The Game of Golf

No, I don't work at McDouglestein & Benson Investment Banking Enterprise. But, I do work in an office, and on some levels there are similarities. I posit that on a topical level - interest in golf is one of them. I have been to a driving range a grand total of four times in life. I am somewhat interested in this game as a new pursuit and challenge. So I have been talking to the guys about it as much as possible because 1) people who golf love to talk about golf and 2) the second best thing aside from actually doing something you find fun, is talking about it (some might say more fun). The reaction people get when you say the word "golf" is astonishing. Above and beyond the reaction the word evokes from it's purveyors is when you say you are new to the game and are eager to learn. I have received roughly 411,731 pieces of advice over the last three days since I began to be interested in "getting into the golf game." It is the number one thing to bring up in a group conversation better than the weather, traffic, and movies you've seen. For me, this could not be understated. It is clear that the three aforementioned subjects are the most frequently discussed topics, but the most fervently discussed topic in the corporate work place is golf.

Just now in the lunch room I was barraged with comments, thoughts, suggestions, prices, and everything to do with golf. It was a smorgasbord of topics relating to golf. People love it, people hate it, but people will talk about it with you and have a story of something great or horrible that happened to them regarding this sport. Maybe how they suffered years trying to get good - and then gave up. But still, they have things to add to the conversation and not just topical "I take the 10 to the 405 south if its after 4:30 on Monday" -esque type things. There is a substance and level of sincerity that is unique to most work conversations.

I would be amiss if I were not to address that IAMBA. Also, most of my life should be about getting my cake up. These two factors position golf front and center. Golf may possibly be a sport than no one enjoys. I may or may not completely agree with the previous sentence and could make arguments (strong ones at that) that would support it. I won't. But let's operate under that assumption in the forecoming discussion that immediately proceeds. People golf because other people golf, because other people golf, because their boss/client/future boss/future client/networking opportunity/overall hustlin opportunity/ golfs. There are millions (billions?) of people all over the world who are golfing because it is a way to lube damn deals, and advance their lives and generally help to get their respective cake up. The logic as it pertains to me is as follows:

IAMBA -> Trying to Get Cake Up -> Going to start golfing.

It's not a complicated issue, but it is not trivial. If you leave out the middle step, you will see why me (and many others) don't golf. It is the cornerstone. If you don't got it, you won't golf and you won't ever really be a "member." (The discussion of what exactly a "member" is, is assumed by the Blogmaster to be known by the readers, but a more rigorous analysis is necessary, possibly at a later date.)

So that is what the game of golf is. It's about spending hours and hours and hours and years and years and years doing something that aint nearly as fun as a man sport like basketball - but what's important here is pickup basketball ain't gonna get you a crib in the hamptons.

Boys In The Hood Sell Anything For Profit...

Thing is, everyone these days is straight hustlin'. If you're not, someone else is, and when you get out hustled and you're washing the other guys Benz, then you can only blame yourself.  This surely does not violate the I'm A Man Before Anything (heretofore "IAMBA") clause, it simply is the number one tenant (George Tenat, aka "Slam Dunk" anyone?). That tenant is Get Your Cake Up ("GYCU"). Whatever moves you are making that are in the direction of G[ting]YCU, they are completely and comprehensively covered under the IAMBA clause (and any and all subclauses). What follows is a story of a bona-fide Up and Commer, and how he is AMBA and trying to G[his]CU. A simple lunch meeting with some established players in the game, and how he showed, indeed, he is AMBA:

[13:04] Up And Coming Lawyer: had an iced tea, unsweetened
[13:04] Up And Coming Lawyer: and the 12.95 Wednesday special
[13:04] Up And Coming Lawyer: not the cheapest thing on the menu, so they dont think i dont respect their money
[13:05] Up And Coming Lawyer: but not the most expensive so they dont think im trying to take advantage
[13:05] Up And Coming Lawyer: it was sliced beef roast
[13:05] Up And Coming Lawyer: sides: creamy mashed potatotes and chives, 
[13:05] Up And Coming Lawyer: better choice than the fries so im not eating with my fingers, i mean what am I, a toddler?
[13:06] Up And Coming Lawyer: side caesar salad so they know I'm responsible, and like to have a little green on my plate
[13:06] Up And Coming Lawyer: the side salad shows i think about health, the beef shows that i'm a man, and no bitch
[13:07] Up And Coming Lawyer: I asked questions about where they were from, why they practice, and shared annecdotes on the following:
[13:07] Up And Coming Lawyer: living near Palm Desert (there is a real estate conf. there coming up, maybe I'll get to go, who knows)
[13:09] Up And Coming Lawyer: A cannibis dispensery case I'm working on (I didn't let my own liberal views come thru. I objectively laid the ground work, and they provided the commentary: makes them konw I'm open,but don't abuse drugs. Alley-ooping jokes makes them feel good about themselves, everybody wants that; power player or not)
[13:09] Up And Coming Lawyer: Bill came, didn't reach for wallet, or even suggest i would consider paying
[13:09] Up And Coming Lawyer: this shows, that I am worth it and I deserved the bounty put in front of me
[13:09] Up And Coming Lawyer: Game recognize game and the power players understand this simple rule.
[13:10] Up And Coming Lawyer: I don't motion to leave the table first, I'm ready to chat all afternoon, but when teh first player pulls out his chair, I quickly follow
[13:10] Up And Coming Lawyer: showing that I respect and appreciate the fact that I got this lunch, but now I'm ready to go and work
[13:10] Up And Coming Lawyer: All in all
[13:10] Up And Coming Lawyer: great success and they appreciate me as a man
[13:11] Up And Coming Lawyer: They are now all looking at assignments I can assist on when previously there were "none"
[13:11] Up And Coming Lawyer: Chris Brown said it best: "I work to(sic) hard to be ballin' on a budget"

A Question For Everyone Who Still Reads the Blog, or Maybe just FW

If you were a grown man, would you rather be which of the below. Please say which you chose, and why:


a) Not real cut at all, but you're a real strong guy. It is still obvious to all that you work out and obvious you have significantly above average strength from someone who does not work out and what not, but more near chubby than near what one would consider cut. In addition, people know you work out, you frequently have mentioned it and/or it is well known that it is one of the main things you do other than work. People often are wondering how you work out so much, yet are not that cut.



or


b) You're pretty cut up and you have a six pack and well defined back and chest etc. And while still strong, it is clear that you are not nearly as strong as a). It is obvious you work out, and equally obvious that you are in fact a good amount less strong than a) but overall more athletic looking and "cut". When it comes to a physical confrontation, a straw poll has a) winning every time (whether or not he indeed would be the winner). You do not have the reputation of being a "big strong guy" in the sense of advantageous when it comes to physical confrontations, whereas a) does have this reputation.


When a) is around people see this guy and think yeah, he is a force, and a powerful figure. b) is more unassuming as to strength and being strong, so actually faces a higher probability of having a physical confrontation. No one says or thinks that b) is a "strong guy."

Well which do you choose?

(Oh, and in addition a) pre-parties harder than b) parties.) 

Conference Call

Just got off the conference call and I feel like I really brought a lot to the table. Questions directed toward me resembled "do you understand what we're saying Robert?" and instead of responding "yes" I responded "I was thinking the same thing and yes that seems to be the best way to go about doing it after looking at different approaches." Another question was thrown my way "Robert can you do that for us?" which again I didn't give the one word response, because I wanted to show what a power player I am I said "Should be pretty easy to show some different scenarios, just let me know what objective you are trying to reach and I can handle the details." Were people put off by the length of my responses? Most definitely yes. Did it make the nearly 50 minute conference call that could have been about ten minutes slightly longer? Yup. But did I make it known that I was alive and competent on my side of the phone? Yes. Really making power moves at the work place and handling my business I'd say.

thoughts from work

The Blogmaster went to Newport Beach this weekend for his 47th birthday. Was a nice day and a nice time all-in-all. Saw some things that really put life in perspective. This is something of the opposite of going to Africa and seeing the suffering people of the world and wanting to do something about it. This is about seeing a particular portion of America who has won at life. For these purposes I am talking about people who have what would be considered a "ballin ass house" and "ballin ass car" and, what is particular to the people in and around the Newport area, a nice ass boat. Im talking 3,000 sq. ft or better, C class Benz or better, and 30 ft. or better. We're not talking here about having the nice four bedroom home in the suburbs of X metropolitan area. These people aren't VP's at John Doe Brokerage or engineers at Bush Lied People Died Defense Inc. We are talking about people who are capable of elite asset ownership in absolute terms. No matter how you define "elite" these people are included in your definition.

It's fourth of July, you invite your family over, I'm talking ~ 15 people and ~ 8 of them have their own bed to sleep in. You guys get up and you all make breakfast in the kitchen with the ocean view while the kids play in the sand out front. You've got a great backyard setup where your property reaches the ocean and/or you've got the yacht parked out back. When everyone gets ready for the day you load up on the yacht. Your hired deck hands take you out to the ocean and you bbq and live the dream for four to five hours with no destination in sight just taking in the freedom of the Pacific.

Things like this are what real ballin is about. If your family doesn't do things like this on the regular, or have some real fly things like I have described than the fact of the matter is your parents and family really didn't take care of business. If them flossing is having the home in shit stained Truckee or something like that, they really didn't take care of business. If they're driving the E350... you guessed it. If you go fishing on anything that can be ran by less than three people - same thing. If your family events are not similar to what goes down in Hyannis Port - then you really don't have much to boast about. The people in and around the Balboa Peninsula have, and you haven't.

I guess this post is real all over the place. But what I'd like to say that the American dream is about having nice ass things. Big ass houses, in nice areas, with nice cars and nice toys. You can't do this by moving to the burbs and doing it on the cheap. On the Blogmaster's birthday, he saw these things and saw how fly it would be to have these things. Might try to get some for his self... who knows...

NBA Draft Analysis

Now I will analyze the first four picks of the NBA Draft.

1. Kyrie Irving - Father grew up in the projects in the Bronx, played pro basketball in Australia and is a bond analyst for thompson reuters. His dad was an MVP at the Rucker. His dad was at the WTC on 9/11. His mother died suddenly when Kyrie was young. My models show that with these inputs the metrics show me that he will average 21.3 points this year and 5.72 assists.
2. Derrick Williams - Thing about this guy is he went to high school in La Mirada. Everyone know that's not tight at all. His game is real similar to mine so when I say things about how he will play this year I am pretty confident in what I say. Most likely he will not see the court this year.
3. Enes Kanter - A very sad story that turned out alright in the end. He's a great kid from a great family. The thing about this guy is he just wants to get his family out the hood and get them into America. He was part of the genocide that Bush II began and once he got to Kentucky he felt safe in Calipari's arms. Now he has millions and most likely will be able to help out all of his brothers and sisters (he has 7). His sister is one of the top amateur jai alai players and has performed well posting a 123.3 or less almost seven times this season. But back to the feel good story that surrounds Enes Kanter. 
4.  Tristan Thompson - This guy is from Canada so is not real good at basketball nor is he used to warm climates so I don't think he'll do well. He got lucky for most of his time in college and most likely will not do anything in the NBA because he will probably be too warm and is not generally very good. Only upside I see with this guy is that he doesn't really know much about basketball - mostly knows alot about hockey - and has nowhere to go but up as far as learning how to play the game etc.

They're Done

Just wanted to follow up on a post from last week. I don't want to say that I caused this to happen and really outed their relationship and maybe put undo pressure on George to ante up and marry the girl, but what I will say is that they are done.


'The atmosphere was pretty red hot and the language was pretty fiery - it was a very fierce row and she then just stormed out of the house and went to Milan.
 Read More

Looks like before anything, George is a man, and don't want to be forced into anything.

Recent Performace

Well, I have altered my strategy and sought out some much less risky investments in my sporting venture. I'm on something of a roll here which feels good, though I am still ridiculously in the hole. But in the last 18 hours or so I have won four straight:

(954) Pittsburgh Pirates +102 Wed@9:35a
(953) Baltimore Orioles vs. (954) Pittsburgh Pirates Over 7½ (-115) Wed@9:35a
(955) New York Yankees vs. (956) Cincinnati Reds Under 9 (-115) Wed@9:35a
Risk US$ 1.00 to win US$ 6.06

(954) Pittsburgh Pirates +102 Wed@9:35a
(953) Baltimore Orioles vs. (954) Pittsburgh Pirates Over 7½ (-115) Wed@9:35a
Risk US$ 1.00 to win US$ 2.78

(2368) New York Yankees -1½ (+155) Wed@9:35a
Risk US$ 1.00 to win US$ 1.55

(928) Los Angeles Dodgers +105 Tue@7:10p

(929) Minnesota Twins +134 Tue@7:15p

(929) Minnesota Twins vs. (930) San Francisco Giants Over 6½ (-120) Tue@7:15p

Risk US$ 1.00 to win US$ 7.79

What's that? A quick $18.18? Yup. Easy. As. Pie.

"Look At Me Now" - A Discussion

The title of the entry is not a ploy to attract the ever dwindling active participants in this blog to regain interest. Rather, it is the name of a popular song of the hip hop variety. The song features legendary quick-tongued rapper (pause. No homo) Busta Rhymes (not sure if this is a moniker or his “government name”, more on that later), Ex-con/self-proclaimed “Goblin”, Lil’ Wayne, and the young man that loved too hard, Chris Brown (affectionately referred to, Chris Breezy).

This stellar cast came together to demand that the world “Look At [them] Now”, and look we did. All of this looking prompted fans to hit the internet searching for more of this song (as if the radio was playing this little gem enough, right??). In comes, the youtube.com renditions and the point of this entry.

Now, it does not have the most hits by far but it is the best video out there. Why? Ultimately, everyone wants to be with “that girl” with the gun. VH1 has the clever marketing strategy using the motto, “Watch and discuss”, and that’s exactly what this video is about; watching, salivating, then discussing. Some popular discussion points that occurred while watching the video 23 times this past weekend with some friends on the DL (separate discussion, blogmaster?).

1) Who is this girl?

That inevitably is the first question asked. Who is she that she has nearly 500,000 views? Is this an actress, a model, a god? The answer is all of the above. After much diligent research was done, we found her name, “Shauna Naiz”. She is a “model” (aspiring after looking at her portfolio, but a model non-the-less”. Now that’s outta the way, on to the unanswerables. She is from/lived/or currently lives in New Wales. Is she Aussie? If so, where is her accent?

2) Who is filming this?

This may produce the most conjectures on the subject. The running theories: a) someone that she feels very comfortable with. Comfortable enough that she will allow someone filming her for an extended period of time with no levels of detectable shyness. 1) a long-term boyfriend may fit this requirement, 2) a trusted gay friend (he would never betray her, right?).

If you notice in the video, the cameraman is appearing to stand in front of a reflective glass door that the viewers can see while the camera switches from Shauna to the TV. Upon very close examination, the cameraman remains unseen. 3 more theories: 1) He is simply standing in a location where the mirrored glass can be seen but not him; 2) He is so technically savvy that he edited himself out of the scene (like Kanye in the “All Falls Down” video; and 3) He’s a vampire (it does appear to be dark outside).

My own opinion: skinny white guy, probably boyfriend, maybe cousin.

3) Where are they going/have they been?

If you notice, Shauna looks pretty dolled up (at least up top). She is wearing a nice blouse, make-up down, etc. However, she is wearing leggings. Theories:

a) She is pre-gaming with a friend and that is possibly why her inhibitions were so low to film this in the first place. Problems; there are no bottles/cups in the shot nor in the reflection of the aforementioned mirrored glass door.

b) They have just come back from a night out. Inhibitions still low and make-up on. Leggings are now on because she wants to get comfortable. Only problem is that after a night out on the town, a girl’s make-up will be smeared; Shauna’s looked pristine.

4) What game is she playing and what is the difficulty setting?

This is by far (at least should be) the most unimportant question that could be asked. The answer: Who the Eff Cares? (Sorry Arthur, I know that you really would like to know).

Will Shauna ever decide to “take her talents to” Los Angeles and give the whole model thing a real try? Who knows? We can only dream. The most important question is an all encompassing one. Does it matter? The questions can go on and on ‘til infinity but the point is to watch and enjoy.

My own conjectures have led me down the path of obsession. “Look At Me Now”. Well Shauna, mine own eyes are glued. I’m a lookin’, and I’m a likin’.

Some more comments on being a real man

I wanted to briefly share the experience of my dinner last night. It mostly happened organically - but the end result say may consider an act of Providence. None of this was forced which really emphasizes my last post. Dropped the roommate off at the bike shop so went to go get some gas in the meanwhile. Got to the gas station, realized I needed milk for my cereal. Noticed the price of the milk at the gas station was pricey. Trying to save money. Went to the CVS, saw the sign for "Snacks and Cookies". Realized I was real hungry so I might like a snack. Grabbed the milk (the 1% fo' like 2.49? Saved the 50 cents? yup.) Walked to the snack aisle. Saw they had the Cheese-Itz 2 FOR $4. Picked them both up and bought them (although I must admit that they had the Lays buy one get one free for 3.99 but I like Cheese-Itz alot more and they are good for your strength <did back and shoulders at the gym directly prior to this experience>). Went to pick up my roommate from the bike shop and ate 1/2 the box while waiting. Not feeling too hot. Roommate apologized for making me wait so long and said he'd pay for my din din. Where did we go? McDonalds. Two McDoubles on da house.

Yup.

Thoughts from a (real) man

Being real, and being a man, is the only thing that matters. Some might say it's most important for a man to "be a man before anything." Now exactly what that means precisely is up for debate. To define it broadly it involves doing things that are associated with being masculine. If you have to debate if what you are doing (or not doing) is masculine or not - you're probably not a man before anything. Do you have to go out of your way to solely subscribe to being a man type activities? If so, you're breaking the other rule of thumb - being real. Going through the motions and establishing your manhood in a way that is overtly not you, is the negation of any behaviours you exhibit that done in a organic manner would prove you are a man before anything. These things cannot and should not appear to be forced. Are many of them unnatural and only caused by not instinct, but well thought out planning? Yes. But the goal is to minimize the appearance of these effects. An example might help.

"Hear about Rory Mcllroy this weekend?"

The answer to this question has two, and only two answers if you consider yourself a man before anything.

1. Honestly man nah, golf is dumb as shit, I was at the gym (or insert other masculine activity). (What you DONT want to do is not know exactly what happened, how he struggled on the back 9 in the final round, or how that second par four was where the event was all but over. Yes Lee Westwood is a strong player when the weekend comes, but the data show that when hes not in the leaders group, hes done for the day. Rory, when he was 13, stopped using a swing coach, he has no psychologist, no trainer, no coach nothing - he might be a man before anything because natural talent > hard work in the quest to be a man before anything.
2. Yes, I did watch it. I've played at Augusta and at the Congressional as a kid <insert comment regarding your father's connection with the conservative movement> and those places are great to spend a Sunday. You can't tell <insert comment regarding something you wouldn't know unless you actually played there i.e. the type of tree that stands in front of the clubhouse, or an aspect of the bathroom>, but its really crazy.

These are a rough outline of some aspects regarding being real, and being a man before anything. Please take them with a grain of salt, and acknowledge that if you learned anything from this post - then you most likely aren't a man before anything.

Working

16:48 on June 20th in the 2011th year of our Lord - I begin working for the day. 

Oops

Due to small sample size issues, this does not give an accurate description of the strategy I am implementing. However, I thought it would be only fair to give the readers an insight into what I have going right now. If you notice, there is clearly a parabolic shape to the behaviour we have here, and it should pick back up back into what my models are predicting any second now. I'll keep you updated on these events and hopefully you'll see something very encouraging next time I get around to updating this data. Enjoy:

Is He Going To Do It?

What do you guys think? This guy gonna marry this broad? The end of an era? One of the greatest runs that man has ever known?

What do you guys know about this lady? Also, have any of you guys been to  Il Gatto Nero in Cernobbio, Lake Como? Is this in the United States or does Clooney never eat in the United States as rumored? Any dishes you guys recommend from this restaurant?

Morning Process

I figured many people would like a little insight into my morning process, so I will describe it briefly. I wake up circa 7:40 (One caveat is that I have been attempting to get up at 7:00 and do either a) eat some breakfast <cereal until I ran out of milk two weeks ago, and now oatmeal> or b) eat some breakfast and do a brief workout <said workout consists of pull ups, push ups, and sit ups, see image:)

Anyway, I get in the car and plug in my phone to charge. I don't charge my phone at night like alot of people do because I find that extra effort when tired at night a bit too trying to plug it in. I strictly take the streets to DTLA because the 10 is a nightmare! Roll into work circa what 9:00? (another caveat, at some point I would like to make a concerted effort to begin to get here at 8:45, but I have not been successful at that thus far) Sit down at the desk, load up the desktop, and check the email. Usually the solid 4 - 5 emails of which maybe one directly pertain to me. After that immediately hop on the instant messenger and right to the net. And thats pretty much it, I'm on the net doing research on things and generally observing the net's behaviour until someone says otherwise.

fun fun fun fun

short story

Woman with young daughter at a nice restaurant on a Friday evening. A jovial party of ten young adults dine separate, but adjacent. Mother tells waiter to start her off with a nice glass of wine. Normal enough. The young adults continue their dinner. The young girl orders something resembling a kids meal and a glass of juice. Another glass of wine for the mother - this time white is the grape of choice. Mostly silence between the two. Nearby the larger party discuss the latest movies. The party of two's meals arrive, and the mother asks the waiter to grab her another glass of red when he gets a chance. The young girl eats her spaghetti quite contently, fidgeting as kids of that age do. Nearby a member of the larger party drips a bit of his latte on his pants and the young girl observantly notices how his friends joke and prod him for that. Then the waiter brings out a desert plate and the larger group erupts in an ode to one of the friend's birthdays. All is fine on this night. The waiter delivers the next glass of wine to the mother. Then the waiter returns with a small desert with a lit candle for the young girl. The mother bids her daughter a happy birthday while finishing the last of the most recent glass of wine. Some of the more observant members of the larger group notice these events. They contemplate singing the young girl happy birthday - but decide against it. The mother struggles to gain traction as she tells her daughter to hurry up that its time to leave.

The tail of two birthdays.

The Job I Would Like

An analysis needs to be done on what I am trying to achieve. My dream job provides all of the conditions contained in either of the two below sets:

1. Time for sports, other articles, and good compensation (and prospective future compensation)
1. I want ample time to read a good amount of things regarding sports during my day at work. I'm talking equal to or greater than fifteen articles a day.
2. I also want there to be time to read things regarding other areas of interest to me equal to or greater than ten articles a day.
3. I want to make good enough money that I can treat myself, and occasionally my friends and/or family to experiences and items of both necessity and luxury: (in order of most important )
1. Never have to worry about making my rent in a dwelling that has more than one bedroom and is within a mile of the ocean.
2. Never have to worry of the implications of purchasing a pay per view fight of something that I attribute a five on a scale of 1-10 of interest to me.
3. Everything in my home was purchased new or 
1. was purchased within one owner of being new and when purchased by first owner new was a price that I would be unable to pay
1. unable in this context means greater than half of one month's net income less rent/housing cost.
4. Pay for guests when I chose to at a dinner that has servers.
5. Never have to give pause to purchasing something due to the financial ramifications
1. This is heavily discounted by the underlying assumptions that my consumption behaviour is widely controlled by a level that is widely considered in relative terms - quite low.
1. However, I do correct for this by allowing standards on which I hold my self to appreciate quite substantially at a near 1:1 rate with net income.
4. Pay for the costs of my heirs' "living costs" at college.
5. The ability to take time off of work to do things that are widely held to be not substantial
6. Own a car that costs more than 50,000 and payments of which are less than 10% of net income
2. Make more than 100,000 by the age of 28 and thereafter:
1. Measured at four year intervals have increased income by 50%

Curious Investments

Also, back in the betting game. Took a few days off to clear away the bad luck, but now I'm back in it. What do we have on the table? Two morning games, Reds -1.5 and Giants -1.5 parlay 1.50 = 6.58. First time I have done a parlay under three ways, so probabilities significantly better than anything I have faced recently. What will I do when I win you ask? I'll take said winnings, add 1.50, and put it on a three way parlay and let it ride!!!

Taking one for the team

It seems that a person can never make it big, meaning get real rich, without doing some scummy things. Is it worth "taking one for the team" under these circumstances, and being that person who has to do those things, for the sake of being able to take your friends and family along for the ride? Is it in fact correct to consider this "taking one for the team"? This is not a clear cut conclusion given that the definition of these circumstances involve a life of nice houses, nice cars - pretty much material excess of all kinds. Not a bad life at all. However, the downside to this is what I mean by "taking one for the team". In every movie the rich guy always seem to have done something, does something, or will do something that will compromise all of his material success and ends in a tragic manner. Is this a function of it being entertainment? Is the life expectancy of rich people significantly less than the public at large? Is the quality of life really an internal struggle between good and evil for those who are the richest in our society? Was a ma fucka lyin when he said mo money mo problems just to discourage people from tryin to get on his level? Was he hatin? The question I struggle with is should I go down whatever path it takes to live a fantasy life style, and allow those closest to me to do the same while they possibly do not face the same moral dilemma when going along for the ride. Or are they too complicit in the acts if they get to enjoy the finer things in life because of me.

The better question seems to be: Is this really a decision that I will ever have to make? Haha...Clearly its no. That ship has sailed.

American Politics

11:42 AM American One: we watch fox business channel or some shit here
its great

11:43 AM American Two: ya the fucking republican cronies in the media just spewing nonsense hahahaha. they should tune into NPR for some real insight

11:44 AM American One: hahahahhaaaa
funny as shit

11:45 AM American Two: at what point in life did it occur to u that u r smarter than most other people?

11:47 AM American One: yeah, a funny thing to say
the classic conservative mentality
that the liberal elites are trying to tell us how to think!
their fucking lattes
their fucking volvos
"we're the real authentic americans"

American Two: an interesting interpretation

11:48 AM American One: continue on their moral crusade against gays, atheists etc
while getting fucked by the moderate republican party
11:49 AM who has outsourced all their jobs, and gave themselves tax cuts and broke the unions who employed them
good job guys!
less government for us here in Topeka so that we can just live our lives!
not joining the progressive cause to help you out!

American Two: a fascinating diatribe!!

11:50 AM American One: government never does anything right!
thats what reagan told us!
deregulation!

American Two: a passionate tongue in cheek outburst!!

American One: its wrecked my life personally, but I'm all for it!

American Two: cutting to the core of the issues!!
11:51 AM in a satircal manner. juxtaposing the absurdity of the republicans stances against the havoc they have wrought!

American One: How come the moderate republicans are the succesful ones? Because they accept that all these things the conservatives hate, well they aint profitable concepts.

American Two: i dont even know what the fuck ur talking about. but i like it!!

11:52 AM American One: Being PC? Not for us! But the establishment realizes that it makes money to be PC.
conservative cunts, wrecking their lives by rallying for causes that serve to make the rich richer, and weaken their own position in life.

11:53 AM American Two: hahahah
u need to get the message out
they need to know
u have found the way and the truth. be the light of the world

American One: guns! they want to take our guns! (although they'd also like to help provide you health care that your republican led industries have cut from you)

American Two: hahahah this is amazing! all the pent up suppressed things are bearing fruit here at the end of spring

11:54 AM American One: their trying to raise the estate tax! (although we're poor as shit and will never have an estate to bequeeth to jim bob, our son, and we could use some of the services that that revenue provides)

American Two: the key things im taking away here are democrats = help....republicans=take...is that accurate?

11:55 AM American One: democrats have always been the party of the normal man, that the republicans have conned the working man that they are anything similar is shocking
11:56 AM the liberal media is ruining our society!
they don't care about family values!

American Two: my word andy

Rooster

Just saw a real live rooster outside the friendly confines of my downtown Los Angeles office. A real in the flesh (feather? hahahaaa) rooster. It brought prospective to my day at a very early hour.

New Fun Fun Fun Fun

First of all I would like to address the elephant in the room - the fact that no one reads this blog anymore (minus probably one or two people). Because of that it has essentially became something of an internet journal for myself. Hopefully I can look back at all these trivialities when I'm living large in about seven years or so and have a nice chuckle. Back when things were simpler and decisions for the day were more "mcdonalds or jack in the box" rather than "ferrari or lamborghini". More about "quality over style" rather than "ballin out of control". But all of this is neither here nor there, just an aside I knew I had to address.

It brings me to the chutzpah of this entry. My new foray into sports speculating. First and foremost, it is very fun. Fun in the sense that it makes you feel alive, and makes you very interested in the proceedings of a particular set of events. Money augments all. That is the finer point to be made, and what really separates casual interests, things you thought you were very into, and things you have a financial interest in. It's hard to be excited about the Tigers Royals game in late May, but lets say the outcome of that game plays a role in netting you a 1200% return on your investment. I'm sure you'd care then. What I have been doing began as a simple bet on the Champions League Final where I took the "dog" (underdog) at a price of +290. That means that my $1.00 bet would give me  $2.90 had it panned out. It didn't. And neither have any of my roughly five bets since. Yet I am not discouraged. Since then I have been wowed by the shocking return figures of parlays - and cannot stay away from them. I have created a google doc that allows me to compute the probabilities of what I choose to bet on, and via the multiplication rule you can see that parlays quickly become unlikely to pan out. It is someone comforting to me that the amounts I am now dealing with are never more than five dollars - I just enjoy the possibility of such high rates of return that I see, rather than an absolute dollar amount return. For me that is where the fun lie.

The only issue I have is that now I am doing this every day. Not only that, my quantity of bets made is strictly a function of how many games are played in a day, and if they are clustered in a manner that allows me to see the outcome of one parlay before I make another. I think my attitude regarding amounts wagered and how I get my enjoyment out of it make this a little more healthy of an event than it would first appear. More importantly, who knows? Maybe it will take me down a very dark path! That's why its exciting!

Stay tuned!