27 December (S&L’s house) £40 profit – “I did it my way”

Game 1 (1st JJ, 2nd Lee, 8 players)

Lee was keen to point him that thanks to him Barry was not present.

Virgin Rouv lost an early pot with top pair to Charlie’s two pair.

I lost quite a few chips to Dave. The flop was 77K and I slow-played my 7 only for another K to come on the turn.

Rouv tripled up with KQ. I was also all-in and doubled up against Lewis’s 22 with my 99.

Charlie won chips from Sharon having flopped four of a kind (Kings) and making what looked like a large bluff on the river.

Lewis was saved by the rules as he called and announced an all-in at the same time only for Dave to show him the nut flush versus K high flush.

Lewis doubled up against Charlie.

Charlie (hit pair of Aces on flop) KO’d Rouven who was holding pocket Qs.

Lewis exited to Lee with AQ versus AK.

I got nice and lucky against Dave calling his all-in with AK after the flop came 10 2 3. Dave had a pair of twos and improved to two pairs when a Q hit but a J came from the heavens and despite not spotting it initially I doubled up with a straight. What a DB.

IJ doubled up versus Sharon leaving her literally with a chip and a chair. Sharon was out shortly after to trip 8s.

IJ KO’d Dave before I KO’d IJ with a nice turn making me top pair versus IJ’s pocket 7s.

Lee doubled up with a straight versus Charlie’s pocket 7s.

Lee doubled up again with wired 10s versus my wired 8s.

I KO’d Charlie with two pairs.

Heads-up it was tense but I hit a few cards and kept my lead. The final hand saw Lee go all-in with K8. I called with 10 10 and that was that.

Game 2 (1st Sharon, 2nd Rouv, 7 players)

Sharon ummed and aahed about playing a second game and she certainly made the right decision.

I won a big early pot against Sharon with top two pair versus two pair.

In a monster pot for Rouv (holding AA) the flop came KK7. A couple of bets were called by Lee and Dave. The turn was a Q and the river was an A. Both Lee and Dave had tripped up so called Rouv’s £5 raise on the river. Rouv gained a massive early lead with the full house on the river AAAKK.

IJ doubled up against Dave with a higher kicker. Dave also had a flush draw that didn’t come off.

Dave got a small measure of revenge doubling up against IJ with a higher two pair.

Sharon doubled up against me with QQ versus 99.

Dave (AQ) was unlucky to lose to Sharon (JJ) on the river. The cards came QKK4J. Dave was KO’d the next hand.

Rouv KO’d Lee with K6 versus A5.

I KO’d IJ with JQ versus 88.

I lost loads of chips to Sharon with K9 suited (flush draw on flop) versus AK suited.

Rouv KO’d Charlie with AK versus Q6.

I doubled up to take the chip lead against Rouv with top pair versus a flush draw that never came.

Three hands later I was out in 3rd place. First, Sharon doubled up with AQ suited versus A10 suited. Then Rouv won a big pot against me. Finally I was all-in with A8 Rouv called with 66. First card was an 8 only to be followed by 7 9 10 to give Rouv a very jammy straight.

Heads-up it was Sharon taking on newcomer Rouv and Vic will be pleased to know that Sharon won a long heads-up battle. The last game of 2006 ended at 2.15am.

Poker Rankings 2006 - the final table.....

Video of the week

http://www.zippyvideos.com/9914697036264026/magicfood/ (magic food)

Quotes of the week

Lewis: “Sue’s Grandma has died and they are going to the funeral”
Sharon: “So how is she?”
All: “Dead”

Lee (after Virgin Rouv won his first pot): “That’s Rouven’s hymen broken”

Murphy’s other laws

1. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
2. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
3. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
4. A day without sunshine is like, well, night.
5. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
6. Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
7. Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
8. The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
9. It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end-to-end, someone would be stupid enough to try to pass them.
10. If the shoe fits, get another one just like it.
11. The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first.
12. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer.
13. Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.
14. The shin bone is a device for finding furniture.
15. When you go into court, you are putting yourself in the hands of 12 people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.

Story of the week

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1244825,00.html?f=rss

Brainteaser

No-one solved last week’s brainteaser. The answer was a quill. Thanks to all that have responded to this feature which is now closed.

Awards

In this my final blog, it’s time to hand out some well-deserved end-of-season Poker Elite awards.

Best hosts: we’ve been lucky to have two wonderful poker hosts in Sharon/Lee and Jude/? Thanks for all the booze, chocolates, teas/coffees, jelly beans, cakes, pretzels etc etc.

Best IT support: Grateful thanks go to Charlie for setting up the blog online and for sorting out a host of IT issues during the year.

Best organiser: this award goes to Lee who has week-in week-out organised our game and arbitrated as appropriate when we had more than 10 players. Considering the number of games we’ve played it is impressive that there was only one massive cock-up when Vic turned up after we started.

Best hand: Vic, Dave and Barry share the spoils as they all hit straight flushes during the year. The race is still on for the first royal flush on the poker table. Too many people hit four of a kind to mention here.

Worst bad beat: the flop came 222 and Lee had limped in with AA. Lee then hit AAA22 on the turn but Dan had hit four 2s on the flop to decimate Lee. A memorable birthday present for Lucky Lee.

Most generous award: This award is presented to Dave for purchasing the wonderful poker table we play on each week.

Best sport: No doubt about it this goes to Vic who has been a regular target of the blog. Congrats on taking it all so graciously.

Best nickname: There’s a lot to choose from. James was the Swiss assassin, Barry was Rimmer, Bazra and Bazturd, Vic aka Pauline Fowler has too many names to mention and is therefore the deserved winner.

Best blog title: Again lots to choose from but the winner is “Burn Davy Burn” – recalling how burns victim Dave was scalded by Sharon

Best quote: First place goes to Sharon when after pouring tea down Dave’s neck) she said “Careful!”. Second place goes to Lewis. Lee: “We (Total) do more for the environment than a lot of companies” Lewis: “Yeh, Buncefield”. Third place is awarded to Lee. Scott to Barry (who had just placed a poker chip on his forehead: “You look like Rimmer” Lee: “You’ve been called that before”.

Best attendance: This award is presented to Dean for his unfailing commitment to the game.

Best guest: The winner of this award is Gil who got to third place without looking at his hole cards when a blind. Quite astonishing.

Best feature: The Life at Accenture theme seems to have gone down the best. Highlights of this section were:

1. Jude revealed that on average she sees Dean for 20 minutes each day. It’s a good job Accenture is so committed to work-life balance. http://careers3.accenture.com/Careers/Global/WorkingHere/WorkLifeBalance/
2. After 8 happy years, Dean has been made-up godfather-style. The ceremony involves an official welcome from the guy at the top of the pyramid and some tips on keeping your minions loyal to the scam.
3. The hard work sadly got to one of Dean’s colleagues who passed away this week from a heart-attack aged 34. The funeral will be held at midnight after next year’s planning session. Dean was too busy to attend his corporate hospitality day at Wimbledon. Dan fought back when asked to produce a re-plan at 9pm for the following morning. Now he’s got a whole day to produce it.

Best Danism: “having a warm beer is like sleeping with a beautiful girl, only to find that it’s your sister”

Best photo: “Vic on his way home”

Best ringtone: We’ve all got used to various ringtones during the year, but the highlight for me remains IJ’s gay ringtone. A deserved winner.

Best video: It has to be Vic playing heads-up poker. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3728266100951844857

Best poker injury: The poker incident log book records that this year there were two major incidents this year. First Barry chuckled so much he injured himself, then Dave was burnt in shocking scenes.
Best tell: Vic putting his bicycle clips on.

Best poker manoeuvre: Barry’s patented ‘attack and leave’ manoeuvre wins this hands-down.

Best off-the-table performance: Well done to Dave for several large online poker wins during 2006. Also well done on another recent online win coming 1st out of 237 to win $1,350 from a $15 stake.

Best namesake: Lots to choose from but you can’t really beat James Young as Sportacus.

Best conversation topics: Who can forget the Wimbledon ticket fiasco, the unwelcome spider, the debates about mashiach and Shabbat shmodesh, the house extensions and rent issues (I can easily forget these), au pair scores, Lost, The Apprentice (UK and US), HDTV (Charlie and Dean only – no-one else gives a s#it), Pesach in Israel prices (this one will start again soon), Michael Jackson, Sharon spending £300 on glue and the many dwarfs spotted and even photographed in the home of the little people - Borehamwood.

Mazel tovs

There’s been plenty to celebrate. New births, new jobs, promotions, offline poker wins and the odd sacking. You name it we’ve had it. PG we have at least 3 more poker offspring to welcome into the Elite’s extended poker family in the coming year. Be’sha’ah tovah ladies.

Signing off

It’s been a momentous year blogging and I’ve enjoyed it immensely. However, I’m moving onto new projects for 2007 (no, I don’t know what yet and no I can’t be persuaded to continue). Thanks for being so supportive and for reading it every week. Thanks to those that entered the brainteasers and commented on what they liked/didn’t like and thanks to everyone that contributed content. Overall it’s been a great year for me as it’s the first one I’ve made a profit (£250 for the year). Here’s to 2007 when I have a feeling that Vic’s going to come good and win a game*. It is no coincidence that Pauline Fowler has been killed off on Eastenders. See you all in 2007 in the poker suite.

* Note I don’t really believe this. I’m just trying to boost his confidence.

I did it my way.

19 December (S&L’s house) £20 loss – “Aussie grinder makes the cut”

Game 1 (1st Dan, 2nd Sharon, 10 players)

Scott got very lucky to split a pot with the Grinder in an early exchange that could have proved fatal. Mark flopped AAA 10 10 (flop AA10). Only a further 10 on the turn saved Scott.

Lee was out first with QQ falling to Dan who hit a pair with AK.

Jude doubled up against me with JJ versus my A 10 with a nut flush draw.

In a huge pot for Sharon, the flop came J 3 10 (2 spades) and Scott and Mark both re-raised Sharon’s bet. The turn brought another 3. Scott and Sharon were all-in and the cards were turned over. Mark had top two pair and Scott had an irrelevant flush draw because Sharon had cleaned up with a full house 333 J J.

I took some chips from Dan with trip 8s and then KO’s the grinder with AQ versus Q8.

I then lost loads of chips to Charlie who annoyingly hit a flush on the river that I never paid to see (after my £5 raise led Charlie to go all-in).

Barry was unlucky to be KO’d by Jude with AJ versus QJ.

In a key hand (had I played it) I would have hit a flush. Sadly I didn’t call and Charlie took chips from Sharon with AA versus top pair Qs.

I was then KO’d by Dan with K9 versus A10.

Dan moved through the gears and started hitting a few cards. He trapped Jude beautifully with the nut straight to KO Jude into 4th place.

Sharon quickly KO’d Jude with a higher kicker with KJ versus J9.

Heads-up Dan hit another full house before pocket cowboys saw off Sharon in the final hand.

Game 2 (1st Lee, 2nd Barry, 8 players)

Scott got the game going by smashing a glass everywhere and IJ turned up for what was to be a brief visit.

Barry got lucky to win a big pot versus Charlie with a flush on the river. That said Charlie was hopelessly optimistic as he called a string of £4 bets with sweet FA.

Mark had out a decent win with higher two pair versus Lee’s two pair and settled in for more serious grinding.

Scott KO’d Charlie with trip 4s and then KO’d IJ with two pairs (KK99) versus Ilan’s pair of 10s.

Basra won a nice pot against the grinder with 23 diamonds. Sweet.

I lost chips to Lee with top pair versus trip 10s and 4 hearts on the board.

My final hand saw A 10 lose to Barry’s AK.

Barry continues…

Mark KO'd Dan (top pair) with the nut flush.

Lee doubled up against Scott (top pair) with 4 cards on the board giving him a straight. Scott very unhappy. He was even more unhappy a few hands later, whilst still on tilt, when Lee's pocket 5's held up against Scott's J 10, sending Scott home, still swearing quite loudly.

Barry doubled up against Mark (top pair) with a flush, and a few hands later Barry knocked Mark out with a higher pair.

Barry & Lee heads up. Barry big chip leader, but a couple of big swing hands go to Lee and finally, Lee takes the game with a flush vs Barry's top pair. Lee tops the table for 2006 with an impressive top-of-the-table run since March 8th, and saves Barry's marriage - Barry no need to make a 4 hour round trip in the middle of his family holiday, to turn up for the last game of the year. Wishing you all a happy healthy year ahead.

Video of the week

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/333602/arab_running_the_treadmill/

Text twist game (highly addictive)

http://www.shockwave.com/sw/content/texttwist

Conversation topics

We welcomed back the Aussie Grinder and he had a victory of sorts – winning both ‘cuts’ in some style.

Lee proudly showed off his ebay ‘find’ – a boxing video in HD quality (Note that HD stands for huge drivel) for £4. I’ve got a couple of matchsticks for sale if you fancy bidding. The quality is excellent.

Most dismal law firm websites (very funny)

Need convincing? Simply turn your sound up, log on to the http://www.fletcherlewis.com/ website and click on the face of each lawyer. Selecting Matthew Brennan's face results in an electric keyboard version of C'est Chic's Chic (by C'est Chic). Jason Lewis embraces girl power with a burst from a Bontempi organ of the Bangles' classic hit Walk Like an Egyptian. And Jeffrey Fletcher advertises his services with a contortion of Michael Jackson's Billy Jean. Close your eyes and you could be in the foyer of a dodgy hotel in Magaluf in 1983. Some carefully selected typos and spelling mistakes complete the impression of a professional modern law firm.

Turner Parkinson meanwhile (http://www.tp.co.uk/) has chosen an entirely random fish theme for its site. The firm's latest news is illustrated, naturally enough, by a picture of some fish and chips, and a summary of the firm has a picture of a shark's fin. In addition to the obligatory mug-shot, each lawyer also has an end of pier caricature on their personal page.

Of course, neither holds a candle to the greatest law site ever. Buglear Bate (http://www.rollonfriday.com/) we continue to salute you. Particularly recommended is the Senior Partner's 1999 Address to the Woking Business Community.

Admire the office dog and find out how she will become the first ever border collie to qualify as a solicitor.
Understand in detail how Legal Aid works. Which Buglear-Bate don't actually offer. Curse the freemasons. Well of course. And learn how to get on with your solicitor.

There's so much good advice. For example, on corresponding with a solicitor: "Pace your correspondence. Try to allow at least 3 months before chasing. Law is an ancient profession and, even today, many solicitors still work to the natural rhythm of the seasons."

Website of the week (from Charlie)

Go Penguin Go. http://www.n.ethz.ch/student/mkos/pinguin.swf

Quotes of the week

Jude: “As I live on my own I need a big house”.

Scott on breaking an indestructible glass: “Can anyone see any glass?”
Mark: “Walk barefoot Scott”

Mazel tovs

Mazel tov to Lee on topping the league table for 2006. Commiserations to Vic and well done to everyone else in between.

Story of the week

Marmart: http://news.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/picture_gallery/0,,91059-1238608,00.html

Brainteaser

Congratulations to Barry on the first and only correct answer to last week’s brainteaser. The answer Barry came up with was:




















See below for this week’s brainteaser.

By nature I am simple and have no wisdom in any way,
but now every wise man will follow my tracks;
now I dwell on earth, erewhile I roamed on high through the heavens;I am white in appearance, though I leave black traces.

13 December (S&L’s house) £20 loss – “A year to forget for Vic”

Game 1 (1st Dave, 2nd Ilan, 10 players)

Vic’s last stand started poorly when he hit a full house (and thought he’d won) 10 10 10 J J only to slow-play and lose the pot to Jude’s J J J 9 9.

I won a big pot against Barry with trip 5s before KO’ing Vic in his penultimate game.

James doubled up against me with pocket 10s.

Dean arrived for the first time in months and was introduced to Jude.

Jude was feeling the pressure as she was gambling the kids’ Chanukah gelt but hit trip Js versus IJ.

Dave doubled up against me with a lucky J on the river and a flush draw.

I chose the wrong time to go all-in walking into not one but two big slicks (Sharon and IJ). They split me in two, the dirty b@stards.

Barry doubled up with AK against Jude.

Sharon won a nice pot against Dean with a FH on the flop. 44422.

IJ KO’d Barry with two pairs.

Dave got lucky to KO Jude with A5 versus AJ.

Lee got very lucky to double up with a straight versus James’s two pairs AA KK.

IJ KO’d Lee going in ahead, falling behind, and then catching the A.

James KO’d Sharon with AQ versus A4.

Dean exited with A5 as Dave got lucky with 85 to hit four spades.

James was out in third, slow-playing trip 7s on the flop and paying for it big time as Dave slow-played the flush he hit on the turn.

Heads-up IJ put up the white flag and handed his chips over to Dave without any fuss. The final hand saw Dave hit a straight with J high.

Game 2 (1st Barry, 2nd Lee, 7 players)

Barry gained an early lead with the nut flush versus IJ’s trip 4s and then won a big pot against me with a lucky straight on the river.

I was out first hitting top pair (QQ) on the flop and going all-in. Dean had an over pair (KK) and sent me packing.

Birthday Barry continues: First big hand after JJ left was Flop: 6 K J

Vic (KK) all in (£10 extra)
Dave calls (K5)

Next cards 8, 8 - Vic wins, Dave short stacked

Dean then fell asleep. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Dave went all in with QJ, Barry called small raise with 10 6 (both hearts). Nothing came out to help anyone until river, when a 10 came, sending Dave home.

Ilan then fell to asleep Dean who'd somehow found 2 pairs.

Vic went all in on his small blind with one chip less than the big blind, 4567 of diamonds on board - Barry had 23 - hit straight, thought he'd knocked out Vic until Lee pointed out Vic (8 diamonds, A) had a straight flush (see picture) !















Then 2 big hands in a row wiped out sleepy Dean -

Dean (KJ) Vs Barry (A8) - no one hit anything - Ace held up
And next hand: Dean (AJ) All in, Barry (AK) calls - no one hit anything again - AK held up - Dean sent packing

Down to 3 and could this be Vic's first win - it's his final game of the year (probably)………

Barry (35) hit straight on flop (246) - slow played. Next card - Q - Vic (Q8) all in, barry calls, Vic out.

Down to Lee & Barry heads up, Barry huge chip leader, Lee won a few small hands to gain some chips back, but then goes all in with A10, Barry calls with JQ - Jack comes on the turn, Barry wins - Lee gets the solitary point in the table that takes him to 100 points, Barry 2 points behind on 98.

Videos of the week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwYQBV66rbM&NR (Chanukkah song – part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lDbReF-aYo (Chanukkah song – part 2)
http://www.wastednetwork.com/media/lundi.wmv (Having a bad morning)
http://www.viralvideochart.com/myspace/wheres_my_money?id=1300371217 (Where’s my money?)

Conversation topics

The holiday room draw saw Sharon pick out the worst room for Gaby and Dan, Dalya and Scott got the middle room and a delighted Jude and ? picked up the largest room.

Bad beat

How about this for a bad beat. Ouch! http://www.thepokerpost.com/blogs/11/My-one-true-

Did you know that Vic’s online name is SONNYCHIBA05?

Website of the week

http://www.visit-ipswich.com/ It’s getting a bad press at the moment, but the website says it all. Look at the text below the picture on the right.

Quote of the week

“£350,000?????????????”

Mazel tovs

Congrats to the old man of poker, Barry on his 36th birthday today.

Congrats to me on coming out of a casino with more money than I went in with (Tues night).

Life at Accenture

Dan was badly missed as he was on a Value Driven Project Management course. Dean turned up for once (although he disappeared for much of the first game and then fell asleep in the second game) and proudly showed off the fancy pen he’d got from an Accenture course. Makes the hours all seem worthwhile.

Story of the week

Piddler on the roof: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006570530,00.html

Brainteaser

Congratulations to Rouven (first correct answer), Lewis, Dan and Barry (after 2 attempts) on the correct answer to last week’s brainteaser. The answer was 12, 33 and 9 litres respectively.

See below for this week’s brainteaser.

The Star of David has two superimposed equilateral triangles which produce six line segments and twelve segment intersections. Using this star as a template, arrange the numbers 1 through 12, placing them at the twelve intersections, such that the four numbers on each line segment produce a sum of 26. There is more than one solution.

A prayer for Vic

It’s been a long 12 months of under-achievement for Vic and his long-suffering wife. A whole year of coming home at 1 in the morning and being asked did you win? did you win? A whole year of talking about what could or should have been.

May your next year on the poker circuit be more fruitful and may your first win arrive some time in the 2007-9 period.

6 December (S&L’s house) £60 profit – “Elftastic night”

Game 1 (1st JJ, 2nd Sharon, 10 players)

Vic got off to a flier with a straight on the flop versus Dave’s two pair on the flop.

I then KO’d Dave with 10 10 versus Dave’s A 9 all-in.

Vic (KK) stretched further into the lead with trip Ks versus IJ.

James (77) flopped full house as the board came 722 to double up versus Scott.

Barry was KO’d jointly by me and Vic – we both had the straight.

Sharon (KK) doubled up versus Dan’s top pair.

I then won a monster pot to double up against Vic with AA versus KK and a crap flop. I moved further into the lead with a straight to KO Lee.

James (AA) KO’d Dan the hand after claiming he never gets Aces.

IJ doubled up with AQ versus James’s 44.

Vic then got a small measure of revenge to double up with KK (again) versus JJ’s JJ.

I won a big pot versus Sharon with higher two pair before KO’ing James.

I then KO’d Vic with Q10 versus AQ.

Heads-up I was a massive chip monster and KO’d Sharon (who paired 8s) with J 10 for a 10.30pm finish.

Game 2 (1st Lee, 2nd Dan, 9 players)

I doubled up against Barry after flopping top two pairs (AA QQ) and then hitting the FH on the river. Barry hit trip Qs on the river and called.

Scott was caught deep in the cookie jar by Dave.

Barry was KO’d by Dan’s KK versus A 10.
Scott doubled up with two pair versus Dan.

Dan then put on his turbo boost. First he KO’d James.

Lee hit a straight with 84 to win a big pot and KO Dave.

IJ hit four 6s but didn’t win much.

Lee (AA) won chips from me.

Dan won a big pot to move further into the lead. Hitting trips on the turn Dan slow-played, allowing Scott to hit the A on the river. Scott raised Dan’s £2.50 bet and Dan went all-in. Scott called and was out.

Dan KO’d Vic with two pairs.

Dan (AA) KO’d IJ (AK). That left me, Lee and Dan.

I was short-stacked and Lee push me all-in on my big blind. I called with K8 versus Lee’s K10 suited and lost.

Heads-up Dan started with most of the chips, but Lee hit a nice run of cards to turn the tide. The swing hand saw Lee hit a flush and go all-in. Dan folded but there was no way back. The final hand saw Dan’s Q2 lose to Lee’s KQ. Lee is now 6 points clear of Barry, unless Barry can find some ‘extra’ points to hand himself.

Videos of the week – a prize idiot, classic Catherine Tate sketch and some rising bollards

http://www.everything350z.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=37644 (click on the attachment)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID8tuuYylkQ&eurl

http://www.biertijd.com/mediaplayer/flvplayer.swf?file=http://media.biertijd.com/movies/200610/onderen.flv&autostart=true&fs=true

Conversation topics

Dean called at £1.50 a minute to see if he could borrow a ski jacket. It cost him about a £10 to realise no-one had one and we were just winding him up. By the way, there’s no snow in the Alps as it’s too mild. Dean then farted down the phone.

Quotes of the week

James to Sharon: “I never get Aces”. Next hand, pocket rockets. Sweet.

Vic sets everyone a challenge: “I’ve cycled 40,000 miles and only been knocked off once”.

Mazel tovs

Be’sha’ah tovah to Jude and ?.

Story of the week

Cheap wedding venue http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2006-12-04T092717Z_01_PEK234313_RTRIDST_0_OUKOE-UK-CHINA-WEDDINGS.XML&src=rss

Laugh if you are a bad person




















YMCA














Elf yourself

Here’s a neat festive site from Dave. http://www.elfyourself.com/

To see Dave turn into an Elf click below (best with sound).

http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=6f81f227078ae49671a82b9_20061206

Send your elf dance link to me to be featured in next week’s blog.

Tricky question

You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for the bus:

1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.

2. An old friend who once saved your life.

3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car?

Think before you continue reading...

This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.

You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first; Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back.
However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.

The candidate who was hired simply answered: "I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams."

Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box."

Brainteaser

Congratulations to Barry and Rouven (guest blog reader)on the correct answer to last week’s brainteaser. The answer was Bones of the Leg (Fibula, Tibia, Patella, Femur).

See below for this week’s maths brainteaser.

A dairy farmer had 54 litres of milk in three churns. He wanted to make sure each churn contained 18 litres.

First he poured 1/4 of the first churn into the second churn. Then he poured 1/2 of the second churn into the third churn. Finally he poured 1/3 of the third churn into the first churn.

How many litres did each churn contain before he started pouring?

29 November (S&L’s house) £40 profit – “Vic wins lead role as blonde antelope”

Game 1 (1st JJ, 2nd Dan, 9 players)

Barry and I arrived late and missed Lewis’s early decimation of Sharon’s chips. Dan KO’d Sharon with JJJ55 versus JJJ33.

On my second hand I held KK and eagerly awaited the flop. Post flop (J53) Lee re-raised me, so I re-raised him and Lee went all-in. I called and Lee revealed JJ. S#ite. However, in amazing scenes I hit runner runner hearts to double up. The Youngs were both sat on their sofa by 9.30pm – astonishing.

Barry tripled up versus Jude and Lewis.

Dan KO’d Dave with trip 10s.

I quite quickly lost loads of my ‘hard-earned’ chips.

IJ doubled up with a lucky flush versus Jude (runner runner again).

I doubled up in style against Barry with a lovely 9 on the river.

Dan KO’d both Lewis and Jude with an A on the river.

In a key hand for me, I hit a flush on the river to double up against Barry.

Dan KO’d Barry and IJ with A9 versus 62 and AJ respectively. Dan – you knocked out everyone up until heads-up.

Heads-up I got very lucky again with runner runner for a straight against Dan.

Shortly after Dan got lucky when only the board pairing made it a split pot.

In the final hand Dan went all-in with A2 and I called with Q8. The flop came 2 and then 8 and it was all over. Congrats to me on my first win for ages.

Game 2 (1st Dave, 2nd Ilan, 6 players)

Like buses you wait ages and then three come along all at once. We had 3 four of a kinds including two four of a kings in less than an hour.

First Barry hit four 7s. Then Lee hit four Ks with his hand improving from two pair on the flop, to full house on the turn and to four of a kind on the river.

Incredibly Barry repeated this feat two hands later.

IJ KO’d Barry with trip 8s.

Lee doubled up with A9 versus my A8. I hit my 8 on the river but it made Lee a straight also.

Dan KO’d Lee with AJ versus KJ.

IJ had AA versus me before Dave knocked me out with top pair.

That left Dave, Dan and IJ.

The killer hand was Dave 8 9 off - Dan had A 2 - flop came 7 8 7 - small bet dan - dave calls - 8
- checks then A on river Dan goes all in and Dave cleans up having reeled Dan in "Good n proper"

Ilan was v small stack and did not last long. Congrats to Dave on his first win for ages.

Video of the week (from Lee)

I managed to track down the link to this week’s video of Vic playing heads-up poker. Such style and grace…

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3728266100951844857

Conversation topics

Jude revealed that on average she sees Dean for 20 minutes each day. It’s a good job Accenture is so committed to work-life balance. http://careers3.accenture.com/Careers/Global/WorkingHere/WorkLifeBalance/

Barry is seriously considering purchasing trophies for the league table winners. He’s due to present himself with the trophy he bought for himself in four weeks. A photographer and lighting crew have been booked.

Dan seems to have been affected by the Polonium outbreak as he spent a good hour working out whether he’d been to a certain restaurant before deciding it was a completely different one. Then he convinced me and Lee that the second test was about to start – it starts tonight.

Quote of the week

Lee was talking about the restaurant asiadecuba. Dan: “”What kind of food do they serve?”

Story of the week (from Barry)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6190772.stm

Fancy a bite? (I dare anyone to buy and eat this impressive looking chocolate in one sitting)

http://www.woolworths.co.uk/ww_p2/product/index.jhtml?pid=50295663

Sledging (may be we’ll win this competition)

http://www.cricket-forum.net/aus/Crickets_Greatest_Sledges_99221.html

El Al food (thanks to Barry)

This might well catch on…




















Bad names (thanks to Dave)

So you think you’ve got a bad name…









































Poker card sharks

http://news.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/picture_gallery/0,,30000-1242416,00.html

Brainteaser

Congratulations to Barry on a partial correct answer to last week’s brainteaser. The answer was 3 muskateers - Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.

See below for this week’s teaser. Can you decipher this anatomical letter equation?

4 = B o t L (F, T, P, F)

Date for the diary

The third annual charity poker extravaganza is provisionally scheduled for Feb 3rd. Please keep the date free.

22 November (S&L’s house) £0 loss – “Vic takes first place – only joking, he came second again!”

Game 1 (1st Charlie, 2nd Ilan)

Barry notes the following: Scott was out in the first round and had a long wait. Charlie, who at one point was down to about 20 chips, won about 5 hands on the river to win 1st place, followed by Ilan. Sharon got a tenner for 3rd.

Game 2 (1st Barry, 2nd Vic)

Second game Dave read Dean's text that he was turning up, after we had played the first hand, so we spent 10 minutes working out how many chips to siphon off everyone's pile to give to Dean.

After a long game (finished after 2am) I beat Vic in heads up - catching an A on the river after Vic had caught a 3 for a pair.

Story of the week – a dedicated monk

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2006-11-22T112056Z_01_BKK284926_RTRIDST_0_OUKOE-UK-LIFE-THAILAND-MONK.XML&src=rss

How to?

http://www.wikihow.com/Survive-a-Plane-Crash

Like smashing things up

Look no further than http://www.smashmyps3.com/ (thanks to Charlie)

Strangers of the flight (Frank Sinatra as you’ve never heard him)

http://www.animatronics.org/strangers/strangers.htm

Torn (amusing video from Marc Heller)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCyQ4tYVRX8&mode=related&search

Photo of Ruud Van Nistelroy

















Brainteaser

Congratulations to Lewis on the first correct answer to last week’s brainteaser. The answer was pac man.

See below for this week’s teaser.

Letter equations are well known phrases or facts where the key words have been replaced with the first letter of that word. These are often in the form of an equation, which contain a number, an = sign and the rest of the obscured phrase or fact.

Solve this:
3 = M (A, P, and A)

15 November (S&L’s house) £10 loss – “Burn Davy Burn”

Game 1 (1st Jude, 2nd IJ, 9 players)

I won some early chips with a straight versus IJ and Barry’s two pairs.

Wictor (Finnish Vic) had just finished the first chapter of his new book ‘raising for beginners’ and was raising like a madman early on to good effect.

Dan arrived to finish off Bazturd. As Barry left for the sofa, he shouted “I’m a bazturd, get me out of here”.

In a big pot, IJ tripled up versus Sharon and Vic. Sharon then generously gave £4 to IJ calling with J high Scott-style.

Jude doubled up versus Dave with 66 versus A8 suited.

Dan doubled up versus IJ with a royal flush draw plus top pair.

IJ doubled up again versus Vic with 2 pair versus top pair.

I raised pre-flop and with a flop of Q 10 2 (3 spades) and holding JJ (with a spade) I raised. Dave went all-in (had tripped 10s on the flop) and I called and hit another J plus the flush to win a big if slightly fortunate pot.

Jude was very lucky to double up against me with A9 versus AK. As we turned over our cards Jude said “I’d be happy if you won”; so happy that you pulled a full house.

The A9 giveth and taketh as both Youngs were KO’d by my 99. Lee had 82.

In the first £15.75 bet of the night Dave got lucky to double up with K 10 versus Wic’s AJ.

I KO’d Dan and had a nice strong chip position.

Two hands saw to that as IJ doubled up with KK (not a good hand for me tonight for or against me) versus my A 10. I then lost loads more chips chasing a flush from the flop that never came. 1st to 4th in 2 hands.

IJ doubled up against Dave, before Dave got lucky with 10 2 (Doyle Brunson’s hand) to triple up versus me and Jude (who won the side pot against me with a lucky river). Dave exited shortly after to IJ’s JJ.

In a scandal-ridden hand, with the muppets (Barry and Dan) dealing it was discovered that the packs were mixed up. We all carried on regardless and I got shafted by a K on the river. I had pocket 9s. Jude had folded after the flop.

Heads-up was a dull affair as it went back and forth with the underdog repeatedly hitting cards to double up. The final two hands saw Jude dealt AJ and despite a ridiculous straight on the board in the first one saving IJ, the second one was good enough to win with a J on the river to defeat IJ’s pair of 4s.

Game 2 (1st Bazturd, 2nd IJ, 7 players)

I won some early chips with a nice £10 raise which Vic called. I had nut flush.

In a sign of things to come, Barry then doubled up with a lucky nut straight versus Dan.

Cheating Raba (anagram) Vic then chose to have a sneaky look at the folded cards. As I turned to my left, Dave looked like thunder. Don’t suggest you do that again Vic.

I hit top pair (QQ), top kicker and raised £15.75 (with hindsight this wasn’t particularly sensible). Barry called with KK and won a monster to double up. This was my second unfortunate experience with pocket Kings of the night. The third was just around the corner as I was dealt KK, went all-in versus Bazturd’s QJ and watched in horror as first a J then a Q came to send me home to bed where I slept soundly all night (not!).

Barry continues…

"JJ left, steaming.

Dan went all in pre flop with QQ - Ilan and Dave both called. Board came Q J 9 9 9, Dan had high full house and tripled up. (Barry had chucked a 9).

Then Dan went all in after flop of A 3 4 with AK, Barry called with A8 knowing he was outkickered. next card Q, river card - 8 - Barry 2 pair on river. Dan also out and steaming. 10 minutes in garden to cool down.

Lee (AJ) was out next to Ilan (9K) after going all in after turn (J) : board was 9 9 2 J 10 - Ilan had already hit trips.

Vic (Q 7) was next out to Barry (Q 10 both spades) - flop was 5 2 4 spades. next 2 cards couldn't help Vic against Barry's flush and he was out in 4th place.

Dave was next to go, pairing a 6 on the board, Ilan hit an A on the river and Dave finished 3rd.

Ilan vs Barry heads up. pretty even chips throughout. Big swing hand – Barry hit middle pair on flop (10) with a straight draw and a flush draw. Goes all in. Ilan calls with top pair (J) but again, the lucky river for Barry brought a Q and a straight. Ilan crippled.

Next hand Barry (QK) calls Ilan's all in (6 K both diamonds) - flop 3d 5s 10d - Ilan flush draw. Turn was 6 spades. Ilan pair sixes and flush draw, and for the final time tonight, the Poker G-ds shone on Barry as the river showed a Qh and Barry took the spoils. Unbelievable luck"

Conversation topics

Burns victim Dave (see photo below) was on the receiving end of a savage attack from the East Finchley Scalder (Sharon). As if pouring tea down his neck wasn’t bad enough, Sharon then told Dave to be careful. As a result of the third accident at poker (see previous blogs), an accident log book will now be maintained.







Quotes of the night

Sharon to Dave (after pouring tea down his neck): “Careful!”

Life at Accenture

With Dean out at a nut-tasting event before jetting off to a nut conference in San Diego (see http://www.expocadweb.com/05demo/CC/forms/attendee/index.aspx?content=welcome), it was left to Dan to arrive nice and late.

Help Vic (the drunk) home!

http://www.freeonlinegames.com/play/405.html

This is surprisingly difficult (even when sober).

Learn Yiddish with George and Laura (thanks to Dave)

http://www.vidlit.com/gandl/

Story of the week

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2006-11-09T232107Z_01_N09375102_RTRIDST_0_OUKOE-UK-LIFE-ROCKS.XML&src=rss

How to?

Here’s a fun activity for the whole family.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Chain-from-Starburst-Wrappers

Brainteaser

Congratulations to Dave (first correct answer) and Barry on solving last week’s brainteaser. The answer was 131.

See below for this week’s teaser.

Eating white is what I mostly do
If quick enough, a fruit and some things blue

When you see pink, sky blue, orange, or red
It would be wise to turn my yellow head

In a dark room with blue walls
I run from the ghosts that roam the halls

What am I?

8 November (Jude’s house) £20 loss – “Walnut Dean, you white anchor”

Game 1 (1st Scott, 2nd Barry, 10 then 9 then 8 players, then 9 then 10 players)

I started promisingly hitting 9999 to decimate Dan who’d hit top pair. Dan exited one hand later. A3 losing to Barry’s J10. Scott’s curse of a few weeks ago is starting to unsettle Dan.

Jude made an excellent lay down with trip 7s on the flop versus Barry (flush).

Lee doubled up with higher two pair versus Barry (the first of many 2 pair beats for Barry on the night).

Dave doubled up with 55 and a crunchie all-in raise.

Scott tripled up versus me and Dave (KO’d).

Barry doubled up versus Scott and then hit 6666 to all-but triple up.

IJ went all-in with QJ after my raise and I called with AK suited. The dirty b@stard hit a straight on the flop and I was out a couple of hands later to the same dirty b@stard.

Sharon wisely laid down QQ versus Lee’s straight.

Dean was now snoring on the sofa and Scott showed his impressive throwing skills hitting Walnut Dean on the face twice and narrowly missing the groin with a selection of nuts.

Sharon went all-in with 55 and Lee doubled up with KQ (which tripped up).

Barry doubled up with 34 versus Lee’s AQ.

Scott doubled up with a straight that IJ never saw – foolish!

Scott finally KO’d IJ.

Tortoise Dan’s dealing slowed further.

In what should have been the end of the game, Barry and Lee were both all-in and both had QQ. Scott had A9 suited and would have won. Instead we had to sit through another 45 mins.

Scott eventually KO’d Lee hitting a lucky J with QJ versus AQ.

Heads-up Scott had a decent lead that grew bigger. Scott called Barry’s all-in with middle pair and then hit top pair. Barry hit 2 pairs on the river and thought he’d doubled up but he hadn’t as Scott had the higher two pairs KK77 versus JJ44.

Game 2 (1st Scott, 2nd Lee, 6 players plus nut-strewn Dean asleep)

The second game heralded the return of pocket rockets which had been absent in the first game. First Dan won with 99955 versus IJ’s pocket rockets.

I lost chips to Lee and then more to Scott before going all-in with A5 suited. Scott had 99. Despite hitting the A, the 9 came on the turn to KO me.

IJ doubled up versus Barry with a lucky Q on the river versus 10 10.

IJ was then out to Lee’s AK.

Lee KO’d Barry with 8s and 2s versus 4s and 2s. Nice work.

As I was leaving someone got 3333 – the third four of a kind of the night.

Dan was then out leaving Scott and Lee to battle it out. Scott made it a double. Congrats to a Scott on an impressive double win. It makes up for being egged in the street on Halloween. Walnut Dean owes you a tenner.

Quotes of the night

Scott to Dean after he calls Jude’s all-in bet with 64: “You drunk fool”

Barry: “What will happen when the Mashiach comes?”
Me: “Vic will win a game”

Mazel tovs

Happy 34th birthday to Vic for next Sunday. May the coming be equally as successful on the poker circuit. Looking for positives, it’s difficult to envisage a worse performance.

Techno-geek Charlie’s online post

Check out Charlie’s sad post:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420210

Heather Mill’s pussy




















‘Why are you single?’ photo















Story of the week – I can see this taking off!

http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,31200-underwear_081106_1100,00.html

Conversation topics

The main topic of conversation centred on what happens when the Mashiach comes. Aside from Vic actually winning a game of poker, the main views are summarised at http://www.answers.com/topic/jewish-messiah

IJ revealed GE are about to repossess the Houses of Parliament.

Brainteaser

Congratulations to Lewis on solving last week’s brainteaser. The answer was 8 on a keyboard (the 8 is below the asterisk, though on the same button. It is above the letters U & I. Underneath those is the letter J. Skip a row down and you see the space bar. Above the 8 are the F6 and F7 function keys. To the left is the seven, which has the & symbol. To the right is the number nine.)

See below for this week’s teaser.

Recently, Brainiac, the extremely rich father of Brainiac Jr. had passed away. He had left one million dollars to Brainiac Jr.

However, the money was locked in a safe, and Brainiac Jr. would not get the money unless he knew the combination. Brainiac, being the brainiac that he is, left a number series for his son to work out. If he could not figure it out, he wouldn't get anything.

The combination is a 3-digit number, and to stop him randomly guessing he would only be able to try once every day.

Here is the series:

3, 11, 31, 55, 91, ...

Brainiac Jr. managed to finish the series, and get the million dollars. Can you?

The table

Barry kindly circulated the attached table (For those that don’t know Gill is some bird that played once not Gil). For those that give a s#it please note your position. For those that don’t give a s#it, pretend not to look, but look anyway.




















Xmas countdown (special feature for Walnut Dean)

http://www.thecountdownclock.com/christmas-kids.asp – this is what Dean really wants for Xmas.

1 November (S&L’s house) £0 loss – “C*nt takes all”

For the sake of clarity, Barry is known as C*nt and Charlie is affectionately known as c*nty during this week’s blog. Scott will still be known as c*nt for eternity.

Game 1 (1st C*nt, 2nd C*nty, 10 players)

Dave won early chips from Charlie hitting the nuts (QJ High straight) on the turn versus Charlie’s AA.

Next hand it was Sharon’s turn to win with AA.

Next hand it was my turn to KO Vic with a measly KK. It turned out unlucky Vic would have hit his A after 36 cards.

C*nty doubled up next hand with AA versus IJ’s JJ.

C*nty then showed the sort of form that earned him the name c*nty in the following hand. Dan and Lee both flopped the nut straight on the flop. Dan went all-in, Lee obviously called and so did c*nty who had trip 9s on the flop. The river paired the board and Lee and Dan were taken out.

C*nty then KO’d IJ with another full house.

Sharon doubled up on the river (dirty b@stard x 25) versus Dave with a lucky Q.

Dave then exited to c*nty who hit his up and down on the river (dirty b@stard x 50).

I tripled up with KK versus c*nt and c*nty. Sweet.

At this point the birthday cake arrived.

Cocky c*nty had so many chips he started building Vegas-style hotels but there were soon shot down by a passing phone.

C*nt KO’d Jude.

In the first of two very unlucky exchanges for me with c*nt, I held KK and tripped up on the flop. C*nt hit a straight on the turn to KO me causing me to throw my chips at said c*nt and injure poor Jude in the process.

Sharon fell to c*nt who’d hit two pairs.

Heads-up it was c*nt and c*nty and c*nty held a big lead. There was a swing hand to c*nt but I didn’t give this undeserving heads-up any respect by noting what it was and c*nt eventually won with J9.

Game 2 (1st C*nt, 2nd JJ, 8 players)

C*nt continued where he’d left off with early AA.

C*nt then KO’d c*nty in a hand that showed all of c*nty’s experience. The flop was JAK (2 diamonds) and was followed by two more diamonds. C*nt had hit the straight on the turn and improved it to the nut flush on the river and was itching for a call. C*nty duly obliged.

Dan then tried a risky all-in manoeuvre versus bagel man (IJ) and ended up with egg on his face as IJ called with top pair and Dan revealed he had nothing. Dan was KO’d the next hand by c*nt as was c*nty.

C*nt then KO’d Dave with two pairs.

Lee doubled up with flush on turn versus my top pair on the flop.

In a wonderful hand I played my short stack blind and revealed 45 when Vic called my all-in. The flop came A8456 – sweet!

Lee doubled again with 10 10 versus IJ’s 33.

IJ then tripled up, then doubled up twice more (getting lucky against me twice) before getting unlucky with the best hand versus c*nt (K9 versus 10 9) and a 10 hit on the river.

I doubled up versus c*nt with QQQ88 and then did it again with JJ versus 55.

Vic doubled up against c*nt with a lucky 3 on the river (AQ versus A3).

C*nt (A8) then showed some more form hitting a low straight on the river (4 runners required) to double up versus Lee’s JJ.

I KO’d Vic with 99.

Heads-up I had the lead, lost it (c*nt had QQ) and then got it back (with nice trip 10s) to about 60:40 in c*nt’s favour when the unspeakable happened. I was dealt AA and called. C*nt went all-in with KJ pre-flop. The flop was 10 A 9 and there followed an outrageous J followed by Q to give the c*nt his undeserved double – and no I’m not bitter, I’m steaming.

Mazel tov

Mazel tov to Dave on another strong online performance winning a grand by coming 6th in a $35 game.

Quotes of the night

Dave to C*nty: (after C*nty stole IJ’s remaining £2): “It’s not like you’ve not got form. You just robbed Dan and Lee”

C*nt to Vic: “When’s your birthday Vic? We’ll all club together to buy you a book on poker”

Life at Accenture

Dean was ‘entertaining’ the new grads with propaganda about the pyramid selling scam at Accenture. He then showed off the shiny dollar in his pocket from a country he’s never been to.

Dan made quick work of his time at the poker table and settled down for some work after two hands (although very unlucky) in the first game and went off to work after about 10 hands of the second game. With property magnate Dean away, Dan waffled on about problems selling one of his properties for the 30 mins he was at the table.

Conversation topics

Vic has ordered a custom-made £1500 bike. See pic below – I think the colour really suits you.









Nervous-looking newsreader (thanks to Dave)
















Story of the week

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2006-11-02T041323Z_01_T279755_RTRIDST_0_OUKOE-UK-JAPAN-NOODLES.XML&src=rss

Brainteaser

Congratulations to c*nt on solving most of last week’s brainteaser. See below for this week’s teaser.

It fell from a star,
But not very far.
It seems to fly
Above you and I.
Look further down to see
Cousin Jay below us three.
Jump down further to see an empty space.
Tell me what "it" is, and where is this place?

25 October (S&L’s house) £20 loss (like taking candy from a baby) – “Young Strikes Back”

Game 1 (1st Lee, 2nd Vic, 8 players)

The game started somewhat strangely as James attempted to deal the first hand backwards.

Charlie doubled up against Vic as Vic allowed Charlie to see the river for free – which made two pairs.

I was out at the end of the first round of dealing to Lee with 10 10 versus Lee’s full house.

Dan was outkickered by Sharon – both had trip Qs.

Vic doubled up with AK.

The flop came 458 (2 spades) and Charlie raised and eventually short-stacked Dan and monster James (holding 64 spades) were both all-in which Charlie called (AK). Charlie raped James pulling an A on the turn to move ahead, but fellow rapist James was quick to respond and pulled a spade on the river to hit a flush which saw the end of both Charlie and Dan (holding JJ).

Vic doubled up again against Sharon.

Ilan exited with a whimper.

Sharon was KO’d by Vic’s wired 8s.

Lee KO’d James with AK versus AJ.

Heads-up it was bridesmaid Vic against Lee. Despite going in just ahead with a pair of 6s versus Lee’s AK, lucky Lee hit two Aces to ensure that Vic still hasn’t won a single game in 2006.

Game 2 (1st Lee, 2nd Ilan, 7 players)

James and Sharon departed and Scott arrived for the second game.

Scott and Dan were all-in on the first hand, but both had AQ to share the ‘spoils’.

Vic won a big pot versus Scott and then in a move foreseen by me Scott went all-in with an average pair (in this case Jacks). Dan called with AK and hit an A. Scott then stuck around like a bad smell (like I can talk) waiting until Dalia would be asleep. As I left a few minutes later I saw him driving at a steady 5 mph up and down the East Finchley Road.

I exited to Charlie (although thanks to Scott I did improve on my first game performance) with KQ versus A 10. Charlie called my all-in and hit the A to send me home.

Lee continues….

I think that when you left still in were Charlie, Me, Dan & Ilan - was Vic?

Probably not - if he was then he was out next - fell to me with some shoddy draw v top pair.

Charlie was struggling along but could not make it happen and was out next to Lee who had now built a substantial chip stack - closely followed by Ilan - Dan who had taken on the barry mode of calling & raising all night was needing to make a move - and that he did - Pre flop Lee had JJ and raised two piles red - Dan went all in with a AQ - Lee calls - flop comes A - Dan's up - J Dans down again - nothing - Q - Dans hoping - nothing - Dans move is towards the door and he's out of there.

lee has big chip lead over ilan - but you know anything can happen (just ask dean) - and Ilan is
refusing to die - loses some blinds - then wins an all in - must have been approx 5 times.. then
Ilan lets himself get just a bit too low (especially after his top pair loses to two pair) so that
pre flop lee A 10 - ilan 8 3 but when Lee raises him all in he has to call - Ilan flops an 8 but
Lee a 10 and its a double whammy - Take that Barry!!

Quotes of the night

Lee to Dan as he walked in sporting his new haircut: “Dan’s just come back from Belsen”

Ilan: “I will join you pussies”

Scott to Dan (as he exits): “May bad beat come after bad beat”

Mazel tovs

Happy 34th birthday for next Tuesday to Sharon. May the coming year be full of successful ebay auctions.

Conversation topics

Lee has put in for planning permission for his succah as it now looks like it will up until the Spring, and if it makes it that far you may as well leave it up until next Succot.

Sharon failed in her at-the-table bid to buy a purse on ebay.

Impossible is nothing

This is very funny – it is also no coincidence that this is where Dean works. See http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/rnr/223731188.html for the background to the story and see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AExtO-dD8so for the video.

Bike tricks (Thanks to Dave)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UYXbA1rrUc

Story of the week (now this guy really is a dirty bastard)

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13548405,00.html

Borat videos

http://inhonor.net/videos/uped/fl_video.php?f_num=92500

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_FsuBhhD4Y&eurl=

and some quotes http://www.comedian.dk/borat_quotes/

Borat will be on Jonathan Ross this Friday night. Also, here’s a reminder that the new Catherine Tate series starts tonight at 9pm.

Brainteaser

No-one solved last week’s brainteaser without cheating. See below for this week’s brainteaser.

Van Gogh’s relatives

David Van Gogh (pronounced "Go") had many relatives. Can you guess by the clues who they are?

Example: His dizzy Aunt?
Answer: Verti-Gogh

How many other relatives can you guess?

A fruit loving cousin?
The Grandfather from Yugoslavia?
The cousin from Illinois?
His Mexican cousin?
His Great Grandfather who drove a stage coach?
The ballroom dancing aunt?
The bird lover Uncle?
A sister who loved disco?
And his niece who travels the country in a van?

17 October (S&L’s house) £20 loss – “Double rape on Spadies Night”

Game 1 (1st James aka Rapist 1, 2nd Dan, 9 players)

With the ladies at book club it was Spadies night as the Youngs.

I won some early chips with red pocket rockets versus Charlie’s 2 pair. Charlie chose to lay the hand down with four spades out.

Scott then hit the nut spade flush also against two pairs.

James doubled up against me with two pairs versus top pair and K kicker.

The shopping arrived – for someone else.

Having lost chips to Barry’s trip 9s I then won a bit pot with 67 clubs to KO Dave and take chips from IJ.

Scott KO’d mountaineer Lee with pocket Qs versus KQ suited.

IJ doubled up against Scott and Dan.

Barry raised £6 pre-flop and James and Dan call. After the flop Dan went all-in and Barry called holding cowboys. Dan had hit trip 7s.

The board showed AAA99 but IJ won some chips with the nut full house AAAKK.

Barry went all-in with QA (top pair). I called with 22 and so did IJ. Barry thought he’d won as the board produced a Q but IJ slyly turned over AA to despatch Barry to the sofa.

In the battle of the rapists James KO’d Charlie with trip 2s.

In what’s being called the phone-hand, both Dan and Scott hit trips while on the phone and playing. Dan out-kickered Scott.

Scott was KO’d by James who hit trip 9s on the flop.

I was then KO’d in 4th place by Dan. IJ was out next hand to take the third place tenner.

Heads-up Dan felt the full force of James’s co@k early on and despite escaping for some air briefly, James ou-kickered Dan in the crucial hand when they both hit top pair.

Game 2 (1st The Original Rapist, Charlie, 2nd Dean, 9 players)

In a big early pot Dave raised successively £2, £3 and £5. Dan called each time. Both players had flushes and Dave won with the A high flush.

In what’s being billed as a strong contender for the hand of the century, the board flopped 2 diamonds and Dean’s early raise and a few other small re-raises were called by four players (Dean (K9 diamonds), Barry (83 clubs), Dave (QJ diamonds) and Scott (JQ)). The fourth card made Barry a straight, Scott the nut straight while Dave and Dean both had good flush draws – the floor was literally covered in piss. The final card was a diamond making Dean and Dave’s flushes. Dean went all-in on the river and everyone called again. Scott and Barry were KO’d and Dean was a monster chip leader. Phew!

IJ doubled up versus Dave and then after Dean had done 3 bum-deals Charlie KO’d Dave with trip 9s.

I was then KO’d by Dan’s Q10.

Lee continues…

after you left it went something like this

left were Lee, Charlie, Dan & Ilan all bottom feeders and Dean massive chip leader.

Ilan survived the usual 8 times all in but was finally ejected by Dean when the usual river saviour
refused to show for him.

Lee went out next 88's to Dean's 99's.

Dan claiming he was about to win duly departed next victim to Dean again leaving charlie with very
small stack facing a virtually impossible task against a massive chip stack....poker is a funny old
game though...

Charlie donned his ripper beard got out his best pair of tights to put over his face and the raping
began

a few all ins that Dean refused to call and charlie had a little to play with (blinds were max)
before dean pre flop hits KK's to Charlie's 10 5 - Dean checks flop shows 5 x x Dean checks and
charlie falls straight in with an all in which dean calls with glee. River brings a 10 and charlie
has doubled up and is back in with a shout - couple more big raises from charlie and an all in (all
eventually folded by Dean) and a bead of sweat appears on Deans forehead - roughly even in chips
now.

Finally charlie A4 Dean 10 8 - flop is 4 x 10 charlie goes all in Dean calls - turn is an A - its
all over - charlie withdraws his member and Dean cannot speak.

A double rape night has finally ended!

Quotes of the night

ManUre supporter Scott: “Who did Benfica knock out last year?”
All: “Man U”

Scott (after doubling up IJ): “I was only in there for the laugh and in the end it wasn’t that funny”

Charlie (as the blinds went up to £1.50): “It’s getting expensive”
Barry: “No it’s not. Abromavich’s divorce, that’s expensive”

Charlie (advising on the game Half Life): “Go on, through the man-hole. No, not that one, the next one. Oh you can’t (as Lee got shot).”

Top meeting tips (very funny)

Dean/Dan – take careful note of point 16. I am a close adherent to point 4.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1924681,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=11

Conversation topics

The highlight was Dean’s update to his ‘broken’ TV story and the subsequent and very tedious debate on what Charlie should pay for Dean’s credit note. More on this will hopefully not follow next week.

Brainteaser

Congratulations to Barry and Dave on solving last week’s brainteaser. The correct answer was music. See below for this week’s brainteaser.

Enter words into the following word chain such that each pair of words in the chain forms a compound word. No word can appear in the chain more than one time. Each "?" represents a missing word. Example: girl ? ? shape = girl friend ship shape = girlfriend friendship shipshape.

waist ? tail ? ? side ? ? fall ? ? down ? ? spring ? ? ? hole

I’ll leave you with a photo showing why Vic failed to turn up this week

11 October (J&D’s house) £10 loss – “Rapist strikes again”

Game 1 (1st The rapist aka Charlie, 2nd Vic, 9 players)

With Lee safely off the mountain or is that mount-ain (see below) the game started nice and early.

Dan took an early lead and improved further KO’ing both Dave (55) and Barry (QQ) with trip 2s. Beware the 2s.

The rapist doubled up with a very lucky straight on the river against Dean.

Dirty b@stard Dean then doubled up against me with AQ versus AK.

I was out moments later to Vic (KK). Vic decided to rub it in hitting 4 Ks. There is nothing more frustrating than losing to the world’s unluckiest person.

Sharon tripled up with AK hitting a full house versus Dan and the rapist (who both had straights).

The rapist kept on offending and KO’d Dean with K9 versus A8.

Barry and Jude disappeared upstairs with a video camera.

Dan KO’d Sharon’s deuces with 98 (an 8 the first card out).

Vic KO’d Dan (holding AA) with trips.

Heads-up it was the rapist versus monster leader Vic. After a few hands, Charlie raised and Vic went all-in with A7. The rapist called with A5 and hit a 5 to double up. In the final hand, the rapist finally rolled over satisfied when his Q8 came good against Vic’s K8.

Game 2 (1st Barry, 2nd JJ, 5 players)

The rapist continued where he left off getting a lucky two pair on the river and taking chips from me.

Vic was acting like someone with Tourette Syndrome such was the venom pouring from his mouth.

Vic clamed down when he doubled up with two pairs versus Barry’s pocket rockets.

I hit top pair and called Charlie’s monster bluff to take an early lead.

The flop came 678 (2 diamonds) and Charlie went all-in, Dan called, Vic went all-in and Barry went all-in. dan folded. Vic had the nuts on the flop (10 9 for a straight) but Barry’s A8 diamonds came good when a 3 arrived on the river to send Tourette Boy into a frenzy and he was out next hand to me. The image of a swearing pissed-up cyclist weaving the streets of East Finchley briefly flashed through everyone’s minds.

4444 would have come three times had all the cards had been dealt.

Lucky Barry KO’d Dan with A9 versus AJ.

Heads-up Barry had a monster lead and despite briefly threatening, Barry called with middle pair on one of my many all-in bluffs to take the spoils.

Quotes of the night

Barry: “It’s a double rollover tonight”Vic: “I’m not even in it”
Barry: “You could have every ticket but one and still not win the jackpot”

Confident Vic: “I’m playing for third place”

Charlie: “I’m feeling a bit of animosity here”
Dan: “You’re wrong, there’s f@@king loads of it”

Charlie: “Am I biggus dickus”
All: “Yep”

Life at Accenture

Partnership is clearly getting to Dean as going out the previous night meant he’d not worked his usual 7pm-1am slot, so he did what any ‘normal’ person would do and worked throughout the night with no sleep at all. Unsurprisingly Dean disappeared after the first game.

How to pronounce words

I have recently discovered that I mispronounce the word cashew placing the emphasis on the ‘shew’ rather than the ‘ca’. Sharon has a similar problem with the word mountain. To assist everyone the online dictionary http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=cashew has a little sound icon you can click on. That said it’s American.

Conversation topics

With England losing to Croatia the mood was sombre. Respect to the Sun for its headline “it’s down to you Misses Robinson”. We were briefly excited by the news that a fixed wing aircraft had crashed into a building in the US but it was quite uneventful really. Terrorism-expert Dan was spot on with his assessment of damage.

We discussed that Ikea now has an online shop and wondered how they would manage to replicate their instore experience online. You’d search for sofas and it would recommend that first you take a look at potted plants.

Video of giant slide at the Tate Modern

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6034123.stm (click to watch the video)

Sing-a-long (contributed by Dave)

http://www.thefridayproject.co.uk/audio/fitness/

Urban myths quiz (contributed by Dave)

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006460523,00.html

Why dogs don’t like Halloween





















































Mazel tov

Mazel tov to Barry on his new job and being on the dole next week.

Brainteaser

No-one managed to solve last week’s brainteaser. The correct answer was a stapler. See below for this week’s brainteaser.

From wood it's made,
From string it's made,
It floats upon the wind.
It's made by one,
It's made by many,
From hands and mouths it spins.
A score without a game.
A staff not for the lame.
With seven letters tamed.
With five letters named

4 October (S&L’s house) £0 profit/loss – “The river taketh (all night)”

Game 1 (1st Charlie, 2nd JJ, 8 no oops 9 players)

In a farcical start to the game we’d been playing with 7 players and were waiting for 8th player Scott to turn up when Vic poked his lean frame around the door. Scott was hastily sent to Jude’s to collect more chips.

In a massive early pot the flop came KQJ and after a couple of raises Marc went all-in on the turn, which was another K. Sharon called very quickly having flopped a straight with A 10. In a blatant disregard for his host Marc pulled a Q on the river to leave Sharon (not for the first time in recent weeks) feeling shell-shocked.

Scott won some chips back from early leader Marc with pocket Qs before Barry took more off Marc with a full house 22277 (holding 22).

At this point, in a first for the poker game, I outbid someone on ebay for a monkey outfit for Yardena. Picture to follow.

In the start of a large period of fortune for Charlie, he doubled up against Barry and then all but KO’d Jude (holding QQ) with a lucky flush on the river (Jude exited two hands later). Charlie then shafted Rimmer again with runner runner 8s to double up again and build a monster lead. Charlie then KO’d Marc with AAAKK versus AAAK8.

I KO’d Lee with two pairs versus Lee’s deuces.

Barry gained some small comfort by doubling up with Q8 versus Charlie’s AQ before Charlie went for the jugular. Barry was all-in after the flop with top pair and Charlie called with A5 (third pair). The A arrived to despatch Barry to the sofa.

Heads-up I had no chance against luck like that and fell to Charlie’s pocket 9s.

Game 2 (1st Dan, 2nd Barry, 6 players)

Vic and I shared an early pot with straights.

Lee accidentally turned the A hearts but fortunately for him Charlie wasn’t looking and Lee flopped the nut flush. Completely oblivious Charlie raised £5 and called Lee’s £10 re-raise with a straight.

Charlie was KO’d by vengeful Barry.

Barry then asked a question of Dan by raising £4.50. Clear as mud, Barry got the answer as Dan re-raised £4.50. Barry then chose to ignore the answer and called with a pair of 5s. Dan had a K high flush.

Vic then went all-in with second pair spotting weakness in Dan. Dan had hit the nuts on the flop and gave a wry smile as he called to send Vic to the bins.

Barry doubled up with pocket 9s versus Dan’s pocket 5s.

I doubled up with a nice 92 versus Barry but was then KO’d with A8. Dan called my all-in with 22 and deuces indeed did not lose.

Heads-up it ebbed and flowed before Dan hit two pairs on the flop and Barry was committed. Game over red rover.

Quotes of the night

Cards come A 10 10 10: Mark who had just folded “F#ck!”

Scott to Barry (who had just placed a poker chip on his forehead: “You look like Rimmer”
Lee: “You’ve been called that before”

Life at Accenture

Dan is now only working until 1am 3 nights a week* it’s easy to see why Accenture have just been nominated for their work life balance schemes.

* Plus weekends and days with a ‘y’ in them

Greatest faith (driving style)

Thanks to Dan for this great spot.

http://www.topgear.com/content/timetoburn/sections/games/10/game.html

Warner Brothers picture




















Good advice















Stories of the week

Dog starts car with chip - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/5382878.stm
Man tows car with eyelids - http://news.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/picture_gallery/0,,70141-1235255-1,00.html

Trivia

Question (from Marc): What was the name of the carrier pigeon in Blackadder?

Answer: Speckled Jim

Good luck

To Lee on the mountain tops next week. Suggest you take a brolly.

Brainteaser

Well done to Barry, Sharon and Dave on last week’s brainteaser. See below for this week’s brainteaser (submitted by Dave).

With pointed fangs it sits in wait,
With piercing force its doles out fate,
Over bloodless victims proclaiming its might,
Eternally joining in a single bite.
What am I?

26 September (S&L’s house) £20 loss – “Long live the Hoff (see video)”

Game 1 (1st Dan, 2nd Scott, 8 players)

Lee and I shared the first pot with identical hands of AQ.

Shortly after a deceptively great flop AQ4 left me looking at trip Qs and thinking I was reeling in Barry. Sadly, this was the first (out of three occasions on the night) that I walked into AA. W@nk.

In the hand of the night, the flop came 222 and Lee had limped in with AA. Lee hit AAA22 on the turn but Dan had hit four 2s on the flop to decimate Lee. Nice birthday present.

Dan hit an A high flush on the river to KO both Vic and Lee.

Monster Dan then KO’d Sharon with Q10 versus Q9.

Dave KO’d me with pocket rockets.

Scott doubled up with an A high flush versus Barry’s J high flush.

Farmer Scott then milked Dan with KK.

Barry doubled up with AJ versus Dave’s QQ.

Barry was then all but KO’d by Dave’s two pair (KK 77) versus top pair (AA).

Scott finished the job by knocking out Barry with a J on the river.

Scott was then faced with a text all-in dilemma as Dalia texted to say Lia was downstairs. Scott gambled and texted back “do you want me to come home?” An anxious wait followed until the bluff paid off.

Scott doubled up versus Dave and then Dan KO’d Dave leaving a second game in a row featuring heads-up between Scott and Dan.

Dan wasn’t to be denied. A nice straight and flush won further chips from Scott. Cautious Scott then slow-played his pair of Qs allowing Dan to hit the flush on the river to take the spoils.

Game 2 (1st Lee, 2nd Vic, 8 players)

Barry won a big early pot versus Dave with top pair versus 99.

Optimistic Scott (44) was KO’d by Barry’s two pairs. Why did you call?

Vic almost tripled up with trip 8s versus Barry and Dean.

Dean tripled up versus Dave (KO’d) and Barry.

Dan got very lucky to double up against Barry with 77 versus JJ. A straight arriving on the turn. At this point, Scott helped Dan by placing his large pile of chips in piles of one.

Lee hit the nut flush to KO Dan and then KO’d Dean with pocket Ks.

I lost loads of chips to Vic with A 10 versus AQ before walking into my third lot of pocket rockets on the night held by Lee.

Lee (how you can think you are not lucky getting KK, AA, KK in about five hands is beyond me) then KO’d Barry (top pair with A kicker) with KK.

Heads-up was a three-hand marathon as Lee’s pocket 10s held up against Vic’s pocket 8s.

Conversation topics

No-one managed to get a word in all night as Dean bleated on to Scott about a new venture he’s leading (in his spare time) that requires 50 new hires.

Quotes of the night

In a strong contender for quote of the year Scott said “all right, which cunt’s go is it?”
Everyone: “You!”

Lee to Dan (after very bad beat with AAA22 versus 2222J): “You are not welcome in my house”
Dave: “No change there then”

Dean (talking about his new business venture): “From great oaks, small acorns grow”. No wonder Scott wasn’t interested.

Life at Accenture

Dan was out pimping until 1.30am the previous night.

Dean proudly boasted he was asleep at 9.30pm the previous night. Don’t think this laziness hasn’t been spotted by Accenture. Why else would they think you have the spare capacity to take on this new project?

Dean admitted to resorting to lying on his business cards to get the partner title he craves.

How to?

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Slacker

The Hoff (this is amazing)

http://www.youtube.com/v/RB-wUgnyGv0 (contributed by Alexei – mazeltov on your engagement. For those that want an explanation of how this is done please email me and I will forward Alexei’s email)

Stories of the week

Take that you pesky panda:

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2006-09-21T092909Z_01_PEK289017_RTRIDST_0_OUKOE-UK-CHINA-PANDA.XML&src=rss

3 year old buys car on ebay:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13544104,00.html

Idiot-proof Mondeo:

Ford are bringing out an "idiot-proof" Mondeo .They proudly boast that the 2007 model, which will be unveiled at next week's Paris Motor Show, will incorporate technology which will make it impossible to put petrol into a diesel tank.

Mazel tov/messages

Happy 33rd birthday to Lee.

Wishing everyone well over the fast. May everyone be inscribed in the book of life.

Brainteaser

Well done to Barry on last week’s brainteaser. The correct answer was ‘painless operation’. See below for this week’s brainteaser.

Which is the odd one out and why?

Boundaries
Chameleon
Cancerous
Librarian
Scorpions
Keyboards

20 September (J&D’s house) £20 loss – “Northern lads take the spoils”

Game 1 (1st Barry, 2nd Scott, 6 players, cozy)

Early on Jude would have hit a straight flush on the turn, but it wasn’t to be.

With a flop of 3J8 Dave and Ilan checked it down. The next two cards were 3 then 4. Dave raised, IJ re-raised and Dave re-re-raised and the bearded one called with AA versus Dave’s FH 44433.

Dave won another big pot with a 10 8 straight. Despite getting a number of straights, Dave couldn’t keep himself straight all night – repeatedly going flying on one particular piece of shiny wood flooring.

Barry (JJ) doubled up with a FH versus Dave (A 10) falling behind then going ahead on the flop which came AJ8 then 33.

I KO’d Mohammed Jacobs with two pairs versus a flush draw.

Barry doubled up versus Dave with another FH – this time KKKAA.

Scott was suspicious of my £5 raise and called. When I went all-in on the flop (37A) Scott somehow convinced himself to call with KJ to double me up. I had the A.

Scott came back from the dead winning a few pots in a row.

Jude then all but KO’d me. I went all-in with AJ after a flop of 44Q. Jude called with 77 to leave me with 50p. Dave finished me off with a pair of cowboys.

Scott doubled up against Dave with 88 versus A 10.

Dave hit a straight on the river but Barry had hit the flush to double up.

Scott’s AQ came really good against Jude making a FH AAAQQ to double up. Jude then exited to Barry’s KQ.

In the hand of the night, Barry hit 7777 on the flop to KO Dave.

Heads-up it was the Northern boys. Scott hit a pair of 8s on the flop but Barry then hit a Q and went further ahead with a straight on the river to take the spoils.

Game 2 (1st Scott, 2nd Dan, 7 players)

The game started with 51 cards and then a couple of bump deals from Jude – clearly not used to the exertions of a second game.

Barry hit an early straight versus Jude.

I also won some early chips versus Dan with 88 versus 77 and community cards 33449.

Chasing another nut flush that never came I called Barry’s all-in and was decimated.

I recovered slightly with a lucky 8 on the river but then was KO’d by Scott’s A9 suited. The same hand also accounted for Dave.

Barry continues…Scott KO’d Jude with A high flush versus top pair before Dan knocked out Ilan with 10s versus 4s.

Three-way Dan KO’d Barry with a lucky FH 10 10 10 33 versus Barry’s AK.

Heads-up it was the Northern boys again and after a stale to and fro battle Scott held AA and Dan went all-in after a nice looking flop Q 5 10. Game over. Scott ended the evening with a creditable 1st and 2nd.

Conversation topics

Ilan and Jude had an interesting discussion about first aid. We’re in safe hands should anything happen at the poker table with two trained operatives.

Ilan’s loyalty to his large-breasted hairdresser was his perfectly reasonable explanation for the bearded look he sported.

There was also discussion about a £800,000 car that costs £5m each to make. Now that’s a good business model.

Quotes of the night

As we got down to 3 players chip leader Scott piped up: “I’ve got to beat one of this bad boys”

Bearded one: “Who would you do? Chantelle or Jordan”
Dave: “Your mum”

Life at Accenture

Dan had worked until 1.30am the previous night. Dean, clearly not satisfied with the hours he’s putting in at Accenture, was up in Leicester on his second job as a property magnate. I look forward to the opening ceremony for Jayson Towers.

How to?

I should have read this 9 months ago.

http://www.wikihow.com/Dissuade-Yourself-from-Becoming-a-Blogger

And here’s one for Lee ahead of his trip.

http://www.wikihow.com/Survive-in-the-Woods-for-3-Days

Story of the week

You’re never too old.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13543337,00.html

Mazel tov

Congrats to me on my second place in the HJPS charity poker tournament. See photo below of me accepting my prize. Looking at the other two in the photo, it’s easy to see why Borehamwood is associated with dwarfs (the other two are standing on boxes of poker chips as well).















Nice lob

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=7032316303141404085&q=alonso+goal (copy and paste into browser)

Brainteaser

Congrats to Dean on winning last week’s brainteaser. Good to see you have the time for this but not lunch. The correct answer was a photo negative. See below for this week’s brainteaser.

Can you decipher this phrase:

O_er_t_o_