What a good week!

With the Merge Network running their Poker Maximus tournament series, the microstakes cash games have been extra juicy this week. Plus, I've been running like god. I just hope this doesn't turn out to be play money, as happened with Full Tilt!

Stop SOPA!

Update: Here's a fair translation of the MPAA's railing against the Stop SOPA blackout:

Sam Seder -- Our Media Blackout on SOPA is Cool. Your Internet Blackout in Protest of It is NOT!

Merry Xmas!

And a Happy New Year, imo!

Virginaki -- Christman Pacman

Via deviantart

Massachusetts Suffolk County subpoena's Twitter over Occupy Boston

What the heck? Is this my taxpayer money at work? You've won, you've evicted us. Get over it!

In Soviet Russia, joke tells you!

The current Republican Presidential field reminds me of this classic joke, which was often retold by President Reagan.

So, sometime, in the mid- to late-1980s, a dutiful Soviet husband is sent out by his wife to stand all day in the breadline so he can provide for his family. He gets there early but already the line stretches down two Russian blocks. The line moves slowly, person by person. For four hours he stands waiting in line. Finally, our hero reaches the front of the line, only to have the bakers perfunctorily slam down the metal shielding of their kiosk, upon which is painted the explanation that the bread is all gone for the day.

Our hero, having had a rough day of it, not to mention a rough enough life under the regime, can not help himself but to begin to spout off.

"This is it!" he declares. "I don't care of the consequences! I can no longer live under this corrupt Communist regime which can no longer feed its own people. Fellow Russians, we must rise up, and end our enslavement..." and so on.

Soon enough, a trio of suited undercovers appear. Together they pull him by his shirt collar out from the head of the now dismayed and dispersing line, and into a nearby alley.

"Comrade," begins their obvious leader, "You must please watch what you say. You are putting us, the police, in a very awkward position with all your loose talk!"

Our hero, having accepted his fate, stays mute.

The officer sighs and finally continues. "But, as you know, the Politburo has now implemented this new policy of perestroika (restructuring), so in this spirit we are only going to send you home with a warning."

The still somewhat shaken man is met at the apartment door by his wife. "What is wrong?" she asks. "Why do you look so distraught?"

"My love," he replies, "I had not realized until today how bad things had gotten for our country's leaders. Not only have they run out of bread, but now they have run out of bullets!"

And this is likewise how I feel about the GOP: not only have they run out of ideas, but now they have run out of candidates!

Happy Thanksgiving

From here on Saltonstall Plantation, a note from the great-grandson of our city's founder (transcript follows):

By the Honourable,
Gurdon Saltonstall, Esq;
GOVERNOUR of His Majesty's Colony of Connnecticut in New-England
A PROCLAMATION
For a Publick Thanksgiving

ALTHOUGH Considering the Judgments of GOD, which are on the Earth, in the great Distress & Desolation brought upon many Nations, both by WAR and PESTILENCE.

AND Considering also particularly, the awful Tokens of GOD's Righteous Anger against us, Especially, in the Contagious SICKNESS which has been in divers Places of the Land, and in the continued RAINS, by which great Losses have been sustained, It becomes Us to be deeply Humbled before the LORD.

IT is Nevertheless our Duty to Acknowledge the many Instances of Divine Goodness, which the LORD whose Ways, are not as Ours, has Gratiously vouchsafed Us and which are never to be fogotten.   Namely,

The Smiles of Providence on the BRITISH Empire, and particularly, On Our Sovereign Lord the KING, in the Prosperity of His Life and Reign; On Their Royal Highnesses the PRINCE and PRINCESS of Wales, and and on all the Branches of the ROYAL FAMIY, not only in Their Happy Increase, by the BIRTH of the Royal Prince WILLIAM AUGUSTUS but also in the Lives of Others of Them when in Hazard by Sickness, have been Mercifully Spared.

THE PEACE which has been Continued, and Confirmed to Our Nation, after so many Endeavours to interrupt it.

The Preservation of the Britsh Dominions from the raging PESTILENCE, which has laid so many Places waste, within their View, and Neighborhood.

THE General HEALTH that has been Enjoyed in the Land, notwithstanding The SMALLPOX has prevailed so much, in the Principal Place of our Neighboring Province.

THE Preservation of Our COLONY, in so great a Measure from that Contagious Sickness, when We have been in great Danger of It ; The Continuance of Our Priveleges both Civil and Sacred ; The Peace which we have Enjoyed ; And the good Supply of the Fruits of the Earth, which the present Year has been Crowned with.

WHICH are, ( All of them ) Blessings from the LORD, whose Mercy therein We ought to Celebrate with great THANKFULNESS.

I have therefore thought fit, with the Advice and Consent of the Council, and at the Desire of the Representatives, to Appoint, and do hereby Appoint Wednesday, the Eighth Day of November next, to be Observed as a Day of Publick THANKSGIVING throughout the Colony. Exhorting all both Ministers & People, with Unfeigned Devotion, to Bless the Name of the LORD, and Praise Him for all the Wonders of His Goodness ; And, to Beg that the Mercy Which We Adore, may in all the needful Instances thereof be manifested to Us.

And all Servile Labours on the said Day is hereby strickly Prohibited.

Given in New-Haven, the Fourteenth Day of October, Anno Domini 1721, in the Eighth Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord GEORGE, by the Grace of GOD of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c.

G. SALTONSTALL.

GOD Save the KING.

via my[confined]space

(We are now completely kicking SMALLPOX's behind. So let's be thankful for that!)

I'm just going to leave this here

Full size

Also this

Update 10/27: Here's the always keen Dahlia Lithwick with her take:

I confess to being driven insane this past month by the spectacle of television pundits professing to be baffled by the meaning of Occupy Wall Street. Good grief. Isn’t the ability to read still a job requirement for a career in journalism?

Read the rest via Slate.com.