Best Read of the Summer

Yes, I'm aware it is no longer officially summer, but it was warm enough this afternoon to sit on my deck and read - so I'm still counting it that way. In that light, let me share with you a quote from the best read I've had in a while - from "A Brief History of Everything" by Ken Wilber. I'd encourage anyone to pick up this book. A fascinating philosophical approach to a unified theory of the Kosmos (spelling correct). Anyway, here is a very provocative quote from p38:

(Speaking of the fact that self transcendence and creativity is woven into the very fabric of the universe), Religious creationists have seized upon the increasingly obvious truth that the traditional scientific explanation does not work very well. Creativity, not chance builds a Kosmos. But it does not follow that you can then equate creativity with your favorite and particular God. It does not follow that into this void you can postulate a God with all the specific characteristics that make you happy - God is a the God of only the Jews, or only the Hindus, or only the indigenous peoples, and God is watching over me, and is kind, and just, and merciful, and so on. We have to be very careful about these types of limited and anthropomorphic characteristics, which is one of the reasons I prefer "Emptiness" as a term for Spirit, because it means unbounded or unqualifiable.

But the fundamentalists, the "creationists", seize upon these vacancies in the scientific hotel to pack the conference with their delegates. The see the opening - creativity is an absolute - and they equate that absolute with their mythic god, and they stuff this god with all the characteristics that promote their own egoic inclinations, starting with the fact that if you don't believe in this particular god, you fry in hell forever, which is not exactly a generous view of Spirit. So it is a good idea to start simply, I think, and be very careful. There is a spiritual opening in the Kosmos. Let us be careful how we fill it.

A tale of two hands

Yes, Paul, I am alive - yet my lack of posting in recent months may have led to suspicions otherwise. In order to prove that it really is me posting and not some alien who has invaded my body, let me relate the following tale:

Last night, after a couple weeks of really tough losses at the tables (and a waning confidence in my ability to even understand Texas Hold'Em), I gathered my courage and headed for Dakota Dunes Casino. I sat at the 5/10 limit table - and decided to play just simple, solid style - no fancy plays. Well, the return to the fundamentals was indeed helpful for me. That, and the table was very loose and passive, allowing me to chase cards when I needed to and get callers for value when I hit. Two hands are salient:

1. I'm in position 4, and catch QQ. I hadn't played a pot in nearly an hour so, when I raised, everyone folded, except the two blinds. Pot = $27 ($3 rake). Flop comes 952 rainbow. Check, check and I bet $5. I get two callers. Pot = $41. I'm pretty sure I'm good here. The only thing that would worry me (I believe) is an overcard. Perhaps someone was sitting on A9 suited or something silly like that. Both opponents were quite conservative last night. The fellow in the big blind (I have played him before) however, is known to make some creative plays from time to time. And, he was having a really tough night, down nearly $300 by this time. So, I'm beginning to think that he might be tilting just slightly. So, it's possible he's playing 92 offsuit and blowing some steam. The turn card? J - and now all four suits show on the board - no flush possible - and straights are unlikely. I think I'm still good. Check, Check and I bet $10. Small blind folds and the tilting big blind raises! Now I'm a tad worried. I tank for a while and think. Was he playing J9? Not a bad hand to play from the BB for one bet. I call. Pot = $81. River comes 3. BB leads out with a $10 bet. I tank again. It's either two pair - or else he's bluffing and his strategy from the start of the hand was, no matter what comes, represent two pair on the turn. I raise $10. BB re-raises me! I'm nervous, but I trust my read - and simply call. Pot = $141. We open our cards and he shows 85 - a measly pair of 5's. When I flop over my QQ, I'm surprised to see his reaction of anger - he knew he was bluffing. What did he think I was betting, calling and raising with? I hadn't played a hand in an hour! Oh well, a nice profit on that hand - shows the value of patience in a cash game.

2. I have A9 suited in mid position. About half the table, myself included, call. Flop comes JJ6 rainbow. Everyone checks around. I'm pretty sure that no one has a J. Any 9 or A and I'm good. In fact, I may already be leading. The turn comes 9. Now I'm feeling pretty good. SB bets $10, BB calls, I call, everyone else folds. The river comes 6 and, as I watch the BB see that 6 fall, I get this funny intuitive sense that something bad is about to happen. I still can't tell you what I saw or sensed, just that something was wrong. I was prepared to bet, raise and re-raise that pot, until I noticed his reaction. SB checks, BB bets $10 and I consider my options for a while. A board of JJ696. No one has a J and I am 99.9% sure of that. I have the 9 with top kicker. There is no flush available. No straight. Why did BB bet the turn? Only makes sense if either a) he also has a 9, like Q9 or K9 or 89 or b) he has a 6 and seeing everyone else's weakness on the flop thot maybe his 6 was good. Well, if he has the 6, he's really good now. And, it was an un-raised BB pre-flop. I fold. SB folds. And, BB decides to open his hand and shows off 96. A hand that only cost me $15, instead of $45. A good confirmation about the value of folding when your read tells you to.

I hope these tales quell the rumours of my abduction and disappearance.