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