Watch 24/7 this week’s Public Affairs’ show featuring GOP IL Supreme Court nominee Mark Curran by clicking here.

Watch the show on Cable:

In Chicago, Ch 21, tonight, 8:30 pm and midnightIn Chicago, Ch. 21, tmw, Tuesday, 9:04 pmIn Chicago, Ch. 21, Saturday, 9:04 amIn Chicago, Ch. 19, Sunday, 8:34 am In Aurora, (comprised mostly of areas within IL S CT’s 2nd District),  Ch 10, Wed, Saturday & Monday at 6 pmIn Rockford, Ch 17, Thur, 8:30 pmAround the State, as the lead segment of this week’s IL Channel, two-hour packageMcHenry and Lake County, 58 suburbs, Next Tuesday, July 26, 8:30 pm, Ch 17;(25 Chicago Metro N & NW suburbs), Next Tuesday, July 26, 8:30 pm, Ch 19 & 35  Highland Park, Next Monday & Wed, July 18, 20, 8:30 pm, Ch 19

 ******************************

“Public Affairs” show host Jeff Berkowitz, in Part 1 of 2 shows, interviews Mark Curran (R-Libertyville), who won a four-candidate GOP Primary on June 28, and now is the Republican nominee in the November 8 election contest for the 2nd District IL Supreme Court seat.

The Democrats now have a 4-3 majority in the IL Supreme Court. Justice Michael Burke (R-Elmhurst), who was appointed to the 2nd District seat on the IL Supreme Court about two years ago, to fill the vacancy created when Bob Thomas, former Chicago Bears kicker retired, is now running for election in the 3rd District, due to the Democrats redistricting him and the rest of DuPage county into theIL Supreme Court 3rd District. Burke, being taped tmw, will be on Public Affairs in two week.

The Court’s 2nd and 3rd Districts were “Red,” so the IL Democratic Party redistricted both seats to be purple. But many pundits think the 2nd and 3rd District seats are likely to go Republican this year if there is a national GOP wave. If that happens, the IL GOP would have a majority [4-3] on the 7 seat IL Supreme Court for the first time in sixty years.

The IL Constitution provides that the IL Supreme Court 1st District, consisting only of Cook County, which comprises about 40% of the IL population, elects three of the seven IL Supreme Court seats. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Districts each elect one supreme court member and each district consists of various groupings of IL’s counties. After 2021 re-districting, each IL Supreme Court Justice is elected by county groupings totaling to about 1.8 million residents.

The IL Supreme Court’s 2nd District consists of Lake, McHenry, Kendall, Kane, and DeKalb counties. Only registered voters in those districts can vote in the IL 2nd District election. Berkowitz discusses with GOP IL S CT 2nd District nominee Mark Curran his background, experience, and professional qualifications for the IL Supreme Court.

Curran was an Assistant State’s Attorney for Lake County, IL for eight years (serving as a Senior Felony Prosecutor) and spent four years as an Assistant Attorney General (serving as a Gang Crime Bureau Chief) with the IL Attorney General’s office.

Curran was elected to Lake County Sheriff in 2006 as a Democrat, became a Republican in 2008 and was re-elected to the Sheriff position again in 2010 and 2014 as a Republican.

Curran has over the years, including his government work and eight years in private practice, tried more than 100 jury trials and 300 bench cases. Although Curran could not, due to the Canons of legal ethics, say or discuss how he would rule on any matters that might come before him as a Justice, he did discuss in Part 1 of the interview general issues relating to the law and his personal views about abortion, including the recent U S Supreme Court Dobbs case.

In part 2 of the interview, which will air as the “Public Affairs” show during the weeks of July 25 and August 1, Berkowitz and Curran discuss gun issues and the law, including some issues relating to the July 4th shooting in Highland Park, the IL Firearms Restraining Order Act, skyrocketing crime, and detention by the courts of defendants prior to their trial.     

Watch 24/7 this week’s Public Affairs’ show featuring GOP IL Supreme Court nominee Mark Curran by clicking here.

Watch the show on Cable:

In Chicago, Ch 21, tonight, 8:30 pm and midnightIn Chicago, Ch. 21, tmw, Tuesday, 9:04 pmIn Chicago, Ch. 21, Saturday, 9:04 amIn Chicago, Ch. 19, Sunday, 8:34 am In Aurora, (comprised mostly of areas within IL S CT’s 2nd District),  Ch 10, Wed, Saturday & Monday at 6 pmIn Rockford, Ch 17, Thur, 8:30 pmAround the State, as the lead segment of this week’s IL Channel, two-hour packageMcHenry and Lake County, 58 suburbs, Next Tuesday, July 26, 8:30 pm, Ch 17;(25 Chicago Metro N & NW suburbs), Next Tuesday, July 26, 8:30 pm, Ch 19 & 35  Highland Park, Next Monday & Wed, July 18, 20, 8:30 pm, Ch 19

 ******************************

“Public Affairs” show host Jeff Berkowitz, in Part 1 of 2 shows, interviews Mark Curran (R-Libertyville), who won a four-candidate GOP Primary on June 28, and now is the Republican nominee in the November 8 election contest for the 2nd District IL Supreme Court seat.

The Democrats now have a 4-3 majority in the IL Supreme Court. Justice Michael Burke (R-Elmhurst), who was appointed to the 2nd District seat on the IL Supreme Court about two years ago, to fill the vacancy created when Bob Thomas, former Chicago Bears kicker retired, is now running for election in the 3rd District, due to the Democrats redistricting him and the rest of DuPage county into theIL Supreme Court 3rd District. Burke, being taped tmw, will be on Public Affairs in two week.

The Court’s 2nd and 3rd Districts were “Red,” so the IL Democratic Party redistricted both seats to be purple. But many pundits think the 2nd and 3rd District seats are likely to go Republican this year if there is a national GOP wave. If that happens, the IL GOP would have a majority [4-3] on the 7 seat IL Supreme Court for the first time in sixty years.

The IL Constitution provides that the IL Supreme Court 1st District, consisting only of Cook County, which comprises about 40% of the IL population, elects three of the seven IL Supreme Court seats. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Districts each elect one supreme court member and each district consists of various groupings of IL’s counties. After 2021 re-districting, each IL Supreme Court Justice is elected by county groupings totaling to about 1.8 million residents.

The IL Supreme Court’s 2nd District consists of Lake, McHenry, Kendall, Kane, and DeKalb counties. Only registered voters in those districts can vote in the IL 2nd District election. Berkowitz discusses with GOP IL S CT 2nd District nominee Mark Curran his background, experience, and professional qualifications for the IL Supreme Court.

Curran was an Assistant State’s Attorney for Lake County, IL for eight years (serving as a Senior Felony Prosecutor) and spent four years as an Assistant Attorney General (serving as a Gang Crime Bureau Chief) with the IL Attorney General’s office.

Curran was elected to Lake County Sheriff in 2006 as a Democrat, became a Republican in 2008 and was re-elected to the Sheriff position again in 2010 and 2014 as a Republican.

Curran has over the years, including his government work and eight years in private practice, tried more than 100 jury trials and 300 bench cases. Although Curran could not, due to the Canons of legal ethics, say or discuss how he would rule on any matters that might come before him as a Justice, he did discuss in Part 1 of the interview general issues relating to the law and his personal views about abortion, including the recent U S Supreme Court Dobbs case.

In part 2 of the interview, which will air as the “Public Affairs” show during the weeks of July 25 and August 1, Berkowitz and Curran discuss gun issues and the law, including some issues relating to the July 4th shooting in Highland Park, the IL Firearms Restraining Order Act, skyrocketing crime, and detention by the courts of defendants prior to their trial.     

Watch 24/7 this week’s Public Affairs’ show featuring GOP IL Supreme Court nominee Mark Curran by clicking here.

Watch the show on Cable:

In Chicago, Ch 21, tonight, 8:30 pm and midnightIn Chicago, Ch. 21, tmw, Tuesday, 9:04 pmIn Chicago, Ch. 21, Saturday, 9:04 amIn Chicago, Ch. 19, Sunday, 8:34 am In Aurora, (comprised mostly of areas within IL S CT’s 2nd District),  Ch 10, Wed, Saturday & Monday at 6 pmIn Rockford, Ch 17, Thur, 8:30 pmAround the State, as the lead segment of this week’s IL Channel, two-hour packageMcHenry and Lake County, 58 suburbs, Next Tuesday, July 26, 8:30 pm, Ch 17;(25 Chicago Metro N & NW suburbs), Next Tuesday, July 26, 8:30 pm, Ch 19 & 35  Highland Park, Next Monday & Wed, July 18, 20, 8:30 pm, Ch 19

 ******************************

“Public Affairs” show host Jeff Berkowitz, in Part 1 of 2 shows, interviews Mark Curran (R-Libertyville), who won a four-candidate GOP Primary on June 28, and now is the Republican nominee in the November 8 election contest for the 2nd District IL Supreme Court seat.

The Democrats now have a 4-3 majority in the IL Supreme Court. Justice Michael Burke (R-Elmhurst), who was appointed to the 2nd District seat on the IL Supreme Court about two years ago, to fill the vacancy created when Bob Thomas, former Chicago Bears kicker retired, is now running for election in the 3rd District, due to the Democrats redistricting him and the rest of DuPage county into theIL Supreme Court 3rd District. Burke, being taped tmw, will be on Public Affairs in two week.

The Court’s 2nd and 3rd Districts were “Red,” so the IL Democratic Party redistricted both seats to be purple. But many pundits think the 2nd and 3rd District seats are likely to go Republican this year if there is a national GOP wave. If that happens, the IL GOP would have a majority [4-3] on the 7 seat IL Supreme Court for the first time in sixty years.

The IL Constitution provides that the IL Supreme Court 1st District, consisting only of Cook County, which comprises about 40% of the IL population, elects three of the seven IL Supreme Court seats. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Districts each elect one supreme court member and each district consists of various groupings of IL’s counties. After 2021 re-districting, each IL Supreme Court Justice is elected by county groupings totaling to about 1.8 million residents.

The IL Supreme Court’s 2nd District consists of Lake, McHenry, Kendall, Kane, and DeKalb counties. Only registered voters in those districts can vote in the IL 2nd District election. Berkowitz discusses with GOP IL S CT 2nd District nominee Mark Curran his background, experience, and professional qualifications for the IL Supreme Court.

Curran was an Assistant State’s Attorney for Lake County, IL for eight years (serving as a Senior Felony Prosecutor) and spent four years as an Assistant Attorney General (serving as a Gang Crime Bureau Chief) with the IL Attorney General’s office.

Curran was elected to Lake County Sheriff in 2006 as a Democrat, became a Republican in 2008 and was re-elected to the Sheriff position again in 2010 and 2014 as a Republican.

Curran has over the years, including his government work and eight years in private practice, tried more than 100 jury trials and 300 bench cases. Although Curran could not, due to the Canons of legal ethics, say or discuss how he would rule on any matters that might come before him as a Justice, he did discuss in Part 1 of the interview general issues relating to the law and his personal views about abortion, including the recent U S Supreme Court Dobbs case.

In part 2 of the interview, which will air as the “Public Affairs” show during the weeks of July 25 and August 1, Berkowitz and Curran discuss gun issues and the law, including some issues relating to the July 4th shooting in Highland Park, the IL Firearms Restraining Order Act, skyrocketing crime, and detention by the courts of defendants prior to their trial.     

Watch 24/7 this week’s Public Affairs’ show featuring GOP IL Supreme Court nominee Mark Curran by clicking here.

Watch the show on Cable:

In Chicago, Ch 21, tonight, 8:30 pm and midnightIn Chicago, Ch. 21, tmw, Tuesday, 9:04 pmIn Chicago, Ch. 21, Saturday, 9:04 amIn Chicago, Ch. 19, Sunday, 8:34 am In Aurora, (comprised mostly of areas within IL S CT’s 2nd District),  Ch 10, Wed, Saturday & Monday at 6 pmIn Rockford, Ch 17, Thur, 8:30 pmAround the State, as the lead segment of this week’s IL Channel, two-hour packageMcHenry and Lake County, 58 suburbs, Next Tuesday, July 26, 8:30 pm, Ch 17;(25 Chicago Metro N & NW suburbs), Next Tuesday, July 26, 8:30 pm, Ch 19 & 35  Highland Park, Next Monday & Wed, July 18, 20, 8:30 pm, Ch 19

 ******************************

“Public Affairs” show host Jeff Berkowitz, in Part 1 of 2 shows, interviews Mark Curran (R-Libertyville), who won a four-candidate GOP Primary on June 28, and now is the Republican nominee in the November 8 election contest for the 2nd District IL Supreme Court seat.

The Democrats now have a 4-3 majority in the IL Supreme Court. Justice Michael Burke (R-Elmhurst), who was appointed to the 2nd District seat on the IL Supreme Court about two years ago, to fill the vacancy created when Bob Thomas, former Chicago Bears kicker retired, is now running for election in the 3rd District, due to the Democrats redistricting him and the rest of DuPage county into theIL Supreme Court 3rd District. Burke, being taped tmw, will be on Public Affairs in two week.

The Court’s 2nd and 3rd Districts were “Red,” so the IL Democratic Party redistricted both seats to be purple. But many pundits think the 2nd and 3rd District seats are likely to go Republican this year if there is a national GOP wave. If that happens, the IL GOP would have a majority [4-3] on the 7 seat IL Supreme Court for the first time in sixty years.

The IL Constitution provides that the IL Supreme Court 1st District, consisting only of Cook County, which comprises about 40% of the IL population, elects three of the seven IL Supreme Court seats. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Districts each elect one supreme court member and each district consists of various groupings of IL’s counties. After 2021 re-districting, each IL Supreme Court Justice is elected by county groupings totaling to about 1.8 million residents.

The IL Supreme Court’s 2nd District consists of Lake, McHenry, Kendall, Kane, and DeKalb counties. Only registered voters in those districts can vote in the IL 2nd District election. Berkowitz discusses with GOP IL S CT 2nd District nominee Mark Curran his background, experience, and professional qualifications for the IL Supreme Court.

Curran was an Assistant State’s Attorney for Lake County, IL for eight years (serving as a Senior Felony Prosecutor) and spent four years as an Assistant Attorney General (serving as a Gang Crime Bureau Chief) with the IL Attorney General’s office.

Curran was elected to Lake County Sheriff in 2006 as a Democrat, became a Republican in 2008 and was re-elected to the Sheriff position again in 2010 and 2014 as a Republican.

Curran has over the years, including his government work and eight years in private practice, tried more than 100 jury trials and 300 bench cases. Although Curran could not, due to the Canons of legal ethics, say or discuss how he would rule on any matters that might come before him as a Justice, he did discuss in Part 1 of the interview general issues relating to the law and his personal views about abortion, including the recent U S Supreme Court Dobbs case.

In part 2 of the interview, which will air as the “Public Affairs” show during the weeks of July 25 and August 1, Berkowitz and Curran discuss gun issues and the law, including some issues relating to the July 4th shooting in Highland Park, the IL Firearms Restraining Order Act, skyrocketing crime, and detention by the courts of defendants prior to their trial.     

Heat wave in Spain and Portugal, over 1000 people have died. In the UK too, high temperatures over 100 degreesF (40C ). Photos in the papers of people relaxing on the beach are not helpful. This is not a vacation. This is a climate crisis.

These temperatures were predicted by climate scientists as a warning that if we continue to rely on fossil fuels, heat waves like this would be common by 2050. That future is NOW.

People in Chicago learned a lot from the heat wave of July, 1995. There are cooling centers, and emergency numbers to call. And still, people die here in the summer from the heat.

Know the difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Here is a handy chart from the National Weather Service. You could save a life–maybe even your own.

Many people are offering advice on how to survive the extreme heat. Let me add some tips, too. Here is a post I wrote about how to keep cool without air conditioning.

While politicians take a short-term selfish view, it is the vulnerable —you and me–who suffer, the ones most vulnerable to the plague that continues, too.

Stay cool! stay safe!

Round 1 (7): RHP Cade Horton – 6’1 211, Age 20 – Oklahoma

BONUS SLOT VALUE: $5,708,000

A redshirt sophomore, Cade Horton shot up draft boards in the 2nd half of the 2022 collegiate season, finishing the year with a terrific postseason run for the Sooners beginning with the Conference title game and continuing through the College World Series.

Per Cubs:

Cade Horton went 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA and 49 strikeouts (6 walks) in five postseason starts this year for the Sooners.

July 18, 2022

Cade Horton set a MCWS Finals record with 13 K’s against Ole Miss.

(via @NCAABaseball) pic.twitter.com/vl9nYxch1n

July 18, 2022

It was an amazing ascent given Horton originally went to Norman as a two-sport prep star, who competed with the Sooners football team in 2020, before giving it up and concentrating on baseball in 2021. He ended up needing to take a redshirt season because of an elbow injury which required TJS in the spring. He opened the 2022 season still recovering and was used mostly as a 3B/SS before finally making his debut on the mound in March. His numbers early on were ugly (even with his terrific final 5 starts his overall ERA remained elevated at an 4.86).

But the raw tools were there (mid-to-upper-90s heat, high spin rates on breaking ball, as well as his plus athleticism), and even as he struggled he was garnering strong draft interest. It was when Horton developed a new slider during the season that things took off for him. It’s a nasty pitch, which generates good horizontal and vertical break that makes it an effective pitch against both right and left handed batters. There is also some deception as Horton pitches from a lower arm angle that makes his vertical drop seem unusual.

Data loves the slider Cade Horton developed late this season. #Cubs

Averaging 85, up to 90, and generating ~9″+ of horizontal mvmt.

Most harder sliders are thrown w/ more backspin & less horizontal. Not many SPs with that shape – Carlos Rodón comes to mind (obviously a LHP).

July 18, 2022

And at 88 mph in this particular example (reportedly ranges from 86-90) the total amount of break is truly impressive. Nasty pitch, which should play against hitters from both sides of the plate.

July 18, 2022

Once that pitch was in place it was bad news for opposing hitters the rest of the way. By the time the College World Series ended Horton was widely considered the best college pitcher available in the draft (with the caveat that some of his potential competition suffered injuries during the 2022 season to take them out of the running).

Enjoy all of Cade Horton’s (@cadehorton14) strikeouts v Notre Dame in one minute.

I call it, “T̶h̶e̶y̶ Gone in 60 Seconds.”@OU_Baseball #Sooners pic.twitter.com/F5RwM4eCmB

June 21, 2022

Cade Horton was disgusting in Omaha.

So cool to see his climb down the stretch. @Cubs got a great one.

July 17, 2022

The Cubs pitching development infrastructure has been making big moves over the past couple of years generating big velo jumps from prospects, and showing improved ability to refine breaking pitches (including teaching the trendy sweeping slider). What’s been missing is a stockpile of high end raw talent with which to mold a potential TOR starter. Horton brings that.

Big arm, high character and performed best on the biggest stage. @cadehorton14 ➡ @cubs https://t.co/iEMj7fYYKD#Sooners Reply to this comment

As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its second year, many people are still concerned about how sanitation affects their health. Whether they contract something through unclean surfaces or spend too much time in unfiltered air, your customers often still worry if your small business is safe.

Many states no longer have mandates for masking indoors. Therefore, it is up to you to continue doing the best for your customers’ health and safety. Here are some things small business owners should know about sanitation requirements.

Why Is Sanitation Important for Small Businesses?

For obvious reasons, property hygiene can help prevent people from getting sick. Repeated hand washing, cleaning of common surfaces and proper ventilation are great ways to keep employees and customers safe. By providing workers with a healthy environment, you can potentially decrease the instances of sick days.

However, good sanitation could be advantageous for your company as well. Research shows the need for hygiene transparency is one of the top changes in consumer behavior. Your consumers want to know you’re doing all you can to keep them, your employees and yourself in good health. Highlighting your cleanliness practices could prove beneficial for business.

Requirements for Physical and Online Shops

You likely have a few people to manage, whether you’re operating digitally or in a brick-and-mortar store. The Food Safety and Inspection Service has laid out guidelines coworkers and employees should follow for excellent cleanliness standards.

For a given number of employees, you must provide a certain amount of bathrooms. Each bathroom has to have water that can reach 110° Fahrenheit. Your trash containers must not be able to create unsanitary conditions. Even surfaces that don’t come into contact with food need repeated cleaning to ensure their continued safety.

Additionally, all workers must follow the best practices for hand washing and other hygiene. Good sanitation also includes allowing employees to take time off when sick. Anyone that may have an infectious disease or skin lesions should be out until they’re better. You could even ask them to wear a comfortable mask while they’re at work to avoid spreading germs.

Plumbing and sewage have requirements too. You have to provide enough water for the building and make sure wastewater is separate from any other drainage. If your company involves food, there are many additional regulations you must keep in mind.

Think about your small business as your house. Would you invite people over if others were coughing and sneezing in it, nothing was ever clean and there was trash everywhere? Your customers are your guests, so treat them and your employees with the same respect — online or in person.

Considerations for Maintaining Sanitation

There are many ways you can practice good hygiene in a small business. Here are a few ideas and recommendations for keeping fellow workers and customers healthier.

1. Keep Common Surfaces Clean

You should encourage people to wash anything others repeatedly handle. Registers, shopping baskets, door handles, phones — if more than one person will touch it, they should clean it.

Cleansing wipes are great for this kind of sanitation. You have a few options, but you must remember to read the packaging carefully. Some wipes have a specific length of time they should sit for maximum effectiveness.

2. Have a Good Sick-day Policy

Many employees are afraid to call in sick. They often feel managers disbelieve or even pressure them to still come into work. They could also worry about missing a day of pay or that their coworkers will have to take on more work with them gone.

These reasons are why your small business needs to have a forgiving sick-day policy. Sickness will happen, so you need to accommodate it. Offer paid time off and ensure your company can still function while certain employees are unavailable. Cross-training ahead of time can be a big help in these situations.

3. Think About Ventilation

Most businesses only exchange the air in their facilities about one or two times per hour. However, recent research shows good ventilation can help reduce the spread of airborne diseases. Clearing out air five times an hour could cut COVID transmission by 50%.

The only caveat is this will be a bit of an investment. Check with your local government to see if they offer any rebates or assistance for upgrading air ventilation. Though this sanitation step incurs more of a cost, it is a significant factor in keeping people healthy.

4. Display Cleanliness Posters

Give workers, customers and yourself a reminder of the best ways to stay sanitary. A display of proper cleaning techniques is a testament to your business’s dedication to hygiene.

If your business is online only, you could discuss your cleanliness standards on your website. This shows potential customers you’re taking care of them before they even receive their product.

Keep Your Small Business Sanitary

Good hygiene is essential for everyone involved with your small business. Your workers and customers will thank you for going above and beyond the baseline sanitation requirements. Read up on local and federal cleaning regulations and consider the tips above to keep everyone safe and healthy.

Round 3 (86): IF Christopher Paciolla – 6’2″ 185, Age 18 – Temecula Valley (CA)

BONUS SLOT VALUE: $735,200&

MLB Pipeline: 166th, BA: 128th

A projectable frame, Christopher Paciolla generates good exit velos already, and reportedly makes consistent contact as well.

Currently a SS, but with questions about speed and range, so is expected to move to 3B/2B but his hands and arm are regarded well enough to project well.

Christopher Paciolla, SS – Internally it seems like they love this kid, comp’d him closely to Mickey Romero, the Red Sox first-round pick, but got him 3rd round.

He’s a dream for the S&C team, an underdeveloped body, should look different in 1-2 years.

July 18, 2022

Christopher Paciolla of Temecula Valley went 2-4 with a laser over the LF fence. He displayed a short compact swing with natural loft #WestCoastHSShowdown pic.twitter.com/bh9WArR0Hf

March 11, 2022

Big day today for 2022 Christopher Paciolla of @tvbearsbaseball and @UCLABaseball commit. Chris went 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, 1HR, 3 walks, 1HBP, and 5 RBI’s In a double header vs Riverside Poly. Great job Chris! @PBR_California @LesLukach #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/xATec86Jem

February 20, 2022

2022 Christopher Paciolla of @tvbearsbaseball and @UCLABaseball commit went 2-3 vs Murrieta Valley including this monster 3R HR. Kids going to be special! @LesLukach @PBR_California pic.twitter.com/fKDMITvuSF

March 25, 2022

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Round 4 (113): RHP Nazier Mule – 6’3″ 210, Age 17 – Passaic Tech (NJ)

BONUS SLOT VALUE: $538,400

MLB Pipeline: 96th, BA: 94th

One of the biggest arms in the prep ranks this season, Nazier Mule (pronounced Moo-LAY) is known for hitting triple digits on the gun since he was 16. He reportedly sits more in the mid-90s currently, but at just 17 years old right now, the thinking is he’ll grow into regular registering in the upper-90s. Already possessing an impressive 6’3″ pound frame, there is yet still more room for him to add additional strength.

4 (113): @Cubs select Passaic County Technical Institute (NJ) RHP Nazier Mule https://t.co/gF8XyYf7Tg #MLBDraft

July 18, 2022

Nazier Mule drafted as a pitcher for sure. He has massive arm talent and I liked the flashes of the SL and CH as well, though those two pitches were inconsistent. He’s athletic and extremely young for the class. #MLBDraft #Twins

July 18, 2022

Nazier Mule was up to 100 mph at 16 years old.

He’s a legit two-way player, too.

One of the top names in our 2022 draft rankings https://t.co/VhztSUGlSV pic.twitter.com/x2tw2ZBqXS

October 29, 2021

Cubs drafting him as a pitcher.This is likely the Cubs big overslot swing of the day.

July 18, 2022

Mule was considered the top two-way player on the east coast throughout the draft process. He generated top of the line exit velos on the showcase circuit, but with a lot of swing and miss concerns, making his offense a massively power over hit combo, which is no doubt why the Cubs announced him as a pitcher. But it’s nice to know he got the type of explosive athleticism to generate these kind of numbers:

No one produced a higher average exit velocity on the showcase circuit than Nazier Mule. Not Elijah Green, Not Turley. Nazier Mule stood above the rest and he’s also a dynamite pitcher. This is premiere upside, which looks like the defining quality of this class.

July 18, 2022

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Round 5 (143): RHP Brandon Birdsell – 6’2″ 240 – Texas Tech

BONUS SLOT VALUE: $402,100

MLB Pipeline: 101st, BA: 137th

A talented consensus Top 150 prospect who earned accolades as the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year this spring, but a guy who has battled injuries throughout his college career. Upside is there for Brandon Birdsell, but obvious risk involved as well. Birdsell is a senior, so I would expect the Cubs are looking to sign him for a bit underslot.

Brandon Birdsell, RHP – 95-96 mph on FB t99, high efficiency, short/tight slider, sparsely used CH that data likes but he hasn’t been able to put in zone.

A non-CHC org said they had concerns about how the fastball will play at higher levels, even with velo, secondaries are .

July 18, 2022

143. Cubs: Brandon Birdsell, RHP, Texas Tech

Physical RHP who performed in a big way this spring, plus fastball velocity, SL misses bats, have seen good CT from him also. Needs to stay healthy but good stuff here. #PGDraft

July 18, 2022

The Chicago Cubs select Texas Tech RHP Brandon Birdsell with the pick No. 143.

Birdsell opted to return to Tech after being selected in the 11th round of the 2021 draft and earned Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honors after finishing the season with 106 Ks in 85 IP.

July 18, 2022

15. Now this is crazy.

Brandon Birdsell (@little_bird34) struck out 15 batters in a game vs Rice on 3/12/22

But, he struck out , yes, EIGHT batters in the first 2 innings.

Final line: 6 IP 0 H 0 BB 15 K@TTU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/f61k9DKydJ

July 14, 2022

Birdsell was selected in the 11th Round last year by the Minnesota Twins.

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Round 6 (173): RHP Will Frisch – 6’0″ 220, Age 22 – Oregon State

BONUS SLOT VALUE: $303,700

MLB Pipeline: Unranked, BA: 200th

A 4th-year junior and likely underslot pick, and another former Twins draftee. Considered a fastball/slider reliever with mid-to-upper-90s heat and solid spin on his breaker. Will Frisch is recovering from TJS which wiped out his 2022 season in Corvallis.

Source: 2022 draft eligible Oregon State RHP Will Frisch has been advised to get Tommy John surgery. He hadn’t pitched yet this season but is into the upper-90’s at his best. An unfortunate spring for college pitcher health continues.

March 11, 2022

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Round 7 (203): RHP Nick Hull – 6’0″ 200 – Grand Canyon University

BONUS SLOT VALUE: $237,300

Nick Hull is through 3 innings here in Stillwater, 89-92 FB, touched 93 a few times early, 81-82 breaker and an 84 CH to LHHs, he has 5 Ks for @GCU_Baseball including this one pic.twitter.com/cAqW7AojtA

June 4, 2022

Bot 5 @d1baseball pic.twitter.com/fiTmknkj20

June 3, 2022

Connor Noland. That’s the tweet. pic.twitter.com/UMF38Wdrxt

April 2, 2022

I feel like Connor Noland’s defensive plan is to just let them hit the ball off him so he can pick it up and throw the guy out. I’ve seen him do it like 6 times over the course of this season pic.twitter.com/2Qlhh0MCcH

June 11, 2022

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Round 10 (293): RHP Brody McCollough – 6’4″ 205, Age 22 – Wingate

BONUS SLOT VALUE: $154,200

Dominated low level competition. Upped his stock with a solid showing in Cape Cod League.

He also threw a few changes (sinkers?) in the high 80s, but abandoned the pitch after the first, leaning on the aforementioned two pitches

Hailed by Forbes as “The Real-Life Willy Wonka” and has been given the honor of being one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things,” chocolatier Phillip Ashley Rix has created the best tasting chocolate I have ever tasted, and I am a known chocaholic.

Phillip spent his childhood in Memphis in his grandmother’s kitchen learning the secrets of great southern cooking, however, being a chef wasn’t his first love.  He went to college and became a corporate marketing and sales executive for major corporations.  In 2007, he decided that he wanted to open his own business and left the corporate world for milk and dark chocolate.  After tasting his Perfect Turtle, I am so glad he did. 

I spoke with Phillip and asked him how he developed a palate for fine chocolate. He told me that when he and his brother were 10 and 5 years old, their mother would take them to the mall and if they were good boys, she would give a treat of Godiva chocolates.  So, at an early age his taste buds were set for finer things.

Fast forward many years later and Phillip told me how the idea came to him in 2007 to make chocolate. “

“I just one day woke up, later in life in my 20s, I woke up at three in the morning. Was like, “You know what? I want to make chocolate for the rest of my life.” And at that time, I was in my corporate career and been out of school and all of that other stuff. And it just had this pull, or this draw to want to make chocolate, and became obsessed with learning everything about it. And so, I taught myself over the course of a few years, and here we are.”

After making the decision, Phillip spent the next three years reading and learning all about chocolate. How it was made, where it was made, how people tasted it, what ingredients worked together or didn’t.

He then started the process of making it.

“So, I spent a lot of time testing, putting two spices together or putting this fruit with that and just testing viscosity and texture and all these other things and how people taste. So, I’d be like, “Here, Bonnie, taste this,” and see what reaction you would have, and the zones of the palette. So, I went into this thing thinking, “how cool would it be to say I’m a chocolatier? How many people can say they know a chocolatier, let alone a black chocolatier?”

Then Phillips imagination went wild.  He brought the Willy Wonka Factory idea to life. He started thinking chocolate has no limits. He stepped away from the industry traditional perspective of what chocolate should be and created flavors that I couldn’t imagine being paired with chocolate. Flavors like barbecue, key lime pie, bleu cheese, collard green chocolate, mac and cheese, and fried chicken chocolate, just to name a few.  I can see you shaking your head as you read this but trust me, I was skeptical until I tasted them, and I am a true believer.   

Phillip explained, “We have things with whiskey and bourbon and all of that. And so, I really wanted to just be this encyclopedia of flavor and understand food, understand beverage, understand ingredients, spices, herbs, oils, you name it. From how it’s grown, where it’s grown, what’s the regional impact and all of that.  I want to tell stories with chocolate. I want to be able to work with brands and say, “Well, what does Cadillac taste like?” We can create chocolates that are specific and custom to this luxury auto maker. Or I can create things based on, inspired by music or by a show. We did a whole collection for and inspired by Insecure and Issa Rae. So just being able to tell these stories in different ways or perspectives using chocolate as the medium and how we communicate is really what I was wanting to do. I didn’t want to just understand how to cook per se, but I wanted to understand how to communicate with food.”

I asked him about the number of Black chocolatiers and explained that there aren’t many in the world, however, Phillip is excited to see more since he began his leap into all thing’s chocolate.

Now, Phillip Ashley Chocolates are not your average chocolate, and it is not your average price.  Phillip wants you to understand that the chocolates are an experience. They put a lot of time, effort and quality ingredients into it, because he wants you to enjoy what you’re experiencing and feel like the money you spent is just, is well worth it.

You can find Phillip Ashley Chocolates at www.phillipashleychocolates.com.

You can see my entire conversation with Phillip by visiting https://youtu.be/hice-pWsYBU

I feel a chocolate break coming on.

Until next time, keep your EYE to the sky!