Strong Winds

“Though I dream in vain, in my heart it will remain. My stardust melody, the memory of love’s refrain.” 

Cab Calloway: Stardust

Image details: Portrait of a businessman watering his bamboo plant in office setting served by picapp.com

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how decisions become more difficult as you mature. There are times when I long for my younger days when things were much simpler. I tried to think of a living example of life’s early simplicity and the best I could do is the bamboo tree.

Children are like bamboo trees. Because they are innocent, they can bend with the winds and not break. Their hearts are free and their needs are simple, so decisions are easy to make. They do not allow their roots to make them rigid. Their ability to move with life’s changes allows them to move effortlessly with the blowing breezes of life. They do not allow their mind to control their experience or define their character. They are one with their environment and the changes that take place in it

Adults on the other hand are often solid like the mighty Redwood tree. Rooted deep in the ground and sitting entrenched on the forest floor, the Redwood has survived because of its strength and massive trunks. But when a big storm hits, unlike the bamboo tree that bends with the raging winds, the Redwood breaks under the fierce wind’s pressure. Like a breaking Redwood, an adult’s rigid thought process can often the cause of pain and heartache, because the heart splinters when it is confronted with changes that one is not ready to accept.

We all need to be more like bamboo. We need to be free to adapt to the changing breeze. We have to be flexible, but strong. We must be confident that we can bend and not break under pressure. If we are defiantly truthful with ourselves, we simplify our thought process and we stand a chance of surviving nature’s fury. In the end, if you continue to strive to find a way to balance your thought process, you can learn to adapt to the ever-changing environment. Hopefully, mastering this concept will help us find a more peaceful path down the road of life.  

My First World Series of Poker/Poker Industry Post

The 2008 World Series of Poker is under way in Las Vegas and there are plenty of interesting stories unfolding at the Rio. Undoubtedly the biggest poker tournament series on the planet, this is an important time for both the players and the companies looking to profit from one the one of the world’s biggest sporting spectacles. While players can earn millions by winning a big tournament, companies can literally boost their profit margins by having a successful WSOP and with the world’s attention focused on Sin City, the WSOP, and the concern of a looming economic recession, the stakes have never been higher for the players involved.

 

I spent the last two years working for different poker media groups at the WSOP, so I know my way around pretty well and I’m able to find some good stories. This year I’m working as a columnist (Part Time Poker Player) and feature writer for Bluff Magazine, so I was once again lucky enough to get media credentials. Because my assignments come randomly, I have decided that while I have some free time I may as well get the inside scoop on the WSOP and the poker industry for my readers. In addition to reporting WSOP and industry highlights, I’ll try to get some interviews with poker’s elite players.

 

Record-Breaking Beginning

2008’s first small buy-in ($1,500) No Limit Hold’em tournament got underway with both of the two-day flights seeing near capacity numbers. Shattering last year’s record of 3,151, the WSOP’s first dance brought in 3,929 players and generated a first-place prize of $831,279.

 

Many industry insiders are thrilled with the turnout and hope it is an indicator of good things to come. The fourth-largest poker tournament of all-time, this year’s Event #2 had so many people that the Rio had to make use of four areas that had poker tables. Jeffery Pollack and the guys at Caesars Entertainment must be thrilled with the turnout so far. Both the $10,000 Pot Limit Hold’em Event #1 and the $1,500 No Limit Event #2 surpassed last year’s player numbers and hopefully the fields will continue to be packed.

 

There were big questions about how the U.S. economy’s recent downturn would affect this year’s WSOP, but thus far, the player turn-out suggests that the WSOP just may be recession-proof. One possible reason for this may be an influx of foreign players who are capitalizing on the exchange rate. The WSOP buy-ins (not to mention the food, plane tickets, and hotel room rates) are considerably less expensive for players from countries such as the United .Kingdom and Sweden, and they enjoy a nearly 2-to-1 value for their money.

 

Prop Bets Galore

At each WSOP, there are plenty of players who make sick side-bets, often for ridiculous sums. This year is already proving to be a barn-burner as far as gambling action away from the tables. One example of a huge side-bet comes from Daniel Negreanu’s Card Player blog, where he talks about his bet with Phil Ivey.

 

“So it looks like I’ve bet myself into another WSOP playing as many events as possible. Ivey was running around the room firing bracelet bets at everybody and got me for one also. We essentially bet on who would win the most bracelets this year, and each bracelet you win would earn you an extra 200k. If we both win one it’s a wash, if he wins 3 and I win, for example, I’d be out $400,000,” Negreanu said.

 

With a long time still left to go in the WSOP, this will not be the last big bet we hear about. I’ll try to find out about more prop-betting action as the WSOP progresses.

JohnnyBax to the Rescue?

Just in time for the start of the WSOP, UltimateBet announced the signing of online poker superstar Cliff “JohnnyBax” Josephy. Undoubtedly one of the most respected players in online poker, Josephy brings a reputation as one of the game’s straightest-shooters and is well-known for having worked with a stable of younger online players that have been trying to follow in his highly successful footsteps.

 

One has to wonder whether this is UltimateBet’s way of trying to drum up support within the online community. UltimateBet, which is owned by Tokwiro Enterprises, is still reeling from accusations of cheating and a company cover up. Players on poker forums such as twoplustwo.com have repeatedly criticized UltimateBet’s handling of the situation and the company is feeling the heat as their player numbers continue to dwindle.

 

Will signing an online legend like Josephy improve UltimateBet’s shaky public image? This remains to be seen, but if actions speak louder than words, UltimateBet’s decision to pick of one of poker’s most respected players could symbolize a new company commitment to making sure things online go more smoothly in the future.

Is 50 Hot Like Fire?

“I got that fire, so hot I burn it down”

“Fire” by 50 Cent

 

Image details: Show And Audience At The MTV Australia Awards 2008 served by picapp.com

According to the New York Times, arson is now suspected in the recent fire at rapper 50 Cent’s former home. The current residence of Shaniqua Tompkins and 50’s son, the house burned to the ground. Fortunately, there were no deaths, with the most serious injury being smoke inhalation.

Deemed suspicious by Dix Hills Fire Chief Larry Feld, the Suffolk County arson squad was called to investigate. According to Tompkin’s lawyer, Paul Catsandonis, 50 had originally bought the Long Island home after he was shot in early 2000 at his grandmother’s house in Queens, NY, but he has been in a vicious battle to evict Tompkins and his 10-year-old son Marquise from the $2.4 million home.

 

According to a statement to the Associated Press, Catsandonis said that the dispute over the house had become, “extremely, extremely contentious” in recent days.

 

50’s lawyer maintains that 50 had nothing to do with it and suggestions that he played a role are untrue.

Mic Check…One…Two…..

Greetings and salutations party people. This is DJ Ocean and I’m going to use this blog to provide a bit of relief from the everyday insanity that we face. Sometimes it is hard being sane in a crazy world and it is tough to find like-minded people, but don’t give up hope!

 

This is where DJ Ocean’s World comes in play. It is a place where you can stop, rest, and revive your soul. I’m going to write about anything and everything, from spirituality to the latest hip hop feud. If it interests me, I’ll probably write about it. I’m as random as the wind, so make sure to check back daily for my latest posts.

 

I hope you enjoy. Namaste.