text:
Hopefully, this isn't going to be merely a chronicle of my big victories. Those are great, and I'll post 'em for sure, but my plan is to post on all tournaments, and to focus on the hands that I think I misplayed, or I wonder whether I could have played better. The blog is not here to help me pat myself on the back. The blog is here to hopefully help me get better.
I'm clear on my skill level. It's a whisker above mediocre. I'd say that puts me in the 90th percentile of online players. I'd like to bump that over the Mendoza line.
I've decided that the 18K Guarantee is my game. I've found myself without a 'go-to' tourny for a few months, and I've been like a sad little dog ever since. I used to have much love for the $11 + 1 Rebuy + 1 Add-On that used to run at 8:30 until they moved it to a time that just doesn't work for me.
Gadfreys, I love that tournament. The 1 rebuy made it essentially a deep-stack, giving me room to maneuver, and it gave about 80% of the field the impression that they were in a true rebuy, which gave me typically 2 double-throughs by the end of the break. Those were the days. I don't have actual statistics, but it felt like I was making it to the money over 50% of the time. Move it back, PokerStars, move it back!
The 18K is not bad, and I recommend it to any MTT lovers out there who haven't discovered it. The pool is usually about double the guarantee, the buy in isn't too awful, and average play is . . . how to put it? What's the word? Bad. Real bad. Keanu bad. Federline bad. It's razing the earth and salting the ground. It is the reason that children and old men cry.
I think I can beat this tournament consistently enough to make it worth playing. So far, the results have been encouraging.
Last week, I was bounced deep into the tournament (and well into the shallow money) on a three outer. This week. . .well, read on.
And sorry about the image quality. I'm still learning.
MTT Report #0001
PokerStars 18K Guaranteed
Buyin: $25 + $2.50
January 6, 2007
Entrants: 1326
My Starting Table
Let's meet the contestants, shall we?
dtuff. A five-foot, three-inch tall albino lumberjack, dtuff plays Pot-limit Omaha and No Limit Hold 'Em tournaments when he isn't strip-cutting Amazon rain forest to make cardboard boxes for Nabisco Shredded Wheat. His nickname is "The Big Squirrel." A relative newcomer to the poker world, dtuff hopes tonight to win some respect from his peers and enough money for some new ankles. His favorite hand is Ace-Ten suited.
ParliPro. ParliPro enjoys a good challenge. He also enjoys a bad challenge. He also enjoys ketchup on his pancakes. He also smells like cheese. Not in a good way. His favorite hand is Aces in the pocket, the big weenie.
(Incidentally, thepokerdb.com informs me that dtuff and ParliPro are the only successful MTT players of note. Let's see what that information and a bag of potato chips will get us, hmmm?)
Julius_Goat. Our hero, (nominally). Today, the part of Julius_Goat will be played by Elliot Gould. His favorite hand at this time is T8 offsuit. Why offsuit? Why, indeed.
Nano_Pair. Fun Fact: Nano_Pair struts. He struts everywhere. An up-and-coming neurosurgeon for marine mammals, Nano_Pair cannot walk backward without giggling. Nano is credited in the recent hit film Spider Man 2 as 'Man in Crowd No. 874'. His favorite hand (honest) is KJ offsuit.
(I actually have a note on Nano from a previous tournament. It tells me . . . that I've played Nano in a previous tournament. Thank you, unhelpful note!)
brills7. This card-sharp from Northern Portugal is being sponsored today by Hagen-Daz iced coffee paddle pops. She's a master of the squeeze play. Her favorite hand is her left one.
howdumb. Do not be fooled by the name. Our lad howdumb is the 1995 Saratoga county spelling bee runner-up, and can be booked for children's parties. His favorite hand is K2 diamonds, which he calls 'The Whillacker'.
All_in_Man38. Our last-minute entrant to tonight's event fought the law. The law won. His favorite hand just lost.
rcray. Only the warrior who can crack rcray's Aces can win her hand in marriage. Her shock of red hair is distinctive, even across the felt and under a green visor. Her friends all call her "The Gootch." Her favorite hand is pocket threes.
pdjd20. The most feared player at the table, pdjd20 (short for "Pabst: Don't Just Drink 20") has a long history of days, which form weeks, months and even decades. pdjd raises with anything better than pocket 4s, but he longs someday for a hand he can call his own.
By the time the chips are done sliding, only one of these jokers will get into the money. Let's see who that might be . . .
HOUR 1: Bring Out Your Dead (Money)
Some people are going to play very badly now. They will open-push with Aces. They will call a fourth raise with Top Pair Low Kicker. Some of them will get a whole lot of chips. The rest are going to go away very soon.
Other people are going to be very lucky. Still others are going to be totally snakebit. Yes, it's the first hour. Let's watch half the field go 'bye-bye'.
Hand # 4: ($10/$20) Didn't I tell you some people are going to play very badly? What I didn't tell you is that 'some people' means 'me'.
With rcray limping in early position, I look down to see AJ offsuit. That's gold in middle position, Jerry! Gold! I pop it 4x the blind and am called in short order by Nano_Pair and rcray. Flop comes Ace high, two hearts which is cranberry muffin time as far as I'm concerned.
I pop it T200 into the 240 pot. Too high? Maybe, but in my experience, it takes a bet of about 80% of the pot to say 'I really am serious, I have a hand' and I'm planning on taking this little pot before a third heart on the turn ruins my day.
But then Nano min raises. He was really supposed to fold.
Shouldn't this smell fishy? Really fishy? Min raise? Doesn't that just scream: "Please call me, here are the odds to please call my set please call me now please?"
But then my brain tells me that Nano is stealing with a flush draw. Instinct. And then I push all-in, which I immediately regret. Thanks a lot, big brain.As the seconds tick by, I count all the hands that have me beat right now. I figure out just how far ahead I might be to a heart flush draw, which is what I hope I have. It's not really all that much.
I recall that I am deeply, deeply, stupid. And . . .
Nano folds. My read was right, perhaps. I am a genius, sort of. $590 profit, ship it.
In retrospect, I have to put him on absolutely nothing. You'll see why. At the time, I felt like I had just played the donkey and gotten lucky. And I had. A man in love with TPTK is a sad sight. That kind of play usually doesn't end too well.
Hand # 8: ($10/$20) This is a fun hand! ParliPro raises and rcray calls. Flop comes Jd 5c Ac.
ParliPro checks, rcray bets $90, about half the pot.
ParliPro performs the old check-raise and makes it $300.
rcray RE-raises nearly the minimum to $700.
ParliPro goes all-in immediately, and rcray calls immediately.
Goodness gracious. Later, ParliPro, none of your (admittedly numerous) outs are coming for you.
Don't look now, but we just had Starting Table Elimination #1.
Taking Parli's seat is nolivera64. Welcome to the table, nolivera64!
Hand # 9: ($10/$20) And . . . goodbye nolivera64, who calls a re-raise preflop with Ah2s, then goes all-in on a board of 2h 5h 3h Kd for the inside straight flush draw. All_In_Man lives up to his name with the call, and his Queens hold against (quick tally) 15 outs twice. Crippled, nolivera'll be out next hand.
We barely knew ye, nolivera64. We barely knew ye. Hello, SonnyInMtl.
Hand # 14 ($10/$20) Near death experience for Nano_Pair, whose aces get all-in against dtuff's flopped set of nines. An ace floats down on the river and takes a dump on dtuff.
Nano's got to be feeling good. You can realistically only hope to suck out like that once a tournament.
Hand # 21 ($15/$30) Hooray for Captain Spaulding! I have Kings in the pocket, and preflop action before me!
A raise from pdjd20, a call from dtuff. I pop it 4x to $360, fulling expecting at least one call. In my experience, the majority of players decide they are going to see a flop once they make that first call, and new information after they make that decision rarely sways them (how presidential).
Two calls. Let's see a flop.
5h Jh 6d.
I have no intention of giving somebody the right price to chase with hearts, so I bet $700.
Fold from pdjd, and a call from dtuff.
5s on the turn, and dtuff is immediately all-in for $920 more.
Hmmm. $920 to win $3445? Looks like I'm calling and hoping I'm not up against a set. Since I've been the aggressor all the way through, I don't see a set trying to scare me with a big bet. This smells like a flush draw to me. And If he called all that action pre-flop with A5 or (ye gods) K5, he's getting paid now.
But I did not put him on this hand.
Sorry, kitty. This is my pot pie.
Seriously. You guys. Seriously. That was the most successful player according to thepokerdb. ParliPro was second. Yow. I guess the moral here is that sometimes TPMK, no draw, paired board, just isn't worth it.
And that's Starting Table Elimination #2.
Welcome to the table, Raccoon4477.
Boom, baby. I'm rolling.
Hand # 32: ($25/$50): Raccoon scoops an big ol' pot with AK on a K high flop. Brills goes all-in on an Ace high flush draw, Raccoon goes all-in to isolate, and All_In_Man, who has everyone covered, is clearly aptly named, calling with Top Pair, Bad Kicker.
Big Slick holds for Starting Table Elimination #3. Goodbye Brills, hello grandslamal.
Hand # 39 ($25/$50): SonnyInMtl just decided that A8 was worth going to war over on a board that missed him. All_In_Man sure thanks you for all your chips.
Hello Moosebabies! You have my favorite name of this whole tournament! You sound like an extremely disturbing children's cartoon show!
Moosebabies! The new theater candy made of walnuts and nougat!
Moosebabies for drain commissioner!
Hand # 48 ($50/$100): Nano's badly hurt, as pdjd20's pocket sevens flop a QQ7 full house. Nano pot-commits himself on that flop with a huge bet (which I've observed is becoming a bit of a habit for him). Let's just say he doesn't get a fold. Tens are not enough, and Nano's M is in the red zone.
Hand # 49 ($50/$100): Nano, holding KJo, doubles through raccoon on a coin flip. Raccoon paired his low card and pulled ahead on the flop, but Nano caught a J on the turn.
Nano's got to be feeling good. You can realistically only hope to suck out like that once a tournament.
Hand # 56 ($50/$100): Now here's something not to do. I slough away a quarter of my chips to grandslamal (who is impressing me as a solid and cagey player) by raising pre-flop and then making an obvious continuation bet . . .
. . . with Ace five.
I cannot call al's immediate re-raise. But I can resolve to stop playing like that. Ugh.
Hand # 58 ($50/$100): All_In_Man rubs out howdumb on a board of T5K rainbow.
Severly shortstacked, howdumb pushed with T4.
I have to say it: How dumb, howdumb.
All_In_Man, severely big stacked, has the luxury of being able to call with T8 for Starting Table Elimination #4.
Greetings, quixotic78.
Hand # 61 ($50/$100): Meanwhile, the late streets continue their love affair with our goodbuddy Nano_Pair.
Nano demolishes raccoon and is plenty healthy again. Nano called aggression on the flop with nothing but overcards and caught his pair. Raccoon pushed very hard with a pocket pair below the board, the sicko. Now' he's got enough money to buy a bus ticket home.
Nano's got to be feeling good. You can realistically only hope to suck out . . . um, how many times CAN you suck out??? Let's see . . .
Hand # 63 ($50/$100): With A3, raccoon pushes $70 more into an already raised pot to go all-in. He's called by KQ and AJ. The raccoon is gone and rehillj takes over at the one seat.
Hand # 64 ($50/$100): Talk about tilting at windmills. After pdjd20 makes a huge re-raise, quixotic decides to call for his tournament life with 77. That's a terrible call, especially when pdjd flips over Aces, catches a set on the flop and QUADS on the turn.
And let's all say hi to Rudolph. He can play in all our reindeer games.
Hand # 66 ($50/$100): Moosebabies decides to risk his tournament with A2 offsuit, which is usually pretty bad against Ace with. . . anything else.
Goodbye, Moosebabies. I loved your name, but not your play. But in the spring, as the sap begins to run once more in the maple trees, and the flowers start to bloom, the wind will always whisper to me . . Moosebabies . . .. Moosebabies . . . Mooooosebabies. And here comes MaggieMayB into the Moosebabies Memorial Chair as we enter the break.
HOUR 2: How High's The Water, Mama?
Ah, the second hour. When stacks that have not improved or have lost a bit start to get desperate. When tight players loosen and loose players tighten. When the monster stacks get over-confident. The first wild hour. There's money to be made now. Bluffs are more allowable. The Goat may just bring his favorite trash hands out to play . . .
Hand # 76 ($75/$150) After an orbit or so of tight play, rehillj opens UTG with ATo and is called by a rather small-stacked rcray in the small blind with presto.
Flop: 3d 8s 3c
rcray pushes all-in to take it down . . . but he doesn't count on rehillj's precognative abilities. Rhillj calls with overs and catches the Ace he knew was coming on the turn.
I remind myself to push hard on rehillj if I have a good hand.
That's Starting Table Elimination #5. Howdy, richm1. Stick around, won't you?
Hand # 86 ($75/$150): After a decent run and pretty good play, rcray decides to play the TPTK he flops with AK a little slow . . . and $0 wagered on the turn gives grandslamal the pot odds he needs to get to the river, where he fills his flopped open-end straight draw.
When pdjd20 poooooshes, we have Starting Table Elimination #6.
Bye pdjd, bye rcray, Please join me in a round of applause for our new players, richmal and robbo33.
And let it be noted, grandslamal is impressing me as a dangerous player, and able to play on all streets. Luckily, he is sitting 2 to my left, so stealing is going to be a lot of fun.
Only All_In_Man, Nano_Pair, and Julius_Goat remain from the starting table.
Underscore in name = success. I'll sell you my lucky underscore for $800.
Hand # 89 ($100/$200) I have cowboys on the button, whoo hoo hoohoohoo! Sadly, this time it's folded to me, and neither blind bites on my min. raise.
I mis-played that situation. I think grandslamal is savvy enough to fear the min raise. He may have called on general principle if I'd popped it a bit more.
Money's good, though. I'll take money.
Hand # 98 ($100/$200): I'm getting antsy. My M is at 8 and it's fixing to get way worse if I play a hand and lose it. I see AQo in middle position with one limper and raisy-daisy to $800. All_In_Man, who's been loose all game, just calls and we're heads-up to the flop.
AIM bets the minimum into a raggedy 7s 9s 2h flop, and I decide to take my changes and push. After a long time, AIM mucks and I exhale. I don't even know if I wanted a call there; I suspect I was ahead, but didn't really want to race.
Got a little more room to breathe now, though.
Hand # 105 ($100/$200): With 92 offsuit, I check my option; rehillj on the button is the only limper. I'm hoping for a ragged flop to check-raise on.
And I get it. 3d 4d Jh hits the board. I check, and rehillj, who has been aggressive and unchallenged for quite a few hands now, makes a pot-size bet. I wait just a bit to sell the 'weak is strong' angle, and then re-raise x4. Fold.
Aaaaahhh, I like my play for a change! And, more breathing room.
Hand # 107 ($100/$200): Pocket Queens with a raise from Rudolph before me. I pop it up to $1800 and scoop the pot.
More room.
Hand # 108 ($100/$200): MaggieMayB out, pushing all-in with nothing but overs. PeposKool slides in.
Hand # 109 ($100/$200, $25 ante): Scary hand, questionable play here. I limp in EP with 66, call grandslamal's big raise, then dump about half my chips in on a ugly before al can make a continuation. Make a big move when out of position to take the momentum away from a LP raiser; call it continuationus interruptus.
Risky, but I am going with my gut. I wouldn't make this move if it weren't al, who I think is a solid enough player to be able to fold. After a looooooong consideration, he mucks.
Yeah, boy. I'm healthy now. Meet the table chip-leader.
Hand # 112 ($100/$200, $25 ante): rehillj DESTROYS PeposKool in the second of two consecutive hands. Nothing much esle to say. Pepos is behind and stays behind, and then he goes away.
Taking his place is lucky lindy2.
Hand # 115 ($100/$200, $25 ante): With Ace-low, I play some very dumb limp-and-check-call poker against Granslamal on an Ace-high board. Al's got the higher kicker, and the turn makes him Aces up.
What a fantastic way to lose half your chips!
I'm still healthy, but I'm not scary anymore.
Hand # 116 ($100/$200, $25 ante): And here's AhQd in middle position. OK, then. I'm perfectly happy with either a call or a fold-around. I raise it up to $1K and Nano_Pair doesn't hesitate to call.
Nano's been calling with nada all night. I'd really like a favorable flop.
How about 3d 4d Qh? That'll do. Nano's only got 1260, and that's how much I bet. Exactly that much, to communicate "I am pushing you off the pot here." I want a call.
Nada waits about 0.0003 seconds and boom, calls. He shows . . .
KhJd, for one overcard and a weaker backdoor flush draw.
Wow. I figured he had better than that. To recap:
He called half his chips off with KJo, without hesitation.
He called the rest of them off on a flop that missed him completely.
The turn is a King. Three outs? No problem for Nano_Pair.
Motherfather Chinese DENTIST!
Son of a farging bastiges ***ongle!
Meet the new short-stack. He's . . . me. He's steaming a little bit right now. Don't poke him.
Ghastly, ghastly call.
And you know what? I wanted him to make it. I practically begged him to.
After a while, I type: You called. Why?
He responds: Needed a break.
I reply: You're a sicko, but I like you.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Nano_Pair! Isn't he great?
Hand # 119 ($100/$200, $25 ante): richmal's QQ vs. Rudolph's AK preflop. The ladies don't hold up.
Better luck to our latest contestant, Kaymor116.
Hand # 125 ($100/$200, $25 ante): Nano_Pair decides to get feisty with Jacks. He pushes all in into a King high board and is insta-called by rehillj, who has King Jack.
Kill with KJo, get killed by KJo. How karmic. Bummer for you, Nano, nice knowing you.
Except . . .
The case Jack falls on the turn. One outer? We got your stinking one-outer right here.
I've lost count of how many times Nano's improved after getting all-in way behind.
Let's call him Clifford, shall we? He's a huge dog, but he always wins in the end. So be it. From now until the end of time, Nano_Pair shall be known in this blog as "Clifford."
Hand # 126 ($100/$200, $25 ante): After getting rogered by Clifford, I have an M just over 3, and the blinds are about to double in a minute, so I'm looking for a nice little place to open-push.
K4 offsuit? Gooooooooooooooooooot.
I'm called by All_In_Man, whom I actually have covered by just a little. Ouch, All_In_Man. AIM shows me A9o and I throw up in my mouth, a little bit.
Oh well, two live cards, two tiny stacks. Let's have a raise of the little people.
I pair my four on the flop, and AIM never improves.
Call me Travolta, I'm stayin' alive. AIM makes Starting Table Elimination #7, which means that it is down to me and Clifford from the original gang.
Rags4Me takes AIM's spot.
Hand # 128 ($200/$400, $25 ante): Kamor's pocket sevens fall to Rudolph's KQo.
Bye, Kamor. And now . . .ZionHsu.
Hand # 131 ($200/$400, $25 ante): Rags4Me desperation-pushed with Ace-rag and lucky lindy calls him with Tens. Tens hold.
After 5 hands at our table, Rags is gone. I feel like we should say a few words, but none of us know him. I opt for respectful silence.
Rags is replaced by the next guy, whose name is 22eddie.
Hand # 132 ($200/$400, $25 ante): Speaking of pocket tens . . . I have them. Lucky lindy bets x4, and I wait just a bit, hoping to put off some weak vibes and collect a call (probably unnecessary, since Lindy has me so covered he amost has to call). Lindy's behind, and he may be well behind. Just a feeling.
All in, and fold around to Lindy, who calls and shows . . .
Double through on the big stack. I'm feeling much better.
Hand # 144 ($200/$400, $25 ante): There's been some tight play for an orbit and a half, so with KJo (AKA 'Chico and the Man') in middle position, I raise to steal.
Which is great, until eddie22 raises me 3x. Unlike Clifford, I don't fall in love with this hand, which is essentially rags. I wouldn't even have tried the steal if the table wasn't so tight. I'm out of the hand as soon as the bet hits the table, though I pause long enough to make it seem like I'm thinking it over. I want the players who are paying attention to think I might have something reasonable.
Eddie shows me cowboys. He didn't need to show, but it's nice to have free confirmation that I'm reading well -- though Dr. Seuss is harder to read than that hand was.
Thanks, eddie22.
And that'll pretty much take us to the break.
LEVEL 3: Bubble In Paradise
And now, mein sprokets, is the hour where we get paid. Or don't. We'll hit the money bubble in about 1/2 hour, and I expect to see a general tightening now, with a few players taking advantage and stealing the not-inconsiderable blinds.
The bad news? Even with two double ups after Clifford the Big Red Dog bit me, I'm not in good shape. My M is a little over 3, and I have 3 hands before the blinds come. I'm going to have to make some obvious desperation plays with some very questionable hands. My goal is 2 live cards or an Ace, but I'll take what I must Ten high? Giddyup.
Thanks, Clifford the Big Red Dog. You donkey.
Hand # 152 ($300/$600, $50 ante): First hand, here it is. Ace six, one EP limper. Instructions? Push. Hold breath.
I give the EP limper no credit. Except for grandslamal, we've got Any Two Will Do players.
Holding breath . . .
Holding . . .
The limper (rehillj) calls (crap!) with . . . Ace five. (Yes!) And now I dance.
My kicker plays. Now that's a spicy meat-a-ball. I just doubled up on a steal and am over 10K in chips.
Hand # 153 ($300/$600, $50 ante): Ace QUEEN this time. I'm feeling it. Raise it up.Rehillj calls me in the BB.
Flop K 6 3 rainbow. I don't like that King. I do not.
I check. Min bet from rehillj.
And now I eat a brain tumor for breakfast and just call.
Turn, blank. Repeat. Check call. Somewhere, the smart part of my brain is screaming at me about what kind of player check-calls it down to the river. There is a reason this is no-limit.
River, blank. Repeat. Yes, that's right . . . ANOTHER check-call. I'll never understand my play on this one. Worst hand I played the whole tourny.
Rehillj has pocket sevens, and I just gave back most of the chips I just took from him. I'm a dumb-dumb sometimes. Like right now.
Luckily, I still have enough bullets to steal judiciously, and the knowledge that I played badly there. I will play better.
Hand # 157 ($300/$600, $50 ante): I find pocket dueces in the small blind. It's folded to me, and now I have a decision to make.Fold? I just can't see doing that. Unless Clifford in the big blind has a higher pair, I'm ahead. The odds of him having that higher pair are low. But a raise in the SB is such an obvious steal move that it almost invites a call, and I'd hate to have to play most flops with just ducks. An all-in raise wouldn't be fun either. Thanks to my donkish play on hand 153, Clifford's actually got me covered. And he WILL call with any overpair.
Limp? No way. I want to finish this before a flop if I can. I'd rather just have the blinds and antes.
So I raise it 4x to show I'm serious.
Clifford calls. I put him on overs or any ace.
Flop comes 757. I'm in the tank for a while.
I really like this flop. I'm almost certainly ahead if my read is right. If he's got a five or a seven, that's bad luck. If he's got an overpair, it's a cold deck.
I want the pot, I want it now. Problems?
1) I know just how easily my two pair can be counterfeited. Basically whatever comes on the turn besides a 2 or a 7 will add outs for Clifford's overpair.
2) I have seen Clifford play. He'll call with nothing but overs. I'm pretty sure of this.
In the end, I decide:
1) I'm ahead.
2) If Clifford calls, so be it, all the more chips if my hand holds up.3) I'm pretty crippled if I let this hand go.
4) I can't afford to give a single free card.
5) I'm taking these hobbits to Isengard.
I go all in. Clifford calls with his AJo, actually a better hand than I gave him credit for. I think: one of us was doomed as soon as the cards were dealt, and then I see who is doomed.Five on the river. Counterfeiting, it happens so often. Clifford has sucked out again. Stupid fat hobbit.
Starting Table Elimination #8 is me. Later, virtual poker players. I'm getting some rest, and Clifford is going on to make some money.
I got my money in with the best of it and a correct read, so I'm at peace with what happened. At the same time, I can't help but wonder if it would have been better to find a better spot. Pushing with 22 when you are pretty sure you're ahead is fine, but pushing against a known calling station is questionable. In other words, I knew I had a coin-flip, I knew I was getting the best of it, but I was still pushing with the knowledge that I'd probably get called. Given that my read was correct, was I far enough ahead to make the push the right move? I just can't see getting away from the hand on that flop.
The best thing would have been to throw it away in the SB, but I was ahead until the river. Even pre-flop I was a slight favorite. I improved every street until the river.
I guess I was close to committed when he called pre-flop (not a bad call there, either, given the range of cards I may have had). I was committed to a continuation, at the least, and I knew my continuation was going to have to be my whole stack if I had any hope of winning the pot right there (which was my hope).
The moral: stealing blinds is dangerous work, especially against somebody who is likely to call you down with extremely modest holdings. You can make a big score when your hand holds up, but you can find yourself playing with your tournament life on some awfully slim leads.
I'll say this: Reviewing the hand history, #115 and especially #153 are the hands that cost me. Badly played on all streets. I save these chips, I don't go out when I did, and those weren't luck -- they were me. In both cases, they were hands that I check-called down to the river. That's not a coincidence, and I am quite sure they're the only hands I played that way.
Good to know.
Not surprisingly, old Clifford didn't hold on for the final table. I looked him up about a half hour later just in time to see him crash and burn, calling off his whole stack after the flop with nothing but overcards. He has since married, had a wife, a pet carp, and five kids, and settled into a nice career in chartered accountancy.
We wish him all the best.
The Stats
Finished in 204th place.
157 hands played and saw flop:
- 6 times out of 18 while in small blind (33%)
- 7 times out of 19 while in big blind (36%)
- 17 times out of 120 in other positions (14%)
- a total of 30 times out of 157 (19%)
Pots won at showdown - 5 out of 10 (50%)
Pots won without showdown - 19


text:
Where is Karen Bowling? In 2001, Karen Bowling co-founded w/Rick Scott to form a walk-in clinic, Solantic in Florida.
With a conflict stinking up the air around Rick Scott as he took over Fl. as the governor, he sold the clinics.
His partner, Karen Bowling a former JAX TV anchor now has a new job in JAX as an administrative aide to the mayor. The former aide was replaced as Scott wanted with Karen Bowling.
Karen has a second NEW position as a new appointee on the Board of Trustees for Fl. State College @Jacksonville.
In 2003, Scott invested $5.5 million in PHARMCA Integrative Pharmacies, which operates drug stores.
Other investors are Home Depot, co-founder Arthur Blank and Staples founder and retired CEO, Tom Stemberg.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Creative Social Inspire 2013
7th Nov, 1.15 – 6pm
RichMix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road
E1 6LA London
[zilla_button url="https://csinspire.eventbrite.co.uk/" style="orange" size="small" type="square" target="_self"] TICKETS [/zilla_button]
In the next weeks running up to CS Inspire, we'll be taking a closer look at our awe-inspiring speakers. First up: film maker Chris Richmond whose acclaimed short film DRONE STRIKE won the Grand Jury prize for Best Short at the Rhode Island International Film Festival 2013
1 killing, 2 victims, 4000 miles. These are a few poignant words to describe DRONE STRIKE, which also went on to claim the festival's biggest prize: the festival nomination for Academy Award consideration at the 86th Academy awards in 2014. Chris is mad about film. He got his first taste for the film industry as an extra in iconic films such as 'Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace' and 'Sense and Sensibility'. He then honed his skills in production at Premier Films before setting up Atticus Finch Ltd an award winning creative production company. He has just made his debut as drama director and screenwriter for DRONE STRIKE and will share with us the inside take on the creative process of making this film which is sure to spark conversation and debate.
We went to pick Chris's brain and find out more about the film guru:
How would you describe your job to an alien?
I would use 'universal' sign language to say I work with very talented creative people to help realise ideas and make stuff happen.
How have you got to where you are today, and what drew you to film making
Film extra, worked for a feature animation studio, set up my own production company working in business communication and marketing, now expanding into drama and documentaries. It seemed like more fun than being a gardener.
What's been the biggest learning throughout your career so far?
My biggest learning I think is best summed up by Paul Smith's quote "You can find inspiration in anything" I have found this to be very motivational in my work.
Which films have inspired you most in your own work?
Rumblefish, Brazil, Leon
If you could travel in time, where would you go and what would you do?
I would like to time travel everywhere and be a photographer.
If you could go back and do one thing differently, what would it be?
Stick to the plan. Remain focused on the goal.
What inspired you to make Drone Strike?
An article in Esquire magazine. Got me thinking on what it would be like going to war while maintaining a normal family life.


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D&G Loose Knit Hooded Sweater
The always creative D&G has this loose knit hooded sweater that you might buy now for next fall/ winter season. It's 100% cotton, has a Hood, the long sleeves feature ribbed knit cuffs, and kangaroo pockets that have a leather D&G logo patch...........On Sale $209.00
Cotton/Polyester fleece zip hoody. Rib cuffs, hood edge and hem. Drawcord at hood opening.Tags: mens, gray, hooded sweaters, RVCAAdded 8 Years Ago from Rvca


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The Great Big Toys R Us Book is out and filled to the brim with deals on all the top toys for Christmas. The thick toy flier released on BlackFriday.com also notes the mega store is offering no upfront fees layaway, a price match guarantee, a 10 percent cash back program, and a buy online and pick up in store service. The toy catalog posted on the shopping deals website has not yet been published on the store website, so the delicious bargains are considered a leaked and unofficial version, and therefore subject to change.
The Great Big Toy Run sweepstakes noted on the flier offers one lucky grand prize winner the change to be flown to New York City and go on what is being touted as a "shopping spree of a lifetime" at the Times Square Toys R Us store. A total of 100 first prize winners reportedly win a $100 store gift card. A purchase is not necessary to enter, and the winners will be dawn on November 21, 2012, according to the BlackFriday.com posted flier.
The toy coupons listed in the booklet are valid from October 28 through November 21, 2012. Special offers reportedly include $30 off select LEGO building items, 25 percent off select Imaginarum toys, $15 of savings on the Crayola Light Designer, and $20 in savings on the Barbie Sisters Cruise Ship. Shoppers utilizing the coupons can also reportedly save $50 on select Little Tikes items and $60 on select Power Wheels ride-on toys. A host of learning toys for toddlers and electronics for older children and teens are also listed in the Great Big Toys R Us catalog published via the Black Friday shopping deals website.


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Family Law
Family Law Questions? Ask a Family Lawyer Online.
Welcome and thank you for your questionI am an attorney with more than 25 years of experience and I look forward to providing you true and correct information in this regard.Please remember, I can only answer what you ask and so if you have follow up questions, please post them here for full and accurate information before rating. If there are no other questions in this regard then I thank you in advance for your positive rating
So you consulted with him and then decided to hire him and pay his retainer? Is that correct?Is he now deducting those hours from your retainer?
If there was no agreement verbal or written for the consultation before you hired him - then no. There is no legal obligation. Though he will bring a lawsuit against you, I suggest you would win.
However, I suggest you may want to file a Complaint and a fee dispute with the Michigan Bar Association for his missing the court dates/motions and also the extra fees.Here is the link to do that.


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St. John's Wort
St. John's Wort
The herb St. John's Wort is believed to be helpful in relieving mild to moderate depression, but should only be taken under a physician's supervision. St. John's Wort may clash with other medications or foods a patient is taking, and the efficacy of the supplement is not regulated or assured.
A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Fire Fox and chrome browser.


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14 Effective Home Remedies for Burns
Some of the home remedies for burns include the use of cold water, honey, fruits, turmeric, tea bags, plantain leaves, calendula, salt, papaya, lavender oil, potato, vinegar, Aloe Vera, and tea tree oil in different forms. Burns refer to a condition that occurs when a part of body is affected due to thermal, chemical, or electrical effects that heat up the body cells, thereby damaging them.
Burns are categorized into three types, depending on their severity. Simple home remedies may alleviate the effect of burning in a few days in case of first degree burns, but for third degree burns, medical consultation must be sought immediately.
What are Burns?
Burns represent a serious condition in which a body part is affected by fire or any electrical object. Subsequently, a group of cells or tissues becomes damaged and the result can be very painful.
There is a variety of causes that form the base of this health problem. Let's explore some of the common causes of burns.
Causes of Burns
Burns may be due to daily activities like the use of a toaster, stove, iron, or common chemicals. Thermal burns are caused due to holding hot objects, splashing hot liquid, fire, or exposure to steam. Electrical burns are due to electrical items like ovens. Chemicals may also cause serious injuries and accidents. Radiation, like ultra violet rays, are also major causes of skin damage and "sunburns". Overexposure to the sun, hot water baths, and smoking carelessly are some of the common causes of burns that occur through normal behaviors.
Types of Burns
On the basis of the degree of severity, burns are classified into three categories.
First Degree Burns: Burns of the first degree affect only the outermost skin layer and they usually lead to redness and pain. They are less severe and can be easily cured by following ancient home remedies.
Second Degree Burns: Burns of the second degree affect the skin layer and also certain deeper layers, thereby damaging blood vessels and underlying tissues, thus resulting in the appearance of blisters. It may sometimes cover larger portion of the body and may also be cured by home remedies, but medical attention might need to be sought.
Third Degree Burns: Unlike first degree and second degree burns, third degree burns are the most severe and medical action must be sought as soon as possible. Such burns destroy the skin, blood vessels, tissues, glands, nerves and even bones. These burns appear white in color, leathery or charred and are usually painless due to nerve damage. These burns may also be the cause of death in fires.
First and second degree burns are characterized by following symptoms-
Pain and swelling
Peeling off of the skin
Itching and burning sensation
Fever and weakness
Purple color
Skin becomes dry
Less urination
14 Effective Home Remedies for Burns
Some of the immediate and long term treatments through home remedies are explained below.
Cold Water: This is the best way to cool burns. Put the burnt part under running cold water or applying ice on the affected area. This should be continued for up to 10 minutes. One must also drink at least 8-10 glass of water daily until the burn is cured.
Honey: It is medically proven that applying honey over second degree burns prevents any kind of infection from forming. A few drops of honey are sufficient to prevent infection, as it is highly concentrated and powerful.
Fruits: Fruits are rich in antioxidants. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, fruits must be taken regularly for the early healing of burns. Tomatoes, cherries, and blueberries are good sources of antioxidants. Vegetables like peppers and squash are also antioxidants.
Turmeric: It is good to take turmeric in the form of powder mixed in warm milk at night while sleeping. This is known to cure inflammation and pain.
Tea Bags: Dip tea bags in water and keep them over the burnt surface. This helps in drawing heat from the wound and providing a soothing effect due to the presence of tannins. Otherwise, tea can be boiled in a cup of water and strained. This can then be applied over the burnt area using a clean cloth or cotton.
Plantain Leaves: Plantago, which is otherwise known as 'Isab Ki Bhusi', is known to have expectorant properties, as well as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. These also produce mucilage, which is a source of wetness in the burnt area. Juice from its leaves should be applied on the burnt portion of body for quick healing and relief.
Calendula: The herb calendula is good for the treatment of burns, as it regenerates the burnt skin and reduces the appearance of scars. It can be regularly applied during the healing process.
Salt: Mouth burns caused due to eating hot food can be relieved by rinsing out your mouth with salted water. This should be done every 2 hours until the pain lessens.
Papaya: Papaya can be applied to the affected area because it contains enzymes that have the ability to remove all the dead cells. The pulp should be applied after 3-4 days of the burn incident, after the internal healing process has already started.
Lavender Oil: The oil obtained from lavender is known to be effective for burns. These must be applied with gentle hands a few days after the injury occurred.
Potatoes: It is observed that the peel of boiled potatoes can be applied over the burnt area in the initial phase of healing. This aids in early recovery and protection from infectious agents. This technique is practiced in many hospitals.
Vinegar: As an antiseptic and astringent, vinegar works well in preventing infections. However, vinegar should be diluted with water and applied over the affected area.
Aloe Vera: The gel obtained from Aloe Vera is well known for its healing properties, analgesic action, and cooling effects. According to the Doctor's Book of Home Remedies, Aloe gel should be applied 2-3 times a day over the burnt area.
Tea Tree Oil: Oil obtained from the tea tree should be diluted with a small amount of water. This is to be applied over the affected area.
It is advised that individuals who have suffered from a third degree burn should massage the affected area regularly. This increases the blood circulation and nutrient and oxygen supply in the same area so as to recover and regain the lost cells and tissues.
This is a critical period when special requirements of the body are to be fulfilled. Large amounts of minerals and vitamins must be consumed in the regular diet of the burnt individual. More proteins in the form of pulses and green vegetables should be given for a more rapid regeneration of tissues.
Food items like coffee, tea, tobacco, and alcohol are to be avoided, since these are stimulants. Red meat, pasta, bread, donuts, French fries, and other refined items should not be consumed by burn patients.
References: University of Maryland Medical Center and Doctor's Book of Home Remedies


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Post-Superstorm Therapy On Asbury Park Lounge's Menu
For many shore dwellers, the ten months that have elapsed since Superstorm Sandy seem like a matter of hours. Worries about rebuilding homes and lives mingle with fears over the impact of whatever storm arrives next. A community art project Tuesday in Asbury Park aims to address the past and future, and provide a forum for discussion.


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Chapel Gathering - "Martin Luther King's Choices and Ours"
When Thursday February 27, 2014 @ 11:00 AM (1246 days ago)
Where Seminary, 215, Martin Chapel
Duration 45 minutes
Martin Luther King's Choices and Ours" – Matthew 25: 31 -40 Dr. Vincent Harding
The entire campus community is invited to every chapel worship service on campus.
Eastern Mennonite Seminary hosts chapel gatherings in Martin Chapel every Tuesday and Thursday; EMU Campus Ministries hosts chapel gatherings every Wednesday and Friday in Lehman Auditorium. Specifics and occasional changes are noted in individual chapel listings.
Intended Audience General Public
Contact Information
Name Seminary
Phone # 540.432.4260


text: For those who are looking for a unique business- concert- or conference hall, the new Gloppehall is exactly the right thing. The Gloppehall is spread over 945 m² in the mountains. Owner and operator of the hall is Byrkjedalstunet, who has their office at the feet of Gloppedalsura. The driving time from Stavanger is approximately one hour.Gloppehallen also offers at maximum 200 dinner places for guests. The Byrkjedal Music Hall, which is a part of the Gloppehall, has a maximum capacity of 300 persons for concerts or lectures. Near by the Gloppehall is also the restaurant Ovalen located, which is 430 m² large, and space for up to 300 guests. In addition the Ovalen is also rented by the Gloppehall. Additionally, Byrkjedalstunet has a restaurant, accommodation, factory outlet of an own candle foundry and establishments for conferences.


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President Obama published his "new" healthcare plan today, an attempt at a) reconciling the Senate and House versions of the plan and b) an attempt to get a couple of Republican votes to get the plan passed and up and running. The ETF of healthcare XLV sold off with its publication. I am not sure why. The plan is dead on arrival barring the Democrats slipping the Republicans, en masse, mood altering drugs in the Senate cafeteria.
If you want details, good for you, they can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting. But I am more concerned with the aftermath of the failed summit to be and where the industry ends up.
The healthcare ETF sold off a little less than one percent due to proposed regulations on health insurers and proposed taxes on device makers among the many disparate parts of the plan. I am not sure why; it is hard to imagine any Republicans breaking ranks in the current, polarized climate in Washington. Leadership might take their parking place away for breaking ranks. Seriously, given that Republican leadership has retreated into ideology and has never really attempted to negotiate any part of the bill in good faith, I can only assume this plan is dead on arrival and the meeting this week will really be a contest about who can get more time on the network news. I think watching curling would be more fun, or the compulsory short program in ice dancing, or maybe the luge.
Details – the details are many but there are two salient features of the plan. First, insurers get hammered and are being turned into utilities, and, given the monopolistic nature of insurance companies in most states right now, if you are an economic purist, it's not only a good thing but a necessary thing. Republicans will not like this – too much campaign money at stake even though more than 80% of the American people think health insurance companies are the number one problem in healthcare in the US. Second, there is a new tax on high-income earners that has a disproportionate impact on self-employed and people living or earning a lot of unearned income. These are seriously Republican people as well.
A Bipartisan Compulsory Tango – Given the details and the terrible leadership on the Hill in both parties, bi-partisanship isn't going to happen. Republicans have no interest in governing, just making noise in advance of the election, and are using ideology as if being elected means all you do is to continue to campaign, putting them out of touch with the mainstream of the American people. Democrats are still trying to take revenge on George Bush for legally stealing the election in 2000 and handing them a busted budget and two wars he forgot to pay for, and that means they are way left and out of touch with the mainstream of the American people.
The Crash – The American people are going to be mad at someone when this plan crashes yet again, not just because they worry about their healthcare but because they wonder why time is being spent on the issue when 20% or more of their fellow citizens are unemployed, underemployed, discouraged or have flat out dropped out of the work force. And my guess is they will take it out on two groups – health insurers and incumbents.
The Aftermath – Assuming the plan is dead on arrival – or close to it – the next logical step will be a separate piece of legislation about reforming health insurance regulation. If the Dems were listening to people, that is what this draft of the plan would be about. It is not that health insurance companies are the bad guys, it is more that they are collectively one of the worst managed, if not the worst managed industry in America after domestic auto companies. They are risk managers and investment managers, not business people, and have a tin ear that has been petrified and turned to stone. And when the Obama plan fails, new legislation will be proposed and in 2010 or in 2011, despite lobbying, the insurers are going to get hit hard by new legislation.
I would avoid the XLV or individual health insurance companies. When the plan fails, they will probably pop up for a while, but long term, the insurers and even many providers are going to take a hit as new regulations and cost controls ooze into the industry via federal and state regulations. More on that later.


text: Hello All, I am running Torque-2.3.3 in my site with --ha flag and seeing a lot of latency during simple operations like qstat and pbsnodes. Same is true with Torque-2.3.1 too. Is this a known issue or do I have to configure something in Torque to get it to respond better? In my production setup I have 2.1.8 which works like a charm, but does not have the HA capability. I also tested the response with 2.1.10 and that also seems to work fine. Please let me know if you need me to send more info like config, etc. The setup seemed to be working fine until I started adding more and more nodes to it. Thanks and regards, Prakash


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Do you want to make Ohio.com your homepage?
By Andy Harris
Ohio.com correspondent
In this file photo, Kent Roosevelt's Trei Thomas (right) stiff arms Cuyahoga Falls' Christopher Harris as he carries a 39-yard pass for a first down during a past game. Thomas and quarterback Tra'Von Chapman were named to the Associated Press Division II First-Team All-Ohio squad. (Michael Chritton/Akron Beacon Journal file photo)
Click here to read or leave a comment(s) on this story.


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Giving confirmation to the speculation about '300' follow-up movie, Legendary Pictures made public that the script is being developed.
This past week has been filled with many reports about various sequels on the work. One of them speculated about the development of sequel/prequel to the Greek warriors movie "300". But, words circulating around the epic drama won't be a mere rumor any longer.
Recently, Legendary Pictures have given out confirmation that the studio have been developing the follow-up of "300" for Warner Bros. Pictures. The production company further announced that they will team up with Frank Miller, the original creator of "300", for the script of the second movie and is looking forward to sign director Zack Snyder once again to take the behind-the-lens role as helmer.
On the part of Snyder, the filmmaker has confessed that though he is definitely interested in working for the film's future project, he won't make any commitment yet until he has seen where Miller will be taking the next movie. Additionally, Snyder allegedly is the one who has ignited sequel speculation once again when he discussed about the possibility of the second movie at the 34th Saturn Awards on June 24.
Telling the epic story how the army of 300 Spartans fights to their death against Xerxes and his invading Persian army, "300" stars Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham and Dominic West among others. It has opened atop box office chart on its opening weekend pulling in an impressive $70.8 million and went on to collect as much as $456.1 million worldwide.


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More than 50 years after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the tragedy is still creating controversy among journalists, authors and historians.
"The Last Word on the Assassination" brings together a panel of noted JFK authors and researchers for a discussion and webcast on the assassination. Moderated by longtime TV host and producer John Barbour, the event will focus on an investigation launched by former New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison, the only law enforcement official to ever bring someone to trial for the murder of President Kennedy.
Barbour will also screen his award-winning film, "The JFK Assassination: The Jim Garrison Tapes," which Barbour calls "the greatest story never told."
Event panelists include:
- Dick Russell, co-author of Jesse Ventura's "They Killed Our President" and "The Man Who Knew Too Much" on the JFK assassination
- Joan Mellen, a professor at Temple University and author of "A Farewell To Justice: Jim Garrison, JFK's Assassination, and the Case That Should Have Changed History "
- Jim Marrs, author of "Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy," a book used as the foundation for the Oliver Stone film JFK.
If you can't make it to this event, you can still watch the live webcast at 7 p.m. on Jan. 31


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Chapter Two Transportation Services
Chapter Two
Transportation Services
|Matthew Chambers
The U.S. water transportation services industry comprises companies that carry freight or passengers on the open seas, the Great Lakes, or U.S. inland waterways; offer lighterage1 and towing services; operate canals and terminals; and own and charter vessels and handle cargo and passengers. The major segments of the industry are domestic and international freight transportation, passenger transportation, and port and terminal services. This chapter displays information on vessel and terminal operating agreements, vessel types, and the world and U.S. fl eet. Finally, port facilities, locations, and port calls data are shown.
1 Lighterage is the carriage of goods by a lighter (a ship or barge used to load or unload a vessel) and charges assessed therefrom.


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- 1 of 1 Photos | View More Photos
U.S. stocks rose sharply in afternoon trading Friday as investors found bright spots in the government's monthly employment report, including solid growth in construction and manufacturing jobs. Expedia and several other companies rose after reporting higher earnings than analysts were expecting.
The gains added to a strong finish for stocks a day earlier and had the market on track to notch a slight gain for the week.
KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average rose 117 points, or 0.8 percent, to 15,745 as of 1:34 p.m. Eastern time. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 16 points, or 0.9 percent, to 1,789. The Nasdaq composite gained 53 points, or 1.3 percent, to 4,110.
WEAKER JOB GROWTH: The Labor Department said early Friday that U.S. employers added 113,000 jobs last month, less than the average monthly gain of 194,000 in 2013. This follows December's tepid increase of just 75,000. Job gains have averaged only 154,000 the past three months, down from 201,000 in the preceding three months. Still, the latest data also showed that manufacturers, construction firms and mining and drilling companies added strong 76,000 jobs combined, a strong showing.
INVESTORS REACT: Stocks initially turned lower right after the jobs data came out, then quickly reversed course.
"The market had a tough time figuring out what to do with the (jobs) number when it first came out," said J.J. Kinahan, chief strategist with TD Ameritrade. "As the day went on, it just kind of discounted some of the negatives in there to say, 'What do we really want? We want a growing economy, and these are the jobs we got for a growing economy."
UNEMPLOYMENT FALLS: The government also reported that the nation's unemployment rate dipped to 6.6 percent in January from 6.7 percent in December. It was the lowest rate since October 2008.
BROADER GROWTH TREND INTACT? Some market watchers interpreted the latest job numbers as not necessarily indicative of the overall strength of the U.S. economy and job market, citing the likely impact of unusually harsh weather that battered much of the East Coast this winter. "This was heavily influenced by cold weather in January and should not be viewed as a break in the trend," said Tim Hopper, chief economist at financial services company TIAA-CREF.
U.S. EARNINGS: Online travel service Expedia soared $8.232, or 12.6 percent, to $73.38 after reporting that its profit and revenue jumped on increased hotel bookings and revenue from a new venture. LinkedIn fell $15.20 or 6.8 percent, to $208.20 after the company said its performance may falter this year as it spends more on long-term projects and revenue growth slows. Fairway, a grocery store chain, plunged $3.22, or 28.2 percent, to $8.21 after it reported a loss in its fiscal third quarter and said its CEO is stepping down.
CALMER WATERS: After a turbulent start to the week, did the jobs data give investors reason to feel better? Hard to say. The upward trajectory of stocks Friday is an encouraging sign, said Brad Sorensen, director of market and sector analysis at the Schwab Center for Financial Research. "It doesn't mean there's not more downside over the next week or two," he said.
BUYING BONDS: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged down to 2.67 percent from 2.70 percent as investors moved money into bonds. It slid as low as 2.63 percent shortly after the jobs report came out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. The yield, which affects rates on mortgages and other consumer loans, had been edging higher after falling to 2.58 percent on Monday, the lowest level in more than two months.
TURNAROUND WEEK: The market dug itself a hole at the start of the week, plunging more than 2 percent on Monday. But stocks were on track to finishing slightly ahead for the week. The Dow was up 0.3 percent for the week, while the S&P 500 was heading for a 0.4 percent bump.
IN THE GREEN: The gains were broad. All 10 sectors in the S&P 500 index moved higher. Three stocks rose for every one that fell.
BON VOYAGE: Online travel sites were soaring in afternoon trading. In addition to Expedia, TripAdvisor leaped $7.97, or 10.3 percent, to $85.10.
MOVING ON UP: Among the stocks posting sizable gains were publishing company News Corp., which rose $1.22, or 7.6 percent, to $17.24. The Gap also added $2.43, or 6.1 percent, to $42.14.
SLIDING DOWN: Cigna led the roster of decliners in the S&P 500 after reporting earnings that fell short of analysts' expectations. The company sank $8.77, or 10.3 percent, to $76.60. Also sliding was Wyndham Worldwide. It shed $2.97, or 4.1 percent, to $69.41.