#Ragan Smith

[my-random-fandoms]

I want to talk about this picture with someone but I honestly don't know what to say. Knowing there is a correlation between young women who tan and young women who are anorexic always makes me wonder about college gymnasts. This is beyond tanning and I don't know how worried to be about Ragan.

[chrisnaustin]

If only I were she!

[longlistshort]

V.J. Hagenbuckle, “On Mars”, 2020, Oil on canvas

Paintings by V.J. Hagenbuckle

There are many incredible artists living and working in the Tampa Bay area and quite a few of them also teach. Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs is currently showing work by faculty from the Visual Arts department at St. Petersburg College. In addition to a statement about their work, each faculty member also contributed their teaching philosophy.

Artists included in the exhibition- Jonathan Barnes, Nathan Beard, Ragan Brown, Mason Gehring, Barton Gilmore, Kevin Grass, Marjorie Greene Graff, Jennifer Guest, Jim Hagenbuckle, Elizabeth Indianos, Kim Kirchman, Michaela Oberlaender, Krishna Sadasivam, and McKenzie Smith.

Tonight, 12/7, Jim Hagenbuckle will be giving a talk at the museum at 6pm.

This exhibition is on view until 12/17/23.

Work from Nathan Beard’s “LIFE LINES”

Nathan Beard’s description of his recent personal and intriguing project (pictured above)-

The Memory Map works on view here are my very newest attempt at understanding the role that fallible memory plays in the shaping of culture and self. These small watercolor studies are Phase II of LIFE LINES, a grand 3-part project in which I am examining my family’s memory of themselves and making artwork that tells their story. I plan to collect all of these studies into a singular book that can be handed down through the generations, or perhaps even preserved in a museum for everyone to see.

To create Memory Maps, I have created a survey for each family member. I ask them some general genealogy questions, since this survey will also function as a historical record, including their three favorite colors. I then ask them to try to remember each year of their life, from birth til now, and assign a rank between 0 and 5 for a) how clear their memory of the year is; b) how important that year was for them; c) how “good” or “bad” the year was. I add these columns together to get an “Accumulative” data set that I use to create a skeleton composed of alternating pentagons and hexagons that rotate as they expand. This part is important since it incorporates movement through time and space as we grow outward. Using the fact that our life’s journey always wavers, I then connect the points and end up with a “map” that resembles the cross-section of a tree, and contains all the metaphors associated with tree rings and natural growth cycles.

The most important visual development presented itself with Cate Clark, where I allowed myself the freedom to incorporate representational imagery. I asked my wife about her favorite place ever, and she surprised me with the family trip we took to Letchworth State Park in upstate NY. I found a picture from that trip with our daughter Vera standing at the edge of wood, and proceeded to paint that memory in resemblance of an antique plate. I also allowed myself the freedom to stray away from the tree ring aspect, while still using the data skeleton to place the bursts of color.

For more information, his artist talk is available here.

Kim Kirchman, “Cultivating What Might Be Lost”, 2022, Terra cotta with slip transfer

Michaela Oberleander, “Bleed Out”, 2010, Acrylic on canvas

Work by Jonathan Barnes

Relief and silkscreen by Marjorie Greene Graff

Acrylic on canvas paintings by Mason C. Gehring

Soda/Salt Fired stoneware by McKenzie Smith

Digital Prints by Krishna M. Sadasivam

Jennifer Guest, “Character Studies”, 2023, Colored pencil on paper

Kevin Grass, “Cheese and Quackers”, 2022, Acrylic on aluminum panel

Barton L Gilmore, “Playground”, 2023, Photography-Digital print K-3 Inks

Ragan Brown “Wetland Habitat”, 2004, Goache and watercolor and “Angler’s Reef Marina”, 2016, Watercolor

[coimbrabertone]

NASCAR Numerology: How NASCAR's Current Teams Got Their Numbers: Part Five.

Alright guys, we've gotten to the last part of this little miniseries.

Today we're covering:

Front Row Motorsports, who run the #34 Ford for Michael McDowell and the #38 for Todd Gilliland in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series.

Legacy Motor Club, who run the #42 Toyota for John Hunter Nemechek and the historic #43 for Erik Jones.

and JTG Daugherty Racing, who run the #47 Chevrolet for Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Fittingly, we get to end on representation for all three brands.

Front Row Motorsports debuted in 2004, running the #92 Ford on a partial schedule with drivers like Brad Teague, Tony Raines, and Stanton Barrett, but they would fail to qualify for any races. Furthermore, the Mach 1 Motorsports team ran the #98/#96 car that year, splitting time between Ford and Dodge, and running drivers such as Todd and Geoff Bodine, Larry Gunselman, Derrike Cope, Chad Chaffin, and Randy LaJoie.

This team did manage to make some races (keyword: some) and in 2005, Mach 1 would attempt the full schedule with a #34 Chevrolet while another slew of drivers (mainly LaJoie, Chaffin, and PJ Jones) but by the end of 2005, the team was up for sale. Front Row Motorsports would buy this #34 car, as well as Mach 1's shop, and build their team around it.

Often running as a start-and-park team with a revolving door of drivers, Front Row finally got some stability in 2009, with John Andretti driving the #34, and dragging it up to three top twenty finishes, at Daytona, Loudon, and Fontana.

Andretti left after the 2010 Daytona 500, but the top twenty streak remained, with Travis Kvapil scoring an 18th at Talladega and Kevin Conway a 14th at the summer Daytona race.

David Gilliland (Todd's father) ran the full 2011 season and scored a third place at the Daytona 500, building on the results of the last three years to make Front Row Motorsports a proper contender on the superspeedways.

For 2012, Gilliland was moved to the #38 (more on that later) while David Ragan took over the #34. This car would top off FRM's superspeedway streak by winning the 2013 Aaron's 499 at Talladega.

Ragan would leave FRM after the 2015 Daytona 500 to get the opportunity to fill in for the injured Kyle Busch, so that season was a bit of a revolving door for the #34 yet again. Yet, for 2016, they got a technical alliance with Roush Fenway Racing in exchange for running Roush development driver Chris Buescher.

And Chris Buescher would win the 2016 Pennsylvania 400 for them on a Monday after a rainy weekend followed by a foggy weekend led to a segmented and ultimately shortened race. It took a bit of luck, but it got FRM its second win, and the first that wasn't on a superspeedway.

Chris Buescher went to JTG Daugherty of all places for 2017 (more on that later), so FRM hired Landon Cassill, without much success, before signing Michael McDowell for 2018.

McDowell has seen FRM become a legitimate team, winning the 2021 Daytona 500 and the 2023 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at the IMS Road Course. Furthermore, in 2024, now in alliance with Team Penske, Front Row Motorsports is no longer an ironic name, as McDowell has started first or second multiple times this season, including at Daytona, Atlanta, and even Gateway, the latter two being pole positions.

Michael McDowell, however, will be moving to the Spire Motorsports #71 for 2025.

FRM has built their numbering scheme off of the #34, running other cars such as the #35, #37, and most commonly the #36, but its second full time car has been the #38.

Driven by David Gilliland from 2012-2015 and son Todd Gilliand ever since 2022, the car has also seen drives from Landon Cassill, David Ragan (in a return to FRM), John-Hunter Nemechek, Anthony Alfredo, and Zane Smith. With four top tens and a further ten top twenties, 2024 has thus far been the most successful season to date for the #38.

FRM will run a third full time car in 2025, having bought a charter from SHR, and has signed SHR's Noah Gragson, but it is unknown was number he will run. FRM ran the #36 this season for Kaz Grala, but Bob Jenkins says he's not married to this numbering scheme. Still, even numbers in the mid-30s are as close to consistent numbering as FRM has ever gotten, so I hope they do decide to stick with the #36.

Onto Legacy Motor Club.

First things first, this team is a Frankenstein's Monster mess of forgotten NASCAR teams in hilarious fashion. Petty Enterprises, officially ran from 1949 to 2008, when sponsorship could not be found, leading to the team merging with Gillett-Evernham Motorsports for 2009. Gillett-Evernham Motorsports consisted of Evernham Motorsports, the former Dodge factory team that ran the #9 and the #19, MBV Motorsports (which was essentially the #10 car owned by Valvoline at this point), and money from George Gillett, who was at the time the controversial owner of the Montreal Canadiens and Liverpool FC.

So already, you had the Petty #43, Petty #45, Evernham #9, Evernham #19, and Valvoline #10 merging into one team, but for 2010, they also bought Yates Racing to take over Paul Menard and his #98 Ford. This allowed the entire team to switch from Dodge to Ford.

So come 2010, the team is running the #9, #19, #43, and #98 with relics from three different numbering schemes remaining in the team. It's freaking awesome.

The #19 and #98 went away after 2010, leaving the team with the #9 and the #43.

The #9 was initially their most successful car, with Kasey Kahne winning Sonoma 2009 and Fall Atlanta 2009 with the team, before Australian Marcos Ambrose won Watkins Glen for the team in 2011 and 2012.

The #43 would, to its credit, with the 2014 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona with Aric Almirola, and it would become the team's only car after 2016.

After the 2021 season, GMS Racing, a truck team, bought into Petty, becoming Petty GMS. Ahead of the 2023 season, the team became Legacy Motor Club, with Jimmie Johnson buying in, Richard Petty chasing out, and Maury Gallagher of GMS becoming majority owner. Petty remained involved a spokesman for the team, however.

So, finally, onto their numbers. They run the #43 and have since practically the beginning of time, because that was Richard Petty's number? Why, well, that actually takes us to their second car, the #42, which was Lee Petty's number.

Why did Lee Petty pick the #42? Legend has it was the first two numbers in his license plate.

So, Lee Petty ran the #42, his son Richard ran the #43, Richard's son Kyle would eventually run the #44, and Kyle's son Adam would run the #45. Each generation building on the last. When Adam died, Kyle took over the #45 in his memory.

Thad Moffitt in the Truck series is a grandson of Richard Petty through Petty's youngest daughter Rebecca, and he continues this trend by running the #46.

In any case, when Petty GMS bought a second car in 2022, they chose to run the #42 - recently vacated by Chip Ganassi - reuniting the original two Petty numbers.

This arrangement continued as Petty became Legacy and eventually switched to Toyota for 2024. Currently the #43 is driven by Erik Jones, who won Darlington in it in 2022, and the #42 by John Hunter Nemechek.

Also, fun fact, Kyle Petty drove the #42 at Team SABCO (which would eventually become Chip Ganassi Racing) from 1989 to 1996, so it was a Petty number even when it wasn't.

And now JTG Daugherty Racing. It started in 2007, running a second car (#47) in alliance with the Wood Brothers. I cannot find any specific reason for the #47, only that Tad Geschickter ran a #47 Busch car ever since 1996, so maybe it was an availability thing. In any case, they ran the #47 and made their Cup debut in 2007, with Ken Schrader and Jon Wood each trying and failing to qualify for a race.

The #47 managed a few starts in 2008 with Marcos Ambrose, finishing third at the Glen, which prompted JTG to split with the Wood Brothers to try and go full time for the 2009 season with Ambrose in a #47 Toyota. This lasted two years before Mabrose moved to the aforementioned Richard Petty Motorsports, with JTG instead drafting in Bobby Labonte.

They would sign AJ Allmendinger in 2013 as Labonte began scaling back his races, and with AJ full time in 2014, they'd win at Watkins Glen. Allmendinger would last until 2018, when Ryan Preece was hired for that car, but then Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was chosen for 2020. Ricky would win the 2023 Daytona 500 with the team.

JTG Daugherty also briefly has a second car, the #37 - ten less than #47, also apparently Tad used this number in college sports - the #37 ran with Chris Buescher for 2017, 2018, and 2019, before running with Ryan Preece for 2020 and 2021.

This brings up another interesting aspect of JTG Daugherty Racing - despite the fact that they're a Chevy team, they kinda have this unique relationship with RFK Racing. First of all, Chris Buescher was a Roush development driver. Second of all, that #37 car for Buescher was run on the charter for Roush's #16.

Third, was that when Roush took Chris Buescher back for the 2020 season, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. then went the other way, going from the Roush #17 to the JTG Daugherty #47.

Oh, and as recently as 2023, JTG Daugherty's pit crew was on loan from Roush. Yeah, odd.

So yeah, that is all 36 chartered teams for the 2024 NASCAR Cup series and the story of a couple other numbers that are relevant to the story. I hope you guys enjoyed all that, but I think I'm gonna write about some other motorsports for a little while. The blog has been a bit NASCAR heavy lately and this week added a whole five extra blogposts to it.

I do enjoy blabbing on about NASCAR, but I also enjoy blabbing on about MotoGP and Indycar. Formula One is also a sport that exists.

[viktoriakomova]

Ragan smith has been in college for like 8 fucking years I’m tired

[golikehellmachine]

thanksgiving playlist extravaganza, pt. 1

i got busy last week with work and with life, and didn’t get around to putting together a friday playlist, which bothers no one other than myself, and doesn’t bother me that much, either.

but, since thanksgiving is coming up this week in the united states, and i’ll be spending a lot of time in the kitchen, i thought it might be fun to make a larger list to keep you company while you mash your potatoes or stuff your turkey or just stock up on wine and order takeout. 

this is part 1 — tumblr limits you to ten bandcamp links per post, which seems reasonable, so i’ve broken it up into three lists with the occasional youtube link when bandcamp fails me. next edition on tuesday, final edition on thursday. 

***

charlie megira | tower of tongues

CHARLIE MEGIRA has always seemed a little tragic to me; he was always a man out of step and out of time. he’s hard to pin down, genre-wise, because he jumped around a lot, which wouldn’t have been a problem today, but in the pre-streaming era, could make it tough for people to discover and stick with you. this particular song is from his post-punk era, and until listening to this record for the first time in months, i did not realize how much of modern post-punk (e.g., soft kill) you can hear in this. 

creature party | digital addiction

CREATURE PARTY are locals here in portland who we caught the other night, playing in the basement of the shanghai tunnel bar, which may (or, as it turns out, mostly like may not) have been the site of countless abductions, a gateway to a dangerous and unpleasant life of servitude at sea. in reality, most men who were sold into servitude were just drugged and then defrauded. 

i don’t have a good transition here, i just wanted to clear up a common misconception.

creature party were a delightful riot live. sound-wise, they’re very definitely a pacific northwest band, and you can hear the usual indie influences there (sleater-kinney is probably the easiest and laziest reference i can think of), but there’s plenty more to like here, because there’s just as much weirdo, lo-fi, fuzzy B-52s in this sound as there is pacific northwestern indie. 

laura jane grace | lolo 13

approximately 5,700 years ago, i lived next door to AGAINST ME! in a triplex across the street from gainesville punk greats BITCHIN’ and caddy corner from former floridian lumberjack and all-around man of bellows, CHUCK RAGAN. the late 90s were a pretty wild time to live in gainesville, florida. i would not have predicted LAURA JANE GRACE would’ve become who she’s become at that time, but i’m not sure i would’ve predicted anyone from that time would be doing anything they’re doing now — caroline from BITCHIN’ was in RUSSIAN DOLL! 

i haven’t really kept up with LJG in recent years because i’m just not huge into acoustic folk-punk anymore, but this record has a lot more depth than i thought it was going to, and i consider myself corrected and reminded to stop writing things off just because i think i know what they’ll sound like. 

surface to air missive | rosy

these folks (or, well, this folk) is new to me, but i really enjoy SURFACE TO AIR MISSIVE. there are plenty of influences you can hear here, and plenty of influence-influences you can hear, as well — not only can you hear some of THE SMITHS or even NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL here, you can hear the bands who influenced them. i don’t know much more about this band beyond knowing that it’s a one-man show, which is impressive. normally, one-person bands tend to fall apart when it comes to drums, but these are solid throughout. 

katie morey | trial by fire

i bought this record earlier this year, and keep coming back to it as a recommendation, even though i have a hard time pinning down exactly what i like about it. it’s got a specific sound which i nonetheless can’t quite put my finger on, but it definitely comes from the early 1970s. lots of heavy reverb, electric piano and quietly competent drumming. it’s a fantastic sunday morning record all the way through, which i can’t recommend enough, even while being unable to explain what, specifically it is that grabs me. 

kid congo powers | peanuts

KID CONGO POWERS is a legend who has played with so many underground greats and who it’s nice to see is finally beginning to get a little more recognition. he just released a book, which is on my christmas list, documenting his time through THE GUN CLUB, THE CRAMPS, NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS and more, and anyone who comes out alive on the other side of a history like that is definitely worth listening to. further, kid congo’s got a unique perspective as a gay man who was out and proud from very early on, even when the punk and underground scenes were nowhere near as tolerant as they’d eventually become. you can definitely hear his CRAMPS years in this track, but kid congo’s got his own thing going on that’s worth considering on it’s own.

sea power | be gone (demo)

SEA POWER (formerly british sea power) have picked up a lot of new fans in recent years because of their score for disco elysium, which is undeniably great, but, for me, open season is always going to be the record to beat. the original release is pretty unassailable, but, as is their way, sea power also tends to release their demo and early versions, and they’re always a delight to pick through. this version of be gone has the lovely melody of the original, but is quieter and doesn’t have the same bombastic, big sound that the initial release did. if you like listening to how songs can evolve for a band from when they’re written to when they’re recorded, this one’s a great example. 

lee fields | i should have let you be

LEE FIELDS IS BACK! LEE FIELDS IS BACK! 

of course, he didn’t go anywhere, but we’ve lost so many soul and R&B greats in recent years that it’s always a relief to see one continuing to put out great work. fields got back together with daptone records this year to release this, and the whole record is fantastic. this song has his signature sound with a really interesting, almost beatles-esque bridge right in the middle of it. the whole record’s fantastic and a well-welcomed return and i can’t recommend it enough. 

reigning sound | falling rain

i’ll never not be bummed out that cartwright called an end to the REIGNING SOUND before i got the chance to catch them live, though cartwright’s an industrious and restless guy who’ll have something new and exciting to check out soon enough. this one comes from shattered, which wasn’t my favorite record when it came out, but has really, really grown on me. i mean, i recommend literally every single one of their records, but if you’ve got to start somewhere, shattered isn’t a bad place to start. 

murder by death | my evergreen

given that it’s a thanksgiving playlist, a few christmas songs are bound to find their way in, and, well, would you look at that, here’s one of them! MURDER BY DEATH are one of my all-time favorites, and it’s entirely in character that they’d put together a christmas record. all of it is fun, but this cover of the SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS my evergreen manages to take what was, originally, a good-enough christmas effort and elevate to something profoundly nostalgic, bittersweet, and lovely. my partner and i have a hard rule about not playing this one until after thanksgiving, but i feel like we’re close enough that you should get to start working it into your holiday playlists now. 

that’s it for this list; i’ll have another one up on tuesday to continue the thurday cooking extravaganza. 

[goalhofer]

2024 1st MLB playoff games

October 1, 2024

Justyn-Henry Malloy (Detroit) at Houston

Kerry Carpenter (Detroit) at Houston

Riley Greene (Detroit) at Houston

Andy Ibáñez (Detroit) at Houston

Colt Keith (Detroit) at Houston

Zach McKinstry (Detroit) at Houston

Wenceel Pérez (Detroit) at Houston

Spencer Torkelson (Detroit) at Houston

Parker Meadows (Detroit) at Houston

Jake Rogers (Detroit) at Houston

Trey Sweeney (Detroit) at Houston

Tarik Skubal (Detroit) at Houston

Will Vest (Detroit) at Houston

Weston Holton (Detroit) at Houston

Jason Foley (Detroit) at Houston

Beau Brieske (Detroit) at Houston

Zach Dezenzo (Houston) vs. Detroit

Bryan King (Houston) vs. Detroit

Michael Massey (Kansas City) at Baltimore

Bobby Witt; Jr. (Kansas City) at Baltimore

Vinnie Pasquantino (Kansas City) at Baltimore

M.S. Melendez; Jr. (Kansas City) at Baltimore

Kyle Isbel (Kansas City) at Baltimore

Maikel García (Kansas City) at Baltimore

Cole Ragans (Kansas City) at Baltimore

Sam Long (Kansas City) at Baltimore

Kris Bubic (Kansas City) at Baltimore

Lucas Erceg (Kansas City) at Baltimore

Colton Cowser (Baltimore) vs. Kansas City

Keegan Akin (Baltimore) vs. Kansas City

Heston Kjerstad (Baltimore) vs. Kansas City

Mark Vientos (New York Mets) at Milwaukee

Luisangel Acuña (New York Mets) at Milwaukee

José Buttó (New York Mets) at Milwaukee

Jackson Chourio (Milwaukee) vs. New York Mets

Garrett Mitchell (Milwaukee) vs. New York Mets

Jake Bauers (Milwaukee) vs. New York Mets

Joey Ortiz (Milwaukee) vs. New York Mets

Nic Mears (Milwaukee) vs. New York Mets

Eli White (Atlanta) at San Diego

Jackson Merrill (San Diego) vs. Atlanta

October 2, 2024

Brenan Hanifee (Detroit) at Houston

Brant Hurter (Detroit) at Houston

Jackson Jobe (Detroit) at Houston

Sean Guenther (Detroit) at Houston

Ángel Zerpa (Kansas City) at Baltimore

John Schreiber (Kansas City) at Baltimore

Reed Garrett (New York Mets) at Milwaukee

Blake Perkins (Milwaukee) vs. New York Mets

Jared Koenig (Milwaukee) vs. New York Mets

Bryan Hoeing (San Diego) vs. Atlanta

Jeremiah Estrada (San Diego) vs. Atlanta

October 3, 2024

Tobias Myers (Milwaukee) vs. New York Mets

October 5, 2024

Ty Madden (Detroit) at Cleveland

Keider Montero (Detroit) at Cleveland

William Olson (Detroit) at Cleveland

David Fry (Cleveland) vs. Detroit

Kyle Manzardo (Cleveland) vs. Detroit

Lane Thomas (Cleveland) vs. Detroit

Jhonkensy Noel (Cleveland) vs. Detroit

Noah-Gibson Naylor (Cleveland) vs. Detroit

Brayan Rocchio (Cleveland) vs. Detroit

Tanner Bibee (Cleveland) vs. Detroit

Cade Smith (Cleveland) vs. Detroit

Tim Herrin (Cleveland) vs. Detroit

Hunter Gaddis (Cleveland) vs. Detroit

Senga Kōdai (New York Mets) at Philadelphia

Kody Clemens (Philadelphia) vs. New York Mets

Austin Wells (New York Yankees) vs. Kansas City

Anthony Volpe (New York Yankees) vs. Kansas City

Luke Weaver (New York Yankees) vs. Kansas City

Brandon Lockridge (San Diego) at Los Angeles Dodgers

Elías Díaz (San Diego) at Los Angeles Dodgers

Ōtani Shōhei (Los Angeles Dodgers) vs. San Diego

Yamamoto Yoshinobu (Los Angeles Dodgers) vs. San Diego

October 6, 2024

Tylor Megill (New York Mets) at Philadelphia

Alek Jacob (San Diego) at Los Angeles Dodgers

Frank Banda (Los Angeles Dodgers) vs. San Diego

Edgardo Henriquez (Los Angeles Dodgers) vs. San Diego

October 7, 2024

Ian Hamilton (New York Yankees) vs. Kansas City

October 8, 2024

Andy Pages (Los Angeles Dodgers) at San Diego

October 9, 2024

Ángel Martínez (Cleveland) at Detroit

Erik Sabrowski (Cleveland) at Detroit

Andrew Walters (Cleveland) at Detroit

Joey Cantillo (Cleveland) at Detroit

Jace Jung (Detroit) vs. Cleveland

Brady Singer (Kansas City) vs. New York Yankees

Landon Knack (Los Angeles Dodgers) at San Diego

Matsui Yūki (San Diego) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

October 10, 2024

Robert Ellis (New York Yankees) at Kansas City

October 13, 2024

Danny Young (New York Mets) at Los Angeles Dodgers

Ben Casparius (Los Angeles Dodgers) vs. New York Mets

October 14, 2024

Daniel Schneemann (Cleveland) at New York Yankees

October 15, 2024

Edward Lively (Cleveland) at New York Yankees

October 18, 2024

Luis Gil (New York Yankees) at Cleveland

Mark Leiter; Jr. (New York Yankees) at Cleveland

[an-apple-a-day-or2]

hello i am sad about beads. we have been watching her for 10 years!!

[twins2994]

Minnesota Twins-Kansas City Royals Series Preview

9.6.24-Zebby Matthews RHP (1-2) 7.41 ERA Vs. Cole Ragans LHP (10-9) 3.46 ERA

9.7.24-Bailey Ober RHP (12-6) 3.95 ERA Vs. Alec Marsh RHP (7-8) 4.70 ERA

9.8.24-Simeon Woods Richardson RHP (5-3) 3.95 ERA Vs. Michael Wacha RHP (11-7) 3.50 ERA

The Twins At A Glance- The beat up Twins split a four-game series with the Rays this week. They finish off the road trip with a huge three-game set in Kansas City this weekend. Max Kepler was put on the injured list with a knee injury and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was called up from the Saints. Byron Buxton was ejected from his second rehab game and his hip didn't feel great coming out of that game. He won't be back this weekend. Kody Funderburk threw a bullpen session on Monday and might be ready for a rehab assignment soon. Matt Wallner has been great since the All-Star Break with seven homers and twenty RBI. Royce Lewis got a start at second base this week and the team is rushing him into changing positions way too fast. They need an offseason or a spring training to do this. Scott Blewett has allowed just one run over 9 2/3 innings. Cole Sands has a 1.93 ERA since the break. Griffin Jax has struck out twenty-three guys over 19 2/3 innings since the break.

The Royals At A Glance- The Royals have been reeling and just snapped a seven-game losing streak on Wednesday night. They had an off day on Thursday before a big series against the Twins this weekend. Vinnie Pasquantino fractured his thumb and might miss the rest of the season. Michael Lorenzen has a Grade 2 hamstring strain and will miss time. Willi Smith has back spasms. The Royals claimed Robbie Grossman and Tommy Pham off waivers to add depth. Yuli Gurriel was also called up and that came at a good time with Vinnie Pasquantino's injury. Bobby Witt Jr. has been on fire since the break. He has fourteen homers and thirty-four RBI. Salvador Perez has had a soild year with twenty-five homers and ninety-four knocked in. The Royals have the third-best rotation in baseball with a 3.62 ERA. The Twins will avoid Seth Lugo and Brady Singer this weekend. The Royals bullpen is sixth-worst in baseball with a 4.52 ERA. Lucas Erceg has taken over the closer role with six saves on the year.

What To Watch For- The Twins are (7-3) against the Royals this year. They took two out of three from them to start the year in Kansas City then took three of four in late-May and two of three in mid-August at Target Field. Zebby Matthews threw five innings and gave up two runs in his Major League debut against the Royals on August 13th. Cole Ragans is (1-2) with a 2.45 ERA in four starts against the Twins. Bailey Ober is (0-4) with a 7.71 ERA in nine starts against the Royals. Salvador Perez has two homers off Ober in his career. Alec Marsh is (0-2) with a 5.25 ERA in two starts versus the Twins. Simeon Woods Richardson threw five innings and allowed two runs in his lone start against the Royals. Michael Wacha is (4-1) with a 3.67 ERA in six starts against the Twins. This is a big weekend for both teams in the Wild-Card race.

-Chris Kreibich-

[baseballreport]

American League Starters: C Adley Rutschman, Orioles 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays 2B Jose Altuve, Astros SS Gunnar Henderson, Orioles 3B José Ramírez, Guardians OF Aaron Judge, Yankees OF Steven Kwan, Guardians OF Juan Soto, Yankees DH Yordan Alvarez, Astros American League Reserves: SS Carlos Correa, Twins 3B Rafael Devers, Red Sox OF Jarren Duran, Red Sox UTL David Fry, Guardians OF Riley Greene, Tigers 1B Josh Naylor, Guardians 3B Isaac Parades,  Rays C Salvador Perez, Royals 2B Marcus Semien, Rangers SS Bobby Witt Jr., Royals OF Kyle Tucker, Astros American League Pitchers: Tyler Anderson, Angels Corbin Burnes, Orioles Emmanuel Clase, Guardians Garrett Crochet, White Sox Logan Gilbert, Mariners Clay Holmes, Yankees Tanner Houck, Red Sox Seth Lugo, Royals Mason Miller, A's Cole Ragans, Royals Tarik Skubal, Tigers Kirby Yates, Rangers National League Starters: C William Contreras, Brewers 1B Bryce Harper, Phillies 2B Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks SS Trea Turner, Phillies 3B Alex Bohm, Phillies OF Jurickson Profar, Padres OF Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres (injured) OF Christian Yelich, Brewers DH Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers National League Reserves: SS CJ Abrams, Nationals 1B Pete Alonso, Mets 1B Luis Arraez, Padres SS Mookie Betts, Dodgers SS Elly De La Cruz, Reds 1B Freddie Freeman, Dodgers OF Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers 3B Ryan McMahon, Rockies OF Jackson Merrill, Padres DH Marcell Ozuna, Braves OF Heliot Ramos, Giants OF Bryan Reynolds, Pirates C Will Smith, Dodgers National League Pitchers: Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers Ryan Helsley, Cardinals Jeff Hoffman, Phillies Shota Imanaga, Cubs Reynaldo Lopez, Braves Chris Sale, Braves Tanner Scott, Marlins Paul Skenes, Pirates Matt Strahm, Phillies Ranger Suarez, Phillies Robert Suarez, Padres Logan Webb, Giants Zack Wheeler, Phillies

[marrtraffic]

TDOT Long Range Planning Division – 19 Volume Counts for 1 year

For Tennessee Dept. of Transportation Long Range Planning Division’s Interstate Truck Data, TDOT Long Range Planning Division Marr Traffic acted as a sub-consultant for Ragan Smith to collect all required traffic data. The project included the collection of 24-hour volume and classification counts at 19 locations throughout the state of Tennessee. Data was collected at these 19 locations at regular intervals throughout the year to provide the necessary baseline figures the DOT required from varying seasons and conditions.

[mixedbagofships]

Ragan Smith looks positively orange.

[gymnasticscoaching]

NCAA AA Power Ranking as of March 7th

GymCastic has a new feature. JORDAN BOWERS HALEIGH BRYANT LEANNE WONG MYA LAUZON RAENA WORLEY SIERRA BROOKS MAILE O���KEEFE RAGAN SMITH FAITH TORREZ EMJAE FRAZIER Check their rationale. And more. NCAA Power Ranking – March 07, 2024 THAT'S OUR FLOOR ANCHOR! pic.twitter.com/eb2FjOKEHN— Oklahoma Women's Gym (@OU_WGymnastics) March 10, 2024

[literallytryingtimdaggett]

NCAA notes from this weekend (mostly LSU Arkansas, and Bart/Kathy commentary):

-Haleigh and Aleah > everything and everybody everywhere

-Arkansas really stepped it up from last year... here's hoping they upgraded their consistency as well

-Georgia doesn't deserve Lily Smith or Ady Wahl

-KJ Johnson keep the new hair/makeup/look challenge

-Annie Beard 💔

-"Kathy, tell me what a beamer is."

"Where somebody's just a natural on this event and embra- *Ragan falls* oh!"

-Sierra Ballard's floor went from my least fav last season to top two in the lineup

-still can't stand UCLA 

-"Unfortunately a very real fall from Maile O'Keefe"... as opposed to a fake fall?? 

(with all due respect to KJC)

-I actually enjoyed most of the commentary actually from the Ark/Georgia meet save the recurring "I don't know what the judges took"

-Jordyn Weiber has always struck me as mature and professional in interviews, but she seemed to have a new joy/charisma almost in this one

-first year doing a fantasy league Anna I kinda love it? So unlike me to commit thought and energy to something completely based on and limited to the internet with no real life community or connection whatsoever but I'm not mad

[amy-chow]

OU anti except when it’s ragan smith bc I could have really used that beam score this week

[education30and40blog]

Implications of Learning Theories on Instructional Design

Instructional Designers have a unique job designing lessons. Instructional Design (ID) is a planning process. Those lessons could be either eLearning lessons or classroom-based learning. Richey et al. (2011, as cited by Smith and Ragan, 2005, p. 4) identify ID as “the systematic and reflective process of translating principles of learning and instruction into plans for instructional materials, activities, information resources, and evaluation”. Learning theories for Instructional Designers are sets of proposals to predict events that lead to designing lessons (Richey et al., 2011, p. 6). This article will discuss three essential theories that are important to Instructional Designers.