SUBJECT: Easy to Use Cabinet Selection Checklist!

TO: Donny

FROM: Elon/Department of Government Efficiency

SUBJECT: Easy to use Cabinet Selection Checklist!

  • Absolute loyalty to Trump no questions asked (required)
  • No expertise in area (required)
  • Donated large sums to Trump campaign (required)
  • Involved in sex abuse scandal (50)
  • Conservative TV personality (50)
  • Wants to dismantle department being hired for (50)
  • Involved in Project 2025 to dismantle democracy (50)
  • Nomination will cause ruckus and publicity (50)
  • Believes in or promotes conspiracy theories (50)

3 required checked and at least 150 other points – you’re hired! 

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Pickleball Etiquette

Here’s some etiquette guidelines I am using for a local ladder league. I based them on some from Sun City Festival Pickleball. These are for experienced players. I would add some additional ones for an open recreation league with beginners.

Good sportsmanship is the rule. Yes, we love the game, but it is only a game.  Respect all players. Assume the best of each player. Talk to your partner about who takes the middle, about calling the ball, etc.  Note there are many different strategies for the middle.  Don’t assume anything. 

Begin each game by acknowledging the other players, and introducing yourself if you don’t know them. If you do know them, use whatever is appropriate to let them know that you know they are there and are saying “hey.” 

If the ball is “out,” and it’s on your side, call it out. If it’s close, give the benefit of the doubt to your opponent. This is hard to do when the game is close but do it anyway. Don’t question the call of the opposing team.  If there seems to be a consistent issue, talk to me. 

If you step into the kitchen on a volley, or if your partner does, call it. Don’t call kitchen or serving faults on other teams. It’s very hard to judge.  If there seems to be a consistent issue, talk to me. 

Slams are part of the game.  Don’t aim for people’s heads, obviously.  If you hit someone, apologize.  If you get hit, accept apology and move on. If you don’t like getting slammed (who does?), work on your defense or ask a better player for tips on defending the slam. 

Server should announce score and make sure receiver is ready before serving.  Work out scoring issues peacefully with other teams if there is a discrepancy. 

At the end of each game, find something positive to say to the other team at the net. “Nice game” isn’t always appropriate if in spite of your efforts at sportsmanship you have won 11-0.  Find something encouraging to say — at least, “Thanks for playing with us!” is nice. But never leave a game without acknowledging the other team.

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Deerfield Pickleball Ladder Rules

  1. The goal is to get good games against players at a similar level as you as well as a fun competition to see high you can get up the ladder. You should have some experience to enter.
  2. The league will runs for 5 weeks Thursdays August 22 until 9/19. Emails will be sent at least and hour ahead of time in case of rain outs and an additional week added. 
  3. You put in one of 3 5-person groups randomly for week 1.
  4. You are partnered with each other person in your 5 person group once. You play against each other person twice. You sit out for one game per week. Gender is not considered in teams.
    1. 1-2 vs 3-4
    2. 2-4 vs 3-5
    3. 1-5 vs 2-3
    4. 1-3 vs 4-5
    5. 1-4 vs 2-5
  5. Each subsequent week, the groups and overall ladder are ordered by points and total points are recalculated each week so you can move up or down the ladder and may change groups. Groups are determined by ladder after week 1. Group 1 is for top 5 players, group 2 for middle players, and group 3 for bottom 5 players. 
  6. Each week players receive 3 points per win and 1 bonus point if they go undefeated. 
  7. Each game is to 11, win by 2. 
  8. Substitutes: If a player knows in advance there is a week that they cannot attend, they may get a substitute. The absent player does *not* receive points the substitute earns that week. We will compile a Substitute Players list for competitors to use in the event they need to be gone.
  9. If a player does not show up or did not contact league officials about being absent AND get a substitute, they will be considered a “No Show”. Any player that “No Shows” twice will be removed from the league.

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Overhead Slams in Pickleball 

Going to share some of my own opinions on the overhead slam in pickleball.  

  1. Expectations: no one is trying to injure you or hit you in the face or head but it can happen by accident.  Accept the person’s apology and move on.  Remember no one has perfect aim, also players sometimes just react before having time to think. 
  2. Expectations.  If you enter a tournament, expect your opponents to use the slam shot.  If not comfortable with that, stick to recreation pickleball or form your own group to play on your own times.  But both my recent pro instructor and also the Thursday night instructor in Conway both stated the important of learning how to defend slams and also”bangers”, folks that hit every ball hard as pickleball is tending to harder and faster shots. So if you want to improve at pickleball, work on your defense! 
  3. Expectations: don’t slam beginners. Apologize if you hit someone by accident. Slams OK for advanced and intermediate players, aim for feet for lower intermediate players. 
  4. Defense. The overhead slam is a common shot in pickleball and will be the “go to” shot  if your team pops up the ball.  The best way to deal with slams is to practice defending them.
    1. Try to avoid popping up the ball 
    2. Be at the kitchen line in ready position: paddle out in front, knees bent, anticipating the ball. If you are standing back from the kitchen line and have your paddle at your side, you are a “sitting duck” for a slam. 
    3. Safety first. If a ball is coming at your head, duck or slide to the slide. Wear safety glasses if you are worried about being able to handle slams. 
    4. Use the 10 rule.  The force of the incoming shot and your shot should be equal 10 in intensity.  If the shots coming on at 10 (max), just stick out your paddle, no need to swing at all.
    5. If you see that you are giving the other team a high pop up and you have time to move back, do so.  A slam is really to easy to return after it bounces. 
  5. Offense: generally aim for feet especially paddle/dominant side.  Hip and mid chest (paddle side, paddle height – aka chicken wing) are also good places offensively in tournaments and with intermediate/advanced players. Slams at sharp angle away from player and also down the middle are also good depending where other team is positioned.  If you slam a lot, mix it up and do a fake slam and dink the ball, etc. 

Here’s a good video on defending against “bangers”. 

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Baseball Scoring – Common Misconceptions

As a long time baseball scorekeeper using paper in the old days and now the gamechanger app, here are some common misconceptions kids and parents have about baseball scoring. I’m always learning something about baseball scoring so this is my understanding and let’s talk if you think it’s not right. 

Errors/ROE 

Errors are the biggest area of confusion and because there is a subjective element, it adds to that. But the key thing to remember about errors is to use the actual definition of an error. Most people, in my experience, form an idea or mental picture about what an error is but may not know the actual definition, which must be used especially in borderline cases. 

Definition from MLB: A fielder is given an error if, in the judgment of the official scorer, he fails to convert an out on a play that an average fielder should have made [at that level]. Fielders can also be given errors if they make a poor play that allows one or more runners to advance on the bases. A batter does not necessarily need to reach base for a fielder to be given an error. If he drops a foul ball that extends an at-bat, that fielder can also be assessed an error.

So one common misconception is that player has to mishandle a ball to be counted as an error, which is not true. A ball that goes through a fielders legs would be a error and even a easy fly ball the fielder loses track would be an error. Scorers have to consider the level of play when evaluating “an average fielder should have made” so there is some subjectivity there. Also note a really hard play not made such as a diving catch where the ball bounced off or out of a glove would typically not be scored as an error. 

My understanding is also that some mental errors are not scored as errors such as communication errors between fielders such as 2 outfielders letting a ball drop because no one called it, etc.

Sac Bunt

Sacrifice plays are scored as such and do not adversely affect a batter’s hitting stats because they help the help. A sac bunt can be scored if the hitter’s bunt advances a runner on base. Unlike a sac fly, they do not have to score on the play.

MLB: A sacrifice bunt occurs when a player is successful in his attempt to advance a runner (or multiple runners) at least one base with a bunt. In this vein, the batter is sacrificing himself (giving up an out) in order to move another runner closer to scoring. When a batter bunts with a runner on third base, it is called a squeeze play and, if successful, is still recorded as a sacrifice.

Sac Fly

A sac fly is a flyball where a runner scores after tagging up on the play and the runner is out.

MLB:  A sacrifice fly occurs when a batter hits a fly-ball out to the outfield or foul territory that allows a runner to score. The batter is given credit for an RBI.

FC – Fielder’s Choice 

If a runner is safe at first but another runner is out because that was an easier play to make for the defense, it’s scored as a fielder’s choice, which does not count as a hit for the batter. The reason is that it would have been an out if there were no runners on base and not a hit. 

MLB Rule 2, “Definitions”, as “the act of a fielder who handles a fair grounder and, instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter-runner, throws to another base in an attempt to put out a preceding runner.”

Hit and Error Combos 

A base runner could end up at another base and it could still be counted as a single. For example, let’s say the hitter hits a blooper into the outfield but the fielder throws the ball away such that the runner gets to second base. That would be scored as a single and an error. Another common case is a single where the defense throws home to try to prevent a run scoring, which would be scored as a single and the hitter reached on the throw. 

No credit for advancing a runner via ground ball

Although beneficial, there is no stat (or credit) for advancing a runner on a ground out for example. So if hitter grounds out with runner on first who then makes it to second, it just a regular out for the hitter. 

Final Word

Parents and players should understand the scorekeeper is an unpaid volunteer and does it for the love of baseball and to help the team’s coach by providing season and game stats. For complicated plays especially, things can be missed, mistakes can be made, and interpretations of things like errors can vary. Just remember one play is not going to mean anything over the season and it all evens out in the end. Like any sport, some calls go your way and some don’t. In my view, the most important stat is the team’s win-lose record and how you, as a player contributed and were a positive force on the team.

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Best of Thomas Foennesbaek

My favorite jazz trio artist is Thomas Foennesbaek, a contemporary Danish bass player and jazz composer. From what I have gleaned, he has Synesthesia, the ability to see music as colors in his mind’s eye in his case. What I find most interesting from his playing is that his melodic voice as a bass player is so strong. Yes, he plays amazing rhythm for the piano player, but you can also hear his voice clearly. And when he solos, it’s as strong as or stronger than the piano work. I would say in a lot of jazz, the bass player is primarily a rhythm player with occasional solos that may or may not be that interesting. Here’s my direct Apple Music playlist or see the text below.

https://embed.music.apple.com/us/playlist/best-of-thomas-foennesbaek/pl.u-EdAVVkYTkPMJW

Untitled


Best of Thomas Foennesbaek

49 songs, 4.7 hours, 618.6 MB


Title

Time

Album

Artist

1 My Favorite Things

4:53

My Favorite Things

Thomas Clausen Trio

2 Over the Rainbow

5:37

My Favorite Things

Thomas Clausen Trio

3 Round Midnight

6:28

Back to Basics – Recorded In Cope…

Karsten Bagge, Thomas Clausen…

4 Pelicans… & Other Birds

5:22

Back to Basics – Recorded In Cope…

Karsten Bagge, Thomas Clausen…

5 When Your Lover Has Gone

2:20

Back to Basics – Recorded In Cope…

Karsten Bagge, Thomas Clausen…

6 Sutri

4:48

Welcome

Nicolai Majland Trio

7 What’s Your Name (feat. Morten L…

6:31

Welcome

Nicolai Majland Trio

8 How Deep Is the Ocean?

5:27

Back2Basics

Thomas Clausen, Karsten Bagge…

9 Nature Boy

5:00

Back2Basics

Thomas Clausen, Karsten Bagge…

10 Invitation

5:44

Back2Basics

Thomas Clausen, Karsten Bagge…

11 Vem kan segla förutan vind

4:48

Back2Basics

Thomas Clausen, Karsten Bagge…

12 You Must Believe In Spring

6:08

Back2Basics

Thomas Clausen, Karsten Bagge…

13 You And The Night And The Music

6:03

Back2Basics

Thomas Clausen, Karsten Bagge…

14 Syl-O-G**m (Live)

10:07

Take One – Live at Montmartre

Christian Sands, Thomas Fonnesb…

15 Body and Soul (Live)

11:59

Take One – Live at Montmartre

Christian Sands, Thomas Fonnesb…

16 In a Sentimental Mood (Live)

9:31

Take One – Live at Montmartre

Christian Sands, Thomas Fonnesb…

17 You Never Know (feat. Lars Janss…

4:11

Sound of My Colors (feat. Lars Jan…

Thomas Fonnesbæk

18 Summertime (feat. Lars Jansson &…

5:06

Sound of My Colors (feat. Lars Jan…

Thomas Fonnesbæk

19 Green as D-minor (feat. Lars Jans…

4:41

Sound of My Colors (feat. Lars Jan…

Thomas Fonnesbæk

20 Autumn Leaves (feat. Lars Jansso…

5:58

Sound of My Colors (feat. Lars Jan…

Thomas Fonnesbæk

21 Figurine

5:24

Fingertips

Alex Riel, Thomas Fonnesbæk &…

22 Alcubierre’s Law

5:41

Groovements

Thomas Fonnesbæk, Aaron Parks…

23 I’m on Fire

5:06

Groovements

Thomas Fonnesbæk, Aaron Parks…

24 Elutheria

7:04

Groovements

Thomas Fonnesbæk, Aaron Parks…

25 A Rabbit’s Tale

5:31

Groovements

Thomas Fonnesbæk, Aaron Parks…

26 You and the Night and the Music

5:49

Groovements

Thomas Fonnesbæk, Aaron Parks…

27 Synesthesia

5:34

Synesthesia

Thomas Fonnesbæk & Justin Kauflin

28 Nigerian Marketplace

7:48

Synesthesia

Thomas Fonnesbæk & Justin Kauflin

29 Skybound

4:38

Synesthesia

Thomas Fonnesbæk & Justin Kauflin

30 Lost

5:05

Synesthesia

Thomas Fonnesbæk & Justin Kauflin

31 For No One

5:37

Synesthesia

Thomas Fonnesbæk & Justin Kauflin

32 Point of No Return

8:48

Sharing (feat. Thomas Fonnesbæk…

Thomas Fonnesbæk Trio


Title

Time

Album

Artist

33 For Paco

8:21

Sharing (feat. Thomas Fonnesbæk…

Thomas Fonnesbæk Trio

34 Blue Waltz

8:54

Blue Waltz

Enrico Pieranunzi & Thomas Fonn…

35 Come Rose Dai Muri

7:03

Blue Waltz

Enrico Pieranunzi & Thomas Fonn…

36 Tales from the Unexpected

5:13

Blue Waltz

Enrico Pieranunzi & Thomas Fonn…

37 Dreams and the morning

4:13

New Visions (feat. Thomas Fonnes…

Enrico Pieranunzi

38 Hindsight

5:21

The Real You

Enrico Pieranunzi & Thomas Fonn…

39 Sno’ Peas

4:47

The Real You

Enrico Pieranunzi & Thomas Fonn…

40 I Will Look After You

4:12

The Real You

Enrico Pieranunzi & Thomas Fonn…

41 Bill & Bach

5:35

The Real You

Enrico Pieranunzi & Thomas Fonn…

42 You’re Gone and I Remain

4:27

Signature

Heine Hansen Trio

43 In-Between Black and White

4:56

Signature

Heine Hansen Trio

44 Moody Dance

4:52

Signature

Heine Hansen Trio

45 Butterfly

3:27

Signature

Heine Hansen Trio

46 Awaiting

3:22

Signature

Heine Hansen Trio

47 I am That

4:31

More Human

Lars Jansson Trio

48 Mothers In Brazil

5:50

More Human

Lars Jansson Trio

49 The Inner Room

5:07

More Human

Lars Jansson Trio

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Growing Up in Millertown, NY and Enfield, CT

Interview on StoryCorp I did with my Mom Esther.

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UMASS North Texas Photos

Saturday, December 17, 202. Very physical game as these photos show. UMass lost but fought for it. See slide show below. Click on white arrow on right side of photo(s) to advance slides.

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How to Add Apple Music Smart PlayList to Sonos

There does not appear to be a way to directly use Apple Music Smart Playlists in Sonos. However, there is a way to access a static copy of your Apple Music Smart Playlist. This technique is not perfect because once you create static copy of the Smart Playlist, it does not stay in synch with your Smart Playlist. However, it’s a good workaround once you are happy with your Smart Playlist, it is visible in Sonos under Library -> Apple Music -> Library -> Playlists. This was tested with Music on Mac OS Ventura. 

Create Smart Playlist in Apple Music with File -> New -> Smart Playlist. Check contents to make sure it’s what you want. 

Create a new, empty, static playlist in Apple Music with File -> New -> Playlist 

Go back to your smart playlist by selecting in left column of Music 

Select all and copy smart playlist songs. You can use Command A, Command C for this or use the Edit menu.

Drag to static empty playlist on left column.

The playlist will now appear in Sonos under Library -> Apple Music -> Library -> Playlists

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Aidan Fall Ball 2021

Includes nice swing sequence. Aidan went 3 for 4 at this game.

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