Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[Longines]

Afternoon Mr T, had an enjoyable evening sat next to Marcel Luske at the DTD plo comp yesterday. I asked why he hadn't 3bet double suited aces with a nice back hand to a single raise.

"Yes, you can ask" made me smile.

Alas I didn't trouble the final table so played cash with the usual lineup of regs plus a weekend visitor, who managed to get his last £85 in pre and two hands later had £1400. And people wonder why we prefer 4+ cards.

[Karabiner]

Afternoon Mr T, had an enjoyable evening sat next to Marcel Luske at the DTD plo comp yesterday. I asked why he hadn't 3bet double suited aces with a nice back hand to a single raise.

"Yesh, you can ashk" made me smile.

Alas I didn't trouble the final table so played cash with the usual lineup of regs plus a weekend visitor, who managed to get his last £85 in pre and two hands later had £1400. And people wonder why we prefer 4+ cards.

FYP

[Longines]

Heh, so true. Lovely guy, a pleasure to share a table with. He was playing  dealers choice after the comp, would have  enjoyed playing a hand or three of super stud and padooki with him but unfortunately the list was long.

[Karabiner]

Heh, so true. Lovely guy, a pleasure to share a table with. He was playing  dealers choice after the comp, would have  enjoyed playing a hand or three of super stud and padooki with him but unfortunately the list was long.

I'm sure that binning the casino-pit will really give the cash-games a boost over the festive season.

For the first time in ages I'm slightly tempted to give them a little action, although if they're still taking full rake from split-pots...

[typhoon13]

China's new high-speed train will 'float' over tracks to hit 370 miles an hour

Proposed magnetic levitation train could make ground travel faster than traveling by air in certain circumstances.

Blooming eck....how safe would you feel?

[typhoon13]

Since 2008, China has built 20,000 miles of railway tracks, much of it for high speed trains. A real alternative for flying. Two thirds of all global railway tracks are now located in China.

Extraordinary. The total route mileage of UK railway tracks is 10,000 miles.

Comparisons are awkward though, as "route miles" & "track miles" are different things.

Eh?

Imagine the line from, say, London to Birmingham.

Typically, it would be two tracks, one used for northbound , the other for southbound. (Traditionally, trains going to London are always "up" trains, from London are "down" trains, but that's another story).

The route mileage is the distance between Birmingham & London, say, 100 miles, but the track miles would be double that.  

Ancient Trev quoted 20,000 miles in China, but I have no idea if that was route miles or track miles.

Hang on a moment whist I see what my hardback Ladybird book quotes...........

Sorry there's only a picture

[tikay]

It's a slippery slope.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-50835604

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

It's a slippery slope.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-50835604

Click to see full-size image.

You're supposed to sit facing backwards with your feet in those stirrups.

[Pokerpops]

It's a slippery slope.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-50835604

Click to see full-size image.

You're supposed to sit facing backwards with your feet in those stirrups.

“ If it is real I think it's a perfect representation of the disdain capitalism has for workers and for human beings," Hilary Gardiner, who uses Twitter username @plume__, told the BBC.

Wonder how Ms Gardiner voted...

[tikay]

Every year, the staff at SB&G up in Leeds have a nominated charity. Once chosen, they raise money for that charity for the next year by doing sponsored walks, challenges, selling home baked cakes, Summer Fetes, you know the sort of thing.

I believe SB&G match the staff donations £ for £, plus they hold an annual Charity Ball, raffle off  EFL football club shirts or corporate box tickets, & so on.

The charity chosen always has a local connection, & must have helped or have a connection with a current staff member at some time.

2019 was Yorkshire Air Ambulance, & they raised a pretty impressive £120,000 for them in 2019.

I suppose all or most big businesses do similar things.

So, last week they held a “pitch” for the 2020 nominated charity.

5 charities, each accompanied by a Staff Member,  addressed the staff at the “Roulette Wheel” area, which seemed a little incongruous to me, but it’s where all the “pitches” are held so I guess it’s fine. It’s called “The Roulette Wheel” because….well, you can see in this photo of one of the regular Pitches which are held there daily to address all sorts.

Click to see full-size image.

 

[tikay]

The whole thing is streamed “live” to all the SB&G Offices in Leeds, Sheffield, Coventry, Hammersmith, & to those of us who work from home, aka “remote workers”.

So I settled down to watch it one day last week.

Pitch # 1 Children’s Heart Surgery.

At one point, the nominator mentioned that operating on a babies heart is so difficult as it is only the size of a walnut. Jeez, I was welling up already.

Pitch # 2 Cystic Fibrosis

The staff Member who sponsored this pitch has CF, & two of his brothers have already died from it at an early age.  Cripes. Getting the drift yet?

Pitch # 3 Help Refugees.

This was almost the most moving of all, & the aim was to help the thousands of poor souls across Europe who are trying to find a better life for them & their families but have become stranded in places like “the jungle” in Calais.

Pitch # 4 Macmillan Cancer Support.

Clearly one of THE most worthy charities, but the Pitch was way too corporate for my personal taste, it was all slick & professional, & of course they employ full time Officers & Staff.

Pitch # 5, Hospice Care.

So it ended as it began, with me sat there with something in my eye.




 I guess “Help Refugees” will finish dead last, such is life in the UK these days. I hope not, but have to be realistic.  

Think my 1-2 would be Children’s Heart Surgery & Help Refugees, though I’m not sure in which order.

I mean, how are we supposed to choose between all those causes, all of which are wonderfully worthy?

The result – it’s a staff vote – will be revealed tomorrow. Anyone care to guess which Charity will win? And which Charity most deserves to win? Hopelessly impossible questions of course.

Being God is a tough gig I'm guessing.  

[RED-DOG]

Great post.

WP to all concerned.

No way of choosing a charity from that list. It saddens me no end to think that causes like those are struggling while we go on with our lives mostly unaware.

Not that I blame us for enjoying our privileges, far from it, but there but for the grace of God, or chance, or whatever you believe in, go us.

[typhoon13]

Firstly very well done in raising such good amounts

If your charity raising reaches the impressive £120k again surely the easy answer is £24Kish each

£60k the voted top two etc

Only a thought

[tikay]

Firstly very well done in raising such good amounts

If your charity raising reaches the impressive £120k again surely the easy answer is £24Kish each

£60k the voted top two etc

Only a thought

Well yes, that's possible I suppose.

However, they stick with a single Charity for better focus I think, & work with them closely all year.

Choosing one is horribly difficult, but in some ways it's better.

Anyway, I think the result is due today, so we'll see soon enough.

[Marky147]

'Flu sucks.

That is all.

Man flu is the worstest.

Yo Marky, how you doing bud?

I'm a bit of a big baby, but bloody Nora I felt awful.

I'm good, for the minute.

Back to reality next week, but at least the blow will be softened by a proper roast!

Proper awful? Sounds like me after my run in with the Gin at Bar Luca last week