I was sitting in a pub tonight, drinking an ale while Shawn and Jake smoked cigars. Having been crippled by asthma since birth, I have never experienced the joys of smoking which is something that has never really bothered me past the annoyance that comes from smelling like a smoker without being able to participate. It was noisy in the pub; noisy to the point where the only discernible part of the music playing was the bass line. (The only song I can remember recognizing is (I think) "Every Breath You Take" by The Police.) It was noisy because it was crowded. Shortly after arriving, either Shawn or Jake noticed that Wednesday nights there was a Texas Hold 'Em Tournament. We all wondered where it would be taking place because there wasn't a whole lot of room in the place. But as the night wore on it became clear that the tournament did not require any extra room because it was a video poker tournament. Seven or eight anonymous players scattered throughout the room would spend the next two hours pressing buttons on a keypad in hopes of winning... well I don't know what the hell they were playing for. It wasn't money as far as I know, and I couldn't even tell who the players were, so it probably wasn't for fame either. I just don't quite get it. I enjoy a good game of cards as much as the next guy, but it seems that a large handful of America has become absolutely obsessed with poker in the past four years. I don't know why. It's everywhere though: celebrity poker, The World Series of Poker on ESPN, my freshman and sophomore year roommate going to bed at 5 am, and Casino Royale (the 2nd greatest poker movie of all time). Do people just want to indulge in fantasies of being secret agents or con men, or do they just want to make money (and if that's the case, playing video poker for no money is not the best way to go.) I guess it's just another one of those things I'll never understand, like competitive paintball and monster trucks.
And bolo ties.
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