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Posted by on Sep 21, 2013 in Blog, Essays | 3 comments

The Beauty of Imperfection

 

pablo-picasso

 

 

 

Within each one of us isn’t perfection, but rather innumerable imperfections.  Some qualities — things like foreign accents, battle scars, crow’s feet, a few extra pounds, whatever — shouldn’t really concern us much.  They are what gives us our identity.  They are what give our lives our fondest experiences.  They are what makes each of us unique.

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Posted by on Sep 20, 2013 in Blog, Las Vegas, Personal | 16 comments

Should I Run For Las Vegas City Council?

 

2013 World Series of Poker

Would you trust this man with your tax dollars?

 

I’m thinking of doing something really crazy.

I am considering running for a seat on the Las Vegas City Council.

I assure you this is no grandstanding gesture.  I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about publicity or getting my name in the paper.  I don’t even like fame and have no desire to be famous.  For what?

But I do care about debating ideas and I do care about my local community and its future.  And I’m sick and fucking tired of the way this city and state — and its citizens — are getting ass jammed by the leeches in power.

I wouldn’t just be a dog to win.  I’d be a mutt with rabies.  I even might foam at the mouth.  I’m the rabid dog no one wants to adopt.  A runt.  But I sure as shit have one hell of a bite.

My candidacy would scare a lot of people.  Who knows, they might even try to assassinate me.  I must admit, that would be one hell of a grand exit.  I’d tell the establishment to pretty much go fuck themselves and then BAM!  Brains would splatter over the microphone the color of cheese and broccoli soup.  One thing’s for sure.  I’d be advised to refuse accepting campaign contributions, especially since no one would be insane enough to give me money anyway knowing that I’d probably blow it inside the sportsbook.

Oh, but those fucking debates would be a performance for the ages, I promise you.  Masterpiece.  Fucking.  Theater.

I’ve got just enough intelligence and balls to beat the hell out of any challenger I face (at least in a debate format).  I’ve got just enough charm to look and sound the part of a community leader, even though I’m hopelessly twisted at heart.  And, I’d say whatever in the hell popped into my head which might make for some interesting theater and a train wreck of a campaign.  Imagine the policies of Ralph Nader gift wrapped up in the delivery of Network’s “Howard Beale.”

 

At one time, I actually did want to run for Congress.  Seriously.  Had I pursued that route and stayed in the mainstream philosophically, I’m convinced I could have achieved that, which isn’t so much a reflection of my appeal as the utter void of leadership which seems to have become a national promulgation.  Trouble was, my ideas gradually became so radical that I’d have no shot of being nominated in a primary.  Of course, I could probably run on the Green Party or Socialist ticket, but those candidates are pretty much crackpots living in trailer parks who read science fiction and listen to AM radio.

Truth is, I’m carrying some serious baggage.  More like lead suitcases.  Read this blog or do a Google search, and there’s plenty there to piss off just about everybody.  Surely, no one at the Venetian would vote for me.  I can’t stand babies and therefore won’t ever kiss one.  I’m a Socialist, which pretty much groups me with child molesters.  I’m an Atheist, which means I start my campaign with 80 percent of voters hating me.  And, I don’t believe in Israel’s right to exist, which pretty much fucks me out of that 2 percent of the radical Marxist-Jews who might have given my candidacy some consideration.

My own mother wouldn’t vote for me.  And my father, who was once actually a member of the John Birch Society, would probably donate money to opponents’ campaigns.  Hell, I’m not even sure I’d vote for myself.

Yeah, I’m fucked.

But then so are elections, the government, the country, and just about everything that has to do with what masquerades as leadership.  I wonder — could a straight-talking madman actually garner enough votes to win an election?  If anywhere this might actually be possible, it’s probably Las Vegas.  After all, Bob Stupak once ran for mayor here and nearly won.  If an egocentric dope fiend could get within a few thousand votes of the mayor’s office, wouldn’t I at least stand a chance?  At least they’ve got no sex or drug stuff to pin on me.  No Spitzergate or Weinergate here.  I’ve never smoked a joint or hired a prostitute.  However, I have used the N-word, the F-word, the C-word, and if it ends in “…i-n-g” I’ve likely done it.

In fact, that would be the way I’d announce my candidacy.  Step right up to the microphone and announce “I’m broke, I drink, I gamble, and I even masturbated once.”  Where’s the potential for scandal?  Hell, I’d be inoculated for life.

As for support, I think I could get the votes of most minorities, gays, gamblers, atheists, hard-line leftists, bartenders, pornographers, bookies, scumbags, and everyone who knows Lisa Tenner.  Holy shit — that’s probably a plurality in Las Vegas.

What do you think?  Should I run?

I’ve got about six months to decide.

Today, Las Vegas.  Tomorrow, the world.

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Posted by on Sep 20, 2013 in Blog, General Poker, Uncategorized | 0 comments

My Interview on High Roller Radio

 

 

 

A few days ago I received an e-mail from Derrick Oliver-Dewan.  He’s the founder, director, and on-air personality for a new radio format called High Roller Radio.

Derrick said he wanted to interview me for his show.  I figured we’d discuss the usual topics going on in the poker world.

To my surprise, Derrick went a lot deeper than I expected, and I certainly talked a lot longer than he planned.  A radio show the customarily went 15-20 minutes extended close to an hour, due mostly to me discussing Stu Ungar, the World Series of Poker, Poker Night in America, and even some political issues.

Sometime later following our interview, I discovered that Derrick probably was the one who deserved the microphone, for his personal story is far more compelling — and even inspiring — than anything I’ve ever done.  I won’t steal away Derrick’s thunder.  Instead, I’ll let him tell his own incredible story at his own time.  Nonetheless, I expect he will make an excellent feature subject for an upcoming “Facing the Firing Squad.”  So, remember the name Derrick Oliver-Dewan.

In the meantime, here’s the re-broadcast of my interview today with Derrick which took place earlier this afternoon

 

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Posted by on Sep 19, 2013 in Blog, Las Vegas, Politics | 2 comments

Time to Declare a Moratorium on Growth in Las Vegas

 

Hoover Dam Drought

 

Las Vegas faces a serious crisis.

I’m not just talking about the local economy, where every street corner seems to attract someone holding a cardboard sign and more than 40 percent of homeowners are upside down on their mortgages.

I’m talking about water.  More specifically, I’m talking about the increasing lack of it.  After all, let’s remember — we live in a desert.

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Posted by on Sep 18, 2013 in Blog, Essays, Personal | 4 comments

Anger Management: What’s the Best Thing to Do When You’re Pissed Off?

 

Angry Cat

 

What’s the way to handle anger?

We all get angry at times.  That’s just part of life.

Trying to suppress anger seems pointless.  It’s better to channel our basic instincts and raw emotions hopefully in a positive manner — assuming that’s an option.  Not every situation gives us that option, of course.

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