Obama and the Middle East (and Canada)

In his inaugural address, President Obama reached out directly to “the Muslim World”. It was the first time that phrase had been used in any inaugural address. The majority of the Muslim world viewed it a significant gesture with hopes that it would be backed up by action.

His first phone call to a foreign leader on day one in office was to the Palestinian leader President Mahmoud Abbas.

From today’s Washington Post:

“All too often the United States starts by dictating — in the past on some of these issues — and we don’t always know all the factors that are involved,” Obama told al-Arabiya. “So let’s listen. He’s [George Mitchell] going to be speaking to all the major parties involved. And he will then report back to me. From there we will formulate a specific response.”

This quote is from President Obama’s first formal television interview as president, with a correspondent from al-Arabiya, a Dubai-based satellite network that is one of the largest English-language TV outlets aimed at Arab audiences.

He went on to say, “My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americas are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect.”

Hamas representatives have expressed disbelief that President Obama will be different at all. But the talk AND the walk thus far point to a significant effort and priority towards a path to peace between Israel and Palestine as well to restoring relations and respect between the United States and the Muslim world in general.

Let us hope that international support continues, that his oratorical inspirations translate to long term diplomatic success, and that the key players across this complex stage take to heart the historic opportunities that in the works.

——

Oh – and to my friends up north, congrats to President Obama’s continuation of the tradition of making a trip to visit best neighbors (sorry Mexico) his first international trip.  I wonder what his toque looks like.

Way behind on posts – internet issues here and there – Update from Egypt

So…. The Caribbean – best cashes I’ve had in tournaments to date. Overall a great week. 187th of 1400 or so and 27th or so of 550 or so (I don’t remember exactly). It was a blast. I’ll get pictures from that up one day.

I’m back in the Middle East. This weekend I’m in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Here are some fun picures from that.  Click to zoom.

The Pool at the Hyatt

Walkway between all the nice resorts in the prime area

Great Sunset over Sharm El Sheikh (enhanced a bit)

The bikes from the quad trip in the desert

Bedouin stop in the desert for hospitality – beers and good conversation

Me and a camel. Oh yes.

The view out there on the quad trip

Fun on the quad

aawwwww yeah baby

Headed out into the desert on the quad

Bathroom out in the desert at the Bedouin area

The beers in the tent

The Bedouin area and view beyond

Trash dump just out there in the desert.

Red Sea view from my room

Hyatt Terrace view

Me at the Old Market getting donned in Bedouin gear

Beach at Sharm

Old Market gate

Outside the spice shop in the Old Market

Spices. So pretty, eh?

Sunset over the Sinai

Water and Blackjack fun

Waverunners, water slides, sun, and a very good blackjack night.  more later……

Quick update due to no internet

I’m so sorry I can’t really update the blog and give full details. Internet access if very limited and I’ve had issues. I’m now on a 15 minutes access pass to check all emails, my flight info, and update the blog. So here it goes:

Day 2 was a rollercoaster as well. Up, down, down, up.  I BARELY squeezed into the money. Which means I won a nice cash prize at 187th place out of about 1400+.  That was the biggest single cash win I’ve made which felt nice. Shortly after making “the money” as they say, I had to get aggressive with my tiny chip stack and lost shortly thereafter. But all in all a great time and payout.

That night we celebrated by going for th Omakase (chef’s tasting menu) at Nobu here at the Atlantis (Nobu being known as one of the best Japanses / sushi places any where). Good stuff.

Then Kathleen and I had an AWESOME day the next day with good beach time, pool time, a private bow rider boating cruise for 2+ hours with Carl – the greatest guy around. Private snorkeling and touring of the islands and the area.  Even stopped by a local shop on the water to get a six pack on the way.

Kathleen had to leave yesterday and I did another tournament that was the last of the larger events going on. $1,000 buy in and about 450 people played. I did very well there too and ended up in about 27th place which was a mor than tripling of the buy in.

The worst was that was that I was WAY down again, played just right, built back up, took a TON of chips from one guy who completely melted down and was “on tilt” playing badly because he was so damn mad at time (a good thing at the poker table). I was in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at the time with 30-35 players left and felt good about making a run for a top place (1st was $110,000). But then someone went all-in on me with a HUGE chip stack after I re-raised him. He tought he could make me fold my hand (and was hoping) but I had KK. He had A-6 suited. I should have won but he got luck and hit an ace (actually 2) on the folp. That completely crippled me.  So I made a good play and got lucky…. had I won that, I would have been in GREAT shape to dominate and try to get first. DAMN!!!  But a good win anyway.

Then I decided to hit the cash tables and made a killing over there as well.

All in all it has been a very fun and very lucrative trip. I feel I’ve “made a turn” in my bigger tournament skill and feel good about competing with the best of them.

I’ll get pictures up on Sunday late or Monday/Tuesday.

Time to get back outside!

A few pictures – click to zoom

See below for my quick review of day 1 – click on them to zoom in. Here are a few pictutres for now.

Cool boat with lights under the water

Leen with Daniel Negreanu – one of the top players in the world

Me and Leen on the beach the night of the party

Me in my obligatory Pokerstars shirt before playing on Day 1

Marina at Atlantis

Pokerstars party on arrival night

Cool guy named Ryan from Philly that we hung with at the Pokerstars party the night before the event

Day 1: What a Rollercaster!

Day 1 started well. I played well, ducking when needed, making good reads on people, and playing very aggressive where needed. I made some moves on people with no good cards and made them lay down their  hands (playing the player, not the cards).

But then I got crushed.  It was about 30 minutes before the dinner break. I’d started with 20,000 in chips and had about 35,000 now.  I had a J-J and called a raise. The flop was 2-2-5.  A great flop for my hand. My opponent out-played me with impressive skill. Everyone at the table actually have him applause at the end of the hand and every had thought he was bluffing. I ended up calling his big bet on the river and lost a total of about 20,000 in the hand only because he played the part so perfectly. He had 2-2 giving him quads 2s on the flop.

After dinner I was down to about 15,000 in chips and after the first break I was down to 7,000 with the blinds and antes getting big.

But I played my best poker for the net 2.5 hours and built that 7,000 back to 69,000 by the end of the night making good reads, aggressive plays, good laydowns, and surviving several all-ins including knocking someone out with 20,000.

Today is a day off and I’m feeling ok about day 2. I don’t have as many chips as I’d prefer to start day 2 but it will work.

Until later…..

Day 1

Well I’ve arrived and Kathleen was just a few hours behind. There are poker players every where. The one problem is that I have no phone or internet service on the property so I will not be able to update the blog throughout the day as I did for the WSOP.

It’s 11:20am and Day 1 starts in 40 minutes. Time for coffee and to head down there.

There was an estimation of 1100 players from someone last night.

There was an opening party last night with a great food buffet, open bar, and good people.

Sorry I have to make this entry short and can’t update all day.

Here’s to good cards!

One day ’til arrival. Two days until the main event starts. Here we come Atlantis and Bahamas!

So the trip to the Atlantis and entry into the Pokerstars Carribean Adventure has arrived. The prize I won fully covers travel, a week at the Atlantis, the $10,000 buy-in, and a fat room credit for food, drinks, and activities.  Kathleen is joining me for the most part of it until it’s time for her to go Beat the Blahs back in the T-dot.

Here is the link to the Pokerstars and European Poker Tour channel that will have coverage of the event:

http://www.pokerstars.tv/channels/TPI/ept-live.html

The video on there currently (as of Saturday) is a montage of PCA 2008 a year ago and will give you a feel for the location and event.   The guy you see in a white tank and overalls is the same guy who had the royal flush against quad aces at my table in the WSOP Main Event earlier this year.  He goes by “Red”.

I’ll be updating this blog from down there as much as I can. I’ll also be uploading pictures to my Facebook photo albums if things go well (and if we’re connected on there).

Here to good cards, good play, good luck, and making the money…..