two groups. The first group was to receive surgical microdiscectomy and the second group was given chiropractic care.
Both groups got better; however, no obvious difference in outcome was reported one year post-treatment between the surgery group and the chiropractic group. Furthermore, about sixty percent of the participating patients who could not find assistance from any other treatment method "benefited from spinal manipulation to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention."
Simply put, chiropractic offered the same positive advantages as surgery without having to endure the greater levels of surgery-based pain or suffer through extended recovery times often associated with that type of treatment option. Additionally, you also don't run the risks associated with surgical microdiscectomy, including nerve root damage, bowel or bladder incontinence, bleeding, or infection.
Surgery should be the last option for sciatica pain. If you live in Prescott and you're suffering from back pain or sciatica, give Weary Chiropractic Clinic a call today at (928) 778-2227. We'll help pinpoint the start of your pain and work hard to get you relief.
While many women automatically assume that back pain and pregnancy go hand in hand, they are often pleasantly surprised when they discover that this is not necessarily the case. In fact, chiropractic care can often help reduce persistant back pain for pregnant women by as much as 85%.
Weary Chiropractic Clinic has helped many pregnant women with back pain in our Prescott office.
One piece of research published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies involved 115 women who were pregnant (most of which were in their third trimester) and presented with pain in their lower back region, pelvic area, or both. Data was gathered prior to the study, as well as one week, one month, three months, and one year after treatment commenced. At each subsequent point in time, the participants were asked to rate their level of pain based on a 7-point scale to determine whether it was better, worse, or stayed the same. The results?
We're here in Prescott to help you have a healthy, pain-free pregnancy. Give us a call today at (928) 778-2227 to make an appointment.
According to The American Academy of Pain Medicine, more people in the US suffer with chronic pain than diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer combined. On top of that, neck pain is the third most reported type of pain, beat out only by lower back pain and headache.
Of course, many patients come to our Prescott office looking for neck pain care, and Weary Chiropractic Clinic has helped many of them find relief. This is a smart decision, as some research shows that over 90% of neck pain patients benefit from chiropractic care.
A study published in The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy included 64 people who were suffering with neck pain. Approximately half were placed in an experimental group and the other half were designated to a comparison group. Both were given chiropractic adjustments of the neck as well as a home exercise program, while the experimental group also received adjustments of the thoracic spine.
Information was collected before treatment began and one week after the adjustments. Researchers found that 94 percent of the experimental group claimed "significantly greater improvements" in regard to pain and disability in their neck symptoms. Just 35% of the individuals who received neck adjustments showed the same level of improvement, illustrating that looking at the entire spinal column is an important part of restoring the body's normal function.
Another study posted in Physical Therapy involved 60 individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 who were dealing with neck pain. Each man or woman was randomly assigned to one of two groups--thoracic spine thrust manipulation or non-thrust manipulation--with examinations occurring two and four days after the adjustments.
Researchers discovered that the study patients who received the thrust manipulations (the same adjustments that offered such positive results in the first study) "experienced greater reductions in disability" than the group that received the non-thrust manipulations. Their pain was lower as well, which shows that this type of technique offers many benefits.
Another study even found the same kind of positive results after thoracic adjustments in a patient who had a failed neck surgical treatment. This specific case involved a 46-year-old patient who had recently had neck surgery but still suffered with neck pain, headaches, pain in her elbow, and muscle fatigue.
The patient reported decreased pain in her neck and lower headache intensity, right after the first chiropractic treatment session. After six weeks of care, which involved chiropractic, exercise, and patient education, the patient still placed her pain at a zero on a scale of 1 to 10. Her neck disability improved as well, with a rating score that represented that it was a "great deal better."
It is studies like these that demonstrate the advantages of chiropractic care, even if you've already attempted neck surgery that didn't provide relief. So, if you are suffering with neck problems and would like to find a remedy that has a high success rate, try chiropractic. It may just be the relief you're looking for.
We're located in Prescott and Weary Chiropractic Clinic can help you recover from neck pain. Give us a call today at (928) 778-2227.
With the Migraine Research Foundation reporting that migraine headaches affect 38 million adults and children in the U.S. (more than asthma and diabetes put together), it's not surprising that Weary Chiropractic Clinic treats a lot of headache sufferers in our Prescott office. Although some folks try to relieve migraine pain with drugs, chiropractic is a fantastic, all-natural approach that usually provides positive results.
For instance, one report published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics involved 127 patients ranging in age from 10 to 70-years-old who suffered with frequent (at least monthly) migraines. Each subject received up to 16 chiropractic sessions. The patients noted that their headache frequency, duration, and disability two months before the study began, during the duration of the sessions (which was two months), and two months post-treatment.
What the researchers discovered is that chiropractic reduced the frequency, duration, and disability of the migraine pain when compared with the control subjects who didn't receive chiropractic. Even better, this allowed them to take less medication for the pain, offering them an all-natural answer for a chronic condition.
If you have migraine headache pain and are looking for relief, call Weary Chiropractic Clinic today and request an appointment in our Prescott chiropractic office. We'll do what we can to help you become pain-free!
Knee pain is a common problem for people in our Prescott chiropractic practice, and Weary Chiropractic Clinic has successfully provided many of these men and women relief. This is mostly because chiropractic care has been found to help with many forms of knee pain.
For instance, some individuals feel pain in and around the knee tissues due to osteoarthritis. Research has demonstrated that this condition responds very well to chiropractic--and rather quickly, too. In fact, one study published in The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association found that men and women with osteoarthritis in their knees felt significant pain relief and improved function after just two weeks of chiropractic care.
If your knee pain is caused by a medial meniscus sprain, chiropractic could likely help with that as well. One study reported that integrating chiropractic with soft tissue treatment, rest, ice, and compression on the affected knee helped lower the intensity of the pain.
Of course, sometimes a knee replacement surgery is necessary in order to repair the issue, and if that's the case, chiropractic can also help improve the outcome. How?
Research has shown that people with low back pain often have less positive outcomes after knee surgery. So, dealing with your back pain through chiropractic before having a total knee arthroplasty can assist with your post-surgery recovery.
No matter what your knee issue, Weary Chiropractic Clinic can likely help. Call our Prescott clinic today and find out what we can do for you!


text:
Q: How to get the default value for a ValueType Type with reflection If I have a generic type parameter that is a value type and I want to know if a value is equal to the default I test it like this:
static bool IsDefault<T>(T value){
    where T: struct
    return value.Equals(default(T));
}

If I don't have a generic type parameter, then it seems like I would have to use reflection.  If the method has to work for all value types, then Is there a better way to perform this test than what I am doing here? :
static bool IsDefault(object value){
   if(!(value is ValueType)){
      throw new ArgumentException("Precondition failed: Must be a ValueType", "value");
   }
   var @default = Activator.CreateInstance(value.GetType());
   return value.Equals(@default);
}

On a side note, Is there anything I am not considering here with respect to evaluating Nullable structs?

A: I have found the following extension methods useful and will work for all types:
public static object GetDefault(this Type t)
{
    return t.IsValueType ? Activator.CreateInstance(t) : null;
}

public static T GetDefault<T>()
{
    var t = typeof(T);
    return (T) GetDefault(t);
}

public static bool IsDefault<T>(T other)
{
    T defaultValue = GetDefault<T>();
    if (other == null) return defaultValue == null;
    return other.Equals(defaultValue);
}

A: Old question but the accepted answer doesn't work for me so I submit this (probably can be made better):
public static object GetDefault(this Type type)
{
    if (type.IsGenericType && type.GetGenericTypeDefinition() == typeof(Nullable<>))
    {
        var valueProperty = type.GetProperty("Value");
        type = valueProperty.PropertyType;
    }

    return type.IsValueType ? Activator.CreateInstance(type) : null;
}

With the following results:
typeof(int).GetDefault();       // returns 0
typeof(int?).GetDefault();      // returns 0
typeof(DateTime).GetDefault();  // returns 01/01/0001 00:00:00
typeof(DateTime?).GetDefault(); // returns 01/01/0001 00:00:00
typeof(string).GetDefault();    // returns null
typeof(Exception).GetDefault(); // returns null

A: I would require ValueType as the parameter to simplify:
static bool IsDefault(ValueType value){
   var @default = Activator.CreateInstance(value.GetType());
   return value.Equals(@default);
}

A:
On a side note, Is there anything I am not considering here with
  respect to evaluating Nullable structs?

Yes, you are missing something.  By taking an object as the parameter in you are requiring calling code to box Nullable<T> types (which converts them to null or to their T Value).  So if you pass a nullable, your is/throw will throw because null will never be a value type.
Edit: As @cdhowie said, you'll need to check for null.  This will work for Nullable types as well.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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1 acre level, adult only Certificated Site located outside a small village, which is only 15 minutes drive away from York. We are also close to many other attractions in the local area.
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But for those willing to drag themselves off the street or out of bed in the.


text:
Pinned 90 days ago
Elon Musk says Blue Origin is trying to sue its way to the Moon
Blue Origin takes NASA to court over SpaceX lunar lander contract
The lawsuit could further delay the Human Landing System program.
Joe Skipper / reuters
Following a $2 billion Hail Mary, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin has filed a complaint with the US Court of Federal Claims over NASA's handling of the Human Landing System program. The court challenge comes less than a month after the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) dismissed a protest the company filed in response to NASA's decision to award a single contract for the Artemis lunar lander. The agency went with a $2.9 billion bid from Elon Musk's SpaceX, opting not to fund a $5.9 billion proposal from Blue Origin.
NASA's original intention was to sign two separate contracts, but limited funding from Congress made that difficult to do so. Blue Origin alleged the decision was "fundamentally unfair" because NASA allowed SpaceX to modify its bid, something the company says it didn't get the opportunity to do as well. However, the GAO concluded NASA's "evaluation of all three proposals was reasonable and consistent with applicable procurement law, regulation, and the announcement's terms."
At the time, Blue Origin hinted it would escalate the situation. "We stand firm in our belief that there were fundamental issues with NASA's decision, but the GAO wasn't able to address them due to their limited jurisdiction," the company said following the announcement.
"Blue Origin filed suit in the US Court of Federal Claims in an attempt to remedy the flaws in the acquisition process found in NASA's Human Landing System," a spokesperson for Blue Origin told Engadget. "We firmly believe that the issues identified in this procurement and its outcomes must be addressed to restore fairness, create competition, and ensure a safe return to the Moon for America."
What this means for the Human Landing System program and Project Artemis more broadly is likely another delay. Following Blue Origin's GAO protest, NASA ordered SpaceX to stop work on the lunar lander contract while the watchdog investigated the matter. While this latest complaint is sealed, a source told The Verge Blue Origin asked a judge to order a temporary pause on SpaceX's contract while the case is resolved in court. NASA and SpaceX lost about three months waiting for the GAO to investigate Blue Origin's protest. If a judge approves the company's request, this latest pause could be even longer. Ultimately, any further delays will make NASA's goal of returning to the Moon by 2024 difficult.
Blue Elon Moon Musk Origin Says Trying

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


As Lebanese youngsters, we tend to infuse our Arabic language with immense creativity; not as a way to produce some sort of secret code among us, but merely to express excitement or frustration away from our parents' complete understanding.
We have our own breed of words, ones we are proud of.
The Lebanese slang has drastically changed the meanings of many day-to-day terms.
Here are only a few of them; use them cautiously around untrained ears.
Actual meaning: verb: to eat or ate.
Lebanese meaning: verb: to pull off an act or a story that isn't true.
Example: Akal ma3e el film.
Translation: I was able to pull off the lie/act.
Actual meaning: verb: to remove or pick something up.
Lebanese meaning: verb: to confirm that you are in on the plan/suggestion.
Example: Bsheel nrou7 3al ba7er.
Translation: I am in for going to the beach.
Actual meaning: adjective: to describe something as tremendously scary.
Lebanese meaning: adjective: to describe something/someone as awesome.
Translation: He has an awesome house!
Actual meaning: noun: to kill or murder.
Lebanese meaning:1- adjective: to describe something, specifically a plan or event, as greatly amazing.
2- noun: to agree on a plan.
Example 1: El raw7a 3a Cyprus 7a tkoun atel!
Translation: The trip to Cyprus is going to be amazing!
Example 2: A: Man el layle ray7een 3a Grand Factory.
Translation: A: Man, we're going to Grand Factory tonight.
Actual meaning: verb: to fall down hard.
Lebanese meaning: verb: to fail at something.
Example: Tabashna bl final exam.
Translation: I failed the exam big time.
Actual meaning: adjective: to describe an item as original and not fake.
Lebanese meaning: adjective: to describe a friend as someone very close to your heart.
Translation: How are you, my dearest friend?
Actual meaning: adjective: to describe something as severely destroyed or ruined.
Lebanese meaning: adjective: to describe something/event as epic.
Example : El sahra mberi7 kenit damar!
Translation: The party yesterday was epic!


text:
package org.libsodium.jni.crypto;

import org.libsodium.jni.Sodium;
import org.libsodium.jni.NaCl;

import org.junit.Assert;
import org.junit.Test;
import org.libsodium.jni.fixture.TestVectors;

import java.util.Arrays;

import static junit.framework.Assert.assertTrue;
import static org.libsodium.jni.encoders.Encoder.HEX;
import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
import static org.junit.Assert.fail;

public class HashTest {

    /**
     * Blake2 test vectors
     */

    public static final String Blake2_Message="Hello world";
    public static final String Blake2_HEXDIGEST="6ff843ba685842aa82031d3f53c48b66326df7639a63d128974c5c14f31a0f33343a8c65551134ed1ae0f2b0dd2bb495dc81039e3eeb0aa1bb0388bbeac29183";

    public static final String Blake2_DIGEST = "01718cec35cd3d796dd00020e0bfecb473ad23457d063b75eff29c0ffa2e58a9";
    public static final String Blake2_DIGEST_EMPTY_STRING = "786a02f742015903c6c6fd852552d272912f4740e15847618a86e217f71f5419d25e1031afee585313896444934eb04b903a685b1448b755d56f701afe9be2ce";
    public static final String Blake2_DIGEST_NULL = "2fa3f686df876995167e7c2e5d74c4c7b6e48f8068fe0e44208344d480f7904c36963e44115fe3eb2a3ac8694c28bcb4f5a0f3276f2e79487d8219057a506e4b";

    public static final String Blake2_KEY = "This is a super secret key. Ssshh!";
    public static final String Blake2_SALT = "0123456789abcdef";
    public static final String Blake2_PERSONAL = "fedcba9876543210";
    public static final String Blake2_DIGEST_WITH_SALT_PERSONAL = "108e81d0c7b0487de45c54554ea35b427f886b098d792497c6a803bbac7a5f7c";

    public static final String HASH_ERR = "Hash is invalid";

    private final Hash hash = new Hash();

    @Test
    public void testGenericHashInit() {
        Sodium sodium= NaCl.sodium();
        byte[] state = new byte[Sodium.crypto_generichash_statebytes()];
        byte[] hash = new byte[Sodium.crypto_generichash_bytes()];
        byte[] key = new byte[Sodium.crypto_generichash_keybytes()];
        Sodium.randombytes(key, key.length);
        assertEquals(0,Sodium.crypto_generichash_init(state, key, key.length, hash.length));

	byte[] message="message".getBytes();
	assertEquals(0,Sodium.crypto_generichash_update(state,message,message.length));
	assertEquals(0,Sodium.crypto_generichash_final(state,hash,Sodium.crypto_generichash_bytes()));
    }

    @Test
    public void testSha256() throws Exception {
        final byte[] rawMessage = TestVectors.SHA256_MESSAGE.getBytes();
        String result = HEX.encode(hash.sha256(rawMessage));
        assertTrue("Hash is invalid", Arrays.equals(TestVectors.SHA256_DIGEST.getBytes(), result.getBytes()));
    }

    @Test
    public void testSha256EmptyString() throws Exception {
        byte[] result = hash.sha256("".getBytes());
        assertEquals("Hash is invalid", TestVectors.SHA256_DIGEST_EMPTY_STRING, HEX.encode(result));
    }

    @Test
    public void testSha256HexString() throws Exception {
        String result = hash.sha256(TestVectors.SHA256_MESSAGE, HEX);
        Assert.assertEquals("Hash is invalid", TestVectors.SHA256_DIGEST, result);
    }

    @Test
    public void testSha256EmptyHexString() throws Exception {
        String result = hash.sha256("", HEX);
        Assert.assertEquals("Hash is invalid", TestVectors.SHA256_DIGEST_EMPTY_STRING, result);
    }

    @Test
    public void testSha256NullByte() {
        try {
            hash.sha256("\0".getBytes());
        } catch (Exception e) {
            fail("Should not raise any exception on null byte");
        }
    }

    @Test
    public void testSha512() throws Exception {
        final byte[] rawMessage = TestVectors.SHA512_MESSAGE.getBytes();
        String result = HEX.encode(hash.sha512(rawMessage));
        assertTrue("Hash is invalid", Arrays.equals(TestVectors.SHA512_DIGEST.getBytes(), result.getBytes()));
    }

    @Test
    public void testSha512EmptyString() throws Exception {
        byte[] result = hash.sha512("".getBytes());
        assertEquals("Hash is invalid", TestVectors.SHA512_DIGEST_EMPTY_STRING, HEX.encode(result));
    }

    @Test
    public void testSha512HexString() throws Exception {
        String result = hash.sha512(TestVectors.SHA512_MESSAGE, HEX);
        Assert.assertEquals("Hash is invalid", TestVectors.SHA512_DIGEST, result);
    }

    @Test
    public void testSha512EmptyHexString() throws Exception {
        String result = hash.sha512("", HEX);
        Assert.assertEquals("Hash is invalid", TestVectors.SHA512_DIGEST_EMPTY_STRING, result);
    }

    @Test
    public void testSha512NullByte() {
        try {
            hash.sha512("\0".getBytes());
        } catch (Exception e) {
            fail("Should not raise any exception on null byte");
        }
    }

    @Test
    public void testBlake2() throws Exception {
        final byte[] rawMessage = Blake2_Message.getBytes();
        String result = HEX.encode(hash.blake2(rawMessage));
	//System.out.println("testBlake2="+result);
	assertEquals(HASH_ERR,Blake2_HEXDIGEST,result);
    }

    @Test
    public void testBlake2EmptyString() throws Exception {
        byte[] result = hash.blake2("".getBytes());
	//System.out.println("testBlake2EmptyString="+HEX.encode(result));
	assertEquals(HASH_ERR, Blake2_DIGEST_EMPTY_STRING, HEX.encode(result));
    }

    @Test
    public void testBlake2HexString() throws Exception {
        String result = hash.blake2(Blake2_Message, HEX);
	//System.out.println("testBlake2HexString="+result);
	assertEquals(HASH_ERR,Blake2_HEXDIGEST,result);
    }

    @Test
    public void testBlake2EmptyHexString() throws Exception {
        String result = hash.blake2("", HEX);
	//System.out.println("testBlake2EmptyHexString="+result);
        assertEquals(HASH_ERR, Blake2_DIGEST_EMPTY_STRING, result);
    }

    @Test
    public void testBlake2NullByte() {
	byte[] result=hash.blake2("\0".getBytes());
	//System.out.println("testBlake2NullByte="+HEX.encode(result));
	assertEquals(HASH_ERR, Blake2_DIGEST_NULL, HEX.encode(result));
    }

    @Test
    public void testGenericHash() {
        Sodium sodium= NaCl.sodium();
        byte[] hash = new byte[Sodium.crypto_generichash_bytes()];
        byte[] message = "message".getBytes();
        byte[] key = new byte[Sodium.crypto_generichash_keybytes()];
        Sodium.randombytes(key, key.length);
        assertEquals(0,Sodium.crypto_generichash(hash,Sodium.crypto_generichash_bytes(),message,message.length,key,key.length));
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Максим Герасимов: Герасимов, Максим Анатольевич (род. 1978) — российский игрок в пляжный футбол.
 Герасимов, Максим Сергеевич (род. 1995) — российский игрок в мини-футбол.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Either wild blueberries or huckleberries can be used in this tangy, slightly sweet and refreshing smoothie. Dense antioxidant polyphenols give this blender drink its rich purple color.
Wild blueberries contain phytochemicals that help reverse hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and improve metabolism. Wild blueberries are preferable to cultivated (common) blueberries, as they have a richer flavor and tend to be higher in antioxidants.


text:
New Year's Resolutions for All 30 MLB Teams in 2017
Rick Weiner@RickWeinerNYTwitter LogoFeatured ColumnistDecember 30, 2016
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
If baseball is America's favorite pastime, the country's second favorite is making New Year's resolutions—and breaking them. Doing so might result in some extra pounds in the spring or more clutter in the garage, but typically, it's nothing that's going to impact our 2017 negatively.
The same can't be said for each of Major League Baseball's 30 teams.
Some of these resolutions revolve around adding (or subtracting) pieces to a team's roster. Others have to do with ensuring a team can keep its best player—or players—around for the foreseeable future. There are even a few that have nothing to do with the on-field action.
But one thing is for sure: Not following through on these resolutions will have consequences, some that resonate well past the upcoming season.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Continue Fixing the Bullpen
Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Shortly after signing Fernando Rodney to serve as Arizona's new closer, general manager Mike Hazen proclaimed he was happy with the team's bullpen as constructed.
"Very comfortable with the group we have right now," Hazen told FanRag Sports' Jack Magruder. "I still think we need to add depth to the bullpen. We'd love to get a little more left-handed overall, for the short and long term, and continue to build competition in various spots."
The D-backs selected Tyler Jones, who pitched to a 2.17 ERA while fanning more than 13 batters per nine innings in Double-A last season, from the New York Yankees in the Rule 5 draft. He could provide competition and depth, but the 27-year-old has never pitched above Double-A. He's far from a sure thing.
It's hard to take Hazen at his word when, of the relievers who remained with the club, Jake Barrett is the only one who has pitched to an ERA below 4.00 (3.49 ERA, 1.26 WHIP). The Diamondbacks have more work to do before they can feel like they've substantially reinforced their relief corps.
As luck would have it, there are still a number of quality relievers sitting on the free-agent market for the Arizona to target. Some, such as Greg Holland and Boone Logan, may prove to be too expensive for the team's liking. But others, including Santiago Casilla and Neftali Feliz, could be more affordable.
Atlanta Braves: Stick to the Plan
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
On paper, the Atlanta Braves look like a team that could surprise a whole bunch of people and find itself in contention in 2017. That doesn't mean much, of course: Many said the same thing about Arizona heading into 2016, and the Diamondbacks proceeded to lose 93 games.
But there's no disputing that general manager John Coppolella and president of baseball operations John Hart have done a terrific job setting up the Braves for a brighter future. They've bolstered the rotation with veterans Bartolo Colon, R.A. Dickey and Jaime Garcia.
The lineup—at least the top half, which will likely feature Ender Inciarte, Dansby Swanson, Freddie Freeman and Matt Kemp—could do some serious damage. And the bullpen, per FanGraphs, posted the sixth-highest WAR (4.1) among National League relief corps in 2016 without a true marquee reliever among the group.
When you take all of that into consideration, plus the fact that the Braves boast one of the game's best farm systems, the temptation to make a bold move is tempting. But Atlanta isn't one star attraction away from making a 2017 World Series run.
Patience and shrewd moves have served the club well thus far during its rebuilding process. Sticking to that plan is imperative for the Braves to continue building toward a brighter future, one that isn't too far off.
Baltimore Orioles: Add the Pieces They Need
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Zach Britton, Adam Jones, Manny Machado and Chris Tillman will all able to depart as free agents over the next few years, so there should be a sense of urgency around Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore's window of contention won't stay open for much longer.
That sense of urgency should revolve around plugging the team's gaping holes in right field and at the designated hitter spot.
Re-signing American League home run champion Mark Trumbo seems like the most obvious solution to the latter problem. While the O's remain interested in a reunion, talks between the two sides stalled, and Baltimore pulled its offer off the table earlier this month, per MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko.
More recently, Kubatko reported the O's have interest in a variety of right field options, including Michael Bourn, Rajai Davis, Angel Pagan and Michael Saunders. Any of those players would be an upgrade over Dariel Alvarez and Joey Rickard, the team's best internal options.
But, eventually, all those players are going to come off the market. Baltimore must ensure it's not picking out of the bargain bin right before spring training begins in February.
Boston Red Sox: Lock Up Mookie Betts And/or Xander Bogaerts
Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
Boston's free-spending ways in the past have finally caught up with the Red Sox.
Xander Bogaerts is arbitration-eligible for the first time, and Mookie Betts is set to follow suit next winter. So now would be an ideal time for the Red Sox to work out long-term extensions for the pair. But as the Providence Journal's Brian MacPherson pointed out, the way MLB calculates luxury tax makes that difficult:
A hypothetical -- and probably conservative -- Bogearts extension might earn him salaries of $5 million, $10 million and $15 million for the next three seasons and then $25 million to buy out his first three potential free-agent seasons, accounting for inflation. That would be a total package of $105 million over six seasons, an average annual value of $17.5 million per season. He'd count for an extra $12.5 million against the team's luxury-tax calculation next season without actually earning more money. That would eat up almost all of the team's available room under the threshold by itself.
"I can assure you that we'd like to have them in the organization for many years," president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told MacPherson, adding: "[Luxury-tax] ramifications are huge with those types of deals nowadays."
How do the Red Sox get around this? Shed salary when possible, creating more wiggle room between the team's calculated luxury tax and the threshold.
Chicago Cubs: Extend Jake Arrieta
Jason Miller/Getty Images
Working out an extension with one of Scott Boras' clients is never an easy task, but it's possible, contrary to popular opinion. "I always tell teams when they talk long term, we're always happy to stay long term," Boras told CSN Chicago's Patrick Mooney in August.
Boras plans on discussing a long-term pact for Jake Arrieta when he meets with the Chicago Cubs next month to discuss his client's final year of arbitration eligibility, according to ESPN.com's Jesse Rogers.
Arrieta wasn't nearly as dominant in 2016 as he was during his march to the National League Cy Young Award in 2015, but he's gone a remarkable 50-19 with a 2.42 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 593 strikeouts over 583 innings of work over the past three years.
While the Cubs might be hesitant to commit to a pitcher who will be in his mid-30s at the end of his next deal, Arrieta has thrown fewer than 1,000 innings over the course of his career. That lack of wear and tear bodes well for sustained success moving forward.
Considering the lack of high-upside pitching prospects in Chicago's farm system who are close to contributing, extending Arrieta is in the team's best interest.
Chicago White Sox: Continue Selling Off Pieces
Chicago received a slew of young, controllable talent in exchange for Adam Eaton and Chris Sale, but the White Sox can't afford to stop wheeling and dealing now. Not when the club still has a number of veteran pieces whose greatest value to the rebuilding franchise is in the return they'd bring back in a trade.
Staff ace Jose Quintana tops that list, and there's been no shortage of speculation regarding his next landing spot. Most recently, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates were his most aggressive suitors.
Closer David Robertson, third baseman Todd Frazier and left fielder Melky Cabrera are among the other players the White Sox could deal before Opening Day or at the non-waiver trade deadline.
Cincinnati Reds: Find Regular Playing Time for Dilson Herrera, Jose Peraza
Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
Cincinnati has four players—Zack Cozart, Dilson Herrera, Jose Peraza and Brandon Phillips—to fill two spots in the middle of its infield. While it's good to have depth, the continued presence of the erstwhile veterans is inhibiting the continued development of the youngsters.
The Reds tried—and failed—to trade Cozart and Phillips at the winter meetings, setting up a situation where both Herrera and Peraza could start the year at Triple-A. That wasn't lost on newly minted general manager Dick Williams, who spoke with the Cincinnati Enquirer's Zach Buchanan in early December:
Two of the guys have options, so if you need to option them down and play, you could do that. The other two are in their last year. If they're not going to be here beyond this year, they can take a more limited role. We still have to go through six or seven weeks of playing to see who's playing well and see that everybody's healthy. Then we'll deal with having to divvy up playing time if everybody's healthy and playing well.
Having Herrera and/or Peraza spend half of their time on Cincinnati's bench does little to help their continued development. They need regular playing time. If that's only available at Triple-A to start the season, so be it.
Cleveland Indians: Be Overly Cautious with Michael Brantley
Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Now that Edwin Encarnacion is in the fold, taking a cautious approach with Michael Brantley isn't quite as easy as it first appeared to be. No longer does Cleveland manager Terry Francona have the option to deploy Brantley as his designated hitter more often than not to protect his surgically repaired shoulder.
That's not to say signing Encarnacion was a mistake—far from it. Rather, it just makes it all the more important for Francona and the Tribe to treat the 29-year-old, who was emerging as a perennial MVP candidate before shoulder issues limited him to just 11 games in 2016, with kid gloves moving forward.
Maybe that means slowly easing him into action during spring training. Or perhaps he starts the season as part of a platoon in left field with Abraham Almonte, assuming he's healthy enough to be on the Opening Day roster.
Whatever path the Indians choose, the goal remains the same: Having a healthy, productive Brantley in the lineup down the stretch and in the playoffs, not necessarily in April and May.
Colorado Rockies: Continue to Bolster the Bullpen
Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
Signing Mike Dunn to replace the pictured Boone Logan was a lateral move, but Colorado can still bolster a bullpen that pitched to an MLB-worst 5.13 ERA in 2016. Yes, Rockies relievers were even more inept than their counterparts in Cincinnati (though not by much).
The Rockies are interested in former Kansas City closer Greg Holland, with GM Jeff Bridich telling MLB.com's Thomas Harding earlier this week that the Rockies had "checked in (on the free agent), like most teams, I imagine."
Signing Holland, who was one of the best closers in baseball before undergoing Tommy John surgery in late 2015, makes sense for the Rockies, who currently figure to have Adam Ottavino handling things in the ninth inning.
Santiago Casilla, Neftali Feliz, Jonathan Papelbon, Sergio Romo and Drew Storen are among the free-agent relievers with closing experience who remain available, while there is a slew of non-closing options that could be of interest to the Rockies as well.
Detroit Tigers: Commit to Making One More Run
Mark Cunningham/Getty Images
So far, the only cost-cutting move Detroit has been able to pull off was unloading Cameron Maybin's $9 million salary when the club traded him to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for pitching prospect Victor Alcantara.
Doing so may have saved the Tigers some money, but it created a hole in center field that the club has thus far been unable to fill. While there's been speculation surrounding the rest of the team's high-priced veterans, including Ian Kinsler, it doesn't appear as if the Tigers will pull off another significant trade.
While getting under the luxury-tax threshold with a younger, cheaper roster is the team's ultimate goal, it's not going to happen in 2017.
Taking on another burdensome long-term contract isn't in the cards, but if the opportunity to improve the roster materializes where they'd have to take on an expensive player in the final year of his deal, why not do it?
There's too much talent on the roster for the Tigers to tank, and they're closer to contending than they are to finishing in last place. Making one more run with the roster they've got is the only move that makes any sense at this point.
Houston Astros: Add Another Piece to the Rotation
G Fiume/Getty Images
Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Mike Fiers and Lance McCullers Jr. comprise a formidable foursome in Houston's rotation. But four quality starters isn't nearly enough to get a team through the rigors of a 162-game regular season, especially when one, McCullers, figures to be working on an innings limit.
The Astros have been linked to a number of starting pitchers this offseason, most recently Kansas City's Danny Duffy and Yordano Ventura, per a report from MLB.com's Brian McTaggart earlier this month.
"We do have ongoing discussions that may materialize over the course of the next week or so," GM Jeff Luhnow told McTaggart at the close of the winter meetings. "I don't know how to handicap it, but we're certainly attempting to do everything we can to make sure we improve what is already a pretty good pitching staff."
While those discussions have yet to lead to a move, the Astros, who still boast one of baseball's better farm systems, have the prospects to trade for the pitcher they seek.
Kansas City Royals: Prepare to Tear Things Down
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Trading All-Star closer Wade Davis to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Jorge Soler was only the first in what figures to be a slew of moves made by the Kansas City Royals. Consider the list of players they stand to lose as free agents after the 2017 season:
CF Lorenzo Cain
SP Danny Duffy
OF Jarrod Dyson
SS Alcides Escobar
1B Eric Hosmer
3B Mike Moustakas
SP Jason Vargas
There's just no way a midmarket team like the Royals can afford to keep all of those players, specifically Cain, Hosmer and Moustakas, all of whom figure to be in line for significant multiyear deals. There's going to be a drastic turnover of the roster, whether the Royals like it or not.
While the club is surely going to try to make one more run with the group that, along with Davis, won the team's first World Series crown in 30 years in 2015, the Royals could very easily find themselves on the contention fence—or out of contention—as the non-waiver trade deadline approaches.
Should that be the case, the Royals need to be prepared to move quickly and make moves geared toward bringing back as much MLB-ready, controllable talent as possible. Reloading, not rebuilding, should be the club's ultimate goal in 2017 if they fall short of a playoff run.
Los Angeles Angels: Stop Wasting Mike Trout
Matt Brown/Getty Images
Here's a simple math problem for you: What do you get when you add five and two together? If you answered seven, you're wrong.
The answer is one, as in one playoff appearance in the five years that Mike Trout has been a full-time player for the Los Angeles Angels, during which time he's taken home two American League Most Valuable Player awards.
Half a decade is more than enough time for a team to figure out how to build a winner around the best player in baseball. The Angels, time and time again, have failed to do just that.
With all due respect to Matt Joyce and Ben Revere, two of the team's "big" additions this winter, they've got about as much chance of solving what ails the Angels as adding James Joyce and Paul Revere would: None.
If the Angels aren't able, due to finances or incompetence, to surround Trout with enough talent to become perennial contenders, they owe it to him and their fans to do something else: Trade him and start over.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Add Right-Handed Power to the Lineup
Duane Burleson/Getty Images
While the Los Angeles Dodgers have one of the game's deepest farm systems, the Dodgers are firmly operating in World Series-or-bust territory. Years of failing to reach the Fall Classic have taken a toll on both the franchise and its fanbase, and the club's current window won't stay open forever.
In fact, we can put a two-year window on that window, as Clayton Kershaw can opt out of his contract after the 2018 season. While it's hard to envision him wearing a different uniform, it'd be ridiculous to think that he wouldn't leave L.A. for a fresh start elsewhere.
Adding some right-handed power to a lineup that leans heavily to the left would go a long way toward improving the team's chances of making a deep playoff run. Minnesota's Brian Dozier, whom the Dodgers have been linked to for weeks, makes the most sense, as he'd bring the right-handed pop and fill a hole at second base in the process.
But as FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reports, the two sides have reached a standstill in those trade talks. They've agreed on pitching prospect Jose De Leon, but can't settle on the other pieces that would accompany him to Minnesota.
Should those efforts continue to stall, the Dodgers could check in with Detroit about outfielder J.D. Martinez, who is entering the final year of his deal. Milwaukee's Ryan Braun could be another option.
One way or another, the Dodgers must add the right-handed pop that their lineup sorely needs if they've got any chance of finally reaching the lofty expectations that have surrounded the team for years.
Miami Marlins: Honor Jose Fernandez with a Run to the Playoffs
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
The emotions and grief associated with Jose Fernandez's tragic death is something that isn't going away anytime soon in Miami. But as Marlins president Michael Hill told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick in November, the loss of the team's ace and leader can't be used as an excuse.
"You never forget the human [side] or what happened, but you know you have a job to do. We're never going to replace Jose, but we have to try to move forward. The memory of him will always be with us and be a part of who we are. That's a bond we'll all have forever.''
Miami has done what it can to bolster its roster this winter, adding veterans Jeff Locke and Edinson Volquez to bolster the rotation, Junichi Tazawa and Brad Ziegler to strengthen the bullpen and catcher A.J. Ellis to help J.T. Realmuto guide the pitching staff.
With the bulk of the team's core returning—Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich—the Marlins are poised to contend in 2017. They might not be ready to overtake the New York Mets or Washington Nationals in the division, but a wild-card berth looks to be well within their reach.
The pieces are in place. It's up to the players to rally around each other—to rally around the memory of their fallen teammate—and make 2017 a season to remember.
Milwaukee Brewers: Continue the Rebuild While Showing Improvement
Dylan Buell/Getty Images
While Milwaukee finished the 2016 season more than 30 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central, it wasn't a completely lost season for the Brewers. Top prospect Orlando Arcia got his first taste of the big leagues, while fellow prospect Zach Davies cemented himself as a part of the team's rotation.
There's more help on the way, with outfield prospects Lewis Brinson and Brett Phillips, along with pitching prospect Josh Hader, getting closer to becoming permanent fixtures on the Brew Crew's 25-man roster.
Their eventual arrivals, along with the offseason additions of Travis Shaw and Eric Thames—while not game-changing talents—should help the Brewers improve upon their 73-89 record from a season ago and get closer to a return to relevancy.
Nobody's expecting Milwaukee to contend in 2017, but it's not crazy to think the club could come close to a .500 record.
Minnesota Twins: Cash In on Brian Dozier
Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images
Few teams have as valuable a trade chip as the Minnesota Twins do with second baseman Brian Dozier.
He offers big right-handed power at a premium position, is still in his prime and comes on one of the most team-friendly deals in baseball for an established player, as he's due just $15 million through the 2018 season.
Players with two full years of control, especially those on contracts like Dozier's, are far more valuable than those with one year, or a year and a half of control.
As previously noted, discussions between the Twins and Dodgers have reached a standstill. But the pitching-starved franchise is assured of getting an MLB-ready, front-of-the-rotation arm in that proposed deal (Jose De Leon), and the Dodgers have enough prospects for the two sides to find a middle ground.
Minnesota isn't going to contend while Dozier remains under its control, and there's little chance the Twins would be willing to match the kinds of offers he'd likely receive as a free agent following the 2018 campaign.
The time to trade Dozier is now.
New York Mets: Trade an Outfielder
Elsa/Getty Images
The New York Mets have five outfielders—Jay Bruce, Yoenis Cespedes, Michael Conforto, Curtis Granderson and Juan Lagares—to fill three spots. So, of course, the Mets went out and looked into potentially acquiring another outfielder, Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen, per a report from MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.
While those McCutchen talks haven't led anywhere, the club's outfield glut is something that needs to be addressed. It's an untenable situation, and something has to give.
Before Christmas, MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported that Toronto had interest in both Bruce and Granderson. With both of them entering the last year of their respective contracts, moving one makes the most sense for the Mets, who figure to be seeking relief help in return.
A deal may not materialize until spring training when injury robs another club of a corner outfielder it was counting on. But a deal must get done.
New York Yankees: Continue Building from Within
While his teammates certainly played a part, it was rookie catcher Gary Sanchez who essentially put the New York Yankees on his back last season and nearly carried the Bronx Bombers into the playoffs. Can you imagine the outcry in New York if Sanchez had done that wearing a different uniform?
The Bronx would most assuredly be burning.
With last season's trades of Carlos Beltran, Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, along with this offseason's trade of Brian McCann, the Yankees have stockpiled one of the most impressive groups of prospects in the game. Arguably, the team's farm system has never been in better shape.
That's going to go a long way toward helping the club continue to supplement its roster as the contracts attached to high-priced veterans continue to expire and, ultimately, reach its goal of getting under the luxury-tax threshold.
So far this winter, GM Brian Cashman has resisted the urge to package those prospects, such as outfielder Clint Frazier and shortstop Gleyber Torres, in deals for premier starting pitchers, whether it be Chris Sale or Jose Quintana.
He needs to remain steadfast in that resolve. One day, dealing from its farm system for an established big league talent will make sense. But that day isn't on the upcoming calendar.
Oakland Athletics: Sell High on Sonny Gray at the Trade Deadline
Jason O. Watson/Getty Images
On the heels of a career-worst season that saw him go 5-11 with a 5.69 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over just 22 starts, Sonny Gray's trade value this offseason is nonexistent. Oakland could trade him, of course, but it'd be giving away one of the game's brightest young pitchers.
The A's aren't about to do that. But they're not about to contend in the AL West, either, and the quickest way to infuse the club with the offensive talent it needs is to capitalize on Gray's value when he's at his best.
Assuming the 2016 season was an aberration and Gray returns to his usual Cy Young form—injuries played a part in Gray's struggles—Oakland should be looking to make a deal once the dog days of summer arrive.
Contenders and noncontenders alike would love to add a controllable, front-of-the-rotation stud like Gray, and would be willing to pay a hefty price to secure his services.
Philadelphia Phillies: Keep Locking Up Young Talent
Christmas arrived early in Philadelphia this year as the Phillies were able to sign center fielder Odubel Herrera to a five-year, $30.5 million extension that will keep the 25-year-old in uniform through the 2021 season.
Next up: 26-year-old second baseman Cesar Hernandez, who was a "hot name" in trade talks at the general manager meetings in November, according to CSN Philly's Jim Salisbury. Hernandez doesn't have Herrera's pop, but he's a contact hitter who knows how to get on base consistently and plays excellent defense at a premium position.
Doing so will not only keep Philadelphia's long-term costs down when it comes to retaining its own talent but continue to afford the club plenty of payroll flexibility, which it can use to make a huge splash in the free-agent bonanza of 2018-19.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Trade Andrew McCutchen
Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Whether Andrew McCutchen reverts to his All-Star form or not, his time in Pittsburgh is coming to an end.
Austin Meadows is Pittsburgh's future in center field, and both Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco are signed to team-friendly deals that will keep them in black and gold for years to come. With two years of team control left, McCutchen isn't part of the long-term plan in the Steel City.
The Pirates don't have to trade McCutchen now. Like Oakland's Sonny Gray, he's coming off a career-worst season—one in which injuries played a part—and as a result, his value as a trade chip has been severely compromised.
That said, a team could come along with an offer the Pirates don't feel they can refuse.
Should that not happen, waiting until midseason isn't the worst thing in the world, either. Assuming he's back to his usual form, contenders would line up for a chance to add him to their lineups. That he'd be more than a short-term rental, with a reasonable $14.5 million team option for 2018, only adds to his value.
San Diego Padres: Be Transparent
Andy Hayt/Getty Images
You know things have gotten out of control when MLB is forced to suspend a team's general manager.
Such was the case with San Diego's A.J. Preller, who was suspended for 30 days (and the team fined) after MLB determined that he knowingly withheld medical information about Drew Pomeranz, who he traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza.
That suspension ultimately led to MLB standardizing the medical information that teams now must share when discussing a potential deal. Call it the "A.J. Preller Rule."
If that wasn't bad enough, another one of Preller's deals had to be partially walked back by the commissioner's office after Colin Rea, who had been part of a multiplayer deal with Miami, left his first start as a Marlin with an elbow injury that resulted in Tommy John surgery.
While Preller wasn't found to have been deceptive in that deal, having those two strikes against him makes it hard, if not impossible, for other teams to believe a word he says in trade negotiations moving forward.
It's on Preller and the Padres to repair their image, and reputation, among their contemporaries around the game.
San Francisco Giants: Continue Fixing the Bullpen
Rob Carr/Getty Images
Signing Mark Melancon to a four-year, $62 million deal was a good start in repairing a San Francisco bullpen that was among the least reliable in 2016. But it can't stand as the only addition the Giants make to their relief corps.
There's some leftover talent to be sure. George Kontos, Derek Law, Will Smith and Hunter Strickland are all competent relievers who are capable of shutting down the opposition. But more reinforcements are needed.
Like Arizona and the other teams we've touched on who are in need of bullpen help, free agents Greg Holland and Boone Logan are likely at or near the top of San Francisco's wish list. But there are plenty of capable arms still available, one of which has to find his way to the Bay Area before Opening Day.
Seattle Mariners: Add Another Starter
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
King Felix still sits on his throne in the Emerald City, and both Hisashi Iwakuma and James Paxton are his loyal sidekicks standing alongside him in Seattle's rotation. As things stand now, Nate Karns and Ariel Miranda are slotted to fill things out.
That's not nearly enough starting pitching.
General manager Jerry Dipoto prefers to trade for the players he needs rather than sign free agents, as he explained to MLB.com's Greg Johns recently. That helps to explain why he hasn't made a run at free-agent Jason Hammel, a Washington native who seems like a perfect fit as a No. 4 starter.
But aside from outfielders Kyle Lewis and Tyler O'Neill, the Mariners lack the prospects other teams covet. That makes trading for a starter difficult, given the high prices teams are asking in a market that's thin on quality arms.
Ultimately, Dipoto may have no choice but to dip his toes into the free-agent waters to get the arm his team sorely needs.
St. Louis Cardinals: Commit to Playing Solid Defense
Scott Kane/Getty Images
Of the 10 teams in baseball that committed at least 100 errors in 2016, only one, the Chicago Cubs, made it to the playoffs. The St. Louis Cardinals were one of the nine that were forced to watch the Cubs' march to the World Series at home, partly due to their inability to field the ball cleanly.
While advanced metrics were down on Dexter Fowler's center field defense last season, his addition should go a long way toward improving the Cardinals defense up the middle. But the players who remain from last year's club, such as shortstop Aledmys Diaz— whose 16 errors were the seventh-most by a shortstop—need to be focused on fielding the ball cleanly and making strong and accurate throws.
In a division with the Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates and a wild-card field that continues to get more crowded, the Cardinals can ill-afford to be giving games away due to avoidable defensive miscues. A recommitment to the fundamentals can only help them get back into the postseason picture.
Tampa Bay Rays: Capitalize on the Thin Pitching Market
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
It's no secret that Tampa Bay is deep in starting pitching, with an assortment of arms that other clubs covet to varying degrees. Trading staff ace Chris Archer would bring back the biggest haul, but the likes of Alex Cobb, Jake Odorizzi, Erasmo Ramirez and Drew Smyly (pictured) all have varying degrees of trade value.
With a number of teams on the hunt for rotation reinforcements, dealing one of their arms—most likely Cobb, Ramirez or Smyly—would bring back a decent enough return to make it worth the fiscally constrained franchise's while to pull off a deal.
Texas Rangers: Free Joey Gallo
Michael Zagaris/Getty Images
Just when it looked like Joey Gallo was finally going to get a chance to prove himself at the big league level with regular playing time as a designated hitter, along comes news from MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan that the Rangers are in talks with free agent Mike Napoli on a two-year deal.
Adding Napoli makes plenty of sense for Texas, but it throws another obstacle in Gallo's path. While the 23-year-old is far from a complete player, the only conceivable way he's going to improve his approach against big league pitching is to face it on a daily basis.
With Napoli in the fold, Gallo would be relegated to splitting time with Jurickson Profar at the DH spot or, more likely, spending much of the 2017 season back in Triple-A. If Texas isn't going to play Gallo, the time has come to trade him.
Teams still covet his otherworldly power, and another season at Triple-A isn't going to do anything to increase his value. The Rangers could perhaps add the pitching they need, either at the back end of the rotation and/or in the bullpen with a deal centered around the slugging corner infielder.
Toronto Blue Jays: Add a Corner Outfielder
Kevin Pillar has center field covered in Toronto, while the combination of Ezequiel Carrera and Melvin Upton Jr. is more than capable of holding things down in either left field or right field. It's the other corner outfield spot for which the Blue Jays have an answer—yet there are plenty of possibilities.
Maybe it's a reunion with Jose Bautista, with whom the club is said to be in "active discussions" with, according to Morosi. Maybe it's a trade for New York's Jay Bruce or Curtis Granderson, which we touched upon earlier when looking at the Mets' resolution. Or maybe it's a player nobody's thought of yet.
Whomever the answer might be, the Blue Jays need to ensure that they fill that void. Otherwise, the club will have little to no chance of making a return trip to the postseason for the third consecutive season.
Washington Nationals: Find a Closer
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
As the Washington Post's Chelsea Janes recently wrote, Washington's search for a reliable closer goes back nearly a decade. That the club missed out on not only Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon but lesser options like Fernando Rodney and Brad Ziegler only amplifies the issue.
She goes on to note that the Nats may ultimately have no choice but to look in-house for their ninth-inning solution. But that doesn't necessarily have to be the case, as there are still a handful of free-agent relievers available who have closing experience.
Greg Holland sits atop that list, followed by Santiago Casilla, Neftali Feliz and Sergio Romo, among others. Signing one of those players wouldn't necessarily preclude the Nationals from going with an internal option, but it would give manager Dusty Baker another potential choice late in games.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts (via Baseball Prospectus).


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MKS 180 Multi-Purpose Combat Ship
RBS 15 Gungnir Next-Generation Anti-Ship Missile System
SSBN Borei Class Nuclear-Powered Submarines
The Principe de Asturias aircraft carrier has been in service with the Spanish Navy since 1988. The 17,190t ship was bui
600 plus 230 air wing
Full Load Displacement
17,190t
Economical Speed
Range at Economical Speed
Speed on Emergency Motors
4kt-5kt
FABA Meroka mod 2B Guns
Command and Control System
Tritan digital
SuperRBOC, Nettunel ECM, SLQ-25 Nixie towed decoy
Link 11 and Link 14, Scot 3 Secomset satellite communications
Aircraft Control
SPN-35A
SPS-52C/D
Surface Search
ISC Cardion SPS-55
Fire Control (Meroka)
FABA SPG-M2B
Selex RTN-11L/X
Target Designation
Selex RAN 12 L
Tactical Air Navigation System
URN 25 Tacan
Gas Turbine Engines
2 x GE LM 2500
Sustained Power
Fixed-Wing and Rotary-Wing Aircraft
2,300m²
Flight Deck Lifts
Flight Deck Length
Ski Jump
12° ski jump, length 46.5m
VSTOL Aircraft
Up to 12 AV-8B Harrier II and Harrier Plus
Aircraft-Borne Weapons
AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, AGM-65E Maverick missiles, AIM-120 AMRAAM
Sikorsky Sea King SH-3H, Agusta AB212, Sikorsky SH-3 AEW
Preparing for take off on the Principe de Asturias.
The ship supports up to twelve AV-8B Harrier II and the Harrier Plus.
The ship has four FABA Meroka Mod 2B close-in weapon systems.
The Principe de Asturias with the Chakri Naruebet helicopter carrier of the Royal Thai Navy, also built by Navantia.
The carrier can support up to 12 helicopters.
The Principe de Asturias aircraft carrier has been in service with the Spanish Navy since 1988.
The Principe de Asturias aircraft carrier has been in service with the Spanish Navy since 1988. The 17,190t ship was built by Izar (formerly EN Bazan) and is based at the Rota naval air base.
In February 2005, the naval shipbuilding activities of Izar were spun off into a new company, Navantia.
The layout of the ship was partly derived from the design of the US Navy Sea Control Ship. The hull was laid down in 1979 and the ship was launched in 1982.
The integration of a Tritan digital command and control system and the installation of a flag bridge to meet the requirements of the Spanish Navy delayed the commissioning of the Principe de Asturias until 1988.
The Spanish Navy is planning a mid-life upgrade for the vessel to make it more effective for littoral warfare. The upgrades will include improving anti-ship defence and the command system.
Carrier aircraft
The ship supports up to 12 AV-8B Harrier II Plus and Harrier II (being upgraded to Harrier II Plus configuration) aircraft. The Harriers are armed with AIM-9L Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and AGM-65E Maverick air-to-ground missiles, in addition to GAU-12U cannon.
The carrier also has facilities to support up to 12 helicopters, usually six Sikorsky Sea King SH-3H, four Agusta AB-212 and two Sikorsky SH-3 AEW helicopters.
The ship normally supports a maximum of 29 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft with up to 12 on deck and 13 aircraft in the hangar. In an emergency a maximum of 17 aircraft can be stored in the 2,300m² hangar. The hangar deck is accessed by two flight deck lifts. The 5,100m² flight deck is 176m in length and includes a 12° ski jump, 46.5m in length.
The ship has four FABA Meroka mod 2B close-in weapon systems (CIWS), with 12-barrelled Oerlikon L120 20mm guns. The guns have a rate of fire of 1,440 rounds a min and a range of up to 2,000m.
They are installed two on the stern deck and one each on the port and starboard side of the flight deck. The Meroka fire control system has tracking radar and an Indra (formerly ENOSA) thermal imager.
The ship's combat data system is the Tritan digital command and control system.
The ship's decoy system is the Lockheed Martin Sippican super rapid bloom offboard countermeasures, Super RBOC. The six-barrel launchers can fire both chaff and flare cartridges to a range of 4km. The towed torpedo decoy is the Argon ST AN/SLQ-25 Nixie decoy. A hull noise and propeller rate suppression system reduces the ship's acoustic signature and increasing the effectiveness of the acoustic countermeasures deployed.
The radar interception and jamming system is the Nettunel electronic countermeasures unit from Elettronica.
The large square antenna at the top of the radar mast is the Raytheon SPS-52C/D 3D air search radar operating at E and F bands. Just below this is the surface search radar antenna, the ISC Cardion SPS-55 operating over I and J bands. The large distinctive round dome of the aircraft control radar, the ITT SPN-35A operating at J band, is installed at the bow end of the island at roof level.
has facilities to support up to 12 helicopters."
The fire control radar for the Meroka CIWS is the FABA SPG-M2B monopulse doppler radar, operating at I band. The ship's missile approach warning radar is the SELEX Sistemi Integrati (formerly Alenia Marconi Systems) RTN-11L/X which operates in I and J bands. The I and J band target designation radar is the Selex RAN 12 L.
The ship is equipped with a COGAG (combined gas turbine and gas turbine) propulsion system, consisting of two General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines, each rated at a sustained power of 34.6MW. The engines drive a single shaft with variable-pitch five-bladed propeller built by Lips Propellers in Virginia.
The main propulsion system provides a maximum speed of 25kt and the range at an economical speed of 20kt is 6,500 miles.
FORAN is developed and maintained by SENER Ingeniera y Sistemas...
EID is one of the leading high-tech companies in Portugal,...
MKS 180, also referred to as F126 frigate, is a new multi-purpose combat ship being developed for the German Navy…
RBS 15 Gungnir is the next-generation missile in the RBS 15 family of anti-ship missile systems offered by Saab Group.…
P-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft
The P-3C Orion land-based maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft is operational in the airforces of ten countries. More than…
The Borei Class is a Russian fourth-generation nuclear-powered missile submarine. It is intended to eventually replace the ageing Delta III…


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China denies banning rare earths exports to Japan
BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese trade official on Thursday denied a New York Times report that China had banned exports of rare earths to Japan following the arrest of a Chinese trawler captain near disputed islands.
Activists set sail on a fishing boat in Hong Kong for the second time in two days to the disputed Diaoyu Islands September 23, 2010. A group of activists set sail from Hong Kong on Wednesday to uninhabited islets at the centre of a spat between China and Japan to help assert Beijing's claims, but were warned by authorities not to complete their journey. The small group left the island of Cheung Chau in a fishing boat for the East China Sea islands, called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan. But after several hours of sailing to an area at the edge of Hong Kong waters, media reports said government vessels blocked them from going any further. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
The report, which was sourced to unnamed industry experts, said an initial trade embargo on all exports of rare earth minerals would last through the end of this month.
"China has not issued any measures intended to restrict rare earth exports to Japan. There is no foundation for that," said Chen Rongkai, a spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce.
"I don't know how the New York Times came up with this, but it's not true. There are no such measures."
This week, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao threatened retaliatory steps against Japan unless it released the trawler captain, whom Tokyo accuses of ramming with two Japanese coastguard ships.
Major rare earths traders in China and Japan told Reuters they had not heard of any ban. One Japanese trade official told Reuters that he had heard rumors of an embargo, but could not comment further.
Rare earths, a group of 17 metallic elements including yttrium and lanthanum used in small quantities to enhance batteries, computer and weapons systems, and other applications, are generally found together.
China is the dominant source of rare earths, accounting for 97 percent of world supply in 2009. Steep cuts in export quotas for the second half of this year mean that total export quotas for 2010 are about 40 percent below 2009 levels.
"Rare earths export quotas were cut pretty sharply and have been basically used up, you can't export any to Europe or the U.S. either. People think it's about Japan, but it isn't," said Bruce Zhang, a rare earths expert at consultancy Asian Metal.
"This has nothing to do with the fishing boat incident. The export quotas were issued long before that."
China has gradually over several years reduced exports of rare earths and some minor metals through a quota system designed to keep more of the minerals for its own industry. That effort has been undermined by smuggling, especially through Vietnam.
DISPUTED ISLANDS
The trawler dispute, which analysts say is largely a row over energy resources beneath the sea around the islands that both claim, has heightened tensions between Asia's biggest economies.
A group of activists set sail from Hong Kong for the disputed Diaoyu or Senkaku islands on Thursday, after being turned back by Hong Kong marine police on Wednesday.
Beijing has already suspended high-level contacts with Japan over the issue and postponed talks on increasing flights between two countries with close business and trade ties.
Japanese prosecutors have until September 29 to decide whether to bring charges against the captain.
Chinese media have quoted researchers as speculating that cutting rare earths and other exports to Japan would be an option open to China, if the spat escalates.
"Japan has a great need for these resources from China, reducing or restricting resource exports to Japan would be a useful measure," the Global Times newspaper cited Ministry of Commerce researcher Tang Chunfeng as saying.
Rare earth miners in Canada, Australia and elsewhere are citing the reduction of supply from China when seeking financial backing for their own projects, leading some industry experts to project that any supply squeeze will be short-lived.
Also this week, hundreds of workers at a unit of Japanese-owned Synztec Precision Parts (Shenzhen) Co Ltd went on strike for higher pay, the Apple Daily on Thursday quoted Shenzhen television as saying.
That strike was the latest in a series of labor actions by Chinese workers at Japanese factories this year.
An employee at Synztec Precision confirmed the strike at the company's subsidiary in Longgang, but she believed the dispute was resolved. She also said she had no other information.
Reporting by Lucy Hornby, Chris Buckley and Jim Bai in BEIJING, Linda Sieg in TOKYO and Alison Leung in HONG KONG; Writing by Lucy Hornby; Editing by Alex Richardson


This rubric has something for every assignment.
It's broken down into domains - these are also the categories Ms. Carrey uses for dividing up marks in each course.
For any given assignment, any one of the domains - or the "elements" (parts of the domain) might be used to assess OR to evaluate students' work.
A mini rubric made up of some of the parts of this large rubric is called a "rublet".


text:
Karim Muhammad (left) and Charmaine Lawson (middle) hold hands with members of the Arcata community for the monthly vigil held for HSU student David Josiah Lawson. Lawson was murdered in 2017 and his case remains open and unsolved. | Photo by Deven Chavannes
But still no justice for David Josiah Lawson and his family
Josiah Lawson, News
On the 15th of every month for the past 17 months the advocacy organization Justice for Josiah, which is led by his mother Charmaine Lawson, holds a vigil in memory of David Josiah Lawson in the wake of his murder.
This month the vigil was held at the Manila Community Center, adjacent to Josiah Lawson and his friends most cherished beach.
"I chose this spot today because my son loved the beach," Charmaine Lawson said. "I wanted to be in a place were my sons presences was often."
There were around 30 to 40 in attendance. Community members, Humboldt State University faculty members and family and friends of David Josiah Lawson gathered around to eat barbecue and listen to music.
This did not detract from the seriousness of why people were gathered that day. Many wanted to talk about both the lack of transparency within the HSU administration and Arcata Police Department and overall trust in them.
Sylvia DeeRoy, a local community member and HSU alumni, said she has had enough of HSU President Lisa Rossbacher and the HSU administration's avoidance to answer questions they deem vital for family and friends of David Josiah Lawson, and other HSU alumni.
"Ages have gone by," Derooy said. "As an alumni (Rossbacher) doesn't even care about me."
The vigil happened 25 days after the Aug. 20 roster release of the HSU's predominantly African American student clubs to the Arcata Police Department. Many community members are unaware of this but those who are seem to take a deep frustration with the events that have transpired.
Meg Stofsky a community advocate and member of the Justice for Josiah Movement, had words that seemed to resonate with many at the Vigil.
"I thinks it's racist as hell," Stofsky said.
Although there has been a deep mistrust of the HSU Administration and Arcata Police Department, many family and friends of Josiah say they appreciate the community support of those who know or didn't know him.
Berenice Roman, a student at College of the Redwoods and friend of Josiah, said that although she is frustrated and this situation is difficult, she is glad some in the community are concerned and willing to support them and Josiah.
"It's really cool that people in the community are mad about it, and are still coming to support Ms. Lawson and his friends," Roman said. "It just makes us feel like we are not alone."
As the day drew on, the vigil turned its sights on the remembrance of the memory of David Josiah Lawson. Charmaine Lawson, aunt of Josiah Stacey, and friends Alex Foster and Karim Muhammad led the walk to Josiah and his friends' favorite beach.
Charmaine lead community members following the vigil and attendees chimed in harmony the ethos of these vigils and protest:
"Justice for Josiah, long live D.J. and say his name, Josiah!"
The procession winded down to the beach as their calls for justice echoed out into the humboldt-sphere. After, the vigil attendees gathered in a circle with their hands clasped together, which was formed around hearts with texts inside them that read, "Josiah" and "D.J."
Attendees were asked to go around and say something about Josiah that they remembered, or the reasons for why they were there that day.
No one seemed to be able to get a word out without a semblance of confusion or sorrow.
The vigil ended with the symbolic throwing of roses and petals into the ocean. Although this was supposed to be the most powerful image of the vigil Charmaine Lawson's words seemed to transcend the moment.
"I know he is not here in the physical but he's here in spirit," Lawson said. "I know he is shining and saying 'Mom thank you, for not forgetting me and thank you strangers who are now family for being here and standing with my mom and our family.'"
Joe Friday, September 28, 2018
Can you please report on this and cite sources? It's odd that you mention it in passing, saying that most people are unaware of it, then don't explain what happened. You could have added far more depth to this story.


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From quack to science advocate: Personal journeys
by LymeScience Editor | posted in: Stories | 0
Science provides a framework for changing one's mind given convincing evidence. Once sucked in to pseudoscientific medicine, many never leave. Others do leave but we never hear about it.
A small number of people leave and speak out publicly. It's hard to admit you were wrong, which is why the individuals listed on this page should be praised. Dr. Edzard Ernst, Dr. David Gorski, and William T. Jarvis, PhD have written about how some health professionals become quacks.
This is a list of heroes who are helping others to not make the same mistakes they did:
Britt Hermes, ND (former naturopath)
Natalie Grams (former Homeopath)
Anonymous Naturopath
Preston Long, DC, PhD (a chiropractor)
Dr. Jim Laidler, MD, PhD and Dr. Louise Laidler
Denby Royal (former Holistic Nutritionist)
Dr. Edzard Ernst, MD, PhD, FMedSci, FRSB, FRCP, FRCPEd
Anonymous Acupuncturist and Herbalist
Former naturopath
Britt Hermes was a star naturopath. She graduated from Bastyr University, which its founders considered to be the "Harvard of naturopathic medicine." Most naturopaths (dangerously) start practicing right out of school but she earned a coveted naturopathic residency.
Hermes also had a six figure debt that has accumulated from her time at Bastyr. She had a top job at a naturopathic clinic, but had to quit once she realized the truth: Naturopaths are not real doctors and often demonize real medicine like vaccines.
An encounter with a fake cancer drug called Ukraine caused her to start questioning naturopathy. "I thought I was highly trained and medically competent, but I could not have been more foolish," she says.
Hermes has since completed a masters degree at University of Kiel and started a PhD program.
According to Hermes:
Naturopathy is not what I was led to believe. The profession functions as a system of indoctrination based on discredited ideas about health and medicine, full of pseudoscientific rhetoric and loaded with ineffective and dangerous practices. Naturopaths must be highly scrutinized because they have an on-going history of deceit and exploitation—veiled in good intention.
Britt Hermes's site: Naturopathic Diaries
Britt Hermes on Twitter and Facebook
Wikipedia: Britt Marie Hermes
STAT News: 'Essentially witchcraft': A former naturopath takes on her colleagues
The Guardian: The naturopath whistleblower: 'It is surprisingly easy to sell snake oil'
ZDoggMD: Interview with Britt Hermes
Britt Hermes conference presentation: The Bloody Work of "Naturopathic Doctors"
Britt Hermes explains in writing and in a fascinating talk how she sold a detox scam.
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srcvHDbBN2M
Bloomberg: Homeopathy doesn't work. So why do so many Germans believe in it?
Interview: Natalie Grams: Medical Homeopath to Professional Skeptic
Wikipedia: Natalie Grams
Natalie Grams personal site
In his or her own words:
I'm certainly not the first to say this, but alternative medicine is a fundamentalist religion. It is the same sort of victim-blaming, life-shaming, sacrificial culture that my husband dealt with growing up in an evangelical church. We discuss our parallel experiences often. Alternative medicine is a salvation based religion, except that instead of an eternity in heaven, you get perfect health.
As for my health future, I've left it up to chance. I do the best I can at managing my life, and if I end up sick again someday, I will be better prepared to handle it because of these experiences.
I teach science at a two-year college, and the greatest reward is helping my students learn to apply critical thinking to unknowns and understand how knowledge is really acquired in this world.
I don't know how much good I am doing, but at this point I feel as though this is an appropriate application for my suffering.
Full story: It happened to me: Alternative Medicine (And Poor Critical Thinking Skills) Almost Killed Me
Book review: Chiropractic Abuse: An Insider's Lament
Twenty Things Most Chiropractors Won't Tell You
Excerpts from Dr. Jim Laidler's story:
I consider myself to be a very scientific person. While growing up, I was skeptical and inquiring and naturally gravitated to the sciences. My first brushes with pseudoscience and quackery in medical school left me convinced that "it could never happen to me." I was sure that my background and training would keep me from making the same mistake as "those people." I was wrong.
Looking back on my experiences with "alternate" autism therapies, they seem almost unreal, like Alice's adventures in Wonderland. Utter nonsense treated like scientific data, people nodding in sage agreement with blatant contradictions, and theories made out of thin air and unrelated facts—and all of it happening right here and now, not in some book. Real people are being deceived and hurt, and there won't be a happy ending unless enough of us get together and write one.
My personal journey through the looking glass has ended. I stepped into "alternative" medicine up to my neck and waded out again, poorer but wiser. I now realize that the thing the "alternative" practitioners are really selling is hope—usually false hope—and hope is a very seductive thing to those who have lost it. It is really not surprising that people will buy it even when their better judgment tells them not to do so.
An alternative-medicine believer's journey back to science
Through the Looking Glass: My Involvement with Autism Quackery
Excerpt from Denby's story:
The influence of pseudoscience is not harmless and I have seen firsthand how it lures people away from evidence-based help in their times of need. I am fortunate enough that within my practice I had enough foresight to turn away individuals who required more assistance than I was capable of giving. But along the way I made many embarrassing and conjectural recommendations that cost myself, and others, far too much money and time.
The woo delusion
When I could no longer accept the world I had dedicated my career and identity to, I made the difficult decision to leave the Church of Woo. It was an ego-crushing experience to burst my own self-righteous bubble and to let go of the person I had become through a mix ignorance, misinformation, and a misguided desire to be different.
Full story: I Used To Be a Holistic Nutritionist
Shorter version: I Used To Be a Holistic Nutritionist
SELF Magazine: I Used to Be a Wellness Influencer. Now I'm an Alternative Medicine Skeptic
Dr. Edzard Ernst learned several questionable therapies in medical school: acupuncture, autogenic training, herbalism, homeopathy, and spinal manipulation. He became Chair in Complementary Medicine at the University of Exeter and set out to study it. And he found out a lot of it simply had no scientific evidence to back it up. Since then, he has become a top critic of quackery.
Dr. Edzard Ernst's web site
Wikipedia: Edzard Ernst
I sometimes still catch myself hoping to find validity for acupuncture and TCM. I think it is indeed "hope" that drives people to alternative medicine. We want to believe that when scientific knowledge falls short, there is another way to gain control of our bodies. The desire for hope is so strong, that perfectly intelligent people can blind themselves beyond basic reason.
The feeling of being wrong is dreadful, but continuing to practice a faith-based system of medicine with indifference is terribly worse. I am hopeful that more people who are wrapped up in holistic health fields will begin questioning the validity of alternative practices. Better yet, I hope these people will open their minds to the possibility that they have been deceived.
Full story: What's the point of acupuncture? A TCM practitioner wants out
Her videos can be found on Tiktok.