Well, this past week I have taken some time off just to decompress from the incredible run of bad beats I took last week. Poker is an incredible game and no matter how many right plays you make, you can still lose. And even if you have played perfectly, losing still takes an effect on your mental state. I am sure the longer a person plays and the more success a person has, the less of an effect a down swing will have on their mental outlook. This probably is one of the last things a winning player has to overcome.
It is just human nature to start to doubt one's ability when you are not having success, even though nothing has changed. A big problem is that often we start to get frustrated and make plays that we would not make had we not had such a bad run. I mean, they can't always hit the flop, and they can't always have a hand that beats us every time they push over the top of us, but when you are running bad it seems they do, and that brings the snowball effect where it gets bigger and bigger and before you know it you are playing bad poker.
I took some time away from playing because I just found that I was not enjoying what was going on and playing was not fun. I played some free SNGs on a new site to me and won, which was nice. I think I only played a couple real money SNGs this week and I did win two out of the three that I played and the other one I bubbled with AK, which I can accept.
All in all, by not playing and just studying up on my game you can reset your mind and come back with a fresh perspective and get back to your game. I would encourage anyone having a bad run to stop playing for a week and just read and visit forums and look at hand histories and watch other poker without playing, and then come back refreshed ready to win.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Friday, June 16, 2006
Cynthia McKinney Liberal Disgrace
Grand jury declines to indict Rep. McKinney
A District of Columbia grand jury declined to return an indictment against U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, who was accused of assaulting Capitol Police Officer Paul McKenna in an April altercation.
Doesn't this just sum up the Democratic party. Here you have McKinney attacking a police officer and then her liberal pals in DC don't indict her for assaulting this guy.
Then add in :
The House voted Friday to remove Rep. William Jefferson, who's mired in a federal bribery probe, from his seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
Yes, the democratic party are beaming examples to our youth. Yes, the lesson learned. You can do anything if you are a powerful politico take bribes, punch police officers.
No wonder Hillary is your next candidate for president, stock swindler is perfect.
A District of Columbia grand jury declined to return an indictment against U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, who was accused of assaulting Capitol Police Officer Paul McKenna in an April altercation.
Doesn't this just sum up the Democratic party. Here you have McKinney attacking a police officer and then her liberal pals in DC don't indict her for assaulting this guy.
Then add in :
The House voted Friday to remove Rep. William Jefferson, who's mired in a federal bribery probe, from his seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
Yes, the democratic party are beaming examples to our youth. Yes, the lesson learned. You can do anything if you are a powerful politico take bribes, punch police officers.
No wonder Hillary is your next candidate for president, stock swindler is perfect.
Ultimate Bet
What is it with Ultimate Bet that they cannot do a simple transfer of funds out of their site back to the site that originally deposited the money. It is amazing to me how you tell UB where to put your money, and they still screw it up and divide my withdrawal to two different places. I cannot wait to hear how they are going to rationalize how they screwed up. It came from Neteller and the policy is it goes back there, hmm. How did my money end up not at Neteller.
Ultimate incompetence abounds at Ultimate Bet.
Well, I just got back my reply from UB and they divided it because 6 weeks ago I made deposit using Firepay, and that Firepay can cancel a transfer so they pay them off oldest first. It is simply assinine that they do things like this. There is absolutely no chance of a transfer being canceled after 6 weeks have passed. UB is the most pathetic customer service out there.
Ultimate incompetence abounds at Ultimate Bet.
Well, I just got back my reply from UB and they divided it because 6 weeks ago I made deposit using Firepay, and that Firepay can cancel a transfer so they pay them off oldest first. It is simply assinine that they do things like this. There is absolutely no chance of a transfer being canceled after 6 weeks have passed. UB is the most pathetic customer service out there.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Party Poker worst site to play at on Internet
Well it is official, Party Poker just blows. Today I am in two tourneys and they crash. I go to Pocket Fives and it is official there is a thread saying they are down.
I keep my tables open hoping to get back because I have a nice stack in one and so-so in the limit tourney. Finally after 20 plus minutes I just close the tables and go to tourney selection secreen and surprise surprise I can open my table and the game is going on. I am blinded down and out in the Limit tourney and lost 1/3 of my stack in the other tourney. My nice stack and all the possibilities to increase are gone by the wayside.
Keep in mind I had my tables open the whole time and Party poker never connected them back up. What is funny as wel is I had the tourney lobby open for the Limit tourney and it started and my table never opened and I had to eventually click on take seat button after I realized that it had started without me.
Party Poker has the worst customer service of any site. Their game selection screen is the laggiest(slowest) on the planet. It is not uncommon to click on a game that says it has 2 people in it and whne you get there it is a full table and they are playing the first hand. Yet, you go back to selection screen and it says that the game still needs 8 players. When you ask Party Poker about this they will tell you it is your ISP that is the problem.
I am withdrawing my money from Party Poker and unless I hit it big somewhere will not be redepositing on that POS site any time in the near future. I don't care how easy the money can be to make on that site it is just awful.
I keep my tables open hoping to get back because I have a nice stack in one and so-so in the limit tourney. Finally after 20 plus minutes I just close the tables and go to tourney selection secreen and surprise surprise I can open my table and the game is going on. I am blinded down and out in the Limit tourney and lost 1/3 of my stack in the other tourney. My nice stack and all the possibilities to increase are gone by the wayside.
Keep in mind I had my tables open the whole time and Party poker never connected them back up. What is funny as wel is I had the tourney lobby open for the Limit tourney and it started and my table never opened and I had to eventually click on take seat button after I realized that it had started without me.
Party Poker has the worst customer service of any site. Their game selection screen is the laggiest(slowest) on the planet. It is not uncommon to click on a game that says it has 2 people in it and whne you get there it is a full table and they are playing the first hand. Yet, you go back to selection screen and it says that the game still needs 8 players. When you ask Party Poker about this they will tell you it is your ISP that is the problem.
I am withdrawing my money from Party Poker and unless I hit it big somewhere will not be redepositing on that POS site any time in the near future. I don't care how easy the money can be to make on that site it is just awful.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
World Blogger Championship
I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!
This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.
Registration code: 1446353
Another great, not, day on Poker Stars
Well, today was the typical day that I have on RiverStars. It is good for one to have to deal with repeatedly getting beat by people hitting runner runner straits to beat you, or the one time you get a decent hand your opponent suddenly has QQs, that is my favorite that happened twice today. I got beat by the miracle drawouts 3 times today, that was also nice.
It really is sad to see it happen so damn often. I mean come one, I don't care how many hands you have dealt, the odds of a runner runner straight are still the same. No matter how many times I flip a coin it is still 50-50 to be heads or tails, and yet the miracle hands happen all the time on Poker Stars. All the time, I must repeat.
Don't get me wrong, I know that no hand is impervious, but I play a lot and you just get tired of it. I mean, I sit at my screen and call out the exact river card on a high percentage of hands where it will be a huge suckout, especially if someone needs runner runner to win the odds they will hit go up dramatically. It is a shame that no one has all the data that they would need to prove that there is something not quite right with Poker Stars.
When I play on UB or Party Poker, you will see it, but I don't see it nearly as much.
It really is sad to see it happen so damn often. I mean come one, I don't care how many hands you have dealt, the odds of a runner runner straight are still the same. No matter how many times I flip a coin it is still 50-50 to be heads or tails, and yet the miracle hands happen all the time on Poker Stars. All the time, I must repeat.
Don't get me wrong, I know that no hand is impervious, but I play a lot and you just get tired of it. I mean, I sit at my screen and call out the exact river card on a high percentage of hands where it will be a huge suckout, especially if someone needs runner runner to win the odds they will hit go up dramatically. It is a shame that no one has all the data that they would need to prove that there is something not quite right with Poker Stars.
When I play on UB or Party Poker, you will see it, but I don't see it nearly as much.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Poker Stars not so random RNG
How is it that the river brings so many underdog hands what they need to win? What are the odds of seeing runner-runner straights, flushes, three of a kinds? Poker Stars is with out a doubt the most pathetic sites for this kind of crap. I have played on about 7 sites and I must say Poker Stars continues to be the leader of the pack for dishing out bad beats.
They will tell you it is because they deal so many hands that the odds are you will see more bad beats. Well, that is a bunch of BS because you have a separate random number generator dealing each table so it doesn't matter what has been dealt before or how many times it was dealt. Their software is not random, but then again, nothing is. They try and make it random but they come up short.
On Pocket Fives recently a top player posed the question that all RNGs are not created equal and there was a poll of sorts and the overwhelming response was that Poker Stars was without a doubt the worst site for favorite hands not holding up.
My advice to you is if you can, don't play at Poker Stars. If you are happy with the action on your site that you play stay there. Yes, they have a lot of tourneys and such, but does it really matter that you could play perfectly for 4 hours and have it all undone by a 77 to 22 dog in the wink of an eye. It is no wonder so many people will call raises with crappy hands, they know Poker Stars will reward them with their dream cards on the turn or river.
They will tell you it is because they deal so many hands that the odds are you will see more bad beats. Well, that is a bunch of BS because you have a separate random number generator dealing each table so it doesn't matter what has been dealt before or how many times it was dealt. Their software is not random, but then again, nothing is. They try and make it random but they come up short.
On Pocket Fives recently a top player posed the question that all RNGs are not created equal and there was a poll of sorts and the overwhelming response was that Poker Stars was without a doubt the worst site for favorite hands not holding up.
My advice to you is if you can, don't play at Poker Stars. If you are happy with the action on your site that you play stay there. Yes, they have a lot of tourneys and such, but does it really matter that you could play perfectly for 4 hours and have it all undone by a 77 to 22 dog in the wink of an eye. It is no wonder so many people will call raises with crappy hands, they know Poker Stars will reward them with their dream cards on the turn or river.
Friday, June 09, 2006
ROI Return on investment
ROI is such an important thing to so many players, and outside of the fun of the game it is why we play, to make money. I always believe that finishing ITM is more important in a lot of respects, because you can't have an ROI without being ITM.
I play mostly SNGs and it is very important to get to the money before you worry alot about anything else. I recently had a run of 15 ITM finishes with 11 of them being first. I just checked my ROI today after having kind of a down day to where things just didn't work out right, you know it is bad when your Aces get cracked by 98o by someone that doesn't know how to play a shortstack, but I digress.
My ROI has skyrocketed based on all the first place finishes, which you would expect, but it still is quite shocking. I makes me feel pretty good about not hitting the money in the 3 I just played. I was going to not play anymore today because it just didn't feel like a good day, but after seeing my results, I am inspired to hit the tables again.
ROI is very fluid if you are not getting some firsts to go with your thirds, but ITM is the place to start, don't worry about ROI until you are consistently hitting the money.
I play mostly SNGs and it is very important to get to the money before you worry alot about anything else. I recently had a run of 15 ITM finishes with 11 of them being first. I just checked my ROI today after having kind of a down day to where things just didn't work out right, you know it is bad when your Aces get cracked by 98o by someone that doesn't know how to play a shortstack, but I digress.
My ROI has skyrocketed based on all the first place finishes, which you would expect, but it still is quite shocking. I makes me feel pretty good about not hitting the money in the 3 I just played. I was going to not play anymore today because it just didn't feel like a good day, but after seeing my results, I am inspired to hit the tables again.
ROI is very fluid if you are not getting some firsts to go with your thirds, but ITM is the place to start, don't worry about ROI until you are consistently hitting the money.
To you naysayers
Well, what do all you naysayers have to say for yourselves now after Al-Zarqawi has been found and killed? What an excellant bit of news to all our brothers and sisters who are trying to help put things back together over in Iraq.
It must have been just a terrible day for the liberals out there yesterday. A great accomplishment and they could not be happy. They have to look for why it was actually a bad thing for us. It really is amazing how biases enter into one's perception of reality.
I was amazed that an interview I saw with Mr. Berg the father of that first beheaded guy that was shown on the Internet. He was all touchy feeling about how he felt about his son's murderer being killed. He said how can anyone be happy that another human being is killed. Well, when that human being is working in concert with Satan it is not hard my friends. I don't believe that God would fault anyone for taking pleasure in the demise of an evil person. Are the rest of God's children better off and safer now that he is dead, absolutely. So rejoice and be happy for the living don't have to share this world with such a degenerate evil person.
What do you think Allah said when Zarqawi was standing at the gates? Sorry, you came to the wrong place. Let me get your one-way ticket to hell, bye now.
It must have been just a terrible day for the liberals out there yesterday. A great accomplishment and they could not be happy. They have to look for why it was actually a bad thing for us. It really is amazing how biases enter into one's perception of reality.
I was amazed that an interview I saw with Mr. Berg the father of that first beheaded guy that was shown on the Internet. He was all touchy feeling about how he felt about his son's murderer being killed. He said how can anyone be happy that another human being is killed. Well, when that human being is working in concert with Satan it is not hard my friends. I don't believe that God would fault anyone for taking pleasure in the demise of an evil person. Are the rest of God's children better off and safer now that he is dead, absolutely. So rejoice and be happy for the living don't have to share this world with such a degenerate evil person.
What do you think Allah said when Zarqawi was standing at the gates? Sorry, you came to the wrong place. Let me get your one-way ticket to hell, bye now.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Monday, June 05, 2006
Great Day
Well today was a really good day at the tables. I took down 4 Sngs and placed 2nd in another won, which I really felt that I should have won.
I tried something new today. Every time I won a SNG I would move up to the $55 Turbos and played them. If not for a huge suckout when I had KK against 77 I think I would have monied for sure, but Poker Stars screwed me with there somewhat random number generator. lol. The guy that sucked out on me eventually got all my chips after I played 3 more hand with him and he won every single hand.
This Wednesday is a landmark day in Washington State, or at least I am assuming that's the day that the Governor will sign a totaly ridiculous law into being.
It is pretty sad that they condone their own game of chance, but want to outlaw what they percieve to be a chance game, poker. They want to protect us from the sites that won't pay out our winnings. What a bunch of crap. Christine kiss my ***.
Ms. Prentice you may pucker up as well, you bought and paid for B****.
I tried something new today. Every time I won a SNG I would move up to the $55 Turbos and played them. If not for a huge suckout when I had KK against 77 I think I would have monied for sure, but Poker Stars screwed me with there somewhat random number generator. lol. The guy that sucked out on me eventually got all my chips after I played 3 more hand with him and he won every single hand.
This Wednesday is a landmark day in Washington State, or at least I am assuming that's the day that the Governor will sign a totaly ridiculous law into being.
It is pretty sad that they condone their own game of chance, but want to outlaw what they percieve to be a chance game, poker. They want to protect us from the sites that won't pay out our winnings. What a bunch of crap. Christine kiss my ***.
Ms. Prentice you may pucker up as well, you bought and paid for B****.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Taking a shot
Today, I was looking for something to play as something a different and I happened on the $10,000 gauranteed 100+9 tourney on UB. With 25 minutes to go there were only about 40 people and I thought wow, what an overlay, but by the time it started it was at 96 people.
The last 109 I played was on Poker Stars with 330 or so people. In that one I managed to make the final table, so I had some high hopes for this one as well.
I played a tight position based game, but was frustrated with the fact that I had no cards. My PUFF was only 28 for the whole tourney of about 200 hands for me. Not something you dream about when playing the better players out there.
Well, I did play a few hands that I normally wouldn't play just so that my table would see that I was willing to play some hands here and there so that when I did get a hand they all wouldn't fold.
I definitely think that some players tried to bully me, but everytime someone would raise my limp someone would come over the top of them so it didn't work out too well.
I made it too about 35 or so, the blinds were 150/300 and I had 2700 when I had TT in LP with an MP 3bb raiser. I couldn't see just calling and I was having a hard time thinking about folding this hand so I pushed. I hit a set and lost to a river Ace, ouch.
All in all it was a very fun experience and I would recommend if you can afford to every once in a while take a shot at higher level competition and see where you stand. These MTTs at the 100 and 200 level that I have played have done nothing but increase my confidence that I have some game. Now if I could just get a few more cards to go with it I will be laughing as they say.
A cash would've have been nice, but I gained other things through the experience.
The last 109 I played was on Poker Stars with 330 or so people. In that one I managed to make the final table, so I had some high hopes for this one as well.
I played a tight position based game, but was frustrated with the fact that I had no cards. My PUFF was only 28 for the whole tourney of about 200 hands for me. Not something you dream about when playing the better players out there.
Well, I did play a few hands that I normally wouldn't play just so that my table would see that I was willing to play some hands here and there so that when I did get a hand they all wouldn't fold.
I definitely think that some players tried to bully me, but everytime someone would raise my limp someone would come over the top of them so it didn't work out too well.
I made it too about 35 or so, the blinds were 150/300 and I had 2700 when I had TT in LP with an MP 3bb raiser. I couldn't see just calling and I was having a hard time thinking about folding this hand so I pushed. I hit a set and lost to a river Ace, ouch.
All in all it was a very fun experience and I would recommend if you can afford to every once in a while take a shot at higher level competition and see where you stand. These MTTs at the 100 and 200 level that I have played have done nothing but increase my confidence that I have some game. Now if I could just get a few more cards to go with it I will be laughing as they say.
A cash would've have been nice, but I gained other things through the experience.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Washington State Outlaws Online Poker
You can read all about the particulars of this ridiculous story at Poker News.
http://www.pokernews.com/news/2006/5/washington-state-online-poker-legislation.htm
The state of Washington has to be one of the worst places to live in the US. They can't hold a fair election or count votes, but they will nonetheless tell you where you can spend your time and money.
The person sponsoring this bill Margaret Prentice is a pawn for the Casino Associations in Washington that donate to her campaigns.
Maybe some lawyers out there will challenge this law in court for all of us.
http://www.pokernews.com/news/2006/5/washington-state-online-poker-legislation.htm
The state of Washington has to be one of the worst places to live in the US. They can't hold a fair election or count votes, but they will nonetheless tell you where you can spend your time and money.
The person sponsoring this bill Margaret Prentice is a pawn for the Casino Associations in Washington that donate to her campaigns.
Maybe some lawyers out there will challenge this law in court for all of us.
Turbo Sit and Go's
Well, the experiment is well on its way. I have played in almost nothing but turbo SNGs for since the 15th of May and I have had wonderful success. Well, I have had great success on Poker Stars. Party Poker was much more of a challenge and I eventually withdrew my money out of that account after some great success followed by a roller coaster. Party is just so frustrating because the players are just so bad that they call too often when you are counting on them to fold.
It is amazing to me how many people are clueless on how to play the SNGs, and especially the Turbos. They think that they have to be playing all kinds of hands and they risk lots of chips early. I guess in an effort to try and build a stack, which they think, incorrectly by the way, will somehow help them later. What they inevitably do is build some chips, then lose them and gain and lose and on and on. They don't know how to change gears and they are far to risky in their play. The turbos put a lot of pressure on people because they constantly worry about the blinds going up soon.
I have had a lot of wins lately where I literally did not play a real hand until around the 24th to 30th hand of the SNG, and the blinds at 75/150. I have had severeal wins lately where I never even lost a hand at showdown. You say, wow, how lucky, or how can that be. Well, I will tell you that I had very very few hands go to showdown. And usually it was where someone was all in, and usually it was from someone calling all-in with a hand that was not really good enough to call an all-in with.
The TSNG (turbo sit an go) can be very frustrating at the lower levels because so many players will call with very weak hands when they should be folding, but they just are not good enough to know this and inevitably they do suck out on you, which happens a fair bit of the time, but we do want these donkeys calling, because the odds will even out and we will win against their bad calls. It is frustrating none the less having the best hand because somebody called with QJ or KQ and having them hit.
I really do love the format of the turbo. I just bide my time watching and learning what type of players are at my table and then when the blinds get higher I start putting pressure on them and before you know it I have built up some chips and am in the money.
Over the last week I have really picked up my closing rate to where I have placed first the last 6 times I have made the money. I had 4 thirds in a row before this run. I don't think I played poorly per se in the third place finishes. One I was extremely shortstacked where I had to call a push in the BB, and I made one bad call with A8s to a pushs, when I should have waited to be the aggressor against weaker opponents.
Position position is the key. Being the aggressor is what it is all about. This works even better against better competition because they will fold the 95% of the hands they should be folding when you push on them. Bubble pressure is key in SNGs because who wants to go out 4th and miss the money.
It is amazing to me how many people are clueless on how to play the SNGs, and especially the Turbos. They think that they have to be playing all kinds of hands and they risk lots of chips early. I guess in an effort to try and build a stack, which they think, incorrectly by the way, will somehow help them later. What they inevitably do is build some chips, then lose them and gain and lose and on and on. They don't know how to change gears and they are far to risky in their play. The turbos put a lot of pressure on people because they constantly worry about the blinds going up soon.
I have had a lot of wins lately where I literally did not play a real hand until around the 24th to 30th hand of the SNG, and the blinds at 75/150. I have had severeal wins lately where I never even lost a hand at showdown. You say, wow, how lucky, or how can that be. Well, I will tell you that I had very very few hands go to showdown. And usually it was where someone was all in, and usually it was from someone calling all-in with a hand that was not really good enough to call an all-in with.
The TSNG (turbo sit an go) can be very frustrating at the lower levels because so many players will call with very weak hands when they should be folding, but they just are not good enough to know this and inevitably they do suck out on you, which happens a fair bit of the time, but we do want these donkeys calling, because the odds will even out and we will win against their bad calls. It is frustrating none the less having the best hand because somebody called with QJ or KQ and having them hit.
I really do love the format of the turbo. I just bide my time watching and learning what type of players are at my table and then when the blinds get higher I start putting pressure on them and before you know it I have built up some chips and am in the money.
Over the last week I have really picked up my closing rate to where I have placed first the last 6 times I have made the money. I had 4 thirds in a row before this run. I don't think I played poorly per se in the third place finishes. One I was extremely shortstacked where I had to call a push in the BB, and I made one bad call with A8s to a pushs, when I should have waited to be the aggressor against weaker opponents.
Position position is the key. Being the aggressor is what it is all about. This works even better against better competition because they will fold the 95% of the hands they should be folding when you push on them. Bubble pressure is key in SNGs because who wants to go out 4th and miss the money.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
A wonderful story of success, Lance Carr
If you feel like being moved then you need to go to www.lancecarr.com a site that will truly inspire you. This site tells the story of Lance Carr a man afflicted with a terrible disease that has left him in a wheelchair his whole life. He has been told he has only a couple years to live several times in his life, but he has not given up.
He paints and even plays poker online. You can find him at Poker Stars playing under the name Gimpygod. He is very pleasant to be at a table with. I urge you to go to his site and read about him and if you can help him out with words of hope or more if you can.
He has persevered and overcome so much and it would be truly wonderful if he could feel the love of total strangers raining down on him.
He paints and even plays poker online. You can find him at Poker Stars playing under the name Gimpygod. He is very pleasant to be at a table with. I urge you to go to his site and read about him and if you can help him out with words of hope or more if you can.
He has persevered and overcome so much and it would be truly wonderful if he could feel the love of total strangers raining down on him.
A note to Angie
You may ask yourself who Angie is. Well, Angie is someone I don't know who emailed me today. You wonder what she wrote me, well, I will tell you, but first a little background.
I recently bought a new steno machine for my work as my writer of 9 years suffered a failure on Monday so I had to get a replacement and quickly. Since I needed it fast that sort of put some parameters on my search for a replacement machine. I had in my bookmarks a place called www.Stenotrader.com so I went there first. I knew Stenograph would want my first young for a writer so they were my last resort.
Well, I found a writer and called Matthew up at Stenotrader and he was very polite and friendly and actually gave me information that he knew I might use to buy elsewhere, but he would not be deterred in his service to me. New steno machines can be over $4500. The one I picked was $2,450 recently marked down by the way, which I didn't know but Matt informed me. He also told me that a less expensive writer for $1,950 would be what I needed and that I didn't have to spend the extra $500.
My writer was overnighted to me as I requested and it got there the very next day in time for me to use it the very next day. What incredible service. The writer was in immaculate shape as were all the accessories. I have purchased 2 other backup writers over time on the Internet and not one of them has been in shape to use when it arrived.. I used my new writer yesterday and today and it is a Lamborghini as far as I am concerned.
Now, back to Angie. I posted a response on a court reporter bulletin board I belong too concerning someone looking to purchase a writer. I told them of my purchase and the price and how happy I was and what great service I received not to mention my warranties. I thought I had provided invaluable information to help others.
Then I receive an email from Angie:
Eric,
I think $1,950 for an 8000 is outrageous. I just sold one 8000 for $900 w/metal tray and new battery and traded in the other for $750. I bought both of these last year for around the same price. I replacing my StenoRam Ultras in the hope that the Passport would be coming soon. But I decided to get the Mira after training a new Eclipse user that had a Mira. Here in Southern California, they say the 8000s are worth only $500-$900 depending on the serial #.
Angie
This person has to be perhaps the most inconsiderate person I have ever received an email from. After all what is the purpose in telling someone basically that they got ripped off and were spent twice as much as they needed to. She says that she bought two writers the previous year and got rid of them within a year of acquiring them. Maybe the reason she had to get rid of them so quickly was because she got ripped off and got what she paid for. Just hilarious. She is telling me what they are worth, while proving my point that the reason you go to a reputable place like www.Stenotrader.com is to get a totally refurbished like new writer for half the price of a new writer.
Just a tip for anyone out there that wants to pull an Angie. If you think someone got ripped off, keep it to yourself. Nobody wants to know that they overpaid for anything, especially if it is true, which in this case, it was not. It is one thing to act like you know something, actually knowing what your talking about is another story. Maybe it is a California thing.
I recently bought a new steno machine for my work as my writer of 9 years suffered a failure on Monday so I had to get a replacement and quickly. Since I needed it fast that sort of put some parameters on my search for a replacement machine. I had in my bookmarks a place called www.Stenotrader.com so I went there first. I knew Stenograph would want my first young for a writer so they were my last resort.
Well, I found a writer and called Matthew up at Stenotrader and he was very polite and friendly and actually gave me information that he knew I might use to buy elsewhere, but he would not be deterred in his service to me. New steno machines can be over $4500. The one I picked was $2,450 recently marked down by the way, which I didn't know but Matt informed me. He also told me that a less expensive writer for $1,950 would be what I needed and that I didn't have to spend the extra $500.
My writer was overnighted to me as I requested and it got there the very next day in time for me to use it the very next day. What incredible service. The writer was in immaculate shape as were all the accessories. I have purchased 2 other backup writers over time on the Internet and not one of them has been in shape to use when it arrived.. I used my new writer yesterday and today and it is a Lamborghini as far as I am concerned.
Now, back to Angie. I posted a response on a court reporter bulletin board I belong too concerning someone looking to purchase a writer. I told them of my purchase and the price and how happy I was and what great service I received not to mention my warranties. I thought I had provided invaluable information to help others.
Then I receive an email from Angie:
Eric,
I think $1,950 for an 8000 is outrageous. I just sold one 8000 for $900 w/metal tray and new battery and traded in the other for $750. I bought both of these last year for around the same price. I replacing my StenoRam Ultras in the hope that the Passport would be coming soon. But I decided to get the Mira after training a new Eclipse user that had a Mira. Here in Southern California, they say the 8000s are worth only $500-$900 depending on the serial #.
Angie
This person has to be perhaps the most inconsiderate person I have ever received an email from. After all what is the purpose in telling someone basically that they got ripped off and were spent twice as much as they needed to. She says that she bought two writers the previous year and got rid of them within a year of acquiring them. Maybe the reason she had to get rid of them so quickly was because she got ripped off and got what she paid for. Just hilarious. She is telling me what they are worth, while proving my point that the reason you go to a reputable place like www.Stenotrader.com is to get a totally refurbished like new writer for half the price of a new writer.
Just a tip for anyone out there that wants to pull an Angie. If you think someone got ripped off, keep it to yourself. Nobody wants to know that they overpaid for anything, especially if it is true, which in this case, it was not. It is one thing to act like you know something, actually knowing what your talking about is another story. Maybe it is a California thing.
What do you think of these cards for Poker Stars
This is a screen shot of the cards I use on Poker Stars when I play. What do you think of these?
Monday, May 22, 2006
The Da Vinci Code
We went and saw the Da Vinci Code this weekend. Tom Hanks was enjoyable as always. The movie is pretty long at 2hr 45m or so, and at times I did find myself thinking, boy, this is a long movie. There is some action here and there and a couple plot twists.
I can see how this movie angers Christians kind of like Passion angered Jews. Although, in a different sense. I could not understand the Jewish anger so much having seen the Passion 5 or so times. The truth is the truth and historical events are what they are. I don't think that movie was attacking Jews or blaming them for anything. The Jews know what part they played in the crucifixion of Jesus and that is their history, not all of the Jews turned their back on the Messiah, but certainly a great many in the mob did. This movie I think is pretty entertaining although historically I think pretty thin.
As a believer in Jesus and all that he stood for I take a movie like this for what it is, fanciful speculation, and in the case of a movie they want to make a buck or two. The idea that Jesus was married to Mary Madgalene is ridiculous to me. There would have been writings depicting such, some where there would be documentation of such. To me it really is silly. da Vinci a great artist and thinker had a great imagination. You can't be a great inventor without one, but that is all this story is fanciful imagination.
Don't get me wrong, is the possibility that a group of powerful men got together and formed the church and decided what was going to be right and wrong, well that sounds about right for man. But it is not the darkest con of man. The darkest con of man is that Satan is not real. I feel sorry for the non-believers and the simpletons that will take this movie as being some kind of historical documentary.
Jesus was more than a man. He was the son of God sent down to earth to die for your sins. He was crucified and rose from the dead as he foretold he would. He walked the earth and ascended to Heaven, and he will return one day to hold us all accountable. The Bible has it all, alpha to omega. If you want to know, all you have to do is read it. It may take you a little while as it is a big book filled with history, but it also spells out our future.
I can see how this movie angers Christians kind of like Passion angered Jews. Although, in a different sense. I could not understand the Jewish anger so much having seen the Passion 5 or so times. The truth is the truth and historical events are what they are. I don't think that movie was attacking Jews or blaming them for anything. The Jews know what part they played in the crucifixion of Jesus and that is their history, not all of the Jews turned their back on the Messiah, but certainly a great many in the mob did. This movie I think is pretty entertaining although historically I think pretty thin.
As a believer in Jesus and all that he stood for I take a movie like this for what it is, fanciful speculation, and in the case of a movie they want to make a buck or two. The idea that Jesus was married to Mary Madgalene is ridiculous to me. There would have been writings depicting such, some where there would be documentation of such. To me it really is silly. da Vinci a great artist and thinker had a great imagination. You can't be a great inventor without one, but that is all this story is fanciful imagination.
Don't get me wrong, is the possibility that a group of powerful men got together and formed the church and decided what was going to be right and wrong, well that sounds about right for man. But it is not the darkest con of man. The darkest con of man is that Satan is not real. I feel sorry for the non-believers and the simpletons that will take this movie as being some kind of historical documentary.
Jesus was more than a man. He was the son of God sent down to earth to die for your sins. He was crucified and rose from the dead as he foretold he would. He walked the earth and ascended to Heaven, and he will return one day to hold us all accountable. The Bible has it all, alpha to omega. If you want to know, all you have to do is read it. It may take you a little while as it is a big book filled with history, but it also spells out our future.
The weekend
Well this weekend was bitter sweet. I think that I played really well this weekend but had mixed results. Lady luck at times was not very kind to me. I am always shocked at how many really bad players there are online playing poker. I would think that if you were going to put up your money you might buy at least one book and learn a little about what you are doing, but I have a feeling that is too much work for people out there.
I think I have read at least 8 books on playing poker, and then there are the countless hours on poker forums reading posts about playing poker and analyzing hands, and if that was not enough I belong to Cardrunners.com and PokerXfactor.com. These are two sites that are mentoring sites where successful players share what it is that makes them succeed. I look at these as investment in my future poker playing.
In the future I am hoping to put together my own poker site that will have videos that I will put together of my own playing and share with people, along with articles and other lessons, but that is the long range goal. That will come only if I achieve my primary goal, which is to become a consistent winner online. The amazing thing about online poker is you don't have to win some huge tournament to be successful, but lots of ITM finishes and an occasional 1st will reap a lot of rewards.
I think I have read at least 8 books on playing poker, and then there are the countless hours on poker forums reading posts about playing poker and analyzing hands, and if that was not enough I belong to Cardrunners.com and PokerXfactor.com. These are two sites that are mentoring sites where successful players share what it is that makes them succeed. I look at these as investment in my future poker playing.
In the future I am hoping to put together my own poker site that will have videos that I will put together of my own playing and share with people, along with articles and other lessons, but that is the long range goal. That will come only if I achieve my primary goal, which is to become a consistent winner online. The amazing thing about online poker is you don't have to win some huge tournament to be successful, but lots of ITM finishes and an occasional 1st will reap a lot of rewards.
Friday, May 19, 2006
English the national language
How ridiculous is it that the Senate of the US has been debating and holding votes to decide if English is the national language or just the common language. First they held hearings on steroids in major league baseball, not this.
Does the fact that they are taking time to hold this debate now mean they have solved all the real problems with America? Does this mean that they have solve the problem with ever rising gasoline price gouging by the major oil companies? Thank goodness they finally solved the problem with healthcare in this country for children.
I mean, things must really be going well in the US Government that we can waste time on this bit of silliness. What a bunch of bafoons. Put it to a national vote and be done with it. Odds are it will fail anyway, because too many Americans don't bother voting and the Hispanic vote would rule the day.
The funny thing is America is under attack right now. What you say. Well, we are being invaded. It really is the most brilliant strategy that another country has ever undertaken. Given enough time, eventually there will be more Hispanic people in American than English speaking people. There will be a rise in Hispanic political candidates across the country and before long there will be even more legislation aimed at helping our neighbor to the south.
Yes, it is true. Eventually Mexico will absorb the US. It is already happening. All it takes is time and the lackadaisical attitude that Americans have to accomplish this. I mean, it is so mean to want to control your borders so that people can't illegally enter your country. Eventually the Liberals will be the downfall of this country with their touchy-feely approach to serious problems.
So, be prepared. Learn Espanol. We should be debating if Spanish should be the national language, that way we could start preparing our children for the future that will be there's.
Adios
Does the fact that they are taking time to hold this debate now mean they have solved all the real problems with America? Does this mean that they have solve the problem with ever rising gasoline price gouging by the major oil companies? Thank goodness they finally solved the problem with healthcare in this country for children.
I mean, things must really be going well in the US Government that we can waste time on this bit of silliness. What a bunch of bafoons. Put it to a national vote and be done with it. Odds are it will fail anyway, because too many Americans don't bother voting and the Hispanic vote would rule the day.
The funny thing is America is under attack right now. What you say. Well, we are being invaded. It really is the most brilliant strategy that another country has ever undertaken. Given enough time, eventually there will be more Hispanic people in American than English speaking people. There will be a rise in Hispanic political candidates across the country and before long there will be even more legislation aimed at helping our neighbor to the south.
Yes, it is true. Eventually Mexico will absorb the US. It is already happening. All it takes is time and the lackadaisical attitude that Americans have to accomplish this. I mean, it is so mean to want to control your borders so that people can't illegally enter your country. Eventually the Liberals will be the downfall of this country with their touchy-feely approach to serious problems.
So, be prepared. Learn Espanol. We should be debating if Spanish should be the national language, that way we could start preparing our children for the future that will be there's.
Adios
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
