Without Fear

I'm sure a dream interpreter would have a field day with this one:


I was driving along a quiet country road when i came to a T-intersection. I wasn’t sure whether to turn left or right but quickly decided to turn left and started heading north. I then realised i was heading in the wrong direction and made a u-turn. Soon after passing the intersection i came across a beautiful spot near the top of the mountain. There was a large flowing river with aqua-marine coloured water flowing down the mountain. I could see the road was slow and winding down the mountain so i decide to leave the car behind and dive into the river.

As a lay in the water floating down the river it occurred to me the water was getting faster and rougher and it was likely there would be a waterfall up ahead. I could hear a sound in the distance that made me quite sure this was the case. I had plenty of time to get out but then figured “its only a dream, lets have some fun – if I die I’ll just wake up with a bit of a start”. You know that uncomfortable, disoriented feeling you get if you die in a dream...

Shortly afterwards, the pace quickened then i found myself dropping over a massive waterfall. Strangely, there was no sense of falling or any fear at all. Eventually I hit the water below and sunk quickly to the bottom from the speed of the drop. I then looked up at the surface and pushed off towards the substantial distance to the surface. I recall regretting not taking a large breath before hitting the water and it would going to be touch and go but i made it to the surface with a second to spare. I struggled to the shore and collapsed trying to catch my breath. I was aware of people walking by and probably wondering what the hell i was doing. I fond myself giggling at the insanity but pure thrill of what I’d done.

When i eventually recovered i started jogging back up the path to the top of the mountain to retrieve my car. After some time i got to where I’d left the car and noticed a parking ticket on the windscreen. I laughed at seeing this as i didn’t expect I’d be returning to the car after going over the waterfall.

"It's just a matter of what card's you choose to deal me today."

Wrote the feem tune. Sang the feem tune.

Seventeen years of age.

I was hypnotized too

Cognitive Dissonance much

Loved this post on a forum. The final sentence made me smile.

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Syborfical writes...

"Since his dead is evil gone from the world now?"

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TheAnonymouse writes...

From my perspective, with all the celebraions and the reveling in revenge. There is more evil than there was.

Perhaps he could be called evil, perhaps he was.
Perhaps we were fed information, and having no personal experince in the matter we concluded so.
Perhaps he should not of been killed, perhaps it is better he has been.
Perhaps it is a time for celebration, Perhaps it is a time for mourning.
Perhaps he was fighting in the name of freedom, Perhaps he has inspired many.
Perhaps revenge is just, Perhaps it is not.
Perhaps celebrating ones death, gives us a opportunity to see what we truly value.
Perhaps i am conflicted and confused, Perhaps i dont understand completly.
Perhaps i should entertain the thought my views could be wrong. merely for the sake of objectivity

Currently i have a severe case of cognitive dissonance
http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/cognitive_dissonance.htm

Not sure where my mind will settle on this, There are many perspectives, right or wrong really does not matter it is all too subjective. In my mind i imagine this thru 3 peoples eyes, One celebrating, one mourning and one trying to understand why the other 2 feel this way.

A night devoid of stars

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that"
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Party...?

It seems any site that isn't one of the big three is clambering to sign up the expected exodus of players from these sites.

I just signed up for the $50 free (no deposit) from Party Poker. Looks like i get $25 for signing up then another $25 if i clear some FPP's. The interface looks pretty horrible but hopefully i can customize it a little

Registration successful

Congratulations,

We will now verify your details – this process will take about 72 hours.

If your application is successful you will receive $25 direct to your PartyPoker account. PokerNews will contact you if further information is required.

To release the additional $25, simply earn 200 PartyPoker Points within 45 days of the first cash transfer.

Be sure to check your spam filter and add free50@pokernews.com to your safe list.

Thanks & good luck at the tables.

State of play

888.com

These guys offer an $8 sign-up without a deposit required. Could be fun to try and grind it into a bankroll.

http://www.888poker.com/promotions/real-poker.htm

Stars is still business as usual. Unfortunately my bankroll is $3.50 there. :/

Full Tilt is down. I hope they don't go under as I built a nice bankroll there playing Rush. Apparently their I.T stuffed up royally:

Full Tilt messed up. Their software update application will not work with the redirection of fulltiltpoker.com to the FBI. Thus, anyone, in the US or otherwise, who has the updated DNS settings, will get a failure when attempting to get the update.
Those that get the update will notice that if they go to fulltiltpoker.com, they still get the normal website.
Full Tilt is now completely screwed because they can no longer issue software updates.

I did read that it's still possible to update the client via the U.K. website which I plan to try.


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Update: Yep, downloaded the FTP client from the U.K and could log in.

Fear and Liquidity

In the shit-storm that's gathering momentum at the moment, consider this. If you add up all the bankrolls held online by Stars, Tilt and AP - do you think these unregulated companies have this amount of money sitting idly in bank accounts? Or can we assume a significant amount is invested and earning the owners a healthy return.

And if their customers go into a mad panic and all try to withdraw their money at the same time, how long before the cheques bounce...?

When you're beat, you're beat.

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players

DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter



MP2: $25.00

CO: $118.07

BTN: $27.56

SB: $3.52

Hero (BB): $24.90

UTG: $26.10

UTG+1: $58.36

UTG+2: $24.61

MP1: $27.48



Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with Q Q

4 folds, MP2 raises to $0.75, 2 folds, SB calls $0.65, Hero raises to $3.50, 1 fold, SB calls $2.75



Flop: ($7.75) J 2 5 (2 players)

SB bets $0.02 all in, Hero folds



Final Pot: $7.75

SB wins $7.37

(Rake: $0.38)

Pushing it uphill

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players

DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter



CO: $32.20

BTN: $10.00

SB: $29.79

BB: $18.18

UTG: $26.67

UTG+1: $18.37

UTG+2: $27.36

MP1: $8.40

Hero (MP2): $24.40



Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP2 with Q T

4 folds, Hero raises to $0.85, CO calls $0.85, 2 folds, BB calls $0.60



Flop: ($2.65) Q A 4 (3 players)

BB checks, Hero bets $1.50, CO folds, BB raises to $4, Hero raises to $23.55 all in, BB calls $13.33 all in



Turn: ($37.31) J (2 players - 2 are all in)



River: ($37.31) K (2 players - 2 are all in)



Final Pot: $37.31

BB shows Q A (two pair, Aces and Queens)

Hero shows Q T (a flush, Ace high)

Hero wins $35.45

(Rake: $1.86)





board: As Qd 4s
Hand Equity Wins Ties
Qs Ts 34.85% 345 0
Ac Qc 65.15% 645 0

Two sets - both checked down

FFull Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players

DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter



BB: $55.29

Hero (UTG): $24.15

UTG+1: $41.37

UTG+2: $39.17

MP1: $32.65

MP2: $23.96

CO: $19.92

BTN: $49.50

SB: $11.20



Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG with 7 7

Hero raises to $0.75, 2 folds, MP1 calls $0.75, 5 folds



Flop: ($1.85) 6 7 T (2 players)

Hero checks, MP1 checks



Turn: ($1.85) K (2 players)

Hero checks, MP1 checks



River: ($1.85) 3 (2 players)

Hero checks, MP1 checks



Final Pot: $1.85

Hero shows 7 7 (three of a kind, Sevens)

MP1 shows T T (three of a kind, Tens)

MP1 wins $1.76

(Rake: $0.09)




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Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players

DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter



UTG: $10.00

UTG+1: $119.15

UTG+2: $24.67

MP1: $38.41

MP2: $43.09

Hero (CO): $28.53

BTN: $26.82

SB: $28.44

BB: $26.05



Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with T T

1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $0.75, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.75, 3 folds



Flop: ($1.85) J T Q (2 players)

UTG+1 bets $1.25, Hero calls $1.25



Turn: ($4.35) 2 (2 players)

UTG+1 checks, Hero checks



River: ($4.35) 3 (2 players)

UTG+1 checks, Hero checks



Final Pot: $4.35

UTG+1 shows 8 8 (a pair of Eights)

Hero shows T T (three of a kind, Tens)

Hero wins $4.14

(Rake: $0.21)

Dead Bullfrog

i laughed until i wept. My girlfriend thought i was insane.

My favouite book

When i was at school they had a 'compulsory' 10 minute reading class before the usual 9am lessons started. You were free to bring any book but everyone had to be silent and read for that 10 minutes.

I chose a particularly large book that took the best part of the year to finish. It was a book about God and Satan. About good and evil. About faith. About prophets and devils. About the end of the world. About holy pilgrimages and our failings as humans.

And now it would appear its being made into a movie:

http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/02/01/stephen-kings-the-stand-movie-in-development/

Mother Nature?

This monster is about to hit Queensland. All but a few weeks after a 1 in 100 year flood hit the region hard.



When experts from the weather bureau say "Cyclone Yasi 'more life threatening than any experienced in recent generations" - there's some cause for alarm.

You have my prayers Maroons.



FG

Voyage in art with Brian Badonde

Best laugh I've had in some time:



Interestingly, the guy behind this show is also in the movie Four Lions which i saw recently. It's a light-hearted comedy about some young muslims who decide to become suicide bombers.

I kid you not.

Muhammad and me

This year has and will be a year of milestones for me. A few weeks ago i turned the ripe old age of 40. Sometime during the year the plan is to get married to my partner of almost two years. And given that her parents are strict Muslims, it's been discussed (and for the most part agreed) that I'll convert to Islam.

For me personally, religion plays little to no part in my life to this point - so there's little sacrifice. The reason for converting is simply so my future parents-in-law will accept the wedding and more importantly, make the whole process so much simpler for my future wife. Of course, before making the final leap there's some due diligence to be done and I thought it might be interesting to blog about my discoveries along the way. Some I already knew, others I've found very surprising.

The most obvious issue will be my main past-time, hobby and love which is poker. I've already looked into this and there's no escaping that's its simply not kosher. Perhaps if they have a catholic style confessional i can beat a well worn path behind the curtain.

More to come.



Muhammad Bin Gump

Australia Day

Today is Australia Day and apparently it celebrates the arrival of the first fleet of settlers not so long ago. Some aboriginals prefer to call it 'Invasion Day'. Unlike the natives of New Zealand, Australian history was pretty dark and we tend to not discuss the poisoning of water holes or removing children from parents to give them a better life. Our recently disposed prime minister offered a formal apology which while symbolic and overdue, hopefully was the first steps to better relations with our original land owners.

On a lighter note, nothing describes current Australia like Paul Kelly singing how to make gravy.

Quick poker update

I played the grand sum of two tournament these last few months and zero cash games. This is mainly due to some study I've needed to do for work to get a certification. The exam is a bitch and i needed to memorize all sorts of facts and figures which i plan to forget straight after the exam.

One tournament was $10 27 player table Full Tilt before Christmas and i finished 2nd. The table was oddly weak/tight and i monstered them on the bubble and in late position. Second hand of HU i 3bet jammed with 44 and he snap called with A8. We were in fact pretty deep and i was getting comfortable for quite the battle. That's poker.

Also played a live freeroll on the weekend. The kitty was $1500 with $500 for first and the venue was a 5 minute walk from my place. Unfortunately, only the top 6 got payed and around 160 punters turned up. When i saw the payouts, i decided to either bust early or get the chip lead. This hand was particularly enjoyable:

I raised from UTG+1 with T8s (one of my favourite hands). An active player on the button 3 bets me. I should note we're playing pretty deep (for a free tournament) with 5000 chips and the blinds 25/50. I snap called and the flop came J8x for a pair and gutterball. I check-raised jammed the flop and he snap called with his AA. I binked the ten on the next pull much to the chagrin of the table. I made it to the last few tables before getting completely coolered. Some guy limped with KK from UTG. I turned my flush on the turn with JQs. Only problem was the flop was K77. That's also poker.

Tournaments have always been my thing but i just hate being tied down for extended period of time. The plan for this year is the find the 'fun' in poker again. As i love the social aspect of live play it will likely revolve around this.


FG

PS Phil Ivey is on the front of the main stream newspaper here for the Aussie Millions. Very surprising.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/champ-stands-alone-in-the-ivey-league-of-poker-players-20110123-1a1a4.html