I'm A Poker Player Without An Island

I haven't played on Full Tilt in a few weeks. I cashed out my bankroll when they offered their new withdraw option. It worked without incident, but I still would prefer a paper check option (that doesn't bounce).

However, FTP hasn't paid my monthly affiliate income and it doesn't appear to be coming. I'm guessing this has something to do with the google search nazis. It would be nice to receive an email from FTP letting me know if they want to continue our relationship.

I do have a little rake back coming to me, so I'll give FTP a couple more weeks to let me down easy.

Fully expecting to leave FTP... where to play? Bodog, AP and UB are not even on the list. Stars is offering a bonus until 7/31, but it's not the best time of year to start grinding there.

I may just play live between Turning Stone and Seneca Niagara - when I can get out there.

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In other news, I had my biggest losing day EVER in fantasy last night. 0 for 16, thank you very much. I just decimated a Waffles sized bankroll on FSL. I have no doubts that I'll get it all back eventually, but the baseball season cannot end soon enough. Too much variance in that game.

Football Pick: CFL, Winnipeg @ Toronto (-3.5). Toronto has been in every game this year and should have more than enough for the last place Bombers. [2008 YTD 5-2.]

OT: I Cried A Little...

... A little on the outside and a little on the inside.

I went to a funeral on Saturday, the third in a short period of time. A lot of local friends & family seem to be cashing their chips in lately.

What gets me is this:

Last Labor Day at the family get-together. I'm sitting on the patio, eating & drinking with five other folks. I'm the youngest at the table. The talk turns to recent ailments, procedures, aches & pains. One person turns to me and says, "See what you have to look forward to?"

The conversation turns to more topical stuff but that has stuck with me.

Now 3 of those 5 people are gone. Damn.

Now if that doesn't make me feel old, my birthday is this week. I like to celebrate each year by telling myself I outlived someone famous. (Last year was John Candy. This year is Elvis.)

I'm OK with getting older, at peace with my mortality, but can we lighten the heavy load a bit for the rest of 2008? Please?

NBC National Fantasy Championship Rip Off

I was reading my daily roto updates when I saw an ad for the NBC National Fantasy Football Championship.

Holy cow, what a rip off. If you think the juice is bad in the WSOP, check this out:

-396 runners at $1300 each = $514,800.
-12 team leagues, each league receives $7700 in prizes. (= $254,100 in prizes.)
-Overall winner receives $100,000 prize. Runners-up recieve $30,200 in prizes. (=$130,200 in prizes.)

Total pool $514,800 minus total prizes = $130,500 rake. That's 25.35% juice on your entry. And this is one of the most generous contests, because they cap the entries at 396.

When was the last time you played a $970+330 poker tournament?

As I have said before, this is why you should play daily fantasy games instead of season long contests.

You can play daily fantasy games with me on FSL. New players use sign up code BUFFALO for a $20 bonus on a $100 deposit. I'm on a huge losing streak so it's easy pickings right now.

Fond Memories

Google street just gave me a great pic of my favorite porch view:




I'll be back there soon.

The Boom-Bust Cycle Of Poker Blogs Is Complete

When I started blogging five years ago, I had zero notions of page ranks, affiliates, ad revenues or link exchanges. I just wanted to document my poker playing experiences.

... Annnnd, I'm still here. A pretty fair amount of poker blogs have come and gone. Some had real life get in the way. Some just got bored with it all. And some just realized there's no money in it (blogging, not poker).

*tumble weeds*

That's what it has become. A ghost town.

Fear not, all six readers I have gained over the years. I'm not going anywhere. You'll still get my semi-regular updates from the felt and beyond.

I need this blog as much as it needs me. Self-expression = sanity in a strange world.

Football Pick: CFL, Edmonton (+3.5) @ Toronto. I'm not a big fan of the home and homes, but all of the other lines were huge. The Argos could have a season long QB controversy, which usually points to a struggling team. [2008 YTD 4-1.]

OT: Pickens Plan

This makes absolutely perfect sense to me:



I've driven the Honda GX (natural gas powered car) and you cannot tell you're driving an "alternative fuel vehicle". Exactly the same experience as a gasoline car, but with only 10% of the emissions.

It does have its shortcomings (range 250 miles on the GX), but you can fill up at home! There is already CNG infrastructure on our roads!

Any knucklehead who is against wind, solar or wave technology doesn't understand the environmental, political and economic implications of our situation.

Last Chance for FSL Reload Bonus

This weekend is your last chance to get a 10% reload bonus at Fantasy Sports Live. Details are right here.



If you are signing up for the first time use bonus code BUFFALO and get a $20 bonus on a $100 deposit.

Don't forget to follow my mundane daily activites on my twitter page.

Gimme Something Cold To Drink

We've had out first "hot" days of summer. 88-89 with some humidity. Not exactly Vegas, but warm enough to wear you down without a/c. I'm certainly moving a lot slower around the ranch.

Not the best weather for us pasty white guys who shovel snow 7 months of the year.

Speaking of slower, I've slowed down my gains on all fronts. Had a few losers with fantasy, going 1/14 last night. Ugh. No offense.

I've also had three straight losing PLO8 sessions, about six buy-ins over 3 days. Last night all of my losses came on 2 hands, where I got all of my money in with nut/nut, only to get 2 outed each time.

Mama said there's be days like these.

Football Lock of the Week: CFL, Saskatchewan (+2.5) @ Hamilton. Defending Grey Cup champs have an awesome defense, which should be enough against the improved Ti-Cats. This line has already started to move, so hit it soon. [2008 YTD 3-1.]

Assorted Items (Including Football Pick)

We've had some electrical problems here at the ranch, which has prevented me from posting much this week. All seems well at the moment.

Fantasy sports is paying the bills right now. I had two sweeps recently, 6/6 on Friday and 10/10 on Monday. However, I had a horrid 3/20 on Saturday, it was my 5th worst day ever. The rain at New Hampshire screwed my NASCAR teams.

I finished June with a 55.15% win percentage and a ROI of +7.62%. Meh. I cashed out a decent profit last night.

I'm playing poker every day, I have a goal of gold iron man this month on FTP. I can reach 100 points by 2 tabling .05/.10 PLO8 between 2-3 hours. Sessions are short enough to prevent the grind from wearing me down. Results so far have been good, as I have always won at that level. I'll update my PT stats sometime this week.

I cashed out of Stars for the first time by check. Got my check in hand in 3 days. THREE DAYS. Not bad at all.

Anyone who knows me, knows I loathe cell phones. I only have one out of necessity, not out of desire. I never answer the damn thing. That being said, I have finally signed up for twitter. You can read my twitter page here.

I plan on using my twitter page as a daily update for my fantasy results, plus random out of town updates and one sentence rants. All of the cool kids are doing it, so why not.

Don't forget about the 10% reload bonus still going on at FSL. Use bonus code BUFFALO for your first time signup and get a 20% bonus on a $100 deposit.



Football Lock of the Week: I begin my 3rd season of football picks (all against the spread). Choosing one CFL, NFL and NCAA game, I'm looking for winning season #3. CFL, Winnipeg @ Montreal (-1). Starting with a pick 'em game, the Al's should win comfortably if they've put their injury woes behind them. [2008 YTD 2-1.]

Have a great holiday.