Throughtful Reader

Enjoy the life you have

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Retired from the Air Force after a successful 20 year career. Have been enjoying this new adventure I am on

  • Arizona struggles in a horrible loss to Washington State

    Arizona State’s basketball team probably put on the worst performance I ever seen in the 4 years I have been following them.

    The Sun Devils put up a paltry 29 points in two halves of play, and some are starting to wonder what the hell is Coach Bobby Hurley doing. The Devils shot a horrible 21% from the floor and a hysterical 11% from 3. The team fell to 2-5 but did recover to beat Oregon last night. However, this team is such a mess and I highly doubt that coach Hurley will be able to lead this team to any type of tournament contention come March.

    Regardless, I did get some good shots before I walked out in disgust.

    Canon Eos Rebel T6

    The settings were sporadic because I was using the sports movement setting on my Camera. So, there was no consistency on the settings for the shots

    A live look Of Bobby Hurley realizing it was going to be a long night

  • 4 Balls, 4 pockets. Where did the shot come from?

    The origin of this is something that I have been unable to find. The first time I had heard of this shot was when I was reading Willie Mosconi’s “Winning Pocket Billiards”. Written in 1965 Mosconi gives us a beginner’s guide to learn how the basics of pool and how to make some simple trick shots.

    The 4 balls and 4 pockets shot isn’t that hard really. The key to where to hit the ball.

    Hit the ball 3rd from the left in the setup with a draw stroke on the cue ball. This will keep the cue ball out of the way of the balls.

    Below is a video of the shot and how to hit it. Do it enough times and it becomes a piece of cake


    More videos to come of some of these shots and how they are done

  • Arizona State basketball’s home opener win over Portland

    Arizona State’s basketball team got off to a shaky start last Tuesday when they played a small school from Portland, Oregon. ASU won 76-60 but the game wasn’t the blowout I hoped.

    Bobby Hurley clearly has his work cut out for him. After losing some of his talent to graduation and transfers last year, It was hoped that the team would rebound back. Sadly, I don’t see it happening very soon.
    ASU certainly has talent and it showed in glimpses that night, but to win the Pac 12 it will take a lot more than talent. The team was flat on defense, allowing Portland open shots and second chance points. There was minimal ball movement on offense and a lot stupid shots that weren’t needed.

    The team has the talent skill. From Kimni Lawrence, Alanzo Gaffney, and Marcus Bagley (Younger brother of NBA’s Marvin Bagley).

    Like I said they have the talent but it’s clear the chemistry and strategy needs a little work.

    Below I posted some pics from the game. I did some edits. Trying to saturate and provide some clarity to the pictures. Their home uniforms caused issues in the pictures.

  • Happy Birthday to the Marines

    Today is the 245th birthday to the United States Marine Corps. Though I am retired Air Force I will always have an admiration and respect for those who chose to go to the Corps

    The Marine Corp was established on this day in 1775 during the build up to the Revolutionary War. They were originally the Colonial Marines. However, on 11 July 1798 they became the Marine Corps that we know today.

    Their mission is to;

    • Seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and other land operations to support naval campaigns;
    • Development of tactics, technique, and equipment used by amphibious landing forces in coordination with the Army and Air Force; and
    • Such other duties as the President or Department of Defense may direct.

    While the Marines work closely to the Navy, they very much in every way their own military branch. The numbers of current active and reserve who are on duty is over 200,000.

    Also, for some history buffs, I recommend looking up some of the following names that were leaders in the Marine Corps. Lets just say that when the time came, America sent their best.

    Lt. Gen. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller

    Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Daly

    Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler

    Col. John Glenn ( Nasa Astronaut and first American to orbit the earth)

    Below I have posted a link from Business Insider that covers more on the these 4 and 7 more legends of the Corp. I also posted a link from Wiki just offers a brief history on the Marines.

    Happy Birthday and SEMPER FI!!

    Sources

    https://www.businessinsider.com/11-legendary-heroes-of-the-us-marine-corps-2016-1#5-col-john-glenn-5

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps

  • Arizona State vs USC highlights and pictures

    Arizona State rebounded last Saturday to beat USC 34-16. Despite an early struggle, the Sun Devils were able to bounce back from that ass whipping they took to Washington State a week ago. Still some need some work but a much better game to watch this time.

    Took some pictures from the game. I feel like they came out pretty good all things considered.

    Arizona State’s Defensive line
    ASU’s Quarterback throwing down the field
    The run game did well. Tallying almost 200 yards
    USC hits their field goal. Short gain for the Running Back on the play

    Highlights and more information on the game are in the link below

    https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2021/11/06/usc-arizona-state-football-score-live-updates-pac-12-game/6303376001/

  • Pool/Billiards. A renewed hobby & trip down memory lane (Part II)

    Part II from my last post of Pool pictures and videos of shots. I didn’t realize just how many videos. However, it’s not surprising considering how much time I spent at home.

    Enjoy

    2 balls, 1 pocket

    Quarter in a cup shot

    Here are a few more

    The Railroad Shot
    Random.
    Hit the ball right and put the 9 in
    2 balls, 2 pockets
    The Jump the Rack Shot

  • Pool/Billiards. An idiot learning to be tricky Haha!! Jk

    During the Pandemic last year, I relearned how to do some trick shots on my pool table. Of course being home all day because of a stay at home order for our state kind of allowed me the time to do these shots.

    I grew up around pool tables my whole life. My father played it a lot and very good. Good enough to a point where did some hustling when he was very young. I was always intrigued by how he did those shots and tried to learn. However, I was little hard headed and my father wasn’t the most patient person when trying to teach them something.

    Through the years though I began to play and learn as best as I can and would play my dad on occasions when I came to visit him.

    Now, many years later. I find myself with my own pool table and enjoying the time I played with him as well. I reeducated myself on how to make certain shots. Through that I began to learn some trick shots along the ways. Below I post some videos for some enjoyment this weekend.

    I hope everyone has a good week.

    I will post more videos tomorrow. I didn’t realize I had a lot

    Me was a little and my dad. Back in the day
    My dad and I setting up my table

    A couple of shots as promised in these videos

    4 Balls, 4 pockets shot
    6 Balls, 2 pockets shot
    Simple bounce off ball into the corner
    Ready to play but Jem didn’t want to watch. Poor dog lol

  • Arizona State struggles in horrible loss to Washington State

    Jayden Daniels behind shotgun

    Arizona State had a rough going Saturday afternoon, losing to Washington State 34-21.

    ASU turned the ball over on their first 3 drives, and the Cougars took full advantage of it by building a 28-7 lead. ASU was able to get a touchdown at the half but it would be the only real highlight of the day.
    The Cougars continued to add to its lead. The Sun devils did score two more times in the 4th but the game had been well decided by then.

    For Coach Herm Edwards it has been a frustrating and inconsistent season for him and his squad. From a promising season to a basic struggle in simple games, it has been anything but a fun time.

    Coach Edwards on the sidelines tries to figure out what is going on.

    At this point its clear that ASU isn’t going to be what fans have hoped they would be and with the recruiting scandal that involves Edwards, it shouldn’t be a shock if the school decides that it will be time for a coaching change. While Edwards has laid a good foundation down, it is clear that he may not be the one who can get this team over its glass ceiling.

    However, there is still more games ahead and I could be wrong but time will tell.

    Below are more pictures I took while attending the game. I was pretty satisfied with how all these pictures came out.

  • Friday Night High School Football, or a good excuse to take some pictures

    A couple of Friday’s ago I went to a nearby high school called Mountain Ridge to watch some high school football. It had been many years since I have done that and since I didn’t have any kids I never considered going anyway.

    However, when you are wanting to learn how to be a photographer, one of the first rules you are taught is carry your camera with you all the time. So, that’s what I did. I figured why not? I could watch a good game and get perhaps get some good shots as well.
    The game was good at first but Mountain ridge ended up collapsing in the 4th. Final score was 34-20.

    Below I took some shots from the game. I was using my Canon EOS Rebel T6 and I must admit I am looking forward to an upgrade in the near future. Dont get me wrong, I love the camera but am ready for an upgrade.

    The Settings were on manual. I tried the movement setting but the images came out a little too bright for me. With manual I had to grasp the usage or shutter speeds and ISO settings. The Shutter speed was around 200-400, F Setting was about 7.1-8.0 and ISO was about 1200 for this occasion. Could have been better but I am satisfied with the first time results.

  • Sunsets.

    I was riding home today and I still can’t get over how beautiful sunsets can be in Arizona. I mean I have traveled all over the world and I still think the best ones are here.

    Below I saw a poem about Sunsets that I enjoyed.

    The sunset, woven of soft lights
    And tender colors, lingers late,
    As looking back on all day’s dreary plights,
    Compassionate    ;
    — The foolish day of hopes so high,
    Who counts her hours by blunders now,
    Yet wears at last this jewel-crown of sky
    Upon her brow.
    Out to eternity she goes,
    Not for her failure scorned, but see!
    Our poor day flushed with beauty, one more rose
    On God’s rose-tree.

    Some pictures are posted below from past evenings