Below are the 10 most recent journal entries recorded in Ricky's LiveJournal:

Thursday, May 11th, 2006
4:12 pm	Gnarls Everyone must listen to the debut album from Gnarls Barkley (DJ Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo) St. Elsewhere. This album should appeal to anyone that listens to music. It sounds great if you love R&B, hip-hop, dance music, indie rock, or just straight up pop music. The first single "Crazy" could quite possibly be the "Hey Ya!" of this summer. I can not stop listening to this album. (Comment on this)
Monday, April 24th, 2006
2:45 pm	Last.fm For anyone that reads this and listens to music on a regular basis on his/her computer I strongly suggest you check out www.Last.fm (yes it is DOT FM). It is a innovative new music community. You set up an account on the site (its all free) then you download a small program onto you computer that will record all the songs you play on your computer and add it to your profile on the site. After you have uploaded a signifigant number of tracks you will be able to see profiles of people that have shown a similar taste in music. This helps to find new artists you might like and to discuss music with people that have similar tastes. Other features include an incredible internet radio service (free as well), there is a radio station for any genre, style, artist, or mood that you can think of. If you do create a profile on the site or you already have one add me as a friend (TenaciousRC). Peace (8 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, February 23rd, 2006
8:00 am	Not much new happening in the "Life of Ricky" (not quite the same ring as Riley). Same old same old: school, friends, cards, and a few special ladies along the way. Getting closer to an intership this summer. It is starting to hit me (both bad and good) that in less than 10 months I will need to have a job or some outlook on life. No longer will I be living a real life of riley but will start becoming an adult. In other news, i love this video http://www.fiona-apple.com/video/FionaApple_NotAboutLove_Vid120.mov It stars not only one of my most favorite musicians (Fiona Apple) but also has the great Zach Galifianakis. Zach is one of the best stand up comedians working today. Plus it doesnt hurt to be a great song. If anyone there comes across my journal watches American Idol, be sure to vote for Taylor Hicks. (9 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, February 6th, 2006
11:17 pm	I hate donkeys ( Continue reading only if you care about poker and dont mind the occasional expletive ) (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, January 25th, 2006
1:09 am	Musical Euphoria Just another entry of some of my new additions to my iPod: Cat Power -- "The Greatest" The National -- "Baby We'll Be Fine" The National -- "Seceret Meeting" John Mayer Trio -- "Gravity" (the swooner of preteen girls is starting to use his fame to play some real blues music, suprisingly good stuff) Fiery Furnaces -- "Worry Worry" Fiery Furnaces -- "Tropical Iceland" Ricky Gervais -- "Free Love on the Free Love Freeway" (fans of The Office (UK version) will know this one.) Rod Stewart -- "Handbags and Gladrags" (version of the theme from The Office (UK)) Silver Jews -- "Honk If You're Lonely" Sufjan Stevens -- "Flint" Sufjan Stevens -- "Chicago" DangerDoom -- "Sofa King" (collaboration of fairly well known "underground rapper" MF Doom and DJ DangerMouse, features cameos from the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Crew) DangerDoom -- "Perfect Hair" Spoon -- "I Turn My Camera On" Spoon -- "Stay Don't Go" -- fun and catchy song Devendra Banhart -- "I Feel Just Like A Child" -- latest challenger for the title "New Bob Dylan" Devendra Banhart -- "Body Breaks" Devendra Banhart -- "Poughkeepsie" Frank Sinatra -- "Strangers in the Night" -- I felt romantic one night Willie Nelson (ft. Emmylou Harris) -- "Angel Eyes" Arlo Guthrie -- "Alice's Restaurant" -- good ol' folk rebellion song, fans of Arrested Development can hear the inspiration for "Big Yellow Joint" Peter Gabriel -- "Solsbury Hill" -- I am starting to delve into late 70s/early 80s pop rock Jurrasic 5 -- "The Game" -- my new official pump-up music Fiona Apple -- "Across the Universe" Fiona Apple -- "Not About Love" (13 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 24th, 2006
9:35 pm	Lifes been good lately. Started my 2nd to last college semester. Full of fun filled Finance and Economics courses. Dont these following courses sound exciting: Intermediate Financial Management Intermediate Macroeconomics Intermediate Microeconomics Money and Capital Markets Investments Even though I am less than a year away from having a college degree I still have no fucking clue as to where I will be around this time next year. Could I be beginning a life as a mindless corporate drone managing the finances of rich people? Could I be in a foreign country do at least a small part to make the world a better a place with the Peace Corps? Could I be heading off to graduate school? There are a few other options but those are the leading canidates. On the gambling front I have had a good few weeks. After having to buy gifts for multiple people and paying a handful of bills and what not my poker bankroll was depleted to a little over $100. Not good news, tough to really make money without having some already. As of tonight my bankroll is a little of $800. I won a 2 table tournament (15 players) with a $50 buy-in for $330 (+280) and I have been crushing the the 1/2 cash game (+340, -100 (crazy night of poker), +130) and then tonigiht a decided to play in a friends .5/1 game and took it for about $140. My play has been great lately. My game has really expanded over the last year. I am much stronger at making reads and become much better at "playing the player" and not just the cards. In the past I had been grinding it away just playing solid hands with an occasional semi-bluff thrown in there. Now I am making alot more calculated bluffs as well great calls two things I was severely lacking in my arsenal. My game has gotten alot more aggressive, I am putting players to tough decisions and frankly outplaying many of them. I am putting some of my winnings away and trying to save for a trip to Vegas in June. Figure at the bare minimum I would need a lil over a grand to enjoy myself at the low limit tables and what not. If I can get a few people willing to drive with me, it would make for a great road-trip. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, October 25th, 2005
4:30 pm	Song List A few songs I have been listening to recently and suggest others do the same: Country Songs (real country not this new country bullshit) (The Highwaymen were a group composed of 4 of the leaders of Outlaw country: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson) ----True Love Travels Gravel Road -- The Highwaymen ----Everyone Gets Crazy -- The Highwaymen ----Live Forever -- The Highwaymen ----Against the Wind -- The Highwaymen ----Blue Eyes Cryin In the Rain -- Willie Nelson ----Crazy -- Willie Nelson (he is the writer of this country classic and IMO does a better version than Patsy) ----Pancho and Lefty -- Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings ----I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry -- Hank Williams Sr. ----If Heaven Ain't Alot Like Dixie -- Hank Jr. ----The Man Comes Around -- Johnny Cash ----Personal Jesus -- Johnny Cash (not originally country but the Man in Black adds his own flavor) ----The Story of a Broken Heart -- Johnny Cash ----The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down -- Johnny Cash ----John Walkers Blues -- Steve Earle ----The Gringo's Tale -- Steve Earle ----Hillbilly Highway -- Steve Earle Chick Rock (These are some of the best singer/songwriters out there) (If you have never listened or even heard of Ani DiFranco do you self a favor and do it now) ----Unsent -- Alanis Morissette (try and find the Live X version) ----Imperfectly -- Ani Difranco ----Both Hands -- Ani Difranco ----Glass House -- Ani Difranco ----Two Little Girls -- Ani Difranco ----Sullen Girl -- Fiona Apple ----World on Fire -- Sarah McLachlan (voice of an angel) ----Adia -- Sarah McLachlan Ben Harper Songs (You should really buy all of his albums but here are a few of my recent favorites) ----When It's Good ----Diamonds on the Inside ----Amen Omen ----Power of the Gospel ----Forever George Harrison (Songs that Prove that John and Paul were amateurs compared to George) ----While My Guitar Gently Weeps -- Beatles ----Something -- Beatles ----What Is Life ----Give Me Love ----My Sweet Lord ----So Sad ----Bangla Desh ----Dark Horse Jeff Buckley Songs (career cut short by an early death but he left behind some masterpieces) ----Hallelujah (the song he is probably most famous for) ----Strange Fruit (haunting cover of the poignant Billie Holiday classic) ----Lover You Should've Come Over ----Grace Pop Rock Songs (catchy songs fit for radio play) ----Annie Waits -- Ben Folds (catchy little ditty) ----Gamble Everything for Love -- Ben Lee (another great pop song) ----No Right Angles -- Ben Lee ----Catch My Disease -- Ben Lee (I am almost ashamed to like this song) ----Missing -- Beck (best song off the wonderful album Guero) ----Hero of Love -- Live ----Call Me A Fool -- Live ----Running Through the Fields -- Sister Hazel (the only SH song I love) Neil Young(he has started to become one of my all-time favorites) ----Walk On ----Alabama ----Southern Man ----Harvest Moon ----Heart of Gold ----My, My, Hey, Hey ----Down By The River ----The Loner Classic Rock ----I Ain't Marching Anymore -- Phil Ochs or Arlo Guthrie (Phil wrote it but Arlo sang with heart and conviction) ----Tangled Up In Blue -- Bob Dylan (my favorite Dylan song of all time) ----Devils and Dust -- Bruce Springsteen (great song from a great album) ----Nothing Man -- Bruce Springsteen ----Land of Hope and Dreams -- Bruce Springsteen (makes you proud to be from America) ----Copperline -- James Taylor ----The Letter -- Joe Cocker ----Cryin' -- Roy Orbison (you can feel the passion in his voice) ----Ain't No Sunshine -- Joe Cocker (stirring cover of Bill Withers classic) ----Going to California -- Led Zeppelin ----Tangerine -- Led Zeppelin ----End of the Line -- Traveling Wilburys(Dylan, Petty, Orbison, Harrison, & Lynne aka Rock Gods) Other Noteworthy Songs ----When Doves Cry -- Prince (try and find it live, Ani Difranco also does an amazing cover) ----I Hope That I Dont Fall In Love With You -- Tom Waits ----A Letter to Elise -- The Cure (Suprisingly The Cure is a really good band as shown here) ----The Other Side of Summer -- Elvis Costello (the other Elvis pales in comparison to Costello) ----Allison -- Elvis Costello ----Movin' On -- The Greencards ----Love's a Word I Never Throw Around -- The Greencards ----I Need More Love -- Robert Randolph and the Family Band ----Good Times -- Robert Randolph and the Family Band ----Victim of Life -- Femi Kuti (great African dance music, trust me its good) (5 Comments |Comment on this)
3:30 pm	Havent used LJ in a long time. Poker is still going well, I have stopped playing much live games and have started playing online for the first time in ages. I've cashed out about $500 profit and have another $650 profit still in my poker account. Not too shabby for about 2 weeks worth of play. Trying to average atleast $100 cash out a week. Putting that money toward immediate expenses, christmas gifts, and hopefully have some saved up for what I am planning on being an eventful summer. Right now my plans are to try and get a group of music lovers like myself to go to the Bonnaroo Festival up in Manchester, TN. Should be an exciting festival. I have been wanting to go the past few years but havent had the time, money, or a good enough group of friends (few of my close friends are very eclectic in their music tastes). If you read this and wanna go, holler at me some how. They have similar acts each year so if you are wondering what bands might show check out www.bonnaroo.com for artist lineups from years past. My summer is also looking to include a big trip out to Vegas with friends. Plans are for me and at least one other friend to save up enough money to get into the satellites (mini-tournaments for entry) for some of the smaller WSOP events. If things go as planned, I will come back a few bills richer and may even get on TV. Onto non-poker items. I have recently gotten back in touch with a really good friend from high school. It felt good to talk to her again even if it was just through email. I feel like a shitty friend; I know she has had a rough year or so and I dont think I have been there enough for her. I dont plan to make that same mistake again and will hopefully be a bigger part of her life from now on. (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, August 11th, 2005
6:06 pm	Two Sides to Poker I havent updated in awhile for a multitude of reasons. First, off I had gotten busy with other things in my life including changing majors and what not. Secondly, I hit a run of bad luck at the poker tables. As noted in my earlier entry, I had run up about $700 or so dollars in profit over the course of a month. Well over that month I had to use roughly $400 or so in expenses (rent, food, oil change, etc.) the reamaining $300 or so was shitted away over the next month. I ended up owing some money to Grant for a bad run of Rummy I decided to play him for money in. My luck started to change at the tables thanks to one player. I had played against the guy before at a fraternity poker tournament, but outside of that I hadnt played much with him. Well it seemed like just about every pot I was in he was in there with me, normally pushing me. This guy was just antagonizing me. Normally that doesnt really bother me, but it seemed like everytime I would push back at him feeling I had the best hand he would call and then catch a winner on the river. I just could not win against this kid, and I honestly didnt feel like he was outplaying me. I usually know and recognize someone that is just outplaying me. To make matters even worse, he would use his loose agressive style against other players and lose my money over to them (usually much tighter players, which makes it harder to win my money back). Over the course of roughly 2 weeks I had lost my entire poker bank roll ($300 or so), and during those 3 weeks I never once left up and maybe only once or twice did I leave close to even. So I decided to stop playing for a few weeks to regroup my thoughts and to build up a workable bankroll. My first time back was last Wednesday (8/3). The owner of the poker room had decided to raise the blinds to ($1/$3). One reason was to make some more money off rake and the other was to try and thin out the crowds espiecially with it getting close to school starting back up (and an immediate increase in students in the area). Well that first night, I played my usually tight agressive game and ended up taking home $210 ($150 profit). I didnt go Sunday because I was tired and needed to do some studying, but decided to head out there last night with Grant. Grant ended up having an unlucky night and lost his $60 in about 2 hours or so. I on the other hand was on fire. I played my normaly style, only getting involved in big pots with great hands and making moves at pots where I sensed weakness. I only got caught on one move I made. Flop comes 298 rainbow. There are just two players in the pot since I raised preflop about 3 times the BB knocking everyone out except for one player. I bet out on the flop with my QJ (giving me a gutshot draw, nothing good yet but a small chance of making the nuts). The other guy just calls. The turn comes out with a 9 putting a pair of nines on the board. I check (2 reasons I check, I obviously hit nothing and would like to see the next card for free, or if the guy then bets after my check, i can reraise representing trip 9's). Well the guy then bets out $6. I decide to raise because I know this guy likes to make a push (with nothing) at a pot usually with a low bet. So I raise him up to $24. Hoping to get him out there. Well he thinks about it then goes all-in (only $3 more). I know I am beat but I have to call thinking I still have at least 4 outs. Well the guy had trip 2's giving him a full boar. Outside of that one hand, I played a good night. At one point I got dealt KK 3 times in a row. Sometimes the gods just smile on you :) Ended up leaving after 4 hours of work with $362 ($302) profit. Came on home after that and saw that Grant was online. We talked about our play and what not and he commented he was thinking of planning on depositing some money into an online poker site. Since I had had 2 good nights of poker in the past week, I decided to could spare $50 to deposit online. Long story short I played in 1 $5 SNG, 1 $10 SNG, and 1 $10 SNG, and 1 $10 Omaha tournament. In my Omaha game, I won exactly 0 hands, ended up having to go allin on the a turn when I had a triple gutshot straight draw and flush draw and ended up hitting nothing. The $5 SNG I busted on the bubble winning exactly 3 hands. The $10 SNG I was getting dealt above average hands like AJ, AK, 88, AQ. But everytime my preflop raises were called by 2-3 players and I hit nothing on the flop. My last hand was just brutal, had Q 10 suited late position, with a raise and 3 callers in front of me, so I just call. Flop comes 2 10 blank, everyone checks i bet and get 3 callers. Turn is a Q, my money card, giving me the best hand outside of a set. I guy in front of me puts me all-in, which is now about 300 chips. I have to call hoping he doesnt have a set, and thinking that he doesnt. Everyone else folds, and the bettor turns over Q2 which leaves him with only 2 outs (roughly a 4.5% chance of winning). Of course he rivers the 2 and I am out. After that hand, I just say "Fuck you online poker" transfer the remaining $23 in my account to grant and promise to pay him the rest in the next few days. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, July 8th, 2005
3:32 am	The Beginning Decided to start posting in my live journal now. I chose today (actually yesterday) as the beginning date of my livejournaling for one main reason: the World Series of Poker Main Event began yesterday July 7th, 2005. The reasoning behind this decision is that I plan to trace my poker playing for the next year with the goal being that I will have won my way into the WSOP main event 2006, the first year I am legally allowed to enter the tournament. ( Read more... ) Current Music: K-OS - - Hallelujah (2 Comments |Comment on this)