WSOP Results, Reviews of the Top Awaited Movies and Moments of Reflection...

   Hello once again!!

  In the last edition, I had reported on the past successes of Canadian poker players competing in the WSOP.  While I regret to inform you that my effort this year in my event went unrewarded (as the same with the crew I traveled with) I am very pleased to say that other Canadians have definitely answered the bell.

  Last year, to recap, Canadians went 519-3 for Cashes-Bracelets go.  For those keeners paying attention, there was a third column for Championships, but due to format changes, there is no longer championships for specific games.  There is an increasing amount of types of poker, so we are now just looking at cashes and bracelets earned. 

  I issued a challenge to Canadians, setting a goal of 530-4.  This was based on the averages of the last few years and projections of how well Canadians were predicted to do this year.  I also set a money goal of $12,642,339...which was based on the above record and whatever numbers I wanted to type.

  Currently we have about seven more events before the WSOP comes to a close (with the exception of awaiting the November Nine).  At this point in time, I am pleased to report that Canada has claimed 9 bracelets already, shattering the goal of four, one of them being the first ever Millionaire Maker bracelet. This stat is incredible as we are batting 16%.  Considering how much the USA is outnumbering us, it is safe to say that Canadians are showing their muscle. 

Here are the Bracelet winners thus far:

Charles Sylvestre    Event 3-No Limit Hold'em (NLH) with Re-Entries
Benny Chen            Event 6-Millionaire Maker Event
Michael Malm        Event 8-Eight Game Mix
Mark Radoja           Event 16-Heads Up NLH
Calen McNeil         Event 20-O8  (Omaha Eight Or Better High Low Split)
Jason Duval            Event 28-NLH
Justin Oliver           Event 38-Four Handed NLH
Daniel Idema          Event 39-Stud 8
Kristen Bicknell     Event 51-Ladies NLH Championship.

Other Notable Bracelets Winners include Erick Lindgren, Jeff Madsen, and much to my delight, Mike "The Mouth" Matusow.  Currently, also to my delight, Canada's best poker player Daniel Negreanu is leading the WSOP Player of the Year Leaderboard.  Erick Lindgren is 12th, Antonio Esfandiari is 18th, Matusow is in 25th and Phil Galfond is close behind in 26th.  Should be a great Main Event, so be sure to watch!

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  Just a quick congratulations to the Fivepin Alberta Women's National Classified Team!  They took Gold and represented us very well.  In their last match, they forced a tiebreaker and proceeded to sweep the silver medalists, taking every single point in the tiebreaking Matchup.  Congrats Ladies!!

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   I just wanted to send a quick commendation for all the people who have bonded together to help the victims of the flood in the past weeks.  It's good to see that the people around us still do have hearts!!




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  In a previous edition, I had chosen ten movies that I predicted to be the movies to watch.  Here is the afterthoughts:

#10.  Oz: The Great and Powerful
  Terrible, cheesy plot, but the imagery and conclusion were great.   All in all, it was forgettable.  Mila Kunis wasn't the right casting choice.

#5.  Iron Man 3
  Correctly assumed that this would be the best of the three.  We get to see the softer side of Tony Stark, laced with a certain element of comedy that is reminiscent of the Avengers, this movie was a thrill to watch, even if it was Iron Man Overkill.  To top it off, the trailer for Thor: The Dark World kicked it off, so I was a happy boy.




 
I was not a happy boy with Man of Steel.  What the hell was that. 

We are Hours away from the opening show of Despicable Me 2.  Excited?  Yes you are.






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  Lately, I have been indulging myself in learning certain disciplines.  In early Spring, I began to teach myself Tai Chi in an effort to bring some balance and focus to my life.  Thoroughly pleased and surprised with the ease of the practice and the peace it brought to my life, I began studying Taoist philosophy and other principles.  While I am not religious by most means, there are a few gifts to be found if one wanted to look. 

 "Tao" means "Way" or "Path" and is all about the means of walking that path.  While true "Tao" can never be constructed, it focuses on a theme of Action through Non-Action.  The three treasures of Taoism are Compassion, Moderation, and Humility.



  As I face certain challenges in my own life, I was struck by the simplicity by a quote by one of the great names in Taoist legend, Lao-Tzu.  He states:

 "Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are.  When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."

  How does this show up in your life?

  Until next time!

  Logan


P.S.  Was excited to see the numbers soar past the thousand mark as far as how many people have read the page...we are somehow nearing 1300.  Thanks to all you Russian guys and girls, been loving the support from over East.  (Shoutout for Edena who sent the wonderful email in support!)

 

ENTERTAINMENT IN 2013

 

                       Entertainment in 2013

  Hey there, guys! We are motoring through the new year, and before we get too much farther, I wanted to do a very quick piece on some of the top works to look forward to this year.  This year is bringing many huge projects to the big screen and I'm going to recap the ten I believe are the most important to see.  So take notes!

  Though it's not part of the list, it is important to note for readers that "Bloodfire Quest", the newest addition from Terry Brooks is now in store.  It is a  very exciting read, with roots that are buried in the Elfstones of Shannara and the High Druid Series. The finalizing sequel is due out this summer.   Diehard Shannara fans, you will not be disappointed.  As always, Brooks shines.

  Despite not being a huge gamer, I'm also pleased to announce that Starcraft 2-Heart of the Swarm is now currently available.   It breaks my heart that the incredible storyline embedded here is limited to video game players only. Heart of the swarm is simply amazing, especially when we become immersed and personalized with the Swarm, a ravenous, brutal race known as the Zerg.  In Starcraft, the sheer brutality and insectual expendability was truly a wonderful shift from the human aspect, but they were singularily portrayed with no deeper desire other than to kill at the whims of the Overmind.  With Heart of the Swarm, we will see a very heavy, humanistic, emotional influence that will be mixed with the animalistic instincts of the Zerg. The potential for this is overwhelming.  While there are novels out there that convey some of the storyline, it does not portray the betrayal and the notions of race that Starcraft has become so famous for. Heart of the Swarm also captures the iconic and beautiful love story between Sarah Kerrigan and Jim Raynor. Perhaps one day we shall see it on the big screen...maybe one day...

  On to the article.

#10.  Oz: The Great and Powerful

 

  Coming in at tenth place is Oz: The Great and Powerful.  For most people, they would likely rank this one higher.  For me, I think that this movie by itself draws too heavily on the Wizard of Oz. The young cast of Mila Kunis and James Franco unfortunately must rely on the massively influential work of the original film.  While the movie is ultimately enjoyable and a visual achievement, the challenge for the actors lies in drawing their characters well enough that it not only will stand alone, but also will ultimately benefit "The Wizard of Oz" rather than taking away from it.  Still worth a look.

 

#9.  Kick-Ass 2

  For those who have not seen the original Kick-Ass, I will tell you that I was pleasantly suprised with this movie.  From the trailers, it seemed like a farsical superhero movie with unlikely candidates.  Upon watching the movie, I was pleased to see that the movie actually asks great personal questions regarding power and purpose, and presented a movie with a very dark edge rather than a goofy ten movie.  Toward the end, I was actually swept up with the plot and when the ending arrived with the cliffhanger, I vowed the sequel would be viewed with a much more open mind.  So here's keeping my promise.

 

#8. Hunger Games: Catching Fire

  If Kick-Ass 2 is to be watched with a more open mind, I daresay that Catching Fire will be more closeminded.  The first book/movie was more or less a success, with nods to Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game".  My personal view of the books is one of overall satisfaction, with the exception of the third book.   It feels as though creativity was drying up, and with the growing trend of series writing, it became more important for the author to write another book than to create a valid ending of a story.  No doubt, the third movie of the set could actually benefit the book by capturing a much more visual and comprehensive story, but the third book alone is crap, and not very well written.  Catching Fire should be entertaining enough, and Hollywood can turn this good book into a formidable sequel.  So enjoy the second installment, and we'll see if it cannot salvage the third.

 

#7.  Percy Jackson: Sea of Mgonsters

  Although boasting a slightly more juvenile standpoint to Greek mythology, I was pleased with the first Percy Jackson movie, the story of a young boy who learns that he is the son of Poseidon, and strives to gain identity while solving a mystery. Perhaps it was because Sean Bean is Zeus...Nevertheless, I'm interested in seeing this sequel.  My wish is that the writers shed the light, comic air that plagued the first and tap into a heavier, dramatic aspect.

 

#6. Star Trek into Darkness

  Yes, I hate myself for this one.  I am a Star Wars fan, through and through.  I hate Star Trek, but I did see the first movie that came a few years back, and it was entertaining enough.  I concede to you, Trekkies, and I will watch your damn second movie...but let it be said that Star Wars and Stargate are far better in general.  I may boast an open mind, but not without drawing my line in the sand! 

 

#5. Iron Man 3

   Since the Avengers, it is safe to say we will likely be seeing much more Marvel in the future.  We are now squarely at their mercy.  Iron Man 3 is due out very soon, and to the credit of the writers, the trailer looks incredibly well done.  It may be less of the "Tony Stark" persona and may reach a much  more personal level with Downey's character building.  Regardless, if I were to guess, this newest movie is chosen for a reason: This movie should raise the stakes for the multitude of Marvel movies coming out, so they'll likely start their lineup with a bang.  Don't screw it up, Ant Man.

 

#4.  Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

   Ah, the milking of Tolkien's book "The Hobbit" should prove that we as a society are shameless.  I bet you have already seen the first one, and the general consensus is that most people were not even aware that the movie was only the first part of the book.  At least Harry Potter had the decency to say "Part One" and "Part Two" for their final pic.  As I seen this in theatre, the crowd groaned in agony as the credits rolled mid-story.  For this, I recommend that every one of those people read my column before seeing part two of the Hobbit.  Did you know that the Hobbit will also be a trilogy?  Now you have no excuse for being left high and dry with the Desolation of Smaug! 

  As for the movie, not much needs to be said.  As long as it is visually stunning and captivating as normal, the movie will have no troubles.  However, if I see any more of Frodo or anyone who is a remote doppelganger of Elijah Wood, heads will roll.

 

#3. Red 2

   Action movies are a dime a dozen.  As far as Bruce Willis is concerned, he will always be known for his roles in the Die Hard Saga.  However, I believe as an action star, Red does a much better job capturing our bald badass.  Assisted by Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich, there is really so much room for success in "Red".  The first movie had excellent writing, and the comedy was incredibly subtle and witty.  With the second installment to be released, Red 2 can only be improved upon, and my recommendation is that you watch both.  And by recommend, I mean demand.  

 

#2. Despicable Me 2

  Alas, my guilty obsession will come true, and I shall take my place amongst mothers and school-deprived children this summer.  Despicable Me 2 is sure to be a blast, despite the fact that I know nothing about the plot.  I hear talks of aliens, but does it matter?  The minions will make this entire movie, so I really couldn't care how good or bad this movie is.  Papoi.

 

#1. Thor: The Dark Worlds

   Yes, another Marvel movie.  I believe that while the first Thor was visually impressive with the creation of Asgard and the BiFrost (the thing that looks scarily like Mariokart's Rainbow Road), the movie rushed to build the characters and it was a bit shaky.  The love story between Liam Hemsworth and Natalie Portman was lukewarm at best.  Thank god, or Thor, that Anthony Hopkins was there to save the day.  Thor: The Dark Worlds should be much better, since the movie will once again feature Thor and Loki, and will likely explore the actual story with greater detail.  Coming out in November, I place my bet on Thor 2 to capture the underdog crown this year.



*Movies in the running*

-After Earth featuring Will Smith-didn't make the list due to a less than impressive trailer.

-The Hangover Part 3-While I belong to the group that believes the second was better than the first, I also believe the third will not impress.  Where will they lose a friend now, outer space?

-World War Z-Did not make the cut due to Brad Pitt as the star.  Let's hope he gets eaten.  Go Zombieland

-Man of Steel-So many superheroes, so many superman movies.  Should be ok though. 

-The Wolverine-Ditto-There are too many Marvel movies already on the list, and this would be overkill.  It would be like capturing a Rattata with a master ball.

-Anchorman 2-Please, please, please do not suck.

 

*UPDATE* MAY 11/2012

ROCK MY WORLD!

  Today's issue is all about things that rock!  These past couple weeks have been pretty interesting to say the least, and full of opportunity and inspiration.  For those of you just catching up here, I have finished my term at one of my main jobs and had the intention of settling down at my other one, allowing myself to catch up with my life and getting things into balance.  Current goals involve working out a whole lot more, writing a lot more, and connecting more with the friends that I lost over the past few years. 

  So funny story...The exact final day of my one job was spent with a good buddy of mine.  We went to see Wrath of the Titans after a long day.  (Wrath of the Titans is reviewed later.)  Then we went to Denny's, and then I prepared for the graveyard shift at my now-fulltime shift.  To my dismay, I have lost my gaming license that allows me to work there, so I was looking at a four day streak of not working. 

  After two and a half years of working every day, you'd think this would excite me.  However, by the second day I was shaking.  I had no clue what to do...I had no idea that I was so revolved around work.  So I am making sure I devote myself to a little better of causes with my time.

In this issue:-Wrath of the Titans Review
-Marvel's The Avengers Review
-Calgary Concert coverage

-Some big news!

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  Rock of Ages:

    Wrath of the Titans was definitely better than the original movie in my opinion.  Clash of the Titans, while having it's moments, was definitely forgettable.  The characters were not too well drawn, the plot was dry at times, and the build up to the ever famous "RELEASE THE KRAKEN" resulted in a nice big monster than died within minutes. 

  Wrath of the Titans had a much better foundation.  A large piece revolving around Hades's banishment by Zeus leads to Hades trying to resurrect Kronos, the fallen titan.  Our hero once again must work his way through mythical tales, including the tale of Cyclops, and Theseus and the Minotaur.  Bill Nighy guest stars as Hephaestus, and did a fine job at that.

  The acting was satisfactory, and the plot was sustainable.  Yet in order to have a successful movie, you must have something that other movies do not.  For Wrath of the Titans, this showed up in it's key 3D effects.  Most 3D movies have a few good moments, and then it seems they forget about the 3D aspect.  With Wrath, the entire movie focused on these aspects.  I felt small looking up at Kronos, could feel the depth of the underworld, panicked when I was about to be crushed in the labyrinth, and ducked when lava flew over top of me.  All in all, Wrath of the Titans receives a passing grade. 

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  For Those About To Rock:

  I have three pieces of cheap paper confetti in my pocket.  Please do not ask me why I have kept them, but it is a way of remembering the concert that rocked my world Wednesday night at the Saddledome.  Now, I was never too big of a Kool and the Gang fan, but these guys were good.  They didn't feel like most warm-up bands, having a very charismatic and original performance.  The crowd was surely entertained as they scrapped the norm of playing a set of about eight songs, and chose to draw some of their hits for elongated versions, including Ladies Night and Get Down On It.  Ending with their trademark song "Celebration" the entire place joined in on the party.  Little did I know, this was going to become a microcosm of the concert. 

  Shortly after, I found myself becoming a little excited for the concert to begin.  Not being a very huge fan, I had no idea what to expect.  I knew this coming group was good, but I myself only knew about five of their songs.  Once a pinnacle name when it came to rock, it could very much be a flop performance.  But who knows.  Interestingly enough, the roadies are putting a huge piece of hardwood down with some dust on it. 

 Now please understand, I have never followed this group.  So if you find yourself saying "No duh, Logan" I have claimed full ignorance and therefor have immunity. 

 The lights go off: Cue........... Van Halen.

  I am immediately taken aback by the fact that only four musicians take the stage.  Where are the backup guitarists, the keyboards, the backup singers, concert instruments, etc.?  Surely they do not mean to play an entire concert with four people.  And they did not...they rocked the concert.  It was so good that I needed to go get a Van Halen t-shirt. 

  The first song allowed me to get to know the band.  On drums was the only drummer they have ever known, Alex Van Halen.  This guy, while definitely showing his age, beat those drums senseless.  He had a very rough demeanor, but at the same time very humble.  He had a drum solo that owned any previous drum solo I've seen in my life.  On bass was Van Halen's newest member, Wolfgang Van Halen.  Bass guitars are tough to play-the strings are thick, the sounds are not the same, and bass guitarists don't make waves like guitarists do.  Nonetheless...his bass guitar could sing.  This guy was impressive.   He definitely takes after his father.  If you are like me and didn't know, Wolfgang's father is Eddie Van Halen.

  I used to play guitar when I was younger.  I played in front of my school when I was about 9-10 years old, before passing it up.  Getting the attention after my concerts, I used my guitar playing to win people, instead of playing it because I loved it.  Hard lesson at that age, but I stopped playing regardless.  If I could have seen Eddie Van Halen back then, I'd have a guitar in my hand right now.  Eddie had a guitar solo that had the length of two songs.  He has a guitar that is very sleek, and proceeds to play it like a piano.  Both hands go on the frets, and a lightning quick guitar comes out, with a very Van Halen sound. 

  Then he sits down, and his guitar begins to scream.  He even taps the strings for a harmonics solo, which is unheard of for me.  He then stands back up, and shortly after begins a huge section that sounds very echoey-in a good way.  It's like an underwater concert with a bassoon.  This is why they don't need concert instruments, Eddie plays them all.  He ends the solo with a bang, and it's the crowd that erupts-I'm pretty sure it could just be Eddie Van Halen using his guitar as a mind control device to get us to scream, but I'm bowing down in worship anyway.

Here's the video, be careful...this contains large quantities of awesomeness...this video is from Van Halen's dress rehearsel at the Forum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w12AmqQuKY

  Lastly, Diamond David Lee Roth.  I couldn't really understand how Freddie Mercury was ressurrected and now the frontman for Van Halen.  The hardwood was for him.  He obviously was much wilder when he was young, but he was still very entertaining.  His shirt sparkled so much that you could see it in the black and white screen behind him.  Now, the Calgary Herald trashes him, saying he is much like Ilya Bryzgalov, being the main guy with a good team and letting them down.  I suppose if what my mother says was true, Roth was awesome back then.  He lacked his youthful energy and wasn't the same.  I blame that on the account that they had much better drugs back then.  Maybe that was the gift in not being a Van Halen fan, I could take the concert at face value.  I enjoyed his antics, and was thoroughly entertained.  There was one moment when I thought it was getting old about two hours in, and this video of an old border collie comes onto the screen.  My favorite dog was a border collie, and Roth comes out with an accoustic guitar and tells us about his two dogs.  There goes my feeling of his act being washed up.  He tells us about how he has only trucks in his garage and he enjoys his dog's company, and his experience with sheepherding competitions.  Having primarily country as my music preference, this switch was both refreshing and informative.  He makes a joke that these sheep in the video were large, hostile, easy to anger, and that they drove cabs in Vancouver for a while. It also turned out the hardwood floor was designated David Lee Roth zone, so he could be crazy and do his slipslidey dance moves in a safe environment away from the guitarists.  I know they say that he is not what he used to be in the papers, but the fact is this: Even what he is know is a far cry better than most frontmen.  If I can go to a concert and be thoroughly entertained by all and only four members of a band, and that band kicks most bands' asses after three songs, kudos are due. 

  Thank you Van Halen, I am now going to think of you every time I see an ice cream truck.

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 To be a Rock and not to Roll:

 I do not need to tell you that the Avengers are the hottest thing in the movies right now.  The opening weekend beat Avatar's numbers senseless, and with multiple films building toward this epic feature, everyone was optimistic that this movie would reign supreme.  If it didn't, Marvel would be the laughingstock of the comic book world for centuries.  With an immensely ridiculous all-star ensemble cast, a very dynamic antagonist, and a unique storyline, Marvel had the rare opportunity to milk this entire movie for all it was worth. 

  The casting is enormous.  People who had lead roles in their previous movies now have to share time with everyone.  Robert Downey Jr.  returns as Iron Man, ScarJo as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Christopher Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America and Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk.  Samuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury, and Tom Hiddleston returns as Loki.  Nobody has been substituted to a role with the exception of Mark Ruffalo, so it's set for fireworks.  On principle, I hate the fact that it was not Edward Norton playing the Hulk.  Many sources have said that Norton did indeed want to reprise his role, and Marvel was working on a deal, but then changed it's mind and went with another actor.  That being said, Mark Ruffalo did a fantastic job filling Edward Norton's shoes.

  I will not spoil anything, except that this entire movie is amazing.  I have seen it twice, and will definitely own it.  It is riddled with action scenes and has very clever comedy worked in throughout.  As with most Marvel movies, a hidden scene at the end of the credits was there, featuring Thanos, who bears the Infinity Gauntlet.  He is immortal, with powers of strength, durability and Telekenesis.  Having a Love for Mistress Death, he wields destruction upon everything.  He is capable of travelling through space-time, and can manipulate time and energy to his own use. 

  This movie also has a second hidden scene at the very end of the credits.  Worth the wait, awesome dialogue.

  I'm not saying anything else.  Go see this movie, Dammit.

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   Stepping Stones:

  For those not already aware, I applied awhile ago to doing some journalism piecework for Examiner.com, an online column agency that reports on a wide array of subjects.  Recently a contact representative has expressed their desire to add me to their roster, specifically as Calgary's Local Poker Examiner.  I will be reporting on local poker events, as well as doing news pieces and strategy articles.  This will be my first actual writing job and I am very proud to be a part of this, especially when it relates to a field that I am already involved in heavily.  I realize that unless you as a reader have an interest in poker, you will likely not be too inclined to follow the column.  Regardless, continual thanks is in order.  This column has been used in my application as a type of portfolio, and the number of views is phenomenal.  As this grows, Logan's Letter will still be contributed to.  I appreciate all your support in getting me up and running folks.  Special thanks to Mark, who will be designing a logo that will be the face of the Letter from here on in.

 Chase your dreams folks, because even if you don't quite make it, the ride is exhilarating!

Until next time,

Logan