reading is catching on

I'm an educational snob.  I think we as a culture need to be as educated as possible.  So it pains me to say this, but i think this reading thing is getting out of control in the city of chicago.  in fact, its becoming a public safety hazard.

 

over the past few weeks, i have seen people walking around town reading and running into people.  it is worse than cell phone.  with a cell phone, people can generally walk and talk without hurting others.  people on their ipods can do the same.  maybe if books on tape become more popular, then chicago would be a safer city.

consumer tip #2: 900 N. Kingsbury Dry Cleaners

there is a dry cleaners in the 900 N. Kingsbury building. DO GO THERE. They
ruined my wife's wedding dress then tried to charge $200 to get back the ruined
dress.

consumer tip #1: DO NOT PATRONIZE EDDIE Zs

if you live in Chicago and are in the market for drapes, go someplace else.
you will agree to put down a deposit before installation and pay for the rest
after installation. right before they are installation, they will demand all
money immediately.

And if there is a problem don't try to get your money back with their no refund
policy.

The better business bureau should know about this unethicial behavior.

Fwd: PokerStars Blogger Championship - Error

picks of the weak

college football picks are back and back with a vengence.  Here are the first entry for this year.

 

2 units-- Duke (-2) vs. ECU

1 unit-- Rutgers(+1.5) vs. Illinois

1 unit-- Va. Tech (-5.5) vs. NC State

1 unit-- Uconn (-18) vs. Buffalo.

 

 

Some thoughts.  I hate being a homer, but Duke should win by 20 at least.  they finally have an experienced QB and stayed healthy in the off-season. With their good recruiting over the past two years, this is just a speed mismatch.

 

I like The Rut for the same reasons.  Zook will improve Illinois, but they just don't have anywhere near the team speed needed to compete on this level.

 

For Va Tech, I know alot of people think they are overrated  and I am even one of them.  But State just cant matchup.  Tech forces so many turnovers that they should win by at least 2 tuddies.

 

Finally, Uconn.  This is based on history.   Buffalo just never covers when a midlevel dog.

random thoughts

Some random thoughts

- Just found out that R. Kelly lives in my building. I guess that must be his
Rolls Royce on the 4th floor. Guess he is too poor to buy a deeded spot.

- Check out this story about a riot which happened when a school district sold
excess laptops for $50 each. While I feel sorry for those who were injured, I
feel even more sorry for the children in that school district. When the
administrators of your district don't understand rudimentary economics such
that they could set a revenue maximizing price, there is no hope for a quality
education http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050816/computer_frenzy.html

- I have a new favorite blog-- Former Susquhanna trader and poker dabbler
Jonathan Kaplans. Luckily, the blog is still small enough that the writer can
have a relationship with his readership . I like his mix between poker and
things not poker and his love of proper grammar and etymology.
http://www.livejournal.com/users/jonathankaplan/

People must be reading my blog.

Just found out that they will be making the smurfs into a movie, just as I had
predicted a few months back. However, the movie will be a CARTOON. While not
put great technical effects with real actors. that could really bring the
movie back to life.

In other news, I won another omaha 8 tourney the other night. I am really on a
roll. Now if only I could figure out how to play no limit holdem.

bet the turn

its just good advice.

NHL

while depsite hell not freezing over last year, there actually will be an NHL season next year.  however, NO INTERCONFERENCE PLAY.  What else is there for a chicago hockey fan (to clatify a hockey fan who lives in the city of Chicago) to do but wait for the Rangers, Flyers or Devils to come in town.

 

though nothing has been announced yet, i am still pretty sure there will be no blackhawks on local tv.

winning...

Finally won a big MTT touney online last week.  not a huge one or anything, but after many final tables its good to finally close the deal.  I was walking around on air for a few days.  which gets me to thinking, which is a bigger thing-- money or the winning.  After a cash games score for a similar amount, i dont have the same feeling.  I finally understand why people become tourney junkies.

 

Adding to the fun was that i knocked out russell rosenbloom and andrew park at the final table, a couple of more "big names"

 

 

yeah me

michelle wie....wow

looks like she will make the final 8 at the Publinx.  incredible for any 15 year old.  while she likely still won't win, she is doing something special.

 

I wonder which will happen sooner-- A repeat champion in the WSOP main event or a woman winning a major men's golf tourney.

 

 

all woman should read this...

great column by bill simmons the other day and all women should read to understand about mariah carey.  here is an excerpt.

 

(And speaking of Mariah, is anyone else excited about seeing her back in the limelight? For more than 10 years, she's been my kryptonite -- the one crazy female celebrity that just plain did it for me. Can't explain it. And nothing drives a woman crazier than hearing a guy say, "I think Mariah Carey is hot" -- you might as well just say that women shouldn't have the right to vote. She's the best. I will defend her lunatic sexiness to the death. By the way, do you think she looks at Whitney Houston now the same way Tom Hanks looks at Michael Keaton, like Whitney may have won the first few battles, but Mariah won the war? Me, too.)

this bears repeating

Aloha Airlines customer service is non-existant. Never fly them.

On a more positive note, my wife recently received a $50 gift certificate from
United after filling out a complaint card on our return from Hawaii. It shows
that whining really does pay.

an interesting question for you game theorists out there

For all you game theorists out there.

Here is a simple game with two players, A and B. A is given $1000 and is able
to split it between he and B any way he chooses. B has the option to accept or
reject the offer. If he accepts the offer, the money is divided according to
A's split. If B rejects the offer, both players get nothing.

At face value, this game isn't interesting if played one time. B should always
accept. However, if this game is played 1000 times. it gets more interesting.
What is A's optimal offer strategy? What is B's optimal strategy

WSOP update

halfway through the WSOP, I am in around 68thplace.  If no rankings were involved I would likely be much better.  By bottom five have been ripping it up.

 

Now, you must be saying, how did you pick Mike Matasow first and Helmuth second who have basically been complete duds to this point in time.  For 'the mouth" i like him for a couple reasons,  first he is likely overlooked and any points he has would give me  a big edge on the field.  Additionally, given the number of NLHE events, I wanted to have great players in the lower-entry events and Mike is the best Omaha 8 player in the world.

 

For Phil, he has cashed in more events than anyone else and figured he was hot after his heads-up win.

 

 

aloha airlines

I don't think i can say this enough.  Never ever fly aloha airlines.  Never.  Period.  No questions.

 

Normally, having watched the show Airline, I am against flying cheaper airlines.  I understand that you pay for certain things with a major carrier but there are some standards which are carriers must follow.

 

I won't even mention the smallest seats I have ever seen or the broken down plane or the cattle-herding boarding process.

 

However, I take serious issue with the luggage policy (or lack thereof).  When we arrived at the Honolulu airport, both Cheryl and I needed to check a bag each.  We put them next to each other as they scanned them for security.  However, when we get to Maui, only Cheryl's bag is there.

 

Then I make a big mistake.  I ask customer service about this.  Apparently the policy is, "wait a few flights" and see if they show up.   Since I checked my bag, I have a tracking number and bar code.  However, the surly agent explaned, "We don't scan bags".  So in other words, the is no point in having a tracking number, or anyone in the airport has more information on my bad than you do.  In an effort to curb the costs of air travel, I recommend the customer service agent's job as the first to go.   Additionally , with this gent's attitude, though polynesian, he probably didnt get the memo about Aloha attittude from the Hawaii department of tourism.

WSOP fantasy entry

WSOP Fantasy Entry. Comments to follow

1. Mike Matasow
2. Phil Hellmuth
3. Men The Master
4. Ram Vaswani
5. JOhn Juanda
6. TJ Cloutier
7. Allen Cunningham
8. Howard Lederer
9. Marcel Luske
10. Nick Frangos
11. Barry Greenstein
12. Todd Brunson
13. Daniel Negreanu
14. Phil Ivey
15. Layne FLack
16. Cindy Violette
17. Scott Fischman
18. Josh Arieh
19. Gavin Smith
20. Gabe Kaplan

back from hawaii...

and i hope it cured my blogstipation.  had a very relaxing time.  However, maybe it is just my corporate mindset but i feel guilty whenever I am away on vacation and not doing something.  thinking about the value of time being wasted.  oh well.  

 

Hawaii was quite nice, however, quite crowded at the same time.  When you go to Oahu to relax, you shouldn't have to plan your schedule around Honolulu traffic, yet it is an absolute necessity. 

 

Had alot of great meals in Hawaii, though even i got sick of fish by the end of it.  If I see macadamian nut crusted ahi tuna one more time on a menu, it will be too soon.

 

Aloha Airlines... this deserves a separate blog.  Needless to say, never fly them.

 

Customer Service... still lacking.  maybe this is a trend, maybe not.  I used to think that tourist heavy cities would have better customer service since there is more focus on it as a career.  In Honlulu, whenever we ate at a five-star place, the service was quite good, everywhere else it was quite bad.  Now living in this country nowdays, I have gotten to get used to it.  But what really distrurbed me is that th ebad service wasn't being given by a 23-year old snot nosed kid trying to find themselves, but by someone older-- someone I would have to guess was in customer service as a career.  Are standards falling that much, or is it a sign of falling standards.

 

At Roy's restaurant, one of the best places to eat in Honolulu rated by almost every travel brochure as well as recommendations, had horrible service.  Additionally, it took over an hour for our entrees to be served.  When we inquired why (actually Cheryl inquired as to save the manager's throat), he said "we had a large party ahead of your who backed on the kitchen.  Now, this might be a mildly passable excuse, however, THE RESTAURANT WAS LESS THAN HALF FULL.   God forbid the place is every full.  I think it was Dave Thomas who once said,  "A long line at a restaurant means one of two things-- really good food or really bad service).
 

The american legal system

after the michael jackson verdict, we did to add IQ tests to the jury selection
process.

Free Katie

check this out.

http://www.cafepress.com/mccam/628896

it seems like many people believe me when i say katie holmes and tom cruise are
a farce.