Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

I finished reading this book last week.




What a lovely title that is, don't you think? It's meant to convey his love of all things "work". I've spent most of my life doing the same, though not so much of late, & of course he was a bit more successful. I'm sure at some stage he would have said "don't be a busy fool".

Good book, most books on Buffett are, though it had the peculiar problem of being set in a microscopic type font. (No, I don't have a Kindle thank you, though I suppose I'll get one some day soon).

Aside from the main thrust of the book, two memories linger.

First up, Warren & Bill Gates have teamed up, & both are giving away every cent of their personal wealth. As of today, using wiki & google as a guide, Bill (& Melinda) are worth $79 billion (billion, note, not million), & Warren is a shade behind at $72 billion. Lets call it a combined $150 billy. All given to philanthropic causes. They should both be Knighted, Sirred or Lorded, no matter they are not British. How can anyone not respect such largesse?

And not only are they giving all their own wealth away, they are lobbying as many billionaires as they can to do likewise. (Millionaires need not apply).

Here's their pet project - The Giving Pledge.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Giving_Pledge

As of January 2015, 128 billionaire or former billionaire individuals and couples have signed the pledge.

That's pretty good, huh? They persuaded up to 128 billionaires to give their wealth to philanthropic causes.

We see, hear & read plenty of negativity, but the world's not all bad. It is a bit galling to see so much hate directed at Bill Gates, mainly by Team Back Bedroom, but that's how life is I suppose.

The other memory was a few lines from Bill Gates. This was in 1998, but it struck me as one reason why guys like Warren & Bill are so wealthy - they are just that bit brighter than most of us.

They are discussing Microsoft's early attempts to sell or licence software in China. Doubt too many people are capable of thinking in this manner.

"Although about 3 million computers get sold every year in China, but people don't pay for the software," he said. "Someday they will, though. As long as they are going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. They'll get sort of addicted, and then we'll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade."


Here are the two men playing a little bridge.

Click to see full-size image.

[Steve Swift]

Chris Evans fanboy here.

On the topic above I seem to recall that when Chris sold his business he said that he then had enough ££ for the rest of his life and that he was then going to give away any other monies he earned to charity.  I am sure I did not imagine this ?

Steve

[Omm]

Loving the write ups Tikay, just make sure your enjoying yourself, most of us invested to live the dream through your diary (of course winning money would be nice), maybe u and Pleno could help each other out, your bust out mindset and his gameplay, probably be the ultimate fighting machine, Tleno we could call you.

[RED-DOG]

Thirty plus years ago, I used to sell salvaged engines and gearboxes to an export firm called B & S Morgan who were based alongside the Manchester ship canal in Warrington.

Each Monday morning the boss Brian Morgan would issue a list of the things they would require the following week. The list would look something like this.

TR7 engine and box.

Austin 1100 engine with 4 sync box.

Transit axles.

Rover 3500 speedometer.

Ford 1500 engine x flow head.

Borg Warner spring and lever clutch plates.

Etc etc...

So I would spend the week searching for the items on the list and then, usually on a Friday or a Saturday morning, I would load everything up and take it to Warrington to get weighed in.

When you arrived at Morgan's, you had the wait your turn in a long line of lorries and vans, then you would be invited to drive into a vast hanger like building that was filled to the brim with row upon row of shelving packed with used vehicle parts. There was just enough room to reverse between them and into a little clearing where your load would be checked off.

Brian Morgan's right hand man Roger was in charge of inspecting your goods, and he waged a constant battle with us suppliers. You see even though the parts we supplied didn't have to be in good working order, they did have to meet certain criteria. For example, an engine could be missing all of it's components save for sump, crank, block, head and rocker cover, but the block could not be cracked and the crank couldn't be seized. Unfortunately, a lot of the time those were precisely the things that were wrong with the engines we found.

Now if we could buy a cracked or seized engine for £20 and it would make £100 if we could get the fault past Roger it was a chance worth taking, so the whole thing developed into a huge game. As Roger became more adept at detecting disguised faults, we in turn became more sophisticated at disguising them.

Say for instance a crank was seized, initially I could get away with removing the sump pan, disconnecting the con rods to allow the crank to turn, and then replacing the sump pan. Eventually though, Roger realised that when freed from the task of pushing the pistons, the crank was turning too easily and he would order his flunky to remove the sump and discover my subterfuge. I countered this by making shims to tighten the crank bearings, thereby simulating the correct resistance, Roger then took to examining the sump bolts for chipped paint, scratches etc, and if they looked like they had been messed with, he would have the sump removed, and so it went on.

For a period of about 3 months, Roger's flunky was a skinny ginger haired kid with acne and glasses. He was a real know it all who never stopped talking. He wasn't offensive, he just wouldn't shut up. He knew everything about everything.

His downfall was his insistence on telling Roger how to do his Job. In truth, he quickly became more proficient at spotting dodgy goods than Roger would ever be, often he did this by quizzing the suppliers and watching their reaction. He was very astute.

Predictably, his er.. enthusiasm was his eventual downfall. He made himself unpopular with both Roger and the suppliers and he was sidelined to some other job. We never saw him again.

When I say we never saw him again that's not strictly true. The other suppliers never saw him again but I used to like to arrive at Morgans very early in the morning on weigh in days, about 6am as a rule, which was an hour before they opened. That way, I could be first in the queue, and I could spend a quiet hour drinking tea from my flask and watching the mist rise on the Manchester ship canal.

Sometimes, the skinny ginger kid would roll up for work on his bike and spend 10 minutes standing beside me, watching the world come to life. During these times, he never uttered a word, except for the odd occasion when he would mutter something like "My God, it's beautiful".

The only time he spoke directly to me during our early morning reverie was once when I asked him his name. He stuck out his hand and said, "Chris Evans".

[doubleup]

enjoyed this one which i saw today

Click to see full-size image.

That is brilliant

[Knottikay]

Thirty plus years ago, I used to sell salvaged engines and gearboxes to an export firm called B & S Morgan who were based alongside the Manchester ship canal in Warrington.

Each Monday morning the boss Brian Morgan would issue a list of the things they would require the following week. The list would look something like this.

TR7 engine and box.

Austin 1100 engine with 4 sync box.

Transit axles.

Rover 3500 speedometer.

Ford 1500 engine x flow head.

Borg Warner spring and lever clutch plates.

Etc etc...

So I would spend the week searching for the items on the list and then, usually on a Friday or a Saturday morning, I would load everything up and take it to Warrington to get weighed in.

When you arrived at Morgan's, you had the wait your turn in a long line of lorries and vans, then you would be invited to drive into a vast hanger like building that was filled to the brim with row upon row of shelving packed with used vehicle parts. There was just enough room to reverse between them and into a little clearing where your load would be checked off.

Brian Morgan's right hand man Roger was in charge of inspecting your goods, and he waged a constant battle with us suppliers. You see even though the parts we supplied didn't have to be in good working order, they did have to meet certain criteria. For example, an engine could be missing all of it's components save for sump, crank, block, head and rocker cover, but the block could not be cracked and the crank couldn't be seized. Unfortunately, a lot of the time those were precisely the things that were wrong with the engines we found.

Now if we could buy a cracked or seized engine for £20 and it would make £100 if we could get the fault past Roger it was a chance worth taking, so the whole thing developed into a huge game. As Roger became more adept at detecting disguised faults, we in turn became more sophisticated at disguising them.

Say for instance a crank was seized, initially I could get away with removing the sump pan, disconnecting the con rods to allow the crank to turn, and then replacing the sump pan. Eventually though, Roger realised that when freed from the task of pushing the pistons, the crank was turning too easily and he would order his flunky to remove the sump and discover my subterfuge. I countered this by making shims to tighten the crank bearings, thereby simulating the correct resistance, Roger then took to examining the sump bolts for chipped paint, scratches etc, and if they looked like they had been messed with, he would have the sump removed, and so it went on.

For a period of about 3 months, Roger's flunky was a skinny ginger haired kid with acne and glasses. He was a real know it all who never stopped talking. He wasn't offensive, he just wouldn't shut up. He knew everything about everything.

His downfall was his insistence on telling Roger how to do his Job. In truth, he quickly became more proficient at spotting dodgy goods than Roger would ever be, often he did this by quizzing the suppliers and watching their reaction. He was very astute.

Predictably, his er.. enthusiasm was his eventual downfall. He made himself unpopular with both Roger and the suppliers and he was sidelined to some other job. We never saw him again.

When I say we never saw him again that's not strictly true. The other suppliers never saw him again but I used to like to arrive at Morgans very early in the morning on weigh in days, about 6am as a rule, which was an hour before they opened. That way, I could be first in the queue, and I could spend a quiet hour drinking tea from my flask and watching the mist rise on the Manchester ship canal.

Sometimes, the skinny ginger kid would roll up for work on his bike and spend 10 minutes standing beside me, watching the world come to life. During these times, he never uttered a word, except for the odd occasion when he would mutter something like "My God, it's beautiful".

The only time he spoke directly to me during our early morning reverie was once when I asked him his name. He stuck out his hand and said, "Chris Evans".

Very good post. I generally didn't know where that was heading until the last line. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[DesD]

enjoyed this one which i saw today

Click to see full-size image.

Cracked me up.

[Tal]

Please tell me you've made a lot of those terms up, Red. Sump pan? Rocker cover? Flow head?

Also, please apply for the Top Gear job. You'd make a great James May.

[RED-DOG]

Please tell me you've made a lot of those terms up, Red. Sump pan? Rocker cover? Flow head?

Also, please apply for the Top Gear job. You'd make a great James May.

Captain Slow? What a great job he has, playing around with over sized toys and geeky mechanical stuff. I'd even let my hair grow ridiculously long and keep pushing it out of my eyes.

[slowmo]

Tony

I was wondering if you thought of folding to a min-cash and then trying to spin it up ??   A min-cash is still a significant amount of money . You know that was my strategy the other day . For me I am not embarrassed by bagging a small amount of chips which you mentioned you were . I have gambled too early and been impatient a few times at WSOP and always regretted it.  You never know when YOUR card rush is coming but stay in the game as long as you can to give them Poker gods the chance . At the end of the day 2.5 k is better than nothing so why look to gamble? Get the cash then review where you're at .
I also think that the days are so long at WSOP that tiredness is a huge factor , it's easy to make mistakes , which means I avoid spots in the last level without a big hand . Get me to day 2 , give me a good nights sleep , a new table draw and let's see where we go . 
I also think smallball is often a better strategy than looking for a double up. You know I mentioned Shaun Deeb from my table the other day. Min raise 5-6 times an orbit, picking on weak big blind, small C- bets , playing down the streets . He went from 5k to 30 + k in chips in about 2 levels and never once was he all - in . Absolute masterclass which I will not forget and will take forward with me. Maybe something you might consider .
Me back in Florida. Had two good days of cash at the Luxor , got even on the trip and decided I didn't fancy another 14 hour day with the wrinklies in the Seniors and I got a ton of brownie points by flying in to Tampa to accompany my lady to her Edward Jones convention.
Hope everything goes well for the rest of the trip and remember there is  no shame in a min - cash . It's good for the wallet and another FLAG . Win Win IMO

[MANTIS01]

My wife plays poker that way, a lot of women do.

And oops I forgot about tiredness to add to the challenges we face. A blind, tired, dithering, incontinent, old pantless woman. We are all fucked.

[RED-DOG]

My wife plays poker that way, a lot of women do.

And oops I forgot about tiredness to add to the challenges we face. A blind, tired, dithering, incontinent, old pantless woman. We are all fucked.

Just stop it now. I'm trying not to laugh but I can't help it.

[Nakor]

Please tell me you've made a lot of those terms up, Red. Sump pan? Rocker cover? Flow head?

Also, please apply for the Top Gear job. You'd make a great James May.

Captain Slow? What a great job he has, playing around with over sized toys and geeky mechanical stuff. I'd even let my hair grow ridiculously long and keep pushing it out of my eyes.

Please give Tal's suggestion some serious consideration.  Evans has stated anyone can apply . . . you would be perfect IMO.

[RED-DOG]

Please tell me you've made a lot of those terms up, Red. Sump pan? Rocker cover? Flow head?

Also, please apply for the Top Gear job. You'd make a great James May.

Captain Slow? What a great job he has, playing around with over sized toys and geeky mechanical stuff. I'd even let my hair grow ridiculously long and keep pushing it out of my eyes.

Please give Tal's suggestion some serious consideration.  Evans has stated anyone can apply . . . you would be perfect IMO.

Nah. They want someone to talk about Maseratis with flappy paddle gear boxes and traction control. I'm only capable of talking about Morris Minors with flapping exhaust boxes and losing control.

[RED-DOG]

If the Beeb ever fancy rekindling any of the Jack Hargreaves programmes I'd have half a chance though.