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conradscrime · 2 years ago

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The Disappearance of Michael Dunahee

February 19, 2023

Michael Wayne Dunahee was born on May 12, 1986 to parents Bruce and Crystal Dunahee in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

On March 24, 1991, at only age 4, Michael disappeared from Blanshard Elementary School during his mother, Crystal’s flag football practice. The Dunahee family arrived at the school around 12:30 pm that day, and when they got there Michael asked Crystal if he could go play on the playground which was near the field where the practice was.

Crystal later claimed that she had a gut feeling that something was not right but agreed to let Michael go play and go over to the playground by himself. Crystal told Michael that once he got to the playground he was to stay there and “wait for Daddy to come.” When Bruce got over to the playground Michael was not there.

The Dunahee’s immediately called the police and around 50 people began to search for Michael. Michael was last seen wearing a blue hooded jacket, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles tshirt, rugby pants and blue sneakers.

Michael’s case quickly became one of the largest in Canadian history, and is still known as one of the largest child disappearances in the country. Due to Michael disappearing within a very short time period, police considered the case an abduction rather than a missing child case.

Hundreds of tips began to pour in all across British Columbia and North America. However, the process was slow due to the fact that it was the early 1990′s. Police believe if there was better technology at the time, the case might be solved by now.

Authorities investigated individuals that were around the area Michael disappeared in and known sex offenders in the area, but came up with limited information. However, one witness came forward claiming that a man in his late 40′s or early 50′s was seen with a brown van close to the playground that day.

In April 1991, police re-enacted Michael’s disappearance with a brown van, hoping further leads would come from it, but nothing did.

In 2006, 15 years after Michael had first vanished, a man who looked similar to Michael came forward, though DNA testing determined he was not the missing child from almost 2 decades ago.

Early in 2009, authorities in Milwaukee, Wisconsin found a missing person poster of Michael in the home of a 62 year old man named Vernon Seitz. Seitz had admitted to a psychiatrist that in 1959, he had murdered a child when he was 12 years old and also knew about another child who had been killed. Seitz was found dead by police, due to natural causes.

In 2011, another man living in Chase, BC, resembled Michael, but after DNA testing it was determined he was also not Michael Dunahee. 2011 also marked 20 years since Michael had been seen. Other men were also ruled out as being Michael through DNA testing.

In 2020, a Tiktoker who went by the username “Shangerdanger” supposedly found the tshirt Michael had been wearing when he disappeared. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shirt had been found in water, but when Michael’s family had reached out to the Tiktoker they discovered the shirt was not the same.

Michael’s case remains unsolved and in 2021 he had been officially missing for 30 years, though his case is still open. Also in 2021, an age progression photo was released of what Michael may look like as an adult. There was also an online tip portal for anyone to submit any information they may know of Michael’s disappearance or whereabouts. Since 1991, police have said they have received over 10,000 tips on the case.

Crystal Dunahee, Michael’s mom, became an advocate for missing children’s issues in British Columbia, and was the president of Child Find British Columbia. In 2002, Crystal actually was part of introducing the Amber Alert system in BC with the RCMP as she felt that her son may have been found if a program like that had existed in 1991.

An Amber Alert is a message that is issued to everyone around a certain area that a child is missing and potentially could be in danger. Due to the use of cell phones, it has become quite easy to distribute information of a missing child to thousands of people within seconds. Thousands of children have been saved from Amber Alerts, and most regions in Canada have implemented these alerts.

In Esquimalt, BC, annually there is a charity called the Michael Dunahee “Keep the Hope Alive” Fund Run to help raise money for Child Find, organized by Michael’s sister, Caitlin.

It has been almost 32 years since Michael Dunahee disappeared, he would now be 36 years old.

#unsolved #UNSOLVED MYSTERIES #unsolved crime #unsolved case #abduction #child abduction #kidnapping #missing person #missing #disappearance #disappeared #unsolved disappearance #child #amber #alert #british columbia #canada

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don-lichterman · 2 years ago

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Brewhaha Trail highlights Berks brewery business | Berks Regional News

WEST READING, Pa. – Recently Pennsylvania’s Americana Region Visitors Bureau put together the new brew trail and all you need is a passport. Caitlin Rearden | 69 News “You get it stamped when you go into each of the locations,” says Crystal Seitz, President of Pennsylvania’s Americana Region Visitors Bureau. “Brew trails are really hot across the entire country right now,” says Seitz. Berks…

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#Berks #Brewery #Brewhaha #brewhaha trail #business #crystal seitz #Highlights #News #Regional #Trail

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mystech-master · 5 years ago

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Alt BBTAG ideas

I have already made a list of the BBTAG fights and what they bring to the table.

Here are some other story ideas I’ve had for my own more serious BBTAG plot.

1. Instead of Ragna and Nu vs Aigis and Vatista, maybe it could be Ragna and Aigis vs Hazama/Terumi and Nu. I only kept that fight b/c Ragna would need to meet Aigis so she could report him back to Mitsuru, this seems a lot better imo.

2. During the final boss, maybe System taunts them on how all it took was just putting two assholes together to cause a fight either due to pride or battlelust, which will make the other worlds seem untrustworthy, In-Births fight for no reason other than “because it’s the night”, and Blazblue is full of assholes.

Then for the final fight Ragna activates the Azure Grimoire (cue line about how ragna was holding back from Gordeau, yes most of the other combatants will be in the peanut gallery) and Yu uses Izanagi-no-Okami to defeat System with Ruby and Hyde as backups b/c they are still early in their stories and don’t have super modes. With the final move being a final blast of Black Beast shapped energy and a blast of light from I-n-O beam clashign with System in the middle.

3. To continue on the story, I recently had the idea of Hino Kagutsuchi/General Teddie from Persona 4 Arena (Ultimax) showing up again (Yu just destroyed it’s vessel/new body in Ultimax), maybe he wants to create a new body using not only Shadows, but Voids, Grimm, and the Black Beast aka Ragna (kind of funny given that A. Kagutsuchi repressents solitude and rejecting bonds and Ragna is surrounded by people wh treat him as a joke at best and a monster at worst so you’d think he’d WANT sollitude, and B. both are voiced by Patrick Seitz). Like maybe he makes a new Torunament across dimension via syncing with System’s Crystal in the Persona world, so we can have System and General Teddie as dueling co-hosts insulting one another, and he can give the other cast members the stupid nicknames like the Persona users got in his tournament.

4. I also remebered that Sho and H-K had those fake Shadow doppelgangers in Ultimax by shoving a bunch of Shadows together with data on the Persona users, but they didn’t last long. So imagine the villains using this to get more foot soldiers, maybe using Salem’s Grimm Pools to make more stable vessels that can exist for more than just one fight/hour.

#bbtag #blazblue cross tag battle

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materialsscienceandengineering · 6 years ago

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High entropy alloys hold the key to studying dislocation avalanches in metals

Mechanical structures are only as sound as the materials from which they are made. For decades researchers have studied materials from these structures to see why and how they fail. Before catastrophic failure, there are individual cracks or dislocations that form, which are signals that a structure may be weakening. While researchers have studied individual dislocations in the past, a team from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Tennessee, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory has made it possible to understand how dislocations organize and react at nanoscale.

"Metals are made of polycrystals and the crystals have atoms arranged in an orderly way," explained lead author Jian-Mu Zuo, Ivan Racheff Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and an affiliate with the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Lab at Illinois. "As force is applied in these metals, the crystal will slip and move against each other. A structure like a bridge might have a lot of dislocations, which can move, but the amount of movement is so small, it doesn't have a consequence. However, as thousands or tens of thousands of dislocations tangle within a metal, and they produce local stress. This organization can lead to sudden deformation, like a snow avalanche. That's very dramatic and much more difficult to control."

The team, which also includes Illinois condensed matter physicist Karin Dahmen, published its results in Communications Physics. The experimental work was done by Dr. Yang Hu, as part of his Ph. D thesis.

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scifigeneration · 7 years ago

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Physicists excited by discovery of new form of matter, excitonium

Excitonium has a team of researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign... well... excited! Professor of Physics Peter Abbamonte and graduate students Anshul Kogar and Mindy Rak, with input from colleagues at Illinois, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Amsterdam, have proven the existence of this enigmatic new form of matter, which has perplexed scientists since it was first theorized almost 50 years ago.

The team studied non-doped crystals of the oft-analyzed transition metal dichalcogenide titanium diselenide (1T-TiSe2) and reproduced their surprising results five times on different cleaved crystals. University of Amsterdam Professor of Physics Jasper van Wezel provided crucial theoretical interpretation of the experimental results.

So what exactly is excitonium?

Excitonium is a condensate -- it exhibits macroscopic quantum phenomena, like a superconductor, or superfluid, or insulating electronic crystal. It's made up of excitons, particles that are formed in a very strange quantum mechanical pairing, namely that of an escaped electron and the hole it left behind.

It defies reason, but it turns out that when an electron, seated at the edge of a crowded-with-electrons valence band in a semiconductor, gets excited and jumps over the energy gap to the otherwise empty conduction band, it leaves behind a "hole" in the valence band. That hole behaves as though it were a particle with positive charge, and it attracts the escaped electron. When the escaped electron with its negative charge, pairs up with the hole, the two remarkably form a composite particle, a boson -- an exciton.

In point of fact, the hole's particle-like attributes are attributable to the collective behavior of the surrounding crowd of electrons. But that understanding makes the pairing no less strange and wonderful.

Why has excitonium taken 50 years to be discovered in real materials?

Until now, scientists have not had the experimental tools to positively distinguish whether what looked like excitonium wasn't in fact a Peierls phase. Though it's completely unrelated to exciton formation, Peierls phases and exciton condensation share the same symmetry and similar observables -- a superlattice and the opening of a single-particle energy gap.

Abbamonte and his team were able to overcome that challenge by using a novel technique they developed called momentum-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy (M-EELS). M-EELS is more sensitive to valence band excitations than inelastic x-ray or neutron scattering techniques. Kogar retrofit an EEL spectrometer, which on its own could measure only the trajectory of an electron, giving how much energy and momentum it lost, with a goniometer, which allows the team to measure very precisely an electron's momentum in real space.

With their new technique, the group was able for the first time to measure collective excitations of the low-energy bosonic particles, the paired electrons and holes, regardless of their momentum. More specifically, the team achieved the first-ever observation in any material of the precursor to exciton condensation, a soft plasmon phase that emerged as the material approached its critical temperature of 190 Kelvin. This soft plasmon phase is "smoking gun" proof of exciton condensation in a three-dimensional solid and the first-ever definitive evidence for the discovery of excitonium.

"This result is of cosmic significance," affirms Abbamonte. "Ever since the term 'excitonium' was coined in the 1960s by Harvard theoretical physicist Bert Halperin, physicists have sought to demonstrate its existence. Theorists have debated whether it would be an insulator, a perfect conductor, or a superfluid -- with some convincing arguments on all sides. Since the 1970s, many experimentalists have published evidence of the existence of excitonium, but their findings weren't definitive proof and could equally have been explained by a conventional structural phase transition."

Rak recalls the moment, working in the Abbamonte laboratory, when she first understood the magnitude of these findings: "I remember Anshul being very excited about the results of our first measurements on TiSe2. We were standing at a whiteboard in the lab as he explained to me that we had just measured something that no one had seen before: a soft plasmon."

"The excitement generated by this discovery remained with us throughout the entire project," she continues. "The work we did on TiSe2 allowed me to see the unique promise our M-EELS technique holds for advancing our knowledge of the physical properties of materials and has motivated my continued research on TiSe2."

Kogar admits, discovering excitonium was not the original motivation for the research -- the team had set out to test their new M-EELS method on a crystal that was readily available -- grown at Illinois by former graduate student Young Il Joe, now of NIST. But he emphasizes, not coincidentally, excitonium was a major interest:

"This discovery was serendipitous. But Peter and I had had a conversation about 5 or 6 years ago addressing exactly this topic of the soft electronic mode, though in a different context, the Wigner crystal instability. So although we didn't immediately get at why it was occurring in TiSe2, we did know that it was an important result -- and one that had been brewing in our minds for a few years."

The team's findings are published in the December 8, 2017 issue of the journal Science in the article, "Signatures of exciton condensation in a transition metal dichalcogenide."

This fundamental research holds great promise for unlocking further quantum mechanical mysteries: after all, the study of macroscopic quantum phenomena is what has shaped our understanding of quantum mechanics. It could also shed light on the metal-insulator transition in band solids, in which exciton condensation is believed to play a part. Beyond that, possible technological applications of excitonium are purely speculative.

Top image: U of I Professor of Physics Peter Abbamonte (center) works with graduate students Anshul Kogar (right) and Mindy Rak (left) in his laboratory at the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#science #physics #material science #quantum physics #spintronics #graphene #exitonium #featured

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dicloniusgames · 6 years ago

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Anime Attack: Deadman Wonderland

Death is the main attraction. While it may be a tagline, it’s also the premise of this next review. Deadman Wonderland takes one part theme park, one part battle royal for survival and mixes the two into a game of life and death.

Enjoy your stay in the privatized hell known as Deadman Wonderland...

Story & Characters

After a catastrophe known as the Red Hole ravages three-fourths of Tokyo, the only way to pay for recovery of the city is to build a massive amusement park in its’ place. What’s under the guise of an innocent amusement park is a hell beyond any other.

14-year-old middle school student Ganta Igarashi (Greg Ayres) witnesses a mysterious figure massacre his entire classroom of students and is the only one left alive and left with a specialized crystal in his chest. Recovering from the attack, he is brought by police for questioning and eventually to sentencing,

Claiming someone known as the “Red Man” did it and not him, his cries fall upon deaf ears as he’s sentenced to capitol punishment and sent to Deadman Wonderland. What awaits for him is far from a walk in the park...it’s more like a barefooted walk through hell.

Now having no choice but to fight for survival, he’s pitted in a game of death against hardened criminals and specialized beings known as “deadmen.” Deadmen are specialized prisoners who can harness their blood as power to use in combat.

When he first arrives, he runs into another inmate named Yo Takami (Aaron Dismuke) and his childhood friend Shiro (Monica Rial) and show him the lay of the land and that in order to survive, they must digest a piece of candy every 3 days or they will die as every inmate wears a neck collar.

Together, Ganta, Yo, and Shiro discover the facility’s hidden G-Ward which houses deadlier criminals and in doing so, they come upon the first encounter with a deadman named Crow/Senji Kiyomasa (Patrick Seitz). Realizing he has the power to control his blood, he unsuccessfully fends off Crow but the higher ups of the prison have bigger plans for the so-called deadmen as Ganta realizes he indeed is a deadman and is forced to compete for his life in the Corpse Carnival against the deadmen including Yo’s sister Minatsuki (Leah Clark). These powers are known as Branches of Sin and Ganta must somehow harness them for his own survival and quest for truth.

Later on, Ganta comes across a resistance group called Scar Chain headed by Nagi Kengamine (J. Michael Tatum). Their goal is simple...escape and destroy Deadman Wonderland by any means, even if it means a battle to the death against the facility’s elite known as Undertakers. While Ganta aligns with their main focus, his is also to find out who framed him.

There’s also a side plot involving Chief Warden Kiwako Makina and Kasuga Kyoko and their attempt to determine what Director Tsuenaga Tamaki is really up to. Tamaki is first seen in episode one as Ganta’s “attorney” but is revealed as one of the main antagonists in the series.

The plot tries to do a lot at once which results in a few things. One, they try building up too many characters at one time and with only 12 episodes an an OVA to work with, that doesn’t give the series enough time to flesh out everyone’s arc.

Animation & Sound

One of the first things that caught my attention was the opening theme. “One Reason” by Fade and D.W.B. is done perfectly to set the tone of how serious and graphic the series gets.

The sounds during the action set pieces are harnessed in really well as they too set the mood as they bring tension and get things going. The ending theme could’ve been done without as it felt more cheery and melancholic but I guess for a series with such serious themes, you need some sort of balance otherwise. Outside of the opening and closing themes, NARASAKI handles the music for the series and there’s credit to be had with his talents.

The animation is mostly good, mostly because of the fight scenes. Other times, the animation can be hit or miss. The fight scenes show how much potential the series had to be great as a teen’s fight for survival kept me on the edge of my seat, even if the series started a little slow and then picked up towards the end of the first half and into most of the second half.

The fights with the undertakers though were okay, but they could’ve been more as they were labeled as the facility’s elite and most dangerous menaces as they could outwit and negate a deadman’s powers.

Final Thoughts

Overall, while Deadman Wonderland isn’t in the elite or great categories because of its’ befallen wasted potential, it still delivers with an alright story, great music and great animation. Besides the closing theme unable to match the intensity of the opening, the series also suffers from an anticlimactic ending with no real payoff for anyone, especially Ganta. I think the creators expected people either to hone in on explicit details or to have read the manga to discover the identity of the mysterious “Red Man” and while mystery does work sometimes in anime, it kills it when it hinders the ending. I appreciate the effort to give backstory on some characters but with so many characters introduced, I feel the series should’ve been somewhere between 16-20 episodes to flesh out the details of characters that didn’t get a lot of time like the undertakers and even the small amount of flashback Ganta received, it didn’t do anything to advance his character. Deadman Wonderland is a good anime with good fight scenes and a story that starts slow, picks up its momentum for it to only lose it at the end. Even the OVA couldn’t save the ending as it only features Senji as he has become a cop after the events of the series.

Score:

Story & Characters: 7.5

Animation: 8

Sound: 8

Recommendation: Stream It

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aion-rsa · 4 years ago

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How The Mandalorian Solidifies Timothy Olyphant as TV’s Best Marshal

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This article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season 2 premiere.

When people talk about great actors, they often mention versatility as a defining characteristic. However, not every actor needs to be a chameleon. Some of Hollywood’s most successful performers channel their inherent likability or tap into specific personality traits within themselves to find a character type that they can portray time and time again. Sometimes when an actor finds themselves portraying a similar role in every project they’re attached to, it can be seen as limiting, but in other cases this typecasting occurs because it constantly bears fruit. There’s something coolly confident about actors who know what they do well, know what people want to see from them, and deliver at every opportunity.

Lucky for us, Timothy Olyphant is this type of confident. In the last 16 months, Olyphant has crystalized his image as the tough, slightly cocky, strong-jawed lawman who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty with roles as Cobb Vanth in The Mandalorian, Dick “Deafy” Wickware in season 4 of FX’s Fargo, and his return to the part that started this typecasting, Sheriff Seth Bullock in Deadwood: The Movie. Audiences expect to see Olyphant in these likable roles of authority, but it wasn’t always this way.

If it wasn’t for Deadwood creator David Milch, Olyphant could have been known for playing the talky, livewire parts like he can be seen playing in Scream 2. “Prior to playing [the role of Seth Bullock] on Deadwood, he was being groomed for a different kind of typecasting slot — as a talkative, Jack Nicholson–styled, funny bad boy in roles like the drug dealer in Go,” TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz observed in Vulture. “Ten years ago, Olyphant told me on the set of Deadwood that he wondered what prompted creator David Milch to cast him as the furiously violent sheriff, because there was little in his previous roles to suggest that he could convince in a role like that.”

But boy, was he convincing. Despite not necessarily being a mainstream hit with viewers, Deadwood became a fiercely loved cult classic, with many heaping praise on Olyphant’s star-making performance. Matt Feeney of Slate described Bullock as “laconic, feral, hot-tempered and a little vain”, and said the character was “not so much played as embodied by Olyphant.” His work as the honorable, yet gritty and explosive lawman led to his casting as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens on FX’s Justified. Playing the role created by iconic American novelist Elmore Leonard, Givens was a no-bullshit, cool-blooded U.S. Marshal that earned the actor comparisons to Clint Eastwood. Robert Bianco of USA Today praised Olyphant’s work on the long-running series, stating that his “masterfully complete immersion in the role seems to have masked the talent expended playing it.”

Though Olyphant has consistently taken supporting and guest roles in comedies to either send up or play against type, his recent work has found him back in his sweet spot. After perfectly slipping back into Western form in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood, Olyphant returned to the Bullock role in Deadwood: The Movie. Perhaps the experience of portraying a U.S. Marshal again led Olyphant to keep the momentum going and accept his role of U.S. Marshal Dick “Deafy” Wickware in Fargo, a character that has the cockiness and eloquent arrogance typical of an Olyphant role, but this time informed by strict Mormon faith. Deafy gets his nickname by not acknowledging speech that he doesn’t want to hear, and he’s spent the season rubbing his nose in a situation that doesn’t concern him.

The most high-profile example of Olyphant’s enjoyable pigeonholing is his recent role in the season 2 premiere of Disney+’s The Mandalorian. In an episode titled “The Marshal,” can you guess who Olyphant played? Yes, Olyphant portrays Cobb Vanth, the self-appointed Marshal of a remote part of Tatooine who sports scavenged Mandalorian armor (previously belonging to none other than Boba Fett). As Vanth, Olyphant brings a character to life that seemed more in line with what Star Wars fans may have been expecting when a Western-influenced Mandalorian series was announced. The part even sees Olyphant reunite with Deadwood co-star W. Earl Brown, who plays a Weequay bartender in the episode. The part seems like a direct homage to his iconic Deadwood and Justified roles, but it wasn’t the first cheeky nod.

Earlier in the year, Olyphant appeared in The Good Place as an imagined version of himself sporting Rylan’s look. Explaining to the A.V. Club on how he pitched Olyphant the part, Good Place creator Mike Schur said “When I was explaining the role to Tim on the phone, he said, ‘Am I myself, or am I Raylan?’ And I said, ‘No no no: You’re you, but I think you’re edging toward the Raylan side of things.’ And he went, ‘Full Stetson?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I think Full Stetson sounds right.’” Even in the afterlife, you can count on Olyphant doing his charming lawman schtick.

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Timothy Olyphant is a talented actor who can do a lot of different things (try his work in The Office, The Mindy Project, The Grinder, and Santa Clarita Diet if you want to see how adept he is at comedy). That said, in 2020, we need Olyphant doing what he does best. If there’s any justice, we’ll see more of Cobb Vanth in the Star Wars Universe and more Timothy Olyphant in a Stetson hat soon.

The post How The Mandalorian Solidifies Timothy Olyphant as TV’s Best Marshal appeared first on Den of Geek.

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#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

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healthyworthyofficial · 5 years ago

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These Morning Stretches Will Wake Up Your Tired Muscles

As a non-morning person, I am very aware that I miss out on some of the benefits of A.M. workouts. The biggest one for me? Morning exercisers claim that getting their blood pumping first thing energizes them for the rest of the day. I’ve experienced that magic the few times I’ve been able to drag myself out of bed and get to an early boxing class. But since I know that making it to an early class regularly isn’t in the cards for me, I’ve started incorporating morning stretches into my routine as a substitute. Getting up and moving doesn’t always have to mean doing a hard workout. It can simply mean stretching and getting your blood flowing in whatever way feels good to you. It’s still going to be beneficial. “Stretching in the morning—particularly performing dynamic stretches—can serve as a perfect way to gradually warm and awaken the mind and body after a restful night’s sleep, preparing you for whatever the day might have in store,” Jessica Matthews, doctor of behavioral health, assistant professor of kinesiology at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, registered yoga teacher, and author of Stretching to Stay Young, tells SELF. Quick refresher: Dynamic stretching means moving through a functional range of motion at a controlled speed. It’s different than static stretching, which is sinking into a stretch and holding it for a set amount of time. It’s that dynamic movement that’s ideal for warming up your body. “Dynamic stretching serves as a ‘rehearsal’ opportunity in which the nervous system and muscles (known as the neuromuscular system) work together to effectively prepare for the activity to follow, whether that’s gearing up for a workout, or simply gearing up for the activities of the day ahead,” Matthews says via email. Stretching in the morning can also help improve your body awareness and reinforce healthy movement patterns, such as firing up your core and retracting your shoulder blades before completing overhead strength moves, Matthews adds, leading to effective, pain-free movement both in and out of the gym. If you’re interested in starting your day with some morning stretches, try the stretching routine Matthews shares below. Do each movement for about 30 seconds, and then repeat the entire sequence a second time for a 4-minute routine. Certain areas of your body may feel particularly tight and stiff in the morning, so “allow time to gradually warm and listen to your body, working within a range of motion that feels right for you,” she says. This quick morning stretching routine is a great way to loosen up your entire body and get you ready for your day—without requiring you to set an early alarm and get out the door by a certain time. You can also sip your coffee in between stretches if you want. That’s my idea of energizing morning exercise. Demoing the moves below is Crystal Williams, a group fitness instructor and trainer who teaches at residential and commercial gyms across New York City; Caitlyn Seitz, a New York-based group fitness instructor and singer/songwriter; Shanna Tyler, a New York City-based yoga instructor; Rachel Denis, a powerlifter who competes with USA Powerlifting and holds multiple New York state powerlifting records. Source link Read the full article

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animeboston · 8 years ago

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Anime Boston 2017 Opening Ceremonies Recap

Code Geass, Gurren Lagann, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and Naruto: What do these anime have in common? They’re all 10 years old this year. As Anime Boston celebrates this year’s theme, “Retro,” it kicked off by making its attendees feel very, very old.

As a major snowfall began to blanket the Hynes convention center, Anime Boston 2017 started off with a bang. True to this year’s theme, attendees to the Opening Ceremonies were serenaded with the opening themes from Visions of Escaflowne, Trigun, and Ranma ½.

Due to Anime Boston mascots A-chan and B-kun’s time travel mix-up, attendees were treated to greetings from all the con chairs and vice chairs who have served throughout the years, ever since the first Anime Boston in 2003—all of whom remain on staff. Finally, our 2017 convention chairs, Victor Lee and Lauren Gallo, took the stage, wearing 15-year-service pins that indicate that they’ve been on staff at Anime Boston since its very first year.

“The seeds of Anime Boston were planted in 2001,” Lee explained. “That’s how old it is.”

Lee recounted the very first Anime Boston, held at the Park Plaza Hotel in 2003. Even in its first year, Anime Boston broke attendance records, and the fire marshal ended up having to cap attendence at 4,000—a completely unexpected turnout.

Next, we met each of Anime Boston’s special guests, who each brought their own personality and flair to the Opening Ceremonies. Check them out after the jump:

OKAMOTO’s, which has played anime openings for Gintama, Durarara, and Naruto. They’ll be performing at 4 PM on Saturday, April 1.

Puffy Amiyumi, which is performing tonight at 7 PM (seating begins at 6 PM) took the stage in sweatshirts, tulle, and cowboy boots.

Lisa Ortiz, who voiced Deedlit in Records of the Lodoss War and Lina Inverse in The Slayers in English. “I’m thankful for the snow, let’s try and keep each other warm inside today,” she said.

Tohru Furuya, who voiced Amuro Ray from Gundam and Tuxedo Mask. “Not even my father hit me!” he said, hamming it up with his famous line for the crowd. He invited everyone to his autograph session, saying, “Hugs and kisses are all OK.”

Brina Palencia, who voiced Ciel Phantomhive in Black Butler and Tony Tony Chopper in One Piece, among others. “Anime Boston was actually my very first convention ever so it holds a very special place in my heart,” she said. This is her third time attending.

Hirokatsu Kihara, who served on production desk at Studio Ghibli for Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, and others. “This year is the 30th anniversary of My Neighbor Totoro,” he reminded attendees. He noted that never-before-seen art from My Neighbor Totoro at his panel later today. “If you are a Totoro fan and you miss it, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Johnny Yong Bosch, who played Jonathan Joestar in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Artemis in Sailor Moon, and Ichigo in Bleach, was carted out while surfing on a wheeled platform. “I’m totally down to earth you guys,” he assured the audience.

Masahiko Minami, the co-founder of Studio Bones, which is known for Ouran High School Host Club, Space Dandy, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Soul Eater, Mob Psycho 100, and My Hero Academia.

Sandy Fox, who voiced Sumomo from Chobits, and Chibiusa from Sailor Moon Crystal. This is her first time at Anime Boston, or in Boston at all!

Shingo Natsume, the animation director for Space Dandy, ACCA, and One Punch Man. “I’m really, really excited to be here, and looking forward to having a good time,” he said, with the help of a staff translator.

Greg Ayres, who voiced Kaoru in Ouran High School Host Club and Nagisa in Free! “So glad to be at Anime Boston, which is, not a secret, one of my favorite shows of the year and y’all keep getting bigger and wilder,” he said.

Naokatsu Tsuda, director of Inu x Boku, Planetarian, and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. “I woke up early this morning and took a walk around town,” he said. “I was really impressed because I got to see some of you walking around, too.”

Bryson Baugus who voiced Kou in Diabolik Lovers II: More, Blood and Bell in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? “This is my first convention appearance ever, so I’m super excited to be here!”

Wakana Okamura, the producer for Psycho-Pass, Haikyu!! and My Hero Academia.

Kyle Colby Jones, the ADR director on Akame Ga Kill, Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun, and Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Tonight at 5 PM, he’ll host a panel to answer the age-old question, “Is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon?”

Robbie Daymond, who voiced Gaelio in Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, Tuxedo Mask in Sailor Moon Crystal, and Mumen Rider in One Punch Man, isn’t here yet but recorded a video filmed in a studio chock full of Funko Pops.

Cherami Leigh, who voiced Lucy in Fairy Tail, Asuna in Sword Art Online, and Sailor Venus in Sailor Moon. “Ten years ago, 2007, this was my very first convention ever, where we premiered my very first show, Peach Girl.”

Lex Lang, who voiced Kenshiro in First of the North Star and Goemon in Lupin the Third, left a video message while he is en route to Boston.

Chris Sabat, who voiced All Might in My Hero Academia and Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z. “This stage is so big I feel like I should be introducing a new Apple product… the new iAnime,” he joked.

Michelle Ruff, who portrayed Rukia in Bleach, Luna in Sailor Moon Crystal, and Sinon in Sword Art Online.

Roland Kelts, the author of Japanamerica. He will be giving panels about Osamu Tezuka and other early anime directors. Talk about retro!\

Patrick Seitz, who voiced Keith Shadis in Attack on Titan, Dio Brando in Jojo’s, and other notable anime tough guys.

LeSean Thomas, who did storyboarding for The Legend of Korra, was creative producer for Black Dynamite, and writer, director and producer of Cannon Busters. “This is my first time in Boston, at Anime Boston, and that’s dope,” he shared.

“We have so many guests and activities this year, and it’s all thanks to you showing up and supporting us for 15 years,” said Vice-Chair Lauren Gallo.

“Welcome home to Anime Boston,” said Con-Chair Victor. We can’t do this without you.”

—Lauren, AB Staff Blogger

#anime #anime boston #anime boston 2017 #ab2017 #opening ceremonies

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sarazanmai · 8 years ago

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Thoughts on the “Sailor Moon Crystal” English dub. Season two episode ten.

I swear if Sandy Fox goes to Anime Boston next year I’m getting her autograph

I’d also like Matthew Mercer’s and Patrick Seitz’s (though I don’t know if Patrick will go a third year in a row, we’ll have to see)

Black Lady smacking Luna P away always made me sad

I’ve gotten used to Wiseman’s voice, but I still find it a little grandfatherly and since we’re at our big climax I don’t know how well it works in this context

then again I was expecting a frankly generic evil old man voice so the fact that they did something different is at least good

Saphir looks dead inside

so in this future I’m honestly wondering where the rest of the Outers are at

I guess Uranus and Neptune are at their posts and Saturn is in limbo I guess, apparently this isn’t a big enough disaster to justify waking her up

STOP. KISSING. HIM. PLEASE.

Naoko why?

trying not to word vomit what I’ve already said, but God

hand power, the power of hand

“taking someone prisoner and making them love you, you’re wrong it can make you happy” please die already

“no it doesn’t work like that, that’s not love!” YOU TELL HIS ASS USAGI

I mean really isn’t this a big enough calamity to justify resurrecting Saturn?

“you’ll destroy the Earth, and all of us along with it” “so?” honestly Demande why are you shocked?

like is it not obvious at this point that your endgame and Wiseman’s endgame are not the same thing? and that frankly he was never gonna give you what you wanted if it inconvenienced his goal? what a dumbass

“so that’s it? we’re just expendable to you?” yup

and there it is, Demande admitting he was never mind controlled and really was this crazy and depraved the entire time

you get no absolution! goodbye!

here we have our second villain that’s a mass of energy

every arc has one

BABY PLUTO

I do think its poetic that Pluto broke all three of her rules as gatekeeper and upon doing so she ended up being reborn as a person in her own right who was allowed to exist for more than just this

like once she becomes Setsuna her quality of life vastly improves, she has a life and a job and a family and friends

I always liked this motif of Sailor Moon having a comforting power

Pluto...

like yes I know I just said she gets a better life, but this is still so sad knowing what she’s walking into

I always felt bad for Sailor Moon here, any time we see her beg its sad

ho don’t do it

OH MY GOD

fucking Demande, this is why no one is sad you’re dead

and here is the cliffhanger that had me going “OH MY GOD” when I first read it, like I immediately wanted to go back to the mall and buy the next volume

and I like them ending the episode with it

tune in next time where Pluto summons Za Warudo and I become a crying disaster

#angelina watches smc

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satoshi-mochida · 8 years ago

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Summon Night 6: Lost Borders will launch physically and digitally for PlayStation 4 and PS Vita in North America on May 23, publisher Gaijinworks confirmed to Gematsu. The game is aiming for a simultaneous digital-only release in South America and Europe, but notes that if it doesn’t appear on the PlayStation Store on May 23, then it will appear “very soon after.”

The PlayStation 4 physical version will ship in Raj, Amu, and Ist Editions. Each edition has a different character artwork on the disc and on the back of the box. The PS Vita physical version will not ship in multiple editions.

Here’s an overview of the game:

About

Summon Night 6: Lost Borders weaves an emotional tale of friendship and discovery that begins in the sparsely populated “cocoon world” of Fillujah, where the three main characters (Raj, Amu and Ist) live in virtual isolation. Each has a single companion, a flying sidekick with an amazing special power, and they are all surprised when dozens of strangers begin to suddenly appear-literally falling out of the clear, blue sky.

Lost Borders can be played and enjoyed without any knowledge of the previous games in the series, but fans will recognize that the mysterious strangers are actually returning characters from all of the mainline Summon Night games. Originally released in Japan as a celebration of the award-winning series’ 15th anniversary, Summon Night 6: Lost Borders offers gorgeous widescreen graphics presented in high definition, a first for the series.

The fully 3-D battle system allows Chain Attacks that happen automatically when an enemy is surrounded by two or more allies; in these situations, each ally can hit the enemy without risk of counterattack. In addition to the Summons that are a hallmark of the series, two allies can team up for a breathtaking “Summon Burst” attack that invokes a devastating magical strike from one of many giant fantastical creatures. Combat is only one part of the Summon Night 6 experience.

The series is well known for its “night conversations”-one-on-one encounters where various characters confide in one another, leading to a web of elaborate, emotional storytelling with many different branching paths. Lost Borders also includes several charming mini-games: One has you fishing for different types of aquatic creatures, while another involves cooking power-up meals using the bounty you’ve caught with your fishing pole.

Key Features

A gorgeous strategy role-playing game

Cross-save support between PlayStation 4 and PS Vita versions

Three difficulty levels, from Casual to Veteran

A huge cast of 50-plus characters

Scenario and Free Battle modes

View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.

Update 03/08/17 at 10:50 a.m.: Gaijinworks has announced a few additional details.

A fourth packaging variant is being produced exclusively for the Wonderful Edition box set that was only available by pre-orders placed prior to December 2016.

The initial print run of Summon Night 6 physical copies will include a special voucher that can be mailed in (along with a $3.95 shipping / handling fee) to obtian a free copie of the game’s original soundtrack on CD, which is normally $29.99. The CD includes all of the music from the game and comes with a case and full-color disc art, both of which are different from the soundtrack CD included with the Wonderful Edition box set.

English-language studio recording sessions for the game are complete. Its over 18 hours of dialogue total 20,000 individual lines of dialogue and over 60,000 lines of text. Here is the list of English voice actors:

Micah Duclos (newcomer) as Raj

Kathy Emma (a veteran of several Working Designs games who also sings the English version of the game’s theme song) as Amu

John Truitt (best known as the voice of Ghaleon in the LUNAR series) as Ist

Patrick Seitz (Fire Emblem, Inside Out, One Piece) as Melgitos

Bryce Papenbrook (Attack on Titan, Sword Art Online) as Kanon

Mela Lee (Love Live!, Fate/stay night) as Kunon

Xander Mobus (Super Smash Bros., Persona 5) as Ishlar

Rhonda Gibson (LUNAR: The Silver Star, Exile) as Amer

Kira Buckland (Skullgirls, Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice) as Milreaf

Grant George (Naruto: Shippûden, Bleach) as Rexx

Melissa Gulden (Popful Mail, LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete) as Aty

Erica Mendez (Kill la Kill, Hunter x Hunter) as Toris

Kyle McCarley (Mob Psycho 100, Durarara!!x2) as Kir / Seilong

Zach Aguilar (One Punch Man, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans) as Ray

Chad Letts (LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue Complete, Vanguard Bandits) as Banossa

Kaiji Tang (Fire Emblem: Awakening, Pokémon Generations) as Atosh

Lucien Dodge (Dust: An Elysian Tail, Sailor Moon Crystal) as Ioth

Erik Scott Kimerer (Accel World, The Seven Deadly Sins) as Folth

Christine Marie Cabanos (Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Squid Girl) as Natsumi

Blake Dorsey (Elemental Gearbolt, Cosmic Fantasy 2) as Luvaid

Griffin Burns (Bear in Underwear, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans) as Touya

Brianna Knickerbocker (Fire Emblem: Fates, Durarara!!x2) as Enysha

Jackie Powers (LUNAR: The Silver Star, Growlanser II/III) as Fair

Xanthe Huynh (K-On!, Yuki Yuna Is a Hero) as Aya

Tammy Jones (Cosmic Fantasy 2, Vay) as Lisher

Craig Padilla (Growlanser Generations) as Bulrell

Ned Schuft (LUNAR 2, Growlanser Generations) as Nesty

John Haas (LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete) as Kyle

Forrest Spade (Growlanser Generations) as Magna

Breanna Lensing as Arca

Stacia Jacobs as Azlier

Taylor Grace as Claret

Austin Lee Matthews as Erst

Ben Wogan as Gian

Bobby Thong as Hayato

Courtney Blanc as Luchell

Vesper Lynd as Radylia

Mickenzie Fisher as Ruelly

Blake Fisher as Scarrel

Sophia Komarek as Sonolar

#Summon Night 6: Lost Borders #Summon Night 6 #Summon Night #Gaijinworks #PS4 #PS Vita #Gematsu

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ljaesch · 8 years ago

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Anime Boston Announces Two More Guests

Anime Boston has announced that anime voice actors Robbie Daymond and Patrick Seitz will be guests at their upcoming convention. Daymond’s credits include Sailor Moon, Sailor Moon Crystal, One-Punch Man, Boruto, Digimon Adventure tri., Skip Beat!, Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, and The Seven Deadly Sins. Seitz’s credits include Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, Kill la Kill, JoJo’s Bizarre…

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#anime #Anime Boston #Patrick Seitz #Robbie Daymond

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placetobenation · 5 years ago

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On the same day 25 years ago, Greg Maddux threw a 94 pitch complete game shutout in Colorado against the Rockies to lower his ERA to 1.56, while Tony Gwynn had 3 hits in Houston to raise his average to .394 with 45 games remaining. It was August 11, 1994 and the longstanding war between MLB owners and the Players Association would go nuclear very soon, with a players strike starting the next day wiping out the remainder of the 1994 regular season, playoffs, and 252 games the following year. The game once called America’s Pastime was tarnished.

Because it was the players striking for the 5thtime since 1972, much of the blame fell on them in the public narrative, with owners receiving criticism but not nearly as much as the players and Union president Donald Fehr.

The earliest labor disputes in baseball after the formation of the MLBPA in 1966 centered around minimum salaries, arbitration rights, and funding of pensions for retired players, the latter of which was the main issue in the 1972 strike that cancelled 86 games. The nullification of the reserve clause in December 1975 in the Seitz decision led to the advent of free agency, and increasingly hostile labor negotiations.

The next ten years passed with four work stoppages (three strikes and one lockout) mainly relating to free agency compensation rules and salary arbitration rights. The owners sought to impose a free agent system with heavier compensation to drive down salaries while the players fought for a free market approach.

Under the guidance of MLB commissioner Peter Ueberroth for three years starting after the 1985 season, owners refrained from making lucrative offers to free agents from other teams, depressing the market for those players. As an example future Hall of Famer Tim Raines became a free agent after the 1986 season at age 27, but returned to the Montreal Expos on May 1, 1987 after getting no offers as a free agent. The union filed a collusion grievance against the owners each year, and players were eventually awarded $280 million in damages, but any trust that existed between players and ownership evaporated with the rounds of collusion. (Note: Per the collective bargaining agreement, “clubs are not allowed to concert with other clubs and players are not allowed to act in concert with other players”)

Owners forced out commissioner (and ownership critic) Fay Vincent in 1992 and installed Milwaukee Brewers owner Bud Selig as acting commissioner for the coming labor war, one that would see the owners demand a salary cap similar to what the NBA had and what the NFL had implemented in their most recent bargaining talks.

In June, the owners offered a salary cap with a 50/50 split of revenues. But put yourself in the position of the players: why would you trust the owners when they had just been caught cheating your side out of millions of dollars? The players were forced into a strike because they could not have a good faith negotiation given the history involved, and the owners were threatening to declare an impasse and implement their own system with a salary cap, which they did several months into the strike.

It is also hard to empathize with owners who talked of using replacement players before a strike date was even set. The following spring training saw replacement player games before a court injunction led to a return of the regular players for an abbreviated 1995 season. Replacements would have led to two teams not fielding teams: the Toronto Blue Jays were prohibited from using replacement players due to Ontario labor law, and the Baltimore Orioles refused to field a team because owner Peter Angelos was a highly-regarded labor lawyer.

Discussion of these labor issues in Major League Baseball isn’t much fun but trying to project how the rest of the 1994 season would have played out might be, with apologies to the rightfully upset Montreal Expos fans. Let’s assume that the MLBPA called off the strike in exchange for assurances of no lockout in 1995 or declaration of an impasse in negotiations by the owners.

AL East

There was a changing of the guard in the division with the two-time defending World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays taking a big step back with a 33-46 start. They won 22 of their last 36 games but that wasn’t enough to catch the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles in the division. The Yanks (70-43) held a 6.5 games lead over the O’s (63-49) on the strength of a career year from AL batting champ Paul O’Neill (.359/.460/.603) and a resurgent year from Wade Boggs (.342/.433/.489), who had his best power year since 1987.

This was a very different Yankees team than the group that would dominate the AL East for the next decade: no Jeter, no Pettitte, no Rivera, and no Posada. They got 19 homers from Seinfeld guest star Danny Tartabull, over 300 innings between Jim Abbott and Melido Perez, and the back end of the bullpen was anchored by Bob Wickman and Steve Howe. All would be gone before the 1996 World Series.

Cal Ripken was the constant for the Orioles, as his streak stood at 2,009 consecutive games at the time of the strike, with Mike Mussina anchoring the rotation and Lee Smith in the bullpen. Their fate likely would be decided by the 15 remaining games against fellow wild card contenders Kansas City, Chicago, and Cleveland. Prior to the strike they did get a boost from = Armando Benitez, who gave up 1 run in 10 innings after his late July call-up.

The rebuilding Red Sox started 20-7 before collapsing to finish 54-61, and the Tigers both scored and gave up a ton of runs to ensure mediocrity.

Result: Yankees cruise to a division title with 95-100 wins, while a 87-90 win Baltimore team falls short of the wild card.

AL Central

This division was by far the best in baseball in 1994, with three playoff contenders and no teams on a track to lose more than 90 games. The defending division champion Chicago White Sox led the way, followed by a rising Cleveland team in its shiny new Jacobs Field, and a sneaky good team in Kansas City. An intense rivalry built between the White Sox and Indians centered about the Albert Belle corked bat controversy.

Frank Thomas won the MVP with Ted Williams-esque numbers (.353/.487/.729, with 109 BBs, 38 HR, 101 RBI in 113 games) but their strength was their starting rotation of reigning Cy Young winner Jack McDowell, veterans Alex Fernandez and Wilson Alvarez, and young Jason Bere all with ERAs under 4.00 with over 140 IP.

That pitching would be needed against a Cleveland club on pace to score nearly 1,000 runs over a full season. Their regular lineup boasted 7 players with an OPS+ at 106 or higher including young Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez. The starting rotation led the league with 17 complete games, perhaps a necessity with the bullpen being the clear weakness of the team. Cleveland still had 30 home games left to play, and they were 35-16 at Jacobs Field in its inaugural season.

Kansas City is something of a surprise contender because they would not even finish .500 again for another 9 years. David Cone won the Cy Young and led the team in WAR in the 2nd season of his second stint with his hometown team, while Tom Gordon and Kevin Appier were 2ndand 3rdin WAR for the Royals. With the retirement of George Brett, the lineup was below average, with only Wally Joyner and one-hit wonder Bob Hamelin carrying the load.

Result: The White Sox barely hang on with 95 wins and hold off Cleveland (94 wins), who pick up the wild card. Kansas City finishes 3rdwith 85-87 wins.

AL West

This is the opposite of Garrison Keillor’s fictional Lake Wobegon, the place where all the women are string, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average. The American League West was more like Camp Crystal Lake from Friday The 13thin 1994 with the four worst records in the 14 team league.

Texas “led” the way at 52-62, on pace for 74 wins in a full season. Their lineup looks fit for 2019 with lots of home runs and even more strikeouts. Jose Canseco hit 31 homers in a strong comeback from an abbreviated season where a fly ball hit him in the headand a pitching performanceled to Tommy John surgery. Kenny Rogers did toss a perfect game, and they also had a young Darren Oliver who hung around long enough to actually pitch in a World Series for Texas. While their new stadium (which closes in 2019!) did not bring the same success as it did for Cleveland, it did embolden their ownerto seek political office.

Oakland was a game back, but lost Mark McGwire to a foot injury at various points of the season. Steve Ontiveros became a footnote in history as one of the most obscure ERA champions in history with a 2.65, and Rickey Henderson returned from Toronto for his 3rdstint in the East Bay. The A’s had stretch losing 31 of 37, followed by winning 19 of 23.

In mid-July, four ceiling tiles fell from the Seattle Kingdome’s roofwhich led to the Mariners finishing the year on the road, so the strike saved them from what would have become a 70 game road trip. While their best players like Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, and Randy Johnson excelled, the rest of the team was about as functional as their home stadium. The July call-up of 18 year old Alex Rodriguez did not last long and he was sent back to the minors after 6 errors and 0 extra base hits in 13 games.

The California Angels also saw their home stadium damaged in the Northridge earthquake in January, repairs were made prior to their season. The Halos had little going for them, with the exception of a bizarre outlier season from 33 year old 3B Spike Owen, who posted a .418 OBP in 321 plate appearances, nearly 100 points above his lifetime OBP.

Result: Seattle tires from playing 2 ½ months on the road, and Oakland edges Texas and saves MLB from the embarrassment of a sub-.500 playoff team by winning the division with a record of 81-81.

NL East

With the Marlins and Mets rebuilding and the Phillies backsliding after their ’93 NL pennant, the NL East was a two horse race between the Expos and division newcomer Braves, since Atlanta was strangely in the NL West previously.

Montreal had the best team in franchise history with the top outfield in the NL of Moises Alou, Marquis Grissom, and Larry Walker. All the regulars in the Expos lineup were just entering their prime, as the oldest player was 3B Sean Berry at 28 years old. Of the top 4 starting pitchers, young Pedro Martinez had the highest ERA at 3.42. The bullpen 1-2 punch of John Wetteland and Mel Rojas was a factor in their 21-14 record in one run games, in contrast to the Phillies and their 12-26 mark in such contests.

With a wild card spot in play, the Braves would not have to win at the same breakneck pace as the prior year in their race with the Giants in West. They would be able to ride their quartet of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Steve Avery to a playoff berth and take their chances with their always questionable bullpen in a short series.

Result: Montreal keeps their foot on the gas and finishes with 105 wins, while the Braves cruise to 97 wins and a wild card spot locked up with over a week left in the season,

NL Central

The outlook was not positive for the Houston Astros despite being in a virtual tie with the Cincinnati Reds because of MVP 1B Jeff Bagwell suffering a season-ending broken wrist two days before the strike. With Chris Donnels and Sid Bream backing up, there would be a massive dropoff from the 213 OPS+ the future Hall of Famer provided.

Cincinnati had a well-rounded lineup, placing 4thor higher in all key offensive categories as a team. Underrated big game pitcher Jose Rijo led the starting rotation, and there were not any notable trainwrecks in the Reds bullpen, positioning them well for their first playoff run in four years.

The Pirates were still recovering from the loss of Barry Bonds after the 1992 season, the Cubs got a 3 HR gamefrom Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes on opening day (a game they lost 12-8 anyway), and the Cardinals did almost nothing of note the entire season.

Result: Cincinnati rolls to 96 wins and the division, while Houston falls back and finishes with 89 wins.

NL West

With realignment and the departure of Atlanta to its rightful spot in the East, the Dodgers and Giants battled for control, while the Padres and 2ndyear expansion Rockies continued to build.

Coming off a 103 win season, the Giants got almost no contributions from anyone in their lineup not named Barry Bonds or Matt Williams. The latter was famously on pace to chase Roger Maris’ then single-season record of 61 HR, but Bonds had 37 HR of his own to go with 29 SBs so he was on his way to the 2nd40-40 season in MLB history. Darryl Strawberry arrived in July and provided some pop, but would find himself under indictment for federal income tax evasion before 1994 ended.

The pitching staff kept them competitive, but who knows if William VanLandingham and company could keep fooling hitters for another 7 weeks. San Francisco did win 20 of their last 30 which included a four game sweep of the Expos in Montreal.

The Dodgers held a 3.5 game lead, but still had six more games with Atlanta, against whom they were 0-6 to that point. Mike Piazza followed his Rookie of the Year campaign with another strong year, but Los Angeles got two outlier seasons from a couple of grizzled veterans. Tim Wallach (age 36) and Brett Butler (age 37) both set career highs in OPS, perhaps a signal that baseball was evolving into an era of inflated offensive numbers. Raul Mondesi became the 3rdstraight Dodger to win Rookie of the Year.

San Diego was rebuilding after their fire sale trades of Fred McGriff and Gary Sheffield the year before, but the story was of Tony Gwynn and his quest to hit .400. With 45 games remaining, he was on pace to have 171 more at bats based on his total to that point if he played every game, requiring him to get 71 hits in that time to finish with a .400 average. In his final 171 ABs of the ’94 season, Gwynn had 69 hits so it is far more likely that Gwynn finishes in the same range as Ted Williams in 1957 (.388) and 1980 George Brett (.390).

Colorado improved from their inaugural season and were about to move out of cavernous Mile High Stadium and into Coors Field. The strike cost them a chance to set a new single season attendance record, but the 1994 Rockies still have the highest average home attendance (57,570 per game) of any team in MLB history.

Result: The Giants claw their way back and finish tied with the Dodgers with 86 wins, leading to a one game playoff for the division, won by the Giants avenging the Dodgers eliminating them in game 162 a year earlier.

Playoffs

The original wild card playoff formatwas different and in many ways made no sense with the wild card team assigned to play a specific division winner rather than the team with the best record. The NL West champion would play the wild card, and the AL Central champion would play the AL Wild Card unless the two teams were in the same division.

ALDS1: Cleveland over NY Yankees (3-1) – The Yankees end up falling behind in the series early when manager Buck Showalter forgets that he can use his best relief pitcher on the road in a tie game in extra innings.

ALDS2: Chicago over Oakland (3-0) – The White Sox win their first playoff series in 77 years

NLDS1: Atlanta over San Francisco (3-0) – The Braves went 21-2 in NLDS play from 1995 to 2001 and this season would have been no different.

NLDS2: Montreal over Cincinnati (3-2) – Buoyed by raucous sellout crowds of hockey-starved Quebecers (due to the ongoing NHL lockout) for games 3-5 after falling down 0-2, the Expos come back and win three straight to advance to the NLCS for the first time since 1981.

ALCS: Chicago over Cleveland (4-2) – This series is mostly remembered for an incident in game 5 where young absent-minded baserunner Manny Ramirez forgot to run to 2ndbase on a would-be walkoff single in the 10th, keeping the game tied and allowing the White Sox to win in 12 innings in an incident forever known as “Manny’s Boner”.

NLCS: Montreal over Atlanta (4-2) – After losing the first two games at home, the Expos rally to win four straight after another unfortunate national anthem incident at game 3 in Atlanta where the Canadian flag was flown upside down….again.

World Series: Montreal over Chicago (4-2) – A costly error in game 6 by Julio Franco, playing 2ndbase in place of Joey Cora due to the lack of the DH, leads to a 5 run Montreal 3rdinning in the clincher. Canadian Larry Walker wins series MVP as the Expos become the third straight World Series winner from Canada.

#IFTTT #Place to Be Nation

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healthyworthyofficial · 5 years ago

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These Morning Stretches Will Wake Up Your Tired Muscles

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