Let's Start A New Contest

I need a title for my column each week and I can't think of one. Go figure. I am going to start holding a contest to see if anyone can come up with a good title for my column. I will keep a running tab for who gets the most used titles. We'll do this for a while until I feel it has lost its fun. Keep in mind it has to be clean, appropriate and relevant. I don't have a prize yet, but I'll come up with something between now and then. Here we go...

This Labor Day Weekend will be a relaxing one for me because I have plans to go to the University of Texas Longhorn football game on Saturday with my mom, uncle and James, a college buddy of mine. Don’t be confused though, not a single one of us have ever attended UT.
Let’s go through the rules of being a fan really quick. To be a fan of a professional sports team, certain things must apply. You must have lived or currently be living in the city of your favorite team. If you do not live in a city with a sports team you must then find the closest team available. An exception to the first rule is if you inherited the love of the team from an immediate family member. If your father was a Packers fan, then it is okay for you to be a Packers fan, only because you grew up watching Lombardi lead the Cheese Heads to five championships. Thus, you are ushered in as an honorary fan.
The only other possible way of being a fan of a team you have no connection with is if you have a family member or close personal friend who is a player or coach on the team. This exempts you from the two previous rules and allows you to have a say in what the fans want during the season.
Now that we have cleared this up, the rules are basically the same for college teams. The only difference is instead of living in the city, you must have attended the college for at least one semester. If you went to more than one college, then it is acceptable to be a fan of both teams. Exemptions to this rule include Catholics are allowed to root for Notre Dame and Mormons can cheer on Brigham Young University.
This said, I should repeat that none of the ones going to the game on Saturday have ever enrolled in a class on the Austin campus. My friend and I attended Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches. My mom attended only a semester at a local junior college. The closest any of us came was myself taking an on-line course in journalism made available by the university and my uncle being accepted by UT but then was drafted to Vietnam and was never again given the opportunity to be a Longhorn.
However, all my life I remember burnt orange being all around me, my index finger and pinky extended during “The Eyes of Texas” and a mysterious infatuation with the name Bevo. In fact, I have heard stories about my uncle decorating his wedding reception with burnt orange. Even my cousin named his first child after Major Applewhite. That’s a bit excessive, isn’t it? Where did my family get this innate, uncompromising admiration for the fighting Longhorns?
From my understanding of the family history, my grandfather randomly picked the University of Texas as the college team he was going to root for during football season, but it was my uncle, his son, who took the love of orange much deeper. He is such a fan that he has shattered a television screen from throwing the remote control at it due to a poor play by the offense. No lie.
My mom is also a big fan of the team and my brother is really into college sports and follows the Longhorns religiously. I don’t understand it. We aren’t in compliance with the rules of fandom. We are supposed to cheer for either the Lumberjacks or the Mavericks, which are the mascots of SFA and the University of Texas at Arlington.
Some would consider the University of Texas at Arlington a branch of the UT system, which gives merit to being a fan for the Longhorns. Here is why it wouldn’t. UTA has its own mascot and different colors. The Mavericks are blue and white, not orange and white. Sure, UTA publishes a school paper called the Shorthorn and the students who wish to attend UT someday think they are little Longhorns themselves by enrolling at UTA, but they’re not.
When Saturday rolls around I will be yelling until my lungs bleed to kick Louisiana-Lafayette Rajin’ Cajuns’ tail on the field along with everyone else in the stadium, but in the back of my mind I will be wondering why I care so much for a team I have no emotional bond with.

Red River Roundup A Success...

Just not financially though. Sorry for the late post, but most know how I did already. I played very well and made good decisions mostly. I was knocked out on a bad luck draw.
I was sitting with about $11,000 and the average stack was $7,500. I had been hitting a lot of good hands and some were paid off well. Luck had to reverse sides sooner or later. I got pocket nines and raised it to $1,200. Blinds were $200-400 and there were eight of us at the table and four of those had less than $5,000. It folded around to the big blind who went all in. I immediately called, because it was only another $3,600 to call. He flipped over 7-4 suited. That hand can be very dangerous if played out, but I don't know about going all in with it pre-flop. The guy was obviously bluffing and hoping I was just bullying the table. The flop came with a 7 and a 4. I never caught a nine or any other card to give be a better two pair so that knocked me down to $6,200.
The very next hand I was dealt 4-4. I raised again to $1,200. The guy next to me re-raised another $2,500. It folded to me and I was only left with $5,000. With the blinds going as they were and the table being so short stacked anyway, I decided to take my chances and try to win the heads-up battle. I went all in for the other $2,500 and he called with his pocket Aces. How ridiculous. I didn't win and was out of the tournament in 50th place. There were 73 entrants and my play was very good. It gives me a good state of mind to complete the TOC. Before this weekend I was pretty down on poker and I will still need a break after the TOC, but at least I can feel better about my play after this tournament's display.

A Major Event

WinStar’s Red River Roundup begins tomorrow afternoon. I am shooting to arrive around noon, which is when registration begins. The tournament isn’t supposed to start until 2 o’clock though. This will give me enough time to prepare for whatever the style of the tournament is. I believe it will be a multi-table, two-day event with the final table being played on the second day. If all goes well, then I should be staying at the WinStar tonight.
Advertisements boast two boots full of $150,000 and two bracelets, one gold and one diamond, going to the winner of each tournament, one being for poker and one being in blackjack. I would choose the diamond if I get the option. That’s just me though.
I have to work tomorrow at 9 a.m., but hopefully I will be done in about an hour so I can go through Arlington, pick up the boys and finish the trip out on I-35W. Tonight will be a peaceful night of concentration, relaxation, Turner Classic Movies and poker reading. I want to get in the right state of mind. If any of my friends call and piss me off I will not be a happy camper. That is just a warning to anyone who might try to screw with me this evening.
Wish me luck tomorrow and look for an update on this thing either Sunday morning or Sunday night. If it is Sunday morning then you can probably be sure that I didn’t make it to the final table. I hope to win this thing not for the money, although that would be grand (get it, grand, as in money), but to go to Las Vegas for the Doyle Brunson North American Classic in October. I would really look forward to playing against some world-class poker pros.
Until next time…

TOC II - Night 6

Instead of cursing myself and debating driving my car into a ditch on the way home, I let Cassidy calm me down after some pretty poor poker playing last night. I had one great hand against Josh that I played like a thing of beauty, but other than that nothing spectacular on my end. I lost my first all in that was called, as usual. The fifty-fiftys aren't going my way lately, at least when we are all in pre-flop they aren't. I had pocket 8s and Justing was holding K-9 suited. He hit a nine on the flop and I couldn't catch up. Oh well! I need to focus on Saturday and stop thinking about the dreaded letters T.O.C.
Last night results:
1st - Josh - 0 points
2nd - Justin - 4 points
3rd - Mike - 8 points
4th - Clint - 12 points
5th - Nick - 15 points
6th - James - 18 points
7th - Matt - 20 points
8th - Brent - 22 points
9th - Cody - 24 points
10th - Chad - 25 points

Overall:
1st - Josh - 45 points
2nd - Clint - 67 points
3rd - Mike - 76 points
4th - Justin - 76 points
5th - Cody - 84 points
6th - James - 90 points
7th - Chad - 100 points
8th - Nick - 108 points
9th - Matt - 118 points
10th - Brent - 122 points

If It Couldn't Work For These Two Kids...

Not my best column, but it has humorous moments.

Divorce can be a nasty thing for a couple and breakups aren’t pretty either, but sometimes the separation is harder on others than it is on the actual couple.
At times a divorce doesn’t take its toll until later in life, like with my parents and me. When my mom and dad told my brother and me they were getting a divorce, I asked if it would be basically how it was now, because my dad was already living in Corpus Christi, and once we were reassured that everything would stay the same as it currently was my brother asked if we could go get ice cream. He had chocolate and I got strawberry. Today though I can see certain perspectives of my life were molded into a different perception because of the divorce of my parents than had my parents stayed together.
There are some divorces that don’t bother anyone at anytime or have any lasting affect. In today’s society, celebrity couples that unite and breakup is more interesting to us than Israeli Jews being evicted from their home in the Gaza Strip.
With the parting of Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson or Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the most famous divorce of all time, the world watched and wanted more. Admit it, you stand in line at the grocery store and sneak a peek at the National Inquirer or People Magazine so you can see what new dirt there is on the Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie love triangle.
As ridiculous as this sounds, the most absurd breakup the world has ever had to endure is the split between Mattel dolls Barbie and Ken. The higher-ups actually forced these child’s play things to split up.
On February 12, 2004 it was announced that after 43 years as one of the world’s prettiest pairs, the perfect plastic couple would be breaking up. According to the couple’s business manager, Russell Arons, vice president of marketing at Mattel, Barbie and Ken said, “it felt like time to spend some quality time – apart.”
Does Mattel not realize they are talking about two plastic dolls not more than nine inches high? To add more unintentional comedy to the situation, when the breakup was announced, the Cali (as in California) Girl Barbie was being released to the public. To better reflect her single status, Cali Barbie wore board shorts and a bikini top, metal hoop earrings and had a deeper tan. The new, suddenly single Barbie even attracted a new admirer, Blaine the Australian boogie boarder.
The toy makers at Mattel actually created little lives for their little people. Barbie’s full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts. She met Ken on a television commercial in 1961, which is when they began dating.
As if the idea of two dolls “breaking up” wasn’t foolish enough, the media threw gasoline on the fire. Business Weekly Online even came up with conspiracy theories as to why the world’s most famous doll would dump her boyfriend just 48 hours before Valentine’s Day. Just a few speculations were that being single better suit the Cali Girl Barbie doll, Barbie left Ken for Blaine and even the preposterous idea that Ken was gay.
With the divorce rate at around 50 percent in America, isn’t Mattel setting a poor example for young ladies hoping to fall in love someday by breaking up two fictional characters that could have been extremely happy together? Wouldn’t Barbie be better served to show that true love does exist? Shouldn’t we be setting a better example for today’s children so we might decrease the divorce rate instead of promoting it through dolls?
I believe I have made it clearly evident that stupidity bothers me and I consider this a strong point in the category of stupid. We are forced to sit through Tom Cruise jumping on a couch with Oprah declaring his admiration for Katie Holmes. Must we tolerate a fantasy courtship between two inanimate objects? Next thing you know, Ken will be found by the paparazzi at the local tavern with the wrong group of guys, the next Mattel doll on toy store shelves will be Pregnant Barbie and then Mattel will release food stamps as an accessory for Barbie to use for her six kids who she has had with Blaine, Todd, Steve, Josh and maybe Bubba, all out of wedlock.

No Poker This Weekend And I Still Had Fun

There is life outside of poker. I found that out this weekend. Went all three days without playing any card games for money. Actually that isn't entirely true.
Friday night I ate dinner with Cassidy, Chad and Randy at Cracker Barrell. Our waiter was on the work release program through the Texas Department of Corrections. He was creepy, a bad waiter and not very smart. He left part of his tip on the table while we were eating and I pocketed the, what I thought was a quarter, dollar coin with every intention of giving it back with my tip. This would make me look very generous and the previous patrons would be remembered as cheapskates.
After a dinner we went to Chad's house and played Phase Ten. Although Cassidy was last, by a lot of points and phases, and I was next to last halfway through the game, she came back to win it and I got second because of points. Who cares who got third or fourth. Those places were reserved for the losers.
During the card game Chad told stories, which led us to watch a tape of some practical jokes we had pulled on each other. They were really funny and it made me remember the good days of college.
Saturday was filled with lunch with my mom at J. Gilligan's, another game of Phase Ten (this time ten cents a point) between Chad, Randy, Jesse and myself, dinner at Ton's with the four of us after watching the end of Garfield, only because I had to know what happened. I understand the movie sucked, but once I saw Jennifer Love Hewitt once and that Odie was missing, I was hooked. The four of us then went to Putt-Putt where I only lost five dollars to Chad, after being down nine from the first game. I only lost it about three times, the other times I simply bottled the anger within. Randy left after the golf game and then the three boys decided to kick Time Crisis 3 in the junk. $35 dollars later Time Crisis 3 was on the floor wincing in pain from the ass kicking we gave it.
Sunday was my Sabbath. I slept in and then joined my family at Campo Verde for lunch. Tonight I will be eating dinner with my mom and maybe Chad and Randy and then heading back to Ennis.
See, no Texas Hold'em. Except online on Saturday. I was practicing multi-table tournaments and entered into a re-buy tournament by mistake. I used the re-buy option five times and did take advantage of the add-on. With 1,270 entries, 2,700 rebuys and over 500 add-ons, I got 373. No money for that.

It's Amazing What A Good Nights Sleep Can Do

Many probably think my last post won't last and you are probably right. I may play poker again, but not for a while. However, it wasn't because I just overreacted after a bad night of cards, which was completely my fault, that I made that platform statement. I really am going to take a much needed break.
Cassidy took time last night out of saving lives at the hospital to calm me down and then Mike made a very sincere phone call today with the opening line, "Don't hang up on me f'er." He ended the conversation with an uplifting compliment that was very much needed and I appreciate it.
So this goes out to Cassidy and Mike. Thanks for helping me out the last few hours. Cassidy, you made me laugh a lot even though I was saying most of the funny things. Mike, it means a lot what you said. A special shout out goes to Clint for checking up on me last night to make sure I wasn't dead in a ditch along 287.
It's good to know I have such good friends out there who care so much.

TOC II Player Bios

There are at least nine guys who have been waiting for this for a while, so here is a rough sketch of each player from this Tournament of Champions.

Mike Steed (aka Master of the House) - Mike is a "gung ho" player who likes to bully and gamble with anything. Be afraid of the all in because it can come when he is holding the nuts or just his piece.

Chad Boase (aka The Storyteller) - Be afraid of his "feelings" when he is limping from under the gun. Chad is usually a slow playing mother that loves the check-raise. He is tyring to mix up his play lately and has caught a few players with their hand in the cookie jar.

Nick Smalls (aka The Overbettor) - Nick has some decisions to make and you better not rush the man. He likes to build a large pot and hates to lay down a draw. Know that if he is in the pot it could be all of your chips going to the middle, or it might not go past the flop.

Cody Ragsdale (aka Alcatraz) - Cody is the newest addition to the TOC, only being put on the roster hours before game one. He is the meekest player at the game, but is coming into his own after five weeks. He has had many solid finishes but quite can't get past the third place hump. Cody has a pair or high cards, so hope that he didn't hit something on the flop.

Matt Cook (aka The Arcade) - This guy sucks. He used to be a force to be reckoned with, but lately he isn't quite sure if he should play the waiting game like those in the top three or be the aggressor at the table. He makes solid plays and has a somewhat crazy and reckless image, but it isn't going to help and he will be close to the bottom of the barrell at the end of the TOC.

Justin Hammond (aka The Burger King) - The Phil Hellmuth of the TOC, this guy loves an entrance. He has been late more than he has been early, but this interesting entrance, with fast food in hand, has served him well. Justin is a tight player but likes to make a bluff occasionally and it serves him well because others aren't going to know when that occasion is.

James Miller (aka Dr. Arithmadick) - Can calculate any odds at any given time and is a meticulous player. James has been on a good run lately with poker and is trying to put that win streak to good use in the TOC. Has a table image of a jerk at times, but usually is only trying to speed up the game. Be prepared to be put all in when up against this titan of poker players and don't think he will let you off cheap.

Clint McWilliams (aka Mr. Outdraw) - Clint is at the top of his game right now. Before last night he had taken home four victories in a row. He used to be very crazy and raise with any hand suited, connected, high carded or paired, but has tightened up his game lately and is playing a more conservative game.

Brent Hale (aka K5) - The "any two will do" guy. Brent likes to play a lot of pots and when I say a lot of pots I mean a lot of stinking pots. He plays more pots before the first break than some players do all night. This style either gives him a quick chip lead or an early exit.

Josh Bishop (aka Three Hand Poker) - What are those three hands you ask? They are A-A, K-K or A-K (preferably suited). Josh has a tight image and doesn't mind waiting for the premium hands. It is going to be hard to knock Josh out because he doesn't like an unsure thing. If you're playing against him you better be sure you can win, otherwise it is going to cost you your tournament life.

TOC II Night 5

Here is the great thing about a 45-minute drive home after you suck at cards: it gives you time to consider what your possibilities are.
After lots of thought and much profanity for only me and Coldplay to hear I have decided to quit this f'ing game. I can't take it. I didn't think I was this bad so one of two things is true. I either suck at poker or I am past my prime and it is just not meant to be for me to be a card player.
I used to be good, but those days are over. I am no longer the best and I will never be the best again, not that I ever was. I might have had a week in there that I was considered the best of our group, but no more.
I will finish out my commitment in the TOC and I will play in the tournament at WinStar, not that it will do any good to play at either, and then it is adios Texas Hold'em. I'm done.
I also have one more ammendum to this rant. I refuse to talk poker anymore. This will make many, especially wives and girlfriends, happy because they get bored of us talking poker constantly. If you call me to talk about poker, I will hang up. If I am face to face and you bring up poker, I will walk away. If you are in the car and you utter the terms flop, turn, river, nuts or any other poker related vocabulary word, I will stop the car, pull you out, put you underneath a tire and then peel out on your face. I'm not kidding.
Here are the standings from last night:
1st - Don't Care - 0 points
2nd - Don't Care - 4 points
3rd - Don't Care - 8 points
4th - Don't Care - 12 points
5th - Don't Care - 15 points
6th - Still Don't Care - 18 points
7th - Don't Care - 20 points
8th - Don't Care - 22 points
9th - Matt (aka The Quiter) - 24 points
10th - Brent - 25 points

Overall scores:
1st - Not Me - ? points
2nd - Not Me - ? points
3rd - Not Me - ? points
4th - Still Not Me - ? points
5th - Not Me - ? points
6th - Not Me - ? points
7th - Not Me - ? points
8th - Probably Not Me - ? points
9th - Matt - 98 points
10th - Brent - 100 points

P.S. You might think this is me just ranting and raving, but I am actually much calmer than I was about fifteen minutes ago and I'm a thousand times calmer than thirty minutes ago. This is not a rash decision. I am going out on a low point.

Tonight, Tonight

I need a big finish tonight. I'm not saying I'm mathematically out of it if I finish poorly, but there will be a better chance of Chad filing a W-2 for 2005 than me winning this thing. Well, here's to hoping.

My Journalistic Integrity Has Been Questioned

After three-and-a-half months of working for the Ennis Daily News I have finally had a conflict with a reader. The woman came in and met with Micah about the story, invoving an arrest and a domestic disturbance, and as I was walking by she asked if Mr. Cook was available. I made a 180 and asked if I could help. Micah and her asked if I had any notes about the case and I said I would see what I could find.
Luckily I keep my records for about two weeks and I found the case. I took what I had into the conference room (a part of the newsroom with a five-foot divider seperating the two) and showed what I had written down.
After some discussion and her asking me at one point if I was admitting I was wrong (which I sternfully, but politely, said no) we resolved the situation and she said she would not cancel her subscription. I'm not sure how Sandy would take it if when she got back she found out that because of me we are losing readers.
Everything worked out in the end and no harm was done. I am going to have to give Det. Roark a heads-up tomorrow morning before she shows up, just to get him up to speed.

I'm 25 And The Counter Hits 2,500

I have been too busy to post this earlier, but my counter hit 2,500 today. I'm a quarter of the way to 10,000. That is huge! Go blog!

TOC II Night 4

I give up. I don't know what else to do. I played a very solid game last night and still only managed a sixth place finish. I made one bad fold against Justin, but in my defense he played the hand very well. He made me believe he had a better hand than my top pair, top kicker. I haven't changed anything with my game in the last four weeks because I was happy with how things have been going with my game, despite two poor finishes, but I am going to have to do something different to win one of these things. I just don't know what that change needs to be.
Here are the points:
Last night:
1st - Clint - 0 points
2nd - Justin - 4 points
3rd - Cody - 8 points
4th - Nick - 12 points
5th - Josh - 15 points
6th - Matt - 18 points
7th - James - 20 points
8th - Mike - 22 points
9th - Brent - 24 points
10th - Chad - 25 points

Overall:
1st - Clint - 33 points
2nd - Josh - 41 points
3rd - Justin - 54 points
4th - Cody - 54 points
5th - Chad - 55 points
6th - James - 57 points
7th - Mike - 68 points
8th - Matt - 74 points
9th - Brent - 75 points
10th - Nick - 81 points

Once A Dork, Always A Dork

I went birthday shopping with my mom yesterday at the mall and while we were there I mentioned checking in to see about our cell phone plan. It was about to expire, so I figured we could see what our options were about splitting the plan and having me go my own way.
Long story short, I got a new phone and I just set my ringtone. You can probably guess what the tune is. Once I downloaded it, I called Clint and said," Hey, do me a favor. Call me back."
He just started laughing at me and said he would. Just a few seconds later I heard the greatness that is the James Bond Theme start belting out of the tiny speaker. I answered the phone, probably sounding like a little kid who just found his lost puppy, and Clint was still laughing as he asked if that was all I needed.
"Yep. Thanks for everything," was my reply.
I am a dork, but I know this. Being a nerd is a little easier to deal with when you welcome it with open arms and a warm smile.

Possibly The Best Birthday Ever

I am turning 25 on Tuesday and two things are happening that are greatness for me. The first is a small thing, but to me it is a huge deal. The first season of the Muppet Show comes out on DVD. Okay, I understand your confusion. Yes, I am turning 25. Yes, I am a fan of the Muppets.
What you may not realize is the Muppet Show was not only a great variety show series for children, but it also showcased some of the best and funniest talent from the late 70s and early 80s. There are 24 episodes featured on Season 1, with the show basically in the shape fans will remember: a musical introduction followed by backstage chaos, another musical number, a sketch, a scene with the guest star and so on.
Special guest stars include Candice Bergen, Sandy Duncan, Lena Horne, Rita Moreno, Jim Nabors, Vincent Price, Peter Ustinov and more. Among the memorable stars are Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, Statler and Waldorf (the two old guys in the balcony) and the Swedish Chef.
The other great thing about my birthday is that Tuesday night is a special screening of one of my favorite movies ever. Most of you know I am a huge James Bond fan. Well, being such a young Bond fan, I am too young to have seen the older movies in the theater. However, thanks to the Lakewood Theater in Dallas, I am going to be lucky enough to see my favorite James Bond movie on the silver screen. That's right, From Russia With Love is premiering and I will be there to see it. Sadly, I will be in a rush because I have to go to an open house at 5:30 for work, but I will have an hour to get to Dallas, find my seat and enjoy the show.
From Russia With Love is the second of 20 James Bond movies, starring Sean Connery as the dashing British spy. Two months ago I saw Dr. No, the one that started it all, at the Lakewood Theater. Hopefully this will be a recurring theme for them and I will be lucky enough to see all of the older Bond movies in a real theater.
I am overly excited about Tuesday and can't wait for both things to happen. I get the first season of the Muppet Show on DVD and I will see my favorite James Bond movie. Oh happy days...

TOC II Night 3

Despite a terrible score, I really am not too upset about how I am doing. I have been playing okay and I can still win this thing, especially with how people were knocked out last night. It is nobody's game yet. Here are the scores so far:
Last night:
1st - Clint - 0 points
2nd - Mike - 4 points
3rd - Chad - 8 points
4th - Cody - 12 points
5th - Justin - 15 points
6th - Brent - 18 points
7th - Nick - 20 points
8th - Josh - 22 points
9th - Matt - 24 points
10th - James - 25 points

Overall:
1st - Josh - 26 points
2nd - Chad - 30 points
3rd - Clint - 33 points
4th - James - 37 points
5th - Mike - 46 points
6th - Cody - 46 points
7th - Justin - 50 points
8th - Brent - 51 points
9th - Matt - 56 points
10th -Nick - 69 points

I Wonder Who The Guest Speaker Will Be?

Like my first college experience, my Internet course has come to a close before it ever really got going. I have taken the final test and my final grade is...a 92. I aced it!
I am now officially a lumberjack-longhorn, a new breed in the world. Purple runs through my veings with a hint of an orange mixture. I haven't quite figured out how to do the "Axe 'em Jacks" sign and the longhorn sign with one hand yet. I'll figure it out though.
I would like to thank my parents for supporting me through all of this, both emotionally and financially. I don't want to forget all the close friends I made while attending UT. I'll never forget those all-nighters in the Varsity Center waiting for the registers office to open so we could sign up for our classes.
Wait, none of that stuff happened. This college experience sucked. I didn't even get to see the campus. UT Internet classes suck. I hate you and I hate school! I'm never coming back!

I Want To Rock And Roll All Night And Practice Sorcery Everyday

It is amazing what you can find by clicking on the name of a person who left a comment on your blog. I was directed to a girl named Anna who is 18 and will be going off to college soon. Her favorite books include Animal Farm, Jane Eyre and the Communist Manifesto.
While looking through all of this I found an up-and-coming band who is touring the United States right now. I am not lucky enough to live in a city stop for this rocking band, but I can take a road trip.
The brotherly duo, riding the coattails of teenage popularity known as Harry Potter, came together in 2002 as an idea that the Harry Potter of Year 7 and the Harry Potter of Year 4 joined forces and no one can stop the wizard rock. Harry and the Potters stars Paul DeGeorge as Harry Year 7 and Joe DeGeorge as Harry Year 4.
This is their story: Joe was planning to have a rock show in the shed in the backyard. People had been invited, but then all the bands cancelled. So that morning, the time was finally appropriate to bust out an idea that had been incubating in Paul's head for some time: Harry and the Potters. That morning, over the course of an hour, Paul and Joe wrote seven songs. Then, they went out to the shed and practiced them for half an hour. Later in the day, they performed them for a crowd of six. It was awesome. The place went nuts (as nuts as six people can get).
I have e-mailed them to find out when they will be coming into Dallas. When I know, you will know. Until then, visit their website at www.eskimolabs.com/hp.

Ever Wonder What The Seven Wonders Are?

Can you name the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? I doubt many can. With the world's Seven Natural Wonders, the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages and modern monuments, few can list the amazing ancient architectural feats. What makes it even more difficult is only one still exists.
Inspired by mythology, religion and art, ancient civilizations undertook these seven imposing projects from about 2700 B.C. to about 270 B.C. Only one, the Egyptian Pyramids at Giza, has survived. Fires, earthquakes, conquests and the ravages of time have led to the others' demise.
The ancient Greeks and Romans are said to have initiated the original "Seven Wonders" list, perhaps as an early travel guide of sorts.
Over time, the inventory was added to, then finally "completed" during the Middle Ages. Classical writers later disagreed on the final list, but the following seven works of art and architecture were among those most commonly included.
Unfortunately, relatively few drawings or sketches exist of the wonders that vanished, so archaeologists have relied on ancient tales and literary works to get an idea of their appearance and history.

Egyptian Pyramids at Giza:
Built: From about 2700 to 2500 B.C.
Location: Giza, Egypt, on west bank of Nile River near Cairo
History: The Egyptian Pyramids are the oldest and only surviving member of the ancient wonders.
Of the 10 pyramids at Giza, the first three are held in the highest regard. The first, and largest, was erected for the Pharaoh Khufu. Known as the Great Pyramid, it rises about 450 feet (having lost about 30 feet off the top over the years) and covers 13 acres.
It's believed to have taken 100,000 laborers about 20 years to build the mammoth Khufu pyramid, using an estimated 2.3 million blocks. By one theory, crews dragged or pushed limestone blocks up mud-slicked ramps to construct the royal tombs.
Many scholars think the pyramid shape was an important religious statement for the Egyptians, perhaps symbolizing the slanting rays of the sun. Some speculate the sloping sides were intended to help the soul of the king climb to the sky and join the gods.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon:
Built: About 600 B.C.
Location: In Babylon near modern-day Baghdad, Iraq
History: These gardens -- which may be only a fable -- are said to have been laid out on a brick terrace by King Nebuchadnezzar II for one of his wives. According to the writings of a Babylonian priest, they were approximately 400 feet square and 75 feet above the ground. His account says slaves working in shifts turned screws to lift water from the nearby Euphrates River to irrigate the trees, shrubs and flowers.

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus:
Built: About 550 B.C.
Location: In Greek city of Ephesus, on west coast of modern Turkey
History: The great Ionian city of Ephesus was chosen as the site for one of the largest and most complex temples built in ancient times. The Temple of Artemis (Diana) had a marble sanctuary and a tile-covered wooden roof. Conceived by architect Chersiphron and his son, Metagenes, the temple's inner space featured a double row of at least 106 columns, each believed to be 40 to 60 feet high. The foundation was approximately 200 feet by 400 feet. The original temple burned in 356 B.C. and was rebuilt on the same foundation. Fire devastated the second temple in 262 A.D., but its foundation and some debris have survived. The British Museum in London counts some of the second temple's sculptures among its treasures.

The Statue of Zeus:
Built: About 457 B.C.
Location: Ancient Greek city of Olympia
History: In about 450 B.C., the city of Olympia -- where the first Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C. -- built a temple to honor the god Zeus. Many considered the Doric-style temple too simple, so a lavish 40-foot statue of Zeus was commissioned for inside. Athenian sculptor Phidias created an ivory Zeus seated on a throne, draped in a gold robe. Zeus had a wreath around his head and held a figure of his messenger Nike in his right hand, and a scepter in his left. Eventually, wealthy Greeks decided to move the statue to a palace in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul, Turkey). Their effort prolonged its life, as fire later devastated the Olympia temple. However, the new location couldn't keep Zeus eternally safe: a severe fire destroyed the statue in 462 A.D. All that remains in Olympia are the temple's fallen columns and the foundation of the building.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus:
Built: About 353 B.C.
Location: In what is now southwestern Turkey
History: This enormous white marble tomb was built to hold the remains of Mausolus (Mausollos), a provincial king in the Persian Empire, and his wife, Artemisia . Greek architects Satyrus and Pythius designed the approximately 135-foot-high tomb, and four famous Grecian sculptors added an ornamental frieze (decorated band) around its exterior.
Word of the grandeur of the finished structure spread though the ancient world, and the word "mausoleum" came to represent any large tomb.
The monument was damaged by an earthquake in the early 15th century and eventually disassembled. Only the foundation and some pieces remain. The British Museum in London has several of the mausoleum's sculptures.

The Pharos of Alexandria:
Built: About 270 B.C.
Location: On ancient island of Pharos in harbor of Alexandria, Egypt
History: Upon its completion, the Alexandria lighthouse -- commonly estimated to have been about 400 feet high -- was one of the tallest structures on Earth. The Greek architect Sostratus designed it during the reign of King Ptolemy II.
The Pharos guided sailors into the city harbor for 1,500 years and was the last of the six lost wonders to disappear. Earthquakes toppled it in the 14th century A.D.
An Arab traveler made notes in 1166 that provide intricate details on the structure. From his writing, archaeologists have deduced that the lighthouse was constructed in three stages. At the top, a mirror reflected sunlight during the day, and a fire guided sailors at night.
The structure was so famous that the word "pharos" came to mean lighthouse in French, Italian and Spanish.
In November 1996, a team of divers searching the Mediterranean Sea claimed to have found the ruins of the fabled lighthouse of Pharos.

The Colossus of Rhodes:
Built: Early 200s B.C.
Location: Near harbor of Rhodes, a Greek island in Aegean Sea
History: The Greek sculptor Chares and his shop worked 12 years to build a giant bronze statue in honor of the sun god Helios. The statue, celebrating the unity of Rhodes' three city-states, is believed to have stood on a promontory overlooking the water.
At approximately 120 feet, the bronze Colossus stood almost as high as the Statue of Liberty in the United States. Interior stone blocks and iron bars supported the hollow statue. Just 56 years after it was built, a strong earthquake destroyed it.

The Sight Of Sound

Was looking around on the Internet today and found this a little fascinating.

Navy Lt. Ron Candiloro's F/A-18 Hornet creates a shock wave as he breaks the sound barrier July 7. The shock wave is visible as a large cloud of condensation formed by the cooling of the air. A smaller shock wave can be seen forming on top of the canopy.
It is possible for a skilled pilot to work the plane's throttle to move the shock wave forward or aft.
To download the high resolution version of this photo, go to www.defenselink.mil/specials/images/sightofsound.jpg.

TOC II Night 2

I faired a bit better this week, but was stilled knocked out on a bogus hand. I had pocket 9s and Chad called my all in with his 2-2. If I'm going to lose let me see the 2 come, not the four hearts (a suit I don't hold).
I made only two major mistakes to my knowledge. One was laying down the best hand that I thought might win, but you can't call an all in with middle pair, four kicker unless you are pretty confident (especially against Clint who might pull a Chris Ferguson and slice your jugular with the 8 of clubs). My other bad call was, again, against Clint who had A-J and raised pre-flop. He raised a significant amount and I knew if an Ace hit on the flop then I would have to hold my wired pair of Queens. Did I fold when an Ace hit on the flop and Clint went all in? No, because I'm a mental defective. Instead, I gave him $2,700 more to play with.
Josh has started off powerfully and doesn't look to give it up anytime soon. James also had a strong finish to keep him low in the standings.
The standings from last night and the overall scores are:
Last night:
1st - Josh - 0 points
2nd - Chad - 4 points
3rd - Matt - 8 points
4th - James - 12 points
5th - Justin - 15 points
6th - Clint - 18 points
7th - Mike - 20 points
8th - Cody - 22 points
9th - Nick - 24 points
10th - Brent - 25 points

Overall:
1st - Josh - 4 points
2nd - James - 12 points
3rd - Chad - 22 points
4th - Matt - 32 points
5th - Brent - 33 points (because of his 3rd place finish he is ahead of Clint)
6th - Clint - 33 points
7th - Cody - 34 points
8th - Justin - 35 points
9th - Mike - 44 points
10th - Nick - 49 points

I Love My Job

Another perk of my job is that I get to learn little tidbits of facts throughout the day. One in particular is about the space program budget.
My mom and dad came to Ennis tonight to see my apartment and view the metropolis I live in. I had to cover an event during the night and while at the party I decided to finish up my man on the street column. One of the questions was about NASA's budget.
After asking the question and discussing it with my dad, we were on opposite sides about how much they truly receive from the government. I said tens of billions of dollars. This would entail $20 billion to $99 billion. My dad said it was much smaller than that. In fact, he said I would be surprised at how small it would be.
Well, if you haven't already looked it up on Google or if you aren't a rocket scientist, then you probably don't know the answer either. Take a stab before you read the next paragraph.
The answer is in 2006, the Discretionary Budget Authority will be issuing $16.5 billion to NASA. Wow, that's a lot.
So, I was off by a few billions, but when you reach 16 billion what is a billion here or there?

We Have A List, A Very Short List

This is a list of the four men who are fighting to be the next James Bond according to Britain's tabloid The Sunday Mirror.

Established big-screen names such as Clive Owen and Dougray Scott are being overlooked in favour of this shortlist.
ER-hunk Goran Visnjic, 32, posh Henry Cavill, 22, Aussie Alex O'Lachlan, 28, and veteran Scot Ewan Stewart, 47, took part in a series of screen tests last week. They played out love scenes with Emmerdale's Camilla Power, tipped to be a Bond girl.
Production executives at Eon, who make the Bond movies, are now studying the scenes before making a decision.
A movie insider said, "All four are among the most impressive would-be Bonds we've ever encountered. They show style, sophistication and have a natural air of the shaken-but-not-stirred secret agent, and the ability to make women swoon."
The top-secret tests took place at Pinewood studios near London over three days.
The shortlist will come as a shock to Bond fans, who were expecting Layer Cake star Daniel Craig to scoop the role in Casino Royale.
The insider also said, "The shortlist has surprised people because there is no huge star. Bosses want whoever wins the role to become Bond in people's minds, which they wouldn't achieve with a bigger star."

Alex O'Lachlan: 28
The second big-screen Bond was Australian George Lazenby - now fellow countryman Alex O'Lachlan is in the running for the next movie. Starred in little-known films Oyster Farmer and Man-Things, but has been tipped as "the new Russell Crowe." Recently quit Australia and moved to Los Angeles to further his film career.

Goran Visnjic: 32
Trained as a paratrooper in the Croatian army. Most famous for his role as Dr Luka Kovac in long-running drama ER and was named US magazine People's Sexiest Import in 1999. Also appeared in the movie Rounders and as the love interest for Madonna in the video for her song "The Power Of Goodbye." Last year took starring role in a TV version of Spart-acus. Married to fellow Croat, sculptress Ivana.1.

Henry Cavill: 22
Former public schoolboy, born in Jersey, appeared in 2002 movie The Count Of Monte Cristo alongside Guy Pearce. Has also appeared in TV cop dramas Midsomer Murders, on ITV, and the Beeb's Inspector Lynley Mysteries. Co-starred in this year's Hellraiser sequel Hellworld and appearing alongside Sophia Myles and Rufus Sewell in period drama Tristan & Isolde.

Ewan Stewart: 47
Son of Scottish music hall legend Andy Stewart, who had a hit in 1961 and 1989 with "Donald Where's Yer Troosers". First found fame in late-70s TV drama All Quiet On The Western Front. Has also appeared in The Professionals, Only Fools And Horses and The Bill. Film-wise, starred as First Officer Murdoch in Titanic. Other major film credits include Coll in Rob Roy. Married to actress Clare Byam-Shaw.

Here is what I think of each of these candidates:
First of all, I'm not thilled with any of them. They all lack what I see as a great James Bond, but what do I know.
Alex O'Lachlan: An Australian, like George Lazenby (who didn't pan out in the Bond films), who doesn't have the sophisticated look of James Bond. At about the right age for a new, younger Bond (if that is what they are looking for). I like that he is an unknown, but I don't like him as James Bond.
Goran Visnjic: Too famous to be James Bond, but the best looking of them all. I have seen his acting ability and it could be okay for the role. He has a dark, hard look to him that would be great for the role. He is also at a great age for a normal James Bond film and he has room to grow for more than three pictures. If I have to choose one of these guys to be the next Bond, then this is the one I want.
Henry Cavill: Too young. Anyone younger than me should go try to be a superhero or star in a teen-romance movie, not a Bond movie.
Ewan Stewart: Too old. Plus, the guy looks like a wuss. He couldn't handle a mass of crazy socialites trying to jump ship aboard the Titanic, how is he going to handle megalomaniacs trying to destroy the world with psychotic henchmen?

Thanks Danny

The pics look great on the forum Danny. They look better than this one, but I wanted to put one of me on the site. I had to do a bit of manipulation to fit it on here, so that is why it looks a bit flawed. It looks a lot better on the poker forum.
I am glad you made it out. It wouldn't have been a true TOC without you.

TOC II Night 1

This is my official public apology to Chad Boase. I have given him a lot of crap over the past few months about how bad his cards were in the last TOC. I take everything I said back. It can happen. Now, it happened to him like eight out of 10 weeks, but whatever.
I played for a total of 2 hours and 35 minutes, won two hands, successfully bluffed once and had three playable starting hands (pocket nines [fourth hand of the night], A-Q suited [was checked down between five people and my Ace high won] and K-Q offsuit [after two hours I welcomed two face cards]).
The following are the finishes and points for everyone after the first night of the TOC. I have some work to do, but I believe I can fly.

1st - James - 0 points
2nd - Josh - 4 points
3rd - Brent - 8 points
4th - Cody - 12 points
5th - Clint - 15 points
6th - Chad - 18 points
7th - Justin - 20 points
8th - Mike - 22 points
9th - Matt - 24 points
10th - Nick - 25 points

The Greatest Tournament Central Arlington Has Ever Seen Is Back

Tonight begins a mania that will go on for weeks and give ten individuals so much unneeded stress, Clint may take up smoking again because of it.
That's right. The Tournament of Champions is back, with a vengence. There are more players, a different point system and antes added into the blind structure. It's going to be great!
From the original TOC, Chad will be returning as champion and having a lot to defend. James, Clint M., Brent and I are also coming back hoping to finish better than last time. Sadly, Danny and Hector will not be in attendance.
Our newbies to the group are no amatuers though. Mike Steed, Nick Small, Josh Bishop, Justin Hammond and Cody Ragsdale will be joining us in the festivities. I don't know how they feel about the traditional drinking of the blood from the sacrificial lamb as penance to the poker God, but I'm sure they won't have a problem with the ravaging of the tournament virgin.
Everyone is hoping to start out with a win tonight, but there can be only one Highlander! Tension is high and I have a feeling no one is thinking about their job today or their newborn Indian baby. Today is devoted to one thing and one thing only...the TOC.

A New Week, A New Column

It's Monday, which means I have a deadline for my column. Only problem is I don't have an idea for a column. So, let's do some group participation. I will be taking ideas from anyone for the next few hours. Begin submitting your work...now.

Our Regular Home Game In Oklahoma

Some of you have already heard this story, but I will give more details now.
James and I entered a $150 one-table No Limit Texas Hold'em Tournament at WinStar Casino last night. The winner won his entry fee back and a seat into a $1,000 tournament in August. After an hour and forty-five minutes, I took back my entry fee and a ticket into the tournament that Amarillo Slim will be around for. I don't know if he is playing (probably not), but he will be there.
The format was fifteen minute blinds (yikes), blinds double every time (yikes), blinds start at $25-50 (that's not bad) and you start with $1500 (never mind...yikes). I decided I wasn't going to be able to be picky with my hand selection.
In the first five hands I got A-J, A-10 and A-K. My very first hand was the A-J and on the turn I hit two pair, but I was cautious because the board was A-Q-10-J. The guy first to act said he was all in but then only bet $100 into a $500 pot. That is fishy. I folded and let another guy make the $100 call. When the cards were flipped over I saw no one had a King. The guy who should have been all in had a set of 10s. I got the ruling after the hand was played out (because no pit boss was around at the time) and found out the guy should have been all in.
Then on my fifth hand I had the A-K. The flop came A-8-3. A guy went all in and it would have put me all in. I stared the guy down and decided he wasn't beating me. I called. I was right that he wasn't beating me. He had A-K as well.
After playing three hands and winning a split pot I was still down. I finally got up after winning a hand with J-8 of clubs. I was the big blind and a guy from middle-late position raised the minimum. I called hoping for a reasonable flop. The flop came A-A-3, two clubs. I checked. Caller checked. Original raiser checked (he was a tight player). The turn was an 8. I decided to feel it out. I bet. I got a call and a call. That wasn't good for me, but I had outs. The turn was a 9, no club. I checked expecting to lose to an Ace. The caller checked and the original raiser checked. Sweet. I won with my two pair.
It came down to heads up between James and myself. At this point blinds were $800-1600 and I had about a 2-1 chip lead on him. I took him out when I had pocket fives and opted to see a flop rather than race it down if he had two high cards. The flop came A-Q-5. I checked, James was only going to bet the minimum, but it would have left him with only about $500. He opted to go all in and I obliged with a call.
I'll be returning in August for the next step and I hope I can win this thing to see what would be the following tournament. If the buy-in is steep and I am allowed, I might sell the thing and make a tidy profit off of a $150 buy-in.

We Have A Winner

The following are the final results of the 2005 World Series of Poker:

Mike Matusow took home $1 million for a ninth place finish, with tears running down his cheeks all the way home.
Tex Barch, from McKinney, finished third place and won $2.5 million.
Our new world champion is, drumroll please, Australian Joseph Hachem (a.k.a. No Name). He won the $7.5 million prize and the precious, coveted gold bracelet.

Spoiler Alert #6

Don't read this if you care about the surprise of the World Series of Poker.

The final table is set. It consists of Mike "The Mouth" Matusow and a bunch of no names.

Spoiler Alert #5

Don't read any more if you don't want to know the final standings of certain players in the 2005 World Series of Poker.

Going into today there are 27 players with an average chip stack of $2,081,000.
Mike "The Mouth" Matusow leads the pack with $5,140,000 in chips.
Phil Ivey is the closest competition to Matusow. Ivey has a chip stack of $4,635,000.
The final big-name pro is Greg "Fossil Man" Raymer. He is fifth in chips with $3,840,000.

This is a colossal achievement for Raymer. Whether he wins the event or not, making it to the top thirty players, out of 5,619, is a better accomplishment than Dan Harrington making it to the final table in 2003 and 2004. If Raymer wins this year, he will be one of only four players to ever obtain such a triumph.

Finishing in the money were some top players.
Layne Flack won $39,075 for 194th place.
Howard Lederer finished 133rd and took home $54,965.
Jason Lester won $107,950 for 76th place.
John Juanda finished 31st and won $274,090.

Speaking Out About "Speak Out!"

This is my column for tomorrow.
I didn't have a column last week because my treatment to Wal-Mart was not well received by Sandy. Although, I did find out today that she is saving it in case I get kicked out again. Then I will finally have my revenge on the corruption that is known to be the Wal-Mart.

You may have heard me use this introduction on you before. “Excuse me. My name is Matt Cook and I work for the Ennis Daily News. I have been doing a public opinion piece lately and was wondering if you would answer a question I have and let me put your picture with your answer in the paper.”
Our new “Speak Out!’ feature has quickly become one of the most popular things we’ve ever done here. Tell the truth, haven’t you started looking for it every day when you get your paper? You aren’t alone. We have gotten tons of calls and comments too numerous to count about how much readers love it. They absolutely love reading what their fellow citizens have to say and many have told us it is the very first thing they look for in the paper every day.
It’s certainly popular, but it is a really, really tough assignment.
After my standard introduction, the top two responses I get in return are, “Depends on the question” and “You can have my opinion, but not my picture.”
One of the hardest parts of my job is finding enough candidates to fill the “Speak Out!” space in the newspaper. When I am given a topic, I to drive to my favorite – and most successful - sites and begin the search for courageous volunteers who aren’t afraid to share their opinions with others. Wal-Mart and our local parks seem to be favorite hangouts for confident, really brave people who have lots to share, and don’t mind having their picture taken.
Parks are a good place to go because it is very informal and casual. Most people are playing with their children and don’t mind talking to me about the subject at hand. In fact, it is rare that I get turned down at a park. The only times I really am rejected is when I pose a question about Ennis schools and the person I am asking turns out to be a teacher.
Wal-Mart is a different story. As it happens, some people just don’t like being bothered while they are grocery shopping.
I have found that women are very helpful and graciously offer their opinions. Unfortunately there is a catch. They almost never want me to take their picture.
Sometimes I can talk them into the picture, but most times they just won’t have any part of it. Even when their kids are begging them to do it, the mom still won’t budge.
Men are even harder. Guys just don’t like being bothered, whether it is a reporter trying to get a feel for public opinion or a phone call during dinner to change phone companies.
I understand completely with the guys. I am one.
I don’t want to be annoyed either, but if you would just give me a chance, I promise I am a nice guy and only want to take up two minutes of your time.
My questions have ranged from topics including Michael Jackson to the war in Iraq, from dream vacations to dream jobs. Most of the questions are serious, but every once in a while an adult will be lucky enough to get to answer an easy question.
You might have noticed that we have given our local kids an opportunity to answer some “Speak Out!” questions. We tailored our questions for their age group and let me tell you, children are always very eager to be in the newspaper. Children see it as a blessing to be in a newspaper. They love to be taken seriously enough to be included in a format so adult and so widely read. Children don’t care what they look like or how delicate is the question. They always come up with an answer and then they are more than willing to pose for the camera. They want people to know who they are and what they have to say.
You have to admire their courage.
Through the years, the local community newspaper has been the place residents learn about each other and what is going on in their lives every day. It is appropriate that we offer a regular format for those who live here to be able to express their opinion on topics of interest. It is important for our friends and neighbors to know what we think on issues that relate to us all. Sharing your opinion helps others know and understand who we are as a collective community.
If you see me in Wal-Mart or somewhere else around town, find out if I have a question for you. I most likely will. Your participation helps bring us all a little closer together.

Spoiler Alert #4

You know the drill by now.

Going into day 5, the average chip count is $969,000 among 58 players.
Mike Matusow is second in chips with $2,561,000, which means if he doesn't win the entire thing then watch for the water works.
Phil Ivey is playing a big stack. He is fifth with $2,027,000 in chips.
John Juanda, someone I had yet to find, is 25th with a chip stack of $841,000.
Dropping both in chip stack and place is defending champion Greg "Fossil Man" Raymer. He has $766,000 in chips.
It would be quite an accomplishment for Raymer to make it to the final table, especially considering the size of the field this year.

Spoiler Alert #3

Read on at your own risk.

At the beginning of day 4, yesterday, the average chip stack is $304,000. 185 players remain.
1st place is Greg "Fossil Man" Raymer with $1,064,000 in chips.
7th place is Phil Ivey with $722,500 in chips.
31st goes to Howard Lederer with $496,500 in chips.
39th place is Mike Matusow with $454,000.
79th place is Jason Lester who has $280,000.
Dutch Boyd is barely hanging in there with $92,000 in chips. He is holding at 165th place.

I've Eaten There Too!

I've eaten some of the top hamburgers in Dallas and now I have eaten at the top Steakhouse in Dallas. According to MSN, Bob's Steak and Chop House is the best in DFW. Maybe the Hardline really did know what they were talking about.

1. Bob's Steak & Chop House
4300 Lemmon Ave., Dallas, TX

2. The Capital Grille
500 Crescent Court, #135, Dallas, TX

3. Nick & Sam's
3008 Maple Ave., Dallas, TX

4. Del Frisco's Double Eagle
812 Main St., Fort Worth, TX

5. Ruth's Chris Steak House
17840 N. Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX

6. Boi NA Braza
4025 William D. Tate Ave., Grapevine, TX

7. Chisholm Club Restaurant
222 Main St., Fort Worth, TX

8. Lawry's The Prime Rib
14655 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX

9. Three Forks
17776 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX

10. Dakota's Steakhouse
600 N. Akard St., Dallas, TX

Spoiler Alert #2!

Don't read any further if you don't want to know what is happening at the World Series of Poker.

Play began with 567 players at noon today. The average chip stack is $98,950. Raymer is ninth in chips going into today's battle. Could we have a two-in-a-row winner? That hasn't happened since Johnny Chan in 1988.
Here are a few players remaining. I found some I didn't see earlier.
Phil Ivey - $89,600
Dutch Boyd - $103,800
Mike "The Mouth" Matusow (aka The Cry-Baby) - $120,100
Howard Lederer - $127,800
Sam Farha - $173,600
Layne Flack - $188,100
Jason Lester - $208,700
Greg "Fossil Man" Raymer - $318,700

Another Clue

My good friends know I am a cold-hearted bastard who rarely feels sadness, pity or shame for anything or anyone. Few times in my life have I cared for something openly (i.e. cry).
Today I came across one more reason that proves I am disturbed. I wrote a story about a guy who got in a wreck on his motorcycle by running into a dog that ran into the street. The helmetless man ran his Harley into the dog and flew off the bike, hitting the curb.
For the title of the story I wrote "Hog hits dog." Is that wrong? Should I have not done that? I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to plead ignorance on this one.
Well, I know there is no way it will pass Sandy's desk without being changed, but I'm okay with that. I thought it was funny until I was reading some tips from my University of Texas Internet class. It told me ,"A cheap laugh obtained by publishing something in poor taste may be expensive in the long run. Avoid harming your reputation in this way." CRAP.

Spoiler Alert!

If you do not want to know anything about the 2005 World Series of Poker results as of Sunday night, then do not read any further.

The total prize pool consists of $52,818,610 and will be paid out to 560 of the 5,619 players. The winner will take home $7.5 million.
Remaining are 1,867 people. A few of those players are:

Gus Hansen - $7,300
Chris Moneymaker - $7,575
David Slansky - $9,850
Dan Harrington - $20,575
Phil Ivey - $28,600
Chip Reese - $30,200
Greg "Fossil Man" Raymer - $39,525
Amir Vahedi - $43,975
Dutch Boyd - $55,550
Layne Flack - $69,775
Sam Farha - $156,600 (second in chips)

I've Eaten There!

Congratulations to Al's Hamburgers for making the top ten hamburgers in Dallas. You make Arlington a better place to live. The following is the complete list:

1. Kincaid's
4901 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX

2. Snuffer's Restaurant & Bar
3526 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX

3. Jack's Burger House
6913 Hillcrest Ave., Dallas, TX

4. Angry Dog
2726 Commerce St., Dallas, TX

5. Jake's Old Fashioned Hamburgers on Skillman
6606 Skillman Road, Dallas, TX

6. Scotty P's
4710 Preston Road Ste 300, Frisco, TX

7. Adair's Saloon
2624 Commerce St., Dallas, TX

8. Al's Hamburgers
1001 NE Green Oaks Blvd. Ste 103, Arlington, TX

9. Fat Daddy's Burger House
9540 Garland Road, Dallas, TX

10. Hunky's
4000 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas, TX

Let's Get It On

Today begins event #42 of the World Series of Poker. Some may know this as the Main Event. It is a $10,000 buy-in No Limit Texas Hold'em Tournament, which has made champions of people. However, it has been violated lately by amateur players winning the event.
Who will win this year? Will a pro take the bracelet or will it be some amateur's lucky week to take the multi-million dollar prize? We will find out in the next week.

Over The Hill

I've hit the big 2,000 today. Over 2,000 visitors have come to my site and been a part of my life. They have read about the good times and the bad. If you have been one of the 2,000 people who have read my writing, I would like to say thank you. My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you. (If you can name the movie the last four lines are from without looking it up on the Internet, then I will be seriously impressed)

It's Begun

I'm 17 hours into my deal with Clint to help him stop smoking and already the headache is here. I have decided to give up Dr. Pepper to help Clint give up smoking. It is going to be very hard. I have tried to cut down before, but to no avail. The worst part of this is that I have two remaining Dr. Peppers sitting in my fridge. What should I do with them. I can't throw them away, but I can't drink them either. What if I broast a chicken in a light barbecue sauce with a hint of Dr. Pepper? Is that cheating?

More Than Three Years Of Marriage And Two Babies

and I'm still trying to find where Kristyn Mangrem's room is. That's right. Kylie McWilliams was born this morning at 1:07. She weighed in at seven pounds, 10 ounces and was 19 inches long. She is cute, red (because she is part indian) and has already heard the word mother f*#$%@^ from James' phone. Way to go Uncle James.

This Is My Place

For Chad and others who have yet to see where I live, this is my building. I live in the upstairs area on the right. My windows are on the north side of the building (which means you can't see them). In the center is my office. I work in the darkness that is the editorial room, but that is the front door. On the left is a Masonic Lodge.

Let's Check The T.V. Guide

It's only been two months but I am having cable installed as we speak. Nathan, the cable guy, is upstairs right now hooking everything up. I will finally be able to watch my new favorite comedy, The Family Guy. I am thinking right now about what my first show I watch will be on my new cable. I am going to have HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and two others of the movie premiere channels. Maybe I should wait until later tonight and find some riveting program on Cinemax. That should be my first show to watch. No? It shouldn't?
At least I will finally have Turner Classic Movies again. I have missed that channel. I also will enjoy being able to tune into basic channels without twisting the rabbit ears around and finding the right signal. Oh, it's going to be grand having cable again.

How May I Not Help You?

If Sandy allows it the following will be the topic of my next column:

Today, while searching for victims of my "man on the street" opinions, I was kicked out of Wal-Mart. I was leisurely passing along the aisles when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I was t-boned by a short, dark-haired guy in a blue uniform. Uh-oh, the fuzz. No, it wasn't the police. I wasn't killing anyone. It was an assistant manager named Chris.
Chris asked, "What are you doing here?"
I said, "I work for the Ennis Daily News and I am getting public opinions on different topics."
"Are you cleared for that sort of thing?" Chris asked.
Yeah, I checked in with NORAD. The generals gave me a level five clearance. This is what I wanted to say. Instead I came back with, "Yes, my editor and your store manager have an agreement that it is okay for me to do this."
"Well, I will need you to come up front," Chris demandingly said.
While on our way from houseware to the front of the store Chris asked what the topics were and I told him the war in Iraq, what people are doing for Independence Day and what they like about living in Ennis.
When we reached the front of the store Chris got on the horn to his boss and while he was doing that I struck up a conversation with the two employees who were standing near me. They were two nice ladies who knew what I was up to, because they read the newspaper, and asked what the questions were. One of them went off on the war and I asked to quote her on it. As I was writing down her answer Chris walked back and saw me at work again.
I could only respond with, "We were just talking."
Chris I don't think found me amusing. He told me he needed me to leave and I went off from there.
"What do you mean? I'm not selling anything. I'm just asking people questions. It's like me asking where the milk is or what the weather is like."
Chris' response was "I know but you don't have permission to do that today and I need you to leave. You can talk to our store manager, but he isn't here today."
"I will be," I said.
I stormed off and after a few steps I went back to check that I would remember his name. When I walked into the office I slammed the door and screamed, "They kicked me out of Wal-Mart."
Sandy was on the phone faster than it takes me to eat a pizza roll. After a brief conversation with the person on the phone Sandy told me I could go back and finish up. I just needed to check in at the customer service desk from now on and let them know I would be there.
That's right. The employees of Wal-Mart that I have worked with in the past and the ones Sandy talks to about getting me safe passage through their store are extremely friendly and helpful. In fact, I have learned that 99% of the Wal-Mart staff lends a hand when needed, but then that remaining 1% really ruins it for the rest of them.

It Had To Happen Sometime

After many attempts and an unblemished record, I have finally had to clean my freezer out. I forgot about a Dr. Pepper can I placed in the freezer and it busted. I have had this happen before at my mom's house, but she would always clean it up. It has never occurred to me when I was living on my own. Well, it taught me a valuable lesson. Don't forget about that can.

Greatest. Rejection. Ever.

While doing my "Man on the Street" story today at Wal-Mart, I received the funniest rejection yet. When asked if he would like to respond to my question about the progress being made in Iraq and have a picture to go with it, a middle-aged man replied, "I better not. I'm wanted by the police and a picture in the paper would just advertise my whereabouts. But thank you."
As I thanked him through my chuckles he let me know he was kidding about the police. That rejection got me through the next five without it being personal.

Better Foul Than Sorry

Here is this week's column for you to enjoy.

A friend of my family’s had an extremely interesting story that I felt was important to pass on to the women of this readership.
Jenny Sorrell wanted to treat her mom to a fun night at Ameriquest Field for Mother’s Day. What she got was shocking news that led to a different outlook on life.
Jenny had planned earlier to go on a trip to North Carolina, but fate kept her in the metroplex to give her a chance to attend the May 7 game when the Texas Rangers hosted the Cleveland Indians.
Jenny bought tickets online however when she received them in the mail, Jenny and her mom were placed on the wrong row. This was the second change in her plans, a plan that seemed to have no design in store.
The next change in her destiny came during the game. Jenny said she and her mother had decided to leave at the bottom of the seventh inning. Yet, once the Rangers were doing so well and they were having such a good time they decided to stay longer.
During the bottom of the eighth inning, Alfonso Soriano, having already hit two homeruns for the evening, had every eye watching as he stepped up to the plate. Even Jenny was waiting in anticipation to see what would happen. Soriano fouled a line drive into the crowd and Jenny could see the lightning-fast rip coming straight for her.
“I saw the ball coming but I just couldn’t move,” Jenny said.
The ball crashed into Jenny’s stomach and took her breath away. She was taken to the first aid station at the ballpark and after checking her out they recommended she go to the emergency room.
To not scare her mom too much, Jenny decided to wait on the hospital visit until the next day. On Sunday evening, Jenny went to the ER and had a cat scan done. The doctor came in to tell her the news.
“The good news was my spleen hadn’t ruptured,” Jenny said. “The bad news was I had cancer.”
Her oncologist confirmed what the doctor told her. Jenny discovered she had ovarian cancer that had already developed to stage three.
Jenny’s doctor, Dr. John Schorge, told her it would take surgery and six treatments of chemotherapy three weeks apart.
During the surgery, 15 tumors were found, one weighing ten pounds alone. Doctors had to remove her spleen and appendix due to the size of the tumor.
After having five-and-a-half liters of fluid removed, Jenny was put on a ventilator in the ICU. Following an 11-day stay in the hospital, six of which were spent in the ICU, Jenny came out with a new attitude towards life.
“This was a wake up call to me,” Jenny said. “The little things in life aren’t that big of a deal anymore.”
While considering the events that have led up to this, Jenny said she was grateful the ball hit her.
“It has made me realize I need to let women know to ask for a CA-125 blood test,” Jenny said. “Doctors don’t run this type of test during our annual checkup because it isn’t 100%, but it is better than nothing.”
When I asked Jenny if the way she had discovered this tragic event was just a weird twist of fate she replied with a solid no.
“It’s a miracle that it happened the way it did,” Jenny said. “And that I’m alive.”
For those who read this, I suggest you ask your doctors about this CA-125 blood test and see if it will work for you. Jenny Sorrell would never have known about her cancer had it not been for a baseball, but you have the opportunity to check on your body before a miracle needs to occur.

Thursday's Column

This is my latest column from yesterday's edition. The following is the version that went to print.

When does partial credit no longer apply?

Question: What is the difference between a deli and a meat market?
Answer: Two free tickets to the “Late Show with David Letterman.”
I recently went to New York and while planning the entertainment portion, I applied for two tickets to the “Late Show with David Letterman.” I am not a huge fan of the show, but I like Letterman more than Leno. I enjoy watching it occasionally, but I don’t make sure I’m home when Paul starts hammering the notes of the opening jingle to the show.
I like the top-ten list, but number two is usually the funniest item on the list and number one is never funny. To tell the truth, I’m more of a Conan O’Brien fan, but most people under the age of 28 are.
Well, back to my story. I decided to attempt getting tickets to the June 20 show because it would be memorable to see one of Letterman’s shows taped live. I applied online for the tickets about two or three months ago and had actually forgotten all about the request.
The Tuesday before I left for New York, Brad, a representative with the show ticket office called and told me I was one of the lucky candidates who had a chance to win two tickets for Monday night’s taping. Since the tickets are free and supply is usually great I would have to answer a simple – well, simple to Brad - Letterman question and I would then be given two tickets to the show.
Okay, easy enough. I watch the show every once in a while. Maybe the question would be about Biff’s Summer Tour or what instrument Paul plays. I cleared my mind of all outside interference and concentrated on what was about to be asked of me.
“We sometimes send David out to a man named Rupert’s shop,” Brad began. “What kind of business does Rupert own?”
“You have got to be kidding,” I thought.
What kind of business does Rupert own? What kind of question is that for crying out loud? Rupert. Rupert. Who the heck is Rupert?
I searched every small crevice of my mind and could remember – vaguely - seeing Dave standing in a place with some meat hanging all around. Was this Rupert’s place? Did he own a meat-packaging store?
By this time, Brad is asking me for an answer. I decide to take a shot with meat market. It seemed vague enough to pass if Rupert’s place is involved with meat in any way, shape, or form. Short, vague answers on essay or short-answer tests when you don’t know the answer always served me well in school because you can always get partial credit. That was my strategy.
“Oh, I’m sorry Matt, that’s not correct,” Brad, said. “Would you like a number to call to be on standby for Monday’s taping?”
“Sure,” I replied, thinking Rupert must own a record store or massage parlor.
Immediately after hanging up the phone, I told the office what had just happened and Joe, our graphic artist, told me it was a deli.
“It’s Rupert Jee’s Hello Deli,” Joe said.
A deli? That’s like a meat market. He makes meat sandwiches. It’s close enough. Shouldn’t I get the partial credit of one ticket? I’ve been robbed.
Well, needless to say, I didn’t make it to “The Late Show with David Letterman.” Instead I was a standout tourist and made the typical round from the Empire State Building to the Statue of Liberty to Central Park.
For the record though, I think I was close enough to get tickets, and so does Joe.

It's That Time Of Year Again

Today I was sent to get the gas prices from around Ennis. As of 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon, the average price is $2.05 a gallon for regular unleaded. The low was $1.96 and the high was $2.13. In January Ennis was averaging $1.50 a gallon. It's amazing how quick gas prices go up after a monstrous dictator who is hiding weapons of mass destruction is captured. I wonder if those two events are correlated? No, they couldn't be.

For Those Who Would Like To Know

If you have ever wondered how much editing goes into a newspaper column, then read my post "Too Young To Be A Conservative, Too Old To Be A Liberal" and then read the following. The first post was my submission into the editorial folder and this is what was published after Sandy cleaned it up. Any grammatical errors were fixed before it went to print, just to let you know.

I’ve decided I’m at a peculiar age in my life. While things used to be so clear and set in stone with no discernable gray area, now things sometimes contradict what I used to think. It seems now, that every so often, my ideals run together.
Not to stereotype, but youthful minds usually lean towards the liberal left resulting in comments like, “If it’s too loud, you’re too old,” and “Just one puff won’t hurt.”
This is what I used to be like, but now if find I complain about the youth of America being too broadminded and not respecting their elders – an archaic term that, sadly, I now seem to personify.
I find I am torn about the most perculiar things these days.
Take cable television for instance.
I am a huge fan of “The Shield,” the gritty, genuine cop show on FX starring Michael Chiklis. Some older viewers may know Chiklis better as “The Commish.” “The Shield” sometimes shows images and situations that even I, a 24-year-old male, am uncomfortable to watch.
When a compromising situation with what the show refers to as “a gang-banger” and another male are shown, or a half-naked woman presenting a silhouetted outline that clearly displays her breast, I think to myself, “Can this be shown on television?”
Cable has developed an acceptable status and become what NBC, ABC and CBS were referred to 10 years ago - normal television. If someone says cable television today, most people probably think of HBO, Cinemax and Showtime.
What is appropriate now for cable television? To answer this question, I find I become two different people.
The conservative Matthew Brandon Cook, reporter for the Ennis Daily News, says children and young adults should not be subjected to the filth and violence often shown on these channels. Then the abrasive, liberal Matt Cook, community extremist, responds with facts like it is cable television and shows like that are shown at 9 p.m. and if they want to see violence they can watch the nightly news or get on the Internet and download videos of people doing insanely stupid acts of violence.
So which viewpoint is right? Should cable television be regulated like network television has been or should parents monitor their kids closely enough to ensure they don’t watch smut like “The Shield” or “South Park”?
I would like to say the answer is simple, but it’s not. We cannot shield people from what is going on in this world by channel blocking, but we also shouldn’t allow kids to do whatever they want or watch whatever they want.
Shows like “The Shield” are created for entertainment value only. They are not trying to get the general public to do anything more than watch the show and produce ratings.
Cable was introduced so what people watch on their television could be edgy and new. It is an appropriate place for shows like “The Shield” to be run. While there some brief nudity, it isn’t overt and not much worse than NYPD Blue’s world famous shot of Dennis Franz’s rear - and that show is on network television.
As with everything, moderation may be the key. I think my final resting place on this issue will be somewhere near the peaceful compromise of open-mindedness – something I might not have done a few years ago.
Let shows like “The Shield” and “Nip/Tuck” maintain their edgy premise. Thankfully, I am old enough now to know that if I don’t like it, all I have to do is change the channel.

Micah?

I'm back in Arlington, how did my columns come out? Has anyone commented around the town? I'm so nervous about it. I just want it to look good.

Where's The Irony?

This is a lead to a story I came across:

Two eighth-graders who spent months working on a science project to prove how dangerous BB guns can be were disqualified from the state middle school science fair. The reason for the dismissal: BB guns are too dangerous.

A New Experience For Me

Last night I did something I have never before done. I checked into a hotel all by myself. I'm a big boy. I've stayed in hotels before with friends and relatives, but never alone.
My air conditioning is out in my apartment and I couldn't stay another night in the scorching furnace. I packed up my stuff and headed east. No, I didn't go to Shreveport. I only went about 1.2 miles east, to the Ennis Inn located on I-45. Technically, the Ennis Inn isn't a hotel. It's a motel. The doors lead straight outside. However, this is a moot point. I've survived the Siesta Motel, which means I can stay anywhere in the world now.
I also got to watch cable for the first time in Ennis. I still haven't ordered cable yet for my apartment. I waited so long and now I am going to New York in a few days, I didn't see a point in ordering cable when I wouldn't be here to watch it.
I watched an episode of Sex and the City, part of CSI: Miami, two episodes of The Family Guy, Futurama and the last half of the new HBO series Entourage. Cable is great.
I had fun in the motel room. It was like a slumber party without any friends, but I want my apartment back. Hopefully the fix-it guy will come by today. I need to do laundry tonight and pack for tomorrow and I don't want to do that in the firery pits of Hades.

Too Young To Be A Conservative, Too Old To Be A Liberal

After switching topics multiple times and worrying myself into a frenzy for the past five days, I have finally settled on a topic for my column. Now I must choose whether I use this one for this Thursday or next Thursday. I have to turn in two this week because I am going to New York Thursday and will not have time to write a column while on vacation. However, it would be kind of cool to write a column from New York and e-mail it in. I would be like Carrie from Sex and the City.

I’ve decided I’m at a peculiar age in my life. While things used to be so clear and set in stone, there was no gray area, now things sometimes contradict what I used to think and ideals run together every so often.
Youthful minds usually lean towards the liberal left with comments like, “If it’s too loud, you’re too old,” and “Just one puff won’t hurt.” This is what I used to be like, but now I complain about the youth of America being too broadminded and not respecting their elders, which I sadly am one of now.
A perfect example of where I am torn in life’s tough issues is cable television. I am a huge fan of The Shield, the gritty, genuine cop show on FX starring Michael Chiklis. Some older viewers may know Chiklis better as The Commish. The Shield sometimes shows images and situations that even I, a 24-year-old male, am uncomfortable to watch.
When a compromising situation with a gang-banger and another male are shown or a half-naked woman posing the outline of her breast is displayed, I think to myself, “Can this be shown on television?”
Cable has become what NBC, ABC and CBS were 10 years ago, normal television. If someone says cable television today, most people probably think of HBO, Cinemax and Showtime.
What is appropriate now for cable television? To answer this question, I become two different people. The conservative Matthew Brandon Cook, reporter for the Ennis Daily News, says children and young adults should not be subjected to such filth and violence. Then the abrasive, liberal Matt Cook, community extremist, responds with facts like it is cable television, it is shown at 9 p.m. and if they want to see violence they can watch the nightly news or get on the Internet and download videos of people doing insanely stupid acts of violence.
So which viewpoint is right? Should cable television be regulated like network television has been or should parents discipline their kids enough to not watch smut like The Shield or South Park?
I would like to say the answer is simple, but it’s not. We cannot shield people from what is going on in this world by channel blocking, but we also shouldn’t allow kids to do whatever they want or watch whatever they want.
Shows like The Shield are for entertainment value only. They are not trying to get the general public to do anything more than watch the show and produce ratings.
Cable was introduced so television could be edgy and new. It is a place for shows like The Shield to be run. It doesn’t show nudity, sometimes the occasional butt shot or silhouette of a female body part can be seen, but NYPD Blue has shown Dennis Franz’s rear before and that show is on network television.
My final resting place on this issue will be open-mindedness. Let the television series remain edgy and promiscuous. It is what FX is known for with series such as The Shield and Nip/Tuck.

Just Under Four Hours

I had an idea but have since scrapped it and am back at square one. What is square one anyway? And can it become a column subject? Get back on track Matt. Focus. Usually in college when I had writer's block I would go run and that would get the cogs spinning, but it's too hot to run today. I will have to figure it out soon. The clock is ticking.

Less Than Eight Hours To Go

It's 9:30 and I still don't have a column topic. It's going to come down to the wire. I'll either have to settle on a nice "welcome to the neighborhood" piece or lift an old blog entry and revamp it. However, some brilliant idea could come to mind in the next few hours.

My Column Isn't Coming Along

I haven't decided the approach to take with my column yet. Part of me wants to be serious and begin my first column on a "welcome to my style of writing" kind of piece, but then the other half wants to write about some prick posting anonymously to Micah about the coverage of the 5K and 10K runs at the Polka Festival. I will probably end of writing about my introduction into Ennis and how nice the community has been. That would probably be smart to make everyone happy before I start bashing stereotypes and other groups.

Will This Be On The Midterm?

Back to school, back to school,
To show my daddy I'm not a fool.
I've got my lunch sack packed, my shoes tied tight.
Hope I don't get in a fight.
Oooh, back to school, back to school.

Well, I guess I can't let Chad and James show me up in longevity of scholastic careers. Sandy is putting me back into college. Do you think this has anything to do with the kind of work I've been doing lately?
I have been enrolled in a 10 week Internet course for new journalists. It will teach me different aspects of the job and how to do certain tasks. I just hope dead week is better than SFA's.

Sopranos: Season Five

I was one of the unlucky few who missed last season of The Sopranos and The Shield. I have had to wait diligently for both shows to come out on DVD so I could catch up.
When The Shield hit the shelves I was their within hours to buy my copy. I watched the entire season in a matter of a few days. It was great. Chad and I are now struggling through the new season. It is a great show still, but I don't have cable and he tivos the show. Then he has to wait for me to come in town and watch an episode or two. If I would just get cable then we could watch the show individually and then talk about it later.
With The Sopranos I owned my copy even faster than The Shield. I will get through it faster also. I bought it at midnight on Monday evening and after tonight I will be caught up with the Soprano crime family. I will be able to listen to the Ticket when they discuss anything related to the show. I will be able to stop telling people to shut up about the next season because I don't know what happened last season. When this happens I look like Jimmy Fallon in Fever Pitch when they are at the seafood place and he hears someone talking about the Red Sox game, except I'm not holding a crab leg.
I am trying to get through everything at work so I can go home and watch the show, but I have a "man on the street" story due and I'm having trouble finding volunteers for the column. Oh well, time to go hit the pavement for some recruits.

It's Heeeeeeeeeeeere

Training is over and now is when I begin performing my job alone. I will still get tons of help from Sandy and go to meetings around town with Micah, however I have had four realizations today that show I am settling into my job.
The first was I walked into the front office this morning and thought I was in the wrong building. The front area was completely remodeled over the weekend and it looks very different. It's newer and sleeker. What made me realize I am settling into my job is that if the job still was new and I felt I didn't belong, the front office would probably not have stood out to me. I would have likely just walked through and not given it any notice at all. Yet I did notice. This makes me think I belong here now and I am one of the guys at the office.
Secondly, I have had three new job assignments given to me today that will be a routine thing. The first involved a meeting with Chief Dale Holt of the Ennis Police Department. Sandy took me over to EPD and we took a tour with Lt. Ron Roark. He showed me the detectives' offices, the jail cells in the basement and where I would be picking up the reports from the previous night. I was then informed by Holt of the peace officer/news reporter confidentiality clause that is basically an understanding that I will not report anything that is off the record or libelous to the police department without first conversing with him. I will be reporting to Lt. Roark every morning at 9 a.m. to discuss any questions I have about a case in progress.
My second assignment given to me today was a "Man on the Street" story, which are questions I have to ask random people about around town. Today's question was about Michael Jackson. It took me a while to find some volunteers for such a volatile subject. I was also given questions for the next several days, but I will complete those on a day-to-day basis.
The final assignment discussed during my meeting with Sandy this morning was my column. I will have a featured column every Wednesday starting next week. This is kind of scary. I blog a column all the time, but it is only read by my friends and the occasional passer-by. You can tell when I am being sarcastic. I am afraid I will be too abrasive for Ennis. Also, what if I don't have anything to talk about. Luckily, for a little while I can pull old blog entries and use those. That will work for a while.
The third item of recognizing my settlement in the office was I now listen to the scanner when it goes off. Before today I would sometimes block the noise out and not pay attention. Today I picked up on a report of a female being tackled and thrown into a truck as it pulled away. Nothing came of the report, because I'm not an ambulance chaser, but it was a good sign that I heard the scanner when it went off.
The final realization was my computer and desk are starting to look like me. I replaced the old mouse pad today with a special one I got for Christmas from my mom. The old one was a plain, maroon-colored pad with no personality. Now it is a picture of the Rat Pack around a pool table. My desktop also has a picture that is very me. It is a poster of the 1933 production of King Kong. I like it and it is much better than the plain blue background I did have. Now I stare into Kong's eyes as he is battling planes atop the Empire State Building, which I will be at in just over a week's time.
All of these things combines made me see how much I am starting to feel at home in the office. However, I should always feel at home at the office, because it is in the same building as my home.

WSOP Update

Daniel Negreanu didn't fare too well in the third event of the WSOP. He was knocked out on about the fifth hand. Good hands, no help. However, just to show how well the guy is doing, he has paid for every entry from now until the end. That is impressive. He did not to show off but to not stand in long lines. I wish I had that option. Oh well.

I'm Completely Whole Again...And I Have Some Recommendations

After Chad screwed up my blog and weeks of restoring it, I have put it completely back together. I've added a few links I didn't have before and I changed my template. All entries are to their full content and grammatical best (if a mistake has been made, then I just missed it).
During this restoration process, I came across some very funny entries that I will now share with everyone. If you want a good read or chuckle go to the following:

Anything involving the trips to Las Vegas in June and July from 2004.
The entries about my trip to Europe in December.
Could SpongeBob Be Gay? from January 24.
My Second Rant on May 31, 2004.
Polka Festival Begins from May 27, 2005.
Principles and Principals on May 24, 2004.

WSOP 2005 Begins

Today begins an annual event that my friends and I have paid close attention to for two years now. Today begins the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
The World Series officially started in 1970 with seven players. However, the first battle between the best was played more than two decades before that. In the summer of 1949, Nicolas "Nick the Greek" Dandolos asked Benny Binion, owner of the Horseshoe Casino, to find the best player in poker and set up a high-stakes game between the two. Binion did just that. He organized a match between Dandolos and Johnny Moss. After five months of playing a number of poker games and only breaking for sleep, Moss finally defeated Dandolos and took away $2 million. This is also where we get the famous line from Dandolos, "Mr. Moss, I have to let you go." He then proceeded to go upstairs for some much needed rest.
In 1970, the game was played with a democratic twist. A vote was taken and the majority elected Johnny Moss winner. The next year it was set up the way we know today. A freezeout tournament was played and Johnny Moss won that also. After Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston won it the following year, he appeared on the talk-show circuit and the WSOP gained some momentum.
Last year saw 2,576 entries and this year the event is being moved to the Rio to hold the estimated high number of players (some have projected the count will be over 5,000). Today at 2 p.m., noon Las Vegas time, begins the WOSP with a small no-limit tournament, $500 entry fee, between casino employees. The main event that most casual poker players only know about begins July 7, but I will have the privilege to see how the pro poker players fare in the lesser known, which means cheaper and more likely to have amatuers, tournaments.

I Am Now Whole...Almost

If you haven't noticed the archive dates to the right of the screen, you will not have figured out that I have finally put all of my posts back on my blog. I am missing a few comments for the first three posts, but I will have to add those tomorrow because the comments field has been disabled due to so much activity in twenty minutes. This is also why you may not be able to post any comments right now to this entry.
Tomorrow I will be complete and this prank gone awry (or maybe the pranker got exactly what he wanted out of this) will be a distant memory. As of tomorrow, everything will be back to normal on mobyd.blogspot.com.

This Just In

A man from Ennis has come up with the perfect clothing idea. I will be wearing this new addition to fashion to church this coming Sunday. It is an attachable pocket for your shirt. WOW! What an idea.
This guy probably came up with the answer to the age-old question, "What do you do when you go to a business party and you're wearing a shirt that doesn't have a pocket on it, while everyone else, including your boss who is thinking of filling Johnson's administrative position, has a shirt with pockets?" Add your own pocket. Genius.

Congratulations James, You Beat Out The Competition

Clint and James have both had their hopes set on being in the Ennis Daily News and after just a few weeks James won the race by doing something newsworthy...he came to the Polka Festival.
My job Saturday was to go to the three dance halls in Ennis and take photos of the people enjoying the music and food. I was also supposed to take pictures of dancers, but that was like finding a neo-nazi at a NAACP rally. Hard. For a bunch of PoLKofA (Polka Lover's Klub of America) members being in one room, they don't really do much polka dancing.
James decided to help me out by finding two girls dressed in Czech garb and he proceeded to ask them for a photo. He lied to them a bit by saying he was with the Daily News, but he and I believe in the motto "whatever it takes to get the job done."
James is sporting his new Polka Festival shirt and has a proud smile on his face. However, the smile is not because he is standing between two teenage Czech girls. It's because he came up with an idea that got him in the newspaper.
Sorry Clint, but James beat you on this one.