Paul Ryburn’s Journal

I just finished my third Squidoo article, or “lens” as they’re called on that site. I had previously written a tutorial on left and right English in pool to complement the training materials I sell in my online store How to Learn Pool. Well, now I went back and added a second tutorial, on [...]

I wanted to pass along updated information on the Downtowners for Obama meetup that will happen this Saturday. What started as a few friends getting together to discuss the Obama campaign has turned into a big deal, with prominent names attending and a crowd that could possibly fill the entire Majestic Grille restaurant.

Gray Sasser, chairman [...]

A blog reader who is on a BBQ team said he heard the following from a Memphis in May board member about what will happen to BBQ Fest next year:

150 teams @ $10,000 entry fee apiece. That’s down from about 250 teams this year.
No patio porkers, so it looks like the little teams will be [...]

Country music isn’t my thing, but for those who are into it, I wanted to pass along this announcement from the Red Rooster.  With bike night on Beale 1 block up the road on Wednesdays, this will probably draw some good business.  I may not be into country, but girls in tube tops and boots can [...]

As promised, here are the photos from Sunday’s Pub Olympics at Hoop’s Bar/EP Delta Kitchen. The list of winners can be found here.

The first-place trophy

Three of the four judges (I was the fourth) and Mikey the Camera Nazi

Tricycle races

Beer [...]

All right, below are the rumors I’ve heard about BBQ Fest. Keep in mind that all of the below are RUMORS and not anything I’ve confirmed with Memphis in May:

- The festival will be downsized next year. This one is almost certainly true, as construction will begin on Beale Street Landing, and that will [...]

I got more than 10 for the rumors about BBQ Fest.  Many of them had heard the same things I had heard, and a few heard additional details as well.

Here’s the deal.  I will post the rumors.  Promise.  I just need a little time to compile them all together into one post.  Which I don’t have [...]

Check out Thaddeus Matthews’ blog this morning for the latest scoop on the investigation into corruption on Beale Street.  It’s public knowledge by now that Performa Entertainment head John Elkington is being scrutinized, but read Thad’s latest post to find out who else may be in hot water.  Let’s just say that this new guy Thaddeus [...]

The results are in.  Find out who won Pub Olympics at Hoop’s Bar/EP Delta Kitchen.  Thanks to all the teams who entered and sorry I got so drunk and tried to be judge.  Hoop/Tony, I owe you a stopwatch.

So, people are still asking about the rumors I heard about the “downsizing” of BBQ Fest next year.  [...]

I did some redesigning to the left menu pane of my blog yesterday morning.  I wasn’t happy with WordPress displaying lists of links in alphabetical order. Usually, this is the best way to do it, but it didn’t work so well with my list of photo albums.  I wanted them displayed in reverse chronological order starting [...]