Go outside and do something…

March 29, 2008

Poker is often an ‘all consuming’ project.  We forget to eat.  We forget to drink.  We forget to take care of basic hygiene for 20+ hours at a time….it’s a rather unhealthy lifestyle.

You have to take breaks from the game, and make yourself do something else.  For those of us that are winning players it often feels as though we are ‘losing money’ everytime we aren’t playing.  And in some sense, we are…there is an opportunity cost related to not playing poker over a given time.  If you make 10bb/100 hands and you miss 2000 hands that day, well you just cost yourself 200bb in equity. 

In my opinion, there is a more important perspective: the opportunity cost of life.  I meet a lot of young, well off kids, who have done extremely well playing online poker – but at what cost?  And what cost moving forward? Some have spent their entire college time, chained to their computer to grind out MTTs or SNGs or whatever…I think that’s sad.  Go outside, meet some girls, drink a few beers, go snowboarding, paint a picture, go on a hike – whatever it is that you like doing, do it.  Time is short, and you won’t be young forever.  If you are good enough to make money online, you will always be able to make a little money doing something, somewhere along the line.  So don’t let the money chase be your downfall.

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ART

March 28, 2008

sometimes referred to as graffiti or tags…this came by way of the Upper Playground (SF), produced by Choe and Saber in the U.K. and I felt a compelling need to share:

I especially like the ‘billies’ in the photo.


Spring Sale!

March 26, 2008

What’s up blog land?  We’ve got some exciting stuff happening in the PROP world, but the most exciting to you at the immediate moment is our current sale prices!  We have shirts starting at $10!!  Hats only $15!!  Hoodies from $25!! And dealer buttons from $3!!  Good Luck: http://shop.propclothing.com 


Quote of the Day – Andy Warhol

March 24, 2008

“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 min.” – Andy Warhol

 


Broke Again? Busto?

March 24, 2008

 

Here’s a good take on bankroll management from some poker guy referred to as kid poker:

Playing poker for a living can be a very unstable profession. Unexpected things happen all the time that can cut into your playing bankroll, leaving you shorter than you’d like – anything from an untimely losing streak to car repairs. You shouldn’t be ashamed of an untimely losing streak. Again, you aren’t the first person it’s happened to, and you surely won’t be the last. So, what can you do to protect yourself from going broke? It’s simple, yet not so simple.When I see a pro who regularly plays, say, $30-$60 playing $15-$30, I don’t look at him negatively. In fact, I’m proud of him! Swallowing your pride in order to make the right decisions can be very difficult if your ego is your decision-maker. Rather than the pro risking going broke in a $30-$60 game, he gives up a little bit of profit until he has a comfortable enough bankroll to return to that limit.
Of course, while he’s sitting in that $15-$30 game, he’s bound to hear, “Why are you playing $15-$30” about 100 times. He has more than a few ways to answer that question. “I’m kinda tired today” … “I’m leaving soon” … “Been runnin’ bad, trying to build my confidence” … “This game is really good” … yada, yada, yada. Then, of course, there’s the truth: “I just can’t afford it right now.”

Whichever way you choose to answer this question is irrelevant – it’s really nobody’s business but yours. If you feel more comfortable with an excuse, go ahead and be creative! The bottom line is that you’ll be smarter than the others who are playing $30-$60 with their last remaining rack. They’re hoping they’ll have a lucky day and won’t go broke.

Now, I was lucky that the players in my game were very understanding, but that won’t always be the case for you. There are many people out there who are just waiting for you to fail so that they can laugh at you. Try not to pay too much attention to them; they obviously have some serious “issues” if they are obsessed with your results. Just keep your head up and work hard, and before you know it, you’ll be back in the game you belong in. Oh, and don’t be that guy who makes fun of other people’s misfortunes. You may think that it could never happen to you, but that is just naive.


Confessions of a Casino Pit Boss

March 14, 2008

From an article found on msn.com:

The House Edge:This advantage is called the house edge and ensures that the casinos stay in business. They aren’t cheating; they’ll lose their license if they rip you off. But there are plenty of legal ways they can get you to stop paying attention to your bet.

Skip the free vodka
In gambling jargon, a fish is an easy mark, and there’s a reason casinos try to make you drink like one. Also, be wary if a casino starts offering you other freebies, especially after you’ve won a lot. The casino owners are going to do whatever they can to keep you there so they can win their money back.

Time stands still
Casinos spend millions studying psychology and what motivates us to take risks. That’s why you see so much red, especially on slot machines — red supposedly attracts players and gets them to think of victory…

Chips vs. cash
The inventor of chips was a genius. Plopping down a stack of $100 chips isn’t nearly as painful as putting down a wad of $100 bills….

Know the rules
I’ll never forget the loser who ran up to one of my tables, lost $100, and then asked me, “What’s the name of this game again?”

Complete article available here


Prostitution – a victimless crime?

March 13, 2008

 

I heard on the radio this morning that prostitution is ‘a victimless crime’…and I think it’s an interesting discussion point.

Certainly the two immediate participants (i.e. Spitzer and his escort, or more generally whoever) are not victims.  One person is willingly paying upwards of $4k for a good time, the other is willingly accepting the $4k an hour to provide a good time.  On it’s surface, it appears to be a perfectly legit transaction.

No doubt there are questions of morality at this point, but it is not up to the provider of the service (i.e. the escort) to impart judgement.  She is merely filling a need in the marketplace.  The buyer in this case bears the burden of judgement.  Let’s say the person is a socially awkward computer geek recluse, who is rather successful financially, but has not been able to find a woman who will date him.  In this case, is it wrong for him to pay for a ‘girlfriend like experience’?  However, if you are a married man, with children, and you choose to participate in this transaction….is it wrong then?  Most people would probably say yes, and that is because they are weighing in on their morality, the sanctatity of marriage, religious implications, right v. wrong, whatever…

So who ultimately is the victim?  The wife and kids?  Just the kids?  Some would argue the wife can play a role in the husbands interests wandering…perhaps she is neglictful at home, doesn’t understand her husbands needs, or just has a completely disfunctional relationship.  If the wife is aware of such behavior, but is willing to look the other way due to her need to maintain her current lifestyle, then is she still a victim?

Clearly there are a lot of grey areas – In spitzer’s case – he was a very public official, who happened to be very outspoken on prostitution rings, so he got what he deserved for being two faced.  Historically, since the caveman days, and throughout the animal kingdom, monagamy among males is rare.  But, many would argue that’s what makes modern civilization special, justifies the sanctatity of marriage, I don’t know…

Obviously there is a big market for these services out there, anyone who has walked around the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas @ 3am will testify to the large supply of woman looking to provide aforementioned experience.

At the end of the day….does the government have a say in all of this?  Should it be illegal?  If so, on what grounds?  Since our democracy is supposed to operate within a separation of church and state how can you impart a religious morality into the legislation?


Massive Ski Cliff Jump

March 10, 2008

words cannot describe…Jamie Pierre is one bad mother f’cker!


The Big Apple – What to do?

March 10, 2008

PROP @ 59th

The city that never sleeps is truly a unique place.  I just got back from a little siesta over there and we had a great time.  Thing’s I recommend:

– Walk around Central Park, get a hotdog from the seediest cart you can find, and if it’s cold a hot chocolate from one of the main stands they have.

– Shop in Soho – lots of great style there.  Go to Union – buy something from the Hundreds (or go to LA and buy it there)

– Eat a cupcake in Greenwich Village – I don’t know what the big deal is, a cupcake is a cupcake to me, but girls seem to like ’em – Magnolia Bakery – at least they were playing Bob Marley while I stood in line for an hour.

– Get some culture in the Lower East Side – learn about immigration and some history @ the Tenament Museum.

– Guggenheim or Met

– Go to the Top of the Rock and give a shout out to Kanye, then go ice skating down below in Rockefellar Center.

– Eat Mac ‘n Cheese @ Supermac in Chelsea – Buffalo’s Revenge – tasty

– Place PROP Stickers everywhere

– Eat dinner @ 41 Greenwich – small and fun with reasonably priced food that was delicious.

We stayed at ‘6 Columbus’ in Columbus Circle – a nice boutique hotel, kind of expensive, but modern/cool.  Only complaint would be the somewhat noisy opening/closing of doors on our floor (especially in the morning). 


Thought of the Day

March 6, 2008

‘To live outside the law, you must be honest.” – Bob Dylan


THAT’S POKER.CA

March 5, 2008

Check out our newest wholesale partner: THAT’S POKER.CA based out of Prince George, British Columbia.  They have a cool shop selling everything from clothing to tables, and even host a poker game or two if you catch them on a good night. 

They carry the full line of PROP gear, so if you don’t want to pay $15 international shipping, or just want to check the gear out in person, drive up to B.C. and say what’s up to Jay who own’s the place.

Address:

1222 3rd ave. Prince George, BC. V2L 3E7.


Taxes – Blah

March 5, 2008

So, as of 3/4/08, any live tournament you win in excess of $5,000 will be reported to the IRS by the casino.

The IRS will know just how much a player who won more than $5,000 actually won and will demand the player pay taxes on the winnings of 25 percent. If a player refuses to give the casino his tax information, then the casino must take 28 percent of the winnings for taxes.

IRS also reminds tournament winners that, by law, they must report all of their winnings on their federal income tax returns — regardless of the amount or whether they receive a Form W-2G or other form. IRS notes that this requirement applies for 2007, that it applied for earlier years, and that it will continue to apply even with the new law.

Since you can deduct your ‘gambling loses’ up to your win amounts, you may want to start keeping track of all your receipts (and loses) if you don’t already.  Hotels, food, cabs, all count toward gambling expenses.

I hate taxes, and will probably just pay someone in Haiti a few bucks to come up with a new identity.  GG me.