Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Understanding How Online Poker Bonuses Work

A loyalty bonus is an online poker bonus awarded to a player who has been using a particular poker site for a certain period of time. It can be a match bonus like a poker sign up bonus or it can come in the form of some kind of promotion. All the top online poker rooms offer loyalty bonuses.

Match Online Poker Loyalty Bonuses

A match loyalty bonus will probably just show up in its own window when you log on. It will let you know that if you make a deposit within a certain period, you are entitled to a percentage of your deposit as a bonus. It usually doesn’t matter how long you’ve played on the site, as long as you have an account when the offer is made, you are eligible.

Promotion Loyalty Bonuses

The other way you can earn bonuses for continued play on a site is through player points. Most sites have a player points program where you earn points depending on how often you play on the site. These points can’t be redeemed for cash, but can be used to play in freerolls with cash prizes, or for merchandise with cash value. The great thing about online poker loyalty bonuses is that you get them for doing something you would be doing anyway: playing online poker. Keep your eyes open for any loyalty bonuses that are offered so that you can optimize your online poker playing experience by doing the same thing you’ve been doing all along.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Time for a quick post

... and that is about all.

I just got home from Jackson Hole and the madness or turning around and heading to Europe in less than 24 hours has started. The dogs go to camp (code for my mother-in-law's house) as soon as Dr. K gets home from work. Then it's time to eat dinner, pack, charge batteries and get some sleep before heading back to the airport. The dump of JH pics will have to wait. If you can't wait, you can check them out at Flick'r.

See you in a couple weeks.

(Special K will be in Vegas Oct. 9-12. Get ready.)

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Wild and crazy times

I've just been too busy to blog. Work and fun have had me running like crazy until today. Since work and fun have been balanced pretty well, that is not a complaint, it's just the fact.

For instance, last Saturday, Dr. K and I jumped on the Falstaff Boogie Express (it's really a toaster on wheels) for a trip to Brevard, NC. This was the site of the Mountain Music Festival that featured the greatest mandolin player in the world, Sam Bush. We arrive at the show about 5:30 and had just gotten settled on the grass when the crowd in the seated area just erupted. Since none of us were paying attention, we had to jump up to see what the commotion was about. Falstaff motioned me over and I saw an old silver-haired gent with a banjo. Since I don't always see real well, Falstaff had to clue me in to the fact that the new attraction was Steve Martin. Yea, that Steve Martin. The leader of the band made it clear that of all the special guests that they had hosted, Steve was easily the most recent. Steve was no slouch on the strings either. It was a good start to a great show.

Monday, I boarded a jet for Wyoming and the Tetons. I'm currently sitting in the Lake Jackson Lodge knocking out this post. This is what I see when I look to my right:

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Here is a shot of Cowboy K from this morning:

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Yea, work is tough today. Leave your sympathy notes in the comments. We pay for our fun tomorrow with a day full of meetings followed by a trip home on Friday. After that, this blog will go stale until October as I will be out of the country without internet service. I'll bring back tons of pictures from our European Vacation. I'll post a few more Jackson Hole pics later, so come back soon.

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Patriotism

A friend on another blog posed the question, "What good is Patriotism?" He went on to write that he found no good in it.  I have to disagree.

First, I need to define what I call and feel as Patriotism.  It is pride in the ideas that make our people great.  It's not really about the country.  It is more about the idea of freedom and just government than about borders.

It is not pride in the flag.   The flag is a symbol of this country.  The meanings of symbols change, both for the good and the bad over time.  The both the swastika and the cross have been symbols that have been both positive and negative depending on when they were used and who was using them.  Who knows what this country will represent in 100 years, 500 years, or more.  To pass laws that requires a special treatment of a symbol is dangerous.  When the government of this land tries to pass such laws, the patriotism in me says No,  We should protect that freedom of expression (like flag burning) against the government for the future when it might be well warranted.  (Having that right today makes it a lot easier to pick out the wackos)

It is not pride in the government.  A certain amount of government is necessary for the operation of a society.  Government should help a people to band together to do things that are for the common good that would otherwise not happen if left to the private sector.  Road, utilities, schools, protection, and law enforcement(very different from protection) come to mind.  The purchase of art, funding of unnecessary projects, and passage of unnecessary laws (laws banning poker for one) are corruption of the governmental process.  Patriotism tells me speak up about the wrong that government does especially the waste and corruption that exists.  Patriotism is a check on the power that still allows the people to govern.

Patriotism makes me cheer when a people rises up to throw off the shackles of oppression.  When the people of a land rise against a Marcos, or apartite,  or a politburo, my heart cheers them on.  When they try and fail like Tienamin Square, my heart cries for them, because Patriotism isn't about this country, it is about the ideas of freedom that founded this country.  When those ideas spring up elsewhere in the world, I know it is their Patriotism that makes them act and keeps the ideas of freedom alive.

I think my friend and I have different definitions for the word patriot.  What he calls patriotism, I would call blind faith.  Patriots follow and protect freedom.  Blind faith follows people and political parties without thought.  If I'm right about the definitions, then my and my friend agree.

Patriotism is what makes the people "The People."  It protects our way of life when it drives people to act in protection of their rights.  Patriotism has grown and suffered over the years.  It was strong in the 1940's and helped to keep the western world free.  I'd have to say it is down today.  But it is not dead.  It slumbers, waiting for a tyrant to step over the line.  Patriots and patriotism will protect us so long as the idea of freedom lives.

Keep the dream alive.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Palin

The Republicans may have the wrong person at the head of the ticket. If you listened, you know what I mean.