Blog posts from Naples Computer Techs.

Yes — create a contact label in Google Contacts, add people to it, then type the label name in Gmail’s To/Bcc field to email the whole group. Quick guide and decision points Decide whether you want a simple distribution list (use a label in Google Contacts) or a full Google Group (for shared inboxes, permissions). Choose whether recipients should see each other (To) or be hidden (Bcc). Create a group (label) in Google Contacts — step‑by‑step (computer) Open Google Contacts: go to contacts.google.com while signed into the Google account you use for Gmail. Create a label: in the left sidebar under Labels, click Create label, type a name (for example, Book Club), then click Save. Add contacts to the label (bulk method): check the boxes next to the contacts you want, click the Manage labels (tag) icon at the top, check your new label, then click Apply. Add a single contact to a label: open the contact’s details, click the label icon (or three‑dot menu → Manage labels), check the label, and Apply. Use the group in Gmail: compose a new message in Gmail and start typing the label name in the To or Bcc field; Gmail will auto‑suggest the label — select it to add all members. Comparison: Labels vs Google Groups Option Best for Visibility Notes Google Contacts label Quick personal distribution lists Recipients visible unless you use Bcc Simple; managed in Contacts; works directly in Gmail. Google Group Team collaboration, shared inboxes, permissions Can hide members; supports posting settings More powerful for organizations; separate service from Contacts. Tips and troubleshooting To hide recipients from each other, put the label in the Bcc field before sending. If contacts don’t appear, ensure they’re saved to the same Google account and that each contact has a valid email address. To edit or delete a group, hover the label in Contacts and choose the three‑dot menu to rename or delete it. Bottom line: Use Google Contacts labels for the easiest, fastest Gmail groups; create a label, add contacts, then type the label name in Gmail to email everyone at once.

A hard drive that “clicks” is usually suffering a mechanical failure; immediately power it down and stop using it — the safest path to recover data is to first try noninvasive checks (power/cable, alternate enclosure) and, if clicking persists, send the drive to a professional data‑recovery lab with cleanroom capability. Quick decision guide If the drive is still recognized by your OS: attempt a read‑only data copy or run recovery software to image the drive immediately. Do not run repairs (CHKDSK) that write to the disk. If the drive clicks loudly and is not recognized: power down and seek professional recovery—continued power cycles make recovery less likely. Comparison: DIY vs Professional recovery Approach Speed Success chance Risk Quick DIY checks (cables, power, ports) Fast Moderate if issue is power/connection Low if done carefully; avoid opening drive. Software imaging/recovery (read‑only) Moderate Good if drive mounts and heads work briefly Medium — repeated attempts can worsen mechanical damage. Home physical fixes (freezing, tapping, opening) Fast Low and temporary High risk — can permanently destroy data. Professional cleanroom recovery Slower (days–weeks) Highest for mechanical failures Costly but safest for valuable data. Step‑by‑step actions (what to do now) Power down immediately. Continued spinning/clicking increases platter/head damage. Check simple things: swap USB/data cable, try a different power connector or enclosure, and test on another computer to rule out power or interface faults. Do not run disk repair utilities yet. If the drive mounts read‑only: create a full disk image (bit‑for‑bit) to another healthy drive using read‑only tools, then run recovery on the image — never work on the original if you can avoid it. If clicking persists or the drive is not recognized: stop. Package the drive and contact a reputable data‑recovery lab for evaluation; ask about cleanroom procedures and a no‑data, no‑charge diagnostic policy. Risks, myths, and practical tips Do not open the drive outside a cleanroom — dust and fingerprints can make recovery impossible. Freezing or tapping is a myth that sometimes yields temporary access but often causes more harm; treat these as last‑resort, low‑probability hacks. Document symptoms and prior actions for the recovery lab — it helps diagnosis. Bottom line: Power down, try only noninvasive checks, image the drive if it mounts, and otherwise send it to a professional cleanroom recovery service — DIY physical fixes are high risk and often reduce the chance of successful recovery.

A bottle of wine is made through a chain of steps from vineyard decisions to harvest, fermentation, aging, clarification, and bottling — each step contains many choices that shape style and quality. Overview Key considerations: grape variety and vineyard practices; harvest timing; whether you’re making red, white, rosé, sparkling, or fortified wine; and choices about fermentation vessel, yeast, oak, and aging time. These upstream decisions determine the wine’s flavor, structure, and shelf life. Step‑by‑step process 1. Vineyard management and harvest What matters: site, vine age, pruning, canopy management and the exact harvest date (sugar, acid, and phenolic ripeness). Harvest can be by hand or machine and timing is one of the single most important quality decisions. 2. Crushing, destemming and pressing Red wines: grapes are crushed and fermented with skins to extract color and tannin. White wines: grapes are usually pressed immediately and only the juice ferments. These choices determine color, tannin level, and extraction. 3. Fermentation Yeast converts grape sugars into alcohol and CO₂; winemakers control temperature, yeast strain (wild vs. inoculated), and length of fermentation to shape aroma and texture. Red wines often ferment warmer and longer; whites are typically cooler to preserve fruit aromatics. 4. Post‑fermentation handling and aging After fermentation wines may be pressed (reds), racked, and aged in stainless steel, concrete, or oak barrels. Aging choices (time, oak type, new vs. used barrels) add flavors (vanilla, spice, toast) and affect mouthfeel. Some wines are blended before or after aging to achieve balance. 5. Clarification and stabilization Wines are clarified by racking, fining, filtration, and sometimes cold stabilization to remove haze, proteins, or tartrate crystals so the bottle is clear and stable. These steps reduce the risk of spoilage or unwanted precipitates in the bottle. 6. Bottling and packaging Before bottling winemakers may adjust final sulfite levels, blend, and filter. Bottling lines fill, cork or cap, and label bottles; proper sanitation and oxygen management at this stage are critical to shelf life and consistency. Risks, tradeoffs, and practical notes Tradeoffs: aggressive clarification/filtration improves stability but can strip flavor; long oak aging adds complexity but increases cost and can mask fruit. Quality is made in the vineyard: poor grapes limit what cellar work can fix.

Using Box Office Mojo’s “Romantic Comedy” genre and domestic lifetime grosses, the top‑grossing rom‑coms from roughly 1996–2026 are led by My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), What Women Want (2000), Hitch (2005), There’s Something About Mary (1998), and Crazy Rich Asians (2018). Top 10 highest‑grossing romantic comedies (domestic lifetime gross, ~1996–2026) Rank Title (year) Domestic lifetime gross 1 My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) $241,438,208. 2 What Women Want (2000) $182,811,707. 3 Hitch (2005) $179,495,555. 4 There’s Something About Mary (1998) $176,484,651. 5 Crazy Rich Asians (2018) $174,532,921. 6 The Proposal (2009) $163,958,031. 7 Sex and the City (2008) $152,647,258. 8 Runaway Bride (1999) $152,257,509. 9 Knocked Up (2007) $148,768,917. 10 As Good as It Gets (1997) $148,478,011. Method and caveats Source and metric: This ranking uses Box Office Mojo’s “Romantic Comedy” genre tag and domestic (U.S.) lifetime grosses, which is the standard dataset for genre‑based box‑office lists. Time window: You asked for the last 30 years; I treated that as roughly 1996–2026 and included films from that span. Some classic rom‑coms released before 1996 (e.g., Pretty Woman, 1990) are excluded by that cutoff. Inflation and worldwide totals: Rankings change if you adjust for inflation or use worldwide grosses; several lists that adjust for ticket‑price inflation or use global box office produce different top‑10s. For example, inflation‑adjusted rankings and alternative compilations highlight titles like The Proposal and As Good as It Gets differently. Want a different view? Inflation‑adjusted list (gives older films a fairer comparison). Worldwide grosses instead of domestic totals. Top rom‑coms by year, by decade, or by streaming popularity.

1998–2005: The Devil Rays and early struggles The Devil Rays played their first game on March 31, 1998, against the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field, before an opening day crowd of 45,369. Wilson Álvarez threw the first pitch and Wade Boggs hit the team's first home run, though the Devil Rays ended up losing 11–6. The next day, the Devil Rays won their first victory, defeating Detroit 11–8, thanks to rookie pitcher (and future All-Star) Rolando Arrojo. Despite briefly being over .500 in their first 19 games (a first for an expansion team in their inaugural season), the team would go on to lose 99 that year, ending with the second-worst record in the league (just above their neighbors, the Marlins, who lost 108).[26] Carl Crawford was one of the Rays' first breakout stars The Devil Rays continued to struggle in their next few seasons, with many of their veteran players, including the "Hit Show" of sluggers (McGriff, Vinny Castilla, Jose Canseco and Greg Vaughn), being past their prime—though Wade Boggs would mark his 3000th career hit, a home run, against the Cleveland Indians on August 7, 1999.[27] Having led the Devil Rays through two last-place, 69-wins seasons in 1999 and 2000, Rothschild was fired partway through the 2001 season and replaced by Hal McRae. Despite the change, the team continued to decline, and the 2002 season would lead to a franchise-worst 55–106 record, despite the emergence of key players like Aubrey Huff, Toby Hall, and Carl Crawford. McRae was moved to a front office position after the season. Lou Piniella, a Tampa native who had previously led the Reds to a World Series, replaced McRae as manager for the 2003 season, winning 63 games. The next year, Piniella's Devil Rays finished with a 70–91 record, just above the Toronto Blue Jays to claim in 4th in the American League East—the first time in franchise history the team was out of last place. Despite this the team still had very little fan support thanks to poor ownership in the past, something the team still struggles with today. Carl Crawford established himself as a breakout star, leading the American League in triples (19) and, for the second year in a row, stolen bases (59). In the 2005 season, Crawford's production at the plate was matched by newcomers Jorge Cantú and Jonny Gomes, though the team was let down by its pitching staff (despite the arrival of Scott Kazmir) and finished 67–95. Tensions between the owners and management came to a head after the dismal 2005 season. Piniella became frustrated with the ownership group's lack of commitment to the team, stating that they were "not interested about the present" but "about the future." He took issue not only with Naimoli (whose repeated promises of payroll increases had not been met), but with a new group of investors led by Stuart Sternberg.[28] After the 2005 season, Sternberg purchased a controlling interest in the team and released Piniella, buying out the last year of his contract for $2.2 million.[29] 2006–2015: The Rays, Joe Maddon, and first postseason appearances For the 2006 season, Sternberg hired Joe Maddon, formerly of the Anaheim Angels, to replace Piniella as manager. Sternberg also fired LaMar and most of the front office, replacing him with Andrew Friedman (as Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations). Nevertheless, the team continued to struggle for the first two years of Maddon's tenure, finishing 61–101 and 66–96 in 2006 and 2007 season. Evan Longoria owns many Rays franchise records, including games played, home runs, RBIs, and WAR. The team was rebranded before the 2008 season, abandoning its nickname and green-white color scheme for a new existence as the Tampa Bay Rays. Dropping the "Devil", the new Rays name referred to a ray of sunshine (for the Sunshine State of Florida), and the team adopted a navy, Columbia blue and gold color scheme. Sternberg finally delivered on his promises to increase the team's payroll, raising it to $43 million (still the lowest payroll in baseball).[30] The team, anchored by Crawford, Kazmir, and pitcher James Shields, was bolstered by new additions of pitchers Matt Garza and David Price (a first round draft pick),[31] outfielder Ben Zobrist, and third base prospect Evan Longoria. The Rays started the season strongly with their best record in franchise history, and became the first team in modern Major League history (since 1900) to hold the best record in the league through Memorial Day, after having the worst record in the league the year before.[32] The Rays briefly fell behind the Boston Red Sox but, with the best home record in Major League Baseball, managed to qualify for at least the AL Wild Card on September 20—the team's first-ever postseason berth.[33] The Rays would ultimately end the season two games above the Red Sox in the AL East, their first divisional title. The 2008 American League Division Series was the Rays' first playoff series victory, defeating the Chicago White Sox in 4 games. Besting the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series in 7 games, the Rays advanced to the World Series for the first time. However, the team's good fortunes came to an end, and they were defeated four games to one by the Philadelphia Phillies. Tampa Bay in the 2008 World Series Going into the 2009 season, the American League champions again posted a winning record, 84–78, but were unable to return to the postseason, in part due to injuries to Longoria, Akinori Iwamura and Carlos Peña. The Rays performed much better the following year, a season that saw Matt Garza throw the franchise's first no-hitter (against Detroit)[34] They again won the AL East, finishing with the best record in the AL, but were eliminated in the ALDS by the Rangers. The Rays lost veterans like Garza, Peña, and Crawford in the 2010–11 offseason, but nevertheless finished the 2011 season with the AL wild card, having just barely beat out the Red Sox with a 12th-inning walk-off home run by Evan Longoria against the Yankees. The team was again eliminated by the Rangers in the ALDS. The Rays missed out on the postseason the next year despite a 90–72 record, though David Price became the first Rays pitcher to earn the Cy Young Award. The team returned to the postseason in 2013 (after a Game 163 tiebreaker against Texas), in part thanks to new additions Wil Myers and Chris Archer. However, they were again defeated in the ALDS, this time by the eventual World Series champions, the Red Sox. After 2013's failed championship bid, the Rays entered a period of decline; 2014 saw their first losing record (77–85) since 2007. Price was traded away to the Detroit Tigers, though the Rays received prospect Willy Adames in return.[35] GM Andrew Friedman left Tampa Bay for a front office role with the Los Angeles Dodgers;[36] this activated an opt-out clause in Maddon's contract, who also opted to leave Tampa Bay despite efforts to re-sign him.[37] Maddon finished his tenure with a record of 754 wins and 705 losses.[38] 2015–present: The Kevin Cash era The Rays named Kevin Cash as Maddon's successor on December 5, 2014; he would be the youngest manager in league.[39] Cash's first season in 2015 saw strong performances from Chris Archer, who became a Cy Young contender, and center-fielder Kevin Kiermaier, who won his first Gold Glove Award; however the team ended the season with an 80–82 record. The team fared more poorly in the next year; they finished last in the AL East for the first time since 2007, winning only 68 games in a season marred by injuries (including to Kiermaier) and a 3–24 stretch between June 16 and July 16. 2017 again saw strong performances from Archer and Alex Cobb (returning from Tommy John surgery the year before), and the team rebounded to match its 2015 record. The 2017 season also saw Erik Neander take over as general manager from Matthew Silverman, and he would continue the Rays' strategy of aggressive trade moves. Heading into 2018, the Rays traded Evan Longoria, long considered a franchise player, to the Giants, and starter Jake Odorizzi to the Twins.[40] More trades would come as the season went on, as Matt Andriese was dealt to Arizona; Archer was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher Tyler Glasnow, outfielder Austin Meadows, and prospect Shane Baz. Despite the departure of much of their existing rotation, Glasnow and Blake Snell anchored the team's pitching staff; Snell, who led all AL pitchers in wins (21) and ERA (1.89), won the franchise's second Cy Young Award. The team also pioneered the concept of the "opener," by which the pitcher who begins the game only pitches an inning or two before being relieved by the "bulk man" who often pitches into the late innings. Though criticized by some baseball traditionalists, the innovative strategy helped the Rays finish the year with the second-best team ERA in the American League.[41] Though the Rays won 90 games in 2018, they did not qualify for the playoffs.

The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. They are one of two major league clubs based in Florida, alongside the National League (NL)’s Miami Marlins. The team plays its home games at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Following nearly three decades of unsuccessfully trying to gain an expansion franchise or enticing existing teams to relocate to the Tampa Bay area, an ownership group led by Vince Naimoli was approved on March 9, 1995. The team began play as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 1998 Major League Baseball season. The team's first decade of play was marked by futility; they finished in last place in the AL East in all but the 2004 season, when they finished second to last.[6] Following the 2007 season, Stuart Sternberg, who had purchased controlling interest in the team from Vince Naimoli two years earlier,[7] changed the team's name from "Devil Rays" to "Rays", now meaning both manta rays and rays of sunshine;[1][8] a manta ray logo appears on the uniform sleeves while a sunburst appears on the uniform front. The 2008 season saw the Rays post their first winning season, their first AL East championship, and their first American League pennant (defeating the rival Boston Red Sox in the ALCS), though they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in that year's World Series. Since then, the Rays have played in the postseason eight more times, winning the American League pennant again in 2020 and losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in that year's World Series. The Rays are one of five MLB teams to not have a World Series title yet, the others being the San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, and Seattle Mariners. The Tampa Bay Rays' chief rivals are the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, which also play in the AL East. Regarding the former, there have been several notable on-field incidents.[9] The Rays also have an in-state interleague rivalry with the Miami Marlins (originally the Florida Marlins). Through 2025, the Rays' all-time record is 2,168–2,264 (.489).[10] History Main article: History of the Tampa Bay Rays See also: History of baseball in the Tampa Bay area Background and push for an expansion team The Tampa Bay area has a long association with amateur and professional baseball. Tampa and St. Petersburg were among the first hosts of Major League Baseball spring training in the 1910s, the Tampa Smokers and St. Petersburg Saints were two of the founding members of the minor league Florida State League (FSL) in 1919, and several other communities in the area also hosted FSL teams in the following years. However, it was not until a period of explosive population and economic growth after World War II that the area was considered as a possible location for major professional sports. The push to bring major league baseball to the Tampa Bay area can be traced to the late 1960s, when civic leader and St. Petersburg Times publisher Jack Lake wrote a series of editorials arguing that St. Petersburg could and should support a franchise.[11] However, though Tampa was awarded the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers by the National Football League in 1974, the region suffered through many unsuccessful attempts to acquire a major league baseball team through expansion or relocation in the 1970s to the early 1990s. The Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals, and Seattle Mariners all seriously considered moving to either Tampa or St. Petersburg, but they all elected to remain in place, usually with the enticement of a new publicly funded ballpark.[11][12] In response, the city of St. Petersburg decided to build the Florida Suncoast Dome (now called Tropicana Field) in the mid-1980s for the express purpose of luring a major league team with a move-in ready facility. The building opened in 1990, but it would be several more years before the area gained a major league franchise.[13][page needed] When MLB announced plans to add two expansion teams for the 1993 season, it was widely assumed that one would be placed in the Tampa Bay area, most likely St. Petersburg. However, the region's effort was split into two ownership groups with competing applications: the "Tampa Bay Whitecaps" group led by Roy Disney and the Kohl department store family that proposed hosting the franchise at the Florida Suncoast Dome in St. Petersburg, and the "Florida Panthers" group led by former Texas Rangers part-owner Frank Morsani that planned on building a new ballpark adjacent to Tampa Stadium, home of the Buccaneers.[14] The league declined to award a franchise to either group, and instead placed franchises in Denver (Colorado Rockies) and Miami (Florida Marlins).[15] Morsani sued MLB, claiming he had been promised an expansion team in exchange for dropping his plans to relocate the Twins or Rangers to Tampa.[16] Ultimately, he sold the "Panthers" trademark to Marlins owner Wayne Huizenga, who would later use it for his Miami-based professional hockey team.[17] Tampa-based investor Vince Naimoli had negotiated a deal to buy the San Francisco Giants and move them to St. Petersburg in 1992, but MLB owners unexpectedly voted to block the deal.[18] Naimoli sued Major League Baseball for tortious interference for intervening, and in part to settle the suit, MLB awarded his ownership group a new expansion franchise on March 9, 1995, the same day that the Arizona Diamondbacks were awarded to Phoenix.[19][20] The new franchise would take to the artificial turf of St. Petersburg's newly rechristened Tropicana Field during the 1998 season. Naimoli initially planned to call the team the "Tampa Bay Sting Rays" but the naming rights were already held by the minor league Maui Stingrays. The Maui club offered to sell the name for $35,000, but rather than make the deal, Naimoli opted for a different species of rays, and the new franchise was introduced as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The name was not welcomed in all quarters; the devil ray is not nearly as common in waters near Tampa Bay as the ubiquitous cownose stingray, and several pastors of local Christian churches told the Tampa Bay Times that the inclusion of the word "devil" offended them. However, fans approved the name in a telephone poll set up by Naimoli, who had offered to change the name to the "Manta Rays" if the public chose the alternative.[21][22] The Tampa Bay Devil Rays named Chuck LaMar, the former assistant general manager of the Atlanta Braves, as its first general manager; Larry Rothschild, a former pitching coach for the Marlins and Cincinnati Reds, was named the team's first manager on November 7, 1997. In the Expansion Draft on November 18, 1997, the Devil Rays acquired their first player in pitcher Tony Saunders. Among the team's 34 other draft picks was future star outfielder Bobby Abreu; however, Abreu was soon dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies for utility infielder Kevin Stocker in a trade generally regarded among the worst in recent MLB history.[23][24] The team acquired several veteran stars in trades or free agent signings before their first season including pitcher Wilson Alvarez and two Tampa natives in first baseman Fred McGriff and third baseman Wade Boggs, both future members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The last 20 years transformed cancer care through immunotherapy (especially immune‑checkpoint inhibitors and CAR‑T), precision targeted therapies guided by genomic profiling, advances in radiation and surgical techniques, and better diagnostics including liquid biopsies — all of which have improved survival for many cancers while exposing new challenges in access and long‑term toxicity. Major advances (concise summary) Area What changed Why it matters Immunotherapy Immune‑checkpoint inhibitors and cellular therapies (CAR‑T); expanding indications Durable remissions in melanoma, lung, lymphoma and others; reshaped treatment paradigms. Targeted and precision medicine Widespread tumour genomic profiling; many small‑molecule and antibody drugs matched to mutations Treatments tailored to driver mutations improved outcomes and reduced unnecessary toxicity. Biologics and multispecific antibodies Bispecifics and engineered antibodies entered clinic New ways to recruit immune cells to tumours and target previously “undruggable” pathways. Diagnostics and monitoring Next‑generation sequencing, liquid biopsies, advanced imaging Earlier detection of relapse, noninvasive monitoring, and better trial selection. Local therapies and surgery Minimally invasive surgery, stereotactic radiotherapy, proton therapy Higher precision local control with less collateral damage. Supportive care and survivorship Better symptom control, palliative integration, patient‑centred outcomes Improved quality of life and longer survivorship for many patients. Key considerations for patients and clinicians Biomarker testing matters: genomic and immune markers guide therapy choices and clinical‑trial eligibility. Not every cancer yet cured: advances are uneven across tumour types and regions; many patients still lack effective options. Toxicities and costs: novel therapies can cause unique immune or long‑term toxicities and are often expensive. Risks, limitations, and tradeoffs Access and equity gaps mean breakthroughs benefit some populations more than others; addressing disparities is a major unmet need. Resistance and relapse remain common; targeted drugs and immunotherapies can fail as tumours evolve. Long‑term effects of newer agents (CAR‑T, bispecifics) are still being defined; careful follow‑up is required. Practical next steps if you want to act on this Ask your oncologist about comprehensive genomic testing and immunotherapy biomarkers if not already done. Consider clinical trials — many cutting‑edge agents and combinations are available through trials. Discuss survivorship planning (late effects, rehabilitation, psychosocial support).

Pure Florida, Chasin’ Tales, Dalis/Naples Fishing, On A Mission, and Naples Saltwater Fishing are consistently rated as the best fishing excursions in Naples for a mix of offshore, nearshore, backcountry, and tarpon trips. Book early for peak season (March–July for tarpon). Quick comparison table Charter Type Typical duration Price range Best for Pure Florida Offshore / Nearshore 4–8 hours $288–$320 per person; private options available Deep‑sea, family groups. Chasin’ Tales Fishing Charters Inshore & Offshore 4–8 hours Private charters; group pricing varies Local-knowledge guided trips; flexible targeting. Dalis / Naples Fishing Boats Head boat & Private vessels 4.5–8 hours $175 per person (half day) or private up to $2450/day Grouper, snapper, family head‑boat trips. On A Mission Fishing Charters Inshore / Backcountry / Tarpon 4–8 hours Varies by trip; custom tarpon trips recommended Tarpon, snook, redfish, flyfishing. Naples Saltwater Fishing Inshore / Offshore / Backwater 4–8 hours Half‑day to full‑day options; group/private rates Versatile species list; “no fish, no pay” options. How to choose the right excursion Decide target species: Tarpon season peaks March–July; grouper/snapper are common offshore targets. Pick trip type: Backcountry/inshore for calmer water and sight fishing; nearshore/offshore for bigger game and reef/wreck fishing. Group size & comfort: Head boats are cheaper per person; private charters give flexibility and more space. Booking tips and logistics Book 1–4 weeks ahead in high season; tarpon trips especially fill fast. Ask what’s included: rods, tackle, bait, licenses, cleaning/filleting, ice. Many charters include these; confirm before you go. Bring sunscreen, hat, motion‑sickness meds if prone, snacks, and a camera. Most charters will provide water and basic gear. Risks, limitations, and what to watch for Weather cancellations are common; charters will reschedule or refund. Hidden fees: gratuity, fuel surcharges, or cleaning fees can add up—confirm total cost. Regulations: size and bag limits apply; reputable captains follow state rules and will advise you.

Year Tm Lg G W L Ties W-L% pythW-L% Finish GB Playoffs R RA Attendance BatAge PAge #Bat #P Top Player Managers 2026 Boston Red Sox AL East 74 31 43 0 .419 .492 5th of 5 14.5 293 298 1,262,542 28.3 29.6 41 24 C.Rafaela (3.3) A.Cora (10-17) and C.Tracy (21-26) 2025 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 89 73 0 .549 .569 3rd of 5 5.0 Lost ALWC (2-1) 786 676 2,776,496 27.6 29.4 56 36 G.Crochet (6.0) A.Cora (89-73) 2024 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 81 81 0 .500 .502 3rd of 5 13.0 751 747 2,659,949 27.3 29.5 57 35 J.Duran (9.0) A.Cora (81-81) 2023 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 78 84 0 .481 .498 5th of 5 23.0 772 776 2,672,130 28.6 30.0 56 33 R.Devers (3.5) A.Cora (78-84) 2022 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 78 84 0 .481 .469 5th of 5 21.0 735 787 2,625,089 28.8 30.2 54 33 X.Bogaerts (5.7) A.Cora (78-84) 2021 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 92 70 0 .568 .546 2nd of 5 8.0 Lost ALCS (4-2) 829 749 1,725,323 28.0 29.7 56 37 X.Bogaerts (5.2) A.Cora (92-70) 2020 Boston Red Sox AL East 60 24 36 0 .400 .417 5th of 5 16.0 292 351 27.1 29.1 47 30 A.Verdugo (2.2) R.Roenicke (24-36) 2019 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 84 78 0 .519 .539 3rd of 5 19.0 901 828 2,915,502 27.3 29.0 47 28 M.Betts (7.2) A.Cora (84-78) 2018 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 108 54 0 .667 .635 1st of 5 -- Won WS (4-1) 876 647 2,895,575 27.7 28.9 44 23 M.Betts (10.7) A.Cora (108-54) 2017 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 93 69 0 .574 .573 1st of 5 -- Lost ALDS (3-1) 785 668 2,917,678 27.3 28.4 49 27 M.Betts (6.5) J.Farrell (93-69) 2016 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 93 69 0 .574 .606 1st of 5 -- Lost ALDS (3-0) 878 694 2,955,434 28.5 29.0 50 26 M.Betts (9.8) J.Farrell (93-69) 2015 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 78 84 0 .481 .497 5th of 5 15.0 748 753 2,880,694 28.3 28.6 51 26 M.Betts (6.0) J.Farrell (78-84) 2014 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 71 91 0 .438 .445 5th of 5 25.0 634 715 2,956,089 29.2 29.9 55 25 D.Pedroia (3.9) J.Farrell (71-91) 2013 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 97 65 0 .599 .618 1st of 5 -- Won WS (4-2) 853 656 2,833,333 29.6 30.2 48 26 D.Pedroia (6.1) J.Farrell (97-65) 2012 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 69 93 0 .426 .457 5th of 5 26.0 734 806 3,043,003 29.4 28.7 56 26 D.Pedroia (5.1) B.Valentine (69-93) 2011 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 90 72 0 .556 .578 3rd of 5 7.0 875 737 3,054,001 30.1 30.3 49 27 J.Ellsbury (8.3) T.Francona (90-72) 2010 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 89 73 0 .549 .543 3rd of 5 7.0 818 744 3,046,445 30.9 29.6 53 25 A.Beltré (7.8) T.Francona (89-73) 2009 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 95 67 0 .586 .577 2nd of 5 8.0 Lost ALDS (3-0) 872 736 3,062,699 30.0 29.8 52 27 K.Youkilis (6.6) T.Francona (95-67) 2008 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 95 67 0 .586 .589 2nd of 5 2.0 Lost ALCS (4-3) 845 694 3,048,250 29.8 29.2 47 23 D.Pedroia (6.9) T.Francona (95-67) 2007 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 96 66 0 .593 .624 1st of 5 -- Won WS (4-0) 867 657 2,970,755 30.1 31.1 40 20 J.Beckett (6.5) T.Francona (96-66) 2006 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 86 76 0 .531 .497 3rd of 5 11.0 820 825 2,930,588 30.5 31.1 53 28 D.Ortiz (5.8) T.Francona (86-76) 2005 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 95 67 0 .586 .556 2nd of 5 -- Lost ALDS (3-0) 910 805 2,847,888 31.3 33.6 52 26 D.Ortiz (5.2) T.Francona (95-67) 2004 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 98 64 0 .605 .596 2nd of 5 3.0 Won WS (4-0) 949 768 2,837,294 30.4 32.5 50 26 C.Schilling (7.7) T.Francona (98-64) 2003 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 95 67 0 .586 .578 2nd of 5 6.0 Lost ALCS (4-3) 961 809 2,724,165 29.7 31.2 47 26 P.Martínez (8.0) G.Little (95-67) 2002 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 93 69 0 .574 .615 2nd of 5 10.5 859 665 2,650,862 29.9 31.1 39 18 D.Lowe (7.3) G.Little (93-69) 2001 Boston Red Sox AL East 161 82 79 0 .509 .516 2nd of 5 13.5 772 745 2,625,333 30.0 30.9 48 23 M.Ramirez (5.2) J.Williams (65-53) and J.Kerrigan (17-26) 2000 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 85 77 0 .525 .528 2nd of 5 2.5 792 745 2,585,895 29.3 30.2 52 24 P.Martínez (11.7) J.Williams (85-77) 1999 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 94 68 0 .580 .569 2nd of 5 4.0 Lost ALCS (4-1) 836 718 2,446,162 28.9 30.1 48 25 P.Martínez (9.8) J.Williams (94-68) 1998 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 92 70 0 .568 .583 2nd of 5 22.0 Lost ALDS (3-1) 876 729 2,314,704 28.8 29.5 47 23 N.Garciaparra (7.1) J.Williams (92-70) 1997 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 78 84 0 .481 .497 4th of 5 20.0 851 857 2,226,136 28.0 27.8 46 25 N.Garciaparra (6.6) J.Williams (78-84) 1996 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 85 77 0 .525 .503 3rd of 5 7.0 928 921 2,315,231 28.4 28.7 55 23 R.Clemens (7.8) K.Kennedy (85-77) 1995 Boston Red Sox AL East 144 86 58 0 .597 .557 1st of 5 -- Lost ALDS (3-0) 791 698 2,164,410 28.6 29.1 53 26 J.Valentin (8.3) K.Kennedy (86-58) 1994 Boston Red Sox AL East 115 54 61 0 .470 .446 4th of 5 17.0 552 621 1,775,818 29.8 30.2 45 23 R.Clemens (6.0) B.Hobson (54-61) 1993 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 80 82 0 .494 .492 5th of 7 15.0 686 698 2,422,021 29.6 30.6 39 16 D.Darwin (5.7) B.Hobson (80-82) 1992 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 73 89 0 .451 .450 7th of 7 23.0 599 669 2,468,574 28.7 31.5 38 16 R.Clemens (8.7) B.Hobson (73-89) Year Tm Lg G W L Ties W-L% pythW-L% Finish GB Playoffs R RA Attendance BatAge PAge #Bat #P Top Player Managers 1991 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 84 78 0 .519 .512 2nd of 7 7.0 731 712 2,562,435 28.9 30.8 39 19 R.Clemens (7.9) J.Morgan (84-78) 1990 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 88 74 0 .543 .523 1st of 7 -- Lost ALCS (4-0) 699 664 2,528,986 28.9 30.6 43 20 R.Clemens (10.4) J.Morgan (88-74) 1989 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 83 79 0 .512 .524 3rd of 7 6.0 774 735 2,510,012 29.4 29.5 35 15 W.Boggs (8.4) J.Morgan (83-79) 1988 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 89 73 0 .549 .575 1st of 7 -- Lost ALCS (4-0) 813 689 2,464,851 28.7 28.7 37 17 W.Boggs (8.3) J.McNamara (43-42) and J.Morgan (46-31) 1987 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 78 84 0 .481 .509 5th of 7 20.0 842 825 2,231,551 28.8 27.1 35 13 R.Clemens (9.4) J.McNamara (78-84) 1986 Boston Red Sox AL East 161 95 66 0 .590 .560 1st of 7 -- Lost WS (4-3) 794 696 2,147,641 30.6 28.0 38 16 R.Clemens (8.8) J.McNamara (95-66) 1985 Boston Red Sox AL East 163 81 81 1 .500 .548 5th of 7 18.5 800 720 1,786,633 29.5 26.8 36 17 W.Boggs (9.1) J.McNamara (81-81) 1984 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 86 76 0 .531 .527 4th of 7 18.0 810 764 1,661,618 29.2 25.8 33 14 W.Boggs (6.3) R.Houk (86-76) 1983 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 78 84 0 .481 .469 6th of 7 20.0 724 775 1,782,285 29.2 26.8 31 12 W.Boggs (7.8) R.Houk (78-84) 1982 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 89 73 0 .549 .525 3rd of 7 6.0 753 713 1,950,124 28.9 28.2 33 14 D.Evans (6.4) R.Houk (89-73) 1981 Boston Red Sox AL East 108 59 49 0 .546 .535 5th of 7 2.5 519 481 1,060,379 29.2 27.9 32 13 D.Evans (6.7) R.Houk (59-49) 1980 Boston Red Sox AL East 160 83 77 0 .519 .494 5th of 7 19.0 757 767 1,956,092 29.5 29.5 41 17 F.Lynn (4.7) D.Zimmer (82-73) and J.Pesky (1-4) 1979 Boston Red Sox AL East 160 91 69 0 .569 .576 3rd of 7 11.5 841 711 2,353,114 29.0 28.4 34 14 F.Lynn (8.9) D.Zimmer (91-69) 1978 Boston Red Sox AL East 163 99 64 0 .607 .587 2nd of 7 1.0 796 657 2,320,643 28.5 29.2 31 14 J.Rice (7.6) D.Zimmer (99-64) 1977 Boston Red Sox AL East 161 97 64 0 .602 .585 2nd of 7 2.5 859 712 2,074,549 28.8 29.4 38 15 C.Fisk (7.0) D.Zimmer (97-64) 1976 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 83 79 0 .512 .537 3rd of 6 15.5 716 660 1,895,846 27.7 29.5 32 11 L.Tiant (6.2) D.Johnson (41-45) and D.Zimmer (42-34) 1975 Boston Red Sox AL East 160 95 65 0 .594 .553 1st of 6 -- Lost WS (4-3) 796 709 1,748,587 26.9 28.8 37 12 F.Lynn (7.4) D.Johnson (95-65) 1974 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 84 78 0 .519 .524 3rd of 6 7.0 696 661 1,556,411 27.6 29.2 37 13 L.Tiant (7.7) D.Johnson (84-78) 1973 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 89 73 0 .549 .560 2nd of 6 8.0 738 647 1,481,002 29.5 28.3 32 15 B.Lee (6.1) E.Kasko (88-73) and E.Popowski (1-0) 1972 Boston Red Sox AL East 155 85 70 0 .548 .515 2nd of 6 0.5 640 620 1,441,718 28.9 28.9 38 17 C.Fisk (7.3) E.Kasko (85-70) 1971 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 85 77 0 .525 .516 3rd of 6 18.0 691 667 1,678,732 27.9 29.1 36 15 S.Siebert (6.6) E.Kasko (85-77) 1970 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 87 75 0 .537 .539 3rd of 6 21.0 786 722 1,595,278 26.5 27.9 40 20 C.Yastrzemski (9.5) E.Kasko (87-75) 1969 Boston Red Sox AL East 162 87 75 0 .537 .504 3rd of 6 22.0 743 736 1,833,246 26.1 26.5 40 19 R.Petrocelli (10.0) D.Williams (82-71) and E.Popowski (5-4) 1968 Boston Red Sox AL 162 86 76 0 .531 .502 4th of 10 17.0 614 611 1,940,788 26.4 27.3 36 16 C.Yastrzemski (10.5) D.Williams (86-76) 1967 Boston Red Sox AL 162 92 70 0 .568 .574 1st of 10 -- Lost WS (4-3) 722 614 1,727,832 25.4 27.2 39 18 C.Yastrzemski (12.5) D.Williams (92-70) 1966 Boston Red Sox AL 162 72 90 0 .444 .450 9th of 10 26.0 655 731 811,172 25.3 27.4 40 21 C.Yastrzemski (5.5) B.Herman (64-82) and P.Runnels (8-8) 1965 Boston Red Sox AL 162 62 100 0 .383 .424 9th of 10 40.0 669 791 652,201 26.7 26.3 30 12 C.Yastrzemski (4.9) B.Herman (62-100) 1964 Boston Red Sox AL 162 72 90 0 .444 .435 8th of 10 27.0 688 793 883,276 27.6 25.6 32 13 D.Radatz (6.0) J.Pesky (70-90) and B.Herman (2-0) 1963 Boston Red Sox AL 161 76 85 0 .472 .475 7th of 10 28.0 666 704 942,642 28.2 26.2 31 16 C.Yastrzemski (6.6) J.Pesky (76-85) 1962 Boston Red Sox AL 160 76 84 0 .475 .469 8th of 10 19.0 707 756 733,080 27.7 27.6 33 18 D.Radatz (5.2) P.Higgins (76-84) 1961 Boston Red Sox AL 163 76 86 1 .469 .462 6th of 10 33.0 729 792 850,589 27.5 27.6 32 15 B.Monbouquette (4.4) P.Higgins (76-86) 1960 Boston Red Sox AL 154 65 89 0 .422 .426 7th of 8 32.0 658 775 1,129,866 29.1 27.6 42 18 P.Runnels (4.7) B.Jurges (15-27), D.Baker (2-5) and P.Higgins (48-57) 1959 Boston Red Sox AL 154 75 79 0 .487 .519 5th of 8 19.0 726 696 984,102 29.1 26.7 41 18 P.Runnels (5.3) P.Higgins (31-42), R.York (0-1) and B.Jurges (44-36) 1958 Boston Red Sox AL 155 79 75 1 .513 .504 3rd of 8 13.0 697 691 1,077,047 28.9 27.2 35 18 P.Runnels (5.5) P.Higgins (79-75) 1957 Boston Red Sox AL 154 82 72 0 .532 .535 3rd of 8 16.0 721 668 1,181,087 29.0 27.0 36 16 T.Williams (9.7)

Marketing is a solid, versatile major for students who enjoy a mix of creativity and analytics; it opens many entry points (digital, brand, research, sales) but requires ongoing skill updating and practical experience to stand out. Overview Why it’s considered “good”: Marketing combines storytelling, consumer psychology, and data analysis, so graduates can work across industries (tech, retail, healthcare, nonprofits) and move into roles from specialist to CMO. Demand is strong for digital and data‑driven skills, though entry‑level competition is high. Quick comparison table Attribute What to expect Why it matters Career variety Brand, digital, research, product, sales; agency or in‑house. Many industries hire marketers. Skill mix Writing; analytics; SEO/SEM; social media; market research. Employers want both creative and technical skills. Starting pay Moderate; rises with specialization and experience. Data/digital roles often pay more. Job market Growing for digital/data roles; competitive for generalist roles. Continuous learning required. Practicality Internships and portfolio matter more than GPA. Real work experience accelerates hiring. Typical coursework and what each teaches Intro to Marketing / Principles: 4‑P framework (product, price, place, promotion) and strategy. Consumer Behavior: Psychology of buying decisions; segmentation and targeting. Marketing Research & Analytics: Survey design, statistics, data interpretation, tools (Excel, SPSS, SQL basics). Digital Marketing: SEO, SEM, social media strategy, email marketing, analytics platforms. Advertising/Brand Management & Sales: Campaign planning, creative briefs, sales techniques, retail/omnichannel strategy. How to make the major work for you Prioritize internships and projects (agency work, campus marketing, freelance) — employers value portfolios. Learn analytics and a few tools (Google Analytics, basic SQL, Excel, an ad platform). These skills markedly improve hireability. Build a niche (e.g., product marketing, performance marketing, UX research) to reduce competition and increase pay potential. Risks and trade‑offs Competition for entry roles can be stiff; many grads start in sales or internships. Field evolves fast — you must invest in continuous learning (certifications, short courses). Broad major can be generalist‑heavy; without specialization or experience, advancement may be slower. Bottom line and next steps Marketing is a good major if you enjoy both creative strategy and measurable results and are willing to build practical experience and technical skills. Start with core courses, secure internships, and add analytics/digital certifications to maximize career options.

Start simple: learn the basic swing and short game, get minimal starter gear, practice deliberately (range + putting green), and take a few lessons to build good habits — then play short courses to apply skills. Getting started — quick checklist Gear: Buy or rent a starter set (driver or hybrid, 6‑iron, 8‑iron, pitching wedge, putter) and comfortable shoes. You don’t need a full bag at first. Fundamentals first: Work on grip, stance, and a balanced finish before obsessing over mechanics. Short game (putting, chipping) gives the fastest score improvement. Step‑by‑step plan for the first 3 months Week 1–2: Familiarize and feel Visit a driving range and the putting green; hit lots of short, relaxed shots (use foam/whiffle balls if nervous). Focus on rhythm, not power. Learn basic rules and etiquette: play the ball as it lies, count every stroke, repair divots and ball marks, keep quiet while others play. Weeks 3–8: Build a routine Practice routine: 2×/week range (30–45 minutes) + 2×/week putting/chipping (20–30 minutes). Drills: short‑game drills (50% of practice time), alignment and tempo drills for full swing. Deliberate practice beats volume. Month 3 onward: Lessons and on‑course play Take 3–5 lessons with a PGA instructor to fix early flaws; one good coach saves months of bad habits. Play short courses or 9‑hole rounds with forgiving tees; focus on course management, not distance. What to prioritize and why Short game (putting/chipping): fastest way to lower scores; beginners often neglect it. Practice it first. Good habits: a consistent grip and balanced finish prevent compensations later; lessons help lock these in. Course etiquette and pace: being ready to play, repairing turf, and keeping pace makes you welcome at any course. Tools and resources Beginner guides and drills: Golf Digest and Golf Pro Guides have structured beginner programs and video drills. Apps and tracking: use a swing‑video app or simple phone video to review swings; track rounds with a basic scorecard. Risks, trade‑offs, and tips Avoid over‑coaching early: too many swing thoughts cause tension; focus on one simple swing thought (e.g., “balanced finish”). Equipment trap: buying premium clubs immediately is unnecessary; rent or buy used starter sets to learn what fits. Time vs money: lessons accelerate progress but practice is essential; combine both for best results.