Get Well Soon Windows

Let's face it. Windows XP is insecure. If you are facing problems such as spyware, viruses or just plain bloat, you may want to read on. I don't consider myself an expert on any of these problems, but I do find that the things I've implemented here work for me to keep my computer free of the crap that is on the web.

To relieve yourself of most spyware, using an internet browser other than Internet Explorer will help quite a bit. In my opinion, Internet Explorer is too tightly integrated to the operating system and it does things without your permission (mainly due to ActiveX controls). My suggestion, use either Mozilla Firefox or Opera Web Browser. They're both free and pretty stable browsers. Also, get anti-spyware software. These programs will hopefully detect and eliminate spyware from your system, although you must remember to update your spyware definitions consistently. Microsoft Anti-Spyware and Spybot are probably the two most popular and overall best solutions for the normal user.

For viruses, I go the cheap route and mainly use AVG Anti Virus. It's free and I run it maybe every month or so just in case something I downloaded unto my system is infected. Remember to update your virus definitions as well!

There are also services that run in the background that you really don't need in my opinion. To see what services you are running, go to Start > Run. In the command line type "services.msc" and hit OK. Chances are you have a multitude of services that are running in Windows that are hogging up precious resources on your system. There are web sites that can help you address this problem. I myself have used two:

The Elder Geek

and

Black Viper

Both are pretty thorough in identifying which services you need or don't need. I've seen so much bloat running on so many people's computers it makes me want to vomit. Here is what is running on my system, just to give you an idea. This is only to give you an idea. Please be careful when adjusting certain services as you can potentially turn off a vital system service.







One last thing, if you are running Windows XP, be sure to have a router connected in between your cable/dsl modem and your main computer so worms and other nastiness don't creep in.

So in conclusion, to really secure yourself and have a decent running system:

- Use an internet browser other than Internet Explorer
- Run some sort of anti virus software on a regular basis
- Turn off unnecessary fluff (services, visuals, etc.)
- Protect from Spyware and adware using two programs and run them regularly:

1) Microsoft Anti-Spyware
2) Spybot - Search & Destroy

- Use a firewall or router of some kind

Big Slick Giveth and Big Slick Taketh Away

(Note: This post makes reference to Tom McEvoy's fine article in Card Player magazine. Many of the points made here are similar if not the same from the article, but I have added a few more points based on my own experiences. Keep in mind, I do not consider myself any kind of poker expert, as some of what I am about to tell you comes from my own experiences. Some of the things that I may mention may differ from what others may say.)

Let's say you're playing No Limit Texas Hold'em and suddenly you look down at your hole cards and see this:




Ace King (aka Big Slick) in No Limit Texas Hold'em is probably one of the more complex hands to play. Why do I say that? Because it is a hand that can essentially make you or break you. There are things about playing AK that may not seem readily apparent against certain opponents and in certain situations that you need to be aware of. Conventional wisdom says that you should raise with AK everytime pre-flop. But is that always the best strategy? For instance, let's say you were in early position and immediately raised with AK. Let's assume that you made this raise while playing in a table full of tight, solid players. Your raise right here will probably be a strong signal to the other players that you have a significant hand and you will probably win the pot right there without a fight a majority of the time. Let's now assume that you're playing in a loose table where the majority of the players behind you call your raise. What do you do now? Is your AK still a favorite to win the hand? Maybe, but then again maybe not. It will depend a lot on the type of game you're in, the size of the blinds, the size of your stack, your opponents, the texture of the board, and of course your position, which in this case is pretty bad. With all these variables that come into play in this situation, you have to be extra careful when playing AK. Against loose calling opponents, you may want to back away from any action unless you hit one of your aces or kings. Even if you try to trap these opponents with just a call before the flop, you're still asking for plenty of other callers who wouldn't have normally called had you raised. Also, even if you do hit an ace or king, you still could be up against someone who just hit a two pair, set or a flush draw. If you do sense a draw from an opponent, you must make the price of drawing fairly high to shove them out of the pot, given their loose play.

Ace King, in general, is a great raising hand, but not such a good calling hand. If you get reraised pre-flop, you may be against someone with a pocket pair. If they happen to have pocket aces, you are about a 10% dog. Against pocket kings, you are about a 30% dog. If your opponent has a pocket pair lower than those, you are at best, a 47% dog to win the pot. Does that mean you should call? It depends. Does that mean you should fold? It depends. I know that may not be the answer that many want to hear, but it's true. You must take into account all the variables in the hand and evaluate your situation on an individual basis. In a no-limit tournament situation where you must decide to call someone's all-in, it is vitally important since your stack can be at serious risk. In side games, you may be able to afford to gamble every now and then with AK against a reraise, but in a tournament situation, you must learn how to win with AK and beat AK at the same time.

I can remember during the 2004 World Series of Poker Scott Fischman was involved in two hands with AK, both with bad results and both with Doyle Brunson. In his first hand with AK, Fischman made a good-sized re-raise to Doyle's initial raise with pocket 7s. Brunson, apparently sensing two overcards from Fischman, moved all-in. After careful consideration, Fischman folded his hand, as he didn't want to risk elimination so early in the tournament. The second instance that Fischman held AK, he called the all-in raise of a short-stacked player from early position. Brunson, however, held a great hand himself with pocket kings. Brunson moved in. Fischman called and was eventually sent to the rail as he was schooled by the lengendary "Texas Dolly".

In general, you must not be afraid to be aggressive with AK. It is still a good hand to play and by no means should you be afraid to use it to take advantage of weaker opponents. But always remember that it is still a drawing hand and not a made hand. If you're one of those players that love to overbet the pot and get comitted with AK, you will probably find yourself in a tough spot every now and then.

In the works:
- Free Windows XP from Bondage

More Poker: Because Diversity is Fun

No Limit Texas Hold'em seems to be taking over the world these days, but little do people know that No Limit Hold'em was actually a dying game before Benny Binion reintroduced it when he started the World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe in 1970. Remember, poker is not the name of one card game, but of a variation of card games where betting is involved. The Poker Forum is one of the best places on the web that I've found with detailed rules about different variations of poker from Texas Hold'em to Mississippi Seven Card Stud.


Benny Binion - Founder of Harrah's Horseshoe Casino

And if I had to choose an ideal poker game, it would be pot limit with mixed games. A good mix of Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Low, Stud, Stud Hi/Low, Mississippi Stud, Lowball & Draw High. Good times...Good times.


In the works:
1. Big Slick giveth and Big Slick taketh away
2. Free Windows XP from Bondage

Jimmy John's: A Gift from God? Just maybe......

Jimmy John's was started in 1983, the year of my birth. Was this destiny? Probably not. But not only did it start in 1983, its birthplace was also in my home state of Illinois. Today, one look at their quaint, little sandwich shops may not be the most awe-inspiring sight for some people, but it's what's served inside that brings hoards of followers inside. Its founder, Jimmy John Liautaud, wanted a way to make some money as a college student at Eastern Illinois University by selling and delivering four different kinds of subs from a converted garage. Well, business grew and today Jimmy John's has over 16 sandwiches on their menu and is currently a multi-million dollar regional business based in Elgin, IL. With franchises expanding all the way to central America, Jimmy John's looks like it's going to continue to grow. Even though it may not be as big as some other sub sandwich vendors like Subway or Quizno's, it still doesn't change the fact that they make some of the best deli sandwiches money can buy.



Let me just say first off that I love their business model. It screams of operating efficiency and cost control. Most of their shops around Purdue consist of small, corner spaces that are the size of most Chinese take-out places. At the very most, they'll have about 5 or 6 people working there at one time and ordering is either a phone call or, as in my case, a short walk away. They bake fresh bread everyday and use high quality ingredients. Not only that, they make your subs any way you want and they make 'em super fast. I don't think I've ever spent more than a few minutes in a Jimmy John's. All I have to do is walk in, say hi to the guy at the counter, say "Turkey Tom", and I"m out the door with food in my hands 30 seconds later. I probably have bought a sub from them about 3 times a week this whole school year. Some of my favorites include: the Turkey Tom, Billy Club, Beach Club and Club Lulu. And if ever in a cheap mood, one could just buy Hellmann's mayo, deli meat, provolone cheese and whatever else you wanted at your local grocer and then buy day-old bread at a Jimmy John's which only sells for $.45. That way, you save a little money and still bring that Jimmy John's goodness home. And all I can say is amen to that.

Be sure to check out their menu here.


In the works:
1. Big Slick giveth and Big Slick taketh away
2. Free Windows XP from Bondage
3. More Poker: Diversity is Fun

Initiation

Let me start by listing a few things I will try not to do on this web log (for your sake and mine):

1. List trivial things that happened to me during my day, week, etc.
2. Vent my problems to the world
3. Make inappropriate comments toward other people

Things I will try to do:

1. Make this web log as informational and helpful as possible
2. Make this web log as entertaining as possible at the same time
3. Make fun of Johnny as much as possible


I guess this will have to be my compensation if I never write those cherished memoirs of mine 40 years from now. Eh.