[ppc's (poker playing christians)]

Not to profit from this idea.... but don't you think a proper ending to this post would be..... "Good Luck at the Tables?"

LOL. That would be a great line! Wish I'd thought of it. In any event, your definition of what makes a Christian is one and the same with mine. So I'm glad that my post helped some. I believe that christians have to be careful not to fall into the trap Jesus refers to in Mark 7:6-7 when He says, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of MEN.'" (emphasis added) Many people see the problems with "organized religion" and make the mistake of assuming that that is what christianity is. If anybody states anything as doctrine, but can't support it from scripture, it would seem that they fall into the category of "hypocrite", as spelled out by Jesus.Now, as for poker? A lot of time has been spent on this thread trying to figure out if its gambling or not. It is a game with a large element of chance, but then again, is a casino gambling? Since we all play, I'm guessing that most of us would agree that our beloved "fish" are gambling, but DN is not. Over the long run the "fish" lose and the DN's of the world win. How come? I believe its because DN (or any other profitable poker player) has acquired SKILL. As soon as we're talking about a SKILL-based endeavor, where the skilled will outperform the unskilled in the long run, it's hard to continue calling it true gambling.If a christian, who happens to like to play poker, accepts this line of reasoning, I would suggest they turn to Deuteronomy chapter 28 and read the first 14 verses, especially verse 8 which says, "The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in ALL TO WHICH YOU SET YOUR HAND . . . " The God of the Bible is a God of blessing, a loving Father who wants His children to excel in all that they do!My best to all -

[ppc's (poker playing christians)]

I guess I'm forced to ask, in all sincerity, how the good folks here would define the term "Christian". Is it someone who follows the teaching/instruction of a particular church? Or is it someone who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and tries (to the best of their ability) to follow the teachings in the Bible?The reason I ask is not to make this thread any more controversial, but because how one answers that question will greatly affect how one views any endeavor or effort, or anything else in life for that matter.

[poker tables]

I want to make my own rail insted of buying that perfect padding censored, so any rail tips are great.

I made a table last year and plan on making a couple more this spring, possibly to sell. You can find plans on the internet which are all pretty good. Words of advice: Take your time . . . measure twice/cut once . . . and get a good jigsaw! A good quality jigsaw with a good blade is a must.I made the rail in one piece and used half-inch "camera case" foam for the padding. You can pick that stuff up pretty cheap at any Jo-Ann Fabric.Good luck and have fun!

[was this the right call?]

I'll be interested to see what other's have to say about this, but my first thought is that I hate middle/bottom two pair. With that board, you're basically drawing dead to 8-7 suited connector, a hand that lots of people play. Of course, if the guy limped with pocket 8's, 7's, or deuces, you're in a similar pickle. The fact that he didn't have those hands and needed to catch a card to beat you is probably the reason you're a little peeved.Just my two cents.

[anybody know?????????????????????]

On behalf of all the guys here ... say hi to Shana for us! Oh wait, I'm engaged ... umm ... err ... nevermind then.

[online poker and taxes.]

Does the bank have to report cashed checks to the IRS above a certain amount?? Just curious. Thanks for the help.

Any cash transaction in the U.S. of $10k or more is reported to Uncle Sam by the bank. Less than $10k the bank keeps records of it but is not required to report it. In the post-9/11, anti-terror-money-laundering world that we live in, these records are highly accurate and, generally, available to the Treasury Department (IRS, Secret Service, etc.) upon request.

[online poker and taxes.]

I hadn't heard of that plan, but it's obviously just another tax-dodge for the rich. It means that people who accumulate more money than they spend (the people getting richer) pay less tax while the people who spend nearly everything they make (most of us) pay more tax. I know Americans love to be duped, but come on.

Haha, amazing how stereotyping and demagoguery works its way into people's minds. The fact is that the "people who spend everything they make" can't touch the amount of spending done by "the rich". Let's say someone who makes $20k a year spends every penny at a 15% tax rate. That works out to $3k paid in taxes. If just ONE "rich guy" spends $100k on a handful of cars, or a modest boat, he'll pay $15k in tax in this scenario. Heck, Daniel N. spends that much on "italian" leather out of the back of a car! :wink: And what about the hyper-rich trust fund types? Did you know that people like Paris Hilton don't pay a dime in taxes on trust fund protected inheritence money? But you can bet your next buy-in they spend MILLIONS of dollars a year. And just in case anyone reading this is interested in truth, here's another factoid: The U.S. economy has an $11 TRILLION dollar GDP. 70% of that (or $7.7 TRILLION for the math impaired) is consumer spending. The only way that happens is if "the rich" are spending like crazy.Liberals have managed to successfully demonize "the rich" as greedy, baby-eating trolls. In reality, our economy doesn't exist without them.

[$50 to $1000 on pstars day 21]

Smash ... I'm new to this forum and just wanted to say that I'm getting a lot out of your "experiment" and your posts. I appreciate your time.Quick question: What's your opinion on Annie Duke's "30-bet rule" where she suggests quitting if one ever gets down 30-BB in one session; a sort of poker "stop-loss", if you will?Thanks again.

[online poker and taxes.]

Hi all. New to this forum but thought I'd help on this one. If you are a U.S. citizen or resident (or resident of Puerto Rico) you are required to pay taxes on any and all "worldwide income" unless specifically exempted. Gambling winnings are fully taxable to the U.S. citizen, regardless of where those winnings are derived from. IRS Publication 17 states that Gross Income consists of "all income that you receive in the form of money, goods, property, and services that is not exempt from tax. It also includes income from sources outside the United States." Gambling winnings must be reported on line 21 of Form 1040. For further info visit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdfAs for non-resident aliens or student visa holders take a look at Publication 519 "U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens". This can be found at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdfAs always, it is recommended that you consult with a tax professional familiar with your circumstances.Hope this helps.