DNA blog

I Used to Love H.E.R.

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 23:48:00 +0000

I have been thinking about writing this piece for some time, and finally feel like I have the right perspective and mind-state to put my thoughts down on digital paper. The issue which has been bothering me for some time concerns the death of hip-hop. That may be a little too dramatic, an acceptable title for a Nas album looking to spark controversy, but not really a true statement.

Hip-hop isn't dead, in fact the elements of hip-hop (break dancing, graffitii, dj'ing, and mc'ing) are more prevalent today than at any other time in history, it's just that they are slightly transformed. I often ride the train from San Diego to Los Angeles and one of the highlights of the trip for me is seeing the amazing monsterpieces of graff along the walls of the LA river. About six months ago the powers that be in L.A. saw fit to buff out all the pieces and now all that you see on the sloping walls of the man-made river canyon is a patchwork of cover-up paint, sometimes you can still make out the outlines of the original pieces, a ghost image. The gentrification of the LA river is analogous to what is happening to hip-hop in general. The pieces moved out of the underground, or the LA river basin in this case, and onto the commercial storefront. An urban outfitters sporting a massive Shepherd Fairey piece is just one example that springs to mind. I'm not hating on Shepherd or the massive industry of art that he has created with Obey, the guy is an amazing artist, whose decades of hard work and refinement of a style are finally getting him his due. What I am concerned with is that we can so easily purchase street culture today, that the effort and outsider appeal of true street style has been watered down and repackages and sold to us at a higher price than ever, and in the process the music that inspired all of this has also suffered the same fate.

The parts of hip-hop that society at large could stomach and appreciate were incorporated into the mainstream to better relate brands to the youth so longing for a sense of authentic street culture in their purchases. Break dancers in teen films, beat-boxing in soda commercials, graff pieces as advertizing for major international brands, the major media co-opted hip-hop as a way to generate excitement and interest from the youth, and it worked. The parts of hip-hop that society could not stomach have gone the way of the dinosaur, relegated to obscurity because of the inability for hard-core subject matter to generate commercial success in the post MTV era. During the nascent days of hip-hop it was the danger and edge to the music that attracted the youth. Today most hip-hop hits are more akin to the RnB love ballads of yesteryear. It is so hard to say goodbye to yesterday, but we must move on we must evolve and not devolve into media hungry labbits. Gone are the days when a band with a name like N.W.A. can sell millions of records. Today we get groups with the depth of a text message, LMFAO, trying to infect our brains with catchy jingles about how to rock a party, no social statements, no biting critique of government or educational systems allowed in mainstream media. Just stop thinking and party.

Music and Hip-hop are no longer dangerous. Ghetto drug music or any of the other detractors that mainstream media initially tried to label hip-hop with are gone, replaced by candy coated messages to consume more, a message that mainstream media is much more comfortable with than "Fuck the Police". Hip-hop is safer than Disney for the most part, our most dangerous MCs have to write lyrics about struggle and despair from the third person, because they have never experienced it. The sentiment and energy of the music is lacking, replaced by constant reference to material achievements. Who's got the most bling, baddest bitches and fastest rides have always been a part of the subject matter of hip-hop, you don't have to look much further than the album covers of Eric B and Rakim to see the glitz and gloss has always been a part of hip-hop, but beneath those album covers were the substance of great lyrics and beats that really made you think but also worked on the dance floor. Today it seems like the quest for more material possessions is more than just a of the music and is in fact the whole enchilada. (Mmmmm enchiladas). Honestly I cannot think of the last really great hip-hop album that I heard.

Aesop Rock's "None Shall Pass" or El-P's "I'll sleep when I'm dead" were probably the last two that I got into, both artists have new albums out this year but as I have listened to neither in their entirety I will withhold any comment on their quality, although I do love the "Full Retard" video from EL-P. No coincidence that both albums were from the same label, the now-defunct Def Jux. Music that you have to dig a little deeper into and work at understanding, music that can evoke powerful emotions that are not usually happy, music that makes you think just doesn't sell enough records. The meaning you could infer from this is that the majority of people are not interested in challenging themselves with their music choices. It is easier to just turn on the radio and start party rockin than to attempt to (usually feebly) decipher an Aesop Rock verse.

I attended Coachella this year with some friends and got treated to a reunion performance by Company Flow, arguably the group that started the underground hip-hop, independent boom of the late 90s. I was so excited to finally get to see Co Flow perform, although I have seen El-P several times and his live shows always deliver, I had at this point in my life thought that the chance of a C0-Flow reunion show were slim to none. When I saw them listed on the lineup I started to tell all of the people that I was going with that this was an event not to be missed. Amon Tobin and Flying Lotus were certainly other highlights of the weekend, but the Co Flow performance was a once in a lifetime opportunity, or twice if you were me and still pissed that you missed out on the first one because tickets for their last show sold out so fast. Sunday evening at Coachella rolled around, and while most of my group went of to listen to Gotye, my friend and I headed over to the tent where Co Flow was performing their seminal, and only, album Funcrusher Plus in its entirety. To my amazement (not really) this was the only performance that I attended all weekend that was not packed to the gills, in fact, less than 300 people were lined up in the tent, to see a bombastic onslaught that is a Co Flow performance. Of those in attendance I noted several of the LA Beat scene including Gaslamp Killer. So those on the fringes of cutting edge beat science still respected the classics (can't believe I'm talking about Co Flow like they are the Beatles or something now) but the majority of the party goers opted for something that they were more familiar with thanks to radio play and mass media.

Hip-hop in it's purest form has not really existed since it migrated from the streetlamp lit parties in Prospect Park sometime around 1977. Right now I believe that hip hop is going through what we would consider the techno era something akin to the transformation that R&B went through in the disco era. Can we expect a similar backlash in the coming years where the techno style becomes as hated as disco once was. Will we see the rise of a new punk rock in response? I think that this is already happening with the proliferation of dubstep infused hip-hop remixes. People are eager for a new sound that allows them to go bat-shit crazy, sing along and warp their aural sensibilities.

Scared of the nothing

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:05:00 +0000

With Halloween right around the corner I started to think about what really is scary? When I see all the gore and destruction of a big blockbuster action or horror movie my typical response is to laugh. The bigger the spectacle, the more fantastic it becomes for the audience and no one can connect this spectacle with reality so instead of horror we have a laughable light show. Unless the spectacle is tied to a historic event so people can form the conscious connection with an event they know occurred.

What really scares is the eerie noise creating the anticipation as the actor wanders down that hallway even though everyone in the theater is screaming at the top of their lungs "Don't do it, girl!". What really scares is the whisper of an unfamiliar noise in the shadows of your room at night. The hooting of an owl. What scares are feelings of isolation, hearing or seeing something that is unexpected, or strange, a sense of chaos or doom creating an unstable psyche.

What really scares is The Nothing. Not the "bad guy" from the Never Ending Story, if The Nothing Can be really called a bad guy. But the sense that you have nothing, are nothing or are about to become nothing. The Nothing is a sense that everything you have done up to this point is nothing. The is the time to look into the Nothing and make your decision. This is the time to become something.

New Original Art Prints

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:36:00 +0000

I just posted some new designs to www.imagekind.com
I have started to work on a series of beach inspired designs and digital paintings.

surfer girl paintings series 1
-Dan

Art prints for sale

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:52:00 +0000

I recently started using this service called imagekind.com for selling prints of my artwork. Check it out and let me know what you think. Be sure to investigate the paper and framing options.
www.danmasc.imagekind.com

purchase a print of "Escaping mental bondage" by Dan Mascari

Great Ads of the world

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:58:00 +0000

Outdoor advertisement highlighting Leica camera's zoom feature

What makes a great advertisement? For this particular example (above) for Leica cameras highlighting the 12x optical zoom feature the unique use of environment by extending the footprint of the ad, and essential the impact of the ad to the entire wall makes the ad great.

Is it foolish to think that you can distill anything great down to one essential element? Some ads are great because of the use of comedy, some because of the serious nature and somber attitude they convey. Others are great because they treat a topic in a unique manner, or play with the context of the ad.

Here are a few gathered together for your amusement.

Painting Techniques

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:56:00 +0000

I have been trying to paint again recently and figured I should probably consult the mighty internet. I have received little formal education on painting and figured a little instructional support couldn't hurt. The first video I found via Google was short and quick and offered several simple and effective techniques by Nancy Reyner courtesy of HGTV.

Follow the link here for a glimpse.

Evil Conch - D.Mascari - Digital Abstraction

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:06:00 +0000

I had some conch fritters last night and started to think about the form of the conch shell and spiral, the golden ratio and decided to make something in homage to the perfection that can be found in nature. I am not certain why the title is "evil" its just that the final image looks rather menacing with the rotating axis of pyramids.

Agnes Martin

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:11:00 +0000

I just saw this amazing documentary on Agnes Martin, a Canadian born artist who passed away in 2004. She uses the grid and horizontal lines, typically rendered in watercolor, to convey the mystery and beauty of life. One of the best quotes from Martin went something like this, " there are plenty of people painting about painting, so I don't need to. I try to convey complex emotions through my painting." This quote is not verbatim but conveys her philosophy, or lack of one, on art and really forced me to examine my own work in abstraction in a new light.

Her work is sublime and innocent in the best possible way and her viewpoints on topics from truth to beauty are truly unique and inspirational.

Check out these links for more info about her work.

http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=3787

http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/martin_agnes.html

http://www.ndoylefineart.com/martin.html

Waterfall another work in Digital Abstraction

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:15:00 +0000

This is another piece in my catalog of digital abstraction I call "Waterfall". Original work by Dan Mascari.

O' Magic where art thou?

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:33:00 +0000

The Orlando Magic have been truly resilient throughout this years playoffs, until the Finals that is. Is it the Laker's coaching, the star's brilliant play, the tenacity of the team and depth of the bench? Or is it the Magic's lack of experience, coaching missteps and inability to maintain focus during crunch time? All of the above.

One of the biggest mistakes that the Orlando coaching staff has made is trying to bring back Jameer Nelson during the Finals. The team that was playing up to this point under the direction of Rafer "Skip-to-my-lou" Alston has had little trouble overcoming deficits and seemingly unstoppable superstars. You don't mess with the cure for cancer because it doesn't taste good and you don't mix up the chemistry of a winning team because so and so is back. Unless that so-and so is God or M.J. and then, maybe, you make an exception.

Every time the Magic choke late at the free throw line I can see a glimpse of the the ghost of Nick Anderson's free throw shot in the lights at the Orlando Arena. Maybe we need a certain type of magic that can only come from with powerful youth from the north, I believe the source is somewhere in Ohio currently.

Here is a good article from ESPN that sums up one of the greatest chokes in sports history.

Digital Abstraction - Hyperbola tips - dan mascari 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:10:00 +0000

A new piece I call Hyperbola tips.
Click for larger image.

Digital Abstraction - pt 2

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Sun, 24 May 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Here are some of my recent works in Digital Abstraction. Click image to view larger version.

Digital Abstraction is not a new art form I have just created the name to classify art completely generated in non-physical form and space. Artwork that has never existed as a completed work in any form other than digital and which is abstract in its representation of the subject matter.

The genesis of Digital Abstraction came from an analysis of modernity and the concept that all of our most important information, in every medium, is currently stored and transmitted as pieces of digital information. To address the ever widening gap between our persons and our personal information I developed the concept of Digital Abstraction.

If you are interested in using my work for commercial or non-commercial purposes contact me dan@mascarimedia.com
cc some rights reserved

Sunspots

cosine massacre

Rasta wing

What is Digital Abstraction?

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Thu, 21 May 2009 07:43:00 +0000

Blackwing - Dan Mascari - 2009

Abstraction is open to interpretation. The better question: What is art? There are numerous books devoted to this topic but none professes to have the answer. Every art critic and historian will tell you that this period, or that technique exemplifies the best of art. And they will all be right, at least in their own minds, within their own personal definition of what art is. Are the missing arms of Michelangelo's David more or less mysterious than Mona Lisa's smile or the Latrine as Art. Today art is interpretation and reinterpretation. Every great rock song has already been written, the parts are just being rearranged and the lyrics changed.

Any attempt at understanding art today will lead one to try and create their personal art by showing that they are connected to the world through this or that social network. Life today is performance art. Check out what I am doing on this site...Look at my bands photos here...Buy my t-shirt here. Our own lives have to some extent become a visual art where photos and videos chronograph the progression of our existence, and a written art through the use of blogs and social networks. All made possible through the digitization of our lives and communication developments enabled by the internet.

Any true catalog of the progression of art will lead one to believe that the next movement in art cannot be possible. Postmodernism has killed the possibility of a next step because it has chewed up and spit out all the previous possible combinations of content. Where do you progress from a thought that art can be a blatant rip-off and/or nonsense. In a time where the most famous art outsider and vandal (Banksy) has also become the prized collectible for our most influential media darlings (Brangelina) can you really say that there is any authenticity to contemporary art. I love Banksy so I will stop giving him crap for his fanbase and trendlike influence. What about Marla Olmstead, the little 4 year old who sells her "abstract art" for thousands. Not to discount the emotional authenticity of her work but what does the recognition of her work say about art as more of a fashion manipulated by marketing and positioning?

At the other end of the spectrum, hyperrealism has extended far beyond the early paintings of Chuck Close, 3-d graphics have evolved to a point that you really cannot tell if that is a person on your screen. Increases in digital realism will only be incremental over the next ten years. A possible next step is to take the tools of digital image manipulation and create a new type of art where we abstract reality through completely digital means. No sampling, completely original digital material creating abstract compositions: DIGITAL ABSTRACTION.

Blending Modes in Photoshop

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:40:00 +0000

One of my students asked me for a list of how the blending modes each function in Photoshop. I found a pretty good one (with visual examples):

http://www.freetimefoto.com/photoshop_blending_mode#vivid_light

I typically use the drop down selctor at the top of the layers palate in Photoshop to scroll through blending modes. The most often used blending modes (for me personally) are multiply, screen, overlay, color and luminosity. Multiply can really be usefull in creating realisitc shadows and lighing effects.

My least often used blending modes are dissolve, color dodge and color burn. The effect that each of these usually create is very harsh and intense.

Just like any other tool in Photoshop, blending modes should be seen as a means to accomplish your vision. Expecting to find the magic plug in, filter, or special effect that will make your work great is not really possible and is not what a real designer or artist does. First, solidify your vision, by researching your subject. Once you have a deep understanding of the problem attack the design issues using the resources and tools at your disposal. Without clarity of vision even the most special of effects fail to satisfy.

DESIGN RESOURCE
Here is a link to the Graphic Design Dictionary a resource for designers looking for clarification on a term. The list is certainly not complete but has most of the core terms defined.
http://www.graphicdesigndictionary.com/

Japanese Robots Rule

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:05:00 +0000

The Japanese are making some of the most advanced robots in the world. If this is where they are at now how long until we are living in a society where robots assist us in our everyday lives? Ghost in the Shell as a template for the near future - maybe?

Click here to view video.
Check the video out after the jump.

Gas Prices

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:42:00 +0000

With Gas prices falling more and more people may be planning holiday road trips. I just found a really cool service provided by AAA that will calculate gas prices for your trip. this allows you to compare the different travel options and see which is most cost effective.

http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com

Enjoy.

GM CEO says more digital advertising. Chrysler linked to Cerberus, not necessarily Hades

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:42:00 +0000

The grilling continues on Capitol Hill. Yesterday it was the U.S. Treasury daddies, today it is the CEOs from the big three automakers. We just got done listening to the Senators from both sides of the aisle grilling the CEOs for flying to the hearing on a private jet. The argument being that if they are going to start restructuring their business and cutting costs that they should start at the top.

At one point the CEOs were asked to raise their hands if they had flown to the hearing on commercial flights, none did. Then they were asked if they would consider selling their jets today and flying back to Detroit on a commercial flight, not one raised his hand. The congressional panel just gave these CEOs a great oppotunity to demonstrate their leadership, and no one stepped up. Not one had the salt of Spartacus. How did they become CEOs?

The star of the hearing is Nydia Velazquez (congresswoman from the 12th district of NY) who just asked Waggoner, the CEO of GM, if they would be running a $3 million dollar (for a 30 second spot) Super Bowl ad next year to which he replied, "No we are not going to do a Super Bowl ad this year ...but we will be moving more of our advertising to digital which is less expensive and more efficient."

After more questions from Velazquez, Chrysler CEO Nardelli confirms that 80% of Chrysler is owned by Cerberus Capital, a company whose members include former Vice President Dan Qualye. As you probably know Cerberus is a figure from Greek Mythology. Specifically, Cerberus is the three headed dog that guarded the gates to Hades and was killed by Herakles (Hercules).

Is this strange to anyone else? Why would you name your company after the guard dog of Hades? Shouldn't an investment firm sound secure, innovative and strong. Not scary. Whoever developed their corporate identity must have been watching too many Keanu Reeves movies, or banging their head against the ceiling too much, or maybe it was just Dan Quayle's idea.

Here is a link to Cerberus Capital's homepage.

Writing an Effective Promotional E-Mail

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:39:00 +0000

I just read a great short article on crafting an effective promotional e-mail message on PCmag.com and thought I should share it. The author offers some great, simple steps that anyone can implement when promoting products or services. Some of the tips include: personalize the message, start with a question and don't use large images.

Make certain that you are maximizing the effectiveness of your e-mails. Don't Spam. For rules on what constitutes SPAM read the CAN-SPAM act. This is the FCC regulation that defines what is and is not SPAM in the U.S.

Click here to read the article on PCMag.com.

Why is this food so fast?

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:24:00 +0000

I was talking with one of my advertising classes the other day about the nature of advertising to children, specifically food products. While there are regulatory bodies in place (The FCC, FDA etc.) there remains a significant gray area in regards to most standards. Ultimately leaving the decision of what is ethical messaging up to the advertising agency and/or producer of the product.

We specifically addressed the ever evolving McDonalds Menu, and came to a consensus that it is good that McDonald's wants to at least give people a healthier alternative to their standard fare by offering items like salads and apple slices. Skepticism remains as to weather or not this is just a marketing ploy, an attempt to capitalize on popular trends, a change made out of a sincere concern for the customer's health or some combination of these factors.

Here is an interesting article about 10 things that the food industry does not want you to know (from Yahoo) click here

Funny Motivational Posters

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:33:00 +0000

I love the new Battlestar Galactica - not necessarily because of the CGI (which is the best ever produced for TV) but because of the intricate storyline(s) and the depth of character development not to mention the stellar acting. When you get sucked into this show you will forget that you are watching TV and actually identify with the characters and issues. A very difficult task to accomplish in any medium especially Sci-fi for TV.

You may have seen some funny motivational posters floating around on the Internet. A friend of mine recently sent me a great collection from www.demotivateus.com, and I had to share a few. Thank you to whoever created these, you made me laugh.

Books to read: Ender's Game

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:23:00 +0000

I just finished Orson Scott Card's masterpiece "Ender's Game", and let me tell you I do not use the word masterpiece lightly. The story has depth and meaning often lacking in popular fiction, it is amazingly easy to read, and although it is the story of responsibility thrust upon a child the writing is assessable but not childish in any way.

"Ender's Game" is the story of a boy-hero, Ender Wiggin, burdened as the saviour of mankind. Ender's trials to become the ultimate commander, achieving balance between the harsh realities of war and the compassion to preserve life, comprise one of the most realistic and poignant coming of age tales ever written.

I don't want to be a spoiler - just read the book and/or graphic novel coming out via Marvel Comics this fall (2008)

Grand Canyon Pics

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:40:00 +0000

Looking for things to do in Las Vegas besides gamble? You can book excursions to the Grand Canyon if you are looking for something more adventurous than doubling down on 11.

There are a number of different packages from a few local tour companies. Check out http://www.alllasvegastours.com/ for a good comparison. I did the helicopter, lunch package, it is a 45 minute ride out to the Grand Canyon vs. a 2 hour+ bus trip, flying over Lake Mead, The Hoover Dam, and Lake Las Vegas on your way there.

The views are amazing during the entire trip but once you reach the canyon everything else is minuscule in comparison. You fly into the canyon and have lunch on a plateau just above a bend in the Colorado river. A fantastic trip and would definitely recommend doing this trip in the morning to minimize the effects of the desert heat.

Here are a few of the 440 pics I took:

The Colorado River and Grand Canyon

The Colorado River and Grand Canyon (with some Photoshop enhancement - replaced and augmented colors, removed reflection from windshield and made the Colorado River blue)
Lake Mead

Lake Mead - Colorado river mouth with some Photoshop enhancements

This is the same picture as above with more Photoshop enhancements. Adjusted the curves to give the shadows more detail. Adjusted the saturation to give the color of the mountains more complexity/hyper realism)

Aerial shot of the Las Vegas Strip

Buying and selling the right to pollute

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:35:00 +0000

Did you know that there is an exchange for pollution rights where the right to pollute is traded like a commodity?

The Chicago Climate Exchange offers member organizations the right to buy and sell pollution credits. Do you think this is right? Should the depth of one's pockets determine how much they should be allowed to pollute?

Pretty much every major chemical, oil, auto and manufacturing company is a member. Click here for a complete list.

My first WSOP - part 2 -Single table satellites to WSOP events

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:17:00 +0000

So I am knocked out of the Cesar's mega stack when my TT runs into AA. NEH - Vegas sucks. I decide to head over to the RIO, scope out the room and perhaps play a satellite to try and pay for some of my entry to Event 31. The satellite room is across from the main tourney room in the Rio convention center. I visited the Rio during the $50k HORSE event last year so was prepared for the rush and excitement that permeates the main room. Last year I was taking pictures with the stars, this year I was there to beat them.

I got my seat card for the next 10 person sng satellite, $275 buy in, winner take all (they pay approx. $2500 in tournament lammers which can be used to buy in to a WSOP event). I did a lot of research prior to this trip and decided to play in one or two of these expecting at least a chop was +EV if I could get down to heads up in at least one. The satellite got going within 15 minutes and I surveyed the table to see what I could gather about my opponents.

I was seated in the #9 spot. A nerdy, mustachioed man sat directly to my right and was talking my head off about how he had played in four of these single table satellites already today and chopped two of them. The guy to my immediate left was a senior who looked like a rock but ended up playing like a donk. The requisite crazy older Asian man was sitting in seat #1 and an Asian kid from Cali in seat #5 made the point of introducing himself to the table to which I said, "I'm not really expecting this to develop into a long term relationship so excuse me if I don't remember your name in 5 minutes." Damn, I am and ass sometimes. I think his name was Mike or Ike.

The last person to take his seat was this sunburned redheaded man who I will assume to be from either the Great Britain or Kentucky. He didn't say a word the whole time so there is no way of knowing since the dress and mannerisms of the residents of Great Britain are very similar to those found in the peoples of Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee (no offense to anyone from anywhere).

The mystery man with the sunburned face was bouncing around the room like a pinball prior to the start of our tourney. Once the tourney started he transferred all that built up kinetic energy into the worst 15 minuted of play I have ever seen. He was so excited that he got two cards every hand he played almost every one. He was all in before the second blind level preflop with 76 against AK and didnt improve. A Frenchman and a quiet man in Oakleys were the next to go. Both were victims of the crazy Asian man hitting an open-ender. Then the old man who had played like a rock the entire time, decides to reraise all-in after the flop (but for only 1/3 of the total pot) with K-high against the crazy older Asian guy, who calls with A high and a flush draw and takes out our rock/donk in fifth place.

The blinds were at 100/200 and I had been stealing the occasional pot from time to time and did not have to show down a hand when I picked up Qc9d on the button and decided to limp in, with about 1800 behind me. I had the Crazy Asian in the big blind and the younger Asian dude had limped in early position.

The flop was 992 with two clubs. Pretty close to the dream flop for Q9. Both players check and I check to disguise the strength of my hand. The 6c spikes on the turn. Now I may no longer have the best hand. Both players check and I fire a bet of 400 into the 600 pot. Part feeler, part value bet as I am pretty sure I have the best hand but the flush is out there and if another club hits I may be in trouble. I do have the Qc which may be good, but probably not if the other person calls this bet.

The crazy old Asian man instantly raises my bet of 400 to 1200, the younger Asian man folds faster than the Lakers without Kobe, and I have a tough decision to make. I consider my opponent and what his possible range is (ATC) and decide I have to go with this hand. I repush all in and he flips over J9 no clubs. Pretty much the hand I wanted to see. Domination. 1 card left, 3 outs. I guess you know what the river was.

The man apologized to which I said "Nonsense. I pushed, it happens. I wanted to get the money in there more than you did."

Random events are just that - random, unpredictable.

I left the Rio satellite room slightly disappointed, deciding it was pointless to play more of these satellites -but hopeful that I could still perform well enough in the WSOP event in two days to make this all seem like the bad joke that it was.

My first WSOP - part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Mascari) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:14:00 +0000

So i can't sleep (again) and have finally convinced myself that a recap of my first WSOP is in order.

I decided earlier this month that I should try to win an event in the World Series of Poker. I did some research, evaluated the 50+ events and decided that event 31 (NLH - 6 handed) was my best shot at earning my first bracelet. The field size the previous year was just over 800, significantly smaller than any of the $1500 buy-in events.

So I looked for plane tickets, arranged a place to stay for the week (Thanks Mr and Mrs S) and got my final table outfit ready. All the while I was studying Mike Caro's videos on poker tells and playing a couple of tourneys a day at local casinos to hone my reading abilities. Unfortunately I wasn't winning any of those local tourneys to bolster my bankroll or my confidence.

I arrived in Vegas on Friday the 13Th. What was I thinking? It was the only reasonably priced flight into Vegas because no one going to the land of luck wants to arrive on the unluckiest day of the year. I was hoping that my total disregard for the luck factor in poker would be welcomed by the poker gods and rewarded with lock hands galore. Boy am I dumb.

But I wasn't playing on the 13th so I should be safe...should being a relative term.

I decided that the best way to prepare for a WSOP event would be to play in some of the mid size tourneys that the other casinos are running. So I signed up for the Cesar's Mega Stack on June 14th at noon. The event gives participants a 10k starting stack with 50 minute blind levels for the $350 buy in. Sounds like a good deal. I am catching average hands for the first hour and manage to donk off about 1/4th of my stack chasing a straight draw. Then I pick up KK in the small blind after pretty much the entire table has limped in. The blinds are at 100/200 and I have approx. 6K in chips remaining. So of course I bump it up big time. I raise to 900, 4 callers, flop is 334, seems harmless enough. I don't think anyone called my monster preflop raise with baby cards so I continue bet my overpair, no subtlety here, 2500 is the bet. Two relatively quick calls with a weird glance from the tightest player at the table who is last to act.

Two callers? 2500 bet and I get two callers? Immediately the red phone starts ringing and we are moving to defcon 2. The turn pops the A of spades (ref. Motorhead - Lemme) and I know that I am done. If I wasn't beat already then I surely am now. I check and hang my head in defeat. Meathead Canadian guy bets out 3k, tightest player at the table calls, I dump KK into the muck. Action gets even crazier on the river. Turns out meathead had 44 in the hole, flopping the boat, and the super squeezer dude had 33, flopping quads. So the A on the turn didn't kill me, I was already pretty dead. The A may have actually saved me a bet or two.

An hour later I get TT and move it in first to act on a 9 high flop. The comedian at the other end of the table calls after a moment of deliberation and then flips AA which holds up to knock me out. Remember this hand for later. TT on a 9 high flop is not always as good as it seems. So I went to get a massage to relax and convince myself that I was getting all of the coolers and bad beats out of my system before my WSOP debut.

The lies that we tell ourselves are often the worst.