Thursday, December 22, 2005
Home Run Statistics – Going Going Gone.
This was written prior to the 2005 season
The home run. One of sports grandest sights. Whether it is a line drive that barely clears the wall or a pop up that glances off the foul pole. Or if it’s a shot that goes 40 rows back. It is still a home run. We love to see ‘em.
Here are some of the great home run hitters. I have categorized these home run hitters in a particular way that I thought you might like. These statistics include the 2004 season.
Most 50 or more home run seasons
Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire – 4 seasons each Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Alex Rodriguez, Jimmy Foxx Ralph Kiner and Ken Griffey Jr – 2 season each
Most 40 or more home run seasons
Babe Ruth – 12 seasons Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Harmon Killabrew – 8 seasons each Ken Griffey Jr., Sammy Sosa – 7 seasons each Willie Mays, Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez 6 seasons each
Most 30 home runs seasons
Hank Aaron – 15 seasons Babe Ruth – 14 seasons Barry Bonds, Mike Schmidt – 13 seasons each Mark McGwire, Jimmy Foxx – 12 seasons each Frank Robinson, Willie Mays – 11 seasons each
The following four players had 10 seasons each: Harmon Killabrew, Lou Gehrig, Fred McGriff, Rafael Palmeiro
The following seven players had 9 seasons each: Mickey Mantle, Manny Ramirez, Mike Piazza, Eddie Mathews, Tony Perez, Jim Thome, Jeff Bagwell
The following five players had 8 seasons each: Alex Rodriguez, Ted Williams, Frank Thomas Mel Ott, Albert Belle
The following seven players had 7 seasons each: Ernie Banks, Joe DiMaggio, Juan Gonzalez Gary Sheffield, Dave Kingman, Willie McCovey Reggie Jackson
Some Home Run Facts
Between Ted Williams, Stan Musial and Joe Dimaggio 1357 home runs were hit. Between the three of them they had two 40 home run seasons.
When Joe DiMaggio hit 46 home runs in 1937 he struck out 37 times.
Fred Lynn hit 23 home runs four years in a row.
Duke Snider had five 40 home run seasons – all in a row.
Hank Aaron hit 44 home runs four different seasons, He wore uniform number 44.
Basketball - 8 Power-Dribbling Drills
Most children first learn to crawl, then walk, and finally to run. Basketball requires players to not only effectively move their feet, but also to maneuver a basketball. Basketball players first learn to dribble the basketball with one hand, then to alternate hands, and progressively to increase to more advanced dribbling. As a basketball player, a powerful and effective way to keep defenders on their toes and increase your threat as an offensive player is to develop an agile and quick dribbling technique. The power dribble can do this.
A basic power dribble is when you dribble the ball at a very intense rate. Maintain your normal form and posture. Use your muscles to thrust the ball forcefully down, and then expect the ball to quickly bounce back to your hand.
The drills described below will help you gain confidence and agility to handle a basketball in a power dribble. These drills will help you run a fast break, cut through the defensive, and outmaneuver your opponents.
1. Power crossovers - Power dribble in your right hand, then quickly bounce the ball to your left hand. Power dribble with your left for a few seconds before bouncing the ball back to your right hand.
2. Dribble blindfolded - Wrap a cloth around your head as a blindfold, or you could simply close your eyes...no peeking. Power dribble a ball for at least 60 seconds. This drill helps you enhance your tactile sense of the ball. You can enhance the drill by performing it in the center of a deserted basketball court, walking around while dribbling. To make the drill even more challenging, try power dribbling two balls, one in each hand, while being blindfolded and slowly walking around a deserted basketball court.
3. 10-5 repeats - This drill exercises power dribbling with one hand at a time. Choose which hand your would like to practice. Power dribble for 10 seconds, then soft dribble for 5 seconds. Repeat multiple times. This exercise teaches your arm muscles how to alternate between various dribbling speeds that occur during game play.
4. Dribble between legs while walking - In order to do this drill you will need a segment of floor, such as a basketball court floor, a street's sidewalk, or a wide hallway that is deserted. Power dribble while walking up and down the walkway. Power dribble the ball between your legs to practice fancy dribbling skills. To enhance the drill, perform the drill at a quicker walking pace, maybe at a light jogging pace.
5. Double ball power dribbling - Power dribble two balls, one in each hand. This will increase your arm strength for dribbling and enhance your dribbling control. Since you can't look at both hands at the same time, this drill will also practice your ability to power dribble without looking at the ball.
6. Power dribbling sprints - This drill requires you to power dribble for an extended period of time and run back and forth on the basketball court. Stand at one end of a basketball court. Dribble to the nearest foul line, then return to the baseline. Dribble to the middle of the court, then return to the baseline from which you started. Dribble to the farthest foul line, then return to the baseline from which you started. Finally, dribble the entire length of the court, and return to the baseline from which you started. This entire continuous power dribbling exercise counts as one complete cycle of the drill. Repeat multiple times to practice your dribbling, speed, and direction-changing abilities.
7. 3-chair dribbling - Set up 3 chairs or cones in a line, spacing each chair/cone 10 feet apart. Power dribble around the chairs/cones in different shapes, such as figure-eights, circles, or any shape. Use your imagination.
8. Dirt dribbling - This drill actually requires you to leave the basketball court and find a patch of dirt. Power dribble on the dirt for a minute or two. You will need to power dribble the ball even harder than usual in order to get the ball to bounce on the dirt. This drill is an extremely good arm workout with power dribbling.
Start with just a few of these exercises, and then expand your workouts to include more drills. You can also modify the drills to be more challenging by increasing the number of repetitions or slightly modifying the drill. The key is to vary your routines and have fun with them. By practicing the power dribble, you will greatly improve your dribbling.
Jujitsu: History, Philosophy And Methods
Brief History:
Jujitsu is a 2500 year old unarmed combat discipline that has its roots in ancient Japan. The exact date on the creation of this martial art form is hard to trace but techniques resembling that of Jujitsu had already been incorporated into the training methods of the Samurai, from the 8th to the 6th centuries. Earliest Japanese historical records such as the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan) also have passages related to unarmed combat systems.
Before this Japanese martial art developed into what we know as Jujitsu today, there were many other Japanese combat techniques such as Kogusoku, yawara, kumiuchi, and hakuda etc, also collectively known as Sengoku Jujutsu. Traditions finally gave rise to the modern Nihon Jujutsu we know today, which is classified under Edo Jujutsu – the true unarmed Japanese combat system.
Jujitsu gained prominence during the reign of Tokugawa in the 1600s but was soon alienated when Emperor Melse regained power. However, towards the mid-20th century, the ban on Jujitsu in Japan was lifted, following the Meiji restoration, and the combat art form began to be widely practiced.
The Philosophy:
Jujitsu revolves around three basic states of mind – Zanshin, Mushin and Fudoshin. The proper combination of these elements gave the power, preparation and potential to the practitioner to excel in the Jujitsu art.
1. Zanshin – “remaining spirit” – connotes the readiness for anything at any given time.
2. Mushin – “no mind” – Its spontaneity permits instantaneous action without conscious thought.
3. Fudoshin - "immovable mind" –during times of confrontation.
Basic Methods:
Jujitsu is a circular, hard and soft, external combat style. The basic techniques of attacks includes throws, locks, hitting and striking, thrusting and punching, pinning and immobilizing, strangling and joint-locking, with strong emphasis on throws, locks, and defensive techniques. In-fighting and close work are also focused upon.
Even though Jujitsu is basically an unarmed fighting system, small weapons like the Jitte (truncheon), Tanto (knife), or Kakushi Buki (hidden weapons), which include the Ryofundo Kusari (weighted chain) or the Bankokuchoki (a type of knuckle-duster) may also be used in combat.
Competition Systems:
Conventional Jujitsu can be dangerous, or maybe even fatal if its fundamental techniques were to be applied. So, in order to make the art a safer sport for the competitive arena, systems and rules have to be introduced. That is why most of the competition methods have incorporated “Half-contact”, which prohibits serious attempts to knock out an opponent.
1. The Fighting System: This is the most popular method, divided into three phases. The first is for striking only, the second for striking, grappling and throwing, and the third includes ground-fighting such as chokeholds.
2. The Practical System: According to this rule, two defenders are surrounded by four attackers from four corners. Highest points go to the best defender judged upon effectiveness, oversight and control of the situation.
3. The Duo System: In this system, contestants are randomly chosen and awarded points for effective defences. The attacks are divided into four groups of five attacks each.
4. Combat Jujitsu: The most recent system developed in the United States. Victory in the competition is based on submission. The combat round between the two opponents lasts for not more than two minutes.
Friday, December 16, 2005
They are the devices that are helpful in getting the purest form of waters in domestic and commercial usage. They are Ideal for allergy sufferer’s .The distillers are widely used in laboratories, pharmacies, hospitals, doctors and surgeries. When they are filled with distilled waters they make 4 liters of distilled water in approximately 5 hours.
Steam distilled water: These are the purest form of water. A water distiller takes in nature's process of evaporation and condensation in a chamber, leaving all impurities after such as inorganic minerals, chemicals etc.
The Distillation procedure takes off waterborne contaminants, which are furnished such as:
Viruses
Bacteria
Organic and inorganic chemicals
Toxic metals (including fluoride)
Volatile gases
Cysts and other contaminants
The distilled waters are free from inorganic minerals of any kind and hence they are the best cleansing agents the body can always have. Distilled water is always necessary for making colloidal silver.
Under desalination, water flows through a membrane having salty side at one end and unsalted side at other end. Only giving pressure to can do this process the water at the membranes salty side. This is for two reasons. First, removal of natural osmotic pressure and second one is creating extra pressure on the water column then only water is pushed through the membrane.
The Requirement of pressure for desalination of seawater is 50-60 bars. Reverse osmosis a specific process, which is proved. Electro dialysis, distillation and ion exchange are some of the techniques are Used for water desalination.
