tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203943572024-03-27T23:53:40.597+00:00equinoxx.infoA blog about Pro wrestling, American football, Sports betting and moreUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6626125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-81610332784292258532024-03-27T13:20:00.005+00:002024-03-27T13:20:46.365+00:00I Try Flamin' Cheese Pringles<p>I ordered one of the latest boxes of Pringles from Asda yesterday.</p><p>It turned into a mistake. However, it is completely on me.</p><p>There were three Pringles Hot flavours to choose from. Usually, I would have picked up all three. However, knowing there was a strong chance (and 'strong' is very operative here) I would dislike them, I opted for the 'Flamin' Cheese Flavour'.</p><p>I could only have a few of these potato snacks. They were not enjoyable even though cheesy Pringles - whenever they've had limited runs - have always been one of my faves.</p><p>Too spicy for me. But, all was not lost. Other members of my family liked them.</p><p>This wasn't the first time I have eaten spicy cheese flavoured Pringles. The last time was - at a guess - fourteen years ago when they had a nacho cheese with jalapeño flavour under the 'Extreme' brand of Pringles.</p><p>I won't be trying those 'Hot' ones again. For those still interested, the other two flavours available are Hot Kickin' Sour Cream and Hot Mexican Chilli and Lime.</p><p>They're not for me.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2Q4ipuGfmL8YYrvpVXoI-dsxaB4unTuWjeIvib3eTDrc4bOMhw5YMs1O-45rpN9g28iQ7oL6OOhY4GDj-nnRhPVRt4Yx21bus6LE6t-HCqBvmPFH3vHu-T354qf2tcotGIUgS6zA1iPO_gXqsC3iP-XN1zUnb7Z_AVUA2qDAO3iXEbi6ku9rwg/s4032/IMG_2722.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pringles Hot - Cheese" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1278" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2Q4ipuGfmL8YYrvpVXoI-dsxaB4unTuWjeIvib3eTDrc4bOMhw5YMs1O-45rpN9g28iQ7oL6OOhY4GDj-nnRhPVRt4Yx21bus6LE6t-HCqBvmPFH3vHu-T354qf2tcotGIUgS6zA1iPO_gXqsC3iP-XN1zUnb7Z_AVUA2qDAO3iXEbi6ku9rwg/w126-h400/IMG_2722.jpeg" title="Pringles Hot - Cheese" width="126" /></a></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-32101344975291833232024-03-26T19:30:00.012+00:002024-03-26T19:30:00.241+00:00Another Day When The WWF Came To TownWhen this post goes live, it'll be exactly (give or take a few minutes) thirty years since the bell kicked off to start off what was my second live World Wrestling Federation viewing experience.<div><br /></div><div>Set in the Cardiff International Arena, the show had Bret 'Hitman' Hart successfully defend the WWF Championship against his brother - 'The Rocket' Owen Hart.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bret had won the title six days earlier at WrestleMania X. </div><div><br /></div><div>He had also lost to Owen in the opening match of the March 20th 1994 event, so that more or less placed 'The Rocket' as the number one contender post-Mania X.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was pretty cool to see that match live and in person.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_JbF8H_Uhg4nVXy_9tBE_mQIauJ6meDX8qEQE6OQbJ2LX_k6FVUlIqxj5gbvP4DDyjfLObwtFBeKT1JR-BQ4RJWPxiJnEU0riCqQ9WEtZ_OmzYf2mwHfiGsJZdgBT9eehLW8xRjbfjcQaGkfaQCfHRaK-mdqGvzCyqABZDllP4rXH1YjWcVrYQ/s2862/IMG_2719.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="WWF - March 26 1994" border="0" data-original-height="2771" data-original-width="2862" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_JbF8H_Uhg4nVXy_9tBE_mQIauJ6meDX8qEQE6OQbJ2LX_k6FVUlIqxj5gbvP4DDyjfLObwtFBeKT1JR-BQ4RJWPxiJnEU0riCqQ9WEtZ_OmzYf2mwHfiGsJZdgBT9eehLW8xRjbfjcQaGkfaQCfHRaK-mdqGvzCyqABZDllP4rXH1YjWcVrYQ/w320-h310/IMG_2719.jpeg" title="WWF - March 26 1994" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Unlike the December 1993 event, we didn't get to meet any of the wrestlers in the hours leading into the show. That's because they didn't stay at the hotel. Instead, the group of performers arrived at the arena shortly before the event started.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was able to take some photos of them arriving. I particularly remember Owen Hart coming out to boos from everyone watching. He stared at us, playing up his heel character.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bam Bam Bigelow came out and waved. As did his opponent for the night - Earthquake. I fondly remember their match because something happened in it which led to both men being unable to hold in their laughter.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was a cool experience to see them break character for whatever reason.</div><div><br /></div><div>My seat was immediately next to the aisleway so I was able to tap hands with many of the stars. I made a right cock up when Bret Hart was coming down. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had been shouting at 'Owen' when the challenger made his way down to the ring. Then, when Bret walked out, I held my hand out yelling 'Owen' at him. Bret looked at me. It felt like time had stood still as I realised the mistake, Bret laughed back as we struck hands.</div><div><br /></div><div>My programme from the event does have a signature in it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before the show started, I met with the referee - Earl Hebner. He personally signed one of the initial pages in the book.</div><div><br /></div><div>What I remember from the brief interaction with Hebner is he had a jumper on. It had a logo of the Wild Samoan wrestling school. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's somewhat fitting that - in a little over a week from now -descendants of that very same Samoan family will be major players at WrestleMania 40.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-36876149857966313422024-03-25T09:00:00.001+00:002024-03-25T09:04:07.274+00:00Zeros To Heroes 2024 (Plus A Mess Up!)<p>I noticed that it is now possible to wager on teams to win their respective NFL divisions, so thought it was a perfect opportunity to place my Zeros to Heroes wagers for 2024.</p><p>However, I messed something up along the way. More on that later.</p><p>To those of you who may have missed my 'Zeros to Heroes' strategy over the years, here's what I do: I place wagers on teams to win their respective divisions if they (1) finished fourth in their division in the previous season and (2) appointed a new head coach.</p><p>For 2024, five of the eight teams that finished in fourth place last season have brought in new head coaches. Therefore, with five selections, I could have placed them in a Lucky 31 multiples bet.</p><p>'Could have' is the operative wording. That's because I made a mistake when I placed this year's bet.</p><p>For some reason, I had written the Arizona Cardinals to win the NFC West. They did indeed finish fourth last season. However, the Cardinals retained Jonathan Gannon's services for 2024.</p><p>So - my wager, which is a Lucky 63, has the following teams plus Arizona. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbePTZPBh2QBgrke1BbTT3hotoiu1rzIyiw8qzQcZtk0-CfvPHh1GthXiL94HrGu_m9yk3jvNqVT76sh9wjDFFR0FoSW3UGfCus-IUDCsWBAdDvrtPrXd8B3kJxT1OQ-l9r7qjAhmZH7NAMDypJhFL8_7Xzf4yYRoPYGxf_v_yR-umzvw4Zs8Dw/s570/Zeros%20to%20Heroes%202024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Zeros To Heroes 2024" border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="570" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbePTZPBh2QBgrke1BbTT3hotoiu1rzIyiw8qzQcZtk0-CfvPHh1GthXiL94HrGu_m9yk3jvNqVT76sh9wjDFFR0FoSW3UGfCus-IUDCsWBAdDvrtPrXd8B3kJxT1OQ-l9r7qjAhmZH7NAMDypJhFL8_7Xzf4yYRoPYGxf_v_yR-umzvw4Zs8Dw/w400-h106/Zeros%20to%20Heroes%202024.jpg" title="Zeros To Heroes 2024" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I'll have to put an asterisk next to any returns I make should there be any zeros that become heroes in 2024.<p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-39335948983883393152024-03-24T11:42:00.003+00:002024-03-24T11:43:04.651+00:00Not Another Hogan Figure!?<p>A little <a href="https://www.equinoxx.info/2024/02/roddy-piper-.html" target="_blank">over a month ago</a>, I wrote about browsing through WWE action figures on the Smyths Toys website.</p><p>What I didn't mention - in the aforementioned post - is I had came across a Hulk Hogan figure I really liked the look of.</p><p>Unfortunately - at the time - the item was sold out in my local store. However, a few weeks after publishing the post, the website noted stock had be replenished.</p><p>I had to buy it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzB45W-0cCnfw4N-6DnADCdG8Ew1CDuTZd3kp2718yTj6FPzUCCJPA2OqP2_GPlHZBt8iNAhAbeSYGAx1URRePy3aFwKlpTXOq5O_veEzrppBpMHmWNjR_soeU16yJI-GEJrziFwAdkBygrP41tDYchpndSUCwp1HkF7czhjCk5uHoK0wxAsUPQ/s3911/IMG_2561.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hulk Hogan Action Figure" border="0" data-original-height="3911" data-original-width="2451" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzB45W-0cCnfw4N-6DnADCdG8Ew1CDuTZd3kp2718yTj6FPzUCCJPA2OqP2_GPlHZBt8iNAhAbeSYGAx1URRePy3aFwKlpTXOq5O_veEzrppBpMHmWNjR_soeU16yJI-GEJrziFwAdkBygrP41tDYchpndSUCwp1HkF7czhjCk5uHoK0wxAsUPQ/w201-h320/IMG_2561.jpeg" title="Hulk Hogan Action Figure" width="201" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see, in the picture above, this is a retro looking image of The Huckster. I would surmise it's from around 1984ish when he wore this kind of gear.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The most fascinating part of the figure is his head. The makers have given him a little bit more hair on top, which is fabulous attention to detail (if I say so myself!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another thing I really like about this figurine is how detailed his face is. I don't usually buy WWE figures any more, but this one looks amazing. They've sure evolved since I was a child.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvqIZPFZsFu2ninvgI3pKRW0pU_SzN54ASAl0bW5c6rmRPsfPqorijyO5LlNZN44eJeoGH8NuPi2WJK3Ypl9Ci914q4eI1lrkjHEZjIBjp6tFxCxAtRdS3fl_9BY-E9d-79t0YSqR8Nn3K5IyiEymhliea8t6hSK9ftZRVp8xhwDY9-Eh2EX3gA/s1456/IMG_2575.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hulk Hogan Action Figure" border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvqIZPFZsFu2ninvgI3pKRW0pU_SzN54ASAl0bW5c6rmRPsfPqorijyO5LlNZN44eJeoGH8NuPi2WJK3Ypl9Ci914q4eI1lrkjHEZjIBjp6tFxCxAtRdS3fl_9BY-E9d-79t0YSqR8Nn3K5IyiEymhliea8t6hSK9ftZRVp8xhwDY9-Eh2EX3gA/w182-h320/IMG_2575.jpeg" title="Hulk Hogan Action Figure" width="182" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>As I noted, I don't religiously collect wrestling figures. With that said, if you can call what I have a 'collection' this would be the seventh Hulk Hogan I own.<div><br /></div><div>I have a Hogan from when he was in WCW. Then - in late 2002 or early 2003 - I purchased a box set of three Hogan figures that were produced by WWE. Those three figures are of certain stages of Hogan's career (his WWF run, as a member of the New World Order and from his WWE return in 2002). I have seen the box set going for crazy money online.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next up is a Hulk Hogan in a 'Defining Moments' set that I have on my bedside table. The moment is from his first WWF Championship win from 1984.</div><div><br /></div><div>The most recent Hulk Hogan - before this year - was a giant Hogan which stands close to my thigh. My dad gave it to me as a Christmas present a few years ago. </div><div><br /></div><div>None of those figures have as good facial detail as the new one.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After writing all that, I think it's safe to conclude I have far too many Hulk Hogans.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-9571319611970980892024-03-23T11:48:00.005+00:002024-03-23T11:49:06.196+00:00Bubbles And Future Trips Down Memory Lane<p>I finally found some time to play on a Nintendo Switch game I purchased in the latter part of 2023.</p><p>It's called Puzzle Bobble EveryBubble and is in the family of games - produced by Taito - which have the player take on the role of little dragons to take on bubble puzzles.</p><p>I've enjoyed these series of games since I was a child. The most recent version of this genre of video game I recall really getting into was Bust-A-Move 2. I owned it on the Nintendo 64 and even have it on the Milo Mini handheld I purchased last year.</p><p>The first ever game I played in this series must have been Bubble Bobble when I had a Commodore 64 in the 1980s. There was also the AMAZING follow up - Rainbow Islands - which was one of my favourite Commodore 64 titles after having it gifted it to me for my birthday in 1990.</p><p>Both of those games would be classed as platform titles. It seems, as I've grown older, I've settled for those that use the noggin more. Well - that's my excuse, anyway.</p><p>This Nintendo Switch game has 'Limited Edition' on the cover because it came with a keyring of the two main characters in the franchise.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gXythsjW1rVRy6B_0Vw1mSw8CR6nLc8gNxdTZYiCzZRYy0BUs_XPL6AZEdLi7C8JRx4LnOMSBbELXnCWiE-RXRwrhhBlycJ51_93Fy04o1ajYA45XIF09bt_ANYisvsuEmS9e5-ISJei874jB43RcyLm-OBFOAd8USSrAykh9HKKncWe_OMLXA/s2460/IMG_2704.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Puzzle Bobble Keyring" border="0" data-original-height="2225" data-original-width="2460" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gXythsjW1rVRy6B_0Vw1mSw8CR6nLc8gNxdTZYiCzZRYy0BUs_XPL6AZEdLi7C8JRx4LnOMSBbELXnCWiE-RXRwrhhBlycJ51_93Fy04o1ajYA45XIF09bt_ANYisvsuEmS9e5-ISJei874jB43RcyLm-OBFOAd8USSrAykh9HKKncWe_OMLXA/w200-h181/IMG_2704.jpeg" title="Puzzle Bobble Keyring" width="200" /></a></div><p>I opened the game up yesterday evening. I must have spent a little over an hour trying it out. Then, after this morning's breakfast, I switched on the console with a plan to play a couple of games. Those couple of games turned into a lot. </p><p>Time flew by. I must have been on it for well over ninety minutes.</p><p>I still have a handful of other Nintendo games ready to play once I find a few hours to do so. There is an Atari collection of games as well as a bunch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles titles. </p><p>I see a theme. All of those games, including the one I played yesterday, kind of take me on a trip back to my childhood and - in most cases - young adulthood.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-64822255507106427702024-03-22T12:01:00.004+00:002024-03-22T12:03:07.860+00:00Another 'Wow!' Moment<p>I had one of those 'Wow!' moments yesterday.</p><p>After finishing Stephen King's Rose Madder earlier in the day, I decided it was time to once again settle for a Jack Sheffield book.</p><p>I have been reading Sheffield's 'Teacher' series of novels for a couple of years and I am almost near the end. I often choose to read those books after reading intense or larger titles. </p><p>Anyway, to find out the title of the next book in the series' order, I visited Jack Sheffield's website. It informed me the next book I should seek was 'School Days'.</p><p>'Did I buy School Days a year ago in an Amazon sale?' I questioned myself. To find the answer, I picked up one of my Kindles to search its library.</p><p>And that's when the 'Wow!' came.</p><p>As you'll see below, I opened the Kindle and the advertisement which met me, when the device started up, was for the book I had settled on as the next on my list.</p><p>How crazy was that? </p><p>Even crazier when you consider that I would have likely picked up the Kindle Scribe (which doesn't have adverts), but I had left it in the hallway and was too lazy to go downstairs to retrieve it. I opted for the Paperwhite (with ads).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78X02uBc5a2BExBM8-WXHE6v3LtZQdoS6BhJ9GCPI18qVpyYEhpyeo7uSht4gIDiUXbDZiFsI9R-2p4riiYNlU001jjuXTWYBN2oB8GotvqBKpC0A2u1zoPfQDGsuOTYlNGxpgLlp6bVk16Pi5sTUbqi_fjgMZhzjbTZwr0JiSFnU6dPV3f38Ig/s2989/IMG_2692.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Days by Jack Sheffield" border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="2989" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78X02uBc5a2BExBM8-WXHE6v3LtZQdoS6BhJ9GCPI18qVpyYEhpyeo7uSht4gIDiUXbDZiFsI9R-2p4riiYNlU001jjuXTWYBN2oB8GotvqBKpC0A2u1zoPfQDGsuOTYlNGxpgLlp6bVk16Pi5sTUbqi_fjgMZhzjbTZwr0JiSFnU6dPV3f38Ig/w320-h238/IMG_2692.jpeg" title="School Days by Jack Sheffield" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-45760040800181000752024-03-21T14:43:00.002+00:002024-03-21T14:43:26.067+00:00X = XXX<p>Yesterday was the thirtieth anniversary of WrestleMania X.</p><p>First thought - doesn't time fly? </p><p>Second thought - what a great show.</p><p>Teenage me was in my element - as a wrestling fan - back then. I was gifted to see the opening classic between Bret 'Hitman' Hart and his brother: Owen. Later in the show, Bret would win the WWF Championship from Yokozuna in the main event. The win for Owen would allow the siblings to battle for the belt post-Mania. </p><p>The other huge bout on that March 20 1994 card was the ladder match to determine the undisputed WWF Intercontinental Champion. Razor Ramon, who won the title in the latter part of 1993 following Shawn Michaels' suspension, beat Michaels - who had returned months earlier brandishing the strap and claiming to have never lost it inside the ring.</p><p>It was a magnificent match. </p><p>WrestleMania X came around at such an important time for me as a follower of pro wrestling. It for sure was another help in cementing my interest in the 'sport'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KkBLdLOs6e-4DlDaABSkYFEmpBGKEfM7h4g-lMzphEltbc3GQoZMSCAcoyGuPlgHSNe_wmeTxtk3C5Pbz3R0OAfTS0cD5BwydVfNA_z2uWKDPZIVafMTDSHS-edFm8lM1dHCH4PMLHWd3yZN3fJVq55KBd9UOfHdjRBnSSl66rWuo33Pev1vbQ/s655/WWF%20WrestleMania%20X%20Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="WWF WrestleMania X Logo" border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="655" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KkBLdLOs6e-4DlDaABSkYFEmpBGKEfM7h4g-lMzphEltbc3GQoZMSCAcoyGuPlgHSNe_wmeTxtk3C5Pbz3R0OAfTS0cD5BwydVfNA_z2uWKDPZIVafMTDSHS-edFm8lM1dHCH4PMLHWd3yZN3fJVq55KBd9UOfHdjRBnSSl66rWuo33Pev1vbQ/w320-h194/WWF%20WrestleMania%20X%20Logo.jpg" title="WWF WrestleMania X Logo" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-76645915815446317592024-03-20T00:00:00.005+00:002024-03-20T00:00:00.232+00:00Just When I Thought I Was Almost Out...<p>With my Disney Plus subscription ending within the next few days, the streaming platform sure did something yesterday which had the potential to draw me back in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoqua23m8_INLLN9SrfL8Y281ESm1zj4lHp64DwfX7vF9KdXXDx3iVRwu7sKrQIq4eSVyidwh_pEudXHLK8lwETlrDE3qbzKCg934L_nHoBbF1Z3wvcUs89JuQl2LU_ETK2GyB0kNxj_tcgWWXvgnPuhyphenhyphenM2-v_MiDVN_s6HzGXdy1rQFkzvqhIg/s680/The%20Acolyte%20-%20June%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Acolyte" border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="680" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoqua23m8_INLLN9SrfL8Y281ESm1zj4lHp64DwfX7vF9KdXXDx3iVRwu7sKrQIq4eSVyidwh_pEudXHLK8lwETlrDE3qbzKCg934L_nHoBbF1Z3wvcUs89JuQl2LU_ETK2GyB0kNxj_tcgWWXvgnPuhyphenhyphenM2-v_MiDVN_s6HzGXdy1rQFkzvqhIg/w400-h204/The%20Acolyte%20-%20June%202024.jpg" title="The Acoloyte" width="400" /></a></div><p>A trailer for the next Star Wars series premiered across social media yesterday.</p><p>The Acolyte is apparently set in a time one hundred years before the events of the Skywalker Saga or - to be more precise - one hundred years before The Phantom Menace.</p><p>I am intrigued.</p><p>And, yes, I will rejoin Disney Plus in time for the series' two-episode premiere on June 4th. </p><p>I always said that a Star Wars series would bring me back. I stated as much <a href="https://www.equinoxx.info/2024/02/cancelled-disney-plus-2024.html" target="_blank">on February 19th</a>. Whether it's for an annual sub or a monthly sub until I've watched the programmes will be decided nearer to the time.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-31467023015930397882024-03-19T08:00:00.004+00:002024-03-19T08:00:00.130+00:00The Codewords Comeback<p>It had been quite a while since I spent some time filling in a codeword puzzle. I remedied that over the weekend by picking up one of the puzzle books laying around and timing myself.</p><p>Bearing in mind it had been a very long time since I did a puzzle of this kind, I was quite happy with the time of 20:42</p><p>For me - anything under twenty minutes is good. Usually. So, being forty-three seconds over - on my codewords comeback - is promising.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxXh6JeApNmUbr-y111UJfwFMqJNFGYKk-s6U4OO2Rbai3OB5hyw3GH6C-KswqLdnhfBmV4qKVIcyRzenJwhu1h2wv7PQfmnrlK7wVxUvPoUr-8Rp2h1RuZsla4Y8m1F-WwR-TcqGZbnILtPrA4abWf8zSc4_s64QNwCPNE8W2bkmAqtPCK_-ag/s4032/IMG_2670.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Codeword Puzzle" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2801" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxXh6JeApNmUbr-y111UJfwFMqJNFGYKk-s6U4OO2Rbai3OB5hyw3GH6C-KswqLdnhfBmV4qKVIcyRzenJwhu1h2wv7PQfmnrlK7wVxUvPoUr-8Rp2h1RuZsla4Y8m1F-WwR-TcqGZbnILtPrA4abWf8zSc4_s64QNwCPNE8W2bkmAqtPCK_-ag/w278-h400/IMG_2670.jpeg" title="Codeword. Puzzle" width="278" /></a></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-59071077713627478392024-03-18T04:50:00.004+00:002024-03-18T04:51:22.897+00:001,000 Days Later<p>Remember the other day - in the post when I wrote about it being <a href="https://www.equinoxx.info/2024/03/wordle-one-thou.html" target="_blank">Wordle's 1,000th daily puzzle</a> and I mentioned that there was another 1,000th day celebration coming up? Well, the moment has finally arrived.</p><p>It has been 1,000 days since I first used an Amazon Kindle.</p><p>You know how I am aware of that? Well, it's because - on the Kindle app - it states that I am on the 1,000th day of continuous reading.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4Dk6viNis4wLpa6Hrelkq6zQna6ZGbjTWRcluyNs0gBQoxJe02oN40FOdRoUNUKk33Zc6Xqshyphenhyphen8o2zp_dXpqrB5mX0-xCwxqqL6JrOXs6TAAZ24LX1gfKn8Tka1UlqUiQc2Kt35WsZ63M-lS8SbqhkHRLVWGR5o2qCVwTG2plGWVDOg4ENuwXw/s335/IMG_1360.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="1,000 Days Kindle" border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="335" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4Dk6viNis4wLpa6Hrelkq6zQna6ZGbjTWRcluyNs0gBQoxJe02oN40FOdRoUNUKk33Zc6Xqshyphenhyphen8o2zp_dXpqrB5mX0-xCwxqqL6JrOXs6TAAZ24LX1gfKn8Tka1UlqUiQc2Kt35WsZ63M-lS8SbqhkHRLVWGR5o2qCVwTG2plGWVDOg4ENuwXw/w200-h188/IMG_1360.jpeg" title="1,000 Days Kindle" width="200" /></a></div><p>I have written posts sharing my milestones in the past. The first update was <a href="https://www.equinoxx.info/2021/09/amazon-kindle-paperwhite-10-to-11-weeks-use.html" target="_blank">10 Weeks After I Started</a>. Then, I came back with another update when it was <a href="https://www.equinoxx.info/2022/06/amazon-kindle-over-365-days-later.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Year After</a> first picking up a Kindle. The most recent follow-up came last year when I reached <a href="https://www.equinoxx.info/2023/05/kindle-100-days.html" target="_blank">100 Weeks</a> as a Kindle owner.</p><p>Considering I am on Day 1,000, I guess I don't need to prove that I still enjoy using the device. Heck, I should have written 'Devices' considering I now own TWO Kindles after having picked up a Kindle Scribe last summer.</p><p>Both Kindles get good use out of me. </p><p>In the last update, I wrote that I had read 131 books. As of right now, the number stands at 187. Here's everything I have read from 132.</p><p>132. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TjpgCa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece</a> by Tom Hanks<br />133. <a href="https://amzn.to/3VlwJDf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Time Shelter</a> by Georgi Gospodinov<br />134. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TOc6P7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tangled Ropes</a> by 'Superstar' Billy Graham<br />135. <a href="https://amzn.to/49UYS8G" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Drowning</a> by T.J. Newman<br />136. <a href="https://amzn.to/3wP08LN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Waste Lands</a> by Stephen King<br />137. <a href="https://amzn.to/49W3w6r" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Premonitions Bureau</a> by Sam Knight<br />138. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TDPMaE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Needful Things</a> by Stephen King<br />139. <a href="https://amzn.to/3vlnxUH" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dynamite and Davey</a> by Steven Bell<br />140. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TCTyAZ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pop 1280</a> by Jim Thompson<br />141. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TiRM6P" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This Is Your Own Time You're Wasting</a> by Lee and Adam Parkinson<br />142. <a href="https://amzn.to/3VlZwaF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Very Best of Fesshole</a> by Rob Manuel<br />143. <a href="https://amzn.to/3v4lOTX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gerald's Game</a> by Stephen King<br />144. <a href="https://amzn.to/4ayRb8f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Diary of a Flight Attendant</a> by Marika Mikusova<br />145. <a href="https://amzn.to/4ayRnV1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Overheard at Waitrose: Poetry of the Public</a> by Nathan Bragg<br />146. <a href="https://amzn.to/3wXNXfU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Good Pop, Bad Pop</a> by Jarvis Cocker<br />147. <a href="https://amzn.to/4agKdVe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Grateful</a> by Eric Bischoff<br />148. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TnNMls" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wrath of the Dragon</a> by John Little<br />149. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TiSq4f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Last Real World Champion</a> by Tim Hornbaker<br />150. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TE3w5c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Last Action Heroes</a> by Nick de Semlyen<br />151. <a href="https://amzn.to/3ViGYYY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Two-Minute Warning</a> by David A. Kelly<br />152. <a href="https://amzn.to/49dDDxT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tod Is God</a> by Tod Gordon<br />153. <a href="https://amzn.to/3Plg0Mw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dolores Claiborne</a> by Stephen King<br />154. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TDn7lT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">It Will All Work Out</a> by Kevin Hart<br />155. <a href="https://amzn.to/43lbrHS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">9/11 Chaos</a> by Larry Smith<br />156. <a href="https://amzn.to/3vp2Bw2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dirty Briefs</a> by Dave Fendem<br />157. <a href="https://amzn.to/49LQbxn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Looming Tower</a> by Lawrence Wright<br />158. <a href="https://amzn.to/3PkXQur" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Woman Who Would Be King</a> by Madusa Miceli<br />159. <a href="https://amzn.to/3VkMSsL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Starting Over</a> by Jack Sheffield<br />160. <a href="https://amzn.to/3VDFkS7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gambler</a> by Billy Walters<br />161. <a href="https://amzn.to/4cmwuxZ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Put The Kettle On</a> by Trish Taylor<br />162. <a href="https://amzn.to/4cwPQAD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Overheard at Whole Foods</a> by Theresa Vogrin<br />163. <a href="https://amzn.to/3vcQvX0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This Other Eden</a> by Paul Harding<br />164. <a href="https://amzn.to/3vguRBe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prophet Song</a> by Paul Lynch<br />165. <a href="https://amzn.to/49WtLtj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Bee Sting</a> by Paul Murray<br />166. <a href="https://amzn.to/4a1xzK4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Western Lane</a> by Chetna Maroo<br />167. <a href="https://amzn.to/4cgNK7I" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Study For Obedience</a> by Sarah Bernstein<br />168. <a href="https://amzn.to/3Tl55np" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">If I Survive You</a> by Jonathan Escoffery<br />169. <a href="https://amzn.to/3wZ5Db3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Behind The Mask</a> by Tyson Fury<br />170. <a href="https://amzn.to/49Wwd2T" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ganbaru: How All Japan Pro Wrestling Survived The Year 2000 Roster Split</a> by Jonathan Foye<br />171. <a href="https://amzn.to/3VjmwqQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Football Biographies For Kids</a> by Robert A. Malone<br />172. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TiDLpS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Best of Matt (2022)</a> by Matt Pritchett<br />173. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TkDen9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Books Of Blood (Volumes 1-III)</a> by Clive Barker<br />174. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TF9NxJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A 1980's Childhood</a> by Michael A Johnson<br />175. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TDmucb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Rise</a> by Ian Rankin<br />176. <a href="https://amzn.to/3Ppneiq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gloves Off </a>by Tyson Fury<br />177. <a href="https://amzn.to/43kbymY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Wrestling Observer Complete Collection 1989</a> by Dave Meltzer<br />178. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TC1Nxo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Prince</a> by Niccolo Machiavelli<br />179. <a href="https://amzn.to/3Vno5nW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nightmares and Dreamscapes</a> by Stephen King<br />180. <a href="https://amzn.to/4ckSybY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Space Between Us</a> by Doug Johnstone<br />181. <a href="https://amzn.to/490sPmt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Macho Man</a> by Jon Finkel<br />182. <a href="https://amzn.to/4aia5jA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">James</a> by Percival Everett<br />183. <a href="https://amzn.to/4cu9hdg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Changing Times</a> by Jack Sheffield<br />184. <a href="https://amzn.to/49PZZq6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fourteen Days</a> edited by Margaret Atwood<br />185. <a href="https://amzn.to/4a6Qlzc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Insomnia</a> by Stephen King<br />186. <a href="https://amzn.to/43pgQ0v" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Back to School</a> by Jack Sheffield<br />187. <a href="https://amzn.to/3TjeNGI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Inside Out</a> by Ole Anderson</p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-56570523656021941062024-03-17T00:00:00.001+00:002024-03-17T00:00:00.122+00:00Iceland's TGI Fridays Churros<p> I recently tried another TGI Fridays product from Iceland.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJglpn_9u0p579dR7fjSbu_Kn-eZi7yOMMxGxEcY3jcCEJ7vYZTGrjhfi0PoOnjBGsRMTWs-0bNKVddn-R7d9LVdYt7oTn6Gx9LEL8qBRbOaDHmviTAOynkKu_HhECRhyTS0ghnXn2Y3GFsh8Rk1-Ew4SihIcqZ2HJqpHpQC0v1SilhgVw0U-mQ/s3886/IMG_2655.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TGI Fridays' Churros from Iceland" border="0" data-original-height="3886" data-original-width="2865" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJglpn_9u0p579dR7fjSbu_Kn-eZi7yOMMxGxEcY3jcCEJ7vYZTGrjhfi0PoOnjBGsRMTWs-0bNKVddn-R7d9LVdYt7oTn6Gx9LEL8qBRbOaDHmviTAOynkKu_HhECRhyTS0ghnXn2Y3GFsh8Rk1-Ew4SihIcqZ2HJqpHpQC0v1SilhgVw0U-mQ/w295-h400/IMG_2655.jpeg" title="TGI Fridays' Churros from Iceland" width="295" /></a></div><br /><p>This time, the supermarket chain has churros sold under the 'Fridays' moniker.</p><p>I don't recall ever seeing churros on the TGI Fridays menu. However, I don't recall ever eating a dessert from the real restaurant either, so - what do I know?</p><p>As for these - they weren't too bad. My only complaint is a single churros (churro?) is smaller than you may expect.</p><p>For those of you who don't know what churros are - they're like doughnut fingers that can be dipped in an icing or chocolate sauce. Occasionally they come with a chocolate filling piped into its middle. The Fridays-Iceland team up version has a chocolate and hazelnut sauce.</p><p>As well as the fingers, the box comes with cinnamon sugar to sprinkle over the churros after they've been in the oven for up to twelve minutes.</p><p>The packet states that each box contains approximately fourteen churros. I believe mine did have more than fourteen, but it may have been a case of me miscounting (I didn't cook them all in one go, I returned at a later point to finish off the box).</p><p>If I ever see them again, I would purchase them again. They are enjoyable to have as a short family dessert but - as warned - they do appear smaller than other churros I've bought from takeaways and other frozen food brands.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_2rmGCfzBHvmi4Rf0PGj1_Wgjw2Ggr5oBeAOPTbyQEeqhspLm169s4YstI3lfHWrDTJfkpiM9C3H8ZiR-gjrhJ7ieaxUP9r87tmwGdSmsNy-sNxS7j_mSdMK3Qd8YWWBTIkfL9uahicOm_hU4ohN00k7gVBGuHqMxiCftKQaWJIHvEH2mZBw9Q/s4032/IMG_2656.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TGI Fridays' Churros from Iceland" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_2rmGCfzBHvmi4Rf0PGj1_Wgjw2Ggr5oBeAOPTbyQEeqhspLm169s4YstI3lfHWrDTJfkpiM9C3H8ZiR-gjrhJ7ieaxUP9r87tmwGdSmsNy-sNxS7j_mSdMK3Qd8YWWBTIkfL9uahicOm_hU4ohN00k7gVBGuHqMxiCftKQaWJIHvEH2mZBw9Q/w300-h400/IMG_2656.jpeg" title="TGI Fridays' Churros from Iceland" width="300" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-84541569962726369862024-03-16T13:30:00.000+00:002024-03-16T13:30:00.125+00:002024 Cheltenham Festival Betting Diary<div>It ia now over a day since the conclusion of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. For all of those days of the meeting, I updated this post with all of my bets and the results. Here is the full 'diary' from the week along with some post-festival betting notes that were written today.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><div><br /></div>If you read some of my previous posts about the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, you'll be aware that I have placed a trio of Lucky 63 bets across the four days of the race meeting. All of the horses I have backed are with the Non-Runner, No Bet term. This has turned out to be a benefit, of sorts, because a lot of the horses I have backed this year have either been entered into a different race or have been pulled from the entire festival.<div><br /></div><div>With that warning out of the way, here is the 2024 edition of my Cheltenham Festival Betting Diary. It'll be updated each day this week. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Tuesday 12 March</u></b></div><div>Here are the horses I have backed. These include the non-runners.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><u><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">1:30 Supreme Novices Hurdle</span></b></u></i></div><div>I had Ballyburn in one of the Lucky 63s. However, the horse has been entered into the Gallagher Novices Hurdle that will be run tomorrow.</div><div>There is a backup plan, however.</div><div>I have staked £5 single on <b>Firefox</b> at odds of 5/1 on Sky Bet because the firm will refund losing wagers - up to £5 - on the first race of the day. I have everything to gain and nothing to lose by doing this.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: <i>Slade Steel won. It looks like Firefox finished in third place, but - seeing as I had it to win outright - I'll have my £5 stake returned due to the promotion from Sky Bet.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">2:10 Arkle Trophy</span></u></i></b></div><div>I have <b>Hunters Yarn</b> at 6/1 in one of the Lucky 63s.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: <i>Gaelic Warrior won. Hunters Yarn finished in fourth place.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">2:50 Ultima Handicap Chase</span></u></i></b><br />I am covered in this race as well because I have <b>Chianti Classico</b> at 8s in another Lucky 63.</div><div><br /></div><div>The three horses I have just mentioned have all been placed in a £1 each-way treble using a free £2 bet token.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: <i>Chianti Classico was a WINNER</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">3:30 Champion Hurdle</span></u></i></b></div><div>This is the race Constitution Hill was set to defend last year's win in but has been pulled. I didn't have any wagers on this race until this morning. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have a £3 each-way gamble on <b>Iberico Lord</b> at 11/1.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: The favourite, State Man, won. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">4:10 Mares Hurdle</span></u></i></b></div><div>I have the favourite - <b>Lossiemouth</b> - in one of my Lucky 63s.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Lossiemouth was the WINNER.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><u><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">4:50 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle</span></b></u></i></div><div>I have placed a £2.50 each-way free bet on <b>Batman Girac</b>. As well as that, I felt compelled to put a £1 each-way punt on <b>Eagle Fang</b> for one reason and one reason only: that is the name of one of the karate groups in Cobra Kai and I didn't want a kick myself if it placed at odds of 14/1.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Lark on the Mornin won, my two horses didn’t!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">5:30 National Hunt Novices Chase</span></u></i></b></div><div>I've placed a £2.50 each-way wager on <b>Embassy Gardens</b> in the last race of the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Embassy Garden finished in second place to Corbetts Cross.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Wednesday 13 March</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I start off today £9.56 in the red following the losses of singles/each-way bets yesterday. In the bigger picture, I am down £28.46 because - to balance the books - I have put the cost of my three Lucky 63 bets under Friday's 'Staked' column of the spreadsheet because I won't fully know how much I have returned until after all those multiples have been settled at the end of the festival.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwXiR_r0AoGio-sJltZe2d9hkPmaHZ9pAFilhpEjTHsk0suNIZMiKb9WtXltvP20IZIBhw_rKEUxk8-otb69PxQe2Cp6FQA1fxJ-Fv90YncC_X6evQlw9PF2jnlRr-jlRGeQEzBd0_woX4yMEhGOiebpQ2U1gc54U7s5GXCKEHUaahj45RW7eTWQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting" data-original-height="146" data-original-width="460" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwXiR_r0AoGio-sJltZe2d9hkPmaHZ9pAFilhpEjTHsk0suNIZMiKb9WtXltvP20IZIBhw_rKEUxk8-otb69PxQe2Cp6FQA1fxJ-Fv90YncC_X6evQlw9PF2jnlRr-jlRGeQEzBd0_woX4yMEhGOiebpQ2U1gc54U7s5GXCKEHUaahj45RW7eTWQ=w320-h102" title="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>There are many selections in the Lucky 63s which are non runners, so I am expecting some returns as voided wagers. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To be frank, the Lucky 63 idea turned out to be somewhat pointless, but I'll plough on as best as I can.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All the times are going to be a quarter of an hour off due to one <br /><br /></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u><i><b>1:30 Novices Hurdle</b></i></u></span></div><div>The first non runner of the day is Readin Tommy Wong.</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead, I have placed a £3.44 single on <b>Ballyburn </b>because I took advantage of a boost price at EVENS.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Ballyburn was the WINNER.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><u>2:10 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase</u></b></span></i></div><div>Broadway Boy is the next non runner.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Race favourite Fact to File won.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">2:50 Coral Cup</span></u></i></b></div><div>I have used a free £5 bet on the Coral Cup placing a £2.50 each-way on <b>Langer Dan</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Langer Dan was the WINNER.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u>3:30 Queen Mother Champion Chase</u></span></i></b></div><div>Yet another non runner in Jonbon, who was pulled this morning due to health concerns.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Captain Guinness won.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>4:10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase</u></i></b></div><div>Abandoned</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">4:50 Grand Annual Handicap Chase</span></u></i></b></div><div>I had backed My Mate Mozzie, but the horse ran in yesterday's Arkle.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Unexpected Party won.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u>5:30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper</u></span></i></b></div><div>I have <b>Jalon D'oudairies</b> in one of the Lucky 63s. </div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Jalon D'ondairies finished in third place.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Thursday 14 March</u></b></div><div>I had a fortunate day yesterday despite the non-runners and the abandoned race. The biggest win came in the form of the £2.50 each-way free bet on Langer Dan in the Coral Cup - the first horse to ever do a double in that race.</div><div><br /></div><div>There was a doubling up of my £3.44 bet when Ballyburn won the opener for me at EVEN money (I used a special boost from my bookmaker).</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIGjHVf4CyHAalpaScFdfftlIicdP0el7tHwtYVgCrX3cs8oQbjcRirzC6mG5dVkRyDtULFWY_QCCR2GrcEcXqHsyUC1ib9b_SVSMGLLtuqu7zKimXAkl4UQ9_h5dkI3Yu3ezKwlf0ywtUJsBsnS8MrpdlzWRnFyYyXtnqLuiwd3E7z6sPZqzK6Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting" data-original-height="146" data-original-width="460" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIGjHVf4CyHAalpaScFdfftlIicdP0el7tHwtYVgCrX3cs8oQbjcRirzC6mG5dVkRyDtULFWY_QCCR2GrcEcXqHsyUC1ib9b_SVSMGLLtuqu7zKimXAkl4UQ9_h5dkI3Yu3ezKwlf0ywtUJsBsnS8MrpdlzWRnFyYyXtnqLuiwd3E7z6sPZqzK6Q=w320-h102" title="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting" width="320" /></a></div><br />So, after two days I am at -2.52 for the week. That number includes the three Lucky 63s that will be settled tomorrow.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, let's get to today.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>1:30 Turners Novices Chase</i></span></u></b></div><div>I have <b>Ginny's Destiny</b> in one of the Lucky 63s.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Grey Dawning won. Ginny's Destiny finished second.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">2:10 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle</span></u></i></b></div><div><b>Icare Allen</b> is the horse I have in this race. It also appears in one of the Lucky 63s.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Nonmiral won.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">2:50 Ryanair Chase</span></u></i></b></div><div>I have a long shot in this race. It's <b>Fugitif</b> and - just like the previous two horses - is one of the selections in one of the multiples I have for the entire festival.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Protektorat was the winning horse. I think Fugitif either finished last or didn't finish at all.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">3:30 Stayers' Hurdle</span></u></b></i></div><div>I had backed Irish Point antepost, but this is the first non-runner of the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: The favourite - Teahupoo - won.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><u><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">4:10 TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase</span></b></u></i></div><div>I have used a £2.50 each-way free bet on <b>Il Ridoto</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ginny's Destiny, Icare Allen and Il Ridoto have been placed in a £1 each-way free bet treble.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Shakem Up 'arry was the winner.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">4:50 Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle</span></u></i></b></div><div>I was drawn to <b>Mollys Mango</b>. It could only be because of the name (I have been eating/drinking a lot of things with Mango in it lately). With that in mind, I was only compelled to wager £1 each-way in the hope of a place because I think Brighterdaysahead will win.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Golden Ace won, Brighrerdaysahead finished second. My bet lost.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">5:30 Kim Muir Handicap Chase</span></u></i></b></div><div>I had backed Good Time Jonny in one of the Lucky 63s, but this is a non-runner.</div><div><br /></div><div>RESULT: Inothewayurthinkin won.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Friday 15 March</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">1:30 Triumph Hurdle</span></u></i></b></div><div>I had Sir Gino in a Lucky 63, but the horse was finally pulled out yesterday. Therefore, I have another non runner.</div><div><br /></div><div>With Sir Gino out, I have placed two wagers. One is a £5 win on <b>Majborough</b> because Sky Bet will refund any losing bets on the first race (up to £5). So, if the horse loses, I'll get my money back.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have also bet £2 each-way on <b>Kargese</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">2:10 County Handicap Hurdle</span></u></i></b></div><div>Iberico Lord was my pre-Festival bet, but it ran a different race on Tuesday.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">2:50 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle</span></u></i></b></div><div>The first eligible Lucky 63 entry I have for the day is <b>Johnnywho</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">3:30 Gold Cup</span></i></u></b></div><div>The final Lucky 63 selection I have for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival is <b>Corach Rambler</b> because I liked the 20/1 odds for a placed finish.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have <b>Galopin Des Champs</b> in a free £1 each-way double. See immediately below for the second selection.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">4:10 St. James' Place Hunters' Chase</span></u></i></b></div><div>The second horse in the multiple, along with Galopin Des Champs to win the Gold Cup, is <b>Ferns Lock</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">4:50 Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase</span></u></i></b></div><div>To close out the festival, I have placed a real money 'any order' forecast with <b>Limerick Lace</b> and <b>Harmonya Maker.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>5:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle</i></span></u></b></div><div>My last wager is a £2.50 each-way free bet on <b>Quai De Bourbon</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>As it stands, I am £15.52 in the red ahead of the final day. Today's stakes includes the money I spent on the three Lucky 63s last week. I expect some money back from those because of the plethora of non-runners (as well as a few wins and placed runners). So, even if I am unlucky today, I expect to leave this week in the black albeit barely.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqcUwvkIvn2hg6Y5Vx0U1hUbMeOVjP674rDVUG0MPScmIYCFrVultKIRmNuCv8KOIdInSv2jDTRWGwYmegQ2KzErSvSVfatJ1kN61cpn5zHGNLHWMzzF21tkRHWPxspqE-cPUhL4D0M8RAW_ig8WxwFEZRk3jrM_zLKdXxfKFXPGLsfCiEvh0thw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting" data-original-height="146" data-original-width="614" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqcUwvkIvn2hg6Y5Vx0U1hUbMeOVjP674rDVUG0MPScmIYCFrVultKIRmNuCv8KOIdInSv2jDTRWGwYmegQ2KzErSvSVfatJ1kN61cpn5zHGNLHWMzzF21tkRHWPxspqE-cPUhL4D0M8RAW_ig8WxwFEZRk3jrM_zLKdXxfKFXPGLsfCiEvh0thw=w400-h95" title="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting" width="400" /></a></div><div><u><br /></u></div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u>Results from Friday's card</u></span></b></div><div>1:30 - Majborough won and Kargese finished in second. So, I had a WINNER and a PLACE. </div><div>2:10 - Absurde won</div><div>2:50 - Stellar Story came first</div><div>3:30 - As I expected, Galopin Des Champs won.. and - most importantly - Corach Rambler placed by finishing in third place (I was surprised at this finish because the horse was at the back for the majority of the race)</div><div>4:10 - Sine Nomine was the winner. Ferns Lock led for most of the race, but I was not confident at all during the race because the horse was a bit boisterous before the off</div><div>4:50 - Limerick Lace won, but I also needed Harmonya Maker (finished in 7th) for the forecast</div><div>5:30 - Better Days Ahead won. Quai De Bourbon finished third.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Saturday 16 March</u></b></div><div>After doing all the calculations, it looks like I ended up £48.98 in profit after all of the bets I placed during the festival.</div><div><br /></div><div>It should be noted that a lot of my returns from yesterday were in the form of refunds from voided bets because my ante-post wagers were placed with the 'Non Runner, No Bet' term. As you've seen above, I had a ton of non-runners.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQx0NPUpUo8EpcEoL0zh12hXPu0wZsLKPUg5SS6WLzAeShBjuuPuV25Et7ffWdGt2k1W4tuTa_q71fbUk42DMhAEQIoEkt3oQvhUDr7YobJbvB5OS-f7pJlop3N-xqvPl9vTf8MY1nHKeMN_wqiW56GkIVnDqR2Vie3uZT_O8DBQr0VYBIBXGO0w/s832/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%2013.12.03.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting" border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="832" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQx0NPUpUo8EpcEoL0zh12hXPu0wZsLKPUg5SS6WLzAeShBjuuPuV25Et7ffWdGt2k1W4tuTa_q71fbUk42DMhAEQIoEkt3oQvhUDr7YobJbvB5OS-f7pJlop3N-xqvPl9vTf8MY1nHKeMN_wqiW56GkIVnDqR2Vie3uZT_O8DBQr0VYBIBXGO0w/w400-h90/Screenshot%202024-03-16%20at%2013.12.03.png" title="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I think the best course of action, if I decide to go with the multiples ahead of the festival, next year is to wait until I have a better grasp of where the respective horses are likely to run. Therefore, the Monday before the festival might put me in a better position.</div><div><br /></div><div>With that said, some of the free bets and customer offers were a benefit to me as well. I particularly enjoyed Sky Bet's offer from yesterday's opener which offered me a £5 return should my horse lose. Well, I had Majborough win for me and that returned a profit of £27.50. It was the result which confirmed I would walk away from the week of betting fully in the black. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, to close, I thought I would share with you some photographs I took of the infamous three Lucky 63s I had beside me all week. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Y-RHiw7j8jhrscHoebWUR7Y8cUTMAPa1vaTxWFsJXeiDcVKSUprwzMfIKEs8Vd5iN-4ByZs1iq5Y42RGYrLXDYaiV9ctIkPji8AWf0JtCmBz_uLLy3vMK2-RSXCcTKY8u_HQHcKbc1tQ1AvAQ6mm6AERTq-FwxIl0ggoydaEgmOhQQen-re4QQ/s4032/IMG_2658.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Bets" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Y-RHiw7j8jhrscHoebWUR7Y8cUTMAPa1vaTxWFsJXeiDcVKSUprwzMfIKEs8Vd5iN-4ByZs1iq5Y42RGYrLXDYaiV9ctIkPji8AWf0JtCmBz_uLLy3vMK2-RSXCcTKY8u_HQHcKbc1tQ1AvAQ6mm6AERTq-FwxIl0ggoydaEgmOhQQen-re4QQ/w300-h400/IMG_2658.jpeg" title="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Bets" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first Lucky 63 was the most successful of the trio returning a profit of £7.59 from my £6.30 stake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexiiRDS91TzW5slB-Tse67yMRt8mTyFJfBq6ptwKYetyz49huk6WWKS5v7tcf0SoMaVstGvHp5gIw1FvgLkbTJqU8zxZpACCX9msdF87SbzXIHMSmCy_Vx0BaP2MndaZ0liv1h2eMmVEQmX8wGiWX5YAGdVbKbZc2hQGt6Pi4oIlMizGiTOu86Q/s4032/IMG_2659.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Bets" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexiiRDS91TzW5slB-Tse67yMRt8mTyFJfBq6ptwKYetyz49huk6WWKS5v7tcf0SoMaVstGvHp5gIw1FvgLkbTJqU8zxZpACCX9msdF87SbzXIHMSmCy_Vx0BaP2MndaZ0liv1h2eMmVEQmX8wGiWX5YAGdVbKbZc2hQGt6Pi4oIlMizGiTOu86Q/w300-h400/IMG_2659.jpeg" title="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Bets" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another profitable one. This returned £8.16 from my £6.30 punt, so a +1.86c comeback.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eHkTQPEdI9ZIMk6Ua5cIzqpJxzHzUtIYaJIw8k-Lh6CZDpTrsIB6f5CHaZPJ2fWQhzBqVMdZa5ZDYSU9m1816UbfVXpvfimBi_8Q5uo4tGWRijpwxMDgTG87R9wkNsfGQkeDOzjCaAYq7wkp4OI1im9URcrtQKXz0Sdfs2j5fMpPGqqWcpCz2w/s4032/IMG_2660.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Bets" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eHkTQPEdI9ZIMk6Ua5cIzqpJxzHzUtIYaJIw8k-Lh6CZDpTrsIB6f5CHaZPJ2fWQhzBqVMdZa5ZDYSU9m1816UbfVXpvfimBi_8Q5uo4tGWRijpwxMDgTG87R9wkNsfGQkeDOzjCaAYq7wkp4OI1im9URcrtQKXz0Sdfs2j5fMpPGqqWcpCz2w/w300-h400/IMG_2660.jpeg" title="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Bets" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm finishing off this picture display with the worst of the lot. A return of seventy Pence from my wagers meaning a loss of £5.60.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that's all for Cheltenham 2024. I'll be back (hopefully) more prepared in '25!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-20725312393328642472024-03-15T18:00:00.004+00:002024-03-16T13:35:46.645+00:001,000 Days Of Wordle<p>Wordle put up its 1,000th daily puzzle today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEZJWPdziK2krMJwvV1Q8ABQ1LYjxNQuoF9CmlABKEgRtu7Djv_UmO-KLUbjIrzQpzwXcunULtY7EaS62QZHrECER3GA_Fos8YsityzS-75ShrkQKe06DKsCUUgz3WHAS3s_0rEotRJyBdWFqu8Zz9v1yMzdJ0yf48zgAf_UPxRGSBDXLZBJz_A/s675/IMG_1349.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="675" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEZJWPdziK2krMJwvV1Q8ABQ1LYjxNQuoF9CmlABKEgRtu7Djv_UmO-KLUbjIrzQpzwXcunULtY7EaS62QZHrECER3GA_Fos8YsityzS-75ShrkQKe06DKsCUUgz3WHAS3s_0rEotRJyBdWFqu8Zz9v1yMzdJ0yf48zgAf_UPxRGSBDXLZBJz_A/s320/IMG_1349.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I had a go and I managed to get it in four goes.</p><p>The word was ERUPT. You'll be able to see how I worked it out below.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigA9R6MEbH5XBj4MOkNiUxB8qoVd9ST6EoP_BWomMvkUeZftS5GY5SinRNyNEHXD2OmI85Tm0CQ1iaKr9xFJLbbqIDHpKt_OsKl9h_0lxmOwwYecdWghMaNjSiG7Hpb8HYN8xPcwGqdqxBkwhg5_tfMc-lebLw1ccCrnpCIIKSXvx9c4pMsQ3Bg/s1459/IMG_1352.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="1081" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigA9R6MEbH5XBj4MOkNiUxB8qoVd9ST6EoP_BWomMvkUeZftS5GY5SinRNyNEHXD2OmI85Tm0CQ1iaKr9xFJLbbqIDHpKt_OsKl9h_0lxmOwwYecdWghMaNjSiG7Hpb8HYN8xPcwGqdqxBkwhg5_tfMc-lebLw1ccCrnpCIIKSXvx9c4pMsQ3Bg/s320/IMG_1352.jpeg" width="237" /></a></div><p>1) I started off with my regular starter word - ADIEU</p><p>2) From the starter, I knew there was an E and U, so I thought of a word containing those two letters. I then try to think of something with either S, T or both S and T. I put in FLUTE.</p><p>3) I knew the U was the third letter. And there was indeed a T. I was stuck, so wrote in SPORT to find out if S or R were in the word.</p><p>4) The SPORT test proved that there was a P in the word. So, knowing I had a E, R and a U (in the third position) and T, it made sense to test out ERUPT. It turned out to be correct.</p><p>There is going to be another 1,000th day celebration - for something completely different - next week. More about that, well.. next week.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-87937351262264258702024-03-14T19:00:00.002+00:002024-03-14T19:00:00.134+00:00'24 WWE Hall Of Fame Shaping Up<p>The WWE Hall of Fame class for this year has been shaping up over the past few weeks. It appears there are a few themes as usual.</p><p>With this year's WrestleMania taking place in Philadelphia, it's understandable to see Paul Heyman as the headliner.</p><p>He was, I believe, the first name announced for the ceremony which takes place on WrestleMania Week. </p><p>Heyman's inclusion in Philly is due to his role in running Extreme Championship Wrestling during the nineties into the early 2000s. Philadelphia was the company's home base.</p><p>The other names listed are:</p><p>Bull Nakano<br />Thunderbolt Patterson<br />Muhammad Ali<br />The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSc12JZ5g8x-vTZHRrtEfTK6Izi8x8RhHMoKJ6YsqERjyJ2JyJt1rqT6seC_RpMz8kd4RlCMcnvNe4w0O_ct5y8M8DeMyAoAuZN8PnAzMR5FKtSS8V7AmaRegsATBj2Finmc-4GmgFQpGdQLcx_deqHsst70Xq_L9wGRJQ2LsUUZZ57pvmcMFzAQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Logo" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="713" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSc12JZ5g8x-vTZHRrtEfTK6Izi8x8RhHMoKJ6YsqERjyJ2JyJt1rqT6seC_RpMz8kd4RlCMcnvNe4w0O_ct5y8M8DeMyAoAuZN8PnAzMR5FKtSS8V7AmaRegsATBj2Finmc-4GmgFQpGdQLcx_deqHsst70Xq_L9wGRJQ2LsUUZZ57pvmcMFzAQ=w320-h237" title="WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Logo" width="320" /></a></div><br />The Ali inclusion, and that of The U.S. Express, makes sense considering their involvement with the first WrestleMania.<p></p><p>The U.S. Express also have a tragic story coming into this year's ceremony because Rotunda was Bray Wyatt's father while Windham was Wyatt's uncle.</p><p>Wyatt, whose real name was Windham Rotunda, passed away last year. I fully expect him to be the final name revealed for the 2024 Class. Members of his family being announced already makes me sure of that.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-82719376929460127152024-03-13T19:00:00.005+00:002024-03-13T19:00:00.133+00:00The Cat Show<p>I don't watch This Morning regularly. However, it was on in the living room yesterday, so - seeing as it is the first week for the new hosts: Cat Deeley and Ben Shepherd - I stuck around for a while.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FEGuWsGlqBPEtejhRA91BJqMZgeda1NfoS6we1pY8BDE2-0RZn8kXBU6VRaiK2Kly8TD-NJSVE2fGTZY0_4DzdgFZO-Ek4ZgFQTcBBi-iTr74F_Aa3pZoEJmll4nAExdifr18BBGQ1TaISwhKQfWQTmUfpGr3ZaHOu8Ji5BRROhtNzRlnKDVrw/s721/This%20Morning%20-%20Ben%20and%20Cat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="This Morning" border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="721" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FEGuWsGlqBPEtejhRA91BJqMZgeda1NfoS6we1pY8BDE2-0RZn8kXBU6VRaiK2Kly8TD-NJSVE2fGTZY0_4DzdgFZO-Ek4ZgFQTcBBi-iTr74F_Aa3pZoEJmll4nAExdifr18BBGQ1TaISwhKQfWQTmUfpGr3ZaHOu8Ji5BRROhtNzRlnKDVrw/w400-h183/This%20Morning%20-%20Ben%20and%20Cat.png" title="This Morning" width="400" /></a></div><p>The most prominent thing I noticed is Deeley seems to want to talk over the people. She also appears to have an annoying tendency to try and know better than the 'guest'.</p><p>For example, they had Glynis Barber in the studio to talk about tricks to battle age. Deeley sort of took over by telling Barber about her own tricks.</p><p>Then, in a following segment when they had John Torode in cooking Thai food, the new presenter kind of took over from that talking about herself and Thai food. </p><p>I'll be fair and conclude it's nerves. But, if it continues like this, I can assure you the people at home will begin to find her insufferable.</p><p>Or, I may already be late for that. </p><p>Before finishing off this post, I had a search and Twitter/X. It seems the complaints are already coming in. And they're along the same issues I had.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-2468221924685896072024-03-12T19:00:00.001+00:002024-03-12T19:00:00.119+00:00The Twins Reunion<p>There was a cool moment during Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony where Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito appeared together to dish out an Oscar.</p><p>The co-stars of Twins began their interplay with the audience with DeVito pointing out there was an obvious reason why they had been paired up together.</p><p>The obviousness was the size difference, or maybe that they were 'Twins', however - Arnie disrupted any notion that those were the reasons by claiming 'We both tried to kill Batman',</p><p>Which is true.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWfyBN2HPI9hGf8JaKbu9HCyWO-n2SOzQzyadd218BTjLRebzWeTn-ZrtiVcLeTZEO-kPLJ4xRgFgvGyO7mRkByl9mm9L0QIqpcY0iQPm1oKd3eBnr09JPLkzBgsYcnMhBzhhNFIzsK8n4Vq8a0XqfUk0qc4e4_hiVHNAeOPI7B6bNLirbP6-kjA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Schwarzenegger and Devito at the 2024 Academy Awards" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="831" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWfyBN2HPI9hGf8JaKbu9HCyWO-n2SOzQzyadd218BTjLRebzWeTn-ZrtiVcLeTZEO-kPLJ4xRgFgvGyO7mRkByl9mm9L0QIqpcY0iQPm1oKd3eBnr09JPLkzBgsYcnMhBzhhNFIzsK8n4Vq8a0XqfUk0qc4e4_hiVHNAeOPI7B6bNLirbP6-kjA=w400-h236" title="Schwarzenegger and Devito at the 2024 Academy Awards" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Devito portrayed The Penguin in 1992's Batman Returns while his co-partner for the segment appeared as Mr Freeze in Batman and Robin five years later.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiA92YiLGmH8qZufByhmmlfsMaPc3xmIaJ5sdUeGVxL7qsnRA1jESMW23MXbDHcWvDlmMw9xQfVawuXu1zFz8n1bi2xMvkQIEoSDpjM7DP_Zb28XxHHjRFl-rnYKYxtBX8LTCfliGKeWBvSytn4JU1czM2HLaM5YsLurapCVrGRaYDeLt8Wj-pTtg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Michael Keaton at the 2024 Academy Awards" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="896" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiA92YiLGmH8qZufByhmmlfsMaPc3xmIaJ5sdUeGVxL7qsnRA1jESMW23MXbDHcWvDlmMw9xQfVawuXu1zFz8n1bi2xMvkQIEoSDpjM7DP_Zb28XxHHjRFl-rnYKYxtBX8LTCfliGKeWBvSytn4JU1czM2HLaM5YsLurapCVrGRaYDeLt8Wj-pTtg=w400-h219" title="Michael Keaton at the 2024 Academy Awards" width="400" /></a></div><br />After both stars explained how their characters were beaten by Batman, with Arnie calling him a 'sonofabitch', DeVito exclaimed 'there he is!' and pointed to Michael Keaton who was sitting in the audience.<p></p><p>I thought it was a really cool spot.</p><p>But then it dawned on me. </p><p>Michael Keaton wasn't Arnold Schwarzenegger's Batman. George Clooney is!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-66549473054830265262024-03-11T12:19:00.005+00:002024-03-11T14:21:57.875+00:002024 Cheltenham Festival: Day ZeroIt's a day before the 2024 Cheltenham Festival begins and I thought I would publish an update concerning what I plan to do on the blog for the rest of the week.<div><br /></div><div>For last year's meeting, I had a blog post - named <a href="https://www.equinoxx.info/2023/03/cheltenham-2023-betting-diary.html" target="_blank">the 2023 Cheltenham Festival Betting Diary</a> - which floated across each day. It contained all my wagers and results right through to the Friday.</div><div><br /></div><div>I liked that approach, so will do that again this week. However, I must stress that I have already gambled in the ante-post markets and some of my picks might not even run in the respective races. Should they not run, I will get my stakes back because I have wagered with the 'Non-Runner, No Bet' offer.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am bound to refer to those ante-post wagers many times over the coming days, so will use today's post to share with you what I have wagered on.</div><div><br /></div><div>The bets are three separate Lucky 63s. Each are 5p each-way a line, so the overall total spent has been £18.90. Here's what I've opted for.</div><div><br /></div><div><u><b>Lucky 63 I</b></u><br />1) Chianti Classico (Ultima Handicap Chase - Tuesday)</div><div>2) Jonbon (Queen Mother Champion Chase - Wednesday)</div><div>3) My Mate Mozzie (Grand Annual Chase - Wednesday)</div><div>4) Ginny's Destiny (Turners' Novices Chase - Thursday)</div><div>5) Iberico Lord (County Handicap Hurdle - Friday)</div><div>6) Sir Gino (Triumph Hurdle - Friday)</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Lucky 63 II</u></b></div><div>1) Lossiemouth (Mares Hurdle - Tuesday)</div><div>2) Ballyburn (Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Tuesday)</div><div>3) Jalon D'oudairies (Champion Bumper - Wednesday)</div><div>4) Fugitif (Ryanair Chase - Thursday)</div><div>5) Good Time Jonny (Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase - Thursday)</div><div>6) Corach Rambler (Gold Cup - Friday)</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Lucky 63 III</u></b></div><div>1) Hunters Yarn (Arkle - Tuesday)</div><div>2) Readin Tommy Wrong (Gallagher Novices' Hurdle - Wednesday)</div><div>3) Broadway Boy (Brown Advisory Novices' Chase - Wednesday)</div><div>4) Irish Point (Stayers Hurdle - Thursday)</div><div>5) Icare Allen (Pertemps Final - Thursday)</div><div>6) Johnnywho (Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - Friday)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-32516448425836092322024-03-10T11:45:00.000+00:002024-03-10T11:45:00.129+00:00The Score<p>I was browsing through YouTube and came across a piece of music that brought such a really good feeling.</p><p>It was on the score of Police Academy and is titled 'Riot Gear'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAMqlFTo0ulqr4iIgFn-G8BWXGb1XUSHydYR9B2-5_r5CCmDOEbrzciRz6MVQJ5DyRrRiej0ch_Un6rU7OMn-dInJ3_PX8WfmtRgaezvVB1YZDgFUgg9jRp7635TX4k6BOcaaaHr7eGSyX-8rLN0EW5GpsyWMLIYcwbmzxgE2rer_8FND2irRrg/s1167/Police%20Academy%20Score.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Police Academy Score" border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1167" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAMqlFTo0ulqr4iIgFn-G8BWXGb1XUSHydYR9B2-5_r5CCmDOEbrzciRz6MVQJ5DyRrRiej0ch_Un6rU7OMn-dInJ3_PX8WfmtRgaezvVB1YZDgFUgg9jRp7635TX4k6BOcaaaHr7eGSyX-8rLN0EW5GpsyWMLIYcwbmzxgE2rer_8FND2irRrg/w400-h270/Police%20Academy%20Score.png" title="Police Academy Score" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>It's from the scene moments after a riot has kicked off and the cadets from the Police Academy are alerted by their seniors to don riot gear and meet at the buses for them to be shipped off to the part of the town where the disturbance has occurred.<p></p><div>I cannot give justice to this piece by describing it. What I can do, however, is tell you that - as a young lad watching this part in the movie - I was excited. It felt like the entire movie had been built to the cadets' first policing job and this was it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Goosebumps.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even Eugene Tackleberry has a line where he says something like 'it's time this officer meet the public'. </div><div><br /></div><div>The film was made in the 80s, but the tune kind of reminds me of something that could be expected from a seventies film.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am not the only person who evidently loves this music. The comments section on the YouTube page is filled with people who fondly remember it.</div><div><br /></div><div>It has been a long time since I last watched Police Academy. I think it's time to fix that.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-67668408601888822192024-03-09T16:51:00.005+00:002024-03-09T16:51:48.466+00:00Flogging<p> I recently found out that there is going to be a TV series based on the Halloween movies.</p><p>Talk about flogging a horse.</p><p>Notice how I didn't refer to it as a 'dead horse'? </p><p>According to the Twitter/X account I read, the series will be a 'creative reset'. </p><p>How many creative resets has Halloween already had?!</p><p>With all that said, I am curious. </p><p>I'll watch it!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-6808624433445833112024-03-08T13:00:00.001+00:002024-03-08T13:00:50.066+00:00Another Day<p>In yesterday's post, I noted that it was both National Cereal Day and World Book Day. </p><p>I was curious to see what we're supposed to celebrate today and something stood out.</p><p>According to a Google search, March 8th is National Proofreading Day.</p><p>I'd like to finish with a message to all those who work in that field.</p><p><b>Hapy Natonal Proofrading Da!</b></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-72200150172545005492024-03-07T09:55:00.001+00:002024-03-07T09:55:43.770+00:00Today's The Days<p>It was brought to my attention, through an email from Nestle this morning, that today is National Cereal Day.</p><p>The reminder allows me to repeat something I wrote <a href="https://www.equinoxx.info/2023/03/aldi-peanut-butter-balls.html" target="_blank">on this day last year</a>. I still regard Aldi's Coco Peanut Butter Balls as my current favourite cereal.</p><p>With that said, it has been a few months since I last had a bowl of that cereal.</p><p>My current go to is Kellogg's Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes. Kind of.</p><p style="text-align: left;">That's because - for the past few weeks, I've been drinking smoothies for breakfast. The smoothie I have liked the best has the following ingredients.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Almond milk</li><li>Banana</li><li>A dash of maple syrup</li><li>2 Dates</li><li>One teaspoon of crunchy peanut butter</li><li>A handful of Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes</li></ul><div>It tastes very nice. As soon as I was reminded that today is National Cereal Day, I had to make the smoothie just so I could write about it. </div><div><br /></div><div>And take a photo:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYEGQeq5nyoXCLa75bj5ZJDu2KtWZmMR6Z81xghOl657WGK-icQeUqDYl7q4WqTO7qQ2bhOLh0sSqcliPpTG9FZlI1E6nlyYyxxOMIuFYfWr9ecQry-VfKey5uiMwI49wIJt5RVQhq0hcTjUAZjesmxh5mU_VG0nDR2hjXs2rY6FWThkRWuu_Zg/s4032/IMG_2603.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes Smoothie" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2441" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYEGQeq5nyoXCLa75bj5ZJDu2KtWZmMR6Z81xghOl657WGK-icQeUqDYl7q4WqTO7qQ2bhOLh0sSqcliPpTG9FZlI1E6nlyYyxxOMIuFYfWr9ecQry-VfKey5uiMwI49wIJt5RVQhq0hcTjUAZjesmxh5mU_VG0nDR2hjXs2rY6FWThkRWuu_Zg/w194-h320/IMG_2603.jpeg" title="Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes Smoothie" width="194" /></a></div><br /><div>Today is also World Book Day.</div><div><br /></div><div>I obviously won't be dressing up for it. However, I should have put on one of my Stephen King t-shirts. Instead, I happen to be wearing a Ric Flair shirt this morning.</div><div><br /></div><div>With that said, I'm accidentally - technically? - celebrating World Book Day because Flair's autobiography - To Be The Man - celebrates its twentieth anniversary in July.</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-38120165251051954562024-03-06T09:58:00.005+00:002024-03-06T13:11:31.476+00:0052<p>I am currently sitting in front of my TV watching the live New Japan Pro Wrestling show.</p><p>It's the company's annual event to celebrate its birthday. This year, NJPW is fifty-two years old. </p><p>52!</p><p>I<span> have the Japanese feed on the Apple </span>TV. It isn't the choice I wanted, though.</p><p>For some reason, I cannot find a way to watch the event with the English commentators. I know they're in the building because I looked up Walker Stewart's Twitter account and he has photographs from inside the building.</p><p>I know I could switch my iPad on and then watch the English feed through the NJPW World website. However, I spent years wanting a NJPW World app on the Apple TV and my wish was granted.</p><p>Unfortunately, I cannot find a way to get the stream with my native language.</p><p>I was able to catch the English streams for the January events*, so I don't know what is going on.</p><p>I'm not completely miffed, though.</p><p>I used to have to wait months for videocassettes of New Japan shows to be delivered to my door back in the day. Those events had Japanese commentary and the picture was not the best.</p><p>Now, thirty-plus years later, I get to watch these events live. On a HD TV. Plus, the Japanese commentary is always fun to listen to.</p><p>It could be a lot worse. </p><p>UPDATE: I've finally worked out how to do it! There is a setting button which pops up if you hit the selection button on the Apple TV remote. You can toggle between Japanese and English commentary on it. However, as I write this, the sound is not synced up with the picture. So, it's back to the Japanese comms!</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">* The English feed for WrestleKingdom broke after the initial matches, so I watched the Japanese stream for the rest of the show</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-22677907440245930062024-03-05T14:27:00.001+00:002024-03-05T14:27:22.125+00:00Getting Ready For Next Week<p>This time next week, I will be watching day one of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. </p><p>I have bought myself an aid to assist me along the way. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOaHFvMV-Zf1dq1B0it2FVsw6b3WlQ_FrOfT4sGgyi6x_REJQ9Y_ynVX_tCUXRVzC2GBh0Vl1G9Y287UGEpR6BylMkPAFphvRCSf_FwcB146811jb-8nTyMly7qAqxCcKsUFwSZm-Zh2FwVfF9i0PXTEO88eLifmaDLfBOyXwGixxKoiCYbLq5w/s3898/IMG_2585.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting Guide" border="0" data-original-height="3898" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOaHFvMV-Zf1dq1B0it2FVsw6b3WlQ_FrOfT4sGgyi6x_REJQ9Y_ynVX_tCUXRVzC2GBh0Vl1G9Y287UGEpR6BylMkPAFphvRCSf_FwcB146811jb-8nTyMly7qAqxCcKsUFwSZm-Zh2FwVfF9i0PXTEO88eLifmaDLfBOyXwGixxKoiCYbLq5w/w248-h320/IMG_2585.jpeg" title="Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting Guide" width="248" /></a></div><p>It arrived yesterday. Ironically, it came shortly after the news broke about Constitution Hill having been pulled out of this year's meeting.</p><p>A lot of the pages in this book focuses on the horses and what was considered a strong chance of defending last year's victory in the Champion Hurdle.</p><p>The book can be purchased through Amazon's link below. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/49CeUnT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy From Amazon UK</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-42320461013156188892024-03-04T10:57:00.002+00:002024-03-04T11:03:00.388+00:00The Password<p>In <a href="https://www.equinoxx.info/2024/03/sting-retires.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">yesterday's post</a>, I wrote about Sting who was set to wrestle his last match at last night's AEW Revolution event.</p><p>There was something else I wanted to add to my personal memories of him, but it is quite random and wouldn't have fit in anywhere yesterday.</p><p>I'll spend today's post sharing it, though.</p><p>As I mentioned yesterday, Sting was on the card of the first ever American wrestling show I went to. It was the Cardiff stop on WCW's Halloween Havoc Tour of 1993. </p><p>My tickets were purchased a day before we went back to school in September and then - on the first or second day of the new school year - I was in my business studies class.</p><p>It was the first year we had lessons with PCs and the teacher was going from student-to-student asking them to whisper a password into his ear. He would then write the word down so he could set up our way to access the computers at a later point.</p><p>With the WCW show the focus of my mind back then, I knew I was going to use a wrestler's name as my password. I initially thought 'Sid Vicious' because he was my favourite WCW wrestler at the time. However, I then reasoned that the word may have been too long or something. By the time the teacher arrived to me, I had something short and sweet.</p><p>'Sting,' I whispered into his ear.</p><p>He looked back at me with a smile. 'Ahh, I like The Police as well'. </p><p>I didn't want to burst his bubble so I played along and didn't correct him. </p><p>Fortunately for me, the class was split up in half a few days later and I was placed with a different teacher. I don't know how I would have been able to keep the 'The Police is my favourite band' charade up for two years.</p><p>The thing that makes this even more funny is I would have had a similar issue had I went with my first choice of 'Sid Vicious'. </p><p>He would have immediately thought I was a fan of the Sex Pistols.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20394357.post-3186980078835549172024-03-03T12:04:00.001+00:002024-03-03T12:04:21.641+00:00Thank You StingSting will wrestle his last match at tonight's AEW Revolution show from the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina.<div><br /></div><div>It has been quite an emotional few months for fans of his once it became clear that it will all end tonight. Earlier this week, I noticed that there is a phone number people can call to leave messages to Sting. That's quite a cool idea, but will he really be able to get through all of those voicemails?!</div><div><br /></div><div>I have so many memories of Sting. </div><div><br /></div><div>The first time I saw him, I thought he was an Ultimate Warrior ripoff. Ironically, both he and Jim Hellwig - who later became the Warrior - started out as a tag team. I didn't learn that until a short time after being first introduced to Sting.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sting was, without a doubt, the better wrestler of the two. </div><div><br /></div><div>My most favourite memory of Sting has to be the time I've written about many times in the past - October 26 1993. </div><div><br /></div><div>That was the day I went to my first American wrestling show. It was also the first time I met wrestlers live and in person due to being allowed backstage at the Cardiff International Arena.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sting signed a WCW programme for me that evening.</div><div><br /></div><div>At that time in Sting's career, he had the blonde spiky hair and wore the colourful attire with the matching face-paint. He was a few years off from ditching the 'Surfer Sting' look and becoming the broody, dark Sting with the long dark hair and white face-paint which resembles Brandon Lee's character of The Crow.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is that gimmick which has lasted the longest during Sting's career. I suppose my second favourite memory of Sting is when he spent over a year building towards the match against Hulk Hogan at WCW Starrcade 1997. </div><div><br /></div><div>He would beat up on the New World Order on a weekly basis and eventually got himself a meeting with the WCW World Champion - Hulk Hogan at what was WCW's biggest event in history.</div><div><br /></div><div>It became the record setter because WCW was hot at the time and, like I've already pointed out, the company spent well over a year building up the fans' appetite for them to feat on 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan .vs. Sting.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibESjhAO0Z-OseadCji-mKnqJTH1aLCoiTziFEjLxmln2wpuUkfkWOLl9nsiElDTtO1xPCi0Ut_3Cm3A47v-6v2HhyzddWm46i09p6YxCKrW8KIE0RsWbTL3eckfHEx3bsjT2oXg4BSMuf9WQG8Lh51ktXkrxX1dIuCwjr6foaaT7O6TaYwbsLKw/s380/WCW%20Starrcade%201997.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="WCW Starrcade 1997" border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="261" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibESjhAO0Z-OseadCji-mKnqJTH1aLCoiTziFEjLxmln2wpuUkfkWOLl9nsiElDTtO1xPCi0Ut_3Cm3A47v-6v2HhyzddWm46i09p6YxCKrW8KIE0RsWbTL3eckfHEx3bsjT2oXg4BSMuf9WQG8Lh51ktXkrxX1dIuCwjr6foaaT7O6TaYwbsLKw/w275-h400/WCW%20Starrcade%201997.jpeg" title="WCW Starrcade 1997" width="275" /></a></div><br /><div>To be fair, the Sting push more or less peaked on Sunday December 28th 1997. He floated around the main event scene for the remaining years of WCW, but - due to the company on a huge decline - was unable to capture the magic of the build to the Hogan match.</div><div><br /></div><div>Following WCW's demise, Sting wrestled in TNA. He eventually made his debut for World Wrestling Entertainment at WrestleMania 31 in 2015.</div><div><br /></div><div>The less said about that bout the better. </div><div><br /></div><div>His FIRST match as a WWE wrestler and they had him lose to Triple H in what I can only see as a political move to weaken WCW's legacy.</div><div><br /></div><div>The most ironic parts about the decision to have Sting lose in his first WWE outing are (1) WCW had gone out of business fourteen years earlier and (2) WWE owns everything WCW now. </div><div><br /></div><div>WWE won the war, but it - or rather Vince McMahon - still had to win a pointless final battle.</div><div><br /></div><div>And he had the son-in-law as the general.</div><div><br /></div><div>The following year, WWE gave Sting a little bit of respect by having him as the headline star of its 2016 Hall of Fame ceremony.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was fortunate enough to have a copy of the limited edition box set of WrestleMania 32, which came with a Sting autograph. So, that was the second thing I have signed by Sting. However, one is from the 'Surfer Sting' era and this one - as you can see below - is from the most prominent version of the character.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4OcJ6iTPGvJBdVnk5JYW_h_pCxGYR7F1c4A8ikkI8u-fRy1KsqT1Oppsg_Ra4Pr6ECWxG1mpTrZpGnLG0HDYXkl0WIk1a_rDwKHzsSPpNScJfbHEWXQiC3quZS7rRx4pBMRnoh3-xTE4WE_lxLNQ7CBhglZjEzNgKxbQaSK9syEIRRfNr4QjEg/s4032/IMG_2572.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sting Autograph" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4OcJ6iTPGvJBdVnk5JYW_h_pCxGYR7F1c4A8ikkI8u-fRy1KsqT1Oppsg_Ra4Pr6ECWxG1mpTrZpGnLG0HDYXkl0WIk1a_rDwKHzsSPpNScJfbHEWXQiC3quZS7rRx4pBMRnoh3-xTE4WE_lxLNQ7CBhglZjEzNgKxbQaSK9syEIRRfNr4QjEg/w240-h320/IMG_2572.jpeg" title="Sting Autograph" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>For the past few years, Sting has wrestled for All Elite Wrestling and it all ends tonight.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, this is pro wrestling, and we shouldn't be surprised to see him again. However, as I write this, I do have the feeling that this really is it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you Sting.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0