Friday, June 09, 2017

Fwd: SKWIM



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bret

Kevin,


I just heard you will be visiting here in Paso Robles tomorrow.  That's great.  I look forward to meeting you.  Let me just say thank you for creating and promoting this game.  It is a lot of fun.  This will be the second summer I will play SKWIM, with last year being the first. 


So my SKWIM story started last year about this time.  I had spent the last three years watching my son play water polo.  I saw how much fun the boys were having and I wanted to play too.  Though truth be told, water polo would be way too rough for me.  But that still didn't stop me from wanting to play some type of team water sport.  Sadly, actually frustratingly, there was no team water sport games that I could find.  And I don't just mean I couldn't find any team water sport games in my town, but even through an internet search I could not find any meaningful team water sport games through out the world either.  I think the closest I came was underwater hockey (seriously, it's  game where you hold your breath and dive down to advance a weighted puck). 


Then a few things happened.  First, when I lamented my unresolved yearning for a water sport game to my coworker, he told me a little story.  While vacationing in Washington on the lake shore one day, he came across some folks passing a yellow foam disc across the water.  Those folks were very friendly and included my coworker in passing this disc among them.  When the folks left, they said my coworker could hold on to the disc.  Well, as you know, this yellow foam disc was a SKWIM disc.  When my coworker told me about this, I looked SKWIM up on the internet and was immediately captivated.  I so wanted to try SKWIM out.  Problem was I needed a pool. 


As it turns out, at this same time, our community pool was due to be reopened after five or so years of being closed due to budget issues.  This pool would be perfect for SKWIM.  It was just long enough and one could touch bottom the whole span so people with multiple swimming backgrounds could participate.  I approached my city about the prospect of having SKWIM being played.  I was soon put in contact with Lynda, who you now know.  Together, the two of us brainstormed a way to make it work.  We were able to squeeze in two sessions a week for a total of nine sessions.  Everybody who played had a great time. SKWIM is just what I was looking for.  It's a great non contact team game to play in the water.  The spacing of the game is perfect and the way passes are made by gliding the disc across the water is amazing. 


I don't know if you know much about our town, Paso Robles, but it can get really hot here in the summer.  So having SKWIM during the summer was a fantastic experience.  I am thrilled that we have the opportunity to play again this summer.


Bret Halebsky

Hi Bret:

 

  1. Thanks for being a SKWIM pioneer!
  2. How did you find out about SKWIM?
  3. When did you first start to play some SKWIM?
  4. What is your watersports background?
  5. A Capo Beach guy?  Surfer? Salt Creek 😊
  6. How did you get folks to first try it?

 

Bret:

 

We are writing the original SKWIM Story Book.

  • Dedication/Purpose/Mission
  • My family SKWIM story
  • A game for the whole family
  • Ways to play
  • Safe Play / International Rules
  • SKWIM Gear and care
  • Play SKWIM / Learn to Swim
  • Fin Swimming Saves More Lives
  • SKWIM Certification
  • C.A.R.E. Campaign
  • Water Stories

In this "Water Stories" section we will publish multiple short stories; 250-500 words only, stories about safety, heroic rescues, enrichment, fulfilment, enlightenment, discovery, exploration, about the water.  Bret:  Can you share a story with us that we can publish – one of your most memorable times in the water!?

 

All the best,

 

Kevin

 

Coach Kevin I. McCarthy

kevin@skwiminternational.org

www.skwiminternational.org

SKWIM® Global Development

CC:  1 - 425-802-2167  (USA)

Address: 1125 205th Avenue NE

Sammamish WA  98074-6654 USA

Transform your pool, your community, and public safety with SKWIM® game play!     

 

.         

   -     RESPONSE            -             ENDURANCE             -            DISTANCE    -

International SKWIM® Certification

Water Safety, Spirit and Sportsmanship through SKWIM® Game Play

 

 

SKWIM® USA is a 501c3 non-profit

 

 

 

 




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Ta.
 
 
Mark Rauterkus       Mark@Rauterkus.com
PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim & Water Polo Camp Executive Coach
Varsity Boys Swim Coach, Pittsburgh Obama Academy
Recent Head Water Polo Coach, Carnegie Mellon University Women's Club Team
Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team

http://CLOH.org

412 298 3432 = cell

Thursday, June 08, 2017

Fwd: This really upset me


---------- Forwarded message ----------



I'm a pretty positive person but I felt I had to write this email.
You probably know that within the last few days we've launched the School of Thought Clinics that Matt Kredich hosts annually at the University of Tennessee.
It's exciting that we can help provide access to the School of Thought Clinics because I really admire what Matt does in continually bringing in outside experts to learn and better himself and his program.
Honestly the response to it has been awesome with tons of coaches taking advantage of this great resource that is now available online.
But one coach felt the need to email us and complain.
What was he complaining about?
Not the videos or not getting his login info or anything like that.
He was complaining that he disagreed with some of Jan Olbrecht's training conclusions, and therefore we shouldn't be providing this resource…..because he disagrees with it…..
He also went on to say just because someone like Maglischo has a "PhD" behind his name that it doesn't mean anything about whether the information was good or not.
And this is where my frustration shifts to confusion and borderline sadness for this coach.
First, I wasn't saying that PhD's mean you know everything when I mentioned Maglischo was in attendance at the clinic but rather pointing out that the best coaches know a lot but STILL want to keep learning. Maglischo himself in the podcast I did with him a while back said he made some big mistakes in this thinking and recommendations.
But guess what? He's still learning and trying to get better!

He could have just written the first book (Swimming Fast) and been done. But no, he's improved his thinking to then write Swimming Faster, and then Swimming Fastest and now even his latest release.

If you don't know this by now let me be perfectly clear about our position at RITTER and what not only myself but the rest of our team's goal is:

We provide opportunities to learn to be a better coach or swimmer, not "right way" methods.

What we will not do is be the "gatekeepers" in deciding what is the "right way" to do something or the "wrong way" to do something. I'm certainly not smart enough to keep up with everything.

I am, I think skilled at finding those that are doing things differently and spotting great practitioners, who themselves are trying to continually get better.

A small example of this was a blog that Abbie our Technique Coach wrote about the multiple ways to pull in freestyle. Not the singular "right way" but the options to choose from depending on the circumstances.

Why do we take this approach?

Because the sport of swimming proves over and over again that there are so many ways to achieve success.

It's not about finding the singular "right way" and then everything magically falls into place.

What is necessary is knowing the principles of exercise science, stroke technique, nutrition and recovery. Then blend it altogether and be continually open to learning new things. There's continual evolution in our sport and so the "best" ways to train always shift over time.

As a coach if you ever feel you've "arrived" and figured it completely out, well that's either the moment you get left behind and/or it's when you start sending emails like the one I got yesterday.

If you listen to any handful of podcasts and especially in the Coaches Corner you'll hear really successful coaches continually say that they are still trying to figure it out. And whenever they feel certain there's usually a twist coming up soon.

A great example of this is currently featured in the Coaches Corner – Gregg Parini of Denison University. Gregg has been there a long time and been producing great results for a long time. But in multiple instances of the talks we done so far, it's always come up that complacency leads to lower performance, as a coach or a swimmer.

Gregg is always trying to figure out a better way and not comfortable with just copying what worked last season because they "figured it out."

Now please understand me too. I'm not saying that just because you get access to something like the School of Thought that you are required to believe everything and implement everything.

Absolutely not!

I think most of you don't make that mistake but if everyone knew that, well then I wouldn't get emails like I did yesterday.

It's always better to listen to other experts and get ideas and then decide how it fits into your program. That's the mindset we operate with here and the one I think is best for all coaches.

Learn. Test. Adapt. Repeat. That's basically the process of becoming a better coach. But if you stop learning or even being open to it then that you get stuck and stagnant.

So that brings us to the opportunity that you have now. With over 40+ hours of video lectures and discussion in the School of Thought Clinics there's a ton of opportunity for you to learn something here that you can apply to how you run your program.

And…… we just announced some awesome NEW Free Bonuses when you purchase any School of Thought Clinic.


BONUS #1

Dave Salo - Case Study: Follow along as Coach Salo talks you through 4 full weeks of workouts for his pro team, college athletes and even campers at his swim camp. Get access to PDF copies of the workouts as well as audio of Coach Salo's discussion about the training.

BONUS #2
Bob Bowman Presentation from the 1st Global Swimming Summit. Coach Bowman talks about the greatest impacts on his as developing coach as well as training philosophies and much more.
**Bonuses will only be available for a limited time and will expire at midnight tonight so don't delay in getting access to the School of Thought Clinic.



Keep learning – ALWAYS and enjoy!


-Chris

PS - Remember the Bonuses listed above will be yours for FREE with the purchase of any School of Thought Clinic. These Bonuses will expire tonight at midnight so don't miss out.

Getting more people eligible to coach in Pittsburgh Public Schools requires a change in the city's charter


Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Fwd: Summer Polo


Hey!  We've been sharing a lot of information about polo practices and such on our Facebook Group (Waterpolo PGH Masters), but I wanted to make sure that any of you that aren't on Facebook or haven't yet joined the group knew about summer practices.

We will be playing on Tuesdays again this summer at Ammon pool (2217 Bedford Ave, Pittsburgh), from 6-7:45, weather permitting, as the pool is outdoors.  We'll start next Tuesday, 6/13. We can go for drinks after as well, if people are interested. 

Also, we'll be practicing tomorrow night, 6/8, from 6:30 - 8:30 at Obama High school. 

Hope to see you all at the pool soon!!!

Tuesday, June 06, 2017

Fwd: The Programmer’s Oath



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: freeCodeCamp <letters@medium.com>
Date: Monday, June 5, 2017
Subject: The Programmer's Oath
To: mark@rauterkus.com


freeCodeCamp

The Programmer's Oath

A few months ago, we published Bill Sourour's article "The code I'm still ashamed of." The article sparked a discussion about ethics throughout the global developer community.

Managers often put developers in an awkward position by asking them to write ethically ambiguous code. And recently a number of companies have used code to break the law.

It's clear that— just like doctors, lawyers, and business people — developers need to study ethics and apply these principles in their day-to-day work.

Some universities are introducing developer ethics courses, but this alone isn't enough. There are 20 million professional developers out there, and millions of working adults who are transitioning into the software development field. Most of them don't have time to go back to school to take an ethics class. How can we introduce ethical concepts in a way that's practical enough for these busy developers?

So I reached out to Robert "Uncle Bob" Martin, the legendary programming coach behind the Clean Code book series. In 2015, Uncle Bob published an ethical framework for developers called "The Programmer's Oath."

Uncle Bob volunteered to create a series of short videos for freeCodeCamp's YouTube channel — one for each promise in his Programmer's Oath.

And today, I'm proud to announce that we've published the final video in the series. So now the entire series is available on YouTube — for free, and with no commercials.

You can watch Uncle Bob's The Programmer's Oath series here (it's 12 minutes long in total).

Here are the 9 promises of Uncle Bob's Programmer's Oath, from his original 2015 blog post:

  1. I will not produce harmful code.
  2. The code that I produce will always be my best work. I will not knowingly allow code that is defective either in behavior or structure to accumulate.
  3. I will produce, with each release, a quick, sure, and repeatable proof that every element of the code works as it should.
  4. I will make frequent, small, releases so that I do not impede the progress of others.
  5. I will fearlessly and relentlessly improve my creations at every opportunity. I will never degrade them.
  6. I will do all that I can to keep the productivity of myself, and others, as high as possible. I will do nothing that decreases that productivity.
  7. I will continuously ensure that others can cover for me, and that I can cover for them.
  8. I will produce estimates that are honest both in magnitude and precision. I will not make promises without certainty.
  9. I will never stop learning and improving my craft.

This is just the beginning. As software powers more and more of the world, developer ethics will become increasingly important.

As a small nonprofit that's helping millions of people become developers, freeCodeCamp will continue to publish videos and articles on this important topic.

I want to thank Uncle Bob for creating The Programmer's Oath and setting the bar so high for our profession. And I want to thank prolific YouTube contributor Beau Carnes for editing these videos.

Here are three other links worth your time:

  1. An overview of every Data Visualization course on the internet (14 minute read)
  2. How to stop errors before they ever hit your codebase with Travis CI and ESLint (6 minute read)
  3. How to get the most out of the JavaScript console (8 minute read)

Thought of the day:

"We programmers. We rule the world. We write the rules that make our society work.

"Think about it; and think about it carefully. Nothing happens in our society without software. Nothing.

"It's certainly true that the Earth turns, the Sun rises, the rain falls, and the tides recede and advance without the aid of software. But in our society, virtually nothing happens without the involvement of some kind of computer program.

Without software: Phones don't ring. Cars don't start. Planes don't fly. Bombs don't explode. Ships don't sail. Ovens don't bake. Garage doors don't open. Money doesn't change hands. Electricity doesn't get generated. And we can't find our way to the store. Nothing happens without software. And what is software? Software is a set of rules."

- Robert "Uncle Bob" Martin in "The Obligation of the Programmer"

Image of the day:

Webcomic by CommitStrip

Study group of the day:

freeCodeCamp Tokyo

Happy coding!

– Quincy Larson, teacher at freeCodeCamp

If you get value out of these emails, please consider supporting our nonprofit.

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Ta.


Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com
Swimming and Water Polo Coach, Schenley High School, Pittsburgh, PA
http://CLOH.wikia.com
412 298 3432 = cell

Fwd: Summer is Almost Here - Try These Easy Cardio Fit Tips For Everyone

 Forwarded message ----------
June 2017 Newsletter
SOFTWARE FEEDBACK
We'd like to hear from you! 
 
We strive to provide teachers and administrators with the best tools to maximize fitness assessment in physical education.
 
Take our customer satisfaction survey to give us the scoop.

Please tell us about your experience! 
 
 
CPR AWARENESS WEEK
The first day of summer will be here in no time, which means vacation season, an increase in outdoor and water activities, and warm weather. 

June 1st - June 7th is National CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Awareness Week. 

Whether you'll be spending summer on the beach, at your local community pool, exploring the great outdoors, or just relaxing, be prepared for summer safety by learning CPR.

Did you know? Cardiac arrest, which can be triggered by a heart attack, drowning or other underlying conditions, is when the heart suddenly stops beating. CPR can nearly double to triple a person's chance of survival. Nearly 70% of cardiac arrests happen inside the home, which means if you ever have to perform CPR on someone, chances are it will be someone you know.

Are you and your students trained in CPR? The American Heart Association has great resources on CPR, including Hands-Only CPR, which you can learn online in a snap. Don't be caught off guard this summer - be prepared to be a lifesaver.


  • Fact Sheets
  • Downloads
  • CPR week campaign information


 
CARDIO FIT TIP
In April, we introduced you to circuit training strategies designed to improve FitnessGram® scores. The circuit training session should alternate one minute of cardio exercise with 1 minute of strength exercise. As mentioned previously, the strength training routine should target all major muscle groups. However, creating fun and innovative ways to include cardio can be a challenge. Incorporate fit tip cardio strategies to make your next circuit training workout a fun activity for kids of all ages.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 
QUESTIONS
Software Support questions: Contact the FitnessGram® Help Desk at Myhealthyzone.fitnessgram.net/ContactUs.  


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--
Ta.


Mark Rauterkus       Mark.Rauterkus@gmail.com
Swimming and Water Polo Coach, Schenley High School, Pittsburgh, PA
http://CLOH.wikia.com
412 298 3432 = cell

Monday, June 05, 2017

Fwd: War without end . . .

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John H


Sometimes it seems that we have somehow traveled into a far future of dystopian absurdism and are trapped in an endless repetition of mass insanity, only to discover that this future is our present – a present too awful to be believed.  

Most Americans are simply unable or willing to grasp the fact that the United States has become the evil empire that we are constantly told is a threat to our very existence.  Unfortunately, it is all too true that the U.S. has, in fact, become a threat not only to our continued existence, but to the existence of every human on the planet.  Our propensity to wage war against anyone and everyone who displeases us, or threatens to sell their oil for Euros rather than for Dollars, or operates a stable regime in the Middle East or Southeast Asia, or a freaky, paranoid regime on the Korean peninsula or wherever we might decide our corporate interests are threatened by national interests other than our own has become virtually unlimited.  

We have senior military personnel and political leaders who are convinced that we can (and should) win a nuclear war with Russia and China since it will certainly insure our domination of the earth forever more.  This is insanity and we are riding the cusp of a wave of political narcissism that seems for the moment to be unstoppable.

Attached are two articles examining some to this madness which I strongly urge you to read.


John

Links to PDF articles:



Fwd: Are You Challenging Yourself Enough?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Darius Foroux

Conventional wisdom says that you should jump outside your comfort zone to reach the 'magic.' I never understood that saying. What magic are we talking about? Unicorns? Men from Mars? An orgasm? What? I don't know.

Here's the thing: I've tried leaping out of my comfort zone, and it didn't work out for me. However, I've also tried to take things very slowly. That also didn't work out for me. I've found that you need a balance between challenge and comfort. And that's a very, very, difficult thing to do.
The reason is that doing challenging things requires skill (see drawing above). The more challenging the task, the more skill you need. The problem with taking huge leaps is that you don't have the skills to address the challenge.
It's a concept I learned from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's seminal book on the way we work, Flow. After studying the relationship between challenge and boredom, he found that a combination of both factors leads to personal growth.
Csikszentmihalyi says:
"One cannot enjoy doing the same thing at the same level for long. We grow either bored or frustrated; and then the desire to enjoy ourselves again pushes us to stretch our skills, or discover new opportunities for using them."
It sounds like common sense, right? Instead of taking big steps, take smaller, and more controlled steps. But never get too comfortable because that's boring. And once you get bored, you stop growing. But life is about forward motion—that's what ultimately helps us grow.
To illustrate this concept, let's do a little exercise.
Which one of the following three statements describes your situation best?
  • A) I'm bored.
  • B) I'm stretched too thin.
  • C) I feel like I'm challenging myself without going insane.
Do this if you answer A (I'm bored)
Get out your bubble and do something new. Discover new things in life. Pick up a new sport. Find a different job. Take on different projects. You need a challenge.
But also remember this: Don't get addicted to novelty. Learn to love learning. When you hop from one thing to the next, you never get good at anything. Again, it's about balance.
Do this if you answered B (I'm stretched too thin)
Take a step back. Give up. Quit. Say, "Screw you guys! I'm going home!" You need to accept that it's okay if something is too much. Things are too much for a reason. Find out what that is. Then, address that problem so it doesn't happen again in the future. Learn from your past experiences.
Do this if you answered C (I feel like I'm challenging myself without going insane)
Just keep it up.

Want to know more about how I personally tackle this topic?

Listen to my latest podcast episode where I share two personal stories that highlight the balance between challenge and boredom.
  • One story is about how I took on a project in New York that failed miserably.
  • The other story is about how I started my blog.

Thanks for reading! If you have a question/challenge you want me to talk about, hit reply and let me know.

Stay smart,

Darius




Saturday, June 03, 2017

Fwd: New Ropes Course Opens This June at Carnegie Science Center!


View email online.
Carnegie Science Center Logo
Featured Events in June

NEW! Defy Gravity on the Ropes Challenge
Opens Monday, June 19
Ropes Challenge Course
Take science to new heights on Highmark SportsWorks® NEW Ropes Challenge course! Navigate obstacles, "walk the plank," or zoom down a zipline in this amazing new exhibit. For younger visitors, the SkyTyke's ropes course offers adventure a little closer to the ground. The Ropes Challenge is included with general admission!
Discover More


Mark Your Calendar Now for the 31-Hour Omnimax Movie Marathon
THINK FUN – Events for Everyone

Saturday, July 8 to Sunday, July 9
31 Hour Omnimax Marathon
It's a round-the-clock send-off to our beloved Rangos Omnimax Theater. Fans of the Omnimax will have one more chance to enjoy Omni technology before its transformation this fall into The Rangos Giant Cinema with the largest screen and the most technologically advanced and immersive visual and audio systems in Pittsburgh. For just one admission price for all 31 hours of the Marathon, guests will enjoy unlimited Omnimax movies, four floors of exhibits, plus Highmark SportsWorks®, plus special shows and even a souvenir piece of film!
Discover More
Sponsored by:
Dollar Bank logo


Party Like it's 1999 at 21+ Prom
Friday, June 16
21+ event
Dress up and strike a prom pose at the selfie station, or get a prom picture taken in front of a fun green screen backdrop. Grab a drink from the bar and dance the night away with music from Pittsburgh DJ Company, or perfect your moves to your favorite high school jams with the Pittsburgh Dance Center. Plus, bring a prom photo and enjoy a special discount at the XPLOR Store!
Discover More
Sponsored by:

Sponsors's logo

Sponsors's logo



Dream Big Summer Engineering Activities
Now until June 18
Dream Big Summer
Join us this summer as we DREAM BIG and celebrate engineering with hands‑on design challenges for any age that will test your brain – and your imagination!
Discover More


Bring in a Snowball and Name Your Own Admission Price!
Wednesday, June 21
Snowball Day
Did you save a snowball from this past winter? Bring it to the Science Center on Snowball Day! Anyone who brings a snowball on June 21 gets to name their own admission price and (weather permitting) launch their own snowball into the river.
Discover More
Sponsored by:


NEW! Special Sensory-Sensitive Night Takes Adults Behind the Science
Thursday, June 22
Sensory Sensitive Night
Adults 18 and older and their friends are invited to a brand-new event designed for those affected by sensory processing disorders. Enjoy special shows and demonstrations adapted with the needs of the sensory-sensitive in mind. All activities will have adaptations such as lower volumes, soothing light levels, or hands-on components to make the evening a comfortable experience.
Discover More


Learn About Life in the Navy on Navy Day
Thursday, June 22
Navy Day
Meet some of the robotic members of the US Navy! See the state-of-the-art technology used to defuse explosive devices, or take control of a remotely operated vehicle. Visitors can try on a bomb suit or dive helmet and meet with officers and crew members from the USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720) submarine.
Discover More


Dive Deep Into the History of USS Requin
Sunday, June 25
Requin Submarine
Go behind the scenes of USS Requin (SS 481) and into areas rarely seen by the visiting public on a Tech Tour! See how these amazing vessels and their crew faced challenges and life underwater. Explore unrestored compartments, see the conning tower, and check out the periscope!
Discover More


See What's Special in the Sky at the Near Solstice SkyWatch
Friday, June 23
Skywatch
The middle of June brings the longest day of the year. But there are some special celestial happenings you can see at night! Join us in our rooftop observatory for a look at the summer sky! If clouds get in the way of the view, SkyWatch continues with a tour of the heavens in the Buhl Planetarium.
Discover More
Buhl Planetarium is sponsored by:

PACLS logo


Discover the "Zika Virus Effect" at the Next Café Sci
Monday, June 5
Cafe Sci
Join Westminister College Assistant Professor Diana Ortiz as she discusses how we might finally win the war on vector-borne diseases at the next Café Scientifique. Admission to Café Sci is free, and beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase.
Discover More


NEW! Hands-Only CPR Kiosk Debuts in Highmark SportsWorks®
LifeWorks
Five minutes of your time could save a life! Learn Hands-Only CPR in this informative new exhibit developed by the American Heart Association.
Discover More


Spaces Still Available for Science Summer Camps!
Our week-long camps for kids ages 4-14 keep the learning going outside the classroom. Call, or save time and register online. Many of our most popular camps are filling quickly, so sign your camper up today!
Discover More
Sponsored by:
Isaly's Logo

Special hours and closings


Reminder: Highmark SportsWorks®
Closed June 12 – 16

Highmark SportsWorks® will be closed during the installation of the awesome new Ropes Challenge course. All other exhibit areas of the Science Center are open during this time.
Carnegie Science Center
One Allegheny Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15212


412.237.3400 phone
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One of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh