you make my day when you go away

interesting articles & websites
because it’s Friday and you stopped working yesterday

Time Magazine’s Top 10 Heists
Ten of history’s most daring heists! according to Time Magazine, anyways…
Portia Spiders
Portia is a genus of jumping spider which feeds on other spiders (araneophagic). They are remarkable for their hunting behaviour which suggests they are capable of learning and problem solving, traits normally attributed to much larger animals. cannibalistic intelligence… uh oh…
	Kirk’s Dik-Dik Born at Chester Zoo
	Standing at only a few centimetres tall, this tiny newborn antelope is already making a big impact at Chester Zoo.
	freaking cute
Jellyfish Are the Dark Energy of the Oceans
The fluid dynamics of swimming jellyfish have provided a plausible mechanism for a once-wild notion: that marine animals, hidden from sight and ignored by geophysicists, may stir Earth’s oceans with as much force as its wind and tides. with nifty video of swimming jellyfish
Why We Gamble: The Enticement of Almost Winning
Betting on the Super Bowl, roulette, or even online poker can be thrilling, and with the advent of online gambling, it’s easier than ever before. Yet winning and losing can have unexpected effects on the brain that keep people coming back for more, scientists are finding. yeah it’s kind of obvious… whatever

a public service
painting is better than going postal

The emails with mug bids have been moseying on in. As we wait for Monday when we find out what price you have all settled upon for the STFU mug, I have some new designs-in-progress to add to my gallery. These mugs have not yet been fired in the kiln so that’s why they’re not shiny and happy yet. After firing, the colors will intensify, too. I also need to improve my painting technique so they don’t look messy and non-cool.

you make my day when you go away

This is #2 in the Critter mug series and features my original quote, “You make my day when you go away.” You can’t see the “when you go away” part because it’s on the other side of the dandelion I painted. Yeah, that’s supposed to be a dandelion. Whatever. The base of the mug is a light blue and it (should) fade into a dark sapphire blue on the reverse side where the Brunswick Centennial “2″ is painted.

don’t choke

I need better technique for painting circles. I like this one, if only because the “don’t choke” message obviously applies when you’re drinking out of the mug — and not just to pool situations. I’ll make an eight-ball version as well, since that is my favorite game. I can’t wait to see how it turns out!

why
because

I plan to go to at least two major tournaments this year, the Super Billiards Expo in March and the BCA 8-Ball National Championships in May.

I have been blessed (and most undeservedly so) with donations to this blog over the past few years and the donors got nothing more tangible in return than my thanks and a tournament write-up. At least now, if you donate money, you have the option of getting something back.

I’m not paid to write. There are no advertisements on this site. I have been offered the opportunity by advertisers who will pay, but I don’t like the idea of having in-your-face marketing. Believe me when I say, I’m not getting rich off this blog.

I don’t market myself as aggressively as some other pool players do for sponsorship because I believe that one should have the appropriate level in play before being sponsored. If you play well, the sponsors will come look for you — not the other way around. And I think that if you are a sponsored player, you’d better be able to play a DAMN fine game of high-level pool. I’m not at that level, yet, but I will be.

My goal in life is simple: be the best pool player, ever. Failing that, then I want to be the best pool player I can be.

If you don’t like it that I am selling items on this blog — STFU and don’t buy anything. Continue to read, if you like, and enjoy the fact that you are reading for free, sans advertisements.

If you can’t afford to buy anything because the economy sucks as bad for you as it does for me — continue reading, and know that I believe things will get better for both of us. If you have to choose between paying for pool and buying something here — pay for pool. I would be much happier knowing you are playing the game we all love.

If you can afford to buy something and you do — thank you. I sincerely hope whichever of my creations you receive will bring you much enjoyment for years to come.

To everyone who has ever donated money, nuts, quilts, jar-openers, candy, bratwursts, equipment, etc., there are no words to describe how eternally grateful I am and I hope I will someday be truly worthy of such generosity.

That is all.