The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

"I was born under unusual circumstances."

View the new trailer for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button! David Fincher's new movie starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and Tilda Swinton, opens December 19, 2008!

I can't wait for this movie to come out. I guess I'll have to wait seven months or so until the release around Christmas time, but I'm pumped. Stay tuned to Dayton2Vegas.com as I'll post more photos and videos as they are released. The plot is simple, original, and extremely interesting: "CCBB" tells the story of a man who begins aging backwards with bizarre consequences (based off the F. Scott Fitzgerald book pictured above).

David Fincher's movie list:

Se7en
Fight Club
The Game
Panic Room
Zodiac

...and now David Fincher releases his masterpiece!

Can you say Best Picture? "CCBB" and "Revolutionary Road" are the early favorites in the 2009 Best Picture Oscar race.

If you want more information on this film, check out these sites:
BenjaminButton.com - Official movie website
CCBB on IMDb - All the information on Fincher's latest film

New Tax Law Takes Bite Out of Tournament Winnings

Law Will Require Casinos to Take 25 Percent of $5,000 or More

A new tax code has been released that spells out just how much money the government will take from those who are lucky enough to cash for $5,000 or more in poker tournaments. Starting March 4, 2008, casinos and cardrooms are supposed to start withholding 25 percent of any poker tournament winnings of $5,000 or more. This will particularly affect the poker hobbyists who go deep in tournaments with buy-ins that range from $100 to $550, and of course those who make their living humping the tournament poker trail. Language in the new tax code pointed to a tax court ruling that took place earlier this year. The ruling held that tournament poker is not a skillful competition and should be considered a gambling activity, at least for the purposes of taxation. The law requires casinos and cardrooms to withhold and report the winnings from a player if it amounts to $5,000 or more in a tax year. The code does not address winnings from online poker sites or from casinos off U.S. soil.Here’s an example of how much money the government will be making off of poker tournaments after March 4, 2008. If the law was in effect earlier this month, the top seven finishers of the $500 event that took place Aug. 7, at the Legends of Poker would have paid a total of $40,221 in taxes. The runner-up of this tournament, which attracted a healthy 460 entrants, would have taken home $27,972 after taxes ($37,295 before). The winner received $74,585. If the law was in place, that amount would’ve been $18,646 less.

(courtesy of CardPlayer.com)

P.S. Indiana Jones 4 was better than what I expected (D2V: 77). The World Series of Poker starts May 30th! I can't wait. Maybe my last year on the side lines... Hellmuth's 12th bracelet? We'll see.

*D2V will update daily starting June 1, 2008! =)

5 Majors & 1 Jackpot

(in order)

1. WSOP Main Event
2. WPT Main Event
3. WSOP H.O.R.S.E. Championship
4. National Heads-up Championship
5. WSOP Tournament of Champions

Only two poker players have ever won two of these; Phil Hellmuth Jr. (who also came 2nd in a third major event) and Carlos Mortenson.

Phil Hellmuth Jr. holds the most WSOP cashes, final tables, bracelets, and now is regarded as the best Major Tournament player? Sounds just about right to me.

P.S. I went to the Argosy yesterday with Rachel and I hit a jackpot for $2,000 playing video poker! Check in Tuesday for pictures and the whole story from our Argosy trip!

My professional poker career starts tomorrow. Wish me... luck?

D2V interviews Andy Bloch

Dayton2Vegas.com: When did you first start playing blackjack?
Andy Bloch: I might have played a little when I was 18-21 in casinos that were 18+, and the next few years, but I didn't know how to count. I first started to count cards in 1994.

D2V: When did you get your first big break?
Bloch: I won my first poker tournament in December, 1993, which caught the attention of "JP", one of the founders of the MIT Blackjack Team whom I was playing with in a weekly home poker game in the Boston area. A few months earlier I'd figured out how to beat a casino game invented at Foxwoods called Hickok 6-card poker, similar to Carribean Stud, and I was looking to approach the MIT blackjack team about forming a team to play it, but they found me. JP wanted to start a poker team, but the poker training didn't go so well and we ended up playing the Hickok game instead. After Foxwoods changed the rules, we disbanded the Hickok team and I joined the blackjack team.

D2V: What's the most money you ever made in one day (session) playing blackjack?
Bloch: About $100,000.

D2V: What was your main role on the team?
Bloch: I had just about every role on the team, starting out as just a "spotter", becoming a "big player" and "controller" within a few months, and being part of team management.

D2V: How long were you a member?
Bloch: 6 years.

D2V: As a manager on the team, what were your responsibilities?
Bloch: Keeping records, making sure reports and transfers were done properly, calculating the split of winnings, training, recruiting, getting the team to come to consensus or making decisions when they didn't, etc.

D2V: Have you ever written a book/script about your life or the MIT Blackjack team?
Bloch: Yes, I wrote a script a few years ago, but we didn't feel it was finished. Perhaps if I pushed it more we could have gotten it filmed before 21, but I don't know if there was anyone in Hollywood willing to go against the owners of the movie rights to Bringing Down the House.

D2V: You went to a premiere for the movie 21, how did you get a ticket?
Bloch: Through a player who got tickets comped playing blackjack.

D2V: Do you prefer to play live or online?
Bloch: Depends on my mood. Often I'd rather play online than make the trip into a casino where the action is slower and I can only play one hand.

D2V: Do you prefer to play tournament or side games?
Bloch: Live, I prefer tournaments. Online, I play a mix, and like side games often because I can control exactly how long I play.

D2V: What's the biggest payday of your career?
Bloch: 2nd for $1,029,600 in the 2006 WSOP H.O.R.S.E.

D2V: You have an amazing education (BS and MS at MIT and Harvard Law degree); does this give you an advantage over other poker players with your mathematical skills?
Bloch: It helps, but conventional education isn't enough.

D2V: Do you have a nickname?
Bloch: Not a good one. "The Rock"

D2V: Are you married/engaged?
Bloch: Almost.

D2V: Do wear anything unique at the poker table?
Bloch: A distressed cowboy hat.

Check out AndyBloch.com for more information on the poker star. Also, check out "21: The Man behind the Movie" to read my article from this interview!

Gangster Genre's Greatest

Mario Puzo’s "The Godfather" is a classic American film about a New York mob family and their struggle to maintain a successful family in the violent world of organized crime. "The Godfather" won the Best Picture Oscar, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor at the Academy Awards Ceremony along with eight other Oscar nominations. Released in 1972, "The Godfather" was an instant classic and quickly became the highest grossing film ever at the box office [1]. While the American Film Institute (AFI) ranked "The Godfather" as the 3rd best film of all time, it is regarded by many, such as the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), Entertainment Weekly, and Rotten Tomatoes (the largest online collection of U.S. movie reviews) as the greatest movie of all time [2].

"The Godfather" contains a cast full of amazing actors. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based on the best-selling novel by Mario Puzo, the cast includes such greats as Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, and Talia Shire. It is these actors and actresses that make this story so believable and amazing.

The success of "The Godfather" and "The Godfather: Part II" (ranked #32 on AFI’s Top 100) opened the doors for more crime and mob television/movies such as "The Sopranos" and "The Goodfellas." Director Stanley Kubrick, who believes "The Godfather" is the greatest film ever made, is joined with directors such as Martin Scorsese and Sam Mendes in crediting the movie with giving credibility to the crime genre [3].

What does it take for a film to be considered a classic? A film can be considered a classic if it is one of the first in its genre, if it has greatly influenced, if it defined the genre, and/or if it is one of the best films of the genre. These three criteria can be shortened into original, influential, and best.

Two other classic movies from the crime genre are "Scarface" (1932) and "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967). "Scarface" was one of the first films to display graphic violence and one of the first crime films ever. "Bonnie and Clyde" is a great movie (ranked #27 on AFI’s Top 100) and is considered to be the first true action films, but "The Godfather" surpasses even both of these films for numerous reasons [4].

Simply based on the three qualifications to become a classic film, "The Godfather" beats out "Bonnie and Clyde". While they are similar in age and influence, both being released within five years of each other and changing the way people view crime films, "The Godfather" wins the third category of holding the highest manifestation of the genre.

I did not see "The Godfather" until I was a junior in college. I started becoming interested in movies in general last summer as I started watching "classics" at my house such as "Young Frankenstein," "The Hustler," "Psycho," and "Cool Hand Luke." I finally rented "The Godfather" after being told to time and time again by many people and it quickly became my favorite movie.

Making Sense of Movies takes a deeper look into movies - not only at the plot and action, but at what goes on behind the scenes and all the intricate details that go into making these classics. The Godfather scored a hit with its use of sound throughout the movie as it advanced the plot and heightened the intensity in crucial scenes. I get chills in my body when I hear the score written by Nino Rota. The echo and sustain of the eerie music is extremely unique and deserved the nomination for Best Score and AFI’s recognition as number five on the top 100 Film Scores [5].

The character development and the dynamic personalities throughout the story help the viewers relate to the story. Also, I believe it is one of the greatest performance by an actor in the history of film. Marlon Brando’s Oscar award-winning performance is amazing and is one of the reasons the AFI named him the 4th greatest American actor of all time [6].

I have seen other crime/mob movies but none like this. No other crime movies have put as much emphasis on family values and relationships. "The Godfather" is truly gangster genre's greatest!

References
American Film Institute (AFI)
http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/100yearslist.aspx May 20, 2007.
IMDb. Internet Movie Database
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/ May 21, 2007.

Daytona Pt. II

We went to the dog tracks two days ago and played some poker. Clay's Q8s took down my Aces on a T-8-8 flop. Obviously, I check-called the turn and river. It was some of the worst poker I have ever seen by the old farts in Florida. Five of us kids went there for just 2 and a half hours and we left up over $115... not bad.

Let's see. I've been to a few strip clubs this trip with groups of ten or more and always with at least two girls. It's crucial to have a few pretty girls with you when you go to a strip club so not to come off as creepy. I only wish Rachel was there to enjoy the strip club like last year when she came with me.

Last night Molly Brown's said it was $10 to enter (which is what a few UD kids in front of us paid). We "Godfathered" it and said no thanks. The guy said his best offer was $5. We said no thanks and started to leave. Then he said that he'd let us in for free and gave us each two free passes to come tomorrow. O yeah, we ate free pizza the whole night and then took off to a tobacco shop. We smoked for a while, drank a few beers, and after a brief visit at the arcade, we headed back for the night.

Daytona has been a lot of fun so far. We've been going out to the bars to watch the Cavs get whomped by the Celtics and the Boston Three Party. We played mini-golf last night with around twelve people. I won! The three hole-in-ones in the first 15 holes might have helped. Wills played beautifully coming in second, which put him somewhere around 37 strokes ahead of George.

The highlight of the trip may have came yesterday where (if you go before 4pm) China Buffet cost $6.99 plus $2.25. I know it doesn't seem like that great of a deal. Except when I tell you that the $2.25 goes towards all you can drink beer! We stayed there for over four hours and the five of us shared over 18 pitchers of beer! It's easy to say we got our money's worth from Grand Asian Buffet! Sorry guys.

More to come in a few days... I'll be back in Dayton, OH, around 10pm Monday night!

Daytona!

I'm on vacation in Daytona Beach, Florida!

We're in the "Miami Suite" on the top floor of the Desert Inn which is pretty classy!

Clay is coming to spend a day with us Flyers. We're going to the Daytona Kennel Club to bet on some dogs and play a little poker. I wish Gabrel and Rachel could be here but I'm still managing to have a little fun in this 88 degree weather!

I'm writing from a laptop in my room. I'll post tomorrow and share a few classic stories that have already occurred in the first two days. It's gonna get a little crazy.

P.S. Four out of five of my grades are in from this semester at UD...3.1 GPA, not horrible.

Check out this new press release for Mitchell Cogert's new poker book with my quote included!

*New posts/pictures coming soon!

A Chip off the old block

A biography of David "Chip" Reese by Damian M. Moorman, Dayton2Vegas.com

“He’s certainly the best poker player that ever lived,” remarked Doyle Brunson on David “Chip” Reese. Chip has played in and beat the biggest cash games in Las Vegas for many years. He died December 4, 2007, with complications from pneumonia, but lived a fulfilling life. Chip left behind a proud family and a legacy that will not be forgotten in the poker world.

Chip Reese grew up in Dayton, OH, and went to college at Dartmouth. He beat the cash games so badly at college that there is now a poker room named after him at his old fraternity. Chip stopped in Las Vegas on his way to law school and never left. He turned $400 into millions and quickly became a living legend.

In 1991, Chip became the youngest player ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He started playing tournaments again in the last few years after the poker boom, when his family wanted to see him on television. Chip has won three World Series of Poker bracelets, but his success is not counted by just the gold bracelets he has obtained. Chip wrote the Stud section of Doyle Brunson’s Super System. He was greatly honored when Brunson came to him for his help on Stud, one of Chip’s best games. Chip earned the respect and admiration from his peers and that is something that will stand the test of time.

Chip won the inaugural $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament at the WSOP in 2006, banking $1,784,640 along with the title. Since his death, Harrah’s will now present the winner of this tournament with the David “Chip” Reese Award along with the purse for first place.

Chip separated himself from other players because of his vast knowledge of the game and his incredible amount of raw talent. The more important thing that everyone remembers about Chip is how he separated himself from other top pros. The difference between Chip and the rest of the players was that his “D” game was not that different from his “A” game. He will be remembered as the man who never went on tilt. Chip displayed amazing emotional control that his peers could not when times were rough. He always focused on the next hand and tried to make the best decision possible. This was one of the biggest reasons for his consistency and long term success.

Above poker, Chip was a family guy and really close to his sons. He died at the young age of 56 but lived a great life on and off the table. He will be missed greatly in the poker world and his legacy will live on.

It's Alive!

by Damian M. Moorman, Dayton2Vegas.com

"Young Frankenstein" is a Mel Brooks classic about Dr. Frankenstein's (pronounced Fronk-en-steen) grandson inheriting his granddad's castle and repeating the infamous experiments after years of living down the family reputation[1]. It's a shame that so many young people now-a-days haven't seen this film. It's regarded by many top critics as one of the best movies in its genre, Classic Comedy. "Young Frankenstein" made it onto Bravo's 100 Funniest Movies, Total Film Magazine's 50 Greatest Comedies of All Time, IMDb's Top 250 Movies, and Rotten Tomatoes' Class A Comedies List[2].

The highest acclaim for "Young Frankenstein" just might've been when it was chosen as the 13th best comedy in 100 years of Film, according to the American Film Institute (AFI). It was also nominated as one of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time by the AFI[3].

"Young Frankenstein" was nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Sound and Best Writing)[4]. The haunting music throughout the film perfectly matches the gloomy black-and-white appearance. The cast of Young Frankenstein is amazing. Oscar award-winning writer Mel Brooks co-wrote and directed this comedic masterpiece[5].

Brooks' film is a loving parody of the three Frankenstein movies; Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), and Son of Frankenstein (1939). Brooks does however manage to take shots at a few other films in the horror genre such as Dracula (1931), The Wolf Man (1931), and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). The film was shot in the same castle and with the same props as the original 1931 German movie Frankenstein.

Gene Wilder stars in the film as Dr. Fredrick Frankenstein. Wilder also co-wrote the movie and first gave the idea to Brooks on the set of their previous comedic work Blazing Saddles. Wilder has received two Academy Award nominations, including one for his writing on "Young Frankenstein"[6].

"Igor" is played by Marty Feldman, who won the Golden Scroll from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films for Best Supporting Actor[7]. Brooks said there wasn't one other person that could've played this role better than Feldman, mainly because of his uncanny timing and physical comedy.

The monster is "brought to life" by Peter Boyle, best known for his Emmy-nominated role as the grandfather from "Everybody Loves Raymond." Boyle was definitely one of the best parts of this film because he demonstrated the unruly side of a monster while showing the innocent and helpless side of his character.

Madeline Kahn, who has been nominated twice for the Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar, plays "Elizabeth" and Academy-award winner Cloris Leachman is also great as the crazy "Frau Blucher[8]." Two-time Oscar award-winning Gene Hackman plays a small part as a blind hermit which provides a lot of laughs when he's confronted by the monster[9]. Hackman's character manages to spill hot soup on the monster's crotch and light his hand on fire all in a matter of minutes.

The cinematography by Gerald Hirschfeld is also a key part to this film as it stays true to the horror genre of the original 1931 film with its black-and-white appearance. Making Sense of Movies, a great book about what goes on behind the scene in film, discusses the impact not only of choosing to shoot in black-and-white, but the ability to stress shadows and the effect of low-angle camera shots to make the monster appear even larger and scarier. Many of these tactics were used to "sell" the idea that the monster was larger than life.

"Young Frankenstein" was released on December 15, 1974, and is still impacting the film industry today[10]. In January of this year 2007, it was announced that "Young Frankenstein" was going to be made into a Broadway Play. I'm sure that the monster performing the "Ritz" act will be among the highlights!

While I was researching the movie I found an interesting story. When the rock band Aerosmith was recording their album, "Toys in the Attic," they took a break to watch "Young Frankenstein." After watching the scene where Marty Feldman's character, "Igor", implores Wilder's character to walk correctly, Aerosmith decided to use that idea and the key phrase spoken by Igor in their number one hit song, "Walk this Way[11]."

I remember watching this film for the first time when I was only twelve years old. I honestly laughed from almost start to finish. Unlike more recent comedies, "Young Frankenstein" managed to be extremely funny without using vulgar language. "Young Frankenstein" is rated PG and still manages to appeal to the more mature crowd. This is all proof of how creative and intelligent Brooks and Wilder truly are.

Another very big reason you should watch this film is that Brooks believes that it is his best work of his career[12]. How important is that? Brooks wrote and directed a number of great comedies from the late 1960s up until the 1980s that all did very well at the box office. The "Producers" (1968), "Blazing Saddles" (1974), and "Spaceballs" (1987) are just a few of his hit movies he places below "Young Frankenstein" as his favorite film. I do not disagree with his opinion, as "Young Frankenstein" is also my favorite of his movies and definitely worth watching. The movie holds true to its tagline as "The scariest comedy of all time[13]!"

References
[1, 3] American Film Institute (AFI) http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/100yearslist.aspx May 25, 2007.
[2, 9, 11, 13] Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/young_frankenstein/ May 25, 2007.
[4, 5, 7, 8, 10] IMDb. Internet Movie Database http://imdb.com/title/tt0072431/ May 26, 2007.
[6, 12] Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Frankenstein May 27, 2007.

D2V: 93

A Gambler's Personality

by Damian M. Moorman, Dayton2Vegas.com

It was estimated in the late 1980s that nearly four million people may have been actual or "potential" compulsive gamblers (Thomas, 1987). Now over twenty years later, gambling, in particular poker, has never been more famous in the United States and across the world. The number of young adults playing poker online and in casinos is higher than it ever has been. This is causing an increased level of awareness and concern in many parents.

Gambling can be a healthy activity if it is not abused. Gambling is a social activity which can be exciting and entertaining both to people young and old. The problem arises when significant money is involved. Gambling becomes unhealthy when the money a person risks is too high of a proportion of his or her income and net worth. Problem gambling can develop if social gambling is not structured and balanced. This type of gambling is often referred to as compulsive or pathological gambling. There is a difference, however, in pathological gambling and social gambling, but the distinguishing factors are sometimes unclear.

Pathological gambling is categorized as a "disorder of impulse control" (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Although many theories that attempt to explain the psychological make-up of a pathological gambler exist, most of the studies do not offer empirical evidence. The field of research is still fairly new as pathological gambling only became an official disorder in 1980 (Thomas, 1987).

I play cards daily and I very get upset when people call it gambling. The word gambling is hardly ever used in a positive way. It automatically makes people think of irrational decisions and lack of emotional control. Playing poker at casinos over the past three two years I have come in contact with a wide range of people. Many people that I see at the casinos playing poker are more similar to the stereotypical gambler commonly portrayed in movies and books. These players act on "feel" and usually ignore mathematical odds that are essential to making money in the long run. They often combine alcohol or drugs while playing to increase their enjoyment at the table. These are the losers in poker. These people are the ones who have gambling problems.

A gambler has many distinct personality characteristics that if severe enough enable his or her weaknesses to be seen fairly easily by close friends and family. The people I see as compulsive or pathological gamblers are extremely different from me. Most of the people I would put into this category lose money on a consistent basis while playing cards. The only reason they come back is because they have won before in their past and they are searching for that feeling of happiness again. Their addictive mindset enables them to believe that they will win the next time they play. Ideas such as "if I don't play, I can't win" and "just one more pull of the slot and I'll hit it big" are present in the minds of most people who visit casinos often.

There is a big difference in how much gambling is involved between poker and most games offered by casinos. Most people do not fully understand the skill that is involved in poker, which is why they think of it as just another form of gambling. Poker is one of the few games where a player can win while the house (casino) is winning at the same time. The house always takes a rake from the poker tables. This rake is usually around five to then percent of the pot size with a set maximum in case of an unusually large pot. The hard part about winning in the long run at poker is that a player must be winning enough money against the other table members during play to still pull a profit after the house takes the rake.

Poker is also a game where a player can create a large advantage for himself with his skill level. If looked at using economic and business terms, a player can weigh the risks and rewards for his actions and determine which play will be most profitable in the long run. Poker is a game of incomplete information but yet enough is available where a skilled played can consistently get two-to-one on his investment. If a good player is seated at a table with other players that are worse than him, the two-to-one ratio that his money is invested into the pot with is plenty enough to cover the house’s rake of equal or less than .1/1.

The fact that poker is not all skill is what makes the players who are true gamblers come back time and time again. Anyone who has played poker for more than an extremely short time will have most likely won big on at least one night. The winning streaks, or just one night in some cases, are what makes it possible for someone with such a disadvantage skill wise to be playing at the same table as a good player. Imagine a person gambling with the best players in a different game or sport. Could you see anyone playing someone clearly better than them in chess or a game of basketball with money on the line? Not for long. The range of talent in casino poker rooms is far greater than in games where luck is virtually nonexistent. The known possibility that any person can win at poker with any two cards at any time is enough to draw in losing players.

The saddest and most unhealthy part of a gambler's personality is that they often do not have to win to be happy. I often wondered how players who consistently lost could possibly continue coming back to the table with more money. I underestimated the amount of fun a pathological gambler receives just by having a chance to win. Nick "the Greek" Dandalos nailed this phenomenon on the head when he said; “the next best thing to gambling and winning is gambling and losing." He was exactly right! It is not the winning that players with the most severe gambling problems strive for but merely the chance of winning or "action," as it is commonly referred to in poker.

There are other risks that go along with pathological gambling other than financial losses. Problems arise in three most common functions among problem gamblers; financial, interpersonal, and vocational (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Many times the need to gamble can cause stress and hardship in marriage or other close relationships. It is hard for a person who cannot control their impulse to carry on healthy relationships with significant others.

Patients can be helped with their gambling problems most effectively if the therapist treats it similar to other addictions (Thomas, 1987). According to the American Psychiatric Association (1994), individuals diagnosed as pathological gamblers are frequently highly competitive, prone to other addictive disorders, and overly concerned with other people's approval. The best way to treat pathological gambling is through variations of the Alcoholics Anonymous model of treating drug and alcohol addictions (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).

It is clear that people who enjoy gambling are competitive but this alone does not decide whether the person has a mental disorder or not. It is the responsibility of the player and the people closest to them to recognize his or her unhealthy habits. Gambling can become extremely addicting and ruin people's lives in more ways than just financially.

However, gambling can be a positive way to make money and increase social skills if correctly managed. It is very difficult to determine whether or not a person is gambling in an unhealthy way. Future research is needed to produce data and empirical evidence that could help distinguish the positive social aspect of gambling from the negative pathological side (Thomas, 1987).

References
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR Fourth Edition.
Thomas, C. C. (1987). The Handbook of Pathological Gambling.