I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis.
I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God.
I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree.
Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons.
I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA.
While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon..
In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God.
We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987).
From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting.
Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982.
I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects.
In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston.
In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018.
Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia.
In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey.
As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova.
Love and God Bless,
Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi
All three AL divisions are tight, as is one in the NL. That changes the Trade Deadline approach for both front-runners and pursuers. Mark Feinsand explains what can happen next.
Despite not donning catcher’s equipment for five years, Paul Skenes still uses his expertise from behind the dish to dominate opposing batters at the highest level.
When Pirates right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez went after a foul ball at Yankee Stadium, he lost his glove into the stands when he hit the wall. The fan who picked it up turned toward the crowd, not realizing the owner was behind him.
With Baseball Savant’s new Player Comparison Tool, we can stack up all the top trade candidates side by side and see who’s the best at what, going by their MLB percentile rankings in different stats.
It’s an AL Central showdown as Salvador Perez and the Royals take on Kevin McGonigle and the Tigers in a MLB Network Showcase presented by Goodyear at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Tuesday’s rainout meant that Boston had a chance to tie and then break the franchise mark for consecutive wins if it could sweep yesterday’s doubleheader. The Sox won the first game after roughing up Baltimore starter Dean Kremer for six runs on eight hits. But Red Sox rookie Eduardo Rivera gave up four runs in the first inning of the second game and Boston was unable to rebound. Baltimore won the nightcap, 5–1, to snap the Red Sox’ winning streak at 15 games. After the final out, the fans in Boston gave their team a standing ovation.
The only other time in franchise history that the Red Sox won 15 straight was in 1946. That streak came early in the season (in the team’s 10th through 24th games of the year) and was a harbinger of good things to come.CONTINUE DAN’S COLUMN ON SI
5. The final score of this German soccer game: 21–0. TSG Hoffenheim, which finished fifth in Germany’s highest league last season, throttled SV Massenbachhausen in a preseason friendly. But it’s actually a pretty heartwarming story. Massenbachhausen, a tiny amateur club in a small town, won a contest to host a game against the Bundesliga club. It looks like everyone had a good time.
4. A less heartwarming soccer moment: Inter Miami goalie Rocco Ríos Novo made one of the worst blunders you’ll ever see to allow an own goal.
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In case you missed the results on Tuesday night, Arizona conservative voters turned out!
Gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs, several state-level candidates, and all seven federalAmerica First candidates endorsed by Turning Point Action earned landslide victories in this Primary Election. Arizona voters just proved that the grassroots is where real change happens.
This midterm milestone would not be possible without patriots like you who have supported our Chase the Vote operation. It was the result of months of targeted ballot chasing, door knocking, and voter engagement on the ground.
Over 600 ballot chasers and hundreds of volunteers did the work needed to turn out the vote—down to the last minute. They were on the phones, driving voters to the polls, and encouraging every voter they could to cast their ballot before polling locations closed.Those efforts made the difference.
Now, all our energy is focused on driving this momentum forward into November. It’s time to turn Arizona RED.
Jesus Christ, my God, I adore You and thank You for all the graces You have given me this day. I offer You my sleep and all the moments of this night. I place myself and all my loved ones, wherever they may be, in Your sacred side and under the mantle of Our Blessed Mother. Let Your holy angels stand watch and keep us in peace. Amen.
Quote of the Day
“I have seen the Lord!”
— John 20:18
Today’s Meditation
“The psalmist, seeing from afar this maternal bond which unites the Mother of Christ with the people of faith, prophesies regarding the Virgin Mary that “the richest of the people…will seek your smile” (Ps 44:13) In this way, prompted by the inspired word of Scripture, Christians have always sought the smile of Our Lady, this smile which medieval artists were able to represent with such marvelous skill and to show to advantage. This smile of Mary is for all’ but it is directed quite particularly to those who suffer, so that they can find comfort and solace therein. To seek Mary’s smile is not an act of devotional or outmoded sentimentality, but rather the proper expression of the living and profoundly human relationship which binds us to her whom Christ gave us as our Mother.” —Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI), pg. 91An excerpt from Signs Of New Life: Homilies on the Church’s Sacraments
The Perfect Gift for Their Big Day
Looking for a meaningful way to say “Congratulations”? Celebrate their “Yes” to Christ with gifts that honor the grace of the Sacraments and the enduring beauty of our Catholic tradition. Explore our curated collection of First Communion and Confirmationgifts.
With delicate jewelry for her, sturdy paracord rosaries for him, and inspiring saint medals to guide them as they grow in the Holy Spirit, give a gift that nurtures their soul and reflects the joy of our shared faith on this unforgettable occasion.
The daily examination of conscience is an ancient Catholic practice. It’s very simple, and it’s designed to help us identify our sins and weaknesses so that we can improve and grow stronger in the spiritual life, while providing an excellent ongoing preparation for regular Confession. It consists of taking a few minutes at the end of the day to prayerfully review our actions in the light of God’s commandments, followed by the Act of Contrition.1. Reflect on the victories and losses
Actively reflecting on the high and low points of the day can help you live more intentionally and bring a renewed sense of resolve into the following day.
Review your actions, words, and thoughts today. Did you actively guard yourself against temptation? Where did sin creep in?
In what moments did you practice virtue and moral courage?
Were you attuned to the Holy Spirit’s promptings today? Where did you feel His inspiration?
Ask Him for the graces necessary to follow His Will more purposefully tomorrow.
2. Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.3. Practice gratitude
It is God’s love that has brought you into existence and to this exact moment. Practice looking for His hand in your day.
Where did you feel His loving gaze upon you today?
What people or moments helped you see God in your life?
Thank God for all these moments!
Ask Him to help you recognize His blessings and providence tomorrow.
4. Renew your commitment to Christ
Remember: our Faith is founded upon a Person—Christ! Renew your personal love and devotion to Him.
Thank God for the gift of His Son Jesus and our call to be His disciples.
Tell the Lord of your desire to know Christ more personally.
If possible, set an intention for your day tomorrow. Ask Our Lord to guide you in this act.
Pray a Hail Mary, Our Father, or another beloved prayer.
Rest with God
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for Thou alone, O Lord, makest me dwell in safety.— Psalm 4:8Compline (Night Prayer)Want to help your organization reach thousands of Catholics? Click here to consider sponsoring future Night Prayers.
Chris Kyle (1974–2013) – Nicknamed the “American Sniper,” Chris Kyle served four tours in Iraq as a Navy SEAL and is credited with the most confirmed kills in U.S. military history. His precision and bravery saved countless American lives, and his bestselling memoir inspired a major motion picture. After retiring, Kyle worked to help veterans adjust to civilian life. Tragically killed while helping a fellow veteran, his story remains one of sacrifice, courage, and service.
In 2012, Kyle launched the FITCO Cares Foundation to help veterans dealing with PTSD, offering counseling and fitness programs to restore purpose and health. He often used his own story to encourage others not to give up and to seek healing through community and activity. His foundation reflected his belief that serving others never stops, even after the uniform comes off.
Notorious bank robber John Dillinger is killed by federal agents outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. His death marks the beginning of the FBI’s public campaigns against crime.
Welcome to The Pregame Lineup, a weekday newsletter that gets you up to speed on everything you need to know for today’s games, while catching you up on fun and interesting stories you might have missed. Today’s edition is brought to you by David Adler.
Tarik Skubal is the Very Big Obvious No. 1 starting pitcher on the trade market. But how to compare everybody else?
There are a lot of other arms out there. If you’re a contender on the hunt for pitching in the final weeks before the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline, how do you decide which trade target best fits your team’s needs?
We’re here to help.
With Baseball Savant’s new Player Comparison Tool, we can stack up all the top trade candidates side by side and see who’s the best at what.
Check this out. Here are nine of the top starting pitcher trade candidates that could be available — non-Skubal division — and their MLB percentile rankings in a whole bunch of different pitching stats:
There are a lot of nuggets to be gleaned here. For example:
If you want a high-strikeout, low-walk ace, Joe Ryan fits the bill
The Twins ace leads our group in both strikeout rate and walk rate, which is a very good combination. (Yes, even after Ryan gave up six home runs to the Guardians in that crazy game the other day.) Ryan’s 27.8% strikeout rate ranks in the 83rd percentile of MLB pitchers, and his 5.3% walk rate ranks in the 93rd percentile. There’s a gap of over 20 percentage points between Ryan’s K% and BB%, which is top-10 among qualified starters.
For strong underlying numbers, look at Casey Mize
The other Tigers starter who might be traded is having a career year (even though he’s dealing with a couple of minor ailments after his last start). Mize is sporting a 2.79 ERA and striking out over a batter per inning. Statcast’s quality of contact metrics also like what Mize is doing, indicating that his success is deserved. Mize has the lowest expected ERA, 3.14, of any starter in our comparison, a mark that ranks in the top 10 among pitchers who’ve faced at least 300 batters this season, right behind Skubal and in the middle of a group of aces.
The Player Comparison Tool is fully customizable, by the way, so feel free to swap in your own favorite trade candidates in place of the ones we picked out, or pick out different stats you want to see.
And soon there’ll be even more good stuff in there — like pitch arsenal stats. We’ll give you a sneak peek of what that looks like for our starting pitcher trade candidates:
That gives you a whole new set of info, like:
In need of a breaking ball specialist? Go after Reid Detmers
Detmers ranks at the very top of the league in value generated from breaking pitches, and that all starts with his slider. The Angels lefty has thrown one of the nastiest sliders in the Majors this season — it comes in at 86.1 mph and drops five inches more than an average slider. We don’t want to discount his curveball, though, which has also been quite effective. Detmers’ 78 total breaking ball K’s this season — 63 on sliders, 15 on hooks — are sixth most in the Majors.
The Dodgers and Phillies split the first two games of this NLDS rematch, so the series comes down to tonight’s rubber game. The two biggest bats in the series, Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber, have yet to really come alive, so hopefully this is the day for some fireworks.
Today is the first time the Yankees have had a healthy Gerrit Cole and Max Fried in the rotation together. And wouldn’t you know it, they’re both pitching. Cole struck out 11 across seven innings of three-run ball in the first game of today’s split doubleheader, and Fried will try to follow his lead in the nightcap. Fried has been out since May 14 with a bone bruise in his left elbow. His return will be a big boost for the Yanks.
The Red Sox have now won 15 games in a rowafter beating the Orioles in Game 1 of today’s doubleheader at Fenway Park. It’s just the eighth winning streak of 15-plus games within a single season in the Expansion Era (since 1961). Boston’s win streak is also tied with the 1946 Sox for the longest in franchise history. The 2026 squad can break that mark in Game 2 tonight.
One of MLB’s streakiest teams early in the season, the Cubs have settled down and have been playing good baseball for a while now. They hold the top NL Wild Card spot, they’ve won eight of their last 10 series, and they’re looking for their fourth straight series win in tonight’s rubber game against Detroit. The Tigers, meanwhile, have to keep winning if they want to avoid dealing Tarik Skubal and more at the Trade Deadline.
She’s an Athletes Unlimited Softball League star, a former Team USA player, a national champion and collegiate All-American at Oklahoma and … a veterinarian?
We didn’t think there was any crossover between those two fields, but Maxwell is the exception. She’s a pitcher for the Portland Cascade — who play in the AUSL playoffs tomorrow night — and she also just completed her first year of veterinary school at LSU.
“I love science and medicine,” Maxwell said. “The pressure that comes from softball, I found it in medicine, too. Being able to diagnose, or if you’re in the operating room, you have to make quick decisions and problem solve. And I’ve always loved animals.”
Growing up in Friendswood, Texas, Maxwell spent hours on her grandfather’s small farm, surrounded by horses, cattle and family dogs. Her fascination with animals naturally evolved into an interest in veterinary medicine.
As you might imagine, things can get a little busy when Maxwell is juggling softball and veterinary school. But she makes it happen.
“There are some exam weeks I can’t make it to the field at all — just to the gym to lift,” she said. “But I do my best to stay consistent because softball has taught me time management, resilience and how to perform under pressure.”
The question of whether the Tigers will trade Tarik Skubal continues to dominate the rumor mill.
On the one hand, there seems to be “growing sentiment among rival executives” that Detroit will try to keep Skubal and make a playoff push. On the other, plenty of MLB insiders still think Skubal is more likely to be traded than not.
But ignore the “will-they-won’t-they” aspect for a second. If the Tigers did want to trade Skubal, what type of package would it take to land him?
A report today from The Athletic gives us a glimpse into what such a package might look like. Multiple rival executives briefed on the Tigers’ thinking told Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon that the Tigers could deal Skubal for a young, MLB-ready starting pitcher and multiple prospects.
The Athletic mentions the Yankees’ Ryan Weathers and the Phillies’ Andrew Painter as two names that could fit the “young, MLB-ready starting pitcher” bill. But other rival evaluators told ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez that the Dodgers might be the best match for the Tigers in a Skubal deal.
Here are the news and notes from around the Majors.
• The way last night’s Dodgers-Phillies game ended is too chaotic to fully explain here. The way too short version is: J.T. Realmuto’s baserunning gaffe produced an extremely chaotic, and game-ending, 5-2-6-4 double play. But you’re just going to have to go watch it for yourself.
• If that double play wasn’t enough for you … how about a triple play? The Marlins turned the first one of the 2026 season against the Astros yesterday. Jose Altuve was the victim, as his ground ball down the third-base line in the eighth inning was tailor-made for Miami to third-to-second-to-first for all three outs.
• Watching Fernando Tatis Jr. absolutely annihilate a 474-foot home run in Atlanta last night — the longest homer in MLB this year — it’s kind of funny to think back about how the Padres star didn’t hit a single home run for the first 55 games of the season.
• José Ramírez is back with the Guardians tonight. The star third baseman missed a little over a month after suffering a left hamate fracture on June 13 against the Tigers. The Guardians, who hold the second AL Wild Card spot and are just percentage points behind the White Sox in the AL Central race, have to feel good about getting J-Ram back for the playoff push.
• Bobby Witt Jr. is headed to the injured listwith lower back tightness, the first time the Royals superstar has gone on the IL as a Major Leaguer. “It’s just kind of one of those things where the type of way I play, I couldn’t be myself out there,” Witt said. “And I couldn’t even be 50% of myself.”
IRON HORSE TO SILVER SCREEN
It’s been 84 years since Gary Cooper’s Oscar-nominated portrayal of Yankees legend Lou Gehrig in “The Pride of the Yankees.”
But the Iron Horse is set to get the silver screen treatment once again — played by one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Actor Glen Powell is attached to play Gehrig in an untitled film about the baseball icon, according to a report by Deadline. The movie will be directed by Oscar-nominated director Richard Linklater, and “Saturday Night Live” creator and lifelong Yankees fan Lorne Michaels is one of the film’s producers.
