I bet the lil' bugger's probably somewhere in Oklahoma, making kids and bovine sick everywhere. Patient Zero, that is, not Jeev.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Patient Zero
Thanks to Jeev for sharing this photo. Now we know the true source of swine flu. Parents...keep your dirty lil' tots away from the farm, 'aight?
I bet the lil' bugger's probably somewhere in Oklahoma, making kids and bovine sick everywhere. Patient Zero, that is, not Jeev.
I bet the lil' bugger's probably somewhere in Oklahoma, making kids and bovine sick everywhere. Patient Zero, that is, not Jeev.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Fun Times In the Mookie
Oh yeah, there was one funny moment tonight, thanks to everyone's favorite comedic poker blogger and originator of the truly and aptly named Stupid System:
Yup, that was my real secret to the deep run...the villians had too many outs to catch.
Julius_Goat: all I ask for is the occassional five outer
Mondogarage: the only reason you didn't win
Mondogarage: is that you had too many outs
Mondogarage: I can fade the 5-outers
Julius_Goat: you have a good point there
Mondogarage: I can't fade the 2- or 3- outers
Julius_Goat: solid work
Julius_Goat: you just did solid work, mondo
Yup, that was my real secret to the deep run...the villians had too many outs to catch.
FML - Part 47
I almost never play the Mookie. Why? Don't have time. It's a bad night of the week. But not tonight, I could play.
Of course, on the rare occasions I do play, I invariably run KK into AA, or QQ into KK, within the first ten hands of the damn tournament. But not tonight, I could play.
Play how? Play tight. Play MiamiDon tight. Survive and thrive. Play tight enough that preflop raises are sometimes respected. Fold when you're beat. Put pressure on when your ahead.
Through 2.5 hours of the tourney, I'd seen 12 flops in 180 hands, but had won 27 pots, and had stacked at least three players.
So what happens on the bubble? FML, part 47, of course.
In the BB with 77, and 7th of 11 remaining in chips, and two relative shorties. Folds to the SB, who raises 3x (to 3,000). It's the effin Mookie, everyone raises from the button or small blind. So I debate, call or shove. If I call, I'm probably folding to most flops. So I shove. Of course. SB had AA.
Of course, I don't hit my 2-outer and I go out 11th, when I could have easily made the $$$, with at least a slight chance at a TOC seat in about my 4th BBT4 tourney. (Though Pauly's running over everyone, and I'll be shocked if he doesn't take it down.)
Of course I made a mistake there...at least I think so. I had 16BB left when that hand started. But it's the fuckin' Mookie and, I repeat, everyone raises when folded to them on the button or small blind in the Mookie. With anything. With everything. Of course, nobody expects...the Spanish Inquisition.
FML. For at least the 47th time.
Of course, on the rare occasions I do play, I invariably run KK into AA, or QQ into KK, within the first ten hands of the damn tournament. But not tonight, I could play.
Play how? Play tight. Play MiamiDon tight. Survive and thrive. Play tight enough that preflop raises are sometimes respected. Fold when you're beat. Put pressure on when your ahead.
Through 2.5 hours of the tourney, I'd seen 12 flops in 180 hands, but had won 27 pots, and had stacked at least three players.
So what happens on the bubble? FML, part 47, of course.
In the BB with 77, and 7th of 11 remaining in chips, and two relative shorties. Folds to the SB, who raises 3x (to 3,000). It's the effin Mookie, everyone raises from the button or small blind. So I debate, call or shove. If I call, I'm probably folding to most flops. So I shove. Of course. SB had AA.
Of course, I don't hit my 2-outer and I go out 11th, when I could have easily made the $$$, with at least a slight chance at a TOC seat in about my 4th BBT4 tourney. (Though Pauly's running over everyone, and I'll be shocked if he doesn't take it down.)
Of course I made a mistake there...at least I think so. I had 16BB left when that hand started. But it's the fuckin' Mookie and, I repeat, everyone raises when folded to them on the button or small blind in the Mookie. With anything. With everything. Of course, nobody expects...the Spanish Inquisition.
FML. For at least the 47th time.
Sometimes the Cows Do Come Home to Roost
Ahh...not much to say this week poker-wise. I did stumble into a 4th place finish in a Limit O8 MTT last Thursday, but the night was still a loser overall. Mostly due to the O8 MTT being a $5 buy-in, while busting short of the money in an $11r, a $20+2, and giving up five buyins in a $5r...but I digress.
Likely no poker at all this week, since my band has a gig tomorrow night. Which reminds me, please visit our site and check out our new recording "Horse".
What I really wanted to stop by for was to share a lil' bit of ye olde schadenfreude, and one of my favorite recipes, at that.
See, for most of this entire decade, those on the right have been defending, and mightly so, I must add, the former Bush administration's warrantless secret wiretapping and eavesdropping of American citizens. And yes, you can be on the right of a lot of issues and still be a member of the Democratic Party, because in the end, if you're a politician, you're more likely to be a member of whichever party is most likely to help you get elected.
That's why legions of Texas politicians from the end of the civil war, through 1980, were Democrats. It ain't because they were libruls, that's for sure. But after the Civil War, you couldn't get elected in the South for 100 years if you were a Republican. Which brings us to today'shero goat, Jane Harman. Essentially, Ms. Harmon's been, for all intents and purposes, a complete Republican through and through when it comes to toeing that party's line on matters of dollars and cents, but is too far to the left when it comes to abortion to be electable as a Republican.
Jane, you see, is not only one of the wealthiest members of Congress, but also the Democratic Party's most vociferous supporter of the warrantless wiretapping program. She's been quoted as saying, "I believe the program is essential to U.S. national security and that its disclosure has damaged critical intelligence capabilities." And when the press blew up the secret program, she not called the whistleblowers "despicable", she argued for curtailing freedom of the press under the 1st Amendment.
Well, as Glenn Greenwald pointed out yesterday on Salon, it's funny what happens when the shoe is on the other foot.
NOW, Jane Harman is against wiretapping? NOW, Jane Harman wants a full government investigation, now that SHE is the one being taped? Taped under a court-issued warrant, I might add?
Hey Jane, go fuckin' drown in the bathtub of your own hypocrisy, why don't ya. You're FOR warrantless wiretapping, yet you claim yourself to be a victim of a "gross abuse of power" when you were tapped under a fully court-approved warrant. I've got a better idea, why don't we ship YOU got Guantanamo, since you seem to think you're no longer subject to the same laws as the rest of us Americans.
Likely no poker at all this week, since my band has a gig tomorrow night. Which reminds me, please visit our site and check out our new recording "Horse".
What I really wanted to stop by for was to share a lil' bit of ye olde schadenfreude, and one of my favorite recipes, at that.
See, for most of this entire decade, those on the right have been defending, and mightly so, I must add, the former Bush administration's warrantless secret wiretapping and eavesdropping of American citizens. And yes, you can be on the right of a lot of issues and still be a member of the Democratic Party, because in the end, if you're a politician, you're more likely to be a member of whichever party is most likely to help you get elected.
That's why legions of Texas politicians from the end of the civil war, through 1980, were Democrats. It ain't because they were libruls, that's for sure. But after the Civil War, you couldn't get elected in the South for 100 years if you were a Republican. Which brings us to today's
Jane, you see, is not only one of the wealthiest members of Congress, but also the Democratic Party's most vociferous supporter of the warrantless wiretapping program. She's been quoted as saying, "I believe the program is essential to U.S. national security and that its disclosure has damaged critical intelligence capabilities." And when the press blew up the secret program, she not called the whistleblowers "despicable", she argued for curtailing freedom of the press under the 1st Amendment.
Well, as Glenn Greenwald pointed out yesterday on Salon, it's funny what happens when the shoe is on the other foot.
I asked Attorney General Holder to...investigate whether other members of Congress or other innocent Americans might have been subject to this same treatment. I call it an abuse of power in the letter I wrote him this morning. . . .
I'm just very disappointed that my country -- I'm an American citizen just like you are -- could have permitted what I think is a gross abuse of power in recent years. I'm one member of Congress who may be caught up in it, and I have a bully pulpit and I can fight back. I'm thinking about others who have no bully pulpit, who may not be aware, as I was not, that someone is listening in on their conversations, and they're innocent Americans.
NOW, Jane Harman is against wiretapping? NOW, Jane Harman wants a full government investigation, now that SHE is the one being taped? Taped under a court-issued warrant, I might add?
Hey Jane, go fuckin' drown in the bathtub of your own hypocrisy, why don't ya. You're FOR warrantless wiretapping, yet you claim yourself to be a victim of a "gross abuse of power" when you were tapped under a fully court-approved warrant. I've got a better idea, why don't we ship YOU got Guantanamo, since you seem to think you're no longer subject to the same laws as the rest of us Americans.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Amber Alert
This is not a joke.
If you live in or around Arapahoe County, Colorado, please read this post by Frank Frisna about his 14-year old missing niece.
Copied and pasted from Pauly's blog (this is too creepy, and I hope this young woman is found, and in good health).
Please spread the word about Frank's missing niece. Contact him at frankybones@comcast.net with any information.
Feel free to cut and paste this entire post into your blogs. I encourage you to spread the word. Thank you.
If you live in or around Arapahoe County, Colorado, please read this post by Frank Frisna about his 14-year old missing niece.
Copied and pasted from Pauly's blog (this is too creepy, and I hope this young woman is found, and in good health).
April 15th, 2009
My 14yr old niece is missing...
I was really hoping I would never have to write this here...
My niece Jennifer has been missing since Saturday night. She left here at 3pm to go to a friend's house and was to be home by 8. None of her friends have talked to her since 7pm that night and there is no sign that she ran away. No clothes... no cell phone charger... nothing to suggest that she had any intention of being away that long. She has never been more than an hour or so late and this is beyond her character. There was no trouble here and she was in a good mood when she left.
It took us a few days to get the police to take this seriously since the responding officer on Saturday night had her pigeon holed as a runaway from the start. Thanks to that moron we have lost precious time. Now we have the Colorado Bureau of Investigations involved and they are trying to get phone records quicker than I seem to be able to get them. We would have had them already but CBI needed the Arapahoe County Sheriff to upgrade from runaway to missing. The next step is to get her picture on the local news stations.
I cannot describe the torment we are all going through. My worst nightmare has come true... The idea of seeing her picture on the news is something I don't think I could ever be prepared for. I am going to want to include a reward for any information leading to her safe return. If she is hiding out... it is going to be hard for some 14-15 yr old friend of hers to keep quiet should there be money involved. I have $500 that I can start it with… Thanks to my ongoing medical bills, it is every penny I have to my name right now. If anyone would like to donate the cause, please send via paypal to frankybones@comcast.net - (* should no reward be issued…. monies will be returned.) If I get some of this other cash I waiting on, it will be added.
I have never needed the help of our readers more than now. Please take her pictures and info posted here and send out to your social networks.
For those of you who know me... know these kids are my life. I am the legal guardian of both my niece and nephew. I consider them my children and have dedicated my life to their happiness. I have always been there to make sure they had a father figure and someone to count on. I am living pure hell and each day that passes is killing my soul. I have been through too much to be burdened with more heartache. This has gotta be resolved soon… I would give my life to bring her home.
One thing that is getting harder to do is handle all the phone calls from concerned friends and family…. The constant updates are wearing me down so I will be posting here any major updates we have. You can also follow my twitter account.
That’s all I have for right now...
Jennifer… if you are reading this… I love you more than you will ever know and you are my best friend in the world… nobody is mad at you... mom is here too.. come home...
- Frank Frisina
Please spread the word about Frank's missing niece. Contact him at frankybones@comcast.net with any information.
Feel free to cut and paste this entire post into your blogs. I encourage you to spread the word. Thank you.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Spreadin' the Sonic Alt-Country Love
Okay, I can't seem to actually post a file to this here blog, but my lil' band New Ben Franklins has our first recording up of the current iteration.
As long as you don't have Myspace blocked, you can go here and click on Horse 2009 in the embedded music player, if you want a wee taste of what keeps me away from the poker tables most of these days.
It may or may not end up being the final mix of what ends up on our eventual album, but the most excellent Radio 1190 (University of Colorado's radio station) wanted something from us in advance of our next show, which they're presenting at the Larimer Lounge on the 23rd, so we recorded this track over the last week.
Enjoy!
BTW, if you're local to Denver and seeing this, you should really come out to this show. Jim McTurnan's new band is a-freakin-mazing, and Dario's long had one of the best bands in town.
As long as you don't have Myspace blocked, you can go here and click on Horse 2009 in the embedded music player, if you want a wee taste of what keeps me away from the poker tables most of these days.
It may or may not end up being the final mix of what ends up on our eventual album, but the most excellent Radio 1190 (University of Colorado's radio station) wanted something from us in advance of our next show, which they're presenting at the Larimer Lounge on the 23rd, so we recorded this track over the last week.
Enjoy!
BTW, if you're local to Denver and seeing this, you should really come out to this show. Jim McTurnan's new band is a-freakin-mazing, and Dario's long had one of the best bands in town.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Finally, A Long-Awaited (Near) Breakthrough
Any of the three or four kind souls who follow this here lil' blog know that the last several months have been absolutely brutal to my online roll. In fact, I was already beginning to carve the headstone on my meager online poker career, as I have had no plans of reloading ever I ever go busto.
Well, at least after last night, that's been put off for a while.
For once, I wasn't getting 2- and 3-outed on the river, on the bubble.
For once, I even caught from behind in a key spot.
For once, I not only cashed, but final tabled.
Anyway, I'm pleased as punch...thanks to Bodog and their evening $5r, which at one point in time was a very nice tournament for me. Prior to last night, I know I've won this tourney once, and I think I had a runner-up finish, as well.
At first, things went as per usual. I took my standard upfront rebuy, and chipped up enough so at the end of the rebuy period, I was sitting slightly above average chips, without additional rebuys. Obviously, I added on. So with about 126 left, and 18 paying, I was in okay shape. I picked up a few pots here and there, but hit my midstretch of horrible cards, to where with 26 players left, I was 25th or 26th in chips. I thought "here we go again". With 20 left, I was 20th in chips. Again, "here we go again, Mr. Bubble Boy".
However, my good luck charm the Ultimate Bodog Shill, was sitting two to my left, and when it folded to me on the button, with me holding 3BBs, I shoved rather light, and Smokkee folded. Thank you, Smokkee, you made it possible.
Anyway, I did manage to crack the money, and here's where it got good. Shortly into it, with blinds at 1k/2k and some ante, mid position decided to limp. I looked down at 98soooted, and decided to see a flop. The flop came 99T, and it was off to the races. I check, the BB led out for about 3-4k, and mid position called. Obviously, I shoved, the BB folded, and the original limper called and showed down AA. Way to limp, buddy. That pot made my day.
Eventually, I managed to crack the final table (Smokkee had crashed out 13th or 14th by then), with a 7th place stack, and and M of about 6. But the cards decided to play nice. At one point, with seven or eight players left, and me on basically the shortest stack, the luck turned my way. It folded to me in the small blind, and I shoved my last five or so big blinds with A8o. I was bummed but not surprised when BB called and turned over JJ. But by the turn, I'd picked up straight and crub frush draws, and actually hit the river A. Not exactly a two-outer, but me catching from behind is so rare, it seems. But it was just what I needed to roll on.
At one point, I picked up AA in the small blind, and two mid position limpers. I thought of raising 3 or so BB, but there was already enough in the pot to take my stack up over 50%, so I shoved, to a pack of folders. I took my first chiplead of the tournament when there were five players left. But when we got three handed, we did a lot of trading chips. BTW, my compliments go out to both mixxmaster and WTFisLUCK for their skilled play at this stage.
However, I was eventually able to get to HU with WTFisLUCK, where I held a 480k to 295k chiplead. Sadly for me, that was to be the high point. The cards turned bad, and my opponent was appropriately aggressive. When we had nearly equal chipstacks, I raised up with 66, he overshoved A9, I called, he hit his 9, and that was that. I have no complaints about finishing 2nd there. I could have folded the 66, but that seems real nitty with about 7BB left in an HU situation.
Still, I have no complaints whatsoever about finally picking up a semi-real cash. Last night may have been only a $500 prize, which is a lunch tab for some of you rollers, but for me, it more than doubled my recently-abused roll, and should allow me to continue to donk online for at least a couple more months.
Good luck to all at the tables, I'll be off at the western world's most fabulous cathedral for Opening Day.
Well, at least after last night, that's been put off for a while.
For once, I wasn't getting 2- and 3-outed on the river, on the bubble.
For once, I even caught from behind in a key spot.
For once, I not only cashed, but final tabled.
Anyway, I'm pleased as punch...thanks to Bodog and their evening $5r, which at one point in time was a very nice tournament for me. Prior to last night, I know I've won this tourney once, and I think I had a runner-up finish, as well.
At first, things went as per usual. I took my standard upfront rebuy, and chipped up enough so at the end of the rebuy period, I was sitting slightly above average chips, without additional rebuys. Obviously, I added on. So with about 126 left, and 18 paying, I was in okay shape. I picked up a few pots here and there, but hit my midstretch of horrible cards, to where with 26 players left, I was 25th or 26th in chips. I thought "here we go again". With 20 left, I was 20th in chips. Again, "here we go again, Mr. Bubble Boy".
However, my good luck charm the Ultimate Bodog Shill, was sitting two to my left, and when it folded to me on the button, with me holding 3BBs, I shoved rather light, and Smokkee folded. Thank you, Smokkee, you made it possible.
Anyway, I did manage to crack the money, and here's where it got good. Shortly into it, with blinds at 1k/2k and some ante, mid position decided to limp. I looked down at 98soooted, and decided to see a flop. The flop came 99T, and it was off to the races. I check, the BB led out for about 3-4k, and mid position called. Obviously, I shoved, the BB folded, and the original limper called and showed down AA. Way to limp, buddy. That pot made my day.
Eventually, I managed to crack the final table (Smokkee had crashed out 13th or 14th by then), with a 7th place stack, and and M of about 6. But the cards decided to play nice. At one point, with seven or eight players left, and me on basically the shortest stack, the luck turned my way. It folded to me in the small blind, and I shoved my last five or so big blinds with A8o. I was bummed but not surprised when BB called and turned over JJ. But by the turn, I'd picked up straight and crub frush draws, and actually hit the river A. Not exactly a two-outer, but me catching from behind is so rare, it seems. But it was just what I needed to roll on.
At one point, I picked up AA in the small blind, and two mid position limpers. I thought of raising 3 or so BB, but there was already enough in the pot to take my stack up over 50%, so I shoved, to a pack of folders. I took my first chiplead of the tournament when there were five players left. But when we got three handed, we did a lot of trading chips. BTW, my compliments go out to both mixxmaster and WTFisLUCK for their skilled play at this stage.
However, I was eventually able to get to HU with WTFisLUCK, where I held a 480k to 295k chiplead. Sadly for me, that was to be the high point. The cards turned bad, and my opponent was appropriately aggressive. When we had nearly equal chipstacks, I raised up with 66, he overshoved A9, I called, he hit his 9, and that was that. I have no complaints about finishing 2nd there. I could have folded the 66, but that seems real nitty with about 7BB left in an HU situation.
Still, I have no complaints whatsoever about finally picking up a semi-real cash. Last night may have been only a $500 prize, which is a lunch tab for some of you rollers, but for me, it more than doubled my recently-abused roll, and should allow me to continue to donk online for at least a couple more months.
Good luck to all at the tables, I'll be off at the western world's most fabulous cathedral for Opening Day.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Standard Issue Suck/Resuck
Well, I have been managing to play some online poker about one night a week these days. Usually on Thursday, which coincides with lil' Yorvie's day in doggy day care. He's so wiped out from being with all those other dogs all day long, that all he wants to do in the evening is sleep. And when Yorvie sleeps, Mondo can donk it up, woo!!
Overall, I'm still getting crushed. I honestly don't know how to turn around this six month downswing. But I'm trying real hard to keep playing aggressively, and not worry about results anymore. Still, the bankroll continues its inexorable slide to oblivion, so this blog may end sooner rather than later. Still, with playing only one night a week, I've got a while to go yet.
Anyway, I just wanted to share a typical example of my inevitable downfall:
PokerStars Game #26299569628: Tournament #150346308, $3.00+$0.40 Omaha Hi/Lo No Limit - Level XI (600/1200) - 2009/03/24 2:19:03 ET
Table '150346308 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 4: simishove (8992 in chips)
Seat 5: nteagles (3699 in chips)
Seat 7: Mondogarage (14309 in chips)
simishove: posts the ante 75
nteagles: posts the ante 75
Mondogarage: posts the ante 75
simishove: posts small blind 600
nteagles: posts big blind 1200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Mondogarage [Kh Kd Jd 9c]
Mondogarage: raises 3600 to 4800 (try to push out marginal lows and TID now)
simishove: folds
nteagles: calls 2424 and is all-in
nteagles: shows [6c Td Ac As] (do'h!)
Uncalled bet (1176) returned to Mondogarage
*** FLOP *** [7c Qc Ks] (whut? I caught 2-outer, but villian has flush redraw)
*** TURN *** [7c Qc Ks] [Ad] (naturally, crubs not hit, but the unliklier 2-out A does)
*** RIVER *** [7c Qc Ks Ad] [Ah] (okay, now that's just gratuitous knife twisting, no?)
*** SHOW DOWN ***
nteagles: shows [6c Td Ac As] (HI: four of a kind, Aces)
Mondogarage: shows [Kh Kd Jd 9c] (HI: a full house, Kings full of Aces)
nteagles collected 8073 from pot
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8073 | Rake 0
Board [7c Qc Ks Ad Ah]
Seat 4: simishove (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: nteagles (big blind) showed [6c Td Ac As] and won (8073) with HI: four of a kind, Aces
Seat 7: Mondogarage (button) showed [Kh Kd Jd 9c] and lost with HI: a full house, Kings full of Aces
At least I didn't go out in 3rd place, but as nteagles already knew, catching quads against me is cake:
PokerStars Game #26299726590: Tournament #150346308, $3.00+$0.40 Omaha Hi/Lo No Limit - Level XIV (1500/3000) - 2009/03/24 2:31:17 ET
Table '150346308 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: nteagles (10096 in chips)
Seat 7: Mondogarage (16904 in chips)
nteagles: posts the ante 150
Mondogarage: posts the ante 150
Mondogarage: posts small blind 1500
nteagles: posts big blind 3000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Mondogarage [6c 6d 3d 4s]
Mondogarage: raises 13754 to 16754 and is all-in
nteagles: calls 6946 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (6808) returned to Mondogarage
*** FLOP *** [5d As Ac]
*** TURN *** [5d As Ac] [Ts]
Mondogarage said, "lol"
*** RIVER *** [5d As Ac Ts] [5c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
nteagles: shows [4c 5h Ah 5s] (HI: four of a kind, Fives)
Mondogarage: shows [6c 6d 3d 4s] (HI: two pair, Aces and Sixes)
nteagles collected 20192 from pot
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 20192 | Rake 0
Board [5d As Ac Ts 5c]
Seat 5: nteagles (big blind) showed [4c 5h Ah 5s] and won (20192) with HI: four of a kind, Fives
Seat 7: Mondogarage (button) (small blind) showed [6c 6d 3d 4s] and lost with HI: two pair, Aces and Sixes
Overall, I'm still getting crushed. I honestly don't know how to turn around this six month downswing. But I'm trying real hard to keep playing aggressively, and not worry about results anymore. Still, the bankroll continues its inexorable slide to oblivion, so this blog may end sooner rather than later. Still, with playing only one night a week, I've got a while to go yet.
Anyway, I just wanted to share a typical example of my inevitable downfall:
PokerStars Game #26299569628: Tournament #150346308, $3.00+$0.40 Omaha Hi/Lo No Limit - Level XI (600/1200) - 2009/03/24 2:19:03 ET
Table '150346308 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 4: simishove (8992 in chips)
Seat 5: nteagles (3699 in chips)
Seat 7: Mondogarage (14309 in chips)
simishove: posts the ante 75
nteagles: posts the ante 75
Mondogarage: posts the ante 75
simishove: posts small blind 600
nteagles: posts big blind 1200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Mondogarage [Kh Kd Jd 9c]
Mondogarage: raises 3600 to 4800 (try to push out marginal lows and TID now)
simishove: folds
nteagles: calls 2424 and is all-in
nteagles: shows [6c Td Ac As] (do'h!)
Uncalled bet (1176) returned to Mondogarage
*** FLOP *** [7c Qc Ks] (whut? I caught 2-outer, but villian has flush redraw)
*** TURN *** [7c Qc Ks] [Ad] (naturally, crubs not hit, but the unliklier 2-out A does)
*** RIVER *** [7c Qc Ks Ad] [Ah] (okay, now that's just gratuitous knife twisting, no?)
*** SHOW DOWN ***
nteagles: shows [6c Td Ac As] (HI: four of a kind, Aces)
Mondogarage: shows [Kh Kd Jd 9c] (HI: a full house, Kings full of Aces)
nteagles collected 8073 from pot
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8073 | Rake 0
Board [7c Qc Ks Ad Ah]
Seat 4: simishove (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: nteagles (big blind) showed [6c Td Ac As] and won (8073) with HI: four of a kind, Aces
Seat 7: Mondogarage (button) showed [Kh Kd Jd 9c] and lost with HI: a full house, Kings full of Aces
At least I didn't go out in 3rd place, but as nteagles already knew, catching quads against me is cake:
PokerStars Game #26299726590: Tournament #150346308, $3.00+$0.40 Omaha Hi/Lo No Limit - Level XIV (1500/3000) - 2009/03/24 2:31:17 ET
Table '150346308 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: nteagles (10096 in chips)
Seat 7: Mondogarage (16904 in chips)
nteagles: posts the ante 150
Mondogarage: posts the ante 150
Mondogarage: posts small blind 1500
nteagles: posts big blind 3000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Mondogarage [6c 6d 3d 4s]
Mondogarage: raises 13754 to 16754 and is all-in
nteagles: calls 6946 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (6808) returned to Mondogarage
*** FLOP *** [5d As Ac]
*** TURN *** [5d As Ac] [Ts]
Mondogarage said, "lol"
*** RIVER *** [5d As Ac Ts] [5c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
nteagles: shows [4c 5h Ah 5s] (HI: four of a kind, Fives)
Mondogarage: shows [6c 6d 3d 4s] (HI: two pair, Aces and Sixes)
nteagles collected 20192 from pot
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 20192 | Rake 0
Board [5d As Ac Ts 5c]
Seat 5: nteagles (big blind) showed [4c 5h Ah 5s] and won (20192) with HI: four of a kind, Fives
Seat 7: Mondogarage (button) (small blind) showed [6c 6d 3d 4s] and lost with HI: two pair, Aces and Sixes
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Knock Knock
Your National Championship is knocking at the front door, and where's the mighty vaunted oh-so-much-better-than-any-other-conference Big East?
Oh, they're not invited.
Hell, they didn't even get three in the Final Four, which so many east coast bloggers was certain was a mere formality.
Sorry, Hoy. Maybe next year. Or not.
But hey, it's baseball time, enjoy your average $72 ticket cost in new Yankee Stadium on the way to another 3rd place finish.
At this point, the Rockies are a complete crapshoot. Offensively, the purple pinstripers should be much improved over 2008. Our bullpen is the best in the NL West. Our starting rotation? We have a #2 and #3 in the #1 and 2 slots, followed by three question marks. But that's why they play the games. You can find me next Friday in Section 145.
Oh, they're not invited.
Hell, they didn't even get three in the Final Four, which so many east coast bloggers was certain was a mere formality.
Sorry, Hoy. Maybe next year. Or not.
But hey, it's baseball time, enjoy your average $72 ticket cost in new Yankee Stadium on the way to another 3rd place finish.
At this point, the Rockies are a complete crapshoot. Offensively, the purple pinstripers should be much improved over 2008. Our bullpen is the best in the NL West. Our starting rotation? We have a #2 and #3 in the #1 and 2 slots, followed by three question marks. But that's why they play the games. You can find me next Friday in Section 145.
Monday, March 23, 2009
How to Miss A Week of Poker
...and not care more than one or two whits about it? Here's how:
Okay, his name isn't "how", it's Yorvie. So here's Yorvie.
The Good Doctor Mondo and I adopted him from a local shelter this past Tuesday, and he's been pretty much 95% angel with a welcome 5% devil thrown in. Quite bright, too. However, I haven't yet managed to teach him how to sling chips like the dogs in classic velvet paintings. Now has he figured out the difference in outs between an OESD with two overs, versus a naked nut flush draw. But he's only two, so there's plenty of time.
I have to admit, I'm now itching to play some. It's going to be tough making time for 4-5 hour (or more) MTTs with this little fella, but I'd like to think I can start getting back to some turbo 180s. We'll see.
Okay, his name isn't "how", it's Yorvie. So here's Yorvie.
The Good Doctor Mondo and I adopted him from a local shelter this past Tuesday, and he's been pretty much 95% angel with a welcome 5% devil thrown in. Quite bright, too. However, I haven't yet managed to teach him how to sling chips like the dogs in classic velvet paintings. Now has he figured out the difference in outs between an OESD with two overs, versus a naked nut flush draw. But he's only two, so there's plenty of time.
I have to admit, I'm now itching to play some. It's going to be tough making time for 4-5 hour (or more) MTTs with this little fella, but I'd like to think I can start getting back to some turbo 180s. We'll see.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
CD Review - The Vox Jaguars - The Vox Jaguars EP
The Vox Jaguars
The Vox Jaguars EP
Anodyne Records
The Kids Are Alright. When Pete Townshend first wrote those iconic words, he may have been referring to the disaffected youth of 1960s London, but the words ring true today, at least as it pertains to the future of rock and roll. The kids are indeed alright, or at least the four young rockers making up the cast of The Vox Jaguars are. As of this writing, at the time of release of their debut self-titled EP, half the members of the band are still in high school (the other half of the band is barely out). The Vox Jaguars do not let that stand in the way of bringing forth some of the freshest, yet most timeless, garage rock to come down the pike in quite some time.
The record starts off with a bang, the appropriately named “Swagger” bursting forth with a level of grime and sweat expected of bands much further out of the basement. Vocalist Jordan Toph shows off some positively Jaggeresque qualities to his voice, and the old school overdrive captured in the recorded vocal only adds to the effect. The track is accented with vintage combo organ, most likely the eponymous Vox Jaguar, from which the band has taken its name. The overall sound here is reminiscent of recent garage rock revivalists The Agenda, but to label the band as garage punkers would be an oversimplification.
Although a steady undercurrent of garage rock influence and sonic characteristics serve as underpinnings throughout the EP, the rest of the material on the record seems to nod its head toward bands as diverse as The Jam and Mission of Burma, as heard in the second track, “Wild Orphan”. Even the dance-oriented new wave rock of Berlin or Arctic Monkeys seems to color the sound of closing tune “Homesick”, whether a conscious influence or not. All of these influences meld together into a fresh sound that should find a natural appeal across the spectrum of people who take their music without any artificial flavors or colors, and unadorned of any form of false affectation.
It can be difficult to truly assess the nature and character of a band when presented only with a scant four songs. Obviously, the future remains largely unknown for this lot. A full length album is apparently on the horizon, though it is unknown how many However, current evidence indicates The Vox Jaguars may have the underpinnings of a band with real potential to drive the easily distracted youth of today away from the slick overproduced shenanigans of whatever flavor of the month poseur tripe Disney is pushing, and back to honest to goodness rock and roll.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Hands Can Make You Think
Yeah, no wonder I don't play online much anymore. Too many exit hands are trying to convince me of shenanigans over at JokerStars, or of whatever bullshit compels people to call 4-bet shoves with nothing more than 86o. It's because they know preflop they'll flop open-ended, and they know they'll straighten up on the river. No matter that 86o from the BB is likely wayyyy behind any hand a 4-bet shover might hold.
My last three tournament exits have been on hands like that. The kind of hand where I have AA, KK, or QQ on the bubble or in the cutoff. Invariably, I'll open 2.5x or 3x, and a blind will reraise to 2-3x my original raise. I'll end up shoving, and the last three times, my shove has been called down by 86o, T8o, and 53 sooooted. And each time, the caller caught on the river. As if they *knew* it was coming. And in each case, they had me covered by a little bit.
The worst was today in the $200k, because it was the 2nd time in four hands that I had KK, and had to make a hero fold the first time to a BB who shoved on the A52 rainbow flop. (I'd actually let out for about 60% of the pot.) And it cost me my tournament life because of a player who is just too terrible a player to fold 86o to 4-bet preflop aggression.
Basically, online poker is fucking me up the ass hardcore again. It doesn't matter the site. It doesn't matter the buy-in. And it doesn't matter the stage of the tournament. If there is a single solitary way the cards can fuck me over, it will happen 1000% guaranteed. So, why would I possibly want to play? Rationally, I know the game is not fixed. I know that. But when it continues to play as if it is, why would I possibly choose to continue to participate??
It's one thing to get your money in bad, more often than not. But I don't. In fact, it's very rare that I am behind when the money's all in the middle. Obviously, race-type situations will end up being kinda close to 50/50 over the long term.
Also as invariably, when I do decide to actually play the hand and not unnecessarily get it all in preflop, villian manages to catch his 2 outer on the river. Which is, of course, how T3o can beat JJ, when villian calls a nice flop bet with his mighty 3, followed by the river two outer. Why would I give the crooks any more money? More importantly, why should I?
Hell, even if the software itself is not broken or rigged, the game's rife with enough multiaccounting cheaters, that I no longer have the requisite confidence to believe I'm always playing in a clean game.
My last three tournament exits have been on hands like that. The kind of hand where I have AA, KK, or QQ on the bubble or in the cutoff. Invariably, I'll open 2.5x or 3x, and a blind will reraise to 2-3x my original raise. I'll end up shoving, and the last three times, my shove has been called down by 86o, T8o, and 53 sooooted. And each time, the caller caught on the river. As if they *knew* it was coming. And in each case, they had me covered by a little bit.
The worst was today in the $200k, because it was the 2nd time in four hands that I had KK, and had to make a hero fold the first time to a BB who shoved on the A52 rainbow flop. (I'd actually let out for about 60% of the pot.) And it cost me my tournament life because of a player who is just too terrible a player to fold 86o to 4-bet preflop aggression.
Basically, online poker is fucking me up the ass hardcore again. It doesn't matter the site. It doesn't matter the buy-in. And it doesn't matter the stage of the tournament. If there is a single solitary way the cards can fuck me over, it will happen 1000% guaranteed. So, why would I possibly want to play? Rationally, I know the game is not fixed. I know that. But when it continues to play as if it is, why would I possibly choose to continue to participate??
It's one thing to get your money in bad, more often than not. But I don't. In fact, it's very rare that I am behind when the money's all in the middle. Obviously, race-type situations will end up being kinda close to 50/50 over the long term.
Also as invariably, when I do decide to actually play the hand and not unnecessarily get it all in preflop, villian manages to catch his 2 outer on the river. Which is, of course, how T3o can beat JJ, when villian calls a nice flop bet with his mighty 3, followed by the river two outer. Why would I give the crooks any more money? More importantly, why should I?
Hell, even if the software itself is not broken or rigged, the game's rife with enough multiaccounting cheaters, that I no longer have the requisite confidence to believe I'm always playing in a clean game.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
CD Review - The Ettes - Look At Life Again Soon
The Ettes
Look at Life Again Soon
Take Root Records
Sometimes, a band hits upon just the right alchemic mixture of the correct lineup, the right studio, a spot on engineer, and impeccable timing. When this happens, and all of the elements come together just right, the results can be explosive. The Ettes’ recent second album, Look at Life Again Soon, is one of these instances.
The Ettes, a trio of mono-monikered retro beat punkers, chose to record their new record at world “famous”, all analog, Toe Rag Studios, in England, with the truly legendary (if rather obscure) producer Liam Watson. Toe Rag has been the birthplace of a lengthy history of outstanding purist rock and roll recordings by the likes of The White Stripes, Eddie Angel (of Los Straitjackets), Billy Childish, Holly Golightly, and many others. And with Look at Life Again Soon, both Liam Watson and the Ettes have managed to carry on in that tradition with great aplomb.
Look at Life Again Soon is a platter full of stompers and raveups, fuzzed out bass, echo-y vocals, and plenty of grit and gumption. From the opening thrust of bass and drums of “I Get Mine”, all the way through closing track Particular highlights are “Pay Up” and “To Arms, “Two Shakes”, and the aforementioned “I Get Mine”. In each instance, singer Coco’s voice belies a woman who’s seductive yet sharp, as likely to switchblade you as she is to kiss you. The rhythm section is thundering and boomy, without stepping over the overdriven, yet understated guitar.
If there’s a criticism to be had, it is only that there is not a lot of breadth to be found across the album, and most of the songs are somewhat interchangeable with others. One notable exception is closing song “Where Your Loyalties Lie”, which has a more spacious sound, and sets a rather nicer departure mood. The end result is that the album is inherently a ballsy kick in the pants for a run of any four or five tracks, but after that, it becomes easy to want to spin something else just to change up the auditory recipe. However, the sound that this album is built upon is one that I’ve found extremely easy to keep coming back to.
The songs are spartan, yet uniformly convey a sense of impending violence bubbling just underneath the surface. In fact, this record would make the perfect soundtrack for a viewing of Death Proof, with the dialogue turned off. This song, and this band, is a chick habit to be relished, just don’t take your eyes off the nearest exit, because you never know where the next scooter gang riot’s going to erupt.
For those at all familiar with any previous Toe Rag work, feel free to compare this record to The Bristols, or any of Fabienne Delsol’s work, as there are a lot of similarities with The Ettes, particularly where vocals are concerned. All in all, Look at Life Again Soon makes a strong argument for a return of authenticity to rock and roll, and a trip back to days of teenage rebellion, late night transgressions, and morning regrets.
A Heaping Helping Of Hope
Check out this video -- it was submitted as part of an AARP contest called U@50, and was ultimately the second place video. It's really quite clever, and less than two minutes long:
Do I think it will really come to pass? At the individual level, I surely hope so. At the macro level? Unlikely, but it's nice to see the positivity.
Do I think it will really come to pass? At the individual level, I surely hope so. At the macro level? Unlikely, but it's nice to see the positivity.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Good Thing I'm Almost Broke, and an Update
Haha...my streak of non-cashes in tourneys is now up to 32 in a row (or at least something very close)**. The latest was a $12+1 180-man turbo on JokerStars, where on a T74 flop, and me holding QQ, I bet out 70% of the pot, and the button overshoves. Of course, I call. Oh yeah, almost forget, I had 3-bet preflop, and he called. He showed JT offsuit. LOL, really? He called a 3-bet and a call preflop with JTo. Naturally, the J fell on the turn, and I was out.
Oh yeah, and having TPTK go down to a naked flush draw that hit on the river. (Naturally, the donk overshoved on the turn with no pair, but 4 to a flush.)
The Skillz game truly sucked for me. I went out the last hand before break. At least 6-7 times, I had three wheel cards by 3rd street, and 4 low cards by 4th street, only to catch high cards on 5th, 6th, and 7th streets. If it seemed like I saw too many 4th and 5th streets (and I did, nearly 50%), it's only because I really did have some strong low draws. My two biggest lost pots, though, were having two pair go down to baby trips, and losing to a boat.
So my roll's down to about 1/3 of it's previous high, and I'm going broke. So my online poker career may be over in a few weeks, because I'm simply not interested in re-depositing in an environment where retarded poker play wins as often as it does.
After all, the live limits are going up soon in Colorado, and clearly, if I can go 9 days without playing a single hand, poker's taken a back seat anyway.
UPDATE: Why the asterisks? Well, after still taking a ton of abuse all over the place in any $12, $20, etc., buyins, I actually managed to take down an 18 player No Limit O8 SNG, and cash in one of those new fangled $7.70/180s. Of course, the tourney I win is a $1.50 buy-in, with a 1st prize of...drumroll...$10.80. But hell, I can't recall the last time I ever actually won anything, so it feels good.
Oh yeah, and having TPTK go down to a naked flush draw that hit on the river. (Naturally, the donk overshoved on the turn with no pair, but 4 to a flush.)
The Skillz game truly sucked for me. I went out the last hand before break. At least 6-7 times, I had three wheel cards by 3rd street, and 4 low cards by 4th street, only to catch high cards on 5th, 6th, and 7th streets. If it seemed like I saw too many 4th and 5th streets (and I did, nearly 50%), it's only because I really did have some strong low draws. My two biggest lost pots, though, were having two pair go down to baby trips, and losing to a boat.
So my roll's down to about 1/3 of it's previous high, and I'm going broke. So my online poker career may be over in a few weeks, because I'm simply not interested in re-depositing in an environment where retarded poker play wins as often as it does.
After all, the live limits are going up soon in Colorado, and clearly, if I can go 9 days without playing a single hand, poker's taken a back seat anyway.
UPDATE: Why the asterisks? Well, after still taking a ton of abuse all over the place in any $12, $20, etc., buyins, I actually managed to take down an 18 player No Limit O8 SNG, and cash in one of those new fangled $7.70/180s. Of course, the tourney I win is a $1.50 buy-in, with a 1st prize of...drumroll...$10.80. But hell, I can't recall the last time I ever actually won anything, so it feels good.
CD Review - Dressy Bessy - Holler and Stomp
A full week has gone by...9 days, actually, since I've played a single hand of poker. Of course, the BBT4 has started, but while I sit most of it out, I've been working on more CD reviews for Hybrid Magazine. This time, I actually got to cover one of my favorite Denver bands, Dressy Bessy. However, as you'll see, this outing wasn't quite what I was hoping for...
On occasion, a given assignment to review a particular CD requires some self-disclosure, and this is one of these occasions. I am a Dressy Bessy fanboy, and have been for quite a while, and I am quite unabashed in my admiration for this band. That said, I do not consider Holler and Stomp to be among the band’s best recorded output. In fact, it has to rate as a slight disappointment.
In many ways, Holler and Stomp is not dissimilar to the music coming out of Dressy Bessy camp over the last five years. The record is chock full of powerpop tunes, replete with chunky guitars, pounding rhythms, occasional slight dissonance between vocals and lead parts (e.g., the somewhat Pixies-ish song craft of verses during “Ease Me Down”), and even the odd cowbell or well-placed sound affect. Musicianship is uniformly excellent, as is production. The rhythm section, in particular, seems to be in peak form and Tammy Ealom and John Hill’s guitar tones blend with each other near perfectly. In those respects, Holler and Stomp isn’t really all that different than either of the band’s previous two albums, Electrified or Dressy Bessy.
However, the album ultimately comes across a little bit tired at times. Tammy’s voice has taken on a bit of a world weary character in parts of this record, and, while the compositions themselves range from fair to good, very little of the material reaches the songwriting heights of the triumvirate of “Side 2”, “Stop Foolin’”, and “Electrified”, which combined to make Electrified no less than one of the most entertaining albums of 2005.
The above notwithstanding, Holler and Stomp is still a pretty good album, and a worthy starting point for listeners unfamiliar with the band. Dressy Bessy have been able to crank out the type of fun pop confections in the vein of “Automatic” or “Ten Million Stars” in their sleep, with the level of ease that it takes to pull out a fresh pan of Tollhouse cookies from the Easy Bake Oven. Album closer “Sindy Says” is a delightful number, and a throwback to the band’s more twee-sounding past. I’ve managed to hear the band play around half of the songs on this record in concert, and the songs do take on a bit more urgency and vibrancy in that environment.
If anything, Holler and Stomp really only suffers in comparison to the great heights achieved by Electrified. Nevertheless, repeated listening has done little to alter my perception of a follow-up that can’t quite fill the estimable boots of its predecessor.
On occasion, a given assignment to review a particular CD requires some self-disclosure, and this is one of these occasions. I am a Dressy Bessy fanboy, and have been for quite a while, and I am quite unabashed in my admiration for this band. That said, I do not consider Holler and Stomp to be among the band’s best recorded output. In fact, it has to rate as a slight disappointment.
In many ways, Holler and Stomp is not dissimilar to the music coming out of Dressy Bessy camp over the last five years. The record is chock full of powerpop tunes, replete with chunky guitars, pounding rhythms, occasional slight dissonance between vocals and lead parts (e.g., the somewhat Pixies-ish song craft of verses during “Ease Me Down”), and even the odd cowbell or well-placed sound affect. Musicianship is uniformly excellent, as is production. The rhythm section, in particular, seems to be in peak form and Tammy Ealom and John Hill’s guitar tones blend with each other near perfectly. In those respects, Holler and Stomp isn’t really all that different than either of the band’s previous two albums, Electrified or Dressy Bessy.
However, the album ultimately comes across a little bit tired at times. Tammy’s voice has taken on a bit of a world weary character in parts of this record, and, while the compositions themselves range from fair to good, very little of the material reaches the songwriting heights of the triumvirate of “Side 2”, “Stop Foolin’”, and “Electrified”, which combined to make Electrified no less than one of the most entertaining albums of 2005.
The above notwithstanding, Holler and Stomp is still a pretty good album, and a worthy starting point for listeners unfamiliar with the band. Dressy Bessy have been able to crank out the type of fun pop confections in the vein of “Automatic” or “Ten Million Stars” in their sleep, with the level of ease that it takes to pull out a fresh pan of Tollhouse cookies from the Easy Bake Oven. Album closer “Sindy Says” is a delightful number, and a throwback to the band’s more twee-sounding past. I’ve managed to hear the band play around half of the songs on this record in concert, and the songs do take on a bit more urgency and vibrancy in that environment.
If anything, Holler and Stomp really only suffers in comparison to the great heights achieved by Electrified. Nevertheless, repeated listening has done little to alter my perception of a follow-up that can’t quite fill the estimable boots of its predecessor.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Random Musings
Ahh, poker -- such a cruel cruel cruel woman, so I dump her to the curb.
Okay, maybe not. But I haven't played a hand since Sunday, and won't for a few more days, most likely.
Life's been pretty busy these days, what with weekly New Ben Franklins rehearsals, and gigs every 10-12 days or so now, it seems. We're playing a food bank donation raiser tomorrow, and then up in Loveland, Colorado, next Saturday.
Oh yeah, if you're in Denver and reading this, come to the Toad Tavern on Saturday, we play at 8pm. $5, and a buck off for each canned good you bring.
Initially, that was going to be the end for a while, as I've been supposed to leave town for a five week trial later in March. Yeah, this is part of the reason I haven't been really jazzed about BBT4, as I'd be pretty much incapable of playing about half the series.
Well, what do you know...fingers crossed, but this whole case may soon be over, sans trial, and what does that mean? A buncha stuff.
It means I can go to Rockies Opening Day, woohoo!!!! And for our home opener, no one other than the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies (whom of course we swept in the 2007 Division Series).
It also means I can actually consider playing the Heartland Poker Tour, which is back again in Blackhawk during March and April. Since the Colorado gaming limits don't go up until July, this again will be a case of having to play your way into the Main Event via a $340 qualifier. I'd given it no thought, considering the timing, but I've missed the previous HPT events, also because of work/travel reasons, and I do not intend to miss this one if I'm around. At least I'll take one shot in a qualifier. Who knows, if I win a Main Event seat, I'll likely play a 2nd qualifier with the hope I can win a 2nd seat and sell it, thus coming out ahead no matter when my AA goes down to 86s in Level 5 of the Main Event.
Anyway, tonight should also be a fun night. Three of my favorite bands are playing at the hi-dive, Denver's premier small indie music hipster paradise venue. Or something. I keed, I keed, but they do book a lot of really cool shit.
And tonight's no exception. The legendary Omens are fresh off a European tour, and celebrating release of their newest CD. I know there aren't a lot of true garage rock fans reading this, but let me just say that as a hardcore garage rock aficionado, I can tell you there is no more authentic true garage punk combo in the USA today. And in support are other faves Hawks of Paradise, and Overcasters.
Denver really does have an amazing music scene these days, attested to by the fact that these are flat out three of my favorite bands, with no "favorite local band" qualifier.
Wherever you're playing, whether its cards, rock and roll, tiddly winks, or some demented crap requiring a safety word, even when played solo (yeah, I'm thinking of a certain http://nickleanddimes.blogspot.com/ here), have fun this weekend.
Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the Creen of the Crub Frushes!
Okay, maybe not. But I haven't played a hand since Sunday, and won't for a few more days, most likely.
Life's been pretty busy these days, what with weekly New Ben Franklins rehearsals, and gigs every 10-12 days or so now, it seems. We're playing a food bank donation raiser tomorrow, and then up in Loveland, Colorado, next Saturday.
Oh yeah, if you're in Denver and reading this, come to the Toad Tavern on Saturday, we play at 8pm. $5, and a buck off for each canned good you bring.
Initially, that was going to be the end for a while, as I've been supposed to leave town for a five week trial later in March. Yeah, this is part of the reason I haven't been really jazzed about BBT4, as I'd be pretty much incapable of playing about half the series.
Well, what do you know...fingers crossed, but this whole case may soon be over, sans trial, and what does that mean? A buncha stuff.
It means I can go to Rockies Opening Day, woohoo!!!! And for our home opener, no one other than the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies (whom of course we swept in the 2007 Division Series).
It also means I can actually consider playing the Heartland Poker Tour, which is back again in Blackhawk during March and April. Since the Colorado gaming limits don't go up until July, this again will be a case of having to play your way into the Main Event via a $340 qualifier. I'd given it no thought, considering the timing, but I've missed the previous HPT events, also because of work/travel reasons, and I do not intend to miss this one if I'm around. At least I'll take one shot in a qualifier. Who knows, if I win a Main Event seat, I'll likely play a 2nd qualifier with the hope I can win a 2nd seat and sell it, thus coming out ahead no matter when my AA goes down to 86s in Level 5 of the Main Event.
Anyway, tonight should also be a fun night. Three of my favorite bands are playing at the hi-dive, Denver's premier small indie music hipster paradise venue. Or something. I keed, I keed, but they do book a lot of really cool shit.
And tonight's no exception. The legendary Omens are fresh off a European tour, and celebrating release of their newest CD. I know there aren't a lot of true garage rock fans reading this, but let me just say that as a hardcore garage rock aficionado, I can tell you there is no more authentic true garage punk combo in the USA today. And in support are other faves Hawks of Paradise, and Overcasters.
Denver really does have an amazing music scene these days, attested to by the fact that these are flat out three of my favorite bands, with no "favorite local band" qualifier.
Wherever you're playing, whether its cards, rock and roll, tiddly winks, or some demented crap requiring a safety word, even when played solo (yeah, I'm thinking of a certain http://nickleanddimes.blogspot.com/ here), have fun this weekend.
Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the Creen of the Crub Frushes!
On the Subject of Man-Ram
Okay, so most of youse could give a crap about the Los Angeles Dodgers. And frankly, neither can I, other than the extent to which my beloved Colorado Rockies will pound them over the course of 18 games this year, but I digress...
But if you've been following this year's MLB free agent cycle at all, you may know that talented, yet petulant, aging, quit-on-his-team, general all around douchebag Manny Ramirez has, just since the end of last season:
a. Declined the $20 million option on his contract for 2009;
b. Turned down contract arbitration guaranteed in his case to net between $20m and $27 for 2009;
c. Turned down a 2-year, $45 million contract offer from the Dodgers;
d. Turned down a 1-year, $25 million contract offer from the Dodgers;
e. Turned down a revised 2-year, $45 million contract offer from the Dodgers that included a player option for the second year;
f. All of the above.
If you answered any of them, you are correct. If you answered "f", you were most correct. You see, Manny has turned down four separate contract proposals, all of which would have made him the highest paid player in baseball history not proven to have done steroids. In other words, the highest paid player in history for 2009 not named Alex Rodriguez.
But you see, he wants a six year contract. He's already nearly 37. He's already demonstrated his tendency to be a malingerer when he's not happy about his contract. Fuck him. I mean, he can still smack the cover off of a baseball, but his pissant pettiness and rampant narcissism, in an environment where no other team is even offering him a deal is beyond asinine. And given the current economic headlines, makes him look even more pathetique.
Still, the Dodgers would be well served to read this story I came across today (compliments of a fellow Purple Row reader):
The above story was compiled by Glenn Welker
We already have the Diamondbacks in our division; do we really need a rattlesnake to go along with it?
But if you've been following this year's MLB free agent cycle at all, you may know that talented, yet petulant, aging, quit-on-his-team, general all around douchebag Manny Ramirez has, just since the end of last season:
a. Declined the $20 million option on his contract for 2009;
b. Turned down contract arbitration guaranteed in his case to net between $20m and $27 for 2009;
c. Turned down a 2-year, $45 million contract offer from the Dodgers;
d. Turned down a 1-year, $25 million contract offer from the Dodgers;
e. Turned down a revised 2-year, $45 million contract offer from the Dodgers that included a player option for the second year;
f. All of the above.
If you answered any of them, you are correct. If you answered "f", you were most correct. You see, Manny has turned down four separate contract proposals, all of which would have made him the highest paid player in baseball history not proven to have done steroids. In other words, the highest paid player in history for 2009 not named Alex Rodriguez.
But you see, he wants a six year contract. He's already nearly 37. He's already demonstrated his tendency to be a malingerer when he's not happy about his contract. Fuck him. I mean, he can still smack the cover off of a baseball, but his pissant pettiness and rampant narcissism, in an environment where no other team is even offering him a deal is beyond asinine. And given the current economic headlines, makes him look even more pathetique.
Still, the Dodgers would be well served to read this story I came across today (compliments of a fellow Purple Row reader):
The following is a very old story told by Cherokee, Seneca, Hindu, and many other people all around the world.
The little boy was walking down a path and he came across a rattlesnake. The rattlesnake was getting old. He asked, "Please little boy, can you take me to the top of the mountain? I hope to see the sunset one last time before I die." The little boy answered "No Mr. Rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you'll bite me and I'll die." The rattlesnake said, "No, I promise. I won't bite you. Just please take me up to the mountain." The little boy thought about it and finally picked up that rattlesnake and took it close to his chest and carried it up to the top of the mountain.
They sat there and watched the sunset together. It was so beautiful. Then after sunset the rattlesnake turned to the little boy and asked, "Can I go home now? I am tired, and I am old." The little boy picked up the rattlesnake and again took it to his chest and held it tightly and safely. He came all the way down the mountain holding the snake carefully and took it to his home to give him some food and a place to sleep. The next day the rattlesnake turned to the boy and asked, "Please little boy, will you take me back to my home now? It is time for me to leave this world, and I would like to be at my home now." The little boy felt he had been safe all this time and the snake had kept his word, so he would take it home as asked.
He carefully picked up the snake, took it close to his chest, and carried him back to the woods, to his home to die. Just before he laid the rattlesnake down, the rattlesnake turned and bit him in the chest. The little boy cried out and threw the snake upon the ground. "Mr. Snake, why did you do that? Now I will surely die!" The rattlesnake looked up at him and grinned, "You knew what I was when you picked me up."
The above story was compiled by Glenn Welker
We already have the Diamondbacks in our division; do we really need a rattlesnake to go along with it?
Bring on the BBT!
Yup, it is that time.
Battle of the Blogger Tournaments, Take Four.
Once again, Alcanthang has managed to somehow coddle, coerce, or otherwise successfully blackmail Full Tilt into ponying up major prizeage, including TWO WSOP Main Event seats, and several prelimin event seats. As such, the competition looks to be fierce -- fierce like a hot tranny mess, even. I'm not sure how Al does it every time, good sir, but you are to be thanked. At least time time, you didn't have to bed down that no-talent poker skank Clonie Gowen to get 'er done.
Any way, there's going to be a ton of events to participate in:
Tournament: Brit Blogger Game
When: Sunday's at 16:00ET
Game: NLHE
Buyin: $5+.50
Password: donkament
Tournament: Riverchasers
When: Monday's at 22:00ET
Game: Deepstack NLHE
Buyin: $24+2 or token
Password: riverchasers
Tournament: Blogger Skillz Game
When: Tuesday's at 21:30ET
Game: rotation of non-NLHE games
Buyin: $10+1
Password: skillz
Tournament: The Mookie
When: Wednesday's at 22:00ET
Game: Deepstack NLHE
Buyin: $10+1
Password: vegas1
I understand MiamiDon's running his Big Game, too, but I don't have details.
If you were to play every event, it would cost something like $600-700. That's not a lot of dosh for those bigballahs, but my Full Tilt roll's about 1/4 of that (and my over online roll down to not much over that). So of course, as for myself, I'll hardly be playing in any events. I just can't play that many nights of the week, and my Full Tilt roll would only withstand two weeks of this, anyway. I run so g00t, of course. I do expect to play in a couple of the Skillz Game events, and probably a Mookie or two.
Besides, given all the snarkiness I read about during the last series...well, poker's just not a big enough part of my life these days to deal with that.
Battle of the Blogger Tournaments, Take Four.
Once again, Alcanthang has managed to somehow coddle, coerce, or otherwise successfully blackmail Full Tilt into ponying up major prizeage, including TWO WSOP Main Event seats, and several prelimin event seats. As such, the competition looks to be fierce -- fierce like a hot tranny mess, even. I'm not sure how Al does it every time, good sir, but you are to be thanked. At least time time, you didn't have to bed down that no-talent poker skank Clonie Gowen to get 'er done.
Any way, there's going to be a ton of events to participate in:
Tournament: Brit Blogger Game
When: Sunday's at 16:00ET
Game: NLHE
Buyin: $5+.50
Password: donkament
Tournament: Riverchasers
When: Monday's at 22:00ET
Game: Deepstack NLHE
Buyin: $24+2 or token
Password: riverchasers
Tournament: Blogger Skillz Game
When: Tuesday's at 21:30ET
Game: rotation of non-NLHE games
Buyin: $10+1
Password: skillz
Tournament: The Mookie
When: Wednesday's at 22:00ET
Game: Deepstack NLHE
Buyin: $10+1
Password: vegas1
I understand MiamiDon's running his Big Game, too, but I don't have details.
If you were to play every event, it would cost something like $600-700. That's not a lot of dosh for those bigballahs, but my Full Tilt roll's about 1/4 of that (and my over online roll down to not much over that). So of course, as for myself, I'll hardly be playing in any events. I just can't play that many nights of the week, and my Full Tilt roll would only withstand two weeks of this, anyway. I run so g00t, of course. I do expect to play in a couple of the Skillz Game events, and probably a Mookie or two.
Besides, given all the snarkiness I read about during the last series...well, poker's just not a big enough part of my life these days to deal with that.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Oooookey FaMoooookie
Ended up actually playing a wee bit of poker last night, and enjoyed it. Only played four tourneys, cashing in one, but had a great time in the Mookie? Did I win? No. Did I cash? Hell no...
But as I said in the chat, my real goal was just to make it past hour #1. I've rarely been able to play the Mookie, which is probably the undisputed champeeeeeen of bloggerments. In fact, last night was only my second entry in it this year. The previous attempt ended five hands into it when lucko's destroyed my KK. Yup, after five hands, I would have been happy to last an hour.
But still, I wanted to play some cards, and being a bloggerment, I was willing to try some plays I probably wouldn't attempt in a large field MTT, such as this one, early in the event (2nd orbit, I believe):
Full Tilt Poker Game #10715882359: The Mookie (79825300), Table 3 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:09:02 ET - 2009/02/18
Seat 1: iaatg6296 (6,150)
Seat 2: DaBag (2,805)
Seat 3: Mondogarage (2,840)
Seat 4: Astin (3,000), is sitting out
Seat 5: JoeSpeaker (2,970)
Seat 6: Blinders (2,955)
Seat 7: Joanne1111 (3,105)
Seat 8: MiamiDon (2,220)
Seat 9: ScottMc (3,220)
DaBag posts the small blind of 15
Mondogarage posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Mondogarage [3h 5h] (eww, but let's see...)
JoeSpeaker folds
Blinders folds
Joanne1111 folds
MiamiDon folds
Mondogarage: I just want to survive 1st hour (see, I wasn't kidding)
ScottMc raises to 115 (the asshat crew's been known to steal from cutoff)
iaatg6296 folds
DaBag folds
Mondogarage calls 85 (hand sucks, but if ScottMc is stealing, I'm probably two live with draws)
*** FLOP *** [2c 3d 4h] (intriguing flop for my hand)
Mondogarage checks (hoping for free card, of course)
ScottMc bets 240 (damn, no freebie; ScottMc bets nearly pot)
Mondogarage raises to 480 (I might actually be ahead here, but represent strength)
ScottMc raises to 3,105, and is all in (D'oH!!!)
Mondogarage calls 2,245, and is all in (if this isn't a bloggerment, I can probably fold here, but as I said, I may actually be ahead, and pretty sure he didn't hit flop)
ScottMc shows [Kh Kc] (double D'oH! Guess I read that one wrong, hit my draw ONE TIME DEALER)
Mondogarage shows [3h 5h]
Uncalled bet of 380 returned to ScottMc
*** TURN *** [2c 3d 4h] [Ah] (YAHTZEE!)
*** RIVER *** [2c 3d 4h Ah] [9c]
ScottMc shows a pair of Kings
Mondogarage shows a straight, Five high
Mondogarage wins the pot (5,695) with a straight, Five high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5,695 | Rake 0
Board: [2c 3d 4h Ah 9c]
Seat 1: iaatg6296 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: DaBag (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Mondogarage (big blind) showed [3h 5h] and won (5,695) with a straight, Five high
Seat 4: Astin is sitting out
Seat 5: JoeSpeaker didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Blinders didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: Joanne1111 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: MiamiDon didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: ScottMc showed [Kh Kc] and lost with a pair of Kings
Anyway, the more I think about this hand, the more I think that if I was committed to my read preflop, raising would have been better, but then I would have folded to Scott's inevitable 4-bet preflop. So this is one time when a bad preflop read led to what I think was the correct play on the flop, with one pair, OESD and backdoor flush draws against a player who either had an overpair or two overs, but was unlikely to have hit that board. But if anyone has better advice, I'm all ears.
That hand set me off on my way, and I spent the first hour plus in the top 2-3 in chips, and the next 30 minutes after that in the top eight or so.
Unfortunately, I went utterly card dead at that point, and when I open raised QJhh to 900, and PokerPeaker shoved his remaining 3k stack, I felt obliged to call, and his AQo held up. This took about 1/2 my chips, and another orbit of strictly trash (with growing blinds/antes). When I was next in the big blind, and the button raised up 3x, I felt compelled to shove my last 3.4k with A5 soooted. The original raiser thought long and hard, but eventually called with AJo. Two spades on the flop, and we were off to the races, but the third spade never fell, and I went out 24th of the original 54 players.
I realize I didn't have to shove, but with an M of about 7, and again, with Mookie button players often raising up trash, I thought the overshove might induce a fold. Still...I did even steal a blind with the hammer. That was rare, but it felt good to show.
So yeah, I donate again, and my 0-fer-forever in the Mookie continues. But I had a blast, and at least I cashed in a $12/180 (again missing final table, though), so I essentially broke even for the night, and enjoyed the play.
But as I said in the chat, my real goal was just to make it past hour #1. I've rarely been able to play the Mookie, which is probably the undisputed champeeeeeen of bloggerments. In fact, last night was only my second entry in it this year. The previous attempt ended five hands into it when lucko's destroyed my KK. Yup, after five hands, I would have been happy to last an hour.
But still, I wanted to play some cards, and being a bloggerment, I was willing to try some plays I probably wouldn't attempt in a large field MTT, such as this one, early in the event (2nd orbit, I believe):
Full Tilt Poker Game #10715882359: The Mookie (79825300), Table 3 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:09:02 ET - 2009/02/18
Seat 1: iaatg6296 (6,150)
Seat 2: DaBag (2,805)
Seat 3: Mondogarage (2,840)
Seat 4: Astin (3,000), is sitting out
Seat 5: JoeSpeaker (2,970)
Seat 6: Blinders (2,955)
Seat 7: Joanne1111 (3,105)
Seat 8: MiamiDon (2,220)
Seat 9: ScottMc (3,220)
DaBag posts the small blind of 15
Mondogarage posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Mondogarage [3h 5h] (eww, but let's see...)
JoeSpeaker folds
Blinders folds
Joanne1111 folds
MiamiDon folds
Mondogarage: I just want to survive 1st hour (see, I wasn't kidding)
ScottMc raises to 115 (the asshat crew's been known to steal from cutoff)
iaatg6296 folds
DaBag folds
Mondogarage calls 85 (hand sucks, but if ScottMc is stealing, I'm probably two live with draws)
*** FLOP *** [2c 3d 4h] (intriguing flop for my hand)
Mondogarage checks (hoping for free card, of course)
ScottMc bets 240 (damn, no freebie; ScottMc bets nearly pot)
Mondogarage raises to 480 (I might actually be ahead here, but represent strength)
ScottMc raises to 3,105, and is all in (D'oH!!!)
Mondogarage calls 2,245, and is all in (if this isn't a bloggerment, I can probably fold here, but as I said, I may actually be ahead, and pretty sure he didn't hit flop)
ScottMc shows [Kh Kc] (double D'oH! Guess I read that one wrong, hit my draw ONE TIME DEALER)
Mondogarage shows [3h 5h]
Uncalled bet of 380 returned to ScottMc
*** TURN *** [2c 3d 4h] [Ah] (YAHTZEE!)
*** RIVER *** [2c 3d 4h Ah] [9c]
ScottMc shows a pair of Kings
Mondogarage shows a straight, Five high
Mondogarage wins the pot (5,695) with a straight, Five high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5,695 | Rake 0
Board: [2c 3d 4h Ah 9c]
Seat 1: iaatg6296 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: DaBag (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Mondogarage (big blind) showed [3h 5h] and won (5,695) with a straight, Five high
Seat 4: Astin is sitting out
Seat 5: JoeSpeaker didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Blinders didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: Joanne1111 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: MiamiDon didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: ScottMc showed [Kh Kc] and lost with a pair of Kings
Anyway, the more I think about this hand, the more I think that if I was committed to my read preflop, raising would have been better, but then I would have folded to Scott's inevitable 4-bet preflop. So this is one time when a bad preflop read led to what I think was the correct play on the flop, with one pair, OESD and backdoor flush draws against a player who either had an overpair or two overs, but was unlikely to have hit that board. But if anyone has better advice, I'm all ears.
That hand set me off on my way, and I spent the first hour plus in the top 2-3 in chips, and the next 30 minutes after that in the top eight or so.
Unfortunately, I went utterly card dead at that point, and when I open raised QJhh to 900, and PokerPeaker shoved his remaining 3k stack, I felt obliged to call, and his AQo held up. This took about 1/2 my chips, and another orbit of strictly trash (with growing blinds/antes). When I was next in the big blind, and the button raised up 3x, I felt compelled to shove my last 3.4k with A5 soooted. The original raiser thought long and hard, but eventually called with AJo. Two spades on the flop, and we were off to the races, but the third spade never fell, and I went out 24th of the original 54 players.
I realize I didn't have to shove, but with an M of about 7, and again, with Mookie button players often raising up trash, I thought the overshove might induce a fold. Still...I did even steal a blind with the hammer. That was rare, but it felt good to show.
So yeah, I donate again, and my 0-fer-forever in the Mookie continues. But I had a blast, and at least I cashed in a $12/180 (again missing final table, though), so I essentially broke even for the night, and enjoyed the play.
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