#a.j. ramos

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Queer Books Coming Out in February 2024

🌈 Good afternoon, my bookish bats! Struggling to keep up with all the amazing queer books coming out this month? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Remember to #readqueerallyear! Happy reading!

❤️ We Ate the Dark by Mallory Pearson 🧡 The Paper Boys by D.P. Clarence 💛 Skater Boy by Anthony Nerada 💚 Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine 💙 A Vicious Game by Melissa Blair 💜 Clarion Call by Cayla Fay ❤️ Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories edited by Sandra Proudman 🧡 The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton 💛 Truthfully, Yours by Caden Armstrong 💙 Outsider by Jade du Preez 💜 Cross My Candy Heart by A.C. Thomas 🌈 The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

❤️ An Education in Malice by S. T. Gibson 🧡 The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Ann Older 💛 Never a Bridesmaid by Spencer Greene 💚 The Rewind by Nicole Stiling 💙 Good Christian Girls by Elizabeth Bradshaw 💜 The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha ❤️ The Terrible by Tessa Crowley 🧡 Blood Rage by Ileandra Young 💛 Call of the Sea by Emily B. Rose 💙 Sign Me Up by C.H. Williams 💜 Ways and Means by Daniel Lefferts 🌈 Peaceful in the Dark by A.A. Fairview

❤️ We Are Only Ghosts by Jeffrey L. Richards 🧡 Dead Ringer by Robyn Nyx 💛 Somacultural Liberation by Dr. Roger Kuhn 💚 Stormbringer by Erinn Harper 💙 A Saga of Shields & Shadows by A.J. Shirley 💜 Ghost Town by R.E. Ward ❤️ I Heard Her Call My Name by Lucy Sante 🧡 The Night Alphabet by Joelle Taylor 💛 Remedial Magic by Melissa Marr 💙 Bloom by N.R. Walker 💜 Entwined by Alex Alberto 🌈 Queer Newark edited by Whitney Strub

❤️ Tristan by Jesse Roman 🧡 How to Live Free in a Dangerous World by Shayla Lawson 💛 Daniel, Deconstructed by James Ramos 💚 Of Socialites & Prizefights by Arden Powell 💙 Lost Harbor by Kimberly Cooper Griffin 💜 Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair by Laura Piper Lee ❤️ Bunt! Striking Out on Financial Aid by Ngozi Ukazu & Mad Rupert 🧡 How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly 💛 Blackmailer’s Delight by David Lawrence 💙 Tile M for Murder by Felicia Carparelli 💜 Impulse Buy by Jae 🌈 Live for You, Die With You by Kalob Dàniel

❤️ Fairest of All by A.D. Ellis 🧡 Goddess of the Sea by Britney Jackson 💛 A Taste of Earth by Nico Silver 💚 The Moorings of Mackerel Sky by M.Z. Emily Zack 💙 How the Boogeyman Became a Poet by Tony Keith 💜 V is for Valentine by Thomas Grant Bruso ❤️ Crushed Ice by Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James 🧡 When Tomorrow Comes by D. Jackson Leigh 💛 Bugsy & Other Stories by Rafael Frumkin 💙 The White and Blue Between Us by Kiyuhiko 💜 Guide Us Home by CF Frizzell & Jesse J. Thoma 🌈 The Friendship Study by Ruby Barrett

❤️ Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender 🧡 Heart2Heart edited by Annabeth Albert 💛 No Time Like Now by Naz Kutub 💚 Bless the Blood by Walela Nehanda 💙 Vengeance Planning for Amateurs by Lee Winter 💜 Who We Are in Real Life by Victoria Koops ❤️ Prove It by Stephanie Hoyt 🧡 Mewing by Chloe Spencer 💛 Awakenings by Claudie Arseneault 💙 Born of Scourge by S. Jean 💜 Disciples of Chaos by M.K. Lobb 🌈 To Cage a God by Elizabeth May

❤️ Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly 🧡 What Feasts At Night by T. Kingfisher 💛 You Had Me at Merlot by Melissa Brayden 💚 Turning Point by Cathy Dunnell 💙 For the Stolen Fates by Gwendolyn Clare 💜 Season of Eclipse by Terry Wolverton ❤️ These Haunted Hills by Jana Denardo 🧡 Samson & Domingo by Gume Laurel III 💛 Lies that Bind by Rae Knowles & April Yates 💙 We Got the Beat by Jenna Miller 💜 The Diablo's Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa 🌈 Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh

❤️ Out There by Iris Eliot 🧡 At Her Service by Amy Spalding 💛 Green Dot by Madeleine Gray

[awardseason]

21st Annual Visual Effects Society Awards — Film Winners

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature Avatar: The Way of Water – Richard Baneham, Walter Garcia, Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, JD Schwalm — WINNER Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – Christian Mänz, Olly Young, Benjamin Loch, Stephane Naze, Alistair Williams Jurassic World: Dominion – David Vickery, Ann Podlozny, Jance Rubinchik, Dan Snape, Paul Corbould The Batman – Dan Lemmon, Bryan Searing, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands, Dominic Tuohy Top Gun: Maverick – Ryan Tudhope, Paul Molles, Seth Hill, Bryan Litson, Scott Fisher

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature Death on the Nile – George Murphy, Claudia Dehmel, Mathieu Raynault, Jonathan Bowen, David Watkins I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Paul Norris, Tim Field, Don Libby, Andrew Simmonds The Fabelmans – Pablo Helman, Jennifer Mizener, Cernogorods Aleksei, Jeff Kalmus, Mark Hawker The Gray Man – Swen Gilberg, Viet Luu, Bryan Grill, Cliff Welsh, Michael Meinardus The Pale Blue Eye – Jake Braver, Catherine Farrell, Tim Van Horn, Scott Pritchard, Jeremy Hays Thirteen Lives – Jason Billington, Thomas Horton, Denis Baudin, Michael Harrison, Brian Cox — WINNER

Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio – Aaron Weintraub, Jeffrey Schaper, Cameron Carson, Emma Gorbey, Mad God, Chris Morley, Phil Tippett, Ken Rogerson, Tom Gibbons — WINNER Strange World – Steve Goldberg, Laurie Au, Mark Hammel, Mehrdad Isvandi The Bad Guys– Pierre Perifel, Damon Ross, Matt Baer, JP Sans The Sea Beast – Joshua Beveridge, Christian Hejnal, Stirling Duguid, Spencer Lueders Turning Red – Domee Shi, Lindsey Collins, Danielle Feinberg, Dave Hale

Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature  Avatar: The Way of Water: Kiri – Anneka Fris, Rebecca Louise Leybourne, Guillaume Francois, Jung-Rock Hwang — WINNER Beast: Lion – Alvise Avati, Bora Şahin, Chris McGaw, Krzysztof Boyoko Disney’s Pinocchio: Honest John – Christophe Paradis, Valentina Rosselli, Armita Khanlarpour, Kyoungmin Kim Slumberland: Pig – Fernando Lopes Herrera, Victor Dinis, Martine Chartrand, Lucie Martinetto

Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio: Geppetto – Charles Greenfield, Peter Saunders, Shami Lang-Rinderspacher, Noel Estevez-Baker Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio: Pinocchio – Oliver Beale, Richard Pickersgill, Brian Leif Hansen, Kim Slate — WINNER Strange World: Splat – Leticia Gillett, Cameron Black, Dan Lipson, Louis Jones Turning Red: Panda Mei – Christopher Bolwyn, Ethan Dean, Bill Sheffler, Kureha Yokoo

Outstanding Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature Avatar: The Way of Water: Metkayina Village – Ryan Arcus, Lisa Hardisty, Paul Harris TaeHyoung David Kim Avatar: The Way of Water: The Reef – Jessica Cowley, Joe W. Churchill, Justin Stockton, Alex Nowotny — WINNER Jurassic World Dominion: Biosyn Valley – Steve Ellis, Steve Hardy, Thomas Dohlen, John Seru Slumberland: The Wondrous Cuban Hotel Dream – Daniël Dimitri Veder, Marc Austin, Pavan Rajesh Uppu, Casey Gorton

Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio: In the Stomach of a Sea Monster – Warren Lawtey, Anjum Sakharkar, Javier Gonzalez Alonso, Quinn Carvalho — WINNER Lightyear: T’Kani Prime Forest – Lenora Acidera, Amy Allen, Alyssa Minko, Jose L. Ramos Serrano Strange World: The Windy Jungle – Ki Jong Hong, Ryan Smith, Jesse Erickson, Benjamin Fiske The Sea Beast: The Hunting Ship – Yohan Bang, Enoch Ihde, Denil George Chundangal, John Wallace Wendell & Wild: The Scream Fair – Tom Proost, Nicholas Blake, Colin Babcock, Matthew Paul Albertus Cross

Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a CG Project ABBA: Voyage – Pär M. Ekberg, John Galloway, Paolo Acri, Jose Burgos Avatar: The Way of Water – Richard Baneham, Dan Cox, Eric Reynolds, A.J Briones — WINNER Prehistoric Planet – Daniel Fotheringham, Krzysztof Szczepanski, Wei-Chuan Hsu, Claire Hill The Batman: Rain Soaked Car Chase – Dennis Yoo, Michael J. Hall, Jason Desjarlais, Ben Bigiel

Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project Avatar: The Way of Water: The Sea Dragon – Sam Sharplin, Stephan Skorepa, Ian Baker, Guillaume Francois — WINNER The Sea Beast – Maxx Okazaki, Susan Kornfeld, Edward Lee, Doug Smith Top Gun: Maverick: F-14 Tomcat – Christian Peck, Klaudio Ladavac, Aram Jung, Peter Dominik Wendell & Wild: Dream Faire – Peter Dahmen, Paul Harrod, Nicholas Blake

Outstanding Effects Simulation in a Photoreal Feature Avatar: The Way of Water: Fire and Destruction – Miguel Perez Senent, Xavier Martin Ramirez, David Kirchner, Ole Geir Eidsheim Avatar: The Way of Water: Water Simulations – Johnathan M. Nixon, David Moraton, Nicolas Illingworth, David Caeiro Cebrian — WINNER Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: City Street Flooding – Matthew Hanger, Alexis Hall, Hang Yang, Mikel Zuloaga Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – Jesse Parker Holmes, Grayden Solman, Toyokazu Hirai, Rob Richardson

Outstanding Effects Simulation in an Animated Feature Lightyear – Alexis Angelidis, Chris Chapman, Jung-Hyun Kim, Keith Klohn Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – Derek Cheung, Michael Losure, Kiem Ching Ong, Jinguang Huang — WINNER Strange World – Deborah Carlson, Scott Townsend, Stuart Griese, Yasser Hamed The Sea Beast – Spencer Lueders, Dmitriy Kolesnik, Brian D. Casper, Joe Eckroat

Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in Feature Avatar: The Way of Water: Landing Rockets Forest Destruction – Miguel Santana Da Silva, Hongfei Geng, Jonathan Moulin, Maria Corcho Avatar: The Way of Water: Water Integration – Sam Cole, Francois Sugny, Florian Schroeder, Jean Matthews — WINNER The Batman: Rainy Freeway Chase – Beck Veitch, Stephen Tong, Eva Snyder, Rachel E. Herbert Top Gun: Maverick – Saul Davide Galbiati, Jean-Frederic Veilleux, Felix B. Lafontaine, Cynthia Rodriguez del Castillo

Outstanding Special (Practical) Effects in a Photoreal Project Avatar: The Way of Water: Current Machine and Wave Pool – JD Schwalm, Richie Schwalm, Nick Rand, Robert Spurlock — WINNER Black Adam: Robotic Flight – JD Schwalm, Nick Rand, Andrew Hyde, Andy Robot, Mad God, Phil Tippett, Chris Morley, Webster Colcord, Johnny McLeod The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power “Adrift” Middle Earth Storm – Dean Clarke, Oliver Gee, Eliot Naimie, Mark Robson

Emerging Technology Award Avatar: The Way of Water: Depth Comp – Dejan Momcilovic, Tobias B. Schmidt, Benny Edlund, Joshua Hardgrave Avatar: The Way of Water: Facial System – Byungkuk Choi, Stephen Cullingford, Stuart Adcock, Marco Revelant Avatar: The Way of Water: Water Toolset – Alexey Dmitrievich Stomakhin, Steve Lesser, Sven Joel Wretborn, Douglas McHale — WINNER Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio: 3D Printed Metal Armature – Richard Pickersgill, Glen Southern, Peter Saunders, Brian Leif Hansen Turning Red: Profile Mover and CurveNets – Kurt Fleischer, Fernando de Goes, Bill Sheffler

[thesilenceoftheassassin]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: 2013 Panini Pinnacle Miami Chicago Washington Los Angeles Arizona Baltimore Set.

[dpinoycosmonaut]

GILAS’ GOLD IN 19th ASIAN GAMES: ONE FOR THE AGES

by Bert A. Ramirez / October 8, 2023

Members of the Gilas Pilipinas team, which broke a 61-year gold-medal drought in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, join hands on the podium in a symbolic gesture that spoke of their solidarity after their historic triumph over Jordan.  (Photo by Lee Jin-man of The Associated Press)

When last Friday’s 70-60 victory by the Philippines over Jordan in the men’s basketball finals of the 19th Asian Games is remembered, it will be regarded as historic, massive and epochal, and certainly one for the ages, literally and figuratively.

The Philippines, after all, had been without a gold medal in the Asian Games in its favorite sport since winning the first four editions of the event in 1951, 1954, 1958 and 1962, a period that spanned a good 61 years, or practically a lifetime for some people.  The last Asiad championship in fact that the country won in 1962 in Jakarta, Indonesia still had the legendary Carlos Loyzaga, now a FIBA Hall of Famer, anchoring a team made up of some of the greatest names in local basketball history, including Narciso Bernardo, one of the greatest scorers in Asia during his prime, and such other mythical names as Alberto “Big Boy” Reynoso, Kurt Bachmann and Edgardo Roque.

The gold-medal drought had covered a total of 14, repeat, 14 Asian Games, and during this barren stretch that was endured by this basketball-crazy country, its roundball practitioners had accounted for just three podium finishes, including a bronze medal in 1986, a silver in 1990 and another bronze in 1998, when the country was celebrating its Independence Day centennial, while finishing as low as seventh in 2014 and missing the event altogether because of a suspension in 2006.

The enormity of the odds against the Filipinos’ winning another gold medal was particularly magnified by the fact that they had to hurdle a now-expanded field and much stronger competition that included defending champion China, which was playing in its home ground and which, despite a lopsided 96-75 defeat to Gilas Pilipinas last September in the last FIBA World Cup held in Manila, was aching for revenge and was, in fact, going great guns during this Games.  And one should remember the Chinese have been the dominant basketball force in the Asian Games since arriving on the scene in 1974, having won the gold medal in eight of the 12 Asiads they have participated in from that time on.

What compounded matters for this Philippine team was what happened just before the Asiad, when the squad that was supposed to be anchored on the nucleus of Gilas Pilipinas’ FIBA World Cup roster suffered a massive loss of personnel even without considering naturalized player Jordan Clarkson’s return to the US for the start of the NBA’s training camps.  Can you imagine losing such guys as Dwight Ramos, A.J. Edu, Kai Sotto, Rhenz Abando, Roger Pogoy, Kiefer Ravena and Jamie Malonzo?

So basically the carryovers from that team that were called to carry the cudgels in the Hangzhou Asian Games a couple of weeks later were June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar and C.J. Perez, and called to take the place of Ramos and company, most of whom had to return to their respective pro teams in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, were naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame, Calvin Oftana, Chris Newsome, Kevin Alas, Marcio Lassiter, Arvin Tolentino and Chris Ross. And some of these players were just inserted at the last minute after original choices Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Mo Tautuaa, Jason Perkins and Stanley Pringle were rejected by the Asiad organizers for supposedly not having been part of the original 37-man pool the Philippines submitted to them.

So this version of Gilas Pilipinas was practically a new one especially when one considers coach Tim Cone, who was tasked to take over Chot Reyes’ job as headman after Reyes resigned following the FIBA World Cup, hardly had a chance to work everybody out together with all the turnover of personnel that happened.  Meanwhile, the rest of the field had the luxury of having been together for a long time, particularly China and Jordan, which turned out to be the Filipinos’ main rivals in the end.

The Filipinos give coach Tim Cone a victory ride to celebrate their landmark feat.  (Photo by Lee Jin-man of The Associated Press)

Yes, Jordan.  This was the same team that finished dead-last in the last FIBA World Cup but with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who powered Talk ‘N Text to the PBA Governors’ Cup title this year, had turned many heads around.  True enough, when the disjointed Gilas team first met the Falcons in the group stage, it was blasted by 25 points 87-62.

This forced the Philippines to qualify for the quarterfinals through the back door, eventually doing that after blowing out Qatar 80-41.

But Gilas still seemed a bit far away from the podium at this point, especially after losing a 21-point lead against Iran in the quarterfinals and had to bank on Brownlee’s endgame heroics to pull off an 84-83 decision in the end.  This was especially because they now had to play the reigning champion Chinese team in the semifinals.

Could this team overcome the home team that was humming at this point?  It certainly looked it wouldn’t when Gilas spotted China a 20-point advantage early in their semis matchup.  The Chinese, working like a well-oiled machine, shot 57 percent in the first half to race to a 48-30 lead.  The Filipinos made some inroads in the third quarter, with Brownlee scoring 10 points to pare that deficit down to 62-50 going into the final period.

Still, the Chinese didn’t look like they were bound to capitulate, that was until Brownlee, showing the mettle of a transcendent star in the mold of the Loyzagas, Bernardos and Allan Caidics of the past, exploded in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 of his game-high 33 points, including the last two three-pointers, the first of which cut the Chinese lead to 76-74 with 58.1 seconds left and the last giving the Filipinos a 77-76 edge with 23.3 ticks to go that stood until the end, as the Philippines broke through its biggest tormentor in the past five decades.

“Coach Tim (Cone), he told us before the game to be something special to win this game,” Brownlee said after the stirring comeback win that marked the first time the Philippines beat the Chinese two straight times after that FIBA World Cup blowout and sent them into a return match, this time for the gold medal itself, against Jordan, which blasted Chinese Taipei 90-71 in the other semis match.

In the finals against Hollis-Jefferson and the Jordanians, the Filipinos never allowed themselves to be headed early unlike in their first meeting, racing to a 28-15 lead early in the second quarter.  But Jordan, with Hollis-Jefferson heating up, unloaded an 11-0 bomb to make it a nip-and-tuck battle, even taking the lead at 31-29 before Gilas tied it at the half at 31-all.

But with Newsome, Thompson and Oftana stepping up with the Jordanian defense focused on Brownlee, the Filipinos grabbed the lead for good at 40-37, closing out the third frame with a 14-4 blast to take a 51-41 advantage into the fourth quarter.

The Philippines never wavered in the payoff period, clamping down on the Jordanians on defense even as Kouame, who had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds to go with five steals and two blocks, scored eight points in the last six minutes to help hold off the Falcons.

The Filipinos are shown here celebrating shortly after holding off Jordan 70-60 in the finals.  (Photo by Lee Jin-man of The Associated Press)

It was Kouame, Newsome and Thompson who made the difference this time with Brownlee unable to take off with the Jordanian defense keying on him, no matter if Brownlee also had a double-double of his own with a team-high 20 points and 10 rebounds to go with five assists and two steals.  Newsome contributed 13 points while helping hold Jefferson to a miserable 8-of-29 shooting from the floor as the latter had to work hard for his 24 points that went with 12 rebounds and five assists.  Thompson, meanwhile, chipped in with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists while serving as the primary ballhandler for the Filipinos.

“Our guys were just really disciplined tonight.  It was just a good game by us tonight and they (Jordan) had an off shooting night,” Cone said shortly after Gilas’ historic, almost-fairytale-like victory.  "I thought we just had a beautiful defensive performance led by Chris Newsome.  He really handled their star Rondae Hollis-Jefferson really well.  He was disciplined, he didn't give Jefferson much room to get to the rim, and that was what we were concerned tonight."

Cone, who is not usually given to blowing horns even during his greatest triumphs as the winningest coach in PBA history with 25 titles, said he knows what this breakthrough triumph means to a lot of Filipinos.  "We know it means so much to everyone back home.  We're passionate about our basketball.  For us to be able to do that for our countrymen is such a huge thing and we can't wait to get home and share it with them," he said.

But he also said an Asiad gold medal for a Philippine basketball team had to happen sometime.  “Had to be somebody, sometime.  We’re just too good of a basketball nation not to win this thing,” he said.

The 65-year-old Cone, however, may still be downplaying a feat that means a lot more than a victory in an event where the country has faltered over most of the last six decades with the coming of China and Middle East teams into the Asiad fold and the general ascent in basketball culture among countries that the Filipinos used to beat.

“Witnessing our Gilas Pilipinas take back the Asian basketball throne was one of the monumental victories for Team Philippines here in Hangzhou,” Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachmann, whose own father Kurt was a member of that 1962 Asian Games champion team, said.  “My father, who was a part of the team that last won the gold at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, would be very proud of this Gilas squad, who showed resilience and team spirit.”

“It was awesome, unbelievable, unforgettable, which filled me with many precious moments,” PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas, meanwhile, said.  “We were happy with being No. 4.  But when we beat China, it dawned on us that we could be No. 1, and there was no turning back after that.”

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino might have put it best when he said that Gilas Pilipinas’ gold-medal breakthrough after 61 years “is worth a thousand golds.

“Of course we have (gold medalists) EJ Obiena and Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez from jiu-jitsu and all our other athletes,” Tolentino said.  “But that (gold in basketball) was worth a thousand golds. It’s God’s will.  Our prayers were answered.”

Indeed, the Philippines might win the basketball gold again in future Asian Games, or it might not for however long it might take, but one thing is certain: This victory will forever be etched in the minds and hearts of every basketball-loving Filipino as it serves as a true benchmark.  It’s one for the ages.

[xclusivecollectables]

2016 Topps Update A.J. Ramos ASG Miami Marlins #US253 Baseball card   MATV4

This, and many others are from a one owner collection where the cards have gone from pack directly to sleeve. Find More A.J. Ramos Baseball Cards 2016 Topps Update A.J. Ramos  card that’s a perfect addition to any collection. This, and many others are from a one owner collection where the cards have gone from pack directly to sleeve. Create an account today to join the Beta launch of your site to…

[jerrydelpriore]

Former Columbia Firefly, Brooklyn Cyclone Merandy Gonzalez Reaches the Majors with Miami

Former Columbia Firefly, Brooklyn Cyclone Merandy Gonzalez Reaches the Majors with Miami

By Jerry Del Priore

Former Brooklyn Cyclone and New York Mets Minor Leaguer Makes the Majors with the Miami Marlins.

Right-handed pitcher Merandy Gonzalez, a 2017 South Atlantic League All-Star, became the first former Firefly to appear in a Major League Baseball game. The 22-year-old ex-Brooklyn Cyclone and current Miami Marlins hurler struck out All-Star Lorenzo Cainand tossed two scoreless…

[blogdavania]

A importância dos livros

A literatura me salvou, e ainda me salva.

Nos momentos mais incertos e difíceis, nos ritos de passagem, no lazer, na espera e na dor.

Sempre recorri aos livros, quando o estranhamento e as transformações da vida vinham como avalanches carregando consigo todas as certezas e verdades.

Meu amor aos livros, começou bem cedo com os contos de fadas e as várias Polianas, mais tarde descobri A.J. Cronin e seus A Cidadela e O Castelo do Homem sem Alma, Somerset Maugham, O Fio da Navalha e Servidão Humana.

Na minha fase mística, me encantei com Hermann Hesse e seus Sidarta e O Lobo da Estepe, além de Lobsang Rampa quando li, A Terceira Visão e Entre os Monges do Tibet.

Mais tarde um pouco, passei a devorar os livros de Jorge Amado, penso ter lido tudo que ele escreveu, e nessa época também fui apresentada à Graciliano Ramos, Dyonélio Machado e Érico Veríssimo. 

A literatura brasileira sua força e vigor.

Livros como Solo de Clarineta do Veríssimo e Cem anos de Solidão do Gabriel Garcia Marques, foram divisores de água  mudando  minha concepção estética e me levando à outros vôos liter��rios.

Foram e são tantos os livros, que não tem como cita-los sem cometer injustiças

O maravilhoso José Saramago, paixão da minha vida, a poesia incrível de Fernando Pessoa, Drummond e os irmãos concretistas, Augusto e Haroldo de Campos.

Os livros precisam ser considerados como uma das necessidades básicas das pessoas, não devem e não podem ser taxados, como se discute hoje na reforma tributária. 

Precisamos protestar contra esse disparate e preservar o direito da população de ter acesso aos livros.

Lendo se aprende a escrever e lendo se aprende a ler cada vez mais e melhor.

Os livros transformam as pessoas e as pessoas transformam o mundo.

[booksfriendsnews]

[eBOOKS GRATUITOS – 07.03.2020] Vários livros e séries incríveis de diversos gêneros estão disponíveis gratuitamente na Amazon. - Box Sedução - A K Raimundi: https://amzn.to/30fI0Gn - Box Duologia Doce Amargo: Bônus Noveleta Doce Boda - Evelyn Santana: https://amzn.to/2Irlna9 - A Princesa Coreana (Saranghae #2) - Mia Antiere: https://amzn.to/3cH73rO - Daydream - Greyci Ramos: https://amzn.to/38q8ZSo - Como não me apaixonar por você - Chris Sevla: https://amzn.to/3cAFUqN - Ao Seu Encontro - Rozz Messias: https://amzn.to/2xbUNPQ - Nada é por acaso (Strong Woman #1) - L. S. Santos: https://amzn.to/2Y6auAz - A garota de cabelo vermelho - L. S. Santos: https://amzn.to/31J5gvI - Como "Se Dar Bem" Em Um Encontro Casual - Mallerey Cálgara: https://amzn.to/2MxBt7c - A Linguagem do Amor - Lola Salgado: https://amzn.to/2V9T345 - O Destino do Herdeiro - Cacá Araujo: https://amzn.to/3aDy3GO - Dissoluto - Para Sempre (The Underwood´s #2) - Ana Sóh: https://amzn.to/3cCKSmI - Chegou a minha vez - Ane Pimentel: https://amzn.to/2TGugSs - Fique Comigo Neste Verão (Série Estações #1) - Fabiane Vicentini: https://amzn.to/2Y8W1nT - Sexo, amor e outros estragos - Karina Heid: https://amzn.to/3cDCJ1f - A Herança de Sarah - Tânia Giovanelli: https://amzn.to/2vwC1ys - A Melodia da Alma (Os Sons da Vida #1) - Maya Brito: https://amzn.to/2LzYjHf - De Repente, Nós - Tici Pontes: https://amzn.to/2wB5zPp - FÉ NO AMOR - Andrezza Mota: https://amzn.to/38u42rO - O destino deu um jeito - Verônica Matioli: https://amzn.to/2TwZEEg - O bebê da Firanghi (Diário) - Ray Pereira: https://amzn.to/3aBNmjr - O CEO E A INIMIGA - Anna Braun: https://amzn.to/38s3F0F - A Youtuber - leiri Jasicki: https://amzn.to/2Iq6u7R - Dominados Pelo Prazer (Três Contos em Um) - Suany Anjos: https://amzn.to/2IwrEkI - O Amor Chegou - R.M. Cordeiro: https://amzn.to/2Rnxybx - Enquanto eu te esquecia - Fah B.: https://amzn.to/2vMgJRm - O anjo vingador - Adriana Igrejas: https://amzn.to/2vMqWxc - Sangue e Café (Amélia Henckel #1) - Fernando B. Neves: https://amzn.to/38CE9pS - Onde está Lucia? (Missing #1) - C. B. Alves: https://amzn.to/3aFnC5T - Intenso Amor (Reed Enterprises #1) - Priscila Veiga: https://amzn.to/3cDWu98 - Encontros e Desencontros do Amor: Flávia (1) - Stela Sá: https://amzn.to/3ayk0Czz - A Descoberta (Trilogia Conquistas #1) - Jess Bidoia: https://amzn.to/2DloGgS - Mais que perfeitos: Bem-Casados - Elizabeth Bezerra: https://amzn.to/38vyJN6 - Meu nome é Gabriela: Nem sempre amor é o bastante (Livro 1) - Emily Morgan: https://amzn.to/39zRrom - Bons Sonhos, Serena - Alexia Road: https://amzn.to/2Tu6Ctx - Flor do Sol - Sheila Mendonça: https://amzn.to/2vLSW41 - Bem me Quero - Daya Alves: https://amzn.to/2wAny8E - Stella, A Feia - K. M. Mendes: https://amzn.to/39yOPqB - Lyubimaya: Minha Amada - Cora Félix: https://amzn.to/32Y2XqZ - Os Descendentes e os Cinco Guardiões: Livro I - Carla Emanuelle Oliveira Bezerra: https://amzn.to/39yOAf5 - O Astronauta do Século XXX. Uma Viagem Através do Espaço-Tempo - Jamila Mafra: https://amzn.to/2TtPXWV - O HERDEIRO DO TRONO: E Outras Novelas Épicas Inacabadas - EDGAR R R MITCHELL: https://amzn.to/2IrsUG7 - A REVOLTA DAS CONDESSAS: Volume 1 - Edgar R. R. Mitchell: https://amzn.to/2JZWNO4 - Efeito Nash - Mikka Demetino: https://amzn.to/333cPj9 - AMBARYS: Os Heróis Corrompidos - S. H Fisher: https://amzn.to/2HN7Dan - Ambarys: Sob o Domínio de Kael (Série Ambarys #2) - S.H. Fisher: https://amzn.to/2IeZxpF - DAEMIAN: Entre o Bem e o Mal - Isadora C. Lewis: https://amzn.to/2Vvwhof - ALGUM LUGAR: A vida é feita de escolhas - Isadora C. Lewis: https://amzn.to/2JxeCW5 - SENTENÇA DE VIDA: Vítima e Sobrevivente - Isadora C. Lewis: https://amzn.to/2He8G2M - BUTTERFLY EFFECT: Sentença de Vida - Isadora C. Lewis: https://amzn.to/3ayjch1 - Nictofilia: livro 1 - Asas Escuras - Yueh Fernandes: https://amzn.to/331ai93 - Céu (Duologia Terra e Céu # 2) - Letícia Black: https://amzn.to/2SXtobl - 10 Razões para te amar - Letícia Black: https://amzn.to/2xb3ji3 - NOBRES PUDORES - Jhyenyfer Cavalcante: https://amzn.to/39Gpb36 - REGNATURI - Sandra Milani Moreira: https://amzn.to/2MJ1LSV - GIOVANNA: LADIES LANSDALE: https://amzn.to/2IuNtAT - ESCOLHAS DO CORAÇÃO: https://amzn.to/31cgtpA - AS IRMÃS CHEVALIER: ESPERANÇA: https://amzn.to/2K5AokY - AS IRMÃS CHEVALIER: DECISÃO: https://amzn.to/2TribS9 - Caminhos de um Templo Egípcio (RELÍQUIA #1) - Gustavo Drago e Nana B. Poetisa: https://amzn.to/2LYb3ez - Agente Galasso (Livro Único) - A. F. Pinheiro: https://amzn.to/2vW3g9j - Noiva por Correspondência: Uma Irmã no Oeste (Romance de Época Puro e Saudável) - (Ficção para Mulheres Literatura para Adultos Casamento Faroeste) - Angela K. West: https://amzn.to/2FkDo8Z - Audaciosas: Viciadas em prazer - Mysha Whatson: https://amzn.to/32UjWKK - Não Fuja do Amanhã: Thor e Viúva Negra (Coleção Amanhã) - Josy Stoque: https://amzn.to/39sKogY - Uma Rockstar Em Minha Vida - Olívia Molinari: https://amzn.to/2Ihn3Ta - Caminho de Volta - Karla de Luna: https://amzn.to/3ap4Cbw - Brincos de Princesa - Ambra Blanchett: https://amzn.to/31sjDVG - Entregue a Você - Conto - Duda Hernandez: https://amzn.to/2PSySnw - LAÇOS DE AMOR - A REDENÇÃO DE UM HOMEM (livro único) - Dudaah Fonseca: https://amzn.to/2Ic1G62 - PARA AMAR E PROTEGER (Série Os FALCÃO #3) - Dudaah Fonseca: https://amzn.to/2TbP042 - QUANDO EU AMO É SEM LIMITES (livro único) - Dudaah Fonseca: https://amzn.to/31xUnNi - NOSSO ÉDEN (Irmãos Ferrara #1) - Dudaah Fonseca: https://amzn.to/2KsfKdE - ALICERCE DA PAIXÃO (conto) - Dudaah Fonseca: https://amzn.to/2H87vRX - AMBIÇÃO: QUANDO O AMOR FALA MAIS ALTO (Conto) - Dudaah Fonseca: https://amzn.to/2KBqYwz - Agatha Leblanc - Fernando B. Neves: https://amzn.to/2wDAAlC - Olhos Fechados - Luísa Aranha: https://amzn.to/2PMYguW - Apenas o nada - Luísa Aranha: https://amzn.to/2jM9uCO - Uma Nova Chance - Elana Moreira: https://amzn.to/3czf2aw - Lady Anne (Série Single Ladies #2) - A.J. Ventura: https://amzn.to/39sIYmE - Assunto Delicado - Mithiele Rodrigues: https://amzn.to/3cEFsaG - Quando vi, era amor - Mithiele Rodrigues: https://amzn.to/2RrROZQ - Aaron (Série Golden Blood #1) - Gilmara Quadros: https://amzn.to/2ZnhYUV - Carolinas: Uma garota, um segredo e uma escolha - Fábia Barbosa: https://amzn.to/2HPOvaI - A Filha do Dr. Pena de Morte: Uma história de amor, perdão e luta pela liberdade. - Stefen Moonwalker: https://amzn.to/2vK4JQn - A Chave de Andrómeda - Pedro Elias: https://amzn.to/2TD863z - Janelas entre dois Mundos: Os Caminhos do Graal e a Histórias Oculta de Portugal - Pedro Elias: https://amzn.to/2PMTH3K - Reflexões Espirituais para uma Nova Terra - Pedro Elias: https://amzn.to/2Ila8jv - Murmúrios de um Tempo Anunciado - Pedro Elias: https://amzn.to/2VJAjs5 - O Caderno de Sangue - Remi Berenguer: https://amzn.to/2ItTRLn - Entre Ninjas e Cavaleiros: Crônicas do Tigre Guerreiro Vol. 1 - De: JP Netuno: https://amzn.to/39FNoqF - Online - Start: Livro I - Felipe Martins: https://amzn.to/38zXmsg - A Corporação (Crônicas de Guerra e Sangue #1) - Felipe Martins: https://amzn.to/2vyunrj - Escrito em Sangue Frio - Tassi Viebrantz: https://amzn.to/2PC05un - Mostre-me Suas Veias (Transmutação #0) - Tassi Viebrantz: https://amzn.to/38ubT8P - Dois dias em Bath - Cara Macaddie: https://amzn.to/2Tu1DZH - Apenas Uma Vez: Foi o Suficiente - Grazi Fontes: https://amzn.to/2O20oyy - Alriet: Quando O Amor Acontece - Grazi Fontes: https://amzn.to/2VjfMZ2 - A Vingança do Sapatinho - Eduarda Rozemberg: https://amzn.to/2VP75YK - A Vitória Está Logo Ali - Eduarda Rozemberg: https://amzn.to/2wBh6Oz - William (Depressão #1) - Karla Nunes: https://amzn.to/2KEl1i8

[designondeck]

2017 PENNANT BOX BREAK - PACK 4

80. Ryan Braun 36. Hunter Pence 275. Didi Gregorius 70. Nolan Arenado 66. Kyle Seager 172. Luis Perdomo 274. Max Kepler 208. A.J. Ramos 271. J.D. Martinez TD2. Manny Machado/Bryce Harper - Throwdown

Pack 4 brings the return of the Throwdown insert featured in the 2013 edition of Pennant. Again, this brings together players from rival teams, be it divisional or geographical. Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are an example of the latter with the Orioles and Nationals occupying the same basic market. I wonder what the odds are they’ll end up teammates in New York after next season.

[majorleaguefantasysports]

Is There Baseball in Florida in 2017? The MadProf Tries to Avoid Florida Man

Is There Baseball in Florida in 2017? The MadProf Tries to Avoid Florida Man

Baseball and the Marlins suffered a terrible loss in 2016 with the death of Jose Fernandez.  He was a quality player who, when on, could legitimately claim to rival Kershaw. South Floridians will be awaiting the publication of the 2017 Fantasy Football guides a bit less eagerly than their West Coast buds up in Tampa.  As noted last week, the Team Formerly Known as Satan’s Rays has some glimmers…

[thasportsjunkies101]

Prospect Profiles: Miami Marlins

MLB A look at the farm system of the Miami Marlins After finishing the season with a 79-82 record, the Miami Marlins entered the off-season with some questions. One of those questions arose when young and budding star Jose Fernandez was tragically killed in a boating accident in September. The loss of their ace prompted the Marlins to sign Edinson Volquez to a two-year deal this off-season. It is…

[goalhofer]

Last MLB Player To Wear Each Jersey Number: Philadelphia

1: Jose Cardenal (1978-79)(retired for Donald Ashburn 1979)

2: Jean Segura (2019-present)

3: Bryce Harper (2019-present)

4: Scott Kingery (2018-present)

5: Billy Williams (2017-present)

6: Ryan Howard (2004-16)

7: Maikel Franco (2014-present)

8: Shane Victorino (2005-12)

9: Jesmuel Valentin (2018)

10: J.T. Realmuto (2019-present)

11: Jimmy Rollins (2001-14)

12: Juan Nicasio (2019-present)

13: Sean Rodriguez (2019-present)

14: Gary Bennett; Jr. (1998-2000)(retired for Jim Bunning 2001)

15: Andrew Knapp (2017-present)

16: Cesar Hernandez (2013-present)

17: Rhys Hoskins (2017-present)

18: Pedro Florimon; Jr. (2017-18)

19: Ben Lively (2017-18)

20: Mike Schmidt (1972-89)(retired for Schmidt 1990)

21: Vince Velasquez (2016-present)

22: Andrew McCutchen (2019-present)

23: Jay Bruce (2019-present)

24: Roman Quinn (2018-present)

25: Dylan Cozens (2018-present)

26: Chase Utley (2003-15)

27: Aaron Nola (2015-present)

28: Kevin Correia (2015)

29: Mitch Walding (2018-present)

30: David Robertson (2019-present)

31: Mark Leiter; Jr. (2018)

32: Steve Carlton (1972-86)(retired for Carlton 1989)

33: Brad Miller (2019-present)

34: A.J. Ellis (2016)

35: Col Hamels (2006-15)

36: Robin Roberts (1948-61)(retired for Roberts 1962)

37: Odubel Herrera (2015-present)

38: Jorge Alfaro (2016-18)

39: Adam Morgan (2015-17)

40: Adam Haseley (2019-present)

41: Edgar Garcia (2019-present)

42: Toby Borland (1994-96)(retired league-wide for Jackie Robinson 1997)

43: Nick Pivetta (2017-present)

44: Jake Thompson (2016-18)

45: Pedro Martinez (2009)

46: Adam Morgan (2018-present)

47: Cole Irvin (2019-present)

48: Jerad Eickhoff (2015-present)

49: Jake Arrieta (2018-present)

50: Hector Neris (2014-present)

51: Enyel De Los Santos (2018-present)

52: Jose Alvarez (2019-present)

53: Yacksel Rios (2017-present)

54: Austin Davis (2018-present)

55: Ranger Suarez (2018-present)

56: Zach Eflin (2016-present)

57: Luis Garcia (2013-18)

58: Seranthony Dominguez (2018-present)

59: Mark Leiter; Jr. (2017)

60: Colton Murray (2015-16)

61: Edubray Ramos (2016-present)

62: Patrick Schuster (2016)

63: Drew Anderson (2017-present)

64: Victor Arano (2017-present)

65: J.D. Hammer (2019-present)

66: J.C. Ramirez (2013)

67: Mauricio Robles (2013)

68: Never issued

69: Never issued

70: Arquimedes Gamboa (2019-present)

71: Never issued

72: Dave Coggin (2000)

73: Never issued

74: Ugueth Urbina (2005)

75: Miguel Gonzalez (2014)

76: Never issued

77: Adonis Medina (2019-present)

78: Never issued

79: Justin De Fratus (2011-15)

80: Never issued

81: Never issued

82: Never issued

83: Never issued

84: Never issued

85: Never issued

86: Never issued

87: Never issued

88: Never issued

89: Never issued

90: Never issued

91: Never issued

92: Never issued

93: Pat Neshek (2018-present)

94: Dalier Hinojosa (2015-16)

95: Never issued

96: Tommy Hunter (2018-present)

97: Never issued

98: Never issued

99: Taguchi So (2008)

[cwsdjt]

Free Agent Projections

It has been a minute! I apologize to anyone that reads this blog if I have been off the grid for a bit. Managing grad school with work has filled my schedule. Based on the Twitter poll I ran, I gave people the option, either I complain about Mike Trout getting snubbed for yet another MVP or provide my big ticket free agent projections. The latter won out 80% to 20%. I guess people don’t like hearing me complain. Come on, guys! I’m a White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Illini, and Northwestern fan. Northwestern and the Bears keep me sane right now, but I need to have an outlet some time! I digress. Without further ado, here are my 2018-2019 free agent projections. Unfortunately, Peter Bourjos signed with the Angels already, so I apologize if I wasn’t able to pick that one. I know people were waiting on it.

Josh Donaldson – Cardinals

He has long been connected to the St. Louis Cardinals. I’m going out on no limb here, so I’m going to say he fills that need for the Birds. They need a third baseman. This is a perfect fit for him. Also, they might be able to get somewhat of a bargain for him because he had some shoulder problems last season. If that continues, I don’t know if he’ll be able to bump Matt Carpenter at 1B for the upcoming season.

Patrick Corbin – Yankees

He has already been connected to them. He’s good. The Yankees always spend money. He’s going to end up in their rotation and become a watered down Andy Pettitte.

Andrew McCutchen – Braves

Cutch fits that Braves OF. Nick Markakis is gone. Cutch will play RF. It’s really simple.

Nick Markakis – Angels

The Los Angeles Angels are a nice mediocre team. Here’s a guy they can sign. That’s it. The Angels are the Mets of the AL. They're going to let Ohtani and Trout waste another season.

Charlie Morton - Astros

The Astros need pitching depth. He reformed his career in Houston. This is a perfect match for at least one more season.

Brian McCann - Braves

Reunited and it feels so good. He can platoon with Flowers.

Nelson Cruz – Cardinals

Jose Martinez might get traded. I don’t see him producing at a higher level than last season. He’s also old. However, so is Cruz. The only difference is you can sign Nelson to a short-term deal and hope he produces the way he has been. Just remember, he can still crush. Maybe you can bury him in the outfield somewhere because the NL hasn’t adapted to the 21st century yet.

Daniel Murphy – Dodgers

I have the inclination that the Dodgers will try to trade Brian Dozier. He was AWFUL for them in the second half. He might return a prospect or two, but the Dodgers will then have the ability to free up cap space for this jackass.

Zach Britton – Yankees

The Yanks already have a stacked bullpen, but they also like spending money. Britton is less volatile than Chapman, and Robertson has a shot at returning. I can still see the Yanks spending the money to get Britton back.

Wilson Ramos – Mets

The Mets are the worst run organization in the MLB. They have insane talent on the pitching side, but they also have an awful training staff. What’s a way to fix that and potentially make your team win 77 games next season? Sign a good hitting catcher. Keep Syndergaard and deGrom and maintain your mediocrity.

Yasmani Grandal – Astros

The Astros are losing two hurlers for the 2019 season to free agency and one to injury: Charlie Morton, Dallas Keuchel, and Lance McCullers (RIP). They need a backstop that can manage their pitching staff. They still have Verlander and Cole to headline what was a stacked rotation, but they will need a catcher. Stassi could back him up. Grandal is the best catcher in baseball currently and consistently the best pitch-framer. This is a perfect spot for him because the Astros have an excellent analytics department. I see them also trading some young talent to fill out their rotation (maybe for James Paxton, we’ll see).

Jed Lowrie – Rockies

They free up 2B with LeMahieu leaving, so why not bring in a solid 2B option. He just had a great season with the A’s. I think he fits the Rox perfectly.

D.J. LeMahieu – Cubs

Zobrist is a free agent after 2019. LeMahieu has been with the Cubs before. Reunion? I think yes. This also makes sense if the Cubs move an outfielder or two (i.e. Happ and Schwarber) for some controllable starting pitcher. Since they’re not going to spend like crazy, I can see this move happening.

A.J. Pollock – Astros

Marwin Gonzalez is gone. Pollock can play LF while Springer is in CF. This just makes sense.

Craig Kimbrel – Braves

The Braves are willing to spend. Kimbrel will return to them because he’s good. That is all.

J.A. Happ – Brewers

The Brewers need to shore up that pitching staff because we all know they will not perform like they did this season. Happ is older, but he’s still a solid arm and a perfect fit for a smaller market team that wants to win now.

Cody Allen - Phillies

They need a closer. Allen had a down year in 2018, and the Tribe has Brad Hand. The Phils can take advantage of his market.

Adam Jones - Mets

The Mets are a team I could see signing Jonesy. His sub-.315 didn't do him any favors for free agency, and the Mets need to win those 77 games!

David Robertson – Red Sox

What other way to stick it in the eye of the Yanks than signing one of their former pitchers? Robertson has a history as a closer with the White Sahx. I think he can return to that role with the Red Sawx. He also said he wants to be closer to his home in Rhode Island. This is a change of scenery and right next to Rhode Island (shrug).

Adam Ottavino – Rockies

They want to win. They want their closer. Ottavino was a stud last year. They’ll have to pay him but he’s worth it.

Gio Gonzalez – Cubs

Gio has already been on a Chicago affiliate before, so why not the Cubs? He is a step behind Corbin or Keuchel, so since the Cubs may not want to offer fat money to all of the top guys, Gio’s the next best thing. He also helps fill that rotation out, which was pretty rough last season.

Michael Brantley – Rockies

The Rockies have to improve in some manner. Why not finish your career in a hitter’s ballpark?

Nathan Eovaldi – Red Sox

He pitched well and won a World Series on him. He’s going to get a hefty paycheck because he’s younger than Corbin or Keuchel. Then, he’ll flop. I originally wanted the Sox to get him, but since there are so many teams bargaining for him, I say lay off.

Marwin Gonzalez - A's

They need to sign someone. This is their guy!

Bryce Harper – Phillies

I’ve been saying Bryce to the Phillies since last year, and I will stand by it. In fact, the Phils front office said they’re willing to spend recklessly this offseason. Well, Harper’s going to get paid. It won’t be from the Yankees, Cubs, or Dodgers. It will be the Phillies, who had amongst the worst hitting rosters in the league last year. They do have cap space.

Dallas Keuchel – White Sox

As I said, the White Sox are willing to hopefully spend money. Why not spend it on one of the best pitching arms in the free agent market? Keuchel had a down year by his standards, but that makes him a perfect candidate for pitching coach Don Cooper.

Manny Machado – White Sox

Manny has that south side attitude. Who cares if he sometimes doesn’t run to first or is kind of a dirty player. Did people forget this team had A.J. Pierzynski as their catcher for years? Stop this nonsense. Manny is an incredibly talented player. The White Sox could use a superstar for the first time since Frank Thomas. This is their guy. They’ve been connected to him for a while. Reel in that big fish, Rick Hahn!

The majority of players will go to the competing teams or teams ready to compete. The Winter Meetings are in a few weeks, and this is the hot stove time. I hope the Sox sign Harper, but I think all fans would be satisfied if they got Keuchel and Manny, instead. Go Sox! Jerry needs to spend that $$$.

[cearahoje]

Internet é mimimi

O presidente da República, Jair Bolsonaro (sem partido), decidiu vetar, integralmente, projeto de lei que prevê o acesso à internet, com fins educacionais, a alunos e professores da rede pública de educação. O texto havia sido aprovado em fevereiro pelo Congresso e definia que o Governo Federal destinasse recursos para estados e municípios aplicarem em ações que garantam internet gratuita, em razão da adoção do ensino remoto durante a pandemia de covid-19. Em mensagem aos parlamentares, publicada no Diário Oficial da União de sexta-feira (19), Bolsonaro diz que a medida é inconstitucional e contraria o interesse público ao aumentar a “alta rigidez do orçamento, o que dificulta o cumprimento da meta fiscal e da Regra de Ouro”. Além disso, contraria a Lei de Responsabilidade Fiscal, pois o texto não apresenta a estimativa do respectivo impacto or çamentário e financeiro. “Por fim, o Governo Federal está empregando esforços para aprimorar e ampliar programas específicos para atender à demanda da sociedade, por meio da contratação de serviços de acesso à internet em banda larga nas escolas públicas de educação básica, a exemplo do Programa de Inovação Educação Conectada (Piec), instituído pelo decreto 9.204, de 2017, e do Programa Banda Larga nas Escolas (PBLE), bem como do Programa Brasil de Aprendizagem, em fase de elaboração no Ministério da Educação”, diz a mensagem. O veto ao projeto ainda será analisado pelos parlamentares, que poderão mantê-lo ou derrubá-lo.

Foram-se os trilhos e a paz. Em Martinópole, os vereadores do grupo de oposição estão por um fio. O juiz eleitoral em Granja-CE, Hugo Gutparakis, conduz o processo que poderá acarretar a cassação de todos por fraude eleitoral. Segundo a denúncia do promotor Victor Pinho, do Ministério Público Eleitoral, uma das candidatas serviu apenas para preencher a vaga destinada às mulheres, não concorrendo de fato. A candidatura simulada é crime eleitoral e pode derrubar toda chapa beneficiada pela candidatura fraudulenta.

Visita sobrestada A visita que faria ao Ceará, no fim de semana (28 e 29 deste mês), foi cancelada pelo embaixador de Portugal no Brasil. O fechamento do Estado segurou o senhor Faro Ramos. De partida Então, Zezinho Albuquerque deixa mesmo o PDT, leva Audic e Duquinha e se junta ao bolsonarismo do filho, dele, A.J. Albuquerque? Já deixou a Secretaria das Cidades? Prego não entra em prego O prefeito Bruno Gonçalves, de Aquiraz, aqui ao lado, queria dar ao povo pobre da cidade, 500 reais em duas parcelas de 250, pra aliviar dos perrengues conhecidos. Aí… Os vereadores foram ao meio-fio e disseram que queriam os 500 reais integralmente, por quatro meses. A coisa foi parar na Justiça. Foi então que… A Justiça suspendeu, por liminar, a tramitação do projeto de lei aprovado na Câmara de Aquiraz, que criava o auxílio emergencial na cidade. Nem mel nem cabaça A juíza do caso, Sandra Fernandes, argumenta que vereadores não podem apresentar emendas que elevem gasto público. Opinião do Kotscho “Além de remédios nos hospitais, nos faltam também palavras para descrever o que está se passando no Brasil, neste início de outono de 2021. Nem os napoleões de hospício poderiam criar um cenário mais assustador.”

O post Internet é mimimi apareceu primeiro em O Estado CE.

The post Internet é mimimi first appeared on Ceará Hoje.

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[xclusivecollectables]

2016 Topps A.J. Ramos  Miami Marlins #42 Baseball card   MATV4

This, and many others are from a one owner collection where the cards have gone from pack directly to sleeve. Find More A.J. Ramos Baseball Cards 2016 Topps A.J. Ramos  card that’s a perfect addition to any collection. This, and many others are from a one owner collection where the cards have gone from pack directly to sleeve. Create an account today to join the Beta launch of your site to sell…

[oosteven-universe]

Identity Stunt #2

Identity Stunt #2 Markosia Enterprises 2018 Created & Written by Joe R. Khachadourian Illustrated by J. Briscoe Allison Coloured by Juancho Velez with Timothy Brown Lettered by A.J. Sherkenbach      Previously…     Stuntman Sami “Sam” Nasser is getting a handle on his complicated life, and trying to prevent his best friend, Mason, from self-destructing. Beatdown is Studio City’s notorious—and unhinged—masked vigilante. Psychotic gang lord Dominus Smith loathfully blames Beatdown for his career failures. Now, Smith has publicly—and mistakenly—accused Sam of being Beatdown’s alter ego! Uh Oh! Sam’s ex-wife, Tracy, is freaking out and their daughter, Alyssa, thinks this is freaking cool. And now….     I like the premise here, the whole mistaken identity thing is a kind of classic diversion mess and while Sam is ex-military and is a stuntman and is more than capable of doing what Beatdown does it creates a very interesting spin on this story. As with many who find their service over and are returning to civilian life nothing for Sam has been easy and Tracy divorced him and he’s had to basically pull himself up from his boot straps to have something resembling a normal life again. So throw all this mishegoss into the mix and well let the games begin.     I like the way that this book is structured. Opening with a strong look at Sam coming home and moving into the result of that televised announcement that Sam is Beatdown. Being brought into the station, publicly of course, where police brutality overrides common sense heh yeah and it doesn’t help that Sam is a, how did the Detective put it “Camel Fucker.” Yeah the harsh language and outright bigotry instead of a cop doing his due diligence while something we see or are shown all too often keeps what is happening here strangely current.     The characterisation here from Joe is incredibly strong too and if Sam weren’t a smart-arse he wouldn’t have his face banged into things so much. Still I like it as Joe is establishing some very strong personalities and the way they interact with one another adds elements to the story and fleshes out their personalities in a nice way. There really is something appealing about the way Joe keeps Sam at the centre of attention and having everyone believe he’s Beatdown. Hell even his ex-wife, daughter and best friend believe it’s him so how can he convince those closest to him and then the world they are being misled? It is a nice conundrum if you ask me.     The artwork here is pretty solid. Okay so some characters have this whole Humberto Ramos quality to them but other than those I really like what I'm seeing here. There really is some very nice attention to detail happening and the way we see the varying weights of the linework and most importantly backgrounds make the book come to life. The way page layouts are utilised and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a solid eye for storytelling. Also the colours here are phenomenal! I love the way the lightning effects look and how the lighting they cast is consistently used as a light source.     Mistaken identity taken to the extreme, cops breathing down his neck, supervillains breathing down his front, family and friends wanting to know why he’s kept all this secret yeah this is some exciting stuff. Meanwhile the real Beatdown is still on the loose administering his own brand of vigilante justice. ​     With a great premise, solid story/plot development and crazy good (damn Pop-Tarts commercial) characterisation wrapped up in this exciting almost classic superhero interior artwork showcases that Markosia knows what it takes to make a damn good book!