Once again, poor Clint Malarchuk makes headlines with another accident. The poor guy is a magnet for near misses.
For those who don’t recognize Malarchuk’s name, he’s the goalie from this horrific incident, it’s not for the squeamish.
Last night the NHL’s 2008-9 Season really kicked off. Those games in Europe counted for the teams who played there but c’mon, the NHL is a North American league despite all the Europeans on the various 30 teams. Rumors abound about plans to have the NHL expand into Europe which would be a mistake. Why? The NFL did this sporadically for 16 years. You don’t remember? Then I’ve made my point. I say let the Europeans have their own stuff because they’re not as homogenous as Americans and Canadians. The best compromise would be to have a new trophy awarded to the winner of a match between the Stanley Cup champ and whatever the Europeans work out. Personally, I think the World Cup was cooler since hockey will be eliminated from the Olympics after Vancouver’s 2010 hosting duties. What? I don’t recall where I read that but hopefully I’m wrong. Who knows? We probably won’t know for sure until 2010.
The bigger musing (or gripe) I have is over my team’s opener tomorrow. Originally, I was only peeved about Umberger being traded to the pathetic Blue Jackets. Then I realized he was the last active American player. What a bummer! I used to feel a tad of pride in my team having so much American talent: LeClair, Amonte, Roenick, Esche, Umberger, so on. Now all the forwards are Canadian. I know Mike Knuble is a US citizen and plays for America in the Olympics; he grew up in Canada due to his father’s job. Trust me, it’s the same slippery slope to classify Brett Hull as an American player by ignoring his upbringing in Winnipeg.
There is some excitement on the blue line. Philly signed Luca Sbisa, an Italian! Sure the city’s ethnicity has been changing for decades yet the Italian immigrants’ personality remains part of Philly’s character. It’s about time they signed an Italian player who may make it big in the NHL. Germany’s Dennis Seidenberg is hanging in there on the Hurricanes and France’s Cristobal Huet is Chicago’s starting goalie. I think my sport is big enough to include Europeans other than Scandanavians and ex-Soviet Bloc citizens. Next stop, real Brits and Irishmen in the NHL.
I got off track on what was really ticking me off. My team’s “ethnic” roster wasn’t such a serious concern. More of a disappointment. Then nhl.com announced Sarah Palin being invited to drop the ceremonial puck at the Flyers’ season opener. I just about screamed. My political leanings are no secret, especially how much I dislike this Republican toady (she’s Dan Quayle in drag). However, I prefer sports to be apolitical. What was Bettman thinking? Philly is a Democratic stronghold and if she thinks this stunt will win the rest of PA for McCain, she would’ve been better off doing the same at an NHL game in Raleigh or Atlanta, cities in states which will side with the McCain ticket. Even if Biden were doing this, I’d be against it. Sports are supposed to be recreational. Sticking in desperate PR moves for politicians ruins it. This better not be the beginning of an ugly trend.
Will I watch the game at D&B again? Probably. I had a good time last year.
I’ll save the predictions for later. I need to see how well the opener goes for my Flyers. Then I’ll know if I’m going to win $150 in June.
The History Channel’s website has a nice little synopsis on Alvin York and the events that made him a hero. Too bad he was played by Gary Cooper in the movie since York used his fame to help the poor unlike the actor, a pseudo-disciple of Ayn Rand; Cooper played the lead in The Fountainhead adaptation.
I remember finding a brochure for the York Foundation during one of my drives through Tennessee. It looked pretty enticing. Why? He’s the only American war hero I can immediately name who didn’t use his past service record to promote himself into a new sleazy career in politics.
Firstly, my friends Kelly & Ethan’s anniversary gift arrived on Saturday. Since we gave them organic cotton T-shirts with the Alamo Drafthouse on them for their second anniversary (cotton), they bought us a special deal on an olive tree in Italy for our fifth (wood). Somara made a great salmon dish for dinner with it. Mmm!
Next, my nephews in Georgetown gave me Super Monkeyball for the Wii. Everyone loves that franchise of games and on the Wii, it’s super, super easy to learn yet very difficult to master.
Thanks to everyone.
You may recognize his name in D&D numerous maps and these days, the Pathfinder series of adventures and supplements from Paizo Publishing. I did see him in the latest Fourth Edition revision to Forgotten Realms.
Lazz, as he likes to be called, is a cool guy and very talented.
Last year he gave me an indirect kiss off. Indirect? He never explained why, what or anything I may have done, said or not. It was rather heartbreaking. He even sent back a package of Pink Floyd shirts I had been saving for him. Darn USPS took three weeks to do it. Someone at his house actively rejected it, the markings weren’t automated.
Doesn’t matter. The objective of my site is to be positive, not always complaining, grousing or navel gazing.
I only hope his birthday is spent with those who matter to him. Lazz is one of the best cartographers I’ve ever met and his handiwork has brought enjoyment to thousands. Through Paizo, I am glad he continues to do so.
At the insistence, suggestion or wishes (take your pick) of Somara, the liquidation of my D&D collection has been put on hold.
Why?
Well, I know she doesn’t have any plans to be a DM and anything elaborate her characters do is already covered in the books she has.
Somara thinks I’m experiencing the side effects from the medication; there was a long list, if only I had “dry mouth.”
As for the bridge burning…I would rather wait for the doctor to assess.
An overdue picture, sorry, matters at home, work and life were getting in the way.
This is another great groom cake Somara was hired to do, right after we returned from Vegas. My co-worker Isaac requested this. It’s a giant spade [as in a suit of cards] to represent an Austin bar where he met his future wife. Don’t let the layer of frosting on top fool you. Underneath, it’s a red-velvet cake which is super rich, moist and probably bad for you if you’re on a diet. It went over pretty well.
Here’s the “little” movie Somara and I made in Las Vegas. I hope it’s more entertaining than the last one of the Mirage’s volcano (currently down for maintenance). The fashion show would’ve better with a bigger screen ratio.
What is it? It’s a POV-flick from the best seats on the Deuce starting from the South Transfer Center to the stop for Treasure Island. The actual trip takes over half an hour, easily half as long with a rental car or cab, but I sped it up with iMovie and threw in Dave Edmunds’ cover of “Sabre Dance.” Enjoy!
Tonight was the last straw for me and D&D (probably roleplaying games in general) after another barrage of pissing and moaning from the other players on how “they’re not having any fun.” Trans;ation: “we’re not getting our way.” Well, after eight years of trying to balance their enjoyment to the detriment of mine, I decided to just walk away from it because gaming sessions eventually deteriorated into forums of incessant bitching.
The list of the whys, the whats, the hows, etc., could fill up a small book yet I think it’s a waste of electrons on my page. Being succinct is certainly not a personality trait of gamers and I am going to make a break from it. Besides, when a hobby begins to feel as if it’s unpaid, part-time job, it is no longer a source of recreation but one of stress; hence it probably contributes to my anxiety. Gary Gygax’s death and the release of the terrible Fourth Edition rules should’ve been taken as a hint to quit sooner.
I can tell my wife is disappointed (she plays too) yet my brother will cheer (he has always hated it). Somara will manage though, the others will play with her and we all did long before we ever met.
Meanwhile, I will be in the process of selling my stuff because I don’t want it around cluttering up the house any longer. Maybe I can use the proceeds to finance next year’s trip to Vegas.
When this story hits the bottom of the page (becoming number 10), the D&D category will be removed from the site.
Here’s a little trinket I bought impulsively in Las Vegas last week. It’s supposed to be a variation on Mardi Gras beads but I immediately thought would be perfect in our gaming group. The player (or DM) has to wear it under two possible circumstances:
Paul was more of a movie star to my parents’ generation. To people my age, he’s the guy on a salad-dressing bottle. To my nephews, he’s the wise vehicle in Cars. As a hockey fan, he gave us the greatest movie about the sport ever made and probably one of the three films with sports as its focal point, Slapshot. Even if you know very little on how the game is played, it remains hilarious and has withstood the years despite the changes in fashion, attitudes on health or the decline of violence in the leagues. Paul genuinely got into the role as the aging, has-been player-coach Reggie by practicing his skating and stick handling; something only “weird” actors did in the Seventies.
Next Saturday, the NHL’s latest season opens, I definitely need to break out my DVD to get in the mood and raise a beer to Paul’s memory…Reggie would’ve wanted it that way.
A closing picture of the Strip from our time share on the final evening.
Like all good things, they had to come to an end otherwise we’d be pretty sick of them and they wouldn’t be good. I’d say my Las Vegas itch has been scratched until the end of the year. We get to use our time share again next year because this year’s usage was really supposed to be for 2007, the people running it were kind enough to postpone it.
On the final full day, Somara and I used these free slot credits for Casino Royale we received from attending the owner meeting, something equivalent to $40. The attendant accidently gave me $50. Thanks to parochial school, I told him I got one too many. He probably thought I was a moron. Slots aren’t my game, besides, the machines only paid out if you hit a major jackpot. At least it was free. Casino Royale is on the east-side of the Strip, nestled between Planet Hollywood and what will be the next Hard Rock Cafe (a second one, the off-Strip location isn’t closing). Right. One of the lesser attractions like Imperial Palace, New Frontier (gone) or the Boardwalk (gone). Its silver lining was three-dollar craps and one-dollar roulette. The former is a bargain over the standard Strip casinos; betting on the shooter and sixes ‘n eights are the same price (versus $5 and $6 respectively). I definitely plan to go back to stretch my budget for one of my three games. It was wise of the original owners to use one of Fleming’s better titles, I think most people would avoid it if were named Moonraker or A View to a Kill.
The remainder of our afternoon was first spent eating at Planet Hollywood and seeing what else was modified since 2003. Somara played roulette for a bit while I watched her strategy pan out; not bad, she finished ahead by four bucks! The lady working at the table was really friendly as we talked about the history of various games (many go back to the Renaissance or earlier). I didn’t know that all the numbers in roulette (1-36) add up to 666, the lady was right, I checked through Excel. Then we worked our way up north to Treasure Island. Somara went off on her own to play some things she wanted to check out. I took in a busy craps table to learn more about the etiquette. Later on I was a spectator at the poker room. I didn’t join in but it’s not as expensive as I thought; $40 to enter and it’s two dollars a hand to start. Sadly, it’s still Texas Hold ’em or what I call, poker for retards. Sorry if I’m insulting anyone. I know the game makes quick, cheap TV filler on ESPN and a lowest-common denominator in the last Bond movie (to me, Bond will always be a baccarat player, poker is beneath him). I grew up with poker requiring five cards in your hand and beaucoup bluffing like on MASH or Star Trek: the Next Generation. Either way, I might give it a shot next trip, as long as I don’t come of as a rube. I know I’m going to lose, I just need to make sure I do it looking gracefully.
Somara and I made our final bet on our wedding date…lost, drat! It’s still ahead financially. We’ve won $700 on 27 while we’ve lost less than $100 in five years. Certainly better than what Wall Street has done in the last 18 months. Then all gambling ended by tradition, or maybe more by edict when it comes to me. It was mid-evening (Austin time) so we returned to TV, unwound, did some travel prep and had a relaxing dinner at the Denny’s built into the resort; it had free Wi-Fi the whole time, I just didn’t want to cybersquat very much during the trip.
I’ll close with some pictures and assess this vacation’s lessons in a couple weeks like I did on Vegas IV plus a time-lapse movie of taking the Deuce. Thanks for posting and keeping up. It was the best vacation ever with my wife plus the time share was great. One common thought that kept coming up was how we missed celebrating the attractions of the city with our friends like when we got married or my trip in 2005. Maybe next time?
A brave window washer on the side of the Venetian.
Same guy in the red circle to give some perspective. Yikes!
FINAL GAMBLING RESULTS:
Somara: Unknown
Steve: -$219.99 or -$70 if the Flyers win the Cup next Summer
Due to the late (and awesome) evening before, we took it much easier and there really wasn’t much to report back that was new, so this will be heavier on the pictures. In the end I did lose our Video Poker challenge 5-4 but we need to iron out the rules more due to a spat over strategies during the last game. I think the key change is it being a best of five competition; Somara would rather have more money for roulette and I can have a bit more with craps.
The big highlight was dinner at Bellagio which became the new mandatory place (in addition to one breakfast at Paris) whenever we visit. Somara also got additional shots of the time share to show how nice it was.
I think I got my $30-worth here. The pieces of lamb and prime rib alone would run at least $15 back home at a casual place.
Dessert pictures were mandatory due to Somara’s side profession.
Great! Just when you thought Caesar’s Palace was safe once Celine Dion left!
Cher’s famous dresses, namely the one she wore to Sonny’s funeral and another from the evening she won the Oscar® For Best Italian Stereotype.
GAMBLING REPORT:
Somara: Unknown
Steve: -$190.99
Liam Finn and EJ Barnes rocking Vegas, and Austin by proxy.
This once in a lifetime opportunity was courtesy of my awesome friend Chip! Why Liam isn’t coming through Austin for his debut solo tour is beyond me, he would do pretty well if booked at the Cactus Club (ideal) or Stubb’s indoors. Even discovering this show was a complete accident. First was I checking out Jools Holland’s BBC-based site to research my earlier Squeeze story. Then I saw Liam had appeared on Later this Spring which led me to click the link to his site. It had tour dates so I thought, ‘hey, I wonder if he’s coming to Austin.’ No dice yet I noticed he’d be passing through Las Vegas while I’d be there on vacation. I wrote the venue’s booking person because the Beauty Bar’s Vegas site is incomplete. She replied saying tickets would only be sold at the door. Bummed and fearing a sold-out concert (clubs tend to be tiny and LV has a large transitory population of attendees), I gambled (no joke intended) on Chip having some influence. As I learned 20 years ago at WMUR, “it never hurts to ask,” which has the follow-up of “you might actually get a yes.”
Enough about how we got in, let’s get on with the show! Firstly, it’s unfair to compare Liam to his father (Neil) or uncle (Tim) but it’s unavoidable like numerous other second or third generation performers. He has inherited their showmanship, skill level, vocals (he’s around the same range is Neil) and sense of humor. Liam does have the benefit of being around studios for much of his life, he is a technical and musical marvel to watch. Technical? Other than EJ (his friend Eliza Jane), Liam has no touring band. Just like his CD, he played all the guitars (lead, rhythm and bass) and drums. In concert, he employs looping gear but nothing was done ahead of time; he’d lay down the melody, record and then turn it loose to proceed to the solo, lead, etc. Watching him play the drums reminded me of Animal from the Muppet Show too; serious energy!
Liam jamming on stage, letting a nearby vagrant have a harmonica solo.
EJ and Liam played everything from I’ll be Lightning but the coolest song was “Gather to the Chapel.” Something went wrong with the amplifiers so he unhooked his acoustic guitar, moved in closer to the audience with EJ, asked us to pull in and participate on the chorus to make up the ‘lack’ of volume. It’s always the intimate venues which provide the best memories! They were impressed the crowd knew the song. The humorous moment sprang up during “Wise Men” thanks to a homeless guy horning in with his harmonica from the alley behind the B Bar. Liam let him play, then ordered him to take the solo. Sadly, the stranger didn’t quit as the song was ending. This resulted with Liam yelling, ‘OK, there is such a thing as overplaying.’ Security probably had to give a hint later because it wasn’t a problem the rest of the evening. For the encore, the ANZAC duo teased the opening act, egging them on to participate in a cover of Neil Young’s “Old Man.” Only the drummer took up the offer. Finally, during the main set, EJ and Liam demonstrated their familial improvisational skills by composing a song about their time in Las Vegas. Not some goofy, throwaway TMBG or BNL-like tune. It was a serious rocker encompassing their arrival from LA, having margaritas at dinner and squeezing in a ride on the rollercoaster in the New York New York casino before sound check. After the show, I thanked Liam’s tour manager Sam, especially for believing my claim of the arrangements through Chip & YepRoc; I don’t know, I figure LV has a lot of “exaggerators.” We even got a picture with EJ and Liam as a souvenir!
Obviously, I spoke to them. My burning question for EJ was her relation to Jimmy Barnes (he’s like the Bob Seeger of Australia); her reply, “He’s my dad.” She certainly has his hair. If you’re wondering who Jimmy is, he had a hit 20 years ago in the US singing with INXS for a song from the Lost Boys soundtrack. As for Liam, I asked him if he would come to Austin and give greetings from Chip (who he recognized quickly). I recommended playing the Cactus due to the great reception his uncle received. Liam was a good sport. He said he wanted to play Austin but it wouldn’t happen this time due to ACL or other engagements prohibiting him from coming through. He does hope to try again. If you have the chance to see him, I highly recommend you do. Afterwards, you’ll run out to your local record store or iTunes to get his debut and probably his previous work in the band Betchadupa (which I forgot to ask about, d’oh!). Should you be unable to, then get I’ll be Lightning, it’s shaping up to be my favorite album of the year and I am willing to back it up with my own money.
Sunday was the big day for Vegas V because we traveled to Fremont Avenue to see this trip’s centerpiece event, Liam Finn at the Beauty Bar (much like Prince was for Vegas IV). The concert is covered in the Music section of Picayune.
The red and green chips on the left are what I won.
We kicked off the day with round seven of video poker at MGM, Somara leads 4-3. However, Luck & Fun graced me at the craps table. Not only did I find a five-dollar table, I won $50! Probably the most fun game this vacation too because my shooting was hot; I hit two hard numbers, namely the hard eight when it was point. The guy playing with me and helping out on etiquette was from Chicago so there was plenty to talk about. For a financial advisor, he was pretty brave betting on the other numbers. I definitely need to take a craps tutorial next time I’m here. Oh, the table people were a hoot, especially the older man who said his boss counts the chips accurately on Sundays. After coloring up, I left the table guys a tip (why the picture only shows $140) and we went back to TV to rest up for the evening.
The Fremont Experience and its casinos, still as unimpressive as they were in 1997.
Thinking we napped enough and overestimating how long it would take the Deuce to reach Fremont, Somara and I put on some upscale clothes; namely one of my new suits I bought with the Economic Hail Mary.
If our time share weren’t at the south end of the Deuce’s route, taking this special, ongoing 24-hour bus would’ve been an awful ordeal. A rental car would’ve been nicer since it took 90 minutes to cover a distance of about 10 miles; and I thought Cap Metro was pokey needing an hour to get from Tech Ridge to UT. In defense of public transportation, we wanted to see more of the Strip as it transformed into downtown Vegas but it practically stops at every major casino between Mandalay Bay to the Stratosphere which would be all of them. This line also gives you the opportunity to see the uglier side of the city: wedding chapels, adult book stores and the slums the public only sees when going to the outlet mall.
Once there, Somara and I checked out what’s called the Fremont Experience. Other than the region’s history (if you’re into such stuff), I figure you’d get the same experience in Louisiana or on a Peoria riverboat. Now I remember why I never went bothered to go back during my previous three visits.
The Beauty Bar of Las Vegas which is part of a larger franchise.
Despite most of downtown Vegas being rather lame, the Beauty Bar was cool. The inner section is a bar tweaked to resemble one of those old salons my grandma went to. The actual stage area is in the “backyard” with couches to complete the look. It felt like being in the opening stage of the Guitar Hero game but with original music from talented artists.
Liam’s touring manager Sam prevented the evening from being a bust by letting us into the show for free courtesy of my friend Chip. He had arranged this ahead of time so I brought a copy of the e-mail confirming the commitment from Liam’s record label. (Somara and I are hunting for something super special for him! What do you get for a guy who has everything he possibly could want in the music department?) Again, the concert is its own story.
When the show concluded after 2 AM, we caught the Deuce at its northern starting point and thanks to a duet of ladies in the front seat, the return journey turned into a punch-drunk comedy run. I couldn’t resist, they were feeding me some good set-ups to say something witty in addition to their bits. Even I wished they didn’t get off at the Flamingo, I think we could’ve finished our routine by the Southern Transfer Center. The bus driver was probably relieved to be rid of us smartasses but I’m confident he’s encountered worse since booze is easily available in LV.
GAMBLING REPORT:
Somara: -$133.25
Steve: -$145.99
