Judge Roberts is installed

What a great day for bi-partisanship.  Judge Roberts is confirmed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  He was confirmed by all Republican Senators (no surprise), all Independent Senators (Jeffords) and half of the Democrats.

Let's hope that the next nomination goes smoothly.  My call is to nominate a person who is just like Roberts. A person with exemplary judicial qualifications.

I'm reading some of the reports from Democrats about the next nominations and they are like a broken records.  Democrats what Bush to nominate a liberal to the Supreme Court.  Maybe a moderate at best.  You know what?  Your party's not in power…too bad.

I could just scream sometimes.

New Poker Blog

I've decided to put my Poker musings on another blog site.  Visit here for my thoughts on Poker - http://palalpoker.blogspot.com/

This Week In Poker

This has been my best week in poker overall.  I started this week with $80 in my Full Tilt Poker Account.  Today I have $220 in my Full Tilt Poker account.  I also went to Pechanga Casino in Temecula and I walked away with $120.

 

What happened this week compared to any other week? I finally to my own advice and I decided to play very tight.  The reason I lose in Limit Hold'em is that I play way too many hands. Basically, I wait for playable hole cards.  In early position, I'm playing premium hands.  In late position, I'm looking for good flush and straight draws.

 

Here's some highlights of the week.  One reason I get in trouble online is that I get bored and will play anything.  I now play two tables at a time. Generally two different games so that I don't mix things up.  The only trouble I ran into with this strategy is when I play Hold'em and Omaha Hi/Lo. I am tempted to go for the low hand in Hold'em.

 

My second strategy is any game is to wait for good starting hands.  I already talked about Hold'em a little, the standard I want to maintain is playing no more than 33% of the hands dealt. In the case of Omaha, I'm looking for hands that can scoop the pot.  I want Aces with suited x cards, good pairs, three cards to the wheel.  I'm also playing Razz and here I want my first three cards to be below an eight.

 

I also started playing a lot of Sit-N-Go.  Here's how it went.  I played three Omaha High/Low SNG's and came in first in games 1 and 2.  Third in game 3.  I played two Razz SNG's and came in third in game 1 and first in game 2.

 

Today, I was at Pechanga.  I performed only in the 9:45 show at NCT so I figured I'd play from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  By the time, it hit 5:00 I was already up $120.  I decided to take my winnings and leave early.

 

I sat down at the $2/$4 table and I figured I only played 10 hands and muck everything else preflop. Also, everytime I made it to the river, I won the hand, which means I won every showdown.  The key is that I was more willing to throw away bad hands.

 

If you every play low limit Hold'em, you know that the rake is very high.  The only way to beat the rake, is to win and not lose. One final note is that calling down the river is very expensive. If I bet every round, that means I'm putting at risk, $12 per hand.  If I can be aggressive and raise preflop and after the flop, I'd only spend $8 to know where I stand. Once the flop hits you should spend the money to find out where your at.  Many times I folded on the flop with top pair, when anyone was aggressive with me.  There's no reason to call off a stack of chips on top pair.

 

I'll have more to day later.

Kristin Uninvited to Women of Faith

I'm not sure how I feel about this message posted on Kristin Chenoweth's website:

"It is with great regret that we let you all know Kristin Chenoweth will not be participating in the November Women of Faith concert in Oklahoma City. She has been asked to withdraw by the organization due to her publicized and heartfelt beliefs that God is accepting of all people on earth. Kristin's personal views and faith to this effect have not changed, despite the Women of Faith's actions."

Apparently, Kristin made a comment on the 700 Club that she was a member of the NYC Gay-Men's Choir.  Thus the acceptance of homosexual disqualified her from Women of Faith.

Here's an interesting post from the Women of Faith bulletin board:

It was very disappointing to hear someone so very impressed with themself....After hearing Kristin speak, a young mother came up to me and said that after listening, she felt like maybe she needed more faith so that God could do great things in her life. She had already been feeling inadequate going into the conference, but to then hear a speaker say "I know you can't take awards with you to heaven, but they sure are nice aren't they?" was very hard for her.

I'll agree she really didn't understand her audience at Women of Faith. But these actions truly sadden me.  I have gay friends, but as a friend, I do not need to constantly be in their face about the sinfulness of homosexuality.  Show me one place in the Bible where he got in the face of sinners.  I can show you passage after passage that shows Jesus getting in the face of hypocrites (the Pharisees).

It all comes to my basic belief about the Christian's response to homosexuality.  When did homosexuality become the unpardonable sin?  I know of very few people who know of ministry to homosexuals or even have strong convictions toward one.  The only response is that of judgment.

I guess this is why all Christians have bad haircuts.

Lost in the New TV Season

Just a few comments about the new TV Season.  I've only seen a handful of new shows and so far:

"How I Met Your Mother" - Sucks
"Surface" - Sticks
"My Name is Earl" - Good show so far
"Invasion" - Interesting, but not very engaging.  Will have to see more episodes.

I saw Lost last night. Very cool and still incredibly frustrating.  Is there no resolution on this island? "Lift it up"????

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I was talking to my co-worker about "Surface."  I mentioned that this show about alien creature on earth.  How can this show last more than one season?  My co-worker says, "what about a show about castaways on an island?" I mentioned that Gilligan's Island, lasted three seasons, so Lost can go on forever.

=========

I'm not a big fan of the supernatural/horror genre.  My wife has been wanting me to see "Medium".  I told her that I just don't care for these type of shows.  The season premiere aired and my wife really wants me to see it.  I told her that there's another show airing tomorrow called "Ghost Whisperer" starring Jennifer Love Hewitt.  Same premise, how about I watch that show.  Silence.  I laughed and then I cried.  I can still fell her punch.

Shining Hope for the Democratic Party

Based on a report from AP, there is disagreement within the Democratic Party…

"The Senate Judiciary Committee's senior Democrat, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, announced his endorsement shortly after leaving the White House. That guaranteed bipartisan backing for Roberts in Thursday's scheduled vote by the committee."

Leahy, who has led filibuster fights against Bush's lower court nominees, said in a Senate speech, "I do not intend to lend my support to an effort by this president to move the Supreme Court and the law radically to the right."

But Roberts "is a man of integrity," said Leahy, who told Roberts over the telephone about his decision. "I can only take him at his word that he does not have an ideological agenda."

Other Democrats, including Sens. Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Max Baucus of Montana, also have announced their support. Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana are leaning toward voting for Roberts. Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota is viewed as a possible vote for him, as well.

==================================

It appears that some Democrats are above partisanship.  It's interesting that no one ever called Clinton's nominee "Ginsberg" an ideologue.  She's hardly been a moderate open-minded justice.  But then again, that was Clinton's right as President, he was allowed to pick whoever would act appropriately as a justice, regardless of personal beliefs.

I still believe Democratic politicians are hypocrites, but some have been moved down the scale a little.  Let's see what happens with President Bush's next pick.

Favorite Quotes from the Emmys

"Come on, if you don't win tonight it doesn't mean you're not a good person, it just means you're not a good actor." - Emmy host Ellen DeGeneres.

"I'd like to dedicate this to Britney (Spears) and our baby." - Emmy winner Brad Garrett of "Everybody Loves Raymond."

News Report on the National Comedy Theatre

The Improv Troupe that I perform with has been featured on Armed Forces Network. Here's a link to the story:

http://images.radcity.net/5776/1133358.wmv

Best Chinese Food

Every year, the Orange County Register publishes "The Best of Orange County" and I'm always a little disappointed by the choice for Best Chinese Food.

The winner for the past five years is "P.F. Chang's" followed by "Pick Up Stix" and then "Panda Express."  I've got an idea, how about this category - Best Chinese Food Restaurant Run by Actual Chinese People.

The Day I Met Phil Gordon

I know, we're all bored of politics.  So here's my second poker blog in two days.

I heard from MousePlanet that Phil Gordon was going to be at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney for a poker seminar.  I was excited so I left immediately from work and arrived at ESPN Zone to wait 2 hours in a non-moving line to attend this event.  I had the foresight to bring Barry Greenstein's new book to read.  I unfortunately didn't have the foresight to bring a sharpie pen.

At 7:00, we're let in and I get a really night seat.  I find out that there is a drawing for a seat in the main event at the World Series of Poker. In fact, not only a seat and accommodations, but every day before the event, Phil is going to coach you and look at your table and give you pointers.  I have never wanted to win a grand prize more in my life.

At 7:30 the seminar starts and much of what he said was in his video.  I did learn a few things.  Never call off your chips with a medium strength hand. And always raise when first to act in the pot.  I suggest you get his video for even better information (http://www.expertinsight.com/?aff=75).

Afterward, there was a quiz based on the seminar.  Five questions and an extra ticket for the main prize for getting each question right.  I, of course, got 5 out of 5.

While everyone was completing the questionnaire, I decided to go and meet Phil.  There was a person in front of me and when it was my turn, I shook his hand and had him sign my video.  I only had the ball point pen from the seminar so the signature didn't come out.  The indentation is there on the video cover.

I told him that I was a fan and asked him how I should play these small stakes tournaments where the blinds double quickly.  He told me that I should play them and that I should play incredibly tight for the first two rounds and then apply pressure when the blinds get big.

Phil is a really nice guy.  He's friendly and outgoing with a biting sense of humor.  He's definitely handling his new celebrity status very well.  If you have a chance to meet him and say hi, take it.

I didn't win a thing.  That was the most disappointing thing of the night.  I have never wanted to win a grand prize more in my life.

Oh well, God's will, I guess.

The Deadly River

I haven't done a poker blog in a while so here goes.

It seems that anytime I do well at poker and have days were I don’t do well.  The only problem that I have with limit poker is sucking out.  I'm starting to play pretty tight and only going into hands with fairly descent hole cards. But sometimes you just can't be luck.

My favorite casino is Pechanga in Temecula, CA.  I generally win there.  The last time I was there I lost about $60.  I will admit that I was playing a few too many hands, but at the same time, I could not get people to fold if my life depended on it.  Everyone is calling their draws to the river and then I get beat.

This was typical, I'd have pocket Queens, I'd raise with no one folding. I'll play it strong to the river only to get beat by someone's gut shot draw.  That's poker, but then again, that's frustrating.  On the other hand, the pot is pretty big if the straight doesn't hit, the problem is the straight does hit.

Yesterday at Full Tilt Poker was even more frustrating.  On five occasions, I had the best hand until the river.  Let's review a few hand.

My hole cards are 8-8. Not bad, I raise to see where I'm at.  And I get a caller.  The flop comes K-K-8.  I flopped a full house.  My opponent bets, I raise, he reraises and I cap it. I know my opponent has a King.  The turn comes a 3.  I raise, he calls.  The river is a 3. My full house just got beat.

Later I got a pair of Queens, and I get beat by a flush with runner-runner hearts.

Now I have K-T.  Flop comes K-T-7.  I flop two pair.  I raise and the guy to the right calls.  The river comes a 3. I bet and the guy on my right calls.  The board comes a Jack and I'm thinking, I'm beat. The guy on my right checks and I check to lose to his pocket Jacks.  I could just scream.  I was fortunate to realize that I was trapped on the last card. Two hands later, I foil another lucky player on the river and save myself a bet.

I will admit, that half of the draws we're good.  The players rightly played their hole cards. Other times, it just doesn't make sense.  Sometimes you can't beat luck. That's when you get up from the table and leave with what you've got left.

I'll be back tomorrow about how I met Phil Gordon two days ago.

The Abortion Irony

As I continue to follow the Roberts Confirmation, it suddenly struck me.

The Democrats are afraid that Judge Roberts will with one stroke of the pen overturn Roe vs. Wade. At the same time, they applaud judges as courageous who will summarily give homosexual couples the same status of marriage.

It's clear to Democrats that the only judges who belong on the Supreme Court are judges who will pursue a liberal agenda but not conservative one.

The conservatives, on the other hand, believe that only judges who belong on the Supreme Court are those who interpret the Constitution based on the original intent of the Founding Fathers.  Abortion, homosexual rights are states-rights issues and it is the job of the legislature, not the judiciary.

The Roberts Game has Begun

I'm watching bits of the Roberts hearing and it is me or is this simply a game. Some experts seem to think so.

"He's obviously playing a game of dodgeball," said Ralph Neas, head of the liberal People of the American Way.

The game is whether or not the Democrats can make Roberts say something that media can blow up out of proportion. I'll be honest here, the Republicans did it to Clinton's nominees and yet still overwhelmingly voted for them.

I wish that I could say that the Democrats will afford the same courtesy, but they won't. We're already hearing a great deal of contentious response from Senators Kennedy and Feinstein. And before you accuse me of partisanship, please compare the tone of the Ginsburg confirmation and this one.

The Nomination of a Supreme Court Justice

Today is the day that the Senate Judiciary Committee begins its hearings on nominee John Roberts.  This is an important time because President Bush has opportunities to replace two justices.  Unfortunately, he will be replacing two relatively conservative justices.

The word right now is that the only way this nomination will get derailed is through filibuster by Democrats (which they may just do).

The Democrats are upset because the President refuses to nominate a liberal. Then again, why should he, he’s the President. The Democrats have used the filibuster to prevent the President from appointing a conservative judge, now the stakes are raised.

Something to look out for, when President Clinton nominated Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Democrats encouraged her not to share her views on various issues and the response from the Democrats was that it was “fine by them.” This tactic is now known as the “Ginsburg rule.”

Senator Orrin Hatch says, “I was on this committee in 1993. Justice Ginsburg was not telling mythological tales when she refused to answer questions over 60 times.”

Will Democratic hypocrisy rear it’s ugly yet frequently shown head and will they demand that Roberts express his views?  5-to-1 says they do.

The Blaming of a Hurricane

I’m watching the weekend news programs and I find it sad a certain political party continues to blame the President for not only the hurricane but the results of the hurricane.

This article from Ben Stein has some more insight into the true problem. http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=8693

It truly is shameful that the Democrats have taken the worst natural disaster and politicized it. This is the same party that criticized the President for using his leadership during the 9/11 attacks in his campaign.

Who Are Your Enemies

Who Are Your Enemies?

If you are a normal person in the world, you have enemies. Sadly, I always envisioned my enemies being evil demons lurking in the shadows, but alas, my enemies have always appeared as wolves in angels clothing.

As I’ve pondered my enemies, I have noticed one common trait amongst them all. It’s the trait of insecurity. All of my enemies have had a horrible self-image and I believe that there was something about me that they were jealous about. The actions of my enemies were always to appear friendly to my face but tear me down behind my back. The reason I know their actions is that others have told me about it.

I have had three notable enemies in my life and I’ll talk about them over time. Let’s just say that my enemies were Aggressive-Controlling personalities. I am a Passive-Aggressive personality. The two will never mix.

SNG Win Last Night

This is my first post, so bare with me. I'll have significant thoughts in the future.

I was playing at a Sit-N-Go tournament yesterday at Party Poker. I made it to the money and was head up as the chip leader. Here's how the final hand went down:

Preflop
Me: (6235 chips) K-6
Opponent: (1765 chips) ??

I call the small blind to 400. Opponent raises to 800 - I call

Flop:
6-6-6, I have quads
I call. Opponent goes all-in shows (A-Q). I call and win.

I love winning is a cool way. This is poker after all.