Idealcrap

Holy shit!!  Two posts in two days.  What is the world coming too?  First off, you will notice that I have made some changes around here.  I wasn’t happy with the last design because I screwed something up while messing around with the code a couple of months ago and the font was too small.  I had screwed up the code to the point that I couldn’t even figure out where I had put the font size to change it.  So…. We get a new page.

The first thing you will notice about this page is the simpler layout.  I much prefer this minimalist layout and have always strived to make things as simple as possible.  Second, you will notice that some of the stuff in the right sidebar appears twice.  I haven’t figured out how to make the second stuff go away without making the first stuff go away.  Third and the thing that I’m most excited about is (hopefully) the introduction of threaded comments.  I believe I have it set up so that you can respond to a specific comment or just comment in general.  This helps keep everyone’s thoughts separate and should make the comment section a little easier to read.  If it works.

Now that we have that business out of the way it’s time for me to bring you the real reason for writing today.  As I’ve said many times, I’m having a problem with motivation lately.  One of the best ways to motivate yourself is to make a goal that you really want.  We’ve all done this before and now I have the goal that’s really going to motivate me.

First, you need a little bit of back story.  On a daily basis OMD tells me that I’m fat.  On a daily basis I tell OMD that she needs to stop smoking.  I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this.

So, the deal is simple; if I lose weight she stops smoking.  As soon as I lose 15 pounds she’ll quit and we’ll both be happy.  Today was the official weigh-in.  The rather sad number for our hero is 185.2.  I did consider just crash dieting to get it over with but I can’t bring myself to do that.  I’m going to do things the healthy way.  With that in mind I want to reach my goal by my birthday, May 14^th.  That gives me a little over two months which I think is a realistic goal.

On the subject of my birthday, OMD wants to go on a cruise.  It would just be a short cruise, like 3 days 4 nights but if anyone is interested in taking off for a couple of days in the middle of May the more the merrier.  Once I have the details I will share them here so you can come if you want.

I’m going to take some photos to keep track of my weight loss progress but I haven’t decided if I want to post them here or not.  We’ll see how the after pictures look before we start posting pictures of me in my underwear.

Peace, love and good happiness stuff.

Matt

Ok, so I haven’t been around for awhile.  I would like to thank everyone for there support and the questions (ribbing, harassing) that I get at work about when I’m going to write again.  Those of you that work at Tampa know that OMD and I have been going through some tough times but I believe we have things worked out at this point.  That’s not an excuse, I just know that many of you have wondered if everything is OK with me and I want to keep you updated.  The simple truth is, I sleep too much.  I’m trying to make an effort to get more motivated both in writing and in life.  So, hopefully there will be more posts to come and I can get this blog going again.

What actually inspired me to write today (besides Red Bull) is a comment made by one of my readers about the pending opening of other Hard Rock casinos.  He is referencing this article came out today.  If you would like to read the article yourself you can follow the link but I’m going to give you the basics here.

As many of you know the big sticking point in the compact negotiations is the exclusivity that the Tribe wants.  The Tribe wants 25 years and the state doesn’t want to lock itself into an agreement for that long.  I understand the argument from both sides and don’t see a problem with their stance.  Before someone thinks I’m being simple, I know there is more then one reason but this is the reason this article addresses.  Furthermore, it would seem that we have gotten past the moral objections to gambling and are moving towards making gambling work in this state.

Basically, the proposal that they are working on now would allow the Tribe to continue as is with a pseudo exclusivity of only 5 years.  Obviously there isn’t an actual bill pending so I can’t read all the fine print but the article does say the state can get out of the agreement at anytime.  As I’ve stated before I’m fundamentally against any exclusive agreement.  I believe that competition is good for everyone and would love to see different casino operators in the state.

Also, just for clarification, the article does not mention anything about expansion plans for the Tribe.  It doesn’t say we can’t open the other casinos but it doesn’t say that we can either.  The article is silent on the issue.  The commenter is speculating that with a signed compact the Tribe would be able to open CC and Classic.  I bring this up because the state has been against that expansion and for all I (or anyone) knows, part of the compact my limit the Tribe to what they have open at this time.

As many of you know I’m also hoping there will be an expansion of the poker laws in this state.  There is a bill that will be brought to the House in the upcoming session that will separate the issue of the pari-mutuels from the compact.  Some of you may remember that the tax on revenue was going to go from 50% to 35% and they were going to allow no limit poker.  However, that provision was tied to the compact.  When the compact wasn’t signed that also fell through.  The issue of the tax rate is mentioned in the article but not the no limit poker.  I only mention that because I would love to get back into dealing poker and this is my article and I get to mention whatever I want.  

That’s it for now.  Here’s hoping I can get back into the groove.  As always…

Peace, love and good happiness stuff.

Matt

A couple of weeks ago RunningL8 left a comment with a bunch of reason to floor and I wanted to touch on one of them because it is something that I thought about when I made the decision.  I’ve heard the statement from many people but she brought it up so I thought I would give her credit.  The basic complaint goes like this – I’m tired of dealers that don’t talk and don’t make any money.  This is certainly a problem and one that needs to be addressed.

As with many other issues, how you feel about this has a lot to do with your personal beliefs.  I really don’t think about it.  It’s just not in my nature to worry about what other people do.  I have a belief that if everyone takes care of themselves then everything else will take care of itself.  I don’t have the time or the energy to worry about what everyone else is doing.  That being said, everyone has a responsibility to carry his or her own weight.

One of the things that became apparent to me when my attitude started to suffer was my inability to make money.  This weighed heavily on my mind as I felt like I was letting everyone else down.  I found myself struggling to make the average everyday because I was just miserable.  I’m not pretending that it’s the only reason I want to floor but it is a reason.

I think every dealer that comes into work has an obligation to make the average.  If you routinely don’t make the average then you need to take a look in the mirror.  Nobody has a table full of stiffs every night.  It’s just not possible.  You need to ask yourself what you are doing wrong and what you can do to make more money.  If you’re in pit 5 its one thing but you should be able to grind out 200 dollars a day just in sympathy.  But you have to make the effort.

When you work in a pool joint you have a responsibility to everyone else to make the best effort possible.  It should make you feel bad to come in every day and live off of everyone else.  Have some self respect and some internal motivation.  Maybe you can call it pride but you should have some.

There has been a quote on Dicedealer.com for many years that 80% of the tokes are made by 20% of the dealers.  Come into work every night and strive to be part of the 20%.

Peace, love and good happiness stuff.

Matt

Tiger Woods had scheduled an interview with Oprah today at 4:00 but he called to say he would be late.  He told her he had a couple of more holes to play.

I’m calling bullshit on The Rock.  There is a new memo up today declaring a lack of interest in a formalized toke committee.  I’ve said before and I will continue to tell everyone that I don’t care much if we have a toke committee or not but this process has given me that funny feeling in my butt that was normally reserved for SunCruz (more on that later).  The memo claims that 31% of the dealers expressed an interest in a toke committee.  Please note that was 31% of the people that voted.  If you didn’t vote, or more likely, had no idea there was going to be a vote, you voted no.  Well, you didn’t exactly vote no, but the company was kind enough to cast a no vote for you.

Even in a casino, that shady.  There was no numbers on what percentage of the votes were yes and how many were no.  You know, like a true representation of the opinion expressed by the people that voted.  Doesn’t it defeat the purpose of having a vote if someone is going to cast a vote for you?

As you all know the stupidity of my fellow humans never let’s me down.  This is something that I’ve noticed for about 6 months but the first time I saw it I just thought it was on stupid person.  After seeing in happen hundreds of times it becomes a statement of the stupidity of mankind.

Imagine you standing at 15 dollar table.  Some kid, it’s usually a kid, walks up and buys in for 20 dollars.  They then bet 15 dollars, lose, and then look at the five dollars with a confused look on their face.  They look at the five dollars, look at the sign, look at the dealer, then look back at the five dollar chip.  I love it.  Then they walk away.

I had to deal tonight and I was reminded why I hate dealing.  I had a guy at my table stuck 11.5K.  I get him up to about 20K and he stiffs me.  So I took the money back and wished him a good night. 

Speaking of getting your ass kicked.  Last week everyone’s favorite Pit 1 player took a beating.  At one point he had 11 reserved tables in Pit 1 on Saturday night.  I’m too pissed to get into this in depth but if you believe in collective will this was a great example.  When you’re the biggest asshole in the room and you have the entire room to yourself it shouldn’t surprise you when the entire room is directing all of their negative energy your way.  I’m not saying I believe it, I’m just saying.

Speaking of everybody’s favorite Pit 1 player, why is it that if you have a million dollars you can ask for a 1000 dollar table and bet 25 dollars a hand but if you don’t have a million dollars and you want a 1000 dollars table you have to bet 1000 dollars a hand?  Just asking.

Peace, love and good happiness stuff.

Matt

There seems to be some misunderstanding about the recent vote taken by the Rock regarding a toke committee.  First, if you read the memo carefully you’ll see that it wasn’t a vote to get a toke committee.  It was a survey to determine the interest level among the dealers for a toke committee.  There is a huge difference in that statement. 

I’d like to address the way management is handling the vote for just a minute because it offends me.  If you read the memo there is no doubt that management doesn’t want a toke committee.  (more on this in a minute)  In light of this, they are conducting the vote in such a way that I doubt there will be a majority of dealers vote in favor of a committee.  The fact that they count anyone that doesn’t vote as a no is one of the silliest things I’ve ever heard.  Imagine the country saying anyone that doesn’t vote gets recorded as a vote for the incumbent? 

Second, as an argument against the toke committee, they point out that it will cost the dealers 440 dollars a day.  Where did they get this number?  Wouldn’t the dealers determine what the committee gets paid?  This is nothing more then a scare tactic.

Third, who’s counting the votes?  If the people counting the votes want a particular outcome and don’t let anyone else watch the count?  I’m just sayin.

Those are just some of the things that I have a problem with as far as the way this vote is being conducted.  On a more intellectual level, I can’t figure out why management cares.  I can’t think of a single reason why the company cares whether there’s a toke committee or not.  I know I have a tendency to be a smartass so I want to make sure I’m clear that I’m being serious here.  If the company doesn’t want us to have a toke committee then they need to let us know why.  We’re all big kids, we can handle it.  Put out a memo and state your case.

Next, I’ve been told by middle management that any toke committee will not be allowed to make by-laws, petition management for vacation tokes, or affect the toke rate in any way.  This also pisses me off.  I get real nervous when someone starts telling me what their going to do with my money.  If a toke committee doesn’t have the authority to make by-laws and affect the way the tokes are counted and the oversight, then there is no reason to have a committee.

OK, so I’ve told you all of the reasons why I don’t like the process they are using.  It seems a lot like lip service to me.  They’ve set up the process to get the outcome they want and that offends my sense of fairness.  All that being said, I don’t really care one way or the other.  Seriously, the only reason I would vote for a toke committee is if I thought there was something wrong with the way the tokes were being counted.  I think the system we have in place is transparent and works just fine for me.  Since the committee will have no authority then there is no reason to rock the boat.

If you will allow me just a minute I would like to make a suggestion.  Why does swing shift have to count the tokes?  Wouldn’t it make more sense to have people on graveyard count the tokes?  Seriously, you can’t tell me we don’t have six people standing around doing nothing at 0400.  Hell, tell the first six people on the EO list they can leave as soon as they finish cutting tokes.  Inside a week they’ll have the process down to 20 minutes.  We won’t have to pay them because they’ll be on the clock and nobody will have to stay after work.  Just an idea.

Peace, love and good happiness stuff.

Matt