Sign of the Times
Spotted the following ad on the back of a city bus on the way into work today: Alcoholcheck - Your Personal Breathalyzer.
Only in Dublin folks. Only in Dublin.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Sunday, October 07, 2007
A Little Poker
OK - I'm in a productive mood, so I'm making this a double-header posting session. Who knew I had it in me?
Anyway, for everyone who complains that online poker is rigged and that you never see the kinds of hands in live games that you do online, I want to share a hand from a live session I played last night.
The scene: $1-$2 NLH w/a live $5 straddle.
Your hero: The straddler, holding K-10 off-suit.
Two players call the straddle from middle position, and short-stacked rock in SB raises to $30. Solid BB calls, as do I. Everyone else folds.
The flop: A-Q-J rainbow, giving me Broadway.
SB pushes all-in for $140 and BB raises to $400. I shove all-in for a total of $600 and BB goes into the tank before calling (he had me covered by about $80).
Hands are turned up revealing that SB is holding Pocket Jacks and had flopped a set, while BB is holding A-Q off-suit, and had flopped two pair.
The turn brings a 10 and a solid sweat as any other Broadway card now costs me the pot or chops it with the BB.
The river is a blank, giving me the win and a nice $1,300 pot.
Online, this hand would sparked a ton of chatter between both the players and the railbirds who would again point out how unlikely that three players in the blinds would get into a hand like this. Honestly, how can the game not be rigged?
But this was a live hand I'm talking about, dealt in a real card room by a professional dealer after a thorough shuffling of the deck. It was as random a hand you could hope for and yet, one of the most unlikely combination of cards was dealt to three players sitting in succession at the table.
Does this mean live poker is rigged? Not at all. In fact, it took hours of play before this hand happened, but the fact remains that this hand - or one like it - would have happened sometime soon. It's just a matter of time, and that's what many online players forget.
One of the key differences to remember about live and online play is that that online, you're dealt many more hands per hour, which means your going to see many more "action flops" along the way. It's a simple correlation.
So, the next time you take a bad beat or think how the hell could those players have been holding those cards, remember this hand because, in the end, it doesn't matter where you play. Big hands are going to happen and you're going to win some of them and lose others. Enjoy them when they end up in your favor and try not to bitch about them too much when they don't.
Now, if I can just win a hand online...
JK
OK - I'm in a productive mood, so I'm making this a double-header posting session. Who knew I had it in me?
Anyway, for everyone who complains that online poker is rigged and that you never see the kinds of hands in live games that you do online, I want to share a hand from a live session I played last night.
The scene: $1-$2 NLH w/a live $5 straddle.
Your hero: The straddler, holding K-10 off-suit.
Two players call the straddle from middle position, and short-stacked rock in SB raises to $30. Solid BB calls, as do I. Everyone else folds.
The flop: A-Q-J rainbow, giving me Broadway.
SB pushes all-in for $140 and BB raises to $400. I shove all-in for a total of $600 and BB goes into the tank before calling (he had me covered by about $80).
Hands are turned up revealing that SB is holding Pocket Jacks and had flopped a set, while BB is holding A-Q off-suit, and had flopped two pair.
The turn brings a 10 and a solid sweat as any other Broadway card now costs me the pot or chops it with the BB.
The river is a blank, giving me the win and a nice $1,300 pot.
Online, this hand would sparked a ton of chatter between both the players and the railbirds who would again point out how unlikely that three players in the blinds would get into a hand like this. Honestly, how can the game not be rigged?
But this was a live hand I'm talking about, dealt in a real card room by a professional dealer after a thorough shuffling of the deck. It was as random a hand you could hope for and yet, one of the most unlikely combination of cards was dealt to three players sitting in succession at the table.
Does this mean live poker is rigged? Not at all. In fact, it took hours of play before this hand happened, but the fact remains that this hand - or one like it - would have happened sometime soon. It's just a matter of time, and that's what many online players forget.
One of the key differences to remember about live and online play is that that online, you're dealt many more hands per hour, which means your going to see many more "action flops" along the way. It's a simple correlation.
So, the next time you take a bad beat or think how the hell could those players have been holding those cards, remember this hand because, in the end, it doesn't matter where you play. Big hands are going to happen and you're going to win some of them and lose others. Enjoy them when they end up in your favor and try not to bitch about them too much when they don't.
Now, if I can just win a hand online...
JK
The Road to Hell
If it's really paved in good intentions, then I'm cruising down four lanes of freshly paved blacktop in a '67 Coupe de Ville convertible with the top down, a pint of Jack Daniels, and Elvis cranking on the stereo.
But hey, at least I'm enjoying the ride.
If you're a frequent visitor to this page (and really, why would you be), you'll know that I haven't posted much of anything recently. My bad. It's just that, well... oh... it doesn't really matter.
Anyway, here's the quick rundown of what's going on:
So, yes this is a new post in a newly formatted blog. Whether it's the first of many remains to be seen. I don't make resolutions, so I'm not going to promise anything about the frequency of my posts. I'll try to do more, but there's a wide open highway in front of me and I've got a lot of driving left to do.
JK
If it's really paved in good intentions, then I'm cruising down four lanes of freshly paved blacktop in a '67 Coupe de Ville convertible with the top down, a pint of Jack Daniels, and Elvis cranking on the stereo.
But hey, at least I'm enjoying the ride.
If you're a frequent visitor to this page (and really, why would you be), you'll know that I haven't posted much of anything recently. My bad. It's just that, well... oh... it doesn't really matter.
Anyway, here's the quick rundown of what's going on:
- I'm still in Dublin
- Dublin is still, for the most part, cold, rainy, and dull
- Work is still taking up a huge part of my time
- I've done a good amount of travelling over the past few months, including visits to London (work), Rome (vacation), and Berlin/Hamburg (work)
- I've got a bunch of photos from various trips and things that I'll get around to posting one day soon
- I'm planning a trip back to the States for Thanksgiving
- I actually did something fun last night and went to see the Police at Croke Park here in Dublin (they rocked, by the way)
- Oh... and I'm 40
So, yes this is a new post in a newly formatted blog. Whether it's the first of many remains to be seen. I don't make resolutions, so I'm not going to promise anything about the frequency of my posts. I'll try to do more, but there's a wide open highway in front of me and I've got a lot of driving left to do.
JK
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
SEO What
This is a shameless plug, but I will be playing in the SEO Poker Tournament on Saturday March 24th at 9:00 PM GMT.
That is all.
This is a shameless plug, but I will be playing in the SEO Poker Tournament on Saturday March 24th at 9:00 PM GMT.
That is all.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Oz & the Lucky Horseshoe
Last night, there was a reunion of sorts in DunDrum.
At about 8PM, we gathered at Henry & Sofia's for the return of Murderer's Row. Now, this is actually a bigger deal than it may seem, as this once weekly game has truly disintegrated since the move across the pond. So, it was with no small amount of anticipation that we gathered for the usual evening of drinking and donking around the stolen FTP poker tables.
To be perfectly honest, the game wasn't quite the same as the old Murderer's Row games of old. Many of the regulars were there; me, Henry, Sofia, Wampler, and Ephro. Many, however, were not, including Shyam, Franklin, and Facty (all in Venice for the weekend), Hanel, Lance, Ryan, and Speaker (all back in the states), and Rini (off playing with the monkeys in Gib).
To make up for the missing murderers, we supplemented the field with a number of guest players, including Ernest, Jeremy, Jose, and Oz, who probably wished he hadn't shown up at all. That's because he fell victim to the horseshoe that is, according to Mr. Bill, firmly planted up my ass.
Per my usual form, I played reasonably well throughout the tourney section of the evening, but fell out of contention before reaching the money. Nothing terribly new there. And, per my usual form, I ran over the post-tourney cash game. More specifically, I ran over Oz in the cash game. Or, to be even more precise, I hammered him over the head with the horseshoe.
The first bit of bad luck Oz ran into occurred fairly early on when I pulled what may have been the most brutal suckout of the evening. I limped into the pot holding 4-5 of spades, and hit middle pair on a flop of K-5-3. I bet and Oz called. The turn brought a 6, giving me the up and down draw, and giving Oz top two pair. I bet, he raised, and I donkishly called. The river brought another 5, giving me trips and the pot. Horseshoe 1, Oz 0.
A few hands later, we clashed again. This time, I got into the hand with 4-8 in the big blind. I flopped a gutshot with a board of 5-7-A. Ernest and I both checked the flop, and Oz bet out. Ernest called, giving me reasonable enough odds to call for my 6, which I promptly hit on the turn. Again, the action went check, check, bet. Ernest folded, and I flat called.
The river was a blank. I checked, Oz jammed, and I called, taking down the hand. At this point, the tilt was setting in. Oz remained civil, as he is want to do, but you could tell that his "Nice hand sir" actually meant "You fucking donkey." Horseshoe 2, Oz 0.
A re-buy later and Oz was back in the game. Things were pretty quiet for the next few orbits until Oz and I hooked up one last time for the night. This time, all the money went in pre-flop as Oz raised and re-raised from the button with Aces. Thinking I was making a move, Oz came back over the top and I called his all-in. As the money is being pushed toward the center, Oz says "I just have a pair", and turns up pocket Kings. "I've got a pair too" I say, turning up the bullets.
Horseshoe 3, Oz 0.
I tried to explain to Oz that there was nothing he could have done differently throughout the night. I just run well at Henry's game. Still, I don't think he wants to know of past history - he just wants to get even against me. I'm sure he'll have his chances. He just better hope I forget the horseshoe.
Last night, there was a reunion of sorts in DunDrum.
At about 8PM, we gathered at Henry & Sofia's for the return of Murderer's Row. Now, this is actually a bigger deal than it may seem, as this once weekly game has truly disintegrated since the move across the pond. So, it was with no small amount of anticipation that we gathered for the usual evening of drinking and donking around the stolen FTP poker tables.
To be perfectly honest, the game wasn't quite the same as the old Murderer's Row games of old. Many of the regulars were there; me, Henry, Sofia, Wampler, and Ephro. Many, however, were not, including Shyam, Franklin, and Facty (all in Venice for the weekend), Hanel, Lance, Ryan, and Speaker (all back in the states), and Rini (off playing with the monkeys in Gib).
To make up for the missing murderers, we supplemented the field with a number of guest players, including Ernest, Jeremy, Jose, and Oz, who probably wished he hadn't shown up at all. That's because he fell victim to the horseshoe that is, according to Mr. Bill, firmly planted up my ass.
Per my usual form, I played reasonably well throughout the tourney section of the evening, but fell out of contention before reaching the money. Nothing terribly new there. And, per my usual form, I ran over the post-tourney cash game. More specifically, I ran over Oz in the cash game. Or, to be even more precise, I hammered him over the head with the horseshoe.
The first bit of bad luck Oz ran into occurred fairly early on when I pulled what may have been the most brutal suckout of the evening. I limped into the pot holding 4-5 of spades, and hit middle pair on a flop of K-5-3. I bet and Oz called. The turn brought a 6, giving me the up and down draw, and giving Oz top two pair. I bet, he raised, and I donkishly called. The river brought another 5, giving me trips and the pot. Horseshoe 1, Oz 0.
A few hands later, we clashed again. This time, I got into the hand with 4-8 in the big blind. I flopped a gutshot with a board of 5-7-A. Ernest and I both checked the flop, and Oz bet out. Ernest called, giving me reasonable enough odds to call for my 6, which I promptly hit on the turn. Again, the action went check, check, bet. Ernest folded, and I flat called.
The river was a blank. I checked, Oz jammed, and I called, taking down the hand. At this point, the tilt was setting in. Oz remained civil, as he is want to do, but you could tell that his "Nice hand sir" actually meant "You fucking donkey." Horseshoe 2, Oz 0.
A re-buy later and Oz was back in the game. Things were pretty quiet for the next few orbits until Oz and I hooked up one last time for the night. This time, all the money went in pre-flop as Oz raised and re-raised from the button with Aces. Thinking I was making a move, Oz came back over the top and I called his all-in. As the money is being pushed toward the center, Oz says "I just have a pair", and turns up pocket Kings. "I've got a pair too" I say, turning up the bullets.
Horseshoe 3, Oz 0.
I tried to explain to Oz that there was nothing he could have done differently throughout the night. I just run well at Henry's game. Still, I don't think he wants to know of past history - he just wants to get even against me. I'm sure he'll have his chances. He just better hope I forget the horseshoe.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Trending
I had a few minutes of downtime earlier and had the chance to look over my recent posts. Granted, it didn't take too long, since there's not much here, but that's another story.
Anyway, after a cursory glance I quickly noticed a seemingly disturbing trend, which is that I seem to be constantly dissing Dublin. Yes, it's true this is not the most thrilling place I've ever lived, but to be honest, it's not the worst either (ahem, Medina).
Also, and equally disturbing, is that fact that my recent posts all seem to circulate around the fact that I'm working a lot, drinking (on occasion), and playing cards. It seems, at least on the surface, that I'm falling into a rut.
So, with that in mind, I'm giving you, my faithful reader, this opportunity. Tell me what you'd like to know about Dublin*. Is there something about this fair city you've always been intrigued by? Is there a person whom you'd like to know more about? Throw your suggestions my way,and I'll make it a mission to go out and find out what I can on your behalf.
Who knows what fun we can have?
*Sorry Bill, but I'm going to have exclude you from participating... this is still a family friendly (sort of) blog.
I had a few minutes of downtime earlier and had the chance to look over my recent posts. Granted, it didn't take too long, since there's not much here, but that's another story.
Anyway, after a cursory glance I quickly noticed a seemingly disturbing trend, which is that I seem to be constantly dissing Dublin. Yes, it's true this is not the most thrilling place I've ever lived, but to be honest, it's not the worst either (ahem, Medina).
Also, and equally disturbing, is that fact that my recent posts all seem to circulate around the fact that I'm working a lot, drinking (on occasion), and playing cards. It seems, at least on the surface, that I'm falling into a rut.
So, with that in mind, I'm giving you, my faithful reader, this opportunity. Tell me what you'd like to know about Dublin*. Is there something about this fair city you've always been intrigued by? Is there a person whom you'd like to know more about? Throw your suggestions my way,and I'll make it a mission to go out and find out what I can on your behalf.
Who knows what fun we can have?
*Sorry Bill, but I'm going to have exclude you from participating... this is still a family friendly (sort of) blog.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Coming Up for Air
I know, I know - I post as often as pandas mate. Many would say as successfully, as well, but that's another conversation for another day.
Still, I'm here now, so I'm going to ramble for just a few. First, the Dublin update. It still rains. A lot. It's also very windy. There's lots of drinking, book-ended by very long hours at work. Sometimes I play poker.
Basically, things are normal.
I did recently manage to break up the normal routine and get to London for a weekend for a family event. The occasion? The naming of my newest cousin, Alexandra.
Not only was it nice to see some family, but it was nice to go to a real city. I didn't really take part in any particularly Londonish activities while I was there, but the difference in energy levels between London and Dublin is palpable, even when you're just walking down the street. Londoners have purpose. They move as if they have an actual destination to reach - and as if they actually want to reach it. Dubliners don't do this. Don't get me wrong... the sidewalks here are flooded, especially on a rare sunny afternoon. It's just that Dubliners like to stand around, look at windows, and enjoy a good pint. Or 12.
Speaking of purpose (and yes, this is a horrible transition), I should mention that much of my time at work lately has been dedicated to some of our latest promotions for the World Series of Poker and, more importantly (at least in my opinion), driving sign-ups for the Poker Players Alliance. If you play the game and aren't a member, you should join. And not just because you can get a bonus if you do.
Now that that's out of my system, I'll leave you with this - a link to Full Tilt Poker's new commercials. They're pretty cool, and I hope you enjoy them.
That's it... I'm done for now.
I know, I know - I post as often as pandas mate. Many would say as successfully, as well, but that's another conversation for another day.
Still, I'm here now, so I'm going to ramble for just a few. First, the Dublin update. It still rains. A lot. It's also very windy. There's lots of drinking, book-ended by very long hours at work. Sometimes I play poker.
Basically, things are normal.
I did recently manage to break up the normal routine and get to London for a weekend for a family event. The occasion? The naming of my newest cousin, Alexandra.
Not only was it nice to see some family, but it was nice to go to a real city. I didn't really take part in any particularly Londonish activities while I was there, but the difference in energy levels between London and Dublin is palpable, even when you're just walking down the street. Londoners have purpose. They move as if they have an actual destination to reach - and as if they actually want to reach it. Dubliners don't do this. Don't get me wrong... the sidewalks here are flooded, especially on a rare sunny afternoon. It's just that Dubliners like to stand around, look at windows, and enjoy a good pint. Or 12.
Speaking of purpose (and yes, this is a horrible transition), I should mention that much of my time at work lately has been dedicated to some of our latest promotions for the World Series of Poker and, more importantly (at least in my opinion), driving sign-ups for the Poker Players Alliance. If you play the game and aren't a member, you should join. And not just because you can get a bonus if you do.
Now that that's out of my system, I'll leave you with this - a link to Full Tilt Poker's new commercials. They're pretty cool, and I hope you enjoy them.
That's it... I'm done for now.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Super Size Me (or Not)
Wanna try something cool? Check out the new resizable tables beta software at FTP.
www.fulltiltpoker.com/beta
Wanna try something cool? Check out the new resizable tables beta software at FTP.
www.fulltiltpoker.com/beta
Sunday, February 04, 2007
2007 - It's Just Like 2006 - But Different
Yeah, I know. My posting is as frequent as George W. having an original thought. It's sad and pathetic, but then again, so is he.
Still, I'm back with another oh-so-infrequent update on life in the land of leprechauns and Guinness. Actually, if I came across a leprechaun drinking a Guinness, there would be something interesting to write about. But, seeing as how that's unlikely to happen, I'll just go with what I know about.
So... thanks for reading and.... OK, OK, I've actually got more to say than that. Really.
Since my last post, life has been the usual mix of work, work, work, work, sleep, work, work, work, drink, work, work, work, etc. And don't get me wrong - I still love my job and the company I work for. Dublin, maybe not so much, but the company is still fun. Unless of course you've been working in online poker for the past month.
If you don't know, the US Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act at the end of last session with the goal of starving the lifeblood of online gaming, including poker. In short, the bill makes it illegal for banks to process transactions to or from online gaming sites, like Full Tilt Poker. Of course, being a bill passed in Washington, it does have some exemptions built in for really skillful games like bingo and state lotteries. But, I digress.
If passing this law wasn't enough, the government launched a secondary attack on online gaming earlier this month when they arrested the two original founders of NETeller on money laundering charges. Now, even though these men no longer work for the company, NETeller did exactly what the government wanted them to: they got scared and pulled out of the US market.
Now, NETeller was the big dog in online payment processing. Sort of like Party Poker before they left the US. And, when the Big Dog leaves, a lot of smaller dogs follow it out the door. For sites like FTP, that means players in the US can no longer easily get money on and off the site, which is, in a word, bad.
For me, and the people I work with, that also means a lot of sleepless nights as our job all of a sudden becomes all about keeping the site up and running, and our players happy. In short, it's been a challenge. And to be honest, not a particularly fun one at that. Still, I think we've done an admirable job and, thanks to some incredibly dedicated individuals, we may have recently turned a corner.
So, that's been a big part of my life here in Dublin for the past month. And the fact is, in some ways, I'm kind of thankful for all of the work because in the off hours, there's just not a lot to this city. Sure, it's got some very pretty areas and very friendly people. It's got more bars and clubs than you can possibly imagine. It's got Guinness and Jameson. But, with all that, it still doesn't have a whole lot going on.
Don't get me wrong. It's a fabulous city to visit but, as a place to live, there's just not enough here here for my tastes. Thankfully, traveling is always an option and, as soon as things quiet down a little, I plan to do some more sightseeing around Europe. I'm also hoping to head back to the states for about 10 days in April... keep an eye on this space for details.
Speaking of traveling, I should be heading to London for a weekend sometime soon to visit my cousin Liz and meet the newest addition to the family, her daughter Alexandra. I'm looking forward to hitting a big city for a few days and catching up with some family. It will be a nice break.
Speaking of family, check out what my cousin Adam is up to. He's doing the aspiring actor/comedian thing back in NYC, and has a collection of pretty funny commercials up on his site. (Sorry they won't make the Superbowl, Adam.)
Ah... the Superbowl. American football. It's something I've truly missed here in Europe, but I'm going get a little fill of it tonight at our CEO's house down in Dalkey. I'm looking forward to the game, not because I'm a fan of either team, but because it's kicking off here at 10PM.
Work tomorrow will be oh so fun.
Yeah, I know. My posting is as frequent as George W. having an original thought. It's sad and pathetic, but then again, so is he.
Still, I'm back with another oh-so-infrequent update on life in the land of leprechauns and Guinness. Actually, if I came across a leprechaun drinking a Guinness, there would be something interesting to write about. But, seeing as how that's unlikely to happen, I'll just go with what I know about.
So... thanks for reading and.... OK, OK, I've actually got more to say than that. Really.
Since my last post, life has been the usual mix of work, work, work, work, sleep, work, work, work, drink, work, work, work, etc. And don't get me wrong - I still love my job and the company I work for. Dublin, maybe not so much, but the company is still fun. Unless of course you've been working in online poker for the past month.
If you don't know, the US Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act at the end of last session with the goal of starving the lifeblood of online gaming, including poker. In short, the bill makes it illegal for banks to process transactions to or from online gaming sites, like Full Tilt Poker. Of course, being a bill passed in Washington, it does have some exemptions built in for really skillful games like bingo and state lotteries. But, I digress.
If passing this law wasn't enough, the government launched a secondary attack on online gaming earlier this month when they arrested the two original founders of NETeller on money laundering charges. Now, even though these men no longer work for the company, NETeller did exactly what the government wanted them to: they got scared and pulled out of the US market.
Now, NETeller was the big dog in online payment processing. Sort of like Party Poker before they left the US. And, when the Big Dog leaves, a lot of smaller dogs follow it out the door. For sites like FTP, that means players in the US can no longer easily get money on and off the site, which is, in a word, bad.
For me, and the people I work with, that also means a lot of sleepless nights as our job all of a sudden becomes all about keeping the site up and running, and our players happy. In short, it's been a challenge. And to be honest, not a particularly fun one at that. Still, I think we've done an admirable job and, thanks to some incredibly dedicated individuals, we may have recently turned a corner.
So, that's been a big part of my life here in Dublin for the past month. And the fact is, in some ways, I'm kind of thankful for all of the work because in the off hours, there's just not a lot to this city. Sure, it's got some very pretty areas and very friendly people. It's got more bars and clubs than you can possibly imagine. It's got Guinness and Jameson. But, with all that, it still doesn't have a whole lot going on.
Don't get me wrong. It's a fabulous city to visit but, as a place to live, there's just not enough here here for my tastes. Thankfully, traveling is always an option and, as soon as things quiet down a little, I plan to do some more sightseeing around Europe. I'm also hoping to head back to the states for about 10 days in April... keep an eye on this space for details.
Speaking of traveling, I should be heading to London for a weekend sometime soon to visit my cousin Liz and meet the newest addition to the family, her daughter Alexandra. I'm looking forward to hitting a big city for a few days and catching up with some family. It will be a nice break.
Speaking of family, check out what my cousin Adam is up to. He's doing the aspiring actor/comedian thing back in NYC, and has a collection of pretty funny commercials up on his site. (Sorry they won't make the Superbowl, Adam.)
Ah... the Superbowl. American football. It's something I've truly missed here in Europe, but I'm going get a little fill of it tonight at our CEO's house down in Dalkey. I'm looking forward to the game, not because I'm a fan of either team, but because it's kicking off here at 10PM.
Work tomorrow will be oh so fun.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Barcelona Rocks!
OK... that's a lame title. I know. But, it's kind of appropriate because this is a really cool city.
Paula and I spent our first full day here... much of it on what turned out to be a lame bus tour, and found that there's just so much of this city to see that you can't do it in a few days.
It seems like within in minutes you can go from the shores of the Mediterranean to the mountains or anywhere in between. The architecture is an amazing of really old buildings and really modern stuff that somehow works. The sidewalks are jammed with people and all sorts of cool shops, stands, and street performers.
Once off the bus, Paula and I spent a couple of hours wandering around the zoo, which is located almost in the heart of the city. It's really more of a big park with animals hanging out. In fact, at many of the displays - the monkeys especially - we couldn't figure out what was keeping them in their habitat aside from the collection of toys they had to play with and the free food. I mean, it looked like they could jump right over the rail and free run of the place. I'll try to post some pictures so you can get a sense of the place, since I'm sure I'm not doing it justice.
Another nice thing about this city - the food is good, which is especially nice after spending the past few months in Dublin where it's decidedly not. Dinner tonight was a really nice paella, followed by amazing gelato from a sidewalk stand, and then a night cap in the hotel bar. Not a bad way to end a day, if I do say so myself.
Speaking of which - I'm done for now. I'll be back later with stories, pictures and whatnot. Until then... Happy New Year.
OK... that's a lame title. I know. But, it's kind of appropriate because this is a really cool city.
Paula and I spent our first full day here... much of it on what turned out to be a lame bus tour, and found that there's just so much of this city to see that you can't do it in a few days.
It seems like within in minutes you can go from the shores of the Mediterranean to the mountains or anywhere in between. The architecture is an amazing of really old buildings and really modern stuff that somehow works. The sidewalks are jammed with people and all sorts of cool shops, stands, and street performers.
Once off the bus, Paula and I spent a couple of hours wandering around the zoo, which is located almost in the heart of the city. It's really more of a big park with animals hanging out. In fact, at many of the displays - the monkeys especially - we couldn't figure out what was keeping them in their habitat aside from the collection of toys they had to play with and the free food. I mean, it looked like they could jump right over the rail and free run of the place. I'll try to post some pictures so you can get a sense of the place, since I'm sure I'm not doing it justice.
Another nice thing about this city - the food is good, which is especially nice after spending the past few months in Dublin where it's decidedly not. Dinner tonight was a really nice paella, followed by amazing gelato from a sidewalk stand, and then a night cap in the hotel bar. Not a bad way to end a day, if I do say so myself.
Speaking of which - I'm done for now. I'll be back later with stories, pictures and whatnot. Until then... Happy New Year.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Closed for the Holidays
It's December 26th, which means... well, not a lot for those of you reading this from the States. Here in Dublin, however, today is St. Stephen's Day, which means... well, it's another day when everything in town is closed. And by everything, I mean everything.
As you may have surmised, I stayed in town over the holiday weekend and I have to say, I've never seen a place shut down so completely. Stores were closed, which is a given, but there wasn't anyone on the streets. It was like a ghost town. Even the homeless panhandlers packed up their stuff and left for greener pastures.
Walking around the city over the past two days was one of the strangest experiences I've ever had. In the states, you can always find someone out and about, and can always count on a 7-11 or Store 24 being open to provide you with those last minute essentials you need. But here, that's not the case.
What was even more amazing than the last two days, however, was Saturday night. My buddy Ernest and I went out to Temple Bar to grab a couple of pints since neither of us had any other plans for the evening. Now, Temple Bar is always jam packed. I've never been there when you didn't have to push through the drunken crowds in order to get into one of the hundreds of completely packed pubs. It's a fun time, if you're in the right mood.
But on Saturday, even Temple Bar was quiet. The Porterhouse, a local joint that features great beer and live music, was essentially empty. There were maybe 30 people in the whole five-story pub, and the only tunes were the best of '80's hits being pumped through the sound system. All in all, not the most exciting night I've spent on the town.
Speaking of nights out, I'm sure I'll have few better ones in the coming days, as I'm meeting my sister Paula in Barcelona for New Year's. Hopefully, I'll remember to post.
It's December 26th, which means... well, not a lot for those of you reading this from the States. Here in Dublin, however, today is St. Stephen's Day, which means... well, it's another day when everything in town is closed. And by everything, I mean everything.
As you may have surmised, I stayed in town over the holiday weekend and I have to say, I've never seen a place shut down so completely. Stores were closed, which is a given, but there wasn't anyone on the streets. It was like a ghost town. Even the homeless panhandlers packed up their stuff and left for greener pastures.
Walking around the city over the past two days was one of the strangest experiences I've ever had. In the states, you can always find someone out and about, and can always count on a 7-11 or Store 24 being open to provide you with those last minute essentials you need. But here, that's not the case.
What was even more amazing than the last two days, however, was Saturday night. My buddy Ernest and I went out to Temple Bar to grab a couple of pints since neither of us had any other plans for the evening. Now, Temple Bar is always jam packed. I've never been there when you didn't have to push through the drunken crowds in order to get into one of the hundreds of completely packed pubs. It's a fun time, if you're in the right mood.
But on Saturday, even Temple Bar was quiet. The Porterhouse, a local joint that features great beer and live music, was essentially empty. There were maybe 30 people in the whole five-story pub, and the only tunes were the best of '80's hits being pumped through the sound system. All in all, not the most exciting night I've spent on the town.
Speaking of nights out, I'm sure I'll have few better ones in the coming days, as I'm meeting my sister Paula in Barcelona for New Year's. Hopefully, I'll remember to post.
When Not to Play
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Quick Impressions
Amsterdam is a strange city, and I'm not wholly sure I like it.
On the plus side, it's got a strong sense of history, culture,and a casual attitude toward drugs and sex that is completely unlike anything I've experienced before.
On the other hand, there's also a sense of - I don't know, menace, perhaps, lurking just below the surface. I mean, I've spent a lot of time in a lot of different cities, but it's been very rare that I've felt as on edge as I did wandering through the Red Light disrict Saturday night. And that was with a group of six or seven other people. I mean, it felt like you could get the shit beat out of you just for looking at someone a little funny.
Like I said - these are quick impressions, but they're all I've got so far.
Amsterdam is a strange city, and I'm not wholly sure I like it.
On the plus side, it's got a strong sense of history, culture,and a casual attitude toward drugs and sex that is completely unlike anything I've experienced before.
On the other hand, there's also a sense of - I don't know, menace, perhaps, lurking just below the surface. I mean, I've spent a lot of time in a lot of different cities, but it's been very rare that I've felt as on edge as I did wandering through the Red Light disrict Saturday night. And that was with a group of six or seven other people. I mean, it felt like you could get the shit beat out of you just for looking at someone a little funny.
Like I said - these are quick impressions, but they're all I've got so far.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Amsterdamage '06
I'm sitting at Dublin Airport with Oz waiting for my flight to Amstersdam. Even better - I'm posting from my Blackberry.
I'm not sure what to expect from this weekend, but mayhem seems likely. I'll try to remember/document as much as possible (or reasonable), but can't promise too much. Still, there should be entertainment value.
Let the Amsterdamage begin...
I'm sitting at Dublin Airport with Oz waiting for my flight to Amstersdam. Even better - I'm posting from my Blackberry.
I'm not sure what to expect from this weekend, but mayhem seems likely. I'll try to remember/document as much as possible (or reasonable), but can't promise too much. Still, there should be entertainment value.
Let the Amsterdamage begin...
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Not Grasping the Concept
Yes indeed, it's another of my infrequent missives from the Emerald Isle. I'll try to keep this short, as I'm in a little bit of a rant mode right now.
As I've mentioned before, I generally like what I've seen of Dublin so far, aside from the fact that the weather and the food could both use some serious improvement. Oh.. and the whole customer service thing? Yeah, not so much.
In fact, that brings me to my current state. After weeks of searching, I've finally found a suitable apartment. It's not quite as modern as I would have liked, but the location is incredible and the rent is almost reasonable so, overall, I can't complain too much. Well, at least not about the apartment. At least not yet.
What I can complain about is the banking system. Don't get me wrong, the people who work in the banks seem pleasant enough, but the system is in a word, fucked. Take the concept of online banking. I'm a big fan and have been doing my banking online for a number of years now. It's fast, convenient, easy. What more could you ask?
Well, here in Ireland, the answer turns out to be a lot more. First of all, logging into your account is a mind-numbing process. Sure, everyone is concerned about identity theft and I appreciate the bank looking out for my money, as limited as it may be but really, do I have to put in a PIN, a personal identifier code, and then either a phone number or birth date each and every time I log on? It's a little bit of bureaucratic overkill. Of course, that's nothing compared to what happens when you actually try to use the system.
Take today, for example. I need to put a down payment on my new apartment and since checking accounts here don't actually come with checks, doing this online seems like the best option. So, I jump through all the hoops to access my account and go to the Make a Payment section only to find out that I can't just click a button to add a new payee to my account. No, that would be simple. Instead, I have to call the bank and give them the details, and then wait up to five days for the payee to actually be added. WTF? Seriously.
What's even sadder is that, after talking to our company comptroller (who knows a little something about the Irish banking system), it turns out the Bank of Ireland's online interface is considered to be state of the art, by Irish standards. I promise, I'll never say another disparaging word about CitiBank's interface ever again.
Of course, the fun and games with the banking system is just part of the customer service problem over here. After talking with my colleagues, I fully expect to fight the same battles with cable and utility companies over the coming days and weeks. Who knew that a country where it's already dark and cold at 4:30PM had such a strong grasp of the "Manana" concept so popular in warmer, more relaxed climates?
When it comes right down to it, maybe I'm just being an ugly, pushy American when it comes to these things. I think I'll grab a pint and think it over while I wait for the bank to do it's thing.
Yes indeed, it's another of my infrequent missives from the Emerald Isle. I'll try to keep this short, as I'm in a little bit of a rant mode right now.
As I've mentioned before, I generally like what I've seen of Dublin so far, aside from the fact that the weather and the food could both use some serious improvement. Oh.. and the whole customer service thing? Yeah, not so much.
In fact, that brings me to my current state. After weeks of searching, I've finally found a suitable apartment. It's not quite as modern as I would have liked, but the location is incredible and the rent is almost reasonable so, overall, I can't complain too much. Well, at least not about the apartment. At least not yet.
What I can complain about is the banking system. Don't get me wrong, the people who work in the banks seem pleasant enough, but the system is in a word, fucked. Take the concept of online banking. I'm a big fan and have been doing my banking online for a number of years now. It's fast, convenient, easy. What more could you ask?
Well, here in Ireland, the answer turns out to be a lot more. First of all, logging into your account is a mind-numbing process. Sure, everyone is concerned about identity theft and I appreciate the bank looking out for my money, as limited as it may be but really, do I have to put in a PIN, a personal identifier code, and then either a phone number or birth date each and every time I log on? It's a little bit of bureaucratic overkill. Of course, that's nothing compared to what happens when you actually try to use the system.
Take today, for example. I need to put a down payment on my new apartment and since checking accounts here don't actually come with checks, doing this online seems like the best option. So, I jump through all the hoops to access my account and go to the Make a Payment section only to find out that I can't just click a button to add a new payee to my account. No, that would be simple. Instead, I have to call the bank and give them the details, and then wait up to five days for the payee to actually be added. WTF? Seriously.
What's even sadder is that, after talking to our company comptroller (who knows a little something about the Irish banking system), it turns out the Bank of Ireland's online interface is considered to be state of the art, by Irish standards. I promise, I'll never say another disparaging word about CitiBank's interface ever again.
Of course, the fun and games with the banking system is just part of the customer service problem over here. After talking with my colleagues, I fully expect to fight the same battles with cable and utility companies over the coming days and weeks. Who knew that a country where it's already dark and cold at 4:30PM had such a strong grasp of the "Manana" concept so popular in warmer, more relaxed climates?
When it comes right down to it, maybe I'm just being an ugly, pushy American when it comes to these things. I think I'll grab a pint and think it over while I wait for the bank to do it's thing.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
...And There Was Much Rejoicing
Yes, believe it or not, people here in Dublin town did in fact follow yesterday's U.S. elections. And yes, there really was much rejoicing over the fact that Bush and his cronies had their collective asses handed to them by the general public.
To tell the truth, I was really surprised by how enthusiastic people over here were over the election results. As someone in a local card room said last night, "It's not that Americans are stupid, they're just fucking gullible. It's about time they got it right." For my part, I did point out that not all of us were deceived by the Republicans, but overall, I can't completely disagree with the assessment. I mean, we may not have really elected W to office either time, but we certainly didn't provide his opponents with strong enough margins that they could effectively argue that he stole the elections.
Anyway... all that aside, I happily raised a pint (OK, maybe two or three) to the American voters last night. And really, when was the last time any of us could say that?
Yes, believe it or not, people here in Dublin town did in fact follow yesterday's U.S. elections. And yes, there really was much rejoicing over the fact that Bush and his cronies had their collective asses handed to them by the general public.
To tell the truth, I was really surprised by how enthusiastic people over here were over the election results. As someone in a local card room said last night, "It's not that Americans are stupid, they're just fucking gullible. It's about time they got it right." For my part, I did point out that not all of us were deceived by the Republicans, but overall, I can't completely disagree with the assessment. I mean, we may not have really elected W to office either time, but we certainly didn't provide his opponents with strong enough margins that they could effectively argue that he stole the elections.
Anyway... all that aside, I happily raised a pint (OK, maybe two or three) to the American voters last night. And really, when was the last time any of us could say that?
Monday, October 30, 2006
Remember Me?
I know - it seems like every time I post something new I apologize for not posting in a ridiculously long time. So, I guess it only makes sense that I start by apolgizing for not posting anything new in a ridiculously long time.
Life here on the Emerald Isle has been busy, interesting, and just a little crazed. In short, it's been pretty much business as usual. So, without further ado (and what is ado, exactly?), here are some of the high and low lights of the recent weeks...
I promise to try and post more frequently, but don't hold me to it.
I know - it seems like every time I post something new I apologize for not posting in a ridiculously long time. So, I guess it only makes sense that I start by apolgizing for not posting anything new in a ridiculously long time.
Life here on the Emerald Isle has been busy, interesting, and just a little crazed. In short, it's been pretty much business as usual. So, without further ado (and what is ado, exactly?), here are some of the high and low lights of the recent weeks...
- Life at FTP has been absolutely nuts. As many of you probably know, the Republicans passed the Internet Gaming Act at the end of the last term by attaching it as an amendment to the Port Security Bill. I guess they're trying to protect the U.S. from the dangers of the Party Poker Cruise.
Whether or not this new law is actually enforceable or even legal remains up in the air, but it is having a tremendous impact on the online poker industry. Some of the biggest names in the game - Party and 888 among them - pulled out of the states as soon as W put his name on the paper, while others, like FTP, decided to stay. In the short term, at least, that means we're growing faster than ever and are working our butts off to make sure the site stays up and that we can provide all of the games and tourneys that our new players want. It's crazy, but fun and I'm going to enjoy it for as long as possible.
In other FTP news, we have finally gotten our visas and work permits which means we're actually here legally. It's nice to have that behind us, but now I've got to deal with finding myself an apartment. Which brings me to... - Life outside the office. I've been living in temporary housing for the past 10 weeks which has been nice for the bank book, especially since all of the little day to day stuff around here is really expensive compared to the states. That said, I have been here long enough that I've gotten used to the fact that the ATMs spit out 50 Euro bills as a matter of course.
Of course, the other banking stuff still makes me nuts. I mean, you can't deposit money into an account using an ATM and the banks are never open at any hour when you can actually get to them. Which brings me to weekends in Dublin. Don't get me wrong, I like a nice relaxing weekend as much as anyone, but it is nice to be able to get some things done. And when you get to a bank or go look for an apartment because no one shows them on a Saturday, it gets a little frustrating. On the other hand, I'm still amazed at the amount of partying this place does on the average Friday and Saturday night. Walk around at 3AM (which is a pretty common occurence) and you'll find crowds of people all over City Center. It adds a nice flavor to life here.
Speaking of City Center, I've decided that this is the part of town in which I'm going to remain. The commute to the office isn't too bad on the LUAS and everything I want is within easy walking distance... shops, pubs, and the cardrooms. Which brings me to... - Gambooling (as my friend Franklin calls it). I've been playing a lot of cards (I know, you're all surprised) and I've been playing pretty well (OK, now I know you're truly surprised). In fact, over the past week I've reached the final table in two tournaments, and went on to chop for first place in one of them. I've also done pretty well in the cash games. Of course, I'm sure I'll hit a cold deck sometime soon, but I'm enjoying the run while it lasts.
Away from the cardrooms, I did a little gambling on the golf course today with Gitter and Wampler. It's actually been my second Irish golfing experience of the weekend (and of my time here) and it was a lot of fun. Aside from the weather, which on Saturday, consisted of lots of rain and wind. Still, it was good to go out and hit the ball, even if I was playing with borrowed clubs, since mine are still stuck somewhere on the docks along with the rest of my belongings (I can't get my stuff until I actually find an apartment).
I promise to try and post more frequently, but don't hold me to it.
Monday, October 02, 2006
And Now a Word from Our Sponsor...
OK, it's been awhile since I've posted. There are lots of things I should talk about and a few I shouldn't, but suffice it to say, life in Dublin hasn't been too bad. I'm still in temporary housing, although I'm now near City Center, which is very nice. The weather is ever changable, the food is usually mediocre, and potatoes come with everything. Really. I'm not kidding.
All that aside, I do want to share this open letter from Full Tilt Poker regarding the new Internet gaming bill that Congress shoved through over the weekend. If you play online poker, this is important. Join the PPA. Call your Congressman/woman. Vote.
OK.. no more ranting... here's the copy:
OK, it's been awhile since I've posted. There are lots of things I should talk about and a few I shouldn't, but suffice it to say, life in Dublin hasn't been too bad. I'm still in temporary housing, although I'm now near City Center, which is very nice. The weather is ever changable, the food is usually mediocre, and potatoes come with everything. Really. I'm not kidding.
All that aside, I do want to share this open letter from Full Tilt Poker regarding the new Internet gaming bill that Congress shoved through over the weekend. If you play online poker, this is important. Join the PPA. Call your Congressman/woman. Vote.
OK.. no more ranting... here's the copy:
An Open Letter from Full Tilt Poker on the State of Online Poker
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Escape from Glenogeary
So, I get a phone call about midday on Saturday. FHWRDH and facty are inviting people over for an afternoon/evening of poker/pizza and general amusement at their newly rented home down Glenogeary.
Now when I say "down," I'm talking about six miles from city center. In Dublin, that's the boonies. Really beautiful boonies, but the boonies nonetheless. Since I didn't have much going on, and haven't gotten to explore much more than the city center area, I thought this sounded like a fine plan, and headed out.
I grabbed the the 46A bus and made my way to Dun Laoghaire (I'm still not sure of the proper spelling), where I then transferred to the DART rail line for two stops. A 10-minute walk up the hill and viola - Chez Henderson. Now, this short journey took about 75-minutes in total, which I guess isn't bad by Dublin standards. Considering that it would be about a 20-minute drive though, it's a little slow by my usual clock. I did, however, get to ride through Monkstown, which is just outside Dun Laoghaire, and which looks like the land time forgot. Incredibly tight streets, ancient looking brick apartment blocks crammed together shoulder to shoulder. I half expected to see James Joyce wandering down the middle of the street carrying a pint and a writing tablet.
Speaking of Joyce, whose writing I have never understood, the Henderson's backyard is one of the best features of their home. Looking out to the sea, the Joyce Tower figures prominently in the view, as does the top of Dalkey Castle, just a few miles south. It's pretty incredible.
Inside the house, the view was reminiscent of an old Murderer's Row game, with Henry, Sophia, Ephro, Wampler, Shyam, and Ernest all in attendance. We sat down and played a casual tourney that Ephro took down, and then spent the rest of evening hanging out, bullshitting, and inventing a new game... Chinese War, which is too complicated and too unfinished to even begin describing here.
Somewhere in the middle of the evening, facty decided that she needs a new project, and that my love life - or lack thereof - would be a fitting challenge. I'm more than happy to let her run with this, although I'm still a little confused as to why she's decided I need to be set up with a nice Polish girl. I don't argue with Kate though, so I guess I'll just go for the ride.
Around 12:30 am, we decided it was time to bring the festivities to an end, and that's when some of the real fun started. Things get mighty quiet in Glenogeary after 11 pm, even on a Saturday. We called a couple of cab companies and, when we told them where we were, they immediately hung up on us. Brilliant, as the locals say.
After a few minutes of debate, we decided walking toward civilization would be the best bet, so we set out enmasse. The only problem with this plan was, none of us quite knew where civilization lay. We hit the main drag and the group promptly split, with Henry, Rick, Sophia and others turning right toward where they thought Dun Laoghaire lay. Ernest and I, took the path untravelled, and went left, wandering off toward parts unknown and, hopefully, Leopardstown.
Now, one of the nice things about Dublin is that you feel pretty comfortable walking around at odd hours, even when you don't know where you are. Ernest and I made our way toward Sallynoggin (I love the names of some of these towns), where we finally found a cab. All in all, it was entertaining if a little frustrating, and the one overwhelming certainty that came out of the evening is that the next time we play cards at the Hendersons, we're inviting at least one person with a car.
So, I get a phone call about midday on Saturday. FHWRDH and facty are inviting people over for an afternoon/evening of poker/pizza and general amusement at their newly rented home down Glenogeary.
Now when I say "down," I'm talking about six miles from city center. In Dublin, that's the boonies. Really beautiful boonies, but the boonies nonetheless. Since I didn't have much going on, and haven't gotten to explore much more than the city center area, I thought this sounded like a fine plan, and headed out.
I grabbed the the 46A bus and made my way to Dun Laoghaire (I'm still not sure of the proper spelling), where I then transferred to the DART rail line for two stops. A 10-minute walk up the hill and viola - Chez Henderson. Now, this short journey took about 75-minutes in total, which I guess isn't bad by Dublin standards. Considering that it would be about a 20-minute drive though, it's a little slow by my usual clock. I did, however, get to ride through Monkstown, which is just outside Dun Laoghaire, and which looks like the land time forgot. Incredibly tight streets, ancient looking brick apartment blocks crammed together shoulder to shoulder. I half expected to see James Joyce wandering down the middle of the street carrying a pint and a writing tablet.
Speaking of Joyce, whose writing I have never understood, the Henderson's backyard is one of the best features of their home. Looking out to the sea, the Joyce Tower figures prominently in the view, as does the top of Dalkey Castle, just a few miles south. It's pretty incredible.
Inside the house, the view was reminiscent of an old Murderer's Row game, with Henry, Sophia, Ephro, Wampler, Shyam, and Ernest all in attendance. We sat down and played a casual tourney that Ephro took down, and then spent the rest of evening hanging out, bullshitting, and inventing a new game... Chinese War, which is too complicated and too unfinished to even begin describing here.
Somewhere in the middle of the evening, facty decided that she needs a new project, and that my love life - or lack thereof - would be a fitting challenge. I'm more than happy to let her run with this, although I'm still a little confused as to why she's decided I need to be set up with a nice Polish girl. I don't argue with Kate though, so I guess I'll just go for the ride.
Around 12:30 am, we decided it was time to bring the festivities to an end, and that's when some of the real fun started. Things get mighty quiet in Glenogeary after 11 pm, even on a Saturday. We called a couple of cab companies and, when we told them where we were, they immediately hung up on us. Brilliant, as the locals say.
After a few minutes of debate, we decided walking toward civilization would be the best bet, so we set out enmasse. The only problem with this plan was, none of us quite knew where civilization lay. We hit the main drag and the group promptly split, with Henry, Rick, Sophia and others turning right toward where they thought Dun Laoghaire lay. Ernest and I, took the path untravelled, and went left, wandering off toward parts unknown and, hopefully, Leopardstown.
Now, one of the nice things about Dublin is that you feel pretty comfortable walking around at odd hours, even when you don't know where you are. Ernest and I made our way toward Sallynoggin (I love the names of some of these towns), where we finally found a cab. All in all, it was entertaining if a little frustrating, and the one overwhelming certainty that came out of the evening is that the next time we play cards at the Hendersons, we're inviting at least one person with a car.
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