IMPORTANT READS

ESSAY WRITING - Writing may come quickly to some people, but for most college students, completing essays and other projects is an actual chore.

INEQUALITY - Apple Inc. had a fine 2021. The Cupertino-based company’s stock price closed the year up almost 39%, roughly 10% higher than the S&P 500overall, and its revenue surged by 33% in the fiscal year that ended in September 2021.

FASCISM SPREAD - The specter of fascism is spreading across the country. 

BUDGETING - Inflation continues to rise in the United States. Although gas prices have recently fallen since their record high over the summer, the cost of groceries rose by 11.4 percent over the last year, and there is no expectation that they will fall back to reasonable levels.

THE ECONOMY - The New York Times recently pointed to car dealerships as an example of a trend that has defined the pandemic era.

JOB MARKET - Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), claims on his website that creating jobs is his ​"top priority," and has used this status as a ​"job creator" to justify his outsized role in blocking climate action, even as the human-made environmental crisis brings devastating storms and heat waves.

GOVERNMENT - Show of hands: Who wants the US to be a dictatorship?

EDUCATION - “America’s low literacy crisis is largely ignored, historically underfunded and woefully under-researched, despite being one of the great solvable problems of our time” – president of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy 

A STEM career is a difficult one, especially judging by the fast advancements we have made in these fields lately.

THE SUPREMES - As a new Supreme Court term began this week, many Americans are still feeling the aftershocks of the last one.

DRUG PROBLEM - The supervised drug-injection nonprofit OnPointNYC, which runs city-authorized sites in East Harlem and Washington Heights, trumpeted its first-year results last week, claiming 500 lives saved from street-drug overdoses.

ABORTION RIGHTS - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is the top law enforcement officer and a zealous anti-abortion crusader in a state that has become ground zero in the right’s efforts to eliminate access to the procedure.

With its esteemed reputation, it’s no surprise that blackjack is one of the most widely-played table games in the world, enjoyed by millions at online casinos and real-life gambling venues alike. The goal of blackjack is to get as close to 21 without going over and to have a higher hand than the dealer.

Blackjack, unlike roulette and craps, is not solely reliant on chance. While a good run of cards can certainly make you some money in Zodiac casino Canada, there’s always an element of skill involved in blackjack that can be used to increase your chances of winning. So if you’re looking to take your blackjack game up a notch, check out our tips and tricks below! 

Blackjack Basics

If you’re new to blackjack, the first thing you need to do is learn the basic rules of the game. Once you understand how blackjack works, you can begin experimenting with different strategies to see what works best for you.

Blackjack is a comparing card game played between a player and dealer, meaning that there are typically two hands involved in each game — the player’s hand and the dealer’s hand. The object of blackjack is to have a higher hand than the dealer without going over 21.

If both the player and dealer go over 21 (i.e., “bust”), then the player automatically loses the game.

Cards 2-10 are worth their face value, while Jacks, Queens, and Kings are each worth 10 points. Aces can be worth either 1 or 11 points, depending on what’s more advantageous for the player at any given time.

The odds in blackjack can be improved by using a basic strategy, which is a set of guidelines that tell you what action to take in every possible situation. By following these guidelines, you can minimize the casino’s edge and give yourself a better chance of winning.

Winning Tips

There are many different blackjack strategies out there, but the most important thing is to find one that works for you and stick with it. It’s also crucial to remember that no matter what strategy you use, the house always has an edge. With that in mind, here are some general tips to help you improve your blackjack game:

• Always split aces and 8s.
• Never split 5s or 10s.
• Hit on a soft 17.
• Stand on a hard 17 or higher.
• Double down when you have a 10 or 11 and the dealer has a 9 or lower.
• Double down on a soft 18 if the dealer has a 9, 10, or 11.
• Surrender if you have a 16 and the dealer has a 9, 10, or ace.

While there is no guaranteed way to win at blackjack, following these tips can help you increase your chances of success. So give them a try next time you’re at the table, and see how much of a difference they make!

GUEST COMMENTARY - Republicans in the Senate yesterday killed legislation passed through the House that would require “dark money” to be publicly disclosed: not a single Republican voted for it, although every Democrat in attendance did. 

GUEST COMMENTARY - As much of the world watched with alarm as the fascist Fratelli d'Italia party led a far-right coalition to victory in Italy on Sunday, Republican lawmakers in the United States had a much different reaction: Open glee.

RACIAL RECKONINGS - California’s task force on reparations has begun putting dollar figures to potential compensation for the various forms of racial discrimination, generational pain and suffering Black Americans experienced in the state.

GUEST COMMENTARY - On October 1st, the U.S. military will start spending the more than $800 billion Congress is going to provide it with in fiscal year 2023.

FASCISM - If you are a political fanatic, you've surely heard the old saying that when fascism comes to America, it will come wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.

COST OF LIVING - In my check of banana prices recently, one Oregon supermarket (Trader Joe’s) was still charging 19¢ each.

Who would not love a movie that has the glamour and suspense of casino life?

SCOTUS - “The remedy for speech that is false is speech that is true. This is the ordinary course in a free society.