Kurt's Thoughts

Nuff said?
http://network.bestfriends.org/news/postdetail.aspx?np=24203 

I first read this story and it just killed me:  Animals appear to be the unheard/unseen victims of the subprime mortgage fiasco here in America.

When family pets become foreclosure victims.
They’re found waiting on front lawns and locked inside foreclosed homes. Abandoned family pets are the latest victims of the mortgage crisis … and Best Friends is busy helping families keep their pets rather than leave them behind or take them to the local shelter.

More on this at the Best Friends web site:
http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&fps=1&mode=entry&entry=594A88A6-19B9-B9D5-9DF54C42E81FBD4F

How interesting.

To think that if a community can adopt an mind set around kindness and caring for animals, it’ll help itself thrive.  Just the simple act of harboring love for another creature – regardless of whether it’s human or an animal – can move a community to rid itself of crime and right itself.

The neighborhood strays and homeless animals in a town may very well symbolize a lot more than people believe.

—————–
<taken from the Best Friends web site>

Is it safe?
Now the evidence is in: If a community is humane, then yes, it’s safe. And if it harbors cruelty to animals, it’s not safe for people, either.

In a recent prison survey in Chicago, 7 out of 10 people convicted of violent crime said they’d begun with animals. And dog-fighting is right up at the top.

That’s why Best Friends is working in a model program with Safe Humane Chicago to reach people, especially young people, before they’re drawn into the vortex of violence.

Last week, we told you about the launch of this joint program. This week, we visit a high school where young people have signed on to learn more about animals – and about how kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us.

READ MORE: 
http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=35CB2EF5-19B9-B9D5-9DBE8E9F036895DA

John Chang created a blog to contradict some of the mistruths in "21". 
http://mickeyrosa.com/ 

If you don’t know who John Chang is, here’s an interview with him.
http://www.blackjackforumonline.com/content/interviewJC.htm

There’s also mention of the whitewashing of the movie "21", despite the actual blackjack team members being Asian.
http://www-tech.mit.edu/V128/N15/21casting.html

And then there’s this:  "Of Card-Counting, Startups, and the Real Story of the MIT Blackjack Team"
http://www.xconomy.com/2008/03/27/of-card-counting-startups-and-the-real-story-of-the-mit-blackjack-team/

James Grosjean, Blackjack Hall of Fame inductee of 2006 has been writing this monster 600 page tome for the last 4 years or so called "Beyond Counting".  It’s actually a second version of a previous book, "Beyond Counting" that he wrote back in the 90’s that he published on 1000 copies of.  (And it’s since become legendary)

Anyway, he’s published some articles that are purported to be parts of the new Beyond Counting book (some of this is REALLY good stuff, albeit, it’s well known.  I think the manner in which he’s explained it all is what makes it so insightful) and here they are, taken from http://www.beyondcounting.com/articles.html:

• Locking in a Tournament Win: Build a Better Surrender Trap – by James Grosjean and Previn Mankodi. At the end of a blackjack tournament, it is possible for the chip leader to overbet his lead, but then surrender to lock in a win if his opponent follows with a small bet. This article discusses the benefits and pitfalls of laying this "surrender trap." view article >>
• CTR-Averse Betting – by James Grosjean and Previn Mankodi. The professional’s biggest problem is not bankroll risk of ruin but often the CTR constraint, which limits his daily buyin at the casino to $10,000. Under such a constraint, maximizing expectation often requires the player to underbet his bankroll, even underbetting his "Kelly bet." view article >>
• 42.08% – by James Grosjean and Previn Mankodi. This article calculates the optimal Kelly bet for a player who knows that his bet card will be an Ace, which provides an edge over 50%. This risk-averse player will deviate from basic strategy when playing the Ace. view article >>
• Scavenger Blackjack or Generalized Basic Strategy – by James Grosjean and Previn Mankodi. Players sometimes have profitable opportunities to get involved in the hands of the other players at the table, for instance, by doubling down for a player who has insufficient funds to double for the full amount. Determining proper strategy for this situations requires a deeper investigation of basic strategy. view article >>
• Beyond Coupons – by James Grosjean. Contrary to conventional wisdom, many match-play coupons, free bets, and promotional chips should be played on games other than blackjack. The value of each coupon is calculated for each available game, along with the required strategies to extract the maximum value from each. view article >>
• Discussion of case against Imperial Palace – by James Grosjean. (coming soon…) The author’s lawsuit against the Imperial Palace, where he was illegally detained and searched, resulted in a jury award of $99,999 in compensatory damages, and $500,000 in punitive damages. The author discussses his successful lawsuit, including excerpts from the public court testimony of all parties. coming soon…

UCLA has 100 people drafted in the NBA:  More players than any other university in the nation.  There’s a really cool site that has them all listed.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/draft.cgi?college=ucla

A couple months ago, if you asked me about this movie, I would have immediately said, "OMG. I’m gonna pre-order 4 tickets to the very first showing, wait in line 8 hours beforehand, watch the movie, the walk out and stand in line again, just so I could see it twice in one day. And then I’m going to take a Southwest flight to Vegas that evening."

(Incidentally, "21" is a movie loosely based on Ben Mezrich’s book, "Bringing Down the House", the story of the original MIT blackjack team that took Las Vegas for millions of dollars by counting cards as a team.)

And NOW?  I’m getting pissed off at how badly warped this movie has become courtesy of the studios.  What’s my beef?  Well, I actually have several (Not the least of which being that the whole movie’s been essentially whitewashed of its Asian characters.  I mean, just imagine the fury that would have erupted had the main character instead been Black instead of Asian and portrayed as White "for demographics reasons" in the movie) but the most recent was the fact that their advertising seems to actually be teaching people how to count cards incorrectly.

INCORRECT CARD COUNTING DETAILS
Go to the movie web site (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/21/), click ENTER THE SITE, wait for this monstrosity of a Flash site to load, then click on "Ben" the supposed Jeff Ma character.

Listen to what "Ben" says: 

"They call it a high low system.  You see a HIGH card you add 1 to a running total.  You see a LOW card you subtract 1.  Now the higher that running count gets the more you bet.  The lower the count gets the sooner you get up and and the sooner you leave."

What?!? 

Either their technical advisors are idiots or something weird is going on.  And being that Las Vegas has seen a SERIOUS drop off in tourism in the past year – what with the recession coming and all – it’s not that far off to consider this rather deliberate inaccuracy in instruction.

It’s no secret that the Blackjack card counting phenomenon has actually brought in substantially more money for Las Vegas and Atlantic City than it’s lost.  By implementing 6:5 tables and 6 deck with poor penetration, more ‘wannabe’ counters have gone to Vegas in search of riches only to come away penniless.  The folks rushing in for a "quick win" lose only to discover that card counting is an occupation of very small margins.

So hey – why not tickle everyone’s fancy again with a movie about some young kids gettin’ rich?  And better yet – do it in a way that compels the ignorant to think they’re somehow ‘informed’?

I’m beginning to really dread the prospect of this movie.

I’d like to introduce you DirecTV’s On-Demand Beta.  I connected my newly attached DirecTV’s HR21 DVR Receiver (320GB) to my DSL connection and look at what showed up.  On-demand goodness just like Xbox Live Video Marketplace.  Not as complete and certainly not as pretty an interface but certainly exciting. 

Clicking on a selection allows you to ‘queue’ up downloads or purchases and have them download in the background while you watch other things over the satellite.

Dear Members and Friends,

Easter. A time for bright-eyed children … bountiful baskets … and bunnies! But did you know that bunnies are popular all year long?

Bunnies are the third favorite housepet in America. Sadly, after cats and dogs, bunnies are also the #3 pet most commonly found in shelters.  There, many face a too-soon end.

At The Best Friends Bunny House, things are different. Here, hundreds of “buns” live happily, for as long as they need.

But The Bunny House is two decades old … and urgently needs renovation. In short, the “buns” of Best Friends need a home makeover.

The cost to remodel is just over $100,000 – and we already have more than half. So, give what you can and together we can “raise the roof” on The Best Friends Bunny House. Here’s how.

This Easter, March 23rd, when you sponsor a homeless bunny as your gift to a friend or family member, your donation will go to rebuild The Best Friends Bunny House … keeping each “bun” that you sponsor cozy for years to come.

• Sponsor Jasmine:  https://gifts.bestfriends.org/03.cfm?AnimalType=rabbit&ItemID=11420&page=1
• Sponsor Tumbleweed:  https://gifts.bestfriends.org/03.cfm?AnimalType=rabbit&ItemID=13672&page=3
• Sponsor Bogey:  https://gifts.bestfriends.org/03.cfm?AnimalType=rabbit&ItemID=13560&page=1

So go ahead and sponsor an orphan bunny from Best Friends as your gift this Easter.

You’ll raise the roof on The Best Friends Bunny House … keep hundreds of buns safe and warm … and get many happy feelings in return.

Where else but Best Friends can an Easter gift do so much? Must be that bunny magic! Thank you for caring about all creatures … great and small.

And warm wishes for a Happy Spring,

P.S. There are lots more bunnies for you to sponsor on the Best Friends website, here. And if you liked the stories of Jasmine and her pals, I hope you’ll share with a friend.

I honestly don’t know much about Israeli history, but I found this video fascinating from the perspective of someone that does know a little something about Japanese history.

The fact is, no one knows exactly what the origins of Japan’s people are, although many have theorized about it.  It’s obvious that someone crossed the Sea of Japan from Korea or Taiwan or China… but no one has ever been able to explain who those people are and why they took on the perilous journey.

Whatever happened to the 10 lost tribes of Israel? Is it at all possible that one tribe eventually settled in what is now Japan? What are the similarities between Japan and Israel? Are the Japanese one of the 10 lost tribes?

http://images.video.msn.com/flash/soapbox1_1.swf

Before you laugh, the Israeli government is looking into this as a real historical possibility. This 13 minute/40Mb video shows some very elaborate and interesting coincidences, but the investigation starts to get a little eerie toward the end. Watch and you’ll see what I mean.

This year’s UCLA Bruin cheerleading & dance squads has more talent on it than the last 5 years combined. 

Oh, yeah sure.  Like I’m the only one that’s thinking it.  Check this link out:  This dude’s written his entire blog about this year’s Spirit Squad it seems… and God bless him for it:

• http://www.insomniacslounge.com/labels/Cheerleading%20Goodness.html

 
Sheepa the dog & me playing at UCLA

TheStreet.com had some interesting reporting on Mindset Media’s survey of Mac users with frankly information that most of us know. 

Very rarely am I honestly horrified by anything I see on TV these days but this clip had me literally holding my head in sadness, cringing during the replay of the video.

I sincerely hope those people in the video are more than just ‘fired’ and instead criminal charges are pressed. I understand there’s a pecking order in this world and that cattle=beef, and I know that the cattleman’s job is a hard one, but there’s still a really big difference between consumption & cruelty and this demonstrates it.

The difference between humans and animals is supposed to be our capacity for civility, humanity, and the ability to differentiate what we as beings "can do" versus what we "should do".

This is that which we simply "should not do".

Quick!  What’s so special about the photo to the left?

Look closely – you might be able to figure it out.

Still haven’t got it?  Check the photo to the right.  Now do you see it?

No?  It looks like fabric, yes? 

Alright.  Let’s show you an even closer shot.  Take a look at the photo to your left again and below.

Are you getting it?

Yes?

It’s called the the Million Dog Mosaic.  It’s sponsored by Pedigree and it’s a collage of photos that make up one giant photo of a dog.

What’s special is that Pedigree will donate $1 for every photo that gets uploaded to the mosaic.

So upload your dog’s photo!  What have you got to lose?

http://dogsrule.com/03Adoption/Million%20Dog%20Mosaic/Default.aspx#empty

Last night on CBS’s 60 Minutes, Steve Croft interviewed Barack Obama while Katie Couric interviewed Hillary Clinton.  Croft asked Obama a serious of interesting questions including (summarized):

• You want to portray yourself as an underdog.  Explain how you (Obama) are an underdog compared to Clinton, when you may very well have more delegates that she does at this point.
• You don’t have any executive experience and you haven’t actually run much of anything.  How do you expect to project that you have the experience to be President?
• You are riding on a platform of change which seems to imply change from both the Bush’s and the Clinton’s.  In what way?
• Your policies are very similar.  What do you feel is the biggest difference between you and Senator Clinton?
• A complaint about your campaign has been the lack of specifics.  How do you account for that?
• What do you think about what’s going on in Iraq right now?
• At a time when violence is down, is this the right time to set timetables for withdrawal?  Regardless of the situation around sectarian violence?
• Why do you feel you have the best chance to beat McCain?
• There has been "nastiness" thrown about.  Is there a point at which you go to the closet and pull out Clinton’s skeletons?
• Are you the same person you were a year ago?

Alright.  A decent set of questions for mainstream TV.  I’ll take those.  Now meanwhile, Couric hit Clinton with a bunch of questions like:

• Have you grappled with the idea that the nomination could be Obama’s and not yours?  Even in your deepest darkest moments, don’t you question yourself?
• It’s exhausting.  The photo shoots, the debates, the schmoozing… how do you do it?
• Do you pop vitamins or coffee?  How do you stay healthy?
• What do you think of Barack Obama’s gains?  Will it have sustainable momentum?
• Do you like Barack Obama?
• Is there any bad blood between the two of you?
• Do you think the media has treated Obama the same way as they have you?
• You’ve implied that the GOP will unearth dirt on Barack Obama.  What do you have to say about that?
• Why are you seen as poll-rising?
• Why did you authorize the war?
• Will you reassess your assertion that we should withdraw troops once you’re in office?
• It must have been so demoralizing to have your father always tell you that you weren’t trying hard enough.
• People say that you’re going to be part of a co-Presidency. <what do you have to say about that>
• What do you see yourself doing if this doesn’t work out?

Uh what?  Can you say "softball questions"?  I’m sorry.  This was a really unbalanced interview.

CBS could have started with the list questions based on the issues highlighted by Ontheissues.org:

Civil Rights Issues

• Abortion is a woman’s right
• Require companies to hire more women & minorities
• Sexual orientation protected by civil rights laws
• Teach family values in public schools

Domestic Issues

• Death penalty
• Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws
• Absolute right to gun ownership
• More federal funding for health coverage
• Privatize Social Security
• Parents choose schools via vouchers
• Replace coal & oil with alternatives
• Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it
• Allow churches to provide welfare services

Economic Issues

• Make taxes more progressive
• Illegal immigrants earn citizenship
• Support & expand free trade

Defense/International Issues

• More spending on armed forces
• Stricter limits on political campaign funds
• The Patriot Act harms civil liberties
• Replace US troops with UN in Iraq

And then there’s issues of character:

• Visionary, intelligent, & thoughtful
• Trustworthy, earnest, & principled
• Effective, savvy, & able to execute

The Xbox360-exclusive Major League Gaming (the biggest console-gaming tournament organization in the world) signed an agreement with ESPN.com to exclusively host MLG  video game competitive content, material & news at http://sports.espn.go.com/videogames/mlg and ESPN branding will be attached to MLG game tournaments.

Oh, that’s so sweet. 

Why?  It means there’s more money coming into MLG.  And with more money comes bigger venues, bigger prizes, more prestige, more publicity, and more exposure to professional video gamers.  The top prize in 2007 was $100,000 with over $475,000 in prize money doled out.

Now, with a national broadcasting outlet like ESPN available with national advertising aligned with it… oh… my…

ESPN Enters Content Agreement With Major League Gaming

ESPN.com, the leading online sports destination, today announced it has entered a content agreement with Major League Gaming (MLG), the leading professional video game league.
ESPN will serve as a primary outlet for news about MLG, providing extensive digital coverage of MLG’s 2008 Pro Circuit Competitions, including exclusive streamed matches, pro player interviews, and scores and stats. Additionally, MLG will host ESPN co-branded online video game tournaments.

ESPN will be on site at each of the 2008 MLG Pro Circuit Competitions, reporting news from its own coverage booth for various ESPN programs and platforms, including ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature broadband sports network.

Additionally, ESPN.com will launch a competitive video gaming section replete with all of the latest news, information and video as it relates to competitive gaming. The section will include background on MLG, interviews with marquee players, video from past competitions and the ESPN/MLG Top Ten, which includes regularly updated video highlighting top game play from MLG pros and players. ESPN.com will announce details of MLG’s 2008 Pro Circuit season in the coming weeks.

…

More at http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/181255 

———————–

(I’m sure it’ll come as no surprise to you that when I was a kid, I realllllly wanted to play video games professionally.  Add to that, that Major League Gaming uses Xbox 360 exclusively, playing world tournaments for such reknown games as Halo 3, Halo 2, Gears of War, and Shadowrun… you can understand my excitement over this announcement.  God speed Major League Gaming!)

Bill Gates gave a commencement speech to Harvard Graduates on June 7, 2007.  He talks about the inequities of the world and essentially why he has dedicated his post-Microsoft life to the causes he’s pursuing.  Interesting stuff.

Transcript: 
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/MediaCenter/Speeches/Co-ChairSpeeches/BillgSpeeches/BGSpeechHarvard-070607.htm

This is a riot and it once again points out the problem of Blu-ray’s profile inconsistency.  Some player’s firmware works, others don’t.  The PS3 seems to be most consistent – which makes sense being that is made by Sony of course, because otherwise it’d be like having a Sony device not properly work with Memory Stick.

But any other standalone player has problems.  In fact, even Sony’s own standalone player has issues because firmware updates provide inconsistent engines to interpret Blu-ray features.  Blu-ray profile 1.0 provided virtually nothing other than movie functionality.  Blu-ray profile 1.1 provided some additional interactivity, but no layered video (picture in picture features) and only Blu-ray profile 1.2 supports picture in picture.  The result is that most standalone players can’t play many Blu-ray discs – particularly the highly touted movies like "Pirates of the Caribbean".

Meanwhile HD DVD has remained consistent from day 1, providing all the video, interactivity, layering, and other features since the first day it was released.  And all players – XBox or standalone – have been able to play all discs all the time.

Here’s one guys experience trying to get Pirates of the Caribbean’s "Liars" interactive game to work: