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Casino games history or how people have learnt to count cards Part3.

Gladiators .
Mathematical developments of the game pioneers and creation of simple and efficient counting systems incited the appearance of a great galaxy of professional players and experts of blackjack.

Revere invented a new simple counting system and first described the method of reducing the current score to the real one. Stanford Wong amplified and improved Hi-Lo system, and also developed the Halves system. Lance Humble, Brison, Gordon, Harvey Dubner, – all these giants made a great contribution to the development of the methods of the game.

In late 70s the professional gambler Al Francesco, probably created the first blackjack team in history. He hired the enthusiasts, taught them Lawrence Revere’s counting system and sent them to play. He invented and put into practice the principle of “BIG PLAYER” – when the part of the team is humbly playing low and some drunken and wealthy fish makes high bets on the given signals.

Ken Uston also belonged to this team. Uston was the vice president of fund stock exchange at that time. However after meeting Revere he quitted the stock exchange and changed his strict outfit for magnificent bush of hair, golden chains and silk shirts with huge collars in the style of that time.

Uston played for Francesco’s team for quite a long time and with varied success, but his ego did stand it under the pressure of his own ego. He had a very high opinion of himself and wanted to be the first in everything. He left Francesco and wrote several books about his adventures. The books simply exploded the gambling world.

The book “BIG PLAYER” revealed the secrets of team game. The Book “Million Dollar Blackjack” is stuffed with unbelievable stories in intervals explaining the technical aspects also presents different cards counting systems. Uston made people believe that one can beat casino playing blackjack. Win a lot. Millions of dollars. Also everyone found out how casinos react to the professional gamblers – slams, insinuations, blacklists, crooked gambling, false accusations. Uston was in the blacklists all over the world, having won with his several teams about 8 million dollars.

By the way, Al Francesco and many other players are still dissatisfied with Uston’s actions who decided to publish the methods of the game which were then available only to the few. But Uston would not be himself if he had not done it.

The next outburst of his popularity was in early 80s, when Ken won the case against a casino in New Jersey (Resorts International Hotel Inc.). Since then no casino of this state (unlike, for example, Las Vegas in Nevada ) is not eligible to prohibit playing to person who can count cards. On the other hand, this verdict made the rules in Nevada much worse than in Vegas.

The next wave of the struggle between the casino and counters relates to Uston’s era. The casinos understood, that well-financed team of pros can cause great losses. And then the multidecked games, frequent riffle were coming into fashion and several good rules just died away. There appeared special detective agencies who spied on the professional players, collected the necessary information about them and distributed it among the casinos.

Uston created new methods of the game, used makeup, recruited more and more people in his teams and started playing abroad. He also was writing new books, was starring on TV, was writing new articles, was developing new counting systems. By the way Ken, wrote the book on optimal game strategy for Pac-Man (arcade video game). It’s a video game not for money, he was just interested in it.

One of the most scandalous Kenny’s projects was creating the team against the casino with using the computer. They used hidden on the body and in the shoes micro chips that calculated the current situation in the game more precisely than any other “human” strategy and gave the necessary signals to the player. His teams almost broke several casinos, but in a while they were caught, arrested and accused of fraud, the computer was confiscated. However, the experts including FBI experts, proved that there was no fraud and the accusations were withdrawn. In two weeks the Supreme Court of the USA of Nevada State made the usage of computing devices in casinos illegal….

Kenny was a good guy, the heart of the company, first class jazz musician, loved by women and press. He had great plans on making a film, writing new books, arranging one more trial, and surely new projects on blackjack. His life was suddenly interrupted in 1983 and the version that casinos are privy to his death is not cast back yet.

© Copyright 2006-2007 www.bonus-map.com

Read more: Casino games history or how people have learnt to count cards Part3.

Casino games history or how people have learnt to count cards Part4.

Technocrat:

Another little known name of great influence on blackjack Keith Taft. He was an engineer, computer specialist and inventor, he created his first blackjack computer in 1970, before Ken Uston appeared on the stage, just four years after the publication of the second Thorp’s book that encouraged him for this work. This computer named “George” was used by Uston’s teams.

Consider the fact, that at that time, there were not computers at all, to say nothing of miniaturization. The first version used 16bite processor, manually made memory and manually wired-in program. Assembly work and debugging took two years. He protected his device with copper screen from possible clutters and hid it in his boots. At first he was very lucky, but then he lost a great deal. It made him give up independent playing. Keith thought of writing a book, but then contracts with professional players came his way. After a few years the market offered more powerful computing devices.

The basis of the other device was Z80 processor. Keith built it in the pocket calculator. This version of “George”, later renamed as “David”, caught Uston’s eye. Keith together with his brother made several such computers for his team. They doubled their capital in a week. Trebled in two weeks. Then they were caught, the money and the computer were confiscated. By the way, Uston’s lawyer in the case was Oscar Goodman – now he is effective mayor of Las Vegas.

In the upshot the project broke down. And a new one emerged with more sophisticated and secret devices but now without Uston. More complicated computers required new processors and larger memory. New investments from the players and “Thor” project made good money for Taft and gamblers. Moreover, this computer remained unnoticed in the casinos. Keith created protection system which in fact repeats the concept of modern “electronic key”.
Then he developed “7-Up” scheme which connected 7 (!!) players at the table into the network. Each had a computer and they were united into the network. Just think – this guy – created computer networks!!!! It was 1982! Before Microsoft these people managed computer severs…

Then video cameras appeared. Keith started applying satellite and radio signals. Then again a failure, arrest and accusation of fraud. Charges were again dismissed. A new hi-tech project followed.

Finally when the usage of computers was deemed illegal in the USA, Keith stopped playing blackjack. Now he is living in his house and is working in his laboratory. I wonder, on what?

Things get easier when done together.

Blackjack boom in 70-80-s, public description of team playing methods lead to creation of the biggest blackjack teams. The most famous, probably was the team of Massachusetts technological Institute or MIT Team. The idea was innovative– instead of hiring people with money, the operators of the team trained the students of playing the game and offered blackjack as summer earnings during their vacation. They almost posted announcements in the lecture rooms saying “Blackjack players wanted!”
At first he team was small, however the management drew great funds from outside investors and project became very large. These young guys and ladies lived a double life – five days a week attending the lectures and eating in the campus canteen and on the weekend flying to Las Vegas, betting on 10 thousand dollars in the box, living in luxury apartments and driving in limousines at the expense of casinos.

This is possibly the most highly qualified team in all history of blackjack. In a few years they have won about 10 million dollars. Then everything went pear shaped. First, the risk on the casino’s side increased. There was spying on the players, soon it was found out that they were students of MIT and then their names were added to the blacklist all over the country. Besides, the casinos were more aware of team game principles and each big player immediately came under observation.

But it is not the most terrible. A prick was in the team. One of the players betrayed for “the thirty pieces of silver” all the members of the team to the casino security service. Moreover, part of the money was simply stolen. It caused the breakdown of the team. Though it revived in different new forms, they were not so successful as before. However, as the rumors circulating, you can come across some interesting announcements in the institute…

Former founders and managers of the team now are very famous people. Semyon Dukach is in sales and purchase of Internet companies, conducts seminars on blackjack and Andy Bloch became a professional poker player.

Team playing, regardless of its pros has a lot of cons of administration nature. It requires great investments into the risky business. That’s why 99% of team playing efforts end up in a financial catastrophe.

© Copyright 2006-2007 www.bonus-map.com

Read more: Casino games history or how people have learnt to count cards Part4.

24′s Kiefer Sutherland Second to Who in the UK

24’s Jack Bauer has made it to the United Kingdom’s top ten most popular characters based on a recent survey. As a matter of fact, he lands in on the number two spot just next to David Tennant’s character Doctor Who. Looks like the acting efforts of Kiefer Sutherland have paid off significantly as he drastically gave life to his television character. No wonder he has won numerous awards and nominations from various award-giving bodies like the Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards, Screen Actor Guild Awards and Television Critics Association Awards among others.

For Doctor Who, its top ranking character is highly anticipated since the long-running British science fiction series has been fondly regarded since its premier in 1963. The same actually goes for 24’s Jack Bauer, even though the duration of the show has not yet surpassed Doctor Who, it has acquired massive fame and recognition over the past seven years.

Jack Bauer, personified by actor Kiefer Sutherland, is the protagonist of the popular series 24. Highly knowledgeable as a government agent, a member of the United States Army Delta Force, LADP SWAT and the Counter Terrorist Unit, he has distinctly established himself as a fierce defender of civilians and government officials. Apart from the great acting skills of Sutherland, what makes Jack Bauer stand out is his unique character plot.

Jack Bauer dives in a pool of action and thriller in a real-time setting environment with intricate complexities. And although most of his endeavors entail brutal and vicious violence and action-packed scenes, Jack Bauer has become one of the most popular and well-liked characters in the United States, and apparently in other parts of the world just like in the United Kingdom.

The recent poll, which appears to be reasonable at some point, includes some debatable names which seem to be quite outdated, and excludes other characters who appear to be more promising in terms of fame and popularity.

Read more: 24′s Kiefer Sutherland Second to Who in the UK

Casino games history or how people have learnt to count cards Part5.

Heroes of our Time.

What is the present situation in the sphere of war between the counters and players? Are there people to follow nowadays? Fortunately, despite great changes in the game itself and in the counteraction of casinos-players, blackjack is till alive and very popular. Thanks once again to Edward Thorp.
Now we are living in Internet era. If Uston at his time was able to stand apart from the crowd only due to his self-spin off and publicity, now everyone can easily communicate with blackjack stars.

Peter Griffin – is a great mathematician, blackjack theory developer, now the deceased. No expert of black jack would utter a word without referring to Griffin. Arnold Snider is a prominent player, strategy developer, the author of many books. A man of an excellent soul with a perfect sense of humor, always contradictory. Stanford Wong as always a little reserved and a bit of introvert, but extremely scrupulous and always fighting against the casino. Don Schlesinger was able to explain the most intricate detail of blackjack in simple and clear language.

Internet abounds in many resources where you can meet the greatest world players and ask them any question you like. There are still so many questions left unsolved.

A lot of unique books were published; new systems and game techniques are being developed. Every day gambling forums answer and ask thousands of questions. The players are getting more educated, intelligent and well-prepared. In spite of evident worsening of the rules, blackjack still can be won.

Casino is more and more paranoiac to “Advantageous” players. Attempts to worsen rules and terms of the game even to the prejudice of their own reputation and profits, mass blacklists, efforts to legalize beneficial for them laws – all these are not only American. During half-century of the struggle, the casinos did not understand that they are cutting their own throat. The fact that you can win at blackjack attracts so much money. More than 1% of world players are hardly of any risk to casinos. However aiming to save every single dollar, the casinos are spending millions of dollars on the most advanced computer technologies, programs for personality identification, computer databases, they are creating new devices for fighting the counters. Moral ethical norms are often violated and the legal limits are abused.

Happy end.

What future holds for an ordinary counter? There are only two opposite opinions so far.

The gloomy one:

Technologies will kill the game. The casinos will develop some electronic dirty trick that will not allow a professional competent player gain an advantage. Blackjack will die away turning into another slot-machine. The casinos will poke on all the players, all the blacklists will be united into a common one and the game on advantage will cease to exist.

The optimistic one:

“What one person has built, the other can easily dismantle”. Blackjack just can’t get away from it!

First, the players will always continue to invent something new responding to the changes in the game. There is no such thing created by a person, that can’t be overdone by another person. Second, casinos finally should realize that major part of their profits is due to the theory that blackjack can be won. Transformation of this intellectual game into fighting with stupid slot-machine will deprive casinos of the money.

Personally I hope that human intellect will win. Let the war between the casinos and players continue for ever. Let both parties rack their brains how to beat each other. Let this struggle be vehement, but honest and respectful to the rival.
Intellect will always win.

© Copyright 2006-2007 www.bonus-map.com

Read more: Casino games history or how people have learnt to count cards Part5.

Church Planting in Cambodia

A scarred past.

In Cambodia, a church might consist of 10 Christians gathered beneath a sugar palm, its trunk still bearing shrapnel scars from the battles that have been fought around it. Or it might be 40 worshippers who congregate in the house of a specially trained church planter.

In either case, Cambodian Christians cannot erase the deep scars that have been left by decades of brutal violence.

Years of atrocities and political turmoil have gouged out a spiritual void in the hearts of Cambodians. It is a void that the national religion of Buddhism, with its unattainable path to enlightenment, has failed to fill.

Picking up the shards

In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, Cambodia was left with socialist groups fighting for control. Millions of innocent people were executed, and civil war raged for decades.

Although a democratic government has begun with the help of the UN, the painful scars still remain. And the wounds reopen every time another mine explodes, planted years ago by the warring factions.

The vast majority of Cambodians have looked to Buddhist rites to try to heal their wounds. But Christians in Cambodia know that the peace their country aches for is a peace that only Jesus Christ can impart.

A different explosion

Eager to impart that peace to their fellow countrymen, Cambodian Christians are enthusiastically entering church planter training. And church growth is exploding.

Cambodia is the first Buddhist country in Southeast Asia to show such a mass movement toward accepting the Gospel message. In a country shrouded so long by Buddhism, it is remarkable to see hearts being opened, one by one, to the light of the truth.

The people of Cambodia are on their way to discovering that the only true refuge from turmoil and trouble is found in the saving blood of Jesus. And trained church planters long to shepherd them with an eternal, unshakable comfort.

Fire burns their heart

Cambodian Christians have a vision for their nation and a heart for the whole world. Fire burns in our heart! one pastor says. We long to bring our nation, every community, into His heavenly kingdom.

And God is using them to do just that. As they impact their communities with the love of Jesus, their nation is changing, one soul at a time. The body of Christ is growing, as local gatherings of believers are established in areas where there were no churches before. We are excited to be a part of what God is doing in Cambodia.

The Lord uses trained church planters here in Cambodia, another pastor explains. It is really a great help to our hungry nation and us. His living Word enables us to be fully fed, and will help us bring our whole nation to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ our Lord in the near future. May the Lord bless the workers to carry on this good ministry until we reach the whole world for Jesus. Amen!

The future for Cambodia

As more Cambodians are brought into fellowship with Jesus Christ and His Church, please pray for the shepherds who care for this tender new flock. Pray that God would call more Christians to labor in this teeming harvest field, as the indigenous church planting movement spreads throughout the country.

Read more: Church Planting in Cambodia

Paintings Of Cactus , Cactus Oil Paintings, Paintings Gifts

Cactus are one of the most distinctive and unusual plants on this planet. A cactus is very much liked as an ornamental plant. Some cactus are also used as crop plants. A cactus is a member of the succulent plant family Cactaceae. Cactus paintings are greatly appreciated as the best decorative paintings.The Cactus paintings are recognized for their diversity and excellence in the art form. These lovely looking cactus paintings also serve as the resource center for all aspects of decorative painting.

Cactus paintings provide immense pleasure with their charming look. In addition to their beauty, these cactus paintings also are meaningful. Some Cactus paintings are sign of happiness. Glowing with warmth and life, a cactus rises on a green hillside with blue mountains in the background. Singing sparrows alight on the bright branches.

Another highly decorative cactus painting is ‘A Light in the Darkness’ in which the pristine beauty of white petals is intensified by the night’s dark veil. Soft and lovely, two flowers emerge from a thorny green cactus. ‘Uyuni Salt Lake’ is one of the famous cactus painting. The scene of this cactus painting is classical in which Barren mountains slope toward a sparkling expanse of white, their rugged slopes revealing an eerie beauty. Cactus covers the dry hillside like lonely sentinels.

Catus grow in the extremely arid and hot environments. The Cactus preserve water in their well developed anatomical and physiological features. Their stems have expanded into green succulent structures containing the chlorophyll necessary for life and growth. Cactus are very well known for the spines which are developed from their leaves. There are wide range of shapes and sizes of Cactus. Cactus’s sizes range from small and round to pole-like and tall. Pachycereus pringlei is the tallest. It has a maximum recorded height of 19.2 m while Blossfeldia liliputiana is the smallest. It is only about 1 cm diameter at maturity.

Cactus flowers are unique and are lovely looking. These are large and arise from areoles like the spines and branches. As many cactus species are pollinated by nocturnal insects or small animals, principally moths, bats, and sheep, they are night blooming.

Please visit our website at www.paintingsgifts4u.com and click the section of the Cactus Oil paintings. You can decorate your homes, offices and places of your work with these lovely looking Oil Paintings of Cactus . You can get these Cactus Oil paintings of your choice just by selecting the Model number of the Cactus Oil Painting from our Website or by sending the Photo of your required image. Our highly skilled artists can also reproduce the Cactus Oil paintings as per your given photo. Just Click Cactus Oil Paintings Link on our website and contact us at : info@paintingsgifts4u.com for your inquiry. You may also get special Discounts in prices by placing Orders of large quantity.

For more information visit http://www.paintingsgifts4u.com/asp/paintings-of-cactus.asp

Read more: Paintings Of Cactus , Cactus Oil Paintings, Paintings Gifts

On-line casinos for those who like Black Jack

Real casinos provide Black Jack players with different sets of rules plus different bonuses. Can on-line casinos compete with real casinos in respect of game variety? Normally, every on-line casino has Black Jack with its sets of rules. For example, casinos with Microgaming and Cryptologic software offer players up to eight different variations of rules. However, some on-line casinos offer various special games based on Black Jack rules. You will find interesting to familiarize and try these games, moreover the advantages of casinos compared to them are very weak.

Double exposure Black Jack

Double exposure Black Jack is available in Microgaming and RTG software on-line casinos. In this kind of Black Jack both cards of a dealer are dealt face up to compensate this advantage of the player, the dealer wins all ties except for Black Jack. The rest of the game based on the rules of Black Jack, and variations may exist in respect of the number of splits, combinations allowed to double, etc.

The advantage of casinos with the standard rules of this game is about 0.7%.

Pontoon

Pontoon is available in Cryptologic and RTG software on-line casinos. In contrast to ordinary Black Jack the player has much more opportunities to double plus the rule of five cards with double paying works out, on the other hand, the dealer’s cards are dealt face down therefore indefiniteness rises and ties are not in the favour of the dealer. More detailed rules of the game are the following: The is played with pack of 52 cards, the nominal value of cards is the same as in Black Jack. The hierarchy of combinations is the following:

1. Pontoon (the same as Black Jack);
2. Five cards combination (five cards without bust);
3. Combination of cards comprising not more than 21 points, the closer to 21 the better
4. Bust (more than 21 points);

The dealer deals two cards face up to the player and two cards to himself face down with pontoon check. The game of the dealer is the same as his game in Black Jack: he should take up to 17 and remain on 5 cards or over 16 (except for soft 17).

The player has more opportunities: splits are left enabling to one re-split. An opportunities arises for doubling with any quantity of cards, at the same time, the player can continue to buy even after doubling. In contrast to Black Jack the player should buy a card (double) while having not less than 15 points.

As in Black Jack after taking cards the player and dealer compare hands. If the player has extra cards, he loses the game automatically. Pontoon or Five cards combination in case of gain is paid 2:1, other winning combinations are paid 1:1. In case of a tie the dealer wins. There is no insurance or by-bets.

With the game based on optimal strategy which is simpler than that of Black Jack. The total advantage of on-line casinos is 0.17%.

Caribbean 21

Caribbean 21 is so far available only in RTG software on-line casinos. The is played with one pack of cards, in contrast to Black Jack:

1. Ace is always one point;
2. The combination of an ace and two 10 points cards is called Caribbean 21 and is paid 3:2 to the player for the primary bet (but not for the double bets);
3. The player can double on any cards as many times as he wants after doubling it is possible to buy several times;
4. The player can split any two cards;
5. The player can give in at any time at the same time losing the half of available bets;
6. The dealer wins all ties;
7. Initially the dealer deals himself only one card face up;
8. If the dealer has an open ace, the player can have Caribbean 21 insurance, the insurance is paid 9:1

With the game based on optimal strategy advantage of on-line casinos is not more than 0.2%.

Spanish 21

Spanish 21 is so far available only in RTG software on-line casinos.

The game is played with six-eight “Spanish” packs of cards, 10 are removed from a pack (only 10s, queens, jacks and kings are left). As the less quantity of 10s in a pack is in favour the dealer, the player has the following bonuses:

1. 21 of the player always wins, as well as Black Jack of the player beats Black Jack of the dealer;
2. The player can double with any number of cards;
3. The player can double and buy after split of aces;
4. The player can give in after doubling;
5. 5-cards 21s are paid 3:2;
6. 6-cards 21s are paid 3:1;
7. 6-7-8 and 7-7-7 different suits are paid 3:2, of the same suits are paid 2:1 and spades are paid 3:1;

With the game based on optimal strategy advantage of on-line casinos is not more than 0.4%.

Super Fun 21

Super Fun 21 can only be found in RTG and Microgaming software on-line casinos. The game has a range of positive differences from standard Black Jack in favour of the player, to compensate it casinos pay Black Jack to the player 1:1. The difference is the following:

1. The player can split up to 4 times;
2. It is possible to double with any number of cards, including after split;
3. After split of aces it is possible to split, buy and double them;
4. The player can give in at any time of the game for a half of a bet (including after split);
5. 20 or less points of the player with 6 cards win automatically if there were no splits;
6. 21 points with 5 cards are paid 2:1 if there were no splits;
7. Black Jack always wins;
8. Black Jack of diamonds is paid 2:1 (all the rest are paid 1:1)

With the game based on these rules the advantage of on-line casinos is not more than 0.75%.

Black Jack Switch

Black Jack Switch is available in PlayTech software on-line casinos

In contrast to the standard Black Jack the player makes two similar bets and he gets at the same time two hands, the dealer gets two ordinary cards. The player can switch upper cards between hands (for example in one hand we have 6, 10 and in the other hand we have 10 and 5. We change place of 10 and 5 and we get instead of two bad hands two good hands: 6,5 and 10,10). The basic rules are the same as in standard Black Jack: there is doubling on two cards, one split and it is possible to double after split. To compensate the change advantage of the player the dealer gets the following bonuses:

1. The dealer does not make Black Jack check;
2. Black Jack of the player is paid 1:1;
3. If the dealer gathers 22, it is considered a tie against any not fired hand of the player, except for Black Jack;

The basic strategy of the game is rather complicated, however, if the player follows these rules, he diminishes the advantage of on-line casinos to 0.05%.

©Copyright 2006-2007 www.bonus-map.com

Read more: On-line casinos for those who like Black Jack

Thompson’s minute music lessons – music and sound waves

As you know, there are a lot of vibrations in the world, a lot of waves. Music itself is a series of wave vibrations. We will hone in on music a little later, but first: how many kinds of wave vibrations can you name? Think about it for a minute. For instance, an X-Ray is a wave vibration. Can you name three others? Four? There are 9 forms all together, listed in the next paragraph.

The nine forms of waves are as follows: sound waves, radio waves, microwaves, infared waves, visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays, gamma rays, and cosmic waves. How did you do? I could only name about three of them before I started research for this article, so don’t feel to bad if you could only name one or two. And if you named all nine – congratulations! You should have written this instead of me!

Okay, next question. There are two different classes of waves – compressional and transverse. Do you have any idea what the difference is? Here’s a hint – it has to do with how the waves travel. Think about it for a second – the answer is in the next paragraph.

Compressional waves require a medium to travel through, while transverse waves do not. Sound complicated? Not really. Sound waves are compressional – they have to travel through a medium, and can’t travel through a vacuum. You know that old saying, “In outer space, no one can hear you scream”? It’s true – sound waves have to travel through something, and there is nothing for sound to travel through in outer space. Sound waves can travel through the mediums of air, water, and even solids. (Have you ever seen one of those old cowboy movies where the Indians put their ear to the ground to hear how far away the bad guys were? The sound waves were traveling through a solid, the ground.) Of the 9 kinds of waves listed above, only sound waves are compressional – only sound waves require a medium to travel through. The rest are transverse, which means that they can travel anywhere, even through outer space, without any problem. They don’t need something to travel through.

The purpose of this article is to help you understand the sound waves that comprise music a little better, but before we get there, I have one more thought experiment for you. How fast do the different kinds of waves travel?

The answer is: the speed of light for transverse waves and “a lot slower” for compressional waves. Have you ever been at a baseball game and seen the batter swing, waited a few seconds, and then heard the crack of the bat? That is because the sound wave, a compressional wave, was traveling through air, at a fairly slow speed. The image of the batter was traveling much faster, at the speed of light, so it reached your eyes several seconds before the sound wave reached your ears. Sound travels around 775 miles per hour; transverse waves travel at around 670,000,000 miles per hour. So light travels about 865,000 times faster than sound. That’s about the difference in speed between a snail and an airplane, to put it in terms that are easier to visualize. Imagine a slug racing a Boeing 747 and you can visualize the difference in speed between sound and light.

Read more: Thompson’s minute music lessons – music and sound waves

Playing poker more than one table simultaneously.

Taking into account that we shall play not more than 30% of deals on average, and even out of those in 50% of cases you will fold on the flop, not really much time is left for an active game. Surely, a good player will never consider free time wasted, he will gave it to watching his opponents, defining their style of playing a game, their advantages and vulnerabilities. All that is undoubtedly important in playing offline or at a high-limit game where even slightest detail is essential to a winning playing.

However, when playing a low-limit game, the level of opponents frequently is quite low to play artlessly and quite winningly. Furthermore, special programs may help player to get some information about opponents online, so that less time may be occupied by personal analysis. Consequently, if you are armed with relevant software assistants (read below) and play better than most of your opponents, you may try to play more that one table simultaneously.

Absolute majority of poker rooms allow opening several poker tables, but even if that prohibited, you may open several poker rooms. You may move between tables opened on a screen without overlapping.

It is understood that you should play on two tables if you are sure that you can win on one of the table paying less attention to it. If you can on two tables, you may add one more and so on. Sometimes on gambling forums you would meet most desperate gamblers who are able “to serve” up to eight tables. For sure it is too many. When you move to a large number of tables, you should expect some degradation of results because of lower concentration. Nevertheless, if on one table you win four bets, on two tables you will three bets per table and the total win will increase one and a half, so the game is worth the candle.

If you remember, disconnects in online casino are not dangerous as your bet is stored and you will be able to play it later. In poker room you are unable to play a deal later as you are not playing along. Therefore, there is created insider disconnect protection in online poker rooms. First of all, in the event of disconnect, the player, as a rule, is given some additional time to act. If disconnect during such period is not renewed, it is considered as the player goes all-in with the chips put into the pot by him. In this case the pot is divided in two parts: main pot is a pot that includes all chips put before disconnect (and before one player involuntary went all-in). The second part of the pot is a side pot that includes the chips put by other players upon equalising all-in bet. If a player with disconnect has the best combination, he receives the main pot, and the side pot goes to a player with the second best hand. Otherwise, the player with the best combination takes both pots.

Unfortunately, some players can pretend disconnects in dangerous for them situations trying to protect their investments into the pot. Most often such situation happens in no-limit poker. For example, you have the highest set on the flop, you raise the bets actively and have also the best combination on the turn, the pot is very high, but suddenly for the river you have the third or fourth community card, and your opponent goes all-in. The pot is huge and you must respond not less. What should you do? You do not want to risk large amount of money in order to check if your opponent has gathered a straight, however, it distresses you to give the hardly built pot. There is another way – to disconnect. In such a case you do not need to respond to the opponent‘s bet and if your combination is better, you will get the whole all-in. It is understood that such actions are unethical at least, and they are prohibited in all poker rooms. That is why the number of all-ins in disconnects is limited (usually from one a day to several a week). Players with often disconnects are being checked, and their actions become suspicious, such players may be deprived of disconnect protection at all. As the benefit of false disconnects in limit poker is much smaller, many poker rooms provide protection only on the limit or add special tables without protection on the no-limit and pot-limit. There is no disconnect protection in tournaments at all.

©Copyright 2006-2007 www.bonus-map.com

Read more: Playing poker more than one table simultaneously.

Zyprexa Lawsuit Cash Advance – No-Risk Lawsuit Loan

Plaintiffs involved in pharmaceuticals lawsuits like Zyprexa and Fen-phen etc, can now get Lawsuit cash advances. 99% of plaintiffs involved in lawsuits do not realize they can get cash advance while they are waiting for their settlement money.

Zyprexa (olanzapine) is a second generation or atypical antipsychotic medication produced by Eli Lilly and company. Zyprexa was FDA approved for the short-term treatment of acute manic episodes in bipolar disorder.

In 2003 the FDA required that the class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotic, including Zyprexa, include warnings about increased risk to patients of development of diabetes and hyperglycemia. In 2004, a federal prosecutor announced an investigation of Eli Lilly, in relation to the techniques it has used to market Zyprexa.

To date, over 16 million people have used this drug. The FDA has identified there have been 384 reports of diabetes Zyprexa side effects, including 23 deaths. There have been many questions regarding the popular drug Zyprexa and its safety. The potentially fatal Zyprexa side effects have resulted in Zyprexa lawsuits.

A risk free source of legal finance is now available for plaintiffs involved in Zyprexa or other pharmaceutical lawsuits. It is called lawsuit funding or often referred as Lawsuit loans, Lawsuit funding, Legal finance, or a Personal injury settlement, but these are not loans because the money does not have to be paid back unless the case is won or settled.

Pharmaceutical drug litigation can take years to settle, which can be a problem if they are sick or are unable to work. They can have a solid pharmaceutical drug litigation claim and a strong legal team, but the drug companies have deep pockets.

It does not seem fair for the plaintiffs, that even if they have won their Zyprexa litigation, the money they get may come too late. They need money now. Most of the plaintiffs, because of their health conditions have missed work or lost their jobs. They can no longer meet their mortgage/ rent or car payments. Many of them may be one or two payments away from foreclosures. They may be in need of medical treatments. They need to pay education expenses of their children.

These are some genuine reasons for plaintiffs to go ahead and secure a lawsuit funding. I believe if a Zyprexa plaintiff is in dire financial straits, it may be appropriate to obtain a lawsuit loan, but from a good company only.

Read more: Zyprexa Lawsuit Cash Advance – No-Risk Lawsuit Loan

Poker online. Playing poker in internet.

We will not talk about benefits of playing in internet before offline playing, but we will see what advantages/disadvantages, specifics has the poker online.

Unlike offline poker, online poker playing sessions usually are much shorter, players at the table are changing very often, rarely a player plays more than one-two hours in a row. As a result, the players do not have time to determine opponents playing style, it is hard to have a reputation for a short period of time. It is impossible to understand when the raise in flop was made by maniac and it is possible to re-raise or by tighter and it is better to drop. The same is for reaction on your actions. By default, it is expected from a new player that he is middle adequate, but the majority will want to check your raise, so you have to bluff carefully.

One more distinction of online poker is the fact that nobody can see each other opponents and there are no real poker chips. There is no need for the online players to care about saving “poker face” – no need to worry that the look, sweat on the forehead or trembling hand will show up your bluff. Sometimes to move the pack of chips at the table is morally harder than to click the mouse. These factors influence online poker players behaviour resulting into more tricky and risky. Players bluff more often, more slowplay, check-raise etc.

Finally, online poker players often are not concentrated on the game. Somebody watches TV, talks on the phone or checks e-mails at the same time. Somebody is playing 2-3 tables simultaneously. It means that minimum attention is devoted to the game. Online players often look at the table only when they are playing themselves. it is clear that this is not the best practice, the more time is devoted to the game, the better you you’re your opponents, the better are your odds for success.

The abovementioned specifics of online poker allows to give the following recommendations:

1. Try to take away all distracting factors and devote all your time to the game with the purpose to “crack” your opponents more quickly.

2. Do not rely on your image, it is just impossible to be made. Do not rely that your bluffing raise will pass only because you have been playing tight for the last hour.

3. Do not be easily infatuated by poker tricks. In online poker the opponent plays according to the strength of his cards first of all, not thinking too much about your cards, so it is not necessarily that slowplay will bring you additional benefit, and bluff also is not often successful.

One more specific of online poker relates not to the psychology of the game, but to the internet – opportunity of disconnection of the player during the game. So that the player would not lose money because of the this, majority of poker rooms while disconnection make disconnect all-in. It means that the player’s cards shall not be dropped, but it is considered as the player has gone all-in on the amount of the made bets. Once the player goes all-in, a side pot is created, and the all-in player can only win the portion of the pot that was present at the time the player went all-in. The remaining money of the pot are played between the remaining players (the same approach applies while ordinary all-in). The number of all-ins is limited to 1-2 per day, if the player abuses this opportunity (generates all-in when he does not intend to bet much money), he may be deprived of all-ins.

© Copyright 2006-2007 www.bonus-map.com

Read more: Poker online. Playing poker in internet.

BlackJack.Conditions are getting worse, but the way to win will always remain.

One of the best ways of foreseeing the future is to understand the human nature. Our needs, hopes, problems and dreams are often the basis for our future making. The nature of the human being is one of the most important ingredients in a complicated gambling business. Each of the parties – a casino and a gambler, long to win money from each other. And the growing strain will determine the future of the game.

Blackjack before 1962:
Before publication of the classic book “Beat The Dealer” by Edward O. Thorp in 1962 no single player had ever suspected of such a thing as the Basic Strategy. Everyone used one’s own mixture of superstitions concerning the way in which one or the other hand had to play. Plus, some experience gained while playing at home in the kitchen. Excluding a small number of professional card-players who intuitively presupposed that their overbalance would be more if there were more bowers left in a pack, practically none won in blackjack. Naturally, casinos felt quite comfortable under such conditions. Till 1962 blackjack was not very popular, though percentagewise the profit rate was exclusively high.

The next decade: from 1962 till 1972:
After publication of the book by Thorp the situation changed radically. When the book mounted the peak of sales, became a bestseller, and the professor Thorp became an internationally famous personality, casinos were terrified that thus everyone could learn the system of Thorp and would start beating casinos winning huge amounts of money.

The results of this panic are well-known. The majority of casinos cardinally changed the blackjack rules creating even a larger overbalance in comparison with the previous set of rules. These introductions were effective a few weeks only as the majority of casinos’ clients simply refused to play a game with such bad rules. Subordinating to the law of supply and demand casinos had to quickly restore traditional rules for all. After this gamblers started immediately to play again, more than that in considerably larger quantities.

The popularity of Thorp’s book played into the hands of casinos. Blackjack started to attract crowds of people who thought they could “beat a dealer” only after they had read one book.

But the fact remained that casinos’ visitors continued to lose the same amounts of money while playing blackjack as before. Only the number of gamblers increased a hundred times. The majority of those who had read the book simply didn’t understand the way the calculation of tens given in the book worked, and those who got to the bottom didn’t take enough pains so as to master the system of calculation from A to Z. Casinos observed in surprise the incredibly increased profits.

Reedition of the book in 1966 gave a reader a simpler calculation system. Over that period of time a number of books on blackjack were published. The game gathered pace. Casinos were setting more and more tables. Blackjack was becoming the most popular game in casinos having outrun the previous leader craps.

Blackjack of the 70s:
The classic book “Playing Blackjack as a Business” by Lawrence Revere is responsible for further increase in popularity of the game in the 70s to a great extent. Revere published a shortened version of his systems at the beginning of 1969, but by 1972 already thousands of copies of the book were sold out. Revere republished an extended version of the book offering his simple and effective systems of the game which increased blackjack popularity even more.

Also the book “Winning Blackjack” by Stanley Roberts, was in the right place at the right time, in addition the author appeared in a number of radio and TV-shows. Roberts invested a considerable amount of money into advertising of his book making a splash.

Casinos were once again overcome by the fit of paranoia. They started to suspect that the systems developed with the help of research methods could considerably influence their profits. Casinos started to introduce a multi-pack blackjack instead of a one-pack blackjack to struggle against the system game.

At the beginning of the 70s a lot of scientists, mathematicians, university professors and other “intellectuals” started to write books about blackjack. Some of them developed their own cards’ calculation systems. One of the most popular and effective systems – Hi-Opt I, was developed in 1974 with the help of computer programs created by Julian Brown with participation of an anonymous postgraduate of a large Canadian university.

A lot of professional gamblers transferred from the Revere system to the Hi-Opt I system because of the relative simplicity and effectiveness of the latter one. A lot of ordinary gamblers started to use the system together with the basic strategy. These two systems evidently made the biggest impact upon casinos’ profits because of their use by professionals. Roberts’ systems were more often used by amateurs.

Kenneth Uston, teams and Great Horror:
Kenneth Uston noticed sometime at the end of 1976 that he was amazed by the way how effective the simplest systems of Hi-Opt I type could be. In Uston’s book “Big Player“the way how Uston and his companions won together more than a million of dollars playing blackjack is described. Later on his teams transferred from very complicated systems to the simplest of Hi-Opt I type. Uston was thrown out of a few big casinos of Las Vegas, and he filed lawsuit against them for a total amount of 80 million dollars.

With the arrival of Uston the whole new era of blackjack began. Casinos were once again frightened that teams could win huge amounts of money in blackjack. Nearly at once some casinos did away with a one- and two-pack blackjack transferring to 4-, 6- and 8-pack ones. For an average gambler blackjack became too difficult. Plus, casinos started to cut most cards out of play – to two packs. As has been mentioned by Roberts in one of his articles, such practice was at the very least doubtful. By the way, the fact itself of availability of cards which didn’t enter the game caused new kinds of crooked gambling connected with withdrawal and addition of cards.

Casinos up to now change the number of packs and the extent of cutting, and compare levels of profits, thus balancing rules. In any case, rules are extremely difficult for gamblers in the USA, especially beginners.

The nightmare continues:
The funniest thing is that gamblers’ thoughts are not rigid. Uston’s teams were followed by Keith Taft with his pocket computer for blackjack which played better than any profs in the world. The court of Nevada State broke the record of the USA on the quickness of adoption of statute on use of computers in casinos. Up to five years with confiscation in the current situation, though Taft and his advocates were sure of the unconstitutionality of that law.

Forbade the computer? There appeared Tommy Hyland and his most complicated systems of tracking. A new headache for casinos… To worsen the cutting, introduce more packs and make the procedure of riffle even longer. To invent shuffle-machines!

Stanford Wong was the first to outwit these shuffle-machines. The most important thing was to know how they worked. Poor casinos didn’t know what to do. These machines cost rather a lot.

Perhaps new varieties would help? Spanish 21, Super-fan 21, 6:5 blackjack, “Open” blackjack, Blackjack-switch, Pontoon… With every introduction there was one problem: either no one played it at all or profs immediately found the way to beat it. Tournaments? Old Wong created teams especially for tournament struggle. Every new rule was calculated and intensively looked into a week in advance. The development of the Internet caused quick information distribution.

Further on the whole pleiad of gamblers of the contemporary generation came on stage. Wong, Sneider, Anderson, Dogerty, Shlesinger and heaps of people who were occupied with theory and practical aspects of the game. Mathematical models of the game were worked out. Texts on Blackjack were published in scientific reviews.

Finally, up to the present moment a small number of professionals still win in blackjack. And will win in the future. Some profs transfer to more complicated systems which are plentiful (let’s say, Hi-Opt II was published as far back as 1976). New methods and techniques are being developed.

There is no doubt that it will get still more and more difficult to win in blackjack. However, there difficulties only make gambling wits work harder and harder. Right away new game systems are being worked out in many heads and at many computers of the world.

It is important to understand that gamblers always have a hope. They can change games. They can finally read a textbook on the theory of probability. They can read the same books themselves. They can spend even more money on the newest technologies. However, I assure You, there will always be a way to beat them.

© Copyright 2006-2007 www.bonus-map.com

Read more: BlackJack.Conditions are getting worse, but the way to win will always remain.

Online casinos. Mathematics of Bonuses.

Online casino players know that the latter ones offer various bonuses. “Free-load” looks attractive, however, are they really useful these bonuses? Are they profitable for gamblers? The answer to this question depends on a lot of conditions. Mathematics will help us answer this question.

Let’s begin with an ordinary bonus on deposit: you transfer $100 and obtain $100 more, which it will be possible to get having staked $3000. It is a typical example of bonus on the first deposit. The sizes of a deposit and bonus can be different, as well as the required stake rates, but one thing remains unchangeable – the amount of the bonus is accessible for withdrawal after the required wager. Till this moment it is impossible to withdraw money, as a rule.

If you are going to play in the online casino for a long time and rather insistently, this bonus will help you, it can really be considered free money. If you play slots with 95% pay-outs, a bonus will allow you to make on average extra 2000 $ of stakes ($100/(1-0,95)=$2000), after that the amount of bonus will be over. But there can be complications, for example, if you simply want to have a look at a casino, without playing for a long time, if you prefer roulette or other games, forbidden by casinos’ rules for winning back bonuses. In the majority of casinos you won’t be allowed to withdraw money or will simply return a deposit, if a wager is not made on the games allowed in the casino. If you are keen on roulette or blackjack, and a bonus can be won back only by playing slots, make the required $3000 of stakes, in the course of 95% of pay-outs you will lose on average $3000*(1-0,95)=$150. As you see, you not only lose the bonus but also take out of your pocket $50, in this case it is better to refuse the bonus. Anyway, if blackjack and poker are allowed for winning back the bonus with a casino’s profit only about 0,5%, so it can be expected that after winning back the bonus you will have $100-3000*0,005=$85 of the casino’s money.

The “sticky” or “phantom” bonuses:
More and more popularity in casinos is gained by “sticky” or “phantom” bonuses – the equivalent of lucky chips in real casinos. The amount of bonus is impossible to withdraw, it must remain on the account (as if it “has stuck” to it), until it is completely lost, or annulled on the first withdrawal of cash means (disappears like a phantom). At first sight it may seem that there is little sense in such a bonus – you won’t get money anyway, but it’s not completely true. If you win, then there is really no point in the bonus, but if you have lost, it may be of use to you. Without a bonus you have lost your $100 and that’s it, bye-bye. But with a bonus, even if it is a “sticky” one, $100 are still on your account, which can help you worm out of the situation. A possibility to win back the bonus in this case is a bit less than 50% (for that you only need to stake the entire amount on the chances in roulette). In order to maximize profits from “sticky” bonuses one needs to use the strategy “play-an-all-or-nothing game”. Really, if you play little stakes, you will slowly and surely lose because of the negative math expectancy in games, and the bonus will only prolong agony, and won’t help you win. Clever gamblers usually try to realize their bonuses quickly – somebody stakes the entire amount on chances, in the hope to double it (just imagine, you stake all $200 on chances, with a probability of 49% you’ll win neat $200, with a probability of 51% you’ll lose your $100 and $100 of the bonus, that is to say, a stake has positive math expectancy for you $200*0,49-$100*0,51=$47), some people use progressive strategies of Martingale type. It is recommended to fix the desired amount of your gain, for example $200, and try to win it, taking risks. If you have contributed a deposit in the amount of $100, obtained “sticky” $150 and plan to enlarge the sum on your account up to $500 (that is to win $250), then a probability to achieve your aim is (100+150)/500=50%, at this the desired real value of the bonus for you is (100+150)/500*(500-150)-100=$75 (you can substitute it for your own figures, but, please, take into account that the formulas are given for games with zero math expectancy, in real games the results will be lower).

The cash back bonus:
There is a seldom encountered variant of a bonus, namely return of loosing. There can be singled out two variants – the complete return of the lost deposit, at this the returned money usually is to be won back like with an ordinary bonus, or a partial return (10-25%) of the loosing over the fixed period (a week, a month). In the first case the situation is practically identical to the case with a “sticky” bonus – if we win, there is no point in the bonus, but it helps in case of losing. Math calculations will be also analogous to the “sticky” bonus and the strategy of the game is similar – we risk, try to win as much as possible. If we are not lucky and we have lost, we can play with the help of the returned money, already minimizing the risk. Partial return of the losing for an active gambler can be regarded as an insignificant advantage of casinos in games. If you play blackjack with math expectancy – 0,5%, then, having made stakes on $10 000, you will lose on average $50. With 20% of return $10 will be given back to you, that is you losing will amount to $40, which is equivalent to the increase in math expectancy up to 0,4% (ME with return=theoretical ME of the game * (1-% of return). However, from the given bonus can also be derived benefit, for that you need to play less. We make only one but a high stake, for example $100, on the same stakes in roulette. In 49% of cases again we win $100, and 51% – we lose $100, but at the end of the month we get back our 20% that is $20. As a result the effect is $100*0,49-($100-$20)*0,51=$8,2. As you see, the stake then has positive math expectancy, but dispersion is big for we’ll be able to play this way rather seldom – once a week or even once a month.

I will allow myself a short remark, slightly digressing from the main subject. On a casino forum one of the gamblers started to claim that tournaments were not fair, arguing it in the following way: “No normal person will ever make a single stake within the last 10 minutes of the tournament, which 3,5-fold surpasses the prize amount ($100), in nomination of a maximal losing, so as to win. What is the point?”

And really does it make sense? The situation is very similar to the variant with return of losing. If a stake has won – we are already in the black. If it has lost – we’ll get a tournament prize of $100. So, the math expectancy of the above-mentioned stake amounting to $350 is: $350*0,49-($350-$100)*0,51=$44. Yes, we may lose $250 today, but shall win $350 tomorrow, and over a year playing every day, we’ll accumulate pretty 365*$44=$16 000. Having solved a simple equation, we’ll find out that stakes up to $1900 are profitable for us! Of course, for such a game we need to have thousands of dollars on our account, but we certainly can’t blame casinos for dishonesty or gamblers for being foolish.

Let’s come back to our bonuses, to the most “free-load” ones- without any deposit. Of late one has been able to notice more and more advertisements promising up to $500 absolutely free of charge, without any deposit. The pattern is the following – you really get $500 on a special account and limited time for play (usually an hour). After an hour you get only the amount of your gain, but still not more than $500. The gain is transferred on a real account where you must win it back, like any bonus, usually having run it 20 times in slots. $500 free –it sounds attractive, but what is the real price of the bonus? Well, the first part – you need to win $500. Using a simplified formula, we can see that probability of winning is 50% (in practice, it is certainly even smaller). The second part – we win the bonus back, you need to stake $10 000 in slots. We don’t know the rates of pay-outs in slots, they are not published by casinos and make up on average about 95% (for various kinds they fluctuate about 90-98%). If we get at an average slot, then till the end of the wager we’ll have $500-10 000*0,05=$0 on our account , not a bad game… If we are lucky to choose a slot with high pay-outs, we can await $500-10 000*0,02=$300. Even though the probability to choose a slot with high pay-outs is 50% (you have listened to the opinions of other gamblers since by random choice this probability will make up hardly more than 10-20%, for there are few generous slots), in this case the value of a generous deposit free bonus amounts to $300*0,5*0,5=$75. Much less than $500, but still not too bad, though we can see that even with the most optimal suppositions the final amount of the bonus has decreased seven-fold.

I hope, this excursion into mathematics domain of bonuses will be of use to gamblers – if you want to win, you simply need to think a little and make calculations.
© Copyright 2006-2007 www.bonus-map.com

Read more: Online casinos. Mathematics of Bonuses.

The mathematical theory of gambling games.

Despite all the obvious popularity of games of dice among the majority of social strata of various nations during several millennia and up to the XVth century, it is interesting to note the absence of any evidence of the idea of statistical correlations and probability theory. The French humanist of the XIIIth century Richard de Furnival was said to be the author of a poem in Latin, one of fragments of which contained the first of known calculations of the number of possible variants at the chuck-and luck (there are 216). Earlier in 960 Willbord the Pious invented a game, which represented 56 virtues. The player of this religious game was to improve in these virtues, according to the ways in which three dice can turn out in this game irrespective of the order (the number of such combinations of three dice is actually 56). However, neither Willbord, nor Furnival ever tried to define relative probabilities of separate combinations. It is considered that the Italian mathematician, physicist and astrologist Jerolamo Cardano was the first to conduct in 1526 the mathematical analysis of dice. He applied theoretical argumentation and his own extensive game practice for the creation of his own theory of probability. He counseled pupils how to make bets on the basis of this theory. Galileus renewed the research of dice at the end of the XVIth century. Pascal did the same in 1654. Both did it at the urgent request of hazardous players who were vexed by disappointment and big expenses at dice. Galileus’ calculations were exactly the same as those, which modern mathematics would apply. Thus, science about probabilities at last paved its way. The theory has received the huge development in the middle of the XVIIth century in manuscript of Christiaan Huygens’ «De Ratiociniis in Ludo Aleae» («Reflections Concerning Dice»). Thus the science about probabilities derives its historical origins from base problems of gambling games.

Before the Reformation epoch the majority of people believed that any event of any sort is predetermined by the God’s will or, if not by the God, by any other supernatural force or a definite being. Many people, maybe even the majority, still keep to this opinion up to our days. In those times such viewpoints were predominant everywhere.

And the mathematical theory entirely based on the opposite statement that some events can be casual (that is controlled by the pure case, uncontrollable, occurring without any specific purpose) had few chances to be published and approved. The mathematician M.G.Candell remarked that «the mankind needed, apparently, some centuries to get used to the idea about the world in which some events occur without the reason or are defined by the reason so remote that they could with sufficient accuracy be predicted with the help of causeless model». The idea of purely casual activity is the foundation of the concept of interrelation between accident and probability.

Equally probable events or consequences have equal odds to take place in every case. Every case is completely independent in games based on the net randomness, i.e. every game has the same probability of obtaining the certain result as all others. Probabilistic statements in practice applied to a long succession of events, but not to a separate event. «The law of the big numbers» is an expression of the fact that the accuracy of correlations being expressed in probability theory increases with growing of numbers of events, but the greater is the number of iterations, the less frequently the absolute number of results of the certain type deviates from expected one. One can precisely predict only correlations, but not separate events or exact amounts.

© Copyright 2006-2007 www.bonus-map.com

Read more: The mathematical theory of gambling games.

Finding A Sheikh

“The qualities, actions, and conduct of a true Sheikh will be that of God. He will not do his work for money, hunger, house or wealth. His wealth, his health, his life and his nourishment are God. The search for God will be his only quest. How does this Sheikh, this man of wisdom, attain his connection to God? He establishes complete faith in God. His faith is unwavering with no doubt or suspicion. It is firm, unshakable, iman-faith. Through this faith, he feeds on God’s qualities. He imbibes God’s actions, conduct, demeanor, and virtues, thus disappearing and dying in God. Through this death he attains wellness. How does this happen? As soon as he disappears, God transforms his qualities and give him wellness through divine qualities. Karma, arrogance, selfishness, pride, and jealousy are transformed into God’s qualities. He is given that wellness.

He will acquire God’s love, His virtues, His patience, His forbearance, His equanimity, and His three thousand gracious qualities. He adopts God’s attributes that are manifest as ninety-nine qualities in action (wilayats). Because his is surrendered to God and merges with Him, he attains these qualities.

Just as the tree transformed the air, God transforms the Sheikh and liberates his soul. He receives that wellness. In his qualities and wisdom, God’s beauty and fragrance will be present. Just as fragrance permeates a flower, God permeates his inner heart. The Sheikh merges into God’s beauty, and God’s beauty merges into the beautiful inner heart of the Sheikh, like a fragrance. The two exist as the fragrance and the flower.

A Sheikh will have this manner of faith.

He will merge with God and attain

this wellness, this beauty, and this fragrance.

If you arrive at that state,

have the same belief, certainty, and determination,

have the same doubt-free intentions,

have the faith that does not say

one thing on the outside and another on the inside,

and intermingle with the Sheikh

as the fish intermingles with water,

then the Sheikh will wash and cleanse your dirt

with waver after wave of wisdom.

He will transform your qualities

He will change your karma,

your actions, and your thoughts

and give you the wellness he received from God.

He will take your airs,

lay open and purify them with wisdom,

wash them with love,

and cleanse them with patience and inner patience,

giving you strength and peaceful wisdoms.

This will give you wellness and happiness.

It will transform your blackened air,

change your karmic air,

and change your arrogance, karma and maya,

giving you beauty and qualities

that bring forth peace, freedom, and soul-liberation.

It will grant you the state

wherein you liberate your soul and live.

When you associate with a Sheikh, this state should be entrenched in you. You should surrender to him with iman—absolute faith, certitude, and determination. This faith is surrender. Establish certitude with the wisdom and strength of this faith, and when you attain this state, you can receive the benefits. Only then can there be change.

There are different kinds of trees; some make you well and others make you ill. If you stand beside a tamarind tree or a wood-apple tree, they could make you sick. They contain the five elements, sourness, and certain kinds of air that can change your health.

My precious jeweled lights of my eyes, what is the connection with a Sheikh? He is one who will obtain the liberation of the soul for you. He will make it sound and give it to you. He will safeguard the indestructible treasure of the soul which does not perish in this world or the next, and keep it from being tarnished.

In his body of five elements,

there are four hundred trillion, ten thousand

kinds of miraculous powers and tricks of maya

that cause change.

The Sheikh dispels these turbulent winds.

He has the breeze that will subdue all desires.

He has God’s air of grace,

this grace-wisdom, this rare treasure.

In order to receive this treasure,

no matter how big you are in the world,

you have to be a babe-in-arms with him.

When you join a Sheikh who is a perfected man (insan-kamil), you must be a baby to his qualities. No matter how much you may have studied, whether you rule the world, whether you are a king, whether you are a rich man or a poor man, or whether you are a ruler or a slave—you must be a babe-in-arms to the Sheikh. Only then will he embrace you to his chest.

When you come to him, come as a tiny baby. If you are a baby, he will pick you up on all four sides. He will carry you on his shoulder, embrace you to his chest, wrap you around his neck, or carry you on his head. He will carry you in one way or another. Even if he has to tie you on his back, he will carry you.

But if you come to him as a great king, like a big mountain, he will unburden himself and move on. Why? He will not carry you, because you are too heavy. You must first understand the meaning of belief, resolute faith, determination, and certitude. Then, unloosen and discard all your prior learning and intentions. If you want to follow a Sheikh, you must become a babe-in-arms with unconditional iman. You should not harbor any doubt or suspicion. You should not hold on to anything else. If you do, he will move on, saying. “That’s fine, play with it.” Having tried his very best, he will then leave you and move on.

Copyright: The Fast of Ramadan p 421-424

Read more: Finding A Sheikh

Prison Break popular in China even though it’s illegal

Prison Break has become one of the most anticipated shows nowadays. With a huge fan base whether because of the suspenseful plot, or the witty actors, it has reached its target audience and surpassed the boundaries of the United States, where it originally premiered. Now, Prison Break is not only airing in countries outside the United States but is also airing in non-English speaking countries like China.

Prison Break, an action-suspense series created by Paul Scheuring, centers on Lincoln Burrows who was sentenced to death and the intricate plan of his brother, Michael Scofield, to help him escape his death sentence and prove his innocence. The show stars Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, Amaury Nolasco, Wade Williams, Paul Aldestein, William Fichtner and Sarah Wayne Callies among others.

In 2004, Prison Break was banned from China’s television loop since the show generally entails a lot of violence and brutal action. The prohibition of the show in China was actually a result of a bunch of claims that such brutal scenes might be damaging to children. However, Prison Break’s fame and popularity has overpowered the ban as Jinan TV, a television station in China, aired some footages of the show. The said television station is actually not the first one to air illegal clips of Prison Break. Despite Jinan TV’s declaration that the Prison Break broadcast was being used to teach and promote English, the government still barred the further airing of any clips from Prison Break.

With the prohibition of Prison Break in China, more and more fans are most likely turning to the black market to get a hold of their own Prison Break DVDs. In fact, Prison Break is just one of the show’s among the hundreds of American television series being copied, pirated and sold illegally in the black market.

Read more: Prison Break popular in China even though it’s illegal

Online Backgammon the best new craze

Backgammon is the most exciting, ancient game in the history of mankind that is still actively being played today. With the dawn of the Internet era, and the beginning of online Backgammon gaming, the popular board game has reached almost epidemic proportions all over the world. The phenomenon is understandable to anyone who has played Backgammon online. Gaming software providers present to the public a safe, exciting, reliable and up to date platform in which to entertain themselves solo or in the company of their Backgammon piers.

Whereas online Backgammon rules have remain the same as those implemented in live circumstances, internet Backgammon facilities, services and convenience have greatly out grown its offline predecessor thanks to the nature of cyberspace making possible for any player to play the game from anywhere in the world, at any time, for fun or for real money as long as an electronic devise with option to connecting to the internet (i.e. a handheld electronic devise, computer, mobile, etc) is available to the player. Also, the opportunities for connecting to other members of the Backgammon community, local or worldwide, and to access information about the game and the international circuit have developed significantly with the solidification and growth of the online Backgammon industry and community.

This way, online Backgammon has become one of the most rewarding gaming experiences of today’s cyber-world; and real money online Backgammon, together with poker, the best gambling option around. Many are the sites and brands providing free Backgammon software along with amazing complimentary services like multilingual playing and support options, bonuses, a vast array of tables and tournament types, updated information about relevant events, chat options, and 24/7 online costumer service. To go even further, the online Backgammon industry has made a point out of guaranteeing the public that in order to play Backgammon online the only thing they have to have is an internet connection. Once this only one requirement is fulfilled, easy to follow instructions and up dates will automatically pop up on the players’ screen to guide them effortlessly through the pertinent technological processes or practical knowledge necessary to play the most fabulous game in the world online.

Come join us online and play a Backgammon game or two, you will immediately be enchanted by the possibilities of this titan of board games and will realize within minutes that this is indeed the most fantastic way of entertaining yourself while still intelligently exercising your mind and connecting with people from all over the world. The best part is that you will not have to spend a penny to play Backgammon on this platform because the software and services are for free! And at the reach of your hands! The only money you would have to take out of your pocket is the one you wish to gamble, if so, but that is entirely up to you.

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The Lake House (2006) – DVD Review

Have you been searching for a romantic story that shows how an extremely self reliant woman and a self-made independent man can fall deeply in love? Even if they are really out of sync with each another? If so, then the film “Lake House” is one that you will love to watch. Set in northern Illinois on the Lake Michigan shore, the setting makes a beautiful place for two people to figure out their isolated lives and how to deal with their frustrating jobs.

Starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, this touching drama is actually based on a story retold from a Korean movie titled “Siworae”. The film is skillfully directed by Alejandro Atresti as it reveals a mystery centered around a mailbox in front of a house on Lake Michigan that somehow is able to bridge time between the two strangers.

Several years after she has moved away from her lakeside house, a loveless and lonely physician played by Bullock, begins to answer letters to a frustrated architect, played by Reeves, who currently lives in the same lakeside home, only two years into the future. After exchanging a long line of letters, both eventually learn that they are living in different times.

Through numerous life alternating events, the two devoted pen pals are only able to exchange letters with each other by writing letters to each other and putting them into the magical mailbox. Their happiness, anger, laughter, tragedies, and hopes are shared in their letters, which over time, turn them into close friends. As time goes on, they have lovers come and go, one has a father who dies, and even many birthdays pass. As the film progresses, life keeps throwing twists and turns at them, making their best layed plans to meet each other in person always slip just beyond their reach.

Sandra Bullock plays the role of a hospital doctor, with long hours whose only roomate is a cat to play chess with. She plays her role brilliantly, showing a relentless caring nature and a very easy going humor. The film covers the time in her life from a period in college, through her having a relationship with another man other than Reeves, to the point where her career become not only hectic, but extremely lonely.

Keanu Reeves brings his own brand of finesse by playing a very talented architect who endures the disapproval of his famous architect elderly father. In the film, Reeves also has a brother which dreams of opening a business with him. However, their father has always intervened to prevent them from forming their own business. In the middle of all this, Reeves displays his role’s great desire to have someone to love that will share his creative dreams and passion for life.

In the beginning of the film, neither roles played by Reeves and Bullock like each other. But as they share their letters in the magic mailbox, they eventually get more and more wrapped up in each other’s life and slowly develop a deep, lasting love the only grows stronger as the years pass by.

The Lake House was released in 2006 and is rated PG for both some strong language and some disturbing images.

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UFC: Asian Invasion

After a string of victories coming from the United States, as well as other countries in the west like Brazil and Canada, the eastern fighters of UFC are now attempting to bounce back from their defeat. Among the eastern players, the Japanese fighters have captured the attention of UFC thirsty aficionados with their equally topnotch fighting expertise.

UFC or Ultimate Fighting Championship is a United States-based mixed martial arts organization. It showcases numerous tournaments exhibiting various fighters from different countries, having different fighting techniques. And despite having a few rules, the UFC tournaments are popularly known for being a “no holds barred” fighting competition, entailing a lot of violence and brutality.

The upcoming UFC Fight Night 9, which is scheduled to commence on April 5 at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, will feature previous Japanese fighters who have not been triumphant in their initial participation with UFC. Among the Japanese participants are Keita Nakamura, who is bound to fight Drew Ficket in the welterweight bout, Naoyuki Kotani, who is up against Thiago Tavares in the lightweight bout, Kuniyoshi Hironaka, who is scheduled to combat Forrest Petz in the welterweight bout, and Dokonjonosuke Mishima who is up against Kenny Florian in the lightweight bout as the main event. Another main event will showcase Joe Stevenson vs. Melvin Guillard, which is also in the lightweight bout. The much-awaited competition will be broadcast live on Spike TV.

UFC Fight Night 9 is indeed about second chances. With the inclusion of the hefty fighters from Japan, it will certainly make the competition more interesting. For Kotani, this is another opportunity to redeem himself from his unsuccessful debut in UFC. But being a much-admired veteran with fierce fighting skills, a lot of fans are rooting for his comeback, as well as the rest of the Japanese fighters.

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House Music and the Digital Age

House music has always been pushed forward by DJ’s wanting and craving new music. Music that their peer’s haven’t yet heard let alone had the ability to own. Music that is upfront and rare.

As the volume of dance labels and artists increased towards the end of the last millennium, mainly due to the ability to produce very highly polished music on a simple pc, the sales quantity of each release decreased as the market did not increase with amount of new music flooding in. With this change record companies needed to address costs to reflect these lower sales. Label’s looked to technology to help cut the costs of running their business. One major area where this came to fruition was promotions.

For years the DJ’s choice and only option was vinyl, clubs only had vinyl turntables and in the odd instance where they did have CD turntables they were very poor. This changed with the launch of the pioneer CDJ series. DJ’s were suddenly able to do everything they could on vinyl turntables and more but using CD’s. Labels had previously had only one option to press a run of promotional records to send out to DJ’s. The cost of manufacture and shipping to DJ’s was huge. Overnight DJ’s could use CD’s. It’s much cheaper to manufacture and half the price to ship, an added bonus was that music could be burnt straight from a pc where the track had been written and in a DJ’s hands the following day being played to a packed club that evening. For labels and producers this was a fantastic way to promote new music and for the DJ this was bliss new music really quickly – fresh and exclusive! All went well with this new format until the mp3 came along. Suddenly promotional music was finding its way onto the file sharing sites like Limewire and Soulseek. DJ’s who had been sent music on CD or even emailed as mp3′s began sharing this music. The thought process behind people doing this went against all that had gone before as most DJ’s hide their secret weapons rather than sharing with anyone at all. This had a knock on by taking the control the labels had of who had their product when and where away. Also potential revenue began being lost and to a section of the music industry where every sale counts this was frustrating and hugely detrimental.

Dance music releases usually only have a shelf life of around 8 weeks. There are obvious exceptions to this rule but 95% of releases are played in clubs and sell for this length of time and that’s it. File sharing screwed this up by both the sales and also the structure of the chosen few influencing bigger DJ’s not having something they can fully get behind during the promotional stage of a release. Therefore less people got to hear it, less are influenced and less potentially buy it. The industry has never really recovered from file sharing but more recently the sale of mp3′s and specifically dance music mp3′s has boomed and this has helped to a certain extent slow the decline and with time the scene could once again flourish. The one problem dance music has encountered with sales of mp3′s is price but that is another story.

Summary: This article highlights the changes in the music industry brought about from the introduction of digital media. The move from vinyl to CD & MP3 has had wider reaching effect than just night club DJ’s.

Read more: House Music and the Digital Age