tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-113224732012-01-27T01:41:28.128-08:00Life of a Poker PlayerLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.comBlogger4561100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-1965809384678460092011-12-31T04:19:00.000-08:002012-01-02T06:18:24.727-08:00December 22, I went to a friend's home, where I ate pizza and assorted junk food before heading out to, in order, Haze Nightclub, Gold Lounge, and Brand Steakhouse.
December 27, I went to bachi burger for the first time.
December 30, I dined at Yellowtail and attended a soft opening of Hyde at Bellagio.
Mostly, I have been watching NBA basketball on TV and frequenting the fast-food joints Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com03750 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA36.106583 -115.17319536.1049795 -115.1756625 36.1081865 -115.17072750000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-29777627016787788072011-12-24T06:43:00.000-08:002011-12-24T06:43:17.043-08:00My 2011 travel:
Latest book read: Tender Is the Night (1934) by F. Scott Fitzgerald.Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA36.128561 -115.171129836.1029105 -115.21061180000001 36.154211499999995 -115.1316478tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-57883404597766949772011-12-20T06:06:00.000-08:002011-12-20T06:06:28.562-08:00Friday afternoon, I returned to Las Vegas. The first things I wanted to do upon entering my temporary residence at Andrew's penthouse were to brush my teeth and to take a shower, but these sanitary actions were delayed by several hours. I was whisked away to hang out with Tabatabai, Antonio, Alec, Trotman, Mike, Dunst, among others. Later that night, I went to Estiatorio Milos, although I Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-30590443671645269732011-12-14T20:55:00.000-08:002011-12-14T21:15:04.010-08:00I spent three nights at Fairmont Singapore November 29-December 2, meeting a friend. I can now say I have traveled literally halfway around the world to see a girl I had not previously met. I mentally prepared myself for the oppressive humidity, but it was severe enough to elicit vocal complaints from me. My inclination to dress in light garments was also at odds with my desire to protect Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0Seoul, South Korea37.566535 126.977969237.365159 126.66211220000001 37.767911000000005 127.2938262tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-74959453026524777362011-11-25T02:33:00.000-08:002011-11-25T02:33:00.264-08:00List of tourist things I did en South America:
Lima, Perú
Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera
Museo Nacional de Antropología, Arqueología, e Historia del Perú
Chiclayo, Perú
Lambayeque
Museo de las Tumbas Reales de Sipán
Trujillo, Perú
Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Huaca de la Luna & Huaca del Sol
Cuzco, Perú (UNESCO World Heritage Site) y el Valle Sagrado
Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0Orange, CA 92869, USA33.7981773 -117.795971333.745396299999996 -117.8749353 33.8509583 -117.7170073tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-9869278714423893792011-11-16T01:37:00.001-08:002011-11-16T01:40:21.883-08:00This is my internet speed in Orange County, California:
Latest film seen: Animal Kingdom (2010).
Miles flown year-to-date: 67,627.Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0Orange, CA 92869, USA33.7981773 -117.795971333.745396299999996 -117.8749353 33.8509583 -117.7170073tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-52541633011379426512011-11-12T14:13:00.001-08:002011-11-12T14:27:27.685-08:00In the past year, I have been extremely fortunate in recovering lost items. I wonder what the national averages are for material and financial attrition due to obsolescence, theft, misuse, carelessness, etc. These numbers may also vary significantly according to financial brackets.
Immediately after attending last month's Taylor Swift concert, I realized that I left my iPod Touch at SAN Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Las Vegas, The Crystals, 3752 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89158, USA36.106235 -115.17458436.093405999999995 -115.19432499999999 36.119064 -115.154843tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-37389895568849097122011-11-10T21:34:00.000-08:002011-11-16T01:35:31.555-08:00I was originally scheduled to depart Buenos Aires on Monday, October 17, but a mechanical failure or a Chilean volcano delayed my flight by a full day. I arrived in Las Vegas Wednesday, but I flew to San Diego the next day to attend the Taylor Swift Speak Now World Tour with Alec.
The event was held at the Valley View Casino Center, selling out 10,834 seats. There are 111 dates on the tour, Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Las Vegas, The Crystals, 3752 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89158, USA36.106235 -115.17458436.093405999999995 -115.19432499999999 36.119064 -115.154843tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-9345181802952879142011-10-15T16:52:00.001-07:002011-11-04T22:34:02.802-07:00Throughout Perú, I encountered frustrating scenes of inefficiency. Every bus that was stolen from the 1970s was manned by not only a driver but also a young boy or man or sometimes girl whose job it was to collect the fares by walking back and forth along the barely perceptible crowded aisle. I suppose it was too modern to consider installing a conventional ticketing device at the entry. This Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com3Buenos Aires, Capital Federal, Argentina-34.6084175 -58.37316129999999-34.6977235 -58.471314799999995 -34.5191115 -58.27500779999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-54804236615746245152011-09-09T13:46:00.000-07:002011-09-09T13:46:07.890-07:00
This is my Internet speed in Lima.
Latest TV seen: Damages: Season One (2007).Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-68761283952671025172011-09-04T11:08:00.003-07:002011-09-07T18:05:37.316-07:00I have been in Lima for 10.6 days. I have resided in Miraflores, one of 43 Lima districts. The only other district I have visited is Barranco. I am trying to find more permanent housing. I stayed in a 9th floor residence for a week, and I am at the Radisson Hotel now.
As I expected, Lima is one of the least expensive places I will ever visit. I have spent only $30 on transportation. I have spentLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1Miraflores District-12.1175 -77.0430556-12.1361245 -77.0706621 -12.0988755 -77.0154491tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-64670830188081660442011-08-25T23:27:00.004-07:002011-08-28T15:59:24.848-07:00Estoy en Lima, Perú (my 16th country visited).
I stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney for three nights. Although I was near the two most iconic city landmarks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, I did not do either the BridgeClimb or the Backstage Tour. Those two activities would have consumed a total of five hours and US$383. I found Sydney to be remarkably expensive, Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com3Miraflores District, Lima District, Peru-12.1175 -77.0430556-12.136159 -77.0706621 -12.098841 -77.0154491tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-79604119385665223592011-08-20T00:34:00.000-07:002011-08-20T00:34:25.308-07:00When traveling to other countries, there are several adjustments one should expect. Obvious differences include culture and language. I can adjust quickly to differing traffic patterns, electrical outlets, and currencies. However, one thing that I thought was universal was that hot water comes from twisting the left valve and that cold water is controlled with the right valve. In the U.S., Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1Melbourne VIC, Australia-37.8131869 144.96297960000004-38.213623899999995 144.27785560000004 -37.4127499 145.64810360000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-57207307281168328382011-08-18T04:18:00.000-07:002011-08-18T04:18:08.457-07:00I checked into the Travelodge next to The Langham to save money. I am having serious second thoughts about setting up camp in Melbourne. I think perhaps my friends were right in saying that visiting Australia in winter would lead to a less than enjoyable experience. I do not mind the brisk weather, but there is not as much activity in the streets as I had pictured in my mind. There is a good Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0Melbourne VIC, Australia-37.8131869 144.96297960000004-38.213623899999995 144.27785560000004 -37.4127499 145.64810360000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-74546534554223091362011-08-15T09:49:00.004-07:002011-08-15T09:54:33.605-07:00Yesterday morning, I checked into The Langham in Melbourne in the Commonwealth of Australia (my 15th country visited). The base room rate is $300, which is a fair price to pay for arguably the best hotel in this region, although it is unimpressive as far as luxury city hotels go. The daily internet access charge is $27, which is extortionate and yet, I cannot bring myself to decline it, as I Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0Melbourne VIC, Australia-37.8131869 144.96297960000004-38.213623899999995 144.27785560000004 -37.4127499 145.64810360000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-60469649026275863502011-08-11T01:56:00.005-07:002011-08-12T05:28:07.372-07:00Hong Kong International Airport should be renamed Hong Kong International Luxury Mall. Its slogan could be, "And we fly airplanes too!" It is the 11th busiest airport by passenger count (ATL is #1), but I wonder what its gross shopping volume is. HKG has sizable boutiques of every conceivable luxury designer across fashion and jewelry that would put nearly all shopping centers to shame.
I am Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0Singapore1.352083 103.819836000000011.213633 103.573908 1.4905329999999999 104.06576400000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-70679717720377670592011-08-09T09:53:00.004-07:002011-08-14T22:15:52.873-07:00Including transportation, I have spent $2860 as a result of my Bali trip thus far (18+ days). I have not had to outlay any expenditures for housing. My rent and utilities in Las Vegas during the same span would have been $1482. There is a high likelihood that my discretionary expenses would have been higher in Las Vegas. If I use a conservative estimate of $50 per day, the total opportunity Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0Bali, Indonesia-8.4095178 115.18891600000006-8.8044883 114.54468600000007 -8.0145473 115.83314600000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-51716232260604477292011-08-07T21:28:00.001-07:002011-08-07T21:29:18.230-07:00Yesterday, Justin and I had a drink at Cocoon for a lame day party, especially by Las Vegas standards. There is a Bungy jump operation next door to the venue, and I had talked about it since viewing it the first day I arrived in Bali. Although I have a fear of heights, I decided to jump.
After entering the jumping venue, I observed one customer jump and noted how much higher it was than I had Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-21921970457266533912011-08-06T22:51:00.000-07:002011-08-06T22:51:39.417-07:00According to WalkScore.com, my prior home in Las Vegas has a mark of 72 out of 100. My first home in Las Vegas was issued a Walk Score of 55, which is below the city average. Amusingly accurate, my family Maryland home during high school was given a Walk Score of 0, which is apparently the lowest possible score.
Latest film seen: Last Train Home (2009).Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-5060640884157441362011-08-02T22:15:00.001-07:002011-08-03T03:02:59.725-07:00My trip abroad nearly got off to a disastrous start. After I landed in one terminal in SFO from LAS, I walked 400 meters to the next terminal to check into my flight to HKG. After I waited 20 minutes in queue, I realized that my personal effects were in a jacket that I had removed and loosely draped over my duffel bag. Somehow, I must have lost the jacket during my inter-terminal commute. In a Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0Bali, Indonesia-8.4095178 115.18891600000006-8.8044883 114.54468600000007 -8.0145473 115.83314600000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-77974615530611766672011-07-29T20:49:00.001-07:002011-07-30T00:43:08.588-07:00Things I have done in my first week in Bali:
--crashed a motorcycle
--dined at many restaurants, none of them twice
--partied at several bars and nightclubs
--toured Ubud Monkey Forest
--visited Bali Bird Park and Bali Safari Park
--toured a temple at Goa Gajah/Elephant Cave
--had a drink at Amandari
I mean to participate in more physical activities, but I am hamstrung until my accident wounds Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-57427471853116075822011-07-27T18:59:00.003-07:002011-07-28T19:41:13.482-07:00“Renting motorcycles or scooters can be a frightening yet fascinating experience. . . in south Bali, with its crush of traffic, the chances of an accident are greatly increased. Bali is no place to learn to ride a motorbike.” – Wikitravel article on Bali
Monday, after riding as a passenger for a couple of days, I thought it prudent to rent a motorbike. I paid $53 for a 16-day rental. I have Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0Bali, Indonesia-8.4095178 115.18891600000006-8.8044883 114.54468600000007 -8.0145473 115.83314600000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-61364523148588542412011-07-25T19:28:00.002-07:002011-07-27T03:31:46.590-07:00Although I had effectively lived in 서울 for stretches of several months when I was a toddler, only recently had I decided to make the drastic move to travel extensively outside the United States. Without the benefit of experience, I still do not know whether this physical move or the occupational one to play poker seven years ago is more momentous. In a way, both decisions seem kind of natural, Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0Bali, Indonesia-8.4095178 115.18891600000006-8.8044883 114.54468600000007 -8.0145473 115.83314600000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-71399509931496058722011-07-24T23:28:00.004-07:002011-07-25T21:42:30.821-07:00"Can it really be in America’s interest to have so much of its young talent playing a zero-sum game?"
This quotation could be used an observation about young people's decisions to play poker full-time. Instead, it is in John Cassidy's The New Yorker article "Mastering the Machine" about hedge funds, specifically, Bridgewater Associates. People sometimes say to me that I should be doing Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com7Bali, Indonesia-8.4095178 115.18891600000006-8.8044883 114.54468600000007 -8.0145473 115.83314600000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-62015255575651710002011-07-20T17:54:00.000-07:002011-07-21T18:27:00.862-07:00Going to BaliSaturday, I completed my move out of my Sky Las Vegas flat and into my friend's penthouse at Mandarin Oriental. Among my friends, I could probably reside in Las Vegas rent-free for a couple of years in a lavish flat with not much loss in privacy or even imposition on the primary residents! However, I have committed to exiting the continent. Today, I relinquished title to my vehicle and bought aLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com3Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA36.128561 -115.1711298000000236.103171499999995 -115.19532680000002 36.1539505 -115.14693280000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-27728337791466866872011-07-15T20:27:00.000-07:002011-07-19T19:35:49.776-07:00There has been much negative publicity about Netflix's decision to hike its prices by $6. At the risk of sounding financially arrogant, $6 in terms of absolute value is not much. There is not much one can purchase in America for $6, and if that is the difference between hours of monthly entertainment or an inferior option, it seems stupid for people to cancel Netflix out of corporate spite. $6Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA36.128561 -115.1711298000000236.103171499999995 -115.19532680000002 36.1539505 -115.14693280000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-16431863504734572462011-07-10T18:31:00.000-07:002011-07-10T18:31:46.973-07:00I did not play in the 2011 World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event. I had several offers from close friends to free-roll me an entry for 25% equity. I could have played for a $2000 "fee" and 5% equity. I was taunted often for my questionable decision to reject freeroll offers, although I have spurned such proposals before. The timing of the Main Event was less than ideal, as I have been Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-43640720390529132172011-07-09T18:44:00.000-07:002011-07-09T18:44:32.514-07:00I had dinner at Sen of Japan for the second time. It is as amazing and significantly less expensive than Okada and Bar Masa. I have frequented XS, Blush, and Surrender Nightclubs, which are conveniently located at the closest large resort complex to me. I have hung out with friends at the World Series of Poker and at their high-rise penthouses.I sold my car on eBay for $17,000. I estimate Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-2599572245156900482011-06-20T16:20:00.000-07:002011-06-20T16:43:27.986-07:00The last few days and nights have been Las Vegas to the max. Parties. Drugs. Red Wine. Alcohol. Dinner at Estiatorio Milo. XS and Marquee Nightclubs. Other stuff. Unlike previous indulgent stretches, my expense during this time was close to 0, as a few people were extremely generous. Being the beneficiary of such lavish experiences reminds me of how I should not cast judgment on charmingLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-55979903393821283262011-06-17T19:00:00.000-07:002011-06-17T19:14:05.423-07:00Last night, I went to cheer Jeff Gross, who finished 2nd in Event #24: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout. For most of the spectating, I was hanging out with Tim Begley, a fellow Wharton Undergrad alum. I was the most vocal spectator, and we had a discussion as to how appropriate certain statements from the rail were. I was stating a case that anything that does not constitute slander, a threat,Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-72741228971837839062011-06-15T18:52:00.000-07:002011-06-15T19:02:38.244-07:00A few months ago, I received my first lifetime jury summons for Clark County. When I called the day before the scheduled service to report, I was told I was no longer needed but that I should expect a replacement date. A few weeks ago, I received the replacement summons. When I called today to report, I was told I was no longer needed and that my service has been fulfilled and completed. WhenLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-65507521789200439282011-06-13T18:14:00.000-07:002011-06-13T18:15:53.863-07:00Dear University of Pennsylvania:Please stop calling me for solicitation of money. You have $6 billion. My net worth is much closer to 0 than it is to yours.Sincerely,LKLatest film seen: Un prophète (2009).Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-22610525497946444022011-06-10T16:53:00.001-07:002011-06-10T17:03:09.881-07:00Today, I went to the grocery store and when I sought to buy microwavable popcorn, I was overwhelmed by the number of options. In particular, I wanted the popcorn that had the most butter. There were many choices, but I narrowed what could have been the most butter to "Movie Theater Butter", "Ultimate Butter", "Maximum Butter", and "Butter Lovers". Intuitively, the term "Movie Theater" would seemLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-76281603206813688282011-06-08T20:00:00.000-07:002011-06-08T20:00:24.789-07:00I have not worked in 54 days. Several weeks ago, I headed to Wynn Las Vegas with the intention of playing no-limit poker. Upon entering the room, the prospect of sitting there for endless hours with no guarantee of winning a decent sum was so unappetizing that I left without playing.As soon as I could not play online poker, I began entertaining the thought of relocating outside the U.S. and its Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-83708157809493490232011-06-01T21:37:00.000-07:002011-06-01T21:59:30.293-07:00Through my poker career, one life lesson I have learned is that when you have an opportunity to collect a debt, do it promptly. Oftentimes, debtors will make the creditor feel as if he is the beneficiary of generosity. In the cases of structured, transparent, legal, official agreements like that between an FDIC-backed bank and individual borrower, this feeling of gratitude is largely absent on Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-11557482216791580272011-05-30T01:08:00.001-07:002011-08-08T03:39:32.858-07:00Tonight, I returned to Las Vegas. My cab from LAS drove 4.1 miles, and the fare was $17.7 before tip. The fare per incremental mile increased recently. It used to be $2.40 per mile, already a high rate. Now, it is $2.80, a 17% increase.
I went through the cool exercise of tallying up my lifetime travel. I have lived 30.9 years. 8.5% of my life, or 2.6 years, has been outside the U.S. I Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-79301278956341997492011-05-25T15:47:00.000-07:002011-05-27T22:43:35.279-07:00Last Friday, I had my first private jet (Cessna Citation XLS) experience, as my friends and I took a trip to Reno. Almost all the activities took place on location at the Peppermill Resort, as we ate, exercised, and partied at EDGE Nightspot. From there, I took a United flight to Maryland to visit friends and family.Latest TV watched: Gossip Girl: Season Four (2010-11); The Good Wife: Season Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-91720777304679852122011-05-09T19:17:00.001-07:002011-05-13T11:37:07.542-07:00ARIA Las Vegas posts its current poker game offerings on its twitter page: http://twitter.com/#!/ARIAPoker. Wynn Las Vegas does the same on its webpage: http://wynnpoker.com/realtime.cfm. I do not play much live poker, but I have often felt it to be cumbersome that one has to show in the flesh or make a phone call, asking for a human response that is prone to inattentiveness and error. Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-85478523317035447882011-05-09T00:03:00.002-07:002011-08-09T07:58:08.620-07:00Tuesday, I returned from a short trip to La Antigua Guatemala. I am not going to sit here and pretend that Guatemala is as safe as the Iraq war zone, but I made it out unscathed. In 2010, Guatemala City, the capital of 1.1 million people, averaged 45 murders per week. This works out to more 200 homicides per 100,000 people. By comparison, New York City, which is regarded as a dangerous city, Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-58765223426971645872011-04-27T01:08:00.000-07:002011-04-27T01:17:07.701-07:00When I was staying at The Cove Atlantis in The Bahamas in January, I was tempted to participate in the oft-promoted dolphin exhibit. However, I had just watched "The Cove," an anti-dolphin-killing/exploitation/eating documentary, so that combined with the associated expense and my inertia meant that I did not undertake this adventure. A friend noted that the brochure claimed that the resort didLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-13926919952503547952011-04-25T20:38:00.001-07:002011-04-25T20:44:20.900-07:00I am watching the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the Denver Nuggets, and I have observed that Oklahoma City is the least tattooed team in the NBA. Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka have no visible tattoos. The entire roster has fewer tattoos combined than Martin, Smith, or Andersen alone do. Collison and Martin should count their lucky stars, as they are performing legal larceny, earning (stealing) Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-42978389135966847322011-04-20T12:44:00.000-07:002011-04-20T12:48:05.419-07:00Many people defending the game of poker use the skill-vs.-gambling argument. I agree entirely that poker is a game of skill, but I do not understand what difference this should make. One could easily argue that there were many homebuyers who were not skillful, but no one is suggesting that buying real estate be illegal. Similarly, the tangible particles of skill amid the cloud of variance Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-70034122590038660952011-04-18T19:48:00.000-07:002011-04-18T20:26:14.436-07:00To quote another poker blog, the year went by quick. I am now un-self-employed. In theory, I could apply for unemployment benefits, but I will probably avoid that option. It is doubtful that I will be playing any online poker for the next few months. Until recent ridiculous developments, I could have said that I was having a great year, working hard, having fun, and traveling the world.A few Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-84542416342908932742011-04-06T22:53:00.000-07:002011-04-13T17:33:49.327-07:00I am in Las Vegas, Nevada.In Las Vegas, premium gas costs $3.91 per gallon. In Seoul, it is $7.30.In Las Vegas, the taxicab fare starts at $3.30. In Seoul, the base rate is $2.22.One Saturday night, I went to a rave party at a nightclub where Sasha was spinning. The ticket cost $51 but included one drink. Drinks at the bar were $6.47, which I thought surprisingly modest given the prices to Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-63216697815674340722011-03-29T19:20:00.000-07:002011-03-29T19:23:11.270-07:00I am in Seoul.Latest film seen: Rango (2011).Miles flown year-to-date: 14,612.Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-64996873068518902182011-03-24T19:39:00.002-07:002011-08-20T00:39:40.123-07:00Saturday night, I was at Andrew's palace of a home to view UFC 128. One of the things those present discussed was the heads-up limit hold'em machine developed by IGT at Bellagio. Apparently, the computer makes occasional bizarre plays but is generally considered tough. durrrr said he has not played the machine yet, as it does not play high enough. Several of us in the room, including Andrew, Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-9850678985800939122011-03-18T22:31:00.000-07:002011-03-18T22:42:01.683-07:00Last night, I went to STK and Haze Nightclub for a few minutes. In between locations, we spent a few minutes on the restaurant floor of The Cosmopolitan. A few of the guys were in a silly gambling mood, so they started flipping a chocolate coin that a random passer-by had thrown at us for $1000 per toss. The decor is game-oriented with a billiards table, a glass coffee table filled with Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-25410389127521723182011-03-16T18:32:00.000-07:002011-03-16T18:35:55.065-07:00I am not running an NCAA Tournament pool this year, but I still follow the game closely. This season, I object to five teams making the field of 68: Penn State, Tennessee, Georgia, UAB, and VCU. It is a travesty that Georgia had to resort to snubbing another team to make the field, considering they have two NBA-quality players in Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie.In lieu of these teams, I wouldLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-35072673243137250532011-03-14T22:52:00.001-07:002011-08-20T00:37:49.445-07:00I spent Friday night at The Ritz-Carlton in Dallas with Antonio. It was fairly uneventful, although I did meet Miles Austin, a Cowboy wide receiver. Saturday, we checked into the Westin Galleria in Houston. Somehow, I ended up partying at a super trendy restaurant and Nox Nightclub with locals I met only that night. It was the most international table I can remember, with Persians, a Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-2585145726212611432011-03-07T16:13:00.000-08:002011-03-07T16:23:31.377-08:00Saturday, I went to Antonio's home for a couple of drinks before we headed out to Chandelier Bar and Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan. Antonio was in the mood to gamble, so he offered $10 vigorish to flip for $1000. I accepted the action, splitting it with Wells. The game we agreed to was rolling three dice, with the highest total winning. Amusingly, my partner refused to commence the Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-47693725736019180812011-03-04T20:13:00.001-08:002011-03-04T22:33:39.804-08:00There are television public service announcements warning against underage drinking, drug use, unprotected sex, and steroid use, among other dissolute evils. However, I have yet to view one cautioning against gambling, online or live. This implies that not enough of our youth are gambling to warrant such admonishments. I truly wish that they would divert their rebellious energies away from theLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-5949100921651077012011-03-01T11:48:00.000-08:002011-03-01T11:49:04.033-08:00Last month, I played each of the 28 days. I had 17 winning days and 11 losing days. I averaged 69 hours per week.Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-58810147051077617992011-02-27T18:04:00.000-08:002011-02-27T18:10:14.128-08:00Since my last post, I have dined at Blue Ribbon Sushi again, been to Stratta a few times, ate lunch at Wasuzu, ate at Sen of Japan, had a couple of drinks at P.U.B., visited the Encore Spa twice, and shopped at Whole Foods Market twice. My friend and I grabbed one of every water in the infamous WFM beverage aisle, which helped to push the total grocery bill over $600. I also went on my most Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-20785475013433267082011-02-18T04:49:00.000-08:002011-02-18T04:53:02.809-08:00This month, I have been logging in 75 hours per week. Aside from a couple of low-key social gatherings and a couple of dinners at Blue Ribbon Sushi, I have not been too adventurous. I have bought five albums:George Michael - Faith (1987)Radiohead - The King of Limbs (2011)Janelle Monáe - Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) (2007)Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)PJ Harvey - Let England Shake (2011)Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-12849626096630667332011-02-10T14:06:00.000-08:002011-02-11T01:24:20.515-08:00I played FTOPS Event #12, $207+$9 Rush Poker event where players start with 300 chips. I busted 3 minutes in, along with with 30% of the 1662-player field! I play only a few tournaments per year, but I set my alarm clock to play this event because I knew that I would not have to play 12 hours for a $74k prize. Play whittled down to the final table in only 75 minutes. I would be thrilled if Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-44629642041761693132011-02-02T04:14:00.000-08:002011-02-02T04:20:33.310-08:00While in The Bahamas, I was loathe to use my cellular telephone because of the exorbitant international rates levied by my carrier, Verizon Wireless. It does not make sense to me how a supposedly competitive industry has international rates that have not improved in favor of consumers in recent years. Per minute calling rates are on the order of $2 and even simple txt messages are 50 cents, Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-58763935337254035322011-01-27T15:39:00.000-08:002011-01-27T15:41:17.407-08:00I have a weakness for the Girl Scout cookie varieties Samoas and Tagalongs. Why on earth can I not purchase these online? I bet there are others like me who would simply purchase a case without the hassle of finding actual real live Girl Scouts.Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-50605920955136400852011-01-26T00:07:00.001-08:002011-11-12T14:12:25.701-08:00I spent much of my 11 days in The Bahamas wandering on the beach, laying by the pool covered up in towels to avoid sun exposure, and hanging out with friends. My meals rotated between Johnny Rockets, Starbucks, Nobu, and Mesa Grill. Like clockwork, I ordered the same combination at each of these establishments. The last night, I escaped to dine at Dune at the pompously named One & Only Ocean Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-82086544827065507212011-01-06T09:54:00.000-08:002011-07-25T20:04:09.778-07:00The night of December 30, I walked around The Cosmopolitan with friends before heading into Marquee Nightclub. The following night, I went to a house party.
I have worked about 30 hours in the new year, yielding a negative figure thus far. Yesterday, I boarded a flight with Antonio and Mizzi to Nassau. We had a stop in ATL, where Antonio and Mizzi stopped by the Blackberry boutique for Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-62964813086772362782010-12-28T01:28:00.000-08:002011-11-12T14:05:22.035-08:00Using figures from PokerTableRatings, The IMF, and Wikipedia, I compared the largest countries by online poker volume, population, and gross domestic product:
Online Poker Hands Population GDP
1 U.S. China U.S.
2 Germany India China
3 Russia U.S. Japan
4 Canada Indonesia India
5 United KingdomLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-21157345522397483482010-12-26T22:07:00.000-08:002010-12-26T22:08:40.545-08:00As I am not a big celebrator of holidays, Christmas was uneventful. I bought and received no gifts. I spent much of the night at Antonio's, where there were a ton of Persian people, along with Persian music and food. Later that night, we went to Surrender nightclub, where there tons of Persian people. Las Vegas is not a good city for Christmas, but there are tons of Persian parties here Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-13915842023813474672010-12-19T03:47:00.000-08:002010-12-19T03:55:01.310-08:00I have averaged 53-hour workweeks this month. I lost a big pot where I had AATx vs. JJKx on a AKJ to a river J. Although that was upsetting, I won a much bigger pot yesterday with three of a kind vs. top two pair/flush draw. The past two nights, I have socialized with friends at the newly opened The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The atmosphere in there was lively and youthful, although time willLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-45214573706199015602010-12-11T16:54:00.000-08:002011-03-22T17:29:58.958-07:00I was back home for two days before I booked travel to Napa County with two hours' notice. I stayed at the Vintage Inn for two nights, relaxing in the Villagio Spa on each of the two days. The first night, I went to dinner with about 15 people who worked in the local wine industry. I gathered that these time- and money-intensive social outings were common in the industry. Similar to a poker Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-37556259704893778002010-12-02T18:18:00.000-08:002010-12-02T18:18:21.903-08:00Last week, I visited my parents and sister who live in Fulton, Maryland. I arrived Tuesday and left Monday. During this period, I felt compelled to take only one shower because the indoor climate was so cold, 61 degrees. I did not play poker for eight consecutive days. I also visited friends' houses in Ellicott City, MD and Leesburg, VA.Monday, I took the Amtrak up to New York City and Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-74424944115242471942010-11-23T13:22:00.000-08:002010-11-23T13:24:57.780-08:00Friday night, I went to Surrender Nightclub and had several drinks with friends. The past couple of days has seen me work 31 hours, by far the most productive such stretch this year.Latest TV seen: Circus (2010, PBS documentary).Latest movie seen: The Tillman Story (2010).Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-83384881913095757422010-11-05T23:10:00.000-07:002010-11-05T23:13:20.696-07:00I believe the bounty offered by the U.S. government on Osama bin Laden is $25 million. $25 million is a lot of money, but it is not much compared to the billions spent on defense, offense, and additional security measures as a result of his existence. By that standard, $25 million seems like a cheapskate offering. Why doesn't the government offer something better, like $50 billion? Surely, Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-20883631001744126342010-10-31T19:40:00.001-07:002011-08-20T00:38:55.352-07:00Thursday night, I went to a party at Blitz's penthouse. The guys were the usual cast and crew, but I think almost all the girls were of the adult entertainment industry. No one in attendance can say they had a normal occupation, so I find it humorously odd when girls try to euphemize that they work in the porn industry or in strip clubs. Who among a bunch hustlers and gamblers would cast Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-18567923979531129702010-10-29T18:35:00.000-07:002010-10-29T18:38:31.247-07:00At 2am, I drove to Valley High School, hopped the fence, and ran 800m to test my condition. My result was 2:41.7. I ran sans socks in 1995 Nike Zoom Streak flats, but I will probably not do this again, as the left shoe is falling apart and cut my left heel, and the right shoe gave me an arch blister.Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-33431348169699895112010-10-20T10:42:00.000-07:002010-10-30T04:23:02.477-07:00Yesterday, I went to Lolita Cantina's with friends. I saw Dan Blitz for the first time in months. True to form, he immediately proposed, "I will give you $500 if you down that bottle of Tabasco sauce." Last year, he paid me $200 to consume the artificial sugar packets at a diner. I was not sure about this Tabasco wager but went ahead and did it. No pain. $500 straight cash. Easy Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-47515749119145926592010-10-17T14:34:00.000-07:002010-10-17T14:40:10.990-07:00Yesterday, the home plate umpire Derryl Cousins made 13 incorrect ball-strike calls in the Philadelphia game. However, umpire Tony Randazzo had one of the worst umpire performances in the history of Western Civilization by blowing 30 calls in the Rangers game. Anyone watching this game would have noticed that he was overzealous in calling strikes against left-handed Rangers batters. I do not Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-19218325082024173022010-10-15T19:24:00.000-07:002010-10-15T19:32:53.440-07:00Tuesday night, I went to Lolita Cantina's to mingle with friends, many of whom had just returned from a long Europe trip. I had 3.5 drinks, my first in nearly a month.Yesterday, I went to look at high-rise homes with Andrew. The homes he was viewing were extravagant and definitely more home than any single bachelor would require. It was not that long ago that I rented a damp dark room in a Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-10896132901657711502010-10-10T19:12:00.000-07:002010-10-10T19:29:17.155-07:00This month, I have worked 7.8 hours per day. I have been treading water for weeks, as I am 10 buy-ins below my peak.I have been watching baseball, and there is much discussion about the possibility of using instant replay in the sport. People should be all for it. The home plate umpires are unacceptably terrible at calling balls and strikes. A few may argue that the umpires call 9x% of the Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-14852333413818265582010-09-30T08:01:00.000-07:002010-09-30T08:04:32.109-07:00September 1-7: +$3995Sep 8-14: +$159Sep 15-21: -$2109Sep 22-30: -$1755Bad month.Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-24614824522023154712010-09-26T17:31:00.000-07:002010-09-27T02:42:02.625-07:00I finished Red Dead Redemption (80% according to Statistics). I watched college and pro football. Top-5 NCAA teams: AL, FL, OR, Boise St., and LSU. Top-5 NFL teams: Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Green Bay, and NY Jets. I got bored so I watched some shows I had not ever viewed. Cougar Town (ABC). Sons of Anarchy (FX). Gossip Girl (The CW). Fringe (Fox). Glee (Fox). It's Always Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-30459853836663569122010-09-24T18:37:00.000-07:002010-09-24T18:44:21.494-07:00This morning, I changed at a total cost of $405 my rear right 18" Pirelli PZero System tire, which lasted 17,237 miles. I have been playing Red Dead Redemption lately, after not having played it in months. I am 55% complete. Today, I also started playing Sid Meier's Civilization V on my notebook.Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-74590101249726164682010-09-23T16:15:00.001-07:002010-09-23T16:31:27.607-07:00No poker last few days. No losses either.I was reading Alec Torelli's latest blog post. In it, he disapproves of snooty investment bankers at a party asking what university he attended--he did not. He dislikes the question not because it could shine a light on an insecurity but because its intention was assess one's social value in one fell swoop.I have both asked and been asked this question Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-6689252165795691062010-09-19T02:47:00.000-07:002010-09-19T02:55:03.883-07:00This month, I have put in 55 hours of playing time per week, which is the most I have played this year. My results are mediocre though, having won only $3k thus far. It is frustrating not to win much, especially since I generally play individuals with serious leaks in their games.Reading about the plight of people around the world in The Economist keeps me grounded. In addition, I just Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-1289257356844133022010-09-11T14:59:00.000-07:002010-09-11T15:27:01.405-07:00A trend I have observed is that some major tournaments are downscaling the buy-in. One reason may be the recent mediocre economy, but the other more relevant cause could be that prior high buy-ins have zapped the bankrolls of many players. The Monte Carlo European Poker Tour event has reduced its buy-in from $25,000 to €10,000 ($12,677). The main event at the Borgata Poker Open has reduced its Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-39144001888769012962010-09-11T09:59:00.000-07:002010-09-11T10:04:17.811-07:00Yesterday, I played 11 hours and lost. Today, I am watching the Nadal and Federer matches and college football.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Can someone explain to me why there are silly rules that the U.S. President has to have been born in the U.S., be at least 35 years old, and not be a felon? After all, if a 17-year-old felon behind Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-60771420566413824932010-09-09T16:58:00.001-07:002010-09-09T17:00:26.762-07:00Does anyone want to see LCD Soundsystem on October 12 or Leonard Cohen on December 11? Since I awoke today at 10a, I have not played any poker. I watched the Youzhny match and am about to watch both the Nadal match and the Saints game.Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-73444663854280753912010-09-01T16:53:00.001-07:002010-09-01T16:59:19.005-07:00I was watching the scene in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989) where the villain attempts to choose the authentic Holy Grail. The knight guarding the tens of grails instructs to choose wisely. There are tens of similar looking grails, and the warning is that the correct grail will provide immortality, but the wrong grail will take life. The hot female academic says she will choose theLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-88856169057832985082010-08-28T16:07:00.000-07:002010-08-28T16:13:51.190-07:00Yesterday, I played only two hours of poker, but it was a profitable day, thanks mostly to Yogipal.Last night, I watched the 7:55pm showtime of "The Kids Are All Right" at Century Suncoast 16 with MI_turtle and our dates. Then, we had a drink and a bite at Yard Hard at Red Rock Casino. I bowled two games of 129 and 172. I loitered around the casino, losing $192 at blackjack. Then, I had a Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-58330424462182800012010-08-25T08:33:00.000-07:002010-08-25T08:36:33.879-07:00In the past week, I have been going to bed at 3a-4a. I started a session at midnight and played until 830a for what is easily my longest uninterrupted session in more than a year. I was up $500 or so at the peak of the session, but I ended even. I may take the rest of the day off since I feel I already put in my quota for the day.Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-37972433724167798702010-08-22T15:42:00.001-07:002010-08-22T15:45:56.310-07:00Regular readers will notice that my recent posts are inane, as I have run out of stunning insight to share. Comments I have received suggested that even inane posts are better than none at all. So unless I receive a clamoring for me reverting to one-post-every-45-days mode, this will continue in the near future.This morning, I went to sleep at 230a and set my alarm for 9a to watch the Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-35924445495624764862010-08-21T21:49:00.001-07:002010-08-21T21:59:52.752-07:00The past few days have seen me lose at poker. I am so used to winning that even a mild loss feels relatively catastrophic although that is an exaggeration. In my previous 30 days of playing, only five have seen me in the red.Last night, I dined at N9ne Steakhouse with friends. Then, I spent two hours total at Blush and Tryst Nightclubs. I did not drink alcohol but simply ordered club soda at Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-25789333426061396912010-08-17T00:09:00.000-07:002010-08-17T00:16:55.645-07:00Saturday night, I went to First Food & Bar. I wandered around Barneys New York but did not purchase anything and played a few hands of $25 blackjack at The Venetian.Sunday, I had a long leisurely long at Mon Ami Gabi with a bottle of Sauvignon blanc and a carafe of frangria. I woke up late and went to bed early, having played zero hands of poker.Monday, I awoke at 1015am and got breakfast at Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-77702400027336907532010-08-12T14:10:00.000-07:002010-08-12T14:14:33.536-07:00One of the things about living in Las Vegas is that people one knows are regularly visiting. I had been so productive from mid-July until this past weekend. Then, a friend of mine came into town and wanted to party. This person has incredible party stamina so I ended up experiencing what may be the biggest bender of my life. Somehow, I felt physically fine after this stretch. Last night, I Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-42631318899838193792010-08-06T11:12:00.000-07:002010-08-06T11:25:12.272-07:00Recently, I had a winning streak of more than two weeks snapped by a -$7k session at $10-$20 pot-limit Omaha. This streak was the longest of my life, so I was extremely motivated to awake and grind poker.A few nights ago, I dined with Andrew and three others at Mastro's Ocean Club at CityCenter ($140 per head). I have no plans this weekend, but I may want to catch "Exit Through the Gift Shop" Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-68780065196444094412010-08-02T12:09:00.001-07:002010-08-02T12:16:05.729-07:00Last night, I went to Suncoast Hotel & Casino to watch a film with Nick. We went to bowl two games at Red Rock Resort after dining at Hachi. We bet our $96 dinner tab on the cumulative score of our two games. I bowled 146 and 150 to best Nick by 20 total points.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I follow sports avidly, and this Darrelle Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-86505162207942665052010-08-01T11:25:00.000-07:002010-08-01T11:35:30.916-07:00The other night, I wandered around CityCenter with Nick. I purchased two pairs of Paul Smiths socks, and we dined at Jean Georges Steakhouse.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------There are many observers who argue that sites that track and display online player results, such as tableratings.com, are bad for poker. I have to disagree Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-26334187695972831972010-07-28T14:42:00.000-07:002010-07-28T14:51:24.698-07:00I totally agree with Phil Galfond's opinion in his most recent blog post that cap PLO games are uninteresting. There has been much $200-$400 cap PLO action on FTP, which has a $16k cap (40 big blinds deep). The poker would be much more interesting if the regular players in these games would play $40-$80 (200 big blinds deep), $50-$100 (160 deep), or $80-$160 (100 deep). There is no cap game atLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-89491073811071513222010-07-27T14:03:00.000-07:002010-07-27T14:16:40.346-07:00I must have natural Adderall running through my veins because I have been a machine in the last two weeks. I have been cranking out 8-10-hour days and single sessions up to five hours long. My results have been spectacular too. I have cut out tv sports, video games, and even some sleep.A normal day for an average person would be 8 hours of sleep followed by 16 hours of waking time, resulting Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-10449873047711985412010-07-18T22:14:00.001-07:002010-07-18T22:19:26.368-07:00One big problem running in the poker world is the lack of transparency regarding loans and other financial arrangements. When one person asks to borrow $1000, the lender is often clueless regarding the debtor's financial burdens. It is one thing to borrow $1000 with a clean sheet and another to borrow it with money already owed to other creditors. In the corporate world, these details are Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-76180254236344239212010-07-18T17:16:00.000-07:002010-07-18T17:27:15.688-07:00Today, I fell asleep at 715a. I set my alarm for 308p but was woken up by Andrew at 1245p telling me there was a great $10-$20 NL game centered around a Middle Eastern prince at Wynn. I told him I was sleeping and would not make it. A few minutes later, Nick calls me to get lunch at Wynn. I told him I was in bed but that I heard there was a great game at Wynn. Nick does not play much live Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-6247663273784865182010-07-17T06:02:00.001-07:002011-09-11T00:43:17.106-07:00I have been watching much of the British Open coverage. I am winning whenever I get a chance to play poker. Last night, I dined with Nick, Channing, Michael, and Alec at Julian Serrano at ARIA Las Vegas. After dinner, I watched Inception at Palms. It was a great movie, but I missed a few concepts. Most of America would be totally lost if they were to watch it. Nick joked that the ushers Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-75463122166586861322010-07-13T14:49:00.001-07:002010-07-17T06:02:21.621-07:00Alec and Daniel have been staying at my home for a week. The other day I went to the spa at M Resort and got an extreme haircut. I also got a manicure, which I would never receive if I played any live poker. My place has gotten incredibly cluttered because of 3x the number of inhabitants. In addition, I have not been able to log in as many hands because Alec sleeps in the room where my Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-36884178215988034122010-07-05T22:28:00.001-07:002010-07-05T22:30:35.979-07:00Tournament poker can be viewed as another casino offering. It can also be regarded as a form of competitive intellectual sport. I would prefer that it be considered the latter, but another step that should be taken to legitimize it would be to disclose all the entrants in tournaments. For the most part, only well-known players or in-the-money finishes show up on the leaderboard. Greater Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-31682409752101013182010-07-05T18:22:00.000-07:002010-07-05T18:28:47.101-07:00I saw shows of David Copperfield and Blue Man Group for the first time. I also tried a new restaurant in months, Sage at Aria Las Vegas.Friday, I went to the pool at Vdara with Andrew to meet a couple of guys in the online gambling business. More people joined the grouped to have dinner Musashi. Then, more people joined that group for an outing at Surrender Nightclub.Saturday night, I went to Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-79507513486117754722010-06-23T04:41:00.000-07:002010-07-05T18:22:30.750-07:00Monday night, I went to XS Nightclub with one of the larger groups I can remember. The group included Alex, Amalie, Antonio, Blitz, Dan, James, Jesse, Nima, Odonkor1, plghh, Sara Underwood, Tony, et. al. A few other people dropped by, so the territory was uncomfortably packed in the beginning. The upside is that with enough paying shares (girls and inevitably some guys are free-rolled), the Luke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11322473.post-90779205598014203742010-06-19T02:02:00.000-07:002010-06-19T02:11:50.927-07:00Wednesday night, I went to dinner with 11-14 people at Lotus of Siam. I do not favor Thai food, so I ate mostly white rice and was exempt from having to gamble for the bill.Last night, I dined at Nobu at Hard Rock Hotel with my ex-girlfriend, MI_turtle, and Aaron. Nick told amusing stories regarding his poker operation. After dinner, we bowled at Gold Coast, where the lanes were packed becauseLuke Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670468482301636584noreply@blogger.com1