Germaine Greer; modern feminist icon

Feminism isn’t usually a pathway to fame and fortune, and yet the feminist writer and critic
Germaine Greer has managed to make a career out of her philosophical thinking, outspoken and
extreme views and even managed an appearance on ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ into the bargain. Born
in Melbourne in 1939, Greer’s first taste of feminism came when she moved to Sydney to study
for an MA in romantic poetry and to teach at the institution. In 1964 she arrived in the UK with a
scholarship to study at Cambridge University.

In 1970 Greer published the book which made her a household name and one of the essential reads
when it comes to feminism: The Female Eunuch. Most people have heard of the book, even though
few have read it and even fewer know what it is about! The work actually deals with the way that
women view themselves under the influence of men and modern culture. It was controversial
because of its assertion that men actually hate women and have taught them to hate themselves, as
well as Greer’s use of graphic language to describe parts of both the male and female bodies.

Greer used the success of her first book to quit teaching and travel the world, promoting her work
as well as exploring women’s rights issues around the world. She was even arrested in New Zealand
for swearing during a public speaking engagement in 1972! Other publications followed during
the 1980s and 1990s, while Greer was working as a special lecturer and fellow at Newham College
and then as Professor Emerita of English Literature and Comparative Studies at the University of
Warwick. Although most of her publications have also dealt with feminism and feminist theory, she
has published several books on her other area of expertise, medieval literature.

Although academia provided Greer’s route into the public eye, she has embraced the modern media,
writing columns in several newspapers, posing nude for magazines throughout her life, appearing
twice on the BBC panel show “Have I Got News For You” and even playing herself in two episodes
of the Ricky Gervais comedy, “Extras”. In 2005, Greer took the extraordinary decision to sign up
for Channels 4′s “Celebrity Big Brother”, having previously criticised reality TV shows. Despite
forming an unlikely friendship with teenage music star McKenzie, Greer left the house after just
five days.

Greer continues to be controversial writer, both in newspapers and in books, on issues relating to
feminist theory as well as whole range of subjects. She came in for a great deal of criticism in 2006
when she used her Guardian column to suggest that the animal world had got its revenge on her
fellow Australian Steve Irwin, the nature show presenter killed while filming.

Many young women may only know Greer from her brief appearance on “Celebrity Big Brother”
but her feminist writings had a profound effect on readers in the 1970s when her ideas were seen
as dangerous and revolutionary. There are those who criticise her for turning her back on academic
thinking in favour of courting public attention, but this attitude has done more to bring feminism
into the public eye than a dozen dissertations or theses could have ever hoped to achieve.

Suffragettes and the “Votes for Women” campaign

One of the most famous groups involved in feminism in the late-19th and early-20th century
were the Suffragettes, the members of the Women’s Social and Political Union who wanted to
have more of a say in the way that the country was run, particularly giving women the vote. The
name “Suffragette” was actually given to the group as a derogatory nickname by the right-wing
Daily Mail, but the leaders decided to claim the name as their own and it is this term that has come
to be remembered decades later.

The early members of the movement were all fiercely middle-class, well educated and frequently
supported by open-minded husbands. In the beginning, the “Votes for Women” campaign was
a peaceful one, involving marches in London, letter writing to MPs and public figures and the
publication of articles in sympathetic magazines. After years of getting nowhere with these tactics,
the Suffragettes decided to take their campaign a step further in 1912, employing more extreme
actions in order to publicise their aims and the unfortunate position that women found themselves in
at that time.

Some argue that as feminism is a philosophical movement, the Suffragettes ceased to be feminists
when they started their campaigns of violence and civil disobedience. But throughout their years
on the wring side of the law, their aims continued to be equality of the sexes and more rights for
women; a goal that has to be considered part of the long history of feminism, no matter what tactics
they employed.

1912 was the catalyst for the Suffragettes to step up their campaign because the Prime Minister,
Asquith, had backed out of a law giving women over the age of 30 the vote at the last minute,
angering campaigners but strengthening their resolve to continue the fight. Suffragettes started
chaining themselves to railings, damaging windows and mailboxes and even setting off small
bombs. One suffragette, Emily Davison, even died in 1913 when she was trampled underfoot while
trying to throw a “Votes for Women” banner over the back of the King’s horse while it was running
in the Epsom Derby.

Suffragettes took to going on hunger strike while arrested to bring attention to their plight, knowing
that it would be an embarrassment to the government if middle class women were to start dying in
their prisons. The Cat and Mouse Act was introduced in response to this behaviour, allowing the
imprisoned women to go hunger strike and when she was weak and close to death, she would be
released so that the government’s hands would be clean.

It took six years of this violence and government cruelty before, finally, in 1918 women over
the age of 30 who held a certain position in society or who had a certain amount of money were
allowed to vote. The Suffragettes scaled back their militant activities but continued to campaign for
universal suffrage,on the same terms as men, which was finally achieved in 1928.

The early years of feminism

The term “feminism” conjours up images of campaigning women burning their bras, but the truth is
that the pioneering feminists both looked and acted very differently to their sisters in the 1960s and
1970s. In fact, some of the earliest feminists were actually men, who published their own pamphlets
and material on the rights of women in the 18th century; though many women at that time had no
education and were illiterate.

Mary Wollstencraft is often given the title of the first female feminist thinker, publishing
her “Vindication on the Rights of Women” in 1792. Modern thinkers would find its ideas and
proposals as very primitive and a huge step backwards from the position that we find ourselves in
today, but there is little doubt that Wollstencraft had some innovative ideas about the relationship
between the two sexes which have survived until the 21st century, including her assertion that
inequality is the fault of both men and women. Wollstencraft’s daughter, also called Mary, went
onto become a successful writer herself after marrying the poet Shelley, although in a very different
genre to her mother; she was the author of the celebrated novel “Frankenstein”.

Into the 19th century, feminist writing was not just to be found on the non-fiction shelves. Writers
such as the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen and even men like Thomas Hardy depicted the hard and
unflinching nature of women’s lives in every strata of society. Leading thinkers in feminism
included Marion Reid, the first to make a an argument in print for women to be given the vote, and
Caroline Norton, whose own abusive marriage caused her to take her fight for women’s rights all
the way to Queen Victoria.

Some of the most successful and influential exponents of feminism in the Victorian era were not
those who wrote pamphlets or spoke of feminist philosophy, but were those who actually took it
upon themselves to go out into the world and make changes themselves. Florence Nightingale was
famously rejected by every medical school that she applied to, simply because of her gender, and so
decided to head to the Crimea under her own steam where she revolutionised battlefield healthcare,
saving millions of lives over the years.

As feminist women became more prominent and influential in society, their aims moved away from
philosophy and publication to practical campaigns aimed at changing the lives of ordinary women
everywhere. Emily Davies was very active in encouraging colleges to accept women students,
and set up the all-female Girton College at Cambridge with just five students in 1869. Elizabeth
Garret’s target was the exclusively male medical schools who were convinced that women could
never be doctors and that women of a certain class were even unsuited to nursing work. Garret
became not only the first woman in the country to gain a medical qualification, but also the first
female mayor when she was elected to the position by the people of Aldeburgh in 1908.

These pioneering women may not have been marching in the streets to change a society which they
saw as unjust, preferring the pen as their weapon of choice, but there is little doubting the influence
they had on the progression of feminism and feminist thinking.

Do women play poker games differently from men?

The poker game has gained a lot of popularity in the recent times. It has incorporates players of both genders. Though considered a men game, there has been an influx of women players in the recent times. One would definitely wonder whether women play differently from their counterparts of the other gender.

There are noticeable differences in the ways in which the genders play in terms of style. The ration of men and women averages 8:1 on poker stars, in which case poker can still be considered a male game. Of course, this does not necessarily mean that female players are worse than their male counterparts. There has been a belief among men players that women are weaker in the game. In addition, they would think that women would not learn the game first and therefore they would raise their stakes to make a kill.

This thought definitely has a basis. You will find female players staking higher simply because they do not take their time to understand how the game is played. This strategy is not limited to women, as you will find even more male players doing it. In this case, the female players would have an upper hand if they were to grasp the game. In any case, she would be in a position to take advantage of the school of thought to give the male counterparts a rude shock.

Female poker players who have an understanding as to the rules of the game make a big bet using starting cards that are weak and if the men do not realize it. In addition, women have been known to use other unorthodox ways to ensure that they win; for example, provocative dressing which deviate the mind of the male players leading to the loss of a hand. This tactic cannot be used by the male players against the female players. In any case, male players find it very difficult to gain a read on their female counterparts.

One other difference you would notice in the way women play the poker game is that they incorporate more care than their male counterparts do. You would find them less likely to play hands instead opting for small pots which enable them to stay afloat. This is unlike men who like taking greater risks or even go after larger pots. In addition, you would find women easier to push off a pot than their male counterparts. This is replicated in the buying a pot off from the female player on poker stars.net. It is often felt that they prefer to play conservative games. In any case, you would find them playing a more sensible game than the males.

One thing that we have to acknowledge is that the world is not devoid of women who have played poker games and become successful in them. With the right strategies, they definitely would still make it in the games. The bottom line however is that their playing strategies are a lot different from those of their male counterparts. This difference is always to their advantage, which explains the large number of women who have excelled in the area.

Hard Hands and Soft Hands in Blackjack

Blackjack players often mistakenly play soft hands in a manner similar to that which they play hard hands. In blackjack, a soft hand is a hand that contains an ace. The ace can count as either one or eleven and the blackjack player may use the ace as he sees fit. A hard hand is a hand without an ace. The hard hand in blackjack is absolute. Thus, when dealt a hand such as an eight and a seven, the count is fifteen, whereas a four and an ace can be either four or fourteen. By understanding that hard and soft blackjack hands play differently, a blackjack player can better maximize his profits at the blackjack table.

Playing Hard Hands

This is an area where many online blackjack players lose most of their bankroll. If you are dealt hard hands (no pair, no ace), like ten and five, or eight and six, you are in a difficult situation. This is the exact situation that you will find yourself in for the majority of your blackjack hands, as hard hands are statistically more common than hands like two aces or ten and nine.

Whenever you are dealt a hard hand, the best way to maximize your chances of ending up the winner, or losing the minimum, is to follow a blackjack strategy chart. Surrendering is rarely the right decision and should only be done when the dealer has a strong up card and you have very little cards that can make your hand presumably more powerful than the dealer’s hand. Usually you will have to hit your hard hands, but just follow the chart accordingly as sometimes even a low hand can be very profitable.

Playing Soft Hands

Although soft hands do not come nearly as often as the agonizing hard hands that regularly send a blackjack player on tilt (playing sloppy, without a solid strategy), when they do come they can be profitable. Soft hands consist of an ace with a non-face card. These are not monster hands in blackjack but they hold a lot of value when going against the dealer.

You can determine what to do depending on what the dealer’s up card is. If he has a rather weak card showing, doubling down could be a profitable option. In most cases, you will just want to hit. The chart shows a solid way to keep your winnings up with soft hands. Just remember to follow the chart for optimal blackjack play and never throw away a soft hand before hitting it at least once!

The “get better, get paid” philosophy of poker

Every game has rules which every player is expected to follow. Poker is no different. It is understandable when the poker players do not abide by the rules pertaining to bankroll management. This rule pertains to confining their buying to what they have in the poker account. It is understandable when one feels limited by this rule having in mind that you will not be in a position to use the full amount that you have in your account. One is definite to feel like they are letting the opportunity slip away. One thing that you have to note however that is it is not always right to use your capital to the fullest in the poker game.

The importance of preserving the rush poker bankroll cannot be underestimated. It definitely has a bearing in your career as a poker player. Of course the underlining goal is to multiply the bankroll in the shortest time possible; however, it is important to note that it will take some time to do that and therefore adopting the rule of getting better to get paid in this game essential. This essentially means a lot of patience as you will be expected to play correctly while keeping profitability in the lower ranks. In this case therefore, you will be rewarding yourself for playing the game well as well as learning the game and moving up the levels after you have earned the position.

One thing that you will appreciate is that you will appreciate about this poker philosophy is that you will be making mistakes at a manageable level. In addition to the low risk involved in this philosophy, you will be in a position to learn from the mistakes you make. Being in a position to make profits will enable you to finance your ascend to higher levels of the game. However, you could always stagnate in one level as long as you are comfortable with the profits you are making at the same. In addition, you could make use of multi tabling where you are enabled to quadruple or double the bottom line.

While in the lower limits, you will be making money as you get better due to the numerous mistakes regularly made by your opponents who are newer in the game. It is therefore important to note that you will be facing stiffer competition as you go higher in the ranks. This is actually the basis of consistently making correct plays that are profitable over time. The old adage that practice makes perfect on the download fulltilt software applies here as forming a winning habit in a particular level ensures that you move up the levels and even conquer as well. The basis of this philosophy is that using your opponents’ money to play the game while yours is preserved and even added.

You will definitely need to take your time to observe, strategize, learn, converse, make mistakes and even profile to improve your game. All in all, the philosophy of poker is built on the fact that you will only move to a level if and only if you have earned it and deserve to be there. In this case therefore, it is important to stick to a level where you are comfortable and making profits.

Lucy Rokach, a notable poker player

The poker game has come a long way and undergone tremendous developments in the recent times. It is notable that the game has witnessed an influx of female players. It is common to think that women players are weaker than men are and therefore they are not successful. A female poker player like Lucy Rokach would discount this thought. The female players on pokerstars.com have known tremendous achievements in the game having made more than two million dollars’ worth of winnings.

Born in Cairo, Egypt in the year 1949, Lucy Rokach used to work as a car dealer as well as a history teacher in England where she had moved in 1956. She started playing the game at the age of 38. Unfortunately, she hit rock bottom financially in a year’s time but could not go back to the car dealership job instead borrowing more money as well as remortgaging her home to play the game. This time round, she was fortunate enough to have the game pay off as she had developed the talent of making small bets. This was enough to earn her some fame as a talented player.

Presently, Lucy Rokach is considered one of the forces to reckon with in Europe as far as poker game is concerned. It is notable that her winning streak did not begin with the popularity of the poker game. Her very first win was in Wolverhampton at the Rubicon club. In this particular game, she won five thousand British pounds. She definitely could not stop there and she became even more popular in the game as she took first in Festival of poker. This Omaha tournament had a limit of 25-pound pot. This was actually in the early nineties.

Lucy has continued to be a force to reckon with as far as poker game is concerned especially given her winning streak after that particular tournament. She has participated in many tournaments taking home huge amounts of money. One notable achievement is that she participated twice in the final table. This was in 1995 as well as 1996 at World Series of Poker Pot-Limit Hold’em. Two other events in 1996 and 2004 earned her quite a load of money.

A win at the Grand Pix de Paris in 1999 marked the beginning of her big winning. Lucy ranked the best in the Irish winter tournament in 2002 a title she retained the following year. To cement her streak of winnings, she took the Midland masters in 2006 leading to her being awarded the European Poker Lifetime Achievement Award to signal at her achievement in the poker game.

Although she made quite some good money in the tournaments and won accolades, she did not stop playing the game. She continues playing the game as well as making some great winnings. Presently, she works with the Poker Channel as their commentator. In addition, she writes for Card Player magazine as well as working with Gary Jones and Roy Brindley in Late Night Poker. She has continued to be an inspiration and one of the reference points as to why any woman can excel in the poker game.

A Guide to the Basic Rules for Beginner Players

Tennis rules are simple and quite basic. Before you start playing tennis, you should have a basic understanding about the equipment which is used and the rules of the game.

The Official Rules of Tennis

The goal in tennis is gaining enough points for winning the game, set or match. The highest score from three tennis games are called sets if women are playing. For men, the highest score is from five games. The highest score is selected from three or five games for both the players and the one which has the highest score will win the game or the set.

Scoring

One of the basic rules in tennis is the score keeping. Whenever a player doesn’t score, it is known as love. When a player scores, it starts at 15 and then it will go up to 30 later to 40. For example, if player one scores a point and if player two doesn’t, the score will be 15-Love. If the score goes to 40-40, it is referred to as deuce. The next player who scores 2 points will win the game. However, if the player scores only one point after the deuce, known as a receiver or advantage server, and loses the next one, the score will again go back to deuce. In some cases, the players might agree to ignore that rule and do away with it.

The Equipment

The equipment which has to be used in tennis will have to be according to the official specifications. A regulation sized tennis court would be 78 feet long and it is a part of the tennis basic rules. The court would be divided in the middle with a net which will divide it in half. The line where the player will have to serve would be at 21 feet. The tennis rackets which are used during the tournaments will have to be 32 inches in length and 11 ½ in width. The tennis balls which are used in the game are available in several colors but for official tournaments, only yellow or white ones are used.

Singles

One on one is another rule in tennis. The first person or the server who hits the ball would be chosen by spinning the racket or by tossing the coin. The player who wins will be able to elect whether or not he/she wants to server first. They can choose to serve or if they like, they can give that option to the opponent. The player will then have to choose which end to play from. To make the game fair, the player who would have to serve will be changed for every game.

Doubles

Serving is always alternated between players and teams during the game. This is done in such a way that every player will serve at every fourth game. It is also traditional for the partners to stand next to each other but they are free to stand anywhere they want.

Facts pertaining to Female poker players

Poker as a game has developed tremendously in the recent times. It has seen a wide range of changes including the influx of women in the game. It is important to note however that most women are opting to play on internet poker rooms. The large number of online gambling sites can evidence this exclusively for women. This is mainly due to the fact that fewer women are tied up in marriage or by children. They also have vast disposable income and therefore increasing their spending power. Studies have actually shown that men make up only a third of online poker players. In addition, a large number of women prefer to play the game in online sites.

All in all, it is generally felt that women players are weak in the game, emotional, tight as well as not in a position to bet as much as men would. This definitely has had a direct effect on the games that they lose or win due to the demeaning table image.

One thing that you have to acknowledge is that the ratio of men to women is quite high actually taking 8:1. In this case, therefore, a woman is likely to find herself as the only one in the table. Many women will extract chips from men depending on how the males play against them. There are those men who will play against females as women or with a certain perception of them. You cannot ignore the macho man who plays a bad game simply because it would be demeaning to be beaten by a woman. There are tactics that this type of a man will use including betting weaker hands in an effort to daunt the female poker players into folding or failing.

You would also find gentlemen who don’t want to take the woman’s chips away and therefore confine their hands. There are those who are gentlemen but still play the games on WPTPoker as they should only to give back the bets once they have won the poker. Do not bank on this however as the more experienced, competitive and skillful poker players may not give out the extra chips.

These feelings are however not limited to men only. Women will also find themselves making the same generalizations about their fellow female poker players. Many women will only believe their fellow females when they raise or bet. In addition, they will raise or bet marginal hands simply because their female opponents will be more likely to fold their better hands.

It is important for them to incorporate the philosophy of poker in their game. This philosophy pertains to being a bit patient and taking their time to learn the game better before advancing to other levels. In this case, they will have to incorporate a lot of observation, strategizing as well as learning the rules of the game. One thing that you cannot afford to ignore is the essentiality of making mistakes in the game. You will learn from the mistakes that you make and therefore perfecting the game while in the lower ranks will be essential as you will lose small amounts of money.

Secret Strategies of Texas Holdem

Texas Holdem is one of the most commonly played poker games throughout the world. Apart from the well-known strategies of this game, there are few things that can help you master this game and win. The first piece of advice to players is to remain calm and controlled. Do not rush to play every hand and chase the cards. This will make you confused. Remain calm and observe other players and follow their moves.

Winning at Texas Holdem does not need exact gambling techniques. All it takes are the right FullTilt skills and the right moves at the right time. Though chance does matter in the game, strategies have to be followed to a great extent. Learning to play the odds carefully can make a huge difference to your victory.

Let us discuss a few more aspects that could improve your performance. Observe the way other players are betting. You will get a good idea of their betting style when it comes to a show down. The more players there are, the riskier the game gets. Bluffing is the biggest part of this game. You must know how to bluff if you want to win the game. Next, control your expressions and do not let the others see your emotions. In other words, keep a poker face on while playing Texas Holdem. Winning and losing are part of the game. So take short breaks; get out of the place and refresh yourself with a few drinks or snacks. Come back and focus on the game.

Do not play the game if you are in a bad mood, drunk, or not focused. The game demands a sharp mind, complete focus and a lot of patience. Do not underestimate or overestimate your opponents. It is normal for every table to have a couple of skilled hands. But that does not mean that you must lose your hope of winning the game. Look for a table with fewer players.

Start your poker game with a positive outlook. Go slow, look at the players around you, observe their moves and try to read their faces. You need not play every deal. Fold your cards when you don’t have them at their best.

To conclude, let us put it this way. Big money cannot be earned in a short time in any profession. If you wish to make money in Texas Holdem, practice the game and follow the rules. Either follow the strategies of experienced players or frame your own. If you are a beginner, play the game with beginners or players who are not so good. As you gain experience you can start playing tournaments against experienced players. Also, remember that you might get carried away if you start winning big hands on burnpoker.com. Hold your horses! Quit the game once you have made enough money. Observe the players at other tables when you are not playing. Note their moves and behavior at the table. These are not just tips, but secrets of poker gaming which could give you a start in winning tournaments.