Directory:Les Golden

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Les Golden
AKA "Cut the Taxes" (political candidate), Leonard Running Bear (political candidate spoof), Moe Silver (character in cartoon strip and stage play "Shrubtown"), Les Morris (bandleader), Subrahmanyan Berkowitz (stand-up comic)
Gamblejpg.jpg
<bold>Les Golden</bold> counting cards at the Kellogg Graduate School of Business (Northwestern University) Casino Night
Residence Oak Park, Illinois, and Reno, Nevada
Born
Known for Developer of Golden diagram for blackjack and the Magic Circle Strategy for roulette
Occupation Writer, astronomer, professor, musician, stand-up comedian
Contact lesgoldencardcounting@yahoo.com
Reference http://www.geocities.ws/les_golden


Les Golden is an internationally-known gambling writer. He has written for gambling.com, iGamingBusiness, gamblingonline, and Bluff Europe print magazines. He resides in Oak Park, Illinois, and Reno, Nevada.

Background

Golden has won multiple awards for his writing,[1] [2] his research into the gambling game of 21 has been published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, [3] he holds the B.A. (with Distinction) and Masters of Engineering Physics from Cornell University, and the M.A. and Ph.D in astronomy from the University of California, Berkeley, [4] and some of his early research in astronomy appeared in a book by Stephen Hawking.[5] In addition, Golden is a nationally-referenced animal welfare advocate, [6] and a professional actor with numerous screen, stage, film, and commercial credits[7][8][9][10] He is a member of both the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). He is a published editorial cartoonist.

Golden has published several refereed articles on applications of probability and statistics to astronomy,[11][12][13][14] and has taught probability and statistics in the Heller Graduate School of Business at Roosevelt University in Chicago in addition to being an astronomy professor in the physics department and the Honors College of the University of Illinois at Chicago. He lectures to adult and student audiences on the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the hypothetical shapes of their bodies. A frequent cruise ship lecturer, he was selected by Royal Cruise Lines to be their shipboard lecturer on the high seas during the 1986 apparition of Halley's Comet, and was the first University of Illinois professor selected to be a professor on the Institute of Shipboard Education's (ISE) Semester at Sea program, teaching courses on astronomy and the possibility of extraterrestrial life in the fall semester of 1996. He was the keynote speaker for Chicago's Adler Planetarium on the occasion of the dedication of their new wing.

Gambling Writings

Introduction to Card Counting

In the months before the premier Wednesday Night Band of the University of California Jazz Ensembles, under the direction of Dr. David W. Tucker, went in 1972 to Reno, Nevada, to compete in its first Reno Jazz Festival,[15] Golden, a trumpet player and vocalist with the band and its announcer, purchased Beat the Dealer at the legendary Moe’s Bookstore in Berkeley, California, and studied Thorp’s complete point count system. In the next five years at Berkeley, Golden made monthly trips to Reno, with additional trips to Lake Tahoe and Virginia City, Nevada. In 1977 he moved to Los Angeles to perform research at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a National Research Council Resident Research Associate post-doctoral fellow in astronomy,[16] and his gambling excursions were to Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas, Nevada. He continued to perform stand-up comedy at various venues including The Comedy Store and The Improv.

Writings

He has written for Gambling.com,[17][18] Gambling Online,[19] iGaming Business,[20] and Bluff Europe[21][22] magazines, and as a newspaper columnist as a casino advocate.[23] His writing reflects his Renaissance man[24][25][26][27][28] multiple knowledge bases. With a technical background, many of his articles deal with probability issues in casino games, focusing on roulette, craps, and blackjack, and discussing such topics as the central limit theorem, the normal curve, and Gambler's ruin, and often employing Monte Carlo simulations and references to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, an area to which he had been introduced at Cornell University by his mentor Frank Drake and which is one of his research and public lecture areas as an astronomer.[29][30][31] With his stand-up comedian background, his style has been described by one of his editors, “You can probably tell that Les is a bit of a character. Luckily for readers, he’s also a great blackjack player,”[32] and by Dave Bland, the editor of Flush Magazine, "Les Golden is a comedy genius. I could write more but it really is as simple as that.”[33] A professional actorwith a Kevin Bacon number of 3 who has studied with Ann Woodworth of Northwestern University and Del Close of Chicago’s The Second City improvisational nightclub, Golden periodically writes about applying acting techniques to camouflage both being a card counter and also being a member of roulette and blackjack teams.[34][35][36]

Golden Diagram

After the publication of Beat the Dealer, gambling casinos reacted to the advantage that a card counter gains over the house by adopting counter strategies. These included employing multiple decks rather than the single hand-held deck. Two-deck games and games employing four and six decks dealt from a so-called shoe became commonplace.

Players soon realized intuitively that both these changes in the game reduced their probabilities of winning. In games with a multiple deck, compared to single-deck or double-deck games, players experience frequency, magnitude, and depth (the fraction of the deck which has been dealt in playing previous hands) effects: 1) The deck becomes favorable less frequently at all depths, 2) when the deck does becomes favorable, the magnitude of the advantage is not as great, 3) all decks are favorable infrequently until a significant portion of the deck has been dealt and this occurs at greater depths into the deck in games using multiple decks.

Golden, based on a Monte Carlo simulation and theoretical arguments, calculated the magnitude of these effects. The results of his analysis are displayed as Golden diagrams.[37][38] He also suggested a stepwise betting strategy to reduce the effects.[39][40]

Magic Circle strategy

The game of roulette, being a game of Simple random sample|statistics without replacement, is not amenable to systems such as card counting, which rely on the non-randomness of the particular game. If, however, the roulette wheel is not perfectly level, laboratory studies, most notably at the National Measurement Office|British National Weights and Measures Laboratory, and theoretical studies have shown that a skillful croupier can by virtue of muscle memory release the roulette ball with a speed and at a location on the table to bias the bin in which it comes to rest.[41][42]

The Magic Circle strategy takes advantage of this potential bias and the non-random location of the various bets on the roulette wheel.[43][44][45] Golden showed that, after influencing the croupier to direct the ball into certain sectors of the roulette wheel, a team of players can lay bets in strategic locations on the wheel to secure profitable play.

Political Activity

Golden began his political career with the non-partisan CARE Party (Citizens Active for a Responsible Electorate) in Oak Park, Illinois. He later formed the TURF Party (Taxpayers United of River Forest) in the adjacent community. He was the president of UTOP (United Taxpayers of Oak Park) from 1991 through 2005. As CARE party president he has been responsible for slating more than 70 candidates for local political office, achieving the election of eight on tax-accountability and environmental issues.[46] He received an award from the National Taxpayers United of Illinois umbrella group for his taxpayer advocacy efforts in 1991.

His political candidacies for U.S. Congress and State Representative using the nickname "Cut the Taxes" have led to court actions,[47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58] a re-writing of Illinois election law concerning allowable names on the ballot[59][60][61][62] propagated throughout the state of Illinois in election guides for candidates,[63][64] lengthy discussions in the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) handbook on election law[65] which is on display in courthouses in the state of Illinois, scholarly studies on election law and ballot access, [66] and rewriting of election law in other states.[67]

In 2008, he was the statewide spokesman and one of three state-wide coordinators for the group seeking to convene an Illinois Constitutional Convention.[68] He wrote the field guide for campaign workers which was used in other states also seeking to convene constitutional conventions.

Photo gallery

  • Pumpkin 2006.jpg

Quote

"The only famous counters are the ex-counters."

References

  1. ^ http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/undergraduates/hofferprize.htm
  2. ^ (1974), Griffith Observer, number 6
  3. ^ http://www.appliedprobability.org/content.aspx?Group=tms&Page=tmsabstracts36_1#eight
  4. ^ http://badgrads.berkeley.edu/doku.php?id=alumni:old
  5. ^ (1979) Hawking, S. W. & Israel, W. General relativity: an Einstein centenary survey. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-22285-0. “A much cited centennial survey”; books.google.com/books?isbn=0521222850
  6. ^ http://www.elephantinformation.com/CEMENT%20FLOORING%20or%20HARD%20DIRT%20GROUND.htm
  7. ^ (1994), “A film career far (but not removed) from Tinseltown,” Compuserve magazine, August, p. 55
  8. ^ (1982) “Improvising Your Way to Success,” Spring,1, 6, p. 34
  9. ^ (1984) “The boss is never wrong,” Screen magazine, October 1, p. 19
  10. ^ www.imdb.com/title/tt0097170/
  11. ^ Golden, Leslie M. (1971). “Evolution of Quasar Optical and Radio Luminosity,” Nature, 234, 103
  12. ^ Golden, Leslie M. (1974). “Isotropy of Radio Source Populations from Comparison of Number - Flux Density Curves,” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 166, 383
  13. ^ Golden, Leslie M. (1974). “Observational Selection in the Identification of Quasars and Claims for Anisotropy,” Observatory, 94, 122
  14. ^ Golden, Leslie M. (1979). “The Effect of Surface Roughness on the Transmission of Microwave Radiation Through a Planetary Surface,” Icarus, 38, 451
  15. ^ www.unr.edu/rjf/
  16. ^ http://nrc58.nas.edu/aodir/gen_page.asp?mode=detail&sql=idnumber='760817'
  17. ^ http://www.professional-poker.com/news/2006/nov/764-gamblingcom-poker-content.htm.
  18. ^ http://www.gambling.com/Blackjack/tips-strategies/194/the-blackjack-breakdown
  19. ^ www.gamblingonlinemagazine.com/casinos.php
  20. ^ http://www.igamingbusiness.com/content/shannon-elizabeth-heats-gamblingcom-magazine
  21. ^ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluff_Magazine
  22. ^ www.bluffeurope.com/
  23. ^ Golden, Les (1992). “Pleasant Home: Here's a Worthwhile Gamble,” Oak Leaves (Oak Park, Illinois), July 31, p. 21
  24. ^ (1994), “A film career far (but not removed) from Tinseltown,” Compuserve magazine, August, p. 55
  25. ^ Krapf, Paula (1995) “Silence not Golden: aspiring local politico a man of many names, Faces,” Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest, September 20, p. 4
  26. ^ Trainor, Ken (1997), “Who is Les Golden?”, Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest, April 2, p. 29-37
  27. ^ Trainor, Ken (1998), “The Clone Ranger divides again”, Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest, April 1, p. 52
  28. ^ Trainor, Ken (2001) “Funny, he doesn’t look shrewish,” Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest, August 1, p. 2
  29. ^ (1983). “People Focuses on Fellow Who Makes ETs His Specialty,” Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest, November 16
  30. ^ (1983), “Rosary prof makes stars come to life for ‘ET’ class,” Suburban Sun-Times (West), July 1, p. 14
  31. ^ (1984). ”Halley's Comet, Alien Life Highlight Astronomer's Talk,” Harlem-Irving Times, March 2, p 3
  32. ^ Lines, Chris (2009), “A Word From the Editor,” Gambling Online, August, p. 8.
  33. ^ http://triblocal.com/oak-park-river-forest/community/stories/2010/06/cut-the-taxes-golden-is-now-cut-the-cards/
  34. ^ Golden, Les (2010), “So, Do You Feel Lucky, Punk. Well, Do ‘Ya? ,” Bluff Europe, October, p. 88-89
  35. ^ Golden, Les (2010), “Yonder Lies the Castle of my Fodder,” Bluff Europe, November, p. 90-91
  36. ^ Golden, Les (2010), “The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plain”: Camouflage by Status,” Bluff Europe, December, p. 90-91
  37. ^ Golden, Les (2010). “Countering the Casino Countering of Counters: The Golden Diagram to the Rescue,” Bluff Europe, June, p. 84-85
  38. ^ Golden, Les (2011). “Trust Me: An Undetectable Winning System For Blackjack! ,” Bluff Europe, March, p. 94-95
  39. ^ Golden, Leslie M. (2011). “An Analysis of the Disadvantage to Players of Multiple Decks in the Game of 21.” The Mathematical Scientist, 32, 2, p. 57-69
  40. ^ Golden, Les (2011). “Stepping Out With My Baby: The Stepwise Betting Strategy,” Bluff Europe, April, p. 92-93
  41. ^ Dixon, P. (2005). “Roulette Wheel Testing,” Report on Stage 3.1 of NWML/GBGB Project Proposal
  42. ^ http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2007/ph210/hall1/
  43. ^ Golden, Les (2009). “Vodka Can Make You Tilt: How You Can Win At Roulette,” Bluff Europe, November, p. 90-92
  44. ^ Golden, Les (2009). “With The Tips In This Article You’ll Become Wealthy Beyond Your Wildest Dreams!,” Bluff Europe, December, p. 90-92
  45. ^ Golden, Les (2010). “Beginners in the Casino: Camouflaging Team Roulette,” Bluff Europe, January, p. 90-91.
  46. ^ see for example, (1989) CARE joins school board fray, Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest , July 31, page 1; (1989) CARE tries to seek new identity, Oak Leaves, October 11, page 7; (1990) CARE endorsements have defeat the "incumbent" goal, Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest , October 31, page 21; (1991) CARE challenges shake up village races, Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest, February 6, page 1; (1991) CARE: a party in search of an image, Oak Leaves, August 14, page 8
  47. ^ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/773242/posts
  48. ^ (2002), Mission: Fool voters (editorial), Chicago Tribune, January 18, p. 18
  49. ^ (1996) “Cut taxing districts,” Berwyn Life October 9, p. 22
  50. ^ http://anti-state.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1446
  51. ^ http://ddd-hph.dlconsulting.com/cgi-bin/newshph?a=d&d=HPH19980107.2.3&cl=&srpos=0&st=1&e=00-00-0000-99-99-9999--20--1----Sen.+Obama-all
  52. ^ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-09-18/news/0209180186_1_ballots-fractional-jagielski
  53. ^ http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/10-30-2002/Golden_wins_Cut-The-Taxes_suit,_sues_again_
  54. ^ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-10-16/news/0210160202_1_blagojevich-spokesman-doug-scofield-illinois-state-board
  55. ^ Zorn, Eric. (1995) This candidate is a Cut the Taxes above the rest, Chicago Tribune (Metrowest), October 3, p. 1; http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-10-03/news/9510030038_1_wallace-gator-bradley-candidates-taxes
  56. ^ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-10-23/news/0210230072_1_golden-ballot-orr
  57. ^ http://www.actuarialoutpost.com/actuarial_discussion_forum/showthread.php?p=136091
  58. ^ www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-1110F700ED5B9A50.html
  59. ^ http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09300SB0428ham005&GA=93&SessionId=3&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=&DocNum=0428&GAID=3&Session=
  60. ^ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-06-03/news/0306030127_1_orr-slogans-78th-district
  61. ^ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-06-03/news/0306030127_1_orr-slogans-78th-district
  62. ^ Trainor, Ken (1997), “Who is Les Golden?”, Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest, April 2, p. 29-37
  63. ^ www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2012/2012CanGuide.pdf
  64. ^ www.elections.il.gov/downloads/electioninformationcourth/pdf/2011canguide.pdf
  65. ^ www.iicle.com
  66. ^ http://www.umsl.edu/~kimballd/illinois.pdf
  67. ^ law.onecle.com/texas/election/52.031.00.html
  68. ^ (2008) Sweeney, Chuck, Constitutional convention? Here's a pro-con,Rockford Register Star,, June 18

Technical Publications

Probability and Statistics in Astronomy

1. Golden, Leslie M. (1971). “Evolution of Quasar Optical and Radio Luminosity,” Nature, 234, 103.

2. Golden, Leslie M. (1974). “Isotropy of Radio Source Populations from Comparison of Number - Flux Density Curves,” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 166, 383.

3. Golden, Leslie M. (1974). “Observational Selection in the Identification of Quasars and Claims for Anisotropy,” Observatory, 94, 122.

4. Golden, Leslie M. (1979). “The Effect of Surface Roughness on the Transmission of Microwave Radiation Through a Planetary Surface,” Icarus, 38, 451.

Technical Articles on Gambling

1. Golden, Les; Thompson-Hill, Jeremy; and Theobold, Rick (2008). “Has Online Gaming Reached Saturation Point?,” iGaming Business, March/April, p. 16-17.

2 Golden, Les; Turner, Noah; and von Bar, Jens (2009). “The Death of the RNG,” iGaming Business, July/August, p. 56-59.

3. Golden, Leslie M. (2011). “An Analysis of the Disadvantage to Players of Multiple Decks in the Game of 21.” The Mathematical Scientist, 32, 2, p. 57-69.


External links

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