***Official SSNL What Now? Panic/Don't Panic Thread

[Grunch]

D -

Chances are really good that after a year at your high-paying but sucky job, you will yearn for a major change. Money != life, either. Success at occupation does not equate to success in life. But you'll find out, and I wish you the best of luck in your chosen career.

And as far as the restaurant buisness goes, if you are a "foodie" it's a great life. If you aren't, its a horrible life. I hope you're a foodie. And that doesn't mean, "I like to eat!" [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[4_2_it]

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I hope you're a foodie. And that doesn't mean, "I like to eat!" [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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Damn, thought I might have qualified as foodie for a minute there [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[BukNaked36]

I'm an engineer with a wife and two kids. My job's been a pain in the ass lately, and as much as I love my family, a guy still needs a hobby - something for yourself.

As I have gotten older, I seemed to have lost my passion for things I used to love. I played football, basketball, softball and golf. I was a hardcore football and basketball fan. I got into video games (loved Tribes) for a while. But anymore, none of it holds my interest. I have to admit I felt a little lost. Is this what a mid-life crisis feels like - you just don't give a [censored] about anything anymore?

Then I found poker. Poker has been the ultimate hobby. I enjoy playing with my fish friends. I enjoy being a student of the game. It requires math, skill, tactics, has an infinite learning curve, and the 2p2 community is incredible. Of course, poker also has the ultimate bonus of actually making me money. I can dream about buying fun stuff with poker money - like an Xbox 360 to play with the kids, or I can dream a little bigger and think about buying a car. What other enjoyable hobbies can you say that about?

I see posts basically saying "get some perspective on things". I've got plenty of perspective. It's that the one enjoyable hobby I've found is getting demolished by some moronic Senator's drive to become president. It's not about ethics. I've got 3 state approved casinos within 2 hours drive. I can buy state sponsored scratch offs and lottery tickets at any gas station. How can that be OK and online poker is somehow the work of the devil?

In the end, this isn't a huge change to my life. I love my family, I make a good living, and am generally pretty happy. I'm just pissed the one passtime I still truly enjoy is being destroyed for no real reason.

[Ratamahatta]

I'm not from US but I have been so depressed for the last couple of days. I don't know how you guys can stay so calm. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Keyser.]

Keep your hopes up! A promising article from Business Week: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/c...ndex_technology

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LOOKING FOR LOOPHOLES. But U.S. casinos hoping for a slice of the $12 billion online market aren't so sure the party is over. They see a reason to celebrate in the language that ended up on the Senate's cutting-room floor. Unlike the version that passed the House earlier this year, the approved legislation does not explicitly outlaw betting on online casino-style games, such as poker and blackjack. The bill does bar financial institutions from accepting "illegal" bets, leaving the question unanswered as to whether some forms of online gambling are permitted. To date, sports betting is one of the only forms of gambling explicitly outlawed in the act.

The American Gaming Association, which lobbies for the U.S. casino industry, took a neutral stance on the bill, even though several prominent members, such as MGM Mirage (MGM), have said they would like to start online sites. AGA president and CEO Frank Fahrenkopf says the organization does not believe the act eliminates the possibility for U.S.-based casinos to open online sites, regulated by states or the federal government, in the future. "This bill did not make anything legal or illegal," says Fahrenkopf. "What it did was affect the mechanism by which Internet gambling takes place…and there is some question as to whether or not that will be effective."

Indeed, Nevada Congressman Jon Porter introduced a bill in May that would study whether online gambling sites, run by U.S. companies, could be effectively regulated. Fahrenkopf believes that bill is likely to be considered early next year. The measure is backed by the casinos and still gathering support. "It is still Congressman Porter's intention to move ahead with this bill," says Trevor Kolego, the congressman's legislative director. "We hope to pass it, if not by the end of this session, then next session."

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later

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If the bill becomes law, they say that U.S. gamblers will still bet on these sites. But rather than using credit cards, they'll employ other e-wallet payment services based outside the U.S., such as NetTeller and FirePay. Frank Catania, former director of gaming enforcement in New Jersey and president of Catania Consulting Group, calls the law "a sham" that won't stop online betting in the U.S. "There are so many alternate means of payment that it is not going to stop what is happening here," says Catania. "We are going to be spending a lot of money for enforcement, and it is going to be worthless."

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[Keyser.]

Pretty good post, Grunch, but I think it's kinda backwards for some people. I don't think many of us believe that poker is life, but for some of us, poker was a way for us to get by without working some crap 9 to 5 job for some company that we don't give a [censored] about. Like this summer I played some silly game for a few hours each day and spent the rest of the time doing whatever I wanted with friends or family. It's not life, but for a lot of people it's a way for life not to suck. You don't get to do much "living" during your evening hours off and 2 weeks paid vacation per year.

Also I think this post will become irrelevant soon as I'm optimistic about the future of the industry.

[matrix]

[ QUOTE ]
owning a restaurant or 2 around the world...

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db - before you branch out into buying restaurants we need to have a conversation [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

(No I don't want to work for you by that time I will have retired if things go to plan - but there is a crapload of things you won't know about that you need to know about but you can only really discover through industry experience)

[Dan Bitel]

matrix,

come to gutshot and we can discuss things as much as you like!

[tufat23]

[ QUOTE ]
matrix,

come to gutshot!

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[carnivalhobo]

i feel like i overreacted