Honey Badger vs. Wolverines who wins?
Sigh.
Last weekend was a blind-side tackle from a defender people knew was on the field but didn't know how hard or when he would hit. If you want the meaty portions of the lawsuits with excellent commentary and legalese CK rocks it with a three parter check em out here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
I'm sure the people who read here also have penned their tears of online poker in the US going poof and watching helplessly as our friends from places Not America are able to continue their hobbies, or in some cases, their living as a professional card player.
Me? I was shocked by a text message as over the weekends I tend to stray from checking Twitter, poker sites, and blogs too much due to school and spending time with the kids. Now armed with an old Blackberry to replace the phone I lost in Texas, I could check Pokerati and other sites while in line for the 2-liter pop bottle ring toss at the local school carnival (I won a bottle of Grape Crush if you must know). And while my kids tried their luck on the lollipop tree hoping for a colored tipped stick good to trade-up for the little stuffed animal, my thoughts were on those most affected by the government's rash decision to blitz the "Big 3" with criminal charges.
Surly these companies had some sort of plan should the shakedown come down especially after Jon Kyl in his rabid anti-fun anti-logic brigade snuck the UIGEA into the books several years ago. We can't stop two rich women from abusing the financial laws to the tunes of nine figure sums, making the already super-rich into being able to take over a decent sized country (h/t to Change100) but the US can crackdown down on people trying to have a little fun in the comforts of their own homes or a coffee shop, or even a few who are skilled enough to make a living from poker. Even worse are the people who may lose their jobs as accountants, analysis, computer programmers, and something that closer to home, the poker writers.
Who exactly is hurt by online poker, where's the seedy back-alley drug exchange taking place? Sadly I don't have the time to go into a long rant other than to say my government continues to adhere to policies that become the fight of the few who hold the power versus the word of the many. This is still a democracy right? Word of the people and all that?
No. It's become something else. A nation where two women can make more money then 99.999% of the world could dream of spending by twisting a few words and filling out the right forms, and a righteous team of feds can take away the hobby of millions and jobs of thousands because they couldn't get their flopped flush to hold (sorry had to use at least ONE poker pun).
I love my country, and much like a 4 year old who got send to bed early last night due to a bad attitude, I may be pouting right now but I hope with some sleep and dreams, things will be better in the morning.
Showing posts with label UIGEA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UIGEA. Show all posts
Monday, April 18, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Change starts with getting out of bed
Thundercats, thundercats, thundercats, HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Let's see we brought back Transformers and "found" Megan Fox, who will profit and become the lust of males once Cheetara makes it to the big screen?
The WBCOOP kicked off with a PLO on Monday afternoon which like most hard working cubical-bound workers I was not able to attend. Last night, I was bound to my headless chicken schedule that had me going from a 10 hour day at the office and exiting the new Maple Grove library at closing time with a fictional tax return done for Bob and Amy Booth who will be receiving $1,337 Sklansky Bucks in the mail from the IRS or Mason Malmuth thanks to me finding an extra deduction for washing Amy's nursing uniform. Tax deductions? I jump on it. Still hoping to play the PLO8 tourney tonight (nope, skating classes for the kids), and definitely the Thursday night round when my textbooks are shoved aside to let my inner degen before my body gets crippled into something resembling responsibility *shudder*
I see Michelle Bachman once again spouts the evils of ObamaCare (see third or fourth video) last night and continues her waffling ways of demeaning BIG government while continuing to tell gamblers they should not be allowed to spend their money the way they want to while fighting the repel of the UIGEA. America is not Burger King Ms. Bachman, you can't have it your way and expect the country to run. As I learned yesterday as I spoke with a co-worker about religion (I know, shouldn't do that) that according to her Muslims will be continuing their blood-thirsty war until all other's are wiped from the earth. And using my face reading skills, she was dead serious. The uninformed people of the US, and there are many, are the greatest threat to this country. Even I regret to know nor understand the inner-workings of our government and politics in general but I do understand that neither "party" is working for that middle ground and that goes for the State of the Union speaker last night as well.
To expect everyone to wake up educated on what is going on is a practice in futilely. Much like trying to teach Waffles tilt-control or bankroll management, the majority of this country is lower-middle income God-fearing people who believe what they see on the TV, and do not research the vast amount to information available on the internet to see if a story is true. If their pastor, rabbi, other person-of-the-cloth says its true and dangummit it MUST BE! The hypocrisy of things like holding a state lottery and not allowing gambling, or politicians like Michelle Bachman who slam big government (rightfully so) but offer no solutions (maybe she does but in all the videos I have seen of her its nothing but finger-pointing versus a platform).
Nothing will change here until someone steps up to solve the problem. My wheels have been spinning career wise much like Ferris Bueller's Ferrari when him and Cam tried reversing the mileage so I did something about it. The bachelor's degree doesn't guarantee me a job, far from it, but at least there is no glass ceiling from the position I want "Supreme Overlord Galxicia King of the Spreadsheet" if you must know or "Staff Accountant". Instead of sitting in my current position waiting for a hand out, waiting for divine intervention, I got active. Most people in this country think a higher title, more money, is being "active" or "winning". Absolutely wrong. It's feeling good about where you are, and where you are going. Two years ago I probably would break down from my schedule, weeping how bad I have it. Instead, I look at how lucky I am to have a house that stands and keeps people warm, I have two kids who are disease-free, I have a wife who is trying to fit into a bikini again because she wants to feel better about herself (she still has a great ass), and me, finally breaking free of the martyr mindset and enjoying my long nights stiffing thru Latin names for the muscles of the body and seeing just how lucky I am to be learning, advancing, and best of all working towards being a better person.
Ok, sappy shit aside, people are not going to change much like my co-workers who are set in their ways, but that doesn't mean you have to blindly follow their road into perpetual apathy. As a long-lost blogger who recently came back to pen some feelings about his journey and I feel exactly the same:
Let's see we brought back Transformers and "found" Megan Fox, who will profit and become the lust of males once Cheetara makes it to the big screen?
The WBCOOP kicked off with a PLO on Monday afternoon which like most hard working cubical-bound workers I was not able to attend. Last night, I was bound to my headless chicken schedule that had me going from a 10 hour day at the office and exiting the new Maple Grove library at closing time with a fictional tax return done for Bob and Amy Booth who will be receiving $1,337 Sklansky Bucks in the mail from the IRS or Mason Malmuth thanks to me finding an extra deduction for washing Amy's nursing uniform. Tax deductions? I jump on it. Still hoping to play the PLO8 tourney tonight (nope, skating classes for the kids), and definitely the Thursday night round when my textbooks are shoved aside to let my inner degen before my body gets crippled into something resembling responsibility *shudder*
I see Michelle Bachman once again spouts the evils of ObamaCare (see third or fourth video) last night and continues her waffling ways of demeaning BIG government while continuing to tell gamblers they should not be allowed to spend their money the way they want to while fighting the repel of the UIGEA. America is not Burger King Ms. Bachman, you can't have it your way and expect the country to run. As I learned yesterday as I spoke with a co-worker about religion (I know, shouldn't do that) that according to her Muslims will be continuing their blood-thirsty war until all other's are wiped from the earth. And using my face reading skills, she was dead serious. The uninformed people of the US, and there are many, are the greatest threat to this country. Even I regret to know nor understand the inner-workings of our government and politics in general but I do understand that neither "party" is working for that middle ground and that goes for the State of the Union speaker last night as well.
To expect everyone to wake up educated on what is going on is a practice in futilely. Much like trying to teach Waffles tilt-control or bankroll management, the majority of this country is lower-middle income God-fearing people who believe what they see on the TV, and do not research the vast amount to information available on the internet to see if a story is true. If their pastor, rabbi, other person-of-the-cloth says its true and dangummit it MUST BE! The hypocrisy of things like holding a state lottery and not allowing gambling, or politicians like Michelle Bachman who slam big government (rightfully so) but offer no solutions (maybe she does but in all the videos I have seen of her its nothing but finger-pointing versus a platform).
Nothing will change here until someone steps up to solve the problem. My wheels have been spinning career wise much like Ferris Bueller's Ferrari when him and Cam tried reversing the mileage so I did something about it. The bachelor's degree doesn't guarantee me a job, far from it, but at least there is no glass ceiling from the position I want "Supreme Overlord Galxicia King of the Spreadsheet" if you must know or "Staff Accountant". Instead of sitting in my current position waiting for a hand out, waiting for divine intervention, I got active. Most people in this country think a higher title, more money, is being "active" or "winning". Absolutely wrong. It's feeling good about where you are, and where you are going. Two years ago I probably would break down from my schedule, weeping how bad I have it. Instead, I look at how lucky I am to have a house that stands and keeps people warm, I have two kids who are disease-free, I have a wife who is trying to fit into a bikini again because she wants to feel better about herself (she still has a great ass), and me, finally breaking free of the martyr mindset and enjoying my long nights stiffing thru Latin names for the muscles of the body and seeing just how lucky I am to be learning, advancing, and best of all working towards being a better person.
Ok, sappy shit aside, people are not going to change much like my co-workers who are set in their ways, but that doesn't mean you have to blindly follow their road into perpetual apathy. As a long-lost blogger who recently came back to pen some feelings about his journey and I feel exactly the same:
"So here I am, 7 years after I wrote the above lines, ready to start again. I have changed. My voice has changed, my style has changed. I still think about poker a lot, although I am not as immersed in it as I once was. I will be writing about life here. Hopefully you’ll join me for the ride." - HDouble
Thursday, July 29, 2010
A note to financial planner Michelle Bachmann
Hi there Michelle.
I heard you were busy yesterday during the hearing on Internet Gambling Regulation.
Your quote:
"With our economy struggling as it is and unemployment hovering around 10%, this bill rewards offshore gambling corporations at the expense of American workers," Bachmann stated. "This legislation will kill American jobs and open up another revenue source for an already reckless and bloated federal government. We should be putting forth legislation that promotes responsible behavior and sound financial planning. This bill completely misses the mark"
I'm afraid my dear YOU are the only one "missing the mark". The bill, if you bothered to read it, is to bring regulation and most likely those offshore gambling corporation back home creating jobs in *gaps* America! Yes, home of the Freedom Fries, Nicole Scherzinger, and people who pay your salary might play online poker. Your babbling about the unemployment rate makes no sense because online gambling didn't just spring up yesterday. It was there for the boom and bust of the economy, and it will be there for the next boom and the next bust. If someone's flush draw doesn't get there, the person does not lose their job.
It is not going away.
Tell me madame representative do you understand how many people these offshore gambling sites employ? Did you bother to try to understand there are potential jobs coming home for those who were forced to move away when the UIGEA was slipped underneath the Watergate hotel room's door? Those jobs include many different sectors: advertising, marketing, accounting, management, IT, and even some writing jobs for us bloggers who manage to wrest away from our crippling Red Bull and Atomic Fireballs addictions.
Promote responsible behavior and sound financial planning? Oh, like my 401k which took a 40% nosedive in the past two years? Or how about my underwater mortgage that I have dilegently been paying on and improving for the past four years but the property value continues to sink despite adding a new roof, new driveway, new windows and siding, and stainless steel appliances and a rockin' hardwood floor in the kitchen that doubles as a slip and slide for my kids when they get bored. Does this shock you that a loving husband of ten years, doting father of two for seven years, who holds two jobs and goes to school full-time might play online poker and has not resorted to knocking over the local Chuck E. Cheese for game tokens?
Kill American jobs? Tell me Michelle Bachmann just how does this bill effect YOU. It does not. It effects me greatly. With the extra income from writing about online poker I was able to return to school because my second paycheck allows me to pay the portion of the tution that federal education loans would not cover. In fact YOU are trying to kill MY job and my education in attempt to earn a bigger piece of the "American Dream" that seems to be your song-and-dance presented to rile up more vote. Next time you think you are helping the American people and those who reside in your own state with unresearched spew like your actions and statement above, look at the toes you are stepping on to get there. Please explain which American jobs are going to be loss when online gambling sites no longer need to flee to Isle of Man or Gibralter because of reckless politicans telling hard-working Americans how they should spend their paycheck.
I admit I have but one vote but I have a voice and if someone else reads this and agrees it becomes two votes, and so on.
Sincerely,
A life-long Minnesotan
Photo cred at her website
I heard you were busy yesterday during the hearing on Internet Gambling Regulation.
Your quote:
"With our economy struggling as it is and unemployment hovering around 10%, this bill rewards offshore gambling corporations at the expense of American workers," Bachmann stated. "This legislation will kill American jobs and open up another revenue source for an already reckless and bloated federal government. We should be putting forth legislation that promotes responsible behavior and sound financial planning. This bill completely misses the mark"
I'm afraid my dear YOU are the only one "missing the mark". The bill, if you bothered to read it, is to bring regulation and most likely those offshore gambling corporation back home creating jobs in *gaps* America! Yes, home of the Freedom Fries, Nicole Scherzinger, and people who pay your salary might play online poker. Your babbling about the unemployment rate makes no sense because online gambling didn't just spring up yesterday. It was there for the boom and bust of the economy, and it will be there for the next boom and the next bust. If someone's flush draw doesn't get there, the person does not lose their job.
It is not going away.
Tell me madame representative do you understand how many people these offshore gambling sites employ? Did you bother to try to understand there are potential jobs coming home for those who were forced to move away when the UIGEA was slipped underneath the Watergate hotel room's door? Those jobs include many different sectors: advertising, marketing, accounting, management, IT, and even some writing jobs for us bloggers who manage to wrest away from our crippling Red Bull and Atomic Fireballs addictions.
Promote responsible behavior and sound financial planning? Oh, like my 401k which took a 40% nosedive in the past two years? Or how about my underwater mortgage that I have dilegently been paying on and improving for the past four years but the property value continues to sink despite adding a new roof, new driveway, new windows and siding, and stainless steel appliances and a rockin' hardwood floor in the kitchen that doubles as a slip and slide for my kids when they get bored. Does this shock you that a loving husband of ten years, doting father of two for seven years, who holds two jobs and goes to school full-time might play online poker and has not resorted to knocking over the local Chuck E. Cheese for game tokens?
Kill American jobs? Tell me Michelle Bachmann just how does this bill effect YOU. It does not. It effects me greatly. With the extra income from writing about online poker I was able to return to school because my second paycheck allows me to pay the portion of the tution that federal education loans would not cover. In fact YOU are trying to kill MY job and my education in attempt to earn a bigger piece of the "American Dream" that seems to be your song-and-dance presented to rile up more vote. Next time you think you are helping the American people and those who reside in your own state with unresearched spew like your actions and statement above, look at the toes you are stepping on to get there. Please explain which American jobs are going to be loss when online gambling sites no longer need to flee to Isle of Man or Gibralter because of reckless politicans telling hard-working Americans how they should spend their paycheck.
I admit I have but one vote but I have a voice and if someone else reads this and agrees it becomes two votes, and so on.
Sincerely,
A life-long Minnesotan
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
High(er) Rolling Rant
There were no less than three posts written this weekend while driving to the trailer/cabin in Hinckley. Since my cell phone does not double as a mobile office and can barely receive text messages but can ass-dial certain writers to remind them to eat their veggies and be sure to have a clean plate after dinner, this space remained dormant aside from a poker brag on Sunday while tooling around in the afternoon.
While my low-rolling online self will not change anytime soon since our government insist on throwing wispy laws towards the likes of PokerStars, Full Tilt, and Bodog. Rules that make it harder, not impossible for online degens to get their fix of four card crack and mega-satellites to the World Series of Poker Main Event. The holy grail of satellites. The endorsements. BJ Nemeth and Flipchip taking YOUR picture with that pile of cash along side of an increasing better Norman Chad doing the post-game interview sometime after Minnesotans return to below zero temperatures. That's November not August despite urban legends that it's cold up here. It is, but it's a dry cold.
The UIGEA. Is all about what's wrong with our government and aside from the political circus going on in g-Vegas' home state, the reason why this voter without a political affliation will ever pick a party to follow. You, Bob Goodlatte, despite taking money FROM gambling sources sneak in a line detail that threatens the employement of my friends. You whine when people who even oppose gambling say it was backhanded and terribly obtuse law, and use your poltical ties to force others into this thinking. As my friends have toiled in the Amazon room for the past few weeks, and will continue to do so until the November Nine are named, they are working for less and less as the ambiguity of this law prevents their sites from running a business without the threat of a FBI/CIA/Starsky and Hutch ban stick being waved over their heads and make the profits that they should be.
While James Dempsey and Sammy Farha battle it out for the $10K Omaha Hi/Lo bracelet this morning, doubts of future events being so grand are in question. By this time next year we could have the road laid out for legalization of online poker. You know, something that several states have done legally in brick and mortar casinos/cardrooms and had prior to your nanny state law. This this isn't meth or some hard drug that currently gets you thrown in jail for possesion, instead this is a game that is dealt 24/7 in most states and at worse you get thrown to the floor for being an asshole after slow-rolling the nuts on that 85 year old Korean War vet who caps his cards with a Purple Heart while playing $2/$4 limit daily with a huge "I'm a 10 Percenter" button over his black suspenders.
There's no law against being a dick, but there is one because some people choose to play virtually versus driving 45 minutes (or more) to play live. Stop being a dick Bob and let people play how they choose versus how you and your morally twisted backers think everyone should act with THEIR MONEY. Do I walk into congress and demand you cease plunking down $50K+ on that country club membership, or a third Porsche because I think it's a waste of money? No. You earned it, you get to spend it. Just like this weekend after a friend's advice to "Bet More", I did so. Playing $25 to $75 hands of blackjack and Pai Gow for three hours with money I earned through my second job. The rush for someone who normally makes less than $20/hour was worth more than the $300 I took away from the high stakes area and got a touch of the high life even if it was in a backwater casino located in a fly-over state.
My money, my choice. Your money, your choice. This is America, land of freedom to fuck up if you want to, stop being a hypocrite.
While my low-rolling online self will not change anytime soon since our government insist on throwing wispy laws towards the likes of PokerStars, Full Tilt, and Bodog. Rules that make it harder, not impossible for online degens to get their fix of four card crack and mega-satellites to the World Series of Poker Main Event. The holy grail of satellites. The endorsements. BJ Nemeth and Flipchip taking YOUR picture with that pile of cash along side of an increasing better Norman Chad doing the post-game interview sometime after Minnesotans return to below zero temperatures. That's November not August despite urban legends that it's cold up here. It is, but it's a dry cold.
The UIGEA. Is all about what's wrong with our government and aside from the political circus going on in g-Vegas' home state, the reason why this voter without a political affliation will ever pick a party to follow. You, Bob Goodlatte, despite taking money FROM gambling sources sneak in a line detail that threatens the employement of my friends. You whine when people who even oppose gambling say it was backhanded and terribly obtuse law, and use your poltical ties to force others into this thinking. As my friends have toiled in the Amazon room for the past few weeks, and will continue to do so until the November Nine are named, they are working for less and less as the ambiguity of this law prevents their sites from running a business without the threat of a FBI/CIA/Starsky and Hutch ban stick being waved over their heads and make the profits that they should be.
While James Dempsey and Sammy Farha battle it out for the $10K Omaha Hi/Lo bracelet this morning, doubts of future events being so grand are in question. By this time next year we could have the road laid out for legalization of online poker. You know, something that several states have done legally in brick and mortar casinos/cardrooms and had prior to your nanny state law. This this isn't meth or some hard drug that currently gets you thrown in jail for possesion, instead this is a game that is dealt 24/7 in most states and at worse you get thrown to the floor for being an asshole after slow-rolling the nuts on that 85 year old Korean War vet who caps his cards with a Purple Heart while playing $2/$4 limit daily with a huge "I'm a 10 Percenter" button over his black suspenders.
There's no law against being a dick, but there is one because some people choose to play virtually versus driving 45 minutes (or more) to play live. Stop being a dick Bob and let people play how they choose versus how you and your morally twisted backers think everyone should act with THEIR MONEY. Do I walk into congress and demand you cease plunking down $50K+ on that country club membership, or a third Porsche because I think it's a waste of money? No. You earned it, you get to spend it. Just like this weekend after a friend's advice to "Bet More", I did so. Playing $25 to $75 hands of blackjack and Pai Gow for three hours with money I earned through my second job. The rush for someone who normally makes less than $20/hour was worth more than the $300 I took away from the high stakes area and got a touch of the high life even if it was in a backwater casino located in a fly-over state.
My money, my choice. Your money, your choice. This is America, land of freedom to fuck up if you want to, stop being a hypocrite.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
June 1st = Internet Poker's Y2K?
If you worked in IT on December 31st, 1999 than term "Y2K" would probably set off a series of flashbacks of not watching your female friends flash their boobs after doing that 5th round of Irish car bombs at the New Year's party but instead sitting huddled around fellow geeks hoping your company's mainframes wouldn't suddenly go tits up and eat itself.
The world did not end, computer problems were minimal, and I was still eight months away from being a legally married man despite becoming a homeowner just two weeks prior.
Now that the Internet Poker version of Y2K has come to past, will the UIGEA's ugly "due date" has come and past but as of right now (7:30pm CST) PokerStars has 187,183 players on 29,660 tables and Full Tilt has 88,844 players on 27,304 which doesn't seem like everyone got the fuck out of dodge and are continuing to play. For now, a sea of calm even at 2 + 2, whose official June 1st thread doesn't show a lot of panic, except for a popular credit card option being cut off. I for one have never used a credit card to deposit so I wouldn't know about such things.
Still, I have a (large for me) paycheck coming to me in the next few days from SCOOP, and was hoping someone in the 2+2 thread would have chimed in about any problems with cashing out. No worries. I can still play in the WSOP this year if my heart desires such action unlike this douchecanoe who pulled something akin to trying to put a hand in the till of an open register at the 7-11 while the cashier tried to make you a Big Gulp.
I hope there was an angry mob of player waiting to give him a beat down for trying to steal another player's chips.
The world did not end, computer problems were minimal, and I was still eight months away from being a legally married man despite becoming a homeowner just two weeks prior.
Now that the Internet Poker version of Y2K has come to past, will the UIGEA's ugly "due date" has come and past but as of right now (7:30pm CST) PokerStars has 187,183 players on 29,660 tables and Full Tilt has 88,844 players on 27,304 which doesn't seem like everyone got the fuck out of dodge and are continuing to play. For now, a sea of calm even at 2 + 2, whose official June 1st thread doesn't show a lot of panic, except for a popular credit card option being cut off. I for one have never used a credit card to deposit so I wouldn't know about such things.
Still, I have a (large for me) paycheck coming to me in the next few days from SCOOP, and was hoping someone in the 2+2 thread would have chimed in about any problems with cashing out. No worries. I can still play in the WSOP this year if my heart desires such action unlike this douchecanoe who pulled something akin to trying to put a hand in the till of an open register at the 7-11 while the cashier tried to make you a Big Gulp.
I hope there was an angry mob of player waiting to give him a beat down for trying to steal another player's chips.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Congresswomen Shelley Berkley Speaking at Dream Team Poker Event
This is for those bloggers and media-types that will be at the sold out Dream Team Poker Tourney tomorrow in Vegas. Another good place to get our word out on the game we love and hope to defeat the UIGEA.
Information below is for her press conference:
CONGRESSWOMAN SHELLEY BERKLEY TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE AT CAESARS PALACE
Special Guest to Kick-off Dream Team Poker Tournament
WHO:
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nevada)
Top poker pros and celebrities include Mekhi Phifer, Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow and Jamie Gold
WHAT:
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley to initiate “shuffle up and deal” at the second Dream Team Poker Tournament.
WHERE:
Dream Team Poker Tournament
Poker Room, Caesars Palace Las Vegas
WHEN:
Saturday, March 28
PRESS CONFERENCE: 11:45-12:00
Please arrive as early as 11:45 to conduct interviews with Congresswoman Berkley prior to the tournament start at 12 p.m.
ABOUT:
Berkley is known as one of the supporters of the drive to regulate online gambling. She was one of the few congressional members to stand up against Bill Frist’s addition of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.
Dream Team Poker is a team variation of the game of poker featuring a patent pending scoring system. In November, Dream Team Poker kicked-off their inaugural invitational event and attracted a diverse group of poker champions, celebrities, journalists and local casino players. The sold out second event capped out at 170 teams and more than 500 players with a prize pool of more than $250,000.
Information below is for her press conference:
CONGRESSWOMAN SHELLEY BERKLEY TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE AT CAESARS PALACE
Special Guest to Kick-off Dream Team Poker Tournament
WHO:
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nevada)
Top poker pros and celebrities include Mekhi Phifer, Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow and Jamie Gold
WHAT:
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley to initiate “shuffle up and deal” at the second Dream Team Poker Tournament.
WHERE:
Dream Team Poker Tournament
Poker Room, Caesars Palace Las Vegas
WHEN:
Saturday, March 28
PRESS CONFERENCE: 11:45-12:00
Please arrive as early as 11:45 to conduct interviews with Congresswoman Berkley prior to the tournament start at 12 p.m.
ABOUT:
Berkley is known as one of the supporters of the drive to regulate online gambling. She was one of the few congressional members to stand up against Bill Frist’s addition of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.
Dream Team Poker is a team variation of the game of poker featuring a patent pending scoring system. In November, Dream Team Poker kicked-off their inaugural invitational event and attracted a diverse group of poker champions, celebrities, journalists and local casino players. The sold out second event capped out at 170 teams and more than 500 players with a prize pool of more than $250,000.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
First Step Taken
Edit: Thanks to everyone who commented yesterday, I'm not one to ask for help, but its great to know my friends out there are willing to give it.
The doctor visit.
During my time with the head injury I had several men and women in white coats poke and prod me like the meat contained in BG's wonderful Braised Short Ribs in Porter with Maple Horseradish Glaze, except instead of a stomach that begged for more, I found distrust. Being talked down continuously like a two year old who refuses to put away her princess dresses, countless back turnings and being told "that's not how you feel".
Yeah, those were fun times. If it wasn't for a my personal physician giving me straight talk, I'd splint a broken bone with some Ace bandage and some birch branches straight out of a Boy Scout handbook just to avoid the ER.
After leaving the doctor's office yesterday with a follow-up consult due to the severity of my hearing loss an audiologist was notqualified legally able to suggest the strength/make/model of the hearing aid. I'm fine with that, as she was polite, thorough with the hearing test, and this is the hardest thing to do with a hearing impaired patient... there was no coodling nor getting frustrated while administering the test or results. Well played ma'am.
(side note: a drug salewomen walked in behind me, looking like a pre-coked out and fed Kate Moss, yum)
Anyway. To the doctor part. The audiologist explained there was some gunk in my ear canals that might mess up the results of the test so I was sent to the doctor's office to get it removed.
Not happy with this. My intentions were to a) get a hearing test b) get a quote on a hearing aid c) avoid a doctor's poking and proding at all cost
Fail.
Since I couldn't get to point "b" without enduring the doctor's visit I went through with it. Luckily the doctor didn't act like a total douchebag, he was cordial as I explained it been nearly 15 years since an ear specialist (called an otolayrngologist) has looked in there and since my last surgery. He explained there was still bloody residue from the surgery in there. Enjoying that lunch?? Good, because I was hardly able to eat after seeing the chopped up Earthworm-like stuff he pulled out.
If you've ever had your ears cleaned with a pick-like instrument which comes from the tray above then you may know how painful and how still you must remain unless getting jabbed Freddy Krueger-style down your ear is how you'd like to spend your afternoons.
He cleans, doesn't magically revive my hearing but feels like my ears got sauna bath and loofa treatment as I headed back to the hearing test where it was already explained I'd have to come back to see a doctor and shake my head no at all suggestions of surgery (think very expensive, six months recovery, and having to wear a receiver on my head for the rest of my life for just a small improvement). Yeah, I'll take door number two thank you very much.
As I told the audiologist my goal is to hear words with more clarity. I could care less if I hear my Rice Krispies pop, or some birds chirpping outside. Just being able to respond to people with the funny banter you find here or on the girly chat would put a gold star on the day for me.
Now, to the doctor rant... As I was leaving the restaurant (Chinese buffet, destroyed the cream cheese puffs, peanut butter chicken, and a mongolian plate) about 30 minutes later I felt an itch on my cheek which turned out to be blood dripping down the side of my face. My first thoughts were "oh, probably from the ear pressure nothing to worry about" or "DAMN, W-T-F did they put into the sesame chicken today?!!?!?". After waking up this morning with blood on the pillow it finally stopped without the aid of a panty liner with wings.
I did call in to the doctor's office and was told only to stuff some cotton as it will stop after a few hours (it didn't stop till this morning as I was up almost all night due to this water-swishing feeling in my ear that disrupted my normal dream about a high school friend who recently found me on Facebook and we were going to shoot a round of golf with Judy Garland at DisneyWorld). Writing this down Freud?
When I inquired about what could have caused this as my ear has not bleed since the surgery nearly 15 years ago, I got no answer. *sigh*
Since I'm fairly sure there will be blood scrapping for my next office visit on Wednesday, I would have rather not endured another round with that pick tray shown above as my dreams may go from Wizard of Oz to Hostel for the next week.
Will someone hold my hand and hand me a lemon flavored lollipop and take me to Dairy Queen for a chocolate dipped cone with sprinkles when the big, bad doctor is done? Thanks.
---
On a pokery note:
I read this article at Yahoo this morning. It seems our new president may get a glance at the midnight rule enforcing the UIGEA afterall. This is a good test to see if promises of being more stringent towards bad policies/laws that people do not want and didn't ask for will be fulfilled. At least talking about these midnight rules so quickly is a huge step in the right direction.
Again, will action follow-up the talk? That's the barrier that needs to come down before Americans will dive into "change". Look under "technology" here and our little special interest is #3 on the list (as of yesterday)
The doctor visit.
During my time with the head injury I had several men and women in white coats poke and prod me like the meat contained in BG's wonderful Braised Short Ribs in Porter with Maple Horseradish Glaze, except instead of a stomach that begged for more, I found distrust. Being talked down continuously like a two year old who refuses to put away her princess dresses, countless back turnings and being told "that's not how you feel".
Yeah, those were fun times. If it wasn't for a my personal physician giving me straight talk, I'd splint a broken bone with some Ace bandage and some birch branches straight out of a Boy Scout handbook just to avoid the ER.
After leaving the doctor's office yesterday with a follow-up consult due to the severity of my hearing loss an audiologist was not
(side note: a drug salewomen walked in behind me, looking like a pre-coked out and fed Kate Moss, yum)
Anyway. To the doctor part. The audiologist explained there was some gunk in my ear canals that might mess up the results of the test so I was sent to the doctor's office to get it removed.
Not happy with this. My intentions were to a) get a hearing test b) get a quote on a hearing aid c) avoid a doctor's poking and proding at all cost
Fail.
Since I couldn't get to point "b" without enduring the doctor's visit I went through with it. Luckily the doctor didn't act like a total douchebag, he was cordial as I explained it been nearly 15 years since an ear specialist (called an otolayrngologist) has looked in there and since my last surgery. He explained there was still bloody residue from the surgery in there. Enjoying that lunch?? Good, because I was hardly able to eat after seeing the chopped up Earthworm-like stuff he pulled out.
If you've ever had your ears cleaned with a pick-like instrument which comes from the tray above then you may know how painful and how still you must remain unless getting jabbed Freddy Krueger-style down your ear is how you'd like to spend your afternoons.
He cleans, doesn't magically revive my hearing but feels like my ears got sauna bath and loofa treatment as I headed back to the hearing test where it was already explained I'd have to come back to see a doctor and shake my head no at all suggestions of surgery (think very expensive, six months recovery, and having to wear a receiver on my head for the rest of my life for just a small improvement). Yeah, I'll take door number two thank you very much.
As I told the audiologist my goal is to hear words with more clarity. I could care less if I hear my Rice Krispies pop, or some birds chirpping outside. Just being able to respond to people with the funny banter you find here or on the girly chat would put a gold star on the day for me.
Now, to the doctor rant... As I was leaving the restaurant (Chinese buffet, destroyed the cream cheese puffs, peanut butter chicken, and a mongolian plate) about 30 minutes later I felt an itch on my cheek which turned out to be blood dripping down the side of my face. My first thoughts were "oh, probably from the ear pressure nothing to worry about" or "DAMN, W-T-F did they put into the sesame chicken today?!!?!?". After waking up this morning with blood on the pillow it finally stopped without the aid of a panty liner with wings.
I did call in to the doctor's office and was told only to stuff some cotton as it will stop after a few hours (it didn't stop till this morning as I was up almost all night due to this water-swishing feeling in my ear that disrupted my normal dream about a high school friend who recently found me on Facebook and we were going to shoot a round of golf with Judy Garland at DisneyWorld). Writing this down Freud?
When I inquired about what could have caused this as my ear has not bleed since the surgery nearly 15 years ago, I got no answer. *sigh*
Since I'm fairly sure there will be blood scrapping for my next office visit on Wednesday, I would have rather not endured another round with that pick tray shown above as my dreams may go from Wizard of Oz to Hostel for the next week.
Will someone hold my hand and hand me a lemon flavored lollipop and take me to Dairy Queen for a chocolate dipped cone with sprinkles when the big, bad doctor is done? Thanks.
---
On a pokery note:
I read this article at Yahoo this morning. It seems our new president may get a glance at the midnight rule enforcing the UIGEA afterall. This is a good test to see if promises of being more stringent towards bad policies/laws that people do not want and didn't ask for will be fulfilled. At least talking about these midnight rules so quickly is a huge step in the right direction.
Again, will action follow-up the talk? That's the barrier that needs to come down before Americans will dive into "change". Look under "technology" here and our little special interest is #3 on the list (as of yesterday)
Friday, April 04, 2008
Battle of the UIGEA
If you're even just an avid online poker player, make sure you're following the UIGEA discussions that are bounding around the internets.
Otis once again is leading the charge with a great live blog/discussion and here are a few more links below:
PokerNews.com
PokerPlayersAlliance.com
Cardplayer.com
Several of the testimonies are found at YouTube, like this one from Harriet May and our biggest supporter Barney Frank
Edit: Oh Captain pointed out an excellent recap of the proceedings (which after watching most of the videos makes more sense now) Thank you Short Stacked!
Otis once again is leading the charge with a great live blog/discussion and here are a few more links below:
PokerNews.com
PokerPlayersAlliance.com
Cardplayer.com
Several of the testimonies are found at YouTube, like this one from Harriet May and our biggest supporter Barney Frank
Edit: Oh Captain pointed out an excellent recap of the proceedings (which after watching most of the videos makes more sense now) Thank you Short Stacked!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
I'll Take Whatawinner In the 8th For $20 WPS
Being very green to the political arena... do Reps really push this sort of narrow-minded crap thru the legislative halls? Tubing and beer go hand-in-hand, luckily the best tubing in the area is on the Apple River in Wisconsin away from nanny attempts such as the ones included in that posting.
Sound familiar?
Ok, no more woe is online poker posting, I'll leave those stories at my other blog. Speaking of which, I did manage a short Omaha think-tank type post last night if you're into the four card game. You can check it out here.
Like many others, work is kicking my ass so I'm cutting this short and without any pretty metaphors to describe my new found addiction. American Idol. I have much hate for those who turned me and the wife towards watching that damn show. Feel free to give yourselves a wedgie or something. (I think the barefoot dude and Indian kid are going to get the boot)
Thanks for dropping by, now Gary Carson provides an excellent arguement about how a carve-out for online poker doesn't help anything because the payment processor issues would still persist. My counter-arguement is... what wouldn't the same processors currently used by LEGAL online wagering sites such as YouBet.com be used by the poker sites (which are correctly noted as still legal despite the UIGEA). Which he responded to, excellent thought process.
Speaking about horsey wagering... one of my favorite jockeys at Canterbury has been barred from Tampa Bay Downs for unspecified reasons and is finally getting back to work recently at Hawthorne and will hopefully be returning to Canterbury this summer. BG, did you hear about this?
Sound familiar?
Ok, no more woe is online poker posting, I'll leave those stories at my other blog. Speaking of which, I did manage a short Omaha think-tank type post last night if you're into the four card game. You can check it out here.
Like many others, work is kicking my ass so I'm cutting this short and without any pretty metaphors to describe my new found addiction. American Idol. I have much hate for those who turned me and the wife towards watching that damn show. Feel free to give yourselves a wedgie or something. (I think the barefoot dude and Indian kid are going to get the boot)
Thanks for dropping by, now Gary Carson provides an excellent arguement about how a carve-out for online poker doesn't help anything because the payment processor issues would still persist. My counter-arguement is... what wouldn't the same processors currently used by LEGAL online wagering sites such as YouBet.com be used by the poker sites (which are correctly noted as still legal despite the UIGEA). Which he responded to, excellent thought process.
Speaking about horsey wagering... one of my favorite jockeys at Canterbury has been barred from Tampa Bay Downs for unspecified reasons and is finally getting back to work recently at Hawthorne and will hopefully be returning to Canterbury this summer. BG, did you hear about this?
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