Poker Media Mid Life Crisis

[Jon MW]

Doesn't anybody read fiction anymore? 

Not me I'm afraid. I love non fiction because I always feel its a productive use of my relaxation time. I also love it when I am able to apply a nugget of information I learned from a book (Case in point, this week I interviewed Finnish player Ville Wahlbeck and I had a decent conversation about the Finnish school system as a direct result of the last book I read).

I keep meaning to read a fiction book, the problem is I want to read a real belter of a book and I cant decide which one to start with which I havent already seen the movie adaptation for. Any suggestions for a sure fire winner?

For information purposes then writers who do good research make all the difference for fiction.

Bernard Cornwell is probably the best for that - not only does he do extensive research for his books, but he also writes a section at the end of each one which basically says, 'these are the bits which are true', and 'these are the bits that I made up'.

I find it odd when people think they can't learn anything from reading fiction - at the very least it expands your knowledge of how to write.

Which I'm sure you don't need  :|

[KarmaDope]

Doesn't anybody read fiction anymore? 

Not me I'm afraid. I love non fiction because I always feel its a productive use of my relaxation time. I also love it when I am able to apply a nugget of information I learned from a book (Case in point, this week I interviewed Finnish player Ville Wahlbeck and I had a decent conversation about the Finnish school system as a direct result of the last book I read).

I keep meaning to read a fiction book, the problem is I want to read a real belter of a book and I cant decide which one to start with which I havent already seen the movie adaptation for. Any suggestions for a sure fire winner?

Under the Dome, by Stephen King. Massive book, absolute belter as well. One of the few I will happily re-read.

Either that or The Stand by the same man. Neither have been made into films (Stand was a miniseries years ago, UtD is a TV series that hasnt aired over here yet) so you should, hopefully, be ok.

[Doobs]

Doesn't anybody read fiction anymore? 

Not me I'm afraid. I love non fiction because I always feel its a productive use of my relaxation time. I also love it when I am able to apply a nugget of information I learned from a book (Case in point, this week I interviewed Finnish player Ville Wahlbeck and I had a decent conversation about the Finnish school system as a direct result of the last book I read).

I keep meaning to read a fiction book, the problem is I want to read a real belter of a book and I cant decide which one to start with which I havent already seen the movie adaptation for. Any suggestions for a sure fire winner?

Under the Dome, by Stephen King. Massive book, absolute belter as well. One of the few I will happily re-read.

Either that or The Stand by the same man. Neither have been made into films (Stand was a miniseries years ago, UtD is a TV series that hasnt aired over here yet) so you should, hopefully, be ok.

Under The Dome is on channel 5.  My missus watched it every week.

[booder]

Bernard Cornwell is probably the best for that - not only does he do extensive research for his books, but he also writes a section at the end of each one which basically says, 'these are the bits which are true', and 'these are the bits that I made up'.

Totally agree , read Agincourt Barry , a stunningly good book.

http://www.bernardcornwell.net/books/azincourt-2/

[RED-DOG]

Doesn't anybody read fiction anymore? 

I read something about tikay being a winning player.....

[DaveShoelace]

The wife and I have this app called 'Find Me' where you can see where someone else who has the same app, and given you permission, is in the world. So looking at the app now I can see my wife is at work, a few days ago she was driving back from Kings Lynn and I could see she was about 40 minutes away on the A1 etc.

Obviously a really handy app for finding people, obviously it needs to be people you trust otherwise it just becomes an efficient stalking app.

Anyway, I told me my mum about it and she is now obsessed with it. Every couple of hours I get a text message saying "guess where I am now", to which I reply "you are at the Morrisons down the road", to which she replies "YES! it's brilliant isn't it?"

It's quite sweet how the novelty has not seemed to wear off. It's like seeing my dog go crazy everytime he sees the same tennis ball he has had for years.

[Tal]

Turn it off when you next go to Vegas IMO.

[Longy]

The wife and I have this app called 'Find Me' where you can see where someone else who has the same app, and given you permission, is in the world. So looking at the app now I can see my wife is at work, a few days ago she was driving back from Kings Lynn and I could see she was about 40 minutes away on the A1 etc.

Obviously a really handy app for finding people, obviously it needs to be people you trust otherwise it just becomes an efficient stalking app.

Anyway, I told me my mum about it and she is now obsessed with it. Every couple of hours I get a text message saying "guess where I am now", to which I reply "you are at the Morrisons down the road", to which she replies "YES! it's brilliant isn't it?"

It's quite sweet how the novelty has not seemed to wear off. It's like seeing my dog go crazy everytime he sees the same tennis ball he has had for years.

Can see this causing a few arguments in relationships.

"Why won't you use the app?"
"Do you not trust me?"
"Why did you go the pub after work?"

etc

[DaveShoelace]

Crazy scenes outside Shoelace Towers.

I live opposite a post office, Im upstairs in my office and I hear screaming and an alarm. I look out of the window and see two guys in black & balaclavas smashing up the post office. I get on the phone and ring the police and gave them a running commentary of the whole thing.

Somebody, dunno if it was robber or member of the public, held the door shut from the outside. Then I saw one of them beating the shit out of Peter, who works in the post office. Then the door opened, one of them got away but the other one got pinned down by someone in the shop and someone from the street. Then guys from the other shops waded in and helped pin him down (The elderly owner then appeared with a golf club for good measure.

After I got off the phone to the police I went outside, and they arrived (hats off to them, they got a car and a riot van here within about 2 mins of my call). It turns out they both had guns.

They got the lad off the floor and he was covered in blood and screaming at the police like he was the victim. We all gave our statements. Now my road is closed off.

Very brave, if not foolish, of the guys to try and take down the robber. Not sure I would have done it.

I'd love to hear the recording of my phone call to the police.

[DaveShoelace]

duplicate

[DaveShoelace]

Having a crazy few days. The two robbers got caught, I have given evidence. Post Office folks have become local celebs.

Car troubles again (hence my buying a new card thread in the rail).

And yesterday my back went. It is all from the fact I have started standing to work instead of sitting. In my research it was warned that if you sit for long periods after it could cause this. I sat more than usual Fri-Sunday and I am in agony whenever I sit now. Could be worse, walking I am fine with.

Trying to work out which is worse - your back going, or toothache. I think toothache.

I don't want to spam, but 'next door' I got to interview Seth Palansky on a subject where we had very opposing views, after me being very critical of the WSOP. It was really enjoyable and he is a real gent. I've never understood why when two people can have an opposing view on a single subject it can create such anymosity, so it made for a really enjoyable interview because of the mutual respect shown.

[DaveShoelace]

And just so I have even more accountability, here are my starting stats from yesterday:

Weight - 94kg (I'm 5ft 10" btw)

Stomach  - 43.5"

Belt line 43.5"

Chest 44"

Body fat - 20.3% - 21.8%

The aim is to lose 6lbs and three inches (combined across the three measurements in any order) by October 7th.  

Weight - 92kg

Stomach  - 40.5"

Belt line 41.5"

Chest 44"

Body fat - 18.5% - 20.3%

I was a bit down on motivation the last two or three weeks because although I have been working hard, look and feel better, the weight loss just has not seemed to happen. I lost about 4-5lbs early and then it stayed that way for a whole month.

Finally had my weigh in today and officially lost 4.4lbs, 5 inches, and I have gone down a whole bracket for bodyfat %. It wasn't the 6lb loss I had planned, but he told me the inches lost and bodyfat% more than made up for it. Chuffed to bits.

Then the sod made me do some excercises that nearly made me throw up.

Weight - 89kg

Stomach  - 40"

Belt line 41"

Chest 44"

Body fat - 16.2% - 18.4%

 

Weight - 90.5kg

Stomach  - 40"

Belt line 39.5"

Chest 44"

Body fat - 16.2% - 18.4%

With my back going I'm not surprised that I have put a bit of weight on, but pleased enough that I have managed to get a reduction in my measurements. I'm certainly at risk of plateuing atm.

[DaveShoelace]

New motor

Sincere thanks to everyone on this thread about the benefits of leasing vs buying outright

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=63278.msg1911836#msg1911836

In the end we went with a nearly new (2013, 2900 miles) Fiesta from TC Harrison on a PCP deal. We managed to get a load of extras thrown in including rear parking sensors added, three years free breakdown cover, a really good deal on our old car as part exchange (£1,700 - about double what we expected to get from it). Managed to get the payments under £100 a month and we have the option to buy in three years for £4300. If we end up buying it, it will have cost us just under 10k.

I recognise the benefits of buying outright, but for our personal circumstances this was perfect. Neither of us are particularly car savvy, so the fact that we get both a new car with full warranty and the opportunity to exchange it in three years for another new one gives me piece of mind. The only long distance drives we tend to do is my wife visiting her folks in Norfolk so I dont have to worry about her breaking down. The whole reason we decided to get a new car was we had a recurring problem with ours that always seemed to kick in when we really needed it.

The wife loves it, it is the perfect car for us. She likes pretty cars and this has lots of great mod cons, especially lots of smartphone features. I don't care about cars at all and just see them as functional and this is probably the least embarrassing motor from her list (We almost got a Fiat 500). It should be very economical and I reckon it will not decline too much in value.  

Thanks again, I look forward to bumping this thread in three years when I reveal what a con PCP is.

Click to see full-size image.

[Mohican]

Is the bird being flipped in this picture above??

[DaveShoelace]

That's actually my bird with the thumbs up