My sister (Blue) came up with an idea to adopt a soldier after watching the PBS documentary on the Bad Voodoo. I sure wish we had come up with this sooner but at the rate things are going we will have a long time to continue doing it. We at Life’s A Bluff will aid in the adoption of a soldier and his unit until they come home…. Then we will help another… until the war is over. It doesn’t take much either. You would be surprised at the items requested. Stuff like tooth paste, baby wipes, chap stick, and more! Really just the basics.

The LaB readers have always been generous. Anytime we put the call out for donations, you guys are quick to reach into your pockets. I figure with the reach I have I can do a little more than ‘just the basics’ for 1 guy and maybe a few of his buddies. If you would like to help out please use the “Chip In” option on the right hand side of this blog. I put a goal of $2400 but really the goal is until the last man/woman is home. My sister and I will be sending as much as we can, whenever we can…. any and all donations will help.

We went over to http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/ and already have a kid we will be helping out. He is 22 years old and on his 2nd tour in Iraq. I will post more information as it becomes available. I know he likes sports and is into football. We ordered a year subscription to Sports Illustrated and will be putting the new issue in each box we send. Other stuff requested are DVDs, snacks, socks, poker chips, cards, & anything else a bored soldier might find amusing. I am going to put together a little poker package too. I still have plenty of Copag cards left over and I figured they would be perfect over there. Copags are plastic and washable… It just makes sense.

So please help us help them. No matter your feelings about the war and if we should be there or not… Our boys and girls over in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve nothing but respect and support. If you can’t send money, maybe you have some old DVDs, books, or other similar stuff you think someone might have a use for. Email me @ lifesabluff at gmail dot com for mailing instructions.

Or better yet. Adopt a soldier yourself. There are plenty of kids out there who had little to no family at all. All they need is to know someone cares. We really can make a difference.

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COMIC UPDATES

I should have a comic for you on Wednesday.. Both Ryan and myself haven’t been feeling all that well the last few days. On top of that we have all sorts of projects going on behind the scenes that just have priority over the strips right now. Logo design, charity events, portraits and avatars, & a list a mile long. But no complaints here… other than I wish I was in Vegas right now. Things should return to normal after the Jennifer Harman event on the 18th. Until then, comic updates will be sporadic.

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RANDOM QUESTIONS w/ John Robert Bellande

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LaB reader “Tripp” burns his PPA membership,
Wait for the music to kick in.

Great video! Let’s see some more of them! Those that send in a video get a free deck of Copag Cards and the satisfaction of knowing you no longer support a group that pretends to have your best interests in mind.. instead of offshore gaming companies that continue to cheat you.

- Frank

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edit added 6:28 am: This blog post was up less than an hour and already have pledged help from Copag Cards and Poker Chips Galaxy. Cards from one… chips from another… We gotta have our boys playing in style now don’t we!

I have done business with both companies and I can honestly say that they are quality people. I wouldn’t shop anywhere else for either products. and neither should you. Thanks Knute, Jeff, & Luis!

Hoyt is one guy in the poker world I really admire. It’s an honor to have him appear in RQ.

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UPDATE ON ADOPT A SOLDIER:

I want to again thank Copag Cards for donating more cards for us to send over to Iraq. And thanks again to Luis from Poker Chips Galaxy for donating a poker chip set to go along with it.

You should see the supply we are massing here. I tell ya… It sure feels good to be able to do this for a couple of deserving kids. There are decks of cards, comic books, sports magazines, books, dvds, candy, & tons of other goodies.

You know, as good as it feels to help I still can’t shake the thought that we could have been doing this for 5 years!! Well… Let’s just hope we aren’t doing it for 5 more.

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The wsop 2008 will be played at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada from May 30 to July 16. A total of 55 World Series of poker tournaments will be played, with the No-Limit Texas Holdem Main Event and the spectacular $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship as the most spectacular features.

A very special Random Questions:

Random Questions with Matt Waldron

*error in wordpress not allowing me to embed video

Life’s A Bluff Poker Chips

Yesterday I received my custom made poker chips. (ProGenT80 Hi-Grade) Stamped with the LaB logo and chosen denominations. I have wanted chips like these for a long long time. Casino quality at a great price too. I have a collection of chips from casinos that I have played in, and side by side these ProGens are very comparable. No more metal inserts for me! I have enough chips here to run a full table sit&go and I plan to ASAP!

These chips were sent to me by my new friend Luis from Poker Chips Galaxy. From the start he was nothing but accommodating. We went back and forth until we both thought the chips were perfect. I have dealt with quite a few poker companies over the Internet the last few years and I have to without a doubt that PCG ranks right up there with the best of them. I would not shop anywhere else for chips as long as I continue to play the game.

They were even kind enough to donate a box of Paulson poker chips for the upcoming Jennifer Harman charity tournament. Paulson chips might as well be called the Cadillac of poker chips. I think they run over $1 a peice! If any chips put mine to shame it is these. Some lucky person is going to walk away happy. I am told they might even be signed at the event by some pros!

To top it all off I am also getting a set of chips donated to send over to the troops.

Poker Chips Galaxy deserves your business. They are a little company with a HUGE heart and a genuine love for the game. Show your support for the little guy and tell them LaB sent ya!

Matt Waldron’s LaB Pics

Here are some pictures from the Bay 101. I could have sworn I already posted these but cannot find the link. Anyway, you can see more via Matt’s Flickr page.

Here is good ole Bok representing the Life’s A Bluff hand!
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Scotty Nguyen holding up an ad to last year’s Halloween costume!
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Here is Phil checking himself out in one of the Laak & Loaded episodes.

ADOPT A SOLDIER

Today Blue mailed out a couple of boxes to the soldier we adopted. Lots of great stuff going out so far and plenty more still to send.

No money raised yet though. Donate $20 or more and get yourself a deck of Copags and some LaB artwork. Use the “Chip In” option on the right hand sidebar.

Copag and Poker Chips Galaxy stepped right up to the plate and donated some poker items. Another big thanks to both companies. Top notch those guys are.

Keep watching the site for more info soon.

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COMICS

LaB to return next week. Livin’ on Poker Road is updated every Sunday, so be sure to check it out.

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That’s it for now… Have a great weekend!

Sadly… this will probably be the last time we see Charlie in his 300 gear. I doubt I will ever get the response I desire so consider this my last comment on the issue.

Jennifer Harman Charity Event

Ryan and I will be in Vegas the 17th through the 19th and will be attending the Jennifer Harman Charity Event. This is all being done to beneift the Nevada SPCA - a no kill animal shelter. All the pros are coming out for this one too! Check out this press release for details. There will be a silent and live auction followed by a $330 rebuy no-limit holdem tournament. LaB is working on 2 original artworks that will be auctioned off and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated. We will also be selling colored limited edition prints (100 total) at the event.

If you are in Vegas and will be near the Venetian on Friday the 18th around 2pm.. Come join us for some fun and a good cause.

I was there last year and had one helluva time. I was doing really well too until I donked off my stack trying to bluff with J3, just so I could have a story to tell. I just didn’t think it would be THAT story I told.

Watch the blog over the next few days for more information.

Livin’ on Poker Road - Spin Off

Ryan and I are doing a new strip over on Poker Road and will be gradually increasing our updates to twice a week. We are looking to do this after we get back from the Jennifer Harman event. Probably starting May 1st.

This spinoff is called “Sky’s the Limit” and I don’t think anything like this has been done before in webcomics. If it has.. not very often.. and not quite like this. Skylar will be hosting a late night talk show. (ie. couch/desk format.) During each “show” we will be interviewing a real poker pro/celeb. These interviews are being conducted by myself, Ryan & Matt Waldron via email, phone, or in person. We will try and fit as many questions we can in the 6-8 panels we are trying to stick to. We will then take the questions and convert the interview into a comic strip.

We already have a slew of pros lined up and our first guest will be “Kid Poker” Daniel Negreanu.

Check out the most recent LoPR over on Poker Road to catch up on the current storyline.

- Frank

This upcoming LaB storyline I have been waiting for, for a long time! Doggie Fight Club!! First rule of the DFC…?? WOOF! WOOF!

More Jennifer Harman Event Info

As I type this Ryan is making his way through the Mexican wasteland for 2 days towards old El Paso, Texas. He will then board a private public airline where he will be treated to first class peanuts and soda. Should he desire some spirits… he will have to pay extra. Landing in Vegas he will be greeted by a stretch cab or shuttle of his choice and will be escorted to the Venetian where a room awaits his arrival.

I should be there before him and we will meet up sometime mid afternoon. On Thursday night we have 2nd row at the Penn & Teller show @ the Rio. (vip seating…oh yeah) On Friday is the big tournament and auction to benefit the Nevada SPCA. It should be a great time. This is going to be the biggest charity poker event EVER. Even Phil Ivey is going to show up and I am told he NEVER goes to any public event.

If you are in Vegas on the 18th you need to get down to the Venetian and join us all for a great time for a great cause. For a small donation of $330 you can sit down and play poker with the greatest in the world. (and some celebs too) If you show up and find either Ryan or myself and mention Life’s A Bluff, we will hook you up with some artwork or a deck of Copag cards.

We have 2 artworks that will be sold during the live auction. There are over 70 pros & celebrities represented and the plan is to get it signed by as many as possible before it goes on the block. I think they are trying to arrange it so that it is set it up right at the end of the red carpet. We should be able to get everyone. How cool would that be?

This first piece is 11×17 and is accompanied by a key/legend to show who’s who. 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the original (one of a kind) hand drawn and inked will be donated to the SPCA. 100 Limited Edition signed and hand numbered 11×17 print/lithographs will also be sold on site at the auction for price yet to be announced. Only 100 are being printed and after that… no more. We may have a few available for sale on the website after the event. Check back or email for details.

Click the image to make it bigger… I will post the key/legend tomorrow. See how many people you can pick out.

This following piece is a companion 9×11 original hand inked and drawn. It will be auctioned off separately and all proceeds go to benefit the SPCA. This is also one of a kind and no more will be made. We MIGHT do a small run of colored prints but that is still in the air.

See if you can figure out who is who on this one. It is a little harder because a lot of these people are behind the scene VIPs. The awesome Venetian in the background. It’s even got myself, Ryan, and good ole travelin Matt Waldron!

Last year the original LaB artwork sold for $150o. I think we can top that this year. Maybe even create a good ole fashioned bidding war for the companion piece. The buyer for the first one will hopefully want the second to compliment it.

STRIP FOR FRIDAY

I am having trouble getting a strip in queue to update on it’s own. So rather than attempt it again and not have it show up. I will be posting Friday’s strip on Thursday. So check back tomorrow.