UB has a new slogan: "Friedman's just another word for nothing left to lose."
(Credit: The great Kinky Friedman used this line when running for governor of Texas years ago. I heard "Me and Bobby McGee" on the radio today, which reminded me of Kinky's usage, and I repurposed it for current circumstances.)
Friday, January 07, 2011
Announcement
Reimbursement optional
Prahlad Friedman is starting to do interviews about his signing on with UltimateBlecch. Here's the first one I've seen so far, from Bluff magazine: http://news.bluffmagazine.com/prahlad-friedman-speaks-about-joining-ub-poker-17829/
I was struck by this statement: "I feel like they [UB] took care of me after the scandal. I feel like they didn’t have to pay people back and they did."
So Friedman's view is that if an online poker site is owned and operated by criminals who steal their customers'/players' money, it's optional that they pay it back. They don't have to. If they repay the people from whom they stole the money, it's because, y'know, they're so kind and good-natured.
No wonder UB wants him. He's the perfect spokesman. Their cover story is pre-set for the next time they steal a few million dollars: "We don't have to pay it back. Prahlad said so."
Do you want to play at a site that takes the official line that they can steal from you and not pay it back when they're caught? I don't think I do.
Guess the casino, #745
To reveal the hidden answer, use your mouse to highlight the space immediately after the word "Answer" below.
Answer: Treasure Island
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Stud Indicator
I just stumbled across this product, Stud Indicator. In addition to the expected stats tracking features, it apparently keeps track of and displays for you all folded cards, working with stud, stud/8, and razz. They claim that the software is approved by PokerStars.
I'm surprised by this. I would not expect the sites to approve any software that allows continued showing of folded cards, because of the tremendous advantage that confers on those using it, especially across multiple tables. I had read a long time ago that such programs were specifically disallowed by the big online poker sites. Has that changed?
If any readers have tried this, I'd be interested in your comments about how well it works.
Packing and unpacking
I got home late on Monday after a lovely nine days visiting Cardgrrl. I spent the time since then working hard to crank out a consulting job I had agreed to. (I paused only to play the monthly Very Josie tournament last night. I didn't have to pause for long. I was one of the earliest bust-outs when I flopped bottom two pair to somebody else's flopped top two pair. Sigh.) Today it's errands, then off to the car rental place, so as to be prepared for a drive to Salt Lake City tomorrow for a belated holiday visit with family there. (Got a great deal through my favorite rent-a-car company, Fox: $84 total for a compact-class car (no Smart this time--but that was through another company anyway) for four days.) I plan to come home Monday, after which things should resume to normal--or to what passes for normal with me.
Guess the casino, #744
To reveal the hidden answer, use your mouse to highlight the space immediately after the word "Answer" below.
Answer: Santa Fe Station
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Guess the casino, #743
To reveal the hidden answer, use your mouse to highlight the space immediately after the word "Answer" below.
Answer: Planet Hollywood
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
How do people get here?
Recently I've seen myself listed by other poker bloggers (specifically Bill Rini and Wicked Chops) as among their top referrers. It occurred to me that I've never done more than glance at the Google Analytics report about who has been referring hits to me. I herewith correct that deficiency. For 2010, the top ten referrers were:
1. http://craakker.blogspot.com/
2. http://www.allvegaspoker.com/
3. http://pkrdlr.blogspot.com/
4. http://taopoker.blogspot.com/
5. http://magicalmysterypokertour.blogspot.com/
6. http://ftrain.blogspot.com/
7. http://www.thinkingpoker.net/Blog/
8. http://bwop.blogspot.com/
9. http://www.twoplustwo.com/
10. http://bastinptc.blogspot.com/
While I was at it, I also took an updated look at what Google queries lead people to something I've written. To be sure, the great majority of Google searches that find me are clearly looking for me, with some combination of "poker," "grump," "rakewell," and "blog." But setting those aside, for as long as I've been peeking in at this sort of thing from time to time, the top inquiry has been about Tom Dwan's sexual orientation. I wrote about it the first time I saw Dwan play on television. Then a while later, I discovered that Google searches about Dwan were by far the most common thing leading people to my blog. For 2010, such questions remain in the lead by a huge margin, with at least 1200 souls having looked through my pages in an attempt to satisfy their curiosity on this vitally important matter.
Interestingly, for the first time, I can actually provide something of an answer. Since I last mentioned the subject, I have heard Dwan speak openly about his girlfriend when playing in various televised events and on his Twitter feed. Assuming that he is telling the truth, and that this refers to a romantic rather than platonic relationship, the answer appears to be that he is straight. Not that there's anything wrong with that....
Oddly, the next most common Google search that leads people my way is now "Brad Booth broke." That plus a few variants on the same idea brought over 650 searchers to the blog. The only thing I've written about Booth is a post pointing readers to an interesting All In magazine article about his travails: http://pokergrump.blogspot.com/2010/05/brad-booth.html It's not like either Booth or Dwan actually feature heavily in my thoughts or writing.
There are also some strange keyword searches that show up in the rankings:
- poker grump jeep (209)
- shannon elizabeth (152)
- shannon elizabeth feet (61)
- grange95 blog (131)
- cory zeidman drunk (46)
One of my personal favorites, this--though just as mysterious a result as the others. I did write once about having Zeidman at the table with me briefly, but he was not drunk. He consumed only water while he was playing.
As I have found in the past when doing such high-tech navel-gazing, what specific things people are looking for when they find me has zero correlation with either what I write most about or with what I think are my best pieces of work. Oh well. I'm glad I have at least a little something to offer to people with such widely varying interests.
Guess the casino, #742
To reveal the hidden answer, use your mouse to highlight the space immediately after the word "Answer" below.
Answer: MGM Grand
Monday, January 03, 2011
What's in a screen name? #19
Nice that he lets you know in advance!
By the way, this is the first blog entry I've ever posted from a plane. I'm about halfway between D.C. and Vegas, on AirTran. How cool is that???
Guess the casino, #741
To reveal the hidden answer, use your mouse to highlight the space immediately after the word "Answer" below.
Answer: Hard Rock
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Guess the casino, #740
To reveal the hidden answer, use your mouse to highlight the space immediately after the word "Answer" below.
Answer: El Cortez
Saturday, January 01, 2011
LION CUBS!!!!!!
Warning: Extreme Cuteness Ahead!
I shot all these videos with my little Nikon point-and-shoot camera on its maximal telephoto setting. They're not the best that one might be able to produce, but they are certainly adequate to show what was going on. I hope they suggest how incredible playful and adorable these lion babies are. If you don't immediately fall in love with all seven of the little critters, you are heartless. Period. I think it is also impossible not to find deep admiration for the attentiveness and playfulness with which the two mothers care for their young.
And while I'm editorializing, I'll add that anybody who would shoot a creature as beautiful and magnificent as a lion, for purposes of adding a trophy to his wall or floor, should himself be shot and mounted, as a cautionary testament to the depths of depravity and evilness we humans can stoop to.
(If you're going to watch just one, I suggest trying #5.)
See also Cardgrrl's wide-angle video of the cubs here.
National Zoo--including lion cubs
Today we spent a couple of hours at the National Zoo, which is conveniently just about a mile from my girlfriend's apartment.
The main purpose of the visit was to see the lion cubs that were recently born--two litters arrived a short time apart, totalling seven cubs. They are let out into the public viewing area for one hour a day. And Oh The Adorableness! We had to leave a little before the hour was over, because we had absorbed a nearly lethal dose of cuteness, what with all the rolling and frolicking and climbing and jumping and mewing and exploring and playing.
We also stopped to watch the elephants, a fishing cat, a sloth bear, a giant panda, and a clouded leopard, all of which you can see in my newest photo album on Picasa Web. If you look closely, you might even find a shot of the extremely rare and elusive wild Cardgrrl.
Pictures here: http://picasaweb.google.com/rakewell1/NationalZoo?feat=directlink
Lovely evening
I had an absolutely delightful evening. First was dinner with friends at a place called Old Ebbitt Grill, which is apparently the oldest restaurant in Washington, having been in operation since 1856. It was kind of crowded, but excellent food for everyone, from appetizers to desserts.
Then we walked a couple of blocks to the Ronald Reagan Building and saw the Capitol Steps. I've seen them on TV a couple of times, and heard them on the radio (NPR) any number of times. In person, they're even funnier. Most laughs I've had in a long time. Their song parodies rank in cleverness with, say, Gilbert & Sullivan or Tom Lehrer. I think I might try to make this an annual event. It would be worth keeping up on the political news all year just so that you get the jokes! That photo, BTW, is King Jong-Il on the left, with two representatives of the United Nations unable to figure out what to do with him, together doing a song, "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Korea?" (You can watch a version of it here.)
Both the dinner and show were our Christmas gifts from two of Cardgrrl's closest friends, and it was just the perfect thing. Thanks, D&L!
Guess the casino, #739
To reveal the hidden answer, use your mouse to highlight the space immediately after the word "Answer" below.
Answer: Texas Station
Letter to Prahlad Friedman
From Todd Witteles, about Friedman's apparent hiring as a UB sponsored pro, here.
The punchline:
Prahlad, you aren't being forgiving. You are being used by criminals to
give legitimacy to their tainted product and continuously dishonest company.Please reconsider.
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