The wrap came undone from Cole inflicted blows( probably chairs?) So I found that I liked it better. Just a little smaller in diameter and just smooth enough to adjust my grip as part of my dance.
The distant rumblings and ramblings of a pool nut.
- Thread starter boogieman
- Start date
The first time I hallucinations was during SERE. Survival Escape Resistance Evasion in 1969 . Around 10,000 feet above sea level. 2 sperate weeks. Survival was in my wheel house due to my boy scout training. Also my wilderness hunting. Three different groups of approx 500. The survival was easy and I finish first to the steak and potatoe.
We were the second group so not much. I found enough wild onions for myself while the other 9 laid in camp and talked about food. I next treed a little red squirrel. We rocked him for an hour. Till someone got the hit and we each had a bite of the boiled squirrel. Then on Wednesday we got 2 rabbit for group of 10. Bare Bryant and Cantrall. We were the 3 musketeers and suggested that we send 6. the 1/2 mile(the order was send 2) as they could screw up and we'll we sent fake receptors. All's fair in survival.
They didn't screw up the paperwork but! As the enlisted airmen off loaded the rabbits. Some escaped into a huge field.2 men can not catch a rabbit but 6 can. We caught 4 before All the other s had to go back to get help.
The next night the 3 musketeers. We went recon on the cadet officers camp then the officers TV tent. On the overlooking ridge was wrappers. So the group before us had found food in the camp.
Bryant as the first scout went down and into the first tent as it was supply. As he groped in the dark, he found a foot and made the hasty exit and back up the hill. No chase! Whew. So now we have located the officers TV tent and out the back door is a 4x4x8 foot ice box. All but one have left. We have been watching them get up and go to the box then return to TV.
Now a group of 10 urban survival experts show up. So we know what a 12 way split looks like.
Bryant and I decided to hit the box while the one night owl officer was in the tent. Big open field. We get to the box and can see him with his back to us watching TV. We gently open the lid. But we hear him move. The plywood floor is like a drum. Drop the lid silent and drop behind the box.(Drop was the standard punishment for miss deeds). We had a uh practice. He came out and retrieve his treat and went back in.
Finally get in the box and find oranges tomatoes and lunch meat and oh yes salad dressing. Stuffed our jacket just like squirrel. Rush back up the hill to our appreciative audience. 10 hungry cadets. To Barr's question of what did you get. " Nothing. Just some stupid salad dressing. Let's Go.!" Bare says, " well these guys are gonna hit the cadet officers. Let's join them." "No Bob let's go." Uh oh. One orange one tomato and 2 slices of meat was my share.
We were the second group so not much. I found enough wild onions for myself while the other 9 laid in camp and talked about food. I next treed a little red squirrel. We rocked him for an hour. Till someone got the hit and we each had a bite of the boiled squirrel. Then on Wednesday we got 2 rabbit for group of 10. Bare Bryant and Cantrall. We were the 3 musketeers and suggested that we send 6. the 1/2 mile(the order was send 2) as they could screw up and we'll we sent fake receptors. All's fair in survival.
They didn't screw up the paperwork but! As the enlisted airmen off loaded the rabbits. Some escaped into a huge field.2 men can not catch a rabbit but 6 can. We caught 4 before All the other s had to go back to get help.
The next night the 3 musketeers. We went recon on the cadet officers camp then the officers TV tent. On the overlooking ridge was wrappers. So the group before us had found food in the camp.
Bryant as the first scout went down and into the first tent as it was supply. As he groped in the dark, he found a foot and made the hasty exit and back up the hill. No chase! Whew. So now we have located the officers TV tent and out the back door is a 4x4x8 foot ice box. All but one have left. We have been watching them get up and go to the box then return to TV.
Now a group of 10 urban survival experts show up. So we know what a 12 way split looks like.
Bryant and I decided to hit the box while the one night owl officer was in the tent. Big open field. We get to the box and can see him with his back to us watching TV. We gently open the lid. But we hear him move. The plywood floor is like a drum. Drop the lid silent and drop behind the box.(Drop was the standard punishment for miss deeds). We had a uh practice. He came out and retrieve his treat and went back in.Finally get in the box and find oranges tomatoes and lunch meat and oh yes salad dressing. Stuffed our jacket just like squirrel. Rush back up the hill to our appreciative audience. 10 hungry cadets. To Barr's question of what did you get. " Nothing. Just some stupid salad dressing. Let's Go.!" Bare says, " well these guys are gonna hit the cadet officers. Let's join them." "No Bob let's go." Uh oh. One orange one tomato and 2 slices of meat was my share.
Can't forget the rest of the story.
The next morning, Friday. Before we start the 2 day Trek. Big message:
Last night someone stole from the officers (explicitly defined as within honor code exception with in training. Not Like the ugly girl exception)! If they do not come forward and turn themselves in....... there will be no steak and potato!
Heh, heh, yes right. The 3 Musketeers, chuckle again at the next assembly when it was announced that the culprit s had turned themselves in. The tomato that night made enough difference As a child I would take any torture over take a bite of tomato. Now one of my favorites.
The next morning, Friday. Before we start the 2 day Trek. Big message:
Last night someone stole from the officers (explicitly defined as within honor code exception with in training. Not Like the ugly girl exception)! If they do not come forward and turn themselves in....... there will be no steak and potato!
Heh, heh, yes right. The 3 Musketeers, chuckle again at the next assembly when it was announced that the culprit s had turned themselves in. The tomato that night made enough difference
As a child I would take any torture over take a bite of tomato. Now one of my favorites.
The Ramblin' part:
The hallucinating came during the POW week. Kept us awake uh long enough for the hallucinating.
The hallucinating came during the POW week. Kept us awake uh long enough for the hallucinating.
Sounds like good times Greg. 
I miss the military sometimes. Some of the funniest moments for me were in basic training. So many kids there had been pampered their whole lives and it was a shock to them what the military was willing to do to.
One time a few people kept messing up, so the drill sergeants had us take apart our bunks and move them outside onto the drill pad. At least it had a roof but was otherwise open to the Oklahoma summer air.
Then we got in formation to hear an over the top sermon about how the military requires at least FOUR hours of sleep per night, so even though we’re all worthless a-holes- we’ll still get to snooze for a couple hours.
We go to sleep that first night at 21:00 aka 9:00pm. ...and get woken up by screaming and hassling at 9:15
Do some push ups and mountain climbers and whatever else. Back to sleep at 9:30. ....screams erupt at 9:45. Laid back down at 10pm, up again at 10:15....We were going to get our 4 hours of sleep 15 minutes at a time.
It was brutal but I was able to laugh at least at the indignant looks and comments from some of my fellows.
Having dejavu real bad as I type this. Have I already told this story in this thread? But my work computer situation is the same in this dejavu and I know that’s new
I miss the military sometimes. Some of the funniest moments for me were in basic training. So many kids there had been pampered their whole lives and it was a shock to them what the military was willing to do to.
One time a few people kept messing up, so the drill sergeants had us take apart our bunks and move them outside onto the drill pad. At least it had a roof but was otherwise open to the Oklahoma summer air.
Then we got in formation to hear an over the top sermon about how the military requires at least FOUR hours of sleep per night, so even though we’re all worthless a-holes- we’ll still get to snooze for a couple hours.
We go to sleep that first night at 21:00 aka 9:00pm. ...and get woken up by screaming and hassling at 9:15
Do some push ups and mountain climbers and whatever else. Back to sleep at 9:30. ....screams erupt at 9:45. Laid back down at 10pm, up again at 10:15....We were going to get our 4 hours of sleep 15 minutes at a time.
It was brutal but I was able to laugh at least at the indignant looks and comments from some of my fellows.
Having dejavu real bad as I type this. Have I already told this story in this thread? But my work computer situation is the same in this dejavu and I know that’s new
I just tell 'em the same
. Well at least try.Yes the Deja Vu all over again is my favorite Yogi ism.
The leadership training included a group reaction course. It consisted of 12 problems that must be solved as a group of 12 cadets. So each got to take the lead on a problem. Each had a 15 minutes time limit. With 3 minutes to discuss and come up with the plan then 12 to solve it. As we took on the problems, we could not see the next as they were separated by tall walls of poles. When you got to the problem there was a sign to show the record solution time and the squad number that had the record. We were squadron 39 of 40 so the majority of the cadets had seen them. There were still....maybe 3 virgins, problems that had not been solved successfully. To resolve a virgin got us each a quart of ice cream.
My group only succeeded in solving one problem but it was a virgin! Some problems had a trick solution. The record time was a clue. Others just required extreme physical performance.
Our conquest of the virgin was one of the later.
The virgin involved a cable about 10-12 feet off the ground passing from two anchor points about 25 or 30 feet apart. As a group we had to get from one side to the other traversing on the cable. One member of the team was designated as injured. Each problem had materials available and sometimes extra materials were included to lead to overdoing the solution.
There were materials to construct a cable car that suspended from the cable and one length of rope that could not reach the other side. Each of us could traverse by hooked heels over the cable and pull just like rope climb. We decided to construct the cable car and have two of us take the designated injured cadet across. I was to have the rope tied around my waist and pull the car while my partner trailed going feet first and push with the feet. The difficult came when we got on the cable, the combined weights put a significant sag in it. So the second half of the pull was up hill.
Knowing the problem had never been solved led me to wondering if there was a better way when I got to the uphill pull. It was freaking Hard. It got real heavy a long way from the other side plus the clock was running. Both of us had to reach real deap and uh Try- pull and push together. It seemed impossible.... but we made it! Best damn ice cream I ever ate!
Kind of like winning a tournament and saying forget the trophy just give me the money
My group only succeeded in solving one problem but it was a virgin! Some problems had a trick solution. The record time was a clue. Others just required extreme physical performance.
Our conquest of the virgin was one of the later.
The virgin involved a cable about 10-12 feet off the ground passing from two anchor points about 25 or 30 feet apart. As a group we had to get from one side to the other traversing on the cable. One member of the team was designated as injured. Each problem had materials available and sometimes extra materials were included to lead to overdoing the solution.
There were materials to construct a cable car that suspended from the cable and one length of rope that could not reach the other side. Each of us could traverse by hooked heels over the cable and pull just like rope climb. We decided to construct the cable car and have two of us take the designated injured cadet across. I was to have the rope tied around my waist and pull the car while my partner trailed going feet first and push with the feet. The difficult came when we got on the cable, the combined weights put a significant sag in it. So the second half of the pull was up hill.
Knowing the problem had never been solved led me to wondering if there was a better way when I got to the uphill pull. It was freaking Hard. It got real heavy a long way from the other side plus the clock was running. Both of us had to reach real deap and uh Try- pull and push together. It seemed impossible.... but we made it! Best damn ice cream I ever ate!
Kind of like winning a tournament and saying forget the trophy just give me the money
When I was down 6-2 going to 7. I relived the feeling I had when the pulling seemed futile. My friend having $5 bet on me helped keep me from giving up. The $5 bought me a beer that was almost as good as the ice cream. 
Plus winning the point in a big show event was a virgin experience.(for me)
bet on me helped keep me from giving up. The $5 bought me a beer that was almost as good as the ice cream. Plus winning the point in a big show event was a virgin experience.(for me)
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My love of the truth does not equal hate the liars. I pity the fools.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
Posting this from @gregcantrall 's Practice practice practice thread because I think it fits here:
I've been needing to post a few more ramblings but lately I've been so exhausted after long hours of practice that it's hard to do.
I have started to truly realize the value of discipline in pool. In pool my main struggle is on the mental side. I struggle to shut off the pre shot thinking before getting down into the shot and end up missing the shot with perfect leave. It takes discipline to do so and this is the only new thing I've been practicing for a few weeks. One must think and strategize, pick the ONE option, then shut off the head and go into shot making mode. Sometimes it takes real effort to shut off the thinking. Might even chalk again or walk around the table to get a better look. Oh the little tricks and rituals to get your mind disciplined and ready to allow you to go into performance mode. Some click chalk, some lick their lips, even chew gum. Watch a good player, they all do something, many it's incorporated into their PSR. If you don't see anything and they are good, watch out and keep your wallet safe!
Pool tickles the learning area of the brain for those who like learning. I'm not talking school room work but actually learning stuff. The key is to be an inquisitive student in practice, ask what happened, why, how to change it, etc. At competition they key for me is to still be a student but simply one who observes instead of analyzes what just happened. Sometimes at practice it's good to practice "not thinking" and just execute the shot (possibly at all times but I'm still treading water here). This is why I like to follow up simple drills or problem area fixes with a game of solo whatever. 8B is fun because you know you can't leave the "other guy" (yourself) anything. I probably look like a fool doing so but I'll get into just INTENSE safety battles with myself at times. Helps me keep my cool in a game. 8B is a good practice game because you play both parts and it can get crazy if you refuse to lose to "the other guy."
I think that once you're at a certain level 9B would probably be best practiced playing the ghost. Before that level, give yourself BIH once per rack after a miss because you gotta get used to shooting the high balls too. Don't beat yourself up if you can only run 4 balls, just use it as a point to reset your head and come to the table like your would be opponent, chomping at the bit for that easy out. Kind of gives a little positivity while your learning. At some point/level you gotta play ghost because you can't miss. Playing with BIH once is a good way of instilling this into your game.
Watching pool players is like a scientist inspecting a petri dish.
My gamesmanship is mainly relegated to 8 ball and is a subtle one that happens only while I'm at the table. It fits into my PSR, the thinking part. Quickly analyze if the shot is easy enough to not miss. Quickly re-analyze the balls. If I'm not confident in making the ball and getting shape (even shape for a safety, or getting out depending on the rack) it's time for a safe that leaves them nothing and improves my chances. 8 ball is a game of improving your chances while eliminating those of your opponent.
The gamesmanship goes like this: Shoot at a ball and make it miss, turn it into a key ball or push it closer to the pocket as in 1P. If it's being pushed to a pocket I miss by 1/2", enough to show I was close, making an attempt, but they think "look at this guy, he sucks, he misses the easy shots!" (sometimes in league I'll hear his team mates whisper this to each other) In one motion, as soon as I "notice" I missed, I'll let my head softly and slowly droop a tiny little bit, turn and walk back to my chair while the CB is still in motion. Opponent jumps up, chomping at the bit! The head droop is subtly, only enough for those watching an opponent's body language closely to even see it. Who says pool players can't act?
I can almost hear them think "ah this guy can't even make an easy shot but he gets all the rolls." Sometimes they say it out loud. That's when I know my gamesmanship has worked!
The fun part is, the "rolls" were planned and I know where the CB is. They get an extremely low chance heroic shot with no future, or enough of the ball to scratch, break out my problems or to initiate a safety battle with no real hope of a return. The key to a good safety is you have to leave them enough meat on the bones. Let them think there is a small chance at turning the tides and hope they bite on it. Some bite hard, some just nibble. The nibblers will soon bite if they make a couple trips to the table with nothing. 1P players do not bite like this as long as they realize the gamesmanship that is going on.
IMO the best safeties in a tough rack aren't lock up air tight safeties, they are those shots with just enough meat on the bones to temp. Where they can see enough of an object ball in order to make the trap invisible. Just simple little things that cut off angles, leave scratches, break out my problems, etc. Let them do the heavy lifting and chalk it up to bad rolls. This gets tougher to do if the opponent is in dead stroke, but an "open" safety leaving them nothing keeps them unaware for longer than being frozen to the back of a ball or something. That snaps them awake real quick. That type of lock up safety is for when you have the table run-able for certain and would like BIH to finish the rack.
Some players notice what is going on, others just think I have all the luck. I never let them know. The ones in the know are family or very close friends who qualify as family. I've had a few people ask me if I was playing safe or just getting lucky. I'll usually just offer a canned response like "well you know how pool goes, it's hard to tell what can happen one shot to the next."
I just wish I was good enough at 9B to use this same strategy, but those 9B players are a tricky bunch, they bring the heat when it's needed and often make an impossible shot entirely possible with okay shape.
I've been needing to post a few more ramblings but lately I've been so exhausted after long hours of practice that it's hard to do.
I have started to truly realize the value of discipline in pool. In pool my main struggle is on the mental side. I struggle to shut off the pre shot thinking before getting down into the shot and end up missing the shot with perfect leave. It takes discipline to do so and this is the only new thing I've been practicing for a few weeks. One must think and strategize, pick the ONE option, then shut off the head and go into shot making mode. Sometimes it takes real effort to shut off the thinking. Might even chalk again or walk around the table to get a better look. Oh the little tricks and rituals to get your mind disciplined and ready to allow you to go into performance mode. Some click chalk, some lick their lips, even chew gum. Watch a good player, they all do something, many it's incorporated into their PSR. If you don't see anything and they are good, watch out and keep your wallet safe!
Pool tickles the learning area of the brain for those who like learning. I'm not talking school room work but actually learning stuff. The key is to be an inquisitive student in practice, ask what happened, why, how to change it, etc. At competition they key for me is to still be a student but simply one who observes instead of analyzes what just happened. Sometimes at practice it's good to practice "not thinking" and just execute the shot (possibly at all times but I'm still treading water here). This is why I like to follow up simple drills or problem area fixes with a game of solo whatever. 8B is fun because you know you can't leave the "other guy" (yourself) anything. I probably look like a fool doing so but I'll get into just INTENSE safety battles with myself at times. Helps me keep my cool in a game. 8B is a good practice game because you play both parts and it can get crazy if you refuse to lose to "the other guy."
I think that once you're at a certain level 9B would probably be best practiced playing the ghost. Before that level, give yourself BIH once per rack after a miss because you gotta get used to shooting the high balls too. Don't beat yourself up if you can only run 4 balls, just use it as a point to reset your head and come to the table like your would be opponent, chomping at the bit for that easy out. Kind of gives a little positivity while your learning. At some point/level you gotta play ghost because you can't miss. Playing with BIH once is a good way of instilling this into your game.
I tried playing the ghost, he is just to consistent. I prefer left against right, as I can't lose. Plus I am playing someone the same level.
Plus I am playing someone the same level.
When someone tells me they can't shoot with the other hand, I have to wonder, how do they manage to walk? Left right left right hmmmmm. Same step ain't hard.
Addendum to the cable car story:
At the start of the challenge our overseer selected one of our strongest men as the one injured and to be transported. The designated was to wear an arm band, Which he installed.
We then went into the 3 minutes planning stage. Part of our success can be attributed to early action in the huddle. We seripticiously removed the arm band and placed it on our weakest member. He was the same size and with the buzz hair cuts we all looked the same. He could barely do the minimum required 3 pull ups in the Physical Fitness Test. Would have been question able if he could get across on his own. Our foot pusher was the original injured. (He recovered miraculously).
Can't miss a trick!
At the start of the challenge our overseer selected one of our strongest men as the one injured and to be transported. The designated was to wear an arm band, Which he installed.
We then went into the 3 minutes planning stage. Part of our success can be attributed to early action in the huddle. We seripticiously removed the arm band and placed it on our weakest member. He was the same size and with the buzz hair cuts we all looked the same. He could barely do the minimum required 3 pull ups in the Physical Fitness Test. Would have been question able if he could get across on his own. Our foot pusher was the original injured. (He recovered miraculously).
Can't miss a trick!
A tournament in Snoqualmie WA casino:
There's a difference between trick and sabotage.
At his last(ever) CSI tournament J D thought he had a funny trick. His opponent had been experiencing success with his own magic rack. JD's disdainful attitude towards the rack led him to take a pencil to it. While his opponent was on a restroom break, he Gleefully enlarged the holes then replaced the rack. A player of his status could not help but have the attention of many in the room of hundreds of eyes. CSI banned him for ever.
There's a difference between trick and sabotage.
At his last(ever) CSI tournament J D thought he had a funny trick. His opponent had been experiencing success with his own magic rack. JD's disdainful attitude towards the rack led him to take a pencil to it. While his opponent was on a restroom break, he Gleefully enlarged the holes then replaced the rack. A player of his status could not help but have the attention of many in the room of hundreds of eyes. CSI banned him for ever.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
Allergies - allergies suck. My wife saw me suffering yesterday after work and bought a HEPA air purifier last night and I sat it 3' from my head as I slept. That's right, I slept. Dust mites be damned, tree pollen buh bye. Having slept nicely for the first time in at least a week I now know why I wasn't playing up to my full potential. It wasn't a slump, I was a walking zombie. This little miracle device is something else.
Now for pool. Finding the balance. Not just physical. Mental. You can't force lightning in a bottle, the best you can try to do is enjoy the game. The lightning will come and when it does you must capitalize on the opportunity. Focus can be trained, but it can only be forced and sustained for a finite time. You can only focus on things you are enjoying. If you're not enjoying the game that moment you gotta figure out why. Sure, sometimes you have to force it, but if you can figure out how to do it naturally it's much less taxing.
Tangent time, but it's what I woke up with in my head, perhaps the tail of a dream. If something isn't working try something else. Balance. If the cue ball behaves but the OB misses, that's not balance. That's the scale tipped fully to the CB. If you make the OB but the CB gets away, that's tipped the other way. Better as you're still at the table, but the ideal balance might be 60/40 (making OB/CB position). Even 80/20 is better than 40/60, gotta make the OB. Of course this all applies to safety play (where the CB is most important) and two way shots. Two way shots are interesting because it's another balance withing a balance. Layers upon layers. What a tangled web we weave in this game.
If something isn't working (like your normal routine is broken for whatever reason, say back pain) you gotta do something else, aim differently, stand upright, shoot left handed if you can, whatever. If you're not having success you're just training and ingraining bad habits. Better to take a little break or try something new. Sometimes the novelty alone will make you play better. Aiming systems are notorious for this.
When things get difficult in the game or in life I remember what my dad said. Never give up. That was the last parting wisdom he gave us, at a time when giving up would have been the sensible thing, he didn't.
Now for pool. Finding the balance. Not just physical. Mental. You can't force lightning in a bottle, the best you can try to do is enjoy the game. The lightning will come and when it does you must capitalize on the opportunity. Focus can be trained, but it can only be forced and sustained for a finite time. You can only focus on things you are enjoying. If you're not enjoying the game that moment you gotta figure out why. Sure, sometimes you have to force it, but if you can figure out how to do it naturally it's much less taxing.
Tangent time, but it's what I woke up with in my head, perhaps the tail of a dream. If something isn't working try something else. Balance. If the cue ball behaves but the OB misses, that's not balance. That's the scale tipped fully to the CB. If you make the OB but the CB gets away, that's tipped the other way. Better as you're still at the table, but the ideal balance might be 60/40 (making OB/CB position). Even 80/20 is better than 40/60, gotta make the OB. Of course this all applies to safety play (where the CB is most important) and two way shots. Two way shots are interesting because it's another balance withing a balance. Layers upon layers. What a tangled web we weave in this game.
If something isn't working (like your normal routine is broken for whatever reason, say back pain) you gotta do something else, aim differently, stand upright, shoot left handed if you can, whatever. If you're not having success you're just training and ingraining bad habits. Better to take a little break or try something new. Sometimes the novelty alone will make you play better. Aiming systems are notorious for this.
When things get difficult in the game or in life I remember what my dad said. Never give up. That was the last parting wisdom he gave us, at a time when giving up would have been the sensible thing, he didn't.
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I've seen some pretty nutty things, including that which is contrary to your claim.LSD is bad for your game.
WhutWHUT
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
Believe me, after a week or two of no sleep from tree pollen, even 6 hours of sleep feels like a trip!I want some of whatever you had for breakfast boogieman….
I thought I was in a slump for about a week or so. I went downstairs and played some after posting earlier. I was playing much better and the balls were listening. Turns out sleep is good for one's game.
when i sleepBelieve me, after a week or two of no sleep from tree pollen, even 6 hours of sleep feels like a trip!
I thought I was in a slump for about a week or so. I went downstairs and played some after posting earlier. I was playing much better and the balls were listening. Turns out sleep is good for one's game.
i dream i play like alex pagulayan