tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114950762024-02-03T10:30:45.531-08:00Ace's TakeThis is Aceyou's blog. I rant and rave here whenever I get ticked off....I get ticked off a lot...
Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.comBlogger1230125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-32895515862332721442022-04-13T17:26:00.004-07:002022-04-13T18:57:22.083-07:00So, I'll never order from this pizza place again - if you care about how they treat new employees, then you won't either<p>Well, my 28 year old daughter just took a second part-time job 2 weeks ago. She's a single mom, struggling to make ends meet. She's a hard-worker, willing to learn new things and puts in extra effort because, well, that's what she does at work.</p><p>She currently works a closing shift 4 days a week at a well known discount retailer - almost 1 year now. However, she needed a 2nd job because, well, most of these retail joints won't let you work 20 or more hours a week because they don't want to pay benefits. She needed more money to pay the bills.</p><p>But, in general, they treat her well and with respect. They appreciate her hard work and she gets along great with her co-workers, managers, and customers.</p><p>None of which prepared her for the nightmare she just experienced at her new job, at a local pizza place here in town.</p><p>She got offered the job during her first interview - right after she just walked in and handed them a resume. She already had experience at two other pizza parlors in town, so, she knows what to do and how it works.</p><p>Or she thought she did until she went to this place.</p><p>You ever see the Paul Newman movie, Cool Hand Luke?</p><p>Remember the ditch digging scene, where one guard told him to get the dirt out of the warden's hole, then after digging it out, the other guard told him to put the dirt back in? This went on back and forth until an exhausted Newman was struck with a guard's baton and knocked out. (Here's a YouTube link if you haven't seen it.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0uuberh8Xks" width="320" youtube-src-id="0uuberh8Xks"></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">YouTube: Cool Hand Luke Ditch Digging Scene</span></p><p>Now, although there wasn't any physical violence, that's about what happened to my daughter. </p><p>After only 1 week and 1 day on the job, she was forced to quit in tears after the abhorrent ways that her shift manager, the shop owner, and her fellow employees treated her.</p><p>For example, she was told to make and stack 12 pizza boxes by one manager. So, she did that, only to be screamed at by another manager for not making 15 boxes. In front of the other employees. And in front of the customers in the store!</p><p>She was told her duties included cleaning the bathrooms whenever there were no customers - she worked the 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. shift, so there were down times after lunch. So, last Monday during a down time with no customers, she went into the men's bathroom and started cleaning a urinal. A customer came in the store. Rather than ask my daughter to come out and help the customer, she was loudly berated by the manager for not being at her post when the customer arrived!</p><p>And once again, she was screamed at in front of her co-workers and the customer!</p><p>A short while later, the owner came in and asked what was going on. My daughter tried to explain she was getting conflicting instructions from everyone in charge and just wanted to know what she was supposed to do, that she couldn't be in two places at once. And asked why she was being criticized for doing exactly what she was told to do. And how could they set up better communications between them. She was angrily told by the owner, "Well you'll just have to figure it out! The customer always comes first!" </p><p style="text-align: left;">My daughter was in tears. She could not believe how she was being talked down to and mistreated!</p><p style="text-align: left;">And her co-workers were not exactly any help to her either. They just stood there and watched!</p><p>I think it's pretty obvious why the job my daughter took was available in the first place. If those guys had said that to me, they'd be out cold on the floor covered in pizza sauce and melted cheese. But my daughter is barely 5 feet tall, so that wasn't going to happen.</p><p>She did the next best thing though. She told them that no one, nobody, is going to treat her with such disrespect on a job, especially as a new hire.</p><p>So she quit. Walked right out the door. Screw' em!</p><p>Right now, I'm thinking about what to do about these scumbags, other than just give my daughter some support until she finds another 2nd job. Maybe I'll use Yelp and put a real negative review about them and give some details. Maybe some of my paisano's and I will show up and go all Italian on them! Or maybe we'll set up a picket line in front of the store. I dunno. Let's just say I get more pissed the more I think about it.</p><p>I won't name the pizza joint. Oh hell, I'll give a hint. Look toward the end of the alphabet - maybe you can figure it out!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-73134444717725326402022-04-11T10:13:00.001-07:002022-04-11T20:48:29.730-07:00Russian citizens - your government is lying to you about Ukraine; Putin and his generals are war criminals<p>I hope that this gets through to Russian citizens somehow. I hope they don't get punished for accessing this information. My Blogger stats show that my posts are, indeed, getting read by some in Russia.</p><p>You are being lied to by your leaders. You are being lied to by your media. You are even being lied to by your fellow citizens, who have fallen for the lies BECAUSE YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS BLOCKED ACCESS TO WORLDWIDE MEDIA THAT TELLS THE TRUTH!!!</p><p>Why are you believing such nonsense from your leaders? </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gP4zTgrDdCU" width="320" youtube-src-id="gP4zTgrDdCU"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Russian Bucha killings, train station attack</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Video Credit: CBC/Radio-Canada</span></p><p>Almost every country in the world has imposed sanctions on your country because of the illegal, immoral, and insane invasion of Ukraine by your power mad leader Putin and his bloodthirsty, inhumane generals.</p><p>Innocent Ukrainian citizens are being slaughtered every day under the orders of Putin and his generals. Apartment buildings, theaters, even a train station in Kramatorsk with hundreds of citizens attempting to flee the country to escape the war was destroyed, killing dozens of more people, including children!</p><p>A few days ago, the United Nations voted to suspend Russia from its Human Rights Council because of "...gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights committed by Russian troops in Ukraine."</p><p>Ukrainian citizens have been killed, tortured, raped, kidnapped, robbed, buried in massive, unmarked graves, shot and killed while riding bicycles, set on fire and burned... All of these have been reported on by the world's media and witnessed in real time. Yet, your leaders say they were "staged" by the Ukranians, that they are "false" news reports. </p><p>What your leaders say is absolute bullshit!!!</p><p>Your leaders are war criminals. They are committing atrocities against mankind not seen since World War 2!</p><p>I have no reason to lie to you. I make absolutely no money from this blog. I'm retired. </p><p><br /></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-60554570576825258352022-03-24T12:57:00.003-07:002022-03-24T12:57:51.574-07:00Arnold's message to Russian citizens Actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently released a powerful video decrying Putin's illegal war in Ukraine. <div><br /></div><div>Here it is for all of you who haven't seen it yet.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g7nf5jYa26g" width="320" youtube-src-id="g7nf5jYa26g"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>If this gets through to Russia, please leave a comment below.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-77216279552577615462022-03-20T20:07:00.000-07:002022-03-20T20:07:02.029-07:00Russian journalist Marina Ovsyannikova continues her protest against Russian lies about the invasion of Ukraine<p>I cut and pasted the following from YahooNews in the event that Russia has prevented access to Yahoo in order to continue it's shameful blockade of the truth from its citizens.</p><p>To all Russian citizens who may be reading this - Putin and his cronies are war criminals - they are lying to you!!!</p><header class="caas-header" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: 0px 0px 10px; width: 799px;"><header class="caas-title-wrapper" style="margin: 0px 0px 32px; padding-bottom: 10px;"><h1 data-test-locator="headline" style="color: #232a31; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Russian TV protester Marina Ovsyannikova: </span></h1><h1 data-test-locator="headline" style="color: #232a31; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">State propaganda 'becoming more and more distorted'</span></h1></header></header><div><div class="caas-attr author" style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 20px;"><a class="link rapid-noclick-resp caas-attr-logo" data-rapid_p="6" data-ylk="elm:icon;slk:Colin Campbell" href="https://www.yahoo.com/author/colin-campbell" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; height: 40px; margin-right: 12px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: middle; width: 40px;" title=""><img alt="Colin Campbell" class="caas-img" data-src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ErQIRRo2ueN3myhs9VB02g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTgwO2g9ODA-/https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2020-11/aa90a680-3332-11eb-b9fe-900190cd5f7c" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ErQIRRo2ueN3myhs9VB02g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTgwO2g9ODA-/https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2020-11/aa90a680-3332-11eb-b9fe-900190cd5f7c" style="border-radius: 48%; border: none; height: 40px; left: 0px; max-width: none; min-height: 1px; object-fit: cover; position: absolute; top: 20px; transform: translateY(-50%); vertical-align: bottom; width: 40px;" /></a><div class="caas-attr-meta" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 1.385em; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="caas-attr-item-author" style="line-height: 1.5; position: relative;"><span class="caas-author-byline-collapse" id="m-3"><a class="link rapid-noclick-resp" data-rapid_p="7" data-ylk="elm:author;slk:Colin Campbell" href="https://www.yahoo.com/author/colin-campbell" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">Colin Campbell</a></span><div class="caas-attr-item" style="display: inline-block;"><span class="caas-attr-meta-separator" style="padding: 0px 10px;">·</span>Managing Editor</div></div><div class="caas-attr-time-style" style="color: #828c93; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1; padding-top: 5px;"><time class="" datetime="2022-03-20T15:22:26.000Z">Sun, March 20, 2022, 8:22 AM</time></div></div></div><div class="caas-attr-separator" style="height: 8px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 20px; width: 300px;"><div class="separator" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) transparent transparent; border-style: solid; border-width: 8px 3px 0px 0px; display: inline-block; width: 231px;"></div><div class="separator-ext" style="border-color: transparent transparent rgb(255, 211, 51); border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 9px 3px; display: inline-block; margin-left: 10px; width: 30px;"></div></div></div><div class="caas-body" style="padding-right: 79.8906px;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Yahoo Sans", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.385em; line-height: 1.8; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em;">Russian journalist <a class="link rapid-noclick-resp yahoo-link" data-rapid_p="8" data-ylk="slk:Marina Ovsyannikova's decision to publicly protest;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" href="https://news.yahoo.com/marina-ovsyannikova-ukraine-protest-russia-court-180127480.html" style="background-color: transparent; color: #188fff; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Marina Ovsyannikova's decision to publicly protest</a> against her country's <a class="link rapid-noclick-resp yahoo-link" data-rapid_p="9" data-ylk="slk:invasion of Ukraine;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/kyiv-mayor-vitali-klitschko-says-hes-ready-to-give-his-life-to-save-ukraine-174818120.html" style="background-color: transparent; color: #188fff; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">invasion of Ukraine</a> didn't come easy, she recalled in an ABC News interview released Sunday.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Yahoo Sans", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.385em; line-height: 1.8; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em;">"As soon as the war began, I could not eat. I could not sleep," Ovsyannikova said in Russian, according to ABC's translation.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Yahoo Sans", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.385em; line-height: 1.8; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em;">Ovsyannikova, an employee of the state-run Channel One, said she contemplated going to a street protest against the war, but the prospect of spending years in jail convinced her to make a more public statement.</p><div class="twitter-tweet-wrapper" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Yahoo Sans", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 550px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1505539379850354689" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3NrZWxldG9uX2xvYWRpbmdfMTMzOTgiOnsiYnVja2V0IjoiY3RhIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19zcGFjZV9jYXJkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9mZiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1505539379850354689&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fpeople-convoy-gets-hilariously-trolled-153021181.html&sessionId=3b5ce7f20abbab9fdba1885fd528a9ba90fc4847&siteScreenName=YahooNews&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2582c61%3A1645036219416&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 672px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="Twitter Tweet"></iframe></div></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Yahoo Sans", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.385em; line-height: 1.8; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em;">The news editor ultimately decided to interrupt her own channel's live evening news broadcast, walking across the set with a sign reading “no war” and “Russians against the war.”</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Yahoo Sans", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.385em; line-height: 1.8; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em;">In Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has an iron grip on power, and his critics often wind up killed or in jail, this was a risky protest. The Russian government recently passed a law threatening up to 15 years of jail time for publishing news that runs counter to the Kremlin's war messaging, which denies that a "war" is even taking place. She has already been arrested and fined, and she is <a class="link rapid-noclick-resp yahoo-link" data-rapid_p="10" data-ylk="slk:reportedly being investigated;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" href="https://news.yahoo.com/russian-state-tv-employee-fined-175240322.html" style="background-color: transparent; color: #188fff; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">reportedly being investigated</a> under the new draconian censorship law.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Yahoo Sans", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.385em; line-height: 1.8; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em;">"This protest was a spontaneous decision for me to go out live on air, but dissatisfaction with the current situation has been accumulating for many years, because the propaganda on our state channels was becoming more and more distorted," Ovsyannikova said Sunday. "And the pressure that has been applied in Russian politics could not leave us indifferent. When I spoke to my friends and colleagues, everyone, until the last moment, could not believe that such a thing could happen, that this gruesome war could take place."</p><div><br /></div><div class="caas-readmore caas-readmore-collapse" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; display: inline-block; font-family: "Yahoo Sans", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: -75px 0px 10px; width: 719.109px;"></div></div>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-90733396753820708382022-03-19T14:02:00.004-07:002022-03-19T14:10:57.696-07:00Is this why Russia is labeling everything "Z" ?<p>I dunno...given Putin's purposeful repression of honest news about the war, do you think he's also trying to brainwash his citizens by misappropriating the theme of the 1969 classic film "Z" to justify his invasion of Ukraine? Is this why the letter "Z" is emblazoned on tanks, trucks, uniforms, and just about everything else?</p><p><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_(1969_film)?fbclid=IwAR19mjUACCL96XSYait2RPrA6VBCY_wZ2PXdLilxXPhUZszqgJOct4ksub8" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Z (1969 film about government corruption)</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/80/CostaGavrasZ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="217" height="300" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/80/CostaGavrasZ.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-74923705250438620022022-03-18T13:02:00.000-07:002022-03-18T13:02:07.661-07:00Russian citizens - Vladimir Putin is a madman, a war criminal, and is killing innocent Ukranian civilians, including women, children, and pregnant mothers to be.<p>Hi there...I haven't posted in awhile, sort of lost interest, busy doing other things. But, I just realized something and thought maybe this might help.</p><p>I was reviewing my site's visit data and discovered that, according to Google, I've had over 6,000 views of this blog from inside of Russia!!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Russian_bombing_of_Mariupol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="758" height="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Russian_bombing_of_Mariupol.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Russian bombing of Mariupol, Ukraine</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: Mvs.gov.ua, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons</span></p><p>Now as all of you non-Russians know, the country's madman of a leader, Vladimir Putin, has started a war in Ukraine for no damn good reason. He's killing civilians, targeting apartment buildings and food lines, maternity hospitals, and just bombed a theater that was providing shelter for hundreds of children! So far, reports are that over 100 have emerged from that rubble, but over 1,000 more are still trapped and unaccounted for.</p><p>If you are Russian and reading this, trust me - YOUR STATE CONTROLLED MEDIA IS LYING TO YOU!!!!!! </p><p>PUTIN IS A WAR CRIMINAL - every non-Russian country in the world agrees with me. We see videos of the destruction and murders every day. The lies Putin is telling you are untrue! He is deceiving you! He is a madman and must be stopped!</p><p>I don't know if Putin and his cronies have stopped access to Blogger or not. But if they haven't, and you are reading this, please know that I am speaking the truth. I have absolutely no reason to lie to you! </p><p>I'm not making any money off of this blog - hell, Google won't even monetize my site for me because they say it's not newsworthy!</p><p>On a personal level, I have met several Russian citizens in my life - I've always had fun with them and enjoyed their company. The western world has no hatred for you. The western world is not trying to destroy or invade your country. All of the reasons Putin has given you are lies. There are no neo-Nazis controlling Ukraine. NATO does not want to invade Russia. </p><p>IT'S ALL BULLSHIT!!!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-70345353568392222162021-02-26T10:43:00.001-08:002021-02-26T10:43:53.006-08:00No tennis or pickleball doubles in Purple Tier starting today, unless....<p>As I <a href="https://aceyou.blogspot.com/2021/02/california-issues-new-restrictions-for.html?fbclid=IwAR1DwNVP2oeOkJIhF8QNFcG3AZpRxEGCzPNoMpzh9QDk3ExzCH8IbW9nzfA" target="_blank">noted in an earlier post</a>, the California Department of Public Health recently issued a new order that limits tennis and pickleball to singles only in COVID19 Purple Tier counties in the state. Ace has been discussing this with the SoCal USTA - they've been releasing new schedules for doubles tourneys and leagues recently. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihN4WXGLK8zGe282o_lXfoeu_a4TyVoev9NRk2lTFV6e6QPyKRXtOuUbUI1er4rwZbqv1cZ-pvdyWZPIxnWSyW96_FVsuTSk6qmnAmNROUt131EeRt-cP9T2qw69PJzOMQEhKPow/s805/backhand3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="479" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihN4WXGLK8zGe282o_lXfoeu_a4TyVoev9NRk2lTFV6e6QPyKRXtOuUbUI1er4rwZbqv1cZ-pvdyWZPIxnWSyW96_FVsuTSk6qmnAmNROUt131EeRt-cP9T2qw69PJzOMQEhKPow/s320/backhand3.JPG" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: ©F.J. Maccioli</span></p><p>My contact at SoCal USTA correctly pointed out that in the fine print on the state website, doubles MAY be played in Purple Tier counties IF the adjusted COVID19 case rate is less than 14 per 100,000 people. It turns out that in Southern California, that includes Los Angeles, Imperial, and Orange Counties, which are at 12.3, 8.9, and 11.9 cases per 100,000 people. </p><p>But, that still isn't the case for Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, Fresno, or most other counties in the San Joaquin Valley. I don't know about you, but, I'm not traveling a couple of hundred miles just to play doubles.</p><p>Even so, this loophole still recommends that you wear a facemask if playing doubles. Shoot, I can do that (see above) - I already wear it when jogging, biking, or running on my treadmill, but, I don't know of too many other people who will.</p><p>Anyway, if you want to play doubs - that's how ya can do it. Just sayin'!</p><p><br /></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-8357150641541243502021-02-25T18:35:00.005-08:002021-02-25T18:51:37.251-08:00Research study shows tennis and other sports balls show little potential for transferring COVID19 virus by hand<p>Ace was getting ready for the California shutdown tomorrow of doubles tennis in all California COVID19 Purple tiers when he came across this bit of encouraging news.</p><p>Early on in the pandemic, when little was known about the virus, it was thought mainly to be transmitted by people touching objects upon which it had landed. Many wondered if one could catch it from sports balls - footballs, soccer balls, baseballs, tennis balls, etc., but, no one had done any research to see if it was true or not.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdJkQmljdMsk6ycuqynNpl7o6inf9K4Jp6Ee5wPZe2WfgV2Spqh-Mwxcz-edOcdBusEX9kst8Eaa3esHwOeTbB2QC8CEjgjAHbe1Iy8b6PWJRt92m-Jac3H6sElkzgt2IK1nQyQ/s320/AceYouBkHndShldrDown1Rev2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdJkQmljdMsk6ycuqynNpl7o6inf9K4Jp6Ee5wPZe2WfgV2Spqh-Mwxcz-edOcdBusEX9kst8Eaa3esHwOeTbB2QC8CEjgjAHbe1Iy8b6PWJRt92m-Jac3H6sElkzgt2IK1nQyQ/s0/AceYouBkHndShldrDown1Rev2.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p>Well, it turns out some research scientists had the same question - I don't know if they play tennis or not - and ran some experiments with deactivated viruses to find out.</p><p>What they found was that, yes, the virus can be detected on tennis balls, but, after rolling around, bouncing, etc., it all disappears from the ball. So, the chances of picking it up by touching your balls (gee, I ALWAYS laugh when I say that for some reason) is minimal.</p><p>But, you can still get it if your opponent or doubles partner sneezes in your face I guess.</p><p>Anyway, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7350886/">here's a link to the paper</a> published in PubMed Central (PMC) at the U.S. National Institute of Health's National Library of Medicine (NIH/NLM).</p><p>It's a tough read at times - I suppose because these research guys got into science because they never learned how to tell a story in simple terms.</p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-38237855596647497772021-02-22T19:06:00.001-08:002021-02-22T19:06:13.210-08:00MY CULINARY MASTERPIECE - REDUX - A middle aged Italian-American from Bakersfield, CA, seeks fame and glory from his Italian cooking skills.<p>I was trying to start up an old Dell XPS Windows XP computer today - planned to use it for photo/video editing - but then the motherboard committed suicide after about 45 minutes. However, before it's dying scream, I was able to find this old article I once wrote for Yahoo several years ago. You can't find it anymore because they deleted all of the Yahoo Contributor articles.</p><p>But, lo and behold, it was still on the old computer (which led me to my back-up drives that also had a copy). So, once again, here is:</p><p>MY CULINARY MASTERPIECE</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2020/10/04/19/25/food-5627359_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2020/10/04/19/25/food-5627359_960_720.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/food-dish-pasta-ravioli-cuisine-5627359/</span></div><p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">I'm Italian. I like to eat. I especially like to cook.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I come from a family of cooks, thousands of Macciolis from
Abruzzi. Every single one of us has cooked. But no one has ever had a chance to
make a living at it, including me. Until now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I'm at the Cooking for Italian American Officeworkers (CIAO)
national headquarters in New York City. They've partnered with The Food Network
to organize a competition for the best Italian cooks in the states. First prize
is a 5-year sponsorship to develop cookbooks and tour the country,
demonstrating Italian cooking skills to the nation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I entered. I was accepted. I'm here now, waiting in the
wings to be introduced.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Master of Ceremonies starts the show, playing to the
audience with his stupid Italian jokes. The crowd laughs like they always do,
even the TV cameramen, managing to keep their cameras focused despite their
laughter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I've been sitting here, watching my competition - the
cannoli maker, the meatball man, the puttanesca expert. Amateurs. Hacks. They
have nothing on me. Just one more and I'm on. Glory bound.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The prosciutto sandwich maker finishes. He exits the stage
to a smattering of applause. The emcee reaches for the microphone. I straighten
my tie and brush back my hair. I make sure my fly is zipped. It's my turn now.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He announces my name and I walk to the stage to warm
applause. I take my place in the make shift stage kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Mr. Maccioli, " the emcee shouts, "will be
presenting his interpretation of one of the marvels of Italian cuisine. One of
the greatest dishes of any culinary style. He will show us how to make the
perfect plate of ravioli!"</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The crowd cheers. I see a few giving me a standing ovation
in anticipation. My whole life flashes before me as I savor the moment. My
chance has finally arrived. Things will never be the same now.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I approach the microphone. I clear my throat. I take one
last look across the auditorium and then begin to speak.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"First, you get a can-opener. . . "</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-68468613706661333392021-02-20T08:49:00.002-08:002021-02-20T08:49:35.016-08:00California issues new restrictions for youth and adult sports. Bans doubles for tennis and pickleball in Purple tier.<p>The California Department of Public Health (CaDPH) has <a href="https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/outdoor-indoor-recreational-sports.aspx">just issued new guidance</a> for just about every youth and adult team and individual sport. Of particular interest to those people, like good ol' yours truly, Ace, is that tennis (and pickleball) in Purple tier regions is limited to singles only!!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP-vPDuLLXDwdj2upgtAGXoEBIsKjRUCUlFF1y2K7Sxm0Y21-6ppfIcmHQnjl6vxh0DDwWRdCiH8_0mdAiOEHv_o0-wM7Mvr7CIjPRlMNs8uwwmpSyupYTCWSo1xH69KbDcZzHA/s2048/ACEYOU_YOUTUBE_VID_INSERT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP-vPDuLLXDwdj2upgtAGXoEBIsKjRUCUlFF1y2K7Sxm0Y21-6ppfIcmHQnjl6vxh0DDwWRdCiH8_0mdAiOEHv_o0-wM7Mvr7CIjPRlMNs8uwwmpSyupYTCWSo1xH69KbDcZzHA/s320/ACEYOU_YOUTUBE_VID_INSERT.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Aceyou</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: ©F.J. and K.C. Maccioli</span></p><p>This will adversely impact several local tournaments currently planned for Kern County, SoCal, and other areas across the state, including right here in Bakersfield which is in the Purple tier. </p><p>Of course, that depends upon whether the local tennis powers to be decide to comply with California's directives, something that many public tennis facilities and private tennis clubs have refused to do in the past! </p><p>Until a county exits the Purple tier, which seems doubtful for Kern County and Bakersfield because of their lack of enforcement of previous COVID19 restrictions, doubles in the above sports, as well as several other sports categories, may not occur.</p><p>The new guidance takes effect on February 26, 2021. The ball's in your court USTA and UTR - what are you going to do now?</p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-35702739599792477912021-02-12T10:02:00.005-08:002021-02-12T10:15:44.648-08:00Did a tennis tournament cause Melbourne, Australia's 5-day lockdown yesterday?<p>The city of Melbourne, Australia, site of this year's Australian Open tennis tournament, <a href="https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/world/2021-02-12-melbourne-enters-new-lockdown-barring-australian-open-crowds/">has just imposed a new 5-day lockdown for all residents</a>. The lockdown is the result of a new cluster of at least 13 cases of the new UK coronavirus variant. <a href="https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/world/2021-02-11-melbourne-steps-up-covid-19-tests-as-quarantine-hotel-cluster-rises-to-10-cases/">The outbreak was traced to a Melbourne Holiday Inn</a>, one of several hotels in the city where international travelers must quarantine themselves for 14 days upon entering the city.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97CJKRW-p0GdU0vMTgEBsWnFidnUDLTuo8eO-DFEg1MCtSGiPC6yuhIr6pMwPwNOiOUCt7uG6ksG7cDuk5cZYqekzVClcKkarinPpszzqRIrRzGP19KjO1Y_atIaW78nAE45HKg/s1280/CDC+coronavirus+imageand+tennis+playerjpg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97CJKRW-p0GdU0vMTgEBsWnFidnUDLTuo8eO-DFEg1MCtSGiPC6yuhIr6pMwPwNOiOUCt7uG6ksG7cDuk5cZYqekzVClcKkarinPpszzqRIrRzGP19KjO1Y_atIaW78nAE45HKg/s320/CDC+coronavirus+imageand+tennis+playerjpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><p>There has been much speculation about the impact of tennis players and their entourages (and fans) from around the world coming to Melbourne for the tournament and what impact that would have on a city (and country) that had seemingly fought off the worst of the virus months ago. Several well known tennis pros have complained about the quarantine restrictions, generating adverse publicity for them as rich, prima donnas who only care about themselves.</p><p>But this latest news only proves the seriousness of this pandemic and that, even in Australia, it hasn't truly gone away.</p><p>The lockdown was announced by Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews and began at midnight on Friday, forcing spectators at the tournament to leave the stands in the middle of a 5-set thriller between Serbia's world #1 Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz of the United States. </p><p>Djokovic has been notorious this past year for his comments and actions in regards to the COVID19 pandemic, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/tennis/aus/2021/01/20/novak-djokovic-australian-open-covid-19/4234332001/">including his comments prior to this year's Australian Open</a>.</p><p>In announcing the new lockdown, Andrews said, "We must assume that there are further cases in the community than we have positive results for, and that it is moving at a velocity that has not been seen anywhere in our country over the course of these last 12 months."</p><p>He also said that the tennis tournament, which had already been restricted to 50% capacity, would be allowed to continue as it is considered to be a workplace. However, no spectators will be allowed and only players and the minimum amount of staff to run it safely will be permitted.</p><p><br /></p><br />Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-69126079011392286052021-02-11T11:09:00.004-08:002021-02-11T12:48:19.829-08:00Two Italians screaming at each other after a tight match - va bene!!!<p>There is nothing - NOTHING - like seeing 2 Italian pro tennis players going after each other verbally after a tough 14-12 fifth set tiebreaker at the Australian Open. LOL.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20210211&t=2&i=1551184424&r=LYNXMPEH1A0ZY&w=2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="800" height="227" src="https://static.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20210211&t=2&i=1551184424&r=LYNXMPEH1A0ZY&w=2048" width="320" /></a></div><p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tennis-ausopen-fognini/fognini-and-caruso-in-heated-argument-after-all-italian-affair-idUSKBN2AB16Q">https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tennis-ausopen-fognini/fognini-and-caruso-in-heated-argument-after-all-italian-affair-idUSKBN2AB16Q</a><br /></p><p>And here's a video of it:</p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/1HM_3QsSw4A">https://youtu.be/1HM_3QsSw4A</a></p><p><br /></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-61698339253658144852021-02-07T14:04:00.005-08:002021-02-07T14:04:24.542-08:00Let's talk Adidas tennis shoes - specifically, the current Barricade replacement<p style="text-align: justify;">Let's talk about tennis shoes. Adidas tennis shoes. Like many of you, I'm a Barricade devotee. I've played in nothing but them for years (except an occasional foray with Adidas Adizeros after a snooty tennis club wouldn't let me wear black soles during a national tennis tournament). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But, Adidas discontinued the Barricade line a couple of years ago. They replaced it with the SoleCourt Boost. I never tried that, but, on a visit to the official Adidas website today I noticed that even that shoe isn't offered anymore.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So what is a Barricade fan supposed to do? The closest to it now appears to be the SoleCourt Primeblue tennis shoe, shown below:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://assets.adidas.com/images/h_2000,f_auto,q_auto:sensitive,fl_lossy/9a167e562ecb4d17b075ac3700caba45_9366/SoleCourt_Primeblue_Tennis_Shoes_White_FX1729_01_standard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://assets.adidas.com/images/h_2000,f_auto,q_auto:sensitive,fl_lossy/9a167e562ecb4d17b075ac3700caba45_9366/SoleCourt_Primeblue_Tennis_Shoes_White_FX1729_01_standard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.adidas.com/us/solecourt-primeblue-tennis-shoes/FX1729.html" target="_blank">Photo Credit: Adidas website</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apparently, much of this shoe is made from a material called Parley Ocean Plastic which is basically recycled plastic recovered from the oceans. So, for all of you environmental types (and I guess that includes me because I have over 30 years of professional work experience in environmental compliance), this shoe seems to be one to try.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I just saw Felix Auger Aliassime wearing this shoe in a tuneup to the 2021 Australian Open (he lost in the finals to Dan Evans btw), so, I guess it can't be that bad.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But, is it as good as the old Barricades were? I still have a couple of pair of the old Barricades that aren't worn out yet. How about the rest of you Barricade fans - what are you playing with now? Let me know in the comments below.</div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-44539887685568664352021-01-18T20:27:00.003-08:002021-01-18T20:27:25.836-08:00COVID-19 and the 2021 Australian Open - Djokovic strikes again<p>The Australian Open is scheduled to start on February 8 and already the world's #1 player, Novak Djokovic, is stirring up controversy. According to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-55713453">various news reports</a>, he has demanded that tournament officials relax COVID-19 quarantine restrictions for players. This despite that fact that 72 players have been forced to quarantine for 14 days because of coronavirus cases on 3 flights into the country.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Novak_Djokovic_at_the_2011_Australian_Open4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Novak_Djokovic_at_the_2011_Australian_Open4.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: Christopher Johnson (globalite), CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Novak_Djokovic_at_the_2011_Australian_Open4.jpg"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Novak_Djokovic_at_the_2011_Australian_Open4.jpg</span></a></p><p>Nick Kyrgios, no stranger to controversy himself, called Djokovic a "tool" and also criticized the girlfriend of Australian player Bernard Tomic after she allegedly complained of hotel food and having to wash her hair by herself.</p><p>To be fair, some of the restrictions <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-55693223">caught many players by surprise</a>, including the requirement that anyone on an airplane with someone who tested positive would have to stay in their hotel room for 14 days. On the flip side, though, are 37,000 Australians who have been outside of their country for various reasons <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-55683035">but are not allowed to return home</a>.</p><p>COVID-19 and Djokovic are no strangers. He arranged the ill-fated Adria tour last year in the middle of the pandemic, was seen with other players ignoring social distancing requirements, and eventually caught COVID-19 himself, along with several other players and associated personnel.</p><p>What do you think about this? Let Ace know in the comments below.</p><p><br /></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-8505658204476220762020-12-30T11:36:00.001-08:002020-12-30T11:36:04.510-08:00Tennis Channel's National Senior Husband and Wife grass court tennis tourney cancelled<p>COVID-19 has claimed yet another tennis tournament in the Palm Springs area. Tennis Channel's National Grass Court Senior Husband and Wife tournament scheduled for this coming March has been cancelled. Additionally, the host club, Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, has cancelled ALL outdoor events due to the pandemic.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3P9UY4tMqTsw4ku0Se8sdWrhr0srvKrn80q4Ppwlvk6Xg8jiJjH0Dtxov29cCqgF2T_fcAowsX2vZK79KKljQJrsL5zP32AMK-yGz72ZqN-M2-ca0wTAmV-RViKP3wiJ4mCyfuQ/s690/H+and+W+Tennis+2021+cancelled.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="432" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3P9UY4tMqTsw4ku0Se8sdWrhr0srvKrn80q4Ppwlvk6Xg8jiJjH0Dtxov29cCqgF2T_fcAowsX2vZK79KKljQJrsL5zP32AMK-yGz72ZqN-M2-ca0wTAmV-RViKP3wiJ4mCyfuQ/w400-h640/H+and+W+Tennis+2021+cancelled.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The popular senior's event was to be played the week before the professional BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, which has been postponed until sometime later in the year, also because of COVID-19.</p><p><br /></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-71216847914350902572020-12-29T10:33:00.003-08:002020-12-29T10:40:11.567-08:002021 Indian Wells BNP Paribas Open postponed until further notice<p>The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted one of the biggest pro tennis tournaments once again. Tournament organizers have just announced the postponement of the 2021 BNP Paribas tournament until later in the year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF43qEEW012ZjIwNe8FiQrNw5VIRFF7GgtqNCC_THONKwqmQUYtvxks4atTtMUBAGyM60f3QPqxE7IffmIx6bmQzWG_1-vWHuCST_XvAlDGMLbm3gUifaj6ya-leullzHCc7cwaA/s719/BNP_Paribas_2021_Postponement.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="623" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF43qEEW012ZjIwNe8FiQrNw5VIRFF7GgtqNCC_THONKwqmQUYtvxks4atTtMUBAGyM60f3QPqxE7IffmIx6bmQzWG_1-vWHuCST_XvAlDGMLbm3gUifaj6ya-leullzHCc7cwaA/s320/BNP_Paribas_2021_Postponement.JPG" /></a></div><p>As you may recall, tournament organizers were one of the first, if not the first, <a href="https://environalysis.blogspot.com/2020/03/bnp-paribas-tennis-open-in-indian-wells.html">to cancel a major tournament earlier this year in March</a> when the pandemic was less widely spread than it is now.</p><p>This is just another sign to all of you who may think the pandemic is over because of the new vaccines - it is not.</p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-34440273780589020102020-12-15T13:04:00.001-08:002020-12-15T18:21:25.551-08:00No, Sarah Fuller was NOT the first woman to score in a major college football game. It was rape victim Katie Hnida in 2002.<p>First of all, congrats to Sarah Fuller for recently scoring some extra points for Vanderbilt University this year. It's a significant accomplishment in a male dominated sport.</p><p>But, despite all of the surrounding hoopla, did you know she was NOT the first woman to score points in a major college football game?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://saultonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/KATIE-HNDIA-696x696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="696" height="400" src="https://saultonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/KATIE-HNDIA-696x696.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Katie Hnida</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: Fair Use, https://saultonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/KATIE-HNDIA-696x696.jpg</span></p><p>That distinction belongs to Katie Hnida, who, after making the team and transferring from Colorado University to New Mexico, both NCAA Division 1-A members - the top level in college football - scored two extra points in a game. In 2002. Nearly twenty years ago.</p><p>Ever wonder why you don't hear about Katie Hnida from the male dominated college football publicity machine? Ever wonder why it's all about Sarah Fuller? Ever wonder why the small print says that Sarah Fuller was the first female kicker to score in a Power-5 game (and not a Division 1-A game)?</p><p><b>It's because while at Colorado University, she was raped by a teammate. And sexually harassed. And more.</b></p><p>Understand now?</p><p>Here are some links for more information:</p><p><a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2266206-katie-hnidas-historic-football-story-not-a-fairy-tale" target="_blank">Katie Hnida's Historic Football Story Not a Fairy Tale</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katie_Hnida" target="_blank">Katie Hnida - Bio</a><br /></p><p><br /></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-39002672102866658242020-12-09T10:50:00.003-08:002020-12-09T10:50:34.750-08:00USTA announces new rules for 2021 tournament rankings<p> The USTA just announced new standardized ranking information and other changes for all tournaments beginning in 2021.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.usta.com/content/dam/usta/Articles/article-desktop/USTA_Adult-Tournament-1170x585.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1170.585.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://www.usta.com/content/dam/usta/Articles/article-desktop/USTA_Adult-Tournament-1170x585.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1170.585.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Click on the link below for info:</p><div><a href="https://www.usta.com/en/home/play/adult-tennis/programs/national/usta-adult-tournament-changes-for-2021.html" target="_blank">USTA 2021 Tournament Changes</a></div>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-37413645362048163702020-11-02T15:12:00.005-08:002020-11-02T18:35:34.016-08:00What happens if no one gets 270 electoral votes? You thought Halloween was over? The nightmare is just beginning!<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/130306205822-the-bill-of-rights-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/130306205822-the-bill-of-rights-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>If you're like Ace, you've had enough of 2020, COVID-19, and especially enough of all the crap about tomorrow's election. Like me, many of you are hoping and praying for some normalcy and a stop to all of the divisiveness we have endured the last 4 years. But, I betcha didn't think of this: </p><p>What happens if neither Trump nor Biden gets 270 electoral votes, the amount needed to win the election? </p><p>Don't know? This is what happens: </p><p>By law, we then have a "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contingent_election">contingency election</a>" whereby the House of Representatives picks the President and the Senate picks the Vice-President. Furthermore, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twentieth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution">under the 20th Amendment</a> to the U.S. Constitution, that election won't be held until the new House and the new Senate are sworn in. </p><p>And guess what? Although the Senate vote will be a vote by each Senator, the House vote will be done "en bloc." Do you know what that means? It means each state's congressional delegation gets one vote for the entire delegation. That's right, ONE VOTE PER STATE!!!</p><p>So what you might ask? Here's what: Do you know which party in the House of Representatives has the majority in the most states?</p><p>THE REPUBLICANS!!!!</p><p>That's right! Now, assuming that the party numbers in Congress for each state don't change after tomorrow, <a href="https://www.house.gov/representatives" target="_blank">here's the breakdown</a>:</p><p>Republicans - 26 states</p><p>Democrats - 23 states + the District of Columbia = 24.</p><p>You might say, wait, that's only 49 states plus D.C. !!! There's 50 states!</p><p>That's right...and the 50th state is...wait for it...Pennsylvania, which has 9 Democrats and 9 Republicans - a tie!!! But it doesn't matter. If Pennsylvania swings Democrat, that still leaves Republicans with 26 states. And under the 20th Amendment, <a href="https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40504.pdf" target="_blank">D.C. doesn't even get a vote in a contingency election</a>.</p><p>So guess what...that means Trump gets elected, no matter what the popular vote was and no matter if he has far fewer electoral college votes than Biden!!! And unless the Senate swings Democrat, a small possibility, but, it probably won't happen, that means Pence gets elected Vice-President again!!!</p><p>Trump doesn't care if he doesn't reach 270 electoral votes - he doesn't have to! All he has to do is win enough to keep Biden from reaching 270. And that's a lot easier for him in these times.</p><p>Still think your vote counts?</p><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-67683791113628209402020-09-25T14:41:00.001-07:002020-09-25T14:41:08.722-07:00Here's a free tennis lesson - How to Hit a Kick Serve<p>Hey, I just did another 5 Minute Tennis Lesson video. If you ever wanted to learn how to hit a kick serve, well, here it is. For free. Nada. Nothing. All I ask is you like it, and maybe subscribe to this blog and /or my YouTube channel.</p><p>The kick serve is a great serve to have in your bag of tricks. Just remember, when you hit it, you're putting spin on the ball in the opposite direction that you usually do when you hit a slice serve.</p><p>But the video explains it all. here it is: </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q-ybbD0hr-Q" width="320" youtube-src-id="Q-ybbD0hr-Q"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-8273834320565846842020-09-07T13:19:00.001-07:002020-09-07T13:21:30.121-07:00Who is paying off whom at the U.S. Open? Womens #1 doubles team forced to withdraw over COVID19 concerns.<p>If you ever needed any evidence that something fishy is going on at the U.S.Open, look no further than the recent actions involving French men's players Benoit Paire and Adrian Mannarino and women's players Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos, the #1 seeded women's doubles team this year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/2017_Citi_Open_Tennis_Kristina_Mladenovic_(36261760976).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="800" height="270" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/2017_Citi_Open_Tennis_Kristina_Mladenovic_(36261760976).jpg" width="424" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)</span></p><p>Because Mladenovic had been in contact with her compatriot Benoit Paire, a French men's player who was forced to withdraw before the tournament began after testing positive for COVID19 (he later tested negative), New York health authorities ordered that Mladenovic be quarantined and withdraw from the tournament.</p><p>However, their decision came a day after they tried to prevent Mannarino from playing his match against Sascha Zverev for the exact same reason, but ultimately allowed that match to proceed!</p><p>Babos, a Hungarian player who was not in contact with Paire and was not ordered to quarantine, has been in tears after her withdrawal, understandably unable to comprehend the logic in the decisions made. She pointed out that Mladenovic had been tested for COVID19 several times last week and all results were negative. </p><p>She complained, "Let's look at the facts: Benoit Paire's positive test dated back ten days before (after 4 negatives) and in recent days his results were negative. The others close to him have never tested positive. Kiki (Mladenovic) had had 11 - repeat 11 - negative tests for COVID19. And yet we were locked up. On Friday they went out of their way to ensure that Mannarino could play. He was allowed to play and, the next day, we were not. It is simply injustice! It is incomprehensible! It's not fair."</p><p>Valid points. Just who is in charge here? Why one and not the other? And why are they being asked to quarantine when Paire ultimately tested negative for the virus after being re-tested?</p><p>There are literally hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars at stake here. Either the rules are the same for everybody or the rules are being made up as the tournament goes along. </p><p>Someone in charge needs to explain what is going on. Ace wonders what the bookies are saying?</p><p><br /></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-48733535955033465812020-09-04T21:37:00.008-07:002020-09-04T21:40:07.140-07:00New York tried to block France's Adrian Mannarino from playing in the U.S. Open<p>Well, I promised you more news about the bizarre delay in today's match between Alexander (Sascha) Zverev of Germany and France's Adrian Mannarino. Here it is:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQajXCot_9B6bhFlh-BMXxyQn-SJ7vqiWrArWDKwWzz8BUVodQFVUpR0U1A_GLm2xVF8A4NHLLUcpywnXrCOH83EmFoddoq8uft7bF6FSozOkGjORZjmd3lC_mO6LER7j4eFsuw/s1426/Mannarino_US+Open+Statement_2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1426" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQajXCot_9B6bhFlh-BMXxyQn-SJ7vqiWrArWDKwWzz8BUVodQFVUpR0U1A_GLm2xVF8A4NHLLUcpywnXrCOH83EmFoddoq8uft7bF6FSozOkGjORZjmd3lC_mO6LER7j4eFsuw/w500-h314/Mannarino_US+Open+Statement_2020.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: copy of Twitter Tweet by @BellshawGeorge</span></div><p>Apparently, New York State Health Department officials determined that Mannarino should not be allowed to play in the tournament because he had earlier been in contact with another French player, Benoit Paire. Paire, as you know, tested positive for COVID19 and had to be withdrawn from the tournament.</p><p>Several hours of discussions between USTA, ATP, US Open officials, and government authorities ensued. Even Novak Djokovic got into the act by trying to personally reach Governor Andrew Cuomo himself to resolve the situation in Mannarino's favor.</p><p>As reported by ESPN, Zverev, who eventually won the match in 4 sets after dropping the first, said, "I was told that there was very little chance we were going to play. They said, yeah, there is a chance at 5 o'clock, but I was just waiting around and seeing, I was very relaxed. Obviously for me, as a player, and for a fellow player, I was happy that he was able to play."</p><p>Zverev added, "I don't know if you guys know, but he was around Benoit Paire, so I guess New York State called and said that he shouldn't play. So it was back and forth, back and forth, it was political. It was not us players, we were just sitting around."</p><p>However, world #1 Djokovic confirmed that he personally got involved in the discussion by talking with Mannarino's coach and ATP officials. He also said that he tried to call Governor Cuomo, saying that Cuomo "...was the only one that could actually make the decision to revert the decision that Mannarino was withdrawn from the tournament"</p><p>Still unanswered - what are (or were) the official U.S. Open requirements for the bubble and continued play if players were exposed to someone who had tested positive for the virus? Before the tournament started, what did those requirements actually say? Does anyone know? (If you have a source, let me know in the comments below.)</p><p>Well, for now, let's just see what happens if some other players test positive. The tournament has another week to go!</p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-38883963659101895972020-09-04T12:54:00.003-07:002020-09-04T16:50:52.702-07:00COVID19 rumors swirl at the US Open around postponed Mannarino/Zverev singles matchup<p>Well, Ace has been watching the U.S. Open and just become aware of a controversy involving the scheduled Men's singles match between #5 seed Alexander Zverev from Germany and #32 seed Adrian Mannarino from France.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Adrian_Mannarino_(14235750068).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="609" height="360" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Adrian_Mannarino_(14235750068).jpg" width="273" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Adrian Mannarino</div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: Carine06 from UK / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)</span></p><p>At this writing, their match was to have begun about an hour ago. Match officials, lines persons, and ball persons were all present, however, neither of the players showed up. Zverev was later seen sitting in his private box, maskless and shirtless, watching another match.</p><p>As you may recall, Mannarino was one of the French players who were forced into self-isolation after another French player, Benoit Paire, was forced to withdraw after testing positive for COVID19.</p><p>ESPN's announcers are aware of the situation, but, no explanation at all has been given to them by USTA or tournament officials. Speculation is rampant that Mannarino either has showed symptoms of COVID19 and is being re-tested, has failed a COVID19 test, or is protesting the treatment of he and other men and women players who were put into self-isolation after having spent time with Paire before he was withdrawn.</p><p>I'l keep an eye on what's going on and provide an update later. </p><p><br /></p><p>UPDATE: Both players are now on the court, 2:17 PDT. 5:17 EDT, warming up for their match. Still no official word as to what happened. There have been unsubstantiated rumors that health officials from New York questioned whether Mannarino should be allowed to play as well as speculation that Mannarino was staging a mini-protest regarding the self-isolation bubble.</p><p>Ace will let you know as soon as he learns anything new.</p><p>UPDATE#2: Well, Ace did a little searching and found that, as reported by Tennis.com, the tournament issued the following official statement at 5:43 p.m., EDT: </p><p>"The Zverev-Mannarino match was delayed while a collaborative dialogue with health officials was conducted today. Communication with the players was ongoing during the afternoon to keep them updated at all times. Given the sensitivity of the medical issues involved, the USTA is not able to provide further details."</p><p>Sensitivity of medical issues involved? Not able to provide further details? Ace calls bullshit on that! What's so damn sensitive about saying neither player tested positive for COVID19? Or, if someone is still awaiting new test results, it sounds more like a cover-up to me. Sounds like they don't want anyone to think their "bubble got burst!"</p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-62635345003215628322020-08-30T16:24:00.004-07:002020-08-30T16:28:00.285-07:00COVID19 is on the loose at the US Open. Benoit Paire tests positive for the virus, withdraws as French countrymen quarantined.<p>Just a day before the U.S. Open is scheduled to begin, the 22nd ranked male tennis player in the world has withdrawn from the U.S. Open after testing positive for COVID19.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Paire_RG18_(52)_(42077295625).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="280" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Paire_RG18_(52)_(42077295625).jpg" width="186" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: si.robi / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)</span></p><p>Benoit Paire, who has been in the USTA's "bubble" for both the recently completed Western & Southern Open and the U.S. Open, was to have begun play on Tuesday.</p><p>The USTA announced that a player had tested positive, was asymptomatic, and was withdrawn, but, refused to acknowledge it was Paire. A tournament official later confirmed that it was Paire, but only after saying he was not authorized to publicly announce it</p><p>The news that it was Paire was reported by French newspaper L'Equippe. It also reported that his countrymen Richard Gasquet, Adrian Mannarino, Gregoire Barrere, and Edouard Roger Vasselin were asked to self-isolate in their hotel rooms after Paire's positive test. </p><p>Paire was seeded #17 for the Open. He last played at the Western & Southern Open on Aug.22, but, stopped playing due to illness after being down 6-1, 1-0 against Borna Coric.</p><p>Coric, you may recall, was one of several players who contracted COVID19 during Novak Djokovic's much criticized Adria Tour event earlier this year. Coric supposedly was asymptomatic.</p><p>Paire's positive test is the second one among those in the "bubble" - the trainer for Argentine player Guido Pella and Bolivia's Hugo Dellien was the other and was the reason why both of those players were dropped from the Western & Southern Open 10 days ago.</p><p>These were the only two reported positive test results out of 7000 tests.</p><p><br /></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11495076.post-77667227313267848782020-08-27T17:08:00.003-07:002020-08-27T17:09:34.741-07:00Naomi Osaka reverses course and now will play her semi-final match at the Western & Southern Open<p>Naomi Osaka announced today that she has changed her mind and WILL play her semi-final match at the Western & Southern Open. The match will now be played this Friday.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Naomi_Osaka_(27849809747).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="334" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Naomi_Osaka_(27849809747).jpg" width="502" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: Peter Menzel / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)</span></p><p>All Men's and Women's matches at the tournament originally scheduled for Thursday were postponed after Osaka announced yesterday that she was withdrawing. </p><p>In explaining her decision, Osaka said, “As you know, I pulled out of the tournament yesterday in support of racial injustice and continued police violence. I was (and am) ready and prepared to concede the match to my opponent."</p><p>“However, after my announcement and lengthy consultation with the WTA and USTA, I have agreed at their request to play on Friday. They offered to postpone all matches until Friday and in my mind that brings more attention to the movement. I want to thank the WTA and the Tournament for their support.”</p><p><br /></p>Acehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518859910360930597noreply@blogger.com0