Baltimore Ping Pong Scene

Baltimore is known for many things, crabs, old bay, football, the growing music scene, murder, etc., but one thing it is definitely not known for is ping pong.

 If you are the sort of individual that enjoys meeting new people, learning a new skill, playing recreational sports, and potentially drinking a beer or two, then you should really consider getting into the growing ping pong scene in Baltimore City.  Baltimoreans have long been known for their fondness of social sporting. Between the Baltimore Sports &Social Club and Baltimore Social, the city boasts dodgeball, kick ball, broom ball, wiffle ball, shuffleboard, ski ball, corn hole, kan jam, and flip cup leagues. While many in the city are familiar with these popular create your own team leagues, many people are unaware of the numerous opportunities in the city to play ping pong.  

If you are looking to get started playing in the city, your first stop should be to check out Ping Pong Baltimore.The group was created in 2011 by two passionate and entrepreneurial players, Marc and Alex, to give the city of Baltimore a way to connect and play some pong.

Outdoor Table at Wyman Park

Their greatest feat and gift to the city of Baltimore is the permanent outdoor ping pong table in Wyman Park.  It was installed in August of 2014 after three years of online fundraising, community support, a few grants, and a whole mess of city paperwork. Located in Charles Village in North Baltimore, you can find the table in the park on the corner of 29^th and Charles Street to the left of the playground. When coming to the outdoor table, be sure to bring your own paddle, ball, and a friend. Don’t know anyone else in the area who likes to play ping pong? That’s what ping pong Baltimore is all about! All you have to do is join their Facebook group, and simply post when you’ll be at the table and ask if anyone would like to join. More often than not people respond, even if just to express their regrets.

29th Street Community Center

During the winter the guys of Ping Pong Baltimore organize free open play at the 29^th Street Community Center. They have five tables and a selection of paddles and balls. The community center ping pong is on Thursdays from 6pm-8pm in the gymnasium, and Saturdays from 11am-1pm in the hobby room.  Just follow the calming sounds of bouncing ping pong balls.

Now if you prefer a beer with your game, there are a ton of great locations in the city to crush a brew and people’s ping pong dreams.

The Windup Space

The Windup Space is a quaint venue and bar located in the Station Arts North District. The walls are adorned with always changing artwork from local artists, and there are even a couple pin-ball machines to play around on. The charming owner of the space, Russ, is a lifelong ping pong player. There are two tables total, and a selection of paddles and balls for people to enjoy. Ping pong here comes with an eclectic vibe and the occasional themed day, such as Dr. Wu Pong (Dr. Who on mute with subtitles being projected while playing the musical styling's of the Wu Tang Clan). Cheap beers make the Windup space the ideal place to come and play. Ping pong is either on Wednesday or Saturday from 5pm-8pm. Days will change based on whether there is a show booked that night, so be sure to check online before heading out.

There is also a table set up in the Mount Vernon Marketplace next to Pinch Dumplings. The marketplace is home to a host of different vendors in a large, lofty space, which makes it ideal for some pong. The only downsides to this table are that there is not much room on one side, and the beers clock in at a whopping $8 a pop.  Be sure to bring your own paddle and ball when visiting this location.

Table in Mount Vernon Marketplace

The Laughing Pint in Highlandtown and No Idea Tavern in South Baltimore also have a table, paddles, and balls for people to use. They both also offer great happy hour specials and drink prices.4

For the individuals who don’t wish to deal with nature’s whims at the outdoor table, or the mediocre tables generally found in bars, Baltimore has something for you too. Baltimore Table Tennis will satisfy your desire for consistency. In session September through July, BTT meet’s Mondays and Thursdays at Old Court Middle School. Be warned there is a $90 fee per year, so this is not for the faint of pocketbook. 

No matter what type of ping pong experience you are looking for, chances are Baltimore has it. Whether you are trying to join the welcoming and growing community of the Ping Pong Baltimore folk, practice regularly with BTT, or play drunken games with friends and strangers at a bar, look no further than your own backyard, good ol’ charm city.

Tables at ArtScape

The Fun of Collecting

Nancy Tabor

Collecting has always been a family tradition. I’ve taken great pleasure in collecting everything from antique toys, playbills: and paintings to furniture. I enjoy the investigation and research as well the pleasure of being able to see these things on a day-to-day basis. In the past 10 years, I noticed a trend where Mid-Century Modern furniture, particularly chairs (https://www.chairish.com/maker/the-george-nelson-collection) became more popular. Near where I grew up, some stores were featuring it and others had it as part of their collection. It’s been great to stop by and check out to see what’s on tap.

I have some pieces of Mid-Century Modern furniture like a Heywood Wakefield Dining Set and a set of steelcase Mies van der Rohe chairs. This peaked my interest to read more about the history of Mid-Century Modern and what got my attention were some chairs I’d really like to add to my collection. Ben Marks, in his article entitled “Mid-Century Modern Furniture, from Marshmallow Sofas to Hans Wegner Chairs” (http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/an-interview-with-20th-century-decorative-arts-and-mid-century-modern-expert-frank-maraschiello/) 

gives an excellent overview and discussion of specifics from the era:

Mid-century Modern used the technology of mass production to produce good-looking pieces of furniture out of the latest materials. A number of these materials became commonplace after World War II, so the idea was to make things affordable. These were not “custom-made pieces.” When you bought a Tiffany lamp, even though that was a production piece in its day, it was also a handmade piece that cost as much as $500.

I was enamored with his discussion of Ray and Charles Eames “innovative chairs of the 20^th century.” (http://www.collectorsweekly.com/furniture/eames).  The following information came from an interview the author did with Frank Maraschiello, the vice president of the 20th-Century Decorative Arts department at Bonham’s, New York.  The chairs are constructed of a variety of materials. He looks at why two of the Eames Chairs, the plywood and the fiberglass, are so well thought of today. The bent plywood chairs were not a new idea when they started doing it; they had been doing it for 100 years. The chair was shipped flat and portable and was well tested. Being that it was constructed with only wood and a medal frame, it held up well.

By extension was the fiberglass chair, which was molded and more streamlined and faster in mass production. Because fiberglass was a continuous piece made from a molded piece from an economic view it was much more reasonable. 

I have seen these chair on ebay and many are very affordable. Also mentioned in the commentary is that these types of chairs were made popular at Ikea and much more affordable and brought more awareness and appreciation for that type of furniture.

Character Development

What does it mean to have a passion for something? Is it dedication to learning more about the subject? The emotional rush you get just thinking let alone take part in it? No matter what it is, you can tell when someone has a passion for something merely by their eyes, there seems to be a spark, the person won’t stop talking about it, soon it becomes an essential part of who we are. So, what is it like to be passionate about something, is it something simple and finite or complicated and infinite source of dedication. For everyone, it is different, yet as humans, we find ways to communicate, even if not so clearly, our feelings towards subjects in hopes we can find someone else who feels the same.

Owner of the Gif set Tumblr site

So why talk about emotions and all that jazz? Well, for me my passion is in animation from videos, video games and webcomics. For those who do not know, webcomics have different styles of portrayal now. You can vary not only by panel size, a number of panels, or by pages numbers but also on how it is presented, such as in animating one of the batman’s fighting scenes through the use of gifts. 

But I should refine my answer because while it is true I love to partake in all of the above, a habit I have formed is a to start analyzing character developments, theorize over the plot as it continues, and the reasons behind viewers reactions.I think it started as a kid since I was always player 3, aka if the console was only for two players my brother handed me a remote and told me to pretend. So I did, I tried to imagine what it would be like to be in character shoes' for games and it soon spread to other types of media. Eventually, I began to watch game  runs(recordings of other people playing a game), or people’s recordings of their reactions to games and shows to compare reactions on youtube, which now has its own section.

Origin of gif

There are multiple ways stories can start and end. I once had a conversation with asked a friend of mine who loves to write stories why his protagonists are always underdogs. His answer was that it is the number one way to grab a reader’s attention because, in truth, we all can relate to them. Disney uses this ploy often like in the movie Hercules. The thing about underdogs is, each and everyone one of us, cheers for a flawed individual who wants to make a 

difference even if their goals seem higher than they could hope to 

achieve. And when they do succeed, we feel that sense of satisfaction

 even though it wasn’t truly our own.

But that is only one type of character development. Another ploy is the misunderstood character, like Fa Mulan. Her goal is to bring honor to her family but she cannot achieve it through the traditional path. 

Now I'm not saying defeating the Huns, saving the emperor of China and China itself isn’t a cool heroine’s journey,

but the thing about these types of stories is that it feeds into the viewers need for an acceptance of self and from others.

I think what I like to analyze most is the surroundings of an individual. I mean not every character starts off as a good guy and stays good and vice versa. I mean views change throughout a plot due to morals and ideals being a challenge throughout series of events. There are games, such as the inFamous series in which the morality of your actions you choose determines how you develop and the end; which is the type of playing formats more video game developers are trying to adopt and adapt to.

Overall, I love playing or viewing these as a fan not only for the plot but for the development through out a journey of a character, even if it isn’t the protagonists’ because I can always find one way or another to relate to them. I believe it is part of what makes us human, to be able to find that connection and sometimes imagine ourselves in that position. So, as a story lover, I would like to ask, what is your favorite story?

Picture by Ashley from her amazing site

S.Oliva

Why I Will Never Surrender My Pen and Pad by Allison Miller

I grew up in a time when handwriting was an actual subject you were graded on.

It was called penmanship.

Being raised in a family of educators didn’t help either.

I was required to practice my penmanship at home and at school on pages and pages of handwriting paper with rows and rows of one dotted line sandwiched between two solid lines. If we were lucky, the lines would be in color thus breaking up the tedium.

By tedium I mean that when we were in school, we literally had to practice for one entire class period – like 30 to 40 minutes.

We started with printing upper and lower case letters and eventually migrated to writing in cursive like grown-ups. There was also a Strategic Migration Plan based on complexity – letters that were confined to just below the dotted line were for rookies (i.e., a, e, c, or u) while the more experienced writers could practice letters that went above the dotted line (i.e., b, h or l) or – wait for it - below the solid line (think g, j, or p).

Since the advent and subsequent explosion of technology, handwriting has become secondary to typing. The Washington Post notes that cursive writing has all but vanished from American elementary education. 

Some see it as an art that is becoming obsolete and handwritten letters and thank you notes passé. And as one who still enjoys writing and sending handwritten communiques, my recipients often tell me my handwriting is so ornate they can hardly understand it.

Sigh.

Thankfully, however, there has been a movement to switch off the laptop and break out the pen and paper, particularly when it comes to notetaking for students.

Lucky for me all of that penmanship practice was actually good for my brain.

Researchers and fans alike tout the brain-boosting benefits of taking time to develop one's thoughts, sharpen our memory, or work through a creative idea by writing or even the calming effect of physically putting the pen to paper.

I can tell you that I am a living witness to the value of taking notes by hand. Here’s why:

Mr. Geddes, my chemistry teacher in the 11^th grade, was a huge fan of not only reviewing but REWRITING your notes from class as a regular part of your daily homework.

As a scientist, he assured us there was something that happened differently in the brain when we write by hand. It’s like creating a groove in our dense heads that helps us remember.

So let me get this straight: I am a music major who is committed to slogging through chemistry because I have no choice. However, you now want me to take an hour to rewrite the notes from class (for which I will not receive a grade) before I actually start my real homework (for which I will receive a grade?)

Yeah, right.

But I tried it because I LOVE to write! Nothing gets me going like a clean sheet of paper and ink pens. (I will delve into my obsession with ink pens and other office supplies in my next post - it's like a sickness.)

And me – the right-brained wannabe musician who is the absolute least scientific student on the planet – got an “A”!

I never forgot this lesson. An “A” in chemistry was a tremendous victory for me and a boost to my self-esteem. All because of a little sweat equity.

If my academic miracle isn’t inspiration enough, I hope the research and writings that echo my experience and my sentiment will at least help you consider writing more.

I, for one, will never surrender my pen and pad!

Attributions:

Cursive handwriting is disappearing from public schools by T. Rees Shapiro. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/cursive-handwriting-disappearing-from-public-schools/2013/04/04/215862e0-7d23-11e2-a044-676856536b40_story.html

Why Writing by Hand Could Make You Smarter by William R. Klemm, Ph.D. - Memory Medic. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/memory-medic/201303/why-writing-hand-could-make-you-smarter

7 ways writing by hand can save your brain by Yohana Desta. http://mashable.com/2015/01/19/handwriting-brain-benefits/#BjBQDmmE4Eqy

Here’s Why You Should Take Notes by Hand (Instead of with a Laptop) by Elena Prokopets. http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/heres-why-you-should-take-notes-hand-instead-with-laptop.html?mid=20150121&ref=mail&uid=197031&feq=daily

The Benefits of Writing with Good Old Fashioned Pen and Paper by Catherine Pearson. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/12/writing-on-paper_n_5797506.html

Build Cannonball Deltoids! (...or slightly improve the ones you already have)- Greg Durham

No one has ever had shoulders that were too wide. They frame a person's torso, create physique contrasts with the lower body, and are functionally the most important muscle group in a person's top-half. Anytime you hold a weight or object, you're using your shoulders. They're essential for posture and for maintaining balance between the front and back of the human body. In short...they're very very very important!

When I was a child, I has three fantasies of physical prowess:

1. That I could beat my father at arm-wrestling.

2. That I would grow up to be a professional wrestler. My name would be the Judge...and I would play a heel who would sentence people to butt-kickings in the ring. My finishing move would be "The Scales of Justice." But that's for another blog...

Ivan and Nikita Koloff, c. 1985

3. That I would have a neck wider than my head.

Hey- these may sound strange, but they were MY fantasies! I never accomplished these feats, but along the way, I did play a lot of sports and grew into a pair of very solid, functional shoulders. I did this over the years mainly through one exercise- the Military Press. And this is exactly the topic today- building better shoulders through this most useful exercise.

I. Ditch the baggage of preconceived ideas.

Ken Patera pressing 463 lbs.

Military presses sometimes get the rap for being "old school" or outdated.

Physical culture poster from the 1910s

Well, humans have had to lift things overhead since forever, so how about a reframe? Instead of looking at the military press as a relic from a time where chubby men wore leopard spot loincloths while sporting handlebar mustaches, consider that they have longevity as an exercise BECAUSE they work.


II. Setting up the movement

The bar's path and where the body is 

There's the very crucial idea about BALANCE in the military press.

Ideally, you'll perform the movement with an Olympic barbell, the seven-foot long instrument found in any commercial gym.

It's the most effective implement you can use to do the motion. It weighs 45lbs. when empty, and you load it accordingly when you need to increase the weight of the movement.

Dumbbells and resistance bands tend to diminish and distort the overhead pressing motion....so stick with the barbell.

You'll notice the illustrations and photos show the exerciser STANDING. Yes, indeed! Standing motions force the person working out to stabilize the movement with their body. A seat, bench, or machine lessens the "auto-balancing" effect. So...do the movement standing. It's better that way

I recommend using an empty bar initially. If you work on the mechanics with a light weight, the transition to using heavier weights with GOOD FORM later.

You should unrack the bar from a squat rack, back up a couple feet, and prepare to start.


III. Start lifting

YouTube primer on Military Pressing

This is one of the best videos I've seen on doing the movement well. The Cross Fit athlete doing these has terrific  cadence, rhythm, mechanics, and body positioning. Here are some suggestions, in addition to the ones on the video:

1. After you unrack the barbell, tighten your glutes (butt) and latissimus Dorsi (upper back muscles) before starting your set
2. Position your wrists slightly in front of your elbows when holding the weight. Keep this wrist/shoulder positioning consistent
3. As you press the weight overhead, exhale AFTER the weight has moved beyond the top of the head. This synchronizes the right amount of tension, breath, and strength together.
4. You DON'T have to breathe on every repetition. I'm not recommending a Valsalva Maneuver here, but there IS something to the practice of breathing forcibly when you need it.
5. Finish strong! This means just to lock out your repetitions completely, each and every one.

IV. Don't do this!   

David Rigert, USSR, 1972

V. Sets and Repetitions

This is a contentious topic for anyone involved in exercise. While I won't get into deeply technical arguments for or against any existing system for strength training, I'll say this: 2-4 sets of 8-15 repetitions works for almost everyone.

Below is a rubric for training ranges, based on what the exerciser is looking for. Remember, though- EVERYTHING works in exercise, just not forever. Everyone has their own geometry, their own likes and dislikes, and "best fits" with exercise. Find out what works for you!

Conclusion

Have fun. Push yourself hard. Listen to your body- it'll tell you when you've gone too far. Train smart. And do military presses. They are enjoying a Renaissance right now because of CrossFit's popularity, but they're the objectively best, most effective shoulder movement that there has ever been. They work well at building well-rounded shoulders and they stabilize the core.

They're the perfect movement for the person chasing physique goals, someone seeking personal records for maximum amount lifted, or just the person looking to get in better general shape. In other words, they work just as well for athletes as they do "dabblers."

I gotta say...there's something kind of heady about doing an overhead press with a good chunk of weight. It's almost a spiritual feeling. Like lifting the Rock of Gibraltar or the Stone of Sisyphus. It's a one of a kind feeling that has to experienced to really feel it.

Enjoy!

- Greg

Baseball Games Could Go On Forever

Baseball Games Could Go On Forever

               

     Ever considered that football, soccer, basketball, and hockey are all played within the confines of a timed game clock and baseball is not? It’s one thing that sets America’s pastime apart from the other team sports that are most often televised. Four quarters, two halves, three periods… these increments end after a certain duration of time expires and the clock hits zero. Baseball however is not timed on a clock, but rather is dictated by how quickly you can record three outs in an inning and then the game is complete after 9 innings. It is a different sort of a commitment that can go on somewhat indefinitely, and there are no ties in the game baseball.

              

      

    

      I should mention that I love the game of baseball, I always have as far back as I can remember. I was always spending spring to fall watching it, playing it, keeping track of statistics, and reading about it. Baseball was and is an immersive endeavor for me, and here’s why. I love the game and the eventual outcome, but the games within the game are the little battles of will along the way that most interest me. My dad, my brother, and I have a habit of texting in a group message during the game and especially after a win. The tradition started several years ago with my Dad calling to check in on my Grandfather after a win. Still, the three of us watched nightly as the Orioles suffered through fourteen consecutive losing seasons, we watched every inning of every game because we love the games within the game and hey, that’s what real fans do! Fair weather fans? Ain’t nobody got time for that.

               

     Baseball is a steady presence in our lives and it is one constant that never waivers. It provides us a common bond and is always there at seven o’clock on a summer night. If it rains, they wait it out. If it rains all night, they’ll play two games tomorrow! How great is that? Sometimes they’ll only charge a single admission and you’ll get bonus baseball!

               

     For generations, fathers and sons have bonded and grown over America’s pastime. The lessons contained in this great game are many- learning how to deal with adversity, working hard, practicing, giving it your all, as well as being a team player are values that every parent should want to impart on to their children. Contained within a beautifully complex game are lessons for life and things that apply off the baseball field.

                

A few father and son tandems in Major League Baseball over the years:

• Ken Griffey Sr and Ken Griffey Jr.

• Cal Ripken Sr, Cal Ripken Jr, and Billy Ripken

• Ernie Johnson Sr and Ernie Johnson Jr

• Bob Boone and Aaron and Bret Boone

• Mel Stottlemyre and Todd Stottlemyre

   
 Here is a clever article outlining some of the bloodlines throughout baseball history with a pair of fictional lineups from the San Diego Fathers and the Phoenix Sons.

The elder Cal Ripken was a longtime coach and manager in the Baltimore Orioles organization and both Cal Jr and Billy would go on to play in the major leagues, with Cal becoming the “Iron Man” for his record 2632 consecutive games played. Values instilled from a life spent in and around the game continue to give back as Ripken Baseball is very active in both Minor League Baseball and Little League baseball. The Ripken World Series is played every summer up in Aberdeen, just a few miles from where the Ripken boys grew up. Ken Griffey Jr. was fortunate enough to have actively played in games with his Dad as they were a part of the 1990 and 91 Seattle Mariners teams. On September 14, 1990 in what must have been quite a thrill, the Father and Son duo hit back to back home runs in a game. Baseball on its surface is just a game, but look a little deeper and you will see a legacy of generations connecting through sport in some pretty unique ways.

Joe Young~ The Grass Is Always Greener

I smoke marijuana. There, I said it.

Intrigued? Now, in all honesty, I’m just messing with you. I haven’t smoked in quite some time. This is not to say, however, that I have anything against those that indulge in marijuana use. And in my opinion, neither should you.

I realize that this is a hot topic and that not everyone will feel the same way as I do, but please hear me out. I want to make it clear that I am not advocating for legal marijuana use. I also don’t believe in the juvenile disposition that makes someone feel as though they can get stoned all the time without any repercussions.

Instead I would just like to take a minute of your time to discuss some of the benefits one can experience from prescribed marijuana use. Those afraid of the truth should exit the post at this time…

I think we have all heard about marijuana being good for people undergoing chemotherapy because it helps their appetite return. However, that is simply scratching the surface. To name a few more…

OTHER MEDICAL BENEFITS: 

• Can be used to prevent and treat glaucoma
• Can help control epileptic seizures
• Can decrease anxiety
• Slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease

source

The next topic I want to discuss is one that I expect to catch some heat for: the benefits of THC use for the developmentally disabled. Again, I do not claim to have all the answers, so all of you would-be criticizers, please step down off of your soapboxes.

BENEFITS FOR THE DISABLED

Let me start off by saying that there are a number of developmental disabilities that exist, and I will not even pretend to act like marijuana will benefit each of them. That being said, I feel that if marijuana use could bring a disabled individual some peace, it would be irresponsible to ignore this possibility.

An example of marijuana helping rather than hurting a situation can be seen in Alex Echols’ case. Alex is described as “severely autistic” and would often go into fits of rage where he would attempt to injure himself, as well as others. This is a situation that hits particularly close to home for me because my younger brother displayed similar behaviors when he was an adolescent.

 Alex Echols

Alex’s parents described a number of possible solutions that they explored for their son. They took Alex to private doctors, exposed him to water therapy, and built a sensory room in their home, but they were to no avail.

According to the Huffington Post, Alex’s mother was the one who found out about medical marijuana use in children with autism. Alex began the treatment, and his family reports that they have seen a drastic change in his behavior. This is a fantastic breakthrough for Alex. However the group home that he currently lives in does not grant him the use of medical marijuana due to federal laws.

source

I would like to end this post with my own simple opinion, because this is a topic that I do feel strongly about. I will just say that I think it is absurd that we live in a country where it’s legal to go buy a fifth of whiskey and a six-pack, and drink to your heart’s content, but the same can’t be said for marijuana users. Maybe I am being naïve, but I think that marijuana is still illegal today because of fear of change and nothing more. Our society is, for the most part, a progressive one, and I cannot figure out for the life of me why we cannot change here when there is so much evidence supporting why we should.