Best Machine Ever. :-)

John Barton said:
I misspoke. I meant that we use 25% of the world's energy. I believe my source was "An Inconvenient Truth".
Click to expand...

Al Gore is your reliable reference? In his movie, he stole graphics from a Disney movie when it shows the glaciers melting. Maybe it was a "tribute.":rolleyes:
 
John Barton said:
This was the question verbatim.

"If someone in China built a machine that would cut perfect points every time - meaning that your points on your cues would all come out sharp and perfect every time no matter the amount of veneers - would you want one?

Would you buy one if you had the opportunity and the money to do so?

I ask this as a follow up to the whole idea that some cue makers "sold out America" by teaching the Chinese what they know.

So my question is basically if the Chinese cue maker invented some killer technique or machine that truly advanced cuemaking would you want to acquire that knowledge or machine?"

Is there anything in these words that is unclear to you about the intent of my question?

Please pay special attention to the last two sentences.
Click to expand...

Gee, why is it so hard for you to grasp that anyone smarter than a pipe wrench can see thru your transparent device.

Try doing a lot more reading and a lot less writing.

Dale
 
Last edited:
pdcue said:
Gee, why is it so hard for you to grasp that anyone smarter than a pipe wrench can see thru your transparent devise.

Try doing a lot more reading and a lot less writing.

Dale
Click to expand...

Ok, can you please tell me what "thru" and "devise" mean in your sentence above?

I get that you are accusing me of trolling and asking some kind of question with some other purpose in mind other than what I stated.

However the question I posed was quite clear in my intentions. Perhaps you can guide us "thru" it and devise a clear and concise translation of what secret meaning it really has.
 
ratcues said:
So, John, let's say I want a case from you. Knowing that I really don't care for you and we definitely disagree on many issues, would you sell the case to me?
Click to expand...

Sure. Why wouldn't I? What you believe is of no consequence to me. The money I make from a sale to you will go to further my goals in life which includes whatever good I can do. I sell to a lot of people who don't agree with me politically.

My two best friends and colleagues are 100% in opposition to everything I stand for. The world would be no fun at all if we all agreed on everything.
 
JoeyInCali said:
No. Surplus machinery can be had locally ( a mill or dedicated lathe can do the task ).
The technique is not a secret anymore, really.
And as you know, there are plenty of cues out there with points and inlays that are not selling.
The cue buyers nowadays just do not look for pretty cues anymore.
They want the oomph in their cues.
Click to expand...

Well said Joey.
Today's cue buyers are looking more for quality than they did in the past.

However THE biggest factor for most league players and weekend ball bangers (the vast majority of pool players) is what their buddies think of a cue maker.
If their buddies think it is crap ... then it is ... regardless of who's name is on it.
I am talking about the 85% of pool players that do not post on AZ, read pool mags, or play in tournaments.
They are the vast majority of players you see on league night and weekends banging away at the balls, drinking beer, and having a good time.
A few are wise to quality cues ... most are not and depend on their friends to steer them towards the best.
It is more a popularity contest and anything else.
Look at what popular opinion has done for SugarTree.
He is very in demand right now and he does make a fine cue ... but popular opinion has skyrocketed his value.
 
WilleeCue said:
Well said Joey.
Today's cue buyers are looking more for quality than they did in the past.

However THE biggest factor for most league players and weekend ball bangers (the vast majority of pool players) is what their buddies think of a cue maker.
If their buddies think it is crap ... then it is ... regardless of who's name is on it.
I am talking about the 85% of pool players that do not post on AZ, read pool mags, or play in tournaments.
They are the vast majority of players you see on league night and weekends banging away at the balls, drinking beer, and having a good time.
A few are wise to quality cues ... most are not and depend on their friends to steer them towards the best.
It is more a popularity contest and anything else.
Look at what popular opinion has done for SugarTree.
He is very in demand right now and he does make a fine cue ... but popular opinion has skyrocketed his value.
Click to expand...

Weekend ball bangers cannot appreciate the hit of Sugar Tree cues. Weekend ball bangers don't pay for the hit.
The people who pay for the hit, spend more and more reasonable to work with.
The weekend ball bangers is a market I really don't want to cater to.
 
John Barton said:
Sure. Why wouldn't I? What you believe is of no consequence to me. The money I make from a sale to you will go to further my goals in life which includes whatever good I can do. I sell to a lot of people who don't agree with me politically.

My two best friends and colleagues are 100% in opposition to everything I stand for. The world would be no fun at all if we all agreed on everything.
Click to expand...

Aren't you selling out? Putting money ahead of principle?
 
ratcues said:
Aren't you selling out? Putting money ahead of principle?
Click to expand...

No because I don't have a principle that I won't deal with people I don't like. I deal with people I don't like every day. It's more fun if I can deal with people that I do like but you have to be really despicable for me not to take your money.

Sometimes if I really despise you then I might take all the money you gave me for a case and donate it to the cause that you hate the most ;-)

Not really but you can bet that I will enjoy myself with it and laugh at the fact that you dislike me but own one of my cases.

Do you really think I care whether you and I share the same outlook on the world?

I don't and certainly not enough to refuse your good money for one of my good cases.

I have a baby to feed, I could care less what you think of global warming when Jessie needs new clothes.

This is the main difference I think between me and a lot of folks on these boards. I don't take any disagreement on issues personally until you make it personal. Almost always when the discussion doesn't go well for the other side they start in with the personal attacks and stereotypes and rhetoric and red herrings and outright insults. That's where civility breaks down and conversation ends.

In the real olden days, people were able to come together and debate the issues of the day without coming to blows verbally or physically. There were actual debate clubs where men met once a week and they would pick subjects and one man would take the pro side and the other the con side - whether he actually believed in it or not and he would debate that side the following week.

Thoreau said that it is a man's right to change his mind on any subject when he becomes convinced of it. I agree and believe, as Thoreau did that only an open mind can allow for all sides to be considered.
 
John Barton said:
No because I don't have a principle that I won't deal with people I don't like. I deal with people I don't like every day. It's more fun if I can deal with people that I do like but you have to be really despicable for me not to take your money.
Click to expand...

I guess that is where you and I differ. I feel it is a privilege to own a custom cue or case, not a right. If I don't like the way someone acts towards me or the company I work for, I do not have to sell him/her my cue or services. That being said, I have only cut off ONE person in 13 years.

Now, I'm out because the weekend starts early for me and its my birthday on Saturday. Looks like chicken wings, beer, and Husker football....all for me!

Play nice until I get back on Tuesday.
 
its my birthday on Saturday

ratcues said:
I guess that is where you and I differ. I feel it is a privilege to own a custom cue or case, not a right. If I don't like the way someone acts towards me or the company I work for, I do not have to sell him/her my cue or services. That being said, I have only cut off ONE person in 13 years.

Now, I'm out because the weekend starts early for me and its my birthday on Saturday. Looks like chicken wings, beer, and Husker football....all for me!

Play nice until I get back on Tuesday.
Click to expand...

Hey Ryan,

HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!!!!:thumbup::clapping::happydance::happy-birthday::happy-birthday::happy-birthday::happy-birthday: enjoy your big weekend. Peace out.....
 
ratcues said:
I guess that is where you and I differ. I feel it is a privilege to own a custom cue or case, not a right. If I don't like the way someone acts towards me or the company I work for, I do not have to sell him/her my cue or services. That being said, I have only cut off ONE person in 13 years.

Now, I'm out because the weekend starts early for me and its my birthday on Saturday. Looks like chicken wings, beer, and Husker football....all for me!

Play nice until I get back on Tuesday.
Click to expand...

Happy Birthday. I don't see that we are different in this regard. I also reserve the right to refuse to do business with people for whatever reason I choose. I never said you have to sell to anyone. But I don't get prissy about it just because someone acts funny towards me or my company.

I have sold cases to people on this board who swore that they would never buy from me. Eventually they came around and asked for a case and I made them one and made them happy. Now we are cool.

Life is too short to hold grudges, especially over differences of opinion. Not any one of us has "the answer". We all have our opinions formed by whatever has settled into our heads.

I just told Royce Bunnel that I have been around the world and seen very little of it. My world view is shaped though by all the experiences I have had in all those countries. How would it be different if I had seen more of each land and different sides? I don't know.

I do know that people change all the time. They go to bed as one person and wake up as another through epiphanies, trauma, grief, joy, spiritual transformation, whatever. We are nothing if not vessels of change.

So what I believe today may turn out to be a complete fraud and I might find that your way is truth or vice versa.

I don't think of ownership of superficial things like cue cases as a right or a privilege. I don't feel that I should be the one to punish someone by withholding something I make based on something they said. Unless that something is so out of line that it means that I just don't want to deal with them at all.
 
John Barton said:
Ok, can you please tell me what "thru" and "devise" mean in your sentence above?

I get that you are accusing me of trolling and asking some kind of question with some other purpose in mind other than what I stated.

However the question I posed was quite clear in my intentions. Perhaps you can guide us "thru" it and devise a clear and concise translation of what secret meaning it really has.
Click to expand...

Now I understand...

It is obvious that an oldmaid school teacher has gotten hold
of John's logon info.

And all the time I suspected Fast Larry

Dale
 
pdcue said:
Now I understand...

It is obvious that an oldmaid school teacher has gotten hold
of John's logon info.

And all the time I suspected Fast Larry

Dale
Click to expand...

No not really but I did think that it was kind of funny that you say anyone smarter than a pipe wrench can see through my initial question and manage to misspell two words in that particular sentence.

I am still waiting for an explanation of what the hidden meaning of my fairly obvious question was.

John - "dumber than a pipe wrench"
 
John Barton said:
No not really but I did think that it was kind of funny that you say anyone smarter than a pipe wrench can see through my initial question and manage to misspell two words in that particular sentence.

I am still waiting for an explanation of what the hidden meaning of my fairly obvious question was.

John - "dumber than a pipe wrench"
Click to expand...

So, now we're channelling JAM instead of arguing the merits.

I await the 'nickels are rounder than dimes' exposition.

Dale(back to searching for the Fast Larry award)
 
Last edited:
pdcue said:
So, now we're channelling JAM instead of arguing the merits.

I await the 'nickels are rounder than dimes' exposition.

Dale(back to searching for the Fast Larry award)
Click to expand...

No, you made a statement and I challenged it - and no you have dodged the question several times.

I mean seriously what do you think wasn't clear about my question?

Otherwise you are just blowing hot air.

I am trying to get to the bottom of your assertions about my original statement. Do I need to quote it again for you?

Not that I really care - but I find it amusing to watch you continue to dodge having to explain your assertions.

You are sounding a lot like the weavers in "The Emporer's New Clothes".
 
Your cup maybe half empty,
but you seem to find the good in some situations,
keep smiling...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top