Thanks Larke for making me feel old

My New York age is 38

This New York age puts you into a middle category between young and old (but not "middle age" per se). Be proud. You've got a nice balance between going out hard-core and staying in. You care about culture but also like some quiet nights. Keep it up, but think about expanding your horizons in the other directions. Head to Studio B or Anthology Film Archives for the first time, or finally check out the Village Vanguard or Elaine's for a dose of old-school NYC.

Does your age reflect how you're living? Let us know.

What's your New York age? Take the Time Out New York quiz and find out!

Sleeper Cell

Just finished watching the series Sleeper Cell from Showtime.

Found it extremely interesting and somewhat moving. Aside from being a decently well written show, well shot, decent acting, it did a lot that not many movies or media do these days, and that's present the Islamic side of terrorism from all sides.

Our hero of the series is Darwyn, an African-American Muslim who is an undercover agent working inside a terrorist cell. He helps try to stop terrorist attacks in LA, much like Jack Bauer, but more like season 1-2 Jack and unlike present Jack, he has a soul and a personality other than kill.

The show doesn't just go the route of "Arabs = Terrorists", it goes to great lengths to go into the religous battle vs. the territory battles vs. the battles within everyone for peace. As the first season goes on, and into the 2nd season (of only 2) we get to see a lot of interesting personalities go up against each other. It's not really biased against any one color or religion. The show simply is anti-terrorist. It's not anti Muslim, it's not anti-Saudi Arabian or Middle East, it's only anti-terrorist.

Really interesting show. In a world of Jack Bauers and Losts and Sopranos, spend a weekend and watch the show. Only a total of I think 16 episodes.

Bad Run Continues

Why should my terrible run only be online? Why shouldn't it carry over into my live game play? Poker gods aren't restricted to the internet as I found out.

It actually wasn't so bad, it was pretty standard.

I sit down at my table, 3 table, and it's all noobs. Every one an 18 year old who's playing his first real big tournement. So I sit down and then James sits down, and I'm like, cool I can do this. Then Jack sits down, and Jack is always my downfall in these things. He's knocked my out twice before I think on bad beats. I love him, but he always does it to me.

So we sit, and James and I start our table talk. Next to us is Feuer and Neil, so when we're talking about our 20/40 stud game that we play at, we get some support. Late nights in AC, 5/10 NL, 30/60 Razz, oh yeah, we do it all. So EVERYONE there has me pegged for a loose brash player who doesn't care about this tourny. Early I show an out of position 2 5 PF raise to 3 bet someone off a hand and then I know, KNOW that I'm good at this table, as long as I don't get bad beat.

Few hands go by, lost a chunk on a draw but had the odds cause the noob was min betting the whole way with 2 pair, like a noob and I just couldn't cash on it. Lost a couple coin flips, ran into some hands like 10 10 to JJ and AQ to AK but minimized the damage. I'm at around 900 chips, blinds at 20/40 early position and I see AA, obviously I raise, but only to 150. Folds around to Jack who thinks and thinks and thinks and calls, and someone calls behind him. Flop Q 9 10. I open push and Jack thinks and thinks and thinks and calls, other guy folds. Jack shows QJ off and hits his Q on the turn. That's just how these things go I guess.

But after that, enough people got out so Corber Jordan and I, mainly them, started a PLO game. We started 5 handed, eventually got to 6 at one point had 7. I sat with 40 that I borrowed from James and really had little idea what I was doing. I've played a fair amount of omaha, but only online, and not in at least 6 months. So I was pretty newbing it myself. Played pretty well though, folded a lot of good folds, 1 bad fold that would've paid me off big, but what can you do. 1 hand in particular I'd like to show:

Blinds were .25/.50. I have KS JH 10S 8H. PF I raise pot, this kid Brian, been solid all around calls, Jordan calls. That puts like 6 bucks in there. Flop KH JC 9H. So I flop 2 pair, a flush draw and a straight draw. Nice. I bet pot, Brian calls, Jordan folds. Turn something like the 5H. So I hit my flush, but only Jack high. I bet out like 10, he raises pot, so pretty much an all in at this point. I think for a while, and I fold. He shows me the Ace high flush and I didn't hit my boat on the river, so good fold Asher.

I ended up with 41, so I paid James his 40 back and took my dollar home. Feuer ended up placing 3rd in the tourny, and got Naqed by Martin for most of his chips 3 handed. 10 10 losing to 8 2. Yup. Sam won the tourny, playing good short stack poker and making right moves at the right times. Learned from the best. At one point, Martin compared me to the Phil Ivey of our games. I wouldn't go that far, but a compliment is a compliment.

When I got back home I thought I'd cool off a bit with a couple MTs. Wrong. Just the worst run I've seen in a long time, since my Party days in fact, so you know it's going bad. But, just gotta keep going and not going broke is all I gotta do.

Word

Poker Update

Since Danny Feuer is a little bitch, I'm going to update. And also since I've had one of the most frustrating hour of online poker in my life, I'm going to rant here for a while.

First of all, there was a hand I wanted to post entitled, "Hey my luck is turning around." This was a long time ago. The hand in essence was this :

I'm on the button with about 800 in chips, blinds 50/100 and I get a black 88. UTG pushes all in for around 260, next to act calls, then a fold then a call then a fold to me. I push HOPING to isolate to just a coin flip, but get called by both other players. Flop comes Kxx and I'm getting ready to leave, then a 9 then an A. I'm just about to leave when everyone mucks to me. I check the hand history and I see I was up against Q10 (SB), 66 and 33.

So that hand was coming off of 3 losing tournements and 1 bubble, all to terrible beats and terrible runs (like flopping top pair of J on a dry board with KJ and facing AJ, that sort of shit).

So then I'm in these 2 tournements, and I'm chip leader in both. I got a little lucky hitting a set in each and battled to just take the chip lead. And then...DISCONNECTED. Hmm. I run upstairs, reboot. Still nothing. Then I call comcast. 20 minutes later I get running...sort of. It connects, and then disconnects, so I try and process again. For those of you who have never been disconnected while in a tournement, imagine the Incredible Hulk beating up a...something. I almost beat up my kitten who I'm pretty sure disconnected me one time.

So I finally get back to my tournements to find I obviously lost my chip lead and am obviously in last place in both. In one, first hand I see reconnected is KJ, I have to push cause I have like 2 BBs, and I get called by QQ of course. Then in the other, I steal some blinds and 2 hands later I push with A8, get called with T7, flop by A and then turn T river 7. And here I am. One of my worst online sessions in weeks.

BUT -- As I said to Feuer before playing, I was trying to get all my bad beats out of the way tonight before tomorrow's big tourny in CP. so hopefully I did that. Got all my Naq's in.

Let me explain what a Naq is now.

The other night, I guess Sunday night, I make some calls and get a game. James, Hamburger, Feuer, Neil and Country, and country says he's bringing a couple guys. So he shows up with 2 guys, stoned off their asses, Losh and Naq. We sit down, ready for a normal night of poker. I even made the stakes more reasonable to .25/.25 as opposed to the .25/.50 with our buy ins of 20 dollars. It just makes more sense until we up the stakes.

First big hand, Neil and Martin are all in on the flop, flop of 3H 8D 10D, Neil shows A3 of diamonds and Martin shows QJ of diamonds. So Neil was winning to a QJ or 9...or the river 9 of diamonds, giving Martin the straight flush. That was to set the mood.

Next nice hand, which will go down in history. Naq, new guy who no one really knows is the dealer. Puts me in straddle position, so I straddle to 1 dollar. Martin RE-straddles to 2.50. Neil OPENS to 6. James calls on the cut off and Naq calls on the button. Flop K 4 5. Neil checks, James bets around 10 and Naq pushes all in, for about another 8 or so. Neil folds what I think was like AQ or weaker, James shows 55 (a set of 5's) and Naq turns over 3 4. That's right, he CALLS an all in with bottom pair. So turn an A. River, of course, the 2. So Naq pulls out what I believe to be a .03% win.

VERY next hand : After we all sort of mutter to ourselves about Naq maybe cheating, I mean, come on that's a whacky hand, James pushes his like 9 dollars remaining with TT and Naq calls with 56. Eventually Naq hits his inside straight, again. And we realize Naq isn't cheating, he just was the luckiest man alive.

The rest of the night was more of the same. Money flying around the table, 60 dollar pots being won with middle pots, raises on outside straight draws and bottom pairs. Eventually, I ran out of chips. We had to play with cash on the table. So at one point, I had 40 dollars in cash and 50 dollars in chips in front of me. It was a great feeling. Martin scored big cashing out around 170, James had a respectable 60 eventually I had around 100 and Naq had 0 in chips by the end of it.

It was a night to remember. And now we have a new term. A Naq is pulling a 1 outer. Or making the wrong move and somehow getting lucky enough to seem like you know what you're doing.

Well, I'm going to go fall asleep while the USPC is on in the background.

I better have some better luck tomorrow. For realz.

Oh, and in 10 or so business days, my jerseys will be here and I will be officially, Good Bet Ash.

Word

Now with new updates!

Ok everyone, people will now hopefully be reading this a little more, I'm gonna be updating a little more.

Updates will include :

- poker winnings and losing, with some good stories, including taking huge pots off possible drug lords of Silver Spring and hopefully taking down big tournements in CP.
- movie updates, including C4 updates (yeah it will never leave our lives) and everything else going on for KT films
- ** My living situation** Yay being homeless. I'm going to start a list, it's called the hooray list. It's a list of the fine ladies and gentleman who are so kind to let me and Jesse possibly stay a night or two or 10. The list is as follows as of now :

Matt and Christophe (each respective home)
Margot and Stephie (but I have to buy toilet paper because I don't think they ever do. I think they just use a single leaf)
Sam the man and Dan the...man. Fine pair of upstanding Jews. Well, Dan's close.
The lovely ladies of UHall : Sarah, Andi, Dana and Melissa, with hopefully a smattering of some Carrie in there for kicks. A little spice never hurts.

That's all as of now.

Ok, time for some late night poker. Big tourny tomorrow. I should update in actuality sometime soon.

Peace yall

- Ash

Dear Asher,
Here is your horoscope
for Tuesday, April 24:

Something that's right up your alley could be disguised as an activity you vehemently refused to do. Has it ever occurred to you that you're having a strong reaction because you know this could change your life?

here are some pictures. evil dead fun. and one of me taking a picture of a video chat with linda...im not sure why thats there, but what can you do

another update for Larke

Hey everyone who reads my blog (i think that's larke)

here's an update of my life, through poker terms

i moved up to .10/.25 because the .05/.10 was getting to me, so i decided to make a run for it. sat with 20 and was playing a long session. near the end of my session i get 88 in middle position, a small raise to .75 in front of my, i call. flop is KQ8. feeling good. the guy ahead of me bets out, i call. have to put him on AK or maybe even KQ. turn is a 9. he bets strong. maybe he had J10? or maybe he has like K10 or KJ, so i raise and he pushes all in. i think for a little bit, but at this point have invested enough, so i call. he shows KK, i don't hit my case 8 and go to sleep just a little perterbed. its one thing when someone outplays you, or when you make a really dumb move, but its just annoying when someone has just a little better hand than you, and you can't get away from it. like getting KK and seeing AA, or getting AQ and seeing AK on an Axx board. that kind of stuff gets under your skin

farewell,

a

cause larke said so

she wants me to update more

so heres an update, but of course, in poker form

i was in a cash game before, and i wasnt doing so well so i said, im playing 2 more hands. i had 4 dollars in a 10 cent game. i get 33 with a raise in front of me by a lose player. i push all in, he calls with AK. flop nothing, turn an ace, and river a 3. so i double up. next hand i get is KQ. i raise preflop, get a call. flop comes xxK, i check, check behind me. turn is a blank, i bet small i get called. river is a J i check and get bet hard, and I call. the other guy has JJ.

what goes around comes around, huh

Ode to 2006

No one reads this anymore, but it's a tradition I've had for a little, so I have to continue it.

2005

Dear 2006,

You can kiss my ass. Actually, no that's inappropriate. We just need to get you some pills. you've definently proved to me that years can have mental issues, including manic depressive and scizophrenia. You were at times amazing, some of the best, and at times possibly the worst. You started off not too bad, not great, but not bad. You went up and down slightly, then once you hit mid way you were up and down.

You would do things like give me a birthday. And over said birthday weekend, made it the absolute worst 70 hour period of my life, which I will always consider that birthday. You gave me some feeling of accomplishment with the semi-completion of my film, you introduced me to some people that will change my life forever, you set me up so 2007 could be a great year. You were also kind of a dick for about 5 months there. Just saying.

I can honestly say that in 2006 I slept the least that I ever have. Between the 4 days in the steenbeck lab, to the summer, to the end of this semester, even Brandon was wondering how I can function on such little sleep. That's just my long winded way of saying that 2006 has been a test. I survived, I made it out of you. I'm stronger, I think. I'm wiser, I think. I guess the only way is to see 2007. Which has to be good. You just have to.

So farewell 2006,

Please never write or call,

XoXo,

Asher

a new list

Hello whoever still reads my blog, sorry I haven't updated in a while

I should get back on a steady pattern.

For now, a list that no one will really get except Alex.

1. Matrix
2. Red Sweater
3. M&MII
4. Rubber Ducky
5. New Mexico

New addition to the list, perhaps going to move up.

I should watch High Fidelity again. I like lists.

Recently edited

Event Films

Is now online!

Follow our production here :

www.eventfilms.blogspot.com

Whoo!

the great commercial debate

This commercial really bothers me

Ego?

However, this is one of my favorites :

Lonely

The VW one is just sad and sort of mean and depressing. I also find it sort of haunting.

The Sprint is amazing. So adorable.

I can't find my favorite commercial though. The Sprint one with the little white boy that belts out "Seven PPMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM"

Brings a smile to my heart

My life, the music video

So I'm walking home last night at like 4am, turn on my mp3 player and the recently added "We can be Heroes" by the Wallflowers comes on (thanks for Alex for getting it to me).

And it just flowed, beat wise, while I was walking down the empty sea port.

"I...I wish you could swim" - look out on to the river
"I...I will be King" - A construction worked turned and looked up at me with an American flag helmet
"Nothing will drive them away" - cockroach skitters about the ground

Then at the big finale, I overlook a great skyline of the city. It was very fun. And weird.

So, to pat myself on the back --
The semester ended, and I have completed :
- A feature screenplay "The Contingency 4"
- A spec for My Name is Earl "Earl the Artist"
- A 1 act play "The Gaucherie"
- 5 short films, ranging from crap to crappier to decent. "Little Chinatown", "Buzz the Bug", "Poker", "The Artiste", and "Roulette"
- 2 One Acts, "Frozen", "All In"
- Rewritten feature "In"

Busy bee. For the summer - shoot "Contingency 4", make sure "In" goes well, finish writing "HFStival" OR write "Untitled Asher Novek project", possibly shoot another short in August with good man Jesse Garrison possibly written by Dan Moyer.
This could all change if I go to Africa, which isn't possible...unless you're reading this Nick Kristof. In which case, hi.

overnight sessions = fun

monday night at 11 i entered the tisch 11th floor editing lab.
thursday night at 9 i came home.

in between i :
- slept for 5 hours on the 7th floor couch
- discovered that cheetos taste better while spinning in a chair
- edited a movie
- laughed at people
- laughed with people
- listened to the tetris theme song more times than i can remember
- became the voice of dan
- edited two people breathing sexually...which was odd to say the least
- did not die
- had : arizona tea energy drink, dr peppers, coke, frappachinos, vitamin waters
- made 3 overnight duane reade stops
- discovered 50% off easter candy is the best candy
- dont remember a lot of things
- apparently sleep walked around the lab and ate chips...i dont remember this

i came home. i bought tekken 5. i slept for 15 hours. im tired, but that has to be the most enjoyable 60 hours of editing ive ever had.

good times

Late, but necessary

Greetings asher --

Here is your horoscope for Saturday, April 24, 2004:

Today's heavenly line up calls for a wonderful evening. All you really have to
do is show up. There's not much you can do wrong -- unless you choose to argue
unnecessarily with someone about a matter that's long gone.


Greetings asher --

Here is your horoscope for Sunday, April 24, 2005:

One particular relationship -- the one you've been feeling rather iffy about
lately -- is about to come to a head now. This doesn't necessarily mean things
will go badly, however. Anything's possible.


Dear Asher,
Here is your horoscope for Monday, April 24, 2006:

You can tell when someone's put real thought and skill into something, so don't backslide on a project no matter what. Here's a chance to really strut your stuff in front of people who count, so make the most of it.

music thang

Shuffle on itunes.

How does the world see you?
My Baby Takes the Morning Train (Eurotrip soundtrack) - um...a housewife? Or someone that loves Eurotrip


Will I have a happy life?
Across the Sea (Weezer) - well, good bye America.


What do my friends really think of me?
I Can Go the Distance (Hercules soundtrack) - Aw, that's sweet.

How can I make myself happy?
It had to be You (Ella Fitzgerald & Louie Armstrong) - find myself a nice jazz emsemble, basically.

Will I ever have children?
The Freshman (Mustard plug cover) - um...did I concieve a child freshman year without knowing it? Uh oh...

What is some good advice for me?
My Name is Jonas (Weezer) - that's not true at all.

How will I be remembered?
Jingle Bells (Frankie Blue Eyes) - as a Jew that has Xmas songs? Sure

What is My Current Theme Song?
Fall Back Down (Rancid) - actually very very true. I wake up to this song everymorning.

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
I Want a Girl Who Laughs for No one Else (Weezer) - Also completely true. Weird.

What song will play at my funeral?
California Sun (Ramones) - maybe I'll die in Cali? But I like NY...boo...

What type of women do I like?
Oh! Sweet Nothin (Velvet Underground) - when I copied and pasted it, it was men not women, so maybe that's what it is...or maybe it is right cause who really likes women?

Who do I love?
A Hard Day's Night (Beatles) - A woman who makes me feel alright after a long day. That works.

Am I going to get married?
Don't Let me Die Still Wandering (Flogging Molly) - Ha, call for desparation if I ever heard one. My mother organized this one actually.

Who loves me?
Long View (Green Day) - I have no idea. People that don't sleep? I guess that makes sense, a lot of insomniacs love me.

Who will I marry?
Chump (Green Day) - Hey, screw you.

My summer love forecast:
Do it Twice (Sublime cover) - hey heeeeeey.

What will tomorrow bring?
All Because of You (U2) - You? Hooray.

That was fun. Enlightening and frighteningly true.

mp3 player

songs recently added :

singing in the rain - gene kelly
moses supposes his toeses are roses - gene kelly
jesus walks - kanye
golddigger - kanye
blinded by the light - foreinger
any way you want it - journey

almost done.
"roulette" shot, need to edit
"contingency 4" first act done, weekend goal is act 2
"gaucherie" what the fuck
"earl the artist" revision needed. massive.

6 days till half that is gone

update

Passover is good. But it makes me hungry. If I'm cranky of the next few days, it's cause I will not have had a decent meal in about 5 days.

Other than that, it's good.

I saw a car accident at home. No one was injured. It was an interesting moment.

I got my gun today. It took a lot of fenegaling. I am now cooking play doh for a bullet.

The next 10 days are going to be hell. Hell on a stick.

Let's do it

numbers

we just passed 01:02 AM and 3 seconds.

that means the time was 01:02:03 on 04/05/06

it will happen again in 12 hours, but this time it felt more...special

AmandaMunizToBe: I feel like a more complete person for having seen that...and actually recognized it
movieman2g: me too


it was a special moment indeed. i suppose it will happen in the year 3006, but no one will be reading this blog then