Randomly interesting, often unusual, pieces of news and opinion that can’t otherwise be categorized.
At least I think that this online gallery is better than my collection of casino carpet. Now I’ve seen some great online image collections–I’m a huge fan of Dan’s Scary Clowns–but this one, right now, takes the cake. I’ll let the author explain it himself: When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Lenin statues were […]
Better than casino carpet Read More »
haphazard worldThat’s a more provocative than the one on the site I pinched this from. But since I think the site is dedicated to purveyors of fresh produce, I can see why they took the angle that they did. From Fresh Plaza: The average British family spends more on gambling than fresh vegetables, fresh fruit or
Gambling is bigger than chocolate Read More »
haphazard worldIt’s a busy travel day for me, but this was too good to pass up. From ESPN: Right field at Dodger Stadium used to feature cheap seats. This year, there will be lots of food and seats that are no longer cheap. The Los Angeles Dodgers are converting their right-field pavilion into all-you-can-eat bleachers. Takers
All you can eat at the ballpark Read More »
haphazard world, life in vegasA New Zealand casino carpet, fed up with people spilling free drinks and worse all over it, has gone vigilante. Well, if you wanted to anthropomorphize a garish pattern of color and shapes, that’s what you’d say. The real story? In addition to being touhg to look at, it’s also a quite hospitable home for
Casino carpet strikes back! Read More »
haphazard worldI borrowed the title from Philip K. Dick (don’t worry–I’ll return it when I’m done), because it completely suits this story. If you’ve got the money, an “ailibi service company” will gladly help you lie to those who trust and love you. From the Las Vegas Sun: Mary is married, and Mary is having an
You can’t not love this AC Press headline: It’s church vs. state in Lower Twp. vulture war There’s actually a story behind it: The Rev. Robert Forbes takes the pulpit here at St. John of God Church to warn his parishioners about all kinds of problems in the world, but his latest concern is a
American Heritage has a great article on the Tiki fad. How sex, rum, World War II, and the brand-new state of Hawaii ignited a fad that has never quite ended. In December 1931 a somewhat adrift 24-year-old washed up in Southern California, looking for something to do. A native of New Orleans, he was named
A Japanese bank is incorporating a virtual roulette wheel into its ATM machines. I don’t this is a joke, and you can read the article from Reuters: Japanese banks have long had a reputation for poor service but at least one is trying something new — wooing customers with an opportunity to try their hand
ATM + roulette = fun? Read More »
gambling & culture, haphazard worldAnother mystery mammal has been found. From Maine Today: Residents are wondering if an animal found dead over the weekend may be the mysterious creature that has mauled dogs, frightened residents and been the subject of local legend for half a generation. The animal was found near power lines along Route 4 on Saturday, apparently
An evil, legendary hybrid mutant Read More »
haphazard worldI could have sworn that a few years ago the Berlin Wall fell, the Soviet Union broke up, and Russia became an American ally. I guess I was misremembering, because Pravda’s printing some of the most inflammatory anti-Bush stuff I’ve seen this side of the New York Times, complete with what might be the most
With friends like these… Read More »
haphazard worldAnimal rights activists are probably reposting this story to draw attention to the inhumane treatment of animals. I just think that the name of the restaurant deserves some notice. From Reuters: Banner-wielding animal rights protesters swarmed into a restaurant serving cat meat in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen and forced it to shut, Xinhua
Not-such-a-mystery meat Read More »
haphazard worldSteve Wynn spent millions of dollars creating the Bellagio fountains, an impressive spectable by any yardstick. Every day, thousands of onlookers thrill to the incongruity of dancing waters in the heart of the desert. It suggests that humans are capable of overcoming even the largest environmental hurdles. The next casino to open on the Strip
Diet Coke, Mentos, and the Bellagio fountain Read More »
haphazard worldThere’s a movie called The Hoodlum Priest, but I don’t think it’s about the guy who runs this casino turned church. From the Fresno Bee: Vineyard Casino stirred great hopes of a tax windfall for Fowler when it opened 10 years ago in a big new building on a 13-acre property on the city’s south
The cardroom church Read More »
gambling & culture, haphazard worldFor a while now, I’ve been wondering if there’s a line on the Scripps National Spelling Bee. I’ve found watching the bee on ESPN strangely compelling, even though I don’t think Texas Hold’em, is in any danger. Well, someone is taking bets on the bee, but you can’t place wagers on individual students. From USA
This is a story that makes you think. From WSB-TV, Atlanta: Worried about the safety of her family during a stormy Memorial Day trip to the beach, Clara Jean Brown stood in her kitchen and prayed for their safe return as a strong thunderstorm rumbled through Baldwin County, Alabama. But while she prayed, lightning suddenly
Good luck, bad luck, or divine design? Read More »
haphazard worldI’m still at the ICGRT, but this article seemed to strange not to post. From the LVRJ: On Saturday night, an unidentified object was sent hurtling through the roof at Steven Gleicher’s workplace. Was the football-sized object a meteor or perhaps something more common? Advertisement And perhaps just as puzzling: How could it rip through
Think about this sitcom idea: slot tune writer by day, Mormon sacred music composer by night. If it seems implausible, that’s only because you haven’t met David Zabriskie yet. From the Salt Lake Tribune: During his free time, David Zabriskie composes moving music for religious theatrical productions. The work may feed his soul, but when
He writes the songs (that the slot players sing) Read More »
gambling & culture, haphazard worldJust because, I ran a few comparative trend searches on Google Trends again. For example: Google Trends: water, fire, air, earth Turns out people are searching the most for air, then water, then fire, then finally earth. Water is hogging a lot of the news coverage, while sturdy old earth gets almost no print. For
Ripping off people, banks, and credit card companies by pretending to be someone that you’re not probably happens a lot, but I thought this story was apt because of the Las Vegas connection. From the Times Online: IT WAS almost as if Youssef Babbou had been watching the 2002 Steven Spielberg film Catch Me If
Plastic Conartistry Read More »
haphazard world, life in vegasAt first, I thought that this news story might be a parody of get-rich-quick schemes. But unfortunately, it looks to be authentic. Judge for yourself, from Frost Illustrated: “How do you get someone to change their mind about robbing someone, stealing someone’s identity or selling drugs for money?” asks S. Silas Patterson, author of the
Gambling your way out of prison? Read More »
gambling & culture, haphazard world