Zach's Musings

zachkessin @ 2009-09-17T20:31:00

2009-09-17T17:32:15Z

I have started a new blog for poker stuff at http://pokertraps.blogspot.com/ I plan to go over bonehead things I do while playing to try to learn from them. And probably other stuff as well.

More Poker

2009-09-16T19:10:26Z

So I played 3 tournaments tonight (all free chips not real money)

The first I finished 17th out of 90, in the second 3rd out of 90 winning 3,750 chips. in the last 9th out of 27. All around decent but not great.

Some notes

It seems that in the play money tournaments a whole bunch of people go all in on the first hand every time, just fold it.

I have noticed one patterns, when I get a run of bad hands and fold them, then get a hand which is not as bad, but still bad I will often play it even when I should not

When I have a good but not great hand I need to be better at seeing when it looks like someone else could have a better hand than I do. Example from tonight (the poker software will replay hands for you, its quite cool really)

I got KsKd, while in a early middle position. blinds are 15/30. I bet 60 to show some strength, Person to my left calls, as does most of the table. There are 5 other players in this hand at this point. Flop comes out 5sAdAs. So now I have two pair, and a high two pair at that. First few players check I bet 60 (Probably should have gone higher here), 1 player folds everyone else calls. The turn is the 8h. I put out 60 again. Other player bets 240 (I should have folded here), more betting happens and she ends up with a full house to my 2 pair.

Learning Poker

2009-09-16T06:39:01Z

After winning the office game twice I have discovered that I like poker, and I think I could become decent at it if I worked on it, so I am going to do that.

For now I have decided to mostly play No Limit Texas Hold'em at free online tournaments to try and build skills. And alternate that with reading books etc to learn more.

In the first sit n' go I finished second which is to say I won some money (chips) but in the other two I bombed out early.

commentary on my play:

I need to fold more. I went in on too many hands.
I think I was reasonably aggressive when I had something, which is good, I pushed other players off the pot a few times by putting up a big bet at the right time, (Something like 10x big blind).

I need to keep a pad of paper with me to record interesting hands. Or play on full tilt poker which can record hands for you.

I may create a blogspot blog for this, props for good name suggestions.

Astronomy observing report

2009-08-21T07:54:35Z

Haim and I drove down to My standard observing site outside of Mizpe Ramon last night. Its about the darkest sky in in Israel which is to say it was WONDERFUL. I spent most of my time around Sagattarius

Object. The Milky Way was wonderful just naked eye. Definite light and dark patches seen, the great rift up threw Cygnus was bold and obvious. I think I manged to spot M7 naked eye.

With Binoculars (15x70 Celstrons on a Bogen tripod)

M4, nice not resolved into stars but definitely seen.
M7, virtual city of stars so wonderful.
M8, M20, M21 Were wondeful, so much nicer than from Ariel
M22 - Easily seen but not resolved
Star clouds of the milky was were so there. M24 and the GSSC were bursting with stars.

I did spot a bunch of other faint fuzzies around there that I didn't bother to note. I also did some photography trying out Delta 3200 as a sky film. More news on that when I develop it.

This is my favorite part of the night sky and it was wonderful to work my way across it.

Astro trip next thursday

2009-08-14T14:24:14Z

So it looks like next thursday a friend (H) and I will be heading off to Mizpe Ramon for an astronomy trip. Really looking forward to it. I think I will bring at least 1 camera and see if I can get some sky shots. But I'm still limited to about 15s at f2.0 so things will be limited.

At any rate I look forward to seeing my friends of the southern sky again. The galactic core should be wonderful.

I really want to do a set of widefield shots of the sky with a LF camera, but I need a EQ mount for that and some other stuff. Maybe next year.

brotherguy We will be bringing your book with us.

Feeling old and a little wierded out

2009-07-24T10:03:36Z

We just got the a phone call from a neighbor, she met a nice young man (21 and geeky) and thought TC would be perfect for him. As she is still in high school for another year or so kmelion and TC said No thanks. but I'm still feeling a bit weirded out.

zachkessin @ 2009-07-19T17:58:00

2009-07-19T14:59:09Z

Next Year at Cooper's Lake!

4th of July post... (George Washington's letter to the Jews of Newport RI, 1790)

2009-07-03T16:23:38Z

Gentlemen:

While I received with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you that I shall always retain grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced on my visit to Newport from all classes of citizens.

The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security.

If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good government, to become a great and happy people.

The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy�a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.

It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my administration and fervent wishes for my felicity.

May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants�while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.

May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy.

G. Washington

Yet another court date today

2009-05-07T04:14:15Z

So I have a court date at 9:00 this morning. With luck the judge will let me have my passports back. Otherwise we plan to ask for another extension.

May I speek with Nati Please

2009-05-03T16:51:03Z

From kmelion
http://kmelion.livejournal.com/854747.html

Just got a call...

Them: May I speak with a Nati, please?

kmelion : Um... Nati?

Them: Yes, Nati please.

kmelion : Nati is 2 years old. This is his mother.

Them (laughing): Ok, this is FedEx, will someone be home tomorrow?

Any Mysql Gurus out there

2009-04-22T11:35:22Z

If anyone has any experience with finding strange MySQL problems can you give me a shout. (Mostly for people in Israel)

חג שמח

2009-04-08T14:20:39Z

Happy Passover to all my Jewish friends, happy Easter to those who celebrate that and well for the rest of you have a good day.

My Daughters

2009-03-25T06:54:11Z

I have the best (step) daughters anywhere.

Thank you TC and SR!

Baby!

2009-03-25T04:51:38Z

kmelion had the baby at 4:40 am, baby boy, 3.3 KG all is well more details and pictures later. (I need some sleep now)

Law and Order UK (No spoilers)

2009-02-26T14:07:28Z

We just watched the first ep of Law and Order UK, we enjoyed it. fairly standard Law and Order but in London not NY. Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones from Doctor Who/ Tourchwood) plays the ADA (or what ever they call them) I didn't recognize any of the other actors.

We had some issues with accents and slang but otherwise we rather liked it.

I could see some potential for a cool US/UK Cross over but I don't think it would actually happen

Electronics parts in Tel Aviv

2009-02-25T15:03:06Z

I have a small electronics project that I want to do. Does anyone know where I can get LED's, resisters and the like in Petach Tikva or Tel Aviv

Can caffine trigger depression

2009-02-17T07:38:07Z

I had more caffine yesterday than I normally do and had a major depressive attack at night. Could they be related?

Why does being an Orthodox Jew mean you have to be poor

2009-02-16T16:04:10Z

I don't get it. I think I am missing something here. I have a BA and work at a job in high tech that pays pretty well. That being said why is it that there is no way in hell that I will ever be able to save up a downpayment on a house. Of course the fact that a bare bones downpayment in Israel is 30%. So even for a starter home I would need to be able to find well over 100,000 NIS. For a house that would be big enough for our acutual family multiply that by 3 (or more).

Of course if I lived in the US I would be on the hook paying a huge sum of money for a 2nd rate education for the kids.

Would love a real solution to this that does not involve lotto tickets

new user pic

2009-02-11T19:48:07Z

just to show it off

Legal Update

2009-01-23T12:33:48Z

So I met with my Lawyer today about the case. From what she said I will probably loose my Licence for 5 years. And after that have to start over with driver's ed. I have no clue how I will manage to take the written test in Hebrew. Well I guess I have 5 years to worry about it.

The stupid thing is that if the guy had been in car instead of a motorcycle it would be 3 months and thats it.

Interesting typos in code...

2009-01-20T13:04:09Z

So I am working with a co-worker on an interface for sending out messages to different groups of users.

I found a constant today "flagBubbyList" for sending messages to the user's grandmother's I guess. We changed it back to "Buddy"

I'm ammused

yea a meme

2009-01-15T12:30:19Z

1. Post this list to your LJ.
2. Add three SCA-related things to the bottom that you've done.
3. Bold everything in the list that you've done.
4. Tag people, if you're so inclined [I'm not], and watch the list grow.

Taught a class at Pennsic
Ran a court
Fought or fenced at an event while drunk
Worked the "Puking Duke" shift a Chirurgeons Point at Pennsic
Been an Event Stewart/Autocrat
Been an officer (Local, Regional, Kingdom, Society)
Had a name and/or device accepted by the SCA College of Arms
Had a name and/or device rejected by the SCA College of Arms
Worked in at least three different volunteer departments at Pennsic
Written a scroll text
Ran a bardic circle
Attend a foreign war
Traveled more than 10 hours each way for a one-day event (Well it wasn't JUST for the event )
Had the privilege of begging a boon for a Peerage
Been involved on some level with a "gotcha" moment
Spent the night in a hotel room with more people than the bed space holds
Slept in more than 1 tent at a camping event
Fought/fought for in a Crown/Coronet Tourney
Been to an SCA event/function in every Kingdom except Drachenwald and Lochac
Lived in three Kingdoms
Been in the SCA more than half my life.
Won a tournament in five different kingdoms
Been authorized in a fighting style not legal in your home kingdom at the time
Met your future spouse at an SCA event (Well it was a meeting but still )
Taught at a Collegium
Ever had a Marshallate Complaint as a Heavy Weapons fighter or fencer
Perform at least one "stupid peer trick"
Ever have anyone request permission to conflict with your authorized device
Have at least one story that involves a camping event, alcohol and a porta privy
Ever had both a suzerain and vassal at the same time
Ever been present at the formation of a Principality
Worked in at least three different volunteer departments at Great Western War
Ever been to an SCA event which was being covered by the press
Ever been quoted by the press regarding the SCA
Remember the Rattan shortages of a couple of decades ago
Ever participated in an experimental weapon program
Attended An Tir / West War
Attended Lillies
Attended Gulf Wars
Provided garb to a television crew covering a big event
Had a "Your Majesty, this is madness!" conversation with your Crown
Lent kitchen equipment to Duke Cariadoc
Re-written a portion of Corpora
The general requirements for peerage
"Zenned" an award scroll...in Welsh
Changed my persona
Founded a Shire in a country with no previous SCA
Honeymooned at Pennsic
Been the Kingdom webmaster in 2 kingdoms

(Added 2 more which I had forgotten about)

hannahsarah should note this one...

2009-01-11T13:25:18Z

Radioactive watch parts

Bad news

2009-01-08T14:51:44Z

Well the good news is that I still have a job, but we were all just asked to take a pay cut.

Crap crap crap

60Km?

2009-01-01T15:09:27Z

So it appears from some things that I am reading that Hamas may now have rockets with a range of 60KM. That puts Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport in range. The farthest they have fired at this point is in the 40km range which hits Be'er Sheva and Ashdod, as well as Ashkalon and the communities of the Negev.

Petach Tikva is still probably out of range for now, as Ariel should be OK.