Iraq

This is a big time in Iraq. For the first time in hundreds of years, the
citizens of Iraq will take an active role in determining their own future
through election. While violence in some regions may reduce the turnout,
this is a monument event for these 22 million Iraqis.

However, the Iraqi election is big news in Chicago as well for a different
reason. Many Iraqis who left the country are registering to vote in these
election. This is happening in large cities across American and across
the world. This is just wrong. In fact, some political expert estimate
that between 20 and 40 percent of all votes cast in the Iraqi election
will be from outside the country. How is it possible for this population
to determine its own destiny if someone else is doing a large part of the
determining?

This is an issue where my beautiful intelligence fiancée disagree with me.
She believe that Iraqi dissidents, many of whom love their country, have
earned the right to vote. Additionally, these people are often more
qualified to make a choice for the good of the country than those who are
living there. Fair enough. I do not begrudge Iraqi-Americans because of
their decision to vote. If I was in their shows, I would probably vote as
well. However, my issue is that the new Iraqi Constitution gives them
this right at all.

When you leave a country to become a resident or citizen of another land,
regardless of reason, you give up certain rights. In some places, you
can't own land as a non-citizen, in many you can't hold public office and
in many countries like the US, you lose the right to vote. Its one of the
tough sacrifices you must make. Why is this? Its because in a true
republic, the governed and them only choose who governs them. And if the
leaders don't lead well, they are voted out of office in the next election.

By giving this right to vote to those who are living in the country, the
spirit of democracy in Iraq dies a little bit as well.

daily double

something I don't understand.

was walking downtown tonight and saw several police officers tooling
around the sideways on their little 2 wheel battery powered people movers
(not quite sure of the name). Maybe a waste of money but I understand
the purpose. Walked another few blocks and I saw a few police officers
on horseback.

hmmm

If you have police officers on their peoplemovers, why need horseback.
What is the value of a cop on a horse. Can he/she direct traffic from
it? Is this overweight horse going to catch anyone in a high speed chase.
Will the horse scare off criminals with his excrement?

Put all your money on the Pats

because I like the Steelers. the first game showed me how big home field advantege is and I like the Steelers.

btw, why on earth is a gawky 10 year old with marginal talent singing the national anthem for the NFC championship game. i blame everyone-- the team, the parents, television. This kid's voice cracked at least twice. I almost thought it was an American Idol outtake for a second. (which you cant go 2 minutes even within the game without seeing.)

one last try...

for NFL picks... there is a saying, if you believe that the underdogcan legitimately win a playoff game outright, pick them. I thinkthink the Falcons can win. The big winds will hurt the Eaglespassing game and the Falcons have the best D-line in football. Illtake atlanta and the six.

Name that tune...

does anyone know the name of the Black Eyed Peas song in the newBest
Buy commercial?

Hilary :(

The same week that G-Dub was inaugurations, the Hilary campaign planted
another flag in the ground in its effort to return the Clinton surname to
the White House. In this case, yesterday, Hilary made speech with a good
of religious leaders to talk about the important of faith-based education.
This from a card-carrying member of the ACLU. While I applaud the
sentiment, this is a 180 degree change from the positions Hilary has taken
since entering public. I've figured her election plan out.

step 1) Outfundraise all democratic contenders so that there is no
credible opposition in the primary
step 2) Move so far to the center that there is no difference in a
majority of her issues between her and a male moderate republican. That
leaves only one issue left-- she's a woman. If women's voting turnout
increases, then she thinks she can take the White House.

Let's take Thursday off

Monday was a much needed day off. Even two weeks into a new job, a day off is much appreciated. Even if I just sat at home and did nothing. However, I am a bit perturbed that I along with the rest of working Americans need to go into work Thursday.

Why is it that we get Martin Luther King Jr's birthday off but not a day for a Presidential inauguration. I don't want to take anything away from Dr. King. He is a true hero to all Americans because of the way he refused to cave to racism, bigotry and fear. Moreover, his birthday allows for a coming together for the black community.

However, I believe the Presidential inauguration should be a time for the entire country to come together. It is a day where we as a country can reflect on where we have been and where we are going as a country. In fact, in a very nonscientific poll among friends of other cultures, we are the only country which does not give a day off for the swearing in of our leader.

my strange addiction

its not what you think. well, granted i probably have too man y
vices in my life. I have a new one. I have spent at least 8 hours
this weekend on my laptop pursuing it. I believe that it will bring me
and my family significant incremental money over the next few years.
Even if it doesn't, I have having an enjoyable time doing it.

AND NO, ITS NOT ONLINE POKER.

its financial planning. Microsoft Money is my new addiction. I can
manage my money to the penny acroos categories. I can track
investment and spending. I can decide when my children will be born,
what their names are, and when they go to college. In fact, I can
tell you that little Pixley will be born in June of 2008. Enter
college in August of 2026 for $35,000 a year in inflation adjusted
money and be married in 2034.

Maybe it is my personality and my tendancy to try to find order in
everyday life. Either that, or the pie charts are just really cool.

note: I am not affilated with Microsoft in any way shape or form

note 2: I hereby announce my intention to enter the NFL draft.

Tilt

people have asked me, Mark why haven't you written anything about the new ESPN show yet. You play lots of poker, watch lots of tv, why not?

I'm not really sure what the answer is. I really don't know what to think. Its a drama series with lots of back stories which haven't really been explained in the first episode which make it a bit complicated. However, this could really be said of any good drama series.

However, the poker aspect of the show is horrible. For instance in the scene with the hand between the 12 year of girl. The other guy put $7K in on the bottom end of a 4 straight on the board. No legitimate player playing at that level would ever try to make that move. Addtionally, the level of corruption at the big table is also unrealistic as well. That just doesn't happen. I am not saying that there is never team play, but having the entire table involved is just not realistic.

Moreover, I have no idea why ESPN is jeopardizing its WSOP interests through this portrayal of poker players. Now, if they had presented this as a rounders-style beat the odds story of a group of young poker players, i think it would help the WSOP. However, this show which shows poker players as cheats can not help them at all.

On a side note, some of the message boards have made a big deal about Daniel Negreanu and TJ Cloutiers cameo appearance on the show. For once, I complete agree with the masses. I admire Daniel a great deal. I think he is personally responsible for much of the growth of poker and is one of the most accessible and personable people you will ever meet. However, he just fucked up on this one. He even admitted as much on his blog (http://www.fullcontactpoker.com/poker-journal.php?subaction=showfull&id=1105771749&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&) that he never read the script before he did his cameo. Hopefully, he will learn from this in the future and will not make the same mistake again.

wow

i didnt know my blog had this much readership. but when i blow a couple of playoff picks then there is comments galore. for those who have been reading for a while, you will know that my college picks are generally much better than my NFL ones.

road sweet road

look for 2 road winners todays. Randy Moss and the Vikings and
Payton and the Colts. Actually, i wouldnt be surprised if at least
one of the games is a blowout. The eagles havent played their first
team in a month and havent played well in alot longer than that.

The Pats will show up today with Corey Dillon having a big day. But
their lacks of DB play will doom them even with a winter storm warning
in Boston.

Sex... and not in a good way

saw a scary article on real clear politics about the sex market in cambodia. it says about 3/4 million young girls are sold each year in the sex industry.

In a related story, just finished up a great book "Adventure Capitalist talked about european women who like to go to africa for sex holidays. i wonder how frequent this is. kinda of scary. well, i guess this is woman's liberation in full force.

big congrats to my boy Joe Lang who cashed in the Pokerstars WPT
event. Not bad for your first major. Keep moving up the ladder today
Joe.

you heard it here first...

the vikings are going to the superbowl

accident

Cheryl got in a car accident today. in a taxicab. The cab ran a
red light and hit 2 cars and got hit by another. thankfully she is
ok. but i started to think about how lucky we are not get into more
of these.

For some reason when i get a cab, i feel like i am in a ride in the
amusement park. reality is suspended for a bit and you just are
amazed at the others around you. Guess this kinda breaks this image.

baby spears

now Brittnee's younger sister has her own show now to battle the
simpsons are least talented, most hyped sister combo.

some possible vegas lines

1) over/under time to boob job for baby spears: 1.5 years

2) over/under to first music album: 10 months

proposition bet (within the next year):

lesbian kiss with brittnee on stage: 9/1
dates someone from a boy band: 3/5
gets her own reality show: 5/1

i guarantee there will be more to come

it's time like these that i miss celebrity death match.

Things I don't understand

The sudden rise to prominence of Ashlee Simpson
The popularity of Ugg boots. They still look like cheap slippers to me
Why Jewish voters tend to vote for Democratic candidates, thought
Republicans have always had much better Israel policies
Why the person who takes your order in a restaurant is rarely the person
who servers you your food. Now, if there is a problem you know have to
track down the person who took your order while your misordered food gets
cold
Why anyone cares about Anna Nicole Smith

choose... and death is not an option

A) having to watch another season of Newlyweds

B) having to watch a full season of Ashlee Simpson's new reality show

dates have been set

my bachelor party will be in vegas the first weekend of march. anyone
and everyone is welcome to attend.

Snow sucks.....

But not as much as ashlee simpson.

Ocean's 12

There isn't a nice way to say this. This movie was a tremendous disappointment. Everything that was good about the first movie either wasn't in the second movie or was poorly executed. The snappy dialogue from 11 was nonexistent.

From the original, I probably quote 15 lines on a daily basis. I don't remember a single line from this one. In the original, the great thing about the movie was 60% of the movie was about the group pulling off a heist. In this movie, maybe 5 minutes are dedicated to it. Finally, the premise of this is not believable and the ending is one of the worst in movie history.

To spoil the movie for some of you (because i want to ensure you don't see it), it appears as if the group failed in its heist but then in a flashback you see how it really succeeded in a 1 minute sequence. The plot is completely unbelievable and i want my $7.50 back. (I am glad i went to the matinee or I would be $9 pissed.)

on a positive note, if you haven't seen it, go see Sideways. The best movie I have seen in the past couple of years. "Merlot, I am not drinking Merlot." If you like wine, or making fun or wine snobs, this movie is for you. For me, it is like Swingers goes to Napa Valley.

happy new year.