Friday, July 30, 2010

GenerationOne Ideas Forum - Fox Studios, Sydney, Australia - 29th July 2010

GenerationOne had its first Ideas Forum today on Indigenous employment that lasts. The key outcomes of the forum focused on job specific training fostered by industry and backed by governments. Jenny Brockie, from SBS TV’s Insight hosted a thought provoking forum with panelists Andrew Forrest (Founder of GenerationOne), Melinda Cilento (Business Council of Australia) Danny Lester (Aboriginal Employment Strategy), Leah Armstrong (Incoming CEO Reconciliation Australia) and Bruce McQualter (ANZ).

*Media Man founder and director, Greg Tingle, is a pro active campaigner and supporter of GenerationOne. Greg Tingle attended, pitched questions and conducted 1:1's after the forum

*Public thank you and well done to everyone involved in GenerationOne

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Aborigines need hand into work: Twiggy - AAP - Fairfax Media - 29th July 2010

Mining magnate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest has called on politicians of all persuasions to help indigenous people get a start in the workforce.

The Fortescue Metals CEO on Thursday said he wasn't a bleeding heart, and skilling-up indigenous people made good business sense.

One of Australia's richest men, Mr Forrest said indigenous people didn't need more welfare money - but they do need real leadership.

"The government really needs to move itself along and say 'OK, welfare really hasn't worked'," he said in Sydney on Thursday.

Mr Forrest was speaking on the panel of an indigenous employment forum, organised by action group GenerationOne, of which he is the founder.

Employment is the key to ending indigenous disparity, he said.

"If the government encourages industries which can really make a difference, and yes it is mining, but it's also construction, it's also hospitality, it's also tourism.

"If they encourage those industries to deliver the training themselves (then) other companies ... will have the faith to continue the employment."

He added that the government would need to step up and provide funding or subsidise the costs of training indigenous employees.

Deputy Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia, Melinda Cliento, also on the GenerationOne panel, said standards needed to be lifted so indigenous children didn't leave school and go into unemployment.

"My really strong view is that we have to make sure that we don't have future lost generations," Mr Cliento said.

"We've got a huge pool of people who are unemployed at the moment. (We need) to stop the flow into that unemployment."

Mr Forrest said it was also in the interest of Australian businesses to employ indigenous people.

"I'm not doing this because I'm a philanthropist or because I've got a bleeding heart. I'm doing this essentially because it's great for business," he said.

"The more business grows, the morale of your people, the culture deepens of your workforce - you become a more valuable company." (Credit: Fairfax Media - AAP)

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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Virgin boss Richard Branson one Elle of a hero - 14th June 2010

Aussie beauty Elle MacPherson has named wily British entrepreneur Richard Branson as her business role model.

MacPherson, who has created a multi-million-dollar empire out of her name thanks to lingerie, cosmetics and TV deals, said the billionaire Virgin boss was an inspiration.

"I'm reading one of his books at the moment and I admire him," she said.

"It's really interesting to look at the way he has built his brand and how he combines what he loves with his business - he's broadminded and diverse and so definitely passionate."

MacPherson, who has taken over the hosting role on Britain's Next Top Model this year, said despite making her name as a swimwear model she never considered launching a bikini line.

"People did ask me why I wasn't doing bathing suits as they associated me with beachwear, especially after appearing in one in Sports Illustrated," she said in the UK interview.

"But I was wary of the fact it's a seasonal product and not economically viable all year round. Besides, lingerie is my passion."

MacPherson, 47, has also made an odd admission - that she only ever looks in the mirror when she's working. "I honestly don't look in the mirror, except for when I am working and then I see an image that supports my brand," she said. Credit: News Limited

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Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Media Man Awards - May 2010

The Salvation Army Wins Media Man Charity Of The Month Award - May 2010; Please give generously when they knock

Social and Community Entrepreneur: Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, James Packer runner up

Corporate Responsibility: Virgin Enterprises Limited (including Virgin Unite)

Cafe Of The Month: Sparrow Cafe, Bondi Beach

Burlesque Promoter: Jac Bowie Promotions

Positive Attitude: Max Markson, director, Markson Sparks!

Affiliate Program: PartyPartners

Online Casino: PartyCasino.com

Casino: Crown Casino, Melbourne Australia; Runner up: Star City

Online Poker Room: PartyPoker.com, 2nd World Poker Tour, 3rd PKR Poker

Sports Betting Website: Betfair; Runner Up: Centrebet

Entertainment Website: TMZ

Campaigner: Poker Players Alliance

Promoter: Eric Bischoff

Innovator: Ric Drasin

Game: Sinatra Slot, Runner Up; Monopoly Multiplier, 3rd Cleopatra

Sports Programme (Australia): State Of Origin (Network Nine Australia)

Athlete: Brock Lesnar

Pro Wrestler MVP: Chris Jerico, 2nd Hulk Hogan, 3rd Ric Flair

Actor (Australian): Firass Dirani

Movie: Iron-Man 2

News Website: Google News

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Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Media Man Awards

Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, Australian Mining Mogul, Wins Media Man Social And Community Entrepreneur Of The Month; Runner Up, James Packer

Virgin Enterprises Limited Wins Responsible Corporate Of The Month Award

Max Markson, Director Of Markson Sparks! Wins Media Man Positive Attitude Of The Month Award

Monday, May 24, 2010

Australian Sports Form Anti-Corruption Alliance, by Greg Tingle - 24th May 2010

The reputation of Aussie sports, thus sports business, and to a broader degree, entertainment industry, has a take a bashing of late. Desperate to fix up ala "fix the fix" et al, a broad range of Australian sports are teaming up for the greater good. A sports betting fix and salary cap rorting re Melbourne Storm was the recent trigger, but most insiders agree there's been issues with the integrity of Australia sports for decades, and we're not just talking about Aussie Olympic team and management stuff ups. Media Man and Gambling911 go crash tackling, body slamming and Hills Hoist clotheslining with this report...

Australian sports have formed an alliance to share information that could help guard against corruption arising from the burgeoning sports gaming industry.

Sports heads from Aussie Rules, rugby, soccer, tennis and netball (no NRL or MMA) formed the Coalition of Major Professional & Participation Sports (COMPPS) this week.

The group said in a media statement last Friday its formation reflected "the importance of continuing public confidence in the integrity of major sports' results".

"There have been concerns about corrupt gaming's influence in some sports in some parts of the world and the newly constituted COMPPS group sees the importance of guarding against corruption in Australian sports gaming as one of our priorities," Executive Director Malcolm Speed said.

"Australia has an excellent sports gaming integrity reputation, which we want to maintain and as a first step, we will start sharing information within the COMPPS membership." ...well, that's what they said, but we detected a bit of spin. It's not the word on the street or in balanced news media reports. Mind you, the Storm, snooker championship and Aussie - Indian cricket got everyone very suspicious and tainted Australian sports across the board.

This new collaborating would share information about codes of conduct, education and disciplinary processes in a bid to strengthen sports integrity, the statement said.

The group's establishment comes off the back of the probe by the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit into Pakistan's under-performing tour of Australia this year.

The unit's outgoing chairman Paul Condon, who confirmed the probe on Thursday, warned that match-fixing could be ruinous to cricket if the sport was not vigilant about rooting it out.

Significant, ok, huge, match-fixing scandals have also broken in snooker, and European and Chinese soccer in recent months. These attracted international headlines.

Former world snooker champion John Higgins was suspended by the sport's governing body earlier this month after a newspaper reported he had agreed to take a bribe to lose frames, and published damaging photographs of a handshake deal.

German police dismantled a gang of more than 200 suspects operating in nine European leagues in November, while Chinese authorities have arrested in excess of 20 league and club officials for match-fixing offences as part of a probe sparked last year.

Team Media Man, Gambling911 and the loyal readership are hoping things return to normal, and the way they should be, for Australian and international sport in the near future.

Good hunting and happy punting, and may the best and fairest team win.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They also publish Australian Sports Entertainment
http://www.australiansportsentertainment.com

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Friday, May 21, 2010

Richard Branson guest edits The Big Issue

Richard Branson and Virgin Unite take the editor's seat for a special issue of The Big Issue, the UK's leading social business, and argues 'We need a revolution to change the world'.

Be sure to check out the 19th April edition of The Big Issue, a weekly entertainment and current affairs magazine which offers homeless and vulnerably housed people in the UK the opportunity to earn an income.

As guest editor, Richard explains why we need a revolution, covering topics from climate change to entrepreneurship to running his first marathon to support vulnerable young people in the UK. The edition also features the Heaven’s Angels programme and an inspiring Q&A with Desmond Tutu.

Richard's guest edited edition of The Big Issue is available from the 19th April 2010. (Credit: Virgin Unite)

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Australian Aboriginals And Casinos Generate Bob Geldof Heat, by Greg Tingle - 20th May 2010

Gaming and community entrepreneurs, what do Aussie indigenous peoples, casinos and pop icon Bob Geldof share in common? No, its not a game of what's red, white and black all over... ok, bad joke... the answer is "a nun in a blender". Getting serious, wonderful Australian initiative GenerationOne, has once again brought together an eclectic mix of society, business, rock stars, humanitarians... the whole box and dice. Media Man, passionate community campaigner and media entrepreneur, and Gambling911, new media powerhouse, hit the Aussie Outback in search of answers...

Live Aid humanitarian and rock star "rat" tells us Australia has "exiled" indigenous Australians from the nation.

Australian and Asia Pacific casino and lifestyle king, James Packer of Crown, copped an earful, as did others... more on that later, but here's an overview... the calm before the storm friends...

"They were forced to be exiled from themselves and that must stop," he preached.

"You need to pull them back into themselves because you’ve acknowledged them as being. The spiritual core of yourselves will only be filled when this is done.".

Mr Boobtown Rat was speaking to a breakfast for Perth, WA mining baron Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest’s nation-touring GenerationOne movement. "Twiggy" and the team aims to halt indigenous disparity within this generation. Geldof likened indigenous affairs in Australia to situations he’d witnessed in 3rd-world Africa, and you get the idea.

"I said on the radio back in 1984 that to die of want in a world of surplus is not only intellectually absurd, it is morally repulsive. Well let’s add economically illiterate to that.

It already started to sound that he was talking to the casino, development and mining industry... he has a captive audience, that much is for certain, and news media caught every word!

"You’ve removed from your society of 'having a go' 500,000 of your own. That is absurd. It’s economically stupid.

"Just like those 44 million African children (given access to education from the Live Aid campaign) will be a massive driving force in the world economy, so your own Aboriginal people require to be allowed in. The access point is education."

Geldof urged the "rich bastards" (Mr Packer et al) in attendance at the breaky to contribute wholeheartedly and dig deep re Mr Forrest’s fight to end indigenous disparity. It's a shame 'Our Richard' (Branson), Steve Wynn (still winning big), and billionaire 'Google Guys' weren't in attendance.

Taking shots at a guest representative of Mr Frank Lowy’s Westfield empire and GenerationOne benefactor and key supporter, casino king James Packer, Geldof said "You can build a small shop and then you can build very, very big shop. You can build a casino and then you can build five casinos, you’re still building fu...king casinos."

But Geldof was more than happy to take a pot shot at himself, thereby covering his ass for later heat...

"Or you could be singularly responsible for two of the worst pop records ever made (We Are the World and Do They Know It’s Christmas?).

"You can do all that, but it’s just not enough. It’s all sort of empty. It doesn’t mean very much. Of course, what it is is being able to take what you’re doing, which is less than some and more than others, and extend it out. Well that’s what Twiggy (Andrew Forrest) is doing."

8 minutes of Geldoff speak, poetic tongue, relating to all, Dreamtime included, it was appropriate that Geldof (Mr Rat) signed off with a quote from German writer Johann von Goethe "Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.".

Media Man and Gambling911 wish the loyal readership magic of Enchanted Unicorn proportions and genius, be it poker, casino classics, sports betting, or friends and relationships. Geldof is not interested to have a 'Boomtown Rats' themed slot machine, despite fellow rocker, Aussie Angry Anderson doing well with his 'Rose Tattoo' casino club themes. Packer has not publicity commented on a Kerry Packer or 'Underbelly' casino slot game to date, which means its still a possibility. Rock on my brothers, white, black or other! We are one.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen industry sectors they cover

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

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Friday, May 07, 2010

Ante Up For Africa at PKR - 6th May 2010

We've teamed up with poker's leading charity to aid African development

Ante Up For Africa is PKR's nominated charity for the coming year

Since Don Cheadle, Annie Duke and Norman Epstein launched Ante Up for Africa in 2006 they've raised more than $3million for front line aid agencies like Refugees International, Enough Project and Darfur Peace and Development Organization. These are groups that are doing an incredible job helping people on the ground in some of the most troubled and impoverished places in the world.

And now we're going to help them raise even more. You can help by donating PKR Points to Ante Up For Africa in our shop with donations ranging from 20,000 to 1,000,000 Points that we'll turn into cash for AUFA to help end conflicts, deliver aid to refugees and re-build lives.

We'll also be releasing details about special charity tournaments and other ways you can get involved with Ante Up For Africa soon.

In the meantime, watch out for Team PKR Pros wearing Ante Up for Africa gear at major poker events and PKR sponsored celebrity participants in the Ante Up for Africa tournament at this year's World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

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Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Aussie Truckers Work Hard And Smart With TED

Truck drivers are known to be amongst the world's hardest working people, and now thanks to an innovation designed and developed by talent used to working on Ferrari F1's, their now some of the smartest.

Press Release

Aussie Truck Drivers And Transport Managers Do A Tyre Check In Less Than 5 Minutes; More Time For A Real Smoko Thanks To F1 Technology Transport Tech

Meet our mate, and soon we think yours, "T.E.D" (Transport Efficiency Device).

He's not quite Iron-Man, but T.E.D know how to reduce your transport bottom line, reduce driver margin of error, and can save your semi or fleet multiple thousands of dollars a year.

TED R&D has brought true efficiency front of mind, while also scientifically proving that a TED type fit out adds tangible safety benefits to truck and trailer. Light tracks to B Train Double's can benefit from the device that fits in the palm of your hand.

Drivers, like the idea of walking around your truck and semi with a coffee and checking tyre pressures of up to 32 tyres in less than 5 minutes? You can now!

Reduce wear and tear, driver fatigue, increase safety and have peace of mind knowing TED is also an eco friendly solution.

Built in the U.S.A, tested and adapted to rugged Australian conditions.

Meet your offsider mate T.E.D... you will be glad you did.

Call Australian T.E.D manager Colin Meyer for more information.

m: 0431 303 303
w: www.tedaus.com.au

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e: greg@mediamanint.com

Saturday, May 01, 2010

Wrestling Legend Ric Flair Expands Gambling Deals, by Greg Tingle - 1st May 2010

Professional wrestling living legend, 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair, has expanded on his gambling and gaming deals. Enter South Carolina Education Lottery.

As Media Man and Gambling911 have long suspected, there is a cross over audience in wrestling fans and punters, be it lottery, poker, casino, online and offline. We've also noticed an increase in PKR (3D) poker advertising on a number of Wrestling News Media and sports car - lifestyle websites, but that's another story. Flair didn't miss long time nemesis Hulk Hogan doing business with a Native American tribe via The Hulk-a-Mania Experience slot machine, but Flair's opted for "softer" gambling (thus far) via being a face of lottery tickets in the Carolina's.

Flair took a life gamble some 30 years ago when when his bleached his hair blond an transformed his image into a somewhat modern 'Gorgeous George' inspired character, known for his jet flying, limousine riding, wheelin', dealing, son of a gun antics. Flair became the thinking man's wrestler, and quite the entrepreneur in the process.

His biggest wrestling related pay days came around the time of his signing with World Wrestling Entertainment and 1991, soon after having his first match with Hulk Hogan. Today Flair still wrestles the occasional match against Hogan and his mates in WWE rival, TNA Wrestling, but Flair remains on the lookout for worthwhile business deals to help maintain his lifestyle and fuel his considerable expense account which experienced an increase with family matters and the like.

'The Man' is one of Charlotte’s best-known celebs, and one of the world's most famous wrestlers, will be showcased on 'Woooooo!' South Carolina Education Lottery tickets, kicking off next week.

Flair will be in the think of the action with the $5 scratch-off ticket, starting Monday, according to Flair management and of the South Carolina Lottery.

Some six months ago Flair fronted that $5 scratch-off lottery ticket in North Carolina. The Flair tickets were among the state’s best-selling lottery items. The ticket sale was pushed along by television commercials featuring Flair, which later became a bit of a viral hit on the YouTube website portal via Media Man creation American Gaming News.

Paula Harper Bethea, executive director of the South Carolina Education Lottery, said Flair will also help promote the ticket sales in the Palmetto State.

"We look forward to hosting Ric Flair in South Carolina at various events and anticipate an increase in ticket sales to generate more funds for education," Bethea said.

She also advised he is scheduled to appear on behalf of the lottery on 8th May at NASCAR’s Southern 500 racing mega event in Darlington; and again June 5 at the Sun Fun Festival in Myrtle Beach.

The South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) began in 2002. South Carolina is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), best known for Powerball. Like most US lotteries, on January 31, 2010, it participated in the cross-sell lottery expansion, adding Mega Millions.

Pro Wrestlers Connection

Other pro wrestlers who have an interest to get involved in gaming of the gambling variety include Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Snuka and Piper also already in a number of traditional video games. Kevin "Big Sexy" Nash from TNA and NWO fame has some gambling links on his official website. Rumors persist of PartyGaming and / or Australia's NextGen Gaming developing an Andre The Giant online slot game, which would be certain to be a hit with punters down under in Australia, and around the world. Andre toured Australia a number of times including in the 70s and later in the mid 80's with the then World Wrestling Federation.

Punters, into wrestling? Check out the Media Man website network... interviews, articles, profiles et al of many of the world's greatest and most colourful wrestling stars. No pro wrestling slot games... the closest is The Incredible Hulk online slot. Hogan came to terms with Marvel Entertainment a couple of decades ago to the turn of a few million dollars. Captain Cooks Casino is understood to have a 'My Slot' game which can be customized, so if you want to incorporate pro wrestling stars, you can. All we have to say is have fun and Woooooo!

Websites

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Captain Cooks Casino (My Slot)

South Carolina Education Lottery

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Ric Flair - Media Man profile


*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Wrestling News Media is a Media Man creation

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Saturday, March 20, 2010

The charm of Sir Richard rubs off on Perth kids - Fairfax Media - 19th March 2010

There are not many people in the world who can say they have Sir Richard Branson wrapped around their little finger.

But that's exactly what six-year-old Perth boy Jarvis Brett did this morning when he met the billionaire entrepreneur.

Sitting in Sir Richard's lap as the visiting special guest of Perth charity Strike A Chord for Cancer met with some of the sick children he was there to help, Jarvis looked shy as cameras flashed in his face.

But as soon as the formalities were over, the little boy with neuro blastoma showed Sir Richard just how flexible his fingers were, and then delighted in trying to pull Sir Richard's fingers out of their sockets.

Today, Sir Richard will attend a variety of events held around the city in aid of the Perth charity.

Fans of the entrepreneur have forked out up to $3300 each to socialise with him. Those paying the premium price will enjoy a cruise on the Swan River this afternoon on board a 94-foot yacht as they eat dishes created by Knee Deep winery chef Bradley Hornby and drink Billecart champagne.

He will also attend a cocktail function at Indiana restaurant overlooking Cottesloe beach with 200 guests, and a party dubbed Branson by the Pool at Burswood later tonight with another 700. More than 1000 people will attend breakfast and lunch functions at which he will appear today.

Strike A Chord for Cancer offers emergency funds to families who have children suffering from cancer, while also providing them with musical instruments and lessons to help take their mind of their illness. Tonight, a band made up of children who benefited from the charity will play at the pool party.

Sir Richard said he came to Perth for the kids.

"They're fantastic kids, except for the one that's been trying to break my finger!" he said.

"No, he's absolutely adorable. It's a tremendous charity and great to be able to spend the day trying to raise money for it. You can see the joy in the kids' faces, how excited they are to be playing in their band tonight, having been given the equipment by the charity and taught how to use it."

Sir Richard said he travelled the world to attend charity events, and worked on his foundation that raises money for children in Africa.

"I do about 20 events a year," he said.

"I do some speaking and put 100 per cent to the charity, or towards the foundation we have in Africa.

"That's about helping African kids who have different sorts of problems." (Credit: Fairfax Media)

Australian Casino And Poker News: Overseas Passenger Terminal And Burswood Casino Packs Em In, by Greg Tingle - 19th March 2010

It's been a huge 24 hours in the Australian casino, employment, poker, media and social and community entrepreneur sectors.

Billionaire Inc Connection...

James Packer's Burswood Casino aka Burswood Entertainment Complex, based in Perth, Western Australia, is on a roll. Poker and online poker continue to do massive numbers, and Crown Limited (Crown Casino and Burswood Casino etc al), PartyGaming's PartyPoker, Media Man and Gambling911 are in the thick of the action.

Must be magic that Packer and Perth mining magnate, Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest are weaving. "Twiggy" have brought his infectious can-do attitude, work ethic and Aussie humour in spades to Sydney. Yep, the Billionaire, understood to now be Australia's Richest Man, still has the common touch.

Packer and Forrest were in Sydney last night, at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, joined by 500 power players in the Australian business, political and entertainment arena to officially welcome in GenerationOne. For the record, Media Man had to report from the sidelines as the event was jam packed, but did have the pleasure to speaking to some execs very close to the powers that be...and they were pleased to hear of our assistance to groups such as Githabul people, Yuggera tribe, Deadly Awards, Friends of Malabar Headland and Virgin Unite, and mentioning that we owned shares in Crown Casino didn't seem to hurt the cause!

Movie stars Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe attended last night, where movers and shakers exchanged ideas (plus gossip) and saw their palms projected onto the sails of the Opera House in a show of support. Us Aussies are likely giving the Las Vegas Strip and Atlantic City a few free ideas!

The story that Media Man and Gambling911 collaborated on and broke worldwide, has dominated Google and Google News for the past 24 hours or so, and shows no sign on slowing down for the weekend... a favorite time for punters, both in Australia and around the globe.

The GenerationOne movement has also triggered us to open up negotiations with the state and federal government to see how we here at Media Man may qualify to take on a couple of suitable indigenous peoples as contract staff to assist our business endeavors... could be for photography, video, graphic arts or internet portal development.

Australia New Zealand Poker Tour

The event is the toast of the town in Perth, ok, that may be talking it up a notch, but you get the idea.

Burswood Casino, PokerStars and the online poker community, not to mention bars,
restaurants, taxis and limousines are sure doing well out of it. All the action also means that Burswood will need to keep staff numbers high, which is good news for GenerationOne, but fortunately those infamous plastic handcuffs have yet been witnessed on site.

Insiders advise over 60 players got through day 1b at the PokerStars ANZPT Perth Main Event. Mr Yu-chang Cheng leads as the only player from the flight with over 100,000 in chips.

Many of Australia’s best poker players attended with PokerStars pros Tony Hachem, Eric Assadourian and Grant Levy all surviving with pretty average chips.

Joel "Strong Play" Dodds who continues his roll with ANZPT to sit in third chip position with 97,600 and APPT Sydney champion Aaron Benton returned strongly from a short stack to concluded with 74,900 chips. ANZPT Adelaide champ Rennie Carnevale gets to Day 2 with 47,550.

The ANZPT Perth Main Event attracted 222 players, beating the previous record for a Perth event - 142 players. The top prize is $132,750.

Here's the numbers as of time to publication

Top ten chip counts:
Nik Lackovic – 104,625
Yu-chang Cheng – 101,425
Joel Dodds – 97,600
Dominic Sinagra – 93,350
Aaron Wilson – 90,950
Kelvin Beattie – 90,125
Christopher Evans - 87,600
Tu Le – 84,425
Jimmy Wong – 77,925
Aaron Benton - 74,900

So punters, be casino, poker or community assistance being your passion or poison, as you can see its been a massive period for casino, poker and entertainment news down under.

Wait, there's more!

GenerationOne - The Numbers Build

In the next report we expect to be able to give more updates on the amount of jobs GenerationOne is generating. New South Wales premier Kristina Keneally, already has 2229 jobs earmarked for indigenous people, Packer has approx 100, "Twiggy" with multiple thousands, and Media Man has put aside 2 contract jobs for locals. It's more paperwork, but the end result is worth the effort.

Mr Packer has employed 60 indigenous workers and is looking for 50 more. Like many, he had always wanted to do more in the area and Mr Forrest had shown him how.

"It's not about rich people can do more, or poor people should get off their backsides, or government should get out there … It's about all Australians", Mr Forrest said.

"People tell me, 'This is just another campaign.' I say show me the 20,000 (promised jobs so far) in any other campaign."

Readers, have fun playing your games of preference, and be assured that we will continue to support the readership and community who support us.

Let's hear it again for the Australian - American connection... Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi Aussie Aussie Aussie USA USA Aussie Oi Aussie Oi USA Oi Oi Oi!

* Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

* The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

* Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company, operating in over a bakers dozen vertical markets

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Friday, March 19, 2010

Big names lend hand to campaign - 19th March 2010

Hand prints of some of Australia's biggest movers and shakers will be projected onto Sydney Opera House to kick start a campaign to end indigenous inequality.

Interactive artwork will build up over two hours covering the Opera House sails from 8pm (AEDT) on Friday.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, mining magnate Andrew Forrest, media baron James Packer, and actors Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett will be among the 500 participants at the GenerationOne launch.

The campaign aims to boost aboriginal employment, literacy rates, year 12 completion rates, and help curb alcohol abuse and welfare dependency in indigenous communities.

As part of the launch, artworks will also be projected onto five iconic buildings in other cities - Flinders St Station in Melbourne, the Adelaide Festival Centre, Brisbane City Hall, Canberra Australian National Gallery and the Perth Bell Tower.

Cape York Kokoberra woman Tania Major, the 2007 Young Australian of the Year, is one of faces of the campaign.

"As I get around this country, I find Australians really are unified around a desire to ensure that this is the last generation to suffer indigenous disparity," she said prior to the launch.

Joint spokesman Jack Manning Bancroft said cooperation was needed nationwide.

"GenerationOne is different from previous attempts to fix this problem because it isn't just calling on governments to act. It's calling on business, government and all Australians," he said.

GenerationOne will have a national roadshow from March 23 to May 20 to encourage people to get involved.

Australian Casino King, Business Tycoons And Social And Community Entrepreneurs Unite For Indigenous, by Greg Tingle - 19th March 2010

Tonight's the night!

Australian casino king, James Packer, friends, associates and even a few Hollywooders will gather at the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney in aid of indigenous Australians - GenerationOne!

Mr Packer and mate, Andrew Forrest, having been working the phones and rumor has it even Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett will be there. Billionaires and celebs a plenty.

They will all get together to project their hands via a colourful laser display on the Opera House to launch GenerationOne - an ambitious project to secure appropriate training and employment for indigenous Australians.

A positive and determine billionaires' swag - one that Packer, Forrest, Kerry Stokes, Lowy clan and Lindsay Fox make the running on a cause they have taken into their own hands.

Media Man is hopeful of getting up close to the action tonight, and rest assured follow up stores will follow, many of which positive outcomes are forecast.

Prime Minster Kevin Rudd has publicly said Sorry to indigenous Australians, but saying sorry is not enough... actions speak louder than words, and who better to action than influential whales and dolphins in the casino, media and entertainment industry.

Numerous Australian government agencies and charity groups have previously given money and attention towards Aboriginal Australians, but sustainable solutions - jobs and the like are what's needed. Just throwing money at problems doesn't work, and the Packer - Forrest clan has runs on the board and has experienced indigenous Australia close up... both the good and the bad.

These leaders of business have their work cut out for themselves, but they are used to beating the odds... and winning. Look at Packer's recent "comeback of the decade". Big business, backed by positive (and cashed up) folks, coupled with people power, has a good chance to win this struggle.

Corporate social responsibility has become a focus for many companies over the past years. Sustainable employment seems to have overshadowed the environmental - greeny barrow. A Media Man insider was overheard, "All this talk about the environment... well and good, but if someone is sleeping in a cardboard box and hungry, that's their environment. Millionaires, billionaires and the right mix of social and community entrepreneurs can sort out many of Australia's problems".

Billionaire Inc is willing to use some of its its money and clout garner community interest and balanced news media attention to push a unified cause. Egos will be pushed to the side, results being paramount.

Forrest is the individual who has driven this to date. He's got jobs for the right folks, so has Packer. All members of the brains trust understand that correct training, willingness to learn, adapt, hard work and positive mental attitude is key.

The initial jobs target is 50,000 indigenous placings. Packer's Crown and Forrest's mining operation can't fill all of the positions, so they are looking to other suitable Australian companies to assist. It's seen as a win - win - win.

Part of the task for Team Forrest - Packer is about convincing big business that indigenous employees, properly trained and equally valued, are economically valuable and inspirational to the other employees and can become mentors. This isn't about fulfilling a charitable quota.

For Forrest and Packer this quest is most personal.

Forrest was raised in a remote West Australian station where until the age of nine all his friends were Aborigines. He says that the Aboriginal elders mentored him and taught him many life skills, including how to track and how to fight.

"I grew up believing the more you know Aboriginal people the more you love them", he told Fairfax Media.

At the age of nine Forrest was sent to a boarding hostel where Aborigines lived.

The majority of the billionaires he has mustered have either experienced their own struggle or have learnt hardship from their parents.

The Packer and Forrest collective empires are in a strong position at present, and perhaps this has been instrumental in the timing of this bold project.

Media Man and Gambling911 applaud this champion effort. It's mate helping mate, breaking down the divide between the haves and the have nots. Media Man and Gambling911 hope your gaming experience is a positive and enjoyable one, and if you get lucky, please consider assisting a worthy cause or two. In the coming days and weeks more details will be provided on GenerationOne. Crew, let's hear it... Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company.

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Sunday, March 14, 2010

Australian Casino Attacks: Perth's Burswood Bouncer In Hospital Following Headbutt, by Greg Tingle - 14th March 2010

A man has been questioned by police after a bouncer was allegedly head-butted at Burswood Casino in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Police said a 26-year-old man from Southern Cross would be summonsed to appear
in court on an assault charge after he allegedly head-butted the male security officer (aka "Bouncer") about 3.30am.

The victim was taken to hospital with a suspected broken nose.

The alleged offender was apprehended at the scene by security officers before police arrived to take him away for questioning. Ya bloody mongrel.

Media Man and Gambling911 have been following the history of violent attacks at Australian hotels, pubs and casinos for a number of years. Mugs like the above mentioned have been tarnishing the good name of Australian casinos for too long now.

Burswood Entertainment Complex, owned by James Packer's Crown Limited group, is one of numerous Crown venues that will be implementing a plastic handcuff policy, expected to be rolled out later this year.

Negatives Into Positives...

As reported last month, Mr Packer has vouched to help find employment for masses of Indigenous Australian youth, and by the sound of it there's still room to boost the numbers of security offers at the Crown group of facilities. Insiders tip Crown to initially open up close to 100 vacancies for suitably qualified staff, but the overall plan from the Packer - Andrew Forrest - Kerry Stokes - Rupert Murdoch connection is looking to cater to 50,000! Readers, you will be hearing lots more about The Covenant and Generation One.

Burswood and Crown Casino remain iconic Australian tourism landmarks, despite detractors staying otherwise. Last year golfing great Tiger Woods brought in $10 million to Crown coffers alone, largely due in part to a large contingent of casino and golfing whales and dolphins who followed him down under. Tiger's Aussie tour brought more excitement and headlines than expected and witnesses say a certain Miss was seen in Crown Towers... you know, the one who grasped international headlines et Rachel Uchitel. What a bingle that was, of the Aussie Lara Bingle magnitude.

We're hoping things settle down for Tiger and Australian casinos, and the next wave of news will be more positive in nature. We applaud media giants News Limited and Fairfax, both of which have been filing numerous balanced and positive reports on Australian casino king, James Packer, and his substantial empire. Insiders are calling Packer's return to the uppers of the BRW Rich List "the comeback of the decade", likely the only thing he shares in common with Hollywood toughman Mickey Rourke.

No plastic handcuffs required for online casinos, online poker or sports betting, but always bet with your head, not over it.

Big Business Opportunities...

Last call... Media Man thinks Crown might do well to get a b2b deal in place for online casino games with the likes of PartyGaming. Party's PartyPoker secured a large number of online poker players for Crown's Aussie Millions Poker Championship via satellites last January. Party subsequently signed Crown winner Tyron Krost to a lucrative contact. Krost claims he learned to play online poker via PartyPoker.com Party's themed and branded slots such as The Godfather, Mission: Impossible and Top Gun (both featuring Packer's mate Tom Cruise).

Let's face it, some of the attacks at Australian land based casinos are likely going to keep some punters away, but most will have access to an internet connection, thus the online casino. History shows us via the Las Vegas experience that casinos who embrace the internet appropriately are likely to stay ahead of competitors. Packer said himself, "Internet is like electricity".

U.S casino and gaming Giant, Harrah's Entertainment, is the latest U.S casino to make a big splash in online b2b, and we think Packer's Crown should be Australia's first. We understand that Crown competitors TAB and Centrebet are currently making moves to be able to offer Australian's a wide range of online casino games and we think that the Packer People's Army would do well to beat the comp to the punch, pardon the pun, and offer some games featuring some unique Aussie culture. How about a Kerry Packer, Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, Underbelly, The Man From Snowy River and Ned Kelly slot? Now I'd be prepared to pay for that, as one would expect from masses of passionate Aussies. Crown shares on 8.170 (share price, not blood alcohol reading). Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi, Oi.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor to Gambling911

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company, gaming being just one of a bakers dozen of sectors covered

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Sunday, February 21, 2010

Aussie casino king James Packer to help ease plight of jobless, by Greg Tingle - 21st February 2010

Australian casino king and major media player, James Packer, has vowed to help ease plight of Australia's jobless.

Entitled the Australian Employment Covenant, the Rudd government-backed initiative aims to find 50,000 jobs for indigenous Australians. As the project rolls out Australia will get to know it as Generation One.

In an extremely rare interview, Linda Silmalis of News Limited's The Sunday Telegraph was able to secure a telephone interview with Mr Packer.

The casino comeback king wouldn't be pushed on politics (recently enjoying a spot of golf with Sen. Stephen Conroy might do that to a man), but he opened right up when it came to social and community matters, with a focus on getting Indigenous Australians sustainable employment.

The Packer empire includes Australia's Crown Casino, Burswood Entertainment Centre, City Of Dreams, Macau and Altira Macau. Mr Packer also has a share in pay TV operator, Foxtel.

Crown Casino is strongly indicating it will employ a significant number of indigenous Australians and Team Packer is also communicating with corporate Australia on how they can be part of this historic project.

Packer is collaborating with Aussie mining king Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest. A bush tucker bag of other great Aussie's are also assisting including but not limited to News Limited chairman Rupert Murdoch, Seven Network boss Kerry Stokes, and of course wife, Erica Baxter. Murdoch did some historic campaigning for Indigenous Australia whilst editor of Adelaide's The News circa 1959, later being showcased in modern classic, 'Black and White'.

There's considerable resources at hand, and by Packer speak, this is a hand up, not a hand out. However, to kick-start things Kerry Stokes and Packer are both putting in $2 million for a start.

In the telephone interview with Linda Silmalis of The Sunday Telegraph, "Kerry and I are each putting in $2 million to the project and we're doing it because we believe in Andrew's vision,.

"It is not another welfare program. Both the Covenant and Generation One are about getting actual outcomes. We have actually got some bona fides in this area - Crown is already up to 75 jobs. We want to get it up into the hundreds.

"The goal is to work with people in businesses to try to get training and job placements.

"When someone gets training within a specific business, it makes it far more likely they will get a home in that business."

"I think with anyone, when they have a child, it opens up a new dimension to your life".

"I got to spend a year in the Northern Territory as a jackeroo and that gave me exposure to the way some Aboriginal communities are that others never get.

"I got to see good things and some not so good things. I always had a desire to do something, but I needed the right opportunity, and Andrew's vision and infectious enthusiasm made it easy for me to become involved.

"Andrew and I went to see Kerry Stokes, and we said, 'We'd love you to do this with us', and he agreed.

"At the casino, we are training people in hospitality, in security, areas where it will lead to jobs. I think corporate Australia wants to do more and it will become easier as more people become involved.

"It is a good concept and I think it will become easier as time goes on."

Media Man applauds the Packer - Forrest and friends collaboration that clearly demonstrates a far reaching way of demonstrating one's real wealth. We are also hopeful that both the Labor and Liberal party pick up on some of Mr Packer's wisdom when it comes to matters such as the internet and censorship. Mr Packer famously said "Internet is like electricity", something Media Man and Gambling911 management and readers are well aware of, as is Senator Conroy. As of this writing Sen Conroy has remained silent on mentions of himself in comparisons with award winning documentary, 'Casino Jack and the United States of Money'.

On a lighter note Sen. Conroy has turned out to be quite the sportsman, not only a keen golfer, but a passionate snowboarder, even getting a trip away to enjoy the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Let's just hope that Conroy's recent collaborations with Team Packer and friends help produce some gold for many parties, starting with both indigenous Australia and internet gaming fans and entrepreneurs. Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

*Media Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company.

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Monday, February 15, 2010

Man sets hugs record in Vegas - 14th February 2010

LAS VEGAS — A 51-year-old Ohio man has embraced the Valentine's Day spirit faster than anyone before, giving 7,777 hugs in 24 hours for a new world record.

Jeff Ondash, who sought the squeezes under the costumed alter ego Teddy McHuggin, broke the record Saturday night outside the Paris Las Vegas hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

"When you hug somebody, they all walk away from each other smiling," Ondash said.

"They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away; a hug a day — it's just fun."

Ondash said he wanted to become the world's hugging champion to raise money for the American Heart Association during American Heart month.

The cause is important to him because his brother and father both died relatively young because of heart problems, he said.

His daughter Carlie, who tallied her father's hugs with a manual counter at the start of his attempt on Friday, came up with his pseudonym to make his spectacle a bit more fun. As Teddy McHuggin, Ondash sports a red NASCAR-style driver's suit with hugging logos and a wrestling-style championship belt.

"Jeff Ondash breaking a record really doesn't mean a lot," he said. "Teddy McHuggin on the other hand, he's the reigning world speed hugging champion, now going after the world marathon hugging champion.

"No one on earth has ever attempted something like that before," he said.

Ondash, of Canfield, Ohio, already held the record for most hugs in one hour with 1,205, according to Guinness World Records.

The previous record of 5,000 hugs in one day was set last year by Siobhan O'Connor in Dublin, Ireland, Guinness spokesman Philip Robertson said.

To break O'Connor's mark, Ondash needed more than 208 hugs per hour — or about 3 1/2 hugs per minute. Ondash logged just over 700 hugs during his first hour of embraces on Friday night.

He said he embraced all kinds of people throughout Friday night and Saturday and was tired from being on his feet and not eating. But Ondash said he wasn't planning to go to sleep right away.

"I'm going to go and enjoy the town tonight," he said Saturday.

Ondash said he did not expect Guinness World Records to certify his record for several weeks. The organization did not have a judge present at his attempt. Instead, independent judges who tracked Ondash in shifts were to submit affidavits to the organization.

Ondash says he, as McHuggin, is now eyeing both the world's longest single hug — currently 24 hours and 1 second — and breaking his current two records consecutively, which he said was "unheard of."

"I don't even know if I can do that but I'm going to attempt it," Ondash said. "It's like climbing Mount Everest twice — same thing."

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Branson by the pool - 13th February 2010 - Fairfax Media

Sir Richard Branson will be in Perth for a day of fundraising for Strike A Chord in a poolside party at the Burswood Entertainment Complex.

Strike A Chord is a foundation supporting those with cancer.

The poolside area at Burswood will be transformed, taking on a Carribean feel with Samba music, exotic dancing, flame throwers, percussionists and other entertainers.

Hosted by Mr Branson and the team from Mix 94.5 are planning a huge night to remember.

Tickets are $195 from ticketek.

Send us your events to features@watoday.com.au

Monday, February 08, 2010

Book Review: Universal Shift, by Grant Hilton

Grant Hilton has authored Univeral Shift.

Book review coming soon.

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Saturday, January 23, 2010

Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief

Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief

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Hope For Haiti Now

Wikipedia: Hope For Haiti Now


Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief is a charity telethon that was held on 22 January 2010 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 23 January 2010 from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. UTC. The telethon is set to be the most widely distributed telethon in history. The event was broadcast from Studio 36 at the CBS Television City, Los Angeles, from the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York and from the private club The Hospital in London.[citation needed] There were also live reports from Haiti.

Creation of the telethon was announced by MTV Networks in the United States on January 15, 2010, three days after the 2010 Haiti earthquake struck on January 12 and claimed the lives of at least 70,000 people. The event is one of a number of humanitarian responses to the earthquake. The telethon is patterned after the form begun with the 2001 America: A Tribute to Heroes program and continued with the 2005 Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast.

The telethon and its album and video, currently available for pre-order on iTunes, will raise funds for Haiti relief, to be given the following organizations with humanitarian operations in Haiti: the World Food Programme, UNICEF, the Red Cross, Oxfam, the Yéle Haiti Foundation, Partners In Health and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

Participants

Wyclef Jean hosted the concert in New York City, with George Clooney in Los Angeles and Anderson Cooper in Haiti.

Rihanna revealed on 21 January, during the Norwegian-Swedish talkshow Skavlan, that she would perform a new song titled "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)", together with Jay-Z and U2's The Edge and Bono for the telethon in London.

In San Francisco, Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon appealed for donations. (Credit: Wikipedia).

Friday, January 22, 2010

FOXTEL SCREENS HOPE FOR HAITI NOW

Media Release: 22nd January 2010

FOXTEL subscribers will be able to tune into George Clooney's telethon for Haiti this weekend as the two hour commercial-free telecast is simulcast around the world.

MTV, VH1 and CNN will air the benefit live tomorrow, Saturday, January 23, from 12noon AEDT.

National Geographic will screen the star-studded event at 8.30pm tomorrow, with E! broadcasting from 9.00pm and The Style Network from 10.00pm AEDT.

Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit For Earthquake Relief will help raise funds for the hundreds of thousands affected by Haiti’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake on January 12 and is expected to reach 640 million viewers globally – the most widely distributed telethon in history.

The global fundraiser will feature a huge line-up of must-see musical performances including Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Madonna, Shakira, and Sting in New York City; Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift and a group performance by Australian Keith Urban, Kid Rock, and Sheryl Crow in Los Angeles; and Coldplay, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Bono, and The Edge in collaboration from London.

In addition to the musical performances, Wyclef Jean will host in New York City with George Clooney in Los Angeles and CNN’s Anderson Cooper from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Australian Nicole Kidman, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Robert Pattinson, Denzel Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen DeGeneres, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Halle Berry, and former President Bill Clinton will be amongst more than one hundred of the biggest names in film, television, and music supporting the cause with testimonials and by answering phones during the telethon.

Proceeds from Hope for Haiti Now will be split evenly among relief organisations on the ground in Haiti – The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, United Nations World Food Programme, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF, and Yele Haiti Foundation.

The special will also be streamed live online globally across sites including YouTube, Hulu, MySpace, Fancast, AOL, MSN.com, Yahoo, Bing.com, BET.com, MTV.com, and Rhapsody. Facebook and Twitter have signed on as official social media partners to help drive donations and tune-in to the telethon.

Australians can contribute to the telethon via:
• Online: www.hopeforhaitinow.org (via Paypal or credit card)
• Phone: 0011 1 773 360 0205 (standard international rates apply)
• Mail: Hope For Haiti Now Fund, Entertainment Industry Foundation

About FOXTEL
FOXTEL is Australia's leading subscription television provider and is connected to 1.63 million homes on cable and satellite through retail and wholesale distribution. FOXTEL strives to ensure subscribers find TV they want to watch every time they switch on through delivery of more than 150 channels covering news, sport, general entertainment, movies, documentaries, music and children’s programming. FOXTEL is owned by Telstra Corporation Ltd (50%), The News Corporation Ltd (25%), and Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd (25%).

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Sunday, January 17, 2010

Crown Casino Aussie Millions Poker Championship kicks off, by Greg Tingle - 16th January 2010

Melbourne, if not the whole of Australia, has poker fever, thanks to casino king James Packer's brainchild, "Aussie Millions".

Media Man long time friend, associate and eyes and ears of the industry, Keith "Bendigo" Sloan, tipped us off that it would be huge and he was right on the money.

Let's start with some big picture stuff.... poker has been widely acknowledged in a court of law as primarily a game of skill. Sure, there's some luck involved, but over time on measured tests, the skill factor comes through. This is a key point in some of the arguments put forward by the Poker Players Alliance. Folks, professional poker is big business and is also a form of sports tourism, something that's been picked up on by the Victorian government, but something Australia's Labor government is still trying to grasp. Maybe it will be covered in the Aussie version of "Casino Jack"!

Let it be said from the get-go that Crown's Aussie Millions gives some much needed balance into the news media coverage of Australia's casino sector, which has been copping a bit of a battering of late. Crown's connection with tourism, sports tourism and high rollers is undisputed, and the powers that be at Crown do give back to society in a number of capacities, some of which is reported and other elements that are done on the quite. It was impossible to miss Warnie and Joe Hachem on Network Ten's 7PM project last month.

It's a given that when so many whales, high rollers and the like are in town, there's vast financial resources not far from felt.

The Salvation Army and Unicef are just a couple of worthy causes that Crown and the powers that be have assisted over the years.

This year sees a reported 1,143 entrants have a punt at Aussie Millions...a record for major poker tournaments in Australia.

A $1,143,000 prize pool will be split amongst the top 108 players, with first place set to collect the first Aussie Millions Gold Championship Ring over $200,000 in cash.

Numerous big names were in attendance for day one including Tony G, Clonie Gowen, Sorel Mizzi, David Saab, Jason Gray, Paul Khoury, Kenneth Damm and 2005 WSOP Champ Joe Hachem. Players who returned to the felt for a second chance included Tony Dunst , Emad Tahtouh, Billy Argyros, Lee Nelson, Josh Field, Ben Delaney, Andrew Jeffreys, Leo Boxell, Amanda De Cesare, Tino Lechich, James Akenhead and 2009 Aussie Millions Champion (and PartyPoker sponsored) Stewart Scott.

Nick Haidaris has emerged with the chip lead of 165,300. Eighty-three players remained from Day 1's starting field. Those back for Day 2 include David Saab, JP Kelly, Antonis Kambouroglou, Brendan Edmonds, Con Tsapkounis, and Jim Sachinidis.

Players not back for day 2 include Tony Dunst, 2009 Aussie Millions Main Event Champ Stewart Scott, Emad Tahtouh, Barny Boatman, Matthew Pearson, Rayan Nathan, Joe Hachem, Tony G, Lee Nelson, Billy Argyros, Jonathan Karamalikis, Michael Guzzardi, James Akenhead, Ben Delaney, and Sorel Mizzi.

Day 2 at Crown Casino kicks off at 12:30 p.m where approximately 200 players will be giving it all they have in their quest for the championship.

Media Man encourages players (and management) on a winning streak to continue to give back to society, and of course the world is aware of those less fortunate including in Haiti which was recently rocked by an earthquake. Casinos and big gaming companies have much bigger resources than most, so let's see if they can even come close to helping to the extent that they did when the Aussie Victorian bushfires hit last March.

*The writer holds shares in Crown Limited
*The writer is the founder and director of Media Man
*The writer is a special contributor for Gambling911

Online Poker Sites Rally for Haiti Earthquake Victims, by Dan Cypra - 14th January 2010

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked the tiny nation of Haiti left the country in shambles and perhaps as many as 50,000 people may have perished. In response, the online poker world has come together to raise money for the natural disaster’s victims.

Full Tilt Poker has launched “Aid for Haiti” tournaments in which the site will match the rake paid and then donate it to several charities on the ground in the island nation. For Full Tilt Poker members who don’t want to hit the virtual felts in order to donate, the world’s second largest online poker site has set up “Aid for Haiti No Play” tournaments. Ten of these events are scheduled for Sunday, January 17th and Full Tilt is matching the buy-ins. No poker will actually be had in “No-Play” tournaments.

The site has also created a special user account dubbed “Aid for Haiti.” In a similar fashion as transferring funds from one player to another, those who wish to help can send money directly to the account in $5 increments or larger. Full Tilt will then match the funds raised.

PokerStars has taken a streamlined approach to fundraising. The site has selected the Red Cross as its beneficiary and, like Full Tilt Poker and others involved, is matching donations dollar for dollar. The opportunity to donate will be open through January 31st and all players need to do is open up the PokerStars client, go to “Tourney” and “Special,” and enter one of the Haiti Earthquake Relief events. None of these tournaments will actually play out. Instead, the $1 to $1,000 buy-in allows players to donate directly to the Red Cross. PokerStars members can also ship money to “Haiti Fund,” a player account set up specifically to accept donations. Go to “Requests” and “Transfer Funds” in the top menu to take advantage of this method.

Meanwhile, the Calvin Ayre Foundation, named for the founder of Bodog, has pledged £10,000 to the U.K.-based foundation Oxfam to support the cause. The internet mogul added, “I also want to challenge the rest of this industry to also contribute to Oxfam to help out in Haiti and my private foundation will match any proven payment to Oxfam by an online gaming person up to $1,000,000.” Bodog, PokerStars, and Full Tilt Poker all accept players and donations from the United States. The latter two are the largest and second largest sites in the world, respectively.

Also accepting U.S. action and promoting relief to the residents of Haiti is Cake Poker. The room has set up three special “holding tanks” totaling $5, $25, and $100. Players can register for each of them and the site, which features Lee Jones as its Card Room Manager, will match all funds raised. No cards will be dealt in these tournaments; instead, they are purely for donation purposes. The trio of “holding tanks” will be available until Midnight ET on January 31st.

Facebook poker application Zynga is donating $1 to Fonkoze, “an organization that supports families in Haiti,” for every chip package sold. Other added benefits, including a “Hearts for Haiti” gift, will be thrown into the mix.

On PocketFives.com, top-ranked online poker player David “Doc Sands” Sands announced that he was donating 10% of his Sunday profits up to $10,000 to a “disaster relief fund.” Sands called on other all-star players to do the same, with Ryan “gutshtallin” Welch, who sits at #39 in the world, agreeing to similar terms. Sunday features some of the largest online poker tournaments in the industry, including the Sunday Million on PokerStars and $750,000 Guaranteed on Full Tilt Poker.

The United States pledged $100 million in aid for Haiti. Hopefully, the online poker community can band together for this worthwhile cause.

Maria del Mar Gomez contributed to this article. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Tuesday, January 05, 2010

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Packer's wife finds him a giving gift - Fairfax - AAP - 18th December 2009

James Packer's wife Erica has found the perfect gift for a man who has everything.

Ms Packer, who is a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, has bought her media mogul husband a water pump for an impoverished community, which is part of the organisation's Gifts That Give range.

"I am a strong supporter of Unicef and at Christmas it just makes sense to seek to support their work to help vulnerable children around the world," Ms Packer said in a statement from Unicef. (Credit: Fairfax - AAP)

*read the full story here

Friday, January 01, 2010

Star City Casino strike New Year's Day - 31st December 2009

Staff at Sydney's Star City casino will walk off the job for one hour on New Year's Day as part of a continuing row over pay.

The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) says workers will strike from 8pm until 9pm (AEDT) in a bid to secure a higher pay offer, but a Star City spokesman says the casino will operate as usual.

"Staff have been negotiating with Star City for a new enterprise agreement for more than eight months," LHMU NSW branch secretary Mark Boyd said in a statement on Thursday.

"Star City staff have decided to take one-hour strike action from New Year's Day because they are frustrated by the casino's unfair wage offer and management's refusal to listen to them."

But Star City spokesman Peter Grimshaw says only a small group of employees is expected to carry out the industrial action and the casino would operate as usual.

"Only 17 per cent of employees voted to strike so it will be business as usual at Star City," he said in a statement.

A LHMU spokeswoman told AAP on Thursday that further strikes could follow through January.

Star City staff have twice voted against previous pay offers made in September and December, the LHMU union said.

The union has previously said members have been offered a two per cent pay rise.

But Mr Grimshaw said the casino had "put a very fair offer on the table including a nine per cent increase in wages over three years and increased allowances".

"However, the union is trying to retain outdated work practices including loadings on sick leave," he said.

Mr Boyd said $575 million was being spent to renovate the venue, its top executives were paid $2.6 million and the casino's last quarter revenue was up 11.6 per cent. (Credit: Wires, Fairfax Media, Google News, LHMU, Media Man)

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Monday, December 28, 2009

TASER Foundation for Fallen Officers Raises More Than $550,000 From the 2009 "Hold'em for Heroes" Celebrity Weekend - 21st December 2009

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 21, 2009 - The TASER Foundation for Fallen Officers generated more than $550,000 in gross donations during its fifth annual "Hold'em for Heroes" celebrity tournament weekend held November 19-21, 2009.

The weekend's events featured three days of poker tournaments at the Fort McDowell Casino, including a "high roller" event filled with more than 35 celebrities from: the World Series of Poker(R) (WSOP), professional sports teams, television, movies, and artists from the country and hip hop genres. Many of these same players also participated in the charity's first celebrity golf tournament played at the beautiful WeKoPa Golf Club in Fountain Hills, Arizona.

The returning hosts for the events were the 11-time WSOP Champion, Phil Hellmuth and Country Music Recording Artist, Mark Wills.

During the weekend's activities, local players had the opportunity to golf with celebrities like Richard Karn of "Home Improvement" and play their best poker hands against champions like Phil Hellmuth, Antonio Esfandiari, Layne Flack, and local poker hero Tom Schneider for the chance to win a $10,000 seat in the 2010 World Series of Poker tournament held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mark Rubin, a local player, won the event, with Jeff Madsen, one of the WSOP celebrity players, taking second.

Kathy Hanrahan, the CEO for the TASER Foundation, commented, "The results achieved for the 2009 'Hold'em for Heroes' event was a great way to end the year. We were encouraged by the level of support achieved in such a tough economy."

"We would like to thank the local community for their continued support of this very worthwhile cause, and our premium corporate sponsors: Fort McDowell Casino, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona, Hillard Heintze, TASER International, the Poker Players' Alliance, and Hogue Printing Solutions for underwriting the key expenses and making the event possible," added Hanrahan. "A special thank you is also necessary for the men and women of law enforcement who attended the event, and to the very special family members of our fallen Arizona officers. This weekend was to honor these heroes, and to remind them that the TASER Foundation will be here to help law enforcement and its families in their time of need."

For more information on the event, or to see or purchase photographs from the tournament weekend, please email SupportingtheFamily@TASERFoundation.org.

To learn more about how you can assist the TASER Foundation in its mission to help these families during their time of need, please visit www.TASERFoundation.org, or call 1-800-978-2737, extension 2012. Every dollar raised makes a difference in their lives, and lets the families know how grateful we are for their sacrifice.

About the TASER Foundation

The TASER Foundation distributes financial memorial grants to the families of fallen officers in the United States and Canada through donations and an initial endowment of $1,000,000. More than half of the initial endowment came in direct contribution from TASER International employees with the balance contributed by the company. Onetime grants are available only upon request by chiefs of police and sheriffs as well as federal law enforcement executives in the name of sworn officers killed in the line of duty since August 1, 2004. The TASER Foundation's mission is to honor the service and sacrifice of local and federal law enforcement officers in the United States and Canada lost in the line of duty by providing financial support to their families. TASER International bears all of the administrative costs of the TASER Foundation in order to ensure 100 percent of all donations are distributed to the families of fallen officers. For further information contact Kathy Hanrahan, President and CEO of the TASER Foundation, at Kathy@TASER.com or call 800-978-2737, extension 2012. Visit the TASER Foundation website at www.TASERFoundation.org for facts and video.

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Thursday, December 24, 2009

Poker priest misses out on a million - 23rd December 2009

Poker playing Florida priest, Fr Andrew Trapp, didn't win the $1 million prize on the PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge but says he is "happy with the way things turned out."

Fr Trapp said the finale has been called "one of the most amazing, exciting hours of game show TV ever filmed, and that's why I'm looking forward to watching it with my parish family," the Sun News reports.

Word first leaked to the New York Post that Mike Kosowski, a 21 year NYPD veteran, won the $1 million prize by defeating Trapp and poker star Daniel Negreanu, Trapp confirmed Monday afternoon.

"He ended up beating me and the other two finalists for the shot to play for the million," Trapp said. "I'm disappointed. It's been really tough the past few weeks with everybody asking how I did. I'm happy with the way things turned out. I just think it was meant for Mike to win this."

The church will hold a viewing party Sunday. The episode is worth watching because of Kosowski's inspiring story, Trapp said. It will also include a feature on St Michael's fundraising efforts and show why the church needs a new building.

Kosowski was one of the first responders to arrive at the World Trade Centre during the September 11, 2001, attacks. His story is chronicled in the book "Never Forget: The Oral History of September 11."

"It's a really compelling show," Trapp said. "It's going to be a very emotional show because even after people see Mike knock me out, they are going to start rooting for Mike. He's a September 11 hero. I think we all are going to be cheering him on, everybody across the country."

Though Trapp didn't win the ultimate prize, he did win $100,000, which has already been donated to the St Michael church building fund. The church received the full amount because it is a nonprofit.

"I hate to disappoint all the good people here at St Michael, but I think they'll still be proud of me and it will be a really exciting show to watch."

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Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Sydney Star City Casino workers vote to strike - 22nd December 2009

Staff at Sydney's Star City casino have voted to take industrial action over pay, frustrated over a two per cent rise offered by management.

The LHMU hospitality union says staff in the next few days are likely to decide exactly what action to take and when.

"Star City staff have decided on strike action because they are frustrated by the casino's unfair wage offer and management's refusal to listen to them," LHMU NSW branch secretary Mark Boyd said in a statement on Tuesday night.

"The casino put its offer to a vote of all staff in September and earlier this month. Star City staff voted overwhelmingly `no' twice to the casino's unfair pay offer.

"Star City is refusing to listen to its staff who just want a decent pay rise and don't want to lose any of their conditions.

"The decision to consider action is not taken lightly but staff feel it is their last resort."

Mr Boyd said $575 million was being spent renovating the venue, its top executives were paid $2.6 million and the casino's last quarter revenue was up 11.6 per cent.

No one was available for comment at Star City on Tuesday night. (Credit: Wires, Google News, AP)

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Friday, December 18, 2009

Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Unite Named 25 Best Givers' list

Richard Branson and his Virgin Unite have been named in 'The 25 Best Givers' list published by Barron's and consulting firm Global Philanthropy Group.

The list recognises top philanthropists who insist on 'more bang for the buck' in tight economic times.

Richard and Virgin Unite were recognised alongside the likes of the Skoll Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the William J. Clinton Foundation, among others.

Richard received special mention for his environmental efforts such as the Carbon War Room, the Clinton Global Initiative pledge to invest all profits from Virgin's transportation businesses over the next 10 years in renewable energy, and the $25 million Earth Prize for a plan to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

Click here for the full article published at Barrons

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*The Media Man group founder and director is a pro active member of Virgin Unite
*Media Man owns shares in Virgin Blue Holdings