Its actually a very small list but when you look at it, they are the single most devisive things one can talk about. They are:
Religion. I am not a particularly religious man. Definately very spiritual, but not tied to one brand of Christianity. My minor in Religion, coupled with trying every major brand of Christianity (I have been Baptist, Methodist, attended a Church of Christ school, and went to Catholic School for first Grade) has made realize that none of them have all the answers. We are not just talking the basic differences between Catholics aand Protestants, but stoopid things like their heated arguements about the use of musical instruments in the church services (Church of Christ don't use them in the services because the first Christians didn't. Not maken that up). So I do not discuss religion with people. Living in a very small, very fundamentalist town like I do will cure of that really quick.
Politics: Now, many of you might not know that I am a serious geek. I mean, total History Channel watchen geek. In college I was a double major of Poli Sci and History (two of the more useless degree's in the real world, let me tell ya), and paid for college by being on the Debate Squad. All of this gave me a very interesting perspective on Politics: No one is right. Everyone has a point, and unless they are really crazy, are probably at least a lil correct. Right, Left, Liberal, Conservative.....none of it really matters. Especially now that no one actually listens to each other. Everyone is to busy blaming the other guy for the problems of the world without trying to fix the problems. If one is in power, the other does everything they can to demolish the other side, and vice versa. Its just so freaken frustrating. We are facing serious challenges in our future: Islmaic Fascism, the Bankruptcy of Social Security, Immigration, The Growing Debt, and NOT ONE POLITICIAN IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO SOLVE ANY OF THEM!!!! Dude, if you think that they are, your just not paying much attention. We need to stop pointing fingers, and start solving the problems.
So, what will I blog on? Pretty much stuff I think will amuse the 9 people (and I know who you are) that actually read this blog: My vacations, tv shows, movies...etc. However, I will not promise that if something doesn't get me all riled up, I won't vent about it here.
And I do tend to get riled.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Summing up my Vacation.
This one was a bit different than the one I took at the end of March. The purpose of this vacation was to rest, and relax. To get away from Wal-mart and all the things that are slowly killing me. To do things for me. All was definitely accomplished. Here is a quick rundown:
Saturday: Jesus Christ on a pogo stick. It took 6 hours for me to get here. When booking my flight with Southwest, I didn't realize that I would need a change of clothes to get from Lubbock to Las Vegas. What I hadn't realized was that the flight Flew from Lubbock to El Paso, then to Phoenix. In Phoenix I changed planes, and flew from there to Vegas. UGH So by the time I got to the hotel I was wiped out and starving. Thank God for room service.
Saturday: Jesus Christ on a pogo stick. It took 6 hours for me to get here. When booking my flight with Southwest, I didn't realize that I would need a change of clothes to get from Lubbock to Las Vegas. What I hadn't realized was that the flight Flew from Lubbock to El Paso, then to Phoenix. In Phoenix I changed planes, and flew from there to Vegas. UGH So by the time I got to the hotel I was wiped out and starving. Thank God for room service.
Green Chili Bacon Cheeseburger with Frys and a really good Side Salad. Major yum.
So after that it was a lil wandering around, a beer and cigar (blogged earlier in that rambling post), then bed.
Sunday: The hotel I was staying at, Ballys, does a fancy Sunday Brunch called the Sterling Brunch hosted at their swank steak house. I had read about it on the internet, and had to go. It was expensive, but wow. I ate and ate and ate and drank free champagne, and ate, and drank mimosas, and finally, ate some more. Almost anything you could want and more was available. It was incredible. And some of the best coffee I have ever had. (BTW, the following pics are just for you Cindy...Enjoy!!!)
First course: Omelet w/Lobster and Brie Cheese, Crab Salad, Boiled Shrimp, Bacon and Sausage
Second Course: Buttery Croisant, Crepes with Banana's Foster, Mini Pecan Waffles with Butter and Syrup, New York Strip Steak, and a "Country Eggs Benedict"-Sausage Biscuit with Gravy with a Poached egg on top.
Dessert Course: toasted Bagel with Cream Cheese and Lockes, Assorted Cheeses, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with a Chocolate Covered Strawberry.
Add to that about a gallon of coffee and 3 Mimosas....total Gluttony.
Sunday was also show day. In a fit of brilliance I bought my show tickets for both of the shows I was seeing for the same night. The only thing saving me was that they were hours apart. The first was Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian. I love this play, and saw it like a million years ago in New York with the original cast of Sarah Brightmen (then Mrs. Andrew LLoydd Weber), and Michael Crawford. The first CD I ever bought was the soundtrack to Phantom, So I was totally pumped to see this and was not disappointed. The theater was built for this production, and the interiors looks like an old Parisian Opera house. This production also is about a half hour shorter, which I think helps tremendously. The truly sad thing is that as soon as they started singing the first song, I knew all the words and could sing along with all of it. Ya ya, I am a theatre geek.
The next show of the night was the new Cirque du Soleil show Love at the Mirage. Its a show all based on the songs of the Beatles, with the total blessing of the remaining boys. The best way to describe it was moments of absolute grace and beauty surrounded by prodigious amounts of pretentious bullshit. But, then again, that's a good way to describe the Beatles. Basically its interpretation the songs through dance, high flying acrobats, and dudes on roller blades. Sometimes it totally works, like with "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" where light strips had been slowly lowered down above the audience, and the lit up to look like we were in the middle of stars. Sometimes, it was a real "What the hell?!?!?" as with the inclusion of "Octopus's Garden" by Ringo star. Dancing Sea Cucumbers. That's all I will say about that. Overall I totally enjoyed it. Especially the usher dressed like this:
All the girls were dressed like bobbies in these very cute outfits. What I didn't get was the knee socks and patent leather shoes. Yum.
Monday: Got up and took the Monorail up to the Hilton were I ate lunch at Quark's, the Star Trek Themed Hotel at the Hilton.
Me and my new business partner.
Sunday: The hotel I was staying at, Ballys, does a fancy Sunday Brunch called the Sterling Brunch hosted at their swank steak house. I had read about it on the internet, and had to go. It was expensive, but wow. I ate and ate and ate and drank free champagne, and ate, and drank mimosas, and finally, ate some more. Almost anything you could want and more was available. It was incredible. And some of the best coffee I have ever had. (BTW, the following pics are just for you Cindy...Enjoy!!!)
First course: Omelet w/Lobster and Brie Cheese, Crab Salad, Boiled Shrimp, Bacon and Sausage
Second Course: Buttery Croisant, Crepes with Banana's Foster, Mini Pecan Waffles with Butter and Syrup, New York Strip Steak, and a "Country Eggs Benedict"-Sausage Biscuit with Gravy with a Poached egg on top.
Dessert Course: toasted Bagel with Cream Cheese and Lockes, Assorted Cheeses, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with a Chocolate Covered Strawberry.Add to that about a gallon of coffee and 3 Mimosas....total Gluttony.
Sunday was also show day. In a fit of brilliance I bought my show tickets for both of the shows I was seeing for the same night. The only thing saving me was that they were hours apart. The first was Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian. I love this play, and saw it like a million years ago in New York with the original cast of Sarah Brightmen (then Mrs. Andrew LLoydd Weber), and Michael Crawford. The first CD I ever bought was the soundtrack to Phantom, So I was totally pumped to see this and was not disappointed. The theater was built for this production, and the interiors looks like an old Parisian Opera house. This production also is about a half hour shorter, which I think helps tremendously. The truly sad thing is that as soon as they started singing the first song, I knew all the words and could sing along with all of it. Ya ya, I am a theatre geek.
The next show of the night was the new Cirque du Soleil show Love at the Mirage. Its a show all based on the songs of the Beatles, with the total blessing of the remaining boys. The best way to describe it was moments of absolute grace and beauty surrounded by prodigious amounts of pretentious bullshit. But, then again, that's a good way to describe the Beatles. Basically its interpretation the songs through dance, high flying acrobats, and dudes on roller blades. Sometimes it totally works, like with "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" where light strips had been slowly lowered down above the audience, and the lit up to look like we were in the middle of stars. Sometimes, it was a real "What the hell?!?!?" as with the inclusion of "Octopus's Garden" by Ringo star. Dancing Sea Cucumbers. That's all I will say about that. Overall I totally enjoyed it. Especially the usher dressed like this:
All the girls were dressed like bobbies in these very cute outfits. What I didn't get was the knee socks and patent leather shoes. Yum.Monday: Got up and took the Monorail up to the Hilton were I ate lunch at Quark's, the Star Trek Themed Hotel at the Hilton.
Me and my new business partner.
Then I went down to the Sahara, where GM has set up a thing called "The Drive". Here, for 10 bucks, you get to drive their kewlest cars around either a high performance track, or, for Hummers, a specially designed off road track. I did both. Sheesh, it was freaken awesome!!!! I neeed an H2. Its truly more of a real SUV than you would think. It can climb a foot curb, take 45 degree turns, and climb 60 degree incline hills without even trying. A rep drives with you the entire time, and the guy who was with me in the H2 used to be in the military. He said at first he was very suspicious of the H2 cause it seemed only soccer moms had them. Then he drove one and was blown away on how truly awesome it was. Not a Poser SUV at all.
Then it was off to see Superman Returns in Imax 3d. Remember my earlier post about Supes? Take that and multiply it by 20. HOLY FRELL. Lets just start off at with the fact that its projected on a screen 70 Ft high. Add to that 3d. Now not all of it was in 3d, thank Xenu or I would be dead from a headache, but key scenes were, like the Shuttle Rescue. WOW. If you can, go see it like this.
Tuesday: Lunch at my favorite Buffet (Balleys), some souvenir shopping, then off to see "The Price is Right". Its a live stage show version of the TV show that was suprisingly fun. I didn't win nothen, darn it, but one of the models was smoken ass hot. Meg was her name, brunette, 5'6", 34c, and very nice in a bikini. Tried to get a picture of her, but the lighting in the theater did not allow. Sigh.....
Then I hung around and waited until the sun went down cause it was only 156 degrees outside. After dark, I took the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris. I had been there before during the day, but never at night. Totally different view of Vegas, and even prettier I think. Watched the Bellagio fountains from above, and realized that its the only way to watch them. From the street, you miss much of whats going on.
Then I came home. UGH.
Then it was off to see Superman Returns in Imax 3d. Remember my earlier post about Supes? Take that and multiply it by 20. HOLY FRELL. Lets just start off at with the fact that its projected on a screen 70 Ft high. Add to that 3d. Now not all of it was in 3d, thank Xenu or I would be dead from a headache, but key scenes were, like the Shuttle Rescue. WOW. If you can, go see it like this.
Tuesday: Lunch at my favorite Buffet (Balleys), some souvenir shopping, then off to see "The Price is Right". Its a live stage show version of the TV show that was suprisingly fun. I didn't win nothen, darn it, but one of the models was smoken ass hot. Meg was her name, brunette, 5'6", 34c, and very nice in a bikini. Tried to get a picture of her, but the lighting in the theater did not allow. Sigh.....
Then I hung around and waited until the sun went down cause it was only 156 degrees outside. After dark, I took the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris. I had been there before during the day, but never at night. Totally different view of Vegas, and even prettier I think. Watched the Bellagio fountains from above, and realized that its the only way to watch them. From the street, you miss much of whats going on.
Then I came home. UGH.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Random Thoughts in Vegas.....
Just some quick thoughts as I stand outside the Paris, watching the Bellagio Fountains while enjoying a fine cigar and a Guiness....
1. The absolute plethora of attractive women you see is mind boggling. Whatever your 'type'' you can find her walking up and down the Strip. Now many of these fine specimens are marred by outfits that even Goodwill would return, but still. And don't get me started on the hideous shoes.....
2. The Strip truly is the American Dream made true. Here it is 12:10 AM on a Saturday night, and thousands of people are wandering about without any fear of being harmed. The mega casinos are capitalism in its purest form, allowing all people of all creeds, religions, races, and sexes to come together in peace. None of the artificial boundary's we put up between people matter here. Here, we are all God's chillens.
3. This truly is my fave place to people watch here. It also is home to one of my favorite games: Can they take the Picture Before the Asian couple Walks in Front Of You? Where I stand is a replica of the famous fountains of Paris, and it seems you cannot come to Vegas without taking a picture of your loved one in front of them. The trick is to get your picture off before the crowd of people populating the strip comes between you and your subject. A picture of Aunt Marge now becomes one of a troop of drunken party girls...ah memory's....
4. Alright, lets tackle the shoe thing while I am cigar/beer buzzen. As you stand and take in the wonders that is Vegas, you will often see an attractive, and sometimes even hot, young lady saunter by. Her ensemble is perfect, and eye catching....until your eye travels down to her feet and you realize she is wearing flip flops. Not attractive, cute ones either, but some that look like they came straight from the Rollback section of Wal-Mart. Or even worse, these six inch cork healed sandal's that were in fashion when Hippies roamed the Earth. Look...I understand that you need a comfortable shoe to march up and down the Strip, but I know they make some that are not an affront to all peace loven people. Sheesh...this is what is destroying America, let me tell ya.
1. The absolute plethora of attractive women you see is mind boggling. Whatever your 'type'' you can find her walking up and down the Strip. Now many of these fine specimens are marred by outfits that even Goodwill would return, but still. And don't get me started on the hideous shoes.....
2. The Strip truly is the American Dream made true. Here it is 12:10 AM on a Saturday night, and thousands of people are wandering about without any fear of being harmed. The mega casinos are capitalism in its purest form, allowing all people of all creeds, religions, races, and sexes to come together in peace. None of the artificial boundary's we put up between people matter here. Here, we are all God's chillens.
3. This truly is my fave place to people watch here. It also is home to one of my favorite games: Can they take the Picture Before the Asian couple Walks in Front Of You? Where I stand is a replica of the famous fountains of Paris, and it seems you cannot come to Vegas without taking a picture of your loved one in front of them. The trick is to get your picture off before the crowd of people populating the strip comes between you and your subject. A picture of Aunt Marge now becomes one of a troop of drunken party girls...ah memory's....
4. Alright, lets tackle the shoe thing while I am cigar/beer buzzen. As you stand and take in the wonders that is Vegas, you will often see an attractive, and sometimes even hot, young lady saunter by. Her ensemble is perfect, and eye catching....until your eye travels down to her feet and you realize she is wearing flip flops. Not attractive, cute ones either, but some that look like they came straight from the Rollback section of Wal-Mart. Or even worse, these six inch cork healed sandal's that were in fashion when Hippies roamed the Earth. Look...I understand that you need a comfortable shoe to march up and down the Strip, but I know they make some that are not an affront to all peace loven people. Sheesh...this is what is destroying America, let me tell ya.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Some images from Bellagio's Conservatory
The Bellagio has a magnificent indoor conservatory. When Wynn built the place, his vision of it was a place that included the beauty of nature along with an idealized fantasy of Europe. When I was here in March, the conservatory was nice, with all these topariry creatures in it. Since then, they have done this celebration of America all over the hotel, and updated the conservatory with these mini recreations of famous, and iconic, sites.
Starting with a recreation of the Bellagio itself. It even has working fountains!! Very sweet. It even has lil tourists...very kewl.
One of the kewlest things is the Jefferson Memorial, with a lil statue of Jefferson in it.
More pictures later...
Starting with a recreation of the Bellagio itself. It even has working fountains!! Very sweet. It even has lil tourists...very kewl.
One of the kewlest things is the Jefferson Memorial, with a lil statue of Jefferson in it.
More pictures later...
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Goen back To Vegas...
Well, I am already there. Got here this afternoon for 4 days of just hangen out and not doen much. I needed a vacation bad, but couldn't figure out where. Then evil Bally's sends me an email saying they have these ridiculously low rates if I booked then, and add to that that I had a 100 travel voucher from Cattlecar Airlines from last trip when they lost my luggage, and it seemed to be predenstined. This trip will be even less mobile than the last, let me tell ya. Hardly any sightseeing this time, just being lazy and not doen much. Oh, I am going to go see Love, the new Cirque show based on Beatles songs, and Phantom of the Opera, but that's pretty much it. The dumb thing I did is when I bought my tickets, I was an idiot and bought them for the same night!!! What saves me from being an absolute idiot is that Phantom is at 7, and Love at 10:30, so making both will not be a problem.
Couple of other kewl things as well, such as going to "Drive", and thing at the Sahara where for 10 bucks you get 2 laps around this race track with either a high end SUV (can ya say H2?), or high performence car (CORVETTE). That will be kewl, then I am going to go see Superman in IMAX 3D!! Megasweet.
Anyways, I will let ya know if something kewl happens, and post pics, of course.
Be good!!
Couple of other kewl things as well, such as going to "Drive", and thing at the Sahara where for 10 bucks you get 2 laps around this race track with either a high end SUV (can ya say H2?), or high performence car (CORVETTE). That will be kewl, then I am going to go see Superman in IMAX 3D!! Megasweet.
Anyways, I will let ya know if something kewl happens, and post pics, of course.
Be good!!
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
I AM..........SUPERMAN!!!
This is a big fat hairy duh:
Your results:
You are Superman
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz
Your results:
You are Superman
| You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.  |
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz
Monday, July 03, 2006
Superman
Alright, alright...so its been awhile. I get...lazy, and don't blog. I apologize profusely.
But...let me tell you about the best movie I have seen in some time. One disclaimer before I start in on this wonderful movie. Yes, it is about Superman (****),and yes, I am a huuuuuuge Superman Freak. The first comic I ever bought with my own money was a Superman comic when I was 6 years old. He is my hero. But, that being said, if this movie had suxed, I would have torn it a new one because of my love for Supes. Just cause I love him does not mean I love all things with his name on it.
Flash back to 1987. We get the abortion known as Superman and the Search for Peace(-100000 stars). Basically its about Superman destroying all the nuclear weapons, and in the process creating his arch nemisis, Glowy Gold Guy. I think thats what his name was, I don't remember, as the trauma of the movie made me forget. It was poorly written, poorly acted, was edited by a dylexic drunk monkey (actually, that would have been better), and killed Superman as a franchise for years to come. This movie so so bad, ITS NOT AVAILIBLE ON DVD. I think its what actually killed Christ Reeve and made Margot Kidder Crazy. UGH UGH UGH.
19 years later, we are redeemed. Superman Returns is the direct sequal to Superman II (***). After fighting Zod, Supes travels into space to see if he can find any remnants of his home planet Krypton. He returns five years later to an earth that has moved on. Lois Lane (played glowingly by Kate Bosworth), his love, has moved on and had has a son with another man. He struggles to find his place in this world, and wonders if he even has one.
Something that hasn't changed is his Arch Rival, Lex Luthor (magnificently done by Kevin Spacey). Lex has weasled his way out of prison and stolen an old womans fortune to finally get his dream...Lexland. To do this, he travels to the north and steals the crystals from Supes' Fortress of Solitude, and creates a plot to grow a new continent that will be all his. Parker Posey plays Lex's....um...well girlfriend would mean he had feelings for her...so...female henchwoman? And is totally underused, but when she is, its wonderful.
Beyond that, this one of the best shot movies I have seen in some time. Incredible action sequences with Superman saving the shuttle kept me on the edge of my seat. In 1977 when the first one came out, the tag was "You will believe a man can fly"...here, you not only believe can fly, but you wish you could as well. All through the movie are homages to the original movies, from the same font used in the opening credits, to the use of dialouge directly from the movies. Most importanly, the Superman theme created by the genius that is John Williams is here, and added to. Without that, it would not have worked. Bryan Singer, who redeemed comic book heros with his Xmen and Xmen 2, knows what he is doing, and does it very very well here. I was in love with this movie from the start.
What I cannot wait for is to see it in Imax 3d, which I will when i go to Vegas Next week. YES!!!
But...let me tell you about the best movie I have seen in some time. One disclaimer before I start in on this wonderful movie. Yes, it is about Superman (****),and yes, I am a huuuuuuge Superman Freak. The first comic I ever bought with my own money was a Superman comic when I was 6 years old. He is my hero. But, that being said, if this movie had suxed, I would have torn it a new one because of my love for Supes. Just cause I love him does not mean I love all things with his name on it.
Flash back to 1987. We get the abortion known as Superman and the Search for Peace(-100000 stars). Basically its about Superman destroying all the nuclear weapons, and in the process creating his arch nemisis, Glowy Gold Guy. I think thats what his name was, I don't remember, as the trauma of the movie made me forget. It was poorly written, poorly acted, was edited by a dylexic drunk monkey (actually, that would have been better), and killed Superman as a franchise for years to come. This movie so so bad, ITS NOT AVAILIBLE ON DVD. I think its what actually killed Christ Reeve and made Margot Kidder Crazy. UGH UGH UGH.
19 years later, we are redeemed. Superman Returns is the direct sequal to Superman II (***). After fighting Zod, Supes travels into space to see if he can find any remnants of his home planet Krypton. He returns five years later to an earth that has moved on. Lois Lane (played glowingly by Kate Bosworth), his love, has moved on and had has a son with another man. He struggles to find his place in this world, and wonders if he even has one.
Something that hasn't changed is his Arch Rival, Lex Luthor (magnificently done by Kevin Spacey). Lex has weasled his way out of prison and stolen an old womans fortune to finally get his dream...Lexland. To do this, he travels to the north and steals the crystals from Supes' Fortress of Solitude, and creates a plot to grow a new continent that will be all his. Parker Posey plays Lex's....um...well girlfriend would mean he had feelings for her...so...female henchwoman? And is totally underused, but when she is, its wonderful.
Beyond that, this one of the best shot movies I have seen in some time. Incredible action sequences with Superman saving the shuttle kept me on the edge of my seat. In 1977 when the first one came out, the tag was "You will believe a man can fly"...here, you not only believe can fly, but you wish you could as well. All through the movie are homages to the original movies, from the same font used in the opening credits, to the use of dialouge directly from the movies. Most importanly, the Superman theme created by the genius that is John Williams is here, and added to. Without that, it would not have worked. Bryan Singer, who redeemed comic book heros with his Xmen and Xmen 2, knows what he is doing, and does it very very well here. I was in love with this movie from the start.
What I cannot wait for is to see it in Imax 3d, which I will when i go to Vegas Next week. YES!!!
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