Posted by Junelli 11:29 AM
"It may be doubted whether so small a number of men ever employed so short a space of time with greater and more lasting effects upon the history of the world."

Dr. Fro loves titles, so I wanted to give him one. I also wanted to write a follow up to his review of "Moneyball" with a review of my own.

If you are one of the few people in this country who have not yet read "1776" by David McCullough, please go get it today. In my life, I don't recall reading a book that had me thinking (and talking) about it long after I finished the last page.

Like many people, I hardly remembered much about 1776. I remembered that the Declaration of Independence was signed that year, and that the colonies were in the midst of the Revolutionary War with Britain (or as American Idol viewers would say, "At war with British"). What I didn't remember (or ever learned for that matter) was how much of a bad-ass George Washington was. Or how America's ragtag army was a picture of suffering, illness, hunger, and disillusionment. Or how American soldiers would defect by the hundreds or even thousands. Or how the countryside was littered with spies who were loyal to the British army. But most importantly, how vastly outnumbered the Americans were against an army that was better equipped, trained and disciplined, and was regarded as "the most powerful and efficient machine for waging war in the world.''

The book is not a bland history book you find in school. It reads like a Grisham novel and is told through the actual accounts & correspondence of the key players. George Washington wrote no less than 945 letters during this year, and each one gives a powerful insight into the thoughts, motivations, and fears of one of the founders of our country. You also get a sense as to how lucky he was was (on more than one occasion) and the role that ''fate, luck, Providence, the hand of God'' would play in the Army's survival (like a heavy fog that enabled 9,000 troops to escape from Brooklyn) and the role played, too, by the British command's passive, even lackadaisical approach to the war. If luck hadn't been on Washington's side, we might very well still be a British colony today.

Anyway, if you are looking for a true page turner, go get this book. I promise you will not be disappointed.

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Poker News:

Since March, I have played poker exactly 4 times. I played in a tournament and $1-$3 NL cash game 2 weeks ago. I busted out of the tournament early, but then managed to run well in the cash game. After several hours, the game was about to break up. I was profiting about $550. We declared this to be the final hand of the evening. I was dealt TT. A very aggressive/loose player raised to $20 UTG (he had made this raise 5 out of the last 6 hands). Two other people called (non-believers also). Action was to me, and I decided to put in a huge raise and take down the pot. I raised to $200 (an overbet). It's folded back around to him. He moves all-in for $512. Everyone folds, and it's $312 more to me.

In my mind, there are only a few different hands he could have: AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK, maybe TT. That's it. The pot is about $800 and it's going to cost me $312. Therefore I'm not getting the right price if he has AA, KK, QQ, JJ (which represents 4 of the 6 holdings he could have). If he has AK it's a coin flip, and if he has TT, we'll likely chop. Therefore I don't gain much EV by calling this bet. Finally, and just as importantly, if I call and lose, my profit for the night is completely gone.

I fold and he shows JJ. Good fold. We deal a flop for fun, and I would've hit a Ten. Oh well.

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Morris went out to Coushatta last weekend to play in their big $225 Freeze out. He won 1st place (chopped with the lion's share of the chips), and pocketed over $3,000. Nice job.

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I saw a very interesting hand a few weeks ago. Three people were all-in (in a huge pot) after the flop. The board was 79T rainbow, and the pot was almost $2,500. When they turned their hands up this is what they had:

1. 99 (middle set)
2. KK (overpair to flop)
3. AJ (gutshot).

The AJ was truly a terrible player. Worse he was an asshole who though he could bulldoze everyone all night long. That would explain why he was stuck in the game for nearly $4,000.

They deal the turn, and it's a blank.

Anyway, they spent a lot of time counting outs and insurance. The set wasn't facing too many outs. 2-Kings and 4-Eights. Anyway, 3 way insurance is a nightmare and involves someone assuming the risk of coming out of their pocket if the suckout happens.

They decide to deal the river twice.

The first card is an Eight.

The second card is an Eight.

AJ (the dumbass with the gutshot) wins the entire pot by hitting his 4 outer both times. I thought guy with 99 was going to cry. It was truly a poker first for me. I've never seen it come perfect, perfect like that. The odds must be astronomical. Do we have a bean counter who can tell us?

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"Gnarls Barkley" is still a great name for a band.

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"With All Due Respect, I Choose Not to Go Fuck Myself"

1 Comment(s):

Posted by  Johnnymac, at 2:01 PM, June 19, 2007  

RE: 1776, I was reading that book at the time Rita hit and we evacuated to Austin. Mrs Johnnymac was driving with two cats and a dog in the back seat and me in the front seat reading that book; it was that good, I couldn't put it down. I agree with your recommendation.

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