Jonathan Miller's Blog, page 47

The RP: Survive and Advance at the World Series of Poker

As millions of Americans celebrate ournation’s birthday with parades, grill-outs and firecrackers, I will be stuck in a cavernous, over-air-conditioned, non-descript warehouse, leaning over cushioned tables with several hundred other exhausted, bleary-eyed (mostly) men.

And having the time of my life.

Yes, in a few hours, we will begin Day 2 of the World Series of Poker’s “Little One for One Drop” tournament, and I’m still in the hunt. (Read more about the tournament and the incredible charity...

Julie Rath: Rehearsal Dinner Options for Grooms

n our search for dashing rehearsal dinner options for grooms, Brian Leahy (founder ofThe Groom Saysblog) and I start the day at Kmart and end up atMichael Andrews Bespoke. Part I of the interview (at Kmart) can be read on Brian’s bloghere, and Part II (at MAB)here.

Special thanks to our gorgeous models, Alex and Adam, and toMichael Andrews Bespoke.

Images courtesy ofJoanna Wilson Photography.

Will Meyerhofer: The Downward Drift

“I never thought I’d end up working as a contract attorney doing doc review in a windowless basement,” my client bemoaned. “But then I read that piece about the lawyer who’s working as a clerk at WalMart. At least I’ve still got it over him in terms of job prestige.”

Well, you know how obsessed lawyers are with job prestige.

There’s a phrase, “The Downward Drift,” that crops up in discussions of serious mental health diagnoses like schizophrenia, and/or chronic substance abuse. The idea is that...

John Y’s Musings from the Middle: Compromise

My ingenious solution to compromise when two strong-willed individuals are trying to fairly resolve a disagreement:

Josh Bowen’s Thursday World Series of Poker Workout for The RP

Globally-recognized personal trainer Josh Bowen will this week be providing intensive physical workout routines for The RP as he prepares to compete in the World Series of Poker.

This morning’s workout is below.

Visit Josh’s web site here and sign up for his newsletter here.

Josh Bowen: The Anti-Crunch — 10 Better Exercises than Crunches or Sit-ups

Do me a favor and Google “ab workout” and see what the response will be. 59,000,000 results for “ab workout!” That is astounding and also very scary. The general consensus of anyone with a great stomach (both male and female) is they must do thousands of crunches and/or sit-ups. When in all reality the best stomach physiques have less to do with how often they exercises their “core” and more to do with what they fueled their body with i.e. what they ate.

Shocking huh? You were under the impres...

The RP at the WSOP — Day One of the “Little One for One Drop”

Yesterday’s $1500 no limit hold ‘em tournament was a wild ride. For hours, I was grinding and grinding effectively, doubling, then tripling my stack.

Then, I was dealt the worst hand of all: Two Kings. Of course, two kings is the second best opening hand in all of hold ‘em. But when one of your table mates is dealt the best hand — two Aces — you are in a whole mess of trouble.

When you are dealt two kings, you feel like the world is in your hands — and a whole mess of your opponents’ chips. You...

Brooke Masters: New York law chief turns spotlight on dark pools

The US financial regulatory system can be described as a bowl of spaghetti. Multiple watchdogs with overlapping jurisdictions routinely tangle with each other over how best to keep markets safe and honest.

Financial groups routinely moan about the contradictory requests and soaring compliance costs that result.

This week, Eric Schneiderman, the New York attorney-general, reminded investors why the US system of competitive regulation can sometimes work in their best interests. Mr Schneiderman f...

John Y’s Musings from the Middle: Dreaming

Today I learned that if you wake up from a dream in which you drank down 3 full glasses of water and 3 bottles of water and were looking for another cup of water to guzzle when you awoke, chances are high that when you wake up you will discover that you feel thirsty.

And it is likely you will get out of bed and stumble sleepily into the kitchen and quickly drink one and a half glasses of water and half a glass of lemonade. And then go back to bed and turn off the light.

Turn on the light again...

Roy Herron: The 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Fifty years ago, when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, I was in elementary school and had no clue about the law that would drastically change daily life for African-Americans. I surely had no idea how it would improve life for white Americans like me.

This historic legislation outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin at “places of public accommodation.” The movie theater I frequented had to discard its “coloreds only” entranc...