While Rick produces blades in DEFensive, ALLround, and OFFensive categories, he didn't tell me which type of blades these were, so as not to affect my objectivity. Over the last week or so, I've put both TRICKY1 blades through their paces and now I'm ready to share my thoughts.

• I mentioned a couple of weeks ago the drama caused by forum member pushblocker's great form at the recent Cary Cup using long pimples that have been sun-aged while practicing outdoors. Much debate ensued, and now there is even a video tutorial showing one unorthodox method that Cory Eider used to defeat pushblocker in a recent match (make sure to watch the point at around the 2:20 mark). But be warned, it's actually much tougher to perform than it looks!
• Forum member jjftt pointed out a nifty new ready to go net that you can set up on any table with a minimum of fuss. Ping-pong at anytime, anyplace, anywhere!
• The USATT has published the new criteria for selecting the National Teams for 2012 and beyond. PATT author Donn Olsen has some comments to make about this new criteria on our forum.
• USATT historian Tim Boggan has just completed Volume 11 of his extensive series of the History of U.S. Table Tennis. You can order it online from his site here.
• Hardbat table tennis is generally thought of as being a gentleman's game, evoking memories of players in long white flannels and sweeping strokes with an air of genteel civility. It certainly doesn't bring to mind thoughts of equipment wars. But this recent thread on Dr. Evil rubbers from the Table Tennis Talk forum shows that even hardbat aficionados can get down and dirty from time to time!
• Got a bit of spare time between training sessions or trying new equipment? Why not build a table tennis ball clock?

So if you would like a little assistance in getting a good glue job with the latest VOC free water based glue, I've got you covered!