I keep hearing lately – and the current edition of our magazine addresses the matter properly – and reading about the poker players with character. Go figure the way fate and chemistry fixes everything. The occult decryption, so to speak, of the changes around us, “nothing is lost, everything is transformed” can be also found in the social factor of the great economical powers of the world. Let’s take, for instance, America, the country of fulfilled dreams, and I mean serious business dreams… Under the vast middle class cover of a decently living population between the two oceans, there are coming together the dark waters of failure of an ever increasing number of American dreams. But, as a new trend, for the resuscitation of the honorable “American dream”, many of the former blamed gamblers are turning into fighting figures, especially into “Robin Hoods” – this is how they call themselves willingly -, for the benefit of fate’s less fortunate ones. Great actors with a good playing hand sit at tables for charity purposes. Constantly, several professional players win significant sums in order to donate them to the children and adults with disabilities. VIPs of all shapes and sizes take the money out of each other’s pockets, at blackjack, roulette, poker, etc, in order to comfort at least a bit of other people’s suffering. It seems to be a long gone scene to see the hysterical outbreaks of poker games with the rifles and guns laid on the table, with brains shattered against the wall, with legends, with the “dead man’s hand” and other bloody episodes. The civilized world has turned, once again, into a chemistry of social responsibility one of the most blamed activities card playing. Sadly, there are still countries in this world, for instance Romania, where people with money, lots of money, instead of giving birth to the “charity dream” on a local scale with outlaw figures robbing and giving to the poor, sit at the poker tables thinking of the old times Texas of gold seekers, and blow their brains out after the American model. ‘Cause that’s the way things go in poker…

More and more actors are becoming positive characters for their likes. And this is true, as you are going to see, not only in front of the camera.

Many times, as we all know very well, life is stranger than the movies. As such, more and more actors, leading their lives in the hypothetical lights of the catwalk, are living in a true live show. From good to bad, from scandals on a million themes more or less important, but which, obviously, feed the madness of the fans and not only -, to the surprising actions with social consequences, often very positive.

POKER FOR OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY

And because they can afford it, more stars reunited in Las Vegas at a poker match for charity purposes. The seats were occupied by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Jason Alexander, the actor who played George Constanza in the TV series „Seinfeld”. The stars paid $5.000 to join the game. At the end of the games, over $400.000 was donated to the charity associations in Darfur, Africa.

Not longer than 3 months ago, within the Cannes festival, other six stars sat at the playing table hoping to win the one-million dollar charity tour.

Next to the former couple made up by Salma Hayek Edward Norton, on the list of the players for this event there were, with a record stake, Woody Harrelson, Alice Taglioni, Adrian Brody, Goldie Hawn, Dennis Hopper and Tim Robbins. The money was donated to the Foundation “Enfants et Sante” and to the Oasis Preserve International Ecological Association. This type of charity events take place each year, the celebrities from Hollywood coming together for noble purposes. On the other hand, Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino declared that they are addicted players and that “they eat alive all those who stand in their way”. Another surprise of the celebrities tour id Jennifer Tilly, who has discovered her player talent a few years ago . She became, in the meantime, a champion of the USA at poker several times. Salma Hayek too could change her job, because she “likes to bet and to take risks during the game”. In fact, there really is an actress who made poker her second job: Shannon Elisabeth (known to the public especially from “American Pie”). She discovered poker when she was invited to participate in a charity tour, several years ago, and in 2005 she came to participate in the Main Event of WSOP.

GENEROUS BARRY GREENSTEIN

For professional poker players, donating the money won from tours is no longer an exception. Batty Greenstein is undoubtedly the most generous professional poker player. Currently, all of Barry’s winnings from tours are donated to some charity organizations, and especially to the Children Incorporated organization. Here’s the story of how it came to be like this: Barry won one million dollars at a tour and decided to donate the respective money. As a consequence of this gesture, he got a record number of positive reactions, which determined other players to follow his lead. So, he decided to keep donating the money he won at poker tours, even though, initially, he didn’t intend to make this action permanent. In the end, he donated over 3 million dollars to various charity organizations.

And he is not the only one to donate his winnings. Many of the great players chose to do the same. He is just the first to enter in the history of poker for deeds of “bravery in combat”.

Mircea CAZAN, President of the Romanian Radio-communications Society is the man who dedicates his time equally to business and hobby. His hobby?! Politics!

MIRCEA CAZAN, WHEREAS YOU OCCUPY AN IMPORTANT POSITION FROM THE VERY FIRST YEARS OF THIS GOVERNMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE PRIVATIZATION OF RADIOCOM THAT YOU SAW COMING A WHILE AGO.

Yes, it is true, I started to hope four years ago for the realization of this event. But it only remained the dream of a child who wants to become a doctor, an engineer or a plane pilot when he grows up. It is true that the privatization of the National Radio-communications Society was one of the objectives of the current government. However, for objective reasons, it was postponed. And, as a personal opinion, I don’t believe that we have the physical time to do it. But, I continue to state that it is necessary to have a private player in this domain. Then, Radiocom would have made its point in a totally different manner and the evolution of this company would have been different.

THE WAY IT LOOKS NOW, AS ORGANIZATION AND BOARD, DOES IT COMPLY WITH EUROPEAN REQUIREMENTS?

What can I tell you?! We would like Radiocom to move around like a demoiselle, instead it is forced to “dress up” like an old lady. This means that it fights on a competitional market with the other operators while being forced to respect the same legislation at a ministry or a national agency. And still, we are a company operating according to Law 31 and we survive from contracts, from business activities. But when it comes to development, acquisitions or any other matter, we are forced to act just like any other state owned unit. With regard to the structure of the board, I can tell you that I am the only person coming here from the private sector since 1990, I have only worked in the private sector. It is true that I brought along with me two or three counselors in order to take advantage of their experience. All the others, special people, of great value, having been working and are working for the state. WHAT HAPPENED, IN THE MEANTIME, WITH YOUR BUSINESSES? Ever since I came here, I gave up completely to all my businesses. It was very simple. I was a shareholder within the Astral group and, once it was liquidated, in 2005, I also liquidated all the businesses in the domain.

YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OF PNL SIBIU. THERE A CAMPAIGN COMING UP. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL CANDIDATE FOR A SEAT IN THE PARLIAMENT. HOW WILL YOU DEDICATE YOUR TIME TO THE TWO ACTIVITIES?

These are two completely different worlds: one belonging to the profession in which I believe this position was for me a test of maturity the second, politics, is a totally different story. A hobby, if you will. I practiced, am practicing and will practice it with pleasure. It is also true the fact that I would like to candidate for Parliament. This meaning that I am trying to take my liberal ideals from my profession to politics. When the campaign begins, I will take a leave and I will by no means combine the two worlds, keeping them, as such, parallel. Because I come from Sibiu, a place characterized by German accuracy, where things are very straightforward: a job well done is a job you close to take care of and not something you do along with other things.

SOME CLAIM THAT YOU WISH TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE PNL BRANCH IN SIBIU…

And I claim that PNL is not a party of presidents or of leaders. It is, after all, the political structure of those who create the proper environment for the development of the liberal idea. Now, in Sibiu, there is a vicarious group lead by minister Iorgulescu. I prefer to stay in the shade, to be part of a team. After all, nobody can do everything by themselves.

IS IT CONVENIENT TO YOU TO BE IN THE POSITION OF A CANDIDATE FROM A UNINOMINAL COLLEGE?

Definitely. I have the experience of years 2000 and 2004, when I ran almost uninominally. At least, in 2000, it was a personal candidateship I was successful, I won. I defeated PNL, I defeated PD. But the party did not have, as a total, the necessary force, not managing to collect the five necessary percents to access the Parliament. When I got involved in politics (in ApR), in 2000, I did it because I had a deep respect for Mr. Mele_canu, and I still do. It was a viable political idea, but the project was not understood at that time. However, I believe it can be applied very well in 2008. It was, after all, an experience of a lifetime. Then ApR merged with PNL, in 2002, and we continued to promote the liberal idea. In 2004 we had a very good alliance for that stage. We won again, we got accepted into the university, but, according to electoral mathematics, the door was slammed in our faces. We obtained at Sibiu a percentage in excess of 42% at a threshold of 28% and obtained one position of senator, while PSD, with 28% two positions.

I don’t regret that I didn’t become a member of Parliament back then. Perhaps this is the way my life is supposed to take place, for my political maturity to be fulfilled after the age of 40 years. And I believe that now is the time. I believe that 2008 and the uninominal elections mean more to me than what a list vote used to mean.

DOES SUCH CANDIDATESHIP INVOLVE A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT?

The investment should not be measured only from a financial standpoint. The calculations are simple. They are public. I find the emotional investment to be much more important. I will run in college where I pay taxes, where I was born, where I live, where I spend my weekends. I want to run in a college in Sibiu county, where I have friends and the most beautiful memories. In such a situation you automatically invest a lot of emotions.

After Leu, Doroftei, Bute and Diaconu, Jo Jo Dan is getting closer, match by match, to a world title.

The star of the boxing gala “Hard as a rock”, held on August 1st at Piatra Neam?, Jo Jo Dan, kept his NABA title at the super lightweight category.

In the main event of the evening, the Romanian defeated the Uganda boxer Peter Semo with the score of 120 -108, after 12 rounds. After the match, Jo Jo declared that it was the toughest fight of his professional career. “I admit, this was the toughest match of my career. The opponent proved to be very resistant. I got bored hitting him and I wondered how on Earth he could still stand on his feet. The crowd was wonderful. Between punches I could hear them encouraging me and this is why I want to dedicate them the victory and the title. The toughest for me was when I went in the corner of the ring, to try to breathe and rest, but it was like I was on fire, from all that heat built in the hall. Physically, Peter Semo was the toughest opponent for me, but not from a technical standpoint.“, stated Jo Jo Dan. In turn, Peter Semo claimed that the fight against the Romanian was not even close to be the toughest of his career. “Jo Jo Dan was well prepared, but, in my opinion, did not win more than four rounds. He was better at the speed of his punches, very well directed. And the crowd also helped him a great deal. The only way I could have stopped him was by KO. I couldn’t do it, but he wasn’t very special.

The Italian Marinelli was much more difficult than Jo Jo. The Romanian thought he could arrange me like he did Balbi, but I accepted to come here and fight precisely to prove that we too, the people of Uganda, have valuable boxers, and when I started to dance in the ring, right after his punches, I just wanted to prove that I didn’t feel the toughness of the hits, that I was OK”, said Semo.

Adriana is one of the Romanians who crossed the river Prut, form the East to the West, by singing. As opposed to other Moldavians coming from Chisinau and directly joining the Mafia, she stopped at Tataee and the B.U.G.

If YOU ARE BORN ON DAY 13 OF THE 12TH MONTH OF THE YEAR, I GET THE FEELING THAT THE MONTH OF PRESENTS HAS DECORATED YOUR LIFE THE PROPER WAY… My life has been decorated with a superb family and a talent few people receive from God. the voice…

AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF “THE YOUNG GENERATION”, DO YOU STILL BELIEVE IN SANTA CLAUS OR JUST IN TATAEE (BUG MAFIA)?

Yes, I believe in Santa Claus even if it is my mom, dad, little brothers, my friends. I used to like playing Santa Claus, in order to make the people around smile. In Vlad (Tataee)… well… let me think… If I hadn’t believed, I guarantee I would have not began this collaboration. He is one of the best music producers in Romania and I respect him very much.

WHY DID YOU CHEAT ON THE CLASSICAL MUSIC, AND, AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF PIANO, APPROACHED R&B, JAZZ, ETC. ?

I have been fascinated by music ever since I was a child. I started with my piano lessons, but most of all I liked canto. Soul, R&B, Jazz are the types of music I feel best; they make be whole and fulfill me.

BEFORE “THE TWO OF US”, HOW DID YOU MANAGE BY YOURSELF?

My parents have always been by my side. Beside the innate talent you must have the right people around you and to work hard. I was lucky from this point of view.

YOUR SITE IS MORE VISITED THAN THAT OF LOUVRE MUSEUM. IS THIS JUST THE WAY IT IS OR DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL?

It is common knowledge that people don’t go that much to museums… And you can see that things aren’t much better on the Internet… On the other hand, because of my lack of time, being busy sustaining my university degree and with my debut album, I haven’t appeared that much on TV, and this fact, probably, has caused a certain curiosity which reflects in the number of visitors of my website. On this occasion, I want to thank my fans for their interest.

SOME SPITEFUL PEOPLE SAY THAT THE VIDEO CLIP WITH TATAEE ISN’T, AFTER ALL, THAT EXTRAORDINARY. IS THIS JUST ENVY WE’RE DEALING WITH?

It is a start. I wanted very much to collaborate with Tataee. As far as what people say, I always think they are not always to be listened to. BESIDE MUSIC AND NATO, WHAT YOU DO LIKE TO RELATE YOU TO AMERICA? Vacations…and why not, to try my fortune in Vegas..

SOME VOICES SAY ROMANIA HAS GOT NOTHING OF ITS OWN. WHAT IS YOUR RELATION TO THE TRADITION?

Romania has many wonderful things and places that you will only find here. Being a native of The Republic of Moldova, I was taught as a child to respect traditions.

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT HOW THE FORTUNE WHEEL TURNS IN A CASINO?

In favor of the powerful and determined people…

Many of us have had the chance to watch in great excitement the lining up of various symbols, from fruits, to fairy tale characters and playing cards on the screens of slot-machines. And we also know how the adventure was born?

Probably there isn’t a single teenager who hasn’t played, at least once, at a slot machine, or, like Romanians say, at a machine. There are now, in every town, rooms with automated machines where you can spend some good hours.

They are part of the daily routine. But, if in Romania they only appeared two-three decades ago, in America they have been around for over a hundred years. How did they appear? Well, don’t you think that some big researcher guessed their huge potential… It’s just the case of a car mechanic from San Francisco who was bored to death.

THE UNCERTAINTIES OF THE BEGINNING

In fact, to be truly correct, we have to tell you that the first slot type machine was designed and used in New York, in 1891, 4 years earlier before Fey introduced it the “official” inventor. Pett and Sittman had designed a 5-drum mechanism on which there were painted figures from poker. But the big problem was that they hadn’t found the solution for the automatic rewarding of the player. Some bars bought the machine even as it was, and the winners would get free drinks when they managed to align figures of the same type.

THE BORED MECHANIC

In 1895, Charles Fey invented the slot type machine, the ancestor of the modern-day slot machines. Charles, aged 30, used his spare time to find ways to reuse used car parts. The bright idea made him one of the world’s greatest inventors. Ten years later, Fey and the company Mills Novelty created together the famous machine Mills Novelty Bell the basic version of today’s slot machine. This device was equipped with a cast-iron case, driven by means of a lever and fitted with a bell which would move when somebody hit the winning combination. Initially, the images represented figures from the playing cards (Queen, King and Jack) and only in 1910 would the first machine with the famous fruits symbols appear.

In fact, these are the elements that made its career. For instance, in modern-day England, the slot machine is known as the “fruit machine”.

But Operator Bell was much too heavy to be practical, weighing over 45 kilograms. Therefore, in 1915, Mills launched on the market a much lighter model, with wooden structure. This particular machine featured the famous fruit symbols on its reel. In year 1930 the producer decided that it was the time for a set of truly revolutionary innovations. First of all, the machine had to be quieter and more attractive for the players it was added the facility “double jackpot”, which allowed people to win twice as much in a single game series. The aesthetical aspect was another element to be considered. The wooden frames were decorated with different images, each more attractive and colorful than the other. Behind this idea there wasn’t just the need for the machines to look better, but also the conviction that the new models, with a much cheerful aspect, would attract more players. Many of the themes used almost two decades ago are still to be found today: the lion head, the castle or the war eagle.

HORSE POWER

The first automated slot type machine appeared in 1934, and the energy required for their operation was obtained with the help of…horses. The age of electricity lead, in 1964, to the construction of the first machines of this type, for gambling. Only 11 years later, Fortune Coin Company launched on the market the first slot machine which could connect to a power socket, named Money Honey. The new electro-mechanical system could grant prizes of up to 500 coins. The modifications brought afterwards to the system were minor. Only the internal technology underwent some improvement: the method of calculating the reward, random number generation software, etc. Over 70% of the revenues of the casinos are obtained from the exploitation of the slot type machines, these being even more popular than the roulette of the card games.

For the casinos enthusiasts around the world, Baccarat is one of the most popular card games.

HISTORY

is believed that the game Baccarat was invented by the Italian Felix Falguierein in the Middle Ages, and that, initially, it was played with a pack of Tarot cards. They also say that “the game was based on an old Etruscan ritual of the nine gods, who prayed for a blond virgin, waiting for her to cast a dice with nine sides. The result showed by the dice would then decide her fate. If she had thrown 8 or 9, she would become a priestess, if she had thrown 6 or 7 she would have been forbidden access to the religious activities, and if she had less then 6, she would have been lost in the waters of the sea”.

Around 1490, Baccarat reached in France, remaining, for a fairly long period of time, a game exclusively destined to the noblemen. Beyond its origin, it is sure that throughout the centuries and across the continents it has traveled, the rules of Baccarat underwent plenty of variations. To begin with, the French variant of Baccarat, Chemin de Fer, became popular in England. From here, it became widespread in the South America. Eventually, Tommy Renzoni took the game into the United States, at the end of the 1950s. For the first time, the game reached Vegas at the Dunes Casino, after the Cuban government closed the casinos in Havana.

BASIC RULES

There are three accepted variants of this game: Baccarat Chemin de Fer (Railway), Baccarat Banque and Punto Banco (or North-American Baccarat). The latter, even though the most widespread, is strictly a gamble, not requiring special strategic talents. The American Baccarat is played at a table with two identical extremities and a middle area, for the croupier.

A number of 14 players can occupy the places corresponding on the table, while seat 13 is eliminated, due to the superstitions. In front of the players, there is an area for placing the bets. Each participant can choose between three areas, corresponding to the possible choices at the beginning of the game: “Banker”, “Player” or “Tie”.

Those betting on “Player” win if at the end of the round, their card is bigger than that of the dealer. The payment is made double and no commission is perceived. If one bets on “Banker”, one wins in the same conditions, but a standard commission of 5% of the sum won is perceived. A bet on “Tie” pays 8 to 1, with no commission.

With respect to the values of the cards, in Baccarat the cards of ten and higher (Knave, Queen and King) are equal to zero, while the Ace has value 1, and the cards from 2 to 9 have their own value. The total value of the cards is determined by their sum. When it is higher than 10, it is reduced by ten, and the difference is the total value of the cards.

Even though the game is very simple, the casinos make serious money out of Baccarat. Maybe this is the reason for which they always cover it in a shining mantle. Beginning with the way in which the playing space is isolated from the rest of the casino, to the outfit of the dealers – tuxedo. The purpose, obviously, that of rendering him an air of elegance and exclusiveness and thus to attract top players who can play more then the average ones. With all these, you must not feel intimidated, Baccarat is a simple gamble, in the true sense of the word.

Bruce Willis and his former wife, Demi Moore, are famous not only for their careers at Hollywood or for their happy marriage and the surprising divorce they went through, but also for their passion for gambling, passion which neither of them is trying to hide from the public eye.

Stars like Willis

Ben Affleck, the American basketball player Dennis Rodman and many more are preferred here, the reason for which the casinos will always struggle to attract them. And they are not short of luck, because – if in times past the stars would only prefer a few casinos where they felt safe -, they step into an ever increasing number of casinos in the USA and around the world.

Blackjack, roulette and dice Bruce Willis is one of the regular guests of the casinos in Vegas, Monte Carlo and not only. If we want to talk about a favorite place for the famous star in the “Die Hard” series, this is, definitely, The Palms Casino, in Vegas, a special attraction for him, especially due to the intimacy conditions that it offers to VIPs. Besides, at The Palms there is also The Mint, a lounge where you can play roulette or blackjack for extremely high stakes.

Another place from The Palms where Bruce Willis is a very loyal client is the area for no-limit poker, and for the dice table Willis prefers the general gambling area from The Palms, where, in fact, he has lost consistent amounts.

Another casino in Vegas where Willis was seen many times, loosing but also winning, hugging and kissing the dealers, but also furious and hopeless is the Mirage Casino, the place where Willis often bets hundreds of thousands of dollars per hour, at blackjack, roulette or dice, his favorites, but also at poker.

If, for many people, gambling is a vice, while for others a luxury, for Willis, the casinos have become a method of relaxation. The American star manages this way to reload his batteries, especially when working on a new film. It was the case during the filming of “Live Free or Die Hard”, when Willis decided to “break free” from the plateaus and to spend a few hours at the Borgata casino in Atlantic City, playing blackjack and proving – of course, on lots of money – that he is not just an amateur, but a gaming professional.

Planet Hollywood

Beyond his passion for gambling, Bruce Willis decided to invest in a casino. Around ‘96, one of the restaurants and casinos promising to be very popular among stars was Planet Hollywood, a brand owned in partnership by Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stalone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even though it was not easy to obtain an authorization for building a casino in Pennsylvania, an entire list of celebrities and executives in the field of gambling requested the authorities of the state to grant this authorization. Bruce Willis recorded, for the same purpose, a video message in which he promised to be seen fairly often in the casino. “You can expect to see me quite often around there”. he said. The idea was for the publicity made by the VIPs for Planet Hollywood to attract players with a lot of money towards the casino, and the money thus won to be turned into taxes for the State of Pennsylvania.

A few years after the business proved not to have the estimated success, Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stalone got involved into a new project related to Planet Hollywood which meant building a new casino Planet Hollywood, this time in Las Vegas Strip, to replace Aladdin.

The first “character” we will talk about today is Titan Poker. One of the poker rooms with the greatest growth in the last period, already occupying the first position in most classifications of online gambling. Titan Poker is a member of the group iPoker, and the software based on which it operates was developed by Playtech, market leader in the domain of companies manufacturing software for gambling, which also ensures the maintenance of the system.

The support for players is a high quality one, this service functioning 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, fact that makes it one of the most efficient services on the market. In addition, in order to ensure the confidentiality of the transactions and data, Titan Poker is using a 128-bit encryption. The software is available in the following languages: English, Danish, German, Spanish, French, Norwegian, Turkish, Finnish, Polish and Swedish.

The games available on titanpoker.com are extremely diverse: Texas Hold’em (pot limit, fixed limit and no limit), Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 7 Card Stud, 7 Stud Hi/Lo. Also, the players can subscribe to a multitude of sit `n go tours, single table and multitable, as well as Black Jack or Casino. At rush hours, at the cash game tables there are around 6.000 players and at the tours over 30.000 players.

No-limit Hold’em can be played placing the smallest stakes, meaning tables with 0.01$/0.02% up to 25$/50$, and Fix-limit from blinds of 0.25$/0.5$ up to 100$/200$. You can play at a maximum of 8 tables simultaneously. The room ensures also the possibility of play money game. The enthusiasts say that the game in Titan Poker offers the same feeling as if you were in a real casino.

The second site of this presentation is RedKings.com. It can be played by Windows users live on the site or by downloading, and by those using Linux or Mac only after downloading. The advantage is the fact that you can play at several tables at the same time, an advantage for advanced players who live and breathe trough poker and are not patient to wait for beginners to make their move, thus activating in another place. In case of winning, the sum cashed in during the same playing time is bigger, the risk being dissipated. It also accepts Western Union.

The third and last of the edition is InterTopsPoker.com. A website which can have a disadvantage, especially for those less practical, who would like a certain change. Thing which cannot be done. The features available, it’s true, can be improved. It can be played very well with Windows. For the users of Mac or Linux it is necessary to use the Java platform, and for the advanced ones a Windows simulator. The website is affiliated to Intertops.com, which is an ace in the domain of online safety.