B. RACKING THE BALLS. The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the one ball at the top of the diamond and on the foot spot, the nine ball in the center of the diamond, and the other balls in random order, racked as tightly as possible. The game begins with cue ball in hand behind the headstring.

1. The breaker must strike the 1-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to a rail, failure to do so is a foul. Incoming player accepts table the way it lies with ball in hand or requests a rerack with cue ball behind the headstring.

2. If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, or the requirements of the opening break are not met, it is a foul, and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table.

3. If on the break shot, the breaker causes an object ball to jump off the table, it is a foul and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. The object ball is not respotted.

4. Making the nine ball on the break is an automatic win for the player breaking. However, if the cue ball is scratched when making the nine ball, the nine ball is respotted. (Using another stripe from tray.)

E. CONTINUING PLAY. On the shot immediately following a legal break, the shooter may play a “push out.” If the breaker pockets one or more balls on a legal break, he continues to shoot until he misses, fouls, or wins the game. If the player misses or fouls, the other player begins his turn and shoots until he misses, fouls, or wins. The game ends when the nine ball is pocketed on a legal shot.

F. PUSH OUT. The player who shoots the shot immediately after a legal break may play a push out in an attempt to move the cue ball into a better position for the option that follows. On a push out, the cue ball is not required to contact any object ball nor any rail, but all other foul rules still apply. The player must announce his intention of playing a push out before the shot, or the shot is considered to be a normal shot. Any ball pocketed on a push out does not count and remains pocketed, except for the nine ball. Following a legal push out, the incoming player is permitted to shoot from that position or to pass the shot back to the player who pushed out. A push out is not considered to be a foul as long as no rule is violated. An illegal push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed.

G. FOULS. When a player commits a foul, he must relinquish his run at the table and no balls pocketed on the foul shot are spotted, except the nine ball. The incoming player is awarded ball in hand; prior to his first shot he may place the cue ball anywhere on the table. If a player commits several fouls on one shot, they are counted as only one foul.

1. All fouls must be called and acknowledged before the next shot is taken.

2. Touching or moving the cue ball is a foul.

3. Coaching is a foul.

4. Shooting the cue ball into a pocket or off the table is a foul.

5. If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is a foul.

6. If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball or some object ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball is a foul.

7. Pocketing the nine ball and the cue ball with the same stroke is a foul.

8. Shooting without at least one foot on the floor is a foul.

9. An unpocketed ball is considered to be driven off the table if it comes to rest other than on the bed of the table. It is a foul to drive an object ball off the table. The jumped object ball(s) is not spotted and play continues.

When the cue ball is in hand, the player may place the cue ball any where on the bed of the table, except in contact with an object ball. He may continue to adjust the position of the cue ball until he takes a shot.

A player’s turn begins when it is legal for him to take a shot and ends at the end of a shot on which he misses, fouls or wins, or when he fouls between shots.

When there are only two object balls on the table and a player scratches while pocketing the ball before the nine - it shall be brought up and placed on the footspot. (Using another ball from the tray.)

and so...

Once upon a time there lived a great prince... and, a prince like no other. He was called Prince... as recorded in the court annals.

Others before him have been known for their peaceful reign, wayward reign, drunken reign, musical reign, happily ever after reign, terror-filled reign, sadful reign or even a strange, perverted reign- but his, was a purple reign. yeah!

A million winkings of an eye later, (as with many things) time amplifies certain souvenirs...

Today it is said that during the purple reign, there was indeed purple rain... personally i can't confirm nor deny this since i was born too late.

Strange though, even here in the little islands in the pacific... people sing- purple rain!

Play well, and- reign well people...

people reign... purple rain.

someone said that with the passing of the prince, the whole court has gone...

the king MJ         

the queen Freddie   

the Prince 

the duke Bowie 

the court jester Robin Williams 

https://youtu.be/8vCS_iKITCY

The kava, a relaxing drink which is drunk at the end of the day and, very therapeutic after a very hard day.

Some call it the liquid spliff. It is cultivated in the Pacific in melanesia principally in Vanuatu, where we can find one hundred plus, species. Some parts of polynesia still cultivate it- if not abolished by the long ago missionaries.

It is a drink prepared from the roots of the kava plant.

The effect- a sense of euphoria and well-being which lasts some hours.

Once upon a time it was a drink reserved only for people of chiefly rank. Today it has been democratised.

Play well and pass a good time...