TimG

You're on the right track.

Same here In Richard's case, it might be better to say he has "graduated" rather than "grown out of".

If you're really clever, you'll figure out what other thread this hand belongs in. (The guy faced with this problem at our table, did take a call, though it made very little difference to the MP result.)

Not everyone sees these as two separate questions. I agree wholeheartedly with Richard here: government should not be recognizing (giving legal weight to) religious ceremonies.

OK, I'm not a Christian, so this is purely a view from the sidelines... Surely a parish can welcome gay couples, and formerly divorced couples, without actually saying you are breaking a rule set by Rome? Can't you (one) believe that what someone does is a sin, but welcome them into your church anyway? If the Catholic church refused to accept anyone who has committed what the church sees as a sin, and has not repented of it, then I would have thought that you would run out of congregation fairly quickly. I think it is a matter of not being allowed to take the sacrament; you are welcome in the church, you just aren't welcome to participate in all of the ceremonies.

is Wakefield on the roster? Yes, and I think he is scheduled to be the game 4 starter.

Demanding of you! ♠3 ♥93 ♦AKQJ8754 ♣54

I posted this for someone who wanted to remain anonymous (with good reason). I almost made up a dummy nickname for the purpose.

MP, red v white, in second seat you hold: ♠6 ♥643 ♦Q9762 ♣A863. (P)-P-(3♣)-3♠; (P)-?

We did play in Flight B. I did not get a club lead. Spades were 5-2, but the club king was onside (and diamonds were 3-1). Yes, I imagine the pair that was -50 got a club lead and declined the finesse. In Flight B, the scores were 1520, 1440, 1020 (x8), 920, 520 (x2). In Flight A, the scores were 1020 (x10), 940, 520, -50. So, if we had played 6N, we would have scored 7/12 = 58% in Flight B.

I'd be curious to know how frequently a 5cM was in opener's hand and whether some of those would be opened 1M.

Since Richard is likely sleeping now and busy tomorrow, I'll take the liberty of revealing the result. We reached 7♦ after Richard opened 2♣ and I responded 3♦ (we do not play the KS control type responses to 2♣). This was in the District 25 NAP -- of the 26 times this was played in Flights A & B, 7♦ was bid and made only twice (spades were not 4-3, but the ♣K was onside) and one pair went down in something. I'm curious how you would handle the auction after a 2N opening. As to why we play 21-22 2NT: I do not know. When Richard was giving this hand to someone, they asked our 2NT range and I said "20-21". Richard said I was wrong, and sure enough, our card says 21-22. I'm sure that was my mistake, Richard copied his CC from mine before the event started.

You make it sound like none of us are gay, like the discussion involves people that never show up here.

Someone was arrested in Florida in connection to threats made at a rally or prior to it. Weren't they?

A lot of the "how to pitch to a batter" stuff is decided pre-game by the managerial staff and then told to the battery. Often you will see the catcher looking into the dugout before a giving a signal for a pitch. this is usually to see if a particular play (pitchout/throw to first etc) is on, but sometimes it is simply to get the pitch signal. I agree with matmat. I also think how much the battery is involved in the pre-game planning varies from team to team and from player to player. Some catchers are considered good signal callers and do a lot of it themselves, some pitchers have a better idea than others how they want to get a batter out and will shake-off a catcher's signal if they are not in agreement, and some managers will call a large percentage of the pitches. Boston's catcher, Varitek, is one of those catchers who is very involved in the pre-game planning and is considered a good signal caller. I recall Derek Lowe saying, after he had just pitched a no-hitter, that he didn't shake him off once during the game. Schilling came within an out of a no hitter a couple of years ago and shook off Varitek (for the first time in the game, I think) before the pitch that resulted in the hit. Angels manager, Mike Scioscia, gives signals before virtually every pitch. Probably not always pitch selection, especially with men on base, but he is much more involved in the pitch-by-pitch play calling than someone like Boston's Francona. To some extent, positioning defensive players is similar. Coaches will often signal fielders to adjust their position -- no just infield in or infield back, or shift on. But, some players take extra time to better understand the hitters and where they should be positions -- Cal Ripken was noted for his positioning as a shortstop and considered a decent defensive shortstop despite not having great range.

If there's a serial killer living on my block and I shoot him, does that make me a terrorist? Unlikely. Not by your own definition: the serial killer is not an innocent civilian.

Under your definition, bombing the office of a doctor who performs abortions as a way to protest abortions would not be considered terrorism. Not that I would definitively claim you are wrong, but I expect most would consider such a bombing an act of terrorism.

The boat owners/people who work on the boat, will think "wow, I could have been on the boat" and that will scare them. Even if the bombers did not intend it to be scary.

Over 2H, responder's only signoff is 3D, 2S would show 5+ and ambiguous strength, all other bids establish a GF. 3H is characterized as "a strong rebid" and shows 5 spades along with 4+ hearts. I agree with others that the 3N bid looks a bit strange. Maybe something like Txxxx Axxx J KQx?

3♠ wasn't the first poor choice, responder (me) had already botched the auction by that time. I agree that 3N should suggest poor trumps (spades) and values in clubs while suggesting 3N instead of 4S (on the presumed 53).

In KS, opener hasn't promised length in hearts, the reverse could be manufactured on a three- (or even two-) card suit when opener has a 2 1/2 spade raise with three trumps, or a 2 1/2 m rebid (1m-1M-3m is forcing in KS). 3S, I believe, reveals the 2 1/2 spade raise. So, I think 4N here would be keycard for spades. I think 4N on the previous round, when it would have been keycard for hearts, is better.

I think some people would draw a line between "intent to inflict bodily harm on humans" and "intent to inflict harm to property". But, I agree with you, either is a terrorist.

How could it not be considered that he was a terrorist?

For those who play transfers after 1X-(DBL), at what level do transfers start? If after 1H-(DBL) transfers start at 1NT, what do you do with a hand that would have bid 1NT if not playing transfers? If after 1H-(DBL) transfers start at the two level so that 2C shows diamonds, 2D shows a constructive heart raise and 2H shows a weak heart raise, how do you show club? Do people think this is a situation where transfers come in handy?

BBO has always seemed to be against any automatic rating system. Although they do put those little letters and numbers next to players who win tourney points.