Bridge in paradise

I'm not playing any bridge, but I'm sure enjoying the beautiful property and the great weather. It's not too late for you to come.


People here are swimming. I bet you're not swimming where you live.



Photos by MOJO and taken with my P&S.

Orlando NABC venue is huge

Above: The sun streams though high windows in the foyer outside a playing area at the Marriott Worldwide Center.

The playing site is huge. The security person rides a Segue. If he walked, he'd have to buy a new pair of tennis shoes each week. The hike to a playing site called Cypress Ballroom is so far they have signs:
"Keep going, you can make it."
"Don't give up now."
"Keep going, we believe in you."
"Keep going, you're almost there."
"Congratulations, you made it!"


The lobby at the Marriott is open and the ceiling is high.


The weather here is great. Highs are around 80 degrees Fahrenheit and people swim everyday.

Photos by MOJO and taken with my P&S.

Florida in December - tough job but somebody's gotta do it

The The Marriott World Center Resort Orlando (see here) will be the venue for the ACBL Fall North American Bridge Championship.

Brent and I leave tomorrow (Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!) to do the Daily Bulletins, and won't return until Dec. 6. I hope we churn out some good ones. It's fun work, but long hours and I always come home tired from these things.

You can follow them (beginning Friday) if you go here and look for the date.


Above is the logo for the NABC. Don't you think the aligator is cute?

Photos swiped from the ACBL web site.

Poker pearl #54

Hoyt Corkins was interviewed in the December issue of All In magazine (see scan of cover above). They noted he wears ear plugs at the table to drown out the chatter. He was asked who he would take the plugs out for -- who was worth listening to.

"First, I'll tell you who's the number-one player I leave them in for: Mike Matusow. To be honest, he can yell really loud and he can hurt your ears. As for who I'd take the ear plugs out for, I'd say Doyle Brunson or Billy Baxter, some of the old-school guys who've got very interesting, funny stories about the old days.

Poker pearl #53

The Economist is a well-respected weekly magazine with world news, politics and business/finance.

A friend who knows I play poker gave me a copy of a special report from The Economist. They explored different aspects of gambling, including the lottery, horse racing and poker. One section said:

"People will keep on betting, legally or illegally. It makes sense to tidy up the rules."

The Economist went on to say:

"Gambling will always draw opposition on moral grounds . . . . Opponents say it encourages addiction --- a disproportionate amount of revenue comes from frequent players.

"Yet arguing that states encourage addiction by legalising, taxing and regulating gambling is akin to arguing that they encourage alcoholism by legalising, taxing and regulating alcohol consumption. Some people bet too much, some people drink too much, but most are capable of doing both in moderation, and the state should not stand in their way."

Cute IBPA deal

One of the nice things about being a member of the IBPA (International Bridge Press Association) is that we get a set of bridge deals each month in the newsletter that are interesting.

Try this one: You hold:
♠A K 9 3 ♥--- ♦A K 9 6 5 3 2 ♣9 7.

You open 1♦, your left-hand opponent overcalls 2♥ and partner bids 2♠. After your RHO passes, what would you bid?

I guess you could torture partner with some cuebids, but, honestly, what do you expect him to tell you? In the newsletter, your hand jumps to 6♠. They describe this as an "explosive auction." One big plus it has going for it, you likely don't tell them what to do if a club lead matters.

Let's look at all four hands:

                ♠ A K 9 3
                ♥ ---
                ♦ A K 9 6 5 3 2
                ♣ 9 7
♠ 8 7 6 2                      ♠ ---
♥ Q 8 7 2                      ♥ A J 10 9 6 3
♦ 8                            ♦ Q J 10 4
♣ K 5 4 2                      ♣ Q 8 3
                ♠ Q J 10 5 4
                ♥ K 5 4
                ♦ 7
                ♣ A J 10 6

Now swing around to the South seat and play it with the ♥2 lead.

Did you ruff the opening lead and play the ♠A? Your partner made an explosive bid, but you just took a stick of dynamite to the play of the contract. The trumps split 4-0 and the contract can no longer be made.

Instead, South should discard a club on the opening lead. East would win the ♥A and return the ♥J (no switch is better). Declarer can win the ♥K and discard a diamond from dummy.

South cashes the ♠Q, then plays a diamond to the ace. A low diamond is ruffed with the ♠J. A trump to the 9 allows declarer to ruff a second diamond with the ♠10 to establish that suit. Trumps are drawn with the A-K to fulfill the contract.

It's a day for those who served

I still remember opening a letter and finding out I'd been drafted. I'd finished college and the draft board in my hometown of Fairfield IL didn't waste any time.

I wasn't looking forward to the experience, but looking back, there was something life-changing about it.

I thought I was in pretty good physical shape, but when I reported for boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood (Missouri), I found out pretty quickly I wasn't. Getting up at 5 a.m. and running five miles in combat boots wasn't what I expected. The drill seargeants took us from the run directly to the cafeteria. Do you think I was able to eat?

I learned to fire a rifle, shine my boots and follow orders. I also learned when to keep my mouth shut. They announced: "Smith report for KP." I was David Smith and there was a Charlie Smith in our compnay. We approached the drill seargent and foolishly asked, "Which Smith?" His answer: "There are two Smiths? Then both of you!" The other guy and I should have flipped a coin, but what did we know?

I did advanced training as a radio operator in Fort Huachuca AZ. Learning Morse Code will drive you crazy. The good news is that I was able to play bridge. Occasionally, they wouldn't give me a "pass" to go play. The Company commander called me in and asked why a colonel had called him and asked why I couldn't play bridge. When I told him I played with the colonel's wife, the CO told me I could go any time I wanted!

I spent 13 months overseas -- Korea. Was I a radio operator? No, they saw I'd been to college and asked if I could type. When I said yes, they made me the company clerk. Remember Radar in the movie Mash? Nobody messes with the company clerk and I enjoyed my time in Korea.

I took a one-month leave and traveled. I spent 10 days in Taiwan playing in the Far East Bridge Championship. I also visited Japan, Okinawa, Hong Kong and Macau.

I'm not sure why, but people you meet in the service make a big impact on you. I suppose it is because you had to go through things together. I was walking along with Mark Yamagami, Juan Vazquez and Doug Strang. A car came around the curve. It had a general's license plate, but we didn't see it in time to salute. The First Seargeant called us in - it had been reported. He asked us if we wanted to work for him or take our chances with an Article 15. What do you think we chose? I think we dug some ditches or something, but nothing on our record. Fun and games in the military. I wonder where Mark and Juan and Doug are now.

My time in service was during the Viet Nam war. Soldiers weren't always given the respect you see now. I remember hearing about some soldiers being spit on by anti-war demonstrators. Why didn't they spit on the politicians who got us in that mess? Common soldiers, like me, were just doing what they had to do.

When I came home, nobody spit on me, but there were no parades, either. Just my Dad picking me up at the airport and me moving on with my life. I used the GI Bill to get my master's degree. I used a VA Loan to buy one of the houses I've owned.

Today is Veterans Day. I hope you don't mind my reminiscing. You can read what wikipedia says about Veterans Day here. If you see someone who's a vet, go up and shake his or her hand. There's a reason they call it (military) service.

Google has a sense of humor

1. Go to Google
2. Go to maps
3. Go to Get Directions
4. Fill in Japan in box A, put China is box B
5. Click on Get Directions
6. Go to No. 43

St. Louis Rams take care of business

Before the season, my brother told me the St. Louis Rams would win six games. I didn't say anything, but I thought he was crazy. They were just so bad last year, I couldn't see them improving that much.


I went to St. Louis Sunday to see the Rams' game against the Carolina Panthers (the Rams won 20-10). I like watching the games on TV, but I have to admit they are more exciting in person. Sam Bradford (above) was the No. 1 pick overall in this year's NFL draft. His reward? A contract for $50 million, and, so far he looks like he's worth it. (Click on any of the images to enlarge.)

The Rams didn't look like they were ready to win the Super Bowl, but they did what they had to do to win -- TCB. This put the Rams' record at 4-4 halfway through the season. Looks like my brother was right -- they are likely to win six (or more) games.


Don't have a ticket? No problem. A scalper and a fan (above) do some business.


The Ram defenders close in on Carolina Panther Steve Smith.


Above is one of Brandon LaFell's four receptions. He scored Carolina's only TD.

Photos by MOJO. The scalper was taken with my P&S and the others with my Canon.