toolsheds

13 hours ago, MN Transplant said:

Black Friday isn't for shopping, it is for Christmas decorations.

Just saw a commercial for a NFL game on Friday afternoon.....I really miss the days when football was just on Sunday afternoons and Monday night.  

19 hours ago, nw baltimore wx said:

New rule this year.  Last year, definitely a charge. 

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/ncaa-approves-change-to-determining-block-or-charge-calls-and-other-rule-modifications-for-upcoming-season/

This is a close call.  It did look as if the defender was in legal guarding position (LGP) and outside the restrictive circle before Dunn planted to attempt the dunk.  One move by the defender which may have also led to the  "block" charge was the slight lean backwards before the contact occurred.  The lean backwards in anticipation can take you out of LGP and that will sway some officials to call the Block rather than the charge. 

I am only certified for up to high school, but our board and some of the Official sites I use review all types of plays from all levels.  If this one comes up for review, I'll come back with an update. 

8 hours ago, TheClimateChanger said:

 

Is it safe to assume that this is the smell outside this morning? 

Looks like air quality really bad up the I81 corridor too. 

Just checked the temp on the deck.  Down to 40.1.  

8 hours ago, hstorm said:

The main reason for the play-in games is money.  A bunch of meaningless late season games between mediocre teams can be hyped as having playoff implications.  The "less tanking" explanation makes no sense to me.  If you are going to tank for better lottery odds, you are still going to tank irrespective of the carrot of a chance at backing your way into the playoffs as the #10 team in your conference.  

I sent an idea to the NBA about 6 years ago which would help avoid tanking.  Instead of having the crap lottery where nobody sees the actual lottery until they put the teams in the envelopes, they could have a tournament to decide who gets the top pick.  Every team who misses the playoffs is in the tournament.  If you win, you get the first pick, come in second, you get the second pick, etc.....

This would force the teams who tank to have to play to get the first pick and give those teams fighting for a playoff spot the change for it as well.  It would also give a few more games to those non-playoff teams and give their fans something to pull for even though their team can't win a title. It's not the perfect solution, but takes the opportunity for the NBA to just give the first pick to whoever they want to, which is probably what happens now.

2 hours ago, vastateofmind said:

LOL. I've seen TWO completely black wooly bear caterpillars in the last several days...after having seen NO all black ones in any of my earlier days. I mean, c'mon...at this point, it IS a portent.   

Saw this beaut the other day.  

53 minutes ago, MN Transplant said:

I couldn't really comprehend how this was going to look until the first real concerts.  Insane.

These were still shots.  Here is a video I found on youtube of most of the concert.  Take a quick watch to see how some of the moving  visuals looked....It really brings a new experience to a concert...almost like wearing a VR headset. 

Pics from the U2 Show...

I was in Vegas over the weekend for a Wedding and had a blast.  It was in the 90s on Thur. and Fri., but didn't even hit 80 o Sat or Sun...kind of chilly. 

I was also very fortunate to get last minute tickets to see U2 at Sphere.   It was an amazing show and I'll post pics when I get some time tomorrow.

1 hour ago, nw baltimore wx said:

We likely caught a break playing that four game series against the Rays as they were finishing up their own 17 straight game stretch. The difference though is their pitching depth. They are better equipped for that kind of schedule.

I wish that the O’s had addressed the pitching a little more at the trade deadline. Flaherty hasn’t been good, but maybe he can offer us some long relief today. Means can’t, or shouldn’t go more than 80 pitches. And hopefully we get a quality start from Gibson tomorrow.

Does it seem that they are relying on matchups when playing the relievers?  Too many times you see a guy come in for the 6th, and handle the order with no issues to only to face 3 batters.  maybe they should let them stay to start the next inning would allow them to conserve some of the arms.  I didn't play baseball past the 7th grade, but think I know enough about the sport to think that the revolving door from the bullpen could be causing this issue. 

Basketball is starting up slowly.  I have a Referee gig in District Heights on Sat morning and one in New Windsor Sat evening.   Good timing with the rain. 

15 minutes ago, Chris78 said:

I really wish the Os would stop trotting Flaherty out there every 6th say. 2 weeks left in the season. Put him in the bull pen as your Long man. Go with Bradish, Means, kremer, Rodriguez and Gibson.

 

Flaherty hasn't given the Os a chance to win since he's first start back at the beginning of August 

The trade has pretty much been a disaster 

Did you hear Hyde selling him as an extra bat last night?   He was making all of those switches and mentioned that they were 7 spots from the DH, which they subbed out.  Flaherty would have batted if necessary since he batted in the past and was decent for a pitcher. 

9 hours ago, 87storms said:

I never really considered Rodgers a bad dude...maybe I've missed some of the news about him.  Kevin Porter Jr., on the other hand, is not a good dude.  Talk about throwing a career away.  He recently signed a contract, too...which will likely get voided assuming the NBA's investigation confirms the reports.

He has had issues almost every year going back to college. It's a shame that this had to happen before he gets his due. 

Prayers for those affected by the earthquake in Morocco.

31 minutes ago, vastateofmind said:

We saw similar cloud/potential contrail phenomena on at least two occasions on our trip across the southwest U.S. over the past two weeks....once in Oklahoma, and again in the Grand Canyon area. It was...weird/interesting.

The flight Path to BWI from the west usually takes the flights from here to about 5 miles north towards Taylorsville as the approach the area to land at BWI.  It makes sense that it is plane related, but so odd, almost like a plane carved that specific cloud right in half. 

Does this look like a contrail shadow on the thin cloud layer, or could the Jet have "dissected" the cloud.  If you zoom in, it really doesn't seem to be a shadow.  

Any way...I thought it was interesting and would share. 

I think the trough is weakening, which might allow it to move closer to the coast.  I am no expert, but that is what I gathered from the run. 

3 hours ago, mattie g said:

New HVAC getting installed today. Was nice and cool this morning, but it's starting to get a little toasty up in here.

Supposed to have mine installed as well, but they asked to push back a few days.  Looks like now it won't be until next week. 

19 minutes ago, H2O said:

Back in my day we had no ac so not only did we have to go to school but we also had to shovel coal into the boilers they ran to cook lunches and make hot water for the insane asylum next door.  

I remember sweating our a$$e$ off in elementary and middle school.  They would open the large windows in the old buildings if the wood panes didn't stick, but all that did was let the flies come in and bother us.  

We also had a 2nd recess back then, maybe to get the stink out of the classroom for a little bit.....:-)

25 minutes ago, EastCoast NPZ said:

I've already got the sprinklers running.

I watered the flowers about an hour ago as well :-)

14 hours ago, CAPE said:

My dream concert, even though they would never tour together: Killers + Strokes

Saw the strokes with the Chili Peppers this spring.  My daughter is an older soul and loves that music.