On Tuesday, January 26th, Michigan celebrated it's 173rd anniversary of being admitted into the Union. The 26th State, admitted in 1837, its population grew to the size required for Statehood largely because of the opening of the Erie Canal, which made Great Lakes travel more accomodating.
We have the third most registered boats in America and more lighthouses than any other state. Our residents (Michiganians or Michiganders, if you like) can show you where they are by pointing with their left index finger to spots on their upright right hand. If you practice, you can also mimic both of Michigan's peninsulas by using both hands.
Do you have a fun fact about Michigan? Make a comment.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
WBCOOP Ticket Won!
After my first experience, detailed in numerous blog entries, and trying to get one of the 'spot' awards for online blogging during the event, I tried again - and got a ticket.
I did not try to blog while playing (a smart move), played tight and aggressive and at my peak made it to 20th of 148 players. I went all in with Q's and got hit by K's to finish 145th. Oh well, into the prize pool and I still have one entry left. I'll see if I can improve on the last attempt with my final ticket.
I did not try to blog while playing (a smart move), played tight and aggressive and at my peak made it to 20th of 148 players. I went all in with Q's and got hit by K's to finish 145th. Oh well, into the prize pool and I still have one entry left. I'll see if I can improve on the last attempt with my final ticket.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
How Much Is A Billion?
How about a little LESS SPENDING???
In the USA, a BILLION is a thousand million, or 1,000,000,000. In England, it's a million million or 1,000,000,000,000. Americans define this second figure as a trillion. Using the American system for a billion:
- If we wanted to pay down a billion dollars of the US debt, paying one dollar a second, it would take 31 years, 259 days, 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 40 seconds.
- To pay off a trillion dollars of debt, at a dollar a second, would take about 32,000 years.
About a billion minutes ago, the Roman Empire was in full swing. (One billion minutes is about 1,900 years.) - About a billion hours ago, we were living in the Stone Age. (One billion hours is about 114,000 years.)
- About a billion months ago, dinosaurs walked the earth. (One billion months is about 82 million years.)
- A billion inches is 15,783 miles, more than halfway around the earth (circumference).
The earth is about 8,000 miles wide (diameter), and the sun is about 800,000 miles wide, not quite a million.
attributed to: http://uspolitics.about.com/od/politicaljunkies/l/bl_how_much_billion.htm
According to the U.S. National Debt Clock, the National debt has been increasing by $3.89 billion per day since September 28, 2007!
attributed to: http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
Monday, January 25, 2010
WBCOOP - almost over
I just dodged a huge bullet. Down to 32 chips, now at 1382 in about 5 hands. One bad decision crippled me and I have to climb out of a deep hole.
WBCOOP - Second Break
OK, at the end of the 2nd hour there are 343 players on 39 tables. I've increased my chip stack significantly with measured aggression. As the blinds and antes go up, we'll see a lot more desperation moves, especially from players with less than 3000 chips.
If the loss of 12 players/minute holds steady, I need to hang out for another 20 minutes or so to get in the prize pool. Ideally, I'll make it to the final table. We'll see.
Just checked on the chicken soup (home made) that I started just as the tourney began - it's WONDERFUL!!!
If the loss of 12 players/minute holds steady, I need to hang out for another 20 minutes or so to get in the prize pool. Ideally, I'll make it to the final table. We'll see.
Just checked on the chicken soup (home made) that I started just as the tourney began - it's WONDERFUL!!!
WBCOOP 2nd round update
Full Box just took over 5000 chips from cctruckee.
I'm floating between 3rd & 4th at this table, it's been a good round so far.
We're down to 415 players on 47 tables, pays go out to first 153. Break in 8 minutes.
I'm floating between 3rd & 4th at this table, it's been a good round so far.
We're down to 415 players on 47 tables, pays go out to first 153. Break in 8 minutes.
WBCOOP First Break
At the end of the first hour there are 1026 players on 114 tables. The corrected entries was 1740, so we lost 13 players a minute for the first hour.
I've increased my chips but am not a 'big stack' at this point. My strategy is OK for now, but I will slow down on bloggin so I can get a better feel for the players and take advantage of stealing a few pots whenever possible.
My position is 497 out of 1026 remaining players, and there is still a lot of poker to play. See you somewhere between now and the next break.
I've increased my chips but am not a 'big stack' at this point. My strategy is OK for now, but I will slow down on bloggin so I can get a better feel for the players and take advantage of stealing a few pots whenever possible.
My position is 497 out of 1026 remaining players, and there is still a lot of poker to play. See you somewhere between now and the next break.
40 minutes and we have 1207 playes on 135 tables, an average of 13 players per minute getting knocked out.
I think for the first two hrs. I'll be able to blog and play. Once we get beyond that, I'll likely have to slow down posting or wait until breaks. Luckily, my style of play allows me to post a bit during the tourney.
Just got pocket J's again, innocuous flop, I bet 3x the blinds and get two callers. J on the turn, and oh, goodness, another on the river for quads! About 750 more chips come my way. Sweet!
I've had unsuited A-9 about 8 times already, all in early position. An ace has flopped around half of those times. 7 minutes to the first break.
I'm going to concentrate on this table till then. See you after the break.
I think for the first two hrs. I'll be able to blog and play. Once we get beyond that, I'll likely have to slow down posting or wait until breaks. Luckily, my style of play allows me to post a bit during the tourney.
Just got pocket J's again, innocuous flop, I bet 3x the blinds and get two callers. J on the turn, and oh, goodness, another on the river for quads! About 750 more chips come my way. Sweet!
I've had unsuited A-9 about 8 times already, all in early position. An ace has flopped around half of those times. 7 minutes to the first break.
I'm going to concentrate on this table till then. See you after the break.
WBCOOP First Round - update
At 30 minutes we have 1351 players on 151 tables.
I got a 3-5 unsuited on the big blind, limped into a flop of Q-5-5. One minimum bet and everybody folded! Bummer.
I was 2 minutes late to the table because I had started a big pot of chicken soup. I hope that'll be my victory dinner tonight. :-)
Pace seems to be slowing down a bit. First 30 minutes were at breakneck speed, it seemed.
Good cards have stopped for a little spell, but I'm going to stick with my strategy. Player taasver is frequently going all in pre-flop. Not sure if he's really getting great hands or just trying to steal blinds. We'll keep a closer eye on him. Maybe I can trap him.
Well, he just got called on an all-in. He had pocket 10's vs. pocket 9's. A none on the flop, he's crippled. Just went all in with a K-4 (next hand), and he pulled it out. Another taasver all-in. Wow. He's stealing a lot of blinds and up to 1200 chips. Oops, one too many and he's gone on the 50th hand.
I got a 3-5 unsuited on the big blind, limped into a flop of Q-5-5. One minimum bet and everybody folded! Bummer.
I was 2 minutes late to the table because I had started a big pot of chicken soup. I hope that'll be my victory dinner tonight. :-)
Pace seems to be slowing down a bit. First 30 minutes were at breakneck speed, it seemed.
Good cards have stopped for a little spell, but I'm going to stick with my strategy. Player taasver is frequently going all in pre-flop. Not sure if he's really getting great hands or just trying to steal blinds. We'll keep a closer eye on him. Maybe I can trap him.
Well, he just got called on an all-in. He had pocket 10's vs. pocket 9's. A none on the flop, he's crippled. Just went all in with a K-4 (next hand), and he pulled it out. Another taasver all-in. Wow. He's stealing a lot of blinds and up to 1200 chips. Oops, one too many and he's gone on the 50th hand.
More WBCOOP Poker
Late position, limped in with Q-10 unsuited. Lousy flop, but check around and I get a pr of 10's on the turn. Everyone folds, I get 130 more chips.
I'm playing strict position and letting some marginal hands go by, but that's OK as I'm more of a 'grind it out' player. Tonight I'll try to pick up the aggressive factor a bit, because most of these guys are very aggressive.
At 20 minutes, we're down to 1470 players and losing about 12 a minute. taasver is the first all-in at my table. Hope it was a good hand - he only won 14o chips.
I just let a suited 8-9 go by on the button, flop is 6-7-9. Huge bet folds the field. You always think 'that could've been my pot', but poker is funny.
At least for the first hour, I'm playing fairly tight, but aggressive. I'll re-evaluate at the first break. Looking for our poker league leader, mikeniks, but don't see him on the list of players. I thought he was registered for sure.
I'm playing strict position and letting some marginal hands go by, but that's OK as I'm more of a 'grind it out' player. Tonight I'll try to pick up the aggressive factor a bit, because most of these guys are very aggressive.
At 20 minutes, we're down to 1470 players and losing about 12 a minute. taasver is the first all-in at my table. Hope it was a good hand - he only won 14o chips.
I just let a suited 8-9 go by on the button, flop is 6-7-9. Huge bet folds the field. You always think 'that could've been my pot', but poker is funny.
At least for the first hour, I'm playing fairly tight, but aggressive. I'll re-evaluate at the first break. Looking for our poker league leader, mikeniks, but don't see him on the list of players. I thought he was registered for sure.
Update
A good hand for late position, A-J unsuited. My pr of J's beat another one due to the ace kicker. My chipstack is up by 255 from that hand.
A-Q unsuited went nowhere.
Another A-Q unsuited gives me a Q high straight, but I split the pot with kimmy_md91.
A-Q unsuited went nowhere.
Another A-Q unsuited gives me a Q high straight, but I split the pot with kimmy_md91.
WBCOOP First Round
I'm going to give periodic updates for as long as I last tonight in this tournament.
We're starting with 1704 players for no limit hold 'em. 10 minutes in and we're already down to 1589 players! I've had pocket J's and K's so far, but my K's got musted by - pocket J's! Must be the good luck hand of the night.
We're starting with 1704 players for no limit hold 'em. 10 minutes in and we're already down to 1589 players! I've had pocket J's and K's so far, but my K's got musted by - pocket J's! Must be the good luck hand of the night.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Winter Blues
Well, this time of year is good for re-organizing your office and doing small project around the house, but not for much else if you don't ski.
I'm trying to hit a bucket of balls every week, but there were two weeks that I didn't do that, even with covered and heated tees. So what's a guy to do? I joined on online poker league. Once a week, $5.50, usually 25-35 guys playing. So far my competition views me as less than illustrious, I'm sure, but I hope to change that soon. I've actually been playing pretty decent in the tournaments, not so much in the small stakes cash games. And a guy's got to stick to his budget.
Once golf season starts, poker will go on the back burner for the rest of the good weather. Speaking of golf, rumor has it that Chemung Hills has been sold. Hopefully they will open for golf in the Spring. It's such a nice course, I'd hate to see its loss.
I'm trying to hit a bucket of balls every week, but there were two weeks that I didn't do that, even with covered and heated tees. So what's a guy to do? I joined on online poker league. Once a week, $5.50, usually 25-35 guys playing. So far my competition views me as less than illustrious, I'm sure, but I hope to change that soon. I've actually been playing pretty decent in the tournaments, not so much in the small stakes cash games. And a guy's got to stick to his budget.
Once golf season starts, poker will go on the back burner for the rest of the good weather. Speaking of golf, rumor has it that Chemung Hills has been sold. Hopefully they will open for golf in the Spring. It's such a nice course, I'd hate to see its loss.
'Crazy Stella' - Rest In Peace
I was sad to see an item in today's Detroit News about Greektown's former standout personality, Stella Paris, who recently passed on.
As a North Cass Corridor resident for a good part of the 70's and into the early 80's, Greektown was beacon to me. Back then, Trapper's Alley really had an alley, King's used books was the dominant store, and many interesting restaurants that have since closed or sold out were a second home for me.
Lamb chops at Grecian Gardens (the absolute best) and the excitement of the persistent rumors that it was a mafia hangout led me there when I had a little extra money. They were more expensive than most of the restaurants but the food was very good. The old International was a great and friendly place, even if you weren't greek. A couple of times I wandered into the coffee shop on Monroe where euchre was game and there was no pretense in furnishings or menu offerings.
Almost every visit, all year long, you would run into Stella, her crazy nurses attire intermized with other articles, ranting, yelling, at you or at nobody in particular. Sometimes I'd see her inside the old bakery. Over the years she just became part of the fabric of Greektown to me. In some ways, I miss that old Greektown. It's so much more commercial now.
The old Greektown had the Bouzouki Lounge - then a fairly classy place with *real* belly dancers. It has since transitioned into a 'Gentlemen's Club'. Of course, that was all before the casinos opened, not that casinos are bad. It was just a different time.
I've been aware of Stella's absence on Monroe for a while now, even though my visits to Greektown have become much less frequent. The story said that she's been living in a nursing facility for the last few years, that she had calmed down some, and that she seemed at peace. I'm happy for that because I don't think she had a lot of peace in her life.
For those of us that remember the 'old' Greektown, it just isn't the same without Hella's, Grecian Gardens or Stella.
As a North Cass Corridor resident for a good part of the 70's and into the early 80's, Greektown was beacon to me. Back then, Trapper's Alley really had an alley, King's used books was the dominant store, and many interesting restaurants that have since closed or sold out were a second home for me.
Lamb chops at Grecian Gardens (the absolute best) and the excitement of the persistent rumors that it was a mafia hangout led me there when I had a little extra money. They were more expensive than most of the restaurants but the food was very good. The old International was a great and friendly place, even if you weren't greek. A couple of times I wandered into the coffee shop on Monroe where euchre was game and there was no pretense in furnishings or menu offerings.
Almost every visit, all year long, you would run into Stella, her crazy nurses attire intermized with other articles, ranting, yelling, at you or at nobody in particular. Sometimes I'd see her inside the old bakery. Over the years she just became part of the fabric of Greektown to me. In some ways, I miss that old Greektown. It's so much more commercial now.
The old Greektown had the Bouzouki Lounge - then a fairly classy place with *real* belly dancers. It has since transitioned into a 'Gentlemen's Club'. Of course, that was all before the casinos opened, not that casinos are bad. It was just a different time.
I've been aware of Stella's absence on Monroe for a while now, even though my visits to Greektown have become much less frequent. The story said that she's been living in a nursing facility for the last few years, that she had calmed down some, and that she seemed at peace. I'm happy for that because I don't think she had a lot of peace in her life.
For those of us that remember the 'old' Greektown, it just isn't the same without Hella's, Grecian Gardens or Stella.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Winter - but for how long?
A second in a row winter! Starts early, stays cold, fair amount of snow. This year, you can't even escape by flying to Florida since they are having record low temps, too. We're supposed to get above freezing by the end of the week, so I'll likely go to the driving range that has heated tees. I'm tired of swinging my clubs in the living room, but my wife is thankful that our vaulted ceiling allows me to at least do that with no danger to her knick knacks.
A good number of ugly early morning commutes so far this year. I hope at least the snow removal guys are making some money after many years of spotty snowfall and too warm winter temperatures. Every cloud has a silver lining for somebody!
Speaking of silver linings, Livingston County is getting a battery recycling company, Recupyl Battery Solutions, which will start with 10-12 machinists in a 14,000 sq ft facility in Brighton Township. Every little bit helps with getting people back to work.
Hooray for the students at Maltby Intermediate School in Brighton. They collected 7600 lns of food in a two week period for the Gleaners Food Bank! What an outstanding effort. I know that the food pantry struggles with keeping enough food on the shelf at times, so this is a great accomplishment. We should all follow their lead and pick up something for Gleaners the next time we're shopping.
A good number of ugly early morning commutes so far this year. I hope at least the snow removal guys are making some money after many years of spotty snowfall and too warm winter temperatures. Every cloud has a silver lining for somebody!
Speaking of silver linings, Livingston County is getting a battery recycling company, Recupyl Battery Solutions, which will start with 10-12 machinists in a 14,000 sq ft facility in Brighton Township. Every little bit helps with getting people back to work.
Hooray for the students at Maltby Intermediate School in Brighton. They collected 7600 lns of food in a two week period for the Gleaners Food Bank! What an outstanding effort. I know that the food pantry struggles with keeping enough food on the shelf at times, so this is a great accomplishment. We should all follow their lead and pick up something for Gleaners the next time we're shopping.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Things I've Been Thinking About
(but not *too* hard)
If local municipalities want us to use potassium salt in our water softeners, why are they still using sodium salt on the roads? All that stuff gets into the water shed and our drinking water supply anyway, doesn't it? I guess it's OK for us to buy salt that's four times more expensive, but not the government. Hmm.
Isn't it funny that most people in the State know who Don Cherry is, but have no idea about John Cherry. Maybe John needs to take some hints on haberdashery from Don - people would certainly remember him! He might have even been able to make that run for Governor.
Loving the fact that on May 1, 2010 I'll be able to have a beer without smoke in my eyes, and nose, and on my clothes. To my smoking friends - sorry. I respect your right to smoke, just not within a closed public space. Boos (and hisses) to the State Legislature for not having the balls to stand up to the casino lobbyists and giving them an exemption.
Pretty slick move by the banks. Repay the TARP money quick to get the government oversight off their backs, then the bonuses can fly again. That's enough for now, I have a headache.
If local municipalities want us to use potassium salt in our water softeners, why are they still using sodium salt on the roads? All that stuff gets into the water shed and our drinking water supply anyway, doesn't it? I guess it's OK for us to buy salt that's four times more expensive, but not the government. Hmm.
Isn't it funny that most people in the State know who Don Cherry is, but have no idea about John Cherry. Maybe John needs to take some hints on haberdashery from Don - people would certainly remember him! He might have even been able to make that run for Governor.
Loving the fact that on May 1, 2010 I'll be able to have a beer without smoke in my eyes, and nose, and on my clothes. To my smoking friends - sorry. I respect your right to smoke, just not within a closed public space. Boos (and hisses) to the State Legislature for not having the balls to stand up to the casino lobbyists and giving them an exemption.
Pretty slick move by the banks. Repay the TARP money quick to get the government oversight off their backs, then the bonuses can fly again. That's enough for now, I have a headache.
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