January 31, 2005
Breaths of Fire
I've mentioned a friend of ours in Scotland who is very much into dragons. While I was watching the special about Pompeii tonight there was a commercial previewing a new special coming up on The Discovery Channel. It's all about dragons. I thought of her and checked out the site, take a look for yourself.
January 30, 2005
Giddy-up!!
New Releases
Slots a Fun National Finals Rodeo 2004 $5
01-25-05
Limited to 750
I'm listing a couple of Rodeo chips this time. Nice offering from Slots a Fun featuring a great action shot. Throw in the Blackjack hand for effect and you have a real nice chip. The added bonus of individual serial numbers makes it that much better.
Rodeos and other large events are huge business for Vegas, it's nice that a few places to commemorate the happenings.
Stardust National Finals Rodeo 2004 $5 Chip Set
01-25-05
Limited to ?
Wow! The Stardust went all out (or would that be all in? heh,heh) with a set of 5 chips representing events of the Rodeo. This is a killer set of chips that appeal to cross collectors. Act quickly if you want some of these beautifully created chips.
Blue...no...Green, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Once again, Mary Beth has provided a link to some vital info.
Thanks to Jonathan Corum and his in-depth research, we now know the answer to the question that has had us scratching our heads for the last 3 decades:
What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
You may now cross the Bridge...knigget.
January 28, 2005
Go Cats!!
I'm a University of Louisville fan...big time. Mary Beth pointed out a Blog to me and this entry brought me to tears. Allan of Inside Allan's Mind has found that he has a post that says he's showing in Google as Number 1 for University of Kentucky Wildcat Weblog. This post has some great UofK jokes that I need to remember the next time UofL beats the crap out of plays the Cats.
January 27, 2005
I can't find my pocket protector!
C'mon...you know you want to find out. We won't tell anyone.
I know what a punching bag...
...feels like!
Sparring night!!
Finally I got to attend class after having to change my work schedule. Man...work is really getting in the way of things.
After a quick warmup, we worked on the adult demo that we'll perform in March during our Crusade for Children Fundraiser. Picture about 400 adults performing a routine, or form, at one time. It looks quite cool...right out of a Bruce Lee movie!
After working it a little Sa Bahm Nim Gronotte had me lead the class. Ummm...I got through it, with a little help. We then broke up by rank for form work. Now that I'm a Tiger Belt I review everything from White Belt to Blue. I was selected to lead a Blue-tip for this portion of class. We made it past Yellow before Grandmaster called for us to pad up. Two stripes earned by me tonight!
Then we sparred, always a ton of fun. I sparred Sa Bahm Nim Gronnote and he nailed me good...several times! After lining up for matches, Grandmaster paired me up with Instructor Gronnote again! This time I scored first, but not again. I did attempt a spinning back kick counter, BTW Grandmaster was watching, and my kick hit nothing but air. Grandmaster was yelling that my technique was perfect...I was just too slow! *ahem* yes. Grandmaster was laughing at me while keeping us fired up, it was pretty amusing. It's a lot more fun when he's there coaching and kidding around with us. I lost, 3-1, but lasted a good while and didn't let Instructor Gronnote land his favorite technique: he closes in, pushes off and blasts me with a round house. He owns me with that move but not in our second match, he had to use other moves to destroy me! HAH!
January 23, 2005
I did pass the test though
Everything was fine at the belt tests yesterday. The only thing I was hoping for was that Grandmaster wouldn't call on me to lead the students in their form test. I haven't attended class regularly for over a month and while I knew the form, I wasn't confident in the techniques per movement.
He called on me.
I missed a couple of times but we got through it. I took out my frustrations on a couple of boards. I suppose Grandmaster sensed my disillusionment and had me act as support for the Tiger Belts who were testing. We did all the forms from White-Blue and kicking techniques. Actually I did pretty good with those. I don't think I'll have any issues progressing to the next level.
It was good to Conor nail his test. I didn't get to attack him with a knife as the lineups were off by one but I did see him defend himself. Great job Conor! Even though he is a belt behind me we should both test for our Black Belts at the same time.
January 21, 2005
The next step in the Journey
Tomorrow morning marks the official beginning of my Black Belt training as I test for my Tiger Belt. Everything I do from now on is review and practice to perfect my technique. I'll work with more people to help them. There's a lot to memorize, but I have 9 months to get it down.
All Aboard
I love trains and used to mess with model railroads all the time (before casino chips). One of the highlights of the year was the Great American Train Show, full of demos, dealers, and train stuff!
It's now called Greenberg's Worlds's Largest Train, Toy, and Hobby Show. It's happening the 29th and 30th at the Ky International Convention Center.
If you get the chance...it's a lot of fun!
January 20, 2005
The rest of the story
Featured Chip
$100 Moulin Rouge Las Vegas
I meant to add this entry on Monday, it would have been most appropriate.
Recently these a batch of undrilled chips surfaced and the price has come down. There are 2 versions of the chip, an Eiffel Tower and a Can-Can Girl. They are also available in $5 and $25 with the same awesome inlays.
The Moulin Rouge was both a time capsule of Las Vegas as it once was, and a legend for the few months in 1955 that it pointed the way to the integrated Strip that would come.
But like many of the landmark hotels that prospered from its legacy, the Moulin Rouge is now gone. What was left of its casino collapsed, not by way of the wrecking ball or dynamite, but in an early morning, three-alarm blaze.
The Moulin Rouge's history as the city's first integrated casino transcends the physical structure. White patrons went out of their way to partake of the night life there a full five years before the formal end of segregation in March 1960.
The legend is fueled in part by its brevity. The Moulin Rouge lasted only six months as a full-fledged casino after its grand opening May 26, 1955.
Strip hotels took out the typical "welcome to town" newspaper ads, but the real reason for supporting the new casino was "they thought it would be a home for black patrons, so they wouldn't feel bad about telling them no" to staying on the Strip, where Jim Crow attitudes still held sway.
However, the casino did attract white patrons from the Strip.
While the likes of the Platters, Gregory and Maurice Hines, and jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal worked the stage or lounges, the stars in the audience -- Pearl Bailey, Sammy Davis Jr., Harry Belafonte - attracted just as much attention.
It was the place to meet, entertainers such as Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant and Edward G. Robinson could entertain their black show-business friends there. The crowds would follow them.
Former heavyweight boxing champ Joe Lewis was the casino's first big attraction, when he was given an ownership interest in the casino to serve as a host and greeter.
A couple of factors are suspected of fueling the quick demise of the Moulin Rouge, which was financed by Los Angeles Realtor-hotelier Alexander Bisno and New York restaurateur Lou Rubin. Presumably the Strip casinos pressured the holders of short-term notes because the Moulin Rouge was siphoning traffic and big players.
Wally Ogle, who was stage manager during the casino's heyday, also recalled in 2001, "The money was going out the back door as fast as it was going in the front."
The Moulin Rouge went bankrupt and was put up for sale through District Court. Its 105 hotel rooms reopened on a limited basis for the New Year's holiday of 1956-57. It continued sporadically as a motel and bar over the years, but never again operated as a full casino.
The Moulin Rouge did play host to the March 1960 meeting in which then-Gov. Grant Sawyer and civic leaders signed an agreement with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to end segregation on the Strip.
In late 1992, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, after then-owners Joe and Sarann Knight Preddy lobbied for its nomination through the Nevada State Advisory Board for Historic Preservation and Archeology.
The Moulin Rouge opened only a few days after the Dunes, but "was a better piece of architecture than the original Dunes, which was basically just a large motel", says Alan Hess, the architecture critic for the San Jose Mercury News.
"It was definitely modern with a capital `M' ", Hess adds. While downtown's Golden Gate and El Cortez casinos still preserve the 1940s era of "sawdust joints", the Moulin Rouge "had the sophistication of the Strip, a very definite aesthetic and style."
News reports of the day cited the hotel-casino as a $3 million investment, though the appraised value for the bankruptcy sale was $1.85 million.
Several plans for the property were announced over the years, from the Preddy family's longtime dream of reopening the casino during the 1980s to a failed effort earlier this year by the Moulin Rouge Museum and Cultural Affairs Center group to gain a grant from the state Commission for Cultural Affairs for restoration efforts.
Others interested in the Moulin Rouge included the Mashantucket Pequot Indians, owners of the highly successful Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard, Conn., who explored the property in 1996, and local casino developer Bob Stupak, who announced interest in the property briefly in 1999.
The city of Las Vegas tried in 1995 to help restore the property by applying for a $1.8 million federal grant, which was rejected. The city then dropped a request for a $9.5 million federal loan guarantee because of fears the loan might not be repaid by those restoring the property. Several other plans for the casino failed because of fund-raising problems.
Story by MIKE WEATHERFORD of the Las Vegas Review Journal.
January 19, 2005
I'll just let James do the talking
Featured Chip
$100 Flamingo Las Vegas
Flamingo- Opened December 1946. Bugsy Siegel's pet project opened unfinished and over budget. It was a failure from the start and this didn't make Bugsy very many friends in the "mob". Forced to close shortly after, it reopened in March 1947. Unfortunately for Bugsy, his time would end 3 months later, with a gun shot to the head! The chip pictured here is from the second reopened issue. There are 18 chips known of this highly sought after issue. Rarely is one for sale as the 18 found in 1990 were put into major collections, at $85 a piece!! Last known transaction in the issue was in mid-1999 for $8750. None have been on the market in over a year. Collectors and historians are still waiting to see if the first issue $100 chip will ever show up or maybe even the Grand Opening $5 chip that was rumored to be handed out by Bugsy himself on opening night!
Information and image courtesy of Casinorarities
January 18, 2005
Owww...that's hot!
New Release
Palms Elektra Movie Premier $10
01-08-05
Limited to 3000
This chip was made for me. Mostly black, and odd denomination, and the use of sai in the logo! My weapon of choice is the sai and I'm planning on using it incompetition in October.
Nice chip overall, while a pic of Jennifer Garner would be better, I'll let them slide with just using the logo. C'mon...she's very, very hot and who could resist a hard bodied female in red leather (is that leather?) wielding deadly sais? I surrender!
Enough already!
How about a new chip or two?
New Release
Tropicana New Year 2005 $100
12-31-04
Limited to 600
Well...it's black and it's a $100 so of course I like it! Nice use of the "Hollywood" sign theme. Interesting that they did not release a $5 or $25 for the New Year. The Trop keeps doing solid work on their chips and this is another that should find its way to $100 collectors. Notice the that there are 600 made. Could the Trop have made a conscious decision that around 100 are going to collectors, leaving enough for the tables? Hmmmm.
Other new releases of note:
Hard Rock Velvet Revolver $5, $25, $100
12-31-04
Limited to ?
From the New Year's Eve show at the Joint. I'm not up to date with this group, is that Slash in the pics?
Aladdin Lionel Richie New Year $5
12-31-04
Limited to 5000
Check the reverse side of the chip. The Aladdin is promoting the changeover to Planet Hollywood in 2006. Get your Aladdin chips while you can!
Aladdin Maroon 5 New Year $5
01-01-05
Limited to 5000
Hard Rock Coop $5 2005
01-08-05
Limited to ?
This has got to stop
I'm just recovering from another inventory at my store. The take-over ended up with a huge loss, so large that loss prevention is getting involved. It doesn't really affect me and my pay but it could be trouble for the previous manager and employees. Last night's count was to confirm the first one to see if we hosed things up.
The result was within a couple of hundred dollars...that does not bode well for the previous manager, I would not want to be him when loss prevention arrives to interview him.
January 16, 2005
Sooner or later...
...I'll post some new chips from Pete's site, and I still have a ton of scans to complete for my own site so I'll have some new acquisitions too. Once I get used to the new store and relax a bit.
Trying to organize
It's been a bit rough with Tae Kwon Do lately, to the point where we almost gave it up. No problems with the school or Grandmaster or any of the instructors. We are running into money issues and it's a big chunk of dough. That, and the fact the boys are losing interest, is making things difficult.
I can't seem to get through to the boys how important it is to finish something you started. Of course if you saw their room and how many attempts to clean it have been made...wow!
Earning a Black Belt is more than just the symbol of the belt, it's the ending of a journey and the beginning of a new one. Many people quit after they achieve their quest for the belt, thinking that they know it all but they are mistaken. The learning never ends, even Grandmaster learns new things.
I think, however, that I have the boys wanting to go again, and we'll make the best of it moneywise. Twenty years ago I quit martial arts for some very stupid reasons. It's humbling to wonder where I would be had I not quit. Following the same path this time would hurt too much as I'm trying to get through to the boys (and the rest of the family)...it's not the Black Belt that's cool, it's what you learn along the way.
January 15, 2005
Demotion...continued
So here's the deal.
The regional director came in for a surprise visit. Obviously unhappy with my performance the last three months, he took me out as manager of Parkway and offered me Oxmoor. Let's look at things.
1) I hated being at Parkway
2) I liked my crew at Parkway
3) Most of my crew was transferred to Oxmoor before I was demoted
4) I'm back on "my" side of town
5) My drive time is cut in half, not to mention the savings on gas
Somebody needs to tell me that this is bad.
Granted, it doesn't write the tickets that I'm used to. In fact it gets boring sometimes but there are plenty of things to do. The store is pretty wrecked right now but Travis is a maniac trying to get it back together. The previous manager let things get totally out of hand regarding the inventory and he was getting ripped off right and left. That's another issue we will solve quickly.
We have work to do but the store will look awesome in no time and people will stop in to check us out. Then we apply our selling skills!