Didn't We Learn Anything From '04-'05?

Poker last weekend wasn't terrible, which is more than I can say about any stretch so far this month. I still can't have a session where I catch my AIEV line, and it doesn't help when you have hands that put you 400+bbs below expectation like this one:

PokerStars Zoom No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed)
Button ($180.81)
SB ($28.88)
BB ($33.69)
UTG ($274.85)
Hero (UTG+1) ($736.89)
MP1 ($79.63)
MP2 ($249.23)
MP3 ($101.50)
CO ($187.82)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with A♠, A♦
1 fold, Hero bets $3, 1 fold, MP2 raises to $8, 1 fold, CO calls $8, 3 folds, Hero raises to $26.55, MP2 raises to $45.10, 1 fold, Hero raises to $736.89 (All-In), MP2 calls $204.13 (All-In)

Flop: ($507.96) 9♥, 5♠, 7♥ (2 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: ($507.96) 8♥ (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($507.96) 2♥ (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $507.96 | Rake: $2.80

Results:
Hero had A♠, A♦ (one pair, Aces).
MP2 had K♥, K♣ (flush, King high).
Outcome: MP2 won $505.16

I've also been one outed six times (that I've noted, could be more) so far this month. A few of the "standard" set over set no good variety, a couple getting an overpair + FD in on a mono board against a weaker overpair that has one of its outs tainted, and finally once in a rare spot where a shorty with ~15bbs puts it in with AA preflop, I hold QQ and get 30bbs in pre against a fish with AQo, and said fish open shoves the 120bbs effective remaining on 763r, binking his one outer for the ~270bb side pot.

It seems that just about everyone is resigned to the inevitability of an NHL lockout that will kill some, if not all, of the upcoming season. In '04-'05, the league legitimately needed a significant change in its fundamental economic model, and after sacrificing a season the owners got very close to everything they wanted, and justifiably so. Now, eight years later several owners are once again crying poor. One such owner is doing so after dishing out two ninety-million dollar monster contracts this off season. Yes, the new CBA needs some tweaks to close loopholes created after the last lockout. However, the players don't need to have their share of league revenues reduced because some owners haven't taken Econ 101. Said owners seem to think they should be able to spend to the cap to try to win a championship regardless of their market situation, yet have no risk of losing money doing so. Thankfully the Flames brass do not fall into the above category.

Persona 4 Arena has been loads of fun, and after playing a bunch online I'm actually decent at it. Not legitimately good, but for someone who almost never plays fighting games I'm really happy with my skill level relative to my competition.

Guild Wars 2 comes out next week, which should keep me plenty busy as God knows MMOs can eat up time. It looks like it could be a gem, and I'm excited to give it a go as I haven't played the beta at all.