CARDRUNNERS

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September 23, 2009

2M2MM & GMATS

Sup peepz-

Here's the dillio

1. Watch "Two Months, Two Million" tonight on G4. The boys are looking to get a second season of the show picked up and tonight's ratings really make a difference. So here's my thought (bli neder for the Jews)....if the show gets a second season, I will do my best to bring two bottles of Patron into the "war room" (where they play poker) on camera and see what happens.

I don't know what the consequences might be but I'll do my best to get the boys to mix high stakes and highballs.

2. I take the GMATs in 13 hours. Finally. I finally get them over with. I've scoring pretty decently over the past couple of days, but I'm really nervous. I haven't been this nervous about ANYTHING in a while...it's all psychological (I know) and I'm doing it to myself. But nevertheless, I'm just going to try to focus and pound through it. Here's hoping.

Two times.

Ezra

PS - The GMATs are in Tel Aviv so I left the religious fanaticism of Jerusalem for the hyper-sexed beaches of Tel Aviv. Unfortunately I didn't get here until 6:30pm :( Still, I see the old city of Yaffe (Jaffo) lit up along the coast, along with an exceptionally gorgeous purple/pink/orange/azure sunset right outside the window. <3 u Israel.

Sep 23, 09 12:56:18

gl. you're going to kill it.

cecil

Sep 23, 09 13:24:48

I do like the show, but i wish they were relatively close to this goal. I cant see this getting picked up if they do not hit 2 million

jrenaud

Sep 23, 09 13:49:42

jrenaud

I disagree. I think were at a point in society where people would prefer to watch these kids struggle to reach a goal, come close, and have to come back for a season 2 to try to attain it again rather than just beast high stakes and make a shit ton of money. Just my opinion though!

Prometheus21

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September 18, 2009

Ode to GMATs

I hate you Mr GMAT

I have put in over 60 hours of studying

And my score has improved 0 points.

And it's not because I'm scoring 800, obv.

Oh, Mr GMAT why are you so cruel.

You make me thing I don't deserve to get into a school.

I am exhausted from your banal questions, your games, and your smugness.

I am going to take you and forget about you. And never think about you ever again.

Ezra

Sep 18, 09 07:51:29

Sounds like me -- currently studying for the CPA. I feel for ya ;-)

nomo4life

Sep 21, 09 09:38:42

9.6!

citizenwind

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September 11, 2009

Why my blog sucks:

1. Because I'm lazy.

2. Because I sit in a classroom 14 hours a day.

3. Because I've played poker for 15 minutes in the last week.

4. Because last night I went out drinking with friends, lost them after a few hours, and stopped at a huge circle of observers while on my way to the cab line. Inside a circle of 200 observers were my friends in a huge fight, trading punches, with some of Israel's finest delinquents. I booked it out of there.

5. Because I live on the top of a mountain.

6. Because I've heard Israeli bar/lounge promoters promise me an exclusive, special, one-time deals about 200 times.

7. Because I got one of the best haircuts of my life today from some guy I couldn't communicate with.

8. Because I was so desperate for sushi, that I was willing to pay up to $10/piece (not roll, piece) for sushi today. Luckily I found it for $6/roll and it was glorious.

9. Because I can't watch "2 Months, $2 Million" in Israel.

10. Because despite only playing 5 hours of poker since I got here, I've re-couped the $10k I lost in the airport..

More reasons next time...

Sep 11, 09 07:03:18

there's a mixture of brags and beats in there.

Sep 11, 09 08:45:08

Get in there and help your boys out. You should be well versed In Krav Maga by this point in your life

wiggy1182

Sep 11, 09 10:27:27

Can you even download 2M2MM in Itunes? If you can they have an HD version as well

chardukian

Sep 11, 09 14:04:56

pokertube.com has all the episodes.

gl in israel. my dad is from nazareth. I cant wait to go out there sometime(never been)

charliemultitable

Sep 11, 09 14:56:26

Tell me more of this exclusive, special, one time deal...

mason00

Sep 11, 09 15:54:18

You're friends getting in a drunk brawl with Israel delinquents surrounded by hundreds of observers is not a reason for your blog to suck. It's a reason for your blog to be great. Let's hear some more details about that!

gofast44

Sep 11, 09 18:29:02

2M2MM is also on youtube

Zimba

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August 28, 2009

Back in Jerusalem

Less than a month later, I'm back. It's unbelievable really. Some parts of me are excited, other parts, well petrified.

Most of all, I'm just somewhat in shock. The world we live in is so fascinating. I can take a 30 minute taxi ride to the airport, watch a movie on the plane, take a nap, and wake up as we descend into the Middle East. Jerusalem...what an incredible city. The holiest place in the world....for thousands of years.

The emotions I've been experiencing have been overwhelming. This is a major journey in my life. Although I officially left my post at CardRunners this past April, nothing I've done since then has been a full-time commitment. I've done some traveling, spent time at the WSOP, and did a 6-week summer program in Israel. But everything was temporary. Now it's real.

These emotions are overpowering. In many ways I am so scared. My mind is a blur...a daze. It didn't help that I played poker for 2 hours in the airport and lost $10k. I blame it on my scattered mind. I don't care so much about the money...I win/lose that much all the time, but it was just an affirmation that my mind is not on an even footing. I desperately want to be stable, and that's why I'm here.

This is such a rambling blog post. Here's what you need to take away: I am confused, yet hopeful. I wake up every morning thinking: where the hell am I? And how did I get here? I spend my days thinking: I am in one of the most amazing countries in the world, living a real life, having interesting conversations, and immersing myself in this unique culture. And I go to sleep: lonely, missing home, but grateful for everything I have.

I'll keep you all updated on everything. Real things, poker things, Jewish things, everything.

Have a great weekend.
Ezra

Aug 28, 09 11:46:24

Last time you were studying. What will you be doing this time in Isreal and how long will you stay?

Zimba

Aug 29, 09 07:08:37

well, I know exactly how you feel. I also find my self in Israel with no idea what I want to do with my life and where to do it. Only difference, I'm 39 and have a kid to support.

ps. Send a message if you want to hook up or something. Though I'm in the other side of Israel.

D.Redstone

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August 23, 2009

On the Plane to Vegas

For some reason, it always seems like plane rides to Vegas are a great time to catch up on blogging. Sitting back in your (moderately) comfy chair, squeezed in between two people, and in-flight WiFi at the helm, there's just no better motivator.

I'm heading to Vegas for literally 18 hours or so with Taylor for some business stuff, then flying back at 7am on Monday morning, and then leaving for Israel on Tuesday night. Sheesh. I will log something like 15,000 miles in 3 days. That's kind of insane, and I wish I actually took the time to participate in frequent flyer programs. I've probably given up $10k lifetime in frequent flyer equity :(

But that's alright...I put in two hours of poker on the plane today and continued my absurd heater with a little more runhot. I'm winning at over $1,000/hour over the past 30 days or so. I won't write exactly how many hours its over, but it's not insignificant (nor is it like 150 hours tho). In case you don't believe me, here's a little snap from Hold Em Manager. I'm also going to commit to playing more hands on Full Tilt, as the games there are tougher than on some of my smaller sites. Every few months or so, I get concerned that I'm losing pace with the best players on Tilt/Stars and need to dedicate some time to acclimating to the changing nature of the game.

Life is good!

What else is going on? I went over to Emil and Krantz's apartment to watch the premier of Two Months, Two Million. I actually really enjoyed the show...I don't know how it will go over to non-poker players, but I'm definitely hoping that the show generates a little buzz and a bit of press. The guys worked really hard on the show, putting in like 18 hours/day of filming, and so I'm hoping the show is met with some success. The only concern I have (and my girlfriend shares) is that some of their antics could look rather unbecoming to most audiences, and would permanently affect their reputations. But, fwiw, these guys knew it was a possibility going into the show, and are prepared to handle the consequences. As far as the "reality" aspect, I thought the producers did a great job of introducing the ups and downs of poker swings...watching Jay quickly lose $100,000 and then make it almost all back was really well put together. I could definitely feel his emotion, despair, and drive. I'm definitely looking forward to episode 2!

We're heading into a descent, so this will come to a close. I'll have more excited updates and pictures from Israel when I touch down. My cousin Dena is getting married this Thursday so I should have some fun snaps from that!!

<3,
Ezra

PS - Congrats to Townsend, Stinger, and Cole on their massive winning month, a combined $6 milly. Townsend also delivered a really poignant recent blog post which I encourage everyone to check out.

Aug 23, 09 13:57:24

pic didn't work

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August 15, 2009

Past Two Weeks - In Bullet Points

I've been a bad blogger :( Here's a quick return to the fray:

Returned from Israel.
Went directly to Block Island where I relaxed and unwound, chilled with my island friends, did up late night bonfires, and made it to Beatlemania.
Emil (Whitelime) came to visit me on Block Island for 2 days. I got him trashed at Martini night.
Emil won rock, papers, scissors for the bed (loser had the floor) but we for some reason decided that loser got the bed. Lol, loser.
Went to Cape Cod to spend time with my parents. Cooked up a storm four straight days - my parents were quite impressed by my kosher prowess.
Played 9 holes of golf for the first time in a year. Parred 4 consecutive holes on a decently tough course. (Kids still got it).
Lost the biggest $5/$10 pot of my life. $9,200 with KK on a K46, 2 spade flop. Oops.
Taking a 6.5 hour bus ride home tomorrow morning. Too broke to take a limo after that hand.
Premier party for 2 Months, 2 Million Sunday night in NYC. I make a cameo in the episode along with Taylor.

Sorry that things haven't been more interesting...catch you soon.

<3,
Ezmo

Aug 15, 09 22:55:57

what'd he have? 57 spades?

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July 31, 2009

Anatomy of a TV Poker Hand

Unfortunately, at Dani's expense.

Courtesy Krantz, Ariel, Flawless, and myself. Oh, and of course, Dani and Ike :)

Aug 1, 09 02:17:59

ez, your face in the final frame is priceless.

SlevinKalevra

Aug 2, 09 02:00:04

Ezmo's pressin the flesh on the tube.

RodeoBlue

Aug 5, 09 03:23:01

LOL

When I watched this I saw Krantz say FUCK hahaha

Rev3nton

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July 26, 2009

What are your plans?

For those readers who play a lot of poker...

Are you striving towards playing poker for a living?

If you're currently playing poker professionally, do you want to spend your life doing this?

If not, have you considered the future? What types of things interest you?

Do all these choices fit into the picture of your overall life goals?

What makes you happy?

Answer as many, or as few as you'd like. Feel free to post comments.

Love,
Ezra

Jul 26, 09 13:54:34

Are you striving towards playing poker for a living? - Not unless I absolutely have to, given that my field is changing and the economy is in the can.

If you're currently playing poker professionally, do you want to spend your life doing this? If I were, I would say absolutely not. A few years playing nosebleeds, and doing well, is enough to set someone up for life, if they invest their money well.

If not, have you considered the future? What types of things interest you? grad school.

Do all these choices fit into the picture of your overall life goals? yes.

What makes you happy? traveling. writing. making others happy.

fxstone11

Jul 26, 09 15:04:34

Cool answers, thanks!

ezmogee

Jul 26, 09 23:27:03

my biggest goal was to graduate college and I did that this spring. i was planning on quiting poker but then i ran hotter than the sun this month and i'm up 5 figs. my next goal is to find a good hearted girlfriend. then i want to try out a real job and see how i like it. after that i hope everything will just fall into place. the thing that makes me the most happy is eating properly, sleeping properly, and having no stress.

Jul 27, 09 06:28:50

I am currently pro poker player, I don't see myself playing poker professionally for much more than another 2-3 years.

I am going back to school to complete ungrad degree, and possibly continue on to grad school. I don't really have any goals after I graduate, I think life is about staying active, and following your nose.

Lots of things makes me happy, but most of them are based on the people around me are happy and enjoying life. I am big into music also, and dont know if happy is the right word, but creating music feels real good.

JahDoos

Jul 27, 09 13:42:37

Are you striving towards playing poker for a living?
No, but as a secondary source of income.

If you're currently playing poker professionally, do you want to spend your life doing this?n/a

If not, have you considered the future? What types of things interest you? I will poker as long as its around. But im applying to grad school for Internatinal Affairs to focus on the Middle East.

Do all these choices fit into the picture of your overall life goals?yes they do

What makes you happy? Being comfortable in any environment and having those around me not worrying about things out of their control.

famumoe

Jul 27, 09 14:25:49

I've decided that after all the time you put into your blog posts I would do the same with my reply to your blog post. As a result, this is going to get a bit long.

1) Are you striving towards playing poker for a living?

Yes. This is very hard to explain to some people but I really can't think of a job that I would want to have. I meet people who like their jobs and it blows my mind. I've had better and worse jobs for sure. I've worked for companies that treat you like dirt and companies that treat you really well but I have never had a job I'd show up to if I didn't need the money to get by.

I've met a number of people who start living off poker in college or maybe right out of high school and they always seem to have... skewed ideas about jobs and being in the work force. They've never had to worry about balancing rent and debt with a monthly paycheck and waking up every day to go to work just to scrape by. They've never had to live the life of quiet desperation.

As jobs go mine is actually a pretty good one. I get paid a decent livable wage. I have great benefits, the people I work with are nice, I have a good boss and all sorts of perks but I don't like what I do. What I do isn't enjoyable, it's work and it consumes the majority of my life. I don't like waking up every day about 4 hours earlier than I want to to go do what I do. I don't like spending the better part of 5/7 days doing what I do. I don't like spending the other 2/7 days thinking about what I do. It's something I do because I need the money. I do it to make money for the things I enjoy but it ends up consuming all the time I have and the time I do spend doing things I enjoy is tainted by thoughts of work.

Poker is the first thing I've found that I actually enjoy doing that I could make money at. It's the first thing that doesn't feel like work. As soon as I can become a long term winning player at a stakes high enough to support myself I am putting in my 2 weeks and never looking back.

2) Do all these choices fit into the picture of your overall life goals?

Life goals. I really can't think about that idea without thinking about this:

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
--- inaccurately attributed to
Ralph Waldo Emerson

What is a life goal? There are lots of things I want to do in my life but I don't know that I have a set of, "life goals." I want to travel to Ireland, China, Thailand, Japan, Egypt and many other places in my life but is that a life goal? I want to get married and have kids but is that a life goal? I want to go back and get my black belt but is that a life goal? When I think about life goals I think about people endlessly chasing something that they think will make them happy. I don't want to conquer Europe, I don't want to push back the ocean.

What I do want is freedom. By freedom I mean I want time to do things as I choose to do them. If I want to stay up till 6am with my nose in a book, I want the time to do that, and the time the next day to sleep in because I did. If I want to drive to Canada to visit friends for a week I want to be able to do that without clearing it a month in advance with some boss and making sure it doesnâ��t conflict with a meeting or a deadline. If I get sick I want the freedom to stay in bed all day and not worry about if I have enough sick hours. I meet people who mesh life goals and work. People who spend their lives chasing the corner office or the big sale. I donâ��t get those people.

I may have a very skewed idea of what itâ��s like to be a professional poker player but it seems that it is an excellent choice for someone who wants freedom with their schedule.

ManWithBrisk

Jul 28, 09 06:15:25

Striving towards playing for a living? Yes, I think so. Certainly the majority of my income with perhaps another job if I find something entertaining with only personal training finding it's way onto that list at the moment.

Currently a pro, spend rest of life like this? Yeh, I like the lifestyle so far. Need much improvement in game though.

Have considered future? Yes, Helping others certainly interests me in some respects.

Choices fit with life goals? Yes. An unfixed schedule appeals to me greatly. The idea of 9-5 plus travel and overtime between now and death does not appeal. Even if I put in more hours playing/studying it will still be my choice.

What makes me happy? Success and recognition of that success from others. Poker pro is a hard career in that respect because various attitudes against it but I quite like the challenge! Spending time with people makes me happy. I've found face to face contact is substituted quite easily by emails and online stuff but still need to get out fairly regularly.
Being loaded makes me happy. Not because I want to buy lots of expensive things but because I want to make decisions without having money be a restricting factor.

It seems that pros (or potential pros) like the self-employed aspect of poker. That certainly appeals to me to.

knowlestoo

Jul 29, 09 06:22:26

1) Are you striving towards playing poker for a living?

2) If you're currently playing poker professionally, do you want to spend your life doing this?

Im not striving to become a pro. Im working as a lawyer and while I dont always like my work, I like the stability of receiving my pay check every month, I wouldnt change that for poker. If I were still studying and if I had an opportunity to make a lot of money playing poker, I would certainly consider doing that for a few years after completing my studies. But a "real job" gives so much, no matter what your job is. You feel that you are being productive.

For me, poker is a great passtime. Im trying to build a bankroll so that I could start making money that would be significant to me. I have set myself some goals for this. I feel that not being dependent on poker for income allows me to enjoy playing a lot more than I would otherwise enjoy it. So I feel that my work and poker are now in balance.

I have recently read about several poker pros quitting poker for other stuff. I think that most people want to do more professionwise than just play poker their entire life. Work is a big part of everyones life and of who they are and I think that many people want fullfillment from their work. A life of playing poker is not for most, I think. Many of the big names in online poker are guys who are still quite young and I think that many of them are probably now at a point where they are starting to really think about what they want to do with their lives. God I envy 20-somethings who have been there for the poker boom, made good money and still are young and have the possibility to choose what they want to do with their lives...

3) Do all these choices fit into the picture of your overall life goals?
Yup. Im generally happy with my job and poker is a great hobby that allows me to challenge myself. But it will never be more than a passtime and hobby for me.

4) What makes you happy?

Sunshine...? Im from Finland, we dont get that so much... :)

SubZero616

Jul 31, 09 04:23:16

1. Are you striving towards playing poker for a living?

Being a 19 year old student, from the UK on a maths and economics degree, yes. If I wasn't on a scholarship, then I would leave my degree to go and play poker, since neither of the two subjects interest me in an academic sense. I'd need some more time to think about what I'd really like to study, before spending so much on tuition fees.

2. If not, have you considered the future? What types of things interest you?

After completing my boring ass degree, if I've built up the funds from playing poker, I intend to go and study to become a holistic health practitioner.

From an economist's perspective, it seems poker causes way more pain than fun or entertainment, on a macro level. Poker is a waste of human resources.

From a winning players perspective, poker brings freedom, from a loosing players perspective, poker is bondage. Everything has a Yin and a Yang : )

I believe becoming healthier myself, and helping other people to do the same, would be way more rewarding than playing poker professionally.

I'm going to travel the world, starting with Europe, in June 2010.

Music Tech is a huge passion of mine. I'm learning keyboard at the moment. Eventually I'm going to learn more instruments.

Do all these choices fit into the picture of your overall life goals?

Other than completing the damn degree, yeah.

What makes you happy?

Warmth, food, sex. Bringing about happiness in other people.

(Our brains are hard-wired to make us feel happy when we do anything to increase our chance of survival, or reproduction... just thought I'd throw that interesting fact out there)

Love you back,
Jason

GiANtTwINkY

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