In which we speculate on the source of my weird obsession with one-run games, consider a variety of different ways to look at how teams performed in them, and - best of all - look at some pretty cool lists.


Perhaps it was the traumatic experience of following the 2005 Blue Jays that brought on this madness. It was my rookie season on the Batter's Box roster, and I doubtless felt some pressure to impress my virtual colleagues and justify my Spot on the Team. I followed the proceedings with unusual attention, which was fortunate, because something extremely unusual unfolded. Despite outscoring their opponents by 70 runs, the 2005 Jays managed to finish below .500 - they were just the third team in a century to accomplish this bizarre feat. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how this had happened. In games decided by two runs or more, the 2005 Jays went 64-51; but in games decided by a single run, they went just 16-31.

I've been a basket case ever since, I fear.

I searched for the answer, folks, I really did. I reviewed all 47 games ; I considered possible explanations. Was it the manager? The bench? The bullpen? The type of offense?

Or was it just dumb luck? Could such a thing, that had the capacity to transform a season from an unqualified success to a marginal disappointment (and vice versa, no doubt) actually be a matter of Utterly Random Chance?

Yes. Yes it could. The mind resists this, but there it is. You don't lose by eight runs because you didn't catch a break - you lose by eight runs because you weren't very good that day. But you can win (or lose) by one run because the game is so close that the impact of random chance is sufficient to overwhelm the impact of overall quality .

That last sentence is, I think, the most important thing I have learned about the game over these last five years of Bauxite activity. It has become my mantra. In a close game, the impact of random chance is sufficient to overwhelm the impact of overall quality...

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Fiber One, a General Mills brand, is the new title sponsor of the Collegiate All-Star Team for the Nature Valley Grand Prix was selected at last weekend’s USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships.

The six collegiate racers who earn spots on the composite team will wear their school jerseys but compete as the “Fiber One Collegiate All-Stars,” wearing team shorts at the Nature Valley Grand Prix in June.

The USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships are taking place today through Sunday in Madison, Wis. Eligibility for the special squad is based on the final individual overall (omnium) standings for female riders who are not members of a team that is already registered to compete in the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Each team member receives complimentary entry into the Nature Valley Grand Prix, free host housing, a support staff comprised of a team manager, mechanic, soigneur and massage therapist, team clothing and a travel stipend.

“The Fiber One Collegiate All Stars is one of the coolest programs that we have,” Nature Valley Grand Prix Director David LaPorte said. “Collegiate cycling is growing by leaps and bounds. This is a chance to showcase that part of the sport. It also help us connect the sport with people since the program resonates with the alumni of the schools that the riders represent and even with the alumni of those schools’ arch rivals.”

“I’m really excited to have Fiber One on board as a title sponsor”, said Fiber One Collegiate All-Stars Manager John Barron. “Cycling is a lifetime sport and Fiber One’s healthy lifestyles message is an excellent fit.”

Past Fiber One Collegiate All-Stars team members are a Who’s Who of young up-and-coming talent in the professional ranks, including: Kristin McGrath (Fort Lewis College) and Sinead Miller (Marian University), now both racing for the Peanut Butter and Co – Twenty12 team, Amanda Miller (Colorado State),...

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Source: One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel adds new programs for summer ...

As modern civilization has developed over the past several hundred years, there has been an increasing disconnection with nature.  The unspoken goal was to overcome the forces of nature that made life uncomfortable or short lived.

In modern societies, man thwarted the deadly efforts of malaria, mumps, measles, rubella, and pneumonia (among others) through science and medicine.  We created a factory farming system, fertilizers, and processed foods to cheaply feed the growing population.  Our homes and offices use air conditioning or recylced air, water is pumped in from mysterious sources, sewage and garbage are taken out to a different mysterious location.  Though all of these actions – eating, healing, breathing, excreting – are a deep part of the human experience, we have become disconnected from the natural cycle of which these are a part.

For all of the strides we have made in creating modern civilization, there is a growing sense that we may have left something important behind in our quest to subvert nature.  What we’ve lost and what many people are waking up to is the simple awareness that we are deeply connected to the natural world that holds us.  Humans need interaction with nature and our welfare is directly connected to environmental welfare (see Jared Diamond’s books ).

On the pushing edge of culture (the idea pushers ) you see an increasing interest in reconnecting with nature.  For those living in an urban zone, the interest in reconnecting with nature can be seen in the growth of farmer’s markets and the local food movement (getting to know your farmer).  It can be seen in the growth of exercise and outdoor sports over the past several decades; People spending too much time inside opt to grab a slice of outdoor adventure everyday with a bike ride or run.  Growing numbers of people are concerned about the pollution and refuse they release into the world.  As a response people recycle, compost, and purchase carbon credits.

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I started taking this product 7 days ago exactly as directed and have only had 2 BM’s during that time. I eat healthy and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I had high hopes for this product to help in elimating toxins in my body but so far I have been disappointed. I am going to continue taking this for 1 more week and see if I get any results.

I bought this product anticipating what many of the reviews said – hoping to feel rejuvenated and detoxified. Sadly, I did not have the same results many users have. I consider myself a healthy person – but was expecting some “results”. I continued to do the regimen for a week and a half and was not seeing any drastic changes. I am not a fan of black licorice and one of the herbal pills had it in there. Just having it pill in my mouth for 3 seconds, almost caused me to have the gag reflex…. wished it would have had some coating over the pills. I will just stick to my Trust Nutrition fiber pills and Pride Nutrition products that work A LOT better.

Source: Nature's Secret – Ultimate Cleanse, 1 kit | Natural Detox Products ...