I love The Guild.  And this video is simply genius.

Like a lot of people, I first got into poker in 2003, the year Chris Moneymaker won The Main Event.  That did not, however, influence my becoming fascinated with the game.  It was the game itself that drew me in.

I first became interested in poker after a conversation with my friend, Paul.  The two of us were studying at the local B&N, and he was talking about how he had been watching poker on ESPN earlier that day.  He raved about the strategy, the personalities, the bad beats.  I actually mocked him, wondering why anyone would watch poker on TV.  It seemed to me that doing so would be rather boring.  The following Saturday, ESPN broadcast a marathon of every episode of the 2003 Main Event.  On a whim, I decided to check it out.   And I was immediately hooked.  I watched all five parts, from Day One to Moneymaker knocking out Sammy Farha to win the title.

Since then, I have joined the poker boom full on, although I have never really though of myself as being one of the results of The Moneymaker Effect.  I started playing online, rather poorly, I may add.  Catching every episode of poker on ESPN.  And, after deftly ignoring Paul’s many “I told you so’s,”  engaged in many conversations with my friend about the importance of position, the futility of protecting one’s blinds when you have shitty cards and why one should never play a 7-2 off suit.  Very shortly, the poker bug bit the rest of my little circle of friends, to varying degrees.

Now, several years into my poker fandom, I have come to realize one of the reasons why I like poker so much.  Poker is an equal opportunity sport.  Yes, yes,  I know.  Poker is not, technically, a sport.  It is a game.  And I too have heard the late and very great George Carlin’s bit about real sports requiring a ball of some sort.  But, assume for a moment, that poker is a sport.  It is the only sport that where men and women compete directly with one another.  Poker does not care about biological sex, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, language, nationality, sexuality, personality, country of origin, disability.  None of these things matter in poker.  All that matters is skill.  A bit of luck, yes, but skill.  Poker is a game of skill.  And one that is open and equal to all.

As I am certain everyone has heard by now, Google announced today it is entering the operating system game.  Needless to say, I am sure the gang up in Redmond is collectively muttering, “Oh Shit.”   Or at least that is what I imagine them saying.  I could be wrong.  Those who know me have heard me lament on more than one occasion how Microsoft, who hires some of the best and brightest programmers and computer people in the world, continues to completely fail at producing an OS that does not, in a word, suck.  And I should know, since I fought the Windows Wars for 6 years, between 2000-2006.  Microsoft seems to have finally gotten it right with Windows 7.  The question remains, however, if it is too little, too late.  But back now to the point at hand.

So, the rumors about Google and an operating system are true.  I find the idea of a Google OS rather interesting.  I use Google exclusively as my search engine, I use gmail for email, I have played around with Google Docs, I can spend countless hours playing around with Google Earth and made extensive use of Picasa this past semester for a couple of projects.  Yes, I suppose I do fancy Google.  Am I a Google Otaku?  No.  But I do like most of what the company produces.  So, how do I think Google’s OS will fare when direct competition with Microsoft?  The answer is, obviously, who fucking knows?  The damn thing will not even see the light of day  until the middle of next year.  I think it will be a solid product, as is most of what Google gives us.  The really interesting bit is how Microsoft will react to it.

Google is, I think, really the only company that can battle Microsoft for tech supremacy, and a Google OS will be the greatest threat to Microsoft the Redmond dinosaur has yet faced.  The Linux OS will always have its fans, although I do not think it will ever be widely accepted, at least in a way that people will realize they are using Linux.  Apple, and I must point out I am a member of the Cult of Mac, will always be a niche segment of the computer populace, and that is exactly the way I want it to be; as I have said many times before, I am a Mac Patriot, not a Nationalist.  I do not want Apple to dominate the market.  I am quite satisfied with us being our own little community, free of the hassles and troubles of the wider computer world.  And no, I do not care if that sounds smug.

Anyway, the upcoming Google OS should be interesting to play around with when it is released.  I just hope it doesn’t live with a fucking “beta” tag on it forever, like so many of Google’s products.  That would be rather annoying.

Just for the record, I do not believe in:

Nationalism

Racism

Sexism

Censorship

Government Surveillance

Militarism

Imperialism

Religion

DRM

Yes, I changed the theme of my little blog here.  One of these days, I shall actually sit down and put my skills to work and create a theme of my own.  Until then, though, I find the themes offered by WordPress to be more than adequate.

Yes, here they are, kids.  My predictions for the upcoming 2009 NFL season.  Please note, I do not care what Brett Favre does, whether he plays or not, or where.  My picks will remain the same.

NFC

NFC EAST

1. Eagles 11-5

2. Giants 9-7

3. Cowboys 9-7

4. Redskins 8-8

NFC NORTH

1. Vikings 10-6

2. Bears 10-6

3. Packers 9-7

4. Lions 3-13

NFC SOUTH

1. Saints 11-5

2. Falcons 11-5

3. Panthers 8-8

4. Buccaneers 5-11

NFC WEST

1. Cardinals 13-3

2. Seahawks 10-6

3. 49ers 8-8

4. Rams 4-12

Playoff Teams:

Cardinals, Saints, Eagles, Vikings, Falcons, Seahawks

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:

Cardinals over Saints

AFC
AFC EAST

1. Patriots 12-4

2. Dolphins 9-7

3. Jets 8-8

4. Bills 7-9

AFC NORTH

1. Steelers 12-4

2. Ravens 9-7

3. Bengals 7-9

4. Browns 5-11

AFC SOUTH

1. Colts 12-4

2. Titans 12-4

3. Texans 10-6

4. Jaguars 6-10

AFC WEST

1. Chargers 13-3

2. Broncos 7-9

3. Raiders 6-10

4. Chiefs 4-12

Playoff Teams:

Chargers, Steelers, Patriots, Colts, Titans, Texans

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:

Patriots over Chargers

SUPER BOWL 44:

PATRIOTS OVER CARDINALS

DARK HORSE SUPER BOWL PICK:

CHARGERS OVER SAINTS

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An excellent interview on Canadian TV with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush, my all time favorite band.

No, I am not dead yet.  Life has just been very much in the way.

Give me Winter skies

Instead of Summer haze

Instead of Spring mornings

Give me Autumn days

The day I have long waited for is nearly here.  Goodbye, George Bush.  You will not be missed.

Greetings, Barack Obama.  It is nice to be on the winning side for once.  And let the American people, and the whole world, have patience.  There is much to be done, many problems and issues at hand.  And history awaits.