#(1.4 m sq)

[sh4rkf1nn7]

Which is gayer? Sources say dnp calender(sources being my sister)

[travelella]

Arctic Ocean

The world's smallest and most shallow ocean. It is also the coldest and least salty ocean.

About the size of Russia.

The Arctic Ocean is divided by an underwater ocean ridge called the Lomonosov ridge

Located at the North Pole, the Arctic Ocean has polar ice. Over the years, glaciers have melted threatening sea levels to rise.

Despite the IHO recognizing it as the “Arctic Ocean”, some oceanographers still call it the “Arctic Sea”.

The Arctic Ocean is the most diverse in terms of fish species. It has a wide variety of marine species including whales, jellyfish, etc.

But because of its frigid temperatures, it has little plant life. This makes it one of the most fragile ecosystems on the planet.

Area

Total: 15.558 million sq km

Area - Comparative: Slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Includes: Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, Norwegian Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Coastline: 45,389 km

Ocean Volume: 18.75 million cu km

Percent of the World Ocean Total Volume: 1.4%

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Bathymetry

Continental Shelf: A rather flat area of the sea floor adjacent to the coast that gradually slopes down from the shore to water depths that are typically less than 200 m (660 ft). Dimensions can vary: they may be narrow or nearly nonexistent in some places or extend for hundreds of miles in others. The waters above the continental shelf are usually productive in both plant and animal life, both from sunlight and nutrients from ocean upwelling and terrestrial runoff. More than one quarter of the Arctic sea floor is continental shelf. The Eurasian shelf is very wide extending out 1,500 km (930 mi) and is the largest continental shelf in the World. 

Barents Shelf

Beaufort Shelf

Davis Sill

Chukchi Shelf

East Siberian Shelf

Kara Shelf

Laptev Shelf

Lincoln Shelf

Continental Slope: Where the ocean bottom drops off more rapidly until it meets the deep-sea floor (abyssal plain) at depths exceeding 3,000 m (9,850 ft) water depth. The deep waters of the continental slope are characterized by cold temperatures, low light conditions, and very high pressures. Sunlight does not penetrate to these depths, having been absorbed or reflected in the water above. The continental slope can be indented by submarine canyons, often associated with the outflow of major rivers. Another feature of the continental slope are alluvial fans or cones of sediments carried downstream to the ocean by major rivers and deposited down the slope. 

Litke Trough

Novaya Zemlya Trough

Svyataya Anna Trough (Saint Anna Trough)

Voronin Trough

Abyssal Plains:  At depths of over 3,000 m (10,000 ft) and covering 70% of the ocean floor, are the largest habitat on earth. Sunlight does not penetrate to the sea floor, making these deep, dark ecosystems less productive than those along the continental shelf. Despite their name, these “plains” are not uniformly flat; they are interrupted by features like hills, valleys, and seamounts.

Baffin Basin

Canada Basin

Fram/Amundsen Basin

Greenland Abyssal Plain

Iceland Basin

Makarov Basin

Molloy Deep; note - deepest point in the Arctic Ocean

Nansen Basin

Norwegian Basin

Mid-Ocean Ridge: Rising up from the abyssal plain, is an underwater mountain range, over 64,000 km (40,000 mi) long, rising to an average depth of 2,400 m (8,000 ft). Mid-ocean ridges form at divergent plate boundaries where two tectonic plates are moving apart and new crust is created by magma pushing up from the mantle. Tracing their way around the global ocean, this system of underwater volcanoes forms the longest mountain range on Earth. Fracture Zones are linear transform faults that develop perpendicular to the line of the mid-ocean ridge which can offset the ridge line and divide it into segments. 

Gakkel Ridge

Mohns Ridge

Undersea Terrain Features: The Abyssal Plain is commonly interrupted by a variety of commonly named undersea terrain features including seamounts, guyots, ridges, and plateaus. Seamounts (see Figure 1) are submarine mountains at least 1,000 m (3,300 ft) high formed from individual volcanoes on the ocean floor. They are distinct from the plate-boundary volcanic system of the mid-ocean ridges, because seamounts tend to be circular or conical. A circular collapse caldera is often centered at the summit, evidence of a magma chamber within the volcano. Flat topped seamounts are known as guyots. Long chains of seamounts are often fed by "hot spots" in the deep mantle. These hot spots are associated with stationary plumes of molten rock rising from deep within the Earth's mantle. These hot spot plumes melt through the overlying tectonic plate as it moves and supplies magma to the active volcanic island at the end of the chain of volcanic islands and seamounts. An undersea ridge is an elongated elevation of varying complexity and size, generally having steep sides. An undersea plateau is a large, relatively flat elevation that is higher than the surrounding relief with one or more relatively steep sides. Although submerged, these features can reach close to sea level.

Lomonosov Ridge

Gakkel Ridge

Alpha Ridge

Mendeleev Rise

Chukchi Plateau

Ocean Trenches: note - there are no oceanic trenches on the Arctic sea floor

Atolls: note - there are no atolls found in the Arctic Ocean

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Highest Point: Sea level

Lowest Point: Molloy Deep -5,577 m

Mean Depth: -1,205 m

Ocean Zones: Composed of water and in a fluid state, the ocean is delimited differently than the solid continents. The Ocean is divided into three zones based on depth and light level. Although some sea creatures depend on light to live, others can do without it. Sunlight entering the water may travel about 1,000 m into the oceans under the right conditions, but there is rarely any significant light beyond 200 m.

The upper 200 m (656 ft) of the ocean is called the euphotic, or "sunlight," zone. This zone contains the vast majority of commercial fisheries and is home to many protected marine mammals and sea turtles. Only a small amount of light penetrates beyond this depth.

The zone between 200 m (656 ft) and 1,000 m (3,280 ft) is usually referred to as the "twilight" zone, but is officially the dysphotic zone. In this zone, the intensity of light rapidly dissipates as depth increases. Such a minuscule amount of light penetrates beyond a depth of 200 m that photosynthesis is no longer possible.

The aphotic, or "midnight," zone exists in depths below 1,000 m (3,280 ft). Sunlight does not penetrate to these depths and the zone is bathed in darkness.

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Natural Resources: Sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)

Natural Hazards: Ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually ice locked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing from October to May

Geography - Note: Major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10 months

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Environment

Environment - Current Issues: Climate change; changes in biodiversity; water pollution from use of toxic chemicals; endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack

Climate: Polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature range; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ports and Terminals

Major Seaport(s): Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)

Transportation - Note: Sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways

[propertyok]

Discover Rustomjee Bella: Your Gateway to Modern Living in Bhandup West, Mumbai

Nestled in the vibrant and ever-evolving suburb of Bhandup West in Mumbai, Rustomjee Bella redefines contemporary urban living. This thoughtfully designed residential project by Rustomjee Developers offers the perfect balance of luxury, convenience, and connectivity, making it an ideal choice for homebuyers and investors alike.

A Modern Residential Haven

Spread across 2 acres of prime land, Rustomjee Bella features two meticulously planned towers comprising 168 exclusive units. The project caters to diverse family needs with its range of spacious apartments, including 1 BHK, 2 BHK, and 3 BHK configurations. Each unit has been designed with attention to detail, ensuring a lifestyle of comfort and sophistication.

1 BHK Units: Sized between 326 - 425 sq. ft., these homes offer an efficient layout for young professionals or small families.

2 BHK Units: Ranging from 519 - 576 sq. ft., these apartments provide a comfortable space for growing families.

3 BHK Units: With a size of 611 sq. ft., these homes are perfect for those seeking a blend of spaciousness and luxury.

The project is ready-to-move-in, with possession starting in December 2023, offering buyers the opportunity to step into their dream home without delay.

Prime Location: Bhandup West

Bhandup West has emerged as one of Mumbai’s most sought-after residential localities. Known for its vibrant yet serene surroundings, this suburb offers excellent connectivity and proximity to essential amenities.

Key Location Highlights:

Bhandup Railway Station: 1.3 km

Nahur Railway Station: 1.4 km

Kanjurmarg Railway Station: 2.8 km

Mulund Railway Station: 3.2 km

Vikhroli Railway Station: 4.6 km

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport: 10.1 km

Residents can enjoy seamless access to major arterial roads like Jangal Mangal Road and the bustling hubs of Bhandup Village and Asian Paint Junction, ensuring effortless commutes and connectivity.

Proximity to Essential Amenities

Rustomjee Bella places you within easy reach of Mumbai’s best educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and entertainment hubs, ensuring a well-rounded and enriching lifestyle.

Nearby Amenities:

Healthcare:

Fortis Hospital, Mulund – 1.3 km

Madhu Polyclinic & Nursing Home – 600 m

Educational Institutions:

Multiple reputed schools and colleges within a short drive.

Shopping & Entertainment:

Proximity to malls, supermarkets, and leisure spots makes everyday life convenient.

Financial Services:

Oriental Bank of Commerce ATM – 600 m

Architectural Excellence and Modern Comfort

Rustomjee Bella stands out with its stunning architecture and thoughtfully planned interiors. The project blends aesthetic appeal with functional design, creating homes that reflect sophistication and practicality.

Key Features:

North-West-facing apartments for abundant natural light and ventilation.

Unfurnished units, allowing residents the freedom to customize their homes.

Modern construction standards that prioritize safety, durability, and eco-friendliness.

Why Choose Rustomjee Bella?

1. Reputed Developer

Rustomjee Developers is known for their commitment to quality and timely delivery. With a legacy of excellence, they have earned the trust of countless homeowners across Mumbai.

2. RERA-Compliant Project

Rustomjee Bella is registered under RERA ID: P51800029526, ensuring transparency and adherence to all legal guidelines.

3. Strategic Location

Bhandup West offers a unique blend of urban convenience and serene living, with proximity to central Mumbai and excellent transport links.

4. Varied Housing Options

With 1, 2, and 3 BHK configurations, the project caters to different family sizes and lifestyle preferences.

5. Excellent Value for Investment

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned investor, Rustomjee Bella promises strong returns and a high-quality living experience.

A Vision for Modern Urban Living

Rustomjee Bella is more than just a residential project—it’s a lifestyle statement. From its strategic location to its superior design and proximity to essential amenities, every aspect of this project has been crafted with the modern urban dweller in mind.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be a part of this architectural marvel. Visit Rustomjee Bella today and experience the perfect blend of luxury, comfort, and convenience.

[crownlineuae]

Customised Cooling Solutions for Modern Living - Companion for Every Space

Can you imagine bringing an air-conditioner to every room and enjoying cool temperatures anywhere in your home or office? This is possible with a portable air conditioner, which is also practical for spaces without room for a traditional air-conditioning system. 

In the UAE, Crownline is the best source for finding this innovative cooling solution. Its collection of portable ACs is perfect for any compact space, including studio apartments, small commercial spaces, and living rooms, thanks to the innovative designs that make it possible to use the exhaust kit seamlessly on a window. Plus, you can bring one to a different place without any hassle and configure the settings from the user-friendly control panel or with the remote control.

A dependable cooling companion

Crownline’s portable air conditioners are equipped with the latest cooling technologies that can bring temperatures down in a few minutes. Plus, their energy-efficient performance and auto-cut function eliminate the need to worry about your energy bills. On days or nights with moderate or cooler temperatures, you can still use the portable air conditioner as a fan to stay comfortable. Below are some of the products you can consider for your space:

Crownline PAC-224 14000 BTU Air Conditioner with Remote Control

For spaces up to 525 square feet, check out Crownline PAC-224, a multi-function air conditioner with 14,000 BTUs of maximum and fast cooling power and dehumidification. It has a 2-m drain hose and a 1.5 m exhaust hose for easy set-up, and automatic function and sleep mode for worry-free cooling, even at night. In addition, its Efficiency Booster lets you add up to 2.5 L of water to keep the compressor cool while maximising its efficiency. Safety will be the least of your worries with Crownline PAC-224, as it has a water-fill reminder and power-off memory.

Crownline PAC-152

Do you need a portable air conditioner for a light commercial space, studio apartment, or living room? Crownline PAC-152 is a perfect choice as it comes with 12,000 BTUs of cooling power to cool a 425 sq. ft. space quickly with temperatures from 18 to 32 degrees Celsius. You can even add water to the tank for better energy efficiency and performance. This unit is easy to use anywhere with the fuss-free window kit, and the remote control simplifies its settings. Additionally, it offers automatic temperature control and a 1.4 l/h humidity removal capacity for optimum comfort.

You can shop for a Crownline portable air conditioner at Amazon or Noon.com. Or visit a National Store near you to personally see and try each model.

[the-catboy-minyan]

honey 61% means 39% of deaths are combatants, that's about a 3:2 ratio (in terms of air strikes, not overall death like prev said), the civilia proportion of death is lagher than the global average, which, fun fact, includes all Israel's past wars with Hamas in Gaza, which singlehandedly lowered the world's average!

this is an article from November since it seems we have no problem using outdated data, it only takes into account airstrikes which were documented to cause civilian harm. lets see the stats, shall we?

the average death count of civilians during the current war is 10.1 per strike, according to available data. that's a high death count! but wait, lets look at past Israel/Hamas wars, surely the genocidal evil military must have always been out for blood, right?

huh, that's weird, why do past notable conflicts have less than a 3 average deaths? it's probably similar to other global conflicts then right? ...right?

that's weird. note the high amount of civilian casualties compared to the low amount of bombs used! what about the world average?

interesting.

wanna know another fun fact?

mosul's population density in 2017 was about 0.01 people/sq. m (1.4 million on 180km²)

Aleppo's population density in 2016 was about the same (1.6 million on 190km²)

Raqqa's population density in 2017 was so low my calculator doesn't even work with it (500 thousand on 19620km²)

Gaza's population density is 14,000 people/sq.m

do you see the difference?

uhhh. discuss?

[problemhaver]

A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry[1][2] – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus Musa.[3] In some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called "plantains", distinguishing them from dessert bananas. The fruit is variable in size, color, and firmness, but is usually elongated and curved, with soft flesh rich in starch covered with a rind, which may be green, yellow, red, purple, or brown when ripe. The fruits grow upward in clusters near the top of the plant. Almost all modern edible seedless (parthenocarp) bananas come from two wild species – Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. The scientific names of most cultivated bananas are Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana, and Musa × paradisiaca for the hybrid Musa acuminata × M. balbisiana, depending on their genomic constitution. The old scientific name for this hybrid, Musa sapientum, is no longer used.

Musa species are native to tropical Indomalaya and Australia, and are likely to have been first domesticated in Papua New Guinea.[4][5] They are grown in 135 countries,[6] primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent to make fiber, banana wine, and banana beer, and as ornamental plants. The world's largest producers of bananas in 2017 were India and China, which together accounted for approximately 38% of total production.[7]

Worldwide, there is no sharp distinction between "bananas" and "plantains". Especially in the Americas and Europe, "banana" usually refers to soft, sweet, dessert bananas, particularly those of the Cavendish group, which are the main exports from banana-growing countries. By contrast, Musa cultivars with firmer, starchier fruit are called "plantains". In other regions, such as Southeast Asia, many more kinds of banana are grown and eaten, so the binary distinction is not as useful and is not made in local languages.

The term "banana" is also used as the common name for the plants that produce the fruit.[3] This can extend to other members of the genus Musa, such as the scarlet banana (Musa coccinea), the pink banana (Musa velutina), and the Fe'i bananas. It can also refer to members of the genus Ensete, such as the snow banana (Ensete glaucum) and the economically important false banana (Ensete ventricosum). Both genera are in the banana family, Musaceae.

The banana plant is the largest herbaceous flowering plant.[8] All the above-ground parts of a banana plant grow from a structure usually called a "corm".[9] Plants are normally tall and fairly sturdy with a treelike appearance, but what appears to be a trunk is actually a "false stem" or pseudostem. Bananas grow in a wide variety of soils, as long as the soil is at least 60 centimetres (2.0 ft) deep, has good drainage and is not compacted.[10] Banana plants are among the fastest growing of all plants, with daily surface growth rates recorded of 1.4 square metres (15 sq ft) to 1.6 square metres (17 sq ft).[11][12]

The leaves of banana plants are composed of a stalk (petiole) and a blade (lamina). The base of the petiole widens to form a sheath; the tightly packed sheaths make up the pseudostem, which is all that supports the plant. The edges of the sheath meet when it is first produced, making it tubular. As new growth occurs in the centre of the pseudostem the edges are forced apart.[13] Cultivated banana plants vary in height depending on the variety and growing conditions. Most are around 5 m (16 ft) tall, with a range from 'Dwarf Cavendish' plants at around 3 m (10 ft) to 'Gros Michel' at 7 m (23 ft) or more.[14][15] Leaves are spirally arranged and may grow 2.7 metres (8.9 ft) long and 60 cm (2.0 ft) wide.[1] They are easily torn by the wind, resulting in the familiar frond look.[16] When a banana plant is mature, the corm stops producing new leaves and begins to form a flower spike or inflorescence. A stem develops which grows up inside the pseudostem, carrying the immature inflorescence until eventually it emerges at the top.[17] Each pseudostem normally produces a single inflorescence, also known as the "banana heart". (More are sometimes produced; an exceptional plant in the Philippines produced five.[18]) After fruiting, the pseudostem dies, but offshoots will normally have developed from the base, so that the plant as a whole is perennial. In the plantation system of cultivation, only one of the offshoots will be allowed to develop in order to maintain spacing.[19] The inflorescence contains many bracts (sometimes incorrectly referred to as petals) between rows of flowers. The female flowers (which can develop into fruit) appear in rows further up the stem (closer to the leaves) from the rows of male flowers. The ovary is inferior, meaning that the tiny petals and other flower parts appear at the tip of the ovary.[20]

The banana fruits develop from the banana heart, in a large hanging cluster, made up of tiers (called "hands"), with up to 20 fruit to a tier. The hanging cluster is known as a bunch, comprising 3–20 tiers, or commercially as a "banana stem", and can weigh 30–50 kilograms (66–110 lb). Individual banana fruits (commonly known as a banana or "finger") average 125 grams (4+1⁄2 oz), of which approximately 75% is water and 25% dry matter (nutrient table, lower right).

The fruit has been described as a "leathery berry".[21] There is a protective outer layer (a peel or skin) with numerous long, thin strings (the phloem bundles), which run lengthwise between the skin and the edible inner portion. The inner part of the common yellow dessert variety can be split lengthwise into three sections that correspond to the inner portions of the three carpels by manually deforming the unopened fruit.[22] In cultivated varieties, the seeds are diminished nearly to non-existence; their remnants are tiny black specks in the interior of the fruit.[23]

The end of the fruit opposite the stem contains a small tip distinct in texture, and often darker in color. Often misunderstood to be some type of seed or excretory vein, it is actually just the remnants from whence the banana fruit was a banana flower.[24]

As with all living things on earth, potassium-containing bananas emit radioactivity at low levels occurring naturally from potassium-40 (40K or K-40),[25] which is one of several isotopes of potassium.[26][27] The banana equivalent dose of radiation was developed in 1995 as a simple teaching-tool to educate the public about the natural, small amount of K-40 radiation occurring in every human and in common foods.[28][29]

The K-40 in a banana emits about 15 becquerels or 0.1 microsieverts (units of radioactivity exposure),[30] an amount that does not add to the total body radiation dose when a banana is consumed.[25][29] By comparison, the normal radiation exposure of an average person over one day is 10 microsieverts, a commercial flight across the United States exposes a person to 40 microsieverts, and the total yearly radiation exposure from the K-40 sources in a person's body is about 390 microsieverts.[30][better source needed]

The word "banana" is thought to be of West African origin, possibly from the Wolof word banaana, and passed into English via Spanish or Portuguese.[31]

The genus Musa was created by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.[32] The name may be derived from Antonius Musa, physician to the Emperor Augustus, or Linnaeus may have adapted the Arabic word for banana, mauz.[33] According to Roger Blench, the ultimate origin of musa is in the Trans–New Guinea languages, whence they were borrowed into the Austronesian languages and across Asia, via the Dravidian languages of India, into Arabic as a Wanderwort.[34]

Musa is the type genus in the family Musaceae. The APG III system assigns Musaceae to the order Zingiberales, part of the commelinid clade of the monocotyledonous flowering plants. Some 70 species of Musa were recognized by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families as of January 2013;[32] several produce edible fruit, while others are cultivated as ornamentals.[35]

The classification of cultivated bananas has long been a problematic issue for taxonomists. Linnaeus originally placed bananas into two species based only on their uses as food: Musa sapientum for dessert bananas and Musa paradisiaca for plantains. More species names were added, but this approach proved to be inadequate for the number of cultivars in the primary center of diversity of the genus, Southeast Asia. Many of these cultivars were given names that were later discovered to be synonyms.[36]

In a series of papers published from 1947 onwards, Ernest Cheesman showed that Linnaeus's Musa sapientum and Musa paradisiaca were cultivars and descendants of two wild seed-producing species, Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana, both first described by Luigi Aloysius Colla.[37] Cheesman recommended the abolition of Linnaeus's species in favor of reclassifying bananas according to three morphologically distinct groups of cultivars – those primarily exhibiting the botanical characteristics of Musa balbisiana, those primarily exhibiting the botanical characteristics of Musa acuminata, and those with characteristics of both.[36] Researchers Norman Simmonds and Ken Shepherd proposed a genome-based nomenclature system in 1955. This system eliminated almost all the difficulties and inconsistencies of the earlier classification of bananas based on assigning scientific names to cultivated varieties. Despite this, the original names are still recognized by some authorities, leading to confusion.[37][38]

The accepted scientific names for most groups of cultivated bananas are Musa acuminata Colla and Musa balbisiana Colla for the ancestral species, and Musa × paradisiaca L. for the hybrid M. acuminata × M. balbisiana.[39]

Synonyms of M. × paradisiaca include

many subspecific and varietal names of M. × paradisiaca, including M. p. subsp. sapientum (L.) Kuntze

Musa × dacca Horan.

Musa × sapidisiaca K.C.Jacob, nom. superfl.

Musa × sapientum L., and many of its varietal names, including M. × sapientum var. paradisiaca (L.) Baker, nom. illeg.

Generally, modern classifications of banana cultivars follow Simmonds and Shepherd's system. Cultivars are placed in groups based on the number of chromosomes they have and which species they are derived from. Thus the Latundan banana is placed in the AAB Group, showing that it is a triploid derived from both M. acuminata (A) and M. balbisiana (B). For a list of the cultivars classified under this system, see "List of banana cultivars".

In 2012, a team of scientists announced they had achieved a draft sequence of the genome of Musa acuminata.[40]

[anetherealsoul]

Called to Serve: A Tennis Blog

Rio Olympics 2016: Puerto Rico vs Germany Women's Tennis Singles Final

By Dana Esabelle I. Catingub

A Sports Blog 

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Monica Puig made history for winning Puerto Rico's first-ever gold medal at the Olympic Games. At the women's singles tennis tournament, defeating Angelique Kerber in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. Throughout the first set, the two were evenly matched. Kerber seemed like the game got into her nerves and used that anger to fuel her energy and garnered a few points.

Although Puig kept on missing her serves in the earlier parts of the game, she got back and overpowered Kerber in the third game. The German responded with much of the same on her own serve as the match got off to a fantastic start. Puig had the advantage in the rallies, placing her shots with accuracy and keeping Kerber moving. I was always at the edge of my seat as both of them remained evenly matched, barely giving any space to the other during the first set.

When Puig appeared to be surging, Puig used her energy and techniques to power her way to a quick 30-0 advantage. She took plenty of risks, then earned two break points as Kerber fired a forehand well over the back line, and a lucky shot that clipped the net gave Puig the first set. Kerber seemed to always find more break chances in the next game. Puig took full advantage, grabbing yet another break to move closer to the title.

In-Depth Details:

Court Dimensions

The match was held at the Olympic Tennis Centre, which is located at the Barra Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The court measures 23.77 meters in length and 8.23 meters in width for singles; and 23.77 meters x 10.97 meters for doubles.

Areas of the Tennis Court:

Length of Service Box: 6.4 meters

Width of Service Box: 4.1 meters

Area of Each Service Box: 26.3 sq meters

Backcourt (No Man's Land): 5.5 meters x 8.2 meters (45.2 sq m)

Doubles Alley: 11.9 meters x 1.4 meters (16.3 sq meters)

Net: 0.9meters high in the center, 1.1 meters high at the net posts

Center Line: 4″ / 0.1 m long

(Jonathan, 2019)

Equipment

Rackets- They can be made of many alloys or wood. There are no restrictions on the size or materials used in making a racket. It has an oval head and a gradually widening throat that connects the narrow handle with the head of the racket. The head of the racket is tightly woven with strings which are made of various materials like nylon, gut or synthetic gut. The handles are covered with leather or nylon for a better grip.

Tennis Ball- As per ITF rules, yellow-colored spherical balls, with a diameter between 2.5 and 2.625 inches. They weigh between 2 and 21/16 oz. Pressurized rubber is used to make semi spherical half shells. They are then joined with compressed air between them. The spherical balls are covered with bright yellow colored felt.

Net- A rectangular net is used to separate the two sides of a Tennis court. The net should cover the space between the two net posts. The net is woven in such a way that it does not allow the Tennis ball to pass through. It is usually tied in about 3 feet above the ground at the center.

Wrist bands- are worn around wrists to prevent sweat from wetting the players’ palm or the racket. A wet grip might not be strong.

Headband- are used to absorb sweat. They also tie player’s hair away from their face. Any tight cap made of absorbent material can also be used instead of a head band.

Tennis shoes- Just running shoes don’t provide enough lateral support to players. Tennis shoes are designed to give players better stability and prevent them from sliding while moving sideways. Shoes shouldn’t damage the court when players move briskly across the court.

Dress- Women are advised to wear just any comfortable dress, many Tennis champions try to make a style statement with their carefully designed clothes. Many players prefer wearing a tank top or a T-shirt on a short skirt.

(Tutorials Point, n.d.)

Basic Skills

Footwork

Tennis players actually rack up miles of walking and running throughout the course of a match. Endurance is key, but so is your footwork because there are tons of quick movements that you need to make in a short period of time and over a short distance. With that in mind, it’s important to know the basic idea behind certain footwork techniques that’ll help you be as economical as possible with your movements (3 Tennis Skills All Beginners Need to Master, 2020).

Strokes

1. Serve- This is one of the most important skills to develop for every player. First, because it is the only shot in which you have absolute control over. Second, because having a good serve will give you an edge compared to your opponents, regardless of which level you are playing at.  It begins every single shot in a tennis match. It is also important that the player does not step on the line while serving. If that happens, it is considered a “foot fault” and the serve will be counted as a miss.

2. Return- These are very difficult at the advanced levels since serves are extremely fast. A return is a shot where one player waits to see where the other player’s serve lands and then attempts to hit the ball back to the other side. The most important aspect of a return is just getting the ball back to the other side, no matter how.

3. Forehand- For the vast majority of players, this is their strongest weapon. A player hits a forehand when he allows the ball to bounce once on his court before hitting it, and hits it with his dominant side. The reason why forehands are called forehands is because normally, the front (fore) of your hand holding the racquet will be facing your opponent.

4. Backhand- It is the equivalent of the forehand but executed on the player’s non-dominant side. The reason why backhands are called that is that the back of the player’s dominant hand is facing the opponent. Backhands can either be one-handed or two-handed. One-handed backhands, generally get more power and more spin. Two-handed backhands, give the player more control.

5. Slice- A slice is essentially a variation of the backhand shot. Instead of hitting the ball on the top, your racquet swings through the bottom of the ball. That adds underspin to the shot, so after the ball bounces on the other side, it stays low and close to the ground. Players usually use slices in order to change the pace of the game and add some variation.

6. Forehand Volley- With this stroke, you use only one arm to hit a ball by your dominant side, without letting the ball touch the ground. It requires firm hands and fast reflexes. 

7. Backhand Volley- This looks a lot like a backhand slice, but without letting the ball touch the ground. Once again, a volley usually occurs when you are standing close to the net. A backhand volley always happens on your non-dominant side. Backhand volleys are an important part of your net game since they will allow you to shorten the points and take time away from your opponent.

8. Overhead- The last basic shot you should become comfortable with is the overhead (also called smash in some countries). You must be standing close to the net and hit the ball without bouncing. You need to hit the ball over your head. Overheads are usually used to finish a point, as it is considered a fairly easy shot in which you can hit it very hard. It is important to master this shot so you make sure you win those points.

(Hadlich, Sell, & Rapp, 2019)

Technical and Tactical Skills of Monica Puig

Although during the earlier part of the game, Puig kept missing her serves, she redeemed herself with her quick movements and strong returns. Puig seemed to always have the upper hand in the rallies, placing her shots with accuracy, which led Kerber to keep moving and eventually worn her out. She made her way through the game with her good footwork, wherein she almost did the splits just to be able to hit the ball, high energy, and quick reactions. 

Technical and Tactical Skills of Angelique Kerber

Kerber took the chance whenever she served. She used this to have complete control over the ball and let Puig move left to right with her returns during the rallies. She moves very quickly and her footwork is exceptional. However, as I read through the comments, one viewer stated that Kerber was not in her best condition since she was receiving treatment for an injury and felt nervous during the game.

Rules of the Game

General Rules of Tennis

1. A ball must land within bounds for play to continue; if a player hits the ball outside of bounds, this results in the loss of the point for them.

2. Players/teams cannot touch the net or posts or cross onto the opponent’s side.

3. Players/teams cannot carry the ball or catch it with the racquet.

4. Players cannot hit the ball twice.

5. Players must wait until the ball passes the net before they can return it.

6. A player that does not return a live ball before it bounces twice loses the point.

7. If the ball hits or touches the players, that counts as a penalty.

8. If the racquet leaves the hand or verbal abuse occurs, a penalty is given.

9. Any ball that bounces on the lines of boundary are considered good.

10. A serve must bounce first before the receiving player can return it.

Scoring System

1. Points – Smallest unit of measurement. Points increment from Love(0)-15-30-40-game.

2. Games – Games consist of 4 points each, and is won when a player reaches 4 points with at least a 2-point advantage.

3. Sets – A set consists of 6 games and is won by the player/team who reaches 6 games first with least a 2-point lead.

4. Advantage Set – If a game score of 6-6 is reached and advantage set rules are used, a player/team can only win a set with a 2-game lead.

5. Matches – A match is usually played as best of 3 or best of 5 sets.

6. Deuce – Occurs if a score of 40-40 is reached. In order to win the game, a player/team must win 2 consecutive points in order to take the game. If a player wins one point, they have advantage, but if they lose the next point, the score returns to deuce.

7. Tie-break game – If a game score of 6-6 is reached and tie-break set rules are used, players must play a tie-break game in order to decide who wins the set. In a tie-break game, a player/team must reach 7 points with a two-point advantage to win. For the serving format of a tie-break game, player 1 serves for the first point, player 2 serves for the next two points, player 1 serves for the next two points after that, etc.

What Do the Lines Mean?

1. Baseline – The lines on either end of the court that determines the boundaries of play going lengthwise. They are also where a player serves behind.

2. Center Mark – This determines the two halves of the tennis court. It mainly helps with service to determine where a player should stand prior to serving.

3. Center Line – The center line divides the two service boxes into a distinct left service box and right service box on either side of the court. Landing a serve on the line is considered good.

4. Net – The net stands 3 feet and 6 inches high where the posts lie while the middle of the net is 3 feet tall, with the posts 3 feet outside of the court on either side. Hitting a ball into the net is considered an out while any ball that hits the net cord and falls onto the other side is considered good except for a serve, which allows for a re-do, or let.

5. Service Line – The service line separates the forecourt from the back court, and it also marks the length of the service box.

6. Singles Sideline – The singles sideline is the innermost line running lengthwise and determines the boundary of play for singles matches as well as the width of the service box.

7. Doubles Sideline – The doubles sideline is the outermost line running lengthwise and is only used in doubles matches.

Who Serves First?

A flip of the coin or spin of the racket, known as the toss, determines which player or team serves first. If called correctly, the player or team that did so chooses who serves first. The player/team who did not call it correctly decides which side of the court they want to play on first.

Rally

The rally consists of the exchange of shots after the serve is made until a player/team makes a mistake and loses the point. Any shot that is hit within bounds is considered good and allows the rally to continue. If you want to learn how to play tennis, you will need to know how to rally consistently.

Serving and Choosing Sides

1. Foot Fault – When a player steps into the court or crosses the center mark before they have made contact with the ball. This results in the loss of the serve.

2. Proper Serve – A player serves on the right side of the court at the beginning of each game, with the goal of serving the ball into the diagonal service box. If the serve lands in the correct service box, play can continue. The server switches to serve on the left side for the next point, and vice versa until the game is over.

3. First Service – The server is allowed two chances to land their ball into the service box. The first attempt is known as the first service. Failing the first service leads to the second service.

4. Second Service – The second attempt. Failing the second service results in the loss of the point.

5. Let – This is a re-do given to a player who serves although the ball hits the net cord before falling into the correct service box. You are allowed an infinite amount of lets, although it does not happen often.

6. Order of Service – The player who wins the toss serves first (team that wins chooses which player serves). If playing singles matches, players alternate between serving and receiving every game.

7. Switching Sides – Players/teams switch sides for every odd-numbered game (so, games 3, 5, 7 etc.)

Scoring System

0 Points — Love

1 Point   — 15

2 Points — 30

3 Points — 40

4 Points — Game (2 point lead required)

1. All — Used to describe even scores, except for 40-40. A score of 0-0 would be love-all, 15-15 would be 15-all, and 30-30 would be 30-all.

2. Deuce — Used to describe a score of 40-40. If a deuce is reached, a player must win 2 consecutive points in order to win the game. If a player wins one point and then loses the next point, the score returns to deuce.

3. Advantage — The player who wins the first point after a deuce is reached is said to have “advantage”.

4. Advantage In — If the server is the player who has advantage, the server may announce the score as “advantage in”.

5. Advantage Out — If the receiver is the player who has advantage, the server may announce the score as “advantage out”.

If you’re wondering why the tennis scoring system is formatted like this, one theory states that the tennis scoring system derives from the face of a clock. The goal would be to reach 60, so every point would advance the player by 15 except for the last point.

(Tennis Rules, n.d.)

How to Officiate the Sport

Line Umpires- They are the ones who get to call the shots at all levels of tournaments, from grassroots all the way through to the Australian Open. It might appear simple, but the best Line Umpires need to be able to concentrate for long periods of time, be team players, and require excellent eyesight. As well as calling the lines, they act as an extra pair of eyes and ears for the Chair Umpire. Becoming a Line Umpire is the quickest pathway to getting on court at tennis tournaments around the world.

Chair Umpire- This is the most important person on court during a match. The Chair Umpire is responsible for everything from calling the score to enforcing the rules and managing the players. A successful Chair Umpire needs great communication skills, the ability to stay calm under pressure, and 20:20 vision. The best Chair Umpires work full-time in the role, travelling the world with the tennis tour

Community Official- This is a great way to get involved in tennis at the grassroots level. They are responsible for monitoring a number of courts at a tournament or competition. They assist and educate players, parents and coaches; and assist in the smooth running of an event.

Community Officials- They start as Court Monitors which help to identify on court queries but can quickly graduate to Court Supervisors to help enforce the Rules of Tennis and Code of Behaviour, as well as resolving on court queries.

Referee- They are the expert in all things rules and regulations. Referees supervise all aspects of a tournament, from taking charge of the draws and schedules, to enforcing the rules and making sure everything runs smoothly and in the spirit of fairness. Being a Referee requires exceptional knowledge of the rules of tennis, the ability to multi-task in a pressured environment, and to listen and communicate well with everyone involved with the tournament (Types of Tennis Official, n.d.).

Ball persons- Although they don’t have an officiating capacity, they are essential for the smooth running of operations. There are usually six ball persons on a court. There are two at the back of each side of the court and two more at the net, covering each side of it.  Their job is to ensure that the server always has a choice of tennis balls to choose from before they start to serve (O’Mahony, 2013).  

Bibliography:

3 Tennis Skills All Beginners Need to Master. (2020, January 27). Retrieved from Adidas Tennis Camps: https://tenniscamper.com/3-tennis-skills-all-beginners-need-to-master%EF%BB%BF/

Hadlich, G., Sell, K., & Rapp, A. (2019). The 8 Basic Tennis Shots & Skills (Explained). Retrieved from MyTennisHQ: https://mytennishq.com/the-8-basic-tennis-shots-skills-explained/

Jonathan. (2019, February 13). Tennis Court Dimensions – How Big Is A Tennis Court. Retrieved from Perfect Tennis: https://www.perfect-tennis.com/tennis-court-dimensions/

O’Mahony, A. (2013, August 26). Officials at a tennis match. Retrieved from Bounce Tennis: https://bouncetennis.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/officials-at-a-tennis-match/

Tennis Rules. (n.d.). Retrieved from Pro Tennis Tips: http://protennistips.net/tennis-rules/

Tutorials Point. (n.d.). Retrieved from Tennis - Equipment: https://www.tutorialspoint.com/tennis/tennis_equipment.htm

Types of Tennis Official. (n.d.). Retrieved from Tennis: https://www.tennis.com.au/learn/ballkids-officials-coaches-and-volunteers/officiating/types-of-tennis-official

 Photo Credits:

https://media4.s-nbcnews.com/i/newscms/2016_32/1663591/160811-monica-puig-rio-2016_9219ab98bba9a18278238eb78f0c6c74.jpg

https://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/003/617/923/hi-res-5f117bc36b25662b8a529a2aa8cbbae5_crop_north.jpg?1471072739&w=3072&h=2048

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/93/52/74/9352741b1f7413f3d980a40d6314034a.jpg

https://s3.amazonaws.com/homestratosphere/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/16221520/PARTS-OF-THE-COURT-min.jpg

https://pin.it/3n6tBvd

https://pin.it/22cfVyI

https://pin.it/3fsWT8T

https://pin.it/4qUw3ET

https://pin.it/63xk9aC

Template:

Canva

Video Reference:

https://youtu.be/5-iONJOk4NM

[lowkeyder]

Monica Puig (PUR) vs Angelique Kerber (GER) - Women's Tennis Singles Final | Rio 2016 (Sport Performance Analysis)

A blog written by Frea Dea C. Segovia

Introduction

The flaming close game between Monica Puig (PUR) and Angelique Kerber (GER) was held at the Olympic Tennis Centre in the Barra Olympic Park in Barra da Tijuca in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 13, 2016. In the end, Monica Puig beats Angelique Kerber, winning the gold medal with 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 triumph.

Court Dimensions

As mentioned, the scorching competition between the two outstanding tennis players was held at the Olympic Tennis Centre. The tennis venue has an overall length of 78 ft / 23.77 m; an overall width of 27 ft / 8.23 m (Singles), 36 ft / 10.97 m (Doubles); and an overall surface area of 2,106 sq ft / 195.7 sq m (Singles), 2,808 sq ft / 260.9 sq m (Doubles). The length of service box is 21 ft / 6.4 m, width of service box is 13.5 ft / 4.1m, area of each service box is 283.5 sq ft / 26.3 sq m, backcourt (no man’s land) is 18 ft / 5.5 m x 27 ft / 8.2 m (486 sq ft / 45.2 sq m), and doubles alley of 39 ft / 11.9 m x 4.5 ft / 1.4 m (175.5 sq ft / 16.3 sq m). Furthermore, its net has dimensions of 3ft / 0.9m high in the centeequr, 3.5ft / 1.1 m high at the net posts. Lastly, the center line is 4″ / 0.1 m long.

Equipment

1. Tennis Uniform - when playing tennis, both men and women usually wear a shirt. If you wear a sleeved or sleeveless cotton blend top, you will feel cooler and more relaxed. However, some courts do not sanction sleeveless shirts, so double-check their policies first.

2. Tennis Racquet or Racket - is a bat with a long handle attached to a circular frame covered in a network of tight strings; used to strike the ball.

3. Tennis Balls - are neon yellow in organized tournaments, but they can be any color in casual play. They are wrapped in a fibrous felt that alters their aerodynamic properties, and each is adorned with a white curvilinear oval.

4. Tennis Shoes - a sports shoe with a rubber bottom and a leather or hard cotton top that is ideal for tennis sport.

5. Tennis Bag - is a bag used to transport a player's tennis rackets.

6. Net - is a mesh that divides tennis court in half.

7. Grip Tape - tennis players use this to tape the handle of their racket.

8. Arm Sleeves - it's also known as a tennis compression sleeve. This prevents the muscles from tightening and gives the arm support.

9. Ball Clips - are similar to every other clip or holder. When playing tennis, these allow a ball to be clipped onto a player's shorts or trousers.

10. Ball Hoppers - is one of the most popular methods for moving tennis balls around a tennis court. When collecting or using balls, this is normally made with wheels so that a player can wheel the hopper around the court.

11. Carts - is similar to a tennis ball hopper, except this one still has wheels and a handle, and it's made to hold tennis balls.

12. Elbow Brace - is used to relieve pain and strengthen a player's grip strength. It has two velcro straps that wrap around the elbow and add a lot of cold pressure to the inflamed area.

13. Hats - a visor is what it's classified as. This hat is made with the top of the hat left open, making it lighter than other styles of hats.

14. Knee Brace - is sometimes worn by a player who has or has had knee issues in the past. This does not mean that a player's knee is any better than it is. Furthermore, if a player takes a strange turn or falls to the court, this protects the knee from further injury.

15. Bandana/Headbands - it collects sweat and prevents it from interfering with a player's results. This is wrapped around a player's head to catch moisture to keep it out of their eyes.

16. Rosin - is a sticky substance made from the sap of fir trees that helps players strengthen their grip on their racket while still keeping their hands dry.

17. Sweat Bands - tennis players use this to wipe sweat off their forehand and wear it on their wrists.

18. Racket Grips - the tennis racket may now have a smoother, more personalized grip. This aids the tennis racket to have a smoother, more personalized grip.

19. Towels - during the course of a game, a player uses this to wipe sweat off their face and hands.

20. Visors - it's also known as a tennis hat, and it's a lot lighter than most hats.

Basic Skills

Serve. A serve is the stroke used to begin each point in a tennis match. It is one of the most important shots in tennis since it is the only stroke over which a player has full control. A successful serve gives the player serving some control over the point's outcome. This is because the server receives the first strike and can restrict the number of strikes based on the strength, spin, and shot placement.

Groundstroke. After the ball has bounced once on the court, a groundstroke is a forehand or backhand stroke. It's one of the most basic shots in tennis, and it's usually hit from the back of the court during a baseline rally. Groundstrokes, on the other hand, can be played from any point on the court as long as the tennis ball has bounced. A groundstroke is still a groundstroke whether it is struck from the center of the court (around the service line) or even closer to the net. A volley, drive volley, or smash is when the ball is struck in the air before bouncing.

Volley. The ball is shot out of the air until it bounces on the court in a volley stroke. Both the forehand and backhand volley strokes are included in the word "volley." A volley can be played from almost any spot, but it is most commonly done when a player is closer to the net. A groundstroke or half volley is a shot in which the ball bounces until a player makes a contact with it.

Overhead Smash. An overhead smash is a tennis stroke in which the player hits the ball with his or her racquet raised above his or her head in a serve-like motion. This shot is also known as a smash or an overhead shot, and the two words are synonymous. Since this is the most common type of the shot, the word "smash" or "overhead" typically refers to the "forehand smash" or "forehand overhead." When a player is unable to move into a position to hit the more effective forehand smash, the backhand smash is used.

Technical and Tactical Skills

Monica Puig. Attaining the triumph and winning the gold surely are surely two of the indications on how skilled and well-grounded this player is in the field of the tennis sport. Throughout the whole game, she has proven her worth with the aid of her exceptional technical and tactical skills. Three of the strategies and techniques she had utilized are overhead, forehand volley, and slice. Firstly, her overhead is probably the most fascinating to see amongst the tennis players I’ve seen before. It’s amazing how comfortable she is as she stands close to the net, and eventually hits the ball over her head. This skill is one of the basic skills, but she turned it into something much more extraordinary. Secondly, her forehand volley in which has aided immensely in making her opponent vulnerable and allowed her to be able to shorten the points, taking the time away from her opponent. Although this skill may be seen as difficult for others to do, she has managed to execute it well with the help of her firm hands and exceptional reflexes. Lastly, her slice was pretty much the skill that has helped her attain triumph and the gold medal. As observed, she has utilized this skill with her own strategy. It’s astonishing to see how she perfectly swings the racket through the bottom of the ball. Moreover, this very skill has given her the ability to be able to change the pace of the game and to further add variations, the reason for her success.

Angelique Kerber. Although this player has unfortunately didn’t manage to obtain the gold, it shouldn’t be the reason to see her as a less skilled and well-ground player in the sport. Having her as an opponent is certainly hard and difficult. Indeed, regardless of the hapless result, she has still proven to the world how amazing she is as a tennis player, and that she is worthy of representing her country in such competition. Three of the strategies and techniques she had utilized are return, backhand volley, and serve. Firstly, her return is very alluring to watch as an audience. It’s unbelievable how fast her reflexes are in seeing the ball’s direction and eventually hitting the ball back to the other side. This skill has given her the advantage to overcome her opponent at some time of the game. Secondly, her backhand volley is inevitably one of the highlights of her skills. This strategy has given her the capability to be dominant over her opponent at some point. It shortens the span of time that her opponent has, and has been helpful in providing her the upper hand in the game. Lastly, her serve is probably the best one I’ve seen so far. Although it’s just a basic skill, this has aided in her survival in the competition. Indeed, she has great and absolute control over it, as observed. Thus, this has also given her the advantage to give herself an edge compared to her opponent in the game.

Rules of the Game

General Rules

1. For play to proceed, the ball must land within bounds; if a player hits the ball outside of bounds, they will lose a point.

2. Players and teams are not allowed to touch the net or cross over to the opposing team's side.

3. The ball cannot be carried or caught with the racquet by the players or teams.

4. Players are not allowed to strike the ball twice.

5. Players must wait until the ball has passed through the net before returning it.

6. A player loses a point if he or she does not return a live ball until it bounces twice.

7. It is a penalty if the ball strikes or hits the players.

8. A penalty is imposed if the racquet leaves the player's side or if verbal violence occurs.

9. Any ball that bounces on the boundary lines is considered a good ball.

10. Before the receiving player can return a serve, it must first bounce.

Scoring

1. Points - smallest unit of measurement. Points increment from Love (0)-15-30-40-game.

2. Games - Games - each game is worth four points, and a player wins if he or she scores four points with at least a two-point advantage.

3. Sets - a set consists of six games, with the winner being the player/team that completes the first six games with at least a two-point advantage.

4. If the game score is 6-6 and advantage set rules are used, a player/team can only win a set if they have a two-game lead.

5. Matches are usually played in best of three or best of five sets.

6. If you get a score of 40-40, you get a deuce. To win the game, a player or team must score two consecutive points. A player has an advantage if they win one point, but if they lose the next point, the score is deuce.

7. Tie-break game - if the game score is 6-6 and the tie-break set rules are in place, the players must play a tie-break game to determine who wins the set. To win a tie-break game, a player or team must score 7 points with a two-point lead. In a tie-break game, player 1 serves the first point, player 2 serves the next two points, and player 1 serves the final two points.

Officiating the Sport

Line Umpires. At all levels of competitions, line umpires get to call the shots – literally. It might sound easy, but the best Line Umpires must be able to focus for long periods of time, work well with others, and have outstanding eyesight. They serve as an additional set of eyes and ears for the Chair Umpire in addition to calling the lines. The easiest way to get on the court at tennis tournaments around the world is to become a Line Umpire.

Chair Umpires. The Chair Umpire is the most important person on the court during a match, apart from the players. During a match, the Chair Umpire is in charge of everything from calling the score to enforcing the rules and handling the players. Great communication skills, the ability to remain calm under pressure, and 20:20 vision is all expected of a good Chair Umpire.

Community Official. Volunteering as a Community Official is a wonderful way to get interested in tennis at the grassroots level. They are in charge of a variety of courts during a tournament or competition. They offer an assistance and education to players, parents, and coaches, as well as assisting in the smooth operation of an event. Community Officials begin as Court Monitors, assisting in the identification of on-court issues, but soon advance to Court Supervisors, assisting in the enforcement of the Rules of Tennis and the Code of Behavior, as well as resolving on-court issues.

Referees. The Referee is the only authority on all rules and regulations. Referees are in charge of all facets of a tournament, from the draws and schedules to implementing the rules and ensuring that everything runs smoothly and fairly. Being a referee necessitates extensive knowledge of tennis rules, the ability to multi-task in a high-pressure setting, and the ability to listen and interact effectively with all tournament participants.

References & Photo Credits

https://www.perfect-tennis.com/tennis-court-dimensions/

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https://www.rookieroad.com/tennis/equipment-list/

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http://protennistips.net/tennis-rules/

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https://mytennishq.com/the-8-basic-tennis-shots-skills-explained/

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[bloojayoolie]

Apparently, Beautiful, and Best Friend: Very sweet, shy, tender hearted brindle boy in need of a soft voice and a quiet, structured home where he can feel safe, loved, and thrive. TIMON OLUNTEEP Id 67422, 4 Yrs., 38 petite lbs., Dreaming of a family of his own, at Manhattan ACc TO BE KILLED 8/27/19 From Shy to Social, Smiley Boy Timon Wants to find His Forever Home! ~ Timon is a tiny little guy with big bat ears and a gentle heart, who craves a loving & quiet home and a family to love. He was found in the streets and brought to the shelter by police, a teeny, tiny petite little man of only 38 lbs who was frightened after his experience and only wanted to feel safe and loved. But the shelter is no place for sensitive souls with tender hearts, and a bravery deficit, so TIMON didn’t find the quiet, calm, “safe space” he had hoped for. He’s so incredibly adorable with his big bat ears, his white socks and his gorgeous tiger brindle coat. Add to that his big smile, or the way he sits so straight and tall, trying to project a courage he doesn’t feel as he tries to negotiate the Brooklyn Center. The volunteers do their best to give him comfort, always taking time to talk to him in a soft voice, snuggling with him on a bench, softly petting him and telling him not to worry – it will be ok. But it won’t be ok if no one picks this beautiful sweet boy. He needs an experienced foster or adopter who can give him the quiet space he will need to find his rudder. Can you help this little man out? Message our page or email us at MustLoveDogsNYC@gmail.com for assistance fostering or adopting him now. A volunteer writes: Hakuna Matata is not Timon's moto but it could be if he gets to move in with you, as your forever best friend. Timon is a handsome lad whose face and moves light up as he distances himself from the care center. He strolls beautifully, does his business, sits on command and respects small critters and other dogs. I was surprised to see that the noises and crowding of the park did not bother him. He seemed to feel like home. Timon got lots of compliments from passerby's. He is a unique Boroughbred I said! Still everyone was trying to take a guess about his mix. Maybe you will too? Timon is shy but after a while spent with him, he will jump on a bench near his caretaker and accept caresses. There is love at first sight and love that comes with trust and time. Timon is waiting for you at the Manhattan Care Center, dreaming to be his carefree self, in your hands! Volunteer Evelyne Cumps writes: Timon (67422) is a lightweight (37lbs) brindley 4 year old neutered male, a very elegant, healthy stray that was very shy upon arrival but opened up amazingly. He truly is a favorite of all here at the care center but for some reason has not caught the attention of the public. may be because he is such a quite mouse in his kennel. He is one pretty dog who could have some BT up his family tree. He was so shy in PG but now, he plays nicely with males and females in PG. he is a great walker, goes to the park, is fine with all its activities and noises, nears other pooches politely, sits, comes when called and is likely HT. His behavioral eval is level 3 as he was scared (although NEVER) aggressive upon arrival and for days. Staff, behav staff and vols have been working daily with him and Timon has really bloomed. He is waiting for his Pumba at the Manhattan Care Center! MY MOVIE: Timon, The Magnifique! https://youtu.be/ldDHl3QiJZo TIMON, ID# 67422, 4 yrs old, 38.6 lbs, Unaltered Male Manhattan ACC, Medium Mixed Breed, Brown Brindle / White Surrender Reason: Stray, brought by police Shelter Assessment Rating: NEW HOPE ONLY Medical Behavior Rating: BEHAVIOR NOTES Means of surrender (length of time in previous home): Stray Behavior toward strangers: A woman, living with dog, said he growls at her and snaps FOSTER BEHAVIOR NOTE Timon was with the foster and a 10 year old girl at the street came close to him, Timon jumped on her and scratched her. SHELTER ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES - Date of assessment: 30-Jun-2019 Leash Walking Strength and pulling: Moderate Reactivity to humans: None Reactivity to dogs: None Leash walking comments: None Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): Fearful – avoids; tense; cowers Call over: No approach – nervous, tense Sociability comments: Body tense Handling Soft handling: Fearful Exuberant handling: Fearful Handling comments: Body tense, tail down, moves away when legs are touched Arousal Jog: Follows (body low) Arousal comments: None Knock: No response Knock Comments: None Toy: No response Toy comments: None PLAYGROUP NOTES - DOG TO DOG SUMMARIES: 7/1-7/3: When introduced off leash to the female greeter dog, Timon approaches, sniffs, and continues to follow while sniffing. He solicits play at times, but is more intent on following and sniffing. 7/5-7/15: Timon engages in bouncy play with a female dog. 7/16-PRESENT: Timon is playful in a group of male and female dogs. INTAKE BEHAVIOR: Date of intake: 28-Jun-2019 Summary: scared but warmed up MEDICAL BEHAVIOR: Date of initial: 28-Jun-2019 Summary: trembling, tense, fearful, allowed handling ENERGY LEVEL: We have no history on Timon so we cannot be certain of his behavior in a home environment. At the care center, he displays a medium level of activity. IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS: Timon was initially fearful and uncomfortable with touch when he arrived at the care center. Through daily interactions with handlers and dogs in playgroup, Timon has become increasingly social and on 7/5-7/6 began soliciting attention from handlers. He will approach with soft body and wagging tail and when handlers pet him he will lean in. BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: NEW HOPE ONLY Behavior Asilomar: TM - Treatable-Manageable Recommendations: No children (under 13) Recommendations comments: No children: Due to how uncomfortable Timon is currently with touch and novel stimuli, and that he was reported to growl and snap with the person he was staying with, we feel that an adult-only home would be most beneficial at this time. New Hope Rescue Only Potential challenges: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. Potential challenges comments: Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Timon was reported to growl and snap by the person he was staying with. At the care center, he has been very fearful. Please see handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression. MEDICAL EXAM NOTES 11-Jul-2019 Progress Exam SO Post op recheck skin -- clean, dry incision site A healing sx site P continue to monitor post op 10-Jul-2019 Spay/Neuter Summary Surgery report - canine neuter Was this dog a cryptorchid? No - normal canine scrotum and testicles Scrotal incision along median raphe Spermatic Cord Ligation with: 0 Monocryl in modified Miller's knots Sub Q closure: 0 Monocryl in single stitch Skin closure? Left open to drain Green linear tattoo near incision site to denote neuter status. Pre-op exam. Reported occasionally sneezing. S: Tense, trembling during exam O: BAR-H, MMs pink and moist EENT: No discharge OU, AU, nose. PLNs: Not significantly enlarged. H/L: NSR, NMA. Eupnic, quiet lung sounds. No coughing or sneezing during exam. Abd: Soft, no pain on palpation, no masses palpated M/S/I: Amb x4. No skin lesions noted. UG: Male intact, testicles soft and symmetrical. Neuro: Alert and appropriate, no sign neurological deficiencies A: Appropriate surgical candidate P: Neuter today Anesthesia Summary: Canine Neuter Pre Medication: Hydromorphine 4 mg, injectable, 0.18 mL IM Dexmedetomidine 0.5 mg injectable, 0.2 mL IM Induction: Propofol 10 mg, injectable, 3 mL IM Anesthesia Notes: Size 8.5 fr. ET tube placed, maintained general anesthesia throughout procedure on isoflurane and O2. Used rebreathing system with 3 L bag. 22 g IVC placed in right cephalic vessel. Intraoperative IV LRS at 5-10mL/kg/hr at: 170 mL/hr Rimadyl 50mg/mL injectable, 1.4 mL, SQ, once post-operatively, for post-operative pain relief. Other: Testicular block 0.88 mL of Lidocaine 0.88 mL of Sterile water Recovery Status Recovery was uneventful. Post-operative Medications Prescribed: Rimadyl 75 mg Tablets, Give 75 mg (1 Tablet), Orally, once a day for 2 days beginning the day after surgery. Anesthetist/Surgical Monitor (P#’s): 28-Jun-2019 DVM Intake Exam. Estimated age: 3-5y. Microchip noted on Intake? No. History : stray brought by police, Subjective: BAR, Observed Behavior - trembling and tense, allowed all handling, but very fearful. Evidence of Cruelty seen – no. Evidence of Trauma seen – no. Objective: T = , P =wnl, R =wnl, BCS 4/9, EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted. Oral Exam: unable to examine due to muzzle. PLN: No enlargements noted. H/L: NSR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupnic. ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated. U/G: male intact 2 testes palpable in scrotum. MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat. CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities. Rectal: external normal. Assessment: apparently healthy. Prognosis: good. Plan: neuter and all intake tasks. SURGERY: Okay for surgery *** TO FOSTER OR ADOPT *** HOW TO RESERVE A “TO BE KILLED” DOG ONLINE (only for those who can get to the shelter IN PERSON to complete the adoption process, and only for the dogs on the list NOT marked New Hope Rescue Only). Follow our Step by Step directions below! *PLEASE NOTE – YOU MUST USE A PC OR TABLET – PHONE RESERVES WILL NOT WORK! ** STEP 1: CLICK ON THIS RESERVE LINK: https://ift.tt/2ynocEZ Step 2: Go to the red menu button on the top right corner, click register and fill in your info. Step 3: Go to your email and verify account \ Step 4: Go back to the website, click the menu button and view available dogs Step 5: Scroll to the animal you are interested and click reserve STEP 6 ( MOST IMPORTANT STEP ): GO TO THE MENU AGAIN AND VIEW YOUR CART. THE ANIMAL SHOULD NOW BE IN YOUR CART! Step 7: Fill in your credit card info and complete transaction HOW TO FOSTER OR ADOPT IF YOU *CANNOT* GET TO THE SHELTER IN PERSON, OR IF THE DOG IS NEW HOPE RESCUE ONLY! You must live within 3 – 4 hours of NY, NJ, PA, CT, RI, DE, MD, MA, NH, VT, ME or Norther VA. Please PM our page for assistance. You will need to fill out applications with a New Hope Rescue Partner to foster or adopt a dog on the To Be Killed list, including those labelled Rescue Only. Hurry please, time is short, and the Rescues need time to process the applications.

[facets-and-rainbows]

Salaryman Exorcist 70 translation

By coercion popular request, the text of the most recent Salaryman Exorcist in English! 

I labeled it like:

(page #).(panel #) speech bubble 1 speech bubble 2

so you can follow along with where it is in the raws.

GET READY TO FEEL BAD FOR SHIRO IN A WHOLE NEW WAY...

Page 1

1.1 (Salaryman Exorcist title and credits etc)

Mephisto: Argh! Damn! I can't believe they shot from over there!

1.2 Goddamn! I'm done! So done!

Shiro: *Sigh*

1.3 Shiro: Mephisto! Don't just leave your stuff scattered around.

1.4 Shiro: Clean up over here! You're just holed up playing games all day.

Page 2

2.1 Mephisto: Just casually haunting us again, huh?

Shiro (handwritten): Huh? I can't put this stuff away...

Narration: *In this universe, Shiro just pops up as a ghost sometimes. (He doesn't know he's a ghost)

2.2 Shiro: And get rid of this pile of old games already.

2.3 Mephisto: !! What are you saying?! These are rare and valuable retro games! Mephisto (handwritten): Stop it!!

Shiro: It's not like you ever play them... Shiro (handwritten): They're as good as garbage.

Mephisto: This is the number one thing kids hate their parents for, you know!

2.4 Shiro: Kids hating parents? That's got nothing to do with me. I'm the number one dad character in the Blue Exorcist universe!

*According to a poll by Shiro

2.5 Mephisto: Oh?

2.6 Mephisto: Are you sure about that? *snap*

Shiro: ?!

Page 3

3.1 Shiro: Wha...? What? Where am I?!

3.2 Kid Shiro: I'll kill every demon I see. And in the end, I'll rip out your throat with my teeth...

3.3 Narration: Shiro's wild and tumultuous childhood (Jump SQ, August issue)

Rin: Old man... He's so prickly.

3.4 Shiro: M... Me as a kid...?!

And... Is that Rin?! (handwritten): His hair's different though.

3.5 Narration: Shiro's wild and tumultuous childhood (Jump SQ, September issue)

Kid Shiro: Die!

Exorcists: How is he still just an Exwire?

3.6 Kid Shiro: Hahahaha! You'll die! Actually, die!

Narration: Shiro's wild and tumultuous (you get the picture)

3.7 Rin: Old man... He's so destructive.

Mephisto: You're driving your son away.

Page 4

4.1 Shiro: Wh...What's all this?! Explain yourself! What is Rin doing in this time?!

Mephisto: It's a long story...But I've been showing him the past.

Shiro: What?!

4.2 Shiro: You little...! You don't just show someone's kid what they were like before their character development!

*Gasp* What about Yukio...?! If he saw this...

Mephisto: I only brought the son who seemed like he could handle it.

4.3 Shiro: Rin's just a kid himself, idiot! I can't let him see any more.

Shiro (thinking): Most importantly, it's embarrassing!

4.4 Girl: Ah! Shiro-chaaaan <3 Wanna get a drink today?

Young Shiro: Sure, I'll go.

4.5 Narration: Shiro's indulgent young adulthood (Jump SQ, October issue)

Rin: Old man...!

Shiro: Why would you show that to a kid?!

Narration: Shiro faces the greatest threat of his afterlife. To be continued!

[karinakapitonova-blog]

Everyday Monument: Pop Plop

1) Batcolumn, 1977 Steel and aluminum painted with polyurethane enamel 96 ft. 8 in. (29.5 m) high x 9 ft. 9 in. (3 m) diameter, on base 4 ft. (1.2 m) high x 10 ft. (3.1 m) diameter Harold Washington Social Security Center, 600 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 

2) Spring, 2006 Steel, cast aluminum, aluminum; painted with acrylic polyurethane 70 ft. (21.3 m) high x 18 ft. (5.5 m) diameter at base of sculpture Cheonggyecheon Stream, Seoul, South Korea 

3) *Clothespin, 1976 Cor-Ten and stainless steels 45 ft. x 12 ft. 3 in. x 4 ft. 6 in. (13.7 x 3.7 x 1.4 m) Centre Square Plaza, Fifteenth and Market streets, Philadelphia 

4) Gartenschlauch (Garden Hose), 1983 Steel painted with polyurethane enamel Two parts, in an area approximately 6,000 sq. ft. (557.4 sq. m) faucet: 35 ft. 5 in. x 8 ft. 12 in. x 7 ft. 1 in. (10.8 x 2.7 x 2.2 m) hose: 410 ft. (125 m) long x 20 in. (0.5 m) diameter Schlinger Park, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

5) Dropped Bowl with Scattered Slices and Peels, 1990 Steel, reinforced concrete, fiber-reinforced plastic; painted with polyurethane enamel; stainless steel Seventeen parts (eight bowl fragments, four peels, five orange sections), in an area approximately 16 ft. 9 in. x 91 ft. x 105 ft. (5.1 x 27.7 x 32 m) Metro-Dade Open Space Park, Miami, Florida 

6) Tumbling Tacks, 2009 Steel, fiberglass, resin, polyurethane foam, gelcoat and transparent satined glass coating Four tacks, each 18 ft. (5.5 m) in diameter Kistefos-Museet, Kistefos, Norway 

7) Flying Pins, 2000 Steel, fiber-reinforced plastic, foam, epoxy; painted with polyester gelcoat and polyurethane enamel Ten pins, each: 24 ft. 7 in. (7.5 m) high x 7 ft. 7 in. (2.3 m) widest  ball: 9 ft. 2 in. (2.8 m) high x 21 ft. 12 in. (6.7 m) diameter Intersection of John F. Kennedylaan and Fellenoord Avenues, Eindhoven, the Netherlands

8) Spoonbridge and Cherry, 1988 Stainless steel and aluminum painted with polyurethane enamel 29 ft. 6 in. x 51 ft. 6 in. x 13 ft. 6 in. (9 x 15.7 x 4.1 m) Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 

9) Flashlight, 1981 Steel painted with polyurethane enamel 38 ft. 6 in. (11.7 m) high x 10 ft. 6 in. (3.2 m) diameter University of Nevada, Las Vegas 

10) Knife Ship I, 1985 Steel, wood, plastic coated fabric, motor Closed, without oars: 7 ft. 8 in. x 10 ft. 6 in. x 40 ft. 5 in. (2.3 x 3.2 x 12.3 m) Extended, with oars: 26 ft. 4 in. x 31 ft. 6 in. x 82 ft. 11 in. (8 x 9.6 x 25.3 m) height with large blade raised: 31 ft. 8 in. (9.7 m) width with blades extended: 82 ft. 10 in. (25.2 m) Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain

[dshaqs]

Studio The Distinction Unit on 10th floor Size 520 sq ft With Balcony Fully furnished Deluxe Hotel Apartment ** Commercial property Currently rented for AED 75,000. Asking price AED 1.4 M. Call Dshaqs 00971589572299 (at Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck20gNhtGjS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tech2cool]

ViewSonic VX2718-P-MHD 27-In Full HD VA 165 Hz Gaming Monitor

Vendor: ViewSonic Type: Computer Monitors Price: 400.93

Review Highlights

1920 X 1080 resolution

1 ms response Time (MPRT)

2 X 2 Watt built-in stereo speakers

Features

165 Hz refresh rate

Loads frames faster

Reduces lag and motion blur

Adaptive Sync

Synchronizes your GPU and monitor outputs

Minimises screen tearing

SuperClear technology. Consistent image quality from above, below, front or side

Mega dynamic contrast ratio 80 mill : 1

Creates depth in images

Adds definition to darkest and brightest colours

ViewMode offers specialized presets. To fit different usage scenarios. Enhances

gamma curve

color temperature

contrast

brightness

Game Mode integrates pre-calibrated FPS, RTS and MOBA game settings. With in-game testing and adjustments

Flicker-Free technology and Blue Light Filter help reduce your eye strain

Ergonomic tilt

-5 deg forward

25 deg back

1 X Kensington Lock Slot

100 mm X 100 mm VESA compatible. For wall mounting

27 inch viewable area

VA panel type

16 : 9 aspect ratio

4,000 : 1 (typical) static contrast ratio

LED light source

250 cd/sq m (typical) brightness

16.7 mill colors

Viewing angles

178 deg horizontal

178 deg vertical

30000 hours backlight life

Connectors

1 X 3.5 mm Audio Out

2 X HDMI 1.4

1 X DisplayPort

Power in: 3-pin Socket (IEC C14 / CEE22)

Power

Consumption

Eco Mode (conserve): 24 W

Eco Mode (optimized): 26 W

Typical: 30 W

Maximum: 35 W

Stand-by: 0.5 W

Voltage

AC 100 - 240 V

50/60 Hz

Power supply: Internal

Warranty

Singapore customers: Three-year onsite limited hardware warranty

International customers: Three-year Singapore return-to-base (customer ship-in) limited hardware warranty

from Tech2Cool https://ift.tt/cZMNTne

[deborahboardyzz65]

Movandi Solution Cuts Millimeter Wave 5G Deployment Cost In Half

A new whitepaper titled “Repeaters Cut 5G mm-Wave Costs in Half,” published by Mobile Experts Inc., validates the innovative Movandi 5G mmWave platform enables a cost savings of about 52% for the deployment of millimeter-wave solutions for 5G and beyond.

The study was conducted by Mobile Experts founder and chief analyst Joe Madden who over his more than 30 years of experience, has among other things, accurately predicted the rise of 5G fixed wireless, small cells, digital pre-distortion, and remote radio heads. The study’s goal was to assess whether a new network architecture leveraging repeaters could reduce millimeter-wave network costs. It concludes that the traditional 4G, 3G, and 2G network expansion approach that adds more radios to increase capacity and coverage simultaneously becomes too expensive in a 5G mm-wave scenario. Unlike pre-4G generations of radios, 5G gNodeBs have significantly more capacity but limited range. Therefore, expansion by adding more radios underutilizes radio capacity while dramatically increasing costs and installation complexity.

To make his determination, Madden based his study on a Dallas neighborhood covering 1.4 sq miles with a high density of sub-6 GHz traffic that during peak times generates about 31 Gb/s of traffic but by January 2024 will likely double to nearly 61 Gb/s. After comparing various deployment scenarios, he concluded that rather than employing large numbers of next-generation gNodeB (gNB) radios, the traditional approach that is used for 4G and its predecessor standards, an innovative approach using a mesh of smart repeaters can be an effective way to satisfy both coverage and capacity. He estimated a ten-year total cost of ownership for outdoor and substantial indoor coverage for each scenario:

95 gNodeB (gNB) units only: $12.M ten-year TCO. 10 gNB and 85 wired repeaters: $6.6M ten-year TCO, 48% savings. 10 gNB and 60 wired and 60 solar repeaters: = $6.0M ten-year TCO, 52% savings. “This study confirms our findings that illustrate how the use of our technologies can dramatically reduce the complexity of millimeter-wave deployments while enhancing the end-user experience in reducing overall cost by more than 40%,” said Reza Rofougaran, CTO, and founder of Movandi. “We believe that only through the use of a new network design model can millimeter-wave frequencies be used cost-effectively to achieve 5G’s lofty goals. Movandi’s virtualized platform makes this possible in virtually any indoor or outdoor environment, including office buildings, stadiums, and other large venues, moving vehicles, and RF-restrictive areas that would otherwise be too costly to deploy.”

“Our benchmarks with multiple mobile operators reveal that the costs of permitting, fiber, and power to a millimeter-wave network can be significant,” says Madden. “The use of repeaters to ‘spread’ the RF capacity throughout an urban area can effectively cut the operator’s cost dramatically.”

The Movandi approach is unique based on patented 5G millimeter-wave chipsets, RF power amplifiers, MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antennas, BeamXR smart repeater modules, and BeamX algorithms and software. It provides mesh networking capability with redundant and dynamic routing and will soon provide control via cloud-based data centers to balance and optimize network routing based on traffic and quality of connectivity. These innovations reduce the required number of gNodeBs through load-balancing traffic across networks to provide continuous connectivity, even in moving vehicles.

[profbruce]

How many ways are there for Canadian real estate entrepreneurs to get screwed?

By Bruce Firestone | Architecture

Jan 13, 2020                                                                                                           

[The problem with low appraisals]

I am frustrated that Canadian real estate entrepreneurs have so few options when it comes to financing their projects.

My friend, Matt Slobodian from Canada ICI wrote this:

The regulatory framework in Canada focuses on safety and soundness (it is federally regulated via OSFI, which implies higher standards) whereas the US is open to decentralization, privacy, experimentation, trial and error.

The Canadian market is worth CAD $142 billion per year while the US market is over $1.4 trillion (more than 10x bigger). Canadian Institutions seek growth opportunities by venturing into the US whereas US banks just focus on their massive domestic sector for growth.

There are 85 banks in Canada versus 4,938 banks in the US.

Canadian market share for the big 5 banks is 89% whereas America’s 5 largest banks only hold 35% of the market there.

Matt used this article as his source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/canada-u-s-banking-differences/.

He was responding to an earlier email from moi (subject heading: FAIL POINT) saying:

I am reaching out to you because more and more I am seeing good quality real estate entrepreneurs in Canada fail. Why? Well, the fail point is… finance (a lot of the time). You may not agree with me, but from my point of view, my US clients are doing much better in this respect; read this (it’s short, I promise), https://profbruce.tumblr.com/post/190179083309/why-american-businessmen-and-businesswomen-are

Maybe there is nothing we can do about it except stare over the border with envy?

That doesn’t really suit me or I think you either.

The question: Is there anything that can be done about…

Low appraisals Low LTVs Lack of competition Lack of availability

I’m stumped.

Best regards, Bruce

Matt went on to say (about the appraisal issue):

I’ve found that the quality of an appraisal comes down to quality comparables. Most prudent lenders will look at the comparables in determining their value. It’s important to know which appraisers have the best comparable sets of data in order to obtain the highest market value that can be supported. Further if the Borrower has comparable data then most appraisers are open to incorporating these into their reports.

Fine. But here’s an example how this works (or doesn’t) in a RL (real life) case study:

As far as appraisals are concerned, here’s an example of how Canadian real estate entrepreneurs get screwed—a client of mine (a successful fence contractor) has a humongous house on 2-acres.

He built a 1,500 sq ft workshop for $190,000 in his backyard—with all the bells and whistles for his growing business. He paid cash for everything but after completion, he wanted to refi so he could top up his working capital.

Then the lender’s appraiser shows up. First thing he says, “Sorry, I can only appraise the main house.”

Now my guy being a contractor and a straight shooter replied, “WTF!” plus a few more choice words. Next, he fired the appraiser on the spot.

He hired another appraiser who said the same thing but that he would cut my client some slack, “I’ll just add the value of your shop to your house so we can get it refinanced that way! He.He.He.”

It was another damn, quasi-legal workaround…

FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS COACHING THAT’LL HELP YOU PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY FOR 3-GENERATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Bruce M Firestone, B Eng (civil), M Eng-Sci, PhD Real Estate Investment and Business coach Century 21 Explorer Realty Inc broker Ottawa Senators founder 1-613-762-8884 bruce.firestone@century21.ca twitter.com/ProfBruce profbruce.tumblr.com/archive brucemfirestone.com

•    MAKING IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE •    FREEDOM VIA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND PB4L, PERSONAL BUSINESS FOR LIFE •    FEHAJ, FOR EVERY HOME A JOB •    MAKE YOUR HOME WORK FOR YOU, INSTEAD OF YOU WORKING FOR IT •    HIGHER ROI NOT JUST FOR OWNERS AND INVESTORS, BUT FOR TENANTS, GUESTS, VISITORS, NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMUNITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES, CITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT TOO

Image source:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archimedes_screw.JPG

postscript: Matt Slobodian writes in response to this mini case study as follows:

This is an interesting example. The appraiser (I’m assuming) was primarily focused on residential valuations.

You could have suggested a value+ model where they apply a market value (based on comparables) to the home but a cost approach towards the workshop (in this case simply using the cost that your client spent on building his shop) to come up with a final value. This way, there is a clear determination of value on both buildings that can be justified and does not put the appraiser at risk of liability. 

Another approach would have been to engage an AACI-designated appraiser who is qualified to evaluate commercial properties. S/he would be able to value the workshop at FMV along with a separate market valuation for the home. This appraisal costs more to prepare but it may have also have provided a higher value for your client, which in turn could mean more equity repatriation on refinance. Worth the discussion anyway. 

Appraisers should be able to provide their approaches over a phone-call.

Regards, Matt

Unfortunately, most lenders insist clients select an appraiser from their list of approved providers (even though, in commercial real estate and sometimes even residential, clients pay for those appraisals). This means that clients are limited in what they can do to get a fair appraisal, Bruce

postscript 2: if you think it’s tough getting decent appraisals try doing it in small towns.

Lenders and their appraisers seem to detest small towns and even rural areas around big cities (on well and septic). Why? Because the markets are thin, not heavily traded, and it takes a long time to sell a distressed (foreclosed) property. Also, property appreciation is often much less (or even negative) in those marketplaces… at least according to bankers.

[yesseniabrisso]

#Repost @zahahadidarchitects • • • • • • Leeza SOHO #Beijing opens this Tues 19 Nov. . Straddling the new Beijing Subway tunnel that diagonally divides its site, the Leeza SOHO tower rises as a single volume divided into two halves on either side of the tunnel. A central atrium - the world’s tallest - extends 194m through the full height of the building and connects with the metro station below, creating a fantastic new public space for the city. . As the tower rises, the diagonal axis through the site defined by the subway tunnel is re-aligned by ‘twisting’ the atrium through 45 degrees to orientate the atrium’s higher floors with the historic north-south / east-west axis on which the city was founded. . The core and shell development of Leeza SOHO was awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The tower’s double-insulated, unitised glass curtain-wall system steps the glazing units on each floor at an angle, allowing ventilating registers to draw outside air through an operable cavity when required; creating extremely efficient environmental control for each floor. . Leeza SOHO is ZHA’s fourth collaboration with @SOHO_China to achieve LEED certification, totalling 15 million square feet (1.4 million sq. m) of mixed-use urban space in Beijing and Shanghai. . Photo Mirko Kirstein . #Beijing #China #architecture #zahahadid #zahahadidarchitects https://www.instagram.com/p/B49ttDunOEc/?igshid=q721gw52pisi