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| Live to eat or eat to live 11/29/09
Hi again, I just heard something that had to make me think... I was watching an old episode of the Biggest Loser, or Celebrity Fit Club, or something like that, and heard that question asked. "Do you live to eat, or do you eat to live?" That, actually rattled around my dear 'ol mind for a while, and it just came out the other end.
The question is a simple one. Food should, at it's base, be a substance to maintain life on this planet, something used to nuture and otherwise be a force to live life to it's fullest. The problem is, I guess way too many of us, when we finally take a look at it, live only to eat. Whether it be a love of our mothers and grandmothers' recipes and can't wait to get more of it, to having to stop and pick up a bite to eat no matter where we are, 24x7. A longtime person in the weight-loss business, Richard Simmons, recently retold a story about a lady he had at his Slimmons club that was only 5'2", but weighed in at over 300lbs, who couldn't stop cooking and eating the receipes that made her that way, even though she knows it caused her current condition.
So, next time you go out, remember are you eating to live, or living to eat? Have a great nite all.
Ups and Downs 11/21/09
Hello, there. Nice to see you with me for week #2 of fun via blog. This past week has been a roller coaster, starting with me feeling rather down on myself (see 9/14), to starting to take a look at life around me (and all of us for this matter).
To address some emails I have got in the past week.
1) Yes, the body still aches, but it comes and goes. There are times when it feels ok, and times that you go, oooh not good. (My blog, grammar, while kept to a decent standard, not 100% required to be perfect.) Right now, for instance, I'd say it's about 60%.
2) Why did I go off message? This is one I had a long time to think about, as I don't know that it is off message, but some people have thought so. I saw Wed-Fri's posts to be an extension of my original train of thought as to why I was writing this to begin with. However, it does seem some of you disagree on it, and have let me know. While I'll wish as many would like and take something from this, in the end it is for my "legalized insanity", borrowing the term from Robin, that this is for.
3) I will not address any emails that are negative and/or vulgur. I thought I addressed that before, but here it is again. When you go baring all, so to speak, there is always some who think it's their turn to feel better about themselves by attacking others. I will not go into that gutter, thanks.
Any questions you'd like answered, shoot 'em over and I'll take a look at them. Until next time...
Legalized Insanity? 11/18/09
Great comedian Robin Williams has been quoted on multiple occasions that the secret to his success as a comedian and actor has been the "legalized insanity" that he has, which has allowed him to make great movies such as Good Morning Vietnam, the Genie from Aladdin, and many others.
The only thing that crossed my mind when I was hearing the interview in which Robin referred to himself as such is, just how abnormal really is it? For example, a 2 ounce bag of popcorn has the thinking to list its "only" 150 calories per serving. How many servings might you say, are in the TWO OUNCE bag? According to them, THREE!!! That's right, that two ounce bag of popcorn has 450 calories in it!!! Dear, dear, are we all suffering from that legalized insanity? More conventional posts coming next time, I promise.
Where does it all end, or does it even ever end? 11/17/09
Hi again there, your intrepid writer trying to figure out, well anything, back along with you for another round. Today, I had an CNBC special on about the rise and life of McDonalds (yah, that can be a really loaded subject when it's comes to weight), but I'll leave the more long ranging questions for another time. What sparked my eyes, and thoughts, was their selections and how they had changed over the years. Fry sizes, soda cups, even the burgers themselves. Now, I'm not trying to single out them at all, as digging into Burger King and many other items (fast food and normal life), everything has, well, gone to borrow another McD's term, super sized. Most of my life, I didn't care to think about it, or to be more fair and honest with myself, didn't think much more than, ooh I can have more for just 30cents, how can I pass that up?
Everything we get offered today is well, larger. In our value driven society of today, everyone is looking for the next big bargin, the savings that'll squeeze another nickel not to be spent, without looking at the bigger picture. Taking an honest look at it on the keyboard here, I have gotta say I've been guilty on multiple occasions, while most of us, if honest, would have to say the same thing. Some folks might ask is it a bad thing, to have all of this "value" available? For the longest time I didn't think so, but what really is that King Sized Fries and Coke really costing you? Months? Years off our lives?
So, as most would say, what is the solution? Now, before I go down that road, no we don't need a "sweet tax" some are currently proposing. Simply stand up, be smart about what you choose for yourself and your family, and life will take care of itself. Dang, did I just write that.,. That last sentence can go for a lot of life, not just the battle of the bulge, so to speak.
Owww, my mind now hurts (actually a welcomed though compared to what my body has been doing, back with more conventional writings next time all.)
Pity, or saving three lives... What to choose 11/16/09
Yah, I'm back again, and starting to think this might turn into a daily thing. Yesterday the body for the most part actually was mostly in check, and a moment came to make me have another of those, ah, yah, thinking moments.
The place I work it held a blood drive today, and while the last time I had done so was fourteen years ago (1995), I decided as part of this whatever I am on, to do so and not to worry am I too big to do so and many many other thoughts one could put in one's way. So you might ask, did I get to do so? How did it go? Let's just say as I look at the sticker they gave you when you donated I am now one pint lighter than I was before. That sticker is actually the reason for the title above. The sticker states "One pint can save three lives". With that staring up at you (I've attached mine to the back of my work badge, it makes you think how one person, one action, one change can make a difference. If by doing one small blood donation you may indeed seriously change the entire life of someone else for the better is, well a big thing. To think, from the confines of the jail cell of my body I could still make a difference for someone else is actually rather, well, awesome. So since I was never one to wrap up a thought well, if you get the chance, get out and donate today :)
Now, in a personal line, when I wrote this, (as I joked earlier), I know when not running a promotion on this site, the readership is rather low, and therefore while posted to the internet, would likely remain more like a sounding wall instead of a twitter-filled expose. It does seem however, that the few who do lurk here have gone ahead and told others (which is fine) and have sent some emails in to me. Those, chuckle, have run the gauntlet from "Am I serious with my writings?", to "How could you let yourself get there?", to some things I won't retype here. Maybe in a future posting if this continues I might have to answer some of the mail here, but until then note I do read each and every message, the good, the bad, the quizzical, and the vile, no way to avoid it. And yes, if you ask for a response, I do reply to the messages, it's been it's own release so to speak. So until later, have a good nite (or day depending on when you are reading this).
Am I actually continuing to write? 11/15/09
Some normal folks who visit this site normally is going to be shocked to see back to back posts here, and I'm actually wondering about that myself as the fingers dance across the keyboard. What started as just a joggling thought in my mind for a few weeks and then went to a notepad document on the computer so I could tell myself I wrote it to actually publishing it for the world to see (all 5 or 6 of you) was a task in itself. Not physical mind you, but you get the drift. So I still ask myself why am I back?
We'll if we're going to do this, let me start at the beginning. My thought of today started at ouch, as this old body (and it is sad if you think about it (don't want to)) for a 31-yr old to refer to his own body as "this old body", but I digress. The gradual plummet of my life continues to go down, and I usually have a happy, cheerful demeanor no matter how bad the inside is, but towards the end of the day, it was starting to show. All it took was a remark from someone, don't remember who or the exact remark anymore, but it made me think, is there a real reason to continue on.
Later that day, youtubing (is that a word) and the like, came across an interesting tune to which I would like to share the lyrics with you on, but after searching online for nearly 20 minutes I have nothing. It's supposed to be the most common song for a music group to sing from the country in question, yet while I can find clips of people singing it, I can't find anything as to the actual lyrics. What I do have and what originally attracted it to me is an english translation of the main chorus of the song in question which goes:
Peace will come
It's on the way
it gets closer day by day
Peace will come
Combine that with the season premiere of the Biggest Loser last night and from the airlifting of a contestant who basically crawled over the finish line, to the line from the green team that she doesn't want to see death as that would be the easy way to exit the problems of life, the weight, and all of it.
Thinking of that and the song above makes you think that yes there has to somewhere be a way out, as they say your peace will come, it's on the way, getting closer day by day. Until next time.
So where do I begin? 11/14/09 Ok, so I know I haven't written one of these in a long while (looking at the one below, I'm starting to wonder if that is a pattern or not. How do I put this.... I just finished writing something that well, just flowed from my heart, mind, and well was a big release for me. I don't see, however it can do any good if I still keep it bottled up and nobody is ever able to hear it, so here I am, sharing to you all, my deep down dark secret. So, here it is... Hello, I am writing from the confines of my cell. You may ask what "cell" I am referring to, and that would be the one of my body. I weigh nearly 500 pounds and am 31 years old. I have never been thin, or anywhere near such, weighing 200 pounds at second grade, to which the school thought the way to help me get thin was to reward me for maintaining/losing weight by feeding me seconds at lunch. All throughout life, I've found myself restricted, segregated, and isolated within my own cell. Never being able to go out with a lady, never experiencing real joy, and just shuffling through life with a path that can only be described as why bother? Until late, while I was in my prison, I diluted myself believing I can still move normally, I don't have to walk with a crutch or cane, and as long as I can move my massive tomb, I was okay. However, my own crypt is making it obviously clear that is not going to be the case much longer, as my knee now hurts daily, my back occasionally aches, and the worst part of my day is split among the stairs I have to climb up to get to my work desk each morning at six and if I have to do physical work. Last weekend, I had to trim and lug tree branches to go to the dump, and it left me totally winded, and feeling like I had done a marathon, which is NOT what should happen. I hate to say it, but I have a bottle of cologne in my vehicle so I can spray myself with six sprays each morning before I go into work, as I know by the time the day is over I'll be sweating and have an odor, and without the spray in effect to counter it, I wouldn't pass in a business setting. A certain weight loss program is currently going about folks getting a second chance. I personally need a first chance to break free of my mortal bonds. To get a chance to live life like the rest of the world does. To not have everything pass me by and all I get to do is look in from the outside wondering what could be, what could have been as my coffin slips closer and closer to it's end, wondering what it would be to be, well somewhere (and someone) else. Thanks for letting me get this off my mind, as that seems anymore to be about the only thing still working in this inescapable torture some call life. I wish you all a great day, and thanks for letting me say what I needed to. Environmental concerns, real or just placated? 4/20/09 Okay, I know I haven't written in a while, due to not much actually catching my fancy. However, I am a fan of many gameshows out there, The Price is Right (TPiR) definitely being one of them. Drew Carey and company this season have found themselves to be doing a large batch of "themed" episodes during the season, and for them it has worked this season. The latest one to come out is one for Earth Day later this week. This is where our story begins. On a gameshow message board, someone from the right side of the isle (Republican, not necessarily right or wrong, just for clarifcation purposes) took offense to TPiR doing such a show, giving the following remarks. (Note for context of the remarks, the site is run by a announced liberal (again nothing wrong with it for the record), just so you know where this is all coming from. Where do I begin? The whole “carbon emissions” environmental/global warming thing is a political scam. Alex, I realize that you’re a liberal, but I’ll speak up anyway. I’m sick of being bashed over the head everywhere I go on this climate change business. Yes, the climate changes. It’s called the Weather. It always has changed; it always will. We’re still trying to recover from one of the coldest years on record. Global warming is BS and that’s why the environmental statists have changed the language to “climate change”. “Donations to help offset carbon emission” are simply a waste of money. It’s too bad that TPIR has jumped on the bandwagon of a political hoax. If TPIR really wanted to walk the walk, they would simply go black for the entire day and save money and, ahem, “lower their carbon footprint”. Everybody who flew to the show has already increased their so-called carbon footprint, so what’s the point? See how ridiculous this whole thing is? Style over substance. To which the site creator and poster of the TPiR announcement of the Earth Day episode replied (and nothing has been deleted, if your offended by swears, turn away now) Shut the fuck up. Increased CO2 emissions from humans since the Industrial Revolution have increased the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere, which increases the amount of heat that is retained when the natural greenhouse cycle takes is course. We’ve upset the natural balance our earth has, and the global mean temperature increase rate has jumped dramatically since 1955 to a degree not seen since they started tracking temperature. Granted, there isn’t enough evidence to say if global warming exists, but is it so bad for people to say, “Hey, we’re tired of fucking up the environment?" I want to know why you’re so against helping the environment. I have a tote bag I use instead of plastic bags for my groceries, and I keep the brightness lowered on my TV and my laptop. Am I a crazy left-wing liberal, or are you just an amazingly dense old-fashioned SUV-driving conservative douchebag? (Oh, and since I’m sure you’re one of those crazy right-wingers who love to quote the Bible, here’s something from Leviticus 25: “…the land shall keep a sabbath unto the Lord…in the seventh year shall be a sabbath for the Lord; thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.” In other words, we should conserve our natural resources. Straight from the hand of Fox News’s God.) To which I'd had to write a reply. Instead of re-writing it for this piece, I'm also copying my answer straight from the discussion. Once again, nothing has been added/removed, with the exception to differentiate between me and the original poster as both of our first names were the same. I have no problem with saving the enviroment, recycling and all the goodies (even introduced a recycling program into the place I work), but I do take offense with… –begin quote– Cory Anotado Said, Name removed to protect someone (innocence or guilt what matters not) - Yoda (ok changed this) Shut the fuck up. Increased CO2 emissions from humans since the Industrial Revolution have increased the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere, which increases the amount of heat that is retained when the natural greenhouse cycle takes is course. We’ve upset the natural balance our earth has, and the global mean temperature increase rate has jumped dramatically since 1955 to a degree not seen since they started tracking temperature. Granted, there isn’t enough evidence to say if global warming exists, but is it so bad for people to say, “Hey, we’re tired of fucking up the environment?” I want to know why you’re so against helping the environment. I have a tote bag I use instead of plastic bags for my groceries, and I keep the brightness lowered on my TV and my laptop. Am I a crazy left-wing liberal, or are you just an amazingly dense old-fashioned SUV-driving conservative douchebag? (Oh, and since I’m sure you’re one of those crazy right-wingers who love to quote the Bible, here’s something from Leviticus 25: “…the land shall keep a sabbath unto the Lord…in the seventh year shall be a sabbath for the Lord; thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.” In other words, we should conserve our natural resources. Straight from the hand of Fox News’s God.) –end quote– On so many many levels… first, Cory, must we lower ourselves to their level? Your response to his “enticement” looks like you had the evil Fox News write it up for you. So, in the vernacular of kids nowadays… Seriously Cory??? As for “Granted, there isn’t enough evidence to say if global warming exists, but is it so bad for people to say, “Hey, we’re tired of fucking up the environment?”, I have no problem with this at all. Washing out and using the same cup, instead of getting a new paper treated cup each and every time is perfectly fine. Also drop the dang pop bottle in the recycle bag which is what, 3 inches away from the garbage can is also perfectly fine. However, beating someone over the head with something is not the way to enact positive change to better the earth, our lives or theirs. And finally, about the “Shut the fuck up. Increased CO2 emissions from humans since the Industrial Revolution have increased the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere, which increases the amount of heat that is retained when the natural greenhouse cycle takes is course. We’ve upset the natural balance our earth has, and the global mean temperature increase rate has jumped dramatically since 1955 to a degree not seen since they started tracking temperature.” Where in the heck can I begin here. While yes, the industrial revolution did increase the gases being released, even scientists have not been able to conclusively agree that we are doing more harm than nature or any other items in this regard. It was even on the front cover of time during the time you mentioned that “the global mean temperature increase rate has jumped dramatically since 1955″ that they had their lead article talking about the troubles of what man was doing to the environment that would cause “Global Cooling”. Not my words, Time magazine and the environmental scientists of the day. Now, again I have no problem with helping the environment, reducing, reusing, recycling all a great thing, I do so and encourage all to do so when I see them. However, while you wanted to shut the kid up sight unseen, this kid does have a few points. The one I mentioned above is one he probably didn’t intend to make, but let’s mention the ones he did want to make. 1) Carbon offset credits. In theory, these are great. For when you make an environmental mistake, you atone for your mistake (maybe I should change that word, sounds biblical) by paying someone to plant a tree or something to balance your action. But I’d approximate a good 90% or more of the current “Carbon offset” companies out there are what he referred to as a big hoax, scam, just out there to make money on those of us who actually give a rats you know what about nature, the environment, and all that good jazz. 2) TPiR making an honest care to be environmentally friendly? Please. Most shows have more paper, electric bills, and what not to put the real environmental costs to shame. if Ed would be honest, he wouldn’t be caught DEAD near a TPiR set, or any set on CBS’s lot due to it’s environmental cost. So the kid is also right here, this is pure style over substance, it looks good to put a face on the day that should mean much more, but to most means next to absolutely nothing. As for the offsets, is TPiR carbon-neutraling all the contestants travel to and from the show for this day? Carbon neutraling the entire show? If so, okay this point would become a lil less valid, but I doubt it. if they do on Earth day, I’ll rescind this one. In summation, while I don’t agree with his slant, if you take a fair look at it, there are some valid points while we don’t always want to look towards, have to be fair if we EVER EXPECT them to be. Okay, getting off the soap box so I can recycle it. PS - Cory, how did you get to touch a bible to get that quote? I thought they said if any of us libs touched one of those our hands would burn off? Note: The "Ed" referred to is Ed Begley Jr. who is slated to appear in the episode. Okay, I was joking around a little on the PS, but everything else stands. Way too many individuals who want to claim they are all for the environment and "saving it", are in themselves deceiving themselves at best case, and trying to pull a major con-job on most of us in the worst case. Are there those who honestly give a total care about mother earth, nature and the environment? Yes, I do believe that. However, as in many things, if you have to come out and trumpet that fact, more than likely you ARE NOT ONE OF THEM. For example, Al Gore, creator of "An Inconvienant Truth", does he live by what his own work states? No. Examples here include flying all over the place on a private jet instead of by commercial plane or some other less polluting mode of transportation, and during the lights out hour, he wasn't even home and yet his lights were on. Nice way to help the environment and make an example Mr. Vice President, sir. If folks who preach the heck out of it can not even do it themselves, what right do they have expecting anyone else to follow. As the old saying goes, practice what you preach. Do I expect more to come of this. Probably, and if it does you can expect my fingers will take flight again. Until that time, have a great nite! The economy has gone to hell, but why does it seem we are just as lazy? 12/12/08
I started working at a new job back in October, and it has opened my eyes suprisingly to the outside world. Let me explain a little if you'll endulge me. I went to work on October 15th, my first day, and everything "seemed" right, but there was something out of place, I couldn't just put my finger on it (and no, it wasn't that our training class was being held in the cafeteria!). After a few days, it sunk in. That item that sunk in, you might ask is this. Where are the recycling boxes for the pop bottles and cans that come from the vending machines? It's something your used to seeing here in the state of Iowa, as there is a 5 cent return on all pop bottles and cans (with the exception of juice, coffee and water), and every employer I've worked for in the past had those boxes up, it was just a part of the decor in the building. However, for some reason, this place didn't seem to have them anywhere. I went searching out for them, far and wide, and only found one, sitting in the middle of one of call floors, about as far away from a pop machine as one could EVER get. So, as a wondering mind that I am, I started inquiring as to why my employer didn't seem to recycle. The answers I got were from "I don't know why..." to "We don't have a budget to recycle, so we don't. Maybe we will some day". This just satat me, like as my sister would say, seriously? So I figured if they didn't want to recycle, that didn't mean I couldn't. So I started my own little recycling drive on my own. Now, let me explain where I work we have four call floors for four different companies, each about as different from each other as a more motley group of companies could be. However, the one I was here to work for had a reputation of being enviromentally friendly and green, so I was still just shaking my head seeing none of the parent company's philosophy being put in place here. So, you might ask, can we speed this along? So, here we go. I set a personal recycling goal of 200,000 cans and/or bottled to be recycled from the center(s), saving them from the landfill where plastic would probably still be there after you, I and everyone reading this blog would be dead and buried. Also, with about 120 or so bottles filling a garbage bad they use here, 200,000 saved would save 1,667 bags of garbage the company wouldn't have to pay to be disposed of. In addition, it would give me a prize at the end of the horizon to stick this out. (Those who know me know Im a notorious quitter of a lot of stuff I start, it's a terrible habit I have, but I know it to be true). That 200,000 target would equate into $10,000 in cash, which would allow me to take my dream shot at the World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas, Nevada. I had always dreamed of being able to at least say I had my chance in the biggest game around, along side of Hellmuth, Daniel, Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson and all the stars of not only the poker world but of real life as well, as many celebrities of Hollywood also play in the event each year. This would also show the company, that $10,000 from doing something it considered to be a cost could be a benefit, not only from the value of the item(s) being recycled, but also from the savings of the garbage before mentioned, as well as the positive publicity of being green. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not as some would deem "an environmental wacko" or anything along those lines, but when something is rather easy to do, simple and non-time consuming to do, and only would have positive benefits all the way around, why in the heck NOT TO DO IT? So you might go, so good your eyes are open, but it doesn't end there. Since I've been doing this, we have a local Wal-Mart that has machines that you put the cans/bottles in, it takes and crushes them and then prints you a receipt to take to the cashier to get your money. Now, with the economy in such a downward trend and every day I hear how it is terrible out there, but when I go in to run the bottles from work, it shocks me to see how much is actually thrown away. While I could (and that would be a little 'could') see folks tossing stuff at work (pavlov's conditioning and what not), when it comes to the machines to redeem the cans and bottles being just about 6 inches away, to see as much if NOT more cans, bottles and glass bottles being thrown into the garbage cans at the Wal-Mart itself, is just well, shocking. Most folks, I can sit there, not say a word, watch them try a can ONCE and if the machine has any trouble at all take the entire bag and heave em in the garbage can?!?! Again, to use my sister's favorite word, like SERIOUSLY? Your already there, you spent the time to collect them at your house or whatever to bring them here, to then throw them away maybe for something as simple as entering them the wrong direction? (The machines scan for the barcodes of the products to know that they are recycled available items). It just makes me wonder, with so many folks saying they have to stretch so much more to make ends meet, to just toss cash into the garbage can? Makes you wonder, what is more important, money or convienance? Those without a home and/or a job already know the importance of them, as I see them every day collecting every spare can they can find on the street. Now, I'm not telling you to go outside and start hunting those spare cans/bottles down, but when you have them in your house, you bag them, you take them to the store to redeem, your going to heave them in the garbage can? I'll tell you what, next time just give me a call, I'll come by, save you from making a trip to throw them away and redeem them and add them to my 200,000 count. Okay, I'm done with this soap box, anyone want to recycle it by making a speech themselves? Have a good night. So what now? (and some Thanksgiving thoughts) 11/25/08
Alright, I've been on MySpace now for a few weeks, but I am now running into a new problem. What really is there to do? As my sister would say, like seriously. I started with MySpace due to the applications on here (namely Vampires) and while I do login still to bank, etc., it's losing it's appeal, and if we can be honest here, other than that, I don't see much other reason to be here. I have got to be missing the reason why sites like MySpace, FaceBook and the like are premiere destination spots on the net. Please someone feel free to enlighten me what I am missing, and to what the real drive/appeal of a site like MySpace is. Rolls eyes here, don't reply going "We'll you couldn't post your blog if you weren't here." Reason for that is I figured I'd try to immerse myself in the MySpace world, and if I'd want to blog I could do it on my own website, and have been for the last few months. Now, on the non MySpace world, it's Thanksgiving time, where everyone is to give thanks for the last year, enjoy time with friends and family and relax, even if it is only for a day.(Side note: doesn't it seem Thanksgiving gets pushed more and more out each year by wanting to start Christmas earlier and earlier? I swear if it wasn't for the candy companies manking so much at Halloween we'd have Christmas infringing there soon too.) I know some of you may feel it will be hard to come up with something to be thankful for this year with the economy in a talespin (thanks to the no-good government, from the top all the way thru Congress, nobody is immune from blame, no matter how they want to claim otherwise.) Simply step back, take a deep breath, and remember 99% of us in the states have it better than at least most of the rest of the world. We won the lotto, the location genetic lotto gang, to spring up here in the USA, instead of Thailand or Cameroon or some other locale. Okay, getting of the soap box, who knows, someone might need to wash some clothes. Come back soon, and we'll chat again. For now, I'm off to the blue yonder, who knows when I'll come back :)
So, for those who haven't guessed, yes this one I also wrote over at MySpace, and while it hits the point there, it can mean so much more. You might not think of what you normally do, sticking in the same rut day after day, whether you are a full time online player, or someone working a 9-5 job, coming home to read here and hit a few hours on the tables. You never go outside of your normal routine, never expanding on one's life, and one day you wake up to realize, "What the heck happened to me?" That's what I'm trying to do with this MySpace experiment. To see if breaking the rut can really help out, whether in poker or in life. Until next time, don't fall for drawing to that silly inside straight draw with one card to come. :)
My first blog (you might be scratching your head here) 11/17/08
The following blog post is a repost of my first blog post over at MySpace.com. Yes, you might be wondering how in the heck could I get involved with anything there, but bear with me, I know it's not poker related, but here you go.
Hello everyone, my first blog here at MySpace, and actually my first foray into the world known as MySpace. I had stayed away so long with all the bad news, "wives-tales" and the like that had gone around about the world known as MySpace, but I saw my sister (who has been with MySpace for quite a while now) playing an "App" called Vampires, and I was like, oooh that looks fun. So, I broke down, created a MySpace account, and immediately doved into Vampires. I can say as of right now, I'm higher ranked and have more in my clan than she does (and she doesn't like that!). I will be blogging from time to time about my life here at MySpace, and the world outside and beyond. The Apps a few folks have asked me why I had the ones I do, are for the following. Vampires - DUH! (The reason I came to MySpace originally, even though now there are so many great folks here :) )
Texas Hold'em - Those in Vampires know you actually get this as a Mission in the early levels, in which once complete you get a nice ability. However, for me it stays as I do play Texas Hold'em in real life (and online for cash) and it is a fun and good game. Bingo - This is for the show site I maintain for the GSN gameshow "Bingo America". Each day I update the numbers from the show, cards printed making a bingo with those numbers can win between $50 and $1,000 depending on the day the game is being played. You can visit that site at Myusapoker.com/bingoamerica.aspx. (Fixed from the original MySpace blog post) Flash Super Mario Bros - This is a hark to my classic game playing from the NES, Atari 2600, Intellivision, Genesis etc. Future blogs may dig more into this. I also click to make some nice money (while waiting for Energy/Rage to refill on Vampires) on PTC sites, info on that is available here. Well, for now, I'll let you to get back to MySpace. But stay tuned, more will be coming soon! CP
Until we talk again, stay away from those silly calls :)
The reply, or lack thereof. 11/8/08 Yes some people will notice this is being posted a week later, but it's due to the answer from the station. However, as some may guess from the title above, there really wasn't much of an answer given. The station manager's answer is posted below. Note, I have cut out information that idenifies his phone numbers, etc. from the post.
1) We don't have a "bias" against poker airing on KTIV.
2) NBC Affiliates have the right to run overnight programming at several available times, so it is not correct to say we aren't airing the program "where it is supposed to be."
3) You are correct that we don't have a master control person "live" in the control room in the early morning hours, which would explain why you might see some problems periodically if the automated system gains or loses time. We apologize for that.
I do give Mr Madsen credit for not providing what we are used to in the poker world as a cookie cutter form emails to our questions, I do seem some falacies in his logic, so off a second letter to Mr. Madsen went off my mail box. Enclosed below is that letter. Mr Madsen,
Yes I do consider this a non-cookie cutter reply, and one that is legitimate, well thought out, and well done. About contacting you personally, I don't know what that would be, but would love to do so in the near future. To address your points in the meantime:
1) It's subjective, so I'll let that go for now
2) Running network programming "off hours" is something I will have to defer at the present time, as I cant either prove or disprove that statement, but virutally every other NBC affiliate airs network programming when given by the network. To continue your answer, you are contending if you wanted to, air Leno at 1a instead of 10:30p, which I highly doubt would be acceptable in NBC's eyes.
3) I believe the automated system had troubles due to it was counting on the full hour of the show, and since you truncated the show, it was off cue to what was airing, which gave the NBC logo airing where local commercials should be, and then the local commercials going overtop of the live show afterwords.
However, regardless of how well thought out your reply was, you still didn't comment on the airing of local 10p news at 1a with Extra from 3:30p airing at 1:30a, where PAD (Poker After Dark) could air and be in synch with the rest of the NBC network, even with KTIV airing the local news previously at 2a. The other item you didn't touch was why is the automated computer off during Poker After Dark, but not off during "Up All Night" Leno afterwords, or Extra/Local before.
Until I hear from you or we talk live, have a good day Mr Madsen.
I honestly do not expect a reply, and actually was suprised I heard one the first time. However, I have been suprised before. More on this as it is available.
Is the local television station biased against poker? 11/1/08 Bear with me everyone, as today's edition is being written at about 3 am in the morning, but here we go. Below is a letter I wrote my local station manager of the local NBC affiliate, who airs Poker After Dark out of normal schedule from NBC. If I get a reply, I'll post that here as well. Dear Station Manager Dave Madsen:
I am writing to you on an issue that can not be overlooked anymore. Do you or someone at the studio have a bias against poker airing on KTIV? This question is due to your apparent distain and lack of regard for the programming offer "Poker After Dark" from NBC that airs, as it seems, rather reluctantly, on KTIV.
Now you may ask how do I come to such a conclusion. Fair enough let me setout some facts to backup the assertions in the preceeding paragraph.
Poker After Dark from NBC is slated to air at 2a E/ 1a C timeslot immediately following Later with Carson Daily during the weekdays, and at 1a E/midnight C on Saturday immediately following Saturday Night Live. I checked directly with the main NBC network for confirmation of this, and also referrenced how Omaha, NE's NBC affiliate handled the program, with the aforementioned network airing at a 1a C M-F and at Midnight C on Saturday. However, you have KTIV airing the program at 2a M-F and 1a on Saturday, allowing for a 10p repeat of the news and a re-run of the 3:30p Extra show prior to airing the program M-F, and then allow the 1 hr Extra weekend to air prior to airing the program on Saturday. Airing the program where it should be aired wouldn't hurt any of the current KTIV schedule, as before Poker After Dark began being offered by NBC, KTIV aired the 10p news repeat at 2a. If you wished to keep with re-running Extra as well, that could be done at 2:30a before handing the late night reigns back over to NBC as most midwestern affiliates do at 3a for NBC's "Up all night" feed reruns of Leno and Conan.
In addition, whenever the NBC schedule is off in any way, you always have KTIV use "Poker After Dark" as your buffer to get the affiliate back on schedule. As evidenced this morning, June 5th, when the Stanley Cup game pushed the schedule off, instead of shortening something like that already aired rerun of Extra (which had just aired less than 8 hours earlier), you took it out of Poker After Dark's time, leaving the show coming in right at, as the hostess said "Howard had the lead after hand one and hadn't reliquenished it, until that last hand. Now let's get back to the action." What hand??? Had you done correctly and had the show air correctly, we'd here in Siouxland would know, but no, we're left going "What happened???"
Finally, I sometimes swear you must not have a master control operator on staff during this time at night, as we get the "Swirling NBC logo" that airs, which from my past experiences is a place holder for local affiliates to place in their own local commercials, announcements, whatever they have. I'm waiting the logo right now as I type at 2:56a, and look, a new way for the NBC logo to be handled, with a flag at half-staff. Ok, so I digress. Furthering the belief you don't have a master control operator staffed at this time is that local commercials came in about 5-10 minutes later playing over the top of the program that had resumed, most likely the result of a mis-timed computer (or mechanical device) used to automate the proceedure. However, as KSCJ radio in town (who also suffers from this problem) the computer timer is off and cuts off the program. I have never see it cut off the news repeat nor the Extra repeat at 1:30a, and also have seen it cut off the Leno/Conan repeats after Poker After Dark.
So I come back to my first question at the top of this letter. Do you or someone at the studio have a bias against airing poker on KTIV? I honestly don't expect a legitimate reply, as I probably will only get a cookie cutter reply from someone writing for you, but yet I write, hoping somewhere, somehow this may not fall on the compost heap and actually may help faciliate positive changes.
Thank you for your time reading this, and have a great day.
Chris Parsley
Sioux City, IA Again, if anything happens, I'll post it here! A REAL rant... not about poker for once (or is it) - 10/16/08 While I was trying to get some of my links working on the site (note my formatting on the Bingo America section.... I came across what can only be described as pure, unadulterated anger as the simple program (in this case Office Live) didn't/wouldn't work as it should in placing simple HTML text in a page and letting it flow as smooth as silk, as the old saying goes. However, and I guess it is the choice of the writer on how things go, I was also in a tourney at Bugsy (I love that place, where else can 2cents be worth a $11 seat and then thousands of dollars?) I digress I know in the shameless plug there of Bugsy, but the tournament play in the game was much like my frustration that was building over the software limitations imposed by what seemed to be a whim. For example, mid-stage of the tourney I flip over from editing to see Kd - 10d in late position, I limp and we have 4 to the flop... the flop comes (2s 8d Qh) and 3rd spot bets and I call???? (I know wtf am I thinking).... the turn comes the King of hearts, and it appears poker favors the idiots, (or at least those too busy to notice any different)... My opponent bets the minimum ($800-$1,600 blinds at this point), and I re-raise the pot on my opponent, to be awaken from this stupor by an all-in move by the opponent... Without thinking I call all-in, watch him flip over K-Q and take the pot, ending that tourney run. What does that teach us (other than NOT MULTITASKING!!!)??? Simple, never let one action lead over into the next... Had I not let my anger on getting the link coded build into the game, I wouldnt of called.... Had I not made that mistake, I wouldnt of been around for the King, and wouldn't of compounded the error with a call from what had to be a better hand..... Until next time, take care everyone! A Difference of Promotions (off-line) 10/01/08 I am normally a decent patron to the local Indian casinos in the area, and get their top coupons each month ($20 per week, $80 a month in free gaming money), and until recently I thought that was the best I could do. However, back in August, I went down with a friend from work ONCE (note that number, once) to the Horseshoe in Council Bluffs, IA and only racked up 139 reward points. For those of you who don't know, the Horseshoe is part of the Harrah's chain of properties. So, here we go, comparing Winna-Vegas, which I've played at for years (7+) and Harrahs' Horseshoe in Council Bluffs, IA (one time) WinnaVegas - $20 Coupons - Insert in machine to get credit per week for the month. (4*20=$80)
- Gas for play - Buy 10 gallons of gas, get $10 to play on slots/table up to 2x/week (8*10=$80)
Total Comp sent = $160.00 Horseshoe - 4x Reward Credits - Any Thursday in October, present coupon and get four times your play credits for the day. (Not counting any value on this one)
- "Legendary Bonus Credits" - Every Wednesday and Sunday in October, present the coupon and receive 1,500 Reward Credits (1,500 points = $15 cash) (Total Value 9*15=$135)
- "Legendary Cash" - For play every Sunday and Tuesday, insert ticket into machine with player's card to receive free cash. ($10 coupons each, four for the month of November) (Total Value = $40)
- "Legendary Offers -- DirectBet" - For play on either Friday or Monday of each week, between $10 and $300 of cash value once you stick in into a machine (Total Value $40-$1,200)
- "Twice a month cash" - Two tickets for $15 each free cash, can be used in combination with any other day's promos. (Total Value $30)
- Hotel Rooms - A total of nine nights offered in October, average room rate of $100/nite. (Total Value $900)
Total Comp sent = $915 - $2,075 Even using the small side of the ball, the casino I've gone to for years is being beat by the casino 60 miles further away I've gone to ONCE by a minimum of $755!!! Makes you wonder who wants you more, eh? The OIC Challenge 9/19/08 Ok, I know I haven't updated this site in a long time, but I'm back and we are going to rock 'n roll here. Let's start with something I was part of around the time this site went live. A few years ago I was part of the Open Internet Challenge (OIC), whose purpose was to faciliate normally lower end players to be able to work up the ladder to higher stakes, all on a small bankroll to start. The competition would begin at the .50/1 Limit Hold'em level with a $50 roll provided by the site, and would end at having a bankroll of $2,000 finishing up at the $15/$30 level. The blind levels were as follows. - $15/$30 Level -- Bankrolls at $1,500-$2,000
- $10/$20 Level -- Bankrolls at $1,000-$1,500
- $5/$10 Level -- Bankrolls at $500-$1,000
- $3/$6 Level -- Bankrolls at $300-$500
- $2/$4 Level -- Bankrolls at $200-$300
- $1/$2 Level -- Bankrolls at $100-$200
- $.50/$1 Level -- Bankrolls at $0-$100
Now the rules state anytime you reached the high end of your current level ($100 for instance in level one) you would have to continue play at the $1/$2 level. The game would continue until enither reaching the end of that level, or dropping 50 big blinds (BBs), at which point you would drop back to the lower level to continue play. Now that I think back to those days, it was a very valuable tool for someone where I was in those days, unable to muster a large bankroll but could get the valuable experience of such play without the overlay. I was thinking of getting it going again, maybe even bringing it down a level to start it at $25 ($.25/$.50 level), but I guess it would be a little ways off. Let me know what you think to support@myusapoker.com and I'll post the best ideas/suggestions/questions here. Thought of the day - Which is more akin to gambling, sitting in on a poker table where you know there are a nice pile of fish, which some must think is akin to the end of the world, or the stock market, where one plops your money on a company and hopes the pony comes thru?
Poker & the New US Law 10/19/06
With the passage of the "Safe Port Act" almost two weeks ago now, we have definitely noticed a fallout since. Party, I-Network, just to name a few, have slammed their doors shut on players from the United States. In the same boat, some other sites have come out in the opposite direction, ready to keep the cards falling, those turns and rivers making enjoyment and heartache alike. These are the sites (and reason) why I have been prompted to return to the web in a new face... MyUSAPoker.com
In these interesting days, we will keep on top of the world, so you can simply worry about your nut flush draws!
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