Fond memories of summer

Back before I left for the APA Las Vegas National Tournament I had the chance to go to a car wash. This was an event to help raise money for the other Central New York team that was also going to Las Vegas.

The car wash was a bit different. The ladies of the team were the ones doing the work. And they had the best sales gimmick. Suffice to say that they pulled in many cars.

I didn't get video of it, but one of the funniest things had to be an older couple (in their 70's) that came into the car wash. The wife was right in the passenger seat and fully enthralled. You just had to see that.

Or the 4 guys that came back 5 times, in each of their cars and then borrowed a neighbors car.

I think the video will explain why.

Planning for APA Las Vegas Nationals in 2010

I really haven't posted any of my APA pool league videos in a while. Actually since I got back from Las Vegas and the tournament there. So for those that follow how my teams and I are doing, a quick update. (I'm still ranked a 5 for the time being in both 8 and 9 ball)

So far my 8-ball pool team, Guys & Dolls, is leading the league. It's the same team of guys, minus one and added a woman, that went with me to Las Vegas. Currently we are already qualified for the competition match in 2010 to earn a spot back at Las Vegas. Our plan is to get back there and take first place this next time, now that we know what to expect.

As for 9-ball, my team is in 2nd place. I am captain of this team, so I feel good about that news. This team also has qualified for a try to get the Las Vegas trip. I admit my game is off the mark just a bit lately (I dropped from 4th in the entire league to 25th recently), but the team is a solid group and winning big.

The following runs gives you an idea of where I am right now. My shots are decent, with a couple of harder difficulty shots going well (ie the shot at the 43 second and 1:38). Just not finishing off as much as I should be. No doubt my concentration is off due to the economy and its impact.

Restaurant Review: CatHouse in Luxor - Las Vegas

Earlier I mentioned that I visited a few restaurants in Las Vegas. I mentioned the overall disappointing experience of Red White and Blue in Mandalay Bay, and now I want to mention a place I do recommend – CatHouse at Luxor.

The Luxor is a beautiful hotel and casino. It is a mix of post modern and ancient designs. The blend is pleasing to the eye and invigorating. The same can be said of the CatHouse restaurant/lounge.

I didn’t have my camera with me at the time, but the location of the restaurant/lounge is off the casino floor to the right, well inside of Luxor. It might seem an odd location, but it fits in nicely with the décor and feel of the casino. CatHouse opens its doors at 6pm, and has a happy hour until 8pm. And you would do well to arrive early or make reservations.

The theme of the CatHouse is exactly what the name implies. From the outside you are treated to the front of a house with the upstairs windows containing a silhouette of women in various stages of preparing garters. That tells you what is to come once you enter.

As you go up the stairs to the bar and dining areas (I believe a curtained area on the first floor to the left is a VIP area, but I’m not sure) you will note that the walls are filled from floor to ceiling with various photos of early 1900’s era women in lingerie and tasteful nude art. This is obviously not a place for children or prudes. But let me emphasize that this is art and tasteful.

The stairs continue to a lounging chair that I noted several female patrons stopped to take pictures on and against. All part of setting the mood and atmosphere of the location. As you circle around the stairs to the left, you enter the bar area.



The bar is a nice tall dark wood, with a lavish selection of top end liquors, as well as ample variations of beer. The selection is quite nice with about 6 or 7 separate scotches that I noticed (including the Glenlivet 12 and 18 year olds). Sadly the Glenlivet 21 reserve is not among the scotches anymore, but a fine selection for scotch drinkers.

A special point of interest, if you can afford it, is the fact that the Cat House does carry the Louis XIII cognac. For those unfamiliar with this liquor, which is almost everyone, it is a very top end drink. A bottle of this can go for $1,500 or more. The crystal bottle goes for $100 – 500 empty. There is a special edition of the liquor that sells for $43,000 (it has a 4 carat diamond embedded in the dark crystal container. At the CatHouse a single pour goes for $275 – and I swear I was tempted to have one. But this gives you an idea of the nature of the restaurant.

The interior design of the entire restaurant is modern, comfortable, and relaxing in a tempting sort of way. The lighting is dim, but easy to see everything. The colors are black and dark browns, making it seem far less well lit, and amplifying the intimate mood the decorations inside create. There is even a small room in the far wall of the dining area that contains a model that is dressed in lingerie and fixes her make-up and hair about every 30 minutes as if no one else was around. It reminded me of scenes from a Mae West movie.

If you have had a reservation, or you are in the ample bar area, the first thing you will notice is the bar maids and waitresses. They are all dressed in thigh high high heeled boots, garters, short skirts, a bustier, and a small shoulder jacket (not sure what it is called). While nothing on any of the women is exposed, there is plenty of cleavage though, it does catch the attention. I’m sure it’s been the cause of more than one man getting a slap upside the head from his partner. And it’s worth it.

Beyond the look, all the staff are polite, attentive, and well versed in the drinks and foods in the restaurant. Even the busboy is on the top of his game – as he told me about the various liquors in the bar and why the Louis XIII was not on display at the time I was there (sadly a former busboy accidentally broke the full bottle). In all they were completely pleasant and what you would expect in service from a high end restaurant.

But the big question for me at the time was the food. Having had the bad experience in Mandalay Bay, I wasn’t sure what to expect here. Was it going to be overpriced and underwhelming? Was it going to be a match of décor and expectations?

I can happily say that there is a reason that reservations are needed. The food was excellent. I was part of a party of 4 and we were in the bar area just after seeing Chris Angel (review pending) perform his 7:30 show. We had a drink and looked over the menu.

This is not an inexpensive restaurant. The least expensive item was $19 (Spaghetti and meatballs) and things went up quickly from there. I considered the steak, at about $44, but decided to try another favorite – the wild salmon. One of my friends had the brick roasted organic chicken, another had a prime "CatHouse" burger, and the last had a specialty of the night, an Ahi burger.





I wish I had my camera, but the best I could do was the cell phone camera one of my friends had. As you can see from the photos above, the presentation of each dish was excellent. One of my friends studied as a chef and was blown away at the quality of the presentation of each dish. There was no skimping or details missed.

As for the taste, well again this was a homerun. My wild salmon was perfectly seared with a well seasoned crust that just melted in each bite. The portion size was very good, even for me (I normally eat a 20+ ounce steak at a sitting with a baked potatoe or 2). The vegetables were in season, fresh and delightful.

The Ahi burger was fantastic. While it sounded a bit odd, the texture and taste was a great blend. Again the portion was just right. The organic chicken was tender, juicy, and held just enough spice to have your attention without being close to overpowering. The "CatHouse" burger was also cooked to perfection.

The average price of a beer was $7, and a mixed drink – Captain and Coke – was about $12. The average cost of each entrée was about $36 per person. I believe this restaurant, like most in Las Vegas, had a gratuity already included but I added more to the bill.

To summarize the CatHouse in the Luxor Hotel & Casino is a great experience. It has the atmosphere, mood, and food that one would expect from a high end restaurant in Las Vegas. It is an adult place, and children should never be here (not sure if they could be if they wanted). It’s excellent for a couple, or a group of friends that want to explore finer dining or just have a really pleasant time.

In addition I want to mention that I thought Marisol (I recall that as her name) who was working from 6pm on Friday night, was especially pleasant and friendly. Plus, if you are there at happy hour you can get 2 for 1 drinks with the purchase of an entrée. Well worth the deal that it is.

I highly recommend the CatHouse to anyone in Las Vegas.

Restaurant Review: Red White and Blue - Mandalay Bay Las Vegas

While in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to check out some of the restaurants in various casinos and hotels. One of the places that I went was to Red White and Blue, along with the rest of my team from Guys and Dolls pool hall in Endicott NY.

This restaurant is located inside the Mandalay Bay Casino and Hotel. There is no question that Mandalay Bay, and her sister Casino Luxor, are on the top end of places to see in Las Vegas. The atmospheres in both are modern and beautiful. So you would expect that the restaurant would emulate that same feeling.



My teammates picked this restaurant based on the look of the place and the fact that it was not as expensive as several others nearby locations. But the outside had the feel of a decent steakhouse. And the look of it from the outside is very much steakhouse style.

But once you enter the restaurant things change a bit. The layout is nice, if a bit cramped. The bar area to the far right as you enter is more reminiscent of an upscale pub than anything else. Anyone who has been to some of the older NYC bars in the midtown area will know the feel of the bar. Still it is a very nice wood bar with a full assortment of liquors and beers.

The tables were very nice with modern style cutlery. The layout as I mentioned is small, with just enough room for an average sized adult to pass between tables. The lighting is subdued but bright enough to see everything the place has to offer without trouble. There is no music, thank goodness, just the sounds of people passing in the hotel, the casino floor a little ways away, and conversations from various tables. The flooring was unremarkable. The wood and glass walls are simple and effective in giving a warm feeling to the place without making you feel claustrophobic.

But the feel was odd. It felt like a very upscale diner. And I couldn’t place why. But when one of our party was able to order a bucket of several bottles of beer, it started to hit me why.

Then we had the menus in hand. This confirmed my suspicions. It read like a diner alright.

Unlike most restaurants, Red White and Blue has no specialty. It’s not a steakhouse, though it had 3 types of steak prominent on the menus. There were a couple of chicken dishes, seafood, and a combo platter as well. The menu read and was designed like any you might find in a decent local diner, except for the prices. They were more steakhouse or upscale.

I like steak so I was inclined towards the 18ounce bone-in rib eye. When I asked the waitress about it, and she was very pleasant and honest, she told me that it is a very fatty cut. Few that order it are very satisfied. She recommended the New York Strip, a mere 12ounces large for $44 as I recall. Several of my teammates had that, a couple ordered pasta, 2 ordered the combination platter of roasted chicken, a sausage, ribs, and something else I forget.

While I awaited my meal, I ordered a house merlot. Again the prices were higher end, $11 a glass. The merlot was a decent wine. Not outstanding, but I did ask for a house wine. Several of the other wine choices I saw on the wine list were familiar to me, and every one of them was dramatically overpriced compared to the real cost and other venues I had tried them at.

When the meal came, the pasta selection was huge portions. The combo platter was equally large and smelled great. The steaks though were ok. They were cooked to the right temperature (I order medium-rare), and looked appealing. The presentation on the plate was boring and ordinary though. The taste was average at best. Hardly worth the price paid.

The staff at Red White and Blue is good though. The waitress was attentive and informative. She had a pleasant demeanor and was energetic in providing drinks or answering questions.

Was Red White and Blue a nice restaurant? Sort of. It was adequate in terms of the meal. It was warm in the atmosphere but not inviting. Nor could I shake my feeling of an upscale diner.

Was Red White and Blue price properly? No. In all honestly I found it to be overpriced for what I received. The steak was ok. The wine was over the norm. The presentation was boring. Nothing excited me about the place besides the neon sign in the front.

At a cost on average (from the 8 people in my party) of $65 per person, including 1 – 2 drinks and including the mandatory 18% gratuity, it’s not the most expensive meal I’ve had by far. But for the cost I expected better. Far better. I would have expected a meal of this quality to cost around $40 per person or less.

I don’t recommend Red White and Blue to those that visit Las Vegas or Mandalay Bay. For those going to the area I would recommend the Cat House in Luxor. That review will come soon.

Fun in the sun

In case any of my readers thought that the time in Las Vegas was all work, or pool tournament, and no fun - I offer the following. Just me and some friends goofing off.



Plus here are a few pictures of us just relaxing.











Just a couple of the photos from the trip. It was a great time and both Endicott teams are great people. But more photos of the actual competition are soon to come. Just need time to edit it all.

Phoenix Airport - Homeward bound, eventually

The time in Las Vegas has been great. I was able to speak with a few teams from across the country, saw the Chris Angel show, had a great meal in the Cat House in Luxor (review coming soon), saw various sites and got a bit of a tan.

Then my team and I headed home.

Some 2 1/2 months ago we were told by our APA league operator that our flight home was the best he could do. Chris W. had scheduled my team to go home via Las Vegas to Phoenix, to Detroit, to Wilkes Barre from which we could drive almost 2 hours to get home. When we were at the Las Vegas Airport we were told by a ticket agent

"Whoever got you these tickets really doesn't like you."

That was said because we were on the last flight out of Las Vegas to Phoenix. It meant that we would be in the airport some 7 1/2 hours before continuing our flight. This is how grand an experience Phoenix is at 12:30am



Now at the time of the video I have been up some 16 hours and was wearing a hat earlier - so forgive my look. Were there a place to sleep in Phoenix I wouldn't be writing this. Or if there was a bar, a newstand, a television, a comfortable chair. Anything. But there isn't, especially since everything closes at 8pm reportedly.

How bad does it seem that Chris W. feels about my team?

Well our sister team from Central New York (Endicott) left Las Vegas 3 hours after us, and will arrive home some 8 to 10 hours before us. This is a team who flew to Las Vegas with us on 2 of the 3 flights we took to Vegas. Somehow, as we were told at the time, there was no way to get from Las Vegas to anywhere near home without taking 17 hours with 8 people on the same flights. Though our tickets were booked 2 1/2 months in advance. And there was obviously another way to get the other team home sooner. And we are taking an entirely differnt route than we took to get here.

Even worse is the fact that the ticket agents in Las Vegas let us know that there was a flight roughly 3 hours earlier that had the seats we needed and would have gotten us home the same night.

To be fair, our flight was set this way (we were told) in case we made it to the finals of the competition. Of course we did not know that if we did, it would have meant that we would have had to win the competition in less than 2 1/2 hours, get paid, get team photos, get into a cab/limo, race thru Saturday evening Las Vegas traffic, get our tickets, rush through security and make the plane with a spare 5 minutes before departure. And that's the best case scenario. Suffice to say that doesn't work any better than the other facts I have learned.

So with that wonderful news I sit in Phoenix, while my team is sleeping on the floors and chairs in an airport that is closed, without access to anything until 4am at the earliest. It's 90 degrees outside and humid. There are major restrictions on where you can smoke, the place is empty of everyone but TSA guards (especially one woman with an attitude and an aversion to questions about the airport) cleaning crews, and 5 people besides my team (2 of which are on last minute flight changes).

Is this return home spoiling the experience of the APA National 8-ball competition? Oh yeah. Do I personally think that better could have been done? On several levels I have come to the conclusion that it seems so.

These are of course my thoughts. They are not those of my team. And the fact that I have another 15 hours of traveling is not improving my thoughts about this matter.

More coverage of the good parts of the Las Vegas trip and competition some time after this journey ends. (Hey, do you know if it took this long for Lewis and Clark to find Mississippi?)

Las Vegas: Bellaggio Water Show

One of the sites in Las Vegas that I would reccomend is the Bellaggio Water Show. If you have seen the Ocean's Eleven remake (with Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Don CCheadle et al) then you saw part of the show at the end of the movie.

At 10 pm, and roughly every 15 minutes there after, there is a different display of the water jets in front of the Bellaggio Hotel Casino. It is a mix of lights, water sprayed jets, and music. Generally they last about 3 - 5 minutes each. I saw a show to Frank Sinatra, a classical piece of music and the theme to the Good The Bad and The Ugly.

Here is a video of the show to the latter of the shows I watched. It's the best video I could take at the time, but I think it is a great display. And if you are wondering the major water blasts get up about 50 feet or more and are awesome so see. It all sounds like a fireworks show or cannons when the jets go off.

Las Vegas review: Circus Circus

So, let me talk a bit about the accomodations in Las Vegas. For people unfamiliar, the APA (American Poolplayers Association) has hundreds of regional leagues. At the end of each sesaon the top team(s) qualify to go to Las Vegas for the National copmetion. The APA pays for the airfare and lodging.

I won't speak about the airfare (other than the fact that my team will spend 17 hours to get home, while another Endicott team will be home in about half that time). The hotel used by the APA is Circus Circus. Every team I am aware of in the competition gets to stay at the Manor group of rooms. Players can upgrade to other rooms at their own cost.

All of my team except myself stayed in the Manor, buildings A & C, and our sister team from Endicott was in building E. The rooms are large compared to most hotels. I would say they are about the size of 2 single rooms. This is likely due to the fact that Circus Circus has roughly 40% more families with young children than any other hotel in Vegas.

Though the rooms are larger, that does not mean better. The look of the rooms is slightly better than say a Motel 6. The carpets look faded and worn, as do the walls. The beds are ok, but you just get a sense of things being drab here. Plus several people I met here found the rooms at the Manor to have a slight odor. It won't kill you, but it's not the top end of Vegas. Then again the prices of these rooms are hardly over the top. Great for a family on a budget.

The rooms in the Skyview Tower are far better. Still spacious, though not as much as the Manor rooms. The carpets, bedding, and decor look far newer and less worn. The bathrooms are larger and look much cleaner.

Either rooms will easily fit 4 adults.

Throughout the Circus Circus hotel there is decorations that are circus themed. Some of the paintings are nice, but most are very post-modern or abstract. I personally did not like them, especially in the buffett area. But I imagine they are very kid friendly and thus families would enjoy them.

In fact, compared to the Riviera, Luxor, or Mandalay Bay Circus Circus is the best option to a family with young (under 18) kids. For more adult experiences, and less interaction with children other Casino/Resorts are the choice.

The gaming area is relatively smaller, with lower ceilings than found in newer Casinos. It also has a far smaller gaming area. So if you enjoy table games you may prefer to play at a differnt Casino. They do have a huge slots area. But the table games tend to have lower minimum bets, even over the weekend, than in other Casinos.

Also, directly in front of Circus Circus is Slots O' Fun. This is a very small selection of mostly slot machines. Again this focuses on the lower priced games. It also has $3 minimum Blackjack tables and a $3 minimum Craps table.

I would not recommend the Craps table at Slots O' Fun as it is always very crowed, filled with people unfamiliar with the game and thus plays slow, and has inexperienced or comparatively poor dealers. If you do play the Craps table, it helps if you know the bets and the payouts, as occasional mistakes do happen, especially as the crowd gets less experienced.

In front of Slots O' Fun is an automated ticket booth and a stop for the city bus. This will allow you to buy a 24-hour ticket to take you along the main strip and most every major casino. The tickets cost $7 for 24-hours and $3 one way. I recommend the $7 ticket, but beware. The bus often is crowded in any direction and you may have to wait for more than one bus to come by to get on, so plan for the time. Plus traffic can make a trip take longer than you would expect. But it is worth it, especially in a week like this one past where the temperature topped 105 every day.

Circus Circus also has a pool area, like most casino/resorts. There are 2 pools and 2 hot tub areas. They all are of decent size. The pool goes from 3" to 6" gradually, with 2 lifeguards available at all times it is open (9 - 8). The hot tub is about 3 1/2" with a shelf seat. As with the rest of the hotel at Circus circus, expect lots of children running around.

Overall I found the stay at Circus Circus to be decent. It's accomodations are fair compared to it's price. If you can afford the Tower rooms I advise them. If you can deal with lots of kids around, or if you have kids, this is one of the better places to take them.

Preview of 8-ball tournament play in Las Vegas

I'm still in Las Vegas for a while more, but I decided to put together a quick little video of the Endicott team (playing for the Guys & Dolls pool hall) arriving at Circus Circus, and playing at the APA National 8-ball Pool Tournament held in the Riviera.

This is a quick video, I will have several more once I have a chance to edit all the videos and pictures I have taken.

This video features several members of the team, including:

Gregg Cordero
Bob 'Panama' Grabow
Gary Hinckley
Gage Majka
Zachary Majka
John Miller
Robert 'Coty' Miller
Michael Vass

Video highlights - Team arriving in a stretch limo, Zach Majka finishing off a game, Panama in a match. (video taken by Claudia Miller in visitor stands)

Video of APA Las Vegas National Pool Tournament

Here is the promised video of Round 2 of the Guys and Dolls 8-ball team at the Las Vegas 2009 APA National Pool Tournament. The quality is not perfect but it is the best that we could make without disrupting the other teams.



Vegas has been fun so far. The tournament is still going forward. More videos, soon.

Live from Las Vegas 2009 APA National Pool Tournament

Hey everyone. Well I arrived in Las Vegas Monday afternoon. A bit of jetlag and tired from the 3 planes we had to take to get here(the plane and room was paid for by the APA). The entire Guys and Dolls team from Edicott NY arrived safe and sound.

We got lucky and did not have to play until 8am today (tuesday). So I went out and played some craps in Circus Circus. So far I have been down, even, and back down a little. Which isn't too bad considering how fast craps can go. Hope to get comped and rated by the time we leave.

Enjoyed a nice buffett at Circus Circus, though the rooms in the manor are pretty poor - though large. I have a room (seperate of what was paid for) in the Sky Tower, which is far nicer.

The weather is great. About 105, dry, and sunny.

As for how things are going in the APA National Pool Tournament of 2009, things are even better. I played in the first match and won my games against a 6. It was a strong showing, 4 - 2, and helped my team win our first 3 games and thus the match. Gary Hinkley and Zach Majka also won their matches in the same manner.

Our next match will be at 6pm. We plan on continuing our winning streak.

I plan to have video of one of the games in my match up once Youtube loads the video. Quality is a bit low, but you can watch the whole game.

I also got to meet Jeanette Lee. I will have a picture of her shortly. She is great. There was a mentally disabled young man that came to have her sign a picture for her. He mentioned that she was his favorite. And Lee decided to do something special. She got one of her personal gloves, (which were not available for sale or signing) and signed it for the young man. Then took a photo with him. It was really swwet and everyone there cheered afterwards. She is really sweet, was talking to her fans and being very generous to us all.

Obviously I'm having a great time. I expect to speak with a few players, and have interviews for you soon. Most of it all will be after I get back.

Look for the video later. Need to eat and then go to my next match.

Vegas bound

Well in just a few short hours My 8-ball pool team will be off to the APA 8-ball National Pool Tournament. I will strive to provide updates and video through out the week.

More as soon as possible

Mike Tyson married 2 weeks after daughter's death

I don’t understand Mike Tyson. It’s just that simple.

A mere 2 weeks ago, Mike Tyson and his extended family had to suffer what I can only imagine as one of the worst moments in the life of anyone, especially a parent. His 4 year old died due to an accident in her home. I can think of little worse.

But I am baffled by the latest action of Tyson after such a recent tragedy. He got married. Seriously. He was married this past weekend in Las Vegas.

Now I really don’t care that he was married. I wish him and his new bride (10 years his junior) the very best. And I am not trying to proclaim how anyone should mourn or deal with grief. Everyone is different, and the actions one person may take will seem very odd to another.

But this is really odd to me. Considering this was a small Vegas quickie marriage, there is nothing that says the wedding could not wait. Just because it would feel more respectful – to me at least. I honestly would feel to weird to marry someone after basically just burying one of my children.

Maybe this was just an attempt to feel better. A try at making the world feel just a little bit less sad. In a way I can understand that. Though it does not bode well for the length of the marriage. Still there is the question of why his new wife would do this.

Let me ask the women out there. Would you marry a man, even a famous and/or wealthy man, 2 weeks after the death of his child? What motivation would make you jump the broom like this? What could make you not wish to wait?

Where have I been?

I know some must be wondering why they have not heard anything from me in a couple of days. Sadly, I have not been on vacation.

I have been working on gaining interviews from directors that will have their film shown at the Tribeca Film Festival. I plan on meeting with Cynthia Basinet again to update what is going on with her.

I have decided to work on converting all my product found in the online store, into items available for direct sales. There are plans being made for several new calendars and photos shoots. I am reviewing several potential models for the shoots.

I am continuing to expand the company, and an interviewing a couple of potential new writers, to assist me in covering all the subjects and issues that matter most to you my readers. Plus I am working on several local projects.

All of this while I have picked up my own 9-ball team in the APA league I play in. My original team (we had to split the team) currently stands to win 1st place in 8-ball and 9-ball this season. In a month we go on to play for a chance at the nationals and a trip to Las Vegas.

And of course I am continuing to fix up and decorate my house.

All of this while having an increased work load with my clients, and trying to ensure both they and I are ok through this economic downturn.

It has been quite the month, and the last couple of days have been busy. But never fear. I am still on the job. More will come shortly.

Faye Dunaway vs. Hilary Duff: an unfair fight

Ok, call me slow but I just heard about the Bonnie and Clyde remake. And the blow-up it has created between Faye Dunaway and Hilary Duff. Before I go farther I will say this is like a fight between Muhamad Ali and a crackhead. But before I go there...

First off is my gripe about remakes. It just amazes me how Hollywood is looking backwards more every year we go forward. I really can’t believe that all the screenwriters in Hollywood are that lazy or incompetent. If they are, I don’t understand how they continue to be employed when there are huge numbers of hopefuls waiting to get their chance. Dennis Dortch is one such writer (and he directs) and I can’t see why he isn’t being given a chance at a bigger budget film for a new idea.

But with that said, the execs in Hollywood have decided to butcher (as virtually every remake in the past decade or so has done) yet another good movie. And based on the past ability of Hollywood to capture none of the qualities of the original film (revisioning is the current buzzword – which should mean diarrhea for the eyes) I expect that none of the cast, writers, director or executives have bothered to watch the full film. I’m not sure what you might call the Cliff Notes version of a film, but I would expect that may be all they know of the film.

Thus I am not surprised that Faye Dunaway may have stated that

“Couldn't they at least cast a real actress?”

Honestly they can’t. Because an actress of real talent (not a pop star with lots of exposure) might actually know the original film and want to be inspired by the work of Faye Dunaway. And that just won’t fit with the concept that it can be done better today than the original.

I don’t think even Las Vegas would take odds on this film being better, or Duff being half as good as Dunaway on a day she is ill. The chances of Hilary Duff or the new film getting 1 Oscar nomination, let alone the 10 that the original earned, is right there with Bigfoot walking into Times Square and dancing a jig – if current standards of remakes are exceeded.

In fact, as I had suspected, the new film is a revisioning. It will throw out much of the original film in favor of

“…news clippings of the famous Depression-era outlaws, found in an abandoned house on her family's property.”

Well at least some attempt at research and some level of involvement in the story has been attained.

Of course Duff had to respond.

“I think that my fans that are going to go see the movie don't even know who she is." Duff went on to say, "I think it was a little unnecessary, but I might be mad if I looked like that now, too."

What fans? At least Duff was smart enough not to compare her claim to fame, Lizzie McGuire, to anything any other actress has done. But she wasn’t smart enough to realize that Dunaway is 47 years her elder. Nor that Dunaway looks pretty damn good for her age, or that of a woman much younger. The same cannot be said of Duff.

And in case Hilary Duff can’t read, nor bothered to do a Google search she has achieved all of the following:

• Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot - Supporting Young Actress - Young Artist Awards
  
• Teenager of the Year – Rolling Stone
  
• Favorite Female Singer - Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
  
• Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film - Young Artist Awards
  

Not exactly prestigious. Nor overwhelming.

Faye Dunaway on the other hand:

• Started her career on the stage at age 21. By the time she was 26 she starred in the Oscar winning movie Bonnie and Clyde (which was just her 3rd movie and she gained an Academy Award nomination for the role).
  
  
• She has been in acclaimed movies including - The Thomas Crown Affair (and the remake 21 years later), Little Big Man, The Three Musketeers, Chinatown (another Oscar nomination), The Towering Inferno, Three Days of the Condor (a favorite of mine), and Network (won the Oscar).
  

Simply put, Duff needs to seriously get some acting lessons and experience before she deserves to insult her betters. Especially when they are right.

OJ Simpson convicted - kangaroo court closed

Prepare for the shock of your life. OJ Simpson has been convicted of 12 counts in the Las Vegas kangaroo court trial on Saturday. I’m sorry, I meant to say the legal farce that was the precondition to the incarceration of now convicted OJ Simpson, on charges that he murdered his White wife. Oh, wait. You thought this was a case about something else?

Lest you think I made this up, that OJ was on trial a second time about his wife’s death, here are some quotes to reflect on.

“I think he did it," juror Sherian Sue Eckart, 55, said in response to a questionnaire item on the murder of Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson…

“I don't believe the jury consider(ed) the facts," Ruth Ann Horschmann, 62, wrote of the Los Angeles jury…

I disagree with the verdict. I think the police/prosecution in the case made errors," Sharon Ann Johnston, 36, wrote…

In documents released by the Clark County Court following the verdict, five of the 12 jurors disclosed during the jury-selection process that they disagreed with the 1995 verdict.”

“David Wieberg, a 51-year-old manager, was among the jurors who said he disagreed with the 1995 verdict.

"No, I don't believe the jury consider(ed) the facts," he wrote in his questionnaire.
Mr Wieberg also said he agreed with the outcome of the civil trial that found Simpson liable for the deaths.

"It may have given the victims' families some satisfaction," he wrote.”

“She says jurors instead used video, audio and documented evidence to evaluate whether Simpson was guilty of each of the 12 counts. She was one of seven jurors to speak to reporters.

Jury foreman Paul Connelly says it might have been a waste for prosecutors to give plea deals to several Simpson co-defendants in exchange for their testimony.”

And this was a fair trial? This was about Las Vegas?

This case was never about Las Vegas. If it were the fact that there was considerable evidence supporting the contention that OJ was entrapped into the whole thing would have been relevant. And the testimony of the witnesses, actually a group of men looking to avoid up to 11 years in prison each by turning states evidence, showed many reasons to have doubt.

Now that doesn’t mean a crime wasn’t committed. Nor that OJ shouldn’t be convicted of that crime. But it does mean that 12 crimes and a lifetime in jail is unwarranted. Unless you were one of those rejoicing at this blatant act of revenge. So much for a legal system.

This is so angering. This is all about race. A Black man was accused of a White murder, and because he could afford a legal team that usually only some Whites can and is found innocent he had to be tormented for his life. If OJ was caught on tape J-walking there were cops hoping to arrest him and lock him up. 13 years of news coverage of his every step, and newscasters unconcealed disdain over OJ’s freedom says it all.

There was no question of OJ getting convicted. I have spoken to dozens throughout the nation, not one thought he could win even if God came down and forgave him of his sins on primetime.

So while some are out having a great time, cheering and drinking the conviction here is a sobering thought. Justice in America, no matter how lax or intermittent before, is now dead. It is now legal precident that double jepardy is allowable and enforceable.

No longer will it be enough to win a case, be prepared to win in every concievable aspect and court, many times over. While the average White defendant will likely never have to worry about this, if you are Black you will have to. Because the legal system that previously was biased to significantly convict any Black defendant, and to more hashly sentence that defendant, will now follow you to your grave no matter if you win and everytime you do.

If you are White you likely will never understand why OJ being convicted this time matters. If you are Black you understood it the day he was arrested in Vegas, and all through the week of coverage that followed. And if you weren’t scared, you have to be dead.

Some want to think racial injustice in the law died the day that Senator Obama ran for President, and those same people were likely screaming for OJ’s blood 13 years ago – and rejoicing this weekend. So maybe it’s just that as long as you do what they would like you are treated well, and once you don’t they will have no problem cracking the whip. Just that these days the whip is the legal system.

And if you don’t agree then explain why so many are so damn pleased about this verdict, barely able to contain themselves about the case 13 years ago that had nothing to do with Vegas 1 year ago?

The joy of black felt pool tables in a tournament

So Saturday I was at an American Poolplayers Association tournament. The showdown was for single 8-ball matches, with the winner of each level division going on to the national trials in Las Vegas. Obviously I was looking to win.

The tournament was in a town called Yorkville, in New York. It was held at Hippo’s pool hall. The start time was stated as 9am for registration. 82 players from the central New York area had qualified and 25 of them were in my division, the level 4. (Levels of players go from 2 – 9 with 9 being highest).

That all sounds simple enough, but some 9+ hours after the start I finished my day. That wasn’t because I won, that was just for me to finish my games and lose. Suffice to say it was a long and less than pleasant experience. The worst of which were the tables we had to play on.

My big gripe about the competition, besides the fact that it took me 5 hours before I played my first match, was that several games were to be played on black felt tables. All the tables were even and 3.5’x7’. The pool hall does have 20 tables that are 4.5’x9’, but according to rules, since there were 8 smaller tables all the matches had to be played on them instead.

Now I don’t know if you have ever played on a black felt pool table. They were created, as I am told, back in the 70’s so you could use a blacklight and play in the dark. Which might be great with glow in the dark balls and a few friends over. But in a pool hall, with regular lights and balls, in a competition, it sucks.

Black felt, with black felt on the bumper rails, means that there is no depth in the table. It is almost impossible to get a solid bead on the corners of the pockets. And shooting the 8-ball is pure hell. A black ball on a black table going into a pocket on even the best lit table would be a challenge, and the lighting was just ok.

But I have to ask, is there anyone who actually owns a pool table with black felt? I’ve played on blue and green, even red once. But black was a miserable first. I have to say that combined with the lethargy of sitting around, and practicing on and off, for 5 hours and then having to play on that table really killed my spirits. I’ve never had to play such an awful tournament, and I’ve been playing in pool tournaments for some 20 years now.

I have no doubt that the national tournament in Las Vegas is better. I have no doubt that even on these smaller tables the felts will be green, maybe blue at worst. But would you bother to go through this kind of pain just to get to Vegas? Would you want to play on a black felt table?

If anyone prefers this, without a blacklight, I really would love to hear your thoughts why. But if anyone is waiting to see me play in Vegas, it won’t be in the singles finals this year. But the team competition is still open. We shall see.

OJ Simpson trial - the joke in Las Vegas continues to be sour

But there was also news to start the week of a less positive nature. Case in point is the OJ Simpson trial. Which I still contend is a kangaroo court, meant simply as a justification to convict OJ for the prior case he was found innocent of over a decade ago.

So far the prosecution has finished its case and the defense has started. And in its first day the defense has proven that the transcript of the audio tape recorded in secret after the events in the hotel room in Vegas is factually incorrect. The transcript has omissions and additions that are completely false or creations of the prosecution.

That further bolsters the view that Michael McClinton is saying whatever he can to avoid jail. McClinton has already plead guilty and made a deal with the prosecution. He claims to have had a gun drawn, and to have given a gun to another alleged accomplice, which he says were known to OJ. Though he never states that OJ observed the guns, just that they were potentially visible.

I make the point about McClinton’s testimony for 3 reasons. He proved that the prosecution transcripts were false, he admits that he failed to mention to police that a gun was present when police first arrested and interrogated him, and because he made a deal so that he may be able to walk away from all the charges with only probation – to be determined after OJ’s trial is done. The first 2 feed the third point. He has every reason to lie or alter facts. Especially if the courts and police want to get a conviction that L.A. was unable to get.

And the fact that no African Americans were allowed on the jury, and that news media contamination of the jury was found to be unimportant, also bolster my point. Of course there is also the fact that the jury was told day one not to consider the L.A. trial and its results in this case; and then the prosecution proceeded to bring up details of that trial.

I’m not saying OJ was or is innocent. But I again say that he was found innocent in L.A. and that the current trial is the means of getting double jeopardy on that case. And some want to believe the legal system is fair for all.

OJ Simpson trial - injustice unreported

I did not want to discuss this case. But when I listened to the glee from Sheppard Smith (news anchor for Fox News) as he spoke on the news I made up my mind to say something.

The case I am referring to is the OJ Simpson trial. You may not have heard much on this, you might even be surprised to know that his trial in Las Vegas is already underway. And the reason there has not been much media on this is likely because of what the outcome will be.

At this point I feel incredibly confident that OJ Simpson will be sentenced to jail for his life. For all those cheering that sentence realize this – OJ is being jailed based on prejudice and the bias of America.

Whether or not OJ Simpson is guilty of the charges, all 12 of them, stemming from his arrest in Las Vegas is not important. It’s the fact that after more than a decade the legal system, and most White Americans, now have the chance to convict OJ for the murder of Nicole Simpson; which he was found innocent of. The major news media has never accepted that answer. Shepard Smith has always made it clear he despised that verdict. And double jeopardy be damned White America could not live with this.

Every misstep OJ has made since the murder trial ended has been publicized. The media has maintained an onslaught of coverage aimed at 1 goal, tarnishing his image and guaranteeing every American would believe he was guilty of murder and deserved to be in jail. And this trial will be the fruition of all that work.

On the 10th of September the Las Vegas judge, Jackie Glass, decided that 2 members of the prospective jury being contacted by a reported member of the press was not a problem.

On September 12th the jury was selected. 9 women, 3 men. Not a single person on the jury is Black.

On September 16th, after being told not to take into account any of the news or rulings dealing with OJ’s murder trial, the prosecution has introduced it as part of their case.

So let’s look at this. Reportedly 4 men and OJ entered a hotel room to recover stolen goods that belonged to OJ. Questionably the meeting was set up by one of those men, who has given evidence against OJ for reduced charges. 2 men in the room that day are reported to have had guns, neither of which was OJ. Both of those suspected men have turned states evidence to get off their charges in return for being a witness against OJ.

9 women were reminded that this man is believed by the prosecutor, media and many Whites, to have brutally murdered a woman. They were reminded that for over a decade the media has hammered the thought that this man is guilty though proven innocent beyond a shadow of doubt.

Fear of racial bias for OJ prevented any person in the jury from being African American. Racial bias to convict OJ was never considered in the jury selection. And the potential jurors being contacted by the media, thus hinting at future media stardom – or at least their 15 minutes of fame and a nice check for a book or appearance – was not important.

And someone wants to tell me this is a fair trial. After the initial arrest superseded all other news for 1 week. After a decade of persecution. After acts of retribution by the police on Rodney King (that’s just a guess about the L.A. police). Yeah, a real fair trial.

OJ is going to be convicted of at least 10 of the charges against him. He will be sent to jail for at least 25 years. It was a foregone conclusion the day he was arrested in Las Vegas. That’s why there the huge media circus that week. Validation for all their efforts of over a decade. And it’s why right now there is so little coverage. It has to be fair if they aren’t covering ever second of this stacked deck.

I’m not saying OJ is innocent of the charges in Las Vegas. I’m not saying there weren’t guns present, or that OJ didn’t know they were there. But I have doubt, especially the way this was handled and organized, and prosecuted.

I am saying that OJ is innocent of the murder of his wife, a court said so. I am saying that White America lost their mind on this case, and the media has fed that hate and anger. I recall mobsters being acquitted of multiple murders and getting less coverage or dismay.

The glee of newscasters reporting on the OJ trial just makes me certain. It may be nearly impossible for a Black man to get a fair trial in much of the nation [Jena 6, Rodney King, Sean Bell, Wesley Snipes, and on]; but it’s impossible for OJ.

Some call that justice, I call it the legal system in action. And people wonder why people of color distrust the legal system.

New Olympic sport - Pool

On Monday I was out with a friend after my pool league tournament to get something to eat, and noticed the Olympics on the television. At the time the trampoline competition was on. And it got me wondering. The question was why is pool not part of the Olympic Games?

Now for a bit of disclosure I should mention that I am in 2 pool leagues. I play 8-ball and 9-ball in the APA (American Poolplayers Association) for the Central New York area. I have been playing pool for over 3 decades on and off; and if I must say so myself, I’m quite good. So I have a somewhat biased opinion.

But the question is valid I think. I mean the Olympics have international competitions, as does pool. There are amateur and professional versions of the game. It requires skill, discipline, and the ability to handle pressure. It is a game that millions watch via television and in person. Even better is the fact that the game is incredibly old. While its origin is unknown it is known that it entered America about 1565 via Spain.

Now the Olympics has competitions as fun and interesting as cycling – where competitors race around in a oval, fencing – which just everyone is involved in, Greco wrestling – which outside of high school ahs been completely replaced by the WWE, cross country skiing – which is drama itself to watch, volleyball – which draws viewers for the people in skimpy clothes no doubt and is as widely played as Greco wrestling, and the aforementioned trampoline gymnastics – which virtually anyone can do in their backyard. I won’t even get into synchronized swimming.

The fact is that the Olympics are mostly boring. While a race like event is interesting, most of the other events are boring as hell. Just be thankful that Cricket – a game that can take days to play one match – was discontinued. There are multiple events that people watch just because of the skimpy clothes of the athletes. And there are far more no one watches at all. Then there are the competitions that are based on judges’ opinions, which every Olympics caused cries of bias and cheating.

Pool is very simple to understand. It’s obvious who wins. The rules are simple to understand. And there is no lack of people or countries that play the game. Look in your town or city right now. I virtually guarantee that you are no more than 30 minutes from a pool hall in over 50% of the world. No other Olympic sport can boast such popularity or familiarity by the world populace. A kid in England plays the same game as a kid in Tampa, as in Taiwan, as Minsk. Heck, multiple movies have been made about the sport or involving it, I think the Olympics have 1 maybe 2.

But what are the Olympics thinking of adding instead of pool? Rugby. Now that is popular, in nations that England once ruled, but it has nowhere near the fan-base. And the rules are not known or understood just by watching a game.

How about Squash? I bet if I went down the street in 100 cities around the world I might find 10 random people that either know the rules and/or have watched a game. I doubt that I can find better than 5 people in those same cities combined that have watched the game.

Are they kidding? There over 5 million people that play pool in the Philippines alone. Just this past weekend a friend of mine went to the APA Las Vegas national competition (his team barely succeeded in beating mine for the trip) where the first Japanese APA team was invited to play as well. And from what I was told they were good.

Honestly, I am unaware of a single reason why pool is not an Olympic sport. There is nothing that compares to it in the list of sports being considered currently. It is more popular than ½ the current events. It’s honest. It’s fast. It’s just about the only competition that men and women can compete in together (actually is there an Olympic sport where they compete together?). And it can be played indoors or outside, summer or winter, day or night.

But if it would make a difference, I bet that any pool player in the world would be willing to wear a skimpy skin-tight outfit if it meant that they could win an Olympic gold medal.

What is the best city and for what?

**This can also be found at Food & Wine Blog, where I am a contributing author.**

Here is a question that has various answers depending on your goals. When you travel do you prefer relaxation and quiet or nightlife and excitement? It’s a tough question, and I’m sure it has many aspects. If you are a single man, like me, you may well prefer traveling to where there is nightlife and very good restaurants. If you are a married individual, escaping the kids for a weekend, you may just want a very quiet and tame experience soaking in the Jacuzzi listening to Vivaldi.

Both are very good things, if that’s what you want. But how can you tell? Nothing is worse, whether on a business trip or personal time, than going to a place and finding out it’s the opposite of what you had hoped for. I’ve found it completely annoying, I’m sure you may agree. Well, in an effort to alleviate those occasions where possible Travelandleisure.com and CNN did a comparison of 25 cities across America.

The list rates the cities on various aspects including nightclubs, happy hour, singles, affordability, peace and quiet, cleanliness, safety, and of course dining among a huge list of other items. The lists were comprised by 60,000 votes (more votes than most Presidential polls quantify) and include the thoughts of locals as well as visitors to each city.

So what is the result? If you want a fun business trip you need to head out to Chicago (personally all business trips I have had there have been abysmal), New Orleans, San Francisco and New York in that order.

For a family trip look for Orlando, Washington D.C., and San Diego. Romance more the idea? Then head out to Honolulu, Charleston, or San Francisco.

But here are a few points I found of interest. Best Pizza was listed as Chicago as #1. I just can’t see that but as I’ve noted I am biased and from the Bronx. The friendliest city would be Charleston (I knew that wouldn’t be NYC). And the top 5 best place for those of us that are single are: Austin, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Miami and New York. Who would have guessed Austin was the place to be.

I’m sure there are many other surprises and items of interest for every type of traveler out there. Take a look and see what works best for you. Let me know if they missed anything on the list and what city you think has the best of it.