Das Experiment

What the Stanford Prison Experiment shows is that “‘good people are not enough'” to prevent abusive excess, [says experiment-lead Professor Philip Zimbardo]. ‘Individual differences matter very little in the face of an extreme situation. . . . Institutional settings develop a life of their own independent of the wishes and intentions and purposes of those who run them.'”

It comes down to the fundamental question of what is the purpose of prison? Is its purpose correctional, or punitive? If a prison sentence is intended to rehabilitate the convict, then why do we allow them to become dehumanized and exposed to danger? Can a man who’s been ass-raped, beaten, and starved ever rejoin society as a fully-functioning member?

Big Pot

Here’s a game I played today:

PokerStars Game #: Hold’em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) – 2003/08/11

Table ‘Actor’ Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: Player 1 ($9.45 in chips)
Seat 2: Player 2 ($19.60 in chips)
Seat 3: Player 3 ($20.70 in chips)
Seat 4: Player 4 ($22.30 in chips)
Seat 5: Player 5 ($23.10 in chips)
Seat 6: Player 6 ($21.60 in chips)
Seat 7: Our Hero ($20.70 in chips)
Seat 8: Player 8 ($8.30 in chips)
Seat 9: Player 9 ($8.50 in chips)

Player 1: posts small blind $0.10
Player 2: posts big blind $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Our Hero [7c Kd]
Player 3: calls $0.25
Player 4: calls $0.25
Player 5: folds
Player 6: calls $0.25
Our Hero: calls $0.25
Player 8: folds
Player 9: folds
Player 1: calls $0.15
Player 2: checks

*** FLOP *** [As Qc Jh]
Player 1: checks
Player 2: checks
Player 3: checks
Player 4: bets $1
Player 6: raises $1 to $2
Our Hero: folds
Player 1: folds
Player 2: folds
Player 3: folds
Player 4: raises $4 to $6
Player 6: calls $4

*** TURN *** [As Qc Jh] [Ad]
Player 4: bets $1
Player 6: raises $3 to $4
Player 4: calls $3

*** RIVER *** [As Qc Jh Ad] [6h]
Player 4: checks
Player 6: bets $5
Player 4: calls $5

*** SHOW DOWN ***
Player 6: shows [Ac Js] (a full house, Aces full of Jacks)
Player 4: shows [Td Ks] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
Player 6 collected $30 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $31.50 | Rake $1.50
Board [As Qc Jh Ad 6h]
Seat 1: Player 1 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: Player 2 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: Player 3 folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Player 4 showed [Td Ks] and lost with a straight, Ten to Ace
Seat 5: Player 5 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: Player 6 showed [Ac Js] and won ($30) with a full house, Aces full of Jacks
Seat 7: Our Hero folded on the Flop
Seat 8: Player 8 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 9: Player 9 (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

Player 4, having been re-raised when he had the nut hand, might have suspected something dangerous was afoot. He might have been able to go all-in and scare Player 6 out.

Unemployment, week two

7 working days have passed since I left Universal Music, and still no work. It’s getting tougher all the time. I was so down this morning I took a trip down to Manhattan Beach to lie in the sun and body surf. I think my spirits picked up a bit after that. Now it’s time to do some laundry and get my car washed at Millennium Car Wash. I’ll let you know how they do.