#technicaldescription

[ferncamachoblog-blog]

FEATURES OF AN IPHONE 8

The iPhone 8 is a sleek and modern all-glass smartphone with some of the world’s greatest mobile device features. It has a minimalistic design which allows it to differ from countless other mobile devices on the market. The term smartphone originated from the 1980’s as telephone enhanced with computer technology. It is now defined as a mobile phone that performs many of the functions of a computer, typically having a touchscreen interface, Internet access, and an operating system capable of running downloaded apps. Compared to older and similar versions such as the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, the iPhone 8’s new features go beyond those expectations.

In this description, I will explain the basic features of an iPhone 8: Touch Screen & All Glass Cover, Home Button, Charging Port and Cameras. 

iPhone 8’s Touch Screen & All Glass Cover

The iPhone 8’s 5.5” Retina HD Display along with an all glass cover gives the iPhone 8 an impeccable look and sleek touch. The all glass display is not just for the looks and the touch screen. It allows the iPhone 8 to resist water and dust and enables easy wireless charging. The Retina HD Display comes with True Tone Technology that automatically adjusts white balance to match the light around the user (Apple). The use of this True Tone Technology improves the iPhone 8’s displays for better viewing in any kind of surroundings. In addition, the color variety is so diverse it makes the images come to life at the palm of one’s hand. One can also purchase an enlarged version of this iPhone, the iPhone 8 Plus which gives an ever greater surface are of display.

iPhone 8’s Home Button

The sensitivity of the iPhone 8’s Home Button allows it to instantly detect the presence of the user’s fingertip. With the first simple press of the button one can unlock this device and pressing it 3 times allows for different commands, which one as a user can set up manually. Some of these commands include “Grayscale”, which changes the display to black and white to conserve battery or “Accessibility Touch” which serves as a tool on the screen for quick commands such as ‘Lock’, ‘Mute’, ‘Notifications’ and more. The home button can also detect the user’s finger print once it has been added to the iPhone’s Security Settings. By adding the finger print, the user can then complete quick ‘Touch ID’ commands such as locking or unlocking the iPhone, installing applications or even completing purchases within iTunes and other ‘Apple Pay’ compatible sources.

iPhone 8’s Charging Port

The iPhone 8’s Charging Port is located in the center bottom of the device as shown in Figure 2. This iPhone provides rapid charging allowing a 50% battery charge in just 30 minutes (Digital Trends). However, it doesn’t only have to be charged via this port. The all glass cover allows for fast wireless charging. This charger port also serves as a medium between the iPhone and a laptop. Simply connect a USB cord to a laptop and the charging port and the iPhone and it now serves as a link between devices. This will allow the user to download or upload music, applications, photos and other forms of media from or to the iPhone. The charging port can also be used as an auxiliary to play music or sounds as well as the main earphone port.

iPhone 8’s Cameras

A 12 mega-pixel main shooter along with fast sensors allows the iPhone 8 Camera to capture incredible lighting and astonishing photographs. The wide‑angle and telephoto lenses on iPhone 8 Plus, which is another more enlarged version of the iPhone 8, enables optical zoom, as well as digital zoom of up to 10x for photos and 6x for videos. With a simple tap on the touch screen or clicking the “Volume Up” Button as shown in Figure 3, one can capture a “studio-lighting” style portrait using “Portrait Mode” and “Studio Light” effects or captivating HD videos using the “Video Mode”. Additionally, the iPhone 8 comes with a 7 mega-pixel camera in the front which allows the user to take front facing images and for features such as FaceTime to make video calls to other iPhone users.

There is a very promising future for this smart phone as it provides some of the newest high-tech features that are a necessity to the tech-savy population of this generation!

[barco96-blog]

Center Offensive Lineman

Introduction

American Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. In football there are 22 people on the field at all time, eleven on offense and eleven on defense. One of the most crucial positions in the game of football that goes severely unrecognized is the center. The center is an offensive lineman that is the innermost interior person on the front line and starts every play by hiking the football. Then the center is also in charge of blocking and long snapping on special teams, even though some teams have a designated long snapper because of how difficult this task is. A center is one of the most important players in the game of football because their major role is to start every play off to a good start by placing the football in play time after time all game long.

Hiking

To begin with for any football team to be successful they need to have a great center. It is so important to have someone who knows how to snap the football correctly. Every play starts with the center because he is the first person to touch the football each down. Without a good exchange from the center to the quarterback, a play cannot be executed. When you can’t execute plays on offense a football team cannot win the game. Centers are just like the four other offensive linemen on the field, but unlike the rest they have to secure the football into the quarterbacks hand before anything else. A center is one of the most important players on the field because they are the ones that initiate the play.

Blocking

Besides the task of hiking the football each down a center is also in charge of blocking. An offensive lineman’s job is wishingto force his opponent back to reestablish a new line of scrimmage. A center though is in charge of the other four lineman as well and making sure they know their blocking assignments. Football games are won and lost in the trenches. Centers have one of the toughest blocking assignmentsbecause they are in the middle of the field and tend to have a nose guardon them and have to block them one on one. They also have to help their guards with blitzing linebackers or defensive tackles when a nose guard is not present. Blocking is an offensive linemen’s main purpose because they need to move their opponent backwards to move the ball to score points, but a center has to hike the football first which makes their job one of the toughest and most important on the field.

Long Snapping

Special teams are also very important in the game of football because these plays can mean the difference between winning and losing. A center is in charge of long snapping on the punt team and the field goal unit. Long snapping is another form of hiking, but the center is hiking the football over a longer distance. During punts he has to snap the football back around 15 yards and during a field goal or extra point typically 8 yards which is a significant difference between shotgunand under center. Long snapping is very difficult because of how awkward the distance is and having to adjust to a new snap after continuously shot gunning or being under center.

Importance

Furthermore centers have adapted over the history of football. In the 1920s the average linemanwas 6 foot and weighed 211 pounds and now the average is 6-foot-5 weighing at 310 pounds. Center got its name for being in the middle of everyone. They are the first person to lineup on the football and everyone has to assemble around them. The opposite of a center would have to be the nose guard because they also line up in the center of the field. But a nose guard is on defense and does not hike the football, they typically line up across the center and are battling all game long.  Centers are usually the most intelligent person on the football field. They are the most intelligent because they have to be assertive and confident in their calls when they are telling their linemen on who they need to block.

Recognition

In conclusion a center is a football player that does not get the recognition they deserve being one of the smartest playerson the field. The center is the most important player on offense because they ignite the start of the play while also still having to block, they are in charge of the four other lineman’s blocking assignments, and if hiking was not hard enough already they have to long snap as well. People need to understand the importance of this role because a center is a leader on the team and without a great one a football team cannot flourish in excellence. 

[gr00k-blog]

Esports the World’s Most Unknown Competition

Introduction

           Competitive Esports is a recent term as it was first introduced less than 20 years ago, however it still means the same thing that being an online or electronic game or sport. This means that while it is still a video game it isn’t like your old Mario, with Esports they play for keeps. Some of the more popular online games are shooters or what we call MOBAs (more on that later). For the purpose of this document I will be dividing this term into four major parts, the top countries that play or promote Esports, the issues and challenges that many of the players can face, what exactly the most popular games are for Esports, and what kind of competitions or events are held for Esports. But before we delve into it I should define what exactly Esports are. Esports are the electronic sports or competitive videogames where players, organizations, and even countries compete for massive prizes and bragging rights.

Major Countries

           First I will talk about the major countries that take part in Esports. The major regions are the United States, China, and South Korea. The reason for each of these countries having such a dominate presence is due to either the culture, personal beliefs, or just nature of the people who live there, However they are all post industrial countries where computer and or internet access is relatively easy to get. Take America for example we have a large population and most have access to what would be considered the barrier of entry, however we also as a nation seem to produce the most competitive of people which may draw them to such games and Esports. China will be the next country I talk about and perhaps the one with the simplest of explanations, China has the world’s largest population of any society, while still being a post industrialized nation, and as such it may owe its Esports presence to its size. South Kora has a rich history of Esports and is even considered by many to be the birthplace of Esports. This is due the small amounts of land they have where outdoor sporting events could take place, combined with their cultural acceptance of electronic media may have resulted in a desire for a substitute and Esports or videogames filled the niche.

Health and Issues

           Next I will talk about the health of those who play Esports. It is important to remember that due to the sedentary nature of Esports many must make an extra effort to stay healthy. Still many health issues have arisen as consequences of strict and ridiculous training regime, where some players will play for up to 12 hours a day. The most common injury for Esports players to receive that can end a career is carpel tunnel syndrome. This syndrome causes can cause extreme pain when moving ones fingers or wrist, and is caused by over use or improper use of the digits. Finally the largest and most well-known issue in terms of health has to be the once rampant use of both recreational and performance enhancing drugs. The largest that has since been outlawed and enforced with random drug check has to be Adderall. Players were taking large amounts of Adderall which resulted in health issues and by clearing/stimulating the mind an unfair advantage over other players.

[Cutesy of US Health]  

Popular Games

           I will now talk about what the most popular games are for competitive Esports. The three most popular games take up two different genres of games, those being Shooters, such as Fortnite and MOBAs. MOBAs are Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas where teams (usually teams of 5) play in a set area and attempt to defeat the enemy by destroying their bases and or killing their opponents. The reason for the popularity of these genres may be due to the fact that the top games are free to play and thus can attract a large group of people from all walks of life who seek a challenge and or a competitive game they can pay with or against friends. But just because they are free doesn’t mean the prizes are small.

Prizes

           Finally I will talk about the competitions and prizes of them. I will be focusing on one from each of the following games, League of Legends (MOBA), DOTA 2 (MOBA), and Fortnite (shooter). Fortnite and its creators over at Epic Games have decided this year to jump into the world of Esports and have chosen to invest 100 million dollars in terms of tournaments and prizes. This is the largest single investment in Esports history but it is not the largest single tournament prize pool. That honor goes to DOTA 2 where over a single best of 5 series nearly 25 million dollars were given out (exact amount $24,687,919.00). The final game I will talk about is League of Legends who after playing in the Birds Nest (2012 Beijing China Olympic Stadium) won an Emmy for production with their incredible 3D Augmented Reality show. As these prize pools continue to increase so do their player base.

[Curtsey of Riot Games]

Conclusion

           In closing Esports in the competitive scene can take on many forms, from the genres the video games take to the games and prizes themselves. There are perils for players who fail to watch out for their health. Esports can and has brought the world closer together through the spirit of competition and with its rapid growth in terms of prizes, production value, and player base it looks like it will continue to do so in years to come.

[sedagrrl]

The iPad Pro

After the releases of countless portable Apple tablet computers, we now have the iPad Pro – the newest line of iPad tablet computers with the functional capacity to replace any PC computer or laptop. Its name is a combination of the original iPad (‘i’ stands for Internet), a lightweight, low-power tablet computer from Apple Inc., and the word “Pro” for professional (references its newest smart capabilities). I would like to reveal and explain the unique features of the iPad Pro. This tablet retains the portability of all the previous tablets with an enhanced appearance, larger storage space, smartphone/computer capabilities, and unique accessories that the recent iPad Air 2 does not have. The lower price and increased mobility of the iPad Pro benefits consumers that seek to replace their laptops or computers with this grand tablet.

Appearance

This new smart tablet stretches diagonally at 12.9 inches – larger than the iPad Air 2, but thinner in width. The thinness of the iPad and its flexible cases make this model more portable, but the major differences between the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2 lie beneath the glass. The iPad Pro has an ultra-responsive, full screen keyboard, compatible with the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pen accessory gadgets. While the iPad Air 2 has only two speakers at the bottom display, the iPad Pro has four – an improved speaker system with auto-adjustable sound, no matter the location.

PC/ Smart Capabilities

Aspects of personal computers and smartphones have been implemented in the iPad Pro to fully create a tablet with all of the functions of a laptop. The first aspect is its higher speed internet with refreshing rates as fast as lightning – a 120 Hertz refresh rate to be exact. Every facet of the Internet is capable of exploring in the iPad Pro and its high speed Internet; in the past, some Adobe Flash Player content were not compatible with any iPads. It is also the first tablet to feature True Tone and Retina Flash camera resolutions, the highest resolution for a tablet thus far. The camera is a huge part of iPad’s interior set-up, promising the best video and selfies for users. True Tone is new technology that adapts the color and intensity of the camera to match the light of the surrounding environment, while Retina Flash provides the greatest level of brightness. The key smart factor of the Pro is its responsive touchscreen, which uses fingerprints to unlock the tablet and a hands-free option to call Siri without having to navigate to the home screen. The iPad Air 2’s operating system only upgrades to IOS 10, while the iPad Pro is IOS 11, another lacking aspect of the iPad Air 2.

Storage

Obviously, portable tablets are smaller than laptops; therefore, it is expected for them to have less storage space. Laptops average between a storage capacity of 100 GB to 2 TB, and the iPad Pro was designed to rival that (and rival the iPad Air 2 – 64 GB maximum) with a maximum storage capacity of 512 GB. As a result, the Pro has an increase in data limit, allowing for 4,000 videos and improved version of the Cloud back up application.

Unique Features

The qualities that set apart the iPad Pro from any other Apple products are the Apple Pen, the Smart Keyboard, and the Multi-Touch display. The Smart Keyboard and Apple Pen are accessories sold separately, compatible with USB attachment with the iPad Pro; these gadgets are not compatible to function with other iPad models. The Apple Pen is the pencil to the tablet’s paper; it works to mimic the handwriting of the user perfectly. The sensors inside the pen adjust to pressure and tilt of the hand, creating the feeling of using actual pencil and paper. It is incredibly useful for taking notes and for sketching artwork; it is far more accurate to use than a mushy stylus pen for the iPad Air 2. The Smart Keyboard tool is beneficial for writing documents or papers that must be type-written; it is fast and equipped with autocorrect. The Multi-Touch display is the most responsive to our fingers than ever seen before in technology. You can swipe with both hands to magnify, minimize, twist, and turn images at the same time, with the ability of having multiple apps open at once.

Although the iPad Pro is an exceptional product, there are some misconceptions to clarify. For example, there have been worries on the size of the product; it comes in two versions, the 12.9” model and the 9.7” model. The 9.7” is more comfortable to use and take pictures with, but the 12.9” model is large and can be physically awkward to shoot videos with. However, the 9.7” iPad Pro has less storage space and not as usable with IOS 11 support. Another issue could be that the batteries of this particular tablet are glued in place; they are not designed to be replaced easily. There is also no SD card slot to transfer data easily, which could be a disadvantage.  

Overall, the iPad Pro is the best tablet computer on the market, with its full screen keyboard, multi-touch responsive touch screen, highest available storage capacity, and best camera resolutions. In the future, this smart computer will be rewarding to travelers, students, and those in the technical workplace. It is smaller than a laptop, but with all of its benefits.

[bribinion-blog]

Mechanics of Shooting a Free Throw

The Mechanics of Shooting a Free Throw

The term “free throw” originated in 1891, when James Naismith created the game of basketball. Free throws are a chance to add one to three points to your team’s score without anyone trying to contest the shot. The term “free throw” breaks down into free and throw. Free (adj.) is defined as a person: not or no longer in servitude or subjection to another; having personal, social and political rights as a member of a society or state. The word throw (n.) is the act of twisting or turning; the fact or condition of being twisted; a turn or twist around, or to one side. Sometimes in a close game, teams will foul a low free throw percentage shooter to prevent the other team from scoring any points. The winner of a basketball game could depend on players making free throws therefore, being successful at free throws is very important. When practicing free throws it is important to focus on the form, rhythm, aim, and timing. Ultimately, if players master the mechanics of shooting free throws, they will be able to make them with ease and lead their team to victory.  

Form

The form of the wrist, arms, and legs are important when shooting a free throw. The wrist, arms, and legs should reach almost a 90° angle in order to minimize effort and maximize strength so the ball can reach the basketball goal. B.E.E.F. is a common acronym used to describe the proper shooting form. B.E.E.F. stands for balance, eyes on the target, elbows aligned and follow through. When basketball players are about to shoot a free throw, they line up their foot of their dominant shooting hand with the basket. The other foot is placed shoulder-width apart so they can remain balanced. Players keep their eyes on the target, which is the back of the rim on the basketball goal. The player’s elbow should be aligned with the basketball goal similar to how the player’s dominant foot is aligned with the basket. If their elbow is not aligned, then their aim will be off. The last step in B.E.E.F. is to follow through by flicking the wrist and holding the form. When players take a shot, the ball should be in front of their face. However, some players on the professional and intermediate level shoot free throws underhanded. Shooting underhanded is not the correct form and it requires players to put more effort and concentration into their shot. A free throw should be effortless.

Courtesy of: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/basketball-shooting-resource-11210323

Rhythm

Free throws can produce a feeling of anxiety within players. When there are hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people watching you take free throws, pressure and anxiety can build up and cause players to miss free throws they’ve made a thousand times in practice. In addition to the noise of the crowd, players can become distracted by the other team, the referees, the coaches’ instructions and their own personal thoughts. Therefore, it is important that players shoot a free throw while they are in rhythm. In order to find their rhythm, many players will come up with a short routine to do before they shoot a free throw. There are various actions that players do to create their free throw routine. Some players take a couple dribbles then pause. Others spin the ball in the palm of their hand. Sometimes players come up with more creative routines that are out of the ordinary or gives a tribute to their family. Essentially, the purpose of creating and practicing a routine is so making a free throw becomes automatic, by building muscle memory. If a player puts too much thought into their shot it will cause Analysis- Paralysis, where they analyze every single action. Research conducted by Georgia Southern University and University of Tennessee Sports Psychologists found that players that used their free throw routine have a higher free throw percentage than those who did not use their routine.

The rhythm when shooting free throws is considerably different than when shooting a jump shot. When players are shooting a free throw they have time to recollect themselves and concentrate on just shooting a free throw. When players are shooting a jump shot, they have to maneuver around players to find a spot where they can quickly put up an accurate shot. Additionally, many players have to shoot jump shots off balance, so they have to rely more on the strength and aim of their upper body.

Courtesy of http://www.basketballtraininggrounds.com/free-throw.html

Aim

Before the addition of the backboard in 1904, players did not have any support to help make shoots. Players had to shoot rainbow shots where they aimed at the back of the rim and the ball would only touch the net, more commonly known as a “swish shot”. Today, players still find it easier to shoot free throws where they aim at the back of the rim. In addition, most coaches teach their players that it requires more coordination and concentration to shoot a free throw that hits the backboard. Instead, coaches teach players to try to make swish shots because it requires less coordination and it is easier. Researchers, Larry Silverberg and Chau Tran, proposed that players should shoot the ball at a 52˚ to make a perfect swish shot free throw. Furthermore, they found that aiming at the center of the basket or at the backboard made it more difficult to make a free throw. Players also aim at the back of the rim when they shoot jump shots. Certain places around the basket are easier if you try to shoot a "swish shot". Larry Silverberg and Chau Tran found that the 52˚ rule can be used to make swish shots from any point within the three-point line.  

Courtesy of: https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure

/sports/a7552/basketball-physics-the-anatomy-of-the-free-throw-7556633/

Timing            

Players only have ten seconds to shoot a free throw, therefore it is imperative for players to remain cognizant of the time. Many players have lost the chance to shoot free throws because they were unaware of the time. It is important to pay attention to the referees because they are the gatekeepers of time when you are on the court. Referees keep the time when you are passing the ball inbound, in the backcourt and most importantly when you are taking free throws. Referees begin to count out ten seconds as soon as a player is given the ball. Although players should pay attention to the referees, they should also keep a mental count of how much time they have to shoot the free throw.

Courtesy of: https://avcssbasketball.com/basketball-referee/

Ultimately, free throws are an easy way for players to add points to their teams’ score if they can master the mechanics of free throws- form, rhythm, aim, and timing.  

[canenblr-blog]

Ice Hockey Goaltending

In hockey, the goaltender’s the main objective is to stop the opposing team from scoring. This makes them a very important player on the team. Goaltender is a specialized position as they wear different equipment and have rules specific to them.

 Equipment

Goalie specific equipment gives goaltenders an advantage when stopping the puck. Specialized equipment includes the mask, trapper, blocker, stick, and leg pads. Before 1959, no goaltender in the NHL wore a mask. Montreal Canadian’s goalie Jacques Plante was the first to wear one full time. This revolutionized the game as prevented many injuries and made the game safer for all goaltenders. The modern goalie mask is made of a fiberglass construction with cages made of steel. Goalies add their own flair to their masks with custom paint jobs. These masks protect goalies from pucks that are shot at very high speeds. 

The trapper is catching glove worn to catch shots and cover the pucks to stop play. According to USA Hockey rules, the trapper cannot be longer than 18 inches in diameter. A variety of positions . A variety of positions can be used for the trapper, but the most common is placing the palm forward to cover the most area.  On the other hand, goalies hold their sticks in a glove called a blocker. The blockers top has a large rectangular surface used to deflect pucks. In accordance with USA Hockey rules, the blocker can not exceed 8 inches in width and 15 inches in length. Sticks play a large role in goaltending. The large paddle on the bottom helps deflect shots and in some instances make passes. According to the USA Hockey rulebook, the paddle of a goalie stick cannot exceed 26 inches. The last piece of specialized equipment are the leg pads. Leg pads are made up of foam wrapped by leather and nylon. Pads cannot be wider than 11 inches or taller than 38 according to the rulebook. Goalies use the leg pads to block shots that are just above or on the ice.

 Saves and Techniques

There is a large variety of saves and techniques goaltenders can use to stop the puck. To get ready for a shot, goaltenders stand with their feet slightly outside their shoulder width, blocker and trapper facing the shooter with their stick flush with ice. This stance helps goaltenders cover the most area of the net and allows them to react quickly to the shot. The goaltender wants their shoulders to be squared with the shooter to cover most of the net. The ready stance is advantageous as it increases reaction time. When a shooter is looking at a goalie there are five main areas or “holes” they will shoot at to try and score.      

1.     High trapper side

2.     Low trapper side

3.     High blocker side

4.     Low blocker side

5.     Area between the leg pads

Goaltenders use their trapper, blocker, and sometimes even their mask to stop high shots. In general, goaltenders want to either catch the puck in the trapper, or deflect it to the corners of the rink. This is to prevent rebounds, which are second chances to score. When a

goaltender covers or holds on to the puck the whistle is blown and a faceoff ensues. When a goaltender faces a low shot, they use a technique known as the butterfly. A butterfly save occurs when the goaltender drops to his knees and flairs his pads outward. It is important to note, that the goaltender should keep his chest high and hands the same position just incase they need to make a secondary save. From this position the goalie can use the leg pads to kick the puck and deflect it out of harms way. If the goalie is down and needs to move, they can raise one leg and use their skate to slide across into position. This is known as a butterfly slide.  

Stick saves are useful in most cases. If a shooter is all alone on a breakaway the goaltender can use a poke check. A poke check occurs when the goalie extends is stick all the way out to try and deflect the puck away from the shooter. When in the butterfly position, the goaltender can place the paddle of the stick parallel with the ice to deflect passes or up close shots. This technique does leave the upper part of the net vulnerable for the shooter.

 Conclusion

Goaltending is complex and there are many more techniques that can be used. Each goaltender has their own unique style derived from these basics. Once a goaltender has mastered these simple saves and moves, they can become more creative with their saves.

[max-tech-writing-blog]

Tuning a Violin

The verb to tune means “to adjust in musical pitch” or “to bring into harmony”. It comes from the Latin word tonus, meaning “tone.” For people who are trying to learn how to play the violin, proper tuning can be one of their biggest challenges. Most beginners will rely on an instructor to tune their instrument at a weekly or monthly lesson, but inconsistent tuning slows down learning and can ingrain bad habits. The following is a guide to tuning for the novice violinist.

Courtesy of GET-TUNED.COM

Tightening and loosening the pegs

The pegs keep the strings tightened. The cloth covered tips of the string go into the tail piece on one side and into a small hole in the smooth cylindrical part of the peg on the other. Turning the peg wraps the string around the smooth cylindrical part of the peg, which creates tension in the string and raises the string’s pitch.

For string instruments, tightening the string raises the pitch, or makes it sharper. Loosening the string lowers its pitch, or makes it flatter. A flat D string needs tightening, while a sharp E string needs to be loosened.

The most challenging part of tuning with pegs is making controlled adjustments without letting the peg slip. A peg slips when it becomes loose enough that the tension in the string is stronger than the force keeping the peg still in its slot, and the string loosens rapidly as the peg spins, unwinding the part of the string wrapped around the long cylindrical part of the peg. Pegs are not screws, so the only way to keep pegs in place is to keep them tightly pressed into their slots. Pegs are slightly tapered, so pressing a peg further into its slot creates a tighter fit and makes it less likely to slip. Think of the pegs like a cork in a bottle. Corks do not twist into place. To keep the cork in place, you press it further into the bottle.

At the same time, the pegs must be loose enough to turn smoothly. The trick is to first turn the peg a small amount in the loosening direction, past your target pitch, while also pulling out and away from the peg box. Maintain a firm grip on the peg. Then, maintain inward pressure while applying torque in the tightening direction until the string is at the desired pitch. If enough inward pressure is applied, by the time the string is tightened to the target pitch the peg will be pushed into its slot far enough to stay stuck.

Courtesy of Amazon.com

This method works for both flat and sharp strings. If the string is too sharp and needs to be loosened, just make sure to loosen the peg to a pitch that is lower than the desired pitch, so that it can be tightened back up to the right tuning.

Tuning the A string

Traditionally, the first string any string player tunes is the A string. The A strings on violins and violas tune to the same frequency, but cellos are an octave below. The violin A string is tuned to a pitch of 440 Hz. Some players may tune to a slightly sharper A, but 440 Hz is used most commonly. There are a few ways to identify whether your A string is flat or sharp, and when it is tuned correctly.

A tuner displays the frequency of a string’s pitch while you bow across the string. Be sure to produce an even, clear sound with steady strokes of the bow. The tuner will indicate whether or not the pitch is too low or too high. Adjust the tuning of the A string using the pegs and play the string again to test its pitch with the tuner. When the tuner indicates that the string is tuned to 440 Hz, you are done tuning the A string.

You can also match your violin’s A string to another violin’s correctly tuned A string. This method is used in chamber music and orchestras to ensure that every instrument is tuned to the same A. First, play your A string while the other person plays their A string. Use steady, long strokes with the bow to produce a clear, even sound. Listen to the two pitches. If your violin sounds flatter than the other violin, tighten the A string, then play it again. If it sounds sharper, loosen the string and keep playing. If the two A strings are not tuned to the same frequency, you will hear an unpleasant warble. This is called dissonance. When you stop hearing dissonance, your A string is tuned.

You can also apply the previous method to tune your A string to the A on a piano, or to a recording or digital sound from online. There are several websites that will play the correct pitches of all of the strings.

The other strings

Courtesy of Violin Student Central

Once your A string is tuned, you can tune the rest of the strings. When the strings are tuned correctly, they are a perfect fifth interval apart in pitch. For example, the D string is a perfect fifth below the A string, while the E string is a perfect fifth above the A string.

To tune the other strings, play the string you want to tune together with an already tuned adjacent string. If you hear dissonance, try tightening and loosening the string until you no longer hear any warbling or unpleasant sounds.

For beginning violinists, learning to tune one's own violin is an invaluable skill that will improve performance and intonation.

[chintyleruf-blog]

Improving Your Bench Press

The bench press is one of the most renowned and practiced exercises around the world. I will discuss various exercises to strengthen your bench press. Three muscle groups that have a large involvement in benching are the chest, tricep, and back muscle groups. Each of these muscle groups has a large role in having a strong bench press, so it is advantageous to strengthen each group on their own. Training other muscles, such as legs or biceps, will help your physique but they are not very beneficial to increasing your bench press.

Technical

The bench press movement has been around for a long time. The bench press has been called “floor press” and “belly toss” in the past, but in 1946 there was a weightlifting competition referring to the movement as the “bench press”. The necessary equipment is a bench, for the user to lie on top of, and either a barbell or two dumbbells. There are also variations in the bench angle, as you can have a flat, incline, or decline bench that will target different areas of the pectoral muscles. The pressing movement comes down to three main parts: preparation, the descent, and the ascent. For the preparation, center yourself on the bench in a supine position with your eyes under the bar rack. Use a closed overhand position to grip the bar with an appropriate grip width. On the descent, inhale to expand your chest and the bar should descend to right below your nipple-line. For the ascent, once the bar touches your chest, thrust the bar back up to a locked elbow position.  

Courtesy of Crossfit

Chest

Three fundamental chest exercises are bench press, dumbbell flys, and pushups. Building your chest muscles are important due to your chest being the main muscle group activated when benching. The bench press is a compound movement, which means it works two joints or muscles groups at one time. The bench movement mainly works the pectoralis major muscle, which originates at the sternum, clavicle, ribs, and it inserts at the humerus bone. To perform a dumbbell fly, lay in a supine position on a bench with two dumbbells, held in a neutral position above your chest and with a small bend at your elbow, lower the dumbbells to your side parallel to the floor, and then squeeze your chest and arms back together. When squeezing the dumbbells back together, the movement is like hugging a big tree. This movement primarily hits the inner portion of the pectoralis major muscle. Pushups are a great beginner’s exercise due to its simplicity, versatility, and great activation of the pectoralis major.

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Triceps

“Tricep brachii” means three heads, which is representative of the medial, lateral, and long heads of the tricep. The medial and lateral heads originate at the humerus and the long head at the scapula. All three heads insert at on the ulna. Three critical exercises for triceps are lying barbell press, cable pushdowns, and overhead tricep extensions. Lay in a supine position on a bench with a barbell extended up toward the ceiling when performing lying barbell tricep extensions. Then lower the bar towards your head, bending only at your elbows, and once the bar is about an inch from your head extend the bar back up to the starting position. This exercise targets the lateral and long heads of the tricep. For cable pushdowns, stand in front of a cable machine with the cable above your head. Stand in an athletic stance holding the cable, and then push down, keeping the elbow stable. This exercise emphasizes the use of the lateral and medial heads of the tricep. In the overhead tricep extension, sit on a chair or stand with a dumbbell raised above your head with your elbows locked, then lower the weight by bending your elbows until the weight is behind your head, and finally extend your arms back up. This movement focuses on the long head of the tricep. The triceps are important to the bench press because they are in charge of the straightening of your arms at the upper portion of the bench movement.

Courtesy of Get Body Smart

Back

Three central back exercises are lat pull downs, seated cable rows, and deadlifts. The lat pull down exercise stimulates the activation of the latissimus dorsi muscle. The latissimus dorsi spans most of the back, originating at the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, sacrum, ilium, and ribs. It then inserts onto the humerus. To perform this exercise, sit at the machine using your legs to anchor your body, grab the bar over head using a pronated grip, and then pull the bar down to your chest. The seated row utilizes many muscles in your body but mainly activates the latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles. The trapezius muscles originate from the occipital bone, lumbar, and thoracic vertebrae and it inserts at the clavicle, scapula, and acromion. When performing a seated row, sit at the machine with your back straight and legs planted for stabilization, then with your arms extended forward with the weight, pull it back to your bellybutton. The deadlift is a vital exercise for increasing the strength of your gluteus maximus and erectae spinor, which are your butt and lower back muscles respectively. The erector spinae originates at the ilium, sacrum, ribs, and thoracic vertebrae and it inserts on the ribs, most vertebrae, and the skull. It is crucial to have strong back muscles for benching because they aid in stability during the movement and your latissimus dorsi muscles aid in pressing the barbell off of your chest at the bottom of the movement.

Courtesy of shikaku-j.info

The bench press is an integral exercise for weight lifting that provides many benefits. It incorporates many muscle groups such as your chest, tricep, and back muscles in the movement. By developing each of these muscle groups individually, you will be able to boost the strength of your bench press.