The Balance Beam Situation

Oklahoma and Florida enter the weekend tied for the top spot in the nation after Florida recorded a national high of 197.200 last weekend while Oklahoma's first week lead dissipated during an uncharacteristically 9.4 beam rotation. 1 ranking after this weekend, and LSU, Michigan, and Utah are all within striking distance if things happen to go south for both of them. First, Utah/UCLA. As is always the case when UCLA and Utah square off at the beginning of the season like this, Utah comes in looking like the steadier team. The Utes have two hits meets in two weeks under their belt, while UCLA has those four falls from Monday under their belt. The key to a Utah victory will be exactly that. Stay steady, hit those routines, be the more consistent team, and let Dabritz do her thing. Utah, however, is still vulnerable to 9.825itis, so they're going to need stronger supporting scores than they've been getting so far to defeat a hit meet from UCLA.

The most important rotation for the Bruins will be beam. UCLA should be phenomenal on that event, which we saw flashes of on Monday, and if they hit beam to their capabilities, they can open up a major lead on Utah solely with that apparatus. Of course, hitting beam like beasts doesn't amount to much when you're counting a fall on floor and botching dismounts. Hint hint. There's no reason for that to be happening. Maybe they can use the inspiration of Katelyn Ohashi's commitment to get through the whole three passes this week. As for Alabama, this is a pressure meet. It was always going to be a pressure meet because they have not lost in Tuscaloosa since that infamous February 2009 clash with LSU, but this new-look Alabama team is the underdog against the reigning co-champion. That pressure is only compounded after last weekend's shock loss and beam implosion against Arkansas. Is it bad that I kind of can't wait for Alabama's beam rotation tomorrow, All eyes will be on that. I know it's only January, but it's an important rotation. Hit, and they basically erase the Arkansas disaster. Miss, and their beam rotation is a thing. No one wants their beam to be a thing. The only step after thing is full-on balance beam situation.

Instead, I'll do a little "head nod thing" that seems more natural and genuine. The world is full of phony hand-shaking and smiles. I like something more genuine. Besides, to concur with what someone else said about the tv character, Monk; I'm just not a fan of increasing the chances of spreading germs for no good reason. Handshakes are important statement about who you are. I've had a bone crusher from a German jet engine mechanic. I'm a big guy and he was my size. When he latched on I could tell he wanted to see what I was made of. Well I gripped back until he released my hand with a laugh. He bought me a beer and was quite the host. My hand was sore for days, no one had ever done that to me before and it hurt. I have a warning, never shake someones hand in the bathroom, germs aside, its just weird.

I also refuse to shake any mans hand that smells like lotion. What about those handshakes that suddenly transform into a hug, You know when you think you are about to shake somebody's hand and they kind of pull you in, like a tractor beam, I wonder what that would be called, the Invasion of Personal Space Handshake perhaps, For several years I taught various courses at a business college. In one class called Career Planning I concentrated on the correct ettiquette for shaking hands. Good for you, Wesley, the handshake can make or break a person as a possible candidate for a job! Not enough can be said on this subject! Enjoyed descriptions of all the handshakes. There is one you did not mention. I use it often. Probably women sue it more than men use it. If you are wanting to convey loving-kindness to someone you take hold of the hand firmly but gently, convey a loving expression through that hand while placing your other hand on top of the two shaking hands, also conveying loving-kindness. Go a name for that one, It's really nice, very good, i like "The Vise Grip Handshake" style.

Thank you brian and Rik the traffic for this hub jumped 68,000% last night. It is weird but also very cool. Well written, interesting hub - you have an unusual numbers of non-hubbers commenting - another indication you are getting high levels of external traffic - well done! Thanks for visiting Earnest and thanks for commenting. I have also found that handshakes vary from place to place. I prefer a firm handshake as it is most common in my culture, but have to settle for other ideas when traveling or working in Asia where it is fairly uncommon. I do not mind the crushers, as I have very strong hands from fencing as a kid, and crush em to bits if they try! It depends on where you are in the world. Firm handshakes are great in the US, Europe or Singapore. However, in India, Malaysia, etc a very gentle handshake is the way to go. You see, that's why Europeans and Americans can learn so much from Asian rituals.