Sunday, May 24, 2020

Notes From All Over -- Nothing About The Bakken -- The Memorial Weekend Sunday Edition -- May 24, 2020

Poker: a most enjoyable day yesterday. In the background, for about six hours, uninterrupted for the most part, I suppose -- the televising / re-run of the 2019 World Series of Poker. Absolutely mesmerizing. The 2020 WSOP, originally scheduled for late May, 2020, has now been postponed to a later, yet-to-be-decided, date in the fall of 2020.
Reading: Scottish Enlightenment, 18th century.

NASCAR: link here.
  • all you need to know: Fox, green flag 5:28 p.m. CT; tonight, Sunday;
    • weather: thunderstorms just before the race; thunderstorm during the race; 51% chance;
  • more than you need to know:
    • Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
    • one of five night races, NASCAR's modified schedule for 2020
    • earliest start time of the five night races because it's the longest
    • four stages rather than the usual three stages
    • each stage: 100 laps; 1.5-mile oval, long-lap race
  • and there's more
    • a second Cup Series points race at Charlotte on Wednesday, May 27, 2020
    • the "replacement" race for the canceled June 14, 2020, Sonoma, CA, race; 
    • 7:00 p.m. CT; only 312 miles in length; 208 laps
  • realignment background here;
  • it appears that Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch are on speaking terms following "that wreck"; the wreck occurred Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at Darlington; tonight's race at Charlotte -- we'll see if anything comes of Chase Elliott / Kyle Busch
    • it's been my impression, the field, in general, has been very, very "polite" as NASCAR returns to racing
    • if so, I would say that is very, very "smart" of the racers; fans aren't looking for controversy or chaos at this point; they are looking for good, clean races;
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WSOP -- 2019

Final Table: nine players --
  • US: 4
  • Canada: 1
  • Britain: 1
  • Germany: 1
  • Italy: 1
  • US-based Serbian: 1
Final Table: nine players --
  • one frosh: $0 at any previous WSOP event -- Kevin Maahs, US; finished 5th, $2.2 million
  • three sophomores: each had won cash at one previous WSOP event ($12,415; $3,276; and, $927)
  • Most experienced: the Italian, Dario Sammartino, with 38 previous cash wins at WSOP events; total WSOP earnings going into 2019 WSOP tournament: $3.5 million
  • none of the nine had ever won a WSOP bracelet
  • ultimate winner: Hossein Ensan, one previous cash win at a WSOP event, $3,267)
Marchington: legal spat; 21 years old; with 35 players left, he led the field; finished 7th, $1.5 million

Note: the top nine prizes --
  • not much separation for the bottom, 5th through 9th places
  • between 4th and 3rd, a jump from $3 million to $4 million
  • between 3rd and 2nd, a jump from $4 million to $6 million
  • from 2nd to 1st, a jump from $6 million to $10 million
  • this encourages aggressive play in the first few rounds; not much to lose between fifth place and ninth place, and a great deal to win if one can finish in the top four
Observations and comments:
  • a dust-up at the table before the Final Table, between Sammartino, the Italian, and the casino dealer, suggested a poor loser, and someone who lost his concentration; and, most incredibly, acted as if he did not understand the basic rules of poker (actions, not words, rule the day)
  • Sammartino went on to recover, and finish 2nd in the tournament; mostly by playing very, very, very conservatively letting others knock each other off in a circular firing squad, leaving him alone, head-to-head with the eventual winner, Hossein Ensan;
  • Hossein Ensan: lucky, lucky, lucky. An Iranian via Germany; I've never seen anyone get so many incredible downcards; flops; and/or river cards -- it was truly incredible
  • once Ensan had his huge chip lead going to the final table (of nine), there was little chance of anyone beating him; Sammartino came close but only by pretty much staying out of the game until the end, when he was head-to-head with Ensan;
  • in addition to being plain lucky, Ensan was formidable; using his chip advantage to intimidate and ultimately literally destroy his opponents; many seemed to appear not to know what just happened;
  • perhaps most endearing: Timothy Su; Boston; software engineer, and classical musician; plays the oboe as well as other instruments; resume suggests least likely to be playing poker;
  • Kevin Maahs: perhaps my favorite personality; link here;
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Steaks
KC Cattle Company

All Waygu beef is sold out:


Wow, almost everything is sold out.

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Amazon
I need more journals and more pens. 

I can go to Walmart, fight the mask-wearing crowds, today, or simply order off Amazon and everything will be at my doorstep tomorrow.  

All I know for sure: I'm not going to Walmart today.

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Sunday Morning Waffles

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