Home
we had subs it was crazy

Primary links

  • About
    • $upport (lol)
    • Ethics
    • FAQ
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • MGoStore
  • MGoBoard
    • MGoBoard FAQ
    • Ticket spreadsheet
    • Michigan bar locator
    • Moderator Action Sticky
  • Useful Stuff
    • 2014 Recruiting Board, Offense
    • Depth Chart By Class
    • Unofficial Two Deep
    • Diaries, Windows Live Writer, And You
    • Michigan Future Schedules
    • User-Curated HOF
    • Where To Eat In Ann Arbor
Home

Navigation

  • Forums
  • Recent posts

User login

  • Create new account
  • Request new password

MGoElsewhere

  • @MGoBlog (Brian)
  • @aceanbender
  • @TomVH (Tom)
  • RSS Feed
  • iPhone App
  • Facebook profile
  • MGoKindle Store
  • mgo.licio.us
  • Brian @ TSB [Archive]
  • Brian @ AOL [Archive]
  • Sour Salty Bitter Sweet

Michigan Blogs

  • Big House Blog
  • Burgeoning Wolverine Star
  • Genuinely Sarcastic
  • Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
  • Holdin' The Rope
  • MGoFootball
  • MVictors
  • Maize 'n' Blue Nation
  • Maize 'n' Brew
  • Maize And Go Blue
  • Michigan Hockey Net
  • The Blog That Yost Built
  • The Hoover Street Rag
  • The M Block
  • The M Zone
  • The Wolverine Blog
  • Touch The Banner
  • UMGoBlog
  • UMHoops
  • UMTailgate
  • Wolverine Liberation Army

M On The Net

  • mgovideo
  • MGoBlue.com
  • Mike DeSimone
  • Recruiting Planet
  • The Wolverine
  • Go Blue Wolverine
  • Winged Helmet
  • UMGoBlue.com
  • MaizeRage.org
  • Puckhead
  • The M Den
  • True Blue Fan Forum

Big Ten Blogs

  • Illinois
    • A Lion Eye
    • Hail To The Orange
    • Illinois Baseball Report
    • Illinois Loyalty
  • Indiana
    • Inside The Hall
    • The Crimson Quarry
  • Iowa
    • Black Heart, Gold Pants
    • Fight For Iowa
  • Michigan State
    • The Only Colors
  • Minnesota
    • GopherHole.com
    • The Daily Gopher
    • I'm In Love With A Fringe Bowl Team
    • TNABACG
  • Nebraska
    • Big Red Network
    • Corn Nation
    • Husker Mike's Blasphemy
    • Husker Gameday
  • Northwestern
    • Sippin' On Purple
    • Lake The Posts
  • Notre Dame
    • The House Rock Built
    • One Foot Down
  • Ohio State
    • Eleven Warriors
    • Buckeye Commentary
    • Men of the Scarlet and Gray
    • Our Honor Defend
    • The Buckeye Nine
  • Penn State
    • Slow States
    • Black Shoe Diaries
    • Happy Valley Hardball
    • Penn State Clips
    • Linebacker U
    • Nittany White Out
  • Purdue
    • Boiled Sports
    • Hammer and Rails
  • Wisconsin
    • Bruce Ciskie

Links of Note

  • Baseball
    • Big Ten Hardball
    • College Baseball Today
    • The Baseball Zealot
    • The College Baseball Blog
  • Basketball
    • Ken Pomeroy
    • Basketball Prospectus
    • Midmajority
  • College Hockey
    • Chris Heisenberg
    • College Hockey Stats
    • Inside College Hockey
    • Michigan College Hockey
    • Hockey's Future
    • Sioux Sports
    • USCHO
    • Western College Hockey
    • CCHA
      • LSSU Hockey
      • Bronco Hockey Blog
  • Football
    • Smart Football
    • Every Day Should Be Saturday
    • Doctor Saturday
    • CFB Stats
    • Harold Stassen
    • NCAA D-I Stats Page
    • The Wizard Of Odds
  • General
    • Sports Central
  • Local Interest
    • The Ann Arbor Chronicle
    • Arborwiki
    • Arbor Update
    • Teeter Talk
    • Vacuum
  • Teams Of The D
    • Lions
      • Pride of Detroit
      • Fire Millen
    • Pistons
      • Detroit Bad Boys
      • Need4Sheed
    • Tigers
      • Roar Of The Tigers
      • The Detroit Tigers Weblog
      • The Daily Fungo
    • Red Wings
      • On The Wings
      • Behind The Jersey
      • Winging It In Motown
    • Michigan Sports Forum

Get Yer Tickets

Football Display Case

NFL Watches

Follow your favorite team with localtv-satellite.com: Click Here.

Site Search

Diaries

  • New
  • Popular
  • Hot
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part IV - A NEW HOKE)
    Ron Utah - 7 hours ago
  • APR And Big Ten Football: A High-Level Summary
    LSAClassOf2000 - 10 hours ago
  • On Endowment, Financial Aid, and Perceived Prestige
    maizeonblueaction - 1 day ago
  • The Blockhams in "SPARTYCAN'T"
    Six Zero - 5 days ago
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part I)
    Ron Utah - 5 days ago
  •  
  • 1 of 6
  • ››
more
  • Yet Another Da'Shawn Hand post
    canzior - 2,927 views
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part II - THE MISTAKE)
    Ron Utah - 1,413 views
  • Devin and the White Rainbow
    MCalibur - 1,047 views
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part I)
    Ron Utah - 1,007 views
  • The Blockhams in "SPARTYCAN'T"
    Six Zero - 980 views
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part II - THE MISTAKE)
    Ron Utah - 52 comments
  • On Endowment, Financial Aid, and Perceived Prestige
    maizeonblueaction - 31 comments
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part III - HOKE IS A STRATEGY)
    Ron Utah - 11 comments
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part IV - A NEW HOKE)
    Ron Utah - 7 comments
  • Big Ten Recruiting Rankings 6-18-13
    Ace - 7 comments
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more

MGoBoard

  • New
  • Recent
  • Hot
  • OT: NBA Finals Game 6 overtime open thread
    67 replies
  • UofMs solar car expecting to dominate world race
    14 replies
  • OT: Griffins win Calder Cup
    18 replies
  • USF Camp (Cole/Scott)
    10 replies
  • OT: Soccer - USMNT vs Honduras World Cup Qualifying Open Thread
    57 replies
  • 4* NJ TE/DE Garrett Dickerson's top 3: Stanford, M, Northwestern
    24 replies
  • Story on MBB Pete Kahler's Family
    5 replies
  • More Camp Offers, 2014 WR and 2014 CB
    22 replies
  • 2015 OL Jon Runyan Jr. Offered - Buckle Up
    87 replies
  • NCAA 14 Demo thoughts; MGoBlogger PSN/Gamertag list
    84 replies
  • ESPN projects next three seasons, ranks M #5 ($)
    56 replies
  • VOTE-B1G Preseaon Offensive POY (Devin)
    24 replies
  • OT - Pavel Datsyuk signs 3-yr extension with Red Wings
    43 replies
  • OT- Alabama Installing Waterfalls In Football Locker Rooms
    61 replies
  • The Full NBA Job Interview: Trey Burke
    10 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 8
  • ››
  • OT: NBA Finals Game 6 overtime open thread
    66 replies
  • OT: Soccer - USMNT vs Honduras World Cup Qualifying Open Thread
    57 replies
  • NCAA 14 Demo thoughts; MGoBlogger PSN/Gamertag list
    84 replies
  • USF Camp (Cole/Scott)
    10 replies
  • MGoProfile to Return This Week
    75 replies
  • OT: Griffins win Calder Cup
    18 replies
  • UofMs solar car expecting to dominate world race
    14 replies
  • 4* NJ TE/DE Garrett Dickerson's top 3: Stanford, M, Northwestern
    24 replies
  • OT- Alabama Installing Waterfalls In Football Locker Rooms
    61 replies
  • 2015 OL Jon Runyan Jr. Offered - Buckle Up
    87 replies
  • One of the top DE in 2015 commits to GameCocks and trashes their academics!
    37 replies
  • (Mostly) OT: Michelle Chamuel of UM can win The Voice tonight (with votes)
    37 replies
  • Story on MBB Pete Kahler's Family
    5 replies
  • OT - Pavel Datsyuk signs 3-yr extension with Red Wings
    43 replies
  • ESPN projects next three seasons, ranks M #5 ($)
    56 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 8
  • ››
  • Da'shawn Hand's New Top Three
    209 replies
  • OT'ish: Michigan or Harvard?
    176 replies
  • Coolest/favorite Michigan thing you own?
    139 replies
  • Urban Meyer and Charlie Strong's "Core Values"
    132 replies
  • OT: Man Of Steel. Wow
    129 replies
  • OT: City of Detroit Epic Comeback? (Business Insider)
    125 replies
  • High Noon with Rich Rodriguez and the Arizona Football Staff
    123 replies
  • ND to play ASU in football series
    112 replies
  • OT: Big storm coming
    103 replies
  • OT-4* recruit (non Michigan) posting really dumb things
    101 replies
  • OT: Tigers/afternoon baseball Open Thread
    97 replies
  • John U. Bacon on the GA Student Section
    97 replies
  • OT: Cool Story Bro!
    96 replies
  • MSU doesn't know who they're recruiting
    93 replies
  • 2015 OL Jon Runyan Jr. Offered - Buckle Up
    87 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 8
  • ››

mgo.licio.us

  • SF Kameron Chatman Talks UConn

    ...talks about how UConn hasn't been in contact and how they're out. (HT: UMHoops)

    0 comments
  • AIRBHG Invades Steelemas!

    wow

    0 comments
  • NBA Job Interview: Trey Burke (With Scouting Report!)

    Jalen, Burke, and Simmons.

    0 comments
  • 2013 World Dwarf Games to be held at MSU

    Mike Hart the heavy favorite in the trolling competition

    0 comments
  • NBA draft rumors: Pistons like Cody Zeller, but not Trey Burke - Detroit Bad Boys

    just what the Pistons need: a third string center. Joe Dumars was replaced by a mean ol' alien a few years back you guys.

    4 comments
  • New college grads: Don’t sell your time for a living

    this would be a close approximation of hypothetical graduation speech

    9 comments
  • College World Series Misspells "College" On Dugout

    no you guys they're just super pumped about COLLLLLLLLLLLLEGE

    0 comments
  • Michigan no longer looking for a transfer quarterback, Brady Hoke says

    not a surprise

    0 comments
  • Babcock: 'Glendening will play at the next level, for sure''

    premature congrats. One thing we can be sure of: he'll take fewer asinine penalties than Abdelkader

    1 comments
  • Spurrier may have to come up with a new UT spelling joke.

    Thanks to ugly transitions between Fulmer/Kiffin/Dooley/Davis, Tennessee is on the edge of APR penalties for football.

    1 comments
  • Report: NCAA ditching domes prior to Final Four

    i approve of this message

    0 comments
  • San Antonio Spurs may be doing something right by drafting international athletes

    strong indictment of AAU right heah

    0 comments
  • NBA draft 2013 Toss Up: Better PG prospect, Trey Burke or Michael Carter-Williams

    Glockner sides with justice

    0 comments
  • Brady Hoke-coached fantasy camp raises $140K for prostate cancer research

    a good cause, and a good time

    0 comments
  • Michigan men's basketball receives high academic honor with APR Public Recognition Award

    good job gents

    0 comments
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more

michiganinmd

  • View
  • Track

History

Member for
20 weeks 6 hours

Karma

Current value
2

Recent Comments

Date Title Body
5 days 15 hours ago APR

If Damon Webb is going to make fun of Michigan for academics he should probably know the difference between to and too.

1 week 14 hours ago Interesting - Mike Farrell of

Interesting - Mike Farrell of Rivals just tweets that if Hand were picking today, the choice would be Michigan...

1 week 6 days ago Where is Heiko?  Trapped in

Where is Heiko?  Trapped in Borges' office?  

4 weeks 4 days ago recuiting?

This would seem like an ideal weekend to get recruits on campus and see all the Michigan greats, but it looks like it is one of the slowest recruting weekends in a while...

5 weeks 1 day ago Adoree Jackson is originally

Adoree Jackson is originally from Illinois, which probably explains the Illini being in the top 4.

Lorenzo Featherston is an early candidate for best name of the year.

 

5 weeks 4 days ago excellent!

Was looking forward to see this post!  For the other early enrollee freshmen - LTT, Butt and Douglas do you see them redshirting?  Or will Butt see the field?

6 weeks 10 hours ago First 2015 commitment?

First 2015 commitment?

7 weeks 11 hours ago That puts Michigan is the

That puts Michigan is the ballpark of LSU (with 12 predicted uncommited prospects) and Alabama (with 13 predicted uncommited prospects).  Not bad company.  By way of comparison, Ohio State is listed with 3 predicted prospects and Michigan State has 1.

7 weeks 1 day ago Peppers for sure

But Webb vs. Westphal is more of a toss-up.

7 weeks 1 day ago This post is already outdated!

Where is the Juwann Bushell-Beatty commitment post?  Moar content!

7 weeks 3 days ago Omameh to 49ers

Patrick Omameh to the 49ers

8 weeks 1 hour ago Sure do

TE Nic Weishar just committed to Notre Dame

8 weeks 1 day ago It is bad terminology on ESPN's part

The dark horse thing comes up in their "blue chip battles" and you can only list a favorite, other teams in the mix and a dark horse.   TVH wanted to point out that VT was next in line and that would not have come across if he said they were in the mix with Alabama and South Carolina.

8 weeks 4 days ago I like ESPN when it has positive information about Michigan

Other than that, I like 247

8 weeks 5 days ago Both are coming back

Per every twitter account ever

8 weeks 6 days ago you thought wrong!

Although there is only one Hardaway declares for NBA draft thread

10 weeks 1 day ago If Brady Hoke can turn the tide in Ohio

then John Beilein can inspire a quad post!

11 weeks 11 hours ago The players asked Kathleen Beilein for permission

"We planned it," said Mitch McGary, Michigan's fun-loving, 6-foot-10 freshman forward. "I think the older guys asked Mrs. B first. She said it was OK."

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_22912793/michigan-races-past-florida-gators-final-four

12 weeks 2 days ago Nothing great

Pretty surprising given how rabid jayhawk fans are. rockchalkblog isn't terrible. The best twitter account (aside from kuboobs of course) is @fakejeffwithey.

13 weeks 13 hours ago The nine game conference schedule should help

Although it would nice to go to Camp Randell every other year than High Point Solutions Stadium (and yes I had to look up Rutgers stadium's name and it is terrible)

13 weeks 6 days ago Tempering expectations

He has talked about visiting Ohio, Florida and Alabama.  Also he said one reason he was at Michigan for three weeks in a row was that there he wanted to see the basketball games.  I think Michigan has put themselves in a great position in Drake but I don't think it is realistic to expect a quick commitment from him.

14 weeks 1 day ago Drake Harris just decommitted from State

I take that as a good sign (although the writing has been on the wall for a while)

14 weeks 3 days ago Mine as well

But she is as a big a fan as me. I know how lucky I am

14 weeks 5 days ago return visit for Hand

I thought Hand and his coach were arlready planning on a return trip for Under the Lights 2 - did I imagine that - I feel like I'm taking crazy pills....

15 weeks 12 hours ago great article and charts

You can definitely see the year by year improvement under Beilein and the generally terrible Ellerbe years.  Amaker is missing from the charts though.

15 weeks 1 day ago Why two coaches for LB?

Magnus - why do you need two coaches for linebacker?  Are the inside and the outside that different?    Would it make sense to have two WR coaches or is where the WRs lineup less important for coaching purposes?

17 weeks 3 days ago TTB rating?

Magnus what would his TTB rating be now?

17 weeks 4 days ago Excellent post

As a long time Kansas basketball fan (all my family is from there) I can appreciate this post.  I remember the bad tournament loses much more than wins, especially VCU, Bucknell, Viriginia, UTEP, etc.  The 1997 loss to Arizona still bothers me to this day, and I can only blame Ryan Robertson for that terrible loss.

It has been much more fun to be a Michigan basketball fan - the expectations are lower and every game does not have the chance to ruin my day.  This Michigan team is also more fun to watch than almost any Kansas team I can remember the 1997 team notwithstanding).  I know come tournament time, I will be enjoying each Michigan game and tolerating each Kansas game.

Paul Endacott is my homie...

 

17 weeks 5 days ago Fun event

A pretty standard breakfast, but a good number of the Michigan delagation shows up, as well as Michigan grads who are in Congress. A different member gives the keynote each year, Sandy Levin was last year and Mary Sue speaks as well.



There is also a silent auction, with a decent amount of UM related stuff.



It is a good way to get involved in the Michigan alumni association and helps fund scholarships for deserving high schoolers. So far, not a single funded scholarship has gone to a long snapper.

18 weeks 8 hours ago Brian in DC summary

MGoBlog in DC

In December, Brian was nice enough to come to DC and do a question an event for the Washington, DCMichiganalumni group.  There was a great turnout for the event.  Some of this is really out of date (recruiting, New Years bowls, Lewan leaving), but some of it is still relevant.

The Blog

In the off season, he is going to overhaul the blog and switch it to a magazine style layout so stories do not get lost as easily.  Will also have "drill-down pages" for some of the smaller sports, softball, lacrosse, so that those sports don't get lost on the board. 

Will eventually add a subscription model, the site will remain free, but subscription could offer no ads, a copy of Hail to the Victors, a tee shirt and discounts at Moe's.

Is going to do a basketball podcast in the winter, but probably not much more with the podcast.  For a recruiting podcast, listen to him with Sam Webb.

When asked how much time do you spend on UFR - he just said a  lot.

Football

Said 8-4 was fine, about what people expected, keeps the momentum going on for the program.  Pointed out that everyone has been worried about Denard getting hurt for 3 years and when it did, Gardnerwas able to step in.  Gardnerwas much better than the coaches thought he would be - and everyone else I guess. Brian had a great line about Denard, said he will not be the best Michiganplayer of all time, but he will be a lot of people's favorite Michiganplayer.

Next year, the defense, assuming they can replace his binky, Jordan Kovacs, will be in great shape.  Was impressed Quinton Washington, thinks Pipkins will back him up, although he will play a lot of downs.  Thoughts Pipkins was bad this year because he lacked technique, and pointed out he got pancaked by a running back, but Brian thinks he will be really good as an upperclassman, said his faith is in part from the Heininger Certainty Principle - Heininger went from a liability to a strength on the team because of the coaching and the technique he learned.  Brian believes that will be there as long as the defensive coaches are there.  Brian thinks that linebacker will be a strength with three quality players in the mix.  Likes Ross a lot once he bulks up.

The offense line will be the question mark next year having to start 3 freshman.  But was pleasantly surprised by the development of Michael Schofield who should not be a disaster in place of Lewan.  Said it says a lot about the end of Carr recruiting and Rodriguez recruiting.  Thinks once all of Hoke's recruits are in place, team will be in a position to compete for national titles.  The difference going forward is attrition will be for guys not getting playing time not simply leaving the team because they didn't get along with the coaches or coaching changes. Looking forward to freshman TE Jake Butt and RB DeVeon Smith (and Green if he commits).  Things the pro style offense could look like Stamfordor New England.  In the New Englandversion, Jake Butt and Devin Funchess play the roles of Gronk and Hernandez. Doesn't think WR will be that great.  Didn't know about the redshirt for Gardner, but thought the staff should try and redshirt Morris next year, but burn it before putting Bellomy back out there, unless up 50 points, then put in Kennedy.

Thinks there will be a ten year war with Ohio- and guessed that Michiganwould go 4-6 (including this year).  I asked if that meant Urban was the better coach and he said Ohiohas natural recruiting advantages and we would see.

Said we need to give the coaches (read Borges) two to three years to get their own players, switch to a pro-style offense before can accurately judge them.  The worst criticisms about Borges that we have are probably not valid yet.  Pointed out the most legitimate criticism was how badly the missed on Belomy and Gardner.  They see both guys in practice and thought that Belomy was a legitimate option and Gardnerwas not. Noted that kicking game (save for kickers) was really bad and that the coverage was not good.  Not sure why the staff has not adapted.  Also questioned why they are huddling so long, thinks you lose something by taking that long, getting set and allowing the defense to sub in.

Despite the above, the staff are really highly thought of, tight-knit group.  His sources said the staff was night and day compared to the coaches under Rodriguez.  Really professional group of guys, great teachers. 

Said the real battle will be when Mattison retires (he thought it might happen after a big ten title or Rose Bowl win), who will take the DC position.  Said it probably comes down to Curt Mallory, the DB coach and Jerry Montgomery, the DL coach.  Whoever is elevated, if they do a good job, would be the internal candidate to take over for Hoke in 10-12 years.  Said after Bielema left is even happier about Hoke.

Bielema led to a discussion about paying coaches, Brian said it came down to priorities, Arkansas and Wisconsin have almost the same athletic department budget, but Arkansas willing to pay more, especially for assistant coaches.  Wisconsin has the money chose not to.  Reflection on the SEC/Big Ten - Mississippi State has 8 teams, Ohio State has 40+ including a rifle club.  He also mocked the crew team having an indoor rowing facility, thought they should be outside.

Oh, Brian thinks the big ten will go winless in the bowl season.

Recruiting

Doesn't look good for Treadwell, but may be in good shape on Green, just because every other school fired their coach and Miamiis Miami.  Thinks they might be in good shape with Conley and Dawson. If Conley commits, he might end up at WR, especially if Mike McCray's teammate, Reon Dawson, signs with Michigan.  He hopes that the staff will pursue Eldridge Massington, who recently decommitted from USC. The staff wants to add a linebacker because one of the young linebackers might be leaving the program for medical reasons.

Basketball

Brian loves Stauskas - even more than appears on the blog.  He is also delighted that the NBA does not focus on a player with his skill set so he will be a "foundational" player for the next couple of years. Impressed with how much Hardaway changed his game during the off season.  Pointed out that people have really stepped up after Douglass and Novak (the aneurysm of leadership) left.  Specifically mentioned McGary as a leader of the freshman, didn't complain that he wasn't starting, went to the older players and asked what he should do.  Compared McGary to a puppy.

Brian is very excited about this team - final four caliber - but also the direction of the program. Sees the strength of the team on offense, hard to double team guys when there are so many offensive weapons.  Thinks the weakness is on defense, young team, not great shot-blockers, slow on rotations.  Going to lose Big Ten games, like to Indianabecause of defensive liabilities. 

Brian is very impressed with Beilein, including his ability to change up his style, moving from a 1-3-1to man, adapting to the team's strengths, like more alley-oops this year.  Says Beilein reminds him of a chemistry teacher - compared him to Walter White on the first episode of Breaking Bad without the meth or cancer.  Also very high on the assistants, including Bacari Alexander and LaVall Jordan.  Thinks that they could be head coaching material, but will probably stay to see how this group of players develop.

Odds and Ends

Brian was depressed and didn't want to talk about hockey, said real chance they will miss the NCAAs.  Not sure why, the team has talent.  Did say the goal keepers we not to blame as much you might think.  Was asked a question about Red if he was going to be pushed out, said that Red was the Hockey Bo, could stay as long as he wanted, but would step away if it came to that.

Brian is not a fan of expansion, and did a straw poll with 80% of the audience against it.  His ideal expansion plan would be to go to 20 and have everyone that joined in 1990 or later be in the other division and he could forget about them.  He also doesn't think the big ten people really have a clue, both for the future of television and how the conference should be aligned.  Brian thought the future was a la carte with only the true fans paying for football on cable, and grandma watching matlock on netflix.  If that is the case, Rutgers, even though they are in NYC, doesn't make a lot of sense, they do not have a passionate fan base.   Brian noted that Louisville is in a much smaller media market, but they are the only game in town and have a huge fan base.

For alignment, Brian pointed out there is a major problem with Michigan and Ohio in different divisions - if they are playing for the big ten title the week following the Game, do they play as hard, do they not show the whole bag of tricks, or rest starters?  Would be a de facto division championship if they were in the division.

Regarding Dave Brandon, he said that the Hoke hire was great, but everything else is reducing the program and the experience.  Said that he doesn't want to see a Lions game at Michigan Stadium, that Michigan is unique and Brandon is turning it into something generic. Would tell him not to make Michigan into pizza if he could talk to him.  He pointed out that we do not watch college sports because it is the best product that is the pros, but there is something special about college sports.

more
Powered by Pressflow, an open source content management system
Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.