Gary Barlow has declared this year's X Factor finalists the “best ever” as 16-year-old Ella Henderson and chimney sweep Kye Sones easily progressed to the live shows.

Barlow was pleased with the selection of all the judges, saying: “This year we really got the crème de la crème with our finalists and it was difficult for all of us to choose our three acts.”

He continued: “The level of talent has increased this year and I think it is the best finalist line-up ever.”

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“The level of talent has increased this year”: Gary Barlow and his X-Factor colleagues have selected their candidates for this year’s live shows

THE BOYS – Mentor: Nicole Scherzinger

WHO: James Arthur, 24, from Middlesbrough.

Did you know? After running away from home, he often slept outdoors and says music was his coping mechanism.

Why he thinks he should win: “I will bring versatility, passion and pure emotion to the competition and when given the chance to showcase my songwriting skills, I will hopefully show exactly why I should win the competition.”

What Nicole says: “He is so brilliant, he is a modern poet. He is really something special. He is a real artist and I am very happy to work with him.”

James Arthur: “I will bring versatility, passion and pure emotion to the competition”

WHO: Rylan Clark, 23, from Essex.

Did you know? When he reached boot camp, he was stripped naked and dragged through a bar before passing out in a hotel elevator.

Why he thinks he should win: “I'm going to perform on The X Factor that no contestant has ever done before. I want to be the first dance artist to come out of the show. I just hope people pick up the phone.”

What Nicole says: “He's full of spikes and glitter, we need diva music and powerful diva anthems for him. He would definitely have his own audience.”

Rylan Clark: “I want to be the first dance artist to come out of this show. I hope people pick up the phone.”

WHO: Jahmene Douglas, 22, from Swindon.

Did you know? Before wowing the judges at his audition in London with his rendition of Etta James’ “At Last,” he worked at Asda.

Why he thinks he should win: “I am not confident in any way, but I express myself through singing because speaking is not my strong point at all.”

What Nicole says: “He has an incredible voice – he needs a lot of support and love and I'm definitely ready to give it to him.”

Jahmene Douglas: “Singing is my way of expressing myself because speaking is not my strong point at all.”

THE GIRLS – Mentor: Tulisa Contostavlos

WHO: Jade Ellis, 25, from London.

Did you know? She worked as a bicycle mechanic and has a six-year-old daughter named Cayden.

Why she thinks she should win: “There is a gap in the market for young British female urban singers. From the beginning I have taken every opportunity to learn more about myself as an artist and I will continue to take steps to improve and grow.”

What Tulisa says: “She's amazing – when you hear a voice like that, you just can't let go.”

Jade Ellis: “From the beginning, I have taken every opportunity to learn more about myself as an artist and I will continue to take steps to improve and develop myself.”

WHO: Ella Henderson, 16, from Grimsby.

Did you know? Grammy-winning singer Cher recently expressed her joy over Ella's cover of her song “Believe” on Twitter.

Why she thinks she should win: “I believe I have a lot to give and I am fully dedicated to my music. I know that through this show I will grow as an artist and my confidence will grow every week.”

What Tulisa says: “She's so incredible. She just radiates this innocence when she sings and loses herself in the moment. It's beautiful, really.”

Ella Henderson: “I will grow as an artist and my confidence will grow every week.”

WHO: Lucy Spraggan, 20, from Sheffield.

Did you know? When she's not performing in shows, she sells baby portraits to earn some extra money. She used to work as a demolition expert.

Why she thinks she should win: “I want the public to see how hard I have worked, to share my experiences with them, to entertain them and to succeed in the music industry. If I could do that by winning this year's show, I would be over the moon.”

What Tulisa says: “I love her more than anything. As a mentor, you like the music your artists play and what they sing, but it's rare that you can be a fan of the contestants, and I'm a fan of Lucy.”

Lucy Spraggan: “I want the public to see how hard I have worked. I want to share my experiences with the public, entertain them and be successful in the music industry.”

OVER 28 YEARS – Mentor: Gary Barlow

WHO: Melanie Masson, 44, from North London.

Did you know? She has collaborated with the likes of Kasabian, Stereophonics, Fatboy Slim and Happy Mondays, released a single in 2007 and signed a deal with industry heavyweight EMI.

Why she thinks she should win: “It would be so positive to show that no matter where you are in your life, what you've done before or how old you are, you can still achieve your goals, achieve your dreams, be taken seriously and continue to be relevant.”

What Gary says: “She is an incredible talent. She is a true soul singer.”

Melanie Masson: “It would be so positive to show that you can still achieve your goals, realize your dreams, be taken seriously and still be relevant, no matter where you are in life.”

WHO: Carolynne Poole, 32, from Huddersfield.

Did you know? Her dreams of fame were shattered when Louis Walsh sent her home after the Judge's House stage of The X Factor in 2011.

Why she thinks she should win: “I think The X Factor needs to realise that country is more than just line dancing and cowboy boots!! It would be so great to show the world that the great country voices don't just come from America!”

What Gary says: “She has an incredible voice, she knows who she is and where she is going, and to top it all off, she is beautiful.”

Carolynne Poole: “I think The X Factor needs to realise that country isn’t just line dancing and cowboy boots!!”

WHO: Kye Sones, 30, from London.

Did you know? He makes his living sweeping chimneys for other people.

Why he thinks he should win: “If I won The X Factor, it would be a victory for anyone who has never given up on anything. It would show people that you should never give up on your dreams, no matter how many setbacks you experience.”

What Gary says: “I'm looking forward to learning from him because I think he's someone who knows a lot about music and I think he'll be a great candidate.”

He's through: Kye Sones has made it to the live performances

THE GROUPS – Mentor: Louis Walsh

WHO: GMD3 – Greg, 18, Dan, 19, Mickey, 18 – from Windsor.

Did you know? They met at school and enjoy watching the Inbetweeners, going to the gym and playing football.

Why they believe they should win: “We hope to show people something new and exciting that they haven’t seen before in this great show.”

What Louis says: “I love them. These guys can sing, they have a great harmony sound, they are nice guys, they work hard and they tick all the boxes.”

Cheeky guys: GMD3 will undoubtedly have many female fans on the show

WHO: MK1 – Charlotte Rundle, 19, and Simeon Dixon, 24 – from London.

Did you know? Before their trip to Las Vegas to see Judges Houses, Simeon broke his ankle and Charlie had to push him around in a wheelchair the whole trip. Now his cast has been removed and Simeon is getting physical therapy to make sure he is in top shape for the first live show.

Why they believe they should win: “The thought of being the first duo to win is really exciting. We're also a niche band that hopefully works in our current market.”

What Louis says: “They are so current and relevant to today's charts and Charlie has an amazing, original and brilliant voice.”

Double trouble: Duo MK1 also takes part in the next stage of the competition

WHO: Union J – Jamie Hamblett (JJ), 24, George Shelley, 19, Josh Cuthbert, 20, and Jaymi Hensley, 22 – from Ascot, Bristol, Luton and Newmarket.

Did you know? Jaymi is a part-time singing and dance teacher, Josh works in IT sales, JJ works with horses and George works part-time in a café.

Why they believe they should win: “We are new and fresh. We haven't been together long, but I hope the public sees the potential in us. We are four normal, down-to-earth guys who love to sing.”

What Louis says: “The guys have a great young image, the girls will love them, they have everything – great energy, looks and the singing to match.”

They are overjoyed: The boy band Union J jumped for joy when they found out that they had made it through

And of course they are all on Twitter…

The young

James Arthur @jamesarthur23

Rylan Clark @RylanClark

Jahmene Douglas @JahmeneDouglas

The girls

Jade Ellis @jadaface101

Ella Henderson @ella_henderson

Lucy Spraggan @lspraggan

Those over 28 years old

Melanie Masson @MelanieMasson1

Carolynne Poole @CarolynnePoole

Kye Sones @Kyesones1

The groups

GMD3 @GMD3music

MK1 @mk1official

Union J @UnionJworld

Bookmakers’ odds

Ella Henderson 5/4

James Arthur 6/1

Carolynne Poole 12/1

GMD3 14/1

Melanie Masson20/1

Christopher Maloney 28/1

Amy Mottram 40/1

Adam Burridge 50/1

Jahmene Douglas 6/1

Kynes Sones 8/1

Lucy Spraggan12/1

Jade Ellis 20/1

Union J 20/1

MK1 33/1

Ryan Clark 40/1

Times Red 50/1 (William Hill)

VIDEO: Tears at X Factor. The selection of the final 12 was more than just emotional…

The post Ella Henderson, chimney sweep Kye Sones and single mom Jade Ellis make it appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

It is a journey of self-discovery that puts participants in the spotlight and showered with the attention of a horde of adoring fans.

Therefore, it is no surprise that Kye Sones has ended his relationship with American beauty editor Halle Carlson.

The couple have apparently split ahead of 30-year-old chimney sweep Kye's debut on The X Factor live shows this weekend.

X Factor Kye Sones Halle Carlson Twitter appearance: Kye sang for judge Gary Barlow and guest mentor Cheryl Cole in the judges' houses

A source told The Sun: “Halle supported him all the way to bootcamp. But Kye believes X Factor will change his life forever and that it has given him the push he needed to end the relationship.”

The handsome star was reportedly mobbed by women at trendy London bar Whiskey Mist last week and received a lot of attention from fans of the show.

Cheryl and Gary: The duo chose Kye, Melanie and Carolynne to take part in the live shows after their performances in the judges' houses

The singer performed in the competition's house round in front of judge Gary Barlow and guest mentor Cheryl Cole.

Kye flirted with Cheryl during filming, but his biggest mistake is said to have been when he told the Geordie singer that he had a girlfriend.

The source added: “If he had a second chance with Cheryl, he would take it.”

A spokesperson for X Factor confirmed the couple's split to The Sun: “Kye and Halle have separated. They remain good friends.”

Kye recently told MailOnline that he feels confident as a contestant over 28, explaining that contestants in this category are more confident in both their style and their music.

“I know I've had every worst haircut in the world. You stick with what works for you. So when you say, 'How about this?' you're more likely to say, 'No, I've done that before and it didn't really work out.'”

“So you know who you are as a person and that goes for music as well. So that's something we're all very comfortable with. We all know who we're going to be in the future,” he added.

Kye, who is close friends with TV presenter Fearne Cotton, wowed the audience at his first audition with an impressive rendition of guest judge Rita Ora's single RIP.

He will appear in the first live show of The X Factor 2012 this Saturday alongside the 11 other finalists and one wildcard contestant.

Handsome: Kye's ex Halle Carlson reportedly stood by him during the judges' boot camp and house rounds. Friends: Gary and Kye have become friends and will be heading to the live shows this Saturday to begin the competition.

The post X Issue chimney sweep singer Kye Sones splits up along with his girlfriend Halle Carlson appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

• Edith Newman was born in Brighton in 1932 and joined her father’s business
• She worked in the 50s and 60s for stars such as George Robey
• Ms. Newman also worked in famous hotels such as the Metropole and the Grand
• Her son said he would miss “her wicked sense of humor”
• This included the request for a stripper gram as a gift for her 70th birthday

One of Britain's few female chimney sweeps who cleaned for the stars of the 1950s and 1960s has died.

Edith Newman worked for stars such as comedian and music hall star George Robey and met Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill while working in a number of major hotels.

Mrs Newman, who was 84 when she died, used traditional chimney brushes and more modern chimney vacuums to remove soot and ash from the chimneys of the Metropole Hotel, the Grand and the home of actor George Robey.

Edith Newman, one of the few female chimney sweeps in Great Britain. She died at the age of 84.

Her son Will Newman, 56, said his mother would be missed for her “mischievous sense of humor,” which led to her requesting a stripper profile for her 70th birthday.

Mrs Newman was born Edith Martin in Woodingdean, Brighton, East Sussex on 12 May 1932 and worked as one of the few female chimney sweeps in the country for Bru-Vac, her father William Martin's Brighton business.

She was just 22 when she joined her father's company and is considered the first female cleaner in Brighton.

Mr Newman remembers that as a child his mother introduced him to Winston Churchill, who was staying at the Dudley Hotel.

He said: “Through Mum's connection to the Dudley Hotel, she learned that Winston Churchill stayed there in the early 1960s.”

“She took us all there to meet him and he patted me on the head.”

She worked for stars such as comedian and music hall star George Robey and met Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill while working in a number of major hotels (pictured with her great-grandfather).

Mrs Newman's work also included hair-raising moments, such as crawling through the narrow, horizontal chimneys of the Cox Pill factory in Lewes Road, Brighton.

Mr Newman, who runs the Facebook history group Brighton Past, believes Edith was the only female chimney sweep at the time.

He said: “She was very proud of her work. I think she worked with her father for about 10 to 12 years.”

“As far as we know, she was the only one, and we had a newspaper clipping from Australia – even there they knew about her.”

Mrs. Newman was married to Fred Newman, cared for her three children full-time, and enjoyed her hobbies, fishing, and musicals.

Mrs Newman, who was 84 when she died, cleaned soot and ash from the chimneys of the Metropole Hotel, the GrandThis and the home of actor George Robey using traditional chimney brushes and more modern chimney vacuums. Mrs Newman was born Edith Martin in Woodingdean, Brighton, East Sussex on 12 May 1932 and worked for Bru-Vac, her father William Martin's Brighton business

She later lived in Whitehawk and met her partner Daniel Brown.

Mr Newman said he would miss his mother's mischievous sense of humour.

He added: “As my mother approached her 70th birthday, we asked her what she wanted. 'A stripper-gram,' she said. 'I've never seen one.'

“And that's what she got, a guy dressed as a cop – and she loved every second of it. That was my mother.”

Edith, who lived at Ireland Lodge Nursing Home in Woodingdean, died after a short illness on 23 December 2016.

She leaves behind her children Will and Ruby and nine grandchildren.

The post One in every of Britain’s solely feminine chimney sweeps dies at 84 appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

NLCS-Link:

Giants überflügeln Cardinals im 7. Spiel der NLCS und ziehen in die World Series ein: DJ Short, Hardball Talk

Schade, dass Spiel 7 in einem sintflutartigen Regenguss enden musste. Es waren die Baseballgötter, die über die Eliminierung der Cardinals schluchzten. Die Giants stehen jetzt bei 6:0 in Eliminierungsspielen. Die Serie endet in der World Series.

Spiel 7 der NLCS war kein besonders spannender Wettkampf, denn die Giants schlugen die Cardinals heute Abend im AT&T Park in San Francisco mit 9:0, holten sich die Meisterschaft der Nationalliga und zogen in die World Series gegen die Tigers ein.

Die Giants sind das siebte Team, das einen 1:3-Rückstand aufgeholt hat, seit die LCS 1985 von fünf auf sieben Spiele erweitert wurde. Bruce Bochys Team hat sich daran gewöhnt, in dieser Postseason mit dem Rücken zur Wand zu spielen und konnte auch während der NLDS einen 0:2-Serienrückstand aufholen und die Reds schlagen.

Detroit Tigers-Links:

Aufräumarbeiten: Grantland, Jonah Keri

Der De-facto-Closer der Tigers bekommt seine wohlverdienten 15 Minuten. Je mehr ich erfahre über Phil Cokedesto mehr mag ich ihn. Es hilft, dass er das lebende Klischee des exzentrischen, leicht aus dem Gleichgewicht geratenen linkshändigen Relievers ist.

Doch als seine Aussichten besser wurden, wurde das Geld noch knapper. Die Yankees hatten eine Regel, die es Spielern untersagte, während der Saison zu arbeiten, und wollten, dass sie sich im Frühjahr und Sommer auf Baseball konzentrierten. Eines Tages ging ein Mitarbeiter des Teams durch den Parkplatz des Hotels, in dem die Trainer während der Saison wohnten, um etwas Müll in den Müllcontainer zu werfen. Er blieb stehen, als er jemanden sah, den er erkannte. Es war einer seiner Pitcher, der sich von Ellbogenproblemen erholte und alles tat, um seine Rechnungen zu bezahlen, während er versuchte, wieder in Form zu kommen, um in der High-A Tampa zu pitchen. Er arbeitete als Hausmeister und trug einen Overall mit dem Namen des Hotels darauf. Es war Phil Coke.

Scherzer, Anibal, Coke werfen im zweiten Trainingsspiel: Jason Beck, DetroitTigers.com

Apropos Cola …

Phil Coke, der die letzten drei Spiele der American League Championship Series mit einem Sieg über die Yankees beendete, war ebenfalls in einem Inning dabei und sorgte auch für komische Momente. Sogar in einem simulierten Spiel stürmte er wie verrückt aus dem Bullpen. Dann, nachdem er drei schnelle Outs geschafft hatte, verlangte er den Ball zurück, damit er noch ein paar Würfe für ein weiteres Out bekommen konnte.

Nach einem weiteren Groundout versuchte Coke es erneut, doch sein Antrag auf ein Inning mit fünf Outs wurde abgelehnt.

Tigers-Pitcher konzentrieren sich beim heutigen Training aufs Bunting: Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press

Falls Sie sich gefragt haben, wann ein Artikel über das Schlagen der Pitcher der Tigers erscheinen würde, können Sie Ihre Fragen jetzt beantworten.

Die Detroit Tigers haben heute ihr Training im Comerica Park mit Bunts begonnen.

Viele von ihnen.

Mit … anfangen Rick Porcelloübten die Pitcher der Tigers heute vor dem Schlagtraining das Bunting mit einer Pitching-Maschine und bereiteten sich darauf vor, am Mittwochabend in die Batter’s Box zu treten.

Gedanken vor der World Series: Es ist dumm, Pitchern beim Schlagen zuzuschauen: Matt Snyder, Motor City Bengals

Wort. Verdammtes Wort.

Hier ist mein Gedankengang während des zweiten Innings von Spiel fünf der NLCS:

„Wow, die Cardinals haben Läufer auf der zweiten und dritten Base und nur ein Aus. Wenn sie diese Runs erzielen, könnte die Serie vorbei sein.“

„Moment mal, die Giants lassen Pete Kozma absichtlich laufen, um die Bases im ZWEITEN INNING zu füllen? Ach ja, Lance Lynn ist an der Reihe. Er hatte was… oh DREI HITS die ganze Saison über?”

„… und ja. Er schaffte es durch einen Groundball in ein Double Play. Das muss man sich mal vorstellen. Der Typ mit dem Schlagdurchschnitt von .060 konnte keine Runs erzielen.“

WS-VORSCHAU-KOLUMNE: Ich habe meinen Platz verloren. Machen wir immer noch das „Fire Leyland“-Ding? Out of Left Field, Matthew B. Mowery – The Oakland Press

Mowery ist auf Twitter sehr aktiv und hatte an der Social-Media-Front schon mit der lächerlichen „FIRE LEYLAND!“-Brigade zu tun, er weiß also, worüber er schreibt.

Hmm. Nun, er kann vor der World Series gefeuert werden, oder? Ich meine, es ist noch Zeit. Er führt im Alleingang ein Team auf World-Series-Niveau in den Ruin (das wurde mir zumindest gesagt). Man kann ihm unmöglich erlauben, IN der World Series als Manager aufzutreten. Ich meine, das wäre heuchlerisch.

Jim Leyland-Kostüme sind der letzte Schrei in Detroit: Kevin Kaduk, Big League Stew

Trotz seiner derzeitigen Popularität wird es, wenn die Tigers das erste Spiel der World Series verlieren, Sport-Talkshow-Radio-Anrufer geben, die Leylands Entlassung fordern werden. Sie wissen es, ich weiß es. Das ist es, was die Leyland-Hasser tun: Sie lauern und sind bereit anzurufen, sobald Leyland etwas tut, was sie für falsch halten. Dafür leben sie anscheinend.

Während die Tigers auf ihren Termin für die World Series warten, ist es interessant zu sehen, wie sich Leylands Meinungsumfragen komplett geändert haben. Schließlich ist es noch nicht lange her, dass Leyland ein leistungsschwaches Team trainierte, das Gefahr lief, die Nachsaison zu verpassen, weil er negative Zeichen setzte, die sein bester Feldspieler nicht mehr anwenden konnte.

Tiger Stadium lebt weiter und weckt alte Erinnerungen: The Detroit News, Neal Rubin

Dies ist nur der erste von voraussichtlich einer metrischen Unmenge an Kommentaren über das alte Tiger-Stadion-Gelände in Corktown, während sich die Medien auf die Ankunft der World Series in Detroit vorbereiten.

Da Baseball in so vielen Köpfen ist und eines der Tore des Stadions auf der Michigan Avenue-Seite offen steht, war das Feld in den letzten Wochen so etwas wie ein Ziel für Besucher. Stunden zuvor standen im Regen ein junger Mann und ein älterer Mann auf der Shortstop-Position und imitierten den langen Wurf zur ersten Base.

Werden die Tigers-Fans Delmon Young jemals lieben? Dan Holmes, Detroit Athletic Co.

Nein. Nächste Frage.

Es war schon immer die Art und Weise, wie Young Dinge tut, die viele Tiger-Fans frustriert. Young hat einen fast zwanghaften Zwang, beim ersten Pitch zu schwingen. Nichts ärgert die Tiger Nation mehr. Sie vergessen die Tatsache, dass DY 2012 mit 97 First-Pitch-Schwüngen einen Schlagdurchschnitt von .362 mit 10 Extra-Base-Hits erreichte, sie erinnern einen lieber an die sechs Male, als er beim ersten Pitch einen Groundball in ein Double Play trieb. Young hat einen Bauch, der den Spott einiger Tiger-Fans auf sich zieht, die sich gerne über die Art und Weise lustig machen, wie er die Linie entlang rennt. Brandon Inge hüpfte wie ein Kreisel über das Feld und hatte Ohren, die ihn aussehen ließen, als wäre er ein 7-Jähriger in der Little League, aber die Tigers-Fans liebten ihn. Nicht so bei DY, der ein viel besserer Schlagmann ist, als Inge es je war.

Anderswo im Baseball:

Hochgeschwindigkeits-Videoclips der NLCS 2012: Die Physik des Baseball, Alan M. Nathan – University of Illinois

Ein Wort der Warnung: Das vollständige Laden dieser Seite dauert eine Weile und bringt einen langsamen PC in die Knie. Aber das Warten lohnt sich.

Diese Seite enthält Clips mit Hochgeschwindigkeitsvideos der NLCS 2012. Fox Sports verwendet eine Kamera mit 5000 Bildern/Sekunde. Die Super-Zeitlupen-Natur der Bilder enthüllt oft interessante physikalische Phänomene, die mit bloßem Auge nicht zu erkennen sind. Sehen Sie sich einige der interessanten Clips an, die ich gefunden habe, zusammen mit meiner physikalischen Erklärung dessen, was vor sich geht.

Drei Statistiken und du bist raus: Sports on Earth, Will Leitch

Eine nette Abfuhr für die Rundfunksprecher, die glauben, Sabermetrics sei das Stiefkind des Baseballs. Oder genauer gesagt: das Stiefkind eines Stiefkinds.

Es ging ungefähr so: „Also … [audible snort] … da sind all diese Leute mit ihren … [choked-off inhale, as if he had entered the Cardinals clubhouse bathroom right after Lance Lynn had left it] … Mathematik, versuchen zu verstehen … [grasping of the microphone as if it is the neck of Bill James] … das Spiel. Es ist … es ist nur …“ Ich habe das genaue Zitat nicht richtig, vor allem, weil es schwer war, Smoltz durch die platzenden Blutgefäße und das Zähneknirschen zu hören. Wie der unsterbliche Twitter-Account @oldhossradbourn es prägnant zusammenfasste: „,Sabermetrics? Was kommt als Nächstes? Ein Tier heiraten?‘ – J. Smoltz.“

Padres stellen Mauern im Petco Park auf: Baseball Nation, Al Yellon

Lynn Henning nickt zustimmend, während er auf Comericas Power Alley im rechten Feld blickt.

Insgesamt schlugen die Padres 2012 121 Homeruns und belegten damit den 14. Platz in der Nationalliga; sie schlugen 74 Homeruns auswärts und 47 zu Hause. Diese Änderungen werden den Schlagmännern von San Diego helfen.

Die Pitcher der Padres könnten jedoch anderer Meinung sein …

Dick Bosman spricht über Strasburg, Innings Limit und mehr: Seamheads, Ted Leavengood

Interessante Meinung von Bosman, einem ehemaligen MLB-Pitcher und aktuellen Mitglied des Front Office der Rays, der seine Karriere in den vom Pitching dominierten 60er Jahren begann. Bosman spricht über die Entwicklung von Pitchern und Pitch Counts, Stephen Strasburg und wie die Rays mit ihrem jungen Personal umgegangen sind.

Er behauptete, dass die maximale Wurfzahl für einen Pitcher in der Entwicklung 110 bis 115 Würfe in einem Spiel betragen würde, „ab und zu wahrscheinlich auf AAA-Niveau“, damit sie bereit sind, auf Major-League-Niveau zu werfen, wenn sie von der Mutterorganisation dazu aufgefordert werden. Über die Wurfzahl und die Anzahl der Innings sagte Bosman: „Wir sind da ziemlich streng und haben gegen Ende des Jahres schon Leute vom Feld genommen“, sagte Bosman. „Wir haben das mit Leuten wie Shields gemacht, Matt Moore und verschiedene andere Jungs, wenn die Inning-Gesamtzahl etwas hoch wird. Manchmal gerät man dabei etwas unter die Lupe.“

Eine Sache noch:

Zum Abschluss möchte ich noch dieses Gedicht hinzufügen, das ich von einem langjährigen Tigers-Fan und Bless You Boys-Leser erhalten habe. Dies hatte „Bob L in Arizona“ zu sagen:

Ich bin Tiger-Fan, seit ich denken kann. Als Zwölfjähriger war ich 1967 am Boden zerstört, als die Tigers am letzten Wochenende der Saison aus dem Rennen waren und Boston die Meisterschaft gewann. Aber das nächste Jahr war das beste. Ich erinnere mich noch, wie der Lehrer 1968 die alten schwarz-weißen Trikots ins Klassenzimmer brachte und uns die Spiele anschauen ließ. 1981 zog ich nach Arizona und sah zu, wie die Tigers 1984 wieder gewannen, aber seitdem war es ein harter Weg. Ich glaube, das ist unser Jahr.

Mit meiner Entschuldigung an Clement Clarke Moore habe ich einige Änderungen an seinem Gedicht vorgenommen, um es diesem bevorstehenden besonderen Ereignis anzupassen.

Nur Nächte vor der Serie

Es war nur Nächte vor der Serie, als alle durch den Staat
Die Idee war, die Amis zu schlagen, das Team, das wir so gerne hassen.
Die Rotation wurde von Leyland mit Sorgfalt eingestellt
In der Hoffnung, dass die Starter einen Lauf haben würden

Die Fans lagen gemütlich in ihren Betten
Während Träume von einer Meisterschaft in ihren Köpfen tanzten
Mit der Frau in ihrem Tiger-Trikot und mir in meiner Mütze
Wir träumten von Homeruns und Hits in der Lücke

Als unten in Comerica ein solcher Lärm entstand
Wir machten uns auf den Weg zum Baseballstadion, um zu sehen, was los war
Wir fuhren ziemlich schnell die Woodward hinunter
Und kam gerade rechtzeitig, um die Geister der Vergangenheit zu sehen

Der Mond hatte Schatten in den großen Park geworfen
Aber wir wussten, wem sie gehörten, sogar im Dunkeln
Was sahen wir dann mit unseren staunenden Augen?
Ein Typ namens Sparky und einige Größen aus dem “D”

Als der alte Tiger-Manager uns einen Blick zuwarf
Wir wussten, dass er es war, der große Captain Hook
Mit ihm waren die Größten, die das Spiel gespielt haben
Und er pfiff und schrie und rief sie beim Namen:

Hey Cobb, hey Crawford, yo Greenberg und Kell
Und mit ihnen kamen Gehringer, Newhouser und Harwell
In die Batter's Box, lasst uns alle herumschlagen
Da haben wir ihn gesehen, es war der Vogel auf dem Hügel

Dann waren sie plötzlich blitzschnell verschwunden
Keine Cochrane, Schoolboy Rowe oder Stormin Norman Cash mehr
Wir dachten an Al Kaline, Horton, Tram und Sweet Lou
Von Freehan und Lolich und der ganzen “68”-Crew

Die letzten Worte, die sie sprachen, bevor wir aus diesem Traum erwachten
War “Hol sie dir, junge Jungs, ihr seid ein Meisterschaftsteam.”
Sie werden von Leyland, Dombrowski und Mike Ilitch geführt
Sie bekommen den Wimpel, und dann geht es weiter mit dem ersten Pitch der Serie.”

Die O's und A's hatten beide ein tolles Jahr
Aber jetzt waren sie weg, und man musste nur noch die Amis fürchten
Also ging es nach New York, weiter an die Ostküste
Ein weiterer Wimpel für die Yankees, die Medien würden prahlen

Miggys Augen funkelten und Prince war ganz fröhlich
Wir hatten gerade die A's mit Garcia und Berry geschlagen
Ja, sie hatten CC, ARod, Cano und Derek Jeter
Aber wir hatten die Big Boys und Justins Heizung

Die Yankees wurden vernichtet, weggefegt in vier
Sie jammerten und weinten, als man ihnen die Tür zeigte
Zu viel von unseren Vorspeisen und einem Mann namens Coke Zero
Zu viel von Peralta und Young, dem ALCS-Helden

Er könnte im Schlagkäfig pummelig oder mollig aussehen
Aber er ist auf dem Weg zur Series, der größten Bühne des Baseballs
Mit einem Glanz in den Augen und einer Krone auf dem Kopf
Er ist der beste Schlagmann der Welt, Tiger-Fans haben nichts zu befürchten

Nein, es sind keine Lances, Blackjacks, Willys oder Kirks
Aber Ramon, Worth und Kelly werden bereit sein, zusammen mit Max und Dirks
Benoit und Valverde, sie werden nicht besonders hoch geschätzt
Aber auch im Stall sind Ricky P, Dotel, Al Al und ein Kind namens Smyly

Bald werden Fister, Sanchez und Omar gegen die NL-Champions antreten
Avila, Laird und Jackson werden unter einem Vollmond harken
Dann geht es zurück nach Motown, um den Kampf zu beenden
Wir machen es in fünf Minuten und wünschen der A-Nationalmannschaft eine gute Nacht.

The post Detroit Tigers hyperlinks: It is the Giants, Phil Coke was a chimney sweep and we’ll by no means love Delmon Younger appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

The chimney sweep dance in “Mary Poppins,” led by Dick van Dyk’s likeable all-rounder Burt, is reminiscent of typical blackface motifs, claims a scientist.

Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, a professor of English and gender studies at Linfield College in Oregon, explained in a New York Times article that the sequence in PL Travers' book meant “race panic.”

Pollack-Pelzner simply refers to the scene as “blacking up,” and while this may seem harmless, it has other, more disturbing connotations.

“This might seem like a harmless comic scene if Travers' novels did not associate the chimney sweeps' blackened faces with racist caricatures,” he writes.

“'Don't touch me, you black heathen,' cries a maid in Mary Poppins Opens the Door (1943), as a house broom extends its dark hand. When he tries to approach the cook, she threatens to stop: 'If that Hottentot goes into the fireplace, I'm going out the door,' she says, using an archaic insult for black South Africans that recurs in book and screen.

“The 1964 film re-enacts this racial panic in absurd fashion. As the dark figures of the chimney sweeps step onto a roof in time, a naval buffoon, Admiral Boom, shouts 'We are being attacked by Hottentots!' and orders his cannon to be fired at the 'insolent devils.'”

“We're in on the joke for what it is: these aren't real black Africans, but grinning white dancers with blackened faces. It's a parody of the black threat; it was even posted on a white nationalist website as evidence of the film's racial hierarchy. And it's not just fools like the Admiral who use this language. In the 1952 novel Mary Poppins in the Park, the nanny herself says to an exasperated young Michael, 'I understand you're acting like a Hottentot.'”

Pollack-Pelzner also pointed to other examples of archaic, racially charged language in Travers' Poppins books, which in one case even led to her books being banned from the San Francisco Public Library in the early 1980s.

Travers later rewrote the chapters in a revised edition of the book, in which Poppins, Jane and Michael Banks are abducted to a South Sea island, where the nanny uses the offensive phrase “pickaninny” and speaks in a racially charged South American dialect.

However, she later said that this was “not an apology for anything I have written, the reason is much simpler: I don't want to see Mary Poppins hidden in a closet.”

Disney has not yet commented on the matter.

But in an online post after the Times article was published, Pollack-Pelzner explained: “The main reason I wrote this article was in the hope that a Disney executive would read it, take another look at the upcoming Dumbo remake and ask if there was anything in it that was even the slightest bit racist that he should perhaps reconsider before it goes on the screen.”

“After writing this article and receiving tons of hate mail in response, I learned one thing about the alt-right: Mary Poppins definitely suits them very well!”

Read more
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The post ‘Mary Poppins’ chimney sweep ‘blackface’ dance is racist, claims educational appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Steven Carter has swept well over 40,000 chimneys in the old English tradition since founding Chimney Sweeps, Inc. in 1985.

“Our philosophy is that your chimney is part of your home,” Carter said. “If the chimney goes bad, the house goes bad. We take care of your chimney, so we take care of your home. We believe in honesty and ethics.”

Chimney Sweeps, Inc. values ​​integrity and good work and can prove it with an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

“If there is something wrong with your chimney or something is unsafe, we can find it and fix it,” he said.

Chimney Sweeps, Inc. are licensed chimney sweeps (License #976438) and fully certified chimney sweeps through the National Fireplace Institute. This is one of the reasons they have a customer base of over 30,000 customers from Chula Vista to Fallbrook and all areas in between.

“Our cylinders are very popular and in high demand,” said Carter.

Chimney Sweeps, Inc. is a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild and follows the advice of the National Fire Protection Association and adheres to fire department recommendations.

“They all recommend getting a safety inspection of your chimney once a year, checking for debris, structural defects and wear and tear,” Carter said. “And part of that inspection will include aspects of your roof, which we will also check.”

Carter said the best time for a chimney inspection is spring, summer and early fall.

“In the late fall and winter months we are so busy that it can be very difficult to get an appointment,” Carter said.

After your first inspection, you can schedule your next inspection for the following year. Carter advises his customers to ask Chimney Sweeps, Inc. any questions they have about their chimney.

“And remember, you can call us anytime if you need advice,” he said.

For more information about Chimney Sweeps, Inc., visit fireplacesweepsinc.com or call (619) 593-4020.

The post Chimney Sweeps: Have you ever had your chimney checked this 12 months? appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Mary Poppins (Source: Disney)

The chimney sweep dance in Mary Poppins, led by Dick van Dyk's affable jack-of-all-trades Burt, is reminiscent of blackface themes, one academic has claimed.

In an article in the New York Times, Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, a professor of English and gender studies at Linfield College in Oregon, said that the sequence in PL Travers' book means “racial panic.”

Pollack-Pelzner simply calls the scene “blackout,” and while it may seem harmless, it has other, more disturbing connotations.

“This might seem like a harmless comic scene if Travers' novels did not associate the blackened faces of chimney sweeps with racist caricatures,” he writes.

“'Don't touch me, you black heathen,' screams a maid in Mary Poppins Opens the Door (1943) as a sweep extends his dark hand. When he tries to approach the cook, she threatens to stop: “If that Hottentot goes down the chimney, I'm going out the door,” she says, using an archaic slur for black South Africans that appears repeatedly on page and screen occurs.

“The 1964 film recreates this racial panic in a bizarre tone. When the dark figures of the chimney sweeps appear in time on a roof, Admiral Boom, a naval fool, shouts: “We are being attacked by Hottentots!” and orders his cannon to be fired at the “insolent devils”.

“We’re in on the joke such as it is: These aren’t really black Africans; They are grinning white dancers in blackface. It's a parody of The Black Menace; It is even posted on a white nationalist website as evidence of the film's racial hierarchy. And it's not just fools like the Admiral who invoke this language. In the 1952 novel “Mary Poppins in the Park,” the nanny herself says to the upset young Michael, “I understand that you are behaving like a Hottentot.”

Pollack-Pelzner has also pointed out other examples of archaic, racially charged language in Travers' Poppins books, in one case her books were actually banned from the San Francisco Public Library in the early 1980s.

Travers later rewrote the chapters in a revised edition of the book, in which Poppins, Jane, and Michael Banks are transported to a South Seas island, where the nanny uses the offensive phrase “pickaninny” and speaks in a racially charged South American dialect.

The story goes on

However, she later said she “didn't do this as an apology for anything I've written, the reason is much simpler: I don't want to see Mary Poppins hidden in a closet.”

Disney has not yet commented on the matter.

However, after the Times article was published, Pollack-Pelzner posted online: “The main reason I wrote this article was in the hope that a Disney executive would read it, take another look at the upcoming Dumbo remake and ask “If it was there.” If it was all a bit racist, maybe they should think again before it hits the big screen.

“One thing I learned about the alt-right after writing this article and receiving countless hate messages in response: They really like Mary Poppins!”

Read more
Duncan Jones hits David Bowie film
Russell Crowe turns into Roger Ailes
First poster for Zombieland 2

The post ‘Mary Poppins’ chimney sweep ‘blackface’ dance is racist, claims tutorial appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

The chimney sweep dance in Mary Poppins, led by Dick van Dyk's affable jack-of-all-trades Burt, is reminiscent of blackface themes, one academic has claimed.

In an article in the New York Times, Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, a professor of English and gender studies at Linfield College in Oregon, said that the sequence in PL Travers' book means “racial panic.”

Pollack-Pelzner simply calls the scene “blackout,” and while it may seem harmless, it has other, more disturbing connotations.

“This might seem like a harmless comic scene if Travers' novels did not associate the blackened faces of chimney sweeps with racist caricatures,” he writes.

“'Don't touch me, you black heathen,' screams a maid in Mary Poppins Opens the Door (1943) as a sweep extends his dark hand. When he tries to approach the cook, she threatens to stop: “If that Hottentot goes down the chimney, I'm going out the door,” she says, using an archaic insult to black South Africans that appears repeatedly on page and screen occurs.

“The 1964 film recreates this racial panic in an absurd tone. As the dark figures of the chimney sweeps step onto a roof in rhythm, a naval idiot, Admiral Boom, shouts: “We are being attacked by Hottentots!” and orders his cannon to be fired at the “insolent devils”.

“We’re in on the joke such as it is: These aren’t really black Africans; They are grinning white dancers in blackface. It's a parody of The Black Menace; It is even posted on a white nationalist website as evidence of the film's racial hierarchy. And it's not just fools like the Admiral who invoke this language. In the 1952 novel “Mary Poppins in the Park,” the nanny herself says to the upset young Michael, “I understand that you are behaving like a Hottentot.”

Pollack-Pelzner has also pointed out other examples of archaic, racially charged language in Travers' Poppins books, in one case her books were actually banned from the San Francisco Public Library in the early 1980s.

Travers later rewrote the chapters in a revised edition of the book, in which Poppins, Jane, and Michael Banks are transported to a South Seas island, where the nanny uses the offensive phrase “pickaninny” and speaks in a racially charged South American dialect.

However, she later said she “didn't do this as an apology for anything I've written, the reason is much simpler: I don't want to see Mary Poppins hidden in a closet.”

Disney has not yet commented on the matter.

However, after the Times article was published, Pollack-Pelzner posted online: “The main reason I wrote this article was in the hope that a Disney executive would read it, take another look at the upcoming Dumbo remake and ask “If it was there.” If it was all a bit racist, maybe they should think again before it hits the big screen.

“One thing I learned about the alt-right after writing this article and receiving countless hate messages in response: They really like Mary Poppins!”

Read more
Duncan Jones hits David Bowie film
Russell Crowe turns into Roger Ailes
First poster for Zombieland 2

The post ‘Mary Poppins’ chimney sweep ‘blackface’ dance is racist, claims tutorial appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

If you're unfamiliar with Squaw Valley's infamous terrain, the Palisades, check out this video. It's a quick look at a special session that several skiers were lucky enough to participate in at the Squaw Palisades' most famous area, “The Chimney.” Not only that, but it's not a particularly snowy year and those lines aren't particularly filled in. For reference, sometimes the line on the right left by most skiers in the video is called “the chimney sweep.” combines completely or is a much smaller air. Not in this session. Check out where they start and where their tracks end! Big shout out to the one-taker on “Center Line” at the end of the video – looks like he nailed it really well too!

The post Restricted Entry Chimney Session | Squaw Valley appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

The Historic U.S. Coast Guard Chimney Rock Boathouse.

Chimney Rock is located at the eastern spur of the Point Reyes Headlands. The Chimney Rock area is a popular destination for visitors wishing to view elephant seals, birds, and wildflowers. The 1.75-mile (2.8-km) round-trip Chimney Rock Trail leads along the ridge crest of a narrow peninsula, offering spectacular views of Drakes Bay and the coastline stretching to the southeast. The historic Chimney Rock Lifeboat Station offers a glimpse into the harrowing jobs of rescuing crew and passengers from ships that ran aground along this rugged coastline.

Come Prepared

• Print out the Chimney Rock Area map. (125 KB PDF)
• Fuel: The closest gas station is 20 miles (32 km) away in Point Reyes Station. Be sure you have sufficient fuel in your vehicle for a minimum 40-mile (64 km) round-trip drive, not including side trips to other points of interest within the National Seashore.
• Weather: Visitors may experience stiff winds, cool temperatures, fog, and/or rain at Chimney Rock; so dress appropriately. Wear layered clothing.
  National Weather Service Forecast for the Chimney Rock area
• Water: Bring a water bottle. There are no potable sources of water at Chimney Rock. The nearest potable source of water is a water bottle filling station/water fountain located near the east end of the green garages that are located approximately 100 yards (100 meters) before one arrives at the Lighthouse Visitor Center or a water fountain located in the courtyard of the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach. Bottled water is not sold at Point Reyes National Seashore’s visitor centers or bookstores.
• Food: There are no food services west of Inverness, which is a thirty-five-minute drive from the Chimney Rock parking lot. Bring food from home or purchase food at one of the stores or restaurants in West Marin before heading out to Chimney Rock if it is close to mealtime.
• Restrooms: Restrooms are available at the Chimney Rock parking lot from 6 am to midnight. Be sure to use the restrooms before heading out on area trails.
• Phones: Cell phone reception is very minimal to nonexistent in the Chimney Rock area.

• Drones: Launching, landing, or operating a remotely operated aircraft (aka “remotely piloted aircraft,” “unmanned aircraft,” or “drone”) from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Point Reyes National Seashore is prohibited.

  If you observe drone use in Point Reyes National Seashore, please call park dispatch at 415-464-5170 or contact staff at the nearest Visitor Center as soon as possible. If you observe drone use in other National Park Service areas or if you find photographs or videos online or elsewhere that were illegally taken within National Park Service areas from drones, you can report the violation to the National Park Service tip line at 888-653-0009 or by email.

• Pets: Dogs may be walked in the parking lot and along Chimney Rock Road west of the parking lot (i.e., back toward Sir Francis Drake Boulevard); otherwise, dogs are prohibited. Please be aware that most visitors to Chimney Rock are away from their vehicle for an hour or longer. Please do not leave your dog unattended in your vehicle; leave your dog at home instead. This prohibition does not apply to working service dogs, which are allowed on trails and in public buildings. If you have a service dog, please inquire at a park visitor center for information before heading out to the Chimney Rock area. Visit our Pets page for more information about visiting Point Reyes National Seashore with your dog.

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Sir Francis Drake Boulevard passes through a number of ranches on its way to Chimney Rock and the Point Reyes Headlands.

The Drive

Chimney Rock is located at the eastern-most end of the Point Reyes Headlands. Drive west ~19 miles (~30 km) on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. After passing through the “A” Ranch, turn left at the Y signed for Chimney Rock and follow Chimney Rock Road ~0.9 miles (~1.5 km) to the Chimney Rock parking lot. Chimney Rock Road is only about ten feet (3 meters) wide, but serves as a two-way road. Please observe the speed limit and look ahead to keep watch for oncoming traffic. If you do notice a vehicle heading your way, pull into the next turnout until the other vehicle has had a chance to pass.

Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is windy and slow-going, so allow forty-five minutes to drive the ~20 miles (~32 km) from the Bear Valley/Olema/Point Reyes Station area to the Chimney Rock parking lot (one hour and thirty minutes round-trip), not including any time you will spend in the area. Allow one hour and forty-five minutes for the drive (three hours and thirty minutes round-trip) from the Santa Rosa area, northwest San Francisco, or the northern East Bay. Many visitors spend at least an hour or two in the Chimney Rock area.
Directions to Chimney Rock from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

RVs and Trailers

Recreational vehicles (RVs) and vehicles pulling trailers with a combined length in excess of 24 feet (7.3 meters) are prohibited on Chimney Rock Road. If you are traveling with a trailer or are driving an RV towing a passenger vehicle, consider unhitching at the bus/RV/trailer-only parking lot at Bear Valley and taking only the passenger vehicle for the drive out to the Chimney Rock area. Overnight parking/camping in RVs and trailers is prohibited throughout Point Reyes National Seashore.

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Parking

The parking lot at the Chimney Rock Trailhead can only accommodate twenty vehicles. As a result, parking space availability is very limited, particularly in the afternoon. Please observe all “No Parking” signs. Please refrain from parking along the shoulder of the road or off of the pavement. Doing so kills vegetation and increases erosion.

Parking Lot

Chimney Rock Parking Lot

• 
  
  20 total spaces
  

• 
  0 oversized spaces
  

• 
  37.995124821, -122.979734524
  

A small paved parking lot with space for 20 vehicles. Park here to hike the Chimney Rock Trail, walk to the Elephant Seal Overlook, or visit the Historic Point Reyes Lifeboat Station. A vault toilet is located at the southeast corner of the parking lot. The Chimney Rock Parking Lot is approximately 45 minutes by car from the Bear Valley Visitor Center via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.

Parking Fee

No parking or entrance fees are charged at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Cost: $0.00

Closures & Seasonal Exceptions

Amenities

Accessible Lot
Yes
Number of ADA-designated spaces
1
Number of ADA van-accessible spaces
1
Number of ADA step-free spaces
0
Total number of spaces
20
Number of oversize vehicle spaces
0

Accessibility

The parking lot at Chimney Rock has one van accessible parking spot and is composed of asphalt. The path to the Elephant Seal Overlook involves a rather short but moderately steep descent along an asphalt driveway (which is degraded in places), and then a flat traverse along a rammed-earth 0.2 mile-long (0.3 kilometer) trail. Individuals in wheelchairs may need assistance with the descent and accent of the driveway.

Individuals with a Disabled Person parking placard or plate may drive their personal vehicle to the Lifeboat Station’s Boathouse parking area. Please drive slowly and carefully since this section of the one-lane access road doubles as the pedestrian path from the main Chimney Rock parking lot to the Boathouse. Volunteers sometimes staff the Boathouse on weekends and holidays from January through March. The Boathouse’s first floor and boat bay are wheelchair accessible. There is also an accessible restroom within the Boathouse. At other times, visitors may explore the Lifeboat Station grounds, where wayside exhibits provide information about the U.S. Lifesaving Service and U.S. Coast Guard history at Point Reyes.

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Stay on designated trails

The only official trails in the Chimney Rock area are shown in the map to the right.

Hiking along the bluff tops can be unsafe and is not recommended. Stay away from cliff edges. Loose soil and/or rock can give way suddenly and you may fall. Do not climb cliffs.

Visitors walking off of official trails and paths trample vegetation, which may lead to the death of the trampled plants. Over time, as more and more visitors use a route, it starts to look more and more like an official trail, and more and more visitors use it, resulting in a feedback loop that makes the “trail” look “official.” However, these “social paths” tend to exacerbate erosion and harm threatened and endangered species. These paths also can lead to locations where visitors may be more at risk to injury, endangering themselves and any potential rescuers.

Do not “hop” the fences to get a “better” photo or for any other reason. Fences and other barriers are there for your safety. The bluffs and cliffs in the Chimney Rock are prone to collapse with little warning. Stay well away from the bluff tops. Individuals who are found on the wrong side of fences will be cited for entering a closed area.

During the winter, hundreds of northern elephants seals can be seen from the Elephant Seal Overlook.

Elephant Seal Overlook

From the Chimney Rock parking lot, walk down the driveway 150 feet (~50 meters), bear left at the Y, and continue along the Fish Docks access road another 260 feet (~80 meters) to the trailhead for the Elephant Seal Overlook Trail. The relatively flat dirt trail leads 850 feet (~260 meters) northwest to the Elephant Seal Overlook. While it may be possible to view northern elephant seals from here on any given day of the year, December through March is the period during which visitors may view several hundred elephant seals hauled out at the southwest end of Drakes Beach as the seals return to give birth and to mate.

Please visit our Viewing Elephant Seals page for more information.

Chimney Rock Trail

This spectacular 1.75-mile (2.8 km) hike offers views of Drakes Bay and the Pacific Ocean and is renowned for great spring wildflowers. Rocky cliffs drop off steeply to the water, so there is no beach access. While it is possible to see a few whales any given day of the year, from March through May, dozens to hundreds of gray whales migrate north past Chimney Rock every day. Fog and wind can make this hike challenging. Start this hike from the southeast corner of the Chimney Rock parking lot.

Photo of a park employee standing over and pointing at a newly developed fissure along the Chimney Rock Trail on December 21, 2015.

Fissures Near the Chimney Rock Trail

Cracks were reported on a portion of the bluff near the Chimney Rock Trail on December 21, 2015. These fissures could indicate the possibility of a weakening cliff face in the area. The land may be unstable and a collapse or erosion could occur. Visitors are reminded to stay on designated trails.

Bluffs along the California coast are inherently unstable. They are prone to crumbling and sliding, especially in wet weather. It is very dangerous to climb or walk along the edge of cliffs. Be aware of falling rocks if walking near the base of a rock face.

View:
Close-up photograph of the fissure. (172 KB jpg)
Photograph of the area with the fissure from the southeast. (117 KB jpg)
Aerial photograph of the location of the fissure marked in yellow. (216 KB jpg)

The Historic U.S. Coast Guard Chimney Rock Boathouse.

Historic Lifeboat Station

Despite the efforts of the men and women who worked at the Point Reyes Lighthouse, which was constructed in 1870, ships continued to wreck on the rocks and beaches along the dangerous Point Reyes peninsula. In 1889, the U.S. Life-Saving Service opened a Life Saving Station on the Point Reyes Beach, the first of two built at Point Reyes. The U.S. Lifesaving Service was combined with the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915. In 1927, the Coast Guard moved their operations moved from Point Reyes Beach to the protected waters at the southwest end of Drakes Beach near Chimney Rock. Eventually modern technologies eclipsed the need for the Lifeboat Station at Point Reyes. In 1969,the Point Reyes Lifeboat Station was closed and, shortly thereafter, was transferred to the National Park Service for preservation.
Visit our Lifeboat Station History at Point Reyes page for more information.

The Lifeboat Station buildings are visible from the Chimney Rock Trail and the station’s access road (which is open only to NPS and other authorized vehicles). Visitors may explore the Lifeboat Station grounds, where wayside exhibits provide information about the U.S. Lifesaving Service and U.S. Coast Guard history at Point Reyes.

Today, the Historic Lifeboat Station at Point Reyes National Seashore is primarily used as an educational facility for non-profit groups learning about the resources of the natural and cultural resources of Point Reyes. The Boathouse is sometimes open to the public from 11 am to 4 pm on weekends and federal holidays from January through March, if volunteer staff is available. The Boathouse contains the historic Coast Guard Motorized Lifeboat CG-36542 and has the last intact marine railway on the West Coast. Kids activities, a 10-minute video on elephant seals, and complimentary hot beverages (cocoa, tea, coffee) are available when the Boathouse is open, along with hands-on interactive activities allowing both children and adults to learn about seal and whale adaptations.

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