Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

Haha I seriously thought he was on about "the other" diary and you had been chuntering on about visiting Old Leigh when you popped to Southend a few weeks ago.

I don't read Tom's Diary, it's all glove boxes & WI stuff.

[sonour]

Ooh, thank you to those who have expressed an interest in Vegas staking.

I seem to have mentioned Vegas a bit too early, as I don't have all my little ducks lined up yet, but I should be organised - or not - within a few days.

I want to wrap up some other Diary bits & bobs before I move into Vegas-mode, so I'll try & clear them at the weekend, then, all being well, revert to Vegas stuff.

I don't even know if Jeeves is free this year, she's not Posted on blonde for some time, so I may have to manage without.

I'd need to approach Mere, too, as he acts as sort of stake-referee, auditor & arbiter. Just need to catch him in one of his less grumpy moods, not an easy task. 

For now, though, those who have Posted all get first option, a poisoned chalice if ever I saw one. 

I'll also list those who staked me in previous years, as I think they should also get the option before I try & sell the rest. 

For now, these kind but naive souls are all on the pre-reserve list. Think of it like "Priority boarding" with Ryanair, it looks like great value.

Nakor

Sharplea

booder

DimTom

Doobs

Scotty

Nice Alan

Could I be added to the list please Tikay ?

[Doobs]

One of the most popular forumites shows what a bloody clever so and so he is.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01x412l

[scotty77]

Think that you'll enjoy this

http://www.damninteresting.com/the-ruins-of-fordlandia/

[RED-DOG]

After our conversation yesterday I decided that rather than wait for Zelly to finish reading Bill Bryson At Home and then having to suffer the inconvenience of schlepping around with the thing in the old fashioned paper format, I would download it to my phone.

Having just done so at the not inconsiderable cost of five pounds and a goodly number of pennies, I now realise that I have already read it.

On the up side, I've forgotten most of it, so now I can enjoy reading it all over again, thereby proving that senility can at one and the same time be both a curse and a blessing

[tikay]

Think that you'll enjoy this

http://www.damninteresting.com/the-ruins-of-fordlandia/

What an amazing story, thanks Ryan. Who'd have thought?

I read a similarly curious story yesterday about Schroders, the Investment Bank & wealth management company.

According to the book I was reading, back in the 19th century, farmers yields per acre in the USA were falling dramatically, by as much as 80%, as the soil grew "stale", as fertilisers had yet to be invented. It was suspected that phospates & nitrogen were needed, but nobody quite knew how, why, or in what quantities.

Then some bright spark discovered that guana (bird droppings) were being used as fertiliser in Peru, with startling results. Schroders cottoned on pretty quick, cornered the world market in guana, (it became Peru's biggest export), & it was the answer to the American farmer's problems, as yields immediately shot up to 4 times their original level. And so Schroders made a pretty penny, that shitty acorn eventually growing into a very large oak tree indeed. 

All because of bird droppings.

I read all that in Bryson's astoundingly good book "At Home, a short history of Family Life", which I heartily recommend. It is sort of anecdotal & rambly, but splendidly written & a very good read indeed. 

Unfortunately, a search of both Wiki & google this morning failed to substastiate the story, so it was probably all bollox. Shame, really.

[tikay]

After our conversation yesterday I decided that rather than wait for Zelly to finish reading Bill Bryson At Home and then having to suffer the inconvenience of schlepping around with the thing in the old fashioned paper format, I would download it to my phone.

Having just done so at the not inconsiderable cost of five pounds and a goodly number of pennies, I now realise that I have already read it.

On the up side, I've forgotten most of it, so now I can enjoy reading it all over again, thereby proving that senility can at one and the same time be both a curse and a blessing

Ha! You'll consider that £5 well spent, trust me.

Good to see you last night, looking, if I may say so, splendidly portly.

[tikay]

One of the most popular forumites shows what a bloody clever so and so he is.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01x412l

Incred. One of the few animals that can use tools, according to wiki.

Just imagine if there was a population explosion of honeybadgers? They are seriously scary things, & well-nigh impossible to kill.

[tikay]

Ooh, thank you to those who have expressed an interest in Vegas staking.

I seem to have mentioned Vegas a bit too early, as I don't have all my little ducks lined up yet, but I should be organised - or not - within a few days.

I want to wrap up some other Diary bits & bobs before I move into Vegas-mode, so I'll try & clear them at the weekend, then, all being well, revert to Vegas stuff.

I don't even know if Jeeves is free this year, she's not Posted on blonde for some time, so I may have to manage without.

I'd need to approach Mere, too, as he acts as sort of stake-referee, auditor & arbiter. Just need to catch him in one of his less grumpy moods, not an easy task. 

For now, though, those who have Posted all get first option, a poisoned chalice if ever I saw one. 

I'll also list those who staked me in previous years, as I think they should also get the option before I try & sell the rest. 

For now, these kind but naive souls are all on the pre-reserve list. Think of it like "Priority boarding" with Ryanair, it looks like great value.

Nakor

Sharplea

booder

DimTom

Doobs

Scotty

Nice Alan

Could I be added to the list please Tikay ?

Yes, of course Lisa, thank you.

[horseplayer]

Please reserve me for the minimum of all minimum stakes of possible please Tikay

[tikay]

Please reserve me for the minimum of all minimum stakes of possible please Tikay

Yes of course John, & you can have whatever sum you feel comfy with.

I'm still grappling with the numbers, & what to, or or not to, include, but it looks like I'll be playing, give or take a bit, around $10,000 worth of Tourneys. I'm deffo excluding the $10k things, too big for me, & I might not even play the 2 WSOP PLOL8 things, as they alone come to $4,500. May even sell those seperately, as one or two have asked just to buy action in the bigger stuff. So the package is likely to be between $5,000 & $10,000, & I'll happily like to sell around 50%, give or take a bit, so that means I'll try & sell somewhere between $2,500 to $5,000 worth. I'll offer it to my regular stakers first, + those who have asked for some in the last few days, then I'll maybe mention it on Fred to try to dispose of the rest to the gambling boys. They have no idea of "value". Within reason, there'll be no minimum stake, buy as little as you wish.

As you can still, some serious dithering in progress.

I need to ask MereGrumpy if he minds looking after it, doing a spready, too.

No sign of Jeeves, sadly, not seen her in a while, so I may have to manage alone if I go.

[Karabiner]

I'd be delighted to have up to 5% again if it's available please Tony.

[tikay]

Would be investors beware.

I played the £250 8-Max @ DTD last night, & managed to dispose of 50,000 chips with remarkable efficiency in under 4 hours.

I had to go to DTD to have a meet with Rob on UKPC stuff, but it was a bad mistake to drive up on a wet Friday afternoon, took me over 5 hours, & I arrived in a thoroughly foul mood. 

Nice table, though, including a remarkably cheerful George Bedi, who is wonderful table company.

I found Kings in the very first orbit, but an elderly Gent got me off on a flop & turn of J-9-6-3, when he effectively check-raised me all-in. Whoops.

The general view was "good fold", he had to have a set of Jacks or a set of nines. Willie Tann said it was a "big fold", & I should have called, as it was a re-entry. Unfortunately, you have to PAY for the re-entry. Sod that, too rich.

Within 2 more orbits, we all knew it was a terrible fiold - the guy was playing weak holdings with great strength. Bugger.

He soon had north of 150,000, but George relieved him of a chunk when he played his Kings much better than I did, getting the lot in on the river. Elderly Gent called him quickly - with 7-7....! Game up, sunshine, watch out, I'm coming to get my chips back.

I devised a plan, & it worked to perfection. He was abusing my BB - reasonably, I suppose, but I needed him heads up.

Gary Banks opened (he opened every pot), Elderly Gent flatted on the button, I raised, Gary declined to continue, Mr Gent flatted me, exactly as hoped. I was playing "no-lookie", as I knew I'd bottle it if I looked.

Flop was J-6-3, I check, hoping Gent Bloke would bet. He did. TY, TY. Call.

Turn was some brick, now we are all set for the coup. I check, he bets out, I instantly push all-in. And he insta folds. BOOM! I now look at my cards. I had 3-3, & had flopped a set. FFS, I left a chunk behind there.

George played wonderfully, once he had the coup with the Kings, & Gary Banks departed, he insta changed gear, & it was a delight to watch.

He had top two against Elderly Gent, who flopped bottom set, threes. George then gets there on the turn, & receives a full 2xUp. Incred.

Elderly Gent is now low stack, & clearly ready to shove. George raises, as per, Elderly flats, Nice Anon raises, George flats, Elderly moves all in, Nice Anon & George both call. Big pot already.

Flop was something like 6-K-9, 2 diamonds. Nice Anon now BETS.

WTF?

I'm a great reader of "live tells", & I can see George is hating life, but he sigh calls.

Turn pairs the 6. Nice Anon bets AGAIN. I look at George, he's obviously a bit miffed, but is going to fold. I know these things.

He calls.

River comes a third diamond, Nice Anon now quickly shoves all-in, he has to have the flush, as sure as God made little apples, & George has to fold.

George calls, with his quad sixes. I knew exactly what he had obv.

I finally lost the lot in comical fashion, to, inevitably, George, who raised into my BB.

I knew George was at it, I had Q-3 on a Q high flop, think it was Q-6-4. I made the comedy bet, 1,100 into a 6,000 pot. George will now Raise, as I look weak, I know he will, then I will jam it in his eye. Easy game.

George flats.

Turn is an innocent blank, a 7 or somesuch.

NOW I pull my master stroke, & shove all-in. George, holding 5-3 for the straight, calls.  Night all.

So that's why I dont play NLH any more, the game has passed me by, & Vegas investors can be assured, I do at least try & play the 4 card game properly.

Must add, George was absolutely great fun to share a table with, & it was quite something to see him owning us all. I hope he wins the thing.

[tikay]

I'd be delighted to have up to 5% again if it's available please Tony.

You'll be very welcome Ralph, thank you.

Will confirm everything properly very soon. Not 100% to even go yet, but I'm a "probable/possible". Dithering, see?

[Rod Paradise]

Think that you'll enjoy this

http://www.damninteresting.com/the-ruins-of-fordlandia/

What an amazing story, thanks Ryan. Who'd have thought?

I read a similarly curious story yesterday about Schroders, the Investment Bank & wealth management company.

According to the book I was reading, back in the 19th century, farmers yields per acre in the USA were falling dramatically, by as much as 80%, as the soil grew "stale", as fertilisers had yet to be invented. It was suspected that phospates & nitrogen were needed, but nobody quite knew how, why, or in what quantities.

Then some bright spark discovered that guana (bird droppings) were being used as fertiliser in Peru, with startling results. Schroders cottoned on pretty quick, cornered the world market in guana, (it became Peru's biggest export), & it was the answer to the American farmer's problems, as yields immediately shot up to 4 times their original level. And so Schroders made a pretty penny, that shitty acorn eventually growing into a very large oak tree indeed.  

All because of bird droppings.

I read all that in Bryson's astoundingly good book "At Home, a short history of Family Life", which I heartily recommend. It is sort of anecdotal & rambly, but splendidly written & a very good read indeed.  

Unfortunately, a search of both Wiki & google this morning failed to substastiate the story, so it was probably all bollox. Shame, really.

It's guano, not guana - so that helps with the search.

1869

    Schroders' strong connections with Latin America lead to the firm being appointed as the British agent for the sale of Peruvian guano – an important fertiliser at the time. A specialist department is established to handle the guano business and for the next decade it makes a significant contribution to the firm's profits.

Since the USA had already enacted the Guano Islands Act in 1856 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guano_Islands_Act and Schoeders got the UK agency in 1869 I'd say the story was bits of truth and a wrong conclusion. Also the main driver for guano was as a nitrates source for gunpowder, with fertiliser being a secondary market AFAIK.

Reading their (very brief) timeline on their site it seems likely their initial wealth came from the triangle trade. They mention the tobacco, cotton and sugar markets, but there's no mention of the slavery part of it (much like the 'Tobacco Barons' of Glasgow who built fortunes and some grand architecture from the same trade).

http://www.schroders.com/global/no-chrome/timeline?w=960&h=400&rel=lightbox